Musings & Observations

1997

Well now.... I have always thought that it would be kinda cool to be a columnist like Steve Blow in the Dallas Morning News. I'd be able to express my opinion's and thoughts about things in general and have people actually read it. Well I've given myself the chance here. You'll find out what I've been thinking about on this page. You can also find out how my dates go here as well. Since many people have a small amount of voyeurism in them, I thought I'd just report on my activities right here.......ENJOY!

There is a religious group in Garland, Texas that belives that the world is going to end on March 31st. It seems that God will be returning to Earth in a flying saucer and when he does the world will end. This group of about 200 people moved to Texas from Taiwan because Garland sounds like "God land". Have you ever been to Garland? I live about 10 miles from there. I can assure you that it is not God's land. HA HA HA HA

I saw these people with my own eyes on the news. They are real! I think Robert Tilton is looking for a new flock. These people probably would fit right in with him. There is a problem though. I think the leader of this cult has already fleeced these folks of their money. HA HA HA HA

I was recently asked if this website was really worthwhile to me. The answer is YES it is. Greatguy.com has yet to find me "that special lady" but that is because I have not promoted it enough. The key to my success will be promotion, promotion and more promotion. Over the last few months I have chatted with some really nice people. Most of these conversations were via E-mail some were by phone and a few have been in person. Bottom line is these conversations would not have taken place without greatguy. Communication is the key to finding my "special lady". And greatguy.com facilitates this communication.

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Oh, political correctness reared its ugly head yet again last week. One of the contributors to my "Outhouse" section politely asked me to remove their name from association with the jokes they contributed. Why? He/she did not want upper management to know he/she contributed the material.....Hmmmmmm

Now, I am a fortunate guy. I am beholden to no one. I don't owe anyone anything. If management doesn't think I am politically correct, I'll just find something else to do. Jobs are plentiful for a guy like me. Isn't that cool!

I talked mom into allowing me to use shoe polish to create a sign that read "www greatguy com" on the back of her car. She was hesitant at first but I told her that if she ever wanted grandkids she needed to co-operate. <Grin> I figured with all the Thanksgiving traffic on the road between here and Atlanta I was sure to get some hits. I did!

Mom decided to wear a flannel "lumberjack" shirt while we were driving and somewhere in Louisiana two guys drove past us and gawked at her. She was quite proturbed as she was sure that those guys thought "she" was the greatguy. I got a big laugh out of that. All our relatives got a kick out of the story when we got to Georgia. I think she'll burn that lumberjack shirt. <Grin>

Tis the season to go shopping.....Yuck! I hate shopping. If you haven't stopped by my Holiday Humor section please check it out. There is some funny stuff there.

I am traveling to North Georgia with my Mom and Granny for Thanksgiving. My Aunt and her family are there and we will be spending the holiday with them. I'll be out Monday till the next Monday. I'll have my laptop with me so I won't be out of E-mail range. Please write if you want to. I'll get back with you.

I donated a pint of blood to our local blood bank this week. I encourage all of you to consider doing the same. The holiday season is a bad time for blood banks because many people are too busy to get the job done. I got a call from them soliciting a donation. If you were in a car wreck and needed blood to save your life wouldn't it be nice to know that someone donated a pint for you?

I have had some lunch dates this week. It is really cool to finally get to meet a few of the ladies I have been chatting with. I am pleased to report that not every one who responds to this web site is "fat and ugly" as suggested by one person. Truth is my dates were quite attractive.

I hate to sound like Andy Rooney.......but have you ever noticed that the color of the caps on milk jugs vary from brand to brand. The other morning I was eating my normal breakfast of a Nutri-Grain bar and a glass of milk. I took a swig of milk and thought I was drinking cream. Normally I buy 1% milk. Much to my surprise, the milk I just swallowed  was the high octane kind. The color of the cap was the same as I always buy but I got it at a different store. It seems that that stores green capped jug contains whole milk. Oh, I think the world is coming to an end......<Sigh> Guess I should read the label, huh.

