Stayover relationships

OK, now I'm confused. For years, we heard about how young people are delaying marriage and simply living together for an extended period of time.

Now, young people are apparently still delaying marriage...while embracing "stayover relationships."

Those couples spend at least three nights a week together, but live in separate homes. This article describes the phenomenon:

Having both convenience and independence is a major draw for young adults who choose to stay over instead of cohabiting, Jamison found through interviews with 22 college-educated young adults in committed relationships.

And getting out of a relationship is easier for couples in "stayover relationships," since they don't have to worry about a shared apartment lease or other major elements of their lives that are bound to each other.

I've been in a "stayover relationship" for about five years. The setup has drawbacks, but it's also kind of awesome at times. Such is life.

What do you think about the setup?

Men, decoded

Still trying to understand the male brain? Peruse the results of the 2011 Great Male Survey, courtesy of AskMen.

Here are some highlights from the survey results:

*74 percent of men think "sexting" is cheating if you're in a relationship

*Among men, Superman is more popular than Batman

*Just 1 percent of men conducted their last breakup via Facebook message

Do these surveys make it any easier to understand the opposite sex? Probably not. But the findings often serve as good conversation starters, which is always a plus.

More Sex and the City films?

I would have been OK with one "Sex and the City" film.

In fact, I went into the first film convinced I would hate it. I was pleasantly surprised. I went to the second film with similarly low expectations. I wasn't so pleasantly surprised.

My only consolation: "At least the franchise knows when to end its time in the movie world."

That might not be the case.

Check out this report of a possible "Sex and the City" prequel starring actresses like Blake Lively and Selena Gomez. The film would follow the four main characters through their teens into their 20s, but the report says no contracts have been signed.

If this film moves forward, it would give "Sex and the City" a distinctly different fan base than the 20- and 30-somethings who have long embraced the series.

At the risk of sounding selfish, I'm not ready to share "Sex and the City."

I don't want it to be discussed in the same context as Justin Bieber and former Disney stars. I want "Sex and the City" to remain an example of wit and sophistication in pop culture, not the film world's version of a cheap cosmopolitan made with house vodka.

Am I overreacting?

Weight gain causes breakups?

Half of the men interviewed in this slightly unsettling poll said they'd break up with a partner who gained weight.

Surprised?

We've all dealt with weight fluctuations, and I don't think it's fair to assume that a temporary 10-pound weight gain means you've embraced a life of Big Macs.

That said, it seems like weight gain is rarely "just" weight gain.

Significant weight gain often coincides with changes in someone's lifestyle and/or mood. Those elements are definitely likely to spur a breakup.

Under what circumstances, if any, would you break up with a partner who gained weight?

Oatmeal. Discuss.

Is oatmeal romantic? You decide.

Drag queens and Bootleggers

Wow. Where do I begin?

It was an interesting Friday night, one of those party experiences that makes you glad you haven't totally resigned yourself to life in sweatpants.

My boyfriend and I started our night at the "Rocky Horror" screening at Benning Brew Pub. It was fun, but I'd love to see a bigger crowd next time. Anyway, a chance conversation at the movie led us to the Goetchius House, 405 Broadway, in downtown Columbus.

Or, um, perhaps I should say the building formerly known as the Goetchius House. It's now called The G-House of Columbus, an 18-and-older club.

We arrived just in time for a drag show, which was pretty awesome. The last time I was inside the G-House, it had a formal dining setup. My, how things change.

I'd definitely come back. It reminded us that we're not living in an entirely close-minded city after all.


After the G-House, I headed over to the grand opening of Bootleggers (1039 Broadway), formerly known as Daileys. The new venue is billed as "a mix of modern country acts and an attitude that resembles that of Wild Bills in Atlanta."

The biggest change between Daileys and Bootleggers: "Let there be light." Yes, the new bar is much lighter than Daileys, which often resembled a dark abyss. Not necessarily a bad thing.

Design-wise, a major addition is the tire swing inside, pictured above. The girl riding the swing asked me to get on there with her for a picture, but I declined.


Another big change is this outdoor patio, which has lots of potential. Friday's biggest drawback was the extreme heat inside the bar. I later learned that the A/C was broken. Awkward.

Nonetheless, I have high hopes for Bootleggers and I'm interested to see how much the bar sticks to its country vibe. Country music venues have had a mixed history here.

What do you think?

Monday power anthem

Come on, you know I had to post a tribute video.