rustle

Learn how to properly tie down a load in an open pickup. And do it.

I need to brush up on a couple things.

How much of friendship is shared experience and familiarity? When the river forks, and you go in separate ways, sometimes the forks rejoin, but you've no longer the shared experience. So you have a new shared experience, and discover something changed. We tell ourselves how much we shared, but find it hard to face the change. And when we go our own ways, we promise to get back together again. Sometimes, that just doesn't happen. Sometimes, the bridges don't burn. They collapse from neglect, and we can't make to the other side any more. Then, the best we can muster is cordiality, shrouded in reminiscence or ambivalence. Did you expect to be boys, together, forever?

Wishing you a swift and sure recovery, kid. I hope your therapist is so cute, you enjoy every minute of it.

When my mom was in ger 40s, she had a radical mastectomy, due a malignancy discovered in a biopsy. She didn't have reconstruction, but lived with a gnarly scar for alll those years. Rehab was tough, but she never regretted the procedure. A male friend of mine had to have a mastectomy, too. He's lived for several years, now. As Mike said, though, the decision isn't to be made in a vacuum. It affects your life, and your life determines the better choice.

I have mixed feelings about this. The book is incredible, but movies so rarely measure up to books.

Hi, I'm rustle, and I tend to ghost in and out of here. eclectic and quicksilver lookin' forward to getting to know you welcome

I hope every day feels like your birthday!

Yep. Get your ya-yas out (work out, run, whatever), take a shower and go to bed with a glass of milk. Silence the internal dialogue and still yourself.

clueless always was

The skills discussed in this thread are useful in all types of writing. In business communication, emoticons don't convey the professionalism needed, so we have to resort to clear, concise communication, for efficiency and accuracy. But also, reviewing what we write for tone. Especially if we're writing something critical, commenting on another's work or actions. If you do write in anger, don't send the message until you're not angry, then review it objectively. You'll lose fewer friends, and fewer jobs.

I cannot foresee any sweeping mandates for gay marriage coming out of either case. Rather, I anticipate incremental gains. Prop 8 may be rejected for lack of legal standing, or it may be stricken down (again). DOMA will most likely be struck down.

For future reference, your state may have a state agency which might be able to help. In Texas, that's the Texas Workforce Commission. Whatever agency handles unemployment would probably be the correct one to contact. The prime contractor may have had to take out a payment and performance bond you could file a claim against, also. It's critically important you file claims within a certain time period, so if you are ever stalled by an employer who owes you money, even for one day, get that claim filed. The contract owner, the one who ultimately pays the bills, can provide you with info on this. If you aren't paid on time, no matter where you are, the most important thing is to act immediately and pursue all your options. Remember, even if your boss is your best friend, business is business. Look out for your interests. Even undocumented workers in the U.S. illegally have a right to be paid, in full and on time, and not all government agencies are obligated to report you to immigration authorities. Many of them don't even care.

Well, we tried and tried, but nothing stuck until we had to take him to the vet this morning. For some reason, we both started calling him Woobie this morning. That was a nickname Conor had forever. As good a dog as Conor was, we feel it would be pretty auspicious to give the name to this little guy. Thanks for all the suggestions, folks.

But fervent belief is not logical.

A week ago, I had to have my dog, Conor, put to sleep. He was old and suffering. The pain meds weren't masking it any more. Over the last week, I've been trying to find another dog, dealing with 7 levels of bureaucracy with the local animal shelter. Yesterday, we found a new 8-week old puppy, a cross-bred Newfoundland retriever, and adopted him. He won't be as big as Conor, but maybe 70-80#. The problem is, the only names we're coming up with are kinda lame. Kase told me he needs a kick-ass name 'cause he's so cute. I'd like it to be unique, but not weird. So, here's the deal. We need help from someone creative to find a cool name. Can you please help? I like the idea of a Celtic name, and have combed a number of web sites full of lists, but come up wanting. If it helps, he's got a white blaze on his chest.

Some of the reactions are for show. The same guys, if able to catch a glimpse, without getting caught, might stare and drool.

SNAP Hi, Lily, and welcome. Seb, I'm afraid I'm with Cia on the bow tie thing, but make yourself at home. Alex, glad you could join us.

The risk remains the same. Meds have masked it. True story: Before the AIDS epidemic, herpes became an issue. A co-worker stated,"I think herpes is the greatest thing in the world for encouraging people to get married and not sleep around."

Cel, have I told you lately just how sexy your ears are? Chronologically, I'm 55. But age is just a number, unless that number is under 18. Then, it's a legal issue.

Damn if that won't tighten up your pucker string.

Out of shape and saggy? Matt, have you been peeking in my windows again? Anybody who lived through the gay plague of the 80's has a different perspective on promiscuity. Going to the same places over a period of time, watching the clientele waste away and disappear, only to find 75% of the folks you used to see had died; holding a friend while he cried, after he discovered he had a k-s lesion on his 20th birthday, and would most likely be dead within 6 months to a year... Does it take willfulness and stubbornness to keep it up into old age? That, and a disregard for your survival instincts.

Here we go with pigeonholes again. The only thing gay about a lifestyle is sharing the same gender with your sex partner. Although I've enjoyed sex with women more times than I can count, I'm gay as a goose. Why? Because I've lived and screwed with the same man for 22 years. It is, and continues to be, a monogamous relationship. Does anyone deny I'm gay? Yet, I don't go to the ballet, I despise most show tunes, and I don't dance. I taught heavy weapons sparring (nunchaku, staff, and European broadsword) and practiced MMA for years. A bottle of cologne would last me years. I thought I had no gay card to play, until I had to furnish a house from nothing, and was sitting on a pile of insurance proceeds. Every person who's set foot in our house has had the same reaction - WOW! “To be nobody but yourself – in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you like everybody else – means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight – and never stop fighting.” E.E. Cummings 1894-1962, Poet This is the battle I choose. Pity those who surrender, or never take up the cause.

WHAT?!!! THAT'S TODAY?!!!! Have a very happy one, Curti!

Do your parents have any idea why it took you two moving vans to move out? To the original question, No, I never wanted to be a woman. I wouldn't want to change my sexuality, either. I'm at peace with who and what I am. But when I was younger, I would've given anything to fit in. Seriously, who wouldn't want to actually be the person everyone expects, and not just pretend? Or work so hard to be who you really are?