April 2013
1 post
6 tags
Greg is happy
Once upon a time, I have forgotten where or when, I read a piece about the fate of blogs. It was half-humorously claiming that most blogs end up updated once every 6 months or so, and even this one post simply contains an apology from the blogger for not writing for so long and promises to update more frequently in the future.
And that is where this blog has ended up. I realize I have dropped...
November 2012
1 post
4 tags
My Hallowe'en costume may have been a bit too...
Eva: Greg, where did you get all these muscles?!
Greg: Uhm... I always had them, Eva.
October 2012
3 posts
8 tags
Prelude
In the spirit of the season, here’s a little story from last year’s Halloween. Fair warning: this is not exactly a captivating story. But without this introduction, what followed would make no sense.
It was almost exactly a year ago, a week or two before Halloween weekend 2011. I was out on my first date with Anna. The date had gone great, and after saying our goodnights, I was...
7 tags
Performance issues
(to read all about how I met Andrea, click here)
Two weeks after our salsa evening, I was getting ready to meet with Andrea again. Like the day of our first kiss, this was not a traditional date. Rather, Andrea had invited me on a night out with her colleagues and friends.
The venue was a large bar with pool tables and a huge dance floor. I arrived very early, and the bar was still almost empty,...
6 tags
A blast from the past
I have already hinted at the fact I was spending some time back home these past two weeks. It was an opportunity to get some paperwork and personal chores done, and also see my family. Of course, I took the opportunity to catch up with old friends too.
I was walking down the road with a childhood friend, Becker, when he pointed to a girl standing at the street corner and said “who would...
September 2012
8 posts
3 tags
Okcupid chronicles #5
I’ve written time and again about my disappointment with online dating. I had practically given up okcupid by the time summer came around, and I was toying around with the idea of deleting my account completely. My new relationship with Andrea was the final straw: sometime in July, I deleted my profile.
I thought I should extrapolate a little on my reasons for being so down on okcupid. Bottom...
7 tags
Lady Dance
I met Andrea about a year ago, when she walked in the new dance class at my gym. A colleague and I had decided to check it out. Then in comes this very beautiful, extremely fit, dark-skinned lady, dressed in a revealingly tight dance outfit, who of course turned out to be the instructor. I couldn’t take my eyes off her for a while; but what of it? I was still in a (dying) relationship with...
4 tags
My mom the matchmaker
Greg's mom: Now that you are spending a couple of weeks home, we thought we could introduce you to some girls.
Greg: You are kidding, right?
Greg's mom: Uhm... Right, right.
7 tags
An eventful night
As many nights this summer, I was at the Bar. This time turned out to be different though. As it will become apparent by the end of this post, I could very well make an argument that this night has changed my life to a degree.
I was there with a friend, who immediately pulled a “Have you met Ted?” on me, by introducing me to a beautiful blonde girl and then disappearing. It worked...
8 tags
Lady Fox - Part 2
(click here for the first part)
It was getting late. I was in bed in my hotel room. Texts were flying back and forth between Ruby and me. Of course, it wasn’t long before our exchange started heating up.
“I have to confess something. I am getting pretty turned on”, I wrote.
“You are late to the party then”, Ruby replied.
“I wish I was there with you. I would...
3 tags
Okcupid chronicles #4
Sorry it took me so long to reply. I’m sure that it say “REPLIES VERY SELECTIVELY” on my profile, which is true. In my own defense, I cant respond to everyone and give them false hope ;)… I’m not a total jerk, I swear. You seem smart, funny, well-traveled, quite possibly like an ass kicking. Consider me intrigued.
Yep, totally enjoy getting my ass...
6 tags
Lady Fox - Part 1
Lady Fox is in fact Ruby, one of the girls I met the last time I went speed dating. That original meeting went very well, so a couple of weeks later we arranged our first date. I suggested a quiet bar out of the beaten track, with a good reputation for cocktails. Ruby seemed to like the place, especially after she discovered a cocktail with her favorite bourbon.
As dates go, this one was going...
8 tags
Lady Sports
I mentioned sometime ago my slight conundrum with three ladies I was dating at the time. I thought it was time I start explaining.
