5 Things I Learned From Table 94

7 years ago today I went to celebrate my best friend's birthday at Provino's and we sat at table 94. I was 15, had just started wearing contacts and was awkward as hell. I noticed a cute boy and for the first time in my life a cute boy noticed me. My waitress ends up giving me his number and we have an awkward conversation as I left that night.

That boy and I dated on and off, then fast forward 6 years and that boy put a ring on my finger.

Fast forward a year from there and that ring is now stashed in my underwear drawer, I own an unused wedding dress, and he has a new girlfriend.

Funny how things don't play out like you thought they would, but the truth is, I learned a lot as the girl from table 94.

1. It's a lot harder to cancel a wedding than plan one. In fact, it's a pain in the ass. Trying to get back deposits and figuring out what to do with the save-the-date magnets you slaved over for hours—sucks. Having to call your marriage counselor and tell them you no longer need it—sucks. Getting the 10% off card to purchase whatever you didn't receive on your gift registry from Target—sucks. As much as it sucks, it's also worth every painful moment. Many of my friends are divorced and I'd rather spend a 3 months canceling a wedding than 6 months waiting for my divorce to go through, which is where it would've obviously led.

2. A lot of people have more than one engagement. At first, I was totally embarrassed. I couldn't tell my Mom for days. I was terrified of her reaction. When I finally did tell her, her response shocked me. She told me it was okay and probably for the best. She wasn't mad about the money we'd spent (maybe the $600 deposit we couldn't get back later down the road), but she was relieved that we discovered something was wrong now and not later. The more people found out about it, the more I found that they too had a failed engagement or two before they found the right one. That was relieving somehow.

3. Trust your gut. When I think back on it, I had a lot of hesitations about things when I first got engaged. Now I realize why and that even though I ignored them, they eventually reared their ugly head themselves. If something doesn't feel right—it's not.

4. Don't ever stop giving your all. I was pissed at first that I spent so much time giving everything I had to someone. Countless trips across country, tons of packages to Afghanistan that cost $14 just to send, and mostly deciding I was willing to leave my family and friends to move to Seattle. I was so angry I ever did any of this or considered the last part. Then, I realized that I couldn't loose that part of myself just because someone didn't appreciate it. I like that I'm a giving girlfriend that would do anything for someone I like/love and I shouldn't just stop doing that because someone might take advantage of it, because one day someone will appreciate it and do the same in return.

5.All wounds really do heal in time. When it all first ended, I went into a panic attack and I'm pretty sure my parents drugged me that first night. I thought I would never get over it. I thought I'd cry every day. I didn't think I'd ever be able to stop texting him. Then, one day...out of nowhere...I realized I had moved on and I'm certain I have because everyone holds special dates like today close to their heart and we dread them when they become a reminder of something that didn't last. I dreaded today too, until I was writing this blog and realized...I didn't cry one damn tear.

KL

Giddy up!

I want to jump back to my last blog..."The Creeper" one. Immediately after writing that blog, I walked from my office to the Lookouts stadium which is only 3 blocks away. It was 5:30 on a Friday afternoon, relatively normal for a woman to be walking downtown, either heading to her car or happy hour, correct? A block away from my building, I see out of the corner of my eye that a tiny smart car with a non-murderer looking business man has pulled up next to me. He rolls down the window and says, "Hey! Need a ride?" At first, I thought maybe I knew him from work, but no, it was just random guy, with NO clue where I'm headed asking if he can take me there. I concluded that must mean one of the following:

1. He's just super creepy.
2. I dress like a homeless person at work and look really helpless.

Bless it.

This past weekend I went to Nashville for the Iroquois Steeplchase horse races. Can I just say, there is nothing better than dressing up in expensive suits, dresses, hats and bow ties and drinking Bud Light? Classy!

I wanted to find my future frat-tastic husband but the fact I went with 3 (very good looking) men didn't help my chances much.


Lucky for me, I'm not exactly looking anyways!

Do the Creep

Urban Dictionary has pages of definitions for the word "creep", but this one is my favorite.

creep(noun or verb)
A man or woman who breaks social rules in an odd or frightening way.

Lately, I've encountered my fair share of creeps.

Like the guy whose calls and texts I ignored for a week (because he tried to convince me he trains soldiers in Africa) and when I accidentally decide to answer a number I don't recognize he says:

"Hey I'm at the store looking for something to mix with my hummus to flavor it. What do you think?"

Really?!?

Or the guy who I met only one time and his only requirements for our first "date" were that it included booze and happened at my place. What about taking a girl out in public...sober? Needless to say that never happened.

My friends have enjoyed my creepin' stories and I must say they've made for some quality entertainment, but can the next one not be a creep, please? That's what Craigslist dating is for? (sidenote:I caught my ex doing that once, really)

Better luck this weekend. In the mean time, creepers will keep on creepin'!

Like Indian Outlaws

A few weeks ago at work I got a mystery number call on my cell and picked it up. Most people ignore these, but most of you know, I'm way to curious for that. The voice on the other end asked me if I remembered entering for Tim McGraw tickets (no, not really) and informed me I had won 2 VIP passes and 2 tickets. Hello karma is that you?!?! All my best girl friends were out of town, so I took one of my guy best friends, Ringer (but if you ask my ex's mother, she'll tell you we're dating—we're not).

We had a ridiculous time! We witnessed–

Over 700 sundresses bought at Target, paired with cowgirl boots
At least 7 people who were being held up by friends
5 babies being made
1 mother, being held up by her daughter
1 little person
1 man who passed out on a blanket that wasn't his
and this one man who managed to piss himself before Tim ever performed.



It was by far the best people watching I've done in quite a long time. If you ever get the chance to see Tim live—do it. If not for his music, just to see his fans. They're a rowdy bunch and they do it up right when it comes to the tailgating. Especially these 2 crazy kids...




KL

Drinking and Dialing

Oh cell phones. We can't live (classy) with them, but Lord knows we can't live without them! Text messaging was probably the death of dating. Messages get easily misunderstood, lost in a scramble, and T9 word is bound to make a fool of you.

On Fridays and Saturdays text messages become dangerous for some. If your not careful good ole' liquid courage will encourage you to send things that would make you blush any other day of the week (which can make it a good thing)—or as I ran into this weekend, they can make you look like a real ass. Texting under these conditions is acceptable only if you can refrain from looking like a fool, which most people can't accomplish.

Note: Truth be told I started this conversation, but as you will see, this jerk swiftly ended it.

Ways to Look Dumb via Text 101:

Dumb: Yea I'm with this hot b*** named (I will save her dignity here)
Smart: Ok well that's great.
Dumb: Yep she hotter than u
Smart: Ok well that's great too.
Dumb: We can still kick it sometime if u want.

First off, your grammar is guaranteed to be awful under these circumstances (see text 3). Secondly, if this girl ever got a hold of your phone and noticed you politely referred to her as a hot b***, I'm sure (hopefully) it'd be the last time. Also, the only time you tell a girl that the new girl your with is hotter than her is when she's really not. Oh yeah, Vanilla Ice called and he's still up to "kick it" sometime, but this gal is not.

Darius Rucker says it best....


Happy Friday ya'll!

KL