Mixed Signals part 2

I could probably in reality make this subject (not understanding men) a 500+ part series cataloging the ways men send off the strangest, mixed signals and I’ll never truly understand why they do what they do, but for the sake of time and not wanting to bore everyone to death, I will not go there. Instead, I’ll just highlight one more example of how men are inexplicable.

Yesterday I had a really fun day. My local “Cheers” pub, where everybody knows my name, (aka The Black Swan) was having Customer Appreciation Day and I attended. The pub owners made shepherds pie and all the regulars each brought in a side dish to contribute. There was also a live blues jam – just outstanding - and football on the TV, beer specials, and good friends. What a great day!

Not long after arriving, I was trying to direct the bar owner to the channel my football game was on when a man next to me started talking to me. He asked me about the game I wanted to watch (the Bronco’s of course, why would anyone want to watch anything else?) and why that particular game and then he introduced himself to me. His name was Earl, just like the TV show and I asked him if he had lots of misdeeds to atone for.

We stood there and talked for a long time. He was very friendly and outgoing, flirtatious and funny (and tall and kind of cute). More people came in, including people he knew, whom he greeted and introduced me to, but he continued focusing on me and getting to know me. I’m not exactly protesting here. After a while I returned to sitting at the bar with my friends but when people began going through the food line, he motioned me over and asked if I would come sit and eat at the table he and his friend were at, which I did.

I finally asked him how he knew his friend (who was the bar owner’s brother). Here is the aha! moment, the reason for this article… he is dating their sister. Ok, I reassess, was he really flirting with me or just being sociable and outgoing? I generally always assume people are NOT flirting with me but as I thought back on it…he definitely was. No question about it. As the day progressed, he continued flirting with me. Even when I returned to my friends again, each time he would walk by, he would tap me on the opposite shoulder of where he stood by me to make me turn the wrong way to look who was tapping me, he would wink at me, whisper something in my ear, he would find a reason to touch my arm or shoulder and make sure I knew he was there and paying attention to me. Even after his girlfriend showed up, way beyond fashionably late, he continued this.

Am I the only person completely confused by this? Ok so he’s dating her, and that was exactly the words he used, dating. He didn’t say he was seeing her, in a relationship with her, etc. which to me may indicate an early or uncommitted status, but I’m still confused. When I left the bar at the end of the evening, I walked over to the table where his girlfriend and brother and sister were sitting also and said goodbye to all of them, extending my hand to shake his. But no, Earl stood, gave me a hug, again whispered in my ear and said goodbye, never introducing me to his girlfriend at all, who of course was staring at me with a “who the hell is this?” look on her face. I don’t blame her! So it appears I’m not the only one who doesn’t understand men, I think she felt the same.

Does anyone understand??? If you do, please educate me!