"Personal" ads and what they REALLY reveal

Personal ads have long been seen as an anonymous route to romance. But we suggest you read between the lines".

Personal ads have long been seen as an anonymous route to romance. But we suggest you read between the lines".

Take a closer look. Those little ads may reveal more than the advertiser intended.

Paul A. Falzone, CEO of The Right One and Together Dating, and author of a recent book on the history of romance and dating offers the following observations...

1.Consider: TIME FOR MYSELF -- DBF, 41, family-oriented with 3 teenaged sons; N/S Sagittarius loves movies, dancing and travel. Seeking BM, 35-45, N/S."

Translation: Please, get me outta here! These kids are driving me crazy!"

2.Consider: A ROSE IS A ROSE -- SWF, 61 down-to-earth, satisfied with career, likes remodeling home, music, pets, gardening. Seeking SWM, 55-66, with similar interests."

Translation: Looking for someone to help fix up my home, do yardwork."

3.Consider: VERY STYLISH GAL -- SBF looking for a SW/HM whos comfortable being himself in any situation. Able to tell the difference between sarcasm and anger?"

Translation: Hot babe with attitude, used to getting lots of attention. Thin-skinned types need not apply."

4.Consider: OLD-FASHIONED -- DWF, 35, Aries, smoker, enjoys cooking, sewing and more. Seeking man, 40-50, smoker, to share the rest of my life with."

Translation: Ill keep house, you bring home the bacon."

5.Consider: PRINCE CHARMING SEEKS . . . Cinderella! My first love is music. My second is exercise. Be the third! SWM, 36, N/S seeks attractive, healthy open-minded female, 30-42, H/W proportionate. Share the best in life!"

Translation: Youll never be first in my life. You wont even be second. Hey! Be 'open-minded -- if youre not crazy yet, you will be after putting up with me."

6.Consider: RENDEZVOUS -- Mature WM, 50, fit, boyishly handsome, lover of life. Seeking female, good figure, for evening company."

Translation: Who said 'single? Im a married man looking for a little action on the side."

7.Consider: VERY FLEXIBLE -- Male, 38, brown/brown. Aquarius, N/S would like to learn ice fishing. Seeking a woman, 21-29, N/S, for dating."

Translation: Hey, Im flexible! My only requirements are that youre a woman and that you know about ice fishing!"

8.Consider: SEEKING CUDDLE MATE -- SWM, 37, enjoys music poetry, education, the arts, animals, children, playing guitar, writing. Seeking caring, compassionate sincere, honest, affectionate, independent, intelligent SF, 25-38."

Translation: Very picky person, who knows what he wants, looking for exactly that."

9.Consider: METRO WEST AREA -- Very romantic WM, 47, 510", 180 lbs, loves the ocean, cooking. Seeking SF, 45-55, with same interests for long-lasting relationship."

Translation: What interests? It doesnt take much to make me happy; just a good meal and a view of the Atlantic."

Oh yes, that ocean. If theres one thing personal advertisers have in common its a love of the ocean and those walks on the beach". Its a lifelong passion, that knows no age limits.

10.Consider: LOCAL YOKEL WANTED -- by healthy, vivacious SWF, 80, who loves beaches, dancing, movies, and quiet times. Seeking sincere, honest WM, 75+."

Translation: No matter how old we get, we all need companionship."

FINDING LOVE FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA
Although personal ads may work for some, there are other routes to romance. A traditional bricks and mortar" office-based dating service offers a more concierge" pampering and streamlining of the process.

The merger of The Right One with national franchises of Together created the world's largest introduction service with over 80 locations. The alliance is a marriage of convenience for customers -- offering a more consistent product, a greater number of potentially compatible mates and more flexibility in transferring memberships to another geographic region.

Today, with an ambitious plan to open between 12-24 new offices a year, Together and The Right One have more than 125,000 members -- many of whom have their memberships on hold while they take the time to explore a successful relationship. With more than 500 employees, Together and The Right One gross more than $45-million a year in revenue.

ROMANTIC LOCATIONS
The Right One has offices and affiliates located throughout the United States, including: California (San Diego); Colorado (Colorado Springs, Denver); Florida (Boca, Tampa); Georgia (Atlanta); Hawaii (Honolulu); Illinois (Chicago, Springfield, Peoria, Rockford; Downers Grove and Bloomington); Iowa (Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Bettendorf); Nebraska (Omaha and Lincoln); New Hampshire (Bedford); New Jersey (Cherry Hill, Hackensack); Massachusetts (Hingham, Chestnut Hill, Shrewsbury and Woburn); Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Monroeville); Rhode Island (Warwick); Wisconsin (Madison, Appleton and Milwaukee); Texas (Dallas, Austin).

North American locations and affiliates of Together are: California (Encino, Irvine and Los Angeles); Florida (Palm Beach); Indiana (Ft. Wayne, Indianapolis, South Bend); Kansas (Wichita and Kansas City); Louisiana (New Orleans); Maryland (Columbia, Frederick); Minnesota (Minneapolis); Nevada (Reno); New Hampshire (Hooksett, Nashua, Portsmouth and Salem); New Jersey (Bridgewater, Clark, Colts Neck and Lawrenceville); Ohio (Cincinnati); Pennsylvania (Mechanicsburg and Doylestown); South Carolina (Greenville); South Dakota (Sioux Falls); Texas (Dallas, San Antonio, Beaumont and Houston) and Virginia (Falls Church).

For more information about The Right One and Together Dating, please visit their websites at www.therightone.com and www.togetherdating.com, or call
(800) 348-DATE (3283).

(Editor note: For interviews with the colorful and articulate Paul A. Falzone, CEO of The Right One and Together and author of a recent book on the history of dating, please contact Steve Dubin, PR Works, at (781) 878-9533 or, by e-mail, at sdubin@prworkzone.com)