Remax Alliance
Confessions Of A Serial Dater
Secret Fishing Holes
Unlike the avid outdoorsman who is reluctant to give up his secret fishing spot where he’s discovered the fish are abundant and there are no other fishermen around to snag his prize or scare other potential fish away from his hook, I am happy to offer you guys my surefire sweet spots where women are aplenty and their guard is down. If you’re worn out from the bar/ club scene and you’re just spinning your wheels online dating, then I suggest you read on.
I’ll be the first to admit the world of dating is more confusing than ever. In a world of technology and social media you would think having access to an abundance of people would broaden your options and you would surely find someone to date with a mutual attraction, commonalities and similar outlook on life. The climate of dating and dating etiquette has changed dramatically just over a few decades so if it’s been a while since you’ve put yourself out there because you were married or in an LTR, going the online dating or bar/club route will surely eat you alive. Those roads for a new age dating rookie will leave you less confident and your pocketbook will be much lighter with nothing to show for.
Here are my top five secret fishing holes that will get you back out there without draining every ounce of energy from your body while you’re doing them.
1. Dog Park. I know, I know, you’re thinking that’s an obvious one, or you’re thinking, I don’t even have a dog. Here’s the kicker, it’s all in the approach. Here’s what you do … tag along with friends who are a couple and have a cute dog (preferably a puppy). The third wheel approach works well because a single woman walking her dog is more likely to stop and chat with a group of three than she is with a lone guy and his dog. She expects the lone guy and his dog to hit on her, but she has her guard down when she sees a couple and their friend going for a leisurely stroll. At that point she is open to chatting and your friends should talk you up by planting seeds in her head solidifying what a sweet, fun guy you are. At that point maybe she’s open to continuing her walk with you while your married friends continue on without you.
2. Go to every kids’ birthday party you are invited to. Why you ask? I am happy to explain. No guys ever want to go to a kids’ birthday party so the only people that are left to attend are women. Going to a kids’ birthday party gives you an advantage two-fold. First the obvious, you’re the only guy there! Second, you are showing you love and are great with kids leaving the moms in awe and they will practically throw themselves at you.
3. Volunteer your time. Think of how much time you’ve spent on wasted dates. Now what if you only used 25 percent of that wasted time volunteering? This is an awesome way to meet quality women who admire you for your giving side which in turn makes them much more approachable, providing you an atmosphere that allows you to mingle with single prospects without them feeling the pressure of a date or being directly hit on.
4. Weddings. Again, you say here is another obvious one. But tell me this, when was the last time you went to a wedding solo? Going solo is the key. For one, there is no mistake you are single but most importantly every woman who goes to a wedding when they are single can only think about one thing — why she is single and how badly she wishes it was her day. There is something about weddings that brings the want-to-be bride out in every woman.
5. Finally, charity events! I know you are starting to see a theme here and if you aren’t, you should. A charity event is another great way for meeting women, especially if you both truly believe in the same cause. This is an instant way of striking up a conversation that is easy and unassuming. The best way to approach a woman is to drop the lines, introduce yourself to her and talk to her like a human being while giving her the respect she deserves. Give it a try and you just might be surprised.
I have to give credit to Martin Alvarez who was a recent guest on my radio show, the Modern Dater for suggesting #5. If you missed that show or any others you can always catch prior shows podcasts on www.themoderndater.com. Happy fishing!
— Sheik
Blasting With Boyles
The Monfort Brothers Won’t Let Street Vendors Wet Their Beaks
If You Can’t Fix It With A Hammer Or Duct Tape, It’s An Electrical Problem
Opening day. Your Colorado Rockies. The music. The topless girls on the buildings across from Coors Field. Walt Weiss as the skipper. Your Colorado Rockies, the major league baseball franchise based in Denver, Colorado, takes the field.
But this year the game is being played outside. There are a group of men and women who have started brats and gourmet hotdogs and sausage businesses with carts. They have sites all around Coors Field. Now it’s important for you to remember and put you in the “way back” machine to when your Colorado Rockies were born.
