Have you ever been walking along listening to you ipod and a song comes on that either moves you to want to break out in full Flashdance mode, or break down crying like the end of “Imitation of Life?”  And all you can think is that you want someone else to hear it and feel what you feel…but you cant.  Later, you try to describe the song  and how it made you feel to someone, but they look at you like you’re crazy, but offer you affirmative responses, like they get it, when you both know they don’t.  You both know that they can’t get it; it’s impossible.  Because it wasn’t just that song it was that moment.  It was yours, alone. That’s what a argument between two people who love each other is like.  Everyone walking through life with uncomfortable, ill-fitting ear buds in, listening to our own soundtrack.  Taking them off only long… [Read more]

When new people visit my house, the first thing that they usually note is that it looks almost too neat and clean to live in. This didn’t make sense to me until I started visiting people and noticed that human beings like comfort and comfort and order aren’t the very best of friends. It is easy to assume that I meticulously scrub my place and arrange stuff daily but in reality I probably do so far less than even the messiest of individuals. My secret lies in methodology and I aim to share my method of order within this article in order to help you pack rats who want to shift to the orderly line of decorating. Don’t be Offended It’s Probably Not Your Fault Most of the times we reflect our parents in the way we handle our homes. A person who comes from a parent who drills them to “put stuff back where… [Read more]

Jazzy Dog Café 1311 Sligh Blvd Orlando, FL  32806 407-428-0633 On the backstreets of downtown Orlando, located directly across from the train station, the Jazzy Dog Café has certainly made a name for itself with the passing through traffic.  The place is set up like a small diner with a few tables and bar seating.  The owner takes pride in her place, as she seems to always be smiling and greets every customer with friendly sincere appreciation for your patronage. Open from 10am to 3pm daily, they specialize in hotdogs and branch out with what on the menu they call “a little something different”, which consists of anything from chili to Jamaican beef patties.  The price is unbelievably low, as anybody with a large appetite can be full after spending less than $8.  Don’t let the price fool you, though…the food is definitely quality and prepared with love. Being a native of the Midwestern Chicago… [Read more]

I know a lot of you single women out there are pretty tired of the cliché statements and reasoning behind you not having a man. We know them so well that we could write an entire concerto to the sound of repetitive one-liners, anecdotes and reasons but I aim to explain from a personal standpoint what has scared me away from certain women and how I broke it off.  In the first part of this series, I will break down the three age levels of women in dating (especially online) and make general assumptions based on experience. The second half will cover real experiences and the last part will wrap it all up with a nice blue bow. To begin, let me put an annoying sentiment to rest where women with assets think that a man has to “earn” their attention. This line of thinking combined with the fact that the fairer sex outnumbers us… [Read more]

My life is a contradiction, the most disturbing of which is the fact that I drive a minivan.  It’s not even a slick one; you know the ones with televisions, heated seats, automatic doors and real windows everywhere that open.  Now, I’m young (enough), and cool (enough) , yet everyday I get behind the wheel of a silver turtle on wheels.  While the minivan offers many amenities, such as the ability to tote my kids, without having to strap someone to the trunk, it comes at a steep price.  It instantly zaps all my sex appeal.  It is the place where my sexiness goes to die. I mean, I don’t have to worry about a carload of creepy dudes rolling up alongside of me trying to holler, but short of that, it provides little comfort.  It’s like a magical minivan, that regardless of what I’m wearing or how cute I was in the house, I’m… [Read more]

Margaretha Geertruida Zelle, is a famous spy from history who was most definitely a hottie by every sense of the word. One of the most influential forces behind Orientalism and modern exotic dance, Mata Hari lived by her own rules and died with as much defiance of convention as she had lived. Yes all of you modern strippers and women of the night owe a little something to lady Margaretha who made such a mark that her name became world renowned by the time she was executed for treason. When she was about 18 yrs old, Margaretha answered an ad in the local newspaper, placed by a military man looking for a wife. After marrying and moving to the Dutch East Indies, the couple had two children named Norman-John and Jeanne-Louise.  The marriage was one of violence and drunk spousal abuse by officer Rudolph John MacLeod who blamed his position on his wife and beat… [Read more]

Café Trastevere 825 North Magnolia Ave. Orlando, FL 32803 www.cafetrastevere.com This authentic Roman/Italian restaurant is located in downtown Orlando. Trastevere means “across the Tiber”, and is named after Trastevere, Rome, where several cafés, boutiques and clubs are located. The atmosphere is quaint and intimate, where you will enjoy a casual evening with a date or with friends.  The wine list is not as extensive as I’d like, however, the Sangiovese that was ordered went well with the calamari, caprese salad, and three cheese gnocchi that I ordered. The one man staff was friendly (I told you the place was small), although as the only server in the place he seemed to be running back and forth, and at one point he even paused our questions to answer his cell phone. With respect to the food, the caprese salad did not seem any different than the one I make at home and the tomatoes were not… [Read more]

Spice Modern Steakhouse 326 S Park Ave Winter Park, FL 32789 www.spicesteakhouse.com I rarely frequent a specific restaurant more than once within a two week period. However, Spice Modern Steakhouse saw my face about three times within the course of seven days. Owned by a husband and wife team since 2006, the restaurant has great food, and a fun, yet trendy, atmosphere.  It is possible to enjoy an intimate dinner during the week, but there is live music Thursday through Saturday which makes a conversation at a booth somewhat difficult.  They definitely make up for this flaw with the cuisine and my favorite characteristic – two happy hours daily (4pm – 7pm and 9pm – close).  If you are a people watcher, there is ample seating outside that allows you to take in Winter Park’s nightlife right alongside the Park Avenue strip. In what I assume is a strategy, the portions are larger than the… [Read more]