Do I know you from somewhere?

The message was innocent enough:

Hey, I'm XXXX... how are you? I'd love to talk some time.. learn more about you. How is okcupid treating you? Any interesting characters.. or meetings?

So I start looking at photos. And I realize the guy looks familiar. And that I'm pretty sure I've met him before. And then I realize I've done more than meet him, we've gone out before. Five years ago.

And one of those times definitely ended with some drunk groping and whatnot. *headdesk*

So...how does one handle this, exactly? Ignore him? See if he's any different than five years ago? Point it out? This is just odd.

Awkward Pause

Recently, I had yet another first date. The thing that was different about this first date was that I was actually kind of excited for it. I'd been seriously considering a hiatus, since I approached most dates these days with all the enthusiasm one usually has for major dental work sans anesthetic- but just before I went off the grid this guy contacted me. And lo and behold, he was funny and interesting. And so, a date.

We had a nice time getting coffee, walking around outside since the weather was nice, and having a great conversation...and then after about an hour and a half he said something along the lines of, "Well, I'm heading this way, and you have to go that way to get home, right? It was good meeting you; I'll be in touch."

It was 7:30.

I walked toward the subway feeling disappointed. I'd had somewhat high hopes for this one, and it seemed like he didn't like me all that much. At least, any other time a date has ended that way, the guy has pretty much never been "in touch" again.

So I was very pleasantly surprised when he DID get in touch, just a couple of hours later. It seems he had a good time but wasn't sure what to do at the end, and he feared he'd made things awkward. I told him I was game for a do-over if he was.

So...do-over to commence in four hours.

I'm Smitten. Crap.

Oh dearest readers, I think I'm in trouble. Date #2 with T&A guy last night. Dinner and a comedy show. He introduced me to a few friends, they seemed really nice. And like last time-he is super easy to talk to and fun/easy to be around. So the end of the night comes around and it's a little awkward. He made a joke about how he's scarred for life about some girl in high school that he made a move on and she rejected him. Of course I get stupid at this point and don't know what to say or do. I said something completely silly about him not making me initiate the next date like I did this one, then we hugged goodbye.

I walked into my house thinking that I was quite possibly the most awkward 36 year-old in the universe and I was going to be single forever. Once again feeling confused: I thought he was interested, but didn't make a move blah, blah, self-esteem, blah, body image, blah. About 45 minutes later, while unable to get to sleep IT happened, I got the following text: Hey sleepyhead, can you read this? I want to see you again. Sooner than two weeks. I'm an easy sell, clearly.

There have been a few more emails and texts today, that are not the least bit "hard to read" and he happens to think that he is also in "trouble," but I'll keep them to myself (they are also not the least bit in the "sexting" category, you pervs.) So, yeah, I'm smitten and nervous as all get out. I'll save the nerves for another blog...I'm just going to enjoy the feeling for today.

xxNB

Famous- ish

This past weekend, the article about the blind date I went on ran in a local magazine. I had been polite but vague in my responses to the exit questionnaire, because I really did think the guy was nice and I didn't want to insult him in print, even if I wasn't interested. I was interested to see what he had to say about the experience from his perspective.

I won't share the link, as my full name and other identifying information are in the article. But suffice it to say, some of his responses were...odd. Awkward, even. Here are some observations from friends who have seen the article:

Upon seeing the photo of the two of us:

"Oh! Oh. Oh no."

"You look really cute. Like...you'd be a cute couple, just not with that guy."

About some of his responses:

"Well-proportioned is...probably a nice way of saying 'not fat'. But...it's kind of a compliment."

"This line makes me think he came in his pants: 'I found her very stimulating. That really did it for me.'"

Say it with me: EWWWWWW.

A coworker just suggested that people will be calling the magazine to ask for my number. Would that it were so simple! I guess the good news is, it was a decent date, and the article, while comical, wasn't totally humiliating. And hopefully after a couple of days people will stop noticing that I was in the paper. Unless they're attractive single men. They can notice for as long as they want.