Raul is a runner, mountain biker and all around good-looking Orange County guy. Being a sucker for a pretty face, I overlooked that he didn't have too much to say on the phone. "He's just shy", I told myself. (I am always willing to make up excuses for a pretty face). Anyway...we arranged a date in Huntington Beach (I usually suggest a half-way point if we live more than 10 miles apart). Raul was even better looking in person! Teeth, tone, tall (the studly trinity). He handed me a large ziploc bag - full of cookies! He told me he liked to bake and made these chocolate chip cookies just for me. (How odd... yet sweet?) We went for dinner at Ruby's on the pier. As it became sadly apparent, Raul was not shy - Raul was dull. He was awkward with few facial expressions (Botox??) and lacked "oompf". I carried the conversation - it was exhausting. I had resigned myself to accept that despite my shallow attraction to this man, even I could not overlook his lack of personality. We walked around a bit after dinner - talking about God knows whatever subject I pulled from my emergency "what the hell should we talk about" bag. He walked me to my car and I, ever the gentlewoman, offered to drive him to his. As we drove down crowded Main St. he seemed to have suddenly perked up. He had discovered toys in my car - and was delighted! He became animated and eagerly told me that he too had toys! He kept a cat puppet in his car for when he was stuck on the freeway. I told him that the toys he found belonged to my my 6 year old son. He was not dissuaded from his glee. We hurriedly arrived at his car and I thanked him for dinner. I also thanked him for the cookies though now I seriously wished I had a "royal taster". I can only imagine what this Peter Pan's secret ingredient was for his cookies.
