alterD8 Blog

Who could possibly deny Monaco as a romantic region of the world?  The restaurant Le Louis XV-Alain Ducasse in its ornate splendour is among the top romantic spots in the world; even celebrated by renowned Chef Wolfgang Puck.  Not only romantic restaurant, Puck says it’s also one of the best.

Who could resist this next spot? It takes your breath away, almost literally, and lets your imagination swim! How about the Ithaa Undersea Restaurant in the Maldives! I can only imagine jet-setting around the world to a spot like this!

Yet there is a restaurant in Vacone Italy called Solo per Due.  This is about as romantic as it could possibly get!  It’s one of the world’s smallest restaurants because it only accommodates two people at a time!  No lines, no waiting and the waiter only attends when you ring a bell.  You and your date focus on each other.  That’s a place to explore on alterD8 for sure...I’m already there!  It really is designed for the romantically inclined.

No doubt there are thousands of unique restaurants around the world to chat about online.  These are but a few that I find particularly unique and represent the allure of online dating anywhere you want.

To me, food and romance are almost synonymous.  My next step is to recreate a menu item from these restaurants and share the experience with my anonymous online date!

Have fun!

Tell a story about a friend who did something crazy (yes it could be you but let’s make it about a friend...keeps you relatively innocent!) and gauge the response.

Double meanings are always a good ice breaker in conversations, i.e.: “It’s so hard!”  This of course can be a reference to work or a video game but it leaves the door open for a funny sex related response!

Switch the typical gender roles.  For guys, assume she is the aggressor.  For women, make him the submissive.

Talk about your favourite foods; many feel a close connection between sex and food.  If you don’t, you should!

Talk about what you are passionate about.  This creates an emotional force that is hard to resist.

Sometimes simply asking certain question can get the ball rolling.

What is the one thing you’d like to teach the opposite sex?

What is one thing you cannot do, but want to be able to do?

What works better, foreplay or choreplay?

What’s one thing you kept from you ex but can say now?

Do you have any friends you want out of the ‘friend zone?’

Shaving...discuss;)

The ice breakers are endless, use your imagination.

Get on alterD8, explore the possibilities and have fun!

October presents the first sign of change in the season and dare I say transformation into someone, or something else.

The Psychology of Disguise...

Give a quiet person a flamboyant costume and watch the transformation.  Other theories suggest our personalities operate in polarities.  There is a conscious side we show people in everyday life, but there is another side that may be the exact opposite.

It’s believed in ancient times that dressing up in a costume confused the Grim Reaper and he would simply pass you by not recognizing the human within.

Here on alterD8 you can explore those new transformations.

I took a chance and went on alterD8 to chat about Halloween date experiences and found a denizen of followers who loved nothing more than the idea of releasing horror stories...and of course stories that went really well!  What an exploration!

I took it one step further.  I created the atmosphere in my home that aligned with my online chat.  I lit candles, turned the lights off, put on dark lipstick and poured myself a glass of deep, ruby red wine.  No, I don’t really want to drink blood!  But there is the fun on alterD8!

You can create the atmosphere online just as much as you can at home.  Give it a try, I dare say you may scare yourself, but that only draws you in even more!

I remember hitting the end of my twenties and realizing that I would never be discovered. It was a dream of celebrity that I didn’t even realize I had.

I suppose a part of me created alertD8 to become famous. At least my avatar, anyways. She’s 

What’s your arch-type?

Do you have some internal work to do?

P.S. I dare you to categorize the next three people that you meet. Look for one arch-typical avatar chat partner on on alterD8.  Connect with your favourite arch-types within minutes of signing up.

Dr. Delilah

  Benefits of online serial monogamy 

I’ve been a serial monogamist throughout my life. 

Offline, my husband has been my longest partner. He does a lot for me. What I’ve finally come to realize though is that he can’t be everything.

Online, I have another partner who fills in the gaps. Since we never meet up, he helps me to reconcile my inner fantasies. 

I’ve come to realize how much I enjoy the support of another man. I’ve been fighting it for ages, but actually, some scientists don’t even believe that we’re hardwired to be with just one person in a sexual way. Our closest ancestors aren’t; chimpanzees and bonobos. These two species engage in sex to bond socially. 

