Oi, Steve, what have you been told about hanging out down at the ladies hairdressers?

Yes, watching the ladies get their hair put up in curlers is a bit of a turn-on, but you know it makes them nervous, especially when you have your hands in your pockets.

So, seriously, how are you these days?  I took a break away for a few months to get a few things sorted, so I haven't seen or heard from you in a while.

Me, I got the same old shit... and can't afford the laxatives to shift it.

Nah, apart from vertigo making some days less enjoyable, I'm doing okay and am thankful for small mercies.... though a seniors discount down at the massage parlour wouldn't go astray. 

Well that's it, hey!   We're old, not dead.

Nah. Been TV-less for well over a decade. The most liberating thing I may have ever done.

I have one... well 3, actually, but I haven't turned them on very often just lately... so little worth watching.  However, I do like to have them for the few shows I do like to watch, and every now and then a family member will come over with video to watch.  Then there's the times my grandkids come over to visit... they tend to be a little less boisterous if they have something on TV to watch.  Besides, I don't get out as often as I used to, so it's nice sometimes just to put my feet up of an evening to watch something of interest... so long as it's not reality rubbish, those icky medical shows or lifestyle stuff.  Too much of it on these days and it gets too monotonous, repetitive and boring.  I simply don't have the patience for it at all.

Nah, give me a good sci.fi or a decent thriller, and I don't mind a historical and/or geographical documentary, either..

Well, after thinking about it I just might watch the Olympics, anyone know when they start?

As a Canadian, allow me to offer my most sincere and profuse apologies for my country inflicting Bieber on the world.  Canada may have committed a crime against humanity for that one.

Having said that, you lost the hockey game, so you still have to keep him.

Hehe, was thinking something similar... knowing I've got 4 years to change my mind.

Yeah, it's another 4 years to the Winter Olympics, and around 3 1/2 for the Summer ones, so you've got plenty of time to change your mind as well.

Nah, bugger it!  I don't need 3 1/2, 4 years.

Hehe, me thinks it's just desserts and they deservedly should keep him..  I'm mean, they inflicted Miley Cyrus on the world, not to mention Barry Manilow; The Kardashians; Paris Hilton; Britney Spears; Desperate Housewives; Barry Manilow; Billy Ray Virus; David Letterman; The Jonas Bros; Linsay Lohan; Queer Eye For the Straight Guy; Conan Obrien; Barry Manilow; Octomom; George W Bush and the Bitch in Apt 23.

I mean, that's an awful lot of inflicting compared to one teeny weeny misguided 19 year old with a penchant for egg tossing.  I mean, Bieber's young and could still grow out of it, whereas that lot above are past redemption, with most continuing to be constant embarrassments well into adulthood.

In fact, you's Canadians should scour the country to see if he's a twin... or triplets, cos given that list up there, did I mention Barry Manilow, one solitary Bieber simply isn't enough.  Like what if his mom is an Octomom and there's 8 of him?  Woohoo... but probably no such luck, hey.

Anyway...things haven't improved but continue to just get worse health wise. And the finances are going downhill as well. I've been kicking around the idea of going offline...shutting down the phone and killing the TV as well just to get by...but it's hard to disconnect the things keeping me sane. As far as skinning...that's hard as well these days...I can sit here less and less because of the discomfort...and life goes on.

As a Norwegian its hard not to watch. Its on every channel here, and everyone else is watching. Still, I have never been less interested than I am now. I have watched maybe 3-4 hours in total. Biathlon (Hetroathlon in Russia), Crosscountry skiing and some downhill.

Aw, I'm sorry to hear you're suffering pain and discomfort still. When we last spoke you were struggling with it and sounded depressed.  I had hoped that things would have improved some since then, but then I know what it's like to get good medical attention when it's needed.  I'd been waiting almost two years to see an ENT specialist with regard to unrelenting vertigo when I got the letter with an appointment for early March, which is sort of funny.  The day the letter arrived, a friend and I were out front talking about health issues and I said: "I'm so sick of waiting for this ENT appointment that I'm going to ring outpatients and tell 'em I'll be feching dead if they don't get me in soon."  I'd no sooner said it and the postie put the letter in my hand.

Oh, and don't go offloading the things that help keep you sane. I've had a few turns of bad luck recently, like becoming single again for the first time in 20 + years, and taking a couple of nasty knocks to aching old bones, so I was so appreciative of those things that helped to avoid deep depression and keep my feet grounded.... not so much the TV, but especially my PC and being able to get online.  Without that I'd have been one for over the cuckoo's nest a long time ago.

The one redeeming factor, no matter if I hurt like buggery or can't get to sleep at night, is that I can maintain my sense of humour and mischief.  Without that I'd truly be feched, so here's hoping you can do the same and enjoy a laugh now and then.

So until we next speak, here's wishing you all the best, Mark.

   Noooooooo...   

I could do without the tele before I'd go offline... 

  sorry to hear this...      keeping occupied can help you not think of pain so much... but when your fave things to occupy yourself amplifies it... that's really unfortunate... 

Ain't it just.

Only sport I watch implicitly is F1....mainly because this year [next month] is my 30th International Australian Grand Prix [as an official].

After that, it's Test Cricket [particularly the Ashes].

AND 'Le Tour' ....a seriously 'watchable' sport....with the sexiest scenery...

Then maybe the Aussie Supercars [fastest Touring Car class in 't world] [again cos I work them].

Olympics....not really....mostly boring as bat-shit....

Same here!  While some may think test cricket is totally boring, I find that one can be riveted to the edge of one's seat during games of particular interest.  I used to like the 50 over game as well, but less so in more recent years power and money have affected how the game is run and played, and when bookmakers can influence the outcome of games with player bribes and etc, the true purpose of the game [sport] is lost.  But then that is so true of most sports these days... the players love and passion for their respective sports has been so diluted by wealth and fame it barely exists any more.

Ah yes, that and topless netball... like poetry in motion.

I saw a one line piece of text somewhere saying: "Sochi: Closing ceremony"... and I thought to myself "oh goody, it'll be safe to turn on the TV again"  Then it occurred to me that some networks will analyse the shit out of it for the next week or so, and others will conduct autopsies to figure out what went wrong.  Nah, think I'll leave it another week or two.

And did anyone stop to think for one moment that the US hockey team lost that game to the Canucks on purpose... because deep down they are secretly Bielebers? 

Also, word has it that Canada has rounded up a number of bieber look-a-likes, who bear a striking resemblance and will be reprogrammed to behave exactly like him.  They will be shipped as soon as said programming is complete.

it had it's moments...  

OK....I may take up watching speed skating again....  [it was always the only event I ever watched at the winter olympics, anyway]