Lady Sports (let’s agree to call her Lauren instead) was tall. Really tall. And athletic. Very athletic. I met her through Okcupid. I have always seen online dating as more of a social experiment rather than anything else, so I often try different approaches to...
August 2012
6 posts
5 tags
I need better wingmen, Part III
Yesterday, I went out again with Barney, well-known from his exploits and his shockingly bad approaches. It was an exhausting experience, and I am glad we only get to hang out every few months. The man is like a hyena. He just wears you out until he gets what he wants, whether that is the kind of food to go out for, the place to visit, or the girl at the bar he has his eye on.
Last night, we...
4 tags
Okcupid chronicles #3
I once came across a profile with this summary:
“Hello. You’ve reached MF’s profile. We are experiencing high message volume. All representatives are presently busy. Thank you for choosing MF. Please enjoy the music while your mail is being processed.” … I am scintillant, pawky, and voltaic.
I replied:
“Hi, this is Greg, calling for MF. I...
7 tags
Retro stories: the Doctor
The summer, traveling and work have gotten in the way of my updates. That is how it is in August. Greg comes back today with a retro story. Enjoy.
I once got the girl by hitting her with a pebble. True story.
It was the first summer of the millennium, and I was chilling on a beach with friends. Felix was there. Gus was there. Michael was there. So were some others. We were all waiting for a...
9 tags
Beginning of a beautiful friendship
Sometimes, you meet a person and you immediately know there is going to be good chemistry between you. Such was the case with Eva.
I was introduced to Eva when I was at The Bar one night, and we hit it off instantly. When meeting someone new, people sometimes tend to be awkward, reserved, uncomfortable, or we struggle to find something interesting to say. There was none of that with Eva; it felt...
4 tags
5 tags
Okcupid chronicles #2
I once came across an okcupid profile with this disclaimer:
You should message me if
… You are not an asshole. …
I answered:
Hi there LD, I think I meet your lofty expectations: I almost definitely am not an asshole. You want to go dancing? Greg
Weird. She never replied.
July 2012
10 posts
5 tags
Guest post: American woman
So here’s the big revelation: I have spent a big chunk of my life in England. As a result, I still have a love/hate relationship with all things English. As in, I bitch about them all the time, but secretly love them to death. Many of the blogs I follow come from the UK, and Jon’s The Things I’ve Done to Impress Women, is unequivocally one of my favorites. So when Jon offered to...
9 tags
We're all friends here
When Cyrus was in town, I of course took the opportunity to take him out and show him the nightlife around here. One of these evenings, we went for dinner, then met with Alex at The Bar for a live performance of a local band.
The Bar is a hangout for many of my friends; that night I immediately spotted Evan right in front of the stage, enjoying the music. Amongst my friends, Evan is the closest...
7 tags
In a bit of a pickle
Recently, Dharma asked me this question:
“Where are you going with this path?”
She was referring to my newly-found focus on socializing and dating since our break up (or more accurately, since my break up with Lily). I gave her a threefold answer:
1) After the break ups I felt lost and uncertain about who I really was. I am trying to lead a single lifestyle, until I feel that I have...
6 tags
Okcupid chronicles #1
I’ve said this before, but I’ve pretty much grown tired of okcupid. Because of this I now try to just have fun with my profile. To this effect, I recently changed two of my answers to the standard profile questions to the following:
On a typical Friday night I am
doing what I do every night: try to take over the world!
The most private thing I am willing to admit
I am...
6 tags
Throwing up all Sunday
Most of the time, when I write that “I met someone in a bar”, it is one specific bar I am talking about. It is a relatively well-known singles bar, conveniently located downtown. I like the environment, they play live music a couple times a week and I have lots of friends who frequent it, so I am there often, even though it can turn into a meat-market sometimes. Since so many of my...
9 tags
Retro stories: the girls next door
In my blog, I tell the stories of my dating adventures. The key element is that these are my stories, from my point of view, influenced by my morality and my perception of reality. Invariably, I come off looking like the good guy (or so I hope). I am certain that if one were to ask the women that appear in my posts though, they would have a different story to tell. Still, I want to be as accurate,...
