RobFTC

I am a mess. I just watched "America's Test Kitchen" while a bit hungry, and now want to go cook a Philly Cheese Steak. Hell, I don't know if I have *eaten* a Philly Cheese Steak! The excellent tequila sunrise had no effect, I am sure. I have been immune to cooking shows for-ev-ah. What is it about this one? Is it the geeky approach? Maybe. I am doomed. When I order 50lb of omelette fixin's, run for it[1]! Take care, Rob T [1] - by which I mean, of course, that you should run to get an omelette. A few on the board should still be able to talk about that.

One thing wids are far more likely to have is ... understanding of being widowed! That kind of connection has been good when I have felt it. Unfortunately, that is also more likely to come with some flakiness that I have experienced in spades. I notice that the connection is feeling less important to me as I get further out. I have less need to talk about stuff in relation to that part of my history, I am far more likely to whinge about the single Dad thing, which is at least coming from a little different camera angle. But I would still like that connection, in terms that I would drive further for it and work harder at it. Take care, Rob T

Mary, I don't think you need to even respond to these people. Why should you even explain your preferences? Take care, Rob T

With you, Tracey; prayers have already started. Take care, Rob T

We're planning on flying into Seattle and spending some time there, and in Victoria and Vancouver this summer. The likely range is the last couple of weeks of July and the first week of August. Just seeing old haunts I like, but I am also scouting a possible move after the girls head to college. We're up for meeting folks! More when I have it. Take care, Rob T

Yes Gabzmom, it ferments and fizzes. If it tasted better, it'd be cool :-) I had thawed a tin of frozen OJ concentrate and left it in the fridge for too long thinking "I should mix that up soon". At least 1) it was in the fridge and 2) didn't actually explode on me (that's happened!). Take care, Rob T

It has to be posted: Take care, Rob T

So I am sitting here with something that reminds me of a mimosa. To make it: 1oz tequila (and please not Jose Cuervo, ever, the cheapest 100% pure agave you can get is better) 0.5oz orange liqueur (and please not the cheap warehouse club stuff like I bought last time) 3oz fermented orange juice (in this application, the bubbles make it easier to not be sad you let the ^!%$&^ juice ferment again) It does remind me slightly of a mimosa, must be the bubbles. Oh, and my girls had their "promotion" ceremony tonight, out of 8th grade and their middle school. They have a half-day of party-and-yearbook-signing tomorrow and they are done for the school year. It's hard to believe. It's also hard to believe that I have got then through five (5!) years of school alone (since Michelle became unable to do much for them at the start of their 4th grade year). High school, baby! Take care. Rob T

I'm in for awhile tonight. Take care, Rob T

Omigosh! Prayers! Rob T

I'm in now, if anyone is around. Do give me a minute to notice the activity.

I am shocked and jostled to lose Leslie. She was a sweet soul; I agree with others commenting on her kindness and thoughtfulness. The tributes here and on Facebook are a fine testament. Take care, Rob T

My girls are 14, and are fine with me being out as long as it's not too frequently. We have a tradition of having dinner together, and I have had to rain on my headstrong girl that she needs to spend that time with us even if she is not hungry so that we see each other. That makes me reluctant to skip out on dinner myself. One woman I dated and would like to see again has a schedule that conflicts with that, because she has no flexibility during the day at all and my easiest Sunday time is when she likes to visit with her Mom. So that relationship would like to go from our glass-of-wine date to a dinner date, and I am not sure I am into her enough to do that. Having a social life is trickier now. Take care, Rob T

I am not sure if I have posted this here, so some may not know I co-host a radio show. I play Celtic music on alternate Sundays on a show called Celtic Journeys from 2-4pm Mountain Time on KRFC in Fort Collins CO (http://krfcfm.org). We stream all over the world, too. I was just checking in on the board while up to my armpits in the detritus of planning my show, so I thought I would mention it. Give a listen if interested. Take care, Rob T

I remember The Ring Theory - it is brilliant. Take care, Rob T

I am sorry to see this cancelled, but I get it. Big hugs, smabify, you know you're on my short list of people from the board to meet! Take care, Rob T

Momtojandj, your kids get a benefit now from your husband's account, and you can get one as caretaker until the kids are 16. But you are entitled to monthly benefits starting at age 60 from that same account if you stay unmarried. It is some percentage of what his benefits would have been, based on when you start to collect. And that trick of collecting on his and then switching to yours later can work, too. If you call in with your husband's' SS number, they will tell you the dollar amounts. Take care, Rob T

I don't know from actual pensions, I have never seen one offered in my working life. If you will be able to collect on your late spouse's social security account, you can start to take benefits from their account at age 60 if you have not remarried. That may also mean that you can let your own benefits get better (at I think 8% per year) the longer you can wait to take them (up to age 72). Everyone in that position can put a dollar value on waiting until age 60. It's not really that far for me anymore. Take care, Rob T

I have only one TV that tunes channels and stuff, in the family room downstairs. One more old 20" in my office can watch shows on the DVR in the other room - I can watch something if my daughters are watching the real TV, and it might get used once a month. And one tiny 9" that just hasn't been donated yet. I do also have a Slingbox, which means I can watch stuff on my laptop from anywhere, and is a better deal than my office TV. Take care, Rob T

I set up dinner with my teens awhile ago. We talked about trying a new place and set the time. When the time came, they were not to be found. One had gone up to get dressed 45 minutes before. The other was in the bathroom, getting ready. I decided I was not interested in chasing them down. I did text them that they had 10 minutes, since texting is such a thing. One daughter got the text but decided that any kind of response was too much like work or something. The other did not see it. I waited 15 minutes and then went by myself, and then had one of our dreaded family meetings when I got home. It's not OK to not follow through on plans, or to not communicate when you are running late. But dinner alone wasn't much fun, either. Next time, I may try this with something they really like and want, like sushi, and decline to take them out for it for awhile if they blow it. Take care, Rob T

I'm in! Anyone else? Rob T

Gracelet, I would tell her soon lest on a random Google she finds out for herself. It should not be that big a deal, but if it is, you might as well know sooner than later. I have this in my profile; if they can't handle it, eff em! :-) I'd tell Tinder folks fairly soon, too. Take care, Rob T

I am there if anyone is interested in chat.

Hey smabify, you managed to almost completely conceal the location you're talking about :-) People would actually need to know the area (not your home address unless they're coming). Some of us remember, but won't have seen prior stuff. Rough distances or drive times to a couple of airports would be nice; pointing to a reasonably-located hotel would also be nice (no room block necessary, just a carpooling convenience). As for us, I am overdue for some calendar work! Take care, Rob T

Hi ieh21, I'm sorry; my own experience feels a lot like this. I have had more dates than you, and several second dates, but nothing has gone very far, to the point where I feel like a unique lab specimen. I was talking to my therapist about this recently. She was asking what I was expecting and such; mainly, I was reasonable in everything except in thinking that my initial response rate was abnormally low. She said, "you know, it would have to be hard to step into the role of stepmom to two teen girls who had lost their Mom." Great - not only do I have to factor in having kids at home past the age most people are done with such things, plus widda cooties centered around me, I have to remember the unique half-orphan-cooties mine field they represent, as well. I am about half way to my girls heading off to college. I am probably doing that without help or companionship. And I know I can do that. Take care, Rob T