How to meet people.

So with Valentines day coming up and all it got me to thinking where does one who does not currently have a significant other meet someone.

Because ever now and again I go out to "the bars" and you see people trying to "hook up" all night to no avail usually and yet they do this every weekend hoping for that one weekend when the person they are interested in will also be out and see them and be interested and for some totally unplausable reason. They'll talk or whatever and it'll work out.

They'll start dating.

I ask you, how many people in serious long term relationships that you know, met at a bar. I would bet your odd's are better to get struck by lightning.

So then where do you go, if not the bars. Well here's a few ideas I had. But I am looking for more suggestions. Because I know some people who are in this very predicament right now.

One option and a very good one proposed to me by TheMusicMan is to volunteer. Pick a place like a gallery, museum, zoo, hospital, parks and rec, library plant center, whatever. And volunteer, this way you have an immediate in, your the person that people ask when they have questions. Conversations are pretty much a given and isn't that the hardest part striking up a conversation. Also you come out looking really good cause your somebody who volunteers their time in the community, your a good samaritan.

In the past I have volunteer coached little kids soccer and there have inevitably been a couple of single mom's whose littl kid was on my team. Depending on the age of the kid you are going to meet someone between the ages of 30 - late 40's. Now you also are going to meet someone with a kid, so if you don't want to meet someone with a kid this may not be the way to go. But I throw it out there as another idea.


Two , Go places where people of like minds are going to be. If your looking for somebody who is into plants, go to the botanical gardens, (hell, volunteer at the botanical gardens, but then I covered that under one) Go to a gallery if your looking for the artsy type. Go to Tattoo conventions if your looking for the counter culture type. Go to record stores. Go to the library or bookstores if your looking for a bookworm. Go to where the type of person your looking to meet frequents.


Three Join an organization. If your looking to meet someone who is interested in books, join a bookclub. If your looking for an outdoors type join a group that goes on hikes and nature walks in the area. If your looking for someone who is a strong advocate for animal rights, join that type of organization, If your looking for someone in your community, join the civic league, Join the chamber of commerce if your looking for someone who is more of a business type, join the type of organization that would appeal to the type of person your looking for.


Four if your looking for someone who is atheletic, join a team or league that is in your area. The city your in probably has a list at the parks and recs center. If your into running the local running store probably knows of a running group. They might even host one. The local bike shop probably has a bike group. I am sure the bowling alley has a bowlilng league. There might even be a softball league or two around you.

Five> Take a class. This is always a great place to meet someone. Whether you take a class at the local college, community college in something your interested in. Or a class at one of the local community centers, adult learning centers or independent business that offers classes. There are going to be people that are probably interested in talking at least about what your studying in that class.


Six There's probably an online dating in your area. I do know of people who this has worked for. I have never done it myself so I couldn't tell you all the details about how it works. From what I understand you sign up online and put up your profile, then you look at other profiles of other members of the same service and intially contact each other via e-mail. If that works out you progress to phone calls and then go out on dates.


But to sum it all up I think it is only through frequent repeated exposures that someone really warm's up to another person. Most of the people that I know met their significant other in this way.

I can't think of anyone who is involved in a long term relationship that met their special someone in a bar.

Now on the other hand I don't know that I would rule out a bar, but it is certainly a harder way to get there. It's a highly competitive beauty pagent with everyone intially judging each other on looks, and where everything you say comes out sounding like a pick-up line.

But I am sure there are more ways to meet your special someone than the ones I have outlined. So if you have a suggestion or a story about it. Post it.

Coops painting and other stuff blog

So lately I have discovered that there are a lot of artists out there BLOGGING about how theymake their art.

OMFG! How cool is that, I mean to be able to see how these guys make their art. Thats like getting classes with them for free.

again, too cool.

Here's COOP's BLOG, check out the atari joystick with woman painting he is doing.

Next Thursday... a new girl in costume image

For those of you that chimed in on the last one, I could certainly use some help on next weeks image and discovering where this one comes from.

Real 5th Element costume for comparison

5th_Element
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

Oh, and now I know why the girl in the post before was wearing that costume. too Funny, I thought she came up with that all on her own, and here it was a pretty mainstream movie. One that I had seen even and forgotten about apparently.

thanks superbuck.

More wisdom from my dad

Something To Offend Everyone!

What is a Yankee?
The same as a quickie, but a guy can do it alone.

