Younger guys are supposed to be all about sex but in my experience I have found that not necessarily to be true. Okay maybe it is pretty much true, but to my surprise that is not ALL they are about. They are also about calling, flattering, and taking you to dinner. They are not afraid to introduce you to their families and friends, or let you into their inner circle faster than a single guy nearing 40 will. That is for sure. They are sweet and call in the middle of the day to check on your dog. Even if they really are only horny little toads. At least they make the effort and show some common courtesy. Perhaps because they are still young enough to remember the manners that their mothers taught them.

So what happens when a woman in her thirties finds a guy in his twenties and he is into her? Does that make her a cougar? Or just tired of dealing with myopic man-boys who are fast approaching middle age and are in total denial about it? In a way it makes sense because men hit their sexual stride in their early twenties but women just begin to hit it in their mid thirties.

Also, I think a younger man can appreciate a woman who is emotionally and financially independent, who can probably teach him a thing or two. A woman with a backbone who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to ask for it. A woman who doesn’t whine or get upset about frivolous things or give a shit if he wants to spend a night out with the guys [Go, please and give me some space]. The single 30-something male claims to want all of these things in a mate but in actuality when he is faced with it, he runs in the opposite direction with his tail between his legs.

A case then could certainly be made for the younger male / older female situation. All this time I've been thinking its same age or older men I should be dating, but maybe I was wrong. Maybe the young ones are where it's at.

One thing is for sure. Aside from the annoying misspellings and lol’s, the younger male can do wonders for the female ego.

Enter exhibit A.

“So just curious as to when the next [insert name of local bar here] run is going to be :O)”

“Ha, I was just there yesterday actually. Word on the street is that the gang is getting together tomorrow night. I’m gonna stop by for a quick one if my doggy is doing okay. Are you going?”

“Whats wrong with your doggy?? Hope hes alright. I might be pursuaded to :O)”

“Cancer :( “

“Damn im sorry to hear that, that really sucks. How old is he?? Let me know if you decide to go to tomorrow. :O) “

“14 years old . You should come…just don’t ask me about my dog over alcohol or I may get too depressed and want to leave. Or I may start crying… and then you’d have to hold me. “

“That would be okay…”

“Really? Aren’t guys afraid of having to provide emotional support to non-girlfriends because then they are afraid that it makes the girl think she is becoming the girlfriend? “

“Na, only losers would think like that.”

“Hmmmph....brilliant!”

“Wow 14 is pretty old for a pug isn’t it?? I will try and swing by, what time you going?? I promise i will not mention dogs. Besides if i was trying to get you to leave it would be with me lol. So getting you upset would be a bad thing :O)”

“Probably around 6:00 or 7:00”

“Sounds good, i guess i'll stalker you later then. I mean catch you later then :O)”

“C you tomorrow then.”

“Sounds good, should i knock on the front door or back door?? It might take me a while to find your house again. lol.”

“Better not tell you now”

“Cant blame me for trying though :O)”

“I admire your persistence”

“I try, im like a bad rash that doesnt go away lol i cant help it that i find you extremly attractive. My apologies if that is wrong for me to say or makes you feel uncomfortable.”

“Dude, you’re like 12 years younger and you are totally flirting with me!“

“Your not that old….but i’ll stop if you don’t want to hear it.”

“No, the flattery is good for my ego right now…feel free to tell me how awesome and adorable I am!”

“I figured you were tired of people telling you so i have kept quiet. I’ve told you beofre that you are an amazingly gorgeous woman with a perfect body... Not that i have been looking :O)”

“Please! somewhere out there is a guy who dumped me because apparently he didn’t think so. And I am FAR from perfect. My boobs are too small and I hate my thighs..I've thought about getting a boob job but with my luck I would probably end up with a third nipple or a uniboob..”

