relationships

How Did You Like Our Date? Tell Me In A Detailed Survey!

Be My BF: Spreadsheet Guy
This guy made a spreadsheet of all his Match.com dates. Read More »
Online Dating No-Nos
Take these five phrases off your profile immediately! Read More »

Last month, we told you about the finance guy who catalogued and kept track of his online dates via spreadsheet. As someone who loves spreadsheets and enjoys organizing things, I kind of found this a neat trick. Now we bring you the story of a 24-year-old finance guy (it’s always finance guys) who has his dates fill out a survey at the end of the evening. In addition to ranking him based on looks, attitude and general enjoyability, survey takers are also asked this question: “Mike is very masculine; at any point did you feel he was compensating for anything?”

As if the survey wasn’t a clue that Mike might be “compensating” for “something.”

The full survey, linked to the outside world by one of Mike’s previous dates, is after the jump. Said the woman of her experience with the future census collector: “He struck me as a little socially inept hence why I was starting to doubt the ‘non-physical’ attraction. He wasn’t too creepy, just the type of guy who over-analyzes every detail and feels completely awkward in the majority of social situations. It didn’t seem like he got out much.” Keep reading »

“The Rules” Are Coming Back — And They’re Still Not Helpful

FWB Rules
Want a fuck buddy? Follow these six rules to ensure it's a success! Read More »
Tetris Dating Rules
Tetris is just one giant metaphor for life. Read More »
Texting Rules
What are the rules for texting? Read More »

For a period in 1995, women stopped calling men on the phone and approaching them in bars. The reason? The Rules, a bestselling dating advice book by Ellen Fein and Sherri Schneider. The book, which became a cultural flashpoint, encouraged women to adopt more old-fashioned rules about dating and relationships, like using an egg timer to limit phone calls to five minutes and never, ever sleeping with a guy on the first (or fifth) date. Though the book was popular enough to spawn several sequels, Fein and Schneider have mostly stayed out of the media in the new millennium. Until now. Their new book, Not Your Mother’s Rules, will be published in February 2013. Though the basic approach is still the same, they’ve updated their formula to include advice about texting, sexting, emailing, and (of course) online dating. Keep reading »

Girl Talk: My Grandma’s Vibrator Gives Me Hope

Masturbation Myths
Stupid misconceptions men have about the way women masturbate. Read More »
Grandma Dealbreaker
He brought his grandma on our date. Read More »
What Kind Of Vibe?
Find out which vibrator is right for you with this flowchart! Read More »

A decade ago, my grandmother, then 82, broke her hip. Her recovery involved a month in the hospital while she learned to walk comfortably again, a month that drove my mother, my grandmother’s sole caretaker, to the brink of insanity.

“I can’t go on,” she’d moan. “Calgon, take me away.”

Such was her constant refrain, and this was owing to the fact my grandmother’s behavior while infirm was impossible. Every half-hour my mother fielded a phone call from the hospital: “Bring me my robe! Different hand soap! Scotch tape!” she’d demand.

She’d be angry with a nurse or the limited food selection in the cafeteria, and the constant catering to such needs without nary a please or thank you? It was too much for one woman, my mother, to bear. Keep reading »

Hitched: Yes, I Kept My “Maiden Name”

What's In A Name?
hitched photo
Why there's no way in hell Andrea Grimes will change her name. Read More »

“So, should I be calling you something different now?”

The bartender at my local bar walked hurriedly over to my table last week as I sat with my 5 p.m. Hefeweizen, wrapping up the day’s work on my laptop. He looked genuinely worried that, when I’d walked into the bar, he’d somehow offended me by calling me what most of my favorite bartenders over the years have ended up calling me, which is: “Mizz Grimes!”

I don’t know why they’ve all tended to pick up “Mizz Grimes,” but they have, and I love it. It makes me feel fancy and Southern, and there’s something about the way Texas bartenders say “Graiihhhhmmmz” as they’re grabbing a Lone Star or a High Life out of the cooler that just sounds right.

It was the first time someone who didn’t know me well, but who did know that I’d gotten married last month, had asked me about changing my name. Keep reading »

Man Runs Against Estranged Wife For Political Seat Out Of Spite

Bad News Ex
Anne dumped her Italian boyfriend who turned out to be a fraud. Read More »
Worst Dads
michael lohan mug shot photo
The 7 worst celebrity dads. Read More »

Today, in d-baggery: Long Island man Mark Schimel is running for state Assemblyman. This wouldn’t a big deal, except that Schimel is running against his estranged wife Michelle (pictured), to whom he’s been married for the last 32 years. Michelle’s held the seat for the last three terms, and is running as a Democrat, so Schimel is naturally running against her on the Republican ticket. Keep reading »

