Will You Marry Me?

Is there a record somewhere of how many times this question has been asked? And how does one translate this in other languages? I am curious to learn more about formal proposals in other cultures. I need to do some research…

If you’re married or engaged, how did he propose? Do you know any females who proposed, and if you’re in a same-sex relationship, how does one determine who does the asking? Is there a certain amount of time that one must wait before popping the question?

There are so many questions that are raised when I think about marriage and how one goes from being someone’s boyfriend or girlfriend too being an engaged couple, which is why National Proposal Day has me so perplexed. I mean, what’s the point, really? Who came up with this idea and why should we encourage people to propose on the same day, along with every other couple considering a lifelong commitment? Doesn’t that take all the romance out of it?

Then again, who wants to be surprised with the question? Isn’t marriage – and the future – something that a couple normally talks about so that there are no surprises?

All of these questions are indeed coming from me, a single yet committed woman who has previously been married. Who’s to say that never-before-married adults don’t have more questions about this ultimate contract?

Someone I know recently got engaged. She mentioned that her and her boyfriend (now fiance) hadn’t talked about marriage before he proposed and was completely caught off guard when he presented her with the ring.

Call me crazy, but this struck me as rather odd. How does one have an 18-month relationship (in their thirties) and not bring up marriage, or the future? Perhaps I misunderstood, but I’m hoping that their lack of communication around this topic only means that it was such a natural progression for the two of them that they didn’t think twice about discussing it.

National Proposal Day. I don’t think Hallmark will be able to take advantage, but the engagement ring stores will no doubt be marketing this one, don’t you think?

If you’re looking for great proposal ideas, I highly recommend the Robbins Brothers’ YouTube channel, where they highlight some pretty spectacular engagement stories.

And if you’re thinking about asking her or him to marry you, please make sure you send me an invitation. I love weddings.

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

Twenty Questions

I’m really having a good time getting to know Mr. Right all over again and there are so many questions I want to ask.

Here are just a few. And yes, I plan on sharing my answers with him to.

1. What has been one of your biggest accomplishments?
2. If you could excel at any competitive sport which would you choose?
3. How would your last girlfriend or boyfriend describe you?
4. What traits are most important to you in a future partner?
5. What are you passionate enough about to fight for?
6. Has your heart ever been broken?
7. What was the craziest thing you ever did when you were a kid?
8. Who has the most influence over you?
9. What have you learned from your biggest challenge in life?
10. What’s the worst mistake you ever made in a relationship?
11. Are you a spiritual person?
12. What’s your favorite scent? Least favorite?
13. What do you want to be doing in 10 years?
14. Would you like to live somewhere else?
15. What’s the most unusual thing you know how to do?
16. What do you have a hard time saying “no” to?
17. How do you act when you’re angry?
18. Who are you closest to in your family?
19. What do you want to make sure you do before you die?
20. What’s the most beautiful place you’ve ever seen?

There are several companies that make discussion starter queue cards like these Table Topics that come in a variety of themes, to spark discussions among Couples, Teens, and Family.

I want to get to know you as well, so if you are reading this, please take a moment to select one (or more)  of the above questions to answer. I’ll post my responses next week (when I return from my romantic weekend with my significant other).

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

101 Questions Kids Really Ask

A few weeks ago, I received a copy of a wonderful question and answer book on sexuality that was put together by Mary H. Halter, founder of Healthy Edudynamics, an organization that educates young people by providing them with the knowledge and space to develop a healthy respect for their own bodies and the bodies of others. Set up in chapters focusing on the real questions that kids of all ages ask, the answers provide parents and educators, and even kids themselves, with accurate information that can help guide them through puberty.

While the questions from the serious (What would happen to the baby if a pregnant woman did use drugs?) to the more innocent (Why do girls’ breasts grow bigger and boys’ don’t?), there are also questions that are pretty funny, from an adult perspective but can seem quite important – and perhaps scary – to a child (How many minutes do you have to stay in sex?)

Mary provides honest, accurate and age appropriate responses which parents can alter for their own children depending on the situation and how much your child is able to comprehend.

