#107

theabcdefg Emily 2.0, Goodtime Guy, The Comedian Leave a comment

As soon as I was invited to my friend’s New Year’s Eve wedding in Miami, I was on a mission to kiss an(y) eligible bachelor at midnight and, ideally, get laid. 

The plan was simple:

  1. Beg the happy couple to seat me at a table with single men
  2. Pack condoms
  3. Look hot & win everyone over with my undeniable charm

Dec 31 – The Wedding

The ceremony was insanely beautiful, I cried, blah blah blah. However, as we located our seats for dinner, I felt betrayed when I discovered I’d been seated at a table with exactly zero single men. My one request had been brutally rebuffed. Nevertheless, I persisted. 

I ended up identifying two contenders:

  1. Another single gal’s platonic plus-one
  2. A friend of the bride I once met a few years ago

I danced and chatted with both, but felt more of a vibe blossom with the second. When dessert was announced, I forced my wingmen (my good friend + her husband) to accompany me in relocating to his table, where he and I talked for a while.

Fast forward to midnight: champagne was passed out and we all clinked and cheered on the dance floor. Despite being paired up in a crowd of actual-pairs, he and I didn’t immediately kiss. After 30-60 seconds of awkwardly bobbing amongst the couples, I told him, “we can kiss if you want.” He laughed and so we did. A little bit later, he asked me if I had explored the rest of the massive tropical backyard extending beyond the party. I’m no dummy, so I joined him for a stroll—i.e., we made out on the dark garden path. As the wedding wound down, he asked for my number and we talked about meeting up in Miami Beach the next day. 

Jan 1 – The Next Day

After having lunch with my friend, I met up with him and his friends at the beach a little before 4pm. About 30 mins after I arrived, his friends decided to head back to their Airbnb in downtown Miami to shower and change before dinner. He hung back with me and we stayed on the beach for another half hour, until it got too cold. We walked the few blocks back to my swanky hotel so he could use the bathroom before calling a car. We chastely kissed to break the tension. His friends were still stuck in traffic and Uber was taking forever; his car wouldn’t arrive for 30 mins, so I told him he could shower. I showered after him, got dressed, and we proceeded to make out because what else were we supposed to do? After a while, he got a notification that his car had been CANCELED. Thank you, Universe! So, he told his friends not to wait up for him and we spent the next couple of hours having a very good time. Afterwards, we grabbed dinner nearby, he finally got a car home, and I snuggled myself into bed, exhausted and extremely proud that my cute ass hotel room did not go to waste. 

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

After breaking my TWENTY-month celibacy streak, I was flying high. I had achieved my goal, ringing in the new year with hotel sex. I wasn’t even that upset when our 2-text conversation the following afternoon led to half-a-week of total silence. Confused, yes. Heartbroken, no. 

When my therapist (Emily 2.0 goes to therapy!) pointed out that I seem to worry more about what other people want instead of focusing on what I want, I paused to reflect on what I actually wanted from Goodtime Guy. We have mutual friends and had a lot of fun together; so, naturally, I wanted to explore if there was something there. I decided to ask him out. (Go, me!) He asked if that was my way of inviting him back to my bed (my response: yes and no), and then gifted me the following:

“Real talk tho, what we had in Miami was very fun and I’d certainly love to find that sweet spot again, but you should know I’m not looking for anything serious and don’t want to lead you on if you are.”

God bless a man who hates ambiguity. With the possibility of a relationship no longer on the table, I was freed to solely consider whether or not I want to continue having mutually enjoyable sex with not-a-sociopath, without constantly speculating if I’m doing “it” “right” to “ensure” he falls in love with me. My heart, mind, and clit joined in a resounding chorus of “YES!” So, I thanked him for setting expectations, and granted him permission to booty call me.

Now, in case you’re worried that I’m deluded or energetically blocking myself from finding My Person, allow me to share this relevant digression about how my successfully-casual relationship with The Comedian came to be. For our second “date,” he invited me to his apartment while his roommate was gone. We got naked pretty quickly, and had a grand ol’ time. When we texted a few days later, he told me he wasn’t looking for anything serious, but would want to hook up again. I took a minute to remind myself that he was far from “boyfriend material,” and thus responded in kind, telling him I wasn’t looking for anything serious with him either. Presented with a nearly identical situation 7 years later, I have no qualms about leaving the door open for more play, pleasure, flirtation, and fun. 

