DeJa Vu?

Today I had a meeting. I had to put on professional clothes and do something grown up. That is not what this post is about. It is about my high heeled boots. Yes. Boots. You see, I put on my black high heeled boots today to go to this grown up meeting and as soon as I put them on I realized I haven't worn them since I met Scott. Curious.... These were my designated "date boots" and I wore them on almost every date I went on before I met him. I did NOT wear them on my first date with him however (and I remember this to be accurate!). So today with my "date boots" on I felt a little mischievous. This must sound ridiculous but I did. It took me back to the beginning of the year when I decided I was going to become a "dater". I met lots of different men in these boots and they have been around the block! (Hey, better the boots than me, ya?) So as I'm walking in my date boots I couldn't help but to reflect on that bizarre time in my life. It was a fun and educational time, but certainly with a few bizarre moments. I wonder what happened to some of those men I dated and if they met women more suitable for them. I wonder what happened to the ones who were just starting their divorce proceedings. I wonder what happened to the ones that emailed or texted me long after I stopped answering. Interesting. More importantly, I wondered where I would be right now if I hadn't met Scott. Still dating? With someone else? Happy? Sad? Angry? Frustrated? Doesn't matter I suppose because the fact is that I DID meet him and I hope I never have to meet anyone ever again!! He is cute and smart and funny and amazing and he still smells like he just stepped out of the laundry (just ask Avery). He has made me so happy in these past 6 months and I am truly in love with him. But just to be a little bratty, I think I'm going to wear my "date boots" the next time we go out. . .

Update....

Things with Scott are going amazing! Madison has since gotten over her initial shock and fear of mom having a boyfriend and her and Scott are buddies! Avery and him have a cute relationship and every Wednesday Scott comes for dinner and watches an old scary movie with him. It has become somewhat of a tradition and we all look forward to it! We have lots of things planned for the summer with (and without) the kids too! As far as me.... well.... I'm smitten to say the least! I think I found everything I was looking for! <3

His name is......

It's been a while since my last post! It was just date 1 with "the guy with the hunch" when I last wrote and since then there have been many more! We have spent as much time together as my schedule allows and things have been great! He has become very special to me and we have decided to date exclusively (decided that after date 1 actually) and see where it goes. I am crazy about this guy! So much so that he has met my children already!! It started with a list. A list that my kids made for him to check off. It was called "Mom's Boyfriend" and it had 2 columns. 1 column listed the things mom's boyfriend had to be and the other listed the things he couldn't be. It was a great list and had some pretty important criteria mixed with some absolutely ridiculous things! He filled it out on our last date and I returned it to the kids. He had 2 strikes against him according to the girl. 1 was that he is a Met's fan and the other is that he didn't know too much about Twilight. Not too bad in my opinion!! So the meeting..... It was an easier decision than I had thought it would be and since it was his idea it made it that much easier! I always said that the first man that meets my children will be someone significant in my life and someone who I could see myself with long term. So they met. My son took to him almost immediately. It was awesome to see them interact and at 1 point I was standing in the doorway of the tv room peering in at the 2 of them sitting side by side on the couch playing Star Wars Lego on Wii and my son had the most sincere smile on his face. I quietly whipped out my cell phone and snapped a picture. I loved that moment and I wanted to remember how my 2 favorite guys looked enjoying each other's company. My daughter was at her dance/theater class at the time so the guys had a while to hang and get to know each other before we went to pick her up. She knew he was coming. She agreed to it. Actually she insisted on meeting him before anyone else did and I respected her desire. Off we go to pick her up and the guys stay in the car. I go in and give her a quick pep talk and remind her to be respectful. They have a brief meeting at the car and she picks a place to go eat. We make our way to the State Line Diner and grab a booth. Guys on one side, girls on the other. The conversation is cute and seems to be going well. She isn't being bratty! She isn't being obnoxious! She is being funny and teasing him a little. This is a good sign!!! He treats us to dinner and we go back to my house. We all hang out in the backyard for an hour or so and play on the swing set. The kids are begging him to be their "victim" on the 2 person swing but I warn him against it!! They are calling his name and laughing and teasing. This is going better than I could have expected!! They have NEVER met anyone that I have dated in the 2 plus years since I left my husband. This is exactly how I have imagined it being and I am feeling a little choked up. My girl asks him if he'll shoot some hoops with her and he says he'd love to. They all go to the driveway and play some basket ball. I am really enjoying the interaction with them and so happy I agreed to this meeting so soon! Basketball over we all go inside and sit on the couch. We both know it is time for him to go even though neither 1 of us want this day to end just yet!! The kids are starting to be silly and plotting something..... I know this means that they will eventually wind up in trouble if I don't defuse the situation soon! He says goodbye to them and heads home. The door isn't closed for a minute when my daughter announces to me "I don't like him, lose him!". WHA WHA WHAT??? Things were going so well and I thought she was enjoying his company as much as her brother! We sit and chat. She can not give me 1 reason why she doesn't like him, she just doesn't. My boy is there too, defending him! He tells her that "he smells great! Like he just stepped out of the laundry"! I love his commentary but I send him off to play so I can talk to the girl. I go back in my head to being 11. I go back to a time and place where I was that little girl and it was my mom bringing home a boyfriend. I remember exactly how I felt at that moment and I have nothing but understanding and compassion for my confused little girl. I suggest a bath for her and we go up to run it. She bathes, I sit on the floor and we talk some more. I tell her I know how she is feeling and that even though she says she doesn't like him I think it's really the situation that she isn't pleased with. She isn't yet ready to talk rationally so I end it. He calls me when he gets home to ask how I think it went. I tell him the boy thought he was great but that the girl might need a little more time. He is sad. He thought it went really well and he is surprised to hear that she had anything negative to say at all. I explain to him the mechanics of a pre-pubescent girl who has been through so much in her short life. He understands, I think, but does say that he feels as though he has been rejected and he is really feeling sad. I don't want him to be sad but at the same time I am glad he is bothered at all! It shows me that he really does care. If he would have shrugged it off I would have had to wonder about him! He asks me if her not liking him is going to change my feelings or if things are going to be different now. I assure him that although I value her opinion, I know she is only 11 and she has no decision making power! We talk for a few minutes and then hang up. I can hear it in his voice - the worry. He has no children. He is an only child and has no nieces and nephews. This is new territory to him just as it is to me and the kids. We talked about this before the meeting took place and we all knew it was a first across the board. I know that she will eventually come around or she will just be miserable when he is around. Either way, he IS going to be around and she is going to have to find some way to adjust. I tell him that I'm letting her sleep on it and we will talk about it some more the next day. My mom is the 1 that gets them off the bus the next day and she has already been filled in! Turns out I was right. It wasn't the guy she didn't like. She told my mom that she wouldn't like anyone I brought home. When I get home we talk about him a little. She doesn't say anything bad. She is curious about him and asks me some questions. Later on we go to the mall to get her some new sneakers. Shopping is always a great time to talk since she is really in her element at the mall!! She thinks she will give him a second chance. We will invite him for dinner and he has to watch Twilight with her. If he likes it, he must be cool. I call and invite him and tell him it is entirely his decision. He agrees without the slightest hesitation. He will come and eat with me and the girl (the boy will be out with his uncle for a Lego workshop) and then we will watch Twilight. He is happy that she is open to him coming back and I imagine he is a little nervous now knowing she is testing him!! Tonight is the night. I will make dinner and we will watch the movie. I have no doubt they will find some mutual ground and eventually she will be more open to him being a part of our lives. It will take some time and it will be a learning experience for all of us but him and I agree that it is worth it. We want to be together and give this a real shot. I am a package deal and he has been aware of that since day 1. He hasn't run for the hills yet and I have a feeling that he has put his running shoes away...... And his name is Scott <3

Call it a hunch........

