I've done some other stuff, too, but I'm drawing a blank right now. Apparently, I've been in a sugar-induced coma. ;)
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Apparently I've been negligent...
I've been busy. I made a fire truck cake for my nephew.
I've done some other stuff, too, but I'm drawing a blank right now. Apparently, I've been in a sugar-induced coma. ;)
I've done some other stuff, too, but I'm drawing a blank right now. Apparently, I've been in a sugar-induced coma. ;)
Friday, October 16, 2009
Online Dating Tips for Men
Disclaimer: These are the opinions of this blogger. I am speaking for myself, not the entire female population.
Tip #1: If your dating website has an essay portion, do not:
A) Say you will fill it out later. Just fill it out. I'm not going to come back later just to check.
B) Complain that the site erased your first essay and you'll fill it out later. It happened to me, too, but I put the effort in and did it again. If you're not going to make an effort here, what hope is there that you will put forth an effort in dating/marriage?
C) Say you are a normal man. I will assume you are "normal" until proven otherwise.
D) Write one or two sentences, finishing with "if you have questions, just ask." This is a major annoyance for multiple reasons. Reason 1: Of course I have questions. You haven't given me any information. Where should I start? Reason 2: If you don't find yourself interesting enough to write about, why would I be interested enough to ask a question? Reason 3: You haven't said anything to make me curious enough to come up with a question. Reason 4: If you aren't going to put forth the effort to tell me about yourself (a subject you should know a lot about), why should I make an effort to ask a question? Reason 5: If I have questions, I'll ask them. You don't need to encourage me.
E) Type in all caps. IT'S ANNOYING. If you want to emphasis a word, it's fine. Just don't type the entire essay in all caps. It's equivalent to shouting.
F) Say you don't want a woman who plays games. First of all, what does that even mean? You don't want me just because I like to play cards and board games? (I'm being facetious when I say that; I assume you mean women who try to manipulate you in some way.) Secondly, saying that is a turn-off. I feel as if I have to defend myself from the start, and it makes you seem cynical and bitter. Thirdly, women who do manipulate men will not be discouraged by your statement.
G) Say you are looking for a gorgeous woman. Reason 1: I already assume all men want gorgeous women. Reason 2: I am not gorgeous. Reason 3: It makes me think you don't care about my personality at all.
H) Direct me to your myspace page or give me your e-mail address. If you can't afford membership costs, don't post a profile. I'm all for saving money, but this isn't the place to do it. I've forked out the money to join; you should do the same if you're serious about finding someone.
Tip #2: If your dating website has an essay portion, do:
A) Tell me about yourself. Where do you work? Do you enjoy your job? What do you do in your spare time? Are you close to your parents? Do you have siblings, nieces, or nephews? How do you celebrate holidays? Do you enjoy parties or quiet evenings at home? Do you spend a lot of time with friends or family? Do you have any pets? What makes you unique? Can you fly a plane or ride a horse? Are you the indoor type or outdoorsy?
B) Tell me what you're looking for. Do you want a financially-independent woman or would you like a woman who prefers working in the home? Are you open to women of all shapes and sizes or do you prefer anorexic ladies? Do you want a woman woman who loves to fish or a woman who frequents museums?
C) Tell me your expectations. Why are you on this site? Are you looking for a wife or just someone to date? Are you looking for something serious or casual? Do you want a relationship or a fling?
Tip #3: Post pictures. Don't post blurry or tiny photographs. Let me get a good look at you. I want to see at least one headshot. If you want to show full body shots, go for it, but make sure you include a close-up picture of your face. And please, wear a shirt. I am more interested in your personality than I am in your pecs or abs. I just want to know what you look like.
Tip #4: Include captions with your pictures. If you're in a group picture, tell me which one you are. If there is a woman in the shot, tell me who she is so I don't get jealous. If you pose with kids, tell me who they belong to.
