Something Most Single Woman Don't Understand (pt. 2)

The other night I posted part one of my attempt to inform the single female population of how difficult it is for men to ask them out on a date.  I received quite a bit of feedback from you guys, both positive and negative.  In spite of the feedback, I have decided to continue on with my plan to write this in two parts.  However, before I continue, I feel like I should remind you all that this post is not intended to belittle the female perspective, and its only intent is to shed some light on what myself and other men have to go through on a daily basis.

In part one, I addressed five simple things that single women could do to help single guys out.  When I wrote them, I kind of had this idea in the back of my mind that my tips were actually basic principles of common courtesy...turns out I was wrong.  In fact, I got quite a bit of negative feedback for tips #2 & #3.

Tip #2 said, "2. DO NOT LIE TO MAKE HIM FEEL BETTER...this will only get his hopes up, and then you'll have to go through this again."

The argument proposed to me was that lying is sometimes a necessary evil, and useful for telling guys no.  I was told, girls lie to me so my feelings won't be crushed, and I was told girls would rather lie than be honest in the event of an undesirable man asking them out.  Well, ladies, I understand why this may seem like the better/easier way out of a bummer situation, but I don't think lying is the best answer.  To shed some light on the male perspective, when you lie to me and make me feel okay about you shooting me down, or if you don't give me a straight answer.  I am going to be inclined to try even harder to win your affections. Which means that you'll have to be honest with me eventually. The need to rise up to a challenge is wired into the framework of every man.  Be honest, and leave no room for the guy you don't like to think he has a chance.  Your words may hurt him in the moment, but I promise you that being honest from the start will do far less damage than letting him get his hopes up.

Tip #3 said, "3.  If you're not sure, don't say no right away.  Think about it for a day or two and then give an answer. Or, say yes and realize that you don't have anything to lose.  You get a free evening with someone who wants to treat you well, and the worst that can happen is you get to know the guy better."

The reaction to this tip seemed to be split down the middle.  Many girls accused me of not being understanding of their need for security. I think that is a very fair argument, however I do understand your need to feel secure, and I am happy to hear my sisters in Christ are being wise about choosing whom they spend their time with.  Other girls stated that pity dates are a waste of time.  I feel like my point was missed.  I realize that I did a poor job of forming and expressing my point, but what I was trying to say was I feel like girls write guys off far too quickly a lot of the time.  I believe guys deserve a little more consideration, that's all...just a little bit of a chance.  Whether that looks like a date, or just a few questions (like an interview), I think we deserve a chance.  After all, we're giving you girls a chance.

All that being said, I think tonight I am going to focus on sharing a few things that guys have to deal with mentally before they approach the girl they've fallen for.

1.  One of the most difficult things for men to deal with is realizing they are falling for a girl.  Not because we don't want it to happen, but because the realization of attraction generates a set of steps that a man must take.  These steps require a lot of commitment (assuming that this guy has any morals), and for most, they are not easy steps to take. Something to keep in mind, ladies, is that not all men are capable of just walking up to you and asking you out because they think you're pretty.  Many decent gentlemen consider your wants, needs, and feelings before approaching you.  I know before I ever approach a woman to ask her if she'll allow me to pursue her, I prayerfully consider whether or not she is a solid candidate.  I do my homework, find out if she's a Christian, and try to figure out from conversation if I'm even the right kind of guy for her.  Falling for a girl can be an exhilarating and nerve racking experience.

2.  Another thing that goes through a man's mind before asking a girl out is a debate with himself over whether or not he thinks he's good enough for this girl.  Now, this may seem like a very selfish thing to consider, but the truth is we're all human, and every one of us has flaws.  Men like to rank things, put them in brackets, and test them against each other.  Consequently, we end up ranking ourselves, and many times we'll think that a girl is out of our league.  The further away we consider her to be, the harder it is for us to approach her...even if we know she wants us too.  You can contribute it to self-consciousness, but I think every man goes through this at some point.  The skewed perception of putting things into a man-created reality of a "dating league" puts a huge damper on our ability to put ourselves out there.

