My Mis-Adventures of Dating Mr. Dot Com

By Camille Poor

This book will teach you how to online date which will include setting up a profile, who to avoid, where to go on a date, what to wear, and what to expect in the world of online dating. I will share with you each one of my real life experiences with my matches and my successes and failures. I want to inspire my readers to take chances on love and explore the world of online dating. I know many of you will relate to my experiences and realize we have common threads as single ladies.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Camille Poor
• Release date: Oct 3, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301406623

Camille Poor

Camille Poor, author of "My Mid-Adventures of Dating Mr. Dot Com", currently resides in Johnson City, Tennessee. She is a proud mother of a fourteen year old daughter, twenty-one year old son and 8 year pit bull named Sophie. She has enjoyed a 26 year career in retail management.

Book preview

Introduction

I never thought that I would be writing a book on dating. Well, maybe in my 20s, but certainly not in my mid forties. I should be enjoying marital bliss, focusing on home life and raising kids. I never dreamed at 42 I would be D-I-V-O-R-C-E-D and starting over. Do you remember how it felt as a teenager or young adult when you began dating? Trust me, multiply that overwhelming stress by 1000 and that is what it feels like dating in your forties. 

Dating the first time around was different in the sense that it was supposed to be a ‘temporary’ situation. I felt it would only be a matter of time before it would pay off and I would meet the man I would want to spend eternity with and live happily ever after. When you are single in your forties, you cannot help but think wow, I could possible have to date for another 40 years. How did my biggest fear become a reality? I knew from the beginning that getting married was a mistake but those details would be an entire other book...stay tuned for that train wreck on paper. 

So I found myself alone at 42 wondering not only how did this happen, but who am I and where do I go from here? I believe one should never have to reinvent themselves but must discover who they truly are through time and life experiences. Through those experiences of my own I discovered I actually liked who I was and deserved someone who appreciated me for everyone of my quirks, imperfections, and for my uniqueness. The first year or so after my divorce was filled with a roller coaster of emotions, reconnecting with old friends and discovering social media. Prior to online dating, I had been in plenty of relationships; some good, some bad, some ugly, some long, and some short. But after 2 years of traditional dating I was becoming impatient. I had not met the man of my dreams in a bar, at the grocery store, or walking down the street. I was determined to find him and online dating was was my LAST resort.

I never dreamt my life would take on a whole new meaning with an emphasis on dating. It was as if I was working a second job without a pay check but it certainly was an adventure. Whether you are new to online dating, a seasoned veteran, or happy in a current relationship, I am sure after reading this book you will have a new perspective on relationships. And if you are a man hoping to beef up his game and using this as a handbook, kudos to you for wanting to better your dating credentials. 

I will explain from real life experiences how some dates are destined to fail from the get go. I will also discuss the common mistakes that could only lead to disaster, proper etiquette, and how to recognize a potential good match. I realize many of you have been in these situations or will in the near future, use my book as a head’s up to what awaits you in this modern world. My journey is a light-hearted adventure in what I hope will someday lead me to my soulmate.

Chapter 1: Establishing an Online Profile 

Your Profile:

You certainly do not need a computer science degree to establish an online profile but you do need to know the basics. You will need either a home computer or a laptop with Internet access. A smart phone is not required but is definitely a valuable asset for the girl on the go to monitor her online dating status. Honesty is so important when writing your profile. Share with potential matches what you truly enjoy doing as hobbies, your musical tastes, your favorite TV shows/movies and how you spend your free time. You will be amazed how a single word can get someones attention. 

Honesty is crucial with your age, body type, marital status, income and religion. Ladies I cannot stress enough the importance of a good profile picture. Please put the time and effort into a picture in which you look your best. Enlist a friend to help if necessary. Make sure it is clear and a close up is a must. I had a friend who posed in sweats lounging in a recliner and she did not understand why she never received responses.

His Profile:

Let’s talk about my pet peeves when it comes to potential matches and their profile information & profile picture. I have already done the dirty work and compiled these pet peeves for your reference. (These are real examples from real online dating profiles.) 

*Pet peeve number one: profile pictures where he is wearing T-shirts with the sleeves cut off. A man should want to look his best and this look is wrong in any setting...except on the farm. 

*Pet peeve number two: profile pictures where he is posing with the catch of the day, or any other dead animal, is repulsive. When a girl thinks about happily ever after, a dead animal is not involved. Especially by a woman who did not eat red meat for 8 years. 

*Pet peeve number three: no profile picture. This had to be the creepiest thing I can think about online. Why should a man look at your picture and not show his own? 

*Pet peeve number four: a photo with a date stamped on it from a decade ago. This immediately makes me think time was not on this individuals side and he has something to hide (muffin top, chicken neck, third boob...?) 

*Pet peeve number five: amateur croppers and pack rats. Notice what is in the background of the picture; a messy house, a head with long blonde curls cropped out of the picture beside of Mr. Right. Who cannot find one picture by yourself? 

*Pet peeve number six: group photos. I find it amazing men use group photos with other men as their profile picture. Do they assume we know which one he is in the photo? He should not be surprised when he tell him No wait, I wanted the one on the right! 

*Pet peeve number six: posting too many pictures. I discovered one individual, whom we will discuss in Chapter 19, who displayed 29 photos of himself. Geez, I do not even own 29 photos of myself!  The first runner up for my worst profile picture pet peeve is a profile picture where he was wearing his wedding ring. This is a no way, no how in my book. If this is the most recent picture you have, how do I know you are not still married?  The grand prize winner was the man whose profile picture showed him eating a slice of pizza, wearing a wedding ring, and standing in front of a ballon that read, It’s a Girl. Enough said.

Chapter 2: Potential Date #1: The Scam Artist

I admit that I was a bit wet behind the ears