The Hinge Experiment: Meat Sweats, My First Boo Basket, and Eyebrow Shenanigans
I'm in downtown Columbia, South Carolina, this weekend for a South Carolina government forum. Some of my fraternity brothers may not be shocked to learn about my participation, and I even made the local news! Want to know more about that adventure? Check out my other blog post.
But that's not the only reason I'm in Columbia.
The real bonus? I get to spend time with Airica.
And last night, we took things to an entirely new level.
Forget the Salad. Bring on the Meat!
We went to a Brazilian steakhouse.
If you've never been to one, let me explain. They bring meat to your table, and then they bring more meat. And when you think you've had enough meat, somebody shows up with another kind of meat.
It's basically a carnivore's all-you-can-eat buffet.
Now, most people start with appetizers. There's salad, smoked salmon, and sides like onion rings and fried okra.
We skipped all of that nonsense.
Who needs salad when there's an entire parade of meat coming your way?
We went straight for the main attraction. Steak, meat, more meat, and then meat that showed up just when you thought you couldn't possibly eat another bite.
And we kept eating.
And eating.
And eating.
At some point, I think my stomach filed a formal complaint with management.
But we weren't just eating.
We were laughing.
A lot.
Transparency, Laughter, and Getting to Know Each Other
One thing I've enjoyed about getting to know Airica is that we can talk about our pasts.
And let's face it, we all have a past.
Some of it is funny. Some of it isn't. Some of it involves decisions we might make differently today. Some of it helps explain why we are who we are now.
We talked openly and transparently about our lives, shared stories, and laughed together.
Neither of us needed to pretend we’d lived some perfectly curated existence.
I appreciate that.
At this stage of my life, I'm not looking for somebody who has never made a mistake. I'm interested in getting to know the person sitting across from me, understanding what matters to her, and seeing whether we enjoy spending time together.
Last night, we certainly had a great time.
Although I may have enjoyed myself a little too much.
The meat sweats were real.
I'm pretty sure I consumed enough protein to keep a small village going for a week.
And somewhere between the laughter and the endless procession of meat, something else happened.
My First Boo Basket!
Remember how I mentioned Airica suggested I might get a Boo Basket?
Well...
IT HAPPENED!
I received my first Boo Basket.
For those unfamiliar, a Boo Basket is a gift basket, typically filled with treats and goodies, given as a fun seasonal surprise.
And now I can officially say I've received one.
At 54, after years of dating misadventures, questionable decisions, and enough stories to keep this blog going for the foreseeable future, I have finally entered the Boo Basket era.
I have to admit, it feels pretty good.
Previously, my first-date souvenirs included paying for meals, a few hurricanes, and money that mysteriously ended up covering somebody else's rent and phone bill.
This time?
I got a gift basket.
Ladies and gentlemen, The Hinge Experiment is showing measurable improvement.
I'm not saying there's a direct correlation between a successful first date and receiving a Boo Basket, but I'm certainly not going to argue with the results.
Tonight: Sweets, Laughter, and Potential Eyebrow Crimes
If last night was about meat, tonight may be about sweets.
And apparently, there may also be some eyebrow-related insanity.
For those keeping up with the ongoing saga, Airica has already issued a formal directive:
DO NOT TOUCH THOSE EYEBROWS.
The eyebrows are staying.
Ming the Merciless lives!
My fraternity brothers have reminded me about my bushy eyebrows during our Tuesday and Friday Zoom hangouts. A guy at a recovery meeting has compared me to Ming the Merciless. Now Airica has made it clear she likes them as they are.
At this point, I'm afraid to touch them.
What happens if I trim them and she doesn't recognize me?
What happens if I go for threading and accidentally remove half my personality?
What happens if I show up looking like a completely different person?
I could lose my entire identity.
The eyebrows aren't just facial hair anymore. They're a relationship issue.
So tonight, there may be sweets, more laughs, and whatever eyebrow-related insanity Airica has planned.
I'm not sure whether I should be excited or afraid.
Possibly both.
Columbia Is Turning Into a Pretty Good Weekend
I came to Columbia for a South Carolina government forum.
I participated in something that may surprise a few people who know me, and I even appeared on the local news. That's a story for my other blog.
But the unexpected bonus has been spending time with Airica.
We've shared a meal, laughed until we could barely keep going, talked about our lives, exchanged gifts, and continued getting to know each other.
And somewhere along the way, the guy who was seriously considering deleting Hinge has found himself planning weekends around a woman he met on the app.
A few weeks ago, my Hinge inbox was emptier than a refrigerator after a fraternity party.
Now I'm in Columbia, eating enough meat to require a second stomach, receiving Boo Baskets, and trying to figure out whether my eyebrows need legal representation.
I did not see this coming.
I'm glad I took a chance on meeting someone new.
I'm glad we can laugh together.
And I'm glad I can enjoy someone's company without feeling like I need to perform or pretend to be somebody I'm not.
That's what I'm enjoying about this experience.
It's not about whether every date leads somewhere. It's about getting out there, being open to new experiences, and discovering whether there's a connection worth exploring.
Right now, this connection gives me plenty to smile about.
The Hinge Experiment: Current Status
The match happened.
