Speed Dating - The Chuck Hull Perspective

So here it is, April 12th, and I'm about to venture into something that I never

thought I'd do.  I'm about to enter the world of Speed Dating.  I'm not sure who came up with this concept, or even how it started, but it's definitely something I never thought I'd do.  Thanks to Shelby, I now am doing this. And thanks again to Shelby, I'm not doing it alone.  But, let's make sure I set the record straight. She didn't talk me into it. She didn't have to persuade me. She said "wanna do speed dating with me?"  I pretty much said, "why not?"

   

                First a quick little note about me.  My name is Chuck, and I'm a 39 year old single guy living in Pittsburgh.  I'd like to picture myself as one of the nice guys out there, but I'm sure I have my moments just like everyone else. After all, I'm only human.  I'm not sure why I'm single, but that's probably one of the dumbest questions I think I've ever heard anyone ask anyone.  "You're such a nice guy, why are you single?"   Oh gee, I don't know, probably because your uptight ass won't let me get past first base, or even a hello?  (See, I'd like to think I'm a nice guy, but I have the same bitterness that lives inside us all.  haha)

    

               How did I meet Shelby you may ask? Well, you probably won't, but I'll tell you anyway.  Outside of my normal job, I DJ on the side. I was working at the Boardwalk (remember that shit hole?) when I met Shelby. She was a rep for Iron City at the time, and of course since I thought she was pretty damn attractive, I was gonna chat her up and see what I could get out of her. (not that way so stop it.)   It was summer, hot, and I was thirsty, and she provided me with plenty of free IC Lites. That's how I roll. But seriously, I chatted her up with my coworkers, and we just kinda became friends. I don't hang out with her as much as many of you  (to which in her drunken state on Thursday she reminded me at least a dozen times that we should

hang out more. I'd agree,) but it was time to hang out with her for an adventure in Speed Dating.

             Speed dating.  How was it? Would I do it again? Was it worth the $25.00 sign up
fee?  I'll get to that later.  I head over to Shelby's right after work to pick her up, and we're both a bit nervous.  Like any normal guy, I like to make sure I look nice when I'm in a group setting you know, just in case I may meet someone.  And, like any single guy should....VALUE THE OPINION OF YOUR FEMALE FRIENDS!  I took three extra shirts with me to Shelby's and pretty much told her to dress me.  She did.  Yeah, I've got that backwards for sure.  We were not sure what to expect so we're making jokes about the kinds of people we may meet. Will there be really old people? Will there be creepers, nut jobs, baldies, extra large, etc.  Not don't get
me wrong, good people come in all shapes and sizes, but we're both a little freaked out about what we're getting into.  I know Shelby wanted to do this for her blog, but I'm sure she didn't mind meeting someone as well.  Me? Well, I'm 39 and single, and I'm doing it to back up Shelby, but at the same time I'm thinking it would be nice to meet someone. I've never been married and I'm fucking 39.  This for me, is a huge step. I've been on dates before, but it's been a long long time.  Oh crap, the drive is over and we're here.

                We walk into Bossa Nova, and we're not sure where this shit is going down.

We're a bit relieve to see quite a few people there.  It's about 6:30pm, and there
are probably about 30-40 people here.  Not too bad at all.  It was a nice mix of people, so we're both thinking positive things.  We ask the hostess where the speed dating registration is and she points to our right, and there is no one there but the people holding the event.  Yeah, those people?  They're not here for the speed dating.  Shelby and I get our name tags, and they brief us the night and we decide we now need a drink.  I don't see any women yet.  It's pretty much Shelby and myself, oh and a guy named  Guy 1.  I'm not going to use names.   He was pretty open and started talking to use and we were finally joined by another woman.  I think

this was when Shelby and I kinda ignored the other guy to talk to the woman, and well I had my reason for doing so, and I'm sure Shelby's was because she found this conversation more interesting.  Shelby found a new best friend and we're not drink two into the night, and we haven't even started our "dating" yet.  SIDEBAR - There was a group of cougars at the bar that asked what our name tags were for, and we said Speed Dating.  Then good old Shelby proceeds to tell the Cougars that "this is my best friend Chuck. He's single, and he's really awesome, and you all should talk to him."  Ain't she the best!  They did say they were all married, and she asked "happily?"  Gotta love her!

