To my American readers: happy Memorial Day weekend! While we kick-off the summer of 2013 and stuff our faces with hotdogs and burgers, let us not forget the true meaning of the holiday — no, not 40% off sales at all our favorite stores, though that is nice, too — but to pay respect to those who sacrificed their lives for our country (Houston, included; oh, relax, I’m kidding! I hear Houston is lovely).
Anyway, I have no big plans for the weekend (Drew is working on Monday, so it kinda just feels like a regular ol’ weekend for us, and a rainy one at that), except a friend’s birthday party Saturday night. Another friend invited us to a BBQ at her place on Sunday but she lives in Jersey and that’s a long commute for us via public transportation. But now that I have family AND friends who live in Jersey, I’m thinking about signing up for Zipcar so I/we can visit them more easily. I hesitate mostly because Drew doesn’t drive — as in he doesn’t know how — and I’m a really nervous driver — so we tend to avoid any activity that would require a car, at least in the tri-state area (I feel more comfortable driving the open highways or country and suburban roads of the midwest where I lived and drove for well over a decade). But I want to start taking family road trips, maybe even as early as this summer, and it just makes sense to get over my fear of driving out of and into the city and finding a car rental option that’s convenient and affordable. Does anyone have experience with Zipcar? Thoughts?
Besides that, what are your plans for the weekend? Anyone taking road trips? ANYONE GETTING MARRIED (GG!)? How many BBQs and picnics you gonna hit? Talk to me. Oh! And last night I took my second mat pilates class and I am a fan! I like it so much better than yoga, at least for now. And I know this isn’t the weight loss thread, but I will share that I am down another two pounds this week, so I feel good about that. And since calories don’t count over holiday weekends, I’m sure I’ll lose another pound or two by Monday, yay!
I won’t be posting on Monday — I’m going to take some time for myself! Maybe go for a bike ride! And stuff like that! — so I’ll see you back here on Tuesday. Happy weekend!
by Wendy on May 24, 2013
· in Weekend Open Thread
It’s time again for Shortcuts. For every question, I’ll give my advice in just a few sentences, because sometimes the answer to a person’s question is so obvious and the need to hear it so great, being as clear and frank as possible is simply the best way to go.
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by Wendy on May 24, 2013
· in Columns,Shortcuts
‘Tis the season a new batch of college grads join us here in the real world. It can be a scary place for anyone, but especially for a brand new graduate who has been nestled in the relative safety and comfort of college life. I asked readers to share their favorite life tips for new college grads to help them navigate the terrain of life post-college, and their advice is seriously awesome (no surprise there). Keep reading for 50 awesome life tips from DW readers as well as yours truly and share, share, share with anyone you think could use them!!
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by Wendy on May 23, 2013
· in Columns
I have been dating this really great guy for the past six months. We met at church, he knows I’m a divorced mother of two and he is someone who has never been married and who has no kids. At first we took things really slowly; however, now things are starting to progress and he is talking about having a future with me and my kids. For instance, he has discussed with me the number of kids he would like me to have for him since he doesn’t have any of his own. We discussed where we would get married. We discussed how my kids would interact with him as they become teenagers. We even discussed how our respective families would feel about our union.
You see, I’m black and my boyfriend is white and we both live in the south. He and his family grew up in an all white part of town and I grew up in a racially mixed environment. My new boyfriend is very close to his family. He has told them about me, but I’m afraid he hasn’t told them my race or the race of my children. He wants me to met his family, but I’m a little afraid since I don’t know how they’ll respond to me or accept me.
What are some pointers you can give me as to how to handle our first meeting? Also, how do we handle family and friends not approving of our relationship? Lastly, do you think a relationship like ours will make it? I really love this guy and I would hate to come between him and his family. I know how awful racism can be and how it can tear up families. We have even discussed it, but there is a difference between discussing and experiencing it. — Racially Torn
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by Wendy on May 23, 2013
· in Columns
