#FML: I just had a really awkward "get together"
I ... don't know what that was.
So, this duderino hit me up on OKC the other day, and was actually pretty rad. Very well spoken, very well put together (obvious from the wording and pictures on his profile) - and in his second email he asked to meet me. Not necessarily as a date, but he just said I intrigued him, and he would like to meet me.
Alrite, I thought. A date to not have a date. I'm under a shit ton of deadlines right now, but I need to come up for air every once in a while - fine, I said ... let's do happy hour.
I arranged to meet him at 6, and set an alarm on my phone for an hour and a half later to indicate that my time was up so I could get home and finish editing for VidBlogger Nation. (Six episodes for season 3 due tomorrow! arrghhh!! ANNNDDD I have to meet with VH1 in the morning. Fuckidy fuck fuck fuck fuck - hustle hard Friel)
I get there on my new bike ... look at this bad boy ... HOTNESS RIGHT HERE!!!
TNTML's first company ride ::tear tear::
Then I get to the bar and check OKC and see and email from him saying he's going to be late.
AHHH fuck I thought. Well, I have the alarm set for 7:30 - that's all he can have.
<tangent> It's also pretty genius too setting an alarm for dates and what not because there's no awkward moment of dudes thinking, oh she's just bailing. It removes the emotional component of the scenario and lays out very point blank that you have a schedule, you're not being rude, but it's time management. </tangent>
I order an allagash, then realize ... hmmmmmm I rode my bike here, what are the California laws regarding drinking and bicycling?
Like a good nerd, I turned to twitter ...
But of course, because I was at Barneys, and they have SUUUCHHHHH spotty service - I was only able to send out the tweet, not receive an answer back.
AHHH FML, one beer it is.
Halfway through my beer, he arrives - meeting me at the bar.
Hello! I say with a hug (always go in for the confident hug. It negates the awkward, so do we shake hands ... what's going on here ... dude, just hug. It works every time).
I take a look at him, hmm cuter that his picture. Not necessarily my type, but definitely more attractive than I thought.
I then close out my tab at the bar and offer to move to a table.
We sit down, he orders a club soda and the conversation begins.
The usual first, where did you grow up ... what do you do for a living.
I felt bad, I genuinely remember this dude writing about growing up in a hippie commune, but that was about it. I very genuinely do try to do "research" of sorts and at least fully go through and read everything on a profile before a date, or in this case a "get together" - I just very honestly didn't have time.
Jen fail on that part.
I then start asking apparently stuff that was in his profile ... then it occurs to me when he said he was from Northern California that he was the hippie dude.
AHHH!! That's right!! I remember!!!
Yeah, we didn't exactly grow up with any technology. He continues ... I just don't understand why we all need to be so connected. I've never even been on twitter. I strive to turn my phone off for one hour a day just to disconnect. It was on NPR, that it actually alters our brain chemistry. I think people get too addicted to Facebook, even OKCupid - people need to know their limits.
I then shoot him a look feeling very uncomfortable, and because I have no filter blurt out -
Why did you ask me out? I actually make a living off of those platforms, and can genuinely be here with you, having this conversation sans the Jonesing - but really honestly dude, why? I'm LITERALLY one of the most connected people socially online - I'm not at all taking offense, but if you don't like social media, why ask me out?
He then realizes his foot should go in his mouth and apologizes ... profusely.
It's alrite, I say. I have my big girl pants on. I'm ALWAYS alrite with hearing about the other sides of things, but just genuinely curious.
The entire "get together" at that point just got more awkward.
I do online dating because the dudes on OKC are pretty fucking nerdy. They get the shit that I'm into, and I don't have to "dumb" myself down. I can talk about my passions in tech, the fusion of it with entertainment and Hollywood in general ... and just let my mouth FLLLLLLLLYYYYYY.
Sitting across the way from this dude was like watching paint dry.
And it's funny actually we both lived on 15th street in NYC at the same exact time. Albeit I was on the east side, he was on the west side - kinda funny though.
He just didn't get anything I was SUPER passionate about, and everytime I asked him about stuff he was doing (writer/ actor/ creative type), I inquired about his online presence of said art, and he looked at me like I had six heads.
I don't want to sit here and explain to you what you should do - be smart enough to fucking know!!!!!!!!
Success doesn't just "happen" to people - you work hard, learn what works, what doesn't ... etc. You are here, in LA, the SOCIAL MEDIA CAPITAL OF EVVEERRRYYTHIINNNGGG and you are not utilizing some of these platforms to connect with people in the industry??
Dumbfounded.
Unbelievably dumbfounded.
I can understand not growing up with technology, but is 2011 - how are you not at least curious about it now? You can't AVOID IT!!!
But again though I appreciate all sides of everything - and he was a GENUINELY nice guy ... but he also kept apologizing for offending me earlier.
I felt like screaming DUDE!! DROP IT!! You're only making this worseeeeeeee!!
Epic fail ... epic. epic. epic. fail.
I hope Steve Ward host of VH1's Tough Love is going to be better next week!! I leave for Philly next Friday, and I am SO. FREAKING. EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He emailed me back on Monday, and I gave him my number and booked my flight. I am SO ready for a professional at this point. Or, maybe, just professional help.
UUGGGHHHH!! SAVE ME!!!!
#fail
Back to editing. Dudes!! VidBlogger Nation releases new episodes on Comcast On-Demand every Monday! Like every ... every ... Monday!! Click here to get instructions on how to watch!
And thanks for the info everyone re: biking while intoxicated. The answer is yes and no. It's a misdemeanor and a $250 fine - but it's not the same as a vehicular DUI. Read more here.
