I’m grateful for a long weekend after running myself ragged tying up loose ends in the office and fitting everything in on my calendar. I hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving and that you feasted on wonderful food and gave thanks for the many blessings. I have much to be thankful for this year as well: good health, fine friends, a wonderful and dysfunctional family I enjoy spending time with, great eats, and this blogging community I love more and more each day. This post is coming to you a bit later than I had hoped, but well, such is life sometimes.
Last Friday I went to Le Poisson Rouge on Bleecker Street to listen to Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls with one of my best friends, her live-in girlfriend, and a few other couples. After a hectic day in the office, I was expecting (and hoping for) an evening of acoustic rock and sing-alongs but it turned out to be a plugged-in, very loud rock-and-roll set instead. I still had fun and the girl next to me may have been hitting on me (she was cute) so it made for an interesting evening. Much to the chagrin of the girls I was with that night, I am not pitching for the other team. Yet.
Saturday I met up with Brandon (who now has a girlfriend) and we took the train out to Long Island to attend the engagement party of two of our close friends. I had a ridiculously good time but, again, I was surrounded by friends who are engaged, married, or married-with-children. As a funny aside: At the engagement party I spotted a very handsome, tall guy in his mid-30s. I chatted him up for a bit and conversation took on a natural rhythm (thanks to the many drinks from the open bar). I went to catch up with another friend and when I looked back I noticed him taking a seat next to a very beautiful young woman. As it turns out, she was his wife. I was mortified. Thankfully, she was extremely gracious and sweet and didn’t shoot daggers at me. Or claw out my eyeballs. That would have sucked a lot.
On Sunday I lounged on a sofa curled up to watch the American Music Awards—with another couple who lives in town. Seeing their relationship unfold and advance over the years reminds of some of the happier times I had with my last boyfriend and how much I miss things like matching toothbrushes next to the sink and furnishing an apartment that appeals to both sexes.
Most of my friends are in relationships. With winter just around the corner, this is the time of year when depression creeps in and reminds me of how alone I really am. I’ve had a fine time of it so far, but now that the stores are already setting up shop for Christmas, I don’t want to let another holiday season go by as a single girl. I’m finally ready (I mean REALLY ready) to give this dating thing a go. And despite the fact that I publicly announced to some friends JUST LAST WEEK that I wouldn’t dare go back on Match.com, I may sign up for it after all. And I may have signed up fake usernames in the past few days so I could scope out the cute hippie boys. Maybe I did that.
I credit a friend I reconnected with last weekend for this turn of events. He told me I should play the field for a while and that Match.com might be the perfect way to get started. He also admitted to me that he reads my blog. It means so much to know that a male friend understands where I’m coming from and also appreciates the female perspective. So, to that very special friend: thank you.
Awww, sweet, checking out the hippie boys. Go for it. Happy Holidays.
.-= Jean Has Been Shopping´s last blog ..Monster Truck Mayhem =-.
I’m glad you escaped with your eyeballs – because that could have been messy! 🙂
.-= Rachel Cotterill´s last blog ..Editing =-.
Oh I *hear* you… all of my friends are married… with children. I’ve tried match and eharmony each once, but it’s just not my thing… but then, single men aren’t exactly lining up at my door, so like you, sometimes I think maybe… but with two kids of my own, playing the field is not something I have all the much time for either… I fear I’ll be single forever! 🙂
.-= Sorta Southern Single Mom´s last blog ..Sorta Southern Thanksgiving =-.
I said the same thing about online dating, but after seeing a good friend meet “the one” on eharmony, I’ starting to think it may be the way to go. It’s no different from meeting a dude in a bar!
And just an FYI — You know I’m single and always on the prowl, so if you ever need a break from hangin with the couples, let me know <3.
Wow, Amy Ray…blast from the past!
Glad you’re feeling more relaxed. The holidays are killer.
Playing the field sounds like the right move. A part of me envies your ability to go out and meet new guys, go on dates, hook-up. I loved those days 🙂
.-= Glamamom´s last blog ..MY APPEARANCE ON THE NATE BERKUS SHOW =-.
Ah, she wouldn’t have gotten you, right? Otherwise, she should have been up at the bar, getting her own drink! Anyway, good luck on the Match.com. I am the type who would have totally made up the fake name to scope!
