I think I would choose the bathroom first. I believe that the man I would be doing this with would do fine with a bedroom design or kitchen, but he might miss some details in a dream bathroom that I would wish to have. How would I design it? I'd have an amazing shower with multiple shower heads and a built-in ledge that was just the right height to prop up my legs when I shave them (you see what I mean? I don't think a man would likely think of this). I would have a great big sunken tub/jacuzzi, there would be exquisite slate tiling (picture an Italian country villa or a Mexican estate style), beautiful light fixtures with just the right amount of light for grooming, and a tall armoire (old wood, coordinating with the style of tiling and the paint chosen for the room) to hold lots of towels, makeup, shampoos, soaps, etc. That's a start, anyway.
Ken, I can only echo the sentiments of others. I am indeed glad to know that you and your parents are ok, and secondarily that your house wasn't too badly damaged. What a horrific experience it must have been! Thank you for sharing your emotions with us. You, your family, and all in the area who have been affected by the fires will be in my thoughts.
No argument here. You can feel however you feel and I don't dispute your feelings. I only say that I don't feel sorry for criminals getting their due....illegal or legal, immigrants or citizens...commit a crime on my turf and I hope you pay for it.
I'm getting the feeling that much of the world is under the impression that only the U.S. has intelligence agencies (ok, let's call them as most of us know them----spies) and that we have our agents listening and watching and wearing trench coats and drinking martinis with young, gorgeous women....while the rest of the world is helplessly at our eavesdropping mercy. C'MON! Get real and get a grip, people. Our spies may have a recognizable acronym, but we are not alone. Your nation (whoever is reading this) has its own...and wants to know what we know, or wants to keep secret what we want to find out. Don't kid yourselves. You want to know our secrets??? I guarantee you that you have men and women out there who are doing their best to find them out....just as we are. Why on God's green earth would you think that we are alone in this endeavor? Oh, the stories I could tell! But then I'd have to kill you!
Yes, exactly....but you had previously stated that the deportees were a burden to the countries they were sent back to, and I simply countered with "why should they be OUR burden?" Your original post was about immigrants (not U.S. citizens) who commit crimes in the U.S., get deported for those crimes, and now they are a problem to their homeland and they don't have any ties there anymore, etc. The fact remains that they are not U.S. citizens, they have committed a crime, and they are subject to the laws of the land....in this case, this means deportation. I see no sadness in this. I live with my choices and the ramifications of any bad ones I may have made along the way. These people must do the same.
I wrote under the assumption that the individuals committing the crimes which make them subject to deportation are at least 18 years old (they may have arrived here as children, but they are no longer children when they are committing crimes, right?). So, they are eligible for naturalization citizenship if they are 18 years old and have resided in the States for at least 5 years, plus a few other requirements....which, for a legal immigrant who has grown up in the U.S., should not be difficult criteria to meet.
And, Taino, you mention an extra burden on countries that have to receive them back again. Do you feel that these NON-U.S. citizens should be OUR burden? Should my tax money pay to incarcerate a criminal, pay for his meals, his legal fees, etc., etc....because HIS country is burdened? Remember, I am talking about post-18 year olds who have lived in the U.S. for most of their lives and who choose to remain citizens of their country of birth rather than to apply for U.S. citizenship. This is a choice they have and opt not to take advantage of, just as crime is a choice.
As one who has lived in a number of countries, I am always cognizant of the fact that I must obey the laws of that country, whether or not I particularly agree with them. Had I committed a crime while in Saudi Arabia, for example, I might not have one of the hands that I type with now. Or perhaps I might be rotting in a prison somewhere....or may have been executed within days of committing my crime. Deportation would have been a blessing in this case.
I have to wonder why someone would be in the U.S. from a very young age, plan to remain in the U.S., and doesn't apply for citizenship. You mention deportation of people who have no real ties anywhere outside of the U.S. because they and their family members have been in the States since the individual in question was a baby or a young child. What has kept that person from becoming a U.S. citizen? Whether the person is here legally or illegally as an immigrant, they remain here under certain laws and regulations. If they choose not to follow them, they are subject to the long arm of the law... the arm that will pick them up and place them back in the country that they chose to keep ther allegiance towards. I don't buy into the line about how they picked up their life of crime in the very country that will now deport them. People don't "pick up a life of crime"...they choose it.
Interesting topic, Taino. I do like the substantive ones!
Because I don't really see the point in polls here. I mean, there are no studies being conducted and I just don't see much of a reason for them, but I do address some of the topics now and then (such as this one).
Actually, Vinny, I'm going to have to look this up. It disputes what I heard years ago when I was in the military. I was told that "Jeep" came from "GP", standing for General Purpose vehicle. And I heard that "Just Enough Essential Parts" was a phrase that GIs came up with after they'd had the vehicle for awhile (sort of like "FORD" meaning "Fix Or Repair Daily" or "Found On Road Dead.") But I'll check online and see what I can find.
Spring. Allergies flare, trees bud new life, birds chirp and the daylight hours are "saved". Lovers flock to Paris, just to say that they did indeed have "April in Paris." The sun beckons us outdoors during our lunch breaks, windows and balcony doors are opened and fresh air fills our homes. Ahhhhhh...spring. I do so love this time of year. But today, I had to do something that I have to do every year and I need comfort, particularly from understanding women. You know, that annual occurrence that we must subject ourselves to... that dreaded event that rolls around sooner than we wish, year after year. Yes, my friends, today was the day.
Threads that pose specific questions or subjects to ponder. I like the humorous ones as well, but I particularly like to address something with some substance. Also, I'm not much for all the polls. I will share some thoughts in some of them, but I don't generally cast my vote on polls.
One of my best was a 3-stop date that started at around 6pm and ended the next day. First a motorcycle ride down to the seaside, where we stopped for a coffee and conversation for about 3 hours, watching the sunset while we talked. Then, back on the bike and a ride up a small mountain (or big hill) in the city that has a cafe and restaurant on top with a great view over the city. Night had fallen and we ate dinner outdoors, looking at the city lights below. Final stop, a few hours later, was a rather unexpected and out-of-the-blue stop at a university near my date's home. He had stopped to get a jacket and some students came over and asked if he knew where the party was. He didn't, but after he got his jacket, we rode through the university, heard loud music, and ended up at a rave party with kids bouncing up and down all over the place. And this was when I was 53! It was great fun and the rest of the night was rave-worthy as well.
I started interacting on the forums while I was in Afghanistan. After an average 11 or 12-hour workday (6 days a week!), and after dinner in the one place I could eat every meal, day after day, I would go back to my room and want to unwind. Since I couldn't go anywhere other than to one nearby military post, one day per week, I needed a way to pass my time in the evenings other than just tv and reading. I needed to interact with people other than the ones that I saw every day at work and in our dining facility. I had been on CS before I went to Kabul, but never in the forums. When I did start interacting here, I found it to be a really nice escape for me. And now, quite often, it still is. But I have many other diversions now, thankfully, and I come to the forums when I am not otherwise engaged and away from my home.
I wear makeup every day, although not heavily. I don't view it as either insecure or in any way deceitful. I feel better about myself when I am putting my best face forward, so to speak, but I see this the same as when I put on a nice dress and heels versus a baggy t-shirt and sweat pants. And, I would guess, men who take care in their grooming (hair and attire, for example) are doing the same thing....simply wanting to look their best. There's not a thing wrong with that.
Thalassa Forum Posts (2,410)
RE: Home Sweet Home...
I have good fantasies.