3.  Lastly, it's very easy to get the idea that the girl we like just doesn't want to be pursued.  It seems like a silly thing to say, but the truth is, it is not an easy thing to figure out.  I figure at some point all woman want to be pursued and shown love.  But some men get rejected so frequently and/or consistently that they start to tell themselves that the girl they like probably doesn't even want to be pursued.  Our pride is our most obvious flaw, and our most frustrating weakness.  We'd much rather keep our pride in tact than continue to put ourselves out there to be rejected.  I'm not saying this to make the ladies feel bad for us, but since my purpose is to help shed some light on dating from a male perspective; I think this is something that is true for a lot of men, and something to keep in mind.

There are about a thousand more things I could write about, because girls, when we like you...you're all we think about - an unfortunate disease of the mind if you ask me - but I think I'm going to stop here since Part Two is getting really long.  I don't know if I'm going to write a third part, but it's a definite possibility.

Please feel free to leave as many comments as you'd like here or on my Facebook page.  Add any content you'd like, and ask as many questions as you want...I'll try to respond in a timely fashion.  You all know how much I love to defend my opinions...

-Matt

Something Most Single Woman Don't Understand (pt. 1)

There is one feeling that a single woman will never be able to understand, and for most single men, it's the feeling we wish they'd understand the most - That feeling a man gets when he likes a girl and is about to ask her out on a date. One of the most daunting moments in a man's life is asking the girl he likes if she would agree to spend a little more time with him in an attempt to get to know each other better.  These exclusive conversations are also known as dates, and for some of us, they are one of the most difficult things on earth to acquire.

I think single women need to understand that it actually takes quite a bit of courage to ask them out on dates, and I also think girls need to be a little more sensitive to the fact that whether they like it or not, we're paying them a compliment.  Here are a couple tips for you ladies out there who just don't know how to handle getting asked out by a guy:

1. First of all, be merciful.  If you're going to say no and there's no chance for the guy, at least give him a good reason.  Don't just leave him wondering why you said no.  Be honest, not brutal, but definitely honest.  Keep in mind that he likes you...don't make him hate you.
2. DO NOT LIE TO MAKE HIM FEEL BETTER...this will only get his hopes up, and then you'll have to go through this again.
3.  If you're not sure, don't say no right away.  Think about it for a day or two and then give an answer. Or, say yes and realize that you don't have anything to lose.  You get a free evening with someone who wants to treat you well, and the worst that can happen is you get to know the guy better.
4.  Stop watching movies...Ok, so I know you won't stop watching movies, but seriously, if you expect the guy whose asking you out to be as smooth as a scripted actor; you're setting every man up to fail.  It isn't fair that we're expected to perform at an insanely high level when we're more nervous than ever...
5. We're nervous because we like you...give us a break.

Okay, I'm too tired to keep writing. So, I'm going to follow this up with a little more tomorrow...

-Matt

Much Study Wearies My Body...A Socially Inept Experience

I just came to the realization today that I am an insanely frazzled person when I've been studying.

I've been preparing to take the State Property & Casualty Insurance Exam, and this week I've been hitting the books particularly hard.  As a result, I have not slept well since Saturday, I am having a very difficult time finishing my sentences, and I am unable to answer any non insurance-related questions. It's actually pretty sad how socially inept I become when I'm studying.  I had a run-in with a beautiful girl this morning and was completely unable to make any sense of my words or the things she was saying.  Pathetic.  Yes, this girl is super smart, and her beauty may have phased me a bit.  However, I can only think of one other time this has happened to me (normally I'm pretty suave...minus the superficial part), and it just so happened to be during a time of great stress in my life...mainly school. 

I think the only reason I realized my current state is because I haven't been in school for almost three months now, and for the first time in two years I've been relaxed.  All I know is I feel really sorry for everyone who has had to put up with me throughout the past two years of my academic obsession, and I can't wait to be finished with this exam.  I'm ready to just be myself for a change. Don't get me wrong, learning will always be a part of my daily life, but I am so much happier when I can properly interact with other human beings. Reading and studying are great, but I'm ready to do them at a manageable pace. More like a stroll down a beautiful lane instead of sprint down a treacherous hill.

-Matt

A Sabatical of Sorts.

I know I've been an absent blogger over the weekend, but don't fret.  Fewer blog posts means more interesting content.  I have had a very interesting past 6 days, and have stumbled upon new revelation of my current life status.  Basically, that is short for, I have a plan in the works and I'll let you know about it in a few days. 

