[LiteraryLark]

Thank you so much for taking time to read this! I am very self-conscious about my dating profile and I am hoping I can find "the one" as much as Mr. Right does. He's out there people and I hope I can find him! Now onto the meat of the message. If you can stick it out, I'd sure appreciate it!

I took down my OKC account a little over a month ago because I felt hideous about the way I look, and now I have my "ducks in a row":

My aunt, who is an avid photographer, agreed to do a photo shoot with me. I heard I will get more responses if I opt out of selfies for more suitable professional photos...and hey, with my aunt it's free and I know she'll do a good job!

I had a horrible haircut last month (avoid Great Clips) so I felt ugly about posting photos, but it grew out and last week I got it cut really cute and I feel much better about new photos with a cute natural-colored pixie (in one or two more haircuts, I will have all over natural hair color and the dye I have now blends with my natural hair color so it still looks natural)

Today I went to the dentist to get impression molds done, and next week I will pick up my bleaching kit. I have always been self-conscious about my teeth and in a week or two I'll have a pearly white smile.

With my next paycheck, I am picking up the guitar I've been working hard to make payments on, and I want to use my guitar, Jolene, as a prop in my photo shoot.

In June, I will have an eye exam and will be getting contacts. I can't take photos without my glasses because it makes me look bleary-eyed and tired, and in the photoshoot I want both glasses and contacts so my dates know I can pull off both (I really can, I look great with or without glasses)

I've been working on picking out flattering outfits for the photo shoot, and right now I have one solid outfit and a couple really cute dresses to change into at the photo shoot.

So now I want to work on perfecting my profile info. For those who have never used OKC, they ask several conversation starters which I have bolded and this is what I have so far. I want it to capture my personality as well as convey who I am looking for, and I also want to not reveal too much but just enough to get them curious for more so we have something to talk about. I also need help with picking out a username. It was hard enough picking out a username for PC but with a dating profile I want my username to reflect my personality and not dorky or stupid or childish. I'm currently thinking of Desiderata if that's not taken Suggestions on any of this are very much welcomed!

My self-summary


"A child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars"
--Desiderata, Max Ehrmann, my personal mantra

[What the heck should I say for my introduction? What do guys looking for a LTR want to know that would keep them reading?]

Fun Facts!

I have nine tattoos. My Daft Punk tattoo gets the most attention, and once people ask about my tattoos I'm rolling up sleeves and pant legs to show them off. And lately, I discuss my next piece while I'm getting inked.

I will never willingly step into a Starbucks.

I've never traveled outside of California.

I'm absolutely terrified of getting pierced. I've had 10 piercings done in my life despite my fears, most have closed.

What I’m doing with my life
I am a FT caretaker for little relics of history. Before that, I was a hotel housekeeper scrubbing toilets and making beds at just the right fold, and before that, I routinely asked "Would you like fries with that?", and before that, I showed kids all the voice impressions I can do while teaching them English.

I'm on a cooking kick, I've perfected an original signature soup and I have a client that I cook for on a regular basis using many different recipes I've never done before, all with great feedback. I can cook anything with directions! I also learned to never stick aluminum foil in the microwave. O.o Luckily, I asked before I did so!

I enjoy my little road trips around S County and enjoy how beautiful the area is. There's always little mom and pop shops and more importantly *thrift stores* to be discovered!

I'm dedicating my next tattoo to my furbaby, Evy. And no, it's not a cliche paw print! It's way cooler than that!

I’m really good at

Winning! I've won so many different things from makeovers to expensive wine to baseball and concert tickets.

Meeting celebs! Deadmau5 wore and signed my mau5head; I worked as an extra under Kari, Grant, and Tori from Mythbusters; I've held hands with Michael Franti; and I've met all my fave local DJs.

Favorite books, movies, shows, music, and food
I enjoy non-fiction books about science, nature, and mental illness. Fictional books must challenge me as a reader and a writer or I don't bother.

Oh Brother Where Art Thou? is the one movie I can watch over and over and still laugh at (and sing along).

I've never had a bowl of mac n cheese I didn't like.

Six things I could never do without
1. Dad's BBQ
2. Girl talk
3. A night of friends, pizza, wine, munchies, and Rocky Horror
4. My trusty steed, the "Old Mule"
5. My iPod nano collection
6. My inner voice

I spend a lot of time thinking about

Where my next adventure will lead me.

