Date #2: Anita Mann

11:30 PM Inner monologue: Go to sleep! Stop the Google Reader. You’ve got a big squash match tomorrow afternoon. You think your opponent is reading about the change in Snapple branding or a study saying that men and women read differently? And what about your date? You have a really great night of drinks and conversation, say you’re too tired to write about it, then waste your time on this? On the other hand, you’ve gotta have something to talk about on Date #3, right?

10:00 PM “Got my kind of quality, Food Emporium, Food Emporium…” I say this to Anita as I drop her off for the night at the local Food Emporium. Except I sing it and promise her that I’m not crazy and that this really was a popular jingle once upon a time. Singing popular commercial jingles (D’Agostino’s, Crazy Eddie’s, Nobody Beats the Wiz) was a huge meme in New York during my childhood. I say meme for the 71st time.

9:45 PM Anita generously accompanies me to Artichoke Basille’s for pizza. I find out she’s a vegetarian (Why are so many more girls vegetarians than guys?). I’m happy that the signature dish is meatless.

9:30 PM There are some really drunk girls sitting across from us in the back of the bar. They look like they are headed towards this. We’re whispering and making fun of them while a guy is leaning over and plotting his move. I don’t think they notice us. I say meme for the 47th time.

9:15 PM Beauty Bar is playing great music and we’re on our third beer (Sixpoint Sweet Action). Turns out the bartender’s name is Lara and she asks me how it’s going. Trying to sound cool I say, “Pretty well, I guess.”

8:45 PM The old Twitter vs. Google Reader debate. A dork’s dream. She prefers Twitter, I prefer Google Reader. I’ll let that one slide.

8:30 PM We discuss the “Meme or No Meme” game show idea and agree that it has to be on the internet or maybe as an Adult Swim interstitial. I’m amazed that anyone I just met would talk to me about this and not think I’m insane. This is my lucky night. I say meme for the 29th time.

8:17 PM We have one Facebook friend in common!

8:00 PM We do the whole “Where are you from?/I can’t believe your commute is like that!/It’s almost warm, now we can walk everywhere!” thing. It’s a must. I find out that Anita’s brother is a 6’9” Division I basketball player and she is impressed that I am a rare person these days who admits to rooting for Duke. Sports bring people together.

7:30 PM I say meme for the first time and we discuss stock definitions that we tell luddites who have never heard the term and pronounce it “mimi” or “mem.” Anita also tells me about the meme I missed that day, a variation on this.

7:15 PM Anita Mann is right on time. Again, we recognize each other through shared awkwardness/me telling her what color shirt I’m wearing. I find out how to pronounce her real name. I get her a beer and our story has checked out with the higher-ups. Thanks Beauty Bar!

7:10 PM Playing the waiting game, drinking a beer, and considering a Martini and a Manicure.

7:05 PM Arrive at Beauty Bar. Not as early as I promised, but still not bad. I drop the 7d7d name and the perplexed, but intrigued bartender promises to check on it for me with the manager.

@3 years ago