Today's Horoscope

"Like aggressive weeds, commitments are taking over your social life right now, and your fun free time is at risk of being completely blocked out. This cannot stand. Prioritizing fun over responsibility might seem counterproductive, but it's not. Remember what all work and no play does to a person? Make more of an effort to put balance in your life. Pull-back on the work-related duties and free up more of your time -- to get the solace you need, get the time you need."

Ha! Laughed when I read this. Social life? What's that? I'm calling BS on this one. I will not be hangin' with friends or being social much at all. FB is goin' out the window next week, methinks. Yeah, I'm definitely going into hiding for at least the next week: LSAT next Saturday and I hope to get most of my applications in by next Sunday evening (2 weeks past my initial goal while studying for the LSAT isn't too bad, IMO). I'm also going to be coaching ALL WEEKEND, but at least I get to spend a couple days in beautiful Santa Barbara (hopefully I won't be too stressed to enjoy it).

Goin' off the grid. Time to get fired up! See you in about 10 days, blogosphere!

Then...It's time to FULLY enjoy the Holiday season :)

Viral Love Letter?

Love this!

And the story is even better: "I Hope This Gets To You: A Viral Love Letter" (via Gizmodo)

I'm a hopeless romantic who is in love with social media. If a guy did something like this for me, I'd probably spontaneously combust or something. So cute - love the song, too!

Wintersleep: "Weighty Ghost"

I may, or may not, be doomed. We'll have to wait and see. Read this piece from the NYT:

THE FEMALE FACTOR: Keeping Romance Alive in the Age of Female Empowerment

All I can say about this is that I remember bringing up this topic with a particular ex and it was like I opened Pandora's Box of insecurity. He became angry and threatened because I insinuated that I might out-earn him someday. I mean, I didn't get my degree for nothing (and I'm definitely not working to get into law school for nothing). I have always planned to have a career and support myself, and if I get married to someone else who out-earns me, fine. However, I have no problem being the breadwinner and I honestly don't think I can be with someone insecure enough to care about that sort of thing anyway. Let's be honest, I'm 6 feet tall and have an intense personality. I'm intimidating (I frighten myself sometimes). You have to be secure to be interested in me in the first place. I think a lot of women in this country are just looking to be taken care of (I am obviously not on that page), but nothing is guaranteed for them. Of course I want to get married and have a beautiful family, but what if something were to happen to my husband? I want to feel fully capable of supporting my family comfortably, on my own. 

And let's be honest: On SATC, Miranda probably struggled with men because 1. she's a tall redhead who's awkward as hell and 2. she's actually a lesbian. 

Happy Birthday.

"I am so lucky that my life is filled with people who constantly remind me that the world is filled with more good than bad, more hope than doubt, and more love than pain."

‎"Believe. Decide what is true for you, what brings you joy, what allows you to live passionately, and then believe wholeheartedly in those things. Remind yourself of what you truly believe in and why. Once you know what you believe in, your faith will be unbreakable."

"Love. Do it all the time, under all conditions, without restrictions or limitations. Don't hold back your love; constantly remind the people you love that you do. Talk about things you love, books you love, places you love, food you love, people you love, experiences you loved. Don't waste time criticizing or complaining, there is no time for that."

-Jill Costello

---

Happy Birthday, Jill. My heart feels heavy today because I miss you. We all do...But your legacy is doing so much everyday. I am blown away on a regular basis. So many people are working hard for you, and they are working to spread the word about lung cancer so that young, healthy, incredible people like yourself will never have to suffer the same fate. It is really making a difference. Thank you for reminding me to live and enjoy my wonderful life. Every moment is beautiful and we are not guaranteed many more. Our lives are truly great and we should focus more energy on the good, and less on the bad. You made the very most of your life and inspire me to do the same. You are an amazing person (I can't talk about you in past tense because your presence is very much still here!). Thank you for inspiring the world. Rest well, my love.

Giving thanks...TODAY.

