And I'll be Bach

(That was the punchline to "You be Beethoven")

Hey! How are you (guys)? If there's even one YOU left that read this sad sad neglected blog. I don't know what's happened but half of blogs I read are gone, retired, barely updated. Some tried to hide from me (Len & Stuckey) but "I find you..." (Name that movie quote.) It's sad really, but I'm a guilty contributor to the phenomenon, so I guess I have no room to complain.

So! What's new with moi? Lots actually. I've been back on the DIY kick, my fireplace has gotten a much needed makeover. I'm determined to pick out tile for 2 bathrooms and the laundry room and install them within a month. After which, I'm going to get new carpet through out the rest of the house. A few walls to paint, cabinets to be refinished, and.... I should be done! Oh wait, the patio (a.k.a. jungle) needs some TLC. Ok, after that, then... done! Wait, the garage needs major organization. Ideally, I want some rafters built for storage. There are tons of overhead space in my garage, but it's just a giant box with no shelving or anything to maximize storage space. Hmmm ok, after that then.... DONE! Hopefully...

No exciting travels to faraway lands. That 3-week vacation to Europe drained every last vacation days I had at work, so I am stuck until July, when I get more. I haven't drawn, painted, sewn, knitted, crocheted, played my drum, or bellydanced in forever. I guess I've been busy with other things? Where has all my time gone? *scratches head*

Yeah, you're thinking, "After this long of an absence, that's what I get? DIY news and news about things you HAVEN'T done? Booooring!!"

Ok ok! What's most exciting is that I have a boyfriend! Yup, believe it! We met on Thanksgiving and he asked me to be his girlfriend around my birthday in March, so it's been "official" for a little over a month now. The whole process with dating the boy and now being someone's girlfriend has brought to light, more than ever, how retarded I am, or how retarded I think I am, or how retarded I feel. Take your pick! I'm always second guessing myself and wondering and thinking and over-thinking. I've been told such behavior is "normal". I've also been told to just chill, accept, and be happy. Right, of course. How, I say? Any tips?

GASP!!

I'm alive! I know, I know, I'm a big slacker, who promised stories about Europe, then disappeared overnight like the city of Pompeii. Go ahead, I'm ready for the lashings...

So, what's been going on? I've just about forgotten all about my European Vacation. It's hard at my age to remember most things. Thank goodness I have plenty of pictures to help jog the memory, along with my Costco-sized bottle of Ginkgo Biloba! But boo boring. Europe was so 2007. 2007 was so 2007. Happy New Year!

The real juicy stuff is what you want, right?

Well, well, well... I do have some boy news. I was dating a 25-year-old. Was. He was very nice, fun, attractive, and mature beyond his years, but the spark dwindled, then completely burnt out, for me. Up until a week ago, he still texted me.

What were the issues? Well first, I'm no spring chicken. Not that I'm looking to shack up and get knocked up any time soon, but ya know, I'm just not in my 20's. Despite him being mature, stable, and responsible, I looked into a crystal ball and saw myself hanging out with people 10 years younger, just out of college, beginning their career, drinking, partying, and getting into debt with the good 'ol credit card. I just couldn't backtrack that far. I guess, ultimately, the connection wasn't there enough to overlook the blatant difference in life stages. So c'est la vie on that one...

I have a new suitor now who I'm quite taken with. There are logistical issues, but thus far the connection is so strong that those issues are easily overlooked. *swoons*

I must continue on another post though, as it's getting late, and my blogging stamina sucks due to my long absence...

Come fly with me

I have never been gone and out of the country for 3 weeks that I'm having trouble gauging how much to pack. Traveling Gay has trained and brain-washed me into being an ultra-light packer. (You need to roll all your clothes like mini sleeping bags to maximize the space of your suitcase. Use socks and underwear to fill all the odd spaces. Never bring full sized bottle of anything!) I'm trying, but the whole being on a cruise ship and having to dress nicely for dinner service, in addition to "formal nights" is a pain in the ass. It means packing dresses and of course the right shoes to go with them. It also doesn't help that the weather forecast has been inconsistent. Should I bring tank tops? T-shirts? Sweaters? Fine, all of them so I can layer.

Right now, my bed is covered with clothes. Laid out. Trying to figure out the minimum amount of items to yield the maximum variation of cute outfits. My bathroom counter is completely covered with my girly toiletries.

I ran very last minute errands this afternoon and bought a traveling blow dryer, withdrew some cash, and got my watch battery replaced.

I think I have all the ingredients, I just have to put it all together into one carry-on luggage and a duffel bag.

In other current and not so current news, MenFarmForMe.com is blowing up! I've got 4 guys going right now, but of course I'm gone for 3 weeks and they'll have forgotten me after week 1. We'll see, I don't care. I'm going to Europe!!!

Oh, and I decided to pick on an old scab and messaged him. He responded, I replied, and that's it. Deadsville. Duh, he doesn't want you!! Somehow I still think of him and wish it'll miraculous turn into a cliche Hollywood romantic comedy. Ummm, yeah.

