Men: The Ultimate Renewable Resource

Some of you know that I am a Sustainability Manager. For those of you who don't actually know what that is, I basically try to make sure we don't euthanize ourselves by polluting the planet, using too much energy, and wasting natural resources.
Oh, and I save the organization I work for a bunch of money while I'm at it.

You could call me an Environmental Bad Ass, and that would be correct.

But seriously, I love my job more than anyone should love a job. Mondays are awesome (if I have kept the dating to a minimum, and the sleeping to a maximum). Oh who am I kidding! Even when I am exhausted from my fantastically frantic dating schedule I still love Monday!

Not least because the faculties management world is dominated by men.


In my particular office these men are roughly my father's age. 
But that's okay. 
I would never date someone I work with anyway. 
BUT being in this industry means I meet alot of men. The ones who are too old for me are trying to set me up with their sons, the ones my age that are taken are setting me up with their friends, and the single ones, well they are working over time to get my business. 


And when I go to conferences it just intensifies. It is like going to Man-land, my own personal version of Disneyland full of men who are both more age appropriate, and not someone I have to see every day when/if things go south. 


Just take a minute to imagine the rides at Criggerland... 


Looks pretty fun in your mind, right?
It will be 13X that much fun in real life.
Yes, 13, because that is my lucky number.

I'm quirky, but you guys already knew that.

The problem with meeting men at conferences is that they come from all over California, if not the whole country. And no matter how awesome they are, I am not going to jump into a long distance relationship with someone who lives in Northern California, let alone someone living in North Carolina.

But every now and then you get lucky and you meet someone who lives just a few towns over from you.
Who is tall.
Handsome.
Enjoys some good bourbon.
And is from the South.
With a proper Southern name.
Like Harrison. Or Joe Mitchell. Or Webb.

Webb and I met on a building tour that detailed the innovative and energy smart features of several buildings at the conference site. We had a mutual friend on the tour who introduced us. As we started chatting about water use issues and the need for more drought resistance landscaping (sexy, right?) I picked up a bit of an accent filtering through his very deep baritone voice.

"Are you from Tennessee or Kentucky?" Webb asked.
Obviously he picked up my accent. But then of course I am sure the hearing impaired can pick up my accent...
"Kentucky. Where are you from? There is something happening in there that is Southern." I said motioning to his mouth.
"Yeah. I'm from Georgia."
"I love Georgia. Especially Atlanta. I have family in Atlanta, so we went down pretty often."
"Yeah. Atlanta is pretty great. I am from Athens, but lived in Atlanta for awhile."

We continued to chat through out the tour about our respective jobs, the challenges of working within the sustainability profession, and what it is like living out here. After the 4 hour tour Webb gave me his card and told me to be sure to give him a call if I needed any LEED help, as that is his specialty. We said our goodbyes and I headed off to drag my luggage across campus to the residence halls.

Man I should have given him my card... Too bad I hadn't taken anything with me on the tour. Oh well. I am sure I will run into him again. This conference can't be that big.


That same evening as I was walking back to the dorms from the keynote address I hear quick footsteps coming up behind me. Being a single female walking on a sparsely lit campus, this made me nervous, regardless of the fact that there were plenty of people around who could have witnessed my mugging.

"Hey--"
"AHHHH!" I shreeked
"Oh geeze! I'm so sorry! I thought that was you. I didn't mean to scare you!" said Webb.
"It's okay. I am very jumpy. People at work hide and then jump out at me because they think it is hilarious."
"Are you walking back to the dorms?"
"Yep. Are you staying over there as well?"
"I am. Would you like some company?"
"Sure. Maybe you can keep me from jumping out of my skin when approached by another perfectly nice person."

Webb and I walked back to the dorms as we chatted easily about the keynote speaker and how we had good intentions of running the following morning but doubted we would make it out of bed in time.

The next morning as I headed across campus I kept my eyes peeled for Webb.
No such luck.
 As I settled into my seat at the first seminar, Webb walked in. Yeah!!!


