Tuesday, January 15, 2013

My Weekend With Match.com



http://maybeckicomp.blogspot.com/2012/09/cyrano-de-bergerac.html

It was a “Big Chill” kind of weekend. You know the kind. Good friends, couples, hanging around a house together for 48 hours straight.

Not everyone was a couple though. Sara wasn’t anymore and I could tell she was lonely in the way a person is when it’s not how they want to be. Even surrounded by friends.

Saturday morning, I flopped down on the couch resting my chin on her shoulder. “You can continue sitting here idle, lamenting about your situation, or we could do something. Show me how it works.”

I’d never seen Match.com before. It was fascinating! I had a million questions.

“What’s a “wink”? Who’s viewed you? Do you message them? Do they know we're looking at them too? Deleting this guy?”

“Our signs aren’t compatible.”

“That matters?!?”

“Not just that. Interests, education, employment, importance of family, can I picture myself naked with them?”

“Aren't you getting ahead of yourselfHow do I see more guys like him? Here we go!”

She sighed. “I’m bad at this. What am I doing wrong?”

“Nothing. Show me some emails.”

Oh boy!

So for the next few hours I enthusiastically handpicked guys based on profiles best suiting Sara. And photos, being much more interested in the context of said photos (children, family, friends) rather than chiseled cheeks and gorgeous eyes. Ok, I’m a sucker for eyes so those added points.

Gaining her confidence by my stellar first selections she said, “Email them.”

“Me?”

“Yep!” She walked away.

Feeling like Cyrano de Bergerac, I did. The gist…

I’m married writing on Sara’s behalf. She’s hilarious, creative, intelligent, I’m a little jealous of her hot body (which I am). I promise you’ll laugh. This is so fun.

It was a cute email and I was sucked in.

“Who viewed “us”? Do “we” have mail yet? Any winks?”

Currently, “we” have a successful reply rate.

I tell my kids, “It’s not always what you say but how you say it.”

Now it’s up to her.


***********************

I wrote this for Trifecta's 33-333 word prompt for the 3rd definition of




And Yeah Write Challenge Grid.


Please check out both places for some of the most outstanding and creative writing on the interwebs. Don’t forget the The Yeah Write Speakeasy too for your fiction and poetry fix.

66 comments:

www.icescreammama.com said...

So fun! and that's what friends are for, helping out, especially if we're too embarrassed to do it ourselves. you're a good friend, i mean it's not easy having a hot body hanging out next to you. ;)

lumdog2012 said...

This whole story was fun. I can just see you egging your friend on. And you having a blast. This tells a lot about you. You must be a fun person to be around. Great piece.

PirateGunn said...

That was fun -a warm story there. Nice idea to do that too..

Anonymous said...

Good tale. True I trust!

Jamie Miles said...

How funny Gina. You have to let us know how it turned out. This could totally be a Lifetime movie -- except you wouldn't have revealed you were writing and the suitor would have fallen in love with you and you would have had to keep writing the emails. Enjoyed your writing in the retelling.

Gina said...

She was so down. She's the type of person that wants nothing more than a healthy monogamous relationship and it breaks my heart that this fabulous person doesn't have one. She was suck on words because she was so nervous. I, not being nervous at all, was thrilled to write on her behalf! She's absolutely adorable and I'm really not jealous ;-)

Gina said...

So I "egg" people on, I'll admit. This, though, was something I could help her with and be objective about it. I had the best time and everyone would ask me, "Who did you email?" "Let me see him." "Any response yet?" Only some people think I'm fun but they happen to be the ones I care about.

Gina said...

Thanks, Managua. She's the sweetest woman. I wanted to help if she'd let me, which she did.

Gina said...

VERY true. Thanks, joe2poetry.

Gina said...

I emailed nine and she is actively corresponding with 4 and maybe 5 but I haven't heard today. I thought about pretending to actually be her but that wouldn't be fair to the guy. So I started the emails right off with "I am not her" and ended with "You will not be dating me." just to be clear.

