The cult of personality

I had a (blind) date a couple of weeks ago, and I've come to the conclusion that there's probably not going to be a second date.

(So no worries about karma coming back to bite me on this one.)

Why no second date? Because... well, I can pick up on lack of interest when it's staring me right in the face.

This, of course, then leads to the inevitable self-doubting, then the inevitable self-assurances that it's not you, it's him, blah blah blah.

But, in this case, I think it was me. Or, more specifically, my personality.

And I'm okay with that.

Here's the gist: The guy I went out with was pretty quiet/shy. And I just don't think he was into my in-your-face/talk-to-anyone personality.

That's not to say that there's anything wrong with being quiet/shy OR loud/outgoing. It's just to point out that not *everyone* is always going to mesh with your personality style, and that's perfectly okay.

The sad part is that I came to this realization over the weekend after watching an episode of The Millionaire Matchmaker in which this very cute -- and very shy -- millionaire went on a date with a girl who was very outgoing, beautiful, had her shit together, etc. (I was actually watching thinking, "I would soooo be friends with this girl!") But he didn't ask her out for a second date. And it was pretty clear it was because her personality was just a little too much for him.

I felt like I was watching an episode of my own life right there on Bravo.

(Except, you know... blogmom doesn't have creepy scary bangs like Patti Stanger.)

So, it didn't work out. At least I gave it a shot. But I'm not going to change who I am. I'm loud. I'm outgoing. I was once described as "effervescent." And I realize that may be too much for someone who is more mild-mannered, reserved and quiet.

But that doesn't mean that there's anything wrong with me. Or that there's anything wrong with him.

It just means that there wasn't something right about "us."

P.S. Happy S.A.D. Week!

Laptop love

Remember how I said blogdad was conspiring to fix me up with some guy he (sort of) knows?

Well, our beloved blogdad forgot to mention that, in the midst of telling this guy about me, he also whipped out his laptop -- in an office setting -- and showed the guy my picture on his computer!

(I'm told it was a "flattering" picture, which I assume to mean it was not a bathing suit shot from our family summer vacation.)

Sweet Jesus and Mary, peeps. It's like blogdad is a roving version of eHarmony!

(Except I didn't get to pick my profile picture!)

(Easter) Sealed with a kiss

What's got two thumbs and is attending a charity event next Thursday to support my friend going up on the auction block?

THIS BRIDESMAID.

See, my friend is participating in the Easter Seals' Single in the City Bachelor & Bachelorette Auction. So I'll be supporting both her and a great cause at the same time.

(And I'll be bringing my checkbook to possibly even help my own love life in the process. Which has sort of become a charity case in and of itself, no?)

So anyhow... if you were wondering whether I have a date lined up with any of my potential cuties next Thursday, wonder no more.

I'll be too busy riding a mechanical bull and supporting my friend.

(One part of that sentence is false. I'll let you figure out which part.)

See you there?!?

Kickin' it at Carnaval!

Don't forget about the Jump Back Ball discount for 27 Dresses readers! Click here for the full details. And you better get on that because the special offer code ("DRESS") expires tomorrow!

(Hey, if I can't dish about boys right now, at least I can save you some money, right?)

Later, lovelies!

When it rains, it pours

Holy crap, readers! In the short span of a month, I have gone from writing a letter to St. Nick asking him to bring me a guy to having many potential suitors pop up.

(That's what she said.)

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not dumb enough to believe that these guys are all the perfect future Mr. Always a Bridesmaid. In fact, they're all at varying levels of discussions and/or interest. But here's a sampling of who's been blowing up my little old blackberry over the past few weeks:

• The Hottest Guy Ever (HGE) has resurfaced (after weeks of being MIA). Of course, via text. We're maybe supposed to have drinks next week, though I've heard that one before with that guy.
  
• Blogdad gave my number to some guy he sees in the field a lot. I know this is foolish, but this kid's name makes me giggle every time I hear/read it. I, apparently, have the maturity level of a 5th grader sometimes. But, this guy sounds like he could be a good match -- at least, on paper.
  
• A blog reader emailed me to fix me up with a friend of hers. (Confession: I decided to meet the reader in person to a.) make sure she wasn't a loony toon and b.) make the potential fix-up less creepy if I did like/trust her. A bonus? Even if this thing doesn't work with her friend, I actually very much like her!!) So I've actually talked to this boy (an actual conversation -- not just stupid teenage texting!) and have plans to get together with him soon. And since we've actually chatted, I think he sounds pretty good both on paper and in person! Definitely at the top of my list right now.
  
