2: Daily Life Sample

2008-09-05T17:54:00.000-07:00

Being a single guy in a small town does have some advantages. The first is that because I'm not from here, nobody has any expectations of me. There are a few, I suppose, but they have more to do with my job than anything else. The second is that the women love to flirt with me. The downside is that that is as far as they're willing to go!

Last night I went out for a cup of coffee and ended up in a 5 hour drinking binge with a finale at a friend's place. I woke up on someone else's sofa this morning and quickly found my car, drove home, showered, and went to work. Some cup of coffee! That, in itself, is one of the advantages to being single!

Then today I went out for fish and chips by myself and the waitress was flirty. Went to the grocery store and the cute little cashier was flity and remembered me from the last time I was in (another advantage to small town life). I kept my cool in both instances. Even though I love every moment of all the attention, I'm still a calm and collected professional.

I'm not sure, but there may be another drinking binge planned for tonight. I wonder what would be better: going out tonight or going out tomorrow? There are only two bars in this town, and one of them is a dive that is not conducive to socializing. That's the one where unshowered guys wearing jogging pants and work boots hang out looking mean.

So really there is only one bar in town (staffed by cute waitresses and frequented by everyone but the guys in work boots). It's my "Cheers" and I go there a lot after work. If I go and party it up there two, or even three, nights in a row they're going to start thinking I'm some sort of alcoholic. The Saturday night parties at this bar are always better than the Sunday night ones, so maybe I'll just take it easy tonight.

However, that doesn't mean I can't go there for dinner.

1: Background Check

2008-09-03T15:02:00.000-07:00

This is unreal. Maybe unreal is the wrong word. Surreal? Yes, this is surreal.

It doesn't feel as if though this life I'm leading is real, although I know it is because when I wake up in the morning I still shower every single day and pick out my clothes and drive into town and go to work. Then people make me laugh or yell at me, and then I go home and make some dinner and wonder whether or not this is all real. So it must be real.

I used to have a different life. I wouldn't say that it was any more real then the current life in question, but it was definitely different. I used to have a fiance who was my girlfriend for nearly six years. We had travelled half the world together. We had been in the Indian Ocean tsunami together. We had lived in Asia together. We had started out after college and lived through poverty and then growing wealth and success together. I used to be crazy about her and stayed completely loyal the entire time. Even her family loved me!

Then career opportunities brought us from a large city to a small rural resource town. This place is nestled between the Pacific Ocean and a mountain range. It's absolutely beautiful and peaceful and the rush of city commutes has never been felt here.

Then she cheated on me.

It was all over after that. She didn't just cheat on me, she carried on an affair for months. When I clued it, I had to end it. Those are the rules. We had always told each other that we don't stand for cheating. You know when you have those deep conversations with your significant other and you say things like "I'll never cheat on you. I love you too much." and "I don't care how much I love someone, I won't ever forgive cheaters". You're trying to instill your own sense of worthiness (to yourself, but a partner makes a great sounding board). Well, we said those things to each other.

The difference between her and I is that I meant them. I didn't cheat on her, and when she did, I didn't forgive her. That's not to say that I was completely ruthless about it. Actually I was quite the mess. I was devestated. I went into denial and tried to convince her, myself, and anyone who knew about it that it couldn't be true. But it was.

By that point, however, I had firmly established myself into a career with a fast-growing company that gave me two promotions and a raise within a year. I had taken over a field office and had a staff of my own and I controlled a segment of the local economy like a puppet master. My job offers a clear path to success, and an easy one at that! What's the trade-off?

The trade-off is that I'm now stuck as a single in a small resource town.

I used to know how to score friends and, even more importantly, score women. I am a strong and intelligent gentleman by nature, coming from a somewhat patrician old-English family, and I've never had problems getting dates or phone numbers or finding someone to hang out with. All that was when I lived (and grew up) in a large city. The rules in this town are, well, different.

I guess they're different. I don't get them. I don't understand it.

I'm going to be arrogant for a few sentences as I describe myself.

I mean, I have an awesome, impressive job and I'm focused and driven on my career. I am a tall and handsome man with an athletic build and a great head of hair. My eyes are mysterious and somewhat devilish. I have a deep and emotive voice.

I am full of confidence: I served in the military when I was 19, travelled the world, survived a gigantic disaster, and have had lots of experience with girls, so there's not much that frightens me. Because I'm kind and good-natured and love nothing more than to laugh and to have those around me have a good time, I'm not arrogant.

Sure, I sometimes say stupid things. Actually, that is a huge fault of mine (my foot tastes quite good; I know because it spends a lot of time in my mouth). But for those who know me it's hilarious.

I have a great sense of style and my personal tastes are exquisite. I mean, I know what wines and music I like. I have class and my own interests. I love history and museums and art galleries. My wardrobe looks great! I even know how to match my shoes with my belt!

Finally, I have a car and a place overlooking a beach, with a patio and a barbecue and (my newest addition and one of my favourites) an awesome Dell laptop.

If I lived in a city I would not be writing in a blog. Well, maybe, who knows. This is a first for me. The point is that I am still single after half a year!

So this blog is about my life in a small town. I have no idea where it's going to go, but who does? This is the first entry and I guess I'll see what happens!

Big City Boy, Small Town Life

2: Daily Life Sample

1: Background Check