Going Dutch

            I really have had it with being the nice guy when asking someone out on a date. I think sometimes we as universal daters, not just the gay or straight community we forgot or maybe have never learned the rules of dating someone. I know it’s a total challenge for asking someone on date but when we finally get that yes, we may have lost ourselves in the happiness of the moment.

            For me, if I ask someone on a date and get a yes, I proceed on the date with the rules delegated to me by the dating rules as being the alpha leader on a date. If I ask someone to dinner, I pay for the dinner, or if I ask them for drinks and happy hour I pay for the first few rounds.

            Unlike this last person I went on a casual date with about 2 weeks ago. I asked him to get drinks and learning his situation about him moving from apartments in the very near future and putting costs into the move and new place, I understood completely. In turn I invited him to come to happy hour and we can chat and talk, and sip a cheap 2-4-1 cocktail or beer. I met him at a bar that he picked because he said he knew the bartender so I went along, thinking “Oh…maybe he is going to take the reins and go somewhere he might get a free drink.” Not that it mattered, it’s just always a good thing to have a bartender friend in your back pocket and in a city where the drinks after the happy hours are over priced, it’s a plus!

            Anyway, we meet and turns out his friend isn’t working today unfortunately but no mind, we chat for a little and then I figure I’ll ask, “Care for a drink?” So I buy the first rounds and we get the tickets for the next one, which we have and then I offer for a third, and once again pay with the tickets for the 2^nd round of free drinks, nothing crazy. Conversation isn’t going all that smoothly yet I’m a nice guy and I figure, give this guy a chance, maybe he’s nervous. Sometimes I tend to come across a little over confident on a date setting and might seem more sarcastic than is necessary. He offers to change locations because he’s a little hungry and maybe we should eat if we decide to drink more because we don’t want to get wasted too early. So I agree and we head to a little place called Empanada Mama in Hell’s Kitchen. Once again, I think “Ok, so I paid for drinks and he paid nothing thus far, but he’s changing location and picked out where he’d like to eat because he’s hungry, maybe he’ll finally offer.”

            We head to the restaurant and we sit down, order some food and a couple of beers and then he proceeds to make conversation with the table next to us to guys who are an older gay friendly duo visiting the city and getting their whole life story. Maybe it’s something I said, or did that’s causing this rift in our connection, right? Well, we eat, chat, say goodbye our new friends as they leave and we get our check. I don’t move and look away as I drink my beer and nothing happens. He finished his beer, water, food, and is waiting for me to say something. So I casually say, “Split it?” and he fumbles with an answer similar to the one about moving and scraped for cash. I’m being really nice and kind of fed up at the moment, so I just pay and don’t say anything. I start to walk quickly up the block hoping to reach any train station to take home because I’m a little fed up, and he says “How about we go to another bar my friend is actually working at and I always get free drinks.”

            You think I’d learn my lesson, but no. I agree, why? Simple, I’ve never been to this new bar he takes me too, I look pretty good since having lost some weight, getting a nice tan, and feeling generally confident in myself that if no drinks actually happen I’ll at least get an opportunity to be seen and maybe talk to someone else at this bar since my date is pretty much going south.  We get to the bar, and it’s like a lounge/bar with couches, so his friend directs me to a seat while my date goes off with his waiter/bartender friend for like 20 minutes and leaves me all alone. Everyone has a group and no one is chatting to me, it’s not that type of bar where it’s easy to go up to anyone and chat like is it at a dive bar which I much prefer. Anyway, he comes back with his friend and two drinks, and his friend asks for a credit card just to put on hold as we sip and drink. I look at my date and he talks to the guy next to him who he slightly remembers. I’m so mad, I give my card away and down my drink order another and a shot—for myself! I end the night with me leaving my date there and me storming off drunk and about 100 bucks down.

            I feel as if my date knew none of the rules to date by. I would have much preferred to go to a cheaper dive bar from the get go and forgo everything else. I asked my date out and of course I had a location in mind, but I asked where he would like to meet if he had any suggestions and he said our initial first place which was fine, so I paid for drinks, two rounds. He didn’t even offer to pay, which is ok, but the offer would have been nice. Then at dinner, I wasn’t hungry, but he was and we chose the place, once again, he should have offered to pay for the whole thing, but of course I would have ended up paying half. Going Dutch is honorable and totally acceptable on a first date. Then at the third location I should not have paid for anything! Yet, me being nice, I did.

