Wow....cool pics boys. SS, I gotta get me down there sometime in my life. As you know, we have some spectacular vistas here, but that is just soooooo much different than I'm used to.

I would love to drive down there on a motorcycle. Maybe get me one of them fancy schmancy BMW thingys. That would be a memorable trip.

One day…..one day.

Well Ad, it looked pretty good on my 21 inch monitor at work, but when it's reduced, and optimized for the web, it isn't quite the same. Sorry.
Maybe it's just because you are so skinny, and it's hard to see you?

Gray,
I wish you could have been with us, you would have liked the places we went.
I still wonder about your trip (summer 2004), and if you got what you needed out of it. One thing about traveling with self - if self starts to run you down, there is no one to argue the other side. Sometimes it's good to have someone else along as a control.



SS

Binder,
I like the Parks in Alberta too. All of them (here and there) are nice, but somewhat different.


You are welcome any time.

I hope you and yours are well. I would guess there are still tough times.

I still pray for you. I still think about you.

SS

Thank-you SS, you are generous with you thoughts and prayers.

I too anticipate some tough times. I expect to be struck with a wave of melancholy during this, my first Christmas morning without my children present. I won’t be surprised by the feeling itself, but possibly the depth of it. I will survive though.

I’ve had to see my STBX on several occasions as of late. On Thursday was my son’s Christmas concert. I took my aging and increasingly frail mother to see her grandson. STBX chatted with her and hugged her after the concert; she walked away from my mother crying. I don’t have the capacity to hate that woman. I wish I did sometimes; I just don’t have it in me though.

I hope you and yours have a wonderful Christmas SS, those wishes are extended to all you folks on this thread. Posting here on occasion feels like putting on that favorite old shirt sometimes….familiar and comfortable.

I think I may take the kids out to the cabin over the holidays. Mountain air seems to clear and focus the mind.

Just J:

I noticed you were posting here and wanted to say thanks to you. You helped me for a while at SYMC when my STBXH was withdrawn and angry. I have tried to post there since but couldn't log on. We worked with Penny for a while so I sent her the update last year. We separated over a year ago, will never know for sure whether H. ever ended his A. According to the math, he knocked up OW the day after he moved out(2nd pregnancy for those 2). There was no abortion this time and he claims they are getting married when our D. is final. He worked hard for that and deserves it I guess.

Anyway, thanks again for your thoughtful insight and your time. You helped a bunch. I am fine BTW, relieved to be on my own after living with uncertainty for so long.

HoFs posted to me too, way back when. I know all about his mess from Ps thread. How is P anyway? Last I heard, he and HoFs were still in touch.

Happy Holidays to you and everyone else on this thread.

Hi Starving -- You're very welcome for the help we were able to give you. I'm sorry to hear that your marriage didn't make it, and glad to hear that YOU are recovering and healing. I hope that your soon-to-be-ex and his affair partner are able to heal enough to raise their child in a healthy and whole way.

I've re-sent the registration details to your e-mail address of record, which might help you to log in. If not, please send me an e-mail at the address below and I'll see what else we can do to get you logged in.

Penny, HoFS, and I are all doing very well these days. Penny and her husband have been through some really hard times in the last year, and seem to have come through it even stronger than they were. It's really amazing to see the growth and healing in her family this last year. Happy holidays to you, too!

Just J:

Yes, I know about Penny, but ask HoFs about Persistant...how is he?

Thanks for sending my log in stuff.

Yes, How is Persistant, I haven't heard about him in ages.

I am glad Penny is doing better, I worried about her a lot since Januaruy.

Binder,
I keep thinking I need to come up your way and show my W around. She has never been there.

I hope you do get to go to the cabin over the holiday, I know what you mean about getting away. Fresh air (even very cold fresh air) is nice.

You are really quiet lately. That's one of the things I think about. Your choice though, always your choice.

Merry Christmas. May you find peace.

SS

Today I discovered that it's too soon to go looking through my personal papers and stuff from '04. I was looking for a list of addresses in there, and...

Last night I went out with two friends for a few drinks. While I was out, I saw one of the regulars from the place where the giraffe works. Just like at the giraffe's pub, he was alone with a book.

Later, as we were getting ready to leave, I saw another guy alone with a book. Another normal looking dude, all by himself having a beer and readinge.

I've been those guys. I am those guys. It's got me unsettled.

GC

So? What's the matter with those guys, out reading and having a beer? It sounds kind of cool to me. Heck guys who can even read a book seem cool to me. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> (you know where I live and what type of people are around here mostly, so you know what I mean by that statement)

Because I grew up in the USAF Gray, we moved a lot (every year almost), and I never really felt too comfortable in my own skin, mostly because as soon as I got settled into school and started to make friends we moved again. Constant change, and constantly having to change.

Anyway my mom had a saying which I think of now when I am feeling uncomfortable about who I am such as at meetings when I have to travel out of town -

"bloom where your planted"

Meaning, be who you are regardless of where you are, or who is around, or what your circumstances are. It has served me well, that saying has, as an adult.

Shine Gray, because that is who you are.

I agree with Weaver, GC. In fact I would be more inclined to WANT to meet one of those men who are comfortable reading in public like that.

Didn't mean to give you the wrong idea. I do those solitary, public things all the time. It makes me happy, being out and relaxing and not trolling for company.

I just had a momentary glimpse of myself from an outsider's perspective, and that's always peculiar.

GC

GC, at the university (where I know you know I work) it'd be weird if you DIDN'T see solitary guys having a beer and reading a book. LOL.

So...

My family recruited me to do Christmas again this year. The difference is, I offered to do all the cooking this time. My family's traditional Christmas Eve dinner is Polish peasant food, free of meat and dairy products - pure glucose! Pierogi, rice w/mushroom gravy, honey bread, and onions onions onions. All week I thought I was ahead, preparing pierogi fillings and assembling ingredients.

Well I'm in deep tonight. I've made about 30 pierogi. I have about 100 more to do. My house needs cleaning. I have no Christmas tree. I'm doing laundry. I'm out of dish soap. I'm DEAD.

On the other hand... this morning I had an hour to kill before going to the barber. I hit a record store to drop off some of my band's CDs, and bought some super cool records. A few minutes ago my next door neighbors saw me cooking (our kitchen windows are straight across from each other), took pity on me, and brought me a huge plate of cookies.

I have beer, fuel, fire, and rock and roll. I can go all night.

Happy holidays, MB buddies.

GC

Yup GC, I know that food. We have a large Ukrainian population in this town.

The thing about that food though......after a meal.....a week later you're hungry again.

Merry Christmas, GC!

Gimble

I had to pop in and wish you a Merry Christmas, GC! Now I am off to clean house and prepare for my Christmas. I am making Jelly's pork loin!

To everyone else on this thread...all of God's blessings on you and your families.

GC and fans,

I've never posted here but I folllow this thread and always hope for the best for you all.

Merry Christmas and hope for the New Year.

I like your sig line cc! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[color:"green"]Peace on earth, and goodwill towards man! [/color]

Lets throw some of those color explosion chips on the fire tonight, shall we? And maybe some fireworks too!

No TNT though 2long...might scare our furry forest friends.

I won't have much time tonight, (meaning much FREE time) so I'll wish everyone well now.

I have learned so much, and I have so much respect for all of you who have come so far.

Merry Christmas, and God bless you all with what you need the most.

SS