30 Sucks, But Not as Much as 100 I Guess.

So...it happened.  I turned 30 about 4 weeks ago.  For the first couple weeks and several weeks beforehand, I was very emotional about it.  Then I started coming to terms with it and now this week it's kicking me in the face....but I'm determined to make excuses.

1. I've been going to bed by 9pm....but it's cold, and I've been going to the gym, and I had to recover from a cold. 

2. I got sick at 2:30 am the other night when I had been drinking earlier in the night.  THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN TO ME.  I NEVER get sick....but...in my defense, my friend who I was with said she hasn't felt right since and we both think maybe it was the tacos.  I certainly didn't feel drunk when I was sick....but it made me wonder "is it because I'm 30 now?"

3. Today it was VERY cold.  I came back from lunch and all was good when I got out of the car after lunch, but as soon as I walked in the building my finger hurt.  I kept pulling on it and trying to crack it because it felt like it was jammed.  Just then my coworker walked by and said "that's arthritis".  Then another one confirmed it.  It STILL hurts and actually hurts me even typing!

So this is crap.

Having said that, at least I'm not 100.  Budha is about 100 in dog years right now.  14 years, 3 months.  I don't know what has changed but very recently (2 weeks tops) she's really changed.  It started (and this still continues) with her walking to the side of my bed in the middle of the night and waking me up - like she does when she has to go potty.  I would get up and let her out and she'd look at me like "this isn't what I want" and we'd go back to bed and she'd do it again.  I thought it might be a bladder infection or something, but she's going to the bathroom just fine.  She also started sleeping RIGHT by me, which don't get me wrong - I LOVE this....but why the change? 

A couple years ago she was diagnosed with degenerative myelopathy, which is basically deteriorates the sheath around the nerves off the spinal chord.  BUT....she was almost 13 then and had virtually NO symptoms of this other then a very subtle foot drag sometimes when running.  The vet said it would only get worse, but honestly at her age...I didn't see her getting to the point where it would affect her much more. 

Well...in the past 6 months she does trip more often going up the stairs and very rarely she wouldn't be able to get up on the bed.  I got a rug for the floor at the foot of the bed so that helped her a lot.  Maybe once a week for the last couple months, she's been falling down, like her back end just tips over, and then she gets back up.  Well...yesterday, she fell a lot right away in the morning, then had an accident and I don't think she even knew until it was too late.  Then I put her out on her chain and she stumbled 3 times and then just gave up and sat on her butt. 

I was so devastasted by all this that yesterday was a very hard day for me.  Then I called my vet, you remember I wrote about him in this blog.  Well guess what...he moved...to NEW HAMPSHIRE!  :(

Ugh.  So last night she was much better and this morning she was much better though she was shivering a lot (indoors).  I covered her with a blanket and snuggled for a while.

When I got home she was very happy to see me and seemed normal, though my roommate said she was doing the jaw chattering a lot today (this is not her usual chatter but has only recently started....usually when she's really excited).  He said she was doing it and barking at him, until he pet her....and then she was fine.

I sat on the couch and she snuggled right up with me.  I covered her with a blanket, and she just snuggled right in, and let me pet her ears the entire time without being annoyed. 

RIGHT NOW...she looks great, she's laying down - comfortable, she got to have some waffle for a snack :) - she's had a great night....but I just feel it.  I really feel like she's getting ready to leave me.  She goes to the vet soon for her routine shots, and I'd like them to let me know what to expect...I know the nerve issue can't be fixed, but maybe they can help with some of my other questions. 

It's been a hard couple days for me to watch her....some may not even see anything wrong - but I know.  Like a mother knows her child, I know this baby girl...and deep down I just feel like she knows.  I don't want to be right about that.  And I'll know more after the vet - she's been really good tonight, maybe she has another year in her.....I would hope so!  But....only if it's a good year.  If it's a year full of falling down and shaking...I won't do that to her.  So...let's hope for some good news and good days ahead. 

I love this dog.  She is literally the most important thing I own, I think about her non-stop, and she was Jon's dog...once she is gone, I've lost them both.  I know I will survive it, but it will not be easy.  Losing a pet is never easy.  She's been with me 1/3 of my life. 

One thing I know I won't regret is that she is the most loved dog I've ever seen.  I love her more and more every day and I don't know how that's possible.  Tom, JoEllen, Mandy, Ken, Erin, Colin, she has SO many friends....both human and pups.

