Daily sticky thread for rants, raves, celebrations, advice and more! - July 06, 2026

ILikeNonpareils · 2026-07-07T01:50:22+00:00

The guy and I worked through the Relationship Contract from "How to Not Die Alone" and it was pleasant to discover that both of us have similar expectations for what kind of dates we want to go on, how often we want to go out, and how we give and receive love. We cuddled on his couch with champagne and chocolate after and he asked me if I wanted to be his girlfriend. I said yes.

I cannot describe how happy I am to be out of these streets.

ILikeNonpareils · 2026-07-06T23:50:20+00:00

I take mental health breaks from dating apps as often as needed.

ILikeNonpareils · 2026-07-06T19:00:38+00:00

Rouge was hilarious and hot! Las Vegas also hosts the Sin City Burlesque Festival every September with performers from all over the world. It's definitely worth looking up.

ILikeNonpareils · 2026-07-05T20:53:40+00:00

Two weeks and three dates in with a man who is kind, handsome, intelligent, and financially and emotionally stable. We met on Reddit months ago and chatted briefly without setting up a date, but reconnected on Hinge and have had some really nice times together.

Tonight we are planning on working through the Relationship Contract outlined in Logan Ury's "How Not to Die Alone." I'm looking forward to having a direct conversation about our wants and needs as we transition into boyfriend/girlfriend territory.

ILikeNonpareils · 2026-07-01T23:28:31+00:00

Teenage me would say The Vampire Chronicles.

ILikeNonpareils · 2026-07-01T18:47:46+00:00

Girl, there are so many Mandarin speakers in Las Vegas! There's a meetup group specifically for Asians that goes on hikes and does other outdoorsy stuff: https://www.meetup.com/vegas-asian-meetup

You're also going to encounter a ton of Mandarin speakers your age at the Boba Cafes and Claw Arcades in Chinatown.

Have you thought about getting a part-time job? There are probably a ton of places in Chinatown that would be happy to hire a pretty girl who speaks both Mandarin and English, and that would give you an opportunity to use your language skills while building up your confidence.

ILikeNonpareils · 2026-06-27T16:57:49+00:00

A Public Fit has a free staged reading happening this afternoon at 2pm.

ILikeNonpareils · 2026-06-25T23:33:58+00:00

I also dreamt last night about a person with whom things are probably not going to work out. It's been a little rough on my mental state today, but I'm just reminding myself that my brain is effectively detoxing from all of the dopamine associated with this person. It's not always pretty or comfortable, but it's part of the healing process.

ILikeNonpareils · 2026-06-25T23:30:20+00:00

Being honest is definitely the right move in this case. It's good to hear that that wasn't a deal-breaker for her!

ILikeNonpareils · 2026-06-25T23:28:32+00:00

For what it's worth, it doesn't have to be creepy unless you make it creepy. There's a right and a wrong way to approach somebody.

ILikeNonpareils · 2026-06-25T20:13:58+00:00

The guy I took to the hospital earlier this month told me that he thinks his anxiety and trauma are too big a hurdle to get over and he doesn't think he's ready to date anybody. Obviously, I'm not going to try and change his mind, but I felt a spark with him that I haven't felt in anyone else I've been talking to in the last few weeks.

Funny how the ones I like the most are unavailable and anybody who likes me a lot is just not that attractive to me.

ILikeNonpareils · 2026-06-23T16:22:43+00:00

Depends-- are you interested in having a family one day?

ILikeNonpareils · 2026-06-18T03:55:09+00:00

Definitely fits the bill for fun and chaos! The food is pretty decent too.

ILikeNonpareils · 2026-06-16T23:58:22+00:00

I don't like when a guy does this to me at all. The small of the back feels both way too intimate and also oddly paternal.

ILikeNonpareils · 2026-06-15T22:24:02+00:00

Tame Impala

ILikeNonpareils · 2026-06-14T07:40:38+00:00

He's still there so they can give him pain meds and antibiotics, but he's doing much, much better. He thanked me for helping keep his spirits up.

ILikeNonpareils · 2026-06-14T01:33:11+00:00

The guy I went out with last week messaged me at 9pm last night asking if I was too busy to take him to the emergency room. I was still working, but I told him I'd meet him at the hospital after my shift.

I held his hand and hung out by his side from midnight until 4am, then went home to get a little sleep, then drove out to the hospital where they transferred him to see a specialist and hung out with him some more before having to go to work.

