Is he Mr. Right?

Every Friday night, single women launch the weekend hunt for Mr. Right. What's amazing is that many of them pass Mr. Right every day in the office or while out walking the dog after work.

He's as likely to be at your gym, shopping in your grocery store or standing in line at your favorite movie theatre as he is hanging around the singles mingle hour at some local bar.

Since it's hard to find him, let's look at the alternatives:

Mr. Right Here is the guy who is handy. He works in your department or lives in your apartment complex. He might be the nice neighbor of your best friend. You've seen him so often that he blends into the scenery.

He's not pushy or forward and never comes at you with stupid pick up lines. He's so nice that you immediately think there must be something wrong with him. But there's not. He's simply a nice guy, hard working and not trying too hard.

Mr. Right Now is the guy who's asking you out for dates regularly. He wants to spend time with you, but you aren't captivated by him. Finally, you look around and see all of your girlfriends with boyfriends, so you decide to hang onto him.

After all, you don't want to be the last girl left standing alone on the sidelines - and he's happy just to be with you. You might actually like him if you weren't using him for a prop to make you look popular while you scan the room for something better.

Mr. Right for Them is the guy that everyone is certain is right for you. He's the son of your parents' friends and they've conspired several times so that you could meet him. He might be the college roommate of your best friend's husband and they think he's a wonderful guy.

It's possible that he's a new member of the tennis club and your friends shuffle the foursome list so you can play doubles, hoping that the action extends beyond the court. Basically, you're getting so much "help" from others that you aren't sure if you really like him or if you're trying to please other people who care about both of you.

Mr. Right But is the guy that could be perfect, but there's some impediment that you aren't sure will work. Maybe he's a divorced single father with custody of two small children. You aren't even sure you want children and certainly not a ready-made family with instant motherhood.

He might have a job with extensive world travel or he's in the military and could be stationed in hazardous locations for months at a time. He could be a great guy, but he just doesn't fit your fairytale story - instead of the tall, handsome prince, he's barely your height and prematurely balding.

So where is Mr. Right? Before you answer, "I don't know," take a look around - an honest look. Do you see Mr. Right Here, Mr. Right Now, Mr. Right for Them or Mr. Right But? You might take a second look. One of them could be your Mr. Right who is waiting for you to see him for what he really is.

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Romantic date idea

Dating on the Internet can put two people together of similar financial backgrounds, or pair one frugal soul up with someone who's used to extravagant spending.

Before you and potential partner decide to meet up and introduce yourself face to face, consider the best options you have to mapping out your first date and overcoming the jitters that lie ahead.

Creativity always delivers a good first impression. If both of you are on a budget, and going Dutch, then you may want to take a fairly frugal approach. That could mean spending your day on a picnic at the park, having a nice walk along the beach, or even inviting the other person over for a home cooked meal.

If you're adventurous, you may want to visit a theme park and ride the thrilling rides in between trying your best to win an overstuffed animal for the person you found on an online dating site to take home.

Movies used to be a cheap option for online dating firsts, and in comparison, they still are. But in some parts of the country, a movie can get pretty pricey if you plan on devouring items from the concession stand and go when the prices are not matinee-friendly. If the two of you are fans of the arts, you can visit a museum for next to nothing and enjoy the adult atmosphere.

If you can afford to splurge a bit more, then consider going to a professional sporting event or concert together as your first date. There's plenty of action that eases your need to continue the conversation, but also lots of opportunities to allow you to have fun and get to know one another.

Having dinner can be a great way to break the ice, and you can choose a restaurant to meet at that won't break the bank, but will make a good first impression with your online dating match.

Believe it or not, there are many matches made on Internet dating sites where the pair want to live life to its fullest, sparing no expense - even for their first date! If this fits you perfectly, why not plan a trip to Paris or another part of the world?

If thrill-seeking is more your cup of tea, you could parachute or scuba dive, take a tourist ride in a helicopter over the city, or try your luck in Vegas as a big spender. Some couples even attempt to climb a huge mountain as a way to bond the first time they meet. Dating on the Internet can provide couples with a true insight into each other's deepest dreams, so why not cater to the personality of our prospective mate and go all out?

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Even in the offline world, you can't trust some people to be who they say they are. But is the online dating scene even worse in attracting men and women who are married but secretly seeking others for extra-marital affairs?

