JayCeeKy

You are right - winter and the yuletide holidays are not the "most wonderful time of the year" esp for those among us who feel the incongruity of their personal lives as compared to the mirth and conviviality portrayed in movies & advertisements. Congratulations on identifying your feelings and seeking help! I provided individual, group, and family therapy for many years and, for a while, worked in Philly. But that was many years ago and I don't have any current therapists to recommend. But I do offer a link that may give you the opportunity to review some of the therapists in the Philly area, along with info about their specialties, treatment philosophy, and financial arrangements. I have checked the listings on the linked site for the therapists in my own local area and they are, for the most part, competent & reliable. Check out the site, click on the "more..." filter, and then click the "LGBTQ+" filter if you want someone who is likely either gay or gay-friendly. (A therapist may or may not divulge his/her sexual preference but many will.) https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/pa/philadelphia Therapy is not cheap. Fortunately, most insurance policies pay for some limited treatment. You would be wise to check with your insurance provider to determine coverage. I believe that Medicare, Part B, pays for 80% of "medically necessary" therapy. Once you have identified a few therapists that appeal to you, call and set up an initial session. Some therapists offer a free session for you to ask questions and see if you and the therapist are a good match. But remember that therapy is not "rent-a-friend." Therapy is about change, and nobody likes change,, even in our misery. So, sometimes a therapist who may be a little demanding might be just what you need. And please, don't get frustrated if your mood doesn't improve overnight. Don't wait. Call today. And, if you think that I could offer any support, advice, or encouragement, DM me. I don't often participate in the forums, but I do visit occasionally to see what's going on. Good luck.

Yes, I stayed at a Marriott in ATL a couple of weeks ago and no pen/pad. I had a pen in my shave kit but no pad - had to tear off a piece of my Confirmation printout. I worked at the Front Desk of a large moderately priced hotel chain back in the late 70s - Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadians orchestra (anybody remember them?) stayed overnight. Guy was super friendly and graciously penned a note to my mom who was a fan. I'm guessing Guy was about 5'4" tall. We didn't really care if you brought escorts into the hotel - I mean, who's going to go up to a guest and say "Are you a hooker?". The only sexual event I remember during my brief employment was when the Security Guard caught two hot teenage boys who did odd jobs around the hotel doing the "69" on a metal table in the basement laundry. Of course, I pumped the Security Guard for all the details.

"Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in." -- Robert Frost

"My wife was afraid of the dark until she saw me naked, now she's afraid of the light." -- Rodney Dangerfield I'm betting that many escorts & masseurs can empathize with Mrs. Dangerfield.

I have a pic of my mum sitting on a stoop in Brooklyn with a mini-flag on Decoration Day in 1927. Must have been a big deal back in the 1920s?

I have lots of relatives who are are docs/dentists/vets. Medical School debts are usually huge and normal - don't get overwhelmed - banks love ya cause you're a good risk b/c med students are normally pretty stable and not spendthrifts. On the other side of graduation I would suggest asking other docs/residents for a referral to a fiduciary financial advisor who can set you up on a long-term plan for savings/investment so that you can live a life of hard work and above-average social-economic status (i.e. you and your family will be comfortable for the rest of your life). Normally, I would suggest Vanguard/Fidelity for investment strategies, but the income of docs are so spectacular that you probably need a personal financial advisor. Just remember: the hardest part of medical school is getting in - and don't get upset if it doesn't happen on the first attempt - and there are other options such of Schools of Osteopathic Medicine and medical schools in the Caribbean and elsewhere. And, don't feel less of a doc if your degree comes from one of those schools - cause it's more than smarts that determine which school you get in.

Unless your video contains something illegal (e.g. child porn), I would think that any reliable transfer service (e.g. Walmart, Amazon, Costco) would not jeopardize its reputation by breaking your privacy. Having said that, it's likely more economical, and certainly more private, to do it yourself by getting a used 8mm projector (buy off Ebay or Craigslist), project your film on a white board, and videotape it with your smartphone or camera. Then transfer the video to your computer for editing or transferring to a DVD disc. https://www.lifewire.com/transferring-old-8mm-film-movies-1848000 Or, you could buy a transfer machine off Amazon. If you have a lot of film to transfer, this would make the most sense since some professional services are not cheap. https://www.amazon.com/KODAK-SCANZA-Digital-Slide-Scanner/dp/B00O2BU8PK/ref=sr_1_4?crid=4U14Y2STXCG2&dchild=1&keywords=transfer+8mm+film+to+digital&qid=1619972765&sprefix=transfer+8mm%2Caps%2C179&sr=8-4

Good Pope John. When Pope John XXIII was asked, “How many people work in the Vatican?” his response was, “About half.”

