Thursday, October 2, 2008

Setting Me Up, Setting You Up

What is it with Jewish people and setting each other up?

One of my non-Jewish colleagues said to me once, "It's nice that you do that for each other. When I was single, it was like I was on my own; but my Chinese and Jewish friends always had family and friends setting them up. I wish I had that."

I can't speak for Chinese, but in my experience this is how it rolls in my crew: "Oh you're Jewish? He's Jewish too! Let's set you two up!"

It doesn't matter that he has the personality of a bread crumb. It doesn't matter that he may feel like sewing his wild oats until he reaches 40 or 50. What matters is, you both have the same cultural background, therefore there's a one in 10 million chances the set-up will be a success.

This has been my experience over the last several years. And on the heels of Rosh Hashana, the issue is arising again. Bubbies get together at a table and reveal their single cards. She'd be a good match for him, he's too old for her, he's too young for her, these two are the same age but he has no career. It's like sorting laundry - whites, lights, and darks.

We'll see what this new set-up brings.
"He comes from a wealthy family you know."

Yes that's the winning ticket isn't it.

It hasn't been so for me yet. We'll see this time.

Monday, September 8, 2008

How to Nicely Dump a Man/Boy/Guy

It's never easy to break-up with someone.

Why does it seem just as difficult to tell someone after a date or two that you're not into them as it is to break-off a long-term relationship?

I went out with a guy recently on one real date and one half date (he joined in on brunch with me and his sister - the yenta of this matchmaking situation). On the real date we simply went to a semi-cute (actually pretty mediocre) restaurant and shared a pizza. No booze. Just water.

The conversation was fine, but like most bad dates, it was interview style. No umph. No spark. Don't even think of kissing me goodnight.

The restaurant was not far from my apartment, so we walked there and back. As we stood outside my apartment door saying goodnight, he asked to come in. I nicely said no, that "my apartment was a mess." He said, "Seriously? You're not going to let me up?" I replied, "No, my apartment is a mess."

Um.
GET THE HINT!

1)This is just the first date - what exactly are you expecting?
2)It wasn't such a brilliant date anyway, so really...WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING??

I let the evening wash over me and thought about the guy. Nice? Yes. Good looking? Not especially, but that's a subjective thing. One man's feast is another man's poison. Chemistry? None.

Anyway, I was luckily going out of town for a week following the date, and in his follow-up call I specifically said, "I will call YOU." Did he listen? Nope!

He called the minute I was back in town.

I dodged his calls for a few days and then finally mustered-up the courage to do the phone version of "it's not me, it's you."

I called him back as a friend of mine was coming over for a nice summer walk. I figured having her show up would be a good ending point, but the guy didn't take the "thanks but no thanks" too well. 36 minutes and 36 seconds later according to my cell phone, I had to convince him I wasn't the girl for him.

It turned into a therapy session.

In this case, I think it's my fault. I should have just said, "Look, I'm just not into you." (or something similar). But I went on about how wonderful he was, but I was wanting to see how it went with someone else. That led him to ask me if it didn't work out with bachelor number one, would I give him a chance. That just made me think he was pathetic.

My girlfriend and I were out for the walk this entire time and she was restraining herself from rolling on the ground laughing hysterically.

So here's my tip to the ladies out there:

1) Break it off quickly. If you feel you need to go the phone route then just be sure you have the guts (unlike me) to cut the conversation short. Don't cater to their ego, or lack thereof.

2) Berger did it on a post-it note, why can't we? Men insist on texting or PINing us to make plans and to chat, why not use it to break things off? Its quick and painless.

3) Remember, if you're dumping the guy after one or two dates, you shouldn't feel badly about it. If they're giving you the guilt like this dude did to me, then there's something wrong with him. If this is a month or so later and you've been dating a lot, then show a little compassion - hang in there for the 36 minutes. You never know when you may bump into them again. You also never know if they have a really hot single friend.

Friday, August 29, 2008

For All the Ladies Out There

A good friend of mine sent this to me and she suggested I post it.
I do not know who the original author is, but I would like to credit her (or him!). So if anyone knows, please tell me.

These are words to live by:

If a man wants you, nothing can keep him away.
If he doesn't want you, nothing can make him stay.
Stop making excuses for a man and his behavior.
Allow your intuition (or spirit) to save you from heartache.
Stop trying to change yourselves for a relationship that's not meant to be.

Slower is better.
Never live your life for a man before you find what makes you truly happy.
If a relationship ends because the man was not treating you as you deserve
then heck no, you can't "be friends." A friend wouldn't mistreat a friend.
Don't settle. If you feel like he is stringing you along, then he probably is.