A couple of weeks before my trip to NC I get an email though match from someone. His subject line was "Call it a hunch" and his email went on to say how he read my profile, blah blah blah, and really thinks that we have things in common and he would like to talk. I read his profile, he's cute, seems funny, but he's a little older than I would normally date. I send him back a quick, generic email and call it a day. Next day there is another from him. Then another, and another....... I answer them all but still don't think that I will meet him. I enjoy the exchange though and find myself waiting for the next email. After a couple of days he asks for my phone number. I avoid the question and don't give it to him. He is persistent, but not annoying. I mention that I don't see him giving out his number....... He calls me a brat (which I am!) and gives me his number. He says he knows what usually happens when a girl asks for a number but doesn't give hers in return. He says he hopes I prove him wrong. I don't call him but a couple of days later I send him a text. It is my way to give him my number without actually giving it to him. Bratty? Absolutely! He calls me that night. It is the night before I am leaving for NC and I haven't even started packing. I wound up talking to him for over an hour and since I STILL had no real intention of meeting him I was my true, silly, a little crazy self on the phone. I enjoy the conversation very much. We talked about rediculous things and nothing of major importance. It is easy. We laugh. I kinda like this guy...... Anyway, I'm leaving for NC and we talk about talking when I get back. While I'm away he calls me. I was actually excited when I saw his name come up on caller id and we talk for about half an hour. He would like to meet me when I get back. I'm thinking I would like to meet him too now! I get home and we talk. And talk. And talk. We are now talking almost every night and getting to know each other in this somewhat unconventional way. I think we must have talked for over 20 hours before we had our first date! He has become a part of my evening routine and I know that when I have the house settled and I'm ready to sit and relax he will be calling me. So we plan our first date. He will pick me up and take me out and wine me and dine me. It will not be a "let's meet for a drink" but a REAL date. I like that he knows the difference and I'm starting to feel a little nervous about meeting him! We have such a great connection already but it's only over the phone. Can it really be real that I could like someone that I have never met? We know a lot about each other and there is never a moment in the conversation that I feel uncomfortable. So we have a date set. Now we have about a week before the date night and we agree (on a daily basis) that it is longest week known to man. Will it ever end??? FINALLY it is date night! He comes to pick me up and there is a cute nervousness between us both. It is so strange to finally be standing in the same room as him!!! He gives me a great big hug and a quick kiss hello. We sit on my couch and chat for a few minutes. It's almost silly that either one of us would be nervous since we have literally talked every single day leading up to this night! He tells me he has something for me and goes out to the car to retrieve it. He returns with a gift bag FILLED with little goodies (all wrapped in paper towels which I will never let him live down!) In the bag are various items that all have some silly meaning to us. I love that he has paid so much attention to the silliness of our conversations and took the time to put together this little gift of sorts! He is now really embarrassed that he gave me this bag o'fun and I reassure him it is awesome! I too have something for him, but it's not wrapped in paper towels (or anything for that matter). I whip out his very own copy of Goldmember on DVD since he mentioned he didn't yet own a copy and it is one of my faves! We talk for a few more minutes and share a couple of short, but nice, kisses on the couch. We head out to the restaurant he has chosen. Valet opens the door and we head inside. The place is great. Reminds me of another place I love and I feel instantly at home! We find a couple of seats at the bar and he orders us a round. He suggests an Appletini and I figure what the hell! We sit, drink, talk, laugh. Before drink 1 is finished, he is standing and is playing with my hair. It is nice, comfortable, very enjoyable! He realizes that this is date 1, drink 1 and sits back down. I ask him to please not stop! I am enjoying the attention and he is super adorable! He orders another round and we get a little closer. I am really enjoying this and if we never sit down at a table and eat, that is A-OKAY with me! He has been talking about how good the food is here though so we decide we should maybe grab a table and some dinner. He takes care of the bar tab and we get up. As soon as I stand I realize the effects of 2 Appletinis...... We sit across from each other at the table and now the distance is painfully obvious! He mentions it and I agree! He thinks we did it backwards, that we should have sat and ate first and then got cozy at the bar! Either way, I am happy and enjoying the company! We order dinner and talk about the people in the dining room around us. We make up stories about some of them and laugh at others. I love the ease of our conversation and how comfortable I feel with him. He is eager to share his meal with me and I am happy to accept the tastes he is serving up! He is an only child so his willingness to share impresses me! We finish dinner and he decides that across the table is just too far away. He gets up and joins me on my side of the table. The waiter here loves us because every time he comes to the table we are laughing! He presents us with dessert menus. The first item is an after dinner drink called a Cock Burn. I lose it! We order no dessert and head back to the bar for a final drink. Appletini 3 goes down waaaaaaay too easy and now I am beyond tipsy. Valet brings the car around and I sit my drunk self down. I don't want him to know the extent of my buzz so I play it cool. We listen to great music on the way home and he reaches over and takes my hand. At one point he pulls the car over to the side of the road and kisses me. He said he couldn't wait. I was glad, I didn't want to wait either!!! We make it back to my house and I invite him in. I am not worried that things will go too far. I trust him. As crazy as that sounds, I do. I feel like I know him forever and I feel safe. We sit back on the couch and he puts his arm around me. We talk and kiss and snuggle for what seems like a short time. It is almost 3 am and he needs to head home. I wish he could just stay put on my sofa but I know that this has been a very unconventional first date and eventually I have to get back to reality!! We say goodbye and I flutter up the stairs to get ready for bed. He calls me to let me know he is home safely and I fall asleep immediately after we hang up. I'm on cloud nine......

Fed Ex not delivering.....

I already had spoken to Fed Ex a few times on the phone before our actual date. It was nice, easy, somewhat boring conversation but at least I felt like I knew him before we met. We planned our Saturday evening out and I was looking forward to a nice dinner and a few drinks. The weather was gorgeous (it was one of the few random nice days way before the "heat wave" we had) so I picked a place on the water near the TZ Bridge where we could sit outside and enjoy the views. He picked me up and we headed over to the place. We ordered drinks and an appetizer and settled in for some talk. While the conversation flowed, it was dull. He talked a lot about a friend of his who had died of cancer last year and about all of the things he does to help his widow. I think it's nice that he stepped in and is taking care of his friend's wife, but after 20 minutes of hearing sad sad stories I was starting to feel a bit down. I was able to sway the conversation eventually and we start to talk about family. He is Italian and very close to his brother (they are roommates) and sister and niece and nephews. It's nice to hear him talk about them all the way he was and I'm enjoying the company a bit more now. Still, it's a little dull. He is not very good looking. He isn't gross, but just not my type. I try to keep an open mind because he is without a doubt a sweetheart. I really want to be sure I am giving him a fair chance. Before our date, however, I have been speaking to someone else on the phone. The other guy really seems more like someone I would click with and we have already racked up hours on the phone and haven't even met yet! Dinner ends and he brings me home. We are in his car and now I have to either open the door and get out or hope that a quick hug will not lead to him trying to kiss me! We talk only for a minute and he says that he thinks I am great and would love to see me again. I thank him for dinner and tell him "we'll talk soon". I decide that a hug would be appropriate and I lean over. He does try to kiss me and lands one right on my lips! I give him a little peck and pull away fast. He does not try for more. Whew! He sends me a text less than an hour later saying that he got home safely and had a great time and hopes that I will go out with him again........

Oops! Sorry! Quick update......

Yes, I know I haven't blogged in, umm, a while..... Here's a quick post just to get up to speed. I did meet the guy I mentioned in the last blog. We met on a Wednesday night at the mall. He arrived late (called and let me know at least) and I was very happy when I saw him that he was actually better looking in person than in his pictures! He was the definition of tall, dark and handsome!! Gave me a nice hug hello and then picked the place to eat without asking my opinion! Sushi it was! We sit at the sushi bar where the food comes around on a rotating conveyor belt..... in the mall..... I'm a little iffy about it! He says we can order off the menu and if there is something coming around that I want to try, grab it! So we start to talk, blah blah blah, I feel like I am being interviewed! He was very confident and had no problem asking me pretty much about anything and everything! We order a few things off the menu and then he picks a few things off the conveyor. I ask what he has and he tells me it's a Mexican roll. I want to try it and I tell him this. He actually MOVES his plate over so I can't reach it and tells me to grab a pink plate off the conveyor as it goes by..... NO WAY!! He is not going to share!!! I am not happy about this at all as I am the type of person who loves to pick off of someone's plate and always happy to offer to share mine! So we eat a little, talk a lot, head out. He is separated, not divorced. He has 3 young children. He is the youngest of 13 (maybe that's why he can't share?) He walks me to my car and gives me a hug and a nice kiss goodnight. He asks if I'd like to see him again and I say sure. I leave, he leaves. He sends me an email next day saying he had a good time and to call him when I get back from vaca so he can take me out again. I am home. I have not called.......

