Experiment On Hold:
Hello! As you've noticed, I haven't updated this blog since day fifty five. I'm still excited about this experiment (I still check Craigslist daily), but I need to see where this is going before I can continue. I can either stop now and accept that I've been mentioned once, or continue the experiment for the rest of the year. Please check back soon (when I post further plans.) Thanks for your support!
Day Fifty Five:
2:20pm
Location: Kiosk at the Prudential Center
Significant Clothing: Black dress, green scarf, glasses, hair in braids, lots of rings
A man came up to my kiosk and asked for a recommendation about a good place to get sushi. He had short wavy hair, glasses, and a green(?) waterproof jacket. We both agreed jokingly that the place in the food court is awful, and he asked where I usually eat around here. I gave him a few recommendations and he seemed genuinely grateful.
Location: Kiosk at the Prudential Center
Significant Clothing: Black dress, green scarf, glasses, hair in braids, lots of rings
A man came up to my kiosk and asked for a recommendation about a good place to get sushi. He had short wavy hair, glasses, and a green(?) waterproof jacket. We both agreed jokingly that the place in the food court is awful, and he asked where I usually eat around here. I gave him a few recommendations and he seemed genuinely grateful.
Day Fifty Four:
4:42pm
Location: Red Line from Harvard Square to Park St.
Significant Clothing: Green and pink knit hat, glasses, black jacket, lace-up moccasins
I was riding back to Park St. with my roommates, and I noticed a small group of guys on the train next to us. They were all laughing and mostly keeping to themselves, but I kept making eye contact with this one guy (conveniently while I was smiling/laughing) who had short black hair and glasses. They followed us out of the train at Park St. and then we went our separate ways. Good story.
Day Fifty Three:
4:14pm
Location: Kiosk at the Prudential Center
Significant Clothing: Beige shirt, black scarf, black skirt, glasses
I noticed a young man who had walked by my kiosk with a friend earlier wearing a black jacket, black scarf, and red gloves. He had short brown hair and a quick smile. At 4:14 he walked by again, winked at me (he winked!), kept walking, looked back and smiled. I was already looking in his direction so I smiled back. I wonder if it was the same guy (Alec) who asked for my number on day Twenty Four? I think this one was taller.
Location: Kiosk at the Prudential Center
Significant Clothing: Beige shirt, black scarf, black skirt, glasses
I noticed a young man who had walked by my kiosk with a friend earlier wearing a black jacket, black scarf, and red gloves. He had short brown hair and a quick smile. At 4:14 he walked by again, winked at me (he winked!), kept walking, looked back and smiled. I was already looking in his direction so I smiled back. I wonder if it was the same guy (Alec) who asked for my number on day Twenty Four? I think this one was taller.
Day Fifty:
4:57pm
Location: Walking down Boylston St. towards the Prudential Center (keep in mind that it is cold, wet, and grey outside)
Significant clothing: Black jacket, brown boots, glasses, green scarf
I'm walking back to work after a bank run down Boylston St. I'm approached by Craig. Craig looks like a serial killer. Here is the conversation:
Him: Hi I'm Craig. How are you?
Me: Hi. Good.
Him: So do you live in Boston?
Me: Yes.
Him: You're pretty, would you like to go on a date?
Me: No..thank you.
Him: Why not?
Me: I'm not interested...I have a boyfriend.
Him: Oh ok. Bye.
That's it. I don't really know what this was. I don't think it was a missed connection.
Day Forty Eight: Success!
I think this is it(!) I think I did it(!) Read this.
Yesterday at work, I was checking missed connections on my company's laptop (I didn't think anyone had noticed). While checking again today, I noticed the posting above. I was curious, so I sent him an email asking:
"Were you referring to something that happened yesterday? I was reading Missed Connections at my kiosk (when I probably wasn't supposed to.)"
And he replied "Yes, I was."
That's enough information for me. Ironic though, to receive a missed connection about reading missed connections. However, this experiment doesn't end until January 31st. Until then, keep reading!
Day Forty Seven:
No connections yet. I actually watched a connection happen between two young people today while I was standing at my kiosk. But while you're here, take a look at this.
PS: This is the best posting I've read so far.
Day Forty Four:
I've been checking Boston's and San Francisco's missed connections simultaneously for the past week, nothing yet. I'm coming back tonight and I'll have more opportunities to make connections in the airport. So much eye contact.
Day Thirty Eight:
I'm in California right now, and there is no T or any "local hotspots" to frequent because San Francisco is the size of Rhode Island. I did however go to the New People building in Japantown last night, and there were signs in the lobby telling me to "talk to strangers" and "flirt often." I think it's a good sign*.
*no pun intended.
*no pun intended.
