Obviously, I didn't get the memo...
Would someone please be so kind as to inform me when exactly the poles reversed, the world turned inside out and half the population of the planet lost their collective fucking minds!!!
Allow me to back up a bit... A few months back I got an unexpected call from a past girlfriend. She got married a few years back so I thought that was the end of that, but you know how those things go sometimes and I was glad to hear from her. We talked a few times over the next week or two, she sent me some recent pics (no, not that kind
) and I told her I had to come back to the area for some family stuff. She was all over the idea of us getting together and made it perfectly clear that, by that, she meant she wanted to get together. Keep in mind that in all of this time there was no mention of anything about her marital status and I assumed she was either divorced or about to be. The next day, I asked. Nope she's still married, but she'll "think up something to tell him". WTF!?! Thankfully, the family stuff fell through and I put a quick end to that. 
A few weeks later, I walked into a bar I had not been in before and immediately noticed the bartender. To my surprise, she immediately noticed me, too, and nearly knocked over the other (male) bartender to take my order. He saw what had just happened and gave me a smile and a nod, so I knew at least that I wouldn't be stepping on his toes. We talked, I went back a couple of times, and we talked some more... quite alot actually, considering she was at work. On the second visit, she wanted pretty badly to go back to my place to get the bike and go riding, but I wasn't up to a post-2am two-wheel session after drinking half the night while talking to her. Then, on the third visit, after talking with me nearly constantly for well over an hour, she went to the other end of the bar and wouldn't even look in my direction. Ok, I'm thinking, what stupid thing did I say now? After a half hour of this, I catch her for another beer and ask her what's up. She tells me that her boyfriend walked in and is at the other end of the bar so she can't talk to me now, but come back tomorrow!?! Oh, for Christ's sake... I haven't been back.
Next, fate smiles on me with the privilege of meeting someone new... intelligent, similar interests, incredibly attractive. I'm thinking: Damn, I must have been an angel in another life to have karma like this. We got together for a beer and to chat, before her trips and my trips kept us out of touch for a month. Then nothing. When I finally heard back from her, I found out that she was trying her best to deal with a tough breakup. She had been seeing someone else (after the tough breakup) when we met but it wasn't working and had since broken it off and now felt she needed some self-time to get her head together before she could date again. Not again... I must have been a real jerk in another life to get karma like that. No harm, no foul on this one though. She was honest with me, and sincere, and God knows I'm the last one who needs an explanation of the confusion a bad breakup can cause. I wish her nothing but the best and hope to be lucky enough to be considered in the future. 
Finally, two weeks ago, I bump into a cutie at work. We were in the same training class a few years back, but I've rarely seen her since. That isn't so surprising when you consider there are around 4500 employees where I work. Anyway, she invited me to lunch, so I went. By this time, as you can imagine, I'm looking for marks from wedding rings and listening for any hint of someone else. Hell, I'm even baiting her for a slip of someone else. Nothing, not a hint. She calls me for lunch again. This is good... I think I'm liking this, but I'm still paranoid. During that second lunch she starts talking about us getting together outside of work, so I flat out ask if there is anyone else in the picture... "Oh, I'm married, but he's an asshole and doesn't care what I do." Oh, for crying out fucking loud!!! 
Obviously, I didn't get the memo. Somewhere along the line I got the mistaken idea that men were the
s of this world. I was well aware of the fact that we (men) never had much in the mind department when it came to relationships (ask any girl you know), but when did the ladies of this world decide to join us in the insanity column? Maybe I'm just overly sensitive when it comes to the whole cheating thing since I've had the unfortunate experience of being on the receiving end of that whole deal, but I don't want anything to do with it. Would someone please remove the 'Cheat with Me' sign from my back and point me in the direction of someone who is actually available!?!
Ok, end rant. I think I'm off to join the DATING SUCKS!!! group!
Would someone please be so kind as to inform me when exactly the poles reversed, the world turned inside out and half the population of the planet lost their collective fucking minds!!!
Allow me to back up a bit... A few months back I got an unexpected call from a past girlfriend. She got married a few years back so I thought that was the end of that, but you know how those things go sometimes and I was glad to hear from her. We talked a few times over the next week or two, she sent me some recent pics (no, not that kind
) and I told her I had to come back to the area for some family stuff. She was all over the idea of us getting together and made it perfectly clear that, by that, she meant she wanted to get together. Keep in mind that in all of this time there was no mention of anything about her marital status and I assumed she was either divorced or about to be. The next day, I asked. Nope she's still married, but she'll "think up something to tell him". WTF!?! Thankfully, the family stuff fell through and I put a quick end to that.
A few weeks later, I walked into a bar I had not been in before and immediately noticed the bartender. To my surprise, she immediately noticed me, too, and nearly knocked over the other (male) bartender to take my order. He saw what had just happened and gave me a smile and a nod, so I knew at least that I wouldn't be stepping on his toes. We talked, I went back a couple of times, and we talked some more... quite alot actually, considering she was at work. On the second visit, she wanted pretty badly to go back to my place to get the bike and go riding, but I wasn't up to a post-2am two-wheel session after drinking half the night while talking to her. Then, on the third visit, after talking with me nearly constantly for well over an hour, she went to the other end of the bar and wouldn't even look in my direction. Ok, I'm thinking, what stupid thing did I say now? After a half hour of this, I catch her for another beer and ask her what's up. She tells me that her boyfriend walked in and is at the other end of the bar so she can't talk to me now, but come back tomorrow!?! Oh, for Christ's sake... I haven't been back.
Next, fate smiles on me with the privilege of meeting someone new... intelligent, similar interests, incredibly attractive. I'm thinking: Damn, I must have been an angel in another life to have karma like this.
We got together for a beer and to chat, before her trips and my trips kept us out of touch for a month. Then nothing. When I finally heard back from her, I found out that she was trying her best to deal with a tough breakup. She had been seeing someone else (after the tough breakup) when we met but it wasn't working and had since broken it off and now felt she needed some self-time to get her head together before she could date again. Not again... I must have been a real jerk in another life to get karma like that. No harm, no foul on this one though. She was honest with me, and sincere, and God knows I'm the last one who needs an explanation of the confusion a bad breakup can cause. I wish her nothing but the best and hope to be lucky enough to be considered in the future.
Finally, two weeks ago, I bump into a cutie at work. We were in the same training class a few years back, but I've rarely seen her since. That isn't so surprising when you consider there are around 4500 employees where I work. Anyway, she invited me to lunch, so I went. By this time, as you can imagine, I'm looking for marks from wedding rings and listening for any hint of someone else. Hell, I'm even baiting her for a slip of someone else. Nothing, not a hint. She calls me for lunch again. This is good... I think I'm liking this, but I'm still paranoid. During that second lunch she starts talking about us getting together outside of work, so I flat out ask if there is anyone else in the picture... "Oh, I'm married, but he's an asshole and doesn't care what I do." Oh, for crying out fucking loud!!!
Obviously, I didn't get the memo. Somewhere along the line I got the mistaken idea that men were the
s of this world. I was well aware of the fact that we (men) never had much in the mind department when it came to relationships (ask any girl you know), but when did the ladies of this world decide to join us in the insanity column? Maybe I'm just overly sensitive when it comes to the whole cheating thing since I've had the unfortunate experience of being on the receiving end of that whole deal, but I don't want anything to do with it. Would someone please remove the 'Cheat with Me' sign from my back and point me in the direction of someone who is actually available!?!
Ok, end rant. I think I'm off to join the DATING SUCKS!!! group!