Category Archives: love or the lack thereof

a new chapter

I’m happy that in a few hours 2014 will be in the past. It has been one of the more difficult years of my life so far.

My marriage ended in August. It was and continues to be a profoundly sad and heartbreaking backdrop to a lot of other things that, on their own, would be cause for celebration.

I spend a lot of time thinking about what might have been, if things were different, if I was different – but they’re not, I’m not. Slowly, those thoughts are becoming less persistent and are being drowned out by feelings of gratitude. I have experienced real love. I was half of a truly wonderful marriage that just wasn’t meant to be – through no fault of his or mine. The way that Mr. Butterflies and I handled our separation, the way we continue to support one another is something I’m incredibly proud of.

Obviously, a new chapter in my life has begun.

And as usual, that leaves me wondering about my next move. Historically, moving to a new city has been my go-to solution for all of life’s challenges. When I’m not happy with my surroundings, I seek out new ones.

Professionally, it’s been the best year of my life. I co-authored a book, spoke at conferences around the world, and tripled the client base for a software solution we built to automate a methodology I designed. I’m growing my team and am confident about the direction our company is going. Imagine my delight when my boss told me he’d support me if I wanted to leave Toronto – that my job would come with me if I decided to go.

Suddenly my biggest problem was choosing where to go next: back to Amsterdam? San Francisco? Portland? Somewhere entirely new? I was paralyzed by the sheer volume of possibilities.

Life transitions tend to make me introspective, as I’m sure they do for most people. I asked myself why I was leaving, and what I needed to make me happy in a new city.  Mr. Butterflies lovingly suggested I consider whether I was running from something or toward something, and as sound as the advice was, I kind of hated the answer. So what if I was running from something? It’s what I do.

The other thing I do is make lists.

Reasons to stay in Toronto:

  • I have formed very important friendships that I couldn’t possibly live without. I’d be back often though…
  • I’ve been in Toronto for five years – that’s longer than any city since childhood. I’ve been here long enough to develop a routine.  It may sound silly, but if you’re even a little bit of a nomad like me you know how exhausting it can be to find a new hair salon, doctor, yoga studio, etc. With the very memorable exception of being convinced to get bangs (ugh, why did I listen?)- I’m happy with all of the above. I do miss proper cobb salads and unsweetened iced tea though…
  • I own a parka, two pairs of snow boots, and a heaping pile of scarves in every fabric/colour combination you can think of. I can’t think of any other major cities where I could continue to get as much out of the significant investment I’ve made in cold weather gear. Maybe Chicago though…

Reasons to leave Toronto:

  • It would be nice to be closer to friends and family in Oregon, or to go back to my expat life in Amsterdam. But then, I’m lucky enough to have a life that lets me see them more often than some of my friends who live just a few blocks away…
  • I need to get out of my comfort zone. I need to push myself to grow. But staying put seems like the most uncomfortable and challenging thing in the world sometimes…
  • It’s freezing cold here in the winter, and in the summer I get whatever the opposite of Seasonal Affective Disorder is, because it’s so hot and humid I am miserable and just want to stay indoors and whine. There are places with much nicer weather. But when I was in San Francisco I distinctly remember missing the seasons…

My simple list of pros and cons quickly turned into a Rubik’s cube. Or maybe a Venn diagram: every single rationale seemed to fit in the overlapping space as both an argument for staying and one for leaving.

I didn’t know if I should stay or go, I just wanted to be somewhere I could feel whole – somewhere I could silence the nagging feeling that my life is missing something. Sometimes traveling drowns out that feeling, other times it is yoga. Often I escape it when I’m laughing with my best friend, other times when I’m taking a bath and listening to Norah Jones.

Without a clear answer, I decided to give it some time. I say “I decided” like it was a conscious effort to just trust that the right path would reveal itself to me in time. But really, there was no trusting the universe, no patience, no certainty. It was a very uncomfortable few months. But as they tend to do, things worked out. The universe did indeed reveal the right path.

I’ve decided to stay here in Toronto, and to continue on the healing journey I started almost a decade ago. I founded the When You’re Ready Project, a community for survivors of sexual violence (including me) to share our stories and find strength in one another. The Project has a long term vision to create a sexual assault registry so that we can combat the problem using reliable information. I feel like everything before this led me here: my unfortunate experiences as a young woman, my choice of a career in a field focused on innovative uses of data and protecting the privacy of individuals, and making my way to Toronto which is the birthplace of many inspirational and like-minded movements and initiatives.

