Hey Lurkers! Hope everyone is doing well!

The Gulag Archipelago

Do I win?

(Kidding, it's not my favorite book. It's just suuuuper long, and you'd have to be a very avid reader to get through it.)

Wow, that's amazing! Sounds like you really feel a connection to Thailand. I've only been to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Krabi. But now that I'm living in Phnom Penh, I will definitely be going to Thailand more often. Bangkok is only a 1h 15m flight from PP.

I agree with some of what you're saying. Ideally, parents SHOULD be feeding their own kids. But having worked in US schools, I can tell you that there are some kids whose only meals come from school. Either their parents are strung out on drugs, completely absent, mentally ill or just very young and extremely poor. At one school I worked at there was a program for those kids to take a backpack home on Fridays that contained peanut butter sandwiches and fruit to get them through the weekend. I don't think food should be provided in all schools, but in Title 1 schools, I do.

I think you need to really think about what is in it for her. You can't expect her to make all the concessions and just make herself adapt to fit into your life. What are you going to do to adapt so that you are dateable? Even if you need to be up all night, you need to have some sort of routine. Maybe a free-for all schedule works for you, but if you want to date, really think about the times you NEED to be awake and try to schedule your calls during certain times. Do as much of it online or via email as possible, so that you can take care of it during daytime hours. Yes, there will be times you need to make exceptions because you have no choice. But when you do have a choice, make it fit within that routine. Next, make the time you do spend together quality time. Really be present and give her your focus. Don't spend your time with her thinking about work, or scrolling on your phone. If you can't do those two things then it sounds like you really don't have the time to date.

I love it too! I've been there four times now. What were you doing in Bangkok? Were you visiting or were you living there?

He's funny and makes everyone feel welcome

Thinking I need to get over this jet lag and stop waking up at 3:00am.

A llama pinata filled with money and Hershey kisses

On Friday night, at a Conservative Christian event, Trump said this:

"Christians get out and vote. Just this time. You won't have to do it anymore. Four more years. You know what? It'll be fixed. It'll be fine. You won't have to vote anymore my beautiful Christians."

Comments like this (combined with everything Trump did to try and stay in power after the 2020 election) are part of why Democrats (and others) are concerned about democracy if Trump is elected. A lot of people feel like we can survive policy we don't agree with. But if our country goes down the road Trump wants, it will be very hard to turn back.

I know that right now Trump is denying that he supports Project 2025, but he has lied so much in the past, I think that if enough Republicans press him on it he will adopt it, at least in part. And that scares me.

Cheeky

Nope! But I had a glass of sangria today.

The next person is super boink-able.

You and Slim are the best flirters on Mingle!

I'll admit that I haven't been too impresseed with Kamala as VP. She made some gaffs in the beginning and I haven't seen much of her since. But in the last couple days I have been impressed with her. She's very charismatic and I like her messaging. I hope she keeps it up! I'd love to see a debate between her and Trump. Definitely NOT impressed with JD Vance.

Yes! I am missing Mark extra much right now. He was going to come with me for the first month of my move to Cambodia. But he's got a big project at work right now. He's planning to come in September instead, for both our birthdays.

Have fun at the casinos. Hope you strike it rich!

Still Mike!

Cathy?

I'm currently in Siem Reap, and flying to Bangkok in two days. But considering the fact that I've had Covid for over a week and have spent the majority of the time in my hotel room watching shows and ordering room serivce, I'm gonna guess that my life is one of the least exciting right now.

Hi Crystal! It's great to see you!

I'm only in the US until July 12, visiting my daughters right now. Then I'm moving to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Mark is planning to go with me for a long visit.

I hope the weather gets better for you!

Unfortunately, yes I have, and it took me a long time to heal. I don't feel like that now though, thank goodness!