Say Yes

I'm just wondering, for all of those ladies who complain about not having someone special in their lives - have you said yes?  I'm being serious. Have you said yes to the men who have asked you out?  Your answer is probably no.


I challenge you to say yes, even if it's just for a week, to everyone who asks you out.  You'll be surprised what happens.  Suddenly, your social calendar is full.  Suddenly, you're meeting new people.  Suddenly, you're liking yourself more.  Saying yes isn't about being a whore or easy - its about saying yes to yourself and the possibility that meeting someone new could be fun, exciting and fulfilling.  Screw the romantic aspects of it for now.  Think about all the new friends you'll meet.  The new adventures you'll have.  The new hobbies you'll experience. 


Say yes.

When being single makes you poor

Alright, I'll admit it.  My most recent ex paid for everything, and I mean EVERYTHING.  Sure, I bought dinner and groceries, and event tickets quite a few times - but when my social life was reduced to just HIM I didn't spend any money.  Enter my single status and my lack of funding for just about everything.


So what am I spending my money on?


1.  High quality food so I can get skinny and boys will like me
2.  Drinks at the bar so I can meet boys and boys like girls who drink and are fun so boys will like me
3.  The gym, to burn off the calories so that boys will like me


And how does one fix the money problems encountered by being single while still getting fit, meeting boys and being social?


Enter Chicago's many Sports and Social Leagues.  Here are some of my favorites (and please don't be shy, these things are fun - but they require you to attend!!)


Most leagues are about $70-80 for around 8 weeks of play and practice... and the teams usually go to happy hours hosted by sponsored bars with wicked drink specials.  That's way cheaper than your gym membership!
 

http://chicagosportandsocial.com/

http://www.meetup.com/20-and-30-somethings-chicago/

http://www.causemicconnections.com/

My personal success:  A gentleman from my fall league just asked me out last week (after a particularly rough game, so if I can get asked out after looking the way I did last week, I'm definitely doing something right.)

Please post in the comments any other suggestions you may have for meeting people, staying fit, saving money, doing cheap fun things in the city, etc.

How to impress a guy (morning after edition)

1. Go to a butcher and buy some thick-cut bacon. Do not buy that shit from Oscar Meyer.
2. Freeze the bacon (let's face it, you aren't getting laid that often)
3. Buy eggs. Just keep eggs in your fridge. They're good for you.


Before he leaves you, cook the bacon.  Cook some eggs for good measure.


You're welcome.

I'm in Management

I saw a "help wanted" sign walking down the street last night that reminded me of when I lived in another city, and used another site (ahem, Match.com) to meet men. The options to describe yourself were pretty vague:

admin/clerical

teacher

leadership/management

sales/marketing

military/police

entrepreneur

restaurant/food service

retail

This vagueness landed me into a pretty awkward situation on a date once...

I agreed to meet a fairly attractive gentleman at a bar for drinks followed by a hockey game (ladies, always have sports tickets on hand).

Unfortunately, I was in for a rude awakening: My gentleman caller hadn't showered in days. He also was about 5 years older than he said he was. And his hair about 10 inches longer. To put a cherry on top, the leadership/management occupation was really Assistant Manager at Blockbuster video. I dig movies... Almost enough to let that slide, but when he tried to kiss me at the end of the date, it was all over.

Don't get me wrong - online dating is about playing to your strengths, and this guy was certainly playing to his when he selected "leadership/management" but the point of online dating is to present your true self - not a fabrication of what you could be... not a lie. No one wants to be surprised by the person they meet. As a rule of thumb, you shouldn't include any pictures of yourself that are more than 2 years old, or 20 lbs ago.

Here are some of my favorite bad online date stories, found on Reddit.

While you're at it, check out the biggest lies people tell while posting to online dating sites.

Advice

I'm no idiot.  But my friends are.


Ladies, you shouldn't call a boy.  Here's why:


You should let him call you.  If he likes you, he will call you.  You don't need to do it for him.  If you do it for him, well, that makes you his mother.  No one wants to date their mother. 


Also, don't kid yourself.  He has your number.  He didn't lose it in the washing machine... or drop his phone in a puddle, or forget.  If he wants you, he will call you.  And if he doesn't have your number, well, he's smart enough to find it.  And if he's not smart enough to find it, well, do you really want to date this guy?

Don't belive me?  Check out this article from eharmony.

The Great Halloween Date

Caution: if you're afraid of things that go bump in the night (not referring to your head on the headboard)... You probably shouldn't read any further.


One of the best dates I've ever been on (and since Halloween is so soon) was a ghost tour.  It was downtown, and we stopped at every bar and had a cocktail (or two).  The ghost tour included haunting stories of murders, accidents, fires, and poltergeists.  It was perfect for cuddling with my date at the time.


We took pictures of orbs, blurs, and "spirits" (IE fuzz that lands on your digital camera's lens.)


Here are some ghost tours in the Chicagoland area:

http://www.weirdchicago.com/

http://www.ghostsofchicago.com/

http://www.chicagohauntings.com/

If you're feeling really adventurous, I recommend spending a night at the reportedly haunted Congress Hotel in The Loop.

On a weird note, a couple we made "friends" with during the 4-hour long excursion contacted us later to see if we wanted to swap.  In case you were wondering, we didn't.   

The Nazi

I really intended for my first entry to be funny, but after writing it, its just sad:


I'm a member of a website that links up young professionals in the Chicago area.  I met Entry 1 after one of the events posted by the site.  I wasn't the only one who met someone at the event, ladies (So I still recommend you check out meetup.com). 


I met "the Nazi" (he wasn't a Nazi at this point) and started talking to him about life, love, and the pursuit of happiness - you know, normal bar talk.


He called the next day and I agreed to meet him for lunch the next week.  Our meal was fine... but while talking about our parents I learned that he's Jewish.  And then I learned exactly how much he hates Jews (or himself).  He warned me that they'd "take my money."  Then he told me how to "spot a Jew."  I politely laughed it off, thinking, "Hmm... maybe he's gotten laughs off this before and he's just nervous." 


We emailed that week and I agreed to meet him for a drink.  That's when it turned into 1930's Nazi Germany.  I spent a good deal of time telling him that he sounded self-deprecating and offensive, but he kept trying to justify his hatred.  He went into stereotypes I haven't even heard of.  And even tried to justify his feelings by comparing me and my heritage to his.  


The night ended with me getting off the train and looking back to make sure I wasn't followed.


Don't do drugs, kids.


What's your worst date story?