Turning Over a New Leaf... and the Great MN Get Together!

Lovelies, I was on the phone with my lovely friend Miss Abs tonight and she suggested that I start e-mailing other people about dating, as the Tennis Pro isn't calling me...

I think this is a splendid idea, as she is right on that I am putting all my eggs into one basket with the Tennis Pro. And I make up all these excuses for him "In Vegas with the Boys", "Doesn't want to call & bug me at home in MN", "at the US Open". All a little true, but mostly crap I tell myself to feel better about his lack of calls. Because even though I like him, he may just not be that into me... Le Sigh...

On an up-note: I went home to Minnesota for a week and a half! For - you guessed it - the MINNESOTA STATE FAIR! Was just brilliant!

I went to the fair four times in all: Once with Espresso Genius, once with a friend from St. Fabulous church in Cake Eater, MN, once with my director for my upcoming show (we saw the Prairie Home Companion, which his wife is a cast member in!) and once with my good friend RoGo! Ro Go and I were supposed to see Kelly Clarkson perform at the Grand Stand, but she canceled.... Whore.

I rode the space needle, went on the Giant Slide, had a apple cider Popsicle, went to the Miracle of Birth Barn with all the baby animals, saw a giant pumpkin, had a tasty wild rice burger, looked at jams & jellies that won awards, checked out the quilting & crop art and most important: saw Princess Kay of the Milky Way statues carved in butter.

.

I love the fair. Only 363 more days to go until the next one...

Mamma Mia & Date #2

Lovelies,  I went to the Mamma Mia chorus call on Tuesday morning and knocked it out of the ballpark! 

For the pop/rock type of auditions I sing a certain TV show theme song which ends with a hat toss - and guess what?!  The two guys behind the table both pretended to toss their hats at the end with me!  Awesome, no?

So I felt good about that - they haven't called me yet though to offer me a callback...  Uugh.  Dating & auditioning seem to parallel in my life - when one area goes well, the other tends to follow in suit....  but last night was different!  I had a lovely date with no lovely audition.

It was date number 2 with the Engineer (not like a train conductor - like one who makes programs for computers dealing with financial analysis & things like that.)  

We were supposed to go to the Tribeca Film Festival to see "The Girlfriend Experience", but alas, we didn't book tickets in advance... SO - we got tix for "I Love You, Man" and used the Engineers iPhone (thank you Urban Spoon) to find a lovely little paella bar called Socarrat. 

 

It was AMAZING!  Although the wait was very long, the food was just fantastic as was the service!  This is what we ate:

And after our quick meal we saw I Love You, Man - and lovelies I was almost wetting myself I was laughing so hard!  Paul Rudd is so deliciously awkward!  Brilliant concept for a movie - brilliant casting.  I loved it all!

Then it was back home to Actoria to watch more Mad Men DVD's - I'm obsessed!  Just started Season One & can't wait to get the second DVD in the mail!

Loves & Losses

Lovelies, I have been on a few dates over the past few weeks. Two to be exact.

I enjoyed the company of both of the fellas, but I just didn't get the "zing" from them. I feel like the "zing" is a very important thing, as you have to have a little physical attraction towards the person, right? (and believe you me, lovelies, I don't need a perfect 10. I have been attracted to some pretty nice 5's...)

But the first of these two dudes took me out for a quick cocktail after work. I had my class way over on 37th and 10th. He works on 63rd and 3rd. I asked to meet in the middle & for him to pick the place. He picked a little pub on 51st and 2nd. (Is that in the middle, you may ask?? Why, NO! It's NOT! It's a butt-ass long way from 37th and 10th that requires 2 train transfers and a bit of walking!) Uugh. I should've picked.

So, number one was nice and attentive & seemed VERY nervous. I just wanted to have a drink & chill. He however seemed to need to ask me questions & then not wait for the answers, but just carried on talking about his stuff. Now don't get me wrong - it was all nice stuff - and you could tell he was a kind man, but c'mon.... Kind does not a "zing" create. (ALTHOUGH it helps dramatically to bring it along if there's physical potential).

Guy number two was also lovely & he had a GREAT date all set up for us! He got tickets to see Rigoletto at the Met opera - how cool is that? I enjoy opera, so this was a great date choice for me. We had excellent phone chemistry, but unfortunately he didn't match the pictures that he had put up online.

