Adventures of Blind Dating

A blind date is a date between two people who have never met and typically know little or nothing about each other.

Blind dating is only recommended for people who have a sense of humor and who have confidence in themselves to handle any situation that might come along. It is not recommended for control freaks, anxious personalities or individuals that don't handle disappointment or rejection well. If you fear going on a blind date, then don't.
However if you are the type that likes adventure and a lot of faith in human beings, then you should have no trouble meeting someone in this way.

Well nobody can deny the fact that the kind of adventure one gets while blind dating someone is enormous. Not seeing and knowing a stranger, who may be the perfect one with whom you might spend the rest of your life or May be someone you knew before and hated to be with her or him, or perhaps someone you never wished to see even in your wildest nightmares.

What Do You Want From Romance? Most people believe that the soul-mate they long for is out there, somewhere, waiting for them. That person could be online, in the local bar or folding clothes at the local Laundromat. The thing about love is that you just never know who you are going to bump into next on the road to romance. Many of us succumb to a kind of panic when we make it our goal to find a new lover or partner. We figure that the first person who comes along and pays a little attention to us might have been sent to us by fate. We settle for less, meaning a completely appropriate partner, simply because we fear that the person we are sort of with might be the last person on earth who will ever be interested in us. Before you start dating or looking for a marriage partner, it is important to develop a list of goals. What do you intend to do with your own life in the near future? What qualities or characteristics must a person possess in order to augment your progress? By valuing and developing your own goals and emphasizing your own distinctive qualities you will develop a confidence and self-reliance that others find attractive. Although it's true that the only way to meet new people is to socialize, many people make the mistake of thinking they have to do something unusual or off the beaten path in order to meet new people. If you are into heavy metal, don't sign up for square dancing lessons. Do what you love and a partner who shares your interests usually shows up sooner or later. When you make a list of goals of what you find attractive about someone else it is important to note to yourself if you possess these same qualities. If love is a deal where you are bringing an offer to a table, just exactly what is it that you have to offer other people? Do you offer a potential partner a needy, desperate person who is looking for someone to pay the rent? Make a list of all the good reasons why someone should go out with you and emphasize those qualities. Finding a partner is not about filling a void in your life, especially if that hole is a gap of personal insecurity waiting to be filled with flattery and approval from the opposite sex. By choosing to work on your issues and becoming as whole and emotionally healthy as possible you gain the emotional strength to break old relationship patterns and meet someone different. One way to do this is to decide you will be happy in life, with or without a partner.

Dating Advice (Part 1 of 2) There are a few things that you should "Never Ever Do" on a date. The romantically challenged might want to check out the following advice to make sure that they avoid a social faux-pas that could result in a dating disaster. First of all, "never ever bring a friend with you on a date." This might sound obvious to some, but it is amazing how many people believe that bringing a friend along will a) soothe their nerves, b) make them look less eager and c) express a charming lack of emotional availability to the date that he or she believes will make the date want him or her even more than ever! The sad truth is that only very emotionally insecure people pad their dates with a third wheel or a posse of friends. Either the date will think that you are too insecure to make decisions (because you have to take a poll to see what your friends think) before you embark on a relationship) or that your relationship history is so bad your dates need to be monitored for quality control. Another rule to remember is "never ever get too drunk." This one also sounds obvious but it is amazing how one drink leads to another when your nerves are frayed by the sight of a potential lover who makes you too nervous to even eat. Needless to say, copious amounts of alcohol have been known to release more than sexual inhibitions. It can lead to the kind of confusion that has you going home with the wrong person. In the worst case scenario, you might find yourself asking your partner "Will you respect me in the morning?" He or she might respond, "Why should I? I don't respect you NOW!" A third law of dating is: "never, ever share too much." —Has anybody else noticed that we live in a confessional culture, one in which we are encouraged to "tell all at first sight"?! It used to be that one could get to know someone else by asking, "what kind of movies do you like?" or "what kind of books do you read?" I've noticed, particularly amongst the under thirty crowd, that a good way to get to know someone lately is to ask "what kind of vibrator do you use?" or "How many hundreds of dollars are you in overdraft?" This used to be the kind of thing that was never discussed in polite company, but nowadays it seems that one can never be too forthcoming with personal details. Sometimes it is possible to get to know somebody too well, too soon to the point that knowing all about their little personality quirks and habits turns you right off. This is why you should "never ever give it all away."

