Here's an update on how my speed dating experience went:
Fast forward to a few days later. My date invited me to a Mexican Diner that just happened to be literally next door to a strip club. (Yes, it was a shared parking lot specifically for these two places). The food was pretty good and we talked, a lot. Sadly, about midway through dinner I realized that we were not as great of a fit as I had originally expected or anticipated. All I could think of was what my little girl was doing and that I was missing out on quality daughter time. We had also made plans to go to an arcade that evening after dinner, so he drove me to a nearby arcade. Not only did I feel a little too mature to partake in the arcade games, I found myself wanting to avoid getting close and rushing through our tokens. Needless to say, I declined going to the bar for drinks after the arcade. He drove me back to my car and I somehow avoided the obligatory first date kiss. (Thank goodness - I hate awkward moments, yet also live for them)... We ended up texting off and on for a few weeks and I think I managed to skirt his offers to get together again enough that he ended up never responding.
Would I try speed dating again? Maybe, maybe not. I have come to realize that I am a unique person and I am also very independent. My daughter is my world and I don't think I'm ready to let someone else in quite yet. I also need someone a little bit more mature that can handle my quirks.
- Arrive 10 minutes early instead of the 15 that was requested due to the event being downtown, also hoping that no one notices the lovely band-aid on my knee that I must use to conceal my treadmill-induced injury.
- Check-in at the nice swanky little downtown bar that was rented out specifically for the event.
- I take my paper (for notes and reference) to my assigned table #2. I wear my name tag and to my surprise, male #2 is already across the miniature table from my chair
- Awkwardly make small talk and decide to forego the alcoholic beverage even though I know it would have alleviated some anxiety
- Make it through about 16 rounds of 3 minute conversations... I should probably add that there was a WIDE variety of men that I had conversations with: stand-up comedians, online poker players, pilots, authors, and some that I was surprised even left the gym to attend the event
- By the end of the night, we had the opportunity to take note of unique interests or details about each date and we could mark yes or no on our little sheet (for us to take home apparently)
- We had about 24 hours to input our "yes" choices online -- I only marked one -- a college graduate in microbiology that currently worked in a fertility clinic and was interested in music and game nights. It sounded like a perfect match.
- To my surprise, my match also selected yes for me. (Being honest, I almost selected more matches to see if anyone had chosen me, but feared the awkward rejection or disappointment)
- My match sent an e-mail to get together for a real "date"
Fast forward to a few days later. My date invited me to a Mexican Diner that just happened to be literally next door to a strip club. (Yes, it was a shared parking lot specifically for these two places). The food was pretty good and we talked, a lot. Sadly, about midway through dinner I realized that we were not as great of a fit as I had originally expected or anticipated. All I could think of was what my little girl was doing and that I was missing out on quality daughter time. We had also made plans to go to an arcade that evening after dinner, so he drove me to a nearby arcade. Not only did I feel a little too mature to partake in the arcade games, I found myself wanting to avoid getting close and rushing through our tokens. Needless to say, I declined going to the bar for drinks after the arcade. He drove me back to my car and I somehow avoided the obligatory first date kiss. (Thank goodness - I hate awkward moments, yet also live for them)... We ended up texting off and on for a few weeks and I think I managed to skirt his offers to get together again enough that he ended up never responding.
Would I try speed dating again? Maybe, maybe not. I have come to realize that I am a unique person and I am also very independent. My daughter is my world and I don't think I'm ready to let someone else in quite yet. I also need someone a little bit more mature that can handle my quirks.