Been a very busy week. I've done more this week than any one where I was actually working.

For one, I've spent most of my free time looking for work and writing. I hate just sitting around. In the past I'm used to doing very little over the weekends, leading a fairly boring existence and knowing only a few friends (who did much of the same on their free time). I wasn't one of those who spent his free time locked to a computer playing video games with people he never met, at least that's fairly social, I just spent my time alone. It was comfortable that way.

Lately though, like most everything it seems, that's completely changed. I have dated occasionally and made a few casual friends through it and in my life. This week most of my time was spent with them or coordinating times to get together.

Tuesday a friend of mine from Boston was visiting for a conference. I spent an amazing evening with her and had only a couple hours to get lunch, write and look for work before I made it to a friend's birthday party.
C was there and we had the talk I'd been hoping for. We cleared the air about a lot of stuff, why things turned out the way they did, if it was better that it happened that way, what we wanted, etc. We both had some animosity about how we acted towards each other but one of those reality tv, bare your soul, overly dramatic talks helped put things in perspective. I tend to avoid those, I believe very little is worth getting into one of those discussions and if you're at the point that you have to, then it's pretty much a lost cause.
I wasn't trying to get back with her, I've learned we're too different but I still have feelings for her and hated how things had gone but wanted to find out where things went wrong. The truth is I've changed a lot in these past few months and who I was when she met me is much different than who I am now. She was overworked and stressed, while I still hadn't resolved a lot. Now I think we're at a more equal footing and understand each other better. I spent the night with her, which is what both of us really needed.
I made a tentative date to meet someone for lunch, someone I met at another party the week before, but missed it due to sleeping in. I was going to meet a blind date for drinks last night which I didn't have a lot of hope for. I was hungry, tried and just wanted an evening to relax.
She ended up being late though not late enough to have me leave. I was hoping she wouldn't show, which would give me an excuse to get home and grab a desperately needed dinner.
When she got there I was a bit surprised. She was a professional, which I knew beforehand but had the suburban look that threw me off. She looked like, as I told her "a hot soccer- mom."
Most times I would not say such a thing but we had gotten comfortable and I could find no other way to describe her. She looked like a young newlywed, still very attractive and independent.

In fact she was very attractive which was strange considering she was very realistic. Most attractive women I've met are more concerned with jewelery, money, looking good, that I can't be around them but she had a great sense of humor and had her head on the right way.

Throughout it all I watched her body language, something I like to think I'm good at. She seemed both interested and careful. While I switch between letting a woman decide and just taking the lead, I accepted when she asked if I wanted to see a show with her that night. In her words I am look normal but have a lot hidden, which is pretty apt. She says the same thing about herself which I may believe. Still skeptical though, she looks too sweet to be dangerous. Much later, when I got home and was getting ready for bed, I realized who she reminded me off- this girl a year above me when I was a junior in high school. She was very Southern, very religious, a cheerleader, friendly to everyone and overly sweet as many Southern girls that like to think of themselves as belles are. At the time I thought she was one of the best looking girls in the school, though not at all my type. Even her name- Pride Parr- seemed genteel.

The show was very well done, though not my usual flavor. A string quarter accompanied by amateur singers with professional voices singing am radio classics (mostly Journey), it was impressive, very low key. Afterwards both of us admitted how hungry we were and wanted to grab some food. At two in the morning there's very little open, even in a place like Chicago. We managed to find a small pizzeria, however and had a good snack while we had a more in depth conversation than should be had over reheated pizza with three teenagers working the late shift nearby.
We both left still hungry and incredibly tired. I haven't had anything to eat since and need to get some dinner.

Her name? It's M and I may see her again soon. I have to plan something which may be difficult considering.