Train Man Read online

  Closest station so we can search> Anywhere along the Keihin Tohoku Line

  Your specs

  height weight, long legs or not, how do you dress usually?

  194 Name: Anonymous Post Date: 18/03/04 00:10

  Honestly, re your specs

  If you tell us for real and skip the asci stuff then we can give you some honest to goodness advice.

  198 Name: 731 aka Train Man Post Date: 18/03/04 00:12

  >>194

  Height

  172 centimetres

  Weight

  68 kilos

  Dress

  major puter nerd

  201 Name: Anonymous Post Date: 18/03/04 00:12

  >>198

  when you say major techie are you in jeans and sloppy shirt? First thing, do you have a nice jacket?

  215 Name: 731 aka Train Man Post Date: 18/03/04 00:16

  >>201

  You got me exactly.

  And glasses. What does outer mean?

  Let’s hold off on the next step

  Let me finish telling you what already transpired, the results

  So we decided that we would have dinner together

  Time and place are yet to be decided.

  228 Name: Anonymous Post Date: 18/03/04 00:19

  >>215

  Leave it up to me. I used to dress like you so I’ve got it all covered.

  Do you have a pair of somewhat straight and tight jeans? If you do, that’s a keeper.

  For your top just wear a light turtleneck and a jacket. That would be enough. Let me go google a few samples for you.

  237 Name: Anonymous Post Date: 18/03/04 00:21

  I think we need to pretty him up just a bit.

  Dress for the occasion then you won’t be too nervous about walking into the restaurant.

  238 Name: Anonymous Post Date: 18/03/04 00:21

  Couple of basics you need to keep in mind

  -Cut your hair

  -Iron the wrinkly clothes

  -Don’t go out with bed hair

  That’s about it. Don’t know what your hair looks like now but you should go and get a haircut so you feel put together.

  239 Name: 731 aka Train Man Post Date: 18/03/04 00:21

  Thanks everybody.

  I’ll go out and buy some clothes

  And for now, no pimples.

  269 Name: Anonymous Post Date: 18/03/04 00:26

  Here are some sites I studied in order to shed my techie-dom

  Take a look and see

  http://www.at-fashion.com/

  http://www.exiare.net/

  http://moc2002.cool.ne.jp

  295 Name: 731 aka Train Man Post Date: 18/03/04 00:32

  I think I maxed out coz I’m not absorbing any of you guys’ words

  This is it for me tonight . . .

  I feel bad coz I know my people are thinking it through for me But I’m too tired.

  299 Name: Anonymous Post Date: 18/03/04 00:33

  >>295

  good job. sleep well

  300 Name: Anonymous Post Date: 18/03/04 00:33

  Train, there’s no need for you to listen to anybody other than yourself! We’re all here to support you so listen closely to yourself and just take our comments with a grain of salt.

  Regardless, good work.

  301 Name: Anonymous Post Date: 18/03/04 00:33

  good job

  I’m sure you’re all panicked inside but there’s happiness in that, man.

  Sweet dreams.

  302 Name: Anonymous Post Date: 18/03/04 00:34

  >>295

  sleep well

  you were amazing today

  399 Name: Anonymous Post Date: 18/03/04 00:53

  I’m just reading through the thread and trying to step into Train’s shoes but man, you know what, it’s really difficult to incorporate women into your life. I don’t know if I could do it

  The hurdles are many and way high

  410 Name: Anonymous Post Date: 18/03/04 00:55

  >>399

  For Train, it’s appeared to be easier than we thought, don’t you think?

  Honestly, I didn’t think he was going to be able to ask her to dinner. Laters.

  556 Name: Girl 1 Post Date: 18/03/04 10:01

  How did Train Man invite her to dinner?

  This here Girl 1 would like to quietly, from an all-good corner of my heart offer some advice to Train Man.

  Pologies if I’m way off.

  ‘Thanks for the cups. They must have been really expensive.’

  This shows that you are respectful of her actions, of her giving you an Hermes teacup. Also, it provides an opportunity for her to peek into your not quite understanding upmarket brands and such.

  ‘Where do you usually go to dinner?’

  ‘What do you want to eat’ may be too direct.

  Instead, you may want to ask the first question so you get an idea for what she tends to like and then you can incorporate into the conversation on the day.

  If she answers and it’s way beyond Train’s territory then, ‘Wow, I usually don’t get a chance to go to places like that so I have no idea what to recommend. Do you know of any places?’ And the ball will be in her court.

  If she gets uncomfortable about being in her territory (she could just not want to have to organise the evening so don’t worry so much about it) just ask ‘Do you have anything you can’t eat?’ and then ‘I’ll look around for a good place, But you know, I usually just go to bars with my friends so there’s a slight chance that I may not come up with anywhere good. If that happens, can we look for a place together on the day?’

  That said, you should definitely check out the area before your date so you have an idea about which restaurants are where. If possible, that is.

  557 Name: Girl 1 Post Date: 18/03/04 10:01

  ‘What time do you get off work?’

  When you ask ‘what do you want to do?’ the answer is usually ‘whatever you want’ so it’s best to ask questions that are easier to answer and steer the conversation forward.