That nagging feeling is silenced for now, I know what I need to do and where I need to be. I’m about to take a bubble bath, listen to some Norah Jones, then get ready to spend the evening with a dear friend.

In a few hours I will say goodbye to 2014 and gladly ring in the new year feeling thankful for everything that has led me to where I am right now. Years ago, a very special friend shared this poem with me. I’ve carried it with me and read it often, and nothing seems more fitting.

The City by Constantine P. Cavafy

You said: “I’ll go to another country, go to another shore,
find another city better than this one.
Whatever I try to do is fated to turn out wrong
and my heart lies buried as though it were something dead.
How long can I let my mind moulder in this place?
Wherever I turn, wherever I happen to look,
I see the black ruins of my life, here,
where I’ve spent so many years, wasted them, destroyed them totally.”

You won’t find a new country, won’t find another shore.
This city will always pursue you. You will walk
the same streets, grow old in the same neighborhoods,
will turn gray in these same houses.
You will always end up in this city. Don’t hope for things elsewhere:
there is no ship for you, there is no road.
As you’ve wasted your life here, in this small corner,
you’ve destroyed it everywhere else in the world. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

up hill both ways

I write this post from the edge of my seat. The edge of my seat at this time being the terrace of a Bed & Breakfast in Cape Cod (the 1750 Inn at Sandwich Center, which is fantastic, by the way), wine at my side.  I’m here on a mini-honeymoon/ birthday getaway with Mr. Butterflies.  Today we saw a humpback whale fully breach, bought a light house fridge magnet, shared a lobster roll, and called it a night.  We considered going “out” but all the places the guidebook suggested sounded like they’d probably be loud or crowded or expensive. So we came back to the B&B for a glass of port and some lovely conversation with an elderly couple from upstate New York.

In the last six weeks I’ve felt like I’m in one of those rom-com movie montages.  You know what I mean… star-crossed lovers go their separate ways due to a huge someday-we’re-going-to-laugh-about-this misunderstanding but each of them keeps having little moments (accompanied, of course, by sentimental music) that eventually lead them both to realize they’ve made a mistake and go running through an airport, weaving through traffic, or some other dramatic and triumphant situation which is literally NEVER possible in real life. Have you ever tried to  run through an airport? I digress.

Anyway, back to my montage. My montage hasn’t made me feel like I’m missing anything or making any huge mistakes and I won’t be running through an airport any time soon (for several reasons).  Life is wonderful and I wouldn’t switch its course for anything. My montage has made me realize I’m aging. I know, I know – I’m not old. 28 is not old, 30 is not old, 40 is not old, I’m not even sure if 50 is old.  Put that on my list – I now think 40 is young.

FADE IN – TORONTO EATON CENTRE – SATURDAY AFTERNOON IN JULY

Twenty-eight year old woman wearing sensible shoes* and carrying a purse containing band-aids, hand sanitizer, and a wallet full of coupons walks into American Eagle. She winces at the volume of the music and shakes her head at the silliness of the song lyrics…why can’t they play some Norah Jones?

I went to American Eagle in search of the brightly coloured jeans that all the kids seem to be wearing these days, pleased to find a pair of bright red ones right away. I tried them on. The fit was not quite right, so I asked a charming young lady whose shorts covered less skin than my bathing suit if she could get them for me in a higher rise fit. She raised her eyebrows, smacked her gum and said, “We don’t have any, but you could try Sears.” I know, right? Sears? But the worst part: my first thought was “who does this sassy brat think she is, smacking her gum at me? When I was her age I had two waitressing jobs and would NEVER have smacked my gum at anyone, let alone a customer.” I thanked her through clenched teeth and left the store. I didn’t go to Sears.

SEPHORA – SAME AFTERNOON

Empty handed and lost in thought, pondering the likely reasonable price of jeans at Sears, woman wanders into store selling hundreds of varieties of bottles promising eternal youth (priced accordingly).

