South Jersey

When I don't have a witty, sarcastic or negative comment, I almost don't know how to start a post about a date.

Two and a half hours with few uncomfortable pauses. That might be a record. It's a bit of a struggle to describe him, but not in a bad way. He's a computer guy, a little stocky (like I'm one to cast stones), and listened to my dog stories feigning great interest. I admit, at one point after we were done eating, I went on with a few too many dog stories. He is into photography and likes to travel to new places, mainly to take photos.  Seems like he prefers hot weather based on the frequency of the words hibernate and cold in the same sentence. Get this- he likes to cook, he likes to bake, and enjoys theater (not movie theaters but actual actors on stage). I get along well with people who enjoy food and show tunes. We talked about being outdoors, a bit about gardening, and how he eats sushi frequently (go right ahead- blech). He has a brother in Princeton and his dad lives in North Jersey and he lives in South Jersey. He named some towns, but the only one I remember is Princeton. My knowledge of Jersey is limited to Atlantic City and Stone Harbor. He could have been describing craters on Mars and I still would have nodded knowingly, like I did tonight. He works at Rowan University- which I had heard of before.  But only as Glassboro State. I'm always a little behind.

At one point, we were talking about local politics, New Jersey politics and Obamacare. I can't remember how or why we got to that topic. I take that as a good sign. We talked about Vegas a little.  Good thing I had been there. He's not a gambler, but has seen a handful of Cirque shows, and likes eating at places the locals eat rather than tourist-y places.

We ate at the Chart House near Penn's Landing. Carnivores beware- a big seafood and fish menu which is perfect for me. I didn't have to explain my "I don't really eat much red meat but I'm not a vegetarian". And dessert is served to every table. It's a heavenly molten chocolate lava cake with vanilla bean ice cream and hot fudge sauce. Truly divine. And it's one dessert to share which might be awkward on a first date for some, but didn't stop either of us. Keep in mind, in the past month my indulgences have been chocolate rice cakes or a granola-type bar (no lie), so I would have shared dessert with a leper. I don't even want to think about the points for that.

The sweat factor- not too bad.  On a scale of 10, I would rank it about a 3.5. It wasn't really the glass of wine, but more that the restaurant was on the warm side. Girlie aspects were on target- outfit was good, fresh mani/pedi, a good hair day.

Most are dying for two important tidbits. If there was any action and what is the "but".

Isn't there always a "but"? Here it is. He lives in South Jersey. That's about an hour and a half of travel time. Ninety minutes. I'm not sure I'm worth a ninety minute commute. Even once. My lunch friends are currently thinking of crude jokes about making it worth it. Glad you got that out of your system. We exchanged phone numbers- a good sign. He initiated giving me his number first- an even better sign. That leads to the thought of making plans to get together again. Summer is deceiving. I'm more willing to travel for a date in summer.  Starting in August, that would drastically change. By fall, I'm barely leaving Berks County. During a blast of winter weather, I barely want to leave my house. And he lives in South Jersey.

I'm not a girl to kiss and tell. But since we didn't kiss, I guess that means I can spill it.  Valet parking doesn't lend itself well to bidding someone goodnight. His car came around first, and he was polite and waited while they brought my car around. There are valets and people dropping off cars to enter the restaurant and others just milling around outside. Now there is a car between his and mine, so it's really not flowing. We just left it as a thanks-and-I'll-talk-to-you-later. He did turn and tell me to drive home carefully which was either sincere or a judgment that he already thinks I'll be a bad driver. Anyway, no kiss, no hug: it wasn't weird, there were just too many people, cars and observers.

So now the question is posed: what's next? I want wait to see if he contacts me first. Not because I'm not interested. Let's see his interest level. I would go out with him again. How else will I find out how they describe me and if he is willing to relocate. Maybe the latter question is best saved for date #3.

Oh yeah, and we split the check.