Monday, July 11, 2011
Monday power anthem
Happy Monday! I'm having one of those days that goes from a bad day to a good day in 3.5 seconds. I can't complain.
Also, it's my dad's birthday! Woo hoo!
So in honor of my dad's birthday, I've chosen the closest thing to "our song." My dad used to serenade me with this tune when I was a kid.
No, he did not sing the ska version. I just picked that rendition because, well, who doesn't like ska?
Friday, July 8, 2011
You light up my life
I've never dated a smoker, although I'm embarrassed to admit I once feigned a smoking habit to impress a guy.
Wow, that confession was painful.
Anyway, I never considered specific etiquette rules for dating a smoker -- until I found this advice column. A reader asks what he should do when a date takes a mid-dinner cigarette break.
Does he have to join her outside, even though he's a non-smoker?
An excerpt from the columnist's response:
Your date should not leave you at the table to enjoy a smoky treat in the middle of dinner. You sound like a tolerant guy, and so you may not recognize rudeness when it's blowing smoke in your face.
Have you faced a similar dilemma? Do you agree with the advice in this example?
Wow, that confession was painful.
Anyway, I never considered specific etiquette rules for dating a smoker -- until I found this advice column. A reader asks what he should do when a date takes a mid-dinner cigarette break.
Does he have to join her outside, even though he's a non-smoker?
An excerpt from the columnist's response:
Your date should not leave you at the table to enjoy a smoky treat in the middle of dinner. You sound like a tolerant guy, and so you may not recognize rudeness when it's blowing smoke in your face.
Have you faced a similar dilemma? Do you agree with the advice in this example?
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Power couples
This Marie Claire piece caught my attention, thanks to its headline: "The new American couple."
It focuses largely on couples whose relationships are defined by "commuter marriages" and career pressures that extend beyond a typical 9-5 schedule.
I think more couples have accepted the often sad reality that your job often becomes an unwelcome third wheel in your love life.
There's just one problem with the Marie Claire article. The majority of couples in the profile have salaries that seem distant from the average dater's reality.
It's easier to navigate the pressures of a high-tech, fast-paced lifestyle when you can afford luxuries like nannies and assistants.
What do you think of "the new American couple"?
It focuses largely on couples whose relationships are defined by "commuter marriages" and career pressures that extend beyond a typical 9-5 schedule.
I think more couples have accepted the often sad reality that your job often becomes an unwelcome third wheel in your love life.
There's just one problem with the Marie Claire article. The majority of couples in the profile have salaries that seem distant from the average dater's reality.
It's easier to navigate the pressures of a high-tech, fast-paced lifestyle when you can afford luxuries like nannies and assistants.
What do you think of "the new American couple"?
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Military homecoming kisses
Confession: I got a little emo while perusing this photo gallery of soldiers' homecoming kisses.
I've never greeted someone directly after a deployment. However, I've heard many friends talk about the rush of emotions accompanying that moment's embrace.
I imagine there must also be a little stress and pressure -- to seem happy enough, excited enough, grateful enough.
Probably my closest parallel is when I greeted my boyfriend at the airport after he'd been in Thailand for two weeks.
I know a two-week vacation hardly matches a months-long deployment, but it's all I've got.
Anyway, I got all dressed up and planned this massive embrace...only to wait around for two hours because his flight was delayed. Then, when his flight finally arrived, he was too tired to care about what I was wearing.
Looking back, I blame the inevitable stress of traveling.
In the moment, however, I was incredibly frazzled -- mainly because I thought the "I missed you" message wasn't coming through clearly enough.
I guess in any homecoming, it's best to remind yourself that the moment is, well, so much more than a moment.
That's why you're so happy, right?
I've never greeted someone directly after a deployment. However, I've heard many friends talk about the rush of emotions accompanying that moment's embrace.
I imagine there must also be a little stress and pressure -- to seem happy enough, excited enough, grateful enough.
Probably my closest parallel is when I greeted my boyfriend at the airport after he'd been in Thailand for two weeks.
I know a two-week vacation hardly matches a months-long deployment, but it's all I've got.
Anyway, I got all dressed up and planned this massive embrace...only to wait around for two hours because his flight was delayed. Then, when his flight finally arrived, he was too tired to care about what I was wearing.