Whatever, I'm going to Europe! I'm going to see and mingle with hot Spanish, Italian, French, Turkish, and Grecian men!

With that, I leave you until the middle of October.

It's not about the Bride...

What day's today? Oh yes, a work day. Boooo...

I don't even know where to begin with this past weekend. It was one of my gal pal's Bachelorette Weekend in Santa Barbara. OMG FUN!! We did some wine tasting, fine dining, and lots of bar hopping.

We drove up after work on Friday, and immediately hit the bars on State Street. It's an understatement that 7 girls are magnets for Boys Boys Boys!! Only 2 of us were single, so the odds were very good.

Somehow, I was the alcohol expert. I've only really started drinking a year ago, with the discovery of Pepcid. (For you Asians, if taken an hour ahead of drinking, that horrendous Baboon Red Face you get? Non-existent! They should really market that pill toward young, alcohol-consuming Asians.)

Anyhoo, I get the gals started with shots then recommended follow up drinks. I stuck with my usual, Vodka Collins.

Can I just tell you I realize more and more that I'm living my twenties. No, not RE-living. Living! While all my friends were partying it up in their 20's, I was busy dealing with family drama and figuring out my life. Well, a decade later, career-minded, house-owning, and savings-account-carrying, I'm having so much ridiculous fun! It is soooooo nice...

In true form, I'm hot commodity for the 20-something boys the entire weekend. I can't even remember how many I flirted with, avoided, danced with, maneuvered away from, made out with. WAIT! The last one, just ONE! The Young Little Brit had no chance, but he was cute, muscular, and fun.

YLB: *in lovely British accent* "Are you goin' to take me home?"
Me: "Uhhhh, what? I'm not that kind of girl."

What television programming do they have over there? Maybe Love Actually got him confused? He tried, to no success, to get me to stay when all my friends were leaving. Silly silly boy.

Santa Barbara Weekend topped the best of any Vegas Weekends I've had. Only exception, too many paparazzi (a.k.a. my friends who were camera happy.) Good thing it's my camera and I get to control what eeks out. The delete button is my friend...

Please, please, please, let me, let me, let me...

I want someone to love and be loved in return. That's all.

What's my age again?

Out for OCG's birthday...

• Dinner with feuding couple = $40
• Shots and drinks at Bar #1 = $85
• Cab ride where OCG's BF pissed off our smelly driver = $25
• Drinks and dancing with random boys at Bar #2 = $???
• Almost puking in a Denny's parking lot = Free
• Seasoned curly fries from Jack in the Box = $7
• Babysat by Artsy Gal & her hubby while sobering up in the Jack in the Box parking lot at 3am = Classy

Puffy and the Drum

Don't you love meeting someone cool, attractive, funny, smart, and single only to find out that they're way too young and smokes like a chimney? Yeah, me too.

Fret not though, to add to my manly resume to rope in suitors ;), check out my doumbek.

Just had my second lesson yesterday, so naturally, one day in the very near future, I'm gonna be a Pro like this...

And when that happens, my mad skillz will be bringin' all the boyz to da yard...

Cruise Control

I'm going on a Cruise in 78 days!!! Where you ask? The Mediterranean!! It starts in Barcelona, Spain and ends in Venice, Italy. I really should be fasting now in preparation for the required cruise gluttony--3 square meals, plus whatever they provide 24/7. Going on a 12-day cruise, I'm determined to take my gym clothes and get some sweat time in the gym. I must or I'll be waddling off the ship when we disembark! Which is not sexy for boy action. I'm counting on the Euro Boys to have some yellow fever. Hmmm, will he be Spanish, French, Greek, oooooooorrrr Italian? One of each?

Better than Vegas, Europe is even further away with language barriers. What happens there, stays there, right?

We shall see, but I'm anticipating a new found freedom to be not myself in Europe.

Why funny girls aren't laughing...

The funniest gals I know are almost always single.

The first adjective most people would use when describing me would be, "funny". Guilty as charged. Single, yup.

I'm more positive than ever that boys like to be the Johnny Carson and want their gal to be their Ed McMahon--laugh at everything they say, heartily. I've never heard a guy wanting a girl that's "funny". A great "sense of humor", yes. Translation, "have a great sense of humor to laugh at all my jokes."

I don't think men know how to handle a funny gal. Perhaps it's like women making more money or doing their own home improvement projects. It might be impressive and attractive at first, but then it somehow leaves them with a not-so-fresh feeling. Perhaps I should consider not being funny anymore? Or just not so funny. I think being so gets you an express pass to Friend status.

What does your drink say about you?

Follow up to Coffee Meet:

I get to said Starbucks 10 minutes before the agreed upon meet up time.

This served 2 purposes:

1. I can survey the setting and have a chance to breath and calm down.
2. I can order my coffee beforehand, so to avoid the awkward:

• Do I just assume he's going to pay and say nothing?
  
