Dear 2012: you were amazing. You were everything I wanted you to be and even more. You were full of debauchery and vices. You gave me everything I needed and nothing I didn’t. You were stellar and I will forever cherish our time together as among the best in my life. However, you’re no longer what I need. We can’t recreate what was. Even if we could, I wouldn’t. You’ve prepared me to take the next steps without you. Now I’m excited. And I thank you for that.
31 December 2012
Resolution Time
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27 December 2012
Let's Shower This Baby (iv)

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Veggie sandwiches shaped like flowers. Egg salad sandwiches were shaped like eggs. Chicken salad sandwiches were shaped like chickens. |
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Carrot cake. |
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The spread. |
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Pacifiers. |
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Plates. |
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Prizes. |
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Our theme (if you couldn't tell) was "Abby's About to Hatch." It gave us unlimited pun-ability. |
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Mingling. |
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Messages to the little lady. |
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The gifting process, paraphrased. |
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The cake pops a) behaved & b) were a hit. |
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Love birds. |

Aside from my poor life choices coming to haunt me, we were out. It was a little loud and ruined our happy family dynamic. Abby's order was butchered. Most importantly, it was the beginning of the end. We were all about to go our separate ways, again. There's never enough time with all of us living so far apart. I mean Tab & I live the closest to each other and we rarely get together on our coast. I can't remember the last time I saw Abby's parents, though Tab & I promised our paths would cross more often once the baby was born. We meant it too. We started syncing our 2013 calendars as best we could with the (large) number of variables in play. It's going to take a lot of coordinating. But I know us. We'll get it done.
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19 December 2012
Let's Shower This Baby (iii)
"Danie! It's 11AM!" - Tab
"What?! Is that east coast time?" - me
Tab & I apparently had a very restful evening. Once we got back from the airport, we all got ready for bed. We caught up - mostly just by looking at each other and giggling. Abby asked us to be in her wedding. We squealed. Tab took some heavy duty meds and we crashed for nearly 11 hours. We awoke in a cozy cave, where (based on nothing at all) I assumed it was maybe 9AM. Abby & her mom were already out getting Abby's hair cut... because it was 11:00AM in reality. Tab & I got ready in time for their return. We synchronized our to do lists and embarked on the one thing that was at the top of all our lists. We went to Wegmans.
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"Wake up." |
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The advice starts early. |
We shopped. We hit Michael's. We went to campus and (I) bought a lot of IC paraphernalia. We got home and started assembling and decorating.
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My friends are adorably short. |
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One bucket of margaritas, down. |
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Poofs for the hanging. |
Mr. Abby's Dad made dinner, while Mrs. Abby's Mom rearranged the shower area for maximum entertainment. We took a break to eat, them kicked it into high gear with the cake pops.
Remember a few posts ago, when I said I would go speed dating again? Keep that in mind when I say this; I will never make cake pops again. It's just... It's not natural. First we found out we didn't have all the ingredients. We couldn't use just cake mix. We had to add pudding mix. Then we realized one box of cake mix (+ one box of pudding mix) makes way too much batter for a cake pop serving pan. We removed some, but it was apparently not enough.
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I was really trying... The instructions said to start from the middle. |
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"They're too full." |
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"It would be funny if we looked in the oven and they were exploding out of the top..." |
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17 December 2012
Let's Shower This Baby (ii)
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Our chariot. |
"What are you guys going to drink with dinner? Vodka? Rum? Margaritas?" - Mrs. Abby's Mom
I suppose that could seem normal. But to us - exhausted and travel weary - it seemed like the start of a spring break like rager. We probably would have been okay with water, but we settled on wine. Well most of us had wine. Abby's dad had a margarita, you know, from the margarita bucket in the freezer. Duh.
Having wasted most of our shower shopping day in Newark Liberty International Airport, we did have errands to run at 9 that night. We took our list to Target, and got everything we couldn't get at Michael's. That still left us with two hours before it was time to get Abby.
We went to McDonald's.