Maybe that’s why I so enjoy a little online monkey business. Bonding with more than one partner makes me enjoy both a great deal more. My husband? He feels like he’s off the hook for a few of my emotional needs and has his old ‘girlfriend’ back – that spontaneous me I used to be.

I give three cheers for my exclusive avatar relationship!

P.S. Looking to find someone special without disrupting your offline life? Try out an alterD8 today. Start the search for your alterM8 within minutes of signing up.

  Steps for the heart

The basics for keeping a healthy heart; diet and exercise.

Here are some tips to keep your ticker happy:

Have a colorful plate:  mix in different kinds of fruits, vegetables, meats and grains.  Eating a variety of foods will ensure you get the nutrition your body, and heart, needs.

Say no to fats: drink skim milk and avoiding frying in favor of baking or sautéing. 

Salt less:  Salt can lead to high blood pressure, making extra work for your love muscle.  So go salt free.  Use spices, lemon juice, and natural flavors to add zing to your food.

Morning walk:  taking a short 20 minute walk in the AM will kick start your metabolism for the day to keep a happy heart.

Be creative when thinking of ways to keep a healthy heart. 

  A loving heart

World Heart Day not only gives you a chance to pause and think about your health.

 It also gives you a chance to think about another aspect of your heart.

Your loving heart.

A heart can be filled up with the prospects of a special someone.  Find them through online dating.

Check out alterD8 to find your avatar match on World Heart Day.

  P.S. A blossoming connection makes my heart feel like it could fly.  I’ll be taking World Heart Day off to surf alterD8 for my avatar chat match.

What are some of the best ways to break up online?

While it’s tempting, and easier, to send a message for your partner to uncover later, that’s just not respectful.

Just like breaking up in person, there is some etiquette involved in online break-ups. Here are some of the steps that I followed.

Be considerate. I truly respected my virtual relationship. It really fulfilled a need in my life. I kept my partner’s feelings top of mind. Ask yourself, how would I like a trusted partner to approach a break-up?

Invite your partner to a live chat. No break up messages please. Few people enjoy a confrontation but a respectful parting of the ways is just mature. It allows you to leave the relationship just as you entered. In person.

Lead into what you want to say. I told my partner that we needed to talk. This way, when we both arrived at our chat, he had some inkling of what was coming. There is a bit of a code to dating, and “We need to talk” is often recognized as being an introduction to a break up or some kind of change in the relationship.

Be clear. I clearly told my cyber date that I wanted to end the relationship. I answered his questions as far as I was comfortable. Do you need to explain? No. Does it help? I think so. I told him that though I enjoyed our time together, I was looking for some other qualities in a cyber mate. I also wished him luck in the future.

Be prepared for an emotional reaction. My partner expressed some disappointment. I had suspected that he liked me more than I liked him. I was right. He was mature about it though and didn’t go on the offensive. I appreciated that though I was prepared for some objections.

  Breakups a time for growth

Are you the one who is getting broken up with?

It’s important to feel your feelings. Mourn your relationship and take a look at yourself and what you want in your next partnership.

  Do you have some internal work to do?

Look at the relationship and see if there is a pattern being revealed. Do you often leave a relationship for the same reasons? Do others leave you? Why?

Take stock of your feelings

Have you been here before? You must be honest with yourself and allow your feelings to come through. Otherwise you risk repeating negative behaviour.

Breaking up can be hard to do. However, it’s also an opportunity for a fresh start. Work on yourself, mourn your relationship and head out again. You deserve to find what your innermost heart desires.

  P.S. I dare you to make a list of your past breakups. What was the major issue for each? If you notice a pattern, dig into it. Find comfort from supportive friends through chat on alterD8.  Begin chatting within minutes of signing up.

  Dr. Delilah

I was in a lot of the pictures. With the basketball team when we won the championship. The soccer team when we won regionals.

I was a handsome son of a gun back then, not that I’m too bad now.

I used to go to parties every weekend.  

I had a lot of girlfriends too, sometimes together at the same time. Nothing terrible, I was just having a good time.

I’m pretty happy with my life now, despite the settling down, the rules of my better half, work, the house…it’s just that sometimes I want to really relive those times, you know?

  Reconnecting with my old self again

When I started cyber dating, I found someone that I really connected with. Me.