There is a movie out there like that with Gerard Depardieu. It would be a fun story but I'm totally out of it now unless she needs me to find more suitors!

She just now texted me, truth! that one of the guys wants to have lunch and I, of course, said "Yes!".

Stacie @ Snaps and Bits said...

This would be fun to do - for someone else! I can't wait to see how it pans out for her. I'm just glad I'm married.

Gina said...

It was a blast! For to do for HER! Sounds like a lunch date is on the horizon. Amen, sister!

Anonymous said...

now there's a fun twist to online dating!

Bo said...

I met Lance on Myspace... But internest sights still scare me. I would hate to see who I got matched with.

Gia said...

Hahah that sounds fun! Especially for you - no stress about actually meeting these guys

Unknown said...

Every single woman looking to change her situation should have a friend EXACTLY like you.

Kristin said...

The post I was waiting for! I would LOVE to do this for one of my friends. Hilarious. I can't wait to hear more about Sara...if she'll let us

Jared Karol said...

That sounded like it would have been fun. . . almost makes me wanna be single again. . . :)

opinion8dhermit said...

My bff was lonely and finally gave in to internet dating. Except, well, she didn't. She had such a list of must haves, only teo guys in the area - an area of over 10 million people, showed up. And she then had complaints about them. So we were at a cafe, she was complaining about finding no one, and I said, "here. Go get a refill. I will tweak just tso things, just a bit, and let's surf the results."

6 guys came up. Hey, it's a start.

And guess what? Four years later, one of those six was chosen and they will get married in the Summer! I'm totally no Yenta but yet, I was. So your efforts can pay off.

Jack said...

My oldest friend met his wife online. I asked to write his profile for him but he has known me for far too long and was concerned about how much fun I might have making him "more interesting." ;)

Louise Ducote said...

That sounds like tons of fun! (For the happily married person getting to play around with it, that is). One of my writer friends makes a hundred bucks a pop composing match.com profiles, so don't be too charmed by a well-written profile, just fyi!

Ginny Marie said...

Two of my friends met their husbands on Match.com. But it took one of them a lot of tries before she finally found The One!

Barb said...

You're an awesome friend, Gina! That sounded like so much fun.

Gina said...

She was frustrated and it was fresh for me. We had fun doing it but I could tell her stress level was pretty high and mine, well, was nothing at all. Just fun stuff.

Gina said...

Really! Good for you two. Any dating can be scary but there is so much to be weary of when it comes to the internet. She gets "daily matches" and sometimes can't even figure out why they would even match with her. One out of 20 are okay.

Gina said...

Not one lick of stress for me! And it was a blast.

Gina said...

That's so nice of you to say. It was a bit selfish of me though because I was having fun with something she takes so seriously but I took it seriously too because I want her to be happy.

Gina said...

Talk to her about it! All she could say is "no thank you". She has a lunch date coming up with one of "my", well her, guys.

Gina said...

Yikes! Not me. But it was fun for an afternoon because it didn't involve me.

Gina said...

This is an awesome story! Sometimes people do need a little help. I do too, at times. I hope you get to go to the wedding as the "tweaker". I think I would make a good matchmaker actually. I hope they do pay off for her.

Gina said...

I'm not so sure I'd let you do mine either. You'd definitely have fun with that one!

Gina said...

That's what I told her. People aren't completely truthful with these profiles. Heck, people in person aren't always forthcoming. We see/learn what they want us to see/learn about them. That's where I came in...the objective outsider not pinning hopes on anything. I want $100 a pop!

Gina said...

She will love to know that. Yes, kissing lots of toads (not literally, of course!).

Gina said...

Thanks, Bee. I do try. It was a blast.

TriGirl said...

That sounds so fun! How great to help out with the matchmaking and take some of the awkwardness away! I need to go hang out with the single ladies and do this too! (The matchmaking, not the dating!)

Sorry, there are a lot of exclamation points in this comment. (!)

Annabelle said...

