I am so far behind on my book reviews, it’s rather embarrassing. I will do my best to recall each book I’ve read since January 2011. I will begin with…
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Water for Elephants is told as a series of memories by Jacob Jankowski, a “ninety or ninety-three year-old” man who lives in a nursing home. Jacob longs to eat food with flavor and of substance, like corn-on-the-cob or steak, but because he’s “the only one who still has teeth” he’s forced to eat tasteless “mush” at the nursing home. He’s a witty character that will make the reader laugh aloud at times.
The book goes between Jacob’s present non-exciting and lonely life in a nursing home to memories of his past working for The Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. As a young man, Jacob was about to take his final exam to become a vet at Cornell when he was informed that his parents died in a car accident… and that his father mortgaged the family home (and vet business) to send him to school, so he no longer had a home or a vet business. Devastated, he literally ran away; he hopped on a train in the middle of the night only to find out later that it was a circus train.
Thankfully he was able to get a job with the circus because of his veterinary skills. He’s forced to share a boxcar with a dwarf named Walter and his dog Queenie, neither of which are happy about the new living arrangements. Jacob also meets Camel, an alcoholic who later befalls the effects of drinking Jamaican ginger extract for years and loses the use of his arms and legs. Walter, Camel and Jacob eventually get along and become good friends.
The head trainer August is married to the star of the circus, Marlena, with whom Jacob falls in love. August is a violent man who abuses the animals and people, Marlena in particular. This can be seen more vividly after Rosie the elephant is purchased “to save the circus.” August, although sometimes charming, is not a likable character. Jacob develops a guarded relationship with August and Marlena.
August becomes suspicious of Jacob and Marlena’s “relationship” and beats each of them. Marlena runs away to a hotel while she’s not performing. The reader, and August, can clearly see that Jacob and Marlena are falling in love with one another, although neither have acted upon it physically.
Meanwhile, circus sales are down, workers aren’t being paid (sometimes for months) and circus hands are being “red-lighted” (throwing circus workers off a moving train as either punishment or to avoid paying wages).
As Jacob sees the results of August’s beatings of Marlena and Rosie the elephant, he becomes enraged and wants revenge. One night Jacob climbs up and jumps each car, while the train is moving, to August’s room, carrying a knife between his teeth intending to kill August. He sees Marlena in bed with August and instead quietly lays the knife on August’s pillow as a type of warning. When Jacob returns to his boxcar, he only finds Queenie. He realizes that Walter and Camel were red-lighted and Jacob himself was supposed to be too. The train stops in the next town and the tents go up. Some are shocked to see Jacob there…
As the story climaxes, several circus workers who were red-lighted off the train come back and release the animals causing a stampede during the performance.
Panic arises. August is killed by Rosie the elephant, who plunges the stake which had “secured” her to the ground, into his head. Jacob is the only one who sees this happen. Rosie then returns the stake into the ground. As a result of the stampede, the circus is shut down. Marlena and Jacob leave, along with Rosie the elephant, Queenie, and a few other animals, to begin their life together.
We discover that Marlena and Jacob married, had 5 children, and spent the first seven years at another circus before Jacob secured a job as a vet at a zoo, who also took Rosie the elephant. Evidently Marlena died a few years before Jacob was put into the nursing home.
In the present, ninety-three year old Jacob is waiting for his family to take him to the circus. Alas, they forgot. He is deeply saddened, but then decides to walk across the street to the circus by himself. He arrives as they are loading up to go to another city. Jacob meets the manager and finds that he is “home” again. He secures a job as a ticket salesman.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Men, part 2
Men, part 2
When it comes to men, I always want what I can’t have. It’s my protection. A shield. A way for me not to get hurt. Intellectually I realize this fact, but my heart doesn’t want to go through the pain again. Heart wins. However, my heart aches to be loved. My body yearns to be held, my lips kissed, my hands intertwined with another… our bodies joining together in pure passionate pleasure.
