Yogi, it would be wonderful if you are able to get together with my sister, if you are in town at the same time. I've just emailed you back. She still has not finalised her travel plans but it looks like she will now leave NY about the 7th or 8th. Hopefully you will be back by then and can meet up. I'm glad that things at the office are falling into place for you, and I think you are doing the right thing in hiring an assistant to help run the place well for you. That will free you up to do what you need to do.

That's right, suctionprints, arvo does mean afternoon. People here often say, "see you t'sarvo" - "see you this afternoon". How are you feeling now? I hope the tummy aches are better by now. What news of your father?

Babalu, sad news about Chet or Daryl. RIP. I love the names you've picked for the others. Hope they all start eating and put your mind at rest.

Mmmmmm.... Matthew and Brady wading around a lake, shirtless of course - that is a nice dream and you hold onto to it, Yogi. And I don't think I've ever had truffles before, they sound quite delicious!

Do you guys remember me telling you about my friend who had breast cancer earlier this year? Well she has finished her chemo, is doing well, and has invited us all to a "dinner" to thank everyone for their support. It will be a formal affair, so I spent the weekend shopping for Mr Aussie and myself. I got him some great shirts, and the most wonderful tie. I think he will look great in them. Next, I raided my younger sister's (not the one coming to NY) wardrobe. She has so many designer gowns, and I found the perfect dress to wear. So I had to go shopping for shoes and underwear to match. I had a great time! A bit of retail therapy can really works wonders!

All the guests are staying in this really flash hotel on the Sunshine Coast, so I've arranged for mum to babysit and Mr Aussie and I are staying in the hotel overnight. It's so flash, the Queen stayed there at the last CHOGM meeting in Australia, so we need to be well dressed. Well, that's what I'm telling Mr Aussie anyway! I really like shopping! I'm so looking forward to catching up with my friend and her partner and other friends too, not to mention staying somewhere so nice with just Mr Aussie and not having to run after the kids!

Edited to add CHOGM - Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

HI ALL. It has been a while hasn't it? I have thought of this place a lot, but have hesitated to post knowingly I might not have time to come back and follow up. I am slowly reading back to where I left off, so I plan to be up to date soon.

Here is my cliff notes:

Started crew (rowing) in the morning for a new hobby. quite nice. quite hard. quite early. but still good. Princeton is a great (and cheap!) place to learn and you get to rub elbows with the national team and such. The Australian men's team is arriving in a few weeks to row as well.

Just finished chapter IV (of V) for the dissertation. If she accepts it, I will defend by January and be done once and for all. In the meantime I have an 8 hour test coming up on Nov 5. They are very much like long plane flights...

Finishing up field hockey season with my lovely JV high school team. Nice group.My small dog is nice, my job in general is good. I am just really really tired. I am also breaking off my engagement -well I have, but it is still very much new.

so yeah, good times. Glad i am rowing even if it is 5:15 in the a.m.

Talk to you soon ~miss you guys~

Rest In Peace, Chet or Daryll. We hardly knew 'ye. I hope that you find a nice sunny spot at the big pond in the sky.

I'm glad to see you, Ricci. It sounds like you continue to be very busy with all you activities and school as well. Makes me tired just thinking about getting up and leaving the house at 5 AM. You and Heidihug with this running around stuff. I like to watch the morning shows, read the paper, and drink my coffee. How else will I know what is happening on page six?

I noticed how you snuck in there about your engagement. This must be a hard time, Ricci, and I'm sorry for that, thought I know you have been thinking about it for a while, so I'm sure you made the right decision. Even still, I'm sending lots of good, happy thoughts your way. I always recommend lots of happy, casual, sex free dating after a break up, although no one ever takes my advice. I don't know why. Dating can be such a fun thing - you go out to nice places, someone else pays and gives you compliments. In return, you give compliments, engage in witty converstation, and wear your prettiest clothes. Flirting is a very pleasing activity. The Australian crew team sounds like a promising place to start.... ;)

I'm thinking my next holiday may just have to be on the Sunshine Coast, Aussie Girl. Could anyone ever be sad on the Sunshine Coast? I think not. I bet even the Queen smiled when she was visiting! The wedding sounds like a great time, and a great excuse to buy something new.

Is it too early for a Naked on the Beach, Woodlock? Let's drink to a naked John as seeing another set of fake breasts is of little interest to me for so many reasons.

Hey, we have the same Sunday night schedule! Although I have to admit I'm ready for Surreal Life to be over. I think there's only 2 more episodes left though. I know a lot of people didn't like it going back to a half-hour, but I prefer it that way; the hourlong episodes last season just felt too padded and bloated. Still LOVE DH, though! Oh--and glad to hear things aren't as stressful with your assistant situation.

Glad to hear you're on the mend, suctionprints (and I hope your father is as well), but sorry to hear about the turtles, babalu! And Ricci, glad to see you back and hope everything works out for the best.

I actually had a pretty satisfying weekend overall even though I barely left the house save for going out with friends Friday night and a powerwalk along the East River on Saturday! But I caught up on several months' worth of magazines, plowed through The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis, and, most importantly, actually finally sat down and wrote some stuff for my one-man show! One completed segment and the starts of two others, but still, it's a start. I'm hoping that now that I've started, it'll be easier to continue, but honestly, I've always been the type of writer where I just barricade myself in my place until I've banged it all out or I never finish, which I can't really do now because of working. But I'm saving all my scenes to my Yahoo! Briefcase so I can write at work if inspiration hits, but I'm thinking that the best course of action will be to limit TWoP to work and write in my spare time on evenings and weekends.

