v33.2: Tantalizing Tuesday

Good morning folks,

-slurp-

I'm sleepy this morning.  I got to bed at a decent hour last night (11pm) yet I still feel wore out as if I was up until 2 or 3.  Of course, it doesn't matter what time you get to bed if you don't sleep well.

-slurp-

I wanted to start off by getting some opinions from my readers about something.  A few friends and I recently decided to start up a communications group.  Basically, this is a group of people who get together weekly to discuss various topics and just hang out.  For now we will call this group "Alter Ego" to protect the identity since this is all hypothetical anyway.  We are a fun group.  We have some drinks and swap stories.  We talk about the week's events and joke around.  This is our way of unwinding and having a good time while doing it.  Our venue each week varies depending on how everyone is feeling and we typically decide during the week through Internet communications where and when we want to meet up.  Last weekend we didn't have an opportunity to hook up due to a conflict but this week we plan on meeting on Friday.

-slurp-

Here is the issue I'm facing.  I've known these guys for a number of years now (almost 4) and we've been good friends pretty much since the day we met.  Yes we've had our ups and downs like all friendships do, but in the end we all choose to hang out together because we enjoy each other's company.  Lately, though, a lot of things have changed and our group is no longer as tight-nit as we used to be.  One of our friends moved away overseas and rarely has time to talk; two of them have recently had their first child and are experiencing the newness of fatherhood.  As a result, our time together each week is less and less and there are some weeks that go by where I never get a chance to speak to some of them because of the life changing events which have happened.

-slurp-

There are a few of us who are still semi-regular and we typically speak every evening to see how our days have gone and to have a few laughs.  With the others being MIA most nights, it makes it difficult (for me) as I'm finding myself quite bored most of the time.  Yeah, we could go out just the two or three of us, but I miss the big group we used to be and would love to have that "Band of Brothers" back.  But live goes on and lives change.

-slurp-

So here is my question to you folks.  Should we be looking to fill in the "gaps" with new people?  Should we build a "different" band with new faces and personalities?  As I mentioned, there are a few who have left and we hardly speak to anymore.  As a result, our normal 10 is now 7 or 8 on a regular basis and that number can drop as low as 3 or 4 depending on circumstances each week.  When you're used to having 10 people getting together every weekend for fun it can be a bit boring when more than half of them don't show for whatever reason and you're left trying to find something else to do that one night a week you get to be out and have fun.

-slurp-

I've brought this question up before with the group and some of them immediately shot it down; they don't see the problem I see.  So what do YOU think about all this?  And before you ask, yes these are real people and yes I know them on a (mostly) personal level.  We've been friends for a long time and I have no desire to jeopardize that friendship for anything.

-slurp-

Anyway, enough about that stuff.  This was keeping me up most of the night last night because it started really bothering me this weekend for some reason.  It isn't often I let things get to me like this.

-slurp-

Well folks, the coo coo clock on the wall tells me it is time to get back to work.  Which is strange because we don't have a coo coo clock at work.  Sounds like someone's prescription needs refilling.  I must go see what is up.  Until next time folks, remember to always keep all 4 legs of your chair on the floor.  Tipping your chair forward or backward will never end well.

-slurp-

Cheers,

Al