Looking for Mr. Right (Part One)

It’s like the National Finals Rodeo. You know there will be casualties, but you can’t help it; you are drawn to it like a moth to the flame. Am I talking about a fallen bronc buster? A trampled bull rider? No, as a single woman, I’m talking about the online dating websites.

It ain’t pretty folks; I’m here to tell you, and this ain’t my first time in this rodeo. Things have not improved in the time I’ve been out of the dating arena; if anything, things have gotten worse.

For you happily married cowboys and cowgirls, allow me to open the gate, and expose this bizarre world of internet dating. (And for you unhappily married rodeo clowns, do us a favor, and stay off of the dating websites until you are single, okay? It’s hard enough sifting through the legitimately single souls clogging the newsfeed.) And yes, I discovered a couple of rogue bulls trolling the sites. (Any of you wannabe cowboys getting nervous?)

My curiosity got the best of me during a particularly lonely week; I looked, and now that I have, I can’t un-see what I have seen. The first thing you notice is the picture. Oh, the pictures… As a retired teacher, I had a hard time overlooking the names some men choose for themselves, and the grammar and spelling errors that run amok like a bucking bull out of the chute.

After perusing hundreds of profiles, I’ve come up with some suggestions for the men in selecting profile pictures. There are more than a handful who could benefit from some friendly, if not somewhat snarky, advice. Tune in for...

Part Two of "5 Tips from a Professional Photographer." 

Part Three: The Name Game (What's in a name? 10 of the most unusual screen names.

Part Four: HEADLINES (See what guys do with 140 words or less to invite you to look at their profile.)

Part Five: TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT 

Part Six: IN HIS OWN WORDS (The marketing of oneself is a challenge for anyone.)