I have date 4 already scheduled with Golf and we meet at a place close to my house. It is the first night of Passover and my kids are celebrating with their dad and family. We sit down and almost immediately he starts to bitch about how his son and ex wife are at her new "jew boyfriend's" house eating "jew food". I don't even try to hide my annoyance at his comments this time around. I call him out on it. He is very defensive and doesn't try to cover up the fact that he is really pissed that his 5 year old son is at Passover dinner. I try to play devil's advocate and tell him it's just dinner for God sake!! I mention, yet again, that my children are the product of a Jewish father and are at their own celebration as we speak. He says that's fine because they have a Jewish parent and it's not fine for his son because he does not. He goes on and on about how he is the only one that is supposed to teach his son about religion and not some Jew boyfriend of his ex wife. I decide he is a jerk and try to move on from the conversation in a last ditch effort to enjoy dinner. He moves on to politics. He is now carrying on about how he could have ended the pirate hostage thing in 1 day and our president doesn't know what he's doing, etc...... I am dumbfounded. He knows I disagree with him on his political views, and religious views, and he asks me if this is the last time he will see me. I tell him that we shouldn't discuss religion or politics and just have a nice dinner. He continues now to ask me over and over if I was going to see him again! Dinner is on the table and I'm hungry. I really want to eat it. I do not want to get up and leave before I can but I am feeling the urge to excuse myself and never come back! I tell him that our differences might be a deal breaker. He says he knew it. I eat fast!!! He pays the bill and we go out to the parking lot. He says he knows this is the last time he is going to see me but if I want to go to a Yankee game with him when I get back he will gladly take me (nice way to try to bribe me!!) We say our goodbyes and I am happy to be on my way! During the week I was away he sends me a few text messages. I ignore them all. When I got back I sent him an email saying that it was very nice to have met him but that I think our differences of opinion are great enough and that we are probably not a good match. Good luck, take care! 2 days later he sends me almost the same email! He is playing it off like he did not read mine and this is all his idea. Normally I wouldn't care and just be relieved it is done! BUT for some reason this pissed me off! No way dude! it was ME saying this to YOU! I send him back an email saying that it was funny how much his sounded like the one I sent and perhaps he didn't get it? He answers that he was in AC for the weekend and didn't get it (yeah, okay) and that at least we agree on 1 thing....... HAHAHAHA!!! I let him have the last word.....

2 more dates to go..... will post more later!

Monday, Monday.... not too good for me.....

I was highly anticipating my evening with Golf after my Saturday night fiasco with Angry. I give him the name of the place I have come to enjoy in my dating frenzy (might as well keep 1 aspect of this whole ride simple!) He meets me at Jose O'Reilley's and as soon as he greets me at my car he has me in his arms and plants a very passionate kiss on me. I was not expecting this at all so I pulled away a little sooner than he probably would have liked. Where is my shy guy? I'm happy that I was welcomed with such a nice kiss but it just caught me off guard. We go inside and I am careful not to sit at the same table that I sat with for my dates with Mr. Smarty Pants or Angry. I cozy in to a corner table and he sits along side me. I like the set up here which is probably why I have become a frequent flier. There are tables along the walls and in the corners with cushioned window seats. There are bar stools that can be pulled up along side making it easy to get close without having to actually sit side by side. I motion for Golf to sit where I think he should and he pulls up a stool. We order some beer on tap and ask for dinner menus. After we secure our dinner orders we get to talking. At first it is small talk, about our kids, our day at work, random conversation. Somewhere along the way he veers off course and again, without any warning, the conversation turns to sex. He is telling me about how he likes his partner to dress....in the bedroom. He asks me if I wear "bloomers" BLOOMERS??? I nearly choked when he said that. I told him the last person I hear to use that word was my grandmother. He asks me if I think he is being offensive, and truthfully he is not, but I just wasn't ready to go there with him. He is shattering my image of a slow, shy, gentleman and now he is exposing his inner penis. I guess when you carry a concealed weapon, eventually it is going to make itself known. I change the subject. We talk some more about golf and kids and work. He blurts out how sexy he thinks I am. Really? With the fajita sauce dripping down the side of my mouth? Ugh. I'm not complaining. It's nice to hear that you are found sexy. Just at this particular place and time I am more interested in the sour cream and beans and getting them rolled up nicely with the chicken to make a perfect fajita. I ask him how he likes his meal. It's good. We start to talk about a radio show that aired that morning asking the question "how long should you date someone before sleeping with them". He wants to know, hypothetically, how long would I wait. I tell him that I think it is a case by case scenario and that if and when the opportunity presented itself, I would decide at that point if I was ready to take that next step with someone. He "agrees" but wants to know how I feel about him, again, hypothetically. i tell him that I am not thinking about sleeping with him at this point. He laughs it off and tells me that he wasn't thinking about it either or he would have cleaned his house and when will I go out with him again? Just like that. I suggest after I return from my trip to NC but he thinks that is waaaaaaaay too long and wants to see me before I leave. We make plans for Saturday night. (I remember after I get home that I am leaving Saturday morning and therefore can not have plans with anyone on Saturday night unless their name is Donna and they are picking me up from the airport). He also has some "comments" about his ex wife and her "jew" boyfriend. I make sure he realizes that my dad was Jewish and so is my ex husband. I do not think he meant it in a derogatory way but it is seeming to me that he might be a little ignorant. He is angry that his ex wife wants to take their son to her boyfriend's parent's house for Passover. He told her no way that he "did not want his son wearing a beanie hat and eating Jewish food". I ask him why and he has no good answer. I tell him I think he is being silly and that I think he should pick his battles with his ex. This is dinner, not a conversion attempt. Then he rambles on something about when his son makes his communion he is the one that is going to be sitting with him in the church, not her boyfriend. I ask him why he is worrying about things that are so far in the future. Again, he has no good reason. I ask him the same question I asked on our first date - "do you see things getting better between you and your ex wife?" He says never. Hmpf. I have to ask myself if I want to be involved with someone who is going to fight with his ex over every little thing. I choose not to live that way and I really don't know if I want to be involved with someone who chooses differently. Too many things on this date that made me skeptical. Dates 1 and 2 were awesome. Date 3, not as much. I will still go out with him again and this time I will be prepared to stop him if I do not like where the conversation is going. We head out to the parking lot and he again takes in his arms and kisses me like he means it. He is a little more "touchy" (but not in a groping kind of way) as he runs his hands up and down my back and explores the curves of my hips. He tells me again that he finds me incredibly sexy. I tell him goodnight and kiss him softly on his cheek. He shuts my car door after I get in and I pull out of the parking lot and make my way home.

For now I will stick to the routine of meeting new men. I made plans for Wednesday evening to meet a new guy (name to be determined upon meeting). I am quite interested to see what this guy is all about. He has captured my attention and my curiosity through our conversations and I am looking forward to the date. What to wear, what to wear? ;)

Farewell my Greek? Now what to do for breakfast....