Tip #5: If you are divorced or legally separated, tell me what went wrong in your marriage. You may think it's none of my business or too soon to share that information, but I want to know right from the start. I believe marriage is a lifetime commitment; if a marriage breaks, you don't throw it away, you fix it. If your wife cheated on you and ran off with the man, abandoning you after committing adultery, I might view your divorce differently than if, say, the two of you just realized you weren't "meant to be." Did you try to save your marriage or did you just give up? It says a lot about who you are.
Tip #6: Don't mention your ex-girlfriend. If you do, I will assume one of three things: 1) You're not over her yet, 2) You plan on comparing me with her, or 3) You're stuck in the past when you should be looking to the future. If I'm curious about your past relationships, I'll ask. (If this seems to contradict Tip #4, let me explain. Dating is like trying on clothes: you want to see if they fit. When you marry, you're purchasing the clothes under a "no returns" policy.)
Tip #7: Do not confuse the word "woman" with the word "women." The first refers to one, the second to multiple. Please also be careful with commonly confused words: your/you're, they're/their, through/threw, you/yew, know/no, maid/made... It only takes a few seconds to check, and it proves your literacy. (And feel free to use spell-check or a dictionary if there are words you don't know how to spell.)
I'll leave comments open in case anyone wants to add their own tips.
Tip #1: If your dating website has an essay portion, do not:
A) Say you will fill it out later. Just fill it out. I'm not going to come back later just to check.
B) Complain that the site erased your first essay and you'll fill it out later. It happened to me, too, but I put the effort in and did it again. If you're not going to make an effort here, what hope is there that you will put forth an effort in dating/marriage?
C) Say you are a normal man. I will assume you are "normal" until proven otherwise.
D) Write one or two sentences, finishing with "if you have questions, just ask." This is a major annoyance for multiple reasons. Reason 1: Of course I have questions. You haven't given me any information. Where should I start? Reason 2: If you don't find yourself interesting enough to write about, why would I be interested enough to ask a question? Reason 3: You haven't said anything to make me curious enough to come up with a question. Reason 4: If you aren't going to put forth the effort to tell me about yourself (a subject you should know a lot about), why should I make an effort to ask a question? Reason 5: If I have questions, I'll ask them. You don't need to encourage me.
E) Type in all caps. IT'S ANNOYING. If you want to emphasis a word, it's fine. Just don't type the entire essay in all caps. It's equivalent to shouting.
F) Say you don't want a woman who plays games. First of all, what does that even mean? You don't want me just because I like to play cards and board games? (I'm being facetious when I say that; I assume you mean women who try to manipulate you in some way.) Secondly, saying that is a turn-off. I feel as if I have to defend myself from the start, and it makes you seem cynical and bitter. Thirdly, women who do manipulate men will not be discouraged by your statement.
G) Say you are looking for a gorgeous woman. Reason 1: I already assume all men want gorgeous women. Reason 2: I am not gorgeous. Reason 3: It makes me think you don't care about my personality at all.
H) Direct me to your myspace page or give me your e-mail address. If you can't afford membership costs, don't post a profile. I'm all for saving money, but this isn't the place to do it. I've forked out the money to join; you should do the same if you're serious about finding someone.
Tip #2: If your dating website has an essay portion, do:
A) Tell me about yourself. Where do you work? Do you enjoy your job? What do you do in your spare time? Are you close to your parents? Do you have siblings, nieces, or nephews? How do you celebrate holidays? Do you enjoy parties or quiet evenings at home? Do you spend a lot of time with friends or family? Do you have any pets? What makes you unique? Can you fly a plane or ride a horse? Are you the indoor type or outdoorsy?
B) Tell me what you're looking for. Do you want a financially-independent woman or would you like a woman who prefers working in the home? Are you open to women of all shapes and sizes or do you prefer anorexic ladies? Do you want a woman woman who loves to fish or a woman who frequents museums?
C) Tell me your expectations. Why are you on this site? Are you looking for a wife or just someone to date? Are you looking for something serious or casual? Do you want a relationship or a fling?
Tip #3: Post pictures. Don't post blurry or tiny photographs. Let me get a good look at you. I want to see at least one headshot. If you want to show full body shots, go for it, but make sure you include a close-up picture of your face. And please, wear a shirt. I am more interested in your personality than I am in your pecs or abs. I just want to know what you look like.
