another great weekend

In continuing with how great the year has been, this weekend was another good weekend for me despite an allergy flare up today. Friday, I did another yoga class that left me sore the next day. I'm continuously amazed at how yoga can be challenging and a good workout.

Saturday I went out to visit friends who I haven't seen forever and apparently I was the boy to pursue. There were three separate guys who were heavily into me at the different bars I was at that night. Its nice to be pursued. :)

I had a date with the speed dater today. It was a good date. We seemed to get along well and had a great conversation. He was funny and liked to laugh. He even said he'd like to hang out again. So hopefully it will happen again. :)

I also discovered a fantastic new yogurt flavor: Lemon Burst!

weekend plans

Someone has a date this weekend. Woo Hoo!

2009- off to a good start

So things are going incredibly well for me so far this year. An update on my goals.
1. This month I begin payments on my final and largest credit card.
2. Still making good progress on my dissertation. I signed up for a million appointments with my adviser over the next two weeks so that we could start going over drafts of my dissertation. I am definitely working hard to do my proposal defense at the end of February.
3. I am still going strong at the gym. It looks like I am going to start taking a class on boxing on Thursdays. Plus the MOnday class I was at last week I feel as if I have to go back or it looks like I quit. I was also looking at a yoga class.
4. I ran into Howie, who many may remember from reading this blog. He was the waiter that led me on for the longest time only to tell me that he had a boyfriend. I haven't seen him in forever. But I ran into him last Saturday. And normally I would've tried to stop and flirt forever. Instead i said hi and kept walking. It felt good.

To add to all that a few other items of note. I've already had my first date of 2009. I met some guy off of online and we got pizza in Virginia last night. Not an incredible spark, but a date is a date. I have two or three others biting right now, so we'll see if any of them develop.

Also, I got a strange call right before new years from a guy who i thought was trying to recruit me for a job. So I had a lunch with a few people from the office who i have met most of them before. WE had a long conversation and talked about my academic background, research, living in Florida, what i plan to do after school, networking, current issues, and more. However, at no point did they mention a position, so I'm not sure it was a recruitment thing after all. But i have no idea what the purpose was for, so I am hoping at some point this develops so that I know whats going on and what to say about the meeting.

things are looking up

I've been at my new job for a full week now. Everyone seems very nice and friendly. People seem content. I got an email today welcoming me aboard from one of the women I originally interviewed with months ago. And she said the nicest thing that would never have been considered to be said at the old employer. She said that they were lucky to have me. What a nice sentiment to hear!

My cubicle faces a window so I have a very nice view which I love!!!! However, the bathroom is really small and has a light that flickers so I find it to be creepy. But I am very happy to be there.

Although to some extent, I'm not sure how to work in a professional office. My supervisor communicates mainly through email and i'm used to that meaning that my boss is angry at me and not talking to me, but not here. Also, there's a really sweet woman about to retire who i call miss maxine. I'm taking over some of her territories to oversee and she calls me her new boyfriend, so of course i love her to pieces.

I even have some light developments on the boy-front in that I've had a good weekend with the boys. I went out to the bars on Friday and Saturday and both times had guys (cute guys) interested in me right away and chatting away all night. There was even making out. On Sunday,I had a date at 9am. We will see if there is a second one. The conversation was decent and he was cute, but when we left I wasn't quite sure if he would be contacting me again. I'll give it a day or two and maybe email him.

changing with the weather

So I'm at the home stretch of the job. I've handled this very well. I have not blown up at people or had it out with people who probably deserve it. But leaving has made me realize its not that important in the grand scheme of things. I can also tell the change in myself as well. I have less stress. I'm getting back into the swing of things at the gym and with the diet. I have to lose the weight I put on this year!!! That is a must. I've even made attempts at ending my dry romantic spell.

I had a date with a guy I met online on Tuesday before the High Heel Race. He was an asian optometrist who plays tennis. It was a great conversation. Few lulls in the conversation. The spark wasn't necessarily there, but I'm not sure I buy that you need a spark early into a dating world. But I don't think there will be a second date. I definitely am still all about having three dates before making a decision on a guy (unless its so bad you can tell right away). I did email him the next day and told him i enjoyed meeting him and we should hang out again. No response. Oh well, I'm not really upset about it. I can at least say I had a date recently and that's better than nothing.

