Jim Nasium
This will be the last update for a little while, while Susie contemplates which stud she’ll run with.
Sorry in advance for the fact that there are no spaces between lines. I can’t figure out tumblr. Steph or Steve, if you know how to fix this, have at it.
Blue and Gold, the bar where Steph had sent Jim Nasium and me, was closed. Are they always closed on Sundays? If so, that seems counterintuitive, since people need more booze on the Sabbath in order to counteract visions of fire and brimstone, or Old Testament baby-killing, or the minister and his wife having sex.
So we bought cupcakes at Butterlane, where a terrifying/excellent bald man told us that he hates people who don’t listen to the cupcake explanation. Then we repaired to Burp Castle; I was psyched that Jim had actually been there before, but relieved that he didn’t know any more about the fancy beers than I did.
This date’s conversation probably veered the furthest from small talk – we talked about politics, energy policy, educational initiatives, liberal arts curricula, etc. Because we are smart.I thought Jim was interesting and well-informed (And Belgian! That’s almost as good as being Luxembourgian!). I didn’t feel any major, non-platonic clickage, but I really enjoyed the stories of drunken monks and both of our prematurely nostalgic remembrances of election day 2008.
(One thing that I thought was interesting was our conversation on check-splitting. Steph had mentioned that Jim would probably be more comfortable with splitting the tab, and he himself intimated that he’s really suspicious of girls who expect to be paid for. Honestly, I can go either way: It’s always nice to be treated, but I don’t mind chipping in. Fair’s fair. I do, however, have girl friends who are absolutely adamant that the guy foot the bill as well as girlfriends who very aggressively insist on going 50-50, so it looks like the controversy is alive and well.)
Oh! Also: I completely understand Ryan’s skepticism that all the dates were fun, but I really did enjoy myself every night, albeit on some more than others. Part of the reason is probably that I felt that I owed each of the guys some time and consideration and attempts at being cool (always a struggle for me), since they were very gamely participating in a strange, strange set-up, and so I actually tried to take the time to get to know them. Normally on dates I would probably make a snap decision and then get the hell out of dodge as quickly as possible if I didn’t sense a tangible spark. Uh, there’s probably a lesson to be learned here.
Okay! So the plan is: a few days of quiet contemplation for me, a couple of round-up posts, and a Very Special 7d7d episode in which I shall, yes, post some superlatives. (But not “Ugliest,” Ryan! Dammit!)
