You know Todd I just read those kids of things & think, ick. Why would a man think that kind approach is inviting? Maybe it works on a certain type & they have successes but ew.

Tell me about your weekend plans Todd.

Anyone have anything exciting planned?

Larousse, oh larousse, where are you?

I plan to work in the studio tomorrow & Sun. I'll finish glazing stuff tomorrow then put in a load & hope for the best. Sat. night we have a "gala event" at the gallery where I sell my work to wrap up an auction fund raiser. Let's hope lots of people show up.

After the event I'm gong out with a fellow potter for a dirty martini. It's a martini with a big olive stuffed with blue cheese. Wonderful! [color:"purple"] [/color]

Hi nams, it's a long weekend here. The official start of summer. Teaching has ended at the university as well, so now we just have three weeks of finals then no more students till February. As non academic staff we just carry on working. It's when we do all our reporting for the year, then start preparing for the first semester of next year. We do have summer holidays at Christmas though.

As well as standing on our heads down here we have weird seasons. LOL

Hi Todd! I was reading the good news (it took a while with the MB system snailing around). I am very happy for you. Keep taking care of yourself. I know (unfortunately) how tough all this is.

Pio,
Now it is my turn: be open, be patient!
I know is tough and when you start "relaxing" a lot of the repressed emotions will come up. Vent here. Take care of the relationship.

BK, it's great to hear your advices to Stef. I hope her WH comes to his senses soon.

I've been having quite tough two weeks. But after MC sessions I think H got it. We had tough conversations and he even apoligized for the first time (without being prompted) He wrote this NC letter (e-mail actually) today:

Subject: THE END

Dina,

I want you to know that out of respect and love for my wife and children, I have come to realize that I must never see or talk with you again. My relationship with you was a cruel indulgence that Esther did not deserve. While I cannot completely repay Esther for the pain I have caused her, I will do my best to become the husband she has been missing. I care a great deal for my family and I would not want to do anything to risk their happiness. I will not make any further contact with you and I do not want you to make any contact with me. Please respect my desire to end our relationship."

Well, I know is by the book SAA, but coming from him, and seeing my name there took a huge weight from my chest. I just hope it's for real this time. I don't think I want to handle any more "surprises".

What do you guys think?

Hi Kiwi, of course your seasons aren't odd to you but it must take some getting used to for those who come to live there from non-upsidedown parts of the world. Christmas in summer, well, that's just not right.

OK, nobody laugh....promise? I bought wine in a box today. Oz (Ozwell) Shiraz. I've had it before & it's decent so when I saw the box the penny pincher in me decided to give it a try. If it starts to go bad before I can drink it I'll have to use it to cook.

A wine box. Oh nams. I don't know what they put in those things but I always got a headache after drinking it.

Christmas in summer is so normal to us that we would think it strange if we didn't go to the beach on Christmas Day.

The silly thing is we eat a traditional Christmas dinner. Turkey and all the trimmings. Hot and heavy (if you'll pardon the expression lol). It's ridiculous. Every year we say we'll have a bbq instead but we never do.

You think the wine in the box is different from the same wine in a bottle?

I can see the beauty of a summer Christmas. At least you don't have to worry about snow & people not being able to make the drive.

How's things with your DD? Where is she now? Where will she go next?

Estrela - Sounds good. Lets see if his actions follow through.

Oooh, oooh, I know what I want for Christmas! A hot & heavy Christmas! Thanks Kiwi for the idea.

Let's see...who can surprise me with that...

Hey BifK! What's new?

I bought wine in a box from Australia today. Jen thinks it will give me a headache because it's Australian. I don't think your homeland would knowing export something that would cause headaches do you? Kiwi does BTW, just in case I didn't mention that.

Hi Nams. Australian wine is the best in the world, especially the export stuff. Even a dumb Kiwi knows that.

If you dring too much though..... Well too much wine from anywhere will give you a headache.

Christmas in summer is just plain weird. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

I'll take a snowy, white Christmas any day.

What's weird is Snowey nativity scenes, snowmen, candy canes in the middle of summer. I will gladly take summer any day. You can keep the snow Stef. It's all yours.

You're right, that is weird. That's why I like snowmen and candy canes in the winter; it's natural. You can't have a snowman made out of sand! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Does it ever get cold and snowy in Australia, BigK?

It does Stef - but only way south of where I live. We never get snow here. It can get down to 0°C (32°F) overnight but in winter the coldest it usually gets is 5°C (41°F)

Must be nice! It can get in the negatives (F) where I live. It's not always fun in the winter time with snow and ice. Especially driving...can be pretty scary!

I was in Boston in winter a few years ago and Columbus Ohio - I got real sick of snow REAL quick. Looks great when it is clean but dirty cold wet snow is not my udea of a good time. I am more than happy to skip that. LOL.

Yeah, old, dirty snow is gross.

It's beautiful when it's coming down and right after it falls. IMO, after that it can go away again, LOL.

I have to say fall is my absolute favorite time of the year. Leaves are falling and changing color, it's beatiful, the air is fresh and crisp and cool. Hence the reason I got married in the fall. I sure hope divorce doesn't ruin it for me! LOL.

Summer can get to hot and sticky and gross and winter can get too cold. Spring is OK. By the time it comes, I'm ready for it. But I hold a special place in my heart for fall!

Somehow I doubt that. We have already seen how they export only the worst beer (Foster's) and keep the best for themselves. Wouldn't surprise me if they did it with wine too.

Estrela,

It is a big first step on the NC letter. Just remember - it is his job to maintain NC and not your to enforce. Gemela violated her NC 5 times that I know of. But once she was NC for about 6 months, things really began to change.


She hasn't started scrapbooking just yet. She did make a birthday card for one of DD1's friends with her new toys. It looks really great. I have been laid up in bed with a searing headache the past 24 hours. It still hurts but I have to go to work. I never get headaches. We played golf yesterday and, because it's Ramadan still, I didn't drink much on the course so either I got seriously dehydrated or I have the flu.

Hope you feel better Pio!

I've been working so hard for two weeks that I can't see straight. I think I'm going to go on to bed.