Online dating is like online shopping......

....you never know if it's going to fit until you see it in person and try it on. Its a few days into the process and my sister and I have gotten the hang of the website.  I found two guys that seem pretty promising and one that I genuinely like, even if nothing ever happens.

Here is how the conversation has gone between us:
"Mr. X is insanely tall and I would look good in a great pair of heels" I send to my sister in a text. Shallow, I know.
"haha I like Mr. Y's message, but he looks like Moby Dick", my sister replies.
"Mr. C was a little creepy in his message", I sent back.
"Yea, I said no thanks", whew I'm thinking!
"I like Mr. X!!! my sister sends back.
"Me too!!!".He wrote a great email. Don't worry, I waited the proper few hours to respond.
"Can I wink the firefighter?", she asks.
"Idk, did he wink me?"
"Yeah"
This winking thing is getting out of control and I have learned a whole new language.
"I think he is to old", I say back.
She sends another one a few minutes later, "Here is a cute med student who plays the guitar, might be to godly, he grew up a missionary kid"

"I like his values of giving back, but worry I'm a little sassy", not that I don't love a good boy, but my luck with good boys is they don't always know what to do with me.
"I can cus like a sailor...and like sex....don't know if god would approve"
"hahaha" my sister laughes

An so the conversation goes on over the next few days.  I'm secretly hoping to hear from Mr. X.

Back in the saddle...

I tried online dating before and met some nice guys, but wasn't in the same place or wasn't ready for the commitment. Well it's a few years later, a new website, and a different town. It's been a completely different experience. I signed up over a few days. I read up on how to make an interesting profile and what types of pictures to use. I checked out the site for important things like if I could wear a set of 4 inch heels, if the men had a college education, and if they were kissable. Those are mature reason's to start a relationship....and I found a few so I took the plunge and uploaded my photo and filled out my profile to see what would happen. YIKES!!! In a few hours I had 20 winks and 12 emails sitting in a box that I couldn't read. I couldn't pass through and read the responses until the troll had my credit card number. I caved,  paid the toll, and crossed over to the other side. After one night of trying to do it on my own I sent my sister a text and said "help", I can't decide, or sift through all of them, or read the profiles. In her ever organized and methodical way she went through and took care of the dirty business of no thanks, winks, and text updates in just an hour. It was awesome! I sent my mom and email about something completely unrelated, but mentioned my sisters skills the next morning. "Are there some promising ones"? she asked. "Yes, they are tall and educated". She wrote back "Nice to know they can at least walk and chew gum". I was off or at least at the starting gate. I agonized over the first few emails sent and was pleasantly surprised by their responses. I even found a few that I hope to keep talking to and maybe even meet! Sometimes it takes a team and a sister that is a horse trainer that moonlights as a match maker.

AparTmenT Transformaion...brougHT To you by a broken leTTer "T, H, V and C"

The new Casa in KenosHa and a Tale of a keyboard

The living room The first day

The second week

In The living room I decided To go with purple for The accent Color, I am Hoping To find some yellow as well when spring arrives. I love gray, yellow and purple Together! My grandmother's end Tables, my great aunt's mirror and a Chair from an estate sale rounded out The room. I'm still looking for a Chair To go on The left. (Cat is sold separately)

Sexy Curtains on The first day!

Looking like Home

I nailed up a flannel sheet for a Curtain and used belts as The strings. How is THaT for a little DIY in a pinch. I didn't like looking into my neighbors bedroom. I found a bookshelf, added a my mom's old Trunk from College and my favorite lamp To The awkward Corner. Speaking of awkward Corner, I'm starting To like it's look, but don't judge The breakfast area in The background. THe Table and Chair set are my next DIY project.

Meet Munchkin

Meek Lexi

 You migHT HaVe noTiCed THe random leTTer's being CapiTolized in THis posT. Here is wHaT Happened To my keyboard....

Lexi and Munchkin like To play....rough. While I was Taking pictures, They rolled onto The Computer Cord and Then Lexi Pounced on The keyboard missing Her intended Target, The Cat. You are seeing The letters That spell Check does not Catch. For some odd reason, if you Capitalize The letters They work... and Here ends The Tale of The keyboard.

Me time...a new concept

Time to myself, it's a completely new concept in my world. I have had an amazing job working with college students for the last 4 years in a role that required a college student schedule.  I have transitioned into a new role where I have occasional night and weekend commitments, but overall time for myself. This new concept has made me evaluate how I spend my time with myself. Inspired by my friends blog "a little bit of rain" I made a list of things that I did for the first time on my own so far this week. While it is not life altering for many, it was a big deal to me.

1. Had dinner by myself at a restaurant. Mind you,I found a cute place that I could walk to from my apartment, it looked warm and modern inside, and from the outside I could see people eating at the bar. I had the most delicious risotto balls and a petite syrah that made my taste buds extremely happy. Plus, I met a few members of the community that suggested other places I should try. http://www.sazzyb.com/

2. Went for a walk at night around my neighborhood in the dark with my dog ( 8pm), she had to pee and I was restless. It was a bit scary since I didn't know the area and no one was around. On the way I looked down and saw a rock with Orson Welles' name on it and a plate marking his childhood home.  This house has since been split up into apartments, but it's a cool piece of history a few houses down.

3. Moved on my own. Carried a heavy coffee table, bookshelves, chairs, and trunks and boxes up 3 flights of stairs on my own. Moving makes you realize how amazing friends and family are when they are close. Moving by yourself is a bit intimidating and lonely, on the other hand it really makes you feel independent.

4. Found a grocery store and ticked off my new neighbors. I managed to tick off the existing customers while I signed up for a card.....oops. Lesson learned, sign up before you go through check out. The second lesson is do not park between two huge SUV's. You can not see as you back out of the spot and people do not like waiting for a car. They like to make interesting gestures as they wait. I might not be shopping there anymore.....

5. Found a gym, and then saw my bank statement. I will be signing up for that next month :)

chaos into order

I'm trying to make chaos into order in my new space and I think it's is starting to take hold, yet in the back of my head or maybe my heart I realize that I'm trying to capture a feeling that can't be filled by a space.  When you move you get to redefine the space that you live, re-conceptualize your art work, trinkets, furniture, in a sense yourself.  It's a new fixation for the moment, but in the end I hope will be enjoyed by others, otherwise what's the point? 

Addition to Wisconsinism's

I found a great website today after my HR new employee orientation. I did not have the correct emphasis on the right syllables :). Yes, I know it's improper, but it is slightly fun.  I left thinking about the unique accent that I will learn over the next few years. I needed a little help since I am an outsider so I found a great article to bring out the inner Wisconsinite in myself!  http://highpointers.org/archives/167 

Moving

In a few days I will be leaving the great state of OH-IO and heading north to the land of Wisconsin. I get to have a little fun and decorate a new space. I have been following house blogs for awhile now and get to implement all of my own ideas. I'm moving into a 70's style apartment complex, complete with crushed burnt orange velvet chairs in the foyer. I have cute little old ladies on my floor with a few nut cases mixed in. My neighbor across the hall reminds me of Topper of of the TV show "Coach" and when my dad hit his car with our moving truck he said welcome to the neighborhood. I'm hoping they stay friendly when my dog moves in to the apartment. I went and explored town a bit and cute little shops are just a few blocks away. I found a great coffee shop and paper store. A few things I noticed out on my fall Saturday outing.... 

1) On game day, no one was wearing all red
2) They said hello and goodbye instead of "Go Bucks" or I guess "Go Badgers"
3) "Don'tcha know" is used frequently

 I think I'm going to like this town.....