angelwithabullet
Trust female - 46 years
Blog 212
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Miami Banker gives $60M to his own employees
It good to hear a heart warming news story for a change.
Leonard Abess just gave away $60 million to his employees after selling the bank to a Spanish bank. The bonuses came to tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars. This is Leonard Abess, CEO in the lobby of the bank.
BY MARTHA BRANNIGAN
Lots of bosses say they value their employees. Some even mean it. And then there's Leonard Abess Jr.
After selling a majority stake in Miami-based City National Bancshares last November, all he did was take $60 million of the proceeds -- $60 million out of his own pocket -- and hand it to his tellers, bookkeepers, clerks, everyone on the payroll. All 399 workers on the staff received bonuses, and he even tracked down 72 former employees so they could share in the windfall.
For longtime employees, the bonus -- based on years of service -- amounted to tens of thousands of dollars, and in some cases, more than $100,000.
At a time when financial titans are being paraded before Congress to explain how they blew billions on executives' bonuses even as they received a taxpayer bailout, the big-hearted banker's selfless deed stands out.
''I retired seven years ago, and all of a sudden I get this wonderful letter and phone call,'' said Evelyn J. Budde, who spent 43 years at City National Bank of Florida, rising to vice president.
''I was shocked,'' said William Perry. In 43 ½ years at City National, he climbed from janitor to vice president. Like many longtime City National employees, he forged an unbreakable bond with the bank that continued into retirement. Perry returns regularly for the annual employees' dinner.
Abess didn't publicize what he had done. He didn't even show up at the bank to bask in his employees' gratitude on the day the bonus envelopes were distributed. He was inundated with letters soon afterward.
Asked later what motivated him, Abess said he had long dreamed of a way to reward employees. He had been thinking of creating an employee stock option plan before he decided to sell the bank.
''Those people who joined me and stayed with me at the bank with no promise of equity -- I always thought some day I'm going to surprise them,'' he said.
``I sure as heck don't need [the money].''
In exchange for an 83 percent stake in the business, the Spanish bank Caja Madrid paid $927 million in November. Abess retained a minority share and is still the board chairman and chief executive officer at City National. Even before the sale, Abess wasn't hurting for money. He bought his 11.8-acre, $23 million estate in Miami's Cliff Hammocks neighborhood from actor Sylvester Stallone in 1999.
Abess' father, Leonard L. Abess, founded City National in 1946 with Baron de Hirsch Meyer as one of the first postwar commercial banks in the region. Abess Jr. started his career in the bank's print shop, which made forms and documents. Working his way up the ladder gave him an appreciation for the role that employees play in the success of an enterprise.
''I saw that if the president doesn't come to work, it's not a big deal,'' he said. ``But if the tellers don't show up, it's a serious problem.''
Many people presume that Abess inherited the bank from his father, but he didn't.
In fact, in true Miami fashion, the bank has a colorful history. City National was sold in the early 1980s to an investment group that, in turn, resold it to Colombian coffee magnate Alberto Duque.
The dapper and charming Duque was the toast of Miami -- until he was convicted of bilking two dozen Miami banks out of about $108 million in connection with his coffee business.
Duque went to federal prison -- he eventually fled the country from a halfway house -- and City National went on the block in bankruptcy court.
Well, well, some good news after all!
kaye x -
Life and Death
I woke this morning and lay there, very still. I listened to the dawn chorus and breathed in the scent of the fresh duvet cover and felt the familiar thump of my heart beat beneath this cage of bone.
Truthfully, that was an odd sensation.
Some of the photographs I've uploaded recently go back 26 years to the early 80s. This got me to thinking about how fast those years had whizzed by and I wondered if the next 26 years would do the same.
Strange the way time is so slow while you are going through it, and when you look to the future. But to live in the 'now' takes a bit more of an effort. We miss so many things in the present. The gift that is today. We don't often stop to feel the rise and fall of our chest as our lungs breathe precious air in and out so rhythmically that we don't even notice it is happening right beneath our noses. The blood rushes through our veins to our heart and out again at such a fantastic speed that, if we had to consciously control it, it would be impossible to get anything else done.
