Dating Punch Card

One of the benefits of being in a committed relationship is the freedom and privilege to stop dating.

For those who have been married so long they don’t remember the joys of dating, let me remind you there are LOTS of weird people on this planet. So finding a semi-decent one to hang out with consistently, who actually likes you back, is almost a miracle. Just the thought of jumping back into the dating pool makes me pretend to have just eaten a giant meal, but one day I will be ready.

As I begin to contemplate the notion of entertaining the idea I’ve decided that I want this next go round to be different. I want to believe that the freak parade of my 20s was enough. Surely I’ve learned enough and ironed out enough of my issues to not repeat the same mistakes.

I don’t need the pretty yet dumb guy again, as fun as that was. I certainly don’t want the angry, drunk frat boy again, that was just scary and where I think I picked up the frequent use of the word, dude. Please oh please save me from the ambivalent narcissist, whose confidence sucked me in but inability to think outside of himself drove me crazy.

As I was lamenting the ghosts of dating past to my mother she suggested I make a chart of issues and punch out the ones I’ve already tried, that way I can at least experience new neurosis.

Think about that in execution. You’re at dinner with a guy who constantly talks about himself, never asks you one question. You know the one that gazes into your eyes but you’re not sure if he’s looking at you or just the reflection of himself. You can now look at your card and can say, sorry dude I’ve already dated the self-centered creep, I’m gonna go now.

It might work.

Filed under: Psychobabbling, Relationshipping

Literary Journalism

Talking to one of my freelancers today I learned a new journalistic genre – literary journalism.

She’s applying to j school and came in today to fill me in on the details. Since my B.A. is in journalism, it still holds a soft spot in my heart and I love to talk to people about grad school in general. As she told me what she wanted to do with the degree she mentioned that her B.A. is in literary journalism. I had never heard of that before. Apparently it’s known also as new journalism, creative non-fiction and literature of fact.

It’s basically the art of storytelling using literary devices such as narrative arc, suspense, foreshadowing, etc. That sounds fascinating. It’s the art of writing, as opposed to just the inverted pyramid. UCI has a great program I wonder if I can take some classes. This is perfect for feature writing or perhaps memoirs.

Maybe I’m just going through school withdrawl. I’m jonesing to learn something new. Since everything else is up in the air I want to go back to school.

But I do want to move into an editorial field and I wish my writing skills were stronger. Something to think about it.

Filed under: Learning

Sign I’m Getting Older

I was completely sucked in by the ads and thought that unless I had an iPod I would shrivel up and die.

How else really could I conceivably listen to music unless I too had the white head phones connecting me to 40 million gigs of music. I couldn’t even fathom the idea of having sitcoms and photos at my command. Think of the stellar Aunt I could be if I only had photos at my finger tips to torture people with. That’s not all, I could upload video of the little buggers just sitting and being cute.

If only I had an iPod.

But alas I don’t. I just couldn’t see forking over the $400 or so to get one. Do I really need one? Will I really use it? See these are questions I wouldn’t have ever asked myself in my 20s. Instead I would have just gotten one and then worried about its necessity later.

Then as a Christmas present work got us iPod nanos. Now not the fancy schmancy versions I was lusting after but still portable music nonetheless. I can now carry 512 of my favorite songs wherever I go.

That would require that I remove it from the box. I guess I don’t need it after all.

Filed under: Pop Culture