Someone's "George" is someone else's "McDreamy"

The Grey's Anatomy countdown is finally over! I figured out yesterday when I was reading this article why I love Grey's Anatomy so much. It is because we see ourselves and our friends in these characters. We live through their same situations - no we aren't all doctors and perform miracles everyday but their pains, their loves...their lives are just like our own.

I have said for years that if you look around, everyone has a crush on someone so by default someone has a crush on you and you just don't know it - Sans "Someone's 'George' is someone else's 'McDreamy'." Everyone in college (and even now) has a nickname for someone they like - it is probably becuase you don't know their name so you have to call them "Blue t-shirt guy" or "Mr. Hottie". They don't know you but you wish you knew them. The same is probably true for you - you are someone's "Blue T-shirt girl" or "Ms Hottie". You won't always know who is your George vs you McDreamy out of all the "Blue t-shirt guys", but hopefully you will figure it out.

The trick in this world is for all of us to come together and find our McDreamy and get past all the George's in our lives. But you have to get through the George's sometimes to learn what you want in a McDreamy. Hopefully Meredith will figure out who is her real McDreamy - the doc or Finn. My vote is for the doc!

Social Networking

This is a topic that I find very fascinating and I think most people that blog or use other social networking type websites, will too. Here are some articles about social networking from the New Scientist which I got originally from The Impact of Social Networking on Society.

1. Living online: The end of privacy by Alison George
2. This is your space by Amanda Gefter
3. I'll have to ask my friends by Sherry Turkle
4. I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by Google by Bruce Sterling

One article mentions how folks have no qualms about putting their personal information or personal thoughts on the web yet they don't go around work shouting about their religon, favorite band, etc. Now many companies are googling names and looking up information about their potential new hires on the web. Often times employers find information that they rather not know (ie how drunk you got last night) and will probably use this information against you. Why do folks (including me) think it is okay to post to the world intimate details yet you would never say half of the things to your friends, family, or co-workers.

The articles do caution users from posting personal information and point out that websites such as myspace do allow users to protect their privaacy but even people that are concerned about their privacy, don't use them. Interesting. Definitely food for thought.

Vacation in Italy

I wish I had kept a journal the last 10 days so I could look back and read my thoughts and experiences of my vacation in Italy. After every vacation (or at least a good one), I think it is important to reflect on what you learned and how you want to make changes in your life or what new things you want to try. After being part of the real world now for 1 day, I think I have lost some of the deep thoughts that I came back with. I do want to savor this moment and be able to relive it, so I thought what place better to do that than my blog. So here are my thoughts...

Spending 10 days in Italy was awesome - in fact, awesome doesn't even do the experience justice. I think everyone should take a week vacation every year so they can get out of the normal routine and experience something new, learn to appreciate what you take for granted, and get a little R and R. If you can go somewhere exotic, like Italy the definitely do it. It is so great to see another culture. You learn to appreciate free bathrooms in the US but you appreciate the people of another country and eat and enjoy their gelato! Tuscany is beautiful. Looking out on our villa into the rolling hills full of sunflowers, olive trees, and grapes is amazing. Each day I got up to fog and watching it slowly burn off and reveal the wonders around. I ate pasta with amazing flavors (my new favorites are a bread crumb pici and pesto gnocchi) and enjoyed the Italian pizza and of course the wine. I wish I knew more about the wine - we had 3 wine tastings during the trip and I wish I had understood more about the grapes and what makes a wine and about DOCG - after this trip, I want to learn more about all of that. I also have a list of movies to see: Under the Tuscan Sun, Roman Holiday, Gladiator. Anchorman (so I get all the jokes from the week).