I can have *all* of those things with DJ (not his real name). I shouldn’t because he’s married… morally off-limits. But there’s the catch, you see, he’s safe. He’s safe BECAUSE he is married. He can’t commit to me. I know he can’t stay the night or see me as often as I’d like to see him. He won’t love me and leave me or break my heart. He’s safe, you see? He holds me close and kisses me; he intertwines his fingers and body with mine, like a perfect mold… we are made for each other. Just seeing his name in my e-mail in-box excites me. Oh, and hearing his voice…! *slow deep breath* That excites me more. And when he arrives on my doorstep unexpectedly during the late night hours, we can’t keep our clothes on long enough to shut the front door. Passionate. Raw. Animalistic.
See? He can’t hurt me.
But he does… our time together is temporary and fills a momentary need. When our time together is over I am alone once again—only this time I’m alone and left feeling bad because I compromised myself, my morals, my values. So begins the cycle.
I know I have to stay away from DJ. I’ve done well for almost a year. But his name appeared in my in-box recently… my pulse quickened, my breathing grew shallow, my eyes dilated, I was ready—that intense lust rushed through my entire body. Just. By. Seeing. His. Name.
I can justify sleeping with him to myself: “if he’s going to cheat on his wife, it might as well be with me;” or “they haven’t slept together in years, so why does it matter?;” or “it’s no big deal; it’s just sex; it’s only physical.”
Who *is* that person? Not the Keri I know.
Will that lust ever go away? It didn’t a year ago when I was dating my boyfriend. Perhaps it was because that relationship was long distance? Regardless, every time I saw DJ’s name in my inbox I wanted nothing more than to be with him. I didn’t, of course. Regrettably. Or not. I am faithful in my relationships. Hypocrite. It’s true. I don’t cheat. My ex-husband cheated on me and I know what it feels like. So why… why did I sleep with DJ? Am I not worthy of a great man? Am I not worthy of love? Do I fear love…?
DJ isn’t the only man on my mind.
There’s one man I am ever so slowly getting out of my mind. We met online years ago, but just met in person in the past six months. He’s considerably younger but definitely has an old soul. He’s accepting and open-minded and will try anything at least once. He’s genius intelligent so there’s never a lull in the conversation. And I can be me with him… no apologies. He accepts me for me. In addition, although we have haven’t slept together, I know we are sexually compatible from the site on which we met and from our conversations over the years. He’s a beautiful and caring man with a lot to offer to someone… I don’t think he thinks *I* am that someone.
But again, because of the age difference, he is safe. *I* do not have a problem with his age, and because I don’t look or act my age, I don’t think it’s a problem, but that is not my decision to make. Most of my friends are his age or a year or two older than him… idk… Regardless, he’s unavailable to me right now and that is a choice he made.
Men. Men. More men.
Is it normal to look at someone and want to tear off his clothes and have sex? Like right there. In the very moment. You know I’m an open book and I have no boundaries. I’m laying it all out here. Clearly I am not ready for a relationship, right? Or maybe it’s a farce so I don’t have to admit I’m afraid to love someone… to give him my full heart. Sex is easy. Love on the other hand, is not.
I walked into my ACA meeting one evening and as soon as I entered the meeting room, my eyes locked on Brian. He was back! *grin* I then looked to my right and saw another hottie—and he was new. I took my seat one away from the new hottie and joked that with the room full of 5 men and me, it was like I had my own harem tonight. The hottie smiled at me with his beautiful eyes and long curly eyelashes and said, “take your pick!” In my head I already chose… him. When the meeting began, we joined hands, and because the other side of the table was shorter than our side, I told the hottie that we’d have to stand close to each other so I could reach across the table. He pulled me close and wrapped my arm around his back, still holding my hand, and said, “that’s OK with me,” and then our heads bumped together a little bit and we laughed. The meeting began. We ended up in different groups, so I don’t know anything about him other than his name. LOL I haven’t seen him since. And hopefully he doesn’t read my notes section. *blush* I doubt he does, and he’s rarely on Facebook anyway, so I hope luck is on my side.
