Rejected by a dating service

Ok, so maybe I am over exaggerating on the whole 'rejection' bit, but I just had to share this hilarious email I received after having signed up to go on a date with someone from another ward. (Ward being what we call another congregation in our church...it does not refer to the 'crazy' ward).

First, let me premise that I have been very anti about "social dating services" that the single's congregation provides. You know, I have been in several single congregations that try to encourage dating amongst our peers. People in the congregation are actually given callings (which are kind of like volunteer positions where you are responsible for certain action items in the congregation.) I have listed some of my favorite and not so favorite ways my single's ward has tried to help daters and non-daters alike.

8 at 8

One of my ward did a dating service called "8 at 8." In this dating activity, there are four couples that meet at 8:00 and go out to dinner, or do some kind of awesome activity like bowling, skating, etc. It is a good way to have fun with peers who want to go out and get to know one another on a date, but also a little more casually.

Date Box

I have also been privy to the 'date box' where those who want to participate can fill out a piece of paper either connecting two people they think should hook up, or anonymously putting in their own name with someone they have been wanting to go out with.

The 'date box' committee (planners) then call both parties written on the piece of paper to see:
a. See if they even want to go out without disclosing the name of the other person
b. If both parties agree to go out with the anonymous date, the member of the date box committee gives the lady's contact information to the gentleman.
c. The date should only last about 30 minutes, and is not meant to break the bank.

I actually had one date from this activity. Yes, I put my own name in. Thank you Dave for the hot chocolate and cheese fries!

Incentives Plan

I also had several friends in other single's wards who were EXTREMELY encouraged date to the point where their Bishop (priesthood leader of the congregation) would offer them incentives like:

a. Basketball tickets to NBA finals with the Jazz (these tickets are hundreds of dollars)
b. Symphony tickets
c. Cabin retreat day package, complete with four wheelers, lunch, and other provisions. Not for an overnight stay, but sort of like a day pass.

Speed Dating

Oh, and let's not forget all those amazing speed dating exercises. These activities allow me to talk to a person for 3 minutes, just like I would at a crazy single's party! Just enough time to see whether or not they can be my eternal companion! I jest, but you catch my drift....and I am sure have figured out that speed dating is not my fave activity.

Confession

I admit, I was one of those girls who thought the idea of being lined up by other church members who didn't really know me, was dumb. But, I made a clear resolution (before New Year's) to try out new ways of meeting men. So, not only was I resolved to meet men at the grocery store who happen to select the same exotic cheese as I do, but I would also give set up dates by the church a whirl.

I was excited to get to know other single's from another ward in my area. My hand shot up before the announcement was even over. The date entailed that 5 or so of us girls meet men from the other ward, and 5 or so of men in our ward would get to meet women from the other ward. It was supposed to happen this Saturday night.

The Email

Alas, alak. I guess it just wasn't meant to happen for me. It kind of reminds me of this job search journey a little...sheesh. I got this email this morning:

Thank you for signing up for our date night with the DC 2nd ward. Unfortunately, we were unable to get enough men from their ward to sign up, thus not everyone who signed up will have a date that night. However, here are some options:

- If you would still like to participate, we will do our very best to find a date for you on that night. We may match you with someone in Langley (we'll even take special requests).

- If you would no longer like to participate, we will keep you at the top of our list for our next dating activity should you choose to sign up.

- If you don't care about having a date but would still like to see the show, we will keep a ticket reserved for you.

Please respond to this email by 10pm on Wednesday, 12/14, with your preferred choice and we will do our best to accommodate you. We are so sorry that this activity has not turned out as planned so far. We hope you join us for another activity in the future.

Thanks for your understanding!

***

Hilarious, right? To tell you the truth, I am pretty confident that 2012 will be my extreme dating year ;) So, bring it on single's ward....you have one more year to work on it. And boys....man up!

Deadlines

At DMI's prop shop, we have daily writing assignments. Going off of the 'practice makes perfect' mentality, we participate in a series of assignments that often involve prizes! Today's assignment allowed us to be a little more creative.

Our assignment was to follow the classic poem Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll. We had to change 90% of the words, using a technical and/or management theme. I didn't follow the assignment exactly, but you have to give me credit for what I did come up with!

