Dating......

[kaki-clam]

I had a date last Sunday...after going gluten free, I lost a ton of weight..so armed with a pretty new dress, freshly manicured toes and some super hot strapy sandals I felt pretty confident! I informed said date of my food allergies...he told me to pick the restaurant so I would feel more comfortable about my meal choices (insert fluttering eyelashes and little heart bubbles here).

I picked a local Mexican place that I frequent..prayed to all the gods....and ordered chicken tacos. The waitress asked me twice if I wanted flour tortilla's with my tacos...three times I told her hard shell corn....meal arrives....it's delicious..date going well....all of the sudden..out comes the rash...all over my thighs (short dress, totally noticeable) around my mouth, and all over my hands and forearms....I have never had such a rash in my life!!! Tears forming in my eyes, I excused myself to the ladies room...what the heck was I going to do? My stomach was cramping..I scrubbed my face and hands...that helped. but seriously..the thighs..what is a girl to do? I wiped up my tears..feelings of disorientation started..the paranoia...I couldn't find my table. Assisted by Miss Flour Tortilla herself..I was escorted back to my table where I informed my date that I needed him to bring me home.

I managed to hold it together long enough to get home..only to walk into my apartment and find my dog..who needed to go out. Being the gentleman that he was..even on a ruined date..he offered to walk the dog while I slipped into my jammies (not sexy ones..more like ones designed to cover the rash). Light rapping at the door notified me the dog walk was over, the date ended with him handing over the leash and saying "I guess I'll let you go lay down".

UGH....I thought we were really connecting..my first date since my diagnosis...and one simple taco ruined it! I called the restaurant that next day and was informed that they had switched chicken vendors and the chicken was now injected with a wheat filled bullion, they were very sorry that they had not updated their menus.

Every good story needs an ending..and thankfully mine was happy! The next day around noon, my cell phone chirps it dueling banjo's text message notification..it was him! He said I looked amazing in my dress, and he was so sorry that I got sick. He asked if he could come over the following weekend and if he could help me make a dinner for us..he didn't dare to take me out again..and he isn't familiar enough with the no-no's to attempt making dinner alone for me!!! So dinner and a movie tomorrow night!

Yay for second dates and understanding guys!!!

[mushroom]

What a great story, and what a great guy! But so sorry that the restaurant caused you such misery unnecessarily. Who would voluntarily switch to a gluten-filled chicken? Rhetorical question

[gf-soph]

You may have found a keeper there - not only sensitive to the food intolerances, but doesn't run away from a bad patch! Hope you have a great second date

[Alex33]

Sounds like a great guy! Hope you have a wonderful time.

[kayo]

That story gave me goosebumps! You found a keeper

[ciavyn]

That is excellent! I kept thinking this was going to end in tears, and instead, a happy ending! YAY!

[eva-girl]

what a story! i'm glad you are going on a second date - he sounds like a keeper. but why would a celiac go on a first date that involves food? that's alot of stress to put on yourself, especially when you are trying to make a good first impression. maybe your second date should be an art gallery or something. have fun!

[ciavyn]

what a story! i'm glad you are going on a second date - he sounds like a keeper. but why would a celiac go on a first date that involves food? that's alot of stress to put on yourself, especially when you are trying to make a good first impression. maybe your second date should be an art gallery or something. have fun!

What else do you do on a first date? It's almost unheard of to do it around something other than food, especially depending on where you are from. No matter what you do, you end up in a restaurant or coffee shop, both of which can be devastating to a celiac.

[jerseyangel]

I loved that story and it gave me goosebumps too! What a sweet and understanding guy.

[eva-girl]

"What else do you do on a first date?"

really? well, let's see: movie, cocktails, coffee, museums, exhibits, galleries, taking a walk in the park, bowling, billiards, miniature golf, taking in a play or live music, etc. my hubby and i had our first date at the dog park - we both have dogs and i had been in AA for 2 years and wasn't comfortable in a bar. so i decided to not stress myself ouot and stay away from alcohol entirely, at least until he got to know me. all i'm saying is because we have to be so careful maybe food-related activities aren't such a great idea for a first or second date. it's a good way to get stressed out, or get glutened. additionally, i am an alcoholic and while i can go out to bars/clubs i would never do so on a first date. too much to explain why i'm only drinking tonic water, and then the person feels guilty for having a beer, etc. i am more than an alcoholic, more than someone with celiac disease, and before bringing in all the things i can't do, i would want him/her to focus on all the things i can do. seems like dinner on a first date is setting yourself up to fail.

[kaki-clam]

I live in a small town in Central Maine, just outside of the state capitol. Sunday nights (the night of our first date) is league night at the bowling alley, so bowling was out....you can't really get to chat/know each other at the movies...and there isn't anything else to do...no dog parks..neither of us really drink so a bar seemed stupid...no area concerts....dinner was pretty much our only choice. For our second date, I made steak and gluten free pasta salad. We had some sliced cucumbers and tomatoes and gluten free Lemon Meringue Pie....headed out to see Robin Hood........

Cross your fingers for date number three

[sb2178]

nice story!

other non-food ideas: kayaking/canoeing, a short hike on a populated trail, a bike ride, a festival or fair (take your own food), apple picking, a tour of someplace like a glass blowing factory, horseback riding, DIY picnic, some sort of athletic event whether it's the local high school team or something bigger (again, take your own food), or... the eternal movie.

Really sport specific interests are useful, like kicking around a soccer ball or climbing, if you have that in common. I'm a huge fan of picnics following by wimpy frisbee.

Not that you need the ideas, but if anyone else does...

[eva-girl]

i love the idea of a picnic...food that you can control! kind of romantic, too. also, bars have non-alcoholic drinks, too; even if you don't drink you can still go there. what about bookstores? flea markets? skiing? snowshoeing? rollerblading? paint it yourself pottery places? there are lots of non-food related activities we can do, i don't care how small your town is. we need to be a little more creative than folks who don't have to worry about food. although i'm glad kaki's story turned out so well, i'm just saying if you don't want to be a victim don't set yourself up to be one.

edited to add: i'm not saying kaki is acting a victim, obviously she picked a place that she trusted - she couldn't know they changed their menu. (and who injects chicken with wheat anyway?! that's scary.)

[Ahorsesoul]

Let your guy know I am very proud of him. I hope the rest of him is as nice.

[jerseyangel]

Cross your fingers for date number three

Fingers and toes crossed

[kaki-clam]

Fingers and toes crossed

Thank you!!! Date number three...next weekend He's coming over with a DVD this time...I was telling him how awesome the gluten free pancakes I make are (thanks to Bob's Red Mill)..and he is excited to try them...

He opens the doors for me..he held my hand at the movies...he apologized again for (as he put it) "nearly killing me the other night" and is going to come away with me for a weekend at my family summer home on the ocean...keeps those toes crossed!!!!

as a PS....if any of you read my post from back in early November..when my boyfriend couldn't handle my new diagnosis of Celiacs..cheated then left me....he e-mailed me this weekend...it was nice to tell him that I was seeing someone

[Ahorsesoul]

Sometimes you need a vacancy to find someone more caring. So happy for you.

[Roda]

I think this guy's behavior says alot about his character. He sounds like he is a winner!! It seems like he is not letting your food restrictions get in the way of getting to know you, which is great!

[jerseyangel]

when my boyfriend couldn't handle my new diagnosis of Celiacs..cheated then left me....he e-mailed me this weekend...it was nice to tell him that I was seeing someone

Oh yeah--I'll bet that felt good! This new guy sounds like a real gentleman.

[mushroom]

Sometimes you need a vacancy to find someone more caring.

I like this (imagine several smileys here)