On my way back I stopped at Xanadu for a new candle. When I'd stopped there two months ago, Paris had given me a pietersite stone to help me in my quest. (Pietersite is supposed to have a high mineral energy level to help dispel illusion or confusion, show the beauty of one's soul, help one remain focused, and keep one open to experiences.) Anyway, on this visit, I picked up my candle and was on my way out the door when Paris asked to make sure he'd given me some pietersite last time I was in. I told him it had been a while back, but yes, I still had the stone.

He asked me to wait a moment as he had another for me... to give to my new mate. I said, "I don't know anything about a new mate at all," but Paris replied, "I don't either... only that you're going to meet her very soon!" We went over to where he keeps the gemstones in his store and he picked out a small, heart-shaped piece for me. It's in my pocket as we speak... ready to be given to the new mate I don't have... yet.

I can't help but often wonder about what all he'd said to me during my reading in March. Everything, according to whatever spirits he'd heard, was supposed to finally turn around for me this spring. Well, it's spring... and, yet... why do I feel so out of it?

I hadn't heard from Karen at all, and only received a chain letter from Dixie a month after initial e-contact. Every day the automated server at Cupid Junction would send its new matches for me, and every day the only contacts seemed to be far away... in Chicago or Michigan. I checked my settings and they were right where I wanted them to be... within 50 miles of here... but nothing new ever showed up close by.

I thought I'd check out the competition out there, and ran a search for males aged 30-45, and almost 200 came up. For Christ's sake, it's no wonder I was having no luck there... guys must outnumber women on that site ten-to-one.

So, I wandered back to Yahoo! Profiles to re-post an ad there this weekend. Within three days I've had three hits already. Who knows? Maybe I'll be giving away a pietersite heart after all.

Shown to the left is Kym, a 37 year-old divorcée from Kaukauna. Her profile was sort of sparse and email from her has yet to be forthcoming with details about herself as of yet. Shown to the right is Evgenia, who has written me two very heart-felt emails so far. She's only 30, divorced with no children and wants to start a family. The only problem is it would be difficult to go on a date with her... she lives in Nizhniy Novgorod... only a 7000-mile flight over Greenland into Russia.