Week 4

I tried setting up a date for today. Who knew that nearly every guy does indeed watch the Superbowl. Out of the three guys who want to take me out at some point, all three had superbowl plans. So I'm going to take the opportunity to update the blog, do more shopping for men, and watch the commercials. So far, I'm not impressed with the ads.

I've already had two guys call me back. Now the challenge starts: how to have second dates while I'm still trying to fit in at least two new dates a week? And to do this with a very busy work and social life? Its a lot of work. I had to reschedule a date originally scheduled for this past Friday because of a work deadline. Not good for progression. One of the guys texts me during the day, once asking if he could call me. At the time, I was way too busy to talk to anyone, so I told him no. It already feels like he's assuming too much familiarity which will only make me run in the other direction.

I've also realized that being told I'm sexy bothers me to some degree. It reduces me to feel one-dimensional, like this is all these men see. I'm not saying I hear this all the time (yes, poor me, poor misunderstood sex symbol - right), I've just never felt that I was, so when its expressed, its disconcerting. Anyway, I've been told that I should get used to it.

Enough of that. On to this past week's dates:

DATE 5, SUNDAY, JANUARY 25
2:00-5:10PM
THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
CRAIGSLIST POST
This is the first date resulting from Shana's posting on Craigslist.com. We had exchanged a couple of emails, he saw that in the ad Shana had mentioned that I liked museums, and suggested we go see the Italian show Art and Love in Renaissance Italy at the Met. We met up at the Info desk, he got tickets (paid full price for them, which I never do - its a suggested donation).

I've found I like going to a museum for a date - there's no pressure to talk the entire time like there is when you go out for a drink. For conversation, there are plenty of subjects to discuss as you are surrounded by art. He also seemed to have a good grasp on Italian painters.

As we walked through the museum, he told me about his career - he's a chef. He's worked in a couple of fantastic restaurants in New York - La Bernadine, and one of Bobby Flay's restaurants, and he now is a chef for a hotel. Better life style, no working weekends.

The Italian show at the Met is pretty amazing. There is quite a range of history, but one of the more interesting rooms was the one filled with etchings, sketches, and paintings of what the Met has called 'amorous subjects'. My date seemed somewhat embarrassed, and wasn't sure if it was appropriate. I think he was kidding, but not sure. We're walking along, and notice these two older Italian women standing in front of an elaborate drawing, and they are speaking in Italian and laughing. The whole drawing is about four feet long, I start looking at it, and it seems to be a procession of some sort, and I'm looking some more, and then notice the people portrayed at the end of the procession are holding something on a platform of some sort, like what the Roman aristocracy was carried around on. i look more closely, and the people are holding up a giant penis. This is what the older Italian women were laughing at. This is why I love Europeans - chances are if these were two older American women, they wouldn't be laughing at the absurdity of the scene. And it was absurd - based on the scale of the people, it had to be at least ten feet long and three feet high. Wow. Made me think of these two lesbians I met in San Francisco at the Pride Parade on year, asking, "Could you take this much?" in asking me about Dennis Rodman.

My date also saw the humor in the situation, so that was good.

After walking through the very crowded Rafael to Renoir drawing exhibit, we went down to the cafe to get something to eat. This was around 4:30 or so, and we talked until the museum was closing. He walked me to the subway, gave me a kiss, and said that he'd call.

He has called since then - he's the one who has been texting me during the day, and has called a couple of times. We're going to meet up on Tuesday of this week.

DATE 6, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28
8:00-10:15PM
LUCKY STRIKE, SOHO
CRAIGSLIST POST

This date was with the guy who Shana had hoped I'd gone out with first from the craigslist.com posting. I had had a very busy day and just about made it out of the office to meet up with him - luckily we were meeting near my office.

I'd have to say that meeting up with someone during a week I've got a major deadline on a day that I have an all day meeting with engineers is not a good idea. I was still stressed out, and he seemed nervous anyway. We grabbed a table, ordered some food and wine, and started with some nervous chatter. I just couldn't wait to eat - I was starving.

I ended up talking way too much about work - how could I not with the day I had? He ended up talking a lot about his father. His dad recently had some health problems, and I know what that's like. I could sympathize, but it's just not the most uplifting conversation for a first date. He also started telling me about how hard it is to date in this city. You're telling me!

We finished dinner, ordered coffee, and he grabbed the check. Nice guy, but I don't think I'll be seeing him again.