Pistachio Ice Cream: The Original

Completley forgot to upload this photo from my visit to Atlanta. Yes, Vi and I indulged in some pistachio ice cream. And it was delicious!

The Green Eyed Monster

I'm sick. Again. I totally blame Fergus for this. He was the one who suggested we go to India last summer. After getting sick over there I really don't think my immune system has ever fully recovered. Still, being off work means that I can concentrate on more important things, like trashy magazines and thinking about my next blog entry.

As well as some weird stomach virus I am also suffering from that old friend, the green eyed monster. It's been almost a week since my interesting evening with Posh Work Guy. Thankfully Monday morning in the office wasn't awkward at all. The emails at work have continued. He was also very nice to me Tuesday evening when I left work in tears (stupid work issue, not worth elaborating on). He took me for drinks, made me laugh and generally cheered me up. Don't worry ladies, I went home by myself.

So really, all should be well. I had some fun on Friday, nothing has changed between us and no one at work suspects anything. Dear God I hope no one suspects anything! Plus, I don't like him in that way. Would I perhaps like a repeat of Friday night at some point? Why yes please. But I am only female. And his apartment is amazing.

However, there is one small problem, Emily. The girl at work who he used to have a bit of a thing for. The girl that every guy loves. The girl that whenever I see her and PWG talking I get a little twinge of jealously. The girl that doesn't know about me and PWG so informed me that he asked her to some polo thingy. (Clearly, he wouldn't ask me, I know diddly-squat about polo. And I have a life).

My problem is, just because I don't like him doesn't mean I want him to like her. Or her to possibly like him (you never know, she might). I'm quite happy being the only one in the office he's hooked up with. So until I get over this, the green eyed monster and I are firm friends. Seriously, I. Need. A. Monica.

Vote for us!

One of our truly awesome readers (as all our readers are) nominated us for Blog Interview, a website dedicated to great blogging. There are fantastic prizes to be won (although my inability to tell y'all to vote will make it hard to win this month, but maybe next!) so get out there and tell everyone else how awesome we are. It's about time other people knew about us!

And of course, thanks so much to our nominator!

The First Milestone

I'm not ready to jump on the cute neighbor is an ACTUAL BOYFRIEND bandwagon just yet, but he's clearly getting awfully close.

Last night after dinner, he looked at me and said, "Violet, I think we've reached the stage in our relationship where I'm going to start farting in front of you."

When I pointed out that he already has (certainly more than once), he said, "No, I mean, REALLY farting in front of you."

*Swoon*

Is this a relationship stage? And if so, where does it fall?

Social exhaustion

I had the most social weekend I've ever had in my life. I am exhausted.

On Friday, I had a date with the Karaoke Kid. I hardly had enough time to blog and take the shine off my face after work when he came to pick me. (When I told my roommate my plans she asked "Are you guys going to do it?" I replied, "No, I'm not showering.") It was a nice night so we decided to walk to the Square, 2 subway stops away. This turned out to be quite a marathon and he was getting nervous about it taking so long. Cute. 45 minutes later we arrive at the place he picked. A mexican restaurant with a long wait. Apparently he tried calling ahead but they don't take reservations. Cute. Since we could be seated right away if we sat outside, we went for it. We ate outside. At night. In April. In Boston. And I had a great time. The conversation was good, as were the margaritas. We went back to his place for a couple beers and sat around with his roommate. It made me realize how much a missed hanging out with boys. I love boys. The Karaoke Kid walked me home very late, I had to get up early after all, but I will be sure to see him again.

On Saturday I had to head back to school for a conference. After spending the day with some friends up there, I settled in for a evening with Conrad. Obviously, it was awesome of me to pick a new guy over him the night before, but I still wanted to hang out. It was strictly platonic and I even told him about the Karaoke kid (kind of). Hooray! We are no longer imaginarily exclusive! Hooray!