What is ! the difference between a Harley and a Hoover?
The position of the dirt bag

Why is divorce so expensive?
Because it's worth it.

What do you see when the Pillsbury Dough Boy bends over?
Doughnuts?

Why is air a lot like sex?
Because it's no big deal unless you're not getting any.

What do you call a smart blonde?
A golden retriever.

What do attorneys use for birth control?
Their personalities.

What's the difference between a girlfriend and wife?
45 lbs

What's the difference between a boyfriend and husband?
45 minutes

What's the fastest way to a man 's heart?
Through his chest with a sharp knife.

Why do men want to marry virgins?
They can't stand criticism.

Why is it so hard for women to find men that are sensitive, caring, and good-looking?
Because those men already have boyfriends.

What's the difference between a new husband and a new dog?
After a year, the dog is still excited to see you

What makes men chase women they have no intention of marrying?
The same urge that makes dogs chase cars they have no intention of driving.

Why don't bunnies make noise when they have sex?
Because they have cotton balls.

What's the difference between a porcupine and BMW?
A porcupine has the pricks on the outside.

What did the blonde say when she found out she was pregnant?
"Are you sure it's mine?"

Why does Mike Tyson cry during sex?
Mace will do that to you.

Why did OJ Simpson want to move to West Virginia ?
Everyone has the same DNA.

Why do men find it difficult to make eye contact?
Breasts don't have eyes.

Why do drivers' education classes in Redneck schools use the car only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays?
Because on Tuesday and Thursday, the Sex Ed class uses it.

Where does an Irish family go on vacation? A different bar.

What would you call it when an Italian has one arm shorter than the other?
A speech impediment.

What does it mean when the flag at the Post Office is flying at half-mast?
They're hiring.
What's the difference between a southern zoo and a northern zoo?
A southern zoo has a description of the animal on the front of the cage along with.. "a recipe".

How do you get a sweet little 80-year-old lady to say the F word?
Get another sweet little 80-year-old lady to ye! ll *BINGO*!

What's the difference between a northern fairytale and a southern fairytale?
A northern fairytale begins "Once upon a time..." -A southern fairytale begins "Y'all ain't gonna believe this shit...".

Why is there no Disneyland in China?
No one's tall enough to go on the good rides

Girl in costume 1 of many

Taped
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

This is just one of many girls in costume that I have seen over the course of the years. But this one stands out in the memory for many reasons.

One is that the costume was created with little outside expenditure, but in using those materials they were very creative in their execution.

Two is you know they had to have somebody help them put the costume on. But during the course of the show whenever I saw her, I never saw her hanging out with anybody. So where is this other person. Their costume if they wore one had to be great as well, one would assume.

Three is the sheer audacity it takes to wear this costume in a convetion filled with comic book (insert your own word here) fans

Four is Just try and tell me it didn't hurt when removing the costume at the end of the day


So depending on how this post is received I may post a new Costumed character each week...

Ramping up or maybe Washing up for the new apartment

fridgidaire
Borrowed from another website by knetik.

So we went out and got a "scratch and dent" fridgidaire laundry center from a local place.

I've never owned a laundry center before although when we had the house we did have a washer and dryer that we bought for it. So we had some idea of what features we wanted. As for brand, it is a frigidaire brand, which who knows if that is good or bad. But what I do know after trying to reach into a few of these laundry center things, is FRONT LOADER became quite important, and this one is a front loader, so yea! Also Kelly wanted a delicate cycle and it had that plus some other whiz bang features like a sneaker drying rack that were just fun to get but who knows if your really going to use it. Well I could effuse all night about the thing, I am quite excited we are getting it, but being a boy I'll just give you the stats.




Key Features
Washer Type Stacked Washer / Dryer
Load Type Front Load
Volume Capacity 3.1 cu/ ft

Wash
Wash Presets 16 Wash Presets
Extra Settings Extra Rinsing
Spin Speeds 450 - 1200 rpm, 4 Speeds
Water Levels Automatic
Temperature Levels 4 Levels
Washing Method Drum

Convenience
Control Features Dial Controls
Dispensers Fabric Softener Dispencer • Bleach Dispenser • Detergent Dispenser

Efficiency
Energy Efficiency Energy Star Compliant

Other Features
Exterior Color White

Dimensions
Overall Depth 29.75 in.
Overall Height 75.5 in.
Overall Width(Display) 27 in.

The search begins for a MAN BAG!