Yes, I already wrote a Thanksgiving post. But that was a general post. It's only noon and I have already had a fantastic Thanksgiving. I wanted to get it down so that I can never forget.

I love that whenever my family gets together, hilarity ensues (even if it is a dry and very Wheeler-esque type of hilarity).

I am thankful for my mom waking me up at 8:30 instead of 8:00, because it is Mountain Time here and it feels extra early. 

I am thankful for my Grandparents because they are quirky and awesome.

I am thankful for my Grandmother for going to great lengths in order to accommodate our gluten free lifestyle (she even found a way to bake the Wheeler egg-casserole with gluten-free bread crumbs!)

I am thankful for the gluten-FREE muffins and DONUTS we had with breakfast this morning. 

I am also thankful that my Grandmother insisted that we drink prosecco with breakfast because it reminds her of living the 'good life' in Italy.

I love that my Dad and Grandfather refer to watching football as the "Audio-Visual" part of the holiday.

I enjoyed that my grandmother asked me to google engagement rings with her. It's heartwarming that she believes someone will want to marry me someday, I used to be unsure.

I also love that when I asked for my Grandfather's new gmail address, my Grandmother said not to send him any nude photos of anyone because it would "send him into a tizzy". My Grandfather just apologized for her strangeness and that I was forced to share her genes. 

I love that they've been married for 50+ years. 

I love that we spent an hour googling Arne Jacobsen egg chairs, and that my Grandfather might seriously purchase a purple one.

-

Most of all, I love that we googled ridiculous cat videos for the better part of a second hour. I love my family.

Happy Thanksgiving!!! (Part deux)

"Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel."

What am I thankful for?
Much more than a blog post could ever do justice, that is for certain.

“Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.” -W. T. Purkiser

2010 has been incredibly good to me:

• It has been a year of learning, growth and second chances. 
• My family is in good health and everyone is flourishing. 
• I have maintained my most incredible friendships and have welcomed many new people into my life this year. 
• I am so grateful that I got a chance to live in Australia and support myself doing what I love. 
• I have heaps of friends living on the other half of the globe that I am so keen to visit again :) 
• Some old friends have come back into my life in a big way and I couldn't be happier. 
• All of my friends are doing incredible things and I am so proud of them. 
• I have found new friends (and the like) in the most unlikely of places.
• I am grateful that I have had the courage to put myself out there when failure was likely. 
• I am also grateful that I have kept my heart open, no matter what has crossed my path. 
• I am grateful that I am still able to work towards my dreams and believe that I have the support and capabilities that I need to be successful.
• I am healthy and have nearly made it a year and a half without health insurance, without problems.
• I am thankful that I will be re-enrolled with great coverage in January!!!
• I lost a friend this year, but her legacy lives on and she will undoubtedly help millions beat or avoid lung cancer. For that, I am thankful. (Miss you and love you, Jill)

*If you haven't read this amazing piece on Jill Costello and her incredible journey in Sports Illustrated, please do: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1178822/1/index.htm


I am thankful for each and every aspect of my life - good and bad. I am just so thankful to still have my life and my health. I cherish my future everyday and I must say, my life is pretty fantastic. I am content and things seem to get better everyday. My life is full of love and laughter - I am so blessed!

Happy Thanksgiving

Andy Shauf: "You Remind Me"

You remind me of everything I love
Yeah, you remind me of everything I love
The straw underneath this blanket
and the stars that catch your eyes
and the moment where you are closer by my side
you remind me of everything I love
yeah, you remind me of everything I love
a smile spreads to another
and another after that
with the thought that it's only love if it's loving you back
and my eyes are closed
and your hand is there,
oh my dreams are taking,
and you have your share
you're so beautiful
in this room above
where the paint is peeling
and i'll realize that i'm in pain
you remind me of everything I love
yeah, you remind me of everything I love
a smile thats so much bigger
than the smiles that i have seen
and it makes me realize
that there is so much more than what I have seen

Today's Gemini Horoscope:

"You're witty, sharp and funny, and you learned a long time ago to listen to your gut. At the moment, that built-in radar is telling you that there's something coming up. The good news is that what's on the agenda isn't going to be at all unpleasant. You'll probably end up being quite delighted with the surprise the heavens have in store for you." 

