Dad’s House

Dating & Parenting by a Single Dad

Dating Tips for 40-Something Men

David Mott is on vacation this week, and guest bloggers have the keys to Dad’s House. The party continues today as Lance from HoneyAndLance.com hangs out at the pool and offers dating advice for 40-something men… (btw - if that brunette is still in the Dad’s House pool when I get home, she can stay for good - DM)

sexy brunette woman smiling with yellow raft in swimming poolSince DM talks a fair amount about dating as a single parent, I thought I would try my hand at some dating tips aimed specifically at DM’s demographic, that is forty-something single men. Since I’m not a forty-something, this is partly based on what I understand about the principles of attraction, but also what I know from a few guys I’ve talked to. Much of this advice would work for a woman also (I think).

Before we start, I want to establish something right out of the gate. Forty-something men are usually looking to date younger women. Shocker, right? That’s a reality, and you can find overwhelming evidence on every online dating site where older guys post their preferred age range. If you’re a younger, attractive woman on one of these sites, you know exactly what I’m talking about. I’m not hating, I’m saying that’s the way it is.

Alrighty, here’s my advice for 40+ guys looking to snag/shag younger women.

Get a cool haircut. If you’ve got a dorky haircut, time to ditch it. Grow it out a bit, go to an expensive stylist and tell them you want to look cool. You don’t have to look like a rock star, but you certainly don’t want to look like the Geico rep either. This is an actionable item right now.

Get some cool threads. This one is huge. In your off hours, make sure you don’t dress like the high school physics teacher. Find a look that suits your body type and get clothes that flatter. Are you tall and thin? Try the long sleeved shirts from Express. If you’re the clean cut type, shop Banana Republic. Also, get a couple pairs of expensive jeans, like don’t be afraid to blow $150 or more on a pair. Also, buy some expensive shoes, again well over $100. Women notice this stuff immediately. Young women will see that you’re hip and with it. This is another actionable item.

Find Commonalities. This includes music, television, movies, websites, books, places to eat and go out, etc. Hey, if you’re going after the 28-year-old hottie and you’re 45, you better know who Incubus is when she starts telling you about their latest concert. Find out what the young chicks are into. If you’re woefully behind the times on music, I suggest spending an afternoon browsing Youtube vids or listening to Pandora.

Play sports or go to the gym. DM is in terrific shape so this doesn’t apply to him, but if you’re a forty-something and obese and balding, you’ve got no shot at the young babes unless you happen to also be a billionaire or Salman Rushdie. Get your butt to the gym and burn off the spare tire. You’ll look better, feel better, and be better positioned to attract any woman.

Be social. Can’t emphasize this enough. This means going to bars and social venues and interacting with the younger set. I would go further and try organizing parties at your house or forming a social group based around your interests. You’re never too old to throw a pool party on a Saturday afternoon or organize a cool dinner party. Don’t limit yourself to online dating…take charge and be a social organizer.

The great thing about throwing parties is that it gives you an excuse to talk to women. That’s right, go to a nice bar on a Friday night with your buds, open the hotties, and towards the end of the interaction invite them to the pool party you’re throwing at your pimp pad in two weeks. Get a number or a Myspace address while you’re at it. It’s much easier to number close if you have something of value to give the chick, that value being the great party you’re inviting her to.

Make a Myspace or Facebook page. It’s dawned on me in the last few months how relevant social networking is to dating, and how effective a good page can be. Race and Kelly, who specialize in social network game, say having a good Myspace page is like having a PR firm working for you 24/7. I totally agree. Get yourself an account, customize it, and put tons of good pictures on there. Not only will this help get you noticed, but it’s a great way to screen potential dates. It’s also easier to get someone’s Myspace info than getting a phone number.

Those are some of the basics to make you more attractive to younger women. Since you’re a 40+ guy, I’m assuming you’ve got your money handled and a solid place to live, which solves much of the social value problem. Keep in mind, chicks are looking for confident, ambitious, secure men, and you’ve already got that. Do the stuff above and you’ll be fun and cool too.

