Five Sites and No Cigar

Online dating.  Love it or hate it, the phenomenon brings a sense of curiosity with it. Even those who never thought they would be into "that sort of thing" have found themselves perusing dating sites hoping to find their paramour.  Some *cough, cough* have drifted to numerous sites (try five) to see what they have to offer.  Hey, a gal can't call herself a dating guru without doing her research.

Overall, I think the logic behind online dating is solid. You like a profile for a number of reasons - the person has similar taste in music, you both love the great outdoors, or they are just plain hot. You communicate back and forth with potentials.  My super logical bestie came up with a theoretical calculation for choosing mates...and it worked!  She is now happily tied down from her romp with online dating.  But that approach doesn't work for everyone.

First, let's start with opening lines.  Some people are great at it.  Others aren't.  And then there are those that are downright offensive:

Riiight... because "Hello, how are you" just won't get the job done.

Once the conversation gets rolling, communication becomes a lot easier.  You get to learn more about the other person (i.e. how much inner crazy they have).  It is also possible to gauge whether chemistry exists between the two of you.  Next comes the phone number exchange.

Typically text messages follow online interactions.  If a fellow has the chutzpah to call you, give him a brownie point or two!  A majority of the guys I have met (whether online or in person) prefer texting over talking.  Even after mentioning that talking on the phone is preferable, they continued to text *mental eye roll*. That's not even reading the tea leaves wrong...it's just plum laziness.  In any event, if he continues to pass the ink blot test and all is well, a first date ensues.

Coffee dates are great first, semi-blind date venues. I mean the best.  They are great for conversation.  You don't have to worry about getting food stuck in your teeth (unless, of course, you order food).  And they can be cut short easily if things go south.  No waiting around for the other person to eat, or the waitress moving at a snail's pace to bring back the check.  Nope.  Coffee is usually paid for at the time of service.  If something "suddenly" comes up, and you need to bolt, go for it. 

As you can see, I've developed sort of a roadmap here.  Experiences vary for everyone.  However, this is a pretty spot on template...and it just doesn't work for me.  I find that I like chemistry to develop organically.  Online dating feels forced...like there's some sort of an expectation for me to open my legs, get married next week, or both.  Coming up, I will give a detailed review of all five dating sites that I've tried - leaving no stone unturned.

Have you had success with online dating?  Let us know about it in the comments!

Because I Love This S***

Tonight I had a great time with two fantastic women.  Initially, a group of us planned to go out for a night of man bashing & martinis.  Our gathering morphed into an intimate dinner when our other guests couldn't make it.  After exchanging pleasantries, we immediately got down to business - dating stories.  The good, the bad, the men wearing thongs...

You name it, we talked about it.  We laughed, joked, and damn near choked.  As we went on and on, it reminded me why I started Smooching Frogs.  This is a safe haven for all women.  A place they can come and feel understood and appreciated for who they are, flaws and all.  A place they can visit after a horrible date and say, "OMG, I'm glad it's not just me."

Yes, tonight was a special night indeed.  It reignited the fire that resonated within me when I started SF two years ago.  I wanted to title this post something deep, reflective, and poetic.  But you know what?  I do it because I love this shit.  Period

Movie Review: Whitney

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...or should I say Whitney and Bobby.

Angela Bassett made her directorial debut in the Lifetime biopic Whitney which premiered this past weekend.  Yaya Decosta, runner up on season three of America's Next Top Model, portrayed the late songstress.  The movie spanned five years of Whitney Houston's life when she was at the height of her career.

Yaya did an excellent job playing Whitney. I believed her.  I saw a young, strong-willed woman who found herself in a very lonely place - the top.  She met someone whom she connected with, and made her feel special.  Whitney's youthful innocence and charitable contributions were highlighted, as well as her excessive drug use.  In my opinion, I don't think one overshadowed the other.  I hope this leads to more major roles for Yaya!

Whitney focused largely on Houston's relationship with Bobby Brown (played by Arlen Escarpeta). It is no secret that the pair had a tumultuous relationship that many contribute to her downfall.  Bobby is often credited with ruining her career and turning her into, well, a mess.  Online reviews that I have read say the movie is "pro-Bobby".  I beg to differ. 

Bobby came across as a douche.  Ms. Bassett did a superb job of contrasting his douchy behavior (impregnating his ex, telling Whitney he had plenty of girls when Eddie Murphy made him feel insecure, being caught in bed with another woman, etc...) by showing instances when he supported Whitney (canceling his tour to be by her side when she had a miscarriage while filming "The Bodyguard").  She humanized Bobby, and showed how someone like the great Whitney Houston could fall for "the bad boy from the projects". 

Let's have a real moment ladies.  We all know someone who has been involved in an intense, drama filled relationship.  Family members and friends warn them, but to no avail.  Emotion and passion replace good old fashioned logic and common sense.  Whitney Houston was a talented, self-assured woman who loved hard.  She had her demons...don't we all?  The movie demonstrated Bobby perpetuating, not creating them.

Overall, I give Whitney a solid B/B+.  Of course, in the world of biopics, I have The Jacksons: An American Dream to compare it to (smile, wink).  Angela Bassett did a great job of tastefully telling Whitney's story while still being honest.  She chose subtle nuances to allow viewers to draw their own conclusions as opposed to melodramatic twists and turns that we have become accustomed to with reality TV (alright...there were some of those too). Ms. Bassett almost made me forgive LIfetime for letting Wendy Williams (with her messy @$$) botch Aaliyah's biopic...almost.

S/n: speaking of the Aaliyah biopic, it occurred to me that I would have preferred the movie's ending to have the little guy from Fantasy Island shouting, "Hey Boss. De plane, de plane."  Then I could have written it off as a bad comedy. 

Too much?  Ok. I stop now.

What are your thoughts on Whitney?  Yay or nay?

Hello, World!