2003-10-20

2003-10-20 - 9:09 a.m.

I loved the comment responses to my "why Texas?" question. Not one of you came up with something that would convince me to live there. Come on! Convince me!

Anyone wondering what my weekend was like should take a look at the below reading list. Over two days, I read these three books. I walked the doggies, took a ton of allergy medication, and slept. That's it. For the first time in months, my body's not aching for more hours in bed. I have no stress in my body. This is lovely. 'Course, after a day or two at work, it'll be back to Madam Grumpalot and Her Traveling Bitchathon.

Weekend Reading:
The Ransom of Russian Art. Nonfiction, about a UMaryland prof who smuggled something like 8,000 pieces of "degenerate" art out of the Soviet Union between 1955 and 1985. Brings up interesting questions - where did he get the cash? How did he bring back the pieces? Was he a CIA agent?
The Secret Book of Grazia dei Rossi. Trash, pure historical fiction trash. 800 pages of lovely forgettable nothingness. Aaah.
In the Memory of the Forest. Historically based fiction. The story of a Polish farmer post-Soviet Union. Discusses Polish complicity in the Holocaust and the national disdain for Judaism in general. I especially am caught because it's placed in the part of Poland where we still have family.

Now back to our usual... About a week ago now, Scratcher brought up being exclusive again. It was a somewhat difficult decision. I'd already stopped dating Geologist - though he was very interested in being a friend with "fringe benefits". But I had dates set with two new guys last week. Cancelling the first one was no problem. The second one...I liked that guy. I really, really wanted to have dinner with him and see what happened. But I woke up Thursday morning, the day of the date, and felt guilty. Shit. My parents are lapsed Catholics - I have enough guilt as it is! I called off the date, cursing the entire time, and went over to Miss Beek's to keep myself from calling the guy anyway. As if to prove how stupid lucky I am, both of the gents in question told me to keep their numbers in case "things don't work out".

Even though I forsee some problems in the future, there are a couple of things about Scratcher that tipped me into giving the guy a real chance. For one, the man handles his responsibilities. He is a damned good father. He maintains a quality relationship with his ex so that their son grows up healthy and happy. I have immense respect for that. Two, we've yet to run out of things to talk about. One night last week we sat up until dawn watching Cool Hand Luke and talking about the American judicial system. Last night at dinner he asked me to explain the differences between Hunan, Cantonese, Mandarin and Sichuan foods. And then he *listened* carefully to the answer. Holy crap. No man has genuinely *listened* to my arcane ramblings in a long time. It's been even longer since one had the same insane curiousity that I have.

Being terrific in bed didn't hurt his case, either.

Of course, as soon as we decided on monogamy, the agreement was tested. Sunday morning he woke me at 7:00 a.m., sobering up from a terrific party.

Scratcher: Morning, K. Missed you last night.
Kaetchen, half asleep: Hi, honey. Didja have a good time?
S: Would have been better if you were there. But I was still a good boy.
K: Wha?
S: [slurring a little] Good boy. Thought about it but didn't.
K: [very awake now] Okay. Did you have an opportunity?
S: Uh-huh. But I really like you. Didn't want to screw up.
K: [eyes closed] Okay. Thanks for telling me. You didn't screw up. Everything's okay.
S: Wanna come to Thanksgiving with my family?
K: Uh...

Can somebody explain why he needed to tell me this? Did he want credit for being good? It makes no sense! And then what's with the immediate segue into Thanksgiving? We've been dating a month; that's six weeks away. Hello, can you say too far away to plan? Excuse me while I go stick my head in a paper bag now.

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former / latter