How To Rope Men Into Doing Stuff For You
The main tenets of Man Whispering involve knowing what the real issue at hand is; learning how to phrase your requests in a way that is non-threatening to your man, learning to “zip it” so that your man has a chance to “fix” the problem, and then learning how to reward your man for completing the task in a way that makes him want to do it over and over again in order to please you. You are learning to bring the “good guy gene” out in your man to ensure that your relationship runs smoother, sexier and that everyone is happy.
Dog Love
A single woman who cuts my friend’s hair told him that as long as she’s with her dog, she doesn’t feel lonely. With the exception of major holidays, I feel the same way.
Image: Pink Dog by Antonio Ladrillo
What Shoes Did You Wear Today?
In yesterday’s Times, I read with envy and a little shame about Olivia Kim. She’s the stylish Vice President of Opening Ceremony, a trendsetting design company and retail outlet, with stores in Tokyo, New York and Los Angeles. The column tracked Olivia’s outfits for an entire week, including her Balenciaga motorcycle jacket, Miu Miu floral bloomers, Chanel classic mini-purse (really want one!), and Prada square-toed Oxfords. I glanced down at my no-name sweats and flip-flops, which have both seen better days, and thought back through all the ragtag clothing that I’d worn this week. What about you?
Image: Her Taste in Shoes by Brad Phillips
Emily Dickinson’s To-Do List
Monday
Figure out what to wear—white dress?
Put hair in bun
Bake gingerbread for Sue
Peer out window at passersby
Write poem
Hide poem
How to Rank Your Facebook Relationships
I’m a geek, and switched over to the new Facebook profile as soon as it was launched. I have some minor gripes, but none worth mouthing off about. Except for this one change that cut me to the core. The new “relationship” interface has three tiers. The first tier is your “relationship status,” and if you’re married or with a significant other, that shows up first. Second tier is “family,” as in Grandma or Dad. And finally third tier is “friends.” I hate the visual hierarchy which can’t be switched. Sorry, but for a new media company, this is very old school. My friends ARE my significant other AND my family, and I want them ranked right on top.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: 12/23. Thanks to Christina Campbell for starting a petition on Facebook, urging them to change the relationship status to a write-in field. Please sign and spread the word.
Response to Black Swan Mania
Have you caught the new movie, Black Swan? I should be running to see it, given the hours I spend in ballet class. Maybe it’s the phrase, “psychosexual thriller” that’s turning me off. Or skepticism that Natalie Portman (whom I LOVE) could step in without years of training to play a principal dancer in a major ballet company. Hope she’ll prove me wrong. Let me know what you think.
Illustration by Milly Freeman
Mapping Out a Christmas Strategy
Last December, my go-to friend with whom I’d spend loads of time, met the love of his life, and upended my Christmas. It had taken me years to hone the perfect holiday – an afternoon blockbuster movie at Arclight Hollywood, followed by dinner at home in front of the fire. It’s not that the newbie couple didn’t want to participate (and they did) it’s that I didn’t relish feeling like a lonely, envious, third wheel (which I was). Fast forward to today, where I’m much better prepared. Dinner and a movie is still the plan, the happy duo is still on board, but this year, I’m inviting more friends to fill in the seats.
Image: Woman with Face Net, Maira Kalman
Browsing Online for Holiday Bargains
This painting, 6.99, is a collaborative piece by Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol from 1985. Forget cyber shopping. If you’re lucky enough to be in Paris right now (like my good friend, Matty) go see a retrospective of Basquiat’s exhilarating work at the Musée d’Art Moderne.
Is It Harder to Be Flexible When You’re Single?
As a former dancer, I stretch every day. I’m convinced that being limber is the secret to long life, or at least a life staying upright. But being flexible with others is another story. When it comes to making group decisions (where to eat, what movie to see, how high to keep the heat, which political party should be in power), I don’t like to compromise. This could be an outcome of singleness, or simply a question of temperament. In any case, it’s a good muscle to exercise. Maybe tomorrow.
Image: Dancers, 2010, by James Jean
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FIRST PERSON SINGULAR is a guide to surviving, thriving and sometimes just getting through a single day. Created by Wendy Braitman (more…)
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