  

                 We see more people walking in finally for the speed dating, and we do a quick

shot, and head up to where we needed to be.  There are finally more woman, and seemingly more men.  We find out they had 14 men and 12 woman registered.  Two women did not show up.  So it's 14 to 10, and Shelby likes her odds.  At least I think she does.  They go over there rules and it's pretty much this: You get six minutes on your date, and you can talk about anything you want.  After the time is up, they'll ring a bell, and the men proceed to the next number.  The tables are marked 1-14, and you move up each time.  I'm to start at number 11.  Great. I'm starting out alone....again....which is pretty much why I'm here right?  After all the rules are explained, the host asks if we have any questions.  Well, I'm kinda goofy, and a
whole lot of nervous, and maybe a bit tipsy and I blurt out "Yeah, where's my date?"
 In a goofy dorky kinda of way.  That was met with a good old fashioned patented Shelby eye  roll, which was then met in turn with a stern finger pointing from me while lip sinking "don't roll your eye I'm scared shit less."

                It starts and my self and the other three dateless guys talk to the host in just normal small talking fashion.  She rings the bell and I get up and move to the next table. I sit alone for six minutes staring off into space. Ring Ring, table 13...take a call from my parents...ring ring table 14 and I'm still sitting looking at the ceiling.  I shoulda danced on it.  Anyhow, when I look back at this, I moved three times from one empty table to the next.  I don't even know why I moved because there was no one at any of the tables. You'd think I'd be smart enough to just stay where I was and talk to everyone else until I had my change to get to table 1. Nope, I moved to three empty tables and pretty much felt stupid.  But ring ring....time to talk to girl number 1.

                I'm pretty loosened up at this point and just start talking with a simple how

are you blah blah.  I opened up with the fact that she was the first girl I got to talk to so far, but after spending almost four dates with myself, I found me to be pretty awesome, and she had some tough competition. She actually laughed at that, but it's all about the delivery I guess.  She seemed very nice, and it turns out that my world got small talking with her.  She worked for a company that my company deals with on a regular basis.  We were both very familiar with each others jobs.   Yep, world got small. 

               Girl 2 was her friend and co-worker, and this one was just as nice.  This one I was immediately attracted too.  Great smile, gorgeous eyes, and just plain wowed me.  All of a sudden, bell rings.  I wasn't ready to leave.  Six minutes goes by fast. Real fast.  We took a quick break for snacks, but then back to business.

               Girl 3 was just a year younger than me, and I found her very attractive as

well.  Shelby adored her and was really pulling for us to be a match.  I could kinda tell though that I was probably not her type, but still, I gave it my all in six minutes and enjoyed chatting with her.

                Girl 4 was where things started to slide.   Right off the bat she states that she has questions for me.  I pretty much ended up being grilled.  She was basically interviewing me.  And not like in a nice way either.  Just the tone of her voice was all serious and business.  She then goes "OK I'm done with my questions I guess we can talk now."  Um...huh?  Ok, Chuck charm time. I'm gonna give her the benefit of the doubt and still be me and chat her up.  "So, how are you tonight, are you having a good time, or what made you do something like this.'    She replied with "well, after four lousy years with my ex....."   Screeeech.  Yeah, only a minute into our six, and she's talking about an ex with such hatred.  This conversation is clearly over.  She brought the ex up a total of 3 times in six minutes.  Yeah.  NEXT!

               Girl 5 and 6 were also friends and very young.  24?  I thought the minimum age was

supposed to be 27?  Oh, and girl 5? She wasn't even from here. She was from out of town visiting (well that's what girl 6 told me.)  She was very nice, but she also kinda wasted the time of 14 men by being here.  Thanks for that.  Girl 7 didn't seem too interested in chatting, but the first words out of her mouth was "I need a Jager Bomb."  I hope she realized she was perfect, because any girl that likes Jager is a keeper. 

               Girl 8 was a single mom, and extremely cute as well. I give her all the credit in the world because she seemed very nervous and a little shy, but for a single mom to give speed dating a shot takes guts, and that to me is just awesome.

