alas, this is likely to be one in a series. I've just realised something - most of my friends from those years were between ten and twenty years my senior. I'm fifty.

Being the same age that was my first thought. We got a lot of this ahead of us. Sucks. Though not as much as not having had the friendships in the first place would.

Sparky, he must be slapped.

I've tried. His ego acts as a force field.

That sucks, Sparky.

Girl down the hall was "let go" yesterday. Kinda came out of nowhere. If I actually cared about keeping this job, I might worry.

I've tried. His ego acts as a force field.

Ah, you'll have to bring him down a peg before you can slap him. Duly noted. We'll have to pants him, first.

Runs away.

Well, I don't know from London, but when I talked to you on the phone I thought, "Wow, how long was she in England?"

Between childhood and adulthood? Probably a mashed-together total of about seven or eight years. (That's math I can't do very well - piecing together summers and adding them up.) But I was also married to a Brit, and before that lived with another Brit, and was at school there for a bit. So, there you are.

Deb, I am sorry to hear about your friend. I hope that you have many wonderful stories to remember and tell us about him someday.

Ouch, Sparky. I love it when someone else informs me that I'm unhappy. I want to respond, "This is as happy as I get. Is happiness part of my job description?"

I'm Deb's age too and have several friends who are not well, plus the people who are 10 years or more older are certainly starting to go. On the other hand, it really sucks to be my mother's age and find high school friends in the obits practically every week.

Coming in under the heading of "Never be afraid to dispute charges on a medical bill": Got a bill from my doc regarding my 9/23/04 visit due to a dog bite. Insurance won't cover the $25 charge for non-impregnated sterile gauze pads. Gee, I wonder why not? I frickin' came away from the office wearin two bandaids. And the bleeding had stopped well before I got there.

Call the billing company, and they see it was a rather obvious coding error, apologize, and tell me I owe nothing.

Nora, I hope the bank stuff gets taken care of in your favor.

Yay for things easing up for Gud.

ION I miss having Dan around in IM all day. Not that I want him to quit that job and come home just to talk to me. I'm just noting the effect.

How much do they charge for the pregnant gauze pads?

Does anybody know if the X-Files' Lone Gunmen's spin-off series is on DVD? I want to see the episode with the typing chimp again.