The Liberties of Relationships

One measure of the degree of "closeness" of a relationship can be summarized by the number and types of liberties afforded to the parties engaged in the relationship.

For starters, when you meet someone in a higher position than yourself within the same social hierarchy (for instance, student meets teacher), it's common for the student to address the teacher as Mrs. ____ or Dr. _____. After a comfortable relationship has been forged, maybe the student takes the liberty of calling the professor by their first name (or a title, such as "coach").

Another example: it's alright to make fun of personal shortcomings in friends, but not in random strangers. The closer the friend, the more you can say about them without getting your ass kicked. You can also take the liberty of asking progressively larger favors to progressively closer friends. This leads to my "dispose of a body" test of friendship. Ask yourself how many of your friends would unquestioningly help you dispose of a body if you really needed their help. How many of your friends would you help out?

With other types of relationships, there may be physical liberties. For example, I'm a very huggable person...but I won't let someone I don't know give me a hug. That's a liberty reserved for friends/family. I'm sure you can fill in the blank with girlfriends, etc. The closer you are to a significant other, the more you get away with, both physically and verbally (yes, your butt DOES look big).

Rustic Shed

Taken in rural, southwestern Virginia.

Alone After the Ballgame

I think that tonight is the first time that I've left the field alone after a ball game. When I was younger, my parents were always there. When I was in college, my room-/team-mates were there. Tonight I left alone and it was a weird feeling. Even though I haven't played in about 3 years, it's weird to play a team sport then be an individual again right after it ends. I've never had that feeling with races (which I go to/leave from alone all the time). Weird.

Softball & Accountability

I'm playing intramural softball now. Our first practice was today and our first game is tomorrow. Although we won't be practicing much, I think that there's still enough incentive to be halfway serious about the games out of respect for my teammates. I guess it's hard to play softball without a team...but you can run with or without a team.

And when I run without a team, I feel that it's not as bad if I slack because I'm not letting my teammates down. Having somebody else there for your practices/workouts holds you more accountable. This effect isn't constrained to the realm of sports, either. I have never done theater, but I think that this applies. If you stretch your imagination, it could work with grades in school (who is your team? the people in your study group.).

Even though I think I'm a fairly self-motivated person, having others to let down is an incentive to do it right. So, if you're slacking, try getting someone else (who you care about) to hold you accountable.

Pick #40

Jayhawks - Save it for a Rainy Day

from the album Rainy Day Music. Their first song that caught my attention was Tailspin, but I think I like this one better.

Qué Servicio

escrito el 23 de Mayo de 2005 a las 0748h en mi cama del hotel en Guayaquil.

Ayer fuimos al parque nacional de historia y dejé mi camera en el hotel. ¡Qué estupido! Robaré fotos de otros. Después, caminabamos por Las Peñas y comimos allí. Compré un gorro tonto para Sarah.
La parte más interesante de ayer fue la cena...un hombre del hotel vinió a nuestra habitación, cojió el dinero y regresó en unos 25 minutos con Pizza Hut. Nos obtuvo un descuento de $5 y por eso le di una propina de $5. ¡Lo invitamos por dentro para tomar un traigo [sic] y él lo hizo! Esta mañana, el mismo hombre fue para comprarme agua sin gas. ¡Qué servicio!
Ahora es seguramente la duración más larga en que no me he afeitado. Creo que puedo pasar las 5 semanas (o menos) sin afeitarme por un "premio" de Sarah...aunque es una sorpresa.

Triple Overtime

I must concede defeat to Danielle. She beat me tonight in triple overtime in beerpong. Although I would have won the first round (and the 2nd overtime) by Sean' s rules, we had to play house rules; and being her place, she had the house-rules-advantage.

After we had been playing for a little while (Danielle & Jack were up by 8 games by the time Nick got me there from the Trophy Wifes concert...which kicked ass), Danielle and I decided to go one on one. I closed out the game, but she got redemption and hit the cup. Events proceeded and we got to triple overtime. I had her down to one cup. She sunk both of my remaining cups (they play that if I win the regular game, but she makes all the redemption cups, then we go into overtime with 3 cups). So, she got the balls back and I get no redemption. High five, Danielle. I've never played a closer game in my life.