WHAT? No Maple Syrup Races???!!!???
 

Because that's what I'd really like to see!
I saw that -- it looked horrible! Amazing nobody was hurt, but it looked like they demolished an awful lot of boats. Bummer. Wow, did you read THIS? This is why the whole world should celebrate Canada Day: Not only did the captain of the ferry possibly save hundreds of lives by veering off from the concrete berth, but "Boat owners hailed the captain of a ferry that ran aground as a hero for diverting the vessel" -- Read that again: "Boat owners" -- If that had happened in the U.S., boat owners would have been suing the pants off the captain before he set foot ashore.

Well, I don't see why not -- your dd going to be one of those picky moms? :lol:

Enjoyed the "Katahdin Idol" show tonight. One of DD's friends won the teen division. He was one of only 2 people all evening who accompanied himself on the guitar (most people brought a karaoke cd to sing with). He won with a John Mayer song, "No Such Thing" (Welcome to the Real World). He was goooooood. And cute too, wanna see a pic?

I'm so hoooooooonnnnnnnnnngry. I need fooooooood.

Kiwi

That's because we are all so polite and no one wanted to hurt anyone's feelings. :D :D :D I guess everyone was just so darn happy that no one got injured. I also don't know if it's as easy to sue the pants off someone in Canada as it is in the US. :dizzy: I believe about 20 boats got smashed, including 30 ft sailboats. Some pretty expensive stuff but I suppose B.C. Ferries' insurance will pay for it all. We'll see. If you have a broadband connection you can watch the videos on the page I linked to and hear people say 'boot' and 'about' real funny. :) Haven't heard anything from the parental units so Dad's tub must still be intact.

Happy Canada Day or am I too late?

I have theoretical question. What if you had a teenage son who subscribed to a music/computer/something-like-that magazine and it came while he was away. Boldly promoted on the cover was an article on female orgasm. Inside was a page of women's face contorted and taken from above. What would you do?

I would throw it out and tell him to cancel his subscription. Heck, I am very liberal and don't like to tell people what to read or think, but you don't have to have that in your house if you don't want it, right? On the other hand, if it were, say, Cosmopolitan, it might well have the exact same stuff in it, and I used to read that. Still, it's your call, because it's your house and you're the mom. Does it seem to be an informational treatment of the subject or just exploitive?

DD has gotten a slew of mail while she's been gone, stuff that really needs to be opened -- 2 things from College Board among other things. I asked her if she wanted me to open them, and she doesn't :rolleyes: -- she asked if I'd send them to her there. I really don't think I want to send her College Board scores to a temporary dorm room. :no: :shrug:

Oh, there's a solution for you, Peaches, forward the mag to him at camp. :lol: Just kidding.

I went to the local 4th of July parade this morning! By myself, I might add. It was really pretty good; the Maine National Guard Band marched and played. Then they did a concert in the park. They were awesome. Also a big bagpipe band from Bangor marched in the parade. The kid who won Katahdin Idol was performing in the parade too -- he and some other guys were on a flatbed jamming with electric guitars and drums. Very cool. Amazingly, the parade organizers managed to have the 3 performing groups spread out enough that you could hear each one when they came along. I don't know how they managed to get the National Guard band and the bagpipe band here this year, but it was nice.

Glad your dad's boat didn't get squooshed, Sug. Sheesh, if that happened to us, DH would go off the deep end, so to speak! Well, or get a new boat with the insurance money. Come to think of it, maybe I could get The Cat to take a wrong turn and come up the River and smash our house! (Hey, we're only 3 hours from the coast, what's the big deal?)

DH is mowing the lawn. :cb:

Kiwi

I don't know about the article. Haven't read it. You know it's just creepy for a woman to talk to a boy about sex. A man is needed here.

Sugar, that IS quite a picture. Looks like Godzilla in boatland.

But here's another point .. blah blah blah. Some time back I told DS to turn off some movie because every sentence was F something and worse. Then .. when I was sick recently and listless and apathetic, I was watching Sideways which some friend loaned me. If you've seen it, you know that some naked people are doing what naked people do together while this guy is sneaking around their house looking for a lost object. DS is sitting beside me. Normally, I would've turned it off (no remote) but didn't get up thinking it would go away (doesn't. .. it gets worse). DS says, "Can I watch Whatever-his-movie was." Sarcastic. Made his sick momma get up and turn off the dam* tv. I just don't want to get into it with him. I was toss this issue. I think it's a fluke. Magazine is Wired..

