Ok, When I Find The Time, am I now using the appropriate term for sex after my divorce? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

I adore going to the bookstore and often go on weekends when my kids are with their dad. This was long before it was suggested here to be a mecca of fabulous single people. hehehe. So as I was getting ready to go on my bi-weekly trip to Borders, I was reading the flirting thread with great interest. I love to flirt, but haven't practiced it knowingly in a long time. I decided to try it out tonight.

I get to the bookstore around 8:30. I get deeply involved in a book before remembering my mission, so it is about 8:45 before I remember to glance around the store and stake out the joint.
Prospect #1: A man who was probably 65. I'm 33, and he wasn't Harrison Ford, and I'm no Calista Flockhart. Moving on.
Prospect #2: I see a man in architecture with his back to me. I move closer. A woman dressed EXACTLY like him moves over to him. Either they are 45 year old twins or very attached spouses. Neither is an excuse for dressing identically. Moving away quickly.
Prospect #3: A ha! Could this be someone at least close to my age, that doesn't have a matching clothes wearing mate around the corner? He is in the psychology section. I meander closer. Oh no. He is reading a loosely disguised porn magazine. (In public? Has he no shame! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> ) He is just trying to fool me by stepping away from the 'erotica' aisle.
Prospect #4: I move to the cd section, a bit disappointed I can not practice my coy look, friendly smile, and clever banter. I decide to temper my disappointment by getting the new Coldplay cd. A rather long haired man comes by. I am guessing he is in his 20's. (Too old, I am!) He also has an obscenity laden t-shirt on. Tempting, but no.

So there is my report on the bookstore on a Saturday night in Colorado. I don't know what fabulous bookstore Formerly Confused has found where all the attractive single people gather, but I can tell you it isn't in my town. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

A book did jump out at me while I was there, so all was not lost. It was called "Sex....According to God" by Kay Arthur. I read through it, and thought it really addressed a lot of what we have been discussing here. I hope everyone else had an easier time of practicing their flirting. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />
Krista

<small>[ July 12, 2003, 11:18 PM: Message edited by: WhoamInow ]</small>

Heh heh heh... Krista

Don't give up on the bookstore. Perhaps there are so many FEWER places for people to go to here in the midwest than in Colorado, THAT is why the bookstores around here tend to have more young people congregate. Perhaps it is just a midwest trend... I don't know.

What I do know is that I am from Colorado and even though you might not have the 'Borders' brigade... at least not tonight, you might have to do more at the park... What part of Colorado are you in? I am originally from Durango, born and raised southwest but moved to Denver for medical school.

Anyway, do not despair... they are there and just ensure that WHEN you go to the bookstore, you ALWAYS remember to keep your head up and open. Be approachable and keep your radar on. If you go twice a week, and don't start seeing people, I will personally come out there and hang out in the mystery section awaiting your entrance.

Aha! Good point, FC. Maybe everyone is up in the park hiking around and writing outdoor books instead of reading them. And there was a great concert in Winter Park this weekend. Or maybe they just didn't open the "younger decent single men" gate into the bookstore. Or perhaps someone was making astute observations to relay to HIS internet friends about me! "She was furtively peering around corners, stalking all the men." <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

I am 45 minutes north of Denver. I can't disclose my exact location on a public forum for fear that everyone would show up at Borders to laugh at me. hehehe Where'd you go to med school? How do you like the midwest vs. Denver? I'm holding you to showing up if things don't improve. See you by the James Patterson books. And be sure to report your bookstore adventures. They are bound to be much more satisfactory. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

Just wanted to add...

The time and day you go makes a huge difference. As much as I hate to say it, "normal" single people usually have a circle of friends that they do stuff with in the evenings. Your best bet I think is to go on a weekend day around lunch time or on a weekday just after "work". The first time I went, it was a Friday at 7 p.m. and I couldn't figure out why the bookstore was full of couples and then uninteresting people like you noted... until I remembered that "normal" people would already have plans to do something. I mean, when you were single (before marriage) and you wanted to have a good time, did you EVER call your friends and say, "Hey, lets go hang out at the bookstore!"

Plan on spending some time there too. Browse around, grab something and read for a while, browse around or camp somewhere you can see what's going on.

Lyxa,
Thanks for politely suggesting I am a loser for being at the bookstore at 8:30 on a Saturday night. hehehehe Just kidding, I know what you mean. On the two weekends a month my kids are gone, I normally go out one of those nights, but not both. I guess I like my me time a lot too. But that is a good point. Friday night when I was out with the girls, I didn't think "Must rush home and go to the bookstore!" But I hadn't been thinking of the bookstore as a man magnet either, so luckily I wasn't letdown. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> Thanks for the input!
Krista

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by WhoamInow:
<strong> I am 45 minutes north of Denver. I can't disclose my exact location on a public forum for fear that everyone would show up at Borders to laugh at me. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">OMG!! It is a Colorado reunion in here !! I'm so excited!! I haven't seen many Coloradan's in here during my (what is it?) three years on this forum. We should coordinate a rendevous point, go bookstore hunting, and then meet back at base camp with our stories (haha).

I myself live in the Denver metro area, and I have found that picking one or two spots and being consistent is a good way to meet people. Coffeeshops are also a fun place to "man-hunt" because worse case scenario, you get a good cup of coffee/espresso! Also, this is just me, but I go to classes or things I'm in which I'm interested and then meet people who like the same things I enjoy.

There's always Dom and Jane's free concert in Westminster City Park...and Irish Fest at Clements Park...and Bastille Days downtown...heehee. I myself am headed off to Romanian Festival in Boulder. Hey, if you can't find someone in a bookstore or coffeeshop in Boulder, you aren't really trying!! Haha. Honestly, even if you don't meet someone in Boulder, at least there are some interesting people up there!

Finally, and in conclusion, on the northern end of the state I love Nate's Steak and Seafood restaurant (not for people watching--for the good food!) and Western Sizzling in Greeley (cheap steaks at a cheap price "with all the fixin's"). In both cities there are kennel club dog shows coming up--the stampede/rodeos--heavens Krista! There's just so many things and so little time!!

Haha <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

Okay, so shall we set a rendevous?? I have one other friend here in Colorado (Jan/seekingjoy) and maybe the four of us could have a mini-singles' party!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> Write to me at: cindy_cj_wolfe@hotmail.com.

CJ

Krista,

I could have wrote the same story you just wrote over and over and over as this is my life every time I try go some place looking for potential dates.

A couple of weeks ago I really did something that I look back and think, "How ridiculous!". I walked into a grocery store that has a Starbucks coffee inside of it. I immediately saw a very nice looking guy that gave me that "I like what I see look" too. As I passed him to go to the courtesy booth he said, "Hi, how ya doing?" So, I said, "Fine and you." He said, "Great." I kept walking to customer service but when I finished I saw him still waiting in line and I decide to go get a coffee and wait in line with him. The most ridiculous thing is that I don't even drink coffee and I was going to buy a $4,00 coffee just to meet a guy!

So anyway, we stand in line, he talks...I talk...I kept trying to see if he was married or not but he kept his left hand in his pocket the whole time. Finally he goes up to order where he must take his hand out of his pocket to pay, and there it was...the dreaded wedding ring...and there I was feeling ridiculous and so not wanting to spend money on a coffee I say, "Do you have the time?" He says, "Yes.." and proceeds to tell me the time. I say, "Oh gosh, I didn't realize it was so late, I gotta be somewhere, I can't wait for coffee. Bye, nice talking to you." and I quickly walked off!

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />
I still can't believe I did that!

ANNA

Good for you. You found a way to get out of it without looking ditzy. Yea!!!!!!