Plusquam Pisces Suecicas Te Amo

Gotta pack now. Off to St. Louis. See you all there. Or in Utah.

Omnia Vincit Amor

While walking down the street in downtown Chicago, I came by a guy passing out flyers with the words "Looking for Love?" on the top. He tried to hand one to me. I told him no, thanks. Got one of those already.

Also, I found THIS guy.

Memoriam Nostri Quam Maxime Longam Efficere

Future historians, no doubt, will be quite frustrated at the relative dearth of primary source material documenting this particular stage in the life and times of your favorite protagonist (and mine). Changes in his cursus vitae are nothing short of revolutionary. Law school, internships, engagements, prospective wedding, a pretty blond girl that kinda likes him-- readers will certainly wish they could know more and, no doubt, will express their dismay at the paucity of the record.

Future historians should frankly cut me some slack. There's kind of a lot going on right now. In fact, considering all that I will have done for the future, maybe the future will need to stop complaining and count its blessings.

Frankly, the future will probably owe me an apology.

But don't worry, future. I'm in a forgiving mood. For that, you have the present to thank. The present, you see, was nice enough to treat me to a nice spread of bagels, donuts, hot chocolate, fruit, yogurt, and these nifty raspberry smoothie things, the customary fare of each Wednesday's Coffee Mess. (Take notice, future. You scratch my back, I scratch yours. And making things happen in the job market would sure help that tingling down and to the left a bit, if you would be so kind. Thanks in advance.)

Lex de Maritandis Ordinibus

The story begun on blog post the last continues, but as it turns out, Kim and I managed to set up a web site to tell the story. It being much more efficient to piggyback, the following is submitted before a candid world:

http://weddings.theknot.com/pwp/pwp2/view/MemberPage.aspx?coupleid=5288335460865621&pid=16563539

Amare et Sapere Vix Deo Conceditur

Our story begins on a Sunday afternoon in September of 2009. I don't remember the occasion, but she does (unfortunately). She had moved to Chicago about a month earlier, and so remembered well what it was like to be the new person that didn't know anybody. Seeing the new guy sitting by himself in a pew at church, she decided to do the nice thing and go talk to him. The conversation went a little something like this:

K: So what brings you to Chicago?

D: I'm a law student at the University of Chicago. (Expressed in such a tone, apparently, that he thought she was supposed to be impressed.)

K. Huh. (She wasn't.)

D: And what are you doing here?

K: I'm studying to be a dietitian at Rush University.

D: Oh . . . so . . . you cut people up?

K: Um, NO. I'm going to be a DIETITIAN.

D: Oh . . . so . . . you HELP people who cut people up?
K: NO. They help plan what people eat when they're at the hospital.

D: Ah. That's cool. (Awkward pause followed.)

K: (thinking to self: yup, there's another jerk I won't have to worry about talking to.)

So it wasn't exactly love at first sight; it took a few more glances than that. She caught my attention before I caught hers. The earliest point at which I remember thinking it might be a good idea to try to ask her out was when she talked about why she wanted to go into dietetics: it was something she could do and still be a mom. She said it with a little bit of chagrin-- good thing she picked a career where she could be a mom, now that she's out of BYU, single, and (being in Chicago) looking to stay that way for some time, right? I remember thinking that I might have something to say about that. (Yes, that's correct. She first sparked my interest by telling me I didn't have a chance.)

I finally got around to asking her out . . . several months later, after three people (with no apparent collaboration) told me within the same week that we'd make a good couple. I figured I should probably take the hint.

Now, I've never considered myself a dating expert, and this particular episode probably won't convince anybody otherwise, but hey, it worked in the end, so I should get to take SOME credit for it. My strategy was to make a deliberately ambiguous approach. I was overtly flirty, but was clearly just joking around (or WAS I?). I was either interested in being her friend or in something more, and she could decide which was the case. She went along with for a long while-- we spent our second date, for example, planning out our wedding. (I wouldn't recommend that particular course of conduct under most circumstances, by the way, but both of us agree that it was one of the best dates either of us had ever been on.)

At some point, she realized what I was up to. Not too much longer after that, she decided that we might as well try the thing out.

And thus it started.

Dominus Amulorum

Quis Deus Hos Ira Tristi Contendere Iussit?

The gods expressed their displeasure with the city of Chicago this week. My guess is it's because they let Rohm Emmanuel back on the ballot for mayor of Chicago. Whatever the reason, they let us hear it.