o_O

Awesome. ^_^

Suddenly, a wild dilemma appears!

OMG WHICH TAIL DO I WEAR?

Good.

And now that you are making us ask, "Are you going?"

Cut the blue wire!

A new challenger approaches!

Curtain #3! Pick 3!

Okay, so, details:
I took a moment to get away from icing donuts to see what my coworkers were up to. One of them was talking about how her son's birthday was coming up. She invited me. Which is a shock, because I didn't think I was doing a good enough job at presenting myself as friendly (I figured I leaned more towards "keeps to himself").

This is an opportunity I'd rather not waste. Somehow, I need to take advantage of the situation. I'm going to possibly meet new people this Saturday, and I need to figure out how to make some of them consider myself someone worth keeping in contact with within the short hours I'd be there.

...I wonder whether I should wear a gamer shirt to attract gamers, or a furry shirt to attract... um... whoever such a shirt would catch the attention of.

That's cool Dray. ^_^

How old is her son?

And I'd definitely go with the gamer shirt.

This is going to sound horribly cliche, but don't try to BE anything. Just kind of go and have a good time and try talking to people. Most people only go to talk to other people they already know, so it'll probably be up to you to make that first connection.

Maybe this is the same thing Lantis is saying but stated a different way. This is a good opportunity to relate to people as long as they are somewhat opening to talking. It is true some of them will probably be in groups but here and there you should be able to engage in moments of mutual conversation. But I wouldn't yet concern yourself with trying to make sure some of them know you are someone they would want to keep in contact with because you do not yet know that you would want to keep in contact with them. You have to relate to them first. If however it seems like you have made some good connections or contacts then get their info and give them yours. That way you can get in contact with them. The only way they will know that you are someone worth keeping in contact with is well after the party once you've already reestablished contact with them.

It's much like what Lantis said. Just be who you are naturally and just have fun chatting it up. You will need to be the one to approach people. Since you probably don't know many people there, it's important that you take the step forward and not wait on people. You can easily start a conversation with a simple "hi, I'm (your name)" and a "how do you know (the host of the party)?" Simple and easy. And you're walking in with the wrong mindset. Don't even think about the whole prospect of whether people think you're worth keeping around. You are or you aren't. Some people would want to be around you, others wouldn't. That's a reality you have to understand and accept. Once you can, it's just a matter of socializing and if people like you, they will hope to keep in touch. Don't overthink things. People aren't tests or long equations or circuit analysis.

Good luck dray. Just relaxing and enjoy yourself. You will do fine.

I'm just worried that this'll be my only chance for a while to make friends. Opportunity like this doesn't fall in my lap often.

Don't over-think it, and don't over-think not over-thinking it.

Okay, so I got some info. Apparently the co-worker's son is turning 2 years old, and likes dinosaurs. So now I gotta find a cheap dino gift that's safe for 2-year-olds.

Those old school sponge toy things that, like, grow bigger when you get them wet.

So that he can truly live his childhood.

Those were the only things that even made childhood worthwhile.
I didn't even think they existed for other people, I thought they were just something my grandmother had created in her underground laboratory with that thing that rocked violently back and forth when you pressed the right button (dryer).

Which toy do you speak of?