5 Tips For Furnishing a Waiting Room

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The waiting room of an office, a clinic, or another establishment provides the customer or the visitor with a preview of what to expect with the whole place. chat ave adult Create a good first impression in the waiting room, and people will expect a better experience when they get into the main office. adult open chat

And so, it is imperative that you take time to think about what should your waiting room look like. And if you already have one, you should determine what needs to be changed and what needs to be improved. Here are the top five tips with regards redesigning your waiting area.

1. Increase space. You want your visitor to feel comfortable and relaxed. This can be easily provided if the room is spacious. Even if there are a lot of people there waiting, when the room doesn’t become crowded, the number of people won’t affect the disposition of every one person waiting there.

Make sure that your furniture save space and are not bulky. They can be simple cushioned or non cushioned benches that will accommodate people. Leave as much spaces for the alleys. Also, if your establishment expects to have people of all ages visiting them, consider making simple activities available.

For young kids, there can be a play area equipped with generally safe toys like rubber balls, stuffed toys, etc. Magazines, a TV, or music may also be provided for the older individuals.

2. Can accommodate as many as possible. Consider the number of people who will be there at peak hours. You should be able to have enough seats for them. The maximum number of people during the peak times will be your basis when determining the seating capacity of the waiting area. If possible, have a few more extra seats.

But, do not provide too many seats as you would not want your visitors to feel alienated or alone in such a big space if there are not too many people present.

3. Provide good ventilation. Regardless of the amount of space that you have, make sure that you equip the waiting room with air conditioning units, electric fans, heaters, or whatever you need to provide a comfortable atmosphere to the place. Exhaust fans may also be helpful if the weather in your place is very warm.

4. Keep the area clean. Regular dusting and cleaning should be done to the furniture present. The place will be more appealing to your guests. Also, your furnishings will last longer if you are doing proper maintenance. Furthermore, offensive smells can be removed from the dirt or liquids that have clung to your furniture.

Take out old furniture that you think you will no longer need. If you can, regularly change your furnishings as sometimes, no amount of cleaning or maintenance can significantly decrease the wear and tear on these items.

5. Don’t overdo the design. Make the space look simple and uncluttered. Your guests will be able to relax more if you use minimalistic design. Be wise in adding a few accessories here and there but keep in mind the space that is left for your guests to use.

Use different colors that you think will be most suitable. But avoid becoming too bold in your choice of colors. People have different tastes in colors so you should opt to stick to the safe ones like neutral colors or pale shades.

Media Player Shootout

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Whether you call them media players, jukeboxes, mp3 apps, music managers, or whatever – we all need a proggy to listen to our digital music with. For the sake of this article I am only going to discuss players you can get for free and I am not going to go into p2p apps.

So with that, lets dive right in. For my money there are are only 3 choices – Winamp, iTunes, or Windows Media Players – but I’ll talk a little about RealPlayer 10 as well. All of these applications share baseline features – playing various media files, cataloging digital media, etc. We’ll focus on things about them that are different.

Back in the day, we had Winamp, and it was good. Unfortunately the original Nullsoft team has all moved on and instead of the hacker cred that Winamp used to have back when Justin Frankel et all were on the job it is now just another corporate media player with a hazy future.

Winamp lost a lot of momentum that it had when it released a ( very ) bad Winamp3 – but with the release of Winamp5 they seem to be back on track – it is useable, responsive, and has a lot of plugins and skins created for it.

The major problem is that for all of it’s features it is not much, if any, better then the two dominant media players that are tied to successful music stores iTunes and WMP. Additionally you have to pay $14.95 to get the pro version that add features that iTunes and WMP include for free. One of the bonuses of using Winamp is the ability to tune into all of the cool shoutcast radio stations.

iTunes is, of course, is the digital jukebox front end for the iPod and the iTunes music store from apple computer. The iTunes music store was the first to get pay for digital music downloads right and it still has the largest legal downloadable catalog on the net giving the iTunes jukebox a hefty advantage.

