HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2007

Last but not least.. a picture of me and Thing 3 on Halloween several years ago.

My scanner wasn't working, so I took a picture of a picture back in April.

This photo was actually 10 years ago. I wasn't quite highlighting my hair back then like I do now... :-)

Dinner & Movie x 3 : Weekend round-up

I have seen more movies in the past couple weeks than I've seen in the last 6 months total. Welcome to my world of Match.dinnerandamovie. I'm definitely not complaining, I just think it's a little funny. When two people decide to meet, there tends to be the usual "what do you want to do? I don't know, what do you want to do?" conversation. I fixed that lately with instantly replying "dinner and a movie?" to which I receive the "sounds great" reply. Works for me.

I guess the only time that would become a problem is if there aren't enough good movies out to even want to bother sitting through with a date. That's not the case right now.... I could be your very own movie critic at this point. :-)

In the last two weeks I've seen: (including my personal rating)

Heartbreak Kid ***
The Brave One ***
Gone Baby Gone ***
The Kingdom ***
Things we lost in the fire ****

I'm not sure if I can include The Brave One as a "date" movie because I saw that movie with Thing3.. but the others were definitely DATE movies. Before I go into detail about the weekend, let me tell you that I didn't even have plans for the weekend before Wednesday. I was going to wing it, I guess.

FRIDAY:



Match.Teacher emails/texts/calls incessantly. I am a bit turned off by that but there is something about him I sort of like. It's not the constant pestiness, that's for sure... maybe it's the green Tom Cruise eyes. Yeah, maybe. While he has Tom Cruise eyes.. the rest of him is identical to Jeff Gordon. He could definitely be his twin. By Friday late afternoon, I agreed to meet Match.Teacher at Pleasure Island. Since it would be late when we met up (close to 9) we chose to go to the movie first. We spoke earlier about which movie to see and I had mentioned that I've been wanting to see "The Kingdom" (recommended by Match.Pizza). However, before we hung up, I told him I'd rather see "Gone Baby Gone". We met in front of the Cirque de Soleil in Downtown Disney, after driving around for 20 minutes looking for parking. He was what I expected... a taller version of Jeff Gordon. He said to me, "I can't believe you have 'average' checked on your profile... you are not even close to average...." He must have told me 20 times that evening how adorable he thought I was. I only told him he was cute once. We walked toward the movie theater just on the other side of The House of Blues. He pulled out two tickets for..... The Kingdom.

I asked him if Gone Baby Gone was sold out and he said that it wasn't... and asked if I had changed my mind about seeing The Kingdom. I explained that before we hung up I had changed my mind about which movie to see, but it's all good... we can see The Kingdom. He disagreed with me agreeing to see the Kingdom and quickly returned the tickets in and exchanged them for Gone Baby Gone. Sweet.

I think this was Ben Affleck's first attempt at directing a film... which starred his brother, Casey Affleck. Well done. Without giving anything away, I would probably have disagreed with Casey's character in the movie and decided to go with my heart... not what's ethically correct in that situation. Just go see it.

After the movie let out, we decided to grab a late bite to eat. I wasn't really hungry, so we decided to head to the LBV Ale House for loaded chicken nachos. I guess that could be considered dinner. Yummy. We closed the Ale House and headed to our respective homes (separately) and call it a night. Or.... morning since it was 2:30 am.

Impression: I have been talking to Match.Teacher (honors physics) for some time now, but obviously just decided to meet. I wasn't sure we would have that much in common, but we do seem to get along. Issues: He is very recently divorced. Claims ex wife cheated. Seems to spend A LOT of time on the internet. Recently told me about one of his match.com dates with what appeared to be a match.whore. Decision: Although we seem to get along and laugh easily, I think it would be in my best interest not to pursue this. Stamped: Just friends.

SATURDAY:
I had a date half-planned with Match.Vague to meet between Orlando and Daytona at a Seafood restaurant on the beach. Friday he emailed several times with options, one including a B&B. Yeah. That's way too soon for me, so how about 'no' to that suggestion. Maybe another time. I think he was half joking (I hope) when he threw that one in there... or was it wishful thinking?