I know you all hate it when I write these posts that don't say anything, and for that I apologize sincerely.  Lately, my mind has been very distracted by new things that seem really important, and nothing else that I could write is even remotely interesting.  Oh well, I'll get back to you all shortly...I just have business to attend to first.

-Matt

Reading...

My love for reading is well known amongst my friends and family.  If I could, I would spend the rest of my life at a university; teaching by day and reading in a library or coffee shop by night. Unfortunately, I do not think my dream will ever come true. I've read most of the classics, ranging from Austen to Whitman with a little Conan Doyle, Shelley, Lewis, and Twain wrapped in nicely.  I've read a lot of the great philosophers: Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, Thales, Augustine, Machiavelli, Marx, Kierkegaard, and Nietzsche - to name a few. I have enjoyed a few Christian Authors like: Piper, Driscoll, Graham, Dekker, Ludy, Henry, Zacharias, and even some Chan.  I'm not sure where to begin with more current fiction novels...I've read quite a few.  Some of my favorites are written by: Rowling, Palahniuk, Adams (Douglas), Cussler, Ludlum, Christie, Fleming, Tolkien, and now, Patrick Rothfuss.

It is true that I love to read, and it is also true that I was not always this way.  In fact, I used to think reading a book was a waste of time.  I was the kid who would rather watch the movie of the book when it came out instead of reading the book itself.  Growing up I was lazy. I was focused on playing sports and video games, and school fell right into place behind friends on my list of priorities.  Reading a book was equal to doing the dishes as far as I was concerned.  However, at some point, a change occurred.

I think the book that helped me realize my love for reading was actually The adventures of Huckleberry Finn.  As odd as that may sound, Mark Twain helped me realize that a character can actually be portrayed better in writing than on a big screen.  I found myself lost in Huck Finn's story, and the blatant honesty of the times kept me interested.  Now, this didn't immediately ignite me into a book-aholic, but it did give me a better appreciation for literature.  From there, I began to read my assigned reading more carefully (whether my mother chooses to believe it or not) and then even began to pick up books without being asked.  In high school, I took it upon myself to read everything that Jane Austen had written, and then shortly after that I read The Simarillion followed by everything that Tolkien had written.  I tried to get through all of C.S. Lewis' writings as well, but at the time, books such as The Abolition of Man and Letters to Malcolm were a little too complex.  I eventually finished Lewis in College.  After my Lewis fail, I became interested in short stories and found myself reading E.A. Poe's dreadful poetry, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories.  But the short story phase didn't last.  No, I was too much a fan of fantasy novels.

Now, obviously I'm a fan of Harry Potter, I've read the Eragon books (please don't ask how I liked them), and The Wheel of Time series is pretty much a fantasy buff's standard (Need to read those again).  What can I say, I'm a sucker for an intelligently written, quest-style, fantasy novel.  Right now I'm reading The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, and I'm LOVING it!! (More on this later).  Basically, all of you need to go buy this book and read it right now.

I am now an avid reader and I wouldn't change anything about that part of me.  I'll read anything and, if I was capable, everything.  If there is something you've read lately that you really liked and couldn't put down until the end, please let me know!  I'm always looking for a new good book. =)

-Matt

Valentines Day...

It is that time of year again. You know, the time of year when everything changes to shades of Red,Pink, and Purple. The time of year when single men spend more than they can afford to impress girls who don't know they exist. It's the time of year when we all forget what love is, and allow ourselves to get lost in our infatuation...

Happy Valentines Day, everyone...

Unlike most people, my grievances with this holiday have nothing to do with me being single.  I don't mind being single, I'm happy for all of my friends who are currently in relationships, and I think Valentines Day has a lot of potential to be a good thing for me in the future.

The things I do not like about Valentines Day are as follows:

1. Valentines Day forces more emphasis on to the giving of gifts than it does to showing affection.  Now, I realize that these can be one and the same.  However, as a man, it seems as though my worth is often based upon the extravagance of the gift I can afford to purchase.  What ever happened to writing a hand-made card to your "valentine," or even just spending some quality time with them?  Why does everything have to be over-romanticized, and so dramatic that even Shakespeare would tell a few of my friends to chill out?  I just don't get why "simple" has become "cheap"...a lot of thought can be put into simplicity.

