He Loves Me.

Ever since I swore up and down I'd stop it with the non-stop-Mr. RH-fest, I've been a pretty lame blogger. Lots going on what with the trip to Hawaii with my family (still a couple of recaps to go!) and working crazy hours, so I've just dropped off the planet. I'm catching up now!

Let me set the scene for you:

So it's Sunday morning, August 7th, I've been back from Hawaii a week. The day before, Saturday, I had a surprise girly-doctor visit and got some weird results so I've been in a funky mood. It's around noon and I have work at 2 pm.

Scene: I'm hanging with Mr. RH at his apartment and eating lunch before I have to go into work. We are chatting about anything and nothing in particular - one of our favorite things to do.

He gives me a funny look and I shoot back with my typical response: "Um, whatcha thinking in that big old head of yours?"

Cue face of panic from Mr. RH. I give him a weird look back.

And then it hits me, a wave of cold terror because I know what's coming.

He blushes, looks me in the eyes, and blurts out, "The thing is, I am absolutely head-over-heels in love with you."

And even though it is SO not the perfect moment (I'm in sweat pants for a long night at work and I had planned an absolutely perfect day at the park the following Monday to help facilitate such a conversation), it was perfect.

You see, I had been absolutely bursting for him to tell me he loved me. For at least 2 weeks prior. I didn't want to say it first because I knew it was important to him that he say it.

And I didn't him to say it right before I left or arrived back from Hawaii because he missed me.

And he felt the same way.

In fact, on the night I got back from Hawaii, I was extremely jet-lagged and had gotten upset about something. Cue tears of tiredness.

He had looked me right in the face as I pouted and I demanded to know what was on his mind. He said, "I'm just thinking that you're the most beautiful person I've ever seen and that there are so many things I want to tell you."

And, because I sensed what he wanted to say, I didn't push him. Shocker, I know.

So yeah. We've been dating for 2 months and I am head-over-heels in love with this man. This man who I've been searching for really seems to be here.

I have tried to push him away with lots of reasons: we haven't known each other long enough, it's just infatuation, he's too young, and on and on and on.

But at the end of the day, I can't deny him when he says we could talk for hours about anything and everything and it would be the best conversation I've ever had - the one I want to have for the rest of forever.

So I apologize for keeping it a secret for over a week.... I needed to keep our little secret in a bubble for a while. Live with it and share secret smiles about it and hold it in my heart until it exploded over and over and I was sure.

Because I feel surprisingly, unflinchingly sure.

And it feels amazing (if a little terrifying).

Did I ever think I'd find and fall in love this quickly? Um, that would be a big NO.

Did I anticipate finding love (again) before I hit the quarter century mark this year? No.

And yet.... it's the best, luckiest feeling in the entire world.

Introducing Mr. Ridiculously Handsome

You have all been begging for this for weeks, and I have been resisting. Somewhere in the past month (seriously, who abducted Sarah and who is this alien living in my body?!), I became super protective of Mr. RH. The thought of anyone on here criticizing him on this here blog (which, FYI, he still does not know about) releases my inner mama-bear. (And yes, I shall eventually tell him that I wrote obsessively about him on a blog that he didn't even know about.)

And then I smacked some sense into myself and realized that I only have the most awesome blog readers ever.... so how could I not post a photo?

Scene: 10 pm, our favorite Mexican watering hole. You can all thank my BFF for being the awesome photographer - she whipped out that iPhone so fast you'd think we were in an AT&T commercial.

Feel free to tell me how good-looking our babies would be. You'd only be the 2,352th person to do so. But seriously, can you imagine the blonde, curly hair? I swear I just dropped an egg.

And also... I had been up since 5 am when I went running and he had been out of work for 5 minutes. It was 10 pm. Don't judge my undereye baggage!

Meet the Parents. Get Official.

I know, I know. I swore up and down I wasn't going to post about Mr. RH all the time... but I changed my mind. Sue me!

