A couple of weeks ago, I had a couple of days off after Gleek Retreat. I wanted to really use these days as a way for me to find myself back after being (or feeling like) I was lost in the midst of conference planning. Over the course of the 2 days, I spent time getting a massage, a new tattoo, drinks with new friends, watching a movie, going to the dentist… and well, painting pottery.

I had a Groupon type deal that I took advantage of a few months ago and decided this would be the perfect time to use this deal. I *love* painting pottery. It’s a HUGE release for me… and could be post in itself.

Anyway… that’s most definitely not what I’m thinking about here.

So as I was finishing up the pottery at the studio – the owner (or manager?) was walking around, keeping up on everyone and making sure we were all set. Periodically he would stop and chat with me. I thought this was because I was sitting alone… but it was nice to have someone to chat with.

As I was finishing up and cleaning up, he was walking through the hallway and asked “If you have the day off, where’s your boyfriend?” My response was something along the lines of “There’s no guy in the picture right now”. And I went back about my business thinking more about the task at hand and the need to get to work a bit later.

Shortly after, I paid for everything (or rather didn’t because I had the coupon and was )… and a couple times while I was trying to figure out what to do – since I hadn’t ever been there before – he said (or called me) “baby” a couple of times. One of my pet peeves when someone really doesn’t know me well at all. (Um, duh?!)

It was when I was driving home that it occurred to me that this might have been a pick-up line. Yeah… I’m *that* on top of it. Seriously. So I turned to my faithful twitter friends, and indeed they confirmed that for me.

Definitely a pick-up line.

This made me think about the “baby” comments a little more as well. Did he mean to say “baby” or was it just something he said to everyone? Was he trying to flirt?

I had to let it go… I knew I’d run into him a week later when I picked up the pottery so I decided to assess the situation again at that point. Plus, if I thought about it too much in that week, I might have imagined the relationship in full course. (Do all girls do this?)

This past week I went to pick up my pottery… was greeted by him as I walked in the door. He asked what my pottery looked like and I described it to him. He looked at me like I was crazy. Like it wasn’t there or something. Then all of a sudden he’s like “Oh yeah!” and starts laughing. (Cue me eye-rolling on the inside about now.)

After he picked up the vase & bowl I had made, he finished them and started packaging them up. He asked how my day was… I said “long, but good day so far”… he responded with “I know what you mean, I’ve been working since 11 last night. But at least I have a roof over my head, the kids are fed and the baby mama’s happy enough.”

At this I was glad that my order was ready… wasn’t sure exactly how to respond. I told him I really enjoyed the store & would be back sometime.

What do you think? Should I start becoming a regular at painting pottery? Or should I avoid the store unless I really want to paint… and then take a friend along for super-protection?

So I joined eHarmony a while ago. The deal was good… and I figured that it couldn’t hurt to try to meet more people than what I have been in the past few months. Don’t get me wrong… I’m not desperate, but I would like to meet some good quality people a little more often. Preferably ones that I didn’t go to high school with and only remember the “old me”.

For those that don’t know, the eHarmony process is 4 steps. First closed ended questions, followed by things you classify as “must haves” and “can’t stands”, then open ended questions and finally open communication.

The guy I was communicating with was from about 6 hours away… a little further than I would like if I were to get into a long-distance relationship, but still somewhat do-able. Especially because Chicago was between us – and that’s just {plain & simple} a great town.

He initiated the process and upon my answering/sending questions he would respond in {literally} 1 minute or less. Every.Time. It almost seemed like he was on the site all the time – which he may have been if he has the iPhone app.

I know I’m quite a catch but still… maybe a little quick and a little too eager.

After completing the 4 step process in about 1.5 days, his first message to me only includes his cell phone number. I try {unsuccessfully} to call by blocking my number (and for what it’s worth, breaking my “golden rule” on dating by having the guy call me if we’ve not actually gone on a date yet) – and then left a message back to him on the site saying that I must have missed him.

He responds that he needs my number – he won’t answer calls without it. So I oblige. I gave up my cell phone number.

He texted me on Tuesday morning asking for my picture – which I sent to him… and received the response “cute
 Nice. And then later that night he called – and left a nice/sweet voicemail on my phone…

…and then he became “Texting Dude”.

On Wednesday he texts me and asks for all kinds of personal information. Some of which I gave to him, some of which I excluded… and when I asked for the same back – he gave me a one single synopsis text back. Great. Not feeling so good about this.

Then I’m out for dinner that night… and while at dinner I get another text from him saying “Can I have a picture of your face?”

Me: “Um, I think I sent a pic to you already…”

TD: “No, I never received it. Can you send it again?”

Me: “I’m pretty sure you received it. You said I was cute.”

TD: “I deleted it. Send it again plz”

5 minutes later… TD: “Can I get your last name? You didn’t send that”

45 minutes more pass… TD: “What was your last relationship” <– Already sent him that info

Another hour goes by… TD: “How is your night goin”

I don’t answer his texts that night. Nor does he try to reach out further beyond them to communicate with me. I also log into the eHarmony site to send him a message and find that he’s closed the match.

Thursday afternoon arrives and I am feeling relieved that I probably won’t be hearing from him.

Then I get a text from him “hey beautiful”. {My thought at this point… uh oh.}

I don’t respond. Instead I turn to twitter… and find that a number of people believe the same thing that I do.

He’s totally a player. And he’s playing me.

Later that night {when I’m at the bowling alley hanging with my brothers/friends} I finally send him a text back… “I’m sorry, but I don’t think we should keep communicating. Good luck with your search.”

And receive this EXACT text back… (his spelling, not mine… I promise)

TD: “your a bitch”

Well thank you.

*My sister-in-law (a teacher) stated that maybe I should send him a text back saying that it wasn’t grammatically correct. I chose not to.

And thus ends another “match” on eHarmony.