A friend of mine called last night and asked me if I was hooked up with anyone. After I replied “no” she went on to say that she had the absolute perfect guy for me! She described him and he does sound pretty good but who knows?! Anyway shes giving him my phone number and he’s supposed to call this weekend. Guys, this will be the first date I’ve had since my divorce! I was married for 14 years so I’m a little out of practice! Any constructive advice or tips for me? What would be a good first date? Dinner seems so…high pressure! What do you think?
My rule about blind dates is Just Say NO!!!
I advise that your friend have a small potluck dinner, just the three of you and maybe another three friends. Or you all get together and go to the park or something…again, not just the three of you but maybe a total of five or six people. Just a nice casual time where you can get an idea if you like this guy enough to spend any time with him. Then if he asks you out, just have coffee or drinks the first time…not a committment to the whole evening. If things go well there, you can always “make a phone call” (to your cat) and change your plans so you can go on to dinner.
Of course I am a coward, so maybe you should just go for it!!!
Fluffy, if dinner seems high pressure, how about lunch?
Seriously! Lunch is a little less - uh, what’s the word I’m looking for - “formal date-ish like” and might be less pressure for you.
Oh - let us know how it turns out! 
I like Scotticher’s advice a lot. However, in either case (one-on-one date or group setting), the most important thing to do is relax. Or, if that’s not possible, at least act relaxed. Don’t gush on and on about how it’s your first date since the divorce. Don’t talk about your ex. Don’t laugh nervously at his jokes. Just be friendly, ask questions, try to have a good time. Keep your expectations low – assume it will take a few dates with a few people before you’re back in the swing of things.
You’ll be fine – have fun!
FWIW, my wife and I were fixed up.
We had a long phone conversation before our first in-person date - I think that helped.
How about a double-date? Your friend who’s fixin’ you up, her SO, you and Mr. Perfect-Guy. If things go really well, you split after dinner and they go home and you and the guy go out for coffee & desert.
$.02
-B
I agree with the previous posters - do something easy and casual, where you can be yourself and check out your (potential) in a place where they can be more at ease themselves.
I have brokered a few blind dates (never went on one myself), and the ones that were most successful (one long term relationship, one marraige, one frenzied sexual tryst) started off with a double date (with me and my wife as the other couple). We went to a pool hall, to a jazz club, stuff like that…
Best of luck and be yourself!
Thanks for the input! My “future blind date” actually called me last night from where he works and we had a brief conversation. He couldn’t talk very long but says he will call me again tonight when he gets off work. He seems like an extremely good guy from what little contact we’ve had and what I have heard about him.
Belrix-I think you’re right-phone conversations do seem to help a bit rather than just going into the situation blindly and not even having any idea about what to expect. Glad to hear you married your blind date! That’s cool!
Do any other females out there feel awkward about eating in front of a guy you don’t know very well, or am I the only weirdo that has this hang up?
If you drink, go out for a drink.
If you don’t, go out for ice cream.
Neither are as high pressure as dinner, plus they don’t last as long as dinner time wise. If you like each other, you can do dinner next time. If you don’t, you’ve only wasted about half an hour or so.
And do not call him, under any circumstances.
Don’t talk about the divorce.
Don’t let him pick you up, drive yourself.
And have fun
Oh, yes…I forgot this…I cannot stress enough how strongly I agree with WV_Woman here.
I’ll chime in with everyone else, and suggest a double date, that should disperse the pressure a bit. You’ll also have some people handy to protect you if he turns out to be an axe murderer.
Most of all enjoy yourself and take it at face value.