| Life Sherpa: Just testing the ol' system, folks. Be back at noon. |
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Life Sherpa: Here we go again, chatting on-line. Ain't technology grand? Since we last chatted two weeks ago, some interesting things have transpired. The Boston Red Sox failed to make the World Series, Sarah Palin appeared on Saturday Night Live and, sadly, Levi Stubbs of the Four Tops passed away. (His rendition of "Baby, I Need Your Lovin' is a classic, a standard). RIP, sir.
Like they say, you have to take the good with the bad.
Another piece of good news: My trivia column returns to the P-D tomorrow in the Everyday section, and on-line of course. So for those who enjoy that sort of thing, have fun. And don't foget to tell your trivial friends about it.
And feel free to shoot any question that happens to cross your mind, within the bounds of marginally good taste.
But enough of all that, let's move on to the first question .....
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Wonderous: With all that is going on in the world and all of the staff reduction in the Post-Dispatch, how can you put this as a link on your homepage?
Amazing. |
Life Sherpa: Gosh Wondrous, sounds like you're a big fan of the Life Sherpa !!
Maybe, just maybe, with all of the serious stuff going on in the world, a little humor might come as a welcome respite from the tension. But that's just me. It's possible that most people just want to be serious and depressed all the time. Sounds like a blast.
By the way, I looked at the home page and found more than enough "stuff going on in the world" stories for you to fret about.
Enjoy !!
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| stacey: I work in a small office, around 15 people, and although we are in a good size space I tend to get annoyed by all the loud talkers and people who constantly stop and socialize outside my desk. As with many others I continue on and try to re-direct my attention to the task at hand. The reason I am looking for help is because one person in particular has a chronic cough, and its commonly phlemy in sound. This person smokes ALOT and insists the cough is from a cold that they had months ago. How do I say something, like in one of your fits could you please go to the restroom and clear it out? btw, I am not the only one who has issues, because co-workers joke about it in the breakroom. |
Life Sherpa: Maybe you and your office mates could chip in and buy Mr. or Ms. Phlegmy a box of Nicorette.
If office policy allows, put on the ol' iPod or disc player and drown out the rumblings.
Otherwise, it seems like you are in the uncomfortable position of mentioning the problem directly to him (or her).
In the extreme, conisder that if this person smokes A LOT, you won't have to put up with the problem for very long. |
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| tony: I wish I could vote for you but your refusal to name a VP candidate makes me suspicious. What if you drank yourself to death after a particularly disappointing Rams season? What if Albert Pujols lined one down the third base line into your noggin? We, Joe Public, have a right to know who would take the reigns of power and dispense Sherpaness to the masses. Let me offer a few suggestions for your consideration: those two dudes from Milli Vanilla, proven liars therefore qualified to govern; Tea Leoni, couldn't live with a sex addict but you're no Bill Clinton; Sarah Silverman, because she's Sarah Silverman; James Coburn, sure he's technically dead but most Americans wouldn't know that and he is ultra cool. |
Life Sherpa: James Coburn was ultra-cool. But I checked the Constitution and dead people, indeed, do not qualify. if they did, I have a few folks I'd pick ahead of Coburn: Steve McQueen, Humphrey Bogart, Abraham Lincoln and Mother Teresa (who could vote again her?)
I'd love to run with Sarah Silverman, but most hardcore political junkies lost their senses of humor years ago and wouldn't understand her jokes.
Thanks for saying I'm "no Bill Clinton." Personally, I never cared for women with big hair and I'm guessing that Hillary and I wouldn't last very long.
We do understand your need for me to name a VP. I'm giivng it some serious thought and will likely make my announcement in my column on Oct. 28.
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| Mentok: I enjoyed your column in today's paper. Based on the opinions expressed on the editorial page, how did the P-D editors let that one slip through? |
Life Sherpa: My editor is a kind and understanding soul, even if she likely doesn't agree with most of my opinions. But i do think most people at the P-D understand the need for some diversity of opinion.
Plus, I think the editorial page is way too busy at this time of year finding Democrats to endorse. |
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| Jennifer: I have been with my boyfriend for almost 5 years. Not only has he not proposed, but he's never said that he definitely wants to get married. As I near 30, I'm afraid that I will start to resent him for not giving me marriage and a family. I love him more than anything, but do I give up babies and marriage for love. Or do I give up on love and pursue a new life. Please help me!! |
Life Sherpa: This is truly a case of "help yourself."
No guy wants to have the "where is this relationship going" talk, but after five years -- TOUGH. If you wanted to pin him down to specifics after five months, I'd say you were a little unreasonable. But after five years, you deserve honest answers to the questions of marriage and children.
Be ready, though, to possibly get answers you don't want to hear. Then, the ball is in your court.
It sounds like it's time for a heart-to-heart sit-down.
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evie: Sherpa,
Cats or dogs? |
Life Sherpa: Can't choose. I've owned both in my life, and at the same time. I've loved them all.
