viv

Wrapped in a pink and orange, argyle, fleece blanket to keep warm, I'm always cold. I walk down the hallway acrosss the old creaky, wooden floor to my living room looking for some tissues. I find some and make my way to the kitchen where I find Rich, getting laundry from the dryer to be folded and put away, hung in closets. It's midnight now. I've been home from work for two and a half hours and while Rich and Tony are playing Nintendo and laughing with each other, an amazing sound that makes me smile, I've been reliving, reminiscing... reading. I find Rich at the dryer, and he looks up as I approach him, before looking again to be sure he sees what he thinks he did. "Are you alright?" he asks, seeing the tears rolling down my cheeks as they have been for the last thirty minutes, though he has only just seen them for the first time. I nod to him that I'm okay before throwing away my used tissues. "Sad story?" he asks, looking for the reason for my tears. "Yeah," I say before I turn and walk away. I walk past Tony on the way back to my room. He looks... almost horrified. That makes me cry more. His pillar of strength is human too. He's helpless, lost for words as he sees me walk by crying. I don't know that he ever has. I cry alot, but mostly, he doesn't see it and I like it that way. Someone needs to be strong for him. Rich eventually follows my same path down the hall to our bedroom where he finds me curled up on our huge bed still wrapped in the fleece blanket, maybe for warmth, maybe for comfort. I'm still crying, and I can't really stop myself. "Are you sure you're okay?" he asks. He knows I wear my emotions for everyone to see... usually. "I am," I assure him. He picks up the book I have just finished reading, cover to cover, in the short time I've been home from work. "Good book then?" he jokes, trying to make me smile... I love him more for this each time he does it. I know he doesn't feel emotions as strongly as I do, or stress, but he helps ease mine by making me smile and laugh. "Really good book," I confirm, "you should read it." "I don't know how to read," he replies, his lame attempt to dodge feeling what he sees me experiencing. He leans over and kisses my tears away and heads back to the Nintendo. ******************************************************************************** Moving, insightful, accurate... awesome. I will probably read this book a million more times in my life. Somehow, everything I think and feel about life, death, and humanity is present in this book. Maybe I need this book more than others to remind myself of what I already know to be true, maybe others need it to learn what I already have learned. "Tuesdays with Morrie" is the book I just read, I picked it up on my lunch break and for $7 ended up with something I will cherish and hold dear forever. I'm not sure why it caught my eye, I think I remembered seeing it in Michaels' profile as one of his favorite authors stories, but the reason is inconsequential now. If you haven't read it, I recommend it, it is... a necesity. Being handed the answers to life's biggest and most difficult questions is priceless. Besides that... Since about Christmas time I have seen this guy come into my store and shop, always coming through my line to check out. He is about 5'10", shaved head leaving only brown fuzz, and an English accent. He always has this adorable little boy with him, about one and a half years old maybe. Each time, since the very first time, I think of Chris... and I imagine him and David... as parents of a wonderful child and I smile, knowing that I have them in my life too. Love ya, Vivian PS. A million thanks Michael!!!

Okay so I LOVE Kurt Browning!!!! He is like my fav male ice skater!!

Umm... can I ride with you guys?? I'll get lost, I just know it! Pleeeeeaaaaase!! Viv PS. No ruffles!

Okay so I love... LOVE the fact that it is a beautiful, sunny 87 degrees here today in the middle of winter and I haven't worn a sweater all day and I still have on my flip flops for those of you who live in celsius that is... approximately 28. I decided, after much thought and random surveying that I am gonna try a 'dear viv' blog... People always come to me for advice, to talk over their problems... and I love it not that they're having trouble... just that I can help... usually. So the deal is this... If you want to remain anonymous then that's great, if not, that's even better!! Write me a 'dear viv' letter and email it to me at viv.stories@hotmail.com and then I will post it in my blog with (hopefully) some great advice! ****DISCLAIMER**** I actually have no real training or education so, all it will be is advice from me... So, after I thought :wacko: I had finished the next chapter I sent it to my sweetie for review, twice since he is my hand holder/keep the story on track guy aside from EVERYTHING else he is to me too, I was told... that I was in fact NOT done so I have made the changes/additions, and thanks to Davey... now it is ACTUALLY done! That of course means that the next one will be posted soon! Everybody... please thank Davey for making this story what it is! Okay... After discussing the hotness of the gardner guy and the plumber guy on Desperate Housewives with a friend... I brought up another soooooooooo pretty guy! http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/...98/photo/483429 Check him out!! Woo hoo!! Love ya, Vivian PS. WE'RE the reason I'm off to teach Ben to make naughty things out of cake

