Socializing Sundays: Nice things that guys do that women secretly hate

by in Dating, Socializing Sundays

The MSN homepage is fraught with pop-media. I don’t suggest reading their elementary articles full of simple facts and guessable endings but sometimes I just want to see what they say…. So I clicked on one that said, nice things guys do that women secretly hate. I disagree largely because the author of the article (more like pictures with captions) states these in a general truthfulness in that they are relatable to every relationship. Just like the author’s assumption that women secretly don’t like these “nice” things guys do he/she makes the same assumption of the audience agreeing with him/her. The nice things women secretly don’t like are as follows:

1. Calling us creepy nicknames

        For example: doll. As the article only gives one example of what “creepy” is I have trouble agreeing or disagreeing. Creepy is a fairly strong adjective and I wouldn’t want to be called anything creepy but if the word “doll” is considered creepy then I’m not sure I agree with this one. If it’s a blind date then it might be creepy but it could also be an acceptable form of endearment. Context is needed here.

2. Ordering for us in a restaurant

     Again, this one depends on the length and depth of relationship. Sometimes I like for him to order for me, especially in a restaurant say in a country he is familiar with and I am not. Or if we decide what we want and he “orders” for me when the waiter comes so then there isn’t an awkward pause of who goes first.

3. PDA on social media

      I would re-coin this to “excessive” PDA or unwanted PDA on social media. Just PDA once in a while is cute.

4. Assuming we like roses

     I like random thoughtful gifts but I agree wholeheartedly I don’t want all guys assuming I like roses. As I’ve mentioned previously, a bouquet of tomatoes or something edible (or not tainted by any hint of someone in a sweatshop poring over the flowers) is always preferable for me.

5. Getting a tattoo of our name or face anywhere on their body

    Never appropriate. Unless, agreed upon by both parties but I would still frown on it.  

6. Hopping in the shower with us (uninvited)

    Also depends on your level of relationship. If you hop in uninvited and lather up my hair or massage my shoulders I would always welcome the company.

7. Thinking sexy lingerie is a gift for us
 
        I have never received sexy lingerie as a gift and if someone could get my size right I would love to receive sexy lingerie as a gift! Have at it boys!

8. Dedicating a song for us at a karaoke bar

      Depending on how sappy you get and what song you’re singing, this doesn’t strike me as inappropriate or as something a woman would secretly despise.

9. Ordering one shake with two straws

      I love to share! Nowadays nobody really needs that super sized shake all to themselves, it’s huge and like 1000 calories! I think this is cute and romantic to share.

Foodie Fridays: Buffalo Chili

by in Foodie Fridays, Local Eats

I don’t know if you can tell from the photo but that is genuine buffalo in that there chili. But buffalo is expensive unless it’s your own supply! Let me stop you right there. If you cook in a certain way, many foods are not out of your financial reach. Yes the buffalo was $9/lb but I only used one pound and all in all my chili yield was approximately 7 servings. I cut the chili with vegetables. But Rachel, vegetables are expensive! Only if you buy pre-prepared ones or out of season ones (artichokes anyone?). This chili involves zuchini, green peppers, yellow peppers, and onions. None of these are expensive. Colored peppers can run you at $1.25 each but if you pick a big one it is worth it for the taste and color. Green peppers can be as low as 3/$1 generally. Onions are cheap, as are zuchini. The most expensive part of this meal was probably the chili, as I bought the herb from my local market. Add brown rice and voile: a cost effective, delicious, and healthy meal! And it has buffalo, one of the leanest meats out there.

Toiling Tuesdays: Sexual Harassment

by in Toiling Tuesdays

There are certain things where you do not deserve a second chance. One of those is rape. In light of recent events at Microsoft where an employee allegedly raped a female custodian, I am of the opinion that Microsoft was justified in firing him. According to the news report, the custodian informed her supervisor following the incident and he/she “ignored her report and failed to contact police.” I feel that this supervisor should also have been immediately fired. I am appalled that nobody seems to take note of his/her failure to act, especially in a role of power, as a supervisor. It is his/her duty, especially in these situations to take proper action. I feel it is especially important in cases involving rape to respond appropriately and any failure to act or take preventative measures should result in heavy repercussions. The supervisor is admitting with his/her actions that what happened is okay or not worthy of note. I believe that this is part of the reason why rape occurs in the workplace. It goes unpunished. If there aren’t consequences, only partial consequences, or higher likeliness for the event to be ignored, wouldn’t someone who is prone to rape be more likely to rape? Bad Microsoft I say! Take responsibility for ALL your employees and not just when the media informs your public of what goes on behind closed doors.

Miscellaneous Mondays:

by in Miscellaneous Mondays

Doctors should be open on Saturday (or sunday). They discount the large percentage of the population that works 9-5/8-5 hours during the week and cannot make it in or even make time to call the doctor and be put on the requisite 10-20 minute hold. Not only can the average working Joe not go to the doc without taking time off of work. They can’t go to many dentists, eye doctors, the post office, or the bank without taking time off or sneaking into the last 30 minutes of the business day.

