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The message I received from Damon on OKC was intriguing. 

It said he was thinking about making a move to the OC and had been spending some time in the area working on a business deal and trying to figure out if he actually wanted to move. He wondered if I might be interested in getting together for a drink so he could pick my brain about what living the OC is like.

His profile was interesting. It claimed he likes sending flowers for no reason, can parallel park a semi-truck, was 6'3, and was a "wine guy". 

I like receiving flowers for no reason.  

His dad was a truck driver so he probably is down to earth and truck driving is in my blood. My Papaw and Uncle both owned trucking companies and were drivers their whole lives.

Tall is good-- my children won't be getting their height from me.  

But a "wine guy"? 

Really? 

That sounds a bit pretentious and I just wasn't quite sure how much of that I could tolerate. 

However, he has been living in Nor-Cal for the last decade so it might not be so much pretentiousness as bi-product of living in the land of grapes. 

But he is 40-- A tad outside my age bracket.

Unable to decide, I let the email sit in my inbox for a few days unanswered. Finally reasoning that he seems successful, normal, and is staying in Laguna Beach so therefore would likely take me somewhere fancy and delicious, I decided to see if he was still interested in meeting.

He was.

We split the difference and met in Corona del Mar at a spot I had been wanting to check out for some time. In true Crigger fashion I was running late and traffic, of course, was not helping at all! Walking in about 15 minutes late I found Damen sitting at the bar.

"I'm sorry I am late." I say breathless from my quick scurry up the street from the parking spot that took me three trips around the block to find.

"No problem at all. If you weren't a little late I would worry you aren't really a female." He said with a smile. "I had a martini while I waited. What can I get you?"

"A bourbon please. Maker's 46 will do nicely." Nice teeth. Tall wasn't a lie. The pictures don't seem to be that recent... Oh well! We aren't getting married, we are getting drinks.

We chat as the bartender fixes him another martini and pours my Maker's 46 over the two ice cubes I requested.

"Have you seen the giant ice cube trays from IKEA?" Damen askes. "They are perfect for bourbon,whiskey, and scotch."

"No, I haven't. I should look for them the next time I'm there. I would put those to good use."

"They are great. I bought like 5 of them. I'll mail you one."

Hmmm.... That's nice but I don't want you having my address just yet.

"Oh! Well thanks! That's awfully nice. How is Orange country treating you?" I say changing the subject.

"Pretty good so far. I went on a cougar bar crawl last night with a few of the guys I am working on this deal with."

"What is a cougar bar crawl?"

"Basically we went to three bars and observed three different styles of cougars in their natural habitat."

"Oh my gosh! That is hilarious!"

"Yeah, it was pretty ridiculous." He said as he began detailing the different types of cougars at the various places. There was the Juicy Couture track suit crowd, the female version of Tommy Bahama crowd, and the crowd that was dressed about 25 years to young for their age.

"Well it sounds like you are getting a true picture of the OC. Lots of cougars with nothing better to do than take their fake breasts out to pick up young men. I used to go to this workout class and one day I looked around the room and realized I was the only one in the class with real boobs and without a giant diamond ring that made Kim Kardashian's ring look understated."

"Yeah your boobs aren't fake."

Hmmmm....

"Oh my gosh, I didn't mean that the way it came out." He continued. "I swear I'm not staring at your boobs. I just mean they look real. Oh geeze. This is not helping."

"Nope! It's not!" I say with a laugh. "Don't worry about it. I know what you mean-- I think."

As we continued to talk about the OC, work, how we ended up in California, wine (in a very unpretentious way) I decided I liked Damon’s company, despite his effeminate mannerisms. (At one point he sat up very straight, pressing his fingertips together and pursing his lips. I have seen my mother do this on countless occasions prior to launching into some story. I don't want to see that from my husband across the dinner table!)

Plus he is 40!

He would be 60 when our kids graduated from high school in a best case scenario situation.

He is nice and funny and certainly someone I would want to be friends with.

But that never happens in these situations. They never want to be "just friends".

It is either girlfriend or nothing.

Anyway, two drinks and two shared appetizers later I was ready to call it a night since I had been up since 5:00am to do the insanity workout and I had gone to yoga after work.

"I'll walk you to your car." said Damon.

"Thanks. I'm parked close. Just around the corner." I said handing him my purse as I pulled on my coat. "Thanks for holding that."

"You're welcome. I am secure enough in my manliness to hold a purse. Plus, it looks good with my outfit." He said with a chuckle.

"Well, yes! Kate Spade goes with everything." I said heading towards the door.

"Well this is me." I say unlocking my car door. "Thanks for drinks and dinner."

"Thanks for coming out and meeting me. I appreciate all the OC talk. Maybe we can do it again?"

"Yeah, just keep me posted about your schedule." I said knowing that I was booked for a few weeks solid with trips and visitors, so I would have legitimate excuses to get me out of future dates if I needed one.

"Well I had fun." He said leaning in for what I thought was a hug, but ended up being a kiss on the lips.

Not a bad kisser, but I don't want to be kissing him! What is wrong with dudes getting all handsy and kissy on the first date?! Oh well, guess I'll just go with it.

"Alright." I said kind of pushing him away. "Thanks again. Bye!" I wave getting in my car.

"Bye." he says shutting the door and turning to (I assume) walk across the street.

But no.

He skips away!

Hmmm.... interesting. Very interesting.