On Thurs, I sat by the pool and looked out on the hills and just savored the moment and took a mental photograph that I hope to never forget. I was truly part of an experience for the last 10 days. About 30 people lived, ate, traveled, shared, and attended a wedding for our dear friends. Nothing can take the memories away and no one can truly understand the full experience unless you were there. The bride couldn't have been more beautiful and the hillside wedding was out of a story book. The love between the bride and groom and their families was visible. The joy on the friends' faces and the bonds made are strong. I hope to keep the friendships made (go F Team) but I know it will never match what we did in Italy - sharing 4 plates of food in Sienna, waiting on the ring, Mousse gelato, holding my hand as I climbed the leaning tower of Pisa as my fear of heights took over, seeing Fibonacci, drinking Orangchotas at the train station, shopping in Florence, finding the restaurant and market that I visited over 6 yrs ago, late night talks in the kitchen, the wine tastings, bed hopping throughout the villa, trips to the trains, drinks at the NY Bar, luggage left line in Rome, the Coliseum and Vatican, 3 hrs of sleep in the Courtyard Marriott, the endless food on the flight back from Rome. I have made new friends and miss having 30 people around me to do something with 24-7, I didn't even miss my normal "me" time that comes from being alone for the majority of the time. Thanks to Jimmy and Angela for inviting me on this amazing experience - I am glad that I could share it with you!

Things I want to do/remember from the trip:
- Remember that you don't always have to be so busy, it is okay to stop and smell the roses. Italians are way more laid back than Americans.
- Learn the language or the basics before you visit. You want to revert to Spanish as a back-up but that may not work.
- Family is important - take time to enjoy your time with them.
- Take a special vacation each year. Make sure it is at least a week long because you need that much time away from work.
- Go abroad. See history. See a different culture. Eat new foods. Get out of your comfort zone.
- Save money to go on said vacation - eat in instead of out, don't buy that shirt that you want, etc.
- There is nothing like spending 10 days with strangers to help you bond. I miss the days of college where someone was always around to do something. Your friends are important - both old and new friends
- Keep a journal (on vacation and maybe every day)
- Learn something new or have a new hobby - don't get stuck in the grind of every day

You know you have worked out of town too long when…

1. You start to have your own room at the hotel (ie Room 101 is my room and I stay in there every week). You check to make sure the radio settings and alarm clock are on what you left them and are glad to see when they are!
2. The hotel folks say “Welcome back Ms. Doe” or “You went to the gym early today, Ms Doe”. I look around when they say that looking for my mom!
3. The hotel folks check you in before you can reach the counter.
4. You start to think of the hotel folks as your friends!
5. You recognize the folks that work at Subway and Cosi and the recognize you and know your order by heart.
6. You start to wonder what they do with all of the half empty shampoo bottles at the hotel and think that it is such a waste or really gross that they are just refilling the bottles and restocking your room.
7. You start checking out the security guards at the airport because you see them every week!
8. You have a standard meal at the airport on Thurs and you get excited about it.
9. You are excited when you spend more than 3 days in the city that you live in.
10. You watch way to much SATC, Friends, and Big Brother All Stars because you have no life! (that was weak but figured that I needed to round out the Top 10)

Growing Up in the 80s Has Never Been Better

My sister forwarded me this email today and it rang so true. Can you believe we did some of these things? I could add - reading Bernstein Bear books, high bangs, bad perms, Guns N Roses, The Heathers movie, colored jeans...