This may sound stupid, but I also dumped a show off my DVR's series manager, which I found incredibly freeing. I've been following the Saturday night reruns of Knots Landing on SoapNet since they started from the beginning, but this week, I started to watch it and I was like, "You know, this has been boring me to tears for weeks now. Why am I bothering?" So I deleted the episode and the series and felt much better, because I'm the type of person where I can turn things that started out as enjoyable into assignments or drudgework until I'm like, "Wait--if I'm not having fun doing this, why am I bothering?" Does that make sense?

I also came across something kind of unusual--narrated tours of various areas of NYC that you take by calling a number on your cellphone when you get to each location and punching in the location #. I'm actually thinking of doing the Lower East Side one on the weekend when I have free airtime because that's an area whose history has always interested me. It's kind of a unique idea!

ETA:

Which one? I thought they were both pretty damn yummy.

One naked on the beach for Yogi, and what the hey, one for me too.
Dodo, we were speaking of Johnk, who is one of my tv boyfriends this fall, and he is the only one left because Brady and John from the apprintice had to be voted/fired off there respectied shows. But yes the other John was very nice as well.

Oh I have an interview with Aeropastale tomorow and also I'm gonna start the paper work agian for Family Dollar. Yay! Things are looking up.

And other wierd news, my dad informed me come June I will no longer be an only child.

Hi Ricci. It's nice to see you. We've missed you too. Sounds like there's been a lot happening in your life. Sending you lots of hugs mate, and I too think you should have some fun with the Aussie crew.

Yogi I totally agree that your next holiday should be on the Sunshine Coast! It would be so cool if you came over here, I'd order lots of sunshine, walks on the beach, and heaps of fit, bronzed life savers. Think about it, mate. I'd love to see you over here. And yes, the Queen did smile when she was here, along with her little wave. I don't think there was even one time when she uttered the immortal line, "We are not amused". And by the way, shhhh about the wedding, it's a secret they are going to be married at the dinner. I am so happy for them! They are both such lovely people who have had to cope with some very troubling times of late.

Hi to Dodo. Glad you had a good weekend mate! And good news on getting some of the stuff written for your show. Keep up the good work.

Woody that little bit of news must have brought up some interesting emotions. How are you feeling about it? And good luck with your interview!

Yikes, Woodlock. Now there's a bit of news. Family. I have a lot of it - four siblings and me meant a lot of fighting growing up. Now, we are generally there for one another. Maybe this new child will grow up to be a great friend in your life. One things for sure, you won't have to fight over toys or clothes for years.


I would love to do this, Last Dodo. It's a great idea. Could you either post or e-mail the number? What a brilliant find. Also, I'm very happy that you are working on your show. I know that it is [ryan star voice] your passion [/ryan star voice]. (Sorry, couldn't resist a little Sureal Life humor.) I also think finding time to write is hard. I can't do it with many distractions. We will have to get Hildy's advice on this one.

I won't tell a soul in Australia about your wedding on the Sunshine Coast, Aussie Girl. And that's an easy promise to keep. I'm sure it will be a true celebration of life after all they have been through this year. I can't imagine a nicer evening on the Sunshine Coast. I will definitely visit there one day, but for now, I just like typing the words.

Busy day, busy day. I'm starting to put things into storage for the renovation. I will have to completely move out, so better to get to it sooner rather than later. Ugh. It's going to be so hard, but so nice when it's all finished. I'm trying to remember that.

Ugh. Sunshine Coast. Sunshine Coast.

That doesn't sound stupid at all. I was so happy when I found out it was Kid's Week on Jeopardy so I get that 20 minutes or so an evening back for the next five days. I didn't remove Jeopardy from my series manager though, since I would probably forget to put it back on next week. But it's great to erase something without watching it.

Man I love kid's week jeopordy, I take a sick sadistick(sp?) pleasure in kicking those kids assess, mwah haha, it's the damn teen and college weeks that I hate.

One day last year my cable was out, so I had the antennae TV in the bedroom on for background noise. The picture was very fuzzy, but the sound was good and I could hear Jeopardy. I was kicking ass and taking names. I couldn't believe how I was getting every question right. When final jeopardy came around I tried adjusting the rabbit ears so I could read the clue, and you guessed it, kid's tournament. My self-esteem shrunk about three sizes then and there.

Yeah, all the yummy ones are getting voted off! I'm sensing a reality spinoff: Consolation Island. Watch as gorgeous men rebuild their fragile psyches after being voted off various reality programs....wearing little to no clothing!


Sure! The info is at talkingstreet.com. The Lower East Side one is free (for now at least); the Lower Manhattan one is $5.95. I'm trying to imagine doing it with someone though...could you imagine what an odd sight that would be--two or more people just standing in front of a place with their cellphones to their ears?

