I read an article the other day about a television celebrity who forgot where he parked his car while shopping in Hollywood. This actor was apparently seen wandering the lot, pushing the lock button on his key chain while he listened for the beep.
This must really be a man thing ‘cause it happened to hubby-dearest last week while we were out on a romantic date – if you can call a Monster-Truck Rally a romantic date. Well, we did hold hands and he bought me a bucket of popcorn (with extra butter), so I guess you can say the date was somewhat romantic. According to my man, anytime the two of us get out of the house alone and spend money (other than shopping), it’s a date. Who can argue with that kind of dating logic?
Okay, I’m digressing a bit. Our date started off fine. Being the gentleman that he is, my husband dropped me off at the arena entrance while he parked the car. After several hours of eating dust laden popcorn and drinking warm soda, the event was over and so was our date – time to go home. We left the arena and went outside to the parking lot. It hit him almost immediately - he had absolutely no idea where he had left the vehicle.
Honest. I’m not lying about this. We stood there dumbfounded with our bag full of souvenirs in hand wondering where the hell he’d left our ride. No idea, none whatsoever. My husband turned to me for help and I simply told him: “Hey, it’s your car; you’re supposed to know where it is.”
He didn’t get excited and did what any man would do – pulled out the remote and pressed the panic button. Yes, the alarm went off and we could hear the blaring horn and knew the lights were flashing madly, but the car was still nowhere to be seen.
It was still hidden amongst a thousand others, parked somewhere in one of those 30 rows with its alarm system blaring. And he’s standing on the sidewalk like a dork with the remote stretched out over his head so that everyone walking by knows that he’s the one who lost his car.
And now I’m thinking about those days when you’d see cars toting monstrously tall CB antennas. Remember them? They would often be adorned with distinctive flags, or raccoon tails, or something else just as tacky. My dad had one. He didn’t have a CB, but he had the antenna. I never knew why.
Now I do.
Google Search
Friday, April 17, 2009
Dating, Men and Lost Cars
Monday, April 13, 2009
Should Single Mothers Date?
Is there any reason that a single mom shouldn’t date? Absolutely not! Single mothers should be out in the world enjoying the experiences of dating just like everyone else.
Unfortunately, some may have a different opinion.
In a supermarket the other day a woman was talking to a friend and said that her daughter was having a difficult time dating and couldn’t seem to find the right man. Mother-dearest suggested that her single-mom daughter not date until the children were “older”. Although “older” was never defined, it was taken to be adulthood.
Maybe the men aren’t the problem, but the way the single mother is handling her dates.
In many cases, single parents who’ve been out of the dating game for a while have forgotten some of the rules. All they need for a successful date is a refresher course on dating. These few bits of dating advice will help.
Clothing should be appropriate for the date:
-- Dress to be with adults, not children.
-- Wear something casual, but not provocative.
-- What you wear should be appropriate for where you’re going.
-- Stay away from anything with language or graphics that can be offensive.
-- Hint: if you’re not comfortable going to church in it, put it back.
Perfumes are to be used in moderation:
-- Don’t use your favourite perfume to excess.
-- Use a dab, not a splash.
-- Hint: Perfumes are to entice, not overwhelm.
Jewellery is an accent, not a statement:
-- Bling is nice, but you don’t have to wear it all at once.
-- Know the difference between elegant and garish.
-- Hint: If your date needs sunglasses for the glare, it’s too much.
Fragrances other than your perfume:
-- Be aware of odors that aren’t your perfume.
-- Don’t overdo the deodorant. The mix with your perfume could be over-powering.
-- Breath mints are mandatory.
-- Cigarette smoke on your breath or clothing is unpleasant to a non-smoker.
-- Hint: Always wear freshly laundered clothes.
Timing is important:
-- Be considerate, be on time.
-- Make sure your busy schedule leaves enough time to get ready.
-- Phone if you’re running late, and the earlier the better.
-- If you’re being picked up – be ready and waiting.
-- If you’re meeting your date, it’s better to arrive early.
-- Hint: Dates shouldn’t be kept waiting more than 5 minutes
Emergency situations have to be planned for:
-- Make sure you have enough money to get yourself back home.
