Life Skills – Dating 101 (Part III)
The third in a series of Great Date Ideas!!
Here’s a reminder list of the sections that are used in talking about the date ideas:
1. Dressing Up – This section delves into the fun you can have by wearing certain apparel on your dates!
2. Holiday “In” - If you read my first blog on dating, you saw that I suggested having Halloween on any day of the year except October 31st. This section concentrates on many of the other holidays that you can celebrate year round.
3. Let’s Have a “Ball” – This section isn’t so much about romance as it is about invigoration. It’s the sports section. Note: When you go on these dates, remember that it should be something that you both like to do!!
4. Town & Country “In” – These are dates that take place either around town or in the country…it’s that simple.
5. Not your “Run of the Mill” – People are usually so stuck in their dinner-and-a-movie routines, they forget some of these other ideas. These are dates that thousands of people are doing every day (or night).
6. Be a “Crafty” Couple – A lot of people are really good with their hands and they don’t even know it. This section gives you the chance to use your creativity to make something together that might even last forever.
7. Go For the Ride of Your Life – There are many modes of transportation. This section is dedicated to the use of some of these modes. And what a rush you’ll feel when the wind starts blowing through your hair, past your body, and into your soul!!
8. Romantic Differences – These dates are either romantic and sentimental or very unusual and unique. I put them together because I didn’t know where else to put them.
9. “’Partying’ is such sweet…” well…not sorrow, that’s for sure!! Sure it’s fun to go on dates where you and your partner are all alone…and yeah, it’s great going on a double date every once in a while…but there’s something about taking your date to a party that MAKES you have a good time!!
I’m going to pick up where I left off in Part II of the Dating 101 series, so the next number is:
12- Skiing (from Section 3 “Let’s Have a ‘Ball’”)
Winter is coming upon us here in the states and that means snow in a lot of areas. I’m originally from Utah, the state that boasts the “greatest snow on earth.” Skiing is so big in Utah that they had the Winter Olympics there a few years ago. Whether you’re downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, or skiing down the bunny slopes, this is a fabulous time to get physical, get sweaty, get cold, and then head back to the lodge and get warm in each other’s arms.
Don’t forget about the other kind of skiing, too…water-skiing!! You could also include the snowboarding experience in this section!
FUN: 4
ROMANCE: 1-4
MONEY: $25.00-$50.00
13- Make Your Own Movie (from Section 6 “Be A Crafty Couple”)
Now that the world is full of video recorders and movie software, you could write your own little script and make a movie that you can show to all of your friends…(or maybe it will be one that just the two of you will ever want to watch). The software can simplify the editing process…you can add music, special effects, etc. If you do show it to your friends (see # 9…except YOU are the celebrity), maybe you could charge them (drinks, munchies, Monopoly money). This is a lot of fun!! It might change your life…maybe you’ll realize that you should be an actor or a director and move to Hollywood…(make sure you take your date with you)!!
FUN: 4
ROMANTIC: 1-4
MONEY: $25.00-$50.00
14- Cryptic Crossword (from Section 9 “’Partying’ is such sweet…”)
Of course, this could be a regular Crossword Puzzle party, but when you throw in the cryptic twist, you’re in for a great time!! Most “Games” and crossword puzzle magazines have cryptic crossword puzzles in them. You can also find them online. Cryptic crossword puzzles don’t have your typical clues…the clues are riddles instead. I’ll give you an easy example that I made up…The Clue: Pal Scrambled Up A Mountain (3 letters) (it always lets you know how many letters the answer has). The Answer: Alp. The Explanation: The word “pal” can be “scrambled up” to spell a word that means “a mountain.” You want a tougher one? O.K, here goes…The Clue: Ana Takes Ira’s place In Miracle Restraint (7). The Answer: I’ll give you that answer and the explanation at the end of the blog. We’ve thrown this party a number of times. We combine 2 cryptic crossword puzzles, blow them up to fit on the wall (6’ X 12’), and make copies of the clues for each person to have. Usually there are a couple of people who don’t like to figure out the answers…we give them the answers so they can tell us if we’re right if we think we have it. When you’ve got 50 people eating munchies, drinking sodas, socializing, and putting on their brains, then you’ve got a whopper of a party!!