That's when I got to thinking of the future. 26 years in the future. I'll be 72. What a fine age to be. The age of my father now. I wonder if I will make it. Will I want to? Then, one day, this breathing will come to a halt. One day, this body that my soul resides within will lay still and silent while others peer down at me. One day this skin I'm wrapped within will decay and rot away. I will be in my box then (hopefully, at least), so they won't have to see that happen.
Why are these classed as morbid thoughts? Why do we consider death to be something we don't want to talk about? Is it because it is too final to even contemplate? Is it too scary to not know what's beyond the point of no return? Or too frightening to not know where we are going? Forgive me, but I thought, if (as some people think she will) Jade Goody wants to film her own demise (to get as much cash for her children as she possibly can), then why shouldn't she? She would be doing us all a service. She would be making us face what is inevitable to us all, yet denied, hushed up and shut away. Of course, I wouldn't blame her if she didn't want to.
One day, like her, the very essence of me will be free to fly away from the chains that bind me to this mortal existance. I look at passing through the moment of death as walking through a veil of silken silver thread. Shining and beautiful where all the love I can ever know awaits me.
Don't get me wrong, I don't wish to rush off and do it now. There are so many wonderful adventures to be had while sharing this planet with others who are biding their time. But I'm not frightened of it.
The only thing that does scare me is lingering on when no one wants you. Existing alone in a world where no one knows the person you once were, the achievements you made, the dreams you had and I don't want to be a burden to those who don't know me or even care that I exist.
Perhaps that won't be my fate. Perhaps I'll meet my end quickly, and peacefully, and hopefully while amongst those who love and care for the person I am. I guess this is why it is good to take everything that is offered to you in the moment. Cherishing every second that enters into your time-frame and learning to do something magical with those moments that you do pay attention to.
Why am I in this mood? Perhaps because so many people around me are nearing their term on this earth and it's sad to have to say goodbye to them. Knowing that you'll never be able to speak with them again. You'll never be able to just pick up the phone or send a text or an email or (God forbid!) one of those letter thingies!
So, that's why you have to live in the now. To be able to look back and be thankful, to not regret about the things you've done or said. But to learn from them and - if they weren't to your liking - try to do things differently. And to not look forward to the future with worry in your heart. No good can come of either of these things.
That's why we're to cherish every precious moment. -
Post Hypnotic Suggestion?
Hypnotist at the old people's home
It was entertainment night at the old people's home.
Claude the hypnotist exclaimed: "I'm here to put you into a trance; I intend to hypnotize each and every member of the audience."
The excitement was almost electric as Claude withdrew a beautiful antique pocket watch from his coat "I want you each to keep your eye on this antique watch. It's a very special watch. It's been in my family for
six generations" .
He began to swing the watch gently back and forth while quietly chanting, "Watch the watch, watch the watch, and watch the watch..."
The crowd became mesmerized as the watch swayed back and forth, light gleaming off its polished surface. Hundreds of pairs of eyes followed the swaying watch, until, suddenly, it slipped from the hypnotist's finger and fell to the floor, shattering into a hundred pieces.
"SHIT" said the Hypnotist.
And it took three days to clear up the old people's home. -
New Horizons?
I'm staying put until I'm posted ...
Why?
Well, I went for an interview on Monday ... got a fat lip (after walking into a lampost) and curry sauce down my blouse and an onion stain on my skirt (while rushing down an 'all you can eat for a fiver' meal) - (that'll teach me for my greed!), before I presented myself to the panel (but 'they' do say you have to make yourself memorable), so you could say I made myself memorable ... and I when I got home today I had the letter on the mat ...
It was an informal meeting - two jolly women who fired questions at me non-stop for 45 minutes. I just relaxed and thought "what the heck, if this 'impediments' haven't put them off already, then what have I got to lose?"
When I saw the letter I thought ...
"too soon - it can only be a no!"
