Don't Blink Or You'll Miss It

Alright.. FINALLY.. sheesh..

There is just so much going on I tell you.

No really.. I'll tell you.

First of all.. the weather is crazy. It was like 81 at night last week. The band studio? You don't even want to know.. it was like seventh-level-of-Hell hot in there. And when all the moving you have to do means standing there and singing.. how can you be sweaty doing that? I ask you.. how?! I don't know.. but you CAN because I. Was. Sweaty. Ugh. And then just before the 4th, in came the dark grey clouds and the clap of heavy thunder and this awesome lightening for TWO days with penny-sized hail! Seriously, I'm waiting for the swarm of locusts any minute..

I do love it when it's warm but I'd take 80 and a light breeze. Maximum. And maybe not working in a stuffy hotter-than-it-is-outside-because-the-air-conditioning-must-be-putting-out-
HEAT-instead-of-something-cooler-helloooo cubicle farm. Yeah.. that could help. Either way though, summer has finally arrived so yes, I'm happy because the energy in the city when we're not all melty feeling is a good thing. Everyone's in flip flops and tank tops, extra nice, and extra smiley. And the city is simply stunning at night from our roof. Sparkly and romantic.. ahh.

With sunny days comes the fact that pretty much everyone in the city is in heat. Men are flirtier because all the women are wearing less.. and it's like the spring we never had this year. It's about time because winter lasted for a century and just a couple of weeks ago it was like 45 degrees.. and it's just wrong to be wearing a sweater in the middle of June.

Some of that flirty chemistry has finally headed my direction. The Actor from last winter contacted me a couple of months ago. He was in a new show so I went with Yoda and we both thought it fantastic. We met up for drinks after he was free from that lengthy run and I was done with my shows at Balagan - and not surprisingly because sometimes I'm just clueless, I figured out well into it that it was a date and that didn't suck at all.

You need to know that I'm a sucker for a talented man.. especially a good actor or if he can play an instrument of some kind. Add in a wry and witty sense of humor and a little glint in his eyes and I'm finished.

I was drawn to The Actor's ease and his talent. He's sweet and funny, but he's more on the mellow side of that. I think last time I wasn't sure if he really 'got' me or my sense of humor. We were both a lot more relaxed this time around, but there was still the matter of matching schedules and things like that. For some reason, it just never seems to be the right timing for us because someone else walked right into that available space.

Always prone to the most complicated relationship I can find, this one would be no different. He's involved with the theatre I'm now the production manager for - which is already a pretty small company.. and well, he also might be 10 years younger than me. As if there wasn't enough drama involved on stage.. right? Oh you know this is how I roll.. I'm hip with the kids.. and I'm sure there's a six year limit either older or younger that I made for myself when I was thinking rationally and that was my boundary.. but I simply can't be held to hard and fast rules when he's cute and funny and is flirting with me. Also, when there's alcohol.

Pretty quickly after I started stage managing the last two shows, we hit it off and had an easy rapport, always joking around and texting about our evenings. I was living a bit vicariously thru him since his dating life seemed a lot more exciting than mine and I caught myself a few times thinking it was good he was dating someone because I felt a little drawn to him - and I also noticed he would send texts much later than he should.

A week before the fourth, the plan was to meet up and work.. and by work I mean have tapas and drinks during happy hour while creating the guidelines for my position of production manager at the theatre. It'd been a long week at work, stressful and frustrating with reviews coming up and some emotional issues with my friend's father passing away. By Friday, I was beyond ready to relax and release all the negative that'd built up over a pitcher of sangria and what I assumed would be a few laughs with him, The Director (neither of us could think of anything better.. so that nickname will have to do).

There was an extended plan with Boz who was meeting me after all this 'work' to hit the party thrown by The Director's ex, also part of the theatre.. we'll call her Red. I adore her and we get along well. She and The Director seem to have a very healthy friendship for being exes and owning a theatre company together. Not an easy task.

So... almost three hours later, the entire pitcher of sangria gone, along with two more cocktails for each of us, and the job description done in all of 20 minutes, The Director and I were acting like a pair of crushing high school kids. I mean, Boz arrived and tho he was great and I love hanging out with him.. wow did it get awkward fast.

The Director and I said goodbyes and that we'd meet later at the party and the first thing Boz said when we were alone was that he'd bow out if I wanted to pursue other plans because he and I aren't bound to each other that way anymore.. I declined his kind offer and he came to the party with me anyway.. more awkwardy times ensued and The Director told me later he was actually a bit jealous, which surprised us both..

Over texts the next day we admitted to what was going on the evening before and made plans to meet up and discuss it that night.. again over drinks and food and how I didn't see those as groundwork of a first date, I don't know. Sometimes I'm incredibly daft.. honestly.

It was just like the night before tho.. easy and fun, we laughed the whole time, even when we brought up the seriousness of dating within the company and how others would react.. but you can only worry about others so much.. and I can't let questionable opinions deter me from seeing where something might go with someone I genuinely like.. and who, shockingly, likes me just as much.

So um.. I'm kind of smitten. And you know what? So is he. How awesome is that?! So. That's how awesome. Hee.

In other news, my little Lulu just turned two years old.. and I had the best time at her birthday party yesterday.. She couldn't be cuter and her new little brother is getting quite adorable too. Fatima is the most stunningly beautiful mother in the history of mothers.. I mean.. she just is and her husband can cook, can anesthetize someone, can build things, can landscape.. I mean, there is just no stopping him. They're a pretty damn cute family and I'm sending my little niece the best wishes for her second year in this world. Don't you want to see the world with this much joy? I wish time didn't fly by so fast so we could all take the time to feel this kind of happy.. Wishing all of you that right this minute!