please don't tell me to read 'the secret'

i'm giving new ager another chance, and i'm hoping he can prove he's not tooooo much of a new ager. we meet at the horsebrass to peruse their list of many many beers. i'm already two drinks in from a work event, so this should be an interesting evening.

i note that he passed on the offer to order food (which he kinda did at the first date as well). i LOVE the fishwich at the horsebrass (people, if you've never had it, you must go), but i'm not feeling like ordering it and eating alone. as i'm settling in with the thought of a liquid dinner, i ask him what his deal is with food. he said that he has followed a very strict diet for 3 years, and he very rarely eats meals out. it consists of cereal with soy milk for breakfast, a tofurky sandwich at lunch and a 'mish-mosh' fajita at dinner which is mostly a bunch of veggies sauted and thrown into a tortilla. BORING. first of all, i get tired of a meal after having it four times, let alone THREE YEARS. second, this hyper-conscious eating habit does not bode well for future dates. i mean, i like to eat. ok, ok, maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to pick up some of his healthy habits; i could use that inspiration. but all the time?? no thanks. plus eating is such a social thing - i go to bars, restaurants and dinner parties most of my evenings. he then goes on to explain further that we are all over-stimulated in our food, and everything is engineered to taste so powerfully. he says that his bland eating habits mean that he enjoys his few meals out to a much greater extent. whatever.

have i mentioned that he has a shaved head (which is fine), but that it's really small? the more drinks i have, the more i stare.

we go on to talk about how we have very different music tastes. he likes raves and electronic bullshit for the most part, but does listen to a little bit of singer/songwriter stuff. we discuss how this difference of opinions doesn't have to be a deal breaker (but wait, who's going to go to shows with me??).

i press him to find out who the new age-y speaker he talked about the first date was. he says that his mom is really more into him than he is, but he does listen to him speak from time to time. it's wayne dyer. shudder. i took a look at the website and nearly went into convulsions.

i swear, if this guy gives me a copy of 'the secret' to read, i'm out!

eventually the evening winds down, and we walk out. he's looking shy, so i know what's coming next. he says he really wants to kiss me, and i say i wondered if he was ever going to try. he does, it's fine. but then. THEN. he gets all uncomfortable and kinda lightly punches me on the upper rib cage, saying 'so, i'll see you again soon?' i reply with 'really? the punch?' sheesh, i'm such a b sometimes. he laughs uncomfortably, and i walk to my car. as i'm pulling on the seat belt, i see this bald guy lingering in my rearview mirror. i roll down the window and he says 'oh, i just wanted to remind you of the name of this tattoo parlour again. don't forget to check it out.'

i confer with my friend j after the date, and she thinks that he must be crushing on me and feeling awfully awkward for the weird punch. so he hand to come back for one more word. funny funny.