But, low and behold - when i started to read the words ... "I'm delighted to inform you ..." my heart literally lept a thousand times.
I had got the job!!
Hey! So, can I take it from that, it's nothing to do with how you present yourself? Nope. It must be more to do with what you say and how you say it. It must be something to do with bringing out the natural confidence within yourself, so you don't allow those horrible nerves to take hold - and then you get on fine and dandy.
It's onto pastures new then?
I will be so terribly sorry to leave the wonderful team of people I've been working with for almost a year now (and they've all already texted and called me to say "I'm gutted!" (cos they don't want me to leave) - but "I'm pleased" (cos they wish me happiness) and think this job was made for me ...
Anyway, let's see how future pathways opens up. I'm looking forward to it with arms wide open.
kaye x -
A Call for True Life Stories
Hi guys,
I'm writing a 'newsletter' for my web site and wanted to know if you could send me some 'true life' stories of heroism, good deeds, heartfelt thoughts, small kind acts ... of real people (and animals) in your local community.
i don't mind which part of the country ( or world ) they come from ... just so long as you noticed them and they are true.
only max of 300 words - i'll abbreviate it before it goes into the articles.
every contributor will get a free copy! (as i won't be advertising the web site on this site ...)
kaye x -
The Star
did you read the star today?
did you see the headlines?
st george's flag is to be banned by a certain council because ...
it stirs up racial hatred.
huh?
who's country are we in?
kx -
Can Men and Women Ever Be Just Good Friends?
I read an article in Psychology Today that asked the question:
Can men and women ever be just good friends? By Camille Chatterjee
Read the following and tell me, what do you think?
Male-female friendship can be tricky, but both benefit from cross-sex buddyhood.
If men are from Mars and women are from Venus, it may explain at least one of their shared beliefs: Men and women can't be real friends. Blame the sexual tension that almost inevitably exists between any red-blooded, heterosexual man and woman. Point to the jealousy that plagues many rational people when a significant other befriends someone of the opposite sex. Boil it down to the inherent differences between the sexes. It just can't be done. Right?
Wrong, relationship experts have said. "The belief that men and women can't be friends comes from another era in which women were at home and men were in the workplace, and the only way they could get together was for romance," explained Linda Sapadin, a psychologist in Valley Stream, New York. "Now they work together and share sports interests and socialize together." This cultural shift has encouraged psychologists, sociologists and communications experts to put forth a new message: Though it may be tricky, men and women can successfully become close friends. What's more, there are good reasons for them to do so.
Society has long singled out romance as the prototypical male-female relationship because it spawns babies and keeps the life cycle going; cross-sex friendship, as researchers call it, has been either ignored or trivialized. We have rules for how to act in romantic relationships (flirt, date, get married, have kids) and even same-sex friendships (boys relate by doing activities together, girls by talking and sharing). But there are so few platonic male-female friendships on display that we're at a loss to even define these relationships.
Part of this confusion stems from the media. A certain classic film starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal convinced a nation of moviegoers that sex always comes between men and women, making true friendship impossible. "When Harry Met Sally set the potential for male-female friendship back about 25 years," said Michael Monsour, assistant professor of communications at the University of Colorado at Denver and author of Women and Men as Friends. Television hasn't helped either. "Almost every time you see a male-female friendship, it winds up turning into romance," Monsour noted. Think Sam and Diane or Chandler and Monica. These cultural images are hard to overcome, he said. It's no wonder we expect that men and women are always on the road to romance.
But that's only one of the major barriers. Don O'Meara, Ph.D., at the University of Cincinnati-Raymond Walters College, published a landmark study in the journal Sex Roles on the top impediments to cross-sex friendship. "I started my research because one of my best friends is a woman," said O'Meara. "She said, 'Do you think anyone else has the incredible friendship we do?'" He decided to find out, and after reviewing the scant existing research, O'Meara identified the following challenges to male-female friendship: defining it, dealing with sexual attraction, seeing each other as equals, facing people's responses to the relationship and meeting in the first place.
CHALLENGE #1
Defining the Relationship: Friends or Lovers?
