. Don't try to impress your date by acting like you're someone you're not. Being yourself will create a longer-lasting impression because people can tell when you're being authentic. Not only that, but you'll have a much better time if you're able to relax and just be you. A great attitude makes an impression on someone. Show your date that you have a zest for life and are happy to be out with them, and they'll be more likely to get you stuck in their mind. Gush about the activity. Say, "I'm so excited we decided to try this!" Point out things you like about the place. Say, "Wow, I love how they decorated the walls with local art." Everyone loves to hear good things about themself, especially from someone they're out on a date with. Your date will likely be nervous, and giving them a compliment can be a great way to put them into a good mood. If they're feeling good about the date, then they'll likely be feeling good about you, too. Say, "That shirt looks great on you," or "Wow, I think those are the coolest shoes I've ever seen." If they're wearing a brand or style you're familiar with, comment on it. Say, "I see you're a fan of leather, too. That's a great jacket." . Listen to what your date has to say, and show them that you care by repeating parts back to them. Try not to interrupt them, and don't hog the conversation with stories about yourself. Make eye contact and nod along. Repeat part of what they said back to them to show that you're listening and care about what they say. For example, say, "Wow, I can't believe that your lost dog walked across the state to get back to you. It's so great that you guys were reunited." While you want to know a lot about your date and want the conversation to keep moving, don't just ask them a bunch of questions. You don't want your date to feel interrogated. Instead, build off of their answers. After they tell you their favorite style of music, say, "I love alt-rock, too. There's a local record store that holds free concerts a few times a month." Give them a chance to talk more about the topic or ask you something before you ask another question. Don't rely on getting to know each other for the whole conversation because it could wreck the vibe of your date. Instead, point out things that are going on during the date and comment about them. This will also help them remember the fun they had with you in addition to what they learned about you. If there's music playing, make a comment about the song. Say, "It's been forever since I heard this song, but it still makes me feel like dancing." Laughing at yourself shows that you can be relaxed and take things in stride. This will show your date that you're easy to be around. It also shows that you have a sense of humor and can be an entertaining date. Point out your goofs and laugh. This could be your gutter balls during bowling, your stray balls at mini golf, or the toppings that slid off your pizza. While it's fun to laugh at your mistakes, pointing out your personal flaws on a first date will make you look insecure. It's also no fun for your date, so don't talk about how your eyes are too close together, you want to lose weight, or you hope your skin clears up soon. Instead, keep the conversation light and fun. Don't tell them what you hate about your appearance. Don't apologize for how you look. Sometimes the most memorable events aren't planned, so be flexible on your date. If the opportunity to do something exciting comes up, take it. For example, you and your date might be offered free tickets to a concert, you may come across a fireworks display or an outdoor event put on by your city, or you may notice an interesting venue near where you planned to have your date. Go with the flow. Don't be locked into your plans if you have a chance to do something memorable.

Summary: Be yourself Be enthusiastic. Give them a compliment. Be a good listener Avoid asking too many questions. Create conversation. Laugh at yourself. Avoid discussing your problems or flaws. Be spontaneous.

Combine five parts dark vinegar with one part salt, mixing well to dissolve the salt. You should prepare enough of the solution to completely cover your brass piece. Use a plastic or glass container since a metal container can have a reaction to the chemicals present, thereby tainting the process. Dark vinegar refers to any vinegar available in a deep shade, like black vinegar or balsamic vinegar. Submerge your brass piece in the salted-vinegar solution, making sure that all sides are covered. Allow it to soak for an hour or more. When submerging more than one piece of brass, make sure that nothing overlaps and that none of the pieces touch during this part of the process. Preheat the oven anywhere from 400 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit (200 to 230 degrees Celsius). The higher the temperature, the more dramatic the patina will be. If desired, prepare a metal baking sheet by lining it with aluminum foil. You can leave the foil off, but leaving the pan unprotected may cause the pan to become discolored. Remove the brass from the vinegar solution and place it onto your prepared metal baking sheet. Bake it for 60 minutes, or until you like the appearance of the developing patina. Note that the look that develops during this time will not be the final look. Take the brass out of the oven and submerge it into the solution again for about 5 minutes, coating all sides of the piece. Return the brass to the oven and bake for another 30 minutes. Use tongs when handling the brass since the metal will be extremely hot. Remove the brass from the oven using tongs and dunk it into your vinegar solution again, coating all sides well. This final submerging will create a blue-green patina. If you do not want this tint of color, though, skip this step and move onto the next one after taking the brass out of the oven. Spread out two or three sheets of wax paper, layering them one on top of the other, and place the brass on top. Set it aside until dry and cool to the touch. This can take anywhere from a few hours to overnight. A nice patina should have developed by this point, so the brass can technically be left as is. If desired, you can buff the piece with a clean rag to enhance the appearance, or #0000 steel wool to lighten it. You should also consider sealing your piece in clear lacquer or soft wax to preserve the patina finish.

Summary: Make a solution of vinegar and salt. Soak the brass in your solution. Meanwhile, preheat the oven. Bake the brass piece. Reapply the vinegar solution and continue baking. Submerge the brass again. Dry and cool. Finish the brass piece.

Your approach (your sprint down the runway) will make a big difference in how far you end up jumping. You want to get up to speed in your first few sprints and then maintain your speed until you jump. Practice this by doing approach runs on a track. Don't actually go through with the jump, just focus on getting up to speed and maintaining your velocity. Designate a take off spot on the track and then stop when you reach it. Go back to where you started after you finish and try again. Practice doing jumps without the approach. Stand in place and bend your knees, placing one foot in front of the other. Bend your body so your upper torso is parallel with the floor. Hold your arms at your sides and extend them straight back so they're also parallel with the floor. When you're ready, lift your body and propel yourself into a jump. Raise both of your arms up and over your head. Land with both feet flat on the floor. Each time you do the drill, mark where you landed. On your next attempt, try to beat your last mark. Find a long jump pit to practice in. Do a short 2-3 step approach down the runway and jump when you reach the takeoff board. Work on getting your legs up and out in front of you. You want your heels to be the first part of your body to make contact with the pit. Repeat the drill until you feel comfortable with your landings.
Summary: Practice your approach with approach drills. Do jumping drills. Work on your landings.