Oh, sj, the new house is super cute! I love all the windows. And the lot. And it looks like it would be pretty easy to build out the deck or the front steps if you needed a ramp at any point later. Plus, it has a Keep Calm and Carry On sign, so clearly already the new sellers (or their stagers, I know) have a better sense of calm!

Dating sucks. I'm only just considering the possibility of dating again, and it ALREADY sucks.

I met a guy a couple weeks ago at my niece's birthday party. (She's 28, she's known him a while, she vouched that he is not crazy. This is important.) He's the right age, he's interesting and smart and cute, and I liked him. Turned out he had just moved here from Los Angeles to be with his girlfriend. Oh well. Four days ago my niece told me the woman had broken up with him (something that apparently everyone who knew her saw coming). My niece, ever helpful, let me know that he said he liked me and she had given him "my digits". And... he didn't call.

And of course he's still dealing with the breakup, and apparently he's shy about new people, but still. I just wanted a coffee date, not a ring. I want a chance to see if he looks as good when I'm sober. So I, a 48-year-old, smart, confident, reasonably successful woman, just asked my 28-year-old niece if maybe He Just Isn't That Into Me.

Good GRIEF. I don't need this! I was quite happy, if a bit lonely, being single and not having to give a fuck if anybody was Into Me.

So I friended him on Facebook. Because that's what you do, apparently.

Remember, Zen, ass-hooks are a closing move, not an opening bid.

I'll wait until at least the fifth date for the ass-hooks.

So I friended him on Facebook. Because that's what you do, apparently.

Oh yes, this is often an intermediate step with a new acquaintance made through friends/at an activity who you are interested in: friend them, start occasionally (but not obsessively!) liking or commenting on posts, and if they do the same, perhaps an IM or a message....etc etc.

Or sometimes you friend them on Facebook, discover they are in a relationship, and are sad.

He recently had a birthday, so I was able to start with an innocuous "Happy Birthday!" comment.

P.-C., at least in this case I know he just got out of one.

sj, I meant to say, before I got caught up in my mememe, I like the new potential house a lot! Good ~ma for reasonable sellers and sane agent this time.

Thanks, everyone. We should hear back on our offer by dinner on Wednesday.

Just went to one of the biggest booze stores in the area for some beer to take home. (Yankee Spirits in Sturbridge MA)

I bought 7 big bottles from New England brewers PLUS my friend brought me two bottles from Cambridge Brewing Company, so I am psyched!