Dark, dreary, rainy Sunday morning. I'm awake way too early and can not fall back asleep. I'll FB for a while and then maybe I can catch a few more Zzzzzzs. I hop online and notice that the Greek is also awake way too early. He sends me a friendly good morning and we make small talk for a little while. Yada yada yada, he's going to come up and have breakfast with me, I'll cook it. He's going to hop in the shower and make his way here. I get up and get showered and into a cute pair of capri sweats and v-neck tee. It's barely 8 o'clock and I refuse to put on makeup for his visit. He's seen me in all different conditions over the past year and a half. I like that I do not have to dress to impress or make myself up for him. I make some coffee and scope out the contents of the refrigerator to see what I can whip up for breakfast. I know in my head (or at least I think I know) that this is going to be the last day I spend with my Greek. I'm ready for more than what we have. I know that he is not the one that I am going to wind up with. I have accepted this fact way back when and was happy to have him in the interim. He's been a good little pet, I've told him this, he knows his days are numbered. I am looking forward to the company and love that it is dark and rainy. I've always found that to be romantic and know that he is all for romanticizing me! 9 o'clock (just when I am expecting him to pull into the driveway) he calls me. I know already that this is not a good sign. We rarely talk on the phone. I hope it's because he forgot what street to turn down..... of course I know it's not. "Hello?" "Hi. You are going to hate me but......" He is canceling. He is disappointing me for the nth time. I am a little sad. I cut him short and tell him that it's really no big deal, I never put my faith in him 100% since he flakes out on me half the time. I know this bothered him since I am usually more subtle. I hang up and make my way back upstairs. I think about him and the history of "us" and I realize that I am glad he's not coming. Maybe I was wrong to think I needed to have "closure" or "goodbye whatever". He never wanted to give me more than he wanted to give me and although I was willing to accept that and enjoy myself along the way I know now that I am ready and more importantly DESERVING of a man who wants to give me all that they have to offer. I get dressed and ready to join my sister and her lady friends for their girl's breakfast. I am looking forward to the company of these 5 fabulous women. I am starving since I didn't eat yet. I am relieved that I am not going to put myself through the emotions of my secret goodbye rendezvous with my Greek. I think about all of the men I've met in the past 2 years and especially in the past month and I can't help but to think about Golf.... He has out shined everyone so far. He's the one I think about when I'm daydreaming and when I'm drifting off to sleep. I am ready to stop meeting people (5 men in less than a month wasn't a bad run!). I am really ready to invest my time into one man and I think that he is the best choice for me. I don't know exactly what he is looking for (casual dating, relationship) and I think it's too soon to ask him. But at least I know that I am going to give him my attention and see where it goes. I think he has potential and I am really excited to see him for dinner Monday night (I made it happen!!). I will quietly welcome back the butterflies as well :).....

Bizarro world, here I come!

Soooo, Saturday I work. After work I go to Verizon to pick up my new phone and then have dinner with my sister and BIL. Home by 7:30. In pjs by 7:32. Makeup off, hair up, laptop on, ahhhhhh. About 8ish I get an instant message on Yahoo from Angry in NJ. Angry is someone I have been talking to from match. He has inquired about getting a drink and I keep yeah, yeah, yeahing him. He is messaging me from the car as he is driving home from dinner with his folks. He asks what I am up to and I tell him absolutely nada. He asks if I'd like to meet him for a drink. Now, those of you who know me well know that I am NOT a spontaneous person. In fact, spontaneity might just frighten me a little bit. But what the hell? I had given myself 1 month to have this new dating experience so I might as well take the bull by his horns and go for it. 1 drink? Sure, why not. We'll meet at the place of my choice in 1 hour. So I get out of bed, out of pjs, back into makeup. Hair is staying up. I just don't have that kind of enthusiasm. We both arrive at the same time and I see him getting out of his car. He's cute. Looks just like his pics. We head inside. This is the same place that I had my first date with Smarty Pants and I remember as I select a different table to sit at. He gets a couple of beers and joins me. And then he starts. ONE HOUR AND A HALF OF BASHING HIS EX WIFE....... PLEASE SOMEONE SHOOT ME AND PUT ME OUT OF MY MISERY!! There is very little I can do to stop him. I keep trying to change the subject, but he keeps finding a way back to it. A few times he strayed away from the ex-hating to talk about his job, his daughter, the fact that his ex has a picture "with her tits hanging out" on MySpace. He also managed to squeeze in making fun of retarded people and a rude remark about Obama. He asks nothing about me. He has no idea what I do for a living, what kind of music I enjoy, how I came to be divorced and dating crazy angry people like himself. I'm done. I am literally sitting at the table twirling my empty beer bottle thinking about what would happen if I suddenly picked it up and hurled it at his head. And then mid sentence he announces that he's tired, I'm tired, we should go. HALLELUJAH!! I am up and out the door quickly!! He walks directly to his car and I head towards mine. I call out a "thank you, goodnight!" and he does the same. BIZARRE!!! I get home and back into my pjs. Back onto the laptop. Back to NORMAL world. He is already online when I turn my laptop back on. He sends me no message. I send him no message. I guess the feeling is mutual!

Who's on first?

With Friday night plans set and a killer headache from cheap wine Thursday night I decide that maybe it should be a "home date". I hear from Smarty Pants as soon as his plane lands and realize that he is going to be ahead of schedule and have to find something to do to kill an hour before coming to see me. I work until 6 and then have to get home and see the kids off with their dad before he can come to my house. He has no problem with this and stops for a drink or 2 at a place near my house. I see the kids off safely and give him a jingle. He arrives a few minutes later with 2 bottle of wine (barf). We pop the first bottle (thank God it's red since the headache I have is from the white) and get comfy in the living room with some nice music. He's tired from a long day of travel and I'm tired from a long work week (and the bad wine). Staying in is definitely a good choice for both of us. We discuss food and the need to get some. But first, the wine. He's relaxed and easy to talk to. I like this about him. He does the majority of the talking (and I let him). So much of his daily job is giving presentations and talking so this is within his comfort zone. He is much funnier than I am too. Quick witted. It makes me a little jealous since I wish I could come up with the 1 liners as fast as he can. No problem though, he keeps me laughing. We finish the bottle and my headache is surprisingly diminished. I get a little cozy next to him on the couch. He is short. He is chubby. He's nice to snuggle up to. He is, however, not a very good kisser. I was hoping that the kiss goodnight in the car after our last date was not an indication of how he kisses all the time. Unfortunately, it seems that it is. There is a certain level of comfortableness that I feel with Smarty Pants. I am starting to think though that I like him better on the phone when there is no need for physical contact. There he can be and say anything and he keeps me so entertained that the conversations are effortless. In person, maybe, I have to put forth some effort. This can not be good. I need to be "wowed". I like to have butterflies in my stomach. There has to be passion. I am not being wowed. The butterflies have not found me. I am starting to think that there will be no passion. Great. Some wine, some music, some dinner, great company, not a bad Friday night overall. I am okay when he is ready to leave. I head right to bed. I am exhausted and need to work tomorrow. I am also a little bummed because I had heard from Golf earlier in the day that there will be no Saturday night date. His son is leaving for a week in Disney on Monday and he is going to spend the entire weekend with him. I am disappointed but would not want it any other way. Golf is devoted to his little boy and that is one of the reasons I am so attracted to him in the first place. He wants to make sure I pick an alternate evening for dinner. I tell him I'll check and let him know. He wants to see me Monday and I tell him it might not work. I suggest maybe postponing dinner until the following week and he says he can't wait that long. He would like to see me as soon as possible and that I need to "make it happen". I feel the butterflies making their way back to me.....

Wha Wha WHAT??

