Internet Datings?

It has begun.

Well, it technically began 3 1/2 weeks ago when I decided that I was going nowhere with just looking pretty at work and meeting people at the window. Didn't think that sick children would be such a distraction, really.

So I am trying out the world of internet dating. From the outset it was a tremendous ego boost to be getting so many emails saying so-and-so "wants to meet you" or "so-and-so" has sent you a message. It still is an ego boost, but some things are grating on my patience - for example, it insists on including matches from San Antonio and other towns far away from Austin. Not. Going. To. Happen.

You also can't get overly specific about who you are interested in - you can limit the age, gender, and rough location of people that send you messages, as well as put limitations on prior actions (i.e. - anyone who has previously messaged for sexual encounters can be blocked from contacting you). You can say a little about yourself, you can say a lot about yourself, but I think the pictures tell a bigger story than the writing. Of course, there is something to be inferred from someone writing an "About Me" section lacking cohesive grammar and/or basic spelling and punctuation problems. But you can't tell the system "hey, I just don't find myself attracted to [insert differing race/religion/political party here]" or anything like that.

I was getting messages within hours of signing up (I found out you get promoted to others via the website when you are online). Yay! Then trying to take stock of profiles, inferring things from photographs, and judging their answers to several specific questions and how they might fit into a relationship (things like "education" "pets?" "longest relationship duration?" "alcohol frequency", etc).

And now I'm dating. I am a dating fiend. :-) Being a good girl, though - only dinners and one movie with some handholding. Pleasant conversations and making an effort to be both pretty AND entertaining.

Next time: Bachelor #1.