Tiki Party, Grass Skirts, and that Four Letter Word

Tiki Party BBQ highlights: started drinking very potent hunch punch at 8:30 on the dot. Was drunk by 9:00. Greeted the first 15 of my guests fairly sober. Greeted the next 15. . .well, let's say that it took a stretch to remember WHO those 15 guests WERE the next day.

Apparently told one of my partner's wives, "Nice to meet you" even though what I meant was "Nice to see you again." She responded that I'd met her like 3 times before (which is NOT true, only once). But I could've made a faux pas like that sober. (Think about when the waitress says enjoy your food and you say, "You too" even though it doesn't apply.)

TJ called at 8:30 and told me he was just leaving town (2 hours away). I was very mature about it, although he expected and tried to goad me into throwing a fit. I told him that I was disappointed, but I knew he did his best, and throwing a fit wouldn't get him there any sooner. (It was hard, but frankly, I had throwing a party to worry about.) He called again around 9:30 and said he was stuck in a traffic jam. "Just get here as soon as you can," I said. He showed up in my backyard, through the back gate, about 3 minutes after that. Liar. So, he got there in plenty of time. (Note to self: stop doubting him.)

That same partner said, first thing, to TJ: "So I hear you're moving to Savannah." "No, not that I know of," he replies. "Well, Miss Have You can't leave Savannah, she's too good a lawyer." I told TJ later that they were afraid he was going to take me away from them. I did NOT add, "And they're damn skippy I would burn rubber out of this place in a heartbeat if you wanted me to go ANYWHERE with you."

My dog wore her lei and grass skirt ensemble that matched mine. It was PRECIOUS. My guests either wilfully or just negligently let her get into some hunch punch, several times. My friend told me this morning that she was walking in circles and dragging her feet strangely a few times. Luckily, she also had a few burgers to absorb some of her drunkenness. I'm such a bad mom. Whatever, she seems fine. SHE never threw up, to my knowledge. I did, although I don't remember. So there, TJ's seen me throw up. . .and still thinks I'm sexy. He also took care of me, gave me water, tucked me in, and then cleaned up around the house before he came to bed.

He also went to get me Chick Fil A biscuits to absorb the evil hunch punch the next morning. We then proceeded to do nothing for approximately 48 hours, except sleep, eat, watch back episodes of Nip/Tuck, harass my dog (in a fun way which she seemed to love), talk, etc. We left the house 3 times. Grocery store, Saturday night, to get ingredients for fabulous french onion soup that he made. Sunday morning, we went to mass. (Yes, I entered a church. Twice in 2 weeks.) Sunday evening, we went to a pizza joint. Ran into some friends there, including Nemesis, who I am positive is green with envy over my hot, funny, smart, and did I mention hot? boyfriend. He even KNOWS she's my nemesis. "That's your nemesis, right?" he said. I love him. He gets me.

He did ask me, "Have you ever had a relationship move this fast?" I said, "Once, sort of. . .I mean, it kind of started off like this, we were hanging out all the time, couldn't get enough of each other, that kind of thing. . .similarly, anyway. What about you?" "Only once," he said. "How long did you date her?" I asked him. "About a year and a half." (Same as me with my guy, Mr. Big.) "Oh, we have a lot in common, TJ," I said.

This girl from his past. . .they broke up 12 years ago, more or less, and he's basically told me that he never thought he'd feel this way again. I guess maybe other women would feel jealous, but I don't. . .I mean, I have my past "love" that I just a month ago lamented on this blog that I'd never find someone as good as, again. I think he and I are very very similar in that regard. Have very very similar feelings from the past. It didn't work out for whatever reason and it's past. . .but in each other. . .there might be a way to recapture that. I don't mean to compare TOO MUCH, I know he's not Mr. Big (nor do I want him to be! That guy HURT me), but it's the best relationship I've had since then. . .I wasn't looking for it, I didn't think I was ready for it. . .but it's here, and I never want him to go away.

I know I've been retarded and delusional re: relationships on this blog, but it's different this time. And in the past, I figured it out real quick when these guys didn't bear out my expectations. But TJ bears out EVERY expectation, several times over. I love this man. That damn four letter word! Don't get me wrong, if he hurts me, I will throw up every defense, become more jaded, and move on to more disposable guys. . .but if he continues to bear out my every hope, desire, and dream, I could move to the "action" phase of love very very easily. And I feel pretty sure he's there too.