Ladies, do you agree or disagree?

© 2008 HoneyAndLance.com. All rights reserved. Published by DadsHouseBlog.com with permission from the author.

July 15, 2008 Posted by dadshouse | dating, hookups, internet dating, online dating, relationships, sex, single dads, single men, single moms, single parents, single women | , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Thursday Night Cocktails – Cosmopolitan Recipe

Cosmopolitan cocktail poster with recipeThursday night is always a great night for a cocktail. (Actually, any night is. But I digress…) I try not to gender stereotype, but tonight’s cocktail tends to have a girlie reputation. Cosmos are that pink drink that so many girls-night-out women adore. As a man, I typically won’t order one in a bar. A three-olive martini not only gives me a stronger image, it usually hits the spot.

But at home, with dinner guests, I’ll shake up some Cosmos, no problem. The key is using Cointreau instead of Triple Sec, and not just for the liqueur’s Global Brand Ambassador. I also use a bit more cranberry juice than some other recipes – it gives the Cosmopolitan more color and tang. As for vodka, there are so many flavors mixed in this drink, I’m not sure the brand matters. I drink Ketel One, and keep a big bottle of it in my freezer.

Glass chilling tip – fill martini glasses with ice and water before you mix the cocktail in a shaker. The glasses will be plenty cold when you’re ready to pour.

Cosmopolitan Recipe

2 parts vodka
1 ½ parts cranberry juice
1 part Rose’s lime juice
1 part Cointreau
Shake sharply with ice
Pour into a chilled martini glass

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July 10, 2008 Posted by dadshouse | cocktail recipes, cocktails, life, recipes, single dads, single men | , , | 10 Comments

Napa and Sonoma Aren’t the Only Places to Meet Singles Wine Tasting

Wine bottles, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, red wineOver the long weekend a buddy and I spent a day wine tasting in the Santa Cruz mountains. Which is to say, rather than tasting we socialized and drank. As it should be for a single dad like me. (My buddy is married, which could spell wingman trouble, but he’s a good and respectful companion, not someone who lies to women.)

No matter the region - Napa, Sonoma, Monterey, Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez, Santa Cruz – wineries are great places for singles to meet. Simply step up to the tasting bar next to a pair of attractive women. In ten minutes, you can rub shoulders, engage in conversation, amuse with wit. And you don’t have to know a thing about wine. If the tasting ends with no connection, everyone goes their merry way. But if there’s a spark or you simply get along, you can suggest meeting up at another winery. All these things happened this past weekend, so it was a typical good day.

And then I fell hard for one of the pourers.

We entered a less-trafficked winery and she immediately turned my head. Thirty-something, cute, athletic, nice smile, a little shy. Like an older, down-to-earth, Lost in Translation Scarlett Johansson. Now then, when it comes to bars and clubs, I have practically no game. I’m terrible at approaching women, making small talk, flirting and raising the heat. But in a tasting environment or a bar in a nice restaurant where the banter is witty and low key, I definitely hold my own. And so it was with all the confidence in the world that I stepped up to the bar right in front of this pourer.

For story-telling purposes, I’ll leave out the wine pouring small talk and cut straight to the chase.

There were horses near the winery and one galloped into view. The pourer was wearing Wranglers, an aggie-style jean. I asked if she rode.
“No,” she said.

Okay, no problem, I’d try a different approach. Country music played softly on the radio, and I’m more of an alt-rock fan. Everyone has their preference. I asked the pourer what music she liked.
“Country,” she said. It figured. “And alt-rock.”

Ding-ding-ding!

I immediately told a funny story involving San Francisco’s infamous alt-rock radio station, the One and Only Live105.
“Live105,” she said. “Is that classic rock?”
Um, no.

So much for that tack. I looked for another approach. She was in great shape, lean and strong, so I figured sports and activity might be my in. I asked if she was a gymnast.
She brightened. “I used to be! Now I run marathons.”

Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding!

This time I had her, for sure. I’d run seven marathons in my day, before sore knees encouraged me to take up cycling. Turns out she’d run two, including Boston. That meant she’s fast, since you actually have to quality for Boston. She’d run the 26.2 miles in 3 hours and 12 minutes.
“Have you run Boston?” she asked.
“No,” I said. My marathon best was 3:29, and I needed a 3:15 to qualify. “Missed it by fourteen minutes.”

She raised her eyebrows, as if surprised I was slower than her. Whatever. Everyone’s different, and no two races are the same. That she was faster didn’t make me feel unmanly. But the conversation sputtered. She wasn’t giving me an inch, let alone opening up, and I resigned myself to having struck out.

As my buddy and I finished our last taste of wine, we chatted about the Tour de France. Cycling is one of my favorite sports. Turns out the pourer was just getting into cycling for triathlons. Wish I’d known that right off the bat. Oh well, We drained our glasses and left.

Outside, my buddy berated me for not getting her phone number.
“She deflected everything I tossed at her,” I said.
“You could have invited her cycling.”

Good point. But my flirtatious energy had been sapped, and I needed to gear up for another winery. After all, there were sure to be more singles at the next wine tasting bar.

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July 8, 2008 Posted by dadshouse | dating, life, relationships, single dads, single men, single moms, single parents, single women, vacation | , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Men Who Read and Cook – Sexy or Unmanly?

Any modern man who doesn\'t cook or read is a cavemanMore than one person commenting on my Calling All Matchmakers post said that men who cook, read, and try tantric sex are perceived by women as unmanly. One came right out and said those behaviors are gay. No offense to homosexuals, but a man perceived as gay is assumed to date men – not women. These readers suggested, if I want to date more women I need to take a more manly approach to life than preparing my own food, talking about books, and trying sexual positions beyond missionary.

Please tell me they’re in the minority.

Cooking - As a single dad with half-time custody of two kids, I wonder what my manly dinner options would be?

a) Restaurants and take-out every night
b) Grill steaks every night
c) Remarry quick! Let my built-in cook/housekeeper prepare the meals

Sorry, but I’ll take the unmanly approach of cooking. And I won’t be heating cans of chili or stew. I want good food and real recipes to fuel my marathon running and century bicycle riding and keep me healthy in general. (Maybe a beer gut would be more manly than my fit physique.) Aren’t there enough famous chefs on TV – Wolfgang Puck, Bobby Flay, Rick Bayless – that male cooking is mainstream?

Books – I know most men prefer techno-thrillers. But since when are men who read literary fiction and books on spirituality considered unmanly? Commentors mentioned SNAG as the real unmanly culprit – Sensitive New-Age Guys should be friends, not husbands or lovers. Last I checked, men have been reading for eons, both literary and spiritual stuff. Reading is not New-Agey. Maybe it’s the talking in the kitchen with any senstitivity about books, rather than grunting about sports on the backyard patio. Hey – if there’s a conversation about Serie-A or World-Cup soccer, I’m right in the mix. But I find American sports boring – overpaid crybaby athletes acting like boys. Who’s the unmanly one here?

Tantric sex – it’s ancient, not new-agey. The act of using sexual energy for transcendence and connecting with God is mentioned in the Old Testament, the Koran, and other spiritual texts. Countless celebrities have tried tantra, from Sting to Scarlett Johansson. I’m guessing anyone who summarily dismisses tantric sex as weird simply hasn’t tried it.

Destructive thought patterns are hard to break, especially when they are deeply rooted in our culture. There are characters in best-selling books (unmanly!) that perpetuate outdated stereotypes. Tom Perrotta takes a wack at single parents in The Abstinence Teacher, with a single-dad character incapable/not-allowed to raise his daughter, and a single mom whose only male friends are gay. There are plenty of other books and movies similarly stuck in the stone-age. With drivel like that, how can our culture evolve?

