Saturday, May 31, 2008

Date With Artsy Guy

Another Saturday...another date. I'm actually "talking" (or emailing to be more accurate) a bunch of people right now so hopefully that will lead to tons more dates and with the way probability works - one of them will be "the one". I know I need to go through this process - but boy, this is a lot of work - and quite expensive!!! Each guy means getting the eyebrows done, a manicure & a pedicure - at the very least! But I always make myself do it, thinking what if this guy could be it - I need to make sure I'm at my best.

So back to Artsy guy. He's like 6 feet tall and his picture was cute (though he was wearing a baseball hat - always makes me wonder if they're bald when they do that) and we'd only exchanged like 2 emails - so I didn't know much about him besides what was in his online dating profile. But it turns out he was my year and went to my rival high school - what a small world!

Before we even met up, I was a little annoyed. You see, the week before he had emailed me and we had made plans to meet up yesterday. Thursday rolled around and I hadn't heard from him...so I dropped him an email to see if we were still on and I got "hey was just about to email you about that". Right. He tells me he's putting together some ideas for things for us to do and will call me Friday. Okay, a planner, I like that. Friday I get an email saying he's going out with an old college buddy so will call me Saturday to discuss plans for Saturday afternoon (we had decided to meet up around 4pm/got to NYC). Saturday morning - no phone call. I check my email and he sent another message saying he had ended up crashing at his friends place and would be back in time for us to meet up and would call me. Okay (uh, what if I hadn't checked email?!). 4pm rolls around - nothing. I text him telling him I'm already on the train, is he? You guessed it - phone rings less than a minute later! He was like are you really?? I said I was joking, actually running a little late myself and he said he was on the way home from his friends as well and would call me when he got home. He calls at 5pm (I've been ready since early afternoon!) and asks if I was okay with Tapas for dinner - I said that was fine. And he said I was thinking dinner & a movie - and mentioned this artsy movie called "The Fall". I said fine to that too. He calls back a half hour later to finalize timings and we decide to meet at a train station and take the train in together. There was a train in 20 minutes...but he tells me he still needs to shower. Ugh! So we decide to meet at the train station for the 6:45pm train. (Now you see why I was slightly annoyed even before we met!)

So I get to the train station....first impression...WOW are you skinny!! And he had a back-pack with him, I was confused, kinda odd to bring on a date? Plus it was eery how much he looked like my cousin's dad who had passed away - about the same height, skin color, look. That totally threw me off. When he saw me he gave me a hug and said "You look nice". Okay, that was refreshing to hear - only cause with Eagle I've been left wondering what is wrong with me (note: update on Eagle coming shortly).

We got on the train and conversation was nice - he mentioned he smoked and asked if I was okay with that. I said it was fine, as long as the smoke was not in my face (I am way too nice to actually say yes, I mind). He asked if I was vegetarian and he then said he was planning on getting a meat thing at the tapas place that he's been wanting to try out and hoped that was okay - I said that's fine (again really, how else would you answer that). He was telling me how he used to live in NY with his ex-girlfriend (ok) and how it took some time but now he was really ready to meet someone - he wasn't ready before. He also told me he's never really dated Indian girls before (here I am thinking again - another Eagle?!) Then he was telling me about his job - sounded really interesting actually. Even before meeting him, I did know that he made less money than me (it was on his profile) - and yes, that is a problem for me. But I am trying to keep an open mind cause you never know...but on a side note, I really need to decide how big of an issue this is for me because no point in wasting everyone's time if its going to bother me in the long run - I really don't want to be the bread-winner.

We got to NY and then had to take a subway to get to Soho/Village where this restaurant and movie theater were. As soon as we were off the train he had a smoke. I was wearing my sexy heels :) and this guy had long legs - literally he was always walking way ahead of me - I think women all understand that you can't exactly run in heels. When we got to the subway station, he told me to buy a Metro Card. Okay - sorry - first reaction again - why can't I use yours?? And really, you're going to make me buy it - you're not going to buy it for me? Okay so yes, I have expectations. Gentlemen never let a lady pay - they just don't. I hate that I instantly always think of Eagle in these situations but the first thought that went through my head was Eagle would have paid for the card and never asked me to do so. Again - just all part of the first impression - it is what it is (and I need to stop thinking about Eagle - ugh!)