Turns out that the anonymous dating I do isn’t really about meeting someone new. It’s more about getting to be just like my old self, before life narrowed my options down. 

Here are some of the things that I have been into, offline and on, after going on some virtual dates.

I’ve remembered my old interests. Offline, I even signed up for a recreational soccer game. It keeps in shape and is more fun that the gym, and I get to score once in a while as well.

I tell my old stories to a fresh audience. To new ladies who think I’m pretty funny.

I have fun and get away from the nuts and bolts of life. I get to whisk women off to exotic locations and treat them to alterD8s that I never get to do in real life anymore.

Overall, I feel like I’m getting more creative.

Here’s what I suggest you do on an alterD8 to relive your best times:

be spontaneous

date multiple partners

share stories and what the heck, embellish a little

talk about your old interests, you know, the ones you don’t really have time for anymore

ask questions. Women love to be heard. Just listen, don’t try to fix things (there’s a life lesson for you) 

  P.S. Looking to relive some of your glory days? Try out an alterD8 today. You can be chatting with a bunch of new women in minutes.

The newly discovered painting, entitled ‘Sunset at Montmajour’, depicts the wild and beautiful French countryside.

This work of art is being called, “absolutely sensational” by experts at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.

A hidden masterpiece

In 1908, the painting was purchased as an investment by a Norwegian industrialist under the advisement of a historian.

However, later in life, when the man wanted to go ahead and sell the painting, he was informed by a French ambassador that it was nothing but a convincing copy.

Perturbed by the imposing painting, the industrialist unknowingly sent the works of Van Gogh to exile in his attic.

There is sat for more than 100 years. The art world’s version of sleeping beauty.

Spotting a Gogh

Picking out an authentic Van Gogh painting can be difficult.

Luckily, the Van Gogh Museum was ready. They have an investigative process that involves "extensive research into style, technique, paint, canvas, the depiction, Van Gogh's letters and the provenance."

You may recognize his styles among the infamous paintings ‘Sunflowers’, ‘Irises’ and ‘Portrait of Dr. Gachet’, among many more.

You likely also know him as the painter who sliced off his own ear to impress a young lady, a story which may or may not be true.

Van Gogh died at the young age of 37 and was largely unknown until after his death, when his work became celebrated and the artist a household name.

Do you have that kind of passion in you? Try is out.

This fall, release your inner creativity, Van Gogh style. 

Create your fantasy avatar on alterD8 to fulfill your deepest emotional desires.

P.S. Imagine yourself in Paris, on a night as beautiful as one of Van Gogh’s paintings.  Make this romantic cyber date a reality on alterD8.

  What are some of the world’s most sensual cities?

There’s Paris, of course, but we’ve been there before.

Where else in the world can people enjoy a sexy chat amidst great views, gorgeous people and amazing culture?

  Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

While many have heard of Brazil’s famous annual festival, Carnival, the world may not know about everything else that Brazil has to offer. The list includes:

mountains

beaches

the Amazon River

a super model or 10 (Gisele Bündchen, one of the world’s top fashion models, is Brazilian.)

Look over some photos. Could you imagine yourself in Rio? What would you do?

  Discover Rio before then world catches up…

Rio and Brazil will soon be the center of the world stage. This South American country is the host of two major world events:

the 2014 FIFA World Cup, in June and July 2014

the 2016 Summer Olympics

  Virtual dating tips for cyber dates in Rio

How can you have a great alterD8 in Rio? I like to get into a Brazilian frame of mind before I go. To do this I:

put on some sexy samba music (a beat that makes you move in a sensual manner) and red stilettos

make and sip on the national drink of Brazil, a Caipirinha (includes refreshing limes and sugar)

put a feather in my hair and a thong and channel my inner Carnival spirit

Let’s samba!

  Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Yes, this city has a world famous red light district. De Wallen. And yes, sex and drugs are legally for sale.

However, this isn’t what makes the city sexy to me. Amsterdam has a lot more to offer.

Here’s what I love about this place:

tall, slim gorgeous Dutch citizens. So many people look like supermodels.

that Dutch accent

a Dutch-styled café latte, called koffie verkeerd, with 50% milk and 50% coffee

Then there’s the scenery. Castle-like homes lining bridges, and bright homes matching the fall colored leaves on the trees overlooking the rivers, lined with boats.

