Day 172: The big night 'in'

I had a pretty relaxing day leading up to tonights big dinner with the wine guy.

I hit the grocery store to pick up a few things... well... everything for the dinner tonight because I don't have any groceries in the house.

After circling the store a few times to make sure I had everything I needed, I hopped in the checkout line.

As I grabbed my bags to walk to my car, I inadvertently stepped in front of an older guy wearing jeans and a wife beater with a cart and I apologized.

I told him to go ahead, and he said rather sarcastically 'no, you go', and then as soon as I turned my back I heard him say 'nice jeans'.

Seriously?! What a creepy old man checking out my ass, did I mention his younger lady and their kids were with him? I walked as fast as I could to get out of his eyesight, given his age I assume it happened pretty quickly.

From there it was time to head home and start getting ready. I had plenty of time, but I didn't want to get distracted and run out of time.

I had just barely hopped out of the shower when I heard a knock at the door. Surely it couldn't be him? He doesn't even have my address.

The knocking continued at which point I assumed it must be the BFF. So I quickly threw on some clothes and answered the door.

I was right, it was her. She stopped by to show me her new engagement ring! We've all known it was going to happen, but none of us knew when and I guess last night was the night.

The ring was gorgeous and she was glowing, I gave her a big hug. I couldn't be happier for her. She has been through a lot, especially these past few years and it's finally time she is happy.

I invited her in and she told me how it happened, we chatted a while and then she took off so I could finish getting ready.

After she left I had a moment of sadness, not because I feel like I'm losing a friend, it was more of a selfishness that set in. Thinking that should have been me, and now I have to start over again.

I shook it off and got ready for my date, I hopped in the kitchen and started cooking thinking the wine guy is probably going to be hungry because he's been at work all day.

By the time he got to the house, a haze had taken over the kitchen, actually it was more like smoke from the pancetta I was cooking.

As I was throwing everything into the pan he asked if I like to cook. I don't really have a good answer for that question. I don't mind cooking because I like to eat, but cooking can be a bit exhausting after a long day at work. I guess the answer is no because if I enjoyed it, I would do it even if I was tired.

I asked him the same thing, and of course he cooks, why wouldn't he? Then the pressure was really on.

I'm not sure if it was the nerves or the need to perform... but from there it just got worse, the spaghetti was cooking and before I knew it it was done, possibly over done. I quickly strained it and set it aside while I put the garlic bread in the oven.

When it was all said and done we were eating cold pasta, with a very disjointed sauce, and uncooked bread with globs of unmelted butter in the middle of the loaf.

Perfect. All I could think was 'way to show off your domestic skills'. I should have stuck with something I knew how to make instead of a new recipe that really wasn't a recipe at all.

He insisted it was good, but I know it could have been better, and I hate not doing things well.

After dinner we sat down to a movie, the choices weren't great but we settled on the Expendables, and the theme for the night continued.

The movie was not the greatest, it wasn't the worst but it was bad.

I decided to try to salvage the night with dessert. I can't screw up cannoli's that I bought from a nearby restaurant right? Wrong.

They were chocolate cannoli's but after we took a bite he discovered a cinnamon flavor that resembled a sort of 'red hot' candy taste. It was enough to throw us both off and we called it quits.

So my fabulous night in turned into quite the adventurous evening. But it wasn't a total disaster, we had a great time hanging out and snuggling on the couch.

When it came time to go he said we should get together on Sunday. For some reason this is the point where I start to second guess whether I have plans or not.

I don't think I do, but I don't trust my memory. I hate double booking and then having to cancel, because that's just not cool, so before agreeing I looked off to the side as if trying to avoid the question.

It's totally not the case, but that's how it comes off, and its something I clearly need to work on because I am sending the wrong message.