My Bachelorhood

To say it's been a while is like saying Michael Jackson was weird.  My last post on this site was way back in 2009 when I was full of bliss, vigor, life, and matrimonial happiness.  Ummmm, yeah, not quite.  During 2009 I was fired from my job, went through unemployment for the entire year, and went through the roughest year of my marriage.  If you read the name of this article, you will easily come to the conclusion that things got much much worse, or better, depending on how you look at it, with the marriage.  I'm currently working an incredible job that I truly enjoy but it took a lot to get here.  So while that side of things went up, the personal side went down.  Or up, depending on how you look at it. 

I am now a single man after 14 years of marriage.  I got married when I was 22 years old and was with her for 4 years prior to that.  Needless to say, I've never really been a bachelor.  I've never had to live alone.  I've always had that someone in my life to either call at the end of the night or come home to.  When the separation first happened, I was absolutely lost.  I had no idea what to do with myself.  But I've discovered a few things as a new bachelor at 37 years old that I like. 

6.  My place is my place -- I've always lived with someone.  Obviously I grew up with a family but then moved to a fraternity, then to an apartment with my good buddie Steve, then the Navy, then my (evil) wife.  I've got my own place now and it's pretty exciting.  Sure I live in an apartment with sexually charged neighbors on one side and angry parents below me, but I can come and go as I please.  I can decorate as I see fit (thank you pinterest).  I can watch sports, Dexter, Sons of Anarchy, and Travel Channel all day long.  Well, on days my kids aren't there then it's flippin cartoons. 

This is what my apartment does NOT look like

 5.  My DVR -- When I was married, the wife and I watched shows together.  She would watch my sports and fall asleep while I would watch some of her shows and click away on a blog entry or something.  Never had a DVR.  In fact, we were without cable for a number of years.  But now I have cable and a DVR.  Currently on my DVR are the following:  The Daily Show, The Bible, Viking, The 3 Stooges, Young Guns (I and II of course!), and The Walking Dead. Yes, I do love my DVR and I will never give it up. 

4.  Dating - OK, this can be a little good and bad.  I'll focus on the good.  I love meeting new people.  Unfortunately, through the last few years of my marriage I allowed myself to become reliant on my wife's social network for entertainment.  Now I've been on a few dates, gone to some eateries (See #1) that I've never been to, and am having some great conversations.  While most of the dates have been nothing to write home about, it's still a fun experience.  I'm doing things at 37 that I should have done a long time ago.  It's very exciting to see all that's out there and possibly find that someone who could be the next Mrs. Arnold, or whatever she decides to do with her last name (it better be Arnold ha ha ha). 

3.  Traveling -- Two weekends ago I took a trip to Chicago.  Drove up for the weekend to visit a good friend.  I didn't have to coordinate schedules.  I didn't have ask if it was OK.  I simply jumped in my truck, drove 5 hours, met my buddy at Kuma's Corner, at a Metallica burger while watching Dead Snow and listening to heavy metal music.  It was great.  And you know what, if I want to drive to St. Louis next weekend, I can.  Or Nashville.  Or anywhere I want to.  And the only person I have to tell is me.  Sure I might let the ex-Mrs. Arnold know simply because of the kids and all.  But I can just get up and go.  NICE!



Eat here.  Order the Metallica, medium rare. 

2.  Money -- Don't get me wrong, I definitely got the wrong end of the stick regarding the finances of the divorce.  I gained more debt in the process and I'm swimming.  That said, my money is my money.  Well, I guess you can consider all of my debt's money.  I choose to think of it as mine.  I not busy watching where all of the funds go and having to wonder if I will have to move bills around.  My money is my money and I know exactly where it's coming from and where it's going.  No ambiguity.  That's comforting.  Now I just need to get more of it. 

1.  My tour of Louisville's bars and eateries -- You may or may not be reading this from Louisville.  If you are, look me up, I'd love to grab a beer with you.  If not, you need to come.  Louisville has a ridiculous restaurant and bar scene.  I always heard about it while married but we were home bodies and we really didn't go out too much.  Now that I have free time, I'm exploring.  Eiderdown (thanks Andrea), Garage Bar, DiOrios, BBC in St. Matthews, Silver Dollar.  And that's just the very tip top of the iceberg.  I've made it my personal mission to go to every single bar in town.  It's awesome exploring all of the new places, meeting new people, eating new food, drinking new drinks, and living the life I haven't had in a long time.  Sure I could have done this while married but it's much more fun doing it on my own with new peeps that don't make me angry.