Date #2

Earlier this week, at my second job, I took my watch off and massaged my wrist. "Ahhh," I said. "This is the first time I've taken off my watch in weeks." My friend Zack looked at me, and said, "What? Not even when you shower?" I said no, that it's waterproof. He looked at me like I was crazy. I then noticed this strange little lesion on my wrist under where the watch was. I laughed, and said, "Oops. Yup. Good point."

Zack then looked at me with a laugh and a grin, and he said, "You better hope things with this kindergarten teacher work out. You need someone to take care of you. She's a kindergarten teacher, so she'd explain things to you nice and slow so you'd understand that you shouldn't shower with your watch on." If that wasn't enough, he said, "You need your June Carter Cash." Zack was laughing through much of our conversation, but this was as serious as our conversations - which usually consist of good natured jibes and oogling customers or girls who walk past the restaurant - get.

And he's right, of course. Which is why tonight's date was such a disappointment. It was alright, but significantly less exciting than the first one. She seemed less excited and forthright, and I definitely thought at one point, "You know, if we didn't have our dogs with us, I don't know what we'd be talking about right now." There was almost a moment during the dinner - like, as soon as the plates were taken away - when I realized that I was all out of topics. I'm not sure if the second date is the date to start asking questions about family or not, so we stuck with dog care.

I'm affected by this way more than I would have thought, and I'm not sure why. First off, I'm not sure what I want to do. It probably didn't go as badly as I thought, but the awkward ending and lack of perceived chemistry is shining like neon in my mind. She's so beautiful, and nice, but there's this sense I had tonight that she just didn't want to be there. In fact, I just don't get why she came on out. She was working on a paper, and seemed tired when I called to confirm, and I gave her an out - "We can reschedule for later this week if you want, no problem" - but she said she wanted to. I wonder if she did it to get it over with, or if she really wanted to come. I just have no idea. I wish I could read minds.

Either way, things didn't feel nearly as good as they did after date #1. I'm not sure what I want to do now. It's either give her a ring later in the week, and see how things feel, or just sort of let it die and get back on the horse again. I think I'll be better next time. Lord knows I need practice. I haven't really dated much since the eye surgeries and getting the second job - and that was a couple of years ago. So I suck at this.

When I left the house for the date today, I was thinking that I'd spend some time tonight online shopping for flowers to send to her job tomorrow. Instead, I'm damn depressed about it all. Hmmm. Maybe my expectations are too high.