WOW !!!!

I just went on a date with an absolutely WONDERFUL woman. We had an absolutely GREAT time. At first she was a bit nervous, but she relaxed after a few minutes and we were great together. She is funny, smart, loving, caring at least to the limit of my knowing her for the last few hours. Her ex cheated on her. She has two very young GIRLS !!! All in all, she is absolutely someone I will date again.

I don't think this smile has left my face since I saw her walk into the restaurant 5 hours ago. I am not sure whether I will be able to sleep for several nights, much less tonight... heh heh heh. She said, "It has been a long time since I felt butterflys in my stomach. I had forgotten how they feel." I must say, I agree completely.

Just letting you all know... given our little discussion about dating.

FC,
Congulations!!!!
I have been following your story....for long time. Nice to hear that you find someone can have second date...happy for you.

Congratulations, FC, sounds like a great starting point! I wish you well!

:: Even if I had met someone, I don't have the time to date right now. I've been working overtime virtually every evening and weekend for the past month... our new semester (I work at a community college) starts on Tuesday ... and here's my life schedule: M-F regular job 8-4; Tues/Thurs part-time job (at the same location) 5pm-9pm; Mondays I am taking a class from 6pm-9pm (15 weeks); Wednesdays I am teaching a class from 6pm-9pm (for 5 weeks, thankfully); Weekends ... anyone's guess, but it is likely that at least one day each weekend will be an OT day for the next month or two.

I guess it keeps me out of trouble, but I need a vacation just thinking about it! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

Heh heh heh... Terri,

I typically only date on Wednesdays and Thursdays. In fact, I think out of all the women that I have dated, the only one that was NOT on one of these two days was my Monday lunch date. Actually, I also went on a 7 hour Sunday afternoon date... DON'T ever do that as a first date!!!!! The woman that I just went out with works ONLY WEEKENDS, but is fully responsible for her daughters at all other times, so we are definitely not on the best of schedules. But you know what... she seems willing to work around it, and I DEFINITELY am willing.

I might not get to see her as much as I might want to, who knows. And I know my PHONE bill is going to be astronomical... she lives just about 20 minutes away, but it is long distance. But you know what... she sent me an email yesterday thanking me for dinner, but mostly telling me how 'giddy' she felt when I kissed her goodnight. I must say, I felt the same way and I haven't stopped thinking about her since.

I guess what I am trying to say is that, yes... your time schedule is pretty tight. But if you enjoy dating... you can work it out WITHOUT making it a strain. Which I think is key. Every woman that I have been out with has understood that my boys come first at this time, and that calling me is not so good while I have them and they are awake. Afterwards, I give them (date) full attention, but my boys are my boys and until I have someone that I can feel is going to be around for a while if not forever, they and their time are off limits. Everyone has understood, or at least pretended to understand.

Some guys need more control and time with a woman. I definitely WANT more time, but I understand that sometimes, things cannot be like I want them to be. So it is my responsibility to figure out how to make them as GOOD as I can, given the situaion.

If you meet someone you like, date him. Let him know that right now, your schedule is kind of hectic, but you would still like to see him. If he doesn't understand, then he is probably not the man you need to be with. If he does, then you will know that you have someone who just might be WORTH the time to juggle the schedule around a bit.

<small>[ August 30, 2003, 08:54 AM: Message edited by: Formerly Confused ]</small>

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">And I know my PHONE bill is going to be astronomical... she lives just about 20 minutes away, but it is long distance. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">geez, my GF lives 1200 miles away and my phone bill is $20 /mo, and we chat alot. . .

look into AT&T long distance plans. . . most of my friends, across the country, are all on the same $20 per month

wiftty

FC -----

Frequently invite her daughters on the date! Go someplace they can go too, and get to know them. Save some couple time, but do things as a family. She will appreciate you for it - and you will learn to know two great kids (all kids are great as far as I'm concerned!)

Some suggestions ---- parks for picnics, walks along nature trails, drives along country roads where you can stop for picnics and watching the sunset, breakfast - YUM --- it's my favorite with the kids. I nab them in their jammies and we run out the door to Cracker Barrel for breakfast!!! My kids love it. And another favorite is just after they are ready for bed (jammies again) invite her to go with you for an ice cream run. The kids love the casualness of it - and we moms enjoy the blessings of the outing and the interesting convos we get from it.

Don't let her get away - she sounds like a keeper!!!

Blessings,

Jan

First of all, she may very well be a keeper. I really have spoken with her alot via phone, and I absolutely LOVED the time I spent with her. She is so real. She kind of tries to tone herself down... heh heh heh... she dropped a lemon at the restaurant and she started to get embarrassed and explain that she is a 'squirrely' woman. I put my hand on hers, smiled, and said, "I want to get to know you... woodland creatures and all." heh heh heh... I could see the relief come over her face at that moment. She was just trying to make a good impression, and she was... believe me she was. She was just worrying about the wrong things as far as I am concerned.

My concerns about our children are just that I don't want to meet her children nor her meet mine until we are sure that there is more to 'US'. I realistically think that there could and probably will be. Barring some overt revelation, I really like her, and I think she really likes me.

I was talking with her last night. She knows my feelings about being around each other's kids at this point. She said she agreed, she just wishes that we were 'in the middle' of a relationship rather than at the beginning. That way, we could comfortably be around the children, more confident that we are going to be more of a part of their lives.

Now I don't mean that I have to ask her to marry me before I introduce her to my boys. But I don't want to bring her into my family, only to find out on date number 4 or 5 that there is something that we cannot overcome with each other. I just want to know who she is and have her know who I am, before I allow ANYONE to be a factor in my boys' lives. I would absolutely LOVE to take her girls out to dinner. I have NO problem with it at all. I would love to have her come over with them for supper. (I already know that if this progresses, I am going to be searching for a bigger vehicle, moving from 3 to 6 just doesn't cut it in either of our Explorers.) heh heh heh

As far as phone service... that is something I will have to look into. I typically do one of those 10-10 numbers for 5 cents a minute. But I usually talk a total of an hour or two each month, so it isn't a big deal. I speak longer than that every time I talk with her. I might have to start using my cell... I usually call her after I put the boys to bed, so it should be in the 'free' time anyway. But I like my regular phone for long calls... No matter... talking and laughing with her is worth the price in a heartbeat.

I'm just adding my 2cents on the age difference thing. My parents are 12 years apart in age. When we were all just little kids my Dad was in his fortys going through his MLC my Mother was only 30. Now he is 75 and starting to really show and act his age and my Mother isn't retirement age yet. So the age differnce does make a difference.

Jill

The AT&T unlimited plan - I think that is the long distance service I have - is AWESOME!!!! Any time you call from home, it's free if the other person has AT&T long distance. For about $20/month plus the miscellaneous taxes and fees.

Well, like FC, I'm going to add that I had a tremendously fabulous date on Sunday afternoon. Yeah, FC I know you don't recommend that as a first date... but it just kind of happened that way and she was too good to pass up, y'know? I mentioned I like to go for long drives Sun afternoon after church and invited her along just to have a chance to chat. Next thing I knew, we were offroading and then next thing I knew, it was definitely a date.

I still have a smile on my face today.