Yes, we'd already had dinner. No, there is no good that can come from killing time under the golden arches. We started out with hot chocolate. We also had fries. And nuggets. And some sort of holiday pie resembling cake batter inside an airy pop tart. After sitting, drinking, snacking and judging the other guests, we still had an hour or so to go. The day would just not end.
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The gates were down until the minute before people arrived from the tarmac. |
So there we were, hiding behind a giant Christmas tree, watching like creepers. The goal was to get the picture of Abby first seeing us. We spotted her and of course she went in the wrong direction. It made sense, she's a) pregnant and b) expecting a 20 minute wait. Of course she had to pee.

So there we were, reunited and complete in our unique three-party way. It's difficult to explain, but I wager it's fun to watch. We three are so different and so alike. If left alone, there is no limit to what we can accomplish. It's wonderfully comforting to feel a part of something that has so much potential.
It was finally time to shower this baby.
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13 December 2012
Let's Shower This Baby
Abby is having a baby. As Abby is so much a part of me (and Tab of course) this can only mean one thing.
We. Are having. A baby.
This did not just happen. I've known about it for months. Abby called when it was confirmed. After that, her mom asked Tab & I to help plan the shower. We coordinated via e mail & text message for months, coming up with the theme, menu, guest list and games.
I'm trying to tell you the baby and the shower were all quite real before now. Somehow it just became extra real.
6 December 2012
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West coast represent. |
We charged our phones and giggled for about a half hour before heading to our gate. "Alright," Tab said, "Let's shower the s**t out of this baby." But we never made it.
I mean, we made it to the gate - it was right at the bottom of the escalator. But there was no boarding. In fact, there was no plane. There was only a counter, a flurry of business travelers, and a sign. It read "Ithaca Cancel." Being a college graduate, I looked at Tab and asked "what do you think that means?"
Would you believe our flight was canceled? I couldn't. I didn't. Tab received a cancelation and rebooking e mail from United. I did not. To me, it was obvious. Tab was going to be left in Newark while I caught the 8:30AM flight to Ithaca. I would like to report I was sad, but instead I just said "I'm getting on this flight," and I marched to the counter. Unfortunately, the displaced business travelers were taking up all available space and agents. So I went to Plan B. I marched up to a gate that was wide open. I mean sure, the sign said the flight was going to Syracuse, but there were agents there and the timing was about right. It couldn't hurt to ask.
"Is this flight going to Ithaca?" - Me
"No. Do you want to go to Syracuse?" - Her
Sure. I seem unreasonable. But a check in with Tab offered "let's just rent a car" and "or we could fly to Syracuse and ask her parents to get us there."
In summation, we were stuck. We were rebooked (I eventually got the e mail) and seated together as originally planned. From there, we had seven hours to kill at Newark Liberty International.
Step 1: Find an outlet
Tab is a planner. I am also a planner, but in a different way. Tab plans events. I plan contingencies. A large part of producing is having back up plans. Over time, that became second nature. Once the plan was derailed, I jumped into survival mode. That survival depended on electricity.
While many airports have accepted the reality that access to outlets is more important than access to pay phones, that memo has yet to reach EWR. Outlets were in random places, or set up so that users couldn't sit at them. Part of me felt it was deliberate. Whatever. We found a spot. I plugged in my MacMan, used it to charge Tab's phone, and turned on my mobile hot spot. Our mobile office was in business.
Step 2: Notifications
I sent my parents this picture, alerting them our flight was canceled, and that we had set up a little office for working. I have a feeling they read something entirely different.
My mom replied asking me about hotels and compensation. She expressed outrage and advised me to tweet. My dad called with "what do you mean canceled?" Also "did you find something to eat," and (to his credit) "did you find an outlet?"
We never heard back from Abby's mom, and we didn't even think that was odd until her dad called me from the airport where we should have been. He was sent while she was getting her hair done. Tab and I never thought to notify them individually. Either way, Abby's dad is a dad and he was also concerned, saying "you guys are going to be really hungry when you get here." We assured him we would be alright and rebooked pick up for later that afternoon.
The fatherly concern for our tummies was endearing. I got the impression my dad was going to call the principal and demand to know why I was left unattended. Adorable. Tab & I laughed.