Well GreatGuy dot COM has brought me lots of mail. The problem I have is that there are all kinds of nice ladies......ALL OVER THE WORLD. What a logistical nightmare. What's a "greatguy" to do? Several weeks have gone by and I still have no prospects in sight. There are several possibilities however. Please stay tuned.

Matchbox 20's new album "Yourself or someone like you" is the best I've heard in a long time........Check it out! Every cut is good.

Over the past two weeks both of the counters on this site have been goofed up. I'm not sure why but they are not "on the money". The most accurate one is Web Tracker. It is about 80 hits shy of my estimate on reality. The Geo-Cities counter was broken for a few days and is no longer accurate. I am hopeful to exceed 5000 hits by the first of the year.

Well it's time once again for the United Way folks to solicit contributions for their various causes. I am a skeptical person and I have heard stories about high salaries for United Way executives. Never the less I am aware that some of the charities that I am familiar with are supported by the United Way. Over all, I am convinced that there is much more good than bad that comes from the United Ways efforts. I will be making a contribution this year. Does any one have any thoughts on this subject?

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I  miss listening to Howard Stern and company in the mornings. Does anyone in Dallas feel the same way? I used to listen to him for a hour every morning and I would always get to work in a good mood because he made me laugh.

If there is one thing I can't stand it is "political correctness". Last week I received the following message.

For an adult, (or should I say 'boy'?), you ought to know that 'girl' isn't the best term to use when referring to a woman. (I thought for the longest time that you were a pedophile). Personally, I think it stinks.

Well, my first instinct was to construct a nasty, insulting message right back to this person because it hit my "political correct" nerve and because I just think it is silly. After reading the message over several times I decided that maybe I shouldn't act in haste. The sentence which used the word "girl" was on my main page. It read like this. "While finding the right girl for me is this sites main goal a secondary goal......."

The dictionary I consulted defined girl as "a female who has not yet attained womanhood" but it also defined girl as "an unmarried young woman". Looks like we were both correct according to my dictionary. Sadly, I replaced the word "girl" with "lady" in that sentence because I did not want anyone to think I might be a pedophile. I wrote the "lady" back and thanked her for finding my "error".

I feel that I have done my part for the cause of political correctness! I'm sure the world will sleep better knowing that I corrected my evil ways. <Grin>

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I have no dates to report on yet. I have spoken to a few ladies on  the phone this week. Things are going slow but they are progressing. I have made many new friends from all over the world via E-mail. I look forward to chatting with everyone over the coming weeks.

Well it is 11 pm on Sunday and I still have 37 messages left on my answering machine to respond to. I have answered 63 E-mails and messages since Friday. I am trying to give personal responses to everyone and sometimes that involves checking out other web sites. This is what is taking so much time. I know I said I'd finish this up this evening but there is simply no way that is going to happen because I need to go to bed. My eyes are starting to go blurry. I did have a few chores that had to be done this weekend but most of the time I've spent right here. I didn't even get a Friday Fact this week due to the mail I've gotten. Please don't think that I am complaining because I am not. I am simply explaining what is going on.

Many people have sent funny material for inclusion on this site. As soon as I get through this round of E-mail I'll post the stuff. Please check back later. If you have any funny stuff I'd love to see it. Please send it Via E-mail.

Folks, my E-mail box has "run'ith over" with mail. I placed an ad on Ray Owens' Joke-A-Day service and I got swamped. I hope everyone will be patient with me. I do work a 40+ hour week and have lots of chores that need to be done. My goal is to answer everyone by the end of the weekend. Thanks for taking a moment to write.

Communication is the key to friendship, courtship and marriage. I view every E-mail I get as a friend I haven't met in person yet. Every friend (female) as a potential date and wife...... I need all the friends I can get so I will reply to your E-mail!

