There are only a handful of cities with celebrations so spectacular on New Year’s Eve that they’ve built an international reputation on it.
At the top of the list, arguably, is Sydney – for it’s magnificent and world-class fireworks display on the city’s sparkling harbour.
Perhaps the most iconic, however, is the ball drop in New York’s Times Square – otherwise known as “the Crossroads of the World”.
It’s where some two million people pack the streets in the core of the Big Apple up to 16 hours before the clock strikes midnight. They come for the spectacle: a free concert featuring some of the world’s biggest stars; an illuminated ball that drops from above a high-rise building, marking the end of one year and the start of the next; and an explosion of confetti, with handwritten wishes written on each piece from members of the public, fluttering through the skies above the bustling streets. To be a part of it and feel the electricity in person is on the bucket list of many people all over the world. The celebration is so popular that revellers arrive in the morning to secure prime position before it fills up and police block access.
But there’s a catch that most tourists who flock to the city for New Year’s Eve are largely unaware of: There are no bathroom facilities. Zilch. No Portaloos, no public rest rooms, and no access to restaurant or bar facilities for non-customers. And in a place so packed that it can take hours just to shuffle from one block to the next – and that’s outside of police pen “lock-in” periods – it’s a discovery many revellers don’t make until it’s too late.
Those privy to the set-up, however, have a secret: adult nappies.
New Year’s Eve fireworks display over Times Square, New York, USA.
It’s said that the streets of New York City will “make you feel brand new” – a line immortalised in Alicia Keys’ hit song Empire State of Mind.
Just don’t expect to get that on New Year’s Eve when the streets are lined with thousands of adults wetting their “diapers” and thousands more urinating directly onto the street.
“So far, it’s dry, and I’m hoping to keep it that way,” nappy-wearing Dallas teacher Heather Feist, 33, who began lining up at 9.30 am, told the NY Post at last year’s event.
Others were not so lucky.
“I’ll definitely need to shower after peeing my pants all day,” Ayame Yamakawa, 22, told the newspaper after travelling 22 hours from Okinawa, Japan, just for New Year’s Eve this time last year.
She had already wet herself once by 2.41 pm after lining up at 10 am, according to The Post.
Crowds celebrate the new year on Times Square, NYC. Picture: iStock
The celebration lights up New York. Picture: iStock
At a previous NYE street celebration in Times Square, Jeryl Lippe, from New Jersey, got a bad case of karma after she smuggled vodka into the alcohol-free zone inside a water bottle. She didn’t eat anything other than a breakfast bagel and didn’t have her illicit drink until the end of the day, she told local The Post. But, “by the time it was turning midnight, I had drunk a lot and was desperate to go to the bathroom,” she continued. “I tried to find someplace to go – hotels, restaurants,” she said, but she was denied.
Chuck Pappas travelled from interstate for NYE at the “Crossroads of the World” in 2014, at the time telling Business Insider: “We have Red Bull, energy shots, lots of snacks, water, playing cards, we’re all wearing several layers and … we’re all wearing diapers.”
Brian Alvarado, from Westchester, New York, last year recalled how one of his friends gave up and urinated in the street, adding, “I’ve heard stories of people who wear (adult) diapers.”
Thank you for reading my blog. Please read, like, comment, and most of all follow Phicklephilly. I publish every day.
When it coms to finding love that lasts, these guys win every time.
Lots of guys ask questions like, “Why do girls like bad boys?”, wondering what it is women find even remotely attractive about men who end up hurting them.
But if you really want to know how to get a girl to like you, the last place you should look for inspiration about what women find attractive are those rebels without a clue.
And women, you should be paying no attention at all to those bad boys. They’ll only leave you high and dry, and they’re really are no fun, save for — maybe — a few bedroom romps.
Honestly, if you’re over 21, you probably already know how quickly these kinds of guys lose their appeal. They’ve got a clear expiration date. They’re cute when they’re young, but as a girl matures into a woman, her patience for them disappears.
And while the saying that “Good men are hard to find” may be popular for good reason, the good news is that at least they aren’t impossible to find. They do exist!
And when we ladies finally figure out how to find a good man, there are so many things about that person that we love that we cannot help but overlook the small things he might do to upset us.
Truly, when you break it down, bad guys are “boys”, but good guys are “men.”
Would you rather play with a boy — or run with a man?
So guys, here are the dominant personality traits grown women find most attractive and utterly irresistible about a good man that make bad boys look like little babies.
(After all, ladies, if you want to find a good man, you need to know what you’re looking for, and why these men are so much better than that “bad boy” who’s been stringing you along.)
1. Handy
No, we’re not helpless but I love a man who can fix things.
And yes, I’m still a feminist but I’m smart enough to know what I do well and what I don’t. And women love a man who not only can fix things but who also want to fix things for us. Not because he thinks we’re helpless but because he wants to help and make things better for the woman he loves.
2. Generous (especially with massages)
A good man will always massage his partner.
Of course, she should return the favor, but a man who is willing to get his hands oily and sore is a great man. Women tend to take on too much, and therefore, all that tension lives in our bodies. We are just waiting for the right man to “knead it out.”
3. Supportive
There’s no denying the utter sex appeal a man gives off when he comes to your side during a crisis. A man who shows up for you and is present in your life when things are messy and dirty is a damn good man.
The guy that shows up when your car breaks down. The guy that holds you when your dog dies and you’re a mess. The guy that feeds you soup when you’re sick. This is attractive. This is a man who is unselfish and giving. We women love it. Bad boys will never be there. They will have excuses.
4. Authentic
If he is honest with you about who he is, what his flaws are, and in return is honest with you about your flaws and doesn’t hold back from you, he’s a good guy. And it’s sexy.
Now, I don’t mind harsh criticism. I mean a man who is honest and expects you to be your best self. Who knows when you’re not giving it your all and will call you out on it. A good man is confident and able to stand tall next to you, even if he’s short. He owns who he is and expects you to as well.
5. Romantic
Look, not every guy can be “Mr. Romantic.” And that’s okay.
But all good men try to be romantic as best as they can be. For one guy, this may be taking you on a walk. For another guy, it’s a bubble bath and massage. For another, it’s just telling you you look pretty today.
Good men, though? They make the effort. Bad boys don’t. They’re selfish and don’t care about setting the stage for anything other than things that please their own interests.
