I've found that a moderate amount of crying (over a sad movie, or venting frustrations) can make me feel better. The kind of crying that goes on and on until your chest hurts and you feel like throwing up, though? NSM.

---

I *believe* that when we travel on official orders, Mal has his own plane seat. But there have been so many cost cuts recently in State (like we no longer get full per diem for ordered travel) that may have changed.

We won't be using a car for this upcoming trip. When we return to the States we will be (heck, I don't know how to get away from Dulles airport other than in a car), but as that's a 13-hour flight with an actual house on the other end, I'm all about taking the car seat and the stroller.

I swear I remember reading about how crying releases all kinds of bad chemicals in the body and is supposed to make you feel better. But it's possible someone was just trying to make me feel better after crying.

There's crying, and then there's crying. A really full-on, wracking, long cry does nothing good but (maybe) tire you out, and leaves you with inflamed sinuses that ache beyond all reason. I don't know about the chemical-release kind of crying; maybe that's what happens when I tear up at movies.

I suspect, however, that that kind of crying only happens to those fortunate enough to cry in a way that still leaves them looking pretty.

---

Timelies!

Can someone explain to me how I can sleep for almost 12 hours and still be exhausted? Thanks ever so much.

---

When you sleep too much, you screw up your circadian rhythms. Or something.

Circadian rhythms are my answer to everything this week.

I'm hungry. That always happens when I go to sleep incredibly full. It's like my metabolism just goes wild when it actually has food to digest.

---

I have an odd etiquette question that I suppose is best asked here.

Currently we're living in Rushcutters Bay, but Almanzo works on Darlinghurst in Kings Cross. The street is pretty much entirely taken up with strip clubs, bars, strip clubs that are really brothels, lingerie and sex toy stores, adult book stores, adult book stores that are really swingers clubs, etc. And a lot of women persuing the oldest profession. For the most part I don't get bothered, and now that Almanzo's at Sleevemasters, it's sort of a tiny bit like being Ben Edlund's dentist at a comic book convention.

So, now that we have the set up, here's the situation. There's one particular working girl who's been regularly offering me one of her services. And even though I decline each time, she asks again each night. The last few nights she's been saying she'll perform this act for free. And then follows me for several blocks. So what's the firm, but polite way to definitely tell a girl that you do not wish to see her vagina?

---

I'm thinking, "Go surrender your pink somewhere else!" isn't it, Madrigal. Sorry, I got nothin'.

---

Currently we're living in Rushcutters Bay, but Almanzo works on Darlinghurst in Kings Cross.

I am madly in love with all of these place names (and also love that you call your bf 'Almanzo').

So, now that we have the set up, here's the situation. There's one particular working girl who's been regularly offering me one of her services. And even though I decline each time, she asks again each night. The last few nights she's been saying she'll perform this act for free. And then follows me for several blocks. So what's the firm, but polite way to definitely tell a girl that you do not wish to see her vagina?

Oh, as usual, dear. I have no idea. "Stop soliciting me, or I'll call the police," might be too inflammatory, huh? Maybe just, "Stop bothering me. I walk by every night. I will never be interested."

---

How about, "I've already got 24 hour access to the only vagina I'm interested in"?

---

So what's the firm, but polite way to definitely tell a girl that you do not wish to see her vagina?

I'll give you Crush!Guy's phone number, and he can tell you what he said to me.

---

I won't COMM your pain, Teppy. But if we had a Dark COMM thread, you'd have just won the sweeps.

---