While men are typically typecast as being the louts in this kind of arrangement, they're not the only perpetrators. Some women are seeking partners at online dating sites as a security measure against being alone in between partners.

But for the most part, online dating site participants are genuine people who are single and seeking the perfect match for their love life. Most of the despicable people who are married and straying go to websites devoted to playing the field while taken, so there's not as much danger encountering these individuals on a single online dating site.

Still, it could happen. If you don't take precautions to get to know someone before taking things too far, then there maybe those who accuse you of playing a part in the adulterous relationship.

Don't be willing to just accept someone's profile as gospel. You need to get to know your online dating prospects before agreeing to meet with them or engage in any romantic relationships.

Sometimes, love moves more quickly on the 'net, so you have to protect yourself against the possibility that the other party isn't being completely up front about who they are or what they're seeking.

You don't want to be plagued by guilt and shame that ensues when you find out you've been the unwitting accomplice in a triangle of love with your online dating partner that the other person's spouse knows nothing about.

If you discover someone you're interested in has been playing the virtual field while still tied down to someone in the offline world, then you need to abruptly end the discussions and move on to someone who was more forthright in their disclosure of who they are and their marital status.

Some bloggers are taking adulterers who use online dating sites to task, accusing them of violating the unsuspecting party's Constitutional Rights and making it more than just an ethical or moral dilemma.

Make sure you ask questions and notice anything unusual in the prospect's demeanor. And most importantly, recognize that even if it happens to you, these people are in the minority, and don't represent the majority of the online dating pool.

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You might even have the guts to post your profile and then find yourself frustrated because when you give match-making a shot, others turn you down because you don't live up to their demands, expectations, or desires right off the bat.

You almost have to have thick skin when you start posting your profile on online dating sites because it can sometimes cause people to be less sensitive than they would be if you'd met them in person.

Still, thousands of people are finding that one true love on the Internet, and it's worth learning the ropes before you sign up at any dating site so that you'll know the game before you go in and not get upset if you run into a few shallow people here and there.

You shouldn't lower your expectations, but anyone who has a set list of demands before dating someone will surely find themselves disappointed. If you met Mr. or Mrs. Right on the street, you wouldn't have a tip sheet of their profile to read before you said "hi" and discovered the spark underlying your conversations. Yet for some reason, some people reserve the right to refuse an online prospect if their list of characteristics isn't checked off perfectly first.

Do you really want someone who has essential qualities in a mate, or is it preferable to find someone who is open to loving you exactly as you are? The dismissing process can be abrupt and blunt, so don't let it hurt your feelings if someone says, "Thanks but no thanks" without giving you a shot. This is often only because people are joining dating sites to cater to their dilemma of limited time to spend searching for a mate.

Sometimes people put things in their profile list of Must-Haves that they don't really mean. For instance, a man might add that his mates must look like a supermodel, when what he really means is he needs to have an attraction. It's doubtful he's been in the company of many supermodels, and surely he's been attracted to ordinary women in his life!

In some ways, people believe online dating strips the first impressions away because you can't see the subtleties that often attract us to our mates. But online dating gives you a chance to get to know the person's personality and feel comfortable before you take the leap into real life dating.

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When men and women have limited time to join the dating scene, they often go to online websites to find prospects of the opposite sex to start a relationship with. Online dating sites allow members to get to know each other by letting them screen potential dates for the things they have in common, such as a disability, or characteristics they want in a partner.

For people with disabilities, dating is even harder than it is for those with limited time in their schedule. Not only is it more difficult to get around for some, but there's also the risk of rejection that many disabled people fear when asking someone out on a date in person.

Online dating sites are now catering to those with special needs, and some even go farther than broad conditions - they specifically target members with the exact same disease in common, such as Autism or Aspergers.

Some relationships start off from online communities not geared to dating, but with multiple options, such as friendship, support, and advice. Other sites make their intentions known - that the website helps put disabled people in touch with others also afflicted with special conditions so that they have one major issue out in the open.

Sometimes, there's a stigma against disabled people from other disabled people. They feel they want to partner with someone not suffering from the same ailment. Other times it makes it easier for the relationship to progress because the date is someone who knows what life is like for the other person.

Disabled men and women want to be included in the fun and excitement of dating, too, without dear of incrimination from others in the online dating pool. The problem with a disabled person joining a website devoted exclusively to disabled dating is that the membership can be small.