Platonic love does exist, O'Meara asserted, and a study of 20 pairs of friends published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships lends credence to the notion. In it, Heidi Reeder, at Boise State University, confirmed that "friendship attraction" or a connection devoid of lust, is a bona fide type of bond that people experience. Distinguishing between romantic, sexual and friendly feelings, however, can be exceedingly difficult.
"People don't know what feelings are appropriate toward the opposite sex, unless they're what our culture defines as appropriate," said O'Meara. "You know you love someone and enjoy them as a person, but not enough to date or marry them. What does this mean?"
CHALLENGE #2
Overcoming Attraction: Let's Talk About Sex
The reality that sexual attraction could suddenly enter the equation of a cross-sex friendship uninvited is always lurking in the background. A simple, platonic hug could instantaneously take on a more amorous meaning. "You're trying to do a friend-friend thing," said O'Meara, "but the male-female parts of you get in the way." Unwelcome or not, the attraction is difficult to ignore.
In a study published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Sapadin asked more than 150 professional men and women what they liked and disliked about their cross-sex friendships. Topping women's list of dislikes: sexual tension. Men, on the other hand, more frequently replied that sexual attraction was a prime reason for initiating a friendship, and that it could even deepen a friendship. Either way, 62 percent of all subjects reported that sexual tension was present in their cross-sex friendships.
CHALLENGE #3
Establishing Equality: The Power Play
Friendship should be a pairing of equals. But, O'Meara said, "in a culture where men have always been more equal than women, male dominance, prestige and power is baggage that both men and women are likely to bring to a relationship." Women are at risk of subconsciously adopting a more submissive role in cross-sex friendships, he said, although that is slowly changing as society begins to treat both genders more equally.
CHALLENGE #4
The Public Eye: Dealing with Doubters
Society may not be entirely ready for friendships between men and women that have no sexual subtext. People with close friends of the opposite sex are often barraged with nudging, winking and skepticism: "Are you really just friends?" This is especially true, said O'Meara, of older adults, who grew up when men and women were off-limits to each other until marriage.
CHALLENGE #5
The Meeting Place: Finding Friends
As the workplace and other social arenas become increasingly open to women, the sexes are mingling more and more. Still, men and women continue to have surprisingly few opportunities to interact.
"Boys and girls form their own gender groups in elementary school," explained Monsour. "They learn their own ways of relating to each other. So when they do get together, inspired by puberty, they see each other as dating partners because they've never really known each other as friends." A surprisingly major factor in this phenomenon is the kids' own innate interest in children who act like they do. Called "voluntary gender segregation," it continues into adulthood. "You see it at cocktail parties," said Monsour. "Men go off to one corner, and women go to another."
These obstacles may seem numerous and formidable, but male-female friendship is becoming not only a possibility but also a necessity. If men and women are to work, play and coexist in modern society, researchers believe men and women must learn to understand and communicate with each other. To that end, social scientists like Sapadin, Monsour and O'Meara have studied how to do just that. The field of research is still in its infancy, but they are now beginning to understand some basic truths about male-female friendship:
TRUTH #1
Friendship Is Not Equal Opportunity
Not until high school does puberty really draw boys and girls together, which then continues into college. But as people develop serious romantic relationships or get married, making and maintaining cross-sex friendships becomes harder. "Even the most secure people in a strong marriage probably don't want a spouse to be establishing a new friendship, especially with someone who's very attractive," said Monsour.
The number of cross-sex friendships continues to decline with age—not surprising, because most older adults grew up in an age where consorting with the opposite sex outside of wedlock was taboo. According to Rosemary Blieszner, at Virginia Tech and author of Adult Friendship, elderly people rarely form new friendships with members of the opposite sex. Her research shows that only about 2 percent of the friendships elderly women have are with men.
TRUTH #2
Men Benefit More from Cross-Sex Friendship
There are proven—and apparent—distinct differences between female friendship and male friendship. Women spend the majority of their time together discussing their thoughts and feelings, while men tend to be far more group-oriented. Males gather to play sports or travel or talk stock quotes; rarely do they share feelings or personal reflections. This may explain why they seem to get far more out of cross-sex friendship than their female counterparts.