• Do I actually offer to pay for a $4 cup of caramel macchiato?
• Starting the very first face-to-face conversation while waiting for your name and drink order to be shouted out by the Barista.
  

So I order my drink, and as soon as I'm done paying, my cell phone rings.

*in not manly voice* "Hey BTC, are you almost there?"
"I actually just got done ordering my coffee."
"Oh, you got there ahead of me then. I'm about 50 feet from the door."
"Oh! Ok."
"So, I'll be the bald guy walking in with the red shirt."
*cringes at non-manly voice* "Ok cool."

I look toward the glass entrance door and... The voice matched him.

Don't be so judgemental! He might have a girly voice, kinda short, wearing pants a bit shorter than fashionable, but he could be a really REALLY nice guy! Really... rea..lly... ni...ce....

He see me, walks towards me and I think I gave the warmest welcome and hug. *sigh* I plaster on the friendliest smile and proceeded with awkward small talk.

"So, how was work today?"
"Umm, good! It's the first good day I've had in weeks."
"Oh. Well, I'm glad today, of all days, was good."
"What did you get to drink?"
"An Iced Caramel Macchiato. What are you going to get?"
"Umm, I think I'm going to go for the Strawberry 'n Creme Frappuccino."

Ok now, anyone that knows me in real life, knows that my facial expressions are dead giveaways! I could never be a poker player! In my best effort to not be surprise or burst out into laughter...

"Hmmm... Interesting choice." *raise of the eyebrow*
"Yeah, it's like Nestle's Quik!"
"Right..."

Oh. My. God! Are you freakin' serious?! Mind you, he chose coffee for the place to meet. He could have chosen a bar, or even a smoothie place. You're at a coffee shop, get iced tea if you didn't feel like coffee, but a kid's strawberry milkshake for a Coffee Date?! I was pretty much done at the point, but he still seemed kind of nervous. So I proceeded...

I get my coffee and he gets his fruity milkshake and we grab a table. Considering what a retard I am in dating, I had to steer and keep the conversation going. We did have a lot to talk about, mostly about painting. Between the two of us, somehow I was the expert on painting techniques (with 1 whole painting course under my belt.)

I guess I just felt bad and am too retarded to know when and how to cut it off. It wasn't though he was a bad person to have a conversation with, but it was disappointing and deflating of an "dating" experience. And with dating potential being nil, I did have better things to do. (I'm horrible, huh?)

Anyhoo, there was finally a silent lull in the conversation and I seized the opportunity. I said I had work to do to meet a deadline. My facial expressions probably gave me away on my lie. Oh well. We got up, walked toward the parking lot and I said, "Well, it was nice to meet you." I gave a friendly hug goodbye, and went on my way.

No word since. He either got the hint or finally realized, then drove to his best gal pal's house to reveal, that he's gay. When I first heard him on the phone and my Gaydar needle went into the orange zone, I should have nix it right there, but hey, I tried, right? Right.

So maybe in another few months (ha ha), I'll attempt another coffee date. I'll take away from this experience that there's only one David Beckham that can get away with a girly voice. Lightning ain't gonna strike twice.

Coffee Meet

A coffee date has been set! I'm meeting a MenFarmForMe.com guy on Thursday. After talking to him briefly on the phone, I'm less nervous...

It's horrible, but he got minus points with his voice. Tell me I'm lame? I guess it's natural to be more attracted to a low, deep, mountain man kind of voice, which is not what I got. We didn't speak for long, because Studio Guy was over to watch the 24 Season Finale. We just settled on a place and time for meet up and left it at that.

So, we'll see! Heck, David Beckham doesn't have a manly voice and he's hot and athletic as hell!

I just better not get a wet noodle handshake or a butterfly patter hug when we meet.

*** Weekend Recap ***

Went and saw my friends play on Friday night. They finally got new T-shirts for sale. I played model for anyone that wanted to see what it looked like on. Without fail, perverts wanted to command me into different poses,

Perv: "Can you turn all the way around?"
Me: "There's nothing on the back of the shirt."
Perv: "Oh. Well can you turn all the way around any ways?"
Me: "Uh, no."

Pervert (who didn't even buy a shirt.)

I ditched painting class on Saturday. I didn't get home until 2:30am from the night before, and the idea of standing outside painting all day wasn't appetizing. So I played hookie. BTW, my abstract final project is due this Saturday. Have I started it? Nope. I think I have hobby class Senioritis... Anyways, I didn't wake up until almost noon on Saturday, putzed around, then took an afternoon nap. I know. Supreme laziness!

Fret not though, I had a purpose for the day. A group of us gals went out to dinner for Mommy Gal's NOT Baby Shower. She insisted on not having one, because I guess, technically, you're only suppose to have one for your first child. Since this is her second, she felt guilty milking people's time and money again. Regardless, we took her out to dinner and got her a gift card to a spa.

