An Irony? A Coinsidence? Perhaps destiny...

Last night I went on a blind date. I was set up by a girl I work with at night. No, we aren't ladies of the night, but work in a fashionable clothing store for a little extra cash to afford said job at the fashionable clothing store. I know I know - risky (blind dates and working at fashionable clothing stores with great employee discounts). Blind dates are always risky. I mean I think Sylvia Plath explained it most expertly in the Bell Jar when she contemplated, "Of all the blind dates I'd had...I just didn't have any luck. I hated coming downstairs sweat handed and curious every Saturday night and having some senior introduce me to her Aunt's best friend's son and finding some pale mushroomy fellow with protruding ears or buck teeth or a bad leg. I didn't think I deserved it." It's so true though isn't it? I mean, sometimes you get to the door and you think "Really? You'd think I'd like this funny little troll, seeming vagabond, or pocket protector advocate?" It makes you really question your idea of yourself really. Am I not as somewhat normal, cleverly endowed with wit, or, at the very least, average to decent looking as I think? At any rate - that's not the point - it just got me talking. The point is, I had a blind date last night and he wasn't a troll, a homeless bum, or the completely hopeless nose bleed that you harbor such fears of showing up on your door step for an awkward night of trying to make it seem that you are, well, at least TRYING to date, right? In fact, he was quite cute, short, seemed a rather "quick-witter" (although sadly found to be somewhat self-involved) and I was actually filled with a little hope of a fun night rather than something painful and regrettable as so often happens. So, good sign already.

We had previously decided to drive to a concert some 45 minutes away. BUT, it began to snow and snow and snow. SO, he ended up being late (don't worry he called to tell me he would be late) and when he arrived, we decided we were both hungry and didn't want to skip dinner just to make the concert. He said I had two choices of dining, 1. A delicious and laid back soup and salad join called Zupa's, or a hole in the wall Chilean restaurant he knew of. He kinda talked up the Chilean choice, and hole in the wall is something I'm all about, so that's what I chose. On our way there, he happened to mention, "Oh, my roomies might be there." Cough. Well, okay. Kinda lame ;) but no big deal. So we arrive. It is very Chilean, very hole in the wall, and the roomies do, in fact, happen to be there. On the 15 minute drive to the restaurant he didn't really ask me anything about myself, I felt like I was carrying the conversation, and it was rather clear to me he wasn't even intrigued. Well!! But he was a nice guy, pretty funny, so c'est la vie. We sit and talk with the roomies. One of his roomies, Matt, told me about his software internet something or other he does for a J-O-B. You need to have this information, because just then, a man in his early 30's came in with his two little kids and Matt knew him because they both deal with software and new agressive internet ventures. The "Unknown" fellow, as my date explained, works on (as I understood it) filtering websites to keep pornography from popping up on unsuspecting family computers. I think this is one of many projects. Anyway, they started chatting, then the 2nd roomie joined in (2 roomies were involved in the "happenstance") and then my date as well; I was left to my sandwich (which was really good so no nevermind!)

Anyway, we get our food, and I hear the man who Matt is talking to mention his writer had quite on him, and he really needs someone to be able to take long pieces of legislation, and "translate" it into "normal, summarized terms" as well as do some research, etc. Naturally, being a writer (I've never really labeled myself as a writer - it's almost like giving people a reason to scoff in your face isn't it?), and naturally, being at a temp job with Giants, I pipe up and mention "Hey! I can do that!"

"You can do that?" he questions enthusiastically, and swings towards my and "dates" end of the table as if just noticing I was really there.

"Yeah! I can do that!" I repeat.

"Why can you do that?" He asks.

And I launch into my qualifications: English teaching major, unemployed (I won't commit to the temp job as a job -nope nope), looking for full time work, and snap, a damn good writer.

Mr. "My Writer Quite" seemed very interested. He asked for my information, then told me to come into "the office" (I'm not sure if he said the office -but I don't recall which term he used exactly so I figured "the office" covered basic place of employment description) on Monday and we'd see if I really COULD do it. He gave me a semi-interview right there in the restaurant: "Are you fast?"

"Oh yes, I am fast" (at writing right? And the pick up. I'm really fast on the pick-up)

"How do you feel about research?"

"Oh my, I love research. It's one of my favorite things.." (No really - I wasn't just saying that. I do like it.)

"Well, if we can get you started on Monday - then there are a few projects I'd like you to work on before Christmas." (I think I was just hired).

He then proceeded to ask what salary I expected. I told him a teacher's salary (so that should make him feel better - it's dismal). I said teacher's get awesome benefits too, so we would have to discuss that. I gave him my name, number, and email, shook his hand, and felt like something was actually starting to turn around! The last couple months, besides being unemployed, have been hard. I moved to a new town ( out of a horrible situation that was detrimental to my sanity) where I didn't know anyone, lost my job, have been poor and stressed about finances since October 1st (DOL - aka - Day of Layoff), been working two jobs, one with Giants and one where I get an awesome discount I can't use because it's still too much for my meager bank account, and just...er.."broke up?" with a friend I really cared about and who doesn't want to see me again...ever, and on yet another blind date (although he wasn't a troll) that seemed like it kinda ended before it started (although I think we'd be great friends). SO! From being set up by a girl I work with at my part time fashionable store job, IRONICALLY that I wouldn't of had if I hadn't been laid off, and amazingly, as if by fate, choosing the hole in the wall Chilean restaurant on the blind date I said yes to, where coincidentally a man walks in with a possible huge (and completely awesome) job opportunity, makes all the "crappy" leading up to it probably (and most hopefully) WELL worth it!

Thus, Monday, my dear Internet, I will be proving my writing skills to the man (and company) who very well may be the answer to all my fervent prayers. And of course, I will most definitely be keeping the fashionable store job now that I will have a REAL income to support my employee discount. Mmmm, employee discount. I think I will make some brownies for the giants tomorrow, just so they know I won't forget about them.

Oh - and the blind date probably won't be asking me out again. Eh, win some, lose some.