Day Thirty Five:
2:10pm
Location: My kiosk (of all places!) at the Prudential Center
Significant Clothing: Black dress, green scarf, glasses, hair pulled back in braids
A young man was standing near Chico's with his friend, which is close to my kiosk. He was tall and thin (about 6'2"), he had short black hair, a black wool jacket, and a tan leather bag slung over his shoulder. He probably likes jazz and tomato and mozzarella sandwiches. His friend (who isn't important) had red hair. I knew he could see me so I did the usual sit-and-look-cute routine which I've had time to master since I've worked here. As they walked by, we looked and smiled at each other through the bag display window. He kept walking, looked back, and we smiled at each other again. Although there was no conversation, I felt like this was more genuine somehow. Here's hoping.
3:15pm
Location: Kiosk
He just walked by again! He said "hi" this time.
4:18pm
Location: Kiosk
This is ridiculous. He just came up to the kiosk this time and asked where someone who's new to the city could find a job. He's from Cape Cod, and he definitely doesn't listen to jazz. This is exciting; I'll keep you updated.
Location: My kiosk (of all places!) at the Prudential Center
Significant Clothing: Black dress, green scarf, glasses, hair pulled back in braids
A young man was standing near Chico's with his friend, which is close to my kiosk. He was tall and thin (about 6'2"), he had short black hair, a black wool jacket, and a tan leather bag slung over his shoulder. He probably likes jazz and tomato and mozzarella sandwiches. His friend (who isn't important) had red hair. I knew he could see me so I did the usual sit-and-look-cute routine which I've had time to master since I've worked here. As they walked by, we looked and smiled at each other through the bag display window. He kept walking, looked back, and we smiled at each other again. Although there was no conversation, I felt like this was more genuine somehow. Here's hoping.
3:15pm
Location: Kiosk
He just walked by again! He said "hi" this time.
4:18pm
Location: Kiosk
This is ridiculous. He just came up to the kiosk this time and asked where someone who's new to the city could find a job. He's from Cape Cod, and he definitely doesn't listen to jazz. This is exciting; I'll keep you updated.
Day Thirty Three:
No word from Mr. Bro, however, I've acquired a red winter coat. I think this will help significantly.
I think the server at Gourmet India in the food court has a crush on me. If I didn't go there all the time I think I would pursue it, but he already knows where I work.
Day Twenty Nine:
This is it. I might have done it.
3:36pm
Location: Green line to Prudential
Significant Clothing: Black hat, black scarf, black jacket, lots of lip gloss.
I sat down on the train and noticed a young bro, probably 26, wearing a black hat and black jacket. We made eye contact several times and smiled at each other. He said "hey," and I said "hi" back, and then he came and sat down next to me. We had a conversation until we both got off the train at Prudential. He smelled like bro cologne. He didn't ask for my number, but he said "maybe I'll see you again." This might be the connection I needed!
3:36pm
Location: Green line to Prudential
Significant Clothing: Black hat, black scarf, black jacket, lots of lip gloss.
I sat down on the train and noticed a young bro, probably 26, wearing a black hat and black jacket. We made eye contact several times and smiled at each other. He said "hey," and I said "hi" back, and then he came and sat down next to me. We had a conversation until we both got off the train at Prudential. He smelled like bro cologne. He didn't ask for my number, but he said "maybe I'll see you again." This might be the connection I needed!
Day Twenty Seven:
12pm to 6:30pm
Location: Copley/Prudential Center
Significant Clothing: Green socks with black heels, glasses, blue button up shirt, lipstick.
No missed connections, but lots of male attention today. Glasses and heels have been a good combination so far.
Day Twenty Four:
Sorry I haven't posted for a few days! Several things have happened:
One. My proposal to present this experiment at Mobius was accepted(!) I'll be showing on January 29th, which means:
Two. I'm going to extend this experiment through to the end of January.
Three. I've been researching and learning about new approaches to recieving male attention. Having flushed cheeks is one of them.
Four. I was hit on by a stranger literally two mintues ago (all I did was make eye contact, he was the one to approach me). He asked for my number (I didn't give it to him) and called me a "herd," which apparently means hot nerd. Maybe that's a good thing?
3:15pm
Location: Prudential Center food court
Significant Clothing: Glasses, green scarf, black dress, hair in bun
As I was eating my sandwich, I noticed a young man sitting at a table near me eating the same sandwich. He was wearing a white shirt, grey sweater vest, black tie, and black glasses. We made eye contact and I probably would have approached him but this old man kept talking to him awkwardly. Not a good opportunity.
3:30pm
Location: Leaving the food court
This is where I was stopped by the stranger (his name was Alec). I literally made eye contact with him in passing when he stopped me to introduce himself. He was wearing a black jacket and black scarf, and had short dark hair. He casually mentioned that he was going bar hopping later (so smooth). It was all very flattering and I should have given him at least a fake number.
