I finally have an interesting answer to that inconvenient question.

I’m an onine matchmaker. I help people meet their soulmates.

I don’t write about relationships or sex, because that’s not my expertise. However, on the subject of how to meet people online or in person, I’m a bit of a connoisseur. Several years of trial, error, and prolific analysis have given me something to talk about.

So, what do I do?

I teach people how to walk into a room and talk to anyone they wish.
I explain ways to subconsciously build attraction with another person.
I entertain people with funny videos about dating disasters.
I go to various kinds of dating events and cover them.
I experience dating disasters myself and write about them.
I show people how to read another person’s body language.
I teach people how to become human lie detectors.
I help shy people become more self-confident.
I show people the value of meeting potential mates online.

I work for AOL Personals. That is my job.

Accomplished:

• Complete improv classes through Level 5 Level 2 (Q4)
• Enroll in business classes (Q3)
• Book Sarah Lacy for appearance/book reading at AOL campus (Q3)
• Complete software training for Flash CS3, Keynote, WordPress, PHP, CSS, and Final Cut Pro (Q3)
• Launch 3 new ongoing video podcasts for AOL Commerce & Marketplace Shopping [ShopLogic.tv] (Q3)
• Pitch three two new products for AOL Shopping [Affiliate program, Facebook app] (Q3)
• Launch at least 3 episodes of “DC Tech” (Q3)
• Begin working out consistently after gaining access to the AOL employee gym (Q3)
• Create vlog site for AOL Passion Project (Q2)
• Get laser eye surgery (Q2)
• Pay off car (Q2)
• Become an AOL employee (Q2)
• Continue the “DC Derby” podcast through June (Q2)
• Begin attending Reston Bible Church (Q2)
• Take the Foundations of Improv class (Q1)

In Progress:

• Pay off last credit card
• Become satisfied with the way I look physically
• Get a clean bill of health from the doctor

Pending:

• Write script for comic idea
• Create business plan for one startup idea
• Read the entire Bible this year
• Start attending church regularly
• Become debt-free (except for condo)

Cancelled:

• Meet my age’s physical requirements for Army/Marine boot camp
• Audition for a WIT troupe
• Join a small group
• Create blog/wiki for Christians@AOL group
• Get involved with the Fellowship of Christian Filmmakers
• Contribute to the board/blog of the DC Podcaster Alliance
• Visit my relatives in the Philippines
• Launch “Inside Frontline” video podcast
• Purchase a Mac Pro
• Create at least one AOL kickball highlight video

New:

• Launch AOL Personals video podcast
• Launch three new AOL Personals columns
• Start taking Kung Fu classes
• Complete 30-day “Stylelife Challenge”

So, Maria has returned this week. Completely out of the blue. Yet another reconnection courtesy of Facebook. I hadn’t seen Maria since the end of 2001. That was about the time all my close friends vanished. Either by moving away or simply disconnecting.

It’s been seven years since the two of us last hung out. The first thing I wanted to do, when she friended me online was to meet up face-to-face. We did so on Thursday.

I won’t go into any details here, but I was somewhat aware of what she had been up to via a run-in with one of her former friends at McLean Bible Church about a year ago. But I wanted to hear it from her.

We met for dinner at ATR in Reston Town Center, and we caught up on the past seven years. I told her about our mutual friends on my side, and she told me about our mutual friends on her side. Practically everyone we talked about had gone through some major changes (marriage, engagement, relocation, etc.). She, herself, had experience great changes in her life.

Everyone had changed, except for me. I am very much the same person I was seven years ago. I’m single, living in northern Virginia, working at an Internet company, and doing off-the-wall projects in my spare time. I’m a bit wiser and more self-confident now, but otherwise still the exact same person with the same values, living in the same circumstances. No big life changes for me, other than much success in my professional life.

During our discussion, Maria filled me in on some behind-the-scenes dirt that happened between our friends when we had all been hanging out. Things I knew nothing of. I’m still shocked at how oblivious I apparently was back then.

I’m definitely glad to have the chance to hang out with an old friend again. While a lot has happened in the past seven years, I still consider Maria a friend and I enjoy her company. And she’s the only one from “the old days” I can still hang out with.

Thinking of how everyone I know has gone through major changes in their lives this past decade, I find myself wondering if it’s a good or bad thing that I haven’t experienced the same evolution. And will I only experience those changes if I put everything aside and focus on making those changes? Or should I just wait for things to change by happenstance?

There are so many other things I want to do with my life, I can’t imagine focusing on just one thing. But maybe it’s time to start.