8 tags
Not-so-mixed signals
I first published a version of this story under the title “Mixed signals” 2 months ago, violating two important rules of my blog: “don’t write about ongoing relationships”, and “don’t write without some distance from the events”. Thinking back, I probably also violated an important rule of life: “don’t write when you’ve just had a...
8 tags
To kiss or not to kiss
A few weeks ago, I was at a birthday party in a bar with my friend Alex. I didn’t know anyone there; Alex was the one who knew the birthday boy, as well as many of the guests. I did my best to mingle with the crowd; it wasn’t difficult since we were late to the party and everyone was already pretty buzzed. I went back and forth and got to know some of the people there. As I was talking...
5 tags
Hawaiian tropic
Cyrus and Greg are finally back from Hawaii.
We climbed mountains and swam with fish. We marveled equally at the stars and at the corals. We looked down at clouds and up at waterfalls. But most importantly, we talked to people.
People like Tiny, the towering van driver that took me from the airport to the hotel. He poured out his love for Hawaii, and set the tone for the entire trip.
...
5 tags
We are girls
Some highlights from Cyrus’ and Greg’s ongoing Hawaiian adventure:
We spent a morning getting a pedicure and painting our toenails.
We spent an evening shopping, not for us, but to help a friend pick out some clothes.
We went out for cocktails. Several times.
We bought sarongs.
Today’s plan is to go and watch the sun set.
Yesterday, we had this discussion: Greg:...
June 2012
12 posts
4 tags
Adrenaline junkie
As I have mentioned before, the speed dating company that organized the first event I attended a few months ago, keeps inviting me back for free whenever they are low on male participation. Their events are always fun and in nice bars around the downtown area so, when I can, I accept their gracious invitations.
The event I went to last week was by far the best of the bunch I’ve attended....
6 tags
Update
I am lagging a bit behind on my posts, so I thought I’d try something new this time, and give you a quick update.
I have officially run out of stories to write. That is not to say nothing is happening in my personal life, in fact the opposite is true. But everything that is happening is still ongoing, and I really don’t like to write about someone I met before the story has concluded,...
7 tags
The Things I've Done To Impress Women: Guest Post:... →
Jon writes The Things I’ve Done to Impress Women, one of the most creative dating blogs I’ve read. I urge everyone to start reading his stories and be amazed by the things this bloke comes up with, I mean he actually can create things that impress women, unlike, for example, lame people like myself, who have to rely on standing tall, telling a joke, and maybe showing off my biceps at...
Jessica's House Blend: Art of Picking Up a Girl:... →
With Greg is Dating, I don’t use many of tumblr’s microblogging features that are extremely popular for most people. For example, I don’t normally reblog other posts. But today I am making an exception, because Jessica hits the nail right on the head with this one.
For the record, I too have trouble understanding the obsession with “getting digits”. What on earth are you...
5 tags
Retro stories: flashbacks
It’s 1998. I am sitting at a coffee shop alone. I have just broken up with my girlfriend. She was my first serious relationship, and the first woman I ever had sex with. We were together for 5 years. Breaking her heart was the most difficult thing I ever had to do. I finish my drink and walk away.
It’s 6 months later. I am sitting in a plane with one of my best friends, Michael, on...
4 tags
“Blown off practically at the last minute on a Friday evening (Cycle Girl...”
– Greg
6 tags
Couch surfer
A few weeks ago, I was at my desk at work, calmly going about my business. Then my phone beeped. It was a message from Okcupid, which I found somewhat unusual, since the vast majority of the messages I receive are replies to messages I have sent out, and I haven’t been contacting anyone lately. This was the rare exception though, someone contacting me first. Imagine that.
I had a quick look...
6 tags
Dating in the USA
my-life-out-loud replied to your post: Broken rules
Do these things really just happen in America? Are we the only ones so messed up? That is terrible to know!
I get a lot of comments like this. Sophie from Sexonomics writes “These things happen everywhere, do not become jaded!” and Bee from Bringing Sparkle Back, who lives in Great Britain, says “Inevitably that’s how it...
6 tags
Broken rules
I met Carla at a networking event for singles at a downtown bar. I was there with a bunch of friends and we were having a grand time, when she tapped me on the shoulder and introduced herself. Carla is a tall, busty brunette with a big smile and a wonderful energy that I immediately found attractive. We chatted for a while that first night, but Carla lives 50 miles out of town, which meant she...
