After eight years of unsuccessfully running through the dating mill, I thought it might be interesting if I put my friends on the assignment of finding me a good match. After all, who knows you better than your best pals? They probably have a better idea of your type than you do. I was just about to put out an APB advising my girlfriends about town to start the hunt. I'd be up for meeting anyone they thought fit and suitable. This was all just a thought, a plan in my unconventional fantasy world, when a friend said she went out on an eHarmony date recently and thought he was better suited for me. Mid-date she asked her supposed match if he'd be agreeable to meeting a friend of hers. Personally, I probably would have waited until the end of the date, but not my friend. When she sees a possible opportunity to hook two people up, whether professionally or personally, she wastes no time! I think the guy was a little taken aback at first, but he was game. And, of course, so was I.
I asked my friend what it was about this guy that made her think of me. He's a skier, rides motorcycles, and well, she couldn't really put her finger on it, but there were just several things he said throughout their conversation.
After a few email exchanges, we met last Friday at my favorite little neighborhood spot. Within an hour he made a comment about once being in a position of seeing a very large woman in a thong and he'd wished he could erase that vision from his memory. After a comment like that, I had to ask just how that came about. I imagined he'd say he was on a nude beach in Europe or the Caribbean or someplace equally "free". What I didn't expect, was for him to tell me he belonged to a Sex Positive Club. "What the heck is that?" I'm wondering. So I ask. Yes, it's a member's only sex club. Sex rooms, bondage, S&M, torture and the like. Turns out this place is not that far from my apartment. Is that why he offered to meet me in my neighborhood? Or is that coincidence? I ask a few more questions and can tell he's answering a bit more conservatively not to frighten my somewhat conventional self, but I can tell he's feeling me out here-trying to get a sense of just what I'm into. I make it very clear what I'm into and what I'm not into. There's a place for good old fashioned monkey sex and all, but this is way outside of my comfort zone.
Possibly with the hopes of warming me up to some new ideas, he continues with the date anyway. We finished out the evening by heading over to a dueling piano bar, having a few laughs and then calling it a night. I think he may have gotten the impression that since I was having a good time, it meant I was having a good time with him. Men I go out with often get that mixed message.
The next day I was at the ever popular and now famous Fremont Solstice Parade, which sports a lot of nudity and craziness. While standing line for a drink, some character who reminded me of a bad Jim Carey impersonator, begged me to let him buy me a drink. I told him I was "unavailable", but he insisted on buying me that drink anyway. We chatted a bit, but he just reinforced our incompatibility.
Later I was talking to a friend about my ability to reign in the Mr. Wrongs, and her take is that I'm sending out a message to the universe that I'm not ready for a "real" relationship yet, because I'm having far too much fun being free and single. I think this insightful friend may be right. I cannot come up with any other logical explanation.
That being said, I am still open to my friends setting me up. It does make my life interesting.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Motorcycle-itis
Yup, that's all she wrote. I have complete motorcycle-itis after my weekend on a fairly teeny weeny, yet still dangerous, machine. When I came back from Europe all I wanted was a little 50cc Scooter. Something to just zip around town, pick up some groceries, no motorcycle endorsement or insurance required. Something simple and cute, maybe even in pink. Yes, definitely pink.
Then my previous freaky boss buys the 150cc Vespa (Bright yellow. Is it a taxi cab or a scooter?) and we have to take the motorcycle test and get our endorsements. After the 150cc I no longer wanted to go back to the 50cc. The power of the 150 is substantial and quite noticeable climbing any of our steep Seattle hills. However, the price difference of the two is also quite substantial. So I've been getting around just fine on the lovely, somewhat dependable, Metro.
When I signed up for the motorcycle course, it was simply to learn how to ride a motorcycle. I knew my goal was to someday take longer rides, meet other riders, and hopefully take some motorcycle trips. Another female classmate (there were just the two of us after the first day along with five men) was only taking the class to learn the safety skills for riding a two-wheeled vehicle in the city since she had just purchased a 50cc scooter. By the end of day one on the bikes we were both abandoning the idea of scooters and considering what kind of motorcycles we wanted to buy instead.
As usual with me, I bonded with that woman, we exchanged numbers, planned to ride together and will probably be friends for life. Only I would go to a motorcycle class and meet and befriend the only other woman in the class. If I died tomorrow, my funeral would be like a
attending a Celine Dion concert or Storm game. Not that large of a crowd, of course, but definitely 90% women. Wonderful women nonetheless!
For the past two days a co-worker who is an avid rider has been sending me craigslist ads of various bikes and scooters that would be ideal for a novice rider and within my budget (no, neither of us is getting any actual work done for the company we work for). My brother has sent me a lengthy two part email describing bikes, features, what I should look for and look out for regarding motorcycles. I'm on information overload. I am hoping to buy some sort of motorized two-wheel bike thingy soon. However, I think I have some time as I'm sitting here with my freshly pedicured toes, hopeful for sandal season to begin, listening to the rain pour down in sheets outside my window on this 9th day of JUNE!
Then my previous freaky boss buys the 150cc Vespa (Bright yellow. Is it a taxi cab or a scooter?) and we have to take the motorcycle test and get our endorsements. After the 150cc I no longer wanted to go back to the 50cc. The power of the 150 is substantial and quite noticeable climbing any of our steep Seattle hills. However, the price difference of the two is also quite substantial. So I've been getting around just fine on the lovely, somewhat dependable, Metro.
When I signed up for the motorcycle course, it was simply to learn how to ride a motorcycle. I knew my goal was to someday take longer rides, meet other riders, and hopefully take some motorcycle trips. Another female classmate (there were just the two of us after the first day along with five men) was only taking the class to learn the safety skills for riding a two-wheeled vehicle in the city since she had just purchased a 50cc scooter. By the end of day one on the bikes we were both abandoning the idea of scooters and considering what kind of motorcycles we wanted to buy instead.
