altar boy

It is a crowded gathering at one of my favorite restaurant-turned-lounges. Too crowded, in fact. My friends decide we’d rather relocate to another, less-popular venue tonight, but not before I’m handed a business card from a man who smiles kindly.

I guess I am having a good day, because I don’t toss the card into the first wastebasket in sight.

…

The next day, I fiddle with the card and wonder how I want to play this. I don’t like to make the first move, but I don’t have much of a choice; after all, he doesn’t have my number. Should I text him? No, I hate text messages. I need to lead by example, and show him that I appreciate a phone call.

I ring him, wondering what I will say. I pray for his voicemail. Success! I leave a succinct but flirty message, suggesting he call me back at his convenience. There. Now the ball is in his court.

He calls me back about an hour later. We chat for an hour, too. The conversation is easy, and he seems to have a good sense of humor. We make plans to go out for dinner the next evening.

…

Today is the day. We’re having dinner. Where? I don’t know.

He suggests meeting in the Pentagon area, and we can stroll and figure out where to eat. We gaze at a sign that lists all of the restaurants within walking distance.

He stares in silence for a full minute.

Guy: “I don’t like any of these restaurants.”

Me: “…um… you picked this location.”

He settles for Asian cuisine, and we are seated in an empty restaurant. After all, this is a commercial district on a weeknight. We order and our food arrives in six minutes, tops. The entire waitstaff is standing circled around us, filling our glasses of water after nearly each sip.

…

He tells me that he’s ready to get married. His mom wants him to hurry up and have children. He loves his job and has received a few awards. He also has a couple of ongoing ailments that require prescription medication, I’m told. He has a big house in Maryland. He tells me that he’s ready to get married (yes, he said this multiple times).

I’m feeling a bit like Oprah; he’s being interviewed and I’m nodding inquisitively. He’s sharing his life story, yet asks nothing about little ol’ me. I wonder if he’s just on a mission to get married. To anyone.

After a solid 45 minutes, I chalk the date up to informal news media experience.

Tonight at 11, one woman is happily single eating leftover beef with mixed vegetables.

– Elle La Belle DC

how to make new girl friends

There is the girl who lived next door, the girl you met in Spanish club, your college roommate, and your coworkers. While they’re all fantastic, sometimes, you need to add someone new to the mix.

Reasons You’d Like to Have a New Girl Friend (or three): 1) You moved to a new city, or your closest friends relocated – you’re now a party of one. 2) Your friends are married/booed up/have kids, and your perceptions of a fun night out are no longer the same. 3) Busy schedules make it nearly impossible to find mutually convenient times to get together. 4) You don’t want to let loose around a coworker; one slip and the whole office will know you like to twerk. 5) You realized all of your friends are lunatics.

Whatever the reason, there will be a day when you’re ready to start a new relationship. You need a new girl friend. Women have told me that making new friends as an adult can be even more difficult than meeting a guy. Luckily, this step-by-step guide is here for you. And it actually works.

How to Make New Girl Friends:

Step 1: Go do something that you like to do. You’ll be more likely to meet someone with similar interests.

Step 2: Pay a genuine compliment. Strike up a conversation.

Step 3: Be honest. You would love more friends to go out with in the city.

Step 4: Exchange contact information.

Step 5: Follow up; a weekend lunch or an after-work happy hour are easy enough.

…

I went downtown to meet a friend at a fundraising event. She was running late. I knew no one there, but laughed and started chatting with a woman when I realized we were wearing identical black dresses. By the time my (old) friend arrived a half hour later, we had exchanged numbers.

We now go out for drinks about once a month and are great friends!

Remember, at one point in time, every one of your old friends was a new friend – so go ahead, be friendly!

– Elle La Belle DC