I've been avoiding putting up this last blog, partially because it means my adventure is really over, and partially because I didn't want to reveal too much. Why would you buy the book if you already know the ending? So here's a smidgen of what happened on date #50 . . .
I’d been looking forwar…
Oh, those crazy Cornhusker fans. I had heard before that the largest population centers of Nebraska are, in order, Omaha, Lincoln, and Memorial Stadium on game days. No other cities can compete with the 81,067 screaming fans who pour into town decked out in red. Seeing it with my own eyes, I had …
Here was a new problem: two Mr.’s in one state. I guess it was better than no date at all.
The day before, I had no one lined up. A farmer seemed to be a maybe, but I’d learned back in Illinois that a maybe wasn’t a yes. One of my friends texted her sister who sent out an all-points bulletin t…
Speeding along a mountain pass, Mr. Colorado pulled off the road and parked at a secluded spot, far from any streetlights. He lowered the convertible top, giving us unfiltered access to a sky full of stars. It was amazing. Romantic. The perfect make-out spot. And then . . . we played Scrabble.…
Mr. Hawaii wouldn’t tell me what we were doing on our date. He told me he’d pick me up at 8AM and I should bring a swimsuit. On a Hawaiian island, that could mean pretty much anything.
“I’m hoping for parasailing,” I told my friend Eli over breakfast. I was staying with him and his wife Car…
In an effort to be "caught up" when I leave for Hawaii (tomorrow!), here are quick glimpses of the most recent dates!
ARIZONA
I don't know why anyone would choose to live in a place where it's 102 degrees in the shade in October. Seriously? I started sweating just pumping gas. I was a little worr…
I had planned what I wanted to do on my date in California long before I found a guy to be my date. I wanted to hear those three little words everyone dreams of hearing: Come on down!
I’m a bit of a game show fanatic. Before meeting Mr. California there, I’d already been to the Price is Right twi…
Ugh. I'm behind! I know, I know . . . and I'm really sorry to those of you who love the long date stories, but here's the thing: my time is running out really fast. I've only got about a month on the road left, and as I run out of time, I want to cram everything in, which means I don't want to sp…
I met Mr. Idaho in a parking lot between Coeur d’Alene’s big resort hotel and the trailhead of a path that meanders beside the lake. I normally wouldn’t meet a stranger for a hike, but this guy had been referred to me by Sarah, the sweet girl I couchsurfed with back in Salem, Mass. Plus I’d seen a…
In an effort to catch you up (and to not have to put up several long blog posts in one day!), here’s a brief rundown on my dates in the upper Midwest!
Wisconsin -- This is the first time I felt an actual jolt when I saw one of my dates. So attractive! We’d planned to wander around a garden outsid…
I’ve never been good at picking up guys. I’m pretty shy, really. The only time I attract men is on the dance floor. I used to think I must be a pretty good dancer, but my friends pointed out that no, I’m just a really funny dancer. But anyway, I was worried about finding a Mr. Illinois since I’v…
People keep asking me what I’m going to do after this little adventure is over, and the simple truth is, I have no idea. I liked working with teenagers, so I guess I could do that again. I also like old people, but I don’t like watching them die, and I’m not sure what the job market has open for w…
I love surprises. I mean the good surprises. Not like those whack-job internet things where they tell you to look really closely at the screen to try to find what’s wrong with the picture and then this gruesome face jumps out screaming at you. That’s just wrong and could give a person a heart att…
I had no connections in Ohio. I really wanted to go to Cedar Point and ride the rollercoasters, but I had no one to go with. A friend had recommended asking radio stations for help, so I did an internet search and found a morning dj named Randy at 102.7 in Sandusky. I sent him an email and he res…
When my friend Molly suggested this crazy adventure, driving around the U.S. and dating a man in every state, I thought, why not? Nothing was tying me down. I didn't have a husband or kids to consult or take care of, and even if I didn't find the man of my dreams, I would have one heck of an ad…
My apologies to those of you who love the long blog entries, but you're going to have to wait for the book to read about these dates! I start my summer job today, and I just don't have enough time to get it all done before I get there! Here's the short version . . . Mr. Massachusetts took me to a …
New Hampshire was another state where I didn’t know anyone, so I found Mr. New Hampshire on a dating website. We met up at a local pizza place on Mother’s Day. It was packed.
I’d chosen Mr. New Hampshire because he said he loved to travel and he didn’t look like and ax murderer. He also sai…
People often ask how I get my dates. My first choice is a personal reference . . . like my friend Jill works with a decent guy, and she sets something up. My second choice is stretching that one degree . . . like my friend Jill has a friend who works with a decent guy, and she sets something up. …
Ah, Vermont. I’ve had preconceived notions about most states. Vermont pretty much lived up to my expectations of unshaven women and hippies. And I say that in a loving way.
I sent a couple a request to couchsurf with them.
“Oh, and I need a date, too, if you’ve got any single guy friends…
Mr. New Jersey should get a do-over. I blew into town on Sunday night and we tentatively set up a date for the next night. He didn't get a chance to plan anything and I only had a couple of hours to squeeze in a date. We chatted on the phone and planned to meet at a Cuban restaurant. I’d never e…