If this is the case, you can join multiple sites and broaden your horizons. You never know what man or woman will read your profile, love everything about you, and be willing to overlook any disabilities that you fear someone will balk at.

Online dating is intimidating for almost everyone. Even the beautiful, healthy people have butterflies in their stomachs as their profile goes live and they wait while others review and critique them for the possibility of a future date. Go into the situation with confidence in who you are, and your disability will blend into the background as your personality is allowed to shine.

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When you're creating your profile for an online dating site, you may be one of the many who throws in a few false facts to try to spruce up the appeal of your profile to the men or women you're targeting.

There are some things you should also leave out if you want to make a good first impression. It doesn't mean you have to lie about who you are or what you believe, but sometimes it's best to present yourself with your best foot forward in the beginning.

First, try not to sound like a bitter, soured person who is already burnt out on the opposite sex. If you had a bad experience with your boyfriend, don't sound like a man-basher in your profile. No men will want to take on someone who has that much baggage following them around.

Negativity in general is a turn off for many people. If you hate the traffic, hate the weather, hate your job, and hate your life - what is there to like about you? The people you encounter on online dating sites don't want a fixer-upper - they want someone compatible with their own personality.

Even if you've been plagued by bad first dates with other dating site members, don't focus on what went wrong, but find the silver lining and talk about the details you did appreciate - even if it was just a learning experience.

Try to stand out from the crowd. Cookie cutter profiles are a turn off and if you don't give the reader anything unique, how are they supposed to be impressed enough to choose you from the masses?

How many times have you read, "I love candlelight dinners and long walks on the beach?" Don't be boring! Instead of candlelight dinners, be specific and say, "I love Mortini's Italian Restaurant because the host always gives me the best seat in the house and their Alfredo Sauce is to die for!" This gives them insight into your personality, but it also lets them envision their first date with you.

To really spruce up a profile and take out everything a prospective partner doesn't want, try to be specific about who you're seeking in a mate. Make sure they know you're flexible, if you are, but don't just say, "I like a sense of humor" if what you really mean is, "I'm sarcastic and love someone who can give as good as they get with me."

This helps remove the possibility that those you won't be compatible will contact you and wind up being a waste of your time. Be sure to find people whose profiles you respect and emulate their success by substituting your own facts and outlook on life and soon, you'll be seizing the opportunity to have a first encounter with someone new.

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The fine art of flirting is to catch a man's eye without giving him the wrong impression. That can be a challenge. Watch some old movies like Gone With the Wind. Scarlett O'Hara was a champion flirter.

She gave the guys just enough attention to captivate them but never gave away samples. That's the kind of flirting that gets you much more than the "voulez vous coucher avec moi, ce soir" type.

The first rule of flirting involves making eye contact. In North American culture, woman can lock eyes with a man without being considered rude or slutty. Even then, it's a matter of catching his eye rather than locking on like a tractor beam where he feels uncomfortable.

Accomplished flirters only make eye contact for a few seconds and act is if it was an accident. It's a matter of perfecting the look that communicates, "I was actually looking for someone else, but you stepped into my line of vision."

The second rule of flirting is to seem unconcerned about his response. If he read the signal and approaches, fine. If he doesn't get it the first time, don't give an instant replay. You might even act surprised that he thought you were interested in him.

Of course since he came over, you're willing to look him over up close. But don't appear obvious or desperate, either of which spoils the connection. The third rule of flirting is to wait for him to make the next move.

Don't keep pouring it on unless you're just trying to negotiate a price. That's what it seems like when you're flirting like a guided missile that's honing in on a target. Let him be the pursuer - it's a role he likes.

Guys are willing to take the easy girl, but they don't tend to come back for more. Let him work at getting your attention. The fourth rule of flirting is to be natural. Once you have his attention, be yourself.

You don't have to memorize Scarlett O'Hara's lines to make this work. The flirting was merely to telegraph that you might be interested to see if he's worth the effort. You can't keep up an act for long. If it's the act he wants, then he won't stay around when you finally reveal yourself. Why waste time for both of you?

The final rule of flirting is to enjoy yourself. It's certainly among your inalienable rights as a female to flirt. Just remember that as with fishing, flirting can be a pleasant sport - even if you don't catch anything or if you have to throw back what you caught.

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