Fun!... as long as it's someone you trust. (Otherwise, potentially hilarious trainwreck.) I hope it goes well!

Anonymous said...

So cool of you!!! "Sara wasn’t anymore and I could tell she was lonely in the way a person is when it’s not how they want to be. Even surrounded by friends." <--- YES. THIS.

German Village Mom said...

I've done this a few times with my cousin! Just meet people! (I heart strangers though)

Atreyee said...

So cute!You are a good friend Gina:-)loved the "we";-)

Kerry Ann @Vinobaby's Voice said...

Love the Cyrano bit. Thanks for a giggle.

Gina said...

She was a little relieved to have me do the "screening" for her. Matchmaking is fun and while dating would be too, I wouldn't/couldn't see myself out there now. Date your husbands, I say!

Gina said...

Apparently she trust me but she "trained" me first before she walked away with me logged onto her profile.

Christie @Random Reflectionz said...

Love it! Good luck to your friend.

Gina said...

Thanks, Peach! That was actually my favorite line too. And it was really true. I felt horrible Saturday morning because she was stressed out and blue.

Gina said...

Lunch or coffee is simple, short and escapable. I will encourage her to get out there more. Her first date with the first guy through Match didn't go well. He was a school Principal that used two foul words on their first meeting. BLOCKED!

Gina said...

I felt very invested in the process and responsible for who I chose for her. Thanks!

Gina said...

That's what it felt like. I appreciate knowing you giggled. Thanks for that Kerry Ann.

Gina said...

Thanks. I don't envy her one smidgeon.

Jack said...

You mean I can't write about you licking the tree. ;)

Steph said...

Sweet. I know a few people who have found mates online. I know one person who is obsessed with reading profiles and communicating with the women, but rarely initiates a meeting. He Skypes with them. You're a great friend, Gina to offer your help and support and make it fun - this search for companionship.

Draug said...

That's so sweet (: What are friends for?

Larks said...

That's an awesomely hilarious text! Love it! I've never been on Match.com before either and now I'm really intrigued. Maybe all my single friends should run and hide... Great post!

Michelle Longo said...

Such a fun way to get to use Match.com -- for someone else!!

Gina said...

I didn't LICK the tree. I merely pretended to kiss it, which could be translated in profile speak as "fun and spontaneous".

Gina said...

Thanks. It was fun and she really wanted the help. I hope she meets someone decent that is well suited to her.

Gina said...

They are there to help and support.

Gina said...

Thanks, Larks. Oh there are many more texts like that from this week. She's received lots of feedback and she updates me regularly. While it was fun as a married person, I wouldn't want that to be my life. I'm perfect where I am!

Gina said...

EXACTLY, Michelle!

Kathleen said...

You are such a good friend, Gina. And what fun! Married you gets to date vicariously. I love it!

I know quite a few people who've had great luck with Match.com. I hope your friend finds a keeper.

Gina said...

Thanks, Kathleen. Married me got to "yea" or "nay" about 100 guys. Now that was fun! I surely wouldn't want to be in her shoes though.

I hope she finds that same luck.

Anonymous said...

You seem like a lot of fun to hang out with! And you're a good friend too, to offer an objective opinion about her prospects. You've got it pretty good, though. You get to sift through the guys and give them either the 'Approved' or 'Denied' stamp, but you don't have to deal with the subsequent 'getting to know them' phase to determine if they are trainable or not! (Only kidding about the 'trainable'...everyone knows men don't train well...women don't either :))

PattiKen said...

Fun, Probably an unlikely way to find the perfect match, but, hey, you never know.

Gina said...

You never know until you try. She should relax and enjoy the trying but I know it's probably stressful.

Gina said...

Thank, Janna! I try my best ;-)

I loved my job. A little light reading, some recreational viewing then the pronouncement with my thumb! And I don't get the sometimes yucky, sometimes fun part. I used to love the very beginning stage of getting to know someone particularly if you "clicked".

I don't believe anyone is trainable, nor should we attempt that feat! As I say to my husband, "Good luck trying."

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