Author Archives: Nikki

Dating Nikki: Popping the question

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Are you sure you’re ready to go that that stage of the relationship?

So you’ve been with your significant other for quite some time (time variable depending on the relationship) and you love them. That’s good! But now, you love them so much that you want to take your relationship further… as in “Let’s grow old together and have babies” further.

Eep.

Hang in there, mate. It gets easier. (SOURCE: Shawn Paradis' Flickr photostream)

Hang in there, mate. It gets easier. (SOURCE: Shawn Paradis’ Flickr photostream)

Popping the all-important question is a daunting task for anyone to endure, male or female. It’s not as if asking someone (or trapping them) to spend the rest of their lives with you is a walk in the park.  The proposal is not only just from the male nowadays, which is something I rather enjoy. More women are getting down on their knee to propose to their loved ones, so girls, this one applies to you as well.

Before I get on my usual high horse where I’m dishing out advice left right and centre, it’s important that I note that I’ve never proposed to anyone nor have I ever been proposed to (tear) so I am not speaking from personal experience here, but more from what I think you should do, from other people’s positive experiences to what I would like in a future proposal.

Be confident, b-e confident
Nothing would be unsexier or more uncomfortable than watching someone scratch themselves, sweat up a storm and stutter because they are that nervous. Walk into that intimate setting with your head held high and own it. Own what you’re about to do. Drop down to that knee, never taking your eye off that other person, and pop the question. Of course, don’t go overboard that you end up sounding like “Oi babe, marry me hey”, because that is a douchey thing to do. Deliver your message firmly. The other person will be so blown away that they will happily accept your proposal, regardless of your cooking ability.

Have a game plan
If you plan on going into this proposal and “winging it”, you will be sad to hear that you will fail miserably. Winging something as important as the life-changing proposal is a silly mistake, so if you’ve got the ring and you haven’t got the yes yet, come up with a plan. Where will you be? How are you going to do it? What is going to make your proposal better than any ol’ proposal? How are you going to deliver the proposal? These questions and more should be answered and plotted in your proposal to make sure that it’s effortless and… FLAWLESS!

Know his/her ring size!
She’s said yes. You’re elated. You go to slip that ring on her finger… oops, her finger’s too fat. Your moment is ruined. This is a problem that most men (sorry to be gender specific) have an issue with. You can’t outright ask them what their ring size is because then they’ll know what you’re up to. Your best bet? Steal one of his/her rings and take it to a jeweller and ask what size that is. Alternatively, you could ask his/her friend for a little help. It’s common knowledge that best friends share everything, but with something as huge as a proposal? You’ll have nothing to worry about.

Be prepared for the worst
I know this is kind of a morbid thing to say, but say things don’t exactly go your way when you’ve proposed… you will need a back up plan. In case this happens, it’ll make the situation all the more awkward if you’re still on your knee staring at them with the blankest expression on your face. Get up. Shrug it off. Tell them that you still love them regardless. Quietly die inside. Quietly.

To anyone who is thinking of popping the question any time soon, good luck! We here at Solstice Satisfaction wish you and your partner well in your future!

– by The Black Widow

Tipping for Dummies: Round 6

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After missing last week’s TFD due to the bus ride from hell (that took double the time it usually takes), we’re back with Tipping for Dummies!

Everybody's favourite Tipping for Dummies!

Everybody’s favourite Tipping for Dummies!

 

Friday April 11, 2014
Penrith Panthers vs. South Sydney Rabbitohs @ Sportingbet Stadium
The Panthers are coming off a close win last week, due largely to the skill of rookie debutant Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, who retains his spot on the wing. The Rabbitohs have finally broken their losing streak and look to make a winning streak against Penrith. Both sides remain unchanged but with extended benches.
SolSat’s prediction: Penrith Panthers
With all due respect to the Rabbitohs – and Greg Inglis, because I love him – but their inconsistent play has me skeptical on whether they can continue to perform as well as they did last week. The Panthers are a deadly team this season and I’m expecting a close game between both sides, but a victory for the home team.