When it comes to men, I always want what I can’t have. It’s my protection. A shield. A way for me not to get hurt. Intellectually I realize this fact, but my heart doesn’t want to go through the pain again. Heart wins. However, my heart aches to be loved. My body yearns to be held, my lips kissed, my hands intertwined with another… our bodies joining together in pure passionate pleasure.
I can have *all* of those things with DJ (not his real name). I shouldn’t because he’s married… morally off-limits. But there’s the catch, you see, he’s safe. He’s safe BECAUSE he is married. He can’t commit to me. I know he can’t stay the night or see me as often as I’d like to see him. He won’t love me and leave me or break my heart. He’s safe, you see? He holds me close and kisses me; he intertwines his fingers and body with mine, like a perfect mold… we are made for each other. Just seeing his name in my e-mail in-box excites me. Oh, and hearing his voice…! *slow deep breath* That excites me more. And when he arrives on my doorstep unexpectedly during the late night hours, we can’t keep our clothes on long enough to shut the front door. Passionate. Raw. Animalistic.
See? He can’t hurt me.
But he does… our time together is temporary and fills a momentary need. When our time together is over I am alone once again—only this time I’m alone and left feeling bad because I compromised myself, my morals, my values. So begins the cycle.
I know I have to stay away from DJ. I’ve done well for almost a year. But his name appeared in my in-box recently… my pulse quickened, my breathing grew shallow, my eyes dilated, I was ready—that intense lust rushed through my entire body. Just. By. Seeing. His. Name.
I can justify sleeping with him to myself: “if he’s going to cheat on his wife, it might as well be with me;” or “they haven’t slept together in years, so why does it matter?;” or “it’s no big deal; it’s just sex; it’s only physical.”
Who *is* that person? Not the Keri I know.
Will that lust ever go away? It didn’t a year ago when I was dating my boyfriend. Perhaps it was because that relationship was long distance? Regardless, every time I saw DJ’s name in my inbox I wanted nothing more than to be with him. I didn’t, of course. Regrettably. Or not. I am faithful in my relationships. Hypocrite. It’s true. I don’t cheat. My ex-husband cheated on me and I know what it feels like. So why… why did I sleep with DJ? Am I not worthy of a great man? Am I not worthy of love? Do I fear love…?
DJ isn’t the only man on my mind.
There’s one man I am ever so slowly getting out of my mind. We met online years ago, but just met in person in the past six months. He’s considerably younger but definitely has an old soul. He’s accepting and open-minded and will try anything at least once. He’s genius intelligent so there’s never a lull in the conversation. And I can be me with him… no apologies. He accepts me for me. In addition, although we have haven’t slept together, I know we are sexually compatible from the site on which we met and from our conversations over the years. He’s a beautiful and caring man with a lot to offer to someone… I don’t think he thinks *I* am that someone.
But again, because of the age difference, he is safe. *I* do not have a problem with his age, and because I don’t look or act my age, I don’t think it’s a problem, but that is not my decision to make. Most of my friends are his age or a year or two older than him… idk… Regardless, he’s unavailable to me right now and that is a choice he made.
Men. Men. More men.
Is it normal to look at someone and want to tear off his clothes and have sex? Like right there. In the very moment. You know I’m an open book and I have no boundaries. I’m laying it all out here. Clearly I am not ready for a relationship, right? Or maybe it’s a farce so I don’t have to admit I’m afraid to love someone… to give him my full heart. Sex is easy. Love on the other hand, is not.