In 1989 when professional baseball’s National League announced it would expand by two teams for the 1993 season, Colorado powerbrokers and legislators, bankers and bond daddies went yard. Those of us who have kicked around awhile remember 1980 when Marvin Davis almost brought Charlie Finley’s Oakland A’s to Denver. Somehow the deal fell apart but my understanding is Mr. Finley still has representation in the Mile High City. That of course crushed the dreams of local baseball enthusiasts. But in the middle of all of that, then Governor Roy “Deep Kiss” Romer, walked forward with a couple of real decent, clean handed, honorable men. Romer and National League President Roy White presented to the public John Antonucci and Michael “Mickey” Monus July 5, 1991. These boys were in the spotlight for about a year when the wheels came off. I know you all remember Phar-Mor, the financial scandal that sent Mickey to jail and Antonucci headed to the mattresses.
The next man in the batting order was Jerry McMorris, who, lest you forget, re-hired Antonucci. And by opening day that year, 1993, Johnny boy was gone again. Most recently I saw an interview where Mickey said he was responsible for major league baseball in Denver. I’m sure we’re all very proud of that moment.
So one of the things we all learned in the building of Coors Field is that the taxpayers were clearly on board. You paid for that sidewalk and you paid for that infield. So, as we say, the taxpayer, the everyday guy has a little skin in the game.
The naming of Coors Field to the Coors family and naming rights is another bright shining lie but that’s for another fun column. Street vendors with carts were told after paying licensing fees to lease the area of Lodo that for 20 years the city of Denver had made a mistake letting them be there. Each mayor from Wellington Webb to Michael Hancock, safety managers, council members, public health officials, police officers, DAs, sundry law enforcement and health and safety bureaucrats have walked in the main gate seeing the food cart entrepreneurs without realizing they were law breakers.
And with the crack of a bat and the opening of the fun party deck you can no longer buy water and inexpensive brats and a pretzel from vendors with carts.
Now The Denver Post has written some absolutely absurd columns but it’s hard to top the column that appeared saying that those vendors had to be moved out so the fans could have a clear path to the ballpark. By the way, isn’t it interesting The Denver Post is a minority owner in your Colorado Rockies.
Having worked my fair share of baseball opening days for radio I can tell that it is the media companies with their broadcasting vans, endless cables and other mass communication equipment that are the ones that present a real hindrance and danger to the public walking to the game and not a few push cart vendors selling hotdogs and brats.
The Rockies have their roots with some people suspected of being involved in organized crime. So does it really shock you that on or about the anniversary of the Ludlow Massacre that a bunch of hard working young guys and gals would be beaten down and forced out of business because the Rockies and their management group wanted that little bit of money?
So as you can see, they couldn’t fix it with duct tape or their political hammer, so the Rockies, with all the help from the mainstream media in the city, declared these small businessmen an “electrical problem.”
Play ball!!
— Peter
Valley Gadfly
Spring In Full Swing
After a winter that wouldn’t quit, we were eager for spring to get into full swing and for the Colorado Rockies to take another swing at the grand tradition of baseball. Fans did rise and shine to start the new season filling Coors Field to 97.5 percent of capacity for the Club’s 20th home opener at 20th and Blake.
After this winter small things feel like luxuries, even a hot dog at Coors Field. Humphrey Bogart once said, “a hot dog at the ballpark is better than steak at the Ritz.”
Here are our choices for shopping, dining and entertainment to get you into the swing of things so you will be a hit at home and on the town whatever your game plan:
3 Expect lots of dreams to fly over the fence during the Mini Maker Faire at the National Western Complex May 3-4. Inventors and do-it yourselfers display out-of-the-box ideas to catch your attention, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Information: 303-704-7876.
3 You’ll score a home run for Project Angel Heart by attending the Art For Life fundraiser May 9 at the Abend Gallery, 6:30 p.m. Information: 303-407-9420.
3 Comedian Shayna Ferm steps into the batter’s box to entertain moms at the Pump & Dump Mother’s Day Show May 10. The raucous evening of comedy is a three-inning show at the Holiday Event Center beginning at 6:30 p.m. Information: 303-668-8700.
3 Score big and head for home with a fairly traded Bunyaad rug during Ten Thousand Villages Oriental Rug Event at Augustana Lutheran Church, May 14-17. Strike a deal on intricate floral and hand-spun dye wool tribals. Information: 303-316-8773.
3 Dig for home plate after scoring on sale of Master Gardener vegetables, flowers & herbs at Harvard Gulch Park May 17-18, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Information: 720-913-5270.
3 You’ll score big with mom by taking her and the family to enjoy the Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet at the Inn at Cherry Creek, May 11. Information: 303-377-8577.
3 Cover all the bases by exploring options and opportunities for self-employment at the Un-Job Fair at Colorado Free University’s Lowry campus May 31. A lineup of self-employment experts will help you reach the big leagues. Information: 303-399-0093.