OK...so I could use some gift advice. My former roommate is turning 30, so I'd like to get her something kind of special. When I was living with her it was easier, because I just got her her own updated copy of this astrology book I had she used to borrow all the time. She used to borrow my CDs a lot as well, so I was thinking...what if I were to put together CDs from her birth year, 20 years ago, and ten years ago? So it would basically be 3 compilation CDs of memorable songs from 1974, 1984, and 1994...one for each year. I have tons of songs in my music collection to choose from, and I could make appropriate period cover art for each. I guess what I'm wondering is, since I'd basically just be burning 3 blank CDs, would that be too cheap? Because honestly I'm thinking that might be more meaningful than a gift certificate or something, because since we don't see each other that often I have no clue what she'd want.


Hee!

The Last Dodo, if someone made me three CDs like that, I would love them forever. The care put into song selection would mean much more more than gift certificate.

I agree with neptune42, The Last Dodo - that's an incredibly thoughtful and creative gift.

Holy moly, Woodlock, that's big news! I don't remember where your father is - will you be seeing your baby bro/sis often?

We're turtleless. The Chets and Darryls didn't look like they were doing so well, so we decided to take them to the pond to give them a chance to hibernate. As soon as we put them in, they seemed to perk up, so I hope they'll make it. I miss them. Goodnight, Chets. Goodnight, Darryls.

Baba, my dad currently lives in Mississippi, but starting November, he is moving up in the company and is going to be moving to Georgia, so my guess is probably not a whole lot, and I really have to say I have no idea what to think or feel about this situation, gah! I think mainly because I will be 23 by the time the baby is due, and thats more of a difference then my dad and myself.

I hope the Chets and Darylls like the pond, Babalu. A Minnisota pond in winter does not sound at all appealing to me, but perhaps it's just the thing if you are a turtle. Maybe it's those built in turtlenecks that they sport?

Let me add mine to the chorus of voices that your gift sounds perfect, Last Dodo. You are such a considerate guy. It would be hard to imagine a more thoughtful gift. I'm sure your friend will be very touched. I think your CD gifts are wonderful.

You know, Woodlock, just because someone lives far away doesn't mean your relationship can't grow. Several of my very closest friends live in Europe, but they are more dear to me than almost all the people I see every day. Maybe this new brother or sister will bring you and your father even closer, even with a greater distance. I think the more people we love, the greater our capacity for love grows. You just might find your father becoming an even more loving and attentive parent with the addition of a new child.

Speaking of only children, yesterday I packed up Little Yogi's wooden blocks and his Brio and Thomas train sets. Oh my, it's the end of an era. My son is taller than me, and I have no blocks or toy chests in the house. We carried the toy chest that belonged to both Little Yogi and Mr. Yogi out to the curb last night. I still have loads of toys to go through, but those were the most meaningful. For most of his life, Little Yogi played with those every day. Sigh. Also, today is my assistant's official last day. Though she will come back while I am in California, this is the end. I will try to never care so much about someone who works for me again. I guess I am a lot more sad than I realized. I don't know how I can say good-bye. We've shared so much over these last years.

I know just how you feel about those turtles, Babalu ;)

Thanks, everyone, for the advice on the gift! I think I will go ahead and do that. And actually, I started making the preliminary song list and she may very well wind up with 6 CDs instead of 3...it's incredibly hard to condense an entire year down to a single CD!


Forgot to say congrats, Woodlock! But I'm confused...why was I thinking you were 19 or 20? Unless it's a Passions character giving birth, in which case the baby would be here around 2009.

I have a very odd sibling situation myself. I have two half-sisters from my dad's second marriage who are 14 years younger than me, and since we never lived together and my dad divorced their mother 3 years later, I barely know them at all, and they're 18 now. Last year I gave them both A&F gift certificates and put a card in there with my info and told them I'd love it if they would call, write, email, etc., but I haven't heard anything. Then again, I haven't heard from my dad himself in over two months...he completely forgot about my birthday--not even a card or call. And it's not like we had a fight or anything. My family is very odd sometimes.


*hugs* It's kind of a double whammy of "moving on," isn't it? I'd be sad too.

Oh, Yogi, this made me cry! We are still deep in Thomas land, and it makes me sad to imagine them all packed up. Don't throw them away! Yes, I am a sentimental fool, it's true. And I'm sorry you're feeling so sad--life and work changes are always hard, but we'll have a virtual party for you here. How about some delicious pastry and some tea for elevenses?

That CD present sounds very thoughtful, Dodo. I don't think you need to worry about being cheap--after all, look how much thought and work you're putting into it. That says more to me than some expensive knickknack does. My husband just had his birthday, and his most favoritest present was from my mother, who gave him a membership to her Pie of the Month club. (He's actually the only member, but now everybody else wants to join.) He's already picked what pies he wants for the entire year, and is So. Excited. about it. Now that gift was not expensive, but it is thoughtful. Just like your CDs. She'll listen to them and think of you.

Woodlock, you big bro, you! That's so cool! Definitely find a way to connect with little bro or sis. And don't forget, changing diapers is a very useful and appreciated skill.....

So, I'm losing my voice from shrieking at the TV. My heart is stressed. Go Sox! (Sorry, Sars....)

Did you throw away the blocks and toy chest or give them away? There must be children's charities in your area that would want wooden blocks and train sets. I'm sure some newly unhomeless kids would like some toy chest furniture as well.