I know how you feel -- I can't believe some of the things we've sat through on the TV with DD, not knowing how bad it was going to be. I usually just scream and cover my eyes. :lol:

However, I must point out that there hasn't been a television set manufactured without a remote since 1907. Are you sure this is not a radio?

:s:

My feet and ankles have been swell-y for a long time. It's very annoying.

Kiwi

lol ... it's one we WON from a radio station.

don't watch Sideways with her

Too late

Oh, that explains it. You forgot to win the remote.

The window beside the computer just opened by itself. It's rather nice -- a little warm breeze, a lovely sweet odor wafting over.. HEY! I smell ant and roach spray.

<sigh> We have had ants for 2 or 3 months. Can't get rid of them to save my life. Why do ants carry off their dead? I hate that, makes me feel guilty.

Kiwi

ants here, too. icky. they bite. they crawl. they return.

i used the ant poison stuff and it got rid of mine---they GROSS me out--- i DID not like Sideways---i hated both of those skanky men,and the trampy women-----their lives were so depressing----for some reason the movie was touted as a comedy and i found it dreary and irritating------- I DID LIKE THE BIG FAT GUY RUNNING DOWN THE STREET WITH NUTHIN ON THOUGH!!!!!!!!!!! HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE --- i would throw that mag out too peach----he won't know the difference .Lost in the mail happens all the time!{ does he read this website????? heeeeeeeee??????}---OH i forgot to tell you ---there is a new guy that i am in love with on Canadian Idol====of course he is the right age again {19} like Kalan=------so now i must prepare myself for a summer of love again----his name is Rex and he is from Newfoundland!!!! aren't you all thrilled for me!!!!

Decadence is a word that is floating in my head.

DS does not read this website.

I didn't like the movie either although I did appreciate the fresh way they used the sex in the movie. Not the same-old same-old. I also hate wine so was not interested in that.

Oh Dear. I missed Canada Day AND the Case of the Runaway Ferry.
Happy Maple Leaf, y'all.

And... I used to get that Wired Magazine all the time (and Cosmo, for that matter.) Wired made me cross-eyed a little because they printed it in type that is too small for my reading glasses... but it had lots of computer info, marketing and business stuff.
The way I handled "delicate/difficult/sexual" material with my son came about when he'd saved enough money to buy a CD (this was from Barnes & Noble which is moderate if not as conservative as Wal-Mart). So... he buys a NIN (Nine inch Nails) CD... which, after the cellophane comes of, has one of those "parental advisory" stickers on it. Amazingly the inside liner notes have the text of all the songs printed. (I always appreciate when they do that). Well, it was f* this and f* that and I don't remember what else. But I told DS (who was probably about 13) that if he was willing to READ ME THE LYRICS outloud, I wouldn't mind him keeping the CD.. but that anything that came under our roof had to be talk-worthy and talk-able. He looked at me and paled, and went to get his money back and bought somethng else.....

Now at 15, it might have been a close call... I think that being a therapist made it much easier for me to talk with him (and anybody) about touchy subjects...

You could certainly let the publisher of the magazine know how unhappy you are.... I can't imagine he's the only "underage" kid who likes it.

Thanks for the pretty woman/chemo story. I don't see the MD who either will or won't give me a "hint" about the "right" answer on Tuesday.

So I'm knitting and sketching in the mean time.
Best to all and stay out of the way of out-of-control ferries.

Writing the publisher appeals to me. The article is on some gadget (it's a gadget magazine) that measures female orgasms and how it will to better ones. DS is 17 by the way, not 15. He is definitely past thinking his mom is right about anything.

I used to object when DD wanted to buy a CD that was full of f-words, but I sympathized with her not wanting to listen to "sanitized" versions of songs by her favorite groups. Then I discovered how much her friends swore on their diary sites and I gave up trying to protect her delicate ears :lol: . I figured, at least DD doesn't swear in front of adults and she knows I think it's ridiculously unnecessary to write song lyrics that are full of obscenities. So no more need to police her song choices. Amusingly, she has a song she wrote a few years ago that is really a good song, but has the word **** in it. It would be badly watered down without it and she's very reluctant to perform this song. Which makes me smile. Wickedly.