You Know You Grew Up In The 80's or Early 90's If:
1. You've ever ended a sentence with the word SIKE.
2. You watched the Pound Puppies.
3. You can sing the rap to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and can do the Carlton
4. Girls wore biker shorts under their skirts and felt stylishly sexy.
5. You yearned to be a member of the Baby-sitters club and tried to start a club of your own.
6. You owned those lil' Strawberry Shortcake pals scented dolls.
7. You know that "WOAH" comes from Joey on Blossom
8. Two words: Hammer Pants
9. If you ever watched "Fraggle Rock"
10. You had plastic streamers on your handle bars... and spokey-dokes or playing cards on your spokes for that incredible sound effect
11. You can sing the entire theme song to "Duck Tales" (Woo ooh!)
12. It was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons.
13. You wore a ponytail on the side of your head.
14. You saw the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the big screen..and still know the turtles names.
15. You got super-excited when it was Oregon Trail day in computer class at school.
16. You made your mom buy one of those clips that would hold your shirt in a knot on the side. 17. You played the game "MASH"(Mansion, Apartment, Shelter, House)
18. You wore stonewashed Jordache jean jackets and were proud of it.
19. L.A. Gear....need I say more?
20. You wanted to change your name to "JEM" in Kindergarten. (She's Truly Outrageous.)
21. You remember reading Tales of a fourth grade nothing and all The Ramona books.
22. You know the profound meaning of "WAX ON, WAX OFF"
23. You wanted to be a Goonie.
24. You ever wore fluorescent clothing. (some of us...head-to-toe)
25. You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his nose fell off and his cheeks shifted.
26. You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf.
27. You took lunch boxes to school... and traded Garbage Pailkids in the schoolyard.
28. You remember the CRAZE, then the BANNING of slap bracelets.
29. You still get the urge to say "NOT" after every sentence.
30. You remember Hypercolor t-shirts.
31. Barbie and the Rockers was your favorite band.
32. You thought She-ra (Princess of Power!) and He-Man should hook up.
33. You thought your childhood friends would never leave because you exchanged handmade friendship bracelets.
34. You ever owned a pair of Jelly-Shoes.
35. After you saw Pee-Wee's Big Adventure you kept saying "I know you are, but what am I?" 36. You remember "I've fallen and I can't get up"
37. You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline skates.
38. You ever got seriously injured on a Slip and Slide.
39. You have ever played with a Skip-It.
40. You had or attended a birthday party at McDonalds.
41. You've gone through this nodding your head in agreement.
42. You remember Popples.
43. Don't worry, be happy
44. You wore like, EIGHT pairs of socks over tights with high top Reeboks.
45. You wore socks scrunched down (and sometimes still do..getting yelled at by younger hip members of the family)
46. You remember boom boxes and walking around with one on your shoulder like you were all that.
47. You remember watching both Gremlins movies.
48. You know what it meant to say "Care Bear Stare!!"
49 You remember watching Rainbow Bright and & My Little Pony Tales
50. You thought Doogie Howser/Samantha Micelli was hot.
51. You remember Alf, the lil furry brown alien from Melmac.
52. You remember New Kids on the Block when they were cool...and don't even flinch when people refer to them as "NKOTB"
53. You knew all the characters names and their life stories on "Saved By The Bell," The ORIGINAL class.
54. You know all the words to Bon Jovi - SHOT THROUGH THE HEART.
55. You just sang those words to yourself.
56. You remember watching Magic vs. Bird.
57. Homemade Levi shorts.. (the shorter the better)
58. You remember when mullets were cool!
59. You had a mullet!
60. You still sing "We are the World"
61. You tight rolled your jeans.
62. You owned a bannana clip.
63. You remember "Where's the Beef?"
64. You used to (and probably still do) say "What you talkin' 'bout Willis?"
65 You had big hair and you knew how to use it.
66. You're still singing shot through the heart in your head, aren't you!

Devotions

Here are some verses that have been thought-provoking and comforted me lately. I wanted to share but also want them as a reference for myself later.

2 Corinthians 4:7-9 says:
7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (NIV)
This verse gives me hope. Whatever I am in the middle of now, I should be learning something even if it is going through a hard situation.

Proverbs 13:12 says:
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. (NIV)
This verse also gives me hope. I can trust that something will happen but the waiting part can be hard. I can be tempted to take things into my own hands instead of waiting for the right timea. If I am patience, the reward I reap will be much better. When the timing is right, I will be better prepared for what is ahead.

I pulled the verses from an online bible - very helpful tool.

Cherish

The second time you hear bad news, your world isn't quite rocked in the same way. In a wierd way, you are prepared. You know the emotions that come with bad news and you have felt all the feelings before. You don't want to go back down that dark path of hurt, shock, pain.

This time is different. Everyone is aware of what is going on. The procedure is simple, non-evasive, out-patient but to me it is no less scary. I would rather have things be normal and not "simple, non-evasive, and out-patient". But we are strong.

Challenges does help you cherish the priceless moments in life - holding your sister's hand to comfort her, hugging your parents to support them, deep conversations about otherwise taboo topics, really talking not just surface conversations. Challenges help you grow closer to your loved ones and it helps make those moments sharper in your memory and makes the importance of life become clearer. Simple things like breakfast for dinner are frozen in time. The look of suprise on your mom's face when you show up unexpectedly. It's all as clear as it just happend...and I never want to forget those moments.

