guilt is a very effective tool.

i went on some dates recently.  mostly i was guilted into it by a couple of highly influential people who said i wasn't "giving them a chance."  now, though, i will be returning to my previous policy of "listening to my gut."

first, there was frank.  he was a doctor.  also, he was a doctor.  and did i mention that he was a doctor?  (because he wouldn't let me forget) and he came on our date in scrubs.  earlier i had jokingly asked b if it was ok to wear my pjs on a date.  he was disgusted with me.  but really, frank and i would have matched perfectly.  we met downtown (he was 30 minutes late.) and he asked me where i would like to eat (really?)  i told him i liked foreign food so he pointed out a thai place, a mexican place, and the california pizza kitchen.  i said thai sounded good.  so we went to the california pizza kitchen.  it was delicious.  and our waitress was so great.  i really wanted her to stick around and hang out with us, but she wouldn't.  so instead, frank had to use up all his creepy stares on me.  i swear he was trying to figure out the best way to dispose of my body.  it was beyond creepy.  and he didn't talk.  i was charming and friendly (had to earn my dinner, after all) and he just stared.  sometimes he would forget to answer my questions (because he was concentrating on not stabbing me with his scalpel, i'm sure)  when he did remember, they were one word answers.  he was exactly as he had seemed online and after our 45 minute dinner, i never heard from him again.

then there was michael.  we chatted for a bit and he asked me out for greek food.  i can't say no to greek food.  so i didn't.  unlike frank, michael dressed up for our date.  he wore a minnesota vikings jersey.  the conversation was actually pretty good, except for that every other word was *&%$#@.  and he talked a lot about how education was overrated (not the best thing to say to a teacher).  but overall it was fine, not great, but also not frank.  and i was charming and friendly again (except i drank way too much water and had to pee a lot.)  i never heard from him again either.

i'm pretty sure these dates were fairly typical online experiences.  it made me realize how lucky i've been up until that point.  the first guy i met online is now a good friend (after having dated and realized that we would be better friends) and the second guy, well, it turns out that there is such a thing as a "perfect match" but unfortunately, imperfect timing sometimes gets in the way.  but anyway, i have three months left on my membership and i intend to take full advantage.  after all, there's a nice middle eastern restaurant downtown that i want to try out.