Saturday, June 5, 2010

How Open Should a Relationship Be?

So, it's been a long time since I wrote a blog -- things were busy at work and then sad inside. I mean, things are great -- my job is great, I'm starting to meet new people and have local friends -- but still no boy and no boy in sight. I'm not sure why this depresses me so much -- but it does. And then last week the blast from the past Mr. Can't Commit started sniffing around. Telling me how we should talk -- a guy who wants to talk? I figured this must mean he's finally come to his senses -- except it didn't -- unless his senses are what's telling him that at 39 years old he hasn't gotten laid enough. Seriously?? He wants to sleep with me and sleep with anyone else who crosses his path. Has he met me?

I walked into Murder Mystery after getting off the phone with him and really didn't tell the Art Thief anything and she asked for both Mr. Can't Commit and my birthdays. After adding 8 + 13 + 1970 she declared him moody, logical and emotional and someone who is conflicted about what he wants. Then she added my numbers and she pronounced me someone who needs commitment. Yep. That's scary right.

Sure, he's not Mr. Right but can I make him Mr. Right Now? Can I even deal with that? I'm trying not to panic that my sex clock is ticking -- it's like my baby clock (which has been turned off) but what if I never have sex again. I look good -- really good for 40 -- hell, for 35 -- hell, for 30! And yet, I can't seem to get laid -- since I left Ex Husband #2, I've only slept with Mr. Can't Commit and that was maybe 10 times of which 2 were actually good of which 1 of those involved actual intercourse. Which was why I was shocked last week when we kissed and it was one of the best makeout sessions of my life. So good that I'm almost ready to say Sure, let's have an open relationship that will make me more crazy that I am! But if I say yes, I get to have sex, right? And if I say no, I get to shrivel up and die a little longer.

I know I shouldn't be panicking -- people don't die at 40 -- die from not being touched, I mean. But sometimes I feel like I might.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Dying for a real man

One of my students lent me the first season of Dexter on DVD and I finally sat down and started watching it 2 nights ago. Here's what I learned -- it's not as violent as I thought, there's hardly any nudity and the last three guys I've been interested in are Dexter. Great.

First there's my ex -- he actually told me that he had to concentrate to appear normal -- that he didn't understand human interactions and it took so much energy for him to pretend to get what everyone else just did that he was exhausted. Yeah . . . and I married him. You'd think that would've been a warning.

Then there was actor guy -- who is still dating the little girl (ok, he's 33, she's 24 but come on!) -- even though for over a year he has said that he doesn't really care about her -- it's just easier to be with her than try to date someone else -- and if he breaks up with her she'll cry. Of course, I think she would've cried less a year ago then now -- but what do I know? In fact, this guy actually said he identified with Dexter -- yes, big clue there but I hadn't seen the show so I didn't really know . . .

And, of course, then we're back to mr. can't make up his f***in mind. So, I finally and truly ended it with him this weekend when he said he was going to come down to visit, wanted to take me out to eat etc etc etc -- oh, the BS -- it's piled high. Then he never calls me about the visit -- he FORGOT. Are you kidding me? What a self-involved asshole. Then I'm watching episode 4 and Dexter's gf goes down on him and Dexter responds with "I wasn't expecting that." WHAT??? The one time I performed that little maneuver on this guy he had the exact same response -- and I know he's seen the show so he was actually parroting it -- which is a bit more creepy than if it had been a coincidence.

I can pick 'em, huh? So, that's it -- no more dating men who have the emotional capacity of a fictional serial killer! That's the new rule and I'm sticking with it!

Friday, March 12, 2010

Can a clememtine make it all better?

Why do I think Mr. Can't Commit might be ready to commit when he's not even here??? Why do I convince myself that just becuz he finally told me I looked good he might realize that I'm the best thing to happen to him since cheese (ok, he really loves cheese). Why do I keep this fantasy that he'll wake up one day and -- okay, just waking up next to me would be a start! UGH

So, last week he started calling me again. Like every day. And every day I didn't take the call until finally I did. We spent an hour on the phone catching up last Thurs. I was on my way to spend my last $7 on a turkey sub at D'Angelo's (yeah, I really wanted the sub - don't judge) and instead sat for 45 minutes in their parking lot while all the customers looked at me and wondered who the crazy chick in the car with the NH plates was. At the end of this Hey, what have you been up to for the past 2 months session, he stated his determination to come to Newport to visit me either the weekend of the the 13th (aka tomorrow) or the 27th. I informed him that I was on my way to NH for five days and wouldn't that be easier? So, he asked me to call him when I got to town the next day.

