Advice for Women

OK, so Jon Gosselin leaves his wife to go gallivant with young blondes. He doesn’t seem to have an actual job. He has a bazillion kids. He’s not conventionally attractive. He does not appear to be that bright. And yet, this guy is somehow a catch to female tabloid reporters and professional party girls?

I don’t get it. Who the hell is this guy and why do these women want him?

The whole fiasco makes me sick.

For every woman who swears she will never date in the office, there is a woman who met her husband there.

Office romance is tricky. On one hand, your common sense tells you that no good could possibly come out of dating a coworker. On the other hand, the office is where you spend most of your time. There is also quite possibly a surplus of available men where you work.

If you do decide to dip into the office pool, so to speak, the most important thing to remember is that at all times, remain professional. Never show public displays of affection in the office (not even if you’re engaged to your office coworker). If you’re in an argument, never show it. When you have meetings, sit far away from your office mate. Don’t keep it a secret, but don’t flaunt it, either. This is surefire career suicide.

Occasionally, I post dating tips and tactics for women looking for dating advice. Here are some dating tips based on things I’ve learned over the years:

Dating Advice for Women

1. Don’t accept a date with a man you don’t consider “boyfriend” material because you never know what might happen after that first date. Many women find themselves in unhappy long-term relationships with men they never really wanted to date to begin with.

2. On the other hand, don’t reject a man who asks you out just because he doesn’t fit the idealistic picture you have in your head of the perfect boyfriend. He might surprise you.

3. It’s good to be picky, but not so good to be narrow-minded. Learn the difference.

4. Don’t try to get your ex-boyfriend back. He’s probably not worth it. If you don’t believe me, take a peek at daytime TV shows and look at the kinds of people who are trying to get back with their exes. Do you want to be one of those kind of girls? Didn’t think so.

5. If you’re crying over some guy, knock it off. Go take a bath or a pill. Most men are just not worth the tears.

Just heard there’s yet another reality dating TV show debuting this summer. It’s called Dating in the Dark, and I’m pretty skeptical. Here’s how it works: people are paired together to have dates in the dark. Literally. They won’t be able to see each other until one of them signifies they want to have a date in the light. So the contestants will spend most of their time having no idea what the other looks like.

The problem? I am certain, absolutely certain, that the producers are going to stick some unconventional looking people in that show. They’re going to stick in short men with glasses and they’re going to pair them with women who specifically asked for a Brad Pitt-lookalike.

It’s going to be really bad, I just know it.

When I first started reading this Los Angeles Times story about a new dating reality show featuring plus-sized contestants, I was pleased. I liked this. I liked the pictures they showed of plus-sized yet attractive people. I liked the way the bachelor, Luke Conley, was portrayed. The producers posted a Craigslist ad searching for a full-figured girl, and Conley responded with “Sugar, look no further. I am the man for you!”

Cute, right?

But as soon as the cameras started rolling, things got ugly. In one sequence, Conley actually makes out with five women, one right after another, at a spa.

Gross.

I know this is “reality TV” and everything’s about ratings … I just wish they didn’t keep coming up with shows that seem to imply that all men are pigs and all women are desperate.

July 26 is Savvy Auntie’s Day, a day of celebration for professional aunts.

Too often, single women who are aunts are overlooked. Last year, Melanie Notkin filled that void with SavvyAuntie.com, an interactive website and online community for aunts.

Are you a PANK (Professional Aunt With No Kids)? Are you the favorite, crazy aunt to your brother or sister’s kids? Head on over to SavvyAuntie to connect with other aunts, get advice on being an aunt and celebrate with other women like you.

As a woman with two adorable nephews, I’m pleased there is now a special day for aunts. There’s Mother’s Day and Father’s Day–why not Savvy Auntie’s Day, too?

Here are some tips on how to celebrate your special day:

• Get ice cream for your nephews and nieces, and take pictures of it dribbling down everyone’s faces in the July sun.
• Take the kids out of the heat and into a kids’ movie.
• Invite your other single girlfriends who are aunts, and have a girls’ night out. Exchange cool auntie gifts. 

Robert Redford is taken.

Reuters has reported that the 72-year-old actor and director has married his longtime girlfriend, Sibylle Szaggars.

I love this story for a few reasons. One, it shows that even 51-year-old women can get married. (Yes, she’s a refreshing 51, not 21!)  Two, it shows that eventually men will settle down. Three, the woman Redford married is not a famous actress; she’s beautiful for sure, but she also looks quite normal. Which is an inspiration to the rest of us.

What does this teach single women?

Be patient.

I’m quite certain Ms. Szaggars did not spend the last 10 years of her life nagging her boyfriend to marry her, pitching fits when he said he wasn’t ready, nor storming out of the room after tantrums about how he doesn’t love her enough.

Just a thought.

A news report today from MSNBC has an interesting story on how to avoid breaking the bank when you’re online dating.

The best way, I think, is to be very realistic when you start a subscription to either an online dating service or a matchmaking service. Never pay more than you can afford, for example. And realize that some people wait a year or more to find someone special on these sites.

Online dating services do work well for a great many people. But there are so many variables involved. Go into all dating services with an open mind, and watch out for scams by checking all companies at the Better Business Bureau site before making a decision.

Another thing to keep in mind while dating online is that one service may work better for you than another. That’s why there’s so many options out there.

Who the hell is Bradley Cooper?

He’s a B-list actor who recently appeared in “He’s Just Not that Into You” (required viewing for all single women).

Apparantly, some of the gossip mags pegged him and Jennifer Aniston as an item. Instead of doing the gentlemanly thing, which would be to say “No comment,” this jerk actually denied it, vehemently. According to People, he said, “I only met her 3 times in my life.” He went on to blab “she’s just a friend.”

This is a whopper of a lie. There’s no way that he met her “just” 3 times if he worked on a movie with her.  

Is dating Jennifer Aniston that repulsive to him that he felt the need to completely deny he even KNEW her? What is going on in the world?

And who the hell does this guy think he is?