               Girl 9 was our girl Shelby!  We took the opportunity to go to the bathroom since we

knew each other, and Shelby pretty much walked into the men's room with me because she wasn't paying attention blabbing away about the guys she was meeting.  The bathroom attendants just stared at her like um.... I couldn't stop laughing.  Shelby admitted that she might be drunk, and I told her I figured.  When we got back to the tables, we found out they paused all the dates while we walked away.  Oops.  We told them we knew each other and just decided to go to use the restroom. Then Shelby burped. Loudly.  I could not contain my laughter.  She is the best speed dater ever. Hands down.  I do this again, I'm not doing it without her.  

The last girl looked like she was about as interested in me as she was the other 13 guys.

That was it.  The dates were over. Now what?  Well, at the start, we were given
a sheet of paper.  We were to write down each dates name, comments and circle either "let's date" or "sorry not interested."  I circled four let's dates and pretty much ney to everyone else.  I got my results early the next morning.   Three of the let's dates, said the same for me, so they considered us a match.  They also provided information for girls that said yes to you, but I said no too "just in case you were really undecided and want to give them a second chance."   I pretty much know who said no to me.  Their loss because like I said, I spent the first 24 minutes with myself and I'm just plain fucking awesome.

               OK we're done, and now what?  It's only 9 o'clock on a Thursday night and we don't want this to be a waste of a night. Shelby is pretty drunk, but not too drunk, and she's ready to party.  I can't lie, I was ready to go out too.  I was wide awake (thanks to 5 hour energy.)  We did get a chance to talk more to some of our dates, and we did try to get everyone else to come with us. Well, actually that's a lie. Drunk Shelby did.  I knew not what I was in for. I only read about it, but now I get to witness it first hand.  Truly the best speed date partner ever. 

               We went to Jekyl and Hyde for some karaoke action.  Android and iPhones are all fine and dandy, but the video cameras lack light in a darkened bar.  I may have recorded Shelby's

drunken rendition of "I will Survive" but we'll never see it because the video is so dark.  Mind you, even drunk, she kicks ass on vocals.  We also will not be able to see our local hero Big Tom busting out get low, and good old Shelby putting out the bump and grind on our long haired

friend again due to lack of lighting.  Four of the guys from the speed date did show up, and were all very eager to talk with our Shelby.  She made four new friends that night.   Go Shelby!

What did I learn from the night?

               I love Shelby and love being her wing man. She however sucks as a wing woman. At least that's what she told me about four times.It's actually not as hard for me to talk to woman as I thought it was.  And as it turns out, some if them even like talking with me. Bonus.Six minutes is not a long time. It, in fact, is practically six seconds.Shelby's mom somehow knows I rock, and we are now Facebook Friends. Awesome.Planking on the floor of Jekyl and Hyde is NOT recommended. There you have it, well from what I can remember.  Thursday was a fun adventure, and I would probably do it again. I know what I may have written may not have been as entertaining and crazy as what is normally in this blog, but Shelby wanted to try something different.  In this case you got me, Chuck (aka DJ Qwik at Jekyl and Hyde every other Friday night hint hint) and what is was like for me in the world of dating.  I came out of this with restored confidence believe it or not, and I hold out hope that there is someone out for me, and it's not too late just because I'm 39.  Oh, I also learned that I need to not buy as many Cherry Vodka cokes for Shelby as I did.  She likes to plank when you give her that many. 

Keepin it real from a guys perspective.....Chuck

Speeddate.com - A chalk full of fucking weirdo's

            In a desperate attempt to capitalize on the lonely at heart, some genius decided to develop a dating website that allows you to communicate for free with people for 5 minutes (unless you are dumb enough to pay for a subscription, then you get more time) similar to a speed dating session. You also get the option to send 1 message to someone, to which if they respond, you must subscribe to read.   I have never been an advocate that singles should ever have to pay to communicate with potential partners, however  I decided to check this site out to see how legit it actually was.

            The problem with this site is that just about anyone from all walks of life and all areas of the planet can message you.  After having a drunken St. Patrick's day revelation paired with almost a year of yearning for someone who lives out of state, I realized falling for/chasing anyone that lives outside of an hour radius of you is about as useless as a limp dick.  Yet on this site, it is chalk full of people that are hopeful that some stupid girl will travel to the ends of the earth for love.  I would not be surprised if the ID channel had enough material based on this website to create an entire series based on hopelessly romantic people that actually have traveled out of state to meet people "offline".

