No wasted time

I had a moment of panic this week thinking that I needed to have 26 dates by June 1st to be on track for 52 in the year.  I calmed down when I realized that JULY 1st is actually the midpoint of the year, but not before I had accepted Mr. #19's invitation for coffee in Ypsi.

The invitation came without a lot of preamble.  For those of you not immersed in the online dating world, let me enlighten you (alliteratively, because you're worth it) as to the process. People peruse profiles, pick potential partners. Emails ensue. (And, that's enough alliteration for now.) The length of the email stage can vary from a few days to several weeks (or, in the case of one joker, 3 MONTHS. But that's probably a story for another post.).  Like many things in the online dating world, there is really no norm. Some people (not me) like to talk on the phone before meeting someone. Some people write really, really, REALLY long emails (see: this guy).  Mr. #19, not so much.  He wrote me out of the blue last Thursday-- a short but sweet message alluding to dinner. I replied that I love and often eat dinner (true, even though I never eat dinner on first dates). He mentioned that he worked early mornings and was done by mid-afternoon.  I mentioned that I would be Ann Arbor on Tuesday. Plans were made. The whole thing was VERY efficient. Maybe he's German.

We had coffee at one of my favorite coffee shops. Mr. #19 seems like a genuine, caring, laid-back person, a loyal friend and generally a good soul. Bonus points: he also has a dog.  Double bonus: he called on Friday. I think there's a future for this one, readers, and it probably involves dinner.

Friday the 13th: great day for a date

Friday was sunny and beautiful, and I'm not superstitious at all. Mr. #18 and I went for a walk by the river, my favorite place in Detroit.  It always makes me smile, but things have been going so well in my life this week that I scarcely need another reason to grin.

Mr. #18 is also new to town (newer than me, even).  He's a dog lover and has striking blue eyes. He is smart, adventurous, passionate about his work, happy in his life.  He's definitely quirky (I think some people use this word to describe me. It can be a very good thing.)   We also have somewhat similar backgrounds, which might be important.

Learned a very important lesson on this date... communication is a two-way street. And...onward

Plenty of fish

Mr. #17 (also known and Mr. #14, 15, and 16) took this picture during our romp around Belle Isle on Saturday afternoon.  We had a good time exploring the island, playing with my dog, and chatting. I learned a few lessons for which I'm grateful...

Lesson #1: Someone can be awesome, smart, funny, and kind, but if there's no spark, there's just not. And I want not just a spark, but a whole freakin' fireworks show.

Lesson #2: Four dates is too many with someone I don't have chemistry with.  A wise friend reminded me the other day that "If you're not sure whether or not you have chemistry, then you don't." True that.  Three dates is enough.

Lesson #3: Potentially awkward conversations about having no chemistry are best conducted in person.  Having them over email leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

I'm gonna go gargle now.  Onward.

Good Health

Hi readers! It's come to my attention that some of you REALLY missed me this past month! Sorry! I went on vacation, and since I was well ahead of my quarterly target (I had gone on 15 dates by the end of February, and the goal was 13 by the end of March), I took a little vacation from dating as well.  But now I'm back in full force to tell you about Mr. #16. We've met this guy before here and here.  He is smart, funny, considerate, self-aware, and easy to talk to.  Before I left for vacation, we made plans to go out again on Saturday: dinner and a comedy show.

I'm getting over a nasty cold, and Mr. #16 had a broken arm from a recent bike accident.  So we were not exactly a picture of good health.  We rallied, though, and had a good time. Mr. #16 picked me up right on time (actually a few minutes early)  and we headed to dinner at a vegetarian restaurant that I think will become one of my new favorites! It's about a fifteen minute drive, then there was a wait and service was slow, so we had plenty of time to talk. Our conversation topics ran the gamut: my recent travels (I'm still glowing), broken bones (in general and his specifically), cars (we do live in Michigan after all), bad customer service (kind of a rarity in Michigan), college sports (I didn't have much to add here), raw diets (more on this later), and why nurses steal drugs from hospitals (who doesn't talk about this on dates, really?).

After dinner we walked a few blocks to a comedy club. The show was sold out but Mr. #16 had thought to buy tickets ahead of time-- nice.  The show was ok, but we were more amused by the honking laugh of the women in front of us.  I ordered a seltzer, and Mr. #16 also abstained from adult beverages.  He's not much of a drinker; in fact, I've never seen him imbibe.  This is interesting.  I know I've specifically said I want someone who prioritizes a healthy lifestyle, and after dating a lot of heavy boozers and cheeseburger addicts, this guy's emphasis (obsession?) with distance running and biking is almost refreshing (remember how after our second date he had to go home so he could wake up the next morning for a 16-mile run?).  He seems to eat like a normal person (based on the two dinners we've shared) but he talked about how he follows a mostly raw diet during the week.  I'm impressed, but maybe a little overwhelmed.  Just like I can't really keep up with a 6-pack-a-night drinker, I might be on a very different plane from this guy.

So the question: Is this kind of lifestyle difference too much to get past?