That is a delight to read, sj.

sj's posts make me want to go elope.

Seriously, this eloping thing sounds awesome. Congarts to both of you! I'm glad to have met you both, so I can picture your beaming faces.

Many, many felicitations to sj and tcg! What a wonderful day to continue a wonderful relationship in a wonderful life.

Cheers!

PS: I love the way Windsparrow's mind works. Indeed, thanks to, and for, the kindness of strangers.

DCJ, peace to Ray and all who love him.

sumi, much ~ma to you! Hope it's a fat load of no big deal.

Just got home after a very satisfying day of work and a work cookout. One of the Fresh Makers came with so I got to introduce her around, and my sister dropped by, and it was fun. And because I am nuts, I am driving to Raleigh early tomorrow to volunteer doing essentially the same thing.

I just have to share, I had an appointment with my psychiatrist yesterday for the first time since changing jobs, and left him completely agog by plopping down with a big grin and announcing, "I'm great!" He was like, uh, who are you? I don't have to go back for 3 months.

All good health thoughts, sumi.

I've been beaming all day thinking about the newlyweds. Eloping is so much fun! And the E&P is great.

YAY SJ AND TCG! CONGRATS!

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Daniel, I'm so sorry to hear your news. My best wishes to you and your family.

Aww, good for you with a good dinner and happiness so effervescent everybody wants to participate. Yay random couples!

Rock on with your bad self, smonster.

And yeah, sumi, he doesn't like bones. I mean, he does, he's really happy to get them, and then he kinda picks at them and abandons them. We had some success with a rawhide that he buried at my parents' place, but other than that, not so much. He used to like greenies and stuff like that, and when he was younger he loved loved his flossing rope "bone" so then his teeth were better. We'll see how he does after he recovers. But he is having a super happy night and seems to be just fine.

Weeeelll, I just sent the email that will no doubt end my friendship with the bf-notso-f. I'm a little spun up, but am more relieved than anything.

In thinking about why I couldn't just let it go, it occurred to me that a) pretending to not be upset by her behavior was really grinding on me, b) expressing my upset -no matter how diplomatically- was continuously met with defensiveness and egg-shell walking. (feh-If I won't put up with that from a partner, why would I take it from a friend?)

I'm not overly sad or even overly mad. Just done. So, there is a sense of tidiness connected to telling the truth.

Talking to long-term friends...25 years each...in the last couple of days really highlighted how great some long-term relationships can be...so that softens the blow a bit.

Oh, and in miraculous news, Niki (surrogate mom) has gone home from the hospice/hospital/death watch!!! She is able to take a few steps under her own steam and is working to get strong enough to move to CA. Her doctors are struck dumb.

I am so proud of her and hopeful for at least a while of happiness for her before we revisit her mortality.

I just have to share, I had an appointment with my psychiatrist yesterday for the first time since changing jobs, and left him completely agog by plopping down with a big grin and announcing, "I'm great!" He was like, uh, who are you? I don't have to go back for 3 months.

OMG! ASSCAP CHEER! Yaaaaaay, smonster!!

If I could do that cool pompom, Paul Gross arms emoticon, I'd add it. (imagine it here, if you will.)