Accidentally in a relationship and classic DC dating dilemma

So sorry that this blog took a hiatus before it really started, but that's what happens when people accidentally get into relationships: they have to stop dating. And thus a blog ruined.

But now I'm back at it.

What's classic DC? Meeting a guy at a party and wanting to ask him out, but also wanting the new job that's open in his office.

What happens next is a series of email drafts that never get sent but that look something like this:

Hi,

I want to stick to my original plan - to ask you out for dinner.

But that plan may have been derailed when I saw that job opening in your office.

This is easily the most awkward and ill-advised email I have ever sent. And the what happens next part is some kind of complicated game theory problem - and is completely up to you.

Or this:

I am torn between my original plan - to ask you out - and my new inclination after seeing a job posting in your office to send you my resume.

Anyway, I guess this is one of those choose your own adventure emails.

Only in DC.

OK. So he's really just not that into me.

We'll call him Chris. Chris and I met through a friend a few months ago.

We've hung out together at various parties, and we always end up just the two of us - talking - for hours.

We made our first solo plans. I was excited. I had given myself that pre-date/or not date pep-talk. The one where I review with myself the need to look for signs that it is or isn't a date.

Then, I put on clean clothes. This is generally a pre-date tradition for me (it's not that my clothes are usually dirty, but they are usually pre-worn).

I show up to meet Chris at the predesignated time. And he's not there. I text him. And he calls me right away. He forgot we had plans.

He decides to salvage the evening and race down and meet me. But still. If there's ever a signal that someone is not that into you, I don't think it's when they forget an anniversary. I'm pretty sure it's when they forget the first date. He told me he often forgets things.

We had a wonderful rest of the evening. Even the bartender, when Chris left for the bathroom, told me he was rooting for us.

But Chris did forget our first (probably our only and quite questionable) date. Jeez.

So Obama May Have Ended Torture, But There's Still DC Dating...

Okay. So I am kind of addicted to dating. There. I said it.

It's the kind of addiction that feeds itself like a drug addiction. The kind our phys ed teachers warned us about in eighth grade health class. They said that you'll always be asking if the next high be better.


But unfortunately, it's mostly lows in my adventures in DC dating. Still, there's always the promise that the next guy won't sit in my living room silently for a prolonged period of time until I have to eventually ask him to leave; that he won't tell me he doesn't date - he just has sex. Or he'll call me back.


And that's why I do it. Because the next one might be better. (I mean, how could it not? Seriously.)

So these are the stories of my varied adventures in DC dating. Note that the various dates come from a variety of venues - craigslist, okcupid, the metro, various bars, etc.

All names and identifying characteristics will be changed to protect the marginally innocent, but also to assure that I am able to continue to convince people to date me.


So here goes. While I can't promise much, I almost 100% promise tales of inappropriate advances, awkward situations, bad judgements, bad gifts and maybe if I'm lucky, other stories from Inside My Beltway.