The Bachelor is Bullshit and I am Dating...Many Men!

I don't want to talk about the fact that SOME of you officially hate the book Wemberly Worried. It's still a classic...and don't you be surprised if I buy it for one of your babies. :)

I just got finished watching the season finale of the Bachelor. I can't believe they put that poor girl through hell and back and hell again. God love her. She lives in Dallas...someone get her Dr.Don's number for some much needed therapy.

But on to more pressing issues! So I joined eHarmony about a month ago. Two of my girlfriends here and I decided that we needed to challenge ourselves at least once a month to step outside of the comfort zone in search of available, single, emotionally and mentally capable men. It can be a daunting task, especially for those of us who would just like for Prince Charming to knock on the door and announce that he's Mr. Perfect. So, my challenge for February was to join a dating site. And it has proven to be pretty fun! I have already been out on two dates, I'm going on a 2nd date this week with one of the guys I met last week, and I'm SO excited because two of the guys that I have been talking with that I'm interested in both asked me out too! But now, of course, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed! How the hell do guys just flit around and date copious amounts of women?! It's exhausting! But I feel like I'm on my own, more private version, of the Bachelorette!

Quick run down...of course, I'll give them nicknames...it's much more fun and easier to remember who's who...

First Date: The 6'4 Red Head
I know what you're thinking already...6'4? Red hair? He and I went out last week for drinks at this swanky little wine bar. Good, easy conversation...he's totally laid back and there was hardly a lull in the flow of our talking. I was impressed with the fact that he just straight up said when and where we were going. I'm all about a guy who can just make a plan (imagine that?). If for nothing else, I was grateful to have a boost of confidence that I can actually do this. This meaning make a plan with someone of the opposite sex, drive to the bar looking 1/2 way decent, walk in by myself when I don't see him there, order a drink (swig it down real fast), order another one (and leave it lying casually on the table), and graciously introduce myself when he walks in. It was a good start.
Status: Rose (I am seeing him again on Wednesday)

Second Date: Zach Braff
I went out last night with "Zach." He looks like Zach Braff, but more than that I'm calling him that because at one point, when we were talking about Garden State and how we liked the movie and soundtrack he said, "I'm pretty much Zach Braff...weird, creative, big headed." I don't even remember what he said past that. I was irritated that he compared himself (and he was COMPLETELY serious) to Zach Braff and was fine with having the asshole side that Zach Braff apparently has. This guy is 27, which I know is only a year younger than me, but he felt younger than that. I was over him 1/2 way through dinner. I was looking for the "Close Match" button that I've used so frequently on eHarmony and couldn't find it. I even tried this thing that Ben does when he's not interested in a conversation that we're having where he just yells in the middle of our talking,"BORING!" (although I tried it it my mind so as not to seem rude), but it didn't work. Finally, I said I had to get home because I had an early morning. I emailed him the friend email and this was his reply...

Hey Erin,
You're more than welcome for dinner last night. Thank you for a great time (and for the coffee)!
I appreciate your honesty and being up front with me so quickly. To continue this open and straightforward communication, I really enjoyed hanging with you last night and thought (and still think) that you and I had (have) some real potential considering how much we have in common and how we interacted. With that said, being friends would be pretty cool too. I still want to do a movie on Friday, as I think it would be a good time. Would you still be interested? I'll let you decide what we see (since you've seen more of what's out than I have). What do you say?Anyway, hope the rest of your week goes well. Feel free to drop me a text, e-mail, or phone call anytime and let me know about Friday. Take Care! (Zach Braff)

I added that last part since clearly that isn't his name, but did ANYONE catch the deal breaker?! That's right...he use the token words I hate...take care.
Status: No Rose

Interest 3: Aaron With an A
He's only an interest because we haven't gone out yet, although we're supposed to get together this week. Aaron With an A is from Boulder. He actually moved here fairly recently as well. He's super cute and seems like he could be very intellectually stimulating. He's into yoga, rock climbing, and hiking. I'm a little nervous because I'm afraid that he'll end up being like Bruno, which is actually a HUGE generalization, but what can I say? He's a Boulder Boy.

Interest 4: FastTrack
He's handsome, he's funny, and he's light-hearted about the whole online dating thing. I call him FastTrack because on eHarmony, you are given the option to either go through Guided Communication, in which you post questions to each other before the "open communication" phase or you can just do FastTrack, at which point, you are just emailing back and forth with the person without any assistance from Dr. Warren. Since his profile stated that he preferred FastTrack, I decided to email him. Here is part of his reply:

I'm glad you liked my profile! You'd be surprised how many people take this very seriously and find my profile offensive! I sort of think the whole online dating process this site employs is fairly strange, so I did my best to make light of it. That's why I prefer FastTrack. I prefer to get to know someone by talking to them, not through pre-set questions and MHCSs that don't really tell you anything about someone. Through guided communication, you learn profound things such as your matches can't stand racists and need to receive affection in relationships. It's sort of akin to someone telling you that the world is round and that dinosaurs are extinct.I really enjoyed your profile too!

In my book, you get HUGE points for not listing Eat, Pray, Love as the last book you enjoyed. I'm sure it's a great book, mostly because every girl on this site names that book in their profile, but the fact that you didn't makes you different and I like that.

As with Aaron With an A, FastTrack just asked me out tonight, so I'll email him back tomorrow with a YES, PLEASE! I think he has great potential!

That's all for now...I'll (try to!) keep you posted!

Much love...