Like Apples and Pineapples.

Having your new girlfriend be a reader of a blog that until recently has been about your old girlfriend poses a problem.


One which Mirage mentions a lot.


The fact that there is a year-and-a-half of blog posts going on about how amazing, awesome, or perfect Hannah is.  It's enough to make a girl feel inadequate.  I'll admit, hindsight is 20/15.  Rereading some of this blog I think, "Just wait buddy, I know how this ends."


The problem is, it's part of human nature to compare ourselves to others, and also to compare other people to others.  We all do it, but the variation in how we judge people is based on how we value various attributes.  This makes it very difficult to compare people across the board, so I've made a point to judge people based on specific offerings rather than the people in general.


Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, even (SPOILER ALERT!) me.  Each lady I have dated over time has also had their strengths and weaknesses.  Liz was very athletic and sporty, but didn't reciprocate affection very well.  Hannah was very laid back, but she was too agreeable.  Mirage is very passionate, but also very intense.


Some guys say they have some kind of rating systems, however I've always found it very difficult to compare girls as a whole.  My ego would like to tell me that each former girlfriend has been superior to the previous one, and I can believe that, but even still I can't say anything quantitative like, Liz was a 8.6, Hannah was a 9.1, or Mirage is a 9.3.  In the end I have to keep each attribute independent.


There are a few things about Mirage that I've noticed lately as standouts.  With Mirage, after I say something especially nerdy, I never have to think, "Oh no, was that too nerdy?" like I did with Hannah, while I had to avoid nerdy things altogether with Liz.  While there were a lot of things I wanted to LEARN with Hannah, there are a lot of things Mirage can TEACH me.  Mirage is a lot more generally passionate, which is sometimes a double-edged sword.


I guess in the end the only comparison that's really needed is this:  I'm not with Hannah now.  I'm with Mirage.

Moving right along.

Another semester is here, and I'm still trying to find one more class to round out my schedule before the add/drop deadline on Monday.  


The break was great.  Mirage and I spent a lot of time together and, as I said last time, she got me on the slopes.  It was definitely one of those rare opportunities where I was humbled against my will.  Mirage got a good laugh as I ate it a few times, yet still tried to throw me on a blue which, I admit was beyond me, but you know, I'm never afraid to just wing-it.  

Mirage and I went over to The 'Rents on Sunday to celebrate Mother's birthday.  I think Mirage is starting to understand the family dynamic.  There's a sibling hierarchy, and when BigSis, Bro-in-Law, and Nephew are over, they're at the top of it.  I adapted long ago, usually I spend a little bit of time talking to BigSis and a majority playing with LittleBrother and Nephs.


Regardless of the history, I do love my family.  Have I ever mentioned how much of a genius LittleBrother is?  Sunday he showed me his newest invention, a crossbow, made out of a cardboard box, a rubber band, and a paper clip and shoots a pencil at high speed across the room, it had a trigger to fire and everything.  Chip off the old block.   My night was made, however, after giving the 2-year-old Nephs a goodbye hug and kiss when he says, "I'm glad you come a-night."


Mirage and I have entered into a few arguments/fights recently, some over dumb things and some over important things.  The argument is a bit of a major milestone for me, I definitely know how to start an argument, and conversely know how to avoid one.  Entering into an argument marks that moment where I feel truly secure in a relationship of any kind. 

So this is... The Holidays

The Holidays are here again, though it makes me sad that my excitement for them has dwindled in recent years.


This past Boxing Day I had a very strange persistent emotion.  Sadness that Christmas was over.  I don't know why.  I wasn't even excited for Christmas, my Christmas itself wasn't all that great, but once it was over and gone, there was sadness.I couldn't help but wonder if it was just some kind of residual feeling from years past.


Mirage and I made the family rounds, which is always a good time.  I've said before, I pride myself with my ability to get along with 'the in-laws', and while I haven't been around Mirage's parents enough to accurately gauge whether they like me or not, I do have a good feeling.  I think 'a good feeling' is progress, especially since Mirage has told me that my decision not to serve a mission will be permanent points against(as it seems to be with most people in these parts...).  I think, with my guidance, Mirage is in with my family.  I don't mean to say that she needed coaching or anything, Mirage is pretty cool by herself, but I know my family, and they kind don't really take notice of you until they see that you have something to offer.  Thus the "guidance" I gave Mirage was just telling her which of her qualities to stress up front.


The rest of the break was spent, mostly with Mirage, driving to Provo a lot, etc, we had to make the most of the break since we'll both be in school and working full-time until Summer.  Mirage and I are going skiing tomorrow, my last day of freedom before classes start.  I haven't been on skis in 13 years, and Mirage is a very skilled skier so this could be interesting.  Let's just hope my eidetic muscle memory is still operational.