You Can’t Polish a Turd!

The Face that Did NOT Book

Doctors Orders

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“What is going on with you? You’re energy is off. I need you to come twice a week for a while so we can balance you out again.”

This week has been a doozy! You know how you have one of those weeks where everything and everyone just pisses you off and you feel alone and lonely. This week was the epitome of it. I was in a bad place and didn’t know how to shake myself out of it. I knew it was bad when someone cut me off on the highway not only did I cuss them out, “You stupid bitch!” But I followed them! I was a lunatic on wheels. Luckily for them and me they were able to dodge me! I knew when I was feeling like this I had to take extra care of myself and literally go into hiding until I was able to shake it off. I went to my acupuncturist and each needle that was placed in emotional points I screamed in pain. She was like, “What is going on with you? You’re energy is off. I need you to come twice a week for a while so we can balance you out again.” So I retreated to my home and just allowed myself to be alone and let any emotion I was having come up and deal with the shit. I took much needed “me” time. Sometimes you’re taught to push down your emotions and not allowed to be in a bad place. People make you think that if you’re not happy all the time and in a good mood then something is wrong. Well damn it, sometimes its okay for a gal to have a moment, be down in the dumps and just stay there until you’re ready to come out of it. By Sunday, I was beginning to feel like myself again.

Frustrated Woman

I knew it was bad when someone cut me off on the highway not only did I cuss them out, “You stupid bitch!” But I followed them! I was a lunatic on wheels.

I realized my mood was triggered by some feelings about the ex (the constant foolery seemed to never come to an end), my current dating situations, or lack there of, and just the scary thought… “What if I NEVER meet Mr. Right? What if I end up alone forever?” I was beginning to emerge back to the land of the living so I took a nice Sunday stroll to the Farmers Market to pick up my flowers for the week. As I took my stroll it was 85 degrees in LA, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, and the flowers were extra vibrant. I made myself a great dinner, and I cracked open a nice bottle of wine and sat on my couch and got ready to watch some good Reality TV. There’s nothing like watching pure foolery to realize your life isn’t as bad as you thought it was. That’s when my cell phone rang. When I looked at the screen I saw it was “Malachi.” A part of me smiled because “Malachi” was a man who I really liked. The other part of me rolled my eyes in utter annoyance. I was just beginning to get back on track emotionally. I had two choices. I could a) answer the phone and be annoyed or b) ignore the call because “Malachi” had shown me who he was. Decisions… Decisions… Decisions… Let me catch you up to speed on the good Doctor “Malachi.”

I met “Malachi” a few months ago when I was home for Christmas vacation. He was a 41 year old Oncologist. He was recently divorced and had an 8 year old son and a thriving practice. Ironically we discovered we both went to the same college. When we met there was an instant connection. He was handsome as hell, smart, driven, funny, charming, and sexy. The man was the complete package. He called me the day after we met and asked me out for lunch the following day. When I walked into the restaurant and saw him sitting there I got nervous! Me. Nervous! Literally my stomach was doing butterflies. I had changed my outfit at least 3 times before I got there. This was a feeling that was new to me. I go out on dates all the time. But with this guy I was nervous in a good way. When he hugged me I could smell his cologne. Eww weee! My inner diva did cartwheels all throughout the restaurant. When the waiter came to take our order I decided to hold off on having a glass of wine. Instead I ordered a sparkling water. I wanted to be fully present for this date (another first for me). The conversation just flowed. When I got over my initial nervousness and allowed myself to enjoy the date it was effortless. We stayed in the restaurant for a good 3 hours. Then we went to the mall and finished up our Christmas shopping, then we went to a movie, and after the movie we sat in his car and just talked. Before I knew it, it was 2 in the morning. We literally had a 10 hour date. He drove me to my car and waited with me while it warmed up. I forgot how your windows freeze on the east coast in the winter. He gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. It was a great first date. We went out two more times while I was home for the holidays. And the last night he finally gave me a kiss. It was a good one too, passionate yet respectable. I was floating on air. Me and the fine ass Doctor. I thought he was different than any other guy I have been out with. It just felt right. When I got to LA we continued to talk on the phone. When we originally met he mentioned he was going to be in LA for a wedding the following month and I also knew I would be on the east coast for work quite a bit so it was a win-win situation. I waited for him to tell me the details of when he would be in LA. When two weeks passed and he didn’t mention it I asked him.

