Easy As Falling Off A Bike pt 997.

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The Daily Dormouse.
(aka Bike)
Part 997
by Angharad

Copyright © 2010 Angharad
All Rights Reserved.
  
-Dormouse-001.jpg

Downstairs the others were in a feeding frenzy while I sat on my bed listening to Simon’s phone ring. Tomorrow was Livvie’s party at the hotel, God I needed him home. In all fairness he had told me he wouldn’t be home before the party, but he would get to the party. With all the intrigue, it had almost slipped my mind.

Why wasn’t he answering? “Come on, Simon, answer your bloody phone,” I urged him. I had no idea where he was or what he was doing. Damn, I have to vote next week too. I felt completely overwhelmed by life–I only had one pair of hands and contrary to popular understanding, transsexuals only have one head, so getting it round all the dilemmas I was facing was a real problem.

Tom wanted me to take the UN job, I suspected Simon would as well, but he’d pass it back to me, so I couldn’t blame him later. What’s the point of having men if you can’t blame them for everything? What’s the point of being married when you have no idea where your husband is or what he’s doing? What’s the point of having children–they break your bank account and your heart? What’s the point of living? Not much–we’re born, grow, consume, pollute, destroy and die.

A tear ran down my cheek, the phone rang and I scooped it up, “Si?” I gasped but it wasn’t, it was some little Indian bloke asking if I was having a good day and could he talk to me about broadband. I told him, I was having a bloody awful day and if he didn’t piss off, I’d shoot him. Funnily enough he didn’t stop to ask what was wrong with my day.

I dialled Simon’s mobile, his office, and his flat. In the end I sought counsel from Henry.

“Hi, Henry, it’s Cathy.”

“This is an unexpected pleasure from my favourite daughter in law, to what might I owe it?”

“Have you got a few minutes?” I asked.

“For you, Cathy, I have the rest of my life–what’s the problem, there is one, isn’t there?”

I of course being a true scientist, faced with the opportunity to put pro and contra reasons for an argument, burst into tears.

“Goodness, girl, what is so important that you’re upset about it–the children are all okay?”

I nodded before remembering he couldn’t see me. “No everyone is fine. It’s about a job offer.”

“Oh, before you tell me anymore, do you want to do it?”

“I don’t know, Henry, that’s why I’m phoning you.”

“If you don’t know, don’t do it.”

“You don’t know what it is yet?”

“I don’t care, if it upsets you that much, I’d say it wasn’t right for you.”

“You won’t when you hear what it is.”

“Okay, what is it?”

“Leading the European team of the UN environmental investigation.”

“The UN?”

“Yes.”

“Shouldn’t you be a crusty old professor with a beard and bad breath?”

“It might help.”

“How much are they paying?”

“Not as much as the aggro seems to be.”

“The UN, eh? Crikey girl, no wonder you’re crying. It doesn’t get any bigger does it?”

“Not from an ecological point of view, no.”

“So what’s stopping you?”

“I love my children,” I mumbled and burst into tears again.

“Spoken like a true mother, now c’mon, pull yourself together and tell me which is more important to you–your children or your career?”

“My children,” I sobbed and collapsed into tears again.

“What happened to Cathy Watts, ninja warrior?”

“She married your son, remember?” I sniffed at him.

“Oh yeah, you realise we only kept him was so he might marry an intelligent and beautiful woman, whom I could lust over till the end of my life.”

“Don’t be silly, you daft bugger.”

“Honestly, he was five minutes away from being donated to Barnardo’s.”

“Don’t be silly.”

“I’m not.”

“You are, you love children.”

“I didn’t my own. Okay it was easier with Stella, she was cute–Simon looked like a cross between a pig and an ape.”

“You’re talking about the man I love,” I gently scolded him.

“Good job someone does.”

“You do too, I remember how concerned you were when he was shot.”

“Yes, I was going to have to pay for his funeral.”

“Henry, you are a real case.”

“For you, my darling, I’d be anything, just dump Simon and run away with me.”

