Well, I've been gone for quite a while, all kinds of busy with my art projects and some family drama, but I'm in a really good place right now. My uncle came home today from a month rehab in Florida, so he's tan, sober and a healthy 15 lbs heavier then last time I saw him. So he's ready to get all the issues surrounding his upcoming divorce finished with a clear head, and his son and I took him to the gym we go to as a guest. My new diet and routine has me ten pounds lighter but bigger and stronger than I've ever been.

And I've gone out on a few dates recently, and my unmentionable date and I have had a really nice time as of late. Nothing too serious, but it's fun to just go out and not have a care in the world or any reservations at all. Perhaps some day soon I can actually mention her name on here, but she asked me to keep things kinda quiet. She meant social sites which I don't have accounts for really, but we're just really cool right now.

Sounds really good overall. I'm glad to hear it -- glad you're doing well, and that your uncle is healthier, and that you're in a relationship that just feels good.

I think that you & she are off to the right start. My husband and I got together kind of in response to our heavy-drama recently-ended relationships -- we just wanted to enjoy each other's company, and it was liberating to not worry about what would happen next.

^^ Excellent plan, especially the diet plan. As strict as it might sound, it's sensible -- it doesn't leave you hungry or let your energy dip.

Yeah that's about right on track with everything else I've heard. Great.

Thanks for sharing.

I know I usually put my random rants and venting in this thread when it pertains to relationships, well, this should meet that criteria. In three years I've buried 5 people under the age of 30, all of whom I've known for so very long. My uncle visited me, for he and his son were worried that I'd relapse of do something stupid in my despair. I didn't take it as them thinking I was weak, simply concerned.

The bar which I have refrained from going to since all the rumors and drama occurred, played host for a gathering of the friends and family of Jason Sica. I hugged one of the sisters who believed those nasty rumors, and she said she or her sister weren't mad. That I should just talk with her sis because she doesn't want me to avoid them. It was a nice gesture, including the triple shot of tequila she poured for us both.

Well, the Tuesday Jay passed, over 80 people showed up to that hole-in-the-wall bar, and being that the funeral parlor happened to be a block away, we used the bar as a meeting place and to celebrate our friend between and after the viewing services. After the last night viewing, an even larger crowd gathered and his mother thanked us all for showing her how much her son meant to us all. I thanked her for putting up some of the photos I had of Jason into the collage, and also thanked her for letting us have the son she raised as a friend. There was this great moment where a group of about 7 of us cheered and I said "Lurch", and then our friends Kevin and Kate said "Lurch" with me, and we just let the nickname of Jay grow louder. Well everybody in the bar followed suit, and over 100 people packed into a little bar just screamed "Lurch" like a war cry, holding it for 20-30 seconds with our glasses in the air. I'm getting chills right now just thinking about how damn epic that was, collectively everyone just released our sadness with that scream and the next few hours that followed was just a celebration of his life.

My friend Kevin who went to Texas with me said; "we're too young to only gather the extent of our friends during weddings and funerals." Granted the group is over 100 people easy, probably close to 150, but we're looking to organize big gatherings once or twice a year. A day or two where everybody puts the kids, families, jobs, schools, and bullsh*t aside to get together solely in good times.

I slept about 5 hours collectively over the last four day, mainly just cuddling with a few friends, it would have been the life of kings if me and the three girls the one night did anything, but really we were just hanging on from breaking down completely. Last night after the burial I went home, had a dinner with three of my friends who car-pooled to the burial, then watched a bit of tv and fell asleep around 8:00. Woke up this morning at 8:00 pretty rested, so I think I'm gonna start work on my next sculpture.

Below is our eulogy, cheers Jay.

That sounds really beautiful. I know it's bittersweet to have a good experience rooted in such pain, but I think sometimes it's that contrast that makes each a little more poignant.

I especially loved hearing about that collective call-out to your friend. Losing a number of people who are close to you does make you feel like bits of your world are falling away -- I lost a number of loved ones to various forms of cancer when I was in college, and that's what started my eulogy collages. It's good that you and your friends are leaning on each other, and I think you've all got the right idea about getting together just for the sake of getting together. My friends and I have also been commenting that we only see each other at weddings; everyone gets wrapped up in jobs and kids and all; we don't have reunions just for the hell of it anymore. But you and your friends are wise to get together when you can, just to remind each other how important you are to one another.

The eulogy is beautiful and right-on. Take care, Spooky -- treat yourself well, and feel the emotions you need to feel. But don't feel lonely, because your friends (even the ones you've never met face to face) are not too far away.

If you find yourself in NC... you're probably on your way somewhere more interesting. But on that off chance, or if I'm up North with a little free time, a crossing of paths would be great.

My birthday and my friends birthday were on the day last month, so the following Saturday we had a nice gathering at a bar, shut the place down to watch a UFC PPV and have food ordered in. Good times.

Went on a few dates with some girls I met at school and one I've known for about 2 years now from the scene here, the girls at school are young though, and as nice as they are and good as they look, dating someone much younger then me is a questionable decision in my opinion.

I also patched pretty much everything up with the gal, saw her and her sister at the club they work at the night before Thanksgiving when a big group of us went out. We talked, had some shots, and I everything seems very well put to rest.

So....

haven't posted in this thread in a while.

Anywho, There's a young lady I've known for a few years that I'd like to see more of, and she has made it very clear she wants to see more of me again. Our schedules suck though, my night work and school in Jersey, her night work and living in New York make it nearly impossible for me to go up there to see her, which sucks.

Other than that, things are ok in the nonsense department. I still spend time with women who don't want anything serious just fun, and the gal I'd like to be serious with doesn't. Same boat, just further out to sea.

That gal I kinda like the most, we had a lunch together the other week after I had my hair redyed and cut, it was like a hair showing since her's was freshly done as she had gone to Europe the weekend prior. We spent nearly 3 hours just talking while drinking wine and having soup and salad, it was excessively chill, and I think maybe she's slowly (super slowly) realizing that we can chill away from her jobs. No strings attached or devious plots to woo her on my part, my feelings are apparent, but I'm not being pushy, simply interested in seeing her on a slightly more personal level (like not as a patron).

^^ Hair showing. lol This sounds really good -- she'll look back on this lunch as a good time, and that's the kind of view that'll make her want to spend more time with you, I think. When you don't go into a get-together with expectations, good things usually come of it (at least that's how it's been with me). The 3 hrs talking is a positive sign.

Getting all nostalgic now for when G and I first got together -- we were both worn out from emotionally-draining bad relationships, and just wanted to have a good time.

It was nice to just have no distractions, and I hope it leads to us getting together more often without any expectations as well.