The Guardian for this meeting was Bruce Mowbray, subbing for Aphrodite.

Bruce Mowbray: YO, Wol!
Wol Euler: hello Bruce
Wol Euler: how's life?
Bruce Mowbray: hello hello!
Bruce Mowbray: Aph just came on-line, so I suspect I won't need to sub for her this session after all.
Wol Euler smiles.
Bruce Mowbray: Life is EXCELLENT!
Aphrodite Macbain: smiles too
Bruce Mowbray: YAYYY! Here's APH!
Wol Euler: :)
Aphrodite Macbain: yaaaayyy
Wol Euler: glad to hear that
Bruce Mowbray: yayyyy!
Bruce Mowbray: [`·.] APPLAUSE!! [.·´]
Bruce Mowbray: [`·.] APPLAUSE!! [.·´]
Bruce Mowbray: [grand entrance]
Aphrodite Macbain: how do i sit?
Aphrodite Macbain: I'm using a mac
Bruce Mowbray: Oh dear.
Wol Euler: cmd-leftclick
Aphrodite Macbain: and i can't right click!
Wol Euler: aka apple key
Bruce Mowbray has not a clue.
Wol Euler: the one beside the spacebar
Aphrodite Macbain: grr
Wol Euler: there :)
Aphrodite Macbain: thanks wol
Bruce Mowbray: Well done, Aph!
Bruce Mowbray: and Wol!
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Aphrodite Macbain: lol
Aphrodite Macbain: so good to be back here
Aphrodite Macbain: staying at my mother's
Wol Euler smiles.
Bruce Mowbray: Oh yeah, I feel the same, Aph -- having been away for two weeks.
Aphrodite Macbain: she has no idea what the password to connect to her wifi network so
Wol Euler: hehehehe
Bruce Mowbray: Ahhh! So, you're in Ontario?
Aphrodite Macbain: i had to download firestorm
Aphrodite Macbain: yes- just outside Ottawa
Wol Euler: O.O
Wol Euler: why does that make a difference?
Bruce Mowbray: cooooooooooooooool!
Aphrodite Macbain: 0.0
Bruce Mowbray: I hope that your mother is well.
Aphrodite Macbain: it doesn't
Bruce Mowbray: Hey, aggers!
Wol Euler: so why do it? I'm confused
Aphrodite Macbain: and she is, but her memory has been deleted!
Wol Euler: hello aggers
Bruce Mowbray: OMG.
Aphrodite Macbain: why do what?
Agatha Macbeth: Venice reunion?
Aphrodite Macbain: download firestorm?
Aphrodite Macbain: lol
Wol Euler: yes, that has nothing to do with her wifi password
Bruce Mowbray briefly ducks out of the conversation and waits for topics to catch up with themselves.
Aphrodite Macbain: because I can't log into my own little computer, I have to use hers
Aphrodite Macbain: hey aggers
Wol Euler: oh, okay.
Agatha Macbeth: Hello Aph, Brucie & Wollie ♥
Agatha Macbeth: Are we talking tech stuff?
Wol Euler: god no
Aphrodite Macbain: let's not
Agatha Macbeth: Good :p
Bruce Mowbray: ;-)

