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.

BTDT. Once in my finery in front of Symphony Hall.

While whining on the phone to my mom today, she shared with me that she once, due to a massive hangover, had an unseemly laundry-making lower gastrointestinal explosion in London.

I told her she was very cosmopolitan. Then she clarified that she wasn't out in public; just in bed. Still, just being in London adds that touch of class, I feel.

Like Richard Belzer says about Paris, where he has a chateau, "Even taking a shit in Paris is cool, because it's Paris."

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.

It's also worth noting that his grand romantic gesture came after he'd approached her and forthrightly, non-game-playingly asked her out, then had a relationship with her, then suffered an abrupt and painful breakup that he had good reason to believe had much more to do with her collapsing family life than the way she felt about him.

It wasn't an out-of-the-blue stalkery grand romantic gesture; it was a gesture with a lot of history and a fair bit of actually knowing her and understanding how her mind worked.

Which, again, makes it worlds different from the grand romantic gestures seen in 99% of the romantic comedies out there. But that's Lloyd Dobler; he's not just better than many actual guys, he's better than most clearly fictional and idealized men.

Hmm. I don't really have much to add to the Lloyd Dobler conversation, other than "what they said."

Just got back from Greek food for Chanukah dinner. Was OK -- only vegetarian thing was grilled vegetables, which is pretty much par for the course for Greek restaurants.

I got a Wii Fit and Tales of Beadle the Bard for Chanukah. Plus a few DVDs and a shirt. Can't use the Wii Fit until I get back to my apartment where my Wii is, but I'm going to start reading the Bard once I finish The Last Battle, which I'm about 2/3 of the way through.

wrod, JZ, on our man Lloyd. Personally, the romcom trope that irks me most is the idea that if you don't like somebody, it's misplaced sexual tension.

deep breath

I caught up. Friday we were out of town helping with a benifit --pretty much 10 am to 1AM. No interest in internet. Saturday - got home sat for an hour - went to a party . sometime while were at the party, the lights went out. lights were only out for an hour, but we just got internet an hour ago.

Teppy, DH has done the same for me. Married, yet I still felt embarrassed. Eventually, I stopped cringing when I though about it. Hope it all settles soon.

Daniel , I am glad to here you are not hurt, but I am sorry you are not well.

I wish everyone that is cold- a little more warmth. It is not really freezing here, but it is a tad colder than we like it.

I had a boyfriend that wrote romantic poems and letters. DH talks that way, but not as flowery. I have always preferred a DH's version. And I appreciate the sentiments more as we have been together longer. However, I am not sentimental or flowery. A love poem to me would include lines like " I love you so much I'd take out the garbage on a cold night, so you can stay warm"

Still, just being in London adds that touch of class, I feel.

Oh, definitely.