AFriendlyFace

That's a really thought-provoking and insightful response. It definitely gives me some new things to think about. Thanks, -Kevin

Thanks everyone! The other good news is that I've been writing more regularly again too

Well, I thought the curious among you might wonder how things turned out. I ended up not going, for a combination of reasons. I'm not feeling very well for one thing. Although to be honest I ended up cancelling because I pretty much got an answer to my question. He sent me a text telling me that he'd only really suggested the movie as an excuse for us to go out together. Nice I suppose, but as I said, I don't have any romantic interest in him, and I sorta felt like after he had said that, that going would indicate otherwise. So, when he said that he was sorry I wasn't well and would understand if I needed to cancel, I took the easy way out. I thanked him for being so understanding and said that in truth I really should stay in tonight and rest. Eh, now all I've got to figure out is how best to gently dissuade him. He specifically said that next time it was 'my turn' to ask him out. So obviously one option is simply not doing that, but I don't want to hurt his feelings so right now I'm leaning toward asking him along to some sort of non-private occasion with at least one or two other friends present. Maybe I can clearly set the stage as platonic only. -Kevin

LOL, thanks for the clarification, Robbie

LOL, well personally I like boiled eggs a lot. I think they're my favourite way to eat eggs actually. I don't like the yoke, and obviously it's easiest to get out if it's all still in tact Egg whites are one of my favourite things to have in a salad, but I get really miffed if they're all broken up with the yoke and can't be easily separated I'm not much of a fan for deviled eggs, again mostly because of the yoke thing. Yokes themselves are easier to tolerate in an omelet or scrambled or something, and I do like those. I just find that boiling an egg is sort of like separating all the best and worst things about the egg, and it's nice to just throw away all the bad Besides, who would eat a fetus? It's all about the placenta! -Kevin

For a second there I thought you were trying to take the credit for dry ice - or at least relate some dry ice experience, then I realized you probably meant 'is' instead of 'i'. On another note I just realized we have a thread going right now about eggs and boiling water. Seems an odd coincidence

Cool list! All I can say is that Meryl Streep better when for Doubt! She was frickin amazing in that movie! Gosh, she's such a good actress!

Thanks everyone! Graeme's answer, which seems like a less technical version of Greg's answer, was the easiest for me to understand, but I think I'm actually grasping what Xeran and Greg are saying as well. That was very helpful, and made more sense to me than most of the answers I've received on this in the past Thanks, that was what I was talking about. I was just too rusty on it to explain it better. That makes sense. It is electric, and I was of course thinking that the fact that it was still sitting on the hot burner was probably doing it. I just didn't understand why lifting it off the burner would make such a sudden difference, but I think I do now. Ohhh Thanks guys -Kevin

Oh my gosh!

Uh oh, that means I shall have to avoid starting to read it on my lunch break or I'll be late back to work (takes me well over an hour to read a chapter)

OK, here's something I've always wondered about but no one's ever been able to explain it in such a way that made sense to me. Why is it that as soon as you take boiling water off the stove it quits boiling? It seems to me that it would take a bit for the water to cool down. I don't understand how simply removing the heating mechanism can instantly cool it enough to lower it from the boiling point. I'm further confused about this because as I have always understood it one of the qualities of water is that it is relatively good at diffusing/absorbing temperature changes. I'm probably not saying that right, but as I understand it, it's better than most liquids at not being overly susceptible to temperature changes so it like holds its temperature longer or something. Is that right? I have two personal theories on why water might instantly stop boiling. If I'm understanding the above quality of water correctly then is it that I simply don't have enough water to resist sudden temperature changes? If I could boil a whole swimming pool (or water tower, or lake, or ocean, or whatever) and then remove it from the massive flame would it continue to boil for a bit longer because there would be so much more of it that it wouldn't be as immediately impacted? My other 'theory' is that it has something to do with pressure. With the pot of water resting on the heating source is that also supplying pressure of some kind, and thus when the pot is lifted off the boiler not only is the temperature reduced but so is the pressure? This makes sense to me in that if I simply turn off the stove without moving the pot of water it does gradually cool down as I would expect. The only other idea I have is that since boiling point is the highest temperature water (in the liquid state) can reach as soon as it's reduced at all it's simply not hot enough to boil anymore. In other words it can never get high enough past boiling point to have room to play with if it's taken away from the burner. This doesn't make sense to me though because it's somewhat counter intuitive to how I think. It still seems like it would take a little while. Also it seems to fly in the face of the fact that water does seem to have different levels of boiling. It has a gentle bubbling/simmering, a medium sort of boil, and then the all out vigourous boil one is supposed to wait for. I would expect it to progress backward through the stages as well. Anyway, I've asked a few people about this, but no one's ever explained it in a way that made sense and stuck with me, so I'm hoping someone does now -Kevin

