In Oct. '07, the Ex and I broke up. I took two months to re-group, then dove into the wonderful (?) world of on-line dating and, six months later, speed-dating.
My list of guys:
1) Ahbay (Match) - one date
2) Ken (Match) - one date
3) Bob (Match) - one date, but we became friends and hang out once every month or two
4) James (Match) -- one date
5) Lon (Match) -- dated for six weeks, but I broke it off because he was way more into me than I was into him, though now we're friends and he even gave me an iPod Nano for my birthday!
6) Tom (Match) -- one date
7) Noah (Match) -- dated for about two months and I REALLY LIKED HIM, but then he broke it off :(
8) Conner (Match) -- two dates...he may have been gay
9) Rob (Match) -- one date
10) Craig (Match) -- two dates
11) Bill (Match) -- two dates (all he wanted was sex)
12) Edward (speed-dating) -- one date
13) Fareed (speed-dating) -- one date
14) Barney (Match) -- two dates...he was a stand-up comedian and I felt like I was his audience
15) Eric (hurrydate.com) -- two dates
16) Daniel (hurrydate.com) -- UGGGGGGHHHHHH!!! (see my "worst date ever" post)
17) a different Chris (Craig’s List) -- one date...he sounded like Mr. Rogers
18) Maury (Craig’s List) -- one date
19) Ron (speed-dating) -- one date
20) Dave (speed-dating) -- one date
21) Casey (Match) -- one date
22) Abe (speed-dating) -- one date (all he wanted was sex)
23) Stephan (cupid.com) -- one date
There we go. Looking over my list, I have to say I'm glad I met Bob and Lon, because they have turned out to be good friends; and Noah, because at least I know that it IS possible to meet someone amazing on-line, even if they then sprain your heart by breaking up with you after only two months. Eric was cool because we went to a minor league baseball game together on a beautiful summer day. But the others, frankly, I'd rather have been home reading a book. In my 20s I would go out with just about anyone, because even if it didn't go anywhere, I figured I'd learn something about myself and what I wanted and could give in a relationship. But now I'm 35 years old, I know myself, I know what I want and what I can give, and if a date is not going to lead somewhere special, I'd rather just skip it, honestly.
One of my best friends just got engaged and asked me to be her maid of honor! I am so happy for her, but as I do stuff for her wedding, I keep thinking, one year later and I'm no closer to being in a real relationship myself. Sigh. But, my friend actually met her husband-to-be on-line (on JDate), and she had to meet TONS of guys to finally find him, so that should give me some hope, I suppose.
