Gertie goes to the Symphony

Sorry for the hiatus daring adventurers, Gertie will endeavor not to wait so long to post in the future. Let me go back to fall now and tell you the adventure of my first few dates with Beer, Bread, and Jam guy (BB&J). His story doesn't have an ending yet so let's fill you in on the beginning details while it continues to unfold. I know he has been mentioned in a few other blogs and current thinking is that he is a Target.

The Emails:
One of the best things about online dating is when you send emails back and forth with potential Targets you can get a sense of who they are. You can tell whether they pay attention to the details from the punctuation, spelling, grammar. You can tell if they are funny from the tone inferences in their email.

The emails were fast paced, long, detailed. We talked about things we liked authors, careers, sports, food. Ah the food, Gertie is a foodie and she loves a man that knows his way around food,wine,cocktails. BB&J held the possibility of home cooked meals and fresh baked bread. Although being a nice guy isn't getting you in my pants, see previous blog, being a nice guy who cooks will put you in contention. The best part of emailing BB&J is that his interest level never waned. He had something about him that intrigued me immediately. He made funny jokes just for us which he continues to use to this day. He also asked me out on my favorite day of the week (Tuesday) for his favorite day of the week(Thursday). He said it would be his favorite day because it would be the day we met.....I know sappy but honestly I am a sucker for cute nerds.

First Date:
Gertie traveled into the city in the rain in black boots and a chic dress to meet the man who bakes bread. She agreed to go on the date with him on the condition he brought her home made jam. If you're going to tout yourself as a jam maker to this foodie, you better bring your wares.

Now BB&J definitely posted some younger photos in his profile, although they weren't entirely misleading. Have you ever met someone and felt like you had already met? Gertie felt a strange connection to BB&J upon shaking hands. She remembered feeling this way about someone once before, it was in her youth, many moons ago and so she wondered initially if BB&J reminded of her of that ex from so long ago. Gertie has never dated anyone who reminded her of an ex before. There was a Southern guy who smelled like an old boyfriend's cologne once, but that's for a future blog.

Interesting International food was enjoyed at a hole in the wall place. Gertie forgot about the similarities as they enjoyed spicy food and learned about one another. There was something about BB&J's eyes that mesmerized Gertie. Gertie was drawn to the light pools of dancing blue that sparkled as fond memories were shared. Gertie felt nervous to be so drawn to a man with light eyes, tall dark and handsome had always been her type before. Then there was a brisk walk to the Symphony. Gertie doesn't regularly attend the symphony and she thought it was an interesting first date. BB&J and Gertie sat watching the music and her mind raced. She couldn't place why BB&J was reminding her of this ex-love. It was the man who first broke her heart, did she want to have a broken heart again? Gertie felt the panic creeping into her mind but she told herself not to get lost in the moment. She sat there listening to Gershwin.

At Intermission they had conversation about their paths in life, work, and philosophies. BB&J made jokes about how the old fogies gave him questionable looks for attending the symphony in jeans but he thought they should be happy he was there. Bringing dates and exposing the younger generation to the classics. Gertie laughed so hard it made her heart smile. The second performance went to quickly. Before she knew it they were leaving and he was walking her to the car. He walked her to her car and made sure she knew her way out of the city. There was some lingering and then a friendly hug. He had forgotten the jam, but it was a great excuse for a second date. She agreed to the number exchange. As she drove home and recounted the date to her friend she couldn't shake the feeling that she had encountered when they shook hands, it had happened again when they hugged. She told her best gal pal on the phone about the feeling, she pondered if she wanted to go down the path again. She didn't really understand what it was at the time, sometimes our heroine is so naive. Before she reached home she had a text from BB&J thanking her for a great time and saying he couldn't wait to see her again.

Second Date: And then there was Jam! There was two kinds of jam on their next encounter because she had been jipped on the first date. They were sampled by the dating committee and there were mixed reviews, one jam was savory and one jam was sweet, but the date was the best part of the night. They met for drinks and dinner at a pub Gertie had been wanting to try. There were cocktails and shared meals. There was laughter, talking, more cocktails, and then it was really late. There was an ease in the flow of the conversation. Gertie had known it was past her bedtime but laughing with BB&J didn't mind making her stay up late. He laughed at her love of all things nerdy and she wondered if that love would soon include him. Gertie wished there was a good night kiss but the excited tension that the hug brought was not lost on her. She hoped this was the beginning of many dates to come.

Subsequent Interesting Date Highlights:
There have been many interesting dates since the late fall when BB&J made his appearance on Gertie's radar. There was a time at the closing of the date when Gertie gave him a handshake when he tried to kiss her, the signature Gertie move. Also on that night Gertie blurted out No as he tried to kiss her, insert round of applause for social awkwardness award. The first time he made her dinner at his apartment she swooned because it was the cleanest adult male apartment she had ever been in. The dinner was amazing and she had a great time. When he walked her out that night while attempting to kiss her, he poked her in the eye. This is now known as the caressing the eye and jokes are made about it constantly. Subsequent visits to his apartment have revealed that he actually lives there and it's not as clean as the first impression. He has met a few of Gertie's friends and all of them liked him. BB&J plays a musical instrument so there was caroling during the holidays with his friends. Eventually Gertie realized that the feeling she got when she first shook hands with BB&J was not an actual reminder of her ex, but he was someone she felt incredibly chemistry with. You see folks it had been a long time since Gertie had shocked by a man, and that folks is why he is still a spearing Target.

There will be more to this story, ups and downs, but while we wait to unfold we will learn about the Southern Gentleman from today and from days of yore, and we might be going on a date with a Single Dad in 2012....to be continued.

Watch out for Hammers,
Gertie xoxo