Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Close but no cigar
Something odd just happened. I started filling out one of those online questionaires to join a dating service today. I was deciding that I would date in 2007. I filled out most of the form when I decided that I wasn't sure if I really wanted to date or not. That's just anecdotal at this point though.
So, I went to Brittania Arms for dinner. I was craving English food if you can imagine that. I've been eating a lot of spicy rice bowls and Mexican food, so English food sounded like a nice change. I went in and was seated at a table for two. I love it when the host/hostess says, "Just one?" I'd get a free meal at Max's Opera for that :-) Anywho, I sat down and ordered a Pepsi. After a few minutes, a reasonably attractive woman came in carrying a 3-5 year old. No ring though.
She asked the little girl where she wanted to sit, and in short order they were seated in the table next to me in an otherwise empty restaurant. I decided not to say anything.
"I didn't know [Company name] was still in San Jose", she said pointing to the ID badge clipped to my belt. "Oh, they're pretty much out of the main plant site, but I'm not located there."
"Oh, you're at the [Site B]?", she asked.
"No, I'm at the other one."
"I didn't know they had another one."
"Don't worry, most people live here and don't know about our location."
"Oh", her eyes widened, "You're at the laboratory?"
"Yeah. We're kinda out of the way, so most people hardly know us, but we've been there 20 years as of tomorrow."
We chit-chatted while we ate dinner next to each other. She's a 30-ish MBA student apparently a single mom and has some humanitarian experience in South Africa. She's also traveled extensively. I made her laugh with all my old standbys, and did some showing off (the idiots version of being interesting). It was all going well, but although the thought had crossed my mind to ask for her number [trite], I didn't feel like ... err, I didn't feel that ... well, I just didn't feel that thing I would have felt if I wanted to ask her out. I paid my bill, made one last comment to send her away laughing and was content ending it at that.
I got up and went for my keys. Oops, hmmm - no keys. I explained the situation and excused myself to check for my keys in the truck. Sure enough there they were on the seat. Now would be a good time to have a cell phone. "Well", I explained, "I'm off to find a payphone."
"Do you want to borrow my phone?", she asked.
Well, I couldn't very well say no since we were being so chummy over dinner. I called AAA on here phone, and they said that a truck would be by in the next 45 minutes. I thanked Jennifer for letting me borrow her phone, and offered to buy her a drink while she finished her dinner and I waited for the truck.
"I don't drink" - strike one :-)
Not really strike one though, so while I waited for the tow truck, we had more small talk that touched on places we've been and things we've seen. "Who are you really, and what were you before? What did you do and what did you think?" Overall, I had a very nice time, but there was no chemistry. The wierd thing is that had I picked characteristics out of a list for someone I would date on that online dating questionaire, she would have all of them.
So, I went to Brittania Arms for dinner. I was craving English food if you can imagine that. I've been eating a lot of spicy rice bowls and Mexican food, so English food sounded like a nice change. I went in and was seated at a table for two. I love it when the host/hostess says, "Just one?" I'd get a free meal at Max's Opera for that :-) Anywho, I sat down and ordered a Pepsi. After a few minutes, a reasonably attractive woman came in carrying a 3-5 year old. No ring though.
She asked the little girl where she wanted to sit, and in short order they were seated in the table next to me in an otherwise empty restaurant. I decided not to say anything.
"I didn't know [Company name] was still in San Jose", she said pointing to the ID badge clipped to my belt. "Oh, they're pretty much out of the main plant site, but I'm not located there."
"Oh, you're at the [Site B]?", she asked.
"No, I'm at the other one."
"I didn't know they had another one."
"Don't worry, most people live here and don't know about our location."
"Oh", her eyes widened, "You're at the laboratory?"
"Yeah. We're kinda out of the way, so most people hardly know us, but we've been there 20 years as of tomorrow."
We chit-chatted while we ate dinner next to each other. She's a 30-ish MBA student apparently a single mom and has some humanitarian experience in South Africa. She's also traveled extensively. I made her laugh with all my old standbys, and did some showing off (the idiots version of being interesting). It was all going well, but although the thought had crossed my mind to ask for her number [trite], I didn't feel like ... err, I didn't feel that ... well, I just didn't feel that thing I would have felt if I wanted to ask her out. I paid my bill, made one last comment to send her away laughing and was content ending it at that.
I got up and went for my keys. Oops, hmmm - no keys. I explained the situation and excused myself to check for my keys in the truck. Sure enough there they were on the seat. Now would be a good time to have a cell phone. "Well", I explained, "I'm off to find a payphone."
"Do you want to borrow my phone?", she asked.
Well, I couldn't very well say no since we were being so chummy over dinner. I called AAA on here phone, and they said that a truck would be by in the next 45 minutes. I thanked Jennifer for letting me borrow her phone, and offered to buy her a drink while she finished her dinner and I waited for the truck.
"I don't drink" - strike one :-)
Not really strike one though, so while I waited for the tow truck, we had more small talk that touched on places we've been and things we've seen. "Who are you really, and what were you before? What did you do and what did you think?" Overall, I had a very nice time, but there was no chemistry. The wierd thing is that had I picked characteristics out of a list for someone I would date on that online dating questionaire, she would have all of them.