DEADLINES

‘Twas a sunny, bright day at DMI

And were this just a normal day: Moving steadily through eBuy

The unexpected change from bright to gray

Beware the deadlines, my dear!

The midnight oil burning, hard work only heaven knows

Beware the looming length, and do not fear

The ultimate wait from technical pros

I took my smiles and wit about

Confident to defeat this foe I sought

To complete on time, I could not doubt

“We will defeat this deadline” I heartily thought

I did not lack the poise to fight

The Deadline looming overhead

Came creeping up that endless night

Were it not for my team, I would have fled

Burst, Draft, Edit, Review! And through and through

Could we make it work in time?

And to printing, we went sprinting

Defeating our foe! Oh how sublime!

And hast thou defeated the Deadline?

From the executives we did hear

Horrah and horray says I! Way to go Team DMI!

And all who lived gave one big cheer

‘Twas a sunny, bright day at DMI

And were this just a normal day: Moving steadily through eBuy

The unexpected change from bright to gray

Lunch Break Tears

My former Co-Workers at The Summit Group know me well enough to say "Of course you would..."

During my lunch breaks, I like to catch up on the latest and greatest news. One of my favorite things to do is peruse the online news sites for stories that are the pearls hidden amongst the chaos. These are the same stories I always try to look for when I am having a rough day, when I am watching a movie, when I choose a Presidential candidate, or even when I choose a sports team to follow....it's true.

My pearl this morning was listening to the Sting Pandora channel and hearing Seal bear his soul in Kiss for a Rose, and the memories it brought back...oh, how I giggled when I heard him this morning. A great start to my day! What a pearl to have.

My pearl when choosing a sports team is seeing the good sportsmanship of one team member toward an opposing team member. People make fun of my swaying loyalties, but I am most certainly a fair weather fan. Ask me about the men's world cup 2006 one day....I will fill you in.

I like the stories when I see people playing nicely with others. If you treat people rotten and rag on the integrity of others, you will not get my vote.

There is this terrible movie that I absolutely do not recommend, but provides an interesting perspective on finding good.
SPOILER ALERT: In the movie with Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly The Day the Earth Stood Still, the main point I took away revolved around this idea that amidst the chaos in a dying world, that good will always prevail. Sure, I could have referenced other or similar stories like Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Star Wars, the Bible, the Book of Mormon, Pride and Prejudice, my journals....whatever, but you get my point....good prevails every time.

You can imagine how I felt when I saw one of the news articles on yahoo this morning: 2011's Year in Review Video. Even during those dark moments, there was light.

And that is why I was bawling in my cubicle today during my lunch break.

Doing What I Love

I am working as a proposal analyst in the IT field, something I never thought to consider during this journey to change the world of education through policy and governance. Sometimes I feel like I failed myself, settling for something I just happen to be good at. But after being in this position for a while, I can’t help but see the benefits of having a great job, working with great people, learning new skills (you should ask me about Illustrator), writing and editing on a daily basis, feeling satisfied by a great product, directing and managing processes, and much more. It is humbling and exciting. BUT that doesn’t mean my dream should disappear. So, I am putting a call out to the universe one more time. Read my purpose statement. Link to my resume and see my qualifications.

I am ready education world….take me in and let me prove to you what I am capable of.

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.” – Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs: How to live before you die | Video on TED.com

I wasn't looking to be inspired today, and then a bright answer to unspoken prayers.

Steve Jobs: How to live before you die | Video on TED.com

She did it again!!

Mama Blau did it again people!

You can now get her sheet music FOR FREE on her new website! Pretty much, my mom is amazing!

Staples

Thank you to Steven Beckstrand who inspired me to copy and plagiarize his thought on what it means to be a post-grad. Since I am here once again, I can't help but laugh at the fact that I thought it would be any different.

Taken from Steve:

***
I have to admit, my wanderings weren't totally my fault. The job that I had expected to be stapled to my diploma wasn't attached. I had thought that, as part of graduating from college, you got a job. It was like the decoder ring that you would get when finishing the box of cereal. However, this box didn't contain an awesome prize. I actually had to go look for a job. On my own.

***

My addition: And even when the prize comes, it may not be what you expect. Just like my prize that I got in my box of Resees Pieces Peanut Butter Puff Cereal. The flier thing did more crashing than it did flying. Funny how that works.