An overcast day on the Promenade

Most people measure meaningful progress in large denominations: in miles, in number of chicks fvcked, in phone numbers collected. I prefer to measure progress in smaller units: in perseverance in the face of a difficult set, in the sudden clarity of a moment, in taking action despite your body's best efforts to "play it safe". I feel that long-term change is made in tiny steps which are repeatable, not in "lucky" moments or leaps-of-faith that happen to stick.

I was hanging out with a buddy of mine from the Santa Monica Lair, O.. We were spending an overcast day on 3rd Street Promenade, just wandering and flirting with cute girls. Despite getting no numbers and no notable Rapport with any of the girls I spoke with I still feel I made HUGE leaps today:

• I opened two RIDICULOUSLY HOT blondes standing in line at the Starbucks. Cold. It wasn't the best set in the world, and I was nervous as hell, but the fact that I took action in the face of massive Approach Anxiety is a HUGE thing for me.
• I stuck it out in a set with an ESL Korean chick through Wide Rapport and made it work. I used simple words, a lot of pantomime with my hands (to support my words) and a very light, easygoing vibe. It went well, except for the whole "she has a husband and a kid" thing. I still tried to carry the interaction forward, even after that tidbit, so yay me.
• I stopped a HOT blonde chick in Guess? with a Direct opener and got a genuine smile from her and some Wide Rapport. There's a part of me that still feels certain women are out of my league (in a way), so every time I can get one of "those types" of women to stop and engage me and have it work -- even without a contact close -- it's a confidence builder for me. This particular chick was working (personal assistant to someone that was eating at a restaurant next door, I saw earlier) so it made the interaction rushed. In retrospect I should've tried for a number close anyways. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
• Stopped a HOT, tall blonde (I dunno, man, it was Hot Blonde Day at 3rd Street for some reason) with the 1-2-3 opener (credit: PU101) out on the Promenade and had a light and fun interaction. This is important because I've had TERRIBLE luck opening anyone out on the Promenade; this is mostly because of all the solicitors, bums, and religious nutjobs always pestering everyone out on the street. It's good practice for me to use the 1-2-3 for these situations.

All in all a good, tiring day. Now, time to relax in the rooftop jacuzzi to reward myself. B-)