Plane Guy ...with an E not an I

I previously mentioned a guy I had met on the plane. We talked the whole flight. He inquired about my Mancation. And we told each other some doozies of dating stories. For instance, and maybe he told it so I don’t feel like I don’t have any luck, that on the third date a girl was upset because he didn’t “show enough emotion.” I said, “Did she know you were only on the third date, cause in my book the third date is like the make it or break it point.” Miles agreed with me. Then he tells me he’s moving and later admitted to the fact that he’s caught his ex walking by his house “on the way home from work.” I ask, “Oh is that why you’re moving?” Deadpan, “Yes.” “Really?!” “No, just kidding.” Great delivery; scarily believable.

He asked questions like, “Who was your first love?” “What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done in a relationship?” and I couldn’t believe I found myself admitting or answering honestly to my stranger on a plane. In sharing my dating stories, he even asked himself, “Wow, have I ever been that rude on a date?” While most of the time he asked the hard questions because he was “nosey,” (his words, not mine) by the end of the 3½ hour flight he still was adamant about seeing me while he was here on business. We exchanged numbers and parted ways.

He texted me the very next morning to wish me well on the first day of a new semester. Sweet. We made plans later in the day to meet for dinner. He claimed it wasn’t a date to not break any of my Mancation rules, though I hadn’t told him any. I met him at his hotel for drinks as we were then going to meet his friends for dinner. Instead, I met him and one of his old co-workers and talked about his daughter’s acting career. Miles remembered everything I told him regarding what I do. Plans changed to meet his friends to instead going for sushi, just the two of us. He asked if I was okay to walk half a block in my shoes (a nod to a previous date) and ordered a bottle of wine for us (he may not know wines but he knows how to order ones that ‘don’t suck’.) We laughed and talked and our server was the happiest server I’ve ever encountered. I even joked with Miles that while in the ladies room, I was shocked to discover the 80’s were back and people do blow in bathrooms of sushi restaurants. (I’m not that naïve, I know people still do blow nowadays, I just thought it was usually Lohan at some H’wood club) Miles was equally shocked and demanded I point out the culprit. I nodded in her direction as she made her way out with her date. Wonder if that poor soul had a clue 80’s throwback needed a little snort to have a good time?

On our walk back to the hotel to get my car, I made a rookie mistake with a simple slip of the tongue. He says, “Any interest in continuing to hang out?”  I say, “What did you have in mind with making out?”  (In my former blonde head I was thinking, is he going to kiss me?) He turns and says, “What?” I said, “What did you have in mind for hanging out?”  He says, “That’s not what you said!” We laughed hysterically. I mean I had to laugh at myself. I blame the wine that didn’t suck. Embarrassed and trying to recover, he points out the obvious that the moment is already out there, so on La Cienega Boulevard we had our first kiss. It was nice. But still, instead of continuing to hang out, it was a school night for me, and I chose to go home. A little mystery can go a long way. He waited with me while my car pulled up and we said good night.

By the time I got home he had texted me asking if I was sure I didn’t want to have another cocktail. I stayed true to my word that it was a school night. He joked with me some more about the fact that I made out with him on a not date on my Mancation but the truth of the matter is I didn’t define clear rules of my Mancation. Obviously at this point, making out isn’t ruled out. A kiss doesn’t necessarily break Mancation…I think a man does.

Miles wanted to meet for breakfast before boarding his plane to the next destination but scheduling and timing didn’t permit it. Miles told me that he wanted to see me again the next time he was in town, and called me from Vegas that evening before heading out with friends. There’s something to be said for a guy who follows up, and even whatever the course may be, I know I met a nice guy who instilled a little bit of hope again…

Lesson: You never know who you’re going to meet when you leave the house…or perhaps who you’re sitting next to on an airplane! DISCLAIMER: I have to give credit to ‘Miles’ for the title. He described me to his friends as Plane Girl, with an e not an i…I had to borrow it.


Man Date: Still on the beach but thinking of testing the waters. 

Ex Factor

He's been out of your life for years. You've moved on. He's moved on with someone else. He's out of your heart and mind. He doesn't even live in the same state as you anymore...then you receive a voicemail, "Hey, it's me! I'm thinking about you. I'm in LA. Call me." 

