I believe in fortunate circumstances and timing, which (I suppose) is what luck is all about. And I believe that we have to make our own luck happen sometimes. I don't believe that things are pre-ordained; this would be saying that what happens to me tomorrow was already destined to be, and I don't buy into this. We make choices every day, no matter how trivial or minute they may be. I may try to scurry across the street, thinking I will beat the oncoming bus. I may, as a consequence, end up splattered on said street. But I could have waited. The choice was mine; I just made a bad one. We are responsible for our actions, for our misfortunes, and our fortunes. The only variable is the interplay of other circumstances. Luck. Timing. Being in the right place at the right time. But, for me, it is not in the hands of a higher power. I have a hard time with the concept that "God" chooses sides; that a god decided that one person or team of persons should reign victorious while another should suffer defeat or loss or pain. Merely my own thoughts.
When I go (and I've come close a few times already), I will just go. No announcement, no explanation. As you said, I will be able to stay in touch with those that have become my friends.
A redhead, eh?? Hmmmm.... And I live in Greece, so I guess that makes me somewhat of an alien to you... You were dreaming of me again, weren't you, you naughty boy!!!
I have seen a UFO. In its definition, I have seen a flying object which I could not identify....definitely not any sort of airplane or helicopter, nor a shooting star or anything else I had ever seen. I was driving with a friend...we both saw it, we talked about it, each described what we saw (which was identical) and neither of us has any clue as to what it might have been. Yessiree....I have definitely seen a UFO.
It is a beautiful day, indeed! I've got a doozy of a cold, so I'll stay in today and take it easy. But all is well in the land of sun, sea, and souvlaki!
And in the end, the light bulb was probably not ever changed. Perhaps the light bulb is better off where it is, rather than to be tossed away....perhaps it may ultimately find the strength within to re-discover its glow...perhaps it just needs time to be alone...perhaps replacing it so soon with a newer, younger, shinier light bulb would be too much for it to take and it might explode...perhaps it just got fed up with not being appreciated for the light it provided, night after night... perhaps it just needs a better screwing!!!!!
I don't see it as a last resort at all. I still have a social life and I do meet men from other avenues. I just view Internet singles sites as another avenue. And, thankfully, it has given me new friends as well...both male and female and both virtual and in real life.
Interesting. I absolutely do not feel that my occupation defines me, except in one regard. My choice of occupation is a good fit for what I enjoy in life. It allows me to do many things that I would want to do even if I didn't have this job. It doesn't define me, but if a job had personality traits or characteristics, we would be considered a good match. I don't know if this makes sense or not. I have found, however, that now that I am working for an Ambassador, some people are trying to use my position to enhance their own social currency. People who want to have a good relationship with the Ambassador (professionally and personally) are trying to use me to get in good with him. Not many, thankfully, but there are some who now see me as a bridge to his good graces. Those people wouldn't have given me the time of day in the past because they would not have considered a secretary as anyone worth their time, but now they are making sure to invite me to their soirees and such; I politely send them my regrets. It's so transparently lame!
For me, definitely "love what I do for a living and make a little money."
Now, granted, I don't want it to be SO little money that I am constantly struggling to make ends meet and have no money for entertainment or pleasure. But I definitely need to enjoy my job. We spend so much of our lives in our jobs, what a shame it would be to be miserable most of the time. I could make a lot more money doing something else or even doing the same type of work that I do, but in the private sector. But I love my work and the opportunities that my job has provided me. I'll never be wealthy, but I am happy and blessed in ways that make me FEEL rich.
This is not a shameless bump....I am off by a number of hours from where many of you are and am just catching up on responses. I thank you for your comments. One further question, if I might... Does the dynamic change when the friend is one of few? In other words, we are a close-knit community here; I work with this friend and I see her daily. If this was another place or another world, perhaps we could distance ourselves a bit, but our situation with our jobs and our life here in Greece keeps us in the same circle constantly. How does one determine, then, if this is not such a good friend and that one should distance themselves....when they truly cannot??? I guess I just want peace...no drama. She is constant drama, and she is constantly a part of my life. I work with her. I live near her. She gives, but she drains. Awwww. I think I know the answer, actually. Not easy, but I know. Thank you!
And, if you are wondering...perhaps it may seem that I am being a doormat, but I don't see it that way. I am stronger and I will continue to be her friend. She DOES need me. This is the least I can do.
Need some thoughts here, because I'm struggling to get my head around this. I have a friend...a very good friend in many ways. Truly, a very good friend. Yet she is driving me nuts lately, primarily because of her own insecurities and need...TREMENDOUS need...for attention. She is a beautiful woman. I recognize this and, of course, so do many others. I am usually quite ok with this, for I am comfortable with myself....MOST of the time. She has a way, though, no matter how unintentional, of making me feel like the ugly stepsister. OK...probably my own problem, but this is how it goes. Her boyfriend recently ended their relationship and she has been hurting and this has played havoc on her already insecure feelings. We went for drinks after work this evening to our neighborhood establishment, one where we feel very much at home. A young man was flirting with me. Boldly and without hesitation. Now, he was probably half my age and although he was adorable as could be, I wouldn't have wanted to pursue anything with him whatsoever...just too young. But because he was focusing on me at the time, she couldn't deal with that and started to flirt with him, equally as boldly and without hesitation. His attention shifted to her and she was obviously perking up a bit. But it didn't end there. After awhile, she commented on how she would go after this other man, but she knew I thought he was a sweetheart and so she would leave him alone. This is what really aggravated me....the insinuation that she was doing me a favor by not going after him. I told her to go for it. I know the man fairly well and know that he would not have been too receptive to her, so I guess I was being a bit spiteful and wanting to set her up for a failure. So....what sort of friends are we? I know she is insecure, and yet I also feel that she needs to get over this center-of-attention thing. And what sort of friend was I to secretly hope that she would get shot down by the man that I know would not have been interested in her? Ahhhhh....we women! I care for her, I truly do. But she wears me out sometimes; she is drowning in a sea of "me". Any thoughts? I won't stop being her friend; she needs me. But HOW do I be her friend and also be relegated to the shadows time and time again?
I have hung up on people by accident, more than I care to admit! I now have a Blackberry for use in my job and I somehow manage to hit the IGNORE button instead of the ANSWER button way too often! Unfortunately, I have done that to the Ambassador!!! I am telephoncally challenged!!
Many years ago....can't even remember the score, to be honest. Either 149 or 159. I don't remember and it has not really mattered to me. Interesting, though....would I have achieved more (by social standards) had I given more notice to my score?
Here's hoping that you sat in that seat! This is a good example, really, of how the beauty of the words stems from who it is that speaks those words. Nice, Wendy!
Ahhh, but have you never secretly longed for one of those movie moments? Maybe it's just us women...or, even more realistically, maybe it's just me. Sadly, though, I could tell a man that I love that I will be on the 4:16 train, leaving on platform number 4, wearing a black hat, drinking a latté, sitting in the last car, next to the window, next to a tall red-haired man, reading a newspaper... and he still wouldn't find me!
You let her fade away into the crowd???????? That was a 1940's movie moment if ever there was one....you chasing through the crowd, seeing a similar red jacket on different women, only to discover that it wasn't her you were seeing...finally ending up at the train platform...seeing her sitting inside just as the train was pulling away...you chasing after the train as it pulls away... DUDE!!! Never, ever, ever, let them go!
Thalassa Forum Posts (2,410)
RE: Has anyone actually met off this site?
And another yes.