Rules for Dating Jenn

This is a little something I wrote a few months back after talking to a several completely clueless men in a row. I'd had it. We all know dating is hard, but some of the stuff I've seen in the last few years is just plain ridiculous. I think I'm going to start compiling more of my thoughts on dating and sharing some of my crazy experiences here. Let me know what you think.

The Really Old Rules for Dating Jenn
Be breathing and own a guitar.

The Old Rules for Dating Jenn
Be breathing, have a job, a car and a place to live. Preferably do not have a guitar, but it’s ok if you do – as long as you have a day job too.

The New Rules for Dating Jenn
Please don’t text message me all day long, especially before we’ve even met. This tells me that you must not be very busy at work or you don’t have a job (aka, you’re not successful) and it tells me that you have absolutely no regard for how busy my workday is. It starts out cute, but becomes annoying very quickly. Now don’t read this and say, “Whoopee! I don’t have to communicate with her!” Just take into consideration that I have a life and an identity too. I promise to reciprocate.

If you’re interested in someone, do some research – find a couple of things that might be fun to do. Have some ideas of what you want to do when you call them! If you’re new in town, look around online or drive around beforehand or even ask some friends or co-workers where good date places are! Always present me with an idea or two. Women love this. Give us options, we will tell you what we really want to do! Those options can be as simple as meeting at a specific place for coffee or making plans to have dinner at a specific place. DO NOT ask the girl, “Where should we go?” If money is an issue, find something free to do. There are TONS of free things to do out there, be creative!

The next step is to call me (no, don’t ask me in a text) and ask me out on a proper date. This does not mean that you have to spend a lot of money. What women want is for a guy to put some effort into it! It shows that you really, truly like them. If we see that you don’t put effort into it, well, that’s a good sign that you’re: just not that into us like the book says, that you’re just looking for one thing and that we’re just one of many women you are keeping in the cue and we’re not special. Women want to feel special.

Do not send me a photo of your genitalia over IM, email or cell phone. That’s just plain DUMB. Do you really want pictures of you like that out in the universe? Once a woman gets the photo, she could do anything with it, like say, email it to your employer. Not that I’ve ever done that myself. (And in case anyone is wondering - YES, men have sent me pics, unsolicited of their genitalia. It's unbelievable!)

If you need to break a date for any reason, CALL ME and let me know. I won’t care what the reason is, trust me, I would much rather be cancelled on than be stood up.

Do not lie and say you are 6’3” when you’re barely 5’3”. Again, it’s just dumb. And you wouldn’t want me to lie to you about my appearance, would you?

Don’t ask me my bra size. I won’t even let the professional bra fitters at Lane Bryant measure me to be sure I’m wearing the right size. Why would I tell you? They’re big, ok. And even if they weren’t, why do you need to know the size? So you can tell your buddies? If you appreciate them, show it, when appropriate and if it’s ok with me, but don’t ask about them!