I knew from prior conversations that Boss-Lady wasn't fond of small animals, so I was all prepared to leave them in my office for the day. Imagine, then, my surprise when I was entering the building and she caught me and told me to take them to the children's room and put them on top of a bookshelf! The little things have been immensely entertaining for the library employees, who have been creeping up to the cage to fawn and coo all morning. Even Boss-Lady commented on how cute they are. The children have likewise enjoyed the visitors, but I'm a little worried that they might be disappointed come Monday, when the pigs have returned to their own abode.

It's going to be a fantastic trip. I hadn't realized when we were making our plans that this is going to be a football game weekend in Ann Arbor, so we were lucky to be able to get hotel reservations for a reasonable rate. We probably won't go to the game, but I even love the very atmosphere of a college town on game day. Back in West Virginia, Eric spent one year living in an apartment within sight of the stadium, so if we had any hope of being able to leave the apartment on game days, we had to be up and out before the owners had sold all the parking spaces in the lot and blocked us into our space. I love being around people dressed from head to toe in their school's colors, almost shaking with the anticipation of the game. The storefronts are bustling with activity for out-of-town customers; the air itself is alive with electricity.

I've been asking everybody I see to tell me their favorite things to do in Ann Arbor. So far, what I've mainly heard is: eat. I've got enough names of restaurants for a year's worth of visits. I've also got the names of a few stores in which we simply must browse. Eric wants to play video games; I want to go to the Artisans' Market. I'm also still trying to tempt Eric with the idea of going to a jazz club or some such in the evening. I know that we'll likely not see half of what I've got planned, but at least we won't hurt for ideas.

Not only that, but she's a fascinating person in her own right. She's a beautiful free-spirit kind of person; sometimes I can't decide whether I want to hang out with her or be her. Last night, when she said that she was making lentils and rice for dinner, I felt at once in awe of her and insanely jealous, for I was planning a pizza dinner for Eric and me. (It was homemade pizza, but pizza nonetheless.) I could very much see spending time with Betsy outside of the few times a week when she brings her daughters to the library, but I'm really not sure how to go about proposing something like that. Remember, however much she may be "Betsy," I'm still "Mrs. Rich-iss-iss-iss," as her younger daughter calls me.

Anyway, we were talking last evening, and I suddenly found myself wanting to confide in her. I've no idea from where the desire arose; it's not as if I've shared anything that intimate with her in the past. Something about the way she was relating with the girls, something in our discussion of health food stores and an Ann Arbor women's co-op that she was recommending, something in the way she smiled at me - I felt compelled to share my secret. I held back; I didn't want to unburden myself to someone who wasn't feeling the same closeness that I was. What if she thought I was a freak?

The conversation continued, and somehow it turned to alcohol consumption. She hadn't had any in quite a while, she told me, since she'd breastfed her older daughter for two years, and was still nursing the younger at two. I felt a jolt; somehow I'd known that she believed in extended breastfeeding without having to ask. I suddenly felt close to tears. I felt so utterly connected to her, but I couldn't say that. How do you explain to someone that you, too, hope to someday nurse your children, if only they would ever come?

Finally she had to leave. The girls gave me broad grins and waves as they left. I missed them almost the moment they had gone, and I'm already counting the days until they'll be back. It is indeed a curious feeling of desire; I can't put my finger on why I feel the connection so strongly. All I know is that the frustration of not being able to voice my feelings is getting stronger.

Egads, I am a freak.

Anyway, I'm tired of waiting, so I think I'm going to go call him now. Here's hoping!