1. For What
it’s Worth
Some days I just
don’t have a clue what is going on in my life. Seriously! I really don’t have a
clue. My life 10 years ago was a good life. I had a great girlfriend, I lived
in a great location, my job was okay (I guess maybe a little too much business
travel), I was pretty happy and healthy all in all. Ten years later, it is just 7 months until I
am eligible to retire and my life is pretty much upside down. There are some
positive things such as retirement in sight, alimony payments are done, I am
paying off my other debts now, and I have a great dog that gives me, her
butler, unconditional love. I have our road trip planning to look forward to,
which is nice. We have you readers who every once in a while give us some
feedback, which we really like! So these days I try to concentrate on the
positive things I do have, rather than dwell on all the great things I have
lost recently.
Companionship is
a great thing that I desire. I do have that with Snoopy, but I wish I had that
with a significant other. You know,
someone to share every day things with. For many years I traveled all over the
place for business. I was on flight crew back in my USAF days, and I also
traveled for work overseas and here in the US. But when you travel to places
and see new and exciting things, it is pretty much a hollow experience when you
have nobody to share it with. I have enjoyed my experiences being in a
relationship for the most part. Sure,
there are rough times you have to deal with, but I am one of those one-woman
kind of guys that only want one woman. I rarely dated more than one woman at a
time. When we were exclusive, then I was dedicated to one girl and we were
exclusive. Being single and not attached to someone does have its advantages at
times, but for the majority of the time I liked being exclusively with one
girl.
I am not one
much for the dating scene. I have never really mastered the dating process or
even understood the process. I still have no clue how it is supposed to work. I
have maybe been on twenty “first dates” total in my entire single life. I never
liked the process or ever enjoyed the idea of a first date. In fact, I think it
is totally stressful. And who thought up this idea of dating? What a weird process it is.
First, do you
begin by talking on the phone or by texting back and forth with her before any
first date?
Then after all
that, you have to go through the process of trying to ask someone you are
interested in out for an activity. What kind of activity will it be? Dinner and
a movie? Do I have to pick her up? Where would that be? At the place where see
lives? Maybe in a neutral place such as
a restaurant or a bar? Do you wait for her inside or do you wait for her out in
front of the establishment? If it is at a bar, do you go in and have a few
drinks to calm your nerves a bit? Do you
have a beer, cocktail or do a couple of shots instead? Will she think you have
a drinking problem because you started drinking before her? And when she does
arrive at the bar, do you offer her a drink or do you immediately head out to
dinner?
What kind of
dinner place do you go to? Do you take her to a nice restaurant that could cost
you a lot of money just to impress her? How about some dive bar for a burger or
some pub grub? Or maybe just meet for a quick cup of coffee, tea or just maybe
a drink?
Now, with all
this figured out, what do you talk about with them? Do you lead the
conversation and tell her about you or do you let her lead the conversation and
just sit back and soak it all in? Do you just scratch the surface and chit chat
about neutral things or discuss current events? What subjects are taboo and
should be avoided at all costs?
We all know not
to discuss religion and politics, but in Europe that is exactly what they discuss
over dinner. Maybe that is why I did most of the listening when I was over
there because you know I like to blast people on both of those subjects, which
is not always popular with everyone. I try to be Politically Correct, but for
me being PC is not an easy thing for me to accomplish.
I have most
likely ruined 50% of my first dates because I knew there would no chance for a
second date, just from my choosing. I have met someone before on a first date
and within 5-10 minutes I knew this was going nowhere fast. That is a very good
reason to just meet someone for a first date for a coffee, tea or maybe a
drink. Then you know and be thankful that it can be a short encounter and you
are not paying majorly out of your pocket buying someone dinner, etc.
After a first
date, it can go three ways. You really liked them, you did not like them at
all, or you kinda liked them.
If you did not
like them, no problem, just move on to another target.
If you kinda
liked them, you ask to have another date to feel them out some more. It seems like the second time you meet
someone face to face, you tend to notice more things that you did not see maybe
the first time. Plus, their guard is a bit down more and they may be a bit more
relaxed. On first dates, it seems that people try to put their best foot
forward and be on their best behavior. They really are not acting like
themselves, which can be a tricky situation when you are trying to feel things
out. Second dates are much less stressful than first dates.
Now, if you
really liked them after the first date, that in itself, can be a tricky
situation. You are generally excited that you met this nice person and you can
see a possible future relationship with this person. You wonder and are
uncertain about does she like me the same way as I like her? You harbor this
feeling of uncertainty where you stand. How do you size up the situation? Where
do you stand? What kind of activity do you plan for a second date?
I think this
last scenario is the hardest one to go through, because it has the
possibilities of a future. It also has the highest degree to end up failing or
disappointing yourself. You want more,
expect more and have more to lose if it fails.
So, as you can
see, this process is so much more complex than someone would believe. Can you see why I hate it and I am terrible
at it? I find it better to be friends
with someone and later it could blossom into something more possibly. I think we all could use more friends, ya
know? Who agrees with me? Who thinks I
am afraid to date? Does anyone have an opinion?
Good grief, I am doomed!
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2. Today’s
Music Trivia
Today’s music
artist is an English band out of London that I discovered during the 1970s that
was actually formed in 1968 by bass player Chris Squire (the only member to be
with the band throughout their entire history), and Jon Anderson, lead singer. Members
also included Tony Kaye and later Rick Wakeman and Patrick Moraz on keyboards,
drummers Bill Bruford and later Alan White, and now lead singer Jon Davison. Many
other members have been a part of this band, but to list them all would take
quite some effort. Known for their progressive and symphonic rock songs, their
lengthy compositions and often complex instrumental and vocal arrangements,
this group has also distinguished themselves with their use of cosmic and
mystical lyrics. With their number one hit single, “Owner of a Lonely Heart” in
1983, can you name this symphonic and progressive English rock band?
Yesterday’s
Music Trivia Answer = Van Morrison
Wednesday’s
Music Trivia Answer = Van Halen
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3.
Alternate Band Name Game
Clue: = Thrifty Magic Answer: ???
Yesterday’s
Alternate Band Name Game
Clue: = Appreciative cadaver Answer = Grateful Dead
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Snoopy says,
“Bark Less and Wag More!”
Until next
time… Be Good!
- cb
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