Daydreaming

Well, again, I am just not so good at keeping up with this thing. There always seems to be excuses though. I mean, the last time I went MIA is because I was so busy, so stressed, so tired, so frustrated that I just couldn't find time to sit and write.

This time, I am proud to announce my MIA is for a much different reason. Besides my week tour to Chicago with The David Herrera Performance Company, this girl has found herself head over heals in romance land. A moment to lift your jaw up from the floor...

Brace yourself, this could be a longer post....

There is such a buzz around first dates, something that I tend to forget about being that I don’t tend to date much. And my history has proven that most people I date, are people who start off as friends and then go into a relationship. The idea of a first date is so scary to me, usually, but 3 or 4 weeks ago all I could do was wish I could skip past my Thursday so I can go on my first date with “C.S.B” (aka: cute starbucks boy AKA Paul).

Paul is the star Starbucks employee who is always working and always puts a smile on my face. When I was commuting in to the city everyday I was so cranky from sitting in the car I would need to go go to Starbucks just to decompress for a few min before having to go and sit at work all day. Well this was almost everyday starting in January and after a few weeks this unnamed (at the time I didn’t know his name) guy told me once that “I have the prettiest smile he has ever seen and that it brightens his day when I come in” I was flattered, of course, but didn’t really think much of it from there.

BUT, as the months have progressed I learned that "CSB"’s name is Paul. He knew my name, as they write our names on our cup, but he one day asked me how to spell it and then I asked what his name is and from there we are on first name bases :) (although outside of seeing him I would refer to him as CSB!)

So as months progressed I developed a little tiny itsy bitsy crush on this cute boy who makes me my drink in the morning, but he is working and has to be friendly right? so this little crush is all in my head and I figured it wouldn’t extend past the secret crush. Of course I told all my co-workers about the crush and they all kept telling me to give him my number, but I am chicken, so that never happened. Our conversations at Starbucks though went from saying “hi” to starting to learn about each other. He is in school, but didn’t really expand on what he was studying, I told him I was a dancer and worked at Dancers’ Group but didn’t go much further than that...but I enjoyed my morning flirts, that’s for sure!

When I left LA after my 10 day venture I came back DETERMINED to give "CSB" my phone number. I failed though and just didn’t have the game to do so. A few weeks went by and I kind of started to just lose faith that our flirty flirty relationship would never extend past the walls of Starbucks until a month or so ago...

I walked in to Starbucks on Thursday (ps once I moved to the city I started going to Starbucks less because my mornings weren’t stressful and so I just stopped in once or twice a week just so I could see the Cute Boy). But I walked in one Thursday and there Paul was working at the register (he usually is at the bar making the drinks) and with a line of people behind me he finally asked me to hang out outside of the walls of Starbucks. He was very cute in the process of asking me, picture a long line out of the store and this very cute shy guy looking down asking me if “well, maybe... I mean if you are interested...maybe hanging out, ya know outside of starbucks” :) I said “yeah for sure” and he immediately looked up happy and said “really?! Okay well..” and I proceeded to give him my number. He quickly gave me a pen and a piece of paper and with a line of morning coffee drinkers waiting impatiently, I wrote my number and handed it to him. I was so nervous, I tried to make the number super clear, but for all ya'all who know my handwriting, it was a challenge (especially with a big sharpe!) He told me he would “defiantly call me so we could have a conversation that last longer than 45 seconds” I walked to the end of the bar to wait for my drink and Paul’s fellow employees gave him props (while I was still in the store!).

That was Thursday... Morning...

Friday I went into Starbucks (even though I know he doesn’t normally work on Fridays) but thought I would maybe see. Boy oh boy did the Starbucks staff give me some grief! I walked in and they were like “oh its Paul’s girl! Sorry Shae Paul isn’t here today!” ... There was a lot of talk and I turned bright red...but it was fine...but Friday came and went...and no phone call...

Saturday I was swamped with a 5 hour rehearsal that lead to a performance that night. After the show (which went So-So) I went home and to hang out with my roommate and his friend Chris (we played Rock band till 3am, it was pretty awesome). But, I told them about CSB and how I gave him my number and I haven’t gotten a phone call or text from him yet... Steve, my awesome roommate said that he will call Sunday, he guaranteed it.

But Sunday came...I had a show...and Sunday went...and no phone call...

I was getting a little frustrated, sad, disappointed and starting to just get over it.

