A new leaf. And popping.

I went to speed dating tonight. It was a bit of an emotional roller coaster but all in all it was amazing! I am a new woman. I am revitalized. I feel good. I am excited. I'm not only ready to meet the love of my life but ready to have fun dating and meeting new people while I look for him.

When I first arrived at speed dating is was B-U-M-bummed. Claudia got sick and couldn't make it so I had to fly solo. I was dreading it. Worrying if I was going to make eye contact with anyone and wishing I could go home before it began. If I hadn't paid $30 up front I probably would have spent the night on my couch in my Target brand cheerleader shorts eating ice cream and watching Shark Week. But I paid the money so I went.

The first person I saw was the dude who Belle met last time we went speed dating. He was there. Again. And I couldn't judge because I was a repeat offender as well. I overheard him on the street talking about someone having shingles (ew?), took a deep breath, went inside and got a Magic Hat #9. (If you're wondering, no - he didn't recognize me. We had a four-minute mini date later in the evening and he didn't remember that a) we had a four-minute mini date last year or b) we sat across a table from each other for several hours on a double date one night last fall while he tried to woo Belle.)

As the dating started I was asked the same questions over and over again -- Where are you from? What do you do? How long have you been in DC? What do you do in your free time? Blah. Blah Blah. But then, it happened. This guy sat down. And he was different, in a cool way. He had purple hair and leather around his wrists. And I don't know how it came up but I told him that I was afraid to dance.

Side note: I am Brandon Walsh. I don't dance. When I'm sober. I've been known to cut a rug if I've had 37 too many but in general I don't dance. I don't like it because I stink. I'm horrible. Terribly intimidated and afraid of looking stupid. But I decided a couple weeks ago that this is the year I learn to like to dance. Not sure if that made sense so I'll type it again: learn to like to dance. I've been looking for dance classes.

Turns out this purple haired edgy dude is a dance teacher! I got so excited. And it wasn't fake it 'til you make it excitement but actual excitement. Huzzah! I immediately felt a change. My pulse quickened. My smile was genuine. And my eyes no longer felt sad.

I'm turning over a new leaf.
Ha! Get it? Do you see it?
It's a "new" leaf.

As a result I'm making some changes. I'm going to look at churning with a new perspective. I'm turning over a new leaf and I'm going to do the following things:

1. Delete my online dating profile. (I'll explain why I don't think online dating is for me soon.)
2. Sign up for a dance class. I will learn to like to dance! I'm either going to try popping or hip hop. Either way, this white girl whose hips only go in a rectangle is going to bust-a-move!
3. I am going to do new things - sign up for events and activities. If I am going to spend time online it's going to be to find a field trip destination with real-life people, not talking to a 31 year old dude that may actually be 900 years old with a shrunken head like in Beetlejuice.
4. Try to have fun. I am sure that this is a temporary high. I will likely be sad again soon. I anticipate this (healing process) will continue to be a series of ups and downs. But I am going to strive to have new, exciting experiences and remember that dating is just meeting new people. And I like meeting people.

I was talking with an acquaintance (and new friend - yay - I love new friends) this morning about dating and breakups and all the things that go wrong. (It's funny, when people find out you just got out of a relationship they like to talk about their dating woes.) Her advice was to do things you like so you have fun and find people who have similar interests and actually like to *do* what you like.

For example, reading that someone likes to climb trees on their online profile is very different than meeting someone while you're climbing a tree. (Note: I haven't climbed a tree in years. I will add this to the list.)

This plan is genius is in its simplicity. I'm going to *do* things that I like and try new things to see what else I find fun. And I'm going to start with a popping class. It's going to be epic. And maybe, just maybe, I'll get an email from the purple haired dance instructor.

This is the song that accompanies this entry. It's about heartbreak but I think it's fun. And I am determined to find the fun from my heartbreak. Taio Cruz - Break Your Heart ft. Ludacris

Also, this is Bryan Gaynor popping on So You Think You Can Dance, in case you're wondering what it is. Obviously I will look like a giant asshole or maybe a giant goofball. Either way, I've decided to embrace it.  Then after I teach myelf to like dancing, I'm going to work on hugs. Papa Churn would be so proud.