As I headed out Friday evening with Match.Teacher, I quickly emailed Match.Vague to let him know that 7 pm worked for me... and asked if that worked for him and wanted to confirm the place. I'm not comfortable driving 45 minutes away and not be sure of what I'm getting in to.

By Saturday afternoon I still hadn't heard back from Match.Vague, so I was a little concerned. I knew that if I hadn't heard from him, I was definitely canceling. There is no way I'm showing up somewhere on half-ass plans that haven't been confirmed. Around 4:30 pm, I emailed him once again to let him know that if I don't hear from him by 5:15, then the date is canceled. I didn't hear from him. I was happy with staying home that evening and hanging out. I signed online around 6:00 to order skate shoes for Thing4 when I received an IM from Match.Teacher.

Him: shouldn't you be on your way to (town)?
me: no, I canceled...
him: good! what kind of idiot expects you to show up and not know for sure he's even going to be there?
me: match.vague-idiot?
him: lol ... ok then, well my wishes were granted (sorry), but do you want to do something? I'm available!
me: uhm, I'm not sure... I really hadn't planned on going out since I canceled.
him: let me know... I'm up for anything.
me: ok

Just then, I received another IM from Match.Nasa.

him: hey jordan!
me: hi Nasa!
him: my spaceship is launching tuesday... do you want to watch?
me: this tuesday?
him: yes, we're launching around 11:33, we have a 10 min. window or forget it.
me: can I push the buttons?
him: yes.
me: really? can I talk to the astronauts too?
him: yes
me: really??!!
him: no.
me: well then I'm not going
him: seriously, if you come out to kennedy, I'll get you in..
me: I have to work!!!
him: awww consider it a... field trip? extra credit?
me: i'm not in school! besides, it's not work-related
him: i can find a pregnant woman and shoot her up into space with the 'nauts.
me: only if she's in labor at the time...
him: i'm sure lift off will put her into labor if she's not already
me: yeah sounds like a blast. no pun
me: hold on... (took phone call from one of the girly friends)

When I got back to the computer I saw another IM from Match.Teacher

him: jordan, dinner and a movie again? come on! say yes...
me: I don't know
him: there you are. do you have other plans?
me: not at this moment
him: well then, you want to see the Kingdom?
me: i actually do
him: let's go! Dinner at Brio first?
me: i love Brio
him: i know that!
me: alright, i guess....
him: pick you up?
me: no thanks.. i'll meet you at WPV.. 7:30?

Just as I was wrapping that up.... Match.Nasa sends another IM.

him: jordan, i'd really like to meet you.. what are you doing this evening?
me: are you kidding? i just made plans
him: definitely not kidding. i'd really like to meet.
me: are you at nasa now?
him: i don't live there!
me: oh, well sometimes you work late
him: i'll be busy before launch but free tonight.
me: i seriously just made plans
him: cancel?! choose me. :)
me: why didn't you ask 10 minutes ago?!!!
him: i've asked a few times and you were busy, i guess maybe i thought i'd wait for you to mention something
me: sorry about that, but i really did make plans
him: how does Sunday look for you? I'd like to take you to dinner? maybe a movie?
me: (smiling) (he has no idea.. LOL) Ok, sounds good.

This conversation went on.. and he was quite funny trying to invent reasons for me to break the plans I made with Match.Teacher. I am intrigued by Match.Nasa... he's very smart, works for Nasa as an aerospace / aeronautical engineer and director of engineers, looks like Keanu Reeves. :-) Originally from Texas (worked for the space station there). WHY did I agree to see another movie with Match.Teacher??!! But I really try to stay true to my word and I had already accepted plans with Teacher.

Match.Teacher and I had dinner at Brio Tuscan Grille in Winter Park Village. Afterwords we caught the 10:00 showing of "The Kingdom". I'm not exactly sure why but I wasn't as attracted to Match.Teacher the 2nd night in a row. I guess sometimes it takes two dates to know for sure. He still looked like Jeff Gordon, but he's kind of an abrupt person.. maybe a little hyper? I'm surprised because the man teaches high school honors physics. That's not exactly exciting, (I took it 20 years ago).






