Right 'Round, 'Round 'Round

The Chicken Thing

Last weekend, I had dinner with a couple of friends at SPIN: Modern Thai Cuisine.

If I hadn't read yelp reviews prior to meeting my group there, I would've had no idea that this small restaurant is located in a strip center, around the corner from a Target.  Not something you advertise on your restaurant website, I suppose?  I managed to find it, and my friends and I were greeted by our reservation name as soon as we walked in.  The restaurant was about 60% full, so I'm sure we were the only 7pm reservation for 3 that Saturday night.

The kitchen was open to the restaurant, and the entire room smelled like Thai tastiness.  Luckily, my clothes and hair didn't absorb the fragrance to take home with me at the end of the evening.  Our waitress was friendly, and told us she would go ahead and put in an order for the fried sweet corn appetizer: if we didn't like it, she'd pay for it.  I love corn, and I'd already been eyeing that item anyway, so we agreed.  She also filled us in on the specials, which were a chicken dish, a fish dish (snapper), and something I don't remember.

I ordered an (eight dollar!) Thai Basil Mint Sangria, and it was very tasty:  cool and refreshing.

The corn appetizer came out quickly, and it was delicious.  By then, we'd decided on our orders.  I chose the chicken special, one of my friends chose the snapper, and the other chose an eggplant dish with the sauce on the side.  Our waitress told us that she'd realized she hadn't told us the names of the specials, so she rattled off lots of words in another language.  All I remember is that the word for "chicken" is "guy," but that doesn't really help me describe my dish.  It was fried chicken bits, with mushrooms, and chilantro, slices of radish, and brown sauce.

Shorly after we placed our order, the manager came over to our table.  He asked if we liked spicy food.  I said yes while my friends side-eyed me.  He brought over a dish that he told us the kitchen made extra, and offered it to us "on him."  We quickly realized it was the dish one of my friends had ordered, except the sauce wasn't on the side.  Still, we sampled it, and it was very good. The sauce wasn't spicy--I'd give it half a pepper on their rating system.

A few minutes later, the manager delivered the snapper.  I had to point him in the right direction of the gal who'd ordered it.  We expected the rest of our dishes to arrive then, but no.  About 10 minutes later, he delivered an eggplant dish, sauce on the side.  Our waitress arrived on his heels, and apologized for the screw up of the first dish--so much for the manager acting like it was a free treat for us--as well as the delay on my food.  It took almost ten more minutes for my plate to arrive.

My entree was excellent.  The waitress had told us it was her new favorite dish, and that it was "slap yo' mamma" good.  While it was definitely one of the best Thai dishes I've tried in Austin, I would've enjoyed it more if it had arrived at the same time as my companions' dinner(s).  We could see the kitchen from our table (as can most), and I know our plates weren't sitting around waiting to be delivered.  This was simply a kitchen time management error.  I saw circumstances like this mentioned in other reviews, and was disappointed to experience it myself.  We also felt a little rushed to pay our check and leave, although no one was waiting to be seated, but the restaurant was full when we left just before 9pm.  The food and service may lure me back to Spin, but if they haven't worked out their kitchen issues by then, I'd think twice before a third trip.

Good Days

For all the complaining, and angst, and esteem crushing I've experienced in the internet dating world lately, some days are good days.  I recently felt like a hot tamale--as if I was totally winning at not only internet dating, but also life.

I had a busy Thursday night.  I sent my application in for a job I think I'd really enjoy at a company I'd love to work for.  I had an email from HockeyGuy, who told me (a variety of things but also that) he really likes tall women. Bonus for me! I responded.  I sent an email to BrightGuy, who seemed funny and smart.  And then, Super Crush appeared in my list of match ups.

Ahhh, Super Crush.  He's a fella I noticed months ago online, probably last fall.  He's five years older than me, smart, and seemed like a grown-up.  Plus his pictures included him not only holding a baby (nephew), but also wearing a goofy costume and mustache with costumed friends. I emailed him back then, and never heard back.  Much to my immense surprise, I received an email from him in late January.  I hadn't been online in weeks, and was about to shut down my account to focus on the fella I'd been dating for several weeks.  He apologized for the delay in getting back to me, and made a joke about the costume he was wearing in his photo.  He was charming, and I had maybe only 30 seconds of "ooohhhh. . ." before I gleefully realized I didn't care. I was too into the fella I was dating, and wasn't interested in Super Crush.  I emailed him, thanked him for the note, and told him I had been seeing someone and was taking a break from online dating to focus on the current guy.  He replied and wished me luck.

So when he showed up on my list, I decided to go ahead and email him. I made some joke about the profile he was looking for being now available.  Sure enough, he not only emailed me back, he emailed me back a mere hour later!  Yes, a fella actually responded right away instead of playing some sort of "must wait so as not to appear too interested" game.  He had saved my last email, cut and pasted it into his reply, and asked what happened--had I "broken the poor guy's heart?"

