Video games and drinks???

The tales of bad dates I fear will continue on from the dawning of time to the end of the second coming. Well, probably even beyond that since after the second coming, life doesn't look like it is going to be any better but at least I won't be here for that.

Lunch date: travel time 45 minutes, with traffic and road construction, an hour and a half, older man with low maturity level and still lives at home with parents.

We met at a nice restaurant for lunch and as we looked over the menus he began with his tales of mishaps with law enforcement and his drinking and driving record. "Better not order anything with alcohol in it; I'm getting tested again soon and I want to pass this test." He exclaimed as I tried to focus at the task at hand, what to order and hoping the traffic was not going to be so ugly on the way home.

Then he continued on, "I am trying to lose some weight so I want to be careful what I eat." He really didn't need to lose any weight actually, he had a little bit of a belly but no body likes a scrawny guy. I told him that I thought he looked just fine. He order the French Dip with fries and later followed it up with an ice cream sundae. I like a guy who has a decent appetite. As the waitress took our order, he ordered first, traditionally and respectfully, the woman orders first or the man orders her meal first then his but I digress. He asked the waitress if the au jus contained alcohol. "Weird" I thought as my eyebrows lowered and I wondered to myself "How can a man live to be 40 years old and not know what au jus is?"

As we waited for our sandwiches we talked about things we enjoy, the standard conversation on a first date. He had a very nice smile and a twinkle in his eyes that didn't seem to be alcohol induced. He tells me that he is a "Gamer". Now for those of you who are not familiar with this term, a Gamer is someone who spends way too much time playing video games and most often is without a self respecting job and lives in their parents basement, who stereo typically are also particularly bad at social interaction. Historically, the term "gamer" usually referred to someone who played role-playing games and war-games. However more recently, the term has grown to include players of video games. While the term nominally includes those who do not necessarily consider themselves to be "gamers" (i.e., casual gamers), it is commonly used to identify those who spend much of their leisure time playing or learning about games. Hopefully that clears that up.

"Do you play any games?", he asked me. "I actually never really got into video games after the epidemic of Nintendo thumb. But, I do play a bit of Farmville." I replied. He was excited about that and smiled as he remarked, "Then you can relate and identify with me how much I like gaming." With a twist of my neck and a questioning tone I said, "Not really. There is a pretty big difference I think." And I continued to shake my head in agreement with myself.

The conversation then took a dive and he began a new topic that was just as disappointing to discuss but that didn't stop him from the train wreck he was making this casual afternoon lunch date.

He continued on, "I walked here, I don't live far. Since I lost my licence I can't drive and have to get a ride or take a bus to go see my PO." Wow really? I thought to myself as he quickly turned from just a socially inept lonely guy to sort of a wounded animal in my mind. Taken off guard, I simply said the only thing I could think of that wouldn't expose that I was full of pity for him, "Oh really, that must be a challenge."

As we ate our sandwiches and he made more dating mistakes, I couldn't get out of my mind that he ordered dessert too. This date was already taking so long, I think I have enjoyed getting a speeding ticket more than this. It was sad and sort of pathetic at the same time, I was almost feeling sorry for him but only a jack ass would drink and drive. So I felt the punishment fit the crime.

Oh and being in a state that is known for it's amount of rain, yes, you guessed, it began to rain. Dessert finally arrived and I was hoping the check would accompany it but no luck there. We had one of those inattentive waitresses that seemed to forget that we were on her list. I ordered the crème brûlée that shockingly was delivered to me still in the dish it was cooked in, plain without fruit. Very odd and strange I thought but when in Rome I guess. By the way, it didn't taste well at all. Sometimes, I wish I would have become a food critic. Someone has to warn people about debacles like these.

Speaking of debacles, back to the one that was sitting across from me. He completely enjoyed his ice cream sundae as his eyes rolled to the back of his head and a little hot fudge stayed in the corner of his mouth. Disappointed, I secretly wished I had ordered the ice cream sundae too. Probably the only good decision he made in the last hour and half.