I walked into my ACA meeting one evening and as soon as I entered the meeting room, my eyes locked on Brian. He was back! *grin* I then looked to my right and saw another hottie—and he was new. I took my seat one away from the new hottie and joked that with the room full of 5 men and me, it was like I had my own harem tonight. The hottie smiled at me with his beautiful eyes and long curly eyelashes and said, “take your pick!” In my head I already chose… him. When the meeting began, we joined hands, and because the other side of the table was shorter than our side, I told the hottie that we’d have to stand close to each other so I could reach across the table. He pulled me close and wrapped my arm around his back, still holding my hand, and said, “that’s OK with me,” and then our heads bumped together a little bit and we laughed. The meeting began. We ended up in different groups, so I don’t know anything about him other than his name. LOL I haven’t seen him since. And hopefully he doesn’t read my notes section. *blush* I doubt he does, and he’s rarely on Facebook anyway, so I hope luck is on my side.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Book review: The Postcard Killers
December's book club choice was "individual choice" with the option of participating in a book exchange (gift wrapped) at the January meeting. I chose The Postcard Killers by James Patteron and Liza Marklund. There's no hiding that I love the work of James Patterson, although I cannot keep up with his novels! I think he publishes one each month... sometimes more!
The Postcard Killers opens at the Louvre in Paris, France as the killers admire the portrait of Mona Lisa. They meet a nice couple on their honeymoon and invited them to dinner, and afterwards, to share champagne with them in their hotel room. It's no surprise that the newly married couple are killed.
Meanwhile New York police department detective Jacob Kanon is visiting Europe's most famous cities, trying to catch the killers before they murder anyone else... AND to get justice for his daughter. Kanon's daughter Kimmy and her boyfriend were murdered while vacationing in Rome. Since then, young couples throughout Europe have been murdered. The only thing connecting the murders is a postcard mailed to a local newspaper that precedes each new victim.
Kanon teams up with Swedish reporter Dessie Larsson to find the killers before the next couple meets the same fate as those in other cities. Of course an obligatory love story is weaved into the story...
Will they find the killers? Will justice be served? You won't know unless you pick up the book and start reading. Enjoy!
The Postcard Killers opens at the Louvre in Paris, France as the killers admire the portrait of Mona Lisa. They meet a nice couple on their honeymoon and invited them to dinner, and afterwards, to share champagne with them in their hotel room. It's no surprise that the newly married couple are killed.
Meanwhile New York police department detective Jacob Kanon is visiting Europe's most famous cities, trying to catch the killers before they murder anyone else... AND to get justice for his daughter. Kanon's daughter Kimmy and her boyfriend were murdered while vacationing in Rome. Since then, young couples throughout Europe have been murdered. The only thing connecting the murders is a postcard mailed to a local newspaper that precedes each new victim.
Kanon teams up with Swedish reporter Dessie Larsson to find the killers before the next couple meets the same fate as those in other cities. Of course an obligatory love story is weaved into the story...
Will they find the killers? Will justice be served? You won't know unless you pick up the book and start reading. Enjoy!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Book review: Room
November's book club choice was Room by Emma Donoghue. I LOVED this novel and I think it took me record time to complete the book; I could NOT put it down! At once point I literally could not read fast enough to find out what would happen! It was similar to sitting at the edge of your seat during an intense part of a movie!
Writing this review is difficult because I don't want to give anything away. Suffice it to say that the book is AMAZING!
The novel is unique because it's written by five-year-old Jack's perspective, and Room is his world. Jack was born in Room; it's where he eats, sleeps, and plays. He's a highly intelligent five-year-old with a great imagination, which is credit to his mother, known only as Ma, since Room has been her prison for seven years.
It's not Jack's mother's choice to live in the windowless 11-by-11-foot space; she was kidnapped and imprisoned in the room when she was nineteen years old. Her captor, Old Nick, brings the pair food and necessary items on Sundays, and occasionally "visits" Ma late at night while Jack sleeps in Wardrobe.
Ma tries to give Jack as normal of a life as she can. She teaches him songs, how to read, and makes up exercises to keep his muscles toned and healthy. They do have a television, but she limits their time watching it. Because Jack was born in Room, Ma tells him that things like trees, birds, animals, and cars exist "outside" which he believes to be another planet, or "outer space".
But soon after Jack’s fifth birthday, Ma realizes she can’t raise him in confinement forever and forms an awful, desperate plan for escape.
I can't say any more. You will not be disappointed in this novel. Enjoy!