I left Conrad's on Sunday afternoon to meet The Wedding Singer for lunch. Sorry I forgot to announce this, but last week I decided to join OkCupid. I figured it was about time I actually tried to meet people, and figured I should do it while I have a reason to do it (i.e. I just moved here). I started talking to The Wedding Singer on Thursday and made plans to meet with him that night. He was seriously making me laugh out loud via messaging so I figured he deserved a shot. I had a nice lunch with him. He was very very interested in what I did for a living ("Seriously, will you come into my work and just talk about your work?") and also talked my ear off about his job and music career. It's cool that he's a wedding singer (among other things) but honestly, how long do we need to talk about your band, the history of your band, the drama in your band, etc., etc. All in all, he seems like a good, fun guy who would be cool to have as a friend (and handy as well, he teaches guitar lessons, my '09 resolution could come true afterall!), however, I was in no way attracted to him. I was getting a little bored with all the band business and I had plans for my final date of the weekend.

This "stop calling it a date" date was with the Mutual friend, who I haven't seen in two months or so. He has been living in Boston as well and I think there is one reason why I haven't seen him: his newish girlfriend (who he admits is time to end things with). Anyhow, we got food, got beer, went back to my place, talked, played trivia games, reminisced, etc., etc. Basically hung out for hours. I had a great evening, as he is great fun. And because the Mutual Friend is the one boy that will always only be strictly platonic with, it wasn't even awkward when he pulled a pair of underwear out of my overflowing drawer to make fun of my disastrous room ("Oh, I like these!). Nor was it awkward when my slut of a roommate started having loud sex at 9 pm while we sat in my living room, trying to hold a conversation (oh, roommates). He actually made the situation quite amusing. I love that kid. I love boys. And I didn't realize how much I missed them until this weekend.

When Friday nights go bad

I am of the belief that you can relate most situations in life to something that happened in 'Friends'. I'm sure someone this very moment is doing a thesis to prove this very idea. Remember when Rachel puts Monica in charge of her love life? Rachel has to do whatever Monica says. I'm Rachel. I need a Monica. As I am in no position to be making these types of decisions by myself.

It all began back when I started my job. My office is hardly brimming with good looking, single, funny men. Which was kind of a relief, office romances are messy after all. However, there was once guy who intrigued me. Vi and I call him Posh Work Guy. Posh Work Guy is like no guy I have ever met before, and not really in a good way. He's posh and as I mentioned before, I'm not a fan of posh British guys. He has slight OCD and an obsession with using hand sanitiser. He's so ridiculously well-dressed people wonder if he's gay. And he's just not my type. At all.

He also keeps himself to himself. Barely anyone in the office knows anything about him. I only really got chatting to him a couple of months ago when we were all at the pub. After chatting to him for well over 20 minutes I heard him mutter to someone else: "Is her name Fenella?" Huh. Charming. A couple weeks later we were at the pub again (leaving drinks, a lot of people have left) and he got chatting to me and my friend from work, Emily. Now Emily and Posh Work Guy are more on the same wavelength 'posh wise' then I am. So they got on quite well. I actually knew beforehand that PWG had a bit of a thing for Emily, which I mocked him for. (He also was in a relationship at the time). A couple days later PWG asks if Emily and I want to go out with him that night to this club which is for members only. I couldn't go because I had a date but I ended up meeting them later. It was one of the most random nights in London I've had so far, but in a good way.

So Emily and I somehow slipped through these walls he puts up to other people at work. Apparently we should feel privileged. He made an attempt to ask Emily to dinner but got the hint that she wasn't interested. Meanwhile, he and I email all the time at work. He says that I keep him from going crazy with boredom. I just like getting non-work related emails. He says that Emily is cold, I'm friendly. Earlier this week he suggested we go for drinks after work on Friday. I agreed because I'm broke from my trip to visit Vi and he's not. Plus, as quirky and strange as he is, he's fun to hang around with. The evening started out perfectly innocent and normal. We drank, we chatted, we devised a plan to get the 34 year old guy we work with who still lives with his parents, laid (he really needs it). It was fun. We decided to go on to the club we went to before. The evening turned slightly sour when I realised that my wallet had been taken from my bag. It had been handed in at the bar, minus all my cash.

Even when we were at the club I never thought anything was going to happen. But I'm sure you all guessed where this is going. One moment we're chatting, the next, we're kissing. We went back to his place where after some fooling around I said:

"Well I think that's our friendship ruined."

