In which I write personal ads.

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Havi at The Fluent Self has a weekly ritual in which she posts personal ads for the things and people she wants and needs in her life. I love the idea, so I am heretofore going to rip her off.

Prolific communicator with endless opinions seeks same for pen-pal relationship. Let's keep the centuries-old tradition alive and count among the last great correspondents.

Topics unlimited. I am not easily offended, but be sure you are likewise and can take what you give. Sample topics might include books recently read, life lessons learned from daily tasks, updates on major milestones, progress towards goals, and explorations on topics not discussed in polite society.

Regular correspondence is a must, although "regular" may be defined as anything from a short note once a week to an encyclopedic missive twice a year. I tend toward the latter but am flexible. Ideally, holiday and birthday greetings would be included in the correspondence (but would not count toward the "twice a year missive").

The ideal candidate already has my home address, as I do not give it out online. I begin all replies immediately after receiving a letter; long responses will take longer to finish.

No dabblers, please. Apply by post; I have sent letters that have received no response, and would like to weed out such candidates.

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Something completely different...

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Well, the poll was fun, wasn't it? It completely broke from the original spirit of this blog, but... well, the point was to tell stories about my life to prove that my boring life is not, in fact, boring...

And I sort of ran out of stories. At least, I think I did. If you know of anything that fits the criteria that you think I should write about, let me know.

In the meantime, let's make sure life doesn't get boring. I've got some stuff in mind coming up that also breaks from the original spirit of the blog, but hopefully you'll enjoy it. And, as always, I am open to suggestions!

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You chose our wedding song!

Thank you for all your votes.

Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are" won, if you were wondering. This is a good thing, as we were already practicing it with our dance instructor!

And not to worry if one of your favorites didn't make it. We're going to be forwarding some of these options to our band, so they may make an appearance as well.

Thanks again for playing. You were a HUGE help!

Help us pick our wedding song -- The Big Show!

With commentary by Chris!

And now we are in the finals, featuring two of the strongest vote getters throughout the tournament, Stand by Me and Just the Way You Are. Just the Way You Are is probably a better song to dance to than Stand by Me as it has a slighter better pace than the very slow Stand by Me. However, they are both fun songs with a good message. You cannot go wrong here.

Although my vote is for my man Billy.

Help us pick our wedding song -- Round 4

Cover of The Thing Called Love (Director's Cut)

It's the Final Four! Just as a disclaimer, there is a chance we'll end up going with a finalist instead of the actual winner, but trust me, you guys are huge help.

Oh, another tough one.  I love I Believe in a Thing Called Love -- and based on the results of previous rounds, you guys do, too.  But Just the Way You Are has been really strong throughout as well, and, as much as I hate to say it, is probably the more appropriate song.  I'd have to lean toward Billy Joel, myself.  But you're not me, so we'll see where this goes.



Stand by Me enters the Final Four as the leading vote-getter through three rounds with 20 votes. It has won by at least 4 votes in every round, including by 5 in the last two rounds, one of which featured the #1 seed. Stand by Me is a strong, fun, and solid song, and is worthy of being here.

Hanging by a Moment is #3 seeded song, and the only truly seeded song to make the finally 4. However, it has squeaked by the last two votes with 1 point victories (including one which was at first a tie). This is also a very strong song and worthy of being here. Who wins, the highest seeded song left or the leading vote getter?

Help Us Pick our Wedding Song -- Round 3!

OK, now onto the Elite 8, with special commentary by Chris!

Stand by Me pulled an incredible upset over the #1 seeded Let Love Rule; can this song be the Cinderella (although it is only against the #13 seed)? Stand by Me is short, more-or-less danceable and lyrically suitable, as the song speaks about standing with the person no matter what. It can be best described by us as non-objectionable and really neutral (could be played for a couple or mother son, etc.)

Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You may well be experiencing a resurgence thanks to hit Broadway musical Jersey Boys. It's a classic, but not necessarily an automatic go-to, which is nice. And there's some really danceable moments. The biggest problem may be that it talks about a kind of love at first sight feeling (which we do not really believe in), as well as lust. I mean, what kind of marriage would function when the spouse cannot take his eyes off the other spouse? Also what happens when the spouses age? Can this song win against the higher seeded giant killer, Stand by Me?


Here Comes the Sun has a very nice sense of "things are going to be OK from here on out." Although that can make it seem like it was not before (so the only reason things are OK is because we will be married? Maybe appropriate given our current long distance status, but is it the right message?) It's danceable and cheerful and appropriate but not entirely conventional. It should also appeal with everyone given that it is the Beatles. This song has been popular in the voting with 13 votes in favor of it in the first two rounds (although it faced the 23 and 31 seeds).