Don’t get it twisted: I’m still eager to enter partner mode, but I’ve decided to slow my roll and try to go about it with a little less severity. Over the past year, I’ve been unable to meet a man without immediately analyzing whether or not he could be The One. In fact, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t doing exactly that at the wedding. I can only assume it’s imbued me with a desperate intensity that inadvertently repels anyone who piques my interest. 

For the sake of not ruining my own surprise of who I end up with, I surrender. My new strategy (my therapist also pointed out that my need to “strategize” finding love could be something to explore…) is to have more FUN and create a life I actively enjoy. I had an excellent weekend in Miami; not because a guy slept with me, but because I did exactly what I wanted. I listened to my sacral chakra—and even got someone to touch it. ;) And I want more of that! More flirting, more dancing, more makeouts, more leisurely rolls in the hay. More sexual encounters where I ask for what I want and am greeted with enthusiastic teamwork. By following my bliss wherever it leads me, I can only assume I’ll become even more irresistibly magnetic and attract the very best person for me. If not, at least I’ll have a good time along the way.

#106

theabcdefg CWFFF, Emily 2.0, Solo Diner Leave a comment

First of all, I want to thank everyone who shared their two cents regarding Email #104. I feel rich in perspective, if not in pennies. The consensus was that it’s normal to not feel crazy chemistry or partner pings on the first few dates. You all voted for a slow burn vs. immediate sparks, and reminded me that the only question I should be asking myself after a date is, “Do I want to see this person again?” It warms my heart with reassurance to know that many of you initially felt meh about the love of your life. 

Update on CWFFF:

We chatted on the phone in late October to get on the same page. It was a good convo and we talked about hanging out again. However, our November availability never lined up and I’m out of town for all of December. We haven’t texted in a few weeks (but he’s also not much of a texter, which I don’t mind) so I’m unsure if it’s officially fizzled or he just knows I’m not around. There have been a few moments where I’ve been tempted to reach out, but I don’t know if that’s because I want to talk to HIM or if I just want some attention. TBD for the foreseeable future.

Update on Fellow Solo Diner:

We met up the following weekend for food and drinks (I got a virgin Hot Toddy, aka a Hot Fraudy). He was cuter than I remembered (phew!), but despite talking for ~3 hours, I was confused if we were hanging out romantically or platonically. He was recovering from a hangover, but it also seemed like he wasn’t that interested. He suggested we hang out again as we walked to the subway, but, to my severe disappointment, there was no kiss. (I’m basically a born again virgin at this point.) We made plans over text to do something the following Sunday, but I could tell something was off. On Saturday, he texted to say he wanted to cancel because “I kinda have been feeling like I need a break from dating to focus on other things going on in my life right now, and feel I shouldn’t get like too involved with someone else.” I told him I was getting that vibe and wished him the best. I was mildly disappointed, but mostly because the chance to lock lips with a human man had eluded me yet again. Due to both of our current circumstances, I knew there wasn’t long-term potential with him, but had decided he could be a fun fling. While I suspect the Universe doesn’t want me taking slutty detours along my treacherous Husband Quest, I still intend to try at my friend’s wedding this New Year’s Eve. 

Another barely-worth-mentioning update:

Months of isolated misery got the best of me and I had a FaceTime date with a Hinge man from my childhood bedroom (at least my mom wasn’t home). He’s really smart and we had fun, but I haven’t heard from him in over a week so methinks that’s that. Plus, I think I need to consider it a Red Flag of Incompatibility that he doesn’t believe we have souls; it leads me to believe he would scoff at my various spiritual interests.

Speaking of soulful insights:

I’ve been so concerned with making sure to present the “real me” to potential suitors, that I’m starting to question who/what that even is. Maybe my authentic self is really just a messy mish mash of contradictions; and instead of trying to dig down deep enough to uncover the most genuine nuggets of who I am, I need to just dump the whole box onto the table and let these guys sort through the clutter until one decides he’ll take the whole lot.

Happy Solstice and, I guess, cheers to the emotional rummage sale I’ll be hosting in 2022. I encourage you to invite any and all qualified shoppers.

#105 Went to dinner alone. Wound up on a date?

theabcdefg Emily 2.0, Solo Diner Leave a comment

The night before my 31st birthday, I took myself out for a prix fixe dinner at a nearby restaurant. [My reservation was at 6:30pm, but some of my friends were going later at 9pm. They encouraged me to change my rez and join them, but I told them I didn’t want to eat that late and I’d be long gone by the time they arrived.] 

