Thoughts on Weddings and Marriage

Some people like weddings. Some people do not. I happen to be one of those people that does not like weddings. To me, a wedding is a big fancy event that you have to get dressed up for, probably travel some distance out of your normal range, and watch 2 people basically have a party for themselves. Now of course you are not forced to attend weddings, but if someone you know or someone close to you is getting married, you pretty much have to go because it is expected.

I have been lucky so far and I have not had to attend too many weddings, but unfortunately I am getting to be around the age where other people my age such as cousins and relatives are starting to get married. This got me thinking about the whole process and what it means to everyone involved.

Personally I have no intention of getting married or having a wedding. To me, it is an outdated custom. The thought of having a a ceremony and a party where I am the center of attention just seems like a nightmare. To me, it actually seems selfish to have a wedding and invite a bunch of people to it. I say this because when someone invites you to a wedding, they expect you to attend. By doing this, they are pretty much saying, ok on this day, drop everything you would normally do and come attend this event for me. Also you are expected to bring a gift or monetary donation. I know weddings are expensive, but no one said you had to spend all this money to get married.

If I was to ever get married, it would only be because of technical benefits such as tax breaks or cheaper car insurance. Even that whole issue is unfair, but that is another story. Also if I was to get married, I would keep the process and small and inexpensive as possible. No ceremony or party, just sign whatever documents need to be signed to make it official.

These days people can be together and live together without having to create a legally binding contract. All that does is make things messy later on should there be a split or divorce. Of course the institution of marriage has been around a long time and a deeply engrained custom like that is hard to break. For now, those of us who don't like going to weddings just have to suck it up and go to them even when we don't want to.

100,000 Views Milestone - Blog Reflection

Today the Connected Isolation website reached 100,000 views in traffic.  I know that is not really that much considering how some sites get millions of views, but still it is a milestone and something to be proud of.  I started this blog a little over 4 years ago not really having much direction or knowing what to write on it.  Over the years it has evolved from short random articles and music recommendations to more meaningful articles and helpful tutorials that can be applied to every day life.

While this blog has never really been profitable, it is still a good resource to use as a medium to share one's opinion.  It's nice to know if you have something on your mind, you can put it out there in the world and people searching for it can find it.  This is who I write for; not for my friends or people who know me, but for people who are specifically searching for a topic that I have written about.

I will continue to write in in this blog as a way to share my thoughts and help others by contributing useful information and entertainment to those who seek it.  As always, feel free to leave a comment if you are so inspired to do so.  I read all of them and appreciate the feedback people give on the articles.  As the year comes to a close, be on the look out for some of my favorite posts such as best songs, best  tv shows, and best Youtube channels of the year! 

How to Fix a Leaking Shampoo Bottle or Container

After a recent visit to the store, I managed to drop one of my grocery bags which had a bottle of shampoo.  No big deal, but later that day I discovered there was a small crack in the bottom of it and it was leaking shampoo out of it.  This was a brand new bottle so I needed to find a way to save it. I didn't have any other good containers to transfer it to, so I had to figure out how to repair the bottle.

First I tried tape.  I cleaned up the bottle and dried it and then applied several layers of tape.  It held it for the time being, but as soon as it got wet the next day, the tape came off and it started leaking again.

Next I tried glue.  Again I cleaned it up and applied a few layers of glue over the crack.  This worked well again until it got wet.  The water dissolved the glue and it began leaking again.  I needed something that could hold up against the water and that got me thinking.

I knew that the silicone caulk used around the edges of the tub was water resistant and I had some extra caulk available to use.  So once again, I cleaned up the bottle and applied the caulk.  I let it dry overnight.  Next day I tried it out.  It got wet but it held the seal.  It has been good for several days now so I think the problem has been solved.  If you have a container or bottle that is leaking try applying some silicone caulk to the crack or hole to seal it up.

Chipotle Sofritas Review

I heard Chipotle had a new tofu option on their menu called "Sofritas" so I had to check it out.  I usually go with either a burrito or a bowl with rice, bean, veggies, salsa, cheese and sour cream.  This time I asked for the Sofritas.  When the server behind the counter was about to add it, I almost told her not too because I thought she was adding one of the meat options.  It really looks like a ground chicken or beef.  She explained that it was in fact the tofu Sofritas.

Upon trying it, I found the texture to be more firm than I expected.  Also, as mentioned above, I was expecting more like chunks of tofu rather than ground up tiny pieces.  The taste was also a lot more spicy than I expected.  Other reviewers who have tried it said it was over seasoned or too salty.  I would agree with this.  Half way through the Sofritas flavor became too much to I decided to just eat around it.

Overall it s nice that they are adding new options to the menu, especially a tofu option, I just wish it was more like grilled tofu pieces.  I didn't care for the texture or the taste of the Sofritas so I probably would not order them again, but stick to my usual ingredients. 

If you are looking for a tofu option in a burrito like Chipotle, check out Moe's Southwest Grill.  I have written a review of Moe's in a previous blog here.

Have you tried the new Sofritas at Chipotle?  What did you think?