It is a really funny world ...

[Reylan Talonspyre]

Hey, everyone. How have you all been? I have been well. Let me get down to business. As you may remember, my best friend was fighting leukemia, a battle his doctors and family had given up on. We rallied our friends to their side and made it a point for day-to-day vigils at Northwestern University Hospital.

The stem cell treatment was the real problem. His leukemia had been killed, but his immune system was shot to shit. The stem cell transplants did not work. Finally, as his doctors were suggesting to his parents that they take him home to be at peace with his family, the transplant board approved, very unusually, another donor transplant.

The doctors had expected maybe a mix transplant, which is basically all the leftovers mixed together and shoved in to see what works. This had a high chance of killing him, but it didn't matter with the options left to him. The doctors were shocked when the match came back perfect for my dear friend.

After the new transplant went well, he was released back home. Little did we know at the time that his liver was failing to process the mass amount of drugs he had been taking. Around Labor Day he was admitted back into the hospital as he became non responsive. It was a rough journey, much like that of a heroine addict. His counts were way beyond the normal limit and his prognosis looked dire.

He went through crash detox and then to a retirement home (it was a good place where he wouldn't have a horrible chance of infection) to finish out his rehab. He met with counselors and then was released back home. A month ago, he came to my bar, Duke's Alehouse for a Guinness with friends. He is now a regular with the rest of us and has met the new group of people that we attracted while he was gone.

He beat it and was victorious.

On the home front I met a girl. We had coffee and for four months I began to hang out with her and wonder about our current situation. We were good friends, but we didn't talk. My buddy tried telling me she was the right one. I didn't see it. A couple of weeks ago, I asked her out when I realized that I really did like her and that I had been going to my bar to see her, not the others.

She shot me down. Said I was more of a friend. But something wasn't right. I believed that she was wrong. Now, don't get me wrong, I believe that every time. This time though, I had facts. I had proof. She even agreed but told me, "I cannot loose you as a friend."

I responded, "I accept your decision but won't change my mind. I like you as more than a friend and that is it."

Two weeks went by, she and I had over 200 emails back and forth during work (via phone), plus many over the phone conversations, plus two meetings at local IHOPs. She never went away, always at my side, playing the Question Game. I ask one, then she asked one. What I found out is that I really cared about her, not just "Hey, I guess this sounds good."

I got to know her friends and she got to know more about me. It was a real two way street.

After two weeks of this, on February 19 at 2:00 AM, she called me to her car after we had been at the bar and told me, "I made a mistake. I think we would make a great couple."

I responded, "Wait, I am right?"

She nodded, "Yup."

We talked about more things and I explained that I found myself completely content just spending time with her and no one else. She was different enough to surprise me but similar enough to make me feel comfortable. She agreed and said that what had brought her in was .... brace for it ... Dungeons and Dragons.

I nearly fell out of the car laughing.

She said that when she found out I ran a game on every other Saturday (coincidentally it is coming to its end) she snickered and I pressed the issue saying, "So what? I enjoy it." According to her, it impressed her that I knew who I was and was proud of being Dork Rage, Reylan Talonspyre (yes, she knows about all you), or whatever I called myself.

When she said, "Where to from here?" I said, "We are going to rock and roll this shit."

She suggested that I use that as a Facebook post. It is nice to have a PR director.

I won't lie, we are about to date, but she had already said it feels like she just shrugged off some manacles and was now in a relationship. Two weeks of faux dating does that. I won't lie ... I care about her a fuck ton. More than I ever though I had in me. Yes, when we kissed there were "sparks" ... a lot.

I just thought I would let you all know ... I won. I am still in shock that I did it my normal shitty way and it worked. I found that one girl it works for. It feels like this is what I have been building up to ... all my life's troubles made it so only I could have stepped forward in this manner.

So there is what has been happening. I am in love. I have my friend back and healthy. I am appreciative of the support this community and my friends gave to both endeavors. I feel like a chapter has ended and a new and promising one has begun.

Let the party begin!

[Grunt]

I am glad to hear your friend pulled thru

I am even more happy that you may have found The One
Good luck with that

[Jokingjoe]

My wife and I were friends before we were lovers.

Grats, Rey. Good news is always a joy, double good news is what makes life worth living!

[Lady Maven]

well Joe beats the heck out of grabbing random stranger for sex.

err... wait I take that back..

[Jokingjoe]

Oh Maven, behave!

[Maverick]

Where is the part that is supposed to make me laugh?

[Lady Maven]

Musical Octopus

An Englishman walks into a pub with an octopus. He sits the octopus down on a stool and tell everyone in the pub this is a very talented animal. "He can play any musical instrument in the world."

Everyone in the pub laughs, calling him an idiot. So he says that he will bet $50 to anyone who has an instrument that the octopus can't play.

A Welshman walks up with a guitar and sets it beside the octopus. Immediately the octopus picks up the guitar and starts playing better than Segovia. The Welshman pays his $50.

Another Englishman walks up with a trumpet. This time the octopus plays the trumpet better than Miles Davis. This Englishman also pays up his $50.

Then a Scotsman walks up with some bagpipes. He gives them to the octopus who fumbles around with them in a confused fashion for several minutes.

"Ha!" the Scot says, "Can ye nae play it?"

The octopus looks up at him and says, "Play it? I'm going to make love to it as soon as I figure out hove to get it's pajamas off?"

[Nagash]

Some things never change. Rey, you're one of those things. Have fun!

[owly]

i wish your friend all the luck with the leukemia