I can’t count how many of my friends have been in ‘conditional’ relationships with guys. You know the kind—he’s not quite emotionally available, but more than happy to roll through the aisles of your heart, filling his cart up with your compassion, understanding and feminine energy like a frenzied contestant on Supermarket Sweep. Just last week I had dinner with a college friend who told me about a summer love that she recently cut off because the dude wasn’t over his ex (and, apparently, still hanging around with her). When she realized—after several months of his empty assurances—that there…

I think I’m ready to test the online-dating waters again. It’s been a year since I cancelled my JDate membership and for those of you who’ve yet to venture into that world, let me tell you, it’s not all roses and butterflies. Before I joined JDate the first time, I was more than a little hesitant. Was my future husband really waiting in a sea of thumbnail-size photos on a computer screen? I naively watched a series of success story videos showcasing elated Jewish couples parading their newborn babies, outfitted in over-priced onesies and matching headbands. I bought a three-month membership …

A year ago, after breaking up with a boyfriend, I found myself staring into a plate of chocolate cake, surrounded by middle-aged women giving me dating advice. The gooey richness before me did nothing to alleviate the small death I experienced as the women — about 10 of them, some never married, most divorced (some more than once) — told me all the things I needed to do to land a guy. These women — a group of family friends — were all dating experts, apparently. Between discussion of the best dry cleaning bargains and an unnecessarily detailed conversation about their medical problems, the …