What's on your mind?

I love staring at the sky at night. It's so peaceful. There are scattered clouds around; stars shining through them; lightning lighting up the sky in the distance. Too beautiful to sleep.


I would post this on fb but I don't want everyone I know to know I stayed up all night. :p I wonder if its bad that I also intend to get up early to get things done. I'm so wide awake!

*sniff*

Today is Thing 1's first day of his last year of high school and Thing 2's first day of his last year of middle school.

Day off. I haven't had a "real" day off in a long time.
Maybe I'll just relax and do nothing.
Or maybe I'll hit the thrift stores and see if I can find some fun stuff.

I've never been one for thrift stores but my BFF can always find awesome deals at them. I guess she goes a lot and when she finds a great deal she snatches it up. She just bought a really big chest freezer for $50.

I'm the one most likely to be a serial killer  

Dandelions in the Rain wrote:

The second time I went to meet some friends from CF I called my mom an hour before I was going to meet them to tell her where I was going - then gave her background info on each that I was going to meet (what their names were, ages, jobs, family) then assured her that I would be okay. :DThen I called her before I drove home.

It's a good idea to let family and RL friends know who you'll be with, where you're going, when you'll be home etc. I even do it myself.

Miss Spaulding wrote:

Anyway. I'm the youngest of five kids...I am the baby of the family. Maybe it just hasn't dawned on my mom yet that I'm in my mid twenties. So I think the first time I decide to meet one of my online friends I'll just break it to her like this: "So, Mom, I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm old enough to be married and bear you grandchildren. Can I meet my online friends now?"

I'm the youngest of four, and I've lived far from home for a long time now, but my mom is still concerned about my internet friendships. She thinks I go to chat rooms and doesn't quite grasp the concept of forums, but she means well.

Thunder Peel wrote:

I didn't even realize other people on the Internet were real. When did this happen?

Last Thursday.  

Dandelions in the Rain wrote:

I love staring at the sky at night. It's so peaceful. There are scattered clouds around; stars shining through them; lightning lighting up the sky in the distance. Too beautiful to sleep.


I would post this on fb but I don't want everyone I know to know I stayed up all night. :p I wonder if its bad that I also intend to get up early to get things done. I'm so wide awake!

Sounds nice. I like stargazing, with or without the astronomy element. The beauty of creation is awe inspiring.

bought a Wii for cheap - let the games begin!

I guess I got lucky because my parents didn't bat an eye when I said I was meeting people in person from the internet. The first guy I ever met I was 19 and we met in a chat room. He lived in Kansas and I lived in Illinois so we met half way in Missouri. It was a nice visit but we just lost contact with each other.

Back in 2008 I went to Indiana and met about 12 people from a forum I was on. We stayed at one guys house for the weekend and it was really nice. I'm still friends with some of the people from there. My dad just bought the plane ticket and that was that.

I have had people stay at my house with me and the boys, or meet for a day trip...what not.

There have been a few I have almost met but had a bad feeling about it so I didn't. I lost touch with those people pretty much immediately after I declined the meeting so that tells me something.

There are a few more people I want to meet so hopefully I'll get the chance in the next year or so.

I've met a couple people from online chats - the first guy I stupidly invited him to meet me at my house. At the time I thought it was ok because we had skype'd a couple times, but looking back I realize it wasn't safe at all. The next guy I met at a coffee shop with lots of people - safety in numbers!

I have had some people stay a weekend with me the first time we met. I have also stayed with someone the first time we met. I just have to have "known" them for quite a while before I do so. I don't know...it's a person to person basis for me. There are some people I would let stay with me, some people I would visit and some I would keep as far away from me as possible.

Well, my parents can be pretty overprotective sometimes (or try to, at least), but I don't recall them being too worried about me meeting people from online. Maybe they assumed, "He's a guy, he can take care of himself." The first online friend I ever met lived in New York City; I took a bus there. Some parents might have freaked out over that.

If I ever go to England, I'm seeing an EPL game.

The nightmares came back last night. The month I had without them was nice while it lasted.

Jess9450 wrote:

bought a Wii for cheap - let the games begin!

Yay! Did you get Mario Kart?

My mom has played Mario Kart with me and other CFers before. One time with them talking over skype. I muted my mic though so no one could hear us. ^_^
In the past I've also gotten my younger brother or sister to play Mario Kart with them too.

I have no idea if she understands forums vs chat rooms or even knows about either. But I don't really see the need to explain unless she asks. She just knows that I talk to a lot of christians online, from a christian website.

Skype was the weirdest thing to explain to her.. that it's not always video calls and that I just mostly use it for text talking.
She finally got skype herself but is still a little slow at understanding how to use it.
Someday hopefully she will get it.

Miss Spaulding wrote:

My dad would have a coronary.

I can understand either parental reaction. I suppose you have to find a balance between keeping your kids safe and allowing them to expand their horizons when they're ready and able. It's tough, I'm sure.

Dandelions in the Rain wrote:

My mom has played Mario Kart with me and other CFers before. :DOne time with them talking over skype. :DI muted my mic though so no one could hear us. ^_^
In the past I've also gotten my younger brother or sister to play Mario Kart with them too.

Mario Kart alone makes having a Wii worthwhile. Not that I have one

Thunder Peel wrote:

The nightmares came back last night. The month I had without them was nice while it lasted.

What are these nightmares about?

I spent most of my weekend sleeping, spending time with my friends and family.

I thought I wasn't going to get my energy back, but thankfully I did.

Back from a fun little day of shopping.

I know you stated that you would rather not discuss your online friends with your parents, but maybe it'll help?? Like, if they knew of a few of your closest friends and talked about them, it will kinda soften the blow a bit. Maybe sit down with both of them and try to explain it and tell them you have a few friends you've known for years and that you're responsible and smart and wouldn't do anything unsafe. Maybe if, at the very least, they got used to a few of your online friends being in your life, it would be easier for them. Maybe not. Older people can be stubborn and don't really grasp fully how the world has changed. As much as you respect and honor them, they should respect your judgment as an adult. Especially since, as far as I know, you're not known for wild rebellious shenanigans lol.

This is an important part of your life and they need a chance to understand and grasp it. Even if they don't like it or think it's stupid.

Dandelions in the Rain wrote:

She just knows that I talk to a lot of christians online, from a christian website.

Skype was the weirdest thing to explain to her.. that it's not always video calls and that I just mostly use it for text talking.
She finally got skype herself but is still a little slow at understanding how to use it.
Someday hopefully she will get it.

Dandelions your situation is very similar to mine. This is very similar to how my parents have come to understand things. At first they couldn't understand the difference between going on chat roulette, and talking to the Christians I've met online and on Skype. lol. But slowly they've understood things a little more and most importantly, learned to trust me and my judgement.

It took a long time though, and it was difficult. But in the end it was worth it to me to have them know.

OneHappyCookie wrote:

Back from a fun little day of shopping.

Ooo what'd you find? Anything good? =)

hiya Ray!

I just took an age test. Apparently physically I'm 40.3 years old. :/ Tres depressing.

So I look like I'm in my 20's but feel like I'm in my 40's. Soooo...nothing in my 30's?

Every time Ray is here I feel like this guy...




...I don't know why. Probably because I feel we'd be really good friends if you were actually around more.