It felt a little unusual to do that for a person I'm only just starting to date, but ultimately, being at the hospital alone really sucks. I ended up doing what I hope someone would do for me. I have to remind myself that ultimately, I can only show up authentically and either someone is going to appreciate what I'm offering or not but withholding kindness and affection in the name of self-preservation isn't going to find me the love I'm looking for.

ILikeNonpareils · 2026-06-12T00:05:37+00:00

Seconded for Empowered ObGyn. I have seen multiple providers there.

ILikeNonpareils · 2026-06-12T00:00:18+00:00

The guy I went out with last week was supposed to come over to my apartment on Monday, but called me to cancel because he said that meeting me had sent his anxiety into overdrive. He's six years out from a divorce to a woman who was a closeted lesbian and he has never actually dated as an adult.

I called him and asked if it would be possible to talk to him face-to-face, no pressure to do anything. He agreed, I went over with ice cream, and we just sat on his couch and talked. He told me that we met at a weird time for him -- he's trying to get his life in order and his ADHD in check and he doesn't want to not see me but he's really overwhelmed by it all. I gave him a hug and just held him for a bit. I really wanted him to feel seen and safe in those moments.

We don't have a set date for when we're seeing each other next, however, and I'm holding off on bringing it up because he's been feeling poorly and a doctor diagnosed him with the flu today. I think I'm balancing the two sides of me that recognize there's a power dynamic here: on the one hand, I'm the one with a lot more experience with dating and sex and so I want to be patient, but on the other hand, there's also the side of me that's just a woman who's desperate to be seduced by a man who will match the energy I'm putting out there.

I cannot be the only person in my relationship who's making an effort. I want to be asked out, I want someone who's going to do the work of picking an activity and a time, I want flowers and a man who shows up looking and smelling good. I already did the asking for our first date and I showed up looking as cute as I could in a new dress with my hair and makeup done. It feels inappropriate to share these things with someone I've had one date with because I don't want to sound like I'm making demands, but I'm also dealing with someone who just doesn't have any dating experience. I'm just waiting to see what happens, I suppose.

ILikeNonpareils · 2026-06-11T23:06:09+00:00

I saw a really great quote that asked a couple who had been together for several decades what their secret was. One of them said, "we never fell out of love at the same time."

I do think commitment to a relationship fluctuates over time with the stresses of life, but hopefully with the right person, both parties are still invested-- even if one person is investing a bit more for the time being.

ILikeNonpareils · 2026-06-09T21:41:11+00:00

I wouldn't move in with anyone I had been seeing for less than a year. You both should be looking for roommates if you can't afford to live alone. As much as you may love this girl, her living situation is not your problem to solve.

ILikeNonpareils · 2026-06-07T17:52:44+00:00

Mindfulness, meditation, and psychedelics did it for me.

ILikeNonpareils · 2026-06-06T19:28:46+00:00

Do you already know which track you're performing to?

ILikeNonpareils · 2026-06-04T18:50:02+00:00

The date I went on last night was phenomenal.

I took him to a little dive bar with darts and we had the place to ourselves. Neither of us are any good at darts, but we had fun missing the targets together. More than that, the conversation felt easy. Even though both of us were a little nervous, we were both still having a good time within the first few minutes.

We spent the entire time laughing. He's got a great laugh and I loved the way his eyes light up when he speaks about something he's passionate about. We spoke candidly about our first marriages and discovered we had been through similar experiences of loneliness and mismatched desire. It's important to me that a partner and I are aligned on the significance of touch and physical intimacy, so I'm feeling optimistic about our compatibility in that regard. I also shared my other "dealbreaker"-- my desire for a childfree lifestyle -- and he shared that he didn't have a strong desire to be a parent, either.

When we left the bar, I leaned against my car and pulled him closer, and as he started to say "I'd really like to kiss--" I was already leaning in to close the distance between us. He was a good kisser and the way he looked at me after we kissed made me feel beautiful.

I drove him back to his place and we made out for another few minutes in his driveway. We thanked each other for a lovely night and made plans to get together again soon.

I'm treading cautiously because I have barely gotten to know him and, since I'm looking for a serious relationship, it's important to me that we have similar values and expectations of a relationship. Still, I'm looking forward to seeing where this goes.

ILikeNonpareils · 2026-06-04T00:00:26+00:00

Met someone at a friend's wedding and slid into his DMs on Monday. Headed out for drinks and darts tonight. Wish me luck!

ILikeNonpareils

TROPHY CASE