It Happens In The Fall

 It always happens in the fall. I met a new girl from online Thursday night. I will be calling her Ella. Ella is thirty-three. She is a very petite 5' 0" and very cute. We met at a coffee shop near Great Lakes Crossing Mall. Ella lives in Davison, which is over an hour away from me. The coffee shop was a good midpoint. 

We talked in the coffee shop for an hour. We hit it off right away. We have many things in common: road trips, music, TV, and life philosophies. She is not flashy or materialistic. She has a stable job and no kids or pets. 

Things went so well at the coffee shop that I asked if she would like to get something to eat. She agreed and rode with me around the corner to a restaurant in the mall. We ate and talked more there, then walked the mall briefly. We stopped in Buckle, where Ella tried on some jeans. She has a hot little body. She liked one pair of jeans, and I told her to get them. I ended up buying a shirt.

Because of the distance, I suggested she come to my place on the weekend and spend the night. Ella was perfectly fine with the plan. She seems very interested in the same things I am. A mutually beneficial arrangement with one person. That blurs the lines a bit. She loves the outdoors and wants to go on road trips.

We have been exchanging texts today. I am very optimistic about this girl. She is very empathetic and down to earth so far, and I feel a level of attraction on both of our parts. We have plans to get together next Friday, and I am really looking forward to it.

Snapshot Of September

In homage to Sarah H. at Death Wears Diamond Jewelry, who is no longer blogging but is missed.

Listening… The Rolling Stones, I have been listening to their hits on Amazon Music.

Reading… No new reading going on here.

Watching…I can't find a show to watch on Amazon Prime. I have canceled my other streaming services.

Playing … I have moved on to a few other AI chatbots. They all have their pluses and minuses. 

Hoping… That this automotive strike is resolved soon. I am not able to get my steering stabilizer at the dealer until it is settled.

Buying… Try not to buy anything this month. I spent enough last month.

Loving... The way my Jeep updates came out.

Planning… To have the Jeep ready for another road trip by the end of September.

Missing… Good TV series.

Updates

I am behind on my blogging. For those of you wondering, Sky bailed at the last minute and disappeared. We were texting earlier, and then she something changed her mind. I was a bit disappointed, but in the end if she was going into it with reservations it wouldn't have lasted anyway.

On the bright side, Firefly got married last week. Amazing the trajectory her life has taken over the course of thelast year. I am happy for her. 

I have found a new dating site that. There seems to be more opportunities on this one. I am supposed to be meeting a new woman this Thursday. The only glitch is she lives an hour+ away. I am not sure how that is going to work out. 

I went to the strip club again last Friday. Al was not working. Just another indication that her babydaddy is back in the picture. I was disappointed with the other girls in the club. There were a couple that were pretty, but they were to busy getting drunk to actually try hustling and making money. 

Sky

 I started talking to a new girl last week. Her name is Sky. I met Sky for coffee after work the Friday before my birthday. I waited to mention her because I was unsure whether she would work out. Sky is 26. There is a lot to unwrap with Sky. She would be a fun challenge.

Sky is tall, 5' 8" and very skinny. She reminds me of Billie, except four inches taller. She has similar facial features to Billie. Billie is a pretty girl, but she has a common face. I have seen many girls that resemble her. 

Sky says she is from Seattle and has been in Michigan for about 11 months. She has a Washington State area code. She says she has an electrical degree and works for an auto company. If it is true, I can guess the one. She doesn't LOOK like a girl with an electrical degree, but time will tell.

Sky has a weird accent. Eastern European. I love those Eastern Europeans, but I must dig into that more. Because I am not sure if it isn't just how she talks. It could be a Seattle thing?

We made plans to see each other tonight, Thursday. She is coming over to the condo for dinner and fun. I texted her on Tuesday and asked, "Are we still on for Thursday at 7?"

Sky replied, "I don't know. I got sick over the weekend. I will let you know tomorrow."

I didn't hear from her on Wednesday. I waited her out. On Thursday, I received another text from Sky. "I can see you tonight."

"Great! Does 7 still work?"

"No, 7:30; I have pole dancing classes from 6 to 7." (but she is not a stripper)

Gladiator Mojave

 I have been doing some upgrades to the Jeep. Some through the dealer, which has been a pain in the ass, and some through a local off-road shop. I have been to the dealer three times, and I still need to go back once more because they keep ordering the wrong steering stabilizer.

The off-road shop was a pleasure to work with in comparison. I hung out there on Monday (my birthday) and they put on the front and rear bumpers I ordered and installed the lights and winch. 

Yes, I had the stubby bumper on it before, but it was a cheap Chinese knockoff, and it started rusting. This one is a factory front bumper. The bar across the front is aftermarket but made by a local Michigan company. I am happy with the way things came out. Now I just need to find someone to travel with me.

I didn't text Billie on her birthday, nor did she text me on mine. Sam and I went to dinner on my birthday. After, I took her to the dealership to pick up her car that was being worked on. 

