Sunday Funday

Sunday's date was Luke. He was actually a bit hard-to-get, he ended up disappearing for a week in the middle of our exchange, which left me a bit bummed. So I was happy to hear from him once he was back in town.

The Stats: 6'4", 30, writer for a cable show, rower, UWS, seriously fun. His tagline was, "Do you get invited to weddings because of what you can do on the dance floor? Are you so fun your friends whisper about your adventures? You're the girl for me" I mean, I'm not that fun, but I have been known to bust a move or two (and I've certainly had some adventures!) plus I liked the challenge.

When I got there, he stood up to greet me. I had worn low heels (having been burned on a few previous dates, ahem) and he disclosed that he was actually SIX SIX. Finally!

Turns out, he's also incredibly smart (that was my one concern with him). He went to Brown and we spent the first thirty minutes talking about Dali, Whitman and the environment. I stood up to go to the bathroom, and I could feel him checking me out. When I came back, he suggested we ditch Ditch Plains and head to a tequila bar. There he told me that he's been doing stand up for a while, and proceeded to unfurl his comic genius. I could not stop laughing.

We also talked about what was important to us - and I saw him looking at me intensely when I was briefing him on my parents divorce. He then leaned across the table, pulled me toward him and kissed me deeply. So hot. After a few margaritas, I found myself on his side of the table, leaning into his massive chest.

Around 1, he drove me home in his car, playing my all time favorite music (fastest way to my heart). While we were kissing in his car, he suggested we watch this movie we had been talking about at his place. I saw right through it, of course, but I was tempted. Feeling emboldened, I said yes and dashed upstairs to grab a change of clothes.

We arrived at his place and proceeded to make out intensely in his foyer. It was just at the point where I almost lose rationality, when I took a deep breath and slowly pushed him away a bit. I asked for the grand tour, which of course culminated in his bedroom.

Instead of tearing each other's clothes off, it was sweet and slow and deliberate. I felt like he was really looking at every part of me - he even mentioned my toenail polish! We basically just rolled around in our underwear and tortured each other. He even told me at one point that even if I had asked to have sex, he wouldn't have done it. I love that he wants to go slow (even though I did end up in bed on the first date!)

I barely slept through the night, of course. I never sleep well in a new bed. But he spooned me and covered every part of me, which is so rare and felt so good. In the morning we cuddled a bit before I absolutely had to leave.

Later that day, I Googled him. One of his stand-up acts talks about how now that he's 30, he's not going to do the 'dry humping' anymore. I laughed uproariously... obviously we're breaking all sorts of rules for each other.

*scorpio*

Donzo

I had been talking to this Italian on IM for the past week. His picture was only of his profile, but it looked promising. We made each other laugh and worked in the same industry. I reluctantly made plans to go out with him instead of watching the Jets game at a local bar.

The night was not off to a good start because I started to feel horribly sick. I dragged myself out of bed and started the long cold walk to West 8th street. I was just passing the new sports bar on Charles, when two of the hottest guys I have seen to date in New York City got out of a cab and walked into the bar. My initial reaction was to ditch the date, but I just kept walking.

When he showed up he looked at least 10 years older than his profile. He was also not 6'0 and very skinny. I instantly knew it wasn't going to go anywhere, but thought I would at least have a nice time talking about Italy. After two drinks I was ready to go. When the check came, he immediately reached for it and took it up to the bar. The waitress came back and said the card was not working. He fumbled through his wallet and handed her another card. She came back and said that card was not working, but she was going to try a different machine. On her third approach she said the card was just not working. My date is suddenly typing slowly into his Blackberry. I asked him what he was doing and when he answered "trying to transfer money into a different account" I grabbed my purse and paid the bill in cash.

We walked outside and he put his arm around me and started to walk me to another restaurant for dinner. In my head I thought his move was tacky and I wasn't about to go to another place to pay the bill. I told him I was going home and jumped into the nearest cab. I am glad that I did because I have been sick with the flu ever since!

I should have followed the other American boys into Charles to watch a good ole game of American football.

*Aries*

Slow & Steady

I met Johan for our second date (see last Thursday's freaking awesome make-me-smile-on-the-subway date). We hit an Irish pub in his neighborhood (incidentally TWO blocks from my ex's place).

He's cuter than I remember and I am just so drawn to him. Still, I have to remember he's a bit damaged because of his recent divorce. We ended up talking for six hours (again!) about some incredible things. He's so funny but also really soulful-- at one point he told a story that made us both tear up. And I made him laugh out loud a few times, which he said is pretty rare. He was like, "You're really funny." I liked that, a lot.

He had mentioned last time that he had "trust issues"... so I followed up on that. He said that he basically doesn't believe that relationships can work out. (I'm actually the exact same way: does not bode well). Still, he got married, so at one point he must've gotten over it. I need to find out more about this before I throw my entire heart at him.

He asked me about my ex, again. I was still cagey. It's almost like, I spent two goddamn years talking about him, I really don't want to anymore. But I guess we'll have to trade stories eventually.

He's definitely deeper than the others - I asked him why he didn't kiss me the first date. He said he actually usually moves really fast but he didn't want to with me. (Which is KILLING me by the way - but also totally sweet). We finally left the bar at 4 AM and he walked me to a cab. We kissed again, a little bit longer than the first kiss but he still left me wanting more.

As I was getting in the cab, he asked to see me again this week. I said, "I'm quite busy this week but next week for sure!" (The bonus of dating so many guys, you don't have to play hard to get, you just ARE).

