Each month, we set two daters up, give them free food and drinks, then wait for the magic to happen. This month’s Blind Date we set Lia & Haley up at Tuft Love.

Meet The Daters!

Name: Lia

Sign: Cancer

Occupation: Wildlife Rescuer/DJ

Why are you going on Rooster’s Blind Date? I like adventure, and there’s nothing more adventurous than getting to know new people. 

What’s a good way to win you over?  Being kind to animals. 

Most irrational fear: My deepest darkest one? I don’t know if I can tell you that. I’ll go with deep water. 

What’s your greatest strength? Compassion. My greatest weekness? Also compassion. 

Do you want kids? No. Only fur babies.

What do you geek out on? Birds.

Immediate red flags:  Unkindness, dismissal of people, rudeness, and intolerance. 

Immediate green flags: Having pets. I have a dog and a pigeon. 

What is your toxic trait as a partner? Narcissism and one-upmanship. 

One thing you can’t live without? Animals.

Why did your last relationship end?  I replaced the toxic masculinity in my life with a pigeon, and I’ve never been happier. 

Celebrity crush: Tate McRae. So sexy. So hot. 

Guilty pleasure: Steve Madden purses. I love purses. 

Name: Haley

Sign: Pieces

Occupation: Leasing Specialist

Why are you going on Rooster’s Blind Date? My coworker signed me up for this. Actually, she asked me if I would get mad if she signed me up, and I said no.

What’s a good way to win you over? Have a sense of humor. 

Most irrational fear:  Worms. I had a bucket of them dumped on me as a kid. I can’t be around them. 

What’s your greatest strength?  My patience and empathy. 

Do you want kids? No. Hard no. 

What do you geek out on? Lord of the Rings and dinosaurs. I love Stegosaurus and T. rex. 

Immediate red flags: People who only talk about themselves and don’t participate in active listening. 

Immediate green flags:  If you can laugh at yourself ask questions back.

What is your toxic trait as a partner? ’m pretty needy. I like to feel wanted, even about mundane things

One thing you can’t live without?  Books. I’m a big fantasy person, and I’m getting into Sci-fi. 

Why did your last relationship end? He was a cheater. 

Celebrity crush: Charlize Theron. Love her. Worship her, she’s a saint.  

Guilty pleasure: The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. 

ROUND 1

In a world where apps have ruined the modern dating scene, it can be tough to find love. Tonight, we find ourselves at Tuft Love, where our daters ditch the apps and grab the yarn. Lia arrives full of energy, like an escaped carrier pigeon. Haley shows up shortly after, calm and steady, like a very loved houseplant. Their energies match their rug designs almost too perfectly. After chowing down on Illegal Pete’s, we pull them aside to see how the threads hold up. 

How are things going so far?
H: Good. It’s fun. This is an interesting experience. She seems fun. We talked about her animals, which is always fun and cute. I have two dogs.
L: It’s going great! We had a great conversation over dinner about our pets, and I’m really proud of myself for remembering my friend’s advice: to ask questions. 

What were your first impressions of the dater?
H: She’s cute, fun, and interesting. She has a pet pigeon. That’s pretty rad. The conversation is still going.
L: Oh, she’s pretty. This is going to be a fun date. 

What was the first thing you noticed about your date?
H: I was excited that I was going on a date with a girl. I was expecting a guy, and I was like Oh, a girl! I really like the necklace that she has on.
L: She’s blonde and pretty and has a nice smile and cool-looking tattoos. I only got a glimpse under her sweater, but they look cool. One’s a caterpillar. I’m observant. 

Is this the type of person you’d normally date?
H: No, not usually. Women that I’ve dated in the past tend to be either really into the outdoors, like they are usually climbers, or women of color. It’s not a deal breaker.
L: Umm… I don’t normally date. So far, it’s yes. I just don’t date.

Where do you normally meet partners?
H: Dating apps. Honestly, dating apps are kind of garbage. That’s usually where I meet them, but I’m always down for a meet-cute at a bar, paddleboarding, stuff like that. Apps are just more convenient.
L: I don’t…. I don’t date. I met my last boyfriend at the strip club when I was a DJ.

What are you most nervous about for tonight?
H: Not knowing what to expect. I feel less nervous now.
L: Making a good first impression and not talking too much.

Did you get any advice for the date?
H: No. Nothing. Everybody just wanted to hear about tomorrow and have fun.
L: Yes! Ask questions! And, this was good advice: think about what makes a good date for you and do that.

How did you prepare for the date?
H: I read some of the magazine articles to get ready for it. Otherwise, just hung out and thought about all the possible scenarios. I thought this was going to be a really exciting, new, different thing. It was really exciting going into this thing blind, like I have no idea what’s going to happen. That makes it a lot more exciting.
L: I was only supposed to work until 2 pm today, so I had plenty of time to get ready for my date tonight. But someone in Firestone called about a sick goose, and I had to go catch it! So, then I only have 30 minutes to get ready. And I do look pretty damn good for having 30 minutes to pick my outfit and brush my hair. My pigeon tried to make a nest in it the other day.

How did your date dress tonight?
H: Cute! Casual, which I like. I was panicking about what to wear. We were on the same page, the same great mindset.
L: Obviously, her purse is on point. Stellar. There were stars on it. I like the off-the-shoulder look. Very nice. 

What are you looking forward to in the next round?
H: Being able to get to know her a little bit more. 
L: Seeing how her bush and my pigeon turn out. She’s making a lovely monstera bush. 

