One of my favorite activities at our perennial family get togethers is to do a puzzle. Over the years we’ve done a lot of different puzzles in different styles. We’ve done oddly shaped puzzles, we’ve done massive puzzles, and we’ve done intricate puzzles.
The truth is, though, I am really bad at puzzles. I usually will sit down for 5-10 minutes, try to put in a few pieces, then get bored or frustrated and move on to another activity. If you want to know who the true puzzle queen is in our family, it’s my mom. (Tio and Aunt Sherrie do a good job too, but Mom is the ultimate puzzle focuser.)
I’ve found the trick to participating in the puzzle, though. I join early and strategically claim the part of the puzzle with the most detail, which will be easiest to put toegether. Things like rooflines, people, even lattice work or anything geometrical will do. What you don’t want to do is come to the puzzle late when there is only one or two things left… the sky or the water.
Continue reading “Celebrating Singleness: Putting the Pieces Together”
Lately I have been thinking about what my life will be like after I “get” married and “have” kids. How will I change? How will my life be different? What will be similar to now? Will I ever get used to having all those strangers around me all the time?
I have noticed, during my short and very single life, that many people want to “get” married and “have” kids. From the time I was born I have been told to “get” married and “have” kids. I don’t think it is an accident of the English language that we use the phrases “get married” and “have kids” either. Think about those words… GET and HAVE…
Continue reading “Celebrating Singleness: “Getting” Married and “Having” Kids”
This is part six of the series Celebrating Singleness…
I’ve never fit neatly into predefined social circles.
Never been athletic enough to fit in with the sporty people, never liked the right music for the clubbers and party-ers, never wore the right sunglasses for the cool people, or cared enough about my looks for the fashionable. Never bling-blinged enough for the rich, and never ate at the right places for the foodies.
Continue reading “Celebrating Singleness: Drawing Your Social Circle”
Sometimes my life is a little too much like Dilbert…
Sad, isn’t it.
Just when you thought this crazy series was dead, I go and bring out PART 5!
We cannot have a full discussion about the single experience without discussing Blind Dates and the crazy friends and relatives who inflict them on us.
Continue reading “Celebrating Singleness: Getting Hooked Up”
This is article 4 in the series, “Celebrating Singleness”:
It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it’s not a pretty thing. Every blue moon the question is asked (either by myself or by someone else) “Why am I not married?” So let’s start in with the excuses… Continue reading “Celebrating Singleness: Excuses”
This is article 3 in the series, “Celebrating Singleness”:
I was recently sent two articles: “Marry Him! (The case for settling for Mr. Good Enough)” and “Child Man in the Promised Land“. Both are extremely long treatises (which actually kind of stall about 1/3 of the way through, so don’t feel bad when you stop reading at that point), so if you’re not up for that much reading on a Monday (I understand), here is the summary:
Continue reading “Celebrating Singleness: Two Contrasting Articles”