101 Questions Kids Really Ask…And the Answers They Need to Know is available through the Healthy Edudynamics website, along with a DVD that provides a comprehensive health education program for homes, schools, churches and community organizations.

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

Asking Stupid Questions

Last week, I received a free trial for the mobile service which allows users to text message the KGB Team specific questions that are in need of immediate answers.

At first, I wasn’t quite sure what types of questions I would be able to think of, but after I got the hang of it (aka, addicted to the service), I started using it at all times of the day (and night) to answer the weird and wacky questions that came to mind.

Having access to (nearly) immediate and accurate answers was fun and exciting! At times, I treated it like the magic 8-ball, attempting to have my future told to me but the answers KGB provided made me smile and completely made my day!

After a few days of using the service, I asked my son what the one question is that he would like answered. His immediate response: “Why do they say the word ‘crap’ in the Transformers movie?” Well, I knew this wasn’t a question that KGB could answer but I did find out, thanks to the KGB team, that the Transformers movie which came out last summer was rated PG-13 (and not PG like my ex-husband insisted). I was planning on having a little conversation with him about this and the appropriateness (sarcasm) of letting our five-year-old watch it….but my time is valuable and I digress.

To give you an idea about the KGB service and what they can do to help you, or entertain you, here are the list of questions and answers that I asked – and they answered.

Q: Where is the closest public parking lot to Wine Cabana in downtown San Diego?
A: We’re very sorry, but every day we get a few questions we can’t answer. This is one of them. No Charge. (Apparently, I was mistaken. Wine Cabana is not downtown so no wonder they couldn’t help me.)

Q: What is the definition and origin of the word cabana?
A: Cabana is small cabin or tentlike structure for use as bathouse, esp. on beach or by swimming pool.

Q: Which actor played Batman before Christian Bale?
A: The actor who played Batman before Christian Bale was George Clooney in 1997.

Q: What’s the name of the TV show starring Anthony Michael Hall?
A: Anthony Michael Hall starred in 2 tv shows in 2007, Final Approach and The Dead Zone. Busy guy!

Q: What is the average temperature in San Diego?
A: The average annual temperature in San Diego is 64.2F. The average temp for the month of Feb. is 58.6F.

Q: Should I move to Denver?
A: You will move when you have packed up your belongings and found a new place to live. Good luck!

Q: What is the world’s deadliest creature?
A: The world’s most deadliest creature would be the Mosquito. Some mosquito carry the disease Malaria.

Q: Why are the Academy Awards referred to as the Oscars?
A: The root of the name Oscar is contested. One biograpahy of Bette Davis claims that she named the Oscar after her first husband, band leader Harmon Oscar Nelson; one of the earliest mentions in print of the term Oscar dates back to a TIME Magazine article about the 1934 6th Academy Awards. Walt Disney is also quoted as thanking the Academy for his Oscar as early as 1932.

Q: How many iPhones were sold in 2008?
A: Apple sold 10 million iPhones in 2008, surpassing Steve Job’s original stated goal.

Q: Who was the first woman to appear topless in a mainstream American film?
A: Annette Kellermann (an Australian swimming champion) in the film A Daughter of the Gods (1916).

Q: What is the secret to a successful marriage?
A: Never assume, compliment more than you criticize, always make time for each other and try to be fair!

Q: Do men who wear a suit and tie to work have more sex than those who don’t?
A: Not necessarily. Quite a few women are attracted to the rugged outdoors look. Depends on the woman. (Apparently, KGB is slightly homophobic.)

Q: What is the most monogamous animal?
A: Zoologists now have solid evidence that monogamous pairs of animals are not always sexually exclusive.

Q: What is the most romantic city in the world?
A: Paris, France is the most romantic city in the world. It is a place that you must visit at least once!

Q: Why is the mother not present in fairy tales such as Snow White and Cinderella?
A: Original Grimm’s story actually listed Snow White’s mother as an evil, jealous mother. Disney changed!

Q: What is the easiest houseplant to take care of?
A: Devil’s Ivy, aka Pothos: This plant is hearty at a vast array of light and moisture levels.