3 Swing into the game of life by attending this year’s Colorado Corks & Cuisine fundraising event at Four Mile Historic Park on May 22 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. You’ll be at the top of your game as you sip on Colorado’s premier libations while enjoying savory and sweet vittles. Enjoy views of the old west with friends and neighbors while also supporting the mission of Four Mile Park. Information: 720-865-0815.
Eating a stadium dog certainly isn’t a dining experience any more than baseball is something other than entertainment. Nevertheless it is worth noting that hot dogs stir impassioned feelings among fans at Coors Field where baseball buffs consume some 1.5 million of them each season, second only to those Dodger Dogs at LA’s Chavez Ravine.
Everyday things, be they simple, affordable, or sublime take just a little time and attention to make you a hit, even if it is a perfectly ripe tomato sprinkled with sea salt.
A simple daisy can bunt you into scoring position as easily as a dozen perfect roses. But neither is a joy if they are poorly pulled together in an unattractive container. No matter what the blossom or baseball pitch the runner won’t score without care and selection. Life will always throw you curves but when the right pitch comes be prepared to run the bases. Get out the rye bread and mustard grandma; it’s Grand Salami time!
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com.
Tech Speak For The Creek
It Is Time To Unfriend Facebook
What happened? I was such a Facebook fan. There was the “courting stage” where I migrated my social media life from MySpace to Facebook. With Facebook, I was just happy to open up a user’s page without music blasting over my laptop speakers. So long MySpace. Then, it was the “I can’t believe who I can connect with” stage as I re-connected with friends from childhood. Next, was the “let’s share how cool my life is” stage. Now, as I have gotten older, I have realized how uncool I really am. My life isn’t at all so interesting that I need to share a daily update.
I travel a bunch. As I spent a whole 45 seconds staring at the wall in an airport restroom, I found myself reading a few of the wall scribes. Of course, my initial thought was, “Who carries a Sharpie?” Then I realized, the posts on the bathroom wall weren’t any more amusing nor interesting than those on Facebook. Ugh! It hit me. I’ve lost hours of my life reading Facebook posts! I realized, there is a new stage, “Time to unfriend Facebook!” Luckily, I came to my senses and began to use the Paper app for Facebook. It’s Facebook in a newer, fresher view. Unfortunately, most of the posts I read are boring still.
If I do use Facebook, I generally use the check-in feature. It amazes me that I find someone to meet at my check-in location or city. It truly is a small world. A new feature, Nearby Friends, was released by Facebook. It is an opt-in only feature, which is a nice perk and should address privacy issues. We used Find My Friends while at Disney World, so this type of feature can be a beneficial tool. Another app alternative, Klutch, allows for a group of contacts to decide where to meet and when. This can replace the five emails it often takes to request a meeting time and location.
I’m a productivity app junkie. If there is one that will make my work and personal life more organized, I’ll try it. Microsoft Office has turned my iPad into an actual workable tablet. Microsoft released Excel, Word and PowerPoint for iPad and iPhone. They lack a few features that you should expect to receive with your desktop, however the apps are a great way to reduce the need of carrying around your laptop. One drawback is that it does not integrate with Dropbox. Speaking of Dropbox, they released a new app, Carousel, which manages photos. You’ll need to monitor the amount of your available Dropbox storage, but it should be an alternative to Picasa. One key feature is the easy way to share a volume of photos with other folks.
I hurt my back handing Mrs. App’s laptop cord to her the other day. OK, I didn’t hurt my back, but it is a heavy cord. Dart launched a new cord, which is light and compatible with Mac and most laptops. This is a great item to Google for travelers. It is available for $79 on Kickstarter. It may be best to set aside the rest of May to apologize for what you’re going to do this Cinco de Mayo.
Do you have a favorite app you’d like to share? Contact Brian at brian@brianzabroski.com, on Twitter @BrianZab or LinkedIn at www.linkedin .com/in/brianzab.
Brian has focused on helping technology companies grow their businesses for nearly 20 years. He currently serves as the Director of Channel Management for a cloud-based software business, which specializes in network monitoring, phone system usage analytics and mobile device analytics. Simply put, if your business’ network, phone system and corporate cell phones are slow, have issues and are expensive, then his software reduces and eliminates these challenges. The software is resold through an international channel of technology partners. He travels across North America educating technology companies how they can increase their business value nearly five-fold through his hybrid managed service selling technique.