Imagine a first date where there's very little awkwardness, the location for dinner and the movie is completely at your discretion and there's no question that you'll get along splendidly with your date. In fact, even though it may be a first date, you already know this person quite well.

I'm proposing that this Valentine's Day, your dream date is yourself. This can be in lieu of a date with another human being or in addition to one. I don't care. Heck, it doesn't even have to be this Valentine's Day - you can really date yourself at any time. It's not like you're going to lose touch with yourself.

Not everyone is lucky enough to be with someone this time of year, but that doesn't mean you have to sit at home alone when all your friends and family have made other plans. I'm aware that several of you out there already have the chutzpah to see concerts alone, visit museums alone and wine and dine yourself alone. I commend you. On the other hand, I know a lot of people who dread spending time in public by themselves, and no matter how badly they want to see that cheesy movie that none of their friends want to see, they would rather wait until it comes out on video instead of muttering the words, " 'High School Musical 3,' for one, please."

It doesn't have to be this way, and I wanted to prove it. So, last Wednesday, I took myself on a traditional date - dinner and a movie. Spending time alone doesn't typically bother me much, but I had never done either of these activities solo. Admittedly, like I would be before a real first date, I was a little nervous. I put a little extra effort in my appearance that day and spent most of my morning at work mentally prepping myself for the big date. I even checked my teeth to make sure my lunch wasn't wedged between any of them.

I left work for a 1:40 p.m. movie at Regal (Hoyts) Cinema, 282 Loudon Road. Which brings me to self-dating benefit numero uno.

You can work around your own schedule.

I know 1:40 p.m. isn't a typical "date" time, but the movie I wanted to see only had a 1:40 p.m. showing and a 7:50 p.m. showing. I was positive I wanted to do dinner after the movie, so I wouldn't be rushed. I like leisurely dining. Also, I already had plans for the weekend, so I had to wedge myself in on a weeknight.

I arrived at Regal and quickly got over my first self-dating fear. " 'Bride Wars' for one, please," I said to the woman behind the counter. I don't know if I was thinking she was going to look at me like I had two heads (in that case, would it be " 'Bride Wars' for two?") or would say loudly, for all those passing by to hear, "Okay, you poor, lonely being. That will be $6.25, please." I was pleasantly surprised when she swiped my credit card, handed me the ticket with a smile and said, "That will be to your left." I exhaled and escorted myself to theater five. I was ready to watch me some chick flick, because you know what?

You can do what you really want to do.

I've been wanting to see "Bride Wars" since I started seeing previews for it during "Sex and the City" reruns. Most of my friends don't live in the area, so it can be difficult to make impromptu plans with them. Also, even though I wanted to see the movie, I didn't want to see it badly enough to start surveying which of my friends I could drag with me. I figured I could wait for the rental, because I knew there was absolutely no way my boyfriend, Rob, would see it with me either. When I found out I would be dating myself for The Insider, though, I knew it would be the perfect opportunity to see what crazy antics Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway were up to.

I told Rob about my plans to see "Bride Wars," and he responded with, "Oh, you mean that awful terrible movie that we keep seeing previews for?"

Case in point.

I know that if I begged Rob and offered to pay for him and a large popcorn, he would have gone out of his undying love for me, but I didn't want to force him to go see something he wasn't interested in. He already lets me control the TV remote most of the time, so I didn't want to push it. (next page »)