He said:

"Eh, we weren't that close anyway."

IT'S FROM FRIENDS!!

This morning didn't result in any weird awkwardness, in fact, it was much the same as the night before. We did have the whole discussion about telling people at work. Which neither of us have any plans to do. I personally would never live it down because of the reputation he has. He just wants to protect his privacy. He drove me home (no small thing considering he lives in north London, I live in the south). And that was that. He text me a few hours ago, I replied.

It's safe to say that I now feel like a bit of an idiot. This was such a bad idea. Not 24 hours before all this happened I emailed Vi saying that I was staying away from guys for awhile why I learn or attempt to learn, not to fall so hard so fast. I was serious about it. I also blogged about my loss of mojo. Well that's out the window because I found it last night. All of this with a guy who is so not my type, is slightly shorter than me, at one point liked my friend, has a complicated situation with his ex and who I actually have no interest in at all. Oh and let us not forget...we work together.

Now accepting applications for the post of Monica.

Awesomeness lives here

Ok ladies, I'm being awesome today so I want to tell you that. First of all, I broke my tentative plans to go to Conrad's tonight (I have to be in his area in the morning), because the Kareoke Kid texted me last night and wanted to go to dinner. Is it a date? It kind of sounds like a date, as I'm waiting for him to pick me up now.... So I broke plans with Conrad to go on a date with a new guy. Yes, thank you thank you, a standing ovation? OK!

Secondly, I have another lunch date on Sunday with a different guy. A wedding singer. More on that later.

And thirdly, as I actually did laundry last night and my jeans were still damp this morning, I pulled out my old ones. The ones I've been holding onto for a year and a half, even though they don't fit, but swearing I'll fit in to them again jeans. And they fit! And I feel amazing in them. This is awesomeness. Hope you ladies have had an awesome day as well.

Missing: Fenella's Mojo

Firstly, might I just say that one of my closest friends has just got engaged. ENGAGED! What a foreign concept that is to be sure.

Secondly, might I just say that I am nowhere near close to that stage in my life. In fact, I'm so far away from that stage that man will probably set foot on the moon again before I get engaged. Reason being? My mojo is missing.

Now before you all start protesting (I can hear Vi protesting as we speak), and accuse me of being liar, I am fully aware that I did receive some McNerdy Love. However, that did not solve my missing mojo problem. It merely tracked it down for a couple days.

Obviously if a guy like McNerdy were to come along i.e. sane and funny, then I am a female and would take full advantage of this. My issue is this: while there are no McNerdys around...I'm just not that bothered. I don't care that I have no prospects on the horizon. I don't care that it might be months until I am kissed again let alone anything else. I don't care that I have no one to drunk dial (what a relief!)

And that my friends is when your mojo is missing. When you just don't care.

Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match!

No, I have not abandoned WWBD? for my PAB (Potential Actual Boyfriend), but instead have been having extreme internet difficulties. I can't very well blog at the cute neighbor's house, now can I? But just to prove how dedicated I am, I blog to you now from work. Now. What to write?

Ah, yes. My sudden need to set everyone up with someone else. It all started with Fenella and McNerdy. I sensed a mutual attraction, then merely planted the seed (by individually giving them my permission to make out) and voila! Worked like a charm. Now I want to set up everybody else I know.

The problem is, that perhaps for the first time in the history of the world, I have two single (straight) men ready and willing to be set up, and no takers. How can this be?

Case #1: D.B.
D.B. is a softball teammate of mine. He's cute, he's nice, and he's extremely funny. I had him in mind for my roommate before the two even met, and sure enough, when they (very briefly) met at our now infamous party with the make-out corner used by both me and Fen (first together- strictly conversation-, then separately with other people) D.B. said to me on his way out the door, "Thanks for inviting me, your roommate's really hot." Yesssss! I thought. I knew it! AND D.B. is totally my roommate's type. But when I suggested him to her, she was very resistant to it. She's recently told me that she's in need of a man, and here I am, ready to help.

To make matters worse, she told me the other night that she had a pseudo date with a guy, but probably won't go out with him again because he's "too nice."

