Limpy, Limpy, Limpy

Seriously? What is up with men and their limpy handshakes? This has happened to me more than once and I don't understand. I am not a waif (by any stretch of the imagination) and I won't break if you shake my hand. But barely grasping my fingers as if they were each the petal of a delicate flower? That is not the way it is done. I was always taught to give firm handshake, not too light (limpy) and not too rough, you don't want to hurt anyone.

Recently for work I have had to shake quite a few hands and all the men treat me the same. I get that same limpy handshake wherever I go. Why is that? Are men trying to use the handshake as a way to show their more sensitive sides? Is there a new handshake standard I didn't know about? Now, none of these men I have come into contact with are potential matches, but still, I like a man with a firm handshake. Frankly, I like when people in general give a firm handshake. It makes me feel like you are confidant in your abilities and you want other people to know it without being overly cocky (that comes with the personality sometimes).

So, what do you all think? Is a handshake important? I know its not something really related to dating, but I still had been thinking about it recently.

One Third into Thirty!

Yup, I have been thirty for four months and I won't lie, don't feel like I have all that much to show for it. Besides Poppy (who graduated puppy class!!) there is not too much going on right now with Little Match Girl. I am way too broke to even think about signing up for another match.com, jdate, eHarmony adventure. Maybe I'll find a fun event to go to (and by fun I mean cheap). Do any of you have some ideas of how to add some spice to this operation without breaking my already broken bank?

Single...With Children

So first off...Happy New Year to all! Here is hoping that 2010 brings better things than 2009!

Anyway, this past week good old eHarmony had a free communication weekend and staying true to my word I took advantage of it. Although, I was unaware of the fact that during this time you still cannot see photos of the people you are matched with unless you decide to become a paying member. And I think we all know how I feel about that. Anyway, I followed all of the steps of communication with three guys. So here is the breakdown...

Guy #1: We got to open communication and I am still waiting for him to openly communicate. Clearly Dr. Warren thinks that the man should write the first e-mail since I can't write anything until he does first....Oh well, cause the free communication ends today.

Guy #2: We have each exchanged an e-mail. He seems like a nice guy and I gave him my regular e-mail address. So we will see what happens.

Guy #3: We have e-mailed a bit outside of eHarmony. From reading his profile and following the communication he seems like a nice guy. And while he was upfront that he has kids, what I was not aware of is that he has three. Not only that, but the oldest one is fifteen! I feel like I would be pretty open to dating someone with kids. I am a child of divorce myself, so I think I'm pretty sensitive to it. However, I don't think I could date someone whose children are half my age. Basically, it would mean if they were mine, I would have been fifteen when I had them. Am I wrong? Am I being too close minded on this?

My Ice Cream Sundae

So lately I feel like I have been getting served scoop after scoop of crap in the life department. And I really just feel like all I waiting for is the cherry on top, since there really hasn't been much going my way. It is really like I just cannot catch a break! I know that it is the holiday season and most people are counting their blessings, and trust me, I know that I am very lucky in alot of things. I just feel like this ice cream sundae of disappointments is getting to be bigger than I can eat. And while I have promised my mom and my accomplice that I am doing better, I just need to rant about it all here and maybe just maybe that can be the end of it!

So, where to begin? I feel like I was on a really positive note when my 30th rolled around. I did something good for other people. I felt like my 30th year was going to be great! Well, a month later my grandfather died and I would be lying if I said I am over it. I still think about him everyday. I have a picture of us together in Poland sitting on my desk at work. I would like to think he is looking out for me, but given whats been going on, I think he may be napping (its okay, he is probably tired).

At the same time that my grandfather's health took a turn for the worse, I found a job posting that I knew was for me. It was back home in Miami, still in my field (which there are soooo few jobs in), and perfect for me! I was interviewed via telephone the day before his death and next thing I knew was being flown down to Miami not once, but twice for more interviews and to meet with the leaders of the organization. I knew I aced every single one of the interviews. I felt like there were signs everywhere telling me that this job was mine, from the big white bird waiting outside for me the day of the final interview to the fortune cookies from Chinese food the night before. Well, needless to say, I didn't get the job. After talking to me so much about how they wanted to get young people involved they hired a woman double my age (young people indeed)!! The next day (while still reeling from the rejection) my boss sent out a memo saying that we would be cutting back the work week to four days a week and getting paid accordingly. Now anyone who lives in New York City knows that losing 20% of one's monthly salary is quite a blow. I barely make enough as it is working in the not for profit world. Don't get me wrong, I never expected to make it big, but its a huge loss for me. Just another scoop on my sundae! Still hungry? Good, cause there is more. Literally the next day my roommate tells me she is going to be moving out in March so I should start looking for a new roommate. WTF?! Really?! Who moves in March? Its going to be a pain in the ass to find a new roommate (so fellow NYC bloggers, if you know anyone, pass it along!).

