My Christmas wish for all of you is that you be touched by love today, this season, this year. Not necessarily romantic love, which is unreliable at best, but a deep, filling Love. It begins with loving yourself.
Everyone makes mistakes. Even so, no matter how many or how bad your mistakes might be, you are worthy of love. Life is so much better with love. Be gentle with yourself today. Celebrate moments of joy at hand.
Merry Christmas
Ann
Monday, December 24, 2007
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Holidaze
I was out with the hordes today, picking up some last minute gifts in the pouring down rain. Rain or no rain, apparently I was not the only one who had to shop today.
Let's date ourselves by describing some memorable gifts we received as children.
My sister and I were delighted with Dawn & Chrissie dolls who had hair you could retract and pull out again for various styles. Of course, when you cut it, that was it.
I made elaborate, housewide orange Hot Wheels race tracks with my brothers.
Nothing was more exciting than the phone my sister and I had installed in our room: blue, push putton, curly cord. Finally! a private phone call!
What do you remember?
Let's date ourselves by describing some memorable gifts we received as children.
My sister and I were delighted with Dawn & Chrissie dolls who had hair you could retract and pull out again for various styles. Of course, when you cut it, that was it.
I made elaborate, housewide orange Hot Wheels race tracks with my brothers.
Nothing was more exciting than the phone my sister and I had installed in our room: blue, push putton, curly cord. Finally! a private phone call!
What do you remember?
Thursday, December 20, 2007
What's in your stocking?
One of the advantages of being single is that you are obligated to buy for yourself for the holidays. I figure I am not only entitled to what my ex would have spent on me, but also what I would have spent on him. That adds up to a pretty nice present. And I don't have to hint around and hope that anyone selects the thing I want the most. If I'm not happy with my Christmas gifts, I only have myself to blame.
This year I've decided to also stuff my own stocking. It's a great stocking too. I can't wait until Christmas morning!
So how are you pampering yourself this holiday season? And if you aren't, or haven't yet, snap out of it! You deserve something wonderful. Indulge in a massage or a pedicure. Sign up for a yoga class. Go ahead and get yourself an iPod and load it up with your favorite music. Take yourself for a long walk in some woods. Make yourself a special dinner. Take charge of your happiness.
This year I've decided to also stuff my own stocking. It's a great stocking too. I can't wait until Christmas morning!
So how are you pampering yourself this holiday season? And if you aren't, or haven't yet, snap out of it! You deserve something wonderful. Indulge in a massage or a pedicure. Sign up for a yoga class. Go ahead and get yourself an iPod and load it up with your favorite music. Take yourself for a long walk in some woods. Make yourself a special dinner. Take charge of your happiness.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Planning Events
Since I began the singles column & blog for Suburban Scene back in April, the project has taken on a bit of its own direction. I sometimes feel as though I am holding the reins of those Budweiser Clydesdales: steering a wagon of fun, and hoping it doesn't get away from me.
I have had several e-mails and conversations lately with excited participants, suggesting a wide variety of activities for us to consider.
For the year 2008, I am going to try to highlight singles events and activities already going on in the area. I am going to collaborate with some of our advertisers on four unique events this year that are still being determined. I want to make sure we are using all the magazine's and our vendors' resources wisely. So as soon as I have the next big Suburban Singles Scene event on the schedule, I will be sure to announce it.
In the meantime, I am going to highlight events already going on with other local singles groups.
Just today, a friend asked me, "What advice should I give to my single friends who are looking for romance in those on-line dating services?"
Well, I honestly have no experience with those. I have heard mixed reviews. That is a whole area for future investigation and discussion. But I advised her to encourage her friends to change up their routines. Go to new places. Sign up for new classes. Accept an invitation.
If you always do the same thing, you decrease your changes of something new happening.
So in that train of thought, I want to encourage everyone to try the LA Singles Dance at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bowie one Friday coming up in the next month or so.
Many of you have already been. It can be a lot of fun. There are all ages of singles, and all levels of dancing ability. It is every Friday night from 8:30pm to 1am. December 21st will have a Christmas theme. December 28th will be an early New Year's celebration.
I am going to go on January 11th. I already talked to the coordinator and he will help me get a table near the door to greet everyone coming in from the magazine and blog. It is so much more comforting trying something new when you know you will have someone to sit with and someone to dance with too. It'll be fun - and we'll probably all need to move around on the dance floor by mid January.
I'll post more about it as it gets closer, but mark your calendars.
I have had several e-mails and conversations lately with excited participants, suggesting a wide variety of activities for us to consider.
For the year 2008, I am going to try to highlight singles events and activities already going on in the area. I am going to collaborate with some of our advertisers on four unique events this year that are still being determined. I want to make sure we are using all the magazine's and our vendors' resources wisely. So as soon as I have the next big Suburban Singles Scene event on the schedule, I will be sure to announce it.
In the meantime, I am going to highlight events already going on with other local singles groups.
Just today, a friend asked me, "What advice should I give to my single friends who are looking for romance in those on-line dating services?"
Well, I honestly have no experience with those. I have heard mixed reviews. That is a whole area for future investigation and discussion. But I advised her to encourage her friends to change up their routines. Go to new places. Sign up for new classes. Accept an invitation.
If you always do the same thing, you decrease your changes of something new happening.
So in that train of thought, I want to encourage everyone to try the LA Singles Dance at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bowie one Friday coming up in the next month or so.
