2 Blind Dates

A few weeks ago, I came to the very depressing realization that I had not gone on an actual date since before Christmas.  (I don't believe that my standing monthly drinks-date with the Ex or texting my cute bartender in the hopes of cheap/free drinks count as dating.)  Startled and concerned at this extended dry spell, I decided to dip my toe into the pool of online dating.  I had considered this before, but I was going to postpone it until late spring/early summer (after my spring races are over, after I find a new apartment and find out about my job situation, etc.) But I was struck with a bout of carpe-diem-itis, and I decided to sign up sooner rather than later.  Though I have only been swimming in this pool for two weeks, I can already make two fairly safe assumptions about the majority of the male population of the D.C. metropolitan area:

1.) Almost everyone is an Engineer, works in I.T. or works for the Federal Government. Not to make any hasty judgments, but these professions do not tend to recruit the most creative, flexible or open-minded employees.  Also, everyone is in grad school for something.

2.) The majority of men in this region are terrible at marketing themselves. I guess in a way this is a good thing, because if I should meet someone I like, I can rest assured he doesn't have enough skill to go trying to pursue other girls.  For instance, almost everyone says they enjoy "seeing friends, spending time with family, music, travel, [insert-favorite-sport-here]."  What makes you different and more interesting that the forty other men who all say the same things? 
Maybe your pictures?  But I'm finding these men struggle in that department as well. I mean, it's nice that you travel, but if every single picture on your profile is a generic and small figure of you in a corner, with a huge mountain or seascape as the main focal point, I still have no idea what you look like, and I will be scared to meet you.  I'll also be concerned if you're wearing sunglasses and/or a hat in every picture. Or if there are only extreme close-ups of your face.  What are you hiding? I'm good at spotting red flags. (Perhaps I should put that in my profile. ;))

But I digress. And I'm making these assumptions having not yet actually met any of the men behind these online profiles...which actually brings me to the point of this blog post:  In the next 72 hours, I have two blind dates lined up that I've "met" online.  The first one in tonight, and while I'm excited about actually going on a date, I'm a bit nervous about the whole scenario....We have not talked much online, except to set up a meeting time and place.  So, he actually could be a serial killer.  (If you don't see anymore blog posts after this, please worry.)  Also, it's after work.  Do I have to stay in my work clothes or can I wear jeans? If I'm in jeans and he's in a suit, I'll look like a bum. If I'm in work clothes and he's not I'll feel too conservative-looking and overdressed.  This is always a problem meeting somebody for the first time. (And unfortunately, I have a bit of a protruding gut at the moment that makes most of my "cute and sexy first date outfits" unwearable.  It's also 36 hours before my marathon, which is not ideal.  Even if we find we are long lost soulmates and hit it off with fantastic conversation, I'll still have to end the night realitvely early to go home and get some rest....C'est la vie. Here's hoping to at least a nice evening with good conversation, no gruesome death, and maybe some chemistry. We will see.

My second blind date is, interestingly, immediately following my marathon on Saturday.  This one fellow offered to come watch my race, which I thought was very kind, but seeing as he has no idea what I look like, it may be hard to find me among the thousands of runners filing up Connecticut Avenue [in the rain.]  But, I--completely jokingly--suggested that he could come meet me for brunch afterwards.  And, apparently unphased by the prospect of going on a date with a girl who has been running for five hours, he agreed.  I find this incredibly amusing.  And liberating.  For one thing, he will meet me when I am looking easily as bad as I could look--especially if it rains.  I will be a sweaty, salty sore mass or tired muscles and curly-hair frizz.  He will also have the opportunity to see me woof down the 10,000 calories I consume during my typical all-you-can-eat-post-race-brunch-buffet. And probably also see me get tipsy on the bottomless mimosas.  As far as sex-appeal, this is about as unappealing as I can get: sweaty, smelling, make-up-less, gluttonous, and possibly very grumpy and tired...if he wants to see me again after this date, I really can only improve my image.  I love this idea and I really think it will be a hilarious experiment!  I admire that he is bold enough not to be thwarted by the prospect of my general post-race grossness and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens. (I hope he isn't just having yogurt and granola while I'm pounding biscuits and gravy into my munch-cave like it's my last meal.)

Stay tuned....I will let you know how both go...in the mean time, less than 39 hours until the marathon!!!

"Blind Date" by Wendy:  http://www.umeart.com/gallery3/blinddate.html