The Meathead

I think it's safe to say that when a woman has a date, she thinks long and hard about what she wears and how she looks. We spend quite a bit of time putting together the "perfect outfit". We want to look sexy but not easy, sophisticated but not snobby and comfortable but not too casual. Many of us buy something new for a "big date" or spend extra time carefully applying just the right amount of makeup. What you wear is a huge part of  the first impression you make and a first date with someone is all about making the right impression and scoring a second date.

I met the meathead in the same manor I meet most of my dates, online. Going into the date I knew he was short, very physically active and enjoyed the gym. He even worked for a consulting company that worked specifically with gyms across the country. Clearly, physical fitness was a big part of his life. However, I was not prepared for what I opened the door to. He was a bit short than I anticipated (was actually an inch taller than myself, if that) and I was thankfully I took off the heels I had planned to wear and opted for flats. The height didn't bother me but boy his outfit did. In typical meathead fashion he had on a tight, shiny, red mockneck shirt pair with jeans tightly cinched at the waist. He walked with a "my muscles are so big my arms can't touch the side of my body" swagger. I'm not sure what stopped him from flexing and kissing his biceps, but I'm glad he didn't. All in all I enjoyed his company and it was a nice night, but he was way more into himself than I could stomach. If this night had a theme song, it would have been "I'm too sexy" by Right said Fred.

Since the date I've wondered though, do some women find the "meathead" look attractive? Do men think about their outfit choice and what it says about them before getting dressed to go out? I'd like to think they put some measure of thought into it but who knows.

Publix Guy

A few days ago I was at my local grocery store, Publix to be exact, and I ran into the man I have always called "Publix guy". He's called Publix guy because we met there and, if you didn't know any better, you'd think it's the only place either of us ever went since we always seem to run into each other there.

The first time I met Publix guy was over a year ago. My oldest child and I were at the store to get ice cream for our movie night and while in the ice cream aisle, we ran into Publix guy and his son. We both stood there trying to decide what ice cream flavor to get and ended up in a 15 minute conversation regarding the kids, local schools and Kiss.....I'm still not sure how we went from elementary school teachers to the band Kiss but it happened. We talked our way to, and through, the checkout. I was sure he was interested and when we walked to the parking lot and he didn't ask for my number I was a tad miffed (my kid even commented "He was flirting with you mom!") but got in the car, watched him drive off and headed across the street to the drugstore for Jujube's (it was movie night after all!).

About a week later I was, once again, at Publix and as I drove out of the parking lot I saw Publix guy pulling out. We were going to dinner and half way to the restaurant my kid says "I think that guy from Publix last week is following us"......and he was in fact! He'd seen us in the parking lot too and apologized for not having the courage to ask for my number the week before and we exchanged numbers. We met for drinks a few times and seemed to get along well. A couple weeks after exchanging numbers I was reading a local publications "I saw you" ad's and half way through read one that was about me! Written by Publix guy! I asked him about it and apparently he wrote it and sent it in before he saw me leaving the Publix parking lot. I thought it was kinda cute that he was that interested in me and thought "Hey, if this works out it will make a really cool story".

Of course that didn't happen. As it turns out Publix guy was going through a divorce which was strike one. He also seemed a little needy which was strike two. Strike three, and the biggest nail in his coffin, was his blatant sexism and preference for his son over his daughter. It was so bad the when he was talking to me about the visitation he was writing into is divorce decree he told me he was having it written than he gets his son every weekend and his daughter only one a month! There were allot of red flags the more I heard about his relationship with his kids and it just wasn't something I could get past. If he he was willing to show that much favoritism with his own kids, how was he going to treat mine if things worked out?