Original post

Alright, more expanded FR now that I'm not so tired. It'll probably just come off as an overly analytical look at my day in general.

Earlier in the day I had been out enjoying the Southern Californian sun when I walked by a Verizon store and the girl out front said "Hey I like your purple sweater!" I flashed a sheepish smile and said "Oh thank you!" I've never been the best at taking compliments, but it definitely helped me decide what I was wearing later. Found that my Yelle vinyl had finally come in the mail, got in a quick workout, and I'm off in a pretty good state coming in.

Rolled into Downtown around 7 and got a call from Cakebread. After wandering the streets a bit, he eventually manages to track me down on a street corner. I immediately think he looks just like one of my old frisbee teammates, he probably immediately thinks I'm the biggest hipster he's met in his life (this is unconfirmed). Regardless, I take a quick liking to my new wingman cause he's cool. He also assures me that other LA Sedditors he's met are cool as well, which is good to know.

After wandering the streets a bit to figure where the exhibits and people are (also grabbing a taco because I am starved, with a total missed opportunity to the cute girl behind me in line - approach anxiety, still occasional), we settle to find where the band and DJ will be playing. He runs into a few (female) friends, of whom he introduces me to one. Not much of a meeting, but Cake and I decide to go to the bar around the corner. I relay to him that I feel like I hadn't been failing enough, that I hadn't taken as many chances as I should, and he understood. Good to have a wing on the same wavelength.

I had gone to get a tall boy and I turn around to see that Cake is already talking to someone. Good having him around, I'm not gonna go here and just not talk to anyone, but I wasn't particularly interested in the girl's two friends, nor did it look like he needed saving. I walked around a bit and spotted two blonde German girls sitting by themselves. I'm not one with complicated openers or anything, just smiled and went "Hey how's it going out here?" and started chatting. It turns out one of them was visiting from Germany and had a piece in an exhibition here and was staying with the other at her place in Pacific Palisades. I kino'd a bit but didn't manage a number before they had to leave. Push, MC, push.

Eventually I meet up with Cake again and go to a gallery across the street. Checked out some pieces, and opened to a rather tall brunette. She was not having any of it. Failure is a success! And I moved on better.

Back to the bar, and Cake is quickly back at it. I tell him I'll be here if he needs any saving, but I see him touching a girl almost textbook-like, so I know he reads Seddit. A cute girl catches my eye and I catch her, but I hesitate, and I quickly pass the seven second rule. I run into Cake again and he points out how I've done that. Probably better to move on, and at some point here, Cake needs to actually move on cause he needs to leave early. Unfortunate!

I went back outside to where the DJ is spinning and start to get my best Jarvis Cocker on. I danced with a few different girls, and eventually catch the eye of two Brits, one blond one redhead, and I smiled and opened with an "Oh hey, don't you like to dance?" Talking to them, it turns out both work for a client of ours at work (finally, insurance business pays off), and we share a mutual love for Jarvis. We moved off to a new bar, and eventually a very real time constraint popped in my head - I need to work tomorrow. I touched them a bit both, and I ask for both their numbers and get them! I feel like I really could have escalated more, but I'm in to hang out with them again.

Things to work on still: occasional approach anxiety still, escalation, actually remembering things I said for future FRs. Had a great time out though, which is all that matters.