So far I've met 4 men.  There are more that I have spoken to that I have an interest in meeting.  I held off a little to see how things were going to go with the 3 that I had liked.  Dates, phone conversations, emails, texts..... so much to keep up with!  Never mind that I have to stop and think for a second who each is and make sure I never mix up names!!  Oh the stress of it all!!  Anyways, after the "supermarket" trip with Mr. Adorable we had discussed the possibility of the upcoming weekend for a date night.  He told me it was his busiest weekend of the year (business taxes were due that Monday and he is an accountant) so he would have to let me know.  I informed him, nicely, that I couldn't guarantee that I wouldn't make other plans in the interim since it was my weekend without the kids.  He copped an attitude!  HELLO??  I thought maybe it was just a bad day or he was stressed with work.....but really?  I shrugged it off.  That was Sunday.  On Wednesday he sent me a text message that said, and I quote, "Do you want to come to my apartment and get naked with me?"...... Wha Wha What??  I replied "Ummm, no, not so much" and that was the last I heard from Mr. Adorable.  Soooooo, with 2 left in the game (and a few on the sidelines) I planned my next date.  Smarty pants was traveling to Michigan and then to Florida and Golf was also in Florida at the same time.  Funny.  I had no date night last week.  I did, however, get a lot of new emails and talk to a few people while they were both away.  I told the new 3 that asked me out that I was leaving for my vacation on April 11, which is true, and would not be able to plan anything until after my return.  Figured I'd buy some time.  So when Golf was back in town we set up our next meeting.  I had him meet me at my office (yikes!) and told him we could walk into town and eat at the Mexican place he had mentioned he wanted to try.  I've been there.  I know it's just eh, but I didn't care and figured the company was what was really important.  He arrived at my office on time and came in to meet my sister and co-worker.  Nothing like putting him on the spot early!  I was ready to go when he got there so it wasn't too bad.  He was in jeans and a sweater and looked very cute.  He was nice and tan from his trip so his blue eyes were more noticeable than the first time we met.  He held the door for me when we left my office and again when we arrived at the restaurant.  When they came to seat us, he let me go first.  He waited for me to sit before he did.  I notice these things and think that he is a true gentleman.  We order a pitcher of sangria and dinner.  Again the conversation is easy and comfortable.  The pitcher went down easy and so we get another.  I tend to get a little more flirty and relaxed when there is alcohol involved (even though it was weak and I wasn't feeling a buzz).  I still took advantage of the subdued atmosphere and made sure I leaned in a little closer when we talked.  He mentioned, a couple of times, how beautiful he thought I was.  I eat that shit up people!!  I have no doubt he was sincere which made it even better.  He asked me if I was having a good time and if he could ask me out again.  I said yes to both and we planned our next outing.  I had mentioned to him in an email early on that I wanted to learn how to play golf.  He is extremely pleased at my interest to learn and ready to teach me!  Next date will be at a driving range first and then dinner.  I suggested the driving range and he counter offered with the dinner invite. I like this!  I know that him teaching me how to drive a ball correctly will mean he will be in close proximity!   2 pitchers and dinner finished it was time to head out.  It was already 3 hours into the date (time flies!) and I had children waiting for goodnight kisses.  I excuse myself and head to the ladies room to freshen up.  While I'm gone he takes care of the bill.  Slick.  We head out and walk about a block before he says that he is waiting for me to stop fidgeting.  Fidgeting?  Me?  I guess I was!!  As soon as I say "huh"?  he has my hand in his.  This is the first physical contact (besides the quick and careful goodbye hug at our last dinner) and I am relieved that he felt comfortable enough to hold my hand.  He is 6'4 and has big hands.  They are soft.  Mine feels safe and warm in his and I wrap my other arm around his for a minute while we walk.  Now I know I said I would never mention Porsche boy again in this blog, but I have to say, walking hand in hand with my tall and handsome date and passing by PB's warehouse made me smirk with "haha satisfaction".  We walk back to our cars and I open the door and toss my bag and my scarf in.  I can't look cute and sexy with a big scarf wrapped around my neck can I?  He is now standing about 3 feet away from me.  I mention this to him and tell him he can come closer.  He says he is just waiting for the random dog walker to pass us.  Random DW takes his sweet ass time and the distance between us now becomes painfully obvious and a little uncomfortable.  More for him than for me.  I let RDW pass us and I pull him by his sweater (gently of course) a little closer.  He is really cute and nervous (why I still don't get, but okay maybe he's a little shy?) when he finally wraps his arms around my waist and kisses me.  All I could hope for during dinner was that there would be chemistry.  So far I have liked everything about him but without knowing if his kiss goodnight would make me get butterflies in my stomach I could not possibly know if he was worth going out with again.  Well, there was chemistry.  His kisses were soft and sweet and even though he is almost a foot taller than me I was able to comfortably get my arms around his neck.  He is a big guy (not fat, just big) and I felt nice and little in his arms (HUGE BONUS!).  Haha satisfaction came again in a BIG way when PB drove by us and I turned my head long enough to look into his car as he drove by...... I immediately turned my attention back to Golf's blue eyes and kisses.  We said our goodbyes and he opened the car door for me and shut it after I was safely inside.  I drove home smiling and looking forward to our next date!!  I remembered somewhere on the drive home that I had a date set up with Smarty Pants for Friday night.  I decide that I might cancel.  I'll sleep on it and see how I feel after the butterflies have gone away.  Home.  Sleep.  Morning.  Smarty Pants calls me on his way to the airport.  As soon as I hear his voice I realize that I do indeed want to see him on Friday.  Oh boy!  We talk for about half an hour and he makes me laugh and smile and by the end of our conversation I am truly looking forward to seeing him again too.  Our date will stay set for Friday.  Golf will be calling me on Thursday to let me know if he is free on Saturday night..... (he has his son Friday and might be keeping him until Sunday).  Did I mention the Greek asked if he could come up Saturday night too?  What's that song?  So many men, so little time..... I guess I should gear up for a busy weekend!!!

Ummmmm, no.

Here is a list of men that have contacted me online this week.  Quite coincidentally, the list of men I will never go out with is exactly the same.  Huh!

1.  Mysterbig

2. BigShoulders

3. Porscheguy (HA!  He's a double NO)

4. HandsomeLeo69

5. Searchin2long4u

6. Kingofthelions

7. Myshotatlove

8. 81 Camaro

9. Seekingyou4eva

10. Up4SomeFun1on1

Yeah.

Will the real Mr. Smarty Pants please stand up?

