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.)

And 17 is the bestest number of all!

I'm doing work at Disneyland! It's pretty fun. I did the sound for the new Space Mountain and now I'm working on a project dealing with the old submarine ride.