JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED...

Blokes and Blokettes,

What an AMAZING conference - many thanks to the entire conference committee. Your behind-the-scenes efforts (and prayers) bore sweet fruit this past weekend - the conference will surely be one to remember!

We had a fabulous turnout from across the globe - including places like AZ, UT, DC, Peru, Japan, and [choke] yes, AUSSIE - to name a few (It's with great humility that I must admit Aussies do add tremendous value to any conference!) <--washing mouth with soap!

The dances were absolutely wild....We had several proposals right on the dance floor thru a very cool "texting wall"....Who says Geeks aren't sexy??? (Guys, remember to tell her your name the next time you propose, OK?)

The temple trip, service project, and workshop were fabulous...and the Amazing Race was - well - amazingly HARD! The only team to figure out Kiwi math was the RAD RACERS....Good on ya! Although my favorite team was the "ATOMIC TANGERINES" - loved your corporate sponsored matching regalia - very "Silicon Valley"! But the Greek God of Wisdom (Hyperion) didn't help you very much with Kiwi math - too bad!! Try the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob next time

If you stuck around to attend Sunday Services and the Fireside, WOW, what a spiritual feast! What more can I say? The speakers and music were fabulous, and the testimonies were utterly uplifting....I certainly felt the "Touch of the Master's Hand" yesterday!

Finally, I hope all of you guys came away with lots of phone numbers and contact info - if not, SHAME ON YA! Gals, I'm gonna keep my email address open and available, so you can continue sending me your phone numbers (Gents, my email address is up for sale to the highest bidder! Just kidding - strict code of confidentiality here! )

Peeps, we want to receive wedding announcements - post them as comments to this blog! Mele and Si, that means you, too! LOL! We'll be providing a venue for everyone to upload their favorite pics soon, courtesy of our webmaster (and the Sacramento Aussi who got lost en route to NZ)....

Oh, the conference committee is gonna meet soon to debrief, so please send your feedback to Aparna, Mele, Dorz, and/or Si asap - over the next couple of days if possible. Also, vote on which part of the conference you liked the best below....

It was a joy to see Cupid at work in your midst - Indeed, we're "peculiar peeps" and a "royal generation" in more ways than one! On a personal note, as mentioned in many a testimony yesterday, we're all in this together, so let's continue building on the sense of community we fostered this weekend in the Valley of Heart's Delight.

It's been an honor to blog for you....Until we meet again (hopefully, at one of your wedding parties), Arohanui! DR. LOVE

This is a graph of the same survey as above but with mobile voting instructions:

TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!

Everyone, it's been Real!

And now we're in for a surreal event this weekend! See you love birds at the party....Just a reminder, you absolutely CAN get into any of the activities over the weekend @ a per-event price (pay at the door). Here' s the breakdown:

1) Friday night only: $20 cash at the door. Live caribbean band Broken English, great hors d'oevres, speed networking, speed dancing, dance instruction, meeting your future spouse....

2) Saturday temple session & workshops: FREE! Meet spiritual peeps, service projects, discuss spiritual stuff, find the love of your life....

3) Great America only: $50 cash. All-day Great America pass, rides and water park, Amazing Race, catered all-you-can-eat lunch, access great music, great company, meeting your significant other....

4) Saturday night and Sunday only: $25 cash. Super cool dance at the Marriott, catered munchies, speed networking, lunch after church on Sunday, spiritual food, smoozing, flirting, romance, meeting your eternal companion....

Time to find me a Wahini! See you tonight....

DR. LOVE

DOCTOR LOVE'S TOP 10 LIST OF DO'S & DON'TS FOR THE 2010 BAY AREA MID-SINGLES EVENT

10. DON'T cluster in clicks - it's harder to break into a conversation of three or more guys and gals talking together than it is with only two (of the same gender, that is). Make it easier for the cute guy or gal "over there" to approach you by avoiding clusters and clicks.

9. DO meet new friends that you don't already know. Be approachable; you can talk to old friends when you get home. We have attendees coming from as far as...Yep, you guess it, down under! This is the time to make new friends and expand your network - it's what the entire event is all about....So take advantage of every minute....

8. DON'T lose your activity pass! Need I say more???

7. DO participate in the speed networking activity - this year's speed networking experience isn't going to be your average "exercise in herding cattle"....The organizers are doing their best to enable you to enjoy the highest quality and quantity of connections possible.

6. Did I mention DON'T lose your activity pass???

5. DO sign-up for the Amazing Race! This event is specifically designed to help you optimize your conference experience by making new friends BEFORE the conference begins. Racing teams are already getting formed, so sign-up fast!

4. DON'T be a "speed hogger" - "Say what?" A speed hogger is somebody who doesn't rotate when they're supposed to in the speed networking event. Don't hoard the cute guy or gal you're chatting with - or, if you've found the love of your life and simply must keep yapping, PLEASE get up and move "as one" into the Chill Lounge where you can warm it up with your hot air....

