FR: Babalu

Much better this time around, although not quite there yet--

Had lunch at a new place called Babalu on Michigan and 10th Street in Santa Monica. Good food, but a touch pricey. While sitting at the solo seatin' bar eating my chicken risotto this trio of cute white girls walks in. Yes, Mikey likes. They look a touch on the young side, but my gut tells me they're legal enough.

I get my check, take a deep breath, and stand up. They're seated perfectly-- the two friends on one bench with my target on the other. I approach, and it's textbook:

ME: [To her friends] Excuse me, guys, do you mind if I talk to your friend for a second?
THEM: Sure.
ME: [To target] Hi, this might sound kind of random, but I was sitting over there and I noticed you, and you're really cute you know that?
HER: [Lit up like an Xmas tree]
ME: I'm John.
HER: I'm J______.
ME: [Introduce myself to her friends as well]
ME: Do you mind if I sit and talk for a second?
HER: Sure!

My Rapport's still locking up in my head a lil', but I try to push through and remain calm. She's obviously nervous-- talking a mile a minute and using her hands a LOT. She's a recent graduate of a Cosmotology school (read: *young*) and so are her friends that she's catching up on old times with before I came over. At one point I push for the coffee day2, and that's when she springs the "I have a BF". Typical, but I don't know if I can push past it with her friends sitting right there. So I just say, "Cool," and let them get back to their reunion.

So I hit two daily goals in one place-- eat at a new place for lunch and attempt to day2 close a chick I like. Not bad for an hour's work. Plus good food! :-) Now I just have to repeat this, ohhh, 9 more times today and I'll be on a roll. ;-)