Craigslist

I'm on Craigslist, supposedly looking for a very temporary job.
aaaaand I got stuck in the Portland personals.
I remember doing a graduation present for Katie Sullivan: I wrote her a free "Missed Connection" personal in the Willamette Week. She flipped out . . . and so did her boyfriend, until I explained that it was not a random dude but one of her teammates.
Huge tip: If you know anyone who loves to read those "Missed Connections," write a very specific one about them and post it everywhere: Willamette Week, Portland Mercury, Craigslist. Then make sure read the paper in front of you. It's awesome.

That said, reading the "Missed Connections" section is a very emotional experience. It's mostly sad, and often hopeful, like inconstant poetry. Take a look at some of these men-seeking-women:

December 30. I ask myself
what value there is in posting here. The answer, you read them. I have stayed quiet for a long time. Respecting your wish. What bothers the most is some of the things you told me and the gestures of intimacy towards me. It is a shame that we both messed up. It's clear that I am not making much headway in getting over you. Not sure I will. I hope our paths cross someday. It would be nice to see you.

December 29. Before the bed was big... now its just empty. - m4w - 19 (Beaverton)
I'm sorry. I knew beforehand the preconditions.
Everything I touch just falls apart. I can't find anything normal. Regular, healthy... I thought I would find that in you, and I don't know why when you told me before this whole ordeal began it could never be that way.
I wanted to let you know that even if we can't be what I think we could be, we can still be friends, and I want to be there for you.
I know, I sound like a pussy now. Sorry. You probably won't even read this, but I had to say it. Or, you will read this and think I'm a pussy. I probably shouldn't have posted this.
Whatever.
Hope to hear from you,
Lying awake at night in a bed that once used to be big and roomy, but now just feels like its missing a person.

December 30. just say hi - m4w (NW PDX)
i want to be a missed connection. i am tall, attractive, and a lot of fun. why don't any girls smile at me when i say hi to them? oh, well...