My fellow dbers - Thank you so much for helping me feel that there are many shades of grey, even in something that at first glance can seem so binary. I will respond more appropriately in a few minutes about the issue of lies. But first, some good news.

My trip was a huge success, the paper I presented went down a storm, many clients thought it was an outstanding piece of analysis. I have to tell you, when you are bruising, every little bit of recognition helps The time away from NG also gave me some fresh perspective on where we were in Nov 2004 - and it really is not a bad place.

On Friday, as we were IMing, NG starts getting flirtatious online. Ellie - you were so right, I only needed to let him know that I was open to this sort of chat, the man can certainly apply his imagination. Sooo, I guess we were both humming along nicely till I got back late Friday afternoon, and got some serious attention from each other before we went to a dinner party NG was verrry attentive during the party, practically waited on me the whole evening. I like this kind of attention, and told him so

On Saturay, we went o pick up one of our cars that has been in the body shop for a bumper replacement. As we get to the garage, I notice the car has some amazing sports accessories added. NG quite defensively says he decided to proceed as it was going to cost only a little more than a straight bumper replacement. He was fully expecting me to go into fish-eating mode - guys - you will be sooo proud of me, I just agreed that it made sense, and that I would have done the same. Can I say he was shocked - gob-smacked as we say? It was worth going on that fish-free diet

The weekend just kept getting better. He has to travel on business this Weds and actually invited me along - and yeah - I'm going. These days, not only am I surprising him, I'm surprising myself too

A Liberal Allowance of Time