Love is in the air

So, February.  Valentine's day.  Chocolates.  Cards.  Flowers.  Love.  Nightmare?  Could be and has been.

Regardless of your feeling for this somewhat manufactured holiday, love is definitely in the air.  I don't know, but I kind of feel that love happens in fits and starts.  It ebbs and flows.  It gushes.

Last year at this time, my gang of friends and I were pretty much all single.  I was just beginning my adventure with Molecule and most of my friends were riding the dating roller coaster.

This year - total sea change.  I didn't dread February 14th like I have in the past.  I didn't cringe at all of the red and pink heart stuff.

Molecule and I just celebrated our 1 year anniversary.  I really can't fathom that we've been together for 1 year.  It's been an amazing year - I'll be writing an update about our year of adventures in another post.  However, let me say this.  Our anniversary celebration was AH-MAY-ZING.  I planned a weekend getaway. 

We stayed one night at the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo.  I have ALWAYS wanted to stay at this place since I was a little kid and we stopped there for hot fudge sundaes after a week of camping in Morrow Bay.  Well, IT ROCKED!  You have to be prepared for the over-the-top-ness of the place, and the kitschy-ness.  We stayed in the "Lucky Rock" room complete with tiger-striped carpet, a leopard-print couch, kelly green walls, gold lame wallpaper, and a rock bathroom.  Yes, the bathroom had rock walls, rock floors, rock sink, and a rock shower.  I loved it.

The second night, we stayed at the Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort.  We had a room with a private outdoor hot tub.  AH-MAY-ZING yet again.  I definitely will stay at this place again.  Loved it.

Getting on with the sea change of love in the air...

1. I met Molecule on eHarmony - we've been together for a year now...
2. One friend, A, met a guy, B, on eHarmony sometime around May / June.  They were quickly inseparable.  A lives in San Francisco but works down near San Jose.  B lives in Palo Alto.  Around October they made plans to move in together this March, once A's lease was up.  Well, sometime right after Christmas, B popped the question, and they are now engaged!  They are getting married in August!!!!!
3. Another friend, Sparkles, met a guy on Match a few months ago, and they going strong.  Her guy, C, is pretty awesome.
4. A guy friend, D, met his girlfriend on Match about 6 months ago.  His girl, A, is super cute and super nice.  She fits right in with the gang.
5. Another guy friend, who was bah-humbug on dating after having some dating adventures (and mis-adventures) of his own, has met a great girl, MM, and so far so good.  MM is super spunky and fun.
6. Another girlfriend, C, met her current beau through It's Just Lunch.  They've been dating for almost two months now, and though the whole gang hasn't met him yet, we've heard a lot (all great) about him, and hope to meet him soon.
7. Another guy friend, M, met his girl in October 2010, and proposed mid-year in 2011.  They're in full-on wedding planning mode.

So, I have to say this on-line dating thing works if you work it.  And, it is work.  It takes persistence.  You have to put in the time to look at people, communicate with people, go out with people, get to know people, and decide if you want to continue to get to know them.  You can't just snap your fingers and miraculously find "the one" or at least "the one for right now."  Like the cliche goes, you have to kiss a lot of frogs.  It is true, you do.  But maybe the next frog you kiss could fit the bill!  Who knows.  You just have to take a chance.

I was flipping channels the other evening, and came across this documentary on CNBC - "Online dating: the secret science of love at first byte" (click here).  The program airs again on Monday, 2/20/2012 at 8pm ET on CNBC.  Check it out.  It was really fascinating.  It delves into the world of on-line dating, the volumes of niche sites out there, some success stories, some not so successful stories, but the fact that on-line dating gives you access to a sea of people you wouldn't normally have exposure to.  One of those people in the on-line sea just might be the one!

Maybe Cupid has come off of hiatus and sunk his love arrows in us all at once.  Who knows, but love certainly seems to be in the air, or at least, in the air our gang is breathing...

No matter what it is, I like it.  Actually I love it!  I hope he sinks his arrows in the rest of the gang!  In the words of Lenny Kravitz, "Let Love Rule!"

Until next time... xoxoxoxo