2. Valentines Day encourages infatuation, and calls it love.  This is probably my least favorite thing about today.  Love is something special...duh.  Let me try again.  Love is an emotion that transcends a feeling and is formed in the shape of a commitment.  Is that better? (Feel free to share your own definition).  It really bothers me that just because today is Valentines Day, men and women everywhere will disregard what love truly is for the pleasures of its antithesis. 

3. Valentines Day makes single people feel like crap.  Valentines Day is a day for couples, and it intentionally excludes single people.  Sure you could argue that it is the single person's fault for not being with someone, but that would just prove my point.  Valentines Day is a shallow holiday that causes people to set aside their standards so they don't have to be single.  I don't like it, and I choose not to participate.  For all you single folks out there, have a party.  Forget about the couples and have fun with your other single friends.  There really is no reason to mope...

I have a few more reasons to not like Valentines Day, but I'll let it rest for now.  I'm sure some of you are getting tired of reading this anyways.  I've now been without a better-half for 22 straight Valentines Days, and I am totally okay with that.

Feel free to comment here or on my Facebook page.  I'd love to hear your opinions and rebuttal.

-Matt

Not Concerned...

There are a few things in life that I just don't worry about.  One of these things is what people think of me.  I've learned throughout the years that I'd rather be myself than constantly be worrying about whether or not I'm meeting my peer's standards.  I think it is foolish to be someone you don't like just because everyone else thinks that you should be a specific type of person.  This doesn't mean I don't ever wonder what people say about me when I'm not around.  I think it is only human to wonder how other people perceive me as an individual. However, I make sure that I am not changing who I am just to please the people around me.  I would love it if someone compiled a list of everything that people said about me this past month, but I doubt the information would cause me to change much.  I don't know, I guess I just don't see a reason to worry about other people's opinions of me anymore...I just want to be myself...

-Matt

Singleness Has Been a Great Gift In My Life

Ok, so are you all ready for my take on Valentines Day?  Well, too bad, you're going to have to wait because my tradition states that I cannot post my view(s) on Valentines Day until the fourteenth.  However, I found a loop-hole in my system, and instead of talking about V-day, I'm going to talk about the wonderful gift of singleness *collective groan*...Oh cmon guys & gals, this won't be too bad.

I know this is a touchy topic for a lot of you.  So, my purpose here is not to tell anyone what they should do, but rather, to tell you how singleness has been a very beneficial tool for me throughout my life.  I think sharing a little bit of my story may help some of you understand my perspective on dating & relationships.

I'd like to begin in March of 2008.

During the Spring semester of my freshman year of college, I fell for a girl.  Up to this point in my life, I had never been in a relationship with anyone, and I had no idea what I was doing.  I had remained single all through high school because I didn't think there was a point.  After all, how many high school relationships actually last?  Besides, I was super ambitious and didn't feel like tying myself to someone at such a young age.  At any rate, this girl and I began a relationship.  I can't really call it dating because we never went out anywhere, but we did spend almost every waking moment together.  We liked it that way.  As the relationship progressed, I noticed a serious lapse in my judgment and spiritual life.  She noticed it too, but was too nice to ever tell me.  Her and I made a ton of mistakes along the way, and she finally broke up with me on my 20th birthday.  I have a ton of respect for her for having the strength to call off our relationship.  She is the only girl I can say I ever loved, and I believe that she loved me for a short time too.  It was not easy for me, but life goes on. 

Fast-forward to now.

I've been single for a little over two years now, and I'm a much better person because of it.  Sure I've had my moments of loneliness, and sure I've attempted to pursue a few girls along the way (I'm pretty tactless).  But what I've learned these past two years is that singleness truly is a gift from the Lord.  Not because girls are evil or anything like that, but because being single opens up so many opportunities that people who are involved in relationships miss out on. Before I get too far, let me say that I believe Bible is the infallible word of God. So by default, I believe that "A man who finds a wife finds a good thing" (Proverbs 18:22).  On the flip-side, I think Paul was on the right track when he told the church at Corinth that he wished they could be as he was, single (I Cor. 7:7).  A single man/woman has a far easier time doing ministry because they are void of distraction.  I have experienced this in my life.  The distraction of a relationship was not something I was personally ready for, and it was something that God was not finished preparing me for. 