Yay!!! I love starting my day with such optimism...

Lots of studying in today's lineup.

---

Current mood: Blue October: "Congratulations"

OUTSTANDING weekend...

Dear UC Berkeley, 

Thank you so much for supplying me with a decent education and some truly amazing friends that (like myself) absolutely refuse to take themselves seriously. 

Love,

Melissa

---

This weekend, we recreated a game day in Newport and NEARLY beat Oregon in football. I was so excited that I whipped my hair. Seriously.

Willow Smith ain't got nothin' on me and Liz...

Uh...Don't ask.

Just makin' friends...

Once in awhile, we might take a normal photo (likely on accident).

True love.

Robyn: "Stars 4-Ever"

Why do videos like this bring me SO MUCH JOY? We may never know.

Happy Saturday!

Angus & Julia Stone: "For You"

This is such a sweet song, makes my heart feel warm. I love Angus & Julia Stone. They are a couple of awesome Aussies and are beyond amazing. Their music takes me to a great place automatically. Everyone needs to have bands they love that much (or at least the occasional song that can change your reality for a couple moments - "Wonderwall" by Ryan Adams still does that for me). I believe that music can be transformative - and if you disagree, then you're missin' out. 

---

Give these jams a whirl:

The Beast

Here We Go Again

Wasted

Santa Monica Dream

Just A Boy

Bella

Hollywood

Silver Coin

Stranger

Jewels And Gold

Mango Tree

Lonely Hands

-

I can assure you, you will not be disappointed. 

---

In other news, I bought a cool new pencil case today. I noticed that I needed one today when I was at the library. So I went to CVS once the library closed. It's lime green (typical, I know). I'm pretty much the coolest person out. Nerds like myself need "nerd tools" from time to time. Wanna know a secret? I'm actually enjoying studying again. (Shhh...don't tell anyone!)

I have a massive crush on Daniel Tosh.

Seriously. If you don't find him absolutely hilarious, we cannot be friends. 

I have a quote problem.

Errr...addiction is probably the better word. I like to blog them so that I can save them for later. Sometimes other people say things in a better way than I could ever dream of, even if I tried my very hardest. Yay for them. I will enjoy the fruits of their witty labor, and so can YOU!
"People should fall in love with their eyes closed. Just close your eyes. Don't look and it's magic." [Andy Warhol]

"If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere." [Frank A. Clark]

"Life is a ticket to the greatest show on earth." [Martin H. Fischer]

"Sometimes letting things go is an act of far greater power than defending or hanging on." [Eckhart Tolle]

"You're only as dumb as the situation you didn't learn from." [Keith Lullen]

"He who hesitates is a damned fool." [Mae West]

Found some gems today -- love that.

Chris Brown: "For Ur Love"

Today's Gemini daily horoscope:

"Planning your future can feel like a task that's hard to get your arms around -- after all, how can you look into the future with any sort of certainty? Things are in a constant state of flux -- especially now -- so you'll feel less frustrated if you just let life go on as it is for a little while longer. There's no need to pin down every little goal you have. There is a real mystery in your future, and you should see it as a very exhilarating thing." 

Sorry to share this again...but like I've said, I'm into this stuff. And once in awhile, my horoscope really nails it. Today's is telling me just what I need to hear ("stop being a control freak and just goooo with the floooow"). And the thing is, I do find my mysterious future to be quite exhilarating :)

TEAM JILL

I just got choked up watching this, but it's an amazing video. I miss Jill everyday. If you are not educated about Lung Cancer, it's about time that you are. No one else needs to be touched by this terrible disease...and improper funding is no longer an acceptable excuse. 

The NEW FACE of Lung Cancer from LungCancerFoundation.Org on Vimeo.

"If we have a good heart, a warm heart, warm feelings, we will be happy and satisfied ourselves." -His Holiness, The 14th Dalai Lama

An Open Letter to Brach's Mellowcreme Pumpkins...

