That makes me feel better, Nora, thanks. Eff 'em anyway.

Okay. I revised my resume with carpentry in mind and sent it off to my friend for forwarding. That means I get to take a shower, prep my bag for tomorrow, and go to sleep. I also hung a picture in my kitchen (finally).

I've never heard back for an university job around here I applied for.

I've never heard back from any university job I ever applied for. For a while it really messed with my self-esteem.

Technically I didn't hear back from them, I heard back from the local org who arranged the interviews (504ward, Nora).

Oh, jeezy. This time next week my parents will be here (hence all the house stuff I've finally been doing). ACK. ACK. ACK. I'm sure it will be fine and fun and all that, but I'm equally sure they will get freaked out by NOLA and I will get hella annoyed with their fussiness. Such is family.

Only carnivorous animals (or I suppose omnivorous, anyway meat eaters) is my understanding (from when I made a panicky visit to urgent care after being bitten by a "wild" hamster...long story).

Animal control guy said the squirrel was most likely hit by a car, hence the crooked running. And that if it can climb, it's doing ok.

Mom is almost all moved out of her old place. She's been packing since mid December. It's a one bedroom apartment. Apparently her new condo is packed full of boxes, more so than normal after a move, and she has a 6x10 storage unit by her old place, and a 5x9 storage unit up here near her new place. Is it so wrong that I kinda hope she forgets to pay the bill for a couple months so the units go up for auction, and we have no more hassle with that junk?

If that's wrong, omnis, I don't think you have to be right.

So this one time at Theater Pub I met this cute girl who was very fun and seemed to enjoy my company. And I almost asked her out but did not get the chance.

So I stared at my e-mail for a few days and contemplated asking her out directly but settled on expressing a desire to see her again and seeing how that went. Her response—several days later—did not really seem like she'd taken it as a request for a date, but we did go to a show on Saturday night. I bought her a muffin, and she was so surprised and appreciative, it was adorable. And I almost asked her out but did not get the chance.

On Sunday, I saw her again because she was performing. And I almost asked her out but did not get the chance.

Finally, I decided, screw it, and sent an e-mail that night:

If you hadn't left early tonight, I would have done this in person, but I thought it was time to be direct.

[Name], I would like to take you out on a date. Would you like to go on a date with me?

(I actually used her name. I did not put "[Name]" in the e-mail. Just for the record.)

Then I fell into a deep, dark hole for days as I imagined how terrible and unlovable a person I was. I beat myself up until even I got tired of it.

Finally, this afternoon, while in line for the Cabin in the Woods screening, I got her response:

Well thank you Sunil for being direct! I do enjoy your company but I'm not interested in dating.

To my surprise, since it was the answer I was expecting and had beat myself up over anyway, it didn't actually hurt that much to get confirmation.

Alas! Then let us continue to enjoy each other's company.

So that happened.

Points for putting yourself out there, P-Cow. It's bruising but part of the whole intimacy deal.

I'm kind of proud of you.

I'm totally proud of you. I think what you did is fantastic.