Have tool belt, will travel ...

I'm now convinced that there are very few things sexier than a man with tools who knows how to use them. Take "D," the guy I'm dating, for instance. We're nine Wednesdays (our date night) into our relationship, and last night he whips out his wire cutters, a box overflowing with wires (yes...only wires) and splices into a strand of outside Christmas lights and connects them to a new wire with a plug...and POW, they're once again usable. Girls, doesn't that beat the guy with the Abercrombie abs ALL DAY LONG!! So far, he's connected a light kit to my ceiling fan, hooked up my new HD tv and VCR, checked and replaced my air filters (without asking), fixed the hose on my washing machine, and oiled my garage door. And that's just a sample. Now that's hot. Super hot.
Fixes like that in my world typically get placed on hold indefinitely, or I end up overspending on a Handy Bob housecall. Definitely one of the drags of being a single, working mom. Sure, I could have lived without a ceiling fan light, or gone a little while longer on my filters. But how nice, to have the icemaker that never worked right, now working like a charm (true story, and Fix #1).
BTW, don't get me started on his kitchen utensils. I'll save that for another day.

It’s all in the icing

Every year my girlfriends and I get together for an annual holiday cookie exchange. Basically, it’s an excuse for us to get together, eat, drink and be merry! You never know the conversations that will be had around a table of 10 women, especially after a few festive cocktails, but this year’s party took the cookie (yes, pun intended).

While the actual “cookie decorating” part of the cookie party is typically my least favorite part, the conversations around the decorating table kept me more than entertained. Conversations spanned the grid from the usual kids, husbands, families, etc. to the not-so-typically-covered bad kissers and naughty comments about the sugar cookie icing, particularly the “white” icing. Ahahaha!

The bad kisser conversations really got me thinking though…can you really have a relationship with a bad kisser? The overwhelming answer from the group, NO, and I agree. One friend even went as far as to say she’d take a good kisser over a really hot guy.

No doubt we’ve all experienced a bad kiss or two in our lives, but the good ones more than make up for it. Cherish those moments and the person those kisses come from. And if you're lucky enough to still be with that great kisser, find some mistletoe my friend – tis the season! Whether it’s a first kiss or the 1,245, 976 kiss, if it’s a good one, it’s like the icing on the cookie!

Being thankful

Although the Thanksgiving holiday is behind us, it’s important we all take a minute to give thanks for all we have in our lives. Whether it be a new love interest (a la wednite_43), flourishing dating life, amazing friends and family, fulfilling career, endless optimism or profound happiness, there’s much to be thankful for each and every day.

A little bit stronger

Anyone that's been in a relationship that didn't work out for one reason or another knows the pain of getting over that relationship. As painful as it is, it's part of the process and, with each experience, makes us a little bit stronger and prepares us for the next relationship. If we're lucky enough, the next one will be "the one," but if not, don't forge on with regrets, but rather lessons learned!

Wednesdays are steaming up!

My Wednesday nights have been flying by. Number five and six to be exact with D, my boyfriend, in our total BFGF bliss. Sigh...and then puke, we make you sick, right!

Seriously though. Dream date numeral six Wednesday consisted of an AHMAAZING pot roast that stewed in his crock pot all day. D brought over the ingrediants and cooking gadgets (he owns a garlic press and isn't afraid to use it) to my house morning of--and proceeded to make one of the best comfort foods of all time. Add to the atmosphere a roaring fire in my fireplace and a string of "Top Chef Just Desserts" episodes culminating in the finale, and we serve up yet another super hot, memorable date. Nice.

Back up to my fifth Wednesday with D. By now, he's met my kids. I've met his parents, his brothers, and their families. He's cooked for me, I've cooked for him. We've done laundry together, grocery shopped, and experienced all the typical day-to-day stuff with each other. We've done my softball games, played tennis, golf, darts, shuffleboard, and rolled dice. We're now in the comfort zone. So what better than a great rental, great dinner and another great Wednesday night.

Sheesh. Life is good when shared, isn't it.

GG's in town!

So my sharp-as-a-wip, 88 year-old Grandmother, who my kids most affectionately refer to as "GG," just arrived for a visit. She's from the Chicago area, where I grew up, is my role model, my mentor, can tell you the starting White Sox lineup if you ask her, makes the BEST chocolate eclairs, and is, um, well very opinionated. Always full of compliments...like "your kids are beautiful...so smart--Sofia reminds me exactly like you when you were a kid." Says all of the right things (and truly means them) making you beam with pride and joy, just the way she always did when I was a kid. Oh, and I did I mention that she is, um, well a little protective?

My boyfriend is no exception. She'll be meeting D for the first time at Sunday dinner. Before I even finished telling her about him, she immediately began quizzing me without hesitation...how did you meet(really online?)...did you warn him about us (we're a little outspoken if you haven't surmised that by now) ...what does he do...how many kids does he have...when kind of car does he drive...who left who in his marriage (really Grandma!)...does he have money in the bank (her words exactly). Not meant in a judging way, just statements in the form of questions to ensure that he is good enough for her granddaughter.

Love that. I want to be her when I grow older. Full of life, full of laughter, full of wisdom. Oh, and I can't wait for her to meet D.

I’m not cut out to be a clown…

Confession time…clowns kind of scare me! There’s something about an adult that dresses up in funny clothes, paints their face and spends their time playing with balloons and entertaining small children. One thing I admire about clowns though is their ability to juggle.

Let me just say, juggling is SO NOT my thing. And I’m not talking about scarves, fruit or tiny little balls either. I’m talking about juggling the wonderful world of dating, and when luck is on your side, dating more than one person at the same time. Let’s just say there have been a couple “keepers” from my POF fishing experiment and it’s been a lot of fun meeting new people the last few weeks, but at what point do you decide juggling more than one prospect is not the best solution – for you or for them? And what if you make the wrong decision?

I don’t yet have an answer to either of these questions. I realize that dating is all about getting to know new people, finding someone you have a connection with and seeing where it goes. Casually dating more than one guy at a time is fine, as long as you’re honest with yourself and the other people in the equation.

Juggling is necessary though as you weed through the clutter to find that person you really have a connection with and want to move forward to something more serious. I would say it’s at that point when it’s time to retire your juggling act and move on to the trapeze where your stomach flutters, your heart beats with excitement and you can’t wipe the smile off your face as you fly through the air and entertain others and yourself with a new adventure!