When Is It OK to Go Dutch? NEVER.

Posted on : 18-11-2009 | By : Single in SF City | In : LOL!, Never Again!, Tips, WTF?!

OK, ok, ok.  “Never” is a little extreme.  But guys:  If you’re interested in a girl AT ALL, do not attempt to go dutch.  Dutch is reserved for strictly platonic relationships!

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again:  ALLOWING A WOMAN TO PAY FOR HERSELF is the BIGGEST FAUX PAUX in the game!

Let me give you a couple of examples:

I remember a while back, a guy invited me on a date.  He lived in Oakland and wanted to meet me half way (HUGE RED FLAG THERE, but I went along).  Next thing I knew, he wanted me to meet him in the parking lot of Borders. Yes, the book store.

What?

Next thing after that?  Parking at Borders is $1.00, so “Make sure you bring your dollar to park.”  That’s what he told me.

HUH?

I have to admit, once he said that, I had to kick him to the curb.  I wasn’t so tactful about it either; I simply flaked on him.  (NOT THE WAY TO BEHAVE EITHER, LADIES).  That was years ago ;)

Another example:

A guy recently invited me dancing and when we arrived at the door, he only paid for himself.  I should have caught the clue when he asked me to pick him up and drive to the place.

WTF?

I had no idea this was a dutch thing.  Since I had to pay for myself, I wasn’t sticking around him that night.  I danced the night away with the real men who asked me to dance.

Since then, he’s asked me again to go dancing.  I’ve politely declined.

Big lesson here:  Guys, allowing a girl to even dip into her purse sends the STRONG MESSAGE:  “LET’S JUST BE FRIENDS.”

So if that’s what you want, then by all means, go for it ;)

Don't let this happen to you!

Don't let this happen to you!

Reading Between The Lines GONE WRONG!

Posted on : 24-09-2009 | By : Single in SF City | In : LOL!, Never Again!, There is no category for this one..., Tips, WTF?!

A couple of weeks back, I attended a really fun networking event; Cuban Music at the Museum of African Diasphora.  How could anything be wrong with that?
Read below…Pasted from my Gmail.  Names are changed for obvious reasons.
My comments are in red. Have fun!
—————————————————————————————
Hi A,
This is P.
It’s been kind of an adventure meeting you – even though we have had only very limited contact.
I think you might be interested in this little tale even if nothing else happens between us.  (So far, decent start.)
On one level I know I am flirting with you here and being fun, but on another level I am quite serious.

Here goes.
I have to admit being quite impressed with you upon our meeting at the Cuban music MOAD event.  You seemed so familiar and warm, and on top of personifying “my ideal” of a beautiful woman, you displayed an openness and friendliness that I usually only experience in Cuba.  (Nice start.  Very nice compliments; nothing too sticky). This a rare quality. Most beautiful women are so guarded and coy. Plus (from my point of view) we had serious chemistry, good conversation, and a mutual love for black culture.  (LOL, Serious chemistry?  Um, he was stuck to me like white on rice at the event!  The worst part of it was that he BLOCKED me from meeting cute guys.)
When you asked for my number, it felt kind of special.  (HA HA.  It’s called NETWORKING.  He should have been doing the same.)
For me exchanging numbers with a woman means there is mutual romantic interest. Upon parting you talked about meeting me at another cultural event I was doing on Saturday. Did I read the signals right? On reflection, maybe not. (Good thing he reflected.  I probably exchanged numbers with 5 other people that night.  It was a cultural/networking event.  Romantic interests?  What era was he living?)
Back home now.  The only thing a little strange about all this was: how come this beautiful, personable, vivacious woman is so into these Meetup.com groups?  Aren’t these groups largely for lonely singles to get together ? (Hello, it’s called networking / meeting new people /  enjoying new things / living in San Francisco!).

I am going to look for you online.  (WHAT?)