In Sapadin's study, men rated cross-sex friendships as being much higher in overall quality, enjoyment and nurturance than their same-sex friendships. What they reported liking most was talking and relating to women—something they can't do with their buddies. Meanwhile, women rated their same-sex friendships higher on all these counts. They expect more emotional rewards from friendship than men do, explained Sapadin, so they're easily disappointed when they don't receive them. "Women confide in women," noted Blieszner. "Men confide in women."
TRUTH #3
...But Women Benefit, Too
All that sharing and discussing in female-female friendship can become exhausting, as any woman who's stayed up all night comforting a brokenhearted girlfriend can attest. With men, women can joke and banter without any emotional baggage. "Friendships with men are lighter, more fun," said Sapadin. "Men aren't so sensitive about things." Some women in her study also liked the protective, familial and casual warmth they got from men, viewing them as surrogate big brothers. What they liked most of all, however, was getting some insight into what guys really think.
TRUTH #4
Cross-Sex Friendships Are Emotionally Rewarding
Although women dig men's lighthearted attitude, most male-female friendships resemble women's emotionally involving friendships more than they do men's activity-oriented relationships, according to Kathy Werking, at Eastern Kentucky University and author of We're Just Good Friends. Her work has shown that the number one thing male and female friends do together is talk one-on-one. Other activities they prefer—like dining out and going for drives—simply facilitate that communication. In fact, Werking found, close male-female friends are extremely emotionally supportive if they continuously examine their feelings, opinions and ideas. "Males appreciate this because it tends not to be a part of their same-sex friendships," she said. "Females appreciate garnering the male perspective."
TRUTH #5
It's Not All About Sex
"In reality, sex isn't always on the agenda," said Werking. "That could be due to sexual orientation, lack of physical attraction or involvement in another romantic relationship." After all, even friends who are attracted to each other may also recognize that qualities they tolerate in a friendship wouldn't necessarily work in a serious romantic relationship. And after years of considering someone as a friend, it often becomes difficult to see a cross-sex pal as a romantic possibility.
Of pairs that do face the question of lust, those that decide early on to bypass an uncertain romantic relationship are more likely to have an enduring friendship, says Werking. One study by Walid Afifi, of Penn State University, showed that of more than 300 college students surveyed, 67 percent reported having had sex with a friend. Interestingly, 56 percent of those subjects did not transition the friendship into a romantic relationship, suggesting that they preferred friendship over sex.
TRUTH #6
Male-Female Friendships Are Political
Men and women have increasingly similar rights, opportunities and interests, which can make cross-sex friendship very political, noted Werking. "It upsets the agreed-upon social order," she explains. "Women and men engage in an equal relationship, or they aren't friends." For one thing, new generations of kids grow up believing that boys can play with dolls and girls can take kickboxing, and they're crossing paths more frequently as a result.
Men and women are also becoming more androgynous as their societal roles become more similar. "Men are more willing to have feminine characteristics, and women are a lot more willing to admit to traditionally masculine characteristics, like assertiveness," said Monsour. His dissertation showed that women and men categorized as androgynous had twice the number of cross-sex friends.
Whatever the challenges of male-female friendship, researchers agree that to succeed as friends, both genders have to openly and honestly negotiate exactly what their relationship will mean—whether sexual attraction is a factor and how they'll deal with it—and establish boundaries. In Afifi's and Reeder's studies, the friendships that survived—and even thrived—after sex or attraction came into play were those in which the friends extensively discussed the meaning of the sexual activity and felt confident and positive about each other's feelings. Once they got past that, they were home free.
"If sex is part of the dynamic, addressing it explicitly is the best strategy" for making sure the friendship survives, said Werking. "The issue will fester if friends try to ignore it." So in the end, male-female friendship does have something in common with romantic relationships: To work, communication is key.