Writing this review is difficult because I don't want to give anything away. Suffice it to say that the book is AMAZING!
The novel is unique because it's written by five-year-old Jack's perspective, and Room is his world. Jack was born in Room; it's where he eats, sleeps, and plays. He's a highly intelligent five-year-old with a great imagination, which is credit to his mother, known only as Ma, since Room has been her prison for seven years.
It's not Jack's mother's choice to live in the windowless 11-by-11-foot space; she was kidnapped and imprisoned in the room when she was nineteen years old. Her captor, Old Nick, brings the pair food and necessary items on Sundays, and occasionally "visits" Ma late at night while Jack sleeps in Wardrobe.
Ma tries to give Jack as normal of a life as she can. She teaches him songs, how to read, and makes up exercises to keep his muscles toned and healthy. They do have a television, but she limits their time watching it. Because Jack was born in Room, Ma tells him that things like trees, birds, animals, and cars exist "outside" which he believes to be another planet, or "outer space".
But soon after Jack’s fifth birthday, Ma realizes she can’t raise him in confinement forever and forms an awful, desperate plan for escape.
I can't say any more. You will not be disappointed in this novel. Enjoy!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Book review: The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane
I'm behind in my book club book reviews. My apologies! Where does the time go?
October's book selection was The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe. I "discovered" the book from a friend who posted its book trailer on Facebook (http://www.physickbook.com/trailer.html). The trailer made me want to IMMEDIATELY buy the book! I could not wait to sit down and read! I'm fascinated by the Salem Witch Trials and that period of time.
The book was interesting, and although the story line was realistic with regards to researching and writing a dissertation, I found myself bored at times. However, there were moments in the book when I could not put it down! The author also threw in an obligatory romance to spice things up, but it was very predictable...even for someone who doesn't read romance novels.
Similar in format to Sarah's Key, the novel moves back and forth between time periods. The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane moves from the summer of 1991 in Salem, Massachusetts, to the 17th-century witch trial era. It is in the 17th century era that the reader discovers that Connie has ties to the witch trials, and that's what kept me reading.
Harvard graduate Connie Goodwin planned to spend her summer doing research for her doctoral dissertation, but her mother asked her to handle the sale of Connie's grandmother's abandoned home near Salem. Reluctantly she agreed. The house is falling apart, has no electricity, and no phone; quite a change for Connie.
As she cleans up the house one room at a time, she discovers an ancient key hidden inside a seventeenth-century Bible. The key contains an obviously old piece of parchment paper with "Deliverance Dane" written on it. This discovery intrigues Connie and makes her want to find out who this woman was, AND find the physick book and its secret recipes.
I found the ending of the book predictable on two levels, but won't spoil it for you. All and all, I'd give the book a 5 out of 10.
October's book selection was The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe. I "discovered" the book from a friend who posted its book trailer on Facebook (http://www.physickbook.com/trailer.html). The trailer made me want to IMMEDIATELY buy the book! I could not wait to sit down and read! I'm fascinated by the Salem Witch Trials and that period of time.
The book was interesting, and although the story line was realistic with regards to researching and writing a dissertation, I found myself bored at times. However, there were moments in the book when I could not put it down! The author also threw in an obligatory romance to spice things up, but it was very predictable...even for someone who doesn't read romance novels.
Similar in format to Sarah's Key, the novel moves back and forth between time periods. The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane moves from the summer of 1991 in Salem, Massachusetts, to the 17th-century witch trial era. It is in the 17th century era that the reader discovers that Connie has ties to the witch trials, and that's what kept me reading.
Harvard graduate Connie Goodwin planned to spend her summer doing research for her doctoral dissertation, but her mother asked her to handle the sale of Connie's grandmother's abandoned home near Salem. Reluctantly she agreed. The house is falling apart, has no electricity, and no phone; quite a change for Connie.
As she cleans up the house one room at a time, she discovers an ancient key hidden inside a seventeenth-century Bible. The key contains an obviously old piece of parchment paper with "Deliverance Dane" written on it. This discovery intrigues Connie and makes her want to find out who this woman was, AND find the physick book and its secret recipes.