.-= sara@domesticallychallenged´s last blog ..When You Ask a Boy to Decorate =-.
seeing that that guy had a wife had to be a ‘holy shit’ moment!
my very single best friend always says the holidays/winter are the hardest time for her. she keeps considering trying match.com again, too.
I am huge fan of the Indigo Girls! I was not aware of any lesbian mandate, but I get it.
.-= (Florida) Girl with a New Life´s last blog ..Your Advice- Falling On Hard Times =-.
New Years has always been the hardest holiday to be single for me so I definitely get that! I did a 2nd round on match this September and realized just how uninterested in dating I actually was at that time. This was a good thing as I could actually believe people when I told them I wasn’t interested 🙂 You definitely sound ready though so I say go for it! At the very least it’s a confidence booster.
.-= Hutch´s last blog ..Do You Know What Today Is =-.
Sounds like a jolly good time. I understand your thoughts about dating. I sometimes wish I was in a relationship or dating but am so uneasy about it. There is so much good that come out of dating-I can’t help but miss it. Thanks for being honest about that.
It sounds like a pretty fantastic weekend to me! I know the holidays can be a depressing time if you don’t have someone to share it with, but it sounds like YOU have LOTS of people to share it with! Friends can be just as good (if not better) than a romantic companion. Enjoy this time and buy YOURSELF an awesome Christmas present – Do I see a spa trip in your future?
I agree with Lindsay…you sound like you have loads of friends…I have Hubby but without my little corner of cyber space I’d be one lonely old lady….good luck though x
.-= CarolW´s last blog ..Thank you for the music =-.
It’s wonderful to realize you know exactly what you want. Now the tough part is to relax and let it happen. And nothing wrong with match.com to get you back into the swing of things. I just wish you better luck than I had 😛
.-= Bonda84´s last blog ..Unsure =-.
Love it! Wow, hadn’t heard the Indigo Girls since I left college! When it comes to men — if you are happy without, then you can definitely be happy with.
.-= Lily´s last blog ..I hate the snow… =-.
dysfunctional families are the best. 🙂 i love the indigo girls! and i used to live in san francisco, so i got hit on a lot by the ladies. i take it as a great compliment because women are a much better judge of who’s attractive than men. and really, people are people, and i think most of us fall in love with a person, not a gender, so whatever. and i know a lot of people who actually met their current spouse on match, so be careful. 🙂 but really, just have fun with dating for a while if that’s what you’re wanting. don’t let society or other people say you should be settling down. that’s a terrible message that most people buy into. being single is awesome and shouldn’t be rushed. anyway, i hope your week is going well and you are having a blast!
I think that sounds like a great idea! Nothing wrong with seeing what’s out there. 🙂 In the meantime, it seems like you have a really great group of friends to lean on. You are very lucky!
.-= Kelly´s last blog ..Looks 22 and 23 – Makeup free Monday andTuesday =-.
I wandered over here via “Life Started Over at 28” and can I just say, HURRAY!! I’m so loving your blog already, and I’ve only been wandering around for 15 minutes. If this were a store, I’d be rushing you up to the cash register to buy you for good. Wait. That sounds kind of strange… Nevermind.
My POINT is that, as a fellow singleton (who is turning 30 in t-minus 35 days…deeeeep breath) who is wading her way through OkCupid and cursing the dating gods straight to Hades, I appreciated this post. And look forward to reading many more!
.-= Hannah´s last blog ..A writer’s life =-.
I think that Match.com is a great idea. You have to put yourself out there. I know that there is someone out there for you! You are awesome! Any guy is lucky to have you.
.-= Jayme (The Random Blogette)´s last blog ..Happy 1st Night of Hanukkah! =-.
you’re right. oh-so-very right. whatever’s on your mind SOMETIMES is on your mind ALL the time during this time of year. personally? i think match.com is a GREAT idea. i met my husband on excite.com way back when mtg people on line was new, risque & gasp-worthy. today? not so much! sendin’ you love! xo
That is awesome that you got to see Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls! I bet that was awesome! Glad you had a great long weekend to relax!
.-= classycareergirl´s last blog ..Negotiation Tips For The Workplace Part 2 =-.
your welcome 🙂