Date Lab Table for ... three?
Justin Balchun, 25, owner of residential remodeling fi rm Jessica Haden, 22, waitress
MORNING ROUTINE ... Justin: Give my dog a huge hug and a belly rub. Jessica: Play with my dog in bed.
INTERESTS TO SHARE ... Justin: Outdoor stuff, such as hiking, biking, sailing, swimming. Vacationing and meeting new people. Jessica: I love to travel, and I hope he would like that, as well. I want to be spontaneous and just drive until we fi nd a cool town or something that sparks our interest. I am an open book and want to be able to tell my partner everything.
INTERVIEWS BY STEPHEN LOWMAN
7:30, Morton’s the Steakhouse, Downtown Jessica: I had never been on a blind date before. I freaked out at the last minute and took my friend Shannon with me, just to make sure everything went okay. We walked in the restaurant, and I said, “Hi, I’m with The Post.” Right then Shannon whispered to me, “Do you think that’s him?” I turned around and saw a guy walk in behind me. Then I was like, “Get lost, Shannon! Get lost!” I was trying to get her away when Justin pointed at me and said to the hostess, “I think I’m with her.” Justin: I guess her best friend insisted on coming to make sure I wasn’t crazy or something. I didn’t care at all. In fact, it was kind of an icebreaker. We had something to laugh about right away.
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Jessica: Shannon went and met some friends at the bar. The bar and restaurant are completely separate, so we didn’t actually see her until later. Justin: We sat down and just started talking, getting the general, basic stuff down. She is a really pretty girl, with a very pretty face. She’s defi nitely very attractive. Jessica: He didn’t really look like my type. I’m more into tall, built guys, maybe with dark hair. But he was very friendly and easy to talk to, which was especially great in the beginning after we’ve just had this kind of awkward start. Justin: I ordered the steak, and she had the salmon. I was asking where she was from, what she liked to do. Jessica: I told him how I wanted to travel the world. He seemed interested, but he was very quiet. I think that’s just his personality. I’m a lively person. When I’m at the table, my friends know that I will be the one giving the toast. Everyone I have ever dated has been over-the-top. I get bored easily, and I need someone to entertain me and keep me interested. Justin: I think she was doing most of
8 THE WASHINGTON POST MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 28, 2010
BRAG A LITTLE ... Justin: I am a die-hard romantic, a gentleman and a genuine guy. I am 100 percent open and don’t lie. I am modest about my accomplishments. I usually tell people I work in construction as opposed to owning my own company. Jessica: I am very outgoing. People say I am approachable and easy to talk to. I love football and college basketball. And I’ve been told I’m not too hard on the eyes. But I’ll let him be the judge of that.
the talking because I was asking most of the questions. We talked about what she was doing for work. Right now she is deciding between being a fl ight attendant, a grade-school teacher or [in] public relations. I’ve known what I wanted to do since I was 4. I guess she is still at a point in her life where she is trying to fi gure it all out. The attitude I am looking for is almost the mind-set of 29-year-old woman, someone who is into her career and knows what she wants and is looking to the next thing, which would be a relationship. Jessica: He owns his own company and is very focused. That is great. But at this particular point in my life, I don’t know how well that would work. I’m a free spirit. Justin: There wasn’t instant chemistry, and there was no fl irting during the meal. We asked for the check. At that point, her friend comes back over from
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