FUN: 4
ROMANCE: 1
MONEY: $0.00-$10.00
15- Community Education (from Section 8 “Romantic Differences”)
Taking classes together is a fun way to grow closer, plus you’ll have more in common with each other. Community education offers all kinds of classes: from Aerobics to Zoology. Or you could always find an enjoyable seminar or workshop that teaches something you’ve both wanted to learn about.
FUN: 4
ROMANCE: 1-4
MONEY: $25.00-$50.00
16- Cross-Dressers (from Section 1 “Dressing Up”)
Don’t get paranoid at the sound of this one. All I am saying is that if he dresses up like a woman and/or she dresses up like a man, you have the makings of an evening that you won’t soon forget. It might be educational, as well. For example: If she (dressed up like a man) drives during the date, opens his (dressed up like a woman) door(s) for “her,” extends “his” hands to “her,” and treats “her” the way she would want to be treated while as a real woman, then the real man might have some revelations on how to treat the woman in real life…and the girl might also learn a few things about being the guy and how to make it even better for him!!
FUN: 4
ROMANCE: 1-4
MONEY: $0.00-$10.00
17- River Run (from Section 3 “Let’s Have a ‘Ball’”)
This is a very taxing sport. You’ll be worn out after a few hours of river running…and that’s just the first day!! You’ll ache, you’ll smell, you’ll be hungry, you’ll be in heaven. River running brings you closer emotionally, too (if you’re both getting into it). It’s worth every second.
A lesser version of this would be inner tubing down a river (less time, less effort, less money)!!
FUN: 4
ROMANCE: 1-4
MONEY: $50.00 or more
18- Christmas/Hanukkah (from Section 2 “Holiday ’In’”)
The holiday’s listed above are gift giving events. And that is the gist of what this date is all about. People have their own traditions and rituals related to the celebration of these holidays and how and when to give each other the gifts, so either combine traditions from your pasts or make up new ones that you can call your own. Don’t do this date on Christmas or Hanukkah…do it in July…it’s better that way!!
FUN: 1-4
ROMANCE: 1-4
MONEY: $25.00-$50.00
19- The Zoo (form Section 4 “Town and Country ‘In’”)
This can be done in 2 ways. Either you can go ta a regular zoo, which is fun, in and of itself, OR you could make up a poll questionnaire and go from house to house in any chosen neighborhood, knock on the doors and ask the questions. After you leave the house, decide the kind of animal description that would best fit the person who you just polled. See if you can get all of the basic zoo animals (giraffe, elephant, orangutan, etc.)
FUN: 4
ROMANCE: 1
MONEY: $10.00-$25.00
20- The Planetarium (from Section 5 “Not Your ‘Run of the Mill’”)
Since the beginning of time, man has been gazing into the night skies with wonder and awe. We have come a long way in our knowledge of the universe, and most of that knowledge can be found at an observatory or at a planetarium. If you haven’t been there for a while, you’ll be surprised at the technological progress that has been made in just the last few years to bring you an incredible experience.
FUN: 4
ROMANCE: 1-4
MONEY: $10.00-$25.00
21- Trains (from Section 7 “Go For the Ride of Your Life”)
For many years, trains have been a source of travel and relaxation (even for transients). You got a bunch of different train types nowadays…you’ve got monorails, you’ve got Amtrak, you’ve got your old steam engines, and you’ve got your ells and subways. Whatever is in your neck of the woods, I recommend taking your date for a ride!! It’s enjoyable and it’s amusing… Visit places at each stop and get souvenirs…then get back on and snuggle while the train is heading to it’s next destination. The possibilities are endless.
FUN: 4
ROMANCE: 1-4
MONEY: It depends on the train, tram, or trolley…call ahead to know for sure.
That’s it for this edition of “Great Date Ideas!!” Tune in next time when I’ll give you 10 more great dating suggestions!!
#14 Cryptic Crossword Answer…The Answer: Manacle. The Explanation: The word “Miracle” holds the name “Ira” in it…if you replace the name Ira with “Ana,” you have a word that means “Restraint”
