When I was in about the same situation (and probably at about the same age) as you are now, a bit over twenty years ago now, I went to a bar and had a beer (an

When I was in about the same situation (and probably at about the same age) as you are now, a bit over twenty years ago now, I went to a bar and had a beer (and probably dinner) one Friday afternoon. Probably with a paperback SF novel in my pocket, as was my wont in those days, to have something to read while I ate and drank. The bar -- which fittingly was also named Friday -- can't have been too popular, because I had a whole booth to myself. (This was before everyone became too anti-social to even answer their phones, or use them to make actual voice calls to actual people, so it was customary to share space with strangers if space was in short supply.) Well, a few years later the bar closed anyway, so Friday is no more. But, as I sat there in my booth reading my novel and nursing my beer(s), I noticed two women -- old friends, from what I overheard of their conversation -- in the booth next to mine. A while after that, I noticed that they had also noticed me, and a further while after that, we struck up a conversation. Can't recall if the blonde one, whom I at first found the more attractive of them, threw me a line or if it was me who interjected some joke into their conversation. Perhaps they asked what I was reading, or something. Anyway, after some time talking, I came to the conclusion that the brunette was even nicer -- not just good looking, but a great sense of humour (got in some real zingers about me, but all in good fun), and with a very sensible outlook on life in general. So I did my best to keep up my end of the conversation, took an interest in them -- no faking it, I was interested! -- and hung around until the talk turned to what to do for the rest of the evening. Can't recall who suggested another place, with music and dancing. So there we went. The place was called Pikkuparlamentti, "Little Parliament", because it was right next to the parliament building. (Hm, also closed now -- am I cursed?!? Naah, at least media claimed it was torn down because the Finnish Parliament expanded their building in that direction.) This place was really popular at the time, so we talked some more while waiting in line to get in. At the door, disaster struck: "Sorry, no jeans and no sneakers!" I told the ladies I'd see them inside a little later, and took a taxi home to change and back there quicker than I would have thought possible. Then I danced, IIRC with both of them (possibly even at the same time), but definitely mostly with the brunette... Whom I had by this time realised was definitely the more attractive of them, and wondered how I could ever have thought otherwise. (See other comments about how attraction grows from more than superficial qualities.) If all goes well, our son will graduate from "lukio" (~"high school") this year. So: 1) Go to bars for dinner and beer after work. 2) Don't be so immediately judgemental. 3) Remember to bring a paperback novel. [Edit: Ttpo.]