one more boiled egg question- does it matter which end is up?

It's the very rare modern man (outside of the movies) who's willing to say, with or without poetry, "We haven't known each other long, but you amaze me. Since we met, I've been unable to think of anything but you. You are beautiful and funny and inspire me to great heights. If I could see you every day, I would."

Instead we say "I had fun. Want to hang out again on Tuesday?" and pretend that we're casual about it, even when we're not. Because coming on too strong and having strong feelings without rational consideration is a crime in the Sex and the City generation, and any statement of such feelings may be construed as a sleazy seductive technique.

It's possible I'm wrong, and just don't know how to do it right.

I agree with Laga -- if the woo-ee WANTS to hear it, then of course its wildly romantic movie love. But if the woo-ee doesn't want to hear it, or is unsure, or is just a turtle, then it comes off as creepy and overbearing.

Hugh Grant movies only show the scenario where the woo-ee wants to hear the love poems and grand declarations of adoration, so of course we start to think "Why isn't MY life like that???"

Or, as Sleepless in Seattle (loathe it though I do) put it: "You don't want to be in love; you want to be in love in the movies."

So basically, making the grand declaration of adoration is a matter of judging whether it would be well received. Again, that may not *sound* romantic, but frankly, a lot of things that are billed as "romantic" are contrived claptrap and foofurrah.

one more boiled egg question- does it matter which end is up?

In the pan? Nope -- they usually lie down and then sort of wobble around.

In an egg cup? I have no idea, since I scoop them into a bowl.

I decided to try to eat mine out of a shot glass, but every time I try to peel off a jagged piece of shell, it leaves another jagged piece of shell.

Nicely put, Tep. It's solid reasoning. Too bad it means that only those who are confident and capable enough to really read whether the woo-ee want to hear it will ever get to be the romantic male lead.

Though I did just watch Love, Actually, and it doesn't seem so bad to just be awkward Jack and Judy. Just less grand.

making the grand declaration of adoration is a matter of judging whether it would be well received.

Hubby makes grand declarations frequently, and I believe he's sincere, but I always feel like a small-b bitch when I can't return the declaration as fervently. I do love him and the idea of living without his comfortable, familiar mind and soul is horrific, but I'm not up to flowerly declarations of eternal, undying adoration.

I think guys are more apt to make big gestures like that than women are.

I do love him and the idea of living without his comfortable, familiar mind and soul is horrific

Who needs flowery? This is beautiful.

Laga, I generally take a knife and whack the egg in half and then scoop both halves out with a spoon. Trying to peel soft-boiled eggs is nigh impossible.

I decided to try to eat mine out of a shot glass, but every time I try to peel off a jagged piece of shell, it leaves another jagged piece of shell.

It's best to decapitate the egg with a knife and then scoop out the guts.

Nicely put, Tep. It's solid reasoning. Too bad it means that only those who are confident and capable enough to really read whether the woo-ee want to hear it will ever get to be the romantic male lead.

No, it means that life is NOT a romantic comedy. And sometimes someone who is smitten needs to adjust his or her perspective. If the woo-er thinks that he or she can't get a good read on the object of his or her affections, then that's a clear sign to proceed slowly.

The modern world and Sex in the City aren't ruining anyone's chances at being the romantic lead. Movies are contrived. They're meant to manipulate us so that we will turn our hard-earned money over to the movie studios. So they pick the "romantic" plots that make everyone sigh and wish "Why doesn't Lloyd Dobler stand outside MY window with a boom box???"

And I'll say it again: if whatshername didn't feel the same way about Lloyd Dobler as he did about her, then he's not making a grand romantic gesture. He's stalking her, and probably going to get a citation for a noise violation.

I wrote a man a poem once. Though he doesn't love me like I love him, he did like the poem. I think, whether I liked them or not, I'd be touched. Tep, hope you are feeling better. BTDT. Once in my finery in front of Symphony Hall.