I’m reading my new best friend 🙂 Gina Barreca‘s book, Perfect Husbands (& Other Fairy Tales): Demystifying Marriage, Men and Romance. Dr. Barreca is an academic who can make all that stuffy research come alive through her gift of humor and insightful writing. This book tackles understanding the perception of marriage and the evolving roles…
The dating hobby
Have you found yourself feeling that dating is a hobby? And just like some hobbies, you do it more or less often than other things you enjoy. I find myself immersing myself in some hobbies, then totally abandoning them for long stretches. And just like belly dancing, scuba diving or parachute jumping, you need specialized…
“Are you man enough to be my man?”
This can be a common thought for powerful, successful, midlife dating women. It was expressed by DG reader “Diamond” in a question to me: I’ve been in business my whole life. A friend’s mother shared this advice just prior to my running off to meet what I thought was the man of my dreams in…
Avoiding a trip to Abilene in dating
I have nothing against Abilene. I’ve been to Abilene, KS and it was a nice town, home to the Eisenhower Museum. I’ve not been to Abilene, TX. But I’m really talking about the metaphor described in the management education film called “The Abilene Paradox.” In the film, adult family members are visiting their parents and…
Cruising for a date takes on new meaning
Yesterday Sprint announced a new mobile “friend finding” capability. This feature uses Loopt’s GPS technology to notify you of your friends’ whereabouts. (You set up permission for who you want to see where you are.) I imagine it won’t take long to marry this to Webdate Mobile, which enables access to dating profiles, chat and…
Treasures can come in dented packages
If you received a gift in a Tiffany’s box but the corner was mushed, would you be unhappy? If you were given a 2-pound box of your favorite Godiva with the top indented, would you be disappointed? No, of course not. Because you know it’s what’s inside that really matters, not the packaging. Many midlife…
The worst two words in dating
Here are a few examples of two-words phrases you don’t really want to hear while dating: Comb over Hair plugs Spousal reconciliation I’m married It’s over None of these would be music to your ears. Some of these are worse than the phrase I want to focus on: “I’ve decided…” These two words are…
Review of “How to Behave: Dating and Sex”
How to Behave: Dating and Sex: A Guide to Modern Manners for the Socially Challenged by Caroline Tiger This gift-size 222-page book is full of lists. For every topic (Turning Down an Unwanted Suitor, Disarming the Over-Toucher, Avoiding Your Date’s Bad Breath), she lists a handful of tips. Some are common sense (never hit on…
When you’re inappropriately dressed for a date
You feel stupid. You forgot to ask about appropriate attire and just made an assumption. He’d invited you to dinner and you mistook the name of the restaurant for a high-end one with a similar name to this tavern. You’re in a flirty, low-cut cocktail dress with glittering accessories and high heels, which is totally…
Hot sex and laughter
“The only reason to give another adult your house key is for laughter and hot sex.” —Regina Barreca, Ph.D. Dr. Barreca said this in the keynote speech she delivered Thursday. I thought it was priceless, as is she. She is an amazing, hilarious, intelligent, insightful, fabulous author and speaker. Her books include They Used to…
Review of “Dating Dynamics for Finding Mr. Right”
My friend Marsha Petrie Sue has created an audio CD of her dating techniques called “Dating Dynamics for Finding Mr. Right.” Her strategies are based on her process for finding her second husband 18 years ago. She also includes stories from other singles on how they went about the husband hunt and has updated it…