Last Friday, Mr. RH and I saw Larry Crowne at the movie theater. It was cute and Mr. RH seemed to enjoy it... but yeah, not cinematic genius. Afterwards we talked for several hours about everything. Blah blah blah, actual talking. Not making out. At some point, he made a comment about us "being official" and gave me the side-eye-question-face.

Being the classy lady that I am, I said... "Well, nobody has asked me yet."

Obviously, I am The Most Awesome at relationships.

Cue Mr. RH asking me to be his girlfriend... or asking me to be official. Or something like that. I honestly don't remember. NICE! 75 hours into a relationship and I don't even remember how it happened.

Lovely.

At least I can look back and remember our first kiss, lo so many days ago.

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On Saturday, it was exactly 1 month since the day he first asked me out. June 9th. I can't believe it's been only a month. It feels like I have known him for years.

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Yesterday, I dragged Mr. RH to the outlet mall south of Indy. It's almost 2 hours from my house but I reeeally like the sports bras that I can only find there... so we trekked. We talked the whole way down and he swears up and down he had a great time shopping with me.

Clearly, the man is deranged.

He dragged me into every store I was interested in and waited like he had all the time in the world. The man is a saint.

Right as we are wrapping up, he gets a call from his mom. She's actually right near his apartment and wondering if he wants to go to lunch in Indy.

Well looky there, what a coincidence. We're in Indy, they're coming to Indy... so I Met the Parents. We went to grab a quick lunch at Don Pablos, which is perfect because Mexican food is delicious but imperfect because I figured his parents would judge me if I needed a margarita at 2 pm on a Sunday. Damn.

So we met his parents and 2 younger brothers. I didn't die instantly, which was a good thing. They were friendly and obviously happy to see Mr. RH.

We dropped easily into the conversation, which was good. I hung back because I am awkward like that.

And then his mom started teasing him about the word he used to describe his younger self -rebellious. She started in razzing him about being so "self-assured" that he has no problem believing in himself... which she and I both agreed was a great trait.

Because he felt ganged up on, Mr. RH got all defensive that we were calling him cocky... and then his mom and I really piled on. It was pretty great. She was laughing, I was smiling, and Mr. RH was pouting because he knew we were right.

All in all, it was a fantastic meet-the-parents. Went as great as could be expected, and Mr. RH told me later that he was quite nervous for them to like me - and he thinks they really, really did.

YAY!

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After lunch, I volunteered to run an errand for my dad which resulted in the most awkward 20 minutes of my life. I stood at a specialty bicycle-parts store and had my dad shouting in my ear about the exact laundry list of items he needed.

Total humiliation, Mr. RH laughed at me the whole time (because I was flustered, duh). He swears he thought it was adorable.

After this, I have a major Sonic craving. So I type in Sonic to the GPS and off we go. 13 miles seems far to drive for Sonic, but I needed a limeade - and it turns out Mr. RH is also obsessed with Sonic. Ten points for him.

We get to the location of Sonic...and there's nothing there. Negative 20 points for the GPS.

I'm pissed but we decide to head over an hour to get home.

On the way home, we ask each other questions and talk about the future. Scary stuff, but I don't feel scared in the slightest.

I'm babbling and all of the sudden I say... "well, when you think you've found The One..."

Silence.

Crickets.

My brain is all oh shiiiit did I seriously just blurt that out? One month and one day after he first asked me out?

He grabs my hand (keep in mind I am driving at least 70 mph on a major highway) and tells me he is really surprised to hear that come out of my mouth.

You and me both, mister.

And then he says that he's glad I said it because he wouldn't have "put it out there" so soon because he was afraid that I would freak out.

Cue warm fuzzies.

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That's all the latest Mr. RH news that's fit to print this early on a Monday morning. Apologies in advance if I made you nauseated with all the sweetness.

Happy Monday!

Greetings, Strangers. We've Had Dates.

It's been 5 days since I posted here. It feels like a lifetime.

Where have I been?

Well, working like crazy for one. For some reason things have been insanity at work and I feel like I am constantly sprinting to try and catch up.

Exciting, I know.

You were expecting me to say that I've been MIA because I'm joined-at-the-lips with Mr. RH, right?