Gold Coast Titans vs. Brisbane Broncos @ CBUS Super Stadium
The local Queensland derby takes place tonight as the first-ranked Titans host the third-ranked Broncos. SolSat golden boy Aidan Sezer returns from a quad injury to the number six jersey with Maurice Blair shifting back to the centre. Justin Hodges has been named to start for the Broncos. The Titans are coming off a win against the Storm while the Broncos lost a nailbiter against the Eels last week.
SolSat’s prediction: Brisbane Broncos
I love the Titans, I really do, but I just don’t think they have it in them to down the Broncos. Captain Cozza scored his 1000th point last week, which just goes to show how dominant the Broncos can be when they’re on their best. Here’s to a good game. UP THE MAROONS.

Saturday April 12, 2014
Canberra Raiders vs. Newcastle Knights @ GIO Stadium
Perth will see their second game of the year as the Raiders take on the Knights at GIO Stadium. Both teams are coming off losses from last week, the latter of which was a sizeable difference. Josh Papali’i is among the four Raiders players who return to the team after missing games for different reasons. The Knights remain unchanged, as I impatiently await Mullen’s return.
SolSat’s prediction: Newcastle Knights

Parramatta Eels vs. Sydney Roosters @ PIRTEK Stadium
The Eels and the Roosters meet for the second time this season at the newly named PIRTEK Stadium. The Roosters dominated the Eels in their first match, however the Eels recent winning form may be a changing factor. Fuifui Moimoi returns for the Eels from injury while Jared Waerea-Hargreaves returns for the Chookies after a one week suspension.
SolSat’s prediction: Sydney Roosters
I actually don’t mind the Eels this season, what with the return of Hoppa and the newly signed Peatsy. In saying that, I unfortunately do not see them downing the Roosters, despite the Chookies surprisingly inconsistent season. I am predicting this one to be much closer than the previous.

Wests Tigers vs. North Queensland Cowboys @ Campbelltown Sports Stadium
The team of many home grounds will host the North Queensland Cowboys at Campbelltown this weekend. Both teams have been rather inconsistent with their form, however the Tigers have had a much better season. Debutant Kurtis Rowe replaces the injured Tedesco on the Tigers side while the Cowboys remain unchanged.
SolSat’s prediction: North Queensland Cowboys
When the Cowboys are on, they’re on. If the Cowboys continue the play that they had last week against the Knights, then I am comfortably predicting a Cowboys win here.

Sunday April 13, 2014
New Zealand Warriors vs. Canterbury Bulldogs @ Eden Park
On-again-off-again is the recurring theme between these two teams who both started the season very poorly but have come into form recently, more apparent in the Doggies, who sit second on the ladder. The Doggies are coming off a much needed one point win while the Warriors were decimated. Both teams make important changes to their respective sides due to injury.
SolSat’s prediction: Canterbury Bulldogs
As I stated before, the Doggies have had a more apparent change in form. It seems as if they’ve re-found their pizzazz that made them a killer side in the first place. The Warriors are too inconsistent for my liking so I’m predicting a comfortable win for Canterbury to open Sunday.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles vs. Cronulla Sharks @ Brookvale Oval
The Eagles are coming off a shock loss against the Tigers last week after having a kickstart to the season this year. The Sharkies, meanwhile, dominated in their game against the Warriors. Case, set and point. Glenn Stewart and James Hasson return for the Eagles while Chris Heighington swaps Tinirau Arona to start as lock for the Sharks.
SolSat’s prediction: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
What would’ve been an obvious pick a couple of weeks ago has turned into a tentative one, and I am tentatively backing the Eagles on this one. Something has lit a fire in the Sharks and they’re firing on all cylinders; however, the Sea Eagles are the Sea Eagles. This’ll be a darn close one!

Monday April 14, 2014
Melbourne Storm vs. St. George Illawarra Dragons @ AAMI Park
Closing the round are the Storm, who are out of the top eight for the first time in like 10 years, hosting the Dragons at AAMI Park. Gareth Widdop will be facing his old team for the first time this round. Both teams were on the bad end of the stick last week with respective losses to the Titans and the Rabbitohs. Tim Glasby replaces Dayne Weston on the Storm and Michael Witt has been named as Dragons halfback.
SolSat’s prediction: Melbourne Storm
This one is also a tentative pick. The Storm haven’t been playing “Storm footy” recently while the Dragons have been on point. However, I am going with the more “experienced” team in this one in what will be a great closing game.

There we go. Without the hiccup of bus rides from hell.

