It was the alcohol talking

Have you ever had fun on a date and then after you have time to think about it, you're like meh (shoulder shrug)....

I met Zander (Zoolander shortened) on Thursday at a Mexican food restaurant for drinks and we sat outside because it was such perfect weather. Let me preface that I was a little taken back by his suggestion to meet somewhere as opposed to him picking me up but whatever. (-1 point Zander). I wore dark jeans, a cute black scoop neck top and heels. When I met the weekend before, Zander was wearing a long sleeve button down, jeans and dress shoes-very cute. When I met him for drinks he was wearing a short sleeve polo, jeans and flip flops. (-1 point Zander). I felt over dressed to his beach attire and was silently thinking WTF?

It was awkward at first, as was to be expected, but we ordered margaritas and miraculously the nervous jitters floated away. (Imagine that?) We had good banter, talked about our lives, what we do for a living, etc. We were getting hungry so we decided to go and grab sushi at a place nearby. He paid the tab, after I offered some money and he rejected (+1 Zander) and we hopped in my car since it was the closest and went to dinner. I was able to sober up a little with the sushi and things started to get a little more flirty. Every time Zander was flirting with me he would say, "I'm just being flirty" and I wanted to be like "There is no need to SAY you are being flirty, just BE flirty"(-5 Zander). Zander suggested we go next door to the bar where we had met the weekend before. The bill for sushi came and like a good girl again I offered to help pay and Zander LET ME pay the whole thing. (-1 Zander). So somehow I was stuck with the $50 bill. Whatever, I was totally thinking he would reject my offer again so I was totally shocked when he didn't. Don't get me wrong, I think girls should pay as well but not on the first date when the boy is trying impress his new prospect. We left the restaurant and he walked in front of me (-1 Zander) and didn't open the door (-1 Zander).

We arrived at venue number three and he grabbed us some drinks and a table. We were being flirty some more, but again it was pointed out that he was being flirty with me (-1 Zander). Negative! The conversation flowed and we talked about a lot of topics, music-same taste, tennis- we both used to play and want to get back into it, friends, family, etc. By this point we were a little more comfortable with each other and holding hands and he suggested we go somewhere else. I asked what he had in mind and he said we had two options: Go back to his house or go back to my house. (-2 Zander) Let me preface again that he had a wedding out of town that he had to catch a flight at 9am on Friday. And secondly, if he wanted to have the chance of going back to my house, he should have flipping picked my ass up to begin with...hello? (+1 Zander-wanted to spend soooo much time with me, -1 Zander for trying to sleep or see my lady lumps on the FIRST date). It was 1am-ish when he suggested this idea. I told him that while I liked him, I wanted to take things slow and get to know each other better. We had another drink instead and continued to talk. He acted like he understood (+1 Zander).

We finally left the bar and I pulled up behind his truck and we talked for a second and before I know it we were kissing. In. my. car. like. high. school. students! "Irregardless", Zander was a very good kisser (+1 Zander) and his hands did not wander at all (+1 Zander). After 20 minutes or so, we pulled apart and he said he should go since he had such an early flight.

We both stopped at the same red light and he rolled down his window and I rolled down mine and he's like "How you doin?" a la Joey from Friends. (-1 Zander for the cheese factor, +1 Zander for effort). The light turned green, I gave him a half smirk and sped off.

I had a good time but it wasn't like fireworks went off or anything. He got back from his trip yesterday, so we shall see if he calls. I'd go out with him again and give him another chance to see if we actually click. Perhaps sans alcohol...

In the meantime, I'm going to Boston this weekend and looking forward to hanging out with some East coast hotties!

Back on the saddle again!

Zoolander called me last night, during "What about Brian", but I made an exception since it was an actual real live boy calling! We talked for a little bit due to the fact that he had an allergic reaction and his throat and tongue were swollen yesterday. He went to the doctor and got a shot and some antibiotics. He was talking to me with a bit of a lisp, which was kind of cute, but made plans to take me out on Thursday. I hope he gets to feeling better before our date so I can actually understand him! I felt comfortable talking to him which is always a good sign. Zoolander went to college with my really good friend, DF's boyfriend. He's tall, blonde hair, blue eyes, and has the All-American boy look.