Typing (MY NAME) ……boom……  Yourdatingtales.com > DARK TALES FROM THE DATING CRYPT.  What do we have here…..  Its “Sex in the City” online!  What fun !  I think I will read everything.
(OMG, he GOOGLED ME?!  Maybe that’s what men do these days, but NOW HE LOOKS LIKE A DESPERATE PSYCHO!)
What I discovered.
1. you are a fantastic writer…. funny, witty, perceptive
2. you are an unabashed dating and relationship maven
3. you are a chemist, a devoted vegetarian and yogini, 31, nine years in SF, originally from NY.  (I am originally from NY myself)
4. you experience the dating scene as very bizarre, crazy, and weird, as described in your stories (you date some real winners)
5. you are an “old school” girl who wants to be courted in the best way, by a true gentleman.
6. you have a good idea of what you want in a man: loyal, financially secure, listens, takes charge, calls, has good breath, sexy……
7. we share many values about what is a important between men and women (more later).
(I’m glad he got the values right.)
What I thought after reading all your dark tales.

I’ll start my own blog: Bizarre Tales From Dating “The Dating Maven – (My name)” !!!  (this email will be my first post even though we have not officially dated !!! ).  (PUHLEEZE.  Starting a blog on my posts?)

But seriously I had all these thoughts and doubts: This kinda spoils things between us.  It’s like I have read your personal diary.  I know so much about what you are expecting from a guy. How can I be truly authentic with you now.
Do I tell you I discovered your blog?  (YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE).
Do I really want to date a dating maven?  (NO.  You’d get CRUSHED).
You must date a lot of guys. (Actually, I don’t.  A lot of these are past stories and those from friends.  The combination of experiences make for one big diary.)
Just like on “Sex in the City” And finally: will I someday become a post on your blog? (Ummmmm, he’s given me some good material!)
You get the idea……
My next move.
Ditch all the doubts and get with the Dating Crypt Program.
Dating Crypt Rule #1 “When You Get Her Phone Number, You Call”
So on Friday morning I call you at XXX-XX50.  I leave a message, basically saying: “Great to meet you, lets get together on Sat., give me a call”. (NEWSFLASH:  I never received a message from him.  If he had called, he certainly didn’t leave any messages.  My rule should have read “When you get her phone number, call her and LEAVE A MESSAGE.)
Saturday morning.
No phone reply from you (also wondering was that the correct phone number I dialed?), so I email and say “Hope to see you at the BayView Opera House”. (I did receive that email later in the day.)

Saturday at BayView Opera House.
The African Festival that I thought was going to be so great is really a sorry scene. Very little public, unorganized, funky. I don’t want to stay. I call you in case you might be coming, but this time I dial XXX-XX50 (on first try the 5 looked like an 8) and get your voice message.
I realize the first call never got to you. (OK, I knew I didn’t get a call from him). I don’t leave a message because I know I have seriously blown it on the Dating Crypt Rule #2  “No Plan – No Play”.  (That’s RIGHT!)

I wait around at the festival and finally the Cuban Band (that I helped to get this gig) arrives.  I hang out listening to them perform for the 10 people in the audience, thinking maybe you might bend her rule today for me…. but as you very well know, no such luck.  But really, I am so glad that festival was not our first date. (Date?  IF I had shown up, it would NOT have been a date by any means).

Its Sunday…..Now what? (Give UP, that’s what).

All this dating non-action is getting me dazed and confused.  It’s time to consult with “my” relationship maven-guru David Deida,  to review his advice and take some action.(What world is he living?  This isn’t even CLOSE to dating!)

(I am going into serious mode here now.)
Favorite Deida quote: “The feminine is the force of life. The more masculine a man is, the more his woman’s feminine energy will be important to him”(I agree with that).