I feel like this is a goodbye blog and it ISN'T.  She is doing just fine, but I know that the time is coming.  Whether a month from now or a year from now, she's at the stage where it causes concern for me...more than I have ever felt.

For now, I just really want her to keep the feeling in those legs like she has been tonight.  That is my biggest concern. 

I didn't mean for this blog to be depressing....she isn't going anywhere quite yet, but - she trusts me with her entire self.  I protected her at the dog park one time and she followed me the WHOLE day.  I play rough with her and she knows...she knows I will not ever hurt her....if things get bad enough (and we certainly are not there yet), I know she will trust me.  And I will trust her to let me know.

I love love love my baby girl.  I hope to have a long time with her still.  I will not even put a picture in this blog, because then it seems even sadder.  BUT....I'll write an update when I know more.

Until then....snuggles galore.  :)  Okay here's a picture anyway cause she's damn cute.

Pay it Forward

Everyone has heard that there is no greater feeling than the feeling of giving.  Do you believe it?  I do.  I don't have a lot to give, but I certainly need a lot!  I don't think I have ever had a stranger do a "good deed" for me, and I certainly would not expect it, though my friends have done plenty and I appreciate every little gesture, and I do my best to show my appreciation.  Truly though, I do believe the best way to pay back that feeling and not just feel like you've paid your debt, is to pay it forward. 

Yesterday I spent the majority of what I have right now on a vacuum that I've been wanting because I couldn't handle all the dog hair (from a pet that I'm lucky to have) in my home (which even though a financial struggle....I'm grateful to own).

This morning I decided since I'm feeling a little better (battled a cold all week and had to miss 2 days of work - which I'm fortunate to have a lot of Paid Time Off to cover), I would make a glorious breakfast.  One cannot have a glorious  breakfast, however, without bacon. 

I went to the Save-A-Lot.  If you've never been here, I will do my best to describe it.  The Save-A-Lot is a small grocery store with basically just the essentials plus a few extras.  Everything is off brand and the shelves are made of rickety plastic.  It's certainly not a classy place to shop but it's a smart place to shop.  I can go in there and get 11 items for $8.00.  Sometimes I will go there, AND to the "regular" grocery store if I need 10 regular items and 5 things that I will not find at the Save-A-Lot (stir fry sauce, peppadews, goat cheese, etc....).  It is still quite a savings!  Often times there are people in this grocery store who are obviously low income...and honestly, not nice people.  You know the type.  "I have no money, but we need to make sure we have beer in the house, get me a pack of smokes, I got a case a soda, and 4 bags of chips, how much money you got?"  If that you're that hard for money - make some better choices.  It's hard for me to feel bad for this type of situation.

Today, this happened.  I went to the Save-A-Lot for some bacon and sausage.  There was a couple filling up their cart, late 40's, maybe early 50's.  I didn't really pay attention, I was just really excited to get home and make up a delicious breakfast.  :)  The couple pulled their cart ahead of me and the woman started unloading it.  Then the man (whom I assume was her husband) ran up and said "I'm sorry, here" and started helping her unload the cart.  I noticed the contents of their cart:  eggs, milk, cheese, bread, vegetables, ....all good hearty items.  The woman laughed with the cashier and said "We're cutting it close here, we're on a budget".  They rang the items up and had 4 containers of yogurt and an onion left.  The two of them dug in their pockets for change, and paid for the onion.  Then the woman said "No yogurt for me.  I cry"  And she smiled and laughed, not embarrassed, not upset, not angry, she just let it be.  They joked more about having to make do the best you can between checks, they thanked the cashier and moved over to the counter to bag their groceries (that's how it works in this store).

I told the cashier to ring up the yogurt on mine.  Just then the woman looked back and asked the cashier "Do you want me to go put that yogurt back?"  The cashier said "Actually no, she's buying it" and the woman laughed and said "Oh well then it all works out for everyone".  When my items were rung up, I took the yogurt and put it in the couples' cart.  It was only $2.00.  You could just FEEL how grateful they were, not that they NEEDED the yogurt, not that they were even upset about it, but the man mumbled to his wife that I was a sweetheart (awww shucks....*blush*) and smiled at me and thanked me and the woman thanked me several times through a choked up shaky voice.  I said "it's no problem, have a good day".  I heard them speaking to each other and they said "the best way to repay this is to pay it forward", then they hurried to find a man who left his gloves in the store and return them to him.

