Online Dating from A to Z: When Weird is a GOOD Thing
Welcome to the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. This month I’ll be working my way through the alphabet, one day at a time, on the subject of Online Dating. If you’ve never visited my blog before, I’m happy you’re here! Be sure to check out my previous A to Z Challenge posts and the books that were inspired by them for more alphabetical fun.
W is for Weirdos.
Online dating attracts plenty of weirdos. Sometimes this can be cute and quirky – a harmless weirdness perhaps better described as eccentricity or uniqueness. Other times, the weirdos can be downright disturbing.
Ultimately, that’s the topic of my latest book, No More F*ing Weirdos!, which aims to eliminate the wrong kinds of weirdos from your dating life through some practical, sanity-saving advice.
Since I’ve already shared the story of my Absolute Worst Date Ever, today I thought I would share the story of my Best Date Ever – the one that eventually led to my marriage!
This is just one example of finding a Good Weirdo when dating online, to help dispel the notion that all weird is bad weird.
The totally true story of my best first date
Although my Best First Date would ultimately be categorized as such, I was initially apprehensive about meeting up with my potential suitor, Brit. He first messaged me on Plenty Of Fish, saying that he thought would would have a lot of fun together, and that we should meet up.
It was a brief message, and although I normally ignored the men who messaged me with such short notes (especially the ones that only said “Hi!” or “Hey!” or “What’s up?”), I hopped over to check out his profile.
His profile picture was cute but artsy: an image of him posed on a chair, draped in a white button-down shirt, with a serious look on his face. He had a goatee, which I liked, but I wasn’t sure if he was right for me. His brief message, combined with the sexy photo, had me wondering if he was just another player like the dudes who said we’d have fun together, but only meant in bed.
I wasn’t looking for another one-night stand. I was looking for love. Was he?
I scrolled down his profile, where he mentioned that he was an artist and liked various abstract painters, including Picasso. Hmm.
And then I saw this picture of three tigers in a hot tub:
I had to laugh, as I’d seen this image online before with the caption “Hey, who turned off the bubbles?” It seemed to suggest he was down to chill, possibly in a homemade hot tub, and that he liked cats – all of which were pluses in my book.
He asked if I wanted to meet up for coffee after work. I think his first suggestion was at 9 PM on a Wednesday evening. I reluctantly agreed, unsure whether this was the best time to meet a total stranger for coffee, since it would certainly have to be a brief meeting. On the plus side, he had mentioned a job, which meant he wasn’t just a deadbeat would-be artist! So many variables…
When I told my girlfriend that I was thinking of meeting this dude for coffee late on a Wednesday night, her first response was “Hell no!”
The more I thought about it, the more I agreed with her. Why would he want to meet up so late for caffeine? Did he have an ulterior motive? Was he just going to pop in, take a look at me and run? It seemed a little weird.
To make a long story short… I stood him up!
Thankfully, he was persistent and asked to reschedule, this time for an afternoon coffee on a Friday.
I agreed to meet him at one of my favorite cafés, and the rest is history. We’ve been inseparable ever since, and our 10-year anniversary is coming up this June. I made this list of the Top 10 Reasons I (Still) Love My Husband for our 8th anniversary, in case you’re curious about more of his Best Date qualities.
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18 Comments
Jayden R. Vincente
So glad you took a chance and got a winner! Congrats on your anniversary!
Jayden R. Vincente
Erotic Fiction Writer
Lynda
Weird is underrated. It’s been a lot of years since I dated (my hubby and I have been together for 31 now), but I still remember the wonderful feeling of someone who “got” me and could follow my silly tangents and just laugh with me for hours on end.
Congrats on your anniversary!
Donna
Hi, Laura – I’m stopping by from the #AtoZChallenge Road Trip! I love this post. My marriage is also the result of an awesome blind date (prior to on-line dating). I will definitely be back to read more!
Linda Curry
I thought your topic looked interesting as I am researching for a friend. Now I can’t wait to read the rest of your posts.
