Mummified You?!

About a month ago, a Californian women was caught driving around with a mummified corpse in her trunk. To date, no new information has been determined as to who the body is.

Now, the first question I asked was how the heck did the body get mummified in the first place? Well, it's quite the process. In the days of King Tut in Egypt, first, all hair had to be shaved and all organs but the heart removed. Next, the body had to be dried completely by burying it in sand and rags or in dry grass. A drying chemical called natron was also applied to the body right before burial. 40 days later, they would dig it out and pour sweet smelling spices, oils, perfumes and herbs all over it. Then, they would cover the body in linen bandages. Jewels and other expensive trinkets were placed around it. If the person had been very wealthy, then the family could afford to put other precious things in the sarcophagus which is the box the mummy goes into. This is the process of mummification in a nutshell. Don't you feel smarter now? You learn something everyday, huh? : )


Now, this all got me thinking, what would I want put into the box with me. Well, the Egyptians believed that these things would protect you in the afterlife and aid in your travels. Hmmm, knowing that, I think that I would definitely want some money, a bottle of water, pictures of family and friends, good running/walking shoes, my iPod and some headphones.
I decided to take this further and ask a few friends the same question: If I mummified you now, what would you want to be buried with?

• Photos of my friends and family

• My Ipad and my Gold Fronts-Gold teeth. The kind that cover the entire front of your teeth on the top or bottom. They're removable. I figure if the pharaohs wanted to be buried in gold, so should I.

• I would say pics of my closest family and friends. I would want to be mummified in a really fly dress, with lots of makeup on and big eyelashes. Oh! And Bunny and April should be there too (my stuffed animals from childhood, they make me feel instantly comfortable).

• I think the ancient Egyptians mummified their dead to preserve the body in it's most *natural* state and to protect it from animals, etc. Along with the deceased they buried items that they thought the deceased might need in the afterlife. Given that, I'd like a diet Coke, a chapstick and a credit card. Sue Bug, if you are reading this, I think you'd agree. My wedding rings and photos of loved ones would be nice too.

• If my cat were already dead (or died with me somehow) I would want him buried with me. My MacBook. My quilt (with Burmese fabric). A bottle of good whiskey. Pictures of my family and friends. My Twins jersey. My teddy bear from my first Christmas. Maybe a pint of Ben and Jerry's Phish Food. Maybe that's it! I do have a lot of material possessions but it's the relationships in your life and the impression you leave in the end :)

Sure, this is a tad creepy and rather strange but the concept interests me. Can you imagine seriously making these demands before you die? What would you be mummified with?

Is it FOBO, FOMO or something else entirely?

I was waiting for some more responses from my friends but it appears that this is all I'm gonna get so here we go.

So I've been hearing a lot about commitment issues from my friends lately so I thought it would be an interesting topic to discuss here on my blog. Whether it's big or little events, dates, small get-togethers, dinners, parties or anything else, it appears that we CAN'T COMMIT. At least my generation doesn't seem to be able to commit. What is the deal?! I wanted to know what my friends thought so I asked a few of them for their opinions on this strange dilemma.
Here's exactly what I asked:
So, what is the deal with my generation (most of yours) and our lack of commitment?! I don't mean relationships but more our commitment to go on dates, dinners, parties and all other sort of get-togethers? Is it 'Fear of Better Offer (FOBO)? Or the Fear of Missing Out? (FOMO) Fun abbreviations, huh? : )

Here's some of the best responses:
-I'm always like "let's just wait and see". We end up doing it most of the time, but I hate feeling tied down to it.

-"I think the lack of commitment in our generations might come from the evolution of social relationships. In our parents era, it was the 'right', 'normal' thing to do, to go to dinners at friends houses, parties, and other organized social events. I think our generation doesn't feel that same social pressure or need to organize our life so much. I also think it avoids the chance of really disappointing people. I want the freedom on a Friday night after a bad day at work to sit on the couch, eat pizza with by best girlfriends and blow off any sort of big social gathering. If I've committed to that social gathering I have the guilt for not going, and the worry that I just hurt their feelings/made them mad by not going. If I don't commit, then I can avoid all of that!"

