Show And Tell

 I displayed five Lego models at a small event on Sunday. The event was held at a church hall on the other side of town, about an hour away. A woman asked me to attend the event while I displayed at Brickfest. She was cute and close to my age, so I agreed. We exchanged a few emails between that first brief meeting and Sunday night. I will call her Ray for the sake of the narrative.

Ray is friendly and personable. I feel a sense of attraction when I am around her, which makes me feel awkward. Ray even insisted on hugging me when we said goodbye after the show.

This is her last email to me.

Bathwater

I'm grateful for you. You made the event more interesting, and it was nice to see you. I remember when I asked you if you were interested in sharing anything spiritual, you said no, but please know that you are welcome to our church anytime -- it might be the start of growing deeper in your faith. I'm glad you sensed the kindness of the church folks. I started going there 3 years ago and it has been good for me.

Here's a link to service online (removed)

If you'd like to check out a service in person, we start at 10 on Sunday.

Thanks for the links to Bible Bricks. That's exactly what I saw. I couldn't remember where I saw it, maybe just searching in preparation for this week. Maybe we can use those videos next year.

I hope our paths cross again someday.😊

Ray

I like her. She seems like a very nice and outgoing person. Maybe that is just who she is with everyone. I have her phone number and email. I am unsure if I am just reading more into her actions, but I am considering asking her out. The problem is I am not religious. I was raised Catholic, but now I am agnostic at best. I feel that the Catholic religious teachings are good for people and society. I am just not sure there is a God behind it all. 

What do you think? Am I seeing more than just someone being friendly?  Should I ask her out?

2:30 a.m. Phone Call

Thursday, July 4th

The holiday has yet to begin, and I get a phone call at 2:30 a.m. Only one person calls me at 2:30 a.m.: Tinkerbell, my pseudo-adopted daughter. Tinkerbell and I have not spoken or texted in over six months. She pulled away without an explanation. She still knows there is one person she can always call.

Tinkerbell was drunk and on her porch after an argument with her boyfriend, Tech. It sounds like their relationship is imploding. Tinkerbell mentioned they hadn't had sex since January. Their sexual relationship has always been an issue for Tinkerbell. 

I listened. I told her she would get through this. Tinkerbell reminded me I said last time. I didn't ask her why she had ignored me for six months or more. I assumed it had something to do with her relationship. I will ask her that another day if she decides to stick around. She said thanks for picking up several times during the call because she knew she had no right to expect it.

I often told Sam that Tinkerbell and Tech's relationship would end when T Rex (Tinkerbell's son) graduates high school. T Rex graduated this year and will attend CMU in the fall. Despite how obvious this seemed, Tinkerbell made no plans for this eventuality. I am sure Tinkerbell will figure it out—she always does. My only advice was not to rush things and leave his house without having a plan.

We talked for an hour. On Friday, I texted Tinkerbell and told her I was available on Saturday if she needed to leave the house. She replied that she would be fine. 

Weather And

 The weather was peculiar this weekend. Saturday morning, it rained, and it has been raining often. As Saturday progressed, it turned hot and muggy. I did my shopping early and stayed inside with the air conditioning. Sunday was the complete opposite. Sunday was overcast and unseasonably cool. I kept the windows shut Sunday because it was in the mid-to-low-sixties.

Sam and I went to an art fair along the river in St. Clair on Sunday despite the weather. Fifty to sixty vendors had tents set up in the park along the boardwalk.  Sam and I like this art show. It is in a nice location, with live music and several outdoor restaurants. 

Neither of us bought anything. I often like looking at the artist's goods and thinking I could do the same thing. It is one of the many alternative career paths I could have if I set my mind to it. 

It took a few art fair photos and sent them to Gia this morning. She would have liked it. Gia and I continue to send texts to each other almost every day. Sometimes, it is just a simple good morning. Other times, we will exchange pictures, articles, or GIFs.  Outside of my twins, Gia is the person I consistently communicate with most. It is nice, and yet I find it odd. I don't know when or if I will ever see her again. 

I like Gia; I just don't know what to do with her. Sometimes, I feel she thinks the same way. I will try again to get her to go to Utah with me. She will probably decline, yet it doesn't hurt to ask. My latest pitch is having her meet me in Salt Lake City. She can fly there, and I will drive the Gladiator. From there, we can spend the week in Utah. She would abhor spending so much time with someone, but I understand her need for space. Personally, I think it would be an amazing time.

Snapshot of June

I noticed I missed doing a Snapshot of May. I have to try harder to keep up on this blog.

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

Listening…Podcasts like The Rewatcher: Buffy the Vampire Slayer. These are the same women who do Morbid. It is funny to listen to them dissect the episodes.

Reading…No new books

Watching…I watched the last three seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer on DVD. Now I am working on Angel.

Playing … I have been playing Wordscapes on my phone (still).

Building... I haven't built anything substantial lately. I did get my models ready for a small show next month.