If you are using a Mac then it is a no brainer – you should be using iTunes as you media player, but even if you are using Windows iTunes provides an attractive alternative. The iTunes store is superior ( imho ) to the Windows Media based stores such as Napster and with the legendary Apple ease of use in full effect iTunes makes a great Windows based Jukebox. Noteworthy is the Apple Lossless codec that allows one to rip CD’s to the ACC format that sound as good as the CD itself to our ears. On the negative side, the iTunes jukebox feels heavy on moderately powered PC’s compared to Winamp or WMP. It runs a little slower, seems to use more resources, etc.

Last (of yea, except for RealPlayer… ) Windows Media Player 10 is one of Microsoft’s best pieces of software and is some much better then the last generation of MS media players. The jukebox itself is stuffed with features such as its ability to monitor changes to your digital media files and update itself, simple sync and burn, ratings, and the auto tag features are all very nice.

One of the changes in V.10 is the ability to rip files if the format and with ( or without ) the DRM of your choice. You also get the ability to listen to Internet radio streams with WMP, and although they tend to be more corporate then the hip shoutcast radio you can still find some good music. WMP also features a lossless ripping of CD’s but I was less impressed with the results then I was with Apples Lossless.

And finally there is RealPlayer. The free RealPlayer 10 is better then previous version although that is not saying much imho. It still takes over your file formats by default, tries to force you register, runs in the background (phoning home ?) unless you can find the settings to tell it not to – all of the problems that it has always have. I say stay as far away from Real as possible even if you can use “Harmony” to use your iPod with the Real store. While I may be being over critical of Real’s jukebox – I do think that there are other alternatives that are less intrusive and have better feature sets.

All in all I think that either iTunes or WMP is a solid choice and far and away the best media players available. Winamp is a okay too as long as you don’t need to rip music or burn it back to a CD – but it is worth the download and install just to listen to Shoutcast stations from time to time. Personally I use WMP at work and iTunes are home, so take that for what it’s worth. I think that I like WMP a little better, but not so much that I would take the time to switch my iTunes set up at home.

Key Concerns for a Quality Wedding Videographer

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Wedding day is special for all of us and we always wish to make it a memorable one. The best way of creating long-lasting memories of your wedding day is by hiring professional and reliable wedding videography services. There are many professional companies that have been working in the direction to provide customers with quality services in this regard. Before choosing a particular one, you need to be very vigilant because if not chosen carefully, there are chances of getting you complete wedding video spoiled.

Some of the key concerns for professional and reliable wedding videography services have been explained below. These include:

Experience

Whatever company one is looking for, experience is the first and the foremost factor that matters. If the company is experienced, you would definitely achieve the highest quality results. Same goes with wedding videography as well. Leaving your work in the hands of an experienced company can provide you desired results but if you choose an inexperienced company, there are chances of ending up in disappointment. That is why, it is extremely important to choose a company with enough know-how and expertise of dealing with all your wedding related projects properly.

Quality camera

This is another major feature that should always be given priority before you choose a particular company for your wedding videos. Make sure that the company you are choosing makes use of high tech and advanced cameras capable of clicking excellent videos.

Videography packages

Most of the companies today offer videography packages to suit different tastes, requirements and budget. The packages include some of the thrilling options like steadicam, glidecam, HD Bluray discs, jib crane and much more.

Budget

Last but not the least is the budget factor. It is extremely important to have a clear picture of budget in your mind if you do not want to spend extra out of what you have actually planned. Budget planning in advance can save you from lot of hassles and dissatisfaction. All these factors are very important and need to be considered before you finalize a particular company for all your wedding videography related requirements.

There are many professional companies that are rendering high quality services in this regard. Choosing a particular one sometimes becomes a bit confusing and troublesome task. Taking help from websites can be a good decision in this regard. There are many websites that can help you in finding the best company of your choice.

Things to Consider for an Effective Logo Design

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With the growing rivalry in online marketing today, logo design has started playing a pivotal role in establishing identity for a brand. A logo is equally important for an organization that does not have an online presence. But, the significance is more for an online entity. The reason can sought from the fact that you can find a considerably large number of companies offering the same range of products or services on internet. Out of which there are several that have similar brand names, so much so that, many of them have very similar company names. They can only be differentiated based on their website designs and domain TLDs ie. .org, .com, .net., .biz etc. Doesn’t it become confusing? Yes, it does. Hence, a logo design is the only thing that proves as an authentic tool for differentiation.

