TA Man

    Well haven't heard from Starburst guy since our date and let's just say I'm not too heartbroken about it.  Although, I can't help but wonder why he didn't contact me again; am I also more funny and charming online than in real life?!  Well, I had to obviously make sure this wasn't the case and luckily I had a whole inbox of test subjects just waiting to take me on dates!
    So, Laura and I discussed my prospects and decided that a few were worth replying to.  In particular there was a scruffy surfer dude that looked promising.  My friends at work deemed him "the TA."  And no, he was/is not a TA they just were convinced that he looked like one, I think it was the beard and pull-over zipper front sweater in his pic.
   TA guy and I get into a nice messaging conversation and within four messages he has asked to meet up.     He rings me on a Thursday around 5 as he is driving home from work and asks if I would like to go for a beach walk.  Now this is a Thursday around 5 during February so it pretty much gets dark in 20 minutes, so I instantly think, 'shit this guy is going to kill me on the beach, perfect!' So I casually suggest we meet at a well-lit beach access close to the shops of the 101.  He agrees and my second OKcupid adventure begins!
    I always have trouble figuring out what to wear for beach walk dates.  I mean do I wear my running shoes and workout apparel to let him know that I really just want to get some cardio in?  Or do I wear my bathing suit and a sundress and sandals so I can look cute and beachy like in the movies even though it is freezing out?!  So I opted for leggings, a simple shirt, jacket, and uggs... it screams I'm kind of beachy but really I just want to be warm.
   So looking as cute as I am gonna get on a Thursday night I drive to meet him at said beach access.  I pull up and see a figure sitting alone on a bench right under the street light so I figure well that's my guy at least it is well lit.  I venture closer and we give each other the once over before embracing in an awkward nice to meet you hug (they really are the worst!).
    I mention that pretty much no one is on the beach and it is dark out so why don't we walk along the 101 by the restaurants and shoppes; in other words 'let's go where there are other people to act as witnesses if need be.'
    We wander the 101 and finally come to the end of the main shop strip where we go to a random sushi joint.  We have a nice dinner and he pays.  The whole evening has been pleasant so far, he tells me about his job we discuss certain similarities, you know the usual.

    SIDEBAR:  It is really crucial not to divulge too much info when messaging online or to ask them too many questions either because then once you actually meet you have placed yourself in an instant first date disaster: you have nothing to talk about!  You have to make sure there is still enough of the 'o so you work at blah blah and yeah I totally love climbing small hills as well!'  Otherwise you are A. stuck rehashing information you should in theory already know about the person or B. discussing religion and politics which is just never a good idea or C. in awkward, this was a bad idea silence.

So back to TA man and me walking back from dinner he slyly puts his arm around me and i allow this as we stroll back to my car where he gives me a kiss good bye.  O but wait before we get to my car he insists on stopping in at this pizza place so he can get a slice to take for lunch tomorrow... just a bit random.  We get back to my car and he lets it be known that the college boy in him his not completely gone... well i was just like o shit how do i behave like a lady?!

well i did my best and after a rather heated make-out session we said good-bye

successful first date if i do say so myself...  we had a lot of commonalities and similar outlooks so I saw a future date or two or five in our future... yet his scruffy mountain man aura was a bit much for me so not sure I feel about that... I do like the cleaner type although I once dated a homeless ginger... but that is another issue completely

so stay tuned to see how TA man and I work out.... danananananana!