Elle's {Opinion} on the use of the word Killing & Online Dating

Soooo...Every morning I wake up to an email. Signed, sealed, delivered just for me {and hundreds of other women in the Seattle area with probably the exact same seven matches}. Sometimes I can't bare the excitement - and I have to sneak a peek - AT WORK. Hello, I could be matched with my future husband - TODAY - and nothing is going to get in the way of that!
Well today was one of those days - I was too excited to wait until the end of the day. But it ended as soon as it began. Why? Because I was matched with this guy. eHarmony asks you the one thing you are most passionate about. And this was his answer:

{"I am passionate about killing and seeing nature. I also love to travel and explore new things."}

WHAT?! Is this happening? Is this guy serious? Yes. Yes. He. Is. I feel like he is peeking through my window right now...
To make matters worse? He had NO PHOTO. Not apro-pros my friends. Hello, Dexter or that guy from Saw.  I don't mean to be judgmental. But come on. This guy was leaving too much to the imagination. And it was screaming serial killer.

"Killing" guy is creepier than the Burger King guy.
And the Burger King guy is creepy.

How about you say you like hunting? Remove the word 'kill' and we might be able to talk. Instead you have now been 'archived', never to hear from my totally awesome non-killing self. Word choice my friends. It's called a thesaurus. It's free. Use it.

And that's how the mood was killed on this blissful morning. I'm too terrified to log in again today. But I know those six other matches will still be there tomorrow.

First thing on my list of things to do? Have my friends review my profile. I want to make sure I don't have any mood-killers on my profile!

xoxo,

Elle

Elle's {Opinion} on Occupations

Gentlemen, If this is you, please take note.

Golf is not an occupation, unless you are Tiger Woods. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

This is hot, but it is not you.

Calling yourself a physician and posting a picture of yourself in your white coat is unfortunately not a turn on. It makes you look kind of douchey. Don't get me wrong, be proud that you are a physician! We believe you! But we don't need a visual.

This guy is cute. But he is a model.
And even he looks a little douchey.

xoxo, Elle

Elle's First {Blind} Date

How did I get here {testing my wits/paying for a dating service}? It all started last summer when {I pretended} I was ready to start dating. I went on my first {blind} date pre-eharmony.com. {And I lived to tell about it.}

My parents were celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary {congrats to them!} and my siblings and I threw them a fabulous party to celebrate their big day.  I was designated photographer and got to mix and mingle with some interesting folks from my parents past and present. One older gentleman and I got to talking - and laughing - and he declared that he would love to set me up with his son. I figured I might as well take a chance, right?

We met after exchanging a few emails for happy hour at an adorable gastro-tavern called Black Bottle in the heart of our Seattle. He was SUCH a gentleman. But there were two things - {A}. I felt no chemistry. {B}. I was not ready to date {which is probably part of the reason why I felt no chemistry}.
He also had this going against him {it was one of the hottest days of the year...but I dressed smartly and wore a white t-shirt}:

Bless his heart.

Needless to say, I didn't end up going out with him again. I just wasn't feeling it and I decided I needed some more {Elle} time before diving back into the dating world. It was a pleasant and terrifying experience all at once and I'm glad I got back out there if only for a moment...but it wasn't my time...yet.

What I learned from my blind date:
A. Dating is hard {and scary}.
B. After a break-up the only way to know if you are ready to date again- is if you get back out there and try {it's okay if it turns out that you're not ready just yet}.
C. Dating can be a confidence booster {I suppose it can crush you too - but we won't focus on that}.
D. If you sweat a lot, you should wear a light colored t-shirt {and maybe bring a stick of deodorant}.

Have you been on a blind date before? What have you learned?

Trust me, if I did it. You can do it too.

Elle

Elle's Backstory

Hi! I'm Elle. My first {and only} boyfriend and I broke up a year and some change ago. We'd been together for almost five years, lived together for four and had a baby {dog} together. We loved each other - like best friends should - but we learned you need more then that to be together forever...

So we broke up. It was painful. There were {several} words exchanged. I cut my hair. I lost some weight. I bought new clothes. And I saved $10K in cash in 8 months. High five.

I grieved. I cried. I slept. I seeked help from a professional. I went on vacation. I ran a half marathon. I got a promotion. I started a cooking club. I went on a hilarious blind date. I reconnected with my best friends. I bought some new furniture {hello queen size pillow top}. I read "It's Called a Breakup Because it's Broken." {If you're going through a breakup, you should too}.

I've come out the other side. A better, stronger person. Triple high five. The x and I are still friends. We share our puppy. We are happy. 

I turned to my girlfriends and said 'whose ready to go meet some MEN?!" They looked at me - and then looked at their boyfriends/husbands. I thought - oh shit. While I was in a heavy duty, all encompassing relationship - my friends were enjoying their early/mid-twenties. And they were just now settling down. 

Was I bothered? No. I took my role as third wheel seriously. I love my friends. I love their boyfriends. I kept healing - and suddenly realized that yeah - I'm ready to date again. I sat down my girls - and announced I was ready. Set me up with your {male} friends por favor! They whipped out their cells. Reviewed their phone books. Nothing. Nada. Back to the drawing board.

It turns out the drawing board is a little website of the dating sort, {eHarmony.com}.

This is my story. Dating in the 21st century. I'm terrified. And excited. And if anything, I'm sure I'll get some great stories out of this adventure. Thanks for joining me on my ride!

Elle