Spin Cycle: It's A Date!

I wasn't much for dating when I was younger. Hanging out as a group with a healthy dose of flirtation was fine, but a one on one date? I always feared I would run out of things to say (I know! Me?!) or say something stupid (It's happened.) or accidentally insult the poor bloke while trying to come off as funny. (Um, that's happened too. I'm not proud, just honest.)

I can count the number of true boyfriends I've had on one hand mostly because I've never considered most of my "dates" as boyfriend material. When every event spent together is shared with five or six others, that just doesn't add up to a date in my books. A few years ago, I ran into an old friend while I was working near my home town, who introduced me to his wife as "my old girlfriend". His wife caught the expression of surprise that I couldn't hide as I stared at him. Old girlfriend? We had maybe been out a handful of times, always in a group, and while flirtation (and a few kisses) may have been on the menu, it had never gone anywhere beyond that. I almost felt obligated to explain myself, (and ask if he was sure his memory served him the correct accompanying name to my face) but he followed up with a question on how I was doing.

"Pregnant!" I answered quickly, too quickly. (In truth, I had found out just days prior and if you had asked me what day it was, my answer would most likely have been the same.) I then held up my left hand. "And married. Happily!" The need to add that appendage to the announcement was almost painful. We quickly exchanged parting pleasantries and I'm sure as they walked away, his wife said something about his prior taste in crazy women before she breezed into his life. (It's cool. I didn't like her eyebrows.) (What? They were way too plucked!)

Thinking back, I think my first real "date" was when I was fifteen. I had met a boy at a mutual friend's birthday party where he was deejaying. He was a senior at a rival high school, ironically the same high school John went to. He asked me out, I accepted, and looked forward to our first date. What he didn't tell me was that our first date would also be a gig he had lined up. I became his (unpaid) assistant as he set up his equipment.. in the cafeteria of a nursing home. I spent the majority of the night filling my dance card with elderly men looking for a good time while avoiding the pinches and catching the winks from my knight with the shining albums. He asked me for another date when he dropped me back home. I said yes, but started avoiding his calls. You know what? Screw it. That wasn't a date. I was totally being pimped out that night! Jerk.

Okay, how about this story? It's about John and me. Yeah, I thought you would like that better.

John and I weren't yet John and I. Working together on a project, our leader Glenna had already started playing matchmaker between the two of us. I was reticent, thinking I was not looking for a relationship and just wanted to concentrate on my studies, not a stud. We worked closely on an awards show reminiscent of the Emmy's, something to distract the employees from their work and get the word out on all the great things our company was doing at the time. As part of the show, we had "celebrity" guests and speakers. John was quite built back then, kept his hair closely cropped except for that longer patch in front. (which he dyed blond) (Yes he did!) He kind of resembled Ricky Martin. And Ricky Martin was huge back then. So he was Ricky Martin.

I was managing the backstage area and making sure everyone hit their marks, so Istood at the back of the room for the majority of the show, playing encourager and shusher to our "actors". A woman came over to me as John (excuse me, Ricky Martin) took the stage and began his speech.

"Who is that?" she asked me while pointing to John and his biceps. (Did I mention he was built?)

"Um, that's John, he works in Claims," I answered.

"He's cute. Is he single?"

I paused. My crush on him was certified by this time, but I hadn't acted on it due to the aforementioned studies. "Oh. Uh, I think so."

She left. Not even two minutes later, I was approached by another woman.

"Hey, is the guy who's playing Ricky Martin single?"

I looked back over to her object of lust. "No, he's taken."

As soon as the show was over, I asked him out.

You can assume he said yes.

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You MUST read all the Spins! The great love matches and the horror stories are equally wonderful!

Gigi over at Incrementum

Jan over at Jan's Sushi Bar 

Joanie over at Joanie's Random Ramblings 

Pseudo over at Pseudonymous High School Teacher 

Heidi over at Heidi's Hell Hole 

Cristin over at Tiptoeing Through The Tulips 

Mama Badger over at Out of the Boondocks and Into the Burbs 

CaJoh over at Ca-Joh 

Robin over at Cinnamon and Honey 

Rachel over at The Ramblings of Rachel 

Mo over at The Daily Snark

Wicked Step Mom over at Life and Times of a Wicked Step Mom -Updated today! Fresh Spin!

Casey over at Half As Good As You -Updated today! Fresh Spin!

Michele over at It's A Dog's Life -Updated today! Fresh Spin!

Laufa over at Morgan Madness -Updated today! Fresh Spin!

Kingsmom over at Servant to a King -Updated today! Fresh Spin!

