Tag Archives: Dating

Kaiser's Korner, Podcast

Some Marriages Age Like Fine Wine, Others Turn to Vinegar

Don’t be fooled by the seemingly negative title of this week’s episode. We are celebrating the bonds of wedlock, not tearing them down.

All of the posse members have jumped the broom, with varying degrees of success, and during our recent summit at the AMR Central Florida Command Center, we had a frank and probing discussion about what made our marriages work.

And what didn’t.

Of course we endlessly busted each other’s stones (because that is what guys do when they deal with anything even remotely emotional) and managed to have a little fun, despite the seriousness of the topic.

Sit back and listen to how a couple of Bronx boys deal with the vagaries of marriage.

Padre John's Sermons

Dating Disaster Stories

Years before online dating services like Match and eHarmony were options, I placed a personal ad in the Penny Pincher.

The first woman that I went out with called and asked where I would take her. I said that she should pick a place.

Siobahn suggested a seafood restaurant. I liked seafood, so I didn’t mind.

During the meal, we engaged in conversation.

She was an au pair, someone who provides day care and light housekeeping while staying with a host family. The meal arrived. I had a nice salmon and she ordered lobster.

I thought when the check arrived, we would split it, but I kind of got the indication that au pairs didn’t get paid very much, so I shelled out the money and suggested that we walk across the street to a coffee shop for dessert.

She said that it was getting late and she had to be back to put the kids to bed. At that, she left.

I went across the street myself for cake and coffee.

I never heard from Siobhan again.

For my second date, Karen and I talked on the phone a few times. She lived in Rockland County and wanted to meet in a bar with a male friend as an escort.

Seeing how this was all kind of new to me too, it seemed fine.

I arrived early to the bar. I was dressed in slacks, a dress shirt and tie. Karen and Hank, dressed in leather and jeans, arrived a few minutes later; Hank sat at the end of the bar ordering shots.

Karen was a rather large woman with at least four visible tattoos. Hank had that “biker bar” vibe as he too was covered in tats.

Karen ordered a hamburger with a shot and a beer and wanted me to have a drink.

I got this nervous vibe that I was going to get rolled in the parking lot or wake up in a tub of ice without my kidneys, so I suggested that she and Hank enjoy a meal on me and I left.

The take-away? I left with all my organs and wallet. The only lingering question was who had more tattoos on them.

My last date from my personal ad was the most memorable.

We spoke on the phone and she asked if it was a problem that she was African-American. I said that I didn’t mind as my ad had all races and religions. She too lived in Rockland County and also was an au pair.

Kimberly asked me to meet her at a church. I thought it an unusual request, but figured why not.

I met her in the parking lot. Kimberly was this stunning, slender young woman. I thought we were going to walk to a restaurant nearby, but she invited me into the church auditorium instead.

There were chairs in a circle and coffee and cookies on a table.

The minister asked me to help myself. I sat next to Kim, and with that the minister began, welcoming everyone and asking if anyone would like to start.

Kimberly stood up and said, “Hi, my name is Kimberly and I’m a narcotic and alcoholic.”

Everyone clapped and welcomed Kimberly.

The minister then asked if anyone was new to the group and I stood, saying that my name was John and that I was here for the first time.

They asked me when I last used alcohol and I said about four months ago and they cheered. (I probably should have just sat back down, but I said that I wasn’t an alcoholic, which spawned a bevy of comments.)

After the meeting we walked to the foot of the Tappan Zee Bridge and sat on the rocks and talked. She was going to school for social work. I was a foster care caseworker.

It was actually kind of nice with the conversation, hot coffee and the lights glistening on the water.

At the end of the night she asked me if I could take care of her kitten because she was going out of town.

I said that I had a cat and wasn’t sure about introducing a new one.

She assured me that it was only for a day or two. My cat didn’t like the kitten and was hissing non-stop. The next morning, I called her to let her know that my cat was not having it and that she had to take her kitten back.

She gave me instructions to take the kitten to another woman’s farm somewhere in Rockland.

She took the kitten back and that was my last foray into personal ad dating.