Yeah, ok, some of that too.

So here's the thing. I have had so much fun writing about Mr. RH and our dates. I love love that I have a lot of little moments early in our relationship captured for all eternity.

(Holy crap, I just said relationship!)

But I feel like it's gonna get a bit boring from here on out. So, what'd you do yesterday? Oh, hung out, made out, .... and that's about it.

Date 6? Last Wednesday. We hung out at my house all day. I made him delicious fajitas and Mexican rice. Grabbed Panera, saw Bridesmaids (him for the first time), went for a walk which my ankles are still pissed about.

Date 7? Last Friday. Dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant and Friday-special $10 liter of margaritas. It's becoming a Friday night ritual. Swung by his apartment after, chatted for a couple of hours, zero scandalous activities. Swear. (And I feel like you're reading that thinking that this is my sarcasm-voice but it's not. We were extremely well-behaved teenagers.)

Date 8? Saturday. We were supposed to watch fireworks after I got off work late but when I walked into the parking lot the wind was blowing like crazytown. I ended up heading to his apartment to wait out the storm. We chatted and had several serious conversations. A good night, even though our plans were ruined.

So here's what I'm trying to say: I think, at this point, it's gonna be pretty boring for everyone if I keep recapping each date. Much as I love how this requires zero thinking on my part, these date recaps are boring me to tears. Remember when I used to post about shopping at Forever21? And being lonely and drinking wine out of a sippy cup?

So, when Anything Happens with Mr. RH, trust me, you'll know about it. And I promise to give you any cute date recaps. But the next time we sit on the couch and watch Friends reruns... I'll feel free to skip that post.

For our collective sanity.

Oh, and because it keeps coming up, NO, Mr. RH does NOT know about my blog. I keep a pretty close eye on my stats and have no reason to think that he knows and hasn't told me, either.

Eventually, I feel like I am going to tell him.... but for now I like having it as my private little place for my eyes only.

My eyes and all of you strange internet people. Helloooo over there.

Well, how's that for a post about my big return to normal blogging? Are you tearing up from bored-ness?

Four, Five, Slow Down Girl...

You guys, I have been such a bad, bad blogger. I have been wanting to blog but I think at this point most of you probably want to stab your eyes out with a ballpoint pen than read another update about Mr. Ridiculously Handsome, right?

Well, tough luck because that's all I've got on my mind over here. Hard life.

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On Saturday, we had official/unofficial Date #4. Technically we weren't planning on hanging out but I convinced him that I needed to see him after he worked. I was off for the first time so I was excited to see him in my normal clothes, not feeling like I got run over by a truck.

I picked him up from work (and waved to all his co-workers who were absolutely glued to the windows to get a peek at me) and took him for ice cream and to watch the sunset from my favorite park.

Of course, the minute we got to the park it clouded up. No sunset, but plenty of hilarious conversation (would I give anything less?) and maybeee a few kisses. Because I'm easy like that.

I told him I wanted to go to bed early and then kept him talking until 11 pm. There is a reason for all the bags under my eyes!

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On Tuesday, we had spontaneous Date #5. We both worked until 9:30 pm and I had convinced him that he needed to go see a midnight Transformers showing with his co-workers. I was invited to come along but told him in no uncertain terms that I was not a late-night person and there was no way in hell that was ever going to happen.

He thought it was cute that this old lady has a bedtime. I concurred.

Since I felt bad that he had a couple of hours to kill before the movie, we went to the only restaurant I could think of that was open (that would be Applebee's) and had appetizers and drinks.

For a non-drinker, I am sure pouring the liquor into this one. Sorry buddy.

As you can imagine, he's pretty upset about it. Especially since tipsy-Sarah seems to be more frisky than I ever remember being in college.

TMI? Sorry kids.

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Yesterday was date #6 and I'm still digesting it. I would say that I'm going to post about something besides Mr. RH tomorrow but I'm not sure that's going to happen.

I have to give the people what they want, right?