-"In my opinion, the problem is not so much fear of xyz but rather an issue of apathy. Many of our younger generation lack a work ethic, which trickles over into other aspects of their lives. In a recent poll, more kids wanted to be “famous” when they grew up rather than any other (and actually real) career. We are inundated with an onslaught of music videos, TV programs and faux-celebs depicting how easy it is to get something without actually working for it, so many start to believe that is the reality when it is not."

-"People are lame, and over-book themselves. What's more upsetting is the time you DON'T plan for yourself! As in EVERYONE else is in control of your time and your sense of obligation. I can sort of relate to this topic from the point of view of the person who gets bailed on. I think that I'm pretty true to my word. If I RSVP that I'll be there, I'll be there. I think it's just rude and discourteous to back out on something you've committed to. People are counting on you to be there. Maybe there was a set amount of food prepared or maybe it's just that your company is really anticipated! Whatever the reason, if you say you'll be there, you should be there. I do think that you hit it on the head with the FOBO and FOMO. People like to keep their options open...and to that extent I am sometimes guilty. I do like to keep my options open, and therefore I'm often on the later side to RSVP. But, once I've committed I'll stick to it (unless of course there's an emergency--illness etc.)"

What do you think about these responses? Have you had experience with commitment phobia lately? Do your friends bail out at the last minute or do they not RSVP at all?

For more on FOMO, check out this interesting website.

The Bases....

Now I warn you, I talk about all things physical in this post so be prepared as I keep it super real. : )

"Hey boy, I really like being with you. Just hanging out is fun. So maybe we can go to... First base. Because I feel you. Second base, I want you to feel me too boy. Third base, better pump the brakes. Ooh baby, slow down. I gotta go home now."

Alicia Keys- "Teenage Love Affair"

Last week I went around asking my friends how they defined the 'bases'. You all know the ones I'm talking about... Well, you wouldn't think that this would be so interesting. I mean, originally, I thought that there was only one right answer, that they were all universal. Yet, I've learned this is not true at all. In fact, the answers vary regional, generational, socially and culturally. Of course, we can all agree what home base means.... In the words of a new friend Steve, "It's a home run no matter which team you're on."

Here are the best results that I received:

1st Base- Kissing

2nd Base- Touching

3rd Base- Both kissing and touching

(From a 60 year old)

1st Base- Making out

2nd Base- Clothes on/off with touching

3rd Base- Oral

1st Base- Just kissing--some tongue, but not complete making out (because I think of making out as having some touchy-feely-ness!)
2nd Base- Full-on making out, like on a couch or in a car or something
3rd Base- Making out with lots of touching...what we used to call petting. Maybe shirts off...

1st Base- Kissing

2nd Base- Any touching of one another, but no orgasms

3rd Base- Hand job, blow job, etc.

Home Run- Ya know ;)

I totally just made those up on the spot, but they make sense to me! I think some people say that 2nd is like over-the-shirt groping, but then that's too big of a jump to third, ya know? It's tricky... there should really be 5 bases!

1st Base- French kissing
2nd Base- Feeling boobs
3rd Base- Hand jobs, jobs of any kind, etc.
Home Run- Sex!!

1st Base- Kissing
2nd Base- Over the clothes feel up
Stealing 3rd Base- Finger/hand job
3rd Base- Oral Sex
Home Run- Sex
Foul Ball- Anal Sex :)

1st Base- Making out with over-the-clothes groping.
2nd Base- Making out with under-the-clothes groping/partial nudity
3rd Base- Hands and/or mouths on parts. (and the reason i say 'or' is because I've never particularly believed that oral sex always comes before old-fashioned sex, Bill and Monica notwithstanding.)
Home Run- Obvious.

So did you agree with these answers? Have you got other ones?