Things to consider for an effective logo design:

Name of the organization/product/service: This is the first thing to consider before getting ready to get a logo design for your business. Be clear whether you need a product specific logo or a brand specific logo. There should not be any confusion about this, as it might result in unhappy results. Remember, a logo carries the essence of your company and brand and you would not be changing your logo design time and again, doing so can hamper your brand’s image badly. So do not make haste at all.

Slogans or Punch-lines: It is another important thing that should be taken into account beforehand. Ask yourself the questions like– What all you wish to get included to the logo? Should it have a punch line or slogan? Should it include just the initials of your company’s or brand name or the complete name? Answering these questions will give you an idea about of probable logo design.

Color schemes and graphics: This is the time to decide what color schemes or graphics you would like on the logo. As the recent trends, most of the organizations are using a specific color combination as their brand identity. Remember the red on Virgin and the blue on Facebook? The color of your logo is certainly an important part of your its design. Secondly, if you need any specific graphic design or image on your logo, make it clear. For instance, you can use the graphic theme of a house if you are a building or construction company, or a writing pad or pen if your business relates to education.

The message: The final step is to decide what you wish your logo design to convey to the people. As I already said, your logo will be carrying the essence of your business, so it must convey a candid message to your potential customers. Try to make a logo as easier as possible. One should get an idea about the nature of your business, just by having a look on the logo.

Now when you are ready with all these four main aspects of your logo design, approach a professional who you think can carry this responsibility for you. It will be easier for both you and your designer to understand and communicate while designing the logo.

Dating After Divorce

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Getting back in the dating world after a divorce can be difficult and downright scary. Unfortunately, divorce can leave you emotionally scarred and feeling less than desirable to the opposite sex. It is important to take a step back and evaluate what you want and what you are ready before jumping into the dating scene once again.

You don’t have to rush back into a serious relationship. Enjoy dating and just getting out there to meet new people. You need to take the time to discover who you are now and what you really want in a relationship. Getting too serious too fast after a divorce can lead into some major problems. Date many different types of women before you settle down again.

Your self esteem has probably taken a big hit, so it is best to take some “me” time to work on yourself physically and emotionally. It is an excellent time to join a gym or take up a new sport or hobby. Until you face the emotional baggage you have from your past relationship, you cannot have a healthy relationship. Take the time to figure out your past mistakes to make sure you do not repeat them with your future relationships. If you need professional help to get over emotional issues, seek it out before you move forward with someone else. You will be a better partner and you will feel better yourself.

Allow yourself to be vulnerable or you won’t be able to give 100% to your next relationship. Love can hurt, but you can’t let it make you bitter inside or you will miss out on so much in life. Just because you have been hurt in the past doesn’t mean the next relationship you have will end in the same way. Most importantly, don’t make your future relationships suffer for your past. It is not fair to assume all women are the same.

If you are ready for a new beginning, then online dating is a great way to get started after a divorce because you don’t have to find a single social circle. If you have been out of the game for several years, you can’t possibly know what to expect. Online dating makes it easy to meet single people of any age.

Trying To Forget My Ex Boyfriend Is Not Working – What Can I Do?

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“I’ve tried so hard in trying to forget my ex but it’s not working at all” This is what my best friend who’s currently going through a break up told me. She was wondering what more she could do, to erase the memories of her ex boyfriend.

I remember all too well, that just a few months ago I was also in her shoes. I was doing my best to come up with ways to keep myself busy just so I didn’t think about my ex. More than that, I was annoyed and frustrated with myself because ideally, I should have forgotten my ex boyfriend and move on after all this time!

I guess getting over someone you cared deeply, is never an easy thing to do. Deep down, you probably wish that you can be with your ex and things were the same (similar to before you broke up).

You start thinking,

What else could I do to forget my ex?

Trying harder to forget my ex?

Or should I try to get back together with my ex?

If you are in touch with your ex, then you need to find out what your ex is up to.

Is your ex boyfriend in a new relationship?

If your ex is happy and in a relationship with someone else, there is no point still thinking about your ex. I know that’s probably not what you want to hear at this moment. But, for your sake, you have to convince yourself that you need move on and forget your ex boyfriend. Yes, that may see a bit harsh right now, but in the longer run it will be the best thing for you.