-- Don’t assume that your date is going to pay for everything.
-- Take your cell phone, or borrow one.
-- Hint: Plan like you’ll have to pay for everything.
Conversation is the key to a good date:
-- Keep it light.
-- Don’t talk about kids unless your date brings it up.
-- Previous lovers, bad marriages and family problems are out.
-- Baby talk may be cute, but has no place on a dinner date.
-- Give your date a chance to be part of the conversation.
-- Don’t let the conversation turn to silence.
-- Hint: Make a list of things to talk about before you leave home.
Fun is what a date is all about:
-- Don’t worry about the kids and start calling them every ten minutes.
-- Limit your drinking - slurred words and falling off the chair aren’t good things.
-- Crude innuendos and course language are for the gutter, not a date.
-- Hint: Relax and enjoy yourself
Ending the date:
-- If it’s your first date, end it at the door.
-- Make it another time to meet your kids, don’t rush things.
-- A Kiss on the cheek is appropriate.
-- Anything more will be dictated by your feelings.
-- Hint: From here on out, you’re on your own!
This date is your time to have some fun and adult conversation, so enjoy it.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
How to Care for Aging Parents
Parents have always been the caregivers. They worked, provided food and shelter, and raised families. As our parents age, they face a reversal in that role and find themselves needing care. This can be a difficult change for aging parents to accept.
In many cases, aging parents do not want to acknowledge that they need assistance. So how do we care for our aging parents without making them feel that they need it? How do we get past the pride and make their senior years as good as they should be?
1. Understand their feelings. This should be a good time in their lives, but it’s made difficult because of reduced mobility and retirement from the work force. They’re no longer needed at work and their kids have grown up, moved out and are raising families of their own – without their help. Quite naturally, they don’t feel as needed as they used to be.
2. Take payment when it’s offered. This can be a difficult one, but the offer makes our aging parents feel they’re still able to pay their own way and are not a burden on you. Decline, but it will probably be pushed on you. Take the cookies, pop, or sandwich. If it’s money, see if you can trade for one of mom’s home-made pies, or dad’s help with a later project. If you have to take the money, put it aside and use it to buy them that something extra, or use it for a grandchild’s education. When they comment on how well their grandchild has done, let them know it was their money that did it.
3. Call them on the phone. Make calls regular, every morning perhaps, to make sure everything is okay. And tell them that’s why you call. It’s caring. Provide them with a ‘call as you go’ cell phone so they have contact in case of an emergency away from the home. Give it as a birthday, or Christmas gift.
4. Drop in unexpectedly. This shows that you visit not out of a sense of duty, but because you actually want to see them. It’s important that they not feel forgotten, even though they’re not.
5. Involve them in your activities. Invite them to the park, grandchild’s school event, or other social activities. Let them be involved in arranging birthday parties, anniversary gatherings, or anything else you could use a hand at.
6. Ask for their advice. Whether you take it or not is secondary to making them feel that what they think and have to offer is still valued. Gain from their experience.
7. Listen to their stories. Get them to tell you about the ‘old’ days when they were younger. Have them fill you in on the family backgrounds and things you may never have known. Like most, we like to remember our younger days and our aging parents are no different. It’s a way of passing history from generation to generation.
8. Have dinner together. This can be one of those home-made meals that mom always used to put on. Her feeling of worth is increased with the knowledge that her kids still enjoy that home-cooking.
9. Take them shopping. Offer to take them along when you go shopping, or call and ask if they need anything while you’re out. Their continued activity will keep them young and independent, particularly if they can’t drive all that much anymore.
10. Don’t treat them like old people. They are important members of our senior society, so treat them like respected elders, not like old people.
There’s no magic to caring for aging parents. It’s simply doing for them what they’ve always done for us.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
A Man’s Guide for Meeting Women
To meet a woman who may end up being that `special someone`, you’ll have to meet women who enjoy the same interests and activities you do. Unless you’re a skier, or want to learn, it makes no sense spending time at the ski lodge meeting women who are totally into the sport. With that in mind, look to meet women at places you normally visit, or at social activities you enjoy.
