Conference Hook-Ups

For some reason, the atmosphere at conferences is such that one has a higher chance than usual of hooking up. I'm not sure exactly why this is, I just go with the flow and enjoy it. I traveled to our nation's capital with a group of 400 people from Sacramento to attend a 3-day lobbying and networking conference. We arrived on Saturday night and there was a welcome party at the hotel. Naturally, I was looking around to see if there were any hot guys in attendance. The most gorgeous guy on the trip was an attorney who was, unfortunately for me, wearing a wedding ring. I didn't even bother introducing myself, what was the point? Then I saw another hottie across the room. I had to look twice because I realized I knew him, and had in fact already dated him. I was pretty embarrassed that he was there, because the last communication we had involved me calling him at 10 p.m. on a Saturday night and inviting myself over to his place. He never called me back. That was in January. Soooo I wanted to crawl under a table and hide. I decided to completely ignore him and pretend that he wasn't there. I was thinking, great. How am I going to avoid this guy for the next few days? A while later I was walking around the party and he came up to me and asked if he could buy me a beer. What could I say? Shortly after, we ended up leaving the party and going out to a bar. I took him to Tryst in Adams Morgan, a cool lounge-y casual bar/coffee shop that I used to go to when I lived in DC. Later we went to a college bar across the street, then we headed back to the hotel. He paid for everything (as he should!). I was staying on the 6th floor and his room was on the third. I assumed he would just say goodbye to me in the elevator, but he said he wanted to see my room. Uh huh. I've heard that one before. Well, it worked. I'm so predictable. We made out in my room and he said that he should keep in touch with me. I agreed. He said he hasn't been ready for a "challenge" and that dating is challenging. I was thinking to myself, don't get ahead of yourself there, buddy. We're just making out - enjoy it while it lasts and don't assume I want to be your girlfriend. His beard stubble was scratching up my face, so he said he would shave in the morning and he left. Next evening we went to dinner at the Dupont Grille. Nice place. He paid, bill was over $100. Again, I think I deserve this because he has dissed me so many times in the past. After dinner we went to an Irish pub next door to watch a basketball game. I was totally bored but he was in his element (he even told me this). People at the bar thought we were married. Huh. We were there till after midnight, then we walked back to the hotel. He held my hand the whole time and stopped at one point for no reason to start kissing me. He shaved, nice. It was cute to see him happy - his team won. We walked into the lobby and wouldn't you know it, a group of about 12 guys who were in our delegation were hanging out in the bar. So Mark had to go and schmooze with the boys while I lingered, hoping he would just talk for a few minutes and go upstairs with me. Well, no. I told him to stop by my room later, but he never showed up. I figured he got talked into drinking more with the guys and I was right, based on the text message he sent the next day. Monday night I went to happy hour with some friends and invited Mark to come and meet us. He showed up at the second bar we went to, at about 8:30. We got back to the hotel at about 10 p.m. and again, a big group of Sacramentans were in the lobby, including my boss. Sweet. He enjoys teasing me, so I know I'm going to hear it from him later. Mark was informed by me that he was not going out drinking with the boys that night, and he followed my instructions. We went up to his room and made out. I didn't get as much action as I had hoped, because he was exhausted (and, hung over still, from the night before). I swear, this always happens to me. I have no game, as Greg and Jason always tell me. So true. He told me he would call me the next day. That was Monday night. It's now Thursday night and guess what? I haven't heard from him. This is why I'm "still" single - the question everyone likes to ask - because I meet guys who go out with me three nights in a row and then never call me! That's why. So the following night, Tuesday, was our farewell dinner, a dress-up event. I packed light because I knew I would go shopping while in DC. Sure enough, I bought a bunch of stuff at H&M, including a super-cute black cocktail dress for $15. I was laughing in the dressing room because it was so ridiculously cheap. I went to the dinner and was immediately claimed for the evening by an older man who I had met earlier in the day. Apparently he took quite a liking to me, but I was confused because I assumed he was gay. He is the president of a local medical foundation and seems to be pretty rich, and very connected to the business community. He offered to help me make some connections with people who could provide funding for my organization. Hmm. We sat next to each other at dinner and on the other side of him was one of my board members, who assumed he and I had "hit it off." I was thinking, no way. First of all, he's gay. Second, he's too old. After dinner he asked if I wanted to get a glass of wine. We ended up going to the bar at the hotel along with a lot of the other people in the group. We hung out with another guy who I knew previously, through work. John bought me a glass of wine, and I learned that he was divorced, because this lady came up to him and said that he had a really beautiful wife. He was like, "uh, ex-wife." Oops. He also has two cats and a dog. That's cute. I actually really enjoyed hanging out with him, I felt we could be friends at least. I also learned he is 46, because I saw his drivers' license at the bar and saw he was born in 1960. Pretty old, huh? I was considering whether I would be willing to make out with him or not. There's something about knowing someone is into you that makes them more attractive. Then the really bizarre thing happened. A random older guy came up to the three of us at the bar and asked if either of the guys were my boyfriend or husband. We said "noooo..." and wondered why he was asking this. The guy proceeded to embarrass the hell out of me, and gave me like 10 compliments. He said he had been staring at me all night (um, creepy) and that I had the most beautiful lips, and eyes, and great legs, and that I was just this beautiful creature, and I should be proud and confident. I was in complete shock and didn't know what to say, so I just said thank you. Weird! Luckily when the guy went back to his barstool, I was not in his line of sight. Chris and John were both leaving to go up to their rooms, so I left too. End of evening. John left the next day for Pennsylvania to visit his family. I had an e-mail from him when I went into work this morning that he must have sent that night, late. He said it was a pleasure meeting me and that he looked forward to meeting me for lunch in the coming weeks. To talk about work, of course. I wrote back and said for him to get in touch when he was back in town. He sent me another e-mail tonight saying we should meet for lunch or wine, some evening. Hm. I guess it could be interesting to have a sugar daddy, albeit one who is old and possibly gay. Actually that would be ideal, because I'd get stuff and there'd be no expectations! Ha ha. That is just wrong. In the meantime, I have plans with Derek in SF tomorrow night and I have a blind date on Wednesday. Maybe it's for the best that Mark, the flake, is blowing me off - again. Although, I know how weak I am when it comes to him and if he did contact me, I would hang out with him. Pathetic. Why do we want the ones who don't seem to want us? I had hoped I'd be over guys like him a long time ago. Guess not.