Seeing Sparkles

It's always a good time when some of the Sparkles get together.  Kim and I were preparing for Blair to come in town for a long weekend.  Blair is a recently married Sparkle who works in the ad biz in Chicago and she came out to the Best Coast for a Girls' Weekend!

Kim and I had a detailed itinerary which sometimes was followed.  Anyway, the weekend started on Thursday night at around 9pm.  This is how it went down.

Earlier in the day, I had emailed both of my roommates about going out with the Sparkles and me and both were wishy-washy about it.

Jim had gotten back from his trip abroad a few days prior and things had been a little off on our chemistry level lately. I was acting a little funny.  So was he.  We hadn't really spent any time "just us" since he got back and we DEFINITELY had not talked about it.  

After picking up Blair at the airport, we head to my beach pad for cocktails.  None of us had eaten and we decided to drink our dinner.  We pour adult beverages for my roommates too.  After a half an hour of "you're gonna miss out on some Clumsy stories,"  they were on board.  We took some shots and walked to the bars.  

This is where the trouble began.  First bar, we have really strong drinks.  Second bar, strong drinks and karaoke.  Third bar, we think there are both drinks and dancing there, but nobody really remembers.

At the second bar, Jim needed to close his tab and Blair and Kim ran outside with Chad.  We spend about 2o minutes flirt-talking (this happens a lot when you are in a flirtationship) and then everyone comes to look for us.  

At the third bar, we are on a mission to find the non-existent dance floor/secret bar. After two elevator rides to the same spot, we realize this is a lost cause.

On the way home, Blair decides she'd like to walk on the beach.  The walk on the beach turned into Clumsy and Blair racing to the ocean while Kim and Jim take pictures.  Blair wins, I touch the water with my feet, and Blair decides to go for a little swim in the ocean.

I run back to Jim and grab his arm as I put my shoes back on my sandy feet.  He leans in...and then I see Blair and Kim running back.

We walk to my house and take naps for the whole night (or for 5 hours or something).

...did I mention I had to go to work in the morning?

Blair+2CaliSparkles+Beach=GoodTimes

The Silver Lining?

So....the day after. 

The day after the kiss.

I wake up at the crack of dawn.  I couldn't sleep.  I am so giddy.  So, I make good on the promise I had made Chad's girlfriend.  I told her I would make her pancakes since she had to get up early to go to an appointment.  

So, I do.

I make pancakes early in the morning.  This gives me some time to think about things (aka panic attack ensues) and rationally decide what will happen.  How am I going to act around him?  Will we talk about this?  Is he even ready for this?  He made a pact that he isn't dating for a year...does he really like me? 

Okay, in case you didn't notice.  I am a total girl.  Insert stereotype here.

Chad's gf wakes up and eats some pancakes.  Then, Jim comes down from his room.  He eats some pancakes.  We hang out a little in the morning.  I go for a run.  He runs errands.  We take pictures of some items around the house for a project for his big trip.  I mention I think I bruised my back.  He apologizes.  Oh yeah, being pressed up against the balcony and the kitchen counter...

I pack for Kim's house.  We are doing a little high school get-together with some of our friends down at her new place.  I leave.

Kim's party turns out to be a little more wild than originally planned and I end up spending the night at her house.  I promised Jim I would take him to his drop-off point in the morning so I wake up at 6am to drive home from Kim's.  I shower, get ready (to go straight to a bridal shower at noon), pick up breakfast at McD's grab Jim.  

I drop him and another trip-goer off and say farewell. I give him a big hug and we joke about the Silver Man.

After the shower, I head to the mall, then back home to take a nap on the couch.  At 9pm, I wake up and go into my room.  

It is there I see the Silver Man, hanging onto my headboard for dear life.  He didn't take it on his trip.

I cry.

Then, I check my email.

Hey Clumsybear,

It felt really great but...I feel really guilty about...

I am not ready....

I care about you but....

You've become such a great friend...

I don't trust my own feelings...

I wanted to say sorry before I left....

-Jim

That was the gist of it.  I am a sunken soul.  

I call Daphne and cry a little more.  I write my too-nice, sell-out reply back:

Jim,

I feel guilty that you feel guilty...

I liked making out but wouldn't want you to do anything you didn't feel okay about...

Yada Yada Yada. I'm a sell-out....etc.

-Clumsybear

The Silver Man sits on my dresser, head hung low.

The Silver Man

My sister Daphne is smart, sweet, funny, and dresses to the nines.  She works for a large, high-class company known for top-notch brands and high prices.  Her expertise knows one limit, the art of gift giving.

Daphne, love you darling, but last Christmas was a crap shoot.

I got a small purple wallet-thingy.

 A board that you can draw on with water and then it disappears (it's cardboard and an expensive alternative to the Etch A Sketch, but not as fun).