Deida, in several of his books most notably “The Way of the Superior Man” describes very clearly and poetically a vision of male-female relations that is in tune with my own World view.
“The feminine is like the ocean, flowing with great power and no single direction, ever changing, beautiful, destructive, and the source of life. The masculine is like a ship that unites with the power of the ocean, decides on a coarse and navigates toward a single goal. The same principal applies to problems of intimacy.”  You can read more at:
Many of his gems of practical wisdom are chapter titles here:
I am bringing all this up because I think from reading your blog you are saying a lot of the same things Deida is saying: “men take charge, have a plan” “honor her with loyalty and security”  “ravish her with love.” I also hear through all your great humor, your real frustration about the dating scene. (OK, he’s gone way overboard with the research.  This is ridiculous.  All of these research and quotes and he never even had the game to call me).
What I admire about your writing is you are totally on the right track by wanting to return to some of the “old school” rituals of courtship. Deida is the only voice that I have found who is addressing issues like this that makes sense to me. Now rereading his stuff has helped me know how to act right now by deciding to write this letter and letting it all go.  (P.S. In real life, I hear Deida is no saint) (Great, I’ll look him up one day.)
Today, I choose to tell you all as a way to introduce myself, flirt, and create something something fun and meaningful out of this experience. (He really should be doing this over dinner.)
Now we have a lot we could talk about, or not. I am curious. Have you had other experiences where men you were dating know or find out about your dating blog?  (Nope.  Just my friends.)
Do you want your dates to read your blog? (Not the way he did.)
So many questions for the dating maven. (Where is this freaking “Dating maven” title coming from?  Everyone goes out, has fun, and I just happen to share stories with people and write about it.  Nuff said!)
But for all of us, and I think you would agree,  the dating lesson to be learned from all this:  Watch out – googleing your prospective dates is tricky business. (Tricky?  Nothing tricky about a google search.  Doing the desperate search when you don’t even know her, then turning around and telling her about it in some long drawn-out email when you couldn’t even call her on the phone…Now that’s WEIRD).
I now, “Submit My Tale” to you.
Hope hear from you.
P

Does Money / Fame / Power = Cheat?

Posted on : 27-08-2009 | By : Single in SF City | In : Gross!, LOL!, Tips, WTF?!

Are there any honest men out there?  Why are so many men in politics cheats?

Check out the latest…

1.  Mark Sanford

“Serious misconduct”?  Umm…Yeah!  How about serious deception…to the public!

WATCH HIM SQUIRM!

MARK SANFORD DECEPTION….ARGENTINE STYLE.

2.  John Edwards.

This one is juicy because he’s allegedly the baby daddy.  And while his wife was sick?  Down right LOW.

WATCH HIM EARLY ON.

I AINT THAT BABY DADDY!…..OH WAIT, YES I AM.

3.  Bernie Madoff

OK, he’s not a politician.  But WHAT?  This guy betrayed the public AND his wife?!  Can you really trust a guy that steals billions?  Stay tuned…I’m sure the mistress will be on camera soon.

NOT A LOOKER….BUT STILL A CROOKER. AND A CHEATER.

4.  Eliot Spitzer

I’m sorry.  He just looks slimy.  Pathetic.

POLITICS IS ABOUT THE PUBLIC GOOD. SO HE SAYS…

NEW YORKS FINEST….DISGRACE.

5.  Larry Craig

A while back but worth mentioning.  What a liar.  Since when does anyone put their hand down while taking a dump in a bathroom stall?

WATCH HIS WIFE DEFEND HIM!

DUDE, JUST ADMIT IT. YOU ARE GAY.

The list goes on and on, really.  I’m not gonna go back to Clinton and JFK.  That’s been done.

Next list is the athletes…That will be a LONG ONE!

Modern Times = Modern Etiquette

Posted on : 13-08-2009 | By : Single in SF City | In : LOL!, Tips

Yes, we live in a modern world.  Times are changing and so are rules.

If you haven’t already experienced the world of online dating, then maybe you’re hiding under a rock (or maybe you’re lucky enough to already be in an “old fashioned” relationship).