I have always been the one everyone goes to for advice, a listening ear, a rational, realistic opinion on things. After talking to a few people around here I thought... just for fun, I might try to do a 'dear viv' blog... since I am already being asked to give the advice anyway, maybe... just maybe someone else can get use out of it too or learn something. So the idea is... you can email your questions to viv.stories@hotmail.com and then I will post your question in my blog with my response... If you want to remain anonymous , great, if you don't care that everyone knows who you are, FINE too! Definitely I should point out, that while I am jokingly referred to as 'therapist viv' quite often... I actually have no real education or training in this field, so this really is just for fun and maybe to help some people. Let's see if we can make this work!

Here is my fact for the day The difference between a fruit and a vegetable is that a fruit has seeds. So that means that even things we are always taught are veggies, like avaocado, tomato, cucumber, green pepper, etc. are really fruits... Hugs, Viv PS. I like your attitutde Kevin, taking action, making things happen for yourself instead of pouting about it... that's an irreplacable quality to have.

I tried to post a response to this question at the shack... apparently it is moderated, so we will see if it gets posted Viv... a.k.a. notorious flirt EDIT: Here is my post... Okay, I'll admit it... I am a notorious flirter... there I said it! I have been married for almost 12 years now and met my hubby in high school when i was 15 and he was 16. Now I'm a people person, no doubt about it. I read people VERY well, I have the ability to 'feel your pain' as they say, but because I have those qualities I am also destined to try and fix everything because until you feel better, I don't either. Now my hubby, he is an introvert, very much the opposite. Super funny, clever, smart, creative, but shy too. I think that flirting can be harmless until you cross that hidden line. Where do you draw the line?? Well for me anyway, it is unrealistic to expect your partner not to be attracted to other people, I mean the world is full of beautiful people. Further than that, the world is full of great people too with amazing personalities that we get drawn and attached to. For me, I have every confidence that no matter what my hubby will never cheat. I know that sounds... impossible maybe, but he has his issues that make me say that. I, in turn, can say the same about myself. I always find it ridiculous that when people cheat they say 'It just happened' or 'It didn't mean anything'. We are adults and should be in control of ourselves and our actions that we are responsible for. That said, flirting, for me is simply a way to connect with people, it's just what works for me. When people flirt back, I get all the benifits because I feel attractive, exciting, funny, beautiful, etc... So long as I am in control of myself, my actions, and the situation I see no harm in flirting.

Okay, lemme see if I can explain this so you will understand... If you put your fingertips in side the corners on one side of the sheet... on the outside of the sheet (the part you lay on) so it looks almost inside out... then you put your fingertips together and flip the one side over the other so the corners are... spooning then you do that to the other two corners as well and then you should pretty much have a square sheet to fold... I hope that this makes sense :wacko: Good Luck, Viv

Well, I started out today thinking that I was doing just fine, I even talked to my Sweetie for a while and that was... SUPERB!! Then I went to work and there is a new guy there, Steve, since they closed 5 stores near mine, we have new employees... Anyway, he said, that I looked sad today... and I said nah, I'm fine... But then as I started to think about it more, I realized... I AM SAD I am... it's true, and I know I am because I actually am drinking a root beer float right now. How does that prove anything?? Well, it just does... because I don't really like root beer. Maybe I think that when I'm sad or depressed that misery loves company and so if I'm already feeling miserable I might as well go for it all the way On to the reason for the sadness... and I thought I was doing so well, I was proud of myself too! I thought that this morning I had made it through yesterday and I would be fine, but I guess not. It's nothing major... no need for total upheaval or anything, and no one can make it better so... It was my mom's birthday yesterday... It's been almost 8 years now since she died, and I am ususally fine, but the holidays come, and then her birthday, and then the day she died in February, then my dad died in March and his birthday is in April, so off and on for the next 4 :wacko: months I will be indulging in root beer floats it seems. I'm fine, really, it's just... sad, there is no other way to say it than that. I have always been the strong one, the one to smile so everyone else will feel happy, and then I go and drink my root beer floats... sigh. I'm sure by tomorrow I'll be soooooo sick of root beer and happy again... in fact I'm smiling again so... OMG!! Eric is alive, so YAY! I was beginning to worry. Okay, that's a lie... I was already worrying, unecesarilly I know, I was really beginning to worry A LOT!! Bard, I got your card, and I even waited for you to open it... but now your lost too and I am... worrying about you Hugs, and I promise to be smilin' tomorrow, Vivian

