Hey, all! Glad of the good date for smonster. Wishing a good time to P-C. Dude, you've gotten some terrific advice, so I'm just going to reiterate: be yourself, be interested in the other people, and have fun!

So, I've been doing a bit of online dating myself this summer. Several first dates, not so much any second, but the fact that I'm doing some dating after years of not? I am very proud of myself for getting out there. Mostly, I'm meeting men on Match.

Anyway, I say all this to explain this dude I've been emailing. I am so amused by the whole thing I can barely stand it. He's supposedly half French/half Australian, relocated to Chicago a month ago, didn't even get a chance to get an apartment and had to leave for London for business.

I really believe the dude is looking for a green card wife. I don't believe anything he's saying, but I continue to email him just for the amusement factor. I want to see how far he'll take this. Just got an email from him tonight declaring his undying love for me. Now, I've never met him, never talked on the phone with him, never even IM'd with him. We've just emailed. For about 3 weeks. I have a bet with some of my friends that he'll propose via email.

Frankly, I am totally amused by the whole situation. Does he really think this will work with someone?

Oh, man, ChiKat. Be careful? He doesn't know anything about you, right?

Yes, there was chemistry. There's potential there, I think.

Man, I am tired. And slightly hungover on two beers - I think I was a little dehydrated to start with? Didn't sleep super well.

Lesson learned today (although, certainly aware of it prior to today): Curtains, just because no neighbor can see into your bedroom, doesn't mean you don't need curtains. They do a great job at keeping light out of your bedroom, so when you stay up until 4am unpacking stuff, and rearranging things, you can sleep in late.

ChiKat,

OMG. In my previous experience, some men come on strong like that via online dating because a) they think this is the best way to get a woman to sleep with them upon meeting; b) they are actually 17 years old and are playing with you; or c) they have really poor social graces.

It might be a combination of all 3!

I'm glad you are amused. Please let us know if there is an email proposal.

CHEMISTRY, WOO! Keep me posted.

We are going to my folks in a bit to see the NEW PUPPY. And, yanno, so kiddo can spend time with the fam. But PUPPY!

I am finally in my new residence across the country. Last night was day 2 of sleeping in here with all the belongings. There is dust on all of our things and I now need to figure out how to clean hardwood floors. I have Internet (verizon is fucking up getting us a landline though), I have met 2 of the neighbors, and we are just thrilled to have 2 nights of normal sleep.

The house has an offer on it (from the person who I bought the house from, coincidentally). This offer came the first day the house was on the market. I know buying and selling a house is all about business, but I am not particularly thrilled with the seller. So I decided to be a tough negotiator with regard to sales price to see how much he wanted the house. Except for being older, the house is in MUCH better condition than when I bought it from him: new carpets in bottom floor, newer housepaint outside, all painted inside, 4 new major appliances, ceiling fan, new roof. His initial offer was so far below what I would take for the house, that I actually felt insulted. The realtor didn't - because I wanted to just reject the offer - but I actually paid several thousand dollars for carpet cleaning and painting the interior and deck of the house. If I cannot partially recoup that $$ what the fuck did I do it for? The listing price is already 10% below the purchase price so I am taking a loss. I would just like to pay off my mortgage, fees, and have a small bit of $$ left over.

The house has showings today and several tomorrow, so I suppose there will be additional interest in the house. If the old owner doesn't want my terms, I figure it will work out.

He doesn't know anything about you, right?

Oh god no. He knows my email address. That's it. He did just ask for my cell number, but I just ignored the request.

Yes, there was chemistry. There's potential there, I think.

Yay!

Online dating is harder for me than RL dating. By far. Trying to really get to know someone or, good heavens, FLIRT? With no facial cues, no body language, no voice inflection?! It seems I cannot do it.

I've been noodling around on Geek2Geek, and I have not had a single in-area match yet. It's all guys hundreds of miles away saying "hi cutey I like ur photo!" Maybe I should put up a profile pic in which I look like, you know, what I normally look like. Glasses, no make-up, disinterested glare. Bet that would weed out the casual wanna-hook-up dudes.

Bet that would weed out the casual wanna-hook-up dudes.

And replace them with the ones who want you to run their lives. Or just dominate them for a while.

And replace them with the ones who want you to run their lives. Or just dominate them for a while.

You say that like it's a bad thing...

No, I know what you mean! Those guys are fun to play with for a little while, but they get irritating real quick, and then they're like barnacles. You can't get them off your butt with a crowbar.