Cooking is sexy. Reading is sexy. Tantric sex is sexy. It’s the fast-food guzzling, sports blathering, selfish lover sorts of men who are unmanly.

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June 26, 2008 Posted by dadshouse | books, dating, life, relationships, sex, single dads, single men | , , , , , , , , , | 41 Comments

Eight Great Ways to Meet Someone New

Man and woman couple sitting outdoors at coffeehouse cafe, How to meet someone newWith my kids on vacation, and given my dislike of online dating, you might wonder how I actually meet someone new. Here are some ways to say hello to a stranger.

1. I couldn’t help noticing you, and I wanted to say hello – when I first heard this, I thought it was the cheesiest pick-up line ever. But a former girlfriend of mine told me it actually worked on her, as long as it sounded heartfelt. And she’s right! It’s worked plenty for me. Use this in a bar or coffee house. Anyplace where you catch eyes with someone across the room.

2. You ladies look like you’re having fun – use this when you approach a group of women. It doesn’t matter what they’re doing; if they’re out together, chances are at least one of them will want to meet a man. And believe me, if there’s only one at the table who is available, if you’re a quality guy the others will let you know who she is. The great thing about this line is it doesn’t commit you to any one woman. It’s flattering to all of them and gets them all involved in the conversation.

3. Good book? – perfect for a coffee house, the park, or the beach. That is, if you can find someone reading. A lot of times people are staring at laptops, cell phones, and blackberries, texting away. But if you do find someone with a book, it’s a good start. If you haven’t heard of the book, ask them about it. Or ask them for other titles they’ve liked. An alternative to try with someone who is texting: nice text message? (Ha! Leave those tech gadgets at home!)

4. Have you been here before? – (or the cheesy counterpart, Come here often?) This is great when you’re in line, or at the bar, waiting to order. I used this line to hit on a woman in front of my son, and it works. What do you like here? is an easy follow-up. DO NOT ask What’s good, or What do you recommend, because those questions force the person to offer their opinion as a critic. No one wants to give bad advice. Telling you what they like tells you something about them, and that’s flattering already.

5. Hi, I’m David – just saying Hi and giving your name can actually work if you’ve made some eye contact, and there’s an obvious charge. I saw this in the film American Gangster when Denzel Washington meets Miss Puerto Rico. Whether art imitates life, or life imitates art, doesn’t matter – they’re one in the same.

For the single parent in the park or at the beach, say ANYTHING about the kids. For instance:

1. Which one’s yours? – you learn a lot by their response. The rascally boy (she likes a man who isn’t tame), or Miss Never Wants to Get Dirty (her own life is too tame, and she wants some action)

2. Cute kid! – complimenting a parent on their child is an instant winner

3. Can we pet your dog? - getting your kid to pet their dog allows you two adults to talk

Now put yourself out there wherever singles hang out.

Smile. Be noticed. Say hello.

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June 24, 2008 Posted by dadshouse | dating, life, relationships, single dads, single men, single moms, single parents, single women | , , , , | 26 Comments

Way Beyond Soccer Dad

Soccer player juggling ballWhen baseball, basketball, and football no longer hold their allure for this American dad, it’s safe to say a major transformation has taken place. My post today is over at Silicon Valley Moms Blog. Come see why I’m Way Beyond Soccer Dad.

(I promise I don’t wear makeup on the moms blog. Come on over and comment!)

© 2008 DadsHouseBlog.com. All rights reserved.

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June 12, 2008 Posted by dadshouse | family, life, parenting, single dads, single men, soccer moms | , , | No Comments

Great First Dates and Horror Stories – CONTEST WINNER

I Rocked the House at DadsHouseblog.com, Dad's House contest winnerThe Dad’s House I ROCKED THE HOUSE: First Date Tips and Horror Stories Contest has come to a close. Eighteen self-selecting bloggers submitted entries for a chance to win the $25 Amazon eCard First Prize and $20 eCard Second Prize.

