Date #1

My original thought was to name the post after the guy's name.  After careful consideration, I might have to mix it up a little.  Mainly because I feel a need to protect the innocent and get this shit....date #1 works in the same school district as I do.  Small world, huh?

So I doll myself up, and get to the restaurant early (by five whole minutes).   The hostess walks me to this huge booth.  For two people.  I don't want to sit all the way across this monstrous table. That's doesn't say 'get to know me'.  Then I imagine scooting around half of the table to sit in the back, so he can sit on the short side.  Actually, I imagine scooting out afterward after a glass of wine. Better, but not a good mental image.  I decide to ask for a smaller table.  He shows up as I'm hanging my purse on the back of my chair.  He looks familiar but I can't immediately place him.  I'm thinking, does he belong to my gym, have I seen his profile online in the many dating websites?

General greetings. blah, blah.  Waiter tells us how to read a menu.  Still can't figure out how I know him.  He starts.
"You must live close."
"Yes, I live in Exeter."
"Oh, I teach there."
"Right.  At the high school. I'm a counselor at the junior high."  Now that I think about it, there was no reaction at that connection.  At one point, he was a union rep and I know we've talked before; but now?  Nothing.  No look of recognition.  Nada.
Then he asks if I went to the union meeting and asked what they talked about.  Seriously? I'm planning on meeting exotic and new men, and this guy works 500 yards from me?  OK, I really didn't even need exotic.  I might as well date Sean.  (Just kidding- that was for my lunch group.)

Conversations were about kids from school, who I knew that was in his class, education in general, and Keystone exams specifically.  Master's degrees at West Chester, curriculum, more kids I know that are in his classes. Easy to talk to, but these conversations could be happening in a hallway at school.  There wasn't a real exchange of personal information.

Oh yeah, except he tells me up front that he is running the Broad Street Run on Sunday and is ordering a salad. We're at Buca so an entree is enough for 17 people.  That will be just ridiculous if I order an entree for just me. The lone thought in my brain was, "I don't run and now I'm not even going to get a good dinner."  I think an appetizer would be a good choice.  Except I'm not really jazzed about their apps, but decide on stuffed mushrooms.  Basically safe except for the pesto cream pooled around them.  Tasty, but dangerous green and drippy.  And drippy it was, right on my shirt.  Only a tiny bit, and I think I hid it well enough.  What I was not able to hide as well was the effects of the wine.  I get red, warm and a bit sweaty and that was only after half a glass.  Whatever, this guy never even remembers meeting me before. At the end of the meal, we get to the "have you done this much" question.  He tells me you meet great people, sometimes you know you it won't work right away.  Then the killer statement, "You'll see.  You'll meet interesting people."

So the overall impression: could have been worse.  I'd go out with him again.  He teaches a subject that interests me, and is pleasant to look at. It was easy to talk to him and I think we'd get along. The hard truth- I doubt he shares those thoughts.