Possible Singles Dates

I got an email last week with the subject heading, "Possible Singles Dates." You'll never guess what it was about.

It was a call for people interested in a tennis league, and the possible dates they could play singles (as opposed to doubles.)

I'm not interested in this particular league, so instead the email mocked me with possibilities, singles and dates-- three words that are on my mind a lot lately.

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I'm still reluctant to venture into any of the online dating sites yet. For one thing, I've just been super busy and exhausted. Today is the first day all week I don't have any class visits-- the most stressful and important part of my job-- so it's nice to relax a little. But now I'm faced with all the other stuff that's been piling up on my desk all week.

I haven't visited many of my favorite websites in forever. I'm way behind on The Onion and Dealbreaker and the Oatmeal, and my advice columns, Savage Love and Dear Prudence. And LOLcats? Fuggedaboutit! I haven't canhazcheeseburgered in months.

Part of the issue is that my blogging community is growing. Which is great. For the first two years of this blog I hardly had any blogfriends, but in the past few months I've added more and more blogs to my daily reading. I now have 14 blogs on my blogroll. I love having this sense of community-- following the lives of a diverse group of people from around the world, and having people follow mine-- but it's eating up more and more of my work and free time. I love my bloglife, but I want to have a real life too. Not sure how to reconcile that.

(Blogfriends: Even if I don't respond, I do appreciate every comment I get, and I do read all of your own blog posts, even if I'm not always inspired to post a comment. And I know from Blogger's stats that lots of people are reading this, even if you don't comment. Welcome, lurkers!)

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It feels a little odd to be without any dating prospects whatsoever. It's one thing to be single again, but it's a whole different level of singleness to not even have someone I'm thinking about or scheming on.

But I'm still plugging away, making plans and keeping my eyes open. I will try the online thing, eventually, when I get bored and desperate enough. Hey, February is just around the corner, and nothing inspires boredom and desperation like the last full month of winter.

I'm wrestling with some social opportunities this week. Tonight is an event sponsored by the Co-Op that I'm only mildly interested in, but I feel like I should get more involved in their events. It gets me out of the house and around people. But I've already asked three people if they want to go with me, and they either can't go or aren't interested. Sigh. I could go by myself (and probably will), but what if I run into Co-Op Girl and once again look like the desperate guy with no friends? Or more importantly, will I feel that way?

Friday night another local organization is sponsoring a documentary on a cause that K was really into. I'm trying to decide if I should go to it. It's not really a cause that I care that much about (although K did a good job of opening my mind on it), but again, it's a way to get out of the house and maybe meet new people. Maybe if K was into it, I could meet someone else like her. On the other hand, is it pathetic to attend an event only because my ex was really into it? It seems like I'm still letting her influence my choices.

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Anyway, it's good to have a little time to breathe and contemplate these things.