Saturday, October 20, 2012

Back in the Saddle Again

Wow! Was it really two years ago that I started this dating quest? I think so, the posts don't lie! I've kind of been off and on the 'extreme' dating train and now I'm fully on again. What can I say, life happened and I think I still had this nice thought in my head that I would have already meant my future husband in my office elevator just by coincidence or at church. Two reasons this has not worked out yet....I only have a few minutes in the elevator with my work crush and I don't make it to church enough to find a cute regular to sit next to! So here I am again in the online dating scene, this time instead of eHarmony I thought I would give Match a try. I have to say, between the two I really like Match, one because not only are you matched up with a set of guys each day, but you can also reach out to anyone even if you aren't matched up with them. Going into the process the second time around I feel I'm more confident, might be just older and wiser, but I feel good about this.

Just to give you a little background, I actually started Match several months ago, I'm on my next three month series. Obviously, I've not met Mr. Right yet, but all in all I have met some decent guys. I'm saying this because I'm going to do my best to go through all of the more humorous experiences I've had while on the journey.

So it begins again.....

Friday, August 13, 2010

Nobody Said It Was Easy...

So, whoever said this dating game was easy? If so, I would love to speak with them. Humorous…yes, tiring…yes, makes you questions yourself…yes, but easy does not fit in the equation for me.

With that being said date #3 was last night! I had actually been taking with this guy since the 4th of July…I know more than a month of communication back and forth and last night was the first night we met in person. I was excited to actually see if this guy existed. To his defense he travels a lot with his job. We chatted on the phone several times. Just based on conversation I gathered that he was really professional, career driven, but overall nice guy. I honestly felt like the conversation was strained at times, but then again we had never met before in person and he could’ve not been a phone person. So, when he asked me out for drinks I agreed and we planned on meeting at a bar at 7 p.m.

Okay, how did I feel about the date going in? I think honestly I was just looking forward to meeting the guy because he was like the first guy from my matches that I felt like okay this guy may be compatible with me. But, based on the conversations we had this guy seemed a little more serious than myself and articulate. So, I felt the need to open the dictionary and learn a few words before our date…did I know, but I thought it could’ve been a good idea. Although, probably after one drink I would’ve forgotten the words I learned! Oh well, I’ve gotten to the point where I’m like take me as I am… and if a guy likes that great, if not there is always someone else out there. At least I try to have this mentality other times not going to lie, I’m like why haven’t I meant someone yet. But, enough with the pity party at least I’m being proactive and getting out and dating and that’s what it’s all about!

So, for a little download before the date I get off of work a little later than I had expected and traffic was terrible. I got home washed my face and re straightened my hair and grabbed my clutch purse (I figured I didn’t want to expose him to my big purses yet) and was out the door. Traffic was a beast, so I called him at 5 till 7 p.m. and said I was running late, but he was in the same situation, so I felt better. I got to the bar, which is parked next to a library, so when I tried to park the parking guy was like you can’t park in the lot until the library is closed, so I had to either park in the lot or valet. Well, I was already running late, so I figured I would just valet. I walk in and scope out the place and he wasn’t there. I take a seat at the bar and try to make myself look busy. The bartender comes up and I say I was meeting someone, so I would hold off on a drink for the time being. Well, a few more minutes pass and he’s still not there, so I decide to run to the restroom and do a quick check of myself. Looking good! I reapply gloss and brush my hair and hope the guy is there…he’s not. So, I sit at the same spot I was before do a little look around and there is this guy sitting several bar stools down and he looks at me and is like, “have you ever been here before.” I reply with, “yes,” I mean do I look that scattered?! Anyways, I’m thinking to myself may be I should just order a drink instead of looking awkward sitting at the bar. So, I order a glass of wine and right as I pull out my card to pay the guy walks in. He said that he would take care of it and he orders himself a gin and tonic and we find a place to sit.

First impressions, he looked very similar to his profile picture, may be a little shorter than he said on his profile, but not too bad. He was nice looking, very professional (I know I describe as this a lot- but seriously no other words to describe him). We sat and made a little small talk, about work and personal life. We had like a flirty sarcastic convo back and forth, not sure, but that’s what it felt like. Although, when we talked about what we liked to do in our spare time, he would always be like well I like doing this but I never have time because I work a lot. Which is fine, but seems like this guy is too busy to have a relationship.

So, the night is finally coming to an end. He runs to the restroom real quick and then comes back. And, I’m not sure what happened from the time he left the table to the time he came back from the bathroom, but when he came back it was like a rush of eharm questions. Maybe he wanted to get the download before the date ended not sure. It was like a rush of why are you on? How many dates? How many matches have you gotten? Have you been on multiple dates with the same person? I mean what’s the deal? I answer his questions and then turn the tables on him. This is what his response was a) he’s been on eharm for 6 months and not sure now if he believes in the process (ok then why are you still on), b) he has like over 1,000 matches (wow- are you trying to show off buddy), c) b/c he gets so many matches he only clicks on people that have interesting names (ok I have a fairly common name so I’m not sure if I really buy that). Okay, so this is how the nights going to end I’m thinking? He closes his tab and we walk out, then he says to me he’ll wait for me to get my car from the valet since I’m too good to park in the deck. Was he trying to be funny with that comment- if so I wasn’t buying it. The valet guy brought my car around and I get in to find that the seat was wet from his sweat…yuck! I mean I know its summer and I appreciate the guys effort to be speedy and run to get my car, but I could’ve done w/o the sweat.

