Wednesday, September 26, 2007

The Dating Game ...

A couple of days ago, me, the wife and the kids went to Subang Parade (a mall near my house) for dinner. We didn't feel like eating at home and besides I needed to get a blue tooth headset for my cell phone. Been using my cell while driving without a headset for quite a while now and I think my luck's gonna run out with the Police one fine day. We're not allowed to use our cell phones without a hands free set while driving in our country, not that it matters to a whole lot of people though cos I still see them happily chatting away on their cells while driving ... sigghhh ...

Ok, that's not what this post is about, I always get sidetracked with all my postings ... hehehe ... So, we went to Subang Parade and decided to eat at Secret Recipe (one of my wife's favourite places). The place was kinda empty, well, to be honest, it was totally empty. We were the only customers when we walked in and that's the way I like eateries to be cos you get all the waiters for yourself ... LOL!

We ordered our food (it came with a lot of free Ramadhan goodies attached to it which was a nice surprise) and started eating our dinner. Then this couple came it, a guy and a girl (I'd say in their early 20's) and they sat a few tables across from us. Ok, I have this confession to make. I have this habit of observing people when I eat. I'm not a busy body or anything (honest, I'm not ... LOL!). I just like observing human behavior. It does help in my advertising work, trust me on this one ok :)

These two were seated across each other and I told my wife that I'd bet every dollar in my wallet (which wasn't really very much) that the two of them were dating and were still new at it. She asked me how could I tell. Well, there they were seated in front of each other, looking everywhere but at each other, seldom speaking and when they did, they had this very shy look on their face ... hehehe ... And to me that is the signs of a couple not yet familiar with each other, hence the newly dating couple theory. They couldn't be office mates, cos office mates are familiar with each other and they couldn't be brother and sisters (that's what my wife said they could be - god forbid, what were you thinking honey ... hehehe). She came to the conclusion the they were brother and sisters cos the girl was too casually dressed and in slippers some more! She may have a point I guess. If you were going on a new date you'd probably tend to dress to impress, right?

Anyway, I know I'm right in saying that they're a first time dating couple. He probably wanted to impress her by taking her to this fancy schmancy place (well, the place wasn't really that fancy schmancy at all) but classy enough to wanna impress on your first time date with someone. It's in a nice shopping mall, and you could walk around with her after dinner, maybe catch a movie ... LOL! I know, I know, you guys are probably saying I know this cos I've probably done this before. Well, I'd have to say , urrrmmm, yes I have ... LOL! (but honey, that was way before I knew you ... hehehe). And I did take you to nice fancy shmancy places when we were dating, honey, remember that nice mamak (Indian Muslim) roadside stall I took you ? LOL!

Well, anyway, that's how their dinner went throughout the whole time we were there until we left so I can't really say if they did go to a movie or walk around the mall (I was half inclined to follow them and prove my theory right ... LOL!) Besides, my beloved thinks I shouldn't be staring at people too much, let alone follow them like a stalker or one of these days somebody's gonna wallop me ... hehehe ...

Okay, I know it's a bad habit but I have this fascination for observing people. You'd be surprised at some of the things people do when they think they're not being observed (I shall not go into detail here ... hehehe). Like I said, it does help with my work in a way, cos then I'd know how people would react to certain things in the ad campaigns that I do to con, urrmmm, I mean convince people into parting their hard earned cash for something they think they need but really have no use for ... LOL! Alright already, I'll admit, us advertising types are scums of the earth :D

So that was how I deduced that couple with us were first time daters, the looking everywhere but at your date gave it away for me ... hehehe ... What do you think? You guys think I totally misread the signs with that couple? My wife doesn't really agree with me, she still seems unconvinced with my theory ... LOL! Tell me some of your dating experiences or how would you know a couple was on it's first date? In fact, if you're like me, a perpetual busy body, tell me some of the weird things you've seen people do when they think no one is watching :D

32 comments:

  1. This week I stopped by the cathedral downtown, just to have some alone time, and reflect. During the day the cathedral is generally empty. I sat quietly and noticed a guy walking along the front of the church in front of the altar. He had no idea I was there. We were the only two people in the entire cathedral. as he was walking, he spit.

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  2. Nick, I love to watch pple too. I think I'm also a "busybody". But in my country, to watch pple, you have to have tactics. If the person is an "ah beng" & catch u watching, he may walk up & confront u, probably give u a BIG bash on the face. Life is like this over here. I have ever witness a teenage boy happily drinking in the MRT (#1 offence, he is not suppose to drink), when he is about to walk out & leave the train, still have the guts to leave the empty drink on the floor hidden under the seats. OMG... he thought nobody see him. But I'm very good in observing pple yet the person din see that I'm watching. I caught him on cams... haha, no lah, just joking... So sick of all these irresponsible passengers. Sigh !!