"Good morning!" He said. "Is this seat taken?"
"What do you do? Just follow me around campus?" I asked moving my bag so he could sit down
"Yep. I saw you walking in here and thought, that girl knows what's up! I'll follow her lead."
Hmmmmm... I do like a man that knows a good thing when he sees it!

Webb and I spent the rest of the morning together and after lunch parted ways. I didn't see him for the rest of the day, but thought maybe our paths would cross at the awards dinner.
No such luck.
I was late to the dinner and he left early as I found out later.

 The next day I ran into Webb at lunch.
"Are you going to the farmer's market tonight?" He asked. "Apparently, they have delicious food and a live band."
"Absolutely. Two things I love are delicious food and live music."
"Great. Well I'll see you there then!" He said with a smile.


A few hours later as I was locking up my bike outside the square where the farmer's market was held, I received the following text. 
"Are you here? --Webb" 
I replied. "Just got here!" 
"Great. We have a table. I'll save you a seat."     


As I wound my way through the Farmer's Market, stopping to get myself a beer to help me cool down from my bike ride, I bumped into Webb.
"Hey! Let me introduce you to everyone!" He said leading me to his table.

Two beers in, I decided it was time for some food.
"That Indian smells delicious."
"Word on the street is that it's the best thing here." Webb said.
"Done! That's what I'll be having. I just need to run to the ATM. I spent my last $5 on beer."
"I'll buy your dinner." He said.
"Well, thank you. That's very nice of you." I said.
Yes, very nice. Very nice indeed.


Eventually the band quit playing. The Farmers packed up with markets. And the people in charge of putting away the tables and chairs shooed us out of their way.
"I'm not ready to call it a night yet. Anyone want to see if we can find some bourbon?"
Webb and Landon agreed that that sounded like a solid plan, so we said our goodbyes to the rest of the group and set off in search of a bar.


We found an Irish Bar with some Buffalo Trace Bourbon. And being the gracious southern lady, as well as bourbon evangelist that I am, I bought our first round.
And proceeded to thoroughly enjoy the "ooooos" and "aaahs" of my pleased drinkers.

As we shared funny stories I decided I liked Webb more and more.
And it wasn't just because I was home sick for a southern man, because that is what I chalked up the initial attraction to.
He is clever.
His dry sense of humor is hilarious.
He makes excellent eye contact.
He can laugh at himself.
He is established in a career.
And it doesn't hurt that he is H-O-T-T!

Eventually we decided to head out as we all had early mornings the next day. Webb had a 7:00 am flight, Landon an 8 hour car ride to look forward to, and myself a very early and long Energy Manager Meeting. Landon offered us rides, but I refused citing needing to get my bike back to campus. Being that it was after midnight, Webb offered to walk back with me. I of course refused saying I would be fine, knowing full well he thought I was cute, and wasn't going to let me go traipsing back to campus alone.

After we wondered the square looking for my bike (I wasn't drunk, but the square looks very different in the dark with no farmers) finding it exactly where I left it, in the last possible spot that it could have been, we started the trek back to campus.

As all walks of this sort go, it passed far to quickly. Before I knew it, we were back and I was chaining up my bike outside the dorm.

This was really starting to feel like college now...
We met in class, through a mutual friend.
Our paths occasionally crossed.
We walked back together from a bar.
Seems right on par with my college dates...

"Good luck making your flight tomorrow." I said.
"Yeah. Thanks. Good luck in your all day meeting." He said leaning down to hug me.
Did I mention he is tall?
"Thanks. I'll need it." I said, hugging him back.
"You know, I come to the beaches down in Orange County pretty often..."
"You should definitely let me know when you come to town... Night." I said reluctantly heading up the stairs.
"Night."

The following evening as I was waiting for my delayed flight in the airport, I got an email from Webb.

"It was really great to meet you. We'll have to get together soon. After all, we southerns have to stick together."
-- Webb

Yes. Yes, we do!