Update - Fishy # 4 - The Distance Between

Exactly 1 year ago today these two fishy’s started their story.  The two have continued to grow into something more.  The boy fishy has been brought back to the same set of lakes as is home, but not home yet.  Soon though…in 5 months the fishy’s work obligation will be done and he’ll return home to the fishy that he’s grown to care so much for.

The boy fishy has invited the girl fishy to see the lake he’s living and working in before his term is up there.  And she’s thrilled with the idea of finally meeting.  It’s so silly how these two have talked, shared, communicated and still have yet to set eyes on each other.

For now, they both share with each other what’s going on in their lives, the fishy adventures that they’ve had and express how much they can’t wait to see each other.

More to come on this fishy love story!

Keep fishing…MRC

A new week = A new set of potentials.
 
Today was Fishie #...I don't even know.


Let's call him Techie.  So Techie is nice.  Not overly nice or overly sweet...just nice.  He's not horribly unattractive.  But not attractive (to me). He's got a strong faith...yeah.  But he's never had a relationship that lasted through an entire quarter.....that's a problem.  Where's the longevity, commitment, and what the heck happened so many times that you can't make it past a 3 month period of time.

Anyways, I think I may actually feel bad about this one.  He's so nice and harmless...but I feel nothing.....like NOTHING.

Is it me?  Why can't I feel?  Or is it just what I find?  And if it's just what I find....why doesn't anything good find me?

On a positive note...I've got coffee plans for Thursday.  Stick around for more!

Looking for an advice topic by request...let me know what you want to hear about!

Single & Searching...M

Survival of the Rag

Once a month there is a space in time that men dread and women transform into demons.  (Not all women....calm down ladies!)  At one point in time (a LONG time ago!!) women were segregated from the men and other women not on the rag during the time of their period.  They were quarantined to "The Red Tent."  We don't have to live that way anymore.  As long as we all learn to get along! 

Men: There are ways of avoiding a monthly breakup and gain points at the same time!
Ladies: There are ways to keep him around for longer than one full cycle of the moon.
Yes Gentleman....I'm talking about a woman's period.  Get over the Ewww....it's a normal part of life.  I've got a few ideas and thoughts on how to survive this terrifying period....of time.  No pun intended.
Men:  There are few vital characteristics that will help you in the long run and a few tricks to put up your sleeve.  I'm going to break this down as much as I can.

• Be patient!  This shouldn't last more than 1 week.  And there are on average 4.3 weeks in a month....so the ratio of good to bad is pretty high!
• Be understanding.  This isn't easy for her either.  Most of the time she, honestly!, can't control her emotions.  This is just part of the joys of womanhood!
• Have some compassion.  She doesn't want to be a Beotch just as much as you don't want her to be.
• Keep track of only one thing...when it's coming!  Starting from day 1 of Aunt Flo's visit count 28 days (roughly)....mark that date down.  And get ready!  Better to be prepared than sorry!
• Don't talk about it!  Even though you know why she's moody/emotional/crazy don't say anything about it!  She'll be much happier if you don't say "Honey, is it that time of the month again?"  Not a good idea guys....not smart at all!!
• She's likely going to want to rehash how her dog died last year, how someone cheated on her, how her best friend is a bitch sometimes and how her boss just doesn't understand.  Don't be surprised if she starts blubbering and speaking in tongues about how Noah built a house for Allie.
• Don't be offended.  She may make stabs at you, your friends, your mommy dearest.  She has been taking over by an evil spirit.  No need to call in the priests....the demon will be gone within a week and will remain gone for roughly 3 weeks.
• Be forgiving.  Because she may get nasty with you...be forgiving.  But don't mention this forgiveness.
• The best and most important piece is to not even mention anything that happened within the dreaded week.  It's wise to never bring it up...just learn from it.