Not yet ready to head back outside into sticky hot Toronto summer, I decided my trip to the mall wouldn’t be entirely unproductive if I picked up some of the moisturizer I was almost out of. I didn’t find it so I asked a girl who might have been Gum Smacker’s younger sister. She let me know they were out but suggested I try another product. I’ve been using the same lotion for over 10 years (put that on the list – saying things were “over X years ago”) but wasn’t completely opposed to the idea. She squeezed a small amount onto the back of my hand and squeaked, “I think you’ll really love this. It’s the one my Mom uses.” A comic book BAM! appeared in a starburst above my head.  I left and went to Sears.

NONDESCRIPT TORONTO SIDEWALK – SUNDAY AFTERNOON IN AUGUST

Woman, in same sensible shoes, carrying same oversized purse (contents of which now also include sunscreen and some Tums) walks on the arm of a handsome gentleman who patiently explains to her that Gary Busey is not Nick Nolte. She is confused.

These days, opportunities for Mr. and I to ask each other “what should we do today?” are coming fewer and farther between. So when we get one, we relish it.  We started this one with an impromptu brunch with another couple, met up with a few other friends downtown, and as the sun went down were patting ourselves on the back for leaving the laundry unwashed and the mail unopened and getting out to enjoy the day. It was just after 7pm when Mr. asked if I’d like to see a movie…

Mr.: Would you like to see a movie? We’re right next to the Rainbow Theatre. I like that one because its old and teenagers don’t go there to hang out.

Me: Ugh, me too. Tweens are the worst. What should we see?
Mr.: Expendables 2?
Me: That sounds a little violent…plus, I didn’t see Expendables 1.
Mr.: ParaNorman? That’s a kids’ movie…
Me: Is it in 3D? You know I can’t watch 3D.
Mr.: What about Dark Night Rises?
Me: Is that Batman?
Mr: (Sigh) Yes.
Me: Is Batman Christian Bale or Tobey Maguire? I hate Tobey Maguire, he’s the worst.
Mr.: (Sigh) Christian Bale is Batman.
Me: Good, I hated Tobey Maguire in X-Men First Class. Yes, let’s see that one.
Mr.: That wasn’t Tobey Maguire, that was…never mind…Dark Knight starts at 8:15pm.
Me: WHAT?! 8:15? I can’t stay up that late, you know I’ll fall asleep.
Mr.: Sigh.
Me: No, you know what? Not today. Today is Spontaneous Sunday and we are going to go to the movies.
Mr.: You can sleep on my shoulder.

Where are we on our list? Here are the top ten ways I know I’m getting older:

  1. 40 seems young.
  2. Young people think I seem old.
  3. I start thoughts and/or sentences with, “When I was that age…”
  4. Anything after 8pm is late.
  5. I sleep through movies and wake up part way through to “whisper” loudly while other people glare. I order water because I can’t drink caffeine after 3pm.
  6. Music is too loud, crowds are too crowded.
  7. Prices seem absurd. I say so.
  8. People have started using “for your age” in a new way.  What used to be “you’ve accomplished a lot in your career for your age” is now “you’ve got pretty good skin for your age.”
  9. I say things like “I watched a YouTube” and “she Twittered about it.”
  10. I know how fortunate I am.

Aging, so far, has been pretty good to me. I wouldn’t trade my comfortable shoes for low rise jeans and I wouldn’t trade quiet nights in with my husband for anything.

*Minnetonka Moccasins are the BEST SHOES EVER. I don’t care if they’re not fashionable, they’re great. I’m starting a list of of the wonderful things about aging. Put this one on my list: people not only don’t care, they expect you to wear ugly shoes.

Update: Blog post is finished. Husband is snoring sleeping peacefully next to me in the bed. The best thing about growing older is doing so with someone wonderful. And older. Put that on the list.

</sappy>

Mrs. Butterflies

When I log into the edge of my seat after several months without posting a blog entry I typically read through the last several posts and ask myself “what has happened since?” This time it is hard to answer, there are so many things. I’m not so narcissistic as to think you care about all the details but just enough to think you’ll be interested in the highlights.

A few weeks after we got back from Europe, Mr. Butterflies proposed. Everything about it was perfect and romantic and magical. And it started in motion a series of events that have gone by in a big blur of awesome.