Sunday, Artsy Gal, her hubby, kiddies, and I went here. I don't quite get it. I guess people are really into the whole Renaissance time and decided it's a great idea to reenact the era by playing dress up. It's a huge deal! Most everyone was in character. I have never seen so much sunburned and exposed breasts before. Here are pics from a photographer that was there.

It was hot, dusty, dirty, and expensive. I was blowing out brown snot even the next day. Not sure I would attend the event again, but it was an experience worth having, once.

Easy Breezy...

Ok, bellydancing performance out of the way, I'm almost done with my painting class too. But before then, I have a final project due. It's a 30" x40" wood panel, landscape inspired, abstract. I'm excited about this assignment more than any other, because I'm an abstract art kinda gal. We've only been painting actual outdoor landscapes, which is nice, but not typical of the kind of artwork I hang at home.

I've been inspired by all the wild/brush fires (oh, gotta love SoCal.) So I've decided to paint something with fiery colors of the flames and the burnt colors of the trees. I still have to finalize ideas, then execute! It's due in 2 1/2 weeks, and I have no idea where I'm going to find time to work on a 30 x40 painting. I love the teacher, but I think he thinks we all have art studios at home? Where am I going to handle large amounts of paint to do the painting? Hmmmm...

So what else has been going on. I've been gone sooooooooooo long... ;)

I saw them in concert. EFFEN AWESOME!! Unlike most bands, who sings their final song, then quickly exits the stage before the house lights come on... They waited for all the lights to come on, then came to the front of the stage to bow and give thanks to the audience. Such Brit Gents! Seriously, if you get the chance, see them live! They sound AMAZING!

Yau Man got robbed on Survivor! Booooooooooooooooooo!!!

I've been very dedicated to going to the gym. You'd think bellydancing is great exercise, and it is, but when you're used to taking cardio kickboxing classes, the dancing is a step down in calorie burning. So, I'm working on catching up. Gotta go from flab to fab! Bikini season is here and I'm not ready!!!

Oh, on the boy *wait for it* front, there is a prospect on MenFarmForMe.com We got through the required q&a in a few days, and we just started emailing back and forth the last 2 days. The only red flag thus far is that in one of his pics, he looks kinda like my Ex Ex. Otherwise, he's been very responsive, has an MBA, has a job, thinks I'm funny, and wants to plan a meet up. Did he say "plan"?? Wow...

So, we'll see. I tend to over-think things and get myself over-anxious on first meets. I'm trying to be nonchalant about it all, ya know "easy breezy", but we'll see. Once a date is set, I'm sure I'll revert back to old tendencies and freak myself out.

Get the tomatoes ready!!!

I think I'm about to lose my mind in business busyness busy-ness(?!) Anyhoo, still have to finish my costume... Aaaarrrghhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Artsy Gal and I got together the other night to "play" with makeup. Something I never got to do in my teenage years. On a daily basis, I wear very minimal amounts of makeup. In fact, I didn't start wearing makeup until my 20's. I was fortunate enough to have a blemish free complexion, AND I was just lazy and not girly girl enough.

Fast forward to late 20's. Welcome zits and pimples!!! WTF? So yeah, around that time is when I dipped my toes into the cosmetics pool.

Back to the other night... Let's just say, unless you look like a complete drag queen, you don't have enough makeup on for a stage performance (supposedly.) I had 2 sets of fake eyelashes on, eyeliner, shadow stick, powder shadow on top of that, then glitter dust all over. My eyes had an reaction much like rejection of a transplanted organ. I said to my eyes, "Stop it! Suck it up!! I know chemicals are invading you, but please work with me!! I don't have time for all this crying!" We came to an understanding, I think. T minus 4 days until performance night...

Nothing to report on the boys front. I've been way too busy to have any downtime. Even so, I manage to have moments where I feel lonely. How awesome would it be to have a supportive boyfriend? One that would be at my performance. Listen to all the bitching about how busy I am, but still wraps his strong arms around me and kisses me, in that "it'll all be ok" kind of way. *sigh* Yeaaaaaahhh... Anyway...

I'm going to try and make it to Sasha Manuel's Kickboxing class tonight. I need to get myself firm-afied, then head home to sew some more. I will have so much more time and less stress after this weekend. Can't. Wait.

Scooby, where am I?

I'm alive! I didn't die of a horrible snowboarding injury. Quite the opposite, I had soooooooooooooo much fun!! I was so in the zone on the slopes, I can't even describe it. During the 2 slope days, there was sun, there were clouds, there was snow. The conditions went from icy, to slushy, to hard-packed, to powder over ice. Regardless, I felt like a Pro handling the ever-changing conditions. I didn't even fall while careening down the runs. Ahhhh powder, oh shit ice! Oh how I wish to be there right now. Instead, I'm staring out my office window at rain. I *heart* driving in the rain, BTW.