Looking back, I blame the inevitable stress of traveling.
In the moment, however, I was incredibly frazzled -- mainly because I thought the "I missed you" message wasn't coming through clearly enough.
I guess in any homecoming, it's best to remind yourself that the moment is, well, so much more than a moment.
That's why you're so happy, right?
Seven minutes in heaven
Unfortunately, my dating history is devoid of spin-the-bottle memories. Same goes for seven minutes in heaven.
My teenage friends were, like, totally above those games.
Just kidding.
The more likely explanation is that I simply wasn't cool enough to be invited to parties where kissing games were on the agenda. Four years at an all-girls school probably didn't help, either.
Anyway, I felt a little out of the loop after reading the lessons this writer learned from spin-the-bottle.
I never knew a seemingly innocent game could so profoundly affect your love life.
Tell me: Should I lose sleep over a lack of spin-the-bottle memories?
My teenage friends were, like, totally above those games.
Just kidding.
The more likely explanation is that I simply wasn't cool enough to be invited to parties where kissing games were on the agenda. Four years at an all-girls school probably didn't help, either.
Anyway, I felt a little out of the loop after reading the lessons this writer learned from spin-the-bottle.
I never knew a seemingly innocent game could so profoundly affect your love life.
Tell me: Should I lose sleep over a lack of spin-the-bottle memories?
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Rolling in the Deep
Listen to Adele's newest CD for a sense of female empowerment...or a heightened shot at finding a really hot date.
The Washington Post cites data from a dating website that suggests "people who listened to Adele were 20 percent more likely to receive a message than those who like Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, the Beatles and Metallica."
The site, Tastebuds.fm, connects daters based on music taste.
The article prompted me to wonder if I hate any bands enough to immediately discard a date because he's a fan.
I'm all for diversity in the music world. OK, that's not entirely true. I really hate Dave Matthews Band. However, get me in the right mood and I'll tolerate a little "Ants Marching."
Anyway, if you asked me if I'd date my boyfriend based solely on his CD collection, my immediate answer would be "hell no."
But I've adapted. Likewise, anyone who dates me should be able to tolerate at least one Beyonce song a week.
That's just how I roll.
The Washington Post cites data from a dating website that suggests "people who listened to Adele were 20 percent more likely to receive a message than those who like Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, the Beatles and Metallica."
The site, Tastebuds.fm, connects daters based on music taste.
The article prompted me to wonder if I hate any bands enough to immediately discard a date because he's a fan.
I'm all for diversity in the music world. OK, that's not entirely true. I really hate Dave Matthews Band. However, get me in the right mood and I'll tolerate a little "Ants Marching."
Anyway, if you asked me if I'd date my boyfriend based solely on his CD collection, my immediate answer would be "hell no."
But I've adapted. Likewise, anyone who dates me should be able to tolerate at least one Beyonce song a week.
That's just how I roll.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Can I have an affair?
How do you feel about this assertion from a recent NY Times Magazine article?
Treating monogamy, rather than honesty or joy or humor, as the main indicator of a successful marriage gives people unrealistic expectations of themselves and their partners.
I learned about the piece from a recent Jezebel post, where a writer notes:
It seems obvious — partners should talk about their expectations for sexual exclusivity or lack thereof, and work out an arrangement that works for both (or all) of them. And yet this ridiculously simple message frequently gets lost in useless debates about what women want, what men need, what's right, what's wrong, and what's normal.
Why can't we just accept that every relationship is different and everybody should negotiate fidelity on their own terms?
I assume you have an opinion. Ready, set, share!
Treating monogamy, rather than honesty or joy or humor, as the main indicator of a successful marriage gives people unrealistic expectations of themselves and their partners.
I learned about the piece from a recent Jezebel post, where a writer notes:
It seems obvious — partners should talk about their expectations for sexual exclusivity or lack thereof, and work out an arrangement that works for both (or all) of them. And yet this ridiculously simple message frequently gets lost in useless debates about what women want, what men need, what's right, what's wrong, and what's normal.
Why can't we just accept that every relationship is different and everybody should negotiate fidelity on their own terms?
I assume you have an opinion. Ready, set, share!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
