The countdown has begun

sixty-nine days

eighteen hours

thirty-two minutes

thirty seconds
29
28
27....

Stuck in the Middle

Tomorrow is my birthday.

I'm actually not at all excited. Turning 24 is scary, man. I know, I know, all you people older are thinking, "Oh kid, get over it."

But seriously. I am officially in my mid-twenties now. Statistically speaking, one-third of my life is over. And what have I done? Have I made any impact on the world?

None. There's nothing to be my legacy, and I'm terrified that it will always be that way.

I'm an over-achiever. I know stories of brilliant young people who accomplish so much and my need for perfection drives me on. I have spent 24 years on this planet, and have nothing to show for it but a few scars and a lot of heartache.

Maybe this melancholy has something to do with the depression I've been feeling for a couple of months now. I've been sick for quite some time. I've been diagnosed with stress ulcers, migraines, and who knows what else is hiding in my system. I'm at a thankless job where nothing I do ends up right.

I just can't wait to go home and start afresh.

"Love is for fools wise enough to take a chance."

Kudos if you can tell me where that quote is from.

Now it's time for a little rant on my side.
We hear all sorts of junk about how women have these unrealistic ideas about shiny knights on white stallions. Personally I would settle for a brown-and-blond Belgian, but that's just me. The thing is, I never hear anybody talking about guys and THEIR unrealistic expectations.

A few weeks ago I was talking to a bunch of guys and they were discussing girls. I took a few things away from listening to them. Here are some of the things they said or implied that they wanted in a woman. She should:
-like the outdoors.
-enjoy long hiking/camping trips.
-be rustic/ able to survive on campfire meals and sleeping in tents.
-take good care of herself.
-be an amazing Godly woman.
-keep a good clean house.
-cook well.
-be willing to have lots of babies.
-play sports
-know how to dress well.
-be smart.
-be willing (and able) to follow her guy to the ends of the earth and back.
-be compassionate.
-be tough.
-look gorgeous all the time.
-love kids. (A good idea if she's expected to have babies all the time)

Is anyone else seeing any contradictions here?

Guys, I hate to break it to you, but no woman is going to look perfect all the time, even if she stays at home. If you drag her out into the wilderness for weeks at a time with no shower, no hair dryer, and no mirror, she's not going to be Barbie for you (Aside, notice how there never was a 'Camping Barbie'?).

You know how when you go camping after a few days you start looking like Grizzly Adams? Well, guess what? Women don't have a magical wand that makes them pretty. It takes a lot of time, effort, and Product (a word most women know well).

Not to mention that women who spend so much time on looking pretty are usually fairly shallow in other aspects.

It also seems like you're requiring a lot of one woman. Someone to be tough AND compassionate? Play sports AND have lots of babies? And how's she supposed to jump at all these camping trips with all these kids in tow?

Seriously. Does this mean all us REAL women get shafted for the dream of a Trophy wife? What happens when we don't live up to these expectations? What if we can't be a trophy?

I mean, really, good luck finding the woman that fits all those requirements. Call me when you're done fantasizing and you're ready for an adult relationship.

If I was a Lego, I would look like this:

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