Singleness in my life has been a time for me to refocus my perspective.  Instead of asking God if a certain girl is right for me, I ask Him if I'm the man He has prepared for her.  I have shifted my focus from what I want to what God has for me.  I'm not perfect, and I still have a lot of desires, but I'm not nearly as irrational as I used to be, and I allow God to be my filter for those desires now.  Being single has been so beneficial for redirecting my focus back onto heavenly things. I have had so much extra time to spend with my brothers at the church, and I have found that I don't really care about whether or not I'm in a relationship anymore.  Sure, it'd be nice to find the amazing woman that I'm going to eventually marry, but I'm done trying to rush/force it.  Being a single man has had its benefits, and right now, it's going to take a pretty amazing woman to pull me away.


-Matt

As an end note, I really want to thank you, Melanie; for having the strength to stand up for yourself and tell me no.  I know that was hard for you.  I know you never read this, and have severed all remaining connection between us, but I am a better man because of you.  If you ever read this, know that I am praying for you and your husband.  I have a ton of respect for you both.

A Tribute and A Short Trip Down Memory Lane

I'm going to be honest, I have now written the introduction to this post 11 times, and I still don't feel like I can do it justice. The reason is because today's post is about a man for whom I have a ton of respect.  He has been my friend for the past ten years, and has helped me get through a lot of really tough things.  I love him like a brother and I'd go to battle with him or for him, any day of the week, for any reason.  This man is my best friend,and his name is Jim Stallings.

Our story as friends began on a bus going from Fort Collins, Colorado to Estes Park, Colorado. It was the CSU, Campus Crusade for Christ, All-Staff Conference, and we were missionary kids. Somewhere about half an hour outside of Rocky Mountain National Park, I made the mistake of mentioning how great I believed Tiger Woods was as a golfer.  I was even bold enough to predict that he would eventually become, and probably was, the best golfer to ever play the game.  As soon as the statement was made, I heard a casual, southern voice, from a few rows back, say, "What about Bobby Jones?"  Well, to be really honest, I had no friggin' idea who Bobby Jones was, but I knew enough about Tiger Woods to defend my position. I found out quickly that this blonde-haired, five-foot-nothing, 13 year old boy took his golf history very seriously.  We went back and forth until the bus arrived at its destination, and then outside of Jim being in my small group that week, I don't remember us hanging out at all, or discussing which ministries our parents worked for.

Fast forward to February, 2002.

My family had just moved into our new home in Maumelle, AR.  The trip down had been awful, and I didn't understand how it could be 55 degrees and sunny without snow in February.  I was busy unpacking boxes when the doorbell rang.  Since my room was the closest to the front door, I answered it.  Standing on our porch -yes, we have a very redneck porch - was a incredibly short, blond woman holding an odd-looking cake and seemed very flustered.  I had never seen her before; however, I found out very quickly that everyone at the ministry knew who I was.  Her name, to me, was and always will be, Mrs. Stallings, and the first words she spoke to me with her high pitched southern  drawl were, "Oh hi dear, you must be Matt.  When we heard ya'll had moved in, I just had to bake ya'll a cake.  Jim is in the car, but he ripped his finger-nail off, so he isn't coming out."  I stood speechless because I had never heard someone with such a thick southern accent, she was 4 foot 11 (in heels), and I had no earthly idea who Jim was.  I had a pretty good clue who he was since he looks so much like his mom, but in the moment, I just couldn't remember.  My mom eventually saved me, and we set a date to see them again.

I guess it was a few weeks later that my mom and I went over to Jim's house for the first time.  Jim and I had basically nothing in common, and it showed.  We went outside and I pretended to be interested in his golf stories and love for college football; two things he indoctrinated into my life.  I remember we tried to have a sword fight with sticks, but I was way more athletic, and quite a bit bigger than he was, so, I tried to hold back.  I'm not going to lie, I probably wouldn't have hung out with Jim for much longer if I had any other friends, but I was lonely and he was a good kid.

Our friendship continued because of Fellowship Bible Church and the fact that our parents were in the same community group together.  So, every Sunday night, I went over to the Stalling's house and hung out with Jim.  We took turns kicking each other's butts at Nintendo hockey and college football on the gamecube (ironically, I was the one who lost at hockey...every game).  The more I went over to his place, the more I realized that I didn't like hanging out with Jim because we had a lot in common.  I liked hanging out with Jim because he is as hyper-competitive as I am; thus, our friendship was born.