Bars and Clubs
These continue to be the most popular spots to meet women, but if you’re not into `clubbing` then this probably won’t suit you. Relationships may blossom from meeting women at bars and clubs, but the odds against this are higher than if you meet women at places where you can find a mutual interest.
Hardware Stores and Lumber Yards
The major hardware and lumber yards now say that 50 percent of their sales are made to women and they’ve directed their advertising and store layouts towards that market. More and more women are obviously becoming do-it-yourself enthusiasts and what could be more natural than to meet women who enjoy shopping at hardware stores as much as men do?
Grocery Stores and Super Markets
Everybody eats which means they have to shop, so this is a prime location to meet women. What can be more pathetic than a man lost in the baking section, staring at the ready-to-bake muffin packages, wondering which one he should choose? And what better way to meet women than by asking for their opinion?
Sporting Events
It doesn’t make any difference what sport any more than it matters if it’s a professional or amateur event. It’s common ground on which to meet women. You can take this a step further and join a sports club that is co-ed. This could be softball, soccer, billiards, darts, or whatever activity you’re interested in. This is always a good way to meet women that enjoy the same sports you do. Imagine – no more fighting over Monday night football!
Museums and Art Galleries
For a more sophisticated appeal, art galleries and museums present excellent opportunities to meet women. You can either be the novice and looking to tap into their knowledge of a subject, or you can be the one enlightening your future partner on the aspects of modern art, or the historical significance of some clay pottery.
City Parks
This is always a good place to meet women, especially on a warm spring or summer day. Depending on the park, you can have many points of interest such as botanical gardens, or historical theme areas. Anyone wandering the local parks has an interest in the outdoors and if this matches your criteria, then here’s where you may just meet that special woman.
Walking, Riding, or Hiking
If you enjoy fresh air, exercise and the outdoors, then any of these activities will provide opportunities to meet women who like the same things you do. You can always kick this one up a notch by offering to take your friend or neighbour’s small puppy for a walk. How can any woman not want to stop and pet your cute little dog? There are also many local hiking and riding clubs that you can join. If you don’t meet women you’ll at least be in better shape for when you do.
Art and Craft Exhibitions
Many communities have outdoor arts and crafts shows, so these can be fun places to meet women. There’s nothing better than talking to a woman who has an interest in the same crafts and hobbies you do.
Local Fairs and Church Events
Every community has a local fair, but they’re most often a yearly event which makes it difficult to meet women – unless you only come down from the mountains once a year. Local churches usually have social functions more often and are good places for casual meetings. Both of these are always full of entertaining activities, and the women you meet here will probably have a wide range of down-home interests.
Car and Boat Shows
Muscle cars and fast boats! Every man’s fantasy and to meet women here would only be icing on the cake. Be careful though, women who take interest in these may be more than you bargained for. Make sure you know what you’re talking about before you open your mouth. If you both have a set of personalized wrenches and some grease under the fingernails, then the woman met here could be the one of your dreams.
Now that you’re pointed in the right direction to meet women - act natural, be yourself and just let it happen. You might not meet your ‘soul-mate’, but you could very well find a life-long friend.
3 Legged Dog Saves Terrorized Family!
Calamity Jane is a Golden Retriever who lives in Fort Worth, TX. About five weeks ago, Calamity was found on the side of the road suffering from a gun shot wound. She survived, but required the amputation of her front left leg.
Two weeks ago a family and some of their friends found themselves victims of a violent home invasion. Held at gunpoint and pistol-whipped while the intruders ransacked the house, the hostages feared for their lives.
For whatever reason, one of the thugs flipped on the outside light and this caught the attention of neighbouring Calamity Jane. Seeming to sense that something was wrong, she began barking loudly. Believing that there were people outside with the dog, the robbers panicked and fled the home with 3-legged Calamity Jane hot on their heels!
Calamity gave chase, but never did catch up to the hoodlums. But she had put an end to the 45 minutes of terror her neighbouring family had endured.
The story doesn’t end here, though. While having her leg amputated, the vet discovered that our 3-legged heroin was pregnant.
Calamity Jane is now the proud new mom of seven puppies.
