Falling Into Place

C. (formerly known as TWIS, or "This Woman I'm Seeing") and I drove up to the Thousand Islands on Tuesday and stayed over, then to my soon-to-be-hometown in scenic Northern New York on Wednesday to check out my new apartment complex. We walked through a semi-vacant unit (they're all identical, so it was helpful), and all looks good. Imagine that: a place that looks exactly like the website represents it. Amazing. And we walked over the footbridge over the river to campus, and it's a beautiful walk. I imagine many mornings I'll be booking it to get to class on time, so not necessarily enjoying the water or the trees, but still. Gorgeous. And good to know I'll be getting my daily exercise, either walking or biking to school five days a week.

C. and I continue to enjoy each other's company, and plan to for the foreseeable future. But since she doesn't read my blog, or any blogs for that matter, nor otherwise waste her time online, I won't be blogging about it. So if you want to know more, well, email or call. That's all I'm sayin'.

Apropos of nothing, I got my hair highlighted on Tuesday. Um, I say "highlighted," but really, bleached. I'm blonde, baby. The cut is fabulous, but I'm still a bit overwhelmed by the blonde-ness of it all. My roommate (whose fashion sense I trust) and academom (whom I trust not to lie to me) both like it a lot, so I think I'll just have to adjust. Maybe I just need to be a wee bit tanner.

Of course, now Middle Sister and I look more alike again...we might even fool folks into believing we' re really blondes. Really smart blondes.

What I've Been Up To

Following Dr. Write, a list:

1. Reading for my own enjoyment! Just finished Crybaby Butch and Need More Love--both fabulous in their own ways, though I strongly recommend the latter, an illustrated memoir by Aline Kominsky Crumb.
2. Reading for my upcoming RSA presentation, including rereading an exam I wrote in 2004 on queer historiography. Know what? I'm pretty smart!
3. Having lots of fun.
4. Trying to eat more and still losing weight. And yes, I'm seeing my doctor tomorrow morning. So no, you don't need to nag me when you see me in Seattle. But you could buy me a highly caloric alcoholic beverage.
5. Watching Once, which was absolutely amazing. Oh-my-god amazing.
   
6. Getting grumpy with the archives, because someone was supposed to have scanned some photos and documents for me by the end of last week, and they won't get them done on time. So I have to go up and take photographs this afternoon.
7. Buying a pretty new turquoise sweater for a dinner date.
8. Rescheduling that dinner date due to the date-ee's illness, which is just as well, since I have to get that presentation done.
9. Procrastinating yet again on my presentation by playing online. Like right now.
   
10. See, still at it.
    

Top 10 Dating No-No's: Installment the First

1. First and foremost: avoid injuring yourself. In particular, avoid injuring yourself while going to the bathroom. We went to an outdoor concert, and the portapotties were situated under some trees, and in an effort to get the branches out of the door, I scraped the top of my hand against the rough edges of the plastic door frame. Clutching a tissue to your bleeding knuckle while also drinking your beer and enjoying the music is not easy.

2. Pay close attention to the text messages. Punctuation (or lack thereof) can be confusing, and you may actually miss the fact that you're being asked to a movie. Really.

I'll keep you posted on the rest. No doubt I will do more foolish things, and you will all have the benefit of my experience.

On Flirting

I have a date tonight. But I'm not here to give you details on that--anyone who wants to know will just have to call me. So there.

However, I would like to talk about the joys of flirting via text message. Now, it has its challenges--the delay factor, for one, because you have no way of knowing whether the person at the other end has just curled her lip and said, "What the...?" or is laughing and thinking up some witty riposte. (Okay, there's a word I've never used before--and it may not happen again.)

Because I am, as those who know me will attest, a bit of a chickenshit, flirting via text is ideal. I can take a minute to think of something fabulous to say, and just key it in, thinking, "Oh, I'm not really going to send this." And then I dare myself: "Just hit that 'ok' button...see what happens..." And the other person's not there to see that moment of panic on my face.

Of course, this could all be the result of the necklace I bought myself yesterday and think I'm going to wear forever. It's a little silver charm with a spiral and reads "fearless." It's my new superpower.