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| Bob: I just wanted to thank you for your advice last week. I dug up the courage to cart my 100 lbs of pennies to the local Schnuck and attempt to break the coinstar machine. It took me about 30 minutes to load all of the coins in the machine but for my efforts I received $188.51 in the form of a amazon.com gift card. If I took the cash option I would have lost 9%of my treasure. I didn't want to lose a cent of what took so long to collect. This week my only question is what should I buy with my penny money gift card? |
Life Sherpa: Well, Gosh, did you happen to know that a rfeporter at the Post-Dispatch -- Joe Holleman -- wrote a book entitled "Generation St. Louis: The Baby Boomer Years"?
Possibly the finest coffee table book ever written, this literary matsrepiece is available for the low, low price of #34.95 (plus tax). Word on the street is that it would make a wonderful holiday gift for both friends and family. My math says you could, but FIVE of these gems for your pennies.
But if you decide to go in another direction, anything by John Steinback is a worthy investment. |
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| Sam: what's the final verdict on whether to tip when you make a pick-up? And whether you can use a coupon on a date? |
Life Sherpa: can you be more specific about "make a pick-up."
As to using a coupon on a date, certainly NOT on the first few dates. I'd wait at least until a month of dating had gone by, which would probably include three or four restaurant meals together, before I would even try it. And even then, I'd mention the coupon ahead of time by saying something like, "Hey, I've got a coupon to (fill in restaurant)that I need to use before it expires. Would you like to go with me?"
If she says "yes," cool. If she says no, call a friend and split the cost. If all else fails, call the Life Sherpa -- especially if it's to a steak house or sushi bar.
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| cul8trallg8tr: How long is too long to wait for someone to propose marriage? |
Life Sherpa: That is impossible to answer. Are you 20? Then you all should wait a very long while. Are you 75? Then, get on with it.
Obviously, it all depends on how long you've been dating and on how badly you wish to be married.
But it sounds like you've been waiting for the question that has yet to come. So I'd say that if you two have been monogamous and intimate for more than a year, then the "where is this relationship going" talk is not unreasonable. If it has been more than two years, sit down and talk. There comes a time to move ahead, or move on.
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| Sam: "make a pick-up" clarification: several coworkers and I made an order at a Thai restaurant for pickup, but we started arguing about whether to tip since we're the ones who's walking over to pickup the food. The final compromise was 10%...drastically lower than norm, but at least something. |
Life Sherpa: Maybe I'm a dinosaur on this, but a TIP, as the story goes, stands for To Insure Personal (or Prompt, or Professional) Service. I've always thought that meant bringing stuff to my table. I see NO NEED to tip on a pick-up. What is it they actually did for you, cooked your food? That's why they have prices on the menu. That's the cost of the food item. If you had the Thai food delivered, that would be different.
Same goes for the silliness of tip jars on coffee counters. There is no personal service when I have to walk up to the counter to get my order. It's a strong-arm, guilt-trip with those jars. |
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| maddmomma8: Just curious.....how did you celebrate National Boss Day last Thursday??? |
| Life Sherpa: I worked really hard, turned in all of my stories on time, and did not give her any grief. I think she appreciated it. |
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| kayte: We've had this discussion in our office: When is a rock band no longer a rock band. The Rolling Stones have most of their orignal member and although it's not pretty, they can still rock the house. On the other hand, Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey have been touring as The Who. Half the band is dead, so I say it's not The Who anymore. It's just Pete and Rog playing Who songs. Some in my office disagree. Also, who the heck goes to see "tribute bands?" Please discuss. |
Life Sherpa: Tough question. The half-dead rule is workable, but with the Who, one could argue that Daltrey and Townshend spiritually are more than just "half" of the Who, sort of like Page and Plant with Led Zep. As to tribute bands, I just don't get it. Maybe seriously hardcore fans of a certain band need their fix, and I hear that the Australian Pink Floyd band is pretty good.
But I'll pass on the whole tribute thing. If I need to pay tribute to AC/DC, I'll put in the "Back in Black" CD. |
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Blondengr: I dated a guy a couple of times and thought things were going well. After about 3 weeks, he totally bailed and wouldn't return calls or texts. Now another 3 weeks later and he started IM'ing me and wants to go out again. What gives? Why do guys think that after they bail, they can come back and act like all is "normal" again and that we won't be wary? (BTW - this guy is 38 and never married...)
Blondengr |
Life Sherpa: Because guys, quite often, can be idiots. Now that you have asked me the "what gives?" question, it's time to ask him the same thing. If he is not up front about the three-week absence, then he probably doesn't want to tell you he was seeing someone else at the time.
Plus, 38 and never married? I hate to rag on a fellow guy, but what is the problem. He either is completely incapable of a commitment, or women have gotten tired of him before the altar came in view. |
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Life Sherpa: Well, that's going to do it for this edition of "Life Sherpa Online." Let's do this again in two weeks, same Sherpa time, same Sherpa channel.
And beware guys, a couple of you may be having the "where is this relationship going" talk in the very near future. Sorry to put you on the spot, but there comes a time when you have to either fish or cut bait.
Thanks for all of the interesing questions. I had a great time and I hope you did to.
ciao |
