Archive for Sip and Go Girl

I’ve Become A Drama Queen

In general, I’ve never considered myself to be a drama queen. Even when some tough event was happening, it seemed for the most part that I tried to keep it as mellow as possible.

Until lately.

I swear many more things in the last couple years and especially the last few months seem dramatic. I’m walking into nonsense that 15 years ago I would not have found myself facing. I’m embroiled in other people’s messy relationships or I just seem to face a series of bad luck. Even some of those close to me think that I’ve become fragile and seem a little impatient with me.
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OK Cupid, I’m Listening

Because I write about relationships, I’ve done online dating, and I am after all called Sip and Go Girl, my attention was piqued when I saw my friend and former co-worker Robert posting something on Facebook about the website OK Cupid, which is where he met the gal he has been dating for five weeks.

“I just got a message from OK Cupid, yes…the dating site, asking me to be a moderator. Meaning whenever someone reports someone else’s profile for being phony, obscene, etc. I would get to investigate it. Could be interesting. Their disclaimer said, ‘This is not for the faint of heart. If you’ve never seen an R rated movie, you might want to pass.'”

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My Life Is A Romantic Comedy

I was 10 or 11 years old when I began to attach certain songs to certain moments of my life. I roller skated holding hands with Tim while the Diana Ross and Lionel Richie song “Endless Love” was playing at Sunrise Rollerland. I got a little choked up when I heard that song playing from my clock radio just a few days later.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP7m5VqQ6f8

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A True Relationship

I recently became Facebook friends with a former co-worker who’s now with a television network in New York City. Shannon is a graphic artist.

She didn’t design the item to the left but it was on her Facebook wall. I like it. I think it applies to all relationships and not just romantic ones.

Do you have someone who accepts your past, supports your present, loves you and encourages your future?

I hope you do!

 

One Cannot Not Communicate

I used to start my first lecture of the semester for university students with the words one cannot not communicate. The phrase came from the Palo Alto Group, a group of researchers studying the mind.

The basic idea is that no matter what we’re doing or saying, we are indeed communicating something to the other person. That’s why it irks me to no end when I hear someone say, “we’re not communicating.” Because it’s not that someone isn’t communicating, it’s that he or she isn’t communicating effectively.

If you’re sitting on a bus reading a book with the cover “50 Shades of Grey”, you’re communicating something different to other riders than if you’re reading a book with the cover “The Bible.” If you’re silent during a lunch out with your best friend, you’re communicating something to him or her.
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Stop Thinking The Same Thing

We’re thinking too much alike. Stop it.

There’s nothing uglier for a family, a workplace, a social club or any type of group than for members to get stuck in the trap of all thinking the same thing all the time.

Groups are useful and necessary in many situations. Handling a project or something in a group is good because this setup often solves problems that individuals cannot.

But some groups can create a mess. The cover-up of child sex abuse at Penn State is one example.

People attached to the football program tried so hard to protect the glory of the university image, the football team, and the revered coaches Jerry Sandusky and Joe Paterno. Instead, children suffered at the hands of Sandusky. He was sentenced with 30 to 60 years in prison after being found guilty on 45 counts related to sexually assaulting children. But it took a long time for the case to reach courts because of the coverups at the university.

Beware the groupthink.
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Tackling Sports And Violence

My parents were married in Minnesota, a state where long cold winters bring ice to the lakes and ponds and the fast-paced sport of hockey is popular.

Shortly after my folks were married, a neighbor approached my mother.

“Is everything all right with you and John?”, she asked my mother Ann.

“Yes. Why?”, my mother replied, puzzled.

“Well, I hear him yelling.” The neighhbor looked concerned.

My mother replied, “Ohhhhhhhh. No. He’s yelling at the hockey games!”

The Minnesota Wild hockey team. It wasn’t around when my parents got married, but I’m sure hockey looks the same now as it did in the 1970s.

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Out Of The Blue

Nearly three years ago, an email arrived from LinkedIn. LinkedIn is the social networking website for people in professional occupations. Unlike Facebook, the main purpose of LinkedIn is not social. It’s business. It has since become the hottest website for job seekers.

Well back in spring 2010, the email I received was not about a job or work. It was telling me that Neil had sent me a message via the website, seeking contact.

Out of the blue.
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Myth Of The Real World: Search For Identity Part II

I shared the story yesterday about how much I’m fascinated with the concept of identity.

In 2006, my communication studies student Johanna-Joy asked me to make a presentation to the undergraduate honor society for which she was an officer.

I ended up giving a presentation titled “The Myth of the Real World: Searching for Identity During and After College.” I debunked myths and perceptions of real world versus college world.

 

honor society event.

Here are the last five points I made to the students:

6. What you know and what you do not know— Many of my public speaking business students would complain that their ages of 19, 20, or 21 were causing managers to pass them by for promotions. “I know way more than her. Why wasn’t I promoted? It must be because of age discrimination.” Remember to look outside your tunnel. You might be passed over because you’ve been working someplace for just one month.
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Tales From Sip And Go Girl: “Vitaly”

I met Vitaly in a coffee shop, of course. He is part of another Tale From Sip and Go Girl. These are my real stories about dates and fellas I’ve met in my life.

The Starbucks in which we met is one of my regular stores. I’m there every Sunday morning, almost without fail. I told Vitaly this, in fact, while we were there.

He was very quiet and said very little. Vitaly had a strong Russian accent and was shy. Those are big reasons he was so quiet.

Toward the end of our time at Starbucks, he suddenly told me, “I live close to here. Very close. I have many fine wines. Red wines. You like red wine?”
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