Tag Archives: attraction

What Makes a Bad Kiss a “Bad Kiss?”

Since so many readers jumped on the comment bandwagon on my Facebook feed about the bad kisser post, I thought a follow-up post on what constitutes a “bad kiss” would be appropriate. In my opinion, in no particular order:

  1. Excess slobber. If a towel or spittoon are needed for clean up after a kiss… there’s not likely to be another.
  2. Belief in adage “the more tongue, the better.” Please know in advance: yes, I still have tonsils and my wisdom teeth have been removed…you really don’t need to double check. Thank you.
  3. The Mamma Bird/Baby Bird Technique: Please refrain from opening hatch and waiting for me to deposit something. I might be tempted to get a worm from the bait shop just to see if that’s what you’re looking for.
  4. Blood. Any blood drawn and you get sent back over to the Vampire Academy for more lessons.
  5. Back pats or dry, hard lip pecks — nothing says “kissing my brother” (unless we’re talking Hilary Swank) more than that kind of body language.
  6. No Kiss at all. If you’re trying to skip the kiss ala “Pretty Woman,” I won’t be giving you the green card to move along to the other activities at which you are so obviously aiming.
  7. Face licking. Ewwww. Not even my dog thinks face licking is cool.
  8. Weird clicking or popping sounds that make me think you might be trying to imitate Larvell Jones in the Police Academy movies.
  9. Bad breath or body odor. Yup, I’m one of the finicky people.
  10. Lizard Kissing. I’m not a huge reptile fan so, in my book, the kiss is over quicker the faster the flicker.
  11. Mashing. If I’m worried about tooth chips or losing the top 3 layers of skin to stubble, I’ll skip the call to my dentist and dermatologist by avoiding further opportunities with a masher.
  12. Sucker Fish Kissing. If I’m worried about having hickeys on my cheek the next day, you are so done.
  13. Passivity. If you are about as responsive as a pillow, I’ll send you to casting for the next young adult movie featuring the joys of abstinence.
  14. The Air Block. Please make sure I can continue to breathe.

I’d love to hear about what you think makes a kiss “bad” or “good” so please comment away! And note that yes, I know that kissing is a personal preference thing. This list contains my personal preferences and I understand that you could find all of the above totally sexy. (However, if you do, please refrain from asking me out.)

Playing with Fire Makes for Nasty Burns

It started as something a bit naughty and perhaps forbidden. Oh the delight as butterflies danced in your tummy… when to see this delicious specimen of humanity again? Hard to keep your hands off each other. Definitely a challenge to not pass too much emotion right along with that sample of the wine in your glass. Sighs, giggles and lingering looks as you part. Loving the chemistry and excitement. You have no idea why you crave this person so much…

And when you close the door behind you, you know you’ve got to end it. That beyond all shadow of a doubt, this is NOT a good relationship for you. For whatever reason… you don’t have the same beliefs, he can be somewhat mean when your friends aren’t around, she’s dating another guy (and has been — seriously — for years), your kids HATE him, she’s an unrepentant addict, you only like each other when rolling around in the sheets… whatever the reason, you know that you’re spending time with someone who’s not your Mr. or Ms. Right.

You may not be able to explain to your body that you’ve got to end it once and for all, but your mind is all on board.  Continue reading

Hooking Up v. Intimacy: Mutually Incompatible?

Can a lifestyle of “hooking up” lead to true intimacy?

