Uber freaks me out. I’ve been reading a lot of articles about how their drivers are sexually assaulting their riders, usually when the rider is drunk but STILL. Like this one: http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2014/07/28/uber-driver-charged-with-sexually-assaulting-passenger-in-d-c/ Be careful out there, girl!

Aw, you’re so sweet, Kelly! This is why I love reading your stuff, too. Totally birds of a feather–your enthusiasm is contagious! Thanks for the kind note, I hope you’re having yourself a LOVELY week. I’d send these bars to every friend in the country if I could!

Yes, I hope y’all do enjoy this–I’d love to hear how it goes for you, Michelle! Cheers!

LOL yes okay let’s be friends, Amanda 🙂

I love what you write about using photography to become invisible–totally unrelated, but I was watching BBC Sherlock and…well, never mind, I won’t spoil it in case you haven’t watched it yet, but it’s interesting. I think you write beautifully, Amanda! Regardless of whether you agree or find your life intriguing, I’ve found that readers really do connect with those “genuine glimpses” into our lives, even if they aren’t explicit (e.g. this post, which is both about me and not about me…if that makes any sense?). On another note, I find that when I photograph people, they stare at me all funny 😀 guess I’m not as invisible as I think when I’m looking stalkerish, hehe. Thoughts on any of this?

Haha! Zainab, girl, you are the best kind of non-invisible–I can’t imagine a better and brighter personality. Forget blending in–you’re paving the way! Happy Wednesday!

HAH–if I’m “younger and smarter” (which I highly doubt, btw), then you are just as young and much wiser. That’s such good advice to keep in mind! I’m terrible at not bending myself over backwards to please other people; I recently had an incident riding Uber (I think you saw it on my FB status?!) where I felt like I dealt with it completely terribly. I ended up still making friendly small chat even though I was SO uncomfortable that he was asking me about my relationship status, etc. He was really, really pushy, and I need to learn to put my foot down more firmly than I do. I’m still nervous about it now in the aftermath of the encounter, just because there seems to be such a huge disparity between what I know I should do and my way of actually handling social situations. It’s a part of me that I’ll need to work on! But you’re right, when it comes to my own happiness, being me is most important. Any thoughts on any of this? Well said!

Matt, you’re such a rock star–thanks for the really kind note, it’s always a blast having you around and reading your stuff as well!

Aw, and your comment has definitely brightened my day, too! Thanks, Deb–I’m glad you like ’em!

That’s a great observation, John–yes, introversion and being shy definitely are not synonymous, though I used to think that they were! Heh, and I don’t really know what the anecdote shows either, but it’s kind of awesome that he could win such a prestigious prize and come out of his shell I little, I suppose? 🙂 I think it’s time for me to crawl into my little hidey-hole and recharge now though. cheers!!

Oooh, that sounds so interesting, Shelley! I didn’t know you could even manage to keep something like a blog a secret! So none of your friends know what awesome things you’re doing with your photography and writing these days? Blogging takes up enough time that I don’t know how I’d explain that away! How do you do it? I had a period where I didn’t talk about my blog at all and remained anonymous, but I think it’s been fun opening up about it as the blog has grown 🙂 it makes for a great conversation starter, anyway. And you should definitely make these, you’d love ’em–sooo addicting!