IamaGeek

Congratulations! "The margins were clear" is a lovely phrase, isn't it? Welcome to the club. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

First day off in 7 or 8 days. Going to find somewhere good for breakfast/brunch, then off to buy a nice bottle of wine to give to my co-worker friend who has invited me to dinner at his house tonight.

Happy birthday from South America! Feliz cumpleaños!

I have had a beard but I didn't particularly like the way it looked or felt. I shave my head now so a beard might look like I was trying to compensate. I shave below before encounters. I'm not particularly hung up on the hairy/clean-shaven thing, I just think it is easier for my companion to see that I am committed to hygiene and to tell that I am not trying to hide anything.

I know this question was to companions but I am a talker and an emailer so I am chiming in with what I have found. You already obviously recognize that most companions don't have time (or perhaps the inclination) to engage in social exchanges with clients by email. I tend to send emails to companions I have met or that I am planning to meet. However, I am careful to note whether my email is simply social or if it is part of making arrangements. Also, I emphasize strongly that I do not require a response to a social email. If I get a response, that is wonderful. If I don't, I just enjoy writing. I sometimes get lovely responses and sometimes only get responses to arrangement emails. Of course, it can be awkward for people I have not yet met to be sure whether I am being honest that I will not be disappointed if they do not respond. However, it is the truth. In summary, I don't think it is fair to expect a companion to engage in social email exchanges with you. You can still write, but try to be clear that a response is not required.

I'll be in the area at the time and I might be interested but I won't be able to commit until a couple of weeks before - is that too late?

I awoke to the news that an old acquaintance had suddenly died. We used to be close (roommates for 3 years) but then . . . life happened. As a young man he was energetic, funny and full of life. In recent years he was difficult. His career had not gone as planned, his unhappy marriage had dissolved and he was estranged from his children. I no longer travelled much to his home city so I saw him very infrequently. Writing or calling often felt awkward. I feel sad that his life was as unhappy as it was and for any part I might have played in that. There were things he could have done to make his life better but I could have made more of an effort and helped too. I'm doing a bit of self-examination and thinking that, while it may be too late to have a positive impact on Albert's life, there are others that I love who would love to have me in their life more. It's a reminder (a sad one) to take off the blinders and look around a bit more. Be present in your loved ones' lives.

Congratulations Nat. Even though I am confident that you won't need it, I will wish you good luck. I wish you good everything else too.

I will finally visit a city that I have wanted to see forever. New Orleans. I have travelled through the American South but have somehow never been in this city. I will be working nearby and have arranged some time afterwards to see the city just before Mardi Gras. I won't see the main event but I will see some parades and second lines, etc. I'm preparing by watching "Treme" and listening to Alan Toussaint, Dr John, Louis Armstrong, etc., etc.

OK, I got 20/20 and I was only a bit unsure about one of them (but guessed correctly about Maynard Krebs). Not only am I old enough to qualify as coming in at the tail end of the boomers, I have a thing for pop culture and ephemera. If only I could delete some files to make room for more important stuff. Oh well.

Congrats Cristy! I always enjoy seeing your avatar - both for the obvious reason and to read an intriguing post. Thanks.

Hmmm . . . would you rather drown or burn to death? Some things are just too horrible to contemplate. I would need a gun to my head to have the motivation to make that decision.

I have 2 that come to mind. I have an old vinyl collection from the 80s compiled by the Book of the Month club. While this is probably the greatest collection of Christmas music I have ever heard, my favourites are John Fahey playing Carol of the Bells and a very simple and very powerful recording of Odetta singing Go Tell It On the Mountain.

A little late to this thread. I love Nat's comments on kissing and find I agree with them all. I would add that I like the tease as well. You know, things are going well and heating up and suddenly your partner pauses, usually with a wicked smile on the very lips you want so badly. I love that moment when you realize you have found a truly compatible kissing partner. It doesn't happen often!

A quick question - is Annie a small but very fit blonde Franco with large bolt-ons and enormous nipples? I knew an Annie who fit this description at Pig's a couple of years ago. It would be nice to re-connect.