The One where I Got Stood Up...Sort Of...

So, I had a full week away from the dating scene and I'm hitting the ground running it seems with some more great stories in the works.  Last night, I was meeting with a guy I had been messaging with back and forth a few times.  In all honesty, when there is a higher volume of correspondence before setting up a date I usually get a little more apprehensive.  I feel that if there is potential for a "spark" or good date or what have you, its going to be easier to just set up a date, meet in person, and see what happens.  Someone could write a great message that's well-written and shares a lot of common ground, but he could have taken an hour to write that message.  If its going to take him that long to formulate his thoughts, I don't think this is going to go very well.  Additionally, if the messages being written are a bit on the long side--red flags like China, people!  Meeting for drinks to get to know someone should not be a big deal.  Its also always my fear that if he's willing to show so many of his cards before the date, what if we get there and run of things to talk about because all the general stuff has already been covered?  I digress...anyway, back to the date.  I still thought it would work out and we set up a date to meet for happy hour at a sushi place in the city.  I drove down there, parked, and arrived at the restaurant about 5 minutes before we were supposed to meet.  I checked the bar area to see if he had arrived yet, did not see him, so I returned to the lobby to wait for him there.  And I waited...and waited.  Now, the two previous nights I had not had much sleep and that day had been very busy, so I was pretty exhausted even just driving to the restaurant.  So, when he was 15 minutes late, I decided to give him 5 more minutes and leave.  After 5 minutes, still no sign of my date, so I walked back to my car, went home, and took a nap.  

This is where the story takes a confusing turn.  Later I checked my messages and had one from him that started with "I guess you couldn't make it."  Huh.  So, I sent a reply telling him that I was there and waited and then left.  Then, the reply from him...he said he was also there, but must have missed me because he was sitting on a bench outside.  Across the street.  Um...okay?  Now, I'm usually very fair and give credit where credit is due and take the blame when I'm in the wrong, but dude!  You were sitting ACROSS THE STREET? Seeing as how we've never met in real life, yeah it would probably be difficult to pick me out among the people walking into the restaurant...from across the street.  I am thoroughly confused by this course of action.  Seriously.  As far as giving credit goes, however, I had already had to reschedule our original date, so this was already a second try, and he offered to reschedule again if I wanted to.  So, next week when we actually have our date (if he makes it to the restaurant), it will actually be the third time we have tried to meet.  So, he's nothing if not tenacious and in all honesty seems like a nice guy.  Hopefully next week I'll have an actual story for you guys.  Next on the calendar is a last-minute set-up for tonight that I'm already regretting.  Yeah, we'll see how this goes...