The second eye-locking-gaze across the conference table ...

The brush of hands turning into a tight grasp at the movie theater ...

The NEW MAIL indicator with their name in the “From’’ field ...

The Instant Messenger chimes with the greeting you've been waiting for ...

Typically, any of these events involving your new crush can launch the proverbial butterflies in your gut. Being in the freshman stage of a relationship is a euphoric and transcending feeling. Unless you regularly exercise mental strengthening activities, it’s utterly impractical to think with your brain when your heart is inflated with such exhilaration.

Dating has morphed into a modern and sometimes virtual event. Dating resources have ballooned compared to 20 years ago. We now have access to singles via the Internet and dating service companies that provide a user-friendly and enjoyable experience.

Karoline Myers, 32, tried speed dating last year. Although she enjoyed the opportunity to meet and network with new singles from all over the Gulf Coast, she did not make a love connection. She had better luck when she tried Internet dating hosted by the company that facilitated the speed-dating event.

“Michael and I met on http://www.Cupid.com,’’ Myers said. “I read his profile and sent him an eye contact. He replied to me with a message. We chatted online for awhile and then had our first phone conversation.’’

Three weeks later, the two went on a date.

“Our first date was fantastic. We had amazing conversation and made plans immediately for the next weekend,’’ Myers said. “Since our first date, we have spent all our free time together. We got engaged on Memorial Day, and we are planning our wedding in February. My parents did not like the idea of Internet dating, but they are now delighted that I have met such a wonderful man. His parents have welcomed me into their family, and I have never been happier.”

BE SAFE

Karoline and Michael have a happy ending to their Internet-inspired romance. But, regardless of how you met, beware of the false sense of security.

“The only tip I have for Internet dating is to be honest. You can meet someone with the same interests and hobbies as your own, and truly enjoy life together,” Myers said.

However, any dating experience must be paired with your own investigative skills. Be wise to early signs that trigger your uneasiness in your date. Signs such as:

- They are secretive or elusive regarding the past.
- They blame others for their problems … emotional, financial or otherwise.
- They ask for money or use of credit cards.
- They can never meet during weekends.
- They seem to be “out-of-town” often.
- They ask not to be contacted by telephone.
- You have never met co-workers, friends or family.
- You catch them in a lie, no matter how small.
- They want to speed up the pace beyond your comfort level.
- They tell stories with inconsistencies.

ALWAYS USE YOUR BEST JUDGMENT

Most Internet dating sites and speed-dating services work hard to screen out dishonest hopefuls, but assessing a person’s honesty is ultimately your responsibility.

Avoid giving out personal information early. Protect your home and work addresses and phone numbers. Once you divulge this information, you cannot take it back.

Just by being close in proximity to your purse, mail, vehicle and computer, your date can easily acquire information that could ultimate lead to identity theft. Identity theft is a serious crime that continues to rise with the use of the World Wide Web. For more information on identify theft, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s Identify Theft Web site at www.ftc.gov/IDTheft.

One thing to keep in mind, your date may also investigate you. So be upfront and honest about the important details of your life.

Above all else, use common sense. Pay attention to details, and if you find anything that doesn't seem to add up, follow your intuition and halt communication.

“When I meet a man, I always suggest that we keep in touch via MySpace. I use it as an investigative tool. It’s much easier to explore them by reading their profile, see who is in their network and read communications between Mr. Right and his ‘friends’,’’ said Jodi Stewart, 34, a part-time Pensacola-area resident.

Stewart has learned just how wrong Mr. Right can become when she recently followed her instincts.

“I met a very attractive musician, and after a few dates, I was slowly falling for him. We decided to meet up at a concert, and I totally enjoyed his company. The next morning I was playing back the night in my head, and one thing kept bothering me … I overheard him make a sketchy comment to his friend about the girls he meets on MySpace,’’ Stewart said.

“Letting my natural investigative instincts take over, I spent some time looking at the people on his ‘friends list’. I knew that it’s not uncommon for musicians to have two profiles … a personal one and a band profile. I found that this guy had an alter-ego on a third profile. The girls he communicated with here were unbelievably young,’’ she said.

“After somewhat recovering from this emotional blow, I confronted him. He clearly denied these accusations, but shortly afterward, this profile disappeared,’’ Stewart said. “Follow your gut instincts. I knew something was sketchy, and it sure was.’’

SMART DATING

The warm weather brings an atmosphere conducive to meeting new people. Using good judgment, natural investigative skills and gut instincts decreases the likeliness of encountering shady and predatory people.

Ultimately, you just want to have fun and not worry about the potential issues that may or may not occur if the relationship is pursued. Use the following tips to assist you in easing your conscience.

- Choose the time and place of your date wisely. Meet in a public place at a decent hour during which lots of people will be around. Lunch and coffee dates give you an opportunity for an easy getaway within a small period of time.

- Use your own transportation. Information found in your vehicle can contain personal information. Also, your comfort level will be increased if you know you have your own escape vehicle.

- Tell many friends, co-workers and family members about your plans. Identify a "check-in" contact to call after the date is over. Not only does this ensure that you return home safely, but is an opportunity to gush about a great evening as well as share your concerns.

- Charge your batteries! Have your cell phone charged and easily accessible. Carry a fully charged cell phone with easily accessible emergency numbers. Remember to have your In Case of Emergency (ICE) number entered. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_case_of_emergency

- Buy your own drinks, and keep your beverages with you. Doing this eliminates the potential for dates to impair your judgment by offering additional alcohol or supplementing your Dirty Martini with judgment-altering drugs.

DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH

There are a variety of methods that are free and easy to use when investigating your date.

- Type your date’s name into a search engine such as Google.com, Yahoo.com, or Ask.com.

- Access your county public records for marriage, divorce, mortgage and court information, to name a few options.

- Additionally, use a paid service to obtain a full background report. For example, http://www.net-detective.com is a top-rated best fee-based investigative service.

FREE ONLINE INVESTIGATE RESOURCES

- Escambia County Public Records Online:
 http://www.clerk.co.escambia.fl.us/public_records_accept.html

- Santa Rosa County Public Records Online:
 http://oncoreweb.srccol.com/oncoreweb/Search.aspx

- Okaloosa County Public Records Online:
 http://officialrecords.clerkofcourts.cc

- State of Florida Public Records:
 http://www.stateofflorida.com/Portal/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=13

- Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser - Greg Brown:
 http://www.srcpa.org

- Escambia County Florida Property Appraiser:
 http://www.escpa.org/

- Santa Rosa County Court and Traffic Records:
 http://oncoreweb.srccol.com/srccol/party5.asp

- Sexual Offender/Predator Search - Santa Rosa County:
 http://maps.roktech.net/santarosa/offender

- Corrections Offender Network:
 http://www.dc.state.fl.us/inmateinfo/inmateinfomenu.asp