Lucky Number Three

On Friday, I was absolutely worked up about Mr. Ridiculously Handsome. (Why yes, that's the official new name for Secret Admirer around here. I shall call him Mr. RH for short.)

I knew that we were planning on hanging out of Wednesday of this upcoming week... but honestly, that's several days away. And that was no good for me.

So I used my feminine charms to convince him that it was absolutely imperative that I have a margarita directly after I got off work at 8 pm on Friday. Luckily for me, he took the bait.

Hook, line, sinker.

Of course, it was rather spontaneous so of course I didn't have anything but my work clothes with me. White top, jeans. Completely unsexy. I was actually wearing a tiny red bow in my hair. Totally cheesy.

But I honestly didn't even mind too much because I was just excited to see him. (I know, gag. I don't think it's cute how sappy I am right now. It's insane.)

So we deposit ourselves directly in a booth at my favorite Mexican joint (which I refused to go to on our first date because I know too many people there) and I order us a giant Friday-night-special margarita.

Now have I mentioned.... he's not much of a drinker?

I know, I'm as shocked as you are. Probably even more.

But he swore to me that he's not a non-drinker, just not a big drinker.

So obviously I had to test him with the big ass margarita. Duh.

He kept up with me, which was admirable. And I only accidentally knocked over my glass twice. Don't worry, I caught it both times!

We talked the whole time and I honestly can't even remember what the conversation was about. Family, school, and work, obviously. But I think we also talked about the future and what we want out of life. Deeep stuff.

And, per twitter's request, I told him that my friends had voted and told me our next date should be mattress shopping. He laughed. And then insisted we do it. I declined.

We left the Mexican place and I drove back towards where his car was parked. At first I felt a little weird about driving on all of our dates so far but then I realized I was a control freak and am OK with it.

We chatted in the car for about 2 hours. The windows were fogging up (it was unusually chilly that night) and it just felt nice to talk. I teased him about his age, despite the fact that I promised not to bring it up for the rest of June. Lost that bet.

And despite the fact that my brain was sending out the message kissme kissme kissme what the heck is wrong with you??, I had resigned myself to the fact that it was not going to happen that Friday night.

It's 11:56 pm and I tell him that I turn into a pumpkin at midnight and shoo him out of my car...

.....

(do you know where this is going?)

.....

First kiss. Just like that.

The background music?

(I still feel terrible about this.... damn you XM radio for failing me!)

Teenage Dream by Katy Perry.

Which, in a way, was kind of perfect because I felt approximately 15 years old at the moment.

I, of course, had horrible breath from the Mexican food we ate for dinner and had lost my gum somewhere between work and dinner.

Mr. RH told me later he almost didn't kiss me because he knew that I wouldn't be happy that I was wearing my work clothes when it happened. Smart guy, how does he already know me so well?

He kisses me a couple more times and I physically shoo him away because honestly... give a girl a break here. Mexican food and chapped lips from yapping for hours on end.

It just doesn't get any sexier. Or not.

And that was the mystical third date. Try not to freak out with excitement.

You Asked for It!

On Monday, I posted about my first date with Mr. Secret Admirer. And all your comments were "blah blah I'm glad you had fun when are you going out again?"

Geesh, can't a sister catch her breath?

Apparently not, because on Monday we went on our second date.

I was planning on going home and getting caught up on life, but duh that didn't happen.

I was leaving work and he was working (on his day off).

I gave him crap about it (because everybody gives me crap when I work on my days off)!

And then he said we should grab dinner if I didn't already have plans.

I was planning on eating with my dad because I hadn't seen him in ages... but yeah, my dad shoo-ed me out the door faster than you can say "empty nester."

Since I was dressed like a slob from work, I said I wanted Panera and he agreed. (See, I like this guy already. He agrees with most things I say. WIN!)

We chatted for a couple hours... life, family, kids, work.

I let my sharp tongue out of its box and he seemed to think I am not only gorgeous but funny too. (He just keeps getting better and better.)