We spent the first few weeks of our engagement getting used to the word “fiancé” (which is fun to say on a few different levels) and talking a thousand miles an hour about wedding plans. It has to be fun, and classy but not uptight. And there has to be good food and we’ll source it locally, and we want people to dance. And we’ll serve awesome beer. A short ceremony, with a little bit of humour – sentimental but not cheesy. The venue will be unique and interesting and somewhere that is special to us. It will be vintage meets rustic, and the perfect balance between masculine and feminine. I bought magazines and subscribed to blogs like Green Wedding Shoes and Style me Pretty and pored over the photos, bookmarking ideas. We made spreadsheets to compare venues and set recurring appointments to block off time to meet vendors. Recent brides are never shocked to hear that the fun of wedding planning began to wear off after a few weeks.

Fast forward through a few jaw-dropping realizations about the cost of a wedding in Toronto and the politics of formulating a guest list…hearing ourselves say aloud “we won’t be buying a house any time soon, we have to pay for the wedding” was the final straw. So we decided to do what made sense for us: split the wedding into two events.

We got married on a Saturday evening in the wine cellar of Splendido, one of Toronto’s nicer restaurants. There were only 13 guests, and I didn’t even buy new shoes. After dinner we met a few friends at a dive bar known for a great beer selection (The Rhino) and stopped for some late night falafel on the way back to our suite at the Gladstone Hotel. Sunday we nursed hangovers with Thai food and trashy TV and we were back to work on Monday.

Saturday we became husband and wife. I’ve already started going by Mrs. Butterflies and hoping the adrenaline rush I currently get from calling him ‘my husband’ never fades. Our ‘real’ wedding is this summer, and we’re inviting our friends and loved ones to share in that special day. We have the same aspirations for our wedding as before: It has to be fun, and classy but not uptight. And there has to be good food and we’ll source it locally, and we want people to dance. And we’ll serve awesome beer. Only maybe not classy. Advice from married friends tells us that seven months into our marriage will be an opportune time to reaffirm those promises we made.

People ask me if I feel any different as a married woman. Not yet. Being engaged felt different, and being married feels like an extension of that. I’ve started feeling like a ‘grown up’ for the first time. I developed a sense of invincibility as a teenager and held tight to it through my twenties. No matter what happens, I’ll figure it out. I’ll be okay. What’s the worst that could happen? But when I promised to spend my life with him I realized that the ‘with him’ is only one part of that promise. Taking care of him and taking care of myself are one in the same now.

Everything has taken on more meaning. Like what? Like how we LOVE Value Village. There is one in our neighbourhood and we often stop by multiple times a week. And now it is not just something to do, it is a thing. Our thing. One of our many things. A thing that someday we’ll look back and say, “Remember when we moved into our first place together and used to go to Value Village three times a week?” We’ll tell our kids about this and they’ll roll their eyes.

We use this logic to make ourselves feel better about the crappy place we’re renting right now. When the neighbours’ dogs are barking incessantly or their arguing keeps us up at night we think, “Someday this will be a memory” and it seems more funny than not. And this, I’m coming to realize, is the amazing thing about marriage. All those moments can be a thing if you let them be – for the best or for the worst. And as long as we stay on the same page we’ll either be happy together, sad together, or somewhere between things together.

the most sincere form of flattery?

Since my CL post was listed on the “Best of” section, it has come to my attention that there are some gentlemen out there who have blatantly STOLEN my words.  I’m not sure whether to be flattered or annoyed, but I am certainly amused.  I’ve written them both but so far no response, I suppose they’re either ashamed or flooded with responses from unsuspecting ladies.  Check them out, the (notably few) differences are highlighted.

