I guess Mr. Handshake didn't work out...

So I'll write about him now! Ha

"Why do you call him Mr Handshake Noelle?" 

Great question readers!! It's because I got a really awkward, firm business handshake when we first met to start a horribly awkward first thirty minutes of a first date.

Let's keep in mind what I had just experienced with the date the night before. The lawyer had reservations ready and although he was late, the date seemed pre-planned right? Points to him!

Well Mr Handshake texts me a few hours before the date asking to push it back an entire hour. So now we're at 8pm for dinner downtown. Awesome, not like that annoys me or anything. Oh well. I deal because he's seem AWESOME via emails and texts... so rather than doing my first instinct to bail completely, I just **sigh** and decide to take a few hours to straighten my hair since I have nothing else planned.

7:30 rolls around and I head out to go downtown thinking I'll have plenty of time to find the place, park and causally walk over to the restaurant. Ha that was an epic fail. It was the big flight day over in Coronado and so downtown was PACKED and there was film festival going on too and so after circling a few blocks looking for parking other than Horton Plaza I gave up and parked in Horton. So now I'm the one who's late (a good 15 minutes too, whoops!) 

Well I find him outside the restaurant and am impressed (read that as he's cute) but then the weirdest thing happened... he shook my hand. Like it was a business deal... so weird, but whatever. He tells me where we're supposed to go has a 30 minute wait and so we could wait or walk around and find something. Both would be awkward so I leave the decision up to him. We walk. 

Insight into Mr Handshake's bathroom... 

Since we were going to eat Mexican food anyways, we tuck into this little cantina/bar place called Funky Garcia's because he's had their tacos people and they're good. While the food was good, it was SO loud and hilarious because there were marines next to us just getting SMASHED and dancing to the really loud music that was playing. He was uncomfortable and I was thankful since the conversation was really structured and awkward at first.

Then the best part of the whole night... "Lean Like A Cholo" came on and this guy (at least I hope it was a guy) in a fat suit dressed like a fat little Mexican guy in a sombreo and tank top etc came out and did the cholo dance and tried to get Mr. Handshake to dance with him. I died with laughter (tears in my eyes laughing) and that's when the date comepletely changed. He was shocked I wasn't offended and then we just laughed and had a good time the rest of the night.

We ended up going to this billiards place above the Old Spaghetti Factory for hours and just chatting and playing (well trying) to play pool.

When I asked him what stations he's worked at before (he's a news producer) he mentioned a FOX station right out of college and he's like

"it's not FOX news, it was a FOX affiliate. I voted for Obama and no on 8" 

I died laughing when he's like 

 "you made it pretty clear you're liberal on your eHarmony profile and so I don't want you to get the wrong idea".

Ha, loved it.

All around great night.

We grabbed dinner again a few days later and then lunch when I was taking a day off from traveling over a three day weekend... That was Tuesday of last week. I haven't heard from him since.

Granted I text him for the first time again today but yeah usually we're texting at least once a day everyday. Oh well! Win some you lose some.

Until next time...

Some thoughts from Facebook friends about the way to greet a date...

So this is what happens...

I've been closing matches on eHarm left and right not thinking a thing about it. However, what does the other person actually see? I didn't know until I was closed right.

Ouch...

I do love how the language on there is pretty much "don't jump off a bridge loser, there are other fish in the sea"

 Oh well Devin... I didn't even get a chance to see your profile and I probably wouldn't have wanted to anyways... jerk.

Until next time...

Is my life is a scene out of "He's just not that into you"...

...or is he just old and operating under the old rules of dating?

So it's been awhile since I blogged about my dating experience. So sorry, but I've been honestly trying to figure out how to write about the last few dates I've been on.

I decided to write about the 31 year old family lawyer (the one who called).

Let's just say I'm thankful that I watched "He's Just Not That Into You" before I started this whole escapade in online dating. 

The date started off with him calling me as I'm on my way to the restaurant saying he's running late and will be there soon. grr I hate when I don't have notice and I'm already on my way there... oh well I deal and sit in my car waiting for him to show up.

Once I walk up to the restaurant he actually wasn't there like he text me he was. Awesome! It's freezing out and I'm sitting there like an awesome lame-o on a bench outside. Thank goodness I have Angry Birds to play on my phone.

Then the lawyer (again names are saved to protect people) walks up and let's start a horrible awkward first half hour of the dinner. The first thing he told me, "Sorry I'm late, I forgot my wallet and didn't think you'd like that much." Awesome start to a date, dude! Anyways, I could tell that he had questions prepped before the date and he was running through them really quick. Adorable, but tragic because I could tell he was getting anxious and he started sucking down his mojito pretty quick.

He started getting more comfy when I started having him talk more about him. While I wasn't having a horrible time, looking back on it, I could see that he wasn't ever 100% comfy. I still don't know why. Oh well.

Since it wasn't horrible, I unfortunately don't have anything great to say about it, but I am confused... 

So when we were done, he walked me to my car, gave me a huge hug and said "I had a fantastic time, I'll be in touch." Awesome, we're going out again. Keep in mind this date was a Friday night. Within half an hour of the date, I got a text saying how it was a good night and we'll need to do it again soon.

Then........... nothing.......... not until Wednesday! 