And I didn't. I mean I was gonna but I'm sooo on the fence about him and wondering what the hell is going on. So, he called me at 7pm and was like, Are you in town? Ah, yeah. So, we decided to get together on Monday night. Then I did what I try not to do. I called him at 4:30 on Monday -- hello, Miss Too Eager. Cool them jets. So, he called me back at 5:30 and we decided to get together at 7:30. However, 7:30 came and went. And 8:00 came and went. I tried not to look pathetic on Baby Mama's couch but since I was clutching my cell phone I don't think it worked.

At 8:15 he calls and says he can't go out but I can drive 15 minutes to see him. Umm, thanks, I say, but no thanks. Then he gets all pouty and says he really wanted to talk to me and was hoping to see me. What?? Why?? Who knows because I didn't ask -- I just said Ok. This was when Baby Mama used that PhD in Psych to totally mind shrink me -- she said You're annoyed. Yeah. "Because you think you'll go there and he'll tell you that he loves you and needs you?" No, becuz he won't. "Right, you're afraid you'll drive out there and he'll ask you for help on his paper." Bingo.

So, I put on makeup, brush my teeth and head out. And when I get there - the driveway lights are on and the door is open. (this is actually an improvement from when I used to go over). But then he says hello and launches into a monologue about his custody battle. Seriously for like 40 minutes (or 4 hours -- it's hard to tell as I can't find a clock in the room and it feels rude to pull out my phone to ck the time). Finally he takes a breath and offers me food. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna leave so I say no thanks. But he comes back over with 2 clementines -- peels the first and hands it to me. Shows me the sticker on the 2nd that says, Cutie, and tells me that it's for me. So, I take it and stick it on my jacket. Now we're getting somewhere.

The rest of the evening is fine and I decide to leave around 11:30 as he has to work in the morning. That's when I get the obligatory kiss goodnight. Nothing to write home about but I don't kiss my guy friends like that so . . . Then I head out to the porch to leave and this is when he finally looks at me (been sitting on the couch next to him for 3 hours, folks) and says that I look like one of those ladies in the show about the city. "Um, Sex and the City?" I offer. "Right," he says. "Oookay," I reply. "I mean it as a compliment," he says. Then he says my hair looks darker -- did I dye it? Probably since I haven't seen him in 2 mos but I don't remember -- what I do know is that my appt. is actually the next day which I inform him of. Then we quickly kiss a few more times and I'm outta there. Weird.

So, will he show up on the 13th as threatened? Well, that call came today -- no, no he will not. He has to work on the aforementioned paper for grad school. Ooookay. But then he proceeds to tell me how sorry he is, how much he liked seeing me, how good I looked, how great my hair looked, I didn't need to get it done, and when he comes on the 27th he wants to take me out to dinner, restaurant of my choice. Oooookay. So, are we dating again? I mean, WTF?! Baby Mama told me that if I let him he'll just start up where we left off -- and it feels that way -- but I still feel the same -- if he won't commit -- just by calling me his girlfriend -- that's all I want -- if he can't do that still then I'm still not interested in 'hanging out'. I'm 40 not 14. And after 12 years, I deserve better.

Tonight on the phone, he said, "You treat me so good." Yep, I do. So did he wake up and realize it or is this more of the same and am I willing to find out? Stay tuned for next week's episode of Men who can't commit!

Sunday, March 7, 2010

A Big Pain You-Know-Where

I am finally at that age where my body is failing me. I've never broken a bone. Never gotten stitches. But ever since I ran my first 5k last August, I've had this pain in the ass -- literally. I sometimes tell folks it's my hamstring but really I think it's my glute -- all I know is that when I sit too long or run or hell, even walk, I get this pain on my right side when my ass bone connects to my leg bone.

Today after barely running most of February due to my laziness, the weather and not having a running partner in Newport, I ran 4.5 miles in downtown Manchester with Leah. OMG. She's quite the runner now that her bfriend is a guy who does marathons and then runs 4 more miles 'cuz 26 just ain't far enough. Today she busted my ass -- literally and figuratively. I thought I'd die the first mile -- but that's always the hardest for me -- and then the last half mile was REALLY difficult -- that bee-ach wouldn't let me walk the last two blocks. No, for real, I'm so glad she pushed me and I felt great. Except for that aforementioned damn soreness and pain.

