Tall Drink approached the talk from two directions: Early on in our dating, he made it clear that he wasn’t going to date anyone else (though he wasn’t asking that of me, just stating that was what HE was going to do), and then, after a few months of dating (and strict avoidance by me of having any sort of talk.  I am the SingleGirl after all and therefore it’s obvious I’ve got commitment issues) he very cutely wondered if he was allowed to call himself my “acting boyfriend, interim boyfriend, or boyfriend apparent.”  As a woman who shies away from the commitment discussion–much like Britney shies away from singing live at her concerts–I was touched by how he used humor to make me laugh and realized he’s worth keeping around….and he deserved SOME sort of title and recognition in my life….

So, fellow citygirls, I have the honor to introduce my current Gentleman Caller and Main Squeeze: Tall Drink (of Water!)

Wow.  Game and possibly Set, that is for sure.  Tall Drink really upped his game.  The man, he has mad skills.

So, to celebrate his birthday, he asked me to be his date for the weekend several weeks before the big day, but told me that he wanted our plans to be a surprise.  Always one for intrigue, I agreed (why not, right?) and went along with his plans.  After picking me up in the morning, we ended up driving downtown and pulling into one of the swankiest hotels in the city where…we had a full-on suite booked!  After checking in, we headed out to a museum, and then had lunch and saw some more sights, before wandering the city a bit more and heading back to the hotel so we could go back to our room and get changed for our COUPLES MASSAGE!  Tall Drink, he does not kid around!!

Following the massage he presented me with some lovely chocolates to eat while I changed for dinner, and then took me to one of the top restaurants in town, slipping our cab driver the address on a piece of paper so I would not know where we were headed.  I kept guessing in the car, but was totally surprised when we pulled up to our destination.  After an amazing dinner (though we both agreed overpriced.  Still—very very good!), we went for drinks at a new rooftop bar with wonderful views of the city, and then back to our room where TD pulled out a bottle of Dom Perignon! It never ended!

Waking up the next day, he told me we were having room service (in our SUITE! Insane!) and then I should prepare for a gentle walk outside of the city.  After a wonderful breakfast and a bit of a drive we ended up at one of my favorite amusement parks for the afternoon, and he let me ride my favorite roller coaster 7 times.  That I’m telling you, right there, is caring.  As I write this I am like “no way!” and also “I KNOW!” And really? REALLY?!!  Who DOES this??

It was like a fairytale.  And also, pretty darn perfect.

Whoo!

Ok, I will admit to this: Tall Drink is working very hard at winning me over and it is most definitely working.  His strategy has been most impressive: First, shower me with thoughtful gifts, affection, and fun dates (chocolates, a plant for my balcony, champagne, new restaurants etc).

Second, subvert my friends.  This has been far more devious on his part, but as my friends have come into town or met him at happy hours, he has been quick to solicit them for advice on my likes and dislikes, facebook friend them, and then stay in contact–thus building up his own connection with them.  So clever, so devious, and it SO works!  All of a sudden he has a huge fan base in my friends, as well as more insight into what I like and how I operate.  I’m beginning to think his genius is evil!

Third: Tell me that he has stopped seeing other women, but that he won’t pressure me to stop seeing other men.  We have a huge social custom of reciprocity here, and it is hard to cheerfully go check out other grassy fields when you’ve got a great guy making his commitment clear in your own back yard.  It’s a fine balance however, because while awesome, it is also overwhelming and can cause panic.  I admit, I’ve had said panic happen on my very own couch, but fortunately I’ve also had friends to talk me off the ledge and remind me about perspective.  Everyone’s thoughts are that: “this is a great guy, why not see where this goes before you panic and run away by accident?”  And that thought process makes a lot of sense to me.  It also helps with the panic (though I know, tiniest violin for me because this guy is awesome) Anyone else? Bueller? Bueller?

Whew, did anyone else have a crazy holiday?  I have to thank Jess and Christie for letting me off an extra week…sometimes a girl just needs to not date for a while!!  But anyway, down to business.  So, Tall Drink did return.   And, we finally did see each other.  It was interesting, because while we went on 4 or 5 dates before he left, he was gone for two months.  While gone, we talked quite a bit on the phone (I got phone calls from India—I assumed he was interested!) and via chat/email when I was bored at work.  So, I wanted to see if this “remote dating” actually moved us forward, or just kept it alive, as one friend succinctly put it: “treat it like a pot of stew on the stove.  Let that sucker slow cook, and every now and again wander in and stir it.”

Tall Drink came over and we ended up hanging out at my place chatting about everything, including our dating lives with other people, which I found both really natural and really really weird.  It’s not proper date etiquette to talk about other men on a date with a man, no? But is it a good sign that you want to talk about everything? I took it as a yes, and Tall Drink decided it was time to throw down and get serious about pursuing me.  We decided to hang out the next night, and on a whim thought to see what was playing at the theater.  He very smoothly picked up the tab for the tickets, and then even more smoothly scheduled another date by booking us into the Ritz for champagne brunch the next day, after I had mentioned as a joke that I love brunching at the Ritz (you know, in between polishing my tiara and chatting with the cabana boy).  Ladies, I have to say that this is very very good.  Gentlemen, take notes!    A man that listens, executes, and has that “sweep a girl off her feet” mentality  = awesome.  Vigorous golf clapping all around!  Also, three dates in one weekend? Wow! I think I’m going to keep this one around for awhile longer and see what happens….