When I got home, he texted me. "Had a really good time, I'd love to see you again this week if possible." I liked his persistance... so I quick checked my schedule and moved some things around (including double-booking Wednesday night, not sure how that's going to work). We settled on Thursday.

I'm excited!

*scorpio*

Om...not quite

I was looking forward to Friday's date. Tyler, though only 6 ft, had an awesome approach to life and was quite smart. I met him at St Dymphana's for a hot toddy.

Still quite cute in person, but thinner than I wanted. At only 6 ft he has to be more muscular (again, so I don't feel like Godzilla). Regardless we had a rather nice conversation about art and psychology and family. He had mentioned he was into meditation - I soon found out that meant he went on retreats with a motivational speaker.

(I couldn't stop thinking of Dexter's Jordan Chase, honestly)

Then he mentioned his sister had a 16 year old child that she had given birth to at age 17... and that his parents were both quite overweight. I just felt in my bones that our families wouldn't get along, so I filed him away as temporary.

Still he was fun to talk to, and soon he was convincing me to go to Affaire with him.

After a couple strong cocktails, we started dancing. He was so much fun to dance with... I started stripping off layers becuse it was so hot on that floor. But of course, I was wearing a nude bodysuit under my 16 layers (because dating in 3 degrees is never sexy). He totally noticed, but we were both so carefree at that point. Then he kind of looked at me intensely, pulled my hair back gently, and kissed me.

It was a great kiss.

Too bad I'll never see him again.

*scorpio*

Never Go In Against A Sicilian...

... when a date is on the line.

So my great luck was bound to run out sometime. That time happened to be 8 PM Thursday. I should've realized when he took his profile down immediately after asking me out (a week and a half prior) that something was up.

I got to Brinkley's about five minutes late. He said he was already there... but as I walked around I couldn't see the 6'1" quite handsome man who'd been making me laugh with his texts all week. I finally realized it was his twin (and by twin I mean the Arnold Schwartzenegger/Danny DeVito type). This guy was all Danny.

He was 5'8" on a good day, and about 30 lbs heavier than advertised. I was exhaused from my grueling dating schedule but managed to take a deep breath and steel myself for the longest hour of my life.

And then it got interesting. He mentioned he had a 44-year-old sister in Conneticut. I said, "Married, with kids?"

"Actually, she just got out of jail, for the fourth time. She's a pretty big time drug dealer."

I'll let that sink in for a moment.

It then became obvious during his retelling of the events that he was not so innocent himself. He taught me some facinating things: How to bury money in the yard so it doesn't rot (Hint: Lyme and dryer sheets) and how to transport goods across the US (UPS).

He also told me about a great weekend he'd just passed in Vegas at Rehab with his friends. They had a whole bag of X and a few strippers who went above & beyond the job requirement.

At that point I stiffled a yawn and said I had to get home. He asked if I wanted to wait for him to close out, and I said, "No, I really have to be going, but thank you."

The shocking thing is - he thinks it went well. He asked me out again.

RIDICULOUS.

*scorpio*

A Day of Expression

At the MoMA last Sunday



Willem de Kooning, Painting, 1948



Ad Reinhardt, Number 107, 1950


Jackson Pollack, Echo: Number 25, 1951, 1951

I had the best day at the Abstract Expressionist exhibit at the MoMA on Sunday. Abstract Expressionism surged in the 1940's as a reaction to the atrocities of WWII. It was the first truly American art movement - the artists were focused on expressing basic human ideals while avoiding form. Many of them formed The Club, which boasted over 150 members at it's peak. They met in Greenwich Village (where I live!) and basically changed the concept and definition of art. It was an incredible time of great creativity and it spanned the entire 1940's, dying out in the early 1950's.

Willem de Kooning has always been a favorite of mine, perhaps incongruently since his later work is widely known for being hateful towards women. More kindly, it's interpreted as a manifestation of modern man's sexual fears - the interpretation to which I give credence. Painting was created in 1948, two years before he attempted his first and most famous work, Woman I. He's kind of the bad boy of Abstract Expressionism (no wonder I like him!) since his work toed the line between human form and abstraction. With his Woman paintings I - VI, created in the 1950's, he caused quite the sensation and pretty much divorced himself from Abstract Expressionism. He's still always referenced as one of the founders of the movement, however.

Ad Reinhardt does incredible things with color - most of his paintings are too difficult to convey online, since he experiments with very subtle color changes. Some of his best work looks like a large black canvas from afar, but when you get up close you can see the subtle differences in the blacks he used... The way he describes the different shades of black is so beautiful. "There is black which is old and a black which is fresh. Lustrous black and dull black, black in sunlight and black in shadow." Of course, I'm a fan!

Jackson Pollack was one of the few artists to experience fame while still alive. He created this painting in 1950, at the height of his fame. He'd modified his style from the earlier and quite famous 'drip' paintings of which we're all familiar. I love what he wrote to his friend about his new style, "I've had a period of drawing on canvas in black - with some of my early images coming thru [sic] - think the non-objectivists will find them disturbing - and the kids who think it simple to splash a Pollack out." There's nothing I find more distasteful than people who say, "I could do that!" when viewing a famous work. I love that Pollack was aware of his detractors and confronted them. Standing in front of this work, you see the incredible talent he had for manipulating the paint. There are so many different textures conveying an incredible shape and movement and power. Go see it in person!


And finally, this. Sadly, I do not recall who created it, but I freaking loved it. My photo does not do it justice - it's a 3-D sculpture created out of a fishing line type string, illuminated from above. Just beautiful.


*scorpio*