All I Want for Christmas is...

[Bullitt]

Originally Posted by Elspode

Okay, fine...you're a wonderfully moral young man. This does, however, beg the question...just what the hell *do* you want her for? Housekeeping? Personal assistant? Does she have bookkeeping skills?

I think you want to have carnal knowledge of her, but you're just dodging the obvious.

Well considering I've seen her in person all of 6 times (she goes to a different school) but we talk on the phone and online nearly everyday. She's incredibly smart and funny, I want to get to know her better and go from there. My last relationship went down in flames, no survivors, bodies everywhere, started a forest fire, you get the idea. I want to make sure I do this right from the beginning.

And to your second point.. I won't lie I've got a sex drive that could move a damn mountain. But I'm controlling things because though she may be gorgeous, and fit, and toned, and tan, and wow I need to stop, I want to make sure this gets off on the right foot.
Good?

[kerosene]

I thought I already got the job? What with all the lightbulbs?

[classicman]

I always start with the left foot - FWIW.

[ZenGum]

Originally Posted by classicman

I always start with the left foot - FWIW.

Yes, but it's what you do with it that is the problem.

[Elspode]

Originally Posted by Bullitt

...she may be gorgeous, and fit, and toned, and tan, and wow I need to stop, I want to make sure this gets off on the right foot.
Good?

Yeah, I think you've confirmed my hypothesis. Keep us posted, stud boy.

[Bullitt]

Will do. Winter break is in one week and we'll be spending exponentially more time together.

[Griff]

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

- a more positive outlook

Start reading stuff on mindfulness. Be fully engaged and effective in the task at hand and don't burn energy thinking about the last screw-up or the problem on the horizon. The idea is to "wire and fire," to repeatedly use neural pathways that end in positive thoughts. Because of the way the brain appears to work, we can train it to use certain pathways habitually. We can create positive habits to replace our old negative ones. The brain is plastic. Change your mind.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Griff

Start reading stuff on mindfulness. Be fully engaged and effective in the task at hand and don't burn energy thinking about the last screw-up or the problem on the horizon. The idea is to "wire and fire," to repeatedly use neural pathways that end in positive thoughts. Because of the way the brain appears to work, we can train it to use certain pathways habitually. We can create positive habits to replace our old negative ones. The brain is plastic. Change your mind.

Great advice. I enjoy Mindfulness. My fav:

http://www.amazon.com/Awakening-Budd...147071&sr=1-10

[SteveDallas]

Originally Posted by Griff

We can create positive habits to replace our old negative ones. The brain is plastic. Change your mind.

"Learned Optimism" by Martin Seligman.

[xoxoxoBruce]

The best laid plans of mice and men.... act naturally.

[ZenGum]

Whaddaya mean, "act naturally"???

If it's acting it ain't natural, dang it. And t' other way round, too.
[/hillbilly]

PS. No idea where that hillbilly thing came from ... maybe irony about the act natural bit .. maybe something in DSM IV...

[Ibby]

Well which is it, young feller? Cause if'n I be actin', it ain't be natural! and if'n it be natural, it ain't be actin'.

(Raising Arizona!)

[LJ]

Originally Posted by Elspode

2) A recording of LJ playing "Ring of Fire", with video.

working on this.....

i'll tell you i like 'walk the line' better, though. maybe i'll do both for ya.

[binky]

Originally Posted by Drax

Ok, but what if your insurance company decides not to pay for a life-saving procedure you or your family might need done?

From today' L.A. times

Friday, December 21, 2007
Teen dies hours after liver transplant OK'd; family to sue insurer
Alicia Chang / Associated Press
LOS ANGELES -- The family of a 17-year-old girl who died hours after her health insurer reversed a decision and said it would pay for a liver transplant plans to sue the company, their attorney said Friday.

Nataline Sarkisyan died Thursday at about 6 p.m. at the University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center. She had been in a vegetative state for weeks, said her mother, Hilda.

Attorney Mark Geragos said he plans to ask the district attorney to press murder or manslaughter charges against Cigna HealthCare in the case. The insurer "maliciously killed her" because it did not want to bear the expense of her transplant and aftercare, Geragos said.

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District Attorney spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons declined to comment on the request for murder or manslaughter charges, saying it would be inappropriate to do so until Geragos submits evidence supporting his request.

Phone calls to CIGNA officials Friday were not immediately returned.

Nataline had been battling leukemia and received a bone marrow transplant from her brother. She developed a complication that caused her liver to fail.

Doctors at UCLA determined she needed a transplant and sent a letter to Cigna Corp.'s Cigna HealthCare on Dec. 11. The Philadelphia-based health insurance company denied payment for the transplant, saying the procedure was experimental and outside the scope of coverage.

The insurer reversed the decision Thursday as about 150 teenagers and nurses rallied outside of its office. But Nataline died hours later.

"They took my daughter away from me," said Nataline's father, Krikor, who appeared at the news conference with his 21-year-old son, Bedros.

Despite the reversal, Cigna said in an e-mail statement before she died that there was a lack of medical evidence showing the procedure would work in Nataline's case.

"Our hearts go out to Nataline and her family, as they endure this terrible ordeal," the company said. "CIGNA HealthCare has decided to make an exception in this rare and unusual case and we will provide coverage should she proceed with the requested liver transplant."

In their letter, the UCLA doctors said patients in situations similar to Nataline's who undergo transplants have a six-month survival rate of about 65 percent.

One of the doctors, Robert Venick, declined to comment on Nataline's case when reached at his office Friday.

[binky]

maybe this should have been in current events