Good grief, Bagz, does Kalan know about this? Are you two-timing him?

Kiwi

Well, my babies are still at the stage where they run away screaming if they see a naked breast on TV (and there are lots of them) so I can't really give Peachy any advice, but I know my future 17 yr old kid reading a magzine like that would make me feel pretty uncomfortable. Like Kiwi, I would confiscate this issue (or cut out the offending article with nail scissors? :lol: ) and closely monitor the next issues. What's the target audience for the magazine? Writing to the publisher would be just grand.

I'm fat and I have a PMS headache.

My former boss's wife found Playboys or something under her 16 year old son's mattress. She went through them with a magic marker and drew bathing suits on the women. Then she put them back. I think that's terrible. I think finding Mom had been "sneaking" around your room and .. in a sense .. sharing a sexual activity could do far more harm than good. We know teen boys think about sex. (Boys all over NE Canada are fantasizing about Bagz right now.) We just want to be normal about it. I'm not sure what that means .. normal .. in terms of printed material aimed at heterosexual adults but I do know they don't need to rush into anything. There's another smaller article in here on phone sex. I haven't read any of it but that's not bothering me as much as this one that's promoted on the cover including the page number like it's breaking news you can't delay reading. Sex is a very limited subject. Everything can be said about sex has been said over and over and over. These guys think they've found something new becuase of this gadget and they're using it to entice new readership at the news stand. The article is four pages long with one page being wallet sized photos of allegedly orgasmic women's faces. Blah blah blah

You know I realize DS can go to his school library and read this magazine.

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA----THEY ARE NOT THINKING OF MEEEEEEEEEEE PEACHERS!!! I AM THINKING OF THEMMMMMMMMMMM----BUT NOT IN A CREEPY SEX WAY----IN A 'OMYGAWD' HE IS SOOOOOOOOOOOO CUTE----------13 YEAR OLD WAY------LIKE I AM SOOOOOOOOOO SANITIZED IN MY IDOL WORSHIP-----------SEX IS BORRRRRRRRING----I'VE HAD ENOUGH TO LAST ME A LIFETIME=-===HAAAAAAAAAAAAAA :dizzy: :dizzy: :dizzy: :dizzy: :D :D :D :D

PS ---KIwONkERs------DOn't TeLL kALaN aBoUt Me AnD rEx!!!!!!

Bet I can make everybody clam up :devil:

How do you think weight and sex (attitudes/experiences) are related?
My DH (#2) had fabulous relations.... until I had a hysterectomy... and then it was like my "interest" went to Bolivia or some other remote location. Thelma and her tenderness has not helped. I'd like to get a groove back... without resorting to creepiness of any kind.

Oh dear. I'm feeling like an outsider again. Not a pioneer, an outsider. :(
Hope you all have happy cool holidays.

Who in the heck is Thelma?

I do not want a groove. I am p*ss*d and you people get to hear it. You are so lucky.

It is very hard to go to church or anywhere else alone. Single people do not go to church. I usually go until my feelings get hurt. At this current church, I know a number of single women and the married ones are good. Men, however, suck. You know some people believe the Bible says (and it does not) "the appearance of evil is evil." This means, if the Bible said it, that men and women may not appear to be friendly becuase everyone will they they are flirting and worse.

For a while now I've been attending Wed night Prayer Meeting because at the same time at the P.M. the kids are doing a kid thing and that's good for DS, I think. Before the P.M. they have dinner. It's $4 and catered by a restaurant that has no idea how to cook but at least they serve veggies and it's edible. But now DS is gone so this past Wed I go in by myself, get my plate and go to a table (seats 8) that has 3 people at it. I'm told by this woman that she's saving those seats for her family. So I go to another table where the people were nice but talked about their planned trips and expensive purchases and it was the wrong world for me.

So my feelings are hurt and this a.m., I went to church, sat on the pew, popped back up and left. I was sitting on the pew no one likes because a bright light shines on it. The pew behind me was almost empty but at the end of it sat this woman's husband and he DID NOT OFFER TO MOVE TO LET ME IN because the appearance of evil is evil. She's playing the organ for a while starting today so he was alone.