6. Committed
The good man you find adorable and endearing? You found him such because he committed to you. Willingly. There were no games or hi-jinx. You didn’t have to beg. He wanted you and went for you. We love when you want us in return. What women find attractive is men who commit fully and truly.
A bad boy will never commit. It infringes on his freedom. His needs. His wants. He has no interest in compromising for anyone. That is why the good man is so hot. He will meet you halfway — and then some.
kupoems
“One mans trash is another mans treasure.” • #kaityutzpoetry #poetry #spilledink #igpoetry #songwriter #poetryclub #writersofig #poem #writer #poetryofinstagram #poetryhive #poetryaddicts #writingpoetry #songwrite #writingsociety #poetryofig #poetrylover #poemporn #poetryisnotdead #songwriting #goodmenstillexist
7. Attentive
It’s so attractive when a man listens. When he listens and brings chocolate? Even better. Good men listen. They will offer advice unless you ask them not to, but they will always listen. They will make the time.
Bad boys have excuses. Reasons for not bothering to hear you out. And really, did you expect him to anyway? No. But good men are sexy because they’re also our friends. We trust them. Trust is so crucial to making a woman happy.
8. Adoring
Don’t you love when a man makes a point of telling you all the things he loves about you? How he’ll forgive you for your bad traits and always find you beautiful? How his love for you deepens as he knows you, and not the other way around?
His shallow compliments aren’t shallow. He finds you beautiful as a person and makes you feel that way. Good men are powerful like that. Their belief and love for you is intoxicating. The lust of a “bad boy” cannot compare to the man who loves you more by the day.
9. Forgiving.
You’re not perfect. A bad boy will drop you for the next catch, the next woman he deems “perfect.”
Good guys forgive you for your flaws and when fights happen, as they always do, he forgives you, lets it go, and moves on. You never feel threatened or afraid he will leave or hold it over your head.
Good men don’t do that. They don’t make threats. They don’t hold your “mistakes” over your head. They let it go unless they’re really serious insults that you should be accountable for.
Thank you for reading my blog. Please read, like, comment, and most of all follow Phicklephilly. I publish every day.
There are many reasons why men pull away in relationships, but when you’re the one experiencing this, it might be difficult to understand. Relationships are hard work, and when it feels like you’re the only one putting any effort in while he slips farther out, it’s beyond frustrating.
Sometimes, all you want to do is easily understand what’s going on so you can figure out whether you want to fix it or just break up.
So why do men pull away in relationships?
There are many different scenarios that can shed light on why this may be happening, give you a different perspective to reflect on, and make this stop once and for all.
It’s a common trend in today’s society, and you’ve probably been directly affected by it or are afraid of experiencing it with a man you’re interested in.
In 21st century dating, men often find it hard to commit to a woman, especially when there are so many outside sources that hinder commitment.
Many women are not being authentic and true to who they are and what they want. There’s a saying that goes, “Once sex got easier to get, love got harder to find.” And this may be true to an extent.
Men who pull away are often in situations in which they are playing the field and playing games with women’s emotions. This leads to dating instability right off the bat. Not every man you meet is going to have the same intentions.
It’s important for you to love yourself fully, make sure you’re aligned with your goals and stay committed to your values.
Understanding that you do not need a man in order to be the best version of yourself is crucial. Loving yourself and doing exactly what makes you happy is key, which means that you need to know how to be happy alone. When you have this type of mentality, you will be able to spot relationship red flags instantly and become more admirable.
If a man wants to be with you, he will make it known throughout the relationship. He will make it known in healthy ways of properly courting you. He’s not going to send you late night texts to come over and “watch a movie”.
Sincere men put in the effort. Stop settling, because good men are out there!
One of the reasons men pull away when dating a woman is because they recognize a challenge that they’re not used to.
She gives in to him because she likes him and starts settling and making excuses for his lazy or inappropriate behavior. There are many times when a man shows signs that he is not ready for a relationship with his words and behavior, but the woman continues dating him.
Instead of pushing yourself toward him in the hopes of changing his mind, dig deep into your feelings. If you can control your feelings by maintaining a friendship, then go for it. This doesn’t mean being “friends with benefits”. Being friends with benefits makes it easy for him to get what he wants and often results in him pulling away anyway and becoming distant.
Maintaining a real friendship without an attachment of the desired outcome can give him the opportunity to see you in a different light when he is ready. It’s important to keep your options open and not focus all of your energy on one person.
If you cannot control your feelings, then do not maintain a relationship with this person. It’s vital to any starting point in dating or a relationship to be clear about each other’s expectations.
If you are looking for a relationship, then let the other person know early on! If not, then say so. Many women who date men for months on end, only to end up getting hurt because it became a purely physical “modern relationship” in which the man never truly committed.
The two never set the expectations or the woman sits in silence out of fear of being pushed away, hoping he would come around and left wondering, “Does he like me?”
It’s essential to understand that men are natural born hunters who enjoy the chase. If he is interested in having you as his girlfriend, he will show you this with his actions.
Be careful to never settle for a man who isn’t giving you 100 percent with his actions but is saying everything with his words. This is where a lot of women run into trouble in their search for a good man. Pay attention to his actions more than his words.
Several women say, “He was so into me in the beginning, he courted me and showered me with gifts, said all the right things, and was so eager to make me his.” But then once this man gets what he wants he moves on, and his actions start to change slowly.
This type of man can be called “the snake.”
They tend to be very narcissistic but also tend to get what they want often. They have a thrill of the chase and they see a significant reward for their ego when they’ve won their prize.
A little relationship advice: Be very careful of a man who is too forward in the beginning. Take your time and challenge someone who may be extremely forward. So many women fall for a man like this because they are hopeless romantics.
And you are pretty amazing! So, when you a see a man showing you so much affection and attention, you think, “Wow he is so different!” Right? Then you play this emotional mind game in your head stating “I would be stupid if I let this go.”
So, if the man you’re dating is showing signs of pulling away, here are 5 things you need to be aware of:
1. You are not what he is looking for
If a man is honest and tells you he does not want a relationship, then as a woman, you should honor his truth in telling you this.
