Top
Search TNTML

<editorsnote> Hi, I'm Jen Friel, and we here at TNTML examine the lives of nerds outside of the basements and into the social media, and dating world.  We have over 75 peeps that write about their life in real time. (Real nerds, real time, real deal.) Sit back, relax, and enjoy some of the stories!! </editorsnote>

 

 

Powered by Squarespace

Entries in jen friel okcupid (12)

Wednesday
Feb132013

#DatingDetox: It's done, but now what? 

Today marks the 30th day of my self imposed dating detox!!!!

Here's a rundown of the tasks I've finished ... 

1) No dating for 30 days. Done. 

2) No swearing. I am donating $50 to a local charity here in LA. Anyone have a suggestion please let me know!! 

3) I must get up every morning and put on makeup. Done. I love, love, loved this btw. I thought it was going to err on the side of vanity caring about makeup and making sure you look a certain way. I genuinely never care about what I look like. My roommate will tell you that I walk around without any makeup for sometimes days at a time if I can get away with it and am in hermit mode. What I couldn't grasp though in that state was the beauty of self care. It wasn't about putting on globs of makeup but about liking what I saw in the mirror and reminding myself that damn gina, you're still a fine looking thang ova there! Having such terrible luck in dating really did a number on my self esteem. 

4) Get contacts. I haven't been home in the last 2 weeks, so I haven't been able to get to my doctor. I did though make an appointment for next week, so it will get done. 

5) Get my car back. No more city bus. I AM FINALLY GETTING MY CAR BACK!!! Today, I messaged my friend that has my car and asked for a text of my license plate. From there, I have to call tomorrow to find out one of the ticket numbers for my vehicle and then pay online. From theerrrreeeee, I'm going to call the insurance company and get coverage in addition to going to my appointment with my mechanic on Monday. Getting my car back is ENORMOUSLY overwhelming for me on an emotional level. I can live off of literally nothing - that's no joke. I don't need a car, but it's again part of the self care component. I don't need to take the city bus anymore. I can afford my car, gas, and insurance. After being SO POOR for a year though during my bartering social media as currency, there is this extremely irrational part of my brain that wants this massive nest egg for myself and never wants my bank account to be that low again. To feel PURE HUNGER on more occasions than I can count is something I NEVER EVER EVER want to experience again. 

6) No slaves. I haven't talked to any of my slaves all month. I'm not sure where I stand on everything, but am going to give it a bit longer to see if I want to explore the community again. 

7) No drinking. I didn't cut out drinking entirely, but I averaged less than a single glass of whatever each week. It was gnarly even the other night at my friend's bday party that little bit extra of wine REALLY got to me. My tolerance is NOTHING right now which is a really good thing. It was great to sometimes just get an iced tea instead of defaulting to a beer or whatever the popular cocktail was at the given location. It definitely helped my waistline as well. 

8) Healthy eating. I've been eating super healthy all month. I eat powerbars after workouts, and keep pretty kosher with either a salad or small sandwich. My appetite has decreased in general and I feel fuller faster which is rad. 

9) Visit the gym everyday.  Dude, my clothes are falling off of me. I put on weight when I launched this brand, and within about the next 30 days I'll lose that last little bit and be back at my weight pre this site. It wasn't my intention, but it honestly feels GREAT going to spin class at the end of each day. In fact, the last two days I haven't been able to go for scheduling reasons has made me SUPER cranky. There's something about just going to class and completely shutting your brain off. Me gusta mucho. 

10) I must keep my room clean. I LOVED this goal too, and I've kept it. (Except for this very moment funny enough.) I take such pride in getting up in the morning and making my bed, and hanging any lingering clothing. I'm def not a clean freak, but now I'm somewhere in between and it feels GREAT! 

10) Must do 15 girly things. 

Ex list: 

a) maintain manicure - done

b) maintain eyebrows - done

c) bikini wax (never done that one before) 

d) go shoe shopping for myself and pay for my own shoes (I currently only own corporate sponsored shoes or domme shoes that my slaves bought me. I need to buy a pair for myself.) - done

e) girly slumber party - done

f) buy myself a new outfit for the purpose of impressing myself - done

g) buy a piece of art that inspires me - done

h) take a pottery class 

i) cook dinner for friends - done

j) visit the lacma - done

k) host a chick flick marathon - done

l) go shopping with girlfriends and try on super girly clothing. The frillier the better. - done

m) take a bubble bath

n) visit a spa and pay for visit myself

o) purchase perfume - done

p) get a new tattoo (all big life changes require a tattoo) - done

q) meet someone that inspires me - done

r) make a new girlfriend 

I still have two more things to do from the list, but again, considering I've been traveling for the last two weeks - I am going to give myself a little breathing room and wrap everything up this weekend. 

I got back on OKC last night expecting this grand moment of relief. YES! I thought I would say, online dating!! I can have you again!!!! 

