Topic : Is This Normal Social Discussion

I hate when my emoticons get sliced in the middle!!

         ;-D

Oh cool - that sounds so great!  I would love to go back Down Under - I was there in 1990.  KAK, you would have such a fabulous time.  But 67 days is a long time -- I can hardly image being away from home that long.  Some friends of my Mom's are planning a three month cruise.  Can't remember where all they're going though. 

I really hope it works out that you can go.

The weather is beautiful in late Sept as it's Spring here then. Not too hot and not cold at all, just right.

Glad to hear that you will be coming to Brissy(Brisbane)! It would be great to catch up with you, that's forsure!

I did have a look on the Website and wow, all of the Cruises sound great, half your luck!

Is Stan coming too or are you going with a some other friends?

Anyway, I say, "Good for you!" I know that you will have a great time, going from one country to another, wish I could do something like that, myself!

You and Stan Take Care, Love Kelly.

Try as I might I can't seem to get into that website. Seems I don't live in the USA when I go there. I can't believe you're gonna do this for 67 days! Am I gonna be like that when I retire?! Man o man. And who's going with you? I am so happy for you.

How'd things go at the board meeting?

I've missed you all.

So sorry I haven't been around, but my internet connection has been down for almost a month.  Bloody frustrating.  You know what's even more frustrating (and Ami, you will appreciate this) I finally get a hold of my internet service provider representative person, and he says to me, "Didn't you get our email?"  Like I can access my email with no internet...  sheesh.

Oh well.  They're crediting my account which is all nice and fine, but it doesn't make up for lost time.

Where do I start with you guys and all the stuff you've been writing about...

I guess with Kelly.  Hey my friend - I am going to send you an email.  You're not alone in what you are going through with your situation and Mark.  Maybe I can help.  For now, know that you are well-loved here by all of us.  It's not every day that someone admits to fear.  Turn it into strength.  Your heart is big enough to hold just about anything.

Vicki - forget about  the sperm donor!  You know - for almost two years now I've thought about what my daughter has lost  in terms of material things.  Nick still has all of her furniture (my Dad's desk and my Grandfather's tables - all of her photo albums, her resumes, her clothes, her books that I gave her when she was little.. the list goes on).  She'll never get them back.  And yet - she's on the road to health and happiness.  And we still have Mia Jade.  We don't have alot of money and will never recoup anything financially.   But we fight to maintain the family we have now.  Fifteen thousand dollars that the sperm donor owes - well, just think about what he lost.  A great woman and two beautiful little girls.  You can't put a price on that.

KAK - geeze!  I'm sorry that I didn't call you when I was going through Oregon.  I did think about it - I swear!  But we were on our way to Washington and couldn't stop.  Gas prices were horrendous so we just kept on driving.

More in a minute...

KAK - how did your Board Meeting go?  I'm thinking they paid you off for your silence and that's how you can afford to travel for 67 days.... (just kidding,I love you, you know that)

JP, my Bluebird.  I cannot imagine you out of commission.  In any way.  You will find a way to kick ass, even with your bad foot!  By the way, I'm interested too in the story about your son, the writer.  Can you give me some insight on why he signed up again?

Loretta - keep hugging those precious little girls.  What on earth are you going to do with them all summer?  MJ has so much energy and needs stuff to do every waking minute.  The other day she got bored and found a brand new container of talcum powder.  Poured it over her head and all over her room.  Then she decided that Loki and Franco and Rocky could use a better scent as well.  I got a dose of it too.  For two days we all looked like white clouds... 

Neecie - I've read what Ami has been sending to me on your behalf.  I have no words.  Your courage astounds me and gives everyone hope...

And Ami.  I really think you should let go a little more.  You know, tell us all how you feel and what's really going on in your life!  You're something else my friend!  A true storyteller.  One day we will meet.

Did I forget anyone?  Geeze, I hope not.  If I did, put it down to the talcum powder that has permeated my brain.

And now, maybe I'll tell you one of the things that happened to me on my trip.  It may get zapped, so read really, really fast.

Trace.

I went away for three weeks.  First stop - Palm Springs.  My brother has a little investment property there and said that it would be good for me to get away from Toronto and the horrible humidity.  Hang out by the pool and listen to the mockingbirds, watch the doves and the crows and admire the pool boy.

What a beautiful place.  He has a cactus in his front yard that is ten feet tall and only two years old.  Palm trees that surround the swimming pool.  A dry heat - gosh, I could breathe. And my hair didn't get frizzy.

Anyway, on the day I arrived, one of our friends was also enroute from Toronto.  His name is Francis Chalifour - he's only 31 and a reknowned writer.  One of his books, "After"  was up for the Governor General's Award in 2005.  In Canada, that is huge.   My brother and I have known Francis for many years and love him.  Francis told my brother that he has met someone new - and will be bringing him to spend some time in Palm Springs with us.  We're pretty sure he wants our opinion.

Well, sweet Francis shows up, and his friend arrives soon after.  He's nice enough, this guy, 41-years old, good looking and the Vice-President of a school in Montreal.  I'm thinking that Mark and Luc (Mark's husband  and my brother-in-law - they've been legally married for over three years now and have been together for eleven) should  cut this guy a break.  Fine with me.  I've already  been through an earthquake and wind and fire and all I want to do is sleep.

The next morning I wake up and Mark and Luc are doing breakfast.  I'm sitting by the pool when Francis and Charles walk out in their SPEEDOS.  Now, I don't know about you, but gay or not, men are not attractive in those things.  I think that after you hit twenty-five years old, well, hair is kind of climbing up backs and... it's just not pretty.

Thankfully, while I'm pondering this thought, Francis and Charles jump into the pool.  They're swimming around, diving and stuff, and then they start chasing each other around, laughing hysterically.

"Trace!", says Charles,  "come on in!  It's fun!  We're playing Penis Tag!"

I wag my poor head.  "Sorry Charles", I say, "but it just wouldn't work.  I don't have a penis."

"That's the whole beauty of it Trace!  You can never be IT!"

xoxo

Girl I've waited and waited!  So glad to see you again and already beside myself to get to listen to your stories! Am so very glad you kept a journal.

Jason signed up for what? I don't know what you're talking about. He started writing a book and he let me read the first chapter and I was so completely shocked I couldn't wait for more. That was...7 yrs ago? My ex and I were getting along so it has to be at least that long. I would occasionally ask how it was going but he said he hadn't done anything else so I finally stopped asking. You know how it is, if you mention something, although well intentioned, people regularly ask for updates and you really don't have any and it gets on your nerves? That's what I'm thinking I was doing so I just quit asking. He'll tell me when I need to know.

Welcome back and know we are all on the edge of our seats!

He signed on for 4 more years in the Marine. He's already been in 7 and plans to make it a career.