Take a moment to reflect and understand that you may need to pull away. If he also gives you the popular one-liner by saying, “I’m just seeing where things go”, proceed with caution. This is not a committed answer, so why would he want to commit to you? This is just an answer to lure you away from the truth in hopes to keep you around for what he is in search of; pleasure and attention.
Though it can be difficult to ask a man what he is looking for, it also challenges you to get one step closer to your goal. The more comfortable you are with this, the easier it will become.
2. He is a player
As women, it’s important to understand how and when to pay attention to dating red flags. We all come across players. The difference is whether or not you continue to date them after you spot red flags.
He was so into you at the beginning, but it could be a sign that he’s thrilled about the chase and will simply get bored easily. He will call you daily, text you hourly, and talk about how beautiful you are and how happy he is to have met you. He might even go that extra mile and mention that he’s looking for a relationship.
But, the difference with this relationship is that he is all in, right away, and it seems to good to be true — it’s hot and heavy early on, and sometimes you feel like you can’t even catch a breath. You might get excited and think “Oh my, he is so amazing!” But, in the end, it fizzles out as quickly as it began.
Ask yourself these questions:
What does he talk about with you? Are they in-depth conversations or surface level conversations?
Does he set or plan dates and then follow through on a consistent basis?
Does he remember the things you tell him?
Is he hot and cold and does his phone go off often late at night?
Does he ask you to his house often for sleepovers or does he properly court you?
Does he stick to his word or does he say “Let’s hang out Friday” and then contacts you on Sunday?
Does he have a lot of photos of himself with different women on social media?
Does he tell you everything you want to hear and lays it on heavily in the beginning? He paints a picture perfect idea that you get attached to, and when it doesn’t happen you find yourself saying, “But he was into me when he first met me…What happened?”
3. He’s really not that into you
This one may be hard to swallow because we value ourselves so highly as women and no one likes a blow to the ego or rejection, but it’s important to talk about. Oftentimes, a man will show you signals of commitment but not want to commit to getting to know you.
There are two principal reasons for this. Either they just don’t have an interest in you and don’t want to hurt your feelings or you fell in love too easily and they lost interest in the chase of getting their “prize”.
Here are a couple of common scenarios why he loses interest:
They do not share the same vision of the future.
They see that their values are not aligned.
They notice that a woman does not adhere to their goals or their requirements in the relationship.
They lose attraction because you become too clingy.
He just isn’t attracted to you anymore. It might not feel natural to him.
4. You fell in love with him too easily
Typically, men love to see their woman as a prize that they need to work for. They see the woman that they choose to be with as an accomplishment and as someone that took work to earn.
It might sound a little silly but it’s true. Men love to know a woman who is confident, has a mind of her own, and isn’t easy to get. So, men pull away when women get too clingy.
Do not start canceling all your plans to be available to him every day all day. Keep him on his toes a little to make him wonder where you stand sometimes.
Asking him what he is doing every minute of every day and planning things to do without giving him the opportunity to say “yes” or “no” can be signs you are becoming clingy and falling too easily for him.
As we all know, it should be a mutual chase between the man or the woman. If the balance is off, it becomes too easy for him to take you for granted.
5. He has personal troubles
Now, a lot of men will not be in a relationship if they don’t feel secure within themselves. This is especially true if the woman is someone beautiful and independent. For example, a man may pull away if he is not financially secure at the moment.
This is something that may help him feel superior and confident so he doesn’t have to wonder if he is good enough for you.
Also, he may have certain health issues that he is not comfortable telling you about until he figures things out on his own. Another reason could be instability and or unhappiness related to his job. This can be an additional source of stress.
Men tend to feel as though they need to feel confident or protected with their primary sources of freedom: money, health, and work.
What to do when men pull away:
Simple: you pull away too. Do not contact him. Concentrate on your own growth, reflect on what you’ve learned from the dynamics of the relationship, and move forward with your personal goals. Be clear about your expectations and your needs. If they aren’t met, then move on and see if he’ll ever come around because if he doesn’t, someone else will!
Understand that you must wholly and profoundly love yourself in order to freely give love to another. This is the healthiest form of love you can receive in life. Challenge yourself and dig deeper, heal, and work through any past experience that has tested you today!
Thank you for reading my blog. Please read, like, comment, and most of all follow Phicklephilly. I publish every day.
I’ve been writing Phicklephilly for over 5 years now, and it’s been an incredible journey of dating, love, relationships, and discoveries.
I’d like to first express my incredible gratitude to everyone who’s chosen to read, like, comment, and most of all, follow my blog. I appreciate every one of you and will always try to respond to any of your comments on any of my stories.
This year’s been one of many challenges. I’m not here to talk about the number of cases or deaths from this virus. We all hear enough about that every day. We’ve all lost loved ones during this dark time. I hope we’ve all learned some things through this.
I’m just going to mention a few people here. I lost my childhood friend Michael back in March and that was a shock. To lose one from your generation at such a young age is jarring.
I’ve realized something very important during this pandemic. You really find out who your real friends are. I’ve reconnected with some wonderful people from my past and it’s been glorious. My current lineup of friends is going strong and I love every damn one of you! Also, I have to mention my three wonderful sisters. I love you all and I’m proud to be a part of this family!
But, I’ve also had to release some toxic people from my life. I realized through this I have nothing in common with any of them and simply acquired them through my jobs. I had to let them go. Some I wanted to cut off 2 years ago but didn’t have the heart. I knew they’d only stalk me at work. But in 2020 they made the decision simple. They just don’t fit into my life anymore. I’m not going to mention any names. I have no malice and hope they all find their way in life.
Anyway, let’s move on to brighter subjects.
Here’s where my life’s been in 2020.
I remember working 55 to 60 hours a week at my job earlier in the year. One day I came home feeling tired. I looked in the mirror and said, “I wish this would all just stop.”
And it did.
My daughter and I were both laid off from our jobs in March. We waited a week, and then both filed for unemployment.
The first week or so it was just strange. Then we sort of settled into the fact that we couldn’t go to our jobs anymore.
What would we do with this sudden, paid free time?
We had some ideas. I decided to make phicklephilly.wordpress.com into my own domain. I bought Phicklephilly.com four years ago and own it. So I called the nice folks over at GoDaddy and had that integrated into my site. Now it’s more searchable on Google and has brought so much more traffic to the site. If you google phicklephilly now, it’s the first thing that comes up.