I found the ending of the book predictable on two levels, but won't spoil it for you. All and all, I'd give the book a 5 out of 10.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Book review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
September's book club selection was The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. I've heard nothing but good things about the trilogy novels so I was naturally excited to read the first book.
I was immediately drawn into the mystery of who was sending a framed dried flower annually...for decades to the rich Henrik Vanger. But then I got bored.
Without giving anything away, I figured out early on that the mystery wasn't what it appeared. One of the main characters, Mikael Blomkvist, was a financial journalist who stepped down from his magazine because he was sued for libel (and would go to jail). In another part of the city, a loner and goth-like Lisbeth Salander works as a kind of private investigator with an amazing ability to hack in to any computer without notice, regardless of security walls. She is hired to dig up information on said journalist.
Meanwhile Henrik Vanger contacts Mikael and offers him a one-year "job" to write the Vanger family history (HOOK), but there's a secret twist: Mikael will really be trying to discover what happened to his great-niece before he dies (LINE). Mikael only agrees to take the job because after the one year, Vanger promised to give him tangible information on the person with whom he libeled -- which will prove that the man really is a criminal (SINKER).
Mikael ends up working with Lisbeth and the two gradually uncover clues and piece things together to discover corruption in the Vanger family. Throughout the book, the reader learns more about the mysterious Lisbeth and gives us a glimpse into why she is the way she is.
Before I go on, I should say that I am not into drawn-out detailed novels unless the details have meaning. I was bored fairly quickly because nothing really happened in the first 100+ pages of the 590 page book. I almost went insane. Seriously, nothing happened. Blah blah blah. As a result, it took me forever to get into the book--and at page 460 or so the story started to get really good.
As far as I'm concerened, the book could have ended 100 pages before it did. The author describes every detail about everything. It's almost like he wrote a screen play instead of a novel. However, all and all, it was a good book, minus the details. *wink*
I swore I wouldn't read the rest of the trilogy, but I read the prologue of The Girl who Played with Fire and was sucked into the story, so we'll see. *wink*
I was immediately drawn into the mystery of who was sending a framed dried flower annually...for decades to the rich Henrik Vanger. But then I got bored.
Without giving anything away, I figured out early on that the mystery wasn't what it appeared. One of the main characters, Mikael Blomkvist, was a financial journalist who stepped down from his magazine because he was sued for libel (and would go to jail). In another part of the city, a loner and goth-like Lisbeth Salander works as a kind of private investigator with an amazing ability to hack in to any computer without notice, regardless of security walls. She is hired to dig up information on said journalist.
Meanwhile Henrik Vanger contacts Mikael and offers him a one-year "job" to write the Vanger family history (HOOK), but there's a secret twist: Mikael will really be trying to discover what happened to his great-niece before he dies (LINE). Mikael only agrees to take the job because after the one year, Vanger promised to give him tangible information on the person with whom he libeled -- which will prove that the man really is a criminal (SINKER).
Mikael ends up working with Lisbeth and the two gradually uncover clues and piece things together to discover corruption in the Vanger family. Throughout the book, the reader learns more about the mysterious Lisbeth and gives us a glimpse into why she is the way she is.
Before I go on, I should say that I am not into drawn-out detailed novels unless the details have meaning. I was bored fairly quickly because nothing really happened in the first 100+ pages of the 590 page book. I almost went insane. Seriously, nothing happened. Blah blah blah. As a result, it took me forever to get into the book--and at page 460 or so the story started to get really good.
As far as I'm concerened, the book could have ended 100 pages before it did. The author describes every detail about everything. It's almost like he wrote a screen play instead of a novel. However, all and all, it was a good book, minus the details. *wink*
I swore I wouldn't read the rest of the trilogy, but I read the prologue of The Girl who Played with Fire and was sucked into the story, so we'll see. *wink*
Sunday, October 24, 2010
My new dating rules...