My “table” for one was part of the bar area, in the corner, facing out the front window. It was actually really nice to gaze upon the outside world while I ate, avoiding any accidental eye contact with the rest of the diners who were surely looking on in pity. During my second course, another lonely soul was seated at the window bar one chair away from me. I continued gazing and grazing while lightly eavesdropping as the waitress told him all the seats at the actual bar were full. What a couple of losers we were. 

After a few minutes of parallel solitude, he turns to me and says, “So I can’t decide if these are the best or the worst seats in the place.” I tell him I think they’re the best, and the ice is broken. Gradually, our paced-out banter reveals that we’re actually enjoying ourselves. At one point, the waitress (I later learn they’re friends) tells him a seat at the bar is open but he chooses to remain in our timeout-corner-with-a-view. We eventually introduce ourselves and, while we’re each on different courses of the meal, basically end up having dinner together (but, like, still separately). 

In fact, I ate so slowly that by the time I finished dessert and checked my phone, it was already 8:40pm. My friends would be arriving soon, so I figured I might as well hang a little while longer to say hi. In between greeting my friends, he asks if I’d like his number. I say sure and the rest is history. 

Dinner conversation highlights:

  • When I tell him my birthday is the next day, he guesses I’m turning 27. Bless him and bless my daily commitment to sunscreen since middle school. Turns out I’m 7 months older than him.
  • He was living in Buenos Aires (where I studied abroad) before the pandemic brought him back, and he’s planning to apply to grad school there.
  • He’s interested in immigration as it relates to climate change. Verrrrry cool.
  • We laughed a lot! I was sober, he was drinking, and it was refreshing to get to know a stranger in a no-stakes, non-date context. I wasn’t trying to impress him or decide if he was husband material; I was simply glad to have someone to chat with. It was an unexpected delight.

We’ve texted a bit and have plans to hang out tomorrow. Even if this goes absolutely nowhere, I will remember that night fondly forever. Because of the countless times I’ve gone places alone and rom-com-dreamed a cute-enough stranger would be so bold as to approach the magnificent me, I’ve always been crestfallen—reminded that meet-cutes only happen in the movies. Or do they?

#104

theabcdefg Alabama Boy, CWFFF, Emily 2.0, Neighbor Boy, Not My Husband Leave a comment

For your appetizer, please enjoy a few minor updates that I forgot to mention:

Back in March, on my first date with Not My Husband, the bartender turned out to be none other than Alabama Boy. Despite him being masked the whole time, his incredibly unique first name sparked my memory and led me to creep on IG, where I confirmed he is not only the bartender, but owner of the bar I’ll obviously never revisit. 

In August, near my old neighborhood, I was sitting outside a coffee shop with my friend, when I saw Neighbor Boy in line for a coffee of his own. Reluctant to be recognized myself, it was challenging to confirm his identity—but I am 97% sure it was him. He has a dog now, which I sincerely hope is boosting his mental health. 

In July (I’m aware this is out of chronological order), one of the Zoom dates I had in April resurfaced, apologetic for never following up and asking if I’d like to meet in person. Our Zoom interaction, while less than memorable, had been perfectly enjoyable, so I agreed to an in-person version. Despite a small red flag pertaining to how he basically chugged 4-5 beers while I nursed 2 (granted, I’d come from client drinks and had told him to catch up), the IRL conversation was equally enjoyable. Nonetheless, I told him I felt called to spend my energy elsewhere.

However, in the words of Carrie Bradshaw, “I couldn’t help but wonder…” Was the lack of sparks a sign of a healthy, comfortable connection, or am I simply a charming conversationalist who can have a pleasant time with anyone? What’s the difference between feeling comfortable and at ease with a guy, and feeling not romantically interested? Where’s the line between being OTL and “settling” for any decent human?

Now, for your main course:

I was recently set up with my cousin’s wife’s friend’s fiance’s friend (CWFFF) for a blind date. He was given my phone number and we texted to make plans. I informed him that I’m taking a break from alcohol and don’t mind if he drinks, but he was surprisingly into the idea of a sober date and we planned to get dinner at Via Carota. Though he came highly recommended, the idea of meeting a complete stranger for a booze-free, cloth-napkin dinner made me nervous. I was going to have to be my metaphorically-naked self—which is historically scarier than being my literally-naked self. Knowing I wouldn’t be chaperoned by alcohol, it felt like I was going on my very first date again. Thankfully, he turned out to be kind, funny, and smart and we talked for 5 hours. We hugged goodbye, confirmed we both had an enjoyable evening, and made plans to hang out again in two weeks. We texted occasionally, casually, and I experienced zero anxiety (likely because I’ve been too distracted by work anxiety).

