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2012 CONCERT SERIES
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4
RANDALL BRAMBLETT
Soul, Funk. Rhythm and B)u*s
MATTERS OF THE HEART AND LOINS
I was waiting tables at the restaurant where
I work the other day, and this guy came in. He
was kind of hitting on me. He was not my type,
but the kind of guys who are my type have
let me down a lot in the last couple of years,
being cheaters and liars and generally shitty
human beings—so I thought, what the helL
He asked me out for a drink when I got done,
and I agreed to meet him at the bar of a dif
ferent local restaurant. I had never seen him
before, and our town is pretty small, so I knew
he wasn't from around here. Atso he
had.an accent.
Anyway, I met him
later, and he was kind of
obnoxious. It was obvi
ous that he had already
been drinking when I
got there, but I chalked
it up to nerves. Then
there were all kinds
of political disagree
ments. I am not par
ticularly political, but
he kept pushing me for
my opinions, and then,
of course, it turned out
that I was too conservative
for him. He kept talking to
the bartender about me as if I weren't there,'
but not in a mean way. Like he said how cute
I was, but then said that I wasn't impressed
by him, which was true. He said that I couldn't
make up my mind about him, which might have
been true at the beginning, but as the hour
went on, I most certainly did, thankyouvery-
much. I could tell the bartender felt sorry for
me. The nightmare date even made a comment
to the bartender about how he couldn't believe
the guy didn't remember him after how much
he had tipped the last time he was in, which
was the height of tacky.
I decided that I needed to go. He tried to
pay for my drinks, and I didn't want him
to. I very explicitly told the bartender
to give my bill to me, which he thank
fully did, and signed it while this guy
was hovering over me watching to see if
I tipped enough. Then he
pulled out his credit card
and showed me "See,
that's my name, and
thats the name of
my business." (As
if I cared at that
point!) I couldn't
get out of there fast
enough. I called one of
my coworkers from the
parking lot and had him
come and meet me for another drink
after I dropped my car off at home
and went to my local bar. I told him
the story, and he said I should have let
the d-bog pay for my drinks. I disagreed,
saying I didn't want to give him the
satisfaction or let him think I owed him
anything. My friend said I was crazy and
that I deserved free drinks just for putting up
with the guy. I still think it would have put me
in a weird position. So, settle the argument
Was l right? Or should I have let him pay?
Back to Internet Dating
. I don't think there is a right or wrong
here necessarily, but I totally would have
done what you did. I think this guy knew
damn well that this thing was not going to
happen, and he offered to pay for the drinks
anyway, so I doubt he would have expected
anything in return. Given his obnoxious per
sonality and his bad attempts at humorous
self-deprecation. I'm betting he has been
around this block a few times before. You
could have gone either way, but you did the
stand-up thing on both counts. You took a
chance with somebody who was not your type,
gave him a chance even though you weren't
initially attracted to him, and then you paid
your own way and made a graceful exit, head
high. Here's hoping he learned a lesson from
you. And you can bet your ass that
bartender won't forget him again,
by the way. Bartenders appreciate
a good tipper, and under the
right circumstances, they
might even remember you.
But a d-bag torturing a first
date? Etched forever in the
memory, guaranteed.
My sister is having a hard
time dealing with the fact that
I am not a Christian. We were
raised Baptist, and even
though she isn't as strict as
our parents in her beliefs,
she can't seem to pccept that
I don't believe. We have had several conversa
tions about it, and I thought I had gotten
through to her. I explained that I am spiritual,
that I have beliefs, and that I do pray and I do
go to church. She is basically a non-denomina-
tional, run-of-the-mill, “angels and Jesus“ type
of girt And I am fine with that
My parents have stopped going to church
every week, but they still believe. They are com
fortable with my belief (or lack of it), too. But
she doesn't seem to get it She even bought
me a necklace with a crucifix on it and gave it
to me as a present and then said she “hoped
I wouldn't be offended."lam not offended,
but I am irritated. I don't want this thing
and I am not going to wear it and I
feel like she isn't listening to me. I guess
I am offended, but not by
the cross or the church
or Jesus. I am offended
that my sister will not
let me have adult beliefs
of my own, and that
she can't resist trying
to save me or whatever.
I am almost 40! What
should I do? Should I
give it back to her and
tell her I don't want it? Or v ‘
just put it in my jewelry box
and forget the whole thing?
Frustrated
It depends on how much
further you want to take this
If it really is important to you,
then you should give it back to he
and explain that while you might
appreciate what it means to her, it
obviously doesn't mean the same thing to you
and she should respect that. Don't be angry,
but do be firm. Tell her she has to stop trying
to lure you back. If you think that just quietl?
putting it away will put the whole thing to
bed, then feel free to try that route as well
But don't count on it, and be prepared for
“the talk' the next time she sees an angel
snowglobe that she thinks you'll love.
Wame*t UelfUna women
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New hope. New life.
1100 Johnson Ferry Rd., Ste.200
Atlanta, GA 30342
404.257.1900 • 866.680.6787
www.rba-online.com
TUESDAY, JULY 3
SONS OF SAILORS
Jimmy Buffot Tribut*
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
THE SENSATIONAL SOUNDS
OF MOTOWN
GATES OPEN AT 5 PM. CONCERTS START AT 6 PM.
TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT GATE. NO ADVANCE TICKET SALES.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 706.769.2633. VISIT AMBEDANDBREAKFAST.COM
OR UKE US ON FACEBOOK (FACEBOOK.COM/AMCONCERTS).
ttl .
lenSer
AFB&T is a division of Synovus Bark. Synovus Bank,
Member FOIC, is chartered in the state of Georgia
and operates under multipie trade names across the
Southeast. Divisions of Synovus Bank are not separately
FDiC-insured banks. The FDfC coverage extended to
deposit customers is that of one insured bank.
Pr»*«nt«d by
*
Athens First
Bank & Trust
division of Synovus* Bank
MEMBER FDIC
JUNE 13,2012 • FLAGPOLE.COM 27