Last night at the bar after trivia an attractive Clark Kent (which is going to be his halloween costume) sat next to me. I thought he was friends with the bartender, who I'm friends with (not just a patron of). So I started up a conversation. Apparently he wasnt really friends with the bartender, but we had a great conversation, which at times became more than just fluff that people who dont know each other talked about. The problem is... he's in a relationship. From the conversation, I believe it is on the way out. I just don't know if that will be next week, or three months from now. The other problem is the rebound thing as well, but I've been single for too long to turn someone down for that. At the end of the night I gave him my phone and told him to call me or look me up on facebook. I hope he does and think he might. He also kept kissing me goodbye. not on the lips or anything, but we hugged goodnight and he kissed me on the cheek, then a moment later he kissed my head, then kissed me on the cheek a couple more times. It was clear that he wanted a lips kiss, but that would've been inappropriate with him having a boyfriend and all. Hopefully we can be friends if nothing else.

another week, some updates

I started getting calls for interviews this week. A federal job, a consultant job, and a school/fin aid job have contacted me for interviews so far. I have to call back the school one still. The consultant one is next Tuesday. The federal one went yesterday. It definitely went well. We joked a lot during the interview. They discussed what timeline I was looking at. They asked what salary I made (after beating around the bush and not being able to figure out how to politely ask). At the end they even brought over a guy to introduce me to on my way out of the office. Definitely a nice discussion. Hopefully they'll move fast as this is the job I want.

I had a date last Sunday, but don't think there will be another one. I get the feeling all he wanted was a jump in the sack. Oh well. Not a big deal at all.

My ex was very sweet on Monday. First thing Monday morning I got a text telling me to have a good week. Awww. And people wonder why I crush.

out of the blue, an ex.

So last Friday I took the day off because I was "sick" and did school work all day. I got a lot accomplished but early afternoon, I got a random email on one of those networking sites from my last ex, Nathan.

Nathan and I dated 8 yrs and 50 pounds ago. Apparently he moved here about 6 months ago, but saw me the other day in a bar, but wasn't quite sure it was me. But he came across my profile, or searched my profile out (not sure which one it was) and emailed me and wanted to hang out and catch up on old times. So we planned to do that on Saturday night.

So Saturday night occurs. His friends and my friends meet at JRs. Where else would we go? Apparently some of his friends already knew some of my friends. So we hung out and chatted for the night. It was great to see him. While we ended on such bad terms, what a difference 8 years makes. He looks good and seems to be doing fine, although he did gain weight (evil grin), but not really that much. He did tell me that I look amazing (what 50 lbs does to someone) and that I'm doing really well. I enjoyed catching up with him and hope to hang out with him again.

Another interesting observation was that he referred to me as his ex all night long. While I'm sure most people in that situation would've been annoyed by it, I actually enjoyed it. I hate when my ex's (no matter how close we've become) call me their friend when introducing me to other people. I feel that it displaces and minimizes the closeness we once shared. So he called me his ex and I was pleased by that. I think I enjoy knowing that people aren't ashamed to having dated me.

The people I've told the story always ask me if there is the rekindling of a romance occurring and I'm curious about that. Am I saying stuff to make people think that I'm interested? Is an ex contacting you to get back in touch always meant as an I'm interested again? Do the people I'm telling this story to just think that its easy to fall back into a relationship because you were so close? Do my friends just want drama?

But.... (and there's always a but) I have questions. In part, in my inability to trust people, I'm always looking for the ulterior motive. Why did he want to catch up? Plan a time to meet up, rather than just saying hi in passing in a bar? What are most people's reactions when an ex wants to see you again? Does it mean he's interested in rekindling something? Does he want a try at friendship that was never there? Would I be willing to give such a chance?

And then there's the over-analysis on my part. Do I have a little crush in development? Am I just afraid of rejection (still after all the progress I've made with myself)?

last few weeks

So I know its been forever since I've written an entry. Its been a long two weeks for me and I haven't wanted to
overwhelm my blog with the negativity I'd been going through. However, its time to get on with the blog, so I
decided I will just recap the entire past few weeks of life. (no, not all is negative)

About three weeks ago I was in O-town for a wedding. One of my close friends from college was marrying a
friend of mine from high school. Ironically they didn't meet until after I moved to DC and they did not meet
through me. It wasn't until a year into the relationship before we all made the connection. I was honored to be a
part of it. Two quick stories of note:

1. I always get taken advantage of by car rental agencies when they offer upgrades. Its not their fault, but I just
can't say no...... (dramatic pause)..... (laughter). So i upgraded into a convertable. Then it rained for two days
straight and was cold. So i didnt get to use the convertable.

