Gray - and exactly what is wrong with an amusement park?

Heh, heh. Good point Ms. Believer.

GC

Amusement park as in WE are amusing OURSELVES?? I thought campfires were about ghost stories, marshmellows and silly skits. Too bad SS went out of town, bet he would do a skit for me.

Appy, pass me a beer please. They go great with burnt marshmellows. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Someone (Cerri) recently dared me to purchase and go out in:

- Perfume (I bought a $40 bottle on a whim the other day)
- Slutty clothes (the only outfit I looked good in when I was trying on clothes, but no, I didn't buy it)
- And stilletto yes-those-kind heels

She is not the first person to suggest such an outing in the last couple of weeks. The other person who suggested it had a specific venue in mind. The sort where, err. Uhm. Well. You know. People, uhm. Do things. There. See?

So anyway. I'm snickering my way through trying to figure out how to be sexy. Err, to wear sexy clothes. I mean, being sexy really involves having clothes OFF, doesn't it? I think I understand THAT part very well.

So. I'm trying to figure out the other part.

So!!! How's that Ferris Wheel? Nice view up there?

Err, and if anyone has clothing suggestions, hey. Lay 'em on me.

Believer, getting up from the campfire in her F-me pumps and leaving. Campfires are NOT the place for these shoes.

2long et al.,

SLH has been waiting waiting waiting for me to find the motivation to start participating on MB. She figured that throwing my 2¢ into a shuttle/space station thread would be it...here I am. 'Though I am a little scared of sticking my head up out of the dark shelter of my anonymity..., and having it knocked off by many of the caring posters that have helped her cope with so many of MY issues. I truly appreciate the influence of MB on our marriage; many thanks to you all...

You are right about the tiles. The black ones are similar to the white ones, except that they have another coating for the higher temperatures that contains a lot of carbon. My previous job was with the company that designs most of the EVA tools, including the tile repair work that has been in the media lately. The tiles are amazingly fragile, a pencil can easily see its way all the way through from one side to the other (when properly motivated). The leading edge of the shuttle does not use tiles, but uses a carbon-carbon composite that is much stronger than the tiles, but almost impossible to repair during a mission...

Thanks for motivating SLH to handcuff me to the computer. I'm not sure how often I will get to participate, I'm pretty sure I smell smoke coming from one of our daughter's rooms, and I still have to find a way to make a bicycle look like it wasn't run over by a Mom in a Suburban...

ALH.

Hi ALH!

So, it 2k shuttle tiles? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

No matter, welcome!

We don't bite, though we do tend 2 nibble around these parts!

-ol' 2long

Oops. SLH ran over a bicycle? Glad you are here. Now we can get the whole story.

ALH, good golly, welcome.

So brass tacks - how's your schedule treating you?

And why is your arrival giving me deja vu?

GC

Okay, my. . . er. . . driving (for lack of a better word) exploits are legendary, and I have more tickets driving our old Mustang than I do pictures of my kids. . . do we gotta rehash the Bicycle vs. Suburban incident?? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

And why is your arrival giving me deja vu?

Huh? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

slh

SLH - You know I love you, but it might be interesting to hear the story. Well for us, anyway.

Ha ha ha ha ha, Believer! You will have to wait to hear of the sad & tragic demise of DDs Barbie Bike another time! I am justly employing my needs for affection/conversation right now and luring ALH away from the computer! I can only hope he will have forgotten the entire Barbie Bike Saga before he returns. . . <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Thanks so much for being you, ya'll, and welcoming him. Ti says he will come back soon. And I don't think it will take Shuttle tiles and bribery with delisciouso Mexican Melts this time, either. . . <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

StillLovingHim

Shuttle tiles are an emotional need, you know... <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

-ol' 2long

*snicker* Shuttle tiles are NOT an emotional need, 2long!! It's the "I-love-to-talk-science-and-no-one-around-me-gets-it-but-YOU-folks-do!!!!" need. Come to think of it, "Shuttle tiles" is probably as good an acronym as any.

And no, that is NOT the same as conversation. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

SLH, it was real deja vu. If I knew why I had it, it wouldn't be deja vu now, would it?

Okay, so like, wasn't I supposed to stop thinking about my XW after the D was done?

So who's seen Nashville? It's right now my absolute favorite movie ever. Robert Altman just shot a new film in St. Paul, a story that revolves around A Prairie Home Companion. Hope it's as good as his last picture, The Company.

So here's a song from Nashville, Ronnie Blakley's almost lost "Dues" - a three-chord miracle.

It's that careless disrespect
I can't take no more, baby
It's the way that you don't love me
When you say you do, baby

It hurts so bad, it gets me down, down, down
I wanna walk away from this battleground

This hurtin' match, it ain't no good
I'd give a lot to love you the way I used to do
Wish I could

You got your own private world
I wouldn't have it no other way
But lately you been hidin' your blues
Pretendin' what you say

It hurts so bad, it gets me down, down, down
I wanna walk away from this battleground

This hurtin' match, it ain't no good
I'd give a lot to love you the way I used to do
Wish I could

Writin' it down kinda makes me feel better
It keeps me away from them blues
I wanna be nice to you, treat you right
But how long can I pay these dues?

It hurts so bad, it gets me down, down, down
I wanna walk away from this battleground

This hurtin' match, it ain't no good
I'd give a lot to love you the way I used to do
Wish I could

You know?

In the midst of trying 2 find a balance between posting enough detail of my sitch in my own threads 2 get good help, but not putting so much detail in that people might identify me or my W or slam my W for things *I* give the impression she's doing (right or wrong, it IS just my interpretation), and posting news of my dad's passing (which DID evoke some wonderful responses from folks, for which I thank you profusely!), I got sucked in2 one of those innane arguments over the existence of Jesus with Foreverhers on ba109's "monogamy" thread!