Well that's certainly fascinating! Thanks

Hmm, interesting comments and advice. First off, as I said, I'm really not wanting it to be a date. I'm open to the possibility of a closer friendship, and only the possibility of a closer friendship. He's just not really my type romantically. I definitely think it could be a 'feeling out' as Benji mentioned, and I also like Corvus' idea of a spectrum between date and hanging out as friends. As I said, I'm not interested in moving beyond the friend side of the spectrum, but that seems like it would be a better situation to handle. I think it's more complicated because I personally really like hanging out one on one with my friends. I think that's the absolute best way to bond and develop a closer relationship. Hanging out in small groups and big get togethers is fun, but it definitely takes a few intimate, private conversations before I feel really close to someone. Anyway, we've been casual friends for awhile now, so I am ready to take our friendship to the next level. My concern is that if I try to have intense, enjoyable conversation in which I pay close attention to what he's saying and reveal somewhat personal things about myself (as I'm apt to do in one-on-one platonic encounters) I might indeed send the wrong message. Eh, it's all way too complicated. I'm sure I will just have to play it by ear. -Kevin

I find this topic very interesting. So much confusion in single life stems from the age old question, "Is this a date?" This situation of uncertainty is often a major component of books, movies, television shows, and even music. So just what is a date? How does one know when they've been asked out romantically as opposed to platonically? How best can one convey to their partner that they consider the event to be a date? Or how can they subtly indicate that they do not consider the event to be a date? Currently I'm in this situation. A few hours ago I got a text from a casual friend of mine asking me if I'd like to go to the movies with him Wednesday night. The movie was Confessions of a Shopaholic which I really want to see, and come on it's almost like it's written for me So naturally I accepted. Next he suggested that we have dinner first. Well that makes sense, right? I mean it's around dinner time. I'd be hungry if I didn't eat, so again I said that sounded like a great idea. Then I got to thinking, "wait a minute..." I kinda get the impression that this guy is interested in me based on some of the complimentary and flirtatious things he says when we're together, or over text, and this is dinner and movie after all. That's practically always interpreted as a date when done by two single people without an established close friendship. I'm not paying for the movie, but he said he got the tickets free (I haven't asked how yet). On the other hand, we're meeting there, I'm not be picked up or doing the picking. Also, my personal definition of a date is anything which two people do together that both consider to be a date. I did not accept it as a date, and I'm not interested in dating him, so as far as I'm concerned it's not a date. Of course that means I'll have to subtly let him know I don't consider it a date, or else run the risk of leading him on (which I seem to be pretty damn good at ). Obviously though I'd feel like an idiot if I do something to indicate "not a date!" and he didn't mean it as a date in the first place. Thus I was going to just play it by ear...but that's usually how I end up 'sending mixed signals'. Personally, I've been on quite a few 'dates' that I didn't enjoy in a date sense but enjoyed in a general sense. I usually have fun when I go out, regardless of with whom or what the activity is, and I usually try to make sure the other person is having fun too...so I guess that's how it happens. Any thoughts on this? -Kevin

Personally I'm quite fond of English food as well. A favourite restaurant among my circle of friends is an English pub called the Black Labrador. Eventually I shall probably even write it into Worth A Shot. -Kevin

Awww, Steve That was a really honest blog post, and I'm impressed! Don't have much to say that might be helpful though. Of course it'll work itself out in time. One way or another things always do. In the meantime I can imagine it's very frustrating though. Good luck and take care, -Kevin

In two more days you're blog is also celebrating its first birthday! Congrats on the first 100 blogs! Nice job! You got your first 100 blogs in under a year. It took me about a year and a half. Tim, not to butt in where it isn't my business, but have you considered an employment agency? Let them do the looking for you, lol Take care and have a great day -Kevin

