So I hope a marvelous weekend was had by all. As my birthday week celebrations began, I can say I was quite pleased with mine. From the Mpls Block Party to Breakfast in Waconia to a Barbeque at Colleens and KPs (thank you kindly lovely ladies) to drinks on a friend's deck after and waterskiing the next day with his family on the St. Croix to drinking wine on Shana's veranda. Each was a fantabulous addition to my Birthday.
 
I unfortunately woke up with a splitting headache and am quickly trying to shag it, since I expect to get one this evening ;-) Mom has asked to take me out for lunch or dinner for my birthday and I realize that some things are a gift to others not yourself. As previously stated in person, I am available until Thursday for other celebrations, just let me know :-) Well off to the Drapes place before break, so they can sing to me and lavish me with tasty deserts. I'm hoping for chocolate. Here's to a great year, I wish my friend Jason was here to give me a Birthday wish, he was always good at giving me specific wishes for the year.
  
 

Two Things to Share and I'm Out of Here

First: MY TIP FOR MEN EVERYWHERE
I have been in the company of some guy friends recently and here is my tip, it doesnt matter what the relationship of the women to you, but DO NOT, I repeat if you are tempted FLEE, I SAY! and DO NOT say in the presence of another woman other than your mother "Whoa that girl was georgeous!" or "hot" or any other such synonym, unless you are referring to a mirror reflecting the countenance of the girl you are with. I dont care if I am your friend, and you are not going to clarify that situation by saying such things, the only thing you are going to do is tell me YOU are an insensitive ass and I AM a less attractive girl by far then the one you have just referenced. May I add a disclaimer than I am in no way in some men bashing mood, I just realized that it appears you guys didnt realize this was hurtful, by the number of times I've heard it in the last year.

SECOND: HOLDING HANDS
Okay so I am writing a book on touch, just small vignettes interspersed with prayers. Today I decided to write on holding hands. I have actually started two relationships that have been pretty nice, by the signifigance of holding hands. One I just reached out and grabbed his hand and he commented later that he was surprised by it and liked it (and I guess me too) and the other was my first love, Brian, he had told me he didnt hold hands with just girl friends, but those he was romantically interested in he did, so as he reached out and grabbed my hand across the table one night it was communicating he was no longer interested in a girl he had broken up with but WAS with me. Well I love Brian and not to step on his grave but why dont we hold hands as friends??? It is so deeper than a sexual urge, but I think is just the sweetest comfort. To me it is like an adult version of a kid jumping in your lap and curling up! What do you think of hand holding?

Sorry I gotta run to do a massage. I will look for a response later!

GREATEST THING TO HAPPEN THIS WEEKEND: Sorry this deserves upper case AND bold. My nephew made it to Kuwait on Saturday!!! I realize some of the hard stuff is yet to come, but he is safe, he is healthy and he is alive, for all this I am grateful. One of the guys in his company got hit in the shoulder with mortar during the attack on the airport last Tues (July 5th) he is paralyzed from the neck down and is still in Iraq in hospitalization. I am reminded of all those he left behind in Iraq. I've started writing a prayer for them, I will insert it later. But please remember these father, sons, brothers, nephews, daughters, moms, and sisters often in your prayers. I worry about them.

Other good things that have happened since I last wrote: I had sushi with Anna & Laura, I laid out in the sun TWICE with Naomi "I LOVE THE SUN - IT MAKES ALL THINGS BETTER" ... repeat after me ;-) I also spoke to Dave Smith on IM a week ago, he was taking some time off from studying at the Airforce Academy and I was thinking I totally adore that guy, nothing particular that he said, but do you ever talk to someone and you just remember everything you like about them and just beam. I kind of did that with Laura and Anna too, I am such an experiencer or maybe just a lover, I love my friends they are the greatest arent they?! :-D

Okay I need to finish Laura's shower present, I'll finish this later!

A Dating Story: So my friend that "tore my skirt" off last year by accident has been dating this girl recently. I looked him up again and he invited me out with this girl he has been dating, himself and 2 other couples and another guy. The guy was the only single one besides myself there. As the night proceeded I came to the conclusion he was probably gay. He gave no notice to the waitress that was flirting mercily with him and he was pretty shy, but the only thing he lit up about was his friend "bill" which he talked about over and over. So I kind of laughed when my friend Brent called to tell me he wanted my number. I decided what the heck and we met at Herkimer's on Thursday for lunch. (Ironically the scene of the crime for Brent and my date).

So during lunch he asked me a few questions, it appeared he was trying really hard. However, he avoids eye contact all the time, he waved and looked at me when I came in and pulled out my chair, but the second I sat down the eyes darted. It seemed like when I walked into his "intimacy zone" he was so uncomfortable. Mind you that "intimacy zone" was sitting across the table from him. Okay but here is the point, once again the only time he locked eyes and was comfortable was when he was talking about "Bill", his eyes lit up and he was truly excited about it! Also he told me he grew up in a Missouri Senate Church, not the most excepting of a gay lifestyle. I need a girl or guy with good gaydar, but I'm pretty sure I'm not the girl to show up on a Oprah show 10years from now stunned my husband just told me he was gay. We'll see if he asks me out again as to what I will tell him, but I feel I need to say something ... hmm. Any ideas?