– by The Black Widow

You Know What Sh!ts Me?: Public transport and its morons

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Introducing a new segment to Solstice Satisfaction that I’m sure a lot of you out there can relate to – You Know What Sh!ts Me? Basically, an opinion on what really grinds my gears… what really irritates me… what really gets my blood pumping, and not in the good way either. These opinions may be contentious and/or very strongly expressed and I encourage the disclaimer that this is my opinion and you are free to oppose it in the comments or an angry e-mail.

Today’s topic: the morons who use public transport.

Think twice before you hop on one of these.

Think twice before you hop on one of these. (SOURCE: Mark Hillary’s Flickr photostream)

There are several types of morons who catch public transport, and I’m going to identify every single one of them. Please, if you are one of these morons, sort yourself out for the rest of us. Please.

Moron #1: Hot Seat Moron
These are the ones who change seats on the bus or train like it’s going out of fashion. I was sitting at the back one day and I watched this woman walk onto the bus and sit down. She didn’t seem satisfied, however, as she got up and moved to another seat two back. Nope. Still not satisfied. She got up again and moved to the other side of the bus. Umm… what? I literally didn’t see the point in that. Unless there was some invisible man threatening her that I didn’t see, I honestly don’t understand the logic behind that. This moron is also the moron that reluctantly takes a seat next to someone on the bus/train and then gets up and moves as soon as a seat is free. Like, what is the point? You’re not going to catch anything by sitting next to a stranger. I find this as rude as it is unnecessary. I see this happen way more than it should.

Moron #2: Bags-don’t-have-arses Moron
Yeah. These ones are the ones who put their bags onto the seat next to them and don’t even think to move them when people are filing onto the mode of transport. They will only VERY RELUCTANTLY move their belongings when someone politely asks if they may sit there. I’d hate to break it to you, but your bag or laptop case or cake tin actually doesn’t have an arse and therefore doesn’t really need to have a seat. That struggling woman with four bags slung over her shoulder probably does. Common sense people. We were all born with it, so use it.

Moron #3: Complaining Moron
How often do we see on social media people complaining about the public transport system? “Bus was two minutes late… FML”. “Bus driver charged me 10cents more than what he should have. #gokillyourself”. Like seriously, go plant a tree or something. There are bigger problems than public transport not going out of its way to accommodate one person. Your train is delayed? Big whoop. Would you rather walk the 20+km to work? I didn’t think so. The bus driver charged you adult fare even though you have a concession card that you left at home? Not his bloody fault you’re forgetful. The main point I’m trying to get across is this: these people are getting paid to do the public a great deal of service, and they have to put up with ignorant morons like this all day every day. They are getting you from A to B for a very cheap rate. I don’t know about you but I personally would rather deal with minor unpleasantries than walk to and back from Surry Hills twice a day, three days a week.

Moron #4: Un-chivalrous Moron
I have this unspoken rule I keep to myself when it comes to public transport. If a woman comes onto the bus/train and there are free seats, I will keep my seat. Even if she chooses to stand up for some odd reason because she doesn’t want to take that free seat, I will remain seated. It’s not my fault she doesn’t want to sit there. However, if a woman comes onto the bus/train and there are no free seats, I will offer her said seat and make her take it. The same can be said for the elderly. From my recent observations, I have noticed that I am the only one who will get up and do this or, if you’re lucky, another man will do the same. Most men just sit there, playing ignorance, while struggling women are standing up. This is a deadset joke. I honestly do not care if you had a slack day at work or your tutor yelled at you, if a woman is standing up on a full bus, you offer her your damn seat. One time on a train, a pregnant woman holding her baby was standing up while a bunch of suited blokes sat down on their smartphones, and it took a brave man yelling “Is somebody going to get up for her?!” to cause some action.

Moron #5: There-is-no-room-for-you-in-the-inn Moron
Exclusive to most buses, this moron is the one who just doesn’t get the fact that the seat was made for one person. Or two really, really skinny people. The front two seats at the bus (at least the ones I catch) are narrower than the normal two seater, therefore they are really only made for one person. Sometimes I take this seat so I can have a nap on the bus and know I won’t awkwardly elbow someone next to me. Sometimes when I wake up from this nap, however, there is someone trying to sit on the half-a-centimetre space left of the seat, and they are awkwardly shuffling on one foot, trying to balance their arse on the non-existent space. This may be me coming off as selfish… BUT YOU CAN’T SIT WITH US.