Well, I have a feeling that I probably won’t hear from this guy again, but at least I can say that I’ve met him in person. I mean I guess they do say you have to meet a lot before you find the right one…not sure how long this will take, but I’m trying to remain optimistic. Verdict for this weekend, I’m taking off of eharm for a few days and having a few drinks! You never know maybe I’ll come back from the weekend and have met someone in the bar or something…I know wishful thinking!!!

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Taking a Break

Okay, after yesterday evening's date I feel worn out! This process is turning out to be a bit more than I thought. At this point in the game I think I've analyzed the questions to the nth degree. I think I need to clear the head and give this a rest. I mean who thought I would get tired with this process. But to be honest with you it takes a lot out of you!

Report back: So, maybe I lied! This thing is addicting! Day two and I'm already checking my profile!

I like It

Okay, so score...date #2! This guy I was really excited about...from his profile he seemed like a perfect match for me. I mean everything in his profile was what I was looking for...he liked to workout, was looking to keep balance in his life, etc. I mean I can not tell you how excited I was about this one ...and I forgot to mention a major detail...he was so cute!! I was so excited for our date this past week. We met at a little local tapas type restaurant after work. I thought he did a good job, no chain restaurant and it was really close to where I live as well.

I had enough time to take another shower and get ready for the date. I have a new song to get me ready for my dates...Enrique Iglesias- I Like It! Had a little dance party in my room to calm the nerves and I was set to go!

In one of our previous questions to each other you have to fill out must haves and can't stands, he said one of his dislikes was people not being punctual (I'm usually always running a few minutes behind), but I was so proud of myself I got there with 5 minutes to spare!  I was walking through the parking lot and I saw him in the car. It's funny looking back on it because we both gave each other like an awkward wave. We met each other outside the restaurant. I got there a few minutes to spare and I kid you not, I was like "Wow! This guy is really nice looking!" I was looking forward to getting to know him and meeting him in person.

We sat down and started chatting, he ordered an appetizer and we ordered a few drinks. But, what seemed like a good time totally turned out to be something different. He started talking about the fact that he didn't like cheese on his pizza because it would give him high cholesterol...I mean I was hoping he would say maybe he was lactose! But high in cholesterol? I'm totally all about being healthy, but I think  he would make me a little obsessive about what I eat. Then he said that the area we lived in the people were too judgemental. It actually turned out to be an exhausting date to say the least and by the end of the date my moral was not very high..let alone my confidence level. After an awkward side hug and "We should do this again," I walked to my car and headed home. I called my mom and sister (my go to date critiques) and dished about the evening.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Polish Guy

So, I was on eHarmony one night and this guy pops up as a match for me. Let me preface this with the fact that he makes reference to the Polish Coat of Arms in one of his pictures (Being half Polish my grandmother probably would've wanted me to marry him knowing that he was Polish- good thing I have not mentioned to her that a) I'm on eHarmony b) One of my matches was a Polish dude). I have to hand it to the guy not that I thought we would be a match, but his profile was absolutely hilarious. If anything I just wanted to meet this guy to see if he was as funny in person as he was when filling out his profile. To sum it up basically he wanted to star in his own eHarmony commercial after finding the girl of his dreams.

A few days after getting matched up with him I get an email from C* (yes, he's another one that jumps right to the email convo) asking me to go out for drinks or coffee. After contemplating I figure what do I have to lose. So, I email him back and say that coffee would be great. Well, I don't hear from him for like two weeks and then he asks me to get coffee with him at 10 a.m. on Friday morning because he works from home. Well, I don't have that luxury right now, so I tell him it won't work that I actually have to be at my office.

No other news to report on this guy, he closes match with me. Which means that I don't have access to our past emails, etc. Which was a shame because if anything I would like to keep the email for a good chuckle. I will leave you with a direct quote though, since I can still see his profile.

"I hope to find a girl that makes me smile every time I think about her. Then I want to co-star together in the greatest eHarmony commercial ever. (which premieres during the Super Bowl)... and then live happily ever after..."

Very sweet/comical wouldn't you agree? Sad that coffee never worked out...wished I got to work from home too!

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Moral Support

So, I'm starting to get daily emails from my dad asking how the prospects look? I almost cracked up when I read the email he wrote. I can honestly say that my dad is getting really into the process, which honestly surprised me. Although, he always follows up the conversation with a safety tip. For example, the last guy that got my number and kept calling, my dad's solution: next time get the guy's number and hit *87 on your phone and when you dial it will show as restricted. I love my dad's advice, but blocking my number- I feel like that is a little extreme.

Phone Stalking

Our date ends at about 8 p.m. I get back to my house and settle in with a nice dessert (yeah I guess he made me a little self conscious with all of his talk about his 600 calorie diet that I didn't eat that much) and watching the Bacheloertte. Life is good!

Well, it's almost 9 p.m. (same night) and I get a voicemail asking if I would want to watch Entourage at his place and 'crack' open a bottle of wine. I don't want to answer, so I just call him back in the morning on my way to work and tell him it wouldn't work out. Then Wednesday, while I'm walking with my sister probably going into detail about my date I get a voicemail from him asking if I wanted to grill out with his brother and him. Yikes, little too much! He calls me AGAIN the following Monday to hang out and I say I already had plans and then he asks my plans for the rest of the week. I had to let him down easy and just say that I had a nice time with him, but that it would be best if we were just friends. I think he got the hint though. I had too! First of all I would want someone to do the same for me if they were not feeling it on their end, I mean I wouldn't want either of us to waste our time with someone who is not fully into it.

So I continue my quest...