Love is...

As a teenager, I loved the "Love is..." comics. In high school I worked at a library and we kept the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times on a counter at the front desk. I would always go through the Sun-Times to read my horoscope and the Love is... comic before I left work.

A couple weeks ago I was standing at a co-worker's desk and he had the Sun-Times. We were looking for the horoscopes to take a mini mental break when we passed the Love is... of the day: "Love is...comforting."

"Oh God," was my response.

I thought it was really corny and kept flipping through the paper to look for the horoscopes section (which had horoscopes by 2 different people that couldn't be more different from each other).

Well, I spoke too soon with my comment and rolling of the eyes when I saw the comic.

I ended up having a rough day at work and was exhausted by the end of the day. I drove to work and was driving down Lakeshore Drive when I thought about how much I wished I had a boyfriend to go home to that night. Just someone to relax with and snuggle. And then I thought, "Love really is comforting."

My family and friends know I would love to be in a relationship (as I'm sure some of you might have gotten that impression too if you've read past blog posts ). However, I am fine with being single and I don't need to be in a relationship to be happy. In fact, I have grown up a lot and learned a lot about life and myself over the past few years. But I'm not going to lie, having a boyfriend wouldn't be too shabby either.

I have great friends and family who I know I can talk to about anything, call up to hang out, etc. But there's just something about being in a relationship that's just...comforting.

The only other living being that can cheer me up and I enjoy cuddling with is our family dog.

Maybe I should just get a dog...

I got Janice Rossi'd...

Karen Hill: This is Karen Hill, I want to talk to you. Hello? Don't hang up on me. I want to talk to you. You keep away from my husband, you understand me? Hello? ANSWER ME. I'm going to tell everybody that walks in this building that in 2R, Rossi, you're nothing but a whore. [gets on phone] Is this the superintendent?... Yes, sir, I would like you to know that you have a whore living in 2R. Rossi, Janice Rossi... He's MY husband. Get your own goddamn man.

About 2 months ago I was talking to this guy who I have know for a couple years. We talk on and off, but I was never too interested for some reason. Well, I finally put my guard down and gave him a chance. BIG MISTAKE! Right after we started talking again, I get this mysterious text:

textforfree.net: Do you know he has a girlfriend? What does that make u? C u soon!

Needless to say, I was rather freaked out considering I was with him at the time. I was waiting for a girl to pop out of the bushes and go Tanya Harding on me! I asked him several times that night if he had a girlfriend, but he denied having one. I just chalked it up to some crazy ad I may have gotten. I had recently been getting random texts about claiming free vouchers, so I just assumed it was spam or to get me to go to the textforfree website. I didn't get any creepy texts like that again, so I forgot about it.

Things ended about a month ago between me and this guy because I asked if things were going anywhere between us. He said he is in counseling for committment issues, and that was my sign to hit the road!

This past Sunday I get a phone call that comes up as Unknown. I always send Unknown calls to voicemail, but decided to pick up the phone...and I got Janice Rossi'd!

Me: Hello?

Crazy: Hi, is this Christine?

**In my head thinking, oh it's a telemarketer, and bitch, my name is ChristinA**

Me: Yes.

Crazy: Hi, you don't know me, but you know my boyfriend.

Me: Who's your boyfriend?

Crazy: **Says name**

Me: OK.

Crazy: How do you know him?

Me: We met a long time ago and have mutual friends.

Crazy: So, you're saying you're just friends and that's all?

Me: Yes. I can't even tell you the last time I saw him.

Crazy: Well, I saw in his phone that you have recently been in a lot of contact with him.

Me: Yeah, I was, but I haven't been in a long time.

Crazy: And have you ever exchanged any inappropriate pictures?

**My eyes are bulging out of my head at this point!!**

Me: Absolutely NOT!!! I'm not stupid enough to send out inappropriate pictures of myself and if he has any, they're not of me!

**Not lying at all! I'm not a pig and don't send nude pics of myself or as people call it "sexts"**

Crazy: OK, well, I'm just calling because you're 1 of 25 women I'm calling today.

Me: Well, I wish you the best of luck with things.

Crazy: Well, thank you for taking the time to speak with me.

SERIOUSLY?! WTF WAS THAT?! I was so off guard by all of this. I was polite...and despite it all, so was she (well, as much as she could be in this situation). I've never had that happen before!!! Luckily, my Janice Rossi experience did not show up at my door, but it was still bad enough over the phone!!

A few things I learned from this situation...

Go with your gut instinct. People always asked me why I wasn't pursuing things with this guy. Just because he is incredibly attractive and a nice guy doesn't mean you have to be interested in someone. I always had my guard up with him because I stereotyped him and compared him to the people he hung around with. I finally put my guard down and gave in and look at what happened!!

Don't text people your address. Awhile back, I text messaged this guy my address to plug into his GPS. The text was months ago, but my phone actually saves every text I have ever sent unless I manually delete it. I'm hoping that is the case with his phone or else b**** may have my address!

If the phone says Unknown...Don't pick up!!! I am seriously letting all Unknown/Private calls go straight to voicemail from now on. That way if I get a threatening or harassing voicemail message, I can report it and have proof!