| It's Friday night and you're all geared up to go on | | | | Do not be cheap. Guys, make sure you have |
| that important first date. You haven't dated in | | | | enough in your pocket to cover the date including |
| awhile and are pretty nervous that you'll screw | | | | any customary tips and incidentals. And just so |
| things up. How do you keep from making a | | | | we're clear, it isn't cute to skimp out on tipping |
| complete arse of yourself and more importantly, | | | | your waiter/waitress because your water was 2 |
| make it to that seemingly out-of-reach second | | | | degrees warmer than you would have liked it or |
| date? I have compiled a list of some simple tips | | | | any other cockamamie excuse you think your |
| to prevent you from making the most common | | | | date will find funny. She won't. You will look like a |
| costly first date blunders. | | | | jackass and nobody wants to be with a jackass. |
| | | | A proper gratuity is 10% of the total bill. And |
| Do not talk about your ex. It is very unattractive | | | | ladies, just because your date is expected to foot |
| to tell your date all about the exes and what they | | | | the bill doesn't mean you should come |
| did or didn't do or how they did it. It really is a | | | | empty-handed. If you're going dutch, then of |
| turnoff and drops your date's interest level. I'll | | | | course that's self-explanatory, but if he's paying |
| take it a step further and say don't even discuss | | | | the check, you should at least offer to leave the |
| your great platonic bowling partner friend to | | | | tip. Besides, didn't your mother always tell you to |
| whom you confide all your problems to. Your date | | | | keep some change just in case? |
| will clearly see this person as a possible threat and | | | | Don't be cruel to the wait staff. As I said in the |
| who wants to begin a relationship in a | | | | previous tip, your date will not find it funny. This is |
| competition? You want to keep the date as | | | | really childish behavior and I'm sure you don't |
| romantic and light as possible.Speaking of light, | | | | want to come off as immature. So, please, don't |
| keep the heavy dramatic topics out of the | | | | be overly demanding and difficult towards your |
| conversation. Nobody wants to hear the gloom | | | | wait staff. Be courteous and polite at all times and |
| and doom of how you think the world will end | | | | treat them like the human beings they are. As |
| due to global warming or why Bush is doing a | | | | the old saying goes, you catch more flies with |
| terrible job. It is incredibly boring to discuss the | | | | honey than vinegar. |
| current rise in interest rates and the way your | | | | Use proper etiquette. Pigs eat slop. People eat |
| boss is giving it to you in the rear end. Everything | | | | meals with silverware and use napkins. Save |
| that comes out of your mouth should be positive | | | | another time to let your date "pull your finger" |
| and upbeat.Do not brag. It really is unimportant | | | | and keep the gaseous eruptions to a minimum. |
| how much you have stowed away in your 401K | | | | Eat at a reasonable pace that allows for |
| and how your Jag gets 34 miles per gallon. We've | | | | conversation without a mouthful of food seeping |
| all heard it a million times before so let that aspect | | | | from the sides of your lips. And ladies, don't order |
| of your life be discovered. It's okay to highlight a | | | | the most expensive item on the menu just for |
| choice few of your accomplishments but don't | | | | the sake of its price tag and don't starve yourself |
| oversell yourself. You're not on commission. | | | | in an attempt to keep from looking like a glutton. |
| Do not get all touchy-feely. It's creepy and | | | | If you're hungry, eat. He'd much rather see you |
| offensive. You're not at the point where you can | | | | enjoy your meal than watch you scrunch up your |
| take those freedoms so keep your hands to | | | | face in agony of your efforts to disguise the loud |
| yourself. No pats on the back, arms around the | | | | rumbles erupting from your tummy. |
| shoulders, or hands on the knee. These things will | | | | Last, this really should go without saying but, do |
| come in due time so don't rush the touching. This | | | | not overindulge in alcoholic beverages. A first date |
| stage has to arrive as a natural progression in the | | | | is not the time to show off how well you can |
| relationship. | | | | handle your liquor. The combination of first date |
| Do not talk about sex. It's distasteful and | | | | jitters and ten beers can be fatal to any possibility |
| downright tacky. Everyone has heard all the libido | | | | of a second date. You should be well aware of |
| stories and the dirty jokes. Keep it classy and | | | | your surroundings and in full possession of your |
| sophisticated. You're an adult so you should know | | | | faculties. You don't want to be so uninhibited that |
| by now that it is completely unnecessary to | | | | you forget your manners so keep it to a three |
| drone on about what a champion lover you are. If | | | | cocktail maximum. |
| you're so good, your date will find out eventually. | | | | The first date can be a horrific, terrifying, |
| Be prepared. While spontaneity is a really nice | | | | grueling, romantic, exciting, fun and memorable |
| attribute, it doesn't bode well for first dates. You | | | | experience. You will most likely be a bottle of |
| should have a well-thought out plan of what you | | | | nerves and make many mistakes throughout |
| will be doing, when and where. Know your budget | | | | your special night but so will your date. Just |
| and plan accordingly. Make dinner reservations and | | | | remember these tips and be yourself. After all, |
| purchase theater tickets ahead of time. It is | | | | the hardest part was getting the date in the first |
| embarrassing to arrive at your destination just to | | | | place.Niquenya Fulbright is a professional life coach |
| find out its packed to capacity and/or sold out. | | | | specialing in sex, love, dating and relationships. As |
| Give yourself enough travel time in between | | | | founder of Chicago Love Connection, a premier |
| locations. And whatever you do, don't be late in | | | | online dating site, Niquenya has helped hundreds of |
| picking her up. And ladies, I know it's tempting, but | | | | Chicagoland singles regain control of their love lives |
| it really is a tiresome habit to keep him waiting for | | | | through date coaching, self-assessment, time |
| the sake of being "fashionably late." Be ready at | | | | management skill building, image consulting, |
| least 10 minutes prior to the time he is scheduled | | | | matchmaking services and exciting singles events. |
| to arrive. | | | | |