2. My friends didn't invite other gay people to the wedding so no hookups there... and that's what groomsmen are
supposed to do right? So I didnt expect any action at the wedding. But while I was shopping for a wedding card at
Hallmark, I did hook up with an employee... in the store... during hours. So i give them credit for that.

Upon returning, as my blog post mentions... my office is being relocated. I am starting the job search. I have
applied for 5 jobs so far and am looking for more. Let me know if you know of any. I am having a hard time
balancing school and the job search. Its stressing me horribly.. but I'll survive.

I seem to keep getting guys interested in me in restrooms. What is it with being in the bathroom and guys start
talking to me but outside they dont talk to me at all. I also ran into the coke head hookup I had... I think he
remembers me as he was chatting with me... umm don't know how to handle that at all. He works at a store I
went shopping at today. Luckily I only go in there once every couple of months.

One of my close friends is ill right now. Breast cancer. So please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

So thats been my last couple of weeks.

birthday celebration

My birthday was this past weekend. I had a great time celebrating. I changed it up this year instead of the normal Halo til you drop evening, I chose a different bar. So we descended on Nellie's, a gay sports bar. I know I know.. A gay sports bar you say, isn't that an oxymoron? Well, yes it kind of is. They had four televisions upstairs. One had the election results from South Carolina. One had figure skating (a truly gay sport). One had a Georgetown basketball game, so I assume the people watching it were alums supporting their alma mater. And the other had some other sport where people touch a ball and run somewhere. (My knowledge of sports is astounding isn't it?).

Following that, we went to Town, the relatively new dance bar that opened up. Danced the night away, met a couple guys, you know the usual routine. Left there at about 3 am and proceeded to Annie's Steakhouse for breakfast. Yummy.

The next morning I slept til 2pm so I could sleep through my hangover. I woke up at 11 with a horrible headache and decided i didn't need to move until I was done with that pain.

A great birthday. Thanks to all those that called/ came/ or emailed.

2007

Much like Time does its people of the year, on my really long drive back from Florida, I came up with some people/things of the year.

Runner up number 2: DP. After the Shaun episode happened a few years ago, I was missing that friend who encouraged me to be bad and misbehave. DP really filled the role this year and looks to continue to fill that role. He's definitely pushed me to being more open and outgoing and I think it shows.

Runner up number 1: Philadelphia. After opening up a job search to Philly this year and being offered three jobs, all of which ended up falling through for various reasons. But who knew that it would take the opportunity to relocate to another city to realize I was actually happy in the one that I live in.

Person of the Year: boys. Yes, i know its generic, but I feel as if 2007, I started to come into my own and make some headway with boys. I had better luck this year than I have had in the past. I could've had a relationship (albeit with a crazy). I was able to get boys and I wasn't so afraid of sex this year. 2008 only promises to get better on this trend as well.

What a weekend.

I thought the holidays were supposed to go slow so i could write more in the blog. Guess not. So in honor of this weekend, which will be dedicated to me doing school work, as my final assignments for the semester are due next Friday and I am so behind you would have no idea, I will write about last weekend, which was very sociable and great.

As I've often said, once a fat person always a fat person, meaning that when you feel like you are actually a fat individual, you never really lose that feeling and its hard to regain self-confidence entirely and be like you know what I'm hot. With that said: you know what I'm hot and last weekend proves it. There were like 6 men (on Friday and Monday) that were chasing me.

Friday night started at JR's... what night doesn't start at JR's.. and when is JR's going to put up their X-mas decorations? There was a latin guy, average attractiveness who kept giving me the eyes. I decided it was too early to settle down and pin my hopes with him. We hit Pasha for a quick second then head to Apex, where i turned into mac daddy. So my friends i was with were having a "discussion," that term my grandparents used when they fought. So I decided to go to the bathroom, where i met this latin guy who was all like "hola" from 10 feet away. So as we washed our hands we started to talk. We didn't make a decision to go home or anything but he was being flirty and that's what I needed. Then while back on the dance floor, this tall, skinny, asian guy (as i call him the asian equivalent of lp) came up and started talking. We flirted a little bit, then you turn your back and he was flirting with another.... oh well. Then a final trip to the bathroom before i left started a conversation with a 24 year old Guatemalan.. very cute and I think he was going to go home with me... but then some awkwardness ensued unrelated to him.

