<p>Next thing you know, you’ll find out that some anonymous poster here is really some old boyfriend or something. What a thought. ;)</p>
<p>
GLUG. I actually know someone that this has happened to! YIKES.</p>
<p>Further hijacking:</p>
<p>Urban legend has it that Franco lived in the apartment house across from me when he is a rookie with the Steelers. Legend goes that he used to play catch in the street with the neighborhood kids, showed them his rookie of the year trophy and even had them help decorate his Christmas tree.</p>
<p>I was flying down to Florida in first class. Someone taps me on the shoulder, and it’s Franco. Asks if I would mind switching seats so he could sit next to his traveling companion. I oblige.</p>
<p>After we land, I am walking throught the airport and Franco hurries to catch up to me to thank me again for swapping seats. I tell him about the “urban legend” and he confirmed it all.</p>
<p>One of the classiest and most humble celebrities I have ever met, up there with Hugh Jackman who stood at the stagedoor outside his Broadway show in February for over an hour signing autographs and posing for pictures.</p>
<p>m&s, you’re right about Franco. I have a friend whose brother has been friends with Franco since they were kids. From everything I’ve heard, he is definitely one of the good guys. </p>
<p>Same with Hugh Jackman. He did that for eight shows a week for over a year, very much the way that Peter Allen himself treated his fans. He (P.A.) was a friend of my mother’s and I remember how generous he was at his concerts.</p>
<p>M&S–Sorry, moved away when three. All I remember is a duck pond. I know that we lived in the one of the only neighborhoods with tiny houses in town.</p>
<p>Five year stint in North Jersey and both my kids were born in Valley Hospital!
Another tall girl here–full height of 5’9" in eighth grade–leaving a very small selection of boys to date (i.e. no dates). I believe boys are taller nowadays? Naturally athletic, but did not do sports so as not to draw attention to my height. Sadly, a different time back then regarding girls and sports.
aries: I didn’t meet my present and only husband until I was 29. Sometimes it takes awhile to meet the right person. ;)</p>
<p>Another Jersey girl–back up boys–but by way of a couple foreign countries. </p>
<p>Must be something to living up or down the turnpike…I’d call it an appreciation of words and close quarters, if cc is any indication.</p>
<p>driver, you had better be one hot mama to be boasting so. Personally, I think you’re bluffing. But bluff away - it’s retro moment. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Roshke - that’s a tough one. That could go either way…I think that’s a family name.</p>
<p>As all but the very slow-witted can guess - I’m a dad. I actually selected this name because I wanted to be very clear that I wasn’t a student if I posted outside of the Parent’s forum. I then thought I may as well put down the college affiliations of my kids as well. It’s all laid out.</p>
<p>
Oh, you would be in good company then! Be afraid. Be <em>VERY</em> afraid! I’m pretty damned intimidating! ;)</p>
<p>
All in a day’s work, sweetie! :)</p>
<p>~berurah</p>
<p>p2n, What, the pink post didn’t give it away? Mom, here!</p>
<p>
I was there too! The Harris brothers were damn good. Those were really good football games.</p>
<p>Roshke, I always thought you were a Dad, so I got that wrong. But the pink has cleared it all up. :D</p>
<p>And well, we have our own little club of Exit 4 Jersey Girls on here! Rah!</p>
<p>I thought Mini was a woman, a super liberal one at that, until he talked about his wife. No offense, please.</p>
<p>I guess you can tell what gender I am easily.</p>
<p>I am male, though I did cross the gender-line last night by participating in DC’s annual high-heel drag race.</p>
<p>150 hours in a day? 
