The rules

Hey,

Last night I was told by a guy that when a guy and a girl go out to dinner, it is considered rude if the guy does not pay for dinner.
It doesn't matter if the girl asked the guy out to dinner or if they're just going out to dinner as friends, the same rule apparantly applies.
It's kind of strange to me that there should be such a sexist rule in this day and age.
I went out to dinner with a guy not so long ago and he paid for dinner. I was shocked and impressed when he paid because I didn't expect it. I already had my wallet out, ready to pay my half and he told me not to worry and that he had it covered.
I didn't know that maybe he was just paying because of some unspoken guy rule and because he thought it was expected that he do so.
Of course, maybe he wasn't just doing it because he "had" to, maybe he was doing it because he's a gentleman and thought it was a nice thing to do, which it was.
So, what do you all think?
I think maybe the person who initiates the dinner should pay. So, in this situation, it would have been me.
What if two girls go out to dinner, as partners or as friends, who pays then?
Half and half is also another good solution. Paying for your half of the meal just seems fair.
If I go out to dinner with this guy again, something I plan on doing, I wouldn't expect him to pay again, in fact I wouldn't LET him pay again.
Sure, it's a nice gesture but to me, it's not fair that he pay EVERY time we go to dinner, I'd feel cruel letting him pay if I knew he was doing it just because of some unwritten rule, that he thinks it'd be considered rude for him not to.
For me, it's rude if I don't at LEAST offer to pay and more rude if I let him pay fully more than once.
I've always been taught, coming from a poor family, that if I want something, I need to pay for it myself so going halves in the dinner is the least I can do to be polite.
George Costanza from Seinfeld, one of the people I've always liked and admired for his attitude towards everything, said that all he wants is for the girl to "make the grab" for the check.
"GEORGE: That's a very good question. You know she and I go out for dinner,
she doesn't even reach for the check. Thats all Im asking for is a reach.
Is that so much to ask for?"
Even if he ends up paying anyway, he just wants the girl to at least attempt to pay to show she cares.

What's your opinion?

Varelai.

Costanza

I'm going to the doctor today.
I have self diagnosed, of course.
The only time I go to the doctor is when my physical pain hurts more than the price the doctor charges hurts my wallet.
This is one of those times, I am itchy, so itchy I can't stand it anymore so going to the doctor is the only way.
I know it will hurt my wallet, it always does, which is why going to the doctor is not an every day thing.
Usually I save up my hurts and itches and whatever else so that when I go to the doctor, I get my moneys worth by seeing them about more than one thing at once.
My list is currently at two things but one, the reason I'm willing to spend money at the doctor is annoying/hurting me more than the other so it is definitely time to go.

On a less gruesome note, I am putting the Costanza back into my life.
For a long time, I could strongly relate to George Costanza from Seinfeld.
Lately, my life has been lacking the goodness of life lessons of Costanza.
So now, I'm working on doing the opposite of everything I've ever done.
So for example, when my flatmate brings around a hot boy, instead of hiding in my room, maybe I'll leave my room and speak to him.
Maybe I will not say embarrassing things or wring my hands in nervousness but maybe I will bring my confidence and talk to him like he's just another person.
It worked for Costanza so it should work for me.
Also, it's about not using the word "but", it's about being positive and putting my life in perspective.
Yesterday's blog was about perspective.
You think your life is bad?
At least you're still alive. That was the point I was trying to make.
P E R S P E C T I V E.

Gonna have my itchies fixed in an hour =)

Varelai.