OK, my dating techniques haven't worked so far, and since a recent Yahoo article* titled "10 signs your date isn’t The One" makes sense, I'm going to follow it... AND add my own rules! Some of the rules might be obvious, but let me tell you, I've had quite a few losers in my life and it needs to change!
My next man will...
#1 - have friends
#2 - his own life, hobbies, and interests
#3 - respect & understand that I need alone time. Alone time doesn't mean that I'm mad at you or don't like/love you... it simply means I want to be alone.
#4 - have a job and be financially secure. I'm not looking for wealth or to be "taken care of" financially, but if you can't pay your rent/mortgage, forget it.
#5 - have a car. I know I may get flack from this, but too bad. Busses do not come out to my house and I prefer not to be a taxi service. I understand that things happen and vehicles break down (been there too many times), but in general a vehicle is a must.
#6 - live within 30 minutes of my house/work.
#7 - realize that just because I am female does not mean that I will clean the house, do laundry, cook, pack lunches, pay the bills, and cater to your every whim. Men are capable of these things too! We will equally share the responsibility of house-hold chores.
And from the *article's list:
1. Your date is devoted to another.
I do not want a mama's boy. Obviously he loves his mother, but he has a mind of his own and makes his own decisions.
2. Your spending habits don’t match.
See number four above. I don't want to worry about credit card debt; I want to have a savings for trips; I do not need to go out for dinner all the time, nor do I want to eat Ramon noodles every night. I'd like a healthy balance.
3. Your politics are too different.
I would be classified as a democrat. Although I don't think the following things are necessarily "political," they always bring up heated discussions so it's important to mention. I love the earth and I want people to treat her kindly and with love. We (Americans) pollute & trash the earth like it will be around forever; we waste energy and natural resources without care. It needs to stop. I am an advocate for recycling and social justice/human rights. Ask anyone who has dared use Styrofoam in my presence or threw a pop can/bottle or a pile of paper into the trash. Basically if you don't recycle or appreciate other cultures (ethnic or otherwise), we won't last. I am very passionate about many issues and I communicate that passion. I am not perfect in my beliefs, but I try and expect the same in my partner.
4. Your sweetie just doesn’t get your jokes.
I do not appreciate what I call "stupid" humor. I do not think the movie Dumb and Dumber is funny. I do not like Jeff Foxworthy or other blue collar comedy. I'm not saying that none of the jokes are funny, but generally speaking, I do not like "stupid" humor.
5. Your love interest isn’t ready.
I sometimes wonder if this is me... but that's another blog topic! ;)
6. Your honey wants kids and you don’t (or vice versa).
I'm upfront about this with everyone. I do not want children, nor do I want to be a mother to your child/ren. Don't get me wrong, I like children and I love my friends' children. I don't want to raise children or be around them 24/7. If you have children and are involved in their life, I think that's terrific! More fathers need to be like you. BUT children are not for me.
7. Your tastes are too different.
If you enjoy camping in tents, cooking over a fire, and using the great outdoors as your bathroom, that's not something I wish to experience again. I don't want to stay in high-end hotels when I travel, but I don't want to sleep where little creatures roam. In Europe, I like small hotels and mom-&-pop places over the American hotels.
If your idea of a perfect home includes lots of farmland and chickens, that's not who I am. I know where meat comes from, but I do not want to see it running around in my yard.
I prefer to live close to work and not have to deal with sitting in traffic. I like the suburbs where it's quieter, but still close enough to 24/7 grocery stores and evening activities should I decide to do something fun.
8. Your lifestyles clash.
I think #7 sums up this as well.
9. Your first connection fizzles.
Makes sense. LOL
And finally, I'll let #10 speak for itself:
10. Your relationship has you on edge. “I believe that The One strengthens you, lifts you up and does not produce anxiety,” says Kathryn Alice, author of Love Will Find You. “When something isn’t right, your intuition keeps trying to let you know by putting nagging doubts in your mind as well as continual anxiety. This is a gut thing, and your gut is rarely wrong.”