Is your ex emotionally available?

Is your ex still single? Now, don’t get your hopes up just because your ex is single. It might mean that they are not yet ready to get into another relationship.

However, if he is single you just might have a chance to reverse your breakup. There is a slight hope, a really small chance that your ex is single because he still has feelings for you. Or maybe he has an equally harder time trying to forget you!

Or maybe, the pain of past relationships is still hovering in their mind. If you are the cause for the breakup, then you should apologize to your ex and see whether you can reverse your breakup.

Classic Car History – The 1959 Cadillac Series 62

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The 1959 Cadillac was the brainchild of Designer Harley Earl, who drew on the inspiration of American space travel and rockets for his design. The 59 Cadillac was the pinnacle of the American auto design excess. With tail fins that rose a full 42 inches off the ground, rocket flare tail lights, quad headlights and massive chrome bumpers, a body length of over 20 ft, this was the ultimate Cadillac for grabbing attention. The ’59′s outrageous fins are accentuated by its very low profile, which is 3 inches lower that the ’58 model’s already low profile.

Harley Earl was directly responsible for the design of 50 million vehicles and completely changed the face of the American automobile in the 1950′s. No single man has had such an impact on the shape of American auto design and no one man has been guilty of so many design excesses. Included in his space-themed design were other images such as chrome denture like grilles, dashboards that looked like they belonged to jet fighters with dozens of switches and controls, bumpers protrusions known as “Dagmars”, hood ornaments which looked like missile launchers.

The 1959 Cadillac is an American icon. You will see this year model displayed in many 50′s styled diners and restaurants. Hard Rock cafe always has either a 1959 or 1960 Cadillac displayed in their restaurants. The 59 also starred in many films, like in the Clint Eastwood movie “Pink Cadillac”. The 59 Cadillac was a monument to American optimism in the 1950′s; it was in fact the “American Dream”. Who wouldn’t love to drive one of these today? Today you will be hard pressed to find a restored 59 convertible for less that $70,000 with many of them selling for well over 100K.

Some of the features of the 59 Series 62 Cadillac included power brakes, power steering, automatic transmission, central locking, tinted glass, and some options include headlight dimmers (autronic eye), electrically operated windows, seat adjust, and trunk. Some of the other models available included the 8 seater Fleetwood Limo, and the Eldorado Biarritz which is the most valuable ’59 Cadillac model.

Specs for 1959 Cadillac Series 62

Engine: 390 c.i. V8, cast iron head and block

Compression ratio: 10.5:1

Induction: Carter 4-barrel carburetor

Maximum Power: 325 bhp at 4800 rpm

Maximum torque: 435 lb-ft at 3400 rpm

Top Speed: 121 mph

0-60 mph: 11 sec

Transmission: GM TurboHydramatic Automatic

Body/Chassis: Steel body on steel X-frame chassis

Steering: Recirculating ball

Wheels and Tires: Steel discs, 15 inch diameter

Brakes: Drums, 12 inch dia. (front and rear)

Front Suspension: Wishbones with coil springs and telescopic shock absorbers

Rear Suspension: Live axle with coil springs and telescopic shock absorbers

Wheelbase: 130 inches

Height: 55.9 inches

Weight: 4885 lbs

Quarter Mile Performance: who cares?

Production: 11,130

Price: $5000 for Series 62, $7400 for Eldorado

Dating After Divorce – Is Your Ambivalence About Love Holding You Back?

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So you are over 40, divorced or single and say you want to find a good life partner? Great! What are you doing to make that desire come true?

As a dating coach for women dating over 40 or dating after divorce, I’ve seen and heard so much – I’m sure you can imagine. But the one thing that often surprises me most is when a woman tells me how much she wants to find love and yet, she does almost nothing to create this reality.

How can this be? There are many possible reasons. Maybe you want love but:

• You are afraid to be vulnerable again, still healing from love gone wrong.