Q: Will opened alcohol go bad?
A: Alcohol does spoil when left open. It spoils due to oxidation in the same way fruit spoils. (I immediately threw out the ABSOLUT vodka bottles leftover from New Year’s Eve…I typically don’t waste alcohol like that…)

Q: Who will win as Best Actor in the 81st Academy Awards?
A: Should Win: Heath Ledger (‘The Dark Knight‘), Will Win: Heath Ledger (They were right!)

Q: Who will win as Best Actress in the 81st Academy Awards?
A: As the show has not aired yet, but should win = Meryl Streep (Doubt), Will win = Kate Winslet (The Reader). (Interesting…)

Q: When was sushi first introduced to the US mainstream?
A: The 1980s saw an increase in health consciousness, so sushi bars have increased in the United States.

Q: How long has Sean Penn been married to Robin?
A: Sean Penn has been married to Robin Wright Penn since April 27, 1996. They have 2 children together. (Asked as Sean Penn accepted his award for his role in Milk.)

Q: How many calories per day should one have when trying to lose weight?
A: Use the formula to figure it out: women: 655 + (4.3 x weight in pounds) + (4.7 x height in inches) – (4.7 x age in years). (Um, what? You lost me at hello.)

Q: Should I wear red or black?
A: You can wear black all year round. It will make you look slimmer and black never goes out of style.

Q: When is Barack Obama’s birthday?
A: Barack Hussein Obama II was born on August 4, 1961 in Honolulu, Hawaii. He is currently 47 years old.

Q: Is [insert man's name] “the one?”
A: Love is the mix of intimacy, passion, and commitment. If you feel these things for [man's name] – then maybe!

Q: What size does Beyonce wear?
A: Beyonce doesn’t often share her clothing size but she auctioned two size 6 dresses for charity on Ebay.

Q: How old is Angelina Jolie?
A: Born Angelina Jolie Voight on June 4, 1975. She is 34, an actress and Goodwill Ambassador for the UN.

Q: When is the best time of year to visit Morocco?
A: Best travel time for Morocco is Sept – Oct, March and May. Worst time is July, Aug. It gets up to 104F!

Q: Who created the tooth fairy?
A: The tooth fairy tradition came from ancient folk methods of disposing of lost teeth and superstitions.

Q: How does one become a member of the KGB Team?
A: If you are 18 or older you can log onto kgbkgb.com and take the test to become a kgb Agent. Good luck!

Q: Will I have another child?
A: If you and your partner are trying to conceive you may be having a child soon. Good Luck!

Q: WWJD?
A: WWJD became a popular phrase in the 1990s as a personal motto for thousands of Christians.

Q: What is the best cure for insomnia?
A: Not medical advice. To help insomnia avoid caffeine, have a warm bath and a milky drink before bed.

Q: What is the name of the book by the lead singer of Korn?
A: The book is “Save Me from Myself: How I Found God, Quit Korn, Kicked Drugs & Lived to Tell My Story“

Q: What is the age difference between Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher?
A: Demi was born in 1962, Ashton was born in 1978. She is about 15 years older then [sic] him.

Q: Was Seven Pounds nominated for any awards?
A: The movie Seven Pounds, with Will Smith & Rosario Dawson, is not nominated for any Oscars this year.

Q: Has anyone been married more times than Elizabeth Taylor?
A: On Jan 4th, 2007, it was recorded that Kamarudin Mohamad had married 53 times. Elizabeth Taylor had 8.

Q: Where do hip thirty-something career women shop for clothes?
A: Chicos, Dillards, Macy’s, and J.C. Penny are a few; but it really depends on your style and body type.

Q: Where did Annette Bening attend high school?
A: Annette Bening attended Patrick Henry High. She studied drama there before wining [sic] multiple awards!

Q: Who is the youngest person to ever win an Oscar?
A: Shirley Temple won a juvenile Academy Award at age 6. Tatum O’Neal won a competitive Oscar at age 10.

