Single Scene Newsletter 12-29-03 Issue 87 Copyright Single Scene 2003 http://www.azsinglescene.com sing-@globalcrossing.net Happy NewYear to You! IN THIS ISSUE: * How automotive tips can improve your relationships! * Advice from Aunt Janet: Whose advice should you take? * Dates ideas for January --------------------------------------- For help in adjusting to and even enjoying single life, visit our website at http://divorcerecovery101.com. ************************ Click & Clack, relationship experts! How automotive tips can improve your relationships! by Janet Jacobsen One of my favorite places to hear good relationship advice is on "Car Talk," on public radio. Tom and Ray Magliozzi (also known as Click & Clack) also have a syndicated newspaper column that ostensibly is advice about cars. First, they are funny guys, and I enjoy listening to them, plus I occasionally pick up useful tips about my car. But I LOVE it when they throw in relationship advice, because they are so right on. Once a woman called about how to handle a car problem she had had after driving from Washington DC to New York to visit her boyfriend. After her explanation of the situation, and a mention that she had driven back to DC with the car in the same condition, their first advice was "Forget the car! First, dump the boyfriend! Do not date anyone who would let you drive a car in such bad shape!" Nailed it, dead to rights. In a recent column a man explained the disagreement he and his girlfriend were having about whether he should buy a 1969 Buick Electra 225. Despite the car being in mint condition, the girlfriend had lots of good reasons why he should buy something more modern. Tom and Ray agreed with her completely, but advised him to buy the car anyway. Did you pick the girlfriend after a careful assessment of assets and liabilities? No! "Not every decision we make is a practical one." If the car's a problem, it can be sold. If the girlfriend is embarrassed to be seen in it, take her car when you're together. And here's my favorite part of their thinking: "This will be a good test for the relationship. If she lets you have the car and remains good-natured about it, even though she knows it's a stupid idea, that's a very good sign for the future." It means she won't be overly controlling, which bodes well for building your collection of power tools. Often in our dating life we have opportunities for little "tests" that are signs for the future of the relationship, and too often we just ignore what we could learn from them. Given the key role that autos play in American life today, it might be wise to pay more attention to our "car talk." ------------------------------------- YOU CAN HELP! Our singles' Internet information, maintained solely to help newly divorced and widowed people, which means we have little budget to promote our services. Newly singled people will find out about it and get help only if readers like you (word of mouth) tell them about the sites and newsletters. Next time you attend a support group, class, seminar, singles event etc. please do both us and them a favor by recommending and telling them about these sites, newsletters, and courses. Remind them these are all totally FREE. ----------------------------------------------- Advice from Aunt Janet: Whose advice should you take? (The following story is framed with a male point of view, because that's who asked the original question. If you're female, simply reverse all genders and apply the suggestions the same.) Give some thought to who you ask for dating advice. A while back a fellow was asking me why it was so hard for an every day guy to meet a nice girl who'd like to settle down. Since nice girls are constantly complaining that there ARE no "nice guys" who want to settle down, I asked him what he'd beendoing to meet women. Turns out that he'd been mostly hanging out in bars recommended by the women who worked where he did (he was a mechanic). Are these women pretty much the type you are looking for? I asked. Well, no, he admitted. Not