People say that there is no such thing as a selfless act.  That may slightly be true.  I didn't pay the $2.00 because it would make me a better person.  BUT...seeing how truly grateful they were for such a small act of kindness, and seeing that they ARE the type of people to do something similar, makes me feel good not only for helping them out,  but kind of puts my faith back into humanity.  There are so many people out there that are poor and miserable (and I'm not calling this couple poor...but merely making a point)...because that's how they make their life.  They don't do anything to better themselves, but they complain about everything they don't have.  Why not?  It's easy to complain.  For those who can see through what they don't have, and appreciate what they do or what they COULD have....those are the people....that my heart seeks out... I guess is the best way to say it. 

I didn't save the day.  The yogurt wasn't going to get them through the week.  I didn't act like a saint.  But it made my day to see how much it meant to them, such a small act of kindness.  A part of me wants to say "more people should do this when they can".  The other part of me says "Maybe, more people do....and we just don't see it". 

So...today I say this.  Pay it forward, sometime, in some way.  It doesn't have to be something big, but appreciate each other.  Appreciate if your neighbor shovels your walk, or if someone gets a door for you while your hands are full.  Pay it forward.  It doesn't have to be monetary, just....think of others.  You may not realize it, but they'll appreciate it.  The smallest act of kindness just might make someone's day; maybe even your own. 

Enjoy your Sunday.

WARNING!

Recently something caught my eye on my friend/coworker's desk.  It was a yellow warning sign with a magnetic dude whom you could position in different "warning" positions.  As if this wasn't fun enough, Alex of course took it a step further with some additional props.  The following works of art are done by none other than Alex Koivisto himself.  Enjoy. 

Sumo Wrestler

Fire Breather

Spontaneous Human Combustion

Headshot

Attack!

Killer Rabbit

And my personal favorite...

Bazooka Sharpie

Enjoy your weekend everyone!



Nelly Narla

For my loyal Facebook stalkers, you may recall that just over a week ago, I “liked” this little girl from www.petfinder.com.
 

Well, I don’t know why I fell in love with her but I did.  It’s no secret that Budha is the joy in my every day, and she is getting up there in years; I will not get another dog while I have her.  A cat, maybe...but Budha gets all my dog-loving attention/affection.  So I “liked” Nelly Narla and carried on with my Sunday. 

On Monday I was still thinking about her a little and wondering who could resist that face.  She’s a German Shepherd/Rottweiler mix. 

On Tuesday I was really thinking about her, and how I wanted someone to take her home – why this dog?  I don’t know – she just stuck with me.  So I happened to be in our downstairs break room at work (where I usually am not) and a colleague came in with whom I generally have minimal contact as we are in 2 very different areas of the company, and as he poured his coffee, I said “Do you want a dog?”.  He looked at me and said “Yes, but we’re not ready.  Why?”  So I told him this silly story of how I was looking on PetFinder and now couldn’t get this pup (she’s 1 yr old) out of my head.  He listened and agreed to look at her photo as he was ready to head out of the break room.  When I pulled her up online he gasped and said “Is she a Rotti?”  I said “She’s a German Shepherd/Rotti mix”.  Then he tells me that he’s really been looking at Rottweilers and his wife has grown up with German Shepherd mixes.  He was pretty excited about it so I sent him the link for her. 

On Saturday they drove over an hour away to take a look at her, and now Nelly has a happy new home with a very loving family.

I AM...the best matchmaker ever.

Maybe I'll try to own 2012 instead....

Last year I remember saying "2011 is going to be my year.  I will own it"

Well...truth is, no one can ever PLAN to have a good year.  But as long as you don't EXPECT a bad one, and don't just think it's going to happen on it's own...well...then you're at least on sane ground I suppose.  So 2011 thus far brought me deaths, the move of Tom, the move of the kitties, a tragic loss of a new kitty, and some expenses/stresses I never saw coming.  It's barely October.  3 months to go until this year is over.

It wasn't a bad year, but certainly not at all what I had planned.  We cannot plan our happiness.  BUT...we can plan the events that lead to our happiness.  

I've done a lot of reflecting over the last....well....I don't know.  I think I've been doing it for a while.

Sometimes, we make mistakes.  Might be something as small as "I shouldn't have eaten that".  Could be something a little bigger such as "I really should have used that money toward this bill" or it could be something big enough that just shouldn't be mentioned here.  Regardless, we can't dwell on them...just accept these things and move forward.  It's whether or not we learn from these mistakes that build who we are.  Some mistakes I have made dozens of times, and then...finally I get tired of it, and I learn.  Other times, it only needs once.