This seems to be the water cooler topic for the week… lust, hook ups, intimacy, twuuuuueeee wuuuuvvvv. Our dating culture tries to support all models of “finding love” but I’m kind of wondering which ones would really lead to something satisfying. In the spirit of transparency (coming up in a few paragraphs,) I’ll admit to a bias on my part. I’m a Christian. Lots of the wisdom in this blog comes from what God has taught me about living life in a loving and honest manner. Not the easiest path, but its certainly been a rewarding one. And when it comes to finding love… I’ve been just as prone to looking in all the wrong places as the next person — if I’m not careful. Which brings us to today’s topic, can love and intimacy exist side by side with hook ups and casual sex? Continue reading

How To Not Mess It Up

Incredible! You’ve met someone you actually want to go out with again… and again. Don’t panic. Just because you messed up the last few does not mean you have to mess it up again. Take a deep breath, remember that you’re a catch that anyone would want to bring home to mom and read on…

A really hot, single guy friend of mine suggested this topic and actually led with a few salient points that I thought were so good… I decided to leave them as is. 

1. Slow down the physical and build the anticipation.
2. Keep your commitments to work, friends & plans. 
3. Don’t spend every minute with the person (even though you may want to)
4. Explore common interests but be true to what you actually like to do. Don’t “go along” just to please your person. Yoga, Watching sports, Camping – you will be miserable and a horrible date. Killing their fun and making them resent you.
5. Stay committed to your goals, not just your new relationship.
6. Introduce to your friends, family when appropriate. This can catch a bad decision early.
7. Explore values, life plans, thoughts on kids, etc. early and be brutally honest about what you want. Whatever you step over now will be the reason you break up later…after you invested (or wasted) 2 years of your life.

I know… easier said than done (especially that first one) but these are all great guidelines to keep in mind when you find yourself in a situation that you might deem a “keeper.” I try to keep this rule of thumb in mind at all times: “What you do to catch a person is what you have to do to keep a person.” So, if you change yourself to suit each partner that comes along… you may have a bit of a mess on your hands when you want to go back to “being yourself.”

Most people consider this a topic where the more wisdom, the better. So please add any ideas you may have uncovered in your dating journeys!

Turning Inner Geek into Geek Chic

Unless you are super cool chic and addicted to all that is plastic and trendy, the likelihood of you having a bit of inner geek is pretty high. Come to think of it, some people would count an obsession with trends to be a bit geek as well. I guess that just means that all of us have something a little “uncool” hidden deep within or perhaps proudly sported on the surface. Even Ken and Barbie. I mean really — can we talk anatomical anomalies?

You all know I’m pretty opinionated about non-game-playing and authentic behavior when it comes to dating. And yes, at times you pay for it by losing a game-player or by revealing something to someone that may be a deal-breaker for them. But I hear a lot more stories about people falling in love with someones quirks, peccadilloes or the person behind the masks when they finally get over their fear and reveal the beautifully flawed gem within.

For those readers who have embraced the inner geek and turned it chic… bravo! You may feel free to skip reading this post and move on to another article that may seem a bit more relevant. But for the people maybe hiding something “uncool” from dates and mates or reluctant to just be fully transparent, read on…

Continue reading

How to Resolve Multilingual Dating: You speak text, I speak phone.

While in D.C. a few weeks back, Washington Post’s staff writer Monica Hesse approached me for some feedback about the impact of various forms of communication on today’s dater. The finished product hit the wire today.

She quotes me on page 3 talking about how those of us in our 30′s (and in my opinion early 40′s) are hit the hardest with the technology woes of dating due to the fact that some have stuck with traditional communication methods (phone and in-person), some have adopted a hybrid of old and new and others are on the vanguard of all that’s new and shiny (social networking, Twitter, skype, text and the like.) It can be confusing, frustrating and at times detrimental for a dater to stick hard and fast to one form of communication and refuse all comers who don’t adopt that approach. There are some simple guidelines that may help you navigate the flow, but the best rule of thumb is still the Golden one… treat others as you would want to be treated. 

By developing flexibility and ease within the different forms of communication, you can Continue reading

Avoid the First Date Let Down

I’m realizing that the busier my schedule gets and the wiser I become in the ways of dating — online and otherwise — that long, drawn out bouts of emailing and calling without ever meeting can really create an interesting phenomenon. A house of cards built on a foundation of air.