DeeDee
HI,
What a great story! I have never seen the tigers in the hot tub before so that was the bonus to a great dating narrative. Usually most online dating stories are just awful, glad that there is still hope out there! 😊
Heather Erickson
I loved this post! I remember my sister’s stories of online dating weirdos, but they were no stranger than other methods she tried for finding a date (like speed dating). She ultimately found an amazing husband on e-harmony. My best friend met her husband in via a classified ad (pre-online dating). I never tried official online dating, but prior to meeting my husband, I was in trivia games online. I happened to meet a great guy that way and struck up a nice long distance friendship/romance. Since the dawn of time, people have been having strange and wonderful dating experiences, and they always make for great stories. I bet your book is fantastic!
By the way, I’m road tripping with A to Z. I’m glad to have the chance to check out your blog!
<http://heatherericksonauthor.com/book-proposal/Heather Erickson Author/Writer/Speaker – Guide to a Self-Publisher's Book Proposal
Random Musings
Glad you got your happy ending!
Stopping by from the #AtoZChallenge Road Trip
Debbie
Shalzmojo
I agree about the 9 pm coffee date as a no-no in my book too. In India my experience has been more weirdos and less real dudes. Needless to say I have given up on online dating after 2 years of on and off tries with half a dozen websites.
“Stopping by from the #AtoZChallenge Road Trip!”
Printed Portal
Glad it all worked out! We all have a little weird in us :)
Just stopping by from the #AtoZChallenge Road Trip!
Deborah Weber
What a delight to be stopping by from the #AtoZChallenge Road Trip and read about your happy ending. I think we can all claim at least a bit of weirdness, although I like to think my particular version is charmingly eccentric. But it certainly would be nice to have a stay-clear-of-this-kind-of-weird filter to prevent dating disasters.
Stephanie Finnell
Love the happy ending to that date :) Stopping in on the #AtoZRoadtrip and have to say it takes all kinds of kinds and you never know when or where you’ll find that special someone. Mine passed me the offering plate in church one Sunday morning 31 years ago. Great to find your blog !!
Irene McHugh
As someone who dated online for a year or so, I totally get your book’s title! The fact that your future husband actually had a profile that he filled out certainly helped him. I remember men messaging with a quick hello and almost no information in their profile. Glad you found your weirdo! I found mine in a coffee shop. After many bizarro conversations, we became friends, and eventually dated. Glad I stopped by for the #AtoZChallenge Road Trip!
Emily Bloomquist
So glad it worked out well and that he was persistent. 9 pm for a first date would be way too late for me. By then I am in my sweats or PJs but then I’ve been married for more than 20 years. I’ve had a few friends marry people they met through online dating sites and heard some strange stories when they were dating. Fun post!
Stopping by from the #AtoZChallenge Road Trip!
Emily In Ecuador
Priya
What a lovely story! Blind-dates are scary and fun at the same time. Glad that yours turned out to be great.
“Stopping by from the #AtoZChallenge Road Trip!”
Wendy
Congratulations on your happy ending. Thankfully I found mine over 34 years ago now. I think I’d hate to be dating now.
Stopping by on the A-Z Road Trip
Wendy – self-confessed waffler, reader, crafter, Mother and Grandmother
Wendy’s Waffle
Ronel Janse van Vuuren
Love your theme for the A-Z — I’ve bookmarked it to reference during NaNoWrimo :-)
Ronel from Ronel the Mythmaker A-Z road-tripping with Everything Writerly: W is for Writing
Jamie Lyn Weigt
Cute idea for AtoZ, and I’m glad you found your weirdo! Love the tiger pic btw, I would have agreed to a date too. Congrats on the anniversary! Stopped by on the #AtoZChallenge Road Trip, take care!
Jamie Lyn Weigt | Writing Dragons | AtoZ 2018: X is for Xiang the Wise
C.TdeF
Stopping by from the #AtoZChallenge Road Trip! What a date story! Thanks for sharing!