  (if she answers ‘a little after six’)

  ‘Would meeting at XX at 7 work for you?’ shows that you are being very sensitive to her schedule and at the same time it shows that you will not let her get away.

  558 Name: Girl 1 Post Date: 18/03/04 10:01

  Gotta tell you that from my past experiences . . .

  1) Not too sexy when a guy is looking around helplessly in a restaurant. It made me think why hadn’t this guy chosen a place he was comfortable in. So, combine the frayed nerves from a first date with the frayed nerves of walking into a restaurant you’ve never set foot in – and you’re asking for trouble.

  2) ‘What do you wanna do?’ is not a good question to ask because there’s always an awkward silence that follows. Always ask questions that are easier to answer so the conversation keeps flowing.

  3) Make sure you don’t run out of things to talk about. When you call to arrange the date, make sure you understand that the phone call is not just about the date. You can’t keep talking about the train incident forever and ever. Here’s an example: ‘You mentioned you often go out for Italian but what do you like? I haven’t been to the real Italian restaurants so I don’t know much about the food but remember back when tiramisu was all the rage? I ate a lot of tiramisu for sure.’ It’s best to not pretend like you know more than you do because it is bound to bite you in the arse. Stick with what you know.

  But if you really only stick to what you know, the conversation may not go anywhere so you should do a little research online about some of the stuff she mentioned over the phone.

  ‘You mentioned over the phone yesterday about xx but I think I saw it online as yy. Is that the same thing?’

  Man I have so much I want to say but it’s getting way too long. This is it for now. I’m gonna be cheering you on. Seriously,

  559 Name: Anonymous Post Date: 18/03/04 10:07

  >>558

  I was floored by your posting. The
detail. The involvement. Your kindness. Amazing job, you.

  560 Name: Anonymous Post Date: 18/03/04 10:17

  mornin dudes

  So things have moved along here haven’t they.

  This thread has morphed into a warm fuzzy place from the old one where we kept getting shot down in flames. Trust you people are well.

  561 Name: Anonymous Post Date: 18/03/04 10:25

  >>560

  losing weight nicely

  562 Name: Anonymous Post Date: 18/03/04 11:17

  >>560

  Enveloped in a musky warmth with an endless supply of encouragement until one day you open your eyes and realise that you are a XXXXXX

  563 Name: Anonymous Post Date: 18/03/04 11:21

  >>561

  XXXXXXXXXX

  564 Name: Anonymous Post Date: 18/03/04 11:53

  >562

  Man, that’s exactly me.

  I was enjoying myself tracking the thread but this is no place for a real

  Geek anymore. It’s really turned into this thread where a cool boy and a girl get rescued from the scummy depths of our pond.

  Every night Train Man appeared to report, blow-by-blow, his conversation with Lady Miss Hermes.

  568 Name: 731 aka Train Man Post Date: 18/03/04 19:26

  Thanks for staying up late for me

  Let me read the past postings. Be right back.

  Do we need to discuss yesterday’s phone call anymore?

  576 Name: 731 aka Train Man Post Date: 18/03/04 19:54

  >>534

  I read through all the postings and I grovel if I’ve neglected to answer some of your questions.

  The general flow seems to be that I ‘wear a suit and go for Italian’ what do you think? I have to go get myself a suit

  581 Name: 731 aka Train Man Post Date: 18/03/04 20:01

  This is the first time I’m going out to eat with a girl so

  I had no idea where I was supposed to take her . . .

  To be honest, while I was talking on the phone with her, you guys right here in the thread were all the support I had.

  608 Name: 731 aka Train Man Post Date: 18/03/04 20:33

  I thought that I had forced her to take a quick bath so I apologised profusely but she said ‘Really, my baths are usually this short’

  I’m gonna return to my story

  She and the older ladies talked about the incident on the train

  ‘If he hadn’t been there, really, who knows what could have happened’

  ‘Most people just pretend they don’t see what’s happening so that was an amazing amount of courage it took for him to speak up.’

  I don’t remember much else

  I said ‘I’m not sure whether I did the right thing or not. That old man may not have done anything if I had stayed silent and if that were the case none of us would have had to spend any time at the police station. I’m really sorry about all that.’

  To which she replied

  ‘You did what was right’

  ‘I really am grateful’

  ‘You risked your own life for strangers. That doesn’t happen very often.’

  ‘I told my parents and friends about it.’

  Man, I really don’t remember much else.

  652 Name: Anonymous Post Date: 18/03/04 20:58

  Being a bachelor myself, I’d like to be your big bro and help you out a bit.

  How long has she been working?

  What kind of company does she work for?

  I’ll give you some tips about clothes and restaurants depending on those answers.

  674 Name: 731 aka Train Man Post Date: 18/03/04 21:14

  >>652

  Sales. It’s her third year on the job.

  I’m withdrawing money from my war chest so I think I should be fine.

  Not that I have a fortune to spend . . .

  676 Name: Anonymous Post Date: 18/03/04 21:16

  >>674

  got more info about her?

  677 Name: Anonymous Post Date: 18/03/04 21:20

  >>674

  tell me your height and body type.

  Your outfit will change accordingly . . .

