Plastic Boy

Blind Dates.

Gotta love 'em.

Two strangers with at least two common threads in their life (a friend and singledom), getting together to see if they can find more commonalities.

Working for the Boy Scouts of America, I work with many men.  Luckily, its women that tend to try to try to solve singledom, so I don't get set up on blind dates very often.

So I was surprised when I received a text from a  random number, explaining he was the son of one of my volunteers and was wondering if I would like to go out.

His dad is a nice guy, and I'm single, so why not?

Converstation is hard over text when you don't know a person, and it would normally take him at last 24 hours to respond, so I didn't know what to expect.

Rick is a middle school teacher.  He wanted to pick me up at 11:30 AM and have lunch.  I have a flexible schedule and work a lot of nights and weekends, so I agreed.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Rick is your typical "nerd"- greasy hair with a straight part and it combed over to the side, glasses that are too big for his thin face, so he had to occasionally scrunch his nose to keep them from sliding down his nose, a voice that was somewhat nasally, and interesting clothing choices.

He was handsome- though it was a hidden.

He served his mission in Japan, so he decided to take me to Hibachi House. I was leaning towards the Teriyaki Chicken (safe bet), but he told me I should really get the Hibachi Shrimp.

Well, okay.

So we got up to the register and I ordered the Hibachi Shrimp (not a huge deal, since I am fine to try new things and he obviously knows what he is talking about). Rick orders next and he orders the Teriyaki Chicken.

No comment.

Our food came, we found a table, and I began asking questions.
ME:      "So what kinds of things do you like to do?"
RICK:  "I could tell you I like all the typical things, like hiking and camping- but I really don't"

**I appreciate honestly. No. I LOVE honesty.**

I can't remember what is actual answer was to this question.  It was something to the effect of learning and running tests. So the subject changed to his teaching and cancer research.

He loves teaching, loves the things he studies. He went into a topic that interests him: PLASTICS.

I can't remember his favorite color or his favorite candy bar, but his favorite plastic is #3- because its the most similar to tupperware.

His second favorite plastic is #2 since it is cleaner than glass.

...

We talked over lunch for about an hour and half.  I started to thank my lucky stars since I began thinking the date would end after lunch.  Surely he could tell we didn't have much in common.

After lunch, he suggested playing Bocci Ball.  Again- I'm up for trying new things, so I agreed.  We went to a park, and it was actually a lot of fun.

Three hour mark.

We're done and he suggested heading to a Nickel-cade.  I'm screaming no in my head.

**I suck at saying no**

He says we will only be there for 45 minutes, but the closest Nickel-cade is a half hour away.

Six hours after if began- it ended.

GUYS:  No first date should EVER last more than three hours.  Leave us wanting more.

As for Rick: One day- there will be a woman who can contest or content with his favorite plastics- but that girl isn't me.