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Date Lab: What happens when you drink wine before you apply Date Lab: What happens when you drink wine before you apply
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The similarities between Allie Ladwig and Ryan Sandford seemed promising. Both are 22, newcomers to Washington and interested in public service. But something was a little peculiar about the application process, which led to potential complications. We sent them to Rosa Mexicano in Penn Quarter.The similarities between Allie Ladwig and Ryan Sandford seemed promising. Both are 22, newcomers to Washington and interested in public service. But something was a little peculiar about the application process, which led to potential complications. We sent them to Rosa Mexicano in Penn Quarter.
Date Predicto-meterDate Predicto-meter
Our highly analytical tool for determining whether our daters will hit it off.Our highly analytical tool for determining whether our daters will hit it off.
Allie: I was a few minutes late.Allie: I was a few minutes late.
Ryan: She was a solid 15 minutes late. Half of me was like, All right, she’s chill, she’s not really worried about time restraints. And the other half of me was like, Maybe she doesn’t really want to do this.Ryan: She was a solid 15 minutes late. Half of me was like, All right, she’s chill, she’s not really worried about time restraints. And the other half of me was like, Maybe she doesn’t really want to do this.
Allie: He was wearing a sweater, and I always kind of am attracted to guys who are wearing nice sweaters.Allie: He was wearing a sweater, and I always kind of am attracted to guys who are wearing nice sweaters.
Ryan: I just thought, maybe if she is super similar to me with similar interests, even though I don’t have this immediate attraction, maybe this will actually be a really cool match once I get to know her.Ryan: I just thought, maybe if she is super similar to me with similar interests, even though I don’t have this immediate attraction, maybe this will actually be a really cool match once I get to know her.
Allie: I had had some wine ... when I filled out [the Date Lab application] so I couldn’t really say that I gave very serious answers.Allie: I had had some wine ... when I filled out [the Date Lab application] so I couldn’t really say that I gave very serious answers.
Ryan: She mentioned, “I put a lot of weird answers and so I wasn’t really sure who I was going to be paired with.” What does that really say about me then? That was like a stab. I think we are pretty much opposites. I’m a musician … and she was like, ‘Oh, I’m tone deaf.’ The other thing for me is a compatible sense of humor, and she didn’t really have that either.Ryan: She mentioned, “I put a lot of weird answers and so I wasn’t really sure who I was going to be paired with.” What does that really say about me then? That was like a stab. I think we are pretty much opposites. I’m a musician … and she was like, ‘Oh, I’m tone deaf.’ The other thing for me is a compatible sense of humor, and she didn’t really have that either.
Allie: He lived in a boat in the Bahamas for a couple months after graduation. Whereas, I studied for the LSAT after graduation. I like doing things that are out of the ordinary, too, and stepping out of my comfort zone. So the fact that he also enjoys doing those kinds of things was attractive.Allie: He lived in a boat in the Bahamas for a couple months after graduation. Whereas, I studied for the LSAT after graduation. I like doing things that are out of the ordinary, too, and stepping out of my comfort zone. So the fact that he also enjoys doing those kinds of things was attractive.
Ryan: My friend gave me one of those beta fishes. ... I was telling her this story that I thought was pretty funny and then she was like, “So you can’t even keep a fish alive.” Because it died. And I’m pretty sure she was joking. But I was like, Oh. Ryan: My friend gave me one of those betta fishes. ... I was telling her this story that I thought was pretty funny and then she was like, “So you can’t even keep a fish alive.” Because it died. And I’m pretty sure she was joking. But I was like, Oh.
Allie: He was very, very laid-back and I am laid-back, but I’m also kind of bubbly, and I like having another high-energy or medium-energy person to play off of with that. And so, sometimes it was hard to keep the conversation going.Allie: He was very, very laid-back and I am laid-back, but I’m also kind of bubbly, and I like having another high-energy or medium-energy person to play off of with that. And so, sometimes it was hard to keep the conversation going.
Ryan: I joked about taking pictures through one of the glasses. It would be artsy. And then she was like, “Oh, are you one of those artsy people?” And it was kind of disgust in her voice.Ryan: I joked about taking pictures through one of the glasses. It would be artsy. And then she was like, “Oh, are you one of those artsy people?” And it was kind of disgust in her voice.
Allie: There was one point maybe toward the end of dinner where he said something like, “Well, that’s all the questions I have.” I think he meant it to be funny. Um, but it was kind of true. So it felt a little awkward after that.Allie: There was one point maybe toward the end of dinner where he said something like, “Well, that’s all the questions I have.” I think he meant it to be funny. Um, but it was kind of true. So it felt a little awkward after that.
Ryan: I was so exhausted at the end. I was trying so hard to keep conversation not awkward.Ryan: I was so exhausted at the end. I was trying so hard to keep conversation not awkward.
Allie: I didn’t totally believe that chemistry was a thing. I just thought that if you had something in common, you were both willing to try, then you could make it work. But I think this just showed me that chemistry does exist. Because it really wasn’t there, unfortunately.Allie: I didn’t totally believe that chemistry was a thing. I just thought that if you had something in common, you were both willing to try, then you could make it work. But I think this just showed me that chemistry does exist. Because it really wasn’t there, unfortunately.
Ryan: It was like the life ring. I was like, “Sports — we can talk about sports.” And then she [said], “I hate New England teams.” And I was like, Noooooooo. Dragged under the ocean again, the life ring disappearing.Ryan: It was like the life ring. I was like, “Sports — we can talk about sports.” And then she [said], “I hate New England teams.” And I was like, Noooooooo. Dragged under the ocean again, the life ring disappearing.
Allie: 2 [out of 5]. I did admire him. I think he was a really special guy.Allie: 2 [out of 5]. I did admire him. I think he was a really special guy.
Ryan: 2. Because I don’t feel like I could give a 1, because it really wasn’t that bad. If she says that it was a great date, then I could really go climb a mountain and think about my life for a while and figure out what I’m doing wrong. Maybe that’s why I’m single.Ryan: 2. Because I don’t feel like I could give a 1, because it really wasn’t that bad. If she says that it was a great date, then I could really go climb a mountain and think about my life for a while and figure out what I’m doing wrong. Maybe that’s why I’m single.
Not even so much as a number exchange.Not even so much as a number exchange.
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