go-cart races among the vendors are important to watch out for, too gang way gotta lotta free food that way cuz there's always some that slides off that's the way it's been on the drag street vendor drag racing on the drag gets pretty exciting cuz of all the people rushing out to pick up falling food and trying not to get hit by the slower carts it's just like what it was like to be in Pamplona on the big day and participating in it bulls pulling the carts---that's what should be tried next maybe Bullwinkle could be invited or Paul Bunyan's blue friend

or maybe we should just invite the world's smallest lummox...

I would never purchase anything prepared from a food vendor (*shudder*), except maybe a soft pretzel.

The World's Smallest Lummox don't need no steenking invitation...

I think that they meant your daughter.

Well, technically, she now IS the World's Smallest Lummox...

Of course. And after reading your description of her, I know that we all eagerly await the posting of some pictures.

hear hear!!! Let's open a topic to show our little lummoxlets off in!

A great idea!!! Let's do it!

I'm known for that...

You are known for what? Doing it??

Yep. However most of the time without thinking....

At times thinking can spoil the moment. I try to get the thinking out of the way ahead of time.

You mean you sympathize? I find that refreshing, because people are generally so against UNthinking.

It is difficult to be spontaneous and calculating at the same time. For some things spontaneity is absolutely necessary for full enjoyment.

Yes, exactly. If I say, alright, today I'm going shopping, then it's no surprise when I do. But when I say, today I'm going to do absolutely nothing, and end up on a huge merry-go-around, then the sheer surprise of it makes the enjoyment that much greater. I can see though, how for some people unpredictability in their day can cause insecurity. Some people need absolute certainty over things - otherwise their day becomes irrational. I find it comforting to FEEL life, but were I sombody else, I'd probably find it comforting to KNOW life.

Life is Unpredictable. It is impossible to know life while you are experiencing it. Every day is a new experience. Nothing happens exactly the same way twice. Let me rephrase that: Nothing natural happens the same way twice. You have the kind of spontaneous spirit that is absolutely invigorating. You are the kind of person that will go out for a loaf of bread, see a poster advertising a circus, realize that the matinee is in 5 minutes, and go catch the matinee, then buy the bread. That is truely refreshing.

In short you are not In a continual rut like most people. You are a free spirit without confinement.

Stop it, you're embarrassing me! I'm none of those things! Merely impulsive, and childish, and full of trouble; I got into big trouble with my husband again over the weekend, and I'm thinking that if I were able to settle into some kind of routine, my life would at least be a little organized, and I'd be a better wife. I don't know. I just don't want to make him angry anymore. But I don't know how to stop either.

What I said is true, Riette, be careful what you do here, you will not be happy in restraint, even self imposed.

Oh, but I don't like being careful at all!

That's good keep that attitude. That will keep you feeling free, Riette.

Well, it's too late to start now anyway. I just dread to think what we're going to get up to next year, because you sound like no angel either!

Well now Riette, there's angels and there's ANGELS, all different kinds. Actually, you kind of touched a nerve, when you said that. Riette, I want you to understand, I no longer think like this, but this was our motto in sniper school: YEA, THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, I FEAR NO HARM, FOR I AM THE ANGEL OF DEATH, AND MINE IS THE SHADOW THAT FILLS THE VALLEY. Cute, Huh! The military is great at brainwashing.

I think it is horrible to teach people that. I'm sorry if I touched a nerve - I didn't mean to, because you are my friend.

That's OK Riette. I know you did not mean to bring that up from my past. Maybe I should not have told you about it. But that is what I had to get rid of when I left the military. It is not natural for people to want to kill another human that has done no harm to them, so the army brainwashes it's killers. The Trouble is that they never remove that conditioning. If you want it gone It's up to you. I took me 6 years to remove 6 weeks of conditioning.

I am glad you told me. Thank you. I am sorry you had to go through all that.

Riette, the truely sad part of all of it is that I did not HAVE to do it. I Volunteered. I just did not know what I was getting myself into until it was too late.

That's not your fault. You had the sense to realize at some point what was going on. That is all that matters, and all that should matter to you. If we had to NOT do things, just because we're afraid of what we might get in to, life would simply not be worth living. We need to have our strenghts and weaknesses tested in order to find out what we are. And this experience is one in which you proved that your strengths are greater than your weaknesses.

Thank you Riette! for your vote of confidence. I really appreciate it.

No, you deserve it.

Well, Riette, Thanks again anyway, on GPs.

What's that? (My, you're quick today!)

General Purposes, Riette

That could mean anything!

Riette, it's intended to mean anything!

One should never do that! Because people might get seduced that way.

I shall have to annotate my little black book to that effect, Riette. Thank you. ( the little black book that measures 15x20 cm)

Eh....little... black book? Okay, you've got me just a little worried here!

Riette, the telephone directory!

A hand written telephone directory.

Actually It's navy blue and has more than just phone numbers in it.

There you are! I'm so happy to see you! More than just phone numbers???

I'm very happy to see you too Riette. And the book has addresses, Directions, Notes and vital statistics in it.

Vital statistics - what are those???

Anniversary dates, Riette, Birthdays, Wedding dates, Etc.

That's so sweet! You still send your wives anniversary cards? I've never heard of anything so lovely and bizarre!

I have to admit, Riette, That is bizarre. And, I never thought of it. Actually, I send anniversary cards to my brothers and sisters, my aunts, uncles, cousins, and parents.

For lack of other utterances: OOPS!!!

That's OK Riette, I did sort of lead you on.