I like my drawings to be really big

There's one guy I've been exchanging messages with lately on OKC, is cute and mysterious, despite OKC declaring that we wouldn't be a good match (through its "percentage match" system, which I don't really understand, so I don't grant much validity). I found out today that he has a part-time side job as an art model. What's funny about that is, I'm an artist who works with a lot of live nude models.

I actually find this kind of amusing. This inspires any number of cheesy one-liners, like:

"What's your favorite position? I mean, pose?"
"So are the artists ever nude when they draw you? Want me to be?"
"Wanna go back to my place and make some art together?"
"Want me to draw you, Jack, like one of those French Girls?"
 

All right, all right, I'm not bold enough to actually lay down a pickup line like that, but it doesn't stop me from joking about it. This guy should be an interesting one to meet in person. Stay tuned for that.

By the way, I'd love to hear some of your one-liner ideas in the comments. :)

Trying to stay positive,
Skeptic

Gorgeous porker?

My Match.com subscription ended, so now I'm back to OKC. Never had much luck with it before, but damn, I'm stuck. I'm pretty tired of nothing going on in my dating life. At this point I'm not too picky--I just want some guy to take me out if for no other reason than to boost my confidence so I'm not giving off a depressed vibe all the time (which I'm sure is not helping the situation). So what was the first message I got after firing my account back up? It was from a 21-year old self-described "video game nerd," saying "wow, you are absolutely gorgeous!"

*sigh*

In other news, three people have told me in the last two days that they thought I lost weight. While this should be a compliment, because the reality is that I have not changed weight in a long time, it actually makes me wonder what kind of porker I am in these people's heads/memories. Commenting on someone's weight is really never a compliment, so let's all just lay off the subject, mmmkay?

Trying to stay positive,
Skeptic

British invasion

I logged back in briefly to DateBritishMen, which evidently launches me back to the top of search results or something, because I've suddenly started getting messages from all sorts of British men again. Because I'm not a paying member, I've had them email me directly, and because they don't always tell me their handle in their emails, I don't know what they look like or anything about them when I get their messages other than what they tell me (which usually isn't much). It's made me a bit reluctant to write back--I'm open to adventure to a degree, since these guys live across the world and would mainly be a pen pal for the time being, but I would feel a bit more comfortable if I knew SOMEthing about them.

Every once in a while, they do share their handle so I can look them up. Here's one who wrote to me yesterday:
 
Not a great haircut, if I'm being honest, but if I can get past that, he's sort of cute.

Trying to stay positive,
Skeptic

Impromptu date with the Great Dane

Yesterday I had connected the Great Dane with a friend of mine as a networking favor, and when I heard he hadn't left the area yet (he's on a 3-week tour of the US with stops in 5 cities), I wrote to him, "I didn't realize you were still in the city! Had I known we could have met up for happy hour! Well, next time you're in the area, you have another person to show you around town." He wrote back immediately to say, "My flight isn't until tomorrow morning--want to do dinner tonight?" I know how some of you feel about last-minute dates, and although I would have liked a little more time to recover from a hot and humid day, this was my only chance to go out with this guy, so I did the best I could to freshen up quickly and I jumped at the chance. Since up until this point we had really mostly just done "networking," I wasn't sure it was an actual date, but I think it counts.

We met in midtown and after briefly meeting his friend with whom he was staying (who had to rush off to work), we headed downtown to a cozy little Thai restaurant. We ate and talked for a couple of hours (he paid), then walked around a bit so I could point out some things around town (my city knowledge is somewhat limited, but I've picked up a few things over the years). We ended up in this hidden little speakeasy-20's type bar that we never would have noticed if not for FourSquare. Lovely jazz band playing, cute bartenders wearing button-down shirts, striped pants, and suspenders. I playfully pointed out to Great Dane that he should be wearing suspenders. He added, "Yes, and a hat." "Yes! A fedora." I said, and swooned. Yes, I fluttered--I love a fedora on a man. He playfully said I should be wearing a dress with one of those low-scooped backs. "Oooh, sexy," I said. After enjoying a drink there and realizing it was nearly 1am (and he had to leave at 4am for a 6am flight), we decided to call it a night and I helped him find his train. I had been hoping for a little smooch, but instead I got a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Boo.

It was a very romantic evening. We were both oozing charm--eye contact with smiles, lots of closeness (walking so close together our arms were in constant contact, huddling close together under an umbrella and when we shared pictures on our phones or consulted a city map, little gentle touches here and there while talking). Maybe that's just how they are in Denmark and it didn't mean anything. But either way, nothing will likely come of it other than a friendship. He lives in Denmark. 'Nuff said. I had a fantastic time, though. That just seems to be my luck. *sigh*

Trying to stay positive,
Skeptic

Something else to try

Anyone reading this ever try It's Just Lunch?

Given that I can't stand online dating because it feels unnatural and I just have no luck on it, and I'd be more interested in meeting people if it was casual and no-pressure, this seems like it could be the perfect thing for me. Just wondering if anyone has tried it and what it's like. I might try it anyway, because why not, right?

Side note: I have to give IJL props for their marketing. I heard about them from an ad in an airline magazine, in which they appear to be targeting professionals who are too busy to scour through online dating profiles. Good work, guys, you got me!

Trying to stay positive,
Skeptic

Don't get too comfortable!

I took a trip this week to England, and it occurred to me while on the plane to Heathrow that I've had an undeniable British Men fetish lately, and I just happened to be traveling to the Land of British Men. Even though the trip was for work and I would be spending nearly the entire time in my hotel for a conference, I admit I was a little bit stoked.

Indeed I did spend most of the time at the hotel. But since no one else was really at the hotel other than all my colleagues, and I'd determined that none of them was I really interested in (Hot Brit Colleague was not there), there wasn't really much to turn my attention to.

That is, until my flight back to the states. While boarding my flight, knowing I had the window seat, I saw a guy storing his bag above my row, getting ready to sit down in the aisle seat. "Don't get too comfortable!" I said with a smile. He knew I was in the window seat, and kindly lifted my suitcase into the overhead bin.

We chatted a little bit at the beginning of the flight, chatting about our travel plans, the airline, and our dinner options. And although he was cute, I honestly didn't notice him much at first because I was so tired from the conference and just wanted to zone out for a while in flight. So I did zone out, watched a couple of movies, before interacting with him again, I think about our in-flight snack (a cheese and pickle sandwich on white bread. um....). Turned out, he is a management consultant born in Miami, but his family later moved to Denmark (his parents are Danish), so he's been living there. However, he is interested in moving back to the States, so he's exploring opportunities for a job here. I, of course, have many connections in that respect and offered to help him out. But also, as I was listening to him talk, I actually had quite the lengthy opportunity to stare at his face in close proximity (well, I was sitting right next to him, and you know how tight those airplane seats are), and he was actually quite cute. I became mesmerized by his mouth--a good sign (I wanted to kiss him, obviously). Although our conversation was mostly business, we did talk a bit about both of our families as well, and did end up exchanging emails and phone numbers, and kept our conversation up as we waiting in line for customs.

A little part of me wishes I had flirted a little more rather than playing it safe, but I did get the guy's card, he had no ring, and he somewhat oddly did drop into the conversation his age (which is close to mine), so I'll still take that as a win. :)

Trying to stay positive,
Skeptic