Me: When are you coming to LA for the wedding?

Malachi: I’m not sure if I am going to come. I sent them a gift. But I am going to try to make it out here soon. I have a few people out there I need to see.

Me: Okay. Well let me know.

Malachi: For sure. We’ll talk soon.

Record screeched to a halt. We’ll talk soon. What the fuck did that mean?! There were a few things wrong with this conversation. First of all, he should have been making plans to get his black ass out to LA immediately to see me. Also, what did he mean, “I have a few people out there I need to see.” What the fuck did that mean?! And the final knockout blow to my ego, “We’ll talk soon.” What the hell? I hung up perplexed, confused, and wondering if perhaps the connection I felt with him was one sided. It wouldn’t be the first time I was off. I decided to pull back and just go with the flow and see what happened. “Malachi” continued to call me. We continued to have great conversations.

Young woman rolling her eyes

I had two choices. I could a) answer the phone and be annoyed or b) ignore the call because “Malachi” had shown me who he was. Decisions… Decisions… Decisions…

He never did make his way out to LA for the wedding. I noticed a pattern developing with him. Whenever we would have deep conversation he wouldn’t call for a few days. Whenever I let go and connected with him he would pull back. I had no idea what the hell we were doing. So I stopped returning his calls for a while. And then he would start blowing up my phone. I had a business trip back east planned and we made plans to see each other. We met for dinner at a great Italian restaurant. I still had the butterflies when I saw him. He sat next to me during dinner and held my hand. I felt like we had established a good friendship up to this point. But I still had no idea what we were doing. So instead of playing the Guess What The Hell He Wants game I decided to have a grown folk conversation with him.

Me: I’m trying to figure out what we are doing here. I like you and I think you’re a cool guy. But I’m not sure what you’re looking for.

Malachi: I like you to. I think you’re cool and I want to get to know you more. You’re smart, beautiful, and you went to the best university on the planet.

Me: That’s good to know. I just need to know where you are coming from.

Malachi: I hear you. And I want to get to know you as well.

Me: If you want to b friends that’s fine, but I don’t kiss my friends.

Malachi: I don’t want us to just be friends.

What a relief. So after that date. I thought there was a clear understanding of where we were going and what he was looking for. And of course like clockwork he went MIA. To be honest I didn’t think it was another woman. I just think he had gone through such a crappy divorce that he had baggage. It was something I could certainly relate to. But it was getting ridiculous. To be honest, I was getting exhausted of the up down roller coaster ride with him. I hated holding back and having to play these games. So when we spoke again I was just very frank with him.

Me: Malachi, I feel like you have this wall up and I’m not exactly sure how to handle it.

Malachi: Am I that emotionally fucked up?

Me: I’m not saying you’re emotionally fucked up. But I do think you are holding back. I don’t even think you are doing it consciously. But whenever we connect you put a wall up. And I can only do this for so long before I am done and when I’m done I’m done.

Malachi: Maybe you’re right. But you gotta give me a chance. I’ll work on it. If you had a cousin who was mentally off and he didn’t know how to hold a fork would you stop talking to him or would you help him to learn how to pick up his fork.

“Malachi’s” sense of humor is what attracted me to him but at that moment I Wanted to take a fork and poke his eyes out. I was trying to works with the brotha. In the past I was so quick to run for the hills. But there was something about him that made me want to work with him.

Me: What?

Malachi: I’m just saying. I’ll work on it. I didn’t realize I was doing that. By the way, I’m coming out to LA soon.

Me: Good! Finally!

I hung up the phone and it felt like we had made progress. We started communicating regularly and I was feeling like we had turned a new leaf. Things were going really well until he pissed me off… again. I tell you I am exhausted even writing about this foolishness. It was a Friday night and I went to my neighborhood spot to have a cocktail and unwind after a long work week. I happened to be on the phone with “Malachi.”

Malachi: It’s loud all of a sudden where are you?

Me: One of my favorite neighborhood spots having a glass of wine.