Dating Tips For Men (Part 1 of 2) Every man at some point in his life claims to not understand women. Thankfully you don't have to understand a woman in order to understand dating. As long as you are civil, courteous and polite, nothing should go wrong on the date. Of course, this is just theory... If you are one of those men who constantly find themselves on a "bad date", then you are probably doing something wrong. You know you are on a bad date when you are dealing with an uncommunicative woman, a woman that won't stop talking about her ex, a crying woman, a yelling woman or a woman who slaps you on the face. If the woman is flirting with other men, brings her friends along or suddenly abandons you in a movie or restaurant, then this also qualifies as a bad date. Even though it is your date that is doing the acting up, you need to do some preparatory work to figure out why you never see these antics coming. The following suggestions might help you avoid similar situations in the future. First of all, realize that sanity or morals do not necessarily accompany good looks. Are you dating this person out of pure lust? If so, you might be blind to her many flaws. Put some heart into your search for a soul mate. A date isn't just going to show up at the door and ring the bell. Get up off the couch and put yourself on a regimen of good grooming. Contrary to popular belief most women are not looking for a loveable yet eccentric curmudgeon who wears sweatpants all day. Get your physique in shape, buy new clothes and get your hair styled. This does wonders for your self-confidence and self-esteem. Meditate on what it is you really want from a partner. If it is just a series of one-night stands, then fine, you are more likely to get that after you have spruced yourself up. Promise yourself to be honest with the women you are dating so that you don't end up with an insulted or obsessed woman who feels abandoned or tricked by your casual ways. If you really want to win the dating game, you first need to develop an inner strategy that determines the prize. Decide who you are looking for and look for that person in a place where they are most likely to hang out. For instance it would be a mistake to try and find a mother for your two children at a rave.

Dating Tips For Women (Part 1 of 2) There is nothing like a first date to cause an anxiety attack even in the most confident of women. As most women were raised to seek male approval at any cost, we find ourselves worrying about the wrong things. Will he notice my dress is slightly out of style? Will he laugh at my jokes? Am I his type? Although a first impression does tend to linger for a while in people's minds it is important not to go overboard and try to be someone that you think he might like - like his ex or a supermodel he admired in a magazine. First dates are also not a good time to experiment with hairstyle or the shape of your brows. The most important thing is to relax and be yourself. Playing the dating game means being a good sport. Nobody wants to be around a nervous individual or an individual that is trying to hard to impress others. As Bart Simpson would say, "It smacks of effort, man." If you decide you are going to have a good time, then you probably will. However, there are some steps you can take to put yourself at ease before the date as well as ensure that nobody, and especially you, gets hurt. First of all, make sure the date will be something you will enjoy. If your date suggests going bowling and you wouldn't be caught dead in a pair of rented running shoes then suggest an alternative. Suggest that the two of you check out that new restaurant that just opened or a stroll through the museum. Scary movies are also good for first dates as they have a way of raising adrenaline levels. This causes him to associate excitement with you. If the thought of engaging in conversation with a man that you barely know makes you nervous then suggest an activity that keeps you both occupied such as a sports event, horse-back riding, playing darts or taking a walk in the park. Try to choose something that is fun and exciting for both you. This will definitely take the pressure off you to entertain or amuse your partner with conversation. However don't go overboard with this "making him associate you with excitement" idea. A first date is not a good time to suggest jumping out of an airplane together holding hands or trying the latest in vertigo-inducing equipment at the local amusement park. It is also not the time to venture out to explore any exotic new cuisines that could cause stomach distress. While out on the date, make sure to take it easy and go with the flow. Anything can happen on a date including spilt wine on a white dress, bad service from a waiter, a flat tire, or even being chased down the street by robbers. Whatever happens, try to keep your sense of humor.

