Sometimes, when you’re in the dating dumps, you have to network.

So there I was, 4:45 on a miserable Wednesday afternoon. Work is blah, weather is blech. I get a random text from a colleague.

“Meet me at Sugar Lounge at 6:00. My friend Todd and a couple of his friends are there for happy hour.”

I met Todd a while back. Wonderful man, unbelievably accomplished in a very difficult field. So, I’m in.

At this point I should let you know that I know Todd is gay. Which is why he is a very good place to park myself for an hour on a bleary weeknight when I feel dead in the dating waters. You know, no pressure.

Todd is there with a bunch of friends. My colleague and I make small talk with all of them about the weather, our rents, our kids, boxers vs. briefs. I learn there is such a thing as boxer briefs.

I look up. This place has filled up with men. There are suits, jeans, mogul-looking types and a few guys who look like they want to kill somebody.

I nudge my colleague. Time to add another blog post? She nods.

So there I go, down the long sprinkly-lit noisy bar to find a guy. I see a bar stool free, one guy standing next it, talking to a guy seated next the aforementioned empty stool.

I panic. OMG these guys are successful-looking. But they have noticed me standing there like I need a bar stool, and they are smiling.

Turns out that the very clean-cut gentleman is in real estate, and he’s showing condos at a large new building near me. Now, with my salary and all, I am in no position to leave my current apartment, let along BUY anything in this city. But hey, can’t hurt to have a look, right? We’re hitting it off so ….

I ask him for his card. He doesn’t seem to not have one. So I run back to my group and grab my wallet. I give the guy my business card. “I’d love a tour sometime,” I say.

Addie? What the HELL did you just do?
Back at my table, My new friends are waving me off like I’m a small plane coming in too steep for a landing.

“No! Not that! Addie. Do NOT ever give a guy your BUSINESS CARD.”

I’m in a bind. Do I go take the card back? (I know you’re all hoping I did because, well, it’s fun to watch Addie do awkward things.)

No. Nope. Because this is the whole point of all my Going Out and Talking to Men. I do it all the time now. Sometimes I get it sorta right. But I do learn when I get it wrong. (Sorta.)

Todd turns out to be very useful. After his lecture and my lame excuses, he looks around. He points out another guy and tells me to get back in the game.

That went better.

And this bring us to what is next up: Love or money?