    Janice Ng

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  3. Its me again, forgot to mention that Secret Receipe's chocolate cake is yummy, you love cakes? Give it a try. I hope the standard is the same in both countries :)

    Janice Ng

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  4. Bun Bun, whoa, spitting inside a church? I can't stand people spitting anywhere in public, let alone a church!

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  5. Janice, yes, I have to agree with you that you have to have a talent for being a busy body like us ... LOL!

    Oh, you should see the ignorance of people here. They throw rubbish anywhere and anytime they like cos! Just because we have street cleaners, they think that if they don't throw rubbish, the poor street cleaners will have no job!

    I'm not a cake lover, my wife is though. But I do love chocolate cake :D

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  6. Cool! I've worked with Marketing Comms dept before and have to agree with the scum fact hehe

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  7. LOL! nick, i have the same habit too! all because im a busybody! ya, i admit! LOL! really? i dont know when i pick up this habit. I think it started off with observing how other peoples dressed themselves. It's funny when you see a young lady in her 20s' dressing like an aunty with brown rubber slack and flowerish pirnted shirt, and next to her, there's a woman in her mid 50s' dressed in a hot pink spagethi strap shirt and white mini skirt. World is changing, huh! Come 'on, dress like your age! ok, back to your post... it's really hard to tell. you hv your point and your wifey have hers too. hmmm.. i think i will go with your wifey. Why? because if i am to go on my first date, i will dress properly, at least not in my slippers, maybe a casual slip-on. And I will look at him in his eyes...and send some electric current to him..LOL! that's my opinion... :)

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  8. This couple's on a blind date? I mean they are looking everywhere except at each other. Do they look awkward or uneasy? Maybe no chemistry?

    I like observing people too. From my observations, I can spot married couples from a mile away cos they usually wear this really bored look and the man walks ahead of the wife. (except you and your wife lah cos you're the diehard romantic!)

    A couple who's all lovely dovey must be in the early stage of dating. They'll be holding hands across the table....(I've gone through that before :-)

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  9. I have to agree with your wife with this one. I mean the girl would have definitely wore something better than slippers!

    I still remember my 1st date, shy2 but laughed and smiled a lot:D:D

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  10. I love doing that at restaurants. I look at all the people and try to figure out who's on a date, who's breaking up, who's married, the list goes on and on.

    The only thing wrong with this game is you never get to find out if you were right or wrong but it's fun anyway especially if you aren't having a good time on your own date....lol. What does lah mean? I have been meaning to ask you that for ages.

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  11. Nick- First let me say, glad to be back reading Anything Goes! I have been missing out the last few weeks! Great post! First of all kudos for getting the bluetooth! I am all about hands free and I think it is cool that your contry has enacted a law. Seems like a good idea, we need that in the States.
    I have to ask a dumb question, what exactly is Ramadhan goodies?
    I completely understand observing people. I do it a lot. Don't fret, that doesn't make you weird.
    You never know about the couple, I am surprised at what kids my sisters age wear on dates. I am also surprised how many of those young kids look like they are in their early twenties. It's kind of unsettling actually.
    I would draw the lin on human observation at following people. That is borderline creepy and stalking with the family in tow is probably not the best idea. Especially if you get walloped!
    I completely agree with you! It was a date. She was probably feeling a bit under dressed there were probably several factors, but I would bet a dollar right along with you they were a couple. Great post my friend!

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  12. BT, yeah, I can tell a married couple from miles away too. It really is the same everywhere isn't it? Once married, people get so used to their spouse, they stop doing the things they did when they were dating. That's how divorces happen I guess, sad isn't it?

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  13. Jean, wow, I didn't a lot of people do the same 'busy body' thing that I do. I wonder how many people have been observing me and making loads of nasty comments about me ... LOL!
    I guess some people still try to feel and look young by dressing like teenagers but sometimes it just doesn't work for them and they end up looking silly :... hehehe ...

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  14. Sweetiepie, everyone is agreeing with my wife ... hrrmmpphhh .. LOL! Well, maybe she is right. The slipper thing was kinda weird too but maybe he was going to buy her a new one ... :D

    Tell me about your first date la, don't be shy, we all went thru that at one time in our lives ... LOL!