DakineDepot
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

So I have noticed that I carry a lot of crap with me. Which works out okay if you wear a coat cause you can stuff the pockets with the stuff. But when it's warmer as it was unseasonably so, in the middle of winter you find that you can't carry all that stuff so you pare down. But what if I had a... shhhhh man bag.

Then I could carry the notebook I want, the sketch book (different book) the mechanical pencil, sharpie and the pen, Ipod, and various other crap. Well that sounds a lot like a purse now doesn't it ?!?

Well maybe the ladies have somehow F'd us on this one. How come they can rightly carry a bag with some serious storage while we are left to our pants pockets or carrying a bag and being called a NANCY boy.

Why I ask you?

Well I for one have been in search of that one bag that you can carry and still possess your manhood.

Maxpedition
can be seen better here www.maxpedition.com.

And here are the two bags I have narrowed it down to. But I keep flip flopping on the final decision. I like them both. But should I get the one that hangs down like the one above and looks clean on the outside. Or should I get the one that kind of slings around your side and is probably more ergonomic. The sling styled one has all these pouches, that the other one doesn't have.

Is this how it goes for girls...

which one should I get? Does it match my outfit? Will it look good with most of what I wear?

This is exactly why people like Squarepants have so many purses. How can you expect just one bag to do all the different things you require in all those different situations.

Perhaps I should just get both. Did all that sound real weird to you too?

Blast from the past

baby_pic
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

So while packing up all my stuff I found this photo. This is the only photo I have of me as a kid.

I don't know where I got it from originally, but I have had it for a really long time, and I keep it cause it...

well I keep it for personal reasons.

But I think you guys can appreciate it without those reasons.

I am a Weekend blogger

That's it, I've said it. I meant to be a daily blogger, I tried to be a blogger during the week. Sometimes I am. But really I am a weekend blogger. I've come to terms with that and you know what, it works for me.

Saturday night Roller Skating!

3_2_skate
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

Saturday nights for...

Skating!

It was old school skate night at the Haygood Roller rink. Nobody under 25, allowed. For Ten dollars we could skate from 9pm to 1 am!

I made it an hour, after that my ankles were tired and hurting a little?!? Does it mean I am getting old when my ankles start to go? Or could it be all the skate boarding and soccer I have done in my past?


But there were some people there who so obviously were regulars to the rink since they were much smaller and younger. They were dancing around, spinning, twirling, rolling backwards, and one guy was even doing a little breakdancing. It looked as if they weren't even wearing skates, it was so fluid. I could have stayed and just watched them roll around for a while.



Well anyway it was a good time and I plan on going again. It is the 3rd saturday of every month. And you can get the inline skates or Quads and if your really crazy you can get the speed skating quads.

So let me know if you want to go?

Ripping off another persons designs and taking money from their pocket

So it seems like this sort of thing happens all the time. Where a large company sees somethign hip that they like and they essentially "Rip it off". They know that if you change a percentage of the design that it is a variant and no longer the same and that they can protect themselves in court. Or they use the design in a parody, which is also protectable. But is it fair?

and what about companies that are consistant offenders. Such as Urban Outfitters.

First example Crown Farmer
Second example Car-Freshner
Third example Jesus dress up magnet
Fourth example Johnny Cash image

But then how should one feel when this company who consistently infringes on small business' gets the same treatment from WALMART! should we feel bad for them now? Will they learn anything from it. Or is it just the way business is done.

How do you stop it, I think the old adage here is the best one. You vote with your wallet. If people stopped purchasing those things that are blatent rip-Offs then they would stop doing it as the recognized the shopping trend, that consumers will not buy Rip-Offs. But how do you know what are Rip-Offs in Urban Outfitters. Well someone could take the intiiative to have a communal BLOG where the Rip-Offs are posted and shoppers could check there before going. Or maybe one should stop shopping there at all.

But...

If you didn't know the other product ever existed hence your inability to recognize the Rip-OFF. Would you have ever given the original company your money or made a purchase from them. Has Urban outfitters hurt that original company in a financial way, and is that what is important here? If the consumer would never have purchased from the originator having no knowledge of their prior existance.

Has Walmart hurt Urban Outfitters financially if extend that idea to the extent that consumers who go to walmart would never have spent 10 times as much for that same item at Urban Outfitters or Anthropologie.