Malachi: Well have fun. Take someone home with you!

Long awkward pause…

Malachi: Hello.

Me: I’m going to talk to you later.

With that I hung up the phone. I was done. What the fuck was he thinking? A few minutes later I get a text from “Malachi.”

I appreciate all of your support.

I ignored it. And then he sent me another text.

Go home alone! LOL!

I ignored it. The worse thing a woman can do outside of texting drunk is texting when a man has pissed you the fuck off. So I took a few hours and I sent him a text back.

You are a piece of work. Have a nice life.

I already knew what was going to happen. I knew he would call me the next day and feel me out and try to figure out if I was pissed or not. Of course I called my girlfriends and the consensus was that statement was bullshit. It’s like was purposefully trying to push me away. So the next day he called. I answered and was very dry. He knew I was pissed. Did this man say, “I’m sorry. I took the joke too far.” Nope he just talked like everything was okay. So finally I told him I was busy and I hung up. He called me two days later.

Malachi: Hey how are you?

Me: I have to be honest you really pissed me the fuck off the other day.

Malachi: I know I did and I apologize.

Me: I’m letting you know right now. You have cashed your last check. I already told you when I’ done. I’m done. I’m really trying to work with you but you’re making it hard.

Malachi: I knew I went too far. My bad.

frustrated-black-woman

I am a 35 year old woman. I would be a fool to think that I can make an emotionally unavailable man change. When he’s ready and open to be in a relationship and open up perhaps if I am still available and single we could work. But at this point I recognized this was pure absolute unadulterated bullshit and I had to protect myself and my heart.

I was exhausted from this relationship. And I use the term “relationship” loosely. And of course this all happened around the time when I was already in a shitty place to begin with. Here’s the thing. When a man is into you he’s into you. Here I was dealing with a man who was 3000 miles away and he couldn’t even act like he had an inkling of sense?! I began to get it. I was safe for “Malachi.” He could call me when he was bored and shoot the shit. I do believe there was a connection and who knows what would have happened if I lived on the east coast. But this was bullshit and I knew it. I am a 35 year old woman. I would be a fool to think that I can make an emotionally unavailable man change. When he’s ready and open to be in a relationship and open up perhaps if I am still available and single we could work. But at this point I recognized this was pure absolute unadulterated bullshit and I had to protect myself and my heart. I was just beginning to feel like me again. My acupuncturist put those needles in the right points and my energy was feeling normal again. My walk to the farmer’s market put me at peace. And I was serious when I said I would no longer date a man that was not what I needed. Emotional Availability was at the top of my A List. I had discussed with “Malachi” how I was feeling. I wasn’t in the mood to revisit it. To be honest, you can tell a man until you’re blue in the face what you need and what you desire. But if they aren’t willing or able to do it then you have to walk away. Or else, you will drive yourself over the edge with frustration because deep down inside you know you are not getting what you need. I was married to a man who didn’t give me what I needed and I thought eventually things would change. And it didn’t. And I was frustrated with myself for staying in a relationship and marriage with a man who didn’t, wouldn’t, and couldn’t give me what I needed. I believe “Malachi” was a test. And as I sat on my couch looking at my phone with his name on the screen this was the final part of the test. So what did I do? I hit ignore. Put the phone down and continued having my glass of wine. I knew I made the right decision when “Malachi” didn’t even leave message. You see, I know that when I meet “the one” things will feel right. I won’t question how a man feels about me, or feel like he isn’t honoring me. I will know it and he will show it. Just like my acupuncturist gave me the order to come to her twice a week for a while. I was giving myself a prescription. If shit didn’t feel right you must keep it moving. And I was planning on sticking with that order. I knew if I did I would eventually find my way to a healthy relationship.
 
Monique K.Bradley

 

 

I can be found on: Facebook | Twitter | Google+        

The City Of “Brotherly” Love?

black-woman-coffee-thinking

I decided to slow my ass down. Instead of going to every event and accepting an invite to every party I decided I would only go to one event that week. I made it a “ME” week.