“Don’t be silly, now what should I do?”

“All you do is insult me, so why should I tell you?”

“Because you fancy me rotten and know you can never have me.”

“I’ll hire a hit squad to kidnap you and take to my secret lair, my seraglio.”

“Oh very Mozart.”

“You’re the first person I’ve ever met who knew that. See we’re soul mates–dump the dummy and elope with me.”

“No certainly not, he’s my husband.”

“Damn, well I tried.”

“Are you coming to Livvie’s party tomorrow?”

“Try stopping me, especially if her sexy mother’s there.”

“One of these days your son is going to thump you.”

“For a taste of your forbidden fruits, it would be worth it.”

“Henry, you are full of more shit than Simon.”

“Dammit, you noticed–normally people mistake it for charisma.”

“I’m a scientist, remember.”

“I keep forgetting, all I see is you–unadulterated by clothing, except maybe a small corset and stockings and...”

“Henry, grow up. Now what should I do?”

“I keep telling you, run away with me.”

“About my job, stupid?”

“Oh that? Tell them maybe next year–then run away with me.”

“Thank you, Henry, love you lots for an old man.”

“Hang on, I may be experienced but everything is working under my kilt, ye ken, hen.”

“Go and talk to Monica.”

“I can’t she’s shagging the footmen.”

“Don’t be so crude.”

“I’m not if I was, I’d have said–”

“I don’t wish to know that, goodnight, Henry.” I clicked off the handset. I loved him to bits but he was hard work.

I went into the bathroom and washed my eyes, when I came out, Trish was sitting on the bed. “We was missing you, Mummy.”

“Okay, sweetheart, let’s go down and get it over with.”

I held her hand as we descended the stairs, what had felt so right while talking to Henry now felt riddled with doubts. If I felt like this now, what happens when I face Tom and Gareth, or the children with the opposite argument? I squeezed Trish’s hand and she squeezed me back and a sense of calmness flowed from her hand.

“Oh there you are, have you decided.”

“O’ course she has, I telt ye earlier.”

“I have decided and this isn’t for discussion, I’m saying no, Gareth, my children are more important than a job. There are a number of people who would do it very well and I’ll certainly help with presenting its findings because that’s all you wanted me to do. I’m conceited enough to think that not many could bring up my kids as I want them to be, so I’m putting them before my career. I’m sorry if that embarrasses you, but you did try to deceive me, so it’s hard cheese.”

“I think you’ll regret this, Cathy.”

“No I won’t, because I’m not going to even think about it unless you need help with talking to the media.”

Tom looked devastated, but that was his own fault, he should have talked to me. I smiled at him.

“Ye get mair an’ mair like ma Catherine, she wis wilful, too.”

“I’m sorry, Daddy, but you should have asked me.”

“Och weel, mebbe it’s time I retired, efter a’.”

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Comments

Bike pt 997

I think that ol' Tom is actually proud of Cathy for making a stand.

    Stanman
May Your Light Forever Shine
    Stanman
May Your Light Forever Shine

Ummm....

How do you come to that conclusion?

Based on what I've read, it seems he's more concerned with other things, at least at this moment in time. There at the end, he even does his "perhaps I should retire" again. In the past, this has caused Cathy to come running to help him.

Yes, Tom recognized that Cathy can be stubborn. And that his genetic daughter also could be.

Perhaps, eventually Tom will come to the conclusion that Cathy made the right decision, but right now, I don't believe so.

Regards,
Ann

'Tone' of the text....

Perhaps it was this comment...

“Ye get mair an’ mair like ma Catherine, she wis wilful, too.”

Tom revered his Catherine as he does Cathy. That was ... in Tom's way, that comparison was a very great and very loving compliment to his adopted daughter.

PB

She's a brave girl that Cathy

and an honest one if she truly puts her children first.

That must be one of the true marks of a transsexual that they immerse themselves totally as a woman and a mother if they are given the opportunity. That is the hard evidence that demonstrates that they are truly 'girls born with the wrong plumbing'.

