The Adventures of Matt & Mandi: Our First Month

This past month has been one whirlwind of an adventure. All in 31 days, I have met, dated, and fallen in love with one amazing guy. Here’s our story.

 

The day is Friday, May 17, 2013. My band, Emby Alexander, had a show at the Rogue Bar in Scottsdale. I remember thinking that not many of our friends were going and it’s pretty much a dive-bar, so I throw my hair up in a ponytail and threw on jeans and a plain-white T-shirt. I show up, sing my set, then load our stuff off of the stage. A friend of the band, Zac Fredricksen, was organizing the show. After our set, I saw Zac was talking to a guy and he motioned me over.

“Mandi, this is my friend, Matt. He really likes your voice.”

We shook hands. We talked music. I found out he is in a band called The Cold Desert. He loved my set.
Now, throughout the night, Matt and I would find our ways back to each other, whether it be at the bar, on the dance floor, or in the parking lot by my car. I felt a connection with this guy.

HOWEVER: Matt had come to the show with his friend, Lance, and a mutual friend of theirs, Brittney. Throughout the night, Brittney would show up next to Matt and stare at me. I was certain they were dating. Here I am, some girl coming on to this girl’s boyfriend. I felt like a huge bitch. So, I started to back off.

After the show was over, my band went to In n’ Out and invited us to go. I went, and Matt brought Lance and Brittney with him. Before they got there, I went into the restroom and as I exited the stall, Brittney came in. She looks at me and said, “Hey. I really like you!”

WHAT.

I was so confused. So I said, “Hey, thanks, you’re pretty cool.” Her response? “I have been bugging Matt ALL NIGHT to get your number. You guys are so cute together.” At this point, I breathe a sigh of relief because I knew she was right. I thought we had a connection, too. She grabs my hand and says, “Please, Mandi, PROMISE ME that you will not leave tonight without getting his number!” So, I agreed.

We went outside and ate our food. We had casual conversations over burgers and fries. Then, it came time for us to leave. We walk to our cars, but Matt tells his friends to go ahead. He comes up to me and asks for my phone number. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

It wasn’t until later that I found out Brittney had never said a word to Matt about me. He asked for my number genuinely out of his own interest.

That was the night we met. I never thought I would pick up a guy at a bar, let alone using my voice as the lure. But, this past month has been quite adventurous. And I am so excited to see what adventures we encounter in the future. We have gone to shows, played games, met family and friends, danced, listened to amazing albums together, and held hands the entire time.

 

THE ADVENTURES OF OUR FIRST MONTH:

5/18 - He came to my Last Exit Live show.

5/20 - We went to Gringo Star Street Bar together for the first time, saw the Appleseed Cast play at Crescent Ballroom, and then he introduced me to shuffleboard and one of his hangout spots: The Little Woody. He also introduced me to Cherry Ghost, a band that everyone should check out.

5/22 – We went to karaoke, where he sang Aerosmith’s “Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing” and dedicated it to “Mandi, on our 6-day anniversary”.

5/24 – We went to Cornish Pasty and then he introduced me to Sidebar in Phoenix.

5/27 – We went to Lux Coffee Shop where I kicked his ass in Beatles Trivial Pursuit, then we went to Crescent Ballroom to watch Vinyl Station play. On our way back to my car, we listened to “In Rainbows” and sang together.

5/29 – He played a show with his band at Crescent Ballroom. I met his band mates, and I think they approved of me. I got a CD and a cassette tape of his band.

 

6/1 – He played a show at Last Exit Live, where I bought one of his T-shirts.

 

6/2 – We went to the Rhythm Room and saw Marmalade Skies, which is a Beatles Tribute band. We sang, we danced, and we drank. After the show, we got some food and had a picnic in a park and had deep conversations about family, religion, and life. We finally left when a cop showed up. As we’re driving back to my car, we’re listening to “In Rainbows”. When we get back to my car, he gets out of his car, gives me a hug, and kisses me. It was very hard to sleep that night.

6/3 – We went to Crescent Ballroom to watch our friends in Bears of Manitou play an acoustic set.

6/6 – He introduces me to The Duce in Phoenix. We had dinner, a couple of drinks, and hours of conversation. We finally had to part when he went to band practice.

6/7 – I had my last show with Emby Alexander. Our first gig of the night was at a Latte Art Throwdown hosted by my friend, Perry. After that gig, we went to Yucca Tap Room for our second gig. He met most of my friends and my dad. He helped me calm down my nerves before my last gig. The funny thing is, this is the first show I played where I could look in the audience and see a boy look back at me with affection. Every other gig I played, I had a boyfriend on stage with me. It was a feeling I had to get used to. After our set, we did a strawberry vodka shot and he took me home.

6/9 – We grabbed some coffee at Lux Coffee and discuss meeting each other’s family. Later, we went to the FilmBar in Phoenix and saw “Ghostbusters”. The Arizona Ghostbusters were there raising money for diabetes research, so he bought a raffle ticket and we ended up winning Ghostbusters hot sauce.

 

6/11 – I introduced him to Liberty Market and the town of Gilbert. He loved it! I had to get him back to his car in time for him to get to band practice. He called me on his way to practice and told me he left his pizza at my place. How crazy am I? I brought pizza and a six-pack of Kiltlifter to his practice space at 75^th Ave and Deer Valley just to see him. That adventure alone won over his heart, and the taste buds of his band mates.

 

6/12 – By this time, it’s clear that we are both are interested in each other. People are beginning to ask about us. We decide to sit down and have the conversation of awkwardness: defining the relationship. We meet at The Little Woody and figured out that he already thinks of me as his girlfriend and loves being around me. I whole-heartedly agree.

6/13 - I introduce him to my mother, and he passed the test. She can’t help but think he’s amazing, and I don’t blame her. Later that day, I drove up to his practice space to give him a mix CD I made for him. We spent the evening drinking milkshakes in his car while listening to the CD.

6/14 - I went to his Crescent Ballroom show. I met his dad and brother for the first time. I could tell just from the first meeting that his dad loved me. He played a great set, I got pictures and videos, and even sang along. After the show, we went to the Little Woody for a little bit and eventually watched the sunrise.

 

6/15 - We got brunch the next morning at True FoodKitchen, which is delicious! I helped him pick out a Father’s Day gift for his dad before I had to leave for work.

6/16 – I had had quite an eventful and stressful day, so he took me to Gringo Star Arcade Bar to unwind with some drinks and video games. We played skeeball (I beat him) and then we played Ms. Pacman (I dominated). I love being able to play games with him. We get competitive and flirt and have so much fun.

6/17 – OUR 1-MONTH ANNIVERSARY. We spent the evening at Crescent Ballroom playing Bingo (we both lost every game). After the Bingo games, our friend Dylan Pratt played an acoustic set.

 

 

 

STAY TUNED FOR OUR UPCOMING ADVENTURES!