To my dearest Mellowcreme Pumpkins,

Like my first real crush at age 14, you are all at once the bane of my existence and my reason for living.

You showed up for the 2010 autumn season this September, and I may be carrying an 5 extra pounds  thanks to your corn syrup-y love. Between my mother and myself, we can make 1-lb bags of you disappear like magic (yet, bags of you continue to show up on my kitchen counter). I may be suing Brach's once my dental bill arrives. 

The Halloween season for this year has come to a close, and your bags of orange goodness grace the drugstore shelves with much less frequency. It seems like just yesterday I was driving past Walgreens and talked myself into buying facewash that I really didn't need so that I could see if there were any more  Mellowcreme pumpkins left. Oh. Well, I guess it was yesterday. 

Please go away. You are so orange and cute but you spoil my dinner and rot my teeth. I love you and your pumpkin-shaped splendor, but this obsession is no longer healthy.  I need to free up my thoughts so that I may once-again fill them with strange logic structures and the like.

I will miss you. 

And Brach's, PLEASE do NOT come out with a Christmas-themed equivalent. Diabetes will ensue without question. 

I like the sound of this...

"Give people a chance to warm up to you, or to fully explain themselves. The next three weeks will be revealing in ways you can’t currently anticipate. Prepare to be pleasantly surprised."

Thanks, Horoscope. 

Ain't that the truth...

"Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action." -Benjamin Disraeli

Yeah, so...

Here we go again.

I've definitely been slacking on this here blog. I've been focusing on coaching (which makes me really happy) and having a good time because I know what's up next...lots and lots of studying. Again. 

Yeah, I didn't do as well as I'd hoped on the October LSAT. Weird thing is, I feel really good about it. My score isn't bad enough that law school is out of the question or anything, but I did so much worse than I'd been doing on my recent diagnostics and I freaked out timing-wise on two sections. I think a lot of that had to do with nerves that I believe won't be present during round 2. I already feel so much less anxious. I know what I have to do to be successful. Let's say I had felt "pretty good" about how I did and then I received the score I have now. I'd be devastated. But, since I knew I had a rough go of things (really rough - could/should have cancelled my score), I'm confident that after 5 weeks of studying I can easily do much better. 

I know that there are people reading this that are interested in this topic - what I did that worked, what didn't work, what I recommend...and I will tell you, but it will probably be via Steve's LSAT Diaries. I am working on a blog post for him. If he chooses to use it, I will share the link. If he chooses not to, I will post it here instead. 

Experience is the best teacher and I have learned a lot about myself through this process so far. Writing this blog post is quite cathartic, too. 

Weirdest thing about all of this: I'm actually excited to study again. I enjoy all of the logic and the analysis. This is a good thing, it means I'm on the right track. This career is likely the one that is right for me. 

So, here we go again...It's more prep tests for me! And, I will continue to work on my essays and applications. I will also continue blogging. It's good to vent, and it keeps me sharp. Writing is fun just for the sake of writing...when you're a nerd like myself. 

LIFE IS GOOD.

Especially since...

THE CHRISTMAS TREE IS GOING UP AT FASHION ISLAND!!! 

Pure bliss!

"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does." -William James

Amazing Halloween Weekend!

Will definitely post more about this...But it was awesome. 

My parents are total weirdos. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree...

JUDGMENT DAY!

LSAT scores will likely be released tonight or tomorrow night at 7p PST...

IT'S TERRIFYING!

Should make for a frightful Halloween weekend. Will my score be a trick or a treat? We will just have to wait and see!
I've come to terms with the fact that I may have to retake it. No. Big. Deal. 

In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on. [Robert Frost]

I'm going to focus on things that make me really happy...like 20s-themed Murder-Mystery dinner parties, coaching water polo and ENJOYING MY YOUTH. This is going to be an epic weekend, even if I score a 125 and that stupid test! My costumes are awesome. I'm thrilled. 
Also, discovered an AWESOME jam for running if anyone is interested (helped me go the distance, even doing sprints on an INCLINE yesterday!) - Skrillex: "Kill Everybody (Original Mix)"

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! 

