Reclaiming My Blog (Puttin' Tha "D" Back in M.O.D.)

Don't ask me how I've done it, but somehow I've managed to run a successful dating blog for nearly a year (May 14th y'all!) without actually...um, dating. LOL. If hiring managers had a similar train of thought, I could've been a Senior VP at a Fortune 500 company without actually knowing anything. Alas, this only works online.

But recently, I've gotten a surge of activity on the dating front. As a matter of fact, I've been on more dates in the past month, I've had in the past 3 years! What's more interesting is that:
a) none of these dates are physically the type of guy I'd usually be into (here's to diversification),
b) they're all mutual funds, and
c) I actually like all three of them (of course for different reasons).

See what happens when you think outside the box?

The International Exchange Traded Fund: Best of Both Worlds
A couple years back I developed a little thing for (certain types of) Asian men. This "thing" intensified when I dated the Japanese (with the gorgeous locks) who spoke very little English, but was reaaaally hot and treated me like I was the last woman on earth (I think my self-esteem skyrocketed through the roof in the time we dated). Unfortunately, my fear of intimate interracial relationships put a freeze on that one, and I let him go back to Japan without even so much as a kiss. *sigh* One of the regrets of my early youth.

So a few weeks ago when I met a handsome young man of Asian descent, I was determined not to let my hangups get in the way. Mr. ETF was a broker by day, DJ by night. He knew tons about reggae music, pop culture and the Caribbean. He was the first non-Caribbean person (who didn't grow up around Caribbean culture) I'd ever met who knew what soca music was. Yet we were in a similar business so he understood that part of my life as well. He knew about ox tails and beef patties; about Studio One and Lee Perry. I was thrilled. We went on 2 dates. On Date 2, I sensed he was about to move in for the kiss...I panicked. It was noticeable, but I prayed he didn't notice. Maybe he did, 'cos we haven't been able to connect since then. I'll give him a call though...he was really nice and I liked him a lot.

The Socially Responsible Fund (The Banker)
There's a category of mutual funds called "socially responsible funds" which only invests in responsible companies - i.e. companies that are eco-friendly, anti-abortion, promote human rights, anti-tobacco, etc...This was the banker: a Wall Street type with a passion for making social change.

Ironically enough, I'd met him on BPM before the whole fiasco with Mr. Right. We'd exchanged a few emails and then I never heard from him again. Since he didn't have a picture on BPM, and I'd been corresponding with him sight unseen (see, I'm not as shallow and superficial as y'all thought I was) I figured he was probably unattractive and didn't bother following up. Then in a freakish coincidence, I happened to be out with two friends who mentioned his name...The rest, as they say, is history.

We went on one date. He's the typical corporate exec: crackberry on one hip, 3 cell phones and pager on the other...all on top of the 10 hour days he works. He has Caribbean roots, was tall, dark and handsome (although he wouldn't have caught my eye on the street), and very successful. All in all, a very safe type of dude...you know exactly what you're getting...almost like a fixed income fund. He's asked me out for a second date, but our schedules have been conflicting, so it's in the works but hasn't yet come to fruition.

The International Index Fund (The Attorney)
The International Index Fund is very similar to the International ETF, except it's just not as flexible since it doesn't trade on an exchange. This is the attorney: the best of both worlds, but a little more set in his ways than the broker (and a little more risky 'cos I think he might be a little bit of a player).

When I first saw him, I thought his smile was absolutely gorgeous. My second thought was how I couldn't wait to kiss him...shocking considering my, er, views on the subject less than a year ago. LOL. It's amazing what a few bad dates can do for your perspective.

We've been on two dates, and they've both been swell (yeah, I said "swell"...I think it's one of those words that just don't get enough attention nowadays). He's in amazing shape, very spontaneous and witty and quite the Angliophile. For Date 2, he got us tickets for the Tribeca Film Festival - which I've been trying to get unsuccessfully for 3 years - so that was a major plus for him. And Date 3 is already in the works...

Although I'm pretty well diversified, I think I'm open to making a larger investment into the International Index Fund...pretty risky, but the potential reward could be even better...

At this rate, I may never go back to stocks again...