Bridget Jones Diary

I've been feeling lately that maybe it's time to put myself out there and get back into the dating scene. I'm sure you can imagine how horrifying that thought is. I haven't been out on a date... a real date, with someone I've just met, in over a decade! I'm not really sure why I want to put myself through this, but I do. I'm not even completely sure that I'm ready for this. Well, there's only one way to find out. I'm going to take that next step. But ladies...I can't take that step alone...no, no, so I'm bringing you along with me!
Are we ready?!! Let's go! How does my hair look?

So the dating scene has changed over the past decade, and I've got to get with the times. Recently, a friend of mine told me about the great luck she had finding her boyfriend online. I've met him and he's fantastic. Yes, I know, online dating? Me?
At first, I wasn't sure. It just seemed so unnatural. I've always been the type of person who believes things happen for a reason, if it's meant to be it's meant to be, and that I would meet someone in an unforced natural setting...

Scenario 1:
Like when I'm volunteering at the orphanage, and the handsome young doctor comes by to make sure all the kids are doing well...our eyes meet...and the rest of course is history.

Scenario 2:
I'm at a small art gallery, inquiring about purchasing some art and a handsome man stands next to me, and asks me if I like the painting that I'm looking at. I tell him no, that it's a bit too 'busy' for where I want to hang it in my place. He looks gutted, and tells me that he's the artist. I take pity on him, and invite him out for dinner...and the rest of course is history.

So...the other night my friend came over and we put me online. I have to admit, it was kind of exciting. My profile is a mixture of light-hearted stuff and a general overview of what my interests are. The only part where I thought, maybe I'm stretching the truth a bit, is where it asks you what outdoor activities you like. One of the things that I clicked was that I like boating and sailing. Well, technically that is true...but I haven't really been sailing since I was a teenager. I can picture the date right now, when he takes me for a sail on Lake Ontario. The weather seemed fine when we left the marina...the wind picks up, and then the rain..."what do you mean you don't really sail?" No, that wouldn't happen, right? What are the chances...

So on this dating site, you need a profile name and a catch phrase.
My name is "yourgirlfriday".
I borrowed this name from one of my favourite old movies. Starring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell.

His Girl Friday (1940) is Howard Hawk's speedy and hysterically funny, modern-style screwball comedy, and one of the best examples of its kind in film history. Although it has a 92 minute running time, the breath-taking, fast-paced film has more than enough dialogue for a 3-hour movie. The film marked the beginning of a number of screwball comedies in the 1940s that emphasized the conflict for women in deciding between love/marriage and professional careers.

My catch phrase is "I was told there would be cake!"
My friend gave me a bit of a tutorial and then sent me off to search. I kept my search pretty basic...guys between the ages of 35-40, who live within ten miles of me. There were lots of hits.

Bridget Jones Diary:
Let's just call him Mr. Blue Eyes.
So he 'smiled' at me. Which means that he wants you to know that he's interested. Now, I've gotten many smiles, but this was the first one that I 'smiled' back at.
So then, he emailed me "Hi". I emailed back "Hi" (Don't worry, we're not going to be here all night) We talked a bit that way, exchanging emails. He told me a little about himself, and I did the same. (By the way, it says on my profile that I'm a single mom)
So, then he said, let's talk on the phone, and I agreed. He gave me his number and I said that I would call him.
This is exciting. And promising. He seems like a nice, normal guy. He's 6 foot, he likes to play hockey. He wants to spend less time at work...all sounding great.
We talked on the phone, and at first it was a bit strange. But we quickly got over that, and had a nice conversation. So then, he asked me if we'd like to meet. I said sure! So we planned to get together for a drink the following Wednesday.

Date night:
My friend came over to babysit for me. She was helping me put his number into my phone in case I need to call him, and she noticed that I had a new voicemail.
"But I've never set up my voicemail" I say...
"Well you've got a call from someone in the 905 region."
"I don't recognize the number...It's not the one that he gave me so no worries."

This is that scene in the movie when the audience knows, but the main character is left out of the loop.

So off I go, to meet him for 8:30 at this nice bar on Queen St.

Of course, I'm exactly on time.
So I order a drink and wait at the bar.
And wait...and wait...and wait.
I call my friend, and explain, she can't believe it! I've been stood up! The bartender doesn't believe it, Eric McCormack (Will from Will & Grace) who is sitting at the next table, doesn't believe it...I can't believe it! So I finish my drink and leave. I waited half and hour, that is long enough!
As I'm walking to catch the street car, I call Mr. Blue Eyes and get his voicemail. I tell him that I waited and that for a girl who likes to be ontime, half an hour is too much! Oh, and then I say: Don't bother calling me back!

I get in the door to my place, and discuss with my friend...who also fills me in on who was kicked off America's Next Top Model, when my phone rings.
Oh, no, it's him. I say hello, and he's so upset. He asked me if I got his voicemail this morning. He left it at 9:00 am, so that I would have enough notice. (very thoughtful of him) He used his home phone, so I didn't recognize the number. "Who doesn't have voicemail?!" He's terribly sick, and had to cancel the date. Now, after hearing my message, he thinks that maybe it was for the best. I feel so bad. I felt like Bridget Jones when she puts her foot in her mouth, and then tries to talk her way out of it. Not so good. By the end of the conversation, I had apologized and he said that he'll call me when he's feeling better.

So, it looks like I can use my "If it's meant to be, it's meant to be" philosophy afterall.

So ladies, I'm not holding my breath.