MM Monday: 5 Reasons Why Dating a Non-Mr. Mister is Horrible

Happy Monday!

Today’s entry is about dating, and why it's a horrible experience until you find a Mr. Mister. In order for you to understand what I mean, take a peak at this first date of mine.

Close your eyes and try to imagine the scene:

You’re at a Mexican restaurant, sitting next to a guy (Let’s call him Oscar.) who just drank way too many beers at dinner. As you sit there, you find yourself wondering why on earth you agreed to go out with him in the first place.

Personally, I’ve always found it difficult to say to no to a guy who asks me out because I just like to give everyone a chance, and it takes quite a bit of courage to ask someone out.

After dinner, Oscar takes you to see a movie. You, of course, insisted on driving because it was clear that he probably shouldn’t. And now for the grand surprise, the film that this guy has chosen to watch with you is Knocked Up, a film about an awkward curly-headed pot smoker who gets a career-focused girl pregnant on the first night that they meet at a local bar.

Now this is an awkward movie to watch on a first date. As Oscar sat there, cackling like a hyena throughout the entire film, I found myself looking for a quick exit out of that theater.

Now, I’m a fan of a good comedy and recently watched this film on dvd with Mr. Mister. Let me tell you, it was a feat for Mr. Mister to get me to watch it. However, I noticed that this time around my heart was not filled with anxiety as I wondered if the man sitting beside me was a total slacker. Instead, I was delighted with the bearded gent sitting next to me. As I snuggled up to Mr. Mister, I was grateful to have him by my side, even though he was laughing hysterically at the humor of writer/director Judd Apatow. 

Now to my point: I'm not anti-dating. I think that dating can be a good experience for getting to know someone. However, I do have a few pet peeves that are associated with dating. So, in short, I'm just not a fan of dating a guy who isn't a Mr. Mister.

Here are 5 Reasons Why Dating a Non-Mr. Mister is Horrible:

1) Guys don’t often make it clear if they are asking a girl out on a date or to just “hang out.”

If guys would just communicate clearly, then they will be much less likely to have a frantic and panicky girl who shows up on a date wearing a prom dress and tiara to grab a cup of coffee or who appears at the door in sweats to go out to a nice dinner.

Drew Barrymore in Never Been Kissed

Come on guys, do you really want us ladies to show up dressed like this for a date? Do yourself a favor by making it clear whether you are taking us out on a date or not, which brings me to my next point.

2) Figuring out what to wear on a date is stressful.

Now, I know on films and televisions shows, the leading lady dances around in her bathrobe while enjoying the process of putting together her outfit. Guess what? Not all of us have Alicia Silverstone's dream closet from Clueless, which automatically matches and coordinates outfits for you. And no computer program in the world can tell you what to wear if you have no idea what you are doing for the evening.

Her closet even tells you if you match clothing items incorrectly!

Now I can't speak for every lady out there, but I know that my experiences of preparing for a date are much more similar to those of Bridget Jones.

 

This chaotic mess which you now behold is a result of two things:

• She has no idea where she stands with the guy she may be "dating" or "hanging out" with (e.g. Reason #1 for Why Dating is Horrible).
• She has no idea what she will be doing for the evening with the guy that she is "dating" or "hanging out" with, which leads me to...

3) I have no desire to plan my own first date.

Fellas, there’s no other way to ensure that a first date will not turn into a second date quicker than by uttering the following words after jumping into the car…

“So, what do you want to do?”

If a guy is going to ask me out, he should have a plan.

4) I never know if I should offer to pay or not.

While some guys (e.g. Ted Mosby from "How I Met Your Mother") would be offended if you reached for the check, some would assume that you are being presumptuous to not offer to help pay (e.g. George Costanza "Seinfeld").

What's a girl to do?

5) A girl just doesn’t know what she’s getting herself into when going out on a date.

So, not only do us ladies find ourselves having no idea what to wear for the evening, but then we are asked to plan the evening. Meanwhile, we spend the entire date figuring out if we are on a date or just "hanging out." And, at last, we must decide if we are going to "reach for the check" or not. Now I don't know about you, but that's just one big mess from my perspective.  

Now, I’ll tell you that dating Mr. Mister was a very different experience than dating Oscar or any of the other guys who preceded him.

Next Monday… How Mr. Mister Dates