David/Tony, if you remember him from March/April showed up with his friend that he thought I was trying to sleep with. As me, LP (the caucasian one) and the Guatemalan were ready to go, his friend comes up to me and is all like you look great, have you lost weight (i had indeed :) and how were things. Then i realized how awkward it may be for David/Tony because his "ex" (for no better term- meaning me) was there looking great and macking it. I'm sure it made him feel awkward. Then the Guatemalan went and started talking to someone in his group and i'm not sure, but may have been part of his group... so i didnt want to make it more awkward, so i slipped him my phone number and said to call. He hasn't but what are ya gonna do?

Monday: Was at JR's (surprise) and had a 23 y/o pilot flirting with me a bit. But the convo was strained at times, so i didn't press too hard. Then my friends decided to ask me if i thought one of their friends was cute because he was apparently way into me. He's a flight attendant... that started us talking for the rest of the night. I gave him my number. It took a couple days, but he started texting last night after we ran into each other again (guess where?) and made out a little bit.

So the boy situation seems to be going well.

I just want to be friends...

So, over the holiday break I had three experiences (with two guys) in which it was someone who I don't really want to be friends with who decided they want to be friends and hang out etc etc. Both are guys that at some point I was marginally interested in, but when I made a move (which takes balls btw), they told me they just wanted to be friends or we went out a few times and then i got the friends talk.

And for the most part these guys are very nice individuals, i just have enough friends and wasn't interested in pursuing friendship with them. In one case, I just got an email from one of them saying he wanted to hang out and catch up because we always had such a great time together... Truth of the matter is he had a great time, I had an ok time that I played up because I was flirting. But when he said he wasn't interested in more then I didn't have to pretend and I stopped pursuing altogether.

The other guy I'll give more credit to because we actually went out a few times, but he stopped by a group that I was hanging out with on Wednesday night. Then at some point in conversation asked the group if we thought he was sexy... really? I got rejected by someone with low self-esteem. And how am I supposed to respond to that question? No, I haven't though that since you rejected me? Or do I flirt and say I always found you to be sexy.

And in truth this really hasn't bothered me... i'm just bored and had nothing else to post about :) But i had a realization... as i strive to improve my self-esteem. Its not good to surround yourself with people who tell you that you're not good enough, or I don't like you enough. Its hurtful to be surrounded with people who have all said you're not number 1 and doesn't do me any good.

Am I right? Or do you think I have sour grapes?

on the dancefloor

DC opened up a new gay dancebar this weekend called town. I went and realize how sad it was that i knew tons of people there, more than the group of friends i was with who seem more social than i am.. guess i was wrong.

But at some point in the bathroom, I ran into this guy that i went on a date with like 2 years ago. A Peruvian guy named Cesar. We started talking on the dancefloor where he complimented my hair (he knew me before it went buzzed) and my weight loss. He said he barely recognized me. Take that bitch! I'm thin and beautiful. Then his tongue went into my mouth :)

Good times being thin.

on the way to work

So yesterday as I walk to work, this cute Latin guy crossed the street in front of me and checked me out. Then he walked a ways ahead of me for two intersections. At which point he crossed the street to head to the YMCA. Then he turned and saw me looking back at him. He smiled. I smiled. He waived. I waived. I posted a missed connection. He hasn't responded yet :)

But at least I'm starting to realize that boys are checking me out.

I'm a fool...

I realize this starts off with it sounding like i'm going to be putting myself down, but for my normal cycle with boys, I'm actually quite proud of my realization and ability to end the cycle of crap that I get downloaded with by other people.

So this youngish boy flirted with me a few weeks ago and since every once in a while you just need that type of special attention I developed a crush. Yes, I knew from the beginning it was a crush, but you know that can be just as bad as actual attachments and feelings. So of course I got giddy whenever he'd text or call etc etc. So one night when we hung out I bought all his drinks all because i wanted the attention a little bit more.

So this weekend was one of those moments. He called. He broke up with his boyfriend and wanted someone to listen(which is ironic--- as multiple people called in this same circumstance and this could probably be said of them). I, of course, being the dope that I am thought... this will be great to get in with him.. i can be the sweet guy to the rescue. So he came over and I listened to all his problems and offered to buy him dinner since he was in a bad financial situation right now. So we go out to dinner and I have the epiphany on the way to dinner that he's only doing this b/c he's an attention whore. He likes the fact that boys pay him attention. He has absolutely no interest in me, never has and never will, but he likes that I flirt with him, he likes that I ignore everyone else when he is around, and he likes that i insist on paying (even though he offered to pay multiple times- my blog readers should know me well enough to know i wouldn't accept it). So we have dinner, he has a few drinks and then insults me during dinner a few times. Wow is all i have to say. As is usually the case with these types of people (as I have been through them enough to know) that despite how incredible of a guy i am to them and open and honest and nice and caring, they always have an insult ready to throw at you for no particular reason.

