"I'm not waiting on a lady
 I'm just waiting on a friend."
    The Rolling Stones

I had dinner with Lisa tonight. She had called last week and suggested we get together. We've talked on the phone maybe once a week since we broke up, but I hadn't actually spent any time with her in... over four months. I was actually pretty scared. I guess I don't really know what I feel for her anymore, but I knew that seeing her was likely to force me through a gamut of feeling that I wasn't really prepared to run.

See... even though we had been talking all this time it was really just polite chit-chat. "How's this, How's that, what's new, etc etc." I figured actually spending time with her might lead to some tougher quesitons that I wasn't sure I wanted answered, but knew I'd ask anyway.

Dinner itself was a bit strained, I was so on edge that I really couldn't eat. It wasn't bad, I was just really wound up I guess. We went back to my place, which she had never seen, and caught a rooftop sunset. Slowly the conversation became less awkward (from my end) and I realized how much I missed just talking to her. We hung out for a few more hours just talking and laughing. It was really a lot of fun.

Its funny... most of the girls I've dated are really wonderful people and I'm always embarassed at how long it takes me to realize that it is possible to be their friend once the dust has settled. Sure there are some that have left my life and will likely never come back, but all the really great ones have stayed with me to this day. I really hope Lisa will be one of the latter.

I guess being romantically involved with someone will always change your relationship with them, but that change doesn't have to be a bad thing.

"And now young Scott with a slingshot
 Finally found a tender spot
 And throws his lover in the sand

 And some bloodshot forget-menot
 Whispers daddy's within earshot
 Save the buckshot turn up the band

 And she was blinded by the light"
    Bruce Springsteen Blinded by the Light

Yes, Abigail... Abigail is a free-spirited, beautiful, eloquent, and passionate artist who I met on line a few months ago. She and I hit it off like no one I had met before. It wasn't too long till I wanted to meet her. However, the scheduling never seemed to work out so I thought she was brushing me off. I was disappointed, but I resolved not to let it get to me. So I went out and met Addy. Addy and Abbi. bear in mind that I've also dated an Anny so there's a definite pattern emerging here.

Anyway, just after I set my first date with Addy, Abigail writes me back apologizing profusely for seeming to give me the run around and proposing that we get together on the 4th of July... two days after my date with Addy. Now, I've done multiple first dates in a row before and it was fine becuase at least one (actually all) of them went badly. As I've said my first date with Addy was great so I was counting on my date with Abigail to go poorly.

Unfortunately it went great. No that's not right... it was a logistical disater. We drove up to Gasworks park to see the fireworks, but it was so crowded that we decided to try and make it back to Belltown. Just after we got parked (10 blocks from my place) the fireworks began and we wound up watching the show from some random streen on Queen Anne. We headed back to my place afterwards and since my car was parked 10 blocks in the wrong direction I just wound up walking her home. I felt like an ass, but inspite all of this being around her gave me a rush I hadn't felt for a long time.

Just this past weekend we had a second date that was the best time I had in a long time. Abbi's a vegan and I just happen to know all the good vegitarian places in Seattle so I took her to one of my favorites and the out to see my favorite local cover band and we danced the night away. I was so happy I was practically walking on air by the end of that night.

So Addy and Abbi. I feel like such an ass dating them both at the same time, but I didn't mean for it to happen this way. I've promised myself that I'll sort this out byt the time I've gone out with each of them three times. I really don't have any indication from either of them that they feel anything for me at all so I guess I shouldn't really worry until I have something to worry about. It just feel wrong.

Anyway, if I could script out destiny I would have things end peacefully between Addy and I and have thngs take off with Abigail. I can't quite qualify it, but she definitly moves me. Ah well, as a wise man once said, "Control what you can control and let everything else take a flying @#$% at you." Here's to hoping! G'night

"Nothing worthwhile was ever easy"
    Some asshole who just happened to be right

I'm sitting here watching Say Anything for the first time in my life. I know this was one of those quintessential coming of age movies, and it seems a little bizarre that I never got around to seeing it before now. However, I never knew it was set in Seattle and in that sense I think I'm probably getting more out of it now.

Why I'm watching it now is a strange story. I guess you could say its homework for a date that may (or may not) happen tomorrow. Her name is Addy and our first date was on my birthday. It was a scheduling accident. Anyway, she's incredible: cute but shy, tough but kind, easy-going but I'd wager she's not afraid to try new things. The first date was dinner and I thought it went great. It was the first date in a long time that left me feeling... well, happy to be alive I guess.

(Just got to the sex scene. No wonder people love John Cusack)

The second date went OK (met for coffee; saw some improv). I was pretty frustrated with myself by the end of it... She's head and shoulders above everyone else I've met on this crazy dating road and I hate the feeling that dates are 120 minute auditions/interviews and I'm not good at them.

She asked me out for a third date (a movie: the kiss of death I feel) and she keeps rescheduling. I know that this is a polite brush off and I've just accepted it from other girls, but I want another shot damnit! I've learned that I never make good first (or in this case second) impressions, but if I can just convince a girl to take the time to know me I tend to win them over.

Holy shit... I think John Cusack is playing me. Whatever happened to Ione Skye I wonder?

Anyway, I know that if I can convince Addy to give me one more try that I'll either show her I'm worth her while or I'll know that I'm imagining things and get on with my life. All in all its not really that difficult or complicated.

What makes things complicated is Abigail. However, that's another story.

"Then some stranger asked me to dance
 And I revealed to her my two left feet
 Said don't get me wrong I'm glad you asked
 But tonight's about me and an old memory

 Then after three rounds with Jose Cuervo
 I let her lead me out on the floor
 And after four rounds with Jose Cuervo
 I was showing off moves never seen before"
    Tracy Byrd, Ten Rounds with Jose Cuervo

Life is good.

I was walking home through the city at around 9:30 tonight with the Space Needle to my left and the remenants of a decent sunset to my right when I realized how much good stuff has come my way as of late.

Dating is going great! I'm still mulling over the wisdom of posting any particular details... you never know who might read all this nonsense in the future. What I can tell you is that its definitly worth any number of shitty first and second dates with people who are totally wrong for you to get to the ones who might be right. :-)

Also, my dance teacher moved away recently and the teacher who my studio is putting me with in her place is a friend of mine I met out dancing almost two years ago who also happens to be a neighbor of mine. We had our first lesson tonight and I think she's really going to help me in many ways. I'm totally pumped.

Speaking of small world syndrome: I'm having some good visitor karma finally too. Jason C. was in town on business earlier this week so I got to hang out with him for an evening, and I just learned that a co-worker of mine from VT will be in town next week. Fabulous!

On top of all that today was water day which means all the people in my org in Office at Microsoft spent the entire day goofing around on the shores of lake Sammamish. For me that just meant a lot of volleyball, but there was tubing, waterskiing, and waverunners for the more aquatically inclined. Being in the middle of a week of perfect weather didn't hurt either.

Oh, and salsa it an absolute blast. By reading this entry you are hearby obligated to go Salsa dancing within the week. :-)

"Back in black
 I hit the sack
 I've been too long
 I'm glad to be back"
    AC/DC, Back in Black

You'll have to forgive me. I've been experiencing technical difficulties. :-) Actually, I'm still having problems, but I'm working around them.

Well a lot has happened in the last, hang on... two months? The new place is fabulous! No picture yet, by my parents did a fine job of painting the place over the last week. Yeah, that's right: you come visit me you can expect to be assigned to a work detail :-)

Anyway, I've been fighting with this computer for a couple of hours and I'm tired so the rest will have to wait. In the meantime, just send me 'A__y will call you back' vibes. All will be explained in due time. Good night.