Last night, for our second sober date, we got pho (I paid this time!) and then made the spontaneous decision to snag the last two spots in a nearby escape room (and smoke a tiny bit of weed). Afterwards (we all escaped), he walked me to the subway station and told me he had a great time and would like to see me again. I told him I had a good time too, but was only feeling a friendship vibe so far. In an unprecedented display of honesty, I shared what I assume is my unkind habit of continuing to date someone while I wait to see if my feelings might change or grow. I told him I didn’t want to waste his time, but he was very understanding and said he still wanted to invest more time in getting to know each other. Mildly stoned and trying very hard to find the right words, I’m not sure how I came off. When he asked if I wanted him to stop contacting me, I said no. But when he asked if I wanted to hang out again soon, I said I didn’t know. We obviously didn’t kiss, but hugged goodbye before I got on the train. 

I rode home feeling confused and sad. I thought about the chemistry and excitement I had with Sauce Man in the beginning. I’ve only ever followed that feeling before—and look where it’s gotten me. When confronted with a communicative, emotionally available man who seems to really like me, I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel. Are those qualities more important than flirtation and fun? Are passion and peace of mind mutually exclusive? Am I reflexively rejecting the very thing I’ve been trying to manifest? Or is he just the first good example of what a quality partner can look like, a green flag that I’m on the right path? 

In trying so hard to break my old patterns, I feel like I can no longer trust how I feel. Is placid contentment how we’re supposed to feel in a “healthy” relationship? Or does passion still count for something, and I just need to learn to balance it out with substance and communication? How am I supposed to know if someone is a great match, or just a great person? I am truly confused, so I invite any of you in strong partnerships to reach out with your thoughts.

In the meantime, I suggested that he and I cut to the chase and discuss (over the phone or in person) what we’re looking for in love and life. While I don’t have a very good handle on how I should be feeling in love, I’ve at least gained recent clarity on where I’m headed in life—back to the west coast, in a year. If we can see whether or not our visions align, maybe that will help confirm what I am, or am not, feeling.

#103 Emily 2.0 is Live

theabcdefg Diet Coke Dealer, Emily 2.0, Sauce Man, The Comedian Leave a comment

PART 3

It’s been 14 months since my mouth was caressed by that of another, let alone my genitalia. For me, the lack of kissing is more concerning than the lack of coitus. I’ve been making out far longer, and more frequently, than I’ve been knocking boots. 

When I first had sex at the ripe old age of 21, I was so excited to be fucking AT ALL (and relieved I wouldn’t be graduating college a virgin), that I didn’t even consider the possibility that it could be better. All I knew was that it felt good and we were falling in love—what more could I have asked for?? Apparently, a lot! Which would only gradually dawn on me over the next near-decade of mostly-mediocre sexual encounters.

The main issue with my subsequent lovers was that we never dated for longer than a month or two (Diet Coke Dealer somehow made it to the 4-month milestone). Usually, by the time I identified and slowly worked up the courage to suggest something different, I’d already been ghosted. So, when I was finally in a relationship with Sauce Man, I didn’t know how to communicate what I wanted from another person, because nobody had ever hung around long enough for me to figure it out.

Telling myself I had no idea what I was doing, I allowed most of my sexcapades to be driven by the guy. And with the exxxception of The Comedian, most of those interactions left me far from the finish line. It wasn’t until Diet Coke Dealer told me that he “could literally have sex with a hole in a wall and still finish” that I finally started to consider answering the dreaded-and-therefore-deflected question: “What do you like?” 

****

With minimal WAP-worthy memories to long for, a sexless year in quarantine was no death sentence. After all, masturbation was always a sure thing. But how often was I even doing that? A few years ago, an energy healer told me that my sacral chakra was “barely ticking” (a healthy chakra should be happily spinning), so she gave me the assignment to have 4 “releases” per week. Let’s just say I rarely completed my homework. 

Then, inspired by the habit-building efficacy of the 60-day Sanctuary Challenge, I decided to take my self-care up a notch with a self-imposed 60-day Orgasm Challenge. I found a friend to be my accountability buddy, and we spent March and April texting each other about our commitment to a daily orgasm. 

I naively assumed that by Day 60, I’d be positively radiant with the flush of daily pleasure. But the challenge turned out to be a lot more challenging than I expected, and I only “achieved” orgasm 33/60 days. (What began as a daily commitment to prioritize self-love, soon became just another opportunity to flex my toxic perfectionism.) At first, this felt like a failure—until I realized the real challenge was getting clear about what I want when it comes to sex and intimacy.

