Progress.

I have realized that taste for the "good things" comes as a progression:

Wine.

Step 1.  cheap champagne/sparkling (a la Baby Duck or Spumante Bambino)

Step 2.  sweet white

Step 3.  dry white

Step 4.  red

Coffee.

Step 1.  Frappuccino

Step 2.  Cappuccino

Step 3.  Latte

Step 4.  Espresso (still not quite there...)

Boys.

Step 1.  The bad boy.

Step 2.  The really super nice guy (who you will inevitably treat terribly, because he is far too nice to you).

Step 3.  The guy who treats you well, but makes you think.  He loves apples.  Marry this one.

jbxo