Joan Rivers used to say "Whoever says money can't buy happiness doesn't know where to shop." Having said that, I've known a few folks in my lifetime who believe that being "rich" is more than just a question of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. I had a roommate in college, a brilliant young man, good-looking, great personality. For most of the last half-century he sold snacks at a major sports venue and made subsistence wages. For entertainment he goes to free concerts, socializes with friends, visits parks, museums, and other low-cost attractions. He rarely watches TV as he considers it a waste of time and spends most evenings reading books he has borrowed from the public library. For most of the past 50 years he has immersed himself in various organizations and movements that attempt to make life better for the less fortunate. I can attest that he is one of the happiest, best adjusted, most contented individuals I know. Epictetus, a stoic philosopher said that “Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.”

The only part of the Academy Awards that I caught was the last 15 minutes. THUD. *crickets* I only saw two movies this year that were nominated for anything: Borat 2 and One Night in Miami - and that's only b/c they were free on Prime Video. I was afraid that One Night would be boring but it had a lot of thoughtful and memorable dialogue, even though a lot of events depicted were not historically accurate (e.g. Sam Cooke recorded "A Change is Gonna Come" a month before the Miami meeting). Leslie Odom Jr. was hot and turned in a great performance. I agree that Francis McDormand seems to have a lock on the Best Actress Award and I thought her behavior at the Oscars last night was off-putting and bizarre.

Yes, prostitution is indeed frowned upon in the Hebrew Scriptures and Leviticus (20:13) says I'll pay for my sins. I already do, Escorts, strippers, and alcohol don't come free.

The few tenured university professors that I have known seemed (to me) to think they could buck most university rules with impunity - not realizing that tenure only means that they are guaranteed "due process" before they are fired.

“Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit.” -- The Aeneid by Virgil. What Aeneas tells his men during a time of hardship. “Maybe we’ll be laughing about even these things some day in the future.” (a modern interpretation) Ever hear ex-service guys who had been together during war when they get together many years later and laugh about their time together? Virgil's quote helps me to put things into perspective when I'm having a rough time. I remember the quote and remind myself that maybe some day I'll look back and have a good laugh about all this crap.

Black lab? Pepper. Too obvious & overused?

I agree - Anderson has not been impressive - and I like Anderson personally. His remarks after a contestant answers ("That's it" or "We were looking for..") seem almost parodies of Alex's classic responses, even though I realize that the number of host responses are limited (you won't hear "No, that's wrong, stupid"). I think Mike Richards has done the best so far though Aaron Rogers gave it a good effort.

Alam is reportedly 6 feet 0 inches tall (182 cm) and weighs 193 lbs (88 kg). https://www.iafd.com/person.rme/perfid=alamwernick/gender=m/alam-wernik.htm Best Butt: Diego Grant, aka Fitness Papi. https://gay0day.com/videos/81151/diego-grant-fucks-gabriel-cross/ https://xhamster.com/videos/elijah-zayne-fitness-papi-xhrm0UF https://xhamster.com/videos/max-fuck-fitness-papi-xhJRe1y

Maybe a bit over the top?

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones; So let it be with Caesar... You all did love him once, not without cause: What cause withholds you then, to mourn for him? O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts, And men have lost their reason. Bear with me; My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, And I must pause till it come back to me.

