It's my weakness, but this could be different...

I know that I've mentioned my weakness for guys. I feel that in the past that I've fallen for guys way too soon. After the first night I spent with this guy my best friend set me up with, I already knew I was in trouble.

Okay, first of all, it's not like Friday was the first time I met this guy. We had met years earlier. However, we were both dating other people at the time. My best friend was insistent that we would be a good match. And she hated to say that because she did not want to be a matchmaker (due to her previous disasters). Yet she had to mention every time we talked on the phone "You know I think you and .... would get along well."

Then we were supposed to meet over Memorial weekend. And that was a disaster in timing. But that weekend, we did talk on our cell phones. So we had each other numbers (thanks to caller ID). Then we would have gotten together two weeks later, but I was in Chicago. So we talked on the phone a few times while I was in Chicago. Then a few more times when I got back, and before we were to meet Friday.

Then we finally met Friday afternoon as two single people, expecting nothing, hoping for a possible connection. I think we were lucky we didn't start a forest fire! At first I was caught up in the moment, then I tried to hold back to see what sincerity there was in this guy.

Here's why I think this might be something very worthwhile:
1.) We can carry on intelligent conversations. While we have different occupations, I understand some of the electronic aspects, then he would tell me more about it. We talked about astronomy, physiology, electronic engineering, immmunology, and more.
2.) We can also just goof around. Things aren't always serious. (So far) he hasn't done something juvenille such as tickle me in public, but he wasn't shy about holding on to me in public in a respectable fashion. We also sometimes finished each others jokes, or just laughed at the others joke.
3.) Even when I began to hold back emotionally, he seemed to give more. In the past, I felt that I was falling for the guy, and not getting anything back. I did eventually tell him that I was trying to be more reserved emotionally because I didn't want to get hurt, and did dicuss it.
4.) I think that we are both are being realistic that the distance between San Diego and Tucson. (Even the distance between San Diego and Phoenix is a big deal.) If either of us spent each weekend trying to see the other, than the other factors in our everyday life would be put on hold. We are instead hoping to spend as much time together as possible when we can be together. His job also requires sometimes to be at a location in the world other than San Diego, which I told him that I can live with. After all, I may have to retreat to New Jersey for a couple of months for a consultation job.
5.) We do enjoy each others company. I think that he enjoys my physical and mental companionship, and I do as well for him. I think that it makes for something other than a physical relationship.
6.) He is a total gentleman. The entire weekend while camping, he cooked all the meals. He always offered me the food first. He also respected my wishes with whatever I felt comfortable doing. He even gave me a wonderful backrub after our 6-7 hour ride on the quads when I was having tight muscles in the shoulders.
7.) He knows a good deal of what the hell I've lived through. While I don't think he knows how long I had to deal with it until I had my MCS surgery two years ago, but he knows about my MCS surgery. It's kind of hard to hide an implanted wire and pacemaker when you're getting to know each other physically. He even gave me grief for not telling him about my celiac disease. I had brought my own "celiac safe" foods that I barely used because he changed a portion of the food to be safe for my diet requirements. He thought I was being silly for not telling him. I told him that I thought it was silly for him to suddenly accomodate a menu for me, and that I'm used to being self-sufficient in looking out for my own interested. He promised me this AM in e-mail that he was going to read more about celiac disease. (And buy some potato vodka just for me when I do make it to San Diego.)
8.) I know that I'll think of more later.....I justt I'm just trying to realize how lucky I am that I found such a great guy. And this is my way to realize this...

The quad chicks!!!

What do you think? Blogger finally got the photo post thing working!

This is my best friend. She was patiently waiting for her husband to get bored riding the big bowl. It's not very obvious, but she just finished her first trimester with her first child. She's been riding a lot more than I have, so she's going to ride as long as possible.

And this is ME!! This was taken as I was riding along the campsite before we packed up the quads. You can see we found a nice campsite. Lots of open space so we could have a nice campfire, and yet there were trees for shade. I'm sure you get an idea how much dust collected in my hair, ears, and nose. My best friend had a helmet, and she wasn't too much better off than I was.

The picture of my best friend from the big bowl was a part of our 6-7 hour day riding on the quads (Nobody had a watch, so we're guessing how long we're gone). So when we finally got back to camp, we were tired. But there was someone who was more tired than we were:

This dog belonged to my best friend's husband. You can see how soft the ground is by the holes our footsteps left around the dog. All those small pieces of black cinders would get in between the dogs footpads. The poor fellow was fine the first day, but then spent the rest of the time digging out the cinders and sleeping in a shady spot. He didn't even chase very far after the visiting doe and squirrel!

In case you didn't know it was a volcano

Big Bowl
Originally uploaded by Jenn Michaels.

Here's a good picture that shows the crater left behind from the volcano. I never got an idea how long ago it was since the last eruption.

The ridge line on the upper rim was the "trail" we took to get to where we ended up. The other side of the trail was rugged woods and trees, so I was quietly hoping that the quad wouldn't slide off either edge of the trail.

To the right and on the other side of this "big bowl" was "hundred dollar hill". A steep 1,500 foot slope that challenged riders with $100 if they could make it up the hill. Even today, not every vehicle we watched made it up the hill.

BTW: the cloud of dust is being generated by my best friend's husband on his dirtbike....he had more courage than any of us to make several trips through the "big bowl"

A view from the Interstate

Cave Creek Complex fire
Originally uploaded by Jenn Michaels.

On my trip to Prescott, I was worried about the Cave Creek Complex fire contributing to the closure of Interstate 17. However, the "containment line" seen on the side of the road did not cause the closure of I-17.

In the background, you can see the buildup of smoke from the north side of the fire. This was north of Black Canyon City, and taken from the windshield of my car (they were discourging people from stopping on the road).

I survived the Cinders!

Perhaps surviving 10 years with my ATN didn't quite prepare me for the Cinders. At least living about 2 years with almost no daytime pain did help me enjoy it!

In case you're wondering what the hell the Cinders is (I sure did), I'll explain. About five miles east of Flagstaff (just off Interstate 40) is a place where a volcano existed. I don't know how many years it's been quiet (or extinct), but the remanants are a ground covered with black cinders. The black cinders extend for many miles, creating a fun place for ATV's and other off road vehicles. It's difficult to walk in, and due to the lack of recent rain, it's very dusty.

I'll be posting pictures in the next few posts. Blogger has a picture post feature, but it doesn't seem to be working for me. Probably because it's a Mac.

And BTW: my "blind date" and I did hit it off very well. The distance from Tucson to San Diego is a slight problem (we both admitted that), but we'll see where things go.