Q: What is the lowest airfare from Minneapolis to Las Vegas for travel in March?
A: Depends on exact date, but a one-way ticket from Minn to Las Vegas starts at $137.21 for March 9, 2009.

Q: What is the best-selling import beer?
A: Corono Extra and Corona Light are the two most popular brands of Corona Beer. It is the #1 import in US.

Q: What’s the difference between a trademark and copyright?
A: Trademark: used to protect a word, symbol, or name. Copyright: protects original works like books.

Q: What’s the lifespan of a hummingbird?
A: In captivity, hummingbirds can survive for more than 10 years. In the wild 3 – 5 years is more likely.

Q: When does the Lunar New Year begin and what animal represents 2009?
A: The lunar new year began on Monday, January 26, 2009. This year is the year of the ox.

Q: What is the Transformer movie rated?
A: “Transformers: Revenge of th Fallen” opens in theaters on June 24, 2009 and is not yet rated.

Q: What was the last Transformer movie rated?
A: The most recent Transformer movie is rated: PG-13.

Q: What’s the best remedy for adult acne?
A: Not medical advice: For home treatment for acne, apply an oatmeal mask at least once or twice a week.

Q: What’s a good dog breed to introduce to children?
A: American bulldog, American foxhound, American mastiff, American pit bull terrier…

Q: How long does pink eye usually last?
A: Not medical advice. Pinkeye needs to be treated by a dr, if it hasn’t improved in 2 – 3 days tell them.

Q: What does KGB stand for?
A: kgb: Knowledge Generation Bureau. We can answer most anyting. Text us again & let us show you!

Q: What were the most popular baby names last year?
A: The most popular baby girl’s name for ’08 was Emma. Aiden took the top spot for a boy’s name.

Q: What were the most popular baby names of 1979?
A: In 1979, the most popular names were Michael & Jennifer, followed closely by Christopher & Melissa.

Q: What were the most popular baby names of 1989?
A: Michael & Jessica headed the name charts in 1989, followed by Christopher, Ashley, Matthew & Brittany.

Q: What were the most popular baby names of 1969?
A: In ’69, Michael & Lisa were the most popular baby names followed by David & James, Michelle & Jennifer

Q: What were the most popular baby names of 1999?
A: In 1999 the most popular girl’s name was Emily. The most popular boy’s name was Jacob.

Q: Who are the seven arc angels?
A: Traditionally the 7 arch angels re Uriel Raphael Raguel Sariel Gabriel Remiel & Michael. This may vary.

Q: When did pink and blue first start representing the gender of newborn babies?
A: History is not clear but before 1940, the opposite was true: blue was for girls, pink was for boys.

Q: What is the tallest point in the 48 states?
A: The highest mountain in the 48 contiguous U.S. is Mt. Whitney, California at 14,494 feet/4418 meters.

OK, so now you see the many lame and sometimes very personal questions that came up during the last few days and how KGB answered them so gracefully and professionally.

I love this service. It was fun, convenient and provided accurate information in just a few minutes. I highly recommend this one to anyone looking for ways to prove who’s right in an argument, stats for sports teams or players, or interesting facts to help start a conversation with that cute guy or gal in line at Starbucks.

To send a message to the KGB team, simply text to 542542 (kgbkgb) with your first question to get started. You will be charged 99 cents for each answer.

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

Finding That Special Someone

My male companion (for lack of a better term) and I recently discussed whether or not we’d ever get married again. We didn’t discuss marrying each other, but talked hypothetically, of course! While I flirt with the idea of having more kids and someday walking down the aisle – older and wiser – I have to admit that the idea is just as scary as it is exciting.

A while back, before my best friend from high school got married, I wrote a post about Susan Piver’s book, The Hard Questions. It’s a small book filled with great topics to get couples discussing issues that will come up throughout their relationship. Issues such as money, work, sex, family, and children are addressed as well as several others.

Photogurrl sent me an article recently which discusses A Dozen Ways to Get to Know Your Real Partner. Author Stacy D. Phillips mentions great signs to watch out for which are ones that I wish I had paid more attention to in my relationship with my ex-husband.