"lol, your funny too :O)"

“You gotta be kidding me right?? If a guy was stupid enough to leave its his loss. As far as your boobs i think they happen to be just the right size going by what ive seen. As for your thighs well lets just say if i was to type what i wanted to i would probably make you blush :O)

Whatever you do, do not have any surgery done. Trust me you look great the way you are :O)"

“Awww, thanks that is exactly what I needed to hear...no worries on the surgery thing, I wasn’t ever seriously considering it. They may be small but they are perky and proportionate to the rest of me.

Besides... I have enough problems with my golf swing without adding any new obstructions to the mix.”

“Yeah i would agree they are nice and perky although im limited as to what i have been able to see :O) Besides if you got fake boobs id have to stop stalking you :O) which i would hate”

“You don’t scare me…”

So in my spare time which I've had a lot of lately while laying low and spending quality time with Le Sausiege, I've been working on designing a website for my brother's new appliance business.

I am happy to say I finished the job, got him up and running and he phoned rather excited to inform me that he just received his first call from a customer who "found him on the internet" thanks to my awesome Google page indexing and design capabilities.

The first job has already paid for his yearly hosting fee and domain registration. Way cheaper than the newspaper or yellow pages.

And......if you think I am using my blog as an advertising platform to shamelessly promote my web skills here for monetary gain…you might be right.

What can I say….mama’s got a lot of vet bills to pay off.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

So.....if any of you in the local area are reading (and I know that you are based on my webstats) and you have a broken appliance that needs service or repair, look no further than www.westsideapplianceservice.com. My brother is the best in the business and offers the most affordable rates!

As for me, I am available for freelance work.

nir•va•na - Pronunciation [nir-vah-nuh]
–noun
a place or state characterized by freedom from or oblivion to pain, worry, and the external world.

That is the only word I can use to describe the new Turkey Hill limited edition, Junior Mints Ice Cream. It’s a creamy mint-flavored ice cream swirled with rich fudge and loaded with miniature Junior Mints. The most interesting thing about the flavor is how the mint, which is already cool and refreshing in its candy form, combines with the coldness of the ice cream to become even more refreshing. With a sweltering July in full bloom, I hope you get to check this one out a grocery store near you. Make sure you do it soon. Like most good things in life, the Turkey Hill limited editions never last.

So yum.

One day it feels real, the next it does not….

I think the doctors may be FOS. Either that or de Nile is not just a river in Egypt. That Sausage is still acting happy, zippy and spry. He doesn’t act sick at all these days, even though they’ve told me he really is. In fact I haven’t seen him act this good since before his last surgery.

Tonight he surprised me…we were watching that new reality show, Greatest American Dog. Best reality show ever by the way. And out of nowhere he goes bursting off the couch and flying at the TV, where he proceeded to plant himself and watch the entire program. Barking, twisting and turning at the television. It startled me in a happy way because I thought he was mostly blind, but apparently he can still see, or his eyesight has miraculously been restored. I’m not sure which. But he followed each dog contestant and the entire plot of the show, stopping to chew his bully stick on the commercials.

While I can’t deny that the tumors are growing at a rapid rate and will before long interfere with things, to look at him everyday you would never know it. They change shape and size daily too which is also like a bit of a mental roller coaster.

Anyway after my last post I wanted you to know he is still a happy boy and loving life..I guess that's the most important thing.

Friends are people who pack picnics with salad, sandwiches and bottles of wine just for the two of you..

Friends are people who've been in your life for decades and remain constant fixtures through the good times, and the bad

Friends are people you’ve never met who read your blog and take a few minutes out of their busy day to post a comment or send an email offering words of comfort and support..

Friends make calls to talk you off the ledge when they see you teetering on the edge of it..

Friends are people who lend an ear when you just need them to listen

Friends are people you don't have to worry about offending with your offbeat sense of humor..

Friends are people who hope for the best but prepare you for the worst..

Friends are people who aren’t so consumed with their own lives that they forget to ask you about yours

Friends are people who don't always make it all about themselves, on their time and only when it's convenient for them

Friends are people who are there to celebrate your greatest loves, and to help you mourn your greatest losses

Friends are people who may not understand or relate with what you are going through, but are there to offer up their support even if they don't get it, because they care about you and they want you to be okay.

