by: Ann Bendis

After five years of twenty-two unexciting blind dates (including one guy who brought his wife with him) and more than sixty fiascos I managed to arrange myself, it was definitely time for me to reflect upon my dating situation. I was tired of being the third wheel and sick of being asked ?Have you met anyone yet? Because if you haven?t, I know someone.? The thrill of being able to get front row event tickets because I was only a party of one was also beginning to fade. I had also come to the conclusion that flying solo on a commercial airline meant that you were placed next to the second most undesirable person alive, myself ? being the first person of course. His or her undesirability was generally related, but not limited to, such disadvantageous traits as elephant obesity, the inability to sleep without assaulting others, and a lack of personal hygiene emphasized by an exorbitant amount of body fragrance. On the other hand, my only crime was merely being unattached.

I was pretty; I was smart. I deserved better, much better so I decided to come up with a no-risk game plan for meeting men. Obviously, my top priority was screening. No longer could I afford to waste my time, money, and efforts on a man with whom I was incompatible. At the same time, screening sounded so impersonal, so cold and calculating. I wanted to get to know men without all the usual pre-dating pressures, and I wanted them to have the same advantage with me. Most importantly, I wanted to make my own decisions, my own choices about the kind of guy I wanted in my life. For once I held all the answers, courtesy of my heart.

What kind of environment would provide me with this type of comfort? Friends and family had failed me countless time. Professional matchmakers didn?t know me as a person; they knew me as a huge lump sum. Finally a coworker suggested that I try Yahoo Personals! I was skeptical because I wondered about the sincerity of the people who placed the ads, but honestly, what did I have to lose? I was all caught up on my Law and Order episodes, and that Benjamin Bratt thing hadn?t worked out anyway. Because of a profound obsession with glass cleaner, I could clearly see through all the windows of my house, and my kitchen floor was definitely clean enough to serve as a plate.

Perhaps the only concern I had revolved around the potential danger to me, but then again, despite my dating disasters, I still considered myself to be a very intelligent person. I wasn?t the type to go out and meet a stranger in an isolated place nor would I give out all my personal information to the first person who emailed me. I would exercise caution and common sense by only agreeing to meet my potential Mr. Right at a heavily populated public place, and then that would only be after numerous emails and phone conversations.

What did I have to lose? Nothing.

I had so much to gain?my husband of four years this past August and two wonderful daughters.

About The Author (c) Ann Bendis Ann Bendis writes about online dating at http://www.LoveOnlineSecrets.com. ann@loveonlinesecrets.com