Okay, I think that's it. That's my ice cream sundae of poop! I would like that to be it. If there is going to be a cherry, I do hope its actually something sweet.

My Thoughts on eHarmony

So, as you know I have let my membership to eHarmony expire. I mean it was really expensive and for the time and money that I put into it, frankly I was expecting more. I would get matched with people on a semi-daily basis. Most of the people I was matched with were just so not my type. This goes from geographically, to their picture, to just things in their profile that totally turned me off. So that leaves the very few I was interested in. I followed the eHarmony rules of communication and sent first round questions to them. I heard back from very few of them. I realized that alot of these people probably are not even paying for the service and only use it on those "Free Communication" weekends that they have. I got to the final round of communication with only a handful (if that) of my matches and even then, never even got to the point of going on a date with any of them! Not to mention the fact that very few people ever initiated contact with me, so I really felt like the whole thing was just a waste.
Now that I have let me membership lapse however, I am getting matches upon matches sent daily!! Of course I have to be a paying member to see their photos, but I can read their profiles. I also have gotten quite a few people requesting to start communication with me. Of course I have to be a paying member to do that as well.
Well, I'm sorry eHarmony, you will not get another cent out of me! I'll be like the countless of other non-paying members and wait until you have some special weekend to give away free communication. How about Christmas? It may be a perfect time for this Jewish girl to find her match (thanks Santa!).

An Award!?!

Wow! Thanks to Amber over at A Little of What You Fancy Does You Good for giving me my first blogging award! Right now I feel like I don't deserve it since I have been MIA.

Anyway, the rules are simple, I just have to write ten interesting things about myself and then pass along the award to 10 other bloggers. Well, right off the bat, I am passing this along to all of you! Since reading interesting things about all bloggers is fun for me! Okay, so here goes my list....

1. I don't like chocolate. I know people think its totally strange, but it is true. If given the choice I would pick vanilla, strawberry, or pistachio (yum!) ice-cream first! As for candy, I can eat a Snickers every now and again, but I think that's only because there are peanuts.

2. I am addicted to two things: Diet Coke and TV.

3. As you know I am Jewish, but every year I go up to Essex, MA and spend Christmas with my accomplice and her family. I have a stocking and everything, and its always "ham"demonium!! I love everything about it, and when the two holidays overlap, we light Hanukkah candles and make latkes (best of both worlds).

4. I am a huge college football fan! In fact, I didn't apply to any schools with football so that I could always wear blue and orange. Go Gators!

5. I love my new dog Poppy Leigh (her middle name is in honor of my grandfather Leo). She is the best birthday present I have ever gotten, and I highly recommend dog ownership to anyone considering it. She is the cutest thing ever!! And leaving her for even a couple of days just about broke my heart.

6. My new favorite show on TV is "Glee" I am a huge Gleek! If you have not seen this show yet, please do. This coming Wed is that last episode until April! I cannot even believe that I can't watch "Glee" for so long because of "American Idol" which is probably my least favorite show on TV (see how true #2 is now?).

7. Coming up with ten things about myself that I think might be interesting is alot harder than I thought it would be!!

8. I hold dual citizenship with Israel and the United States. In fact I just looked at my Israeli passport and it expires in January 2010, which means I better get a quick trip in! Or really, just get a new one. Thanks goodness because that picture was awful! Now I just get to wait until 2012 to change the US one and hopefully all awful passport photos will be a thing of the past.

9. I played rugby in college. I wasn't that good, and usually didn't even get to play in games since I was second string and the person who held my position NEVER liked to be taken out of a game. I mean even when my parents came to visit she threw a fit when I asked if I could play for a bit. Whatever, I really just liked it because I made some great friends (hello accomplice) and got to have a great time with them (yes, that means a ton of drinking).

10. I love to cook (but not bake). I can follow a recipe or just make something up, but I love to have everything come together and make a good meal. Having people try things I make in the kitchen makes me happy. I actually look forward to the day that I do meet someone and cooking is something I can do for them (sappy I know, but true).

Okay, so that is the ten things. I hope that you'll take a minute to share some things about yourself too! And don't worry, I am going to be better about blogging!!

Attention Married Men...

