Yeah, person asking pays. (Not that I've been on a TON of dates...I have made out with people without having had a conversation with them!)

Does that really switch on and off if you use the word date or not? I've never been out with a man that malleable.

I don't know. With some guys, it is, but maybe it doesn't matter how I'll call it - they'll still be too stressed to have fun. It's just that from my experience, those who insist to keep it in a strict "date" form above all other actual things one can do and achieve on a date (get to know the other person; have fun; consume food and good company) will use this word repeatedly. And I've been on great dates where the word "date" was never mentioned in it or before it. I'm just trying to make it easier for all parties involved. Again, it's just my experience, and this experience isn't vast.

maybe it is an age thing, but to me split the bill happens on something date-like only if it is discussed in advance. Otherwise the person asking pays. So it is not the man pays for the woman, but the person doing the inviting is implicitly offering the pay when extending the invitation.

Possibly an age thing. Could be a local (culture) thing. I never expect any of the sides to pay for both sides. I'll ask if we split the bill or if each pay for the stuff he/she ordered when bill is served, but sometimes the other person asks that first.

I'm glad I've known guys who can have fun on a date. None of them ever turned into anything (aside from the boyfriend I had unknowingly), but 50% of them were fun nonetheless.

erin, some yay and some boo. Hope you get the crutches figured out.

Shir, I see your point about "dates." But I'd have to trick myself somehow, and that never works.

Today was just not a super great day. My boss' idea for something did not work. Somehow I blame myself, though it wasn't my idea and two more people stared at it too and thought it would work. Also, boss keeps talking about how we aren't making money on these jobs, and it stresses me out because 1) I'm kind of in charge of all this and 2) I don't want to have to look for another job. Again.

So I'm not working Friday, except I will be working. I won't be sweating, but I also won't be getting paid. I'll just be crunching numbers until my eyes cross.

mushroom and okra over pasta: I said "fuckit" and bought a plane ticket for Strix's birthday. $216 for non-stop both ways, including taxes and fees? Shit yeah. I am SO looking forward to this, I can't even tell you.

mushroom and okra over pasta: I said "fuckit" and bought a plane ticket for Strix's birthday. $216 for non-stop both ways, including taxes and fees? Shit yeah. I am SO looking forward to this, I can't even tell you.

Buffistas are hard to resist. We probably shouldn't be spending the money to go to Denver this month either, but there are buffistas there!

Blech. I bought a whole ton of fruits and vegetables, because I'm trying to eat more healthy stuff, and now I'm really nauseous (I think it's a medication side effect) and the only thing I feel like I can eat is pasta. Whole lot of expensive produce probably going to waste.

Cut, clean and freeze?

I can do that with the tomatoes, and maybe the strawberries. Far too much work for cherries, and not really practical for lettuce. I'm not sure what I can do with the eggplant. The potatoes should keep for a while.

Chop the tomatoes and eggplant and saute them with the pasta? Or will that still be too much for your stomach?