It's good to be back in the dating game....FINALLY!!!

What the....(updated)

Gianluca IM'd me yesterday after I had left for the day and now he is offline and I can't respond. It was a simple "Hi", but still. I hadn't heard from him since my last email to him and hadn't expected to either.
But yes, I am that girl that has left my instant messenger "on" in hopes to hear from him, because let's face it, he is my ONLY contact on the thing.

I think he might be in Peru for business, hence the late hour for the message on his end...if he were in Italy it would have been 1 am his time, on a school night. Plus my sources here told me he was out of the office. His last email was so final, like he will only contact me if he is coming to Houston and now I get a "Hi".

What the F, man?

*UPDATE*
Gianluca contacted me again on Saturday morning and he left his computer online so I was able to reply back. We spoke this way with 12 hour intervals due to the time difference and finally connected on my Sunday morning. We talked about our weekends and then he had to go but not before telling me, "I hope to see you soon" and "Kiss" instead of "bye". I just mirrored exactly what he said and that I hoped to see him soon too. The old me would have asked eagerly if he was coming to Houston soon.

I'm a little confused by his sudden reinterest in me. I should point out he left me a message at 3am his time (I was out for my Saturday night and his Saturday night was coming to a close) indicating to me that he was NOT with his new lady friend....

While Gianluca was tucked in bed alone, I was meeting Zoolander-former model that moved back to Houston from LA-hence the name. He wants to get together this week, so we shall see if he follows through...

Maybe the Horoscope gods are trying to tell me something

Tuesday's horoscope:
Be patient. You have done everything you can. Right now, the ball is in their court. (As in I expressed my desire to be transferred to London and it's their decision to send me later)

Yesterday's horoscope:
You are where you need to be, and this place has more to offer than you realize. (Like as in stay where you are in your job and Houston)

Today's horoscope:
Your curiosity needs to be reigned in a bit ... let things unfold as they should. (Be patient and don't get so flipping antsy about life)

Hmmmmmmmm........maybe I should calm it down a notch.

You can't always get what you want!

So I got the big negative on the London front. Apparently that office is looking for someone with over 10 years experience...something I clearly do not have right now. I'm a little bummed about it. I had a long talk about it with my boss and he told me the decision was not a definite no and to hang in there. According to him, these types of opportunities come along all the time and it's good that they know I am open to live overseas.

Right. Whatever. It just seems lately that things are placed in front of me, only to be ferociously yanked away. Again, my imagination got the best of me and I envisioned what my life might be like over there. I hate it when I do that!

But, when it rains it pours:
A couple of weeks ago, I applied for a position outside of my department, before the whole London talk, and went on an interview for it today. It's not exactly what I have in mind but it's always good to brush up on interviewing skills. We shall see.

Then, my old boss, LR, in New York contacted me on Friday about an "interesting thing" she had for me. It turns out that my old company, Clothing Company, used a local Houston company to provide the accessories in their Spring 2007 fashion show. The owner is not satisfied with her current Public Relations guru and is looking for a replacement. LR raved about me and now I might get an interview out of it. We shall see on this as well.

I just want something to happen. Either I move to Europe or I finally get a job I LOVE.

Second verse, same as the first!

Today, I'm leaving for Chicago. For real this time! I have my ticket and an actual real live seat, so I'm set! I'm so excited to finally see my cousin and her little fam! Pictures to follow, I promise!

*I'm still waiting to hear about London! I'm supposed to find out today. Ek! Nerve racking to say the least. I hate waiting. I'm a big fan of instant gratification!*

And that is what you call CLOSURE

I thought long and hard about how or if I would respond to Gianluca's email. If I didn't respond then I was the bitter American pissed that he found someone else and if I did respond I had to make sure I didn't come across as said bitter American pissed that he found someone else. So I decided to be a grown up and respond:

To: Gianluca
From: TexasCinderella
Subject: Re:

I'm disappointed that we couldn't get to know each other further now but at the same time I totally understand. Thanks for being so honest with me. I'm really happy for you that you met someone and I hope she realizes that she is one lucky girl. I wish you nothing but the best!