Random thoughts

I usually don't just put together a random group of topics in a post - I usually try to stick to one topic - but I got no inspiration lately. So here is what I do have...

Jessica Simpson's new album - it sucks. I heard a preview of the whole CD on Q100 today. They had an unofficial early copy. There may be 2 good songs on the whole CD that seem unique/new. The rest are all rip offs of all songs. I think almost every song has a sample from a song from the 80s (example "Public Affair" sounds like Moddona's "Holiday"). If you listen to the rest of the CD you will definitely recognize the tunes - too bad her songs are as good as the orginals. All but 2 songs use the same formula and run together. Maybe Jess should have worked on a marriage and she would have made better songs like "With You" and "Sweetest Sin".

My new favorie drinks: Mai Tai, Mojitos (I like raspberry or other flavored Mojitos)

Atlanta vs DC (I tried to put this in a table but my html skills must be rusty)
- In Atlanta, I eat at Moe's or Jersey Mike's once a week
- In DC, I eat at Cosi at least once week
- Both cities have a resaurant week
- Both cities have Screen on the Green
- People in Atlanta drive everyone
- People in DC, walk or ride the Metro and they walk around with an iPod and earphones EVERYWHERE
- DC airport has short lines
- Atlanta airport has LOOOOOOOOOOONG lines

The Phone is a Lost Artform

Folks don't really use the phone anymore to communicate. Now you may say, "wait a minute, I use my cell all the time." True, I use the phone when I am in the car and traveling from point A to point B to past the time away. But, when I am trying to make plans with friends, do I call them? No, I usually email them and then get irritated when they don't email me back. Could I pick up the phone and make plans? - Yes. But do I? No. As a back up to email, I text message. Believe it or not, talking is a lot better than email. Sometimes email misses or enhances the tone of an email. I may type something that someone interprets as me yelling at them when that was not my intention at all.

So over the last month, I have been trying to do better about calling folks. Instead of just emailing to see how someone is doing, I try to call them. Instead of just emailing to make plans, I try to call. I also am trying not to wait for people to call people. I realized last month that if you looked at my phone, most of the calls were received calls and not dialed calls. So in light of the phone being replaced by email and text message, I am making an effort to communicate better and reach out to my friends.

The Case for Faith

I am currently reading "The Case for Faith" by Lee Strobel. Lee Strobel is a journalist and his goal in writing the book is to investiage the toughest objections to Christianity. There are 8 chapters that each dive into common objections. The book is very academic - Lee Stobel presents the objections to a different world reknown expert in the area in question and the two have a dialog. I like it because I am an academic person and I like to know facts and have facts that back up atheory. Anyone that has questions about Christianity or wants to learn more, then this is the book for you. It is a great door opener, discussion starter. It's a book that challenges your thinking and makes you want to learn more.

I was reading Ch 5 today and I think the statements that rang true to me were:
"How a person lives and how he treats his neighbor is very important" came his reply.
"But it is not more important than what he believes, because the way he lives is reflective of what he believes..." (pg 156)

"Beacause we are moral human beings, we want to see equity. But when we reduce equity to issues of who behaved in what way during a given span of time, we miss the whole concept of equity..." (pg 158)

"The Bible says, 'You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart.' Think about that - that's an amazing promise." (pg 165)

I think these are all great things to think about, chew on, contemplate, learn more about, research. That's why I love this book!

What's Worse?

What's worse? - Knowing that tomorrow brings disaster or not knowing that it brings disaster and dealing with it? I guess this is similar to asking - would you rather know you are dying so you have time to say good-bye or would you rather dye suddenly without having time to spend time with your loved ones, visiting all the places you wanted to see, making up with those you have not forgiven. We don't get to choose the scenario - it just happens and we deal with it, we live through it.

Tomorrow, a doctor's appt could either cause a cry of joy or a cry of sadness. I think it is harder to anticipate the appt rather than having it thrust upon and you deal with the bad news as it come s. I think the unknown is hard. I guess in either case there is unknown - the waiting until you know. In either case, I think you just have to have the hope and say the prayers because you never know what tomorrow may bring or the day after that or the day after that...

You Ate the Food. You Drank the Wine.

