Something I started kicking around with Lauren and Matt was the topic of how pumpkins reflect on a person. If you don’t believe me, then you’ve never been to a party where people try to match up the pumpkin with the person, it’s really a fairly easy task. But think about it, the shape, size, attention to detail, patter selection (or lack there of) really is a decent representation of a person. I picked the odd shaped pumpkin this year. I also picked a goofy lookin’ pattern. I think it turned out well, but it was simple and well suited to my ability. Lauren, a pumpkin enthusiast picked a much more complex pattern. Matt picked an evil skull pattern. I think all were well suited to the carver. My point is that pumpkin carving is just another example of actions speaking louder than words.
Pumpkin Personality
Halloween Ho-down
It was a glorious Halloween weekend, and I don’t say that just because I know Matt & Lauren will be reading this. Friday night the two arrived at my place and I got to meet the amazing woman who has converted The Great Dickersonian into a one woman man. She’s a good catch in my opinion and I was glad to see the two of them together. She was also very tolerant and understanding of Matt and I rehashing the past every now and again. Matt had a bunch of Cincinnati related requests for the weekend and they both had a lot of Halloween requests, which made it easy on me as far as planning went.
We had Dunkin’ Donuts (I’m always more than happy to accommodate such request), ate at La Rosa’s, Skyline Chili, and Penn Station. We also hit up a hay ride/ pumpkin patch/ petting zoo/ haunted barn thing on Saturday. The hay ride and pumpkin acquisition was the best part, but even better was all the talking I got to do with the two of them. Somewhere in there we met up with Kyle for some rock climbing and later he joined us for the costumed trip to the Mt. Adams bar scene.
There was sufficient dancing and there were some really great sexy costumes out there. Cow girls always have a special place in my heart, but I also saw a few good looking Poison Ivys. i was pleased to see that no one in my group made the mistake of having a hand prop. These things can easily make an evening miserable because you’ve always got one hand that’s occupied, then you put a drink in the other hand and then how are you going to “accidentally” grab a nice piece of booty as it passes by? My costume had no pockets so I had to improvise, I packed some socks in my briefs and them put the keys and cell phone in there too. It was set to vibrate, but sadly no one was willing to call me.
Today we carved the pumpkins and Matt got into his usual hard hitting, but unique line of questioning that I miss so much. I don’t know if it’s that Matt’s brain works differently than most, or if he likes to get others to think about things they don’t normally think about, but it really gives me insight into myself when he does. I think when I turn the tables on him I learn a lot about him too. I mentioned to him that of all the people I know, I probably can predict his behavior the best because I have such a clear picture of how he operates. His girlfriend, Lauren, I’m only beginning to know, but I can see why he loves her. I like that she’s willing to fart on his head. That’s important, seriously.
It was a great weekend and I was glad to spend so much of it with the both of them. I hope that my path crosses theirs more often in the future.
Why There?
I can’t girow chest hair to save my life, and now I know why. My body has prioitized hair growth on other areas of my body. Before your mind wigs out I’m not talking about on my neither regions. No, the hair has decided that it needs to grow on my nose. Yes, on, not in my nose. So I shaved the top of my nose the other day. Of all the places… why there?
P.S. Strippers smell amazing.
Predictability
Thinking about relationships, not just dating, what makes them successful is the level of predictability that the other party exhibits. Thinking back to my very first friend, John, everything was ok until the day he snapped and chased me around my yard spitting on me. It was just one fight, I could have gotten past it, but more than anything he now was unpredictable in my head.
I read somewhere that by being predictable people come to expect you to behave within those implied bounds. The scary part is that you limit a person. The bonus of course is that you unconsciously come to trust that person in a whole new way. You become comfortable and open up more than you would have otherwise making any step outside those bounds all the greater violation.
The longer someone stays in those bounds the more comfortable one can become around him/her, the deeper the relationship. It’s tough when someone shakes up their image and you have to readjust your perception. The longer someone remains predictable, the easier they are to like/love. On the other end of the bargain, the longer you delay forming a constrictive perception, or the broader you make your perception the same can be said.
No Fear
This past Saturday was the wedding. Anne C came down a few days early to see me and to go to a job interview in Loveland which is on the North side of Cinci. We went rock climbing with Kyle and his brother Trent. Friday Anne cooked me spaghetti with meatballs and then we hit up Newport on the Levee. We walked across the Purple People [Eater] Bridge and traipsed around in the park. Then off to the Haufbrau Haus for some beer and bench-dancing. There was a crazy old woman who initially was dancing alone, but later found some friends to shake it with. Old people are the best.
Saturday we made the journey to South Bend for the wedding. It was a nice wedding and it was great that it was in South Bend as opposed to Florida where the couple currently lives. The music was just what I hoped for, all the great party/dancing music of yore. What the title of this post is about is the garter toss.
It was the strangest thing I had ever seen. To start things off the DJ told the groom to throw it on the count of three… “One! Two! Two and a half!” … and the let it go but not very far realizing his preemptive launch. Even so, I was surprised that no one went for it. So they had him relaunch it. This time it was a good throw, but all the guys in the firing zone stepped back and let it fall to the ground.
After my moment of shock and horror realizing that no one was going to get it I dove to the ground claiming the garter as my own. Sadly there was no putting the garter on the leg of the bouquet catcher, so I wore the garter on my arm the rest of the evening. It just boggles my mind that if you don’t want to catch the garter, why are you on the floor in the first place, and second, who cares if you do catch it? It’s not like the wedding police are going to come to your door and make you get married. The worst thing that could happen is that you do have to put the garter on the leg of the sexy female you just watched catching the bouquet.
But then there was more dancing and more schmoozing with the bride and groom. I really felt good that even the groom’s parents were happy to see I made “the long trip up”. I didn’t think much of it before then, because seriously, if someone can’t plan to drive five hours with four month’s advanced notice, for [what is traditionally considered] a once in a life time event, then that person isn’t the friend you thought he was. Besides, weddings are the best.
Congrats to the two of you! May your happiness remain with you and may you continue to grow together!