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  15. Gypsy, looks like I'm not the only busy body around ... LOL! Yeah, the only thing is we'll never know if we were right or not but mostly I think we feel we've guessed correctly :)

    Hmmm, 'la'. How do I explain this one ... hehehe ... it's actually a local Malay slang word that we kinda mixed with our conversation, be it in English, Malay or even Chinese sometimes. It's something that's used at the end of the sentence to kinda define the sentence better ...

    HELP!, someone please help me explain this better to Gypsy ... LOL!

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  16. Barrett, great to have be back in the groove:) Oh, we have laws on using cells while driving just that nobody bothers to follow it!

    Ramadhan goodies, well, it's actually freebies given by most restaurants such as dates, ice-cream, chocolate bars, caramel pudding and stuff like that, nothing really specific. These things they don't give you on normal days :D

    Cool, at least you agree with me ... LOL! But like Gypsy said, the only thing is we'll never really know if we're right or wrong. But I go with my gut feeling and it's seldom wrong :D

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  17. Hi Nick,

    First, I'll like to thank you for reading my blog.

    I'm a person who likes to observe people too.

    But I can bet that if you ever see me and my hubby around, you wouldn't guess that we have married for almost 5 years. Coz we are still HOT for each other after all these years!

    That's how you makes the marriage work, man!

    Marriage is not a Destiny, it is a LIFE LONG JOURNEY.....Cheers!

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  18. Hi Spiff...er...umm, I mean Nick! C'mon, I know you have a secret video of the couple as they went through their evening ha ha ha!

    I love to watch people too, it's so fun and interesting to wonder what they're up too. Some of the most fun dates I've ever had is with a girl that likes to people watch too.

    I've found that I like girls with a silly "love to laugh" attitude. I get along best with funny folks! Great post! I felt like I was sitting at another table watching you two watch that brother and sister experimenting with their 1st date,LOL!!!!!

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  19. Zesty Lizzie, welcome to my blog. It seems everyone likes observing people, huh? LOL!

    Good for you on your string marriage with your hubby. Yup, it's a lifelong journey, you still ,earn new things about your spouse everyday ...

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  20. Hey Bobby, damn, there goes my secret identity. Urrmm, how'd you know about that video? LOL!

    Looks like you had some real fun dates yourself huh? :D

    Anyone who loves to laugh is my kind of person too. A little sense of humour in life goes a long way :)

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  21. Hi Nick! I believe you, they sound like a couple, without doubt. I love Subang Parade la, used to be my hang out when I was still living in Subang! It's still nice to visit and I think the TGIF there has the best service! :):):)

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  22. Marzie, Subang Parade is indeed a nice place. I still like that place unfortunately I don't go there very often and haven't really eaten at TGIF in a long while. Maybe need to take the wife there on a date someday and let other people observe us instead ... LOL! Thanx for believing me ... :D

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  23. Oh.... I do so love to people watch. They are so fascinating.

    I think they were on a first date too, that UNCOMFORTABLE silence, dont know where to look or put your hands....Oh yeah, first date alright!

    or maybe they were in a FIGHT with each other and were still too angry for eye contact?

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  24. I have a terible habit of listening to people at other tables..on the train etc...hubby goes nuts but I can listen and speak with him and evesdrop on others...you would be surprised what you learn...wrong? I think not


    mauniejames3

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  25. Nick, could be that this *bad habit* of gawking :) at people while you're eating could actually work on your favour if you are on a diet.

    I hear that the slower you eat, the skinnier you are.

    Just a thought....

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  26. Melaeah, They definitely weren't having their first fight, that's for sure. They did have this shy smile in ther faces when they did make eye contact (albeit briefly) so my money's still on a first date ... LOL!

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  27. Anonymous, oh, I'm like you too, I eavesdrop quite a bit when I get the chance ... LOL! But you have a great talent, talk and listen at the same time. I can't really do that. I'd have to stop talking altogether to listen ... LOL!

    Oh and by the way, thanx for the visit

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  28. Sharon, you serious? cool, the longer it takes me to eat, the longer I can gawk and the skinnier I become, now is that great or what? LOL!

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  29. Hola Nick, fasting today? Yeah, u shld take wifey to TGIF for a date, how about tonight seeing it's Friday! Don forget to have the buffalo wings and the yummy blue cheese dip! :):):)

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  30. Hey Marzie, hmmm, now you're making me real hungry ... LOL! I'm actually taking her somewhere tonight, but not a date la ... read my post in Spiff and you'll know why ... LOL!

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  31. Just don't do the finger pointing while you are gawking, and getting skinnier.

    :)

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