Gotta love a night that puts it ALL into perspective.
Yes, Valentines Day was less than a week ago and, yes, that can sorta put people into a blue mood. However, this year I decided to celebrate Thursday instead of being disappointed that Thursday just happened to be February 14th. One friend pitied me, which was the last thing I wanted, and another person even had the audacity to say to me as I sat at my desk at 5:15, "Oh, I guess since you're still here that must mean that you don't have a boyfriend." However, despite the fact I've never had a decent boyfriend of the 14th day of the second month of the year, I really did my best to let it all roll off my shoulder and nights like last night really make me relieved and glad to be single.
Last night was weird. It had a fair number of ups and downs. A girl friend and I decided to see a movie and go to the bar for a drink. That drink turned into a 5-hour romp at a bar followed by a post-bar fiasco. No worries, though. There is power in numbers.
We arrived at the bar around 10pm and it was hoppin'. There were plenty of folks around and quite a few rambunctious dudes who had obviously been drinking for a decent part of the day. These guys were, for the most part, alright men who enjoy the occasional drink. I befriended an older gentlemen and we watched a dunking competition on TV while my friend seemingly got along swimmingly with a man whose glimmering wedding ring was shining in her eyeballs. To someone on the outside looking in, they seemed to be chatting well enough. When this set of guys departed, I was informed that this man was not flirting with her, rather he was insulting her. He guessed her age, though he was not asked, and over estimated by about a decade. What a douche bag! Any man should know never to guess a woman's age.
After the guys left, we saddled up to the bar in the newly empty area we met another guy to my friend's left. I could barely hear a word he said, but he seemed nice, cute, and smart - not to mention elegantly foreign - so I let them chat and flirt. I was actually proud of my friend for "going for it," but eventually he left and grabbed her number before departing. He started texting her immediately trying to convince her to go to his place then and there. She eventually told him she enjoyed meeting him and he could take her to dinner sometime, but she was not going to his house tonight. After that, he pretty much checked out and didn't text her again. Jerk face. I'll never understand why men want one night of awkward togetherness instead of consistent booty for a few weeks or months by dating a girl.
As my friend talked to the man to her left, a man sat to my right and after some awkward comments he eventually started up a conversation with me. Similar to the first guy, he had on a wedding ring clearly declaring his taken status, yet he was flirting with me. I decided he was harmless and there was no chance in heck I would screw with a married man, so I innocently chatted with him while my friend talked to another guy. I actually enjoyed our conversation. He told me about dating his wife, the ultimatum she eventually gave him before he proposed, and his marriage. Considering how/when/why they got married, I actually felt sorry for him that he wasn't able to see that his relationship probably wasn't really something he wanted in the long run and that he wasn't able to take the more challenging route and end things. He seemed to be married only because she wanted to be married and he was too cowardly to walk away.
As we talked about life, he gave me the 'ol single girl confidence
boost by telling me that I didn't have anything to worry about in the
long run. He kept repeating that he'd typically not have the confidence to talk to me and that any man would be lucky. The night was all well and good, until he said he wanted to see me again. I told him that I was sure I'd see him around since I liked the bar and he said, it would be nice to see each other on purpose. I told him that I was flattered, but wasn't that kind of girl. Next, he went back and forth, "joking," saying he would pay me... but he was just kidding, he wouldn't pay me, but he would.... WHAT?! I could not believe a man just offered to pay me for dating/sex? That's a new one and I was instantaneously happy that I wasn't dating or married to a man soliciting sex from strangers. Of course, I shrugged it off and said "thanks, but no thanks." I don't even have a word to describe how appalled I was at the whole situation.
While I was speaking to sex-soliciting-married-man, my friend started speaking to two new gents. I wasn't really attracted to either and one of the two seemed a bit effeminate. However, my friend wanted to go back to their house for one last drink, which I didn't want to do, but sometimes you take one for the team.They were both nice enough and the one was flirting with my friend, but then he somehow switched his tactics and started going after me. It was like he couldn't make up his mind. He eventually kissed me and it was all teeth and smoker breath. Not cool. The shame was that the other guy was actually really sweet and smart. I didn't think he was my type at the onset but I would have enjoyed talking to him more than being oddly groped by the other guy.
At the end of the night I had to reflect and our entire night was filled with idiots and assholes. We encountered men who were inconsiderate, sleezy, unfaithful, and womanizers. They were all so completely disrespectful to the women in their lives. As much as it would be nice to be dating someone or be married, I
wouldn't want to be attached to any of the guys I met last night and I'm
happier making my own decisions and living my own life without one of
them bringing me down.