On the 27 days when I couldn’t check the box (could be a new euphemism, but I really was keeping a written tally), I was either too tired, too stressed, or simply not in the mood. Once, I texted my friend: “I hate how busy my work is right now. I’m not a great lover when I am overworked.” Sadly, this was a revelation for me.

Another time, I told her: “I ended up missing yesterday and chose not to force one before bed because I’ve been doing that a lot and it doesn’t feel 100% consensual haha.” This made me shamefully realize how accustomed I was to “forcing it” with partners. Reticent to reveal my desires—or anything beyond the vulnerability required to allow another person’s appendage inside my body—I had always assumed it was my job to rev myself up if they couldn’t be bothered to magically read my mind. 

There were even 2 days where I truly tried my best to take myself to O-Town, but just couldn’t get there. After one of these, I texted her: “So I tried last night but didn’t finish. It’s like I also need to commit to seducing myself.” Yet another tragic breakthrough. In the same way I dry up at being commanded to “CUM 4 ME,” I realized how hard it is for me to get off under any kind of pressure—regardless of who it comes from. (Don’t even get me started on quickies.)

In the end, my 60-Day Orgasm Challenge (powered by Unbound, Dipsea, and NSFW XConfessions) turned out to be about a lot more than just orgasms. Sexy stuff aside, it helped me appreciate how much energy a romantic relationship requires—even when it’s just with yourself. Until (but also after) My Partner arrives, that’s the relationship I’ll be focusing on.

Now, whenever my ego is temporarily bruised after a night out cruising for guys with my annoyingly-hot friend, I can always console myself with the reminder that, 1) it’s fine that he asked for her number over mine because I don’t date boys who still have roommates, and 2) I’m hot, too, so I might as well go fuck myself.

#102 Emily 2.0 is Installing…

theabcdefg Emily 2.0, Sauce Man Leave a comment

PART 2

I think it goes without saying that I’m a power user of dating apps. Having come of age on AIM (the locus of the entirety of my 7th grade “relationship”), dating apps allowed me to flex the only flirting skill I ever developed: strategically deploying witty banter from behind the eye-contact-free safety of a screen. 

I admit it: dating apps were absolutely a crutch for me. Sure, crutches slow you down and hurt your armpits, but they also help you walk when you can’t do so on your own. A naive 22-year old new to New York City, I wasn’t a fan of talking to strangers and I didn’t understand how adults made friends, let alone lovers, outside of work. (Plus, I worked at a company where dating coworkers was “not allowed.” FML for being such a rule follower, but also clearly nobody was interested, lol.) I was also poor, and apps made it so I didn’t have to spend money at a bar in order to maybe talk to guys. I could sit on my couch for free and take my time crafting the perfect response. Bless the innovation! 

And helloooooo, this entire newsletter is a testament to the fact that the apps fucking work! Perhaps too well. I never really gave myself a chance to meet people IRL because I could always play it safe and shy by relying on the apps. There would always be another batch of men who might love me, if I just kept swiping. In fact, I’d inevitably get FOMO any time I was off the apps for too long. What if my person was just a few more swipes away?! 

This is the dark side of the apps, the reason (I suspect) most people don’t chat up strangers in the wild like they used to. Endlessly defeated by the fact that guys would rather hide in their phones than bravely approach such a magnificent creature (me), it finally struck me that I’ve been a hypocrite doing THE EXACT SAME THING. 

Although it wouldn’t have mattered if they did approach me. Scared to let anyone in, I would have shared just enough to gain the information needed to morph myself into someone I’d assume they’d like more. I would tell myself they didn’t “deserve” to know the real me yet, when really it was just my way of protecting myself from judgement/rejection. Clearly a winning strategy! 

So here I am, once again, claiming to be “off the apps for good.” I don’t blame you if you don’t believe me; I’m well aware I’m the Girl Who Cried IRL. But lately, in addition to being consistently frustrated by the seeming lack of quality options on Hinge (I gave up on Bumble and Tinder loooong ago), I’ve also been feeling limited by my own profile. Having recently arrived in a place where I feel comfortable showcasing my true self—no matter how polarizing she might be—I discovered how difficult it is to convey my Many Incredible Facets in just 6 photos and 3 prompts. [Not to mention the fact that concisely-and-creatively-communicating-a-variety-of-value-props is literally what I do for a living! So if it’s hard for me, I can only assume it’s even harder for these guys—which is probably why their profiles are all so trite and tiresome.] I started to notice the pessimism that bubbled up every time I opened Hinge, and it felt like a self-fulfilling prophecy—the digital equivalent of sitting at a bar with crossed arms, a sour face, and expecting anyone to approach while expecting, and exuding, the worst.

