Well ... let's see ... First to answer Mary Lou's question and then an observation about "my reader friends" as a group and then ... there was something else ... maybe it will come back to me while I write ... OH Yeah ... a request ...

How are things since my last post?

Well, I slept Tuesday a lot! Then Wednesday was a humid day that made me feel groggy as all get out, too. Yesterday, I fell back into obsessing over software flaws. Sometimes my old work is still fun -- when I'm not getting paid, it's not really my project, and I'm not required to show back up the next day!

OH Wednesday I spent some time gathering up the entirety of our story about us moving from Oregon to New York. It's now all in one spot and pretty much in chronological order. And I've met someone in Second Life who will translate a short version of it into German.

The funny thing about this gentleman is that he's from Southern Germany -- Bavaria. Bavaria feels about the rest of Germany pretty much the same way Texas feels about the rest of the union.

We talk different. We think different. And frankly we don't care if you can tolerate us or not.

It gets funnier. This gentleman's work requires that he speaks regularly with people in Texas. And they have pretty much taught him the Texan language.

Soooo ... now if the two of us can stick to a plan ... funnier things may happen.

The reason I've gathered it all up is so that I can start building a book in SL. My plan is to just leave a copy in each one of my shops and then add a few pages each day. This is not a simple plan. But that's another day and another post. (And I have the distinct impression I may have mentioned this before ... but ... we're gonna pretend I haven't.)

Alright and as to Billy and the young man he's been helping ... there was one day of joy ... only to be followed by more frustration.

Billy knows that it is a "simple thing" to fix. The young man can only see the whole process of removing the transmission again as painful and discouraging.

I will tell you this. I have watched Billy be discouraged about his own car and I have watched him want to give up ... I have watched him dilly dally ... I have watched him pretty much plan to shoot the thing. Sooo no one is more qualified to help this young man through his frustrations than Billy.

In short, this is turning into a huge life lesson for the young man. I am confident that he will rise to the occasion and face that car down. It is also giving Billy something to think about that is within his abilities to at least have some power of influence over.

As to the loss of Billy's friend, it is like a bruise. Sometimes it's tender without any pressure. Sometimes something will move up against it and it is a much more sensitive topic. Sometimes it is almost as if it didn't happen ... being so far from the core of his home.

~~~ The Observation ~~~

Since I'm not approving comments as quickly as I did in the past, they tend to come to my attention in groups. It is amazing to me how each one of you ... without knowing what the other has written ... will speak to me in similar ways on virtually the same track of thought. I appreciate so much that ya'll are not a "me too me too" kind of group and that ya'll do not mind giving a nudge to my own thoughts ... to provide a little encouragement and even a little challenge.

~~~ The Request ~~~

Would you please ... when you land here ... even if you haven't commented in months ... just like me ... Please leave me two or three links to some of your favorite posts on your blog or anyone else's blog -- posts that you want me to know about -- so that I can feel sort of caught up and a little focused?

~~~ A Little Good News ~~~

I'm starting to feel that writing bug again -- ideas are actually arriving of their own accord.

Alright ... Talk to ya'll later ... and please don't be bashful about the links to posts!

See the joy in your day!