A good cry on the train

Don't I know these conversations, after all I have a seventh grader who
still gives me these type of answers.

In your case, Joe(vocal)Nation, I don't believe it. You're a man of detail
and you can present/write a simple daily task in a manner that is appealing to
the reader and captivating at the same time.

Most men who have come to a2k asking for advice when their wives left them, waited passively for answers in what to do. You on the other hand have stated the facts, told us your story, given us an insight in your life, which is a life without L now, and you're letting us know how you're coping emotionally and how you proceed to live your life in a most dignified manner.

We have come to like the person Joe Nation, who is writing without a feeling of self pity about a passage in his life that is very difficult.

For someone who is as insightful, considerate and vocal as you are Joe, it is hard to believe that you needed to be told to "talk"! Perhaps there was already a disinterest and stagnation in your relationship with L.

Aye.

Thank you CJ I'm having a very good day after a not so good night, but your post made me feel very good about where I am and where I am going. I think you get me.

The good part is that on a very brisk morning with nearly 6,000 runners all crowded onto the roadway,
I did not chug,
I did not slog,
I did not toddle,
I did not jog
--- I ran.**
I just set a new Personal Record for the Four Mile beating my last PR by over a minute and half. Four Miles in 35:32, making it the first time I have broken the Nine minutes a mile average : 8:53.
Me happy.
====
On conversations: At some point my conversations with L turned into point-counterpoints, that continues to this day (and last night).
When I replied to her on another subject (the bank had screwed my address and sent her my new ATM card) I mentioned that she didn't have to worry about me, that I was fine, that I had had a little funk around the marathon, but that I was over that now.
She replied with a msg full of the usual 'not my fault, you could have done anything you wanted.. '
and I then reminded her that it was she who asked me to promise not to run..
...here's (always the good part)...when she says "she doesn't remember asking for a promise. Sorry"

For a moment, I thought she was actually saying she was sorry, but then I realized that she was saying "Sorry, don't recall it that way."
Not the same thing.

Ohgod, this is completely boring, but I did decide one thing:
No more opening up on any subject with L.

Joe(it's a complete waste of a lovely blustery day.)Nation

** Tip'f th hat to Dr, Seuss.

Hey Joe (He did not chug, he did not slog, he did not toddle, he did not jog) Nation!

That's FAB - great achievement a? WELL DONE YOU MATE!

Iz (sings " he breathed, he ran, he PB'd, he's the man!" ) zie

Bravo, Joe. Me happy for you.

Personal record!
You've come a long way baby!

He didn't walk.
He didn't talk.
He's a man.
He runs.
He writes.



(the hell, he doesn't talk. I don't think I have a photo where JoeN isn't caught in mid-convo)

I know him! He's my friend!

~that's what I would yell at people if i was around. but since i'm far away, i'll just say :"proud of ya! you done good."

If a discussion came up where you could not express yourself orally, you could always write it down. You could dazzle anyone with your talent for writing.

It may not feel like it to you at times, but in my humble opinion, you are doing splendidly with this journey of yours. Onward and upwards!

Dun good, Joe!

There is a huge couch in my living room. I sometimes imagine that all of you are sitting there.
(There's drinks and little things to eat)

It means the world to me that we share all of these experiences together.

Joe(thanks for being here)Nation

Yeah, um, you might not want to use the bathroom for a while.

You should really talk to the co-op board about getting a fan in there...

It means the world to us that you'd let us share this with you.

Pass me one of those bacon-wrapped thingies, please.

still kinda hangin' out, watchin' the door.

(one a them bacon thingies don't sound too noo yorkie...)

always a extry shovel here...

We have it all here, rock, that's what makes it New York City.
Bacon-wrapped here, vegan tofu patties there, Italian salami, mozzerlle, French Brie, Russian caviar, gefilte fish and gramma's little bitty cream-filled onions. You go into a bakery, you can come back with twenty-two kinds of bread. How you gonna choose?
The little wine store has 40 Cabernets - from the USA, don't even try to count the ones from Australia. (The vodka is in the freezer, the vermouth is somewhere in the bottom cabinet.) I've brought seltzer and something from the Natural Food Store called Terra, it's as black as your hat when you pour it in your glass. It smells like there is some tar in there. Drink up.
There's a pot of shrimp boil on the stove. (onion, parsley, bay leaf, parsley, half a lemon, eight peppercorns and a stalk of celery, salt) Boil all that up for about a minute, then simmer for awhile, strain out those veggies and boil it back up and toss in a pound of those fresh shrimp for two minutes. No longer. Get ready to get messy. Try'em without dipping'em in any of the six sauces on that table. Try elbowing me out of the way.

We are on a long voyage here. Pictured above? That's our raft.

Joe(can anyone tell that I am back on my weight loss program?)Nation

Twenty-two kinds of bread....oh, sorry, I was lost in a daydream...The "raft" looks inviting. Permission to come aboard, Cap'n?

(You're doin' great, by the way.)

Tai(I'll-shovel-as-fast-as-the-snow-falls-so-I-can-justify-another-slice-of-that-bread)Chi

What, no UTZ salt and vinegar potato chips?

Wow, there's (virtual) brie? Yum.

Way to go, Joe.

Lining up for the shrimp boil..
and the breads and the brie..
well, I'll just take a seat.

oooooooooh... deep fried brie with cranberry sauce! mmmmmmmmmmmm

Not baked with honey?

Joe(and crushed almonds)Nation