Shaping Up to Being an Awesome Birthday

It's that time of year again! MY BIRFDAY!!!

For about the past 2 months , Sean has been planning something for me for my birthday and has been saying things to me like "Another thing came together for your birthday. And you have no idea what it is" or "I figured out what we're doing for your birthday" and she wouldn't tell me. I have absolutely NO IDEA what is going on. Even Marine is in on it, talking to her about birthday stuff in front of me but being all cryptic about it. Like he said at dinner one day, "Oh. By the way, I got clearance". Clearance for what? Why would he need clearance? It is driving me crazy.

I had already known that Marine wasn't going to be here for my birthday because he was going to Wisconsin to go see his daughter. So that meant he wasn't going to be here for the actual day or for the weekend that Sean was planning. I'm kind of disapointed but I totally understand and so we made plans for him to stay with me that Sunday.

The night before he left he stayed with me since I'm so close to BWI and he told me that he wanted to give me my gift before he left. He had been stressing because "they" didn't come in the mail that week like they were supposed to but he was telling me anyway. So Marine hands me a card and inside he drew 2 pictures of tickets that said "Admission for one to see Wicked and a trip to New York City". Did I mention these bitches are for ORCHESTRA CENTER?!!? Needless to say I flipped my shit since I have been dying to see this show since 2004. But what really meant the most was the fact that I had only mentioned that I wanted to see it one time. And it was a while ago that I had said that. It floored me that he remembered.

I am SO EXCITED for my birthday and my special trip with my special guy. He really is too good to be true. And I especially can't wait for my birthday weekend with my girls!!!! (I think that's whose going anyway lol)

-Ray

Whoa...Sorry its been a while

Wow I totally didn't realize how long I've been procrastinating with my updates! My bad!

So here's the run down:

-Marine dumped the New York girl. I'm a happy camper.

-Marine= best. sex. EVER.

- He still wanted to take it slow because of his EX and what not. I don't really care as long as he is seeing only me

- Middle of August at a Baribe or Ken party at mine and Sean's place, he told me that he wanted for us to be like the "real" Barbie and Ken since they were boyfriend and girlfriend. I immediately needed new panties.

-We are now "in a relationship" on FB (because you know a relationship isn't legit until you are in one on FB) However, he can't say he is in one with me because of the Marines and the EX and blah blah blah. I don't really care. It's just nice not to see single on my page anymore.

-I just realized I am a sad person after making that above statement.

Overall things are going extremely well and I REALLY like him. More than I should right now actually. Usually when I'm in a relationship my head is talking my heart out of things and I'm very practical; or hiding behind a wall. Whatever you want to call it. But with Marine that hasn't happened once. I'm really curious/excited/scared shitless as to what that means. Only time will tell!

Ray

Date Numero Dos

1 Point awarded to The Marine: He came to Baltimore.

3 Points awarded to The Marine: He survived the interrogation from Sean and Lola*

5,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 Points awarded to The Marine: He is a spectacular kisser!

So, as you can read, he came to see me. He met up with me and the gals at a local bar and as soon as he sat down it started.

Sean: So what part of the military are you in?

Marine: The Marines.

Sean: When did you enlist?

Marine: 2002.

Sean: How long do you plan to stay?

Marine: Like 6 or 7 more years.

Sean: What is your rank?

Marine: Sergeant. Wow you really know the right questions to ask (nervous laugh).

Sean: Yeah. I'm an Air Force brat.

Marine: Ah. Okay.

That was the end of the military talk. I love my best friends <3>
After that nice little ice breaker the rest of the evening went very well. Sean and Lola had to leave some time after that because Lola had to get home. Again, we had great conversations and were definitely more flirty (i.e. he stared at my ass a lot and was vocal about it lol). After last call we headed back to the apartment for some "cuddling" and such. And if you're wondering, no, I did not sleep with him. I kind of like this kid so I don't want to ruin it. However, this choice was not made and held without effort because he definitely was good at trying to change my mind. I've had blue balls for about a week now.

-Ray

A little cooking warms the heart

Just saw Julie and Julia and my heart is overwhelmed with love, cooking and the desire for a love like "Julie" and her sweet husband. So there's my dream life. Well, minus the part where she hates her full time job and needs mental relief. Just the cooking and loving part. And not maybe not the same cookbook due to my shellfish allergy and preference for veggies, rather than red meat. But using my Vegetarian or Chicken cookbook to make someone else happy. And a wife, rather than a husband, to cheer me on, sass me when I'm being uncooperative and leave until things settle down and I realize I can't live without her.

I show my love through food: I pour my heart into each meal and put extra effort into meals I make for the people I love. Hours are spent shopping for the ingredients, prepping and cooking these ellaborate meals eaten in only twenty minutes. But I love it: their faces when they take the first bite, their eyes lighting up and closing as they chew, their adventurous nature in trying vegetables they "never eat!"

My dream woman will try anything once. She will smile through meals she may not be excited about but purely because she sees my excitement in making them. She will get up at 8 am on a Saturday morning just for breakfast with me and stay up until 1 am while I cook my late-night snack.