--BELL--

Aphrodite Macbain: but could someone take the log because I don't want to download it into my mothers computer
Bruce Mowbray: Why did getting "lost" get such a bad rap? - - - to ponder during drop.
Agatha Macbeth: Your mother is in PaB?
Bruce Mowbray: I will take it, Aph. NP!
Aphrodite Macbain: tx bruce :-)
Agatha Macbeth scratches her head
Bruce Mowbray: np ;-)
Agatha Macbeth: Shame we can't all claim it
Bruce Mowbray: Woly and I both claimed it. . .
Bruce Mowbray: HA HA!
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Wol Euler: well, whatever
Bruce Mowbray: Are we "lost" in all our claimings?
Agatha Macbeth: Aph, tell your mom it's been taken care of....
Aphrodite Macbain: I am lost. period
Bruce Mowbray: No worries, mom!
Agatha Macbeth: Join the club
Aphrodite Macbain: maybe I will never find myself
Agatha Macbeth: Next life perhaps?
Aphrodite Macbain: 3rd life?
Bruce Mowbray: Awwww... You found US - so why could you not also find yourself, Aph?
 Aphrodite Macbain: hmmm
Aphrodite Macbain: good question
Bruce Mowbray: Alas, here we are.
Agatha Macbeth looks for Aph
Aphrodite Macbain: my eyes seem to be able to focus outward but not inward
Agatha Macbeth: Ah
Bruce Mowbray: Yeah, I've had that chappenge also.
Bruce Mowbray: also that challenge.
Aphrodite Macbain: stone chappenge
Agatha Macbeth: I enjoy a good chappenge
Bruce Mowbray: also numerous spelling and typo challenges.
Bruce Mowbray: I am lost in typos.
Agatha Macbeth: Good job - you claimed the log Brucie :p
Bruce Mowbray: But Woly claimed it away from me....
Aphrodite Macbain: actually I thought the theme for this coming week was not being lost
Wol Euler: so claim it again
Agatha Macbeth: Oh she's like that
Wol Euler: whatever
Aphrodite Macbain: but something else
Bruce Mowbray: What did you think it was, Aph?
Bruce Mowbray: Hey, Zon!
Agatha Macbeth: Is it being lost? Can't remember
Aphrodite Macbain: I know last week's theme was being lost
Agatha Macbeth: Hello Zon
Wol Euler: hello zon
Agatha Macbeth: Oh
Bruce Mowbray: The board (wondrously created by Bleu) has a topic for this week.
Aphrodite Macbain: totally lost and enjoying the loss of responsibility that comes with it
Bruce Mowbray: yep, that's the one.
Aphrodite Macbain: ah!!! right.
Agatha Macbeth likes to lose responsibility
Aphrodite Macbain fiddles with her camera
Bruce Mowbray: "The opportunities and Dread of being lost. . . "
Aphrodite Macbain: oh
Bruce Mowbray ponders doubts and terrors.
Aphrodite Macbain: strange
Agatha Macbeth: Lawst
Bruce Mowbray: and why these would be connected to being "lost."
Aphrodite Macbain: let's talk about the opportunities
Bruce Mowbray: ok.
Aphrodite Macbain: discovering the unexpected?
Aphrodite Macbain: (that could be good or bad)
Bruce Mowbray: I intentionally get "lost" in every major city I visit. . . FOR the opportunities that being lost brings.
Agatha Macbeth: Truly
Bruce Mowbray: yeppers.
Aphrodite Macbain: like what Bruce?
Agatha Macbeth: Highways and byways
Bruce Mowbray: I got lost in Venice... for example.
Aphrodite Macbain: provide 3 examples and support your thesis
Bruce Mowbray: (and you did too, right?)
Bruce Mowbray: kk. THREE examples:
Aphrodite Macbain: :D
Aphrodite Macbain: yes
Bruce Mowbray: Venice: -- and when I was lost, I found the Communist Party headquarters of that town - with children playing in front of it.
Aphrodite Macbain: that makes it scientifically accurate
Bruce Mowbray: Ex. #2 - Edinburgh:
Aphrodite Macbain: handy
Wol Euler: hello san
Bruce Mowbray: I got lost in the university district (Edinburgh) because the name of the road I was trying to follow changed six times...
Aphrodite Macbain: was that a good thing or a bad thing Bruce?
Agatha Macbeth: Erk
Aphrodite Macbain: Hey san :-)
Bruce Mowbray: but I found some COOOOOL things in sidewalk shops... and bought them to bring home -- and cool people too!
Bruce Mowbray: and #3 --
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Bruce Mowbray: lost in Panama City...
Bruce Mowbray: I intentionally got lost there... and found a waif -- a small child selling chewing gum for pennies.. and it has become one of the most endearing memories of my life.
Aphrodite Macbain: listens
Bruce Mowbray: also [done]
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Agatha Macbeth: Aww
Aphrodite Macbain: did you buy all his chewing gum?
Agatha Macbeth: Like the girl selling matches
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
Aphrodite Macbain waves at Zon - hiya
Bruce Mowbray: I bought TWO of the packages of his chewing gum, but that was just a medium for our connection.
Bruce Mowbray: Hey, San!
Aphrodite Macbain: did he speak English?

Bruce Mowbray: El dice nada del ingles.
Bruce Mowbray: The whole encounter lasted about ten seconds -- and it changed my life.
Agatha Macbeth smiles
Aphrodite Macbain: wow. how?
Bruce Mowbray: ;-)
Bruce Mowbray: Do you really want to know that?
Bruce Mowbray: I will explain if you do.
Agatha Macbeth: I do
Aphrodite Macbain: sure!
Wol Euler smiles.
Bruce Mowbray: kk.
Bruce Mowbray: I was "lost."
Aphrodite Macbain: It sounds very important
Bruce Mowbray: and wandering the back-streets of Panama City -- in areas I had NO BUSINESS being in.
Bruce Mowbray: so, I was just a bit afraid, maybe.
Wol Euler: hello korel
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Bruce Mowbray: because, also though I spoke some Spanish, I was way out of my league.
Agatha Macbeth: Osiyo K
Korel Laloix smiles
Bruce Mowbray: Hey, Kori!
Aphrodite Macbain: Hiya Korel
Korel Laloix: Heya
Bruce Mowbray: Then this little boy -- maybe seven or eight at the most....
Bruce Mowbray: comes up to me and wants to sell me some chewing gum...