Then there's the preacher. I think a lot of him. I believe he's kind, caring and SINCERE. If I ever learn that he is not sincere, it will be a blow to me. When I applied for that newspaper job, I was given the opportunity to do stringer work for them and I got this idea I'd like to write about this church. There is reason to do so that I won't go into. So I emailed the preacher who did not respond. I spoke to him after church and he said, THIS IS AN EXACT QUOTE, "I'll call you Tuesday about it.Will that be ok?"

He did not call Tuesday and has not mentioned it when we pass in church. Later, I emailed him again saying I no longer have the confidence to pursue this project.

BOTTOM DAMN LINE: If the preacher is sincere and kind and caring, yet does not call as stated or respond in any fashion, HOW WORTHLESS DOES THAT MAKE ME????

Who is Thelma? Is that a drug? That woman is wrote about Stella and the Grove is divorcing her young husband who she met in the islands as she has realized he's gay and married her for citizenship. He's countersuing saying she's discriminating against homosexuals. I think that's right. It was not a good book. Poorly written.

Well, sure he can go read the magazine in the library. He could read that article online -- it says on the website that it will be available on July 7 (did we all write that on our calendars? :lol: ) By the time kids are over 13 or 14, I think the goal isn't actually to protect them from seeing stuff that's inappropriate, but to make sure they understand and respect the boundaries you place and in consequence internalize values you think are important. Something/someone steps over your boundaries (like this magazine), you react -- DS refines his knowledge of what's offensive to you and maybe he uses that to alter his attitudes or behavior. I guess what I'm saying is that the most important thing is that he knows how you feel about it. Of course you don't have to discuss every little thing. Drive you both crazy.

Yeah, I actually think about stuff like that. Sad isn't it? That's why I chose my 3fc name -- I am so wonky.

Don't talk to me about weight and sex -- how about 2 people who are both unhappy about their bodies and probably equally unhappy about each other's -- no hope there!

I did just see part of a Discovery Health Channel show where some women went into an experimental program to improve their sex lives -- one of them had had a hysterectomy and after it her sex drive did a 180. You wouldn't want to do this program though, let me assure you. It had to do with electrodes and spinal columns. And hospital johnnies. Just what everyone associates with a great sex life, eh?

I'm giggling about the wallet size photos, Peachie. :lol:

Kiwi

My analysis is that even electrodes, spinal columns and hospital johnnies (like Thelma? What the h*ll???) will get old and the subject will go on to more extreme sources. It's like marijuana leading to crack. Sex with your legally installed dh will lead you to hospital johnnies.

maybe you're right Wonkie (I don't know what that means either). How does this sound.

Me to DS:

DSie, your Wired magazine came while you were gone. I have it put away in my bedroom. I know there's a lot in that magazine that interests you (sneaker soles, pocket knives, computer games, digital cameras) but I have a problem with this issue. They have a lengthy article on a gadget that supposedly measures intensity of orgasms in women. They are promoting this article on the cover and I feel that it's cheap exploitation aimed at getting people who would not normally buy this magazine to pick it up at the newsstands. I am offended by the editor's decision and offended that it would be shipped to my underage son. Yet, it's your magazine and I realize there are other worthwhile articles included. What do you think we should do?

He's be thinking: WHERE IS IT?

He'll say: I don't know. What do you think?

Peachie dear, if the preacher is truly sincere and kind and caring, he would have responded by now to your requests. If a company proclaims they are the Customer Service experts, and then they treat the customer like cr*p, who's to blame? The customer? Maybe this church is just too big to pay much attention to one member, but whatever the reason, it ain't your fault, girl!

And Thelma is one of the renegade duo, Thelma and Louise. She's a girl gone bad.

K

Yeah, you're going to leave it to him to decide? Good luck!

Going in to town for the craft fair -- I'm selling ornaments for the Performing Arts Boosters today. Ta.

kiwi

I"m back. And thank you to those of you .. well, Kiwi and Bagz and maybe Painty ... who helped me rant. There's a Divorce Recovery group going on at church and I've been to it once. Decided I probably wouldn't go back since I'm not freshly divorced and not in the same boat. But after all that b*tching, I noticed that the weekly Bible verse which had been handed out (and was on my fridge) was:

Therefore I will not keep silent; I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. Job 7:11

Well, how perfect. I was doing GREAT! I was complaining in the BITTERNESS OF MY SOUL to beat all. So I went to the class and now I feel much better.

