He triggers the babbling brook in me.

We both (The Republican and I) can be very talkative. Today, when we are at his family picnic, I'm going to practice self restraint and listening skills. Specifically, I'm going to stop interrupting. He doesn't seem to mind - he does it too... but it's been a while sense I've been this talkative.

We wandered around Portland last night. In SouthWest there's a really neat fountain with waterfalls you can go under. We attempted going up to the top one of the tallest buildings in the city. It was night, so they weren't allowing anyone up there. So we tried to catch a view from the 30th floor where there is a restaurant. No luck there either. Men in tuxes were pretty snobby about letting you get near a window to peak out. Oh well. I was some of PSU campus - and we just hung out.

We ended up talking about our frustrations trying to date within the LDS Singles scene. By now he's heard about most of my past relationships. I know guys hate when girl talk about their exes all the time - but it just happened to be where conversations have turned to on a few occasions.

At the end of the night I earned a quick peck of a kiss instead of a hug. Interest waxes for both parties?

Chess in the City of Books

Yesterday it was my turn to be responsible to decide what "we" would be doing for the evening. It was my one early night for the week, so I wanted to make sure something fun happened.

As it was my turn to decide, I thought 'what is something Portland that I have not done?' It finally came to me - Powell's. Everyone had been asking me "have you been to Powell's? You'd love it!" So we journeyed to Powell's City of Books. It was huge. It was cool (yes, literally too - I got cold). They have new books, used books - every book except the three I tried to find. (They were my friend's magazine that we carried at Borders, A favorite picture book story - Muth's The Three Questions - , and my dad's books. Dad's books were on the computer catalog, though.)

I could get lost all day in the city of books...
But instead, we played chess. The Republican brought his chess set with him, and the game took forever, because he had the patience to help me. I would often stop, and think out loud to get feedback. He was actually a very good teacher - telling the principle, and then making me discover the application. That's how I like to be taught. He still won - but it was relatively close.

On Saturday I'm joining him for a family picnic, and then we may go check out the state fair.
He's giving me reasons to like him, and none not to. Interest waxes daily.

I already finished the cookies

I had to work my first Sunday since I first quit a job when I was 16 for making me work on Sundays. I had to miss the last block of church, but was there for Sacrament Meeting and Sunday School.

The Republican sat next to me in Sunday school and was being very flirty. I kept telling him to focus. :) We both participated, though. He gave me a hug before I left for work. Right there on the second pew at church. That was strange. He's not a guy who acts different in public or one on one at all. Same guy at all times. Exact opposite of the worried about gossip way that Derek was.

Work was. . . work. Oh well. It wasn't bad at all, though. Derek called while me and it was a laid back enough day that I got to talk to him for a while. He seems to be doing all right. He told me interesting news regarding a man that had joined the ward in Philly while I was there. He was a somewhat poplar Greek guy named Nik. He had been dating this girl, and went with her on a vacation to visit her family in Utah. I never knew Nik too well - it seemed like he avoided me. Well, it turns out Nik is not really Greek, and isn't even Nik. He ended up getting arrested in Utah when he wouldn't pay his tab at a restaurant because he was telling the waitress that he just bought the place so he didn't have to pay. When she called the police on him, they discovered he had several warrants out for his arrest in California. He's been moving around the country going by different names. I feel really bad for the girl who had been dating him. She was a really sweet yet drama queen kind of girl.

Derek also put me back in touch with a mutual Philly friend of ours who is now back home in Seattle until he leaves on a mission. That was especially fun because I think I've convinced that friend to come play in Portland for a bit before he leaves for his mission to Sweden. Yeah!

The best part of the day, though, (besides being woken up this morning by a phone call from my mom :) was that when I came home from work I found a casserole and cookies sitting on my stove. The Republican had brought them over for me. OK, so methinks he likes me.

Oh the confusion and culture of Mormon Dating

So The Republican and I went out to see Napoleon Dynamite today. He payed, so it was a date. And he took me to eat at his favorite little mexican place right by his house. Then we went "hiking" with his cousin. It wasn't really what I consider hiking at all. Up a hill, down a hill. Only 20 minutes or so. Hiking is at least an hour. But it was nice to be outdoors.

We had originally planned on going hiking for real earlier in the day, but he decided not to because we couldn't find enough people to go. Find enough people to go? Why do we need a group of people to go hiking?

He's starting to be slightly more flirty - rubbing my back for a little bit during the movie and the like... but then even less at the end of the night. Didn't even get out of the car to give me a goodbye hug. There would have been nothing had I not said "Not even a goodnight hug or anything?" I know he's had a girlfriend before, but I wonder if he's kissed. I bet he has and he just thinks I'm not the kind of girl who kisses.

I'm confused by him. He's a super social guy, and has been inviting me to do all sorts of things since I've been here. I'm pretty sure he's interested, but he also seems like the type who could lose interest easily. It doesn't seem to me like we're "dating" at all - even though we go out a lot. But then whenever talking to any of his family (extended and immediate... they're everywhere here) or his friends they refer to "us" as if there is an "us" to refer to. He never says anything to refute that.

I just decided yesterday that I am interested in him.

After going out with him tonight I spent a little time with a few other ladies from the ward. It was a nice time. I spoke with one girl for a little bit about my confusion regarding The Rep. She endorses any interest, and highly recommends him. That's good to know.

Oh, and he's seriously good at chess. I'm positive he could wipe out my brother, who is the chess champion of our family. After some practice and education I might have a chance at turning into competition. Watch out Brohammas!