How does one start talking about themselves without appearing shallow and vain? I am currently a student (graduate in the spring 2010) and try to be rather studious, so I have limited free time. I am a contradiction- I am easy going but also very detailed, I love to have fun and joke around (can be a smart-ass and sarcastic) but am very serious when needed, I enjoy relaxing (watching movies, hiking, whatever) but also thrive on being busy.

Movie-wise, I like watching movies across all genres. Music-wise, I listen to about anything. The way I see it, a movie or song can be great or horrible regardless of its style. I like to give things a chance before I decide I hate them.

If you want to know more, then ask... don't be shy. It is the 21st century, it is also acceptable for a women to initiate contact (bonus points if someone contacts me before I can contact them). I will still initiate too, but I think it is silly to not do so because you never know what you might be missing by being shy. Also, why make it so people cannot see if you've looked at them? If you are too shy to initiate, then maybe they will see that you looked at them and decide to take the risk? Worse case scenario, they are too shy too. ;-)

Good luck in your search, let's hope we all find what we are looking for.

For a first date, I suppose it depends on the individual and how well we've gotten to know each other before meeting. We should be comfortable with whatever we decide to do. If I have only briefly chatted with a woman, then I would prefer to be more casual- meet over coffee or lunch, converse to learn more about them (and they about me), and see whether we want to meet thereafter. If I have extensively talked with a woman, then we can have a more "proper" date- dinner, movie, hiking (because who would go into the woods with someone if they barely knew the other person?), a trip to a bigger city, visiting a winery, etc... A "proper date" does not have to be a traditional date (dinner and a movie- hard to talk during a movie, unless it is at the comfort of someone's house). A "proper date" can be very unique and nontraditional (paintball, go carts, miniature golf, skydiving, etc...). In short, I am game for anything that is mutually agreeable.