Had an interesting experience with Frumster site last week.

In the beginning of December I ended up getting a paid account on Frumster.  I got an email from someone whose profile sounded rather interesting. Because I liked the profile, I was interested in reading the email, and the only way to get to the email was to pay, and so I paid. I get to the email, and it was “Aw… man, it wasn’t worth paying for it.” But what is done is done. I promptly set my account to expire after a month to avoid getting charged again. And lo and behold, I get charged again!!!

I email Frumster to let them know that I took steps to ensure I won’t be charged, so can they please refund the charge, and close my account? I get a reply: “All accounts are set to auto-renew which is clearly stated in our terms. I have turned off renewals and you will not be billed again. However, we do not offer refunds. Please note renewals must be canceled at least 48 hours prior to renewal date.”

My reaction “Oh, really, now?” I promptly reply that 1. accounts can be manually set to not auto-renew (system functionality that I have used in the past), 2. I took steps to ensure I don’t get charge, and therefore technical failure on their part shouldn’t result in financial penalty on my part, and 3. my credit company assured me that they are capable of refunding me back, else I can dispute the charge through them.

When I first sent the email with the request to get refunded, I actually didn’t expect anyone to reply back, and was preparing myself to say “bye” to my money. But when I got a reply that was full of contradictory statements, that is when it became pretty important to get my point across.

In general I am pretty irritated with the site. For the monthly amount of money users have to pay, the site should provide better technical services. In addition to that, getting annoying and let’s be real, dishonest, reasons to not refund what should never have been charged to begin with is really annoying!

Annoying enough to blog and vent!!! 

I am a strong believer that G-d helps those who help themselves. With that in mind, I am constantly putting myself in the midst of dating madness.

A sincere belief that hard work pays off (at least sometimes) has led me to sign up with Jwed site, and get a paid account.  My Jwed profile is quite detailed, straight to the point (and the point is I want to find my guy), outlines high level of my do’s and don’ts, and more or less resemblance this particular blog of mine.

I have already received my share of emails from folks who don’t quality on my age preferences. Truth to be told, a good number of interested parties didn’t matching up on few other qualifiers besides the age preference, but the age thing is such a hot topic that it is worthy of being mentioned as a separate topic.

Yes, older gentlemen, I totally understand your desire and wish for wanting a younger woman. But as I understand your desire and wish for your preferences, why is that so hard for you to understand and appreciate my desire and wish?

According to my “And I am back! ” post, I was supposedly back to the world of blogging all the way back in August… Hmmm, this is December now… Where has the time gone?!?!?!

I feel like I want to whine that blogging is hard, and demanding, and time consuming, and often leaves me feeling that I have nothing to contribute… And besides, everyone is blogging, blogging, and blogging some more! these days I mean, do we need yet another blogger?

A brilliant thought has visited upon me just now! Blogging is just like dating…. Dating, too, is hard, and demanding, and time consuming – just like blogging!!!!

Putting my whining aside. I recently managed to visit a newly created dating blog (what’s with this “blogging/dating” deal? oh wait, I remember, this very blog is about dating, duh!!!) run by Deena – Date like a mensch, and even managed to leave a comment or two. Long story short, Deena wants to write about me!

Since Deena wants to write about me, I want to write more about myself. Because if Deena writes about me, then people are going to want to read about me (right?), and if people are going to want to read about me, I need to write something for the people to read (right?).

And so there you have it! The blog is still here, and so am I. I am still single (darn it, someone please introduce me to my mate already!!), still quite an interesting character, still enjoy and often host various events, and still cycle away in my spare time!

And I am finally back!!!  Brimming with energy, renewed sense of myself, my current plans, goals and purposes! Back to my workout routine, social hosting, and of course blogging!Here is quickly latest and greatest on this particular blog, and all activities that are connected to it:

1. I am still single, i.e. I am available for a date
2. I have completely abandoned logging to frumster, although I am still paying for the account – talk about financial waste! Truthfully, the site annoys me, starting with its layout, slow speed, constant technical issues, and emails from users who seem to have nothing to say except “Hello, let’s chat.” Hmm, after such hello, let’s not chat!
3. I am getting ready to deploy yet another blog… perhaps I should get a job as a blogger….
4. Had several instances of internal furka moments when faced with bigotry towards women… more to come on that!
5. Thinking about creating a monthly event for girls only, titled “Bitching about men and dating” – we all need creative ways to let our stem out, no???

I am definitely ready for a meaningful relationship that is going to lead to a marriage! A lot of my inner conversations with myself, observations of world around me revolve around “couple” and “relationship” topics, or come back to them anyway.

The big event of past week for me was completing STP, which is a 204 miles ride from Seattle to Portland. 10,000 cyclist riding together is an amazing experience to be part of.

There were tons of family groups and couples riding together. I saw a family of four. The mother, a strongest rider, set the pace, next was the younger kid, who probably was around 9 or 10, next came the second kid, a teenager, and the father was the one who closed the pace line. I caught myself thinking that this is what I would want for myself and my family – shared activities that we could all enjoy and do together, preferably outside.

I saw a cute young couple who were doing couple’s yoga moves to help them to stretch; there was so much attentiveness and gentleness between them. I caught myself thinking that is what I would want for myself and my family – tenderness and mutual caring for each other.

And the best of it all was to see an older couple spontaneity kiss and hold each other at finish line. That was a total “Awww” moment for me. I caught myself thinking that is what I would want for myself and my family – spontaneity moments of embracing each other in happiness of being together and doing things together.