I'm a sentimental fool as well, Hildy except I have moved so many times there a few things that are meaningful to me that I have been able to hold on to. Growing up, I went to 7 different elementary schools, we moved so often. I learned young to travel light. The one thing I wanted as an adult was to stay in one place, put down roots. So I married a man who had spent his whole life in the same little neighborhood in the Bronx that his parents and grandparents had lived. What happenned? In the first 8 years of my married life, I moved 6 times. Ugh. When you have to put everything you own into storage for extended periods of time, the memories of childhood have to go. I was allowed to keep one box of memories. It holds my yearbooks and a little statue from the Newsseller that says, "I love you this much." It has one of those homemade leather bracelets around it stamped Tommy. It was from my first boyfriend. I just can't throw that away, and I have no idea why. I didn't even like him that much.

But here I am once again preparing to put everything I own into storage, so the bulk of what I have to give up is going to charity with the rest going to friends and maybe a used furniture store. The blocks and train will go to Little Yogi's Elemenary School along with one of the toy boxes. The other toy box was just not something I would give to a school. It had been Mr. Yogi's toy box when he was little, and it was just no longer in good condition to use around children. We put it on the street, and it was gone in moments. Everything I put on the street is gone in moments. Nothing ever makes it to the trash, so not to worry, ImissEthan. I would have kept it if I didn't have to move and store the huge old thing. It's sad to see it go.

Today, I also found out that my favorite waiter from the restaurant Mr. Yogi and I go to every Saturday for lunch was fired, and my acupuncturist's receptionist left. There is some weird energy in the air. I'm skeert. I started to cry when I found out about my waiter. Do you think I over reacted just a tad? Heh.

Thanks for the hug, Last Dodo!

Hi all. I've been fighting a cold & thought I was doing better but am *** this close to putting my head on my desk. Don't have much to report as I don't have the energy.

Yogi I hope things turn around - when do you leave for Cali?

Go Sox even I don't have the energy to watch.

Lu hope the turtles are ok. Maybe they'll come visit in the spring.

Other stuff & good vibes all around. Snerfles.

Yogi, dear, I'm sorry that things are not going to good, I hope every thing well turn around soon, and I definitly understand about the favorite waiter thing, cause I have the habit of ordering the same thing, so if the wait staff knows me they ask me if I want my ussual, but now as I'm typing this I feel very pathitic :), and I can't belive Little Yogi is taller then you now. {{{Yogi}}}

Dodo I have this habit of looking younger then I am, actually when I'm out in the middle of the day people ask me shouldn't you be in school, so you know thanks for putting me over 18 :).

Oh I asked my dad if they had any names picked out, but if it's a boy, his name will be Nolan Ryan, my dad is a huge Nolan Ryan fan, in fact the room where the computer is used to have a wall complety covered in Nolan Ryan stuff, he even stole some of my base ball cards heh. But if it's a girl, her name will be Kenya something, I for get what, but I wanna say it's Spanish for heart or something like that.

Hugs to you, Yogi. It's sad when people leave your life to move on to other things. It must be especially sad for you with your assistant leaving today. And as for holding onto toys and things, I'm glad that we held onto most of Big Little Aussie's things, we were able to use them again when I had Littlest Aussie 8 years later. Especially the Thomas toys! He just loves them. He is fascinated by trains and cars. Just a few days ago I found some old baby clothes that both my sons wore when they were babies, and I still can't bring myself to give them away. Just too many precious memories. And doesn't it feel strange when your children get taller than you? Big Little Aussie is now 3 inches taller than me! And he's only 12! Yeah, I know what you're all thinking, "so who's really the little one"? Heh.

Dodo I forgot to say that you must be about the most thoughtful man who ever lived! What a wonderful gift idea, and I reckon your friend will just love it!

Hildy, I think a party is a great idea! I think I'll have chocolate croissants and a big mug of coffee.

Mr. Yogi is so thrilled with the outcome of last night's game that he suggests we invite all our Yankees friends over and serve roasted crow! As I doubt this will go over well, despite the fact that many of said friends are among Mr. Yogi's oldest and dearest, I think I will have to encourage him to celebrate in a different way. Hurray, Hildy!

I think Nolan Ryan is a nice name, Woodlock, though it leaves the little one with a lot to live up to. How about Yogi as a first name, while were on a baseball theme? (Trivia: Do you know how Yogi Berra got that nickname? It's because of the way he used to sit and intently watch the games in his neighborhood.)

The universe is testing my flexiblity. Yesterday was all about letting go of the past, and today I am encoured to embrace it. An old and dear friend from Georgia is in town, and I am spending the whole day showing her the sights. We are going shopping at [Donald Trump voice] the best [/Donald Trump voice] places in NYC. Lunch at my little neighborhood place, which I still love even though they fired my favorite waiter, and the afternoon at the Frick, my favorite museum to take visitors. It's been many years since we have seen each other, so I know we will have lots to talk about. What a nice way to pass a day.

I hope you feel better, Skagirl. Just holler if you need some chicken soup.


So strange, Aussie Girl. I always tell Little Yogi to stop growing, but does he listen to me? No. The name "Little Yogi" is becoming a bit ironic.