I definitely would love to see you again if you come to Houston. It actually seems there is a possibility that I may be transferred to our London office (not sure when) and perhaps our paths might cross again someday in Europe. You have been a delight to get to know and I really do hope that we can still remain in contact!

Kisses,
Texas Cinderella

Of course I had to write and use words he would understand but you get the drift. And I signed it "Kisses" because that is what we always would use as a sendoff and it would seem bitter if I didn't.

I might see him again or I may not ever see him. At least I can feel good that I left things sounding like the nice American for him to remember me by.

London Bridges

Not 5 minutes after receiving Gianluca's email this morning and having all shots of moving to Europe vanish, was I called into the big boss's office. He asked me what I felt about moving to the London office. I was in shock! I said that I would love to have the opportunity to work over there. He asked for my resume and is now in talks with some other people about me joining the London team. He also told me to keep quiet about it until it was finalized because if I tell too many people (ie. other coworkers who want to work abroad) it would essentially come back to bite me.

I am super excited about the possibility of going there. Living here in Houston was another reason I have been in a funk lately. Sure my family and friends are here, but I am getting anxious to move somewhere else, especially to Europe, since my travels in June with my mom.

Keep your fingers crossed for me!

I hurt:(

I failed to mention in my last post that I emailed Gianluca yesterday as a last effort to figure out what the flip was going on. I really didn't think I would ever hear back from him but sadly I did. It's officially over before it really even began...

To: Gianluca
From: TexasCinderella
Subject:

I hope you had a good trip to Canada. I haven’t talked to you in a while again which leads me to believe you are avoiding me because of my suggestion to get crazy with you in Italy- of course I do not have a ticket. If so, you could've just told me you were uneasy about me coming. Suddenly all communication with me has been cut off and it's only fair to let me know what is going on with you. It doesn’t seem like something the Gianluca I was starting to get to know would do. I thought we were just having fun but maybe I was wrong about that, too. I'm just a little confused....

Texas Cinderella

His reply:

To: Texas Cinderella
From: Gianluca
Subject: Re:

I'm very sad for the words you wrote, but anyway it's true...I have a little disappeared, and it's my fault.
You are ok, nothing wrong...but our lives are really so far, and during this time I only dedicate much more time to my own life.
Actually I want to be sincere with you, as I always did: I met a girl some weeks ago, and now we are closer and closer, therefore I want to know her better- don't know if she is my girlfriend, but I want to spend my free time with her.
I hope this doesn't hurt you, I feel very good with you as usual, but I cannot give you all the time you need, that's all.

Of course I'll advise you if I should come in Houston again...it would be nice to meet you anyway, if you like!

Kisses,
Gianluca.

Elvis has left the building...

I know I haven't posted in a while, mainly because of the whole Gianluca incident.

He literally fell off the face of the earth and I have not talked to him in over two weeks when he was in Canada and I was NOT with him. Maybe I did too much or maybe I did too little. Whatever the case may be, for some reason I have been stuck with a medley of emotions that I just can't wrap my head around. Over. Someone. I. Met. Once. And "talked" to for over 2 months.

You would think that since I (my company) am technically his client, that he would have bowed out gracefully by phasing me out instead of quitting me cold turkey and so flipping rudely. One would think. Recently in one of our chats I asked him if he had a girlfriend, which he could have totally had an easy out with me, but he said no. I just don't get it.

What makes matters worse and I hate to admit it but my imagination got the best of me and I had visions of Italy at Thanksgiving. Him falling madly in love with me and me moving there and living the Italian life. Stupid, I know, but I hate it when you think something has the potential to go one way and you get thrown a curve ball and your thoughts are broken into teeny tiny pieces.

I guess I'm the "King of Wishful Thinking".