My friend M is going on a date tonight. She actually has two first dates this week. Tonight's location is this smoky local sports bar that men seem to gravitate to ... she's not particularly jazzed about it so we'll see what the post-date recap reveals. I think she's planning on a two beer limit followed by a timely exit. Hopefully he doesn't put his foot in his mouth like past dates with regards to animals & vegetarians. She is a HUGE animal lover. I know there are many, many more faux pas crimes to list among the 'ghosts of dates past', but they're escaping me. I didn't think reliving those ghosts by phone as she was heading to meet set up #17BG45 would be much of a lift for her - she already has low expectations on the outcome of tonight's meeting.
Too bad dates don't come in makes & models. That might help things along. Like cars, people could be categorized by domestic or import, sedan or SUV, entry level or luxury, two door or four door, etc. etc. You'd start with the research and then pick a few cars. Once you've narrowed it down a bit you could then window shop at the dealership on a Sunday when the salesmen aren't around. Get a first glance anonymously, no commitment, no obligation.
After letting that sink in and forming your first impressions, you'd return when the dealership was open. Hear the sales pitch and go for test drives. Exchange contact details with the salesman and talk about price, trade in value, paint, interior (leather or cloth, gray or beige), and all of the other upgrades - security system, sunroof, smart key, upgraded speakers, and on and on.
At that point, if you're impulsive (or perhaps it's called decisive by some), you buy on the spot. Roll out of the parking lot with your new wheels, windows down, radio up, wind blowing in your hair feeling pretty damn good about life.
Or, you contemplate, negotiate & ease into the deal a little more slowly. However you buy a car I do wonder if there is a way to find a mate in a similar fashion. Not sure that set ups, internet dating, meeting through other channels - that any of these capture some of the benefits of a car shopping/buying format. But after all, car buying is pretty one-sided - it's all about what the car can do for you. Relationships aren't. Are they?!
Just realizing that I am channeling Carrie Bradshaw a bit in this post. If only life was as simple as we thought it was when we were kids - when playing encompassed the majority of our time. Not work, bill paying, car shopping, dating, or reality tv.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Monday, January 30, 2006
Just Another Manic ...
Monday. Just took a great 80's music quiz online. Course I did worse than I expected because I'm horrible with lyrics. I recognized so many of them but couldn't fill in the blanks correctly. So I got a 70 - a C. Had the test been structured differently I could have totally got an A. I'm such an 80s music fan. I LOVED music from that decade. It was when I started listening to music, forming my musical tastes (or lack thereof), when MTV came into existence, yadda yadda yadda.
Speaking of music, what was your first concert? Mine was A-Ha, those hot Norwegian boys who were a bit of a one hit wonder with "Take On Me." Boy, did I love them. I had their cassette tape and knew all of the songs (even if I didn't know the correct lyrics). My local record store even gave me a special version of thier hit single - complete with the cartoon drawings that were in the video. Sooo cool. I'd still have it (and yes, treasure it) except it didn't end up moving with (or at least) staying in the collection when the dad remarried. I lost all of the records/singles that I owned. Course this was in the day when cassette tapes were the new medium so I didn't miss the vinyl so much and didn't bother to keep an eye on it.
There is something great about vinyl, those big album covers and their designs, the sleeve inside, etc. My first 45 (I think) was "The Tide is High" by Blondie. I bought it after going to a birthday party in 4th grade where danced in her basement to all of these quintessential 80s songs. We played that single many times that afternoon.
From my mom's collection (all things 60s with a few 80s), I remember listening to her records. Peppermint Twist, Runaround Sue, Donna Summer, Pointer Sisters, Way Way Tenango (may be mispelling), and so much more.
Music is such a great, freeing, energizing medium. If I had extraneous cash I'd set up a superb sound system with my iPod (or several iPods) and load them up with tons more music. Currently I have 975 songs on my iPod nano, and it'll only take 1000. Each month since I bought it I import some of my cds and spend $10-20 on other songs from their music store. It's addictive, easy and fun.
Well, enough rambling - just did my ten minutes of writing (though more like talking than a structured, composed piece). Ta ta for now.
Speaking of music, what was your first concert? Mine was A-Ha, those hot Norwegian boys who were a bit of a one hit wonder with "Take On Me." Boy, did I love them. I had their cassette tape and knew all of the songs (even if I didn't know the correct lyrics). My local record store even gave me a special version of thier hit single - complete with the cartoon drawings that were in the video. Sooo cool. I'd still have it (and yes, treasure it) except it didn't end up moving with (or at least) staying in the collection when the dad remarried. I lost all of the records/singles that I owned. Course this was in the day when cassette tapes were the new medium so I didn't miss the vinyl so much and didn't bother to keep an eye on it.
There is something great about vinyl, those big album covers and their designs, the sleeve inside, etc. My first 45 (I think) was "The Tide is High" by Blondie. I bought it after going to a birthday party in 4th grade where danced in her basement to all of these quintessential 80s songs. We played that single many times that afternoon.
