Originally Posted by
EriksShadow
Well.. yes and no... I've given her rides to the train station.. (cause she lives in NY and teaches in Jersey) and one or two outside school interactions.. and.. we've had some... "hahaha that was weird" moments.. but nothing distinctive. And you're deffinatly on the ball about the whole.. artsy social thing.. she's very social.. so it's hard to tell if it's just her nature. Don't get me wrong.. if I got a clear sign... I wouldn't hesitate.. I just don't want to throw myself in an awkward situation.. cause she's a great reference to have career wise, as well.
I understand what you're saying about the potential career reference in the future but even if you threw your interest out there to her and she declined, so what. You weren't disrespectful. It would only be an awkward situation if you made it be one regarding her giving you a reference. It doesn't have to be weird.
Being that you give her rides (or have had the opportunity in the past) that's a perfect opportunity to throw something out there casually. Maybe look in your local events calendar in the paper and find some artsy thing like a museum exhibit or whatever your thing is and ask if she's gonna go. Then take it from there "...hey, don't know if you're interested or not, but I'm giong to the blah blah blah exhibit reception at the XYZ Gallery tomorrow evening, would you care to join me?"