Gee, I went over there to look and saw no picture file for anyone named Loser. I did see some nice pictures under the Matt_R file though. Big grin and chopsticks. need to get you together with one of my ex-girlfriends except that she's old enough to be your mother. But then, I'm old enough to be your father.

Funny story about age and friendship.

I work with a very diverse group. I am 48. Most of my co-workers are a few years older than I. Some are younger. The youngest are right out of college. We form a tight knit team of friends working together.

One of these younger co-workers had been with us for a few years and was very much a part of my own family as well as the office. He was from Massachusetts. One day, about a year after my separation he was worrying about his parents because they were talking about divorcing. I listened for a while, very concerned, and then leaned in and asked, "So tell me more about your mother, is she cute?" That floored him but then he realized that his mother and I are the same age. I wasn't serious, of course, and he knew it. It certainly made him laugh.

Wait a minute! Why'd he laugh!?!?

BTW, those kids have it tough. In the outside world they would ride on the coat tails of an experienced engineer for several years before assuming a project manager's position. Not in our office. They step through the door right into the deep end of the pool. As military engineers they are not only given hefty responsibility right off the bat but they are given the most difficult jobs to enhance their experience levels.