Okay, Blackie, I'll recant my apology to Corri for the hijacking and apologize to you instead. You can't imagine how much I appreciate hearing your thoughts on all this stuff. You do know you can post on my thread too, right?

I've independently come up with the same conclusion that I'm not going to alter my interests or doings... but I do like your idea of a female support group. I'm making a more concerted effort to talking with more women in my travels. I've been enjoying one of the gals who is on the board of the volleyball club--we think alike and get along well. I also have the chick candle party this Thursday to anticipate as well.

That means I don't give up hockey... or obnoxious boy movie night (now featured this weekend)... or my fantasy football team.

I have a feeling that Honey, Corri and I could spend an entire weekend sharing commonalities every moment of the day. We all seem to share some overlapping issues. I find it interesting that the big ones center around the topic of femininity.

So I am very happy hearing you weigh in on Laura Doyle. I pretty much had the same reaction (the barfing). And yes, I also finished it with a sick feeling in my stomach because it seemed to hit some very big nerves. When I finally confronted my MC, he told me that he didn't want me to take too much specifically, but to look at it from a systemic POV. It took me a long while to get how my part of the "system" was grossly out of whack. And since I'm not a ditz (or a blonde ) or lacking an opinion, I couldn't imagine myself programming that way. Thanks for reassuring me.

Yeah, I'd have been the girl who challenged you to shooting those hoops. I'd have shot to win, but I'd have made sure that neither one of us were losers, no matter the outcome. All in good fun.

It's funny that you can peg the women who come into the scuba shop for ulterior motives. I do wonder why some women want to meet men so bad? I mean, to pretend to be something they're not? It's not so bad if they truly are interested in trying something different just because... but to put themselves in front of men? Well, hell. Why don't you encourage them to make a living doing it? Maybe join the Navy? Then they could scuba dive AND hang around men all day?

And since you mentioned it, I would like to dive some day. My sister and BIL are both divers and head to Cancun pretty much every year. She's dying for me and my D12 to certify. I'm not much of a good swimmer anymore, so we'll see what I can do.

I also understand why Mr. W. had the reaction he did when my D9 got her diagnosis. Doesn't mean I like it, but I do understand it. You know what I think would have been acceptable and perfectly fine? For him to have just hugged me and let me cry. I'd have felt comforted and he could have been my man. But he just offered me his contempt instead. Honestly, I look back and see 2 human beings who were scared to death, hurting and grieving. And I don't think either one of us had a good handle on ourselves, so we couldn't offer each other support. Our world was rocked and neither one of us knew how we were going to get through it all. But we did. Funny that.

Okay, so back to Laura Doyle. You know what irked me the most about her? She didn't even have any degree in psychology or social work and had never proven any of her theories scientifically. I felt she was a crackpot before I even opened the cover. But even those of us without any degrees to counsel make a point once in awhile. I give Laura hers.

So now I guess the right thing to do would be to offer you and Corri the chance to hijack my thread. Before it locks up.

Take care and have a great weekend. I do enjoy hearing your thoughts, Blackie. Don't go hiding under a rock anytime soon, okay? Now where the heck did Corri and Honey go?

Betsey

"There are only 2 ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

Albert Einstein