Where are you Miss Right? I'm waiting to make you dinner...and maybe breakfast.

Okay, So Why Did You Tell Me This?

I'm officially confused. So, things with The Marine are going well. We're texting a lot and he's planning on coming up to see me. But he definitely just threw a stick in the spoke of things. He sent me this text:

Well Miss before we chill, I figured I'd let ou know what's up. I told you how I do the whole honesty thing. I don't have a girlfriend or anything and you were seriously the first date I've beeon on since the divorce. However the last time I went to NY I met a lady and have talked to her for a while now so I am going to see her when I go up this weekend. I didn't want to lead you on like I only have eyes for you. I think you are awesome and I am definitely attracted to you both physically and mentally. So if this changes anything and you don't want me to tay let me know. I'd love to chill with you even just as friends but I figured I'd let you make the decision.

Uhh...what the bloody hell is this? No, really. What is this? I don't get it. Why is he telling me this? When I read it I immediately felt like my ego had been punched in the face, set on fire, and then dragged in dog shit (especially since right after I read this I realized that I locked my keys in my car). I didn't respond immediately because I really had no idea what to say and, honestly, it made me upset. So I immediately forwarded it to Sean who gave me some awesome advice: this is dating. We're not boyfriend and girlfriend. He has no committment to me and vice versa. This is what happens with dating and he's just being really open about it. If I had someone else I was seeing, I would continue to see him. Also, I compared and contrasted this chick to me (like girls do to eachother).

Me:

• I live in Maryland
• My parents live 10 minutes away from him, meaning I come home a fair amount
• I'm attractive
• I have a fun personality
• I have my shit together

Skank:

• She lives in NY
• He doesn't/won't see her often
• She's fat (in my mind)
• She's ugly (in my mind)
• She's a loser (in my mind)
• She has the personality of a wet mop (in my mind)
  
  

So, I feel better. Also, I came off as sort of unavailable when I met him since I had all those creepers swarming around me so I don't seem desperate or lame. I let him sweat it out for about 3 or 4 hours and didn't say anything. Around 5 I texted back "I appreciate the honesty. I'll see you tomorrow". I tried to seem very cool and almost detached so he wouldn't think this had affected me. Things have been different since then with the texting, meaning he hasn't been as flirty which makes me a bit nervous. But I guess we will see. Hopefully I won't screw myself and say something snarky since he decided to be so open. I'm a sarcastic bitch and some things come out of my mouth that don't really mean to. *Fingers crossed*

Any insight as to why he felt the need to reveal this information?- Ray

The Marine

Oh boy. This is going to be interesting. I've had my first date with The Marine and so far he seems pretty awesome. He is a ton more mellow than I thought he would be, being a Marine and all. I mean, you know what I'm talking about. Most military guys are raging douche bags who think that they're better than everyone else and that women are just walking vaginas. This marine, not so much.

We met for lunch last Sunday at my favorite restaurant in Small Town and talked for about 3 hours. Of course, there was eating intermingled with the talking but we talked for the better part of the meal. No awkward pauses, smart, witty, gets my humor, GORGEOUS, polite, pretty much everything that a girl could ask for on a first date. Only one "hang up"; he is divorced and has a little girl.

Now I really don't have a problem with this but it made my brain have a hiccup for a second. His daughter is absolutely beautiful and I'm sure she's really sweet, it just makes me a little nervous since I've never had to deal with an ex-wife and a daughter before. But I come from a divorced family and my step-mom had to deal with 3 kids and an ex-wife so that gives me a bit of an idea of how to approach the situation. Plus I'm not one to shy away from a challenge so I'll be okay.

After lunch we met up with his friends for a bit then went to see a movie which was TERRIBLE! (HEED MY WARNING: DO NOT SEE PUBLIC ENEMIES!) And the theater was absolutely frigid but that did lead to him putting his arms around me to keep me warm. I've never been so content with being freezing cold in my life.

The night ended with a very nice, sweet kiss and my parents thinking I was kidnapped. So that was awesome. I'm really looking forward to seeing him again. I'm definitely intrigued.

Monogamy

I don't want to date. I just want Princess Charming to show up and sweep me off my feet. I will know when I see her - she will have that Disney Princess sparkle in her eyes and her smile will stop me in my tracks. (The tiny waist and giant boobs are a bonus.) She won't want anyone but me...and maybe she will sing like Amy Adams in Enchanted.

Dating is like parking downtown on a Friday night. You drive around aimlessly for45 minutes searching for a spot. You pass an empty spot, circle the block and its gone when you get back. You see another great spot only one block from the bar but its a one-way street and you can't turn down there. You finally pull up on a spot. Its six blocks from the bar and you're wearing four-inch heels. Whatever, its finally a spot. After trying every paralleling parking technique you learned in driving school, you can't fit in this spot to save your life. You give up. You go home. You hate parking. You realize its just like dating. Now you hate dating.

I don't want to drive around all night, pass a million spots that I inevitability can't park in, give up and go home. I want to believe there's someone who is the total package: one block from the bar, on the right side of the road, on a two-way street, with enough room for a mid-size SUV to shimmy in there and still there when I get back around the block.