A few days ago somebody made a comment that having an animals limbs amputated was cruel and inhumane. He felt that this would seriously reduce the pet’s quality of life and shouldn’t be done.
Maybe he should meet our 3-legged Calamity Jane!
What Makes a Good Caregiver?
The majority of those caring for aging parents and family members are middle aged women. They are married, working and spend an average of 18 hours a week in the caretakers role. Taking on the responsibility of caregiver is not easy and those that do are very special people.
To be a good caregiver, you must:
Eat healthy and get regular exercise, even if it’s only a short walk, or light aerobics. If you’re not healthy you can’t properly take care of someone else.
Acknowledge that caring for an older adult is stressful and it’s natural to experience a wide range of emotions from joy and fulfillment to anger and frustration.
Take time out for yourself. You cannot allow the role of caregiver to take over all other aspects of their life. “Away time” is necessary to prevent depression and resentment that causes burnout.
Accept that you cannot be everything to everyone, all the time. Ask for help from family, friends, and the community.
Give the person you’re caring for a say in the decisions that affect them. Let them decide what to wear, what to eat, or when to go to bed. Extend them the dignity and courtesy you would want extended to yourself.
Find out how legal and financial affairs should be handled.
Identify doctors and what they do for your elder. Record prescriptions and note all medical instructions given by the physicians.
Refrain from giving too much care. Even if they don't admit it, people like to help themselves.
Let them continue caring for their pets, shopping, cleaning, and whatever else they’re physically able to do.
Take pride in your efforts!
Advice for a Successful First Date
A first date should be an enjoyable experience, but far too many end in disaster. Follow these 10 simple tips and your first date will be all that you expect it to be.
1. Don’t be late.
It’s rude, inconsiderate and shows a lack of respect. If you’re running behind, or have to cancel the date, then call. And the earlier you call the better.
2. Dress appropriately.
Be comfortable and dress casual, but don’t wear sneakers, sweats, or “tacky” t-shirts. Dress sandals for women are okay, sandals of any kind for men are out. Your hair and appearance should be neat and clean. Jewellery on men should be kept to a minimum.
3. Choose the right location.
Keep your first date as public as possible. Stay away from bars and nightclubs where too much activity can distract from your date, particularly if friends keep stopping by. Movies prevent good conversation. Bookstores and malls are where you meet, not where you go on a date. Restaurants and long walks are always good choices for casual conversation on a first date.
4. Pick the right time.
Morning dates remind people of work and lunches are too informal. Choose early evening so that if you like each other you will have more time to do things together.
5. What you don’t see can be offensive.
Bad breath and offensive odors are always a turn off. Remember to take breath mints and don’t smoke on the way to your date. You don’t need to show up smelling like an ashtray. Refrain from overpowering your date with too much cologne or perfume.
6. Communicate.
Don’t let the conversation lag. Make a list of things to talk about ahead of time and be proactive. Talk, but don’t take over the conversation. Let your date speak and pay attention to what they’re saying. Never yawn while the other person is talking. Never!
7. Don’t center the conversation on yourself.
Stay away from discussing your children, pets, crazy hobbies, previous lovers and bad marriages. Any conversations about your sex life, medications, or bad experiences in your life are taboo. Keep the conversation light and fun.
8. Remember your table manners.
Chew with your mouth closed and don’t hold eating utensils like a toothbrush. Drinking too much, offensive language, and belching out loud are sure ways to make this date the last.
9. Never offend your date.
There is no excuse, or reason, for hurting anybody’s feelings.
10. Getting the second date.
If you want a second date, then don’t screw up the first one!
Follow these 10 simple tips and your first date will surely turn into a second one.
Are There Enough Men in Romance Town USA?
VALENTINE, NE
Population 2,820 at the 2000 census.
For every 100 females there were 87.1 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.8 males.
In 2007 National Geographic Adventure Magazine included Valentine in its list of the best ten wilderness towns and cities. The fictional character Becky Donaldson, from the TV Show Full House, was a native of Valentine
VALENTINE, TX
Population 187 at the 2000 census.
For every 100 females there were 103.3 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.4 males.
