You've seen the Facebook status updates:
"Happy anniversary, baby! I'm so glad I found the love of my life. I can't wait to see you tonight!"
It seems like a sweet testimony of conquering love's ups and downs. Until you realize this:
They've been together one week.
Am I the only unmarried person who's never formally celebrated a relationship anniversary?
Make no mistake: I've marked anniversaries on my calendar -- with glitter pens. When the day hits, I've casually mentioned its significance: "You know, we've officially been together six months now."
Without fail, the statement is met with a noncommittal shrug.
To feel better, I convince myself a relationship's real milestones -- say, 10 years together -- lose their significance when you mark an anniversary every other week...even every other month.
Yes, it's nice to step back and appreciate your significant other, but is one month together really worthy of a status update? Maybe not.
In the end, I guess we all really just want to celebrate.
We want our partners to acknowledge the dinners we bought, the cards we made and relationship uncertainty we weathered.
And then remind us we're good for another year.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
What you wear
Let me introduce you my former best friend: a pink velour tracksuit from Bebe.
I was convinced it made me look like Eva Longoria.
The getup hugged my body in all the right places, and it seemed to perfectly illustrate an elusive combination: sexy meets sporty.
That is, until my boyfriend dubbed it a "Wal-Mart outfit."
Maybe he meant to suggest I was destined for Internet fame. But the comment hurt, and my tracksuit was laid to rest.
No matter how much you love someone, can you ever really criticize his/her choice in clothing without repercussions?
Here, The Frisky/CNN tell us how to deal with a badly dressed boyfriend.
Then, there's this Glamour blog post, where one woman asks how long you have to wait before repeating an outfit in a relationship.
And finally, this article states the obvious: For women, high couture doesn't always equal high romantic appeal. ("Very roughly, you could say that fashion falls into clothes to get you laid, and clothes that you wear for other women.")
Clothes may be mere accessories, but they still have potential to ignite bitter fights.
Unless you're Heidi Klum, or your significant other has an incurable affinity for Crocs, keep your mouth shut.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to bond with a certain velour tracksuit.
I was convinced it made me look like Eva Longoria.
The getup hugged my body in all the right places, and it seemed to perfectly illustrate an elusive combination: sexy meets sporty.
That is, until my boyfriend dubbed it a "Wal-Mart outfit."
Maybe he meant to suggest I was destined for Internet fame. But the comment hurt, and my tracksuit was laid to rest.
No matter how much you love someone, can you ever really criticize his/her choice in clothing without repercussions?
Here, The Frisky/CNN tell us how to deal with a badly dressed boyfriend.
Then, there's this Glamour blog post, where one woman asks how long you have to wait before repeating an outfit in a relationship.
And finally, this article states the obvious: For women, high couture doesn't always equal high romantic appeal. ("Very roughly, you could say that fashion falls into clothes to get you laid, and clothes that you wear for other women.")
Clothes may be mere accessories, but they still have potential to ignite bitter fights.
Unless you're Heidi Klum, or your significant other has an incurable affinity for Crocs, keep your mouth shut.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to bond with a certain velour tracksuit.
What's going on tonight?
Man, I am ready for a good Thursday night party. Even if that just means watching "Real Housewives of Atlanta" with my dog.
But who knows? I might hit the town, especially since there's a good assortment of options tonight.
Of note: Belloo's, 900 Front Ave., recently introduced a new Ladies Night menu available Wednesdays and Thursdays beginning at 7 p.m. It includes $5 martinis. No cover.
Also, this week's Battle of the Bands at H2O includes performances by Thousand Watt Halo, Broken Rail, The Grayhill Conspiracy, Poanna and Downshift.
Here's the rest of your lineup:
• Goldcure, 10 p.m. SoHo Bar & Grill, $5 (free for military). 706-568-3316.
• Steve McRay, 9 p.m. Belloo’s, free. 706-494-1584.
• Whisky Bent, 10 p.m. Scruffy Murphy’s, free. 706-322-3460.
• Battle of the Bands (round two), 9 p.m. H2O, $5 (free for women). 706-327-9700.
• Foreplay, 9 p.m. Shanty Shack, free. 706-507-3418.
But who knows? I might hit the town, especially since there's a good assortment of options tonight.
Of note: Belloo's, 900 Front Ave., recently introduced a new Ladies Night menu available Wednesdays and Thursdays beginning at 7 p.m. It includes $5 martinis. No cover.
Also, this week's Battle of the Bands at H2O includes performances by Thousand Watt Halo, Broken Rail, The Grayhill Conspiracy, Poanna and Downshift.
Here's the rest of your lineup:
• Goldcure, 10 p.m. SoHo Bar & Grill, $5 (free for military). 706-568-3316.
• Steve McRay, 9 p.m. Belloo’s, free. 706-494-1584.
• Whisky Bent, 10 p.m. Scruffy Murphy’s, free. 706-322-3460.
• Battle of the Bands (round two), 9 p.m. H2O, $5 (free for women). 706-327-9700.
• Foreplay, 9 p.m. Shanty Shack, free. 706-507-3418.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
People of Walmart
A midnight trip to buy dog food turns into a valuable lesson in social observation.
This could only happen in one place: Wal-Mart.
I know people who vehemently oppose the store. I once even watched a Wal-Mart hater pay somebody NOT to visit the retail giant.