If you think you have gone on a bad date and need to feel better, just check out this story about a girl who went on a date and then was basically harrassed to pay for her half of the date after she decided not to go out with him again. It is too funny! It is expecially funny if you can hear the audio.

Also, a t-shirt company Cafe Press has even made a shirt that says "You ate the food. You drank the wine." I might have to get one of those.

Questions to Ask on a Date

Again, my topic comes from an online article that I read about dating. Obviously being single and how to become a couple is a hot topic on the internet and on this blog. This time the article was by Ayren Jackson-Cannady on "5 Questions to Ask on a Date". I don't necesarily agree with the authors 5 questions - at least not for the first date, maybe for date #3-5. I think a good back-up plan is to have at least 3 topics to discuss (Thanks to Amanda for this idea since she brought it up the other night at dinner). You want to have these 3 topics in case there is some dead air in the conversation. So aside from topics/stories you can prepare beforehand, here are the 5 questions that I propose you ask....

1. What did you do this week/weekend? - This can help uncover a wealth of info. If on Sunday, he says he went to church or missed church for whatever reason, that is a good sign. You can also find out what his interests are by figuring out where he has spent his time - did he work in the garden, go to a fun dinner, play a sport, exercise, work late, hang out with friends, etc.
2. How long have you lived in X city? - This can also turn into a lengthy convo about the history of where he/she has lived and what cities. It also can turn into a travel convo which leads to my next question...
3. Where would you like to go on a dream/exotic/fun vacation? - Hopefully both of you are adventurous and say something other than going to the big city for a sporting event. This can also lead to a convo about fun places you have been.
4. What would you do if you won the lotto? (again thanks to Amanda b/c I know she has brought this one up before) - Similar to question 3 but could lead to some interesting convo about value of money, fun trips, life dreams, etc...also can piggyback on the new TV Show "Windfall" and how it has affected this group of people who won the lottery and the choices they have made.
5. What's your favorite band/tv show/movie/sport to watch or play/insert topic here? - This is always a good fallback question becaue hopefully you guys will have something in common or at least lead to a good story.

Also, if you are on a group date with friends you always need the SATC "save me/things are okay" signals ready. I think the more "conversation-like" these questions can be, the better. Your date may not even catch the drift of your signals if you are smart about it. This week my prepared signals were "Has anyone seen Superman?" - that meant the date was going well and the converse was "Has anyone seen the Break-up?" - that meant that I was ready to ditch the guy after dinner. These are inconspicous questions that could come up naturally in the conversation and your date would have no clue. I will have to think of some new questions for the next date now that my secret is out!

Independent Women

Before I comment, I want to give credit where credit is due. Most of my ideas spawned from an article that I read by Cliff Young entitled "What Men Really Think About Successful, Independent Women". Any direct quotes from his articles are in quotation marks and italicized.

"Being friends with females is great, but most guy-girl friendships need to be clarified at some point. I once heard somewhere that in every guy-girl non-dating relationship, one person or the other at some point wants the relationship to go further than just a friendship. Think about it, if it’s not you, it’s probably them. "

• While I give Cliff credit for his words, this is a thought that I have expressed many times - I think even in a blog entry. Men and women can't truly be friends - at one point in the friendship one or both people have wanted to pursue a relationship. The good thing is to know that there is a chance the guy is interested if you just want to be his friend and if you like him that maybe he just wants to be friends. This can be a very sticky situation for either person. If you are the one that just wants to be friends then you feel like you have to be careful to never "encourage" the relationship - in some cases, you even worry about being nice because you think they may interpret it wrong. If you are the one with the crush, then you probably read something into every touch, ever comment, every action that the other person makes. You think "does that mean he likes me because he wanted to sit by me?" or most likely it means "we're pals and I let you know that we were just pals by always having an excuse when you invited me somewhere". The problem is knowing when he/she likes you back and it is mutual beyond a friendship. Good luck solving that problem! I still don't have a good radar when he is just giving the friend vibe and I am not good at giving "just the friend" vibe without being too harsh. To help figure out where your friendship/potential relationship lies, I say just go for it. If you ask him out and he says no then nothing is lost and you have your answer. The friendship may be awkward for a few weeks/months but eventually you will move past it and back to the friend plane.
• Good news is that just like you have crushes on someone, by the law of averages someone has a crush on you too!