Officially fed up with the limitations of this stable source of in-cum, I guess you could say I’m going romantically freelance? In the same way I’ve learned to clearly articulate the type of work I’m looking for in my independent career, and confidently say “no” to projects that don’t meet those standards, I look forward to navigating the social seas with:

  • The confidence to ~*bE mYseLF*~ and wave my freak flag proudly,
  • The optimism that my particular brand of freak will tickle the fancy of at least someone, and
  • The courage to prioritize my values and boundaries over the inane desire to be liked by everyone.
  • (Also, some smiles and more approachable body language probably can’t hurt.)

However, I owe much of my professional success to word-of-mouth referrals, so I trust you’ll do your part in singing my praises (personality, beauty, humility, etc.) whenever the opportunity presents itself.

P.S. I forgot to mention that, a few days before I wrote Part 1, I was at an outdoor yoga class when, who puts down their mat directly in front of me? Sauce Man’s cousin. I said hi and we chatted for a bit before class started—it was actually nice! Turns out she recently moved just a few blocks away from me, so I’m sure we’ll be bumping into each other more frequently, LOL. Neither of us brought up Sauce Man, which is great because I genuinely want nothing to do with him the more I reflect on what I can now see was a very unhealthy relationship. Ya live and ya learn.

P.P.S I hope you’re not sick of my painfully-late-in-life revelations just yet, because you better believe there’s going to be a Part 3.

#101 Emily 2.0 is Loading…

theabcdefg Emily 2.0, Not My Husband Leave a comment

Hi there. Remember me? It’s fine if you don’t, because I actually think I might be an entirely new person.

PART 1

After a paltry pandemic picnic date last September, I decided to put my love life on pause because covid dates—bereft of any potential for physical contact—felt more like job interviews than romantic encounters. Then, at the end of November, I decided to start the book Calling in The One. Despite its cringe-worthy cover, it’s actually incredible, akin to 7 weeks of free therapy. I learned A LOT about myself and why I’ve been emotionally unavailable for the past 8 years, realizing that a lot of it* stemmed from my upbringing. (Soooo nice to be able to blame my family!) Jokes aside, I uncovered and began undoing a lot of internalized beliefs, suppressed memories, and other fun demons. 

*Not to mention the fact that 8 years ago is when I swept up the shattered pieces of my heart and unconsciously sealed them away so as to avoid ever again experiencing the blinding pain of being gently dumped by my first love, not because he stopped loving me, but because we were genuinely in two very different places in our lives and it simply wasn’t going to work out. But that’s a tragic tale for another time.

Supplementing Calling in The One with The Sanctuary Challenge and The Artist’s Way, I’ve come out the other side committed to: 

  1. Always sharing my authentic self, thoughts, and feelings (Because how can I expect anyone to love me if they don’t actually know me?)
  2. Establishing and protecting healthy boundaries (with work, friends, family, and beyond)
  3. Showing myself the love and care I want to receive from others (Stay tuned to learn about my self-imposed 60-day Orgasm Challenge!)
  4. Consistently expressing my love and appreciation for others (This one is fun, because the more you do it, the more it comes back to you from all directions)

It’s taken a whiiiile, but I finally feel truly OTL (aka “open to love”).

However! I acknowledged that all my newfound revelations and commitments to change would remain purely theoretical unless I put them into practice, so I slowly got back into dating this year. I used Hinge to go on a handful of Zoom & IRL first dates that were objectively enjoyable, but none of us ever followed up. After this happened a few times, I began to consider the possibility that these men were merely practice tests that I was clearly passing, and the Universe didn’t want me wasting any extra time or energy on them.

But in the middle of this First Date Only epoch, I went out with someone who seemed so freakishly perfect for me, that I became 95% certain I manifested him. I could literally point him out on my vision boards (lol). We only went on two dates, but a host of synchronicities plus some very strong intuition pings convinced me that, after less than one week, this was my husband. 

Initially, out of habit, I told myself “not to get my hopes up.” But aren’t hopes energy? Aren’t they the “positive vibes” we squirt out into the Universe when we’re trying to manifest something? If this is true, then I’d be a FOOL not to send those hopes as high and far out as possible for something I really want. So, I fucking let myself fall down the rabbithole of believing I was finally getting everything I’d been asking for. It felt wild, thrilling, ridiculous, and liberating. I assumed I was feeling all the things one feels when recognizing their Person. 

