Irritable1

Bookmarking this, James.

I was touched by the scene on the seafront, when Kieran starts to feel sad at Ash-lay's words---is he feeling sorry about Robin and Mattie? Or just Robin?

Yes, happy birthday and many happy returns! I don't know whether to wish you big flocks of parrots or a peaceful day with no parrots!

I'm annoyed at Oli for being so unkind. Poor Boris made it clear he was unhappy. He treated Boris as if he really were a dog! At least he's been able to tell him the truth though. Everyone knows where they stand now...

The dead rabbit as a peace offering from a were-feline has got to be one of the funniest things I've ever read. Oh Sasha.

Hmmm. Now that I've come down from my Zander Pink high... Oh gosh, Kieran is so tiresome. He would absolutely have done what Shastan's accused him of, if he'd only had the chance. And Rebecca couldn't have blamed him for Robin's upset, because we know he didn't tell her yet. And it's not as if nice Shastan hasn't had years to make up his own mind about Kieran's love'em and leave'em ways... I liked the scene in the park though. Why do I get the feeling it's the calm before a massive storm?

Mmm. That does sound good.

Ignore me. She had the most incredible speaking voice.

Whenever I see this topic title my mind goes straight into the gutter.

Is this the show that's had former cast members go born-again?

Oh holy moly. Mike is my favorite character! Is he going to be outed at VMU?? Corbin's threat to Lee was just awful.

This was fun. Gary seriously needs to learn how to knock on doors!

So much to say. For some reason I was actually thinking of you the other day W-L and thinking that you sound like someone who is questing and working so much and still not really being challenged sufficiently. And I was wondering if maybe the solution is not less work but more? My first idea was just the straightforward IRS work that volunteers do at tax time, but that seems impossible given that you'll have deadlines at the same time. But could you tutor students working on finance or business degrees? Do you have the option of doing finance reviews for small businesses or minority businesses locally? Could you look over loan applications before small business owners take them in, maybe advise on strategy to make them more appealing to the lenders? And now that you mention working at an executive level--you're talking about locking yourself into roughly 30 years of the same kind of work. Which is fine, but the kind of dull unhappiness you describe really isn't sustainable for that long. At our company, the successful executives usually have long-term welfare projects that they're encouraged to nurture, and they're expected to at least give lip service to work-life balance--most have partners and families. One thing that struck me... are you out at work? Could you be the executive champion for a GLBT work organization? It would add a level of meaning to the responsibility you feel for your colleagues, and maybe it would feel more creative? For me, when I'm too tired to be creative (nearly always) I'm not always too tired to learn something. If you can't write, can you listen to classical music and study up on it? I spent a couple of seasons doing that, reading random Dummies Guides to Opera etc. and it was really fun. Music also doesn't burden you with the need to follow an explicit narrative, which I like when I'm tired. Lastly, and forgive me if this sounds obnoxious, I do think a bit of perspective would be good. No one is really irreplaceable. If you were struck by lightning tomorrow they'd have to promote someone else, and that would be inefficient and it would make people's lives a bit worse in the short term, but it'd be ok. You don't owe it to your place of employment to be unhappy. Hope you feel better.

Hm, now THIS is interesting... What a pity that Dr. Dyer lets herself be rushed into speaking so many times! Maybe my therapist is just really hard-bitten but she'd never get rattled by being given the silent treatment like that

There is absolutely nothing quirky about liking Marmite. It's a perfectly normal, natural enjoyment of a vitamin B-rich sandwich spread.

it's like

!!!OMG THEY WASTED A RABBIT!!! He really IS a terrible werewolf!

That's a really compassionate depiction of the would-be adoptive community. And the first approach around the tree, with the scar kept hidden... Lovely.

I eat Arby's sandwiches and love them with a passion. I do not feel this way about any other junk food.

Treat your major depression instead of taking it out on your family ;-). Wait... I use a drug for that...

Augh, the tension is excruciating! The gentle tenderness of Tallenn's slow approach to Frost is so much at odds with the glancing violence and fear of Frost's memories. Picture me with bitten nails. At first I was afraid we were going down roughly the same path as in Daphne du Maurier's Kiss Me Again, Stranger (permanently scarred by that one) but now I've read the blurb and think that's unlikely. I am addicted nonetheless.

Many happy returns, Joann!

That is deeply unfortunate. But you know what, I love all those brave singers and I would shop in their stores purely to give them income.

OMG Kendra I love you. Cole, legal marriage must agree with your writing or something. This chapter absolutely rings with strength. So freaking good! Not one misstep anywhere. I'm in awe.

In my experience, it does take a while. High school and college are so structured and when that structure falls away after graduation it's like, whoa, where is my age cohort? What happened? It's probably a bit harder for you too because you haven't settled into a job yet... It does happen though. At some point you start recognizing people in your neighborhood and saying hi to them even if you don't visibly have much in common and it gets better from there. It definitely also helps to take part in some kind of organized activity though, where there's a chance of seeing the same people at the same time. Hiking or working out or whatever. EDIT: LOL, and if you're looking for a target demographic, I had a lot of luck making friends with little old ladies especially, and I am sure a clean-cut gay couple will have that much more.