Dating Fairy Tales and Horror Stories

Since I'm newly dating..yet again, I've been thinking a lot about my standards. In a person and about the date itself..which led me down memory lane. I've had my fair share of dates (mostly first dates lol) some bad, some good..some amazing. Now, as a naturally curious person, I began to wonder if other people had similar dating stories, whether they are fairy tales or horror stories. I asked my friends on Facebook to tell me their best and/or worst dating stories..I didn't get too much of a response, as people are naturally cautious and would like to avoid embarrassment (normal). I on the other hand, completely void of modesty with an overwhelming need to entertain, have no problem sharing embarrassing uncomfortable stories.

My reasoning for this is to figure out if there are any good guys still out there, and if so..why haven't I met more of them. Where are they?

I've put great thought into this. My top 3 dates:

1. Received a call from a guy I met through a friend at a party the night before, where we talked about music and specifically a concert the next day, Angels and Airwaves. I mentioned really wanting to go, but had no one to go with..friends weren't really into the band etc. ..So this guy calls me the next day asking to hang out, sure I say. Couple hours later he's picking me up..no clue where we are going then parks downtown where he then tells me he is taking me to see Angels and Airwaves. Yaaaay, I squeal. We have a great time, get pizza then head to his place where he serenades me with his guitar..then drops me off at home. Gentleman.

(how lovely, right?! Attention to detail, genuine feeling and originality, needless to say it didn't work out (single)..but boy can he plan a first date.)

2. This is a second date. After an amazing dinner the night before, this guy invites me to a UT football game, spare ticket (i had already graduated and was dying to go to a game, since I was no longer able to pay student prices.)He picks me up, we have a great time at the game, gets me over-priced snacks, the works. Then, we continue at a tailgate after, with my friends. He is genuinely making an effort, getting to know my friends.. being social etc. Then suggest we all get food so we continue on (7 hrs later) eating dinner. Finally, the date is over and he say's he can't wait to see me again.
(awesome conversation, tons of time spent together and no awkward pauses. Overall splendid.)

3. Ex boyfriend, whom I met on vacation through friends. A very large group of us treks to Colorado every year, this year the girls flew and the guys drove. We, trying to save money on bag checking, sent our luggage with the guys to and fro. So after a week of spending time together on vacation, my ex texted me saying he has my luggage hostage and if I wanted it back I'd have to see him again. (I about died by how cute this all was). So when we get back into town I go over to his place, he then takes me to lunch..then coffee and back to his place where we continue to talk for hours.

(it was amazing. I knew I wanted to be with him immediately, he really had a knack for laying on the charm..while still being completely genuine...however, still hate him. :)

Now here are some of my friends, best dates:

Meg: Tour of her favorite winery where they watched a Rainstorm roll in from the patio. :) sounds majestic.

Ale (married): trip to Vegas that included a limo, helicopter ride and a fancy dinner followed by a secret engagement in the morning. - perfection.

Cori: Skydiving! followed by floating the river and ended in him making dinner and watching movies all night. -for the adventurous romantic, sounds amazing.

MY WORST DATE:

1. 1st date, we shall call him Tiny Dancer. Meet up downtown where I find him completely hammered. He then proceeds to dance like an idiot for 30 minutes before I completely lose my cool and politely ask him if he would like me to join him. His reply, "I'm a solo dancer, give me 10 minutes." ..needless to say, I gave him the whole night, I left to meet up with a group of friends.

Friends Worst Dates:

1. Her date made them leave a concert to go meet his coke dealer (no lie) then asked if she was into asphyxiation. - terrible.

2. She was forced to buy tickets to a concert for HER own birthday by her boyfriend, then he decides that they are going to a house-party instead and leaves with another girl. -DOUCHE.

3. getting too drunk and accidentally throwing up on them.. -oops..lol?

4. Being dumped because, hey.. my family is old fashioned and well..you're Mexican and Catholic, and well..my Mom expects me to Marry a White Baptist girl. Sorry. -hey douchebag, we've been dating for 9 months..not exactly hiding the fact that I'm Mexican. Dick!


With all this info, I'm still at square one. Dating is basically a game of risk. Dating is like playing chess. Dating is like going all in on a casino game in Vegas. Dating is being completely vulnerable and hoping for the best, trusting a complete stranger with your heart meanwhile trying to put your best foot forward. Dating is all these things and more..mostly, dating is something I'm terrible at. Now.. with just as many negative things that happen how does one stay positive? One could say I'm pessimistic and "glass half empty" but..can you blame me? All I know is that if I'm skeptical in my abilities to date.. how the hell am I supposed to trust a stranger?

I've had some good experience, still no closer to the end game, marriage. However, I'm not yet ready to give up. I'm hoping that I meet men worthy of the "best date" category and that the "worst date" men avoid me like the plague. How does one tell the difference? I mean, someone's trash is another's treasure..right?