In the beginning of March I'm planning on taking a trip to Austin for a gay rights rally. I'm really looking forward to it! I've been dying to go to Austin anyway. My friends Claire (who still lives in Louisiana but is planning on moving to Austin), Mandi (Baton Rouge), and Jenn (Ohio, but visiting Mandi) are going to go with me. That ought to be a lot of fun, they'd all come to visit for New Year's and we had a ball! So the rally is on Monday and right now the tentative plan is for them to come in on Saturday night and we can hang out or do whatever, then Sunday morning we'll leave for Austin and spend the day/night there, then have the rally on Monday. I think it's so funny, but cool how we still get to hang out together periodically even though all four of us live in completely different cities I'm hoping to talk Scott into coming with us too. He's still sorta on the fence and not sure if he wants to take off work. Brian can't make it because he has a class he can't miss, but his parents are probably going to go. Which is really cool because his parents are great! Luke will possibly be going as well. Anyway, obviously I needed to ask off for work on that Monday. So I was planning to do it today after I got back lunch, well right before lunch my boss comes in and says, "you know you've been doing a really good job, and we'd really like to give you a day off with pay. So just let me know when." So yeah, that was pretty cool! Imagine being offered a day off only a couple of hours before you were going to ask for one! Pretty nifty. I am crazy about my job. It's so perfect for me! I love the work, the pay's nice, they're are a ton of perks, it's really close by, really laid back, ideal hours, good benefits, and I'm crazy about my boss and his wife! All around it's just very good. I also had a really good chat with my boss today about gay issues, which he initiated. He's a really nifty person. He's a straight, white guy, but he's like really sensitive to minority issues and really open-minded. Which is why I was sure getting off in the first place wouldn't be a big deal if I mentioned it was for a gay rights rally. He was asking if the phrase "that's so gay" is offensive or not. I told him it really depended on the GLBT person he said it around. I have several friends and acquaintances who are themselves gay or lesbian and say it all the time, and don't care if anyone says it. Then I have several other friends and acquaintances who find it really offensive and get thoroughly pissed. Personally, my stance is that the original construction of the phrase has offensive roots, and that the meaning and use is offensive if analyzed, but I'm not offended by it at all when I hear it. By now it's just more or less slipped into the common vernacular, especially in some circles, so I really don't think that in most instances it is uttered with an offensive intention, and I think in order for something to be offensive it can't be said innocently. It's like if a five year old says f**k in a completely innocent way. It's vulgar, it's not what you necessarily want the kid to be saying, but it's pointless, IMO, to be offended by it. The kid didn't mean any harm. Same deal here as far as I'm concerned. So I don't say it myself, don't think I ever have, and probably won't start, but I don't really care if other people say it, especially if it's obvious they don't have malicious intents. Anyone have any thoughts on that?

Hey Joe Freebird's huh? Cool, I love that place! Ya'll shoulda checked out Amy's Ice Cream next door too I hope we do get to hang out soon. I'm looking forward to it! Regarding Mason, I think Dan is completely right. He probably isn't trying to mess with your head it's just tough for him right now too so he gives in and text/calls you even though he might not really think that's a good idea. Break ups can be weird. Remember, you have a say in all this too. If you don't think it's going to work out between you guys, and you don't think a friendship is possible right now (even if you're open to one or both of those ideas, but know that he isn't/can't), then if it's hurting you to be in contact with him maybe you should just let him know that and then quit responding when he tries to contact you. Dude, you need to take it easier and get more rest! It sounds like you need a good break from work AND school and should probably spend it with only light socializing. LOL, when I was in school and working every semester I would sort of misrepresent my schedule. "I have a class on Wednesday night." Yeah, not so much, but it ensured that I would consistently have one evening off every week that I didn't have school. I would always pick it on my lightest, easiest day too so that if I wanted I could just skip the classes during the day too and have the whole thing to myself Take care and good luck! And come visit me soon! -Kevin

Awww, I'm so happy for you, Jamie!

This does sound like a good idea. I personally would also be in favour of something similar with flood/storm damage for the coastal regions of Louisiana, Texas, Florida, Mississippi, etc., especially after the last few years and the hurricanes and floods they've brought! Graeme, Matty, JFalkon, et all, I'm so very sorry for these terrible events and it's even more horrific knowing it might have been intentional You folks stay safe and my thoughts and prayers are with you, and all the people of Victoria. -Kevin

Well I accidentally voted that I've never peeled an egg, but that's a total fib I very very rarely eat eggs. Not because I don't like them, I just seldom do it. When I do have eggs, if it's for an omelet or scrambled or in something, I just bang it against the side of the skillet or bowl and then separate and discard. Boiled eggs though I love peeling. I'm a tad OCD about some things and peeling an egg is definitely one of them. I try to make the gentlest, smallest crack in the egg shell imaginable. I definitely wouldn't hit it with anything, I gently tap until I have a small crack. Then I pick off the smallest piece I can, and slowly, laboriously work my way out from the original hole. Practical? No, but fun as hell -Kevin

Great pics, Lacey Whoa, that's pretty cool about the tinted contacts! I want to look into that now. Probably not red mind you, but it would be nice to get the eye protection of sunglasses without having to wear sunglasses (I can't stand wearing sunglasses, or regular glasses for that matter). Not to be dense, but how does the program know what color the eyes are supposed to be? I have blue eyes and often suffer the red eye phenomenon too.

Thanks guys I often feel like I am the recipient of genuine kindness, and I think being kind is something it's good for me to make a point of reminding myself to do.