My First "First Date" in Half a Century

Well, today I've accomplished what I wanted to accomplish -- now I can check off that I've been on my first date since 1967. 

I've been writing to someone from the "pof.com" (plenty of fish) match website and met up with him today for lunch.  It was pleasant enough: I didn't cry,  I could talk to a complete stranger for over an hour, and I actually manage to eat my food without gagging.  All good!   However,  I felt that we had little to nothing in common and he looked much older than the photo he posted of himself on the web.  What is with that?  Did he think I wouldn't notice?  I hear that is done a lot.  Does it get someone more first dates to lie?  Why would anyone want a second date after meeting someone much older than advertised on the first date?

I don't feel the need or the desire to see him again, for sure.  Didn't even want to give him my phone number or real contact information.  He asked me to meet him for dinner and a movie later in the week -- I had to tell him no which made me feel bad -- but what's the point?  Chalk this one up to gaining experience.

Now that my first-first date is behind me, I can move on and hopefully eventually meet someone I am interested in seeing a second time.

Also went to a meet-up this past Thursday with a group called Professional Jewish Singles which is run by Sharon from my book club.  Sharon swore that her group was different and that I would meet a better class of people.  The meetup  was a bust.  I thought we were going out for dinner -- but it really was just "happy hour" at this nice restaurant in Fairfield. What the heck?  I'm not a big drinker so it didn't do a lot for me.  I would have preferred sitting down to dinner with the group, but most people left after one drink.  Some of the women seemed nice -- but the same creepy men (including one who has been at almost every meetup I've gone to and greets me every time as if he were my best friend -- seeing him makes me want to run and take another shower).  I'm signed up for another meetup with this group but am not sure I will go.  Just don't want to have to explain to Sharon why I am canceling.

So meetups don't seem to work and I'm not thrill with what I am seeing on the free match-up sites.  Will I have to start paying -- first want to find out if anyone has actually met someone nice on one of those sites.  Can't throw out my money on nonsense.

They say you have to kiss a lot of frogs -- I'm not even at a kissing stage yet - just want to meet a nice frog I want to kiss.