  BACKGROUND: I had been e-mailing with J.B. before "Ben", and when I decided to date Ben exclusively, I told J.B. and he was cool with it, and said if it didn't work out, just shoot him a note to see where he was at. Well, as we all know: It didn't work out. I re-started our e-mail relationship, only to find out J.B. had met someone, but admitted it wasn't going anywhere.
I told him once he figured out if he was going to keep dating his existing "interest" just let me know. A week later, he asked me out. LOCATION & ACTIVITIES: He lives in a town 45 minutes away, so he chose a town "in between" to meet, and chose a pub/restaurant I was familiar with (because there is also one in the town I live). Actually, this wasn't half-way, as my drive was longer, but oh well. We agreed to meeting for drinks, but it was going well and he offered to buy me dinner, and I agreed.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Well, he's a bit heavier in person than his picture, and a bit more bald. but still handsome. He seemed nervous, but I think that was first date jitters. Generally he seemed to have a hard time sitting still, but that may pass as he gets more comfortable around me. HIS HISTORY: He's never married, but had a live-in girlfriend for several years that he had a child with. She's 4 and pictures of her are adorable. After the girlfriend and daughter moved out, he didn't need his huge house anymore, especially since he was gone on the road most of the week for work. He moved in with his parents and sold his house. He's traveled to Europe, and likes to try new things. He owns land on a private lake, and plans to build a home there someday. PICKS AND TICKS: He's close to his family, and mentioned more than once that his parents would "love me" if we got far enough to meet family (PICK). He is gainfully employed, and doing very well (PICK), but is on the road a lot (TICK)...but that can't be helped. He's a bit loud, but I think it's more on the gregarous or "fun guy" mode than obnoxious. He's just outgoing all the way around.
FUNNY & FREAKY: Well, I 've thought a lot about this section of J.B.'s dating dossier, and I can't recall anything that fits either of these categories. He's just a hard worker, good father, good son, who likes to have fun in moderation... FOLLOW-UP: We e-mail daily, and were supposed to go out this week (it has been a week since our first date), but his car broke down somewhere in Kansas and he called to say he had to cancel at the last minute.
My mom thinks he's married, as he always wanted to do stuff during the week...but he said he has his daughter every weekend...and then, today, he mentioned doing something this weekend...so I don't think he's married. SUMMARY: He's worth taking a second date with...I'm not certain about the physical attraction level on my part. He told me my pictures on my profile didn't do me justice...so I went out and new pictures taken...I'll put them on my blog profile for reference if you're interested...ha. (Like I have a huge readership going on or something. 
