The Long Awaited Update

Even though, I had no intention of doing this and those who will read it already know. Here it is. The update.

That above picture was my Valentine E-mail from, Mr. Jetpack aka Boyfriend aka Roommate. He also gave me pretty pink roses and we got a Wii for each other.

Let's pretend you don't know...
Mr. Jetpack and I kept dating. I went home with him for his Birthday and Thanksgiving to meet his family. We moved in together. He spent Christmas with my family. He went with my family on our tropical vacation. We acquired a cat. He maintained that he disliked cats but now Mr. Kitty and him are best friends and I get jealous sometimes. We talk about the big life things houses, weddings and (eeek!) children.

We have a lot of fun together. One day when we were purposely annoying each other and laughing the whole time, I said, "I think you and I both were just looking for the perfect person to annoy." I've found it. And he, selected me, naturally.

Not a Blow-Out

Date Rate: ♥♥♥♥♥/♥♥♥

I'm grouping my last two hang outs with Mr. Jetpack together. It feels weird enough rating them at this point anyway.

We went on a bicycle ride on Friday morning. It was nice. I saw his apartment. It's about a 15 minute drive from where I live and apparently a 35 minute ride by bicycle (according to Google Maps however I don't know if I trust Google Maps on that, as it always insists on sending me down Colfax to get to west Denver or the Highlands, which is just silly). We went on a nice trail not far from his place. We learned that if I wear polka-dot underwear under my bicycle shorts, anyone riding behind me will know...oops. He mentioned an "ex" when I asked if he'd seen the movie Amilie. I tried not to red flag it. I had to run because I had plans at noonish so it was a short, nice and sporty visit.

On Saturday, I drove us up to Boulder. We went to Larkburger. I had heard rumors about Larkburger for a while now and was very excited for an excuse (date) to try it for myself. The truffle fries were amazing, Mr. Jetpack was impressed too. The burger was fine. Then we drove-up Flagstaff Mountain. Even though he'd apparently been with his ex for years while she lived in Boulder he'd never been up there. (Yes, there she is again, starting to get worried) We went on a "hike," in quotations because I hadn't picked a particular trail and was really more interested in sitting on warm rocks. I think he mistook me for an outdoors-lady because he had packed a whole bag of just in-cases, including snacks and rain gear, cute. After sufficient lounging on boulders we "hiked" back down.

Then I led a failed attempt to visit NCAR, which apparently is open daily, including weekends from 12-4 except the one Saturday I try to take someone there. Did I mention he studied environmental sciences in college? I was trying to impress, not so successful. Time to go home.

We went back to my place for a little before I, again, had to attend to other plans. Now that the damned ex had been mentioned I figured I better just ask about her. I think I did so with the hope that it would be a non-issue. It seems that it likely is an issue and I'm still having a little trouble processing.

He was in a 3.5 year relationship, recently. In fact, they were engaged. Ok I'm of that age. We've all had a serious relationship or two. Distressing only because it just ended at the end of December. Sigh. I can't handle being the rebound again. I don't want to declare that this is what it is for him, especially because he said so himself. By the same token people freshly freed and me, together, have pretty lousy track-records. I could tell it was information he was worried about revealing and it was definitely information that I was afraid of hearing. He was very considerate and open. We didn't really get to finish discussing it because my parents were on their way to pick me up for an evening on the town. I 'm not calling the game lost it but it makes me slightly worried.

So, since this will be our last "public" event unless you call me or email me I guess the Kristen/Mr. Jetpack romance will end how you imagine it. Hope for good, if you don't mind, I could use some good.

"mr. + jetpack + kissy face" [search]

So there's stalking and there's curiosity. One kills a cat and the other can kill a relationship (if you get caught).

We all do it. Don't you lie, you totally do it! I call it stalking but I think, I really mean semi-harmless, behind the back probing. Yes, let's call it probing, the non-alien type of probing.

In my old days of stalking err probing, we're talking pre-social media, (I think we had Friendster but that site hardly counts) I literally had to take it to the streets in order to probe. It probably wouldn't be surprising to anyone that I'm not the smoothest lady out there. Can you imagine me when I was sixteen? Ridiculously less smooth. My probing methods were limited to obsessively checking Caller ID; trying to figure out if he had an AOL screen name and the ever popular, albeit extremely dangerous, drive-by with car full of giggling friends. There was one incident that sticks out strongly in my mind where I (age 16 or 17) drove-by the boy's house, oh, about 8 times, in a row. Not smooth and also not sneaky since I was spotted and identified. I'm glad high school is over.