Instead of being excited though, I felt a bit sad. I feel like a piece of me dies every day knowing that I am still in this place. I am such a bitch to men. I get so bored and disinterested and because I have no filter it is incredibly obvious. Then, if I am into a guy I freak thinking he must be emotionally unavailable. Most of the time, however, it turns out he's not but a lifestyle conflict arises based on my choices and it ends anyway. 

I get SO FREAKING FRUSTRATED some days thinking I do ALL of this self work, and what do you get in the end? The reward from this detox happened in business and happened in my spirit. Again, my parents said when I saw them recently that they had honestly never seen me so happy. (And GENUINELY happy. Not just the crappy smile I put on my face for the first 24 years that lead to a nervous breakdown.) I feel great, there's no doubt about it, but it's still not enough. I'm 28, spending another Valentines day working, (after spending the last 28 years without a Valentine in general) and I just got out of a relationship with a plant. 

Yes, a fucking plant. 

 

None of this is normal, and I get that this is why people find me interesting ... but at the end of the day this is my real life. I'm not lonely any more because I have truly spectacular friends but I have this fear that I'm going to become this crazy obsessed capitalistic maneater. And even worse, I feel like I have no choice in the matter. It's like, this is what is in front of me. I thought FOR SURE I'd be STOKED to get out the gate again and just start dating, and now I'm not so sure. Does this mean even more self work? It's definitely created even more of a demand for my attention in general. 

It's all so frustrating, and never ending. Google says I'm the "worlds best girlfriend" yet the only relationship I've had for the last 6 years has been in this last month and required watering once a week. 

It's funny, I got recognized twice on the street today yet I look in the mirror and am no longer sure I recognize myself. 

Now what? 

#thatisall

 

 

 

Friday
May042012

Fun with #OkCupid: 3 different emails ... 3 different responses

First up, if you haven't read my OKC profile - you can check it out over yonder. Might make some sense to the things guys reply to, haha. But for reals, these are all actual emails I've received recently, and my actual responses back to them. It is through this transparent experience that I hope you all can take away some knowledge on what works and what doesn't in the hopes of making your online dating experiences that much more fanschmastically awesome. YAYYYY ONLINE DATING YAYYY!!! K ... cool ... here we go ...

 

Do I want to chat on AIM? What?!?!?! No, it's an online dating website!! You live in the same city that I do - why wouldn't we just grab a beer or a cup of coffee?? 

Lame. Lame. Lamer than lame. Men under no circumstances should you EVVEERRR message this to a woman. For reals, step out of the chat rooms and step into IRL. 

Actual Response: None

Ahhhhh he must be referencing this video ... 

Like I said after my tour of a BDSM club, it's something that I still have yet to explore further, but in the right intimate setting .... with the right person ... yeah, I'd be game. I genuinely don't know if I'm going to find it on OKC though. Hey! Maybe when I'm in NYC next ... but doubtful. 

Actual Response: None

I can't BEGIN to tell you how many emails a week I get asking that same thing ... and I just wanna know ... WHO THE FUCK HAS IT EVER WORKED ON?? 

Seriously!! Who has EVVEERRR said, yes, creepy OKC dude, I will gladly come over to your apartment - or better yet you come to mine - where I will gladly undress for you as you rub oil all over my body. 

A guy I am seriously dating is ABSOLUTELY allowed to give me a rub down ... a random on OKC? You have GOT to be kidding me!! 

Fail. 

Fail. 

Fail.

Dudes, don't ever message this to a girl. Instead, pick one detail from her profile and ask her to elaborate. Maybe if I happened to be a masseuse that could be a nice lead in - but it's too strong otherwise. Stick with what you already know about the person and ask in a clear and concise email for them to tell you more. 

Actual Response: None

There ya go nerderinos. Hope this makes you all feel 5% more normal! Best of luck out there!!!

#love

 

Tuesday
Apr172012

Fun with #OkCupid: 3 different emails ... 3 different responses

First up, if you haven't read my OKC profile - you can check it out over yonder. Might make some sense to the things guys reply to, haha. But for reals, these are all actual emails I've received recently, and my actual responses back to them. It is through this transparent experience that I hope you all can take away some knowledge on what works and what doesn't in the hopes of making your online dating experiences that much more fanschmastically awesome. YAYYYY ONLINE DATING YAYYY!!! K ... cool ... here we go ...

 

Fact: Online dating is about the chick, not the dude. Women are in the position of power as we are the minority on these sites. (I'm actually genuinely curious what the male to female ratio is on each site. They prolly don't release it, but someone somewhere has to at least have a guesstimate - hit me up! I'm curious! @Jenfriel) Do not ever, and I mean EEVVEERRR message a chickadee like this - it's incredibly lame.

A more appropriate message would have been if he picked ONE detail from my profile and asked me to elaborate.

Ex: I see that you like the Matrix, what are your thoughts on the sequels?

Perfect. Concise. Period end of sentence.

The above email though? No bueno.