There can only be one true champ (scroll to the bottom for that result). But in my book, everyone’s a winner:

First Date Horror Stories

Best Fuzzy Picture Sent Through Craigslist: Kat Wilder’s date at a bakery cum coffeehouse
Best Use of a Drunk Psycho Dude: Mapi Princesa and her date from hell in Ecuador
Best Beer Goggle Pickup: DC Nicole is saved by a beer at the cinema
Best Angry Texting: Lisaq of 40s Singleness and her Most Bizarre Date Yet, a dinner date with a horny guy who clearly has anger texting management issues
Best Erectile Dysfunction Product Placement: QTMama and her dinner date companion with a Cialis burning a hole in his pocket
Best Check Splitting: One Date Wonder and her date who tallies every last cent of the dinner check
Best Wet Dream (It’s a Metaphor, People): What Men Think and a drunk doe-eyed girl in white pants and black thong. What’s not to like about that?
Best Blood Effects: Uncabled Heart and a Starbucks blind date with a bleeding nose
Best Lactating Breasts: SingleMomSeeking on her first date as a nursing mom

First Date Tips

Best Limo Ride From the Airport: Backpacking Dad’s creative suggestion to take a limousine from SFO to Golden Gate park
Best Advice Involving a Goldfish: Happy Healthy Hip Parenting with tips for a First Date: How to Avoid Having it Be Your Last
Best Pop Cultural Reference to Survivor: Diane from The Women’s Dish laments the modern fad of daredevil dates
Best Embrace of Humidity: The Exception offers some great first date ideas, from outdoor concerts to wandering the wine country
Best Wildebeest Impersonation: Lance from Honey & Lance on a first date video store pickup with an explosive climax
Best Use of Blindfolds: Cathouse Teri’s sensual fantasy about getting to know someone inside-out. Sex first, questions later

Great First Dates

Best Masturbation Lead-In: Honey from Honey & Lance on a first date so perfect, it turned into her current relationship
Best Bearded Biker: Ms. Single Mama falls for a bearded biker and his Harley
Best Use of Cleavage: Evil Woobie on cleavage and a twenty-sided dice

And the Winners are…

Third Place in DadsHouseBlog.com I Rocked the House First Date ContestHonorable Mention - Mapi Princesa. Her date from hell in Ecuador was a true nail-biter, worth calling out for mention.

Second place in DadsHouseBlog.com I Rocked the House First Date ContestSecond Place, and a $20 eCard goes to – What Men Think! And his First Date Horror Story.

Like I said in the contest description, humor is a good thing. I found this post Laugh My Ass Off funny. From the doe-eyed girl wearing white pants and a black thong, to the Halloween motif with a sailor suit that might have been a school-girl costume (does it matter?), What Men Think gave us details that just can’t be made up. And between a passed out girl in his car and his gentlemanly instincts, there were enough plot twists to keep me riveted.

Congratulations, What Men Think!

First Place in DadsHouseBlog.com I Rocked the House First Date ContestFirst Place, and a $25 eCard goes to – Honey! And her Perfect First Date.

This had a lot going for it – sexy preparation tips for a woman (shower, shave, blow dry hair, masturbate), great advice for meeting (someplace with beer, within walking distance of home – so you don’t need a ride, but if you want the other kind of ride, you can get one), clothes ripping, fingernail scratching, ravenous sex (multiple times). Her entry was part story, part advice column, with a perfect blend of straight talk, humor, and sex.

Best of all, it’s a true story – they’re still together!

In Honey’s words, a first date is a delicious combination of strategic planning, thinking on your feet, witty conversation, and natural sexuality. Making rules and not being afraid to throw them out the window. Taking something that was born to be a cliché and making it your own.

Congratulations, Honey!

Thanks to everyone who participated. There were definitely some great posts. Be sure to check them all out!

© 2008 DadsHouseBlog.com. All rights reserved.

