Friends in the Black Hole

There's something that's beginning to irritate me: Friends that don't communicate back.

I'm pretty big on communication. I'll do phone calls, emails, IMs, text messages, SMS messages, blogs, Evite, Facebook... just to communicate out an event or social gathering. Granted not all of these are effective ways to communicate, some just get lost in a sea of spam, ahem email. But one thing they all have in common, they all use technology. They are all communication channels that are based on electronic devices: primarily cell phones and computers with Internet access.

For me, if a friend were to email me, I'll email back. Facebook (FB) message me, I'll FB back. And so on, especially for text messages. I like to think of this mutual act as a form of common courtesy in our information age.

I'm beginning to take offense to friends that do not return this gesture. And I don't mean the friends that we see every once in a while from across the country/globe, acquaintances, or friends of friends. That I can understand if they don't respond to an Evite or Facebook Event in a timely manner or at all. I'm talking about friends who we depend on in life to help get us through the crazy work weeks and difficult times.

Coordinating and arranging events, big or small takes some work and communication. Those of us that have been in charge of big events know the frustration in trying to get a headcount so the appropriate amount of supplies, food and other arrangements that need to be made. Which is where technology has come in to help make the formal mailed invitations and formal phone calls a thing of the past. Why pay for postage or play phone tag when we have instant forms of communications that reach people wherever they are.

In the end, a simple Yes, No, or Maybe will suffice as an answer back. It can all be done with a few clicks or keypad strokes. It's certainly better than hearing nothing at all and making the other person feel like they are being taken for granted.

And the one excuse that's making me sick now too is the age old, "I've been busy". According to my calculations I also have 7 days in my week and 24 hours in each of those days. I just cannot accept that in all that time, there wasn't a few seconds or minutes to read a message and click a few buttons to respond. I just do not.

Sunburned

I got sunburned Saturday from chilling in the pool watching the air show. I was out for about two and a half hours in the pool and laying out. I didn't realize I was burned until I came inside my apartment. I felt tired, hungry, and thirsty. So I ate some food, drank some water, and took a shower. I didn't realize I was burnt all over my front until I felt the pain from scrubbing in the shower.

So, I ended up chatting with my sister and googling how to treat it. Best link I found was here. Basically, I followed:

• Cool baths
• Lotion (Aloe Vera)
• Stay out of the sun

Man this sucks. I haven't been sunburned this badly since I was a kid in Thailand. It was from playing in a water park all day back then.

It probably didn't help that I went eating (Fogo De Chao) and drinking Martini Park) later on that night to further dehydrate my body. Hopefully I've learned my lesson now, a life lesson.

The sun is not your friend.