Dating Etiquette 101: New Year's Eve (Special Edition)

Sure, we all have (bullshit) resolutions for 2012 and we say we're going to abide by them. But what are your objectives for the evening in question? What are you looking to accomplish this coming evening?

If you're attending a party and planning on mingling with females, you better bring your A-game. Now is not the time for slobbery, on attire and manors. Do you want to be the douche of the evening or the suave gentleman that wasn't overlooked for your shit-like behavior?

If there's ever a time to dress to impress, now is time to pull out your good threads. Don't worry, you don't have to wear a suit. A collared shirt, and a pair of slacks or form-fitting jeans, will do just fine. Nothing baggy or sloppy. You will feel as confident as whatever you're wearing, so put some fucking effort in! K? Good. (If you still don't understand, see here: Dating Etiquette 101: Effective First Date Attire).

Next is your attitude. Most likely, everyone will be drinking and letting loose on NYE. There's a way to be the life of the party without being a tool. Play it cool and progressively delve into party-mode. Don't unbutton your shirt to "mid-drift status" and walk around with a Champagne bottle in your hand, like you're a rapper from the year 2000. Keep it together, man. Show the best side of yourself. Be charming, humorous, and delightful without being obnoxious and over'compensatory.

Follow this simple advice and you may end up impressing some ladies that you didn't expect would even chat with you. Now is your time for fresh impressions and new beginnings in your dating life.

Dig that and pop some bubbly ....but keep your composure.

Microbreweries: The Next Great Date Spot?

Beer is no longer the desired piss-colored/flavored moonshine of shlubby men ....well, it still is, but if you haven't taken notice to the new wave of independent microbreweries sweeping the nation, then you must be a lonely bachelor who drinks 2fers at Applebees (no hatin'). Beer has developed a new sense of sophistication through these microbreweries and as a result, appeals to people of all varieties.

Finding a good place to have wine and a conversation has become pricey and rare. For us working class stiffs, we want to take a lady somewhere that says; "I'm cultured enough to not suggest a corporate establishment and possibly introduce you somewhere new ....because hey, I'm new to you and this is my subtle way of making a good impression."

Microbreweries are viewed with high regard for their creative beers, festive atmosphere, and individualistic charm. By taking your date to one, the same appeal may easily rub off on her perception of you. You're creative, festive, and an individual, right?!

A popular drink this time of year is the Pumpkin Spice Ale, with a cinnamon coated rim. Gents and dames alike find it satisfying, as it's not the kind of drink that suggests intoxication will ensue but rather: great taste + warm setting + nice conversation = a successful date.

Just like trying a new glass of Merlot, trying out a new craft beer may also result in a fun, adventurous experience .....just like your overall date has the potential to do.

Are you understanding the correlation I'm trying to make? Good. Then you've learned something.

Cheers!

Long-Term Relationships: How To Survive

Relationships can be great. They can be interesting, exciting, full of new experiences, and the realizations of new points of view. They can also be painful, irritating, stressful, and terribly boring. Realistically, a relationship will at some point incite all, or most, of these feelings. The question remains. Why can something that excites a person at one stage in a relationship irritate them in another?

Let's first look at the budding relationship. Getting to know somebody romantically for the first time can be very exciting. Your brain is active and curious. It is almost like being a child again, when everything in the world seemed new and interesting. Even things that you didn't have respect for previously seem to make more sense when they come from the mind of somebody you admire. You may want to hear what they have to say because you are interested, and you don't know what to expect from them. However, during this time, people gain a lot of expectations of each other.

After a while, like any parent, supervisor, or teacher; we want consistency. At the same time, our partners may want change. When our expectations are proven false, it is easy to become irritated, and penalize someone who we care about. Remember that you're relationship is not your job and, more importantly, there is no boss.

The same problem can occur from the other end. If you're looking for change and excitement, and you're partner likes to do the same thing every Friday night, you may find yourself very unhappy. Again, remember that you are not the boss. If you want to do something different this weekend, let your partner know in advance so you can discuss it. Don't just spring it up at the last minute. Compromising is the best way to get around this problem. I am sure that anybody reading this knows that if one person in the relationship isn't happy in a certain surrounding, neither of them are.

Just to recap: the most exciting part of a relationship is usually the beginning. One reason for this is because the two involved are learning about each other and they don't know what to EXPECT. So, if you're looking for that extra excitement in you're relationship, you don't need to stretch too far. If you are having trouble relating to you're partner's new interests, you might not have to try so hard. Maybe, all you need is to lessen your expectations. I say "lessen" and not "lower" because you should never have low expectations of someone you love. Have less of them. Leave the past behind and treat every moment like a new one.

There is a Japanese saying: "Ichi go ichi e" Literally, it translates to "One opportunity, one encounter." It is used to remind people that every situation is a unique one, with a unique solution, or that every moment only happens once in a lifetime.

The cheesy moral of this post: If you love your partner, love them all the time. Love them today the same way you loved them when you first met, with wonder and respect. Respect your differences, and respect their habits.