Maureen over at IslandRoar -Updated Saturday! Fresh Spin! New to the Spin Cycle!

JHS over at Colloquium -Updated Saturday! Fresh Spin!

So, I had fun. And I enjoyed our time together. Would you like to do this again some time?

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Next week's Assignment: Saying "I love you"

The most powerful statement in the English language. Yes, we've done love Spins, but this is about saying it. How hard is it/ was it? What was it like the first time? Every time? Maybe it calls to mind a certain Neil Diamond song. Is it just me or does that guy state his lyrics? Think about it! In most of his later stuff, if you remove the music, he might as well be having a conversation. Every time I hear one of his songs, I think about it! Who, when did the Spin Cycle become Random Tuesday Thoughts?

Thanks to Casey over at Half As Good As You for the topic!

Remember, it's about saying "I love you"! Spin it up, be creative and be back here by Friday, June 5th! You love me enough to do that, right?

So say it already!

Comments

[The Dental Maven]

Hoooowee! Way to make your move in a time crunch, Girl!

John was very smart to say yes.

[Michele]

How sweet. You went for what you wanted. Yay! for you.

[WickedStepMom]

http://lifeandtimesofawickedstepmom.wordpress.com/2009/05/29/spin-cycle-dating/

"He's taken." That is cute. :)

[Laufa]

Ricky Martin, lol! Sorry John.
I asked my hunny out too.

Mine is up. Thanks Jen.

[Lisa]

I love the John story. So sweet. I didn't date at all until I met Hubby. I was so pathetic. By the way, where are the photos? Hellooooo!? :-)

Here is a question: can my spin for next week be a quest post on someone else's blog? Because my guest post on someone's blog will fit this topic to a tee. Does that make sense? Yeah, I'll fill you in later.

[Kyooty]

Great job on snagging him up. I remember part of dating my hubbie and staying and eventually marrying him was the idea that if I let him go someone else would snap him up. I was too jealous for that. LOL

[Jan]

Hmmm - I wonder if the match-maker lady put those two women up to that? I would have. *grin*

[mama badger]

Ricky Martin, huh? He was a hottie back in the day.

I have a spin idea!!! Me, me, oh, pick me!

Maybe we could spin on "summer plans". Do people have a big trip, or a project? A garden to dig, or summer camp? And then at end of summer, maybe a recap to see how we did? I love hearing what other folks have lined up!

[bex]

you remind me of michael and that HR lady from The Office - with your skits! I love how you just claimed him as "not single" like an animal ready to pounce on her mate. priceless.

[Robin]

I love that you asked Ricky Martin out! TOTALLY Livin' La Vida Loca!
(Ugh, you know I had to.)
Okay, I really didn't have to. And probably shouldn't have. :)

[Kingsmom]

Great story!

I'm up.

http://kingsmom.blogspot.com/2009/05/spin-cycle-dating.html

[Maureen at IslandRoar]

I loved Ricky Martin.
Lucky you!

[GiGi @ Incrementum]

HA! Look at you! I love it! Ballsy women rock! Awesome spin!

I'm worried about the next spin cycle... the first "I love you" related spin that came up is a little.... hot and lusty! I don't know. I don't think I'll be first again for this one as I'm trying to think of something rated PG!

No promises though!

[GreenJello]

Way to stake your claim, woman. :)

[mrsbear]

You totally snagged your Ricky Martin! I love how you preemptively took him off the market. Great strategy. ;)

[Joanie M]

Smart lady, to move in when you did!

Great spin!!!

(I already did my I love you spin but I'll wait a few days to post it. It was in my head and I didn't want to lose it)

[Casey]

Oh that is too sweet but where are the Ricky Martin pictures to back this story up? I'm glad you became Jen and John, the world would have been a little more sad today if there wasn't a Jen and John combo since there'd be no Sprite to keep.

[Rachel]

Hahahaha. I love the image of you being pimped out to elderly gentleman. I've been in your shoes. It's interesting, but at least they can dance!

[Pseudo]

I'm with Jan on this one.

And, I loved the way you worked your way up to your John.

[JHS]

Our relationship began on a blinc date -- at Chuck E. Cheese's. I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried.

http://www.jhsiess.com/2009/01/22/chuck-e-cheeses/

[Keely]

Hhhahhahha! Way to stake your claim, girl. That was awesome.

[HeatherPride]

So you made the first move! I love a modern woman!

[Maureen]

I've combined the dating one with the love one. A two-fer!

http://maureenlynn.wordpress.com/2009/05/31/the-one-who-makes-me-smile/

[Sammanthia]

It's too bad all fairy tales didn't end with "livin' la vida loca" instead of "happily ever after". Awesome.