The survey form I have on the main page is broken. I have asked Geo-Cities to fix it several times but they still haven't done it. I hope you let me know what you think via my answering machine or by E-mail instead.

Am I the only person that gets lots of "junk mail"? I am speaking of the postal kind not the E-mail kind. I have gotten to the point where I don't go to the mailbox but twice a week. When I do retrieve my mail it is nothing but JUNK. Credit card solicitations, long distance companies wanting me to switch, life insurance companies, investment brokers and on and on. Then of course there are the bills.....more mail I don't want. The bill I hate the most is the one from Allstate for my car insurance....Yuck I hate insurance! Fortunately my apartment complex has a big trash can near the mailbox. Most of my mail goes right in there. It is just such a chore to go through it all. If I get something with a bulk rate stamp the odds are quite good I'll never look at it.

Well my lunch date didn't happen this week. The good news is that she called with an explanation so I am hopeful that I'll get a chance to meet her next week. She writes great E-mail. All I have gotten out of the phone numbers I was given was answering machines. No live person yet, but I will keep trying. More on this soon.

I hope that I don't scare anyone off by letting you know how I'm doing with greatguy.com. Ladies I'm afraid that you'll think that I have too many or too few dates and that that might impact negatively on your opinion of me. The truth is that I am working on finding "that special lady" and I know that it's going to take time and effort on my part. If you have any interest at all I hope you'll write.

I went to East Texas this weekend to visit Mom and Granny. I have been accused of being a "mamas boy" because I go and visit so much. Truth is that I travel to Longview every 5 or 6 weeks. I go there for a visit and to help with chores that the ladies need done. This time, Granny needed her new scanner connected up to her PC. I took care of that and generally goofed off most of the rest of the time.

I received lots of hits & E-mail off the billboard in downtown this weekend. My thanks to all who wrote. I'll respond ASAP. I traveled through downtown Dallas this Saturday morning on my trip to Longview. I got held up in traffic for an hour due to the Texas / OU game. Normally this would have been a pain but I have a big "greatguy.com" sign on the back of my car. I got lots of smiles and horn toots as I went by. This likely accounted for 50+ hits this weekend. Sometimes traffic can be a good thing!

I am please to report that I have received 2 phone numbers and have arranged a lunch date for later this week. I think greatguy.com is starting to work. For those interested in using greatgirl.com, I'd like to point out that I am offering it for you to use free of charge. Just drop me a line and we'll discuss it.

Well you missed out on a fun canoe trip! Several folks wrote E-mail and expressed interest but when it came down to calling me to discuss it, no one did. There are numerous possible reasons for this but I don't feel like speculating on this now. The bottom line is that I am a nice guy and I like doing stuff like this. We all had a great time, end of story!

We traveled down the Trinity River north of Carrollton. The trip consisted of 11 people (mostly co-workers) and it lasted about three hours.  I went in the canoe with my friend Jeff who was a real good sport when I kept telling him that he might get bumped if a "greatgirl" came along.<Grin> Afterwards, Wiley cooked all kinds of good stuff on the BBQ and we ate to the tunes of Jimmy Buffet. We all found out that Ashley is not a big Buffet fan. <Big Grin> I suspect there will be another trip soon and I'll let you know about it when it is planned. Maybe next time!

Saturday morning I got to try out my new mountain bike for real. I have ridden bicycles and motorcycles (mostly motorcycles) since I was little. The mountain bike however, was a new experience.  Jeff and Clarence took me to an "intermediate" trail called Sisters Grove located in Princeton, TX. While we were driving to the trail Clarence told a story about a biker who took his dog along for some exercise. Well it seems the dog dropped dead from exhaustion. I'll spare you the gruesome details. At that point I began wondering hmmmmmmm just what kind of trail is this?

