#Adventures In Randomness And Rock & Roll W @leah_cevoli (I Did Something Scary PT 1)

<editorsnote> Nerds, meet my buddy Leah. She’s pretty rad and has an INCREDIBLY random life. Like, no – for reals … did you know she has an obsession with vampires, psychics, and tarot card readers … and she had more sex as a teenager than in her 30s … anddddd she even had two ex boyfriends die violently – one from a heroin overdose, and the other was murdered. Holy moly roli poli oli – that shit be cray cray. Either way, she’s now here to write about her life, love, and all things nerd. I only have one more thing left to say … HIT IT LEAH!! </editorsnote>

#TalkNerdyToMeLover’s @Leah_Cevoli

I am typically one of the most adventurous, spontaneous people I know.
However, I just did something that was scary, even for me. I went, alone, to a speed-dating event.

I’ve never been to a speed-dating event although the thought has crossed my mind for the past few years, most recently in the past few months. See, as a single 30-something year old, never been married, no children, you start to seek out opportunities to “meet people”, men in particular.

Now to some people, the idea of signing up for an event with the goal of meeting another single person may seem absurd. I mean, after all don’t they say “you’ll meet the right one when you stop looking”, and isn’t it supposed to happen naturally?

That’s how my mom met my dad, and my brother met his wife, and my other brother met his wife, and my sister met her husband, and my other sister met her husband.. you know naturally, chance, fate, circumstances… and as much as I’d like to believe I’ll meet someone ‘naturally’ too, the reality is, I’ve been dating for over 20 years now, and have no prospects in sight.

The closest I ever got to marriage was in a 5 year relationship during college, we lived together for 2 of those years. That ended around 1996, and I can’t say that even a mutual thought of marriage has come up with anyone since.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ve had romance, I’ve had love, heartbreak, intense connections, spontaneous adventures, one-night stands, soulmate type connections, you name it, I can probably tell you a story about that guy… in fact one of my all-time relationship songs, is Alanis Morissette’s “Dear Michael”. ‘Cept I have so many Michael’s I could write a tribute novel rather than a tribute song.

But back to the story at hand…

I recv’d an email offering me a free ticket to www.speeddatephiladelphia.com ‘s event, “Single In The City”, on South Street in Philadelphia. I checked my calendar, I had nothing planned. Free? Why not, okay, I rsvpd.

I woke the day of feeling fine, but as the hours got closer, I started to feel a little queasy. Were those butterflies?

Just get dressed. Just get dressed and GO.

I started to second guess myself, and get a little melancholy thinking about the events that have led me to the point in my life where I feel the need to attend an event to meet eligible bachelors.

I started to wonder what people think about someone like me, someone that is willing to sit in a room with strangers for the chance of what? A spark, a connection, or maybe just a kinship.

It’s funny really. As a teenager I had my fair share of heartaches, but I was never single for long. I liked having a boyfriend. I loved having a boyfriend. I’ve always been a romantic.

I’ve had my fair share of wild boys and wild times too. I’ve dated internationally known musicians, successful producers, recognizable actors and award winning directors. In fact I’ve had intimate relationships with not one, but TWO men who have graced the COVER of PLAYGIRL Magazine. Yep, that’s right, two of my past lovers have not just been IN Playgirl, but have bared it all on the COVER.

Needless to say my qualifications of “interesting”, and “adventurous” may be a bit higher than your average gal. Yet here I am, talking myself into putting makeup and jewelry on to venture out into the world of speed-dating.

What the hell happened, how have I not found my one and only yet?
So I got dressed, and I drove myself there, and I walked in, and committed to play the game 100%.