I was never very good at dating. I could never figure out all of the little nuances, games, flirtations that so many other girls have dialed. My theory's always been that if I can't be great at something, why do it at all. With that theory in mind, I just don't even bother with the dating games and just try to be myself. It's not a theory I would recommend per se, as I've dated a number of guys in the past year and I still continue to date.
The thing that amazes me most about dating is the fact that someone can go from 60 to 0 in the matter of a day. Most of the time, I don't clue in to the moment (thing, act etc...) where something turned. Until recently. I don't think it could have been more obvious.
I had gone on a few dates with this guy. He seemed nice enough, called me almost every day, text messaged me daily and seemed interested to my untrained eye. Then I got a text message.
The text message said that it turned out we had a few friends in common. To make a long story short, the friends were my ex brother and sister in law. After I recovered from the shock (what were the chances?) I wasn't too worried, after all, there shouldn't be any reason this should be an issue. I can't say I didn't leave the family amicably because when D walked out, I never heard from his family again. After mulling it over, I wasn't too bothered.
I saw M the next night and we laughed about the commonality and I thought that was it. Since it had been our 6th or so date, we almost kissed when we said goodnight. I say almost, because just as we were about to kiss, he started laughing. That hardly does wonders for a girl's ego, but there he was laughing in a very awkward way. I left his place with an uncomfortable feeling. Then the next day, I got an email saying that he didn't feel there was any spark or chemistry with me. Yep. This is my dating life. If nothing else, great fodder for stories!
In exactly 84 days, I'll be in the Yukon starting my epic journey of backpacking and canoeing. I've already received a zillion documents from what I can expect (60-70km of hiking with a 60lb pack on my back), to how I should be prepared (workouts 3-5 times per week) to an intense packing list of stuff to bring (a mosquito hat!)
Now that this is very "real" and I have a deadline, I'm concentrating my efforts into getting into the shape of my life. I like to think that I'm already in reasonably good shape, but in the last year, I've definately enjoyed good food and wine more than I have the intense workouts that I used to.
Partially because I'm clumsy, and partially because I have the stiffest/tightest muscles known to man, I usually end up hurting myself if I do a gym workout or any kind of non-stretching focus classes. As much as my body NEEDS yoga, it's not gonna satisfy my cardio or muscle building needs. In my constant quest of finding the perfect workout that I won't hate, get bored of and can afford, I found the Dailey Method.
The Dailey Method has been the perfect mix of stretching, strengthening and for lack of a better word, sheer torture. It's a one hour class of core conditioning, strengthening and stretching. If I had to sum it up, it's like a Pilates class on crack. Yes, there's a lot of ab work, but I've never done a Pilates class that makes me sweat like the Dailey Method. During class, my legs shake, I feel muscles in my butt that I never knew existed and at times, I'm convinced that death wouldn't be as painful as holding a stomach crunch position for more than a minute straight. The next day, I feel like someone's punched me in the gut. But the thing is (and I'm showing my masochist side here...) it feels good. And as much as it hurts doing it, the next day I (mostly) feel great. I'm convinced that the Dailey Method is going to be an important part in helping me get in shape for my Grand Adventure. Well, at least until I'm ready to start practicing hikes with a 60lb pack on my back...
