Day 210: The work dating blend

About mid-afternoon today I started to get a nervous feeling in my stomach.

It was because I was meeting the wine guy for a specific wine dinner.

I was a little confused because I hadn't really been nervous up until this point, so I wasn't sure what was going on.

Did something change with what I was feeling? Was it my intuition trying to tell me something? Only time would tell.

I walked into the restaurant and took a quick look around the bar, not knowing exactly where the dinner was taking place.

After explaining to the hostess what I was there for, they escorted me back to a small room.

I walked in, but the lighting was dim and I couldn't see very well. Add to it my nerves, and my fight or flight kicked in, and rather than be embarrassed in the wrong room I was ready to take off!

But I didn't because I saw a guy that kind of looked like him but he was sitting with a woman so I was thrown off my game a bit, my eyesight isn't the greatest either so add all of it into the equation and I was pretty much screwed.

Then he got up and I realized it was him so I walked over.

Turns out the woman he was sitting with is the public relations person for the restaurant which I have worked with on occasion in the past.

She didn't recognize me off the bat, but I knew who she was so I refreshed her memory.

I have to say the dinner was a bit awkward. Since I know her from a work perspective I didn't quite know where to direct my attention.

On one hand I wanted to just be with the wine guy and ignore everyone else or pay them little attention, but since I knew the PR gal I couldn't quite do that. I had to remain professional.. and act in the best interest of my place of work.

I also try pretty hard to make sure my work and personal life don't cross over unless I want them to. I don't date people from work, and I don't let the people I date get sucked into my work situation if I can help it.

The bottom line is the only serious relationship I've had since being in this position where I need to be social and attend events has been Mr. Wonderful and since he was a doctor it didn't really matter where I took him, no one knew him so I didn't have to worry about my 2 worlds colliding.

Not to mention since we were serious I didn't care one way or the other. It wasn't like people were going to start talking.

That's my comfort zone. This intermingling of worlds is a bit trying for me. I'm a pretty private person... which is kind of surprising since I'm putting my life out into the world via this blog... but it's true.

I'm very guarded and this was just down right awkward on a lot of levels.

After dinner the head chef for the national chain came over and sat at our table. It was a little odd that no one was spinning their pitches to me, because I wasn't the one on their radar, I was just a 'plus 1'.

I was totally fine with it, but after being in work mode with the PR gal it was a little odd watching it from the outside in.

I was the one with the rock star. Now I know how my guests must feel when I bring them along to these events. Yikes! And here I thought all along I was doing them a favor. I may have to rethink my next invite!

All in all it was a very strange experience for me.

After the wine guy dropped off his 'loot' as his car he walked me to mine. When we got there, it was the usual chit chat and then the goodnight kissing began.

At one point I heard the doors of the car next to mine unlock.... nice.

There's really nothing like kissing in a parking lot and getting busted by someone else to make you feel like you're in high school.

Which is exactly what he said 'do you feel like your in high school right now?' and surprisingly I was thinking the exact same thing.

A little later the PR gal came out, and we waved and said have a nice night.... again with the awkwardness.

So strange... so strange... but it is a small world and this city doesn't help so I shouldn't be surprised, especially after living and working here as long as I have.

As I drove off into the night I thought of 2 things. Was I nervous because I could sense the awkwardness that was going to set in? And how do you blend the work and dating when your worlds cross over?

I suppose the answer to both is 'don't worry about it'. Things happen the way they are meant to and thinking too much doesn't help.