Ash! Glad to finally see you on again. It's a topsy-turvy world you live in, but hang in there. Hopefully the army will get their shit together -- what a mess. To your questions...

--Dark secret? Probably not. I'd only find out my mom is into bondage or dad has a gay lover with his wife or something utterly unbearable like that. That "secret millionaire" stuff happens to other people.

--The shrooms! Why not just go all the way with my hallucinogens?

--Trick answer! I'm not doing what I want, but I am at the same time. I'm working my same ol' dull job, but I'll be done on Dec 12. On Jan 12 I go to UNC Chapel Hill's nursing school for 14 months. After that, if I pass the test, I'm an RN. Then I'll be doing what I damn well better want to be doing.

--Never have, really. At 16 I felt 25, and that hasn't changed much in the intervening 24 years. The problem, of course, is that I'm 40 now and don't relate at all to people in my age range. My interests are not theirs and vice versa, at least in Raleigh NC. So it goes, eh? Take care,

-TTm

Glad to hear your son had a good birthday. Hope everything else comes together for you too.

1. Probably not, if I wasn't involved. Everyone needs their privacy, parents as much as anyone else. If I was involved though it would probably be yes. Privacy rights have their limits.

2. A base. How strong a base would depend on how strong the acid is. I do know that most commercial antacids don't work very well. I usually eat a banana or something with ginger or licorice. All are natural antacids.

3. I am doing exactly what I want although that could change in the future. But for now I am extremely satisfied with my job.

4. Yes, kind of, except for one area. I don't feel like I have ever had a real adult relationship. I've only been "in love" once and he doesn't love me back. Or at least not the way I need him too. And I think my inability to let go of that first love may be keeping me from growing as a person. But I'm making some changes so maybe the next time I am around here I will be able to answer this with an unequivocal "yes".

I want to play Fable 2....

Trust me, I understand all the hectic messes, and especially the financial problems. I'm going through it all myself.

~Curiosity would propel me to want to know, but I like to think I'd have the respect for them not to press them for it if they didn't want to tell me. If it involved me, however, I think I would press them. That's just the writer in me.
~Pepto Bismol and the prescription pills my girlfriend got when the same thing happened to her (they weren't that expensive, thankfully, seeing as how we don't have insurance)
~Both. I'm struggling through horrible jobs and a frustrating MFA program, but I'm also trying my damndest to work on a second novel. It's hard... really hard. But I have to keep trying, there's just no other choice.
~Yes. I'm weathering so many problems these days, and I'm trying to be strong for my girlfriend when her anxiety gets the best of her. I don't even know what to ask for Christmas anymore because I've been focused so long on blocking out all thoughts of what I want and listening only to what I need. That's depressingly adult to me.

Hey there lovely. Hope you had a good thanksgiving. How is your man doing?

I've been so bad, haven't been on here regularly for a while to post. Still, been thinking of you a lot and really hoping that things have settled down for you some.

Q's
~ I would love to know the secrets. most of them i already know, but there are still a few things out there, nothing deep and dark, but still there's some things that I know are missing. yeah, I'd want to know.
~ I have to take prilosec each day cause of my acid reflux. no idea why, docs can't figure it out
~ I'm doing what I can right now until I don't have to work any more. I don't think I have a dream job, maybe working in a book store so I can get all sorts of new book ideas, and a discount on books. Maybe a comic book store. But, gotta pay the bills and all, and as a job, it's not too bad now.
~ I do feel like a grown up. I take care of people, pay bills, clean up my own messes and problems, and sit at the adult dinner table. Although i really don't like being a grown up that much. That's one of the reason I have so many younger friends so they can kinda keep me feeling younger, and keep me from getting in a rut.

miss you sweetie. Huge love and hugs to you.

I know most of my parents' deep dark secrets. I wish I didn't.

The telephone. That's not supposed to happen to me anymore and if it does something is seriously wrong. I'd call 911.

I want to do nothing for a living. As of yet I have not found a way to make that happen.

I feel old. But I certainly don't feel the way I expected being an adult would feel when I was a kid. I thought someday I would feel wise and confident, with a firm grasp of how the world should run. Hasn't happened.

Hope life has become less hectic.

Did you have a good Thanksgiving?