This post is different from the others – 32 (miami) and here’s why: People always start their posts by saying “I’m new to Craig’s List.” Well, 1. I’m not new to Craig’s List. I love Craig’s List. I love lists in general (which you’ll soon realize), but especially Craig’s. Why? – I’ve met some great people in the building I live (which I found out about on CL) – I recently bought an awesome piece of furniture I didn’t even know I needed, but now can’t fathom how I went [25]years without. – The “best of” section is an amazing way to waste spend time. I’ve been on two CL dates before. Neither was successful, but you don’t give up after two bad dates in real life so why do it here? Which brings me to my next point… 2. I think people should approach online interactions like real life ones. If you would not say something on a first date, don’t put it in your post / response. Meeting online is not an excuse to skip the small talk and go straight to making demands or asking personal questions (which reminds me, I have a funny story to tell you about the aforementioned CL dates). Find things we have in common and talk about them, find things we don’t have in common and tell me something I don’t know. Remember back in the old days when we developed crushes in real life? Through conversation, laughter, mutual respect? I like having crushes and I like a little intrigue. Some things you could reasonably expect to know about someone you just met in real life: – Just looking at me you’d know I’m tall (6’2″) with a thick build (but not fat). – If I stopped you on the street to ask for directions (some men do ask) you might learn that I’m rather pleasant though I can look unapproachable. – If you shared a table with me at Starbucks on a Saturday evening and asked what I’m doing here, I’d tell you I’m new to the area. You’d think, ‘Wow, he must be very independent and adventurous – he moved here alone.’ Well, I did travel for some time but Miami is home to me. You’d ask if I traveled for work or pleasure and I’d explain I left for a job and got bit by the travel bug. And along the way I learned to write code and wrote a book. You’d probably think, ‘he doesn’t look like a nerd’ but you’d be pleasantly surprised to find out that I am one. – If we sat together on a plane, we may talk about my passion for traveling. – If we were getting drinks at a bar, well – you’d know I prefer lounges to clubs and love live music. I’d order a beer and look you in the eyes when we said, ‘cheers’ (Do they say ‘cheers’ in Miami?) [side note – SERIOUSLY?!?!] – If you saw me in line at the grocery store you’d see that I love to cook and probably notice I usually cook for one. – If you noticed me in a bookstore you’d realize that I’m curious about almost everything and I love to read (almost as much as I love to write). If any of these situations actually happened, I’d talk to you. But these days, they don’t happen enough (turns out it’s not just me – you girls are here too ;) So here I am on Craig’s List. And just like in real life… 3. I’m not going to make a list of requirements: You never know who is going to make you happy. Maybe it is (gasp) someone with blond hair! But I’d never know if I posted an ad saying that I absolutely can not will not shall not respond unless yours is brown. That said, 4. I want to see your picture. Full disclosure: because I want to make a snap judgment. People claim they want to see photos in order to verify the responder is a real woman/man/person. They are lying. I want to see your photo, not because I’m shallow or superficial and want to make sure you’re ‘hot.’ I want to see it because the photo you send tells me a lot about you. It tells me how you see yourself, how you want others to see you (just like your appearance does in real life). – If you are a bit too eccentric – I don’t think I’m going to respond. I love to laugh but would prefer to do so with you, not at you. There is a guy out there for you; it’s just not me. – If you are showing cleavage, in front of a mirror, or if the photo is obscene – I don’t think I’m going to respond. That tells me what you think of me already, and we haven’t even met. Quite frankly, I’m insulted. – If I can’t see your face – I don’t think I’m going to respond. I’d probably avoid a person who hid from me in real life and I will do the same online. So to be fair, I have posted my own photo. I hope I get to meet you in real life. Ciao

and another, with a tiny bit more effort but still blatant plagiarism.