The Kingdom was pretty good. A little far-fetched that 4 FBI agents can go overseas and solve something the entire Saudi Arabian army and US military couldn't figure out. What ... or who rather, really surprised me, was Jason Bateman. He's been MIA since I was a teenager! Unless he's doing Lifetime movies, I just haven't seen him. He was quite comical in this movie (yes, there was some comical situations). Other than that, it was very violent and blood was shed all over. I think what they were trying to say in the movie was that this isn't over, it's never going to be over... they will always be fighting over there and we will always be a presence.

We went to a couple establishments (wine bars) afterwords, but I just wasn't feeling it. Yet, I still got home around 2:30 am. Again.

Opinion: Still thinking just friends.

SUNDAY:
I met up with Keanu, I mean Match.Nasa halfway between his place on the space coast and mine in Orlando. It was about 30 min. drive for both of us. Nasa got there first, because he said his sports car is faster than my SUV.... truth is, it was pouring buckets all the way there, otherwise I would've smoked 'em. ;)
We went to Macaroni Grill for dinner... talked and talked and talked for a couple of hours + through dinner, I don't know how we had time to eat because we talked so much. (We've spoken on the phone before so it's not like it was the first time ever talking to him). He smiled A LOT... and we laughed a lot through dinner. We talked about previous match dates a little bit, our families, divorces... work... space shuttles... and stuff. We were almost late for the movie which was in the same shopping area. We saw "Things we lost in the fire"... (my choice).
This is hands down, Halle Berry's best movie yet. She did an amazing job. Benitio Del Torro did a more than believable job protraying an addict going through detox... definitely a tear jerker. Bring tissues.
Because it was a work night (not for me, for him) + he has a shuttle going up on Tuesday, we said our goodbyes around 11 pm. We've emailed a few times back and forth since yesterday.
Impression: cute. smart. funny. nice. Issues or possible deal breakers: Only one that I can think of... he's recently divorced. I have issues with people who are recently on the market... I'll save that for a post. Decision: Not writing him off... he has potential. We'll see.

Die Boston!!!!

I've had just about enough of the Boston. Cleveland practically had the red sox by their testiculars and blew it!!!! It's a good thing I didn't place any wagers on the Series, as I called it an Indians / Rockies series. Damn. So here we go again.....

GO ROCKIES!!!!!!!!!!!!

SERIOUSLY...

No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Joe's leaving the Yankees. Almost as long as I've been a Yankee fan, Joe has been the manager.... I wonder who'll follow.

Quiz

Take this quiz.... Q U I Z

Go Indians?!!!

Yes... go INDIANS. I know those bastards took us out of the post season.. but they're playing the Red Sox now for a spot in the Series.. any REAL Yankee fan roots for anyone that plays against Boston. I called it last week (Indians / Rockies ) series. That'll be true if the Tribe wins tonight and tomorrow.

woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo woo

Mrs. Robinson?

You know, anything you say around me or in the presence of me is total fairplay to appear on my blog. Unless of course you know I have a blog and say "don't blog this..." Not that that works all the time either ;)

I have today off, so as usual, I'm doing things around the house, running errands and spending some time soaking up the rays at the pool. At noon I walked to the pool (5 minutes from my house). I was hoping it was empty, as it usually is around this time, on a school day. It was empty except one other person, who was actually in the pool floating around. Cool.. I can relax. He looks adult'ish. I found my favorite spot and laid out my super long towel. I put my drink down on the table next to the lounger and began to sift through my mail that I had picked up along the way. I should have put my iPod earphones in right away. (I will next time).

him: hey the water is cold
me: ok thanks
him: well it's not that cold, but it's cold. colder than normal.
me: ok
him: i'm not sure why all of a sudden the water is cold. it was warmer last week.
me: (20 second stare) probably because it's getting cooler at night
him: the water is cooler at night?
me: the air is cooler at night. I think it's mid 70s now at night, so it lowers the water temp.
him: oh right. but it should warm up by 3 or 4 pm right?
me: i have no idea.. stay in for another 4 hours and let me know.

his phone rings, he gets out to answer. THANK YOU GOD. I quickly put on my earphones. "hey there Delilah, don't you worry about the..." then silence. Wahhhhhhhh my iPod died! I forgot to charge it. I kept the earplugs in though. :-)

I laid down and started to daydream... after about 20 minutes I heard kids. Wahhh! Not KIDS!! I come here for peace!!! Go away! A family of four came in and rushed to get in the pool. I didn't look at them right away... but when I did, I noticed one of the kids (approximately 18 months) standing on the steps going into the pool, naked. *blink* her parents were sitting next to her and her sister was swimming around the edge.
Hello... naked kid! Put a diaper on it before it goes ca ca in the pool.... good LORD. They didn't.. they continued to let her play naked. Security! Someone... anyone?