Apologies to the Yankees fans in the house, but...WOW! The 2004 ALCS was a pretty durn spectacular piece of sports history, people. I mean...WOW! I'm not a Red Sox fan, despite seven years living near Boston, but...WOW! (That rumbling you hear in the distance may be the approach of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. As MrBee put it this morning, what's next, peace in the Middle East?)

And, go Cards!

Woodlock, Nolan Ryan is a god and all, but I hope your dad will think better of saddling the poor kid with that name. At least it's better than "Espn" (pronounced "es-pen"), which something like six sports-mad couples have named their kids since ESPN came into being, according to a news story I heard recently.

Yeah I thought it was a bit much, but still kinda cute since Ryan would in most cases be a perfectly fine middle name, I'm just thankfull that I came before he got popular so I didn't get that name, although I have a feeling that my mom wouldn't allowed it.

But this is coming from a guy that would name a boy child Skye so what do I know haha!

Yogi, it sounds like you have a yooge day ahead of you :)

According to Kurtle they did the whole riot thing in Boston last night, which I never understood, like Hey we won Lets go break something! But I don't watch sports so maybe I don't understand the impact of them, cause my dad when his team loses you cannot speak to him for several hours he is that pissed.

Ah, the Sox victory riot was mainly just boisterous. Not that I'm supporting car tipping and the like. I mean, I managed to jump up and down in my living room in a frenzy of delirious joy without wrecking anybody's automobile.
What a joyous, redemptive night. I do feel badly for the Yankees fans, because I've been on the other side of this story, and it's heartbreaking. But boy, oh boy, the joy!
Now I'm trying to see if I can get any tickets to the Series, by hook or by crook. Probably not, but it's certainly worth the ol' college try. As well as some fiscal investment, of course.

Congratulations to the Socks that are Red fans (heh)! And commiserations to the Yankees. (I thought you were all Yankees!). Just an Aussie joke....

Have a great day out with your old friend, Yogi. And as for the name "Little Yogi" being ironic, that's why I call mine "Little Big Aussie".

Peace in the Middle East? I could go for that, Tracey Bee. Or how about the cure for the common cold? What a wonderful thing it would be for the Sox to take the Series. It's a made for TV movie!

But wow, I can't believe a young woman was killed in the post-game riots when a police officer shot pepper spray into the crowd. What a senseless tragedy. Like you woodlock, I honestly don't understand why people would choose to destroy something because their team won. I feel so sorry for the woman's parents. Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I hope the police will be able to control the crowds more effectively during the series. It a shame that an evening so wonderful for Boston would end like this.

I did indeed have a yooge day yesterday. My friend brought her friend, who was very nice and very Southern. They flirted outrageously with everyone, charming jaded New Yorkers right and left. It made me smile watching - watching them engage and banter with all the folks we met in our activities.

Things are getting crazy in my little life. Can't believe how much there is to do. Thank goodness California beckons. Just next week, I'll be sitting by the ocean...

yogi, it definitely sounds like you could use some oceanside relaxation!

So I am incredibly pissed off with my job right at the moment. Starting Wednesday, they've been changing all the access card readers. Right now, the old cards still work at the main entrance (which is in itself a pain because it's way out of the way from where I'm at), but as of Monday, you'll need the new card to get in anywhere. The problem? All the new cards have to be distributed to the actual employees before I can get one, and they're not going to finish with that until early next week. Which means that there will be an indefinite period of time where I'll have to constantly be buzzed in by the receptionist whenever I go to lunch, go to the bathroom, etc. It may sound like a small thing, but I HATE a. having to be dependent on other people for anything, even something that minor, and b. feeling like "just a temp". This is really infuriating me because it is SO aggravating a lot of my pet peeves all at once and making me feel like I'm back in grade school and have to raise my hand to go to the bathroom or something. BLEAH.

On a more positive note, last night I immersed myself in the wild and wacky world of the music of 1974 as part of my friend's birthday gift. In case you're curious, I've posted the song selections/covers for Volume 1 and Volume 2...just imagine them in a cool 70s-looking font instead of Arial that didn't translate well at all to locations outside my computer. (I have a great reference book that breaks down all Hot 100 entries by year.)

It worked out well that the theme to The Apprentice was from that year because that's one of the few TV shows she watches. But man, nowadays with radio stations being so narrowly formatted, it's hard to imagine all those songs being played on the same local Top 40 station. It's even harder to imagine that a nun who makes Julie Andrews sound like Mushmouth singing the Lord's Prayer over a wah-wah guitar hit the top 5, but there you have it. And Maria Muldaur wouldn't have lasted 2 seconds on American Idol. She's so horrendously offkey that the only explanation I can think of is that the missed notes are a secret code that unlocks Atlantis.

And as further proof that I'm a pathetic sap, I got all choked up at "Cat's In the Cradle" because it came out when I was 2 and that 45 was a staple in our house growing up and it just hit me that holy crap...now I'm grown up and moved away! Yeah, I know. I'm pathetic.

Hola All...I'm clawing my way back to the land of the living. I suspect I would have felt better by sleeping for 24 hours straight at some point but work beckoned. Bah. TGIF & all that...today is a little slower so I believe that permits farting around, no?