  678 Name: 731 aka Train Man Post Date: 18/03/04 21:20

  >>676

  I don’t know much other than her name and address . . .

  She said she would basically go anywhere

  But she lives fairly close so we’ll go somewhere in Tokyo

  679 Name: 731 aka Train Man Post Date: 18/03/04 21:21

  >>677

  medium height and build suits me perfectly

  gotta get to a barber too

  680 Name: Anonymous Post Date: 18/03/04 21:22

  >>679

  Hairdresser! Make an appointment immediately!

  681 Name: 731 aka Train Man Post Date: 18/03/04 21:22

  >>679

  not a barber but a hairdresser

  not a barber but a hairdresser

  not a barber but a hairdresser

  not a barber but a hairdresser

  not a barber but a hairdresser

  not a barber but a hairdresser

  not a barber but a hairdresser

  not a barber but a hairdresser

  not a barber but a hairdresser

  687 Name: Anonymous Post Date: 18/03/04 21:24

  >>679

  You may have already seen it but

  lots of sleep

  go to hairdresser

  clean the brows

  clip the nose hairs

  clean your ears

  day of, shower in the morning (or evening), wash hair

  make sure you wash your little willy just in case

  xtra mint tablets

  packet of tissues and a handkerchief

  charge the mobile

  keep phone number and address of restaurant on your person

  toothpaste

  good amount of cash, maybe £100–200

  blot oil from face

  739 Name: Anonymous Post Date: 18/03/04 21:47

  Survey

  What do you think Train Man should do.

  Please answer each of the following.

  -Outfit

  -Dinner

  -How to prepare

  -What to take with

  -Topics of conversation, day of

  812 Name: Anonymous Post Date: 18/03/04 23:06

  There’s a fairly inexpensive Italian restaurant in Ginza that has pretty good food.

  It’s got a funny name so . . . well, if you want to use it on your follow-up dates, that’d be cool

  http://gourmet.yahoo.co.jp/gourmet/restaurant/Kanto/Tokyo/guide/0202/P000999.html

  814 Name: Anonymous Post Date: 18/03/04 23:11

  >>812

  That name is perfect for me

  815 Name: Anonymous Post Date: 18/03/04 23:11

  What’s the story behind that name???

  853 Name: Mr Anonymous Post Date: 19/03/04 02:53

  Preparations Flow Chart

  Day Before

  Put tomorrow’s outfit on a hanger. From underwear to jacket. All of it.

  Febreeze it.

  Prepare all personal hygiene items: tissue, handkerchief, mints, oil paper to blot oil.

  Can place items in trouser pocket if need be.

  ↓

  charge your mobile (put restaurant number in phone memory)

  ↓

  go to bed early (try to get 8 hours sleep)

  Day Of

  Wake up, take a shower

  Wash body, head, face. Use Men’s Biore for the face. Don’t rub too hard.

  Skin gets too red.

  If you shave with a razor then this is when you need to shave.

  ↓

  have a light meal

  ↓

  face care

  align the brows, clip nose hair, clean the ears, check for eye goop if you use electric shavers, this is when you shave. Don’t forget to use aftershave.

  ↓

  style the hair

  ↓
<
br />   change. If you use cologne, this is when you splash some on. Just a bit on the stomach. Don’t go overboard on the wrists and neck.

  ↓

  Ready to go (check that you have your mobile and wallet. Prepare for worst case, memorise her number, know it by heart).

  888 Name: Anonymous Post Date: 19/03/04 13:47

  here, thinking that denim and a simple Comme Ça top and jacket would be fine. First buy a pair of jeans you plan on wearing to the date (like the one that was recommended earlier) and then go to the shop and say ‘I want a shirt and jacket to match these jeans, nothing too ostentatious’ and I’m sure they’ll give you a few options. You’ll probably go through the same headaches for your follow-up dates so might as well get a couple of tops. You can’t help but prefer one style over the other but I think you should push for something slightly different from your usual style! Sorry to babble. Go Train Go!

  114 Name: 731 aka Train Man Post Date: 20/03/04 01:12

  Sorry I’m late. I was spending some time preparing and doing some research.

  By the way, I have not called Lady Miss Hermes today.

  I will follow up yesterday’s story a bit later

  I’m basically close to forgetting most of it by now . . .

  127 Name: 731 aka Train Man Post Date: 20/03/04 01:27

  In order for me to steer the conversation towards inviting her to dinner I had the mantra ‘dinner in return for the cups’ from this thread running through my mind.

  So I said

  ‘The cups you gave me must have been really expensive. You really shouldn’t have’

  ‘Don’t worry I have an “in” at work.

  It looks like I’ve made you worry about it unnecessarily.

  I’m sorry,’ answered Lady Miss Hermes

  I thought this was my chance.

  ‘It sounds weird to say “in return for the cups” but I’d like to invite you to . . . rghfnmmb njioio’

  choked big time.

  129 Name: Anonymous Post Date: 20/03/04 01:29

  >>127

  sweet

  134 Name: 731 aka Train Man Post Date: 20/03/04 01:35

  Lady Hermes said ‘What?’

  How else could she have responded.

  So I repeated myself.