Cary,

That was so much fun!

LW,

Hoo boy, where to begin? How about some humor, or candid, spontaneous banter? Maybe just a smile. Show a little leg? Bend over to retrieve something shiny that fell from your purse. OK, I kid.

A beautiful man is a soul housed in a package that is pleasant. Just a soul, like you, rambling around in the world. How can you know what he is like if you can't get past a surface. The surface of anyone or anything gets old quickly by the way. Hopefully there is much more than meets the eye.

Have fun and let yourself go. Maybe one of these men you happen to find attractive will think your babbling is charming. Who likes slick anyway? Be yourself and you have nothing to lose.

Perhaps we all need pictures of ourselves accompanying our posts. First we lose the opportunity to let it rip anonymously, then everyone can see an image of us (though photos are not truth). Danger danger.

Then we'd really get civilized.

We could all sit around talking about "hotness" and other randomness. Also I'd really like to see what this brighstar fool looks like.

"Marriage" means that you are devoted to someone. Presumably monogamous, interconnected, loving and supportive of one another. It does not dictate how and where you live. So let go of any bad feelings anyone else is attempting to sling at you. Teens are everything Cary said and worse. Remember?

The problem I hear, though you didn't really say it, is that you are angry with your husband for indulging and permitting his children so. Yeah, I'd be angry too. Family is precarious territory, especially when it comes to kids.

Up until the time you wrote this, it sounds as if you were headed in the right direction. Cary was just fabulous in his explanation of the teen boy thing though, so try his advice! Dysfunction is abundant, but you can return their hate with kindness if you choose to.

I don't envy you when it comes to the teen terrors LW, You are a "maverick"(heh heh, sorry cannot resist lately), better than a maverick... you are forging an unconventional path that makes sense for you and for your love. Necessity being the mother of invention, you are probably not the only one. Sounds good to me.

...is my mouth smiling and my hand holding an adult sippy cup of something dry and red while the kids gather their treats.

That and a camera to capture all the ghouls and silly critters (like Palin).

Could you please rephrase the question? It isn't clear, but this is what came immediately to mind:

A Hobson's choice. A bitter blow. Freedom in a sealed baggie. Left then right or right then left. Hot is on the left, or is it the right? Try to do it with compassion and communication. Can both c's be present in a divorce?

Good luck in any case and don't forget to breathe.

...anything can happen. I remember thinking, "Who are these people?" about the Bush voters the first time. The second time was just shocking.

Polls don't count racists well, but it seems obvious they probably aren't smart enough to cover their true intentions when questioned. So what matters is not polls or pundits, it's the number of votes counted. I feel badly for whoever inherits this mess... and that means all of us.

Whooooo Hooooooooooooooooooo!

Welcome President Barack Obama!

My sleeves are rolled up and I am ready to work.

-Elated e.m.

I heard this on NPR and think it is fitting:

"It means we finally get to put down our bags."

SHS wrote: "finally learned to judge a person by the content of their character instead of by the color of their skin."

I spent much of the morning post election listening to the speeches of Dr. King and crying. Joyful tears. Grateful tears.

Yes, finally.

That little window into Cary's head is fun! It was like watching "Being Cary Tennis", yet it supplied some information that the LW can use. Your brother was lucky. Your wife was right, take care of that right away.

So anyway...

LW,

"In love as in literature", the choices of others never cease to amaze. It is a bad idea to judge his choices. You care for him and you want to help, but you cannot barge in to criticize his choices. It sounds like she is pushing him forward or at least moving him along and that doesn't seem to come easily to him. Unless he asks for your help and advice, be careful of opening that door.

Someone wrote: "More whites voted for McCain than for Obama"

Uh, not where I live and not any of my friends, colleagues or random acquaintances.

... but you seem to be preoccupied by how you appear.

That just sucks.

Not true at all where I live though, which is one of the many reasons I love it here!