So, I’m guessing my reader(s) will want details of what happened last night.
I get to the bar at 7:00. I wasn’t sure whether it was supposed to start at 7:00 or 7:30 so, as always, I erred on the side of caution. I sign up, pay my money, and hear the spiel. This wasn’t speed dating. This was actually just a plan to get a whole bunch of single people into a bar together, with no age restrictions. i.e. There were some really old people there. They did have some speed dating off in the corner. I signed up for that and met with six women for four minutes each. I hope I was pleasant, but past experiences have proven I’m not charming.
Beyond that, it was just a bar. I suck at bars. If I don’t know anyone, I really suck. All the classic bar experiences were there.
As usual, the girls traveled in packs. I’m not sure they realize how intimidating that is. I did suck it up and talk to a pair of nice looking girls. But I don’t think they were that interested. I confessed being nervous and, in a nice cliche, one said, “Don’t worry. We don’t bite.” I can’t help but thinking life would be easier if that was the worst they could do to me. I really couldn’t sustain a conversation with them, which I take as a bad sign. I asked them questions, but they never asked me questions. I’m probably a creepy stalker in their minds.
They didn’t have any security there, so after awhile, the people who are regulars at the bar came in. So you no longer had the comfort of knowing that everyone was single.
There were some nice girls that I had met during the speed dating portion of the evening. But after that, they either disappeared, were absorbed into their pack, or spent the entire evening talking to someone else I assume they hooked up with.
I did talk to the radio personality that was there, Karly Kincaid. She was nice, but technically not part of the festivities. I sent her a valentine (we were all given one to give to anyone else there) because no one else there seemed interested in me. So I can now say I tried to mingle with a celebrity. I would have sent the valentine to the cute pair of girls, but they left before I had a chance. They seemed to be the center of attention, so I doubt I would stand out.
I actually find it easier to talk to waitresses and coat check girls. There is no pressure talking to them, and I think that I’m actually pleasant to talk to at those times. But all the other women, I just can’t sustain a conversation with.
The newspaper yesterday covered the single people gathered together by the Edmonton Journal. I read some interesting observations. 1) On Valentine’s day: “It’s a couples day. You can be non-Irish and participate in St. Patrick’s Day, but Valentine’s makes you feel left out. 2) “…the best place to meet people is through hobbies or interests, such as running. When they do find someone they like, it’s even harder asking for that phone number of coffee date.”