As I write this blog entry, I have no idea what my Jenica has written about the events that described how we first met, but I am sure my recollection of it will not likely be as detailed or accurate as hers. She is supreme when it comes to remember the important bits of our relationship. I hope my entry will give the appropriate amount of sensitivity and care to the story of how we first met.
Let’s see, I’m sitting here in my chair, with my hun on the phone listening to me type, and I’m raking through my brain to gather up the details of that first meeting. Hmm…
Obviously, the first place to start is the location: it was at the Tir Na Nog in Kingston, Ontario. I was on the sound board doing Humphrey’s job, while he was chatting with who would eventually become my dearest and darling love. Yes, she was sitting only about five feet from me, and I didn’t even really know she was there. It was dark and I was deeply engrossed in trying to make people sound good – I was working at karoake, a regular event Thursday nights at the Nog. No, this wasn’t really the first time we met, as I think I didn’t even say hi or was introduced to her.
Anyway, we definitely first met at the Nog, as it could be no where else it was to happen. We are both fine and distinguished regulars to the pub, and with such fine taste in bars, it was meant to be that we would finally meet. Of course, it didn’t necessarily mean we would hook up at a bar, in the way that it sounds so seedy and embarrassing. It wasn’t embarassing at all.
Actually, I think to describe how we first met, you’d have to ask Jenica. I don’t really remember or can’t recall right now. But, I will want to mention one thing that I think was a telling sign, that I was at least interested in stealing my best friend’s girlfriend – a figure of speech, I actually would never do that literally.
One night, while on the board as usual, I looked over to check out a hot-looking girl – yeah I’m a guy, get over it – who was on the other side of the bar and soon, I realized that it was Jenica. I was a little shocked but then it was still nice. I asked Humphrey pointing at her if that was Jenica. He said yeah it is. She was hot-looking, what else is there to say. It didn’t hurt that she was a red-head, I tend to notice red-heads more easily than not. Nonetheless I think this was a telling first remembrance of what would become a strong and meaningful relationship with my Jenica. She is such an important person in my life right now.
In any case, I couldn’t walk over to talk to her at the time, because for one, she was somewhat taken by one of two possible persons at the time, and two, I didn’t think she would have been interested in me. Of course, I would find out I was completely wrong.
Any chance I got, I think I would say hi to her, to make sure she knew I was there, and maybe secretly, I was trying to plant the seed to something more. I remember the one night that I was again on the board, and I walked over to the front of the bar (the board is at the back of the bar) to say hi to her. She introduced me to her sister, Tammy, who was in town for her birthday I think. Anyway, I think I can say I caught myself flirting with her, maybe just casual flirting, not really I’m super-interested flirting. This was also a telling sign that I can recall from the December during which we first met and became acquainted.
So in all, I remember these two moments in that time before December 22nd that were significant to being associated with how we first met. I think these moments could have been important as signs of a possible relationship, but I don’t really feel a need to make something so great right now anymore auspicious or special. Nonetheless, this is how I remember and will tell the story of how we first met.
But, the story doesn’t just end there. I hope the story of us doesn’t end.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
How we Met
So I guess the best thing to write for a first post on a couple's journal is how we met and how we got to where we are today.
I worked at a restaurant/pub called the Tir Na Nog. It had been "my bar" since first year university- I had my first drink there. I was thrilled to be hired. After a summer of work, I was working weekends during the school year. Having very few friends outside work, I found myself hanging out there on my days off. That's how I met Humphrey. Humphrey was a DJ at Thursday night karaoke. After a very brief flirtation, he walked me home and invited himself in. After three nights together, spaced out over two weeks, that was the end of that... but I'd gotten hooked on karaoke and hanging out at the back with Humphrey and his two housemates - Simon and Tom. I noticed Simon because he was quiet and serious, and had a great voice (to be fair, Humphrey does too. He sounds like Elvis.) When I wanted to sucker Humphrey into a slow dance at the end of the night, Simon would gladly play something for me.
Then came my sister's 19th birthday. Much drinking ensued as all 110 lbs of me tried to match my slightly heavier sister drink for drink. Karaoke was fun - Simon sang a few backstreet boy songs and danced with a chair. Very cute. My sister took pictures. It was a good night despite some puking (her) and some drunkenness (both of us).
The next night I wanted to take her to a nightclub for the first time. So we went to Stages... I invited Humphrey to join us with some friends but he declined. So we went with some guys from work and had fun. 15 drinks in (my previous record having been 9 and I don't remember the night, having blacked out and fallen over), Humphrey showed up and I danced with him for a little bit... then I saw Simon, standing on the crowded, very hot, dance floor. He was wearing a touque, a scarf, and a winter jacket. I couldn't resist and I went and started dancing with him, trying to remove the winter garb. Simon very politely pried himself away when the opportunity presented itself. Bored, I found my sister and we left. The little rat had taken pictures from the upper level! On our way out we ran into Simon again and, being drunk, I went up and kissed him and started rambling about reading his Facebook profile and how no one had listened to his story and I wanted to be that one.
