truth.

When my english teacher asks if anybody is struggling with the text, I don't like being the only one with my hand in the air.

school schedule.

the early morning math class wasn't going to cut it, so i changed my schedule. i'm pretty happy with it now:

monday/wednesday 9:00am - 10:30 english
monday/wednesday 5:00pm - 7:00 math
tuesday 7:00pm - 10:00 sociology
wednesday 7:00pm - 10:00 political science

i will also need time for (in no particular order):

homework / studying
the gym
photography
lucy
the boy
a part-time job
sleep

Rate-A-Date, Eric

First off, Ben? You may not want to read this one.

Moving on.

Eric.

occupation: computer programmer, works from home.

age: 30.

marital status: nope.

length of date: 29 & 1/2 hours.

what we did: we met up for peppermint tea (me) and coffee (him) at 6:30 saturday night. we talked & talked & talked. we were right by the movie theater, and so i asked him if he'd like to go to a movie? he said sure and so we headed to target for inexpensive treats. we looked at home furnishings and got only slightly lost in those maze-y aisles. we didn't see any candy we liked, so we headed over to the movie theater, bought tickets for "the gay cowboy movie" and then headed to chuck e. cheese to kill some time. we played skeeball and i whooped his ass. but, more importantly, it was really, really fun. when we were done, we gave our tickets to a little girl. we still had another half hour before the start of the movie, and so we decided to hit up the arcade inside the theater. when i was getting change from the machine, eric said that the sound reminded him of slots. i told him, "i've never gambled" to which he replied, "do you want to go now?"

at this time, it was almost 10pm and we made 'plans' to go home and get overnight bags. i brought with me: jeans, sneakers, toothbrush, deodorant, underwear, pajamas, and some cd's for the drive. i wore: a 'dancing dress' and heels per eric's instructions, and he wore a suit.

we stopped for burger king, fuel, and an insane number of starbucks coffee drinks. we rolled into s. lake tahoe at about 2:15am (it took us about three hours to get there). on the way, we did more and more talking. we also listened to music and didn't talk (that was nice, too).

checked into the hotel, and cabbed it to caesers. he taught me how to play video poker and blackjack (still very much a student), and we played a few slots. he lost forty bucks in roulette and we decided to call it a night around 4, i think? 4:30?

the room was beautiful and we made out in it. the end. p.s. fireplace.

we checked out at 1pm, and started the drive home. i took pictures out the window. we stopped for lunch and more starbucks. i snuck a box of junior mints up to the counter and surprised him with them in the car. he bought me a little necklace. i think we're already that cute couple (!) you want to kill, and for that i apologize (but not really).

made plans to go to the jelly belly factory when we have more time (we passed it 10 minutes before closing). i love his car because it has a gps and you can look up phone numbers with it. i stored the factory number into my phone. he wanted to show me his place, and so i took the tour and oooh'd and awwww'd over the fact that this man knows how to decorate. we took a nap and then went to lyon's for chicken strips.

he drove me home around 11, and we totally smooched on the porch. he was almost to his car when he turned around and said, "it was nice to meet you." that was strange to hear, in a good way, since we'd already determined that thirty hours equals fifteen 'regular' first dates.

i am going to his house for dinner tonight, and also to pick up my license. i think we're having a slumber party?

who paid: he did. he said since he invited me, he would pay. i brought up money over lunch, and requested that if he ever feels put out financially or that i need to chip in, definitely do not be afraid to say something. he was very cool about it.

high point(s): skeeball. the drive. holding hands. no kissing until close to 5 a.m. all of the puns. lots of laughter. napping. with my arm up in the air, i turn my head towards it and say, "dear armpit hair, why do you grow so fast? love, annette." he loves it and we giggle.

low point(s): i really can't think of any. is that bad?

i stipulated: that he is my boyfriend, after...

he stipulated: ... that i am his girlfriend. now, whenever he tells me something new and i don't like it even the slightest bit, i threaten to break up with him.

for example, a hypothetical conversation:

eric says: i like the color green.
annette says: that's it! i'm breaking up with you!

overall impression: oh my.

reason i went on the date: we had been emailing for about a week, and i thought he was cool.

how the date ended: after a nap at his place and chicken strips at lyons, he finally drove me home. we kissed on the porch and made plans for today.

chance i will see him again: um, hello?

things.

I would have much rather gone ahead with the Spring semester than had this past month-long break. I mean, it's cool, yeah, I guess. But, I find myself bored out of my freaking head or stressing out over little things. When school is in session, at least I have a set thing to do every day, and feel like I am contributing to the world in some way. Not that attending school means I am contributing to the world, but at least that's what I am working toward. Towards?

See?! Stressing out over the little things.

I went to Copperfields and hooked up a couple of the required Spring books. The salt-and-pepper guy from the used section was there. I may be wrong here, but I think he lost all respect for me when I went to him for Cliff notes.

I have a regular babysitting job every Thursday. The little girl attends the school I most recently worked for, and she still calls me "Miss Annette." The situation is really working out well. Next week, I am going to bring along confetti cake mix and aprons because I ROCK and it will be a lot of fun for her.

January --

the start of the Spring semester
transfer agreements (?)
registering my car (you heard me)
Gillian visits

February --

housesitting for Reese's family (possibly March)
visit Kelly in Santa Barbara (?)

March --

work in Newport Beach (travel the 3rd, work the 4th, return the 5th)

April --

TBD

May --

Claire's baby due (?)
Kaitlin's wedding over Memorial Day (Oregon)
housesitting (Betsy's neighbors)

Also, somewhere along the way -- buy a bike.