            We all have our money issues. Lord knows I have in the past and have told people that I’m a little broke, can’t really go out but generally if I do I offer to pay for a round with friends, a date, a group, whatever. It’s nice and classy and people will remember and appreciate it. I forgot that those who do appreciate it, are those who also do it back and realize it’s common courtesy on a date or a night out with friends.

            It was a rant, sorry folks. But a lesson needs to be learned! Happy dating! 

Grindr

                I know I know, it’s been a little more than 2 months since my last post, but honestly there wasn’t much to keep you all updated with. Though, significant changes have been in my life, and in so, my dating/love life that probably should be mentioned. I’m sorry it’s been awhile, but from now on, I promise to be on a stricter schedule of when I post.

            Anyway, the first change came with my phone. I finally got an IPhone and I know, welcome to 2010, but hey, better late than never. With this new updated technology I have decided to explore the world of on-line dating via phone app. I mentioned before how I had tried online dating with dating profiles on several different sites on the computer, but now with a smart phone, I can try dating thru the multiple apps offered.

            I spoke before about the several different types of online sites I had tried, A4A, Manhunt and the reputable OkCupid, well, in the smart-phone world, there are also the same degrees of which apps are more conducive to dating, hooking up, and just trading teasing pictures. Of these apps, I have Grindr. I think Grindr in the app that put smart-phone dating on the map. Men put their primary photo up of their choosing (as long as it’s not fully nude) and fill out a tiny box of your description and the label their stats and wait for others to respond. Though they are the fore runners of app-dating, they are mostly notorious for being a “hook-up” dating site, much like A4A or manhunt. That’s not to say people don’t date off Grindr and actually meet people worth pursuing, it’s just not prevalent.

            I did a little social experiment with this app and first uploaded a picture of me, just my face, with my signature hat, smile, and posing angle of ¾ quarter profile, and wasn’t topless which most of the people on Grindr are: shirtless.

            I got a few hits every now and then but mostly from people who would say hello and asked if I was hung, horny, and if I was “looking” for a quickie. Occasionally I talked to someone worth my time, yet nothing ever developed into actual meet up. People are willing to talk, and chat sometimes, but never looking for anything serious.

            Sometime later I had gone down to the beach with my friend for the weekend and took several “selfie” photos of me laying out on the beach getting a tan, and immediately switched my profile image to one of these shots. Once again, though I was shirtless, the image only showed my face wearing sunglasses, and a hat, the most someone can see is my bare shoulder with my tank-top tan lines.

           I will admit, this picture far more "cheeky" and teasing than the previous one I uploaded and as soon as the picture got approved by the apps moderators, the messages started to flow in. More than ever I got the usual: “Looking?” “Horny” “Hung” as well as a few interesting requests: “How much do you want for me to blow you?”

            I just found it so interesting that once I was back in NYC with my new profile image the messages continued and I even got people I tried to chat with who never responded weeks before now trying to chat with me. I think you missed your chance buddy. Though I still have Grindr and go on occasionally to see who’s around and up, it’s not a site that I know nothing serious or significant will come from it. I have to say, that it does feel nice to receive these messages. It’s a little ego boost and who doesn’t want to feel wanted or attractive?

            But I really can’t help but wonder that we always get mad when we meet someone from one of these online dating sites/apps and when the person doesn’t look like their pictures we immediately right them off and never speak to them again. The first time, I showed everyone a very clear visible picture of who I was, and got a couple responses, nothing too positive really, but when I uploaded a picture of me, wearing sunglasses and hat, and barely showing anything, the flood gates opened. I can really be anyone underneath those sunglasses and hat. You could make me out to be anything. If I ever were to meet someone and I didn’t look like they had pictured, they’d write me off. Why do we get mad at this cycle yet continue to do it to each other? Is online/app dating really worth it? We search and search and are never truly open to chat with someone who might be a nice guy. Do you seriously judge each other that much on looks and appearance even when we try and not? Because I know that if someone messaged anyone of you without a picture up, you would move along and not respond. 

Bold Move

            I had just worked another overnight at work last night and left around 8:30 in the morning today when the wildest thing happened to me. I’m standing on the corner of 5^th avenue and 17^th street when a guy who I see every so often around the same time whenever I’m on a quick 15 minute coffee run or leaving work after an overnight is standing at the corner across the street.