Uh-Mazing

I've said this before, but I am a grammar snob. I cringe when people misuse words and punctuation. We all make mistakes - some grammar can get confusing (such as, when to use semi-colons, etc.). However, a lot of this stuff is pretty damn easy to straighten out. It kills me. Figure. It. Out. 

I just discovered this awesome post on The Top 10 Words You Needs To Stop Misspelling from The Oatmeal. It's nothing sort of amazing, or hilarious. (He has a lot of other awesome comics on his site - check it out)

My favorite? "Spell definitely with an "a"and you're definitely an a-hole."

Hope you got a kick out of this like I did. 

Also: Learn Your Damn Homophones. Please. Thank you.

Taylor Swift: "Enchanted"

I now remember why I've been waiting till 2a to go to bed lately. When I'm that tired, I typically sleep through the night. Fall asleep around 11? Well...If I am stressed about anything at all (which is constantly these days - 1, 2 or 3 days until LSAT results!) - insomnia comes knocking right around 3a. Without fail. Here I am, at 6:36a and I am still awake. The good news is, I got a considerable amount done on one of my essays, watched an episode of Vampire Diaries (the only TV show I watch regularly - weird, I know), and continued working on my Halloween costume. Hand-sewing ANYTHING is terrible, I've decided. At least I know that I will be able to sew on a button someday if need-be (but I will never, ever be Susie-Homemaker).

Maybe I'll take another nap before the day begins. Or, maybe I'll listen to the Taylor Swift album all the way through for another time this morning as I ponder Halloween...

I'm looking forward to it. I think this Halloween is going to be an attack of Lady Gaga and the cast of Jersey Shore. So, depending on where you normally party, the landscape might not change much due to the holiday afterall.

What am I going to be? Well, for years I've gotten smart-ass remarks about the fact that I am a very tall and athletic-looking girl. Oh really? I thought my height was about average? Oh. Ok. Anyway, people (dudes) are always joking that I look like an Amazon Woman. I should thank them for the costume inspiration. This costume involves a lot of leaves and feathers. And ass-kicking. And a weapon or two. I'm into it. I tried to avoid looking like Xena - Warrior Princess, but only time will tell if I am successful. 

Who is this beezy? I have no idea, but I like her furry top.

I love Halloween. It's not as fantastic as Christmastime in my book, but it's up there. Everyone seems to have a good time with it and people take themselves less seriously. And people are always up for throwing parties! I dig it. I have to be up un-Godly early this weekend to run/coach a water polo tournament, but I can sleep when I'm dead, right?

Speaking of which, here's an awesome movie featuring the un-dead. THRILLER! Always gets me in the mood for Halloween. Miss you, MJ.

Rules Are Made To Be Broken...

...in this context, at least. 

I am NOT a "Rules Girl". 

    I feel like I'm getting to the age where people I know are getting married...and my girlfriends are not looking for "boyfriends" anymore. Instead, they looking for "husband material" (maybe hunting is the better word here?). I get that. I believe that one shouldn't waste their time dating someone they know with which there is no marriage potential. But I guess, right now, dating and the like is just something to do and not a means to an end. If a lovely young gentleman and I fall madly in love and it leads to marriage, great. But as of now, I'm single and thinking more on the lines of law school apps and my career than bridal registries and babies. I have a lot of friends on my page, and many friends on the next chapter. Fact is, all girls are dealing with similar issues whether you are casually dating or on the fast-track to marriage. 

Obviously, we all discuss our situations and our issues. It's can be confusing. 

When in Sydney earlier this year, a lovely cab driver asked if he could give us some advice before he dropped us off at our final destination. Obviously, we said yes. He says:

"Ladies, I've heard you discussing blokes the entire trip. But, I must say - take sex out of the picture - and men and women have absolutely nothing in common. Don't even try to understand them."