I don't think a transvestite could cross over so well.

It's really nice to see Cathy's subconscious, true, feminine sexuality surfacing here. Her need to communicate with Simon if only to be 'inclusive' in her decision-making is a classic girl thing. All part of the 'two-sided multitasking brain'.
It's the mammoth thing isn't it.

Still loving it,

keep on penning,
OXOXOX.

Beverly.

bev_1.jpg

False Comparison

I can't even imagine why you inject this discussion here! Cathy has never been presented as a transvestite by the author, nor perceived as one by the readers. This is a divisive argument and has no place in a story comment on 'Bike,' unless you're just trying to aggravate some of our fellow readers.

Leave us not forget that there are plenty of women unfit for motherhood, and plenty of men who are wonderful parents. That Cathy is a caring, fit, and capable parent is a testament to her as an individual, not necessarily related to her gender status.

___________________
If a picture is worth 1000 words, this is at least part of my story.

And now we may

never know who Cathy was going to ask to look after her children.....Oh well... Never mind .....But for what its worth i do think Cathy has made the right decision....After all she would never have been happy away from her children, Always worrying that they were being looked after properly,Not being there to give them a kiss and cuddle when they were upset, But most of all missing that day to day contact that makes being a mother so worthwhile and fulfilling.

Kirri

So, it was a fake cliffhanger?

Or a drifthanger given that it went on for several days, and then petered out.

But then again, she's said that she's prepared to front the media for Gareth's motley crew, so someone might still be needed on occasion. All is not lost!

Given that one of Cathy's concerns was that her past would be raked over by the muck... er ...media, the decision is somewhat curious.

Press Spokesman


Bike Archive

*sighs*

Tom. Still trying to get his "daughter" to do what he thinks is best.

This time, I think that Henry's advice has a LOT going for it. When it's optional, doing something you don't just WANT to do is probably a mistake.

I found the various discussions quite "enlightening". Henry answered honestly, then he cheered her up. Quite a nice thing for a father-in-law to do.

Thank you,
Ann

P.S. I wonder whether the topic is really "over".

A surprising counselor

I mean, Henry? But then again I think he actually does love Cathy like his own.

There is only one key sentence that was the key to the entire decision making:

'if it upsets you that much, I’d say it wasn’t right for you'

To do that job would have required that she would want to put her heart and soul into doing it. Well maybe Cathy can't save the entire planet, but she seems to be doing it one soul at a time! More than what can be said for a great part of humanity, sad to say.

That said, she may very well be borrowed from time to time to maybe spokesmodel something but she should not bear the burden of the entire kit and kaboodle.

Kim

>> 'if it upsets you that much, I’d say it wasn’t right for

Puddintane's picture

I personally find the sentence condescending and patronising. We note that it's delivered by an old man who thinks she's shaggable and says so. As a whole, his opinion seems scarcely at odds with those who believe women are "unfit" for any kind of real responsibility, because their "higher calling" is "making a home" for a husband who has the manly strength and courage to handle difficult tasks.

We also note with disapproval that the percentage of women holding "responsible" positions in major corporations is laughably low, roughly fifteen percent at the CEO level, and quite a few of those as heads of companies like Mary Kay, a maker of cosmetics aimed (not surprisingly) almost entirely at women.

In the USA -- more backwards than most civilised nations -- there are only seventeen female Senators and seventy-four female Representatives out of one hundred total Senators and four hundred thirty-five Representatives respectively.

Last I looked, women made up roughly half the citizens of the world, and roughly half the workforce. There seems to be a discontinuity of thought on the part of those who hold the reins of power which insists that the "little ladies" really ought stand back and let the men run any serious affair, from machinery to business to government.

Pardon me if I don't cheer, but she's letting down the side.