We decided that we weren't done chatting after Panera so we headed to the best local ice cream shop. I tried the peach (I never do new flavors!) and it was surprisingly delicious. He got the butter pecan and I called him grandpa.

We chatted for a couple more hours and it was just fantastic. I couldn't stop smiling. (I know, gag me with a spoon.)

We chatted a bit more in the parking lot next to his car.

He had confessed his tattoo to me and I demanded to see it. It's large and spans his whole back between his shoulder blades. (He felt totally shy and uncomfortable but I was loving it.)

So we're in my car, parking lot, it's past 10 pm, and my brain goes ballistic.

I mustered all my dating genius (read: none!) and sexy-time faces and grabbed his leg to close the physical distance between us.

And I'm all.... holyshit holyshit ohshit oh crap, breathe normally, pull yourself together girl... he grabbed my thigh to make a point (I was wearing jeans, not a dress for once in my life)....

and.....


.......


.......


(if you follow me on twitter you already know what's coming).


......


... and said goodnight and hopped out of my car.


BOO HISS!

Part of me wants to grab the reins and show him that I'm not afraid to take charge. But the other half of me knows he's a hopeless romantic (he told me so!) and that he's probably got some kind of grand scheme in his head and I shouldn't ruin it, right?

I'm undecided. I think I'll wait it out a little bit longer before I get pushy. Goodness knows I'm plenty pushy enough in other ways!

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Since date #2, we have exchanged a steady stream of texts at all hours of the day and night. He knows that I wake up early (usually around 6 am if not earlier) so he always sends me a text first thing in his morning (around 8ish) because he knows I hate being the only person I know up and functioning so early.

It's really stinking adorable. (Gag!)

Last night, I was in rare form. I had slept for a full 7 hours the night before and was feeling good. (Did I mention I haven't been sleeping well since we've been texting at all hours. I wake up with my heart racing, which probably means I should call my doctor because I'm probably dying.)

Out of nowhere (well, not nowhere, actually out of my brain) I started texting him these crazy-teasing texts. For the record, there were no boob shots or crotch shots involved... just words.

Teasing, teasing, teasing. Part of me felt like an out-of-control psycho... actually, all of me. But he thought it was hilarious cause he swears up and down that I look so innocent. Whatever, dude.

More racy texts before I declare a ban on them and tell him that he shouldn't get the wrong idea about me because I am actually a nice girl. I swear!

He says it doesn't matter much what I say (although he was entertained) because all this racy-ness was not in "the plan."

Cue Sarah saying "Plan? What plan? Did I miss something? I do NOT like to be out of the loop! What's going on? I thought we were flying by the seat of my pants?"

And he tells me to calm down and he's not gonna tell me anything so I can just get over it.

Damn, I hate men who want to tease me as much as I torture them. Damn him!

So there you have it, vultures. I am having a sexual revolution (in my brain, unfortunately not in person) and he's got plans.

Me? I've got it bad.

Oh yeah, and I forgot to mention one thing that he's pointed out several times to me. He hates games. Refuses to play them. Says that if he is into me he's not going to pretend like he's not.

Refuses to wait 3 days before calling (texting?) and is not one to play it cool just to prove a point.

Stick a fork in me, I'm done.

To Be Continued....

First Date Deets

Ok ok, I feel like I've kept you guys waiting on a cliff all weekend. SUCH ANTICIPATION!

So, where to start. He asked me out about 2 weeks ago while I was at work. With all three of the other managers in the store.

I die. I literally handed him my phone number and told him to get in touch. (And leave now, I believe the tone in my voice said. I feel sorry for the poor guy!)

He contacted me that night but unfortunately I was at work till 2 am. And then I didn't reply for 2 days because I spent the next 24 hours at work with only short breaks to come home.

So... then we developed a textual relationship. It was weird to me. I'm not sure how these things are supposed to work. Was I supposed to be flirty or normal or what?

Who knows.

I begged for a rain check on the date because I was running the show at work and really stressed. He, of course, was cool with it.

But then I started feeling bad and told him we should meet up Friday night, even though I was going to work a 9 hour day and look/feel like roadkill.