            It’s so funny because just yesterday I saw him again while I was walking with a friend who left work the same time I did. I basically just commented that I always happen to notice him around this same time. He’s pretty much an average seeming guy; nothing totally out of the ordinary about him in physical appearance and probably does work or go to school in the area which is why I always happen to catch him.

            Anyway, so today I cross the street and he’s checking his phone when he looks up and I catch his eye. I don’t say anything but smile as I pass and then I hear a shouted “Wait!” behind me. I assume it wasn’t for me so I continue on my way when I feel a tap on my shoulder and I turn around to find the guy standing there. This is how the whole conversation basically happens:

“Hey, do you work at the GAP across the street?”

“Ye…ees? Why?”

“Well, it’s just that I always happen to see you, and have seen you in the window a couple times changing the mannequins and such. Are you leaving? Want to grab a cup of coffee? My buy.”

Silence on my part as I try to wrap my head around what is going on in this situation.

“I’m Dave. I just work across the street and tend to see you in the windows.”

“Umm… Look, I just worked all night, I’m kind of tired.”

“So, I’ll buy you decaf. I just always happen to see you around this time. It’s funny.”

“Thanks, but, no, that’s okay.”

“Come on. I’m trying really hard to put myself out there, and you can’t reject me on my first attempt at this.”

I laugh at this because it’s very interesting how I write on this blog how I wish people could be more upfront about interactions with other people they are interested in and here I am denying him. Before I give him a definite answer, I look around for the hidden camera to make sure this wasn't some Youtube prank.

“Sure, okay. I’m Max.”

Guys, I could not make this up even if I tried. It was kind of incredible that this actually happened. We walked the block up to Union Square to the Starbucks where as promised he bought be decaf (actually, he bought me a hot chocolate lol). He’s a playwright but works in retail like all us writers out there and lives in Brooklyn. We exchanged numbers but I’m not sure how to wrap my head around this whole situation. I actually highly commend him on his approach a little weird as it was. How very strange but all anybody wants. I definitely went home feeling very good about myself. J

The Unexpected Proposal

            It actually happened today. I was a witness to a couple getting engaged. I didn’t know either of the people since they chose to do it as I was walking by drinking a coffee and took a detour through Union Square to catch my train. A couple had been walking in front of me when the guy stopped suddenly pulling the girl back buy the hand at bit since she hadn’t noticed and continued to walk on. I, who has a natural tendency to walk at a hurried pace (that’s growing up in NYC for you), bumped into the girl and immediately apologized when we both turned around. I to check on the girl and make sure I didn’t get coffee on her sleeve, and she to see why her boyfriend stopped walking.

            It was then that we realized that he had gotten down on one knee still holding her hand. I quickly recovered my shock in that I was still standing far too close to the girl and backed away a little to give them some room. Now everyone in the area noticed that he was on one knee and I truly believe that a wedding proposal is the only way to get the city that never sleeps to stop and pay attention to someone other than themselves.

            He was telling her that she was the only one for him and he didn’t care if pure strangers knew that they belong together because no one will ever come between them. It was very romantic, it a grand gesture kind of way. So he asked her, and she said yes, and everyone clapped when they kissed and of course I was still shocked. The best part of the whole situation is when the guy announced to the crowd that they had plans for the entire day, starting first at Tiffany & Co. to pick out the engagement ring.

            Having grown up in the city, you would think that engagements and proposals happen all the time since there are eight million people in this city. You would think that more people get engaged to every day. I’m now 25 and have only been to two weddings: one a lesbian commitment and the other to my friends Jon and Arielle.

            Growing up I never thought that I would get married. I said that when I finally was okay with being gay and knowing that gay people weren’t allowed to get married, legally. Now that we can get married in NY, I’m sure I want too, though I am glad that I know have the option of a divorce. That is probably a lot of silly thinking by someone who is only 25, but who can say what happens in the future. All I know is that I would love for someone to be as romantic with me as that gentleman in Union Square was to his know happily engaged fiancé. 

No More Online Dating

No longer will I get log onto my computer and continue my long time routine of checking for messages from the multiple online sites that I have set up profiles. Which means, that I need to start a new online routine when I log onto the internet every day. Maybe this blog will be posted onto regularly—no promises!