Dates with Mr. Adorable and Golf tucked safely behind me, I was really excited to meet San Fran.  Our phone conversations have been laugh out loud funny and I couldn't wait to see how the live version would be.  His flight from the left coast brought him home early Friday evening.  He wanted to spend a few hours with his children before venturing out to meet me.  We shoot for a 9:30 meeting at the SBux by my house.  He calls me when he is on his way and we decide to meet there and then go to my one of my favorite watering holes nearby for a drink.  I know not what he is driving so I park and call him (in my effort to not look like a big jerk peeking into cars....).  He answers and tells me to look to my left - and there he is!!  He is 5'7 (I knew this already) so I wore my medium heeled boots for this date.  In my boots I am probably 5'7.  It's not really as bad as I thought and I can get over the height issue (I love tall men) if this particular man is worthy!  A nice hug and kiss on the cheek hello and we agree to take 1 car.  He'll drive.  I'm okay with this (my sister has his name, phone #, employer...) safely wrapped in a text message should I disappear.  Not that knowing who took me would help me in that situation, but it made me feel safer knowing she knew who I was with.  Seat belted and comfy I notice his GPS screen has a list of 25 local bars/restaurants for me to choose from.  Cute.  He had to figure out my zip code in order to get this info and I give him props for doing his HW.  We head down to my favorite Irish/Mexican pub, Jose O'Reilley's, and I manage to snag a table in the bar (perfect timing as someone was just getting up).  We order a couple of Corona's and he tells me he is happy with my choice of venues.  There is an equal mix of young people and an older crowd.  We get to talking and as the live music starts to warm up.  He knows the song on the first few notes and blurts it out.  He goes on to tell me that he is a music snob and is an accomplished guitar player.  He knows I sing (I told him during one of our conversations) and wants me to sing to him.  Really?  In the middle of the bar?  I think not.  I tell him I save that for special occasions.  He has no problem singing to me in the bar and was totally not shy about it.  Over a few Coronas we talk.  Since we have talked so much on the phone already, a lot of it is repeat conversation.  I ask him some questions about his not yet finalized divorce and he seems to be upfront and honest.  His divorce is still in the early stage and this worries me a little bit!  Don't want to have a repeat experience as I did with Porsche Boy (who will not be mentioned anywhere in this blog ever again!!).  He told me his marriage has been dying for a few years already and not wanting to be the "bad guy" he stayed.  I tell him I can relate - I knew when I was preggers with the boy that I wanted out.  We move on from our exes and I ask about his job.  He explains it to me (although I'm still not sure what it is exactly that he does!!)  He has told me in earlier conversations that he travels quite a bit for work (hence his San Fran name).  He absolutely loves his job.  Has quite a passion for it.  He is EXTREMELY smart and this intimidates me a little!  He asks me questions that seem simple enough to answer and for some dumb reason I stumble for words.  I must sound like a complete and total idiot!!  Instead I move in a little closer and bat my eyelashes at him..... He notices right away and forgets that I am idiot girl who can't answer a simple question about myself!!  We talk some more.  I excuse myself and walk across the bar to the ladies room.  I know he is checking me out as I walk..... I can feel it!!  I also know that even in my medium heel boots I look good ;)   I check my face in the mirror and decide that I need no touching up whatsoever!  Hair is awesome, makeup is awesome!  Who wouldn't want to be on a date with me?  So what if I am not quite as smart as Mr. Smarty pants (NEW NAME!!)  I make my way back to the table and he has already paid the bill (how long was I gone?)  He asks if I'm ready to head out and of course I say yes (the bill is paid so I know he's ready to go!!)  Confidence struck down a little bit (why is he ready to go?  Is he not enjoying my company?  Ah yes, he just returned a few hours ago from a business trip and must be tired from the traveling.) we get back into his truck and drive back to the parking lot where my sparkly orange ride is waiting for me.  He pulls into the spot next to mine and puts the car in park.  He plays around with the ipod for a moment and finds some good "mood music".  He didn't actually say "mood music" but I thought it needed quotes anyway!  We talk a little more and he asks me if he can follow me back to my house for a night cap (quotes would be way more appropriate now but I don't want to over-use them).  I chuckle and tell him no way.  Can't blame him for asking!  I do think I look fabulous!  I know from our talks that he has not been with anyone since his wife and that was quite a while ago.  I won't lie - the thought crossed my mind for a second.  There....and then gone.  Now I don't know if I should be flattered or insulted.  He is a man and so I will blame it on the penis and not be offended.  He tells me he'd like to see me again.  I agree.  How long are we going to sit in the car now that I shot him down?  Hmmmm....... few more minutes pass and finally I ask him if he is going to kiss me or not.  I'm tired and I'm ready to get home into my not-at-all sexy pajamas and crash (I didn't say that last part.....)  He kisses me good night and I get out of his car.  He lets me pull out of the parking lot first and I make sure he turns where he is supposed to, and he does.  I don't get 2 blocks from the parking lot and he is calling.  He tells me it is not too late for me to change my mind, that he will turn right around and follow me home if I want him to.  I thank him profusely for the offer but still the answer is no.  I live close by and am in my house quickly.  He has a little while before he pulls into his driveway and we talk until he gets home too.  With our first meeting behind us we say goodnight.  I'm exhausted from a long week at work and know I have to get up early for a very busy Saturday in the office.  I get comfy in my bed and log onto FB before shutting down for the night.  My Greek is online and sends me a message asking if I'd like him to come over.  DOUBLE REALLY??  Do 2 men in 1 night think I am so desirable?  Is there a full penis moon or something that I don't know about?  I log off without answering him.  This is the first time I turn down (albeit silently) my Greek.  I think about this decision.  I'd really love his company right about now.......  I get myself tucked into my bed and fall asleep fast.  With 4 dates with 3 men in 2 weeks accomplished, I might be able to give up my Greek altogether!  Of course I make no decisions just yet.  He is safe in my pocket where I keep him and I think I'll keep him just a little bit longer!  Hey - you never know ;)

I'll take what's behind door number 3!!!

Friday night/Sunday afternoon dates with Mr. Adorable behind me (there will be more, just not in this post) I pour through some more emails.  I have a few more guys that interest me and I intend on meeting at least 2 out of the 3.  I have labeled them in an attempt to keep my friends as unconfused as possible.  #1 - Mr. Adorable; #2 San Francisco (got this title because he just happened to be there on a business trip this week); and #3 Golf.  Now I really wanted to meet SF next.  His emails have me laughing from start to finish and I have to look up at least 1-2 words in the dictionary while reading.  He makes me cry with laughter on the phone.  He is uber smart.  He is sarcastic.  He is quick witted.  He is 5'7...... I am going to let my height criteria go on this one.  So anyway, he is in San Fran for a week and therefore not able to be my next date.  I move on to Golf.  He is sweet.  He is polite.  He talks about his son in such an amazing way.  We agree to meet for an early mid week dinner.  We meet at a bar/restaurant that is equidistant from my home/his home.  He tells me he is coming from work and is wearing light khakis and a green button down shirt.  He is waiting outside when I pull up.  There are no spots in front so I have to pass the place, make a U-turn and park across the street.  I see his face when I drive by and I wonder if he thinks I'm going to keep driving...... I flip around, park the car, toss a quarter in the meter and make my way across the street to Golf.  It is hard not to notice how vertically endowed he is.  Even in my highest of heels I am no match to his heightness.  The initial meeting is a little awkward.  He doesn't go in for a hug hello or even a handshake.  I think that in a way his lack of confidence or experience (he is recently divorced) is cute.  We go inside, pick a table off to the side of the bar and sit.  He gets 2 beers from the bar (Guinness) and we start to talk.  He is not what I expected appearance wise.  I have seen pictures of him but not close up shots.  I am fixated by his blue eyes and baby face.  He is a giant in stature but there is something very soft about him.  There is not the same chemistry as there was with Mr. Adorable.  I welcome the change of pace and feel really at ease.  There is zero contact between us.  I keep both hands securely wrapped around my Guinness and my legs neatly crossed under the table.  We talk and talk and talk and before I know it 2 hours has passed.  We order some bar food and another beer (Harp this time as I can not drink more than 1 Guinness.....) We eat and laugh and drink and talk.  There is lots of talk.  Another hour and hour and a half pass and I need to go home.  I have children that need to be kissed goodnight.  The check has been on the table for about 20 minutes now and I put my hand over it and ask "may I"?  He is a gentleman and he slides the bill out from under my hand.  He looks at me and with a little nervousness in his voice says:  "I am going to ask you this inside because when we get outside I will be nervous and fumble for words.  Would you like to go out with me again?"  I chuckle at his boyish charm and tell him I would love to.  He smiles.  This is nothing like the date with Mr. Adorable and I can pretty much bet my left arm that he is not going to try to kiss me goodnight.  We walk across the street to my car and talk for a few minutes outside.  He wants to secure date #2 so he picks a day when he will be home from his trip to Florida and suggests a restaurant.  I agree to both and unlock the car door.  He bends down and gives me a non-groping kind of a hug.  Golf is a real gentleman and I look forward to seeing him again.  :)

Things I didn't need to know....yet.