I waited out dinner and still paid (rather than getting up and leaving right then, as i should have). He did offer, but we all know i'd still pay for it... my weird chivalry. He even made jokes about how I should leave right away. He even made comments about hooking up with or going out with my other friends, which is a slap in the face when you know someone likes you (yes, he knew i liked him--- that was made clear a few days prior).

BUt (this is the redeeming part for me) normally I would stay in this cycle for weeks trying to analyze if he's interested or not. But this time I realized it in a good week and am ending it. I don't plan on hanging out with him again. Chances are we'll see each other in passing or in public events, since we know the same people. But I'm pretty much done with it and the drama. I deserve better than what I've gotten and I know it.

enough with the crazies

I think I figured out one of the reasons I've not been successful in meeting men. Because I talk myself out of it as when i make the rare attempt at connecting, they are crazy. Case in point last night. I go to JR's for trivia night. And my crush is there and he wants to go to Chaos afterwards. I wanted to go home, but I have a crush so of course i did. As we walk in my entire group is checking out this latin guy in shorts. The latin guy, George as we find out, is checking me out. So I make a move. I give him my phone number. This ensues a conversation to occur and we later decide to go back to my place for a hookup. (don't judge- I'm human and need to be touched every so often). Now we already knew there would be some problems sexually as we both are the same positions, if you catch my drift. We go back to my place and start to fool around. He keeps trying to top me and i have to explain many times that I'm not interested in that. I have to keep him from that part of my body. Then shortly after we get naked he pulls out a baggy of coke and takes two bumps and tries to force me to take it. I'm not having any of that shit (ironic word choice). Well, as I learned from gay romantic comedy Adam and Steve, coke can give you the runs. I guess he got them because he went to the bathroom and he came back and while he was clean he smelled like crap. So i decided he had to go. I picked up my phone and said my boyfriend was on his way home and he needed to go. Took me forever to get him into the elevator but i did... Thank god i have a confusing building that people can't find my apartment again. :) Then the guy calls 7 times during the night and doesn't leave a message. Obviously I didn't answer, but this is a problem when you use your cell phone as your alarm clock.

Another Latin Man

So I seemed to have rebounded nicely from the Jose episode and with another latin man. A long time ago, I started talking to this guy Juan on gay.com. I later found out he was friends with another friend of mine and so we periodically chatted online. Every so often I'd IM him or he'd IM me, but we never met. At the grocery store on Saturday, I saw him. He was shopping and listening to his iPod, so I didn't disturb him, but it caused me to IM him when I saw him online later that night. So we finally picked a date to actually meet and hang out. That night was yesterday. We decided to order pizza and watch a movie at my place (yeah, I know what I always say about staying in on a first date equating you plan to have sex, but whatever.. he was hot and nice so who cares if i end up having sex).

So he comes over and we watch two movies and order pizza. The pizza was Papa JOhns and was pepperoni and green peppers. The movies were Employee of the Month and The Devil Wears Prada. We watched the movies and made out a little bit.... ok a lot. It was very nice. I am sure we will go out, or in again. Its been two days so I think I will email him later today to tell him to give me a call when he gets back from vacation, which is another trait.. i seem to always go on first dates right before people go on vacations.

But I am confident that there will be a second date.

boy at the gym

This story starts off so well that at some point you'll be like.... awww that's so cute. About a month ago, I was on the elliptical at the gym (yes, all my stories involve the gym and working out). This cute latin guy is walking to the changing room and is about 50 feet from me. All of a sudden, his hands go up over his head and he waves right towards my direction. I thought how interesting, I wonder who he is waving at. I look around, no one is anywhere near me. But I was still like, nah... he's not waving at me. Then at some point a couple days later I was coming into the gym as he was leaving and he nodded and said hi to me.... WOW he was waving at me, was my thought. So this continues for a while. A lot of big smiles, a lot of nods, a lot of waves from across the gym floor. So I decide at some point that he's making the overtures, I should give him my phone number. This happened on Friday. He was there and waved from a distance, so I'm like, this is it.. now or never.. and all those other cliches. So, I got really nervous. Apparently, I'm still at a seventh grade level when it comes to asking boys out. I had all the butterflies in my stomach I could possibly imagine. But I went and got something to write down my number with and wrote it down on my business card. Then, I went back to the floor to hunt him down. He was with the free-weights, which is the most intimidating part of the gym to me and I won't go in there. So I got on a couple additional machines waiting for him to come out of that area, even though my work out was done. He came out and went to a machine in a corner, so i literally cornered him. I got his attention, he took out his ipod. Then I was a complete dork... and was like "I don't mean to interrupt your workout, but I think you're really cute and you seem really nice and I wanted to know if you wanted to hang out sometime (as I handed him my business card with my phone number on it)." He said "sure." We exchanged names. And we giggled. It was sooo dorky, we both got giggly about it. After we finished talking, I walked away and we watched each other the entire time and was smiling and giggling. (that's the awww part)

Sat. no call. Sun. no call... but ....