3. DO more than just flirt. Surely, bat those eye lashes, flick your hair, show your muscles, and flex your pecks, but TALK to people and build lasting friendships that can turn into eternal relationships. Even if you can't dance, try standing in the middle of the dance floor with someone--you'll be better for it. Get into the STAGE II mindset! Special tools may also be available to connect with each other at the dance in real time using social media, so bring your cell!

2. DON'T miss out on the workshops, special temple trip, service project, and Sunday services. I've heard many a mid-single say that the social is great, but the spiritual is even better. There will be mucho opportunities for both at this conference!

1. DO - TBD! You decide (I'm outta ideas!)....e-me or post your comments below. Let me know what your #1 do or don't is for the conference, and we'll add it to the list!

Have a Love-ly Labor Day! Yours truly, DR. LOVE

(love dot doctor at sbcglobal dot net)

SOME GOOD NEWS AND SOME BAD NEWS

First, the good news - I'm gettin' email from ya'll!! Yeah!

Now the bad news: they're not very amorous (and none of them say "I LOVE KIWIS" - yet)!!

Actually, the Aussies are upset that I'm paying too much attention to the Kiwis (notice my alias here, mates!!)....Ok, Ok, so here's a nice love story just for the Aussies down under - Fair enough? Enjoy! (I know this posting has nothing to do with the conference theme, but hey, gotta let them Aussies know we love 'em )

BTW, in case you haven't guessed yet, the actual theme of the conference is "Touch of the Master's Hand"....How cool is that, eh? If you don't remember the storyline, check it out here (Part I, Part II).

A real tear-jerker - I cry every time! Definitely one of my favorites.... Who says Californians aren't spiritual???? I hear we've even gotta GA coming to speak! No doubt, this conference is gonna be spectacular - I'm so excited! Seven days and counting!! :)

Affectionately, DR. LOVE

URGENT MESSAGE FOR THE UNREGISTERED

ATTENTION, ATTENTION ALL YE WHO HAVEN'T REGISTERED FOR THE CONFERENCE!

I have just been contacted by anonymous financial donors (some of whom will be attending the conference!). These mystery donors have generously committed to pay the registration fees for 10 lucky peeps - yup, 7 GUYS and 3 GALS to be exact. But there is a catch! They have a couple of eligibility criteria:

1. You must be among the FIRST 7 GUYS and 3 GALS to sign-up respectively for the conference between 12pm Friday, Sept 3, and 12pm Monday, Sept 7.

2. This is a "challenge donation", meaning that in order for the sponsorship to happen, at least 7 GUYS and 3 GALS MUST register during the specified time period - anything less won't cut the cheese. It's all or nothing....

3. You must send a note to me with these three words visible somewhere in it: "I LOVE KIWIS" (don't ask me why, and don't expect a reply!)

4. You must be tall, skinny or buffed, and tanned (just kidding! )

Who are these generous donors you ask? I am sworn to secrecy (except if you bribe me). However, I can attest that CNN was right - Four of the Top 10 best cities in the US to meet rich singles are right here in Silicon Valley!! LOL!

So, if you haven't signed up for the conference yet, do it TODAY...er...tomorrow....It's a small price to pay for potentially finding the love of your life (or at least a Sugar Daddy/Mama )!

Note: you will need to pay for the conference registration fee up front. Iff you are deemed as one of the registrants meeting all of the requirements, you will be contacted by the conference organizers to receive a refund of your registration fee.

Ciao for now, DR. LOVE

LOVE DOCTOR AT YOUR SERVICE...

Greetings to all LDS Mid-Singles Seeking LOVE:

I've been recruited by the Conference Committee to lend my expertise in relationship management, hopefully helping to stimulate some "eternal sparks" for ya'll over the next few days in prep for the upcoming conference.

Who am I?

Let's just say I'm tall, dark, and handsome - LOL! Seriously, I'm a real dude (male in fact )....BUT, so that we can maintain a free flow of discussion and dialog, I'm going to keep my identity anonymous. Nobody - but nobody - knows who I am (except Mele and Dorz - and they're not telling!! ). Rest assured, I'll be at the conference secretly sprinkling Cupid's pixie dust over everyone. So, beware - you may find a lasting relationship this year in the Valley of Heart's Delight!

Here's the deal:

Ask me any question on relationships, dating, love, and being an LDS Mid-Single....If I can't answer it, it's unanswerable (just kidding, I'll get the answer one way or another, most likely from my own evidence-based experience, Church leaders, or crowd sourced from the wisdom of the conference attendees). Post your questions here or send private emails to love dot doctor at sbcglobal dot net, and I will be sure to respond....I'll also be posting my thoughts and philosophizing on this blog over the next several days under the alias, "ATohunga" (anyone know what that means?? ).