Puddin'

I was told that whistling wasn't ladylike,
but I knew even then that women were simply
not supposed to be that happy.
---Anonymous, quoted in Kindling the Spirit by Lois P. Frankel

-

Cheers,

Puddin'

A tender heart is an asset to an editor: it helps us be ruthless in a tactful way.
--- The Chicago Manual of Style

I don't understand your reasoning

There is nothing that even indicate that its the case.

Henry hadnever indicated that she isn't qualified or that she shouldn't take the job. All he did was to point to cathy that the fact that the job seem to freak her out now might indicate the she doesn't want it.

Your post also seem very misandric, and while I understand your fruastration it's not a very healthy thing ( your post seem to indicate that about 50% of the population are scumbags ). You should also see that females aren't often willing to give up their extra right ( How many countries allow man to take birth leave to take care of a newborn, how many times have you heard females protest against that or the fact that they ,in case of divorce, get custody by default ), while the female social status isn't the best it isn't all black and its not only the men fault.

Lily.

That was my interpretation of that advice also.

It was NOT about incompetency but more about her intuitive understanding of what her true needs and desires are, not because it is sexist.

I think my opinion would be different if Cathy did not have all these children in the house - Not to mention Trish, Meems, Livvie, Danny Billie and Julie ;-).

The problem is this is NOT a conventional family. They are a family that is just starting to gel together and all are still pretty insecure and vulnerable. The formal adoption no doubt helped, but these kids know being adopted is very different from being a genetic child of your mother. See how Danny and Billie reacted recently as they don't even have that feeling of security. Julie is still being held together by spit and baling wire. I would not trust an immature husband, a still depressed Stella and a grandfatherly old man who is from a different era being up to handling the myriad problems those kids represent.

Finally, who is to say Cathy will not accomplish great things just provided much needed insight into that organization? She may not be leading the thing but she may very well become the defacto face of the institution by being more or less the communications director.

Kim

>> Understanding

Puddintane's picture

>>>>>> 'if it upsets you that much, I’d say it wasn’t right for you'

Cathy has had numerous people of presumptive good judgment tell her that she's key to an important effort to preserve biological diversity and help to heal the world, so it isn't all about her and her family, but of her own lifework and the innocent victims of human overreaching the limitations of the natural world.

Granted, the logistics would be challenging, but she lives in a household of three adults aside from her, in which she's been roped into the role of "mommy" for them all. Tom's retiring would actually be a good thing, as it would free him to take better care of what is, in fact, his household, and help Cathy by lightening her burdens at least in part. It's all very well to retire to the drawing room with a whiskey from time to time, but in fact he and Simon often leave Cathy on her own to handle the "women's work" whilst they recuperate from their trying days spent performing what must be seen as "real work" whilst Cathy frets about providing balanced meals and doing the ironing.

Likewise Stella, poor dear, is simply overcome by handling one infant child, whilst Cathy juggles six, so Stella lies fainting in her room for the most part, plagued by the "vapours," whilst Cathy often handles Stella's baby in addition to the three-ring circus.

Hasn't anyone noticed that there's very little male participation in household chores, other than what Cathy organises on her own?

What she needs is attendance at a "Consciousness Raising" group, in which traditional sources of oppression are identified and strategies devised to coöperatively confront and overcome them. Unfortunately, CR groups aren't thick on the ground these days, but the bookshops have entire sections devoted to women's (mostly) "self-help" books which offer much of the same advice without the camaraderie.

Cathy needs more woman friends.

Cheers,

Puddin'

Look at my works! See how beautiful they are -- how excellent! For your sake I created them all. See to it you do not spoil and destroy My world; for if you do, there will be no one else to repair it.
--- Midrash Kohelet Rabbah 1, on Ecclesiastes 7:13

We of an older generation can get along with what we have, though with growing hardship; but in your full manhood and womanhood you will want what nature once so bountifully supplied and man so thoughtlessly destroyed; and because of that want you will reproach us, not for what we have used, but for what we have wasted...So any nation which in its youth lives only for the day, reaps without sowing, and consumes without husbanding, must expect the penalty of the prodigal whose labor could with difficulty find him the bare means of life.
--- Theodore Roosevelt

You don't have to be anti-man to be pro-woman.
--- Jane Galvin Lewis

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Cheers,

Puddin'

A tender heart is an asset to an editor: it helps us be ruthless in a tactful way.
--- The Chicago Manual of Style

Not condescending at all

Pardon me if I don't cheer, but she's letting down the side.