"Women want to be pursued, they want to be needed in a relationship and they want to be treated like a lady - chivalry is not gone or outdated (you may want to “Google” the term if you’re unsure of what it means; that would be a good start."

• I was so glad to finally read this in print so I know that I am not crazy. In the article, this point fell under Lessons Learned for men. This is something that I have thought about over and over recently. I just want a guy to ask me out, pursue me a little bit - I don't want to ask you out, I want you to call, ask me out, act interested, call me back, etc. I don't mind asking a guy out but I lose interest faster if I do that. Instead, I want to be pursued, romanced, etc. I want to be excited about the ride the relationship will take and I want to enjoy the ride of not knowing what might happen next - whisk me off to the mountains for the weekend, show up with a flower in the car seat, take me out on a date to play putt-putt or go to the driving range (not dinner and a movie), go rollerblading or on a bike built for two on the Silver Comet trail...

Top 10 Cities for Singles

Thanks to Forbes for compiling this list and for helping me to decide to move to Denver!

Top 10 Cities for Singles
1 - Denver-Boulder
2 - Boston
3 - Phoenix
4 - San Francisco-Oakland
5 - New York
6 - Raleigh-Durham
7 - Seattle
8 - Austin, Texas
9 - Washington D.C.-Baltimore
10 - Miami

Does anyone see Atlanta on this list? Apparently, we are #16 out of 40.

To see the full article about this list, please click here (MSN) or here(Forbes.com).

Things You Don't See Everyday...

Today, I was running after work. I was taking a nice jog down Conneticut to 16th towards The Mall. At the beginning of my run. the police were starting to stop all of the traffic on the cross streets. When I got to the corner of 16th and Pennsylvania, all traffic and people were stopped. As I stood there, I saw the parade of cops and cars drive in bringing the new Iraqi prime minister to visit the President. The Iraqi flag was flying from the cars and from a nearby brick building where the cars all pulled up. How cool is that? On my run back from The Mall, I was thinking "what must he think of America?" - what a melting pot of people all busily moving on the street, getting things done, and living mostly in harmony. Wonder if he thought that? See related article about the visit.

The Glamorous Life

I just got back from watching "The Devil Wears Prada" which I hadn't planned on going to see because it didn't seem like my type of movie. Suprisingly enough, it was a fun movie to see and actually had a good moral story towards the end. Which do you choose: A) the glamorous life where everyone wants to be you and you do whatever you can to stay in those shoes or do you B)follow your head, your passion, and maintain your integrity and self. It's funny because we all want to be those people that we see on TV. We want to walk the red carpet, we want the Gucci, Dolce and Gabbana, Jimmy Choos to wear, we want to be famous/to be known, we want to be rich. But do we really want all that? Is that life really all that it is cracked up to be? I remember when I was little, I would picture myself going to work (walking down the street to work from my cute house to be specific)in a high powered suit and high heels. I would head straight towards my corner office and then I would ... I never actually pictured what I would be doing, just what I would be wearing. In reality, high heels aren't comfortable and suits are kind of stuffy - I hate wearing heels or a suit to work. Luckily, I don' have to. I can settle for the semi-fashional black pants, cute shoes, and a fun top. So my outfit doesn't exactly fit the life I dreamed about. But the setting is as close as it has ever been - I am getting to walk to work but instead of from my house to work, it is from my hotel to work. Which also involves a car, plane, and metro to actually get to that hotel so that I can walk. So again, not exactly what I dreamed as the "picture perfect job" would be. So now that the setting doesn't work, I can see that what I wanted isn't really want I wanted at all. So, is that glamorous life, really what we all want? Maybe we should forget the setting and picture on what makes us happy. Do we like what we do at work? Is it our passion? And do we have to follow the cultural "standard" for what we should all be doing and wearing?