But if you’re like most people these days, online dating is the way to go.  Everyone is talking about it.  Everyone is doing it.  Yes, it’s a phenomenon of modern times, so if you plan to get into it, at least follow modern-day etiquette.

Some rules of the online dating world:

1.  ONLY POST A CURRENT PICTURE.
Seriously.  If you’re balled, don’t post a pic from 10 years ago when you had hair.  If you’re overweight, don’t post a pic from your teen years when you were skinny.  You get my drift?

2.  DON’T LIE ABOUT ANYTHING.
Whether it be your height, your weight, your eye color, your interests, whatever.  Any physical and personality attributes (or not) are yours.  So be proud and represent yourself.

3.  DON’T CONTINUE INTO THE ABYSS OF NEVER-ENDING  EMAILS.
If you’ve found someone that you like, exchange a couple emails, then give them a call!  Don’t go down the dead-end of forever emailing.  You’ll never get anywhere!

4.  DON’T STALK!
If you like her and she doesn’t like you, then forget her!   That goes the other way around too.  Online stalkers are creepy.  It happens all the time and guess what…you can’t fall in love with a picture.  Move on.

5.  WHEN YOU FINALLY GET HIS/HER NUMBER, THEN CALL.  DON’T TEXT!
My biggest pet peeve…People abusing those Smart Phones!  UUUUGGGGGG.  Why is it that we avoid talking on them?  If you get a girl’s number, then it’s meant to be dialed!  Texting is unacceptable when you don’t know someone.

jlvn1630l

ONLINE DATING AT IT'S WORST...

Which Condoms Do YOU Use?

Posted on : 04-06-2009 | By : Single in SF City | In : Gross!, LOL!, Tips, WTF?!

Does size matter?

View Results

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The big dilemma in life:  which condoms do I use?

I was in deep conversation again with my crazy SF Friends, Chilli V from FiDi and Nick from Laguna Beach.  Remember them?

Ribbed condoms:  Do they work? My vote was “no.”

surfer-dudeNick’s vote:  “Whatever.  Ribbed for her pleasure.  Inside-out for MY pleasure.”

WHAT???

cute-asian-girl-makeover Chilli V happens to keep a stash full of ALL sizes.  Even magnums? Yes, even magnums. There is a small chance!   Smart lady.

I can’t say I’ve had that much variety in size, personally.  I use the “one size usually fits all” approach.  So that’s what I have.

Here is what we all agreed….If the guy is a total dick and you want to teach him a lesson, here’s what you do:  When things get hot and heavy, hand him a MAGNUM condom and say, “Here, put this on.” Unless you’re with a player from the NFL, NBA, or Mandingo himself, chances are it will be too big.

super_size_condom

Just watch his reaction.

If you really want to be a bee-oych, say something like “Oh, but that’s all I have from my ex boyfriend.”

HA HA HA.

Then he’ll go limp and leave.

cartoon-condom_u14353277

To Circumcise, or Not. That Is The Question.

Posted on : 18-05-2009 | By : Single in SF City | In : Gross!, LOL!, There is no category for this one..., Tips

So the verdict is in.  It’s unanimous…

We like the CUT version. Men, women, period.

This past weekend, I was in deep conversation with a few of my new urbanized friends:  Nick from Laguna Beach, Chili V from FiDi, and in Davey D from La Mission.  Such a motley crew they were.  And yes, the conversation was real.  It was raw.  It was hilarious.  We somehow started about male circumcision, and all of the controversy I stirred up with my recent post.

My two cents were these:  “Aren’t there hygiene issues associated with not being circumcised?”

cute-asian-girl-makeoverChili V from FiDi knew it best:  “Have you ever smelled an uncut penis? Trust me, if it don’t smell good, it won’t taste good!”


EWWWWWW!!!!


surfer-dudeNick’s response:  “DUDE!  That’s disgusting.  No foreskin, no five-skin, no six-skin! NO NO NO!Nick from Laguna even recited a true story of a woman leaving a guy because she couldn’t get over the turtleneck the dude was sportin’.

beach_guyDavey D’s was perplexed.  “I can’t imagine a body odor coming from a guy’s johnson.  That’s just weird.”

