Fireplace Date

This is seriously SO romantic. I recently met some Daters who do the fireplace. Warm, flaming, cracking fire – replete with hugging, conversation and Amaretto. Between looking into each other’s eyes, they stare into the entrancing flames. Beautiful, sparkling, timeless, mesmerizing.

It only takes a spark to get a fire going;
soon all those around will warm up in it's glowing

Now I understand why they say…

“You feel a spark”

“Their love was on fire”

“Flames of passion”

“Burning love”

Fireplace Date is the ultimate in cozy warmth, nature, nurture - and simply shutting out the world in the name of good old fashioned snuggling.

Go burn some love.

Couch Date

I’m not usually the jealous type. I don’t want to spend time, effort or energy worrying and wondering if my partner, girlfriend, kids, boss, or whoever is superseding, outdoing and cheating on me.

But admittedly I’m a tiny bit envious of the Couch Dater. This is the person who so easily plops down, relaxes and snuggles on a couch. As a supersonic, busy, high functioning mom, my butt never went anywhere near a couch anyway. Sitting down? I was lucky to relax in my office chair for 8 hours a day. But never a couch.

Couch Daters are a lucky breed. Couch Daters may sit up or get horizontal. Couch Daters may hold a glass of wine or aperitif. Couch Daters may use warm cozy blankets. Couch Daters may get cozy with another Couch Dater. They may choose to forego the TV for intimate conversation (go, Couch Daters!).

You need no prequalifications, advanced degree or trust fund to be a Couch Dater. You need no fancy car, career trajectory, athletic ability or family pedigree. Just. Be. You.

I have lovely memories of a Couch Date with my friend M. I’d had a particularly nasty day in court. M immediately suggested we meet out for a drink and then we retired to her couch. We sat opposite and talked. She and couch helped me feel so, much, better.

And M and I both agree that when you can share a male Couch Date, it’s also so nice to add a dash of Cuddle. I’m on the lookout. Couch Cuddlers are out there! I know it.

Vacation Date

I know my dating life has hit rock bottom when I take my MOTHER on a romantic weekend to Palm Springs. A weekend I originally bought to give my “boyfriend” as a Christmas gift. But when the broken-toy-boyfriend pronounced that we would be spending $5 on our Christmas gifts this year, I realized I’d gone waaaayy over the edge. I didn’t care so much about the price tag; I wanted to go on a trip with good company!

So in the end, I never mentioned it to the broken toy guy, and invited my mother instead, who happened to have journeyed across the country to help me in my most recent time of crisis. That’s the best thing about mothers is... they are always your mother. And every human being on this earth has one, like it or not. A mother's love is for always. (That’s what I’ve told my kids to remember, since I'm losing them in custody court this week.)

Romance in a package

Our adventure trip – the “romance package” – included champagne, treats, jade bed massages, free coffee and movies in the jacuzzi under the stars. It also included twilight zone hotel episodes, a flat tire, AAA, exchanging rental cars at the airport and high (I mean high) winds. So while plans to lay by the pool and read about borderline personality disorder and Zen job searching flew out the window in the gusts, we still had an…adventure.

At least we got to vacate life for a while. 
Can’t we all use a break every once in a purple moon?

Revised Dating Want Ad

My original dating want ad was not getting much action. What do you think of this one?

• Craves adventure, cilantro and fine cheese.
• Inspired by creativity, music, red wine and relationships.
• Favorite spot is any beach with warm water and warm sand. Warm is a theme.
• Would rather be reading or writing than talking to you, but can still hold an excellent conversation.
• Boycotts mindless TV.
• Smarty-pants.
• Often outwits herself; too smart for own good.
• Smart, yet impaired by her own judgment.
• Willowy with honey-blonde locks, runners’ legs and ice blue eye. Other eye has been damaged.
• Athletic; not competitive.
• Expert laundry folder.
• Loves cats and board games, but highly allergic.
• Three wild banshees, or rather, children orbiting her 50% of time.
• Sleeps other 50%.