Best Date.. Worst Date

Scenario #1
Guy comes to pick me up. He takes me skating on this little pond at a park right below the Logan temple. Then he takes me back to his Apartment and makes me an amazing dinner. We played a couple of games with his roommate and his date when they got home. I won every game!

Scenario #2
He picks me up we go to Wendy's and order off the dollar menu. We go to a huge pet store and spend an hour or more just looking around. Finally we went to a hockey game where I froze and he cheered like crazy for the opposing team. We went back to his place and ate apple jacks from the bag and watched British TV.


So the question is which one of these dates is the best date of my life and which is the worst?

#1 was the worst. The guy had watched me fall on the ice all night and never offered to help me up. Our dinner at his place was awkwardly quiet. And he would get really mad when I would win the games we played. When he dropped me off at the end of the night I said thanks and booked it back to my apartment. He had to sit there while his roommate kissed his date goodnight.

#2 was the best. I loved my Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger, and he loved all like 8 of his. I loved that he could be himself with me. On great dates I am normally too happy and excited to eat much anyway and I didn't have to feel bad about it. He could tease me too. He would say things like "I think I can splurge for one more burger," or "You are hot enough to eat two you know." When we went to the pet store he could "protect" me from the snakes and spiders and junk but at the same time show his sweet side when he fell in love with a puppy. I always freeze at hockey games but I don't ever want to wear a sweatshirt (he brought one for me) because I want to be attractive. So that is my own dumb fault. And it's cool he cheered for the other team. It was his alma mater and they were the home team. I loved it that he was enjoying the game as much as me. Finally I love British TV and that things were comfortable enough that we could end the night really by just doing a lot of nothing.

The difference really wasn't in the choice of activities. Scenario #1 really seems much more romantic, and was certainly much more expensive. Dates don't have to be about spending money. They should be about getting to know each other. About seeing if you are compatible when it's just the two of you. And heavens I don't want you to spend a fortune on me. If dating is an interview for eternity then it would be more reassuring to know you are wise with your money. There are so many things you can do without spending any money. Going for a walk is one of my favorites. You can go on a Sunday walk, a hike, a walk downtown and window shop, walk around a flea market, or just your neighborhood.

The other big difference in these dates was the level in which I felt he cared about me. The first guy didn't want to be a gentleman, he didn't want to get to know me, and he couldn't stop thinking about himself enough to be okay with me winning a game. It left me wondering why he even asked.

Photo tagged... get excited!

Here's what you gotta do: Take pictures of the following things just as they are. (no stopping to clean, straighten or to wipe a child's nose): The kitchen sink, the fridge, the toilet, the closet, the laundry room, your favorite shoes, your favorite room, and your kiddies (or pets). No cheating! Then post them on your blog and tag someone else!

My candy jars were raided! No chance to restock! Or apparently to do the dishes.

I posted the inside and outside of my fridge, it's too bad you can't see the picture my little bro drew of me. It is really really scary. There are also a lot of pictures that Katy's clients drew for her and lots of wedding invites.

Oh no I am almost out of Diet Coke! Time to go shopping!

Hayley Tagged me and oddly enough I think we have the same shower curtain! My bathroom is kinda boring. Sorry!

My closet is fairly messy. Shame you can't see the pile of shoes spilling out of the closet.

My laundry room. I am in the middle of doing laundry, blankets from the 4th and swimsuits and towels from the river yesterday. There is an I-Pod player in each room of our house. This one is a lamp too!

My favorite shoes! I couldn't pick! The red ones are my favorite everyday shoes. They go with more than you might think. The heels make me look sexy and well my husker slippers are my very favorite thing to put on my feet ever!

My favorite room is my bedroom because my bed is the most comfy bed in the entire world! I wish I was able to spend more time here but life sure gets in the way of sleep

There we are... My house... Tag! You're it!

A little advice... Not that I know anything... or anything.

I spent a good deal of time last night giving a friend the following advice:

I know it is hard to be a guy in the dating game. You have to make all the moves and although as boys you hate to admit it you are sensitive to rejection.

You have to just go for it! Sorry.

But here is what I told him. A girl who is not interested will not only not give you the time of day but will go out of her way to avoid contact with you. But you are thinking what if we are just good friends? That happens too. Three of my very best friends in the world are guys whom I don't date. But we are good enough friends that we know that and are very comfortable with it. No hurt feelings, in fact I feel safe around them. It is nice to know they can be upfront and honest with me. It is also nice to know I have guys who would literally kill a man who treated me wrong.