One interesting thing: I mentioned to this group of 8 that sometimes I feel like tearing up my Bible because Herbie gave it to me and put his/my name in it. Three other people out of 8 had the same thing!! And the leader had given her dh's Bible away becuase of the same. I don't know. It just made me feel more normal.

Bye. Rant over.

Hey, that is very cool. If you think about it, you don't have to be "freshly" divorced to be coping with the consequences. It's always good to find people who you can identify with, eh?

I have cramps. Just to share.

We're going to a family bbq and not bringing anything. Because we only got invited by accident last night (they thought we were out of town). I would pick up some ice cream, but sweets are what they do best and I can't think of anything else. I feel like I ought to at least have something for the Marine nephew who will be going overseas soon -- I can't think of anything tho. I am spectacularly out of ideas.

So anyway:

:) HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!! :)

kiwi

Where is the nephew going? Get him a phone card.

I am going to a friend's house. Her dh will go away to a 12-step meeting and she, her mom and I will hang out and eat. I am also bringing nothing.

I wish other people would post. It's like that woman in the social hall at church who didn't want me to sit by her.

Is this seat taken?
 

I'm here, I'm here, and I'll sit beside you, Peachy!

I just ate too much pizza. And the state of my house is disgusting me. REALLY disgusting me. Something must be done. Today was boiling hot but we just had a bit of rain so I can breathe again.

Happy Fourth o' July to all the 'Merican cows! :)

LET FREEDOM RINNNNNNNNNG LET THE WHITE DOVE SING---LET THE WHOLE WORLD KNOW THAT TODAY IS A DAY OF RECONNING============INDEPENDENCE DAYYYYYYYY~~~~~~~~~~~---- TODAY WE HAD A BOAT LOAD OF AmerryCANS AND I SAID "HAPPY FOURTH OF JUUU-LIE TO YAS ALL" THEY APPRECIATED IT AND I EVEN MADE A SIGN FOR MY BLACKBOARD IN RED WHITE AND BLUEEEEEEEEE!!!!!-----so did they spend piles of cash at my shop??? NOOOOOOOOOOo but that's okay,my local people have been very good to me thus far and i haven't sunk yet!----------peachers=-----TRUST IN GOD ONLY!!!--- the losers who claim to represent Him will always let you down---remember my favourite prayer--- JESUS PROTECT ME FROM YOUR FOLLOWERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!------------ and you can sit on our bus anyday-----of course we are all so fat we will have to SHOVE over so you can fit------as far as sex goes painty---------------i think i made myself clear earlier---and HAAAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAAA to what kiwonk said----'' WORD!!!"------HI SUGAR!!!! I THINK I WILL MAKE SOME BISCUITS FOR STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE---THE BERRIES ARE JUST PERFECT RIGHT NOW!!! XOXOXOXO :) :) :) :) :)

Hey, peaches, I'll talk to you!! Love that the rant and bible verse knit themselves together. If you feel bitter, keep going to "divorce recovery" groups until you don't feel bitter. I think I went to three. :dizzy:

Great plan for DS and Wired, too.

(Thelma, is, indeed my left boob. The one with the tumor. She is near me, but not "really" a part of me... at least in my mind.... Louise has been behaving herself... at least so far.)

Thanks to all of you North of the Border types for the July 4 wishes. :)
DH and worked at our respective hobbies (well, some)... he was in woodworking mode, I pulled weeds until I was sunburned with a big white x on my back... (target practice for grackles, probably)... then we cooled off and went out for "supper".... I yielded to 1/2 piece of amazing chocolate cake... Must drink water and knit or otherwise keep my nibbling-enabling fingers busy.

Bagzzz: I am so sorry the Amurcans didn't spend money with you. I'm ashamed for them. I am actually working on sheep... I don't like them (enough), yet. Please sent photos of your area (if you get the time....) I was amazed when in Newburyport, MA and towns in ME how much I wanted to buy sketches of the area as keepsakes... and the really cute ones I wanted to frame, and then there were some I just thought would be perfect to mail.....
"Burtam was feeling more sheepish than usual because Eula beat him at his own game."