I was still smiling from my Friday night date with Mr. Adorable when Sunday rolled around.  Sunday was that amazingly beautiful 64 degree day (for my NY readers).  I start off this glorious day with my children in our back yard.  We are laughing, happy, swinging.... BITE!  The new tenants very cute and very lovable pooch gets spooked by the swings and bites me.  This blog is not about children or dogs or tenants but happens to be relevant in this particular posting.  Now Sunday is the day I usually go food shopping for the upcoming week.  My mother comes over to play with the kids outside so I can go to the supermarket alone.  I get in the car and call Mr. Adorable to see how is day is going.  He wants to see me again (obviously) and asks what I'm up to at that moment.  I tell him I am going to pay my respects to the Iced Coffee Gods and then needed to pick up some lunch/dinner supplies for the week.  He'll meet me at Dunkin Donuts..... I agree and I head towards his DD location which is a few minutes out of my way.  No big deal!  I get there after him and he has already ordered my coffee.  He knows what I like because he had offered the day before to bring me 1 at work and I told him what I wanted.  (His client was late, he couldn't get to my office in time, he was happy today to be able to make good on the offer).  It is amazingly beautiful outside so we decide not to sit inside.  When we get outside and walk around the corner from the DD I see that we are just across the parking lot from Shoprite.  PERFECT!!  I get to see Mr. Adorable, drink a Flintstone sized iced coffee AND get to pick up the necessary items all in 1 shot!  I ask him if he would mind Shopriting with me.  We take my car across (don't want to carry bags back) and when I park I make an "ouch" sort of a sound.  I tell him about my bite and lift up the back of my jeans to show him the damage.  It is bruising at an alarming rate and I know it's worse than I had originally thought.  He ohs and ahs and runs his hand along the outside edge of the bite on my calf.  I like this.  He comments on the silky smoothness of my freshly shaven (pre-bite) skin.  He kisses me right there in the car in the middle of a Sunday.  I am now on iced coffee instead of margaritas and wearing sneakers instead of heeled boots.  I realize that this is more real life than the date Friday night.  I get out of the car.  We make our way into Shoprite and he is in control of the cart.  This is not my Shoprite.  In my Shoprite LOL is the bookkeeper and I know where everything is.  This Shoprite is like Mars to me and it's PACKED.  I am not a list shopper.  I am a walk up and down the aisle shopper and hope to remember everything I need.  Mr. Adorable does a fine job following me with the cart and stops a few times to give me a little squeeze or a kiss on the cheek..... I somehow managed to go from Friday night date to Sunday afternoon food shopping.  I am wondering if this is a mistake!  I'm not ready to pick out lunches and dinners with the man!  He is still adorable in his jeans and sneakers, just not the same adorableness.  Anyway, we shop, we get on line to pay, I notice that he has put a container of Lactaid into his portion of the cart.  I am in the Twilight Zone...... 

LOL, Mr. Adorable and a few margaritas.....

Friday night date!  Woo Hoo!!  Much better than the 3o minute mall bench meeting.  Hot pink sweater and high heeled boots on, hair and makeup done, babysitting by grandma secured.... all ready to go and meet Mr. Adorable.  I direct him to the restaurant that my adopted Mexican son LOL's family owns.  They know me.  They will keep an eye on me.  LOL will make me killer margaritas with Patron.  I will be in my comfort zone there whether or not the date goes smoothly.  Mr. Adorable arrives first and sends me a text to let me know he's there and will meet me outside.  I arrive, Mr. Adorable meets me at my car with a nice hug and we make our way inside.  LOL already knows I am coming.  He's just as excited as I am about this date.  He liked Mr. Adorable when he met him for those 5 seconds in the mall.  He is waiting for us as we walk in.... We decide to start at the bar (like that was a hard decision).  We both order our margaritas and with chips and salsa abound we are now ready to have our date.  Having a date can be quite stressful if the chemistry isn't there.  I remember this from my dinner with SAFE.  It wasn't that the person himself was horrible, it was just that small element of physical attraction that was missing.  With Mr. Adorable things are different.  I notice immediately that his shirt is from Abercrombie and although I comment on it he appears to be unimpressed by the name (suuuuuure).  He does have on his Tiffany corded necklace thing and I am not shy when I reach out and take a closer look.  Margarita 2 comes along with an appetizer supplied by LOL.  I know when LOL is mixing drinks I should only have 2.  Ever.  I make a mental note of this but didn't fail to notice that he left the shaker on the bar so I could refill my glass when it gets low.  Mr. Adorable is easy to talk to.  He makes sure that when he turned to talk to me his knee would touch mine and he seemed perfectly at ease to leave it there.  Ahhh, nice.  Margarita 3 (did I mention that I should never have more than 2?)  We order a dinner to share since neither one of us is starving.  I let him choose and he picks (unknowingly) my favorite dish on the menu.  Happy me :)   Dinner, drinks, conversation - so far a great date!  We laugh like we are old friends.  We talk about a frillion different topics.  We are the only ones left at the bar, in the restaurant, and I look up to find the entire staff sitting at the other end of the bar waiting for us to be done so they can go home.  I politely excuse myself so I can go take a peeksy in the mirror and I leave LOL and Mr. Adorable to chat.  I am pleasantly surprised that after 3 margaritas I still look damn good!  A slight touch up of the lip gloss and I am on my way back to Mr. Adorable.  I like the way he smiles when I walk across the room.  He pays the bill (I do offer to contribute but Mr. Adorable insists on paying).  We walk outside and head to my car.  I open the door, toss my bag and keys on the front seat and turn to say goodbye.  I know he's going to kiss me.  I know I am going to allow this.  I have a mint in my mouth.... So the goodbye kiss(es).  Ahhhh.  Remember when you kissed someone for the first time?  Well, that's exactly what it was like :)   He dresses well.  He is educated and well versed.  He smells amazing.  He is a great kisser.  I am thinking that this online dating thing might not be so bad after all!!  He is only the second guy I've met and I'm thinking I might be okay with him being the last (at least for this chapter of the blog.....)  He asks me to call him when I get home so he knows I got in safely.  (just to clarify, the 3rd margarita did not push me over the edge and I am not intoxicated in any way, shape or form.  I am a safe mommy driver).  I opt for a short and sweet text (my mom was here and she tends to be a lil nosy...)  I let him know I'm in safe and sound and thank him for a wonderful evening.  I get in bed, log onto my FB account and KA-POW it's LOL telling me that he saw us kiss in the parking lot (oooohhhhhh big deal!!!) and that he thinks we are very cute together.  He informs me that when I was in the ladies room dabbing pink sparkly gloss on my lips that Mr. Adorable was telling him that he thinks I'm gorgeous (really?) and some other stuff that was lost on me after the gorgeous comment.  I drift off smiling.....must get up early and go to work.

Speed dating.... On your mark, get set, GO!

Weeding through the emails has proven to be interesting..... I delete the ones I don't like immediately and answer the ones I do as I see fit.  I have given my "real" email address out a few times only to find out from an emailer that my ENTIRE name shows up.  Nice.  DUH!  So back and forth the emails go and eventually (if I like the email progression) lead to IMing.  I set up a dummy Yahoo account just for this reason.  To me it is the equivalent to online shopping and then pre-screening.  So after I shopped around for a little while and went through the vigorous pre-screening chats I agreed on meeting someone new.  Dinner?  Drinks?  Coffee shop?  Ummm, how about I give you 30 minutes....at the mall.  Sound bratty?  Good.  It's not like I'm going to the mall just to meet HIM for crying out loud!  I have things to do and need to multi task!  So me and my adopted Mexican son (LOL) start the day with some shopping.  It's nice to have LOL around because he 1. likes to shop;  2. doesn't complain that I want to go to Sephora;   3. always wants to have lunch afterwards.  Shopping - check!  Lunch - check!  All that's left now is "the big face to face".  I drag LOL along with me "just in case" and within seconds of meeting Mr. Adorable (YES!!!) I turn to LOL and say "okay, bye!".  Luckily, this does not offend LOL at all.  He's a good boy.  Mr. Adorable knows he only has my attention for 30 minutes and then I have to be somewhere else.  We sit on a bench in the middle of the mall and within minutes I am wishing I had allotted more than 30 minutes for him!!  Too late now!  Sidebar:  Mr. Adorable has on a black corded Tiffany necklace.  He knows about little blue boxes!!  DING!  TIME'S UP!  Mr. Adorable walks me to my car and we make plans for dinner.  Good thing I just bought a great new outfit with LOL and now don't have to worry about what to wear...... To be continued :)  