The last few weeks had been pretty hectic.  Between my business travel, my social life, and entertaining out of town family I was SPENT.  I knew I was doing too much when I arrived at my hair salon to get my hair done only to discover my appointment was for the next day.  Unfortunately my hairstylist couldn’t squeeze me in since he was doing a full head weave.  So I decided to slow my ass down.  Instead of going to every event and accepting an invite to every party I decided I would only go to one event that week.  I made it a “ME” week.  I traded my social gatherings for meditation and went to my chiropractor and acupuncturist and got myself centered.  There was a party happening on Saturday and I figured I would be completely well rested and ready to get back on the social scene.  I was also making an effort to give LA men a chance.  I had written them off and indulged in dating men who didn’t live here.  In my “research” I found that men outside of LA were more assertive.  They knew how to date.  They also knew how to court women.  However, I was beginning to get a little weary of long distance relationships.  I missed the unplanned dating.  You know, when you call your boo and tell him you’re thinking about him and he can be at your place within 30 minutes.  I missed the lazy unplanned Saturday’s of just lounging around doing nothing but cuddling in your man’s arms.  And all this can be done in a long distance relationship but it is just so damn hard.  I was still open to them.  But I decided to be more open and stop writing off LA men.  So off to the party I went.  The weather was warming up.  It was springtime in LA.  Along with changing my LA dating perceptive I was making a point to stop wearing so much black.  So I went with a bold and colorful outfit which made me feel like it was spring time the time of new beginnings new perspective, and new prospects.  My girlfriend had also given me a heads up that the last time this guy had a party there were more men than women there.  You couldn’t get any better than that.  I valeted parked my car, walked into the party in my killer heels that had a maximum shelf life of 30 minutes before my feet swelled.  (beauty is pain).  I found my girls at the bar and give them the sisterly hugs and looked around.  Okay, I must admit, there were more men than woman at this party.  They were professional handsome men.  There were also a lot of couples as well.  But I chose to focus on the silver lining.

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So I gave him my mega million dollar smile. And tilted my head and gave him the, “I am interested. You are free to come and talk to me” look.

I headed to the bar to order a glass of wine.  I caught the eye of a gentleman across the bar.  He was definitely a cutie.  So I gave him my mega million dollar smile.  And tilted my head and gave him the, “I am interested.  You are free to come and talk to me” look He smiled back at me and made his way over from the other side of the bar. “David” was a 38 year old engineer originally from Chicago.

David: Did you just get here?

Me:  I’ve been here for 15 minutes.  It’s damn near impossible to get a drink around here.  They obviously weren’t ready for this crowd and need more bartenders.

David:  It took me 20 minutes to get my drink. 

As I waited for the bartender to make her way over to me to get my drink order “David” and I did the usual small talk.  You know, “Where are you from?  What do you do?  How long have you lived in LA?”  Finally the bartender came over and I ordered my $12 glass of Sauvignon Blanc.  When she came back with my wine and the bill I paused for a half a second to see what “David” was going to do.  When I realized he wasn’t even going to pretend to offer to buy the damn drink.  I watched him watch me reach into my purse and get out my credit card and pay for my own damn drink!  Let me be very clear.  I can pay for a $12 glass of wine.  That’s not the point.  However, when you’re speaking with a man and this is his first impression, it is obvious he is cheap and has no manners.  Typically when I am out and about on the east coast this isn’t even a discussion.  Not because I am some broke ass bitch looking for a man to buy my drink, but simply because of chivalry.  I engaged in more small talk with “David” but was already turned off so politely excused myself before he even thought to ask for my number.

Me:  It was nice meeting David.  I’ll see you around.

With that I headed to the dance floor to meet my girlfriends and dance off the stress from the past couple of weeks.  The dance floor was full of mostly women while the men just stood around watching.  Now let me put this into perspective.  This was a party in LA.  The crème de la crème were present.  You had doctors, lawyers, entertainment executives, actors, models, who all went out of their way to look good and party.  And these men were just standing around watching instead of joining these beautiful women on the dance floor?!  It was so ridiculous that even the DJ got on the mic and said, “You fellas need to get out here on the dance floor.  There is nothing but beautiful women out here.”  It was ridiculous!

flirt

Now let me be clear. I have no issue giving a man a signal that I am interested in him. I will flirt. I will smile. But one thing I will NOT do is pick up a man.