Nothing exciting to report from the weekend, aside from great slope time and lots of QT with friends. I was so exhausted from full days of snowboarding, I actually stayed in and clunked out at night. So, no boy or flirt news. I know, you love to hear about my retardation. I'm sorry to disappoint. This might be the beginning of a long streak of disappointments. OCG decided to date one of her suitors "exclusively". So, I'm not sure how active I'll be on boy prowl status from now on. She's been my prodding motivation for bar hopping and always going out. We shall see.

On that topic, help me understand something. So "dating exclusively" isn't the same as boyfriend/girlfriend status? Isn't saying you want to date someone exclusively mean some degree of "seriousness"? OCG doesn't seem to think so. She claims the equivalent of "bros before hos", when I joked when she's going to move him to her #1 spot on MySpace, and when she was going to change her status to "in a relationship".

" Oh no, I'm not changing anything."

Hmmm... Not that I'm saying once the "we're not dating anyone else" conversation happens, you're joined at the hip 24/7, but I don't know. What does it mean? I guess to me, before you have THAT conversation, you can sense whether the other person is dating around, and whether they do or not, you should be fine with it. You're both allowed to "date around." But once you discuss exclusivity, that's relationship status, no? I think so... What do you think?

Oh! I saw them on Sunday! Awe-some!

On tap this weekend... Going to a thing for a friend who's home for 2 weeks from Iraq. Can't wait to give him a big hug! I won't even get started on my views of the war, because it'll be a novel. What I will say is it saddens me that he has to go back in a few days.

I'm also going to see my friends play at the Roxy. Then good 'ol paintin' on Saturday. I'm suppose to paint this pic I took photo-realistically:

I really hope I'll come close, because I'd love to hang it somewhere in my home. Wish me luck!

Satisfied?

*sings* Cyyyyyber snooping... Oh how I loooooooove cyber snooooooooping...

Yeah yeah, I know. Shush!

So Nice Guy (NG) and MySpace Girl's (MSG) romance is O-V-E-R. He went from being in the #1 spot on her friends list to #12, then poof! Gone. No longer anywhere on her friends list, nada. Her profile has been de-flirt-ified, most of his comments deleted.

You'd think I'd be happy somehow, but I'm really not. Believe it or not, it actually helped me to see that he was with someone else. Every sting and gag-rific pic helped to snap me out of the stupid girl fantasy that he even thinks of me. As dumb as it sounds, at least .0001% of me was actually happy for him.

So yeah, what does it mean? Nothing. I'm informed and that's it. I can reopen FantasyLand and fire up all the Scenario Rides? I rather not. So there.

Poetry Boy hasn't made a move. He posted a bulletin about being a "feature" at a poetry reading. I replied with something witty. He came back with, blah blah blah, "Come out, you'll see?"

I'll be at a movie screening of Breach with Studio Gay, so no go. Besides, he needs to do something more than hinting for me to come see him read his poetry. Be the boy and I'll be the girl, ya know? Chuck it up to "he's just not that into me", right?

Wow, that's.... poetic.

Been too swamped with bellydancing stuff to post. Ok, got catch up to do. Ready??

The Autumns show on Thursday was awesome, par usuale. It was a promo thing for a L.A. rock magazine, so it was free drinks all night. Beforehand though, we went to a thai restaurant across the street, where I had the BEST green curry ever!! Mmmmmm... What facinated me was the selection of faux (soy) meats they had. I'm not a vegetarian, so I don't quite get it. If you don't want to eat meat, why eat something that's suppose to taste exactly like the thing you don't want to eat? But whatever... So, not only did they have soy beef, chicken, & pork, they also had soy shrimp. Soy Shrimp?? Wow, that's hard core vegan, right? I did taste the soy chicken red curry Artsy Gal had, and it was the most real chicken-like faux chicken I've ever had. I stuck to the real thing. Yum!

Friday night, OCG, Bindi Gal and I decided to hit up a new bar. OCG had heard good things about it, specifically, the crowd was more professional (brothas got j-o-b's) and of our age range. I know, sad for 26 year olds...

We get there early so we can get a table and not have to stand in line. However, when we get there and settle in, we realized we were hungry. After debating a bit ("we've got a good table here.", "are we that hungry?") we decide to leave in search of food.

When we return from our flavorless and expensive meal, there was now a line, already in progress. There were only about 10 people in line, so we thought, "not bad, we'll get in pretty quickly." Wrong!

Oh, the power that doormen have...

We noticed that they were only letting people in as patrons were leaving. So 2 out, 2 in. Fine, fair enough. These wonder twins, however, let "peoples they knew" right in. Again, fine, I know it happens. Lucky you if you know people, right? Two here, four there... Then 3 more here, WTF 4 more there?!? They were seemingly letting anyone that walked right up to them and pretended to know them in. Hello? There's like 20 people in line, and you let just about that many people in! Idiots...

Needless to say, I (was like omg) let's get out of here!

