Blackout
by Dave

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Couple kissing in the dark on their date

Technology's great, but sometimes I think we're bombarded with way too much information every second of the day. Once in a while it's healthy to unplug and just enjoy each other's company without distraction, which may mean a walk in the woods, relaxing at the beach, or even a blackout. I grew up in snow country and used to love it when the power went out and we had to pass the time with board games in front of the fire, reading by candlelight, and just talking. You'll be amazed at how peaceful and different a silent house can feel by candlelight. Unfortunately, most areas never experience power outages and, let's face it, when they do it's usually at the worst possible time. So I say why not schedule one? Stock up on candles, firewood, and batteries, choose a good night of the week, and take a break from the world.

Starting the date out with dinner by candlelight is a must; either prepare the meal before your date arrives or make it together. Once it's on the table and ready to go, head over to the circuit breaker and flip those switches (not the ones for the water heater or fridge). Make sure there are enough candles on the table to see the food and pull out a battery-powered music player for some light dinner music.

If you don't want to just sit around and talk after dinner, try one of the following ideas:

Kissing
With a romantic setting like this you might as well go all the way! Try our kissing date idea to add some cuddling to your blackout.
Games
Play card games like cribbage and gin rummy or a board game like Scrabble, Backgammon and Monopoly. You can make it more interesting by playing for prizes like winner gets a back rub or massage, loser has to keep the fire going, or whatever. Use your imaginations!
Reading
Depending on your choice of material, reading by candlelight in a dark room can be either romantic or delightfully creepy. For romance, short stories or poetry are good choices, mine being something like Robert Frost or Wallace Stegner. For creepy, maybe some Edgar Allen Poe or even something suspenseful like a Sherlock Holmes mystery. Feel free to suggest your favorites!
Listening
If you’d rather sit back and relax with a drink, try a book on cd instead of reading. Libraries usually have a great selection or you might have a blast listening to an old radio broadcast like Sherlock Holmes, The Shadow, or War of the Worlds.
Massage
Spread a blanket out in front of the fire, open up the massage oil and have fun! Take turns giving each other full body massages, foot rubs, or whatever. If you're not an experienced masseuse, you can find a great massage date idea here.

It's fun to have plenty of candles around the house but make sure to be safety-conscious. Short candles with a wide base work best.

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