Don't stay because you think "it will get better." You'll be mad at yourself
a year later for staying when things are not better.
The only person you can control in a relationship is you.

Avoid men who've got a bunch of children by a bunch of different women.
He didn't marry them when he got them pregnant,
why would he treat you any differently?

Always have your own set of friends separate from his.
Maintain boundaries in how a guy treats you.
If something bothers you, speak up.
Never let a man know everything. He will use it against you later.
You cannot change a man's behavior. Change comes from within.
Don't EVER make him feel he is more important than you are...even if he has
more education or in a better job. Do not make him into a quasi-god.
He is a man, nothing more nothing less.
Never let a man define who you are.

Never borrow someone else's man.
Oh Lord!? If he cheated with you, he'll cheat on you.
A man will only treat you the way you ALLOW him to treat you.

All men are NOT dogs.
You should not be the one doing all the bending...compromise is a two-way
street.
You need time to heal between relationships...there is
nothing cute about baggage... deal with your issues before pursuing a new relationship.

You should never look for someone to COMPLETE you...a relationship consists
of two WHOLE individuals...look for someone complimentary...not supplementary.

Dating is fun...even if he doesn't turn out to be Mr.. Right.
Make him miss you sometimes...when a man always know where you are, and
your always readily available to him- he takes it for granted.

Don't fully commit to a man who doesn't give you everything that you need.
Keep him in your radar but get to know others.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

How a One Night Stand Can Go Oh-So-Wrong

As promised, I'm sharing a very personal one-night stand story.
It's funny and horrifying all in one. I think more horrifying for me, but entertaining for everyone else.

Here it goes:
Context - I was at school in the UK and it was our last night before we went home after class the following day. I was staying at a bed & breakfast in town.

This is an email I sent to my friends the following morning, still a little drunk.
_______________________________________________________________________________

So it was our last night out as a group here in Carlisle, UK. We went out for dinner to a nice Italian restaurant, had a fair amount of wine, and then we decided to go to some "pubs"... more a la clubs.

We go to one bar called Rouge where the DJ is a cross dresser...we left just before the chair dancing and flame throwing.

Rebecca and I went to another club called Mood. At first lame, but then got busy and reminded me of my Guelph days at The Palace.

I end up talking to this guy Mike (that should have been red flag number one...I swear that name is cursed for me!). We're getting along fine...he's fine, nothing that makes my heart go GA BOOM or anything, but as they say here...Heee's awww riiiiight!

Chatting away and I'm thinking, does he notice that I need to get my eyebrows done?

Apparently not.

After a while of good banter, he suggests we leave the bar...together!

You know this totally isn't me...I mean, I am the BIGGEST chicken on earth.

Rebecca (married with 2 kids) says she wants to stay at the bar...she was beyond any drunkety drunk drunk I've EVER been. She told me to leave and promised she'd get home okay. I hesitated a thousand times, but she shoved me out the door. So Michael/Mike and I left for the good ol' B&B.

He's from Yorkshire, and I make some ever-so-witty classic me pun about Yorkshire pudding and he takes that as a non-confidence vote in the sex department. I successfully recovered, and we had a good laugh walking home.

Back at my place, I go for it...we're kissing and all that nonsense...you don't need full details.

Then here's where a full gamut of nights past with the recent ex and Sex and the City episodes run through my head. 1) This isn't nearly as good as it was with my ex dumb putz 2) Am I ever going to be able to feel good with someone else...ever again? 3) Seriously? He doesn't notice my eyebrows need threading? 4) Good thing I'm that high maintenance I even got a bikini wax 5) Good thing I happen to have protection 6) When did the _SS get on the menu? 7) Wow...he's into this. Maybe this isn't so bad after all 8) UCH! NO! I need to figure out how I'm going to get this guy to go home!

Back to number 6 you say? YEAH! WHAT THE HELL IS THAT ABOUT??? EW!!!!
And we're all lucky in a moment of shame this morning I deleted the picture I took of him scrubbing up in my shower!

Oh and he WASN'T CIRCUMCISED!!!! OH G-D!!! No offence but good lord it's OOOGLAY!

Between Charlotte's reaction to that guy and his "turtle neck" and Miranda and the ass man, and Carrie learning to have sex like a man...I'm thinking more than enjoying.

AND THEN....

It doesn't happen.

I don't get there no matter how hard I try, and alas...he can't stay hard. He apologizes profusely...blaming the fact that he had too much to drink. I said "its okay...its not only you. I've never done this with anyone I haven't loved."
And there it was...so I loved the ex commitment phobe. I mean, I knew I seriously liked him...but love? I don't think I thought so until I just said it.

So, no successful sex, condom thrown in the garbage, and he decides to stay and snuggle. That was nice-ish...the rest was brutal though. I thought to myself "okay, you can check that whole one night stand thing off your list now."