Hmm, I didn't know there were sides....

Henry gave her the same advice I've given to my own child and my students, male and female, If it's not something that you can put your heart and soul into, then it's not a career, it's just a way to pay the bills. We don't always get to completely follow that path, but that shouldn't stop us from trying.

As a side note: don't fall into the trap of believing that groups should always match the demographics of the greater population. If that were true, us in the fencing world would have to force a lot of left handed people to fence right handed. (Approx. 10% to 12% of the US population is left handed. Approx. 30% of competitive fencers are left handed...)

Janice

>> Approx. 30% of competitive fencers are left handed

Puddintane's picture

A large number of those have made a study of it, because it often leads to advantage.

I was, in my youth, equally dexterous with either hand, and soundly trounced the Captain of the Ohio State Men's fencing team on several occasions, fencing left-handed with foil. He took these defeats in good grace, for the most part, although some of his companions jeered.

Of course, this was before the current rage for overpowering brute force attacks, when finesse was more universally-admired.

Cheers,

Puddin'

-

Cheers,

Puddin'

A tender heart is an asset to an editor: it helps us be ruthless in a tactful way.
--- The Chicago Manual of Style

It's true in baseball, too

erin's picture

33 percent of Major League pitchers are left-handed. Why is complicated. Right handed pitchers have an advantage over right handed batters when throwing a breaking ball (curve, slider). Lefty vs lefty, same thing; the ball breaks away from the batter. But a left handed pitcher has a slight advantage in throwing a fast ball to a right handed batter because the speed will be harder to judge due to the angles: the ball is less profiled and more direct. Screwball and shooter pitchers have reversed advantages since their breaking pitches are reversed.

Position players in baseball favor left-handedness, too, because a left-handed batter is one step closer to first base. Third basemen are almost never lefthanded because a left-handed player would be wearing his glove on the foul side where fewer balls are hit. Catchers are also less frequently left-handed, also, due to the geometry of throwing. Only one career left-handed catcher in baseball history. A left-handed catcher would be constantly throwing close to a right-handed batter when returning the ball or throwing to second. Not so bad on returns but on throwing to second, this could slow down the throw. Also, a left-handed catcher would be in more danger of injury when blocking the plate. Shortstops and secondbasemen are also seldom left-handed because the geometry of throwing and catching infield throws works better if thrower and receiver are like-handed.

On the other hand, literally, left-handed first base men and right fielders have advantages. 16 % of position players are left handed. Since almost no thirdbasemen or catchers are left-handed and few shortstops or secondbasemen, that means a LOT of outfielders and firstbasemen are.

Some right handed players train themselves to be able to bat left or become switch hitters, batting from one side or the other depending on the situation.

If you are a left-handed athlete, you're likely to be encouraged to go into baseball as opposed to football or basketball where there is no real advantage. As noted, fencing also favors left-handers and left-handed boxers have an advantage at the lower levels of the sport. At the highest level of boxing, training will generally offset the left-hander's advantage which is mostly unfamiliarity.

I'm ambidextrous but pitched right-handed in softball because i'm right-eyed. I could bat left-handed but found it not to be an advantage since I was not a good batter anyway. Too bad, because a right-eyed, left-handed batter has two advantages, it just didn't make up for my awkward swing from either side. See, that's a disadvantage of being ambidextrous, motions that require coordination and not just support or mirroring between the two sides of your body are HARD.

Hugs,
Erin

= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.

= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.

My Left Foot

I was surprised, when I first started to coach youth soccer, that players have a dominant foot. It became quite important in strategy to play younger players to their strength. I suppose those who grew up kicking a ball know this as well as we know which side of the plate we prefer.

