Taking a new job and moving to another state. Yay-ish? Will tell you more privately if you wish.

I was at a church meeting recently, and an old work acquaintance was there. I was excited to see her; I had not known she was a Christian. So I went over there and caught up a little. It was enjoyable. Then after I walked away, I saw that she was alone. Her friend who had brought her had walked away for a moment, and no one was going up to introduce themselves.

I don't know why, but it made me quite upset. I can understand sometimes the reasons why people don't introduce themselves to strangers. But she's a lovely woman, quite friendly...I know this sounds horrible, but you'd think at least a single guy would go over there and introduce himself, "Just in case."

I don't know anymore, it just feels like hospitality is a lost art in my area. I think my heart for the stranger has become much bigger because of living here. It's just a shame sometimes. That's all.

I recently had a light foot surgery. As a result, I have a few blisters on my toes. They gave me a special boot to wear. But I had stopped wearing it. I felt it looked showy. All I have is a few blisters, after all. I can just wear a regular shoe with the insert taken out and it sort of works. Why would I want to wear the boot?

But the fact is...I'm not wearing the boot because I hate admitting that I'm hurting a little. Because I hate getting attention from other people and having to explain that I needed foot surgery, not for some majestic reason, but because I let an infection get a bit out of control and not seeking treatment earlier. I don't want to wear the boot because I hate to admit there's anything wrong, even though there is.

Sometimes I'm still the 16 year old boy who felt admitting any weakness was fatal, who never wanted to ask any questions that betray that I don't know everything. I'm wearing the boot today, and I don't like it. But I need to wear it to heal. Heh. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO SYMBOLISM HERE WHATSOEVER ok maybe not.

Socks wasn't at the game. Sadness! However, I was, and had an amusing time. Here, enjoy my game outfit:

It was a decent ending to 2013, and I was glad to see old classmates. To be honest, it was a bit healing in some ways. Many of my high school memories are bitter; the trip was a good reminder that not everything was as bad as I had remembered.

You should read http://mansonschicks.xanga.com/2013/12/17/i-was-a-suspected-school-shooter/ if you get a chance, very fascinating experience.

Back in the day, I was a balla...that is to say, I mostly sat the bench for my small high school's basketball team until I was a senior. Turns out we're having an alumni game over Christmas break. Sounds like a sitcom, right? Guy in his 30's goes back to his old high school (now closed, mind you, it was a REALLY small school) for an alumni basketball game. We're playing a rival small high school, which makes it even more sitcom-y. My one classmate went to play for them after our original small high school closed down. So he'll be on the other team. So, you may ask, is there anything else that could make this sound any more sitcom-ish? Why yes...

...so I snooped on the rival school's home page, and SOCKS will be there. SOCKS played for the rival high school's lady team. SOCKS wore ridiculous soccer-style high socks with her uniform and generally didn't care about what people thought while she was scoring 15-20 points a game. SOCKS was a freshman when I was a senior, so I only talked to her once for a few minutes. SOCKS is hilariously egotistical (ok, and MAYBE physically attractive in just the unconventional ways I like. MAYBE.)

We're at Sitcom Level ORANGE here, and rapidly zooming towards RED. I apologize to Yes, Dear; Two and a Half Men; and all other mediocre sitcoms for ripping off their storylines. Also if you live in Ohio, you need to come to this night just for the laughs...and SOCKS.

Saw this on a forum and liked it a lot. This is indeed the challenge I and many men face.

There's a new genre of pop sociology that argues that men have to adapt to a new economic world by adopting strengths and attitudes traditionally seen as feminine. Hannah Rosin's The End of Men is a perfect example, but there's many others. They look at all the research indicating that uneducated men are facing dramatically declining financial prospects, and see that women have closed the education gap and are moving quickly to close the economic gap. (Gender inequality in terms of wealth and job status, of course, remains an enormous problem.) A lot of these books and articles argue that men have to develop better "social intelligence"— greater capacity for communication and sensitivity— if they want to succeed.
Similarly, the argument is commonly made that men have to become more comfortable with wives and girlfriends who make more than they do, that we should see the rise of more stay-at-home dads, etc. But research also indicates that men who make less than their spouses are much more likely to be cheated on, much more likely to get divorced, etc. And you've [he was responding to an article] identified emotional and social problems that come with sensitivity and a willingness to communicate in men.
So I don't know. I don't know how you balance what we're increasingly telling men they should do for their own economic good with a growing romantic dissatisfaction with such men. If I know most American men, if forced to choose between financial security or sexual desirability, most will choose the latter every time. It's easy to say that men should be both more sensitive and communicative and tougher and more assertive. But, you know— and a pony. I'm not sure most men can do any of those things, much less all of them.

Have you ever hosted a party successfully? I'm a bit bummed, just had a slight party fail. GIVE ME ALL THE IDEAS.

Read the blog. React; someone has done my friend wrong, and this is a giant shame. Or is it?

One of the mistakes I've made too often in blog-reading is assuming that I know what truly happened. Some people write to gain sympathy or to make themselves look like the good person, of course. But some people, even when telling the truth, have a way of creating a universe that sucks people in and makes them not see the complete picture. So you tell me you're depressed and sad, and I start permanently treating you that way. But that's not a good thing; I'm essentially trapping you in that state, because you've grown accustomed to being treated that way. Make sense?

I think a little doubt is good, even if friends become angry that one asks questions or seeks to understand first. I'm working on it.

So you've decided to work on yourself. Good! Less/more weight, more patience, more wisdom, whatever your choice may be. Here's an interesting question for you. Do you tell anyone? And if so, do you only tell them once, or do you keep them updated?

I have my own viewpoint on this, but think about it and tell me your answer.