One of my recent activities was a trip to the Missouri Botanical Gardens and I have some pictures.

Is the offer to crash at your place still open? If it's not, I totally understand.

Yep! I even have Teh Benadryl, and I will be sure to clean like unto a fiend. Sweet!

We're planning on dropping the rental car off on our way back from Mendo, b/c we figured that public transportation would be WAY easier in SF -- are you conveniently MUNI-adjacent?

Also, if you'd like, I can arrange a fun dinner in North Beach - Italian, of course.

For Saturday? That would be great! As long as it's not *too* spendy, because we're trying to stick to a budget on the trip.

Hmmph. I want to go home, except a) I can't and b) there are people there. I have a months-in-the-planning thing happening tonight, and I can only hope I feel better by then, otherwise I disappoint the birthday girl and the one leaving town in two weeks, as well as leave a guy in a very odd position. Of course disappointing them also means being home and not alone either--I can't even work out a peaceful scenario for this whole thing.

Maybe going on the outing and sleeping through the whole thing.

And people at work have to stop disagreeing with me. Or if they are to continue, come armed. Because I have ordnance.

We're planning on dropping the rental car off on our way back from Mendo, b/c we figured that public transportation would be WAY easier in SF -- are you conveniently MUNI-adjacent?

More or less - why don't you e me with the details, and I can provide a breakdown of where you'll need to go?

As long as it's not *too* spendy, because we're trying to stick to a budget on the trip.

Thees ees why I suggested the nabe - I have zee, how do you say, "connections".

I don’t know. This guy sounds a lot like the thirtysomething women who write in to complain that the nice, stable, employed guys they meet always turn out to be boring, and that the charming, exciting, irresponsible men can’t be depended on, and when they are with one type they wish they were with the other and what, oh what, are they to do? There has been no shortage of print and film devoted to this dilemma.

Is he any worse?

Thees ees why I suggested the nabe - I have zee, how do you say, "connections".

Perk! Yesssss, she does.

Is he any worse?

Yes, if your statement is to be equivalent. You can't combine stable and irresponsible like you describe into one person without being all MPD. His desired characteristics can totally be combined, and the idea that they can't is hella weird.

Got one right here in Dallas, thanks!

Damn. All the gluttons for punishment are already taken!!

Sounds like you are having a lot of fun Steph. I'm glad you are having a great trip.

Yeah, as someone about to turn 30, I'm a little puzzled by the "30 something women can't be hot like a 23 year old" I mean, maybe on average, the 23 year olds are hotter/more in shape/whatever, and maybe if you're comparing the 23 year old to a 39 year old, but...I think there are plenty of women out there who are in their early 30s and just as hot as a 23 year old? Am I wrong? Am I deluding myself? (Me, I'm now in better shape than I've been since I was about 20, but that's just personal)