Ladies. Seriously. Can we stop dumping guys for being "too nice?" All we ever do is complain about the lack of good men out there, and when we get one that is good, we don't what that either. After pointing this out to her, I reminded her about D.B., who is nice, but I don't think "too nice" and I think I may have put a crack in her resolve. It may be just a sliver, but if anyone has the stubbornness to turn that sliver into a date, it's me.

Case #2: The Umpire
Oh, The Umpire. What can I say? It was a few months ago that The Umpire could not stop singing the praises of his current lady love after maybe about 2 weeks or so. She dumped him. He went into a deep funk. Then he came to our party and laid eyes on my downstairs neighbor. Apparently, once he spotted her, everything around him stopped, the skies opened up, and he heard music. Seriously. That's what he told me. He chatted her up, got her number, and actually called the next day (then called me to tell me about the message he left). He had their first date all planned out before he left the party.

First, she told him she needed to take an "extended raincheck" as she was very busy. (File that one away, it could come in handy.) Then today he forwarded me a text she sent him that was a very polite rejection text, explaining that she just didn't have the time right now. I told him to move on and that I would think of anyone I might know. I texted the cute neighbor to ask if he thought our other neighbor and mutual good friend would go out with him. He said no way. Now I'm racking my brain to think of anyone else who might be able to handle The Umpire. But before I do, I need to have a little conversation with him about coming on too strong. I'm sure that's what happened with the last girl, and probably my neighbor as well. He just gets sooo excited about them, and I have to say, that would be a bit disconcerting.

So. Any takers?

Wingwomen

My. Roommates. Are. Awesome. They are also crazy. And hot. And quite potentially the best wingmen ever.

We were heading out for a night of Karaoke as our first roommate outing. (After taking some time to find her, we found our perfect fit of a third roommie! She also came along with an extremely hot, funny guy she's seeing. Because I have a deep appreciation of men, I really hope she keeps him around for little while. I like looking at him, and hugging him goodbye was rather enjoyable as well. Seriously great body (we made him lift his shirt). Wait, sorry, I digress...)

Anyways while pregaming they promised to find me a man of my own. I accepted this offer. After both had sung, they got to work finding a guy. At that point in the evening there wasn't too great of a selection but within minutes they had come back to get me. Yes, it was embarrassing but yes it got the job done (it kind of worries me what they said to him, in no way are they shy or subtle). The guy was cute and a total sweetheart. He let me pick out a duet and sang with such style (meanwhile I had never realized how bad of a singer I am, eeek!). He bought me drinks, he made me get up and dance to one particularly rousing rendition. He was fun.

Then while in the bathroom I heard my roommate telling him he needed to come home with us. So he did. Now it's not really my style to bring someone back from the bar (nor is it his it seems). But I did. I didn't sleep with him, I seemed to have a fit of morals. But we did do some major snogging and he got my number this morning. I am almost certain I will be hearing from him again. Like I said, best roommates ever!

My Not-So-Imaginary Boyfriend

I don't want to jinx anything and jump on the ACTUAL BOYFRIEND bandwagon with Grayer and Fen just yet, but the cute neighbor is anything but imaginary.

First, there was a comment he made a few weeks ago, after having done my taxes for me. (As if that wasn't sign enough, yes, he did my taxes for me.) I told him he was the best fake boyfriend a girl could ask for. He told me that I should see what kind of a real boyfriend he was.

Then, when Fen was here, she was doing her usual meddling, and asked him what he was looking for in a woman. One of his responses was "thick hair." Which I just happen to have in abundance. I mean, who answers "thick hair" to that question?

The biggest clue came the other night. I have a tendency to put up a few walls when I think I might be vulnerable. Unfortunately, the cute neighbor's job is moving to Canada. He has already decided that he's not going to Canada, and therefore needs a new one. I think it's understandable if I'm a little hesitant to dive in if he's going to end up moving across the country within the next year. I told him as much. Then he said he would never ask me to move to Canada, but maybe somewhere else in the country, which I thought was interesting enough. But after a pause, he said, "But you're the reason I'm looking for jobs in Atlanta."

Huh. How so very un-imaginary of him.