I must have fallen asleep because the naked family had left. I looked around... he was still here. It was just the two of us again. I was reaching for my earphones when I heard...

him: hey, do you have the time?
me: (no, not really... no, I don't) it's 1:40
(30-45 seconds)
him: ok.
him: have you been to the stores, the new ones?
me: yes. a few are open.
him: like, which ones?
me: super target? best buy? a few others.
him: have you seen me at target?
me: what?
him: i work at target
me: ok. no, i haen't.
him: have you ever pushed the red buttons at target?
me: uhm.. what? no. what red button?
him: it's for assistance. if you push it, we are supposed to hurry and get there before 60 seconds.
me: oh nice. ok well next time, i'm pushing one.
him: have you always lived in florida?

oh for the love of GOD, his parents must not talk to him. ever.

me: no. i moved here from ny
him: us too! my parents bought a house here. we lived in washingtonville.
me: that wasn't too far from me.. 30 minutes north I think?
him: where were you?
me: tuxedo park and monroe, by sterling forest. woodbury common?
him: oh yeah, i know woodbury common.
him: did you ever go to palisades center mall?
me: yes.. many many times.
him: it's sinking you know.
me: rosie o'donnell started that rumor, but it's slightly true. I think part of it sunk about 3 inches.
him: rosie? o'... who?
me: nevermind. no one.
him: what kind of songs do you have on your iPod?

Ok. somehow... somewhere... I'm paying a huge debt back to society... I'm paying for something I did in a past life (or in this life) .. someone is up there laughing their ass off. Did I break a mirrow? Walk under a ladder? Nearly run over a black cat? WHAT?? what did I do??!!!!

me: just random songs mostly put on by the daughter
him: do i know her? does she go to school here? how old is she?
me: she's in 9th grade, you don't know her
him: oh i graduated last year. i'm taking a year off then going to college.
me: good. what will you take?
him: i was thinking i want to be a pilot. i don't need college for that though, i can go to a pilot school.
me: air traffic controllers make decent cash... have you thought about that?
him: what do they do?
me: (after 10-15 seconds) they.. control air traffic
him: i think i looked into that once.
him: so where else have you lived? what do you do? do you ever go out around here?

I sat up slowly... smiled. Gathered my things....

me: i've lived many places.. but I just noticed it's 2:20.. kids'll be home soon, I have to run!
him: ok bye
me: ok it was nice chatting.. see ya

Maybe he's just a friendly kid, I don't know. But the last thing I wanted to do, was sit at the pool, in my bikini and chat with some 18 year old boy.

I want to be someone's Answer

We saw "The Brave One" this afternoon at Pleasure Island. I was surprised that Thing3 actually liked it too, since it wasn't a Hannah Montana production... but she said on the way home, that she liked it. On and off during the movie they kept playing "Answer" by Sarah McLachlan... I can't believe I've never heard that song before, but now I'm totally in love with it. It was a perfect choice for this movie. I had to google the lyrics... take a listen.

I will be the answer

At the end of the line

I will be there for you

While you take the time

In the burning of uncertainty

I will be your solid groundI will hold the balance

If you can't look down
If it takes my whole life

I won't break, I won't bend

It will all be worth it

Worth it in the end

Cause I can only tell you what I know

That I need you in my life

When the stars have all gone out

You'll still be burning so bright
Cast me gently

Into morning

For the night has been unkind

Take me to a Place so holy

That I can wash this from my mind

The memory of choosing not to fight

If it takes my whole life

I won't break, I won't bend

It will all be worth it

Worth it in the end

'Cause I can only tell you what I know

That I need you in my life

When the stars have all burned out

You'll still be burning so bright

Cast me gently

Into morning

For the night has been unkind

BOOBIES

Ladies.. you know you should be doing this. Having someone else feel your boobies is fine and dandy I guess... but you really should be doing this monthly. NOT during your cycle though, you need to wait about a week. If you do this consistently, you'll notice the smallest of nodules or something that isn't 'right'.

