KJames

We recorded it so we can watch it tomorrow off our PVR...I remember the news articles about this happenning....so the movie should be a real tear jerker...

You don't look that sick...and the looks have only gotten better since then!

Benji, he's really trying to work out a shitload of crap right now. He does have a good head on his shoulders, and he seems to be the only one working on his rehab and counseling homework right now. It seems none of his three parents are even attempting to be the least bit supportive. Cut him some slack, if you can't show any support, sometimes letting people vent is the best therapy.

Yeah, but you're biased...

I think you'd still look real hansome, even with short (as in: normal haircut) hair , but the long hair does something that frames your face better, somehow . I think a shorter haircut would make you look a little harder, a little more unapproachable. I think it's because of the dark hair and eyebrows.... You're at an age where hair is an "identifying" factor...and shows a little bit of independence...whether in thought or action...I hope you get to keep it long...looks like it'd be fun to run fingers through....

ArpeGGio...the reasoning behind that is easy to figure out...and two-fold...nevermind the fact that you are young, it also has to do with genetics...your facial features are somewhat angular, not altogether usual for male faces...but neither unheard of. Combine the angles and with your longish hair with the tendency to wear a hoodie and the confusion becomes rather easy to understand...

Under Profile|Options.

Then there's the one's that can't control them...our friends in LA lost thier Jaguar to a lady in a big SUV who missed her brake pedal, bounced off the wall in front of her parking spot, went backward to the row of cars behind herself and smashed our friends' car, by backing onto the top of it while she was not in control of her vehicle.

Mine is a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan, Midnight Blue, with sunroof and multi-CD player...my OTHER car is a 2008 ITASCA Meridian 38H 37'7" long motorhome (which is 8'5.5" wide and 13'4" high at the highest point [not including CB ant.]), which tows the Grand Caravan when we travel, for a total length of 50' or so including the tow bar...

Happy Birthday, David! I've enjoyed some of your stories...at least I'm starting with "The Translator"...but will probably fill in the universe by reading the others as time permits...

Hey, Robbie, have a great birthday! Don't forget to eat yourself silly on cake and ice cream!

Don't feel bad, Greg...it's not your fault...

Glad to hear you're cutting back, but if there was one thing keeping others from approaching you as a potential romantic possibility and that was it, would you give it up for lifelong love? I've seen plenty of guys who were drop dead gorgeous that I would have stripped in public for if they had asked me to, but lost interest as soon as I saw them light up...thinking to myself, what a f**king waste...he'll be dead by 40....

Bar/Club: Io (a pun on "I/O", input/output) Band: Warp (Insert # of members), i.e.: Warp 7.

I have to agree with Verm and Procyon...having been in an abusive relationship with my ex-, I would probably sit my friend down once and tell them what Verm said to say and don't let them up until you're done, something like, "Honey, we've been friends a long time. You already know that I love you a lot, maybe almost as much as you care about your boyfriend, since you've been my best friend for so long. So I want you to listen to what I have to tell you all the way through before you say anything, then, if you need my help, let me know." Let him agree to listen, then continue, "I don't like what I'm seeing; you're letting yourself get physically hurt just to stay with <boyfriend's name>, when it shouldn't be happenning that way: Love isn't about having to take physical beatings. I care about you a lot and it hurts me when I see you beat up like (cite an example of when, i.e.: "you were last week."). You don't see this--I do, that wasn't the first time. You can't say you're falling into things, because I know you're not that clumsy, so I'll tell you once--and only once: If he hurts you bad enough to put you into the emergency room--for any reason, I'll have him arrested. <Your friend's name>! There are people out there that would die just to be with you. You don't have to be assaulted to be loved." Now the choice of "assaulted" is key, it's powerful to change from "get physically hurt" to "assaulted", and he'll probably notice it, quickly. Then he'll try to justify it. By now, it should be easy for you to deflect those justifications. The help mentioned in the first para.? He may need help to breakup--sometimes the abuser is also possessive and emotionally controlling, it may take several people to assist your friend in this--try to get them involved if needed. An example of this type of intervention: One of my old friends used to run a BBS back in the days before internet, and his partner was embezzling money from their business, and friends, so all the friends (about 10 really good ones) got together and told this friend of mine what was happenning and presented evidence, then moved him out of the house--lock, stock, and barrel--while his embezzling partner went to a movie one Saturday. The police were already involved by then and weren't after my friend, just his partner, so they showed up just after he arrived back to an empty house, it had all been coordinated with them.

If you're fortunate, or unfortunate, enough you will see the abuse happen (not that I would wish it on your friend, or for you to have to see it happen), and as a witness can then legally file charges against this supposed "boyfriend".

I jump in with good wishes for both his diagnosis and his coming out. Hopefully his "Crohn's" will turn out to be a bout of diverticulitis instead. (He'll just have to stop eating seeds and nuts instead of wheat gluten based products, that way.)

I'm gonna be dropping a note to Tim and Codey's grandfather at Codey's World...the day after this coming New Year's would have been Codey's 19th birthday, and I want to let them know that they aren't alone in missing him.

Are you trying to tell us that the crutches were a result of the early manifestation of symptoms of this infection?

