Matchless.com

A few months ago, I signed up for Match.com. This was not the first time I've been on Match. I also did Yahoo Personals a couple of years ago. I haven't really had much luck with online dating, for a number of reasons. I'm pretty picky and tend to reject winks or emails from people who don't have a good grasp of the English language or the written word. I've tried to lighten up about the grammatical errors but here's an example of one email I got. There's no way I could have replied back to this person with any amount of open-mindedness.

hello...
compliments of the season, how was your christmas?. i went through your profile and it interest me alot
I'm looking for a woman who's open minded to have correspondence with. I'm a strong, romantic, smart, independent man with many goals and lots of drive. I love to have fun and need a real woman by my side to hold it down with. i will like to know you better, here is my email ID....[email address here]...I WILL BE GLAD TO READ FROM YOU AGAIN.
[name deleted to protect the incompetent]
thanks.

Again?! I never sent anything to this guy in the first place. By the way, the subject of the email was "hello sexy". PLEASE. You've got to be kidding me.

There have been more awful ones, but I've deleted them. I'll admit, the example wasn't too too bad, but it was the worst I've got on file right now.

So, yesterday, I received a wink from someone I happen to know. He used to bartend at a bar I frequented in my twenties, and I'm sure he recognized me. But what I don't know is, is he winking at me because he wants to go out with me (not my type, even though really nice) or is he winking at me because he recognizes me and is just saying hi, but forgot my name so doesn't want to send an email? I'm not sure if I should email him back, asking how he's doing, or just ignore it? I'm pretty sure I remember is name so I'd probably use it in the email back. But...what if he doesn't recognize me and then is all freaked out because I know his name? Or even worse, what if I use the wrong name and then he thinks I'm just a jerk. Yet another option is that he DOES recognize me, wants to go out with me, and is hurt when I act like, "oh we're just friends." Finally, why is this such a big deal anyway? I think I'm obsessing about it a little too much.

When I set up my profile on Match, I only knew about the fibroids and I figured it was okay because it was just one health issue. Then I found out I had to start taking hormones, which were going to induce menopause, and I kind of freaked out. What if I met someone and it actually worked out? How was I going to say I was working with a decreased sex drive because I was going through temporary menopause at age 34? "Hey, want to go out with me? I'm having hot flashes and I ain't got no mojo." Then, the lump in my throat came up and I'm still in the waiting game with that one. Plus, I have pink eye, a sore throat that is lingering from my Happy New Year's cold, and I have to wear my glasses. Overall, I'm not really feeling confident about dating. Yes, I have a career, a house, and I'm cute (so I've been told). But I'm struggling to online-date in the midst of all of this health drama. I am plugging away though, because I signed up for 6 months. They claim if you don't meet "that special someone" in 6 months, you'll get 6 months free. Shopaholic that I am, I sort of don't want to meet that special someone in the first 6 months, so I'll get the 6 months free. And that's just crazy.