We sat until we couldn't sit anymore. We just needed to be somewhere else. We needed a Starbucks. We packed up and ventured out, walking every finger of the C Terminal until we found familiar territory. We then ordered lattes and set up shop again.
OH! I should mention Tab was sick, sneezing and being otherwise wet and germ-ridden all over the place. Note the Puffs near her iced chai.
Hours passed.
We did get hungry, and decided to feed ourselves - but slowly - we still had 90 minutes before boarding. We ate. I took part in a conference call. We were allowed to board. I left my bag unattended at the mention of gate checking it, embarrassing Tab and prompting her to kick it. We laughed.
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Descending into madness. |
And we were on our way.
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11 December 2012
Speed Dating. For Real.
- The speed dating was not my idea. Anne The Reporter found a coupon through Living Social and suggested it to a large group of ladies. Of that group, one person replied, then flaked. I replied as well, entirely out of support. If you figure it takes two women to go to the restroom, it must take a small army to go through rounds of speed dating.
- I was not excited for said speed dating. I dreaded it almost as soon as I purchased my ticket. I operate on the practical end of almost everything. The probability of the stars aligning in a way that allows two people to be their most captivating selves within a shared five minutes is, well, literally incalculable. But even if it weren't, the odds would be so high my best bet would be a lottery ticket. Essentially, I saw it as pointless.
- The affair had to be kept quiet. The people who were invited knew. I told literally 3 other people, and didn't even bother offering details. I agreed to do it. And that was enough.
What if we didn't like anyone? What if we liked men who didn't like us? What if we had nothing to discuss? What if all the other candidates were in their early 20's and we were lonely spinsters who paid and still couldn't get dates?
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Miss Kerry D, Anne The Reporter, Our Heroine moments before "the event." |
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22 November 2012
Thankful
First off, some full disclosure: I'm still in bed. It's just about 7:30AM here in San Francisco. While I don't have anywhere to be until 3:30, waking up seemed like the thing the to do. Getting up, not so much. But waking up, absolutely.
I was going to write 'it's rare I wake up so cheery,' but that's increasingly not the case. I've been waking up early, happy and motivated for nearly two weeks. The secret is simple: vegetables. It's been two weeks since I really committed to losing this weight. I did a detox using vegetable juices (instead of just lemon juice & maple syrup) and that made an enormous difference. I'm not going to go into details, because this post is not about that. Still, it must be noted that I feel great. I'm down more than ten pounds and even though the detox is over, I'm moving forward with a deeper knowledge of what my body needs. In a word, beets.
This post is about Thanksgiving. Actually it's about "thankfulness." I don't know where to begin, I'm so full of thanks.
Family
My family is beyond. We have squabbles like any other family, but at our core, we're nothing short of hilarious. It all comes from my parents. My silly, silly parents. We laugh hard and we laugh often. We absolutely stop laughing every so often to yell and argue. But then (in a fit if rage) someone says something ridiculous, and a new catchphrase is born. I guess I'm thankful for exactly that. We keep perspective. We take the issues seriously. But when something is funny, it cannot be ignored.
Friends
I have great friends. Friends with whom I can be honest or curt. They accept me and my idiosyncrasies. I have trouble asking for help. I just do not do it. However, I do rest assured that if I did need something, I would have support.
Passion
I don't have to work today. I don't have to work today! If you haven't worked holidays for your adult life, you don't get how monumental that is. I've been able to exercise my passions as they've shifted. Not everyone has that opportunity, so I will not take it for granted.
I worked from home yesterday. I was able to cook a few things which I will be taking to two Thanksgiving dinners today. Below you see a cranberry bourbon relish, which I only made out of curiosity. But believe me, its totally worth sharing.
Alright. It's nearly 8AM and I have things I hope to accomplish. I have a casserole to bake and lemon bars to cut. I also need to get to the gym, do some laundry and clean my apartment.
I'm going to start with breakfast.