There are other signs, too. Like the fact that I haven't slept in my own bed in over a week. (Or slept alone for quite some time either, since before this, I was sharing sleeping space with Fen.) Or that on Sunday while we were in the park, he casually asked what we wanted to make for dinner, as if it was a given that we would be making dinner together. Not only does he do all the cooking, but- Grayer, I know you'll appreciate this one- all the dishwashing too. He enjoys washing the dishes. I started to wash them once, and he took over before I got halfway through. And then there's the fact that he told a long-distance friend of his that he was seeing someone when asked how things were going.

So no, I'm not going to go out on a limb and call him an ACTUAL BOYFRIEND just yet, but he is so NOT imaginary. And in our world, that's huge.

Back to Reality

This morning was my first day back at work. I had approximately 60 emails, 8 voice mails and an overflowing in-tray to greet me. Sigh. My vacation is definitely over.

However, this does mean that I can now report my findings on 'The Social Experiment' and other events that took place.

1. The Reunion- seeing Vi again after a year and a half was AMAZING. There is no other word for it. We got on like we hadn't spend so long apart. In fact, we got on so well that people thought we were a couple. I can only imagine the blog posts we would have if we lived in the same city, even the same state. Anything is better then living on different continents.

2. Vi and the Cute Neighbor- as I updated you, the spark was there. It was so there I managed to spot it within 10 seconds after seeing them together. Regardless of the fact that I was jet lagged. I take some (well the majority of) credit for the two of them finally getting their act together. Mainly my constant pep talks to Vi, the first one consisting of: "just kiss him already" to the last one: "just do it already." I also made a lot of double entendres just to try and make things move along. I got a lot done in 10 days. And Vi now has an ACTUAL BOYFRIEND. I. Am. A. Genius.

3. McNerdy- yes, yes, it's true. After Vi gave her permission,* McNerdy and I did make use of the make-out corner at the party. And he did stay over. And I might have also stayed over at his my last night there. That would be Vi's fault after she and the Cute Neighbor walked out of McNerdy's apartment while Vi asked him to drive me home. She's sneaky like that. In regards to my social experiment, well, McNerdy is an American guy and I did like him more than any British guys I've meant in awhile. So my opinion of American guys has been somewhat proven.

So all in all, it was an extremely successful and enjoyable trip.

* Please note: I would never make-out or do anything non-platonic with a friend's (especially Vi's) ex or semi-ex or whatever without permission from said friend and even then it's a tricky area.

McNerdy Love

Fenella's plan for me and the cute neighbor may have worked better than she ever would have thought, but my plan to find Fen's mojo worked better than I ever could have dreamed.

Last night, my roommate and I threw another one of our fabulous parties. (I was a little apprehensive that I might be broken up with while in my underwear the next morning, as happened at our last party, but quite the opposite happened. More on that later.) This was a high-class party, complete with a designated make-out corner. Secluded, very dimly lit, and with a paper towel sign pointing the way.

As Fen blogged earlier, I had indeed given her permission to make out with McNerdy. And Grayer is right. There was definitely a time that I would not have able to even think about him making out with anyone else, but I've come a long way. McNerdy and I in a romantic sense seems a lifetime ago, and now I only want my two best friends to be happy. So, after McNerdy arrived, I casually mentioned that he had my permission to make out with Fen, which seemed to interest him, once he got over my use of the word "permission."

For the better part of the evening, they sat/stood very near each other, and I suspected even a bit of hand holding under the table. Then I realized I was missing my drink, so I went back out to the porch to grab it... only to find Fenella and McNerdy totally sucking face!!!!!!! Wooooo!

And it gets better! They continued being all touchy-feely the rest of the evening, and I caught them in lip-lock a few times after that (including in the make-out corner). To give them the privacy that they so deserved and needed, I sacrificed my bedroom and went home with the Cute Neighbor. It was a huge sacrifice, let me tell you. (Pistachio ice cream, what? WHAT?) And when I finally did the walk-of-shame home in last night's party dress at 11:30 this morning, McNerdy was STILL HERE. I think McNerdy was a bit uncomfortable when he walked in the kitchen to see me, but I was super-excited. Now Fen and McNerdy can get married, and Fen can move here and we can be together all the time!

