rustle

Let's all get lei'd.

James, I think you may have just started one.

I've been told my printing looks like a type font. My script looks pretty grim these days. Every few years, that happens, and I have to work on it again. Then, I breat out a goose quill and ink pot, and start writing letters to folks. Pen and ink requires discipline and concentration, and it's very soothing for me, like meditation with a purpose. That habit earned me a lot of points with my partner when we first got together.

Dear Befuddled, Your solution is sensitive and professional, and seeks to solve the problem at the lowest possible level. I suggest a script like: "Margaret, I tried to cash my expense check the other day, and it didn't clear the bank. Have you had any difficulties with the bank recently?" This gives her an opportunity to blame somebody else (maybe it is the bank's fault, after all). Follow up with, "Do you think I should try to cash the check again, or could you reimburse me out of petty cash?" If the situation isn't rectified, politely and professionally bring up the matter with another person in the office. I suggest your immediate superior, since so many employers are quite keen on following the chain of command. It's always best in an office environment to give coworkers the benefit of the doubt, until it's time to drag them out the door by the scruff of the neck and wail the tar out of them. If, as you suspect, it's an honest mistake, you've made no waves. MM

Been a while, but yeah. He was most indignant when I started analyzing his physique, but he demanded an answer. "Let's see, you've got no butt, bird legs, that scruff on your lip makes you look like you're eating a caterpillar, and you're hung like a pimple. Anything else you want to know, dude?!"

As much as I hate making decisions, I'm better off being who I am, although I wish I'd been born in other circumstances.

Whadaya mean, hands?

What kind of knife? I'm easily distracted by shiny, sharp, pointy things.

Sad? That's an understatement. For lack of a better word, this story has a really soft "texture" to it - a gentleness. Reading this chapter was a bittersweet experience. The sweetness was the writing, and the sensitivity of the characters. Thank you very much for sharing this with us.

I've found I'm capable of more and deeper love, as well as more and deeper ambivalence. People don't "grow out of it." They slow down, and get caught by gravity and inertia. Most get worn down, and forget their passion through endless compromises.

Funky socks, huh? I bet. But, yeah, I could use a pair.

Believe it or not, the stupidest, most presumptuous questions came from other gays: You mean you've NEVER had an STD? Did you bring your tuxes? The ballet fundraiser is tonight. You're monogamous?! ************** My slutty phase was rather tame and brief, and I was lucky, and never caught anything. I haven't worn a tux since my brother's wedding when I was 12, and really don't like the ballet. For over 20 years, now. ************* But Patrick, I've heard the same questions you have, and had the same reactions.

What do they use for yarn? Oh, never mind.

I think Lacey and Yang Bang called it. Gays aren't as repressed with social norms, so they look at a broader spectrum of potential partners. Let's face it - our parents never encouraged most of us to pursue that hot blonde stud with the big bulge. Yang's option #7 would take more study.

Of the actors pictured above, Gregory Peck is my favorite. He had a remarkable voice. To Kill a Mockingbird is still one of my favorite films. Jimmy Stewart was a general in the Air Force, and was Alfred Hitchcock's favorite actor to work with. Gary Cooper was an expert horseman. His distinctive walk was the result of an injury, and every step hurt every day of his adult life. Burt Lancaster started his career as a trapeze artist, and performed his own stunts. He negotiated his movie deals to include his former catcher in the circus. John Wayne started his career as a stuntman, and was also an expert horseman. Also, though it was common practice to use a trip wire to make horses fall in movies, he forced every picture he worked on to use horses trained to fall, instead. Jimmy Cagney started out as a song and dance man, like Hugh Jackman. You left out Peter Graves of TV's Mission Impossible series and the movie Airplane. He was the brother of James Arness, above.

Ummm...... I'm ........ gay?

I shudder to think about all the people who put personal content on FB. How many people have been on the news, fired for social network content? The 'net is a public forum, folks. And once it's out there, even for a minute, it's out there, somewhere, forever.

Forest green and burgundy. And what Cyhort said.

James, with all that, I hope you wear a belt AND suspenders. I've got to admit that for work, I also carry a backpack, stuffed, and might be able to overhaul a carburetor or field dress a sword wound, if I had to. Nephy, what can I say? You ARE the dark goddess. (skull and rainbow?)

Gollum asked this in The Hobbit. I got the idea from another thread about wearing jeans without pockets, and started wondering what others might feel lost or naked without. (And if you do wear pants without pockets, what do you just have to carry?) If I turned out my pockets, I'd have my wallet, keys, cash (separate from my wallet, in case my pocket's picked), coins, and a pocket knife. (I've carried a knife since elementary school. The only thing that's changed is the style - now it's a 3-bladed Uncle Henry - sometimes, I like to carve.)

Do I believe in love? Sure. But different people look for different types of love. Romantic, sweep-me-off-my-feet love is quite rare and usually doesn't last, in my experience. The most lasting relationships tend to be based on shared experiences and values. I was looking for someone to be a companion, someone I could admire and respect, and who valued me as a person. And a great butt. I found him. Hint: The people you meet in a bar tend to like to hang out in bars. The people you meet at the roller derby tend to like to hang out at roller derbies. Wherever you like to hang out, whatever you like to do, is where you are more likely to find a companion. As for the booty calls, if you're not after that, don't waste your time. There are plenty of other guys they can call, and somewhere out there is a guy who would LOVE to share your life with you. So, do you know what you want, what you like, what you admire and respect? Can you recogmize it when you see it? Don't wait for love to start living your life, though. After all, you'll want to bring something to the picnic.

In this instance, it seems the parent was more sensitive than the child. There's something to be said for the character built by learning to live with oneself, warts and all.

Having grown up in Texas, I realize that the local yokels support local norms, no matter how revolting. Interfering in local customs is a good way to walk into the lion's den. Ever watch Deliverance? Reality's just a little bit to the right on the dial.

Don't like flossing?

Putting the computer on a pillow or any soft surface will block the cooling fans from doing what they must. Either put it on a solid, flat surface, or get a cooler, or both.