5/28/23 - Set: town square 8:45pm 1 #: yes, reply: no Felt a little fatigued from my cold, but popped a pseudo and got in a dancing mood from Pitbull. The town square had a decent crowd of people walking around. Drifted from the square to a corner bar which was closed. I'm walking a loop and see a couple girls already at the end of the street about to cross. I can't reach them, but I meet this trio (hb7, 2 5.5's) and open. me: you know the dive bar's closed right? (I also carelessly dropped an earbud while opening) them: oh really, dang. how'd you know we were headed there? me: you ladies just look like you're tryna have a good night They agree then the 5.5 touches my shirt and says we're both wearing flannels.

We're talking and she says she's the birthday girl. Name's "India" and I smirkly say "I'm not gonna say it, you've probably heard that a lot." her: heard what? me: you're named after a country. They told me they just came from a bar that had a creepy co-worker. Now that the dive's closed I asked em where else they're gonna plan and go. They're unsure, so I weakly suggest they come walking around the square with me. "You guys can join me walking around." There's some pause, I'm leaning on the lamp post so my body language is open and chill. They're still unsure, I initiate a close. me: well, im gonna keep walking around. What's your number birthday girl? She put's it down, and I follow up with "Added contact eh, that's a little fast."

I need to slow my movements down more during the opening. I tend to rush my physical which speeds up my verbal, and dropping the earbud was just clumsy. Not a good start, but I still managed. My body language or something sparked interest, I had all 3 of em planted facing me. The 5.5 birthday girl opened kino when she touched my flannel. I could've ran with that and furthered the conversation. That would give me information to be playful with them while winning over the group. I was rushing which is why I half-assed my suggestion of them walking around with me. If I'd spent more time talking and letting things flow, I could've taken the lead and strongly suggested we just walk around together. I was mostly interested in the quiet hb7, she looked the most excited. Yet I rushed things and went for the birthday girl's #. Oh well, just slow down next time, and go for what I want.

2 #: no I was getting hot so I took my flannel off and was holding it in my hand. I'm back on the square now and see an hb7 and 5.5 30 feet ahead of me walk across the street. One was wearing a dress, and the other a skirt. I got a bright idea to tie my flannel around my waist and jogged after them. me: excuse me. I just wanted to say I like your dress and skirt. them: oh, thank you. me: yeah, you it's super flowy, do you like mine? I turn my butt and gestured to my flannel tied around waist. them: yeah, it look's good. her: you can also tie it around your neck and wear it like a bandana. There was potential there but I don't play back. Instead I say something dumb about how that'll make me vulnerable and I could get choked out. (wtf?)

me: I can also wear it in the front and pretend I'm a waiter. What will you (hb7) have? I can't remember what was said after that. I pretended to poor a couple drinks, and put them on an imaginary serving tray. They just looked at me and I introduced myself and shook the 7's hand, and when I went for the 5.5 she didn't shake it. She just turned around and they walked away without saying anything else. Just left me hanging there.

I'm not making this shit up, I actually did that. When I started my jog, my approach anxiety melted away as I was just focused on executing my weird opener They were smiling, and their faces telegraphed a combination of confused and amused. I just went with the idea and didn't strategize how I was gonna close. I need to play along with what they say, ESPECIALLY when it's in response to my topic.. like improv. I was just a dancing monkey for them, and it was rushed. The opener was high energy, and I wonder if I can slow down myself down (from being rushed) without an energy loss.

I can still have high energy, but just need to slow down and not rush myself. As I said earlier, they were more amused than uncomfortable. While looping the square 45 minutes later they saw me walking up and froze up with anticipation. I didn't have my dancing monkey energy this time, was just dancing a little while I walked. I ignored eye contact until the last second where I looked at the hb7 and winked. She burst out laughing.

Thanks for reading.