FRIENDS and Lovers

‘Looking for Love’

So, you want to fall in love? You are certainly old enough and moving well along your chosen career path. Many of your friends are either married or in committed relationships. You have grown weary of the singles scene and the solitary life. Therefore, you must be ready, right? Read more »

Dear Relationship Coach – “We met online and seemed to hit it off right from the start. After he answered my ad, we went on our first date, and it was fabulous. I believe we both felt a strong chemistry and learned a lot about each other. At the end of the evening we agreed to get together again. He called me the next day and we talked for three hours. On our second date, we spent the whole day together. After three dates (and many emails, phone calls) – we were talking on a Thursday night. We had previously discussed plans for Saturday. However, he did not mention it before we hung up. I wasn’t sure of how to handle the situation, so I waited until a day later and left a voice message for him, saying hi. After four days with no word, I left him an invitation to dinner at my place. I never heard back. What happened? What am I supposed to think?” (Confused Female) Read more »

They met in a club and even though he was not her “type”, she agreed to a date because he was nice and she didn’t know how to say “no.” They made plans for tonight to have dinner and see a movie. However, as the appointed time draws nearer, she is frantically thinking of how she can get out of this date. She just isn’t interested in him and never would have said yes if there had been an easy way out. She is dreading an awkward evening of wishing she were home and glancing at the clock. What can she do? Then it hits her, “I Know, I’ll send a message to the Alibi and Excuse Club. They will help me find a way out.” Read more »

DATE. The dictionary defines this word as, “an engagement to go out socially with another person, often out of romantic interest.” When two people meet and share a mutual interest in exploring something more, they usually arrange a date. Simple, right? Apparently not.Dating today seems to have taken on a number of different meanings and contexts, depending upon whom you talk to. Many singles verbalize uncertainty about the who, what, when, where and how’s of dating. Somewhere along the way the game changed and the old rules were forgotten or lost. What’s a single person in search of a relationship to do? Read more »

Dear Dating Coach – I have been dating a woman for almost three months. Lately, I have been confused about her behavior and need help to understand what is going on with us and what I can (should) do about it. Our relationship has gone from her calling me “sweetie” and asking for more intimacy; to telling me that I am pressuring her and need to stop pushing so hard. I have no problem going at whatever pace she is comfortable with, and I have told her this. In the past few weeks she has cancelled plans on several occasions, saying that she needs time to think because she feels afraid and uncertain about things. When I ask her to share her feelings with me, she becomes defensive and asks me to leave her alone. I have told her to do what she needs to and I will be here when she is ready. After several days of no contact she did call and ask me about my weekend plans. This is becoming very confusing. Do you have any ideas about what I could do to break this cycle and/or what she may be afraid or concerned about? Read more »

Serial – “Of, forming, or arranged in a series.”

Dating – “An engagement to go out socially with another person, often out of romantic interest.” Read more »

The Internet can be extremely dangerous to anyone who doesn’t use proper caution. Some websites are dangerous to visit and scores of phishing emails impersonating legitimate banks, credit card companies, and major corporations, will steal anything you allow them access to. Read more »

First, a mild disclaimer. This article is primarily aimed at the men out there, because it’s being told from a man’s point of view. It can’t help but sound a little sexist because I have only my personal experiences and those of my single male friends from which to draw! So ladies, forgive me in advance. However, I do think you will be able to relate to some of what I am about to say. Read more »

I asked myself, what did I want from a woman – age, body type, personality, etc.? To my surprise I realized I wasn’t interested in women who were a lot younger than I was because we had nothing in common. Read more »

Would you like to know how to increase your success in connecting with strangers of the opposite sex? Numerous research studies across several disciplines confirm what thoughtful observation shows us about how men and women make their first, unmediated contacts in public. Read more »

In the movie Doc Hollywood, actor Michael J. Fox plays a doctor who performs community service in a small Southern town after he loses control of his sports car while trying to avoid a cow on the road, and rams through a farmer’s fence. Read more »

Year after year people flock to the movies to see the latest romantic comedy. Why? Do you suppose it’s because of the chase? And because every new romantic comedy offers a slightly different variation on the chase? Don’t we love to see one of both characters chase each other through difficult situations until finally they end up with each other? We leave the theater with smiles in our hearts. Read more »

Falling in love! What a romantic phrase! What magical words! Does it not bring a smile to your face when you hear those sweet words? It doesn’t bring a smile to my face. I have coldly analyzed that well worn phrase and here is what I have discovered. Read more »

The following are six things to do so the first date doesn’t end up being the last date — unless you want it to be. Read more »

Take heart-you aren’t the only one who hates dating games. Your Boomer peers are fed up, too. Like them, you have learned to be more straightforward, and get to the point. You know that life is short and games take time. Read more »

 PIP=Potentially Interesting Person Read more »

In our experience and observations, one thing has become clear: Single women are much better at the game of seduction than men are. Women seem to be born with the instincts, or at least learn them at an early age, of how to play hard to get, how to tempt men, and how to master all the subtleties of male/female pursuit. Read more »