After getting a drink each at a lounge a few blocks away, we headed to the old tried-and-true. A bar across the street from OCG's place.

In hindsight, we should have just started there. The bartenders all know us, free drinks, no driving required. Our bad for cheating on them. Sowwy...

OCG made sure our 2 favorite bartenders knew we're there. Soon after, glasses clanked and drinks sipped.

At some point during the night, OCG pointed out a boy target sitting a ways across the bar. I glanced, said uh huh, and didn't think much of it. (Retard, I know.) Every so often, I'd rescan the entire bar for interesting people. I would notice he would be looking our way. Well, the boy in question, walks to where we are to order a beer. "Amstel Light." Oh ok, I think I get it. He could have ordered from where he was sitting, but he came all the way over here. Well, he's probably into OCG or Bindi Gal.

First words escape me now, but somehow we got to talking, Bindi Gal leaves her chair for the restroom and he sits. We chatted the rest of the night. He was good looking, beautiful eyes, well dressed. Come to find he's originally from Kansas City and move here 8 years ago for his job as an Aerospace Engineer. (I had sensed a nerdiness while chattin', but now I knew why...) He also said he was a Poet. Hmmm...

OCG would glance over and make faces at me periodically. Giving me the well-yes-no? look. I tried to ignore her. I'm kinda out of my element as is, and need not feel like I'm being watched and have to give a play by play. Eventually she got impatient and asked Poetry Boy when he was going to make a move. I swear that girl likes to make me squirm! I don't know what he told her, but he turn back around to me and I asked what she said.

PB: "Your friend isn't pleased with our progress."
Me: "Oh..."
PB: "She seems to think I should be kissing you."
Me: *nervously laughs* (Ummm, awkward...)
PB: "Well, you're definitely beautiful and if I was the more aggressive kind, I would kiss you."
Me: "Well that's good to be proper, because I'm that kind of girl." *weird pause*
Me: "You've got great eyes."
PB: "Thanks. You've got great skin and beautiful eyes too."
Me: "Ummm, you've got..." *break out in laughter*
PB: "I guess we can keep going back and forth with compliments."

Ummm yeah, ok then. We chatted more the rest of the night/day, even after the ugly lights came on. He patiently waited to say goodbye to me while Bindi Gal and I were in the restroom. We hugged and... Ok, I know you're gonna think it's lame, but we exchanged names so we can look each other up on MySpace.

He messaged me the next day, referencing my painting class and saying it was great to meet OCG and I. He asked to be my cyber friend. I accepted.

Checking out his profile, he's got some of his writing and poetry posted. Ummm, is it doomed before it starts if I think his poetry is lame?? I had Artsy Gal read them and she thought they weren't very good either. He should never consider quitting his day job...

Anyhoo, he's messaged me, I replied, he replies with something, left a comment on one of my pics. Both not warranting any response. So yeah, that's that for now. Exciting eh?

Saturday was painting, where I saw my first tick ever! It jumped onto my sweatshirt and the instructor killed it. Now I'm paranoid of any insect and being outdoors with them while painting...

Sunday was all day bellydancing workshop with Artsy Gal, then over to Mommy Gal's for din din and playtime with world's cutest 2 1/2 year old!

And that my friends is the weekend wrap-up. Exhale... The End.

My coughing stopped, can you fix it?

I'm on the upswing of my semi-flu-like state. I'm only left with a dry cough caused by a constant tickle in the back of throat. Always looking at the bright side of life (uh huh), my abs are getting quite a workout! From now on, instead of doing crunches, I'll just cough my way to six-pack abs. Sexy!

Because of the cough (sometimes demure, but often times on the verge of vomit inducing), I haven't called my prospect from MenFarmForMe.com. I did email him (so courteous of me) to let him know of my blazing throat situation and said I'd call when I'm better. I don't think he'd appreciate our first conversation laced with various degrees of coughing. That and I don't really want to call. OK, yes, I will! Sheesh!

My weekend was pretty boring. I vowed after Friday's all day boredom, that I'd venture out and have some fun. Big. Mistake.

Saturday night, I had belated BDay dinner with my mom then met OCG at her place afterwards. Being St. Patty's Day, we decided to hit up a house party that one of our friend's friend was having. It was a dud. Not the good Milk kind. It was a hodge podge of people who had no interest in meeting new people. They all seem to know each other and traveled between rooms like a posse. After mooching some food and beverages, OCG and I were done. We left to check out some bars on Main Street.

Holy shat! What is it about St. Patty's day? It's well after midnight and every bar had lines out the door. Don't they know that last call and ugly lights come on in about an hour?

By then, my body was succumbing to exhaustion from my already full day of activities (I was outside painting all day, getting sunburned. Sunburned!! Dinner with mom, and boring dud house party.) I just wanted to go home. And that I did.