One. My proposal to present this experiment at Mobius was accepted(!) I'll be showing on January 29th, which means:
Two. I'm going to extend this experiment through to the end of January.
Three. I've been researching and learning about new approaches to recieving male attention. Having flushed cheeks is one of them.
Four. I was hit on by a stranger literally two mintues ago (all I did was make eye contact, he was the one to approach me). He asked for my number (I didn't give it to him) and called me a "herd," which apparently means hot nerd. Maybe that's a good thing?
3:15pm
Location: Prudential Center food court
Significant Clothing: Glasses, green scarf, black dress, hair in bun
As I was eating my sandwich, I noticed a young man sitting at a table near me eating the same sandwich. He was wearing a white shirt, grey sweater vest, black tie, and black glasses. We made eye contact and I probably would have approached him but this old man kept talking to him awkwardly. Not a good opportunity.
3:30pm
Location: Leaving the food court
This is where I was stopped by the stranger (his name was Alec). I literally made eye contact with him in passing when he stopped me to introduce himself. He was wearing a black jacket and black scarf, and had short dark hair. He casually mentioned that he was going bar hopping later (so smooth). It was all very flattering and I should have given him at least a fake number.
Day Nineteen:
This is it. I'm going to Harvard Square today, and taking the red line (the line of all lines for missed connections) to get there. I plan on wearing heels. Check later for more details.
(Later):
It might have worked.
3:33pm
Location: Green Line Outbound to Heath St.
Significant Clothing: Green scarf, black jacket, black heals, green socks
After the T got slightly less crowded, I looked over and noticed a man, maybe 25, with dark hair and a mustache. He was wearing a red (?) winter jacket, and looked like the kind of person that would listen to Animal Collective/undergroundindiebands. We looked over at each other several times, and as I was getting off at Prudential, we smiled. It was definitely mutual. I wonder if he knows about missed connections?
Home on Day Sixteen and Seventeen:
I went home to Rhode Island for a few days. You literally cannot make missed connections in my hometown unless you are a hot MILF with tight sweatpants. More to come tomorrow...
Day Sixteen:
4:25pm
Location: Green Line outbound to Heath St.
Significant Clothing: Cowboy boots, black jacket, green scarf
I was sitting across from a man in his mid-forties; he was wearing a leather jacket with navy dress pants and black dress shoes. He was slightly balding, and he looked like he had had a long day. We made eye contact several times, one time for more than .16th of a second. He probably thought I was too young for him.
Day Fifteen:
4:10pm
Location: Waiting for B-line train at Harvard Ave.
Significant Clothing: Same as yesterday. Lots of color.
I was facing the setting sun when a young man eating a granola bar walked into my field of vision. He had red hair, a blue and white winter jacket (the practical kind), and tennis shoes. We looked at each other for a moment and then made eye contact again before we boarded the train, minutes later. I think we definitely shared a moment.
Days Twelve and Thirteen:
On Day Twelve, I made an impulsive decision at Mass Market and bought 70's vintage floral print Doc Martens, leading to:
Day Thirteen:
12:15pm
Location: Brookline - Jewish Bookstore, Booksmith, Trader Joes, 66 Bus
Significant Clothing: Floral print Doc Martens, bright orange peacoat, lipstick, pink shirt, glasses. So much color.
I went to the Jewish bookstore to find a gift for my dad. Mr. Steven-I'm-young-handsome-and-Jewish-Goldberg rang me out. He had blonde hair and was wearing a grey t-shirt. He asked me about the book I was buying and I gave him my name and contact info for their mailing list.
1:20pm
I walked down Brookline Ave. and browsed through the Booksmith and Trader Joes. There weren't any missed connections necessarily but I felt like I was shooting rainbows out of my forehead by the time I walked to the bus stop. I wonder if anyone noticed them.
1:41pm
While waiting for the bus, I was approached by a young woman in a bright red peacoat. She had dark curly hair and noticeable dark hair above her lip. She asked me how often the bus comes and what time it was, etc. etc. She sat near me on the bus and kept looking in my direction. Maybe she was doing the same thing I was?
Day Twelve:
9:25pm
Location: Massart Pozen Center, Gala for Art and Technology of New England
Significant Clothing: All black, except for a white t-shirt with the letter Aa in Helvetica underneath a black sweater. Classy.
Older man (maybe in his 40's) approached me while I was watching some video projections and asked me about my school career etc. He was balding and wore a grey suit and red(?) tie. We talked about rose gold and his tile company for a while. I told him I worked for A.T. Cross, and he told me he got a Cross pen for his Bar Mitzvah. It was sort of awkward. I should have told him I was a grad student. Shit.
Location: Massart Pozen Center, Gala for Art and Technology of New England
Significant Clothing: All black, except for a white t-shirt with the letter Aa in Helvetica underneath a black sweater. Classy.
