I screwed up, and I think I've got a date!

[Robb]

I really didn't mean to.

It just kinda happened. I've got a date Thursday. And I know it's not supposed to be time for me to be dating yet. I just couldn't help it but say "OK." Now, I've got a freakin' date!

OK, so the worst part is I haven't actually been on a date in like eons. Like about nearly ever. I usually just kind of wound up with people, I didn't go on dates.

What the hell do people do on dates?!? Am I supposed to be charming? What about dinner? Am I supposed to order something in particular?

I feel like I'm 19. Someone take pity on me and tell me what people do on freakin' "dates."

[Floogeldy]

1. Focus all of your attention on your date.

Talk about your date. Ask your date about your date. It is all about your date, not you. Make your date feel special. Encourage your date. Give positive reinforcement. Be sensitive and understanding. Pay for everything. Be interested in your date. Care.

If you do all of that, you might get laid!

[Robb]

2. Wait wait wait wait wait

...we have to talk?

[Haole Girl]

3. Just be yourself

It sounds corny...and easy, but it is neither. You may want to try to be or act a certain way, but I think the best advice is to avoid playing games. Be sure to mind your manners, too...you know which ones (get your mind out of the gutter )...no elbows on the table, chew your food with your mouth closed, don't talk too loudly in a restaurant, etc. Have fun!

[Pale Blue Dot]

4. Let me ask Sarah if I can tell you about our first date.

She says I'm free to discuss the Italian resturant and the stroll in the garden. Beyond that, you're on your own.

Sarah's advice is to "be yourself" ( ). My advice: a NASCAR muscle-T and a six-pack of Bud Light.

Good luck!

[FuzzySlippers]

11. He should also wrap his smokes

in the sleeve of the NASCAR muscle-T. That drives women wild with lust.

[zanne]

23. A bad first date can turn into a long-term relationship.

On our first date, this goofy-looking, swaggering idiot took me to a carnival. I threw up on him. We've been married for 27 years.

[JVS]

5. Stand her up

Or talk a lot about your X

[Jamastiene]

6. Damn, I wish I could screw up like that.

Have a good time and don't worry so much. That'll take away from the fun. Have a good time and be yourself. That's all you need to do. Just ask the date what they want to do, where they would like to go, that sorta thing, and you'll do fine.

[Redstone]

7. Do what you do. Pretty simple, that. And it works.

Redstone

[Missy Vixen]

8. You will be fine, Robb

>What the hell do people do on dates?!?<

It's not every day that a woman gets to go out on the town with a real live dingbat.

Seriously, just be your charming self. The nicest dates I remember having were ones in which there was a lot of conversation, and I was able to get to know the other person better. The best date ever: The guy took me on a ferry ride, and we had clam chowder at Ivar's on Seattle's waterfront afterwards. It just was a really fun evening, and probably cost him less than $20.00.

Good luck, and I know that you'll have a great time!

Julie

[amitten]

9. When she's least expecting, goose her...hard.

Dates love that!

[ChoralScholar]

10. You have to be the 'real you'

because, no matter how hard you try, you can't conceal your true being forever.

As trite as it sounds, it's the #1 mistake made in relationships.

If they don't like YOU, then, oh well. Better to be by yourself than to have to pretend.

[Guava Jelly]

12. First tell her she has nice boobs and then take her to a convience store for

a microwave sandwich..Works like a charm
She may even propose to you that night ...or maybe i suck at dating advice.

[xchrom]

13. fastest recovery ever!

[Robb]

18. I know, I know

...It's kind of unseemly.

[tkmorris]

14. OK, first things first

You are worried about how to act. STOP THAT. I'm serious, stop it right now. The worst thing you can do is be tense and uncertain. I know that is pretty much exactly how you feel, but find a way to stop worrying about it. It doesn't matter ya know; you got one date you weren't even looking for. If you actually start TRYING you'll probably get several. So if it doesn't go perfectly it certainly isn't the end of the world.

Second. If you fell into a date you weren't really seeking I can only assume the other person already likes you. There must be a reason for that, so just continue to be whatever it is that attracted them in the first place.

As far as ordering anything in particular for dinner, no it doesn't matter. Well, not really anyway. I wouldn't go for something terribly sloppy, nor anything that is gonna make you logy afterwards. You want to be alert, not food drugged.

Finally I'd admit to the uncertainty up front. It can be quite charming to not really know what to do. Also a tad intimidating if you let it be. So take the air out of that ball right away and let the person you are dating know that you need some clues how to proceed.

Above all is advice your Mom likely gave you your first day of school. Be yourself. Do NOT be phony, no matter what. I doubt you were being phony when you fell into this date, so don't be phony now. Just relax, and let be whatever will be. That's all a date is, a compatibility test. Just like with any other test, if you tense up, you will fail. Yeah I know, no pressure there, but it's true. So just be cool, be you, and hope that the lucky he/she you are with made the right call when they decided a night out with you would be worth doing.

[lildreamer316]

15. NAIL on head!!

"Finally I'd admit to the uncertainty up front. It can be quite charming to not really know what to do."
EXACTLY.
That would put me at ease right there. Gotta let theair out of any possible unrealistic expectations on both sides.

Good Luck!!

[radwriter0555]

16. Well if you like her, you could make it her best first date ever.

My beau took me by helicopter out to Catalina island, because he took the time to learn that I love to fly and that I love the ocean, and Catalina.

And he wasn't some rich guy or anything, he was a maintenance worker, and basically I was his boss at the time.

We managed pretty well for a couple of years and it gracefully ended for no particular reason.

Okay, the truth is, he sucked in bed.

But other than that he was a lot of fun and we enjoyed being together.

[tjwmason]

17. I can't really give advice

I'm even less of a date person...but I'd go with the others' advice of "be yourself".

Also, I'd say don't take it too seriously...go out and have a charming evening with a splendid woman. Treat her well and enjoy her company.

[LynneSin]

19. Try to get to at least 2nd base, or at least 1st base

[Robb]

20. Which is which?

Is 2nd base the one with the... oh, never mind.

[Richardo]

21. If you're lucky, you'll get the "intentional walk"

But then you have to steal second.

[SOteric]

22. I can relate, I tend to just end up 'being' with someone

rather than doing a whole lot of traditional dating.

How 'bout you just have fun, be yourself, try to keep spinach off your teeth and spaghetti off your shirt. Something tells me the rest will just take care of itself.