I saw him at the gym. He waved and came over to talk to me. He said he was sorry he hadn't called by then, but he had a partner of three years. (A PARTNER OF THREE YEARS?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?) How was that not the first thing out of his mouth when I gave him my phone number????? Seriously. He went on to say that he wouldn't mind having coffee but it would just be that.... (i was silent and didn't answer that request, because, well to be honest I'm not looking for new friends right now, I'm looking for some dating experience). But I am a little disappointed and demoralized right now over it. I'm sure I'll be ok in a couple of days, but I am tired of all the dating bs that exists.

drunk texting

I had a party on my rooftop Saturday afternoon, which meant I was tipsy way early and by 5 pm had engaged in drunk texting. That seemed like a good idea at the time. But turned out to be a very bad bad idea when I was sober. I decided to text waiter boy who was invited to said party, but I knew he was never going to show and about a week before hand texted me that he had to work.. big shock (input sarcasm). But when I got tipsy I started off with "I'm sorry you can't be here. hope work is fun." and ended with "your ex was stupid to break up with you." and "i heart you." The next morning when I found records of these i was like WTF did I just do???? And not like he was naked in the bed next to me, but I tipped around and tried to sneak out of my text messaging like they never happened until about 3 in the afternoon I got another text asking if i had fun last night... As Homer Simpson would say "D'OH!"

What a great trip!

So I have been traveling a lot this summer. The month of July brings me to New York City and Rehoboth Beach. I went up with a friend to NYC. Our trip starts with him going out to meet one of his college friends. So I tag along and its to a little straight bar with cheap martinis and a pool table. So I alternated in between watching pool players and chatting with the people I was with. At some point they go outside and the gay poolplayer boy was like "your making me nervous." in a flirtatious way. So we started talking. At some point, my friend and I went to dinner and on our way out, i gave the guy my card that said "I'm visiting for two days and would love to see you before i leave." So 5 minutes later he calls me and we set something up for the next day. However, after dinner, my friend wanted to crash so i went back to the bar and hung out with the guy for a couple hours. We seemed to get along quite well. I eventually left to meet up with my friend, but we decided to hang out the next night.

So the next night we go out on a date, get some drinks, he shows me his part of the city. Then we go back to his place, order some diner food and well you know... But let me say this: it was the best sex I've ever had. I usually don't have great experiences when it comes to sex, but this was by far a great and emotionally positive sexual experience.

And it took most of the night so i slept most of the way home on the train. Turned around and headed to the beach. I made a new friend in the group that was going so it was a good time. Read some Harry Potter. Drank a bit. Invented a new drink (which I am very excited about--- Pink Lemonade and Vodka and I call it a Dolly Madison.) But there was also drama at the beach.

Of course there is always a little awkwardness when you travel with a couple, but I felt that it got ridiculously out of control. When people feel the need to make out so much that you can't have a complete conversation with them, then it becomes prohibitive to good group dynamics and that was the start of it. An example, if you will- I was talking to one of them about the new Harry Potter and in the middle of the conversation, of me talking, they start making out, so i said "Oh, I thought I was talking, but I guess I wasn't." And I turned around and stopped communicating with them for a while. So I and another guy started to separate away from the group so we didn't have to deal with it, which only ticked off other people. But the couple, which at this point wasn't dating for a full month yet got engaged.....yes, you read that correctly, engaged.... with rings and everything, although as i understand it the rings didn't fit. How do you not tell people you are going on an engagement trip with that you plan to pop the question and How do you pop the question after less than a month together. It makes me question the seriousness of relationships and wanting to be in one. TO me, this behavior trivializes relationships altogether. But then I realize "wait, when people do this, i usually make fun of them... ALOT." But its my friend, so I'd feel guilty doing it... clearly, i'm conflicted by this.

But it didn't ruin the trip and I still very much enjoyed the beach and the sun and the splotchy burn I somehow got...