I continue to hear single and divorced friends denying the opportunity to join the rest of us on their new journey to finding their ideal partner if that means that they have to create an online dating profile. They feel they can meet people on their own or through their network. There are many possible ways that might happen, but right now, that is a limited option and one of the only new people you are going to become friendly with this way will be: Your mailman/woman, UPS, FedEx, Amazon delivery person... You never know, my UPS guy is really hot!
"Relationships only last when your goals are aligned," says Amy Schoen, a life and dating coach interviewed and quoted in The Wall Street Journal, 2019. She continues, "online dating reveals those goals "up front and center..." 
​Currently, I have encouraged over 6 friends of mine to try a dating app. Within their first 5 dates, they all found their current husbands. Within my personal network, I know at least 50 people that met significant others, or spouses while on various dating websites. 
My journey with online dating has brought ghosting, heartbreak, amazing experiences, friendships, romance and happiness. The idea that online dating simply increases the opportunities to meet my future person, allows me to take the highs and the lows, knowing that I have the opportunity to meet my fantastic human at any given time. 
According to The Knot, a very popular wedding website (www.theknot.com), "22 percent of spouses are now meeting online (after utilizing tools like Tinder, Hinge and Bumble)... among nearly 11,000 couples surveyed, 71 percent said they dated for more than two years before getting engaged..."
I challenge you in 2020 and moving into 2021 to give online dating a chance. Share your experiences with me on the blog or email me @ quarantinedatingqueen@gmail.com. We can do this together!

I thought this one was too good not to share with everyone. I asked my friend, Pete to tell one of the many dating stories he has shared with me. Enjoy!

​Ahhh October, cool weather, fun fall activities, but what is October without a good horror story – here is one of my dating horror stories emphasis on ONE OF, as in one of many... When the quarantine dating queen comes calling to share a dating horror story, the only question is which one to pick, hmm. Today's dating adventure features “rock girl".
I connected with "rock girl" on Match.com, and conversation was fun and flirty. We decided to meet about a week after matching and solid daily communication. It was a Thursday night and we met at a casual local pub for a drink. Our first impressions from a physical side were great, I was very attracted to her. So the date was going well and she excused herself to the bathroom. As I took a sip from my beer, my phone vibrated and, rock girl proceeded to send me nudes from the bathroom! Admittedly I was a bit confused, I mean who doesn’t like a good nude? But...like it’s a first date, come on now. She came back and asked if I liked what I saw, obviously I said yes, and then we both proceeded on with the date like nothing happened. 
End of the date comes around and we kiss and talk about plans for another date, she asked if she could come over Sunday to my place and we could have dinner . Usually this is too soon for me, I am closer to a house invite on date 3-4. I But, after seeing the pictures, I was not thinking .. clearly. 
Well Sunday rolls around and she shows up with a large almost overnight bag...that seemed odd since we were only having dinner. She walks in, sits down and says “I made something for you!” I am assuming it’s some sort of dinner or dessert item, and respond “oh that’s so sweet of you what is it?” 
She reaches into the overnight bag and pulls out a.... rock, like a big rock, like a landscaping stone type rock! Upon my inspection of the rock I find it has been carved with my initials, her initials, a big heart and it says “Pete rocks” – I think... “oh boy what have I done!” She stared lovingly into my eyes and asked if I liked it. Of course I said “yes this is awesome!” thinking “please don’t kill me or my cat”. Needless to say, that was the last night my cat and I spent with Rock Girl.