Out of Africa

Out of Africa is a man who wastes no time; a characteristic I appreciate. After a week or so of emailing he asked me out for drinks. Enjoying the witty banter we were exchanging I agreed. He picked a nice place "near my house"...which was actually a good 20 minutes away. Oh well, typical man, would sell his play off tickets before he'd ask for directions. I looked up the restaurant he had chosen and it looked hip but not too pretentious so no complaints. (no really....the comment about the 20 minutes away was just an observation, not a complaint. Big difference.)

I was running a few minutes late, thanks to the combination of being a woman and LA traffic, but didn't veer into "rude" territory. A nice change I've noticed within myself thanks to all this dating is that it's become such a routine thing I don't get nervous anymore. Well. That may be a SLIGHT exaggeration, but you know what I mean. I used to practically need two Xanax to calm me down before a date, but now? No sweat my pet.

Anyway, I arrive and Out of Africa is waiting for me on the porch outside the restaurant. Nice manners, I like it. He gives me a warm hug, he passes the good smelling man check, and inside we go. Conversation is a little bumpy at first, as it is, but it flows with minimal awkwardness. He asks me what I'd like to drink and I follow his liquor drinking lead and order a cranberry and vodka. He then asks me what kind of vodka I prefer. Um. Somehow I think "the cheapest one?" is not the right answer. He picks up on my cluelessness and rescues me by choosing Belvedere. Definitely a step up from the Smirnoff I am sure I am usually sucking down at a bar where I'm paying for my own beverages. Thumbs up.

We discuss the usual first date things and he's very good about balancing questions about me with info about himself. When we order some appetizers to share I tell him I like my steak very well done. He cringes but jokes with the bartender that if that's what the lady wants, that's what we will get and he will be absolutely happy with it. It's cute and jokey and has a nice feeling of familiarity to it.

The rest of the date continues on along the same lines. I wish I had some disaster story to report to entertain you, but I really have no complaints. I don't really have anything to gush about either. So far it seems all the dates I've gone have been good. But none of them have been knock your socks off "oh I hope I hear from him again" good. This is both good and bad. Good because I've definitely met interesting people and increased my self esteem because these guys are nice, good looking, successful men who are interested in me. But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed that I haven't met someone whom I am totally excited about. (minus Muscl--excuse me, Asshole, but we see how well that worked out) It's not even a let down when I don't hear from them again. I kind of forget about most of them after the date. (well...after the blog about them is written)

I don't think this says anything about me or about the men I'm seeing, it's just a new experience for me that I think may be unique to online dating. The guys I've dated in the past have all been guys I've met through friends, through work/school, or out. Regardless of how I met them, there was always some kind of initial attraction involved prior to our actually going on a date. Three dimensional attraction I mean. It's one thing to look at a picture online and think someone is attractive but that feeling of chemistry? No matter how many emails, texts, and pictures are exchanged, you can't predict whether that will be there or not. While this online dating thing is as convenient as running to the grocery store and picking whatever I am craving at that exact moment, it, like store made sushi, can also leave me with a bad case of gas.

I kid, I kid.

But what I'm saying is that finding someone you connect with in this big bad world is not as easy as a monthly payment of $39.99. But until you find that person, why not enjoy the ego boosts and order the most expensive thing on the menu?

I'm in favor of love as long as it doesn't happen when “The Simpsons” is on television,

LL