Now Fen has her mojo back. And she and I have yet another thing in common ;)

That's what friends are for...

Vi has just marched into the room in the hostel where I am sat. She has informed me that there is a cute guy in the other kitchen and I am to:

"Go into the other kitchen to look for a pizza cutter and ask the cute guy if he would like some pizza. Just do it!"

This was accompanied by crazy eyes and pointing. Maybe I will.

Vi's interest in my love life or lack thereof has gone even further today:

"This is random but...you totally have my permission to make out with McNerdy."

Could you ask for a better friend?

Outer and Prouder

We seem to have a weird tradition starting here at WWBD? First it was Grayer's YFA thinking that she was out and proud. Now, apparently Violet and I are also. Allow me to explain.

Violet and I attended after softball drinks last night. NB: Vi's team stomped the competition. Yay! There was a particular member of their team who was a little on the simple side and is the type of person you laugh at rather than with. Vi and I were sitting next to each other and at one point made the joke that we complete each other's sentences. (Actually, we complete each other.) Then the Cute Neighbor chimed in saying that we communicate without actually speaking to each other. The conversation moved on to whether or not we were both single. Which of course I am and Vi is TBD.

Later that evening when Vi returns home from "getting directions" for our road trip from the Cute Neighbor (an excuse if ever I heard one) she woke me up asking if I wanted to hear something funny. "Always." Was my response. According to the Cute Neighbor after Vi and I had left the bar Simple Simon said that until we mentioned we were both single...he thought we were a couple. Apparently Grayer's not the only one who gives off that lesbian vibe.

Friendly neighbors

Fenella, giving me recent feedback on my "situation" with the cute neighbor.

Don't worry Vi! I am on my way and can therefore observe the situation first hand and give sound advice.
I'm guessing it will probably involve me having one too many vodka cranberries and shouting:
"Just kiss each other already!"
You'll thank me for it I'm sure.

And lo and behold, that is EXACTLY what happened. On Friday, the cute neighbor made Fen and me dinner, after which the three of us went out. Sure enough, after a few vodka and cranberries (or maybe just one, Fen is quite a lightweight) she ended up blurting out pretty much this exact sentence. I'm sure I went red.

Fast forward to Saturday night. We went out again with the cute neighbor and this time McNerdy joined us. Fenella was deep into conversation with McNerdy, and I was chatting with the cute neighbor when he told me he had a confession to make. He took a long, dramatic pause. Then he blurted out that he liked me. A lot. First I asked him how much of it was the beer talking. He said it may have loosened him up, but the beer speaks the truth. Then I asked if he was tired of being my fake boyfriend. He said being my fake boyfriend was good fun and all, but that he wanted to be so much more than that.

Whoa.

I mean, really. I didn't know what to say. Obviously I was happy to hear that, but as I have a problem using my words in situations such as these, all I could say was, "OK." Brilliant, Vi. Truly brilliant. A degree in English, and the only word you can come up with is an "OK"? The rest of the conversation is a bit fuzzy, (I wasn't drunk, but just a bit in shock I think) but I know that at some point I told him that I "wasn't disappointed" (again, BRILLIANT) and he said that after he lays it all out on the table like that, he won't pursue if not responded to. Not long after, I literally pushed Fenella into the ladies' room and told her these latest developments while peeing. Seeing as she had NO IDEA this conversation had taken place mere inches from her, she was a little frightened.

After leaving the bar, we went back to the cute neighbor's, who made us a late-night snack. We said our goodnights and Fen and I went back to my place. What happened next, Fenella swears is straight out of a movie. (And I swear it's the truth.) While I was brushing my teeth, I thought about what he said, and I realized that I couldn't leave the situation with a stupid "ok" and an "I'm not disappointed." So I spit out my toothpaste and told Fenella I would be right back. She cheered as I walked out the door. I ran across the street and knocked on the cute neighbor's door, knowing full well that there was no turning back now.

"Hi," I said.
"Come in," he said. I did. We didn't talk for awhile after that. We just kissed for a good long while.

