The BF's parents have never connected the fact that 3 of their 4 children adamantly don't want kids as anything to do with them and their parenting.

Heh. Both my parents have openly stated that they don't particularly care if I ever have kids. The reason that I'm an only child is that my mother has a severly limited tolerance for infants and toddlers. Both parents have also told me that if I ever marry, it's perfectly okay with them if I elope.

As far as my mom knows, I never have.

I'd love to claim that, but the grandkid makes it unpossible. Sigh.

Usually it's work-related or family-related. Sometimes it's dear-friend-related, and there's no good way to say "I love you a lot, but parties make me feel all weird inside."

Actually, I think, "I love you a lot, but..." is a perfectly reasonable thing to say. Of course, the enjoyment roulette (will this be the party with the bullet? join us again next week!) makes it a little harder to make it a clear-cut policy to avoid parties when there's no external obligation such as family or work.

VW, go you for making it in! You can do this.

Hey Anne, you're a St. Louis person now I think. Is the St. Louis zoo pretty cool? I've heard good things.

I honestly think that confidence issues have been the main thing keeping me fallow.

HOney, if you start hanging out with gamers, you're going to realize you're an exemplar of social skill and confidence. FYI, it make take gamers a little while to get past "Girl! Girl in the game store, taking an interest!" to where they can talk to you. There are reasons why gamer geeks prefer to interact over gaming tables.

vw, there's a whole world full of Bitches loving you and cheering you on. You are amazing and wonderful. We want you to be happy, and we want you to be able to feel the love that surrounds you.

Is the St. Louis zoo pretty cool?

We went with my in-laws the Thanksgiving before last and it was fun. I loved the penguin/puffin exhibit.

Hey Anne, you're a St. Louis person now I think. Is the St. Louis zoo pretty cool? I've heard good things.

Gud, it's one of the best zoos in the nation, and it is extremely cool. My best friend and I spent well over five hours there one weekend, and didn't see the whole thing.

Lyra Jane! That's right! You and Patrick are out this way from time to time. We'll have to be sure to get together on one of your upcoming visits.

My default status is not-dating.

That was mine until my late 20's. Then, for some reason, I had 2 longish (1 year and 4 years respectively) relationships in a row. Then, a four year break and the current BF and I have been dating almost 1 year.

I don't know what changed for me, but I do have theories:

1. I felt more like me in my late 20's than earlier. More confident in me.
2. I moved from the South to Chicago. The men here don't seem as hung up on perfect bodies and well-done make-up and hair.
3. I was ready for a relationship. During my early 20's, I was so focussed on college & grad school that I didn't want to devote the time necessary for a relationship.

These are my theories, anyway.

You and Patrick are out this way from time to time. We'll have to be sure to get together on one of your upcoming visits.

Absolutely. Preferably when we have slightly better weather than we did last time.

(Though P. drives me a tad insane on that point -- he always says, "we shouldn't just go to St. Louis when it's cold, you should see it in nice weather and we can go to a Cardinals game." And then I say, fine, sounds great, you can set that up whenever you want. And then he doesn't, and it's Christmas again. But his mom's only been out there for two years now, so he may act on the visit SL in the summer impulse yet.)