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New Glasses

I got new glasses! Check out my photo album to see happy pictures of me. I know they don't look too different, but I needed a spare pair. At least they're a little different. It just took forever to decide on what kind of glasses to get. Most pairs were too round for me, and I like mine a little more square. Anyway, I'm happy now with what I have. The New Glasses are titanium, so hopefully I won't ever be able to break them (b/c lord knows I've broken enough pairs of glasses).

I'm just super excited! And I'm about half done packing, so by tonight I'll be all done, and then I'll be able to relax with my family tomorrow! Yay!

Suggest to me . . .

1. A movie.
2. A book.
3. A musical artist, song, or album.
4. A great blogger I may have not read yet
5. Something to do in the next two months (let's call it by the end of summer, since I'll be in Europe). Something daring or adventuresome...

brought to you via Rengal

Safety

First of all, I'm home safe. On Thursday, I made the drive from Portland to Seattle in not-the-happiest conditions. While the snow conditions in Portland were nothing serious (in fact, seasoned midweastern drivers would have laughed their asses off), it was serious considering that I was surrounded by idiots who have no concept of how to drive (with or without their precious chains). My little Corolla made it through everything without the benefit of chains, but I saw so many SUVs that slipped everywhere with chains on. This just shows that the kind of car you have only influences safety if you're also a good driver. I feel safe in my little compact because I know how it handles, and I'm sensible in bad conditions. My biggest challenge of the day was actually shoveling out my car and part of the parking lot in my boyfriend's apartment complex so that I could get my car to the road. After that, I drove just fine, with only a few scary fish tail moments on I5 (which, somehow, did not get plowed. Earth to Portland! You need to plow interstates. I know it only snows seriously once every 5 years, but people will go places, and interstates need to be plowed once a day. it's not that hard to plow out one lane for everyone to drive in).

I also want to highlight a great blog entry on safe driving tips, courtesy of Karen. Honestly, if more people slowed down, took their time in cars, and knew the elements of safe driving, then we would have less accidents on the road. Perhaps the driving test needs to be more stringent . . .

Snowed in *grrr*

I am snowed in . . . . in Portland. I drove down here on Monday to see my boyfriend one last time and finish up some work at school. Due to recent weather events, I've seen a lot of movies, tons of my boyfriend, and done nothing at school. The snow here is not terrible, but it's thick enough that I can't get out of the parking lot. I am hoping that it will thaw enough by tomorrow for me to try. Otherwise, I'm going to attempt to chain up my car and get out of here. My impending trip to Europe (I leave on Monday) is not yet prepared. I still have to get some forms notarized, buy some new glasses, and pack everything I might need in four months (well, not really -- everything I'll need to get me until I can buy stuff I forgot).

I'm really frustrated at being stuck here. I don't mind spending time with my boyfriend, but I really want to get home and get my things taken care of. Instead, I am here, helping him clean up his apartment and watching a lot of movies. I did clean up and sort out things on my laptop a bunch, but that's not a necessary (tho it will make backing things up before I leave a much easier task). Still, I just don't want to be here anymore. I want to get home and spend time with my family before I leave for the semester. And I want to have my stuff packed up and DONE.

A new look

Suffice to say that I was that bored with working on my thesis. I actually created the banner a long time ago, but I never got around to redoing the colors to make it work better. Now, I've put up a current picture of myself (from my birthday a few months ago!), and I've got a new happy color scheme. Enjoy the look while it lasts -- I might get itchy again before I leave for Europe.

The Proper Way to Ask me Out

*Amendment* Before anything, ask her name. Nothing looks more like a random hookup invitation than an offer for a date without the courtesy of a name. Chat her up, guy, chat her up!

The proper way to ask a young lady out:

(1) Do not directly ask her age. Think of a clever way to determine her age. "You in school right now?" could work. I'm sure anyone can think of a good way. Hell, the ushers at the stadiums I work at always ask me why I don't sell beer (just in case I'm too young to sell it).

(2) Have an established something that you'd like to do with at least a vague time. Coffee after work. Dinner after the ballgame. A movie the next day. Concert tickets that night (I actually got that once . . . couldn't take him up, sadly, b/c I was packing to move). Have any idea in your head that would establish an actual event the two of you could do together.

(3) Just ask her. "Say, would you like to grab coffee together after work?" Even if she doesn't like coffee, if she's remotely interested in you, she'll go and order juice or tea. You can do the same. Coffee is nice and non-threatening -- it's a public place, and you have a swizzle stick to play with. If she says yes, proceed to 4. If not, either repeat 3 with a different place/time, or go to 5.

(4) Establish a set time for the date and make good on it. Do not be late, do not stand her up, and call if some emergency happens to require either of those two. The best way to get a repeat date is to be polite and courteous.

(5) If she said no, and you didn't have a contingency plan of somewhere else to go, then say "Well, would you like to go out for (insert event here) some other time?" If she stalls, or gives a vague and indefinite answer, then drop it for awhile. Not forever, but wait a good week or so to ask her out again. (Note: this only applies in situations where you see the girl on a regular basis. If you asked her out on the street or in a bar, just drop it. There will be other, sweeter, better girls for you.)

These simple steps will do wonders, both for you and the girl you're asking out. For example, I will stop having to think of dumb excuses to answer vague boys. The question "soyouwannagooutwithme?" is really old. Stop already, and start asking for a real date. The annoying question is only your attempt to self validate. If you really want to spend time with me, pony up a good offer.

P.S. Sometimes girls really do have boyfriends. If they proffer that as their excuse, then just go out to coffee as friends. It's alright to just have a good time with someone without the prospect of sleeping with them. In fact, don't expect to sleep with anyone on the first date.

The funny ways people get to your weblog

Someone found my weblog by typing in "the photo of dirties people in sex." Ahh, will wonders ever cease?

In other news, I am currently really busy. I have to work tonight, both at a basketball game and on my thesis proposal. I am also busy trying to see my HS friends before they leave town -- sometimes it's nice to have people remind you of how far you've come. Sunday, I dash down to Portland, and I'll be back by Tuesday. Then, it's the weeklong countdown to the Netherlands. I am extremely anxious.