Be interested and interesting.

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Josh Aterovis"><B><IMG SRC="57fa77d0.jpg" border=0 width="167" height="125" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="news_and_events.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="News Events">News & Events</A></div> <div> <A HREF="novels__short_stories.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Writings">Writings</A></div> <div> <A HREF="order_books.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Order Books">Order Books</A></div> <div> <A HREF="blog.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Blog">Blog</A></div> <div> <A HREF="press_room.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Press Room">Press Room</A></div> <div> <A HREF="contact_the_author.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact the Author">Contact the Author</A></div> <div> <A HREF="art_gallery.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Art Gallery">Art Gallery</A></div> <div> <A HREF="resources_and_links.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Resources and Links">Resources and Links</A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Courier New" ><B>Josh Aterovis</B></FONT>     |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Josh Aterovis">home</A>     <A HREF="rules_of_gay_dating.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Rules of Gay Dating">Rules of Gay Dating</A></div> <div> <A HREF="be_honest.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Be honest.">Be honest.</A>   ·   <A HREF="know_who_attracts_you.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Know who attracts you.">Know who attracts you.</A>   ·   <A HREF="have_something_in_common.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Have something in common.">Have something in common.</A>   ·   <A HREF="know_your_expectations.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Know your expectations.">Know your expectations.</A>   ·   <A HREF="make_sure_you_have_chemistry.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Make sure you have chemistry.">Make sure you have chemistry.</A>   ·   <A HREF="have_a_plan.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Have a plan.">Have a plan.</A>   ·   <B>Be interested and interesting.</B>   ·   <A HREF="know_what_to_avoid_and_when_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Know what to avoid and when to bail.">Know what to avoid and when to bail.</A>   ·   <A HREF="dont_rush_it.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dont rush it.">Don't rush it.</A>   ·   <A HREF="have_fun.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Have fun!">Have fun!</A></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Be interested and interesting.</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="3d4ba050.gif" border=0 width="442" height="5" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> So you've figured out what you want, found the right guy or girl, and planned the perfect date. What happens next? Well, if you're a lesbian, you start packing your U-Haul. I kid! Several of my lesbian friends actually waited until the third date to move in together. See, the stereotypes really aren't true.</div> <bR> <div> No, the next step is, of course, the actual date. Which brings us to Rule #7: Be interested and interesting. It sounds so simple, doesn't it? But too often, we make the simple things much more complicated than they have to be.</div> <bR> <div> First, be interested. Show interest in your date. Ask questions about their interests, likes, and dislikes. Ask them questions about themselves: where did they grow up? What's the craziest thing that ever happened to them? Which Golden Girls character would they be? As they're talking, though, be conscious that you don't interrupt them every few seconds, and for the sake of all that is holy, don't try to one-up their stories. There's nothing more annoying than someone who's constantly trying to top you (no pun intended). If your date tells you about the time a horse stepped on their foot, don't respond with, "That's nothing! An elephant sat on me once!" Sure, the elephant thing makes for a great story, but maybe it's better to save it for another time.</div> <bR> <div> Second, be attentive. If you have ADD, be sure to take your Ritalin before the date. When your date is talking, keep your attention on him or her no matter what else is going on around you. It doesn't matter how boring they might turn out to be, try to stay focused. Don't glaze over or start looking around the room. That's just rude. Even if he's the most boring person on the face of the planet, you can survive one date.</div> <bR> <div> On the flip side of that, you have to be just as interesting when it's your turn to share. Try not to drone on about your comic book collection...unless your date is also a comic enthusiast, in which case, have at. I'm sure you have some witty or funny stories. If not, find common ground and talk about that. Do your best to balance questions about your date and telling him about yourself. You don't want to monopolize the conversation, but you do want your date to get to know you as well. Most importantly, though, keep it relaxed. Don't come prepared with a list of interview questions. It's a date, not an interrogation.</div> <bR> <div> Finally, avoid controversial topics on your first date. There's a reason why there's an old saying about how you shouldn't talk about politics and religion in polite conversation. Sure, maybe politics are important to you, but it can be an inflammatory subject. Better to save that for a later date. There's plenty of time for lively debate. As for religion, maybe you shouldn't mention your deeply held belief that Britney is a no-talent product of the corporate music world...unless you just want to see your fanatical date faint dead away at the dinner table — which admittedly could be fun if the date is clearly going nowhere anyway.</div> <bR> <div> Remember: Be interested, be attentive, and be interesting. You'll know if the magic is happening or not, and if the date is obviously going down in flames, there's always the elephant story. Until next time...Happy Dating!</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>