A lovely gchat session with Princess today was enlightening. She was asking about my dating world. I told her not much is going on, that I have adopted the "taking it slow" approach.
Her eloquent advice in response:
"Yes, slow and steady wins the race. But not too slow. You do actually want people to know you're in the race."
I know Bay Area fans have their own classification of fandom. It's poor. And it's well-deserved. The term "fan" shouldn't even really apply, but there you have it. Regardless of the utter lack of enthusiasm the average Nor Cal resident may show for sports (Raider Nation, obviously excepted) ... why can't the SF Giants put a team together we can get behind?
We signed a new pitcher this week - and please don't get me wrong, I fully respect Randy Johnson - but Sabean is just not delivering on the strategy of team building.
Granted, we now lay claim to a Triple threat of Cy Young-ers and Lincecum has big things ahead of him, hopefully with us. Bengie, Dave, and Randy are out there and I love them but they don't quite share the special place in my heart as the Giants of yesteryear.
Aurelia is a free agent. ** Omar's in Texas - and the likelihood that I can again get myself, Jugs, and Mamacita bounced out of Tres Agaves for crashing his birthday party is minimal. Petey was able to be a part of a championship team last year - well deserved (wish it had been us). Snow is long gone (but at least retired as a Giant). We're stuck with Zito - Oakland's trash, not quite SF's treasure. Barry is out -and whether you loved him or loved to hate him, he filled the seats and put on a show that riled even Bay Area "fans". Where are all my beloved Giants?
It seems like all we do is pick up fantastically gifted, greatly acclaimed ballplayers on their way out, to let them mellow for a couple years before being put out to pasture. Or we seize promising newbies on their way in, only to trade them after a few years - once they've gotten acclimated to the big leagues, because why would we want them now that we've trained them to play?
What do I care though? You'll still see me at PacBell/SBC/ATT several times a month, fondly developing new favorites.
** 1/15/09 - now being finessed by Chi-Town
I stopped in San Jose yesterday on my home after Christmas with the family and had lunch with E. We haven't seen each other face to face in over three years. Absolutely incredible. In fact, last time we got together was right before Jack and I became a couple.
Anyway, E was home from Jacksonville visiting his family for the holiday. We went to Erik's Deli (one of our favorite spots to go together) and chatted forever, catching up on one another's lives. We were laughing about our pact to be one another's fall-back. (You know, where if you and a friend aren't married by the time you're a particular age, you agree you'll marry each other.)
Well, we had decided the cutoff age would be 27. And my 27th birthday is in two days.
Two years ago, E called me on my 25th to wish me 'happy day' and eventually came around to a reminder about the pact. I hadn't thought of it in a while, to be honest. He clarified that engagement didn't count; one of us actually had to be married by 27 in order for the pact to be void. Interesting conversation since we were both seriously involved at the time - his gf had moved for him and Jack and I were living together.
So now, true to form, our timing is off. I'm single but E is living with his longtime girlfriend – his Naval career takes him all around the US and she's followed him to a few states (not all continental) - and he's singing a different tune. He says it will be a miracle if he makes it through next year - meaning, without being engaged. Yet, we're not talking wedding plans, so I guess the pact is off.
Guess I should have pulled a Phoebe and backed up my back up.
Right now, we're watching The Office from beginning to present because she's never really watched it. Yikes.
I must say, although our assortment of activities represent some of my faves, the real draw is a lovely ladies' night and the opportunity to catch up and re-kindle a long-established friendship.
I'm so happy we have each other back in our lives!
Since I've sort of taken myself off the market (inadvertently, I might add), I now sit around and dream up my perfect man. Lately, I've taken to imagining a hybrid of invented characters.
I was recently reflecting on what these imaginary men had in common with one another that they would all strike my fancy... and I discovered that I am a sucker for a kind, sweet, funny dork.
Edward is chivalrous, talented, and devoted but super cheesy - and I love it!
Chuck Bartowski (from the NBC television series "Chuck")
Chuck is sweet, naive, always tries to do the right thing and is nerdy smart.
Ned (from the ABC television series "Pushing Daisies")
Ned may be a goody-two-shoes, yet he also has dark secrets - and they exist beside the pure love in his heart.
Jim Halpert (from the NBC television series "The Office")
And Jim. Jim reminds me of Cobes so the draw was there instantaneously. Over time, I've become fond of him on his own merits. He is silly, cute and clever. I've never wanted a character to be more real in my life; nor have I ever wanted to be the secretary in the Scranton branch of a mid-size paper company as much as when I watch their office romance.
Here's to the characters that give us a chance to imagine something beyond what we know and to hope we might one day find it.
Besides baby brother, the guy I talk to most about dating has got to be Dazzle. I have no idea how our friendship has evolved into what we now share. Potentially, it's due to bonding during revivals of drunken Davis traditions (i.e. Picnic Day & Houseboats) and our alliance against technology's misguided efforts to keep us apart. However it happened, we talk frequently about lots of things, including our love lives - or lack thereof.
So, during our last exchange, Dazzle informed me about his newly-discovered dating desire. He wants a Sunday Girlfriend. A what, you say? Oh, that's right, a Sunday Girlfriend. I've never heard of this before and I have no idea if it extends beyond the distorted workings of Dazzle's mind.
Apparently, when the wild carousing of Friday and Saturday night is over, you're recovering from the weekend, and dreading the arrival of the work week & Monday (the merciless, humorless, and unfailing matriarch of the work week), it gets lonely. It may occur to you that it would be quite lovely to have a sweet lady, all tenderness and devotion, to wake up to as the glow of Sunday's light steals through your window. Maybe share a morning quickie followed by the crossword, sudoku, and Post Secret in bed and then brunch with mimosas and bloodys. Possibly to be followed by an afternoon of football cuddled on the couch or a matinee. A stroll outside at dusk - preferably with a puppy - would cap off a seemingly perfect day with your Sunday Girlfriend and the two of you would part ways to meet again next week.
Thus, Sunday usually finds Dazzle melancholy and befuddled. I can't say I blame him. That Sunday sounds awfully nice.
