it's my favorite thing in the week.

I got to take a krav class from ita, when I was in LA. I hope that one day I'll get to take a yoga class from you. Seeing people actually doing the thing they love, not just talking about it? A very wonderful thing.

What's your research, like, about?

I'm a physics student, and I study the dynamics of data traffic on networks. In lots of fields of study, the subject can be modelled as a netwok (proteins in biology, connections between people, computer networks up to the internet). There are theoretical models of them, that show many combined characteristics in structure of many of these networks, regardless of their origin or size of the objects in them. The data that flows (information, diseases, actions and the like - again, it's a model) is affected by the structure on which it moves, and that's what I'm trying to study.

How far away is she moving?

In USA terms, the distance is tiny. However, she has a young baby, about to start a stressful job, and she won't be here, in the same university anymore, where even if we were both crazy busy, we could sneak to at least buy lunch together, if not actually sit and eat it. The whole fabric of the relationship is changing, in a way.

I think that since we managed to sustain our friendship through so many changes already (studying together, being roommates, her marriage, her moving away once already, the birth of her son), we'll be able to sustain more changes. We'll have to make some changes, fine, but we already have, and it worked. We'll just have to learn how to deal with the new situation. But I will still miss her dearly.

She's in Chicago (where I live) right now, and I'm so excited to hang out with her.

Oh, that's wonderful, that in all the stress of the last few months, what with the wedding and the job, at least the timing of you two being in the same city was such.

The data that flows (information, diseases, actions and the like - again, it's a model) is affected by the structure on which it moves, and that's what I'm trying to study.

OK now that's cool.

The whole fabric of the relationship is changing, in a way.

Yes but I've found that when you can't take someone's being around for granted, you make more of an effort to see that person. At least for me. I see my best friend more than I see my local friends, because I have to plan to see her.

I will still miss her dearly.

Yeah, I hear you. She's online at least, no?

OK I should go to bed now. I feel so lucky to have crossed Interweb paths with you, Nilly!

Rio, I'm the one who's lucky to have crossed Interweb paths with you! Good night!

[Edit: oh, and Perkins, too! I hope you're asleep by now, as well!]

I have some thoughts on parental consent that I haven't seen mentioned so even though the conversation wrapped a while ago I feel compelled to mention them now.

First, having sex is an adult act with adult responsibilities and consequences. They've already entered the realm of adult by having sex, there is no going back. Are they completely adult? No, probably not (hell, I'M not *completely* adult), but in this facet they are being grown-ups whether their parents know it (or like it) or not. If they're old enough to have sex they are capable of safely getting the procedure, and the post-op instructions, and calling 911 if something goes wrong without their parents' assitance.

Hand in hand with that is that one does not commonly involve one's parents in one's sex life. It's generally icky. Deciding to have sex generally means deciding to leave your parents out of a big chunk of your life -- and that is NORMAL. You don't have to hate your parents to not want to share this with them. If your parents DO want to share in your sexuality (in the non-icky way, which DOES exist) they need to raise you that way from the start.

Second, there ARE other circumstances where parent's don't consent to surgical procedures on minors. If a child is hit by a car and taken to an emergency room doctors will treat them before the parents show up. It's my understanding that the injury doesn't even have to be strictly life threatening for them to do so. Even though the child is a minor, the wellbeing of the child outweigh the parents' rights.

Finally, one doesn't have to feel ashamed to feel private about having an abortion. Several of my friends have confided their experiences in me. One I know of for certain (and I assume others) has not. She knows perfectly well my feelings on the matter and that I'd be nothing but supportive -- but for whatever reason she didn't need or wish to tell me and that is her decision.

And on a lighter note, I am in the virtual presence of the two most adorable women alive. Either some of it rubs off on me, or I turn into a toadstool out of sheer contrast.

Trudy, I didn't read your long post because, um, it was long, and it started with words I'm not sur eI understand, and, um, it probably relates to a whole conversation I skipped entirely, and, um, long words, which I imagine you say very quickly and therefore are even harder for me to understand. Or something.

Also, no toading for you! You, who is doing not so bad yourself, young lady! But, oh, with the blushing.

How have you been doing lately?

It was the conversation you likely skipped. Skip away!

Oh, I'm alright -- but you two are just the adorablest of the adorable and all the world knows it. It's shiny and special in here. weeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

My world is good. I am working on a show that is going well and it keeps me very busy (its a weekly musical comedy news program), but now that it is up I need to start job hunting more vigorously. Ugh.

And yourself?

I am working on a show that is going well and it keeps me very busy (its a weekly musical comedy news program)

Oh, I want to read more about the show! I'm glad it's doing well, too.

And, again, lots of luck on the job front.

As for me, well, I babbled about it a couple of posts ago. Looking for the pictures for Rio made me stumble on this and how lovely it was there that day.

[Edit: 34 is twice 17. 17!]

Hey Nilly!

Hey, ND! What's up with you?

(If I'm disappearing, it's because I'm with students, not because I decided to be a good girl and stop playing online while I have already too much to do. Everything may well be my fault, but it would be the students' responsibility, this time.)