LOVELAND, CO
Population 59,563 per 2005 Census Bureau estimates.
For every 100 females there were 96.1 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.
Loveland is probably best known nationwide as the home of the Valentine Re-Mailing Program. Every year, hundreds of thousands of Valentines are packaged inside larger envelopes and sent to Loveland, where volunteers hand-stamp them with a Valentine's verse and send them on to the intended recipients.
LOVEJOY, GA
Population 2,495 at the 2000 census.
For every 100 females there were 265.3 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 314.9 males
During the American Civil War, it was named Lovejoy's Station, and was the site of the Battle of Lovejoy's Station during the Atlanta Campaign of 1864.
LOVELOCK, NE
Population 2,003 at the 2000 census.
For every 100 females there were 107.8 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.2 males.
LOVE VALLEY, NC
Population 30 at the 2000 census.
A 2008 newspaper article reported 117 residents.
For every 100 females there were 87.5 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males
Modeled after the Old West towns seen in countless Hollywood films, Love Valley boasts a saloon, general store, hitching posts, and rodeos. Automobiles are not allowed inside the town limits; people still use horses and horse-drawn vehicles to travel in the town.
LOVELAND, OH
Population 11,677 at the 2000 census,
For every 100 females there were 91.0 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.
In 1886, the skeleton of a mastodon and prehistoric stone tools were found in a Loveland gravel pit. In 1903, Loveland voted to become a dry village, prohibiting the sale of alcohol within the village limits 17 years before a national ban
LOVELAND PARK, OH
Population 1,799 at the 2000 census.
For every 100 females there were 101.7 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.8 males.
LOVELADY, TX
Population 608 at the 2000 census.
For every 100 females there were 94.9 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.7 males.
LOVES PARK, IL
Population 22,476 per 2005 special census.
For every 100 females there were 95.9 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males
LOVING COUNTY, TX
Polulation 67 at the 2000 census.
For every 10 females there are 11.61 males.
For every 10 females age 18 and over, there are 12.50 males
Home of the first elected female sheriff in Texas, Edna Reed Claton Dewees. Appointed in January 1945, and then elected to continue in office through 1947. Never carried a firearm and reported only two arrests during her entire term.
LOVINGTON, NM
Population 9,471 at the 2000 census.
For every 100 females there were 96.8 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males
Hometown of NFL star football player Brian Urlacher and former home of professional golfers Ronnie Black and Sean Murphy.
LOVING, NM
Population 1,326 at the 2000 census.
For every 100 females there were 101.2 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.0 males.
Loving High School has won 10 state softball titles, 4 in baseball, 3 for football, 3 for track, and 1 in basketball.
LOVE COUNTY, OK
Population 8,831 at the 2000 census.
For every 100 females there were 98.20 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.
LOVINGTON, IL
Population 1,222 at the 2000 census.
For every 100 females there were 92.4 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.
ROMEO, MI
Population 3,721 at the 2000 census.
For every 100 females there were 87.2 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.
Kid Rock (Robert Ritchie) was born in Romeo and lives in Brandon Township.
ROMEOVILLE, IL
Population 21,153 at the 2000 census.
For every 100 females there were 101.6 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.3 males
Romeoville was nicknamed "Stone City" because of its stone quarries and the limestone used to build the Illinois State Capitol came from this area.
Whether you find your true love or not, each of these cities has a unique romantic charm all of their own.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Dining Etiquette for the Dating Man
Nothing says more about a man’s sophistication than his dining etiquette. Leaving a good impression on your dinner date is important and these few hints will help.
Before we start, it’s necessary to know that:
• Fast food franchises do not qualify as being restaurants for the purpose of taking your date to dinner;
• Plastic utensils are for picnics, not dinner dates. If you plan on taking your date to a restaurant that uses these as a matter of businesses, forget it;
• Drive-Thru eateries are not restaurants, so any place where you eat your meal without leaving the vehicle is taboo;
• Self serve diners don’t count as a restaurant, although buffets can be the exception – but a buffet isn’t a good choice for first date dining;
• Avoid restaurants where ketchup and other condiments come in small disposable plastic or paper containers. Condiments provided in plastic squeeze bottles may be a step up, but still not acceptable for impressing a date;
• If the waiters/waitresses are topless, avoid it. Any restaurant that has a stage and pole isn’t suggested.