Early into the trail it didn't seem too bad but then we hit the hills. I thought I would die. I go to the gym most every day but I usually shy away from the exercise bikes. No more. I definitely need some aerobic conditioning. Both Jeff and Clarence were very patient with me as I had to stop and rest more than once. Then, all of the sudden the triceps muscles in both arms began cramping really bad. The night before I worked them hard at the gym and they were punishing me on the bike ride. That was the end of my ride. All in all I enjoyed the experience but I'll be practicing on the "beginners" trails for awhile. I don't want to wind up like that dog. <Grin>

It's nice to know you have friends. This weekend I visited with my former co-workers at Sears. I hadn't been by there for a year or so. I was so pleased when everyone took floor time (they're on straight commission) to visit with me and ask how I and my family were doing. They are very special folks and I do miss working with them.. Of course several of them wanted to know if I was married YET. Well no, I had to explain, but then I told them about greatguy.com. I think everyone agreed it wouldn't be long.

Well I don't know about that.....almost 1100 hits and still not one date from a hit. I have gotten a few phone calls but so far ZIP. The E-mail keeps coming although some of it is from my current co-workers trying to get a laugh at my expense. I knew it would happen. <Grin> Maybe I'm too ugly, but I don't think so. Maybe when I reply my grammar makes me seem like an idiot. No, I don't think that's it either. I'd say that there have been too many TV movies about stalkers and "weirdo's". I'd also guess that many women don't have access to the net. What do you think?

Finally, finally I went out and bought a mountain bike. It is cool and lots of fun. Do you know of any neat trails? Drop me an E-mail and lets go riding. Lets not make it too rough as I am new to this. <Grin>

I do get some interesting E-mail. Skip wrote to tell me that "I've got a lot of balls to tell the world how desperate I am." Melanie, on the other hand said, "Desperate? No. Crazy? No. Mental? No. Lonely? Maybe." Sorry Skip, but Melanie hit the nail right on the head. Greatguy.com is not in any way a desperate attempt to simply get a date. It is really about finding "that special lady", that one in a million that folks often talk about. I have only gotten 1000+ hits so far.....It's gonna take a few more I'm afraid. I have been talking with several ladies via E-mail. A few of them are quite interesting. I'll keep you posted. Be sure to check back soon.

I bought the Matchbox 20 CD "yourself or someone like you". I am listening as I type. There are lots of good songs on this album. I recommend it to all. The 3 songs that get lots of air play are "long day", "3 am" and "push".

I was recently asked, "How do I know that you're not an ax murderer?" Hmmm, well I don't suppose there is any way for me to prove for a fact that I'm not a murderer, stalker, rapist, child molester or other "weirdo". Keep in mind that this site is VERY public. Would a weirdo want to call such attention to him or herself? Probably not! I know that that answer is kind of lame but it is the best I can think of. A leap of faith is what its gonna take ladies. I'll provide you with some solid references if you'd like. Drop me an E-mail and ask. I know this is a problem....one that I don't know how to solve for sure. Any ideas?

"Are you into the Cowboys?", a lady recently wrote and asked. Well the answer to that is yes and no, mostly no. I'll watch a Cowboy game on a Sunday if there is nothing else on and I have nothing better to do. I look at pro football as a money making thing...Only I don't make the money, Jerry Jones and Troy Aikman do. Anyone, want to buy some Nike shoes or Budwiser beer?

I think that it's great that NFL players can command such high salaries. Good for them. I am very much a capitalist and know that this is simply a supply and demand issue. The players provide a supply of entertainment for the masses and people demand entertainment. So long as advertisers know you watch the games and buy the products they advertise you do indeed hand Troy Aikman his pay check, even if it is indirectly. Me, I'd rather find something else to do.

If anyone disputes my thinking please send E-mail and I'll argue with you!

Well the Greenville avenue billboard did even better then the I-30 one. I'm sure the SMU crowd got a big laugh out of all those jokes. Good, I hope they were enjoyed. I got even more E-mail from this effort. It seems that a few folks got a kick out of sending me E-mail with someone else's return address. I really don't mind this....I'm gonna respond to everyone... If I send you something and you didn't initiate the conversation please be aware that it was probably someone you know, having a little fun.

