http://www.monicaobrien.com Work. Grad School. Marriage. Chicago. Life. Sun, 16 Mar 2008 19:32:26 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Today, my husband asked me if I had sent something to Post Secret.  For the record, I didn't.   But this is the same jail we visited on our honeymoon. Weird. http://www.monicaobrien.com/my-not-post-secret/ Maybe I'd be better on my own No one ever seems to understand me It's easier for me to be alone But there's still a piece of me that feels so empty I've been all over the world I've seen a million different places But through the crowds and all the faces I'm still out there looking ... http://www.monicaobrien.com/love-this-song/ This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below: Password: http://www.monicaobrien.com/grey-goose-on-the-rocks/ I've been trying to write for the past four days, and nothing is coming out. Actually, plenty of stuff is flowing, but it's either stuff I don't want to make public or it's stuff I can't make cohesive or it's stuff I can't make sense of yet.  In other words, stuff ... http://www.monicaobrien.com/writers-block/ "Northern Illinois University students Matthew Crupe, 18, (left) and Logan Short, 18, both of O'Fallon, hold signs showing their support for fellow students on Friday, Feb. 15, 2008, on the campus in DeKalb." Source: RRStar There's no one in town I know You gave us some place to go I never said thank you ... http://www.monicaobrien.com/may-angels-lead-you-in/ It's been a stressful week.  I have midterms for winter quarter and a new role at work with much more responsibility.  Today was the release of an alpha version of our newest software package, and I had one hour left, exactly enough time to hit our deadline. I was always jealous of people who ... http://www.monicaobrien.com/school-shooting-at-northern-illinois-university/ This is possibly the stupidest thing I've ever seen. http://www.monicaobrien.com/when-social-media-goes-too-far/ I know, because everyone keeps reminding me. The Rat is one of the few Chinese years I remember.  I wasn't sure why, and then I remembered my birth year is the year of the Rat. That means I'm 24 this year.  Seems like a good time for a quarter-life crisis. After all, that means ... http://www.monicaobrien.com/2008-is-the-year-of-the-rat/ By now, gas prices are old news.  Gas is up, gas is down, but one thing doesn't change - we still buy it. People think it's a problem that Americans consume too much gasoline.  We do, but the real problem is Americans are in love with the convenience of having our own cars.  The ... http://www.monicaobrien.com/gas-prices-are-too-low/ Last night I went to Lucky Strike in downtown Chicago for this seminar I am taking in grad school. Background: I don't go bowling because I am bad at bowling and, like most people, I don't like to do things I am bad at.  Unfortunately, other people like bowling and schedule bowling events because ... http://www.monicaobrien.com/revelations-at-lucky-strike/