There. End rant. That felt good.

Please… if you are any one of these people.

Sort. Your. F#$%ing. Life. Out.

– by The Black Widow

AJ Lee vs. the World

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Inspired by a recent comment made by the longest reigning Divas Champion AJ Lee, I decided to take a look at the potential rivalries that AJ could be a part of that could be huge. Like, Trish vs. Lita huge. Hopefully.

Whether you like her or not, AJ Lee’s presence in the WWE Divas division today has been a breath of fresh air (click here for extra reference). It’s been a while since a character like hers has been seen in WWE’s women’s division, and her success has been shown in her lengthy tenure as Divas Champion. So far, no one has been able to dethrone the Divas Champ, but here’s me thinking that she hasn’t quite gone through all the Divas yet…

She knows they're after her... look at that fear in her eyes. (SOURCE: Sean Kimmel's Flickr photostream)

She knows they’re after her… look at that fear in her eyes. (SOURCE: Sean Kimmel’s Flickr photostream)

Idea #1: vs. Paige
Also known as the IWC’s women’s wrestling wet dream, every wrestling fan is waiting for NXT Women’s Champion Paige to be called up to put CrayJ in her place. Besides Natalya who’s already had several shots for AJ’s title, the only other woman signed by WWE currently who could put on a wrestling clinic as well as AJ is Paige (as well as Emma, but more about that later). Paige was born and raised in the wrestling business and, if not made apparent by her flawless Scorpion Cross Lock, is a wrestling sensation. Her intensity is shown both in the ring and on the mic and while some claim her to be “stale” as a person, I disagree; she’s one of my favourite talents in WWE and I’m usually the type to like the Summer Rae’s in wrestling. Paige could make her main roster debut as the Anti-Diva who will finally put AJ in her place by capturing the Divas title.

Idea #2: vs. Summer Rae
Yes, AJ Lee has run through every Total Diva… except Summer Rae. Okay, so technically she hasn’t beaten Eva Marie or Jojo in a one-on-one environment, but I don’t think the E are too confident in putting either one in a singles match. Regardless, Summer Rae’s recent inclusion to the hit reality series has no doubt put her on AJ’s radar. Even if both of them are heel at the moment, a smart baby face turn for AJ (since she’s cheered out of the building all the time anyway) could work well against super heel Summer, who plays her bitchy role on NXT to perfection. Face AJ vs. Heel Summer could be taken in a Kelly vs. Beth kind of way, except the serious wrestler would be face and the model would be heel. If any of the “newbie” Divas have shown that they can work in the ring, it’s Summer bloody Rae. The thought of this rivalry is just… fantastic.

Idea #3: vs. Emma
Now, if AJ were to stay heel, then why not go against the new main roster babyface in Emma? AJ has steamrolled through most if not all of the face Divas on the main roster except for Emma. Emma’s infectious personality and character could definitely get the fans behind her, and AJ’s crazy prima donna personality would clash against Emma’s bubbly Strayan character. Like I said before with Paige, Emma is one of the Divas who could put on a clinic with the likes of Resthold Lee. Her wrestling move set is phenomenal and clearly inspired by the handsome Lance Storm. If you ignore all her Emma dance gestures in between her moves, she’s a solid wrestler. Put her and AJ Lee in a singles match together, and the greatness that was Paige vs. Emma at NXT aRrival or however you spell it could be re-created on the main stage.

Idea #4: vs. Tamina
The storyline that they’ve been teasing for the past few weeks and keep dropping because all of a sudden they’re friends again, Tamina turning on AJ Lee is inevitable; the deciding factor on how well it’s received, however, depends on how the ‘E make it. As much as I love Tamina as a person, character and wrestler, I don’t see wrestling fans getting behind her if she was to become the babyface of the tandem, so like #2, AJ Lee would have to turn babyface for this idea to work well. Tamina could get sick of all the crap she’s had to deal with regarding AJ and could brutally attack her, thus creating sympathy for AJ and effectively making her the face. Tamina has shown that she can put on a good match and with AJ Lee guiding her, the storyline and result of this could be fantastic.

Well, there are my predictions for your crazy-ass Divas Champion. If someone could do me a solid and message WWE Creative and be like “You should check out SolSat’s latest post. LOL.”, that would be great.

– by The Black Widow