It was a magical weekend...

Montana was beautiful. The Grizzlies won. I saw the new UM Journalism building (it made me jealous; photos coming soon). Had a great time with my friends. Drank a ton of beer. Checked out all three local breweries (this just in: they're fucking awesome).

And I think I might just have fallen in love.

I know, absurd. I agree. I'm completely retarded for this girl, though, and I don't know how else to put it.

She's beautiful. And smart. Funny, interesting, dog-lover, lives in my favorite city on the planet. Drinks beer. Smokes pot on occasion. And all the little things that usually bother me about girls are the kinds of things that I find annoying about all women, I don't find even remotely repulsive when it comes to her. I don't know how to explain it.

For example: Saturday, we were all getting ready at The Girl's house (late... we were severely hungover, especially Thom, who was a complete and utter mess... there will be pictures... just not tonight) for the football game. Putting on our gear, getting psyched up for the game (and tailgates), Thom and I were ready in about .8 seconds, and the girls (Thom's girlfriend Laura, and Kim, our hostess who I ended up crazy for) were in the bathroom, of all things, curling their hair.

Now.

I'm not against having the ladies curl their hair. I find it very nice most times, even if I don't really notice it when I notice it. But that morning, it struck me as odd that the girls would be curling their hair, just to stuff it under a baseball cap and go to an outdoor, in the elements football game. And Thom and I discussed, both of us rolling our eyes at the situation. Our drunkenness had made us late for the tailgates, and now the girls' vanity was making us later. Suck.

But a funny thing happened at Washington-Grizzly Stadium that day. Aside from Weber State taking an early 10-0 lead and making me worry, I found myself standing next to Kim, this striking, slightly-wavy-haired blonde in the Student Section, and was astonished at how nice she looked. And as we bumped elbows, and flirted here and there, and joked around, I wondered...

Did she curl her hair to impress me? Probably not, but how sweet if she had.

Was this really happening? Is she maybe, kinda, sorta into me?



I'm so hopeful. I know it's absurd, I know she lives 1000 miles away, and I know that it's fucking retarded that I couldn't get her off my mind all the way home. And I hate myself for letting her get to me. And I hate her ex, the dreaded John, for showing up just when things were really getting off the ground for the two of us, and crushing any momentum I'd built up with this whole day of goodwill. Fuck the fuck off.

Thom asked, "Are you smitten?" And the answer is yes. Yes I am.

The thing about being smitten is, you have no control. You cede control to the other party, and because you (I) can't hide your (my) smitten-ness, you let them dictate the situation. Which effectively keeps you from doing anything. Like making a move of any sort. Like pulling her in for a kiss when you're up at 1am, your friends are in bed and it's just the two of you, watching Weeds and talking. Like telling her that you can't stop looking at her because she has an electricity about her that is completely irresistible.

Colleen, my friend from a million eons ago, is getting married in two weeks...

In Missoula...

Which is where Kim lives...

Perhaps you can see where this is going.

Perhaps that's good. Maybe you can tell me.

Because I have no idea.

So I will put it to you, my (5 or so) loyal readers. DO I make plans and go to Missoula, check out Colleen's wedding with Kim as my date (I've already asked, in the event that I make it, and she said yes)? DO I pursue this any further (she does, after all, live a 13 hour drive away)? DO I cut my losses and walk?

Tell me what to do. 'Cause I haven't got a clue.