all of us work in environments that make it easy to meet suitable singles for dating. So we tend to look to other singles for suggestions on where and how to meet people. But if the folks you know currently aren't really the type you want to meet, you may have to expand your advice horizons. This could mean the sisters of your friends or the wives of your co-workers. Just because they're not single themselves doesn't mean they don't KNOW single women. And asking for their advice on good places to meet nice women is flattering. So if they don't have any immediate suggestions, they may be happy to do some research to find the right advice to give you. ------------------------------------------------------ Get timely tips on how to handle the mysteries of dating by signing up for Harlan’s dating e-newsletter. Just send a blank e-mail to dating_agai-@topica.com. ------------------------------------------------------ Jan. 28 to 31, the Birds Nest party will be held at WestWorld as the after-event party for the FBR Golf Open in north Scottsdale. Not strictly a singles event, the party features local bands as opening acts and a different national band each night. The mostly-single crowd numbers several thousand each night. Admission is $10 per day. Info 480-784-444. ---------- Dates Ideas for January (Schedules are subject to change. When possible,always call ahead to confirm.) Thurs., Jan. 1: Fiesta Bowl National Band Championship, Bank One Ballpark, Phoenix. 9 a.m. 480-350-0900. Fri. Jan. 2: College Football's Biggest Party, ASU Festival Grounds, 11:30 a.m. Pre-Fiesta Bowl pep rallies, food and beverage booths, marching band performances. 480-350-0911. Sat., Jan. 3: Every Saturday, classic cars & motorcycles exhibited approx. 5-9 p.m. (or later) around McDonalds at the Scottsdale Pavilions, Pima & Indian Bend Roads in Scottsdale. Free. 480-991-6007. Sun., Jan. 4: Sunday A'Fair, noon to 4:30 p.m. Sundays thru April. Scottsdale Civic Center plaza. Entertainment, arts & crafts, guided tours of the outdoor sculptures. Free. 480-994-2787. Mon., Jan. 5: Art Salon, Pulliam Auditorium, Burton Barr Central Library, 1221 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 6:30 pm reception, 7 pm lecture/discussion on art & artists. Free. 602-262-4636. Tues., Jan. 6: Movie Tuesdays movie discussion series, every Tuesday, 5:30-7 p.m. Pulliam Auditorium, Burton Barr Central Library, 1221 N. Central, Phoenix. Free. 602-262-4636. Wed., Jan. 7: Adults' Night Out, Arizona Science Center, 7th St. & Washington, Phoenix. 5-9 p.m. Includes a special program or lecture (7 p.m.). $5 adm., plus $2 for giant-screen film or planetarium. 602-716-2000. Thurs., Jan. 8: Every Thurs., East Coast Swing classes, VFW Post #720, 4853 E. Thomas, Phoenix. 7:30 p.m. $5. 602-245-0467. Fri., Jan. 9: Every Fri., Friday night drag racing, Firebird International Raceway, 20000 S. Maricopa Rd., Chandler. 6 p.m. $10. 602-268-0200. Sat., Jan. 10: The Phoenix Friends of Old Time Music hold a Contra Dance at the Kenilworth School, 1210 N. 5th Avenue inPhoenix, from 7:30-11 pm. Live band and caller. 480-759-2382. Sun., Jan. 11: Sundays, Adobe Mountain Railroad Museum and Desert Railroad Park, 23280 N. 43rd Ave., Phoenix. Free rides in mini-steam trains. 12-5 pm. Free (donations appreciated). 623-386-5737. Mon., Jan. 12: Book lovers, unite. The New Times names Changing Hands the best bookstore in the Valley. At 6428 S. McClintock in Tempe, conveniently next door is the Wildflower Bread Company. So you can either dine before or dessert after and discuss your favorite reads. Changing Hands has occasional guest speakers, authors' nights, etc. 480-730-0205. Tues., Jan. 13: Most Tuesdays, Salsa Dance lesson, Axis/Radius, 7340 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale. 8:30 p.m. $5. 480-970-1112. Wed., Jan. 14: Royal Scottish Country Dancing, 7 pm, Scottsdale Senior Center, Civic Center & 2nd Ave. Free. 480-834-5662. Newcomers welcome. Thurs., Jan. 15: "The Final Word," a lecture series featuring distinguished ASU professors, 10:30 a.m. at the Kerr Cultural Center, 6110 N. Scottsdale Rd. Dr. Jeff Hester of the School of Physics and Astronomy will speak on man's interest in the heavens. Coffee served at 10. $6.50 admission. 