I Believe in a Thing Called Love is not even remotely grandmother-friendly. Well, not our grandmothers. That's not a deal-breaker, mind you, but as completely awesome the song is, it's pretty heavy on the sexuality. It has some of the same problems Can't Take My Eyes Off You did, but it does talk about being together always, which is the sweet side of this song. This song is the lowest seed left (other than the Lovely Day in the tiebreaker) and barely made it out of round 1; it will be tough to get past the Beatles with its borderline inappropriate lyrics.



Just the Way You Are is a danceable song (though quite slow), and has more relateable lyrics, and seems the perfect message of marriage -- maybe not the most complementary lyrics (particularly "I don't want clever conversation. I never want to work that hard"), but that's the point. Billy Joel is on the older side but there are older songs left.

They Stood Up For Love is a great song. It's very inspirational, very pro-love on a general basis -- though the first couple of lines are not grandmother-friendly (however, the rest of the song is). This is the second highest seed left -- the highest if you don't count "Hanging by a Moment" in the tiebreaker round -- and has fared well in each round. I expect this to survive again.


I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) is a strange choice (which tends to be a good thing), and it's still quite lyrically appropriate. Added bonus? It featured prominently in an episode of How I Met Your Mother we love. The #18 seed had a strong victory in week 1 and just knocked off the #7 seed. Now it will face a strong challenge vs. the #3 seed. I would add as Laura did that is song is strange but it has nice lyrics and it is probably danceable.

Hanging by a Moment is nice because it's generationally appropriate. In addition to being romantic and danceable, it was at its peak popularity just as we were coming of age. That's sort of the problem, though. Baggage. Personally, I like this song and I feel it is incredibly romantic and sweet, though it could be considered cliched. This song is the highest seed left but it is coming off a close call against Lovely Day. With They Stood Up for Love losing, this could be the only truly seeded team to make the Final 4.

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Help us pick our wedding song -- Round Two (part 2)!

Don't forget to check back on previous polls that haven't closed yet!

In Your Eyes (Video) (Lyrics) is a great song, one I really like, that would make for a pretty dance. A really long, pretty, slow dance. The short version (!!!) clocks in at about 5 1/2 minutes.

Here Comes the Sun (Video) (Lyrics) has a very nice sense of "things are going to be ok from here on out." It's danceable and cheerful and appropriate but not entirely conventional.

While In Yours Eyes is arguably more romantic, it's unarguably really long. Therefore, Prediction: Here Comes the Sun.





I'm a Believer (Video) (Lyrics) is classic Monkees -- cute, goofy, a little weird, and insanely danceable. But... it's the Monkees. Debateably the prototypical boyband. Boyband, people.

I Believe in a Thing Called Love (Video) (Lyrics) is not even remotely grandmother-friendly. Well, not our grandmothers. That's not a deal-breaker, mind you, but as completely awesome the song is, it's pretty heavy on the sexuality.

Well, this is a fun match-up. The songs really couldn't be more different, despite the fact that they're essentially about the same thing. If we're going conventional, you have to go Monkees. If we're going unconventional, you have to go Darkness. Ths is another one where I won't complain if I'm wrong, but Prediction: I Believe in a Thing Called Love.





They Stood Up For Love (Video) (Lyrics) is a great song. It's very inspirational, very pro-love on a general basis -- not perfectly grandmother-friendly, if you look at the first line, though.

You're Still the One (Video) (Lyrics) is a good song. It's a crossover from the realm of country music, which is a pro for a lot of people, though not necessarily for us. I've actually heard punk covers of it that, while silly, were pretty good. The lyrics can't get much better, either.

You know, if I could talk the band into playng one of those punk covers, it wouldn't be a contest. I don't think they will, though, so Prediction: They Stood Up for Love



Just the Way You Are (Video) (Lyrics) is more danceable I think, and has more relateable lyrics -- maybe not the most complementary lyrics, but that's the point. Billy Joel belongs more to our parents' generation than ours, but there's nothing wrong with catering to the parents.

I Just Called to Say I Love You (Video) (Lyrics) is another one of those songs will make people smile when they realize that, while it may never have occurred to them, it's really a good choice. Plus it's a bit more upbeat (and a bit less possessive, let's be honest).

Stevie Wonder is a bit more optimisitc than Billy Joel. Prediction: I Just Called to Say I Love You.