Try to get on a first name basis with a woman before you do anything else. Try to keep your introduction as simple as possible. For example, you can walk up to a woman that you’d like to talk to and just say, “Hi. My name is ____.” Make sure that you smile at her and make eye contact as you introduce yourself. You might also offer to shake her hand as well. Asking a question is a great way to get a conversation started with a woman that you are interested in. Try asking a question that will invite the woman to tell you about herself. By focusing your attention on her and showing genuine interest in what she says, you will show off some of your positive qualities and you may even feel less anxious as well. Try asking a question that will help you get to know the person better. For example, you could ask something like, “What brings you to the library today?” Or “How do you like your coffee?” Positivity is an attractive trait, so try to keep your comments positive and bright. For example, you could comment on the nice weather, the great coffee, or the pleasant surroundings. Try saying something like, “I love the weather we have been having!” Or, “This is the best latte I have had in a long time.” Or, “I always enjoy coming to this library. It is such a cool place!” Compliments are a great way to lighten the mood and make someone feel good about themselves. Give compliments that are genuine, straightforward, and not too personal. For example, you might say something like, “You have a beautiful smile!” Or, “I love your taste in books!” After you have chatted for a bit, you may have a sense of whether or not this woman is someone that you would like to get to know better. If she is, then you should ask her if she’d like to spend some time with you. There are several ways that you can go about this including:  Making a direct request. For example, you could say something like, “I am really enjoying our conversation. Would you like to go meet up for coffee or dinner sometime this weekend so that we can talk more?” Suggesting a date. You could say something like, “What are you up to this weekend?” If she responds with something like “Not much,” then you could say, “I was planning on going to the art museum. Would you like to join me?”

Summary: Introduce yourself. Ask her a question. Say something positive. Pay her a compliment. Request a date.


This is the John F. Kennedy accent that is so famous. It's the elite version of the Boston accent. It's a very different Boston accent from, say, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in “Good Will Hunting.”   Obviously, Kennedy is the gold standard for Brahmin dialects. To master it, why not watch some of his old speeches on YouTube? For example, you can find his opening statement in the 1960 presidential debate online.  U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is another politician who speaks with a Brahmin accent. If trying to speak in a Boston Brahmin accent, use the Boston English, but with a British tone. Some people think the Boston Brahmin accent is harder to find these days. It's the upper-crust accent more associated with English immigration. Brahmin accents are more likely to put the emphasis on a back vowel not a front or center vowel. For example, Harvard is pronounced "Hahvid." Blue-collar Boston accents can change slightly depending on the specific working-class neighborhood they derive from.  Speak in a Southie Boston dialect. The South Boston dialect is sometimes called “Southie.” Southie is the dialect used in working class Boston areas that were made up of Irish, Italian and other immigrant groups. Some blue-collar Bostonians replace "r" with "v." For example, the word brains becomes “bvains.” An example of a Southie accent would be Ben Affleck's role in the movie, the Town. This accent is closest to the stereotypical Irish accent, and is most heavily influenced by the Irish. The north end and east end dialects have some Italian immigrant influence. To learn a Boston accent, strike up conversations with real Bostonians or watch videos of real Bostonians speaking. Observe how they speak. If you listen to a lot of people speaking with a real Boston accent, it will be easier to pick up.  You can also look up “Boston to English” dictionaries online that will translate common words into different dialects used in Boston.   Study people who speak who have the strongest accents possible. It's easier to learn it that way. Finding a native speaker of the accent and speaking with them in person is the best yet. So go to Boston. Don't just listen to them talk, either. Study their facial movements when they talk and try to mimic them by looking into a mirror while you speak. You could hire a voice coach. They will have you listen to a native speaker, and then they will record you saying the same words. Or, they will ask you to answer questions. Then, the conversation will be more natural. There are many YouTube videos that describe how to speak a Boston accent. One of the best ways to learn how to do it is to watch the locals speaking in their natural habitat, such as a city council member talking at a meeting.   You can find books with CDS that will teach you how to speak different Boston accents, such as Southie.

Summary: Speak in a Brahmin dialect. Learn neighborhood differences. Listen to people speak with the accent.


Start wiping down your furniture to remove any dirt and debris. Try wiping down the piece with a clean, slightly damp rag first. Then take a cleaning wipe like Lysol or Clorox and go back over it. You don’t want any dust or grit to get stuck under your coats of paint. Before you start painting, be sure to remove any handles, buttons, or decorative items that you don’t want to paint over. As you remove them, pay attention to where they went and how they were installed. This will make it easier when you have to put everything back on. Place each piece into a ziploc bag so they don’t get lost after you start painting. If you are painting an older piece or one you purchased from a thrift store, be sure to check it for any marks. Look over the piece first for large discolorations, indents, or scratches. Then run your hands over the item just to be sure. If you find any, use a filler like Elmer’s Wood Filler and a putty knife to close up the gouges. You can also leave these marks if you would prefer a more dated and worn look. Take a fine grit sandpaper like Pro Grade Precision 220 and use a sponge or sanding block for consistent pressure. This will keep your sanding even. Work from the top downward. Make sure to sand with the grain as sanding against it can deeply damage the wood. Vacuum off and wipe down the furniture again once you’ve finished.
Summary: Clean off your furniture. Remove any hardware. Fill in gouges and deep scratches when needed. Sand down wood furniture.