Monday, January 31, 2005

Licoes na vida, no amor, e em portuguese...

JS has been in Brazil for work all week. I'll be honest - I intended to use the extra time to get to know JT a little better. After all, we met after JS and I had already hung out a few times, so I thought it only fair to give equal time to each bachelor.

What's weird, though, is that despite my other options here, I find myself missing JS. And it forces me to wonder if I could possibly know and care enough about him in this early stage to be missing him. I check my email constantly to see if there is a new message in Portuguese waiting for me. I'm even learning a little Portuguese myself! There is a six hour time difference between here and Brazil, making it difficult (not to mention horribly expensive) to talk on the phone. So you can imagine my surprise when he called me on Wednesday. From Brazil. And twice more on Saturday. And again on Sunday. And again today. (ed. note: Most everyone who reads this blog knows from several recent dating disasters that I am quickly and easily turned off by guys who show too much interest, too fast. So this is kind of a big deal that I'm not annoyed, but rather excited, to get his calls.) He comes home in two days, and will apparently come bearing gifts. YAY! But it's not the gifts that I'm most excited about. (Although it's definitely earning him some extra points!) I'm really excited to see him. To talk to him.

Today when we were talking, he mentioned that he has to go back in a few weeks. And with this announcement, there arose much booing from the masses. He is supposed to be gone from the 14th to the 21st. More booing still! Valentine's Day and President's Day. Now I don't actually celebrate President's Day. I promise you, my faithful readers, I'm not that weird. But I have the day off from work, so it could have been a fun long weekend. And as for V-Day, or Singles Awareness Day, as it has come to be known in my household for the last two years, I was certainly not expecting that we would have plans. After all, this thing, whatever it is, is still very new. But then came the good news. He is postponing his trip so that he can be with me on the 14th. And a thundering could be heard throughout all the land as the crowds united in a harmonious cheer, YAY again!

And so it would seem that I do have plans on February 14. More importantly, though, in this short-lived, although very trying, dating drama of late, the verdict has at last come in...

And the jury's unanimous decision is...

JS.

Spreadsheet, meet trash bin*.

*Edited. Thank you, Emily, for pointing out that computer files are not actually recycleable. Damn that Microsoft for brainwashing all of us!

Saturday, January 22, 2005

What's in a Name?

The immortal genius of William Shakespeare tells us that "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." After the drama that was yesterday, I, for one, hope this is a truth universally accepted by the opposite sex.

I don't think I'm alone when I say that when it comes to dating, it is either feast or famine. Why this is the case, I think I will never understand, but nonetheless, it is what it is. After a period of, shall we say, draught, I recently found myself dating not one, not even two, but SIX different men. Am I the only one hearing a refrain of "It's Raining Men" right now? I should preface this by explaining that I am not good at dating. Relationships, no problem. But dating, and all the games that come with that territory, are not among my favorite things. I am and always have been more of a one-man-at-a-time kind of woman. However, having learned several harsh lessons about putting all your proverbial eggs in one basket, I decided that perhaps I should give this dating-multiple-men-and-being-ever-so-careful-not-to-let-them-find-out-about-each-other thing a try. After all, men do it all the time, right? But that's a topic for another day.

First, a legend, of sorts. For the sake of simplicity, I shall, for now, refer to them as bachelors 1-6, so as to avoid any confusion over similar initials (keep reading, you'll understand). Bachelor #1 is my little drummer boy, who I met at a gig last May. Bachelor #2 is a friend from high school, who I recently reconnected with at our 10-year reunion. Bachelor #3 is a dentist who I met on a plane to South Carolina when going out to visit my family for Christmas. Bachelors #4, 5, and 6 I met online several weeks ago. (I know, but I haven't the time or energy to explain that one right now. Maybe another day.)

Knowing that I could never keep track of who was who with six men, I knew I had to quickly narrow my options. But having had only a few dates with each bachelor, and therefore only a fraction of the information needed to make such a decision, I knew it would not be an easy task. Honestly, I don't know how she does it on The Bachelorette! I had pretty much given up on #1, due to his insane touring schedule, so he was an easy first cut. #2 and I were just too fundamentally different. #3 was too hands-on on our first date, so he got 86ed pretty quickly. #4 was super sweet, but had been married and had a daughter. Those are not issues in and of themselves, but I found that he slipped too quickly into that place in a relationship where you're so comfortable that you don't have to talk to each other anymore. And in my world, you should still have plenty of things to talk about after three dates. So I was down to #5 and 6. That was certainly more manageable. Now I can switch to calling them JS and JT, respectively.

