Paging Cupid

I am still alive, I swear.

Today's topic, online dating.

The whole thing can be more than a little frustrating. Everything we're taught as children is that there is someone out there for us. One day our prince will come. Well, Prince Charming carries a BlackBerry and there is an app for that.

And who can blame us for going out there and trying to find someone? We're a technology dependent culture. Match.come and eHarmony are regular commercial spots while we enjoy our primetime television. If you haven't been on a dating site yourself (or several), you know at least two people who have ventured into the world of online dating. And you can add me to that list as well.

I'm not a going to the bars to find someone type of girl. I've tried to find a guy in a bookstore.... and let me tell you that every romantic comedy that claims it's possible was lying. At least for me. So I joined a site shortly after moving into my current apartment. OKCupid. I went on several first dates and never a second. It's not that I'm terribly picky but there are certain things I don't tolerate on first dates... lying, groping, clinging to me worse than a koala... Simple, right? I've been on the online dating scene for over two years and I've gotten no where. I even tried a few other sites, ones for Catholics, for writers, even one for Mac enthusiasts, and found nothing more than first dates or creepers who wanted to sleep with me and nothing else.

So we have had to adjust our dating rules. (Not our standards, but the rules.... Class is always a wonderful accessory and never forget it.) That's where those fateful little words come into play and where things become confusing. If he's not into you, he's not going to string you along with text messages and emails every single day. But where does physical contact come into play? Heck, some days, I wouldn't be against a phone call, though, truthfully, I'm not very charming on the phone. But that isn't the point. The point is, we can become too involved too quickly without a clear path ahead.

And I'm not talking about the path that leads to the altar. I wouldn't mind a path that lead to a second date, to talking to someone who didn't make me want to scream in frustration. After two and half years of online dating, I was done. Or so I thought. A friend of mine went on a date with someone she'd met online. And I thought I would give OKCupid one more chance. Before my profile was even completed, I had messages in my inbox. Men wanting to get to know and find out more about what made me tick. Something that has bothered me was the ones who always said things that made them think they knew me. If we haven't had a conversation, guess what? You have no idea who I am and what I think.

Well, I might have found a different one. At least, I hope so. Constant emails and text messages in my inbox and I'm smiling like a twelve year old with a crush. And that's what it is. We have met in person, which was nice, but here I am, waiting for date number two. And I have so many questions and I feel more than a little confused by this charming young man and hoping that I'm not heading for a delusional sunset.

If the rules have changed when it comes to dating due to the internet's matchmaking websites, when do those rules get replaced by the more traditional ones. Is he supposed to pay for the first date or do we go dutch? Am I supposed to wait for him to propose a second date? When does this relationship actually start and is it a relationship?

Having someone that you like and who seems to like you back is just as frustrating as being alone. It's amazing people get married at all some days. Anyone have Cupid's number? I think I need to text him...