Crossing Fingers

If you're into the whole crossing fingers thing, would you mind?  Got my eye on a pretty little black lab mix that may be in need for a home.  It may be that I'm in need of a furry roommate.  This might the best match to date . . . . . .

Fishing?

Last night I was in visiting my local magician, aka my hairdresser, Susie, and we were catching up.  She does a fantastic job of making me able to pass for being in my 20’s (gray?  What gray?), and gives me time to hear all the local news (ahem.  Gossip.)  In discussing who is dating who, and who isn’t dating who, she asked me who I was dating.  Always a fun subject matter.  So, I told her about my first meet up thanks to Tinder, and how that had played out, and she mentioned that several other clients of hers had decent luck with Plenty of Fish.  Ugh.  Have I mentioned how dating is NOT for the faint of heart?  One thing that I liked about P of F is that you can say what you are there for, and what you’re looking for.  So, why not?  If in fishing you cast out lots of lines, might as well try a different pond, right?  Well.  Let me tell you. 

If fishing was like this in real life, no one would go hungry.  Within a couple of hours of signing up, I had several messages and “likes”.  Some of them, just like in real life, thanks, but no thanks.  If you can’t be bothered to even include one picture, I’m not interested.  But, there were a couple of interesting prospects.  Now, to figure out the time to actually fit in a date . . . . .

I keep saying I’m going to write a book.  Dating is not for the faint of heart.  I just read a really interesting article on CNN today about childless women, and the fact that we aren’t all lonely cat women.  Good grief, but I can relate to that.  In being out and meeting people, I had one message me.  “You’re a pretty girl, you’re easy to talk to, and have a great sense of humor.  Why are you still single?  What’s wrong with you?”  I wanted to respond, nothing, other than I’m picky.  I actually want someone who wants to be a part of my life, and have me be a part of his.  Someone who understands what commitment means.  Someone who has shared interests with me.  I’ve met lots of nice guys.  I’ve met some really great jerks.  I’ve had sparks with some, no sparks with others.  I think I’ve become something of an expert on what to do, what to expect on a first date.  Of course, now that I’ve said that I’m going to get thrown a great curve ball.  But, I think the purpose of dating is to find that person that you want to be with, and I can usually tell within 1-3 dates if that’s even a possibility.  I live in a teeny, tiny town, and that’s located in a small county.  My friends have told me they’ve thought through their “eligible” guy friends and realized that um, no.  Not a good idea.  It’s hard to meet someone, even harder as your “fishing pond” shrinks in size.  Just like that guy asked, “What’s wrong with you?”, there is usually a good reason why guys in my age range are single.  I decided after J and I split up last year that I was going to make sure that I was the happiest I could be with just being me.  I keep hearing people say “Oh, you’ll find someone”, but the reality is, I may not.  And, I am done with waiting to meet him.  One of the advantages to no longer having a dog at home is that I can come and go just as I please.  I have had FUN, with getting out, and seeing the world right here at home.  I’ve lost 50 pounds since last July, and it’s amazing how much bigger the world is as I’ve gotten smaller.  I owe a lot of my exploring time to my friend Laurel, who is teaching me that the outside is a great place to be.  Minus, of course, the ticks, and the snakes, and the spiders . . . . I’m still enough of a girly girl that those freak me out!  I live in a beautiful part of the world, and I’m going to spend this summer exploring every nook and cranny of it. 

I haven’t written in a long, LONG, time.  Been busy, been tired, pick an excuse.  Dad used to tell me that if you’re looking for an excuse, one is just as good as another.

The past year has been sent finding, and settling, me.  The guy I was dating and I broke up in September.  I had thought that I was going to be spending the rest of my life with him, but ultimately, we couldn’t reach a compromise.  I didn’t want to move unless he was willing to commit to me (engagement, wedding date), and he didn’t want to make that commitment until I was willing to move.  Catch 22 much?  We broke up, and a week later he was “in a relationship” a week later.  Gotta love Facebook, right?  In the next few weeks, I took off to visit one of my best friends in Seattle.  I call him Seattle, since the first time he called and it said “Seattle calling”.  While there, my beloved furry delight, Britney, died.  She had not been doing well over the week prior to my leaving, and even the night before, I laid there and stroked her and said my goodbyes.  Best case scenario I would be taking her to the vet when I came back.  I’ve questioned my leaving her many times, but ultimately, it worked out the very best that it could.  My friend Andi and I trade animal care, and she called me Wed. morning to let me know that Britney was really bad.  In turn, I called Karey, since she said her son was getting out of school early, to get him to take her to the vet.  By the time A. could get to my house, Britney had died.  Karey, who on a good day is a force to be reckoned with, left work, and between Austin, Ronnie, and herself, took my puppy to her vet and arranged to have her cremated.  Austin and Ronnie cleaned my house for me.  There was nothing for me to deal with.  Karey even tracked down Seattle and had him on his way home  before she even called me.  As he pointed out – I am not one to ask for help.  This way, not only did I not have to deal with the aftermath of my puppy passing away, but I was able to appreciate the amazing and giving friends that I have.  When I got back on Sunday, Carolyn even offered to meet me at the house so I didn’t have to go in alone. 

When I did see Karey again a few days later, she already had picked Britney up for me, and her son and husband had made a beautiful cedar box for her.  Again, not a single detail left for me to deal with or to handle.  Friends.  They’re the family that we get to pick for ourselves. 

I didn’t start out to write about any of that, but obviously, I needed to .  Maybe I need to put some more time and thought into this whole writing thing.

Wonder Gal, I don’t know who you are, but thank you for your comments.  They were the kick in the back side that I needed.  :D