I have a friend in her late thirties who has many friends in the same age group. They are single and looking for life partners but finding that the dating world is not as rewarding as they would like it to be. I have known my friend for several years, and in that time she […]
I’m best before dates, too.
This morning, I had coffee with a new friend and in talking about travel he asked me if I had ever been to Italy. I said that I had, but the most striking memory I had of the place was of the pinching, patting and propositioning that I experienced while walking in the streets. That […]
In August 2007 I was in a serious car accident that caused me to have fractured vertebrae in my neck and a long convalescence. After a few months, my friend Jean asked me what was the lesson that I had to learn from the experience. The following was my response. It will help you in […]
I always took the time to craft an interesting written online dating profile. However, that whole process made me spend far too much time thinking about myself and my appearance. I also had a hunch that time was wasted, and today I was confirmed in that suspicion. It turns out that people only really look […]
I have been travelling with a laptop that is smaller and lighter than my usual laptop, and it has been driving me slightly crazy. At one point I was tempted to throw it out of the window of a high-rise in Chicago. Aside from the fact that I am still familiarizing myself with its capabilities, […]
This is an open letter to all the people on dating sites who don’t post a photo of themselves. Having seen quite a few of these profiles lately, I’m going to tell you the thoughts I have when I see that you have declined to provide a picture. If you are new to the internet […]
I just cancelled a hiking date, and now I feel so much better. I like taking long walks in cities or in parks, alone or with friends, so this event made sense. It was a Match.com Stir event, which means that it was set up to introduce subscribers to each other. It was a good […]
I recently heard two young men comparing their frustrations with job searches. They were both looking for work in the high-tech industries that are ubiquitous in this area, and both were so far unsuccessful. One was particularly outraged because he had submitted an application online, and it had been returned to him, rejected, in less […]
I love poetry that pushes my buttons, triggers my emotions, and wrestles with my contradictions. Even though I read poetry, and I know some people who write poetry and songs, I have never taken a course that helped me to effectively analyze any of it. I have to go with my gut, and I know […]
I recently asked one of my children to search my name online to find out what bubbled to the surface. It turned out to be more-or-less what I expected: my Facebook public profile, some comments I posted in the Globe and Mail, some student feedback on RateMyProfessor.com, and so on. I wanted to know what […]
I signed on again with Match.com. I know, I know. I’ve said “never again” several times already, so I’m pretty much a lost cause, but I’m a slow learner. As before, I signed on with the most practical/affordable option, and I’m on the hook for a three month subscription. It’s fair enough, given the alternatives, […]
I just read a dating site profile of a man who chose to illustrate his page with two pictures showing him holding a dead fish. Think about it, guys. If there were to be a sexual connotation to this, what would that be? Exactly. I’m pretty sure men don’t see the same things in their […]
It wasn’t until the third phone call that he said “I have a confession to make. I’m older than I said in my profile.” “By how much?” I asked. “Eight years. I’m 79. Did you tell the truth about your age?” “Yes, I did.” “Oh, that’s too bad,” he replied.
“You are more proper than I’m used to,” he said. “It’s probably the accent.” I was completely surprised. We had just spent over an hour chatting about our lives, children, houses, jobs, travel, and so on, and I thought we had quite a lot in common. Then, out of the blue he ended our lunch […]
Last year I went to a San Jose Sharks versus Montreal Canadiens hockey game. I wore a teal blue jacket and a baseball cap with “Canada” written on it. I joked about painting one side of my face red and white and the other side teal and black. I have multiple loyalties. Because of that, […]
I signed on to another dating site. It was an accident, I swear! It came about because I joined AARP (American Association of Retired Persons). I did that because they have all sorts of good discounts and good advice on things like health care insurance. I only went to that website because I was looking […]
When I meet a man at a family gathering, he sees me in an atmosphere of comfort that goes back decades. My family members and I know each others’ histories and we know how to tease each other safely. When I meet a man at work, he sees me surrounded by people who know what I […]
The more complex a thing is, the more likely I am to trust it. Things like online statements of understanding, loan contracts, and car maintenance estimates have become the pause before the signature. I don’t usually read them. Some of you will now be saying things like “What idiot would do such a thing?” and […]
As I get ready for my return drive to Alberta next week, I find myself with a quandary. I have a decision to make about where to live in Canada and I’m seeking your advice. I usually have a difficult time making choices, and the more selection I have the more difficult that becomes. I […]
Snowbird of Paradise 