"When you have to have a tough conversation..."

Ideally, a second actual date with someone 5 weeks after the first and lasting multiple days is not how it’s supposed to work. A second date with someone should be about a week after the first and include no more than 2 hours of time in which conversation is acceptable. The third date should probably be another week or so later and be limited to maybe 3 hours. Maybe by the 15th date, people (or at least me) are comfortable enough with each other for a more extended period of time together. Actually I don't believe in dating, and I don't believe in having "the talk." It shouldn't be necessary. You shouldn't have to "define the relationship" but it should be just something you feel. But then I inevitably find myself wondering where I stand and needing to know how the other person feels, so more of a relationship definition is needed.

There are many reasons it shouldn’t work, at least not now or near future, but the actual reason for this failure was a bit startling. It really puts lots of doubts in me, as if my social skills have reverted back to when I was in high school and couldn’t maintain a conversation. Conversation this time was supposed to be easy and fun – but it never is with me, unless bridge is involved. I’m struggling to keep myself together, and I don’t have anyone I can reliably turn to for comfort and support. I long for that - a best friend - more than anything, really.

Attempts at Cooking Indian Food

So, I'm going on about 10 days of a fruit, veggie, fish, and beer diet. Why? I'm not entirely sure, but it might have a little something to do with Dana. Maybe it's an effort to be healthier. Maybe it's an excuse to save money by having to bring my lunch to work because non-meat options at fast food restaurants are very limited. I could even claim that it's for lent since that started yesterday.

So, yesterday I made an attempt at cooking Indian food for the first time in years. I cooked palak paneer and it turned out far better than any Indian food I cooked before, but I need more practice before I try to impress dana with it on the 26th. Maybe adding squash wasn't a great idea. It seemed like it would go well with spinach and cottage cheese, but maybe that's why it's not as good as Shahenshah.