Dating Services (Part 1 of 2) Anyone may be able to find sex in the city, but what if you're looking for a serious long-lasting relationship that might lead to commitment —no, not in a mental institution, but in front of an altar?

Looking for Love Online (Part 1 of 2) Is the super-information highway still the road to nowhere when it comes to finding a life partner? Like most people, I used to think that the love-lorn who spent their long lonely hours hanging around in chat rooms, looking at message boards and peeling through thousands of so-called "love matches" on web personals were, well... losers. Only really desperate, ugly people who were perhaps also emotionally sick would have to resort to using a computer to find the love of their life. And if you did find someone, he or she couldn't possibly be serious ... married, lonely or perhaps even a stalker. In the past year, however, I have had to revise my opinion somewhat, lest I offend two of my best friends, who both have found husbands as a result of surfing the Internet. Also it seems lately, that everybody knows somebody who has found a marriage partner by resorting to, what still seems to me, to be a drastic and also somewhat risky measure. I couldn't find any reliable statistics about this relatively new phenomenon, about how many people are finding true love this way or how long the marriages last, but at this point, I have to believe my own eyes. Maybe the internet isn't such a bad matchmaker... Speed Dating Can you really meet the man or women of your dreams after just a few minutes of casual chit-chat? That's the premise behind speed dating, a new mating sport that is being played in bars, clubs and community centers in North America and Europe. Creative, Fun and Romantic Ideas for Dates They say a date can't go wrong with candlelight, flowers, a little wine and mood music, but let's face it, isn't that a little cliche. With a little creativity and imagination you can make every date an affair to remember! The perfect date is said to consist of the following elements:

An element of surprise! This not only tickles your lover's fancy but also adds an air of excitement to the date. The next time you invite him or her out, don't tell her where you are going. Imaginative lovers might even want to blindfold their partners until you reach the surprise destination - a picnic laid out for two in a park or a living room strewn with rose petals.

Creativity. It is definitely time to appeal to your imagination if the two of you find yourself stuck in a rut. Maybe you are renting a video and falling into bed every Friday night or eating at the same restaurant every day. Think of ways to entertain your lover, such as renting costumes and holding your very own "theme" night, complete with food in your apartment.

Mutual Interest. Try to remember which interests brought you together in the first place. Check the past to see if you are dragging a disinterested boyfriend to art openings or a bored girlfriend to football games. Are you both interested in art? Try making your own pottery. Do you both love animals? Try a trip to a zoo.

The following suggestions for creative, fun and imaginative dates also might help spice up your relationship as well as delight your partner on a first date! A Night Under The Stars - Why not take your date to the planetarium to view the constellations from a telescope or watch the stars whirl beneath the dome?! Purists might want to consider finding somewhere private, in your garden or on a beach, laying out a blanket and candles and enjoying an evening together watching the stars in the real sky. Amusement Park - Bring out your partner's "child within" by treating your partner to cotton candy, rides on the Ferris wheel and shots at winning a stuffed toy. Old Fashioned Picnic - Pack treats in a wicker hamper and bicycle out to your favorite park to relax in the sun and enjoy long conversations with each other. Mini-Golf - Even dates that are professional golfers find this mutation of this game to be silly, fun and exciting. The relaxed pace of the game encourages conversation and lots of laughing. Comedy Club - Liven things up by treating your date to an evening of stand-up comedy at a local club. This is a great suggestion for a first date as you can tell a lot about a person by what material amuses him or her and what material seems corny or offensive. Zoos and Aquariums - Animals appeal to people's sense of romance, as well as sense of humor. This is also a good suggestion for a first date as observing the antics of animals has a way of breaking the ice.

more to come soon................