Jim and I compete in everything.  I think his wife hates it, but we have a great time.  Oddly enough though, the closest and most heart-breaking losses (okafor from half-court, and blowing it with Spain in the Fifa 11' World cup), are the moments that make our friendship stronger.  I can't remember ever getting into an argument with Jim where I was angry at him, and I don't think he's been seriously upset with me.  Jim has always been there for me.  When I was at my lowest point a couple years ago, Jim watched out for me. He'd call me and tell me to drive across town to play pool with him because he knew I just needed some friendly competition to blow off some steam.  He'd listen to me vent until I was only focused on the game and our inside jokes (all 30,000 of them).  He knows I'd do the same for him.

I've never known someone who has had to deal with as much crap as Jim, and I've never known anyone who has taken that much with the level of class that he has.  I have more respect for this guy than anyone else, and it has been well earned.  I wish I still lived in Little Rock so we could hang out more, but I guess we're all grown up now.  Man, if you've read all of this, you know I've left out a lot of things intentionally.  But all of those things meant just as much to me as the others.  I'm going to sign off now because, "I've got to go see about a girl", but you know it's my turn to use that line now...How do you like them apples, eh?

Happy Birthday, Jim...I miss you and Samantha,

-Matt

Having an Opinion...

I meant to write a new post last night, but exhaustion got the best of me.  It's funny how insomnia work though because, even though I had no energy to write a blog post, I tossed and turned all night long. 

Regardless of how I write tonight's blog post, it is going to be oxymoronic and probably a little hypocritical.  The reason for this is because tonight I am writing about people who are irrationally opinionated. 

I will be the first to admit that I am very opinionated.  I like to study, I like to analyze, and I like to share...this is an awful, and sometimes, explosive combination of character traits.  I firmly believe that it is a good thing to be opinionated. I can't imagine an intelligent person or a leader who is void of having an opinion.  In fact, I do not believe it is even a possibility.  Having a  truly good opinion of something implies that the person with the opinion has some knowledge.  It implies that they have an alternate perspective that transcends whatever attempt at indoctrination has been fired their way.  I like people with studied opinions, and I love hearing/listening to their perspective.

What I do not like, and the reason I am writing about people with opinions tonight; are people who form opinions based on a single perspective.  What I mean by "single perspective: is when a person hears, from someone they know, that this person's phone service provider screwed them over and the customer representative treated them poorly.  The people I don't like automatically think, "Oh, they must be the worst company ever, and I bet they treat every customer that way," - then they tweet about it..." I think you get the point.  Those people, the ones who don't ever try anything for themselves, or do any sort of research.  Those people irritate me a little bit.  It amazes me when people I know post something on their Facebook status or Tweet something that just rips an idea, product, or person that I like without any factual evidence for their case (I know I'm guilty of this - read the second paragraph and save your fingers from carpel tunnel).  I'm not trying to sound Holier-than-Thou by writing this.  I just think some people need to be reminded that they need to slow down, chill out, and not hate things just because they heard one side of a bitter story about them. 

My conclusion is simple.  Be opinionated...but for everyone else's sakes, do your research.

-Matt

Couple Things on My Mind

Late night blogging is never a good idea; however, I have neglected my readers for almost five days now, and let's be honest, my last post sucked.  It was uninteresting and self-indulgent...I apologize. 

Tonight I'm in thinking mode.  If you don't know me very well; first of all, don't worry because not many people do, and secondly, you need to know that when I start thinking I become a vicious, self-loathing, monster - See!?  I've already begun...Dear Lord, this could get ugly.  *Warning* I have no idea what I'm going to say, but I am going to say it...

The first thing that I've been thinking about tonight is how much time I waste or have wasted on helping my friends out with things.  I have given them all rides when they need them, paid for meals when they couldn't, and anyone who has really taken the time to get to know me knows that I am always willing to  listen when they need to vent or just talk about something (by the way, I never share other people's secrets).  I know I shouldn't expect anything in return, and honestly, until today, I hadn't even thought about this, but I have seen little to no return on my "investment" into my friends.  I love them all, and I'll keep doing things for them anyways, but I gotta admit, I was pretty disappointed to find out that most of my friends really don't give a crap about me (the few of you who know this doesn't apply too you - Thanks).  I understand that I'm an opinionated guy, but very rarely do I ignore my friend's point of views.  I've heard that people think I'm arrogant/conceited  - maybe try to get to know me sometime. I've also come to the realization that people think I'm an A-hole (please excuse my usage of a harsh letter), and nothing more than a sarcastic jerk.  Well, I don't deny that I'm a little sarcastic, but I also don't deny that I have a difficult time being genuine with people because I'm so often socially rejected.  At least the sarcasm and joking has gotten me a few laughs here and there. Again, prove to me that I can trust you, and I might actually be willing to tell you things about me. I'd rather do that instead of using my lousy cold-reading skills and pointed questioning techniques to figure out who you are so that I can effectively mess with you.  Anyways, it saddens me that I invest so much time and effort into my friends; yet, when I need a little assistance, it's like pulling teeth to get some help from my friends.


