I have read and reread your posts NMDodo, N_Hill and Soup...
And let thought percolate in my head for awhile...
And here is my evolved take on The Appearance issue and dating.
The Career: Yes, the way I have managed my career has been impacted by my appearance. I am lucky that I am NOT posting that my career has been impacted. The seminar was great partly b/c I felt like I am finally at a point where those men that engage in these types of behavior are "intimidaed" by me and keep their thoughts and actions to themselves. Perhaps my own demeanor has changed as a result of the "promotions" I have received in the form of increasing management responsibilities. It is no longer 1980 something. Things are changing. Many of the movers and shakers are M to women like myself - and they know how to treat women in the workplace.
Dating: I need to take baby steps. Dating sites are too big a step for me. It is too much pressure. I will take steps to get out of the house and get out more. I am going to a seminar for attorneys - it is a normal attorney seminar - very different from patent attorney seminars. There is a more balanced male/female presence.
And this is what is so uncanny about my goal setting... Just yesterday I posted about going to fundraisers. And well while I talked about political ones - I just talked to a neighbor - she and her H are going to a fundraiser for Parkinsons this weekend - Wallah - I have my fundraiser I. I am going to buy my ticket this afternoon. This group is primarily doctors (and their dates). My friend is in the pharma industry - one of her clients a cardiologist has organized the event.
The weekend after that I will volunteer at a local Ribfest in the beer tent! All proceeds from the Ribfest go towards organizations involved in domestic violence/child abuse issues. There will be bands and good food and hopefully fun people.
I suppose I am also lucky that I have no problems going by myself to events where I know no one. Sometimes you meet lots of nice people. Sometimes - if it is clicky - you feel a little like an outsider - that has happened maybe once or twice.
Since talking about and thinking about dating sets off a set of thoughts that overwhelm me. Why even go there right now? The goal is getting out of the house and doing something social every weekend.