Not only does your romantic stranger “know” more about you than you mother thanks to all those emails and wistful, late night calls… you don’t even know if any real potential exists with this person. That magic “C” word: chemistry. The person may not look like their photos or even remotely live up to the picture of charm, charisma and faux-love you have built up in your heart for this virtual stranger. They may not even smell right when it comes right down to it.

So what do you do when the build up just doesn’t match up? Continue reading

How to be more emotionally low maintenance

If you’ve read my post on the definition of “high maintenance,” you know that I don’t think its always a bad thing to be considered “high maintenance.” The difficulties arrive when it emotionally harpoons another person into either meeting your (lets be honest — somewhat excessive) needs or walking on egg shells while trying to please you.

Expecting to be treated with respect and attention = good idea. Expecting slavish service to your desires = not so much.

Some signs that you might be emotionally “high maintenance:” Continue reading

Looking for a True Partner

My married friends are usually busy running around after their 2.5 kids, a dog or three and chauffeuring between soccer, dance and school all while trying to keep the house neat, the bills paid and work rolling in on time. Its not a recipe that lends itself towards having time to sit leisurely with a single friend and shoot the breeze. However, when one of my new mom friends invited me over to share in the chaos of a two year old, a new baby and life in the mommy lane… she imparted a valuable piece of wisdom that deserves more air time than just rolling around in my brain.

As she and her hubby swapped kids because her new baby was fussing for some food and the two year old wanted to play outside, she and I settled into the couch to steal a few moments of friend time and catch up. Eventually, the conversation rolled around to my dating life and I updated her on the latest. She looked at me really seriously and asked, “What do you really want in a mate?” We go deep, so I’m used to thinking “deep thoughts” on the fly with her, but this one made me pause. I couldn’t just roll off the top 3 characteristics that are my must-haves, after all… she’s already heard them. She was asking for more. After a moment of silence, I looked at her and said, “What you and K have. The flexibility, care and way you serve one another without making it a big deal. Something like that…” She looked at me seriously (over the baby’s head) and said, “You want a partner.” 

This isn’t a surprise to anyone who knows me. I’ve been telling people for years that I’m looking for a “partner.” But I don’t think I’d ever really seen it in action until I got the opportunity to observe my friend’s marriage that day. There was something so sweet about seeing them work with each other even on something so simple (and yet complicated in the life of new parents) as giving her somewhat uninterrupted time to spend with a good friend on a busy Sunday afternoon.

We talked further about the partnership thing and she shared with me what she values in the relationship she’s found with her husband. She said something along the lines of;

Kelli, I never was one to really base my dating decisions around looks or superficial things, but I found something precious in K. He’s a true partner. On the days when everything is going nuts and we’re all going different directions or feeling like there’s too much for two adults to reasonably accomplish, I know that I can count on him to not bail out or think of himself first. He looks at how he can serve and share in the responsibility and that makes all the difference in the world.”

I could care less if he’s ‘hot’ when the baby’s crying, I’m exhausted and the house is a mess. But I care a lot that he thinks of how to help and then acts on it. Its great that I’ve always been attracted to him, but that has grown in the years we’ve been together instead of decreased and that’s all because of his willingness to be my ‘partner.’ So look for the true partner when you are dating… the one who looks for ways to put the health of your relationship before his own selfish desires. That’s the guy to hold onto.

When you really think about it, how often do you truly put “partner” at the top of the list? Before the “attraction” or “earning capacity,” “smarts or “humor?” I mean, would you be happy with someone who engages in witty repartee with you but doesn’t offer to take over when you’ve had 13 hours straight of crying baby and desperately need a break? Or perhaps a high roller who brings in bank but has no idea how to share life with someone?

When (and if) marriage crosses your mind… what are the top things you look for in a mate and do your dating actions really reflect your stated priorities? It really made me think…

Why Didn’t He Call?

Scene: Anyplace where two interested parties are inspired to exchange contact information.