            I would now care to share with you some of the messages that I received from this website, proving yet again, another website that is an epic fail in connecting normal singles to one another.

63/M/Baltimore, MD

would Love to get to know you better.

Dear Gramps:

            It's not your message that creeped me out, it was simply the fact that you seem to think I have some sort of "Anna Nicole" look about me, which if anything is quite insulting.  You have officially became the oldest man to message me on a dating website.  Not that this is much of an accomplishment, I will say I am quite impressed that: 1. You actually know how to use a computer without the help of your immediate family members, 2. You managed to upload a picture of yourself showcasing how many wars you have witnessed and 3. You still have big, (yet I don't want to imagine how wrinkly they are) balls to message someone who is old enough to be your daughter.  I'm sorry that things at the senior center are not working for you when it comes to finding you a partner that you can share the rest of your short life with, but where manthers preying on girl my age are terrible, grandmathers preying on girls my age are just terrifying.  I'm sure that in your search you will find some young dumb gold digging tramp that will bite and take full advantage of your pension and manipulate you to change your will, however where I have very loose morals to begin with, I'd much rather take my chances sleeping  with a guy that can't get it up due to alcohol consumption, rather than can't get it up without the usage of Viagra. 

21/M/Brandford Canada

Hey, what color underwear are you wearing?

Dear Polly Panty -

            I'm glad that with all that is wrong with the world, your focus is not my stance on the homeless, world peace, or birth control - your inquiring mind wants to know what color underwear I am wearing.  I can understand why you resort to online dating to meet women.  Clearly, this line has probably gotten you smacked in the face, kicked in the nuts and/or resulted in a pepper spraying incident when you tried it at the bar.  At what point did you think it would be good to try it on a dating website?  Idolizing Glenn Quagmire is not a positive life goal.   I don't know if Canadian women are just that easy, dumb or desperate, but in the US, that line wouldn't even work on a Hill District prostitute.  I had a friend who dated a guy that she caught sniffing her underwear, I can only imagine that you are a distant relative of his.  You may want to consider your sexuality, considering you may be the only "straight" guy on this planet that is concerned if I color coordinate undergarments.  It makes me wonder, if I would of replied "what is underwear" if you would of instantly nutted in your pants, or if your dong would of inverted back in to your stomach. 

19/M/Churchill, NY

hey sëxy, do you want a young online sëx slave???

Dear Mr. Slave -

    I'm not seeing the benefit to having a young online sex slave.  1. You are 19 years old, if I wanted something with tiny nuts that needed trained, I'd much rather invest in a baby squirrel.  The fact that you are so young, and offering up your penis to me on a cyber plate, leads me to think that you have more mental issues than the cracked out version of Charlie Sheen.  I must have missed the memo that cyber sex was cool again?  I am intrigued as to how you would be my slave via a computer.  Would that mean you would try to stick your dick in the webcam?  Or would you stroke your mouse in a sexual way while licking a lollypop?  I'm still not seeing how this would be beneficial.  Where it would be quite entertaining to see what exactly outrageous, demoralizing things I would make you do, watching a baseball player scratch his balls is more of a turn on.  I think you will have better luck finding a dominant on Chat Roulette. I have better things to do with my life and with my vibrator than waste any AA's on this conversation.

42/M/Johnstown, PA

hello Shelby, I must confress, your profile has really captured my attention and i will love to share in the joy of your life, in fact i want to get to know you if you don't mind. I will be glad if we get to know each other and become friends. You never know we could become the success story as in good couples. I want to fine someone to be in good relationship with that right person. Love is not about finding a person, but creating a right relationship. It's not about how much love you have in the beginning, but how much love you buid till the end. A relationship is a two way street. It's never all your fault or the other person. If your are interested...... Send back so we can learn to know each other. Hope to hear from you soon.

