I love Cary's writing here - except for the comment about the 'arid life in front on the computer'. Cary's always had a bias against corporate work, it comes out in his writing now and then.

LW, the economy is in the pits right now. You might not be able to find your dream job. Can you go back to the first company that had a job you turned down? Find something temporary, not a receptionist job, that's a dead end, but something else that gets you into a company in your field, even if it's very, very low on the totum pole? Maybe pick up an extra skill or two at a community college since your area of expertise seems limited?

Good luck in your search. I tried to get into my dream job 24 years ago, never did get there.

Orchids

..for your neighbor with 50 plants...I'd suggest watering some of them with Clorox.

I went though the same thing when I had a townhouse. The plant idea is just ridiculous and will piss off everyone. The notes eventually will as well. Living in a townhouse area, you have to be careful not to piss off your neighbors completely, I've seen vandalism and other expressions of anger regarding parking. And since you are only using one space, the neighbors know you live alone, consider your safety. What I did was to always, always refuse when someone asked to use my extra space. For a while, people used it anyway, when that happened I just called and had the offending car in my space towed. No notes, no banging on people's doors to move their car. This made some people mad, but, when confronted I noted that it was my space, and how could I keep track of who had what car? This kept my involvement with my neighbors to a minimum, and once they all knew what I would do, they left it alone. Still was very stressful for a while, though.

I like Starbucks, but the prices for their drinks and the stale pastries and sandwiches are just too high. The US economy is not doing that well, me and lots of my friends are worried about layoffs, recession etc. When gas is nearly 4 bucks a gallon, it seems ridiculous to spend that amount or more for a flavored coffee and maybe a stale pastry.

Also, the Starbucks where I live routinely puts the sheets with the plastic wrapped pastries and sandwiches on their counter, where everyone can see that they are made in some factory. Who wants to pay 4 or 5 bucks for something like that? At least an egg McMuffin is made in the store.

...I live in an older community in the burbs, which I chose because I wanted a big organic garden to grow thing to share more than I liked the city. My neighbors introduced themselves to me with homemade treats. On holidays I do the same for them. We talk to each other, share things. We've build a community in the burbs. Maybe it's different in the McMansion areas, I don't know. But where I am it's community, sharing, little cars. A good place.

For what it's wprth, it was my dog I was speaking about. And I do contribute to international charitiies, I sponsor five children in fact. And for what it's worth, I didn't shit out a bunch of kids I couldn't feed - but I still help. So I will spend what I have left on my dog, thanks.

I work for my money. I earn my money. If I want to spend it on my dog's illness, or get a second job to pay for it, or put it on my Visa and take five years to pay it off, it is my money, my values, my decision. As it is yours. In caring for my animals, I take into consideration quality of life for the animal. Period.

I enjoyed this article and emphasized with this poor guy. Don't any of you, male or female, remember the first time you bought, or thought about buying, one of those 'toys'? They are hilarious, they all look kind of silly, I think.

Good luck in the dating world, Trey. It's not easy returning to dating after a divorce, you just gotta find the right woman. I don't think most women have a problem dating guys with kids, just when it happens, try to have a balance. You need to put your children first, of course, but make extra effort to let your lady know she is special.

Orchids

..and I would hold FMhilton down while you kicked him in the ass. I am also bipolar, and without medication, I would not be able to work, pay taxes, pay bills. I would either be in prison, on the street, or dead.

I loate people who make widespread pronouncements about things they have no experience with...

Modern technology allows me to communicate with my godchild, the light of my life, who is eight thousand miles away. Text messages, YouTube videos, it can all be good.

I try to leazn every new thingie that invented.

...yes, this is the beginning of adulthood....

...what brand are your bottles? I agree that bottled water is a plague, but, the water in my area tastes awful. I'd like to find a gadget like you are describing.

And thanks for the report Pablo. When I was in India I saw literally acres of these empty bottles.