Yes, the work week was finally over for me when I stepped out of the Karaoke/Cyber Dating Bar at 9:30pm last night. The Tokyo office staff, having a penchant for these kind of places, were all a giggle to go back to the scene of the crime from the night before that had already claimed one amateur casualty. She being so hungover she couldn't work today. This meant that I was to be co-host to a group of guys from the EU and others from the Japanese Finance Ministry. Number crunching, post nubile men that were desperately seeking liquid oblivion and dreaming perhaps of carnal pleasures after an extremely long and stressful week.

As co-host I had to stick around for awhile, even though all I wanted to do was go home take off my 3.5 inch heels, get out of my clothes and slip into something infinitely more softer (like my 500 thread count cotton bed sheets) and hook up with something more familiar (like my beloved laptop named Bob).

But work demands continued, so I had to stick around. My role became a sort of voyeour, consultant, and Cyrano for a few of my colleagues who were floundering in their attempts to find "true love" [or temporary love for that matter]. You see this is a very unusual bar, where everyone sits in small groups at these booths or tables that have webcams and flat screens on them. With a push of a few buttons at the base of the screen you're able to look at or check out people sitting at their tables or booths through out the bar. In other words guys or gals no longer have to be shot down when they approach someone in person. Nope, now they can be shot down from the comfort of their barstool and at a distance and with humiliatingly lightening speed, just with the end of . Yes folks, that's urban dating in the 21st Century. Anyway, once you hone in on a table with appealing candidates you can then send them a message which shows up at the bottom of their screen (much like instant messaging). If after a few exchanges they agree to talk with you there's a type of speaker phone embedded at the bottom of the screen beneath the live image feed/picture of your gentleman or lady caller.

The guys of the EU were doing well with their swave and sophisticated fool proof approach of befriending and acting "interested" in the women so I left them alone. Unfortunately, the Japanese guys, had their efforts met with Kamikaze like results. So as a gracious host I gave them the 411 on how to approach NY women, what to say initially to them, some interesting topics to talk about, as well as what to expect from them. Japanese men are used to shy demure women who giggle softly while covering their lips. At this bar though, it was obvious that there were plenty of man-hungry baracudas circling the digital waters for their prey.

After seeing this I felt I should help, nay I felt it was my duty to help initiate them into the NY dating scene. These guys, though somewhat experienced in love, were WAY over their heads in these shark infested waters. So to even the match I used the IM screens to my advantage. I would quickly type out what the guys needed to say to the ladies and then erase and wait for the ladies' response and then type in the next thing they needed to say to them. The conversation then flowed, a few got lucky and with that I helped level the playing field. My job for the evening being done I collected my 40 lb briefcase and stepped out onto the humid sidewalk, listening to the tap tap tap of my footsteps with glee.

Yes, I was finally free!!!! l was grateful to finally be able to have the opportunity to walk the stress off before going home. Yes, I could finally unwind after working over 14 hours at having to be all charm, pleasantness, smiles and the eternal trouble shooter that at times had me using 2 phones simultaneiously to continue averting the disasters others had set up. Well, I shined today, thanks to my vigilance all crises were averted and everyone had an almost good time during the regulatory meetings and conferences.

My reward? Before I left the bar I was given by my co-host from our Tokyo office, a small beautifully wrapped gold box of Godiva hand-dipped chocolate strawberries. I was truly touched by such a thoughtful gift. It's always nice to be thanked, but these guys went out of their way to find out what I liked. Wow, so they did learn from my crash course on women, and were already using it on me.

So as I walked the quiet streets of downtown Manhattan, a small slow smile came to my face, and a small spring emerged in my step. The prevailing thought thereafter was, I pray Monday stays light years away.

Posted by: Michele at 01:13 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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