Another day is here! Sitting in my office, I began to observe the so- called couples in and around my surroundings. The geek boy is dating the office hottie now! And wait the girl whose face-you-cannot-see-because-of-pimples is flirting with the attendant?!! Oh Goddd, how do these people even find each other! After giving them one more minute of my attention, I logged on to my computer and began browsing my e-mail.( I know, I know, no personal dealings during work says the company policy but when did 5 minutes of harmless browsing ever hurt someone?!).

Crystal Ball for Future Call

Checking my e-mail, I found links to three online dating websites, inviting me to join them. How do even they know I am single now? Isn’t it embarrassing enough itself to just live with it and now the whole world is aware of it..Urrrrrgggh..Anyway, I logged on to these websites to get a look at them (Ok, I admit, I was trying my luck).

Browsing on the Dating Sites

Wow, there are like thousands of people registered onto these websites. So, I am not alone?!! I began humming a tune feeling a little elevated as this new found information. To register, I need a profile picture and need to fill in some information about myself. A cloud of confusion started to prevail around me, which Picture do I choose?? O my god..this is a serious problem. I had like hundreds of pictures cluttered in different folders and to choose one among them seems like an impossible task. Slowly, I start placing decent pictures of me in a new folder and after an hour( I needed a break from work!!), I zeroed in on a picture of me, wearing diesel jeans and a nice fitted top and holding one of the few designer handbags I own. When I began to upload the picture, it struck me that the picture was at least two years old. Ok, so I have put on a bit of weight and my hair is shorter, but it’s still me right? It was at this moment, that I realized that what if the pictures of all those hundreds of strangers were fake? What if they were taken years back when people looked younger, fresher and smarter? After considering the problem, I decided to take a chance and created my profile.

Is it real? Is it safe?

No Way!

Then, I began browsing through several profiles and a profile of a cute guy called Mark caught my eye. He is an international communications major from University of Pennsylvania?!! WOW. This guy is smart and cute…but then why is he here?…ok no more doubting I decided and went through his profile…There were so many pictures but I could not find him in any of them but there was one familiar face in most of the pictures. Trying to place

the familiar face, I jogged my memory cells. Wait, I know that guy..I have seen him…OMG he is Alan, Alan the totally icky postman! How I despise him! His ogling, the nauseating smile and the sneaky looks…aaahhh he reminds of a sick pervert or at best the next serial killer. Coming back, what is he doing in these pictures? Let me have a look at Mark’s profile picture. Now, even this looks familiar to me. Wait a second, that picture is of Kevin Costner standing sideways! Crap! He actually starred in a movie called postman!

I need a Mechanism of TRUST!

I began cursing at everything, the situation, postman and myself. Obviously, what could I expect from that  sickly postman. Trying to pass of as Costner with a degree from UPenn is probably his only chance of having a real date. I logged off, and took some time to clear my head. Ok, so what now? Will I try my luck again with those online dating websites? To tell you frankly, I do not know. How can I tell if a person is to be trusted? Can anyone vouch for this system?  I am wizened by this experience and I hope it will make better decisions in the future. Tomorrow is a new day!! Till then, ciao!!!

Love

Swapana

So, if you have read my last week’s blog, you are already acquainted with my lifestyle (which is not too complicated to follow, I daresay). For the others who are reading this blog for the first time, let me introduce myself just one more time. I am a single working woman (yes, I know that combination is very tough to handle!) and I am in the search for a perfect date. (the eternal quest for many). Last week, I described a date that did not go down quite well, and any way, it’s a new week! (yay!)

Messy Morning

I got up on a lazy Monday morning and my body refused to co-operate with me (I made sure it did not). I did not want to get up and get dressed for work, but one good look at the watch and I swear I could see my boss’s face in it screaming out loud “Late again. I have given you too many chances, you are fireddddd!”. Unable to deny the prospect of this possibility, I quickly got up and had got ready. I carelessly selected a causal top and a pair of old jeans and without even caring to do my hair, I took my handbag and headed out to my office.

Messy Morning

Crashing into a Gorgeous Guy at the Wrong Time

It was the same boring work as usual, and during lunch, I decided to give the calories a chance, and buy a grilled cheese sandwich. I was texting on my phone to my girlfriends when I practically crashed into the guy who stood next to me in the line at the café. The way he said “sorry”, with a mischievous grin caught my attentions and I immediately put down my lunch and started to take notice of him. (I was never good at concealing my interest for a guy!) Pretending to be waiting for a friend, I took advantage of the time to rush to the restroom to do some last moment damage control.

Every Girl's Nightmare

Damage Control?

Aaaah my hair, it was a bundled mess (I could be one of those poster girls for bad hair), and my make-up was non-existent. I tried to pinch my cheeks to make them as pink as possible and then tried to look as appealing as possible (which I do not think is possible without make-up!!). I hung around, till he got his chance and then sat down on the same table with him for lunch.

Missed the Opportunity of a Life-Time

I think I was too self-aware of the fact that I was completely nude without make-up, the right clothes and a nice handbag and I tried to fidget with my hair and clothes in a way too obvious that made him take attention ( I told you, not good at concealing!) I asked him what he does, and guess what, he’s fashion photographer!! (irony of life) here, I was looking my worst, and whom I am speaking to? a fashion photographer. I could swear I never felt so self-conscious and was so embarrassed, that I could not wait to get out of that place. I did murmur some excuse and came running back to my office. I was cursing myself all the way for not taking the care to dress properly. Who knows maybe things would have worked out? Maybe he would have asked me for his next photo shoot? Maybe I could have been the next big thing? (wishful fantasies of every woman!)

Lesson Learned

The only lesson this episode has taught me is to never under-dress! (ever). I am going to get up and put on something cute (like all single women looking for a date should) and then go on with my work. I am showing my best side to the world from now on (that comes with a lot of hard-work). So, goodbye my friends till the next week, and remember from my experience to always dress cute! (you never know who and when you can meet someone!!) Till next week…with a new adventure…its kiss and good bye!

Lessen Learned

How many times have you said to your friends or family “Err, I had gone on a date with this guy I met on an online dating website and guess:  The date turned out to be a complete disaster. It was so awkward and we totally had nothing in common. I wanted to run from that place as fast as I could”. Let me guess, if you are single and in search of a good date, you must have had that experience at least once. Trust me, as I had it several times myself! After all such experiences, I was totally put-off from online dating till I came across a great Facebook application that includes “match friends” feature.

Let is be light

Instead of depending on unknown websites for providing you with so- called perfect dates, you can now find a great date, among your friends! The best part- you can do it through Facebook! Now, I know it is too exciting to be true but it is! Match friends is a feature offered by the XibYa-Match-Friends application, which allows us to match our friends with others in our friends list on Facebook by simply pointing out to the common aspect that connects them. It could be books, movies or even studies! You can simply go through your friends list and then match two people whom you think are most appropriate for dating each other and send them the match proposal. They can then take off from there!

The perfect date

Ask your friends for a match

The same principle applies to you too! Your friends can simply match you with a person on Facebook through the help of XibYa-Match-Friends application, whom according to their opinion is a good match for you. You can then speak to the person and give it a chance! Matching done by friends is much more likely to succeed than matching done by a random website with strangers. With such an amazing application, Cupid is going to be in action a lot more!

Finally a Cool Facebook Application: XibYa-Match-Friends