With that came WordPress ads. They run ads on your site, and that generates revenue. You have to complete a bunch of forms for that and give them all of your tax info. Because it’s real income.
But here’s the thing… the revenue for the ads run is minimal. They’ll serve thousands of ads on your site. But the return is tiny. Phicklephilly’s been around for over five years and I have tons of content. (Over 2,000 posts) I figured more content, more page views. It worked, but I’d probably need millions of page views to make any money from these free ads thrown to me by WordPress.
I’m not complaining, but I felt I needed to do more. So I signed up for Google Analytics. That opens up the world of Adsense. Once that processed it generated ads on my site which will equal more revenue. The site’s really coming into its own. So, we’re growing.
I have all of this free time. I’ve never had this much paid time off in my whole life. What to do?
(If you’re a member of Kindle Unlimited, you can borrow and read the digital versions of my books for free!) Everybody else has to pay.
Thanks to the amazing team at Amazon Kindle. Without you, I’d be lost in a sea of technology. I can write the words, but you guys help me turn them into books.
Thanks to everyone at Amazon. I became a member over 20 years ago when you were just a giant bookstore. After crawling on my hands and knees to agents and publishing houses for years, Amazon finally gave me the biggest platform on Earth to bring my literary work to the world!
A special thanks to everyone at WordPress. Without you, I couldn’t publish Phicklephilly every day for the last five years! Now we’re a dot com and I’ve monetized the site with ads! You gave me a home to bring my work to everyone! Thank you!
Thanks to all the folks over at GoDaddy. You made the transition from just another blogger to a dotcom look easy. Thanks for always being there when I needed you. You’re the best!
While writing my first work of fiction, Angel with a Broken Wing, there was something nagging at me. The itch I had to create was being satiated by writing the book, but I felt there was something more I could do for Phicklephilly. The little blog that started me on this journey shortly after the death of my father in 2016.
I started to think… I’m putting all of these pieces together, is there something else I could do?
While creating Angel with a Broken Wing I would listen to music on Youtube. I’ve been listening to everything! It’s been great, but sometimes between songs, they run these commercials. I don’t really mind it if it doesn’t go on too long. I grew up in a world where radio and TV were supported by commercials.
I worked in advertising for 10 years when I returned to Philadelphia from New York back in 2007. So I understand the importance of ad revenue to support these sites.
I remember as I was typing one day, this ad came on for a company called, Dr. Squatch. I stopped what I was doing to watch it. Normally, when people are enjoying a show or listening to music, all they want to do is skip the ads. But Dr. Squatch’s ads were so good, I was captivated by their brand. It was a brilliant, fun campaign to promote their male hygiene products. You know an ad is good when you WANT to watch it because it’s so engaging.
Here’s an example of a tremendous, creative ad. Its incredible imagery and music make it unforgettable. However… the ad was so fun and engaging most people didn’t realize that the ad was for the new Nissan Maxima.
It got me thinking… all I did for 10 years in Philly was sell advertising. Digital advertising for Philly.com. Then for a happy hour website, and later, Philly Weekly. I started with nothing at all three of those companies and made it work. Most people don’t like to sell, or can’t sell. Either you have it or you don’t. No one likes rejection, and that’s 95% of sales. You need mad game to sell. It’s a ruthless, thankless business. But perfect for me. An overachiever, and a track record of closing impossible deals. In banking, as a broker, I was a million-dollar producer every year. At Philly.com I was billing $40k a month. It all comes down to who will relentlessly make calls on clients, meet with them, close them, cross-sell them, and get referrals. Then repeat that over and over again. That’s sales. Just run down the game and kill it every day. Like a lion on the savanna, you hunt every day to feed your cubs. Most days you go hungry. But you keep at it. Most don’t have the will to keep at it. But if you do, like anything else, eventually you’ll make a kill.
So, here I am creating content for my dating and relationship blog here in Philly during the quarantine. How can I write a blog like this in quarantine? I feel like I’ve been grounded by my parents and I can’t go out and do what I do socially.
But, while I’m waiting for WordPress and google analytics and AdSense to all come together for me, I should maybe try to do what I’m good at.
Sell digital advertising while I’m waiting for them to get their act together. It’s what I’m good at. Selling stuff. Any job I’ve ever worked where I don’t get to create or sell stuff I usually fail. Because we have plenty of people that are built to take orders and work hard to build somebody else’s dream. Business leaders love cheap labor.
Don’t get me wrong… Phicklephilly and writing books isn’t my dream. The only dream I ever had died 40 years ago in Los Angeles as a failed rockstar. Now the only dreams I have come to me during slumber and that’s just my brain dumping thoughts, feelings, and images.
Phicklephilly’s been a glorious hobby. Yea, it’s a hobby. If you don’t have a hobby, you should think about maybe getting one. It’s a lovely release from all of the things you HAVE to do every day to survive. It’s a sweet little pleasure that you get to create.
It’s kind of cool to watch something that started as a passion or a hobby become something bigger. It’s like a garden. You tend the seeds and the plants and vegetables, with water, care, and sunlight. It starts to grow. Because you care about it. You like it. It’s fun. It feels good. It’s not a job to pay the bills. It’s your thing. It belongs to you.
I don’t know why I never thought about this back in March, but I guess I was busy writing my book. But it started to work on me about six months ago. Back in May, I decided that part of my day would be dedicated to going through all of my leads and contacts. I have hundreds from New Jersey, New York, and obviously Philly.
I would spend only one hour a day for 60 days going through all of my contacts, corporate contacts, business cards, Linkedin, old sales files from the last 20 years, and see what that would yield. I called on every advertising agency in my old book of business. I knew if I dug into all of my New York contacts, I could mine some gold. Sometimes the one-hour goal would stretch beyond that, but I wanted to do it every day consistently. I didn’t talk about it to anyone, in case it never came to fruition.
Which brings me to this.
The sight obviously looks different. Especially the sidebar. I wanted to fit them all in where I could.
At least for now.
What’s weird is… I remember being contacted years ago by acquaintances that had attached themselves to me like sea lampreys in the industry. They had their websites about Philly, or food, or music. They always wanted me to sell ads for them on their sites. I have no idea what their business plan was for their sites, but I can guess. Write a blog with some relevant content about something they were passionate about. But somewhere they thought they’d like to run ads on their site and make money. Sadly, they didn’t possess the ability to execute that part. So they approach some schlub to do it for them. They have no revenue to pay the individual. Sadly, all of those sites have failed, and hopefully, those folks found jobs somewhere. I get it. Great idea. Poorly executed.
