I Saw Her In The Vegetable Section
 

For about a year now I've seen her on her recreational walks around the neighborhood. As the weekend anchor for one of our city's TV stations, she's about as close to a "celebrity" as we have. Because my schedule and lifestyle leads me to watching her weekend newscasts, she is more the "face" of the TV station for me than the others on its staff; one of which is sort of an icon for the city.

I always said to myself "One of these days I'm just gonna introduce myself and tell her I watch and enjoy her Sunday morning broadcast." And that would not be a lie; she takes more of a mellow approach to news, as opposed to the "in your face" style of the weekday shows.

So there she was, in the vegetable section of the supermarket. Should I boldly walk up and introduce myself? I think I went into auto-mode as I did just that. She was very nice. We chatted just a bit, I shook her hand, complimented her weekend anchoring, and went on my way with my little green bachelor grocery basket.

I felt that there could have been so much more. How can a guy know where he stands in such a situation? "Am I coming off creepy? How many other people recognize her and fawn over her semi-celebrity status?"

Let's face it, weekend newscasters are the benchwarmers in the major-market TV news biz. I usually get the feeling that most of them are destined to ALWAYS be the weekend anchor; try as they do, they just don't have that extra "something" that elevates them to the weekday slot.

But they still are ON TV! Just those few hours of face-time every weekend gives them some status; at least more than myself. So they remain semi-intimidating to your average Joe like me.

"What should I do? Am I even really attracted to her beyond the fact that I see her on TV? She's probably married (but I saw no ring). Wouldn't re-introducing myself and giving her my card come off as fucking creepy? But how else could a potential relationship (and I don't even know if that could ever happen or even if that's what I would want) get started?

As I placed my Shittake mushrooms in my little green bachelor basket, I saw her turn down aisle 8. "Maybe I'll just do it. What would be the harm? Oh God."

You women should be listening here; it doesn't matter if you are a weekend news anchor, men just get a bit flustered when they have to make "that move," the action of interaction that gets things started. Sure, women have become more adept at doing that, but I still think the expectation is that it's the man who has to take that risk.

"OK. She's at the dairy section. No narrow aisle to confine us. OK. Here goes..."

I said somthing really stupid like "Sorry to be so forward but..." and then I gave her my card (I work for the National Park Service, so that's kind of a buffer). To my surprise, she said "Oh, let me give you mine." Wow. That wasn't that hard.

And then I read her bio on the TV station's Web page. It said she was married with two kids. But I think she's divorced, because I've never seen her with husband, and she dyed her hair since coming to my city. Whatever. At least I tried, and who knows what the future may bring? Maybe we'll be just friends. And that's fine with me. I bet a weekend news anchor could use some friends.

my $.02 is if you get the chance again, go for it and see what happens. what have you got to lose? and btw, i recently went on a couple of dates with one of phoenix's tv news folks, not an anchor, but recognizeable. she said that many of them are single because no decent guys ask them out because they are intimidated by the "tv thing". as she put it - "i'm just a girl with a bunch of makeup who can speak clearly and sound like i know what i'm talking about".

Wow. I actually thought about that very concept. Kinda makes sense when you think about it.

Maybe I should just be that bold, assertive guy who is not intimidated by the "tv thing."

I still worry about the bio that says she is married. Hell, if she's divorced, I'm good with kids. I'll keep you posted.

Don't know about Atlanta, but the Philly weekend anchors are waiting for a regular slot on the morning news so they can work up to the evening news then the National news.

In reality, most will have to leave town for a shot at moving up and while they are biding their time, working a day or two each week, they're making several hundred thousand dollars a year more than I do.

Go for it, you could become Mr Weekend Anchor. :D

She came in through the bathroom window
protected by a silver spoon
But now she sucks her thumb and wonders
By the banks of her own lagoon

For a while, my cousin was dating one of the local on-air newsies, but I'm not sure if she was an anchor, possibly one of the roving reporters who air segments.

If you want to see a strange market, go to California. All of the female anchors there seem to be ex-fashion models. This makes for some truly inane on-air chatter, especially when discussing social events and the fashions worn to such.

Good for you. Going back and talking to her is one more step than I would have done.
I would've stopped at thinking about it, and then always regretting not doing it, forever.

Very gutsy move Pangloss. That is a difficult dynamic for all involved. I used to see one of our crews out quite a lot, but there were no Griff Types.

One of our stations has been running favorite teachers thing where kids submit a teachers name and they get interviewed. The woman who does the interviews is supposed to be really pretty. The backup sports guy/ producer has started fencing at my daughters club and we were talking with another Dad who teaches in a local district with a really handsome young teacher that the girls keep submitting, since he's so cute. He didn't want to have anything to do with the interview because he knows it has nothing to do with his teaching competence. He's new and has a lot to learn. He finally said yes, promising himself he was going to ask the reporter out after the interview. The station sent one of the guys over instead.

