How do you feel today?

[Cagliostro]

I'm hungover after a very enjoyable night of worshipping at the Church of Guinness and remembering why I quit smoking a month ago. I'm not feeling especially happy at the moment, but it is my last day of this job, and with the idiots calling in so far today, that's a definite good thing. I'm being ruder than usual, and I'm starting to wonder if management is thinking of letting me go home early. I don't care. Only 5 hours to go. And counting.

What is worse is these idiots keep calling and messing up my surfing. Bastards! Fridays are supposed to be slow, and I was counting on that today, dammit.

[Lorelei]

I actually ended up working overtime the last week of one of my jobs, they wanted to make sure someone compatent finished the job....too bad they hadn't thought of that around promotion time..I might have stayed.

[Cail]

Pretty good. Played a good round of golf today (not great, but considering I hadn't swung a club in 2 months, I'm pleased).

I'm finally starting to believe I'm in the right frame of mind to start dating (after a 19-year hiatus), so while I'm nervous about it, and most of my moves revolve around either Def Leppard or Poison songs, I'm rarin' to go.

Anyone got a sister or cousin in the Baltimore area? Other than my actual in-laws, most people seem to think I'd make a good in-law.

[Lorelei]

Damn bud, all my girlfriends and relatives are taken at the moment except for my one cousin and well he's a guy so doesn't meet the criteria.

[Cail]

Uh yeah, the divorce is bad, but not so bad I'd switch teams over it.

[emotional leper]

I just got back from the Funeral Service after working all night only to be dropped off by my dad. My keys were in his car. He woke me up and kicked me out of the car before I could realise this. Then, he didn't answer his phone. So far, it has been 2 hours and he has not answered his phone. Finally, about 15 minutes ago, I broke in through the back door.

Not a happy camper.

[drew]

Just had to do one of the hardest things I've had to do as a parent so far.

Had to tell my eight year old that his cat is probebly NOT comming back home.

Rosie was more like Isaac's puppy, than his cat. She'd follow him around the yard, sleep on his bed-on his Pillow-every night. She would even comfort him if he was sad, angry or hurt. Honest, she'd hop up on his lap whenever he wasn't feeling wel, and start purring at him.

Normally, she doesn't wander too far away from the house; she may go into the woods for a little while, but she always came home after a few hours.

She's now been gone since Sunday.

I saw no eveidence on the road of a hit cat, luckily; there is always a possibility that she was killed by another animal, we do live right on the edge of a forrest...I told Isaac that she probebly just go too sick. She DID catch a bat a couple of days before she left; I don't know if that made it any easier on him, but the fact the doing somthing she loved (hunting) was what killed may have kept him from going completely to peices.

I tried to time it right--I let him pick out a movie from the store, something funny-then before we put it on, I took him to the bathroom while I bathed the baby, and told him that I don't figure she's comming home.

Of course I received pretty much the reaction that I expected, but I had to let him go to wash the baby, then I let him go watch his movie....right now, his laughing at it, but everytime he looks at me, he starts welling up again.
He DID thank me for being honest with him, so I guess I did it right.
The movie will be on past his bedtime..then I'm going to read him a chapter out of his book, so hopefully if he's late going to bed, he'll fall asleep easier.

Ah poor Rosie...we will all miss you.

[Cagliostro]

I'm finally starting to believe I'm in the right frame of mind to start dating (after a 19-year hiatus), so while I'm nervous about it, and most of my moves revolve around either Def Leppard or Poison songs, I'm rarin' to go.

Anyone got a sister or cousin in the Baltimore area? Other than my actual in-laws, most people seem to think I'd make a good in-law.

Whew....mama...are you going to be awkward. I had a hiatus that was half of that, and I was VERY stumbly when I made my move last year.

Tips:

1. Nothing that worked 19 years ago will work now.

2. I don't know quite how old you are, but I think you are in your 40s if I remember correctly. I'm near that. Women around our age are interested in financial stability over looks, to some degree. If you have it, you are halfway home, my friend. If you aren't, I hope you have looks.

3. Personality ultimately is important, but you have to be able to get to the point with someone that they will actually listen to something you have to say to prove your sparkling personality.

4. Point #3 basically means if you have looks, you will be able to impress with personality. If not, don't bother with the bar thing.

5. If you are shy like I am, and am not comfortable with meeting strangers, definitely do not bother with the bar thing.

6. If you can't think of anything but the bar thing, at least go with someone you laugh a lot with. Preferably male.

7. Remember, hot women go to bars, but rarely do they go to pick up guys. They mainly go to look good and make those looking for that special someone sadder about their lives. Not to mention that hot women who go to bars 9 times out of 10 will not give up that habit after they have met you.

