Maybe it upsets the gf/wife, Laura. Although it would make me feel that I'd grown horns overnight, myself. Tep, yeah, maybe it's not you.(puts in Take own Advice folder) JZ, sigh. Never gonna get to leave this ugly one- buffista town, am I? We'd be happy to have y'all, till the local politics and radio stations gave you matching embolisms.

Thing is, her grandfather would have done the same thing. Left him alone in a room full of books, come back a minute later and he's reading a romance novel. With look of utter concentration.

That's nothing. While romance novels admittedly tap into female fantasies, they're novels first and foremost, and it was no odder of my dad to read a romance than it is for me to read a testosterone-laden work of military fiction. No, he proved to me he'd read anything at all back when I briefly moved home before coming to Seattle, and discovered him with a book I'd bought during my collegiate enthusiastic pseudo-fundamentalist days and left at the house one summer. A book of spiritual advice and practical guidance for young, single Christian women.

I pointed out that he was 70-something, male, and had been married for nearly 50 years. He shrugged and said the book was interesting.

ETA--and I can see myself doing something similar. It's basically the impulse that makes antique etiquette books and the like interesting even when I've no plans to use the info as fiction research.

Just had a very interesting class where I ended up sharing about my depression, diary cards and other treatment. Didn't see that coming out of my mouth today.

I think there's a thrill that maybe comes from freedom, when reading a book written for Other People, Susan. You don't have to take what it says to heart, are free to critique or praise it at will.

I will also read anything.

Oh, and Laura, I am all for flirting, flirts, and anything having to do with same. My Blue's Clue was specifically for Crush(can we please-huh-huh)!Boy, in this particular situation, only.

I would like to say that the red menace struck me yesterday and I woke up this morning with the (now monthly) Worst Cramps Ever (like puking from the pain bad). I got ready to go to work and started shaking and lay down on the couch so I'd be in a fit state to drive. I thinked I moaned a little because my dog jumped up on the ottoman and put her front feet on the couch so she could come over and look in my eyes. SHe stayed there and just leaned her forehead on my head for a long time. She is a very good nurse.

My Blue's Clue was specifically for Crush(can we please-huh-huh)!Boy

Love the new name.

So, ya know what's painful?

Shutting your thumb in the hatchback of your minivan so hard that the damn thing latched.

That would hurt.

((Aimee))

Ugh, sorry to hear about the nasty cramps, Robin.

And sorry about your poor thumb, Aims.

Yarrgh, I don't even want to think about that.

(Though it makes me fondly remember my nana and great aunt. Whenever anyone closed the sliding door on our van - and I mean every time - they would both jump and go "oh!". No matter where in the car they or anyone else was.)