And I love all of you. People want to love. People want to be loved.

That being said. I still haven't told my girlfriend that I love her, and she hasn't told me. We've been together for about 6 months. But, we're warming up. We often say things like, "I really like you." It's going to make it more special when we finally say it to each other.

I was about to get all pissy about the "guys are emotionally retarded" comment from your 'intelligent' friend. Well, I am pissy about people throwing the R-word around. But, the comment is generally correct. I'm 25 and I'm just starting to get my head around my emotions. I bet I've had some women scratching their heads and bitching to their friends for years.

Pneumatic. You had me scrambling for m-w.com. Scrambling I tell you.

http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dtxqwqr_19gjjvp8

This is an eye-opener on how the world will work. Because, surely Andrew, we know one thing..... the world, as you are coming to understand, Doesn't Work.

Just a thought, and a fascinating read.

..and had one pretty bad concussion. I didn't know what was going on for the rest of practice. My teammates dragged me to the next drill because I had no idea what was going on. It was pretty scary. Driving home, I had to pull over and call my parents so they could remind me how to get there. Looking back, I imagine that my brain was conpressed into one side of my cranium for that instant.

Standing in front of the chalkboard the next morning in Calc BC wasn't fun. I felt like I couldn't perform freshman algebra, let alone the most difficult math the school offered.

But playing football is the most fun you can have on this planet as a 17 year old boy - and I did all of the things 17 year old boys do, or wish to do.

I say let Johnny play linebacker, but hope he isn't addicted to hitting, like Mikey was and like millions others are.

I literally had other students verbally attacking me for getting into the coveted school. You know, one of the three everyone wants to go to. I'm white. I'm male. I'm Christian. I have an upper-middle class background. I never took SAT prep classes..... but I had something to offer..... I could hit a curve-ball. My parents always said, "you need a gimmick." (and by the looks of the economy I bet they lay down to bed at night wishing I didn't have a gimmick. I have those thoughts too. Thanks for revamping the student-aid immediately after I graduated!)

The stats show that people with 1600s were turned down for me.

Fair? Of course not. Wanna get in? Pick up an oboe or a tennis racket (better yet - a squash racket - oops, racquet).

Because you brought it up, the Cosby Show is the finest programming this country has ever witnessed. I hope poppa Mikes Pace doesn't read this, but Heathcliff Huxtable served as a second dad to me. I remember aching to grow up fast and have kids so I could make jokes with my lawyer wife about getting the kids out of the house. You want a barometer of how far our country's morals have fallen - look at the Cosby Show and compare it with the reality shows de jour; case in point.

Also, I think the show really... myspaced?... when they went off to college and Pam became a main character. But, I hope we can agree that the episode with Bill having nightmares about unhealthy food, is a masterpiece.

I agree with your thoughts on Joe Morgan.

Steve Phillips is a sexist moron. His addition to SNB will only result in some guys creating firestevephillips.com. That being said, espn could tote two toddlers into the booth and I doubt it would affect the Nielson numbers.

? which you don't have to answer. Inspiration for naming your kid Buster.... Buster Keaton or Buster Douglas?

The real devil is in the way we populate the land. People often drive hundreds of miles a week just to travel to and from work. Think about that. A vet's assistant might drive 35 miles to her place of employment. That same employee may drive by 3 other animal hospitals on the way to her gig. People travel too far to perform tasks they could often perform closer to home. And, this assistant could travel all that way just to answer phones and weigh doggies. We need to think more locally.

The other two devils are: #1) population growth and #2) the economic sytem we've created which mandates unending growth, which in itself, is an impossibility.

And those are three simple reasons why the world, as we know it Andrew, doesn't work.

.... the pitchforks are coming out. Just wait a couple months until the New York Mets unveil the brand new Citi Field in April!!!!

You know, Citi bought the naming rights for 20 years at the low low price of $400,000,000.00 (all of which is taxpayer money). Let's see how that pans out.

long walks. deep breathing. tai chi. talk slowly. smile warmly. look for silver linings. observe nature - it's beauty is unmistakable.

Your cat died. Sorry. Does the trauma of your cat passing eclipse the joy it brought you for 18 years? Probably not. There is your silver lining.

Listen to music like Sirius Spa and wear funky clothes that you like.

During one of those longs walks, you'll find yourself craving human interaction. And you'll slowly reconnect with the world in a fine manner.

Do you have a comfortable pair of shoes to walk in?

Ask Lyle Alzado or those East German female swimmers.

Ken Griffey Jr. is bringing the flag, King. When do you need it by?

Steroids bad. Bonds bad. A-Rod bad. Clemens bad. Baseball not testing for steroids by 1990.... really bad.