Alright so, this is my first post on this forum. I did introduce myself, but for those of you who may car, I'm Zodiac, I'm from Atlanta.

So I got out of the Marine Corps about a year ago after 5 years. My dad and I started a tree service when I got back because he had been out of work and it has been going well. Problem is it's only dudes in the industry and I'm one of our two climbers, so I work constantly and am generally too damn tired to go out. I know, I've become pathetic. My former self stationed right near San Diego would kick me in the balls right now if he could. Bright side, I'm going to not be working Saturdays soon so I'll have more time to actually go out and not be a bitch.

Onto the problem at hand though...

I signed up on this OkCupid sight after my brother started getting laid every now and then from it when he moved to DC (he literally knew no one when he got there). I figured since none of my friends live here anymore and I'm not going out that much, I would give it a try.

About 2 days in, I get talking to this HB8. Cute girl. 5'2", nice ass (she's a dancer...not that kind though), moved to Tennessee from Alaska, loves shooting shit. Why am I talking to a girl in Tennessee when I'm in Atl? Because I didn't even realize there was a whole different set of damn rules on the internet and pretty much poisoned my market in the immediate area on there for the time being. So, I got drunk one night and said fuck it, and started sending random shit to people a little farther away to hit more people and see what worked. Several of them responded, but HB8 was the only one I was interested in out of those that replied. We chatted using the "email" thing for two nights because neither one of us even knew there was a IM on there. I finally figured the chat out and we started IM'ing. Here's where I fucked up...

I was drinking again and already really tired so I wasn't as witty as I normally tend to be. We were having a great convo and started talking about long backpacking trips and stuff because I do that a lot. I asked if she would be into that kind of thing, she said she was totally down for that and I said that I would take her along on one in the spring time when the weather's not as shitty. She asked how long the backpacking trips last. I THOUGHT she was talking about in general, but apparently she was specifically referring to the one I told her she could go on. I told her it depended, it could last two days or several months. Each trip is different. To which she replied, "Whoa! Wait a minute! We JUST met online and now we're taking looong trips together?! Don't you think we should at least meet first?? ...it's ok, I'll carry the bear spray " (we had talked about Alaska and bears, and spray was involved. its extraneous info honestly. there was an inside joke though) Because I was slightly inebriated and tired, I didn't pick up on the flirt. I should have respond with something witty/humorous/sexual, but instead I said that that's not what I meant and I was seriously talking about backpacking.....

Basically, convo dive bombed worse than the Japs at Pearl Harbor (no offense to anyone of japanese origin). We ended up getting off like 5 minutes after that when she said "K, well I have an early-ish morning tomorrow. Nice talking to you." ...and wave as she walks out the door. Fuuuuck!!!

So I sent her something last night, while sober, to try and get her number because I honestly don't like the chatting on the internet thing. Here's the message:

"I think you need a break from this website...you've answered way too many questions haha! Anyway, earlier today I was putting you in my phone, but once I put your name in I had nothing else because you forgot to give me your number. It's okay, I forgive easily...sometimes. Seriously though, this thing makes me feel like I'm 13 again on AOL instant messenger and I would prefer not feeling like I'm 13 if possible."


I figured it was humorous enough to keep from pushing her into it too hard and scaring her away, but also direct enough that I would get it easily.

Apparently not...

She had been on before I had gotten a chance to (i wanted to do it while she was on, but was still working) so I didn't get this sent until 10pm. She hasn't logged in since before I sent it, but I'm thinking maybe she got an email and read it in there and it put her off a bit so she's attempting to avoid me in hopes that I'll go away. What I'm wondering is if this is because I missed that chance in your guys opinions and also what to do about possibly restarting/salvaging it. I'm really not worried about it too much. I mean if she's not going to talk to me, fuck it, she's in Tennessee anyway and that's an expensive lay just in the gas. BUT, even just for future reference, what should I do? At this point it's been over 24hrs. So do I send a follow up and try to recover or do I wait for her to respond? Maybe just give it another 24 hrs? Again, future reference if anything. I REALLY don't like cold internet game like these sites. Sarcasm and wit comes across as straight douche bag-ness and my care free attitude apparently makes me look completely arrogant. I mean I understand why, but I haven't figured out a way around that just yet. So yeah, what are some of your thoughts??