This is the first thread I’ve ever had addressed personally to me, and that it is someone else doing it is particularly sweet.
{Thank you, kittenblue!}. I have my nicest shirt ready for tomorrow, and I am preparing a new apartment even the Gods would envy, were there any. 
Other than periodically checking to see if she’s opened my email (she hasn’t, and apparently doesn’t check it from home), I managed pretty successfully to put my qualms aside. Once I started spending scads of money buying new furniture, I felt MUCH better. New – bed, headboard (with bookshelves and reading light, like I’ve always wanted), computer desk, Herman Miller Aeron chair (arguably the best office chair in the world), bar stools, bookshelves, dishes, bedding and linen, and toaster. 
Yes, it cost a fortune, but I’m worth it. And as one of my coworkers said about my chair, “When will anybody ELSE spend that kind of money to support your fat ass”?
I promise that, if Pat is in tomorrow, I will not leave without inviting her out. If Pat is not in tomorrow, I will call her next week. And I will faithfully report tomorrow evening of my triumph, rejection, further delay, or sniveling cowardice in backing away.
I’m actually thinking of modifying my invitation, from biking to helping me MOVE. She has a nice Rav4 with a hefty cargo space. Whadda think? Probably, since it’s late, I’ll have to decide without advice on this. But it’s a natural – I’ve helped her haul gear out to her car before. “Ya know Pat, I’ve been thinking that big cargo box would be great to get my books across town”. I have hundreds of books, surely we can find things among them to chat about, I get some work out of her – ultimate rejection or not! 
kittenblue, this is the sweetest thing any Doper has ever done for me, and I thank you again.

Oh yeah, and the rest of you! 