            Looking back at how I’ve met people thus far, very few have come from online dating. Even in the last couple of posts on this seldom written blog, I haven’t had much interaction with guys I’ve met online, with the exception of Canada Boy (which was a couple months back anyhow).

            Time for the full disclosure of my online dating activity. The only sites that I’ve had profiles on were Adam4Adam, ManHunt, and OkCupid. The first two sites, reading exactly as they are, were for only finding a few fleeting minutes of excitement before it was out the door and no small talk. The last one of the three sites actually used for finding any meaningful relationship or at least a chance at one.

            Truth be told, I would definitely not stick to the rules of seeing a guy I’ve met via Manhunt or A4A. You’re supposed to just be able to walk in the apartment of whoever you decide to meet, get the deed done to whatever you agreed too, and walk out and continue to brunch with your friends. Well, that’s not me. I usually, message back and forth countless times, trying to get to know the person, until agreeing to finally meet up. Rule 1, already broken: Never go into details about each other lives when trying to schedule a hook up.

             It gets worse. Rule 2: Once in the apartment, get down to business. I on the other hand, talk about the décor, the books, the artifacts, or the animals, if they happen to have dogs or a cat, in one case, a mini zoo (this guy had parrots, dogs, lizards, a turtle, cats, and even a snake—maybe that’s a story for another blog?).

            Rule 3: After you’ve done the deed, get out ASAP. As they’re getting dressed, I’m catching my breath trying to figure out the rest of their scheduled day. Then it’s on to seeing if he’s available for coffee or maybe another “fling” later in the week. If you want another “stuffing” you send a quick text after work, and ask if he’s available. No need to find out anything more. This is how a hook up situation works. But not for me, because I can’t just have sex with random people and not know anything about the other person. I still think a relationship can happen even with the guy you’re screwing. Somewhat romantic, aren’t I?

            But for me now, there hasn’t been any random act of lust with anyone. It’s not that I’m in a relationship and no longer require the use of online dating sites, but I have been seeing someone and I like the way it has been going. I think it’s a good thing when you continue the routine of checking your online dating sites merely to see if you have any new messages—which I haven’t gotten anyway. But once I find out I don’t, I simply log off. I no longer stay on waiting to see my visitor list increase, or search for guys online near my location.

            Though I have been seeing someone regularly, it’s not a relationship and I don’t know where it’s going to go. He has a lot of his plate to think about, and I myself have a lot of figuring out. Yet, all I can say, is that of the people I’ve ever had a relationship with, almost all of them were met via friends, or out randomly at a gathering of some sort. No one was because of a hook up turned relationship. Not that that doesn’t happen, it does but in my life, it hasn’t happened that way yet. So, no need to continue trying. I like the idea of meeting a bookstore, coffee-shop, movies, somewhere where people used to meet people every day before we all took to the internet to plot out our lives.

New Year, New Experiences

            You know once again, I dropped the ball on updating this blog, but that’s only because my love life has not been interesting since the last time I wrote about it. I have had a lot of things happen so this post is going to be random because I’m going to have many little stories.

            First of all there’s New Year’s Eve. I didn’t get to go upstate to see my friends and party by a lake house, which would have been awesome, but instead, I went to a party in Astoria with my friend Shane. He got invited to this party from his friend John. I normally dress a little crazy with sequins and bowties, and try to look fun for that holiday so at least the next year will have some humor in it. Anyway, so I mistakenly thought it was a friend from work whom I had met who was also gay and my choice of silver sequin cardigan wouldn’t matter. Truth be told, on the train right before we got there it was his friend from his all boy catholic high school who’s party we were attending. Well, I just looked dumb and probably not going to make any friends at this party, but instead, my outfit was the ice-breaker I needed. Everyone came up to me and said my outfit was awesome, and totally cool, and pretty much I had a great time. Anyway, during the party, I found a small gathering in the kitchen where I met this guy named Guy (literally that’s his name). He was wearing a t-shirt about a shoe company so I asked him about and turns out it’s for the upcoming Broadway musical “Kinky Boots”, which I’m ecstatic about. He was super cute and sweet and introduced me to other people in his circle. On a side note, I don’t know what is it, but it seems as if different groups of people at a party and all the gays seem to flock towards one another, why is that? I had been chatting with Guy for about an hour until another guy came into the circle and Guy turns to me and says, “Meet my boyfriend.” It should be illegal to say that kind of filth at a party especially when you’ve been trying to flirt with this guy for over an hour and right before New Year’s. Not only that, but then the other guy I was interested in at this party ended up spending the night with one of the hosts of the party. I didn’t even know one of the hosts was gay, great. New Year’s though, all in all was fantastic and I did have a great time.