Not Your Average Post – 23 (Victoria) And Here is Why….. People always start their posts by saying “I’m new to Craig’s List.” Well, 1. I’m not new to Craig’s List. I love Craig’s List. I love lists in general (which you’ll soon realize), but especially Craig’s. Why? – One of the best places to track down Canucks tickets (hopefully for round two!). – I recently just found amazingly cheap and beautiful accommodation in Condesa. – The “personal” section is an amazing way to waste time. Although I may not be new to CL, I am new to wasting other peoples time in the “personal” section. That being said, as I am a rookie, I think I will stick to what I know, and treat online dating as I would offline dating. Which brings me to my next point… 2. I think people should approach online interactions like real life ones. – If you would not say something on a first date, don’t put it in your post/response. Meeting online is not an excuse to skip the small talk and go straight to making demands or asking personal questions. – Find things we have in common and talk about them, find things we don’t have in common and tell me something I don’t know. Remember back in the old days when we developed crushes in real life? Through conversation, laughter, mutual respect —- I like having crushes and I like a little intrigue. Some things you could reasonably expect to know about someone you just met in real life: – Just looking at me you’d know I’m around 6′ with brown hair and blue eyes. If I stopped you on the street to ask for directions or advice about Toronto you might learn that I just moved here a month ago from Amsterdam. – If you shared a table with me at a coffee shop on a Saturday evening and asked what I’m doing here, I’d tell you I am making up for my last six months of procrastination and am finally deciding on where I would like to live for the next three years to attend grad school. You’d find me on my computer, probably on CL trying to find appropriate accommodation in any one of four cities I have to choose from. You’d think, “Wow, he must have done some serious procrastination over those six months”. You’d ask why and I’d explain that after graduating I decided to take a year off of school to travel before I had to buckle down school. You’d probably think, “he doesn’t look like a nerd” but you’d be pleasantly surprised to find out that I am one. A sort of closet nerd. – If we sat together on a plane, we may talk about my passion for traveling. I would tell you about the countries in Europe I went to this year, about my time living at Big White, the excitement of being part of the Olympics, and my time in Mexico. If it was an international flight, you may notice that I have a master plan of making back the cost of the flight via the airlines free alcohol policy. This generally leads to some really great chat. – If you saw me in a club, the first thing you would notice is that I do not move from the bar. If you came up and asked why, I would tell you that “I am more of a pub or lounge type of guy.” That even though all I am doing is ordering shots, my real love is beer. Shots just help me to deal with clubs and the bar-stars that inhabit them. – If you saw me in line at the grocery store you’d see that I only shop for breakfast items (eggs, bacon, baked beans, oatnut toast, Vegemite). If you wondered why such an incredible diet, I would tell you that “my paternal nature is to eat out for lunch and dinner and that I have yet to challenge nature.” – If you noticed me in a bookstore you’d realize that I’m curious about almost everything and I love to read (throwback to the nerd). If any of these situations actually happened, I’d talk to you. But these days, they don’t happen enough (turns out it’s not just me – you guys are here too). So here I am on Craig’s List. And just like in real life…. 3. I’m not going to make a list of requirements: – You never know who is going to make you happy. Maybe it is (gasp) someone with blonde hair! But I’d never know if I posted an ad saying that I absolutely can not will not shall not respond unless yours is brown. That said: 4. I want to see your picture. Full disclosure: because I want to make a snap judgment. – People claim they want to see photos in order to verify the responder is a real woman/man/person. They are lying. I want to see your photo, not because I’m shallow or superficial and want to make sure you’re “hot.” I want to see it because the photo you send tells me a lot about you. It tells me how you see yourself, how you want others to see you (just like your appearance does in real life). – If you wear your NY hat sideways with the sticker still on and rock hoops you can fit tennis balls through – I don’t think I’m going to respond. I love to laugh but would prefer to do so with you, not at you. There is a boy out there for you; it’s just not me.- If you are shirtless, flexing in front of a mirror, or if the photo is obscene – I don’t think I’m going to respond. That tells me what you think of me already, and we haven’t even met. That being said, I am up for a good laugh. So if I am not for you, send me a pic that covers the above, and you might just make my day. – If I can’t see your face – I don’t think I’m going to respond. I’d probably avoid a person who hid from me in real life and I will do the same online. So to be fair, I have posted my own photo. Maybe I’ll get to meet you in real life… S

Craig’s List? Really?

I went into my online dating adventure thinking I’d come out on the other side with some amusing stories and maybe a few new friends.  If you’d have told me I’d find myself in the best relationship I’ve ever been in and happier than I ever have been, I’d have laughed.  But that’s where I am: happy and in love.

I suppose it would have been nice to meet Mr organically, if only to avoid the uncomfortable conversations about how we met.  After a few unpleasant (but funny in hindsight) situations, we have almost overcome the awkwardness.  Or maybe everyone knows so it doesn’t come up any more.

Admittedly, I have it easier than he does.  I’ve been sharing my online dating adventures since before we met.  He came across my post while browsing the personals section of Craig’s List for entertainment purposes.  I had gone on eight awful dates and responded to countless awful e-mails but this was his first endeavor.  Whatever.  It worked out.

