What's In a Name?

Once upon a time, a friend told me that I am a Maneater.  At the time, I was a cute college co-ed who liked having a good time (not that good of a time, Mom).  Anyway, I didn't really take it to heart, being that this friend and I had a very flirtatious relationship, he had a girlfriend and I only dated 3 guys over the course of my college career (one who shares my same name~ lesson learned, ladies: Don't do it).

I was recently reminded of this little moniker, thanks in large part to a Nelly Furtado kick I was on, and it made me stop and think: has the whole dating-for-stories thing finally brought my friend's assessment to fruition?

I know that I haven't been the best about updating this blog, and for that my dear readers, I truly apologize.  But I also feel like I should extend an apology to the poor schmucks of whom I've been taking advantage lately.  And only slightly with intention, I swear.

Let me begin this by expressly stating that I've only gone out with guys who have struck my fancy in some way, shape or form.  I always offer to pay for dinner/drinks/what-have-you, and I am obliged some of the time, but mostly these guys insist on paying.  So I try, but many times, fail.

Okay, enough of that BS.  It's time to dish on some dates.

Tonsil Hockey and I went to see a movie the other night, which was pretty fun (Now You See Me- definitely recommend it!).  He's spending a week and a half at some Caribbean resort, which makes dating around him that much easier!  I feel like I might start to feel bad about this one at some point, but I'm sure he's having a great time at an all-inclusive resort surrounded by scantily clad ladies.  Takes the pressure off of me and my feelings!

I also went to a biergarten with a cutie pie.  However, I've been noticing a theme.  These guys that OKC keeps setting me up with?  All SHORT.  And I know I'm tall for a girl, but I'm still only 5'6" on a good day!  He was adorable, but young (like many of the others), so we'll see if we meet up again.

In other news, I think I broke Construction Cutie's heart, completely without meaning to.  Since he travels during the week for work, we had made tentative plans to hang on Saturday night, if I didn't end up going for a boat ride with my old neighbor (yes, the same neighbor from the cardboard boat regatta- I'm sure I'll think of a name for him soon).  It turned out that he was busy during the day, so that gave me carte blanche to go on the boat ride before meeting up for another date with Construction Cutie.  I was excited: my first time juggling multiple dates in one day!

Soooo as it turns out, the 5 of us on the boat ride lost track of time, so we didn't end up making it back to the dock until about 7, which apparently was too late for CC to have dinner.  I felt (feel?) bad about it, especially since we had such a fun time on Sunday, but he hasn't texted me back.  Can't say I blame him.

I ended up going to a house party with Neighbro and the other guys from the boat.  Nothing physical has happened, but I did overhear him talking to his friends about yours truly throughout the day... I think I'm going to have to tread lightly with this one.  I've known him for years, and he's one of my brother's friends.  For now, I'm intrigued, and am eagerly anticipating seeing him again within the next week.  It's just weird.  We grew up together.

So there's the not-so-quick update!  I know it wasn't terribly juicy, and probably got a little weird there towards the beginning, but I'm glad that I got that off my chest.  I really don't want to "use" anybody, and I'm trying my hardest to walk that walk.

Cheers,

The Maneater

Ask and You Shall Receive

So apparently, all I had to do was whine and the Dating Gods answered my prayers.

Yes, it happened.  I finally made out with an OKC date.

However, we’ll get to that later… I’d like to do a nice little round-up of the dates that I’ve been on so far, since I’ve gotten a little bit lazy… sorry!

So I’ve told you guys about the first “date” that I went on, aka the Non-Date.  Since then, I’ve been out with several fine young men (and a few not-so-fine men as well).  Here are some highlights:

• First “Real” Date:  Date and I met up for tapas at a wine bar.  Neither of us had been before, but the nameof the place alludes to the fact that they specialize in grape-based alcohol (I was pretty excited).  Mind you, I didn't suggest this place; he did.  Right before we go to order some beverages, Date drops this bomb: he doesn’t drink alcohol.  That’s cool, I get it.  BUT WHY INVITE ME TO A WINE BAR?  I felt like a pilgrim on the Santa Maria: “Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink.”  Needless to say, we haven’t been back out together.  Also, I swear I’m not a lush.
• The next day, I went out on another date.  This guy seemed like a pretty good match: great conversation, super-cute, well-educated, somewhat outdoorsy.  The catch?  He doesn’t wear sweatpants.  Doesn’t even own a pair.  What is that?  Show yourself to the door, sir.

The next few dates went by in a bit of a blur.  There was the old-friend-with-new-promise (haven’t seen him since), the child (Stage 4 Clinger), the dude who didn’t look a thing like his pictures (Next!), and the recently single former neighbor (seriously, what was I thinking?).  Scattered in there have been a couple of decent guys… I suppose this is the point where I should discuss them…

I’ve been out with one guy 4 times now.  Yes, you read that correctly: Four. Quatre. Quattro.  Vier.  Fa.  Cuatro.  [insert other languages here].  He finally made a move on me after we split a bottle of vino at a local winery.  I had kind of forgotten how much fun making out can be, you guys.  Isn’t that sad?  Anyway, I feel confident enough that I’ll be seeing him again to give him a moniker.  From here on out, he shall be referred to as Tonsil Hockey, given his propensity for kissin’ and actually playing ice hockey.  Fitting, eh?

The other promising date happened the day after Make Out Day.  Date took me to brunch at a restaurant that specializes in everything pig.  Words cannot describe how much I loved this meal.  Hog Heaven comes close ;)  Anyway, after we pigged out (sorry, I just can’t help myself!), we went on an “Urban Hike” (Date’s words, not mine) through downtown and ended up at a park, watching planes at National take off overhead.  On the way, we managed to check off one of the activities on my list: we went paddle-boating in the TidalBasin! I was pretty excited, in case you couldn’t tell.

This Date (we shall call him the Construction Cutie) works as a foreman-type of dude from what I can tell, and is out of town on a regular basis (perfect, since he won’t know/care that I’m out with other guys on the weeknights!).  I’m pretty sure we’ll be seeing more of each other.  Even though: no post-date kissin’.  Oh well, there’s always next time!

For Better or For Worse

A fabulous woman who I know gives all of the young ladies in her life one piece of advice:

"Kiss 'em all, girls, kiss 'em all!"

That resonated with me, even when I was 5 and hearing it for the first time (mind you, I didn't have my first kiss until I was a sophomore in high school).  Anyway, I enjoy those words of wisdom and have taken them to heart: I don't put too much stake into any one kiss, or boy, that I come across, 'cause there will be plenty more coming down the line (I hope..!).

Now it's time for a quick confession...

For the past two and a half weeks, I've been going out on dates (8 dates with 7 guys- that's right, I've had a repeat!).  Now I know that this experience is less about finding romance and more about having a good time and meeting people (at least on my end...), but in that whole time, I haven't been kissed.

8 DATES, PEOPLE.

Not even a hand-hold or anything.  I mean, c'mon, am I off my game or something?  Granted, most of these guys I probably wouldn't have wanted to make out with anyway, so it's not that bad, but still.  Not even an attempt at a peck.  What's with these guys??  Guess I'll just have to be a little more forward in the future.

Anyway, minor flip-out over.  I'll update with a quick recap of the dates in a little while, promise!!

-A