JL, you suggested starting a thread for an update so here it is.

I guess you're still as old as dirt..... I'm catching up.

Anyway, where to start.....

I think I've been away from MB for about a year? Maybe longer?

In that time my H and I have become very much closer. We're back to our old pre-A relationship, which was a very good relationship. We laugh a lot, we talk a lot, we enjoy our middle age. We're comfortable (in a good way) and happy.

My DD and her fiance had a wonderful trip to Europe and the States at the end of 2006 and we're now planning the wedding which happens in January next year. Our soon to be SIL is a wonderful young man and we're delighted they're so happy together.

My DS still lives with us. (LOL I remember talking with you about boomerang kids in my very first thread, and that's nearly five years ago). He boomeranged home but never boomeranged out again. He's 30 now and we do worry about him but hope he'll sort his life out one day.

I was promoted at work last year. I was shoulder tapped which was very flattering and now have a job that I adore. I get to think and I get to be very useful which is all you can ask of a job really.

Our bookshop is doing very well. You probably don't remember we own a bookshop but we do. Last year we had a terrible time when one of our trusted employees was found to be stealing cash from us. He got away with $24,000 before we found out. My H and his business partner caught him on hidden camera with the help of a PI, after takings and profits were found to be going down at an alarming rate. We're over that now - but it was a real blow to the business and to Rob.

That's me - how about you?

Well I remember, and I'm still terribly jealous!

BTW, have you read any good books lately?

LOL, yes, Weave, tons of good books!!!!

I'd be interested in knowing which ones????

A friend of mine said he saw you on some board not too long ago. I can't remember which one though. LOL

I miss the old days on here. I miss the campfire.

I got in a fight with my husband, Jen. He is out of town and not even here, and we got in a fight.

It is SO hard to be married when you have been alone most of your life. I'm so independent.

I can be such a witch.

I promised him I would not discuss our personal life on a public forum, so that is all I can say.

It's nice to see a friendly and familiar face tonight, though. Thanks for that.

That's sad. The fight I mean. I'm really sorry to hear that. I know you will make it up with your H and this will just be a little "dip".

Yes, I have been on another board. There's quite a bit of cross posting between the two boards - I recognised a lot of "faces" over there.

Hi Jen!

I'm pretty sure I'm not JL, but do have a sort of "otherness" about me...

Speaking of books, that's the title of probably the only David Brin novel I haven't read..

But an even better book for me personally, is now shipping:

Frank Pittman's "Grow Up!"

I finally had found the source of the quote of his that I love so well, about how marriage isn't supposed 2 make you happy, it's supposed 2 make you married - which is all most quote sites have when the rest of the quote is where the real beef is.

It was on the SmartMarriages website, and doggone it I can't find it again! LOL! They had a whole chapter, or part of it at least, on their website.

But the book is coming.

From what I read, I think it might be the most useful marriage-recovery book I will have read.

Good 2 hear your update!

-ol' 2long

Hey Jen,

What a pleasant surprise to see you here. I am so glad that things are going well for you and your H. I'll bet he was devastated about the guy stealing money, not just for the loss of money but for the loss of trust.

It is weird, I am older than that kid 2L, and certainly alot older than you and yet my oldest is just now getting engaged. Wedding is next year. He found a very nice young lady. I don't know how I got so behind the curve. My younger sisters are already grandmothers. Something wrong with that picture.

Life is pretty good. Usual struggles for research funding that 2L knows alot about. But all in all things are good. I'll bet your son will start to hit his stride about now. 30 is a good age for the male of the species to get their act together and get going. But, I did think you folks "down under" knew how to throw one of those boomerang things. Nope, that is the OTHER down under right???

I hope you hang around, this place could sure use your experience and help.

As for being old as dirt...NAH! All those volcanically active areas such as where you live have dirt a lot younger than me.
The 60's are an interesting age, especially when you have kids in their early 20's. Got to stay in some shape to keep those young ones in line. The good news is that now that all of them are in their 20's my IQ is going back up. I think I have passed room temperature and that is F not C. No comments right???

Must go, but do say Hi to your H and it really is good to see you here.

God Bless,

JL

You seem to be still online (hey, I like that new feature) so I'll carry on. I still talk things to death. lol.

You're not even a grandad yet? That's no good. My DD plans to have a honeymoon baby. I never thought I was ready for grandchildren but we're actually looking forward to it.

Money for research funding in the States? You guys are rolling in funding. It's little places like the university that I work at that have to beg and plead for money. We're really not that little - 38,000 students. Hah, 2long is still the same age as me. I don't know - feels quite old from where I'm sitting. Rob is 60 next year. But then I did marry an "older" man.

A note to 2long here. When the little robot thingy landed on Mars I scanned every face at NASA on tv to see if I could see a ZZ Top beard.