Thursday rolls around and I am feeling just a bit too worked up about everything. Too much happening! (Did I mention that this is the day my baby brother packed up and left to live in NY for a job? Cause it is.)

So I suggest we grab milkshakes after work because I need sugar and we were both working late. I drove (and paid) and we grabbed a quick snack and chatted for over an hour. I was nervous because that's how I roll but the conversation wasn't uncomfortable, in my opinion.

We (I?) talked about school and the charity work I did in college... because I think he asked what I really wanted to do with my life. I insisted that the sleepless nights and the whole experience was just fun and my passion so it didn't feel like work... but when I arrived home I had a text from him: "Your modesty is adorable, just in case you didn't know."

Well, damn.

Friday rolls around and I'm a crazy lady at work. Super busy and of course somebody has super butterflies. I hadn't eaten or slept in what felt like days because... well, because I'm me and somebody has to freak the f out about everything.

I rush home from work to change and freshen up and he texts me asking if I need more time (smart man!) but I was actually perfectly on time. We met at the restaurant because there was no way in heck I was letting him pick me up.

We ate at one of my favorite Mexican restaurants and I didn't have a margarita. (I know, I just fainted from the shock too.)

We talked about families and life. He's younger than me and still in school so I asked him alll about why he wants to be an English teacher.

The answer? Completely swoon-worthy.

I can't even articulate it because it's just so... attractive.

He expressed how hard it is to watch his oldest sister marry a man that he thinks isn't good enough for her. Swoon.

I chattered endlessly about nothing of consequence. (I think?)

We talked about old relationships. (I know, SUCH a first-date faux pas, but we'd been "talking" for long enough at this point that we each know a tiny bit about the old baggage. Best to get it out on the open, right? Maybe?)

After we finished eating we chatted more and more... and then I told him that I just had to have ice cream.

Off we went (in my car, because I'm a control freak like that) to the best local ice cream shop in town... there was a long line so we got to debate ice cream flavors.

We chatted for another hour or so and I couldn't even finish my ice cream. This after I gave him crap about wanting to order the small/kid's size. Ooops.

We chatted and chatted some more about nothing and everything. I never felt like it was forced and I honestly didn't feel very nervous. A little, but not very.

He has told me that he thinks I'm beautiful and funny. Two adjectives I would love to have applied to me, so I'm flattered.

He's not so bad to look at himself. He's taller than me. Full head of dark, curly hair.

We're developing quite the textual relationship, which is just freaky to me on so many levels. Is this how the kids do it these days?

We haven't spoken on the phone, which is freakishly odd to me but also fine. I hate talking on the phone more than anything. Plus I'd most definitely blurt out something embarrassing.

I apologize in advance for the rambling post... but I have received approx 200 tweets asking for the dirty deets... and I didn't want to fail to deliver.

And because I know the first comment is going to ask... no, he didn't kiss me. (And I might have been a tiny bit disappointed about it.) Which is silly because I was nervous as hell about it.

Oh, poor guy. I don't think he knows what he's gotten himself into.

(There, I did it. Now y'all can get off my case, geesh! On another note, THANK YOU for all the sweet tweets and encouragement. Your encouragement was one of the reasons I let myself "date" again. Thank you!)

Don't Freak Out.

Ladies,
If you follow me on twitter you already know this... but still, you might want to be sitting down.

No seriously, pop a squat, I would hate the liability of you falling over and hitting your head and getting a subdural hematoma (5 points to the Grey's Anatomy watcher!) and then off and DYING ON ME.

I, Sarah, have a date tonight.

*faints with shock*

On June 1st, I wrote a post that said, very hypothetically, I was open to dating again. Within 48 hours of that post going up, it became clear that I had (have?) a secret admirer.

He asked me out a week ago and I have been seriously slammed at work or this would have happened sooner.

I haven't been on a first date in... oh, 7 years, I'd say.

I don't even know what people wear on first dates anymore.

And don't even get me started on this whole texting and dating thing. They didn't do that the last time I was dating!

Hold me, internets. I have the fear.