A bit of wisdom from my dad

Symptoms of a stroke (a true story)
Susie is recuperating at an incredible pace for
someone with a massive stroke all because Sherry saw
Susie stumble - -that is the key that isn't mentioned
below - and then she asked Susie the 3 questions.

This literally saved Susie's life - - Susie failed all
three so 911 was called. Even though she had normal
blood pressure readings and did not appear to be
having a stroke, as she could converse to some extent
with the Paramedics, they took her to the hospital
right away.Thank God for the sense to remember the 3
questions!

Read and Learn! Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are
difficult to identify.
Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster.
The stroke victim may suffer brain damage when people
nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.
Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by
asking three simple questions:

1. *Ask the individualto SMILE.

2. *Ask him or herto RAISE BOTH ARMS.

3. *Ask the person to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE.

If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks,
call 9-1-1immediately and describe the symptoms to the
dispatcher.

After discovering that a group of non medical
volunteers could identify facial weakness, arm
weakness and speech problems, researchers urged the
general public to learn the three questions. They
presented their conclusions at the American Stroke
Association's annual meeting last February.
Widespread use of this test could result in prompt
diagnosis and
treatment of the stroke and prevent brain damage.

A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this e-mail
sends it to 10 people, you can bet that at least one
life will be saved.

So how the packing is coming?

This morning we woke up late...

10 ish and then went to the dinette for breakfast.

After which we went on a quick drive to look and see if we could find where they moved the recycling bins that used to be on 20th street.

No such luck.

Then we stopped by PattyMac and theMusicMan's to pick up some boxes. Took them home and then we went by TKFC's to pick up some boxes. Took them home and headed to the storage unit.

Does everyone who lives in an apt. have one ?!?

Took all the stuff Bookworm has been collecting for "THE YARD SALE" (slated to happen sometime in the spring), to her parents house.

Caught a glimpse of the Colts losing to the Steelers. WTF!

Then off to the mall and to JCPenny's(or Jacque Penne if you prefer it that way), they were having a 75% off sale.

Then to Hechts not such the great sale.

Dinner at tropical smoothie on the way back from the mall.

And home to watch Somethings Gotta Give (Funny Movie) and iron our clothes for the next day.

So from this you know the answer to that question...

This person thinks they own a truck

This person thinks they own a truck
This image provided by the internet.

So at some point if you own a truck somebody you know either asks to borrow it or asks you to help them move something.

This person obviously doesn't know anyone who owns a pick-up truck. Or...

Isn't bright enough to know when to ask.

Needs a Truck
This image provided by the internet.

But these people these people had to know they needed a U-Haul. So in order to give them the benefit of the doubt, I am going with the idea that they are fleeing from a Hurricane with all their worldly possessions. Otherwise these people, well there is nothing good I can say about these people otherwise.

Needs a Truck from the rear
This image provided by the internet.

How much weight does a word carry?

If I were to tell you I was a designer;
what would you think?


If I were to tell you I was an artist;
what would you think?


If I was to tell you I was a manager;
what would you think?

Wha?

Wha?
Originally uploaded by kackie.

dork

dork
Originally uploaded by kackie.

dorkin

dorkin
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

scary stuff

This is how...

Mornin_Bookworm
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

This is how Bookworm likes to wake up on the weekend, with her book and the kitties in bed with her. Here you can see tigger in his usual place, right by her side.

At night Tigger likes to spoon up with her, sometimes with his head next to hers on the pillow but mostly just lying real close to her.

Shadow on the other hand likes to lay at the end of the bed mostly and only every now and again up next to Bookworm.

Neither cat lays to close to me, this only serves to reinforce why I say they are her cats.

Shadow
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

For the new apt...

dishwasher_web
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

Did I mention we were moving to a new apt...

Did I mention that it has a hook-up for a washer and dryer.

Did I mention that we bought a portable dishwasher, for the kitchen.

good stuff.

Remember when...

Rockfish
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

So a while back I caught some rockfish, you remember don't you. These fish here --->

Well tonight Bookworm and I cooked up a meal of these fish for her family. Mom, Dad, and Grandma.
The menu included pan fried Rockfish, a salad, hush puppies and some saffron rice.

For dessert Bookworms mom made pumpkin pie and bookworm made angel food cake covered in strawberries and whip cream.

It was all so good and it was so nice to get back into a kitchen and cook something after having not done it for so long. I cooked it over at Bookworms parents house and that made it a little harder, but it was still nice to cook a full meal for someone.

