Mission Accomplished!

It’s done!!!  It wasn’t without a LOT of jitters and frantic phone calls (what am I going to wear?!?), but it’s done.  And all in all, it wasn’t a bad time.  I won’t be upset if he doesn’t call again, but were he to call, I probably would go out with him again. 

Mr. Training Wheels was late for the date, but at least called to tell me he was running a little late.  (About 10 minutes, but punctuality is a big thing for me…he lost immediate points for that.)  So by the time he arrived, I had knocked back most of a Sapphire martini (having myself arrived 10 minutes early), which made the whole process a little easier.   First impressions/moments were about what I expected but after we’d sat down and ordered dinner and begun talking, things got better. 

When we had talked he’d told me he is a stickler for manners.  Because he made kind of a big deal about it on the phone (saying it’s his litmus test on a first date), I assume this was something enigmatic and obscure and I was worried.  I mean, I DO own multiple copies of Emily Post and Miss Manners and consider myself well versed on manners and etiquette, but his emphasis on it had me worried.  But at the end of dinner, I was told that I’d passed the test.  Apparently, all it took was my ‘Thank You’ when he paid for dinner.  Are there seriously women who don’t say a simple thank you when man buys them dinner?  Has the world of dating become so lacking of common courtesy that I win points for doing something I make my 2 and 3 year olds do??

After dinner he came down the street with me to the club where my cousin’s band was performing.  My brother and his boyfriend were there already, so I have to give Mr. Training Wheels some credit for handling it well.  I mean, to meet someone’s family on a first date is asking a lot of someone you met online, but he took it all in stride.  I had a much better time at the club than I’d had at dinner…I felt more in my element.  We had another couple drinks, hung out with my cousin before the set started and then I got to dance a little bit.  (Note to self for future dates: dancing = good excuse for slight bits of physical contact that might otherwise seem too forward)  

He walked me back to my car after we’d left the club, and ended up sitting in the car with me for a while.  We both needed to wait a little while before we drove, so I guzzled water and we sat and talked.  Despite having been told that he doesn’t kiss on the first date, I did get kissed.  And for me, that was stranger than anything else last night.  I haven’t kissed anyone other than my ex-husband in a long time.  And you know how you get used to the way someone kisses you?  You’ve got a kissing rhythm with that person and then you kiss someone who kisses totally differently…  And that’s enough about that.  (My dad is blushing now I’m sure!)

All in all, it was a not unpleasant first date in all senses.  I’m getting my grove back.

P.S. I have heard through the real-life friend grapevine that there are some of you out there who are hatin’ on my decision to try online dating.  (You know who you are…)  Here’s the thing — Since you’re not setting me up with anyone or introducing me to potential dates, you don’t get input. 

(P.P.S. Heard y’all rocked it out last night.  Can’t wait to see the DVD!)