Older man (maybe in his 40's) approached me while I was watching some video projections and asked me about my school career etc. He was balding and wore a grey suit and red(?) tie. We talked about rose gold and his tile company for a while. I told him I worked for A.T. Cross, and he told me he got a Cross pen for his Bar Mitzvah. It was sort of awkward. I should have told him I was a grad student. Shit.
Days Ten and Eleven:
Days eight and nine were also unsuccessful. Here's what happened on Day ten:
Location: Green line to Symphony, Newbury St.
Significant Clothing: Cowboy boots, black jacket, red lipstick, hair in ponytail. I must say, I looked and felt beautiful for about 15 minutes before I walked outside.
11:30am:
I walked casually down Mass. Ave. to Urban Outfitters, and then walked down Newbury St. to Espresso Royale. The man behind me with short black hair, glasses, and a black winter coat watched my face as I browsed the tea selection in line. I ordered a chai latte, and he ordered a chai steamer. Fate.
Day Eleven:
Location: Green line to Longwood
Significant Clothing: Black hat, black jacket, mismatched gloves (one blue one black), backpack
Young man got on at Brigham Circle, the stop before Longwood. Short dark hair, same black hat, jeans, blue winter jacket, listening to ipod.
9:35am:
We smiled at each other when he got on, I got up to get off at my stop and smiled at him again before I walked off. A moment, perhaps?
Day Seven:
11:30am
Location: Espresso Royale on Gainsborough Street, drinking a cup of tea in the corner.
Significant Clothing: Green winter hat, plaid scarf, black ankle boots, wool socks.
I tried making eye contact with several young men, all in their 20's. Everyone was busy reading or on their laptops. It might have been more successful if I had accidentally dropped a pen or something. I also forgot to sit by the window.
Something funny happened this evening. The tall black security guard that works in the Prudential Center admitted to posting a missed connection entry about me when we first met, and then later said he was kidding. I think he was serious. Since I'll never know, this doesn't change the course of the experiment.
Day Six:
I'm skipping days four and five because they were entirely unsuccessful. Here's what happened today:
1:15pm
Location: Food court in the Prudential Center, sitting at a table next to two men in their early thirties in business casual attire.
Clothing: Tan top, black scarf, black skirt, black tights, black shoes. Business casual.
One of the men glanced over at my table, and kept glancing over at occasional intervals. I sat with my back straight and tried to eat my soup attractively. I occasionally looked longingly out the window (in his direction).
Things to consider for future connection making: lipstick(?), high heels, low cut shirts, joining Boston Sports Club, riding the red line forever, visiting every Starbucks in the Boston area. And...go.
Day Two:
9:42pm:
Location: waiting for the train to Heath St. at the Longwood stop.
Significant Clothing: Glasses, long black jacket, lace up moccasins (hair in ponytail)
Stranger: Young man waiting for green light in white Mini Cooper. Short brown hair, no facial hair.
We made eye contact and half smiled at each other, twice. There was a pause between the first and second time.
Day One:
I think this is going to be harder than I anticipated. Here are some things you should know about me:
I dress modestly, I rarely show cleavage, I wear tight pants only if I'm wearing a long top over them, I walk quickly around the city to avoid people, I try not to stare at anyone on the T, I wear mostly black, I don't call attention to myself in public.
If the point of this experiment is to be noticed, all of these things need to change. I could tell you about the people I made eye contact with today but I feel like Day One was sort of the test for what's to come in the following weeks.
I think I'm going to have to buy a push-up bra.
Rules and Regulations:
One. I'm not looking for a relationship. My anonymity is important in this experiment, therefore I won't disclose any personal information that might lead to a stranger looking me up. If I am successful in getting mentioned on Craigslist, I will not respond to their post.
Two. I will wear/carry a signifying accessory at all times (glasses, hat, book, etc.)
Three. I will write down as much and as detailed observations as possible.
Four. I won't buy new clothes for this experiment, but I will change my look as often as necessary.
Two. I will wear/carry a signifying accessory at all times (glasses, hat, book, etc.)
Three. I will write down as much and as detailed observations as possible.
Four. I won't buy new clothes for this experiment, but I will change my look as often as necessary.
Five. I'll need to start walking slower if I'm going to make eye contact with people.
All Systems Go:
My experiment starts tomorrow. For one month, I will become hyper-aware of my existence by making eye contact, striking up conversations, and being irresistibly charming with prospective strangers, in hopes that my efforts will be acknowledged in Missed Connections on Craigslist.
You'll get to read all of the obsessive details of my daily process, including what I'm wearing each day, where I go, who I meet, what they're wearing, etc. After studying the patterns that evolve from reading Missed Connections, I've compiled a list of places to frequent for the next month (mostly trendy coffee shops). All systems go!
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