Thanks

I was overwhelmed by the turnout at our first singles event last Friday night. Seventy-five people turned out to sample wines and coffees and appetizers. We all enjoyed the artwork on display and several had fun winning doorprizes.

I was so encouraged to hear your reasons for coming. Several people told me it was their first time out either since the second singlehood began or at least in quite a while. I heard from several people that they appreciated the event being in Eric's lovely gallery instead of a bar or a dance. The samplings and the art made conversation easy.

As usual at singles events, there were more women than men, but there were quite a few men - handsome, well-employed men too! Even if romance didn't bloom, it was great to meet new friends and I saw a few glad reunions.

I was disappointed that MoneyGirl, our second Mystery Barstool Contest winner did not reveal herself. MoneyGirl, you need to click on my profile to get to my e-mail address. If you give me your contact information, I will mail you your gift certificates to the Four Seasons Grille.

I'm sorry for the delay in posting. I had a wonderful adventure planned for Saturday that went horribly wrong. I was chasing catamarans in a motor boat on the West River. Due to a series of minor misjudgments, I fell and broke my leg in three places. I had an excruciating ride back to the marina followed by an ambulance ride to Anne Arundel Med Center. After x-rays, they reset my foot so my toes were pointing in the right direction again, but I am still going to have to go back to have some screw put in.

My family has been waiting on me and I have tried to keep my drug level high. I will keep you posted, but will not be writing as frequently as I'd like to in the next few days. Then I suppose I will have plenty of time for blogging. I broke my right foot, so I won't be driving for a while.

This reminds me that I want to have a conversation about how you deal with injury or illness when you are single. But I'll save that for later.

Thanks to all of you who came out Friday night. It was absolutely wonderful.

After Hours Mixer

Tomorrow is our big night! Our first event.
You are all invited to the Crofton Fine Art & Frame Gallery at Staples Corner (424 & 450) from 7-9pm to sample wine, custom roasted coffees, carved meats and other appetizers. We have some cool door prizes to award in addition to our Mystery Barstool contest winners.
I am looking forward to meeting you. If we don't have enough time to visit at the mixer, we can head over to Allison's Restaurant for drink specials.

Will I see you there?

Running into Exes

Have you ever noticed that the worse you look when you run to the grocery store, the more likely you are to run into someone that you once dated or that you were hoping to date?

Speaking of barstools...

What do you love and hate about bars?
For example, I really like those purse hooks. I also like a rail for your feet so you're not dangling.
I don't think anyone puts out bowls of nuts anymore, do they?

I used to feel grossed out by glasses hanging upside down over ashtrays. It just seems that they collect smoke. But the smoking ban has eliminated this concern in many areas.

Of course, clean bathrooms are always a plus.

Mystery Bar Stool Contest

Below is a barstool from a local watering hole. The first comment posted that correctly identifies the establishment from this photo will win a gift certificate to that restaurant.
Last month's winner, Mike, will be collecting his prize at the first Suburban Singles Scene Mixer next Friday. (see sidebar for details)

Aren't those purse hooks nice?

Stereotypes

How do our preconceived ideas about different ages affect our self image as we age?

Honestly, the first time I felt bad about my age was when I turned 26. It was in a different age bracket: 18-25, 26-35. I couldn't round down anymore. I had a new mortgage to pay. I recognized a little ruefully that I wasn't a kid anymore. Well, I felt like one on the inside. My life was growing up around me.

40 was a new beginning. So even though I may have looked like I had just gone through hell, I felt hopeful. What I looked like was the least of my worries.

I still feel like a kid now - just as self-centered and prone to mood swings. But now I'm in this different set of roles at middle age. And my body is beginning to show the wear and tear of more than four decades of use and abuse. I don't know how much
longer my knees will hold out. My eyesight is doing something weird. Then there's just gravity and the constant battle with weight.

I recognize my good fortune that my body has not suffered a calamity in these four+ decades. I have met many strong, smart, sexy women that I want to be like when I grow up - well, at least when I reach their age.
Did you see Nora Ephron's latest book, "I Feel Bad About My Neck"? She cuts right to the truth about how many women feel about themselves.

Do men feel this way? Maybe not about their necks, but worry about how the affects of aging are changing your bodies? It seems that men get off easier in the media. The older man is still hot and he always gets the girl 20 years younger. That scenario isn't necessarily helpful.

I have seen the 15 year age difference in both combos of older husband or older wife. Sometimes they work. Sometimes they don't. So I guess age isn't the factor that matters, since those odds aren't any worse than the general population.

Even so, I still put night cream on my neck.