Welcome to the first installment of "AC Datebook." Each week, we'll be setting up two young Austin singles on an all-expenses-paid (up to $50) blind date. Then we'll conduct post-mortem interviews with each party to determine if the date was a deal or a dud. Let's meet our first couple ...

Victor Shelp

Age: 23

Occupation: American Studies graduate student at UT

Hometown: Petaluma, Calif.

Hobbies: genealogy, gardening, working for social justice

My ideal mate is: honest, caring, and gentle

Ashleigh Forrester

Age: 21

Occupation: UT Business Administration junior

Hometown: Dallas

Hobbies: rock-climbing, wind surfing, and shopping up a storm!

My ideal mate is: assertive, enterprising, and fearless

What were your first impressions from talking on the phone?

Ashleigh: I couldn't tell much about him. He seemed nervous, but maybe he was trying to be funny.

Victor: Ashleigh sounded nice. She didn't laugh when I made fun of The OC, but she was probably just nervous.

Where did you meet up?

Victor: We met for drinks. She wanted something called a Buttery Nipple, but I can't drink sweet drinks. They give me gas. So we went to this great wine bar instead.

Ashleigh: What kind of wine bar doesn't have white zinfandel?

What did you decide to do next?

Victor: We agreed I'd pick the movie and she'd decide what to do later. I figured The Battle of Algiers would be a good conversation starter.

Ashleigh: What a stupid movie! I hated having to choose between rooting for the French and a bunch of Arab terrorists.

Victor: Ashleigh didn't understand the Algerian struggle against colonialism, let alone its contemporary parallels.

Ashleigh: I know all about the price of freedom. My parents' gardener's son is in the Marines.

So then what happened?

Ashleigh: After the movie, we played miniature golf.

Victor: I'd never played before. It was just a dumb game. I'm not even sure who won.

Ashleigh: I kicked his butt at minigolf. What kind of guy doesn't try to win?

How did you say goodnight?

Victor: I didn't think she wanted a kiss, so I shook her hand and said, "Vaya con dios." I hoped she'd find it charming.

Ashleigh: A handshake? Vaya con dios? I thought maybe Victor was gay and didn't know it, but he couldn't even dress himself.

Would you ever, you know?

Victor: Maybe. I didn't really like her, but she was pretty hot.

Ashleigh: I'd rather sleep with a terrorist.

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Are you an Austin area single between the ages of 18 and 25? Think you have what it takes to be in the "AC Datebook"? E-mail your name, age, occupation, hometown, hobbies, ideal mate qualities, a recent color photo, and a phone number where we can contact you to editor@ac-austin.com. Regrettably, not all entrants can be chosen as "AC Datebook" participants.