And the text said "Hope your week is going well." I was so caught of guard that I didn't even respond because it wasn't a question and therefore it didn't warrant a response. Oh and the fact it was FIVE DAYS later. Sorry the whole "three day rule" is sooo not the right way to do it anymore. Even eHarmony says that!! 

Needless to say no second date on that one. Ha. However, I just finished date three (yup, three!) with the news producer. I'll write on that one later.

Until next time...

Not an online dating update...

But I just thought of the newest question to add to the PLNU admissions interview....

"Define the word or concept: Deadline"

Depending on how they answer it could be the only one needed! Time saver and brilliant!

Going to run it by my boss (not really).... letcha know how it goes!

Until next time...

TGIF - It's going to be a good weekend!

Not only did I have a four day week this week because of an awesome 24 hour trip to see my best friend in Redlands I also am stoked on the two dates I'm going on this weekend. 

Tonight's guy - 31 year old family law attorney
Tomorrow night's guy - 29 year old news producer

This is SO weird for me! I haven't been the girl who dated around. I always went out a few times with one guy, liked him enough to give him a shot and then next thing you know a year went by and we were still together.

My dad used to make fun of me whenever guys would call the house and he didn't remember them or if I started dating someone really quick after another guy in high school by doing the "circus theme song" around the house.

Man oh man is that true these days... I know I'm royally going to screw this up and be like

"oh yeah we talked about this last week" 

and he'll be like

"um what? we didn't get together last week and I had no idea about that"

YIKES!

Well here's to a busy and fun weekend! I'm looking forward to both dates as should you because I'll be full of blog material by Sunday afternoon! Love it.

Until next time...

Thank goodness for guided communication

If you've never had the blessing to be a part of the eHarm community and have no idea what "guided communication" is... let me enlighten you. It's a series of steps you take with different types of questions you can ask to get to know someone. There are structured questions or you can ask your own, but you have a character limit etc. For eHarm's description check this out. It helps take the awkwardness out of the final communication step "eHarmony mail" where you're able to just email back and forth. After you go through the guided communication you have something to talk about in the emails or you have enough ammo to close out a match or essentially block them.

So why am I thankful for guided communication? Keep reading for my explanation...

Meet the 25 year old assistant marketing manager who is (unfortunately for him) my example. 

Cute photo and seems like someone who would want to have a good time, right?

Right! So we start the guided communication process after I've thoroughly looked through his profile and liked what I saw.

The other parts of his profile make him seem totally normal and like someone I wouldn't mind getting to know.

Well then you notice on the same day that he posts this little profile update gem...


He also sends you the following answer to an important questions you ask all your eHarm matches about traditional gender roles.

That is when you push the "close match" button and chalk it up to the fact that eHarm is just funny!

Until next time...

I got a PHONE call.... HA!

Tonight I'm sitting in my living room working on Statistics homework when all of a sudden my phone started making this weird noise. When I finally figured out that is the default ring-tone (I had to get a new phone Thursday) I realized I didn't know the number so naturally I let it go to voice-mail. Little did I know how entertaining the voice-mail was going to be. It was one of the eHarm guys I've been talking to!

"um hi Noelle this is *lawyer guy* just saying to say hi, have fun watching the game tomorrow and I'll talk to you soon. mmBye"

While I'm dying laughing at this I start to think about why I think this is just so funny. I guess it's because I haven't received a phone call from a guy in a LONG TIME! Who doesn't just text these days? Oh what a sweetheart, he wanted to be a gentleman.

Granted he's 31 and you could hear the relief in his voice when my voice-mail kicked on his "please don't pick up please don't pick up pleeeease don't pick up..." wishes came true. Ha!

My dilemma is... do I call him back or just text him "hey buddy! Got your voice-mail! Hope your days is great tomorrow too!" I really HATE phone talking, but I don't know what 30+ people like. So weird! HA! If I call him back I'll definitely need to consult this guide on how to make a phone call since it's been SO LONG!

Advice greatly appreciated!!

Until next time...

Recently added to my eHarm profile....

Blogger has a new mobile app!

I had to get a new phone because my other one crapped out and so I had to search and find all my apps. While doing that I stumbled upon this Blogger APP! I can post about my dates DURING the dates on my sly bathroom runs! Glorious!

Until next time...

Spring Break Plans Made!!

The best part of being back in school.... I get Spring Break again!! Well I kind of do... one prof (Thursday night) is giving us that week off and my other class (Monday night) is letting me take it off. So I'm going to have a WHOLE week off of school in March!!

What am I doing you may be wondering? If you know me at all you know I can't just sit around throughout my "days off" and not be productive and so I'm always checking my email on my phone and keeping up with the Facebook/Twitter pages I run for PLNU. It's hard for me to sit around and just exist. So what am I doing for break???

I'm going to Rosarito, Mexico with YWAM, Lazarian World Homes and PLNU to help build a church and homes! 

Left: Map of where I'm going
Right: Gives you an idea of what I'll be doing

Lazarian World Homes builds their building projects out of an eco-friendly foam and you can read more about what and how they do it here.

I'm pretty excited to be able to have a boss who gave me the time off and to be able to go down to Mexico and help out while I'm enjoying my first week long vacay since I graduated in Dec of 2008!!

I'm going in the beginning of March and am SO excited! The best part... no cell phone or laptop so I CAN'T work! YIPPEE!!

Until next time...