I woke up Sunday morning, fully relapsing. I felt sicker than ever. I had to call Artsy Gal and cancel our plans for the day. We were suppose to head down to the Garment District for fabric shopping then to the art supply store for more painting supplies. Instead, I was trapped at home again like on Friday. Sick and bored. Technology was my friend. TiVo + Internet + me = bits and bytes of love fest.

I Heart Cyber Stalking

I'm bored out of my mind being sick and stuck at home. I suck at sayings (refer to #12 of 100 Revelations) So what's the one about, "Idle hands are the Devil's workshop?"

Yup, after 11 days of No Cyber Stalking, I have to dial the NCS counter back to the BIG FAT ZERO! I know, I know, pathetic, retarded, and self-destructive. (Go ahead and add other adjectives.) Fortunately, or unfortunately, nothing exciting, nothing stinging, nothing nothing yielded from the snooping.

Please scold me.

I have 2 boys I'm suppose to return calls to, but my throat is too raw with soreness to do so. Quite frankly, having to make random chit chat with strange gentlemen suitors gives me a not-so-fresh feeling...

My body needs to know that I have a full calendar for this weekend and to get the hell better. Maybe I can be like the Japanese and wear a SARS Mask, as to protect everyone around me. What a courteous concept, eh? It would never happen in America...

Photo by Darren Cheng

Intimidation Factor

"Someone like you is scary to a guy like me. You've got your shit together." is one phrase that's stuck with me from Nice Guy. My Ex previous to NG was intimidated by me too. My home ownership, my paycheck, my friends, my I-don't-know-what.

Are men intimidated by women? Why? To what extent? By what exactly? "Those men are just insecure!" Yeah, but aren't we all? You wouldn't be human if you weren't to some degree.

I've read several blogs recently that have commentated on the ideal and realistic expectations of dating singles, and the roles that men and women play. How does one find a balance? My box of "The Game Of Love" came without instructions. I'm left to figure things out as I play. Everyone else has been playing for years...

I guess the short answer is you don't try, you don't play games. Just. Be. Yourself. The right person will come along and find you perfect for them, and them for you. It should be organic and without extreme effort. Hmmm... Going down a mental list of couples I know and have known, I've yet to see that harmonious Ying and Yang phenomenom.

During the dating phase (and beyond,) there are always doubts, the weighing of pros and cons, the possible deal breakers, the you're-so-f*cking-annoying-I-can-smother-you-in-your-sleep!, the sudden he/she-must-have-fallen-on-the-head personality changes.

The most detrimental has to be insecurities that causes one to think, "He/She's too good for me."

Being a non-dating single for most of my life, I can admit, perhaps, that all that alone time has made me very self-sufficient and potentially aloof of my intimidation factor. Afterall, I do profess my retardation in the romance department. I don't need a man to complete me. I don't need rescuing. Are those bad things? Objectively, no of course. One would think that someone who "has their shit together" is a good thing, but I guess there is comfort in seeing obvious flaws in another. It makes you feel less inferior and levels the playing field. Men want to feel like strong men: The Provider, The Fixer, The Rescuer. Bullshit? I don't know.

I guess we're all wanderers with pieces of insecurities, looking for our counterpart to complete a puzzle.

"Sorry, your pieces are bigger than mine. It'll never work."
"My puzzle only needs 100 pieces, and I've already got 63 of my own. Sorry."

How does an independent woman, who's supposedly got her shit together be less intimidating? I want my puzzle pieces to be the O negative of blood types. I want to be universal. Truth be told, I want a man to complete me. I want to be rescued.

Maybe I need to be more obviously flawed, because heaven knows I'm far from being that together. Perhaps, I should make a list of faults, shrink it down to busines card size, and readily hand them out.

I'm hot commodity to 26 year olds

What a weekend?! Busy busy bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz bee!

First, I need some pats on the back for 7 days of NCS (No Cyber Stalking.) Check the counter. Absolutely no cheatin'! Nada, nil, not even the slightest of peeks. Not on MySpace, not on online dating site, and the 3 other places I can look to find info on Ex-ville. I feel pretty good about it, and frankly, the urge to do it is lessening day by day. It's probably due to the fact that I'm super duper busy, I have prospects on MenFarmForMe.com, and 26 year olds are hot for teacher me. But before I get into that...

Painting class is starting to be work. I have to finish my second painting ever by this upcoming Saturday, of which I'm only (if I'm optimistic) half-way done. Half of my classmates are done with theirs'. If I hadn't played hookie that weekend for snowboarding, I probably wouldn't be so behind. (I had tons of fun so no regrets!) So, I have to find time after work this week to work on it. On top of that, we're painting outside for this weekend's class. Stuff I need, but don't have: 2 prepped canvas (primed with a neutral base), homemade view finder out of mat board, beach/camping chair (unless I want to stand or sit on dirt for 6+ hours), and a hat. Oh yes, and "bring finished painting to class for critique." Bah!

Whatever, on to more exciting stuff!

