Lunch Date with…..the husband

Plan B Menu (Photo credit: Qi-Guang)

After lunch last week, IT Guy and I decided that we are past the initial ”dating” stage and at a point where we can be ourselves. For IT this means we can eat at Cheeburger Cheeburger and/or  Steak & Hoagie. For me, it means I didn’t  have to go out of my way to iron an outfit before work. 

Honestly, I hadn’t expected another lunch date for a couple of weeks based on our “dating” history, so I was surprised to get an email email asking if  I was free for lunch on Wednesday.

After a little debate, Cheeburger Cheeburger was chosen, mostly  because IT had heard you could get your picture taken holding a stuffed cheeseburger if you were able to consume some absurd amount of beef in one sitting (boys will be boys).

I mentioned my “date” to the husband last night and he made a face before saying Again? 

This morning I was making lunch for J and I toyed with the idea of making myself a ham sandwich. What if IT cancels  I will have nothing to eat.  Nah, he won’t cancel again.

I logged into my computer today and the first email I see had this written in the re line need to postpone lunch. Damn it, I should have made that sandwich after all!!

In his defense, someone was in the hospital and he had sent the email the night before so I wouldn’t whine that I had no lunch be without lunch. However, since I refuse to hook my work email up to my Iphone I sat at my desk with nothing for lunch but some lifesavers and a can of tuna.  Then an idea hit me, I’ll email the husband and ask if he wants to go to lunch!

Our text exchange went like this:

me: My date was canceled.

him: lol, why?

me: I dunno, someone was sick….wanna meet at the Tale?

him: K…you gonna pick me up?

I know, you are jealous of how alive our romance is after 12 years right?

Anyway, I picked up the husband at 12:20 and the first thing he says is OOOHHH…so you dress up for your dates huh? To which I reply Uh no, you never see me in my ‘work clothes’ this is how I look everyday. And off we went to the Tiger’s Tale.

After sitting in traffic (Hubby hates traffic) we got situated at a table in the bar and flipped through the menus. We made small talk over what to order, how the kids were after he left for work and if we would have a birthday cake for J tonight.

The waitress came to take our order (she was WAY too happy) and we stared at each other as only a married couple of 12 years with 4 kids could. Finally I broke the silence I am surprised you said yes to lunch?

The husband looks at me and smirks before saying Well yeah, I showed your text to Rick and he said I was your Plan B. But i figured we never go to lunch – and I may have points to use toward the bill (The Tale awards points for each purchase that can be redeemed at a later date).

After we were finshed and waiting for Happy Waitress to bring the check I asked the husband if he thought I would blog about our date. He started laughing (hard). What? What are you laughing at? I asked.

Still laughing  Rick told me he felt a blog coming on when you asked me to go to lunch  he said while pretending to be typing on the table.

I wasn’t sure if I should be insulted or not so I told the husband that our lunch was not blogworthy and asked if he was ready to go.

Later that afternon, I sat at my desk daydreaming (and stapling – my career is very exciting) and thought it was kind of funny that I texted the husband for a lunch date only after IT Guy canceled AND that he said yes AND called himself Plan B.

Well hubby, here you go, your first blog. I hope you enjoy it and thanks for lunch!! 

ps - Rick, I did not almost “run you over” in the parking lot 

My “Date” with the IT Guy

The Dating Game (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It has been a looooooong time since I have been on a date. I have been with the husband for 15 years and married for almost 12. When the husband and I met there was no internet, no texting and no Facebook (gasp!). We communicated by telephone (he had an actual land line) and would leave each other messages, on an answering machine,  if we were not home.  The late 90s were a “simpler” time.

Last week I went on a lunch “date” with the IT Guy from work. Wait, don’t get all uptight thinking I cheated on the husband. It was a “date” in the sense that I went out with a man, to lunch in a restaurant but that was it. It was really quite innocent and extremely weird at the same time. 

It all came about when my bff at work Midgie left in December to start a new job (please see my blog Work Friend, Real Friend or Both?). Midgie was friends with EVERYONE in the office (she was one of those young, cute, happy people who others gravitate to) and me and IT Guy would usually talk because of her.

There was the occasional happy hour or office party or maybe some sarcastic banter in the hallway but that was it.  When Midgie left we were both heartbroken and would complain to each other (me more) about how lonely we I was.

A couple of weeks ago IT and I met Midgie for drinks after work and she encouraged us to go to lunch and be friends. We laughed and changed the subject since neither one of us rarely left our desks, let alone the office, at lunch.

Then last week I got an email from IT that said i’m up for lunch if you are free Thursday.

O-M-G IT was asking me on a “date”. What should I do? How do I respond? What do I say? I didn’t want to appear desparate or too eager so I tried to think back to the old days when I followed “The Rules” . I wrote back K and put the ball in his court.

Days went by and I heard NOTHING from IT. Ugh, this was just like is was when I was single. I called Midgie who laughed and told me to just ask him when and where the “date” would be. Uh no, we are still in the email stage and I can’t look too eager I responded.

Finally IT sent me another email what time are we going to lunch?

OMG it’s official, we are going out. What will we talk about? Who will drive? What will I do if there is awkward silence (IT is a little shy).

The night before the big “date” I told the husband. He laughed, told me to have fun and handed me his fortune cookie that said “a new romance may start for you”.

On the way into work on Thursday I called Midge for a pep talk. She laughed (hard) and said it would be fine. She reminded me that IT was no George Clooney and that we were going to On the Border so I would be fine. Midgie didn’t get it. I hadn’t been on a date in forever and I didn’t want to blow my chance for a new work friend/lunch buddy.

Finally it was noon. IT and I met in the lobby downstairs and greeted each other awkwardly and walked to his car with neither one of us really talking. Great, if the “date” continues like this no way will there be a second one, I thought to myself.

The drive to On the Border takes about 10 minutes but it felt much longer. I made idle conversation asking him about his wife and son as he played around with the radio.

I thought we would sit at the bar or at an outside table but IT asked for a table for 2 so we were shoved in a booth. Ugh, this is so weird, I wish Midge was here!!

The margaritas could not come fast enough and when they did arrive you have never seen 2 people grab a drink so fast. Conversation mostly revolved around Midgie and our families with a little shop talk here and there. We laughed and made fun of co-workers and realized we had some stuff in common (same age, college, kids).

Afterwards, IT and I rode the elevator up to the office and parted ways in the lobby. I texted Midgie immediately and told her to email IT to see if he had a nice time on our “date.” Midge thought I had lost my mind (or was drunk) but did it anyway. IT told her it was “magical”.

I don’t know if IT and I will go out again. We havent really seen each other since the big “date”  but at least I have a funny story to share with my friends.