At work today, as I was wiping lipstick of coffee/tea mugs, it struck me that each woman made a different mark on the edge of the cup. Some were small and reserved, barely creating a line on the top edge. Perhaps they were sipping something hot. Perhaps they are reserved, delicate, or coy? Some were sharp crescents that marked both the inner and outer lip of the cup. Perhaps they were straining a strong-tasting liquid with their lips. Perhaps they are strong yet demure, forceful and cautious? Some were rounded marks at the top of the outside edge of the glass. Perhaps they were taking normal sized swallows, enjoying the liquid on their tongue and in their throat. Perhaps they are relaxed and level-headed, kick back to enjoy life with their feet up? Some were large rainbows an inch below the lip of the cup. Perhaps they were gulping something strong, enjoying the action more than the drink. Perhaps they are forceful and passionate, rushing into things, yet being strong enough to not get hurt easily? One was even a single upper-lip shaped curve near the lip of the cup. It could not have been made while taking a sip. Perhaps she was blowing gently on something hot to cool it off, resting her face against the cup to enjoy the warm steam carrying the heat away. Perhaps she was using the cup to hide her face, hide her smile. Her smile may be soft, gentle, her lips thin yet curvacious. Perhaps she likes to watch, be a part of the group yet not the focus, just enjoying the atmosphere, her own private jokes, and thoughts of her love back home. It would be a great story: a young romantic dishwasher-boy falls in love with a woman based on nothing but the lipstick marks she makes on her glass as she frequents the establishment he works for. He creates an elaborate picture of her in his mind (far more elaborate than the simple musings I created above), with the focal point her lips. Finally one day, he can take it no more, and he quietly enters the dining room to observe her, immediately picking her out of the crowd. She is not quite what he expected. At that moment, she looks up from her light meal and sees him. They stare at each other for a moment, and then he moves, one foot in front of the other, until he is standing before her. He asks if she would like another cup of coffee. She says yes, and hands him her cup. As he takes it from her, she grasps hold of his hand. "Will you...will you cut this pancake for me?" She asks. He is confused for a moment, but when she repeats the question, he takes her knife and fork and cuts the pancake. Her face lights up as he does so, and he realizes, in that moment, that perhaps she had been out here imagining the person making her food, and she fell in love with that person for his hands. The boy then pretends to be a cook, so that she will fall in love with him. They meet each day, when she has finished her meal, and he refills her coffee cup, and they sit in silence, just enjoying the other's company. Finally, after a week, his boss yells at him in front of her to get back to the dishes. The truth comes out, and he tearfully hurries back to the dishes. She doesn't come the next day, or the next, or the next, and he despairs of ever seeing her again. But then, on the fourth day, he gets a cup with her lip signature on it, and he hurries out to see her. His boss glares at him, but he doesn't care. There she is, sitting in her usual spot, but this time she is just sitting, not eating. He comes over and asks if she needs anything. She looks up at him, then looks down. "I imagined a wonderful cook to fall in love with. I...I fell in love with a dishwasher boy instead." The boy's face lights up. He takes her hand and says, "Come to the kitchen with me. Let me show you what I do." He leads her into the kitchen, where she stands and watches him do the dishes. She then tiptoes over to him, and she kisses him lightly on the cheek. "Perhaps, when you get off work tomorrow, you would like to come and see what I do?" He smiles, and then replies, "I'd like that. I'd like that a lot." [smiles] bedtime, blog. See you tomorrow. and then the next day, airplane rides! yay! (I love flying, plus I get to see my wonderful girlfriend. It will be a good day). but first, sleep, then shopping for halloween and attempting to vote despite my misplaced registration.