Why this blog?

"Girl, you are such a FREAK MAGNET!"

I've been dating for about 20 years now. I've been in a couple of good relationships. I genuinely like men; I enjoy their company, and feel a real kinship with many of them. I have a great relationship with my father, who is a loving, loyal and thoughtful man. I grew up in a very stable household with parents who loved me, my sister and each other. My family is filled with strong and funny women who are married to loving and hardworking men. On paper, I am the perfect candidate for a stable, happy relationship.

Something has gone terribly wrong.

Almost everywhere I go, I will attract the weirdest, most unhinged character within 100 feet of where I'm standing. It's usually a man, but I get the occasional woman too. Now, I'm not the paranoid type - I spent years chalking it all up to coincidence. I'm pretty cheerful, you know? Most things slide right off my back. But once other people - friends, coworkers, family - started pointing out (repeatedly) that I am some type of freak magnet, I started to think back over all the bad dates and other bizarre experiences I've had. I started listing my encounters, and it's not a short list.

Whenever I share one of my more bizarre dates with a friend, the response I get is usually something along the lines of:

"You've got to be kidding."
"You're making that up!"
"This would only happen to you."
"You're lying. Seriously. Aren't you?"
"You are such a freak magnet!"

It's become something of a joke among the people who know me; I'm the one with all the weird dating stories. It makes me a real hit at parties, which is fine, since I'm a very social gal. However, I have to admit to wondering which of the planets in my birth chart is way out of alignment. I mean way, WAY out of alignment. For as I add to this blog, dear readers, you will see that I am a true freak magnet.

Let me be clear. I do enjoy being single, and am in no rush to get married (if, in fact, I ever get married at all). I'm very independent and adventurous; I've sold all of my stuff, packed two suitcases and moved across the country to a new city - with no job, knowing only one person in my new home - twice. I like calling all the shots in my own life. I like not having to check in with anyone, or to have to check someone else's schedule when I want to go out/have a girl's weekend/go to a company party. I know the time will come when I will meet a great guy, and we will totally vibe each other, and a healthy relationship will result. But I am traveling a hell of a bumpy road on the way to that relationship, and it's starting to give me a headache.

So that brings me here, gentle readers. I'm committed to exorcising the demons of my dating past and present. I keep putting myself out there, with my hopeful eyes on a brighter future, sans freaks. In the meantime, enjoy my stories. I swear that every single one of them is true - with all names changed to protect the guilty.

Into every life, a few freaks must fall.