Saturday, April 28, 2007

1221 Cards

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Angie, FirstWoman, Roman, and I went on a walk today, from under the Newburgh-Beacon bridge to the Balmville Tree and back. Then we went to Easy Street on the Newburgh waterfront for drinks and munchies (I had a very strong Bloody Mary and crab cakes), then to FW's to play cards.

Angie and FirstWoman partnered, and Roman and I - which didn't make a lot of sense, actually, because we were playing Spades, which both women were very familiar with, whereas it was relatively new to Roman and me. But I had promised FW that she wouldn't have to partner with him (Roman sometimes rubs her the wrong way), so I was the one who suggested the pairing.

They stomped us most of the way through. At one point they had like 300+ points and Roman and I were negative. But by the last couple hands, we got better (and they got reckless), and we ended in a tie. We figured that was a good way to end.

We've decided Mensa should have a monthly cards night. There's a group who regularly show up for a games night, but not cards.

We had a good time. I was in high spirits and came off with several of my famous completely unintended! double entendres, and Angie didn't let them pass. Mensans are quick.

Roman and I had only a tiny bit of time to talk. He's aware I'm into what may be a new relationship, and he's very curious. I didn't tell him much, only that I'm having fun ("I'm being courted, big time, and I like it"), and I'm going to follow it to the end, however long or short it is. I asked him howcome he's "out" on a weekend, and does she know he's with me. He said they agreed they needed some time off, and no, she doesn't know where he is. Good, because this may be a temporary break, and there's no need to annoy her even more.

I had a very nice conversation with Daughter this evening. She woke up in an all-day foul mood Thursday, and it took me until yesterday to figure out that a good portion of it had to do with my being with The Man Wednesday and Thursday. She can be very suspicious about men where her mother is concerned. But I guess I calmed her fears Thursday evening, and now she's even positive about him.

Tomorrow - draft horses.
.

Friday, April 27, 2007

1220 Nothing

Friday, April 27, 2007

Today I did nothing. Missed a call from TheMan (I was still asleep), but he left a message, and we traded email. Read a backlog of blogs. Answered a backlog of email. Figured out what my calendar looks like for the next few weeks.

Habitat for Humanity is starting a renovation project in Kingston, the call is out for volunteers for next month, so I'm psyched about that.

Didn't get bills paid, dishes washed, or laundry done. Oh, well.
.

Thursday, April 26, 2007

1219 Karaoke

Thursday, April 26, 2007

We went to a Karaoke bar last night. Would you believe it was my first time? He's good. He's very good. He has range, and he's a showman. I love his voice. His natural speaking voice is deep and soft, so when he handed me the book and told me to pick something for his last turn, I picked Barry White's Can't Get Enough of Your Love.

Let's just say the blood rushed south out of my head, and I almost fell off the stool.

He gave me my very own copy of "Barenaked Ladies Are Men". Incidentally, he said he'd never noticed how many of the BNL's songs are about breaking up until he played them for me.

I gave him a chunk of petrified wood from my collection to commemorate our visit Saturday to the minerals section of the Museum of Natural History. He laughed. He said he didn't need it, I had sent him home Saturday night with a chunk of petrified wood. (Oh dear - maybe I shouldn't have said that. Well, too late now....)

I'm burbling again.

Ok, I've spent at least 47 hours in his presence, 38 without a chaperone, and I'm impressed. I still don't see how this can possibly work as more than a passing interest, there's so much working against it (he goes to church! Ack!) and I need to protect myself against hurt and wasted time and all that, but damn! I'm having fun!

-------------------------------

One bad thing. He's a lot younger, and last night I accidentally, in a weak moment of warmth, called him "Baby Boy". That was my pet name for Jay. I suddenly felt very guilty.

I hope he didn't hear it, because I guarantee he won't like that appellation, especially knowing where it had been used before. I can't do that again! It'll be hard not to, especially when my mind isn't working at those moments, but I really can't do that again.

--------------------------------

Ok, this is funny. Some people will get it and some won't.

I stopped on the way home to see Daughter and Hercules. We were in the den, and Daughter said, as she left the room and started down the hall, "I think Mom was a bad girl last night." Hercules said, "Oh. You've been eating chocolate?" I, confused, and thinking of my weight loss program, said, "Uh, no...?"