I decided to freshen up in the bathroom.  On my way there, I caught the eye of a handsome brotha.  He had the tall handsome Rick Fox look.  He smiled at me and I smiled at him.  I said “Hello.”   And he said “Hello” back to me.  And then… nothing.  Now let me be clear.  I have no issue giving a man a signal that I am interested in him.  I will flirt.  I will smile.  But one thing I will NOT do is pick up a man.  Call me old fashioned but I believe the way you start a relationship dictates how the relationship will go.  If I start the relationship off being the “man” and courting a “man” instead of the other way around that is how the relationship will go.  If I smile, say hello, and give you an indication that I am interested.  Well damn it you need to bring your black ass up to me and approach me the way a man should.  It’s really not that damn difficult.  And again, if I were anywhere else in the country I wouldn’t be having this conversation.  My drinks would have been bought and I would have been turning men down!  But in LA most men (not all) but most, do not know how to be the man.  The caveat is men who are visiting LA or men who are not born and raised in LA and haven’t lived here long.  Either way, I looked around the room and observed the scene.  I left the party feeling slightly perplexed and called my girlfriend.

My close girlfriend had a theory about LAX.  She believed there is a welcome course for men when they land called M.A.S.S.  Men Are So Stupid.  In this course men are welcomed into the city and debugged of any chivalry and sense they had from the city they came from.  They are trained to be assholes who do not approach women, buy drinks, and court a woman they way they did before they landed.  She believed this course typically took 3 months to complete and by month 3 these men were officially brainwashed into the LA Male way of thinking.  This is why when you meet a man who is not born and raised here you have 3 months to snatch him up before the learning’s from M.A.S.S. take over.

When I left the party I called my girlfriend who was there with me.

Me:  I just don’t get it.  I am trying to give these LA men a chance but they really do not know how to step up to the plate.

Girlfriend:  Girl, I know.  I was thinking the same thing.  I was talking to my girlfriend and she told me I will meet the one when I’m not looking.

Record screeched to a stop.  For any married women reading this blog for the love of God stop telling your single girlfriends that!  That’s absolute bullshit.  All of us look when we are single. (the exception to this rule are friends who met their husbands in college.  They have no idea of what it means to date as an adult and they actually believe that shit is true)  For the other married friends we all know before you were married you were looking.  You were disappointed if you went out to a party and thought you might meet some prospects and came home with nothing.  You know how I know this… I was once married.  So I have experience in both.  The only time that bullshit theory applies is if your husband was a man who “grew” on you.  The man who you weren’t initially attracted to but he ultimately won you over.  But let’s be honest, we all look and telling your single friend that is downright condescending, obnoxious, and insensitive.  So when you feel the need or get the urge to make that statement, do all of us single girls a favor and shut the fuck up!  Sorry… I digressed.  But I just had to get that off my chest.  So me and my girlfriend continued our conversation.

Me: That’s bullshit and you and I both know it.  I do not understand how none of our friends met anyone last night.

Girlfriend:  The brothas just aren’t stepping up out here.

Me:  I know.  I was trying to give these LA guys a chance but it looks like I am going to have to stick with long distance dating.

Girlfriend:   Import… Export.                           

Me:  Exactly!

Moving

Do I need to consider moving to another state and giving up all the things I love about LA in order to find my soul mate?

We hung up the phone and I thought about it.  Recently a few of my girlfriends have been in long distance relationships that have turned into engagements and marriages.  Some have moved to be with their men and others have actually gotten the guy to move to LA which is a great situation.  It’s a difficult dilemma.  I love LA.  I love the weather, my circle of friends, my career, and my lifestyle here.  The only thing missing is love.  The issue is never quantity it’s quality.  Let’s be clear, I have never had an issue getting a date.  If I wanted to, I could be out with a different man everyday of the week.  But that shit gets old.  And I acknowledge, after my separation and divorce I wasn’t really ready for a serious relationship.  I have never been one of those women who go from one relationship to the next.  I needed time to get my footing after the devastation of the divorce.  But in the last year, I have been ready emotionally and mentally for a real relationship.  And if I were at a party in NYC, Atlanta, Chicago, DC, Philadelphia I would have been turning down drinks.  The dance floor would have been packed with brothas.  And more importantly men APPROACH the women.  This doesn’t mean they are men that we want to date either (I have friends who live in these other cities and say the men are just as ignorant) but at least they know how to walk across the damn room and ask a woman to a dance.  Or ask what we would like to drink.  What happened to the men in LA?  Are the women so aggressive they don’t know how to approach us anymore?  Do I need to consider moving to another state and giving up all the things I love about LA in order to find my soul mate?  And  blah… blah.. blah… I already know when it is right it is right it doesn’t matter where you are.  But the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.  Do I stay in LA knowing that I keep getting the same results?  Do I sacrifice the city I love for another city where I can fall in love?   

