Online Dating 101

Okay folks! Here it is, the basics of online dating or dating for that matter.

#1- Don't join too many dating websites. I made that rookie mistake! Trying to keep up with 3 sites was too much! I would get winks from one, start communicating on the other, and have chemistry on the third. Each respectively were Match, Eharmony, and Chemistry.com. It made me feel like a crazy lady with multiple personalities! (hold your comments please...)

#2- Don't reveal too much about yourself on your profile. Leave a little mystery and intrigue! I was shocked by how many men on match.com write paragraph after paragraph about themselves, so I thought I should do the same! NO! Ladies, leave details out so the men fill in the blank with their own wants/desires.

#3- Don't spend too much time browsing the sites that track your activity. Take a few days before checking back into match.com for instance. And DON'T log in on weekends! It makes your social calendar seem full.

#4- Photos are a must. I instantly close someone who doesn't reveal their photo from the beginning. If I'm willing to, then they must also. Take some effort into the pics you put on your site. Men-don't do the tailgating shot with you and your buddies drinking it up shirtless. We know you do that occasionally, but don't flaunt it! Ladies- be a little classy with your photos too. Bikini shots are hot, but it certainly presents a sex only image.

#5- Expect disappointment and rejection! It happens. Whether you get a "closed" message, or a "not interested" message, or no message at all. Everyone on the site gets it! Be pleasantly surprised when you're entertained and intrigued by your date/match!

#6- Don't do dinner as a first date. TOO much pressure. Just pick lunch, a sporting event, cocktails/appetizers, or coffee. If the date is going well, there's always an option to extend it!

#7- Don't email one another for weeks at a time. Too much build up and expectation by the time the actual meeting rolls around. Limit communication to every few days if you think the meeting part will happen further down the road.

As more tips come into play, I'll update the list!

Last night....The Doughman Banquet

Okay- So last night I had the pleasure of attending the 2nd Annual Doughman Banquet. I'm sure most of you all are wondering what the heck is The Doughman. Well it is a 4 man relay race (Quadrathon) through downtown Durham that involves eating a dish from a featured restaurant, then running/biking/aquatic activity to the next participant. I'm sure it's absolutely hilarious. Well, I was not a participant this year, but I'm certainly challenging myself to participate next year!

The banquet was enjoyable, my date was awesome! Thanks S! This date was with one of my single girlfriends. Who says you can't go out on dates with your friends? We enjoyed food from such awesome restaurants like Watts Grocery, Rue Cler, The Broad Street Cafe, Blu, Piedmont, and The Burger Guy. I quenched my thirst with a Belgian Golden from Triangle Brewing Company, a local brewing company. And of course had my favorite, Gaelic Ale from Highland Brewing Company in Asheville, NC. Then ended the night with a nice cup of the Rwanda blend from Counter Culture Coffee, a Durham coffee company. Phew, so many options!

This is just the beginning of my restaurant tour through Durham. Believe me, there are more places to sample and people to meet!

One Date at a Time...

Well, let me introduce myself. I'm a 29 year old single female living in Durham, NC. Originally a North Carolina native, but recently returned to NC after living in Arizona for 5 years. I just recently started dating after being single for about 1 year. Dating is a new concept for me as I'm sure it is for most of ya'll. I was single throughout highschool (always had crushes, but never a boyfriend), had the occasional fling in college, then jumped into the first relationship that came along after graduating college in 2002. Stayed in that relationship for 4 years, which obviously never went anywhere, then jumped into another Nowhere Relationship that lasted 1.5 years. So that's my love life in a nutshell!

Well, to get to the point of this blog...

I started online dating with eharmony and match.com back in Feb 09 and have had many interesting and some not so interesting experiences. My hope is that this blog may reach the other single women out there and who knows maybe some single men! Hopefully most readers will be entertained and all will learn more about Durham and what it has to offer!