So European!

  Tips for alertD8s in Amsterdam

admire some Van Gogh paintings; I put Van Gogh's sunflowers series on as my screensaver (Oui, they are French, but he was Dutch)

drink a Dutch-styled coffee, or just a beverage with a lot of milk in it

nibble on some Dutch cheese and crusty bread

  Montreal

This French Canadian city is often considered to have a European feel.

Beautiful people, scenery and lined with cafes, it’s a great place to indulge in some pastries.

Winter is coming. But you don’t need to hide out in Montreal. A fun idea for a cyber date is to skate outdoors at night.

  Tips for online dating in Montreal

make a hot chocolate or open some red wine

have a fine pastry on hand

wear a big warm sweater or curl up with your laptop by a fireplace

There’s no need to feel stuck at home this fall and winter. Having fun on alterD8s just requires your imagination.

  P.S. I dare you to pick a sexy city for a cyber date. Look for like-minded friends and connections now on alterD8.  You could be in Rio, Amsterdam or Montreal within minutes of signing up.

Offline, I’ve always searched for the perfect woman. I once thought of her as:

my best friend’s high school girlfriend Jennifer, the cheerleader with the blond ponytail and freckled nose

her best friend Samantha, the volleyball player with the long tanned legs

my university roommate, who dated the actress who went nude for an entire production

Once I got to know these women, and hear about them from my friends, I realized that they were people with good and bad sides, just like the rest of us.

Reality hit when they would sleep over, devious greasy breakfasts and wear their boyfriend’s oversized sweat pants.

They also all had one major glaring flaw: they were women who were with men who were my friends.

  Ideal woman by culture and time

Is there such a thing as the ideal woman?

Sure. However it differs by time, place and person.

While culture dictates the perfect women as a Kim Kardashian who tweets bikini photos right after having a baby, a Heidi Klum or a Megan Fox in a steamy movie scene.

In ancient Egypt, it was Nefertiti, the wife of the Pharaoh. In an article on Art History, Discovery.com looks at what still makes Nefertiti so popular. Physically it was her:

symmetrical features

red lips

heavily outlined eyes

But what was she like as a person? It’s been lost to history.

My ideal altermate (alterM8)

There’s an ideal woman out there for me and these are the things that she possesses:

 a love of her inner and outer self; she’s physically attractive, dresses well and does the most with what she has

smarts, sophistication and a deep knowledge of what she wants

education about what’s important to her

the ability to listen and support

a life that she loves and is living it

an openness to new ideas, experiences and people

a desire to take risks and expand on her experience

This is the kind of woman that I’m looking to find through anonymous chat. Someone who will discuss ideas, philosophy and her inner fantasies.

Is she out there?

I have to find out. I’m on an anonymous chat spree, seeking the ideal, perfect woman for me.

P.S. I dare you to find your alterM8 today. Sign up for alterD8 and start looking today.

  A tribute to a master

At the age of 66, Sir Elton John will be performing a live tribute to his late friend and piano man, Liberace.

Liberace is portrayed in HBO’s Behind the Candelabra.  The show is up for 15 Emmy Awards including lead-actor bids for Matt Damon and Michael Douglas.  Both of which will be taking on roles as presenters at the Emmy ceremony.

The Emmy awards will be airing on the 22nd of September, and will be hosted by the wildly funny Neil Patrick Harris.

  The nominees

This year’s Emmy awards saw a change in nomination trends with internet series becoming recognized.

  House of Cards became the first internet series to be nominated for best drama series.  This high-tension show set in the White House, surprised many with a total of nine nominations. 

Kevin Spacey, director and star of House of Cards, is nominated for lead actor in a drama series for his leading role.

The directors of Mad Men will be receiving no recognition, with its total lack of nominations.

What do you think will be the outcome of the night?  Who will walk away adorned with trophies, and who will be left empty-handed? 

Take your thoughts to the online chat room on alterD8. 

You can make your chat sexy with some love conversations inspired by Elton John.

  P.S. The thought of being someone’s tiny dancer gives me thrills.  I am going to try this persona on with my next online avatar date at alterD8.