Athos

I've just finished dinner, now I'm heading off to watch some TV. I've gotten quite hooked on House of Cards. Porthos

Chicken wings ... the real things. Sorry Christine ... no faux wings involving cauliflower trying to engage in some sort of mission impossible masquerade. Washed down with a cold beer, and later on there is partridgeberry pie. For those of you who have not visited the Rock ... partridgeberries are definitely a good reason for a visit. Porthos

I love dragons

happy belated birthday ... hopefully the celebrations continue.

A tough situation for sure. I'd recommend you invest in seeing a career counsellor/head hunter, to get some advice about your skills and how they fit into the current job market. I'd also say that in today's job market you likely need to be prepared to either invest in some skill development or possibly relocate. I see lots of people who don't succeed because they insist on staying put and refuse to move/relocate to other parts of the country. Christy is quite right that NL has one of the fastest growing economies in the country right now and a shortage of skilled workers.

Morning coffee, trying to wake up, trying to get enough motivation to do some work.

Well, I just had lunch with my daughter, who spent it virtually talking to people elsewhere through her phone. Eventually I gave up and joined her. When I looked around there were families and groups all about us doing the same thing. 4 people at a table, each on their phone. We are more connected, and more alienated from each other all, at the same time.

I really feel for your situation. While it may sound corny, I actually know several people who met life partners through on-line sites like e-harmony. That includes a 70 year old man who was lonely after his wife passed away. Now that you better understand your situation, you should continue to try to find what you are looking for. Don't put too much pressure on yourself, never feel ashamed or worthless.

I'm surprised there would be a 5th date is there wasn't some interest. If non-verbal cues are a problem, maybe you need to explain a bit more about your situation. She may be sitting there wondering when you'll make a move. Porthos

On the issue of referrals, it might be a good practice to ask a lady, perhaps via e-mail after you've seen her, if she'd be willing to provide you with a reference. This clearly signals that you are planning to see other providers, although to be frank, I can't see how this would be a surprise to her. The reference system is an important vehicle for enhancing safety and security. I can't see many providers not being willing to provide a reference to a good client because they are upset he's seeing other providers. This is the nature of the business, even with regular clients. Ideally, she should want other providers to also see good clients. That, it seems to me, is good for everyone's business.

Well, definitely balding. Not going to worry too much about it. I keep my hair cut reasonably short, unlike when I was younger and it was very long. I've had a neatly trimmed beard for going on 30+ years. I grew it in undergrad and kept it. Very few people outside family and high school friends have ever seen me without a beard. Certainly none of my current friends. Not even my wife. Over the past several years it's slowly turning silver-gray. Several people have suggested I shave it off to look younger, but to be honest I'm hesitant. I like the gray, but I also have a hard time imagining myself without it. It's now just part of my identity. I think I'll keep it.

As with the others in this thread I always send a thank you message.

A gorgeous day. Went for a long hike along the coast, sat at the top of a cliff and watched humpback whales. Now about to crack open an ice cold beer and fire up the BBQ. I feel refreshed!

For me, there are real issues with being connected so immediately all the time. While I think the written form carries with it problems of misinterpretation, the speed of communication is another issue. The immediacy of communication forms like text and e-mail are both a huge advantage and disadvantage. It seems to me being connected all the time, whether to individuals, communities, or work, can be too much. I'm a huge fan of technology, and quite addicted to my devices, but still one has to question some of the trade-offs we've made in terms of social interaction. Right now I'm on vacation, but I'm still getting inquiries from people who don't seem to understand I'm away. I could turn off my phone, but some of the messages are important, and need to be addressed, if only to forward them to someone else. Maybe next year I'll get the nerve up to leave the phone behind. Porthos

Really good advice from Meaghan and Samantha. Many municipalities licence and regulate massage parlour. Of course, those licences stipulate that lots of activities that do take place shouldn't. Nevertheless, once the municipality is sharing in the profit the odds of a bust go down considerably. And if law enforcement does visit, it's far more likely to be by-law enforcement than the police. this doesn't mean a raid won't happen, and issues like drug trafficking, immigrant sex workers, and complaints from neighbours all increase the odds of attention from LE.

As others have suggested, asking is the best course. Tea, coffee, red or white wine, champagne and mimosas have all been beverages I've served. Porthos

Take what he taught you and share with others. Break open the club by sharing with other women! Porthos