Please stay away from me! I don't know what it is about me, but I have had quite a few married men hit on me in the last few years. Now, while it may be flattering to have someone interested, this is not what I am looking for. I don't know if perhaps I am putting something out there (I really don't think I am by the way), but married men seem to be the only men interested in me.

A few years ago I went to a conference for work where I met a very interesting man. We spent much of the conference together, talking (I promise!!) and we did have drinks with his father who was also there. When I returned home, this man proceeded to call me all the time and even went so far as to send me flowers and a birthday present! And while I haven't heard from him in a while, every now and then he pops up and asks how I am doing. You know what? i would be doing better if you left me alone!

I also met another man through work who I was very intimidated by. He worked for an organization that I was very interested in and we got to work and travel together (with other people) for a project. Eventually we became friends and shared stuff about our personal lives. I heard all about his wife and daughter and was really feeling like we were good friends. Until he came to New York for a work conference and we went to dinner. It was there he told me that he was feeling things for me he knew were wrong and that he didn't know if we could be friends anymore. I told him that was fine and I understood, although I really didn't. Had I done something to give him the wrong impression? This was someone in my field whom I respected and liked as a friend. Time has passed and we will check in every couple of months just as friends. But there was a period there where I was like, "WTF?!"

Recently, we had another event for work and I was introduced to the people from the venue who I would be working with on my part of the event. I became friendly with one of them and we went out for drinks. Then he started calling me, telling me I was beautiful, and making things a little uncomfortable. Finally, yesterday I sat him down and told him nothing was ever going to happen. That is not what I am looking for, and he is a good person and I know it is not really what he wants either. He agreed and while we probably won't be friends, I do wish him the best as he does me.

But really, that is way too many married men!! I know my accomplice (and some friends) will be mad I never told them some of this stuff. I guess I was embarrassed. I really was feeling like I did something wrong and while I know you won't judge me, I was scared. I am just hoping in the future that the men I meet will be single and the married ones will know their place!

Say Cheese!

Yes, as many of you know I love cheese! Well, my fellow blogger over at Saving the Best for Last is doing a great cheese give away! Please go over and check it out!

Yum...doesn't that look delicious?!

And, yes I know I haven't really blogged in a while. After everything that had been going on, I just needed a break from thinking about the whole Operation. My mom and sister even called the other day to ask if I am doing anything and why I have not updated. I mean, its one thing when my accomplice gets on my case, but my mother? Oy! I told her I am done with match.com and eHarmony but, I am ready to get back into it, and I will be updating very shortly!

An Offer You Can't Refuse...

So, someone from S Factor read my blog post about the class I took a few weeks ago. First off, I was just so excited to see that they were reading, but then they sent me a special code for all of you readers. Just sign up for an introductory class and enter the code "littlematch09" and you'll get 50% off the class. So you'll be saving money, getting a great workout, and a self esteem boost! I really encourage all of you to try out an S Factor class as soon as you can!



Check them out! You can learn to do that....






















http://www.sfactor.com/


And when you go, let me know what you thought.

A Broken Heart

I am sorry I haven't posted, my accomplice had to remind me to even write something. But I don't have much to say at the moment, other than some sad news.

My amazing grandfather passed away last weekend. So I was home for the funeral and to sit Shiva with my family. I am still really sad and in a way my heart is broken. I was the oldest grandchild, and I always felt a special connection to my grandfather. So while this hasn't really been a shock, it has been sad and difficult. So in honor and memory, let me share with you a little about my Grandpa....

Grandpa was born in Lodz, Poland in 1925. He survived the Lodz Ghetto (the last ghetto to be liquidated during the Holocaust) by hiding underground with his family. After the war he spent some time in Italy and then Canada where he met and married my grandmother. Together they made their way to Miami, FL where they started their family. My grandfather's hometown of Lodz was an industrial city, so he was a skilled tool and die maker. He eventually turned his skills into a profitable business by designing and manufacturing outdoor furniture. I grew up going to visit his factory and remember thinking how big it was. How big my grandpa was. He was a very active member of the South Florida Jewish community, working to make sure our synagogue had room and land to grow, giving money to various causes, and even traveling back to Poland on numerous occasions on the March of the Living which became his cause of choice.
Beyond all of that, he was really just my Grandpa, who would be happy to eat chicken (even with feathers on it) as long as he was surrounded by his family. He taught me the value of education, even though he said he went to "The school of hard knocks" and the importance of leading the Jewish life (it is because of him finding a Jewish man is so important to me). He survived the darkest hour of humanity and brought so much life and light to our family. His presence will be greatly missed, but he will always be loved and never forgotten.