It sounds like he's telling you that he's not giving up on you as a friend--or that he's still counting you as one. Only he knows for sure, but that's what it sounds like based on the fact that he's also willing to give his ex- another chance. And you haven't said where you live in your profile, but if I suspect, you will probably frequent the same bars and clubs...so, yeah, you'll probably be seeing a lot of him.... Take a guide from lots of the stories here, let him see you looking, longingly at him with others, and let him see you leave the places... Yes they will (and, no, it won't), it'll take time. You'll always remember, that's what makes true love difficult...letting go when "your" 'one' isn't ready. That's always a possibility, I suppose, however slim...if the attraction was there, it'll always be there, he's just the kind of guy you're looking for and nothing will change that...for you. I doubt that Nathan would connect letting you back into his life as a friend with not feeling attracted to him--at this point in his life, it seems he is willing to let his ex- try again because Nathan seems to be the forgiving type. In the same vein, I doubt that he would hold your attraction to him against you as a reason for not letting the friendship re-establish itself. See my last paragraph... He may have been sorry more because he valued you and your honesty more, and was willing to keep you, as a treasured, valuable, true friend, without holding your feelings against you. You chose the words, "walk out"...very powerful. Did you intend, then, to give up such a valuable friend? What, then, when he initiates the reconnect? When and if he needs to talk to his "best" friend, what then? Although he's trying to get back with his ex-, remember, he's been portrayed as the forgiving type, it still doesn't sound like he broke away. It still sounds like he wants the lover he thought he had, and all the friends he's had. Sounds like words spoken by someone willing to be a true friend, no matter what. Time tests all things, time heals all wounds... An old saying, but true...time also builds and strengthens. But the true test is yours to take...you have to ask to be let back in. Then the test becomes one of friendship...if he's as forgiving as you've portrayed him, all should be well and you'll both be, at least, friends again. Along with another chance if his ex- breaks up with him again...Nathan sounds like the forgiving type, but his ex- seems to be the one using a revolving door... Remember, Treefrog, be patient and don't give up, be kind and repair your friendship--it will make all the difference in the world to both of you--and will help him to realize, later when his ex- breaks up again, that love isn't something he needs to go searching for when true love stares him right in the face: Love is patient and kind; Love is not jealous, or conceited, or proud, or provoked; Love does not keep a record of wrongs; Love is not happy with evil, but is pleased with the truth. Love never gives up; its faith, hope, and patience never fail...

Yeah, but get well from WHAT?!? The doctors should be able to cure the infection, but what about the rest of him?

Treefrog, I just went back to the beginning of this thread...shown above...and in following the posts know that you sat down and had a heart to heart, etc....but out of what you have poured out here, did you mention this part to him: Yes, I know I left out major portions--key elements were stuck in my mind--but what did you leave out when you talked to him? Note, the underlining, letting him know your opinion of what he's been through, and bold italics, because if someone told me that, I'd probably be completely his if I was still unmarried. Sometimes we forget the "key" thing we were willing to tell others, but not the person it concerns in the first place. Sometimes, when you truly love someone, the way to their heart isn't necessarily by telling them you love them and telling them to love you because your both already there with each other doing it--sometimes it's telling them how truly important they are to you, and why. Don't demand his love--plant a seed. You broke off a friendship that was special, to both of you. At the time he didn't want a relationship with you other than friends--everyone works at a different speed, treefrog...but he knew that he could come to you with his troubles like nobody else he knew. Now that you broke that off, who is he going to call when his ex- now current-again does the same crappy stuff, again?!? "...and if I lost him I'd truly be alone," are you really willing to throw away someone that you would "die to make love with" and seems to make your life whole? I think not, you don't really come across as someone like that. If he truly meant that much to you, he always will mean that much to you. (Trust me, I initiated the breakup with my ex- and although I don't regret it, I cried myself to sleep for two weeks--I was your age, then, I'm twice Nathan's age now--and still think of him and how great the lovemaking was, and it was{!}, and still wonder if he's okay even though the breakup was very bitter) And if you still want a chance to prove you love him, and plant that seed, you need to retrace your steps and apologize to him for breaking off. You are both young, and are making mistakes in this search for "love". Then tell him that you felt hurt, but that you're still there to listen to his troubles anytime. I hope that you will be able to repair this--a friendship was given up because someone wasn't ready to go further, and someone else's feelings were hurt because of it. I hope that you will try. I hope that he will be convinced. I hope you get your chance to plant that seed. I hope that you get a chance to take a whole day and night, stretching the time, by doing nothing but "make love" (not to be confused with the act of intercourse) with all of the day's and evening's romantic and fun or sensual activities. I hope that he will come back to you. I hope that seed will grow and thrive. I hope for both of you!

Hey, Jovian_w2002! DON'T scare me like that...(!) Spinal cord infections and such are not mere trifles...a friend's wife passed away about 2 weeks ago after coming home from a spinal tap and going to take a nap...her husband, a fellow member in the Elks, found her when he arrived home--her daughter had been there and said that she was upstairs sleeping as that was her last conversation with her mother... I was really worried when I started reading this thread...

Good Luck! I hear those Aussie boys are real hot!

Happy B'day, B'! . Have a great one, my friend!