Once upon a time there was a girl called Betti. She had great hair and a killer rack but she just couldn't learn to hug. Whenever she hugged someone she looked like she had just shat her pants. One day she met an old wise man with a beard and a red hat his name was Papa Smurf, I mean Papa Churn. He refused to say hello or goodbye without a hug so eventually Betti got over it and soon looked happy whenever she greeted Papa. Soon she was able to visualise Papa Churn's head whenever she hugged anyone and seeing his happy bearded face made her smile and not look like a shart had escaped.
Anyone who knows Betti has immediate orders to hug her at all times and record what her face looks like. HUG HER! It took me around six months to get a smile from a hug with Betti so let's see what happens when we all hug her all the time. It will be like hug shock therapy.
Betti that was the best date ever. That date was movie montage worthy. Target was genius. Look how you excel at dating in just three weeks! If he is not interested after that then screw him. Move on to the next Churn!
As for exit strategies I always think it better to try and leave before you get that 'is this over?' feeling. Your aim is to beat him to it so that you can walk away thinking wow I'm great! It's a competition and you must win! You want to leave him wanting more and be in control of the exit. Now this may mean leaving when your in the middle of having fun. I would have said goodbye in Target once he had made it clear there were no more gags and then gone browsing for DVD's. Try and have a get out clause prepared. "Oh I have to go debone a chicken" usually works for me, but something that indicates that you're not going home to watch Chad Michael Murray is good (p.s you watch One Tree Hill re-runs-SHAME ON YOU). "I had a really fun time, thanks" is even better, and open ended as it adds the mystery. He doesn't need to know where your going!
Until you're comfortable hugging don't do it. I'm giving you a three week time frame to get over it. If he's not going for a kiss step back and let him fall in the gutter. If he wants a hug he's going to have to commit to a kiss.
Hugs n kisses
Papa Churn