6 tags
Retro stories: geeking out in the Med
Note: I was reminded of this story during a discussion with Bee, over from Bringing Sparkle Back. Even though it is not very interesting thematically (there are no dates or even a hint of a romantic interaction), I think it is still funny and decided to expand it and post it here for your pleasure.
One spring, back when I was still at University, our Department organized a spring break...
5 tags
Text only
I am gradually gravitating away from Okcupid and online dating, mostly because of the effort and time it takes to make anything work. Most times, it seems like the results do not justify the investment. I still visit the site from time to time though. A month or two ago, I was browsing around on Okcupid when I noticed a fiery redhead with a Gaelic username and a wild smile. Clicking on her picture...
7 tags
I'm outta here
I am very, very rarely contacted by women on Okcupid. When I am, 9 times out of 10 it is by much older women, or freaks. I always assumed this was par for the course; it made sense that most women don’t need, and therefore don’t bother, to make an effort to reach out to the opposite sex, since they probably receive dozens of messages per day. My misconception was recently shuttered by...
May 2012
16 posts
6 tags
Aiming high
Tony's friend: That's what you want in a woman: eights across the board. Once a woman knows she is a 10 in something, she gets a big head.
Me: That's... good advice.
Tony: That is Greg's problem. He always goes for the 10s.
Me: Hey, that's not true! I'm not even that hang up on looks!
Tony: OK, let me ask you this: were you not talking to that blonde girl at the bar before?
Me: Oh yeah, she was really nice. I struck up a conversation with her and we were chatting for a while.
Tony: Were you hitting on her?
Me: Well, sort of. She is really attractive.
Tony: Yeah, that's because she was Miss [State I live in].
Me: ... Oh.
6 tags
Retro stories: my brother's colleague
My posts have almost caught up with real life. I have decided on occasion to tell some stories from the distant past, or at least outside the period from October 2011 to the present, which my blog normally covers. Here’s my first try. I hope you enjoy it!
I was still living back home, a year or two before finishing my undergrad degree. Ollie was my brother’s colleague in college....
7 tags
How about a straight answer for a change?
I have already mentioned one of my big gripes with dating in America: the Need to Define the Relationship. This, of course, still keeps happening. Only the other night, a woman who I had been out with once, and briefly at that, told me on the phone: “I want to make this clear: I don’t want the men I date to meet my children”. Hey lady, I want to make something clear too: I...
6 tags
“Last Saturday, I had a first kiss standing on a baseball field. It doesn’t...”
– Greg
6 tags
I need better wingmen, Part II
A couple nights after the infamous cat story, Barney and I went out again. We ended up in an almost empty bar, and chatted for a while over a beer. Next to me was sitting a girl who was reading a book, so at some point I turned to her and asked her what she was reading with such dedication. She laughed and we started talking, and soon she was telling me all about her career, family and life...
7 tags
I slept with a cat
A week after my night with Britney, a colleague, Barney, was visiting at work. We had plans to go out together, and he was very keen on going to one of the more popular singles bars in town. I had no objections, so I obliged.
I had been out with Barney before a couple of times, but I had never seen him in this mode. As soon as we arrived at the bar, he immediately started scouring for girls,...
6 tags
37
I met this girl in a bar, and she gave me her number. She lives out of town, but she said she would be in town for Sunday. I said I’d call her on Saturday, so I did. While on the phone, this exchange happened:
Her: [with extreme enthusiasm] So how was your evening yesterday? Me: Actually, it was my birthday, so I had a fantastic time with friends. Her: That’s amazing! How old are you...
6 tags
Close but No Cigar
I met Britney through Tony, on one of our nights out in town. Britney is the kind of girl that turns every head in a room: she is 28, tall, fit, with long blond hair and a beautiful smile. She is hot in every meaning of the word.
The first night I met her, Britney took me and Adrian for a late night dinner at a 24 hour restaurant. Britney was always full of ideas like that, and unlike many women,...
5 tags
I have an accent
Her: How many girls have you gotten with that accent of yours?
Me: Well, none... until now!