Skinny arms, flabby elbows

And so I weed though the 11 not so fabulous emails and answer one that catches my eye.  The man writing is a Paramedic a few towns over.  It just so happens that I know someone else in that unit and assume they have to know each other.  I send him a little "hi ho" and ask if he knows so-and-so.  Fast forward to his reply, yes he does.  We start to chat.  He seems nice.  Normal.  I ask him if it is alright for me to ask so-and-so about him and he says it absolutely is.  Good.  I will see her in the morning and ask for a reference.  This I do and she tells me that he has already called her asking about me.  She gives him 500% approval.  Five hundred percent.  I HAVE to go out with this guy based on that!  We pick a day, time and place.  I make sure that it is a night that he has to work so that there is a set amount of time, just in case.  He arrives at the restaurant first and waits in the car.  I pull into the spot next to him and before I can unbuckle my seat belt my very own paramedic is out of his car, flowers in hand.  Is this normal date etiquette?  None of my other dates have brought me a bouquet of flowers before..... I thank him and put them right into my vehicle.  Don't want to draw attention to myself walking into this restaurant.  Already we are unbalanced.  I am in "date clothes" and he is in his paramedic get-up.  No biggie, I wanted to wear my new high heeled boots anyway and this seemed like the perfect opportunity!  We sit.  We are now face to face in a booth and there is no choice now but to make eye contact and talk.  This is what a date is about right?  But this man is a total stranger!  Geez!  Why did I agree to this again?  Oh right - 500%.  Order drinks (non alcoholic since he is going to be on call in an hour and a half and I don't want to look like a lush....).  I start to check him out.  Not bad looking.  A little short for my taste.  Clean fingernails.  Descent smile.  Skinny arms..... Okay, he's wearing a tee shirt tucked into work pants.  Not the most flattering or fashionable ensemble.  I understand though, he is going to work directly from our dinner.  Skinny arms...... UGH!  Stop it!  So what the guy has skinny arms.  He could be the most intellectual and intelligent man I have ever had the opportunity of sitting across from.  Order dinner.  He gets steak.  Manly man.  I opt for an open steak sandwich smothered in onions on garlic bread.  No shit, this is my order.  He just might be surprised since I am wearing a very girly lavender sweater, sparkly lip gloss and killer high heeled boots.  I hand the menu to the waitress with a sweet "thank you!" and turn my attention back to skinny arms.  We talk about ourselves.  We talk about our jobs.  We talk about our kids.  I do most of the talking.  He thinks I'm absolutely charming (I can tell) and lets me go on and on.  I realize after pausing for a breath that when I stop talking there is silence.  I test this new theory by telling another story and then taking a sip of my drink.  Silence.  Nervous silence.  Skinny arms is not good at starting the conversation so I take the heat off and ask him a question about his family.  This is fun.  I have the power to start and stop the conversation by closing my mouth for a few seconds.  I wonder if he notices my little game.  I don't let it get uncomfortable so I ask another question.  He is now cutting into his steak and my attention is drawn to his elbows.  They have been neatly tucked away up until now and I have had no reason to notice them before.  But now they might as well have neon signs saying HEY SPARKLY LIPS!  LOOK AT ME!!  Skinny arms has flabby elbows.  I will not elaborate on this fact.  It is what it is and I am happy that I ordered the garlic bread and onions........ Oh look at the time!  Skinny arms, flabby elbows (SAFE) has to skidaddle and get to work.  Check please!  Now I immediately reach for my bag and offer to pay my half.  SAFE is a gentleman and poo poos my gesture.  We get up and go outside where SAFE immediately lights up.  I guess he figures if I can eat onions and garlic bread then he can smoke a cigarette and even the score.  I thank him for dinner and the flowers and make a "brrrrr" it's cold comment and quickly get into my car.  He gives a wink and a wave and off I go.   I meet up with my office people for drinks at my favorite wine bar.  I am halfway into my BIG GLASS of sangria when the first text from SAFE buzzes on my phone.  He thanks me.  He had a great time and is hoping to see me again...... I am not sure what to do!  Answer?  Leave it be?  Great.  Text 2 comes not too long after that.  It simply says "hello?".  I think at first that maybe he is concerned that I got home safe.  I realize though that if I were on the side of the road in a firey crash he would have been amongst the first to know about it!  I answer "met some friends for drinks, thanks for dinner" or something random like that.  He is happy.  I should have a great time.  I should call him tomorrow.  I need another BIG GLASS of sangria..... I already know that this was the first and only date that I was going to go on with this man.  I feel badly about this but I see no point in wasting his or my time.  I am not attracted to SAFE and therefore see no reason for date 2. I drink some more and text the Greek.  Certainly this evening can still be salvaged!  Greek answers but is away and so I am left to salvage the evening without his help.  I retire my fabulous boots back into their box and remove the smoky lids.  I put on a girly movie and fall asleep without any trouble (thanks BIG GLASSES!)  Wake up to another text on my phone... "I had a great time.  What did you think about me?  Be honest.  Would  you go out with me again?".  Ummmm.  Okay.  Be honest.  I am not the kind of person who finds pleasure in hurting someone's feelings so I choose my words carefully.  "Had a nice time!  Thank you again for the flowers and for dinner.  I am really looking to meet new people and socialize a little bit after coming out of a long marriage.  I am not quite ready for anything romantic just yet....."  SEND.

Presents!! For me!!!

I join.  I go to sleep.  I wake up and SHAZAM! there are 11 emails waiting for me in my very own little mailbox provided for me by datestrangemen.com.  Now I had only joined the "free" version of said website.  In order to see my 11 exciting emails I must pay.  Shit.  I am like a kid looking at 11 wrapped presents with big bows on top!  I can not stand it!  I curse my friend for making me his designated stalker.  I do what every level headed woman would do at 7 am without having so much as put 1 foot on the ground and brewed herself a hot cup of joe.  I whip out the credit card and type in the numbers with 1 eye open.  I HAVE to see these emails!  I know that there are 11 fantastic men at the end of these emails!  How can I pass it up?  I'll just join for 1 month....... Friend owes me $40 bucks.  He can pay it off in increments of sangria.

Now some of these emails from new and exciting and fabulous men are a mere 4 words "Hi, how are you"?  Hmpf.  Not exactly worth much dollar wise.  Some of them are novels (no, I don't really need to know every intimate detail of your life just yet there Sparky).  I move those to the side.  Make room for the good stuff boys!  I read them all and there are a few that I read a second time.  Maybe this isn't so bad after all!  I will let the dog out, brew some java and answer some emails.  

Fat and grey..... A New Band!

My son, the love of my life, told me tonight that I am too big to hug from behind.  Fat arms.  I was chatting with a girlfriend at the time who was being asked by the love of HER life if she liked the "white stripes" in her hair and if she put them there on purpose.  These are the future boyfriends, lovers, husbands to some lucky ladies out there!!  But, this blog is not going to be about my fat arms, my friend's grey hair or our wonderful, charming children!  It was suggested by my skunk headed (sorry N, couldn't resist!) friend that I blog my newest adventure in my life.... Dating!!  Now I have been dating for about 2 years now.  All of the men I have gone out with I have known in some capacity already though.  Old friends from HS, brothers of girlfriends (not the mention the brother of a friend that I had dated too!), clients..... No one new.  This was proving to be ineffective so I took "the plunge" and joined an online dating website just to shake things up a bit!  Now I didn't wake up one day and decide to do this.  I have a male friend to blame for this crazy idea.  He asked me to look at (stalk) an ex girlfriend's profile.... In order to do that I had to compile a profile of my very own.  I did this months ago, (stalked) looked at his ex's page, forgot about the whole thing.  Recently he asked me if I could look again.  I logged back on and was able to find my very own profile that had been collecting dust somewhere in a dark cyber closet.  Thought maybe it was worth doing some premature spring cleaning and busted out my feather duster.  Why not?  I decided that I don't want to date clients anymore with the economy going sour.  I am running out of friends with brothers.  I realized my HS life is best left back in 1989.  So where does that leave a single (and cute if I might say so) woman to meet men?  I'm certainly not into the bar scene although I pride myself on my ability to drink obscene amounts of sangria and never get a hangover :).  I work full time and then go home to my children.  I am not in the right place at the right time apparently and so my quest for a social life has had some obstacles!  I've done okay in the past couple of years though.  I'm not sitting home spinning yarn!  I've been wined and dined plenty and have had lots of fun being free!  Then there is the Greek.  Ahh, the Greek.  He has a name.  I know it.  It doesn't matter.  I will talk more about him later perhaps but for now I am tucking him back in my pocket.  I think he likes it there........