From my mom's collection (all things 60s with a few 80s), I remember listening to her records. Peppermint Twist, Runaround Sue, Donna Summer, Pointer Sisters, Way Way Tenango (may be mispelling), and so much more.
Music is such a great, freeing, energizing medium. If I had extraneous cash I'd set up a superb sound system with my iPod (or several iPods) and load them up with tons more music. Currently I have 975 songs on my iPod nano, and it'll only take 1000. Each month since I bought it I import some of my cds and spend $10-20 on other songs from their music store. It's addictive, easy and fun.
Well, enough rambling - just did my ten minutes of writing (though more like talking than a structured, composed piece). Ta ta for now.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Sunday at the Movies
Greetings and happy Sunday afternoon to you. Where did the weekend go? Traveling during last weekend & week really throws off the routine. I feel like I'm still catching up - on work, home stuff, sleep, projects, friends, etc.
Today I saw "Match Point," the new Woody Allen movie. Not your typical film by him. In some ways it reminded me of "Closer" as it deals with relationships and very little else. I loved so many of the lines in "Closer" - very well written, so much painful honesty. In "Match Point" I liked how they would linger on someone's face, their expressions, for a prolonged time. Very interesting. Plus it doesn't hurt to stare at Jonathan Rhys Myers (may have his name wrong) - that' some good eye candy projected on the big screen!
Of course I saw "Match Point" at this local theatre that tends to be more anger management than most. It has a chronic problem with movie talkers. Not a big fan of commentary during the film. This joint always has some old folks who feel compelled to comment throughout the movie. Anyway, it's one of my two movie theatre peeves - strangers sitting next to you (no empty seat) or right in front of you (when there are plenty of open seats) and talkers. Okay, so I have three. Give me a second and I'll come up with more.
Today I saw "Match Point," the new Woody Allen movie. Not your typical film by him. In some ways it reminded me of "Closer" as it deals with relationships and very little else. I loved so many of the lines in "Closer" - very well written, so much painful honesty. In "Match Point" I liked how they would linger on someone's face, their expressions, for a prolonged time. Very interesting. Plus it doesn't hurt to stare at Jonathan Rhys Myers (may have his name wrong) - that' some good eye candy projected on the big screen!
Of course I saw "Match Point" at this local theatre that tends to be more anger management than most. It has a chronic problem with movie talkers. Not a big fan of commentary during the film. This joint always has some old folks who feel compelled to comment throughout the movie. Anyway, it's one of my two movie theatre peeves - strangers sitting next to you (no empty seat) or right in front of you (when there are plenty of open seats) and talkers. Okay, so I have three. Give me a second and I'll come up with more.
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Hello! Alright, am formally starting my mission to write ten minutes a day.
Ten minutes is very doable, right? Right. After all, that's the time it takes to:
-sit through the commercials on "My Name is Earl" and twice as long as the ads during "Lost"
-blow dry and style my hair (only done for 'special' occasions - will elaborate on my hair follicle philosophy another time)
Now that I've convinced myself (or tried to), thought I'd post today's writing prompt - created in roughly ten minutes at our second writer's group meeting. The first sentence was the prompt, the rest was stream of consciousness - a fast scribbling of random thoughts. Here goes nothing...
She thought the noise was a helicopter, but when she looked in her sideview mirror, she noticed she had a flat tire.
"Damn," she pounded the steering wheel and slammed on the brakes.
The air bags exploded, causing her hand to slam against her face.
"Why does this shit always happen to me?!"
Wailing like a wounded animal, she opened the car door and fell out onto the hot asphalt, face first.
A few drops of blood fell onto her hand and the sleeve of her silk blouse.
"Just my lucky day. An annoying flat tire escalating into a collision and blood letting."
She rolled on to her back, looking up at the sky.
"Are you okay?" a husky voice said.
Turning her head, she saw her ex-husband, Randy, standing over her. That two timing squirrel boy, she thought to herself, as she bounded up and went for his throat.
Ten minutes is very doable, right? Right. After all, that's the time it takes to:
-sit through the commercials on "My Name is Earl" and twice as long as the ads during "Lost"
-blow dry and style my hair (only done for 'special' occasions - will elaborate on my hair follicle philosophy another time)
Now that I've convinced myself (or tried to), thought I'd post today's writing prompt - created in roughly ten minutes at our second writer's group meeting. The first sentence was the prompt, the rest was stream of consciousness - a fast scribbling of random thoughts. Here goes nothing...
She thought the noise was a helicopter, but when she looked in her sideview mirror, she noticed she had a flat tire.
"Damn," she pounded the steering wheel and slammed on the brakes.
The air bags exploded, causing her hand to slam against her face.
"Why does this shit always happen to me?!"
Wailing like a wounded animal, she opened the car door and fell out onto the hot asphalt, face first.
A few drops of blood fell onto her hand and the sleeve of her silk blouse.
"Just my lucky day. An annoying flat tire escalating into a collision and blood letting."
She rolled on to her back, looking up at the sky.
"Are you okay?" a husky voice said.
Turning her head, she saw her ex-husband, Randy, standing over her. That two timing squirrel boy, she thought to herself, as she bounded up and went for his throat.
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