    We found this sort of brilliant at the time, but we're obviously never going to stop trying. The thing that is so interesting to me is how we all go about it differently. Some of us just go with the flow and do what feels right (at the time), and others are very pragmatic about dating. BUT - We're all pretty much lost. Science can generally explain why we are attracted to certain traits (hello evolution - I like you because I want to mate with you), but that only explains so much. 
    There are so many questions - all the time (and we talk about them - ALL THE TIME). How often do you call/text him? What if his sister/best friend/mother doesn't like you? Are distance relationships worth it? Do you think he's cheating? Who is his ex-girlfriend, really (and what did he love about her)? How do I get him to shower more often? Can I really spend the rest of my life with him? But, probably most important, how do I make him want to spend the rest of his life with me? 

    Yeah, that's the kicker. Without question, that's THE question that underlies every other question a girl might think about over the term of a relationship (long or short). Even if she doesn't really adore him. Girls want to be wanted and adored even still - they want to be irresistible and desired in a general sense. I think the idea behind this is that we want to feel like we have the power to attract Mr. Right when he shows up, and if we can't keep Mr. Wrong (Mr. Right's lesser cousin) chasing after us, we probably won't do a great job reeling in our chosen one.
    I find this all pretty hilarious, but I'm absolutely guilty of a lot of it. I overanalyze and typically go with what feels right. And - Oh boy, have I made some wrong choices in the past. However, experience is the best teacher, in my opinion. But...I am always intrigued/perplexed by the girls that always seem to have the answers. They know what to do in any given dating situation. It's almost like they are programmed to follow rules...

    Well, here they are! I've known of this book - The Rules: Time-Tested Secrets for Capturing the Heart of Mr. Right - since I was 12 or so. I figured it was initially published in the 50's or at another ridiculous time when our world (at least socially) didn't resemble my reality. Yeah...I was wrong. This book was originally published in 1995! I've thumbed through this book before. Hilarity ensued. And now it shall for you, as well. (My apologies to any girls who believe this stuff or practice it, I just can't do it or support it). Here are THE RULES...and my commentary. 