When I was married, the majority of my friends and acquaintenances were married. We all seemed to have the same interests. When I entered the single life through divorce, it was as if I had been dropped into a vat filled with couples. Read more »

Looking for the newest way to meet people? Want to expand your circle of friends into the rest of the world? Want a relationship without entanglements? Join the Internet crowd in Cyberspace. It had to happen, computers turning into our link to virtual friends and lovers. It’s the ”now” way to solve the age-old dating dilemna. Read more »

Learning to date again after having been in a marriage or other long term relationship can be challenging. It’s easier to get back into the dating pool when you have friends who are getting into it with you. If you’ve been in a long committed relationship you may not have any single friends — yet. Keep your eyes open because finding suitable single friends should be your first priority. Along the way you may also find your next love connection. Read more »

Should a man be who he really is on the first date? Read more »

Rule 19: Keep Your Ad Up Until You Are Exclusive

Women take down their ads prematurely. They have two dates with a guy and think “He’s the one, that’s it for me, I don’t want to meet anyone else,” or they want to show Mr. Right on their third date that they are committed to him and him alone by taking down their ad. We think this is a big mistake. Regardless of the reason, we think the only time to take down your ad is when you are exclusive, he has said “I love you,” or he has asked you to take down your ad-and he has taken his down too! Read more »

Relationships are to women what football is to men. Women like to read about relationships, talk about relationships, dissect relationships, even root for and against them. They argue over trick plays and strategies, and on occasion, offer their insights to close friends once they have proven successful. And just as in football, women also wear protective padding when necessary. Read more »

We all know what a v-sign means — or do we? Depending on which way the hand is facing you will either interpret it as a sign of victory or a very rude gesture! If you come from the jungles of Peru it might mean absolutely nothing to you at all! Read more »

Suddenly, it’s clear to you now. The relationship is over! What are you going to do now? Caution: Don’t complicate your life by beginning to date TOO SOON after a break-up! How soon is “too soon?” That will depend upon the circumstances of the breakup. Rule of thumb: Six months or more! “Or more?” you say! YES! Six months or more! Read more »

Sometimes it seems that everyone except you is part of a couple. That’s not true, but it’s easy to get a little on the blue side when people are two-by-two everywhere you go. It gets particularly bluesy when favorite songs and certain places trigger special memories. Read more »

You’ve been seeing a man who loves you, whether he uses the word or not. He loves sex with you, but more than that, he loves being with you. Even so, he hasn’t committed himself to you fully. Perhaps he’s still vague about weekend plans, or he hasn’t introduced you to his friends. Maybe he hasn’t asked you to marry him, though you’ve been seeing each other steadily or living together for a long time. Read more »

In the last few years, the number of relationships that start on the Internet has skyrocketed. No statistics are available about which ones work out and which ones end in disaster, but you can be sure the relationships that work are based upon mutual honesty. The ones that don’t, aren’t. The ones we hear about are the horror stories. Read more »

Why won’t men commit? Sigh. This dilemma has plagued me for as long as I’ve been dating. It’s enough to make you throw up your hands, surrender and say “forget it!” Men have flocked and buzzed their little heads off vying for my attention, waving gifts of flowers, music, and dinner, in addition to romancing me with midnight phone calls just because they “wanted to hear my voice.” Read more »

The following is an interview with psychologist George Weinberg about men and commitment. Read more »

A man who attempts with his time, money, devotion, endurance… to fulfill every possible desire and need of a Woman who interests him, a man who puts that Woman on a pedestal, would have been referred to in a kinder, different time as a ‘romantic.’ Read more »

Let’s face it – the Internet has infiltrated our lives. It’s the first place many of us go to do our shopping, our banking, our research, and even our socializing. When we sign on to the Internet, we get the information we need just by clicking a few buttons. When you consider the ease and the convenience of the Internet, it’s really no surprise that online dating has become such a success. Read more »

Do you have a sweetie? Is there someone you wish was your sweetie? Are you and your sweetie having problems? Send them a SweetieGram and let them know how you feel about them! It’s quick and simple and you’ll even get a copy of the completed SweetieGram to print for yourself. Read more »

To locate singles of like interests, you need to meet people – lots of people. Your next best friend or that special person just for you is not likely to know you exist until you get out and get seen. Don’t use the excuse that there’s no place to go to meet available singles because the opportunities are more than you’d expect. The goal is to meet compatible singles of both sexes in order to develop lasting friendships. If a love connection happens, that’s even better. Read more »

Times have changed and women no longer are expected to wait for a man they’re interested in to make the first move. If you’ve met an interesting man and he hasn’t invited you on a date, take the initiative and invite him out. Call and tell him you have an extra ticket to the theater, ask if he would like to go. Read more »

Forty million Americans had visited an online dating site as of 2003. The number is certainly higher by now. The industry raked in over $500 million in 2005 alone. Read more »