And a 12" tall articulated silver man.

I think I did an okay job of pretending that I really liked the gifts, and I took them back to the Best Coast graciously.

So, when Daphne and Lori came to visit, I thought I should take the little statuette out and put him on display.  Hence, The Silver Man.  

Lori was kind enough to tell Daphne it was a weird gift, and we laughed about the little man for a little while.  We also told Daphne she didn't have to listen to her boss when it comes to getting gifts for the whole family.  Nor does she need to buy them at her place of employment.

After Daphne and Lori left, I couldn't find The Silver Man anywhere.  

Later that night, Jim said, "Clumsy, do you know where I found The Silver Man?"

"Nope, not a clue."

Jim:  "In the fridge.  I found him in the fridge."

I burst out laughing.  My sister and I totally have the same sense of humor.  Hiding funny things around the house, little pranks like spiders in the bed, they are the BEST.

"My sister and I kind of have this thing about hiding things in funny places.  Glad she finds the humor in her weird gift."

"It kind of looks like an Oscar."

"That's what it was good for til now.  I would practice with it in front of the mirror...I'd like to thank the Academy..."

"Nice."

I took The Silver Man out of the fridge and put it on the coffee table in the living room.  Over the course of the week, I moved it around (you can move the arms and legs), and put it in funny positions all around the living room.

Over the weekend (one week before the bumping of the foreheads), I decided to put The Silver Man on the ledge overlooking Jim's bed.  

Text message:  There is a silver peeping Tom in my room, Clumsy.  Think you may know him.

Two days later, I awoke with a fright.  I swore there was a knife in my bed.  Nope...The Silver Man...

Email to Jim.  Re:  I got some action...

...a small Silver Man was in my bed last night.

I put it in the shower we share, in the soap holder.  It got to see Jim naked.  Lucky.

He put it in my oatmeal.

I put it on the toaster, holding the bread, about to jump down a slide of noodles.

Then, The Silver Man disappears.  Disappears 5 days before the big trip and 3 days before the big kiss.

I'm thinking, I wonder if Jim is going to take The Silver Man on the trip abroad?  That would be hilarious.  He could take pictures of it all over in different parts of the world.  Kind of like a mascot.  If he takes it on the trip, he would be thinking of me...

********* to be continued *************

Clumsy Does Balboa

So, in order for me (Clumsy) to gather my thoughts for the next few posts (which should be interesting), I asked for the help of my good ole troublesome friend, Kim, to post for me.  This took place on the Friday evening before Jim arrived back in town.

************************

I have this box. No, not that box, it’s a comfort zone box. It’s not super small, but I don’t like to jump out of it often. Clumsy has been asking for a guest blogger for quite some time, and after hearing that I have a fan base (don’t let me down people), I couldn’t decline the invitation.

It’s Sunday evening, I just finished sailing lessons after a morning filled with laundry and another attempt to finish LAST MONTH’s book club book. I poured myself a glass of champagne, pulled out the chips & salsa and, kids, it’s what’s for dinner!

I was inspired in this moment, thinking about how great it is to be single. I got to wake up this morning, plan my day as I like and polish it off with a glass ‘o bubbly. My “man”, we’ll call him Timbo, eats two steaks when we grill. He lives on meat and potatoes. He’s a dude. But, he wouldn’t be down for chips & salsa and champagne. So, tonight, with my Timbo 3,000 (okay, 2,996) miles, I ask myself the question, what’s the harm in being single?

Then again, my options are limited. OLD MEN LOVE ME. Clumsy came to town on Friday. We polished off 3 bottles (yup, read that again…3) of wine AND THEN went out. We wore matching outfits, this we figured out on the walk to the bar. We were raring to see what the night had in store.

I live in this very quaint little neighborhood. There are a few young professional ladies like myself, and lots of sea dogs and even more retirees. The flowers are the size of your face and it’s lovely for a quiet night on the patio, but meeting eligible bachelors, not so much! Friday was going to be different.

This bar, they call the Village Idiot, is the only place for cocktails on the Island. We’ve met several nice old men who promise to take me on their sail boat to teach me how to handle the big guns, yes, this I fall for. They call, they stalk, they are not welcome! Then, we meet Dan the man. He’s relatively young, tall dark and handsome…and taken. No, as far as we know he’s not married or dating, but he has a following.

Clumsy and I keep chatting with this group of fellas, enjoying ourselves, when Blondie the Bimbo walks in. She tells Dan the man that she’s in love with him and he’s welcome any time. She’s not a catch, understand?

He tosses $40 on the bar and runs. His buds though, don’t leave without an empty sailing promise and my number. Sigh.

Old.men.love.me. So I ask you, to be single or not be single. That’s my question.