Interesting Update (A.K.A. Does Anyone Really Listen?)

The weather was beautiful in San Francisco yesterday.  I even wore a nice spring dress with heels, although that was mainly because one of the big wigs from the corporate office was coming in and several of us had to meet with her.  Usually when the weather is gorgeous (i.e. warm, but NOT windy), my tendency is to go to Belden Lane and have a few drinks and possibly some frites at one of the French cafes.  Yesterday I opted for Panty Raid in North Beach again.  I walked over, arriving about 5:30 p.m., more or less.  I didn’t even have to order; the bartender already knows what I drink 98% of the time, anyway.  Not long after, who walks in the door but A.!  Yes, A. – the one who gave me the massage and tried to play head games by saying that he wasn’t sure if we should be lovers, that he wanted to finish the conversation that we (rather, he) had started, etc., etc.  He was actually en route to the men’s facilities when he seemed surprised to see me at the bar.  He didn’t greet me in any way.  Could it be because I didn’t really answer his last texts?  Then again, it could also be that he was with a woman, who was sitting outside enjoying the weather.  Suffice it to say that he walked in and out many, many times to use the facilities, order drinks (though he could have ordered them from the waiter outside) and to purportedly chat with the staff at the end of the bar, all the while sneaking glances at me.  I paid him little mind.  Eventually, my Brazilian friend, L., joined me.  We met in French class years ago, then discovered that we lived within 4 or 5 blocks of each other.  She sat next to me at the bar.  By that point, A. and his lady friend came inside the restaurant and sat at the bar, too, but at the end (I always sit in the middle).  L. had a lot to catch up on, as we haven’t seen each other in a few months.  Also, the Italian guy next to us, D.M., started a little conversation with us.  The 3 of us were quite animated and having fun.  L. was trying to tell D.M. that American women are too aggressive with men, but that Brazilian women are much more subtle.  D.M. was trying to tell HER, in a round about way, that his first hand experience with Brazilian women led him to believe otherwise!  The bartender agreed with him.  The conversation started getting a little heated, so I tried to interject.  By then, I noticed that A. was completely trashed and seemed to be having trouble walking; his friend seemed concerned.  It appeared that she was trying to pay the bill and get him out of there, but he was having none of it.  He managed to get some cash out of his pocket to pay the bill, but then went back outside and sat at a table.  His friend joined him.  The conversation between L., D.M. and me had turned to what people expect in different countries.  D.M. said that if a woman in Italy gives you her number or asks for/takes yours, it “means” something.  I guess it means that she’s interested and either wants to date you or be with you, as in THAT night.  We explained that it doesn’t mean anything in particular in the U.S. if a woman gives you her number or asks for/takes yours.  It COULD mean something, but more often than not, it simply means that she’d like to be friends or have an activity partner and see where it goes from there.  (Let’s note here that both the bartender & D.M. exchanged information with me so that we could be FB friends.)  Since L. mentioned that she was hungry, we walked to our favorite Italian restaurant, Ideale.  When we left, I noticed that A. and his lady friend had also finally departed.  Either he went home because he wasn’t feeling well or maybe he was wallowing in his misery (Am I giving myself too much credit here?!  Probably!)  At Ideale, L. ordered the special scamorza, though she’d never had it before and had no idea what it was (kind of a  smokey cheese over greens).  I had burrata (also cheese over greens).  My favorite waiter, D.P., brought us complimentary prosecco and tiramisu.  He’s been “my” waiter for at least 6 or 7 years, in the sense that all the staff know that I’m always going to request one of his tables, plus he asked me out on a date once.  The other waiters are fine, but he’s the best by far. L. was asking him where the owner of the restaurant  is.  I already know that the owner is vacationing in Capri with his wife and two daughters because he’s my FB friend, too!  Knowing that D.P. has been to Vietnam, I asked him if he’d gone to either Sapa or Mai Chau.  He mentioned having been to Sapa for 2 or 3 days, but said that Halong Bay is a must see.  Ok, people, I get it!  Halong Bay will be on my agenda, come hell or high water! L. dropped me off at home.  While checking all kinds of important data (!) on my phone, I noticed that D.M. (our new friend from Panty Raid) had sent me a message via FB asking if he could see me then, around 1:00 a.m.!  Apparently, some men only hear what they want to hear!  LOL!