Tip #4: Include captions with your pictures. If you're in a group picture, tell me which one you are. If there is a woman in the shot, tell me who she is so I don't get jealous. If you pose with kids, tell me who they belong to.
Tip #5: If you are divorced or legally separated, tell me what went wrong in your marriage. You may think it's none of my business or too soon to share that information, but I want to know right from the start. I believe marriage is a lifetime commitment; if a marriage breaks, you don't throw it away, you fix it. If your wife cheated on you and ran off with the man, abandoning you after committing adultery, I might view your divorce differently than if, say, the two of you just realized you weren't "meant to be." Did you try to save your marriage or did you just give up? It says a lot about who you are.
Tip #6: Don't mention your ex-girlfriend. If you do, I will assume one of three things: 1) You're not over her yet, 2) You plan on comparing me with her, or 3) You're stuck in the past when you should be looking to the future. If I'm curious about your past relationships, I'll ask. (If this seems to contradict Tip #4, let me explain. Dating is like trying on clothes: you want to see if they fit. When you marry, you're purchasing the clothes under a "no returns" policy.)
Tip #7: Do not confuse the word "woman" with the word "women." The first refers to one, the second to multiple. Please also be careful with commonly confused words: your/you're, they're/their, through/threw, you/yew, know/no, maid/made... It only takes a few seconds to check, and it proves your literacy. (And feel free to use spell-check or a dictionary if there are words you don't know how to spell.)
I'll leave comments open in case anyone wants to add their own tips.
Friday, October 2, 2009
7 Quick Takes
This is the "things I learned this week" edition.
1) Apparently washing five pillows in a washing machine at one time is not a good idea. In my defense, I thought they'd shrink down once they got wet.
2) Don't worry if you overcook your Coco Wheats. Just whisk in some extra milk or water, and it'll be as yummy as ever. And next time, don't sign on to Facebook in the middle of cooking breakfast.
3) Shims are so useful. Let's say you drill some holes for a shelf (the kind that rests on pegs). Three are level and you make your mark for the fourth. If the drill bit moseys on over to the wrong side of your mark, don't worry. Just slid the peg in, lay the shelf, and level with a shim. :D
4) Polyshades from Minwax is nice, but I think I prefer staining before I add a coat of polyurethane. It's easier to fix my drips. On the other hand, maybe the waterfall-esque effect will come into vogue.
5) There are some people out there kind enough to remember our personal struggles. Just when I think my plight is all but forgotten by everyone but me, my friends offer comfort out of the blue.
6) Corner cabinets should never be placed in a corner if the bottom cupboards are straight. My head is a testament to that fact.
7) I subscribe to too many magazines. The articles tend to repeat themselves, and the stack grows quicker than it shrinks.
1) Apparently washing five pillows in a washing machine at one time is not a good idea. In my defense, I thought they'd shrink down once they got wet.
2) Don't worry if you overcook your Coco Wheats. Just whisk in some extra milk or water, and it'll be as yummy as ever. And next time, don't sign on to Facebook in the middle of cooking breakfast.
3) Shims are so useful. Let's say you drill some holes for a shelf (the kind that rests on pegs). Three are level and you make your mark for the fourth. If the drill bit moseys on over to the wrong side of your mark, don't worry. Just slid the peg in, lay the shelf, and level with a shim. :D
4) Polyshades from Minwax is nice, but I think I prefer staining before I add a coat of polyurethane. It's easier to fix my drips. On the other hand, maybe the waterfall-esque effect will come into vogue.
5) There are some people out there kind enough to remember our personal struggles. Just when I think my plight is all but forgotten by everyone but me, my friends offer comfort out of the blue.
6) Corner cabinets should never be placed in a corner if the bottom cupboards are straight. My head is a testament to that fact.
7) I subscribe to too many magazines. The articles tend to repeat themselves, and the stack grows quicker than it shrinks.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Untitled
I've been struggling lately. I try to throw myself into projects, just to keep my mind occupied, but it hasn't been working. I still obsess. I still wonder. I still try to think of ways to accomplish what I really want.