• You don’t want to relinquish your freedom and prefer independence

• You don’t want to go through “that” again, thinking every relationship will turn out exactly the same

• You don’t have time to date, having filled every spare moment of your life

• You don’t believe there are any good men left so wonder if you should even bother

• You feel its all simply too difficult

I could fill pages with reasons like this – and you could too. It’s easy and you can probably relate to many of these statements. Even though they aren’t true, they can FEEL true if you let them.

These are actually, excuses hiding your ambivalence. If you think that pursuing love and dating are useless, OF COURSE YOU DON’T WANT TO PUT YOUR TIME AND EFFORT INTO IT!

Often, your ambivalence is your own worst enemy. The human condition is to want to be right. Naturally we look for evidence that we are right. That means you will notice all the examples that prove your case and support your excuses.

On the other hand, when you believe finding love is a real possibility, you will see evidence to support this position. I can tell you from my own personal experience and the thousands of people I have coached, finding love is REAL. It happens every day.

When I was single and in my 30′s, did I believe this? Nope. Not for 18 years of my adult life. But when I turned 40 and freaked out to still be single and never married, I knew something had to change.

The biggest shift I made was to DECIDE that it was time to believe in love. I focused fiercely on the truth that love existed and the right man was out there for me. I drowned my ambivalence and pushed it out of my life, replacing this with a firm insistence that I would find love and HE (the right man) would find me.

I can tell you – it worked.

And this has worked for countless women. Once you decide to work with me as your dating coach, I will tell you that to find love, you must believe. Chase the ambivalence away. Discover methods that you can use to hold your positive focus. Instill a sense of hope and deep knowing that all your efforts will bear fruit – MANifesting the love you want, long for and most definitely deserve.

Pyrometric Cones 101: How Cones Are Used in Clay Pottery to Fire Clay

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What Are Pottery Cones?

Pottery cones allow potters to know what’s going on inside the kiln during the firing process. Pottery cones also allow potters to know if the glaze has reached maturity. In the world of pottery, cones are used to determine the amount of heat absorbed by the ceramic material inside the kiln.

What are cones?

Cones, also known as pyrometric cones or pyrometric rods, indicate the heat-range within the kiln during firing. As the name implies, cones are cone-shaped objects made of fluxing materials and melting agents that react to temperature changes.

Further, it acts as an indicator to the maturation point of the ceramic. Maturation or clay body maturation is the process wherein the clay reaches its optimal state. As the rod nears maturity, it will soften and the tip begins to bend.

Cones are designated by numbers. Those that start with zero are lower in temperature than those that don’t e.g. 09 is lower in temperature than 9.

The Orton Pyrometric cone chart is a chart of temperatures that shows heat data with the corresponding cone number and color output. Potters use this as a guide in determining which cones to use in firing. Orton is the largest manufacturer of pyrometric cones and they have set the standard in the industry in respect of the heat temperature range in cones.

Potters use the symbol “^” to refer to cones in their notes.

Cones and Soaking

Rod are also used in the process of soaking. Soaking means keeping the temperature of the kiln constant for a specific period of time. This process allows the clay to absorb more heat and for the glaze to completely melt and smooth out on the surface.

When the cone starts to bend, soaking begins. At this point, the potter will have to adjust the kiln temperature and keep it at the same level of temperature. Once the cone is bent to a full ninety degrees, the soaking process is completed.

Pottery Cone Sizes

Rods come in different sizes but the basic ones come in large and small sizes. The type of rods depends on the kind of kiln to be used in firing.

For electric kilns, small rods are preferred. These are placed in the kiln sitter. When the desired temperature is reached, the rod bends then drops a lever which automatically shuts the kiln off.

On the other hand, fuel-burning kilns use large and self-supporting cones. The rods are placed where it’ll be easy for the potter to check the distribution of heat inside the kiln through the peeping hole. It is important that the cones are placed correctly inside the kiln for the potter to ascertain the supply of heat during firing.

Unlike electric kilns where it automatically shuts off when the temperature reaches its desired level, the cones inside fuel-burning kilns cannot be read until it has cooled.

A word of caution when viewing cones through the peephole: Use welder goggles when viewing cones through the viewport. The above earthenware temperature emanating from the kiln can cause permanent damage to the naked eyes.

Reading Pyrometric Rods

Cones are numbered but it doesn’t really indicate the actual heat range when it’s inside the kiln. So how do potters interpret cones and temperature?

