I can’t stand it when people cry. I always find it so melodramatic when someone’s releasing genuine tears in public (i.e., not in the privacy of underneath your own covers in your own bedroom with the door shut). It’s like, hello!? Crying never gets you anywhere. And I would know, I’m a frequent crier*1. But I can’t help it when it happens; I was born this way. Truly, my baby, toddler, and childhood nickname was Crybaby*2. As such, I’m able to detect when crying is chronic (like mine) or purely emotional (which is highly inappropriate). 

Allow me to explain further: the emotional kind is used by the selfish with the intention of making you feel bad for them because they’re undergoing a momentary feeling of sadness. Sooner or later though, the sad feeling goes away, rendering the crying a waste of time for both the crier and the involuntary witness(es). Chronic crying, on the other hand, is the residual effect of hormonal imbalance, low levels of maturity, proneness to irritability, and not getting enough sleep (I find that when I don’t get a full 10 hours of sleep a night, I am more likely to engage in chronic crying during the day). Not to mention, when it happens, I’m considerate enough to cover my face or turn away in shame. I at least make an attempt to hide that stuff. The emotional criers will look you right in the eye while they’re doing it! Then their crying suddenly stops and they probably don’t do it again for months. 

Unlike them, I don’t just cry because I’m sad and want attention and expect people to care. I cry for a ton of reasons and I know no one cares. I'm not looking for attention - I just do it.

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 *1 a person or animal that cries 
 *2 In Cantonese, it’s pronounced ‘haam bao.’

My internet was down earlier today. And for some unexplainable reason, I deduced that Verizon was the one to blame. So, as you would expect of any take-action-type person in this position, I called Verizon’s complaint center to let them know that, as the Founder, Leader, Editor in Chief, and Licensed Blogger of an online business, I cannot, and repeat, loudly, I CANNOT, have a broken internet – ever!

 * * *

I do not believe I learn something new every day, but I indubitably learned something this precise day. In fact, I learned 2 things today. Evidently, my internet provider is Comcast and has been for quite some time now. Also, Verizon employees currently have a heftier work load than usual because they have been on strike all week.

Now is not a good time to yell at anyone who works for Verizon, especially if you’re not one of their customers.

Animal Rescuer: Don’t you think it’s strange that you eat animals but you’re afraid of them?
Former Avid Hot Dog Fanatic: …Why, yes. Yes, I do.

My most problematic animal fear is of dogs. It’s actually called cynophobia* and it is very real. Unfortunately, in this dog-lovers-dominated society, not enough awareness has been raised for those who suffer from cynophobia.

Throughout my life, I have been told dozens of times by dog owners, “Oh, she won’t bite. She’s friendly!” So what could I possibly be afraid of? If I know that the dog isn’t harmful, then I should be able to relax and start playing wrestling games with the dog like everyone else, right?

Wrong.

Most cynophobes want to participate in the dog-loving world but simply cannot. Often times, cynophobes are mistakenly deemed as merely, “not liking dogs.” This common misconception can be hurtful to cynophobes because it implies that they distance themselves from dogs out of repulsion, when, in reality, cynophobes are forced to stay away from dogs in order to be able to function normally.

 * * *

No –

You know what? Cynophobia or no cynophobia – No, I don’t want to pick up poop off the street on a daily basis, get regularly licked in the face, constantly clean up dog hair, or ever have to abandon my human contacts to return home to tend to a dog. I’m proud to be cynophobic.

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 *The American Board of Neuro Linguistic Programming defines cynophobia as an anxiety disorder in which one becomes irrationally nervous and uneasy regardless of whether or not the dog presents a legitimate threat.