Okay, I am at this point nearly completely terrified. Nearly. Not all the way. Not so that I can't function.

Just mostly.

And differently than last time.

I've submitted an application for a presentation spot in the TechCrunch50 conference. It almost feels like the application to the spot for Team USA back in 2005, with one big exception. One REALLY BIG exception.

I have a backup plan.

A REALLY BIG backup plan.

Still.

My heart this thumping. My blood is racing. My fingers are flying. And I'm doing exactly what Kris told me to do: "No skipping out on this. No fear of failing. You do it this time. I mean it."

So, I am.

And I'm terrified.

Okay, people, let's get one thing straight: just because a person is married, doesn't mean she's dead. My grandfather said on many occasions, "I can look, as long as I don't touch." Which means, yes, looking, and talking, and flirting and all of that is OKAY, as long as we understand that NOTHING IS COMING FROM IT.

No, really.

No, REALLY. I mean it. NOTHING.

So, to the friend who freaked out on me, look, I like you. I like spending time with you, as little as I've spent with you so far. I think you're a neat person, someone who fits into my "good person" category, as well as my "hey, this could be fun" category. You're interesting, and funny, and engaging, and seem to have similar interests to me. This means, I'd like to get to know you better.

No. Not for a relationship. Not for dating. Not for anything of the sort.

I have an amazing marriage that's quite wonderful (well, except the WoW thing, but we talked about that, and we're making progress, and that's not as much the issue as it was at the beginning of the month), so that sex thing? Isn't going to happen. Not even partially happen. Not even a little bit happen. I don't want it to happen. Honestly, I'd be very surprised if you did, but, hey, I never claimed to understand men.

But the friends thing? Yeah, that could be great. It'd be nice to have another person interested in going for hikes, or attending various conferences, or throwing the disc, or hanging out at DevHouse events, or coming to Communal Dinner, or giving feedback on some project I'm working on, or just whatever.

And the flirting thing? That's as far as it goes. So, stop with the freaking out, okay?

Seems odd to be able to say, "This is my back yard."

Wow, the old house is looking old.

The trees were hacked

At least the one of the trees my dad planted when I was six was still growing.

This morning, as I was working, trying to finish up a few tasks, Dad came into my room, practically dancing, and definitely doing a jig.

"They finally did right!" he exclaimed. "The only thing bigger was that they freed the slaves!" he cheered, to the much confused expression on my face.

He eventually explained that a case in the Supreme Court had been heard, and the courts rules that an individual does have the right to own guns, as well as keep said guns in his own house. The case revolved around a security officer in Washington DC, who was required to carry a firearm when he was working, and legally prohibited from carrying one once he left work. The same man both required and denied the same gun, depending on, oh, the time of day and the phase of the moon maybe?

I'm sure Kris is going to be upset about this ruling, what, his being as anti-gun as a person can be and still be married to me. Some day I'll actually get him to take a firearm safety class, but not in this decade I suspect.

Dad was pretty happy though, smiling and talking about the ruling. The DC law has been overturned. I wonder how long until the rest of the other unconstitional laws will be overturned, too.