            About a week later I was having dinner with a friend who I haven’t seen in a while. We ate Outback Steakhouse and the dinner went normally. Nothing out of the ordinary, it was very plain and simple. It wasn’t until the check that I thought something was going on with the waiter. I hadn’t really noticed him during the dinner since my friend who I was eating with was kind of taking charge with menu and ordering and getting us appetizers and such. My friend went to the bathroom when the check came and had paid for his half of the meal in cash while I used my card. The waiter brought back our bill with a pen for me to sign and left. It wasn’t even ten seconds later when he returned and said “Feel comfortable taking your time after you sign”. I didn’t think anything of it, until I looked around. It was kind of packed and there was a line waiting to get a table and then I thought maybe he wanted me to stay longer for whatever reason. It was purely impulsive but I opened the bill again and on the top I wrote, “I’m not even sure I’m barking up the right tree, but here’s my number”. We left as soon as my friend came back from the bathroom. The following day, I get a text from the waiter telling me it’s him and if I was free later that night for coffee. I was kind of taken back since I’ve left my number before, mostly as a joke but it was clear the waiter was straight, or so NOT into me or anything, but this is one time where it actually worked. We met that night for coffee in Union Square and talked for about two hours just getting to know another and then walked to a local bar to grab a drink. He was interesting and we actually had some friends in common since he went to school for theater here in the city. Unfortunately, it was the only time I’ve seen him. I’ve been busy with work once again, doing overnights and us having different schedules. Though he was a very nice guy, I think I would just like to keep it platonic and form a good friendship.

            My last story I have for you is really about two encounters based on the same night. It started about two weeks ago on a Sunday night where I went out to a birthday party my friend, Manny, invited me too for his friend Joeff. I met his friend only once before a long time ago, and my friend is straight and they were all going to a gay club for the party. So I figured since I hadn’t seen Manny in a quite some time I’ll go. I bring my best wing man to party, Shane and we have a good time. Open bar for an hour, danced, connected with Manny again, it was totally fun. Shane went off and met this guy while I was left hanging out with Manny and Joeff and company. Well, I noticed a guy where a white and grey sweater also invited to the party and thought was completely cute, very handsome, distinguished looking and nothing that this gay club usually attracts as its customers which is great, because it wasn’t really my type of place to go out too. Anyway, I knew that there were going to be straight guys at this party because it was a birthday gathering, so I asked Manny about the guy I found cute, and he didn’t know the person. So I thought that was the end of that. I couldn’t really tell he was gay. I know that statement is going to have people up in arms because, “what is gay? What makes you gay? Being gay is a sexual preference and not a look, or gesture or something that sometimes is even easy to tell.” Manny though went to ask Joeff about him with me refusing because I was just going to give it up and not think twice. Well little do I know that Joeff comes over and grabs my hand and directs me right to this guy and basically says, “John this is Max. You guys should talk, bye.” Highly embarrassing and completely awkward, since I was drinking and had been for a while and John was sober because he was driving.

            Well, let me tell you guys. Best thing to ever happen that night was meeting John. He’s incredibly smart, funny, interesting, and I like hanging out with him. That night I asked him for his number and said I would like to see him sometime, somewhere less crowded and noisy so we could chat. The next day I texted him and saw him again that coming Friday for dinner. We ate, though we didn’t eat much, and took the food to go, and walked around. It was absolutely freezing out, and as I am, I never dress appropriately for the weather and we decided to walk around for a bit. Like a complete gentleman, he took off his jacket and gave it for me to wear. Very sappy to read, I know, but was completely sweet and I thought it was cute. We walked back to his car where he picked up a sweatshirt for himself and then we walked to get tea to warm us up. We were there for the last half hour the place was open and talked about everything. It was great because the conversation flowed and flowed and there weren’t any awkward pauses, unless to figure out what to do with our night. We had met at 8 and it was now 11pm. He was driving, so we didn’t drink, which is rare for me on a Friday night. I’m not a lush, I just happen to always be out with friends who go out Fridays. Anyway, we walked back to his car and ended up just driving in the city where the conversation turned to music. We then parked outside the Natural History Museum, and talked some more. It was romantic to park and talk even though it was slightly creepy in a “rape and murder” situation at midnight next to Central Park. The evening ended with him driving to my place and hanging out watching a movie on my laptop. Nothing sexual happened for those dirty inquiring minds. But he did end up leaving my place at 4:30 in the morning to drive back to Brooklyn. I saw him again on Sunday where we spent the entire day and evening together. Looking forward to seeing more of him in the future and seeing where this can go.

