Just a little goes a long way...

Hope:
–noun
the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best
–verb (used with object)

to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence.
–verb (used without object)
to feel that something desired may happen

So if you're single (and want to be in a relationship), [I believe] hope is one of the most important things that you can have.  Actually...if you've ever wanted anything at any point in time, hope & faith go hand in hand.  You have to have faith that whatever you ask for or whatever you are hoping for, you will receive in due time.

A really good friend & I were talking one day and she expressed that she has been in a dating slump.  She admitted that she doesn't really get out at all because of work and her new exercise regimen, and that the dates that she goes on are double dates...with her couch & her tv.  I kept telling her that the only way to meet people is to get out of the house.  The only person that she was going to meet staying at home was the delivery takeout person! Well, when my cousin told me about an event that she was hosting, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to invite "Chelsea" out. We went to a speed dating event that my cousin, Orissa Bey of Possibilities Unlimited, was hosting.  Now, we went to her first speed dating event a couple of years ago but Chelsea just sat back and watched. [The only thing that happened for me was that a guy who I'd talked to before was trying to reconnect WHILE his current girlfriend was getting a drink at the bar.] Anyway, Chelsea agreed to meet me there and actually participate this time.

For me, I took the advice of my cousin [and Beyonce] and put my "Freak 'em" dress on for the night.  I was glad that I did because when I got to the venue, my eyes immediately lit up because there were about 15 guys placed at tables around the room (last time there were like 5) and most were handsome.  I get into the rotation, because Chelsea hadn't made it yet, and most of the conversations left me wanting to know more about the guy.  5 minutes started to feel like 2 seconds, and that's pretty rare.  After I have my "date" with the 6th guy, Chelsea walks in.  Every now and again I'll look up and see Chelsea talking to a guy and she actually looks like she's having a good time.  At the end of the last round, Chelsea and I meet up and she's SUPER excited.  She's so happy that she came.  In fact, she was SO pumped that she wanted to give her number to every guy that she talked to.  (After the ladies went on a "date" with the guy, we had to write their number on the back of a slip of paper with our name & phone number and/or email address and they would get it in their bag at the end of the night)

On Saturday, Chelsea BBM'd me to let me know that 2 of the guys had already contacted her.  She was really excited about the experience until they started to work her nerves a couple of days later with little things that they did.  We had a conversation today about the whole situation and for me it put it all into perspective.  She felt like she was on a super high from the experience that has started to wear off and one of the men that she met isn't really what she wants.  I tried to explain to her that it's okay to feel that way.  There is never a 100% (or even 75%) chance that you will find your mate at these events.  When I go to any event, I never know who I'll meet.  Sometimes it gets to be really discouraging when you meet or go out with different guys and they continue to not be a good match for you.  For me, what the Cupids Cousin and Possibilities Unlimited events do is give me opportunity and hope.  They give me the opportunity to meet someone that I normally wouldn't have the opportunity to meet and the hope that there is someone out there who is the ying to my yang, the end all be all, my last first kiss, etc. He might be there [at that event] or he might not be...regardless, it's a new experience and a great opportunity to get out there and meet new people.  When you go into these events with that mindset, you don't leave with any crushed expectations or disappointments...but you should leave with a little more hope.  Hope that the next time might be THAT time or hope that there are some good guys out there and yours is still out there looking for you. 
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**As for me, I cast my net pretty wide and picked about 7 guys that I was interested in getting to knowing a little more about (even one who came late and I didn't get the opportunity to talk to but was very handsome lol).  I saw my top pick later that night at my RD's birthday party and he seemed to be pretty interested in me as well.  We'll see if he becomes blog-worthy later on...but no expectations other than to get to know the guys that contact me and see what happens next... (See y'all...I'm growing!)  I left the event with such a positive energy high that I took with me into the birthday party.  I had much more of a good time and I was even approached a lot more!  It's amazing how people are drawn to a positive aura...but I'm sure the dress didn't hurt ;)

Told Ya So! (Update)

Y'all Miss Cleo ain't got nuttin' on me!!! Remember the guy from "The Double Stuff"?  You know, the one who decided that "he wasn't trying to hear" me tell him that I didn't want to communicate with him anymore.  Well, today he decides to send me a text message and the converstation goes like this:

