Because you're human. Yaaaaay. Have fun tonight!

Just remember: don't forget to breathe. Take nice deep breaths and relax, then you can be yourself and the date will go swimmingly!

dating fucking sucks. i'd rather interview for fifty-seven jobs than ever go on another first date, nuff said.

pilot, might i borrow your panic button to use for my own incredulity at the lack of preparation of my colleagues? the moving truck will show up at precisely 7.30 AM on Wednesday morning and as of noon today all i've seen is frantic running about and hand-waving and not much actual packing. fortunately i was more proactive than usual thus my three areas are accounted for. however, i've been breaking down boxes on the dock all morning, throwing out bin after bin of random crap, and madly washing glassware. i also got the unenviable task of calling the facilities guy for the company that actually owns this space to tell them they MUST, no excuses, we've-been-asking-nicely-for-over-a-MONTH-now, move all their shit off our dock and out of our high bay... which they've been using as a storage closet for the past oh, about six or seven years now.

did i mention i'd rather cheesegrate my naughty bits (sorry CitrusFreak) than move a lab(oratory)?

argh.

I'd say that the nerve wracking part of dates is trying to focus on making a good impression and/or trying to achieve something. Just try to have fun and let what happens (or doesn't) happen.

Once you get the conversation going, you'll feel more natural. So just try to get through the early awkward phase by having some conversational ideas ready. you could --

1. Ask a lot of questions - use questions to follow up on things she says. Ask open-ended things which will let her do her share of the talking. So if she mentions her work: "Do you enjoy it? What do you like about it?" Most people can't get enough of talking about themselves, and questions show you're interested in her as a person. Question away!
2. Store up some casual humorous anecdotes about your day - you know, something you saw on your way to the restaurant, something from the weekend.

3. Talk about how you picked the restaurant or why you like it.

As far as I'm concerned, good energized conversation makes a good first date, regardless of whatever happens after that.

Secure from Condition Panic.

She's probably tense too. First dates are fraught with it. Your mission is to make Other Person feel welcome. You liked Other Person enough to suggest/agree to date. Carry on with liking Other Person. That, I suggest, is the impression you want to (continue to) make.

...and she asked to reschedule for tomorrow. Waiting certainly is the hardest part.

Argh!

It helps me immensely if I work out an hour before, or at least run on a treadmill for half an hour. Then I go into the date with a mellower "it's all good" mindset. Also, I don't hate humanity as much when I've worked out.

Of course a toke or a stiff drink might get you to the same place. The don't for me, but they seem to for other people. But then you'll show up smelling like mind-altering chemicals, which for me anyway, is always a turn-off.

Good suggestion by s_r. Working out also tends to make me feel more tough, fit, and attractive in that healthy way. That's good advice!

Most people can't get enough of talking about themselves, and questions show you're interested in her as a person. Question away!

I once ran into ane elementary school friend of mine not quite a year ago, and we started talking and i asked her to a party a friend of mine was throwing. she brought a friend of hers along, to get a second opinion of me it turns out. when she asked her friend about me (i found this out afterward, obviously) the friend said "well, he talks a lot, but he's a REALLY good listener." i had been doing basically what the above advice says to do. the friend turns out to be an actress, which explains why her idea of "talking a lot" is asking her questions so that she can keep talking.

I agree, ask questions. Have a drink if you drink, to relax a bit. You'll do fine! Remember, she's just a person, with fears and anxieties of her own. Have fun tomorrow night. Keep it cool, keep it breezy. ; )