Idea: A business that is open on the weekend!

Author Thursdays: My Writing Guru

by in Author Thursdays

There are books you love and authors you adore. There are stories that settle into your mind like dust that is never swept away. There are sayings that pass and words that glitter but I recently found my writing guru. Perhaps I found a wonderful writer before but was not able to recognize the finesse in the writing. I’ve read greats and smalls alike but this new author is unlike any that I have read. I would actually pay for her books, that’s how good her writing is (and I don’t hold with owning books, I prefer to rent them from the library, unless I’m supporting a local author). Her writing is full of descriptions I do not even have the experience to write and yet I can instantly visualize what she is describing. When I notice her writing techniques I see a lack of sloppy adverbs, until I am sucked back into the story of course. Her subject matter is a little hard for me to grasp, poverty in this day and age and a smart gal stuck in her life. Is she a good mother or isn’t she? Is she really poor when she has a cell phone, clothes, and food? What is poverty anymore for that matter?

Look her up, read her books & enjoy

Barbara Kingsolver

Wildlife Wednesdays: Kayaking the Cedar

by in Cedar River, Wildlife Wednesdays

Last weekend my dad and I took out the two-man blowup kayak down the Cedar River. It’s a great run because at the end we ended up in our own backyard. Even though the measured depth was 1.8 feet, we were still able to scoot along (half the time with our butts touching bottom). I highly recommend rafting the Cedar. In high summer, when the river is deeper people go down in black donuts, sometimes with a cooler in tow. One time I swear I saw someone on a mattress. Yes, a mattress. It floats. Beyond our portion of the river and around a few more bends at a takeout spot there is even a liquor store. Many times people going down the river would wave to us from their donuts and ask how much farther the liquor store was. Oh, river-goers.

Miscellaneous Mondays: When I Grow Up

by in Miscellaneous Mondays

I’ve been telling my boss’s boss that when I’m rich and famous I’m going to purchase a Vitamix blender, a Dyson vacuum, and a laptop of approximately two grand. To me these things represent wealth. They are symbols of upper middle class. The blender is just under $400 and the vacuum cleaner mostly just under $300. To spend over $50 on an appliance and over $100 on a vacuum cleaner suggests splendor and excess cash. To me they represent solid items with lifetime guarantees (the Vitamix anyways).

What things represent wealth to you?

Cars that you don’t buy outright or houses you buy with a mortgage attached do not count. I’m referring to products you can walk in and buy with cash. That is a privilege for those who do not live paycheck to paycheck, especially if you’re splurging mid-year without a holiday’s excuse in sight.

Recently, to represent my newfound wealth of two incomes I purchased a (used but great condition) handheld GPS and a year-membership to Geocaching.com ($30).

When I was in college I spent six months debating whether to purchase my then $90 Vibram 5-finger shoes.

Between high school and college I spent three – six months debating whether to buy my own archery supplies (bow, arrows, etc) and then did, spending about $150 but later selling everything to another budding archer for $75.

In my mind, purchases over $100 necessitate some thinking. Are they worth it? But most importantly, are they as valuable as their price tag? Or as my dad would say, what is the use per dollar? A bed would have high use per dollar. A sandwich has one use per however many dollars you spend.

This is the financial thought process I go through when I want something and think I can “afford it” Certain products and services I value over others. Learning I value higher than cosmetic services. I do not think a haircut is valued over $20 but I think several hundred on a class is worth it (Bartending School). I think good healthy food is worth extra dough. I do not believe community-centered activities should cost anything (dodgeball, card game clubs, book clubs, etc).

How do you place value on the things you buy and do?

Socializing Sundays: The Smartphone date

by in Dating, Socializing Sundays

I may be young, hip and cool but I just don’t understand the smartphone date. You know what I’m talking about, the young – middle aged couple who goes out on a date and spends 75% of the face time with their eyes glued to their cell screen. Don’t you know how ridiculous you look with a minuscule computer six inches from your face? You look like the blubber-balls from Wall-E. And even when not on a date, per se but an outing or a social gathering you cannot socially function without plodding away on Facebook, twitter, tumblr, twitter, blogger, tickld, etc. You are the most self-absorbed socially backwards bunch of awkward teens (or adults really) people I have ever seen. At least have the decency to pay attention to your surroundings and respect those you have come out to see/visit/hang out with. It is incredibly rude to do what I call “time waste” on your phone while in a social setting. Unless you are helping a friend with directions or taking a call from your mother, I should not see you tippity tapping away on your smartphone. I do not care if you want to show me that video you are thinking about right this second. You know what we did back in my day? We played footsie with each other. Just kidding. We talked and laughed and made eye contact. You know, 20 years from now you’ll be cross eyed from staring at a tiny screen for years and you won’t have any real friends anymore, only Facebook friends and followers. And far away, on what used to be Earth, two little robots are falling in love.