| Asking a man out to lunch is easy; I do it at least | | | | back here in time to get ready for a 1 o'clock |
| once a week. All right, the man is my husband, so | | | | meeting. I thought you might like to join me there |
| it's no big deal. Evidently, though--from discussions | | | | if you don't already have plans."Of course, don't |
| I have had with my single girlfriends--this is an | | | | rush through this little script. Adapt it to your own |
| anxiety-provoking topic among many women.I am | | | | way of speaking, and pause to let him get a few |
| not completely unqualified to answer this question. | | | | words in, too! Make it more of a two-way |
| Back when I was single, I did ask different men | | | | conversation than I've shown it here. The most |
| to lunch on occasion. Yes, it was nerve-wracking. | | | | important part--aside from the actual suggestion |
| And yes, I plunged ahead and did it anyway.You | | | | of getting together--is the time limit you have |
| think men don't get sweaty and nervous asking a | | | | placed on the date by mentioning the meeting for |
| woman on a date for the first time, even just a | | | | which you will need to get back. This lets the man |
| casual lunch date? Being the asker rather than the | | | | know that it is not an open-ended invitation to |
| askee has the great benefit of giving you direct | | | | while away the afternoon together--heck, this |
| experience of one aspect of being a male in our | | | | alone could take pressure off him! Also, it puts it |
| society!Personally, I think it is a badge of societal | | | | within a business framework, even if you do not |
| progress that it's no longer a big deal for a | | | | work for the same company. People have |
| woman to ask out a man. In my younger days, | | | | "business" lunches all the time, don't they?Now, I |
| some people still looked askance at it. Certainly, | | | | know this is an article on asking a man to lunch, |
| for my mother's generation, it was practically | | | | but briefly, let me throw out an idea for asking a |
| unheard of.Asking someone out to lunch is a great | | | | man to dinner, a potentially more "serious" activity. |
| first step to becoming comfortable as the asker. | | | | If you are already comfortable enough with a |
| It's a time-limited activity; both of you | | | | particular man to invite him into your home, |
| (presumably) have to get back to work after, | | | | consider cooking a meal for the two of you--but |
| say, an hour. There will be no awkward goodbyes | | | | with a twist you've probably never heard |
| at the front door of someone's apartment. It all | | | | before.For a dinner date, ask the man what his |
| takes place in daylight and in public, so there will | | | | favorite restaurant is. He'll be expecting you to |
| be no pressure or expectations or even much | | | | suggest going out to that restaurant. But instead, |
| possibility of taking things to a more serious or | | | | you tell him you will cook his favorite dish from |
| intimate level (at least for now).So, here's how | | | | that restaurant in your own kitchen. The way to |
| you do it: Call him up and ask!Too flip an answer? | | | | pull this off is to do an Internet search for the |
| Well, try this approach. First, spend a few minutes | | | | recipe. If his favorite restaurant is one of the |
| calming yourself--do some deep breathing if you | | | | major (or even not-so-major) chains, you can |
| need to. Get it firmly into your mind that you are | | | | even find e-books full of "secret" restaurant |
| an adult, he's an adult, and there's nothing wrong, | | | | recipes that you may download for nominal |
| unseemly or out-of-the ordinary for one adult to | | | | cost.Lunch or dinner, sharing a meal with a |
| suggest to another that you meet for lunch.Now, | | | | compatible member of the opposite sex is one of |
| when you call him, say something along this line:"Hi, | | | | life's pleasures. Don't stress over it! Take it easy, |
| Joe. This is Dawn. Listen, I was just thinking. I've | | | | keep it lighthearted, and you'll do great.Sarah |
| been so swamped with work that I just need to | | | | Sandori is the food and entertaining columnist for |
| get away from the office and get my mind off it | | | | the Solid Gold Info Writers Consortium. Have you |
| all. I thought I would check out that new Italian | | | | ever wanted to be able to exactly duplicate a |
| restaurant for lunch today. I hear it's pretty good. | | | | favorite dish from a favorite restaurant? |
| I'm going to go at 11:30 because I have to be | | | | |