Check arrives, great, time to go. We smiled at each other and I thanked him for lunch and told him, "You have a great smile and it definitely increases your face value." A bit cheesy I know but after that date, what else can one say? He smiled and said, "Thank you. It was nice to meet you and I hope we can get together again." We walked to the door and the rain poured down. I lowered my head then looked at him and asked, "Would you like a ride home?" "No, he said, I just live around the corner up the block." Then he pointed out the best way to get on the freeway and gave me a hug. Then turning with a friendly wave of his hand he disappeared into the rain and I ran to my car.

The maze of over passes, fly ways, by ways, and fly overs accompanied with after work rush hour made the journey home a rainy two hour and fifteen minute nightmare. I was happy to be home to relax in my favorite easy chair and play a little bit of Farmville. Who could use a drink?

Lost man with no map.

A few dates with the same guy, oh, I was starting to like him. I should have been blogging about it but hey it turns out he already new about the blog and the books. He told me he was watching the blog to see what I really thought about him. Good thing he told me that before my internet got hooked up. lol

I hope not too many of them (single men) find out about the blogging and confessions of my bad dates, it could put me right in the singles Congo line dance forever.
Believe me, I thought about all of you and blogging about the moments of conversation and his hot-attitude but I have never seen such a hunky guy with such sexy lips and eyes that made me want to... well... perhaps that will be a whole new set of books. lol I wished one of you were there to witness but then again, I still might want to deny a few things. In fact, I already do. You know I have a thing for tall men! Tall, bald, and handsome, that's how I like them!

Since we are long over and not seeing each other anymore, I guess I can let you in on a few faults of his. He was clearly too busy, not very attentive, talked about his ex way too much, always on the phone, and damn if he wasn't the cutest 6'4" man with a smile to make me wanna fry up some grilled cheese sandwiches after sex. Oh, wait, that last one wasn't exactly a fault.

He lived an hour from me and since he had a young son that we agreed shouldn't know about me, Mr. make me smile and kiss me on the town would sneak me into his place after his son went to bed. I told him that if I had to crawl through the window, that was where I was drawing the line on the mini skirt. I don't like drawing on my clothes, ink is impossible to get out. It felt like I was 19 and not in a good way. I had to hide out from a 2 year-old. What a drag! That's a heck of a lot to go through just to talk and have tea.

We talked about a few things we had in common and some old neighborhood songs from the 1980's that neither one of us could believe the other knew. It helped with the shameful embarrassment we each surly must have had to confess we knew the lyrics and cadence of the songs not only from L.L.Cool J.,The Real Roxanne, UTFO, and the old time Beastie Boys. But we could confess it to each other.

Major issue with Mr. Fantastic, not completely honest and he said he liked to "debate". I think he just didn't like considering anyone beside him could be right about something or anything. Not something I can tolerate after the war I had already been through. Still have the purple heart from the last "Mr. Fantastic". However, after some training, this guy definitely had potential. Too bad a cult group got to him first and has him completely brain washed.

I noticed he was "off" and a little reluctant to discuss the topic of religion and God, then he let it slip that he attends a kingdom hall. Whoa! Hold the phone! "Are you a JW?" I asked him. Which he quickly and adamantly denied. Later the confession came out. I asked him, "Are you going to tell me next that you sell Amway?" I thought surely he was also going to confess that he was a democrat too but at least he was smarter than that. The JW thing, I told him that is the deal braker. I can not and will not date a JW. He went on to tell me that he is not a JW but has been through their training camps and he knows its wrong and blah blah blah but he still attends and associates with them. I made it clear that it was something that was not acceptable and if we were going to continue seeing each other, he has got to get his priorities straight. He didn't. He actually came to me and told me that he has been talking more with the JWs and they have been "dropping by" his house telling him that he shouldn't be with someone who isn't a JW, etc. and he knows how I feel so he said to, that he is going to continue to be involved in the cult and that he "still wants to be friends". No friends of mine are JWs!

He wasn't all bad though, I think he has a lot of good but it is going to take some humbling and education to get him on the right road and out of the clutches of the cult. It is frustrating to see someone who is intelligent to get so brain washed.
You know what's interesting? The last time we talked, he asked me, "You're not going to write any books about Jehovah Witnesses being bad are you?"

I wouldn't waste that much time on them.