That's interesting since the diamond emoji has traditionally meant meth - I wonder if that gets confusing? Emojis that represent drugs: Cocaine — Slang terms for this drug include coke, snow, dust, powder, nose candy, coco, blow, pearl, yeyo. Often represented as the following emojis: ❄⛄?????? (Snow, Snowman, Key, Raining cloud, Rice, Sneezing Face, Eightball, coconut) Marijuana — People usually smoke marijuana but it can be used in a variety of ways. Dispensaries sell brownie and candy infused weed, you can purchase lotions and balms that contain CBD as well as brewing it and drinking it in a form of tea. People who use marijuana for medical purposes use it for conditions like chronic pain, muscle spasticity, anorexia, nausea, and insomnia. Often represented by the following emojis: ???????? (Maple Leaf, Four Leaf Clover, Palm Tree, Tree, Pine Tree, Kissy Face, Smoke, Face With Steam From Nose) Cough syrup — The concoction is made by mixing the prescription medication with Sprite Soda and Jolly Rancher candies. Often represented by the following emojis: ???? (Grapes, Baby Bottle, Crystal Ball, Purple Heart) Methamphetamine — It is a popular party drug that is usually smoked with a small glass pipe, but can also be swallowed, snorted, or injected into a vein. It comes in clear crystal chunks or shiny blue-white rocks. Commonly known as; ice, glass, rocks crystal, crank, chalk, tweak, tina, Walter white, speed. Often represented by the following emojis: ?❄??? (Diamond, Snow, Snowy Mountain, Eight Ball, Rice) Heroin — Pure heroin is a white powder that can be snorted or smoked. “Black Tar” heroin has a very sticky texture. Black tar heroin is dark, a result from crude processing methods that leave behind impurities. Impure heroin is normally dissolved and diluted with water and injected into the veins. Commonly referred to as; H, smack, tar, junk, black, dragon, white horse, skag. Often represented by the following emojis: ???? (Syringe, Direct Hit, Dragon, Horse) MDMA — MDMA is normally sold in pill form and can contain additives. These factors can contribute to serious and sometimes fatal health effects. MDMA can also be addictive and research suggests long-term cognitive problems may develop in some users. This drug is most popular among teens and young adults, especially at nightclubs or raves. The drug comes in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and colors often are stamped or imprinted with unique logos (Smiley faces, Superman logo, Skull shapes, legos, hearts, stars, children’s cartoons dominoes). Street names include; X, Superman, XTC, Adam, Beans, Love Drug, Happy Pill, Scooby Snacks, Smarties, Skittles, Vitamin E or X. Often represented by the following emojis: ?❤⚡☣?? (Pill, Heart with Lightning Bolt, Biohazard Sign, Exploding Head, Candy) Magic Mushrooms — This drug is most commonly chewed but can also be made into a tea. Mushrooms may be consumed raw and dried but cannot be smoked or cooked as this destroys the main ingredient, psilocybin. There are more than 180 species of mushrooms that contain psilocybin. Psilocybin mushrooms have a long history of use in Mesoamerica in spiritual and religious rituals and are currently one of the most popular recreational psychedelics in the U.S. and Europe. Popular street names for magic mushrooms include; shrooms, liberty caps, Alice, boomers, simple Simon. Often represented by the following emojis: ? Here are some other emoji codes that you might want to be aware if you are thinking about looking through your teen’s phone: ? The spaceship emoji is used to indicate how high the potency of a drug is. ? The plug emoji is used to refer to a drug dealer, a ‘connect’ or supplier who is going to be able to provide you with drugs. ? The pie emoji can be used to describe the punny expression of cookies pies, making a large amount of drugs to distribute. ⛽ The fuel pump emoji is used to describe being ‘gassed,’ drunk or intoxicated. This emoji can also mean gas, a high-grade marijuana.

J C Penney is offering the same deal on their underwear and dress shirts. Sale ends 4/18/21. http://www.givemeneither.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Screen-shot-2011-04-29-at-12.16.34-AM.png

Figuratively speaking, you hit the nail on its head.

I also have noticed that Biden does indeed use "Look" at the beginning of many answers, esp when he doesn't like the question. I have tried to analyze why so many politicians use this useless word ("Omit needless words." says Strunk & White, The Elements of Style, page 12). It seems to be a rhetorical device, similar to "Listen" for gaining and holding attention and for asserting authority in advance of emphasizing a point. It's like saying "Listen, I am going to say something very important, so pay attention!" As you noted, it is a viral crutch that seems to be spreading throughout media.

https://www.gayguides.com/forums/ Merged with gayguides.com --- I suspect that in a time where child exploitation is in the media so often that a site named "Boytoy" might have been a liability. There has been others who have written about this merger - just search under "Boytoy" above.

Having worked with those afflicted with addiction , I am never surprised by what they may say or do. In the case of the young man, at some point, we were all afflicted with immaturity and the arrogance of youth. "You wouldn’t return a kick to a mule, he said, or a bite to a dog. You’d just move on. You say, “Oh, that’s what dogs and mules do.” -- The Stoics