What can I say? The heat has been killing my inspiration

So I know it's been a couple of weeks. I'm very sorry that you three dedicated readers have been seeing the same boring blog for all that time. It's just I have had no inspiration. My muse has abandoned me, or something less poetic. I think it's the wet heat we've been having this July. This past Sunday I spent an hour sweating at the gym, came home and took a shower and didn't really dry off until I turned on the air conditioner when I went to sleep that night. I had small reprieves, like when I took the T to get my toes done- the trains have air conditioning- or when I sat in the nail parlor and got my toes done. But that was about it until 11 or so that night. I don't know how people can get anything done when they're all damp all the time. But, really, I do need to apologize for taking so long. So I'm sorry. Now I'm moving on.

This past Sunday I went on my practice date. A practice date is when you're going out with someone without any expectation of there being a love connection, but a possibility of a friend connection. My friend Deb set it up, and she also had me promise to wear a dress (uh) and actually try to enjoy myself (double uh). One thing that will come to no surprise to folks is that I hate dating. Which is why I need to practice.

It turns out the practice date (I'll call him Practice Date guy, or PD) was a perfect faux date. He was very friendly, quite engaging and empathetic (despite the fact that he enjoys himself as a litigating lawyer) and absolutely loves- I mean adores- NPR. Particularly the love of my life's show, This American Life. We must have spent at least 45 minutes talking about TAL and Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me. I think the last time I dorked out so much was when I was talking to Alex about whether Snape was truly evil, or whether Dubledore meant for Snape to kill him (three more days until we know for sure, Alex. Sorry for the spoiler to those of you who didn't know that. But I figure if you don't know this already, you don't really care about the entire series). It also turns out that he's in a quasi relationship with someone, but is really into meeting people for fun and activities (perfectly legitimate, PG-rated activities, thank you very much). He's said he'll add me to his list of activity partners, including to his very social group outling list so I can better meet some of his friends. He also said he'd be happy to help me out with being a male sounding board as I go on my little dating adventures, which is a huge relief. I think I can use all the help I can get in that regard. I mean, guys are really confusing to me. Especially these East Coast guys, who are in effect different from the Left Coast-oriented personalities.

Oh, and one more thing. Did anyone else listen to Wait Wait this weekend? There was a blurb about the "secret to a happy marriage". You'll never guess. It went like this:

The key to a happy marriage is how often the wife is what?

Guess 1. Goes out and socializes
Guess 2. How often the wife... (no the answer is not A, despite the alarming number of men out there saying "Be A! Be A!"
Guess 3. How often she agrees with him?
Answer- Exactly wrong.
Guess 4. How often he agrees with her?

Yes! How often she get her way. And she doesn't have to just get her way. The husband has to quickly, intently and enthusiastically give in to her. "Further proof that there is a god". Amen.