The Great Craigslist Experiment of 2009

Well howdy strangers! Yes, I know it's been awhile but things have been...chaotic for me. Since I've been stricken with a little insomnia, I thought I'd take a moment to update you on what is sure to be a grand adventure.

I've decided to start going out on more dates, for better or for worse. Since the normal means of meeting people hasn't worked and I'm cheap/poor, I thought I'd give putting a craigslist ad up a go. I mean, it's not like I have to answer anybody - they'd just dismiss me as being a bot if they get the silent treatment.

So I put the ad up about a week after New Year's. There was a nice chunk of responses varying from the sweet and sincere to the entirely too vague to the "ew, no" (those immediately got deleted - I specifically said "no creepy guys"). And only one sent a picture of his junk because he wanted to make sure I'd be willing to look past it and get to know him for him, not use him for what he claims is a sizable unit. 1) If you don't tell me you have a big little friend, I wouldn't know therefore you wouldn't have to worry about that; 2) Seriously? Does that work for you, dude? Is that an effective way to pick up chicks?; 3) Junk portraits get automatic disqualification status.

At any rate, I'm trying to be more open so, to be fair, I decided to go out with some guys even though I don't necessarily feel drawn to them. With that in mind, I've gone out on five dates - nothing big, just coffee because it's a neutral site and no pressure there. Two I didn't really feel anything for at all; one is nice to talk to but I think a little too old and hopefully he won't try to kiss me when we hang out again; one who things seemed to be going well with but then he dropped off the face of the earth; and one who I've gone out with twice now - once for coffee (though neither of us drink it) and once for a walk in the park. I like talking with Park Guy and he's very gentlemanly but I'm not feeling that spark, you know? It could be because I keep thinking how I have to upgrade him - he needs a better hair cut and his clothes don't fit him well enough (though that could be because I keep catching him on his way back from work and he has to move around a lot). Yes, I'm a bit shallow. Who isn't?

I'm trying to set up a couple more coffee get-togethers this week. One guy is a little suspicious in that I can't tell if he's a wigger or just kidding in the picture he sent and I'm afraid to ask. He's special. There's also an Italian guy, a French guy I'm not sure I should respond to (for no reason other than he's not in the country yet), a Scotsman (who cute enough but I'm counting on there being an accent to help up the quotient), a mixed dude, and two others that may be looming in the picture.

Busy busy busy. I'll keep you updated if you're interested...lol

I don't wanna be a playa no more...

I went to a party where I was reminded of one of the most awkward situations I had back in college. It was late Friday night after debate practice, an old friend, Jeff, from out of town comes by to see the team and to pick me up for drinks. My new friend, Ben, was there as well. He was also on the team and knew Jeff. Before I go any further, I should tell you that Jeff and I have a bit of an unspoken history. We're cool to this day, but he's like that one guy/girl you can't seem to forget no matter how hard you try.

Ben was one of those guys who I had around to help me forget Jeff. I don't know if he subconsciously knew it, but every time I mentioned Jeff, he bugged out. I got a healthy dose of that drama several months later. Remind me to tell you about the temper tantrum he threw, it was crazy.

We invited Ben to come along to the local restaurant/bar we were going to, but he refused. Jeff and I go to the bar and meet up with some of our mutual friends. Who happens to be there, but another guy I thought would help me get over my infatuation with Jeff. WTF? It was raining men, but not in a good way. And of course Jeff picks up on mood and says, "old boyfriend?" and laughs. Ass. I don't know about you, but I have anxiety of people who have known intimate knowledge of me being in the same room together. I'd rather they didn't have an opportunity to swap stories. I'm just saying.

I was reminded of this episode because of a party I went to several weeks ago. I'm at NB's(the new boy) house party. I happened to arrive early so, no one was really there and I was hanging out with him in his bedroom. After a while, people start coming in the house, so we leave the room. Who is the first person I see as I leave NB's room? None other than NB's neighbor, who I hooked up with 8 months before at another of NB's house parties. Again, awkward. Although I've been over to NB's house several times, I hadn't seen the neighbor since that last party so I kind of put him out of my mind. When he sees me, he says, "I know you!" I was thinking, great, just don't say anything about what happened. Not that I have something to be ashamed of, I'd just rather my business kept private. Plus, I wasn't dating NB when it happened. The neighbor is no longer a neighbor. Really, does NB really need to know?