Dating can be a lot of fun -- the thrill of a first kiss, the feeling of really connecting with a person, the joy of meeting someone new.

But the dating scene can also leave a lot of room for confusion. Is it old-fashioned to split the check on a first date? Does Fido get the right to weigh in on your potential dates? What's the proper etiquette for playing the field? Does anybody ever find love on MySpace?

Never fear! As a single, sometimes hapless twenty-something, I am here to guide you through the funny, the fabulous and the just plain weird bits of the Baltimore dating scene by telling your stories, sharing mine, and talking to some experts, too. On this blog, we will talk about the places to go, the people we've met and possibly how to find the people you want to know.

Here's how it will work: A new topic for the week will be posted on Monday, and as I throw out questions and share some of my research, you fair Baltimoreans can weigh in and share your thoughts and experiences, too. And as a bonus, a column on the week's topic will be published every Saturday in Go Today.

Monday's topic: Is the pick-up line dead? What's the worst you've used or heard? What's the most effective? What's the best pick-up alternative? And how has the pick-up line changed in the digital era?