A Year of Living Flirtatiously

Two amazing stories that I heard this week--and a little tiny something that happened to me yesterday--are evidence that love (or something like it) can sneak up on you.

The man who has put together a comprehensive new oral history of Americans' love stories talks about how doing the project gave him a new perspective on what this romantic stuff is all about.

A study shows that no matter how much we chicks claim to hate facial hair--and *I* certainly do--we actually find it really sexy.

I'm not into the power of positive thinking. But positive behavior? That, I can handle. 

... even if it's not going that well.

The new book Taxi Confidential: Life, Death and 3 a.m. Revelations in New York City Cabs is a collection of the outrageous, bizarre, sexy, sad and sweet things that have happened in the back seat. An entire section is devoted to "Hooking Up." How many of you have done that?

What are your favorite Holden lines? ... Also: destination dining. And research shows that you shouldn't marry Mr. Good Enough.

After seeing one old friend and one new friend last night--both of whom are exceptional conversationalists--I revisit the new book A Good Talk.

I thought I'd sworn off the babies. But ... another significantly younger man has presented himself. Should I just give it a whirl? Do I have anything to lose?

An inflammatory new book exhorts women to "stop chasing the elusive Prince Charming and instead go for Mr. Good Enough." Um ... really? So it's just that easy, huh?

Another case study that illustrates just how much writing a confessional dating blog can ruin your dating life. Or, at least, my dating life.

I'm starting to fear that they do--based on some recent personal experiences--and that I'm going to. But maybe you guys have evidence to the contrary.

I'm not sure why the offensive thing that happened to me yesterday happened ... but it wasn't that fun. Has anything like this ever happened to you?

My BFF gets an awesome new job ... which makes me feel like a total screw-up. But I have some thoughts on how to stop looking at others and saying Why are they so awesome--whereas I suck so bad?

Money is often a contentious issue in an relationship. But The New York Times is reporting that conventional gender roles are shifting: men are increasingly getting hitched to women who are bringing home more bacon than they are. ... I wonder how this is playing out in the real world. Ladies with big salaries: Do you find that it's difficult to date men who make less than you do--either because you feel like they can't keep up, or because they feel inferior? Less "masculine"? Men: Do you feel uncomfortable dating women who make a lot more than you do, or does it take some of the financial pressure off? ... (Also, do I need more drugs? Someone want to hook me up?)

Today's post is basically a "Missed Connection" ad that I'm putting up here rather than on Craigslist. ... Does anyone know the adorable stranger I danced with? (Are YOU he?) ... Also, does it ever work to post a "Missed Connection"?

Do expectations (romantic and otherwise) just make us anxious, and set us up for disappointment? But how can we live "without hope," shall we say, and still have positive goals? (Also: Should I go to a SALSA dancing thing tonight? Or is that just way too dorky? No offense to salsa lovers--but I'm not good with authority figures, even when they are dance instructors.)

Last night, I came close to severing what is arguably the most important relationships of my adult life. And then I either wimped out or came to my senses.

Why do we fall in love? Is it because we see our own favorite qualities in the person we love (or project those qualities onto him or her)? Is it because we believe the love object will help us escape our own reality? Is it because we think love will redeem us? ... I go to a book party and come home wondering about these things.

A new book examines the art of talking--and makes note of a number of funny, suprising things about how we communicate. Do you think these generalizations about how men and women behave during dinner out are accurate?