My friend's birfday is Monday & she's been in trial hell (not accused, hee) so I said, "Listen, Saturday night your are NOT doing anything with this case. Dinner." She took about 8 seconds for a "yes" so a couple of us are going to take her out. Plus since I've been on my arse all week it will be very good to go out for food. I also need to clean my room (uck) and bathroom (uck) but that involves chemicals & while it would be fun to do so while I can't smell, I am worried I'll pass out as I'm really sensitive to them. I need to get them there organicy kind.

Yogi, we'll join in the countdown to Cali...whoot!

Hildy, my boss got tickets to the game through her uncle, so she's taking her son to go with him (I guess it's only 2). He'll love it, and I hope you can score some too.

Dodo, the links aren't working :( . I wouldn't be surprised if they'll get the cards out quicker than that & just don't want to promise - it makes no sense to inconvenience staff. Maybe someone can ask for an "extra" for the front desk or something -- give them a few winks.

Oops! That's what I get for trying to load things at work. Here's links that actually work: 1974 Volume 1 and 1974 Volume 2.

Hey everyone. It's been a really long time since I last posted, for which I apologize. I'd been away on Retreat with my students (which was really fun), and have been swamped with grading papers and planning lessons for the past couple of weeks. In fact, grades and comments are due next Tuesday, and I still have a lot of papers to grade. Ack!

Yogi, where in CA are you coming to, again? I'm in LA, and it's awesome here.

Woody, I totally hear you on the looking young thing. I'm 24 (still a baby myself), look really young, and am short, so I get mistaken for a student all the time. It's kind of nice, though. I hope I can still look this young when I'm older.

GO SOX. I'm a native Angeleno, but for some reason my brother was a Red Sox fan when I was younger, so I started liking them too. Last Wednesday was awesome. My roommate's ex-girlfriend, a die hard Yankees fan, came over to our house to watch the game, decked out in a jersey, cap, knee socks and an NY painted on her face. I felt badly for her when the Sox won, but only for about a second. Here's to hoping the Sox can take the game tonight!

Any fun halloween plans for you all? My roommates and buddies and I are going to the Queen Mary Ship on Sat night, and it should be fun. Sunday is the West Hollywood Halloween Carnival, and I've heard that it's a lot of fun, so we're going there in our group costume. I'm Toad from the Mario Brothers - the little mushroom guy. I just hope it's not too cold, since my costume requires me to wear a vest with no shirt. I'll just drink a lot to keep myself warm!

Hugs to all of you. It's been a while, and I get so busy that I can't post very often.

I'm going to dress up as a pirate for work. And I'm bringing Hershey kisses as a treat. Because I want to slide up to my work crush and offer him a kiss. ;-)

Hi all. Are you at the beach in CA yet, Yogi? I truly hope you are having a lovely and relaxing time. You deserve it mate. Thanks for getting in touch with my sister, it's such a shame that you'll miss each other, but hopefully she'll get back to NY sometime.

We're having all sorts of major problems with Little Big Aussie here. He is just so stressed and anxious and seems unable to cope with the huge amounts of homework allocated, and next year when he starts High School (from January), that will increase. He is so frustrated that he starts screaming and getting violent and dissolving into tears. And after that, he acts all happy, almost manic. We are very concerned for him.

I talked to a child and family therapist who said that kids of his age with autism and ADD often react like that and need to learn anger management techniques to help them to cope with life in general, because they just don't know how to express their anger and stress in other ways. We are booked in to see her next week, so I'm hoping that we can get some help there.

The other thing we are contemplating doing is putting him back on medication, which is a step we'd rather not take, but may have to. He was on anti depressants and Ritalin for a number of years, which we took him off when he stabilised. The anti depressants I think will help, but the Ritalin just dulled his mind in the long term, so much so that it seemed he was expressing almost no emotion at all. He's only 12, and my heart just aches for him. You want to help your child so much, but right now I just keep dissolving into tears myself, and immense sadness, and feeling like I can't cope. The therapist assured me that that is normal too, so I'm hoping that seeing her will have benefit for all of us.

Anyway, sorry to be such a downer. It's not all bad, this weekend Mr Aussie and I are escaping to the Sunshine Coast for the wedding and a night in a luxury hotel, so that will be a nice break. Can't come soon enough.

Neptune, Wasim welcome back, and hi to everyone else.

Hi, guys. I know, it's been soo long! First off, big, big, BIG hugs to Aussie! All the way from here to there. Yogi where in Cali might you be? And for how long? I'm going down there next Friday for my cousin's wedding (yay!), so you know, let me know.
A big fat WOO! to the Sox winning against the Yankees and against the Cards today! Y'all are warpin' my mind. I used to watch the Mariners...pah, Mariners, who needs em anymore?!
Halloween? Carving a pumpkin, watching scary movies, answering the doorbell. Exciting night. I loove Halloween. Dressing up and everything. My fam usually goes on a "Spook Cruise" put on by the yaht clubs around here. Sooo much fun! Last year, my sister and I dressed as a booger (her) and a tissue box (me) for the group costume contest. This year, we didn't go, but next year (don't steal my idea here!) we're going as a martini glass and an olive. All my ingenius idea, of course.
Woody, so what's this I hear about you being a big bro? Exciting!
Baba!! Hi!! Oh, I'm so sorry about the turtles! Hopefully maybe you'll see some grown up Chets & Darrells next year.
Aww, Dodo, it's so nice of you to do that for your friend! I bet she'll love it.
Eh, I should go. Maybe (*gasp*) do some homework. Or study. Or waste more time on TWoP...