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TBone's Pickins

Dating Again at 50: Be Yourself, So Sayeth the Fresh Prince

Being an old married man means defining yourself as a husband and partner to something greater than yourself…your marriage. Once that ends, for many men and for me, that part of your identity is gone and it takes time to reset your brain and life back to being single and seeing all the great things you are by yourself. My advice is to allow for that time, heal, address your issues, discover you again and what you are capable of.  At 50, you have an awful lot to offer someone. Your confidence will increase as you accept this and makes you more attractive to others.

I’ve been fortunate to have had very good experiences on my dates. Maybe it’s my approach. If I like you, at the end of our date I give you a hug with permission and a coupon for a free Honey Baked Ham. The mystery of who I am combined with how they spiral those cuts in the ham is overwhelming for some women. My second first, first date (the first, first date cancelled you will remember) was with a very sweet woman and we had a great time talking and hanging out together. We are still good friends. I’ve dated outside my race, religion and culture and find myself continuing that trend believing that variety is indeed, the spice of life.

Want some advice if you are recently single? It applies to any age. Develop YOU first. You’ll like yourself better and it’ll show when you date. If you have no career, develop one and be self-sufficient. If you have kids, be present to them, pay your support on time, make them a priority and be civil to your ex at minimum. Take care of yourself. Eat, exercise, update your wardrobe, see the damn dentist. Get a hobby, hang out in group activities, reconnect with single friends. Practice date. Yes, practice on a date. Be yourself and don’t bullshit. Be confident enough to know you are trying on each other like new shoes. If things don’t work out, move on. Be a gentleman and say thank you. Say goodbye. Wish her well. If she’s interested, ask her if she hugs on a first date. You’ll be better able to really mean that hello for the next time you’ll be meeting. Be thankful you are out there meeting people and finding yourself again like I am.

There’s a great saying attributed to the actor, Will Smith…

“Don’t chase people. Be yourself, do your own thing, and work hard. The right people – the ones who really belong in your life – will come to you. And stay”.

May your path know great challenge and great success. For it is in this dance of life, that we find ourselves and our happiness.

Now, go get ‘em, stud.

TBone's Pickins

Dating Again at 50: A Tale of Small Victories

“Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour and it seems like a minute. That’s relativity.” – Albert Einstein

It was my first foray into the dating scene in more than 20 years. My first, first date in two decades and the significance of the opportunity was palpable.

After an 18-year relationship and three beautiful kids to show for it, I found myself single again and little prepared for the magical world of dating.

Encouraged that there were sexy singles in my area who wanted to meet me according to the adverts online, I went for it, clueless as to what was out there.

Confident that male enhancement is readily available in an emergency for winning streaks, I stepped off the curb.

Protection in my wallet? Yes, I carry two hand sanitizer packets left over from my solo meal at Olive Garden. I’m not taking any chances these days.

Online dates? Not yet. In sales, a warm lead is better than a cold one so perhaps my chances would be better with people I knew or interacted with previously.

Beginning to notice women again, it was clear that they had all gotten a lot older the last 20 years since I last looked so my initial interests were finding a younger woman. It seemed like a good place to start. I’m a gentleman, but let’s face it, I needed to feel a bit younger again and a younger woman fit the need.

For me, I can see my needs changing as I date, moving toward someone my own age who accepts my kids and my focus on them as a primary responsibility. For now, I was only looking to get back on the horse and have some fun.

Having successfully managed the nerve to ask a lady out, I planned out my date. In Orlando, there is a show called DRIP, an interactive interpretive dance show complete with live rock band, sand and water being thrown at you and an audience participation segment throwing paint-filled balloons.

What woman would not want that on a first date?

I bought two tickets and planned my date with all the detail and effort of a Navy Seal incursion. I ventured out, hopeful my first date would go well. My date called at the last minute and canceled. I went alone and ended up giving the extra ticket to a young man with his beautiful girlfriend who was debating if they could afford the show.

In a key moment for me on my journey, I decided to stay, made myself have fun, drank, laughed and chatted up the bartenders. I left covered in paint and sand and had my fill of beer and fun.

Are these the actions of a respectable 50-year-old?

Yep. Age is just a thang.

After going home to change, I went back out meeting up with some friends and returned home at 4 a.m., happy.