Lots of people showed up after the Screensavers TechTV episode, one of whom so happened to be Gertie. At some point I managed to hear that she lived in Texas, so took a subtle approach to trying to find out exactly WHERE in Texas this weird Gertie person resided. Turned out, she lived in Greenville, which just so happened to be within reasonable driving distance. This means we could potentially date.... assuming we were even remotely compatible.

Well, after talking for a few weeks, somewhere in there I invited her over, and somewhere in there she worked up the nerve to actually do it. On the day she decides to come over, she first sends me a picture. Of course, upon seeing this picture, my first reaction is "Why aren't you here yet!?!?!". Then she wants me to call her. Keep in mind, this is the first time we've ever actually spoken on the phone, as all our previous conversations were typed. Finally early that afternoon she heads on over. Of course, she doesn't park in front of the house, as she knows there's a camera in the front door, so she parks down the street and skulks up to the house. Of course, I saw her coming, as I was watching for her. So I ran to greet her even before she had a chance to ring the doorbell. No, I wasn't the LEAST bit excited. :)

We were both a bit shy for a little while, but then somewhere in there she got the weird idea that putting ice down my back would be a good idea, and went hunting for ice. I of course, was wondering why she went wandering the house, so I had to go follow her. You know... make sure she found what she was looking for.. And while she's trying to hide the piece of ice in her hand (like I don't know it's there), I put my arm around her shoulder and look into her eyes. It was that moment I knew things would go somewhere.

After a while, I ask her if she's hungry and then I cook her burritos, which is about the only meal I know how to cook, but she seemed to really like the idea regardless. After eating, we sit on the couch and talk for about 6 hours, the whole time, she keeps snuggling closer and closer until finally she's laying across my lap with her face about in inch from mine, and then we end up kissing. It's an ongoing debate who actually kissed who, so we've agreed to just agree that it was mutual. I'm still convinced she orchestrated the whole event though.

Irregardless, it worked out great. She wasn't eagar to leave that night. And I wasn't eagar to have her leave. And it was a long slow week until I was able to see her again.