Eek! I need to stop waking up at 4 in the morning!

{{{Aussie}}}, I'm so sorry sweety, hopefully you'll beable to help LittleBigAussie with out medication.

As far as Halloween goes, all I'm missing is acessorys, a cross necklace, which I know I will be able to find, and either a paddle or a yooge lollipop, whatever I see first really, and it looks like we are going trick or treating, but nothing finnalized, heh last year we ended up at IHOP for 4 hours and that's all we did. :)

Pip, did Helen calm down yet?

Hi - thanks for kind words. Yes Match.com or Gawker personals may do the trick. It is really like shopping and then you just don't have to buy. First I need to complete this 8 hour comprehensive exam next Friday. When I return to the real world, look out!

Good luck Aussie - before I finished reading what you wrote I was thinking the same thing- here in the US (in my district) the homework increases astronomically and so many kids simply do not know how to handle the stress (or the studying or the time management). It is a pretty controversial issue. You feel so helpless when a kid is out of control over a spelling test...

Anyway, I will be back. If I have free time this weekend I will attend a Halloween party as a field hockey player - I don't have time to be creative.

Hey! Welcome back to everyone now that everything's back up and running! AussieGirl, I hope everything works out OK!

Finished the CDs, so for those of you who are curious, 1984 Vol. 1, 1984 Vol. 2, 1984 Vol. 3, 1984 Vol. 4 (I couldn't stop; it was a great year for 80s music!), 1994 Volume 1, and 1994 Volume 2.

Speaking of, Reason 1,973,261 I'm Glad I Live Alone: Sometimes it can be embarrassing to sing along to songs without paying attention to the lyrics. Case in point: I consider myself whatever the gay equivalent of a feminist is. I've been treated like some brainless object or toy by men. I'm even writing a one-man show in which I'm incorporating songs originally sung by women that relate to my own experiences with men. And yet there is still no context in which it would make any sort of sense for me to sing, "Strut! Pout! Put it out! That's what you want from womennnnnnn..." (Back when they were popular I went through the same "Er...wait a minute..." type thing with "Man! I Feel Like A Woman" and "What It Feels Like For A Girl". They're so damn catchy!)

As far as Halloween, I got invited to a Halloween party by someone from the play; I'm waiting to see if more people I know RSVP on the Evite before I fully commit to going, but I more than likely will. But it calls for "some sort of costume or reference to the holiday", and I hadn't planned on going as anything at all. So I think I'm just going to make a T-shirt reading, "I TRIED TO COME UP WITH A HALLOWEEN COSTUME AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS LOUSY T-SHIRT" and be done with it. If nothing else, maybe it'll be a conversation piece!

Hope all is well - trying to get a quickie in while the servers are upgraded. Yogi I think might be en route (wasn't it around Halloween, or was it after?) so safe travels, even if it's just home!

I'm going as...Jenna Bush for Halloween. I made a shirt online & bought a hat on Ebay, neither of which has arrived yet so I'm freaking. My roommate is going as Teresa Heinz Kerry. I figure we'll do the usual - lose people at the Village Parade, try to get into overstuffed bars, get too drunk, the usual.

Dodo does it specify which holiday? All Saints Day is Nov. 1...you can go as your favorite saint!

Aussie big hugs to you & the mini Aussies.

Hi Gang at Meet Market. This note only took about 12 hours to post. :D
I am off to California on Friday, and I'm very happy about it. First, I'm going to the ocean at La Jolla, then into the mountains outside San Diego for some hiking on my beloved mountain. It's my most favorite place in the world, like a tonic to me, the anti-NYC. I can't wait. And yes, I will be swimming in the ocean, though the Pacific is icy cold. I nearly always do swim even if I gasp as the first few waves crash over me. Cold!

I love every single one of the songs on your compilation, Last Dodo. What a blast from my past - heh. You really have a gift for this. I'm sure your gifts will make your friend feel very special.

I have been very, very busy in the office and at home. All hell broke loose the day after my assistant left, so I've been handling this and that and this again. Yesterday, we did five hours of interviews between handling the all-hell-breaking-loose stuff, and today two more plus a new phone system installed. Ugh. Anyway, fingers crossed there will be resolution here soon. Then, rather than relax last weekend, I continued to pack, clean, pack. I've completed an inventory of all my furniture on the computer so I will be able to track where they are in storage, and I've weeded out a lot of junk. It's going to take the full six months to complete this job though.

I want you to know, Aussie Girl, you are not alone. In one way or another, I have been through this many times myself. Like you, I prefer not to medicate, so I have gone to great lengths to support Little Yogi in various ways through a number of situations (though some have lasted years) to avoid medicating him. In different years, we have had different solutions that I have negotiated with the teachers on his behalf. When homework was the issue, Little Yogi did less homework, period. I sincerely, genuinely, deeply believe it is the job of a special education teacher to accommodate the child. I don't believe that the special needs child should have to take medication to accommodate the school, teacher, or stress of homework assignments. The amount of children, particularly adolescent boys being medicated today is appalling and frightening to me, particularly in light of recent studies that show that anti-depressants can actually cause depression and suicidal thoughts in adolescents. Now, I admit that even though most of the people who work with my son say glowing, supportive things about me and my family, I have been violently criticized and attacked on occasion for my views. It hurts when someone questions my parenting, but it does not necessarily change how I raise my son. In the end, like any parent, I have to do what seems right to me. The buck stops here, so to speak. Sorry for the long post. Obviously, this issue touches me deeply. I sincerely wish your family the very best, Aussie Girl. I totally support whatever decision you make, regardless of my opinions. Only you know what is best for your family, and I send you lots and lots of love.