Long story short, he didn’t turn out to be my husband. I told him I’d like a 3rd date, and he told me he “didn’t think we were the most compatible.” But miraculously, I did not die! I’d been vulnerable, I got rejected, and yet my kintsugi heart remained resilient and whole. I wasn’t even that upset. Mostly, I was confused, feeling led astray by my extra-strength Scorpio intuition. But maybe I had simply read those intense gut feelings incorrectly. Maybe he’d been a new type of test; one that challenged me to shoot my shot when presented with someone too good to miss out on. If so, I appreciate the practice.

Looking back, our senses of humor didn’t line up as well as they could have. And during the last lesson of Calling in The One, that’s one of the qualities that I identified as non-negotiable.

The essential qualities I’m looking for in a Life Partner:

  • Smart & curious
  • Open-minded
  • Optimistic
  • Honest / communicative
  • Hilarious
  • Active / healthy

I still reeeeeeeally want someone who loves to cook, but I’m willing to sacrifice the thing I talk about most if it means I can share my life with someone who meets all 6 of these completely-reasonable criteria. 

Know anyone like this?? Send them my way! 

It’ll give you something to do as you wait for Part 2…

#100 Happy 5 Years …to this eccentric email experiment

theabcdefg Sauce Man, Whatever Leave a comment

No word from Sauce Man, as expected, but I did run into his Hinge profile last weekend. His answer that initiated our matching (”Typical Sunday”) changed from “running, edible, errands” to “long run, spliff, errands.” He also updated the cigarette section from “Never” to “Sometimes.” I don’t know why he’s intentionally making himself less attractive to potential mates, but maybe my complete intolerance of his slowly-increasing tobacco use really bummed him out. He’s also now seeking an avid runner (I guess I wasn’t athletic/outdoorsy enough in the highly specific ways he wanted), so I wish him the best of luck in finding a health-oriented woman who is cool with cigarettes. There’s someone for everyone!

On a similarly adjacent note, I was in a rooftop yoga class Thursday morning when I spied Sauce Man’s cousin a few rows back. She doesn’t live nearby so this was especially random. I intended to say hi to her after class because 1) I did like her, and 2) I wanted to prove I am gracious as fuck and doing really well—but as the Universe would have it, it started to rain and I had to bike home before it got worse. In the end, I think it was probably for the best that we didn’t interact.

But anyways, back to Hinge. A few weeks ago, my friend shared a guy’s profile with me, so I had no choice but to recreate my own to engage. Since then, a few guys have asked me out on IRL dates, but our conversations weren’t riveting or even complete enough for me to risk meeting up during a pandemic only to have our first interaction impeded by masked facial expressions. Plus, having missed out on the virtual dating boom of early quarantine, I had been looking forward to meeting men in the safest, laziest way possible.

The one guy who asked me out for virtual drinks seemed pretty cool, so I agreed to MY FIRST ZOOM DATE. Last Wednesday night, I made myself a martini and we chatted for almost 3 hours. It was awkward at moments, but enjoyable overall (so, like, the same as most offline dates?). I have no idea if we’ll have a second virtual date or *gasp* an in-person date, but the gentle ego boost from our sustained, sporadic texting is all I’m really looking for as I continue to focus the majority of my attention on ME ME MEEEEEEEE!

#99

theabcdefg Sauce Man Leave a comment

As some of you may know, Sauce Man and I broke up the day after Memorial Day, a week and a half before our 6-month anniversary. 

The first 4 months of our relationship were a whirlwind of fun, joy, and romance. It was great to be my weirdest self with someone again, and it was just plain nice to both have and be a someone. It really felt like we’d known each other for years. Maybe that’s why we assumed we knew each other better than we actually did. It truly felt like we were falling in love, but ultimately we were stopped short. 

Mid-March, I told him I loved him. He told me he “hadn’t really thought about it.” I think that’s probably when I started shutting myself off from him, little by little. Withholding my vulnerable, truest self until he “deserved” it by saying it back. Not a winning strategy, to say the least.

Then quarantine happened and the momentum we had gained suddenly turned us into an old married couple, but in a bad way. Only allowed to see each other, we started spending all of our free time together, and I think I lost myself a bit. Desperate for him to feel what I was feeling, I let my world revolve around his, and made more time for him than for myself. 

