o my shoes arrived, thanks for no one asking or caring. sniff. They fit pretty well, and make me feel like I could kick a few holes in some walls.

I had a second date last night with 003, who, I must add, is taller than I am, I think. It doesn't really bother me, but it is a new experience to add to the mental list of "dating firsts". We got dinner at TGIF and then saw a movie later on. Lots of tension (not in the movie, either). I sort of have a personality that matches pace with the people I'm around. Slap-happy, sullen, vile, reserved, you name it, I think (typically) I behave in direct response to the people around me, rather than have one single attitude for 100% of my life. Maybe everyone is like this. Anyhow, 003 (And I hate using numbers, because that sounds trashy, but I would like to maintain their privacy) is pretty sarcastic, and not given to huge exposition about her life or past or whatever. Humor as a defense. Shocker, so am I. So you get two people like this in a room, and there are lots of barriers to conversation of significance. Just two people trying to be meaninglessly funny. Its exhausting. And if you've got nothing else to bind you to that person, it makes for a pretty unfulfilling time hanging out, because you're talking to that person's wall, and not their inner thoughts. Even better, it's pretty darn hard to make this point to a stranger, and have it come out with any sort of clarity. Well, short story long, the movie and the rest of the evening were pretty silent affairs, as there didn't seem to be a lot to say. Without some substance, my humor doesn't do much for me (and generally it doesn't do much for anyone else. Ha!).

But, fortuantely, she broached the subject before she ran, screaming, from my car at the end of the night. We talked for another 45 minutes, and had normal people conversation. Sort of. To what end? Well, we're going to try another date tomorrow night, I think. I'm all in favor of seeing the neat catatonic awkwardness as a good sign. I mean, usually when I'm too relaxed and comfortable it means I'm not completely engaged in the situation. I don't get nervous unless I'm at least slightly interested. =)

Okay, and in other news, my Jimmy Johns sandwich was pretty good. I think the manager tried to hit on me. She asked if I was married and made lots of small talk while her underlings fixed my food. I don't mix business with pleasure though, and Jimmy Johns is strictly business for me.

Hey, extra special thanks to Chad, who gave me some righteous (I'm bringing that word back into the "cool" world) code yesterday for handling XML formatting and presentation. I'm late to the game using it, but hey, I just learned how to hard boil eggs by myself too, so BACK OFF.