oh yeah, and also...

Thanks to my friends who have given me some additional suggestions for what I should look for in a man:

• ability to do their own laundry
• can cook more than using the microwave to heat a meal
• notices that they have dragged mud all over the kitchen floor
• looks at people in the eye when talking to them
• wears matching shoes
• believes that there is good in the world
• loves holidays
• is willing to hold my hand when we are on a plane
• thinks it is endearing that I still get scared during thunderstorms
• inherently knows to turn the music down in the car when it is raining hard
• when a light bulb goes out, changes the bulb without having to be asked
  
• unconditionally loves me, my daughter and my dog
  

What I Need.... What I Want

The other night my daughter and I were having a conversation between needs and wants becasue of some book we were reading. And it made me start to think about what I need / want in my date.

After looking at some of the online dating sites and seeing what they ask you to fill in about your potential date, I came to some conclusions about my potential date:

The MUST haves:

• male
• live within 30 miles of me (I may be a bit flexible on this one)
• speaks English
• interested in getting married one day
• happy about dating someone who has a child
• understands that no matter what, my child comes first
• non-smoker
• does not live with a cat (due to my insane cat allergies)
• values family
• is honest and faithful
• has a sense of humor
• values education
• is on the liberal side of the political spectrum

The IT WOULD BE NICE IF HE:

• came from bigger family then me (I am an only child)
• either has children or wants children (interested in possibly adopting)
• would want to shovel my driveway when it snows (just kidding, or at least kidding a little bit)
• has a job that he loves
• loves holidays as much as I do
• likes to travel
• is willing to go to Disney and at least pretend he loves it

and the things that would be DEFINITE DISQUALIFICATIONS:

• still married
• smoker
• does drugs
• drinks regularly
• very conservative
• very religious
• control or neat freak

and the things I don't really care too much about:

• height
• weight
• job / occupation (as long as he has one!)
• ethnicity
• hair color
• eye color

So if anyone is out there in the universe is listening right now and wants to send this man my way, and save me the pain of dating, please do so!