Singled Out

Hey! I know it's been a while. I've been lazy. Not too lazy because my roomy and I did our spring cleaning today (okay, so it's closer to winter but does it really matter!?)

I read this article today on a website I visit often enough.

Here it is: http://www.thesoko.com/thesoko/

Now for the article. It's title is exactly the title of this post. Read on fellow single friends and enjoy! I love the points she makes. Especially the last line!

________________________________________________________

Flying Solo in the Face of Clichés Singled Out in The Soko
In this new column on TheSoko.com, Lyra Pappin takes us into her life as a single girl... and no guys, she doesn't want to give you her number.

People always ask me why I’m single. There are a lot of reasons, and they’re valid! Good ones! Non-threatening even. So why do I always feel like I’m on trial when I’m asked?
Single people are defensive about being single, married people are defensive about being married, everyone is defensive about their education, jobs, likes and dislikes. I’m tired of it – I’m tired of caring and I’m tired of people asking WHY. Although all of these irritations have irked me at one time or another, what I am most sick of is pleading my case for being single. What is the big deal? Why are we so hung up on this?

Maybe part of the problem is that we engage in too much over-analyzing, critiquing and judging. Does this mean I will stop analyzing, critiquing and judging? Hell no. That would probably take a miracle. Or as others would put it, love. I’ll be Honest True love. Right. Today I’m skeptical, other days I might be more open to it, but on either day, I still feel almost guilty about considering my opinions and views on relationships. It’s like I wish I were beyond it or something. But isn’t that crazy? The truth is that no matter how many important issues are going on in the world, and no matter how hard you try to eschew all those little things that seem trivial and superficial, you can’t deny that love does indeed make the world go ‘round. Well, maybe for some.
For others, there are more options. Or at least others have the ability to prioritize. I’m not promoting the existence of a solitary, miserable world full of loveless unions and strictly rational, heartless approaches to our daily dealings but some logic and intellectualizing might not be so bad.

Why am I Single, you ask?
Everyone seems to want some explanation or reason from those who are single. Did I just break up with someone? Am I looking for a new relationship? Have I been to this great new bar where all the guys are? NO. I haven’t. Is it so revolutionary to propose that it’s not a woman’s top priority to snare a man?

Another cliché I’m sick of is the sweet, victim-y single gal trying in vain to put herself out there and give it a shot! Except that, my oh my, the world is one crazy place and I’m just a wide-eyed doe, unable to cope.

I don’t know who is, but I am certainly not leading a whacky life filled with amusing anecdotes like splitting my pants while dancing or having food stuck in my teeth while tripping over a black cat on my way to meet a man who ends up being gay, into S&M or married. And I certainly wouldn’t be happier if I were unlucky enough to suffer through that nonsense.

Life as a Single Girl
My actual life as The Single Girl is not that episodic. Strange things happen, yes; there are ups and downs, for sure, but I have next to no interest in defending my single status or breaking my back trying to change it.

Why isn’t it okay to be single? I don’t have an answer to that. I have been single for much more time than I’ve been in relationships, and obviously both have their pros and cons. I am just as interested in being in a loving, committed relationship as the next guy or girl, but I do not think all this whining, worrying and scheming to trap someone is worth it.
If we’re all being honest with ourselves, all the primping, prep and love advice from faceless folks and Bridget Jones are traps. Whether it’s keeping your mouth shut about religion, sex and politics on the first date, not telling her about your obsession with football on the phone or rehearsing interesting anecdotes, it’s all a bunch of clichéd nonsense meant to hide who you truly are and hope you can fool someone long enough to get them interested in you.
That’s just how the system works.

But let’s not kid ourselves. I do it too – how can we not? If anyone out there is convinced that they portray themselves 100% honestly to future lovers, congratulations. I’m not sure I buy it, but clearly, you are a superior evolutionary being. For the rest of us, I have some distinctly non-Bridget Jones advice for you: accept it and move on.

My Kind of Single
Let’s all try to stop pretending that we aren’t always willing to put ourselves out there. We’re not just naturally buff, thin, hilarious, and brilliant. These things take work. Big secret – big deal! And do you know where there is a wonderful opportunity to learn and develop? The single life.
Being single does not mean crying nightly and enviously glaring at couples, it means a lot of things, but the real perk is doing things on your own, for yourself. I didn’t always love it, but after being in relationships that definitely didn’t work out, being single again was like taking a breath of fresh air, and I don’t plan to stop breathing any time soon.
It’s not something anyone should have to defend. I don’t want to go to dinner parties or work and have people ask me why I’m single or if I have a boyfriend, as if that would somehow make me more stable, valid, interesting, or “normal”.