What are you waiting for?

Are you still here?

Update: clocktower

Apparently I'm paranoid or something because Clocktower emailed me this morning...

he's been busy, his mom had surgery and he was extremely busy at work.

My bad!

he said we'll talk later and get together soon....

Match.McPizza 2

You can go back in the archives if you want... but Match.Pizza was the first 'Match" if you will. I'm not even sure I can use "Match" because it wasn't even Match.com back then. I first started talking to him in January of '01, 7 months before I moved to FL. Over that time, we developed a relationship and immediately started dating when I arrived to the Sunshine State 7 months later. We continued a serious relationship into 2004. In retrospect, it was just a mix of events and bad timing for us. His ex wife intervened for the first 6 months to a year.. with psychotic behavior. She made up phony email screen names and would IM us on AOL, not to mention other idiotic things she did. His father eventually moved in with us a year and a half into our relationship. He was an obese man, who required a lot of hands-on care. He had a trach and wasn't self-sufficient. (He was when he wanted to be). He was a nice man.. easy to get along with, but demanded a lot from his sons, particularly Match.Pizza. Within the next year, his own brother began having an affair on his wife (who just had a brand new baby) and would come to our home often... eventually using our place as Cheat Central. In 2003, I decided to get my own place. I think at that time I was hoping I would move out and things would miraculously change. We decided to live apart for a year and see what happens.

What happened was that we continued to see each other, but thing started to die. We were on/off for the next year. 2004 began my Match.crazy stories you all just love to read about. I know that somewhere around the fall of 2004, Match.Pizza met someone and became engaged (months later?) I'm not sure, I lost track. But we did remain friends... everything was amicable. I, of course, started my whirlwind Match dates.

Match.Pizza called me in late December to inform me that his father had been hospitalized and wasn't in good condition. He was really never in good condition to begin with... but apparently, this might be it.

He wanted to know if I knew anyone that would be able to "sit" with his Dad at the hospital and just keep him company during the day, like a home health aide or something. I couldn't come up with anyone instantly so he asked if Thing 1 might be interested. I asked her that evening and she said she would be able to sit with him. A few days later, he died. I never did see Match.Pizza during that time , (he was well into another relationship).. but did talk to him several times on the phone.

Fast forward to September of 2007... and there you have it. A match.com email from Match.McPizza.

I hope you feel updated.. because that's about all I could muster up.

Oh, and about Match.Clocktower... I have no idea what happened. Haven't heard from him since the game Monday night. I know it's only 2 days, but we were emailing DAILY for weeks. Maybe he's just not that into me. Could have fooled me earlier though.... it's never fun being the one that's on the other side of that fence. Maybe I SHOULD have taken those shots!

OH wait... I guess I should tell you that I did meet up with Match.Pizza a couple weeks ago. We've hung out a couple times, but something isn't the same. We'll remain friends, I'm sure. It's not easy for me to get feelings back for someone once they're gone. But not impossible.

It's a sad day......

Lastnight as some of you may already know, Cleveland beat my Yanks in a forced game 4 to take the ALDS and forced my boys out of the post season. *shrug* .... what can I say other than... GO INDIANS...

Not for beating my Yanks of course, but because they'll be playing the Red Sox next and sticking true to my rivalries, I must cheer for anyone who plays against them.

Thankfully, lastnight's game started at 7:30p.... it had originally been scheduled to start at 6:30, which caused problems in my social life. Someone must have heard about my conflict and decided to start the game an hour later. Yay, whoever. :-)

I was quite antsy the last couple hours at work and tried to think of any excuse I could to leave early.. but the babies weren't having it and they just kept coming... and coming... and coming... finally 7 pm arrived and I hauled major butt; parted highways, oceans and pedestrians to get home by 7:30 so I could meet up with Match.Clocktower shortly after that.

Two days ago I received an email from clocktower (from his work to mine) informing me that he was rooting for the Yanks in game 3, so that there would be a game 4, so we could watch it together. By the time I got to his house lastnight, he was in Anti-Yankee mode. What the...!!

1st inning: 1-0 Indians.

