Match.com stats:

Total profile views: 1540 (24 since yesterday)

New received emails: 0 unsolicited, 1 solicited

New sent emails: 2 replies

New winks: 0

Optimism level: There’s still time to get my stocking stuffed before Christmas.

At this point, I’ve analyzed and discussed the Match search and email processes to death. Writing about every little detail in this blog causes me to overthink things so it’s probably best to curtail the frequency or at least the lengths of my posts. I’ll still discuss the emails I send or receive and any live action (if I ever get any)! But on the days when nothing happens on Match, I’ll only post the stats. My hope is that by stepping back a little, it will renew my enthusiasm for both the Match experience and this blog. I do, however, have some correspondence from today to report.

SENT REPLY #1: As promised, I replied to Mr. Energy from yesterday. I included one or two lines of pleasant chit-chat then I took a gamble. I wrote:

So now I’ll risk sounding a bit demanding. I don’t see the point in exchanging a bunch of emails since what really matters is whether two people click in person. You seem like somebody worth meeting…but I’m very busy this week then out of town next week. If you’re interested in getting together after the new year, perhaps we can work something out.

In case you’re wondering, “Who does she think she is?” I’m just somebody who doesn’t want to waste anybody’s time. In any event, happy holidays and good luck with your search!

(In case I haven’t mentioned it already, my schedule over the next couple weeks allows only two possible days for meeting anybody, which is part of the reason I’m retreating a bit). Was it a great email to send? Nah. But this guy doesn’t thrill me enough to want to spend the next two weeks writing back and forth. So I figured this was a good opportunity to test the “Screw emails- let’s get the meeting out of the way” approach. If I don’t hear back from him, no big loss.

SENT REPLY #2: So I’m probably a self-defeating fool. I started a reply to Adventure Man with answers to his questions about our mutual interest, then I hit a brick wall. I couldn’t come up with anything to ask him. Actually, there are tons of things I want to ask him but none of them could be answered in a neat little email- that’s a compliment to the content of his profile. I kept it in the back of my head all day and when I had free moments, tried to come up with conversation starters. Something about this guy makes me think he’d balk at inane small talk. Unable to come up with anything good and feeling like I needed to send the response soon, I went with the same approach as above. I think I phrased it better- somewhat softer- but I know it was stupid to try an unproven tactic on a guy who actually interests me. I wonder if I subconsciously try to hurt my chances of meeting someone. I’m not getting my hopes up for a response but maybe he’ll surprise me.

RECEIVED REPLY #1: I was just about to post today’s blog when I received a response from Mr. Energy. Part of the message said:

Honestly though, it is tricky to try to meet someone with the holiday commotion in the way. I also 100% agree with you on the meet in person part. I’m not a fan of e-mailing forever just to get to a phone call, etc. Don’t get me wrong, everyone has what they are comfortable with, but meeting in person really does cut to the chase. So, that’s a long winded way of saying I’d love to meet after the holidays.

He then left his email address and phone number. He also wrote:

As for the “who does she think she is”… Well, if you’re as feisty in person as you are in your int ro e-mails, then I think we’ll get along just fine Have a great holiday!

I thought it was interesting he used the word “feisty” since I believe that’s the same word I used here to describe the tone of my profile. Nice to know somebody actually gets me. Maybe there’s potential with this guy. The fact that my “let’s meet” email didn’t scare him away is also promising. I wonder if I could be so fortunate with Adventure Man…