I have been the subject of the stalk/probe. I had this college boyfriend (he's recently engaged but that's beside the point), Heavy-D, we'll call him. After we had been together for years he admitted to me that he had found out about my livejournal (yes, this internet thing is really a problem in my life) within our first few dates. This matters because I had written that our first date was so-so and I didn't really know if I wanted to keep seeing him. This could have deterred him. Then we wouldn't have had more dates. Then we wouldn't have had a long college love. Then I wouldn't have broken his heart. Then he wouldn't have run into the arms of his soon to be wife. I think I deserve a gift for that last one.

But Kristen, you say, this back-story is incredibly interesting but what's your point? My point is that I am trying really, very hard, not to internet-probe Mr. Jetpack. As you already know I am guilty of looking at his profile on Plenty of Fish for no reason other than an ego-boost. I may have also sent the link for it to a few friends who live out of town. A little bragging never hurt anyone, right? Luckily his real name (yes, sorry my wedded name will not be Mrs. Kristen Jetpack) is too common for productive googling, not that I tried (more than once). Then there is the facebook. I had not even considered it since it violates key aforementioned rules. Now that the idea is in my head I'm having a really hard time resisting. A simple type-type-search and tons of information.

I will resist, in the name of progress and maturing. I mean at least for a few more days.

Highbrow: sushi and art. Lowbrow: greasy spoon and action flicks

Date Rate: ♥♥♥♥♥

At what point does the definition cease being "going on dates" into "dating?" I only ask because it's starting to feel a little odd to just keep giving Mr. Jetpack 5♥ date ratings every few days. Especially when I feel like since he's already gotten the 5♥ rating he deserves more for this past Friday night (#4 for those counting).

Our evening started with sushi. He had never had sake so I ordered us some. He adorably took it like a shot, I suppose those tiny cups can easily be confused for shot glasses. He chose the tastiest of the sushi options, the scallop roll with "crunchy." A nice dinner, for sure.

We moved on to the art show, that I had spent all day scheming with my nosy friends (hi nosy friends! ♥ You!), to make sure we were all there at the same time. We arrived and not a single one was there (fail, friends). Turns out the majority of them were at a bar next door. I know it can be tricky to throw a guy you are, just dating? going on dates with? or whatever into a fire-pit of 10+ friends, especially when it was just supposed to be an organic, "Wow we are all here at the same time! Crazy!" I gave up on the pretense and just said, "well they are at a bar, what to meet them?" To my surprise, he actually seemed interested. Amazing how dating a lousy guy on and off for a year can throw off one's perception of how normal people should and do typically behave.

We were supposed to go see a movie but the friend posse was going to go back to the art show and then continue on to First Friday Art Walk on Santa Fe. He not only was completely fine meeting my friends but was more than enthusiastic to continue to hang out for the rest of the evening with them. Major points.

The following day he bought me breakfast and then agreed to meet the last pair of straggling friends who got lost (or something?) on the way to the art show. We had coffee and then went to the movie. On the way home he even reminded me that I had to buy the Cristalino for family brunch the next day, that's right family, you can thank him for our Easter Mimosas.

He received excellent reviews from those who met him, I'm assuming they were being truthful. So that's that.

As I keep telling the people around me, I'm not for calling the game in the 4th inning (maybe we hit the 5th with the extendo-date) but things are looking good for Team Jetpack (more legal and less hairy than Team Jacob; less whiny and less creepy than Team Edward).

The Grand Scheme of Things

Date Rate: ♥♥♥♥♥

I will now admit that for my (3rd) date yesterday with Mr. Jetpack I did a slight bit of scheming. I came up with a location for the afternoon happy hour date that is within walking distance from my apartment. Ideally it is better to ride one's bicycle there because after dark the path can be frequented by Denver's slightly less than savory folks. I decided it would be best though if I walked.

Can you see the scheme yet? What if I told you he had to drive to the location because he doesn't live downtown? That's right people. Because I like to be driven around and because riding in the same car is a far better set up for some kiss action, I tried to make sure I'd have to get a ride home. I'm very thrilled that a scheming plan of mine has finally worked. So after four hours of happy hour I got a ride home.

I think he may have caught on to my scheme and played along. He pulled the well I better just park instead of merely pulling up and I'm quite sure even uttered some kind of line to the tune of, "I'd really like to kiss you." To which I devilishly replied, "Then you better come in." The scheming had gone to my head by now, obviously, and I now fancied myself some kind of smooth talker.