Kiwonk, in this area we have TONS of guys go to Iraq. The entire county just about. Local agencies collected toilitries for them as the govt is too cheap to buy them deodorant and little toys like yoyos (but not balls .. nothing that can be innocently thrown and stuffed with explosives) and phone cards becasue they don't have their own phones and the govt is too cheap to let them call without paying.

I have a sheep story. Went to dinner at friends and she was remembering a childhood friend who had a beagle and a sheep. The sheep followed the beagle. Unfortunatley, the beagle chased cars and the sheep chased cars and a drunk ran him over.

Bagz you are such a good American-promoter. I will remember your prayer. But the good thing is that some of the people in the group understood and emphathized and made me feel better. .... then .... there was the one biddy who said about herself, "I don't have that kind of problem. I'm well liked."

But it's a great Bible verse, isn't it? Gives you permission to *****. I will use it with my Pentecostal friends. BTW, the woman I ate with owns a book store and says the erotic-romance books are best sellers with the women who never cut their hair and wear ankle length dresses.

Bye you little sweeties.

Say that out loud, it's wonderful! I like Eula.

I know one of those ladies who never cuts her hair and wears ankle length dresses -- only I'm pretty sure she avoids cutting her hair not for religious type reasons, but because she saves absolutely everything and she can't part with her hair (no pun intended), and she wears ankle length dresses not for modesty reasons but because she is shapeless and it's just easier. In fact if I were a little crazier and less conscious of myself and my appearance (such as it is), I would be her. For a while she obsessively played a game at the video store where you put a coin in and maneuvered that claw around to pick up stuffed animals, you know the one? She won most of the stuffed animals and supposedly gave them to children in the hospital or something, but I suspect they are in her attic. :lol:

The reason I know this much about her is because she is the mother of one of dd's friends. She's actually a very overprotective mother in addition to all of her other lovely qualities. Her kitchen is the reason my kitchen isn't any worse that it is. Every surface is piled high with food packages or papers or projects or junk and it has a cloying sweet disgusting smell. She is truly the person who but for the grace of god or good fortune go I.

But I'm glad to hear she enjoys erotic romances.

Wow, can you say "denial"?!!

Kiwi

For me, the phrase "well liked" leaves much to be desired. :lol: I bet she has all her "friends" listed in alphabetical order in a notebook somewhere.

Peachy darling - I think the best thing to do is to be yourself. If they like you, they like you, and if they don't, they can stuff it, right?

Painty - are you doing hormone replacement or anything? I would think a lot of it would have to do with hormones. But what do I know.

And as for Kiwi's observations on sex: you've been looking in our window again, haven't you, dear? :D :D :D Ha ha.

Bagzie - I bet the Americans will tell all their friends about your shop and the rest of them will come up dragging sacks of money with them. There's still lots of summer left, and lots of people like to travel in the fall when kids are back in school.

Ugh. I'm so lame today. No motivation at all. But I have figured out that if I don't get some of the crap out of my kitchen, it's going to implode and they'll need three days to dig me out. The kitcheny part is sort of organized, like all the pots and pans and stuff are in the right place, it's just the periphery that's awful - magazines, books, stray papers, pens (none of which work), ETC. I need an office. I keep having dreams that I open a door in a hallway in our house and find three rooms I never knew we had. I've had this dream twice now. Think it means anything?

What a great dream! I think it means you are ready for changes. I've been having dreams about dogs and I've decided this means I'm ready for a new dog. Hey, they're our dreams, they have to mean what we want them to, right? Otherwise we'll fire them.

I spent a few minutes clearing off my dryer the other day. ~sigh~ If I could just keep doing something like that every day, I might get somewhere. You should see my desk, absolutely jammed full of cr*p.

Sugar, you and I are leading one of each other's alternative lives; that explains the similarities. Don't you remember the time when you wanted marry an engineer and live in the woods? :lol:

Later, gators
Kiwi

I think Kiwi is right. Your subconscious is telling you there's more space to work with right where you are if you'll just open that door. New opportunities await. Hooray!!!

Yes, I will be myself. The facilitators are wonderful. I told the wife that I didn't think I'd come a second time because I wouldn't be dealing with my actual divorce but with someone I practically lived with but didn't marry. She said, "That's the same thing except you probably didn't divide property." Very sweet. Old well-liked biddy didn't seem to be able to grasp it when I revealed this in the group but everyone else was fine. It's very good really.