Check Please!

Wow! The dating world has changed so much since I was last in it- some 13 years ago. Now, it's all about online dating, text messaging, "hooking up" and skipping some of the great moments along the way.

My first venture out was about 2 years ago and it started by finding an old friend, one whom I was wild about at one time and hadn't seen in 17 years. The first date was GREAT and lasted into the wee hours sitting on a river bank talking about EVERYTHING. I thought "Is this man for real?!? This is what I have been missing!" Fast forward and no, the man isn't for real... the man is a player. Men like him know what to say, when to say it, and how to make a woman feel like the center of the universe when they need it the most. The problem with a player is if YOU never walk away, it will go on and on. Just when you are done, they come around with their well-rehearsed lines and try to draw you back in. Well, not me. I walked away..... then came back a few months later, that pesky tall, dark handsome man. Actually I think just being friends with Player is good for me- I have a good learning curve on how to date like a man. And that's just what I planned to do.....

Several months later, I "met" (online, of course) a man that seemed interesting enough, busy enough to not expect me to drop everything to be with him, and we had good conversations. He was polite and understanding when I turned down his first two invitations to dinner. One day, I thought, WHAT am I waiting for?!? So I eagerly said yes the next time and went to buy a new outfit. As I was getting ready, I thought "Tonight, Mommy isn't going to be Mommy, but a fun, single woman." He chose a very nice restaurant, I was a little nervous. I do much better with just meeting for drinks, but this was an excellent place for a date. Sooo, I met Mr. Nice Enough and he looked NOTHING like the pictures he had posted.... My friends and I are actually still debating if that was his friend's pic or if it was just about 10 years old and 60 lbs lighter. I try not to judge, but HATE it when someone misrepresents. Then add this conversation 5 minutes into our date and I was DONE!

Nice enough man: Sooo, we've talked about everything on the phone. There are a few things we didn't cover. There's one thing I am dying to know...

Naive girl (me): Oh yeah? (smiling) What's that?

Nice enough: Well, how do you shave?

Naive and confused: What?

Nice enough: You know, how do you shave down there?

Naive and disgusted: Uh, with a razor.

Nasty Enough: Well, maybe later I'll just have to find out for myself.

Naive no more: Only if you call my ex-boyfriend and ask him. Check, please!

So, maybe I can't date just like EVERY man. Some of them are jerks. =)