So if there is a girl out there you think is hot, or classy, or funny, or adorable, ask her out! If she didn't want to spend time with you she.... well she wouldn't spend time with you.

One more piece of advice:
You need to do the asking because if what you want is a girl with "old fashioned" values. You have to start the relationship with them. If you want a woman who respects you as a man you have to be one from the beginning. You be the boy she'll be the girl. In a world where that is getting so twisted lets treasure it.

And girls... don't go just because you feel bad! That isn't fair to either of you. And don't think one date means he is yours or you are "dating." As my dad put it "it's just means he isn't neutral toward you." If we as girls didn't put so much stock in one date boys might be more willing to take us out on them.. Just a thought.

I ♥ matches!

One of my favorite smells in the whole world is the smell of matches.

ODD?

Perhaps.

In school I spent a good deal of time studying memory and how it works. I could tell you some crazy stuff but right now I just want to focus on one simple thing and that is how strongly memory is tied to smell.

Light a match what does it smell like to you?

Burned wood?

Well that is lame...

To me a match smells like

*24th of July Dutch oven cooking with my mom.
*State Fairs, and the Farris Wheel at night.
*The Vegas strip with friends on spring break
*Concerts, dancing in the front row
*Lighting candles to play truth or TRUTH
*Lolly pants' tin foil dinners
*Christmas candles
*Bonfires in the canyon with my hot pink guitar
*Dad BBQing it up on the deck
*Christmas eve fireworks (the new family tradish)
*Mormon night at the Phillies
*Girl's camp (our was in Nov. so we had lots of fires)
*Gettysburg (they use matches to light the cannons)
*Burning ant hills in the summer cause I thought it was cool
*Bra burning parties in the canyon
*Testimony meeting in green canyon cave
*Roasted starbursts (they are AMAZING)
*Family camping trips (especially Black Water Falls, WV)

Anyway this week spend some time thinking about what memories you recall in response to a smell. Maybe light a match like I did, maybe smell a sample of a favorite perfume or cologne, or bake something that will give you fond memories of childhood. Maybe go out and smell the grass after it is cut. Does the memory of kiss tag and tire swings at recess come to mind? Then Share with me.

My weekend with Linds... but not really

Normally when my life gets stressful I take off and go to see Linds for the weekend. She always makes everything all better and I don't know how the heck she does it. I can't exactly do that anymore and I really needed it this weekend.

It turns out that there is an at home version that will suffice until I can get the time off work to have a for real one.

I started the day out with a Donut and a diet coke. A double D day if you will..

I took a super long bath with lots of bubbles, and candles.

I went and got a pedicure. (turns out I forgot I had a gift certificate.)

I went shopping, I bought the shirt I am sure Linds would have told me to get. It is more her than me but it does look fabulous on me. It's like I could hear her saying I deserved it.

I also bought a pair of shoes she would hate but that would defiantly be part of a weekend with Linds.

I went out for chinese food then came home and watched a movie in my pajamas.

It wasn't exactly the same because well i wasn't laughing until I hurt. But it did make me feel a little better about life in general. Thanks for the good times!

Oh I almost forgot... In order for it to be authentic I also listened to a lot of my favorite inappropriate non-country music. Yes Linds I even put in the summer of 04' soundtrack.

Things the Hall girls heart!

1. Brother Olsen
2. Crazy Whateves Picnics
3. Sarah Jackson
4. Mexican food, Katy / Chinese food, Annie
5. Walks on the greenbelt
6. The whole fam damily.
7. Puppies
8. The Dinkel kids
9. Bro. Belnap
10. Win a Date, and Counte Of Monte Cristo
11. Country Music
12. Relief Society
13. Friday Forum
14. Nitty Gritty Dirt band
15. Road trips
16. Nebraska
17. The Kearney Ward
18. Knitting
19. Non-committal flirting
20. CO

The greatest shopping adventure ever!

When did the DI go down hill? In college we went all the time! I have tons of things from the DI. But me and Katy went the other day to pass the time and we didn't find one thing that was worthy of a dollar! Check out some of the great things we found!

I think Steph might want this lamp actually.

I really really wanted this doll and Katy said no!
I guess it would be better if I just crocheted one for myself.

This is the jelly kind of candle with marbles in it! I wish I knew someone to buy this for!

Holy crap I found some great patterns! You're all getting one of these for your birthday.

Don't forget to pick up your Kenny Rogers CD on your way out!

Okay and I don't know what this is... But you could have it for 4 dollars!