I replied (the next day, since I was already on my way to bed when his email came through) with a brief summary of what had happened, that no hearts were broken.  (Well, except mine, just a little bit, but I kept that to myself.)  And then I turned dumb and made some stupid joke.  Sigh.  What is it about this guy?  I figured it out:  he'd changed his profile to include that he's a certified personal trainer.  I don't know if that's his job, or a hobby--his photos indicate that he might wear a suit to work, so I'm not sure what's up with that. In any case, would I feel comfortable being naked in front of a fella who is a personal trainer?  No.  Hell no. Plus my previous long-standing crush was interfering with my ability to think straight when I emailed him.  As soon as I hit send, I regretted it.

Friday I also had a message from BrightGuy, who seems awesome.  I replied. 

J2, who is halfway through his 2 weeks of traveling, continues to randomly email me, and I responded to him.

And then, as if emailing with four different fellas wasn't already inflating my ego to epic proportions, I got an email from TallDude.  I'd emailed him a week prior and forgotten all about it.  He told me he'd been traveling, and just saw my email.  Except, he used lots of exclamation points and seemed a little dumb.  But a cute tall dude emailing me??  Yes please!  I responded.

I floated on a cloud of hope and possibility all day Friday and Saturday.  For the first time ever, I was emailing not just one or two guys who I might want to go on a date with, I was emailing FIVE.  I told friends of my "dating" fortune and success with disbelief on Saturday night.  Five, friends!  Five!  And the job I applied for hasn't even told me no!  (Or, anything at all other than they received my resume and cover letter.)  Stuff could be happening.

Sunday evening, I logged on to the dating site.  Not a peep from any of my five.  Most of them had viewed my profile in the past couple of days, though.  To decide that they didn't want to stay in touch with me?  Perhaps.  And indeed, I've heard nothing as of Monday afternoon. At least I had a couple of good days, right?

Except now I'm afraid to check the status of my job application.  Maybe tomorrow. . .

Open Letter

Dear Internet Dating Fellas:

You're doing it wrong.

Maybe your lack of skill in the internet dating world is endearing to some, but those women?  Probably not the right ones for you.  Also, likely the reason you're still internet dating instead of settling down with some fantastic lady.  So let's assume you're a smart, normal guy, and that's why one of these fantastic ladies (*cough* me *cough*) has enjoyed your profile enough to reach out to you via email.  This is a very critical stage, where you can move forward successfully by asking yourself some key questions:

1. Have I enjoyed this delightful email enough to check out her profile?
If no, immediately proceed to the NO THANK YOU button.  Press it.  Go on and live your life.

If yes, review her profile.

2. Do her profile and photos suggest that she passes any arbitrary standards I have for a date?
If no, immediately proceed to the NO THANK YOU button.  Press it.  Go on and live your life.

If yes, respond to her email.  Answer whatever questions she's asked you, or respond in a clever way to the creative and attention-catching remarks she's make on your profile and/or photos.

And now, the important part:

Ask her some questions of your own.  You may not even have to think up any, you may be able to just say something like "of course I like breakfast tacos, and my favorite ones come from TacoDeli.  What about you?"  See how easy that is?? 

Imagine the email you're typing like your portion of a conversation.  When you're with someone in person, do you just yammer along and never pause to see what their thoughts are on any topic?  Of course not.  (I mean, not if you want a second date. Or to get anywhere in polite society.)

In summary, even if you just skimmed this brief open letter, take two things away.  One: no thank you button.  Just press it.  Two:  ask questions.  It helps you get closer to an actual date.

XO,
The Lady

In related news, J2 actually responded to my email after he told me he wanted to just keep corresponding for now.  He commented briefly on his favorite vacation destinations, and asked if I'd ever been to Gourdough's.  Like, asked in the middle of a paragraph about where he likes to travel to.  And that was the only question he asked me.  I really wonder why he continues to email me.  I'll respond, of course.  At this point, I'm curious to see how far we can drag this out.  Especially since I neither feel the need to get back to him quickly nor ever again suggest we meet.  That's all on him.

Also: HockeyGuy emailed me.  Two weeks after I'd originally emailed him, he responded to my brilliant email and told me he'd been really busy at work.  Okay.  I replied, and today received a second email from him.  This email was pretty long, but was another speech instead of his part of the conversation.  The only question he asked in the entire multi-paragraph letter was "5'10", huh?" in reference to my height, which I had not mentioned, but is contained in my profile.  I'm not corresponding with you for my health, fella.  Are we going somewhere with this? He's six years older than me, surely he's got a handle on how to talk to ladies by now?

I refuse to believe my standards are too high.

Meanwhile, Pants.  Ah. . .Pants.  He of the description which told tale of trying to find everything I'd say to someone about myself.  Plus, he's cute and tall.  But also kindof nerdy.  I emailed him, he wasn't online for three weeks. . .and last night I saw that he was online.  Answering my email?  Looking at my profile?  None of these.  Sigh.