480-596-2660. Fri., Jan. 16: Every Fri., open dancing to a variety of music, 9:15 p.m. to midnight. Dance lessons 7:30-9:15. $5 Paragon Dance Center, 3029 N. Alma School, Chandler. 480-777-8877. Sat., Jan. 17: Every Sat.: Lindy Hop Swing classes, 2:30 and 3:45 p.m., $8. Arizona Athletic Club, 1425 W. 14th St., Tempe. 480-894-2281. Sun., Jan. 18: For a day in the country, without leaving the Valley, visit Sahuaro Ranch, 9802 N. 59th Ave., Glendale. This city park was originally a citrus farm, and many of the farm buildings are still intact, as well as the historic home. Plus farm animals roam the grounds as well. Info 623-939-5782. Mon., Jan. 19: Meeting at a coffee shop is a great first date, but you can make it even cooler by meeting at the "best coffee house for the hip" (according to the New Times), Lux Coffee Bar, 4404 N. Central, Phoenix. 602-266-6469. Tues., Jan. 20: Want to share a spirit of adventure? Wander around at Lee Lee Oriental Supermarket, 2025 N. Dobson, Chandler, a 52,000 square foot Asian bazaar and grocery. Pick out something to take home to cook for dinner -- live eel, maybe? 480-899-2887. Wed.-Sun., Jan. 21-25: Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction, WestWorld, 16601 N. Pima Rd., Scottsdale. Hundreds of collector cars, and 165,000 spectators. 480-421-6694. Admission is $20 Thurs. & Sun., $25 Fri.-Sat. Thurs., Jan. 22: Free wine tasting 5-7 p.m., free concert 7-8:30 p.m., Carefree Town Center amphitheater, 101 Easy St., Carefree. 480-488-3686. Thursdays thru May. Fri., Jan. 23: The right combination of restaurants, bars and a stroll-around atmosphere have made Market Street in DC Ranch in north Scottsdale a hopping night spot, especially on weekends. If that's a little too far north for you, Kierland (Scottsdale Rd. & Greenway) is a bit less of the bar scene,more on restaurants and the "strolling downtown" atmosphere. Sat., Jan. 24-March 7: Smithsonian Institute exhibit "Yesterday's Tomorrow's--Past Visions of the American Future," Cave Creek Museum, 6140 Skyline Drive. $3 admission. 480-488-2764. Sun., Jan. 25: Sundays, Greater Phoenix Swing Dance Club Dance, VFW Post 720, 4853 E. Thomas, Phx. Lesson 5-7, dance 7-10. $5 adm. Info 602-269-5657. Mon., Jan. 26: Here's one way to be sure it's a "hot" date: have dinner at Los Dos Molinos, 8646 S. Central, Phoenix (also in Mesa). While their specialty is very spicy (and great) Mexican food, tamer dishes are available too. Regularly named one of the best Mexican restaurants in town. 602-243-9113. Tues., Jan. 27: Poetry in the Park, Encanto Park Clubhouse, 2605 N. 15th Ave., Phoenix. 7-9:30 p.m. Free. 602-262-6412. Wed., Jan. 28: Acoustic Jam Session for amateurs. 7 p.m., large meeting room, Glendale Public Library, 5959 W. Brown St. Free. 623-930-3537. Thurs., Jan. 29: Art Walk (every Thurs.), Scottsdale galleries, 5th Ave. area. 7-9 p.m. 480-990-3939. Fri., Jan. 30: Astronomy Open House, Bateman Physical Science Bldg., H-wing roof (5th floor), ASU. 8-10 p.m. Free. Telescopic views. 480-965-7652. (during school year) Sat., Jan 31: Parada del Sol Parade, Scottsdale Rd. from Oak Street to Indian School, 10 a.m. Ends with festivities in Old Town Scottsdale. Free. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + IF YOU KNOW THE RIGHT CONVERSATIONAL SKILLS, meeting people can be fun and easy ! Improve your MEETING PEOPLE skills with the HOW TO MEET PEOPLE audiocassette by Janet Jacobsen, editor of Single Scene. You’ll learn **How to overcome your fears **Three sure-fire meeting methods **Where to find interesting people **Simple, fun techniques to improve your social life NOW. To order HOW TO MEET PEOPLE, send $9.95 (first class postage & handling included) to Interpersonal Enterprises Inc. Box 6243 Dept. E Scottsdale AZ 85261-6243. Satisfaction Guaranteed! -------------------------------------------------