"It's when we are happiest and most fullfilled in who we are as a person--we tend to meet that special someone--"

Yes, you are right. People can see your glow and confidence.

I was wondering too, since I have been off the market for 12 years now, where to find dates. I often catch myself thinking about it even though it may or may not come to pass. I was thinking about Starbucks (hotties), bars, malls, sprting events and so forth but I thought it would just be awkward to start a conversation with someone who is the for other reasons. Then it hit me. Jeez, you talk to people all the time. Casual settings, in the workplace, standing in line somewhere, they're everywhere. I was passing by this gal at my workplace today and just for the heck of it, I struck a charming conversation with her. That was fun. I know, I know I am still married and would never think about it, I was just curious if I still had it. YUP!

Oh, by the way. Gyms, ha-ah! Most gyms where I live are more serious and people frown on that. Ladies may be able to get away with it.

To start with, I am not shopping for a man. I have the wonderful Diplomat but he is very far away and I seldom see him, but that doesn't stop me from putting my two cents in sometimes.

Men at church. Ha....not where I go. Not in my age range. There are no single men anyone would have in my age range there. NONE. ZIP. NADA. There never have been. Except for one. The woman who married him divorced him. No men there.

Men at work. My manager won an award a few months ago for her efforts at hiring homeless veterans. As soon as she finds out there is an award for hiring recently released felons, she will start hiring them. You should see these losers.

Men at lunch. I don't think so - if you work in 'the wrong part of town'. Some women from the office and I did share a table at lunch one day with a man because the restaurant was so full that there was nowhere left to sit. He and I did most of the talking but even he was from out of town.

Men at the gym. I am earning what I earned 13 years ago. And I don't have any other income but the child support. 27% of my gross income goes to pay tuition and transportation for my 4th grader - and that is after I get a $5K scholarship for part of my half of the tuition. My housenote - no escrow - takes a bigger chunk. And this is my gross income. Gym, get a grip.

Book store. Nope.

Sporting events. See note about the gym.

Childern's schools. Nope.

You know the place where the last 2 total strangers have approached me? Now, one was a few weeks ago and the other was about 4 years ago. It was in the bulk herb/spice section of the local health food store.

To start with, I am not shopping for a man. I have the wonderful Diplomat but he is very far away and I seldom see him, but that doesn't stop me from putting my two cents in sometimes.

Men at church. Ha....not where I go. Not in my age range. There are no single men anyone would have in my age range there. NONE. ZIP. NADA. There never have been. Except for one. The woman who married him divorced him. No men there.

Men at work. My manager won an award a few months ago for her efforts at hiring homeless veterans. As soon as she finds out there is an award for hiring recently released felons, she will start hiring them. You should see these losers.

Men at lunch. I don't think so - if you work in 'the wrong part of town'. Some women from the office and I did share a table at lunch one day with a man because the restaurant was so full that there was nowhere left to sit. He and I did most of the talking but even he was from out of town.

Men at the gym. I am earning what I earned 13 years ago. And I don't have any other income but the child support. 27% of my gross income goes to pay tuition and transportation for my 4th grader - and that is after I get a $5K scholarship for part of my half of the tuition. My housenote - no escrow - takes a bigger chunk. And this is my gross income. Gym, get a grip.

Book store. Nope.

Sporting events. See note about the gym.

Childern's schools. Nope.

You know the place where the last 2 total strangers have approached me? Now, one was a few weeks ago and the other was about 4 years ago. It was in the bulk herb/spice section of the local health food store.

I got a book sent to me that was gathering dust until new year's day...sent by my aunt. called "How to Get a Husband After 35". Written by a woman who used the principles learned in Harvard Business School to land a fella. I think this would work for guys too.

It's kinda hard core and I understand about the more agression thing..But it's not aggressive when it comes to sex and stuff like that. Very conservative in fact. But great ideas. About how to put yourself out there when you decide to get "out there" again. I'm getting close and am reading reading.

This could be fun if we started a thread and used principles from this book. Heck, we are some of us already divorced and ready to start anew. I am going to sometime this year. I have decided I SHALL DATE AGAIN THIS MILLENIUM! Whew. I said it.

I don't usually have time for lunch breaks. But when I do, I met two guys. They came up and talked to me. I also met a cute PA with one of the practices I work with. I work with several large cardiology practices in ATL thus I see different faces. Not alot mind you, but a few. And when I go to work at one of their fancy schmancy midtown clinics, I make sure to go eat lunch at a nice place when I get off if it's early enough. I think that's being visible. And I make sure NOT to wear any rings whatsoever b/c I don't want to confuse them. And I am going out friday night to a hotspot that's notoroius for WASPS (white anglo saxon profess. single)and one of my girlfriends is a BaPS ..We just kinda laugh at how the dating world kinda sees us. it's hilarious. Wasp is a new dating anacronym I just learned. Kinda the opposite of a DINK (dual income no kids). There is an anacronym for my x ..it would be SHAG (stupid husband to be again).

WASP must have gotten updated. Formerly it was White Anglo-Saxon Protestant. Live and learn.

I did the DINK life for a while. Now I'm doing the SITCOM life. Single Income Two Children Oppressive Mortgage.

<small>[ January 11, 2004, 10:52 PM: Message edited by: cinderella ]</small>