We got to the restaurant and dinner was nice - he's talkative so there weren't really a lot of awkward moments. But I did start realizing that its much easier to go out with someone after you've had a few conversations with them (vs. none) as there's naturally just other things to talk about then. He paid for dinner - that was nice. When I offered to split it, he said I could get it next time. It's always nice to hear someone say next time - kinda lets you know what they're thinking I guess. As soon as dinner was over and we were outside, he had another smoke. Then we went to go see the movie - nice again that he paid. I bought the drinks & snacks. The theater was so packed we ended up in the first row! Part of the movie was filmed in India so that was really cool to see - visually this movie was breathtaking. A little hard to follow at times and we were both guilty of nodding off more than once :)

The movie ended at midnight. As soon as we stepped outside of the theater, he had another smoke. Chain smoker - not quite what I was expecting. The bar next door had some live jazz music - he asked if I wanted to go in and I said I was fine. So we headed back to the subway to catch all of our trains to get back home. I asked him about the back-pack as we were standing around and he said he had his wallet in there and his umbrella (it was raining), etc. and that it was just easier to have this. I laughed saying oh, so this is your man purse. He laughed too - and said he actually had a better one at home. Again, to be completely honest, I immediately thought Eagle would never do that - bring a back-pack - in fact, the kind of guys I end up liking (more classy for lack of a better word) would never have done that. Call me a snob, but its odd to be on a date with a guy walking around with a back-pack!

On the train ride home, he was actually kind of flirty with me - grabbing my arm or playfully punching me. He was telling me how I should see a jazz concert (he's really into music) and about 3 times asked if I would show him around my city. He even asked if I was okay to drive home from the train station and did I want to get some coffee first (prolonging our time together, nice). Okay, so he liked me - that's a good feeling because lately I've been left wondering at times if anyone is ever going to really like me. Too bad though, because I don't like him. The smoking thing is definetly a turn-off but in general not attracted to him at all.....

So that was my date with the Artsy guy. Somehow I have to let him know I'm not interested next time he gets in touch with me. But it was nice to meet him and nice to hear how he is really ready to meet someone now - that we were on the same page at least when it came to wanting to 'settle down'.

I was pleased with myself that I gave Artsy guy my full attention, kept an open-mind and really made an effort to be myself and see what could happen. But I just realized how many times I mentioned Eagle in this email - what can I do? I am trying my best to "move on" but its only human I guess that its going to take time....

Friday, May 16, 2008

My Addiction

Last Sunday I proudly, confidently proclaimed that I was okay with Eagle just being my friend. Yes, I believed it 100%...when I said it...

So this is how this week has played out:

Monday
I talked to Eagle at night, as usual, with this new profound feeling of wow, its nice to have a guy "best friend". We talked for a long time and I mentioned that I was going to be in his city the next day for work....he didn't say anything about meeting up - and neither did I (so proud of me!)

Tuesday
Gave in - ended up asking Eagle if he wanted to get together, which of course he said yes (he usually always says yes). When I was done with my meetings I called him and the way he was willing to leave work and hang out with me was such a nice feeling. Made me feel special - he's really good at that - making me feel special. We hung out for a few hours - people watched, walked around, did some fun things. While we were together, three times he was on the phone - twice with this one girl, and then the 3rd time with another girl. Making plans with both of them for dinner - one for tonight and one for the next night. Using that sweet voice that guys sometimes use. They could have been friends or they could have been dates - I have no idea, I'm assuming the second one based on the sweet voice. Things he said, and things he knew about their schedules made me suddenly realize how special I am not. I'm just "one of the girls" - if even that.

I went through a rollar coaster of emotions in the 3 hours we were together. And on my way home, talked to one of my best friends who said Everyday you spend with him, is one more day you are further away from meeting the guy you are suppose to be with. Damn. So true. So that night I didn't call him. Sure, I knew he was going out to dinner but still, I could have called really late as I usually do - but I didn't. Suddenly, I'm not so special.

Wednesday
It was a very hard day!! I didn't text him or call him at all. And guess what - he didn't text or call me either :( I knew he was going out to dinner again that night - and I started thinking about how much time I am spending thinking of him and he's out having a good time, not giving me a second thought.

Thursday
It only got harder. And really depressing! No emails, text, or calls from me. And you guessed it - none from him either. The really hard part to deal with is that I really thought we had a real friendship underneath it all - that even for that he would have reached out to say hi. He told me once - that we are where we are because of me and despite of him. So true. We are in constant contact with each other because I always initiate it - always. So that was the hardest part to deal with today - realizing that everything we "have" is 100% only because of me. And that if I stopped, would we have anything?

Friday
I gave in. So pathetic - considering everything I just shared! But I am only human - think of him as an addiction, because that is really what he is. And I stayed away for 3 nights - its a good start, right?

I called him at work around noon - no answer. Then I texted him asking if he was at work (I remember him maybe saying he was going to take the day off) - no reply. Then I called him on his cell phone awhile later - he picked up with a "hey what's going on babe" ---- and it was like instant gratification and I instantly felt good again. SO STUPID - I KNOW!! But it's exactly how addicts must feel when they give in to whatever they are addicted to. He was telling me how he took the day off, was in the car with his brother - they had just gone to their aunt's place to give her a mother's day card and hang out with her - and then he was like see, i'm a really nice guy. (Sometimes he really is - but not right for me). He was going to another bachelor party this weekend and told me he was going to leave in 2-3 hours. Then his brother was talking to him and he was like let me call you back.