For your sleeves:

• Ice Cream...her favorite.
• Magazines....girlie ones...Cosmo, Glamour, People and all of the gossip ones.
• Tissues...there is likely to be a day when she'll cry.  (Get the ones with lotion...she doesn't want dry skin!)
• Music...There was a brilliant move by an actor in a recent movie that's inspired this one.  Though they were FWB's, and he wanted more....he made the leading lady and his love interest a "Period Mix" of her favorite sad love songs.  Genius!!
• Give her the remote and full control of the tv.

Ladies:  Usually stocking up on period equipment is a normal process for us.  Include a few new steps in your period prep and you may be able to salvage your relationship.

• To avoid conflict with your man...plan girl dates around this time.  This will limit the exposure you have to him and the potential for a blow up.
• Think before you speak.  Do your best to think before you open your mouth and/or type what you feel.  Don't pick a fight when you are in this condition.
• Don't be graphic...he doesn't need to nor does he want to know all about Aunt Flo.

With a little prep, a kind heart and patience you can both make it through this alive! 
Share your stories with me at otherfishlandlocked@gmail.com
Single & Searching....M

Communication Styles

Let’s get to the point folks…Just like how we all have different methods of learning, we all communicate differently.

There are 3 main types of communicators: Verbal, Physical and Verbical (hehe). 

So a verbal communicator talks about their feelings.  They express their thoughts, emotions and opinions through words. 

A Physical communicator expresses themselves though physical interaction and body language.

A Verbical communicator is very expressive and both talks and show’s their feelings and emotions.

 

There are multiple benefits to knowing how you communicate and how your dates/mates communicate. 

If there is a verbal communicator and a physical communicator in a relationship, they will likely run into some communication issues.  If they understand that the other person is different in this aspect it will help them immensely. 

I suggest that you figure out what kind of communicator you are if you don’t already know.  If you are a dater…make it a point to observe your date.  If you can’t figure out their communicating style, talk about it.  Don’t assume! 

If you are in a relationship…make sure that you’ve pointed this out to each other.  Communication is one of the most important foundation blocks in a relationship (of any kind).  If you can’t communicate….through any method, how do you expect to stay together.   

A few questions to ask yourself:  How do you communicate?  How do you feel most comfortable communicating?  Do you feel like your date/mate really gets what you are saying or implying?  Do you wish that they understood you a bit more?  How could you improve on this?

Single & Searching...M

To Juggle or Not To Juggle

Why do I keep sounding like Shakespeare?  Oh well!  I'm going with it.

I've been asked to speak on this topic.  I like to call it "juggling."

Juggling, to this author, is when someone goes out on dates with multiple individuals.  You may only be juggling 2, but I've personally juggled up to 4 men.  

Now....Let me be clear on something.  Juggling does not mean that you are sleeping with or having a physically intimate relationship with one or many.  Sleeping with more than one person is called being stupid.  There are far too many concerns with that.  And for women, it's just plain dumb.  Do you really want to be that woman that doesn't know who the baby daddy is if (knock on wood) if a condom breaks?  It's been known to happen!  But that's a discussion for another time. 

What was I saying?  Oh YEAH!!  Juggling.  So...there are pro's and con's to every way that you look at this.  If you choose to juggle, there are a few things to keep in mind. 

Pro's: 

• You are getting exposure to multiple people.  Different personalities.
• You aren't starting from scratch all the time.

Con's:

• You have to find a system that works for you to keep them all straight.
• You have to find time in your schedule to actually date them.  ("talking" to someone doesn't constitute a date!)

Juggling isn't a science.  There are many methods of doing this.  

I've found that when you date more than 1 you don't focus all of your energy into one person.  Thus allowing time in-between dates and less opportunity to sound clingy/crazy, etc.  It allows you to keep your options open. 

In today's world it's not as easy as in the "Leave it to Beaver" days when going out for an ice cream float wasn't just a date.  You were then boyfriend and girlfriend.  The only next step was going steady and/or receiving a pin or jacket.  But.....I don't know the last time that I was asked out for an ice cream float and he started calling me his girlfriend.  And what was the pin exactly.  Oh yeah...and I'm not in high school wearing someones Letterman jacket.  And....if a man does give me a Letterman jacket now....I don't think he's going to be getting any further with me than where he stood.  