Finally, I stopped to ask a very important question. I wanted to make sure he wasn't just interested in a one-night stand. He pointed out that if he was only interested in a one-time hook up, it wouldn't have taken him so long to make a move. Fair enough.

I eventually managed to pull myself away and came back to bed with Fenella, who was only fake-sleeping and waiting for me to spill the details.

So is he an imaginary boyfriend? I think we've just found our answer.

Night on the Town

Happy Easter and happy spring! While Fennella and Violet are together once again, I'm sitting on my porch enjoying the gorgeous day ready to reflect on my past weekend. I just talked to my parents and I think my mother is disappointed for two reasons, 1) I didn't come home this weekend and 2) I didn't go to church this morning ("Why not? Are you looking for a church?" "Well I've seen churches...") So after telling her what I've been doing this weekend, a weekend that Conrad came to visit, she again started asking me when I was coming home. This time however, she mentioned that I could bring whomever I wanted with me. Yikes! You read right, it turns out, moving an hour away isn't enough to kill our friendship and Conrad actually came down for the night. And while I'm ready to meet someone (anyone) to make me forget Conrad's name romantically speaking, Conrad still remains my closest friend around here. Due to certain circumstances both of us really need a friend right now.

I'm not going to lie, I was really excited for his visit. It was going to be my first weekend to have time to actually enjoy the city. He was bringing his brand spanking new iPad (yes, I got to play with it and yes, it is awesome), we were going out to dinner, and we got tickets to a show.

Unfortunately (though it was a great experience) we accidentally went on a date to a really nice restaurant. It was a steakhouse near the theater we were going to and my roommate's bf recommended it as being fairly casual and not too expensive (Note to self: This guy is never to be listened to ever again). We walk in and they ask for Conrad's last name and continue to call him "Mr. Conrad" for the remainder of the evening. We should have seen this as our first warning sign, as no one wearing jeans and a t-shirt should ever be referred to as Mr. anything. They sat us in a corner and hand the menus to "Mr. Conrad" and tell him about the drink specials. Our waiter comes with bread and tells him about the garlic spreads. After filling up our water glasses (Conrad's first) the waiter tells him about the specials. He tells him to make himself at home.

Now I know fine dining has it's little quirks about a man at a table, ordering and such. But this wasn't exactly fine dining, and Conrad is not that sort of man. I could only come to one conclusion: this restaurant is sexist! Only responding to the thank you's of the man of the table does not mean you're fine dining, it means you're purposely ignoring the woman!

Conrad found this particularly funny as he is often jokingly sexist. When I tell him I can't figure out how to hook up my dvd player, how to find the molarity of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, how to best make mashed potatoes up to his high Southern standard, his answer is always the same "it's because you're a woman." It was odd to have to agree with him in this case, and to do so seriously. Seeing this sexism in action definitely kept us laughing while we savored our overpriced steak and filled up on the free bread (it didn't even come with sides?!). As we looked at each other and tried to hold back the giggles as our waiter scraped away our breadcrumbs off the white linen. We were so out of our league. I completely lost it once the waiter left and Conrad pulled out the piece of bread he had been hiding in his lap and slowly and guiltily brought it to his mouth. He was determined to get his money's worth, whether his crumbs had just been scraped away or not.

All in all, we had a great night. We saw a good show, walked around downtown and brought back two slices of cheesecake from the Factory (a slice of heaven). Though I purposely awkwardly held his hand at times we were strictly platonic, which is the way we should be. Next weekend his mom is visiting him. She wants to come into town, as Conrad will admit, partly to see the city but mostly to meet me. I'm pretty excited about this, we are active Facebook friends after all.

An Update: "The Situation"

As we all are aware, Vi is currently having a 'situation' with The Cute Neighbor. We have been advising from afar but last night, I was able to observe first hand. Yes, that's right, Vi and I are reunited after a year and a half!

The Cute Neighbor came over at around 11.30 last night and stayed for about 20 minutes chatting with us. And in that short period of time I realised there is a definite spark between Vi and The Cute Neighbor. I now have 10 days to ensure that the two of them get their acts together.

This shouldn't be hard.