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June 10, 2008 Posted by dadshouse | blind date, dating, first dates, hookups, internet dating, life, online dating, relationships, sex, single dads, single men, single moms, single parents, single women | , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Scarlett Johansson in a Sexy Threesome

Sexy and beautiful Scarlett Johansson puts on earring in black and white photoWant to grab a single dad’s undivided attention? Put Scarlett Johansson in a sexy threesome with Penelope Cruz. It doesn’t matter who the third wheel is – single dads and single men the world over will fantasize themselves in the role.

I’m guessing Woody Allen knew that when he filmed the sexy sirens in a threesome for his new movie,Vicky Christina Barcelona, which premiered at Cannes this year. When reporters asked him if he’d ever entertained the notion of a threesome, he said, “You know, it’s hard enough to get one person.”

As a single parent whose relationship universe is quite complex, I have to agree. (Is that first-date advice contest done yet?) Woody (pun intentional) got me thinking (this is shameless, I know), who would I choose for a threesome?

A bedroom sexy Scarlett Johansson wouldn’t be a bad choice. Her youthful inexperience is a strike against her, but she gets props for having tried tantric sex. I might swap Penelope Cruz for another beautiful latina, Christina Aguilera. She’s a definite celebrity MILF, and in concert, it’s clear she knows how to treat a man.

But let’s ground things for a moment and fantasize about Dates a Single Dad Might Actually Go On.

Coffee date - Mischa Barton drinking Starbucks in Berlin reminded me our world is truly a global village. As a single dad with deep roots at home, I’d love to date a woman who lives in my village, global or not.
Cocktails – I certainly wouldn’t choose one of those party girls like Lindsay, Paris, or Britney. Too much booze is not a good thing. Cocktails are all about getting dressed up, chatting, flirting, getting to know someone new and totally different. Beyonce or Halle Berry, perhaps?
Hiking – I know, hiking first dates are a bad idea, but I do enjoy getting out in nature. I might consider Parvati Shallow the Survivor winner, she’s got some outdoor skills. Or for a hike in a bamboo forest, Ziyi Zhang from House of Flying Daggers would be perfect.
CyclingShakira. Hips. Don’t. Lie.
OperaKeira Knightley is graceful and elegant. And post-opera, she might be up for another kind of indoor fun.
Cooking – you might think I’d go for a celebrity chef like Top Chef Padma Lakshmi or Rachel Ray. Nah, they’d take charge and have me mincing onions. Cooking on a date should be fun. How about sexy Mariah Carey. Love her voice and that big smile.
Dining – dinner is a mix of conversation and looking great. Why not Jessica Alba? For starts, we can talk about her acting career.
Book ClubPadma Lakshmi, of course. She’s Salman Rushdie’s ex, and he’s a big famous author. And yes, I do know what he said about being her partner, “A mortal who makes love to a goddess is doomed, but once chosen cannot avoid his fate.” Let’s just say I wouldn’t kick Fate out of bed for getting crumbs in the sheets.
Beach date – the beach is for sun tanning, body surfing, and napping. Ludivine Sagnier from Swimming Pool has lounging down pat. But for beach activity, Jessica Biel gets my vote. Plus, her smile makes me melt every time.

As for threesomes, beggars can’t be choosers. If Woody Allen insists on casting me across from Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz, I’ll just have to go with the flow.

Mr. Demille, I’m ready for my close-up.

Scarlett Johansson hot and sexy in shiny tight black dress with statue

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June 8, 2008 Posted by dadshouse | life, movies, music, relationships, sex, single dads, single men | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Who Needs Protection? It’s Only a One Night Stand

condom protection for safe sex one night standWhile promoting Mary Pol’s new book, SingleMomSeeking’s Rachel Sarah recently blogged about the event that led to Mary’s child:

Then, there’s this one-night stand with an adorable but jobless guy ten years her junior — and, oops, they didn’t use a condom.

Oops? Excuse me, but I think that qualifies for more than an ‘oops’.

