I am instilling some humor here while people are busy arguing and you kind of missed it.

If you must know I am well acquainted with the transportation systems there since I work there three months each year... but you can have the title of absolute king of all things Parisian if you like. Really, it's cool, you be the expert because I prefer student anyway. Tell me more.

Remember what humor is? Like when people laugh at cliches?

It's OK, cool down bud. It wasn't a personal attack. The trains in NYC are pretty stinky too. AND to save you some time, yes, I lived there too for a while.

He's just dreamy!

I smell what you're cookin'.

Critical thinking? From the peanut gallery? See, you do have a good sense of humor. Let's just have a little fun, we don't get paid to comment here. Don't get me wrong, I get fired up too, I just hate seeing everyone argue about something we don't seem to have a great amount of control over.

Can anyone here argue with French wine? Love is the word that comes to mind, see they nailed the winemaking. There is something to learn from everyone.

That Joe Conason is still dreamy (by the way).

LW,

I hope you can integrate his thoughts into your life. They make a lot of sense and are easier than you may believe. Look inward and shift your attitudes about your relationships past, present and future. You've nothing to lose but this dead weight on your heart and spirit.

Lighten up, get yourself out there, have some fun. There are a million ways to have fun with other people. Take your view and stretch it out, make it bigger, bigger, bigger!

Glancing briefly at this thread I'd like to reiterate what cosmic mojo said. There is always a way if you set your intention and reframe your situation. You can do this in increments, just think smaller steps. Delusions of grandeur do not serve anyone.

Your hunger and inspiration is real. If you don't honor it, you will explode. That's actually not a bad thing, as you suspect. Your feelings are OK. A lot of people get what you are saying on this topic, it never ends. Sisyphean is the word that comes to mind.

So yes, parenting, particularly motherhood is isolating (Hello Salon, Facebook, Blog addict, etc!) but girl, you are NOT alone. Just this morning I wrote this to a friend:

I need a wife!

Is there some way to engage your children in your creative process? Include them since you are always with them anyway, then there is not such separation between your needs and your reality. There is an army of mothers out there who feel exactly as you do. Heck, it was even on Oprah a few weeks ago. You are not living in a vacuum. Resourcefulness will be your savior.

Find your "wife"! Also- check out Dooce.com. It sounds like you need a bit of humor from other mothers.

mishimishi has some great advice too. Many others as well.

LW, I'd like to shout again that you are not alone. Can you hear that? I hope some of these posts echo this and wish you and your family the best.

Remember- kids are rich in creativity and may be part of the answer to your creative path. Allow them to surprise you.

I have nothing to add and defer to exactly "what she said"!

That girl vs. girl competition of who can be sexiest and best at being a tease and oh so demure gets old fast. Is there a shortage of men? Is the end goal to score and trap a man? Really? How sad and condescending.

Let Paris Hilton, and the Hefner women have at it! Ms. Brown made it worse and brought nothing to the table but shallow fashonista BS.

Who are those tools carrying the "Marriage one man one woman" signs?

Uptight and ridiculous. If that is their main issue in this lifetime, to prevent people with other preferences from uniting.... well, they have larger issues than just Prop 8.

Poised over this keyboard about to type something about how to "get over" love or attachment, it's clear I am not one to be advising on this topic. Once I was haunted for as many years (or more), so it took a better love and work similar to what Cary advised to heal this lost soul.

There is always room to learn how to give love and deepen our understanding of it. That is what we are here for and eventually we will be able to see that this inescapable suffering was our teacher.

Your letter was touching LW. Thank you for being so candid with thousands of strangers. Some will be cruel because they are lacking a sensitivity gene, but no one alive can say that they've not lost someone they loved.

The universal scar, existing on each heart. If it's not there, you'd better get away quick. The part of us that feels this awful pain is the same part where we feel amazing joy.

This is bigger and more powerful because it has existed in your head, for years. Open it up and begin letting it stream out. It's OK.

gives me the creeps.

I've been there, and LW, you have to get a lawyer. You don't need to be in a hurry, but advice from someone who knows inheritance law is imperative. I wish it were different...but the reality is this:

If you don't settle this in the present, you will remain resentful in the future.

has anyone else checked out open salon?

you can get lost in there! i have to run away so i don't lose hours.

Thank you!

I am just wondering, as a side note: which would be worse, having money and an ivy league education, but no wits...

or having no money and no education but teeming with personality?