Dating Tip of the Day

So my dating tip of the day comes from one of my worst, yet most productive dating experiences.  It's sort of like the cardio of dating for me.

Well it was the worst because I was embarrassed even though I really had no reason to be.  It was the most productive because I ended up in a relationship eventually because of that date.

Here's why I was so embarrassed.

So first of all to give you some back story.  There were these twins who really, really didn't like me in my high school.  They called me all sorts of derogatory names.  They had played a number of girls, which is still a mystery to me because a) they were ugly and b) they were tool bags so why any girl would want to date them is still a puzzle.  These girls combined forces and determined that to get back at these guys they would set me up with the girl that one of those tools had a crush on.  The guy heard about this and actually warned my date about this plot.

I pick her up with my best friend.  (Thank heaven for good wingmen.)  We go to pick up his blind date, her best friend.  We go to dinner at 7 and then go bowling.  We forgot to tell them that we were bowling and both wore sandals and the alley didn't sell socks.  Oops #1.  Communicate plans clearly to date.  We forgot that bowling with 4 people doesn't take long and we finished within a half hour.

As inexperienced 16 year olds, we decided that we were going to try to fill the time.  We decided to go back to my place and play pool on our family pool table.  Neither of them liked pool (and they told us so).  But we begged and they humored us.  Then it was about 9:30 after that was exhausted.  So then we scramble to find another activity and remembered my dad had keys to the local church building.  Anyone who knows Mormons know that basically any and all churches come standard with a basketball court.  We go to play some light basketball because my date was on the high school team.

That goes to about 10:30.  Then my date hears my wingman tell her that I play the organ.  She insists I play her a solo.  Awkward.  I only know hymns basically.  So the four of us are standing around in a chapel while I am playing the organ.  I finally quit and tell my buddy it's time to take them home. 10:45 p.m.

My buddy insists on using all of our date time and drives them around to look at houses.  By this point I am thinking, "Dang, it's too bad this date has sucked, because I would like to take this girl out again, but I am mortified at this horrible planning."  And we dropped her off.  I don't remember this but my date claims that I gave her a nice firm handshake on the doorstep.  This could be possible because I was pretty embarrassed.

Lesson learned: keep your first dates simple and short.  If you think things are going well then cautiously feel out activities.  If you don't have anything, don't waste your or your dates time.  Take them home.

So the most productive part, here it goes.

My buddy tells me he wants to ask her out.  I say whatever, go for it.  They are both at a State Fair a month later and she walks up to him and the first words out of her mouth are, "So when's Ike going to ask me out again?" He called me, excited for me (what a stud, right?) and tells me the news.  The rest was history until we decided to go steady, then we drove each other nuts and broke up.

The end.

"Spy" Remarkably Brilliant

I came across a Hulu ad for a web series named "Spy".  I watched it out of shear boredom I will admit! But continued to watch it out of love. It is a clever whip of a series about a bumbling divorced man who stumbles his way into a job that has predecessors with the likes of James Bond. Despite his cool new line of work, he cannot reveal his new gadgets, love, or missions to his son, who is arrogantly brilliant and eternally disdainful of his father. With only one season out, that is no hold up to the potential that this series has to continue to delight those fans of sometimes dry, situational comedy up there with the Office and Parks and Recreation.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Here is the first episode on Hulu to get you started.  Season 2 is exclusively on that website beginning Fall 2012.

A Color Palette For You

Something I think will help a lot of guys out is just new colors to help them build up courage. Many guys see two things that they think possibly could work and then they cower away from them in fear of a disdaining compliment.

First, DON'T! Style and fashion is about experimenting with what works with you. I call fashion one of the most difficult art forms because the medium (the human body, face and hair) all come in different colors, shapes and sizes.  In most cases designers (and consultants) only get to work with small, medium, large, x-large, etc...sizes to fit individual body shapes.  It can be difficult! Be brave!

Here's some inspiration for you:

This palette will work great with any skin tones.  So the basic elements are denim blue, burgundy red, a medium (heather) grey, a light blue shirt with white collar. Try it. Do it! Do it now!