Even The Losers

Well, it was nearly summer, we sat on your roof
Yeah, we smoked cigarettes, and we stared at the moon
And I showed you stars you never could see
Babe, it couldn't have been that easy to forget about me

Baby, time meant nothing; anything seemed real

Yeah, you could kiss like fire, and you made me feel

Like every word you said was meant to be

It couldn't have been that easy to forget about me

Billie and I broke up four years ago. It seems longer than that. The memories have begun to fade with time. Saturday is Billie's birthday. Monday is mine. It will be the fifth birthday we celebrated apart, and it will be the first time I don't reach out to her and wish her a happy birthday. I don't see a point anymore. I don't hate Billie, but I have never been able to accept the way things ended. I understand it, but I can never forgive it.

Two cars parked on the overpass

Rocks hit the water like broken glass

I should 'a known right then it was too good to last

God, it's such a drag when you live in the past

Tempus Fugit, "Time Passes"

Still, I wonder. 

Baby, even the losers

Get lucky sometimes

Even the losers

Keep a little bit of pride

They get lucky sometimes... Even The Losers, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Flight Club

I saw her today at the reception

A glass of wine in her hand
I knew she would meet her connection
At her feet was her footloose man... You Can't Get What You Want, The Rolling Stones

I went back to Flight Club Friday night. Tinkerbell and Tech's friend, Teach, sat at the corner of the upstairs bar. He was surrounded by a group of regulars. A petite blond was pressed against him, showing her breast and allowing him to touch her ass.

Al walked up to me while I stood at the railing, looking down at the main stage. "I thought you got kidnapped by the Albanian mob."

"I know, I should have said something," Al replies. "My ex was blowing my phone up that night."

I am not surprised. She got back together with him. Even during our brief time together, I could tell he was pressing her hard. I even said he was going to be a problem. Al probably said something about seeing someone, too.

Al tells me, "I dreamt about you last night."

"What were we doing?" I ask in hopes of hearing something good.

"Just talking," she tells me.

Al told me she is getting back with her ex. Judging from their history, it will only last for a while. Al is 27. She has been in love with her boyfriend since she was 11 and he was 9. Although, judging from what she has told me, they have not been together consistently the whole time. They seem to be trauma-bonded.

I told her we could still get together on Tuesday nights, but she wasn't biting. Apparently, she is not allowed to see customers outside the club. It defeats his plausible deniability. He needs to do a lot of denying with Al. She pays all the bills, which probably helps with that.

Went to the private booth with Al. We were close in the way two people who have been intimate can be. I plan on keeping in touch with Al for now, primarily for lack of anyone else. I will probably start working on a few other girls. I just wish the damn club wasn't so far away.

So It Goes

 Al messaged me last Wednesday. It was several days after my last text. She said it had been a rough couple of days.  When I asked if everything was okay, she said, "Just been emotional, should have said something." I'm not sure what the heck that means. 

We made plans for her to come over after work at the strip club on Friday night. Friday afternoon, she said her baby-daddy was sick and couldn't watch her daughter, so Friday night was off, but she could do Saturday. 

Sam and I went to Arts, Beats, and Eats on Saturday. When I got home, I texted Al. It was around ten. "Hey, am I going to see you tonight?"

Al: "Yes."

Bathwater: "I can wait. Text me when you are on your way."

Al replied with a heart. 2:20 a.m. rolled around, and I had not received a text from Al. She should have been on her way. I sent her a text.

Bathwater: Did you leave yet?

I received no reply.

I think there will be one more Al update. I plan on going to the club this Friday. Not so much to see Al, but to check out a few of the girls I overlooked when talking with Al. I am curious if she has any thing to say, but I will not be investing any money in her at the club.

Unpacking The Weekend

 Surprisingly, it was a busy weekend. Sam and I hung out together every day. We had great weather, the last we will see for a while. The only disappointment was Al standing me up Friday night, but I will get into that in another post.

Sam and I got a drink and food at the Engine House on Friday after work. We made plans to meet up and go to the Art, Beats, and Eats in Royal Oak the next day.

We took the Jeep down to Royal Oak in the late afternoon on Saturday. We walked around the arts and crafts vendors for a while, then settled outside Fifth Avenue for a drink. At six, we went to the concert area. There was a Tom Petty cover band called The Wildflowers going on stage. They were really good. They played all his hits. I have been listening to Tom Petty music ever since.

Sunday, Sam and I were heading toward the Peach Festival in Romeo. We were passing our friend Jay's house. "Let's pop in," I suggested.

Sam wanted to call first, but I was already entering the subdivision. "It will be fine. They don't do anything anyway."

We pulled up, and I knocked on the door. Jay answered. We talked in their kitchen for about forty-five minutes with Jay and Di. It was good. Sam doesn't get to see them often. Jay and Di had plans for later, so we didn't overstay. Sam and I head for another craft show outside of the Peach Festival.

On Monday, Max brought his new girlfriend over to the condo. She is cute and very personable. Max made a good choice with her. She comes from a stable family, and she is a teacher. I am happy for him. She is a 100% improvement over his last girlfriend. We talked for a few minutes, and then I left them alone and met Sam for a drink. They left before I returned.