It's always great to see you WSDude. Sorry I'll miss you up there in LA, sounds like you have great plans for Halloween, as does Neptune (hope you get the kiss!) and of course our own Elfin One, the adorable Catholic schoolgirl ;) Can't wait to hear all about the festivities. Glad to hear even the jaded NYCers are getting into the spirit, skaBushgirl and Last Dodo without a costume. And best of luck with your test Ricci. Only one more week until you are finished - hurray!

Pip, you are a pip. Martini and olive indeed! Very cute.

Heya Guys!

Yogi, I'm glad you get to go to Cali and get away from it all, and hopefully you'll be able to find the perfect assiastant!

Dodo, as far as the music thing I understand, I have a tendiancy to listen to Madonna a lot, and well I dance and sing along, and I even to that crawly thing to Like a Virgin, I'm telling you I'm quite the sex pot when I'm alone, wait that doesn't sound good haha. But for halloween, you should see if you can get your hands on a Santa oufit just for laughs.

SkaChicka do you have a fake i.d. with that costume ;)

Heh. I say this and then they're down or screwy for the majority of the time yesterday. I'm a jinx! I'm the Meet Market's Cousin Oliver!


Well, just as long as you're more like Madonna and less like Keith from American Idol 2!

skagirl, you so have to show me a picture of you and your roommate in costume next time I see you...that sounds hysterical!


Hee! "Oh look everybody...it's Saint Swithin!" Seriously, I've figured out how best to use the "holiday-related" loophole. I'm going to make a transfer of this and put it on an American Apparel T-shirt. Then I can actually wear it anytime if I feel like it because it doubles as a pop culture reference. Now the only question is...should I use an orange or black shirt?

I vote Orange!
Also I must have tuned in after this Keith guy, How bad was it? lol

Oh I got a paddle, so I can ask people if they wanna spank me on Halloween!, Now just an oversized Lollipop and I will achive my perfected costume

You are such a naughty one, Woodlock.

Love the costume, Last Dodo. That little scene from The Great Pumpkin still makes me laugh.

Aw, my friend & I used to go around saying "I got a rock" all the time. Plus he actually looked like Charlie Brown. I still say that when I have a bummer day.

BAAAAD. He was basically that season's William Hung. I found a video here.


It's just so perfect because who hasn't gotten a rock of sorts at times, you know?

ETA:

Exactly!.

Also, it reminds me of this one time in college where I had to do a short one-act play as part of a class. Being that it was assigned from the class and not cast through auditions, we got saddled with this one girl who managed to make all her lines sound like she was auditioning for the next Charlie Brown special. My best friend was in it with me and at one point backstage when she had a lengthy monologue I just looked at him and deadpanned, "I got a rock!" And he was like, "Yeah. A 120 pound or so rock. And her name's [Charlie Brown Line Readings Girl]!"

Ok so my computer downloaded all of that, and then decided not to play it, so I'm gonna assume that is was god-awfull, and I shall curse him for blasphiming Madonna like that. Plus he kinda look like the lost member of the Monkees.

The whole story of the bad reading reminds me of when I was in high school I was in drama, and we were doing some improve, and this guy in our group, I mean he is kind of a nutjob which I know is not nice but so very true, first of all he kept on going against the direction of the improve which you don't do, oy and then at one point he just kind of freaks out and jumps of the stage and I don't know but oh my.

Well I have not been around in a while. My computer was down for a while and then when it got repaired the site was down. Oh well just checking in and saying hi to everyone out there.

Yogi, I am happy that you get to escape for a little while to CA - sounds wonderful - have a great time.

Hugs to Aussie! *snerk* for Woodlock's, Dodo's and ska's costumes (ska, are you going to get some tall, dark and handsome Secret Service escorts for yourself, too? Do tell!). We have bowling tonight, and get a free drink (woo. hoo.) for dressing up. I am pondering going punk - easy and no cost involved.

My grandma is in the hospital again - this time she had to have emergency surgery for a perforated ulcer. She may be released back to a nursing home later this weekend. She actually is looking better than I though she would, especially since she is 91. She is such a great person, very caring and strong, it's hard to see her so helpless and weak.

I hope everyone has a great Halloween weekend. Candy, yum!

Apologies for going AWOL on you guys--the servers kept denying me, and anyways I've spent the past week lurking on the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Cardinals Fan Forum, as well as Sons of Sam Horn (sox site). As well as glorying in the bitterness of some NYC paper.
Still giddy. Go Sox!
Also, and more importantly, hugs to Aussie and Heidi, have a GREAT trip, Yogi, and great Halloween costume, everybody! I'll be wearing my WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS Sox hat, and going as a quelled curse.