1. Diabetic...should I starve myself of anything worthy of tasting at all another day...or have this peanut butter sauce cream filled donut?

DOOOOONNUUUUUUTTTTTTTTTTTTT ACHIEVED!

Hells yeah!

2. Many of the men I have dated here in Amsterdam definitely count as poor decisions.

I had a good thing going with one guy, we dated 4 times in a month and he made me dinner once... then he dumps me because his ex comes back into his life.

Another guy wooed me by saying "You don't look like the kind of guy to just have sex with and leave, let's get to know each other first..." And we did, and had a nice conversation. And then he says he's busy for the next 3 weeks... And when I try to schedule something for after, I can't pin him down. Next.

Another guy I went out with thrice. Only after the third time does he say he's moving out because he lives with his ex-boyfriend, and he gets no respect or love. Wait, what?

And yet another guy identifies as polyamorous... a relationship anarchist... and invited me to join him and another guy in a three-way partnership.

Still another guy - whom I met in Turkey - only later tells me he is married to a woman and has three kids.

Another guy messages me on a Tuesday, then invites me out... doesn't follow up... until I do, then he invites me out next Thursday.... to a group thing. I decide not to go because our initial conversation is very nice, then see if he's open to a one-on-one meet up. Then he says he just met another guy and isn't open to dating.

This doesn't even count the guys I meet who turn out to be in a) open relationships, or b) cheating on their boyfriends. Gah!

I feel like my dating life can be the source material for a gay Sex and the City. Maybe if I'm lucky it will turn into a gay How I Met Your Father.

Comedic shenanigans galore!

Oooh, I liiiiiike

3. Staying up late in the middle of the week, even though trucks broke down (again) and I have no run for tomorrow.

4. Pilot truck stop pizza. Should drink grease relief before eating.

5. Seeing a guy who made me sneak out of his apartment because, it turns out, he is cheating on his boyfriend.

I sense a recurring theme here...

Ibby...heartbreaker...

thanks rick. eh, it's his loss.

6. Possible, not known yet, but trying to learn guitar at 51. I figured tips of fingers were going numb from playing guitar, needing to toughen up. Turns out, between driving all day and playing, may be carpel tunnel syndrome according to my doctor. Well, here's 7. don't care, ain't gonna quit trying to learn.

I can't be the only one here (with a couple exceptions, natch...) that makes poor decisions.

8. Hot Mayo on a fried bologna sammich and an hour later....watermelon.

9. I went to Paris Pride, but I wasn't prepared to return to the city where I LIVED WITH MY EX FOR 1.5 YEARS, so I started drinking to get over it, and messaged guys that I like now weird crap like "Hey are we stillsaldls onanqjfe 4 saturdaaaaaay" and I almost cried while marching in the damned parade.

Oddly enough, I was the hot mess there but it was my sober friend who lost his phone.

10. Didn't join in the Poor Decisions thread when I should. Always leaving things too late.



You utter flirt Ibby

^ 11. Forgetting that the guy I was messaging was scheduled for FRIDAY, because I have another date on SATURDAY. And yet another guy asked me out for Saturday AFTER my already-scheduled date, except this other guy a) is in an open relationship, and b) wants me to go to his place in Rotterdam (I live in Amsterdam), which is both exciting and ominous.

12. Not immediately blocking a guy who stood me up on a date, giving him the opportunity to message me again with some BS excuse for doing so.

13. Not reading "Flex Mentallo" when it was originally published in 1996, just because I was on some stupid, petty little Anti-DC/Anti-Vertigo trip at the time.

Who can say how differently the next 23 years would have gone for me?

And if maybe I actually *did* break into the comics biz in this alternative time-line.

14. I learned at an early age to never brag or boast. It always... ALWAYS ended badly for me. So, this isn't a brag or boast, but more along the lines of a New Year's resolution. I plan to learn to play "Long Cool Woman" by The Hollies before thanksgiving. The reason this isn't a brag or boast is because I'm still learning to read tablature, still learning proper fret techniques, and frankly, I'm old and none to nimble with the fingers anymore. The reason it's a poor decision? Cause' I suck at playing and it generally takes real time to get decent. And, I get mayyyyyyybe an hour a day, at the end of the day, when I'm tired and not particularly focused, and I've voiced it aloud now. Well, written it anyway.

And yet...you persist. Good on you!

You may surprise yourself at how well you learn, rick! Go for it!

15. Fireworks in a lightning storm. Poor decision...but hella fun!

16. Whatever the hell it was I ate yesterday. Lets just say it was a good thing they didn't have a run for me at work today. Tomorrow...Imodium. Lots and lots of Imodium.

17. Having that last beer while at a company event... ok, not really.

18. Saying tahellwithit and trying to slingblade the ditch in front of the house like I was 26 instead of nearly 52. I usually like heat, but it was a bit much on this old bod today. Growing old sucks. I got the ditch done, but I'm paying for it now.

I had to look up slingblade. From the first 20 search hits I thought no wonder he's in pain, if he's working on a ditch with a Billy Bob Thornton DVD.

Can you imagine how long it took me with just a soft plastic case?

Um... If you want to hear me trot out my bad decisions I'm gonna' need my own forum.

But obviously the most important bad decision today is not watering the plants when it's 90 F out, because I've got cabin fever and don't feel like going outside. (That won't stop me from griping when they all burn to a crisp, of course. It's a good thing that I never had kids.)

Oh, and pretty much every post I make without previewing it first ends up needing an instant edit. So refusing to take advantage of the damn Preview function? That probably counts, too.

