AFriendlyFace

Oh dear, how awful! I'm so sorry

What is the general condition now? Have things settled down? What are they projecting the damage and loss to be? Timeline on recovery? Just curious and concerned -Kevin

I can't imagine that! The general seems much too old for her and not inclined toward dating younger people. I don't get the impression Felicia would go for older guys either. Plus, they don't seem like they have much in common and like they have very different values. Just doesn't look like a promising romance to me. I think you mean Jane, not Julie.

Well, no one bothers me much anyway since I live alone, but I'm very much in agreement with Sharon about her choices. I love to cook, and it's a close second, but washing dishes is definitely my favourite. It's a really great way to just zone out and think, and I like the feel of the warm water, and the feeling of accomplishment. It feels clean to wash dishes. The other chores like dusting, vacuuming, and cleaning the bathroom all make me feel dirty and I do not like them at all. Dusting isn't all that bad I suppose, but I don't care for it. I loath vacuuming and cleaning the bathroom, but I virtually never vacuum in the first place (it's always been optional as far as I'm concerned) and cleaning the bathroom doesn't really take that long. So the chore I hate the most is most definitely LAUNDRY! EUGH! It has the benefit of not making me feel dirty but that's about all it's got going for me. It takes forever and I'm really picky about how things are arranged in my closets/drawers, plus I iron after I do laundry (and thus just consider it part of the territory like the washing, drying, and folding/hanging), so it's just a miserable ordeal. I think one of the main reasons I have so many clothes is so that I can go as long as possible without doing laundry I can make it a month even on underwear/socks and towels, and my supply of shirts, pants, and other accessories is such that I can easily go for multiple months if I'm really avoiding the laundry thing The only thing that really gets me bogged down is that a few of my outfits are my favourites, so I usually only wash because I want one or two specific pieces. Of course then I wash the whole lot. Take care all, Kevin

Robert, that's wonderfully said! Hmm, well I'm going to have to disagree with you just a bit, Tim. At least with regards to my own life and experiences. There's no question at all that I almost always prefer guys and that I'm happier living my life among gays and lesbians. However, I'm..."bi-curious" I suppose, and I've been interested in experimenting, and would theoretically be open to the idea of an actual relationship, though I think it's fairly unlikely. It's not easy at all. The majority of my friends, who are mostly gay and lesbian, are at best confused by the idea. The general tone, seems to be "we'll reluctantly support you if that's what you want." Recently I was having a conversation with my best friend about the topic, and he pretty much said it just like that. A few moments later another friend joined us. My first friend said, "We were just talking about bisexuals." Whereupon my second friend, who was completely unaware of my position and feelings, said "Oh bisexuals..." and proceeded to criticize them. In terms of "worrying what others might think" dating a girl would be much more ostracizing for me. OK, it might be more readily accepted by casual strangers, but I'm not as concerned about their opinion in the first place, so that's little consolation. As I said, these are just my experiences and feelings on the matter. I suppose for guys who aren't actively involved in the gay community it would be easier, but personally I feel like expressing bisexual feelings is quite a stigma in the gay community (in the straight community too if they find out you're bisexual as opposed to just straight). It also fills me with more internal distress. Not over my feelings, but over how it'll be perceived by my community (which is somewhat important to me) and whether it would discredit me in terms of being able to fight for acceptance and tolerance of gay and lesbian people ("What do you know about gay life? You're dating a girl." kinda thing). It even makes me wonder sometimes whether or not it really would be some form of 'betrayal' as some in the gay community like to say. Anyway, I don't even identify as bisexual, and my bisexual feelings are usually fairly rare and non-intense. So I would assume, theoretically, that it's even harder for true bisexuals actively involved in the gay community. Just my thoughts though -Kevin

Hey, you boys are like me only introverted! Actually, I've always considered myself both introverted and extroverted. I feel like they occur more along two separate scales than as polar opposites. -Kevin

