What Did He Really Say?

by Dustin Goot
MSN.COM

1. When he says "I'll call you" …

He means "I may call you." This line isn't the slam dunk most women make it out to be. Besides being genuinely interested, there are a slew of reasons why a guy might ask for a number. He needs an ego boost. He wants a quick way to end the conversation. He bet his buddy he could score more digits. The thing to remember here is that if he's into you, he will find a way to call. And, no, e-mailing, Facebooking or Twittering at him in the meantime isn't going to help your case. Give the guy a chance to pursue you — if he doesn't, he's not the one for you anyway.

2. When he says "I like your shirt/necklace/shoes" …

He means, "You look good." He may have an ulterior motive when he compliments you, but that doesn't make the praise any less sincere. The fact is, men are generally terrible at false flattery. Instead of accusing us of feeding you a line, just feel good about the fact that we've noticed something about you that's attractive and memorable. Just don't ask us to remember the brand of those cute shoes.

3. When he says "I've been busy lately" …

If you've dated less than six months, he means: "I've lost interest in you." If you've dated longer than that, he means "I like you, but I need to focus on other things." Usually, this is the classic guy blow-off, but there are exceptions. If you've dated for a few months and your guy is usually there for you, don't hit the panic button over his recent short bouts of inattention.

4. When he says, "I need some space" …

He means, "This relationship is moving too fast." Nobody's thrilled to hear this one, but "I need space" isn't always the kiss of death. Often men get excited about a new relationship and then struggle to turn down the temperature when they're suddenly seeing you six nights a week. First, confirm that he still wants to date. Any answer besides yes means you should take your toothbrush and get out of there, ASAP. Once that's confirmed, revert to early courtship behavior. Make him schedule thoughtful dates in order to see you. If the spark returns, still insist on a couple of girls-only nights a week for the next several months.

5. When he says "I love spending time with you" …

He means, "I love you … I think." Guys are notoriously hesitant about dropping the L-bomb outright. When your man starts talking about how he loves specific aspects of the relationship, that's probably his way of dipping his toe in those waters. You should feel good about where things stand, even if the three magic words aren't directly uttered.

6. When he says "I don't believe in marriage" …

He means "I'm not going to marry you." This is one of those maddening statements you simply can't overanalyze. He may truly oppose the institution. He may be immature. He may not care for you deeply enough. In any case, you have a better chance of making out with Brad Pitt than waiting for him to "come around." Either enjoy his company for what it is or move on.

7. When he says, "I don't feel like it tonight" …

He means, "I don't feel like it tonight." It's hard not to take sexual refusal personally, but if you're with a guy you've been sleeping with regularly, you really shouldn't. Men don't enjoy sex with a woman one day and suddenly find her undesirable the next. Unless the problem persists, it means only that he's tired or stressed — or both. Give him a massage instead and wait for his libido to rebound in a day or two.

8. When he says "I want this to last forever" …

He means "I'm really happy right now." Most things a guy says about the future should be taken with a grain of salt.That doesn't mean men are unreliable jerks. But it does mean that when it comes to relationship stability, you should look at what your guy is doing instead of focusing on what he's saying. Is he physically affectionate? Does he remember things that are important to you? Does he support you when you need it?

10 Dating Truths You Can't Ignore

By Holly Eagleson
From msn.com

Truth #1: You'll regret that "Just wanted to make sure you got my last message" follow-up to an e-mail, text, or voicemail.

Truth #2: If you don't feel comfortable having a conversation with a guy about sex — especially condoms — you shouldn't be getting busy with him.

Truth #3: If a man breaks up with you out of the blue, the out-of-the-blue part is really only on your end.

Truth #4: Just as it's best to wait to drop the L-bomb until your man does, let a guy change his Facebook status to "in a relationship" before you do.

Truth #5: No woman in a healthy long-term relationship has ever said, "Gee, I really wish I'd slept with him sooner."

Truth #6: Keeping a change of clothes at work in case of an emergency walk of shame isn't optimistic behavior … it's career-savvy.

Truth #7: When a guy repeatedly refers to his exes as "crazy," "psycho," or "sluts," he will use those same words against you one day.

Truth #8: If a relationship feels like too much work after the first month, it'll be 10 times harder a year from now.

Truth #9: A guy who rates you or other girls as a number from 1 to 10 is a loser, even if he gives you a 10. You're a woman, not county fair livestock.

Truth #10: A guy who talks about how skilled he is in the sack is like a man who brags about his money. Either way, he ain't got it. The kind of man you want to be with knows that actions speak louder than words. And thankfully, there are plenty of those types out there!