--BELL--

Bruce Mowbray: So, [dropping now]
Aphrodite Macbain: tx
Aphrodite Macbain: listens for Bruce to continue
Bruce Mowbray: and I reach into my pants pocket and pull out all the change I can find there . . . and give it to him, saying "Dos chicles por mi, y el dinero por tu!"
Agatha Macbeth: :)
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Bruce Mowbray: MY GRAMMAR WAS HORRIBLE!~
Wol Euler smiles.
Aphrodite Macbain: no matter
Bruce Mowbray: I should have said "por TI"
Agatha Macbeth: I think he got the gist ;-)
Bruce Mowbray: he grabbed the money and ran away from the weird Americano as fast as he could.
Aphrodite Macbain: maybe you changed his life too
Bruce Mowbray: I was a wonderful experience for me.
Wol Euler: :)
Agatha Macbeth grins
Bruce Mowbray: regarding "expectations" that might result from my giving.
Bruce Mowbray: It was PERFECT.
Agatha Macbeth: Absolutely
Bruce Mowbray wonders why he's having so many problems with typos tonight.
Aphrodite Macbain: how did it change your life do you think?
Aphrodite Macbain: you have always been generous
Bruce Mowbray: Well, for one thing, I shared my lostness with a child.
Bruce Mowbray: That was transformative.
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
Bruce Mowbray: I also had to 'drop' my expectations of being seen as the "kind" and "generous" Americano. . .
Bruce Mowbray: and that was VERY informative.
Bruce Mowbray: [done]
Bruce Mowbray: Others?
Aphrodite Macbain: thanks Bruce
Bruce Mowbray: yw
Agatha Macbeth: TY Brucie
Aphrodite Macbain: Has anyone else found a delight in being lost?
Wol Euler: I seldom get lost, I just don't know the name of where I am
Wol Euler: as in Venice
Aphrodite Macbain: thanks Bruce
Bruce Mowbray listens carefully.
Bruce Mowbray: How do you feel when you don't know the name of where you are, Wol?
Wol Euler: but I do enjoy walking around and not knowing the name of where I am :)
Wol Euler: I'm comfortable with that
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Bruce Mowbray: ;-) Oh yes.
Agatha Macbeth: I remember when you were in Jerusalem and couldn't read any of the signs ;-)
Bruce Mowbray: It's a sort of relief, no?
Wol Euler: I know more or less where I am, and where I want to get, and know that if all else fails I can read a map or ask somebody
Bruce Mowbray: sure!
Bruce Mowbray: or just follow the Grand Canal back to your hotel!
Wol Euler: or that
Aphrodite Macbain: I find that I feel "lost" when I am in certain situations - social or cultural ones- where I'm not sure what is expected of me.
Bruce Mowbray: Definitely so, Aph.
Agatha Macbeth: True that Aph
Wol Euler nods.
Aphrodite Macbain: In those cases I am forced to be very creative or to observe much more carefully than I normally do
Bruce Mowbray: So, I sometimes need to ask very specifically what is expected.
Aphrodite Macbain: "reading" the situation
Aphrodite Macbain: testing the responses
Agatha Macbeth: Or just say nothing and listen
Wol Euler grins.
Bruce Mowbray: Ahh! You're far braver than I am, Aph.
Aphrodite Macbain: what - me?
Agatha Macbeth: Oh, right
Aphrodite Macbain: I tend to chatter when I'm uncertain :-)
Aphrodite Macbain: but the situation does force me to be much more attentive
Bruce Mowbray ponders being "lost" in one's own chatter.
Aphrodite Macbain: to clues
Bruce Mowbray: Here comes Bleu.
Aphrodite Macbain: Yayy
Bruce Mowbray: I hope.
Agatha Macbeth: Bleu Sunday
Bruce Mowbray: Yayyy!'' Hey, Bleu!
Aphrodite Macbain: :-) it's raining here
Bruce Mowbray: and Boxy, too!
Aphrodite Macbain: Hello Bleu
Bruce Mowbray: Bleu and Boxy too!
Aphrodite Macbain: yayy
Alfred Kelberry: hi!
Agatha Macbeth: Hello Bleu and Boxy
Aphrodite Macbain: the gang's all here
Bleu Oleander: hi all :)
Bruce Mowbray: YAYYY!
Alfred Kelberry: Woly girl :)
Agatha Macbeth: The killer B's
Aphrodite Macbain: Hi Boxy
Bruce Mowbray: We're not lost anymore!
Aphrodite Macbain: lol Aggers
Wol Euler: heheheh
Alfred Kelberry: aph, you made it!
Aphrodite Macbain: hallelujah
Bleu Oleander: killer B's :))
Agatha Macbeth: I could have sworn Alf was wearing a bra for one moment
Aphrodite Macbain: I did- I'm back in Canada
Alfred Kelberry: aga, it happened once before :)
Aphrodite Macbain: checks out Boxy's front
Agatha Macbeth: Erk
Alfred Kelberry: woly can confirm :)
Agatha Macbeth: Must be the ruth effect
Aphrodite Macbain: what have you been eating?
Bruce Mowbray ponders doggie bras.
Alfred Kelberry: or mila effect
Agatha Macbeth: Ah, that too
Agatha Macbeth: How is she btw?
Bruce Mowbray: afk for a sec.....
Agatha Macbeth: Akk!
Alfred Kelberry: aph, the usual. bones and aga's boots :)

