After another unsuccessful date, I took stock of my experiences with the two dating services I've signed up with as I walked down the street to go see a friend's band play.

My first date might have been an omen. I received a fairly rough lesson on why having sex on the first date usually isn't a good idea. The worst thing is I was coming off an extended dry spell so it's not like waiting a little longer would have mattered. I guess the reason I still think about her is that we seemed to click right away.

They seemed to run together after a while. I actually did end up dating someone for three months but we decided to stay friends so she could work through some issues in her life. I also think we weren't looking for the same thing. There are times I still wonder what could have been and I have to admit that I did feel a twinge of jealousy when she said she had been on a few dates since we split up.

I met one girl and after our first date, I didn't end up hearing from her for a year. We ended up reconnecting over our mutual experiences of being downsized and looking for work. She's become a good friend since then.

I almost had a repeat of date #1 with another girl when we ended up drunkenly making out on our second date. I thought I'd heard the last of her after we talked the next day but we ended up chatting on instant messenger a couple days later and, again, we're pretty good friends now. Though I have to admit I sometimes feel a little awkward around her.

I made a couple tentative attempts at re-entering the dating pool. My first date in a year and a half was an awkward disaster. I did the polite/asshole thing and waited a couple of days before sending an e-mail. I was surprised when she replied but I have a feeling I won't be seeing her again.

Yet I felt a sense of hope, I may have only had success making friends but hey, someone will become more than a friend one day.