Researchers tell us that men and women can be friends. But do we really believe them? A survey of more than 1,450 members of the Match.com dating site revealed that we're an optimistic bunch:
1. Do you believe men and women can be platonic friends?
Yes: 83%
No: 11%
Unsure: 6%
2. Have you had a platonic friendship that crossed the line and became romantic or sexual?
Yes: 62%
No: 36%
Unsure: 2%
3. Who is more likely to misinterpret the intimacy of friendship for sexual desire?
Men: 64%
Women: 25%
Unsure: 11%
4. Is it possible to fall in love with someone who first enters your life as a friend?
Yes: 94%
No: 4%
Unsure: 2%
5. Do you hope that when you do fall in love, your partner will have started out as your friend?
Yes: 71%
No: 9%
Unsure: 20%
6. Who is better at keeping sex out of a platonic relationship?
Men: 13%
Women: 67%
Unsure: 20% -
Travel to work in these conditions? Or stay at Home?
Well, it's another day by the hearth for me.
I was outside, clearing the car when I sent a text message to the boss saying that I was gonna attempt the journey (25 miles). But he immediately called me to say 'don't risk it. stay at home'.
Huh?
(the gay's nextdoor did this - not for me you understand!)
Anyway, never had a boss say that to me before! I've always felt sooooo, so guilty about not being able to make it into work. But today, I've been given a free pass. Makes me wonder why!
Ordinarily, I wouldn't mind so much, it's costing me to sit here doing my own stuff as I don't get paid for the days I don't sit my bum on their seat. And, more to the point, I can hear all those emergency services sirens going off out on the road - they get to work, don't they? They can't all have helicopters or 4x4s! (I guess there is the blessing in those cars after all!). Far be it for me to comment on, but I really don't expect posties to come along and deliver my mail, and I'm wondering if any shop assistants have made it to their posts. What in the world would we do without Tescos staff? Come to think of it, I am running short on the dairy front ... all those bleedin' cups of teas that have been keeping me going while my stocks run short.
To bring you back from my faraway ramblings, I'm sat here alone, freezing my toes off (I would say nuts, but I'm not a bloke), because this Economy 7 heating my landlord has seen fit to provide me with, is just the pitts! Even Bud's shivering - I had to leave the heater on for him last night - as there's icicles forming just outside the window!
But, but, but - hark I hear an angel singing a lullaby! There is a silver lining in this little dark and gloomy cloud of mine - I've unearthed that big box of selection chocolates that my friend sent me for Christmas. She was made redundant recently, from Green & Blacks (cos they're merging with Cadbury's), so she sent me a massive assortment of the darned things!
Yum!
I had intended taking them into work (as I'd just managed to get a couple of pounds off after the gluttony of Christmas) to share them out, but somehow I've not gotten around to it (
).
So, here I sit, huddled over the electric heater that's gonna cost me a bomb (while I'm not getting paid), getting fatter by the nano-second. Heaven help me!
Don't talk to me about going outside ... I've already landed on my arse a good few times - and that was just scraping the car off - which wasn't worth it because of what the boss said ... but I have taken some rather nice photos of this white magic carpet. I must admit, it is rather beautiful to look at.
That's my bin!
I often wonder what the poor little creatures and birds are doing in this weather. They must be asleep or huddled up. It's all well and good looking nice and fluffy out there, but they must be finding some community spirit in their frozen underground quarters.
If I can ask you to do something - leave some defrosted water out for the birds ... even if you don't leave seed stuff. Just make sure they have that to hand.
No doubt, I shall live for another day. And if reports are anything to go by, so will the rest of this country. My sister called to tell me what was on the news last night. Funny how we see the apparent differences in blokes and birds when something like this happens. You wouldn't see a gang of four or five girls getting stuck in a traffic jam, think you could do better out of the situation, so get together, a blow up dingy and slide down a hill on it ... would you?
Anyhow, I've got some revising to do, and a report to polish off - as well as these chocolates to munch on!
