why don't I listen to my own stories?

[Dom R]

drat.

well.. when he calls.. if he tells you, "yeah, i'm going", you can always respond with... "sounds like fun. I always regret not taking you up on the invite back in [....]"

(what kind of "friends" usually go?)

PS:

I would expect that *now* would be different,

oh-oh.. there's the "expect" word.
That's the word that will bring down your PMI every time....