On Saturday June 13, 2009 I went to a friend's party.  Her first cousin Gus (aka Luciano's best friend and best man) approached me once he realized who I was.  We had not seen each other for at least 15 years and we hadn't recognized each other!

I got the usual bombardment of questions as most single ladies get "Are you married, do you have kids, etc.".  And I as per usual responded "No, no, no.....".  Immediately thereafter he asked if I'd be interested in meeting his friend who was a "great guy". 

Now by this point, I had promised my friends that I would date anyone, as the time had come where EVERYONE was telling me I was too picky.  I decided to prove everyone wrong, by dating anyone who came across my path.  So when he said his friend was divorced with a child, although this had always been on my "do not date" lists, I said yes right away, as I knew this wasn't going to go anywhere, or at least I didn't think it would.....

He asked if I wanted to call him or if he should call me, and I said he was free to call and he could get my home phone number from his cousin.

Over a month went by and no phone call; I figured he wasn't going to call.  I started dating someone else, a lawyer, who for the life of me I could not like.  My friends kept telling me to give him a chance but from the first date, I knew it wasn't going to go anywhere.  But I continued dating him at my friends' advise. 

Then out of the blue, on Monday July 13th Gus called asking if his friend should call me and again I said sure; Luciano finally called and left a message on Saturday July 18th.  We had a brief phone call and made plans to meet for drinks.  He picked me up at my gym at 8pm on Monday July 27, 2009.

As I walked outside toward him, I will never forget......he was standing / leaning against his car, very Sixteen Candles-like, when Jake went to pick Samantha up at the church following her sister's wedding.  I waved and smiled and got no reaction.  I looked around and he was the only one, amidst a full row of taxi's with a silver car, that was bald.  So I thought, "that has got to be him".  I continued to smile and walk towards him and he finally reacted once I walked up to him.  He immediately went to my side to open the car door and I thought, that is sweet; he is chivalrous.  And, I was also very pleasantly surpised that he was good looking.  I mean, Gus did say he was, but after all, he was his friend and how did I know if we would agree!

After he got into the car, he proceeded to give me my favourite flower, a long stem red rose!  I was extremely surprised as we had never met; I didn't expect it.  We drove to the distillery district where we went for drinks and appetizers.  I was surprised how easily the conversation flowed and how quickly the time passed!  Next thing I knew it was 11:30pm on a Monday night and I had to get up early for work the next day!  So although it didn't seem like either one of us wanted the night to end, I forced myself to do the responsible thing and go home!

The weirdist thing of all, is that I told my mom about him - after only 1 date; I told her "I met a really nice guy"...and the rest is history!!

My best friend, Gus, said to me one day, "you know I was at a party and saw someone I haven’t seen in 15 years, she’s really nice, I think you should meet her."  I of course said my usual line, (considering this wasn't the first time I had heard him say that line) - "No thanks, not interested".  This was at 10a.m. on June 20th 2009, and he continued for the next 8 hours, to badger me into promising him that I would call this girl.

Several weeks went by and no phone call, I wasn't going to call, but I kept telling Gus that I would. On Saturday July 18th (still no phone call) Gus asked if I had called again, and again I promised I would call, but this time he picked up the phone and started to dial. I had to grab the phone away from him and I said “I will call".

He watched as I called, (thank god) I thought as the call went to her machine. Then I heard her voice, it had a sweet sound to it, and so I left my message, “hi Daniela, my name is Lou, a friend of Gus's please give me call when you have a chance".  She called me back and we made a date. I still wasn't sure that I wanted to go, she sounded great, "but really, a blind date".

So July 27th came along and I went to pick her up at her gym. I pulled up to the curb and waited outside, and waited and waited some more. Then she comes out, walking toward me, I thought, she doesn't look like Gus described her, but nice I thought. She walked down the stairs coming closer and closer, and since I was sitting on my car, I stood up, smiled, and she smiled back and kept going. It wasn't her. I sat back on my car. Then another young lady came out, not wanting to make the same mistake, I sat on my car, she waved, I did nothing. She got closer and smiled again, I knew this time it was her; she looked good, very sexy. I opened the door for her and we went out for dinner. She was great; our conversation went on till we closed the placed. I never felt so good after a first date.