=D I confess I do love being critiqued by you. You are a born teacher, and I learn from every suggestion. I want to be better than I am, and that benefit is delivered by you and your insights.

Life is short, so enjoy the parts where you're not having a heart attack.

As to Bear, he's a very good dog. He just wasn't parented ruthlessly, which is more necessary to a dog the more intelligent and active they are, and Bear is about as intelligent and active as dogs get. I am swamped by work since I needed to take a week off, and the storms are regular and daunting, which strongly inhibits my ranging about in the woods satisfactorily for Bear.

Life isn't perfect for Bear, but he's learning to heel, to not dash out the door and revel in freedom at the first opportunity; he's warm, dry, beloved, and well fed and watered. Unlike Tom, I don't allow his grubby paws on my bed, but I hope that will make him all the happier when Tom is returned to him after recuperating in the hospital.

I love Bear dearly, but I'll love him more when he lives at Tom's house =D

You know, that comment regarding your post on the Virginia Rally is really what I think. There are so many amazing people that have lived, loved, and done incredible things that are lost in the darkness of prehistory that I would be plum tickled to meet, just as I would you. Given an extended timeline for development, if not infinite, I expect we clever tinkering monkeys, who all enjoy good company, to eventually get around to working out a way to meet.

Gold loses it's lustre. Great meals are but sawdust on the tongue without great company at the table. All the events of note in our life are inconsequential if we have no one to share them with. Nothing is comparable to the value of society to us, and this subjugates every purpose and goal to that of social intercourse eventually. Once existential challenges are met, securing resources, staving off dangers, and arranging for suitable shelter, impediments to improving our social life vanish, and it'll be time to party down.

Let's each raise a toast in anticipation of our likely and joyful meet and greet when humanity finally gets it's act together and we can rave across the limitless universe until the end of time with all the cool kids.