Sam’s Two Cents

Well, in line with my earlier comment about this blog getting more personal, here comes some relationship musings.

 Before I get started, I'd like to inform you all that a message board has been created.  However, it's still in its infancy and must remain secret until I get things tired down.  It looks like it will be possible for me to create a new thread to discuss each of my blog posts automatically, which will be cool, especially for comments (the current system is a bit awkward).  Look for that soon.
So as most of the people reading this probably know, I've been going out with Marie for 3 years, 6 months, and 24 days (but who's counting, right?) which is a bit above average based on what I've seen…  And there's all sorts of interesting relationship stuff that comes with that, but I'll spare you most of those.  What I have noticed (and am going to actually blog about) is that trying to make female friends is more awkward (it IS apparently possible for this to be more awkward than usual) when you have a girlfriend.

First of all, the line that defines friendly interractions and flirting is pretty blurry, as is the line between just-friends-flirting and serious flirting.  Not only do I have to consider if something can be construed as flirting, but even if it is it might still be acceptable.  The reaons for this are at least twofold.  Firstly (and "firstly" IS a word by the way), I don't want to lead them on just for them to find out I have a girlfriend (which is why I try to tell at least a couple stories involving Marie when I meet girls for the first time).  Secondly, there's the whole public image thing; it just doesn't go over well if people who know I have a girlfriend see me flirting with another girl.

This is of course not to say I'd ever for a second regret being in a relationship with Marie.  I'd tell you all the reasons why, but frankly there's not enough space on this websever (nor time in which I could do it).

While I'm on the topic, the term "going out" has grown to bug me more and more.  In Jr. High through early high school, it was the whole, sit together at lunch and hold hands thing and you didn't actually have to go out anywhere at all.  In high school, the same thing continued, but you could actually go places.  Unfortunately, it also then could literally mean going out somewhere.  Now, in college, the difference between the relationship aspect, and the going on dates aspect is painfully clear, and yet I'm still at a loss for a better term than "going out".  Is that still okay to use, or will I get laughed at for my childish Jr. High language? 

Good night everyone, I've had enough Karaoke Revolution to last a month, and I'm tired.  I only hope this isn't one of those late-night emotional rants I go on and regret in the morning.  Let's hope I've figured those out by now.