Relationships are Wack...(or is that crack?)

In the spirit of general snarkiness going around these days, especially on the topic of relationships, I humbly offer the following for your reading amusement.  It's a journal entry from 2006 in which I laid out the play-by-play commentary of the almost instantaneous implosion of a fledgling dating situation.  Enjoy!

Friday March 31 at 7:37 pm

[First date with Bradley...dinner at California Pizza Kitchen. We meet there.

He seems nice. Good first date.]

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Friday April 7 at 6:30 pm

[Second date with Bradley...dinner followed by a production at Theatre on the Square. He insists on picking me up. Once on the Square, he seems threatened by one of my MDJ customers, a deli owner, who greets us as we walk by. Mumbles something like, "That guy didn't seem to like that I was with you" as we are being seated. (hhmm) As opposed to the first date, he seems nervous and awkward.

Dropping me off at my door, he says he has something to tell me. As I stand waiting for whatever it is, he loses his nerve, changes his mind, mumbles that it's probably not the right time, and says to never mind. Since I'm supposed to be meeting friends out dancing, I let it go and say goodnight. He asks to do something the next Saturday--besides a class in the afternoon, I may have something that night, so I say I'll check my schedule.]

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Sunday April 9 at 9:30 pm

[Bradley calls, and we discuss doing something.....he really wants Saturday instead of Friday night so he 'won't be so tired.' Saturday the 15^th is busy, but I have time in the morning. He doesn't want morning--he seems fixated on afternoon or evening, and a several-hour window after my class and before the evening isn't enough time. We agree to meet for coffee and a walk at the River Park.]

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*Tuesday 4/11 11:42 am - Bradley calls, but leaves no voice mail

(I noticed he called, but was in the middle of a busy day and couldn't call back....besides, he didn't leave a message so I had no idea why he was calling)

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EMAIL Wednesday April 12 1:37 pm Bradley wrote:

Hello there!  I hope that you had a good time last Friday night.  When I asked you to go out this Saturday, and you said you needed to check your schedule, and then you said that you already had plans, that we'd have to meet in a 2-hr window, I thought to myself....is she putting me on the backburner or does she plan on going on a date that night or is she meeting friends?  I am just thinking this because I'm wanting to know where are relationship is going, etc. Hope you are having a great day-

Bradley

P.S. do you like to talk better over the phone, or do you like email?

*Wednesday 4/12 5:44pm - Bradley calls, but leaves no voice mail

*Wednesday 4/12 8:56pm - Bradley calls again, but leaves no voice mail

(when he called I was on the phone with my sister discussing how to respond to his email)

EMAIL Wednesday April 12 11:37 pm Nina wrote:

(I sent him an email, which apparently failed in delivery...he didn't receive it)

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EMAIL Thursday April 13 9:00 am Bradley wrote:
...still you don't email me back.

Anyway, Libby the dog's birthday is today!  She is turning 4 today (28 in human years).  You're more than welcome to come and visit her - unless you already have plans.  This is my last email to you, either you don't reply to people's emails, you're too busy to check your email, or you are busy seeing someone else.

Hope to hear back from you-

Bradley

EMAIL Thursday April 13 at 10:40 am Nina Parker wrote:

Brad,
I sent you an email last night, but judging from your email this morning it
did not arrive. I'm sorry you feel slighted--that definitely was not my
intention. This week is magazine deadline, and I've been both very busy
during the day and staying late at the office. I don't have personal email
access during the day at work, and if I'm with customers I can't always talk
on the phone. It's usually best to leave a message so I'll know you called
and why you are calling.

Your email yesterday (and this morning) was very candid, so hopefully you'll
understand that my reply will be, as well. We have been out twice, and are
just starting to get to know each other. I do not understand why, at this
point, you feel entitled to question my schedule and imply that I should not
be spending time with friends or other dates. I doubt most people would
think such a brief acquaintance merits the kind of accountability you seem
to be expecting. As to your statement this morning that the email would be
your last to me, that is probably best. It's too bad that you are prepared
to discontinue getting to know someone because they their response time
doesn't meet your expectations, but that is up to you. I think we have very
different ideas about dating, boundaries, and communication. So while I
wish you the best, I don't think we should go out anymore.
Take care and good luck,
Nina

EMAIL Thursday, April 13, 2006 2:13 PM Brad wrote

I see I have struck a nerve, and I apologize.  The only reason that I used such strong words as - "this is my last email" was to get your attention.  It sounds like you are dating around, which is what I really meant to ask you, but me, being a guy, obviously asked you the wrong way.  I too am dating around, so that is not a problem with me right now.  I hope you can forgive me for asking you the wrong way.  I'd like to go out with you again, but I'm more for looking for someone that is willing to spend more time in a relationship and according to your schedule, you are obviously too busy with work and friends to invest in a dating relationship.  Oh well, if you really want to not see each other anymore, then so be it.

I aplogize again for my strong words in my earlier email, I just have a hard time communicating (like most guys do)  God bless you in your endeavors-

Bradley

EMAIL Thursday, April 13 2:57 pm Brad wrote:
I'm sorry.......Please forgive me.

EMAIL Thursday April 13 at 2:58 Brad wrote:

I truly apologize for the harsh words....I had no idea you sent an email last night.

*Thursday 4/13 5:44 pm - Bradley calls, but leaves no voice mail

*Thursday 4/13 8:56 pm - Bradley calls, leaves a voice mail: he didn't mean to hit a nerve, he's sorry that I'm mad, etc. he wants to talk and make sure we are still on for Saturday

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*Friday 4/14 8:12 am - Bradley calls, leaves a voice mail wanting to "talk about things"

EMAIL Friday April 14 at 9:00 am Nina Parker wrote:

I appreciate your apology. At this point I really don't think another date is a good idea.
Take care,
Nina

EMAIL Friday 4/14 10:30 am Bradley wrote:

Okay.  I understand (I think).  I hope we can still be friends.

Have a great Easter weekend

-Bradley

*Friday 4/14 11:50 - Bradley calls again, but leaves no voice mail

EMAIL Friday 4/14 at 12:30 Nina Parker wrote:

I got your voice mails, and I understand that you want to talk, but further conversation is unnecessary. If I haven't made myself clear enough already, let me do so now: I'm not interested. Please stop calling.

EMAIL Friday 4/14 at 2:00 Bradley wrote:

Wow, you really are brutal.  OK, I understand that you don't want to be friends with me either.  I hope you forgive me, and hope you have a great weekend with your family.  Goodbye.