Happy 31st Birthday Garfield!

User post: 7 topics to avoid if you don’t want to be a bore
Shine From Yahoo
by Gretchen Rubin, on Wed Apr 29, 2009 10:53am PDT

I hesitate to disagree with the immortal La Rochefoucauld, but I think he was wrong when he wrote, “We are always bored by those whom we bore.”

Not always (though I often remind myself of this observation when I’m feeling bored by someone else). I think that sometimes we find a topic so interesting that it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that it might not be interesting to someone else. And most of us want to make a good impression and avoid boring other people.

Unless you get a truly enthusiastic response from your interlocutor—which is possible—be very wary of recounting…

1. A dream.
2. The recent changes in your child’s nap schedule.
3. The route you took to get here.
4. An excellent meal you once had at a restaurant.
5. The latest additions to your wine cellar.
6. An account of your last tennis game.
7. The plot of a movie, play or book—in particular, the funny parts.

What do these subjects have in common? The listener has nothing to add. He or she must just hear you describe your experience.

User post: 7 topics to avoid if you don’t want to be a bore

Not surprised by it. Anyways, I do not talk about them or even think of it. There are the three things you do not talk about at the dinner table, which include parties as well, politics, money, and sex. However, I do not see emotionally charged topics like 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina/Ike, which I am guilty of talking about at times. Funny thing, it does not bore people because everyone lived through them. We all saw 9/11 attacks on live television and people affected in the Gulf Coast by Katrina and Ike.

I can’t believe it. Christmas was just yesterday and it is upon us again. I went to a large party last night. Lots of beautiful and fine people there. I got to see many friends, some I have not seen since middle school. Christmas is not just about gifts. it is also about seeing friends, some you have not seen in years or even decades. That is a Christmas gift right there. All is well with them.

Sadly, you cannot say much about the world, 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and Hurricane Ike. 9/11 and Hurricane Ike is very personal to me. 9/11 because the World Trade Center was attacked and destroyed and claimed 3,000 lives and many families are without loved ones as a result. Hurricane Ike was a horrible hurricane and I had to go through it. No fun and never want to go through that ever again.

Despite it all, I had a mighty great time. The Ghost of Christmas Past will sure agree with that. Hopefully future Christmas will be just as cool as well. Merry Christmas to everyone!

Over the weekend, I went to a party in the daytime. A far outcry from nighttime parties, which are common. Some change is nice. The weather was it its finest, clear skies and warm weather. To make it even better, there were many beautiful and fine girls there, which made it all fun.

Unfortunately, a sore thumb refuses to heal. It has been there since 2001. It is the never ending thinking and talking about the World Trade Center and 9/11. Yes, I know it has been seven years since that horrible and dark day occurred. I try not to think about this horrible day in September on a Tuesday in 2001. Airplanes crashing into the World Trade Center triggering a fiery explosion and causes it to vomit huge amount of smoke. World Trade Center violently melting onto the streets of New York in a massive toxic dust and smoke cloud shrouding Manhattan. Thousands of lives lost and many children without parents.

I keep thinking about this dark day everyday at all hours. I even think about it at parties, which I should not even be doing. Party is to have a great time and not thinking about the bad things in life. I know I shouldn’t think about the WTC. The thing is, I have been thinking and talking about New York before 9/11. Don’t get me wrong, I do have a mighty fine time at parties. As horrible it was, we should never forget this day.

Despite it all, I had a good time at the party. There was a lot of good food and drinks. I got to see old friends and meet new people. It brings back memories of my college days. I went to a lot of parties when I was in college, mostly frat parties. I was not in any fraternity though. I may have aged and no longer in college. One thing that remains the same is that the parties are always fun and there are lot of fine girls.

I cannot believe it. It is already Christmas Eve. Just a month ago was Thanksgiving. Last year’s Christmas felt like yesterday. I had a great weekend of partying and being merry. I also got to see friends, some I have not seen in years, some as long as since I graduated high school. Good times. It is hard to imagine how the world had changed from 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and Virginia Tech Massacre. These horrible events show how much it is worth to see your friends again and also with Christmas coming. In spite of those horrible events, I did not dwell on them at the parties. However, we should never forget the people who lost loved ones whether from cancer, suicide, murder, our soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq, terrorism like 9/11, 2004-2005 hurricane season like Katrina, and mass murder. I had a jolly good time actually. Last night I went to a large party, which was a Sunday night. I never have partied on a Sunday night. It was for a good cause for charity. The party was crowded and full of beautiful and young people. There was music and dancing. I enjoyed every minute of it. Brought back memories of college party days. In fact, I saw many of my friends from college. Everyone was in the Christmas spirit, which was cool. This will be a Christmas I will never forget for years to come.