* http://yahoo.match.com/y/article.aspx?articleid=8582&TrackingID=526103&BannerID=692725
My next man will...
#1 - have friends
#2 - his own life, hobbies, and interests
#3 - respect & understand that I need alone time. Alone time doesn't mean that I'm mad at you or don't like/love you... it simply means I want to be alone.
#4 - have a job and be financially secure. I'm not looking for wealth or to be "taken care of" financially, but if you can't pay your rent/mortgage, forget it.
#5 - have a car. I know I may get flack from this, but too bad. Busses do not come out to my house and I prefer not to be a taxi service. I understand that things happen and vehicles break down (been there too many times), but in general a vehicle is a must.
#6 - live within 30 minutes of my house/work.
#7 - realize that just because I am female does not mean that I will clean the house, do laundry, cook, pack lunches, pay the bills, and cater to your every whim. Men are capable of these things too! We will equally share the responsibility of house-hold chores.
And from the *article's list:
1. Your date is devoted to another.
I do not want a mama's boy. Obviously he loves his mother, but he has a mind of his own and makes his own decisions.
2. Your spending habits don’t match.
See number four above. I don't want to worry about credit card debt; I want to have a savings for trips; I do not need to go out for dinner all the time, nor do I want to eat Ramon noodles every night. I'd like a healthy balance.
3. Your politics are too different.
I would be classified as a democrat. Although I don't think the following things are necessarily "political," they always bring up heated discussions so it's important to mention. I love the earth and I want people to treat her kindly and with love. We (Americans) pollute & trash the earth like it will be around forever; we waste energy and natural resources without care. It needs to stop. I am an advocate for recycling and social justice/human rights. Ask anyone who has dared use Styrofoam in my presence or threw a pop can/bottle or a pile of paper into the trash. Basically if you don't recycle or appreciate other cultures (ethnic or otherwise), we won't last. I am very passionate about many issues and I communicate that passion. I am not perfect in my beliefs, but I try and expect the same in my partner.
4. Your sweetie just doesn’t get your jokes.
I do not appreciate what I call "stupid" humor. I do not think the movie Dumb and Dumber is funny. I do not like Jeff Foxworthy or other blue collar comedy. I'm not saying that none of the jokes are funny, but generally speaking, I do not like "stupid" humor.
5. Your love interest isn’t ready.
I sometimes wonder if this is me... but that's another blog topic! ;)
6. Your honey wants kids and you don’t (or vice versa).
I'm upfront about this with everyone. I do not want children, nor do I want to be a mother to your child/ren. Don't get me wrong, I like children and I love my friends' children. I don't want to raise children or be around them 24/7. If you have children and are involved in their life, I think that's terrific! More fathers need to be like you. BUT children are not for me.
7. Your tastes are too different.
If you enjoy camping in tents, cooking over a fire, and using the great outdoors as your bathroom, that's not something I wish to experience again. I don't want to stay in high-end hotels when I travel, but I don't want to sleep where little creatures roam. In Europe, I like small hotels and mom-&-pop places over the American hotels.
If your idea of a perfect home includes lots of farmland and chickens, that's not who I am. I know where meat comes from, but I do not want to see it running around in my yard.
I prefer to live close to work and not have to deal with sitting in traffic. I like the suburbs where it's quieter, but still close enough to 24/7 grocery stores and evening activities should I decide to do something fun.
8. Your lifestyles clash.
I think #7 sums up this as well.
9. Your first connection fizzles.
Makes sense. LOL
And finally, I'll let #10 speak for itself:
10. Your relationship has you on edge. “I believe that The One strengthens you, lifts you up and does not produce anxiety,” says Kathryn Alice, author of Love Will Find You. “When something isn’t right, your intuition keeps trying to let you know by putting nagging doubts in your mind as well as continual anxiety. This is a gut thing, and your gut is rarely wrong.”
* http://yahoo.match.com/y/article.aspx?articleid=8582&TrackingID=526103&BannerID=692725
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)