Hoping the friends I've found within my little computer screen are having as much fun - if not, then more!
kaye x -
Britney - row over kids
I can't - for the life of me - understand this ...
Row over Spears 'kids on tour' plan
Monday 2nd Feb 2009, 03:25 pm
Britney Spears is reportedly planning to base herself in three cities during her upcoming tour - so she can still see her kids when she hits the road. Skip related content
The Toxic hitmaker and her father Jamie are said to have come up with a scheme for the star to live at addresses in Los Angeles, New Jersey and New Orleans, Louisiana, commuting between them for her string of US dates.
She wants her sons Sean Preston, three, and two-year-old Jayden James to stay at the properties too - so she can see them after each gig.
But according to TMZ.com, lawyers for the boys' father, Kevin Federline, are set to contest the plan - and Spears could cancel the concerts as a result.
The website also alleges the singer is so desperate to take her sons with her when she tours, she is even willing to pay for Federline's accommodation in each of the three cities.
TMZ.com reports, "Britney, K-Fed and Jamie worked out the arrangement without the help of any of the lawyers. We're told a week ago K-Fed's lawyers became aware of the plan and were furious, thinking Jamie went behind their backs."
Who's life is this? This is a young couple who have come to an amicable agreement - regardless of their marital status. Who do these 'lawyers' think they are? Surely, anything to do with a peaceful settlement and an agreement between two people who have children together, is their business?
Lawyers seem to want people to split up. I suppose they wouldn't be able to earn their high salaries otherwise ...
Kaye x -
2008 - the year that was ...
well, jadewolf and hauntedwoman have put their 'year' together in a very brief manner, so i thought i'd have a go at it ...
jan = lived with sis. she survived her chemo and radiation therapy to fight for another day - yeay!! escorted a young man of the law.
feb = hunted for a place to live with bro. dumped the young man of the law. blind-dated with a builder.
mar = bro let me down. was given notice to quit sis - tried to rent a place (not easy with a dog in tow). dumped the builder.
apr = moved in with friend while i looked after her fascinating mum with dementia (her, not me!) and hunted for a place to lay my hat. met a nice young man who loved sharks and wanted me to swim with 'em. another friend said they'd live with me.
may = friend let me down. took matters into my own hands and found a place to lay my hat (and the dog's), moved in. scarpered out of the shark-swim escapade ultra quick. introduced to netlog by peacefulwarrior.
jun = moved a special friendship up a notch (incredible experience). worked in a horror of a dungeon who offered me a ton of money (and then sum) to sell my soul for them. decided soul was worth more - even though bank manager didn't agree.
jul = had a couple more young men chase me round the block a couple times - one of them was a super-special ex
aug = one of 'em caught me (super special ex) - trouble was, he was living with another! the other one did all but one of the 'fs' with/for and to me - let me down a couple of times, but he stuck with me, even after a couple of ruccas
sep = found a (temp) job i really loved. and surprise, surprise, it loved me too (no ton of money attached to it though
). as i was technically still single, went out with a blind date - was stood up - deflated, got up and dusted myself off.
oct = rental contract nearing an end, hunted for another abode. applied - and got rejected - for my job as a perm. no worries - more opps out there! snogged a much younger man...de-light-ful.
nov = worked for the welfare officer - brill! just what i dreamed of. super special ex promised me the world on a plate - with jam on it! dumped much younger man ( ).
dec = dumped the special friendship guy - then he turned it round and dumped me!, then (surprise, surprise) super special ex dumped me - as he decided to stay with his girl. man with shark fettish still hanging in there - tho moving miles away.
2009
jan = start new hunt for new place. start educating meself again. start blind-dating again - though i might try seeing-dating this time.
feb = moving into new place. the world's my oyster ... think i'll begin to truly focus on what i want for the next 10 months!
kaye x
POST SCRIPT
by the way - that's six guys i've dated in one year - only two of those guys succeeded - and they were the guys who dumped me! go figure!!!
POST POST SCRIP
see also my blog - "dumping ground" here's the link:
http://en.netlog.com/angelwithabullet/blog/blog...-
