Dinners

It has been an interesting weekend. It started Thursday with the impromptu date/family meet n greet. On Friday, I met with a friend and a couple of therapists to talk about a potential film at some place that had very good food. And the guy paid for all of the check while we weren't looking. There was something a little weird about the guy but I can't quite put my finger on what it was. I got home later than I imagined since it was supposed to only be a meeting, but no big deal. Then yesterday I vegged out on the couch all day, thinking about the stuff I need to do before I go home and not doing any of it. And then a friend of mine sent me a text that said 'want free wine?' Duh. Of course I do. So I show up at the time and place she said, having little to no idea what I'm in for.

So it turns out that it was a whole 5 course dinner with wine pairings for each course at this new Italian restaurant. My friend is part of a camera crew that is shooting a reality show about the place, and it's going to air some time in July on Food Network. Or something like that. So I show up, and THEN I realized that I wouldn't be able to talk to my friend because she's actually working. And I'm standing there by myself. Great. I tried to hide in the corner, but one of the camera guys (who I also know) told me I had to sit over at another table in the middle of the whole thing. So yes, there's a good chance there will be a fair number of shots that involve me and my stupid face.

So I forced conversation with the two other girls at the table, which was like pulling teeth in the beginning, until they'd had a couple glasses of wine. And by the way, the food was awesome. And so was the wine. I have to say that having cameras and eating in the same place is a little scary for me. I wanted to make sure I didn't look like a voracious vulture on national cable tv, so I ended up eating slowly and taking really small bites. Which is kind of a challenge when cheese is oozing all over the plate. Anyway, around the dessert course, they brought an extra 3 chairs over to the table, and suddenly some Macedonian guy named after a condiment was sitting next to me, along with his sidekick and two women that apparently everyone knew except me. So the little guy was cute, but I'd like to think that I'm getting a little better at spotting d-bags, and he was definitely one. Just a different breed. Euro-douche, which is probably one of the less desirable. He apparently has some wine bar or restaurant or something that was close to the place, and he lecherously told me I should come to the place. Whatever. Anyway, we all moved inside to the bar, and the next thing I knew he was performing his act for one of the other women. Yes, Euro-douche is gross. But it gave me the chance to finally talk to my friend a bit more.

And then the wine really hit me. So I snuck out and curled up in the back seat of my car for a couple of hours before driving home. It's a solid half hour drive, so I was happy when I finally got home. And of course, I woke up at 7am this morning and couldn't go back to sleep. I'm supposed to go to a cookout for my ex-roommate's birthday this afternoon, which should be interesting. And dinner tomorrow with her dad. Not as weird as it sounds, I promise.

So it's been a busy weekend. I kind of dig it. I just wish I'd had some time with the boy. Or more time. I wished I had asked him to go to the dinner with me. But I didn't because I didn't want to interrupt his time with his cousin and I didn't know what I was going to. If I'd known it was going to be a kick ass dinner, I'd have invited him for sure. And then he would have been around to keep the d-bags away. Especially the ones named after condiments.