<h4>Bartender</h4>

I went on a date with a bartender. Two dates, actually. He asked me out. I'm pretty sure I'm living in a slightly obnoxious romantic comedy.

See, the thing is I went on a blind date at this bar and the bartender there, well I remembered him from a night a month or so ago. He was a sky-diver and his name was Scotty. That's how I remembered his name. He was easy to talk to and sort of fun and it was cool to KNOW a bartender. I think he recognized me that night, sitting next to this awful date at the bar.

The date? He was a talker. This was a really cliched scene from my movie. Girl meets guy, girl has high hopes, guy is nuts. Every time I wanted to say something, my mouth would open and I'd make a noise--bringing the word to my lips. I would be AUDIBLE noise, mind you. The sort of noise a person makes that ques the "listener" (this guy was not one) to listen. TO LISTEN. Every time I wanted to say something, he beat me to it and already launched into a new topic. The weather. His college days. His new jobs. His lack of free time, friends, money, girlfriend. How his father got his job. God. There was no end. And sometimes I had a lot to say!

There was one great moment when I was responding to something he said about making friends. I was saying one of those things that is just supporting the other person, keep him talking. That IS what I was reduced to after about 20 minutes. I was nodding and said, "Yeah, how do you make friends? Just say hey, I you seem cool..." Date guy thought I was calling him cool. He thanked me enthusiastically. I had to go.

While I was sitting there I noticed bartender and wished my date would just leave and I could talk to him. He seemed cooler and more fun. I even thought about sneaking back in after calling it quits with date guy. But I didn't. I went to Whole Foods, my happy single place.

I went back to the bar the next day with my roommate after hitting a local festival. Bartender saw me, remembered me and talked to me. He liked me. Instantly I had a crush on bartender. I went back a few times, deciding maybe sometime I'd work up the nerve to ask to hang out.

One night, I went in alone. He wasn't working but I played it cool. I worked on my crossword puzzle and drank a beer squeezed between two strangers. Low and behold bartender showed up and flirted with me. He asked me out that night. He asked me out. HE. ASKED. ME. OUT.

It was magic. It was beautiful. I was amazed at how life happens. He asked me out and he was sweet and gentlemanly and fun and gallant.

How did it end? He was invasive with his tongue and I started comparing him to my ex-boyfriend and I stopped being excited. The third date didn't happen. You never know how it'll go, I guess.