Re:tired

I haven't posted anything since April, so I guess it's time for an update.  As you all know, I did online dating for the past year (eharmony for 6 months, then match for 6 months, and even 2 dates that were set up by a professional matchmaker who found me on match.com).  I haven't really posted a ton about those dating experiences, although I feel like I should have been chronicalling my endeavors because some were highly entertaining, some were heartbreaking, and some were not worth mentioning.  I have no Retired from online dating officially in June when my account expired.  Friends & Family, if I EVER mention considering online dating again, remind me to come back to this page and read this post before I seriously consider doing it again.  I'm not saying it was a bad experience, it had some fun moments and it kept me from getting too bored over the last year, but I do believe it is hard to meet a person online who doesn't continually go on dates in hopes of meeting "the right one" and then they never meet "the one" because they are looking for some "soul mate" that does not exist.  There are people online who are great, but it's hard to weed through it all and continually put yourself and face a lot of rejection and have to reject people as well. 

I am not saying that I am jaded or anything like that.  I am happy exactly where I am in my life, and I will find someone when the time is right and it will be someone who appreciates all of the qualities I have to offer and someone who will accept my flaws knowing we are all flawed. 

In the meantime, I'd like to share a quick blurb of some of my dates, for your enjoyment, and for me to reread and laugh at:

Trout the Dog - 51 Year Old Man:  Hi Jaime, "WE" were just talking about you.  Me:  Who is "WE"?  Man:  "Me and my dog Trout..."  Enough said about this guy.  I won't bore you with the email, but I do have a copy of it if you would all like to read it.

Blow Job Joke - Yep, some guy asked me out by sending me a playground blow job joke.  Sorry, I did not go out with him.

Crazy MKE Bipolar Divorcee - I can't even begin to explain this guy.  I can just tell you that the email was about 4 pages single spaced and it was written in a stream of conscience style that puts James Joyce to shame. 

Ok, the REAL dates - yes, I had some really nice dates that didn't go very far, and I dated about 3 people who I thought I had a connection with but later ended up getting my heart broke, and some just my ego bruised.  It sucks to get rejected, and I just experienced it this week.  It's hard to comprehend why things happen when you think they are going so well and then suddenly someone says they met someone else, or someone you dated a few months who says they "see themselves in a relationship with you," "just not long term."  What does that mean?  Either you see yourself with me or you don't.  Are you just saying you want to sleep with me?  C'mon, let's be honest here!  ha ha.  Despite these letdowns and setbacks, I know it's just the road I have to take to meet the person who is at the right place at the right time for me.  It's hard getting back on that horse, but if I don't, I know I will miss out.  So for now I'm retired from online dating, and am focusing on developing myself even more through my meditation and journaling, but I'm not retired from dating.  I just am not going to fill my plate with dates, but be more selective about who I open up to and let get to know me. 

This is my BRIEF version of my past year of dating.  The specifics are probably more entertaing, so maybe I'll tell a story or two here and there in the future, but for now this is a nice summary. 

Like my grandpa says, never go after a boy, let them chase you.  I think maybe those were different times because men don't really ask girls out the old fashioned way anymore, but I'm gonna take his advice.

In life & love,

Jaime