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I have another good friend who's going through a divorce right now. It can be unsettling, but we're here with you to support you. heart

OMG OMG OMG OH MY EFFING GAWD!!!
I had my first "date" on Monday. A nice guy that I met about a month ago... Long story short, it was a pretty good date, although nothing seemed to work out quite as we expected.
(The restaurant he wanted to take me to was closed, we stayed over the meter limit, he was running late when I arrived etc.)
Long story short I NEED HELP!

I had a BBQ to go to later on that night, which he was disappointed about because he said he would have liked to spend the whole day with me ("aww", right?). So I told him that I would text him after the BBQ to let him know if I was down for hanging out later on in the evening.
But... I ended up partying all night at the BBQ and totally spaced texting him! What's worse is that I didn't actually text him until tonight, and he admitted that he had been worried about it all week because I hadn't texted him.

I apologized profusely and told him that I've been doing so much that it just slipped my mind. But man... I feel soooo bad! Especially since he really spent a lot of money on our first date dinner. And I know how it is to be stood up.
Any suggestions for making it up to him?

Oh no, Mira! That's terrible! rofl (yet extremely funny) I agree with Scythe on this one. If he really likes you, he will put up with things that go wrong. biggrin

Regardless of inactivity of this particular thread I'm pretty sure people are going to wonder, "Who is that new guy posting up in mah thread?" Myup, that's just me; some random guy. Some random guy who has been through his fair share of relationships and to be frank with you the ABSOLUTE WORST thing you can do for your love life is to create a standard set of rules for yourself. Even so much as standards will screw yourself over. There are the few things you should keep in mind like the casual social convention ideals here and there, but the extreme things you see in magazines about doing this or that with your partner tend to be false. (Having read some of the women's magazines myself, from a guy's perspective, it's mostly bollocks.) But I digress, to answer your querries;

Generally you're going to find and meet people you'd be romantically interested with in places you, yourself like to be doing. Like say, if you like books you'll most likely find someone you like to strike a casual conversation with at a library or book store. It's obvious to say if you're doing things you don't like to meet someone you hope to like, chances are you're not going to find someone. I've had so many of my non-drinking friends try and meet other people at downtown venues and in-turn they end up meeting crazy people with crazy lifestyles who don't suit them. Again, just go around doing things you like and eventually strike a casual conversation with them. Which seems to be an entirely different situation. @.@

Casual conversation; it's always been a contradiction to our subconscious to talk to random people simply because most of our childhood we've been raised to the intimidating prospect to never talk to strangers and here we are twenty years later in a dilemma. It's as simple as casually walking up to the person and saying, "Hi my name is _____." and then subsequently providing some topic off the top of your head. Like if you happen to be at the bookstore you could be commentating on whatever section you're currently browsing or even the book(s) he or she may have in hand. The same works for getting in touch with old friends, but just keep in mind a lot can change in the span of whatever time you've lost with them. I know the last two weeks of my life have certainly changed me. AHEM!

Shelf life for relationships? That's silly, there isn't any statistic on that. If there is, it's silly. The topic of sex, I'll leave for last because I feel like I could ramble all day about that. Anyway, romance! True romance?...True love? only 10% of my relationships have actually been serious and I've stopped counting at fourteen. Haven't entered the double digits for sexual partners, mind you. But I hope that helps in relevance of your query.

Now for sex; hmmm. The best way to go about is whenever you're comfortable. Even as a guy I've had plenty of relationships (especially in ones I felt overwhelmed in) where we would engage in some sexual activity and I wouldn't be even the slightest bit comfortable. Which doesn't make for a positive experience and in the long-run anything good at all. As long as both of you and your significant other are comfortable, I say go for it. Otherwise it'll be just as awkward as virgin sex...or drunk sex. Eugh.

Heartbreaks...currently going over one right now and at this point I've already got a 'system' per se, in place. Started with oodles of comfort food. Namely cookie dough and strawberry cheesecake icecream. I'd go drinking, but drinking alone is pretty depressing and in the event of that happening, I would probably have to castrate my own--anyway. Comfort food, music and movies revolving heart break helps to get over any depressed feelings you have. Which dealing with depression can be tough but I've learned there isn't anyone going to care enough about your own depression. There are few people that will, but none of them to actually volunteer to help you get through it with a hug or a beer. And I know people say time will eventually deal with it but not to get too cynical, I've learned that not even time cares if you're depressed. It's usually for your own to try and get over depression. However, the whole process of a heartbreak is still mentally enduring. But I've been listening to a lot of grunge and blues music lately, a few feel good songs here and there but it's what helps me get through. Any vivid reminders of that past relationship might be a good idea to distance yourself from as well. I hope that helps? Relationships can be tough, I'm still trying to get control of my own love life at the moment. @.@