What first impressions did you have of me?

Way more girly than I anticipated. Also, the voice I expected from you later wound up coming out of Jilli. Very sexy and confident and playful and fun. I'll always remember you bouncing on the bed in your room (which was the de facto hospitality suite) with a martini in one hand and a cigarette in the other as you cat-herded the Buffistas. I thought you were totally the Queen of the F2F in Chicago, since you did so much to organize it and (very gently) kept us moving and mingling and putting people at ease. The perfect Cruise Director for the Buffistas.

That said, when I read this, all I thought was OUCH. I'm sure you didn't mean it this way, but it read -- to me -- like the only reason The Boy is with me is because I happen to be the one in front of him, due to his easily distractable nature.

Like I said, I'm sure you didn't mean it that way, but still, ouch.

I'm sorry. Praising and extolling your virtues didn't seem to be sticking or offering any comfort, so I went another way. The wrong way. Though in my defense, nine times out of ten, the snarky way is often the Teppy way.

But for the record, I don't think the boy is with you simply because you're in front of him. I think you two have built up a relationship the old fashioned way, through trust and friendship. I think it runs a lot deeper than you suspect. He loves your company, depends on you, and you totally sex him up.

Speaking for myself, sexual chemistry trumps a lot of things, and it's clear to me that you two do not lack for it.

Teppy, I sent an e-mail to your profile addy. It's kind of time sensitive. Did you get it?

In summation, try not to fall down. Everything besides that is gravy.

I think that's the best I can hope for. Remaining vertical.

ION, I am curious. And narcissistic, but y'all knew that. What first impressions did you have of me? It's always so interesting to hear about how others view you, because you're always, you know, on the inside, and try as you might, you can never really look at yourself from the outside. (I'm not trolling for complis, btw -- so no OMG YOU WERE SO OUTRAGEOUSLY GORGEOUS MY RETINAS STILL BURN -- RRRGHHH, THE SWEET SWEET PAIN STILL LINGERS!!!!)

I love you, Erin, because *I* wanted to ask this (about me), but I already engaged in the whole insecure-not-fishing-for-compliments-my-BF's-ex-is-in-town gambit.

(But I still want to know. Except....not really. Because, this weekend at least, I don't think my ego could take the "I thought you were *nice,*" nonsense.)

(I mean, I know what kind of *first* impression I make. Dorky, somewhat socially retarded, sweet-faced at best. And that's not me running myself down -- I am well aware that my fear of new people makes me come off as a weird little introvert when we first meet. Or I try too hard, and come off as a character from a John Hughes teen-angst movie. It's only when I'm comfortable with people that they get a look at the whole complex weird-ass-but-highly-entertaining Teppy.)

(So maybe I want people's *second* impressions of me.)

(And all y'all can tell me to shut the fuck up and stop being such a narcissistic self-absorbed whiny little bitch who's mean to her friends when they're just trying to me nice. S'cool.)

So maybe I want people's *second* impressions of me.

My first impression of you was fine. We were licking the same bag of Funyuns ten minutes after we met. Plus we slow danced in the bar on the first night. I think you underestimate your first impressionability.

I'm sorry. Praising and extolling your virtues didn't seem to be sticking or offering any comfort, so I went another way. The wrong way. Though in my defense, nine times out of ten, the snarky way is often the Teppy way.

No, no, no -- I'm just incapable of taking the piss this weekend, and so I'm taking it out on people who don't deserve it. It wasn't the *wrong* way, per se. I'm just more apt to pounce on anything that seems to mesh with my insecurities. But that doesn't mean I should be a snotty little bitch about it.

Teppy, I sent an e-mail to your profile addy. It's kind of time sensitive. Did you get it?

Oh, crap. Yes, I did, and when I got it, I started thinking about it, and then work got in the way, as did my own carnival of self-absorption. Let me think on it a little bit more, and I'll get back to you today.

Also, the voice I expected from you later wound up coming out of Jilli.

Oh, the Voice. I think I should be all Bacall-y and throaty... and instead, I'm all hyper-Valley Girl bubble-gum.

Ah, well. It makes threats and Really Mean and Accurate Soul-Killing Remarks that much more potent. At least in my mind.

My first impression of you was fine. We were licking the same bag of Funyuns ten minutes after we met. Plus we slow danced in the bar on the first night. I think you underestimate your first impressionability.

I'd agree with you, except I had already met you before the F2F. The year before, when I was in SF, and you invited me over for white slavery Buffy and pizza and tub time with Emmett and the excellent company of other Buffistas.

Oh, the Voice. I think I should be all Bacall-y and throaty... and instead, I'm all hyper-Valley Girl bubble-gum.

I get the opposite. People think I should have that Valley Girl voice, and instead I'm all Barry White.

But that doesn't mean I should be a snotty little bitch about it.

Telling me "ouch" doesn't really qualify in that category.

Oh, the Voice. I think I should be all Bacall-y and throaty... and instead, I'm all hyper-Valley Girl bubble-gum.

Well, fwiw, I really love your voice. It's part of your essential Erin-ness. Everybody's voice was brand new at the Chicago F2F and took some adjustment. (I recall Jess being surprised by my voice too.)

Also, Erin? You smell really nice.