Thursday, July 27, 2006

Finding a Good Man


I heard a song today that refers to Finding a Good Man. I was thinking about the men I've dated and I think I've found every single one of those mentioned in the song, with one exception that I don't think really exists.

liars (check - don't lie to me - especially when the truth would suit better)
cheaters (check - but only once - learned that lesson quickly and thank goodness wasn't stupid enough to fall for the "I'm sorry, it meant nothing, it won't happen again, I'll make it up to you" crap - yeah, you can make it up to me when you can turn back time and not do it - until you have that power don't bother me again)
cold mistreaters (check - people sometimes have odd ways of showing their love for you - people can be more cold-hearted than you ever would have imagined when they were telling you how much they love you - was that just yesterday?)
Momma's boys who can't make a stand (big check on that one - I hope I've learned that lesson because this one is quicksand)
superficial players (check - hasn't everyone been down this road)
"I love ya" too-soon-sayers (big check - it creeps me out when you tell me you are going to make me fall in love with you on the first date - save it until you at least know me well enough to know I'm not a serial killer)
big-talkers (check - talk is cheap)
bad losers (check - let your 6 y/o niece win the game for goodness sake)
fast movers (big check - sorry, you just can't sleep with every guy who asks you)
listener (check - they're jewels - rare and precious)
perfection (not yet - although love and lust have blinded me to the fact that this doesn't really exist at times)

Fortunately, I was always smart enough to stay away from the liars, mistreaters and players for the most part. I did make one mistake with a cheater - but I learned from that.

The odd thing about it all is that I just find this more humorous than upsetting. Men come in all types, just like women do. I've had some wonderful men in my life and you take the bad traits with the good one.

I've been crazy about a Momma's boy but I think once is enough in a lifetime. You just can't compete with his Momma or his Daddy and what they think, so don't even bother trying. 'Cause I can guarantee you that you're not good enough for their little darling - he already knows it, but he really wants to pretend that he can stand up to them. He can't. And eventually you're out and Momma and Daddy are back in and that's the way it will always be. I'll file that one away in the "lessons learned" category.

Overall, I've been very fortunate when it comes to the opposite sex, but it's fun to remember people who taught you important lessons in life - even if they were painful at the time. My heart has been broken. My heart has healed. And I'll no doubt repeat that cycle again if I live long enough. 'Tis life - rich, wonderful, exciting, rewarding, funny, painful and enticing.

Questions


Fifty questions from last night --- it's a bit over the 20 Question Limit --- but I'm game.

1. First Name? Patsy

2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Not that I know of

3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? Few days ago

4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? mostly

5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? thinly sliced mesquite turkey

6. KIDS? no

7. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH You? would depend on who I was - some people love to be around me, some people can't stand me

8. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? many, many, many - some filled, some blank

9. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? No, why do you ask? Yes, I certainly do.

10. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? nope - just a gory story about their extraction from my throat when I was three - yes, three.

11. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? you bet

12. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Honey Bunches of Oats with Almonds

13. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? yup

14. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? yes� life requires it� I'm far more easily hurt than people realize... but I am very strong... life didn't offer any other options - you roll with the punches

15. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? I don't discriminate against any kind of ice cream. But, I'm very fond of chocolate and nuts as ingredients.

16. SHOE SIZE? 11

17. RED OR PINK? Depends on the shade of each� My dining room is painted red� my purse is bright pink

18 WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? Oh gosh, that's a tough one� I'll pass

19. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Mama

21. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Green summery pants and white shoes

22. LAST THING YOU ATE? a tomato from my little garden plot

23. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Craig Ferguson Show

24. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Burgundy red

25. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SMELL? something baking on a chilly day, when you walk into a warm house are are hit with that smell

26. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Greg

27. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? face, hands, demeanor

28. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? now that's a silly question� like I'd give people I don't like my email address

29. FAVORITE DRINK? Diet Sprite or hot tea

30. FAVORITE SPORT? not a big sports person now that I'm not in college

31. HAIR COLOR? brunette

32. EYE COLOR? Blue

33. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? sometimes contacts, sometimes glasses

34. FAVORITE FOOD? salad, veggies, fresh food� great fruit� cheese� homemade bread� pasta� and - of course - sweets... wish I didn't like them but I do. A lot.

35. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDING? happy - I don't do scary� fear is not an emotion I enjoy - I don't pay people to induce it in me.

36. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Cars

37. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? bright orange

38. WHAT DO YOU LIKE BETTER, SUMMER OR WINTER? winter - it's when CHRISTMAS comes!

39. HUGS OR KISSES? depends on the person

40. FAVORITE DESSERT? bananas foster

41. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? I'm not sending this to anyone, so N/A

43. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? Just finished Freakonomics - haven't started a new one yet - am reading my latest Scientific American Mind magazine right now

44 WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? gel wrist pad - both blue

45. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? Craig Ferguson

46. FAVORITE SOUNDS? many, many, many � "I Love You" whispered in the dark by someone I am madly in love rates pretty highly

47. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles by a hair

48 THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Egypt

49. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? yes� but I don't know you well enough to share

50. WHEN AND WHERE WERE YOU BORN? December 23 in Kentucky