JS is wonderful. We have great conversations, we laugh a lot, we have similar interests, and I'm not going to lie - he's a great kisser. But JT is fantastic, too. We also have a lot of fun together, we have interesting conversations, and we have a lot in common. (I know you're wondering, and no, I haven't kissed him yet, but he's oh so pretty, I can only imagine [and believe me, I have imagined it from time to time] that it would be fabulous!) How is a girl to decide? I like them both equally as much, and it's really too early to be able to make an informed decision. But I don't like lying to either of them when they ask about my plans for tomorrow, the weekend, etc.

Wednesday, I went out with JS. Thursday with JT. Yesterday (Friday), JS again. Tonight will be JT again. As if I wasn't agonizing over the situation enough, re-enter Bachelor #1, also JT. (Do you see how it's about to get very confusing?!) Last night, as I was on my way home from work to get ready for my date with JS, JT(#1) called. He is back in town, and wanted to get together for dinner. I told him I already had dinner plans. He suggested coffee. I realize now that it was foolish, but at the time I couldn't think clearly, so I met him for coffee. And, just as I should have predicted, I was all twitterpated again. I even agreed to see him again before he heads back out on the road. Not much later, as I was getting ready (still for the date with JS), JT(#6) called. Needless to say, after having spoken with all three bachelors within about twenty minutes of each other, I was a little overwhelmed.

Now, keeping track of who did what and who said what is not terribly difficult with three. But here is the twist in this sick little reality show of mine - their names are James, Jamey, and Jim. Are you kidding me? Is this some kind of cosmic joke at my expense?

And so, dear friends, I apologize for seeming to fall off the face of the blogging earth, but surely now you can understand.




Monday, January 03, 2005

First Things...Well, Not First.

A few things about me (we'll go with 29, in honor of my 29th birthday this year):

  1. In my world (the reality that exists in my mind), I am a rock star (or jazz or swing or any of the other genres I sing, but a star nonetheless!).
  2. I am a dog person – to be specific, I am a mutt person. I’ve adopted both of my puppies from a local shelter, though I am quite sure they will not be the last who will be rescued by my suckered heart.
  3. I have an irrational fear of birds, stemming from a near-eye-pecking-out incident with a crow that I dare say was tantamount to Hitchcock’s famed movie.
  4. I come from a big family – 4 siblings, 2 sisters-in-law, 1 niece; but my extended family is where it gets really impressive – roughly 60 cousins and 17 aunts/uncles.
  5. My parents are still together after 30 years, and what’s more impressive, they still adore each other.
  6. I am an ice cream fiend, despite the advice from my doctor to avoid dairy.
  7. For that matter, I am a sugar fiend. (Is there anyone who doesn't look forward to Girl Scout cookie time?)
  8. I competed internationally in latin ballroom dance for 5 years.
  9. I have a tattoo. (But I’ve never pierced anything other than my ears.)
  10. I have had cosmetic surgery. (Any guesses?)
  11. I am a natural blonde.
  12. I am a perfectionist, overly self-critical, I can't take a compliment, and I'm much too competitive.
  13. I cannot feign mystery – I have always worn my heart on my sleeve, at times to my detriment.
  14. I fall in love too easily.
  15. I am perpetually 15-20 minutes late for EVERYTHING. Much thanks to all my friends and loved ones who accept me this way and don't complain, at least to my face. An even bigger thank you to my employer for not firing my sorry ass for being late every day.
  16. About halfway through (if it's really good, I'll make it to 3/4), I skip to the end of books so I don’t have to read the whole thing.
  17. I have a strange addiction to collecting DVDs, specifically Disney, even though I do not yet have children.
  18. My music taste ranges from musicals to jazz to rap to classical to country to rock to…you name it.
  19. I love rollercoasters - the faster, higher, loopier, crazier, the better!
  20. I could jump on a trampoline for hours. (And even at my age, I can still do most of my younger, gymnast-day tricks!)
  21. When it comes to board games, I can't get enough!
  22. Video games, however, are another thing entirely. I never even passed level 1-1 on Super Mario Bros. Hand-eye coordination: NONE.
  23. I've never tried lobster.
  24. Anyone who's eaten lunch with me even once can tell you that I am a picky eater. Mostly based on texture. Shrimp, for example, make me want to throw up a little. In my mouth. Bananas, mushrooms, bleu cheese, most nuts...same thing.
  25. I did the vegetarian thing for two years. But I quickly saw the error of my ways, and have since evolved into a filet-loving carnivore, never to turn back again!
  26. I hyperventilate when I snorkel.
  27. I am something of a chameleon - I am a girly ski bunny, a snowboarding/wakeboarding grommet, a preppy golfer, and a kick-ass mountain biker (although this one I'm still learning), all in one.
  28. I learned to speak French when I was about 10 (thanks, Dad!), but didn't make it to France until I was 22.
  29. I live a very blessed life, and I am thankful for it every day. New Year's Resolution: Never take anything for granted.