I’m tellin’ you, man: be cool or be cast out. 
I don’t know…from your transcript of the message, it doesn’t sound like a dodge. I bet she really is interested in meeting you in person.
Call her back and set another date! If I were in the position of choosing whether to see a good friend I don’t see often, or go out with someone I barely know and may end up not hitting it off with, I’d choose the friend, too. It’s just a safer gamble for that particular evening, and it wouldn’t be anything personal against my potential date.
If you’d like a girl to be so smitten with you that shes blowing off her friends, then you usually have to let her meet you in person first. She suggested Sunday, if she weren’t interested she would have said something like “I’ll give you a call next week”. Trust me.
There is a fine line, which is why I meant that comment as a general thing and not a ‘say this’ type of advice. As for me, my luck with women is gettingg better, but mostly because I’m putting more attention into my appearance.
Anyway, I dont expect women to value my advice. From my experience, all will say they want a nice guy, but… that’s a discussion for another thread.
As for the new developments, wait two days, call her and set a date for Sunday. If she makes an excuse again, I say forget her.
A discussion which has been beaten to death, buried, exhumed, and brought back to life, indeed. What people aren’t getting is that a lot of these guys who claim that women don’t actually like nice guys…aren’t nice.
As burundi’s husband, I can tell you that I sure didn’t win her through treating her like crap or through playing any convoluted mind games.
Daniel
Don’t wait two days. Its a little cliched. Call her up, throw out some potential times and take it from there. If she still gives excuses, then cut your losses and move on.
On the date, make eye contact and don’t dominate the conversation. Ask her some open ended questions to get to know her. Skip the flower. Don’t take personal calls while on the date.
Nicest place I’ve every played pool in Berkeley is Thallasa. That was back when I played a lot, too. It’s really relaxed and low-key with nice (not overly-pubby) decor. But it does have----I can’t remember—8 or 10 tables? So it’s also a bit of a pool hall, albeit an upscale, hip one.
But a regular bar with a table might be better—depending on what you guys want.
Thallasa
2367 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley - (510) 848-1766
Don’t wait two days. And I think Sunday night is a better night for this, places will be quieter and less crowded.
She wants to meet. Like everybody else said; she suggested an alternate date which is a sign of interest. “Sorry, maybe another time” is a blow-off. “How about Sunday instead?” is an invitation.
The rest is kind of silly, but the point about backhanded compliments works well on a lot of women - myself included. I think it depends on how prone to sarcasm she is, though. Some women are really sensitive and take slights to heart, but a lot of us enjoy trading barbs with guys we like. If you find out she prefers Beatrice & Benedict to Romeo & Juliet, she’d probably be amused, rather than hurt, if you poke fun. However, unless the OP is already teasing the girl while interacting online, trying it on the first date is pretty dicey, unless she starts teasing him first.
One of my guy friends said I was being sarcastic (commenting on something I said to another person) and I asked him how he could tell. “You’re talking.” Touché .
Red Barchetta, you’ve already taken my advice and called her. I know the last time I gave a guy my phone number, if he hadn’t called, I would have felt like a complete idiot and would have assumed he wasn’t interested.
You have a date, sir! Congratulations! I don’t think she’s putting you off. While I’m a bit older than you, I can see where she’s coming from. My best friend lives a few hours drive away and, even if I did find a guy attractive, given seeing someone I know well and like who lives 200 miles away versus seeing someone I barely know who lives 20 miles away, I’ll take the old friend. Talk to her or e-mail her and see how Sunday will work. She may well have been thinking, “I really do want to see him and I don’t want to think I’m blowing him off. I don’t want to wait until next weekend, either. Maybe he can do Sunday?” If she’d suggested next weekend, that wouldn’t have been a bad sign, but to me, the fact that she suggested Sunday indicates she doesn’t want to wait that long or make you think she’s not interested.
Oh yes. The teddy bear, as others have said, is a bad thing. Keep it light and casual and find out what she’s into. If you want to bring her something, may I suggest chocolate? A small square of Ghiradelli chocolate costs next to nothing, yet is a nice sweet gesture. Then again, I’m a chocoholic who doesn’t care for teddy bears, so take that for what it’s worth. 
Oh yes, ignore the guy who razzed you about being a Rush fan. I’ve got a brother who’s a fan of them, and he seemed to do all right with women.
Have fun! I wish you every bit of good luck, and I hope you both have a great time!
I guess you’re right. I don’t want Autolycus to think that I’m picking on him because I’m not. I’m just not a sarcastic girl, which could be why I don’t go for that kind of stuff.
In my experience, the woman who doesn’t really know you, but who is wanting to do things with you, has pangs of attraction. Your actions on that “date” will help determine where she goes from there. Of course, the “I just want to be friends” speech is the kiss of death, but at the moment, I’d say you’re in for a date if you can be charming enough to turn it into one.
No, a “can’t make it but I am free xxxx” is a* Good* sign. “I can’t make it” folowed by no alternative=** BAD.** Trust me.
Oh, and Doper dudettes- learn this- if you have to blow off a dude- the ball is now in your court to suggest another day.
True dat.
Triple true dat.
Regards,
Shodan
This is **extremely **important, and needs saying:
Don’t twirl your pool cue around like a baton.
Agreed, unless by “pool cue” you mean…
Eep! Guys and girls alike? Am I doing something I really shouldn’t?