My point is...I'm going to be 30 in less than 3 months.  I don't want to hear any "you'll love it" or "30 is the new 20" - because it's not really where I'm going with this.  My point is that I'm almost 30 and there are some things that I had hoped would be different by now....and they aren't.  Some of those things are out of my control, but guess what?  Not everything is.

I've already made 2 plans for the winter to finish the base moulding and the fluted moulding in the living room.  This weekend I will be painting one of the bedrooms and tearing up the carpet.  I'm hauling a truckload of junk to the dump, and I'm finally cutting down that bastard tree that keeps scraping the side of my house outside the bathroom.  I've started my gym routine again, I'm going to go to bed earlier, I'm not going to drink vodka tonics if I already have a buzz, I'm going to make it every priority to get 2 bills paid OFF by January 1st, and then use that extra money toward other bills. 

Guess what?  My car will probably have problems, my heat bills will probably get out of control, something will be emotionally damaging - that's just what happens.  BUT...I will get through it, and I will keep pushing forward, and I will keep striving for these goals to get where I want to be.  I'm not going to wait until 2012, so forget the title of this blog.  I start now. 

Don't wish me luck.  Wish me strength. 

Sometimes we look at our lives and we see all the BIG things that need changing.  But sometimes we look at it wrong.  It's much easier if we focus on the little things, that bring the "BIG" ones down to a manageable size, or better yet, make them disappear. 

Since I recently watched Bridesmaids, and this classic 1990 song seems appropriate, I will leave you with this - laugh if you will...deep down...you know you love it  :)  :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIbXvaE39wM

Jeeves and Cruella

To protect the names of those involved, I shall name these 2...Jeeves and Cruella.

I have this roommate, Jeeves, who is great. When he first moved in, everything was wonderful. We got along instantly, liked doing a lot of the same activities, he was super clean, just...good to be around. Then in May he started dating Cruella. I remember it was just before Memorial Week. She was here 3 nights in a row. I didn't think too much of it, I mean...they had JUST met! It's not like she was living here. (am I laying on the foreshadowing a little too thick?)

I went camping for a few days over Memorial Weekend. When I came back, she was still here...and so was a bunch of her crap. Hmmmmm....

A couple weeks later I had a talk with Jeeves. I really had no problem with Cruella, but...it needed to be said that she didn't live there. He informed me that she had just moved out of her place, and was house-sitting for the summer. I understood, I told him I didn't mind if she was over, and I didn't mind if she was here a few nights a week...but it was looking like she was living here. Here is a tidbit that must be known. Jeeves is 31. Cruella, a very naive 21. Regardless of age though, as I said - I had no problem with her, just with the fact that it's not fair that he pays rent (as does my other roommate) and there's a 4th person here all the time.

So it got better for about 3 days...and that was it. Summer has been very busy, and I've not had ANY moments with Jeeves alone since to talk about this. Meanwhile in the back of my mind, I'm wondering why he agrees to do everything for this girl who has a part time low paying job (not in school....but only works part time...hmmmm).

SO...about a month ago, I told him something had to change. Either she was going to start paying the utilities (which would be pretty damn cheap rent), or she needed to get her own place, or they were both going to have to go.

Here's where Jeeves and Cruella show their true crazy. He talks to her, and she wants to move in with him - to their own place. WHAT?! How is she going to do that with the job she has? Who moves in together after 3 months?!?! So I tell him "As a roommate/landlord - you do whatever you need to do to fix this situation. As a friend I'm telling you - this is a REAL bad idea".

Since that time, they've been getting drunk every single night (which then results into unintentional loud door shutting and stumbling at 2am) and is disturbing me....especially because one of them doesn't LIVE THERE!

Here's the best part. He doesn't want to move in with her - he doesn't want to move at all. He knows it's too fast, but he doesn't want to break up.

Yes, I'm telling you all about his personal life (well not the stuff that shouldn't be said....but the stuff I told him I'd tell everyone).

They were fighting all the time. One time we were in a public place, and he made a comment about how she calls in sick a lot ( to her really stressful part time job) and she turned into a 4 year old "I do no-oooottt") - it was ear piercing. When he didn't respond the whining, Cruella shot laser beams into his skull and her voice became....*shivers* demon like. She was over the top angry - looked like she was going to stab him if she could have. WELL - that same night she talked TO ME about the ultimatum I have Jeeves. She apologized and said she never meant to take advantage. I told her "I know you didn't mean to, and it's nothing personal, but...it's not fair to everyone in the house, etc..." She offered an amount that she could give me for the next month while they look for a place. I told her I'd look over the bills and get back to her (when she was more sober too).