Monique K.Bradley

 

 

I can be found on: Facebook | Twitter | Google+

Knee Pad New York….

knee Pads

Things can get lost in translation with text messages.

There is something about being out of town that makes me feel freer and the men more attentive.  I have the privilege of traveling to New York City every few weeks.  And I am a firm believer in mixing business with pleasure.  I don’t know if I give off a different aura when I’m in NYC or if the men just know how to treat a lady.  It never fails that every single time I come into this great city I have at least 2 dates in the week.  And I typically meet men so easily.  Perhaps my subconscious is in vacation mode therefore anything goes?  Maybe it’s the excitement of the city.  I have to admit, I feel like I’m in an episode of Sex and the City every time I have to hail a cab.  I feel powerful and extra confident.  I have no idea.  While in NYC a few weeks ago I went to Harlem Social with some friends to celebrate my girlfriend’s birthday.  While sipping on my Sangria, I looked up and saw a tall handsome man standing on the other side of the room (I am a sucker for a man with height).  I gave him my mega million dollar smile and winked.  He smiled and winked back.  It was a great start to the night.  Typically in LA, that rarely happens.  As a matter of fact that is usually how I can tell the difference between men who live in LA or who are visiting just based on their approach.  A few minutes later he was making his way over.  He asked to buy me a drink.  It was so refreshing to be in a spot where a man actually took the time to walk from across the room to connect with you.  Gotta love those NYC men!  I told him I was visiting from LA and would be leaving in two days.  Not only did he ask for my number but he had me call him from my phone right there on the spot and put my information in his phone immediately.  The next day he called me and asked me out.  He knew I had a wedding to go to that afternoon and I only had a small window of opportunity to see him if it was going to happen this trip.  So a few hours later I was sitting in the lobby of my hotel across from “John” having coffee and getting to know him.  “John” was a recently divorced father of 2 and had a career in governmental affairs.  He was born and raised in the Bronx and currently lived in Harlem.  He had that NYC edge I like.  You know I am a Jersey girl and I’m naturally drawn to east coast men.  He had charisma and confidence.  As we finished up our first meeting he asked me out for the next evening right away.  We took a stroll around Central Park and then went for cocktails at LAVO in midtown.  In dissecting this, I believe there are a few factors that played into this: 

1-       When men know that they have a limited window of time to see you they step up their game.  When you live in the same city there seems to be a lackadaisical attitude of, “She’ll be around I’ll ask her out when I get to it.”  Whereas when you’re an “Out- of-Towner” there is a greater sense of urgency.  Men want to figure out sooner if you’re worth the investment of time and money.  They need to get that first date in right away to see if they are willing to put in the text messages, the long phone hours, and even more so invest in getting a plane ticket to come out to your city to visit.

2-      I think I give out a different energy when I am out-of-town.  Because I do not live in the city I have nothing to lose.  I could get on top of a table and dance at a party and not care because I don’t live here.  When I land in a different city I automatically have a different vibe.  It’s New York, I feel energized and I also stand out.  If you walk into a crowded restaurant in New York City, it is easy to spot out an out-of-towner.  It’s even easier to spot out someone from LA.  Los Angeles women have a glow to them.  A permanent golden tan, a brighter smile, a relaxed chilled out attitude.  We definitely stand out in a crowd!

3-      New Girl syndrome think back to when you were in high school and a new girl  starts in the middle of the school year or even think back to your freshmen year in college.  In both scenarios you are fresh meat.  Men appreciate and are attracted to new things, new women, and new conquests.