Friends are people you worked with 5 jobs ago, who still make an effort to keep in touch, even if it’s only through Linkedin or Facebook.

Friends are people who never lie, criticize, or judge.

Friends are people who pop their heads into your office and ask you how your day is going, how your dog is doing, or invite you out to happy hour once in a while

Friends are people you lose touch with over time through no fault of anyone or anything other than life changes taking you in different directions, but somehow they still make the effort to connect from time to time...

Friends are new people that come into your life with a fresh perspective on things reminding you how broad the spectrum of possiblities are..

Friends are people who remind you that you can never be too early and that it's never too late.

Friends are people whose lives are running on a completely different course but they are still able to find some common ground.

Friends are people who see you making mistakes but realize it's something you need to learn for yourself…. so they sit back quietly on the sidelines and instead of saying, "I told you so" when it all falls apart, they are there to gently help you pick up the pieces and move on..

Friends are people who understand when you don't want to talk about it and know you well enough to not take it personal when you want to be left alone. They know that you know that when you are ready, they will be there waiting in the wings.

Friends are people who let you walk your own path, but are there to shadow you on your journey..

Friends are people who have moved on to new cities, new jobs, new spouses, but somehow they always find their way back to you at the most ironic of times...

Friends are people who have your back in every situation..

Friends are people you don’t see or talk to for months or years but when you finally reconnect, you’re able to pick right up where you left off like no time has passed between you

Friends are people you can curl up with on the couch, with a big bowl of popcorn or hot blueberry tea, watch a movie together and not have to say anything at all..

Friends are people who let you into their homes and their lives, trust you with their children and with their pets..

Friends are people who know how to sit you down and tell you like it is when you need to hear it.... but also know how to hold it in when you don't.

Friends are the friends of your friends who make an effort to include you in social gatherings..

Friends are people you've dated and it didn't work out, but they still stay in touch because they liked you as a person, and because you meant something to them.

Friends are people you can laugh and cry with…

Friends are people who offer to drive so you don't have to.

Friends are people who have seen you at your best (fancy gowns, and shiny updos, toasting the town) and at your worst (black mascara running down your face, head in toilet bowl holding back your hair).

Friends are people who don't make you afraid to trust them.

Friends are people who can tell when you're happy or sad just by looking at your face or hearing a certain tone in your voice..

Friends are people who allow you to see the world in a different way just by being the unique creatures that they are..

Friends are people who let you be yourself and love you just the way you are even if they don't always understand or approve of your choices..

Friends are people who know all the answers to those annoying "How well do you know me" internet questionnaires

Friends are people who would never lead you astray or set you down a path of destruction

Friends are people who would tell you if the guy you are seeing is seeing someone else

Friends are people who invite you to play in their golf league.

Friends are people who accept your lifestyle even if it doesn't reflect the same way they choose to live their own lives.

Friends are people that visit you in the hospital, dance at your wedding, and pay their respects at the funerals of your loved ones.

Friends are people with busy lives, but they always show up when it matters

Thank you.

I feel the weight of a cinder block pressing on my chest and a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.

I’m afraid of being alone. I’m afraid that my life won’t be as colorful as I’d always imagined it to be. And that everything will turn to drab shades of black and gray when you’re no longer in it. I’m afraid I’ll miss you so much that I won’t be able to breathe or peel myself out of bed.

I’m afraid everything I say will come out wrong because nobody understands our bond or what you truly meant to me.

I’m afraid the loss will surpass anything I’ve ever felt and I may not be equipped to handle it.

I’m afraid I may not be strong enough to stay happy and upbeat around you in your final days because I know that’s what you need and deserve. I’m afraid to let you see me cry. I’m afraid if I start I may never stop.

The doctor very firmly but gently said, “Lori, I’m sorry. You need to prepare yourself” as he used words like “inoperable” and “day to day”. But how do you prepare to lose your best friend? I cried as he hugged me and softly muttered, “there’s no charge for today” and let us slip out the back door so nobody could see or feel the weight of sadness.