Three hours later - I call him back. You are going to kill me right about now, aren't you? I just didn't get my "fix" for the day and I knew he was leaving soon so I don't know - I just had to call. I got his voicemail (which actually I was kinda hoping for) and left him a message about this joke we shared in relation to where he was going. I wasn't expecting a call back, there really wasn't anything to talk about. Two minutes later, he called - he was in the car with 3 other guys. I remember thinking it was nice that he called and talked to me with other guys in the car....and then I wondered if he called because it made him look "cool" in front of his friends. Either way, we only talked for 3 minutes...while this conversation about hookers was going on in the background. Okay then! We were getting off the phone and I yelled "Good Luck" (re: winning in gambling) really loud - and then felt like the biggest idiot in the world realizing everyone in the car probably heard me. I was so embarassed - the whole thing just made me feel ultra stupid. Guess it all goes back to what I said last weekend - being around him just brings out all my insecurities. Ugh.

That's the update on this week. Eagle probably never realized I didn't even call him - or if he did, he was totally fine with it. He's my addiction and I need to ween myself off of him. Everyday I spend with him or thinking of him is one more day I am further away from meeting the guy I am suppose to be with, right? I keep saying I want to be friends with him - and in my heart I really do - but then I can't be bothered if there are other women - and no one can make that switch over night.

He usually texts me when he's gambling, letting me know how he's doing - maybe he will this weekend, maybe he won't. If I was honest, I guess I would like him to. But I can't be disappointed if he won't. And all I keep telling myself is that his best bud Hefner is with him again...and that can only mean bad news. I am telling myself this over and over and over - because at the end of the day, Eagle is NOT the kind of guy I want to end up with.

I will not be initiating anymore contact this weekend, especially not as stupid as I feel - that's a promise.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

On The Outside Looking In

Being single and in your mid-30's is not easy. Not when you are completely surrounded by friends who all seem happily married and have kids.

Today I went to a really good friend's daughter's 1st birthday party. As the guests started pouring in, all I noticed was the young families, all around my age. The mom's sat together talking about their children. Some had 1 kid, some had 2; and two of the women were pregnant with their second. The husbands were sitting outside holding and playing with the kids and when dinner time came around, all the couples got together for the not always so easy task of feeding their child/ren. There were moments when everyone was outside and I stood in the kitchen watching from the window...feeling like I was on the outside, looking in. The life I have wanted for so long, being played out in front of me...

Saturday, May 10, 2008

An New Phase With Eagle

I haven't posted an Eagle update in about 3 weeks. You can guess how the last 3 weeks were - endless text messaging, emails, phone calls during work, and conversations late at night into the wee hours of the morning.

Last weekend on Sunday I actually went to Barnes & Noble and picked up the book one of my closest friends (who's an Eagle hater) had reminded me of a few weeks ago - "he's just not that into you". I read the first 3 chapters and realized, that yes, every sign they are talking about when a guy is not into you - is true for when it comes to Eagle. Then Monday I got to work and basically ignored everything I read because I just wanted to talk to him and there started another week of all the endless things I mentioned above. Oh, and did I mention that about 2 weeks ago Eagle & I made plans to hang out this past weekend (plans of course that I initiated) and that he was going to come to where I lived this time - yes, he was going to drive about 2 hours and come visit me! He hasn't done that in months. So I'm thinking - this is a good thing, right?!

The week leading up to this past weekend was a busy one for me. On top of everything else, I started another "project" for Eagle - similar to the scrapbook I had made him of our first couple of months together (admittedly one of the coolest things I have ever made anyone). This time it was something I had documented that captured our last 6 months....you see next Saturday, May 17th, will be 6 months since Eagle came into my life (5 months since our first date but 6 months since we first "met"). As I was putting this together, and in a way re-living the past 6 months, I started realizing how things were amazing up until February, and how much they changed in March/April once we had had the talk about what was happening (or not happening) between us. I guess the "chase" was over for him and everything changed. And then parts of April and all of May so far have been back to chatting all the time...But still, reliving all of it made me realize how much this really isn't the way its suppose to be.

There was this project above I was working on, and at the same time last week I started telling Eagle that he was going to be my MOH (Made of Honor). Perfect timing on this movie being released! We started joking about it a lot, and I started realizing more and more that maybe that is all Eagle really is to me. Could he just be my guy best friend?

