So, here was my experience last Friday (one day after reading the hell out of this site). My mantras for the night: "game everyone" "just enjoy myself" "talk to strangers!"

Anyhow, the night started at an art museum that hosts live music and booze once a month. My first time there, and wow, what an amazing scene for picking up women... So first I played wingman for my buddy and chatted up two sweet, but not so attractive women while he hit up their rather stellar friend. We walked near them and then my buddy opened them with "Hey guys, how's it going?"... simple, but it worked. He oriented himself towards his target, and one of her friends immediately complimented my shirt. I had trouble engaging both girls, and ultimately ended up mostly talking (unfortunately) to the least attractive of the bunch who happened to be standing next to me. In the end, I didn't ask for a # but I probably could have (and should have!).

Next up I approached two hot blondies (with wingman by my side) and ended up clicking pretty well with one of them. The museum event closes at 9:30 (last call at 9) and so when I noticed them standing kind of akward and empty handed just after 9, I simply pointed out that they'd missed last call. They giggled and we went from there. Sadly, I probably pulled off the "so have you been here before?" variant of the "so you come here often?" line but nevertheless the conversation kept going. In the end, we asked them what they were up to but they were retreating home for the night. My buddy left at this point to use the lou and so we said bye to the girls. It was slightly awkward and lingering though, and I realized I totally should have asked her for her number. And so naturally, with about 10 seconds hesitation, I chased them down and said: "H, I can't let you escape without giving me your #!". The two seemed to be amused by this and she was happy to give me her #.

[update, called her, got VM, left her a message on monday: "hey, this is K, the fellow doctorate student you met at the museum on friday. Anyways, not sure if you have my # (duh..) but its ####, alright, take care!" Afterwords I realized, as usual, this message probably sounded a bit awkward, but I don't know how to avoid this. Maybe I should have said "I thought you were cool and would like to see you again" or something instead of just leaving my #... anyhow, I haven't heard back so I might text her tomorrow. She's a bit younger and I have the impression young girls are all about texting... Given that I leave the country in like 4 days, I'm slightly prone to really pushing the envelope. Also, I met another girl later that night and totally hit it off so I don't really care if this works out.]

Next, we moved on and eventually found ourselves at a small club of sorts. I was chatting with anyone and everyone I could. I smoke, so that's usually the easiest approach for me - to engage women who smoke. I'd met a couple brazilian girls inside (who were terrified of american dancing/grinding), and so when I saw them outside we chatted a bit. I brought up that I'd visited Brazil and how kissing there is so common.. thought this might take the convo in an interesting direction but they weren't biting. I sort of asked for a # at some point and the hotter of the two suggested I friend her on facebook. For me, that's kind of like a no.. in my slightly drunken state how the F am I supposed to remember some random chicks full name...? Anyways, moving on.

I ultimately ended up dancing with this other girl. Now, though I like to dance, I'm usually self-conscious as all hell. But for some reason, something was different this night. There was touching and grinding.. I kissed her neck a couple times, accidentally brushed her breast at one point, later kissed her cheek (to which she responded by clenching my shoulder). Anyways, a few things of interest happened here:

1) She asked at some point: "So can I ask you an honest question?" "How often do you do this?" Basically, I interpreted this to mean that she was suspicious that I was some sort of player. I forget exactly what I said (somehow diffusing the notion), but she confessed to the fact that she only goes out like this like twice a year). I responded: "Well, the more you get to know me the more socially awkward you'll realize that I am." She seemed delighted by this, exclaiming "me too!"

2) After this, I made her promise to give me her number before the night was done. Pretty much said it just like that. She complied, and later when she gave it to me, said that I'd better call her. I've gotten this before, and given her earlier comment, I think she's not too experienced with getting hit on and such (or she's totally into me, or both)...

3) The lights turned on (club was closing), and I said "Now we get see how beautiful we both are!" We kept dancing.. I had no inhibitions at all, and at one point she ended up against a pole that was in the middle of the dance floor. I teased her that she liked being against the pole and she smacked me.. but not in a bad way, it was hot as hell. It was like her true desires had been exposed. We were getting pretty hot and ended up kissing.. briefly but I totally dug it (it was a bit of a teaser). For whatever reason she ended up smacking me another time, but again rather playfully.

At the end of the night, she's with friends and whatnot and I didn't pursue sex. With all the energy we had going this would be a nice option... but I just don't know that I could pull this off too easily.

[Update, I call her on Sunday, she picks up, but is at the airport and it's hard to hear her. We eventually sort things out and I tell her I'd like to see her when she gets back in town (and before I leave the country), so we set a date for Thursday. She ends up texting me shortly after apologizing for the noise and giving me her email (wtf? ha) in case it'll help arranging things for thursday. shortly after a second text saying she apologizes if she sent the first text twice cuz of some phone spasm. She professes to being "awkward" which she seems super comfortable about since we had that moment back at the club.

So that's great and all, but, after some more reading here, I decide not to "let the line go slack" and so I sent her a text on tuesday. We had an exchange: ME: "I know we were thinking low key and all, but I went ahead and signed us up for pole dancing lessons on thursday. hope you're ready!"

HER: "oh my. not sure how to respond to that other than saying i had hoped you didnt remember that particular part of friday night. hah. oh well :-]"

ME: .. nothing, I don't respond

HER (later that night): "ok, pardon the paranoia, but you didn't respond to my humorous response to what I thought was a joking response about pole dancing. you weren't being serious...?

ME: "well, it was either that or a course on self defense.. you got some good licks in! I might have to borrow some spandex shorts though"

HER: "you know what they say: if you can rock spandex...actually, I totally forgot about the mild physical abuse, you should take defense solo, i seem not to need it"

ME: ""mild" physical abuse? You just wait..."

(I hesitated a bit on this one... wasn't sure, as it is WAY more aggressive/flirtatious than I normally would be. plus I knew it was late at night and might not hear back. then I just said fuck it and sent it...)

So that's the update... she seems pretty into me. We're meeting up on Thursday.. probably for drinks. Minus some hiccup in the system where me and my x hooked up last saturday after months of not speaking (I totally dropped the ball.. was like 1 week from completely getting over her. And I'd even seen swingers for the first time the night before...no excuse), I haven't had sex in over 2 months (since vball girl...). I would love to sleep with this girl on thursday. What are your thoughts? Based on her personality, she seems she might be a bit prudent (then again we got pretty far along on the dance floor...).]

More to come!