You have received some really excellent advice here and there really isn't much I can add to it. I definitely think these are the three key points: -Give him some time -Do eventually express your feelings -Respect and accept his feelings Another angle though, would it help to talk about the sex? (No, I'm not asking for juicy details, I mean with him!) It might make you feel better and it might also be a really good opportunity to broach the subject and possibly find out how he feels. Having sex with friends is bound to be an emotional experience. If you think it's at all possible or appropriate I'd recommend talking about it. You don't have to tell him you're in love with him, maybe just tell him that because you care about it him it was a very meaningful experience for you. Maybe tell him how you feel about it in general? Good luck -Kevin

That's an awesome and beautiful story, J.Ross! Thank you so much for sharing it with us! You know, I think there are several straight ladies here at GA who could be such mothers if so called upon I think that's a wonderful idea, Mattie! Thanks again for the great story! -Kevin

No snow for you either, huh Jovian? Eh, we'll experience it soon enough I suppose. I've been in mild snow before, but never anything notable. Certainly not "blankets of snow" style snow.

I actually did consider that! I ended up deciding to just move my room around - which was fun and helpful in and of itself - so that my bed is directly in front of a window.

Aww thanks, Dion! Actually that's good advice. I used to take a Vitamin D supplement. Probably should start again.

That's very true about the Texan spring; it is right around the corner

Thanks Tob Well, I've never had the joy of walking in a snow-covered field. That does sound lovely though!

Hey Steve, aww That's really sweet of you I am feeling better, thanks

Hmm, how fascinating, disconcerting and fascinating.

Great chapter, very action packed for both storylines! I'm curious about why the general felt it was important to rotate the plane. Hmm, perhaps he's OCD and it would have really bothered him to die in an askew aircraft. With that volcano brewing it looks like things are heating up for everyone!

Very cool feature, CJ! I had fun playing with it! OK, am I the only one who thought Jansen misread what Eric was saying? It seemed more like a poor choice of words - which was only poor because of what was going on in Jansen's head in the first place - than a proclamation of casual intent. So far their relationship has been set up to look like it's going to be serious. Jon pointed out that Eric had never looked at anyone like that before. Much has been mentioned about how much Eric cares about Jansen (and Keith of course), and primarily Eric has expressed his dissatisfaction over his casual hook-up lifestyle. Didn't he even say to Jon that he was considering a relationship? (Maybe not I could be wrong, maybe Jon only asked him, or maybe they only hinted at it, or maybe I misread it completely.) To me Eric wasn't saying "I want to try sex with guys with you." He was saying, "I want to try being in a relationship with you." Both are new to Eric, and he does need to 'try' them, so it's understandable that he could mean to say one and the other be interpreted, but I didn't think for even a minute that he was telling Jansen he only wanted to experiment. Think about the way it was written. CJ set the stage by commenting on the pure emotion between them, and how Eric was aware of that. I don't think Eric was expressing his desire for a hook-up at all. Jansen just interpreted it that way because his guard was up and because Keith planted that idea in his head. Anyway, great chapter, CJ! In fact it was obviously a huge turning point in both the story lines! Take care all, Kevin

What a bastard!

Just for kicks so did I. It's been three years but I gotta say it stayed pretty constant. My current results: My old results: So back then I was about 8% more extroverted, 3% more intuitive, 4% more feeling, and and about 5% less perceiving. All in all I guess that means I got a bit more moderate. Current results: Old results It's worth noting that both my old "actualized" and "preferred" Perceiving-Judging scores were 50% and they randomly chose the letters. This time I seem to way more firmly perceiving in general. Current results: Old results: So pretty much the same. What I said back then: That's still pretty much exactly true and exactly what I was thinking three years later when I was re-doing the test (without first finding this old post). Fascinating. -Kevin

Welcome to the site Iarwain, I'm sorry things have been so rough in your area and I'm glad it looks like the major threat is over. Take care and good luck, Kevin

Happy Birthday, Aaron

Welcome to the site!

Exactly!

Awww, I'm glad you could be there for her and I hope she and the hubby are able to work things out or else move on in positive directions. Yay about your successful opening! Now try to rest and get some sleep so you're ready for the next 2am visitor

I can definitely see your point, it just isn't quite the same stance I have. It's certainly not the opposite of my position either though. As I said, I'm just pretty much neutral on this topic.