But don’t be nice to me thinking I’m going to do your job for you. That’s just fiction, man.
Most writers can write, But there aren’t really any writers out there that can sell.
So, I’ve been digging in hard every day for the last few months to maybe monetize Phicklephilly. There’s no way I’d do this for free for someone else’s little dream, but for my little hobby…sure.
I haven’t sold advertising since 2018. But I still have all of my contacts from my corporate life. I haven’t had a platform worth selling anything on. But the cool thing is, Phicklephilly just sort of grew like a weed over the last 5 years. It grew because I gave it a lot of love. (Along with all of you reading this!)
So here we are.
Funny what you can accomplish when you don’t have a job to go to.
I know for the moment the site’s looking a bit cluttered, but I wanted to show everybody that decided to run on my site. I’ll clean it up, and WordPress and Google will help me out.
I’m blown away by the support that all of these brands have brought to Phicklephilly.
I want to take a moment and thank everybody!
ALYAKA, AQUATALIA, BERETTA, BERRYLOOK, HARD TAIL, TRETORN, BUXTON, EVERLAST (You guy have been great! I appreciate all of the rapid responses!) FREDRICKS OF HOLLYWOOD (I have a story for you guys from my youth when I first saw your ads in a Hollywood gossip mag!) GRAND SLAM – NEW YORK, JACH’S – NEW YORK, KATY PERRY (Katy… your agency is a delight to work with!) LANCER, LIFELINE, LUVYLE (I love you guys! Thanks for Berrylook!), MADDA FELLA, MADISON STYLE, PURLISSE, ROYAL DOULTON (Thank you guys in London for being first!), SLEEPSTAR, SMOKO (Beautiful ads, guys!), WATERFORD, WEDGWOOD, YOUNGBLOOD, and MINERAL COSMETICS.
You guys rock! You’ve all been so kind and patient with me. I can write, but I suck at all of the technical stuff. I just love that I was able to pitch you guys and you got it. I can’t run all of your stuff all of the time, but I’ll do my best to promote your brands on the site to the best of my ability.
Thank you!
My daughter’s had the opportunity and time to create new music! A lifelong singer and musician, (like her dad!) she’s started composing her own original songs! (And videos!)
I’m so proud of her! She wrote all the lyrics and music for these songs!
I’m super proud and happy about what my daughter’s creating. We both agree that if you had something you always wanted to do, then this was your opportunity to do it!
She’s currently in the process of producing an EP of all NEW music due out in early 2021.
Even I got into the act and dug out some of my old recordings and got them online!
Check out this old rock ‘n roll geezer!
And… while visiting my sisters at Christmas, my little sister converted an old VHS recording of me attempting to do stand up comedy at Stockton State College back in 2003!
In reference to new beginnings, a dear friend of 20 years recently got married! After a few delays due to the pandemic, they finally got it done. My daughter and I had a great time, and it was nice to reconnect with some dear old friends. My daughter even did a reading at the reception.
Despite all of the bad things that are happening, we’ve managed to make a lot of good things happen! so, to us, 2020 has been a fantastic year!
More tomorrow!
Thank you for reading my blog. Please read, like, comment, and most of all follow Phicklephilly. I publish every day.
Cuddles have a Seductive Power when done in a right way!
The other night I was out with a friend for dinner. We ended up in this amazing restaurant I love to go. Let me give you a little background on this place I go to. The people who work there, are some of the most authentic I’ve ever met. The guy who owns the place is all about 100% authenticity 100% of the time.
Authenticity is so important in life for so many reasons.
Anyway, we were chatting to the owner about how he met his wife, and I asked him, “How did you know she was the one for you?”
He said, “The moment I met her I knew right away she was someone amazing and special. We had an amazing evening together, and I never wanted it to end. We were walking and talking until about 2 am, until she asked me back to her place. I stayed with her all night and we just cuddled.”
He was real, he was authentic, and he wasn’t all about getting her “in the sack.”
Why Cuddles Are So Important To Women?
Guys need to learn how powerful cuddles can be, and how easy it is to make a woman melt when you’re man enough just to hold her without expecting sex in return.
Cuddling stands for safety. Think about what cuddling means to a woman. Her Daddy cuddled her and protected her when she was little.
Cuddling a woman triggers an emotion in her that makes her feel safe with you. Before a woman will give herself to you, she needs to feel safe with you.
So many guys are all over women are the end of a date, constantly trying to paw at her, and constantly trying to come onto her. In reality, most the time all she wants is a cuddle!
When you hug a woman, she gets to feel your manliness. When you hug a woman, she gets to feel your vulnerability and your sighs against her.
When you hug a woman, she gets to feel your strength. It triggers feeling of safety. It triggers oxytocin, and that’s exactly what you want.
If you want to know how to really turn a woman on, you need to understand the power of cuddles. The next time you’re out on a date, instead of trying to kiss her, and instead of grabbing for her breasts, or my favorite thing guys do, rubbing yourself against her, try cuddling her. Just cuddle her and you watch what happens next.
It’s like magic. Watch her open up to you. Watch her start to give herself to you emotionally. Take sex out the equation gentlemen, and start to become that strong, protector women crave. Start to focus building an emotional bond with the women you date. Until a woman feels you emotionally, she’ll never feel you physically.
Therefore, apply the power of cuddles in the right way to turn her on both emotionally and physically.
Thank you for reading my blog. Please read, like, comment, and most of all follow Phicklephilly. I publish every day.
I firmly believe that a woman should not feel obligated to date every guy sent her way just because she might feel negative about her single status or “anxious” to get into a relationship. She may have also learned how to deal with rejection in a healthy way, as the dating pool is often full of this.
When it comes to finding that ideal significant other, we follow dating advice that has us list our desired traits along with the drop-dead deal breakers we refuse to compromise on. Going out on too many bad dates will drain you of your positive energy, which is so vital to finding love.
Some women go a bit overboard in the rejection department and write off potential matches for reasons that are short-sighted and irrelevant to a happy relationship. Remember, your goal is to be in a committed, happy relationship that will lead to marriage.