When I left New York, “John” and I were off to a great start.  He was calling me every day.  He was sending me texts at a decent text to phone call ratio.  Texting is NOT a damn conversation.  Texting should be used to communicate information, let me know I am on your mind in the middle of the day, but not as a full-out conversation.  I can’t tell you how many women fall into the text trap and think they have a relationship with a man because they are texting all day.  That is absolute bullshit!  Like Patti Stingers says, intimacy happens between your ears not under your fingers.  I digressed…  I’ll save the whole text messaging discussion for a future blog.

LA-vs_-NYC-2

Different cities…Same problems…

I was enjoying getting to know this man.  He was charming, witty, and we had great conversations.  I started making plans for upcoming meetings in NYC an I was excited to know I would be there for a full week and get to spend some quality time with “John.”  Two days before I left for the Big Apple I was out running errands at The Grove.  While I was trying on a new shade of pink lip gloss from MAC I got a text message from “John.”

John:  Hey beautiful, what are you up to?

Me:  Running errands…shopping.

John:  Don’t forget to buy some knee pads.

You know that moment in a movie when there is a loud screeching of a record coming to a sudden stop.  I swear, no over exaggeration this happened (in my head).  I looked at the text for a few minutes.  I thought there had to be a glitch in the iPhone system.  You know auto correct can be a bitch.  There is no way in hell, this well-traveled, sophisticated man I had been talking to for a month would have sent some ignorant ass text message on purpose.

Me:  Don’t forget to buy what? (When I hit send, I prayed that he would send me a message that his auto correct had put the wrong word in his previous text)

John:  Don’t forget to buy knee pads ;-)… I have plans for you.

Okay.  So it wasn’t auto correct.  This Simpleton (one of my mother’s favorite words for a fool) was serious and even elaborated on it!  My sweet “getting to know a man” side immediately went running away and in entered my “You’re an asshole and you will get checked” side.

Me:  Sure I’ll get knee pads… what’s your size?

JohnLOL!  Not for me, for you.  (Not only was “John” highly inappropriate.  Apparently he was selfish too)

Me:  That text came out of nowhere.

John: You’re tripping.

Me:  John, what’s up with your crazy ass text message?

John:  Why are you tripping?

Me:  I’m not tripping at all.  I don’t know you like that.  I want to make sure I am managing your expectations.  SEX ISN’T GOING DOWN WHEN I SEE YOU!

And really to be honest, at the end of the day if I was contemplating going there, he had turned me off so much that any small percentage of chance was now gone!  However, I understand how things get lost in translation with text messages.  I really get that.  I’m not unreasonable.  In the past I was so quick to cut a guy off and never call him again but I was doing things differently.  I wanted to give this man the benefit of the doubt.  So I called him.  He answered on the first ring.

John:  You’re tripping.

Me:  You’re coming out of left field.  Knee pads?  Really?

John:  That’s the problem with women.  You all want to fuck just as badly as men do.  But you all are busy reading Steve Harvey and making these damns rules!  (Here we go with that damn Steve Harvey bullshit!  Remind me to kick his ass when I see him.  He has really fucked it up for single women who were actually holding out without his “advice”)

Me:  You know what John, take you knee pads and go fuck yourself.  (With that I hung up the phone and to this day ignore his phone calls and text messages.

NYC

What would happen if I took that same mentality and aura I have when I am out of town and put out that same energy when I am in LA?

NYC/LA… Different city…Same Problems…  However, here’s a thought.  What would happen if I took that same mentality and aura I have when I am out-of-town and put out that same energy when I am in LA?  So many times, as women, we are so quick to point out what men do and don’t do.  But what would happen if we started with ourselves instead?  Look at what kind of energy we project into the dating world.  It was right after I hung the phone on “John” that I made a conscious effort to change my LA dating energy into my NYC dating energy.  I’m not saying that would mean I wouldn’t have another dating disaster.  But at least I could begin to enjoy my singledom and not take it so damn seriously.  What kind of dating energy are you projecting?  Vacation:  let loose and have fun or Home Base: anxiety ridden tenseness.  At least my experience with “John” gave me a small golden nugget…. Knee pads?  SMH!

Monique K.Bradley

 

 

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