Former Member

Well, you’re stuck with this fan! ;-)

Fætter (I’d forgotten about that!), my older brother was more this shadowy figure that was there, but not really involved in my life. And then he went off to college and was even more remote. I was just the more annoying of his two younger brothers who he had even less in common with. He occasionally tormented me, but he wasn’t around as a protector. Brothers always know which buttons to push! ;-) This is the major reason I’ve never had a drink or done drugs! ;-)

‘Boosy’? Is that a combination of bossy and boozy? That doesn’t sound good! A drunk older brother giving orders! There’s been no foreshadowing of this important flaw in perfect Rob. Will he have a debilitating accident that ‘robs’ him of his sense of purpose and balance? What a bizarre turn of events! You definitely have to fill us in on this nightmare future Rob! What? It’s just a typo? In the word’s of Emily Litella (as portrayed by the immortal Gilda Radner on Saturday Night Live in the late ‘70s), “Never mind!” ;-)

I don`t know if there are any reasons. But the lack of reason bears so many chances of giving you yourself a reason and I personally like that thought. It frees my soul. Love Sis.

That was an interesting way for Wilder and Ryder to bond. Kind of odd, but it seemed natural. Things can only get better after that rocky start.

Little brother, I got another line from a song for you in my head, when I read the poem: The hardest thing in this world is to live in it. Maybe it is the hardest thing, but you are braver and stronger and have courage to face it. And you have a lot ones, who love you. I am glad, you wrote that poem, even it is sad and angry. Thank you for this look in your heart, for this honor. Love Sis

If Robbie is trying not to be found, @wenmale64 is right, Alex is who he should head for. It’s my impression that no one was aware of their sordid ‘relationship’. So no one would look for him there. The others are all known connections.

As pointed out in the ABC (Disney-owned American Broadcasting Company) miniseries, When We Rise, the Civil Rights and Equal Rights movements of the ‘60s and ‘70s did not exist in a vacuum and each informed and strengthened the others with activists learning lessons in one movement and applying them to subsequent movements.

Since Jazz is obviously the carrot, does that mean Rob is the ‘stick’? ;-)

Another great summertime jam. Ray Dorset really rocking the hell out of those mutton chop sideburns! lol

"The opposite of humility is arrogance--the belief that we are wiser or better than others. Arrogance promotes separation rather than community. It looms like a brick wall between us and those from whom we could learn." ~ John Templeton

I know Mark clearly feels left out when he and Stan stay behind to deal with Buddy, but does Stan feel the same way too? I know I’d personally prefer my comforts and luxuries rather than the hardships of roughing it out in the field! There are many benefits to staying behind! ;-)

That is the reason, I go under unlabeled. Not everything has to belong in boxes.

Yeah, I wasn’t at all what they thought all their transient shelter clients were. I’ve never had a drink and the only drugs I’ve ever taken were either prescribed for me or the very occasional over-the-counter medications (I was taking generic Claritin daily, as ordered by my doctor). I never participated in their 12-step program. ;-)

Oh yeah, Fran. Maybe Robbie can fulfill his long-postponed and ignored promise to her by posing naked for her. ;-)

Those are really good, useful objectives the boys have come up with. The rescue mission I often stayed at when I was homeless had their own hyper-religious version of a 12-step program along with their shelter. They had started to work on training the ‘Programmers’ job skills beyond just fundamentalist preacher and kitchen services. Like we need more homophobic, former drug-addict/alcoholic, far-right-wing, fundamentalist preachers without a real biblical education.

Robbie certainly didn’t make things any better by running away… Since Nathan’s gone, he has two other possible sources of sanctuary, Rory or what’s her name, the ex-girlfriend. I suppose he could go to the hospital emergency room – they’d probably readmit him if he claimed he was having trouble dealing with his recovery. He doesn’t seem to have any other places to go. ;-)

Well when the words fall out of your head, they always land in the right place.

You always speak the truth, moggy, whether the subject is light, or dark. I don't know a thing about poetry, but this one really struck a chord. Personally I believe the craving can become so ravenous, that over time one can't tell the difference between the punches, and the hugs. Very well done.

HAVE A HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

I'm no longer a fan, but I so remember being a young girl and going to Three Rivers Stadium to see the Pirates. I'd save Town Talk bread bags, and if I recall correctly, with five of them you could get in to see a game. (I bet my youngest would be too mortified and embarrassed to do that.) I was too young to take the bus downtown by myself, so my older brother would take me to the games. lol. As a young girl, it was truly exciting to watch the men who are now legends play ball. I had such a crush on 3rd baseman Richie Hebner. What a goofball I was. Willie Stargell was a down to earth gentleman, nothing like the ball players of today. On occasion you would find him mingling with the kids at our local playground. I can still remember sitting on my bed balling my eyes out when they announced Roberto Clemente's tragic death. This song represents a time when baseball really was the American pastime. A time when my dad and others his age would sit listening to the games on the radio. Sitting on the front porch they would discuss with gusto, the play by play action. lol

This is a lovely sounding instrument... Cristofori pianoforte, circa 1720

Fortunately, I’ve never had ‘proper wedding cake’ – I hate fruit cake and refuse to eat it. None of the numerous weddings I’ve attended over nearly six decades of my life ever had that kind of cake. They were always a more standard form of cake – not sponge cake either. ;-) In California, at least, we don’t have the tradition of using that sort of cake in a wedding. ;-)