Assertiveness v. Old Fashioned Chivalry

Over the last couple of years I've found myself in this interesting and yet sometimes frustrating dilema. It's not really a dilema, as if I'm paranoid or always thinking about it, more just as the case arises. So, here's my ponder and what I mean by the title.

For some years now it has been much more common for women in this day and age to be the first to be the initiators in a relationship. Or, in lay-mens terms, to ask a guy out on a date, as opposed to waiting for them to do the deed. I've often struggled with this, being a christian woman and really wanting to hold on to the old fashioned principles of the man taking the initiative. But, on the other hand what comes up in my head is this:
Does the guy think it's a date if you casually ask them to hang out when you're just getting to know them? and When is dating, dating, and when is it just a guy and a girl hanging out. Is it automatically considered a date when the guy pays, or if nothing has been said between them, is it just a nice gesture as a friend? I suppose it gets tricky though as well... because if the girl really is interested in the guy then she would hope it's a date, but if nothing is ever said then maybe it's just one of those unknown's and you find out later. I guess it's all in the getting to know you stages, and you have to just wait it out. Appreciate the gesture and not think much into it unless he says something more.
So, that brings me to another thing, if the girl tries to bring up, "so what is this"(if it hasn't been defined)... is that taking away the man's right to be the Chivalres guy he deserves to be? I don't know, maybe we as women have to be more patient and know that it's in God's perfect timing... but geez I've heard that line so many times... I believe it, but it's not something I love to sit and think on.
You see, I think that women my age have it harder these days because the lines are no where to be found anymore. Do guys expect the girl to do more initiating in the beginning now, or always... does that set a precedent then when you're in the relationship. I don't know, I don't have a huge opinion one way or the other, I just wonder what others think.

So, I know that it has to be really hard for men to go out on a limb and take a risk, so I really understand. But, somewhere I've got to believe there are still guys out there who want to do the Knight in Shining Armor thing... lately I think they've gotten easy with all the assertive women out there... Or maybe that's just outside the lines of christians? I don't know...

Well, this is coming from a girl who really hasn't had any official relationships, and really I've never had the chance to say yes or no... okay well once I dated the boy I went to prom with for two weeks, but he doesn't count, we were both caught up in the moment. So, this is why my wonderings are so non-concrete, if that makes sense.
This has been rolling around in my head for so long(and I think of it in such randome times), I just decided to blog it and leave it here. If I hear nothing, then owell. :) Atleast I've pounded it out of my head now and forget about it:).
bye for now...

Finding Neverland

What an amazingly well done movie. I had been hearing such differing opinions on this one and now I can understand why. I think some people just don't know how to enjoy an artfully dramatic kind of movie, they just don't know how to integrate the beautiful imagery into the story and how it really plays a big part in how you understand the movie. If you let it in, it can take you deep into the heart of what they were trying to get across. That's my "artist" hat speaking. I just loved the story too. My mom works at a Senior Housing developement and plans activities for the residents and this happened to be one of the movies they watched once. She said it was the first time she had more than a couple of them in tears. I guess there were about 10 who were brought to tears. It makes sense, being they are older and probably often wonder about death. I could see it being an inspiring or possibly motivating movie for them. If you haven't seen it I don't want to go into detail, but you'll understand when/if you do/have.

Props to Johnny Depp as well... that man has deserved an oscar so many times, I wonder if he'll be one of those older actors who never won an award but did phenominal jobs each time. He is just so versatile and really "gets" the role he's playing you feel like that's really him as if there is no difference between his acting and his real life person. Not to mention his boyish charm and good looks. Who can resist him? :) tee hee

Well, that's my blog for this week... later ya'll

NEW COLDPLAY SINGLE!!

Hey you all should check out coldplay.com... if you become a member of the site, you can listen to their new single. It's the same good coldplay fashion... i think the mix is a little rough yet, but I do like it... I'm very excited for the new album... i just love their stuff... as I've blogged on about before.
later...
check em out.... READY GO!