It took me a week to get over that embarassment and message Simon to ask if he wanted to go on a coffee date. Surprisingly, he said yes! We set up a lunch date for the first day he was to be back from Christmas Holidays.
We met for lunch at a restaurant downtown. The food wasn't that good and it was hard to talk so we went for a walk afterwards. After walking almost to the airport, we decided to head home. It ended up being a five hour, rather brisk, walk. We talked about everything. Once back to his place, he invited me in and asked if I wanted to watch Hotel Rwanda. So we did. Now, I'm a wuss and I'm jumpy. A few minutes into the movie, I was jumping and covering my eyes, so he put his arm around me. That's when I knew... this guy was something special. The walk said it, the choice of movie said it, and then once his arm went around me I just knew it was right, and it was going to last... and six months later, it turns out I was right. This IS something special.
We've been together ever since. Four days after our first date, I stayed the night because it was late, and there was no looking back. I essentially moved in after that. I think I spent maybe five or six nights in my own bed over the next four months. The only time we were apart more than a few hours was when I was in the Dominican for reading week. We've been joined at the hip ever since. I cried nonstop for a week when we first separated for the summer.
Now we're battling the trials of a long distance relationship as we're 300 km apart. We have the added complication that neither of us can drive to see the other and we're both broke. Add to that the fact that Simon's mother is protective and doesn't see me as the right one for her son.
We've made do with twice-monthly visits back and forth, a superb long distance plan that lets us talk up to seven or eight hours a day (and we do, too!), and the knowledge that our love is strong enough to get us through this.
I worked at a restaurant/pub called the Tir Na Nog. It had been "my bar" since first year university- I had my first drink there. I was thrilled to be hired. After a summer of work, I was working weekends during the school year. Having very few friends outside work, I found myself hanging out there on my days off. That's how I met Humphrey. Humphrey was a DJ at Thursday night karaoke. After a very brief flirtation, he walked me home and invited himself in. After three nights together, spaced out over two weeks, that was the end of that... but I'd gotten hooked on karaoke and hanging out at the back with Humphrey and his two housemates - Simon and Tom. I noticed Simon because he was quiet and serious, and had a great voice (to be fair, Humphrey does too. He sounds like Elvis.) When I wanted to sucker Humphrey into a slow dance at the end of the night, Simon would gladly play something for me.
Then came my sister's 19th birthday. Much drinking ensued as all 110 lbs of me tried to match my slightly heavier sister drink for drink. Karaoke was fun - Simon sang a few backstreet boy songs and danced with a chair. Very cute. My sister took pictures. It was a good night despite some puking (her) and some drunkenness (both of us).
The next night I wanted to take her to a nightclub for the first time. So we went to Stages... I invited Humphrey to join us with some friends but he declined. So we went with some guys from work and had fun. 15 drinks in (my previous record having been 9 and I don't remember the night, having blacked out and fallen over), Humphrey showed up and I danced with him for a little bit... then I saw Simon, standing on the crowded, very hot, dance floor. He was wearing a touque, a scarf, and a winter jacket. I couldn't resist and I went and started dancing with him, trying to remove the winter garb. Simon very politely pried himself away when the opportunity presented itself. Bored, I found my sister and we left. The little rat had taken pictures from the upper level! On our way out we ran into Simon again and, being drunk, I went up and kissed him and started rambling about reading his Facebook profile and how no one had listened to his story and I wanted to be that one.
It took me a week to get over that embarassment and message Simon to ask if he wanted to go on a coffee date. Surprisingly, he said yes! We set up a lunch date for the first day he was to be back from Christmas Holidays.
We met for lunch at a restaurant downtown. The food wasn't that good and it was hard to talk so we went for a walk afterwards. After walking almost to the airport, we decided to head home. It ended up being a five hour, rather brisk, walk. We talked about everything. Once back to his place, he invited me in and asked if I wanted to watch Hotel Rwanda. So we did. Now, I'm a wuss and I'm jumpy. A few minutes into the movie, I was jumping and covering my eyes, so he put his arm around me. That's when I knew... this guy was something special. The walk said it, the choice of movie said it, and then once his arm went around me I just knew it was right, and it was going to last... and six months later, it turns out I was right. This IS something special.
We've been together ever since. Four days after our first date, I stayed the night because it was late, and there was no looking back. I essentially moved in after that. I think I spent maybe five or six nights in my own bed over the next four months. The only time we were apart more than a few hours was when I was in the Dominican for reading week. We've been joined at the hip ever since. I cried nonstop for a week when we first separated for the summer.
Now we're battling the trials of a long distance relationship as we're 300 km apart. We have the added complication that neither of us can drive to see the other and we're both broke. Add to that the fact that Simon's mother is protective and doesn't see me as the right one for her son.
We've made do with twice-monthly visits back and forth, a superb long distance plan that lets us talk up to seven or eight hours a day (and we do, too!), and the knowledge that our love is strong enough to get us through this.
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