Don’t let your fear of rejection or your incredibly high expectations ruin your chances of landing a good guy. With that, here are five things you should never reject a guy over.
1. His clothing
On two separate occasions, I tried to set up women with men I suggested because they didn’t like the way they dressed. They felt the men weren’t “sharp” or cool enough for them. Admittedly, they were clueless in the clothing department, but I told these women that I thought they were making a big mistake by rejecting these men who were both highly intelligent, successful professionals and really nice guys — only based on their style (or lack thereof).
I guess living in big cities filled with metrosexual, GQ-reading men on the cutting edge of fashion trends can distort the reality that lots of great men are ignorant when it comes to style. They either don’t know or don’t care, so they continue to dress like college frat boys or Revenge of the Nerds extras. I can totally see how this can be a turn off to women who put so much effort into looking their best.
But here’s the reason why it shouldn’t matter: Most men will gladly upgrade their wardrobe for the right woman. Most men would love for a woman to take them shopping and help them pick out clothes. In fact, they probably wouldn’t mind if you went shopping on your own and just brought them back stuff to wear. It’s that simple.
In most areas, you need to assume that a person will not change, and you must accept them as they are. Clothing style for men is not one of them. Once you’re in a relationship, you can style your man. So don’t reject a guy just because he can’t figure out what to wear.
2. His home furnishings
Similar to tastes in clothing, most guys do not have the sense of style necessary to furnish an apartment or home that doesn’t look like a college dorm room or Austin Powers’ bachelor pad. That’s where you come in, if you end up living in the same house.
Keep that in mind and look past the design disaster to see the real man.
3. His profession
Making a living and supporting a family is important. Being able to maintain a certain realistic standard of living is too. How a man accomplishes that feat is not.
Don’t judge a man by how he makes his money. Your goal should be to find a man who will be a loving and caring husband and father. The letters after his name should be irrelevant to your decision.
4. His social “coolness”
Some men aren’t the greatest when it comes to socializing. I’m not referring to a man who is socially awkward in an uncomfortable or creepy way, I’m just talking about a guy who isn’t the social butterfly you think you need.
Well, if you marry him, you’ll have to be the social director and he will follow. Is that too big of a sacrifice for you in exchange for a good man who loves you?
5. His lack of verbal affection
There was a great article in The Wall Street Journal that talks about how some men show their love and affection through actions instead of words.
I know you want your man to serenade you with verbal expressions of his undying affection, but would you settle for a guy who washes the dishes, takes out the garbage, and buys you flowers on a regular basis? How about a guy who wakes up early on weekends to take care of the kids so you can sleep in?
Actions speak louder than words. Go for the doer over the talker every time.
Thank you for reading my blog. Please read, like, comment, and most of all follow Phicklephilly. I publish every day.
When you find someone you love, it is important that you show your love using multiple channels. Relationships can become difficult if true feelings are not communicated or expressed in the right ways. By staying open, honest, and consistent, you can be sure to show your lover just how in love you are.
Method1
Being by Your Partner’s Side
1
Tap into your emotional side. Intimate moments are a great way to show true love. They require both you, and your lover, to be vulnerable and open. This means that you have to share your deepest thoughts and feelings with one another by talking and listening.[1]
Hold him during hard times, and allow him to vent in your arms about anything.
Rub your fingers through your lovers hair as you listen and provide comfort.
2
Be as supportive as possible. Even if you do not necessarily agree with something he does, stand by your partner’s side. This shows that you love him for who he really is, and you are not going anywhere. Do not put him down for seemingly obscure or odd interests, and always applaud any accomplishments he makes.[2]
Even if you advised against something, but your partner did it anyway and now regrets it, don’t say, “I told you so.” Instead, be supportive and say, “Everyone makes mistakes. We just have to learn from them and move on.” This provides support during tough times.
3
Trust your lover. To show that you really love someone, you have to show how much trust you have for him. Remember, in order to receive trust, you have to show it.[3]
Do not doubt stories he tells you, and refrain from snooping through personal belongings he may leave out.
Try not to show jealousy. Jealousy can stem from having a lack of trust, and your lover will feel upset by the lack of yours if you act jealous.
4
Reassure your love with words. We all have doubts about our relationships. Verbal communication is a direct way to express how you feel, and confirm your love. Here are some things you can say:
“I am so lucky to have met you. I love you so much.”
“You are my one and only. I never want to be with anyone else.”
Method2
Practicing Loving Behaviors
1
Admit your wrong doings. If your lover is mad at you because of something you did or didn’t do, learn to accept fault and apologize. By swallowing your pride, you are showing that her feelings come before your ego.
2
Always be honest. A wise man once said that trust is a must for relationship. When two people are in love, there needs to be total transparency. By always remaining honest with her, it will allow a deeper level of trust to develop, which allows more room for love to grow.[4]
3
Practice loving body language. Much of our communication happens through our body language. Be sure to physically show your affection to your partner whenever you two spend time together.
Try holding hands, giving hugs, cuddling on the coach, and giving kisses.
Give a kiss to her forehead or cheek. It is a small gesture that will go a long way.
Look into her eyes during a conversation to show you are listening closely.
4
Notice the small things. If she gets a haircut, or buys a new outfit, be sure to take notice and give her a compliment. By noticing the small things, she will feel appreciated and realize how much you care.[5]
5
Be patient. If you feel angry or frustrated with her, calmly communicate your feelings to your lover as to protect her feelings. Anger does not translate as love, but rather as disrespect. It could lead her into thinking you are annoyed and have hostile feelings towards her.
Whether you are teaching her something new, or frustrated once again because a certain chore wasn’t done, be patient, and refrain from yelling.
Method3
Showing Love with Special Gestures
1
Make your partner’s life easier and more enjoyable. If he had a rough day at work, or he is feeling ill, think about ways to help him feel better. He will notice the extra work you do for him, and he will know you love him by your actions.
Volunteer to clean the house or make dinner. It is perfectly okay to pick up the extra slack for him when it is needed.
2
Introduce your lover to friends and family. Show him you are proud to have someone like him by your side and in your life.[6]
Invite him to a family dinner or a family party. Stand by his side as you introduce him to everyone to make him feel comfortable, appreciated, and part of your life.