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01 November 2012
Plumped & Ready
17 September 2012
A Trip to Dayna's House
When Dayna asked me to be a guest blogger, it took me a whole night to decide on a topic. I woke up the next day with a clear subject matter in mind. I decided to write about myself. Honestly, it's a fascinating topic, about which I am the foremost expert on the planet. I was going to write about being selfish, versus being self indulgent. I've been feigning selfishness lately, while being self indulgent. I mean to say instead of doing what's best for me (selfish) I've been doing only what I want to do (indulgent). I'm not proud of myself, or of my new habits. I planned to regale you with examples to clarify my intent, and to show you where I failed.
This post is not that.
Instead, this post will tell you a tale, possibly showing you more about me than declarative sentences ever could.
06 September 2012
The View From The Other Side
31 July 2012
Yes, I Quit my Job. No, I Don't Have One For You.
I don't like to have the same things bothering me for any measurable amount of time. The topic becomes a distraction. It clouds my judgement and sours my mood. When I am bothered, I write.
When there is something that makes me angry and that stays top of mind, I become paralyzed as I consider the resolution. And I simply do not have time to be inactive. So allow me to make a few things clear.
Yes, I quit my job.
More than that, I switched careers. The circumstances (at this juncture) are irrelevant. I had to weigh my options and brace for a change. Then I had to do the deed. This was not a decision I made easily. I had to talk to my parents. I had to talk to Kate. I had to accept some realities about where I was (and was not) heading professionally. I had to reassess and redefine. I had to see myself differently, as I am perceived by outsiders. I had to let go.
I had to wait for the right opportunity.
I had to formally resign from my job, my career... my "Plan A."
The actual resigning was underwhelming. On my end, it was a defining moment, the culmination of months of consideration. I basically prepared a dissertation, detailing why resigning was the right choice for me at this time. It was a tough realization, tantamount to accepting some sort of future failure. It was a big decision for me. On the other end, my bosses were either nonplussed or apathetic. I presented my decision. I prepared my arguments. I had delusions they would want me to stay - that they valued my contributions. I had been prepared to bring them along on the path to enlightenment. I had points and subsections and examples to show them 'no, this is the time.' I was prepared. And it was all for naught. My translation to their reaction was "they don't care." It was a decision-affirming ego blow. I had labored over this move, and had been met (at the higher levels) with ambivalence. Down on my level -- the worker bee level -- my leaving was an event.
I spent two weeks battling wide, questioning gazes. People were sad to see me go. People were curious about my new role. People began weaving their own versions of how it all happened. I got really sweet phone calls and messages of support. There was a distinct lack of apathy among my peers. I was slammed with the warm and fuzzies. My last two weeks passed quickly. Then -- after my badge was deactivated and I had received my last paycheck -- I found myself in front of a boss asking to have an open discussion. Two weeks later, I was ready.
I said things I had needed to say. I said things that made me feel in control of my life and of my future. I said things I should have said before then. I should have been open about my thoughts and feelings well before the end. It sounds like the simplest thing in the world, and it never crossed my mind. I never thought it plausible. I worked and lived in fear of the repercussions of something said out of anger or in sadness. I had been afraid of getting in the way of my own self-serving intentions. But you know what? Honesty did not hurt. No one can help you if you don't help yourself. No one can give you what you want if they don't know what, exactly, that is. Don't get me wrong, there were people who knew my ambitions and who simply did not care. But it would not be fair for me to be angry or hurt or devastated because things did not go as I had planned. At least not entirely. I had been waiting when I should have been clamoring. I realized that at the last possible moment. It's a lesson I'm glad to have learned.
No, I don't have one for you.
My new job will have me reporting to someone with whom I used to work at the old job. This has led to my learning some ugly truths. First, some clarifications. This new role was not given to me. I earned it. I earned it on my own, using my special blend of skills and talents. I do not take - nor do I need - handouts. I'm a qualified person who has found and pursued other interests. I have ambition. I take initiative. I say this because it needs saying. Yes, I've had help. And I'm deeply grateful for it. Still, it's important to know how to network. Networking is never "I'm going to need you to get me a job," or "take me with you," or "tell me what to do." It's never "can you do this for me," "what should I be doing differently," or "how would you do this." Networking is not mentoring. It's not implying I got lucky and that I need to (in some way) pay it forward - specifically to you. To suggest my only qualification is who I happen to know is to imply I am undeserving. And that's where I draw the line. You don't know me. You don't know what I've spent, what I've studied or what I've sacrificed. You know what I let you know. Until you've built the bridges, gone back to learn what you've missed or worked harder than others, you do not get to ask why me and why not you.
