So, tomorrow morning the main page of Cleveland About will carry the beginning of my Cleveland dating series. Oooooh boy. Or rather, boys.
I’m nervous as all hell. Not so much about the dating (although, you know, yeah – that too, I guess) — but more about the fact the piece of my family that’s technology savvy reads my columns and articles. So, now, people who know me in some ways are going to learn a whole lot more than they probably wanted to know. Certainly more than I wanted them to know.
Way back when Sandy approached me about writing this Cleveland dating series, it sounded like a lark. Sounded like something entertaining to do with what little spare time I have left. Sounded like a decent run of articles, too: informative, potentially elucidating, certainly challenging.
I am pretty shy, in person. Nobody who meets me through the written word really believes that. Nobody who knew me years ago really believes that, either. But people do change, and over the course of the past ten years, I’ve become somewhat of an introvert.
Used to be totally gregarious. Never met anyone I didn’t like and trust. Until, well…I did. And those events changed everything.
Am I really ready for the leaps and bounds this series of articles will require? Who the hell am I, anyway, Carl Freakin’ Monday? Can you date undercover?
My first real date, from okcupid (let’s call him Bob – because, uh, that’s his name) is on Sunday. I told him tonight that he made it to the first article. (Actually had to disclose the existence of this series of articles only a few hours ago and hope that he wasn’t bothered.) Apparently, he has taken a liking to this and is now referring to himself as my “guinea pig.” Hee.
On Monday, Mike, the owner of “Lunch Date” is going to profile and match me, as I profile him. No matchmaking from me. This too was an unexpected twist and one that I’m just processing. The people who use his service pay serious money. Not the kind of money Sandy is willing to reimburse me for (though she did say to keep receipts; I told her that this one is three figures!) but Mike is doing this to (he hopes) show the effectiveness of hand-selecting potential partners and matching them up. Or, you know, perhaps not.