And just today, I discovered another amazing list through PT Law Mom’s blog: 276 Questions to Ask Before You Marry.

Between these three resources, there is plenty to learn about yourself and your partner which makes for a fun and exciting activity that will bring you closer to the person you are with.

What these lists have helped me realize is that I have dozens – if not hundreds – of conversations yet to have with my current love interest. What’s holding me back from bringing up these topics? Am I afraid to find out that we may not be the best match for each other or would it be scarier to discover that we are?

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

Questions You’d Never Ask Your Parents

Having an open and trusting relationship with our children is a goal that most parents have, but let’s be honest. No matter how open and respectful our relationship, there are many subjects that are a little embarrassing for both kids and parents.

I remember my mom telling me (over and over) how I could talk to her about anything and oftentimes I found myself (and still do) sharing too much information. But the fact remains that there were certain questions I had or things I wanted to know about that I just could never bring up with her.

Elisabeth Henderson and Nancy Armstrong put together an amazing book that I plan on purchasing for my son and slipping under his door someday. 100 Questions You’d Never Ask Your Parents answers many questions in thoughtful, simple ways for those curious and developing teens and tweens.

Providing your child with a safe environment to ask questions is a wonderful thing, but for those kids who just can’t seem to say some of these things out loud, this book is a must-have. I even suggest that parents buy this book before their children are ready for these topics so that they can come up with ways to answer their children’s questions if and when they are asked.

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

New Year – New Y.O.U.

I am working on becoming a certified practitioner for the Y.O.U. Consulting Group (as if I don’t have enough on my plate). It’s hard to define to those who are not familiar with assessment tools, but, to sum it up, it’s cutting edge human assessment technology for creating perfect relationships in business, home and life.

I had several volunteers step up to take the survey for my first homework assignment. I was asked to provide their translation based on their responses to several questions about their appearance, their preferences and their own perception of who they are.

If you’d like to take the personality assessment, please contact me for details. Y.O.U. Consulting Group works with educators, and business owners for team-building and management. There are practitioners waiting to help you succeed in your personal and business relationships.

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

What Makes Sarah a Happy Healthy Hip Parent

Sarah is a single mom who I recently connected with on Facebook. We’re both members of the Single Parents Connection group which is a great place to find support and like-minded individuals who truly know and understand the challenges of raising a family solo.

Sarah is the mother of a young girl named ZZ (no periods, not short for anything). She recently turned 3 and she and Sarah play by their own rules. Here’s what Sarah had to say about her experience as a mom and finding the balance between work & family.

I am the Evaluation and Contract Manager for First 5 Napa County. I was lucky to find this position that only requires 20 hours a week. Because First 5 was created on the premise that the first 5 years of life are the most valuable developmentally, they are more than accommodating of my schedule and needs as a single mom of a 3 year old. I brought my daughter to the job interview! Since then she has accompanied me to conferences, meetings, and site visits!

What makes you happy, as a parent?

The birthday cakes I receive each morning, carefully created and handcrafted by my 3 year old. I receive the cake, candy and the Happy Birthday song every morning in bed (the cake is usually stars she pulled from a skirt, erasers, and beads)!

When my daughter will stop whatever she’s doing and exclaim, “Mama, Mama- can I tell you something?” I then say, “Yes.” She promptly tells me, “I love you.” My heart melts.

Walking around with stickers on my cheeks and a tiara on my head!

What’s the healthiest thing about your relationship with your daughter?

She and I play by our own rules. When my husband of 10 ½ years left, ZZ was only 8 months old and my world fell apart. Two and half years later I am grateful he gave me the opportunity to be a single mom. It has freed me up to live how I want to live! And that means ZZ and I play by our own rules!

When ZZ wakes up in the middle of the night she is ALWAYS welcome in my bed! We dance, hula hoop in our kitchen, jump on the bed, have Gak fights in the house with the neighbor boys, collect nature “treasures” (leaves, etc.) and bring them inside, leave the house in princess dresses, tiaras and sparkles on our cheeks!
Who cares what others think? We don’t! Oh yeah, and our 70 pound Siberian Husky, Marble, spends each morning in bed with us!

