This is epic. I enjoyed reading it.

I think about these ALL THE TIME. I can't let them go. Sigh.

Oh, I did the same thing. Dressed like a skater boy all through HS. Sigh.

B&B products are insanely expensive in Australia. I get them when I go back home to the US for a visit, but can't bring myself to fork out the cash over here.

Jeremiah Johnson, the best mountain man movie you've never seen. It's on my top 10 list.

Awww, Ambro. I am sorry about your loss. My granddad passed away last month as well. He fought in the Normandy invasion and, in the carnage, was the only survivor from his unit. He was wounded later in the war and escaped capture by running on a gunshot hip. I don't think he had PTSD, but he talked a lot about his…

Thank you Corgis. I haven't felt angry about it in a long time, but lost shrimp's post made me think and it all just bubbled back up.

I pretty much had the same experience at the doctor's office (I am in Australia, and there is insane pressure over here and a very high rate of EBF). The difference being that I am bipolar and had quit my mood stabiliser while I was trying to conceive, and during my pregnancy, but it was agreed by my prenatal…

It makes me nuts. I live in Sydney with my (also American) partner and I don't drive over here (I love cars and motorcycles, but I can't do the other side of the road thing - even six years in), but he's always getting tickets. If he were driving on an Australian license, he would have lost it ages ago. Since he's on…

Ed Debevic's. Super touristy. Which is exactly where you need the latitude to be an asshole.

I think there's one like that in Chicago. Or used to be. When I was a kid I wanted to work there.

Well, congratulations from me, a stranger on the Internet. I think it's awesome you found someone to love.

I'm in that boat. We live overseas, my son was born overseas and, though we go home every six months for a long visit, I feel terrible for separating my son from both sets of grandparents. It's worse for my in-laws. They only have my kid. My parents have seven other grandkids, five of whom live next door to them. But…

As a parent, it's interesting to hear these stories. I can't really say how I will feel about my now-toddler's choices down the road, but I hope I just clear out the web of expectation and wish him every happiness. There are a lot of different paths to contentment and a higher degree is just one of them (this from a…

It's the way he's holding on to that binky that sent me into floods of tears. I love this guy. He has such a sweet Richard Farnsworth face anyhow, and I loved seeing him fill up with the good news.

For me, you win. I am so sick right now. Trying to tamp down the bile. I have snot issues. When I was a substitute teacher I used to make my kids go in the hall to blow their noses. I just cannot with this story.

Yep. I drank out of my brother's tobacco-spit RC can once. I actually did throw up. Your description just brought it all back and my stomach did a full flip-flop. Ugh.

I still get all freaked out if I am bruising more easily than usual. Thanks Lurlene.

Starred for "avian eastern Ukraine," which is my new favourite thing ever.

I have magpie socks. If you can do a magpie call, I'll shout you a pretend round!