Oh, bonny. I'm so sorry. Gentle, loving vibes to you at this time, and wishes for a peaceful passing for Niki.

Teppy, sorry to hear about your great uncle.

I'm sorry about your uncle, Steph.

I'm so sorry bonny. Peace and strength to you and your surrogate family.

Sorry Bonny. The best possible outcome to your surrogate family and peace and strength to you.

bonny, I hope for the easiest transition for Niki and comfort for you. It's so hard.

bonny, I'm so very sorry. This is so hard. You and your surrogate family are in my thoughts, and I wish you all the best possible ~ma. From your stories of your surrogate mother, she sounds as an amazing, dear person.

Much comfort and grace through this transition, dear.

I'm so confused! lemme explain.

OK, so, cute (former)co-worker was pleasant at the wedding reception, but I was getting the feeling of the polite brush off. Her work schedule was busy, and I was trying to arrange a date on her day off, and she was being dodgy. So I left it at, "give a call when you get off work, and let's see about arranging a time to get together. i'm a night owl". And I hear nothing. Not a text on her day off. Not a call. nothing. So then a couple minutes ago, I get a text. "Hello. Was thinking of you so thought I'd say hi". I ask what time she gets off work, and to call me. She responds "I was off today, and on my way to bed. Perhaps tomorrow..."

I suppose it's a good sign that she's thinking of me. But why not a quick chat? Why wait until you are going to bed? aaargh! Have I mentioned I'm bad at reading 'the signs'?

I don't know that you're bad at reading the signs when she's giving mixed signals. I'd have trouble "reading" those signs, too.

smonster, I had a professor in college that used to drop her voice to a whisper. She taught freshman history classes , it worked

Heh. It also works teaching eleventh grade English. The louder they got, the quieter I got. They got the message eventually. Also useful: get closer to them as they start talking. I used to end up sitting on their desks until they shut up. Hope you're enjoying the job, despite the chatty kids, smonster! (I miss working with students. I need to get some teaching work at uni soon.)

I've got several students who always sit in class with an iPod earphone in one ear. It drives me nuts.

I bargained with the kids over iPods. They could have them in during quiet work time (we did a lot of writing in class) but not during discussions. iPods seen during class discussions got confiscated till the end of class. Setting a rule about it seems to help.

Really sorry to hear about your uncle, Teppy. And about the way the news was broken to you. Parents.

omnis, that is confusing. It sounds to this complete non-expert (I've only ever dated The Girl, and I asked her out) like she just wants to remind you that she's there. It sounds like a good sign.

Well, maybe it's once again a You Americans And Your Strange Courtship Rituals thing, but I do understand her. Sometimes I remember to call/sign someone (not just romantically speaking) when I'm too tired/not in the best of times to chat, but I want them to know they're on my mind, even if I can't give them the full attention they deserve at that moment.

All in all, I'd take it as a good sign. And I'm glad you have someone to get all excited for.

Also, P-C, good luck. Hil, I agree with what everyone said - I often complained about the situation of my university, and they don't allow students to do half of what you described here without a warning. smonster, about your group of six - that's why, sometimes, I'm glad that at 18 people here are being sent to the army.

And bonny and Sox - my dears, continued ~ma.