With that out of the way, mastering proper dining etiquette should be a fairly easy accomplishment for even for the most inexperienced diner.
1. Napkins go in your lap, not around your neck;
2. Don’t restrict your date to certain price ranges on the menu. If you didn’t do your homework before, now’s not the time to pull a “Scrooge” on her;
3. Seat your date. Make sure she knows you’re pulling the chair out – before she sits down;
4. Hold the restaurant door open for her. You don’t walk in first;
5. Belching out loud may be an acceptable practice in Japan, but that’s not the case in the Western world;
6. You may have seen it done in movies, but snapping your fingers at the waiter/waitress is considered rude by most people;
7. Make sure your conversation is ‘meal safe’. Stories about your father’s gallstone operation, a gory accident you witnessed the other day, or how your cat continually regurgitates hair balls should be left for another time;
8. Ordering multiple drinks to the table may work in the bars, but its tacky behaviour in a restaurant. Relax, sip your drink, and try talking instead of drinking;
9. Excuse yourself from the table, but never tell your date the reason you’re going to the bathroom. Some things are to be left unsaid;
10. Don’t talk with your mouth full and should something fall from your lips, move it with your napkin, but don’t stuff it back into your yap.
The final word - at the end of the meal, don’t ask your date: “How’re we going to pay for this?” If you didn’t arrange sharing the tab beforehand, now’s not the time to do it. Suck it up and pull out your wallet!
Online Dating Advice
Online dating sites are on the increase, providing individuals an excellent opportunity to meet and enjoy the company of other people without leaving the comfort and security of their own home. Whether you’re looking for love and romance, or just a special friend to talk with, these 10 tips will make your online dating experience an enjoyable one.
1. Keep personal information private:
Last names, phone numbers, and addresses should be kept to yourself. Keep this information out of your public profile if you don’t want middle of the night telephone calls, or unexpected strangers knocking on the door.
2. Choose an appropriate screen name:
Unless you’re going to use your actual first name, choose a screen name that’s in good taste and represents you in a positive way.
3. Keep profile pictures real:
If you’re going to post a picture of yourself, make it a current one. Should you eventually decide to meet your online date it can be difficult erasing 20 years, dropping 60 pounds, or explaining the absence of hair.
4. Telephone numbers should be closely guarded:
Don’t be too quick to give out your telephone number. A couple of online dates aren’t enough to know someone. Make sure you really want the calls and remember that addresses can be found from phone numbers.
5. They don’t need your address:
Why does someone need your address? They don’t. Unless you’re absolutely certain that you want this person to have it, keep it to yourself. Even if you decide to meet, make that first date someplace public and save your home address for another time.
6. Establish the parameters of your conversations:
Make it known what you’re willing to talk about and what you’re not. If you’re not interested in talking on the telephone, never want to meet, or have specific age limitations, be upfront with that. Some of this can be included in your profile information, if you like.
7. Ask questions, lots of questions:
If it looks like you may want to meet in person, then this is the time to find out everything you can about your online date. Use the time wisely and cover it all: relationships; health issues; financial problems; employment status; drinking, drugs, and criminal records. Ask here what you may not be comfortable asking in person.
8. Don’t be afraid to get personal:
What are there sexual preferences? This may not be the first question you’ll ask, but it’s definitely necessary before going into personal meetings, or deeper relationships. Surprises in this area can be very difficult to deal with at a time when you’re least expecting them.
9. Always be who you are:
Don’t try to be anyone other than yourself. It’s too hard explaining away tattoos you weren’t supposed to have, cars that you’ve never owned, or that you’re 20 years older than you said.
10. Don’t ignore your instincts:
Pay attention to your feelings. If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
Innocent flirtations could lead to serious relationships and light hearted chats can develop into long term friendships, but don’t rush to make it any more than it is. Relationships are built on trust and there’s no better place to get all those skeletons out of the closet than when you’re online dating.
