Expiration.

Thanks to some faithful blog followers (i.e. the only two people who read my blog), I realized that I have neglected this blog. I don't have a very compelling excuse other than moderate school work and sheer lack of worthy musings. Alas, some things have been brought to my attention and I felt the need to write.

It reminds me of the last line of a remarkable English sonnet written by Sir Phillip Sydney, the first one in "Astrophil and Stella":

Fool, said my Muse to me, look in thy heart and write.

Yes, perhaps that is somewhat cheesy. Yet, that is how most great literary works begin: writing directly from what evokes emotion.

Anyway. I do not think the following can be considered a "great literary work", but my muse tells me to write.

Do certain relationships have expiration dates? Or, do we intentionally or unintentionally progress the souring of a concoction we created?

We enter friendships or romantic relationships because we feel that pull of shared interests, desirable companionship, or even favorable perks. Once we enter into this unspoken contract with others, is it our obligation to uphold it, for better or for worse? Do we need to sacrifice our emotions, pride or dignity to preserve the sanctity of a relationship?

These answers can seem very obvious. It depends on the individual. A long time friend is going to require a certain level of trust and loyalty as opposed to someone you met two weeks ago. However, it doesn't always work out this way: what if this long time friend changed into someone you barely recognize? Yes, we can be long time friends but are you a close friend? How meaningful are you to me? What kind of level of loyalty do you owe to someone in this position? Is it near the expiration of your relationship? Should we maintain this level of intimacy or call it quits?

There also comes the issue of emotional health. Are certain friends affecting you in a way you become their host and they your leech? How do we politely tell them to stop sucking you dry?

Is it even correct to tell a friend: Hey, this isn't working out for me. I don't want to continue a dysfunctional friendship with you. I would imagine it would be a huge blow to their ego and maybe shed light on their inability to form halfway decent relationships with anyone. Maybe that's their problem. Or does it become our problem? Do we not want anyone "in"?

At this point, I have no idea where this post is going.

I suppose what I want to know is if some people are just doomed for disaster when it comes to connecting with others. I have had friendships that expired at graduation dates, expired ever since they said something specifically, or expired from lack of communication. There are some that I have been sad to see crumble, and others where I had a hand in disintegrating. Some I have done with no remorse, others I have a baggage full of remorse.

Maybe these expiration's are necessary to distinguish which relationships have no expiration dates.

I just wish some expired less painfully than others.

Bad.

While engaging in an unhealthy amount of television viewing, I stumbled across those obnoxious promotional commercials the "Bad Girls Club" on Oxygen. While watching the brief clips on these young women fling various household objects at each other, trying to tear each other into shreds, and engaging in all over sickening, attention craving behavior, it got me thinking.

When did bad become good?

This show is on its third season. There are people vying to be on this show? There are people willing and wanting desperately to show how bitchy, trashy and nasty they can be?

When where these characteristics ever celebrated? Did I miss the memo?

This trend to be a "bad girl", to be a woman known for her excessive drinking, her promiscuous sexual activity, and her vile attitude has gained a brand of glamor. "Bad girls" are "cool girls". It's cool to drink yourself into a comma. It's cool to sleep to with the first attractive guy you meet at the bar. It's cool to bash that girl's skull in in the alleyway because she gave you a "nasty look". That's all good and well.

Aren't these the stereotypes these same women claim to be trying disprove? To convince the general public they are productive members of society?

Instead, they embody everything a woman shouldn't be. Publicly.

It's not just the women on this revolting reality series. Young women of my generation believe this is the correct way to spend their youth, the only way to have fun.

I think I come off as an insufferable prude in this post. Or jealous I don't lead the same lifestyle. That is far from it. I pity those girls. They don't know any other way to lead meaningful lives than go boozing and bruising.

Granted, I am not saying we can't be "bad" from time to time. What is life without a little adventure? However, when these behaviors becomes the way you are characterized, there's a problem.

I feel like this is a huge step backwards for women everywhere.

I suppose one can also look at the "celebration" of these behaviors as even an accomplishment: Well look at these women! They can go out and act just the way men do and be recognized for it. Have a television show dedicated to them. Equal opportunity in every sense!

But aren't those behaviors in men that women say they despise? The excessive drinking, the promiscuity and the domestic violence? If I am not mistaken, these have been the causes of countless divorces, countless deal-breakers, countless job losses.

Usually, those are never celebrated.

We aren't perfect. We shouldn't be perfect. We shouldn't be a little wound up society of people pretending to be righteous and good and pious. No.

What we should be is a society who knows the difference between good television and offensive television.