Monday I made my own coffee drink the morning and went to work, staring at my phone and continued to have no phone call...

Then came Tuesday, the day where I went in to Starbucks to face CSB and find out why in the world 5 days have gone by and I have not heard from him... I took a deep breath, opened the door and as soon as I walked him there Paul comes right up to me! “you” he says, “you” I say back. He asked if I gave him the wrong phone number because he “called an embarrassing amount of times on Sunday” (my roommate is so good) and it wouldn’t go through. I looked at his phone (there my name and number was) and it was correct. I have no idea why but my phone did not respond to him calling me. SO I then and there took his number, called his phone and it wouldn’t ring. So I tried it again and FINALLY it rang.

That night, 5 days later, he called! 8pm turned to 1:30am before I even knew it, and I could not believe it. A running fantasy I had with this cute boy was that he was a writer. Ya know, works at Starbucks in the morning, goes home and writes. I don't know why...Maybe because the idea of him being an artist who is good with his words, who gets it, but isn't a dancer, or actor, but defiantly an artist seems too good to be true, but amazing. Someone who is passionate, understands the sacrifices you have to make to do what you love. But I don't know anyone who considers themselves a writer, I mean I know people who write, but not people who just want to write books/short stories for a living. So what would the chances be that this fantasy I had of my cute coffee boy was actually a writer? The other thing to know, is that I have dreamed since I can remember that I would meet that perfect guy at a coffee shop. For all who know me, you know I have an obsession with coffee and coffee shops so it only makes sense to meet my dream guy at a coffee shop, right? Well, Paul is 2 for 2. I met him at a coffee shop, and it must be meant to be, he is a writer. No joke. He is in the processes of writing a novel and he writes short stories! I am on cloud 9.

Two days later, after our amazing 4+ hour conversation we had yet another 4 hour phone call. We live 15 min walk away from each other, but our first date wasn't planned till Friday, so our phone calls did. I learned so much in that week about this dream boy. He is Latino, Spanish was his first language, will be 25 in July (He is a cancer sign for those who care!), from the Bay Area, hard worker, has a dog (but is a cat person, and I have a cat but a dog person...who would have thought?)

Friday couldn't have come soon enough, but once it came I couldn't wait. We met at the park, had wine, and just continued talking. Went to get dinner, I met his dog, it was perfect first date. I think what made it so perfect was that it didn't even feel like a first date, it felt so natural, so comfortable, as if I have known him my whole life.

Saturday we both had to work, and Sunday I was leaving for Chicago for a week, but once we were done with work on Saturday I decided to stop by and see him for just an hour or so before his sister came to drop off a tv and go to dinner with him. To my surprise though, he invited me to have dinner with his sister and him and I couldn't believe it. How many guys do you know that have you meet their sister after only 1 date? I couldn't say no though and I am glad I didn't. His sister was hilarious, I really enjoyed her. I stayed with him as long as I could before I had to rush home, pack and head to the airport at 430am.

A new romance, and I had to leave for a week, are you kidding? But every night we talked, and continued to get to know each other.

I flew back to SF on Memorial Day, went home, unpacked, and as soon as Paul got done with work I met him. Seeing him made me realize how much I really did miss him and how lucky I feel right now to have him in my life. Seriously, this guy is a keeper.

This past week has been so great, being back with him after being gone for a week. We have gone out to eat, eaten at home, gone on walks with the dog, played Wii (bowling of course...I am ugh, letting him win right now...I will win soon!), watched pointless TV, sat outside in his backyard just talking, and get this...he even has come to YOGA with me, and wants to come back!! Probably not 2-3 times a week like I go, but he wants to come back! I think its amazing. I totally enjoyed sharing my love for yoga with him.

Last night he came to pick me up wearing a button up shirt, tie and fedora, looking super good... just for me...and seriously, he looked good! :) He makes me feel as if I am the most special person in the whole world and when I am around, he acts as if nothing else matters.

I, for once in my life, have no interest in trying to predict where this will go. I don't ever have to guess what he is thinking or feeling since he is so open and honest I know right where we are at so I don't ever need to question this. In fact, there are no questions, All that seems to matter right now, is that I can't seem to remove this smile from my face and I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

Well, there is my novel about my new romance! I suppose I need to take a picture of us one of these days, and will post it. Haven't gotten to that point yet, but I promise, I will soon.

I'll post Chicago picture soon.