Same here incubus, I tried to get to know girls I like before I ask them out, but usually they tend to be uninteresting, or dumber than your average 
I know this may be odd for me to say, but sometimes I think I’m all alone in this town of mine <sigh>
A woman who’s “just one of the guys?” God, if I could meet one of those, I’d be in heaven. Sounds perfect.
I’d lived with one woman for twenty years, and then we separated. I too felt like I didn’t know where to begin, and that I’d forgotten how to flirt. You know what? It comes back. Don’t sweat it, relax, be yourself, a drink or two helps. Go for it. Practice is good. Talk to men in bars. It’s great to go out with a bunch of friends when you want to practice flirting, 'cause then you can just tell all the guys you’ve been knocking dead that your friends are leaving, so you’ve got to go. So go out tomorrow, dress to kill, and have a ball.
By the way, I would have answered that personal ad, but I live a million miles away (New York City).
Incubus and LMM both mentioned being “one of the guys” as being a cool thing… so where have you guys been all my life? 
And, Alexxandra, I know just how you feel. I’ve been there, and I’ve been there for a long time… but you’re on the right track. Build your self-esteem, feel pretty and sexy in your cool new dress, and know that you don’t need a guy, but it’s ok to want one. At least that’s what worked for me… Have fun, and just enjoy yourself!
Here’s the update: turns put that we’re NOT going out tonight, because a few people bailed out and a couple others decided that they just didn’t feel like it. So I guess it’s just me and the cat tonight, and the dress will stay in the closet until another weekend. Good thing I phoned these guys before I started to get ready – I would have felt like a moron if I was the only one that showed up!
Thanks for the support, though, I can always count on you guys.
Well, shoot.
Make sure to point out to your friends that they’re a bunch of goofs.
Whistlepig, who is home, alone, on a friday night, in Montana, goes to his door to check for single women who have traveled to Montana just to meet men.
Nope, still just me and the dog.
And whenever I hear some PollyAnna say, "It will happen when you least expect it! I think, yeah, like I’m going to bump into some woman in the grocery store who will say, “Hi, my names Debbie. Wanna be life partners?”
Whistlepig The Single, who really isn’t as cynical as he sounds tonight.
There aren’t that many around here, but we have fun when we do an Edmonton Dopefest! Just a small affair of friends getting together for fun.
I totally understand the hating being single part. I’ve only had like… 3 bf’s in total and I crave having human contact (Oh how I miss the snuggling) Thing is… I’m half in love with this one guy who is my best bud, sees me as one of the guys… and get this. He’s just started dating a girl with the same name as me. 
Confuses the hell outta me when he talks about her as well as making my heart leap in ways it shouldn’t. Damnit. It doesn’t help that between my job (graveyard shifts) and school I have no time to go out and meet people. When I’m awake and able to do stuff, it’s the middle of the afternoon and pretty much everyone is at work. sighs
Well for what it’s worth, you could be in my shoes. I’m almost 20 years older, shy and going to be single again very soon. I don’t even know where to begin.
My two cents- (rapidly becoming more and more worthless…)
I noticed your use of the ‘puking’ sound when you were told how ‘Nice’ you are, then in the next paragraph, you talk about wanting to meet a ‘nice’ guy. Believe me, I’ve been on the opposite end of that ‘nice’-ness enough to know that many people who say they want nice want nothing of the kind (but I’m not bitter)
Anyway, for what it’s worth, I find that people who can hold their own in conversations and have something interresting to say are incredibly attractive, and I wish I could meet more of them without becomming a stuttering fool. Don’t be afraid to try. Talk to people. Heck, everyone suggests talking to us dopers… We’re not such a bad lot, really.
Okay, was I going anywhere with this? (thinking…) Oh yeah- I wanted to rant about the ‘nice guy’ thing, and I wanted to encourage you. I can’t say things will definately happen, but I can tell you they definately won’t if you don’t try.
That’s all the stupid advice from this end for tonight.