Listen, I’m no expert.  Nor do I want to be.  But the votes are in and sorry guys!  We like the cut version better!

If you need help figuring it out, refer to the images below.

circumcision-again

But WAIT WAIT WAIT! Women weren’t off the hook either.  Speaking of uncut, La Mission’s Davey D led us into the conversation about a woman’s natural born-ness.

We’re talking about the vajay-a-jay… SHAVE IT!

There’s nothing more disgusting than seeing a woman’s you know what that’s not taken care of.  Ladies, you gotta make the cut!

In Davey D’s words: “The natural look on a woman just isn’t good”.

We couldn’t agree more.

There’s a lot more from this conversation so stay tuned…

Five Things That Freaked Me Out…

Posted on : 30-04-2009 | By : Single in SF City | In : Falling Asleep!, LOL!, Never Again!, There is no category for this one..., Tips, WTF?!

This is a short but sweet list of five of things guys have done on dates that have freaked me out…

1. I was out to dinner with a guy who didn’t listen to a word I would say.  Everything I said to him had to be repeated.

At some point, I told him that I was vegetarian.

Later on, wanting to share his food without telling me, he cut off a huge piece of his steak and placed it on my plate.

I was mortified!  (Keep in mind, I haven’t eaten meat for 20 years.)

2. A guy sitting across from me at lunch on a hot summer day paid me this compliment:  “You have beautiful eyes.”

Me:  “Oh, but I’m wearing sunglasses!  You can’t see them.”

Him:  “I can see everything”.

Me thinkingWeirdo!

3. I was out to dinner with a guy I’d just met, and he was totally boring to me.  After 2 hours, I told him that I had to get home and get some rest.  Our waitress was around somewhere, but we didn’t see her right away.

My date was so eager to fulfill my request that he invaded the restaurant kitchen to look for the waitress.

I was so embarassed that I had to wait for him outside.

4. I met a guy for a drink date in the Castro.  He was definitely hot and a lot of the men passing by were staring.

Finally, some of those men were bold enough to start talking to my date.

And to my total shock, my date flirted back with the guys!!!!!

I think he was really playing for the other team ;)

5. A guy asked me to pay for dinner.

NEVER!

Things You Don’t Want to Hear In Bed

Posted on : 24-04-2009 | By : Single in SF City | In : Falling Asleep!, Gross!, LOL!, Sexy!, There is no category for this one..., WTF?!

By Guestblogger Simone Grant

Simone Grant is a writer who lives in NYC. She blogs daily at Sex, Lies and Dating in the City.

I’m not, nor have I ever been, one of those girls who talks about sex with her friends.  If something, um, unpleasant happens with a guy or someone turns out to be less than what I would’ve hoped for in the sack, that’s not info I’d share in graphic detail with anyone.  Nor have I ever heard anyone else’s horror stories.  It’s just not my style.

Well, according to this website, I’ve had pretty good luck all of these years and should be sending out thankyou cards to all of my exes for not being douchebags. Well, to most of my exes.

Anyway, after reading a few dozen of these pitiful submissions I started to think back and wonder – Do I have anything to compare?

Here they are, in no particular order, my own “Sorry Mom” list:

· I’d gone out with this guy a couple times and thought I might REALLY like him.  He seemed nice and thoughtful (which was strange because he was a lawyer and I don’t think of lawyers as nice and thoughtful, in fact I usually avoid them altogether) and as an added bonus he was a great kisser.  And then we had sex.  It took him approx 15 seconds.  He actually said, “I’m sorry, I’m done,” in this little adolescent voice that came out of nowhere.  There was no second act.  Of course I never saw him again.  I can forgive a lot of things, but I can’t forgive bad in bed.