Wally: Hey babe how are you?
Me: **no answer**
W: ??????
M: I'm good
W: Wow you gonna be short with me?  I'm coming to Houston tomorrow. Can I come see you?
M: I have plans
W: Like always!! So can I see you?
M: No
W: Good
M: You do know that when I sent that other text, I'm done and prefer to cease communication, right?
W: I got you. I'll delete your number. Nice meeting you
M: Nice meeting you too! You take care...
W: You must have found you someone huh?
M: I hope you find what you're looking for and have a good day.
W: Did you find a man is what I'm asking?
M: Nope, I'm just not that into you and I don't want to waste anymore of my time or yours.  Have a great day!  (I know that was a little harsh but I don't know how many other ways to politely say that we've come to the end of this road)

My question is how did he not get that from my last text message (LAST WEEK) that I was done?  I thought that I was pretty direct.  And why is it that I don't want to talk to him because I have a man?  Why can't it be that I'm just not that into him? 

A State of Confusion (Part II: The Man With A Thousand Questions)

Greetings!  Today has been a really good day so far...Whataburger was giving out free breakfast sandwiches, my boss has been out all afternoon, and suprisingly I had a pretty good lunch date.  Yep...I said it correctly, I actually enjoyed myself on my lunch date (that I didn't go on with myself lol).  I, in fact, went to lunch with a guy that my friend/line sister ambushed introduced me to at a friend's wedding on Memorial Day.  He's her husband's coworker. 

This is how the (short) story goes, I was at the table talking to some college friends when she walks (sprints) up to me and whispers in my ear "Here comes [my husband]'s coworker please don't be mad at me but I thought you would hit it off."  They do brief introductions and they go over to the other side of the room.  AMBUSH!!!!  Anyway, we talk for about 20-30 minutes (while they are looking at us from across the dance floor) and he gets my BB pin and we go out seperate ways.  The next day he texts and we speak briefly because it's Memorial Day and of course I have a tight schedule of activities planned.  Well...the next day he asked for my email so that we could communicate during the workday and I send it.  Umm...bad idea on my part.  He started sending these emails with like 5 questions per email for me to, in his words, "respond and reply with my own set of questions."  I entertain this for maybe 2 emails until it started to get really annoying.  I understand wanting to get to know someone, but there is NO way that you are going to learn everything about someone via email in such a short period of time.  Then one day I didn't answer an email, so he sent a text and when I didn't answer the text, he send a BBM (Blackberry Message).  Immediately I thought, "What did I get myself into?" 

It got to a point where I felt like I was being bombarded so i just sent an email stating the way I felt and he started to slow it down.  THANK GOODNESS!  After this, I started to become a little more receptive to the texts and emails.  We made a plan to go to lunch after church on Sunday, but due to the fact that my mother hijacked & kidnapped my stylist for majority of the morning, I didn't finish getting my hair done until late so we had to reschedule.  (yes, I gave a 2 hour notice to let him know...gotta practice what I preach!)  So, today was the day for the rescheduled lunch.

We met at a restaurant and I kept in mind the advice that my friend and my cousin gave me, "Just go and have fun...don't put anything on it, don't think too hard, just let go..." and that's what I did and guess what?  I actually enjoyed myself.  I allowed myself to open up (a little) and communicate.  We talked about current schedules, life plans, family, church, etc and it wasn't bad at all. Matter of fact, it wasn't anything like I thought it was going to be.  Because of everything that had happened in the beginning, I had already (kinda) written him into a (maybe) friend (more like associate) category.  But, now I don't see it as anything but a refreshing lunch date.  He opened doors, pulled out chairs, blessed the food, WASHED HIS HANDS BEFORE HE ATE, helped me out of my chair, AND paid for the food without his card being declined (lol...I had to throw that in there). 

Do I feel like he's "The One"?  Nope, but it doesn't matter because that's not why I was there and that's not what I was looking for.  For the first time, in a long time, I didn't go looking for anything...I was there to get to know another person and have a good time and it feels pretty darn good! 

Bright Side:  It actually re-charged my dating battery.  If nothing comes of it, so what!  At least now I know that it is possible to have a pleasant dating experience.  Maybe I should've listened to them earlier lol