Yankees strike out and I hear "Yeah!"

me: hey hey hey... what was that?
him: that. was. a. "yeah!"
me: i know that.. but they struck my boy out...
him: right.
me: so, you don't "yeah!" when a Yankee strikes out
him: actually i do.. wanna hear it again?
me: uh, no. what's with the GO YANKEES yesterday??
him: i was rooting for them yesterday to force a game 4... you know i like A-Rod, but i also wanted you to come over.
me: so now you're against my boys?!
him: yes
him: they're in the post season EVERY year jordan, you have to root for the others at some point.. and they..
me: ohhhhhhhh don't even give me the PAYROLL speech.... *puke*
him: it's true.. they have the highest payro
me: (covering my ears)... that's the ONLY thing you yankee haters can ever come up with when whining about my boys.. you can't even come up with one other reason why the Yanks shouldn't be in post season..
him: weren't you drinking last time we watched the yanks? want a mikes?
me: do you think a little alcohol will persuade me over to your side?
me: yeah i want one... but i'm diehard yanks... so zip it
him: testy! (handing me a mikes)
me: well actually to put up with you i might need an entire row of shots lined up on your coffee table..

clocktower exits room... i hear clanking... he comes back with at least 10 shot glasses and lined them up on his coffee table in front of me.... bottle of.. uh, whiskey? in his hand... taking cap off

me: wait, hold up... i was joking.. do you have ear plugs?
him: uhm no. you're playing with the big boys now, so you have to be able to take a little criticism sister

The night goes on.... the Yanks score.. the Indians score... the Indians score some more...
Yanks lose. :(

Next year.

Yankees...don't fail me now!!!

I know this is a bit premature to be so excited... but I'm sitting here watching the ALDS (Yankees / Indians) highly orgasmic game... it's Yankees 5 - Indians 3, top of the 6th. I'm on the edge of my seat and I need some major sedatives to calm my ass down. I would watch this game out at a sports bar, but I have to work tomorrow.

There are two things at stake for this game... 1. If the Yanks win, they force a game four with the Indians and get closer to clinching the ALDS. 2. Game four viewing will be at Match.Clocktower's house. :-)

GO YANKEES!!!!!!

Update: Game over. 10:16pm

THE YANKEES WIN!!!

8-4

Match. I know you!

Mid-week, three weeks+ ago, I was floating around the pool, listening to my ipod. I was in the pool by myself because it was a Tues. or Wed. (school day). I was a month'ish into my return to Match.com. I had met a couple of people after my painstakingly picky selections and both turned out to be somewhat duds, if you will.

There was no breeze in the air... it was so hot that I had to stay in the pool for relief. I took my ipod off and laid it on the edge of the pool, popped out of the lounger I was on put myself half-in, half-out of the pool... for some reason I started to think about people that I knew that were not with us anymore. Mostly, I concentrated on my grandmother, my ex mother in law and my stepfather, who had all passed away at various times. I was also thinking about my life, where I am today and if I could even consider where I am today as something to be proud of. (Single.. raising two kids alone... still just a nurse). I always thought that I'd be married and possibly a physician. (I left pre-med for nursing because the Air Force moved us around too much). Then I think of people like Britney Spears and feel like I've made leaps and bounds in comparison.

I started to "talk" silently to my stepfather. We were not close when I was growing up, as a matter of fact, I would've rather stuck forks in my eyes back then, than talk to him. But when I grew up, left home and began a family of my own, we became closer. He and my mother divorced after I moved out. He had explained that she was the reason he was so mean. I believe that completely. We stayed in weekly contact and I visited him everytime I went home. He died back in '97 from a heart attack. While I was talking to him, I told him that I think he may be looking out for me, that I do feel his presence and I just wished he would straighten out my romantic life .. I asked him (if he could), to bring me someone sane.. without issues... and who doesn't feel the need to cheat on women, taxes or board games.