Table for One

I sit in a restaurant composing this blog on the back of a receipt. This is the second time in 2 weeks that I've been at a table of one. Last week it was eating sushi at a sushi bar next to strangers and today it is at a romantic Italian restaurant. Of course both places the maître d' asked if I was waiting for someone and I merely said "no, just one tonight". In both resataurants I had very fast service - it must not be hard to cook just one meal - the dinner even arrived as I write...maybe the food arrives fast because the server knows you have no one to talk to and don't need to wait on the conversation to get going. Maybe the food just cooks faster. I do think being a Party of 1 has its advantages - faster seating and faster service. It even gives you some time to think about your day and allow your mind to wander. It is the one part of the day where you don't have to be doing anything and you don't have to converse with anyone, you can just simply be. It's funny because being a Party of 1 in my hometown is frightening but being a Party of 1 on the road is exciting and has potential for adventure because you never know who you might meet. I think I can finally enjoy being a Table for One!

Cheatin' Is Getting Harder

What is your response when a guy says "Sorry I didn't call, I was out of town." Really, were you out of town for the last month with no cell service? In this day and age of info technology you are pretty much connected to the cell phone on one hip and email on the other unless you live in seclusion in a third world country. In this case, one of two things happened - you really were out of town and just got "busy" or maybe (and also more likely) your girlfriend was the cause that you didn't call. In this day and age of technology with tools like Google, mySpace, blogs, etc it is harder and harder to lie and get away with it. A guy says he wants to go out but low and behold his mySpace profile says he is in a relationship, maybe even says he is married. Even employers are getting in on the action and checking out their potential hires by doing research using Google and mySpace. That in itself would be a good discussion. But, "we" only know what "you" post about yourself. I only know you have a girlfriend because your profile says it, your employer only knows that you really went to a small town college instead of UGA like your resume says when he researches the internet.

I could stop there but want to back-up to Mr Out-of-Town. My theory on his comments are not that he ever planned to call or that he ever plans to call in the future. His comments were mearly a "I want to keep you as an option" because we all want options. I don't think this is strictly guy thing. I want options too. I have prefernces and if Guy A is interested and Guy B is interested, I want to go out with both and then figure out who I like. To answer my own question, what do you say when a guy apologizes for not calling ... if you are quick on your feet like me and know that he has a girlfriend your hightly intellectual response is "Whatever."

"Find Your Spot" Website

A friend recently told me about this website - findyourspot.com. The website asks you a series of questions (ie about the weather, sporting events, activities you like to do, etc) and then uses your responses to help determine a list of cities that you might like to live in.

I am not sure if I agree with my list because neither Atlanta nor DC are on the list and I love those 2 cities. Here's my list:

Charleston, South Carolina Cosmopolitan Southern CityFort Sumter, the scene of the first shots of the Civil War, overlooks this city's harbor...
Population: 562,700 Average Home Price: $270,000 Precipitation: 52" Snow: 0"

Orlando, Florida Florida’s Entertainment CapitalIn this entertainment mecca, you can wrestle alligators at Gatorland or have lunch with Mickey Mouse…
Population: 1,645,000 Average Home Price: $265,000 Precipitation: 50" Snow: 0"

Houston, Texas City of ExcitementTexas won its independence from Mexico at a battle fought here in 1836; the city became the capital of the Republic of Texas...
Population: 4,420,000 Average Home Price: $180,000 Precipitation: 48" Snow: 0"

Tampa, Florida Paradise on the BayThis Florida town's annual Gasparilla Pirate Fest includes a parade, an arts festival, and a "pirate invasion"…
Population: 2,500,000 Average Home Price: $257,000 Precipitation: 49" Snow: 0"

Austin, Texas City of the Violet CrownThis "Hill Country" capital boasts 12,000 acres of greenbelt and undeveloped land used for recreation…
Population: 656,600 Average Home Price: $154,000 Precipitation: 31" Snow: 1"
Norfolk, Virginia Heart of the Hampton RoadsThis spot was the only American city completely destroyed and rebuilt in the Revolutionary War; a British cannonball in St. Paul's Church wall is a reminder…
Population: 1,606,000 Average Home Price: $182,000 Precipitation: 45" Snow: 7"

Dallas, Texas The Star of the Lone Star StateAlthough one of the country's largest cities, this spot is the least densely populated metropolitan area in the world…
Population: 3,743,000 Average Home Price: $207,000 Precipitation: 33" Snow: 3"