8. Find a social hobby. There is an upcoming election...get involved. Women dig men with passion.

9. Plays are tempting, but actresses are typically insane. Then again, the foam-at-the-mouth political person is also nuts.

10. Being a couch potato is not a way to meet women. You have to walk out the door of your house/condo/apartment/shack/van down by the river.

11. Computer dating is a viable alternative. In this day and age of increasing xenophobic behavior, it's a very good way to meet someone, if you can get them to leave their house.

12. You don't have to pay for computer dating. Especially if you have a sparkling personality. Try Craig's List first. Expect to provide a picture.

13. Try answering an ad first. One that isn't all about sex, and one that doesn't sound too frightening. Chat with them via email for while...keep putting off a meeting. Get the feel for things unless you really like this person. But probably best to never meet the first person.

14. Find someone who seems the right person. Do the email things a little bit, be charming and witty, and try to rush into a phone call and then a meeting. The more time you spend talking before meeting them, the more likely it will turn out like tip 13. Too much talking before meeting seems to be a bad thing. It IS good, however, to keep talking after meeting.

15. If the date goes well, don't get too excited. Rope it back. Don't express that it is love at first sight. Be casual. Don't try to analyze every look, expression, unconfortable chuckle or excuse to go to the bathroom.

16. If her friends show up and she asks them to sit down with you, it's time to ask for the check. You have failed. Believe me, I know.

17. All women are different. Be yourself. If you are not yourself during the date, she will almost certainly know. If she doesn't know and she is really taken by this other person you have created, it will come out eventually, and she won't like the you that you revert back to. I learned that tip from sitcoms.

18. Try not to bitch too much. Nobody likes a complainer.

19. Women still sometimes like men who cry...but really maybe a single tear. Not sobbing with the snot and the blubbering and all that.

20. Don't try to make it work just because she is hot. You will eventually want to have a conversation with the bimbo.

21. Remember, I never know what I'm talking about, and half are jokes anyway, but there are a few nuggets that worked for/against me, but will almost certainly not work for/against you. So ignore everything I just said.

[Damelon]

You never know about cats, drew. When I was young, one of my cats came back after being missing for four months.

He smelled like a manure pile too.

[Seareach]

Drew: hope the cat comes back! I'm with Damelon on this one. When I was a kid we had a cat called "Little Cat". She disappeared (we lived in the country on a farm). Weeks went by...months.... About a year later, my sister and I were playing down near the creek and who should turn up and stroll up to us but Little Cat! Who knows what had happened to her...but she went on to live until the ripe old age of 20 (and then got so old and frail my father put her to sleep--put her in a garbage bin with some chloroform on a ball of cotton wool...I'm just adding that last bit because my parents freak me out sometimes and I had to tell someone! ).


Cag: love your dating tips. I reckon they should get you on Oprah!!

[Cail]

Bar scene is right out. Financially I'm doing OK. I don't think I'm repulsive-looking. I've got a pile of hobbies (golf, cycling, motorcycling). I have a match.com account, but I'm too chickenshit to post a pic yet. Insane women are great fun, but not for relationships that last longer than a few hours.

[Loredoctor]

Golden Rule: Don't try to date women you meet online. It's true what they say - 99% of them are insane.

[emotional leper]

Golden Rule: Don't try to date women you meet online. It's true what they say - 99% of them are insane.

... All women are 99% insane.

[Loredoctor]

Golden Rule: Don't try to date women you meet online. It's true what they say - 99% of them are insane.

... All women are 99% insane.

Careful.

[Menolly]

Golden Rule: Don't try to date women you meet online. It's true what they say - 99% of them are insane.

... All women are 99% insane.

Careful.

[Loredoctor]

I get a razz for saying 'careful'?

[balon!]

Worst nosebleed of my life at work. I actually had to leave a haldhour early, because it wouldn't stop bleeding. I ussually get nosebleeds when the pressure changes, and it's preceeded by my ears getting stuffy, I just forgot this year. And my ears have been stuffed for the last week, so it follows that I'd have a bad one.

It's actually still trying to fight it's way through my gauze:


And yes. I realise I look like a dork.

[Seareach]

BALON! You're a DAG!

[balon!]

BALON! You're a DAG!

I would've smiled more, but when I smile the blood seeps down my face.

[Loredoctor]

Are you alright now, Balon?