So…you know how Craig is from San Francisco?  And you know how EVERYONE in the Bay Area uses Craig’s List for EVERYTHING? Well in Canada – not so much.  Who knew that an already uncomfortable conversation could catapult from “sorta awkward” to “freakin’ weird” faster than you can say “personals section?”  It turns out Canadians’ primary use for my beloved go-to site is generally limited to used furniture and the occasional missed connection.  Most of them haven’t even heard of the best of section and think “personals” is a polite way to describe “casual encounters.” (It’s not, by the way.)

Mainstream singles apparently prefer Plenty of Fish and Lavalife – it’s no wonder I found so many freaks before meeting Mr.  I wonder: how long would I have lasted dating one strange man after another before I gave up? How long before someone told me that Craig’s List is not where the cool kids hang out?

dates that never were

What started out as an adventure in online dating has turned into a collection of funny stories and a possibility for some potential.  I told J I am seeing someone else, told Mr. I am not seeing anyone else, and now I’m just seeing Mr.  We’ve been on a few more dates since the last one, but I’m leaving them off-line for now (oh, the irony).  So I leave you with this list of stories you won’t get to read about and the various reasons why…

Alexander

Alexander is 26 and claims to have been on the board of a hospital.  Really? A quick Google search confirmed he was actually the secretary of the auxiliary group, an honorable thing no doubt but more than slightly embellished.

Tip: if you share your real name, you will be Googled.

Giving him the benefit of the doubt I asked about it (not the Google part, the part he’d told me about).

Tip: if you learn something the person didn’t tell you directly, pretend you don’t know.

He responded with what very well may have been taken from a motivational speech.  Something about having confidence in yourself and blah blah blah.  He then went on for two paragraphs about how he loves fashion and loves to wear suits and buy custom clothes and has a five year plan and wrote a business plan that he wants to tell me about in person but isn’t comfortable sharing on e-mail and blah blah blah.

Tip: be interesting.  Show me why I should like you, don’t tell me why I should hire you.

Stephen

A brief exchange of niceties with Stephen, we shared e-mails back and forth for a while and talked about meeting in person.  But before we did so, he wanted me to share more pictures.  Now, I have no problem sharing pictures because the one I posted was very recent and accurate.  My problem is with him asking in the way that he did.  (When Mr. wanted to see more pictures he sent me some, a subtle hint but well received).

Let’s be logical for a moment – if the photo I sent was fake, why would I be asking to meet you in person?  If the photo was old or inaccurate, doesn’t it stand to reason that I have more where that came from?

Tip: don’t act like you’re afraid. I’m putting myself out there, try doing the same.

 

So despite what you may have been thinking after my first few dates, I did in fact exercise some judgment when deciding who to meet  Alexander and Stephen were just a few who happened to give me bad vibes from the start.  I also got a lot of really nice responses from really nice people.

I tried my best to write back to everyone who responded, but there were a couple who I didn’t and I’m explaining them here in case some lonely man is looking for a Craig’s List strategy…

I got countless replies that were copied and pasted into form e-mails.  “Hi, I saw your post on CL and you look nice.  I am [height, weight, hair color, eye color, age (maybe)] and would just love to meet a girl who is real and would like to hang out.  Please send a photo, I have attached mine.”

Tip: read what I freakin’ wrote.

Even though half of my post was about sending a photo, many people didn’t.  They couldn’t figure out how to attach it, or don’t have one scanned, or something.

Tip: don’t lie.

What about the following could possibly make me want to meet you in person?

I am tired of finding spam sites and just want to meet a real person. I keep meeting women who leave me and don’t like me for who I am.  I am lonely and pathetic and sad and have no intention of changing any of that.

Okay, maybe not that last part…but many people seem to be writing me just to whine about the downfalls of dating online.  No introduction, sometimes not even a name, no information about themselves, no questions about me.

Tip: I’m not your therapist.

My final pieces of advice:

Ladies – try Craig’s List. You have nothing to lose and funny stories to gain.

Gentlemen (online or offline): read about my crappy dates and don’t do those things.  Read about my good dates and do those things.  Go on Craig’s List, there might be some awesome ladies there :)

Mr. Butterflies

I was in New York all week on business, probably a little less productive than usual as I was constantly refreshing my e-mail to see if he’d written.  He finally did and asked me out on Friday – we agreed to a more low-key night than the previous one and made plans to meet for dinner.  I love exchanging texts and e-mails when we’re apart.  What were butterflies like before electronic communication?

