another bike date... he neglected to mention...

[mtbdarby]

Ah, dog hair. My evil nemisis! The first key is almost daily brushing and vacuuming. And two lint brushes

My elkhound has an undercoat so she's hanging on to her fur right now. The worst time of year is the summer when she blows her coat. This year we had a week of hot weather, then a cold snap, etc so she didn't blow it, just lost it over a couple of months. What a mess! I'd take any tips I can. My border collie doesn't have an undercoat and looses it pretty consistant all year long.

Long haired dogs are purdy but they're messy. I can't cook a thing without finding dog hair in the food. That's my precursor when serving guests a meal - the dog hair is free!

[Trek420]

squeegies (sp?).

I keep a squeegie on a long handle. I have wall to wall carpeting. Till I get it torn out and go hardwood or pergo or sumthin, that'll make it easier but till then....squeegie the doggie fur into sorta like coke lines of doggie fur (not that I know what those are like) and lift it right up.

Faster and more fur than the vac.

Trek-with-bike-covered-in-yellow-dog-fur-420

[snapdragen]

mtbdarby: Gotta love those double coated dogs! Chloe gets combed with a shed comb regularly. I can get enough fur off her to knit another corgi! My other corgi, Rikki, used to let me vacuum her - made it so much easier. Chloe hates the vacuum monster.

[bikerchick68]

coke lines of dog hair! bwahahahhahaha! OMG too funny...

well... I've heard from the cyclist but ONLY about ride related stuff... no romantic interest that I can tell whatsoever... BUT the other second date guy I've already had a 3rd date with and have another planned next week... it's a Festivus Miracle!

[Lise]

OK, now ***I*** have a date! From match.com. A guy who is seriously into fitness, works for a fitness/wellness company, but had back surgery 10 weeks ago and is working on rebuilding muscle...so we're going out for pizza. It's been bitterly cold here anyway. A walk might be OK, but no riding for me, nor, it sounds like, for him right now. Who knows. We had a nice talk for the first time last night...I worry that he'll think I'm not athletic enough, not fit enough, not skinny enough...and if he does, why would I want to date him anyways? Mooooore will be revealed, as a friend says. L.

[Trek420]

bikerchick68 and "second date guy I've already had a 3rd date with..."

3rd date? too cool. If you two were lesbians there'd be a u-haul by now (I can say that folks) or would that be a bob trailer? or maybe this trailer.....

[mtbdarby]

Trek, you crack me up. I can't even sit on the carpet without running my hand over the carpet and making the "coke line" of dog hair as you put it.

As for the vacuum, Xena (named after the warrior princess but a chicken at heart) is terrified of the vacuum cleaner. My ex used to chase her around the house tormenting her as a pup. Zeus just thinks I'm playing and starts barking and pawing at me. Goobers. I use the shedding comb on her in the summer and I can stuff pillows with the hair that girl loses.

But alas, we were talking dates....

Bikerchick, way to go on date #3! I have a coffee date tomorrow so wish me well. This guy is in limbo. Just moved back to WI from CA cuz his mom has cancer and he's the only single kid. So he's living at home helping her out and looking for a job. He's athletic but not necessarily a "biker". But I will keep trying.

Lise, score on the first date! Let us know how it goes. I hear you on the bitter cold up here - it's crazy (although it gives us good reason to cuddle up you know!).

Trek - uhaul - I'm still laughing....

[Lise]

Lise, score on the first date! Let us know how it goes. I hear you on the bitter cold up here - it's crazy (although it gives us good reason to cuddle up you know!).

Dar, I'm going to take that as "Lise, good going on getting a date" rather than the way I first read it, which was, "Lise, get some action on the first date"! Although...it is really cold out...

Trek, I hear ya. I played for the girls' team for years, now giving the guys a shot. I didn't actually move in with a girlfriend on the 2nd date, but mentally, well, "you had me from hello" says it all!

[Trek420]

Lise writes "Trek, I hear ya. I played for the girls' team for years, now giving the guys a shot. I didn't actually move in with a girlfriend on the 2nd date, but mentally, well...."

Lise, you go girl. I like men, some of my best friends are men, men are cool, men're wonderful. I'm as capable as any gal of appreciating them aestheticly as in "Gorgeous George is hot " or "look at the legs on that guy" and their personality as in our Team Testosterone guys here. As for dateing 'em, nah, not gonna happen.

Although it would give me more options on a Saturday night ;-)

Although I'm not a "gold star lesbian" (translation for those who bat for the major leagues-"never slept with a man") it was so long ago it doesn't count. But I'm kinda hard wired this way I feel, or for the more spiritual amoung us g** made me this way.

