8 Things Never to do on a First Date

From here, with my comments and deletions:

Ah, the first date -- you've been primping and plucking, and it's finally show time. After all that work you don't want to send them running for the hills because of something thoughtless you did at the table or in the car. Here are eight key guidelines on what to avoid...

"I Don't Valet" Sure, some people don't like to leave their cars in the hands of a valet. But if you've driven around the block more than three times and you're prepared to go an additional five until you find street parking (even if the spot is blocks away), quit while you're ahead. I don't let a guy pick me up - who does that? Plus we all live so far from each other I'm usually meeting him in the middle.

Nix Your Ex Never go on about any of your exes. Yeah, I've experienced this one a lot! Geez!

Texting... or answering your mobile phone for social purposes are big no-no's on a date. I fuckin' hate the phone calls - stop it! I am too awesome to be treated like that. But then, a guy that does that is really doing me a favor by letting me know immediately that he doesn't know how to treat a girl or isn't that into me.

Don't Be Nosey No blowing your schnoz at the table. The most I've experienced is the guy who gave himself a chiropractic neck adjustment - but he was already nixed within the first few minutes of the date.

Play Nice Being rude to the wait staff is a major turn off. Well, duh.

Pass On The Pricey Stuff Ordering the 3 lb. lobster and filet dinner or the homemade pasta with a mound of freshly shaved white truffles is obnoxious no matter who's paying. Don't go for the gold. Show a little class by sticking with the moderately priced ticket items. The guy who's credit card got rejected was the one who rang up the biggest bill yet!

Booze It ‘Til You Lose It Just one drink too many and you may find yourself saying and doing things that make all of the above look like afternoon charm school. And even if you don't go crazy, you might do some over-sharing that you'll regret in the morning. So, never go overboard on alcohol -- it's a safety issue as well as an etiquette one. Or in the case of 18, you find out I was born in October, you were born in September, but you are convinced that I'm older. Because you are drunk. Time to get in the cockpit, right?

Ditch The Dutch We may sound old-fashioned but when a guy asks a girl out, there's only one way to go on a first date when the bill arrives -- the guy pays. 'Nuff said.

And no, haven't heard from 18

Which annoys me.

Date with 19 tonight

Meet 19. He does computer techie stuff. These were his answers to my questions. I'm meeting him tonight on Lincoln Road. We had a nice convo on Monday night, he seems like a decent guy. Not into planning ahead, and definitely seems like he's 29, you know? Not mature beyond his years or nothin'. We'll see.

Addition to my eharmony profile

I gave it some thought, then added this to the last part of my profile, called "Anything else you want them to know".

If you still ever smoke pot, or drink more than 3 drinks in a sitting more than 4 times per year, we won't work out.

I have been warned!!

Two of my girlfriends from my women's book club, both Cuban, heard about 18, the Nicaraguan. They were both like, "trust me, watch out for the latin lover types!" They both go for them, but still warn against it. "Just be careful not to get caught up in the amor of all of it at the beginning," one advised.
Nonetheless, I want him to call!

My sandwich at Deli Lane

My sandwich at Deli Lane was really good, btw. It was raisin bread (thick) toasted, with warm soft cinnamony sliced apples and cheese on it. So good! Delicious even!

I really need to explore those South Miami restaurants some more.

Comments about 17 on facebook

I put my status on facebook as: If you drink 6 beers on our date, you're probably an alcoholic. Comments ensued, including:

My sister
LOL
I'm sorry to hear that though

A British acquaintance from across the pond
Six beers? That's not an alcoholic, he's just warming up. You Americans and your love/hate relationship with booze. He may have needed Dutch courage or something.

A girl I went to high school with
Perhaps tradition knew what it was doing by keeping young women so ignorant of the world of men. The more I discover about them, the more determined I am to remain single and collect cats. (hugs)

18 will score a second date

18 will score a second date if he calls (who knows if he will - I can't tell!). I had a great time! We sat outside for maybe an hour and a half, had a light meal, great conversation. He's very smart; I was able to be my regular somewhat intellectual smart-ass self without receiving any blank looks or comments like "I've never heard that word before." No indications that he's a screw-up. He's got an MBA. I think he makes good money. Comes from a well-educated, sophisticated family in Nicaragua (father has an economics degree from Tulane). And still has that sexy voice. We laughed a lot. And he's pretty good looking.

I could stand a sexy, confident, wealthy, sophisticated, smart, slightly older latin guy for a bf.

Btw, my friend's seven-year-old says I'm not allowed to say "sexy."