8 Mistakes

I read this article today and thought it was worth posting.  I don't think I have any male readers but if so, the article offers some good advice.  If not, if you the reader has some single male friends, pass along the link- they'll thank you.

Some of the joys of being single AND some dates

I've been thinking a lot about my life, where I'm going, where I've been and what lies ahead.  I'm realizing (with the help of all my friends) that only I can design and build the road to my happiness!  Here's a few things I'm enjoying in my single life:

-I get all 4 pillows AND the whole bed.  At least when the dogs aren't on it...
-I can do what I want, when I want, the way I want
-I can eat breakfast for dinner or dinner for lunch or not eat at all
-I don't have to shave my legs all the time!
-I can drive erratically, sing in the car and stop anywhere I want along the way
-I don't have to live up to anyone else's expectations, or listen to anyone else's demands
-I AM HAPPY BEING ME!!

After reading my list I am smiling and realizing that I am happy where I am in my life- finally!  I owe much of this to my friends, you guys know who you are.  That being said, Datapalooza is NOT ending... it's too much fun.

I did have a date on Sunday with a guy who told me umpteen times that he was from XXX town and what he does for work.  In my head I kept on hearing "This one time at band camp..." it was a bit exhausting.  And he sat on the same side of the booth as me!  Talk about awkward, I like to look at people in the face, not cram my neck around to look at them.  And I swear he spit on me...more than once!  NEXT.

My other date from last week was a chain smoker.  We went to happy hour for less than 2 hours and he got up to smoke twice, and talked about it about 5 times.  I'm okay with occasional smokers, but really?  On a first date?  NEXT.


Merry Holidays, and Happy New Year.  Datapalooza 2011 is on the horizon! 

I stick out like a sore thumb

It's that time of the season for holiday parties, both companies and friends.  On Friday I went to a company holiday party with my good friend S.  Assuming that there would be single guys at the party was a bad idea, because there was none to be seen. Even the photographers and wait staff had rings on their fingers.  Really?

I rounded on my weekend of holiday parties with a white elephant party on Saturday night with some of my favorite people. It was a great time with Wasasil  and sausages in saucy goodness.  The best part was the white elephant gift exchange, when I, the only single person at the event chose the present with this book.

I immediately turned bright red and everyone laughed.  Someone else made a comment about the dip and how it was dateless (the other dip had dates) just like me.  WOW, nice hua?

I typically really like Christmas, but with the anniversary of my breakup right around the corner the holidays aren't seeming so festive this year.  Here's looking towards a new year, right?

Ready to Rumble!

I'm back from my lovely Thanksgiving holiday.  It was a great visit with family and I think I was only asked a few times if I was "going with anyone".  I do wish I could have spent more time in the airports.  I love people watching, and after reading this article I want to see if I can find love at an airport too!  ORD, SFO, BWI, JFK-  instead of the typical man-quest to visit all major league baseball stadiums I'm starting a quest to visit (and hang out in) all of the major airports in the US.  Time to start booking flights, with as many layovers over 2 hours as possible!

On to Better Things

Good news readers, Datapalooza IV (or is it V) will commence after the Thanksgiving Holiday, I have at least 4 dates lined up which should amount to some good reading.

Happy Thanksgiving, safe travels and enjoy the holiday with good food, good friends/family and some good drinks.

Radio Silence and Annoyance

So I've been out with the same guy roughly 12 times and things were going good.  We had rounded second base and were on our way to a home run in the next few dates when... radio silence.  No response to my phone calls or text, and he even cancelled the last time we were supposed to get together.  I'm just waiting for the Facebook friends deletion.  I mean really? 

What kind of guy does this?  If you aren't interested in me anymore, for whatever reason, at least let me  know instead of saying/doing nothing!  All I can think about is what did I do/say that made such an impact, that after 12 GOOD dates you just leave me hanging?  It doesn't take all that long to send me a quick text saying that although you've had fun you just aren't that in to me.  Or just tell me to read the book.  Geez.

The good news is that I'll have some new content (aka men) for my blog now.

Fabulously Single?

5280 Magazine is having their annual Top Singles Nomination for their event in February.  Vote for me or for someone else you think is fabulous, single and worthy of meeting other hot singles! 

Does Love Exist or is it a Fantasy?

I'm not overly cynical but I've always wondered how people feel about love?  After watching the movie 500 Days of Summer my thoughts went back to all of my previous relationships.  Was I in love with the idea of being with a guy or the way he made me feel?  Or was I in love with the idea of not wanting to be alone?

This is the longest I've ever been single, I'm going on almost a year.  And I have to say, I love it.  I have a new found appreciation for doing things that I want to do WHEN I want to do them, not answering to anyone besides myself (and I guess the dogs), and sleeping in a bed by myself.  

After my Datapalooza's I, II and III I'm not convinced that I'm quite ready to fall back in to a relationship, aka give up my single life.  As Summer says "I like being on my own. I think relationships are messy and people’s feelings get hurt. Who needs it? We’re young, we live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world; might as well have fun while we can and, save the serious stuff for later."

And PS:  I put on my big girl pants last week...

Kissing Cooties

I think I have kissing cooties.  I can't figure out why, after multiple dates, good conversation, laughing, good chemistry, etc. I am unkissable. Am I at the horrible place that single girls call the friend zone?

After some additional thought, I need to get my big girl pants on and just go for it!