The next night I didn't stay at home because I was dog sitting. It was about 8pm when I saw Cruella leave my house as I was also leaving. Apparently Jeeves was sleeping and she wanted to go do something. Well...the next day I see Jeeves. He says that he fell asleep the night before, and guess how many times she called him...because she doesn't have a key...BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T LIVE THERE. Everyone guess. Are you guessing. 10? 20? 30???

217 times. 217 MISSED CALLS!!!!

Does your face look like this?

I saw the call log.  It went like this:

10:42

10:42

10:43

10:44

10:44

10:44

10:45

...

Right there I said "Jeeves, something is NOT right - that is obsessive".  My favorite comment was from a friend who reacted "Oh my - she needs to go....to Miller Dwan!"  Yes.  This is not normal behavior.  If someone died, I would not call that many times....it's hard to even fathom it.  Cruella dialed and dialed until her phone went dead.

Fast forward.  No wait...rewind.  Remember when I said she agreed to put money toward some bills?  Well I gave her the amount (HALF of what she agreed to pay) - haven't seen a penny of that yet. 

Okay now fast forward.  Oy - mama needs a drink.  One moment please....

Ahhhh better.  *lip smack*

Where was I...oh yes....fast forward.  Their situation had been annoying me to no end.  They look at places they fight they fight they fight, they get drunk, they fight, they go to bed.  Then one week ago last Thursday, I woke up at 2:13 am startled.  Cruella and Jeeves were outside in my front yard fighting.  Now Jeeves was barely heard - I heard mumbles of him trying to calm her down.  "You don't love me!  Waaaa Waaaaa"  He tries to calm her down by saying something to the effect of "let's just go to bed...do you see what you're doing here, do you see what's happening..."  And she responds with "I don't want to F***ing lay down, I'm going to f***ing lay in the f***ing street and f***ing wait for a f***ing car to f***ing run me over!" 

I almost did it.  I almost got my keys.  We all would have slept a lot better had a just done it.

I wanted to yell at the window that she needed to quiet down, but at this point I am COMPLETELY convinced that she is off her "f***ing" rocker and figured she would respond with a rock from my garden right through the window.  About 45 minutes later, they went to bed...but I stayed awake angry for 2 more hours.  This is MY HOUSE.

The next day I told ...whoa...almost used the real name...had to delete (like most of you don't already know this story - and yeah Jeeves, this is about you).  I told Jeeves that since he had to leave for 2 weeks (guards) the next day, that she could stay that night...and after that she is no longer allowed in my house.  NO ONE - comes to MY house where they do NOT live, and creates a white trash COPS style fight like that.  It was absolutely disgusting!  You wanna' know what the fight was about.  She was going to miss him while he was at guards (understood) and didn't want to stay at her parents' house.  WAAAAAAAAAA

How about this?  Get a job, get some responsibility, and quit being a freeloading CRUELLA!

So at this point - I no longer hold back.  This is personal.  I tell Jeeves he's an idiot for wanting to move in with this crazy girl, and his response is "I don't have any other choice - this is a nightmare - I don't want to".  Then why???  OH - AND he tells me that she had threatened to jump out of his moving vehicle....AGAIN.  AGAIN????  Oy.



Ahhhh *lip smack* mama likey.

Then he tells me about how she's ready to jump into every apartment they see.  At one point he said "but this place has no laundry".  A sane adult would have said "Okay we'll keep looking" or "We can just go to the laundromat" or SOMETHING.  Instead - she freaks out and screams at him that she's lived without it before and they don't need it.  Whoa....settle down Cruella CrazyPants.

Just a reminder....217 times!

So I have a sit-down talk with Jeeves.  I said I don't ever get involved but he needs to help me understand why they are still together if he's so miserable and she's so crazy...mean.  The conversation went like this

Me:  "Why are you with her?"
Jeeves:  "She has some good qualities"
Me:  "Like what?  Tell me so I understand"
Jeeves:  "She puts up with my shit"
Me:  "YOUR SHIT?  She works part time, you drive her places when she runs out of gas, you are letting her live her - which is messing up your friendship with me, you pay for her to go out and have 21 yr old fun, you can't GO TO THE BATHROOM without her walking in...and SHE puts up with YOU?"

