Tony-Man versus Good Dating

She's enjoying the movie... He's thinking about how to get even closer.

Okay, I'll confess something.  I haven't been on many dates in my life.  While I mostly attribute this to bad situations, social awkwardness, and that women can be bitches at times, I have to admit that I really don't know what makes up a date... and what is just hanging out with someone that I like enough to be a potentially significant other.  Anyone who has read this blog knows that I pretty much laid down what I think is a bad date.  It got me thinking, what makes a good date?  But it really wasn't until about a week and a half ago (From this blog post date) that I ever had a good date, and with that day reasonably fresh in mind, I think I know enough now to really put it down into words.

Simplicity.  I think good first dates should remain simple.  Anything too elaborate, at least for a first date just complicates things.  Some people may like going all out, emptying out their wallets, trying to really impress each other, on overly priced food, or snooty self-depreciating service, or whatever other bullshit thing that costs an assload of money or takes up too much fucking time, that ultimately probably won't pay-off later during the after-date.  I mean, if that works for you... more power, but for me who really doesn't have the finances to really do that, leave me out of it.  My first date (and it was literally my first date) was kept simple.  My date and I (my date's name withheld for protection reasons, though some of you may already know her) went to go see "Wreck-It Ralph" at the cheap theater.  It was something we both agreed on.  I've already seen the movie a few times, but it was her first time, so I was happy to see how she reacted to the movie, and she thought it was a cute little movie, and that she was happy to see it with me.  After the movie we decided to go to the Hibachi Grill near the Burlington's coat factory, and we just ate together.  It was pretty low pressure, but it was an amazing day, in my book.  Okay, so movie and dinner is a touch clichè, but I think it works out.

Presentation.  This one is a little bit different.  Because my first date was simple, one has to act and dress the part.  My date wasn't overdressed, but she still was looking good.  There is nothing worse to me when one of the two is either overdressed, or underdressed... or is just looking raggedy.  I don't know if presentation is an issue with other people who date, I mean, since my first date was a movie at the cheap theater and eating at the Hibachi Grill... we got away with wearing jeans and shirts... but for those people whose dress code is a bit more formal, and a little more strict, I could see how the dress code of a dating party could be an issue.  My date and I just agreed, without many words that we wouldn't dress up.  It works, I think.  But Presentation is more than just clothes.  It's a demeanor, its an attitude, it's a certain sort of... Je ne sais quoi.  Be respectable, be invested in what the other person has to say, and provide feedback.  And be honest.  Clothes do not make the man, the man makes the man.  (And I assume the same goes for the women, as well.)

Punctuality.  This one is sort of a big one for me.  You may recall when I was talking about what makes a bad date that I had a date with some chick who had me waiting there for about two hours with no phone call until I was already finished with my meal before she told me that she was on her way?  And then she lied to me about how her mother was in the hospital, when that wasn't true, since her mom and I were pretty close.  So, I especially hate it when I'm late for anything, much less when anyone else is late for something.  I mean, I get it.  Sometimes life happens, and it pushes the timeline back five, ten... hell even fifteen minutes.  I can accept that, and chalk it up to traffic, or family, or a minor issue that just popped up that needs to be dealt with then before it becomes a major issue.  But anything after fifteen minutes, and you should make the effort to call.  I know I will.  Don't be like this bitch who calls almost two hours later, telling me she's on her way, when I've already eaten and left the restaurant.

Interest.  There's got to be interest there.  I guess without this aspect, there's no date at all, but while you're dating... try to keep an interest in your dating.... other.  And not just in certain aspects of the other person.  For a first date, sex should not be end game.  (Unless the first date is just a pretext to sex, in which case, just rent a hooker for an hour or whatever.  That way you can just blow past all the bullshit and get right to it.)  I have to admit, anything that my date said, I hung on her every word, and I suspect that she did the same with me.  I've never been sure what that was like.  But now that I've had my first date, I gotta say, it feels pretty damn good.

Anyway, I probably could pull a few more things out to describe what I think makes a good date, based on my first date, but I'm hardly a subject matter expert.  This is just what I think about when I think about anything really.  This blog's just my own musings and meanderings as I try to make sense of this funny little muddle known as life.  I still don't know what to make of this insignificant little speck known as the Infraggable Tony-Man.  And really... I still wonder what makes this Earth work the way it does... but these questions and others could be answer in the next Infraggable Tony-Review!

You won't want to fucking miss it.  Unless you're a blog-Nazi.  ...you don't want to be a blog-Nazi, do you?  Didn't think so.  So read the next fucking blog.