• Blogaunt had conspired with a neighbor of hers -- over the SUMMER -- to attempt to fix me up with the neighbor's nephew. It was so long ago, in fact, that both blogaunt and I had forgotten she'd done that until this guy randomly emailed me this week. I've heard of the "3-day rule," but never the "5-month rule" of waiting to call. Random!
  
• While out to dinner with a friend last week, we both developed crushes on our waiter. Lucky for me, she is married, so I got dibs. We joked (slashed flirted with) with him all nite, and while I was in the ladies' room, the waiter apparently asked my friend about me. They agreed that he should slip his phone number in with the bill when he brought it to the table. Which he did. So I called, and now we're playing phone tag (both voicemail and text). This one is really sort of a stretch for me (he seems both young and pretty immature), but he is sooooo cute that I might have to look past that.
  
• Several months ago, I met a guy who is mutual friends with one of my girlies. He asked her for my number, and we've chatted/emailed/texted occasionally since. And juuuuust when I think he's fallen off the face of the earth, I get a simple random, "Hi, Always a Bridesmaid!" text.
  

I mention all of this because, in the past two days, I have heard from EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. of these guys. (After going literally months with nothing.) Which is all random and crazy and fun and overwhelming at once.

But my philosophy is this: Dating is a numbers game. And you've gotta hang with a lot of frogs before you find your price. But it only takes one to be... well... the one. So, I'm not going to immediately rule out any of these guys (though some are certainly early faves). But I'm also not going to write a lot about them until I have a better sense of where things are (or aren't) progressing with them.

(Just a weird karma thing I'm feeling, peeps. Don't judge!)

Wish me luck, and please bear with the potential lack of updates as I sort through all of this beefcake!

Jump Back! What a Deal!

So apparently the fine folks over at PlayhouseSquare read my little ol' blog and know that I'm planning to go to Jump Back Ball this year to have fun and *potentially* even meet the Mr. Future Always a Bridesmaid.

(Hey, stranger things have happened! I know of at least two couples who met at the event in years past -- one of which is getting married this summer!)

What does that mean for all of you? Well, if you go to this link to buy tickets before 11am on Tuesday, February 2, you'll get a special rate. (YES! Just for reading this blog!) Just enter the code DRESS and voila! Cheaper tix for my lovely readers.

($135, to be exact. Regular pricing goes up to $150 on February 1.)

Now, time for me to go shopping for a dress and shoes... or perhaps even some glass slippers... ;)

Will I see you there?

Opinions are like a**holes

I've been blogging long enough to know that every once in a while, some random faceless reader will attempt to "get" you by posting a mean or demeaning comment.

(Or even worse... attempting to sabotage your dating life!)

So I wasn't all that surprised when I approved a comment from a reader over the weekend (on this post) that said:

Speaking of bat shit crazy... has it occured to you
that maybe it IS you?

Actually, Anonymous, no. That thought has never occurred to me. (And, also, "occurred" has two r's, FYI.)

Because I'm not. Just because a girl has bad luck in the love department does not mean she is crazy.

I mean, everyone is certainly entitled to his/her opinion about me. (My opinion is that I'm faaahbuuulous!) And I realize that by putting myself out there with this blog, I'm opening myself up to those criticisms.

And of course I've questioned decisions or situations about my dating life over the past couple of years. (Why did I even go out with that guy? Why didn't it work out with that other one? How did she end up with him?) I mean, what single girl hasn't wondered about such things?

But no matter how much I question those things, I'm also secure enough to know that I am NOWHERE NEAR batshit crazy.

And I would venture to say that anyone who knows me IRL would corroborate that I am, indeed, a fully functioning, totally normal young professional woman... who just happens to still be single.

(Though if you do know me in real life, please do comment on this post and let me know if you think I AM batshit crazy. Maybe I'm just totally unaware?!?)

So, Anon, I guess what I'm saying is that I'm sure you thought you were really going to hurt my feelings or send me into some deep spiral of depression by posting your little dig. And you're certainly entitled to your opinion.

But I'm here to tell you that just because a girl has had a hard time finding her Prince Charming doesn't mean that there's something wrong with her.

(And if you're a single gal reading this, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Unless you are, indeed, batshit crazy. In which case, please forget everything I just said. HA!)

And anyway... who posts nasty blog comments at 1am on weekend? Someone with a *really* rocking love life themselves, I'm sure.

Do you know me IRL? Am I batshit crazy and just totally in denial!?!?