I'm pleased to be back. I left my "other" board because I felt too past infidelity to have much to contribute. I still feel I can help here though. I'd love to help.

I see a lot of people have checked this thread out so, for newbies, I'll give a bit of my story.

From 2002-2003 I had an 18 month PA with my old high school boyfriend after not seeing him for over 30 years. My H and I recovered very well, thanks to MB and the people here. The horrible thing that happened was that I renewed contact (in 2006) with the OM after 2 years of NC and an accidental meeting. I kept up the contact for 2 weeks (nothing physical happened) and refused/was too frightened to tell my H.

Someone here (known to most of you lol) knew my real name and contacted my H to let him know what had happened. After that, my H and I REALLY got down to the business of recovery. I left the board because I lost a lot of friends over the whole thing and also because I felt very ashamed of the way I'd behaved to everyone here.

I think the Harley method of Marriage Building works. It's a plan and that's what everyone needs. A plan.

Kiwi,

Rolling in money?? No, it is all going for gasoline. Actually, research funding has been going down in this country for years now, especially in the physical sciences.

I look for old ZZ as well. I think his toy is still crawling around an old dry lake bed somewhere.

Going to be a Grandmother huh?? Boy, I am glad I am not your age. Us "youngsters" will have to wait for a few more years.

Well, it is time to hit the rack. Got to get up early tomorrow and get some serious writing done.

Good night Jen.

JL

Hi KiwiJ.

So glad to hear that your marriage is now going well.

It's nice to hear from folks who have recovered their marriages and who are willing to let others know that it does take work, commitment, forgiveness, and the need for NO CONTACT for life.

Your "timing" on starting to post again is very good. There are a LOT of newbies on the system and a lot of the "old timers" have either left or severely reduced their posting (like me).

God bless.

But that's all in the past now, and your humility is what keeps you growing. Imperfection is perfect in that way.

I am ashamed of quite a few things I have done, and the way I have acted, but we forgive ourselves and move on...trying not to do it again. LOL

Thank you for your concern over GB's and my fight. Conflict is good, right? He doesn't like conflict of any kind, but I'm a scrapper from way back. One of our huge differences, but I think we'll find some kind of balance eventually.

Take care, Jen.

PS, have any of you old timers seen Orchid around? I keep looking for her on here.

Jen, if my memory serves me correctly, I am only about 3 years younger than you. My oldest child is 17 and my youngest is 15 and entering high school. Some of my high school classmates have grandchildren and I still have teenagers around. And I love it!!!!

I'm really glad you're doing so well Jen !

If ever you need shouting and swearing at like a hysterical drag queen again, just give me a call.... * blush *

{{{{{{{{Jen & Rob}}}}}}}

Bob. Your comment made me laugh. Yes, I don't think I've ever seen f*** and it's variations written quite so often, in my life before.

You know something, I deserved it. Hindsight is 20/20 and I can't believe how defensive and unpleasant I got over something I really deserved. Foggy WS's, huh?

Thankfully, that is all in the past.

BTW, DD and her fiance will be in London again in July for a wedding. Then they're having three weeks on safari in Africa. (They have a very nice life).

Hi Jen, good to see you around! A safari? I am so jealous.

Yesterday was our 3 yrs of R mark, and we are doing well also. Give Rob our best, and congratulations.

Thanks Neakie, it's good to be back.

I see your mom is still posting.

Jen!!!

So good to hear from you and that all is going so well wit you and Rob.!! Fantastic

Honeymoon grandkids ... gotta love it


Guess wot? My little Liz got married!! Yep to her soldier boy.
10 days before his deployment and then he got shot up... but not to worry he told her .. it was just a 'little bit'

My son is deployed in Afghanistan and Aussie is there playing Law-rence .. and we're all ok M wise.

Mikey is just about 3 .... I don't need a aerobic workout time any more

Hi AW, how is the old person???? LOL I used another word and got censored.

Wow, Liz married her boy and he got shot up "a little bit". What is it with these guys?

And Mikey is three??? It just seems yesterday that LINY thought you might be pregnant.

well I'm ok mostly... Mum is a bit fitter after getting her hernia's fixed.... dad is ... well .. a pain in rear area ... gives mum a bit of worry now & then as usual.

Newly weds are having a tiff right now via email & phone ... he decided to do something without discussing it apparently ... I'm staying way out of it



lets see ... they're men !!!


I still remember the self denial lol *** SNORT *** ok it was shock

Hi AW !

Must be hard knowing your men arr at risk... but at least they are living " wild at heart".

They could be getting small tattoos that can't be seen under a business shirt and riding affordable Japanese Harley Davidson clones like the rest of their powerpoint generation...



All blessings upon your family AW. Richly.