Leon Scott Baxter's Blog, page 31
April 15, 2012
Kimye (pronounced: “Kim-Yay”)
I’m just going to tell it as it is. Kim Kardashian is absolutely ridiculous! But, if you have been paying any attention to her relationship shenanigans (I was told this week to try to work that word into conversation), you already know this.
Yes, her fourteen minute marriage (or however long it was) to NBA player, Kris Humphries, was a joke. She claims it was not a publicity attempt. Others see it differently. Either way, her jumping in with Kanye West just makes her look like a beautiful, curvacious buffoon. If she truly wanted her marriage to Humphries to last, then she should still be in the healing phase of her divorce. Instead, she’s out there less than six months after her divorce showing off her new arm candy at The Hunger Games.
Look, I’m all for “moving on,” and for some, six months might barely squeak over the “I’m ready” line, but it’s still too early to be so obvious and public about it. A (real) divorce takes a lot out of you emotionally. You need to ease yourself back into the water. Therefore, because Kim is just plunging back in publicly, she’s adding more fuel to the “Kim/Kris wedding was a scam” theory.
And, if it was a farce, shouldn’t Kim at least pretend that it wasn’t? I mean, she denied it was a stunt at first, but her actions speak otherwise.
Marriage isn’t for everyone. I get that. That’s fine. But, for those who take it seriously, divorce is not something to take on lightly. It’s tough; it’s difficult. It’s emotional, and it takes a lot out of you. For someone like Kim Kardashian to make a mockery out of something so painful for so many, really is a bit sickening. I want the best for everyone, including Kim Kardashian, but she needs to think about who she’s affecting before she does what feels good for her.
April 12, 2012
April 8, 2012
April 7, 2012
Book Signing in Montecito
This book signing is just that, a book signing. There will be books, people, and pens for signing, but we'll still have a good time.
If you were at the book release party, thanks for attending, and please send friends and families to this book signing event. If you were unable to attend the party, I'd love to have you stop by.
For the first ten folks who say to me, "Howdy-doo" at the event, I will be giving a chocolate treat as well as a coupon for more free sweet treats at Kingston Candy Company as a w ay to start your relationship investment account.
See you soon.
April 6, 2012
The Five-Year Engagement Plan of Attack
Universal's new film, The Five-Year Engagement is due to hit the theaters at the end of the month. The comedy stars Jason Segel and Emily Blunt as an engaged couple who can't seem to tie the knot. They plan to get hitched, but something keeps coming up making their short engagement a five-year comedy.
So, is that so bad? I mean, is a long engagement a bad idea? Well, to be frank…no. A long engagement is a great way to test the waters of marriage without actually taking the plunge.
Many couples feel like they are ready to get married after six maybe eight months. But, the problem with that is that they are still under the spell that Mother Nature casts with all of her hormone and brain chemical potions that make everything perfect in a relationship. So, many coupes will say, "We don't need to wait. Why wait? This is the perfect relationship. We're getting married next Tuesday." (Really? Saturdays are advised over Tuesdays).
Then, after the dust settle s and they're about a year into their wedded bliss, that pile of dirty dishes, toilet seat up and hair in the shower drain no longer are cute idiosyncrasies, but rather the things that cause chaos in the home.
Having a long engagement quells this problem, and it also let's you get to know your partner well. If you end up in divorce and go for a second round with a different partner, I tell couples to double the length of this second engagement. In other words, if you were engaged eight months before your first marriage, better make it sixteen months on marriage number two, because you didn't have enough time in those eight months to know if the marriage wold work or not.
Five year? Yea, might be a bit long. But if you are already up to marriage number four, a five-year engagement seems just about right.
April 3, 2012
April 2, 2012
Mega Millions and Divorce
I was not one of the three winners of this weekend's record Mega Millions Lottery Jackpot. But, I was one of many millions hoping my Quick Picks were the right numbers. Like many of the other "losers" I imagined how I would use the more than half a billion dollars I would win. Park of those dreams included making life for my wife and myself easier, better, and allowing us to strengthen our relationship.
Here's the irony, though. Losing the big jackpot may very well be better for a marriage than winning. Studies show that extreme financial highs and lows can be devastating to couples. Many a marriage has ended in divorce due to a lottery win. Crazy, right? I know. You'd think that if a couple were strapped for dough that that could cause enough stress to lead to divorce. But, having more than enough? Really?
Yes, really. Stress is a huge factor in divorce, and winning millions can be stressful. On top of buying a new home, taking a European cruise and being a partial owner of the Red Socks, being a gazillionaire means dealing with people asking for hand-outs, feeling guilty for not helping everyone, deciding which investments to dive into, and more.
So, am I telling you not to play the lottery? No, I'm not. Do what you want. I'll continue to play in spite of what the stats tell me about marriages and lottery winners. I think knowledge can be enough to circumvent the curse of the lottery. But, also just knowing that stress, in any form, can be detrimental to a marriage, is enough to avoid it when there's a problem at work, the kids are acting like a bunch of caged monkeys or the car breaks down. Know that this can cause strain to your partnership, so be aware and breathe. Work together to deal with the stress. use your partner as a , well…partner. And avoid taking the stress out on them.