Cartoon: You have smoke signals

Tip: if you’re thinking about her, let her know.

No new shoes this time, and only a few minutes getting ready. I was surprisingly comfortable given this is my first third date in…well, I’d care not to say.   Our “low key” night started with a drink followed by dinner.  Mr. is from the Toronto area and likes to give me a history of the city as we walk around.  He realizes and gets shy but I like it and urge him to go on.  If he were too suave I’d be skeptical, I like his occasional awkwardness.

He took me to a comedy show that basically just made fun of Americans, we both found it hilarious.  Afterward we checked out a bluegrass band at the Silver Dollar.  I kept reminding him he had an early morning but he wanted to stay so we did.

I am excited to be excited about someone and in no rush to be anything but.

Mr. Sunday-afternoon-second-date

I thanked Mr. for the fun time on Friday and asked if he’d like to spend Sunday with me.  Part of me wondered how he’d feel about me asking him out, given he is relatively traditional and it is very soon.  I waited and waited and waited and finally he responded: yes.

He picked me up and we walked to lunch at a restaurant near my place.  Conversation flows so nicely.  I found myself telling him more than I normally would.  I told him about my neurotic obsession with  making lists and my love for cleaning.  I think (I hope) he thought it was cute – he smiled. Good enough.  He is either really polite or likes me too, I think both.  He talks about his parents a lot, very fondly.  I like that.  He is confident about his career.  I like that too.

We stopped at a bookstore on the way to the movie, he wanted to pick up a copy of Shantaram because I’d told him how much I love it and he wanted to read it so we could talk about it.  (Seriously?)  On the way from the bookstore to the movie, we held hands. (Seriously?)  He had evening plans with his family but walked me home anyway, another gentle kiss good night and a “hope to see you soon.”

Tip: don’t give up on Craig’s List.

Mr. (ninth-date-is-a) Charm

I couldn’t help but smile as I read Mr.’s e-mail.  He responded to everything I wrote with sarcastic and playful humour.  He read my post and instead of a generic or boring or creepy response he sent back a note that was actually pleasant to read.  Thank you, Craig.

Tip: Every girl wants to feel special.  Find a way to make that happen.

We traded e-mails for about a week before finally making plans to meet.  He asked me out for a Tuesday and told me to wear something classy.  I looked forward to the date all weekend and bought new shoes.  He canceled on Monday; I believed his excuse about having a medical appointment but he sent me a photo of the doctor’s office to prove his story.  We rescheduled for Friday.  Same deal – wear something classy…but now he added that I should be prepared to go someplace grimy afterward.

I hereby acknowledge that all of the above sounds a little creepy out of context and given my track record I should probably be a little more cautious.  But we’ve been writing back and forth and I don’t get any creepy vibes, in fact he’s funny and seemingly nice and somehow the conversation is not awkward despite unconventional beginnings.  That, or I’m broken down and exhausted from all this online dating.

Mr. met me at the subway station and we walked briskly to the martini bar at the top of a hotel.  He gave me a book called, “Worst Case Scenario Guide for Dating” with an inscription, “just in case this doesn’t work out” he joked.  Mr. is charming without being too smooth, and from what I can tell very sincere.  We shared stories about work, family and travel and he gave me some fun Toronto facts.  We have a lot in common.

We took a taxi to Grossman’s Tavern where a blues band called the Loose Wires covered blues songs.  I wonder what went through his mind when he saw my face.  There is no way he could have known how much I’d like a place like that.  Most girls wouldn’t.  “Grimy” was right, the best way I can describe it is that they took a bar out of my rural redneck town and dropped it right in the middle of Toronto.

The waitress tried her best to come across as cranky but failed miserably.  She was a sweet lady who I believe was trying to add to the charm of the venue.  The bathrooms (or washrooms as they call them here in Canada) were downright scary and someone sitting behind us (at our table, not in the washroom) was slurring words and crying.  We chatted with the band until the place closed.  We grabbed a taxi to my place and he walked me to the door and kissed me goodnight.

Tip: be old fashioned, not all women demand it but all women appreciate it.