Many of you have already been. It can be a lot of fun. There are all ages of singles, and all levels of dancing ability. It is every Friday night from 8:30pm to 1am. December 21st will have a Christmas theme. December 28th will be an early New Year's celebration.
I am going to go on January 11th. I already talked to the coordinator and he will help me get a table near the door to greet everyone coming in from the magazine and blog. It is so much more comforting trying something new when you know you will have someone to sit with and someone to dance with too. It'll be fun - and we'll probably all need to move around on the dance floor by mid January.
I'll post more about it as it gets closer, but mark your calendars.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Is it hot in here?
Are you all grinning from Mike & Ava's witty repartee in the comment bonanza from the last post?
Whew! That was fun!
When was the last time you got into that kind of fun conversation? Where were you?
Communicating on-line really gives wit room to shine, doesn't it?
Whew! That was fun!
When was the last time you got into that kind of fun conversation? Where were you?
Communicating on-line really gives wit room to shine, doesn't it?
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Allison's Happy Hour
I sure hope to see you at tomorrow's Happy Hour at Allison's Restaurant in Crofton between 5 & 7pm. Hopefully the weather will cooperate. They have a delicious menu if any of you decide (as I have) to stay for dinner too. There will be complimentary appetizers, featuring meats from My Butcher and More. And remember, if you order a Lagoon, the first one is on the house.
Mystery Barstool Contest
Here is the latest installment of our Mystery Barstool Contest. The first commenter who identifies the location of this barstool gets a $25 gift certificate to the establishment.
Are you guys going to let Mike win again?
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Singular Bible Study Group
Last night I attended Mike's Bible study group at Faith Community Church on Reidel Road in Gambrills. Mike even won a gold star for knowing what "Hades" means in Greek. This is the winningest guy I know: barstools and Bible!
This group has a friendly, delicious, 3-tiered support network for their single members and any singles who want to attend. Half the people I spoke to attended other area congregations that did not have a similar Bible study group. Why re-invent the wheel though when other churches are willing to share resources,eh?
At FCC on the first Monday night of the month, you will find a group called Nexus that is for the younger, often never married crowd. They primarily meet for a worship celebration. I peeked in, but couldn't take a picture for you without being disruptive. They had candles lit and the lights down low with their acoustic guitars and drums. Good size crowd though.
On every Monday, the Single Parents & Single Empty Nesters meet for dinner, a brief combined time for announcements and a devotional, and then a two different Bible studies. The studies sometimes focus specifically on a singles' issue, but often is a more classic Bible study. They collaborate on social outings, like their recent trip to see the Rockettes in NYC.
Although the Empty Nesters were primarily women, my attendance in the Single Parents group made the number of men & women even.
Dinner was delicious, and compliments of the church. Child care was provided. The folks in attendance were friendly as could be. So if you are looking for just such a place, you should check this group out!
Do you know of any other houses of worship in the area that have active groups for singles?
This group has a friendly, delicious, 3-tiered support network for their single members and any singles who want to attend. Half the people I spoke to attended other area congregations that did not have a similar Bible study group. Why re-invent the wheel though when other churches are willing to share resources,eh?
At FCC on the first Monday night of the month, you will find a group called Nexus that is for the younger, often never married crowd. They primarily meet for a worship celebration. I peeked in, but couldn't take a picture for you without being disruptive. They had candles lit and the lights down low with their acoustic guitars and drums. Good size crowd though.
On every Monday, the Single Parents & Single Empty Nesters meet for dinner, a brief combined time for announcements and a devotional, and then a two different Bible studies. The studies sometimes focus specifically on a singles' issue, but often is a more classic Bible study. They collaborate on social outings, like their recent trip to see the Rockettes in NYC.
Although the Empty Nesters were primarily women, my attendance in the Single Parents group made the number of men & women even.
Dinner was delicious, and compliments of the church. Child care was provided. The folks in attendance were friendly as could be. So if you are looking for just such a place, you should check this group out!
Do you know of any other houses of worship in the area that have active groups for singles?
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Fattening Season
This is a tough season to maintain healthy food choices and to include exercise in your day. I still have stashes of Halloween candy in various corners of my house, and then we had the pie onslaught of Thanksgiving. So many delectables dive into my grocery cart this time of year that I usually avoid. I even think the "holiday cookie" air freshener in my car is making me gain weight.
Of course maintaining your weight becomes increasingly more challenging as you age. More responsibilities crowd potential exercise time, more exhaustion beckons you to the couch.
I'm not sure which is more fattening: marriage or break-up, depression or happiness, stress or relaxation. I suppose it is different for everyone.
One of the problems of dating at mid-life is that you are dating middle-aged people - well, except for those May-December types. So many factors create our bulging waistlines: injuries, illness, lack of motivation.
Now that you are single again,
do you feel more or less pressure to strive for physical fitness?
How important is physical fitness in your dating choices?
Is marriage fattening?
How does your physical fitness level affect your confidence?
Of course maintaining your weight becomes increasingly more challenging as you age. More responsibilities crowd potential exercise time, more exhaustion beckons you to the couch.
I'm not sure which is more fattening: marriage or break-up, depression or happiness, stress or relaxation. I suppose it is different for everyone.
One of the problems of dating at mid-life is that you are dating middle-aged people - well, except for those May-December types. So many factors create our bulging waistlines: injuries, illness, lack of motivation.
Now that you are single again,
do you feel more or less pressure to strive for physical fitness?
How important is physical fitness in your dating choices?
Is marriage fattening?
How does your physical fitness level affect your confidence?
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