Date 12 - Kidnapped by Liz

I arrived back at the office following lunch with Constantine and settled in to the daily tasks. I’d burned through my list of important things to do that morning, and thus was left with only those things I’d been putting off because I either do not know how to do them, or I just do not want to.

My colleague Laverne sighed heavily and announced that this afternoon was going to be the dullest three hours of her life. I nodded noncommittally, because I had started to receive a strange series of texts from my friend Liz, who seemed concerned that she had just done something stupid.

I spent the next few minutes spinning various scenarios to guess what Liz had done. It did not involve air travel, it did not necessitate tracking down a pig farm, and she had not taken up a musical instrument. Having exhausted all of my logical conclusions, I gave up.

Got your back, girl!

She made me promise not to be mad at her.

I had a number of follow-up questions.

Then she walked into my office and announced that she was kidnapping me. Laverne laughed and did not seem nearly surprised enough; she’d been in on this caper all along (!). Apparently the phone call I had fielded a few days ago from a squeaky-voiced woman named Stephanie had actually been Liz, arranging to spirit me away from the office for a mysterious afternoon activity.

I shut off my computer, remembered to grab my cinnamon buns from the kitchen, put my coat on and followed my abductor to her car. Liz told me about the phone call, and how she had recognized my voice and tried to disguise hers. We caught up on each other’s newest stories. We laughed and drove out of downtown.

At one point she asked me if I wanted to know where we were going. I thought about it, but I was enjoying the anticipation and also aware that it would make a better story if I didn’t know. So I waited. It is interesting to live your life like there is an audience. I find myself narrating even more than usual and thinking of how I am going to represent things in this blog. So strange.

By the time we pulled up to the salon, I was in full chat mode. Liz and I had started talking about something fascinating and I barely realized where we had gone or what had been happening. Liz checked that it was ok that we were about to go to a salon and she would supervise me getting my hair highlighted and styled as part of our date. She had brought a six-pack of ciders, and obtained permission from the salon to drink throughout the process. I thought it was a fantastic idea. The salon was Liz’s regular place, and people seemed to know her, and because they knew her, they adored her. We were treated like favourites all the way.

I put on a weird leopard-print cape thingy, and of course I put it on wrong somehow. There were buttons in unexpected places. It was a great place to start, because it set the tone for the whole affair. Well, the cape and the ciders.
 



Sort of like this, but with hair
instead of a potato

Liz and I settled in and were talking about the 40 Date Challenge. We explained to Valerie (the stylist) what it was all about. She had just rejoined the dating scene after a long relationship and she had also noticed the sharp learning curve. Valerie painted dyes into chunks of my hair and folded it all up in neat little to-go-style tin foil packets. I joked that at least I could finally think dirty thoughts without the government knowing. Got a chuckle from Valerie when I added, "Foiled 'em!"

Valerie left us to our ciders and chatting. Mid-sentence, Liz suddenly looked up and smiled. She told me that the second surprise part of our date had arrived. I used one of the myriad mirrors in the place to check what was happening behind me. A sassy lady had just walked in. Our friend Lana joined us with a wide smile and a pack of her own ciders. Two amazing dates for the price of one!

Once the dyes were done seeping in, Valerie took me over to a sink and washed my hair out. We laughed about dating and talked about how bizarre it is to have women friends. Both of us had been tomboys growing up and had only just started to develop those awesomely strong female friendships.

Photo credit to Neon Tommy,
License info here. 

Valerie broke out a brand new hairdryer to do the styling thing. It was matte black with red lights along the side, and according to the box, it used infrared. Pretty much the bat mobile. It was also quiet enough for Valerie and I to continue our conversation without shouting over a noisy blowdryer.

 While things were being dried and curled, Lana’s fiancé Emil came in. I called his name and waved. I am not sure he recognized me immediately, with fabulous hair flying everywhere and my leopard-printed cape. He greeted me with a fist bump before making his way to the back of the salon to where the girls were drinking cider and chatting happily.

When all was said and done, Valerie was so happy with it that she took pictures. Always a good sign. My pals took pictures too, because I don’t often look that prettified (and may be why I'm single). *Shot!* Usually a bad sign, but not today. I felt great.

We (jay)walked across the street to a pub and snagged a table near the window. Our server came over and was probably one of the friendliest and straight-up best servers I’ve ever had. We all hung out visiting and laughing over drinks for at least an hour before Lana and Emil had to leave.

Liz and I continued our date. We picked up Thai takeout (Yay, curry!) and went back to my house where (Best date ever!) I was able to finally do some desperately necessary laundry.

We had drinks and told stories and were eventually re-joined by Lana and Emil after their dinner date for more great visiting until late into the evening. We had planned on walking down to a pub for drinks, but never manifested the necessary enthusiasm and so we chatted around my kitchen table simply enjoying one another’s company.

A truly wonderful date.