Monday evening I paced around the office, popping altoids, reapplying my lip balm, and moisturizing my hands, as I waited until the clock struck 6:30, the time I decided I would venture over to the tapas bar my OkCupid date had selected. El Quinto Pino received mixed reviews on Yelp but most people raved about the romantic, dim (read: flattering) lighting and intimate atmosphere. I wasn’t too worried about the place itself; I just needed to calm my nerves. Stat. If I show up with a fro, I thought, it would all be downhill from there.
I had first received a message from Caleb as I was leaving the Phish show in PNC and immediately read it to my friends on the ride home. His profile revealed that he’s an animal/environmental activist (and even sponsors dogs at a local no-kill animal shelter) with a healthy, fun outlook on life. Very gainfully employed and happy with his job. Not a Phish phan but he did appear to really love music, so I thought we might have other musical tastes in common. I said a little prayer that at 39 he was finished playing games and was a bit more mature than some of the other men I’d been meeting lately.
I arrived about 10 minutes early and immediately found him seated at a corner of the bar. His face lit up with recognition when he saw me, we hugged, and settled into small talk. My first impression of him was a good one. Though he’s a bit shorter than the guys I’m used to dating (5’6), he is infinitely cuter in person than in the three pictures he had posted. He has a sincere, easy-going way about him. He is sweet. Interesting and appeared interested. Likes to travel. He had sustained an ACL injury some time ago and told me he put pants on just for our date. Which made me laugh, because I wanted to know what else he had considering wearing for the evening (jammies?).
Despite the fact that I suffered from a total blonde moment while choosing a beverage to order, he didn’t run out of the bar screaming (I took this as a good sign).
You ever get so nervous on a first date that you find yourself involved in the most random conversations? That happened at the second bar we went to when I realized we were talking about mattresses. But I like minutia and found it was easy–and even fun–to talk to him. Slowly I began to relax. He seemed disappointed when I told him I wouldn’t stick around for dinner, but I had a ton of work I needed to complete and I’m not a fan of eating on a first date. I know. I’m weird.
My favorite part of the night was when he said the following: “A lot of guys on OkCupid are just on there to get laid, but I’m not. But if you WANTED to have sex, I guess I wouldn’t say no…” He flashed a beautiful smile and his delivery was so charming, smooth, and funny, that he won me over.
I don’t want to jinx anything, because we all know this dating stuff is a crapshoot but I’m cautiously optimistic. And I’m really looking forward to date #2 which we have scheduled for next Monday. Is it sad that I can’t remember the last time I had a second date with someone I am interested in?
I keep telling myself not to get too excited, but I can’t help it. It’s nice to go out with a normal guy for a change.
yay!! three cheers for normal! 🙂 hey, i say at this point, get excited about the normal guys. lord knows they’re harder to find these days. i’m really happy for you – for having a lovely evening with a man, and whatever else may await you in the future.
I’ll hope for the best on Monday
I say always go with your gut. Have fun and don’t worry about the little things!
Can’t wait for an update!
Gotta say, Mama, that OKCupid has definitely raised the bar! Met and have been seeing someone for a month from there, and we are smitten. 🙂 Glad to hear you had a lovely, normal, enjoyable experience with a seemingly normal, lovely, and enjoyable gentleman. And I TOTALLY hear you on the random conversation! 🙂
So far so good! He sounds like a totally good guy!
Ooh! I don’t want to jinx it for you, either, but that does sound promising! 🙂 Can’t wait to hear how Monday goes.
He’s seems like a sweetie. I am rooting for you. I can not blame you for getting excited. That;s worthy of it. Plus, I am totally a fan of a man who can go with the flow and have random conversation. Well, especially since, 90% of my conversation is random.
YAY!!! I’m glad it went well and that you have a second date scheduled and I feel you pain about not wanting to get too excited. I have such a hard time sitting back and letting the chips fall where they may!
yay, so excited for you! looking forward to hearing how the second date goes. 🙂 xoxo
Fingers crossed! My husband was wayyy shorter than the usual. He’s 5’6 too. He lied and said he was 5’8 🙂 Guess I forgave him!
I can’t believe you were right around the corner from me! That’s a great spot, intimate, sexy. Glad you had a good time and a lot to talk about. How fun is that. Pd: I always liked short guys…
crossing my fingers for you!! I’m glad you had a nice first date! He sounds like a pretty decent guy, can’t wait to read the recap of the second date! Have fun love! xx
Crossing my fingers for you, too, and there i s nothing wrong with feeling excited and optimistic.
I AM HOPING YOU HAVE ANOTHER AWESOME TIME!
Yay for a good date and for date #2 and I love the name Caleb so that must mean something, right? 🙂
I hope it goes well!!! He sounds nice!
Oh fun!! Very exciting! Keep us posted!! 🙂
I can’t wait to hear about tonight’s date! Keeping my fingers crossed that it ends as well, if not better than, the first!!
A big YAY for a great night out! I’ll keep my fingers crossed in a very cautiously optimistic way for you! 🙂
How adorable! Can’t wait to hear about tonight’s date!! Keeping my fingers crossed for you. <3
I have my fingers crossed for you!! I am a total first date loser. I cannot tell you when last I had a second date with a great guy either. I am rooting for you! Make me proud!
How did it go? Did he call again? What happened on date 2?
Well, now that I am catching up on Caleb I am sorry it didn’t work out. Better to cycle through the dead ends quickly then to let them linger around and get attached to a dead end.