Beware Of This And That

Christ, it's been awhile.

My excuses? Mystery Science Theatre 3000 DVD's, lots of laundry, Bella Luna restaurant, listening to all sorts of neat podcasts, watching 24 (it is taking me a day and an age to get through this season. Not because it's not good. Just the opposite, actually. But I have so much other stuff to do too. Can't you tell?), playing Warcraft, hanging out with Goof (who just moved up to Boston. Yay!), reading The Cigarette Century (see '24' excuse), working, anticipating a possible layoff while working (more on that should it actually happen, hence the lack of links - I'll just say that none of the possible outcomes really worries me), dogsitting (see post below), studying Visual Basic, and watching playoff baseball (You go, Red Sox!)

Between all this, I've been a little tired and bleary eyed. Much as I love it, the baseball is especially killing me. The games start around 8:30 or so and don't finish much before midnight. Yawn. But, fear not. As soon as things settle down a bit - hell, even before then, I'll make with the postin.'

Oh yeah - I've also been quizzin' shanizzin'. Most recently: Which Peanuts Character Are You?

I think the result is rather appropriate:

Which Peanuts Character are You?

You are Linus! Take this quiz! Quizilla Join Make A Quiz More Quizzes Grab Code

(Back before I hit puberty, Linus was one of my nicknames. Apparently I sounded like him, and the little heathens I went to school with used to try to get me to pay homage to The Great Pumpkin.)

Love Me Two Times

There's no delicate way around it, so I might as well come right out and say it.

There's another female in my life.

Well, more than just "in my life", I guess. I'd actually say we're pretty intimate. And, um, in fact, I'd say... we're sleeping together.

It's true. For the past several months or so, we've been seeing each other off and on. It's one of those deals where we'd known each other for years, and were finally set up through an intermediary. Truth be told, I was kind of reluctant at first, but after expressing my misgivings, I was assured that the relationship would be a pleasant one.

"She's really nice!", I was told, "The two of you will have so much fun together! Just give it a shot."

I demurred.

"Did I mention how cute she was?"

Sold.

For our first date, back in the summer, I met her at her house. She arrived at the door, and, well I wasn't disappointed. The girl was cute alright. In fact, she was pretty damned adorable. She also seemed excessively happy to see me, which caught me a little off guard. You see, I'd had somewhat conflicting reports. Despite the assurances of her kindness by the person who set us up, I'd also been led to believe by others that my new date was a bitch. Frankly, I didn't know what to expect, but when in doubt, go with the more negative approach, I say. Your expectations will either be correct or they'll be exceeded, and no disappointment will result.

Anyway, if I told you that the girl kissed me kissed me right away, I'd be guilty of telling half-truths. In point of fact, she jumped me. Like, in a good way. Taken aback, I did my best to calm her down, which she did, eventually, although she seemed a little hot under the collar for the entirety of our date. Rather than go out that night, and ensuring our own discomfort in unfamiliar surroundings, we decided to simply go for a long walk along the beach, followed by a quiet dinner for two back at her place and a little TV. It proved to be a wonderful evening, and it was clear - right from the get go - that we enjoyed each others company. So much so, that that night... well, we slept together.

Things have progressed from there, although you could make the case that after that first date we'd be hard pressed to actually "progress" anywhere. I mean, talk about starting off strong. But, there are some little things that have happened that might indicate a healthy, developing relationship. I have a key to her house now, for instance, and I now stay over for days at a time, as opposed to the occasional date here and there. We still don't see each other all that often, though. My work keeps me busy, and then there's the fact that we're both involved with other people...

Oh yeah... that. The question you're all undoubtedly asking. Or more like, questions, plural. How could I do such a thing? How could I betray my girlfriend like this? And to announce it this way - TODAY, of all days? The day she actually moves to Boston?

I know. It looks bad, and I don't know that I can offer an explanation that will satisfy you all... but here goes. I had to write this today. I couldn't keep this bottled up any longer, and I felt it was best that you all know the truth about me and my relationship(s.) My girlfriend? Well, she's already aware of the situation, actually. I've been as open and honest with her about this whole situation as I possibly can be. I've never wanted to lie to her, or any of you for that matter, and so I've decided not to. Everything I just wrote? She's been aware of it for weeks. And, you know, she's taking it about as well as could be expected. Actually, scratch that. She's taking it way better than I could ever have hoped.

But, that still leaves me in a precarious position. I could sit here and tell you that I'm going to break it off with this girl - this bitch, as others have called her, but, well... that wouldn't be fair. I owe her more than that. But I also owe my girlfriend more, too.

Dammit, I just don't know, really. I'm not looking for any sympathy here, by any means, but I'm stuck. I'm going to have to take the weekend and think this thing through. I'd planned on spending it with this girl anyway, so perhaps we can have a heart to heart. She's just so dependent on me, though, and, although she's involved with someone else, I can't just leave her high and dry. At least not this weekend... I promised I would be there for her when she needs to poop.





**Translation: I have been helping out my brother and his wife on numerous occasions over the past several months by house sitting and taking care of their dog - a female Yorkshire terrier named 'Murphy' - while they're away. Gotcha. I can't believe you were thinking what you were actually thinking. Oh, and yes, Murphy sleeps in the bed with me. She demands it actually, and will not have it any other way.**