Hello all! I feel like I've been on a dating hiatus ever since my three dates with The Z Man. Did he and his ex jinx me? Probably. So to get out of my dating rut, I immediately went online, chatted up a few cuties, selected the least desperate one and here we are: Date #17 - The Hockey Player.

Because we met online, there's no real good background to this one - all I knew was that he was cute, very much into hockey, kept me interested by keeping up great conversations online and in text (which is actually so difficult to do, especially right at the beginning on any new relationship) and that he had good grammar.  So for a minute, I was actually quite intrigued to meet this guy.  We decided to meet after I finished work and check out Earl's Kitchen, one of Toronto's most happening bars, full of suits, the most eligible bachelors and/or cheating bastards.  Perfect, I thought. If it doesn't work out with The Hockey Player, I can always find another option. Imagine. That would be so badass. Moving on...prior to the date, he mentioned that he had a dentist appointment but he would be ready by 6pm. No problem there, I finished work at 530 - so I powdered my nose, touched up my nails and anxiously waited the extra half hour.

6pm rolled around - no word. I hadn't heard from him for at least an hour at that point. Giving him the benefit of the doubt, I messaged "hello?"... Nothing. I shook my head in silence and gave the kid a 15 minutes grace period before I peaced the eff out. 6:13pm a message - he just got out of the dentist but needed another 15 minutes to get ready. Uh huh. I have zero patience (I'm working on this, I swear!!) but at least he wasn't bailing. A part of me, though, wanted to very badly. I waited some more, sucked it up and headed to Earl's where he was waiting.

As I approached the awkward man standing outside of a packed bar, I was thankful that my Date #17 actually looked like he did in his pics. Bonus. And he was tall, and definitely supported 'hockey player' type features (minus the black eyes and broken teeth). We, along with the rest of Toronto, tried our luck at getting a seat at Earl's.  It was absolutely packed. With suits. I had to actively stop myself from checking out every man in sight. Note to self: come back EVERY Thursday.  Needless to say there was no room whatsoever and the wait time was over an hour. So we decided to head up the street to a less-overwhelming atmosphere - to one of the many Firkin & Bulls or Pheasants or Ducks or Cows or whatever they are... one of those bars.

At first, I couldn't tell if he was nervous, or just a douche because he wouldn't look me directly in the eye, and acted a bit standoffish. But naturally once the brew kicked in, all was well in the land of dating/ liquid courage.  He was definitely a chatty Cathy which I appreciate.  An Ottawa native, I could tell right away from his tone of voice and character - he really reminded me of my many Ottawite friends and I thought how great he'd get along with them (if he was so lucky to meet them). He loves house music, traveling and hockey. The more I got to talking with him the more he reminded me of someone I knew very well. Oh yeah...that someone was ME. He was actually me; male version. It kind of freaked me right out. The things he would say, I would say. Reaction to certain situations he's been in, I would react in the same way.  We shared the same sarcasm and dry sense of humour.  The world with two La Blondes could either be a blessing or a complete fucking disaster, especially a male version.  He also drinks, like, all the the time and listed the many Vegas vacations, all-inclusive getaways, boat and cottage parties he's blacked out to and all the house concerts he will be attending this summer.  A complete frat boy - fuck, where were you in my early 20s? 

Inevitably, we got to chatting about our past/ current dating life. Again, with the help of a little liquid courage, he told me that back in December he noticed my profile and had sent me a message. I guess I must have missed it, because I never responded. Annoyed, he deleted his profile. Fast forward a couple of months, he re-signed up and there appeared my profile again for the attacking... and the rest is Date #17.

In conclusion, I rated the date a 7 of 10 (huge!) He's super fun, probably not my husband (how many times have I said that before?)  but I definitely was interested in giving this puck star another chance. At this point we had chatted for four hours straight and I had a long subway ride home ahead of me. He asked to see me again soon and I happily accepted.

He walked me to the subway stop, we hugged and went our separate ways.  I was excited at the prospect of this one, mainly because dating myself would be super cool, but I promised not to get too excited about any date I go on... You just never know. Not to mention, I'm prone to having a third date curse.

Love to get your feedback...
A bientôt mes amis!

La Blonde xx

_So New Years is over and not two weeks into January and BAM! a sea of red enters our shops and vomits in our face – red roses, red chocolates, red candies, red teddy bears, red clothing, red puppies… by the end of it all, you start to see red. All of this hype leading up to just one day.  One inevitable day.  You know which day it is, and it doesn’t need any further introduction.

For many singles across the planet, the month of February is commonly associated with one of the loneliest times of the year. You get “couples” deals in your Groupon emails, commercials tell you exactly what you’re significant other would LOVE this Vodka Day, seems everyone randomly asks you ‘so what are you doing for the Big V Day?’ and all you picture is how great your fist in their face would feel.  I get it… I’ve been there many times. Usually calling up a friend and drinking Pinot (glassware optional) on her couch, watching violent war movies yet secretly checking my phone every 5 seconds to see if someone… anyone… would ask me to be their Vomitine.

Well, I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be this way. It shouldn’t be this way! So, put down the bottle. 

This year, I’ve made a point to have fun with Valium Day, and embrace it for all its worth. It’s not going anywhere, so might as well reap the benefits… and there definitely are benefits!

Benefits of Being Single on Valentine’s

1. Chocolate is everywhere… and it’s already on sale!

Think about that. When can you ever find Lindor’s or Ferrero Rocher – the multi kind – on sale? Grab a bunch and meet me in 10. I’ll grab the flaming red gummy lips… hello, also on sale!

2. Go to the bar.

Seriously, what taken man (or woman) would be at a bar on the most romantic time of the year? My point exactly.  Big V falls on a Thursday this year, and what is Thursday? Industry night.  And what is industry night? The best night.  Let’s face it, only the cool cats hang out on days that start with T.  And you’ll be one of them.

3. Anti-V Day Parties are the new romance!

This year, I’m headed to a singles anti-V day party. I’m so stoked. Check out your local night clubs and bars for great parties going on exclusively for singles. No sweats for you ladies, put on your most electric blue dress to counter the Dead Sea out there.  Just celebrate you and your… freedom!  And who knows? By the end of the night – you may just spend it with a special someone of your own… or more than one special someone!  Go get em’ lioness.

4. Go to the gym.

Go to the gym. That’s it. That’s all I’ve got.  Whatever steam or anxiety or sadness you’re feeling, the gym always seems to relieve all the tension.  Work on yourself.  Also again…a taken man/woman at the gym on the most romantic day of the year? It’s questionable.

Here’s to being single on Valentine’s Day!

And, how many times have you asked a friend who’s in a relationship what they are doing for Viagra Day and their answers have been either:

a. I don’t know, I’ll probably give Jill flowers and chocolates

or

b. Ya, Bill isn’t the romantic type, so whatever, we’re probably not doing anything.

You my friend… you will be doing something! Something even your coupled friends will want to do.

In reality, chocolates are fattening, cards collect dust and flowers die.  So, you just need to love yourself, pamper yourself, and enjoy you’re singledom! Because one day you might be Jill dating Bill and would kill to be singling and mingling on a T night.  Just saying.

Just remember, when you do find a man or woman, it’s about showering you with love every single day, not just on that one inevitable day.

I’ll be seeing you in my dancin’ shoes.

La Blonde xx