Chivalry is not dead...

it's just really hard to find.

Since I've been all by myself this week, I've been pretty bored.  My house is clean, the laundry is done, presents are waiting to be opened when the boys come home on Sunday, and I'm left with nothing to do.  Yesterday, I was pretty much stuck in my apartment because of the ice.  Today, it partially melted, but required the help of the maintenance men and some de-icing stuff.  My stairwell doesn't really get much time in the sun, so while most other stairwells were clear, mine was still mostly frozen.

Late last night, when I couldn't sleep and my brain started to think of creative things to do, I decided I didn't want to be at home anymore.  So, as soon as I could, I escaped...and I drove to Houston.

I realize this doesn't come as a shock to most of you, because if you know me at all, you know I like being here in Houston more than I like being in Dallas.  It was, however, a shock to my dad when his doorbell rang this evening.

He opened the door, and it took a second for it to register...then, "Aubrey?"

It was priceless!  I hugged him tight and told him I missed him...and promptly turned around to go get goodies out of the trunk of my car.  I brought down presents!  Presents from the boys and me, presents from my mom, presents for him, and presents for my sister and brother-in-law.

Seester is coming over tomorrow to watch the Meineke Bowl game, because my brother-in-law is headed to San Antonio to go to the Alamo Bowl!  I'm so excited to spend time with both my sister and my dad.  I missed having them around this Christmas.

Chivalry.  Okay, then.

I stopped in Madisonville to get gas, and pulled into the gas station at the same time as this really nice red 4-door GMC.  I have a thing for guys and trucks, so I was totally hopeful that the person getting out would a) be a man, and b) be somewhat attractive.  I know.  I'm shallow.

Imagine my surprise when the man, who was pretty cute by the way, got out wearing a hoodie and a backwards baseball cap.  These are a few of my favorite things!  It had been raining for the majority of my drive so far, and I was wearing flip flops with my yoga pants, so I jumped out, swiped my card, and looked up as a voice said, "Hey, what kind of gas do you want?"

Startled, I looked up...way up, and said, "Regular?"  He said, "I got this.  You go get in the car so you don't get soaked."  I thanked him, and jumped in my car, since my feet and calves were already completely wet.

He finished pumping my gas, and as I got out to thank him, he motioned for me to close the door and roll down the window instead.  Um, duh...makes way more sense.  So, I did, and thanked him again.  He said it was his pleasure, and told me to have a safe trip, before going back to his truck to pump his own gas.

I sat there for a second, trying to think of when the last time was that someone had done that for me...and I was at a loss.  It just goes to show you, though, there are pretty decent people out there...somewhere.

Since Christmas is over, I listened to country on my ipod for the majority of my trip. I absolutely love all types of music, but country is probably my favorite.  As I was driving along, I was like, "Ooooh, that's a good line.  Oh, I need to use that one.  Hmmmm, that would be a great facebook post."

I think I have a problem.  And all the while, knowing I'm going to Houston to see my family, I still feel hollow.  I wish I knew why that was, or how I could fix it.  It would definitely make things easier.

I talked to a friend for part of the drive about dating and putting yourself out there and trying to weed out the decent people from the ridiculous people.  It's a really fine line sometimes..."and that's why I just don't do it." I told him.

At some point, though, I'm either going to have to put myself out there or make peace with being forever single.  That's a toss-up where there isn't really a winner, no matter which way things go.

Aubs