7 Relationship Lessons From “Ice Loves Coco”

Coco's Clothing Line
It's totally Coco-licious. Read More »
Ice-T Wants A Backstory
He says his "Law & Order" character is lacking. Read More »
Well Played: Coco?!
Admit it: she looks amazing in this blue mini dress! Read More »

If you don’t watch “Ice Loves Coco” you might assume that Ice-T and his wife Coco have a shallow, reality show relationship. After all, he’s a rap star, she’s a voluptuous model; usually that combo doesn’t make for the most healthy and equal partnerships. But anyone who has watched “Ice Loves Coco” knows that these two crazy kids are actually the reality show exception: they have a genuinely solid relationship and have been married for over 11 years. As an avid fan of the show, I thought it might be helpful to compile some relationship tips I’ve learned from watching the show. Read on for seven love lessons from Coco and Ice-T that we should all take to heart… Keep reading »

The Geek Guide To Dating A Geek

I’ve been a self-identified nerd since I was 16, but I didn’t always date within my identity. I dated all kinds. Hipsters. Musicians. Wannabe hipsters. Bad musicians. My current boyfriend is a total nerd too, but I almost gave up on our relationship after our first date because he hadn’t read George Orwell’s 1984. (And he over-used exclamation points in his emails.)

Five years later, I’m so happy I didn’t let dystopian fiction and punctuation stand in the way of love. Here’s 5 rules for geek dating:

1. Don’t judge a geek by their fandom. If you’re a Trekkie, but you discover that the nerd you’re dating hasn’t even seen a clip of Star Trek on YouTube, don’t immediately guffaw. It will be your first reaction, because you can’t imagine your life without it. Instead, look at this as an opportunity to show a side of yourself to this person and share it with them.  Read more …

Girl Talk: The Harm In Labeling Someone “Harmless”

The Soapbox
Why "creep-shaming" is total BS. Read More »
Drunk Is A Feminist Issue
Why women everywhere should be concerned about binge-drinking. Read More »
Too Drunk?
If you're a drunk woman who gets raped, will you be taken seriously? Read More »

I just got back from a totally blissful six-day vacation in Tulum, Mexico, a quiet beach town about two hours from Cancun. I went alone. I’ve traveled solo (i.e. not in the company of a friend, boyfriend, or family member) before, but always as part of an organized group. This trip was the first time I was traveling alone without built-in activities and social opportunities. It was wonderful. I really enjoy my own company and loved having the freedom to do whatever I wanted — including nothing. But as a single woman traveling alone to a foreign country, I also knew I needed to be cautious and mindful of my safety. I took cabs at night if the area I was going to wasn’t well-lit, I locked my cabana door tight at night even though the ocean breeze would have cooled things down, and I kept a watchful eye on my drink at all times. Keep reading »

Dating Don’ts: Putting A Moratorium On Beating Yourself Up

Dating Don'ts: Negging
Just say no to negging! Read More »
Dating Don'ts: In Bed
Never say these things to a man in bed. Read More »
Dating Don'ts: Ghosting
Thou shalt not ghost your love interests. Read More »

“You’re really mean to yourself,” my friend said after I’d finished listing all the ways I’d messed up a date with a guy I really liked. What did I do that I found so unacceptable? Here’s the list:

1. I didn’t offer to pay. I always offer to pay, but then I feel resentful because I don’t really want to pay and I want the guy to decline my offer, so I was just trying to experiment with letting myself feel treated. But now he probably thinks I’m using him and just in it for a free meal!

2.I botched the kiss goodnight moment. He went in for the kiss and I kissed him on the cheek, then gushed about what a great time I had to overcompensate for the missed kiss, then jumped out of his car. Because I wanted to kiss him, but I also wanted to take it slow, but I was nervous, and could I have been more horribly awkward?!

3. I talked about an ex. Absolutely unforgivable!!! Why, why, why did I do this??? Keep reading »

12 Facebook Friends You Should Keep Because They’re So Much Fun To Stalk

FB Friend Dealbreakers
These Facebook infractions will get you unfriended. Read More »
Facebook Stalker?
5 signs that you're a Facebook stalker. Read More »
Facebook ruins self-esteem
A new study confirms it. Read More »

I use Facebook primarily for three reasons: To chat with my family members who live out of state, to share links of animals doing stupid cute things and occasionally, to stalk. I’m not talking about stalking exes, I’m not into that at all. I usually hide or unfriend them within moments of the breakup. I’m no masochist and looking at exes makes you feel like crap. I only engage in fun stalking. The kind that makes me feel good about myself. I like to creep on FB friends that I should probably unfriend. I just can’t because I enjoy following their every virtual move so much. After the jump, the Facebook friends you really should keep just for the hell of it. Keep reading »