The evening was a smashing success - we even went to the restaurant La Goulue after for dessert, but unfortunately I just couldn't get over the fact that he was so much older than me. And that age, lovelies, I just couldn't get over.

The online pictures looked a little less weathered. Ah, such is life. But I told him that we could hang out again, sans making out. He seemed OK with that and actually sent me a nice text message today - truly is a kind gentleman.

I hope that I will find someone who gives me the zing, lovelies. And one who is kind, calls me frequently and is thrilled to plan fun dates for us to go on! It will happen. Right? Right??

Date #2 went MUCH better...

Lovelies,  I went on a date with the Argentinian again last night and it went MUCH better.  He showed up on time and there were no friends who appeared unannounced.  Overall was vastly improved from the first date.

However, my little red flags are still up.  (there are a few things that turn me off : like that he told me that he smokes at work - yuck.  But the good things outweigh the not-so-good.)  Do not worry lovelies, I'm actually enjoying being the smart girl this time.  

When we met up last night there was a little hesitation on my part.  In fact when I mentioned my girlfriend from Australia was in town and staying with me he asked "Why didn't you invite her with us?" and I responded "Because I don't bring my friends on dates with me."  

I think he got the picture then.

We had dinner at Ariba, Ariba on 9th Avenue & 50th Street.  Was tasty - had some great fajitas!  YUM!  And I treated myself to a corona light!  After which we actually went back to Astoria - where the Argentinian & I both currently are living (how convenient) and we went to a little wine bar called "Vino de Vino".  They had a great Pinot Noir and a respectable Cabernet... 

(I've totally gained weight on Weight Watchers the past 2 weeks-  I'm so ready to go back to my meeting tomorrow and just be like "My name is Miss Musical and I've fallen off the wagon a bit over the past week.)  

I was supposed to have my Kenyan girlfriend come & stay with me tonight, but she missed her bus this morning from Baltimore, so she's coming tomorrow with her sister.  (I'm secretly a little happy to have the night to myself, as my Australian girlfriend is out of town just for tonight as well - will be lovely to get a full 9 hours of sleep again.  

I'm DRAGGING after this past week of getting up 2 - 3 times a night with my Australian friend's coughing...)  I feel so bad that she's sick on vacation, but that stuff happens.  

Now it's back to work, lovelies - I gotta make some money today!

Date Details...

Lovelies, I had a very VERY nice date on Sunday afternoon!   Bed, Bath & Beyond Boy (which is a lot to type - lets call him B. Quad) called me on Wednesday and asked to take me out for lunch on Sunday!  I, of course, said Yes!

Hooray - dates with fun people who are witty & charming! 

We met up at La Menagerie on 53rd and 2nd.  Was a cute brunch spot!  B. Quad looked very nice when I showed up and gave me a hug!  Went inside and sat down.  We talked and talked - he has an excellent vocabulary - I was laughing myself silly at his jokes! 

Also, lovelies, B. Quad did theatre in high school AND he TAP DANCES!!!  (WHAT?!)  But that was just a for fun activity in school, now he's got a "real job" - paying the rent is a good thing, my friends...

But the conversation was just great!  He kept asking fantastic questions and firing back quick responses to my banter...  One of the first ones I've dated in NYC to have a charming retort poised & ready for each of my comments.  

Smart people ROCK.  

Now we'll have to see if date #2 happens anytime soon...  Waiting game, my lovelies.

And to pass the time, I'm off to my musical theatre dance class at Alvin Ailey tonight!  Hooray!

Southern Hospitality

Lovelies, I just got home from a lovely evening with the British Fellow! We went to the fun delta-feel restaurant Southern Hospitality. It's owned by Justin Timberlake and a few of his friends.

We actually got to sit outside (it's the 7th of November people, and it was a giz-orgeous night out! As for the place, AWESOME atmosphere and great food! We had buffalo wings, ribs, buttermilk biscuits, sweet potatoes with marshmallows on the top and tater tots. (I love tater tots - reminds me of my pre-school days when we'd have tater tot hot dish in the "rainbow room" at lunch time!)

Also, we went to the Plaza afterwards and sat in the BEAUTIFUL and ornate lobby & had a glass of bubbly! I love me some Veuve Cliquot...

Hooray for Awesome Friday nights in the city!

PS, lovelies - and this one is important - Bed, Bath & Beyond Boy called. We are going on a date on SUNDAY!!! Exciting, no?!