Okay, deep breath - next item...


I blogged a couple weeks ago about a dream I had (bet you thought I forgot, huh?). I wrote the dream down, and I have been converting it into a short story.  At first, I didn't understand the dream, but as I've been writing it into story form, I've begun to realize that it's just a metaphorical picture of my life.  Parts of the story have been very difficult for me to write, and the closer I come to the end...the scarier the story gets.  The thing that happened at the end of my dream scared the crap out of me, and I don't know what to think about it -- Sorry, I'm doing the Matt Roop super vague routine again. I'll stop now and just post the story when I'm finished.  I'm just a bit flustered by what happens, and I don't think it fits...


This is not the last thing on my mind, but it is the last thing I'm going to blog about tonight.  I do not like to talk about my relationship status, but it is something I've been thinking about a lot tonight.  *News Flash!* -- Matt Roop is still single!...haha, shocker, I know.  Being single doesn't bother me; in fact, I've rather enjoyed my time as a single man (2 years, 3 months, 7 days, and about 5 hours - I haven't been counting).  The thing is, I'm twenty-two years old and I'm beginning to get a little bit lonely.  I'm willing to wait as long as I have to for the right girl, but I gotta say, I sure hope it's soon.  I'm far from desperate at this point, but I'm also not as close to patient as I used to be.


I hope this you found this post to be ummmm...informative and not boring (however unlikely that may be).  This was more of an experiment for me than anything...I'm hoping that projecting my thoughts into a blog post will help with my insomnia; however, since it is just after 3am, I think I lost the battle tonight.


-Matt

Sneaky, Sneaky, Snow..

I would feel a little bit bad if I did not blog about the "Snowpocalypse" that has taken place here in Northwest Arkansas.  Being a Minnesotan, the only thing I find interesting or fascinating about snow in Arkansas is that it happens at all.  Knowing that a few months from now it is going to be 100+ degrees with 95% humidity and thunderstorms every afternoon/evening; it just doesn't make sense to me that days like today happen.  Last night, and on into this morning, Springdale, AR received close to six inches of snow, and the temperature this morning hovered right around 0 Degrees Fahrenheit.  I have to admit, it felt very much like home to me.  However, there are a few huge differences in this snow than the snow with which I'm familiar.

For starters, when I look at this snow, all I can think is, "yep, it'll be gone by Saturday." -- What a let-down.  Secondly, Minnesota's snow is not as deceiving as Arkansas snow.  What I mean by this is we don't have an inch of ice sitting underneath ours!  Why is it that this state gets a storm every single year that produces enough ice to keep all the booze on the UofA campus cold til July, but they still don't have enough equipment to handle it?  When Minnesota gets snow, schools stay in session unless it's a blizzard - which means nearly a foot of snow...Arkansas (specifically Little Rock) closes the school districts the night before the snow happens -- A reflection of the quality of academics I suppose.  Lastly, and this one may be just me, but there's something so much more beautiful about the snow in Minnesota.  Down here in Arkansas, it doesn't feel much different than the rain.  Maybe it's because the snow doesn't last as long in Arkansas.  All I know is that the first snow of the year in Minnesota brings with it a sense of beautiful finality, a changing of the season, and the promise of consistency until Spring is ready to come.

My final thoughts on the snow today are I'm bummed I couldn't make it to work.  I need to save my money to invest in a more reliable vehicle.  My little Tiburon doesn't mind the snow, but she will not touch the ice.  I hope you all have a wonderful day. Play in the snow because it most likely will go away by the weekend. And, finally, you stay classy, Northwest Arkansas...and to all my Little Rock people. . .enjoy the rain.

Happy Ground Hog's Day Everyone!!!
-Matt