It’s things like that which make me utterly certain that humans were not intelligently designed. If we were, you would just open a little door, pull the baby out, and close the door. Or humans would be more like panda bears and give birth to babies about the size of a stick of butter.</p>
<p>As for height - I’m 5’8 - tall enough to have had the dubious honour of having been dumped for it. </p>
<p>As for marriage - I simply have no desire to marry. The day that I marry would be the day that I decide that my own happiness, joy, and sanity have no worth. It would be the day that I would only live, not for myself, but because suicide isn’t an option. Romance does not make me happy. Engineering did not make me happy; legions of people told me that I should be a research scientist and that I should go for a PhD and and and… but the ultimate result was that I always knew that it wasn’t the right field for me, suffered through it anyway, and finally ran away when I stopped listening to people. I feel the exact same way about romance as I do about walking into a lab - I could do it, but why? Always for another - never for my own happiness. I am not so cynical as to believe that my own happiness and sanctity of soul is less important than the happiness of another. For most of my ex-boyfriends have said - repeatedly - that they were happy with me and better people for having known me - but the concept that I may not share their sentiments is, apparently, entirely unfeminine. There is no “waiting” for the right one - there is no “right one” that would do anything save make me wait to die - for those of us who do not believe in divorce, death is the only out. I could better tolerate the whole concept if people stopped pretending that it makes for happiness. Happiness found - except when I decide to date.</p>
<p>hey aries~</p>
<p>ITA about the lack of intelligent design in human birthing. If an engineer had designed that monstrosity, he’d have been out on his a$$!!! At least in my case, labor/birth was TERRIBLY inefficient, but then, my body just didn’t <em>DO</em> labor. <em>sigh</em></p>
<p>About this: </p>
<p>
{{{{{MAJOR HUGS, honey}}}}} I <em>know</em> you didn’t ask for them. I know you don’t NEED them, but hey, I’m a hugaholic, so indulge me, O.K.?</p>
<p>I have to admit that there have been many moments when I’ve agreed with your assessment of marriage. The “happiness factor” within one’s life can be achieved through and defined by any number of paths. You owe no one an explanation for your choices…they are yours alone to make, and they should be fully supported by those who love you and whom you love.</p>
<p>That said, there ARE those for whom marriage DOES bring a measure of happiness. That “happiness” may be in its purest form, or it may take the more muted forms of comfort, security (emotional, financial, etc.), companionship and the like. The fact is, there is no perfect arrangement for everyone. Each of us has different hopes, dreams, fantasies, desires, and goals for ourselves and our lives. </p>
<p>I think that your past romantic experiences have colored your view of dating and romantic partnership in all kinds of shades of gray and black. Others of us have had very different experiences and thus carry an understandably different view of love, romance, and marriage. </p>
<p>I am <em>VERY</em> lucky to be able to say that with extremely few exceptions, all of my romantic involvements have been sweet, loving, thrilling, passionate, sustaining and full of wonder. I have been spoiled rotten by the men in my life 
, both past and present, and it has helped me to keep that ember of passion burning, even in the challenging times. Even after all of these years, romance sustains me and enriches my life.</p>
<p>
Honey, please realize that this simply doesn’t HAVE to be true…that you <em>can</em> sustain these things within the context of a loving marriage. But you must average them over time, not expect to have it all on every day of the relationship.</p>
<p>I’m not trying to be critical of your views or your decision. Not at all. There are days I <em>SO</em> wish I could be you…or someone like you, free from the constraints imposed by a husband and six children (not to mention the assorted extras 
). I tell you this because in denying such a beautiful, extraordinary, bright and fascinating gal to all of mankind, you are doing a grave, grave disservice! ;)</p>
<p>
Damn straight. Invariably, the “right one” just happens to you when you’re not even lookin’!</p>
<p>I wish you well, now and always, sweetie. You are truly a rare and unique woman.</p>
<p>~berurah
p.s. What you SHOULD have done was to run all of those past prospects by me. I am typically a great judge of character and besides, I’d just have to throttle anyone who didn’t treat you as you should be treated! Do remember…I’m UTTERLY intimidating. Even LakeWashington said so! ;)</p>
<p>
Absolutely! Aries, I don’t mean to be presumptuous, but your writing leads me to believe that you’ve never really been in love. Love really changes everything.</p>
<p>Whew! It sounds like Aries needs to get in touch with her feminine side.</p>
<p>By the way, since when is it “cynical” to care more for the happiness of another than for one’s own?</p>