Angela Rasch (Jill M I)

Angela Rasch (Jill M I)

My preference…

…is to have my meat on the left side of the plate and my veg on the right, then, after moving some veg on top of the meat, I spear the veg and meat with my fork, cut it off and lift it to my mouth in one easy motion.

Sorry, Jill, I cannot make a connection between plates and sport.

Gabi.


“It is hard for a woman to define her feelings in language which is chiefly made by men to express theirs.” Thomas Hardy—Far from the Madding Crowd.

Gabi.


“It is hard for a woman to define her feelings in language which is chiefly made by men to express theirs.” Thomas Hardy—Far from the Madding Crowd.

My eyes glazed over...

Puddintane's picture

Never played baseball, or any other team sport, although people were constantly after me to join the basketball team, because I was very tall. It looked exhausting, though.

My physical education classes (well, past grammar school, where hopscotch, dodge ball, jump rope, jacks, and hanging around in the lower field talking until a teacher on recess duty caught you and made you go play again were the general rule -- I don't think there were any such thing as organised sport with teams and all, but I may not have noticed. I know they *had* a baseball layout, because it was a popular spot to talk, and there was a row of four wooden walls where I think some sort of bouncing ball game was arranged, but I can't remember ever having seen anyone actually doing either, which may be due either to profound disinterest or faulty memory) consisted entirely of swimming, modern, tap, and ballroom dancing, Afro-Haitian Dance, ballet, tennis (one term only -- I didn't much like it), fencing, and rolling a red rubber ball around of the gymnasium floor on rainy days when nothing else was on offer. I thought that last was incredibly stupid "makework," since no one took it seriously at all, but I suppose it counted as part of mandatory "physical education," despite the fact that far more eyes were rolled than red rubber balls. The PE teacher was very earnest, though, filled with bubbly enthusiasm. She must have had a secret methamphetamine habit.

Cheers,

Puddin'

-

Cheers,

Puddin'

A tender heart is an asset to an editor: it helps us be ruthless in a tactful way.
--- The Chicago Manual of Style

My own sports history:

Angharad's picture

I hasten to add that I was never any good at any of them, but I have played or tried over the years: Rugby, Soccer, Tennis, Rowing, Cycling, Cross country, Fencing, Basket ball, Rounders/baseball, Cricket, Swimming, Karate, Archery, Coarse and fly fishing. I actually enjoyed trying most of them - for many I was too light or small, for others too uncoordinated in hand eye stuff, but I was fairly nippy over short distances - still am on a bike, and can still run faster than most when my back and knees allow.

I was also wiry without much upper body strength, which has worsened with back injuries, so not terribly good at climbing unlike my brother who was like a monkey. He delighted in getting me up trees and leaving me there until I was a gibbering wreck, before rescuing me - I don't like heights.

Angharad

Angharad

fly fishing

Puddintane's picture

Not that I've ever done it, but I studied the subject as part of the research for a novel. Read a bunch of books and talked to a lot of men in tackle shops. I borrowed a pole and became fairly good at it, albeit not in an actual stream. Mostly I just studied the gear, so as to make a believable scene. Had no idea what coarse fishing was, although I reckoned it must have something to do with worms when I just now saw the term.

My father dragged me off fishing quite often. The boat rides were nice, but I had no interest whatsoever in the fish, or in handling them. A friend of his had a motorised whaleboat with a little cabin fitted. It was quite seaworthy, and we used to go out of San Francisco Bay through the Golden Gate and out into the Pacific, which is quite a ride, and the view is spectacular. I was mad for boats, so I put up with their preoccupation with fish.

I'd forgotten archery, which I did have for one term, now that I remember. I was terrible at it, barely avoided hitting the target, which would have quite spoilt the paper.

I still have my foils and gear in a closet, although it's been years. Couldn't bear to let them go. They all use electrics these days, so there's no honour in the sport any more, or at least they no longer depend upon it, which amounts to the same thing. Shame, really.