We had the niceties. He ogled my road bike, looked at my camp pictures on the wall and complimented the photos my brother gave me. I gave him water and turned on music. Then I figured as he had put the kissing suggestion on the table it must be my move. So I did. And there was makey outey and it was good.

The Truth is I'm Just Getting Started

Date Rate: ♥♥♥♥♥

I had my second date last night with Mr. Jetpack. It was supertastic!

We met to watch an open mic night and eat some pizza. He went along with my desire to order the all meat pizza, bacon included. Conversation was really easy and lots of fun. The more I learn about him the more pleasantly surprised I am. For instance and another example. (Favorite choreographer on the show and someone he'd really like to see live)

We ate and we watched musically inclined people. I drank wine and showed off my incredibly low tolerance for alcohol. He told me how he used to participate in the open mic nights, more guitar playing than singing. He finished my wine that I had decided I should not. He talked about how we should go bike riding together and play trivia. He suggested that we take a walk around outside (perhaps in attempt to sober me up a bit). We walked and ended up back inside again for the last band. We finally left three and a half hours later. He walked me to my car. We stood there, I got the silly girl "is he going to kiss me?" butterflies. He told me he really wanted to see me when I return from my vacation (starts tomorrow). The butterflies got fluttier (kind of like sluttier or as I was informed by my hip cousin the kids now say "whoreish"). And WHAM! No kiss. Don't dismay loyal fans, counting my Dutch friend there with the plural, the lack of kiss did not squash the butterflies. Now the anticipation is just stronger. It's so ridiculous in fact I had trouble sleeping last night. Silly but a fun silly.

Non-Date, Hawt Date

Toward the end of my date last night I got a phone call. I didn't take it because that would have been rude but I would be lying if I said that seeing the name on the Caller ID didn't make me speed my date to conclusion more quickly than I would have otherwise.

Mr. Jetpack was the caller and while I had resolved to contact him in some way today I'm glad he beat me to it. I returned his call once I got home and per our 40-minute conversation I have constructed a list.

The Top Four Slightly Superficial Reasons Why I'm a Little Swoony Over Mr. Jetpack

4. Turkey Legs. He will attend an event because it has Turkey Legs. I love Turkey Legs. So much so that I capitalize them like proper nouns.

3. When he gambles he prefers to play Blackjack. I p'own Blackjack.

2. He uses his phone for calling, not texting. I have only received two texts for him and only as follow-ups or precursors to the call.

and the number one reason why I'm a little swoony...

1. The Beatles. He cares enough about the Beatles to have a favorite one and a non-mainstream favorite song.

***End Swoon***

Date Two of Four

Date Rate: ♥♥♥♥

Last night I had my date with Mr. Jetpack. I just had to look up his name because I'm having trouble enough already not mixing up the real names, oh sheesh. He picked the place out of consideration that was exactly equal distance from where we both live. Thinking ahead is sexy as is organization. Unfortunately this took me to the dreaded Highlands but for the first time in the history of my driving to the Highlands, I didn't get lost! A sign from Zeus if there ever was one (besides the lightening bolts).

We had drinks and dinner and then went for chai (I always have chai, it's pretty much required on my dates). He's super cute and tall, thin, blond and blue-eyed. I didn't really have to play the Would I Jump You Game? because I knew the answer at first glance.

He's a little dorky, which I'm sure you all know is one of my weaknesses. He likes good music but is NOT a hipster! Get that? No weird haircuts or knuckle tattoos and praise Proud Mary probably no motherf'n jean cutoffs. I think his bike might even have gears.

Sometimes there were lulls in conversation; it's hard to eat and talk at the same time. He worked hard at recovering when I didn't jump in which I found endearingly awkward. He's going to be out of town for a while so I hope I made enough of an impression to cause swooning on his side (insert winkie face here) and hopefully a stray out of town text message. I thought of doing it myself but I don't know, is it my turn? No one ever gave me that damn dating rulebook.

I can pull it off, I hope!

I'm a woman of the city. Just not Samantha, per se.

Monday Night: Coffee with Mr. Impatient
Tuesday Night: Undecided type of date with a new one, Mr. Jetpack.
Wednesday Night: Date of undecided type with Mr. Captain
Thursday Night: BBQ and Bowling? with a new one, Mr. International
Friday Night: "Date" with my Great Aunt and Family for her 95th Birthday! Wow!
Saturday Night: Photo taking date with Alissa and her husband. Possible 2nd date with Bruce and his 60's music at Sputnik.

Mr. BetterBike didn't call soon enough to make it to an evening date (unless Sunday counts), got to act fast Mr. BetterBike, I'm very popular.......this week.