All the shaving gear one needs

Final_step

So today I thought I had definitely amassed all the shaving gear one could possibly need.

I had 3 razors, one from my Grandfather, one from e-bay and one from classic shaving dot com. I had 3 shaving soaps, 2 shaving creams, 2 brushes, and one aftershave.

But then I put a new blade into the new razor and noticed AN UNEVEN GAP ?!?

Is it possible, could it be, that this most expensive razor isn't quite right. How could it possibly be true. I stared dumbfounded in disbelief.

I put the new razor blade in again. Maybe I had inserted it wrong, maybe it hadn't fallen quite right, maybe it...

Nope, the razor still looked wrong, wrong with no visible way to make it right. It looks as though I would have to send it back.

sadness...

Now it will be at least another two weeks till I finally get to try shaving with this razor, what with the sending back of this one and waiting for the new one.

This sucks.

the_gap
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

The Xmas Clean Up

Xmas_cleanup
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

So today the packing began and what way to better begin the packing of the house than the packing up of Xmas.

This year we didn't really get our tree till the week before Xmas, so there wasn't much time to enjoy it.

Next year I think we'll be one of those early birds and get our tree around Thanksgiving so we have so much more time to enjoy it.

Although I think that is what we said last year...

Monestary, Lion King, and birthday gifts

lionKing_2
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

So last night we went out for Kelly's Birthday.

The evening began with dinner at the Monestary. Kelly had a glass of water and the Wiener Schnitzel which came with home fried potatoes and vegetable. I had a glass fo wine and the goose which came with saurkraut that was delicious and was unliek any I had before. For desert Kelly had the Hot apple strudel and I had a cappucino. Everything tasted great and we ate too much.

Then we were off to Chrysler hall for a performance of the Lion King we had pretty good seats, row H 49 & 50 they were kind of off to the left of the stage. But it was such a spectacle that you never felt like you were missing anything, as there was so much going on all the time that at any given point there was too much to look at anyway.

And the performance I think was amazing. Yeah, I know this is the traveling show and it isn't nearly as good as the show on Broadway, which only makes me want to see it on Broadway to see how it gets better than this.

And the costume designer well she out did anything in costume I had seen up to that point in a broadway play. I am sure something like Cats when it first came out, 22 years or so ago was considered really amazing. But today I would have to say Lion King has the best costumes I hvae seen so far in a Broadway show.

Oh I could go on and on about the show, but needless to say I liked it. I would see it again, and that is alot for me.

Well after the show we headed home, Kelly opened some presents I bought her and we went to bed.

And that was yesterday, I can't wait to see what tomorrow might bring. ;)

Coming soon, the new apt

new_apt
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

Some of you may have heard and others well maybe not. But coming next month Bookworm and I will be moving to a new apt.

It is a 4 bedroom apt on the 3rd floor. Both of which are pretty exciting for so many reasons.

Nobody above us.

We each get a room for our projects, me for my studio and bookworm for her office/library.

So what to do with the other room. Welll for the immediate future it will be a junk room. cause we have too much stuff and we need a room to store it in. Or else we are storing it in a storage space and then we never go through it.

But my hopes is that down the road it becomes the exercise / guest room. But we'll see.

Anyway exciting stuff coming up, more on this later.

who let the cat outta the bag...

cat_in_theBag
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

Oh never mind, he's still in there. ;)

Ipod - Upod - WeAllPod

So for my birthday back in 2005 ;) Bookworm got me a Shuffle. And I loved it, loved it. Loved being able to load up some music and listen to it in the jeep via the casette adapter. But it was like listening to a great college station. You had good music but little control over what was coming on next.

Then this past X-mas my Mom (no really my Mom) bought me an Ipod Video and I have spent the last few days loading it up with CD's I hardly ever listen to. So far I have enough music on my Ipod to listen for about 4 days non-stop. Which translates to roughly 6.5 gigs of music.

Now I am using the Ipod in mostly the same way as I did the shuffle, as a music source for my car. But now I have so much more control over W.I.E.D (my personal radio station) and put on the music that I want to hear. And this past week I put in some speakers at the office so I could listen to W.I.E.D when I am there and nobody else is. Which happens everynow and again.

As for the Video portion of the Ipod, well I am subscribing to a couple of video podcasts, just some nerdy stuff like the photoshop guys. But really right now I am just using it for music.

AND I LOVE IT.