Friday night Eagle came over - he brought me some chocolates from this trip he went on a few weeks ago. Nice! Of course selfishly I was like no flowers? But then I immediately told myself - no, no flowers. I didn't even get my usual welcome kiss. Okay, I was kinda expecting that but okay, fine. I had told him to dress up (i.e., no jeans) and I wore a dress and we went out to a really nice restaurant for dinner. Dinner was great - he told me he liked my dress and my shoes, we talked, joked around. Then we went to this rooftop bar for drinks. Again, fun. We got back to my place, changed, and layed on the couch to watch some TV. We were watching this show about this guy that was a total player - and it was interesting how often Eagle "related" to him. And it made me realize how much I don't want to be with a guy like that. We fell asleep on the couch, woke up, and went into my room to sleep. Nothing happened. Nothing ever happens - now I don't even expect it.


Late Saturday morning we woke up. We kind of just laid in bed for a long time talking and joking around. I couldn't believe how many little things he remembered that I had told him in the past. At one point he was sleeping on his stomach and I remember thinking how great his back looked (through his t-shirt) and that he really was in great shape. And then I was joking with him about how big his pores were on his shoulder...and realizing how unattracted to them I am. Haha, I know - but hey! Baby steps, right?! I'm putting the guy out of my mind, and here was yet another reason to.

After we got ready, I gave him the project I had been working on. He seemed to like it - and started reading through it, more than I thought he would. Of course later he told me he couldn't believe I actually spent time putting that together but whatever. I think I did it more for me than him anyway. Then I asked him if he knew how the MOH story plays out - that in both My Best Friend's Wedding and in Made of Honor, both end up falling in love with their best friend. I told him he didn't realize it yet but that he was in love with me - and that he needed to get rid of his feelings now because I didn't want any drama at my wedding. We both laughed about it =)

We went out for a late lunch and then went to go see the movie Made of Honor. Patrick Dempsey's character in the movie is that of a total player...and once again, Eagle made comments and related to it in ways that (again) reminded me that this is not the kind of guy I want to be with. But there were parts of the movie, when Patrick Dempsey's character realizes he is in love with his best friend - all the little things they share together - that no other woman seems to care about - it really reminded me of my relationship with Eagle. There is so much he knows about me, so many little things that he goes out of his way to make sure are in place for me because he knows I like them. And when the girl in the movie asks Patrick Dempsey why in the 10 years that they knew each other he had never slept with her - he simply said "Because I wanted to keep you in my life". Simple as that. Eagle and I held hands while we watched the movie and joked around. On the way home I told him that if things happen for me as fast as they did for the woman in the movie, I wanted him to share a list of all the little things he knows I like and don't like with my fiance. And as I said this, I realized how much I cherish the little things with Eagle...and that hopefully whoever I am suppose to end up with, that he & I will share those things too...because those little things have been the best part about having Eagle in my life.

When Eagle left, he gave me a quick peck on the lips goodbye. And for the first time since I have met him, I felt content. A bit sad, but content. Between my project and watching MOH and all of his player comments, I finally got over him - he's smooth and he knows how to treat a woman and it's why I fell for him, but I don't want to end up with a guy like him. And I remembered how beautiful my ex used to make me feel and how with Eagle all weekend long I never once got that feeling...instead all I kept thinking was maybe I am too fat and that's why he's not attracted to me? Every woman deserves to feel good. I am glad though that things didn't just end with Eagle months ago - I would have had a really hard time getting over him. It just gradually happened these past few months. And yes, it took me that many months to hear him when he's clearly said more than once where he stands. I don't see Eagle not being in my life, I am sure he will be. I am sure we will still talk and email and text and see each other here and there. I love having him in my life. But I finally can say that I am not in love with him.

I picked up the book again - he's just not that into you. Here are the title chapters:

1. He's Just Not That Into You If He's Not Asking You Out

2. He's Just Not That Into You If He's Not Calling You

3. He's Just Not That Into You If He's Not Dating You

4. He's Just Not That Into You If He's Not Having Sex With You

5. He's Just Not That Into You If He's Having Sex With Someone Else

6. He's Just Not That Into You If He Only Wants To See You When He's Drunk

7. He's Just Not That Into You If He Doesn't Want To Marry You

8. He's Just Not That Into You If He's Breaking Up With You

9. He's Just Not That Into You If He's Disappeared On You

etc, etc (goes on)

The titles are enough - but backed up with all the examples, its like WOW! Clear as day. I've only read the first 4 chapters but I'm finishing this book. To keep reminding me how Eagle is not for me, and to keep these things top of mind with whomever else I meet.

Whomever else I meet. That means back to really seriously dating. As I said, and as one of my friends reminds me, its all in the numbers. I need to meet a lot more men, quickly. One of them has to work out, right?!

I'll keep you posted on Eagle. But hopefully you'll be reading a lot more about other new men that come into my life! Keep your fingers crossed me for me that Mr. Right comes into my life soon, very very soon.