Hey there! Well I'm back in town. Thanks for the posts, Lost, Hope, RR, and Anne.
My trip to Nashville went well. It was a nice mixture of business and fun. I was able to work in some great outings with S5, taking him to a science/adventure place where I ended up sliding down a 2-story playtube with S5 and other kids, dress pants/shirt/tie and all. I'm letting my fun side show, and others seem to be noticing. A stranger commented to his partner this morning as S5 and I were in line waiting to get into a popular breakfast place, "You can't take the boy out of the man" as I was horse-playing with S5, and I smiled to myself, as I would have stayed 'proper' in the past.
To summarize the trip: On Wed, I flew in early, hung out at a coffeeshop by a local university and got some work done, went out to dinner with a co-worker and an old friend who now lives in Nashville. It was hard to tell the friend about my and W's upcoming D. I turned in early to catch some sleep (had only 1.5 hrs the night before), while coworker went out for more fun.
On Thurs, W was very pleasant, happy to have me take S5 off her hands, and I validated her for her tough time traveling alone with him. She came to a presentation I had at noon, and brought S5 snacks and when she clearly noted that one bottle of water was for me, I thanked her for being kind. We agreed for me to bring S5 back at 8pm, but she tried to have me watch him so she could go out with several young students. I reminded her that we had agreed on 8pm, and exchanged S5 with her at 8:30 pm at a blues club, where she was eating and drinking with her students.
I had a mixture of sadness and guilt about dropping him off with her: sadness because there was not one bit of interest on her part to spend the eve with me, but guilt because I know that she needs time for herself. It just had an icky feel to be watching our son on a night that was regularly hers. W smiled and was kind, but she's a great actress, and I didn't weigh this very heavily b/c it was in front of others. Her student team is loyal to her (naturally), so it was awkward with several 'glaring' or refusing to not look at me at we exchanged S5. The poor little guy tried to cling to me but I kissed the top of his head and told him to stay with his mother and that I'd see him the next day and walked out. I went out with a friend and went bar-hopping to listen to different country music acts, turning in by 12:30.
I woke up early, and worked out at the hotel gym, then saw that W had left a message. Called her back and she tried to say goodbye and not to worry about watching S5, but I insisted, noting that she could probably use the break. She brightened a bit, noting that she would like to work out and go to eat breakfast (alone). S5 and I headed out to a pancake place and had a great time.
I offered to drive W and S5 to the airport (I had a rental car there) and she accepted, and thanked me at the airport. On the drive, W noted that she had wanted to go line dancing in Nashville, and I told her I was sorry that it didn't work out. She noted that the coworker I went out with had been seen with some women hanging all over him on Wed eve, but I merely commented that I wasn't with him then. We took different airlines, mine was a direct flight that got me back 2 hrs ago, her and S5's flight was cancelled with them still stuck in Atlanta. Do you think I'll earn any points for choosing a better flight?
RR, I think the mystery will help, especially if there are obviously positive things happening in my life as well. Hope, yes, I jumped on the offer to watch S5 for 10 days. I'll make it happen while I'm still teaching, then he and I will take a fun trip ourselves - I figure something out that also provides some mystery/intrigue.
I'm letting my fun side show, and others seem to be noticing. A stranger commented to his partner this morning as S5 and I were in line waiting to get into a popular breakfast place, "You can't take the boy out of the man" as I was horse-playing with S5, and I smiled to myself, as I would have stayed 'proper' in the past. 
I went out with a friend and went bar-hopping to listen to different country music acts, turning in by 12:30.