Hi, I'm Mel and I'm a friends-lock abuser.

(Hi, Mel!)

Comment if you would like to be added. I'd appreciate knowing know why you're interested in reading--e.g., recommended by a mutual friend, or found me on an interests search. Thanks!

I think I just made Frankencuisine. I took some canned tuna, and mixed it with wasabi mayonnaise* a dollop of jarred minced ginger, and a splash of soy sauce.

* Found it at Trader Joe's. Great on cold roast beef sandwiches!

The result? Wasabi tuna salad! But I'm not sure if it's a total abomination (like the tacos at Jack In The Box), or a respectable example of fusion cooking.

Poll #1270234 Wasabi tuna salad
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All

Wasabi tuna salad is . . .

. . . I rather like it, at any rate. Just not sure if I dare to serve it to others.

Does anyone have a favorite variation(s) on tuna salad? I'm thinking I'll try some chopped green olives instead of pickles/pickle relish, but other clever ideas would be appreciated.

Dear very large beetle,

I might have liked you, except that your social graces are really lacking. Next time, call before coming over. And you should at least buy a gal a drink before you expect to hang out in her bedroom.

Have fun out there in the grass!
Mel

--

Dear mosquitoes,

I hate you and all that you stand for. And what's with this foot fetish? You barely ever touch any other part of my body. It's creepy.

Plz die. Kthx.
Mel

Help me, friends and random strangers. You're my only hope.

I've known roughly forever that my Myers-Briggs type is INTJ. But I just recently realized how dang much that explains about how I think and act. Especially what I'm like in relationships, both romantic and platonic. (I like that bit where INTJs have no qualms about cutting off relationships that don't work, but then angst about it later. Yup, yup.)

Lately I've been thinking frequently that emotions are frustrating. They often evade my intellectual grasp; and things that I can't understand rationally are, of course, icky. :P There are multiple people I've loved absolutely to bits, who have told me (whether as a well-meant observation or as an insult, whether in a specific situation or as a general tendency) that I'm reserved, cool-headed, robotic, withdrawn, cold, etc.

Before anyone says it, yes, I know I'm big awesome sweetie with tons and tons of affection to share. ;) The thing is, I'm not so great at expressing it in real time. It can be hard for me to explain, understand, or even name my emotions as they are occurring. I want time to consider them before talking about them or, sometimes, even admitting that I've felt anything. Hence my tendency to vent and introspect here, perhaps to the detriment of face-to-face emotional talk. This has been, I think, a factor in a few relationship misunderstandings--I'm not always able to express my feelings to someone both promptly and thoroughly.

So, some questions for all of you: How can I help smooth my interactions with more emotionally-focused people?

What are good ways to help them understand that this is just how I work--that I'm not being deliberately cold or heartless if I can't or don't want to address emotions as promptly and/or thoroughly as they'd hope for? (Do I just sit them down and explain this? When?) Do any of you have success stories--whether you were the rational person or the emotionally-attuned person?

Conversely, what might I do to communicate more effectively with the more emotionally-focused? Any tricks or exercises that could help me figure out emotions more quickly, so they don't have to wait quite as long before I'm ready to talk? Things I might try to notice (for I am sometimes oblivious), that could indicate someone's feeling neglected, feeling shut out, or otherwise getting ticked with my coolness?

Emotionally-attuned people, what do you wish us rational types understood better about you? I mentioned some impressions of what people like you have thought of me and my hesitance to talk about emotions--do you think I'm totally off base with that? What other angles do you see, in this sort of personality conflict?

Thank you, anonymous sender, for the vgift. My day definitely needed some brightening! :D

Dear Ron Paul,

As I was walking home today, I encountered a group of your supporters waving signs on a streetcorner. There was an incident in this meeting which aroused my curiousity about your campaign.

I was sporting combat boots, a partially shaved head, a pierced nose, a Gogol Bordello jacket, and a snarling visage. As I stomped past, looking my surliest, one of your supporters yelled after me: "If you're a real punk, you'll like Ron Paul."

It was encouraging to hear that there may, finally, be a presidential candidate to fit my punk sensibilities! Unfortunately, I was in a hurry, and could not stop to chat. Could you clarify which of your positions would appeal to punks, and which type(s) of punks would especially like you?

As you are probably aware, punks are a politically diverse group, politically united mainly by their resentment of current political and social conditions in America and other parts of the world.

Generally, I could see how anarchist punks might consider you the lesser of many evils, based on your support of small government, nonintervention in international matters, and low taxes.

However, I am afraid this particular supporter was mistaken in his interpretation of my jacket. One Gogol Bordello's better known songs--and the slogan on my jacket--is "Immigrant Punk." My understanding is that you are unsupportive of immigration from Mexico; do you feel similarly about immigration from other parts of the world?

I am also specifically curious about what you have done as a congressman--and what you would do as President--to address the concerns of socialist punks and riot grrls. A cursory look at your campaign website did not reveal anything specifically encouraging to socialist or feminist concerns. Could you give examples of your policies that might appeal to these punk movements?

Most sincerely,
Mel "Sullen" McSurlypants

An example of (one reason) why I dislike third-party charities like United Way and MissionFish: http://www.pgdc.com/usa/item/?itemID=513649

MissionFish then deducts a "small portion" of the proceeds to cover its expenses and then grants to remainder to the charitable donee selected by the seller. Its fee begins at 20% for amounts up to $50 and moves down to 3% for amounts exceeding $5,000 (1.5% if the sellers pays via check or EFT). There is no cap on this fee.

Presuming Premiere Radio Networks sent a check or wired the $2,100,100 to MissionFish (rather than using PayPal or putting it on its Visa card), the fee would have been $31,426.50!

Emphasis mine.

If you give through an organization like a United Way or MissionFish, the ultimate recipient never gets your whole gift. Sure, it's peanuts if you're giving $20 off your paycheck . . . But it adds up. And, as you can see above, it's a fair amount of dollars off of a large gift.

( But wait! There's more! )

So, if you've picked a worthy cause that you would like to support, give through another organization if you must. . . . But I strongly encourage you to just donate directly. Please?