by MK

Created on: November 20, 2008   Last Updated: October 05, 2010

Isn't dating most horrid when you are actually out there trying to get a date? Whatever happened to just happening to bump into that great guy?

We had plans, us professional women. We were going to graduate, get that great job in the city, and have perfect clothes, perfect shoes, perfect hair and our perfect man. Obviously we forgot to tell the men about our plans. They might have cooperated more had they known.

There you are at 7pm on a Friday night. You are getting ready to go on another blind date. You are trying not to build your hopes. You remember the multitude of awful dates that lie in your past. Because after the last few, you know the men are not aware that they are not the prize.

So you get there. He's late. He doesn't care to call you. Or he calls you after the time you agreed to meet. You're already pissed off and you haven't even met him yet.

When he finally gets there, you put on your best smile. 'Hello', you say. 'I'm sorry I'm late. I hope you didn't wait too long', he says. You say, 'That's ok', even though you want to say, 'Yes I did you moron because I was here on time. You don't know it yet but I'm dependable and responsible and other amazing stuff'. Maybe it will get better you tell yourself.

So you walk towards the restaurant. This is when you notice that jumper. You can't believe that this is his best jumper. You're being shallow you tell yourself. But if this is how much effort he puts into his appearance, you realise how much little effort he might put into other aspects of his life. You go on arguing with yourself because it is a far more interesting conversation than the one he is holding with you.

At dinner, you think you might as well enjoy the food, if nothing else. The conversation continues in the usual way - tell me about your job, what do you do on weekends, etc. You notice that his listening ability needs work. He's more interested in telling you about him. You notice that there is a subtext of 'Look how great I am. Aren't you lucky' hanging over the entire date. You want to run but you remind yourself not to be so judgemental.

And then later on in the dinner, he obviously feels comfortable enough to share his opinions with you. It is something offensive regarding sex, religion or politics. You smile and nod agreement. You wonder if he didn't get that memo regarding no-no's on first dates. Didn't everyone get that memo. You sigh inwardly. So as he continues the conversation out loud, so does the one in your head.

The night

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