Kids say the cutest things. What is the funniest story you recall about ZZ?

ZZ has been asking me about my own mother quite a lot lately. She died about 10 years ago from cancer. I’ve been struggling with how to explain death to her keeping my own Buddhist beliefs present in the explanation.

Recently I was telling her that bodies eventually stop working and that people die, like my mother, that their spirits carry on but that we can’t be with them in the same way at this time. Her response was so sweet. She told me, “We better get your mommy a new body. Mama, you will hold your mommy’s head and I will fix a new body for her. Then we can know your mommy.”

What is your proudest parenting moment?

We were going to a birthday party recently where Cinderella was going to make an appearance. ZZ is obsessed with princesses right now. A friend asked ZZ who was going to be at the party. Her reply, “My mommy.”

What is your biggest parenting challenge?

Accepting that I won’t always “get things done.” I used to be someone who accomplished things, but now I sometimes spend hours just trying to get out of the house! Being a single parent – I struggle if I get sick or am just plain tired. I don’t have the same back-up which at times can be brutal.

What’s your favorite family-friendly restaurant?

Kelly’s No Bad Days Café, Napa, CA

What’s your favorite activity you enjoy with your daughter?

By far it’s going to the beach. My father, sister and I all surf. The beach is a very important place for us as a family. A family that surfs together, stays together!

What advice would you give to new or expecting parents?

Remove all expectations of yourself and your child.

Who or where do you go to for parenting advice?

I go to other single parents. I believe we have different needs and expectations of ourselves. It’s tough and we need to keep it realistic.

How would ZZ describe you?

She’d say mom participates, engages, plays, is honest and loves to kiss and snuggle!

Sarah and ZZ inspire me. Knowing that there’s two child-like individuals out there dancing and leaving the house in princess attire is what makes this world such a special place. I think it could be said of most single parents but we tend to expect our children to have a bit more responsibility at an early age, which is why it’s that much more important to us to allow our children (and ourselves) that time to just be children – silly, brave, proud, brilliant and curious.

I’m pleased to have met so many wonderful individuals – even if it has just been on line – and I encourage you to go out and explore your neighborhood and community for parents that you might not otherwise meet. Regardless of whether or not your children will get along, or are the same age, parents need other parents and you’d be surprised at just how much you will grow from having another experienced mom or dad to share a drink with or go to for advice.

And if you’re not very outgoing, don’t have time to socialize or simply can’t imagine letting someone else into your life, meeting people online is another way to vent, express your opinions or learn from others. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their lives and experiences here with the series of parent profiles. I’ll be sharing my answers to these same questions shortly.

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

Meet ‘N Greet

Today was the first face-to-face meeting with a man I met through eHarmony. I was a bit leery about it since he told me that he wanted to meet somewhere to watch football. Not typically my idea of a first date, I took my chances and decided to meet him at the pub he suggested.

The morning started out pretty slowly. I woke up feeling very groggy, without any caffeine in my house and suddenly not that excited to put myself together to meet someone that I didn’t know at a pub to watch a football game.

My dear friend, hairdresser, matchmaker and the person I seek for wisdom and advice was able to help me prepare for this first meet ‘n greet. She did my hair, spoke about her relationship and where she is in her life and gave me some helpful advice for first date conversations. I also mentioned, only half-seriously, that if this date went well, she’d have to do my hair every time I was to see this guy!

Even though I knew the dress code was going to be ultra-casual, I decided to get dressed up anyway. I wore a white skirt and a black top with comfortable and casual black wedges that had a strap around the ankles. I have to admit, with my hair done by a professional and a sexy outfit, I felt pretty damn good walking into that testosterone-filled bar on my own.

Seconds after I approached the bar, I see him. Yes, I can tell from the back of his head that it’s him, except he’s talking to an attractive waitress and doesn’t appear to be looking for anyone. I watch from a few feet away, try to make eye contact with the blondie who’s captured his attention, and then find myself ordering a beer. Their conversation continues so I head to the bathroom, take my time taking care of business and return to the bar to find – they’re still talking.