Did he ask the reporter out afterwards? :D

Act Two
 

Sometimes I feel like I'm in a movie; not one of those existential movies where random shit happens, but a highly scripted movie, where coincidence is used to move the plot along.

The following is all true:

After yesterday's encounter with the pretty weekend newscaster, and our business card exchange, I felt pretty good; probably why I posted a note here. So, this morning, after about a good month-and-a half, I decdided to do a sit-down bagel and lox and Sunday NYT solo breakfast at the only deli in Atlanta that is actually a real deli, complete with NY Jews that know about bagels and cream cheese and lox and such. As a Goy, I just LOVE a good jewish deli.

So, there I am, reading my paper and eating my bagel with "belly lox" when, across the dining room, THERE SHE IS, WITH A GUY!!!!

This small world of mine just got smaller. The boyfriend/husband thing kinda took the wind out of my sails, but it was weird, almost like destiny. Seriously, I haven't been to this deli in soooooo long; and there she was. Oy!!

Whatever. I'll send her an e-mail tomorrow just to say "thanks for your card," keep it cool. Hey, like anyone, maybe she's keeping her options open. Just be yourself, right? Don't burn bridges, right? You never know, right? It is a movie, after all.

I'm glad to see that you are at least trying. Good luck to you whatever happens.

Is that Hindi? The "rati" part reminds me of Indian names.

Thanks for the encouragement. But I always wonder if I'm better off alone anyway. I'm one of those "grass is always greener" people.

Maybe the guy she was with was her brother? I think you should just ask her out for lunch or something. Discuss current events or something. :) If she is indeed married still, she'll be sure to tell you. Nothing ventured nothing gained. That's what I think.

Or he might be gay....a cow orker... old friend.... brother-in-law.....married.
Millions of possibilities, she's still fair game. At worst, she might turn out to be a good friend. Roll on. :thumb:

Yeah
 

Like the deodorant!!! Ban Roll-on!!!

Thanks guys.... I was thinking that guy could be the brother, or the "cow orker."

Whatever. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I already wrote the e-mail message...just wanted to wait a day or two so as not to seem desperate.

No, you should appear desperate. ;) Women like men who're totally into them in a sexy smooth kinda way.

Jesus H. Christ in a chicken basket!!!!

We men don't know how to do that intentionally. If we come off that way, it's probably by accident, and probably more honest.

OK. Calm down Pangloss....

I know it's about pursuit...to pursue without being to creepy?

That is what freaks most men out; they don't know just what the woman wants in terms of the pursuit. To be honest, I don't think the woman knows either.

Next time, as you take your tray to the trash can that she is most directly between, just walk by and say hello. Turn your head but not your body and don't slow down. Keep smiling after you turn your head back and don't look at the guy unless she does.

Keep your antennae up and pay close attention to her body language.

I'm an insect
 

Holy crap. I've never been given such specific advice.

Thanks.

It's all good and well-taken. God Bless the Cellar for allowing "truth" to flow like a mountain stream yet untainted by fecal coloform bacteria.

At the same time, even local news people have stalker problems.

true, that is why she gave him a biz card so if he starts sending 10 emails a day she can just delete there, and her assistant can be the gatekeeper to unwanted calls. BUT she has given him the opportunity to contact her. that is an open door.

relax. breathe. be yourself. send an email. if you don't get a response, don't send another. if you see her out and about smile, say hi, and keep on going.

get a return receipt on that email - that way if it ends up in a spam folder, you know she didn't get it and if whe reads it and doesn't respond, you know exactly where you stand or don't stand as the case may be.

Some e-mail clients allow you to deny sending a return receipt, I know on the one occasion I've received one I denied it.

True, but that is by far the exception, not the rule. Either way, its worth a try.

I don't know...I hate return receipts. When I get them I think "what, you think I'm going to ignore your email? Are you more important than the 100 other emails I ignore daily?" :p

What I find funny is when someone posts to one of my many listservs and doesn't turn off their return request. Anyone who has opted to get the messages individually as they come out, like me, sends the return receipt so the sender is getting receipts from all over the state, sometimes all over the country. That must be annoying.

If you send her an email with a return receipt request I would indicate in the body of the email something like...

Sorry about the annoying return receipt request - I always use this on the first email I send to someone just to be sure a hyperactive spam filter doesn't intercept it.

Or in your own words. No way I'd send it without acknowledging how dorky it is (given the nature of the email) and that is a "one and done."

Good advice, Beestie.