Hi everybody. How was everyone's fourth?

We traveled to Iowa and back on the 2nd and 3rd to visit a number of DW's relatives. The big thing there was that her cousin was in the country with a new baby. Her cousin and DH are missionaries in Scottland and are in the country for a couple of months this summer. We had to take the dog with us since there were too many fireworks to leave him at home in the yard. I think I spent more time walking the dog (in the rain) than actual visiting, but the main objectives of the trip were met.

Monday I got to see the kids taking their swimming lessons which was fun. Emaryn gets a bit grumpy because her swim teacher (a swim coach for a local high school) doesn't put up with anything and she isn't used to that being homeschooled. Leif likes the lessons though, but then he is nearly always happy. I was hoping to take them to the park, but it was just too wicked hot.

The Fourth was fun. I took the kids to a local fireworks show and it was the first year for Leif. They had a good time and it's always fun to watch them watching the fireworks. Also, it's becoming a 4th tradition that Daddy takes 'em to the fireworks show.

The asker pays, unless the woman does the asking—then the man should pay.

Please tell me how the first 10 words in this sentence mean anything.

The asker pays, unless the woman does the asking—then the man should pay.

So if a lesbian asks out another woman, they should find a third party to pay for the date?

So if a lesbian asks out another woman, they should find a third party to pay for the date?

Pretty much, yeah. Perhaps a passing gay man, since those seem to be the only ones who can logically split a tab.

I am updating my offices web-site (which is really ugly, but all I can change is text, and sometimes the was we say things is cracking meup. We have one class that fills quickly, but students canot sign up for it quite yet, so we say

"If interested in the Immersion Experience...Please let us know so we can put your name on a list. "

Just a list-- not necessarily a waiting list

So if a lesbian asks out another woman, they should find a third party to pay for the date?

Later it's made clear that if both parties are of the same sex, the asker really does pay. So it's good to know the Rules on that.

Ha! Fred and Tom both beat me to the bit that made me go "--buh?" Is this really how they do it in New York? 'Cause it doesn't happen that way in SF, at least not in my experience -- the one asking for the other's company in a specific activity is the one who's prepared to pay for the whole thing. If it's something expensive, the askee makes at least a token effort to split the cost, which the asker may or may not take the askee up on depending on their relative finances.

But that's all stuff that gets sorted out later -- at the asking stage, you either ask about something you conceivably could pay for all by yourself, or you don't ask, and when the event actually happens it's incredibly rude to expect the other person to foot the bill for something that was your idea in the first place purely on the basis of who's got the dangly bits.

This bit also bugs:

How do you respond if you’re straight and a gay person asks you out?

Laugh and say, “I don’t think my girlfriend/boyfriend would approve.” It won’t become awkward unless you become patronizing. (“Oh, that’s so sweet! I would love to go out with you. It’s so unfortunate that I’m straight. I wish I were gay! I mean, not like that, but . . . ”) If you’re not sure if you’re being asked out, just drop an unmistakable hint into the conversation referring to your heterosexuality.

Um, you can't just say "Sorry, I'm straight, but thanks"? What the hell decade was this thing regurgitated from?

Last time I looked it was 21-21 in the fifth set and they've been playing for over 5 hours!

It just finished. Longest match played at Wimbledon evah.

On edit: Knowles & Nestor def Aspelin & Perry 5-7 6-3 6-7(5) 6-3 23-21.

I would probably also say "Wow, thanks for the compliment." because I don't get asked out.

So if a lesbian asks out another woman, they should find a third party to pay for the date?

Greatest rule EVAH! Just present the data (and the check) to the nearest man.