rustle

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.

SOMETIMES I WRESTLE WITH MY DEMONS SOMETIMES WE JUST SNUGGLE

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!

Shout if you need any help.

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?

Most spelling errors after you run spell check or = are homonyms - words which sound alike, but have different spellings and meanings. If somebody changes your spelling, look up the two spellings - the original and the correction. You may find the original spelling won't give your sentence the same meaning you intended, or your editor is wrong. Either way, you'll know because you did the research, not because somebody told you something. And you'll probably remember the words next time. Editors are there to find mistakes, make corrections, and ask questions when your intent is not clear to them in the writing. It's too easy to overlook your own mistakes. If you always spell a word wrong, you won't catch it. You may assume you've already said something you haven't, by automatically "filling in the blank" mentally, and not realize you've done it. If you have somebody working with you, you have an opportunity to learn something. Don't feel like it's all one-sided. We've all got something to learn, and we've all got something to teach.