In the minds of some, there’s still a stigma attached to Internet dating. The belief that it’s only for losers, for those who couldn’t get a date otherwise, persists. But the facts say otherwise. Read more »

‘Free’ often sounds like a good deal. But as anyone who has received spam email knows, and that’s everyone by now, ‘free’ may be worthless. Whether or not to plop down hard earned money for something as uncertain as the prospect of meeting that right someone can be a tough decision. Read more »

Beyond telling the truth, there’s not much you can do about the basics of your online dating profile. Whatever your age, income, weight, height and other basics, they are what they are. Read more »

There are two kinds or levels of online dating profile – those you create and those that are created about you. The first is composed of information you generate, the second is generated by the site. Read more »

Success! Well, at least partly. You’ve hooked a prospect, a potential date. Someone has shown interest because of your outstanding online dating profile. Read more »

Many online dating services offer members the option to create a video. Some even regard it as the norm, and if you don’t have one you’ll be at a big disadvantage. Read more »

Success! You sifted through the dross to find the gold. You spent time corresponding and telephoning and have decided it’s time to meet in person. Bravo! Read more »

‘Trust, but keep your eyes open’ is a helpful old-saying. It suggests that, when it comes to dating, you don’t want to spoil things by being paranoid. Read more »

Is your ideal not just one but many dates all in a single evening? Well that is what you get once you enter into the world of speed dating. As its name implies, speed dating is geared towards meeting a lot of available individuals in a short amount of time. Read more »

Internet dating greatly expanded the choices available to those seeking that special someone. Once, you were limited to whomever happened to be in your area. Read more »

One of the reasons some people use online dating sites is their lifestyle associated with work. In these days of global trade, some people are away from home much of the time. That doesn’t leave much time for seeking out romantic partners near home base. Read more »

One special category of international or ethnic dating sites provides a unique service: mail order brides. Read more »

With advances in medical technology and the general rise in standard of living of the past 50 years, life expectancy has increased substantially. Along with that extended lifespan, overall health has improved much later in life than ever before. Read more »

The Internet, and online dating sites in particular, created a revolution in gay dating. Read more »

Growing up in a certain ethnic culture, whether Hispanic, Asian or many others, often provides an environment of particular values. Read more »

One of the best things about the Internet in general, and online dating sites in particular, is the huge variety of people you can connect with. Read more »

Many people who join Internet dating sites are looking for Mr. or Ms. Right. But others are just looking for Mr/Ms. Right Now. That’s where adult dating sites come into play. And, based on the huge number of members, there’s definitely a market for the service. Read more »

There are several reasons for the continuing success of Internet dating services, even in the face of new ‘competition’ from social networking sites. Read more »

Dealing with rejection is never fun. It stings. You expressed an interest in someone, and they said ‘No, thanks’. Sometimes, they leave off the ‘thanks’ part. Ouch. Read more »

One of the great things about online dating services is the anonymity and physical separation. You can enter a conversation and find out about a potential date behind the safety of your computer monitor. Read more »

You’ve heard people talking about it. You’ve probably even seen advertisements for it on television. But for some reason, you haven’t yet given online dating a try.

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You’ve been thinking about joining an online dating website but something is keeping you from pushing that JOIN button.

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Finding the right online dating service is really about finding the site that offers the features that best meet your needs.

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“Single white female, 27, loves cats, white wine, and strolling on the beach.”

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Like it or not, when it comes to online dating, a photo is generally the thing that is going to get a reader’s attention.

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Getting started with online dating is exciting. You sign up, answer all the personality questions, and create a personal ad that you think makes you sound very desirable.

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The one thing that every online dating website has in common is members.

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Virtually anything you can do in the offline world you can do in the virtual world. And that includes the ability to flirt with those you meet through online dating.

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You’ve joined up with an online dating site. You’ve spent hours agonizing over your profile. You’ve gone through countless pictures looking for that perfect one to post.

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To really get the most out of online dating, you should invest in a paid membership. Free memberships and trial memberships are good when you are trying to find the online dating service that will best match your needs and goals so once you have found a site you are comfortable with, take the plunge. Think of it as an investment in your future. Read more »

The real world as well as the virtual world is full of scam artists, liars, cheaters, stalkers, and plenty of other types of unsavory characters.

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Being Too Shy Read more »

Your efforts at online dating have finally succeeded in landing you an in-person date. Congratulations!

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Distance is never an issue with online dating until you get to the point where you are ready to meet in person.

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Will there ever be a ‘right’ way to reject another? You would think that in the world of online dating, rejection would not hurt as much as being rejected ‘in person’. So far however, that has not been shown to be true.

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Is your ideal not just one but many dates all in a single evening? Well that is what you get once you enter into the world of speed dating.

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Just when you thought the world of dating couldn’t get any more technologically advanced, along comes mobile dating.

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When you are dating, safety is an extremely important consideration. These days, being safe literally could mean the difference between life and death.

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