i've been told i've been too silent recently

The ambiguity of words never fails to amaze me. For example, the definition of what a "date" is seems to be too fluid. I think there should be some ground rules as to what exactly is considered a "date" - I've learned throughout my extensive travels that West Texas has a definitive culture and there is a set ritual to courting and/or wooing (and one that I am partial to at that; I can be surprisingly traditional despite all of my seemly quirks). However, I find the entire "what the hell are we to each other, exactly?" phase annoying and seek to eliminate it as soon as a specific level of compatibility and mutual interest has been reached. This is colloquially referred to as the "DTR" by my generation. I just call it being freakin' practical. I think that a level of unabashed honesty is appreciated in a realm where the coy, flirtatious, and frustratingly coquettish is the norm. This, of course, requires a specific amount of courage and generally readying oneself for the possibility of falling flat on one's face. And for some strange, cosmic reason, there is always a period of second guessing no matter HOW overt the signs are from your object of interest. There's the entire "well maybe I'm reading too much into this could he/she possibly really likemeomgwejusthuggedanditlastedforlongerthanthreeseconds HAHAHA I WIN!!!11!1!!!......................I dunno. Maybe he/she just sees us as friends" inner monologue that can possibly destroy any sense of sanity a person has managed to retain throughout this entire process. Friends, if consulted, generally sigh at this point and rub their head in frustration.

Yep.

I've decided that all of the above applies to everyone - regardless of gender or age. Fact.

It's also very easily avoidable, I've decided, if words or phrases weren't so equivocal. "We should go get something to eat sometime soon" vs. "Hey, I'd like to take you out to dinner this weekend" - see how easy that is? To further break it down, the first sentence is basically saying "I'd be partial to the idea of you and I maybe going out for a nondescript meal at a vague point in the future" opposed to "I am going to pick you up and pay for dinner THIS weekend." People in these types of situations are THE most afraid of being misunderstood or misread, yet the simple act of communication is lost in this comical jumble of vague wording.

I fall 100% completely into this category as well. I am poking fun at myself and my ability to almost spill coffee on myself or fall at the most inopportune times or for the times I fiddle with my jewelry so much that I break the clasp on my necklace or my ever present vague wording until my level of honesty gets the best of me and it comes forth like most things with me usually do (good or bad). I amuse and am amused by not only those around me but by myself.

Things worked out really well this time. I'm very happy and everyone knows why, which in itself makes me happy too.