I know it didn't help that we then proceeded to get in a car for an hour and a half and drive to Keene as I was responding to a show at the college for KCACTF. Getting out of the car in downtown Keene I felt like a 90 year old lady. Yes, I've been ignoring the problem -- okay, not ignoring it -- I started pilates last month at Soma Yoga in Newport to stretch out the hamstring -- but I haven't even discussed a referral to a PT with my doctor. Until now. Trust me -- I've got a doctor's appt. on the 15th and the first words out of my mouth will be -- hey, Doc, I can't seem to get rid of this pain in my ass -- can you help me? We'll see how that goes over!

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Let's try to share this sandbox, ok?

Sometimes I wonder if I joined a university community or a kindergarten. Seriously, folks, why do people care about maintaining their petty fiefdoms? Ok, I'm 40 now and it's true, I've mellowed A LOT -- but I can still get riled about stuff as much as the next person -- just the stuff I now chose to get riled over isn't whether someone is taking work from me -- if you want to take parts of my job feel free I've got a full in-box sitting right here with something else to occupy my time.

Small people who tie up our minds, time and hearts with their tantrums just eat away at my soul. I feel exhausted -- like need medication exhausted. I work hard. Damn hard. I'm not trying to take credit for something you've done, or step on your toes, or take over the universe. I'm just trying to accomplish my to-do list and not get fired. Really those are my goals. Why are your goals to supervent me and gun for me trying to make me look bad?

Please don't use the word 'need' in emails to me as in: "You need to do such and such". Yeah, no I don't. And I learned way back in my first job when I was a mere 24 years old at Easter Seals that you never say that to another adult. (I got my head handed to me on a collections call when I told a woman she needed to make her payment -- word choice can get you the world or slam the door shut).

I'm trying to play nice. Let's face it for an only child who has been told her whole life that she's selfish (and the ex added the b word to that adjective regularly) this has been a journey -- one that I'm still on -- but I try to share, be inclusive, and take a deep breath before I speak. How about you try the same?

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Sooo sleepy

Ok - I don't think I could be more tired. Ok, ok, I know I could but right now I'm damn near exhausted. Stressed for sure as the more I try to do here the more road blocks I run up against. Also, I feel like every day I get an email asking me for a major project -- 3 year plan, departmental assessment document, job description for staff etc etc etc. I'm not sure when I'm going to do any of this and unlike most of the other folks on the east coast, I'm actually hoping for another snow day -- I actually got work done on the day Salve closed early and I could go home and sit on the couch with kitties. Maybe the constant phone ringing, dance studio noise and meetings are cutting into my powers of concentration -- in fact I think they are actually krytonite to those particular powers.

Don't really want to complain -- I've got a super job and I love it. But when you have five meetings just to get online ticketing approved I feel like my time is seriously being wasted. Especially with the spector of the 3 year plan, departmental assessment and staff job descriptions hanging over me. Time for me to figure out how to budget my time a bit better (I know, I know -- should I really be blogging right now?) but sometimes I need to go to the gym, and see a movie and watch Chelsea Lately. Those are the things that keep me (somewhat) sane.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Exhausted by Thursday

Another long week in Newport and it's only Thursday. I guess it's good that I don't have a boyfriend or kids 'cuz there's no way I'd have any energy for them. Everyday at work is exhausting - so many meetings, so many landmines to avoid, so much to tinker with, remember, look-up, teach, plan, read . . . AHHHH

I'm doing good work. I know that. Sometimes I get scared - am I smart enough? Good enough? After all I went from adjunct teaching to full-time one person department. I never had to think about curriculum and now I'm overhauling it. Am I really ready for this? I ask myself this every day. I love this job. I need this job. And I'm really trying at this job so hopefully I'll still have this job when my contract expires -- but yes, I think about the fact that this life has an expiration date -- obviously I need to be enjoying today but it's hard to enjoy anything when I realize how much more I have to do and how much more is expected of me.

I joked before I started this job that as long as I don't burn the place down I will have succeeded. Now I don't feel that way - now I'm really invested - in the kids, in the future of the organization and in the department. I have employees and students that it's my job to help - every day - yeah, I need a nap!

Held auditions for the spring play (talk about pressure!) this week. Cast the show from the 22 kids who showed up - including my two leads who I've been warned about -- I've never been one to listen to someone else's opinion or judge someone for the life they lead off the stage -- I just hope I haven't created even more problems for myself. Only time will tell, of course, and they were the right students to cast so with this intell hopefully I'll be able to avoid problems.

Off again this weekend for NH - this time for the annual theatre awards. Hopefully next weekend I can finally spend time in my new hometown and see some sights. I think a little sight seeing might just be the jolt I need to feel better and not so stressed about everything.