"Cagney and Lacey" has been canceled

Numbers were exchanged
His attraction was alleged
Even hugs were shared

Alejandro drives
Genius mix of pop music
Bumps on the speakers

Like the apostles
Three days Alejandro waits
Rules and Resurrections

Lo, the call is made
Lo, now he must play it cool
Lo is Lauren's friend

Return call never comes
The message falls on deaf ears
Too meh to notice

And the prior girl
Was already forgotten
He's back to square one

The synchro swimmer
Cuter than any button
Returns, well sort of

Irons in the fire
They are fewer, but still hot
This dater abides

First date: Cagney

Sunday night, Alejandro had a date with Cagney – and on the whole, I would say it went well. We met up for drinks at a bar in her neighborhood. It wasn’t too busy, it being a Sunday night, so we had an attentive waitress and almost an entire section to ourselves. After some good conversation, featuring only a few awkward pauses, I walked her back to her apartment and said the standard “I had a great time, I’d like to see you again” blah blah blah. Being the cad that I am, I of course went in for the smooch – but I got cheeked. CHEEKED! BAM! Well played, Cagney.

All told, we spent about two hours together, and on the whole I had a good time. However, Alejandro was not feeling any serious chemistry. She’s nice, she’s intelligent, she’s witty, and these are all important factors. Indeed, further items in the “pro” column include our shared love of Britney Spears and The Hills. Yet there are serious negatives as well, mainly that she’s not on the Christian/Catholic spectrum (which is important for Alejandro) and she’s a vegetarian. And anyone who has heard Alejandro extol the sublimity of bacon or the joys and travails of making pulled pork at home knows that vegetarianism, though not a deal-breaker, is at least a red flag.

I did, in the end, make it home in time for Mad Men, if barely. Did I cut the date a little short to make it home in town? Possibly. Not because it was crashing and burning, mind you, but because first dates are tricky. Chemistry isn’t always obvious on a first date – sometimes it is only there as a kernel. And in that situation, if the two spend too much time together, then it can erase some of the mystery and excitement of what might happen in a second date. Some relationships might be on fire from the get go, but others need to be stoked and encouraged a little more slowly. And a little more than an hour and a half in, I knew that this risk was real.

So then the question remains: will I in fact see Cagney again? I don’t know. I clearly indicated I would be interested in doing so while simultaneously mentioning that my schedule for the next two weeks would be crazy busy. And indeed, she seemed receptive to the idea of seeing me again, despite the blatant cheeking. So it’s a possibility.

But then again, this Thursday, I have a date with Lacey. That date is at one of Alejandro’s most favorite bars, which means there will be some major mojo in play. And moreover, I was definitely a little more interested in Lacey than in Cagney during our “intimate messaging” phases, so I am sanguine about the possibilities.

going insane

Alejandro is struggling here. He's nauseous. He's jumpy. He's easily distracted. He needs help.

See, I went on a date Monday. It was, as per the previous post, awesome. I won't go into details, but we spent hours together, had a great time, seemed very compatible, etc.

So of course, I started thinking about what to do next. I mean, if this person, this non-Penguin-y person, is indeed a possibility, things need to happen. So what would our next date be? Obviously sushi. I love sushi, and allegedly she also likes it. And one of my favorite restaurants in the city is this tiny sushi place that is super delish.

So I tried to do what I, as the man, am supposed to do. The next afternoon, I sent a brief text expressing that I had enjoyed the previous evening and was looking forward to see her again. She texted back with similar sentiments. The next evening, I called, as I had said I would, and had to leave a message. So I intimated that I would like to go out Friday (today, readers. Today). I stayed up like a nervous nelly until all hours of the night, mostly watching The Hills, but no call.

The next morning, I got an early morning text indicating we would talk soon. I texted back expressing happiness regarding this. But I did not hear from her that night. On roommate's advice, I went ahead and called that night. Left a message.

Since then, nothing. It's nearly 5pm on Friday, dear readers. 5PM! How am I to make plans for tonight? It's maddening. Not so much because I think she's not interested - I think she is - but because I want to see her. I want to spend time with her. Blerg.