The dating scene

06.07.2003

I missed my potential rendezvous w/ a Spanish grad student Friday. If only everyone in the world had cell phones. Actually, I couldn't remember if I was supposed to call her back — or if she was supposed to call me back. And so it goes, the complex ritual known since the earliest days of time. I'll call her again Sunday afternoon.

This week, I also ran into a random girl at the Fourth Coast. I was drinking coffee at the bar, reading Warren Ellis' Planetary. She was sitting next to me, reading Warren Ellis' Transmetropolitan. So we talked about Warren Ellis, comics, politics, philosophy. We were so engrossed in conversation, I inadvertently blew off Bay and Sarah when they came in, about an hour later. Eventually, we said our mutual good-byes and went to our separate homes.

I saw her again at the Fourth Coast, twice. Once she was sitting next to one of the regular "crazies." Kalamazoo has more than its fair share of them. Several years ago, the state mental hospital closed down and just released hundreds of people into the general population.

So she sat at the bar talking to Purple Dave. I figured she's just a friendly person, and extremely friendly to put up w/ the mad rantings of Purple Dave. I'm not quite as patient, so I sat elsewhere and read for an hour and then left. The next time I saw her sitting at a table w/ another crazy, freely conversing.

I was puzzled, and wondered why she seemed to not mind talking to the crazies. Then I thought, wait a minute, am I one of the crazies? A truly discomforting thought.

The next time I saw her, she was sitting next to one of the Cervone twins. And if I could date anyone in town, it'd be one of the gorgeous Cervone twins. Of course, I can never keep them straight. Which means it's impossible to ever really hit on any of them. Then again, it'd feel weird since I only know them because I'm friends w/ their parents. Plus, I probably shouldn't be hitting on any undergrads if I want to stick to my half-plus-eight rule (I'm 28, do the math).

The full realization that I no longer understand the college dating scene hit me this evening when I went to The Discount Den w/ Bay. We were in line behind some serious college party kids. The girls were all dressed up (not well, mind you, but you could tell they made an effort). The boys were all sloppy.

Now that just doesn't make sense. You figure the guys want to get laid, right? So shouldn't they make the effort? Why are all the girls taking time to put on makeup, wear expensive "club wear" (which doesn't match, mind you), and doing up their hair? When the guys are just wearing flip flops, dirty t-shirts, and ripped up cargo pants. I don't get it?

Then it hits me. I'm too frequently using expressions like "I don't understand kids these days." I'm getting old.

Posted by Miguel at 10:02 PM

Comments

I think indie rock kids do it to- girls get all done up and they expect their men to look like they don't really care or try.
The Cervone twins sound interesting- can shape change or become immeterial like most twins?

Posted by: bil at June 8, 2003 04:30 AM

No, their "power" is just being gorgeously blonde.

Posted by: miguel at June 8, 2003 04:44 AM

The campus is a really small place.
I know the Spanish student u're talking abt.

She's cool, funny, has spunk and a lot of style.

YOU should call her up!

Posted by: Steph at June 8, 2003 07:42 AM

bil- i'd agree with you to a certain extent on the "indie rock kids do it too" only to a certain extent. i'll expound on that a little later. (i'm at my parents house and have already gotten "tsk tsk-s" for running upstairs to check the internet.

...and how come i have know idea what blonde twins you're talking about miguel? oh yeah, that's right, i'm getting married. i'm not looking...right?

Posted by: eric at June 8, 2003 09:26 AM

Don't worry Miguel, you are not old. I feel the same way. I'm supposed to be dating girls who are -21+ and I can't seem to understand them. Are they clubbies, are they intellectuals, I have no idea. Then again, woman over 22 don't seem interested in a 22/23 yr old undergrad who doesn't have solid plans aftergraduation.

Oh well,.. hurry and come visit we will have fun! CIAO!

Posted by: Andres at June 8, 2003 09:40 AM

oh feeling old... the dating scene is a joke, it always has been. hence why i treat it as a joke, and for some reason women find value in you not finding value in their effort. it's like,

"what? he's not impressed by my low rise pants! i better try harder."

then i just get annoyed and go home and remember i am old. gonna be 25 this year...

Posted by: sam at June 8, 2003 10:37 AM