MikeL

Will, I had been wondering about your current situation when I came across this post about your recent illness. It is good that you are on the mend and I hope you can get back up to speed quickly with your studies. It is a shame you have to go through so much before you finally get the appropriate medical care. There is no excuse for the appendicitis episode. But what is really unforgivable is the attitude of the campus doc. Have you considered filing a complaint with the university? I can understand that you might not want to get involved in such a thing, but a major university should provide better service than that. It's unfortunate that you feel the need to delay coming out to your parents. Perhaps it will prove to be a good thing...an even better opportunity may present itself. Hang in there. I'm pulling for you. Mike

A very interesting discussion, Kit. Thanks. I would say the person whom we love is Mr. Right (or Ms. Right if you are so inclined). And, hopefully, that person will be right for a lifetime. I agree that we should spend less time defining our Mr. Right and put a lot more effort into making ourselves the right one for someone else. My best wishes, too, to Kevin...hope to hear from him soon.

That's a great one, Robbie. Actually, the kid was behaving himself. Mom had better be careful what she says.

Equus, starring Daniel Radcliffe, opens this Thursday (9/25/08) on Broadway. See: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/theater/14lyal.html Performances are scheduled to continue through 2/8/09 at the Broadhurst Theater. Prices are $61.50 to $301.50. Maybe Daniel will star in a remake of the movie. Here's an interview from NPR: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.p...toryId=94862555

Are there crumbs in the bed?

Great pictures, Robbie. Thanks for sharing.

Hang in there, Trebs. Things will improve. Don't push yourself. You are still in my thoughts and prayers.

A Freudian slip, Comsie? good to know you've regained your focus.

Robbie, I trust you're not allergic to John. Maybe to his absence.

Very nice picture, Alex. Whatever you are doing, keep it up. BTW, it appears another head is attached to yours and was cropped out of the picture. Who might that be?

I'm having no problem with Firefox. What am I doing wrong?

Great story, Kevin. It was interesting to see that Lee (the ghost), after so many years of "living" in hate, was not affected by Joyce's love for Andrew . You are right about parents being summoned to the principal's office; at least that's true of public schools. My wife taught at a private school for a number of years. In private schools, where the parents pay tuition, the parents almost always seem to think that they will have the last word. If their precious little one (including high school students), is reprimanded for behavior or gets a poor grade, they demand a meeting with the principal and teacher. And - another sign of the times - the parent nearly always takes the child's side, no matter how egregious the conduct or how lazy the student. It takes a strong principal to maintain civility and academic integrity in the private school.

Take care of yourself, Kevin. I assume you are riding it out in Houston. Let us know when you are back on line. I really liked The Most Dangerous Place, by the way. Keep up the good work.

Trebs, It's great to hear how well you are doing. You've got a great attitude and a good sense of humor, both of which are great medicine. Thanks to you and Dan for keeping everyone informed. You are in my thoughts and prayers. I know you will get thorough advice and instructions from the physicians, but I will also put in my plug for doing all you can to build and maintain your immune system. It will do wonders. I know. I've been there. Mike

The old goat has left us clinging to a precarious perch while he grazes his way through the wilds of Alaska. Better dye yourself orange, CJ. Moose season has opened there and I hear the Governor is a crack shot. Great plot development chapter, BTW.

Nice hair color, Robbie. Don't change it.

Happy belated birthday, Trebs. Sorry for the late greetings. I hope you are feeling better and get back home soon.

Wow! What a heated discussion this has become. I would like to offer my thoughts in a few words. When dealing with strangers, a single smile combined with "thank you" in exchange for a service rendered or in returning a greeting is both acceptable and necessary. A second smile is questionable (OK if an even greater service has been performed). A pinch on the butt is sexual harassment regardless of the stranger's gender or sexual preference.

Facial hair definitely changes the kissing experience. That's favorable for some, not for others. Then again, some guys never kiss.

If you haven't already, you should sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry. It works for me. Caller ID is also a big help since it's against the law for a telemarketer to block his true identity in a caller ID system. In case you haven't noticed, most telemarketers use computerized systems to dial your phone number. After you answer, the call is routed to the real live marketer. It saves them a lot of time; makes them more productive. If you answer the phone and no one responds, hang up. We need more telemarketer bashing.

I agree with you , Ash. Without the chest hair, he would be just another skinny pretty boy. The photo was a promo for Radcliffe's appearance in the recent revival of Equus in London.

That's a good one! A more practical one we all can use is...when you realize the call is from a telemarketer, just start saying "Hello? Hello? Hello? as if you can no longer hear the other party. Drive 'em crazy.

How about this... Or this... Or my favorite... http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/01_w...uus_468x331.jpg You'll have to click on the link; the picture is a bit risqu

I assume this means there will be a nuclear power plant building boom in India. Now, if we could just get one started here in the US...

Hooray! I just learned that, in early spring, I will become a grandfather for the second time.