On a typical Friday night I am
Having a glass of wine and watching a feel-good movie!

You should message me if
You are looking for a LTR and would enjoy meeting up for a cup of coffee before hitting the town (or the coast) on an adventure!

[Crazy Hitch]

Username. Hmmm I'm not good with those. How about something that symbolises your guitar or tattoos?

[divine1966]

I like your profile, I think it is very good but it's a bit long.

I'd take some details out. Tell them what you do for a living now, but take out what you did before as it's irrelevant.

Take out that you never travelled outside of CA. It might turn some people off before they even meet you. It's ok to share later.

Do keep parts about winning and meeting celebrities because that's too cool.

I wouldn't worry about professional pics on profiles. I only ever had casual selfie taken by me in my kitchen lol more natural the better, never had problems with that.

Not just my opinion but guys' from dating sites. Most prefer pictures of you that aren't glamorized. Unless you intend to look glamorous all the time, casual pics are safer way to go. I'd rather they thought wow you look so much better than on the picture than the other way around. I saw your pics and you are very attractive. No need to worry

The only thing just be aware that most free sites are for hook ups. Seriously inclined men (and women) usually prefer paid sites. But of course there are exceptions.

And be aware of scammers. Good luck

PS have no idea about username. I have to think a bit.

[LiteraryLark]

My self-summary

[What the heck should I say for my introduction? What do guys looking for a LTR want to know that would keep them reading?]

What I’m doing with my life
I am a Certified Companion Aide.

I’m really good at

Winning! I've won so many different things from makeovers to expensive wine to baseball and concert tickets.

Meeting celebs! Deadmau5 wore and signed my mau5head; I worked as an extra under Kari, Grant, and Tori from Mythbusters; I've held hands with Michael Franti; and I've met all my fave local DJs.

Favorite books, movies, shows, music, and food
I enjoy non-fiction books about science, nature, and mental illness. Fictional books must challenge me as a reader and a writer or I don't bother.

Oh Brother Where Art Thou? is the one movie I can watch over and over and still laugh at (and sing along).

I've never had a bowl of mac n cheese I didn't like.

Six things I could never do without
1. Dad's BBQ
2. Girl talk
3. A night of friends, pizza, wine, munchies, and Rocky Horror
4. My trusty steed, the "Old Mule"
5. My iPod nano collection
6. My inner voice

I spend a lot of time thinking about

Where my next adventure will lead me.

On a typical Friday night I am
Having a glass of wine and watching a feel-good movie!

You should message me if
You are looking for a LTR and would enjoy meeting up for a cup of coffee before hitting the town (or the coast) on an adventure!

[gothicpear]

I think your personal profile is awesome. You honestly know yourself very well and do a good job of conveying who you are with the written word.

The thing is, in my years [and years] of trying out the online ads, this one thing I have learned. Men do not read the ad. They look at the pictures. Then they either send you something and want you to learn all about them and learn nothing about you, or they click on the next ad. They are looking for a picture that appeals to them. They just don't seem too wrapped up in learning about a woman by reading her ad.

My most recent boyfriend told, over one of our "breaks," that his friend at work tried to entice him with some personal ads. My boyfriend did not read one thing about those women. He just looked at their pictures and decided yes or no based on that.

That seems to be my experience when it comes to men and online ads. They want the pretty one, and they don't care to read all about us and learn about us as people. I guess they'll do that after they meet us...or not. I think that maybe a few pictures, and then an extremely short and sweet ad is the way to go. As a woman, I appreciate a good, solid ad that really tells me about who a man is inside. I just don't think that men do the same when they're looking at the ads. I really don't.

[divine1966]

I agree that people dont read long profiles.

Men (the ones looking for a long term/marriage) would look at picture (don't need to be gorgeous to get a date but just looking appealing to them), they will look at what you do for a living and level of education if they are professionals/educated themselves and if you have/do not have kids if that's important. Nothing else really matters. Everything else is discussed later or when they first contact you.

[RichardBrooks]

If I were in CA and came across that profile, provided we were a good match, I'd probably sent you a message, and you'd probably not respond. Don't know if that answers your question. What I look for on OKC is a high "match" rating (85+) and a low enemies rating (10-). Then I compare answers on the questions. I should probably point out that I have never so much as had a conversation with someone on an internet dating site, though.