And then I noticed his evil grin, and Daughter came tearing back down the hall shouting something like "No! No! I can't believe you said that! No!" and I got it. "No no no no no no no nonono!", covering my face.

More evil grins, from both of them.

Rotten kids.
.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

1218 Another Rough Patch

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Catching up on mail and email today.

I got a morning email from Roman inviting me to dinner, followed by a call. He had been in Dallas at the wedding of the daughter of a friend of his girlfriend this past weekend. I had planned to go to the Thought Cafe this evening, but decided to accept his invitation instead.

He seems to be getting stronger and more independent lately. That's good, but I hope he doesn't do anything rash about his current relationship. He needs to think about that a little more. He'll be very happy with her, and then something tics him off and he wants to break up with her, and they have a fight, he comes to me, and then he goes back to her, and she punishes him for a while, then everything is wonderful for a time, and then it starts all over again. There seems to be a rough patch going on right now. History says it will pass.

But he's sounding stronger, so maybe it won't.

Yes, I did tell him I had a good time Saturday. Partly because I'm still burbling, and partly to let him know I'm not as available during those bad patches as I once was. If he's thinking about breaking up with her again, he needs to think about how definite he wants to be. I don't want to distract or influence or enable him.

I'm heading for NJ tomorrow, dinner with TheMan. Probably no post tomorrow.
.

1217 Monday

Monday, April 23, 2007

I got up at a decent hour this morning and headed to the Maritime Museum to process the next bunch of membership renewals. On my way through the village I noticed Piper was in his office, so I stopped in, and we went to the cafe for tea and coffee (too early for lunch). I finally made it to the museum at 1:30.

I got home at 5:15, and then left at 5:45 for Andi's Gross Science talk in Newburgh. It was cute. She talked about some of the really gross discoveries in science, like the sex lives of tube worms, why toads explode, training wasps to find dead bodies, and more.

After the talk, Andi, Erwin, and I stopped at the Highland diner for munchies. As usual, I've doggie bagged home the remaining 2/3 of their delicious Greek salad. (Not very Greek, but still very good.)

Bedtime.
.

Sunday, April 22, 2007

1216 Manhattan Meanders

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Yesterday was the big NYC date.

I haven't stopped smiling yet. I even break into chuckles at odd moments.

I took the Metro North train down, and he met me at Grand Central. We walked and talked. Central Park. The Museum of Natural History. Street cart hot dogs (I insisted - as a tourist, it was de rigeur). Dinner, revolving over Times Square. He was more than a perfect gentleman.

He didn't want to put me on a train to go home. He drove me back to my car at the station in Poughkeepsie, which involved a slow wander around the city lights in a sporty little convertible with the top down and Bare Naked Ladies on the player, and him singing along. (I'm not usually impressed by a guy's wheels, but come on! The combination was fantastic!) We had taxi drivers grinning at us.

We were together 14 hours, and it just kept getting better and better all day.

I drove home, and he drove home, and I received two phone calls and an email (via Blackberry) from his car before I'd finished feeding Miss Thunderfoot.

One weird thing happened. We had stopped at a rest stop on the parkway on the way to Poughkeepsie so I could use the ladies' room. He pulled over by the door of the building, and I got out and went in. When I came out, he was nowhere to be seen. I checked both parking lots and the gas pumps, and didn't see his car anywhere. He was gone. Now, I've been dumped once or twice (and also dumped a few myself), but usually it's sort of expected, like I'd called the guy some bad names or had to beat him off. This was completely unexpected. I was starting to panic (dumped? at a rest stop? in the middle of nowhere? at 2 am?) when he came out the door of the building and looked relieved to see me. I ran toward him and got my first hug (and the first kiss, on the top of the head).

He had parked (beyond a larger vehicle, maybe? Black car, dark lot) and gone to the men's room, and then waited by the ladies' room for me to come out. But I never came out! He was beginning to worry that he had misplaced me somehow. I'd simply left the ladies' room sooner than expected.

Next kiss when we got to my car. I liked it.

And that was Saturday.

A gal's head could get turned. I have to keep reminding myself that even though I like everything I've seen so far, I haven't yet seen everything.

I woke up this morning to a wonderful email. I replied that I'd like to know who taught him how to write to a lady, so I could send them flowers.

Today was anime at FirstWoman's house. It was such a beautiful day we sat on her patio for a few hours talking.

Sheesh. Too much of this and my face will clear up.
.