            I’ll let you guys know soon about that day on Sunday in a post that’s going to happen soon. J

Early Morning Fail

            So, I think I’ve finally reached a new level of the “boy crazy” phase I’m in. About a week ago, Christmas Eve actually, I was at Starbucks and had just come off doing an overnight at work. I was on line which was basically out the door since it was immensely crowded even at that ungodly hour early in the morning. Anyway, I had noticed a guy about 2 people in front of me that was staring at me. He would turn around every so often shuffling on his feet to look at me.

            I didn’t really pay any attention since I was busy with responding to the many mass text messages my friends were sending for the holiday. I finally noticed him when the person behind him kept telling him to move up in line when there was a space. He was pretty attractive, I had to admit. He was tall, about 5’11-6’, brown hair, average weight I suppose, not to thick not to thin, and his bone structure on his face was definitely defined. He smiled at me once I caught his eye but I didn’t react. I didn’t smile or anything, mostly because I was really tired and any bodily function I would have had was working on a time delay due to working all night.

            The line wasn’t moving fast at all and he got a call on his cell phone so he answered it. He was talking kind of loudly and I was trying to overhear everything he was saying on his end. It seems as if he was planning a kind of big New Year’s Eve party in his apartment in Hell’s Kitchen where a lot of his out of town gay friends were going to be at. At this point in my own life, I didn’t really have a set plan for Christmas since my family was heading to NJ and I didn’t want to join them, or New Year’s Eve since I might not make it upstate to my friend’s NYE party. For some reason or another, I wanted this guy to think I was interesting or at least had friends to make plans with.

            Everyone wants to come across as interesting and that they have things going on in their life besides the routine schedule of sleep, work, eat and sleep. That is not fulfilling or even slightly interesting. So what do you think I did? I took out my phone and pretended that I was getting a phone call. To be completely honest, I pretended it was ex-roommate Catherine who I had just seen a couple days prior to her visit from North Carolina. We saw each other on the day of the apocalypse. I pretended that she had called me and wanted to get together sometime this week and she was filling me on with her Christmas/New Year’s plans. Clearly I knew everything she was doing since we saw each other just last week. I relayed what she had said as if it was the first time, and I was filling her in on my job, NYC, family, and mutual friends, all at an above than normal speech level so the hot guy would also overhear my conversation.

            Oh he heard me, and he smiled several times at certain points during my imaginary conversation to my friend. I hung up a few minutes later before he ordered. Once he did, instead of heading to the end of the bar to wait for his order he just took several steps back from the register and then it was my turn and he was right behind me. I totally thought this was my chance. When I turn around he’d be right there and we’d smile, awkwardly because we both knew what we were doing; the silly loud conversations, the smiling, eye contact.

            Yet, when I turned around he wasn’t staring at me but towards the door where a new, even cuter man had just entered. Not only was he staring, but the man walked right up to him and gave my crush a hug and kiss on the mouth. Perfect, obvious flirtation wasted. Crazy imaginary phone call wasted. Hopes and motivation wasted. Which concludes this post is that I was crazy over a random cute boy for nothing. I didn’t need to make up a conversation. I didn’t need to play this cat-and-mouse game with eye flirts and shy smiles.  All I really needed to do was talk to him when I saw him. Have enough confidence in myself that I can be interesting enough for anyone and go up to anyone once the flirtation/interest is established and then he also needed to be upfront with his actions since he had a boyfriend.

            You know, all this is easier said than done. Resolution for 2013: Be confident, put myself out there, and take risks. Also, be honest and not make crazy phone conversations. J

   Once again readers, I promise to update more regularly since it is a new year and I have more time and a set schedule once again at work. Happy New Year readers!