When two people are in a relationship, it’s their choice whether to use protection during sex or not. Maybe they’re in love, maybe not. Maybe they want to start a family, maybe not. Maybe they’re willing to live with the consequences, maybe not.

But for a one night stand? Having one-night-stand sex without protection is crazy. And socially irresponsible.

I’m not judging anyone. We all make mistakes. Lust and passion are strong elixirs. People get tipsy, fool around, hormones rage, stuff happens. And even when condoms are used there can be problems. The condom can break, be ineffective, or even fall off.

But choosing not to wear one is a far different beast.

First date sex rarely leads to a lasting relationship. A one night stand is just that, one night together. Chances are two people having casual sex together have had casual sex with other partners. The risk of STDs is significantly higher for them.

To be sleeping together without protection risks you, your partner, and the entire dating pool to disease.

A female friend reminded me that some guys absolutely insist on unprotected sex. They just don’t like the feel of condoms. They’ll ask, beg, plead, cajole to have bareback sex. Some act needy and wounded to trigger a woman’s nurturing instinct. Some play the co-dependent shame game and guilt her into going along with the idea. They’ll say whatever it takes to persuade her into letting him dip his stick without a glove.

Women – just say NO to these assholes!

These men are employing psychological manipulation of the worst kind. They are putting you at risk, and every one of your future partners at risk. They are peeing in the dating pool. These jerks need to be stopped, cold.

As a single dad out there dating and relating, I need to know my partners practice safe sex, same as I always do. And as I continue the ongoing dialog I have with my teenage daughter about sex and intimacy, I’ll make her aware of this issue. She already knows there are men who use physical force to have sex with women, and one defense is a hard knee to the groin.

That same knee might come in handy against guys who insist on one night of condom-free sex.

© 2008 DadsHouseBlog.com. All rights reserved.

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June 4, 2008 Posted by dadshouse | blind date, dating, first dates, hookups, internet dating, life, online dating, relationships, sex, single dads, single men, single moms, single women | , , , , , , | 43 Comments

Supermarket Dating – Cure for the Common Online Date

Supermarket dating is a fun cure for online dating which sucksSuffering from a common online date? Symptoms include:

Coffee date drudgery – you meet (ignoring all other available singles in the café because this person’s online checkboxes matched yours), and you go through your standard Q&A bull session like it’s a job interview because you haven’t learned how to pump up your conversations, and despite quickly realizing there’s no chemistry, you keep talking until you’ve run out of latte.

Fuzzy photos – irregularities like pics that don’t match the person who showed up to meet you.

Unfulfilled expectations – you wink at, favorite, or email someone you like, then you wait. And wait, and wait, … and wait… Chances are you’ll never hear back. Maybe they aren’t paying members. (Then why is their profile still up showing all those cute hottie photos? Um, because it attracts new subscribers?) Maybe their inbox is full. Maybe they just suck at being nice.

Dinner whores – sorry, it happens too much not to mention. A dinner whore gives you dining companionship in return for you picking up the tab. [Ed. Note: I'm old school and believe the man should pay. My problem with dinner whores is the women who have no intention of dating you or even considering you as a relationship option, they simply want a free meal from whatever man will pay.]

Feelings of de ja vu – didn’t you see that exact same person’s photo on the other dating site you subscribed to three years ago? The dating pool is only so big.

Scanning profiles on a Friday night – when you could be hanging out with friends, sharing a cocktail, enjoying a meal, watching a show, or just plain old reading a good book. But dammit, you don’t want anyone to know you’re dateless.

The cure? Head to your local supermarket and shop for groceries. When you see a sexy person you find attractive, smile, flirt, say hello, ask if a melon is ripe, ask how to roast a chicken, etc. Conversate! (I love that word.)

Doctor’s Rx: take one phone number and call it in the morning.

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June 3, 2008 Posted by dadshouse | dating, first dates, internet dating, life, online dating, relationships, sex, single dads, single men, single moms, single parents, single women | , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments