. Do you go to product parties? (i.e Pampered Chef). Only for family and close friends. I've been badgered to host my own party many times but I could never do to someone else what they were doing to me.

2. If so, do you feel compelled to buy something? Yes, I feel compelled.

3. Is there a tourist attraction near your home that you've never been to? The Mark Twain house in Hartford. I actually went there 3 different times but each time it was closed. The first time was on a school trip in 7th grade. I may not know enough to call ahead (mine were spur of the moment) but you would think those crazy nuns would have.

4. Is there a tourist attraction anywhere that you've never visited but would really like to? I want to see the old cities of eastern Europe like Prague and Budapest, mostly for the architecture. That's the same reason I want to see the Mark Twain house.

5. Are you "into" history or is the here and now more your thing? I've very much into history. I am on a constant quest to learn more. I'm very much into history. I'm in a constant quest for knowledge.

6. Have you seen JFK? (Oliver Stone's movie) What did you think of it? I saw part of it before I fell asleep. It's the favorite movie of my co-worker, who is a big movie-buff, so I figure it's got to be good.

7. Any theories of your own? I think Russia and Castro are the most plausible suspects. They were seeking revenge for the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis. The connection of Lee Harvey Oswald to Russia and Cuba is clear. I don't know of any direct connection with the mafia. Russia may have had their own second shooter (grassy knoll). The mafia, even in its heyday, was never that powerful. It makes for a good story though. JMHO

8. If you could have a conversation with anyone "involved" who would that be? I suppose Lee Harvey Oswald. I would also like to question Lyndon B. Johnson.

Do you ever think about your first love? From time to time.

Do you wonder what might have been? Not anymore.

Do you wonder if he/she thinks about you? Yes.

Would you reach out and say hi if you could? Most definitely.

Would you kick dirt on him/her if you could? No, never

Have you ever done a Google search to find him/her just because? No

If you found him/her what would you do? Hug him and tell him how much I've missed him.

Now that I've answered the questions rather cryptically, I'll try to elaborate. My very first love ran away from home shortly after I professed my love to him. That did wonders for my ego. My guy's parents got divorced and I think he took off so he could distance himself from the whole thing. He did contact me though...about 5 years later. We had a happy reunion and remained friends. Sadly, he passed away. His mother summoned me to her house the day before telling me that Jimmy just had to see me. I rushed over to see him. I was sitting on the edge of his bed and was holding his hand when he said, "I just wanted to tell you that I'm dying." At that point, my tears were flowing and I was a wreck. It meant a lot to me that he didn't want to leave the world without telling me (I did know he was terminally ill). I'll always miss him and hope to see him one day.

I'll happily spare you the details of my second love but I will say it was even more intense.

I guess I should reread what I write a little closer. I probably should also mention that my family pretty much has the market cornered on mental illness. My mom suffered from depression, which ultimately led to her death (long story there). I have a sister who is bi-polar. This leads me to my nephew, Chad. He is the one who stabbed his father (my brother), not my cousin. He was diagnosed as bi-polar while in jail. He is basically a good kid but very troubled (obviously). My brother is 52 years old. He was diagnosed about 10 years ago. He had the Deep Brain Stimulation operation where they put the nodes into your brain. It wasn't the miracle they claimed it to be. We're still trying to get it tweeked so he can have more up-time. My dad was born in 1918. The year of the great influenza. They have linked those that were born during that year to Parkinson's disease. It doesn't account for my brother, of course. I do believe there is a genetic element. Anyhoo, at my old job, I was in charge of the department and I did a bit of everything. At my new job, I monitor problems on gigundo networks and then work with the technicians on getting the problem solved. It's really a mindless job but at least it's not nearly as stressful.

enjoyed reading about everyone.

Describing yourself is more difficult than I thought it would be.

Let's see. I live with my 3 roommates - Katie, Jekyll and Hyde. Katie is a beautiful Calico who has captured my heart. Jekyll and Hyde are brothers, of the German Shepard/Husky variety. They are extremely competitive and basically live their life trying to get one over on each other. They are out of their minds but still I am very much in love with them.

I was born in Connecticut. I've lived within the same 10 miles or so my whole life. I'm am the youngest of eight kids. I have 3 sisters and 4 brothers. My mom died when I was very young so my dad basically raised me. My dad was the sweetest, kindest person I have ever known. He deserves credit just for raising 8 kids by himself without ever yelling or hitting or complaining. We are all law-abiding citizens. None of us are on drugs nor have we been arrested. My dad died in March 2001. I miss him everyday. I always knew that what ever I did, even if I was on death row, my dad would always love me and stand by me.

I went to college after high school but with my indecisions and detours, it took me like 8 years before I finally graduated. I have a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science. I worked for the same company for nearly 12 years but the company got sold and then pretty much let everyone but the janitor go. I get paid a lot less with my new job but the lack of stress is worth it to me. Leaving my last job will add a good ten years to my life.

I've been rather unlucky in love. I've never been married nor do I have any kids. I've had a several long term relationships and plenty of short term ones but it's been a couple of years since I've dated.

I have been very lucky as far as friendships go. Most all of my friends I've had for years and years.

My brother has Parkinson's disease, which I find to be heart-breaking. My dad had the same thing as did my uncle. His son, who has needed help for years, stabbed him some months ago. He's still in jail. I don't know what will become of him but it worries me.

Otherwise, I'm just living life and trying to enjoy it.

Rwanda

I haven't seen Hotel Rwanda but I hope to.

Was the UN or US at fault? Could they have done more?

As far as I know, the UN left early in the war. They bailed out when 10 of their troops died. Peacekeeping forces were sent after when the war was winding down. This is just not a role that the UN plays but remember, the UN is only as powerful as we make it.

I don't fault the UN or the US for not intervening. Their efforts wouldn't have amounted to much more than hundreds of our troops dying. They would have been largely ineffective.

I'm sorry to say this but sometimes things just have to play themselves out. No one can ever win another country's civil war. Think about our own civil war. Both sides had help from other countries but it was our war. It was something we had to settle for ourselves. That is why we would never have won the Vietnam war. It just wasn't our war. That is also why we can't stop the fighting in Iraq. It's their war. We should never enter into a war that we can't win.

I agree racism played a hugh part as far as outside help goes. Still, I think there was no way we nor the UN would have been able to stop the fighting.

I hate to sound uncaring. I remember at the time thinking - why doesn't someone do something? I thought the same thing about today's Sudan. All's we know is that we want it to end but we may not always be the answer.