Will and I had a nice day to day. We ended up driving all over back roads of VT and it was pretty - it was a cool day. We ended up at the Burger Barn and had 2 wonderful burgers. Yummy.

We also talked about ideal future home - it would have acreage, meadow, stream through it, nice view, and a house set back from the road. We didn't actually talk about the house but pointed out ones we liked.

Askye, that sounds like a great day.

I've been avoiding the heat. I have the a/c on, and really don't want to go out and shop. I need to return some stuff to Home Depot, and maybe get a hair cut. Maybe tomorrow will be curtain shopping. I just hate shopping so much. Blah. It's fine when you know what you want. But browsing. So not my thing.

We wandered the mall today--it was uncomfortably warm in there, with the skylights and all the people--and I think I may despise retail. I know it's their job, but I hate having salespeople hover over me or pounce as soon as I walk in the door. One girl: "So what brought you to the mall today?" I did not say, "We're looking for someone new to dismember in our basement of terror." But I thought it. We're there to look at your stuff, lady, and debate buying some of it!

We've got a Teavana now, and I wanted to browse and fondle the tea pots, but every time I paused to look at something, this obsequious nimrod would blither about its health benefits or how it was handpainted in Japan or how that one was his personal favorite.

Then I asked if they had black tea--as I find herbal infusions with dried fruit and flower petals to be horrifying--and the girl insisted on showing this wonderful black tea and chamomile blend and explaining all its health benefits. This was after I said, "Just black tea," and she said, "OK, but first I'm going to show you this."

I understand that there are people who would say, "Oh, you're right, that is lovely," which is what keeps me from snapping at the salesfolks, but it's a hard thing in store after store to convince them that they'll get a sale faster if they leave me alone rather than hovering. Hubby said it perfectly to the guy in Yankee Candle, when he said, "Oh, that's one of my favorites" as I opened another jar to take a sniff. Hubby said, "She prefers to let the product sell itself." I congratulated him on the diplomacy of his statement. He said he's seen the way my fists clenched.

Maybe the state of the economy isn't indicated by how many people were touring the shops but by how desperate the salespeople are.

So I found out who Wink Man is. Is that bad? He changed his username to his real first name and last initial, and he's studying Classics for a PhD and he lives right here so he was obviously at UVA... giving out that much information, it's like he *wanted* me to go look him up. And I really do want to meet him. I wish he'd message me already, geez. That's all the stalking I care to do.

Zen, I would encourage you to go on and send him a message, but since this is such a delicate matter for you I understand why you wouldn't want to.

Almost twelve hours, no reply to my text. So possibilities would seem to be 1) he's pondering 2) he's sexing up Other Chick right now AIFG 3) he didn't think any response was required 4) he's just done.

I guess I'll text him around lunch and see if he still wants to go to the movie. Don't worry, Nora, I may have someone for the other ticket if he doesn't come.

I just spent a delightful few hours hanging with R and her roommate. They fed me and helped keep the brain weasels at bay. I introduced them to Cute Animals, Bad Dates and found further proof that its creator is One Of Us - [link]

askye, meant to say - I'm so glad y'all had a lovely day together. Sounds like laid back, comfortable with each other fun.

I think that one's on me. We were having a very fast-paced text conversation, and I made the decision fairly unilaterally.

Okay, that's no red flag for that item then. I misunderstood.

I do think you need to value yourself and thus already established friendships because you are a rocking thing that rocks ... rocks? But it's way different if you just decided.

He should have mentioned if he was actively seeing someone else pre-sexytimes but he wasn't under any actual obligation, just that would have been more morally awesome. [I've had two glasses of wine. Those were really difficult sentences. I hope I got the case-ages right.]

I hope he is worthy and steps up to that soon, smonster. Or that he at least lets you know he's not there. Putting yourself out there even a little and then waiting sucks.

That's all the stalking I care to do.

It's a creepy, slippery slope but sometimes people make it really easy to casually look them up. And, frankly, that was sparking the curious and then easily there to find. Nothing creepy.

I hope you hear from him soon and can schedule a non-binding beverage meeting.

Dinner with mom was good. We looked through an old photo album. Ate nice food. It's nice to be this near family.

Time to get some sleep and leave early tomorrow to go visit my Dad. It's really nice to be a couple of hours from him.

I miss Portland. I miss the PNW. I really miss my friends. But this is so the right call. Actually I would love to just close the distance up and modify the climate somewhat. Maybe dim the sun. Which falls under climate but I feel I should also specify. I've become terribly tanned. SPF vampire has saved me from sunburn but I still am showing the UVs.

Smonster, maybe his phone ran out of juice? Or the text didn't go through. (I know, sometimes I'm too much the optimist).

I procrastinated too long today. By the time I finally left the condo to run errands, Home Depot was the only one left open. But I did manage to fix my water heater problem. A little CLR on the shower head, and then it wouldn't cause the tankless heater to stop heating. A water pressure thing. Weird. But I'll take a $4 bottle of CLR over buying a new $1000 water heater. Now, if I can wake up early enough in the morning and beat the heat, maybe I can get some errands before the sun turns to broil mode.

I'm catching up and what's wild is that everytime smonster mentions "z" I read "Zenkitty" and then I get confused anew reading Zenkitty's posts. Whiplash.

I think: "when did smonster and Zenkitty start dating?"

"No! they aren't dating"

rinse. repeat.

I procrastinated too long today. By the time I finally left the condo to run errands, Home Depot was the only one left open.

I feel your pain. I did manage to buy some locally roasted coffee, am ridiculously excited to drink it tomorrow, and got a $280 suit for $68. I went to Costco to get gas, decided to come back to do my shopping after going to Macy's since I wanted to grab some dinner there and the place closed at 6:30PM. On a Saturday?!?! WTF Connecticut?