Deal Breakers and Warning Signs

Everyone has their list of deal breakers and warning signs when it comes to dating. For some it's the CD collection. A sense of humor. Proper table manners. There's the ongoing one about a single woman with a cat. That's so worn out, it should be followed with a cymbal shot and a take my wife, please chaser.

Well, I have my version of the cat lady, and that is guy with fishtank. There's something about a person trolling P.J.'s Pets on a Saturday afternoon to fill his 150 gallon fishtank with a bunch of cool as shit tetra fish that just puts me off. I question the psychological makeup of that person. Maybe this goes along with my earlier blog on how certain people build their lives around all things "badass". Giant fishtanks fall into the badass realm, I think. Regardless, they scare the shit out of me.

Maybe it's a matter of taste, or more likely, of smell. I think they fall in the same category as dusty dreamcatchers and molester vans. Like, if you see one of these babies sitting on a dresser or a TV console, there will definitely be collectible plates of American Indians and "them babies with the big eyes" on the other wall.

Sometimes they fall into another category containing guys who walk down the beach with their pet snake wrapped around their neck, and people who buy license plate holders that mimic chain link.

However you classify it, giant fish tank guy is someone to avoid. Don't say nobody every told you.

New trend: bedazzling your car!

Today while walking in Somerville, I came across these two cars within a few blocks of each other:

What I did this weekend

This weekend I drove 1,200 miles and saw virtually all of Scotland.

Reading, England, to Glasgow, Scotland

Glasgow Scotland to Isle of Skye in the Western Highlands

From Isle of Skye across the Highlands to Edinburgh, Scotland

And back down.

This is some of the most beautiful country I've ever seen.

Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves

I am shocked. The music on the radio here is godawful. Why is it, when England has such an amazing musical history, can no rock n roll be found on the radio? I kid you not. The chat radio is really good. I'm loving BBC London. But every time I search for music, I am hit with either the worst example of bubblegum techno - so awful it should only be used in a Bratz Dolls commercial - or 1970s disco and easy listening. No rock. None. There are shitloads of mod asymmetrical haircuts and skinny jeans walking around. I see ipods in people's ears. Is the music scene so underground that it's not even on the radio? I'm tempted to ask the chick in my office with the pink tips in her otherwise jet black hair. Every time I walk by she's minimizing Myspace on her desktop. She should know, right?

I'm very disappointed. I thought I could listen to some cool London radio station and come back referencing the new it band. So far there's been hours of conversation regarding Barbara Streisand's outrageous 500 GBP (that's $1,000!) concert tickets that go on sale soon, Kate Moss's new fashion line, which premiered yesterday, and something about Take That. Take That?? C'mon.

I've given up scanning the dial. There is no music here. This morning I turned the car on and Cher was in full wail on Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves and it was the best song I heard all week.