I got mine the old fashioned way -- hit him over the noggin with my club and dragged him back to my cave by the hair on his head.

Reverse this slightly and you've described almost exactly how I ended up married 26(gulp) years ago.

I've been a reasonably successful relationship partner, but I've met most of them through shared interests or friends.

Happy birthday, Gloomcookie!

Why oh why am I at work and not hanging out at home with Tom? This SUCKS.

Happy Birthday, Gloomcookie!

Happy Gloomcookie Day! Hello Kitty shaped desserts for all!

::flings pink glitter::

Happy birthday, Gloomcookie!

Happy Gloomcookie Day, everyone!

Beej, you're lovely to look at in both pics, but I'm rather fond of the one with you and Bartleby. I'ma pretend it's an aesthetic choice. I guess, as a photograph, it really tells a story, it says something more than cute, funny, smart chick (which is all I get from the second one). That said? Good luck with the Match.com stuff. My best from from childhood married a man she met on Match.com - they had a lovely wedding, have an adorable son together, and have had five years of wedded bliss. Because of their luck there, one of her coworkers, and one of his cousins used the site, and met each other. So yeah, sometimes it is a small world, online.

I really worked hard with Fela. Maybe this being in tandom thing really isn't right for me.

Or maybe the fact that you had to work hard with Fela just meant that he ultimately wasn't the right guy. Maybe the right guy will be someone with whom the hard work doesn't even *feel* like work. t edit Because I'm not going to pretend that the "right" guy will result in a relationship that doesn't require work -- ALL relationships do, but you probably know that better than I do, given what you do for a living. But I still tend to feel that, with the right person, the hard work doesn't feel so damn hard.

Also, Happy Birthday, O Glam Gloomcookie!!!

Now see, that was what I thought WindSparrow (and blush thanks for the lovely compliment)!

With all I know about myself and what I want, I'm disinterested in pulling any punches in the 'this is me' sweepstakes. No time for the faint of heart...then again, I don't want to lead with my chin either. Apologies to Bruce Campbell and all.

Joining the Firefly meetup was a great way to be me in the world...and it brought me Fela, who is lovely in so many ways. But geekiness is not all of me...this seems a more balanced, yet oddly riskier gambit.

eta: Steph, once again, you speak my heart. That is precisely why I've come to the conclusions I have. I'm emotionally courageous to a fault, and I'm retiring from being the 'fixer' of fixer-uppers. It was a good way for me to develop myself...but not sustainable in the long run. I'm intending to attract someone with whom I can laugh more than I ponder...enjoy more than I support.

Thank you for the b-day wishes everyone! I'm spending it working, but at least I'm working from home.

For Gloomcookie, a birthday haiku:

Generous of heart
A glamorous Buffista
May your day be grand!