"Just Getting Started"

So, I had been getting a little bored of the talent that was spreading across the pages of match.com. I either kept seeing faces of guys I have already winked at, emailed with or even dated...and then a bunch of other guys that just aren't even worth a second look (sorry if that's mean, but it's true). My eye's have it down to a science, where I can quickly scan through the thumbnail pictures on my iphone and pick out the most decent ones. It only fails me about 20%, which can come back to bite me since everyone can tell when you look at their profile and it may seem like you're interested. Anyway, my eyes were doing their job when they came across and stopped on this one profile. His big smile shined, even through the tiny thumbnail. Immediately I clicked on his profile to scan the rest of his 20 pictures he had up. Everything checked out nicely...hair-brown, eyes-brown, height - 6 ft, good body, good clothes. Since the pictures checked out it was time to read about him, aka Phase 2 of "matching". He had a college degree (always a must), he was interested in the same things I was and he seemed to be looking for a girl like me so of course I winked.

The concept of "winking" is so ridiculous but at the same time I am completely on board with it. When you send a message right away you are really putting yourself out there. I find it less demoralizing to not get a wink back then to not get a message back...HOWEVER..getting the "Thanks, but No Thanks" response is pretty bad, gets ya right in the heart. I mean, really? Is it necessary? I am more a fan of the "just don't do anything and usually they get the hint" approach. I say usually becuase I have had a couple guys wink/email me mulitiple times. One guy emailed me on three separate occasions, with the same email..as in he obviously was too stupid to realize it was the same person just because I had changed my profile picture.

Anyway - to get back on track, I started emailing with this guy, back and forth for about a week. Our little cyber relationship was going well so naturally, as match.com protocol usually goes, we decided to meet.

However, let me take you back about a week before I started emailing with, we'll call him Mr.Baggage (you'll know why later). Back in college (all of 2 years ago), there was a guy that I met through a friend whom I was very attracted to, however I had a boyfriend at the time so he was off limits (for the most part). He played basketball for another college and a few of my volleyball teammates and his teammates often hung out. We obviously liked eachother but throughout the years either I had a boyfriend or he had a girlfriend - basically, the timing was just never right. I got a Facebook message from him letting me know he was going to be moving back to California soon and wanted to see what I was up to. We began talking/texting, virtually creating a relationship that was based on the past. I hadn't seen him in a year so all I really had were the memories from college. It was still another 4 months before he was actually moving home and to be honest, this cyber relationhsip was not cutting it. While we seemed to have the same connection, I did not want to wait 4 whole months to figure out whether that was true or not. So, what did I do? I flew back to Hawaii to find out.

Fast forward...so if you're able to follow along I was talking to both of them at once. Since Mr. Baggage wanted to meet, I figured we should meet before I headed to Hawaii to see this other guy, Mr. Hawaii "5 No". Mr. Baggage and I decided to meet on a Sunday night. He said he would be at The Grove working on some stuff for work the next day but we should meet for some coffee. This was perfect, very low key and no pressure. I walked into The Grove and figured the only guy by himself with big head phones and lap top must be him. When I saw his face in person I thought to myself, "Well done Jackie." His smile was just as good in person as it was in his photos. We talked for a few hours and took a stroll through the Marina, eventually leading to my apartment. Since we seemed to have hit it off, and because I was leaving that coming Thursday, we both agreed to see each other Wednesday. That didn't exactlty go as planned.

Sunday - First meeting
Monday - Got from from the gym, about to have dinner when he calls and asks if I want to get dinner...yes.
Tuesday... Tuesday deserves it's own little story. All around, Tuesdays are often known as "Taco Tuesdays". My Taco Tuesdays are usually at a place called Nick's Crispy Tacos (If you haven't been, GO!!). Mr.Baggage called Tuesday informing me that he was at Blue Light for Taco Tuesday and I should join. I figured "what the hell, why not." I was too late for taco's but I was not too late for beer - a lot of cheap beer. We started to get a little tipsy and ended up kissing the bar. He proceeded to tell me that he would love it if I came home with him. Me being A) a little drunk and b)A little curious decided to say "yes". Mistake? Maybe...Willing to take the chance? Apparantly........

to be continued...