Buying… I haven't bought much interesting stuff lately. 

Loving... Too few things these days.

Planning… My vacation day for the rest of the year. I have more days of vacation than I have plans.

Missing… A connection with someone.

Bay-O-Rama

After a week of work, I swung by Gia's Airbnb in Ferndale on Friday evening. She greeted me in peach-colored exercise shorts, a grey spaghetti-strap tank top, and a stylish black and grey cap. We headed back to my condo so I could change while Gia relaxed on the couch, engrossed in her phone.

Once ready, we hopped into my Gladiator and set off for New Baltimore. I had promised to take her to Bay-O-Rama, the local festival. The sun was blazing as we arrived, the air thick with humidity, though the forecast hinted at an impending downpour.

Downtown New Baltimore hosted Bay-O-Rama, a modest affair with carnival rides, games, a beer tent, and various booths. Gia was up for anything; her adventurous spirit was evident as we explored the carnival attractions. We even tried our hand at a balloon-popping game and scored a small stuffed lion as a prize. Gia couldn't resist getting a caricature sketch done of herself.

As the sky darkened and raindrops began to fall, we sought refuge at Finn's Restaurant, sitting comfortably under the awning of the upstairs patio bar. The downpour arrived in full force just as our food was served. While most patrons scurried indoors for shelter, Gia and I stayed put, relishing the dramatic weather and our delicious meal.

Returning to the Gladiator under a gentle drizzle, we made our way back to my condo, both of us smiling despite being slightly damp. Gia was a joy to be around—considerate, affectionate, yet emotionally distant in bed. I found myself pondering why I was drawn to someone seemingly unattainable. It's funny how when you're infatuated, you tend to see the best in someone, even if reality might be more complex.

Gia possesses many appealing qualities, and I'm drawn to her physically. She has a radiant smile. While I don't see her as someone suited for a long-term relationship, she would make an excellent companion for short-term adventures, provided she's open to it. So far, she is not.

Gia left for home Monday night, feeling homesick and mentally drained despite her efforts to stay until the end of the month. I'm uncertain when or if she'll return; perhaps not until September, if at all. Despite Gia not being what I'm actively seeking, I find it difficult to let go, perhaps because no one else fits the mold.

Not Enough Glue

 Gia has a captivating smile. When she truly smiles, her eyes sparkle, the years fall from her face, and she has a youthful innocence. Gia has been in Michigan for a month and is getting homesick. As the weather shifts to summer, the club is slowing down.

Gia: I may leave sooner. Work is getting annoying. A lot of cheap dudes, and I'm tired of spending money on a rental car. 

Bathwater: How soon are you thinking?

Gia: I don't know. Pretty soon, honestly. I'll see how tonight goes. Maybe next time, I'll only get an Airbnb for two weeks, not a whole month.

Bathwater: I figured it would slow down once the weather kicked in. Today is Father's Day.

Gia: You were right. I forgot it is Father's Day :(.

Bathwater: Do you want me to come down and keep you company for a bit?

Gia: It's up to you. That's a far drive.

I drove across town to the club. An accident caused the fifty-minute drive to take an extra twenty-five minutes. I arrived at eight forty-five. It was the first time I had been to the club since April. Gia and I have been seeing each other outside the club on Fridays. 

There were more dancers than customers. I got a booth, and Gia and I camped out for most of the night between her trips to the stage. She tried approaching a few other customers without luck. 

"You have come a long way since we first met. You are less stubborn," I tell her.

Gia and I are sitting in the booth. Gia is wearing an orange micro bikini. Her legs are stretched out across my lap. 

"I have been working on that with you," she tells me. 

I wish there was more of a connection between Gia and me. There are so many differences, and there is not enough glue. 

Not The Nail

 I don't know why I haven't been taking the time to write more. Many things go by without me recording them here. I find it hard to recreate the events in a narrative that pleases me. This is ironic considering all the tools we have today to improve our writing. 

I have been communicating very little with anyone lately. I told Gia I reached out to her more than anyone else, which surprised her, considering we don't text much. 

Brit sits across from me on the couch. She is talking to me about her relationship with the guy from California. They met on Instagram. Brit flew out to see him. This guy lives with two roommates, both women. One was supposed to be his cousin, but Brit never sees this cousin and isn't sure she even exists. 

The red flags continue to pile up. First, the guy says he is in his low forties. It turns out he is fifty. He has five kids by three women that he never mentioned to her. He is a graffiti artist and likes to tag trains—at fifty?

The conversations she tells me are him gaslighting her. Brit is a psychology major. It is the classic case of a person with mental issues seeking answers. Brit is visibly upset over this guy. I wanted to tell her he sounded like a big loser who would not bring her happiness, but you can't fight emotion with logic. The whole conversation reminds me of the YouTube short  It's Not About The Nail.

I shut down the conversation by leading Brit upstairs.