Saturday night was a blast. The restaurant we went to was noisy, but the food was delicious. Who loves Indian food?! I do! The desserts though, not as good. They had a special house "pudding" (Yup, it was in quotes on the menu. Suspect, right?) that they touted as "what pudding was meant to be." Well, first of all, I'm a texture person when it comes to food. It took awhile for me to like any pudding, yogurt, custard, and the like. The whole not-quite-chew but not-quite-drink foods are weird to me... Anyhoo, I didn't order the "pudding", but since OCG made it known that it was my birthday, I got some, "on the house".

Hmmm, what can I say about this "pudding". It looked uhhh spooge like? I guess it's some sort of spiced sugary rice and milk concoction. Milky soupiness plus lumpy rice goodness. Me like? Not so much. Most of my friends liked it though, especially the Gays. Hmmm... Artsy Gal's hubby made a rib-poking comment of how it's important to learn to enjoy spooge-like taste and consistency, to which I replied, "If you're really making that comparison, it tastes nowhere near sweet, and you should be concerned if your baby batter is lumpy." So there.

After dinner we headed off to a bar across the street. It was pretty dead when we first showed up, being it was early. But after a while, it was a good size crowd. Drinks and shots were constantly offered and brought to me. I was feelin' pretty good, pretty fast.

Artsy Gal and I hit the dance floor, intermixing regular club moves with our belly dancing skills. I feel a hand on my waist. First the right side, then the left. A breathy voice of a Random Boy closes in on my right ear:

RB: "Those are some hot moves."
ME: "Oh... thanks." *turn to look at him* (This serves 2 purposes, 1) get hands off me. 2) see if there's anything worth looking.)
RB: "Where'd you learn that?"
ME: "My friend *point at Artsy Gal* and I take belly dancing classes."
RB: "Where? Because I've been wanting to take those classes?" (uh huh...)
ME: "Really? Ummm, well... we take it where we live."
RB: "Where's that?"
ME: *pretend not to hear*
RB: "So is it too early to ask you out?"
ME: "Yes."
RB: "Ok, I'll try later." (Seriously?)
ME: *turn back around to face Artsy Gal and hopes he got the hint*

Nope, he dances behind me. Here and there, he touches. Waist right, waist left, chest to back, nose to hair... Grrr... Is it just L.A. or do guys everywhere think this is okay behavior? RG leans toward my right ear again...

RB: "So what will it take for you to go to dinner with me? I don't take no for an answer." (Ok, alarming...)
ME: "If you stop groping me!"
RB: *puts his hands up in acknowledgment and tries to charmingly smile*

Now, don't get me wrong. He wasn't bad on the eyes, but he oozed all wrong. Numero Uno... Maybe I'm old school or too old or too prudish, but seriously, no groping! I personally find it disrespectful, tacky, and kinda creepy. No wonder High Schools (at least in Cali) have to post signs at school dances. I'm not joking. "I believe the children are our future. Teach them well..." Sing it Whitney! Yes. Please.

Anyways, I did my best to give polite body cues that I'm not interested. Things I tried:

1. Dance away from him.
2. Dance with Artsy Gal and do a sneak rotation so she's between us.
3. See another guy watching me dance and invite him to dance.

Eventually, he excuses himself. "I'll find you later!" Whew! Except... He did come find me later and tried his darnedest to get my number.

"Remember, I won't take no for an answer."
"Well, you're going to have to."

He then tried to get it out of Artsy Gal and OCG. Persistent young boy... All of twenty-six. Finally finally he gives, one hand on my waist right, other hand takes my hand and kisses it. Makes way out the bar...

Twenty-six year old #1. Two more surfaced before night's end... The other two weren't as persistent, touchy, or forward. Both were aspiring actors (why of course.) Chatting with one of them became an impromptu therapy session. Dr. Phil has nothing on me. I should have charged him by the hour. He got away cheap with just buying me a drink.

I think I need to pay better attention, because I can't figure out whether:

A. I look young.
B. There's the Demi/Ashton phenomenon.
C. Horny boys just aren't that picky.
D. I'm the oldest person in these bars.
E. All of the above.
F. More than 1 of the above. (I had a professor that always had this as a choice. Bastard, huh?)

It'd be nice to have some like-age action. What do you think? I need to work on better avenues for that. Suggestions? (BTW, I don't think C's the case, because I think in a minute of talking to me, you know I ain't gonna give it up willy nilly.)

Sunday was all day belly dancing workshop with my favorite Bellydancer. She doing anything: Amazing. Me doing full speed shimmies: "I think she might be having a seizure!" Hmmm, must practice more. It's good fun and Artsy Gal and I enjoy the heck out of it!

I clunked out when I got home from the workshop and woke up an hour late for March. Birthday. Madness! When I finally got there, it was good wholesome fun. Kids were there, and boy, were they glad when Auntie BCOL showed up!! It was the perfect ending to the whirl wind weekend. I'm still recuperating. Grrr for losing that hour!