I've been given a quest

[Guy]

Will wrote: "Still musing on chocolate.

Is it acceptable to attack the second layer before finishing the first?"

As long as you are no older than six, I can't see it being a serious problem.

[Will]

Does it still work if one is, say, six mentally rather than physically?

[Rebecca]

Are we talking about your own private box of chocolates, one shared with the family, or a box of chocolates in polite company?

[Melki]

There are only about three kinds I like in a variety box, so I feel I'm entitled to go digging to get the ones I crave. On the plus side, I eat the dreaded coconut-filled candies that no one else ever wants.

[Will]

Rebecca wrote: "Are we talking about your own private box of chocolates, one shared with the family, or a box of chocolates in polite company?"

There is a difference??

[Rebecca]

Well, Will, I like to pretend to have manners in polite company. In the family, I'll fight to the last breath for the dark-chocolate mocha truffle, and the devil take the hindmost!

[Will]

Whatever do you do in polite company if someone reaches for your favourite, then?

[Rebecca]

Start talking about weight loss and healthy diets, of course!

[Will]

Cheat.

[Rebecca]

Never said I'd play fair. This is chocolate we're discussing, after all!

[Will]

My research note pad expands.

[Rebecca]

Hoo, boy. If I'm your main research subject, you are going to end up with a very strange romance novel.

My husband doesn't bring flowers to me, he brings me to the flowers. He goes backpacking with me to places where I can sit down in the middle of a whole field of wildflowers. Note that many women would NOT consider this a good approach. I wouldn't have it any other way.

[Will]

It's likely to be a very strange novel anyway.

I don't think I've written any other kind.

[Will]

But I love your husband's approach.

[Rebecca]

Will wrote: "But I love your husband's approach."

It works for me :) I went through a fair number of boyfriends before I found one who loved to backpack as much as I do. I came darn close to leaving a couple of wimpy guys on the side of the trail and hiking off without them.

[Will]

Now here's a thing: it would be acceptable for you to do that, but not if genders were reversed...

Odd, that, isn't it?

[Rebecca]

Not sure if you mean leaving them on the side of the trail (which would in fact have been unacceptable in any case, as they were not sufficiently experienced to manage) or rejecting boyfriends because they didn't share my #1 passion (obsession?). I would say that it is reasonable for anyone to do that--hold out for a person who will share your main interest(s). I know too many guys who are passionate about the outdoors and are married to women who think roughing it means a Motel 6. It causes issues for most of them, especially the ones who aren't quite sane if they don't get out regularly.

[Will]

Just for valentine's day...

"Have these valentine's day flowers been sprayed with anything poisonous?"

"No Sir, but the chemist is next door if you can wait a moment."

[Will]

-Who was this Valentine, then?

-Some bloke who got executed for refusing to ditch his girlfriend.

-Ah. A mercy killing.