Unfortunately, there is a stigma that thinking too much about dating is a bad thing. However, what I more often see is people making the same mistakes over and over. For those dating, here's a fun challenge for you. Come up with 5 areas you can improve in to help you be more successful in having the ones you like like you back. Here's my 5, with minimal explanation:

1. Confidence

2. Humor

3. (Don't) Interview your date

4. (Don't) Volunteer unnecessary or possibly troubling information

5. Enthuse/Entertain

What's your 5?

Need someone to help with the group? the team? the club? the church thing? I'm here, Mr. Volunteer. Just give me a moment, and I'll come out to that evening meeting, I'll drive everyone to that weekend place, I'll do that one thing at that one place.

Yes, Mr. Volunteer here, ready to be a team player. My own wants and needs? Bah. I just have to help the group! The group will fulfill my needs. All hail the collective!

I was a perfect candidate for team-based brainwashing. Religious? Oldest Son? Immigrant Parents from a Collectivist Culture? Athlete? Labor Union Environment? I check all the boxes to become a mindless drone for your organization.

I feel that I'm finally realizing to what extent this reliance on team has worn me out, and been unhealthy. Being a part of things is good, but there comes a time to quit before being used. There comes a time to stand up for yourself, or to realize that certain teams have outlived their usefulness. We come into this world alone, and we die alone; inbetween, we help each other as best we can, but we are never solely belonging to another. I'm still trying to find the right amount of individualism, but I'm getting there.

A few good blogs lately, because I know it's hard to find people now:

LaytexDuckie went to Beijing and Hong Kong, great photos:

Ed has a great post on Saying No

Crystalinne with a "Did You Know" post

Vi with some great photos of winter

Hope you all are doing well.

I was laughing the other day because a story about a woman accused of drug possession had the most high-looking photo of her possible. At times, news agencies look through your public FB/other sources to find a photo that matches the perception of the crime. So if you were accused of a crime (theft, murder, quirky crime), what photo of yours best fits the crime? I thought it would be funny to post pics that match. For example, if I were ever arrested for creeper crimes, you know this one would be posted:

Yours?

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.