The World as we Know it
Although I think these questions are often innocent, the mentality they stem from seems rooted in a deeper, societal stance that it’s not normal to be okay on your own. Take the US election and even Canada’s election of a conservative government. There are so many moral debates raging in the world, but what is constantly emphasized? “Family” issues and protecting them. Let’s make sure it’s safe for our sons and daughters to get married and have babies – then everything will be a-ok!

The so-called “family” issues are imbedded in our minds as THE most important moral concerns. I beg to differ. There is much more to life than propagating the species.
Before I get carried away here, let me make it clear that I realize and understand that single people aren’t the saviors and saints of society and family life is important. I know. I also know that the search, nay – hunt for love isn’t always what brings us love, or happiness.

We need to break free of the notion that being single is a curse or something to pity. You can get a lot done while you’re single and have a good time doing it too. I hope to continue this when and if I do meet someone who truly enriches my life, but for now, I’ll just keep doing things for myself, by myself. I heard it’s a great way to meet men.
Just kidding.

A nice night for a walk

Went for a walk with Jeff (my roomy) tonight and really enjoyed it. We walked for 1h 40min. Jeff brought his camera and we managed to get quite a few good shots. And blogger seems to be co-operating tonight so we'll see how many pics I can upload.

This looked really disgusting, and god knows what's growing in there but at the same time it looks neat. That's right people, it's moss infested water. (or something rather)

And this berry picture is my favorite. Jeff took it and it turned out sooo nice. It's actually on my background right now =)

There he is...the roomate. We brought his camera and took some pretty good pics. And ladies, this handsome blue eyed guy is single. Let me know if you're interested!

Lately I've been taking so many pics with other people's cameras and let me tell you....I miss it. It seems that all my friends LOVE to pose for pictures, funny or not. Jeff on this bench was halarious. We were trying to take it while no one was around. We literally took the picture, he jumped up and we kept walking so "no one would know". I love taking pictures!!

I think I might hint for a camera at Christmas. Oh I'm sneaky eh? Considering my brother and Dad have been reading my blog!! Well that's all Blogger is letting me post for tonight. So, I'm gonna call it quits. It'll prolly take 2 months before I can post any other pictures....!

Morning Surprise

Oh have I got a funny story. Let me set this up for you. My roomy and I are also co-workers. We spend a tonne of time together yet we still get along. Actually, I almost kinda miss him when he's not around. So, part of our job is to go in the field and be away from the office. I have been stuck indoors all summer taking care of summer students. I'm itching to be out again.

So as usual, the crew at work tease me on their way out and say their goodbye's. Jeff left and that was that. About 15min later I get a phone call. It's Jeff and the first thing he says to me is "Caroline I had to come home.....I had to shit". Right away my reply was "Jeezus Jeff....do you really have to call and tell me that". Then he said "Oh no....something happened...just wait till you hear this one!". So, I get ready to hear a Jeff story. If you knew him, you'd know something totally bizare happened and only stuff like this happens to him.

So, the tells me he had to go home to relieve himself. Then as he was about to start reading his book and something sorta grazed him from inside the toilet! He looked down and thought I had left a surprise in the toilet and was totally grossed out. Until, he realised whatever was in the toilet was actually moving!! Then he asks me if I'm ready to hear what it is. I doubtfully ask what it was and to my horror he tells me it was a friggin' bat!!!!!!

Oh yes ladies and gents, he was not kidding. I was howling at work I was laughing so hard. He kept saying "It bit my left nut and then I ran out of the bathroom tripping on my pants because they were still around my ankles!". Even though he never got bit it was a pretty scary thing to have to go through. He just shut the bathroom door and left it there until we were both home.

I didn't believe him at first but when I got home I didn't even want to step foot in the house. I was grossed out beyond belief. We used to have TONS of bats at the cottage and I hate them. They are the most ugly animals ever. So anyways, we both get somewhat brave and open the bathroom door. There it was in the toilet and had drowned itself. Ugh. I still get shivers thinking about it in there. So, thats my story for now. Just when you think your house is a safe place away from animals think again!! I figured it was 1 in a million shot so we went out and bought lotto tickets. So far we've won two free tickets. Keep your fingers crossed!!