--BELL--

Agatha Macbeth: An interesting combination
Alfred Kelberry: well, looks fine on my screen
Agatha Macbeth: It was the one-second bra effect
Aphrodite Macbain nibbles on one of Agger's boots
Alfred Kelberry: :)
Agatha Macbeth: Aph is getting as bad as Alf
Aphrodite Macbain: and steals a bone from Boxy
Aphrodite Macbain: noooooo!
Alfred Kelberry: aga, or as good as me :)
Bruce Mowbray: steals bone away from Aph.
Wol Euler grins.
Aphrodite Macbain: grrr
Aphrodite Macbain: woof
Aphrodite Macbain: so- the pleasures of lostness
Agatha Macbeth: We're back to dogs again
Aphrodite Macbain: Blue- do you like getting lost?
Bruce Mowbray: Do you have a bone to pick with me, Aph?
Aphrodite Macbain raises a quizzical eyebrow
Bruce Mowbray listens for Bleu's response.
Bleu Oleander: think that was last week Aph ... Absence this week :)
Aphrodite Macbain: ah!
Aphrodite Macbain: there
Aphrodite Macbain: absence
Wol Euler: oh my god
Bruce Mowbray: OMG! Did I get the wrong week?  LOST, indeed!
Alfred Kelberry: aph is still lost since last week :)
Bleu Oleander: you've been absent
Aphrodite Macbain: I KNEW it was another topic
Wol Euler: we've been talking on the wrong topic
Bruce Mowbray: Me too!
Wol Euler: disaster
Wol Euler: lost in time!
Agatha Macbeth: Does it make the heart grow fonder?
Aphrodite Macbain: absence makes the heart grow fonder
Agatha Macbeth: Snap
Aphrodite Macbain: grrrrow
Agatha Macbeth throws Aph another bone
Alfred Kelberry: woly, actually, absence of the absence topic makes it topical :)
Bruce Mowbray: I'm holding on to this bone regardless of the week's topic!
Aphrodite Macbain: yes- but then it makes the mind forget
Aphrodite Macbain: thank god
Bleu Oleander: can be a good thing
Alfred Kelberry: Bruce, you keep it. it's a lucky bone.
Bruce Mowbray feels like he got stuck with one of those minds that just can't forget.
Aphrodite Macbain: my mind forgets constantly
Agatha Macbeth: Forgets what?
Bruce Mowbray: You're fortunate, Aph.
Aphrodite Macbain: huh?
Bleu Oleander: impossible to remember everything
Aphrodite Macbain: I am?
Alfred Kelberry: i forget people names
Aphrodite Macbain: I hate it
Aphrodite Macbain: Especially when I travel
Agatha Macbeth: Hello Fred
Alfred Kelberry: :)
Aphrodite Macbain: now where did I put my passport?
Bruce Mowbray: How can we "drop" if we're constantly remembering things?
Alfred Kelberry: aph, can be scary
Aphrodite Macbain: very
Aphrodite Macbain: very
Aphrodite Macbain: very
Agatha Macbeth: We could drop remembering
Bruce Mowbray: I also lost my passport when in Europe.
Alfred Kelberry: *hugs aph*
Wol Euler: does drop mean forget? I thought it just meant "don't get attached to"
Bruce Mowbray: ((((Aph))))
Aphrodite Macbain: smiles at Boxy and Aggers
Aphrodite Macbain: and Bruce
Alfred Kelberry: woly, right
Aphrodite Macbain: yes-but we can get attached to our memories
Bruce Mowbray: Yeah, Wol, don't get attached to -- or don't let the memory determine or undermine the present circumstance.
Alfred Kelberry: Bruce, did you find it later?
Bruce Mowbray: Find what?
Aphrodite Macbain: and where did you find it?
Alfred Kelberry: passport :)
Aphrodite Macbain: your memory