There are a lot of people who are really happy for me. There are a lot of people who have suggested we may work together in the future. They've suggested I keep them in mind if I see anything that may be good for them. That's fine; it's even exciting. I've been humbled by the well wishers, just as I've been enraged by the opportunity seekers. There's a fine line between trying to keep in touch and trying to use me as a Danie-shaped life raft. I simply cannot abide. I don't want excuses. I just want apologies. I just want to be clear. Yes. I got a new job. No. I don't have one for you.
15 July 2012
30.5
No doubt, it's been a party. I've been selfish. I've been (responsibly) reckless. I've been ridiculously indulgent.
I've been happy. And I'm pleased to report none of that is about to change.
Still, I feel a need - a propulsion really - to take or define my next steps. This may be the pressure people expected I'd feel along with my last birthday, or rather something akin to it. I don't feel any actual pressure or obligation to do anything. I just feel like I want to do something. It's glorious in the simplicity of its origin. I want to look forward & shape my next decade. The last one was full of responsibility and obligation and discipline. And that worked well. No one could argue me a failure. Counterintuitively, it's time to take some risks.
I've grown bored. With complete faith I can execute what's expected, I realize I have to set my sights higher. I have to raise my expectations of myself and of those around me. I have to try new things, in new places. I have to let go of behaviors or (in)actions directed toward me. I have to be as confident as everyone thinks I am. To me this means... well I don't know what it means. But finding out seems like it's going to be a lot of fun.
28 May 2012
A Case of The Have Nots
This girl.
Lately I've been fixated on what I don't have. It's ridiculous, and I know that. I really, really know that. I scold myself every time it happens. Because the reality is, my life is wonderful; it's literally full of wonder. I have things I want, but don't need. I have family. I have friends. I am loved. I have options. I have opportunities. There is nothing significant for me to lament. Still, just before the Memorial Day weekend, I started brooding over missing minutia.
That's not entirely accurate. (I am often derailed by alliteration.) It's not that what's missing is in some way small or insignificant. Obviously the universe is bringing me to some greater truth about the course my life should take. But it's difficult to say my life is not exactly what I want it to be, when there are so many good things in my life.
All of this started because I wanted to go camping.
I love camping. I love nature. I love loading up the car, driving off the grid, setting up a tent and eating grilled deliciousness. I love hiking and being humbled by the majesty that's just out there. I started thinking about camping -- about what it would really take to organize an excursion -- and I realized I don't have those people anymore. I'd have to go it alone. I exist in this space where career is important and thriving is essential. I'm caught up in being hyper-focused. But in staying hip and current and metro, I've fallen out of balance. I suppose that awareness made it easier for me to see myself as "not having."
I don't have camping buddies. And I don't have my best friends at my disposal. I don't have anyone calling me over for a holiday barbeque. I don't have anyone having casual dinners, where the guards are down and there is absolutely nothing to prove. I don't have the luxury of sitting around a fire pit and comfortably talking about nothing. I'm always on. It's exhausting.
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Pirates Cove |
Our time along the coast did not fix everything, but it was very nearly what the doctor ordered. I don't know who I'll eventually rope into camping but in the interim, I'll take small escapes to the life I used to have.
21 May 2012
The Reasons
I always say "when the ducks are in a row," "the stars aligned," and "when the poop is in its proper group."
I always have a reason why I can't, even though there are so many reasons I should.
Even now -- in these moments I'm taking between that thing that's overdue and that other thing I want to start -- it feels good. It feels right. It feels cathartic.
As The Musician loves to quip: "you know you're a writer, right?"
I am. It's what I like to do, and I can't explain why I don't do it.
