date ten: oh oh oh!

i'd been trolling the internet for dates and feeling really bad about myself because i couldn't find anyone who was enthusiastic about the endeavor. in philadelphia the sense of adventure and willingness to participate was totally encouraging. on tuesday night i came across will. we spoke briefly but he was out of town due to the holiday. i was [secretly totally bummed but (hopefully) outwardly] sort of disappointed.


as i was driving to enterprise dictating messages for sam to transcribe she mentions that this guy suddenly became free and figured the ticket was gone. immediately i had her send my phone number and begin sending out notes of thanks and appreciation but also of declination.

without knowing if he'd be sure for sure, i threw out all the other options. it made me feel a little bit like one of those whirl-wind-musical-montage-scenes from a girl-y movie. add that to the fact that we were dancing and listening to le tigre like two jerks and yes, this was totally amazing. (i was just reminded that specifically i said i wanted music that was almost too much. i don't remember using those words but i'm so glad i did.)

will called and we confirmed plans. i hung up and was thrilled.

two and half hours later we were pulling into a parking spot. AWESOME!! note: it took me as long to get to this date as it did to get to some dates in philly due to traffic. that's disappointing.

i walked in with my re-gift-gifts for the gift swap and waited for will. he messaged that he'd be there shortly and the excitement just mounted. i wasn't nervous or anxious or anything. i saw him come in. he walked over. immediately i felt comfortable with him.

the show was totally worth the $5 admission. our hosts kevin and jane were so entertaining (kevin was in philly last month for the first person festival and i developed a little crush on him at that time.) ira glass graced us with his rendition of the pogues' "fairytale of new york" with a multi-accordion back up. the most titillating (can i say that? you should have seen her outfit...) part of the night was the performance of sarah nowak. this girl was adorable. she told the story of her "disengagment" and subsequent trip to europe. she talked about her ring and the good times it ultimately brought her. she danced and smiled and encapsulated the energy and emotions i've grown to know and love. this girl went through and lived through the stupid rotten loss a few years before me and came out glowing.
i can only hope i'll be able to present myself in the way that she does.
things just got serious up in here.


and then there's the fact that i'm still on this date. get back to business.

will was amazing. he was even more handsome than i'd expected. he was charming and polite. he won both the original "miami vice" soundtrack and "the fine young cannibals" on vinyl in the gift swap. some guy mentioned being jealous without realizing my guy was the new owner of the coveted objects. will was quick to trade for a bathrobe that reminded me of the inside of a conversion van or a waterbed. that's a really gross combination, actually.
he cut a hole in the lapel and inserted a flower. he looked bizarrely dapper considering he was wearing a bathrobe.

after the show (i'd not been selected to switch gifts during) it became a gift-exchange-free-for-all. not one to merely participate, i took it upon myself to climb behind the table and start working as if it were the redemption counter at chuck e. cheese or something. presents had fallen behind the table and i didn't want them to go ungiven. we organized gift packs: the glen beck/ann coulter book set, the cocktail napkins with a one-liner comparing chocolate to martinis belonged with the flip-flop tip-topped toothpicks.

i left with a picture frame and dress.


following the show we went to meet up with some friends. it was awesome. i have to write more later.
i'm late for date twelve.



i can't believe i've made it this far.

i can't believe a lot of things.




i still need to tell you about bluegrass and jon, who could easily make me a fool. he's quiet and clever. and he plays the piano.
i melt.





and then we have tonight. tonight i'm going on my final date with a very good friend. lots to be said about this. it's funny because i already know i love this guy. he's amazing.






details to follow. i really need to go and i'm already late.




oh, and that nightmarish rest stop? here you go:










i'm thinking about doing a new "roommate project." i need to tell you/ask you about this later.