Already, I’m annoyed. I wanted to leave but then, I sat down, took a few sips of my beer and waited for him to notice me. He spotted me as soon as he turned back towards the bar. I made a passive-aggressive statement about how I had thought that was him. He didn’t dare ask me how long I had been sitting there.

We walked to a table in the back near the window so he could see the game. Yep, he picked the table and his seat so that he could see the large-screen TV behind me. What was I thinking?

Actually, all of this is quite funny and at that time I’m thinking to myself, I better not be expected to pay for my half of this so-called date. Just when that thought enters my mind, he tells me that this is not a date. It’s simply a meet ‘n greet. He actually uses those words so I’m suddenly feeling less pressure to have this whatever-you-wanna-call-it fulfill any of my expectations. Not that I had any to begin with. I was actually telling my friends that I was a bit concerned that this guy might be a psycho or a freak of some sort which is typically the case (in my mind) with men who add their profile to an online dating site. I realize I’m being a hypocrite here, but bear with me.

After ordering our meal and chatting for a few minutes, it dawns on me that not once has he looked up at the television. I look back at the TV only to realize that his team is not even playing. They have the channel to another game and so he is forced to actually pay attention to me. This is when things get interesting.

We take turns asking each other questions as if this were an interview of some sort and before I know it, we’re talking about strip clubs, rumors of him being gay and both of us having parents that have been married for around 35 years.

We talk and laugh for quite a while and I realize that while there’s no sparks or real butterflies or any of that gushy stuff that I used to feel when I was young (and naive), I do notice how comfortable I am, how confident we both appear to be and how nothing about what he says seems to frighten me. I do think I may have scared him a bit when I mentioned that I drive a mini-van, but these are the kind of things one needs to share before getting too involved.

There’s no awkward moments at all in the conversation and when he suggests that we go down to the art festival taking place in Old Town, I readily agree. He politely opens the car door for me (which is a company car, by the way). We drive down the road and suddenly, he asks the question that I’m least prepared for.

Yes, the conversation turns to the online dating scene and how I ended up there. Luckily, this is a first for both of us and I’m slightly encouraged by the fact that he was a bit concerned that I’d be a psycho or a freak of some sort.

The art festival is amazing. I buy a small, beautiful box which I intend to use for jewelry. We look at the unique art and end up inside a candle shop. We’re both equally eager to dip our own candles. His, of course, turned out much better than mine, but he is an artist after all.

As we’re walking down the street, a woman stops me to ask where I get my hair done. She’s admiring my new style (thank you, Cynthia) and I give her my hairdresser’s phone number since she’s seriously wanting to know where I had it done. My date, I mean, my new male friend, teases me, calling me a celebrity. I’m blushing but feeling pretty damn good.

Overall, the date – I mean meet ‘n greet – turned out well. We share many of the same beliefs and values and had plenty to talk about. He did mention a ‘next time’ so we’ll just have to wait and see what adventures he has planned then.

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

20 Questions

Normally, I would think of the question and answer game when I hear “Twenty Questions,” but from this point forward, I will participate in a different question and answer exercise now that I’ve been introduced to this set of questions from Marc and Angel.

Marc and Angel recommend that you ask yourself these 20 questions each week to maximize your potential:

1. What Did I Learn Last Week?
2. What Was My Greatest Accomplishment Over the Last Week?
3. Which Moment From the Last Week Was Most Memorable and Why?
4. What’s the Number 1 Thing I Need to Accomplish This Week?
5. What Can I Do Right Now To Make This Week Less Stressful?
6. What Have I Struggled With in the Past That Might Also Affect the Upcoming Week?
7. What Was Last Week’s Biggest Time Sink?
8. Am I Carrying Any Excess Baggage into The Week That Ca Be Dropped?
9. What Have I Been Avoiding That Needs to Get Done?
10. What Opportunities Are Still on the Table?

Read the remaining ten questions on the original post over at Marc and Angel Hack Life

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