Okay, well the power just came back on It suddenly went out about 3 hours ago, due to the crappy rain and wind we were having here (I'm assuming) while I was chatting with Slave, so forgive me for just leaving you due to reasons beyond my control... Anyway, Rich and I used the time to catch up on sleep and snuggle So, if people's attitudes yesterday were a sign of how things are going to go in the coming year then... YAY!!! Everyone was sooooooooo nice even considering it was cold and rainy out, and we were still super busy even though it was a holiday, but there were no major complaints or issues at all! That, and I got called sweetie by more old men than I care to count, but... it's true. Well, most of the time anyway... I really DO try. I have three days off this week... IN A ROW... WITHOUT asking shocking really! But definitely no complaints on my part! Maybe I'll actually get the next chapter finished for you all... Hugs and Smiles to everyone! Viv

Well, Slave, I think I love you back... I mean why wouldn't I? You managed to put me between Dom, Matt, and Snowy who could ask for more really?? Hugs, Viv

Robbie!! Happy Birthday hun! Hope it's a great year for you! Viv

Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday! Wishing you a wonderful year! Viv

Okay, so I can't think of a title yet so I'm just gonna start typing and hope that one comes to me soon First, Happy New Year everyone! This year has been filled with all kinds of things for all of us; good, bad, and indifferent, but I know that for me at least, stumbling across Comicality's stories and then GA has been one of the better things. The direct results that have occured because of that have been awesome! I seem to have a whole new family... Davey and Chris, Eric, Michael, Kevin, Drew and Luke... and alot of great friends too... Joey, Jared, Jon, Ben and Seb, Deb, Matt, Dr. Mike, Vic, Slave, Tim, and everyone I am forgetting I am writing my first story and LOVING doing that! So, SO, many thanks need to go to Rich, and Davey and Chris , and Joey for all their help! As far as resolutions go... I usually don't make them cause I have trouble sticking to them and then I feel like a failure so instead I just tell myself that I want to make the most of the upcoming year and to help as many people as I can, and to make good choices for my life... sounds simple enough but I will definitely try my hardest! I wish all of you a happy, healthy, productive New Year full of possibilities and wonderful memories and a safe and fun celebration! Hugs, Vivian PS. I learned today that I am an octopus... never ugly or scary though and that apparently I have a great smile and nice hair!

Okay... not a recommended choice here but... I was just in the car with my 4 year old son, and while I have been told on many occasion that I sing and sing well, he plainly said, "No Mom, don't sing okay?" You could try it, although I don't suggest it and I seriously doubt it will work.

I would NEVER lead you on but I will definitely do all I can to help out someone as awesome as you... and before you deny it, like I know you are thinking right now, you ARE... so just deal okay! So, tell us Com, what's on YOUR mind? I humbly turn this post over to you... Wink, wink... Viv

Promising beginning Zot... I love the plot already! I hope that someone does do something with it, cause I would love to read it... Viv PS. Welcome to the blogs!!

Well, my initial reaction is... you can't... I know that's not bery optimistic, and while I normally try to be optimistic, this scenario calls for a realist instead. Maybe you could start asking her lots of questions, the singing might stop then, but I won;t guarantee that you would be able to hear the song even then... Good Luck hun, Viv

