Being single in Las Vegas is unlike being single anywhere in the world. In Las Vegas you can grab a girlfriend, head out to a few local hot spots and be guaranteed the attention of at least ½ a dozen men. The lovely thing is - these men don’t discriminate. You could be too fat, too skinny, have a flat chest, be huge breasted, unattractive, very attractive, rich, poor, forever single or newly divorced. It doesn’t matter. Why? Because "What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas. Although a brilliant marketing technique, those 7 little words are the bane of a local girls existence.

Sure, it’s all in fun, but when we step out our doors (and some of us are even wearing real clothes) we are relegated to hooker. If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard, "But baby, what happens in Vegas..." I’d be sipping martinis with my Southern Highlands neighbors.

The "Vegas Dilemma" isn’t only specific to women, oh no. Our male counterparts have their obstacles too, and many tend to have the same complaints - All Vegas woman are interested in is how much money you make & what you drive. I’ve heard that one enough to add a Ferrari to my Southern Highlands home.

So what’s to be done? How do we weed through the sea of shiny shirts to locate someone who is actually worth, dare I say it? A second Date?!

In future articles I’ll take you around Las Vegas, hit the local hot spots, the hideaways and give you my honest opinion about the search for love in our 24 hour town. For now, I’d like to address some do’s and don’t to help weed out, or help you keep from getting weeded.

Ladies:

Be wary of men who use more hair products than you. Fighting for bathroom time is an ugly practice.

Listen to the opening line carefully, think of it as pre-qualifying. If the first few sentences contain something like, "I’m just trying to decide who I like better, you or your friend." Run. Trust me, there is no prince hiding there, just pure toad.

When you dress, look at yourself carefully in your mirror and ask this question, "What are the hookers wearing?" If it’s more than you currently have on, change. It does us no good to dress as if we charge. Think about it. It really should come as no surprise when Studly Macho Jock wants to "dance up on you" and see if you’re augmented. You want a man, not a pimp - dress like a woman, not a hooker.

Be open when someone approaches you. First of all it takes guts, and secondly, some very amazing men come in packages not previously our type. Don’t waste your time, or theirs, but be careful who you discount, there are some very pleasant surprises.

Gentlemen:

If you’re worried about gold-diggers, don’t discuss what you make. Too often the same guys who complain about materialistic women, can’t wait to drop info on their 6 figure job or their great big house.

24 year old men are sexy. 44 year old men are sexy. Don’t act 24 if you’re 44, not sexy.

Bald is in. Hair is in. Hair combed over bald is never in. If God has decided you should not have it, who are you to argue? Let it go. Women prefer it, I promise.

Don’t confuse high maintenance with high quality. High maintenance girls demand a lot, high quality girls demand that which they offer in return.

Avoid the drunk girl...wait, if you’re looking for sex, the drunk girl is your best option, if you’re looking for a relationship, not so much. Just imagine the same behavior at your company Christmas party, see my point?

These all may appear to be no brainers, but it’s amazing what happens to our judgment once we exit our own homes. I just thought I’d offer a reminder.

If you have any questions about dating or would like a candid answer to relationship questions, feel free to e-mail me at askpietra@earthlink.net. I have no formal education, but I like to think that my embarrassingly painful journey through the dating world could be of help to someone...like you, for example.

Happy Hunting!!

Pietra