I'm tired of struggling. I'm tired of wanting something that will not happen.
I don't know what I will do, but as long as my mind is preoccupied with wanting, this blog will be neglected.
I'm tired of struggling. I'm tired of wanting something that will not happen.
I don't know what I will do, but as long as my mind is preoccupied with wanting, this blog will be neglected.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Triple Nine
I've been busy helping my sister and playing with my nephews. They're finally back on SD soil. :D I'm so happy.
I feel like I have a purpose in life when I'm with them, helping. I want to be a mother myself, but since God has other plans for me, I suppose I'll have to content myself with being an aunt.
I feel like I have a purpose in life when I'm with them, helping. I want to be a mother myself, but since God has other plans for me, I suppose I'll have to content myself with being an aunt.
Friday, August 21, 2009
7 Quick Takes
1) My sister, brother-in-law, and adorable nephews are moving closer! Yay! I spent two weeks at their house and helped them pack stuff up. They still need to find a buyer for their house before they can get a new house in the new city, but they're coming soon!
2) I started a new quilt. I call it my quilt of many colors. I'm copying the pattern from a quilt one of my great-grandmothers made. It will take me awhile to complete. It's not difficult, just tedious. My brain (and eyes) will need to take a challenge break now and then.
3) I'm behind on my magazines, but I just saw a short story contest I could enter. I would only need to write 3,500 words before September 15. I might try it.
4) With my sister in the middle of her move, she'll probably require my help. Since I love to feel needed, I'll probably help quite a bit. It should keep me out of trouble, but I'm feeling so restless, I can't guarantee that.
5) My grandma's party was a big success. I think she had a lovely time. She really liked the wall hanging I made for her. (It was a fun project.)
6) Speaking of her party, I had a lot of fun visiting with family members. I enjoy spending time with my cousins, aunts, and uncles.
7) I'm in the mood to play games. Hand and Foot, Scrabble, Yahtzee, Cribbage, Monopoly...I'll play anything. I just need to find a partner. Until then, I'm off to play Solitaire.
2) I started a new quilt. I call it my quilt of many colors. I'm copying the pattern from a quilt one of my great-grandmothers made. It will take me awhile to complete. It's not difficult, just tedious. My brain (and eyes) will need to take a challenge break now and then.
3) I'm behind on my magazines, but I just saw a short story contest I could enter. I would only need to write 3,500 words before September 15. I might try it.
4) With my sister in the middle of her move, she'll probably require my help. Since I love to feel needed, I'll probably help quite a bit. It should keep me out of trouble, but I'm feeling so restless, I can't guarantee that.
5) My grandma's party was a big success. I think she had a lovely time. She really liked the wall hanging I made for her. (It was a fun project.)
6) Speaking of her party, I had a lot of fun visiting with family members. I enjoy spending time with my cousins, aunts, and uncles.
7) I'm in the mood to play games. Hand and Foot, Scrabble, Yahtzee, Cribbage, Monopoly...I'll play anything. I just need to find a partner. Until then, I'm off to play Solitaire.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Meanwhile, back on the ranch...
It's so funny that I thought I would have time to read a book a day this month. I've only read two so far this month. Not only that, but I haven't had a chance to blog since June. So what have I been up to?
I finished the quilting project, made mints, created a photo family tree, helped my sister paint her kitchen, played with two rascally boys, pet-sat, fixed a wobbly mailbox, baked a cake, framed photos, cleaned out a fridge, cleaned out a spice cabinet, and took a nap.
I'm exhausted just thinking about it all. ;) I still have a week and a half to practice fondant, decorate cakes, and play with the boys. I might not be *back* until August. Happy Summer!
I finished the quilting project, made mints, created a photo family tree, helped my sister paint her kitchen, played with two rascally boys, pet-sat, fixed a wobbly mailbox, baked a cake, framed photos, cleaned out a fridge, cleaned out a spice cabinet, and took a nap.
I'm exhausted just thinking about it all. ;) I still have a week and a half to practice fondant, decorate cakes, and play with the boys. I might not be *back* until August. Happy Summer!
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