This entry relates to Angela Hires a Husband. For stories about my new life in Hollywood, go to my current blog at  www.redcarpetstory.com

My email address is angelagetsemail@yahoo.com

To see video of the Angela Hires a Husband interview process and the guy who got the job, check out http://youtube.com/watch?v=5u-9K29j0KQ. 

There are many layers and many reasons behind “AHAH”. But first and foremost, I placed a Help Wanted ad for the ideal temporary husband because I needed help with some practical projects. Hurricane season was approaching and the year before, I had dated a skittish guy whom I knew would never help me hang shutters for fear it would mean we were engaged. The threat of natural disaster was only one factor in my decision to pay a man to pay attention. My car was leaking oil, the garage was filled with old furniture and boxes, the house required some maintenance, etc. Also, I was active on the charity circuit, which meant attending events and functions where I would spend a lot of time defending my single status. I decided it would be fun to have a man on my arm to introduce as my “hired husband” as conversation kindling and as a buffer from well-meaning, but ultimately off-the-mark fix-ups offers. A few examples:

• I was once introduced to a man who looked - and drove - like Mr. Magoo. I spent the entire dinner trying to figure out how to acquire a helmet and roll bar before the ride home.
• Another matchmaking effort involved a guy who spoke earnestly about being in love with the woman who set us up. I’m pretty sure she did it to get him off her trail and onto mine. I call this a “diversion date”.
• In one particularly uncomfortable scenario, I went on a double date with a married couple. The woman who invited me simply wanted a night out with her husband and her lover, aka: the guy she set me up with.

By the way, I didn’t do so well on my own, either. I met a man who asked if he could massage my calves as soon as we got into the car. Another guy picked me up for a date with a toothpick tucked behind his ear. So, yes, I was done auditioning men for the role of soul mate over cocktails, cappuccino, or bookstore scones. (My definition of dating: An awkward attempt to bond with a stranger in the hope that he will someday be my ride to the airport.) And, as is an inevitable part of the human experience, I’d had my heart broken. It was time to go on “guy-iatus”. I closed down my heart and opened up my wallet. By making it a financial, rather than “romancial” arrangement, I wasn’t self-conscious about getting my practical needs met. The ad drew interest from around the world, and lots of support from women who understood my position. The media got on board and helped me get the word out. Often, I was asked why I didn’t just hire a handyman. It’s because for what I needed in my life at the time, the word “husband” was the most applicable. My friends and I had so much fun interviewing great guys. (Men are chosen by selection committee anyway. I just formalized the process.) To see the Marital Obstacle Course that helped us determine Mr. Right-for-the-job, check out the You Tube video.http://youtube.com/watch?v=5u-9K29j0KQ

Tags: Angela Hires a Husband, Marital Obstacle Course

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 5th, 2008 at 2:39 pm and is filed under Singles and Dating Stories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.