Dudes have friends too: and they date them: and I tell Husband this all the time and he rolls his eyes at me: cause two Dudes at Hooters is not a DATE

Husband and I (back when we had money and didn't have to figure out how we were going to pay the electricity bill AND buy more Ramen) on occasion head on over to Hooters and have ourselves a nice meal of Hot Wings and Fries (the french fries at Hooters, SUCK. They don't care, it's HOOTERS for crying out loud). When I was pregnant, something about the hot wings drove me to suggest Hooters for a night out, I really couldn't eat anything (Baby was quite particular at that point and I spent a better part of my pregnancy rejecting food) but hot wings always seemed to hit the spot.

So a Hooters we went.

I liked to point out to him the number of man couples in Hooters. I'd say "look over there, those guys are on a Man-date."

"A Man-Date?"

"Yeah, when two guys go out to dinner together and they chat and talk and drink and go out on a man-date. Apparently, Hooters is man-date central. You should bring your friend Jason here on a man-date. You should go on more man-dates."

"What are you talking about Wife? They are just out to dinner, not on a man-date. Just out to dinner. They aren't dating, it's not a date, it's just dinner."

"Keep telling yourself that. Look at how they are all dressed up and are paying very close attention to what the other is saying, oh look he picked up his napkin for him, how sweet. They'll probably be having a second man-date."

"I'm not even going to dignify you with a response."

After realizing how much it bothered Husband that anyone could possibly call it a man-date, I was sure to point out every man-date we saw, no matter where we were.

"What, two guys can't go to the movies and share a popcorn without being on a date!?"

"Actually, judging by their hand holding and occasional kisses I think those guys are actually on a date, date." (Which they were)

Anyway, turns out I'm not the only man-date pointer outer in the world. Way back in 2005, the NEW YORK TIMES (Bitch, it's the goddamn NEW YORK TIMES) was talking up the man-date. In fact I probably stole it from them.

So no (Husband), two guys can't go to Hooters and share a plate of hot wings without people thinking it's some kind of man-date.

So there.