As usual with me, I bonded with that woman, we exchanged numbers, planned to ride together and will probably be friends for life. Only I would go to a motorcycle class and meet and befriend the only other woman in the class. If I died tomorrow, my funeral would be like a
attending a Celine Dion concert or Storm game. Not that large of a crowd, of course, but definitely 90% women. Wonderful women nonetheless!
For the past two days a co-worker who is an avid rider has been sending me craigslist ads of various bikes and scooters that would be ideal for a novice rider and within my budget (no, neither of us is getting any actual work done for the company we work for). My brother has sent me a lengthy two part email describing bikes, features, what I should look for and look out for regarding motorcycles. I'm on information overload. I am hoping to buy some sort of motorized two-wheel bike thingy soon. However, I think I have some time as I'm sitting here with my freshly pedicured toes, hopeful for sandal season to begin, listening to the rain pour down in sheets outside my window on this 9th day of JUNE!
Friday, June 4, 2010
Bucket Lists and More
Many of us have our "List" of things we want to accomplish before we "kick the proverbial bucket". This list generally includes fun, adventurous and daring feats. Things we'd like to do, but either don't have the funds, time or guts to follow through- at least not until the end is nearing.
We also have the list of things every woman should own. You've all seen the email that has made the circuit....more than once. It starts with a black lacy bra and ends with a power drill.
A friend once gave me one of those little gift books "What Every Woman Should Do Once".
1. Dye your hair blonde and see if they really do have more fun (I have and they don't)
2. Date a guy you met on the internet (who hasn't done this now-a-days?)
3. Own something leather, besides a coat or gloves (does a pair of shoes or a belt count?)
4. Invent an interesting past (better yet, live an interesting life so you don't have to invent too much.)
5. Head to the airport and fly anywhere (now they're talkin' my kind of language!)
I decided a long time ago I wasn't about to wait until I possessed those three crucial things: funds, time or guts, before starting to check items off my Bucket List. Besides, we never really know when the end is nearing, so why wait? I learned to scuba dive, bungee jumped on my 40th birthday, lived and traveled abroad-solo, lived on a houseboat thanks to the generosity of a dear friend who helped me out of a jam. I had the privilege of living on a Greek Island where everyone rode a Vespa, worked in an art museum and a bridal shop. Eeerrr, okay, the bridal shop was definitely not on my bucket list. But it turned out to be an enlightening and entertaining experience none-the-less.
In conjunction with my Bucket List, I have a "Things I must learn how to do" List.
1. Speak a second language fluently. It's the "fluently" part that keeps this from being checked off my list.
2. Travel alone (check)
3. Learn to Tango
4. Learn to sing. I took a class many years ago called "Anyone Can Sing". After working with me for a few months, the instructor had to rename the class "Almost Anyone Can Sing". Sometimes you just need to accept your limitations. I scratched this off my list entirely.
5. Learn to change a car tire. The fact that I don't own a car is irrelevant. I borrow them plenty.
6. Learn to ride a motorcycle.
Although I have plenty of experience riding a Vespa, I have always had the dream of learning to ride a "big girl" bike...a Harley even. So this weekend, I'm taking the motorcycle riding training course. Unfortunately, it's suppose to rain all weekend, but the course is held rain or shine. So I shall don my big girl rain panties and go for it.
If I am able to get through the course with out killing myself, I'll attack that tire changing goal next.
We also have the list of things every woman should own. You've all seen the email that has made the circuit....more than once. It starts with a black lacy bra and ends with a power drill.
A friend once gave me one of those little gift books "What Every Woman Should Do Once".
1. Dye your hair blonde and see if they really do have more fun (I have and they don't)
2. Date a guy you met on the internet (who hasn't done this now-a-days?)
3. Own something leather, besides a coat or gloves (does a pair of shoes or a belt count?)
4. Invent an interesting past (better yet, live an interesting life so you don't have to invent too much.)
5. Head to the airport and fly anywhere (now they're talkin' my kind of language!)
I decided a long time ago I wasn't about to wait until I possessed those three crucial things: funds, time or guts, before starting to check items off my Bucket List. Besides, we never really know when the end is nearing, so why wait? I learned to scuba dive, bungee jumped on my 40th birthday, lived and traveled abroad-solo, lived on a houseboat thanks to the generosity of a dear friend who helped me out of a jam. I had the privilege of living on a Greek Island where everyone rode a Vespa, worked in an art museum and a bridal shop. Eeerrr, okay, the bridal shop was definitely not on my bucket list. But it turned out to be an enlightening and entertaining experience none-the-less.
In conjunction with my Bucket List, I have a "Things I must learn how to do" List.
1. Speak a second language fluently. It's the "fluently" part that keeps this from being checked off my list.
2. Travel alone (check)
3. Learn to Tango
4. Learn to sing. I took a class many years ago called "Anyone Can Sing". After working with me for a few months, the instructor had to rename the class "Almost Anyone Can Sing". Sometimes you just need to accept your limitations. I scratched this off my list entirely.
5. Learn to change a car tire. The fact that I don't own a car is irrelevant. I borrow them plenty.
6. Learn to ride a motorcycle.
Although I have plenty of experience riding a Vespa, I have always had the dream of learning to ride a "big girl" bike...a Harley even. So this weekend, I'm taking the motorcycle riding training course. Unfortunately, it's suppose to rain all weekend, but the course is held rain or shine. So I shall don my big girl rain panties and go for it.
If I am able to get through the course with out killing myself, I'll attack that tire changing goal next.
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