New Blog

Hi Friends,
I've made a new blog called Haiti=Love. It's for my journaling prep and then when I get back I will post some exerpts from my journal when I was there and then process after. Just thought I'd let ya know about it on this one, instead of sending another mass email. Even though not many people probably look at this one to begin with. Maybe it will be a good thing to put in the thank you letters that go out, then others can look and read more experiences. Anyways... that's all for now. Pretty informational blog.
Have a great blue-sky sunny day!
Oh yeah, so the url for the new blog is on my profile, but also you can go to: www.haitijournal.blogspot.com

Chi-Town (pronounced shy-town) :)

I just love Chicago. Spending the weekend there really made me realize that in general I really love the city. Of course, who doesn't love just sitting and relaxing in the country or someplace serene... but really I just love the buzz of cities and Chicago has a great "buzz." There are parks all over and best of all, though not an ocean, Lake Michigan is right there. I've yet to even get to the Field Museum and Arts Museum(maybe one in the same, i don't remember?), and I still just love it. (back to lk michigan) It just totally reminds me of an ocean, sandy beach and volley ball nets up... sidewalks to walk/run/bike/rollerblade on... and the view of water and city simultaneously. It's beautiful! Not to mention they have a great clothing store that has very descent prices, which I am all about... it's not your typical "old navy" or "gap"... way more unique... H&M is its name and it originates in Europe... so all the clothes are actually made in Europe.
anyways... i need to sleep... but one last thing.
If you haven't seen The BlueMan Group... you should. It's awesome... like nothing you've ever experienced before. I won't say much more about it, because it's the best if you go into it knowing nothing.
I'm outie... later folks!

Sounds

For the past couple days I've had my window open here at work and today I noticed something I hadn't before. We never really stop and think about how our surroundings really sound. Maybe some people do, but usually we just hear one annoying sound and then close the window or just one thing sticks out. Well, today I was just taking in all the sounds of downtown Anoka. It made me think of Haiti, because when I'm there I tend to sit and really take in everything. I notice the sounds the trucks make, and the honking of horns, dogs fighting, chickens squabling or just making their chicken sounds. So, this morning it is interesting because right now I hear some big trucks going by, Metro Transit buses, dogs barking, and kids playing at the near-by school yard. Some sounds are different, some the same, I just never stopped to take it in before. And really, it only took a couple minutes to notice, we're so time driven here it's like we can't take time to notice the small things. So, I'm going to try and make a habit of doing that more, especially as I prepare to go to Haiti.
I hope everyone is having a nice Tuesday!
bye!

Yay for Online Banking :)

I really don't like math, have I ever told anyone that? Of course I have... so every time I sit down to do my checks and balances it's a huge chore. Sure, I can add and subtract and most times multiply and divide :)teehee, but when I'm not good with writing all my activity down (which has been the case as of late), it screws everything up and makes one giant mathematical headache. What is nice now about banks is that most of them have online banking. That worked well so I could know most everything was entered, except for the few recent checks I've written. But, I screwed up something way before all of that, so it still didn't help me much :(. So, I'm assuming I can trust that number the bank gives me online, and just subtract the most recent things I know haven't cleared, but now what do I do with my checkbook? I feel like just opening a new checking account and starting from scratch. That might be the easiest way to solve my current headache...
So, thanks to all those banks and their online banking... it is something I put off for awhile, but finally got smart and hooked myself up to it... not like I had to pay for it, so why not! :) It's kind of cool too, because with Wells fargo, they try to categorize your spending so you know can see where you put most of your money.
That's all for tonite... asta la vista-

Sleep and Computers (i don't know what to call it)

Why is it that I can be soooo tired, but still be able to function enough to type and waste time on my stupid computer. I mean, it's really not stupid, I really love my iMac. I'm super thankful for it, but sometimes it can suck me in for far too long. I really only mean to do one quick thing, and BAM an hour has passed. I think it's that I get side tracked... keep thinking of things I could do, like this. Read blogs and post them... because it is interesting to see what my friends have to say, but gosh darn it, I get sucked in and like I said... minutes turn into hours real quick! Owell... this was a boring blog... but i've decided it doesn't really matter... it's whatever i want it to be.

good night to whomever may read this!

CCM Ad!

Well, I've got to brag a bit... it's rare that I brag a lot about achievements, etc. And, this isn't that big of a deal, but this month's CCM magazine features a band from Mpls. named "Shofar" and I created a full page ad that is running in it. When I first started my design job I always dreamed of creating artwork that would end up on a shelf somewhere. In the past five years I've been there, the dream has become less and less important to me. I think it comes from working in the field so long, you realize that no matter if it gets to the shelf or not, you've still produced a work of art. And in this case, I don't have any control of getting it on a bookshelf, that's the band's job. :)
All that to say, it's still an achievement nonetheless and it's kind of cool. So, if you happen to be at your local christian bookstore, you might want to pick up April's issue of CCM and page through to about the middle (it's in the INDIE SPOTLIGHT pages) and check it out!

Have a wonderful night/day/morning... whatever the case may be.