I'll never get to tell the tales I've been meaning to tell, especially if I don't make any effort to try. My hesitation (as always) comes from a self-imposed set of rules I am loathe to break. I feel it's my obligation -- for your visit to my Internet Living Room -- to be a proper hostess. I want to pour you a drink, offer a homemade snack, and ease your mind into the adventure that is my life. But I don't really have time for company. At best I can meet you at a bar, where we huddle at a table while I rant and you try to keep up.
My life is not where I thought it would be. It's better. I can't exactly tell you why. I definitely have more stresses and less free time. I'm more frustrated and my future is more muddled. I have thrice as many gray hairs as I did last year. At least. Still, I wake up smiling. I swear I can taste excitement in the air. I giggle a lot. I compliment strangers. I cannot be bothered by the small stuff and... things are just great. You guys were there when I was (what my mom calls) snake-belly low, so I'm obligated (by me) to share with you now that I'm not.
I'm inviting you to my Internet bar. And the first round is on me.
01 April 2012
On Men & Dads & Babies
I've just returned from my first holiday since my last one. I went to Cancun with my dad, stepmom and two of my three brothers. The trip itself was -- well actually the getting there was a process worthy of a tech savvy Odysseus. But the actual vacationing was blessedly simple, with margaritas, food, sunshine and sleeping. I could regale you with every happening, and one day I might. Maybe. But something my dad said to me stuck with all the way back to San Francisco. It kept me from sleeping on the plane and pushed me to write even as I was on the shuttle back home. The last thing my dad said to me before getting into his own shuttle was something like "remember. I want a granddaughter. Make that happen."
I told him he had at least five years to go. He said "Five years, two years, one year. Make it happen."
I laughed in his face and sent him on his way. That was not the first time we'd had that conversation. It wasn't the first time my father made it clear he does not care about my happily ever after. I am but a vessel through which he can have smaller people to spoil. I've accepted that. I think it has to do with what I'll call "traditional minority breeding habits." My mom was 19 when she had me. My dad was 21. The fact that I'm 30 and childless is an anomaly not just to them, but to the rest of my family as well. Leaving home, graduating from college, establishing a career and the rest of those kinds of things are nice. But if I called my dad and reported an accidental pregnancy, he'd be quite excited. The trimmings of my being married, wooed or even in a relationship would be nice, but decidedly not necessary. I get that. Single mothers do it, and they do it well. So to my dad, if that's the way it has to be, that's the way it has to be. I get that.
This stuck with me because I'd already explained to my dad that I am not out to date right now. I'm not in the mood to be in a relationship. This year is about Danie. It's for me to be selfish and do exactly what I want to do. And don't allow yourself to think I want to do anything salacious. I want to learn more. I want personal growth. I want to laugh and have fun. I feel like 30 was a finish line and by crossing it, I have outrun insecurities and the expectations of others. It's liberating. And the idea of making plans based on the feelings of a +1 are not appealing. This is my time. I've never been happier. I tried explaining that to my dad. He literally shook his head at me. So I tried a different approach. I explained that I've been "out there." Men have been measured, and found wanting. If you're not hip to the biblical lingo, It means they're disappointing. This is not the same as "bad."
I know men with contagious ambition, who search for spiritual connections and have altruistic intentions. That is not to say they won't sleep with you, then return to their +1, or live-in, or other woman deserving of their time, if not their honesty. I know men who will open the doors, pick up the tabs and confess their purported fears. But that doesn't mean the name they gave is actually their own. Men are simply not as I want them to be. They're not even as I would accept them to be. I tried explaining this to my dad while leaving out details fathers do not want to hear from their daughters. In the end (well the end for me), my dad said it was all my fault. That every failed attempt and relationship-hood came down to me. My standards are too high, he argued, and that I have to recognize someone may not be where I want, but they may be "workable." I told him my job is to work on me, to become the best person I can, and that I'll be responsible for another when I have children. I will not put myself in the business of turning boys into men and men into adults. My foot is down. My father is disappointed. My future is decided.
07 February 2012
New Zealand Chronicles | Transitioning
Love these guys! |
My chariot. |
It was pretty delicious. But how can to go wrong with meat surrounded by a flaky crust? |
So good you guys. So. Good. |
Difficult. |
Difficult and special. |
Then it was time for me to come home.
Where the magic happens. |
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