Among my latest E-mail was praise from marketing and advertising people. These folks want me to add more "female friendly" content that points out how sensitive, caring and compassionate I am as well as an explanation of how I intend to sweep a lady off her feet. Please stay tuned for more of that type of content. This poses a problem as I am a man....one from Mars at that. I am simply not good at that kind of thing and above all I intend to present myself honestly on this web. The very thing that most women thrive on, I'm not very good at....you know that sappy, sensitive stuff. I don't want to pretend that I am something that I am not....A greatguy wouldn't do that.

No dates yet but I don't think it will be long.....stay tuned!

Oh my goodness! The eastbound I 30 billboard produced 200+ hits to this site in two days. I only hoped for 100. I have received E-mail and messages from many well wishers and several interesting young ladies. It seems my efforts are paying off and I'd really like to THANK EVERYONE for their kind words. I am quite surprised that there were no folks fussing about the "Outhouse". hmmmmmmmm The nice folks at Dallas Daily have arranged for me a billboard on Greenville at University....right in the middle of SMU and University Park. I hope the folks over there respond as favorably as the folks on I 30. If you send me E-mail I promise a response ASAP....It may take a little longer than I would like because I've been quite busy with it lately.

Who is to blame for Lady Di's death?.....well I'd say 60% fault lies in the hands of the drunk driver. 30% lies in the hands of the folks who buy the pictures the paparazzi snap.......10% lies in the hands of the photographers who are just tring to make a living.

Nuf said about that!

Promoting greatguy.com is also very important as all my efforts won't amount to anything if no one visits.......This is where the real fun comes in. I took some white shoe polish and wrote www . greatguy .com on the hatchback of my car......I have been purposely driving through rush hour traffic on the Tollway, I35, LBJ and Central Expressway.. No doubt there has been lots of reaction....Far as I can tell, all positive. I have learned to watch people in my mirror as they go by....Folks laugh, wave, smile real big and even toot their horn....It is SO cool....I've even seen guys smile when the see my ad. (Hopefully they're not gay......then again who cares...as long as they leave me alone...)

I bought some ads on the back page of the Observer......Don't know if it will work but we soon shall see.....I've also been investigating those highway billboards. These can be rented by the day. They're not to terribly expensive but I think I'll hold out for awhile and see how other less expensive methods work out.

I've been putting up signs in grocery stores that have bulletin boards. Problem with this is I am afraid that the store folks will just take them down cause they think that I am advertising some commercial venture.....I don't really know what to do about that. I'll probably keep going to different stores and putting them up.....Maybe they'll last a few days.

You can help me out and it's real easy......Just mention my URL www .greatguy.com to a friend.....Word of mouth is the best ad I can get.

YES, I have been concerned that the material in the "Outhouse" may "turn off" a really great girl. I have pondered this over and over and over. Just like many things there are two sides here. One is that she may think I'm just awful with all that nasty stuff.....never mind that I didn't write it....Then again she might think I'm funny and laugh along with me. As you can probably guess I agree most with the later and hope that a lady that thinks like the former will understand that I don't spend my daily life thinking and speaking like that....I hope she'll take a chance and see for herself.

There is another problem.....getting them (the ladies) to send that first E-mail.....I suspect the problem here is FEAR of the unknown (or I suppose they are just not interested hmmmmmm)....It is real easy to look at this web site then do nothing.....Person to person contact such as directly asking for a date always requires some kind of action, yes, no or some kind of nice blow off. There is no direct contact here so no direct action is required......human nature (especially female nature) will be to do nothing.......Now ladies that won't work, I'm a "greatguy" there is nothing to fear...I have no skeletons in my closet, really! All I'm gonna do is converse with you via E-mail for awhile.....If you don't want to talk to me any longer....just say so! Simple as that.

Enough about this subject for now.....On to something else

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