Actual Response: None

FTR, don't ever ... EEVVEERRR create an online dating profile and leave out the picture. On OKC you MIGHHTTT be able to get away with it if you answer enough of the questions and just so happen to have a high compatibly - but it's still not good. Take a picture yourself, or have a friend do it. Leave out the "in the mirror myspace pose" just have a genuine smile and frame it the way a headshot is framed. Don't have any hats or glasses on - it strictly just needs to be your face. Let the female judge your attractiveness, just make sure that you have a genuine smile!! 

Actual Response: None

I normally don't condone cursing in the first email, but this guy and I are matched pretty high - and this caught me off guard - something that doesn't happen a lot on online dating websites.

Well done.

Actual Response: hahaha hello.

There ya go nerderinos. Best of luck out there!!!

#love

Saturday
Dec312011

Fun with #OkCupid: We live in the smallest. world. ever.

Looky looky the email I just got on OKC ...

 

Dudes - this guy was actually right!! I didn't check in to anywhere I was ... or ANYTHING!! No hints and I didn't even pick the place until a few hours before I went there, so there was no way this guy could have know. Totally coincidental.

I can't BEGIN to tell you how small of a world it is that we live in now because of social media - it for reals blows my mind every. single. day.

#crazy

PS. I'm not mad at gingers. They're kinda hot.

P.P.S. I totes heart when guys start an email with "this is going to sound bizarre and even creepy."

Click here to read about my latest date - it was with a guy who agreed with the Unabomber.

Are you on OkCupid? Me too! Drop me a love note and if you live in LA maybe we can totes even go out on a date. Maybe? Maybe? Mayybbeeee???


Monday
Dec122011

Fun with #OKCupid: 3 different emails ... 3 different responses

First up, if you haven't read my OKC profile - you can check it out over yonder. Might make some sense to the things guys reply to, haha. But for reals, these are all actual emails I've received recently, and my actual responses back to them. It is through this transparent experience that I hope you all can take away some knowledge on what works and what doesn't in the hopes of making your online dating experiences that much more fanschmastically awesome. YAYYYY ONLINE DATING YAYYY!!! K ... cool ... here we go ...

 

Wow, sorry - I fell asleep sometime around the second long walk on the beach.

Lame. Very lame.

Albeit, yes, this guy seems wonderfully nice and vanilla which I'm sure is REALLY RAD for a lot of chicks out there!! For me, no bueno.

Your primary objective in sending an OKC email to a chick is to get her to reply, right? You want her to 1. Click on your profile, and 2. Reply back to you.

Given those objectives you need to break down the next doable actions in getting them done. How do you get a chick to click on your profile? Well, you start with a clear close up on your face.

A chick will judge how attractive you are - just have a clear shot for her to analyze however.

Oh, and SUPPPERRRR important, make sure you have a genuine smile in your picture. Take a picture where you are actually laughing, or actually having a good time. Genuine smiles are HUUGGEEE and something you don't see very often in online dating profiles.

What do I mean by a genuine smile? Here are two examples I found (not from OKC but online in general):

Exhibit A:

& Exhibit B:

Now judging the attractiveness is neither here nor there - but focus on the smile. Which one of the two has a more genuine smile??? (hint hint: SAY B!!! SAY B!!!)

And boom! If Exhibit B came from OKC, and was this dude's default profile picture I would ABSOLUTELY click!!

And now for phase two, getting her to respond.

How does one do that? By asking the chick a short and sweet question.

Pull ONEEE SPECIFIC DETAIL from a girl's profile, and ask her to elaborate on it.

Example: I talk about The Alchemist being my favorite book - maybe you've read it, and have something insightful to say and also have a question on a certain part of it that you'd like to ask me. That will absolutely absolutely absolutely get a response. It's one of my passions!! I'll talk about that book morning, noon, and night - ANNNDDD by you pulling that one specific detail, I know you're not cutting and pasting that same message into every chick's inbox (which a LOT of guys do) - so I will take it more seriously.

This works - not what that guy wrote.

Remember these three steps: 1. Clear shot of your face set as your default.

2. Genuine smile.

3. Ask to elaborate on one specific detail

and BOOM! mission is accomplished!

Actual Response: None.

 

HAHAHA how to know you're dating online in Los Angeles: You get shit like this sent to you once a week.

No, but thank you. But yeah ... no.

Actual Response: None.

I'm pretty certain it's response - and why would a guy EVVERRRRRR start off with "I don't need a response ..." Are you fucking kidding me?? Dude, aren't we all here to meet someone!! Why the HELL would you start off a message saying something like that. Super freaking lame and a HUGGEEEE NO NO!!! Be confident! You have nothing to lose sending a message to a girl on OKC so put your damn balls on the table, and just say what's up! We don't bite!!! UGHH!!!!! So frustrating.

Actual Response: None.

Happy online dating nerderinos!!

Click here to view my OKC profile. Hit me up ... but not all Tina Turner style, cause like, that would hurt.

#kbye