Situation: Boy asks girl for number. Girl gives boy correct number. Boy says “I’ll call you.” Girl waits many days for boy to call. Boy never calls.

So many answers for this question… and girls ask it constantly: ”Why didn’t he call?”

Please don’t read this as me saying the not calling is alright, I’m a big believer in doing what you say you’re going to do. But some of the funnier reasons I’ve heard girls use to excuse the delinquent behavior include things like:

  • What if he got in a wreck and flirts with death in the hospital? (If so, he’s not likely going to want to see the girl he randomly met out at the bar last week… just sayin…)
  • Maybe he lost my number or entered it in wrong on his phone so I should track him down… (And do you really want to go track down some guy who can’t even be bothered to double check with you to see if he got your number right?)
  • I think my friends scared him off and now he’s afraid to call because they teased him all night so I’d better call and let him know I really am still interested. (Ummm, yeah. That’s exactly what happened.)
  • His fingers could be broken and he became suddenly deaf and mute… (yes, this one tivos her soap operas for repeat viewings)
  • Maybe I should find him on facebook in case he lost his phone/charger and can’t get in touch with me. (If he really wanted to find you… don’t you think this would have already occurred to him?)

Well, you get the picture. Some pretty funny things go on in the mind of a waiting girl. Here’s the deal ladies. After traveling around the country, interviewing guys and girls — one thing comes across loud and clear from the men out there… if they don’t call you, they aren’t interested. Yes, it sucks and you want to know why they bothered getting your info in the first place if they didn’t plan to call. They have no good answer to that question, but here are some of the reasons offered up:

  • They don’t want to hurt your feelings and think not calling is the answer to that. (As if waiting in vain for a promised call is any better) Any number of reasons could have come up between getting your number and deciding not to call but the key thing to remember: they are deciding not to call.
  • They actually don’t remember meeting you because they were too intoxicated/met too many women that night/were just on a hunt for numbers/etc. These guys would legitimately look at you in confusion if you did manage to track them down because you simply did not make a huge impact. Key to remember: they don’t remember you enough to call.
  • They simply don’t care that you await a phone call, they don’t feel like calling.
  • Many guys think that asking for your number is a good way to exit the conversation but aren’t really interested in taking it further than the initial conversation. Key to remember: You aren’t likely to convince them to look beyond their first impression, so just let it go.

It doesn’t matter if they ooogled and googled over you. They could have claimed that you were the love of their life. They could have even convinced you to come home with them. But if they don’t call… they just aren’t interested. I’m sorry. The chances of them being laid up and dying in the hospital are extremely slim and if he comes out of it and wants to see you… you WILL hear from him.

This goes for the one and done. Or several dates and fizzle. If a guy wants to be with you, he will make the effort to be with you. If he isn’t interested in anything more than the time you’ve already exchanged with him, he won’t take it further.

This is actually great news when you think about it because that means the guys who DO make the effort, DO want to be with you. Its a great sorting tool if you can take your pride out of the equation and be clear eyed about the situation. My mom gave me solid advice when going into college rush (I know, I know… I went to a southern school – give me a break! But, its a lot like dating when you think about it)… she reminded me that not every house was going to like me and if they did, I wasn’t being true to myself. Looking back on it, she was right. If I’d pleased every house from the peace-loving nature girls to the high maintenance country club party girls… I would have lost myself in the process. Same with dating. Not every guy is going to like you EVEN IF HE ASKS FOR YOUR NUMBER. So be glad he’s not calling and open yourself up to the guy who is.

p.s. to my libby readers who think its silly to wait for a guy to call and just go ahead and call him yourself. It all depends on what you want — if you are looking for a guy to lead and pursue, you’ve got to let him. If you want to be the hunter/gatherer in the relationship, then definitely pick up that phone! If you want equal partnership… it can come from both ways — its more up to what you do IN the relationship than who starts it.