Yay...! Pics!!

So here's a few pictures from my weekend in Timmins. I have more but blogger wouldn't let me add any more than 4. So here goes. This is one of the polar bears Raina, Lisanne and I visited in Cochrane. They are such amazing creatures. They may have become one of my new favorite animals. They move freely in the water and make it look so easy to swim.

We had no idea who's kid this is but it was a cool shot so I took it anyways. It was as if they knew people were trying to take pics and they kept coming to the window. They didn't stop eating the entire time!

No more food so it was time to get out of the water and go chill by the trees.....

The next is a shot Raina took on our day Sunday. She was trying hard to get some candids and she finally got a good one. I like this one...Raina had us in stitches she's so crazy!

And that's all Blogger will let me load. So, until next time...

My Weekend in Timmins

Where to start!? I had a blast. I haven't laughed that much or that hard in such a long time. I got home late wednesday night and sorta laid low. Chatting with the parents and brother for a little bit and went to bed.

This was how the rest of my week went
Thursday:
Go to old workplace to get aunt for lunch and chatted for a while
Visited family friend who broke foot
Went for lunch finally
Went shopping
Went to a 1 1/2 workout class
Had dinner
Went shopping again
Watched a ball hockey game

Friday:
Cottage party at a friends. Oh I love cottages!!

Saturday:
Got ready for our big trip to Cochrane
Bought expensive pots at Sears that were on sale and visited Raina's Mom that was working
Went to Cochrane with Raina & Lisanne
Watched the polar bears and toured around the Heritage Buildings with all these old antiques
Contemplated skipping out on visiting an old friend but then went to his parents to get his new addy
Chatted with the parents for 2 hours
Visited old friend, met his girlfriend and saw pics of the new baby-to-be
Went for dinner at a truck stop that has the best food ever
Went back to Timmins, uploaded the pics to a cd and checked out Lisanne friggin' awesome jewelery making.

Sunday:
Spent the day with Lisanne and Raina. We acted like goofs and did some funny stuff. That is going to stay hush though cause we are morons! Had a lot of laughs
Went for ice cream and bumped into Raina's Nana.
Sat and chatted with her and her friend for a bit
Went to my parents for the bbq & celebrated 2 bdays
Packed and got car ready to go

Monday:
Drove back to Ottawa. Left at 6am to beat the crazy long-weekend traffic!!

I have a bunch of pics that I'm hoping do upload on blogger. I hear it's been pretty crazy on here. Hopefully I can get a few of the polar bears......amazingly huge animals...and can they ever run!!!!!

Blogger sucks....won't let me post pics right now..ugh!

Back at the Gym

God good I've been such a lazy ass the past month. Had no motivation what-so-ever to get to the gym. So, I signed up for my class I had been taking before. It's my motivation to force myself to get to the gym. If I'm paying for it,I'll go.

This class is awesome. Better yet, the instructor is the best! She's so motivating and when I told her I couldn't make it next wednesday her response was "come on Monday, you paid for 6 session, you're gonna make it to 6 sessions". Love that!

OMG. Jeff had people over yesterday. We drank, had a BBQ and the misquitos were BAD. I'm covered and so itchy right now. Trying hard not to scratch. Afterbite only works for a little while! ARGH! And I'm tired...up till 2, fell asleep around 3 and woke up at 6:00am.

Okay, so I'm really close to posting something that I've waited a long time to post. I have to do something first and then I can post it. But I don't want to jinx myself so I'm waiting. I can hint ....nothing wrong with that!

Shopaholic

Did some major shopping last week. Loved every minute of it and needed to do it BAD. I needed clothes! I got 4 pairs of pants, 3 shirts, a jacket, shoes and I think that's it! The sales girl was nothing but great. She just kept bringing me stuff, even stuff that was still in the back because they just got it in that day! And when I wasn't sure about something she'd give me her honest opinion. Gotta love that, especially since I went shopping alone! I do believe she probably gets a chunk of change from each sale so she definitely made some money with me.

Now I'm sittin' around watching Rockstar Supernova. Not bad at all. Our little friend Lukas....I love him and hate him all at once. Weird, but there's something about him I like.

That's it for now!