3
Put thought into gift giving. For special dates, such as anniversaries and birthdays, buy something special or make a gift if you’re crafty. The gift you get should speak to you and remind you of your partner. Remember, a thoughtful gift is more about the meaning behind it, than it is about how much money you spent.
Listen to hints that he drops throughout the year about things he wants. He will feel special when you buy them because you made it a point to remember what he wanted.
4
Leave a love note. Before you leave for the day, leave a special note for him to find. Write an inside joke, wish him a great day, or remind him how lucky you feel to love him. Here are some ideas:
Write in the note, “I can’t wait until I get to see you next. Spending time with you is my favorite thing in the world.”
Leave movie tickets inside a note with a message that says, “Can I take you on a date this weekend? We can see any movie you want.”
5
Make time for your lover. No matter how hectic your schedule is, it is important that you find time to spend with him. By taking time out of your busy schedule, it shows him that he is your priority.[7]
Skip a day of school or work, and plan a relaxing day at the beach or mall.
Even if all you can fit into your schedule is a ten minute break to get coffee, do it. The spontaneity will be an appreciated surprise.
Thank you for reading my blog. Please read, like, comment, and most of all follow Phicklephilly. I publish every day.
We’ve all done them. But which one do you do the most?
Here’s the thing about relationships. We all want to be in one (let’s just admit that no one likes to be alone), but at the same time, we’re always doing things to drive each other crazy and jeopardize our chances of holding on to a good one.
Don’t get me wrong; I would never advocate changing your behavior just for a guy. But there are certain things women are prone to doing in relationships that they wouldn’t do otherwise. These irritating habits and behaviors aren’t who we really are, but for some reason, we’re compelled to act them out with our partners, or would-be partners.
These are the kind of things you do and then kick yourself for later. Sometimes it’s as if you’re outside your body, watching helplessly as you see yourself doing them, wishing you could make yourself stop. The good news is, you can actually make yourself stop. And becoming aware of these behaviors is the first step toward cutting them out.
Not sure where to start? Here are seven things that drive men wild – and not in a good way.
1. Deflecting compliments
If he says you’re beautiful, don’t respond by telling him you haven’t showered today, you’re not wearing any makeup, and you’ve got a wicked case of PMS. Maybe he actually likes you in grungy sweats and reading glasses, with your greasy hair pulled into a ponytail. If he didn’t, why would he say it? Just accept the compliment.
2. Never offering to pay
Look, any man worth going out with is going to pay for you anyway – but at least offer to pick up the check once in a while. It’s just rude not to make the obligatory reaching-for-your-wallet movement. And once you’ve been dating for a while, actually make a point of paying for drinks, dessert, or movie tickets now and then. Make sure he feels like your boyfriend, not an ATM.
3. Constantly complaining about people you don’t like
You know that girl you hate-follow on Instagram? The one in your yoga class who always puts her mat in front and does every pose perfectly? Your boyfriend doesn’t want to see her latest annoying post. And that co-worker who made you look bad in front of your boss? He’s sick of listening to you rant about her every night. Men don’t engage in this kind of mean-girl drama and hear you do it just irritates them. It also makes them wonder if you’re complaining about him to your other friends – so save the snark for your girlfriends.
4. Purposely trying to make them jealous
When you’re annoyed at your boyfriend and you flirt with someone else at a party, all the while looking out of the corner of your eye to see if he notices, rest assured – he does. But if you’re hoping to spark his jealousy and make him realize how much he loves you and doesn’t want to lose you, I’ve got bad news. You’re actually doing the opposite. Men see right through this manipulative behavior, and they loathe it.
5. Judging your relationship according to social media
Looking at other people’s relationships through the lens of social media and comparing your real-life relationship to their filtered one is a recipe for misery. If you’re constantly snapping selfies with your boyfriend and tagging him in an attempt to look like the perfect couple online, or freaking out because you’re not hitting relationship milestones as quickly as your Facebook friends and their significant others, you might soon find your relationship status changed to “single.”
6. Making him feel guilty for having other interests
Contrary to what some people might think, it’s totally healthy for people to maintain their outside interests and do things separately from their partners on a fairly regular basis. Trying to guilt your BAE into skipping his weekly bar trivia night, or getting mad because he wants to watch baseball instead of hanging out with you for the third night in a row, is guaranteed to piss him off and push him away.
7. Not being direct
We’ve all done it. When we’re upset about something, but we don’t want to have to tell him about it (he should know!), we respond to our boyfriend’s innocent, “what’s wrong, baby?” with a shrug and a mumbled, “nothing, I’m fine.” This might be the thing women do that men hate the most. Just tell him what’s wrong. Because chances are, he’s not going to dig. So don’t get mad when he shrugs back and you and walks away. You’ve been warned.
Thank you for reading my blog. Please read, like, comment, and most of all follow Phicklephilly. I publish every day.
Is it the real thing? Or do you just have a crush?
What is infatuation? Infatuation is like an innocent fantasy that we imagine to be love. It’s when we’re in love with the idea of love. But can you tell the difference between love and infatuation?
This feeling starts at a young age with “puppy love” or a crush on someone, and continues into adulthood. Infatuation tends to happen when we’re not in tune with reality — we see what we want to see and hear what we want to hear. We read more into what he says and does when his words, behaviors, and actions speak otherwise.
Infatuation causes us to pay more attention to a man’s superficial physical characteristics and less attention to his inner, deeper qualities. Almost all women have been or will be infatuated, confusing this with love or a deep like.
Don’t let your eyes cloud your vision of love. Are you infatuated or in love? In order to recognize infatuation vs. love, consider the following questions. If you answer “yes” to them, you’re prone to infatuation.
Do you…
Focus on external qualities (i.e., his looks, how much money he makes, the job he has, the car he drives, the house he lives in, etc.)?
Become consumed by thoughts of him?
Center your life around him by making him your priority?
Believe what he says when your intuition is telling you otherwise?
Have a superficial connection?
Not see any flaws in him?
Sit by the phone, waiting for his call?
Pay for a lot of his meals and activities?
Try to spend time where you think he may be, hoping to run into him?
Let yourself be his option or afterthought?
Infatuation is fleeting and less fulfilling. If your relationship is based on infatuation, you’ll compromise who you are, neglect what’s important to you, and never feel like a priority in his life.