· I was young but not naive.  He was a little bit older.  I was young enough that the 8 or whatever years felt like a lot because I was still a college student and he was a real grown up.  He considered himself a good Catholic and there was a giant crucifix over his bed. Every time we had sex he would say he was going to “give me a baby” right as he came (yes, we were using protection).  He was going to be away for a week.  Right before he left he arranged for me to meet a good friend of his.  He went out of his way to hint/suggest that his good friend keep me company while he was away.  Um, no, I didn’t see him again after that.

· Handsome guy, though older than he said he was online (either that or not aging well).  He was sweet enough and we had fun on our first date. We ended up at my place after a hot makeout session on the sidewalk outside the place we went to on our second date.  Everything seemed fine when we first walked in, we were kissing on my sofa.  Then I paused and said I needed to use the bathroom.  He said, “Can I watch?”  He was not joking.  I wish I could say that I threw him out at that point, but I didn’t.  I was horny and up til that moment everything was good.  I went, with the door firmly shut, and then we eventually ended up naked in the bedroom.  It was not good.  I wish I could say it was quick and not good, but it wasn’t.  It was one of those grin and bear it sessions.  He was from the old jackhammer school.  On the bright side, he didn’t try to stay the night so I got to take a nice, hot bath afterwards.

A version of this article was posted on my blog, Sex, Lies and Dating in the City on February 8, 2009.

WANT TO LAUGH EVEN MORE???

Posted on : 06-04-2009 | By : Single in SF City | In : LOL!, There is no category for this one...

Hi Everyone….

This site will soon be improved to a more INTERACTIVE version!

Soon, you will be able to post your crazy dating stories and offer your personal lessons and advice.

Until then, spread the word!

Become a follower, leave comments, and start to reminisce of those fabulous dating tales!

Stay tuned…
Ang

When it’s time to go home, you got to get the F** out!

Posted on : 31-03-2009 | By : Single in SF City | In : Falling Asleep!, LOL!

This is going back a bit, but it’s a good one so I must share!

I was out with a group of my single girlfriends…Ladies night and we were fierce. Low and behold, a group of single guys approached us. We started talking to them and everyone was having fun; conversation and drinks were flowin. With that said, the guy interested in me was the one buying all of the drinks. And like a true glutton, I accepted every time he offered. (You know I know you know already…it’s going downhill from here).

So the point in the evening came where my girlfriends all wanted to go home, but I didn’t. Now ladies, this should have been my cue. When you’ve been drinking and you’ve got a ride home, stick with the original plan!!!

Well, me and my stubborn self decided that I really wanted to stay and hang out with this guy. And free drinks, who could refuse?? So that’s what I did. I stayed around the bar with the guy, drank more for free, and whaddya know, the end of the night was looming and I suddenly had to “go to the ladies room”……That was code for “I’m feeling sick”.

I made it to the bathroom, and NO, I didn’t throw up……Even worse…..I fell asleep on the toilet!!

In fact, I was so trashed that by 7am, the cleaning ladies came in and were calling my name. When I heard their voices, I was thinking “Wow, who is calling me and how do they know my name?”. As it turned out, the guy, actually being a nice guy, stuck around. And since he couldn’t go in the ladies room, he asked the cleaning ladies to come check on me.

What a gentleman, huh!

Well, I finally made it out of the bathroom and was totally embarassed. I just told him that I was tired and fell asleep. The reality was, I was drunk and passed out.

He even managed to exceed my heroic view by hailing a cab to take me home. When the cab was ready to drop me off, low and behold…I had NO CASH! Actually, I had $2.00. But sadly, it didn’t make a dent in the cab fare. So I offered to write the cab driver a check, and he took it. Interestingly enough, he never cashed it.

I must have been a pretty pathetic case.

This time around, my only caveat is for the ladies: When it’s late and you girlfriends want to leave, just take the guy’s number and call him the next day when you’ve recovered! If you’ve been drinking, leave in time to save face!