The Rules
1. Be a “Creature” Unlike Any Other 
-OK. Fine.
2. Don't Talk to a Man First (and Don't Ask Him to Dance)
-Yes. Stay put. Men are never lazy - THEY. WILL. FIND. YOU. And, if you initiate conversation, it probably means you're a whore. Mutes make the best wives.
3. Don't Stare at Men or Talk Too Much
-I am SO GUILTY of...both. Well, I have a lot to say and some men are REALLY good looking! Shoot...I'm never going to get married.
4. Don't Meet Him Halfway or Go Dutch on a Date
-Don't you DARE think about paying for your share. It's not like this is a recession or anything. 
5. Don't Call Him & Rarely Return His Calls
-Yeah, be a bitch. Men love that. Or...They might? No, this is pretty rude, actually.
6. Always End Phone Calls and dates First
-Whatever. Yeah, feign IBS if you run out of ideas. 
7. Don't Accept a Saturday Night Date after 3:00PM.
-Because you'll have to wash your hair, right? Besides, guys usually carry day-planners in their purses and love to plan for things at least a week in advance. Oh, wait...
8. Fill Up Your Time before the Date
-Thank God for this advice. Usually, I tried to blow off all obligations at least 48 hours before a date, it was getting awkward. 
9. How to Act on Dates 1,2, & 3 End the date first especially if you like him.
-I feel so much better now. I knew being myself wasn't going to be sufficient!
10. How to Act on Dates 4 through Commitment Time
-What time is it?! COMMITMENT TIME!!! (When is that, exactly?)
11. ALWAYS end the date first
-Refer to #6 if you're in a bind.
12. Stop Dating Him if He Doesn't Buy You a Romantic Gift for Your Birthday or Valentine's Day
-Remember: Men love materialistic chicks. And, a sweet gesture doesn't cut it. No tangible gift = douchebag (You're SO easy to shop for, anyway!)
13. Don’t See Him More than Once or Twice a Week
-Guys love getting blown off, it says "I really like you".
14. No More than Casual Kissing on the First Date
-Under ZERO circumstances is dry-humping OK.
15. Don't Rush into Sex, Wait at Least Three Dates
-Ehhh...I don't know.
16. Don't Tell Him What to Do
-Earth-shattering stuff.
17. Let Him Take the Lead
-Do not, I repeat, DO NOT have a backbone. Men can read minds, anyway. Everyone knows that.
18. Don't Expect a Man to Change or Try to Change Him
-This one actually makes sense (although people can change - but only due to maturity and due to their willingness to do so...)
19. Don’t Open Up Too Fast
-I'll never win with this one.
20. Be Honest but Mysterious
-This isn't contradictory whatsoever.
21. Accentuate the Positive & Other Rules for Personal Ads
-No, tell everyone how much you suck. And that you wax your upper lip.
22. Don’t Live with a Man (or Leave Your Things in His Apartment)
-Especially not if it makes sense financially. Don't. Do. It.
23. Don't Date a Married Man
-Ohhhh. Before this book I was really confused about this, thanks.
24. Slowly Involve Him in Your Family & Other Rules for Women with Children
-What? I thought men loved babies, baggage and increased responsibility..?
25. Practice, Practice, Practice! (or, Getting Good at The Rules)
-Practice makes perfect! 
26. Even if You're Engaged or Married, You Still Need The Rules
-Always be a pain in the ass. ALWAYS.
27. Do The Rules, Even when Your Friends & Parents Think It's Nuts
-Most people, especially those whom you love and respect greatly, are always wrong. Are your parents even married anyway? Odds are, you're a bastard child. 
28. Be Smart and Other Rules for Dating in High School
-If you are 15 and are not thinking about marriage and finding "Mr. Right", you'll probably become a crazy cat lady.
29. Take Care of Yourself and Other Rules for Dating in College
-Don't get fat...?
30. NEXT! & Other Rules for Dealing with Rejection
-BUT YOU SAID THIS WOULDN'T HAPPEN IF I FOLLOWED THE RULES!!! WTF.
31. Don't Discuss The Rules with Your Therapist.  
-MY FAVORITE - and it's definitely not because he'll probably say you're crazy and all of this is irrational...
32. Don't Break The Rules!
-Don't talk about Fight Club?
33. Do The Rules and You’ll Live Happily Ever After!
-DO NOT BELIEVE WHAT YOU READ! The divorce-rate in this country is not 50%. 
34. Love Only Those Who Love You
-Girls never fall first, obviously.
35. Be Easy to Live With
-Even if following every other rule on this list points to the opposite of this.

    Ok, I think I'm kinda funny. Some of these aren't total nonsense, just most of them. Life isn't rigid and planned. And if you want to talk to a guy, then by all means, DO IT. Hell, I want to be a lawyer. We live in the time of (mostly) equal opportunity. Women are not helpless anymore, and honestly, men often rely on women to make the first move. They're scared of rejection, too (it's human nature). So, if you can meet them halfway once in awhile, it takes the pressure off of them. Aren't you supposed to end up with someone who makes you feel comfortable and make your life easier for the most part? I'm not "buying" what this book is "selling". It's message? "Be a pain in the ass." No, thanks.

    There is only one rule I think we should follow while in the dating world (well, in ALL relationships generally - romantic and otherwise).  

"Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option." -Mark Twain

    Thanks, Mark. I really think this one is the winner. I think I've always known this, but I haven't always adhered to it. It's good to remind myself once in awhile. If someone wants to be with you, they will be. If they want to talk to you, they will. If they say "I don't want a girlfriend" - they don't want you as their girlfriend. Actions speak louder than words. I know we can be our own worst enemies while dating by over-thinking and over-complicating that which should be quite simple, but we need to look out for ourselves and take hints once in awhile. 

Actually, what the hell do I know? I'm single. But, ready to mingle. Halloween weekend, anyone? Holler!