After ten or so minutes of my talk with my stepfather, a breeze went right across the pool. My hair moved.. I suddenly felt cool and even the hair on my arms stood up. The breeze lasted for about 30 seconds. I turned around, (still in the pool) to see if the palm trees were swaying. They weren't. For a second I thought a tropical storm suddenly developed over my subdivision. When I turned back around to put myself back in the same position I had been in... there was a small pink flower on my arm. It had blown off one of the flower bushes 20+ feet away. Just one single dark pink flower. I looked around to see if any other flowers had broken away and landed nearby. Not one. The only flower that the breeze had knocked off, landed on my arm. I picked it up and stared at it while simultaneously twirling it by it's stem. I looked up and winked. Thanks John.

I had the next day off as well and decided to clean my son's room. It's not going to clean itself, I thought. His idea of cleaning his room consisted of bundling everything up in sight and tossing it under is bed or in his closet. I started to go through some of the "piles" and found a small photo album. His father had made him a photo album this summer with pictures of his side of the family and several with him and my son (thing 4). The very last picture was me and match.pizza. How weird was that? I took it out of the album and laid it on the kitchen counter. When my son came home from school, I asked him where he got that picture. He said he found it in a box with other pictures and wanted to add it to the album.

"I have a whole album with my Dad in it and I just wanted you in there too Mom"

"oh, ok" I replied, "well let me get you a different photo... one where I'm by myself"

"ok" he said, "but don't forget, I know you'll forget and I want a picture of you in there too"

I told him I'd look this afternoon and find him one that's real hot, so he can be proud.

He said, "mom you're not hot. but my friend said you were" *shiver*

Later that week, (Friday) around 11:30 pm, I was ironing some scrubs and getting ready for bed. I chose to work 8 hours the next day, to help out a friend who couldn't find anyone else to cover for her. I had just turned the iron off when I heard "you've got mail". A few minutes later I checked my email. It was from Match.com....no surprise, but I certainly didn't have my hopes up. I didn't recognize the user name... popped open his email and the first few words made me gasp.

"Hey Jordan! It's me, "his name here" ... What on earth are WE doing back on this site??!!"

It was Match.Pizza. I haven't heard from him in nearly three years. Actually, last I knew, he was engaged.

To be cont'd.

Match.Clocktower

a glimpse of the last couple weeks... in between the usual get to know you emails... between two people:

we've been emailing for a few weeks.

i'm in no rush to meet. but sort of, i am. there are crazy people on match.

i notice you live in the same town, wouldn't it be funny if we live in the same subdivision?

i doubt that we do, there are a lot of subdivisions in this town.

that's true. so where do you live?

i live in "subdivision".

shut up. i live in "subdivision"... whoa!

that is weird! and, a first!

i can't believe you live here. what if i'm your neighbor?

you can't be. i don't think. unless you're really a black man. or a married man who's never home.

who says i'm a man?

oh that's true too. but if you're not, you did a good job with the photos on your profile.

you've probably seen me, i run every day. probably been past your house.

i walk almost every day.. i've probably been past your house.

let's get together sometime. we've been talking for over two weeks.

we can get together anytime you want.

i get off at 7 tonight, if you're not too busy maybe we can grab a drink after work.

i'm in meetings until 6 or so. i'll be home around 7 and then i'm going to run my usual 6 miles.

come up with something and let me know. you have my number. or email me if that's more conventient... or, we could always meet out by the clocktower at 9pm.

you serious? it's 8:50. good thing i checked my email. i'm leaving for the clocktower now. if you're yanking my chain, i'll send an email later. i'll be the guy in khaki shorts and a navy blue shirt.

i am serious. it's 8:55, not that you'll get this until you get back. but you've proven to be rather spontaneous, i like that! i'm leaving for the clocktower now.. see you there!

i laughed all the way to the clocktower. this is so.... you've got mail'ish. he arrived as he said he would almost as soon as i got there. we talked, laughed and goofed off or the next 6 hours. my butt hurts from sitting on the concrete. he emailed the next morning his wish to get together again soon.

so lastnight, at his place, we watched the yankees get beat up on in their first post season ALDS against my hometown team, cleveland indians. i don't feel like a trader though, i've loved the yankees way longer than my like of the indians. he bought me some mikes... one of my favorite drinks.

him: have to take a drink everytime one of the yankees' spits

me: well then i'll be tipsy by the 3rd inning. all baseball players do is play ball and spit!

him: 'sactly.

me: it's a worknight!

him: joe torre just spit. drink up woman.

we're getting together again. soon.