Brooklyn

   Brooklyn is new to my area and suggested we go see some stand-up comedy. It was something we both enjoy and I have a favorite hot spot to recommend. I get free tickets and if we go for dinner we get reserved seating for the show. My suggestion was welcomed and we made plans to meet at the bar. I arrived early and decided to go have a drink while my date was in traffic. There were four or five open stools at the bar. I had the choice to sit next to two “bros” who appeared to be wannabe standup comedians, two feisty looking girls who did not seem to want another chick in their click or.... OORRRRR an attractive, tall, dark-skinned man eating alone. Attractive male was the obvious choice. Sauntering over, I asked if I could sit next to him. I ordered a Stella from the bartender as if I knew him personally. Nice. I’m going to look so cool when my date gets here! After talking for a bit, I discovered this guy  (Lets call him Dark Knight) worked at the club. If there’s one thing you should know about me, I’m not at all a “star fucker”*, but I do drool over comedians. If a guy is funny, my radar is buzzing. We were chatting it up and I found myself having a pretty decent time. I glanced behind me when Dark Knight stopped talking and Brooklyn was standing there, looking nervous to approach me. After all I was indulged in conversation with a complete stranger. Oh man. I hope he didn’t think I was a jerk.

   I jumped down off of my bar stool and gave him a hug. He was dressed in Levi’s, a red plaid shirt, Toms and a bomber jacket. Finally! A guy with some style. He was tall and gave me a great first hug. He said “Nice to meet you.” I awkwardly said, “Yes! Let’s get dinner” and started walking away from the bar.

   Ok. It’s one thing to be meeting people online and it’s another to be MEETING people you meet online. I’m not ashamed of being in the online dating world, but I will admit I felt slightly embarrassed that my date introduced himself in a booming voice in front of Dark Knight. Clearly we’d never met before, so now it’s OBVIOUS that I’m either 1) On a blind date or 2) On a first Online Date. I know I shouldn’t care about Dark Knight or anyone’s opinion on how or where I meet men, but if Brooklyn didn’t turn out well, I could have easily met up with Dark Knight after the show. Ok… ok. That might be a little drastic. I guess I should just be proud that Brooklyn is not shy about our situation.

   We sat down to have dinner and the waiter had to come back three times. We had not even started looking at the menu. Brooklyn and I did not stop talking. I adored how he ordered a “Budweiser” and not just a “Bud.” I wish I could embed a voice bit of how he says the full name of the beer, fully pronouncing the “wei” like “why.” It was endearing. I ordered my usual chicken lemon pasta and a Stella Artois. Brooklyn had a salad with grilled chicken. Once we got our order out of the way, we went right back to chit chat. Turns out he knows one of the bands I idolized for about two months in college, The Higher. If you do not know this band, I can only describe them as the Hansen Brothers gone terribly wrong and perverted and even more Pop-y.  I was embarrassed to admit I liked them for some period of time, but it was a funny connection. When he lived in New York, Brooklyn lived down the street from the house that The National lived in. Now here’s a band I could brag about loving. I was so jealous and wanted to hear all of his stories. I got lost in conversation with this guy. Brooklyn has beautiful blue eyes and an incredible smile. He’s loud (like me) and there was never a dull moment in our conversation.

The Higher

   

   After dinner we went into the show and sat across from one another. We made the occasional eye contact when the comedians would say something either of us could relate to. It was a great show, and I was very proud to bring him to such an awesome place.

   Brooklyn asked if I needed to get home early or if I had time for another drink. Two rounds later, we were closing the bar down. He politely walked me to my car. About a block before we got there, he stood still in his tracks and put his hands in his pockets. He smiled real big and said “Hey… I had a really great time tonight. Can I see you again?” I giggled and we made plans. Plans for him to call me the next week.

   Have you ever left a date and smiled the entire way home? That exciting feeling that makes your mind a little numb. The feeling that makes you stand a little taller and sing a little louder on the drive to your house?  After the first two nightmares that I had been on dates with, Brooklyn made this blog maybe a little less exciting for you, but a little more hopeful for me.

   Life is not dull. I will leave you with the following two truths and a lie to guarantee that we will see each other again.

   - London, my new neighbor, FINALLY asked me out for ice cream. He has an accent. DROOL.

   - Brooklyn dropped off the face of the planet. Where did I go wrong?

   - I posted this from Doctor Snotface’s living room. It’s a fucked up world.

- Check Please

*”Star fucker” – A term I learned from my boss, in reference to people who are obsessed with celebrities and will do anything to get one.