Being disappointed and discouraged when relationships based on infatuation don’t work out is understandable. Realize that there are always good lessons to be learned from these types of relationships.
The overarching lesson is to let your heart choose who to love instead of letting your eyes choose.
Here’s how to know if your relationship is based on real love: You bring out the best in each other. You’re more happy than not. He treats you with love and respect. Your life is better because he’s in it. There is no doubt — you just know he’s the right person for you.
Thank you for reading my blog. Please read, like, comment, and most of all follow Phicklephilly. I publish every day.
In everyone’s lives, there is the one who got away. If she’s showing you these 20 signs she cares about you, don’t let her go.
Have you recently met a girl and think she might be someone special? You’re probably a little confused about where her feelings stand. Don’t panic, it’s normal to experience these insecurities! To help you out, here are 20 signs she cares about you. If you notice a majority coming your way, she certainly is wanting the same thing as you.
20 subtle signs she cares about you a lot
If you want to meet someone on the same page as you and experience the deep connection only love can bring, your journey towards finding them can be full of pitfalls. The problem is, after a few false starts, recognizing a genuine person in your life can be tricky.
Finding real, true love can be difficult. We meet people who don’t want a relationship, people who say they do but don’t really those who simply want fun, and those who have no clue what they want deep down. Watch for these 20 signs she cares about you and see where you stand.
#1 She remembers small details about you. If you don’t mean anything to her, she wouldn’t bother remembering your birthday, favorite color, favorite meal, or the other small details which make you the person you are. This means you’re clearly in her brain. It’s a surefire sign she cares about you.
#2 She’s genuinely interested in how your day went. If she doesn’t care, she won’t have the slightest interest in whether your day went well or not. If she always asks how your day was, and always asks if you’re alright, etc., that’s a great sign.
#3 She worries about you. Perhaps you have a headache, or maybe you didn’t sleep well the night before. Care means she will be worried about that to a degree. Okay, she’s not going to be full scale panicking, but she will be concerned, e.g. ‘make sure you get some sleep tonight, you look really tired.’
#4 She will give you advice. Most girls are great at giving out advice. Is she advising you on the best way forward, especially in terms of the future? This is a girl with your best interests at heart. Sure, if you only notice this one sign then there is a possibility that it’s a friendship deal. But, add in a few more signs, there’s definitely romance in the air!
#5 She wants to know about the people in your life. If she seems genuinely interested to learn about the important people you have in your life, such as your family and friends, that’s a great sign too. She could also be trying to find out more about them so that if she gets to meet them, she can impress them. Every girl wants to impress her partner’s parents and friends!
#6 She tries to help. If you have a problem, giving advice is one thing but actively doing something to help is quite another. A person who cares will jump in to help. If you notice that she actually does try and solve a problem of yours, or at least helps, that’s a sign she cares about you.
#7 She’s happy when you’re happy. A girl doesn’t need to be an empath to pick up on your bad moods or other emotional cues. If you’re in a bad mood or feeling down, she’ll reflect it. On the flip-side, when you’re happy, she’s happy, and a true sign of affection.
#8 She acts selflessly around you. A girl who cares about you will put your happiness a little in front of her own, not completely, but she will want you to be the one smiling. This can be something big or small, like giving you the last piece of chocolate cake, or missing out on a party because she knows you need her help with something.
#9 She encourages you to achieve. If she cares about you, she will want you to achieve and do great things in your life. She encourages you to go for opportunities and try new things. She will feel proud of you and be your biggest supporter.
#10 She lifts you up when you’re down. Perhaps you’ve had a bad day at work. The big presentation didn’t go as well as you’d hoped. If she really cares about you, she will be the one giving you the pep talk, lifting you up, and pushing you to try again.
#11 She does her best to make time for you. It’s impossible for her to drop everything for you all the time *and quite frankly, why should she?*. But a girl who cares about you will do her best to prioritize you in her schedule. This means fitting you in whenever she can. Maybe she has a pre-arranged dinner with friends in her diary, but she’ll meet you before or afterward, just to see you.
#12 She lets you know you’re on her mind. If she’s out with friends, working late, or away, you’ll probably receive texts from her. Simply to let you know that you’re on her mind. These texts won’t be anything important, just a reason to reach out. This is certainly one of the best signs she cares about you.
#13 She laughs at your jokes, even when they’re not funny. If a girl cares, she will laugh at your jokes, even if they’re terrible. She will also sit through your long stories, just because she likes to hear you talk. She likes to see you become so animated when talking about something from your past.
#14 She will still make fun of you. There’s an old story that you ‘pull the pigtails of the one you love.’ That basically means that boys are mean to girls on the playground because they actually like them. This can work for girls too! If a girl is always making fun of you in a playful and affectionate way, she cares!
#15 She doesn’t play games. A girl who cares about you won’t be interested in playing games. She doesn’t want you to misunderstand or get hurt accidentally. She will reply to your texts in a timely manner and be honest with you.
#16 She does her best to remember the things you like and don’t like. I mentioned earlier about her remembering small details. But if she specifically remembers the things you like and don’t like, that’s a great sign. For instance, she’ll cook a meal but she will leave out the mushrooms because you hate them.
#17 She will look at you, simply because she can. If you notice your girl just looking at you with a coy smile on her face, she cares about you. Sure, it’s also a sign of attraction, but there is a difference between looking at you with passion and looking at you simply because she wants to.
#18 She apologizes when she is wrong. A girl who doesn’t care about you won’t bother to apologize if she does something wrong or unintentionally hurts you. One of the biggest signs she cares about you is that she will say ‘sorry’ when she knows she is in the wrong.
#19 She will get angry with you occasionally. Probably over the smallest things, your girl will certainly get angry with you if she cares. Anger is an emotion. When someone we don’t care about does something, we shrug it off. If someone we care about does something, we get upset and angry. It’s a contradiction, but it’s certainly a sign!
#20 She will always defend you. Your girl will always be your biggest supporter. If she hears someone talking about you, she will defend you to within an inch of her life. This is a surefire sign she cares.
Nodding along to many of these suggestions? These are true signs she cares about you. In that case, keep hold of her and give her the same signs back. She’s a keeper!
Thank you for reading my blog. Please read, like, comment, and most of all follow Phicklephilly. I publish every day.
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