I proceeded to tell him that if he really wants to better a certain part of his life (which will not be printed here) - having her in the picture is going to ruin all his chances and he should understand why.  I also mentioned to him "what happens what that beater car of hers breaks when you're living together?  Who's co-signing?  What if you get deployed...who's taking over the bills?  I could see it sinking in, as Cruella called him and he picked up the phone and said "What's up baby baby?"  I knew right then - he's going to bow down to her forever.

This is why.

I finally got this out of him - and now I DO understand - but he DOES need to grow a pair.  He flat out said it "I'm 31....my family wants me to settle down - I don't want to do this dating bs anymore".  Now I understand.  I'm almost 30 - I've almost settled twice - trying to convince myself of how it "could" work.  But still - they might be okay - if they just slow down.  Moving in together should be a happy occasion, and they drink and fight every day now.  This isn't normal.  I'm trying to make him see that.  And he DOES appreciate the comments.  Believe me I wouldn't write about my pal unless they knew I was going to do it.  And he knows.  I even recorded someones reaction to the 217 calls and played it back for him.  I'm not even saying they need to break up....but they way they are fighting, they need to slow down.  I don't know if it's simply the age difference, or if Cruella is really just this crazy...but here's what I know.  Since he has been at guards - my house has been happy and clean, no Cruella hair in the drain, no 47 beer bottles in the recycling (or bedrooms or living room), and I've been sleeping.  I also know that I wish he could stay, and find either a nice girl, or get this one to calm down.   Hmph.  So....any advice for Jeeves, please post.  He knows it's coming.  Like I said - I would NEVER gripe online about personal issues of others...if it wasn't announced ahead of time.  :)

Jeeves, I do this because I care....you sign a lease...you're screwed man.  My advice.  Give her a timeline.  She gets a full time job and holds it for 6 months - flip - even 3 months!!  - then see where it goes.  She's got to be able to support herself first before expecting others to jump in and play the daddy role.  Ouch - yeah that's right I said.  Peace out brotha'  *thumps chest twice - gives peace sign*

Title Fury....and Online Dating

I’ve wanted to write this blog all week...but I’ve really been stuck on the title because what I wanted it to be is – well – inappropriate. I surely don’t want to offend my readers based on the title of the blog, but at the same time – I think it’s hilarious and appropriate and I want to use it. So...for those of you who know me well enough to know that I really do not generally post offensive material, and you have read thus far in hopes to find out what I wanted to title this – here it is:

“Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Don’t be a Snatch”

I wonder how many people just left the page. Well, in any case – here’s why that song parody came into my head. Online dating, the wave of the future? No, it’s the present. It’s everywhere. It’s been around for over a decade. I go on and off dating streaks, and lately have been off....but...ready to be back on. I’ve used the free sites, I’ve used the pay sites. For anyone who is interested but doesn’t know where to start, here is a list and my “professional” reviews of them. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about.

www.eharmony.com – okay actually I can’t remember this one. I think I tried it out once years ago, but as you can see.....it was not memorable....and I don’t think I met anyone from it. (this is pay site)
www.okcupid.com – Has a great mobile app – and it’s a free service. The downfall for this site is the compatibility “tests” which are generated by other users, and can be downright inappropriate questions, and I think actually may hurt their (site owner’s) reputation. I met 2 men on this site, both nice guys, but...
www.plentyoffish.com – I think this is a pretty good site for a free site. I’ve met a few fantastic people on this site. A couple I am still very good friends with. Does that mean because we didn’t settle down and get married that it didn’t “work out”? No. If nothing else – dating is a journey. You know what you’re looking for, but as with anything else in life....appreciate what you see along the way. Maybe you’ll learn something about other people, or about yourself. Maybe you’ll make new friends, and if you never see the person again – who cares – big deal. I sidetracked. It’s what I do. Anyway – not a bad site.
www.match.com – This is a pay site....but it is pretty good and very popular. I have met a couple people on here. Very decent people.

So.....a few weeks ago I decided to actually get back on match.com - which was actually really dumb of me to do now (playing volleyball 3 nights a week, dinner night one night a week, organizing a fundraiser, rearranging living situation, having company, taking on new tasks at work.....NO TIME). Regardless, I go to the gym 4-5 days per week. So I answered one of my questions that way. Well, now all my “matches” are these well sculpted athletes. Let’s get something straight here Match, because I DO go to the gym that often, does not mean I, myself, am a well sculpted machine, nor does it mean that I am looking for model/bodybuilder partner. It means, that I go because I need to, and do I care if a potential mate does? No – he should care about himself, but please – stop intimidating me with all these supermodels.

That’s really it....I thought I’d have more to say but what a shock, I ran out of time.