And I have to say, it really does suck when something like this comes up completely unexpectedly more than seven years into a relationship.

Odds are this won't happen to you, but try finding out after 19 years that your husband has a kid you didn't know about. I said, "Why did you tell So-and-so you have two kids? Are you counting Stevie? (A friend of ours we met when he was young and stupid and who calls us Mom and Dad)" Hubby said, "No, I have a son somewhere who's older than Kara (his daughter from his first marriage). I told you about him." "Uh, honey, I'd remember."

When Hubby was a young and studly teenager (I've seen the pictures, I know whereof I speak), he got hit on by an older woman friend. Being young and male, he was willing, but he protested that she was married and he was friends with both of them. She said her husband was cool with it--ah, the halcyon days of the early '70s--and he didn't protest twice. A couple of months later, she invited Hubby to dinner with her and her husband, he thought it was a little odd but went. Turns out her husband was infertile and they'd looked around their friends to see who'd provide a child that would blend in. They picked Hubby. They thanked him for knocking her up, told him it was over and that they were moving to another part of the country where people wouldn't know he and the wife had been together and they could pretend the baby was theirs. He found out later it was a boy but had no idea where the kid is. I hope the guy doesn't come down with any odd ailments they need to track his genetics on.

before he was around long enough for me to fall in that deep of love with him to give up an established pet.

I don't understand putting conditions on a relationship like that.

I'm with Robin.

I'm all for making the possibilty of love as easy as possible, because it's hard to find and SO worth it when you have it.

ITA. AKA, "Scrappy is wise"

Wow, connie. You win. And that's just freaky.

(Still gonna wallow in my heartbreak a little longer, though.)

(Still gonna wallow in my heartbreak a little longer, though.)

Don't blame you in the slightest.

Far be it for me to object to your taking up one of my hobbies, Susan.

I'm all for making the possibilty of love as easy as possible, because it's hard to find and SO worth it when you have it.

I'm 37 and haven't found it yet. And I'm having a pretty happy life. There are many times when I'd like to be in love with someone who is in love with me. And 10 years ago I would have probably given up my cat for him, moved when his job moved, etc. My boundaries were much more wide open then. But he never showed, and I found other relationships that were important to me and that have been tremendously supportive now that I'm having the family health problems. Any potential love will have to be pretty impressive to weigh against that.

And he'd still better like dogs.

I want my daughter/son to be the one who says "I already *know* guns are dangerous" when one of their friends shows them "something cool" they found under their parents bed.

Yes. This.

I was raised with guns. On my and my siblings 8th birthdays we each received a BB gun. My dad had a target in the backyard that we could shoot at (we only had an acre but it was enough for target practice). At 15 I received a single-barrelled junior 12-gauge and took a hunter safety class with my dad and brother. The following two years I went to the target range and out deer hunting. I have no problems against having a gun in the house, but it must NEVER be loaded - the possibility of it going off at exactly the wrong time (accidentally, of course) is to high. I respect guns and what they are capable of. A purely decorative, non-functional gun to put on a mantle can be a beautiful piece of artwork but a loaded handgun hidden in a drawer just invites disaster. (The whole loaded weapon by the bedside thing is more likely to get a family member or friend shot than an intruder.)

Kids are naturally inquisitive about anything forbidden. When I eventually have kids, I will let them hold a gun but teach them to respect it and the lives around them.

I'm sorry I started that all over again then left. I had to go get ready for my interview and have the interview and shit.

I wasn't necessarily addressing Hec when I posted. I was more just posting my specific experience and thoughts I had while walking Toto this morning. Sorry I wasn't more specific about that.

Now, to move on to other things... My job interview was amazing. What talked for an hour, then as we were leaving, she decided to introduce me to the administrator of the program and a few of the head counselors, which I think was a VERY good sign. Also, if I get this job, it will be very clear *why* fate didn't want me to get the other job. Wait for this...you're not going to believe it.

This is a 15-hour a week job with benefits. You read that right. Benefits. Health insurance and paid vacation/sick time. My COBRA health insurance runs out on July 10. If I get this job and start by June 1 (which I would...if I get the job), the new health insurance would, I think, kick in on July 1. This is just too unbelievable.

She is interviewing one other person on Friday and said she would get back to me next Tuesday, either way. Cross your fingers. Cross your toes. Send the vibes. This could be very, very good.

Best of luck vw!

This is a 15-hour a week job with benefits.

Wow, I didn't think such things even existed.