The first date happened.
The second round of hanging out is happening.
The conversations are continuing.
The Boo Basket has been received.
The meat sweats have subsided. Mostly.
And the eyebrows remain untouched.
Steve the Iguana may need to reconsider his retirement plans.
As for me, I'm going to enjoy the rest of my weekend in Columbia.
Tonight, there may be sweets, laughter, and some eyebrow-related shenanigans.
Tomorrow, who knows?
One thing is certain: when I started The Hinge Experiment, I never imagined I'd be writing about Brazilian steakhouses, Boo Baskets, and the continuing adventures of Ming the Merciless's eyebrows.
But here we are.
And I'm having a pretty good time.
Stay tuned. The Hinge Experiment continues!
Officially Local TV Famous (With a Face for Radio)
It’s official: I’ve been quoted in a local TV news article, and my mug made it into the TV segment. For everyone who reads my insanity, you can now say you know a TV star.
Okay, that’s a mild exaggeration. But the article and video are both here: South Carolina Forum brings residents together on wages and cost of living.
This isn’t my first brush with fame. Back in fifth grade at Drexel Elementary School in Westbury, New York, my advanced placement class got its first personal computer. It was a big old machine with a green-and-black screen and a cassette tape drive. It took about 30 minutes to load Space Invaders. The Westbury Times covered it, and there I was—premiered in the local paper before I even had a driver’s license.
I've had a few other moments in the spotlight. I think the Westbury Times—or possibly Newsday—featured me talking with incoming exchange students on their way to meet their host families after my stint in France.
I also won a literary contest for a poem about the AIDS epidemic, sponsored by People Taking Action Against AIDS. I won some money, gave a speech, and attended an afternoon gala at a lovely Long Island manor. Then I wound up in the New York Times Metro section. My father heard about it from a colleague at work, which is a pretty great way to find out your kid made the Times.
Later, I sent a press release to local media about our fraternity’s effort to keep its chapter house at 336 Convent Avenue after national-level mismanagement put it at risk. The New York Times ran a photo of me in the house with a caption and my name. Once again, my father got the news from someone at work.
I’ve always said I have a face for radio. Apparently, every so often, the camera disagrees.
Jokes aside, I’m proud to have been asked to take part in the South Carolina Forum. The point wasn’t to get on television; it was to join a conversation about the issues people are facing and how we can make progress together. People bring different experiences and viewpoints to these discussions. Listening to one another—and finding areas where we can agree—is how we build ideas that can move beyond the room and make a difference.
I hope the forum’s conversations help inform the South Carolina legislative session and show that people can work together across differences. That’s the kind of attention I’m most proud of.
How I Made It to Columbia for the Inaugural South Carolina Forum
I’m proud to be in Columbia for the inaugural South Carolina Forum—a gathering built on a simple but powerful idea: people with different viewpoints can work together.
We may not agree on everything, but we can listen to one another, find common ground, and move forward together. That’s the work we’ll be doing here: showing our state, our nation, and the world what’s possible when people come to the table with open minds and a willingness to work toward agreement.
I’m grateful to be part of this effort, and I’m looking forward to the conversations and progress ahead.
I’m proud to be at Columbia for the inaugural South Carolina Forum—a gathering built around a simple but powerful idea: people with different viewpoints can work together.
We may not agree on everything, but we can listen to one another, find common ground, and move forward together. That’s the work we’ll be doing here: showing our state, our nation, and the world what’s possible when people come to the table with open minds and a willingness to work toward agreement.
I’m grateful to be part of this effort, and I’m looking forward to the conversations and progress ahead.
Is Digger Tom Cruise’s Biggest Flop?
I saw Digger in the theater—with popcorn, a Pepsi Zero, and a little help from my Regal membership. Now I’m still trying to answer one question:
What the hell did I watch?
The reported budget was enormous. The opening weekend? A lot smaller. But the box-office numbers aren’t the only thing that surprised me. Digger has oil, environmental satire, family drama, theater, and comedy all competing for screen time.
The critics seem to love it. I didn’t have the same experience.
Could Digger become a cult favorite like Edge of Tomorrow? Or does it have too many stories going on at once? I share my full take in the video—and you can decide whether I’m completely wrong.
Watch my Digger review: NielFlamm.com/videos/moviereviews
Premiere: The Phensic feat. Kay McCaney — “Babylon’s Gonna Fall”
I’m proud to premiere “Babylon’s Gonna Fall,” a new track by The Phensic featuring Kay McCaney.
The title carries a sense of upheaval, while The Phensic’s mix of ska, reggae, punk, and soul brings a naturally danceable edge. That combination gives the track room to feel both spirited and purposeful. Kay McCaney’s featured appearance adds another voice to the song’s energy, making this a premiere worth turning up and sharing.
The Phensic bring together veterans of the American ska scene, with roots in bands including Bigger Thomas, Rude Boy George, and Hub City Stompers. Their sound draws on ska, reggae, punk, and soul. I’m also happy to
share this one for a personal reason: guitarist Robert Julian is my fraternity brother. (The Phensic on Bandcamp)
Give “Babylon’s Gonna Fall” a listen, and show The Phensic and Kay McCaney some love.