These days, it's not as clear where people stand when you go out for that first meeting/date.  You have to actually ask them if they are seeing other people and then you are still going just off of their word.  Which is fine.  There are still honest people out there.  And even if someone does say that they are seeing other people doesn't necessarily reflect bad on you.  They haven't seen how wonderful you are yet!  Give them time.  

Do you know that someone is worth your time and attention right off the bat?  Most often the answer is NO.  Most of the time, you know who isn't worth your time...but the ones that may...that takes time.  


Should you choose to juggle, I have few tricks up my sleeve (hehe...the dork in me is enjoying the magic references :)) 

Keeping the straight - Most of us have smart phones.  Use your phone/hand-held brain to your advantage.  There is usually a place to keep notes in the contacts.  Use a first and last name.  Get a picture of the person.  We all ask for a picture "for your contact."  (This request can also serve as a quick way to verify that that person's online photos or the blind date is who they say they are visually.) Make a few notes about that person...their job, where they live, kids, no kids, their pet, favorite food, birthday, etc.  What will help you to remember who they are?  Once you've met face to face it's easier for the brain to correspond information to a face and experience.

Scheduling - I've said this before, and I'll say it again....limit the number of times that you see someone.  You don't want to give the impression that after coffee they get all of your time.  You have a life!  You also don't want to allow yourself the opportunity to leave your personal life behind just because they are available for dinner and mini-golf.  I suggest no more than once in a 7 day period of time until you've elected to start weeding out the other canidates.

Disclosure - Yes...honesty is the best policy.  However, there is a certain amount of honesty that is best served with a side of bread to sop up all of the shame.  Especially for the ladies - when we date multiple men it's considered trampy...I'm working on this.  As men - It's considered a player....as crappy as it is.  That's the way the world sees it.  So yes, telling the person that you are in front of that you are dating others (when the subject arises), is acceptable.  But just like talking about your past relationships...other potential relationships should be kept to yourself.  there is no need to talk about how many, how often and how much better the restaurant that someone else took you to yesterday was.

Location, Location, Location - Can you imagine the embarrassment of running into yesterday's date with someone else on your arm??  It's been known to happen even in big cities.  Do yourself a flavor.  Choose an area to concentrate your dates with each person at.  Don't go to the same place with each date during the week.  And let them pick their favorite areas.  If one person loves downtown and the other likes up-town...let them have it!  

Bottom line is this....you shouldn't be sleeping with someone on the first date if you are looking for something real.  And I'm hoping that those reading this are looking for something real.  With that being said...think of each date as a friend first and foremost.  You will know if you have the chemistry shortly after meeting...sometimes this takes a date or two.  But generally speaking good chemistry is pretty obvious.  SO....I ramble....you are aloud to have more than one friend.  You are aloud to have dinner dates with your friends.  If you are having a complex about seeing more than one person, feel free to chat with me about it.  Otherfishlandlocked@gmail.com

Let me know your thoughts and view points on this folks.  please remember that I don't support or frown on Juggling.  I'm just giving the upsides and downsides and a few smart suggestions should you choose to partake in this option.  

Single And Searching! 
M    

Changing things up

Every successful blogger started somewhere.  They all started with one idea and changed things somewhere along the way.  My change....simply put....I want more exposure.  So I need to expose myself to more.  Hence, my latest decision.  I'm going to be publishing my blog via different blog sites.  At this time I'll be posting the same message via both blogs.  Periodically, I'll be posting different topics/viewpoints/thoughts via the different sites.  Should you wish to hear everything I have to say...I suggest you pay attention to both blogs.

Genius!!  I know!!

  In the interest of not loading up this blog with things that have already been published...I'm just going to share things going forward...and possibly a few of my favs. 
Do you have a fav?  What kind of dating and/or relationship topics would you like to discuss or hear about?

I'm excited to get to know all of you.  Keep your feedback coming!!

Single & Searching...M