Try off road? sure
Give a fixed gear a try? deffinately
Gu instead of Hammergel? sure, why not
Give guys a shot? nope
And where is the jersey that says "sorry guys, I'm gay"?

But I agree whichever team you bat for you gotta get to know the person really really well first.

[mtbdarby]

Lise, sorry about that wording which left room for interpretation. I meant way to go on getting that first date! Now, if you choose a little action, I will not judge Heck, I don't even kiss anyone on the first date

[bcipam]

Let me run this by you all... I've tried a few online dating sites, and lately Match.com. "Met" a few men but once I got to know them better, I started to shy away. Most I find aren't all that truthful or honest in their profiles. About 2 months I started corresponding with this one gentleman via email. In my emails I made it very clear a partner should be athletic/outdoorsy etc. He said he was, that he loved cycling, hiking etc. Note his profile also said he was 6'1" etc.

Well we talked by phone and finally agreed to meet. I went to his house. When I got to the door, a man opened it and I almost said "where's Scott? Is he here?" Turned out Scott was not all that honest with me. The least of which he was only 5'5" tall (I'm 5'9"), very overweight, in poor health etc. He was very sweet but clearly very lonely, desperate and needy. I politely let him know I didn't think he was a match for me but if he needed someone to talk with, he could call. Long story short, his health has gotten worse. Recently, due to serious diabetes, he had his leg amputated. He calls, wants to talk and wants me to visit. I feel so guilty but I hardly know him and frankly can't take this on in my life right now. I am at a loss what to do. Part of me says it's not my problem but the other part says I should be a good samaritan and go visit Scott.

Anyway, I am so off these dating websites. Just too superficial. I find people tend not to be truthful (come on - don't they realize I can see the photo is 20 years old?!?!?). I would like to meet someone special but I'm thinking it will happen will it happens, naturally, through cycling or some of my other outdoor activities.

[bikerchick68]

OK... Lise... SCORE on that date! Woot! hehehehe... hey a chick can dream or being more like "Samantha" from Sex and the City!

mtbdarby... cool! I wanna hear all about your date too! I can't be the only one hearing bizarre stuff out there... comeon gang, fess up...

bcipam- OMG! This is the horror story people talk about with online dating... I've been very, very lucky and every single person so far has been who they said they were... (some forgot to mention Ironman... but yeah, he rides!)

I would NOT get involved with this person. You're right, you don't know him, and he has issues that are way beyond you, unless you are a professional counselor...

I would let him know that you are empathic but that he should seek some help professionally. I would feel horrible for him too, but there are so many red flags there that I'd be running the other way. Sorry to hear you had a crappy experience...

[bcipam]

Well that was the worse experience (poor Scott) but not the only one. I think it may be my demographic - I'm older (54) - I think guys my age have alot of baggage (otherwise they would be connected) and I have some too.

I am fortunate to have lots of guy friends who fill the void at least for now. I think I'll just stick with the friend thing, get off online dating. Good luck to you. Hope it works out. Always look at it this way - might not be a romantic match but ou get to find another cycling buddy!

[Yasmin]

There's a whole lotta dating going on out there. That's really good to hear & I wish you all the best. If ever my situation changes, you're giving me hope. Only thing is...you're all in the States & I'm in Australia. Well, the world is a golfball, isn't it?.
As long as there is love, respect etc in your life I don't think the "team" matters. Not everyone has the ability to love, so finding it is all that matters.
Goodluck to each & every one of you.

Bcipam : How disillusioning for you. I guess he's trying to attach, but is he being fair? Sounds like you'd be better off politely withdrawing from that situation. He's looking for someone to look after him, not an equal relationship. He wasn't honest to begin with, but you can be straight (no pun intended) & honest with him by saying "sorry, but no". You'll hopefully only need to say it once, even though it won't be easy. Goodluck & let us know how it goes.

[Trek420]

bikerchick68 writes "OK... Lise... SCORE on that date! Woot! "

go Lise go, we're living through you hehehehe...play safe of course ;-)

"I can't be the only one hearing bizarre stuff out there... comeon gang, fess up..."

C, a gal I dated (we're friends now) before we met she showed up for a date with a gal ..... who turned out to be a guy in drag.

The opposite is not likely to happen to any of you gals.

bcipam, I feel sorry for the guy, but with that ammount of deviation from the truth I'd hesitate to get involved at all. Maybe he can get help from a local Diabetes Association.

And as for your feeling like withdrawing from the whole online thing and hanging out with your frends, sometimes that's best. I always find that when I stop looking, when I'm not looking, that's when things happen anyway. And meanwhile, you have fun with your friends.

many online are honest, but it's amazing what you can get away with online. Like I'm really a 68 year old male Arkansas pig farmer and Nascar fan just kidding, really