Bruce Mowbray: Oh! The passport.
Bruce Mowbray: YES!
Alfred Kelberry: where was it?
Aphrodite Macbain: that was my passport
Bruce Mowbray: The concierge found it and returned it to me.
Bruce Mowbray: It was a wonder.
Alfred Kelberry: ah, nice
Aphrodite Macbain: ah
Aphrodite Macbain: they lost my suitcase in Paris
Bruce Mowbray: another life-long memory!
Agatha Macbeth: This is one reason I don't travel
Aphrodite Macbain: bereft of suitcase and wallet
Aphrodite Macbain: and credit card
Alfred Kelberry: aga, what are other reasons?
Aphrodite Macbain: now that is being lost
Alfred Kelberry: aph, they did not find your suitcase?
Aphrodite Macbain: why don't u travel aggers?
Bruce Mowbray: Don't let the "downside" exclude you from travel, aggers. . . The downside holds wonders beyond imagining.
Agatha Macbeth: Too much hassle
Bruce Mowbray: AWWWW!
Alfred Kelberry: Bruce, true that
Aphrodite Macbain: eventually - after I bought some new clothes
Aphrodite Macbain: just got it today
Alfred Kelberry: aph, nice opportunity to buy new clothes in Paris :)
Bleu Oleander: :)
Aphrodite Macbain: I agree Aggers. Next time I travel I'll take a companion
Bruce Mowbray notes: only 6 minutes to Bert's meditation.
Aphrodite Macbain: who will take care of everything
Bruce Mowbray: No one, aph.
Agatha Macbeth: This helps immeasurably
Alfred Kelberry: aph, i'm good with packing stuff. i can help :)
Bruce Mowbray: That's the wonder of it.
Aphrodite Macbain: OK you're hired
Alfred Kelberry: yay! :)
Bruce Mowbray: Better not to have everything tied up.
Agatha Macbeth ponders
Bruce Mowbray: Leave some room for surprises in you.
Aphrodite Macbain: If you can keep an eye on my passport wallet and suitcase - I can handle the rest
Bruce Mowbray: ha ha!
Bruce Mowbray: It's a deal., Aph!
Aphrodite Macbain: Memory is very important when you travel
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, it is.
Aphrodite Macbain: so if you don't have it- you need someone who does
Bruce Mowbray: Indeed.
Aphrodite Macbain: what time was that flight?
Bruce Mowbray: Bertram in 3 minutes.....
Aphrodite Macbain: I wish you all a happy meditation.
Alfred Kelberry: aph, if you put things in the same places, less chances they get lost
Bleu Oleander: hurry up to meditate :)
Agatha Macbeth: Yes, off to Berti
Aphrodite Macbain: lol
Agatha Macbeth waves
Bruce Mowbray: Ha ha!
Wol Euler: heheh
Agatha Macbeth waves
Wol Euler: bye and/or see you there
Bruce Mowbray loves "Hurry up, meditate!"
Aphrodite Macbain: yes unless someone steals that place where you put things
Wol Euler: take care
Aphrodite Macbain: bye WOL
Bleu Oleander: bye and take care
Alfred Kelberry: aph, yes... this is an exception :)
Bruce Mowbray: Bye and thanks to you each and all!
Aphrodite Macbain: Bleu
Aphrodite Macbain: thanks everyone
Aphrodite Macbain: see you tomorrow Bruce
Alfred Kelberry: meditate well
Aphrodite Macbain: I'm off to eat dinner with my mother- and it's only 5pm!
Aphrodite Macbain: Bye Zon, Korel
Alfred Kelberry: aph, five o'clock tea
Zon Kwan: bye all
Aphrodite Macbain: Boxxy

--BELL--

Aphrodite Macbain: waves
Alfred Kelberry: be good, kori
Korel Laloix: ciao