Back From Working Vacation

I'm back from sunny Mexico, I had a great working vacation courtesy of my company .. zip lining, volunteering, exploring beautiful towns, culture plus many umbrella drinks.  I'm glad to be home and starting up a whole new round of Datapalooza with some new guys from a dating website.  And I'll make sure to get their names this time, hehe.

I also have a 4th date with one of the guys I went out with on the last Datapalooza, and I really like him.  I took my friends advice and went on a date with him even though I was a little hesitant about parts of his life.  But let me tell you, I'm glad I did and can't wait for this weekend. 

On a separate note...

While on the flight to/from Mexico, I started this book about a dog's purpose in life.  I'm not done reading it but I'm looking forward to the dog finding out what his purpose is in life. The book has made me smile, cry and laugh out loud.  If you are a dog lover I recommend reading this book.  Hell, I'll even lend it to you when I'm finished.  It's also made me wonder what my purpose in life is... the thought process is still working itself out. 

Hello, Your Name Is...?

I had two first dates this weekend (and a 3rd date to boot, although that will be a separate post), both of which I couldn't remember or find their names and both of which were before noon.  I mean I HAD their names in an email on the dating site I'm using but somehow they were deleted.  Talk about awkward!  I'm still not quite sure how to GET their names.  I wrote them and said thank you for the date and signed my name, hoping they would sign their name back but that didn't work.  Maybe the ol' I dropped my phone in the toilet and I lost all of my contacts trick will work?  Or the dog ate it?


So now I have to TBD entries in my blackberry's address book.  Hopefully one day soon the TBD's will be replaced with Patrick or Joe or Sam.. or something.

Datapalooza.. and What is a Dealbreaker?

So I have 3 dates in 4 days.. one is a 2nd date and the others are first dates.  I fondly refer to this as Datapalooza.  I am not above having 2 dates in the same day, either, and have actually done this on a few occasions.

My friends have suggested that I pre-qualify my dates because my recent dates have looked go on paper (aka online) but not so good in person.  And this got me thinking- What are my 5 MUST-haves in a guy?

Height?  Weight?  Age?  Eye color?  Shoe size (wink wink)?  Do these things really matter?  I mean I'm tall, but do I really need a guy that will tower over me when I'm wearing heels (which I honestly wear once a month)? I've narrowed down my must-haves to these:

-nice teeth/smile
-wants to settle down in the next few years/open to kids
-at least my height
-good sense of humor/can make me smile
-likes sports, both playing and watching
-50/50 between loving the outdoors and loving the city life.

Ok that's six, but whatever.. I like to bend the rules.

My good friend M says that I need to keep an open mind about my dates.. age, kids, job, etc.  All that doesn't really matter all that much if when you meet them, they are truly your better half.

Wish me luck!

Thought I'd share an email..

I thought I'd share the email I sent to my friends about my 'dad jeans' date:


Met at XXX Tavern, 6pm.  I went inside and ordered a beer.  I saw him walk up and thought he would just come inside, but he waited outside on the bench.  From the second I saw him I knew it wasn't going to be a good date, I should have gotten up and left right then.  I didn't have his number, but he had mine so he could have called.  He sat outside for 10 minutes and then finally came inside.  And stood by the door. For another 10 minutes.  I was sitting right inside and looked at him and smiled a few times... no response.  After 20 minutes and my first beer, he finally walked up to me and asked if I was me.

So not a good start.

A few things:  He's lived here for 20 years and hasn't been to Red Rocks, or a concert in 7 years.  He's never been to the mountains really (never been to Estes, etc.),  He dislikes the outdoors.  he is tall, but he is super nerdy.  He was wearing dad jeans and bad tennis shoes.  He couldn't hold a conversation and there were a ton of weird silences.  The most fun thing he does on the weekends is play trivia in a bar.  He also lived with his parents until he was 28.. and he's 30.

Does age really matter?

How big of an age gap really matters?  5 years?  10 years?  15 years?  Women in their 40's who date/pursue younger guys are called cougars, and women in their 30's (like me) are called Pumas.   I love that term.  Although I don't know if I'm looking for a younger guy?

I went on a date with a older man (9 years older) who has older kids.  I would have never have guessed, he looks significantly younger than that.  I mean, does it really matter?  He doesn't act older and besides the fact that my age is half way between his and his daughters, I don't see much of a difference.

I read this article about age gaps and how NOT to treat your significant other, so I guess as long at I take their suggestions in to consideration, I'm good.  

Dad Jeans? Bad Tennis Shoes?

So what is appropriate attire for a first/blind date?  The date I went on last night was wearing old man New Balance shoes, dad jeans and the same shirt that he's wearing in BOTH of his profile pictures.  Really?  Do you have any other shirts to wear?

I'm not an overly dressy person- I tend to feel most comfortable in jeans, comfy sweaters and flip flops, but I always step it up a notch for first dates.. I don't want them to think I'm a slob who doesn't know how to dress.

I just wonder... what goes through guys heads when they get ready for a first date?  Do they think that if they wear what they are wearing in the photos that it will help us pick 'em out of a crowd?

This is an interesting website, they actually give men advice on what to wear to different dates, including the movie theater and dinner.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a better dressed guy on the next date.. Saturday happy hour.

Welcome to my Blog!

After a suggestion from my sister today, I have decided that a blog about my dating adventures would not only be fun but interesting as well!  I'll be sharing stories about blind dates, first dates, missed connections, guys I see on the street, speed dating, etc.  I hope you all find this entertaining!