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Monday, August 1, 2016

The Flat-Faced Dog Lover



His on-line dating profile boasted more photos of his dog than of him. Single guys love their pets, I figured, and that’s sweet. Plus we had two very nice, lengthy phone-conversations. Fred was educated, kind, liberal-minded, and a good decade younger than me. This, a refreshing change. 

So it was with rising optimism that I parked my car at the tea house. And then it was with deflated dreams that I watched a scrawny, casually dressed man step out of his beat-up gray Mazda. A shadowy figure dominated the passenger’s seat, and I realized it must've been his beloved canine.

I stepped into the tea house, and Fred immediately approached. He had a flat face. Presumably, he still does. But as we sat across from each other in a comfy booth, the man grew on me. He’s a fairly easy communicator, I thought. He met all the main criteria in dimmed lighting - which gave his face a semblance of dimension.

The bill came. “Do you want me to pay my part?”

“If it makes you happy.”

Well, it wasn’t going to make me happy, and I only had tea. So I quietly allowed Fred the full opportunity for happiness. 

As we meandered towards my car, I learned that his dog, Heidi, was waiting for him. “We go everywhere together. It’s what we do.” Before I could register the oddity of Fred's enmeshed relationship with a female dog, he enveloped me in a warm embrace – the kind that got me worked-up and wanting more.

I got home and texted: “Thank you for a very nice time.”

He responded: “Would you like to get together for dinner tomorrow?”

“Sure. I’d like that.”

We made plans for date #2.  

To be continued in the next few days.

47 comments:

  1. Sounds hopeful. Up until Heidi gets jealous, of course.

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  2. I'm going to be very polite about Fred for your sake, Robyn. He sounds like a good cuddler and I hope you have a great dinner date.

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    1. Thanks, GB. Feel free to unleash the doggy comments next time around.

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  3. Oooo I hope you have a great 2nd date! But isn't too hot to leave his dog in the car?

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  4. Sounds promising so far! Negotiating the bill on dates is never an issue for lesbians, in my experience. We always insist on going dutch. I keep forgetting it's not that way for everyone.

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    1. That's a good standard, but I'm in favor of men paying for the first date. And really dude? It was only tea. I always offer in the hopes they'll say "no."

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  5. OK I have said this before, but I just don't understand men not paying for dates? Here in the south, that would not "make Mommas happy" if their sons did not pay for their dates.

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    1. You do it right in the South. Here, men are cheapskates. Or maybe it's just the ones I date.

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  6. Let me guess- a picnic at the dog park...

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    1. You're likely right, Chris, but I wasn't invited to that one.

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  7. I hope it wasn't a hot day since he left his canine companion in the car. Eager to hear more.

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  8. How this goes is really up to the dog, isn't it? Even I would spring for a friggin cup of tea unless it made the other person uncomfortable.

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  9. Have fun, Robyn!!

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  10. Was it hot and were the windows down for the dog? he let you pay? I will not judge...yet as it could be very hard for a man not to know what the best thing is to do-pay or not. he didn't dress nicely?? Casual is ok as long as he looked like he didn't sit all day in front of the computer:) OK so I will be interested in the next post...Good Luck!

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    1. No need to withhold judgement, Birgit. I always agree with, and find plenty of humor in, your judgement. In other words: Yes, it was hot. No, windows weren't down for dog. Yes, he was going to let me pay. Casual wasn't really okay - it included beatnik sandals, faded jeans and some form of a shirt. At least he wore a shirt, I suppose. lol.

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  11. I saw the title and thought it was about me. When I started going out with Willy Dunne Wooters, he insisted from the start that he would pay the bill when we go out. Our first date was at the neighborhood diner. After WDW paid the bill, the server tried to give him change, which he would not accept. She walked to me and whispered in my ear, He's a keeper.

    WDW likes to take Franklin for a ride in the car, but we would never leave him alone in a hot car, nor in a cold car. It's what we do.

    I want to know if he pays for dinner, how he's dressed, and how he treats the dog. Cuddling can be great, but not if at heart he's a lousy date.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. I don't want cuddling. I want...well, you know. I laughed at "It's what we do." Thanks, JJ.

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    2. I know what you want. You want Willy Dunne Wooters.

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  12. Fingers and toes crossed. With hopes that my eyes don't cross with the follow-up post.

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    1. Yes, let's hope they don't go creepy-sexy like my Woman on the Verge photo on the top left of my blog. We shall see - whether directly or cross-eyed.

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  13. Well it sounds like it may be hopeful, I have my doubts. Once Heidi tries and makes it a threesome, it's over rover lol

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    1. I'm laughing at that!
      She could make it a foursome
      and toss in a cat.

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  14. Oh, Robyn, sounds promising! Looking forward to hearing more. I hope it turns out to be a lovely dinner.

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  15. You know that I have always wanted you to find just the right guy and keep my fingers crossed for you....I will remain hopefully optimistic but already he has put up a couple of red flags. Time will tell...

    PS please tell us that Heidi didn't participate in date #2. That may be what she and Fred do but that's not what most "new to dating each other" couples do.

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    1. See above, my friend.
      I appreciate your wanting what's seemingly best for me. You're a sweetie.

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  16. Yippee! Except I wasn't sure at first if he loved flat-faced dogs or if he was flat-faced. Now I'm clear... Or is HE a flat-faced dog and a lover? I guess I'll have to wait for more. Hope date #2 is wonderful and that you fall in love with Heidi, too (and that she falls in love with you).

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    1. Ah ha, Mitchell. Perhaps I need to re-work, or play with, the title. Or maybe we have a whole new series in the works: Fred, the Flat-Faced Canine Casanova. (?)

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  17. slow start but you never know. Good luck

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    1. Maybe the problem is that I subscribe to "You never know," but I should simply just know it won't work when I'm hit by a slew of red flags that I choose to ignore.

      Thank you, Joanne.

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  18. Uh oh...not sure I'm going to like part two....

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    1. Oh you won't, but I'm sure you'll leave an entertaining comment. You're awesome that way.

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  19. Hey Robyn!

    Your anxious wait for a comment from shy and humble me is finally over!

    You do realise if it does sort of work out with Fred, you will have to meet with Heidi's approval.

    Pawsitive wishes, um, positive wishes,

    Penny's fictional character,

    Gary :)

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  20. I hope he doesn't have a habit of bringing his dogs to all his dates on Summer nights and leaving her in the car with the windows rolled up. That's a red flag, but I'm sure you would have noted that. Good luck with the new romance.

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    1. I'm guessing Heidi has more dates than he does. She's likely the one in a new romance or two or three at the moment. But thanks for the optimism, Pickleope.

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  21. I'm behind in blog reading, so I'm going to move right on to part two. So far, I'm taking a wait and see approach on Fred.

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    1. Ah yes, the 'ole "wait and see" - it always fails me. But I can always laugh in retrospect.

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  22. oh oh! Be careful! Heidi is going to be like the wicked (and hairy) step daughter, who will never accept you being with her flat faced dad. Off to read part II...

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  23. Oh dear. Heidi sounds like she could be trouble!

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