Okay, just an advance warning, but this may be a long entry... for the full effect. So, my sister in law Lisa was telling me that the department store she works in made it mandatory that everyone worked the day after Christmas. So she is telling me about her day and this is her story... Actually it is two stories in one because as I was telling this story to Rich and Tony they had me laughing hysterically with their little comments I will try and include in the appropriate places... Lisa is standing behind the counter at the cash register helping customers and there is, of course a long line, being the second busiest shopping day of the year. While she is helping one customer, this lady walks up to the counter all pissed off about something and demands to see a manager so Lisa of course calls one. While they are waiting FOREVER for a manager to show up, another man, apparently a 6 foot tall Asian man, in line gets pissed off and is telling Lisa that she needs to tell the angry lady that she has to wait her turn. Lisa tells the now angry man that while she can't really do that, he may feel free to do so. Well the angry lady is getting impatient and finally says to Lisa, "Maybe you can help me, I just want to exchange this lid because it's dented..." So Lisa says, "Yeah sure, no problem..." So the angry lady starts to walk away in search of her exchange item and the angry man KICKS her! Tony said, "Alright, which one of y'all kicked me" His Chris Rock impression from Rush Hour. So angry lady says, "You kicked me! I am calling the police!" So Rich wants to know what kind of kick it was... like a roundhouse to the forehead or what?? Like it matters... By this time another man has gotten involved and is trying to make peace... thank goodness, and he is saying things like, "Come on, it's Christmas, forgive and forget... apologize, etc." The angry, now kicked lady seems to be considering it before she promptly pulls out her cell phone to call the police. By this time, the apparently VERY busy manager has now shown up and wants to know WTF is going on! So Lisa fills her in and is instructed to call store security. When they show up they tell 'angry kicker of women man' that he needs to wait over there while they talk to 'angry been kicked woman' first. So he does the only thing imaginable and... takes off running... LOSER! So the store security takes off and of course catches him... Tony said, "Describe the guy ma'am... well a 6 foot tall Asian guy, and the store security says... well that narrows it down... " Now I don't know what happened after that because they were in another part of the store. Then Rich said, "Dishonor on you, dishonor on your retail store" from the movie Mulan, which if you don't have kids you probably haven't seen. Anyway, I know that this is a very BAD attempt at reliving the silliness from yesterday, but... oh well! Aside from that, Davey SO, SO saved my ass again this time. We are getting close to having the next chapter completed... FINALLY. What? I plead temporary Christmas, lack of my sweetie, writer's block That's my story and I'm sticking to it! It's a VERY good thing I get the hold-my-hand, save-my-ass-AGAIN, cheerleader, pep talk for the extremely low, low price of being a big sis and friend to him, cause otherwise I swear I'd be broke and writing total crap! Big brother Jeff has left for home to spend New Year's with the new fiance, YAY! And, hopefully Davey and Chris will FINALLY have their presents tomorrow! Apparently Christmas in the UK is like several days longer than it is here in the US :wacko: Love Ya, Vivian

Kevin, I hope you know that it wasn't you that made her cry... plus A LOT of little kids, boys and girls bith, seem to have a fear of men that aren't their dad's for quite a few years and the bigger you are or the deeper your voice is the worse it gets... just know it wasn't you, it was instinct But it's a good thing that you have such a friendly face and a full mouth to smile with now that we can see your face with that new haircut!! I wish Rich would cut his again, it's almost as long as mine now... AGAIN! Have a great time in Houston! Vivian PS. You're right, it isn't any of his business now... last time I checked you were like 22 years old?? Not that he doesn't have a right to care what happens to you but... you are a grown man now, YAY!!

I second that! Thanks Com for all your great stories, hard work, and amazing mind and heart that you put into them all! Vivian

Okay so I read this article in a magazine a couple months ago and I found it to be oddly accurate after analyzing Rich and then all my girlfriends analyzing their husbands/boyfriends... Let me know what you think. I apologize in advance for how the descriptions are worded, but it's a woman's magazine, I have no other defense than that In case you are interested, Rich is a skinny mouth Aside from that I hope everyone had a great holiday! Mine was surprisingly stress free and amazingly sex full I can't wait to see if my sweetie and my darlin' like their presents Love ya, Vivian

Oh Wow! This is so unexpected... I would like to thank the NickolasJames Award Comitte for this fine award and recognition... I would like to thank.... well, EVERYONE! Rich, Davey and Chris, Eric, Kevin, Drew, Ben, Joey, Jared, Jon, Micheal, Dr. Mike, Matty, Deb, Vic, Kitty, Robbie, Will, Jules, Xander, and of course Nick, for creating these fine awards... and to the secret commitee who picked little me. I only hope that I can continue to live up to the expectations of all the readers Thanks, Vivian

Happy Holidays Everyone! Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season! Viv

Hi Everyone, I wanted to wish you all a very Happy Holidays! This is the legendary card I made this year Aside from that, I received an email today and it made me smile... I have been having a really fun, educational, exciting, emotional time writing my first story, and I wanted to say thanks to all my guys who help and motivate me, and to my partner in crime... my sweetie, thanks for holding my hand while I second guess myself ALL the time... So here is a part of the email... So for all of you that have helped or encouraged me... I wanted to share this with you because I honestly believe that this reader wouldn't have these feelings about my story if it weren't for all of your help. Happy Holidays! Love, Vivian