The Chuckler

27 December 2008

 

This week’s highlight was Tuesday night, which consisted of hanging out with Phoenix.  Monday she and I hadn’t really talked, and by mid afternoon Tuesday I was not in a good mood in general.  I was actually cooking for the first time in my new kitchen which was good.  I also learned that when the knob is not on the oven correctly the temperatures vary. Once that hurdle was figured out (thanks to Phoenix) dinner was rolling. 

Phoenix came over and things were going alright, but she totally read me, and could tell something was up.  We ended up talking about my Sunday blog; we discussed a number of things including my issue with alcohol.  This felt extremely awkward because really I am best off being truthful but general dating rules say there is a line to how truthful one should be  I opened up, and we discussed the issue, and if I am ready to quit.  She luckily supports me in my quest to quit drinking which actually helps. 

Dinner actually came out well, though the clean up has been slow…  The night continued on, and at some point, about 5 minutes before she goes to leave, I muster up the courage to kiss her.  Which after a few minutes lead to me making a joke her dog wanted to spend the night.  Phoenix doesn’t take much crap, or miss much and chimes in with “well she hasn’t been invited to spend the night.”  Which amazingly I picked up on, and Phoenix and her cool little dog spent the night. 

Phoenix flew to Florida the next morning, and I won’t see her again until New Years Eve.  I was actually worried about the whole trip situation since I tend to get overly worked up, but it has actually been pretty cool.  I feel like I have finally found the sweet spot on a wave.  I remember back in my kayaking days when you would find the sweet spot, and you could miss landing tricks but somehow the wave would just let you roll, and find yourself right back on that same wave. 

I just came up with a great kayak/dating analogy for myself.  I tend to date like a hole, or date holes?  A hole in kayaking is when water runs over the top of a rock, log etc and falls.  The force of the water hitting the surface crates and underwater riptide so to speak where the water on the surface is pushing into the rock and the water underneath is trying to escape but gets pulled back.  The larger the fall, volume of water makes a hole stronger and they become “sticky” meaning they cam become very difficult to get out from safely.

Years ago a friend of mine Jim, and I went to run some class IV rapids which we had done once before with people, yes this story screams death.  So, we head out down a class IV rapid, for our second time ever, the water was extremely high, its was a week day, and there was NO ONE on the river but us. Anyone who knows anything about the outdoors knows how stupid we were.  So we are going down, and I have a thing for “bumping” where you bump or blast off a rock, which on the opposite side is usually a hole.  You try to take off with enough sped as to miss the hole on the other side.

I did not realize the other side was a 4 foot fall, which led to a super sticky hole.  The dynamics while in the whole is tough to explain… you are getting pushed toward the rock, and the water coming over the rock starts catching the front of the boat.  The water hitting the front flips you, straight into the rock.  You roll, and find yourself about 2 seconds from flipping again… it’s a vicious cycle, hence sticky holes are dangerous.  After about 3 bouts of ring around the rosy I stuck my arms out, and held my breath.  This allows the paddle to grab water outside of the hole, which will tow you out.  The issue being large holes, mean a lot of breath holding.  Finally I escape, and roll, my buddy was freaking out thinking I had just bit the big one.  We ended up finishing the day with a couple of wild moments, but we all survived. 

You can surf holes, but it’s a completely different act than surfing a wave, and not nearly as enjoyable (personal preference).

My analogy is that I usually treat dating like a hole, that I rush in, get knocked over, and sit under water confused, then sot it out and small back into the rock.  This continues until the hole finally releases me and I float down river.

Surfing a wave, is a little easier you paddle or coast I, and then paddle when necessary to fall back into the sweet spot, but once you are in the zone you can sit in there with no effort.  This is where I wan to find myself where you got the sweet spot, and unless something comes up, there is on real work.  Make any sense? I suppose I just try to force things. 

I actually ended up just talking to Phoenix on the phone for a hour.  This never ceases to amaze me, how easily I can talk to her.  The Monday after my Christmas party a co-worker and I were talking, and he asked how long I have been seeing Phoenix.  I said two weeks, and he was amazed “the way you were talking I would have thought you had been together for years.”  We end up talking a lot abut everything including if Tom Boonen is the sexiest man on earth, one of us does not think he is.