Mid-April is when we had our first big talk. (If I’m being honest with myself, that’s when I knew deep down that we were doomed.) I don’t think either of us knew if quarantine was to blame for the changes in our relationship, but we decided to roll things back a bit in order to recapture our spark—which sounds completely illogical in hindsight. Instead of connecting more and going deeper, I was made to hold myself back from my supposed “boyfriend.” Red flag.

And things did get better, for a time. We celebrated his birthday (no more Tauruses, please!), we Zoomed with his friends, we hiked and biked. But we still weren’t communicating. We weren’t being intimate in any sense of the word. And I went along with it. I saw all of the red flags, and I didn’t speak up. I ignored my gut and pretended everything was fine. I lied—to him and to myself. 

So when we had our second big talk in mid-May, I was ready. I knew things hadn’t been good, and I knew it was because we weren’t talking about anything real. A lotttttt of stuff came out during that conversation. Like how apparently there were a lot of small things I did that bothered him—like talking too loud or not managing my time well enough. And instead of bringing them to my attention and talking about them, he tried to manage situations so that I wouldn’t “do” something I didn’t even know I was doing to annoy him. That felt fucking patronizing. Plus, bigger differences—like how we approach money—were becoming obvious as well.

At the end of that conversation (which actually ended on a positive note), we decided to not talk for a few days, so that we wouldn’t immediately resort to our old patterns—like we did after our first talk. He was going to his cabin for Memorial Day weekend (alone—because instead of thinking a change of scenery and a weekend away together could be beneficial, he assumed we’d have a bad time together………………..), and we’d regroup when he got back. That’s when I finally started asking myself what I really wanted, and if I actually wanted to be with him, now that I knew more about his views and values. After a much-needed “me” weekend of journaling and vision boarding (and honestly not missing him all that much), I concluded that while I didn’t yet know if we were a perfect match, what we had together was special enough to keep trying.

On May 26th, he came over at our prearranged time and we talked. Well, mostly he struggled to convey his thoughts and reflections. After a somewhat confusing monologue, I finally had to ask him if he wanted to keep working on us or if he wanted to end things. He wanted to end things. I guess as much as a guy “respects” you, thinks “you’re a badass,” and claims you’re “probably the best girl he’s ever dated,” none of it matters if he’s not willing to fight for you. 

Before leaving, he asked if we could hug goodbye. I reflexively said “no” but then acquiesced. I told him I’d miss him, he said he would too, and then he took the longest time to exit my apartment: fumbling with the door knob he’s opened a million times, and staring at me with what I can only assume was remorse as he closed the door on himself as slowly as possible. It was a scene right out of a tragic love story, and I just wanted it to end. 

The next day was the worst day I’ve had in a really long time. I slept in, blew off work, and cried a lot. Everything hurt and I hated every minute I had to feel it. The day after that, I already felt so much better. Still a bit down, I was mostly back to normal after 2 or 3 days. I actually started to worry about how “well” I was handling it. And while I’ve had a few bad days since—most of which have been due to the guilt and responsibility I feel being a white person in this repugnant society—I know I’m better off.

While I’ll never know if quarantine was the “reason” we broke up, I like to think it fast-forwarded us to an inevitable realization that might otherwise have taken us way too long to grasp. And for that efficiency, I’m grateful. 

I had some amazing times with Sauce Man, but I also learned a lot—about relationships, myself, and what I really want. Sauce Man might have been my boyfriend, but he was never my partner. And that’s what I’m looking for now. 

My 20s have been a rollercoaster of sex and love, heartbreak and hilarity, lessons upon lessons, and an uncomfortable amount of self-reflection. As I prepare for my 30s, I’m finally getting clear on what I want, and I refuse to settle for anything less than what I deserve.

To Sauce Man and all the characters who came before him: Thank you, next.

#98

theabcdefg Degrassi Dude, Sauce Man Leave a comment

Remember Degrassi Dude? Apparently he moved to Park Slope, because I had my walker shift at the Food Coop last month and HAD TO WALK HIM AND HIS GROCERIES TO HIS APARTMENT. I didn’t recognize him until I was too close to hide/make him wait for another walker, but I greeted him with a “Hey!” that I assumed communicated, “I recognize you, but let’s not make this weird.” However, I’m not sure if he recognized me (??? Is this even possible? I guess I was wearing a hat…) because he tried to make small talk, which I quickly shut down with a “Fine” and proceeded to walk 3 steps behind him for our mandated 10-minute stroll. It was from that vantage point that I noticed his bald spot had increased. :-/

Entirely unrelated, I have since switched my coop shift to another team, day, and time. :)

Otherwise, I’m still dating Sauce Man!