[Kristie]

just to add to everyone else's excellent advice...

you've probably heard the trend in the posts that communication is EVERYTHING... it is not at all demanding, per se, to ask for 5 minutes out of everyday just to hear a voice on the other line..whether it's saying hi or "on my way to JFK" or whatever....however, if you were to demand that you talk everyday for an hour, well, that'd just be another situation entirely. One thing you'll learn here is patience really IS a virtue!! but you have to also make sure that you don't get taken advantage of also.

however... i do have to add a hint of caution that your in a VERY new relationship that has a lot of different boundaries from a *typical* everyday "'there" relationship...you cannot be naive, if you think you see red flags.. you have to face them right then and there...

and in all honesty, i would say keep making this a "fun" relationship.. your dating, it's all new...take your time, get to know him via distance whether it's by phone, email, chat sessions, letter/card, text message.. whatever means necessary.. but do not stop dating other people or start thinking exclusive yet...the relationship is too new for you to start thinking on a really long term scale. I'd say once you get to a year of being together, then you can start thinking more seriously...

but right now, you just want to get to know the guy.. on the inside...that's where relationships like these are actually helpful. Altho he's away, you can get to know the inner person via other methods than IN person kwim? i'd expect you to take full advantage of that aspect because the inner person is going to tell you more information than you would ever want to know AND it might give you the red flags a lot faster also.

ironing out the wrinkles in a relationship is never easy but knowing the person on the inside really helps you figure out how to do so in a more efficient way.

so keep having fun with this, don't get too serious too quickly and make sure you continue dating each other until you both (and i mean BOTH) are ready to take this to the next level.

oh and i totally ditto on the racy pics...doug's latest captain recently showed him a cellphone picture of his girlfriend "doing the whip cream thing on her chest and i was like eewwwww, i didn't need to see that" (as he said it). the only thing doug thought was absolutely hilarious was that the guys feet were in every single photo cuz he was sitting when he took them (weird!!)

so even in the major's guys tend to brag and show the pics around....in the regionals, i think it's much worse simply because of age and immaturity.