Dear Sammy Sensitive -

    I'm sad for you that you are 42 years old and your balls still have yet to drop.  I get that since you are a bit older than me, that you may have more worldly knowledge, however with all the bullshit about love that you wrote in this message, and the fact that you are on an online dating website looking for it, leads me to believe that you do not know your ass from a hole in the ground.  Watching the Lifetime network every chance you get will not help you find "the one", nor will it help you better understand what women want.  It sounds to me like you want to be featured on an episode of "A Wedding Story."   It's clear you have never been married, because where a relationship may be a "2 way street", a marriage is a mutiny.    Once you get married, as a male, all of your opinions are invalid and you are always wrong, and sex is withheld until you realize it's her way or the highway.  Just like there is no crying in baseball, there is no reasoning in marriage.  I learned at 18 that fairy tales don't  exists, does Disney need to make a happy endingless fairy tale just for you to get the point?

33/Pittsburgh, PA

well to be fair to all of the men, you make it difficult to not think about sex the way you fill those jeans. :) How you doin?

Dear Dr. Douche

      Well to be fair to all women, do you really think I'm going to engage in any conversation with you considering you use the terms "fill those jeans" and "sex" in the same sentence.  Your about as smooth as a rock garden.   From 2 sentences I have already decided that you are 1 of 2 types of guys.  Type #1: Below average looking guy that thinks he's hotter than what he is due to surrounding himself with women that have already rejected him but keep them as "best friends".   You keep these girls around to boost your ego so that when you talk to women online (which is your only means of communicating with them), you feel confident in saying, "well my girl friends think I'm attractive. This leads you to believe that you do not in fact come off like a total creeper but a "cute" guy because you have "friends" lying to you to give you a sense of false confidence.  Type #2:  You got a lot of tail in your hay day and are realizing that you are getting older, less attractive and 18 year old girls aren't in to you as much as they used to be.    You nonchalant try to play off sexual innuendos with the hopes that it will come off as a compliment, not knowing that it makes you look weird and unknowingly showcases your ass fetish.  Your track record probably consists of girls that are butter faces, because you are at the point in your life where you are so lonely and desperate that you will stick it in any available hole that walks your way. 

19/M/Joliet, IL

aye:)

        

Dear Captain Ghetto-

     Judging by the 1 profile picture that you have posted that shows your backwards hat, well trimmed facial hair and tattoo on your neck, I'm going to guess that you are either culturally confused or your profession as a wigger pirate isn't getting you anywhere at all with the wenches.    Fortunately for you, you have time to 1. Go to college, 2. grow out of your Fubu wearing, West Coast rapper stage and 3. Make English your primary language and make Pirate Ebonics a hobby.  Where it may have been cool when I was 18 years old, the thrill of that is gone.  The only gangster in my life involves rap music on my Ipod.  The lame smiley face you put after your one word introduction leads me to believe that you probably think you are being cute when in reality it should be a crime worthy of firing squad.  I'm sure you think running the drug operation out of the Burger King that you work at may make you cool, but it really just makes you look pathetic.  Since you must be 18 to be on Speedate, maybe you should cancel your membership and go trolling the local malls for a 16 year old girl with daddy issues. Being that you are of legal age, you can be their parental escort to see the next Pirates of the Caribbean movie where you can "spit some game" and compare your life to that of Johnny Depp's imaginary character. 

38/M/Sewickley, PA

I want to put my cock in your mouth

Dear Dicky Do Da -

            Wow you are quite the class act.  Let me put it this way friend, you can want in one hand and shit in the other and see which one gets filled up first.  Maybe instead of relying on you porn fantasies and internet dating sites, you should stick to what you know best: hookers and strip clubs.  You clearly suffer from an extreme case of "cock envy" where you think that every girl with a mouth wants your potentially diseased dick in it.  My only curiosity to see your penis would be to witness how much skin you have rubbed off it from jacking off to one too many lipstick commercials, because I'm going to assume you don't get out much.  You would be better off setting up a glory hole in a women's rest top on route 79 than attempting to romance a female.  You are probably single because any relationship that you have had, rather than presents on holidays you probably tied a ribbon around your cock and considered it a "gift".  Where I understand that a blow job is the sentimental equivalent of receiving flowers and clearly you put your penis on a pedestal, I am sure there is a girl out there that find this appealing and allow you to put your cock in her mouth.   I also hope that she rakes the hell out of it, draws blood, and you scream like a little bitch, or you get herpes...I'd be ok with either outcome. 

Keeping it real -

Shelby