MORE DATING ADVICE

SIX THINGS YOU NEED TO DO TO HAVE A GREAT FIRST DATE:

#1.) MAKE A BACKUP PLAN. The weather can change, restaurants can close, traffic can be horrible. So, make sure you have a backup plan ready in case something unexpected happens.

#2.) PLAN A SHORT DATE. The first date only needs to be one or two hours. If things go well, you can always extend it. But there's nothing worse than going on an all-day date and realizing five minutes in that it's a horrible match.

#3.) BE ON TIME. The worst thing you can do on a first date is show up late. So, get directions, and get there at least five minutes early.

#4.) DON'T OVER-COMPLIMENT. Say a few nice things, but don't go crazy. If you shower someone with too many compliments about their looks, brains, or sense of humor, you might come across as insincere.

#5.) DRINK RESPONSIBLY. Even if your date is drinking like a lush, take it easy. You can have a few drinks, but make sure you stay in control. A first date is NOT the time to reveal what you're like when you're drunk.

#6.) BALANCE TALKING AND LISTENING. Pay attention to how much time you're talking and how much time you're listening. If you feel like it's skewed one way or the other, try to balance it out. (Dating, Inc.)

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***FIVE THINGS TO AVOID WHEN BEING DUMPED***

Ladies, when you're on the receiving end of a breakup, you need to know how to handle it with dignity. If you don't, you'll end up with even lower self-esteem. So, if you get dumped, here are six things you should avoid . . .

#1.) DON'T TRY TO TALK HIM OUT OF IT. Breakups aren't court battles that you can win by coming up with a good argument. Even if you DO talk him out of it, it won't change the underlying problem.

#2.) DON'T BEG. If he's sticking to his guns, don't resort to begging. You're better than that. If you DO, he might stay . . . but he'll suddenly have ALL the power, and your relationship will never be the same.

#3.) DON'T MAKE A SCENE. He might dump you at a crowded restaurant . . . thinking you won't make a scene. But as much as it hurts, you should probably prove him right. Once you've calmed down, you'll be glad you handled it with class.

#4.) DON'T STEAL HIS FRIENDS. We're not talking about mutual friends . . . but if you're trying to steal his buddies away in a lame attempt to get even, it's just bad form . . . and trying to rebound with one of his friends is even worse.

#5.) DON'T GET REVENGE. If it's a particularly bad breakup, it's tough to hold back. But getting even with an ex will NOT help you move on with your life. Revenge will make you feel better at first, but remember . . .

--If he broke it off, HE'S the bad guy. If you do something lame to get back at him, then what makes you any different? (CNN.com)