Candy Cannot Fix It

Red hearts, cards, flowers, and a box of nasty chocolate. That solves everything. Or does it. It is simple for most people this time of year. No matter how much of a piece of trash you have been, you can give a gift, a kiss, and an “I love you,” and that makes up for all the wrong-doings. It is hysterical to me when I see a partner putting up with the crap from their significant other 360 days a year and then on a few select holidays, Valentine’s being one of the big ones, these horrible partners all of sudden change for a day. All is forgiven and then it is another marathon to the next holiday. I am here to rant on the fact that this should stop. I am talking to both sides. Abusers: stop being horrible people except “when it matters,” and abusees: stop taking it. We all can do better and deserve better. Now let me slow for a second and say that I am not talking about domestic violence; that is a ramble for an entirely different time, if I could even do justice to any of those very bad situations. What I am talking about is a general nasty person, who is just on the edge of being a complete putrid pile of trash. They wine all the time, never have a beneficial opinion, or contribute in any way that expands a relationship further than two people who engage in coitus once in a while. But you better believe, they are ready on Valentine’s Day for their coitus. I mean after all, they bought flowers and chocolates for their special someone. My opinion is that all people should have partners that value them every day and both people should be willing to give and take in a way that makes a balanced scale of love, affection, and, most of all, appreciation of your forever Valentine. But that is just one man’s opinion. Thanks for listening to me ramble. I appreciate it. See you next time.

The Rocket Power Kids Must Be Fit

Indeed, I am about to ramble about that 90s Nickelodeon show “Rocket Power.” It was not one of my favorite shows, but I did see enough episodes that when I saw a rerun the other day on one of Nickelodeon’s off-shoot channels, it reminded me that the logic of the world was a bit different back then. Nowadays, kids’ programs are so tailored to fit in a modern world that is afraid kids will always take away a wrong message. However, in the 90s, or at least in the case of “Rocket Power,” writers just made a fun show. What kid wouldn’t want to watch a show about 4 youngsters living in California, participating in every sport imaginable, while also generally having very little adult supervision. It’s the greatest dream, or it was for 90s kids. I am here to say that this show definitely would not fit the bill today. Not just that there are not as many kids touching grass these days, but also that kids today are not as independent. Lack of adult supervision meant that kids had to find ways to entertain themselves while also staying out of trouble so the parents would never have to supervise. We did just this back then. We learned how not to get hurt, by getting hurt. We also probably put ourselves in very bad situations that our parents would have stopped us from. It taught us to be independent and think for ourselves. Wild plotlines aside, “Rocket Power” showcased this very well. Their father figure was very seldom around, so when there was a problem, the kids had to solve it. They also did a lot of dangerous things, but let’s be honest, they all were probably in really good shape, because sports. So, in the end, they were probably going to be okay no matter what. In any case, the differences in television back then and television now is glaringly obvious with a show like “Rocket Power.” Nowadays the show would be 4 kids with an iPad and adults in the next room. The one similarity that would remain is the punishment of washing endless dishes in our uncle’s restaurant. But that is just one man’s opinion. Thanks for listening to me ramble. I appreciate it. See you next time.

Marry Your Friend Group

Please do not misinterpret the title of this ramble as me giving all of the noncommitted multi-partnered “situationships” a reason to continue their struggle. What I am trying to convey by this title is that people should have many friends before they ever consider trying to date. The reason? We learn social interaction by being socially active. If we have many friends that we spend time with, and I do mean many friends, of all shapes, sizes, colors, and genders, then we can become socially adept enough to relate to nearly anyone. This includes potential partners that we may end up spending a lot more time with for the rest of our lives. You always hear about these couples that say they married their best friend, and that is exactly how it should be. You cannot go from never knowing someone to being in a great relationship without at least being friends first. One night stands are not your friends. They are a way to satisfy a carnal urge and nothing more. I am not saying that it can’t blossom into something more, but it definitely takes work on both sides. That work becomes a lot easier if we already have the know-how of how a friend should be treated because we have many friends whom we treat with the utmost respect. I also detest the 90 Day Fiance trope. There is no way in 3 months you can completely know someone enough to make a committed relationship. It is fine if you are committed to committing and marry them and then get to know them. Just know there is a great possibility that the wedding cost will be a small sample of a larger divorce cost down the road when the person you married after such a short time turns into someone different. Save the money and get to know them as a friend first. It is also always a good laugh to me when I see vampires that barely touch grass thinking that they can just download an app and instantly find a partner that will be everything they want and more. It does not work that way. You have to be able to talk to people, have a friendly demeaner, give of yourself, and be empathic to the plights of others before anyone of any gender will ever give you the time of day. So to all those lonely ones out there, don’t worry about finding a mate in a hurry. Start first by making many good close friends, treat them with respect and dignity, learn to be socially adept in many situations, and then, and only then, will the dating scene become a place for you. But that is just one man’s opinion. Thanks for listening to me ramble. I appreciate it. See you next time.