Fort Worth, Texas Where the West BeginsThe first "washateria" (laundromat) opened in this town on April 18, 1934 with four machines…
Population: 534,700 Average Home Price: $135,000 Precipitation: 32" Snow: 3"

Chesapeake-Virginia Beach, Virginia The Southern Tidewater RegionThis Virginia beach town's annual Neptune Festival features sports competitions, an arts and crafts show, and a Grand Ball…
Population: 624,000 Average Home Price: $252,000 Precipitation: 45" Snow: 1"
Jacksonville, Florida Florida’s First CoastHere in Florida’s “youngest city” the median age is just 32…
Population: 778,000 Average Home Price: $242,000 Precipitation: 54" Snow: 0"

West Palm Beach, Florida The Gold CoastThis famous Florida spot hosts "Sunfest," the state's largest music and art festival on the waterfront…
Population: 1,216,000 Average Home Price: $430,000 Precipitation: 60" Snow: 0"

Charlotte, North Carolina The Queen CityHome to First Union and Bank of America, this spot is renowned as a financial center…
Population: 1,335,000 Average Home Price: $232,000 Precipitation: 43" Snow: 6"

San Antonio, Texas Three Centuries of CultureCobblestone walkways wind past restaurants and shops along this city's famous Paseo del Rio, or RiverWalk…
Population: 1,144,650 Average Home Price: $160,000 Precipitation: 30" Snow: 1"

Brownsville, Texas On the Border, By the SeaThis town at the southern tip of Texas began as Fort Brown, built to support the U.S. claim to the Rio Grande as a southern border…
Population: 139,700 Average Home Price: $100,000 Precipitation: 25" Snow: 0"

Augusta, Georgia Georgia’s Garden CityThe Masters golf tournament is held in this Georgia town each year…
Population: 484,000 Average Home Price: $121,000 Precipitation: 42" Snow: 0"
Memphis, Tennessee Home of the Delta BluesThis city's famous Beale Street gave birth to Blues, Rock 'n' Roll, and legends such as BB King and Elvis Presley…
Population: 650,000 Average Home Price: $150,000 Precipitation: 49" Snow: 3"

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Big City on the PlainsLocated in the heart of America, visitors to this town can use water taxis to visit restaurants and shops in the famous Bricktown district…
Population: 523,000 Average Home Price: $141,000 Precipitation: 32" Snow: 9"

Louisville, Kentucky Home of the Kentucky DerbyThis beautiful river city was home to Colonel Harland Sanders, founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken…
Population: 248,000 Average Home Price: $186,000 Precipitation: 43" Snow: 17"

McAllen, Texas City of PalmsThis lush spot in Rio Grande country is a birdwatcher's paradise, home each April to the Texas Tropics Nature Festival...
Population: 106,400 Average Home Price: $120,000 Precipitation: 26" Snow: 0"

Nashville, Tennessee Music City, U.S.A.Though best known for its music, this spot also boasts the Hermitage, home to Andrew Jackson, Americas first president from the wild "West"…
Population: 545,500 Average Home Price: $169,000 Precipitation: 46" Snow: 11"

Galveston, Texas An Island OasisIt snows once a year in this city on the Gulf of Mexico - when the snowmaking machine is turned on during the Dickens Christmas festival…
Population: 57,000 Average Home Price: $175,000 Precipitation: 42" Snow: 0"

Miami, Florida The Gold CoastThis exciting Florida melting pot city draws on West Indian, Cuban, African, European and Native American heritages…
Population: 376,800 Average Home Price: $432,000 Precipitation: 60" Snow: 0"

Richmond, Virginia Rising Star of the SouthPatrick Henry made his famous "give me liberty or give me death" speech at Saint John's Episcopal Church in this city in 1775…
Population: 198,000 Average Home Price: $240,000 Precipitation: 43" Snow: 14"

Clearwater, Florida City of Gold Medal BeachesOnce you're done playing in the sun and sand, you can ride the world's largest speedboat in this unique city...
Population: 109,000 Average Home Price: $187,000 Precipitation: 51" Snow: 0"