So, are you ready for a sizzling September of new found relationships and lingering love? Great - let's get started!

-- International Man of Mystery (aka "DR. LOVE")

10 More Days...

It's September 1st and we're a week (and some) away from conference.  We have so much planned this year, it's going to be ridiculously fun!!!!!!!! Let's begin with mixers.  As I called people to invite and remind them about conference, I asked, "How would you improve this year's conference?"  Majority requested MORE mixers. Some talked about how long they had to wait in line for Speed Dating last year in Santa Cruz.  I about died laughing thinking, "WOW! For reals? People really stand in line for that?"  See, Polynesians don't speed date.  We do Speed Marriage (but that's an entire different blog right there!).

Let me explain...my very first Speed Dating experience was in Huntington Beach (HB) earlier this year AND I didn't even participate.  I just watched the game for a bit. In HB, one of the leaders, possibly a High Councilman, had to literally stop the dance until a couple of men filled the spots for that particular block.  After about 10 minutes, he impatiently says, "Hey, we're doing this for you! We're already married!"  I needed CPR after that comment from laughing so hard!  So, we're not going to beg or force you to Speed because what we have lined up for Friday and Saturday, YOU WILL BE STANDING IN LINE.

Are you competitive?  Well, we have "The Great Amazing Race" on Saturday afternoon at Great America.  Teams will be looking for clues in the park and trying to solve them within an hour.  You can either get your team together or hook up with other midsingles.  Let's throw down in v-ball.  Bring your teams and battle others for the rights as Bay Area's #1 Midsingles Volleyball Team.  There is a live DJ all day so you could get your groove on.  Also, tons and tons of mixers inside the pavilion, like "Minute to Meet It!"  We got the bomb host because he watches the actual game every week, so he's gonna hook this puppy up.  Can YOU do it in 60 seconds or less?  Come find out...
Saturday night I think is going to be off the hizzook!  Boogie Shoes!!! It's all about shoes that night so put on your best boogies to impress.  Speed Networking and more mixers will be on play along with Speed Dancing and Speed Shoes.  It's going to be one buuuuuuuuusy Saturday but all worthwhile.

Sometimes, midsingle activities are not all about looking for that "eternal companion" but rather, a place to have fun with others who share the same moral values.  A place to meet new friends who will make living the gospel easy.  Friends who will assure us that being Mormon is the best thing in life!  Hope to see you there, friends.

Mele
ps.  Got a girlfriend or boyfriend?  This could be the best date ever, so register!!!!!

GET THE WORD OUT...

Yesterday I got back from a 2-day Trek in the Santa Cruz mountains. What a great oppotunity it was for the youth of our stake to renact the handcart treks of the pioneers. The first day seemed like a walk in the park for some but the weather was sooo hot that I know they felt the challenge that some of their ancestors went through in crossing the plains. The costumes alone was a killer for me...those long sleeved dresses and pantaloons, my goodness I was dying.
Anyways, at one point we were reminded of the sacrifices that these pioneers made in crossing the plains...they did not know what their destination would be but they had the faith to keep going even tho it was such a huge challenge for them.
Our youth were put into handcart families and it was great to see how they helped each other to achieve their goal of making it to the end of the trek. They encouraged each other and worked together to get to the end. One young man with a disability amazed me with his enthusiasm, he was right up there with the rest of his family...and you could tell that they respected him just for being there.
Well, while I was out there I had lots of time to think about this conference that we have coming up in September and about the sacrifices that people have been making to put it on and make sure that it is a good one.
Has it been a challenge?... definately!!...
Will you benefit in attending it??...Not sure!!
Do we know the outcome?... No!!...
BUT we do have the FAITH that if we do the work the Lord will help us to fulfill our goals and make the conference a great one.
This is YOUR conference....how it turns out depends on you. We can put our ideas together and do things that may or may not be interesting to you, but its up to you to attend with the right attitude and bring your friends to the event. We can do the usuals in advertising with fliers and handouts etc, but the best way to get people to come out to this conference it is via personal invitation.
I'd like to personally invite each of you to come to this conference, to invite ALL your single friends to come and to personally invite anyone else that you know would benefit from the oppotunity to meet new people. Those that you visit teach, home teach, or even non-members of the church that you may be working with. We need to get the word out, to tell as many people as we can to come out and have fun with the rest of us.
I promise that the sacrifices that you make to do the right things will bring you all amazing blessings that the Lord is waiting to bless you with. Trust me... the Lord loves the singles and will bless us with the desires of our hearts.

Much Love to you ALL
Dorz


I have helped out in this committee since the start and I have seen lots of ups and downs in the process along the way...but I can say that those that have sacrificed over the years to help in putting this conference together have done a great job.
It is not easy to put these things together but its great to meet so many wonderful people