Meeting people in the physical (not on-line) world

Want to go back to meeting people the old-fashioned way? Um...what IS the old-fashioned way? Lisa Steadman's article, "Dating 101: Debunking the Scarcity Myth," (http://dating.personals.yahoo.com/singles/datingtips/86374/dating-101-debunking-the-scarcity-myth) is a great read if you've been feeling trapped behind a keyboard lately, or if you cannot bear to read one more on-line profile. Steadman gives you a plan on how to meet people who are physically all around you, as opposed to (or in addition to) on-line. During the first week, she advises you to make eye contact with one stranger you find attractive, every day, whether it's on the subway, waiting on line at the supermarket, wherever. For the second week, both make eye contact and smile. In the third week, make eye contact, smile, AND make small talk. She also suggests activities to do once a week that will allow you to shake things up and possibly meet new people. It does sound kind of nerve-wracking, but also a good change of pace from the on-line dating routine.

As always, for non-dating related posts feel free to visit my other blog at http://HerArtichokeHeart.blogspot.com !

Five Traits a Guy Should Have Before You Get Serious

Just spotted an interesting article on Yahoo Personals by Mina Azodi called "Dating 101: Five Traits A Guy Should Have Before You Get Serious" (http://dating.personals.yahoo.com/singles/relationships/24236/dating-101-five-traits-a-guy-should-have-before-you-get-serious).
According to Azodi, the traits are:

1) He knows what he wants (so you can tell early on if your long-term plans and goals are compatible).
2) He has a sunny outlook (one study found that how optimistic a man was determined the relationship's "staying power") and can make you laugh.
3) He's open to changing for you.
4) He's still a little mysterious.
5) He's responsible with money.

The third one surprised me because, as people always say, you can't change someone. But the rest of that statement really should be, you can't change someone unless THEY want to change. Azodi writes, "Studies have found that successful married couples change each other quite a bit over time...A man needs to have the capacity to transform and grow with you."

Your Infinite On-line Dating Profile (!)

A friend sent me this very interesting article about how your on-line dating profile and the information you disclose to dating web sites can be used against you. In "Online Dating: Your Profile's Long, Scary Shelf Life" (http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9127799&intsrc=hm_list) Robert L. Mitchell writes about how on many dating sites, even if you cancel your subscription, the data still sits there in the company's records. The risk, as Mitchell writes, is that "'the detailed personality profiles can be disclosed in a lawsuit and then used against you in novel and negative ways,' says Pam Dixon, executive director of the World Privacy Forum. These include divorce or custody proceedings, employment-related lawsuits and potentially even medical-related lawsuits. Though rare, legal actions have been filed in cases ranging from date rape accusations to sexual harassment accusations to a lawsuit against former WellPoint Inc. executive David Colby by a woman who contended that he misrepresented himself on Match.com."

Hmmm. If I'd sued everyone who misrepresented himself on Match.com, I'd be a millionaire! Just kidding. ;) Maybe I was just lucky, but I don't think I actually met anyone who blatantly lied about himself (or perhaps I just didn't date them long enough to realize it!).

Bizarre vintage valentines

One of my friends sent me a link to pictures of some classic Valentine's Day cards -- and by "classic," I mean classically bad! One shows a cartoon of a little boy standing on a huge knife, with the caption, "You were just CUT OUT to be my Valentine." Another shows a cartoon of a kitten tied up with a rope, next to the caption, "I'm BOUND to be yours if you'll be mine." And kids apparently traded these like they were just normal cards! Strange.
To see, click on:
http://7deadlysinners.typepad.com/photos/vintage_valentines/index.html

Valentine's Day (and Anti-Valentine's Day)

Professionals in the City is having not one but TWO events in NYC (Manhattan) next week to help singles meet their Valentine. One is billed as "New York's Largest Singles Anti-Valentine's Day After Work Party," and it's taking place Thursday Feb. 12th at 6:00 PM. Tickets are $19.99 on-line or $30 at the door.

The other event is an Pre-Valentine's Day Mixer on Friday February 13th at 6 PM. Tickets are $5 on-line.
You can find details about both events at http://www.prosinthecity.com/index.cfm?cityid=5&action=events&eventid=7363#Event7363

The other day the Nicest Guy in the World asked me quite seriously, "Should I give you your Valentine's Day card in person on Valentine's Day, or would you rather I mail it to you? I know how much you like mail." I AM freakishly fond of mail! Does he know me or what? :)

Have a good weekend, everyone! Oh, and for non-dating-related posts, check out http://HerArtichokeHeart.blogspot.com

Reason #11 to delete my MySpace account

I just had to post this bizarre e-mail from someone I'll just call Crazy, which I received through the MySpace account I barely use (now you know why!). Do you think English is his second language? It must be, right? If not, that's pretty sad! :O

Hey Dearest,
How are you doing ? Wow it been a very long and hectic day for me.Guess what..? I was just browsing through my myspace email here, when I saw the profile of princess charming, it really interest me so much that my heart skipped and I felt so happy and relieved again,Whoopee!! I feel like my lost treasure has just been found as I stir at your profile, It really move my heart from the high level of stress coupled with anger to happiness,smiles and a whole lot of relief again,in fact right now I feel so refreshed.So, I said to myself, Let me say "Hello" to this sweet,wonderful and gorgeous woman who has made my day with just a glance through her profile.Pardon me if I have done wrong by doing that.....?I will like to know how your day is going and if you don't mind me chatting with you sometime, to get to know you better.....do please feel free to email me and tell me little of what you did to your profile that makes it catch my attention,I will be waiting to hear some good,wonderful and sweet words that will be coming from your gorgeous heart.....till I hear from you again do take care and stay cool......yours friend....Crazy.... I am sorry if I sound so nasty to you but you know I just cant hide this truth, Just have to tell you how happy you have made my day with your profile alone, I doubt if you are single but if you are then I must count myself among the luckiest men on earth right now,feel free to email me or send me your IM on yahoo messenger so we can get to chat if that is OK by you....Hope you are having a fulfill day bye for now.Crazy

My new blog!

As you've probably been able to tell by my dwindling number of posts, now that I'm actually in a (gasp!) relationship, I've been having trouble thinking of dating-related things to write about on my blog. But I do like blogging. So, I've decided to start a new blog where I can write about everything else that interests me -- relationships in general, my job search, current events, spirituality, why I'm such a bad bowler, etc. Here's the URL:

http://HerArtichokeHeart.blogspot.com/

If you're still single and more interested in posts about dating, I'll still update Best Dates Now with any events and dating-related articles I come across (I don't think I'll ever get off all those e-mail lists). But it'll probably only happen once a week or so.

As always, thanks very much for reading! :)