Same old story, same results. I answer, he reacts with more absolutism, I answer, he reacts. The latest just did it for me though.

But in the midst of it, I realized that my own threads go pretty much unvisited, pretty quickly after I start them, falling back several pages in a single day. Probably my fault for not putting in enough detail (I should be glad, right!?), but maybe I don't need the help so much anymore.

Certainly not like in the early days, I don't. And without the great discussions we used 2 have here on GQ eleven, most of my "productive posts" are 2 help people in real trouble (which drags me back in2 that state of mind 2 some degree), or get sucked in2 a pointless, fruitless argument with FH (you're wrong - about everything, absolutely - by the way... ...but that's just my opinion, 2).

My W and I are doing so much better these days. The "fog" is lifting, for sure. I struggle still with my own feelings about that - realizing that I don't miss her much when she's away is one area I'm a little concerned about, for example. But I know that love is a choice, and I know that with a healthy foundation of unconditional love, we can get the romantic love back if we want 2. All in all, it's a lot better "place" 2 be in than all the post d-day garbage that we went through over the previous few years.

You know what's funny? I'm finding that I have 2 make a conscious decision 2 post in moderation 2 my TELESCOPE forums, so as not 2 spend 2 much time not pondering my marriage. A lot better "predicament" 2 be in for me right now, I think...

So here's a load of the best hickory I can find for the fire, gc. Burns slow, smells nice. Should last a long while, I think.

best,
-ol' 2long

wow, you guys had a busy and fun night here around the campfire!!!

My goal today is to stay light hearted!! who's with me?

believer, your description of your shoes cracked me up!!! i hate to admit this, i pretty much wear gym shoes all the time. too bad shoes is one of the things that guys look at first!!! (according to ap anyway, is that what we are calling him now, i really didn't follow 2long's explanation at all!!!)

when you first said self-soothe, i was thinking about how to cheer myself up when i'm feeling down. which is kinda different than taking care of oneself on an on-going basis.

i think i'm better at that then i historically have been; however, i started getting better at that at about the same time as i started the As via the internet. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

i had just lost a lot of weight back then and spent some money on clothes, something i don't do very often at all!!!

what i really like to spend money on is activities, more than stuff. i got into a major (too much) phase of concerts. my taker was way out of control.

i've slowed that way down, however, not completely. i've gone to a few concerts this summer but they are well choosen ones. i try to find the ones my H might have the best chance at enjoying. i really messed up on the main one we went to this summer though. i got into a bad mood before going and i just could not get out of it, or maybe i just didn't want to. my H really wanted to enjoy the concert and he got stuck with a unhappy person next to him. a friend of his was there too. i felt really bad about it later. it was definitely a case of cutting off my nose to spite my face that night. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

i also try to have activites with each child seperately. my son and i have gone to see Blues Travelers the past few years and have really enjoyed it. but we could not find a place to see them this summer. we are going to see BoDeans instead.

my daughter is not much into concerts so we are going to see Wicked a musical that is playing downtown about the wicked witches from the Wizzard of Oz (before dorthy crashed down there.) that is next week!!

i work hard, i should be able to spend some on things i enjoy so i have trained myself to not agonize over spending money anymore. when i was with my mom, i watched her struggle with the budget every month, 4 kids, single mom. i think that is why i got the mindset of not spending money. it was so engrained in me that i would not want to order anything but the least expensive item on any menu (even McDonalds!!!) now i order what i will enjoy eating although i still have a hard time ordering the most expensive item on the menu. i should probably keep working on that!!!

i like to have flowers in the house, i have not gotten any lately, i think i am due. i like candles too. i doubt i will ever buy a pair of $400 shoes though!!! i don't even shop at any store that sells $400 shoes!! lol

hey ap, did you get hit by any stray paintballs?? we usually stick with laser tag around here.

any beers left?? i don't drink IRL at all (H's request) but i think it would be ok here <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

ALH, WELCOME!! MB people are really very nice, no need to worry. i've done some pretty horrible things in my marriage and i was very kindly accepted. it is the present that is important, not the past <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

SLH, so you get ALH to post and then you lure him away right before he is about to tell us a great story??? shame on you!!!

I've never seen Nashville GC. the song is kinda a downer though, don't you think you be better off watching something funny, like Shrek??? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> i love that green guy. or even better, The Emperors New Grove!! i'm so glad i have kids!!! without them i might not have ever seen either of those films.

ok, time to work, before 2long gets back here and throws some more of that stuff on the fire!!

hey 2long, speak of the devil!!

so now you are bringing us nice wood to burn instead??

ya know, i have read some of your story but not on an ongoing basis. i'm glad you can say things are better. don't settle for just better though, ok? are you guys in C at all? have you done the EN questionaire? do you work on your R? maybe you already are, but if you are not, that is my advice to you, don't settle for just ok. i fear that is what my H is going to want to do, get over this just enough to be able to bear it, but still not partner up with me to build a great marriage.

just my thoughts, for what they are worth...

2-long -

Everytime you and FH get into a "discussion", I smile. It makes great reading for the rest of us.

FL, sad songs are a comfort to me. But I saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory over the weekend. That must count for something. Nashville is very funny by the way. But its brilliance is more subtle than the brilliance of, say, Shrek. Movies are great for silliness and escapist thrills, but sometimes I get a sort of depressive hangover after I see that kind. I like it better when they inspire me.

GC