So... 19 & 20, I guess.

21. Being a true Britphile, I appreciate the goodness of digestive biscuits covered with a thin coat of chocolate on one side -- I get my chocolate fix AND help my digestion at the same time.

Except the other day, when I ate something 10 of them within 12 hours!

Moderation, lady, moderation!

They are damn tasty, tho.

22. Staying in the scorching hot living room, when my bedroom is so much cooler. In my defense, the WiFi doesn't extend to the bedroom, and the living room is much nearer the kitchen...

23. A "breakfast" of nothing but coffee.

But after all, I'm just following this board's most noble tradition.

24. tossing aside my raincoat because Blaze laughed at me for looking ridiculous in it

Going through a mini mid-life crisis and going drinking with the boys on a weekeday and ending up at a strip club. Done a handful of times in the last year. Too old for this...hurts...always say never will do it again. This time...I'm serious! lol.

Remembering my ex while walking through Dubrovnik because he was a big Game of Thrones fan, and spending 3 hours wandering around blindly while crying.

And doing the same during Paris pride AND during Amsterdam pride.

My ex has a knack for giving me bad memories of special events. Wait until my birthday. Or Christmas...

Okay, finally figured out what "hammer on" means, so I'm working on the intro to Long Cool Woman. Trying to defeat a poor decision!

Talked to the guys at Standard Music in Sumter, SC today. I'm hoping they can find me the tablature for Long Cool Woman.

Biggest poor decision of the week...I took a load of steel to Sterling, Va. during Dorian. Me and that damn storm went round and round from Florence, SC all the way into DC. And lemme tell you, can't describe just how much I despise that effin town. The streets were laid out by incontinent cats and were made to deliberately trick you. Wound up taking a toll road when I had no money for said toll. Finally get to destination, and the freakin' site manager has made a rock bridge over the wall foundation without adequate rock or length of ramp. Decided to fix it by dropping a couple of steel plates. Well guess what, had to head in instead of backing in because they dug up the access needed for a proper backing, and then the rock, which is the wrong sized rock, spread out under the tires and stuck my landing gear. "Well get you out without any damage." Never belive contractors. Broken landing gear brace and the landing gear displaced. And then, because it took so long, had to overnight there instead of gettin' the hell outta dodge. So, I get three hours sleep and hit the road last night at 11:30 because I couldn't go to sleep. Made it back this morning at 7:45.

Didn't want the run to begin with because it was DC, but took it for several reasons, not the least was to help out dispatcher.

No good deed....

Man the life of a trucker sure isn't easy. Thanks for sharing rick.I have no idea what a truckie's life is like so hearing from you is enlightening.

To be honest, most times it's boring and routine. It's the "special favor" time that gets most of us. That, and when we deliver bridge spans. They have to go in a certain order, so when one person doesn't show up on time...well, the rest of us are stuck.

sorry to hear, rick. that sounds tough.

I continue to make bad decisions with my dating life... note to self, anyone who messages you after 1am is probably not looking for something long-term...

and even guys who message you on a Sunday morning, and say they are dating-oriented, could just be saying that to get into your pants.

Considering you're a regular on the poor sleepers thread, maybe they have something in common with you.

To... have some vigorous physical exercise, so that one can roll over and go to sleep immediately after?

Big slice of New York style Cheesecake...add some whipped cream? I shouldn't...I just did!

Top it off with a piece of chocolate? What am I, crazy? Guess I am.

Triple-booking three different guys on the same night, because I was afraid some of them would cancel

They all confirmed

This would make a great plot for an episode of the all-gay-male version of Three's Company.

All kidding aside, my thoughts are with you, Ibby. Hope it all turns out for the better.

Maybe you can set the two less desirable ones up together?

Thanks Fanfie, that's very sweet



That's a thought. But I won't know which is least desirable (for sure) until I meet them all. Pictures can lie. I once met a guy who was 10 years older and 20 pounds heavier than his profile picture...

then of course there's personality. I met a very physically attractive guy who was both extremely boring and extremely arrogant.

Basically, Atmos or Threeboot Ultra Boy in real life.

Ouch, Ibby, you dawg!

Got no advice for you my friend. I was always lucky to have just one...a month. Much less three a night.

Heehee, thanks Rick.

Since the break up I've been hitting the gym and throwing myself out there. I'm over Blaze now, and I'm happy to be "in circulation" again. Have met some very interesting guys

THIS is why you buy local if you can. I walked into Standard Music in sumter, sc yesterday with my son. It's our music shop and the guys there are great. They knew I was trying to learn Long Cool Woman but couldn't find the tablature. Not in the door sixty seconds and he hands me the tablature for Long Cool Woman. It was a great example for my son.

I had to look up "tablature." On the plus side, when senility comes I have so much less to lose.

<Silverage sigh> I do better, I get worse. Sometimes I get the fretwork right, sometimes I'm all thumbs. But, I shall persevere.

That's what counts, Rick. Stick with it. It's like when I started drawing again back in 2017, after a 20-year hiatus. I really struggled for a while, but the magic always happens when one least expects it. And from there on, it's gravy.

Indeed, completely agree with what Ann says. You can do it, Rick!

Always always always taking a run to help out dispatch. Lets just say a five hour job turned into a two day oddessy. *sp*

great decision for Sam, my son. Poor decision for me...letting my sixteen year old son leave home for boarding school. Miss my kid like nobody's business.

commiserations, Rick. though when he visits, he'll have lots of cool, interesting stories to tell!