Monday, February 23, 2009

M1- The Full Story

I got up and ran 3 miles this morning. It's been 9 days since I ran last. My legs felt sluggish, but not in any pain. So I'm feeling pretty good. Not great, but better. It's so weird to imagine how much I was loving running about 6 months ago.

On to more exciting topics. Several of you want to hear more X-Files, so here'z it:

Matt #1.
I was at a bar with girlfriend on a Sunday afternoon in the summer of 2006. He saw me from across the bar, walked right over and said, "I want to buy you a drink. I'm leaving with my friends, but give your number." My friend rolled her eyes and gave me a look like "don't even think about it." But there was some weird manly thing about him, so I just did what he said and gave him my number. He was not good looking, but he was tall, strong and extremely confident.

He called me the next day asking me on a date. I didn't want to be stuck in any situation with him so I suggested that we go hit some golf balls on our lunch break. (Great idea, by the way!) The date went OK, it was only an hour and we had fun. So I agreed to see him again.

This time he wanted to take me to dinner. He picked me up in his p.o.s. truck. I don't mean to sound superficial, but this guy was about 10 yrs older than me. He should have a decent car by now (Red Flag #1).

On our second date to a restaurant I noticed Red Flag #2 - road rage. Not normal, muttering under one's breath while driving. No, he had full on road rage. The drive to the restaurant was seriously only 5 mins from my house. He was yelling at everyone, cursing, cutting people off, basically driving like a total maniac. I felt uncomfortable to say the least.

Red Flag #3 - The Dinner
He takes me to Joe's Crab Shack. I'm sorry, is this supposed to be romantic or even fun? No, it was gross. Gross food, kids everywhere, birthday songs being sung, cheap wine. Then he acted like he was spending all this money on me. It was weird. If money was an issue, at least take me to some cool, local hole in the wall as opposed to this creepy tourist trap.

But I continued to date him through the summer.

Red Flag #4 - The Sleep Over.
He invited me to his "house." I use that word lightly. I arrive to his "house" (remember he is in his 40s) to find that he lives above his brother's garage. Seriously. I stuck around. Hey, he was good for some things....

There were so many other anger, rage issues that came up. The way he spoke to people (including me), the way he seemed to always be the "victim" or always had "bad luck." Little baby red flags popped up everywhere. It kind of became a running joke in my office. I always had a great story about something that he said or did. I knew I wasn't in love with the guy, there was not an emotional connection for me, at all.

Red flag #5 - The Deal Breaker.
It was a Saturday afternoon. We decided to go to Costco. As any Costco shopper knows, Costco is crazy on the weekends. You just plan for it and deal with it. Mr. Road Rage was a flippin' nightmare in the parking lot. I thought he might really go to blows over the stupidest things. We sat in the car and I told him I was over his outbursts and that it made me uncomfortable. He didn't apologize.

We cram into Costco, grab a cart and start walking through the aisles. There was a little cart-traffic jam and a VERY elderly woman in front of us stopped her cart. M1 swung the cart around, SLAMMED our cart into hers and said "Watch it, you F*$king B*&ch!" And he stormed off.
To an old lady!
I turned bright red and faced her.
I said, "I'm so sorry ma'am" and walked away, mortified.
I walked right over to him and said, "Take me home right now."
He looked at me like I was an alien and said, "Why? What's wrong now?"
He didn't even realize he had done something completely inappropriate.

Needless to say, I left right when we got back and never answered his calls again. He called my cell, my work, my home. He even did a few "stop overs" at my house, but luckily I was never home (he left notes).

That is the story of M1 - Mr. Anger Issues.

32 comments:

healthy ashley said...

What a story! He must have been reaaally good at those other things, huh? :) Thanks for sharing- made me smile!

Tammy said...

Are you sure his name was Matt?? That guy sounds like an ex of mine... only mine had serious jealousy issues on top of the anger.

Ai-yi-yi. Sadly, I put up with it for longer than just a summer.

P.O.M. said...

Unfortunately, he was really good at those other things.

Really

Good

C said...

Damn, that dude needs a therapist, anger management classes and a big-ass prescription for prozac. Wow, just wow.

It's amazing what we'll put up with for 'those other things'. Sometimes it seems really worth it though. ;)

Amy - the gazelle said...

I've stayed with people longer than they deserved because of their 'special talents'. Hee.

Chic Runner said...

OMG this is amazing. ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

Stuart said...

Nice...he we've all been there or somewhere similar!

kristen said...

Wow, wtf? What a douche bag! He reminds me of Dane Cook in that movie - my best friends girl. I just saw is this weekend. You would appreciate it I think.

Sarah said...

I can't believe you even let him take you home!! Poor old lady :) And poor you for dealing with that for a whole summer! Yikes.

Marcy said...

OMG chica! Wow! I don't even know what to say to that. Yikes!

Jogger said...

Holy wow. Yeah, I married "one of those". I married him WAAAY too soon for all of these anger things to turn up, and discovered the extent of it about 11 months into our relationship (and a month from our wedding date). Can you believe I could have possibly once been that young and dumb??!!

My ex's father once pulled a guy out of a car (in front of my then 8 year old ex), and beat the snot out of him because the guy stole daddy's parking spot. I think it's genetic...or learned...but most certainly not healthy.

Runner Leana said...

Oh my god...he yelled at a little old lady? Damn those guys for being good at other stuff. I think we can all share that same story... Sounds like you are better off for sure!

Anonymous said...

wow it sounds like you have enough flags to start your own business woman! :)

RunToTheFinish said...

hoooly cow!! I totally would not have stuck around that long, but that's probably because you are a nice person and I'm wellllll blunt.

Amber said...

What a psycho!!! That would be SO embarrassing, clearly this guy has some serious issues. Glad to hear he's not in your life anymore!

Viv said...

Hmmm lesson to me the reader,
angry people make great lovers. so that makes em lovers and fighters. So stying on my manure field for a while.

Chocolate & Chants said...

That guy sounds like a creep! I can't wait to read about the other bad Matt.

teacherwoman said...

Yikes! good thing you ditched that creep!

TonyP said...

Would you be mad if I admitted that I stopped reading after the report on your running ? Hang in there. Soon your legs will come back around and you will be back at it like you were 6 months ago.

Denise said...

Geesh! You're lucky he never hurt you!

Laurel said...

Um, wow! This guy sounds like a winner. Where your friends wanting to wring your neck for going out with this loser? I would have killed you.

Although, I have to admit, I have been guilty of staying with the wrong guy just because no one else was around. Who hasn't?

Also, I think you and I totally have the same love/hate relationship with running. Kind of like our love/hate relationship with bad sequels.

X-Country2 said...

Those damn "other things". Excellent call on kicking him to the curb. Little old ladies is my tipping point too.

Alisa said...

Dang chica what a story!

You'll get back to lovin' running.

sunshine said...

Holy crap! That's a good ex story!

Sarah said...

Wow, where to start? I love how hindsight is 20/20 though..

And men with rage issues?! No thanks...

Great post :)

Aron said...

WOW that is definitely an ex-story :)

yay for running :)

Jess said...

Hahah woooow what a nut job!

Kate said...

Oh men. I swear Hindsight is always 20/20

lifestudent said...

dont you wonder where he is now? I always wonder what the people from my past are up to today ... especially the nutty ones.

Susan said...

Jeez Louise! I am apalled! (sp)

Good thing you let him "get away."

Marathon Maritza said...

OMG how awful!

I can't believe he would yell at an old lady! Glad he's now in the x-files...yikes.

Anonymous said...

Wow. Very creepy.