But for me, someone living alone on a pretty limited income, the store is a necessary evil. It's where I bought the $7 bathing suit that lasted an entire summer.
It's also where I found $5 generic anti-cellulite cream once my budget no longer allowed for the Nivea brand.
Sure, nobody wants to cruise shopping aisles in the company of carny wannabes. But you just suck it up.
And now, take photos.
That's right: Three friends have created the wonderful Internet world of People of Walmart, a online photo gallery of the store's eclectic mix of shoppers.
The site's intro notes:
Let’s face it; we all have seen the people who obviously don’t have mirrors and/or family and friends to lock them in a basement, and they all seem to congregate at Walmart. It’s not everywhere that you can shop for milk at 10 a.m. next to a 400lb mother of 6 wearing a pink tube top, leopard tights, and hooker heels.
So true, so true.
This could only happen in one place: Wal-Mart.
I know people who vehemently oppose the store. I once even watched a Wal-Mart hater pay somebody NOT to visit the retail giant.
But for me, someone living alone on a pretty limited income, the store is a necessary evil. It's where I bought the $7 bathing suit that lasted an entire summer.
It's also where I found $5 generic anti-cellulite cream once my budget no longer allowed for the Nivea brand.
Sure, nobody wants to cruise shopping aisles in the company of carny wannabes. But you just suck it up.
And now, take photos.
That's right: Three friends have created the wonderful Internet world of People of Walmart, a online photo gallery of the store's eclectic mix of shoppers.
The site's intro notes:
Let’s face it; we all have seen the people who obviously don’t have mirrors and/or family and friends to lock them in a basement, and they all seem to congregate at Walmart. It’s not everywhere that you can shop for milk at 10 a.m. next to a 400lb mother of 6 wearing a pink tube top, leopard tights, and hooker heels.
So true, so true.
You move me
But would you move for me?
Ah, the perils of relocating for love. Some people think it's the ultimate romantic gesture; others think it's a recipe for disaster.
Of course, it all depends on where you are in your relationship and where you're moving.
Following a significant other across the country is always a daunting prospect, but the discomfort is eased a bit if you're moving to a big city like Los Angeles as opposed to, say, some isolated town in South Dakota.
With a big city, you have an increased shot at job opportunities and social outlets. Plus, if you break up, you know you probably won't run into your ex every other day.
Check out this list of 5 questions to ask before relocating for love, courtesy of YourTango.
It's always difficult when you're in a relationship where one person's job constantly makes him/her susceptible to geographic change. That's certainly true of the military, as well as volatile professions like mine.
In those situations, if you're set on keeping your relationship intact, it's important to savor daily reminders of why your love transcends time zones, temperatures and access to good shopping.
(But as a word of caution, check out this "Relationship Whoa" on Lemondrop -- one woman's story about how a guy moved across the country for her...and then left after three days.)
Ah, the perils of relocating for love. Some people think it's the ultimate romantic gesture; others think it's a recipe for disaster.
Of course, it all depends on where you are in your relationship and where you're moving.
Following a significant other across the country is always a daunting prospect, but the discomfort is eased a bit if you're moving to a big city like Los Angeles as opposed to, say, some isolated town in South Dakota.
With a big city, you have an increased shot at job opportunities and social outlets. Plus, if you break up, you know you probably won't run into your ex every other day.
Check out this list of 5 questions to ask before relocating for love, courtesy of YourTango.
It's always difficult when you're in a relationship where one person's job constantly makes him/her susceptible to geographic change. That's certainly true of the military, as well as volatile professions like mine.
In those situations, if you're set on keeping your relationship intact, it's important to savor daily reminders of why your love transcends time zones, temperatures and access to good shopping.
(But as a word of caution, check out this "Relationship Whoa" on Lemondrop -- one woman's story about how a guy moved across the country for her...and then left after three days.)
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Social suicide...on Facebook?
I recently modeled in a local bridal expo. The second I signed up, I knew what my favorite part would be.
Not wearing a really expensive gown from Formal Elegance. Not getting a free hair and makeup session, either.
What I looked forward to most: Confusing people on Facebook by posting pics of me dressed as a bride.
So after I graced the runway, I created a Facebook photo album innocently titled "I'm a bride!"
Believe it or not, my trickery kind of worked. I got my share of congratulatory messages and inquiries about the lucky fella.
But even though I didn't really get hitched, the experience made me feel the eerie discomfort of overstepping your limits of Facebook disclosure.
Did my closest acquaintances really believe I'd inform them of such a major life change through a social networking site?
In my 2 years as a Facebook user, I have yet to even post a relationship status.
That might mean I'm destined for a life as a social outcast -- at least if you believe this researcher. He says failing to disclose details about your private life on Facebook is like social suicide.
Not everyone's buying the argument. Honestly, I think responsible Facebook use errs on the side of too little information, not too much.
Then again, maybe digitally reminding us of your romantic perils has social value.
You know, the kind you can't find in FarmVille.
Free Tuesday show!
The local rockers from Foreplay perform a free show tonight at the Shanty Shack, 4475 Warm Springs Road. Music starts at 7 p.m.
The show is part of the Columbus hot spot's Muldoon's Tuesdays promotion, which attempts to re-create the atmosphere of longtime Veterans Parkway hangout Muldoon's. That venue was replaced by dance club H2O a year ago.
Call 706-507-3418.
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