In the last post, I talked about the secret to small talk. It’s pretty simple–listen to what the other person is saying and build on it. I say it’s simple, but it’s much more difficult to execute effectively, apparently. I say apparently because it’s second nature to me by now, but other people act as… Continue Reading
I was reading some old Ask A Manager posts and came across one that was from a manager who was curious about their report, Adam. The letter writer (LW) said that Adam never volunteered anything about his personal life despite having worked on the team for six years. Two months before the LW wrote in,… Continue Reading
I read some advice columns and I know better than to read the commentariat (usually). But I can’t resist from time to time over at Slate bcause I want to see what, ah, the masses believe. Slate is a lef-leaning website with reasonably intelligent readers. Still. I find myself going, “WTF are you talking about?”… Continue Reading
In my last post, I continued telling you who I am. I’m going to go on even further. Let’s just jump right in. 10. My family is deeply dysfunctional. You will not meet my family. Well, rather, you will not meet my parents. You might get to meet my brother, but that’s it. I can only deal… Continue Reading
In my last post, I started a list of who I am. In this point, I am going to continue with what you need to know about me if you want to get with me. I’m old. I’m set in my ways. I am not going to make any major changes soon. So. Let’s continue… Continue Reading
In the last two posts, I have writtena about what I am loooking for in a partner. That is all fine and dandy, but there’s a more important list I need to share–who I am. This is me; I’m not going to change. I may fiddle at the edges and smooth out some of the… Continue Reading
I started a list in my last post about the things I’m looking for in a partner. My first need today seems in direct contract to one of the things I said I needed yesterday. Let’s get on with it. 4. Not too much of an empath. One of the weird things on the RKG… Continue Reading
There is a common trope that if you have a list of characteristics you look for in a partner, you’ll fall for someone who is the exact opposite. There is some validity to it, but that’s more about not being aware of your flaws and the dysfunctions of your family. If you don’t understand how… Continue Reading
Back in the mid-’90s, on Mad TV (a sketch show, like SNL), there was a series of skits called Lowered Expectations. It was a parody of dating ads, and–wow. I rewatched a bunch of them. It’s not as funny as I thought it was at the time. In fact, it’s pretty terrible. Which is too… Continue Reading
So, I nattered on and on about this and that in yesterday’s post. My point is, though, that being an ally is more than waving a rainbow flag during Pride weekend. It’s much more than saying, “I like Chinese food. It’s so delicious.” It’s not about showing that you are a good person because you’re… Continue Reading