He fell asleep and started snoring. I booted him out at 3:00.

He wouldn't leave!! He kept saying "I'm not a bad man I swear!"...and kept putting the covers back over him. I'm like "I know, but you're snoring and I need to sleep and go to class in the morning." I whined and got stern, and threw him out.

He left a nice Lacoste watch behind....at least I got something good out of the evening.

Uch! I feel gross!

Its definitely going in the book. Chapter title either "the worst sex I never had" or "Jewish girl sees uncircumcised penis for the first time"

I go with title #1

Monday, July 7, 2008

Bachelor Boredom

So maybe my mojo is coming back...a bit.

Bachelor number three is a friend of sorts. We hang out, we PIN each other quite often - always flirty (on both parts), always fun, and most of all always welcome.

The thing is, how much longer can we sustain a technological relationship?

I hate to say this but, when are we going to take it to the next level?

I give him another week.

Then, he's getting the boot.

On that note. I had to give Michael 2008 the kicko-to-el-curbo.

He was lovely but he just wasn't for me.

I wasn't funny, I wasn't outgoing, I wasn't sarcastic. I was just...bleh.
His form of a joke was going for brunch and telling the waitress I'd have the steak.

Um...

I'm not a vegetarian, so that's not the issue. I'm not a huge red meat person, but that's also not the issue.

The issue is, that's just not funny by anyone's standards.

As charming as he was and said to me once, "You know I only live two minutes away, if I run I can be here in 90 seconds." That was a melty moment, but not enough to endure another dry date.

As I thought to myself, "please don't kiss me good-bye" I walked up the steps to my apartment and wished him a good day.

I figured he wouldn't call...but he did.

I'm a coward so I screened him and only texted him back a week later to say "Sorry for not calling, I went away for a week and I'm back to a busy work schedule and to be honest, a hectic social one as well. You deserve better than this. I'm sorry. Take care."

I haven't heard from him since, so I'm thinking he got the hint.

I'm really not that mean.
I swear.

Now if only bachelor lucky-number-three would get it together...

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Just Say No Thank You

I have found it difficult lately saying no...to repeat dates.

As per my last post, I mentioned a few nice fellows who have expressed an interest in me, but the mojo is nowhere to be found.

The latest Michael has been calling but I've only texted back.

He called last Thursday and as busy as I've been (hence the shortage on blog entries), I could have made a few moments to call if I really liked the guy...right?

But I didn't.

The guilt is killing me though.

Do I call and just say no thank you? Or do I just leave it alone...

I don't want to have the reputation of a bitch or a badly-mannered girl/woman - it's just awkward. I mean, do you ever really want to be on the receiving end of that call? Do you want someone to say to you "look, I'm just not that into you" over the phone?

And I'm not willing to sacrifice any other time to be a mensch and go out with him to then dump him. Granted I'd have a clearer conscience but I'd also end up with the bill...and probably a several awkward silences on top of it.

My team of advisers have suggested I just let it go. Don't call, don't text.

Thank goodness for call display so I can screen his calls.

Here's to hoping I'm not cursed in the love department for life because I'm really just saying no (thank you).

Monday, June 23, 2008

I've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'...In Fact, I Can't Find It At All

Scenario #1 - Drinks at a cute College Street bar for Friday night. Good scene. Flowing conversation. A little awkward at moments, but overall a good date. He's nice, looks like Jason Biggs(ish), very sweet, endearing mannerisms; he's a gentleman. Not a lot of spark, but definitely worth a second date.

Scenario #2 - Dinner at an upscale restaurant downtown. Never in a million years would I go there as a casual thing. This is an anniversary-worthy establishment. He's sweet, smart, established, engaged once, married once - now separated, Bay Street meets creative genius. I dig it, but I can't think about kissing it...I mean, him. No butterflies, but I'll give it a second shot.

Scenario # 3 - Casual friends. Continuous rounds of dirty texting, flirting, and cute getting-to-know-eachother moments.

All nice looking
All successful
All nice guys
All menches
All interested in me.

...But I am NOT interested in them! WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME???

Why am I not attracted to anyone lately? I dream of a three-year-ago ex on a semi-regular basis, hoping he'll change and come back to me, when deep down I know he's not for me long-term either.

I just don't get it.

I've lost my mojo.

I have better dreams about Dr. McDreamy (I know it's pathetic) than any man I've ever dated or who is currently courting me.

SERIOUSLY?!!!!
WHAT IS MY PROBLEM?

Slap me stupid and call me Stella...'cause I seriously need to get my groove back.

...So...anyone got a cute 30-something Jewish bachelor with his shit together to send my way?