Pyrometric rods record temperature by bending. They are specially formulated to melt at a certain temperature. The higher the temperature inside the kiln, the more bend there is. When the cone starts to bend, that’s the cue for the potter to check the kiln every fifteen minutes or so and until such time the firing process is completed.

Cones that bend at a ninety-degree angle indicate that the temperature has been reached. Less bend than that suggests that the ceramic material is under-fired. If the cone bends over the ninety-degree angle threshold, the clay is over-fired.

Generally, it takes about twenty minutes for the cone to bend to full ninety-degrees. The higher the cone number, the more heat is required to bend.

How do cones work?

When the lowest cone starts to tip over, you can start slowing down with the temperature. For electronic kilns, you have to get ready to turn off the kiln when the cone below is slightly bent, the middle cone is bent to ninety degrees and the cone above is bent over as though it has melted.

Choosing the right cone

Choosing the right type of cone depends on what type of kiln to be used in firing. If you have an electronic kiln, cones aren’t necessary. But it is still recommended to use cones to make sure that the heat range inside the kiln is adequate. Even if the kiln automatically turns off, you can continue firing because the cones will determine which areas need additional firing.

If you have a manual kiln, on the other hand, using cones is the only way to find out when it’s time to turn off the kiln.

The cone number you’ll choose depends on the glaze’s maturation point. It’s best to use the cone number your glaze matures at, then two more cones – one cone above temperature and another one below temperature.

There are also different types of cones available in pottery supplies shops: standard cones, self-supporting cones and Jr cones.

Now, let’s discuss these types in detail.

Standard cones are used in cone packs. It’s composed of three cones embedded in a pack of clay or placed on cone plaques. The three cones include the firing cone, positioned in the middle; the guard cone which is placed above; and the guide cone located below.

Jr. cones are used in kiln sitters. Kiln sitters are two-stationary prongs sticking out from the wall of a kiln. It measures about half an inch in length and a quarter of an inch apart with a sensing rod in the center. The cone is placed at the center and when subjected to heat, it sags then lowers the center rod which, ultimately shuts off the kiln.

Self-supporting cones are used when you’re not using a clay pack or clay plaque. All you need to do is place these cones inside the kiln and let it do its wonders until the end of the firing process.

Pyrometric cones are very important in the firing process. A knowledge of the basics will certainly make pottery an enjoyable hobby.

Now that you’ve gained insightful details on how cones work in pottery, it’s time to create a beautiful work of art from clay.

Is a Long Distance Relationship Right For You?

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It’s hard to find that special someone, but when that special someone lives far away it presents a whole new set of challenges. It may be that he’s always lived far away, or circumstances may have changed so that being apart is new for both of you. Either way, there are certain questions you should answer before deciding to embark on a long distance relationship. Agreeing on the answers, will play a big part in whether or not you should give a long distance relationship a try.

How often will you see each other? There is a big difference between seeing each other once a month and once a year. Of course this will largely depend on just how far apart you live. Unless your budget is unlimited you will probably be able to see each other more if you are within driving distance than if you need to take a plane.

How will you communicate when you’re apart? At least these days a long distance relationship doesn’t have to mean huge long distance phone bills and mailing lots of letters. Still, it’s good to have some idea of how often you’ll talk on the phone versus communicating by text or email.

When will you be together for good? Everything is easier when we know what to expect. Will you be apart for a year or a number of years? If you’re in a military situation you may be in store for a huge part of your relationship to be long distance. This is not to say that one situation is better than another, but it’s obviously easier to survive long distance for one year rather than many years.

If it works out will one of you be willing to move? Long distance situations often start as a test period, with the notion that if it works well, then one of you will move. This is where you have to be really honest with yourself. For some people, the most perfect relationship in the world could not make them move. For others, moving isn’t a big deal for the right person. If neither of you is the type to move, then you probably don’t want to start a long distance relationship.

After thinking through these questions, decide if you are happy with your answers. If you are, then you may have what it takes to survive a long distance relationship. It takes a special kind of couple to make these relationships successful, but long distance relationships actually have a very good chance of turning into permanent relationships once these early hurdles are overcome.