One more, then I swear I'm done.

I just read on Facebook that this guy I went on like 2.3 dates with in January is now engaged. ENGAGED. What am I, Good Luck Chuck? That said, what a nice thought, that if some chick who can't seem to distinguish between your and you're can hook an intelligent, good-looking man, surely I can do the same.

Yes, I stalked her ass on facebook. So would you.

Anyway. Am feeling horribly unprepared for the upcoming weekend o' weddings. I was supposed to have lost 20 pounds, purchased a thoughtful and meaningful gift for my first roommate who chose me as one of her only three bridesmaids, waxed, done my nails, gotten a fabulous and naturally-obtained tan, and landed a date by now. In reality, the closest I have come to accomplishing any of that is frying the crap out of my cleavage in a cancer bed today, and made a waxing appointment for tomorrow. Well, at least my priorities are in order.

The Rules.

So, as part of my annual New Year, New Me, program, I put in place a set of new dating rules. This was, of course in the glow of January 1, when I made the bold assumption that I would actually be getting dates in 2009.

Somehow, I did get one. A real one. Where he holds doors and pays and honestly doesn't mind if you're five minutes late. He arranged it, called ME (this was rule number one-You deserve to be pursued, so BE PURSUED). Sometime in the days leading up to said date, I realized how much my past experiences figure in to my present attitude. If he said he'd call in the afternoon and hadn't called by 4:30pm, a time which I very strongly consider to be "early evening" I would start preparing myself for the "usual". I prepared to suck it up, and admit that yet another had bitten the dust. I'd give him another hour, and then that'd be it, I'd write him off as another jackass. And every time, the phone would ring about thirty seconds after making this declaration.

At dinner and drinks after the other night, I broke rule #2 and NEVER SHUT UP. I had tried really hard not to talk so damn much. It is so unintentional when I do this...my mind just keeps going, and my mouth generally follows it. I never mean to interrupt people or dominate the conversation, it just happens! I do know I need to work on this. In the middle of dinner, I flat-out admitted that I talk too much. He said he thought it was cute. And although I should learn the shut the fuck up, this exchange led to a rule revision: I need to BE MYSELF. And myself apparently talks too much, but there it is. If your flaws come screaming out of the shoebox under your bed on the first date when you'd rather be perfectly charming till the third (or shit, GET to the third) so be it. It's who you are, and while there is room for improvement for most of us, you might as well get it out of the way.

I didn't make any rules about kissing on the first date. Thank God.

And now the follow-up. I find this part the most terrifying. Why hasn't he called yet? Will he call? Should I call him? Or maybe a nice text message? When is it appropriate for my mood to shift from anticipating to pissed off and rejected? I didn't come up with a rule for this either.

Why didn't I come up with a rule for this?!?!

Gonna smile 'cause I deserve to...

I went out with a guy tonight, and...

-He was on time
-He didn't bring a friend or two
-He was genuinely curius about me and my life
-We talked for two and a half hours
-He opened doors
-He walked me to my car
-He didn't try anything once there

Granted, that last one could mean he just isn't interested, OR maybe they really aren't all that horrible. Some, I've come to find out, are. Some men are really and truly bipolar emotional fuckwits, to quote the one and only (not to mention fictional) Bridget Jones.

I don't know if this guy is interested...or if I am, for that matter, I kind of have other thoughts/people occupying my mind. BUT it is so nice to walk away from a guy, get in the car and not feel like I've just settled. Or like I gave too much or too little. It is so damn refreshing to know that I am capable of such an interaction. Now, to repeat it...