Uh, what? You get around to calling him back and he says, "I'm putting some photos in photo albums and man, we had some great times, didn't we?" As we do a quick synopsis in 3 minutes or less of how great either one of us are doing, and he moved out of state with current beau he says shiftily (is that a word?), "Well it doesn't mean we can't meet for a drink." 


It doesn't? I'm not so sure about that. 
I think the drink is the final good bye...My friends think varyingly:

He kinda makes me sad. I see it more as an opportunity to pat yourself on the back & see how far you've come.

You in danger girl. A drink is TROUBLE.... unless you guys will meet up with other people. I'm not judging (seriously!) but I know what I would be doing in that situation and it ain't having a drink. 

Does being on Mancation save me at all in this situation????

Man Date: Ask the concierage for advice 

Mancation for Males?

I had a great chat with the guy seated next to me on a flight back to Los Angeles. He asked, "What's the male version of Mancation for a guy if he wants to take a break?" I thought to myself, 'Hmm, I have to think about this.'

What would be a great name for wocation? No. A wiatus? Nah! A Wecess? Woliday?

None of these quite roll of the tongue and are as clear as Mancation so I'll have to continue to think about it, and perhaps have something clever by the time we meet for dinner...

Pros and Cons

Pro - He had a plan. A man with a plan is already off to a good start.

Con -We walked (I was wearing 4 inch heels). A girl needs proper notice.

Pro - We went to one of the biggest tourist traps in Los Angeles.
Con - I’m not good in crowds of people (but tried to fake it).

Pro - He’s a nice guy.
Con - There’s a definite age gap

Pro - We have a lot to talk about when it comes to the business we have chosen.
Con - He kept telling me to be quiet (and I wasn’t being that loud), but I couldn’t hear him.

Pro - He’s sarcastic.
Con - But not all sarcasm is good sarcasm  (I don’t like being riffed on as a form of showing you like someone).

Pro - We had fun.
Con - He sweated – a lot.

Pro - He gave himself a jab or two regarding his sweating issue.
Con - We were already buzzed and he wanted to do shots?

Pro - He was attentive on the walk home.
Con - We had to walk home… drunk.

**This is an edited version of what I would write about because I know he could potentially read this. And that's unfortunate that I've chosen to edit myself but it's to protect the not-guilty in this case. **


Man Date: Beach
Good guy, just not the guy for me. 

What can you Expect from Mancation?

I am hoping that my blog will be reader-friendly, but more than likely at times read like my mind - which is the ADD version of my usual organized self. In getting excited to tell a story, I can lose track of what it was I was talking about...What, something bright and shiny! What was I saying?

I'm trying to have it be 'up-to-date' where it's enjoyable that you wonder what happened to so-and-so or that one dude who did this or that. If you can follow a timeline than you can go back to what it was like years ago and the dudes I encountered then. Mancation is NECESSARY - so please hang tight and I'll be...who's calling me? Sorry, seriously what was I saying? Oh!

P.S. To my readers and followers, I appreciate the kick start and advice. You're my favorite. You know who you are. Yeah, you.

Who'll you'll meet:

Me, of course. Well, okay I don't identify myself but even though I have an alias, they are still my stories, and if they're not my stories then you'll meet...

My peeps - those ladies who are my partners (or witnesses) in crime. They, too, will only be identified by nicknames as well. Without them, well how can there be a story without supporting characters. And, mancation wouldn't be complete (or incomplete) without...

Those guys - The boy, man-child, liar, disappearing act, heartbreaker or other mystery-yet-to-be-named that I meet along this 'mancation.'

Also you'll be in for a real treat with:

What are the rules of Mancation?

How long does one stay or go back on Mancation?

Viewer polls

Stories that are legitimate and not a figment of my imagination

Updates - on me, on her, on him, etc.

Suggested Reading

Funny quips I come up with along the way

Don't be shy, it's my life that I choose to share with you. I want you to LOL or gasp in disbelief that any of this can happen, but it does and shouldn't you laugh at my expense? I think so. I do. Heartbreak and disappointment don't need to cripple you, they just give you the push to one-up yourself to prove, sing it Pat, "... Knock me down it's all in pain, I get right back up on my feet again." Hit Me With Your Best Shot...It's my jam!!