Cheers,

Puddin'

-

Cheers,

Puddin'

A tender heart is an asset to an editor: it helps us be ruthless in a tactful way.
--- The Chicago Manual of Style

Ok, so why isn't Simon

Ok, so why isn't Simon answering his phone? Henry didn't tell Cathy that Simon was tied up in a meeting or anything. Sometimes I do believe that Simon wants to be married in name only as he acts like that alot. Just how far do they live away from London, that he has to be gone for a week at a time and only home on weekends and/or holidays? Henry is a funny old coot, but I believe some of his comments ring rather true in his mind regarding Cathy. Cathy had already made up her mind about the position, but just needed affirmation that her decision was the best choice for her. Jan

Good old Henry!

During the course of that one phone call he guides Cathy towards settling on the correct decision, then in true Cameron style lightens the mood with the clan's trademark wit.

Then, in an interesting twist, Trish calms Cathy with a dose of healing energy. Which results in Cathy shocking Gareth and Tom by actually standing firm and refusing to back down. Tom was understandably devastated, since it was him that thought that Cathy would unquestionably accept the post, so jumped the gun by leaking the story to The Echo. At least it didn't shock him into a coronary - and perhaps Henry can give him some advice on how to handle the retraction.

So it looks as though Gareth will soon be retreating into the background again, leaving Stella still on the lookout for an eligible bachelor in the Portsmouth area... who doesn't mind sharing a house with a soon-to-be-Emeritus Professor, another beautiful woman, seven children of various ages (16, 10, 9, 6, 6, 5, 1), and occasional visits by her brother...

 


There are 10 kinds of people in the world - those who understand binary and those who don't...

As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!

You had me fooled,

I really thought you were going to have Cathy accept the job. I'm glad that wasn't the case, it really doesn't look like it would be a good idea for her. And Henry's bit of advice was excellent, one shouldn't pursue something that upsets one so much.

Saless 


Kittyhawk"But it is also tradition that times *must* and always do change, my friend." - Eddie Murphy, Coming To America


"But it is also tradition that times *must* and always do change, my friend." - Eddie Murphy, Coming To America

She was offered an important

She was offered an important job and one that could change the world. I am tired of such jobs ending up with corporations in control all of whom have very big conflicts of interest. That such a job would be offered an independent hints they knew she would not accept the position, she turned it down as they hoped she would, so now the job goes to someone in league with the devil.

I hope she changes her mind. She can take her kids with her.

left hand

it would seem likely many are not that ... HMM OLD,elder.

I was born in Oregon USA feb 18th 1956 which makes me 55 next month

When I was a child. I attended public schools. In my 1st,2nd,3rd grades I was forced to do everything right handed because left handed people were somehow tainted. Then laws were passed that this was discrimination against left-handers. Grades 4,5,6 even tho laws were passed, the schools never made any changes nor provisions to accomidate us including minor things like scissors. My mom bought me a pr in 5th grade & they were promply confiscated & was told no proper person should use such a tool of the devil ... This was a public school not a religious one. That religious stuff was going on was imaterial. it wasnt untill 1969 till I or any other kid was allowed to write,print or use devices designed for left handers. I was just entering 7th grade @ time. Same year the 1st man landed on the moon.

I guess according to some I've been a known abdomination all my life.

funny how things never change even now in the year of 2011 @ age 55 I still piss people off because I just want to be me.

It ain't over

till its over.

All the sports allegory was confusing. But then, the only sport I've ever really been into was martial arts.

Fact is, this is the classic problem most woman face. I don't see it changing much, though over time maybe woman with kids will be allowed to delay aspects of their careers. Maybe.

Interestingly enough,

Interestingly enough, Seraglio was a brand of Italian cigarettes(they smelled funny), go figure.
Love Henry, love the repartee.
(It was Maureen, wasn't it ?)
Don't forget, Tom drove his daughter to suicide.

Cefin