Dear Date: Communication Weakling or Warrior?

Join me for a this series on my blog entitled "Dear Date..."
where I share my insights and anecdotes into the exciting and often frustrating world of dating. 

Say it, Don't just Type it!

In any relationship, communication is key.

And by key, I mean pretty much the most essential and important skill both parties can arm themselves with on that battlefield Pat Benatar called Love.

This weapon skill, communication, can either be honed, sharp, strategic and well-used or it can also be poor, weak, misguided and just plain invisible.

Dear Date...Internet Dating - Dos & Don'ts

Join me for a new series on my blog entitled "Dear Date..." 

where I share my insights and anecdotes into the exciting and often frustrating world of dating.

Internet Dating....Some Do's and Don'ts!
You've done it, I know you have, you've signed-up for a free trial or a free weekend or a free test drive on one of the many dating websites out there. 
You and me both! 
I've tried just about all of them off and on, good or bad and here are a few pointers from what I have learned for both men and women.

Dear Date...Ukulele Music? Really?

Join me for a new series on my blog entitled "Dear Date..." 
where I share my insights and anecdotes into the exciting and often frustrating world of dating.

Previously on the first episode of "Dear Date..."


"I'm 33, single and a Christian.
The dating pool is so very small.
It's difficult to meet people.
YES I have tried Internet dating.
And the first thing you need to know: Be employed. Somewhere, anywhere, have some sort of a job."

There. You're all caught up.

In today's episode, I'd like to speak to all the would-be dating men out there about:
Date Number 2 - Venue and Conversation

Dear Date...You are Job!

Join me for a new series on my blog entitled "Dear Date..."
where I share my insights and anecdotes into the exciting and often frustrating world of dating.



I am 33, single and to top it all off, a Christian.

Word.

That sound you just heard was the dating 'ocean' shrinking considerably into a puddle-sized pool full of kooks, close-enough-to-be-relatives, and unfamiliars that I pray find me somehow, by some miracle.

Music or Lyrics?

Last night I took in a late movie with a marvelous friend. The film, "Music and Lyrics" stars Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore as an unlikely duo who end up writing a hit song together.
Grant plays Alex Fletcher, a self-proclaimed Has-Been in the pop music industry who now sings at high school reunions and theme parks regaling his glory days as one of the main pair that headlined a pop music group funnily enough called "Pop". We even get to see one of their 80's hit music videos in full black and white checker and cheesy over the top thrusting dance moves the group became famous for (an coincidentally lead to many hip replacements later in life!)
As Fletcher's career is winding down and he scrambles to find a way to stay a float as a musician, a current pop star, Cora, makes it known she enjoyed some of his earlier hits as a child and offers to let him write her a brand new song in a few days and to perform it with her to kick off her new tour.
Though excited by the offer, Fletcher was always the melody composer and never god at writing lyrics. His manager finds a lyricist who seems bent on dark and dreary and while they being to work on the song in Fletcher's bachelor apartment, he finds his regular plant watering girl replaced by a substitute, the chattery and hypochondriac Sophie Fisher. Sophie begins quietly finishing their lines of lyrics with quirky but catchy phrases and suddenly Fletcher is intrigued and the hired lyricist is out and he tried to convince Sophie she can help him write this new hit song.The dynamic between Grant and Barrymore sparks fun, wit and a natural romantic chemistry. The two work well in this comedic role; Grant is no longer his foppish, blustering self but a confident and comfortable musician who breaks through somewhat of a fear barrier and Barrymore excels at her typical sprightliness but with a hint of sadness and a touch of the pathetic as her character seeks to get over a past love and dare to love again.
Two of the supporting characters are also excellent in this film. Brad Garrett ( Robert of Everybody Loves Raymond) plays the eager suck-up of a manager, and Kristen Johnston (Third Rock from the Sun) plays Sophie's older sister and a crazed fan of Fletcher and "POP".
Though this movie never completely wowed me, the story stayed amusing and the characters seemed like someone we all might know. The romance was never contrived or forced, only simple, sweet and on the non-commercial side. (For example, when Fletcher decided to push around Sophie's past guy, instead of a typical fist-fight in a restaurant, Fletcher's arms are twisted, his face ends up in the butter and somewhere in the mix is a sharp dinner roll!)
The BEST part I found is the theme of this movie - Love can be separated into two parts like Music: the Melody which represents the good feelings and the passion, and the Lyrics, the words that are getting to know someone, finding out all about them and spending time together.
So if you are looking for a light, fun, and feel-good story that pushed the mold a little, go see Music and Lyrics!

So It's been brought to my attention....

that I have not posted in a while.....
While true, I will take this opportunity to say......neither have some of you! There. Now that we've established that I'm not the only blog-slacker...

I've slowly been getting my home sorted out, unpacked and tidied....slowly.
Last weekend my parents really helped me a bunch by helping me unpack some more boxes and taking away all my cardboard boxes and paper.
I've been settling in and enjoying my neighbourhood immensely!!!

The crocuses are all out, purple, yellow, white, the daffodils are bursting and even some tulips are showing some colour. The trees that line my street and all those surrounding are all light pink cherry trees that are just beginning to open their delicate little pink flowers!

This isn't really in focus but you get the idea. So dainty and pretty!

Sophie and I have discovered (after my dad's common sense suggestion) another beach to walk to that is even closer than the place we've been walking everyday. This new beach is sandy and even has a dog park above it.

The sunsets and morning sunrises are so beautiful here! And the other day it was so windy and cold, but so invigorating to walk in and to watch the waves crashing up on the rocks! Have I mentioned I love the ocean!?!

This doesn't really look too stormy, but I assure you the waves were a-crashing!

One more funny picture....a few houses away, we always pass these two houses with little faerie doors on trees in front of their houses. This is one....it's cute but kind of tacky and silly. The other one is more simple and sweet. I'll have to snap a pic of that one, too.

Well, I hope you all have a great week!
Keep updating your blogs, I check them all, really I do. I may not comment too often, but i love reading about your kids, your projects, your family and friends and your adventures!!

PS - Did I mention that all these photos were taken with my new phone?
Not too bad, eh?! I'm still working on getting the shots clear and not blurry, but it's hard with Sophie tugging on my wrist (via her leash) for us to keep walking.

Twisted Carol

Oh my.
You will not believe this until you watch it!
WATCH IT!! So Funny!!