ROUND 2

Fueled by Illegal Pete’s and yarn guns ablaze, Lia and Haley are really getting into their projects. Haley methodically fills in her monstera leaf with perfect lines, and Geoff, the tufting master himself, works on Lia’s pigeon so she can swoon over Haley with stories of her animal-rescuing adventures. Between yarn refills, we check to see if there are any knots to untangle. 

How was your experience at Tuft Love?
H: It has been a really, really fun experience. It’s definitely not like being at a restaurant or bar, and that’s a good thing. It’s different. I’m used to getting a few drinks, eating, and being like What now?
L: This is probably the most fun date I’ve ever had. This is so fun. Obviously, making a pigeon rug is my favorite part, but having a one-on-one private class with a pretty girl is a bonus.

What made you choose your rug design?
H: I have a lot of plants in my apartment, and having something that flows in my apartment will be really nice.
L: I have a pet pigeon named Puffin, and I love him dearly. This is to honor him. 

How’s the date going?
H: Good. It’s fun. I think that even as fun as the activity is, there’s not a lot of time to sit and talk, which is an interesting dynamic. It’s a lot less pressure, but I also just feel like the conversation isn’t flowing as easily as it does sometimes. Just coming from typical bar dates.
L: This is a great radio station. The date is going great, wonderful conversation, a lot in common because she has pets. And both of our carpets look great.

Do you two have anything in common?
H: Our love for animals, definitely. Mostly the love for animals.
L: We’re both pet-moms, so we have immense guilt about being here because our pets are home alone. But we both wanted to try something new.

What do you like about your date?
H: I like how expressive she is and that she is more talkative than I am. Sometimes, if I craft, I get too into my head and just need to get it done. This is nice to get into that mind space.
L: She rescues animals and was a failed foster mom, which means she adopted her fosters. My ex bought a purebred golden retriever, and I was like fuck you, you never get me back! Rescue all the way. Adopt don’t shop! 

What do you not like about your date?
H: I don’t think there’s a chance for a romantic connection. Definitely a friendship kind of thing, but I’m not really getting a romance vibe from it.
L: There’s nothing wrong with a woman, ever. Period! 

What’s the most attractive thing your date has done so far?
H: I think it’s really cute how she talks about her pigeon. It’s really cute.
L: She made the lesbian carpet jokes before I did. 

What’s been the best part of the date so far?
H: Definitely the activity and chit-chatting in between. Running it back and forth and seeing her rug. It looks really cool.
L: How well my carpet is coming out! And how well I’m connecting with my date. But that pigeon is looking awesome. I want to cry every time I see it. I thought about bringing my pigeon on this date. I thought about asking if I could. 

What could make the date better?
H: I don’t really know, to be honest.
L: My pigeon! It’s a 10/10. The music’s good, I have booze (thanks, Illegal Pete’s!), a beautiful woman, and there’s pigeon. I’m happy. She just called her dog autistic, and I get that. I had an autistic cat growing up. He licked outlets. I get it. 

How’s the chemistry on a scale of 1 to 10?
H: 3. On a friend scale, a 7/8.
L: I’d say it’s a 7!

Where would you like the night to go from here?
H: We might go get a drink or something after and see if maybe getting out of this environment would change things a little bit.
L: I wouldn’t mind grabbing another drink elsewhere. However, we’re both pet moms, so we want to get home to our pets, and I respect that. 

Do you think there’s going to be a second date?
H: Probably not.
L: I hope so. We both want to make inappropriately worded rugs. She wants to make one that says Rug Burn, and I want to make one that says Matches the Dapes? With the question mark.

Do you think there will be a hug, a kiss, or an exchange of numbers?
H: Hug and probably an Instagram exchange.
L: A hug and phone numbers.

ROUND 3

Nothing says romance like honoring your emotional support pigeon in yarn. Haley and Lia’s rugs are finished and look amazing. Haley’s monstera looks like it could photosynthesize, and Lia’s pigeon almost brings her to tears. The next day, we check in to see how their night unraveled. 

What happened after Rooster left?
H: We ended up going next door to the tap house for another drink. It was fun. We played bingo, but had to get home to the animals. We didn’t win. We were there for just the last round. Oh well.
L: After Rooster left, we grabbed a drink at the bar next door, and we met a really cute dog. It looked like a direwolf from Game of Thrones. It was bad ass. But the human attached to it kept trying to talk to us. Weird. Shut up and let me pet your dog.

What was the best part of the date and why?
H: Clearly, making rugs was pretty fantastic, and being in a fun, more laid-back atmosphere was a blast.
L: The carpet making class was so unique and so fun, and it was a really good ice breaker. It felt less like a date and more like a fun activity that we could connect over. We were both noobs starting from scratch, and that was fun!

Would you have changed anything about the date?
H: Yes and no. Even though I think rug making was so much fun as a date, doing something a little bit more one-on-one would have been nice. We just didn’t get into a lot of talking.
L: No. Maybe if there was a Lady and the Tramp ambience set up with a candle, a vase, and a checkered tablecloth.

Was there a goodnight kiss, hug or exchange of numbers?
H: We hugged and we exchanged numbers. But I told her that I wasn’t feeling a romantic connection, so we left it at that.
L: There was a hug and an exchange of numbers. She was up front, classic Pisces, and said she wasn’t feeling a classic romantic connection, and that’s okay! Life is about new experiences and saying yes to adventure when it knocks.

Would you recommend going on a Rooster Blind Date?
H: Yeah! Why not? It makes for a great story regardless of what happens.
L: Absolutely! 200%, especially if it was another one of those art classes.

CONCLUSION

Romance didn’t weave itself into the picture for Haley and Lia, but they did leave with two awesome rugs. And let’s be real, their rugs turned out better than most of the first dates we’ve seen.  Until next month!