From: joelp@cs.man.ac.uk (Joel Parthemore || Pharos Project)
Newsgroups: soc.motss
Subject: Re: Thinkin' about the new year
Date: 28 Dec 92 03:49:28 GMT

John (Dorrance) (thaaang@cwis.unomaha.edu) writes:

>Sorry to interrupt the general flow, but I just got done writing Mara
>about what I was going to do new years' eve and I thought it'd fit to
>tell the rest of y'all about it too.

Thanks, John.  I really don't know what I'm doing for New Year's Eve, as Ken
(Sarno, occasionally of motss postings) will be going to Chicago to join his
dad and younger sister.

I don't think I'm at the point yet of organizing a NYE ''autonomously'' as
John has done.  Last one I spent with my father, with a discussion on whether
it's possible for a loving relationship to exist outside marriage.  One before
that I spent with Amanda and her family in Leeds -- seeing in the New Year
with Clive James.  I remember New Year's Eve parties at church when I was
younger, with Pastor Dunn saying ''Good Morning!'' at the midnight service;
NYE parties at the Kings, Joseph arguing that special relativity was bunk; two
NYEs spent in youth hostels:  once in London, once in Chicago.

I find myself in a strange place this New Year's, uncertain where my
''career'' or my life are going, wanting to continue my doctoral studies and
not sure when I'll be able to, dealing emotionally with being unemployed,
dealing with being back in the States.

Thanks to the people I've met in and through soc.motss this year:  Ry Schwark,
for conceptual hugs and telling me I was being morbid; Sim Aberson, for his
brotherhood; Jess Anderson, for replies he made to my posts; John Dorrance,
for an occasional background in X Windows (in contrast to the sexy woman who
would be painted on the screen next to me); Geraint Wiggins, for an invitation
to Edinburgh and a shelf full of Doctor Who; Mara Chibnik, for advising me on
how I quoted material in follow-ups and for reminding me of my Aunt Marilyn;
Alan Batie for the posts he sent me helping me get to the .con; and many
others. The .con was one of the outstanding points of the year, and if I have
a chance to look back on my life afterward, it may well be one of the
outstanding points there, too:  sitting in hot tubs with a bunch of naked
friendly people in the middle of the forest; almost ending up in a foursome in
bed; giving a foot a really nice lick-down; joining in on the Moose song
chorus on the last evening.

This is a bit early yet, but a weird, exciting and unpredictable New Year to
all of you.  In different ways, you've helped me with being me.  Thanks.

Joel
--

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