Tova, not only were you cherry picked but you also got the story of the week.

Congrats on both.

Some of the writing and poetry on ABCTales is very good indeed while some of it...  okay, honestly, is crap.  You're right in saying our JUWC would kick butt over there.  So c'mon ladies and gents, come to the 'write' side bwhaahahaha...

The biggest surprise for me was having two of the four pieces I've posted cherry picked already.  This means I have to live up to their initial appraisal.  Sheesh...

The part where he pops up awake is HILARIOUS!  The blindfold dancing?

lol  thanks for the laughs and the need to do laundry.

 A lsit?! haha..this is the story of my life. I guess I will have to see which decade of embarrasing moments. hahaha...

I can't believe I never saw this article. You made it through some tough times there. It's tough being a girl and tougher in certain circumstances.

This however, makes it so much better! hahaha

Not so much experience dating Japanese men.  Dated the first guy, had a major crush on another who got transfered to Kuala Lumpur, and fell like a rock for the guy I'm married to now.

From all that, I'd say ethnicity doesn't really matter but culture does.  Culture matters because there has to be some kind of level field for understanding.  This is more than just speaking the language.  I think he makes more effort than I do but for the most part I get on okay.  I think because we spent so much time in each other's culture that it helps us understand each other.  I still get mystified by the way some things work, though.

Maybe his instincts have been fine-tuned because he needed them.  Kind of cool, but sad that it was necessary.

I talked to some foreign women I know and they commented they sometimes had a similar reaction. We figured that we were probably reacting to some kind of cultural cues that these women aren't aware of.  

Maybe the best example I can come up with is my husband's cousin.  All I knew about her is that she was married to an American and was now divorced.  One time I was looking through some of my husband's family pictures and I saw my husband sitting next to this guy who hard Charles Manson eyes.  Seriously. My hair prickled on my neck.

I asked my husband why he was sitting next to a crazy guy in a friendly way.  He really dislikes people like that so I was surprised.  He said, "Oh, that's my cousin's ex-husband."  The guy was scary looking.  I know it was a picture, and there was nothing overtly cultural about it.

The second example is the first Japanese guy I dated. He's probably a nice enough person, but I didn't know enough about culture here and neither of us spoke each other's language well enough.  But all things being equal (like language) and back home, I wouldn't have dated him.  A Japanese woman that I knew found out that we were dating and she said she was surprised because he was "kawarimono" (eccentric).  I don't mind eccentricities but really, she picked up on cues that I didn't.

Anyways, cultural cues and natural instincts.

He said it's quite odd to see a man walking along the road like that.....odd.  You don't get into a car with a man who is acting odd.  Why would you?  And flowers is a tactic used to get a woman to open the door.  Usually nowadays the Florist will call and tell you you have a delivery coming.  For a delivery guy to drop off flowers to a neighbor is odd as well. 

He then said to me......  "you're just as bad." 

I'm telling ya.......Our husbands are two peas in a pod  Tonya.  What you wrote (outside of the swear word) is my husband all the way!!!   To a double tee!

As for Toni, well there is no way I would tell her what she can and can't do.  She has been through a lot in her life and knows how to get by.  It doesn't stop me from worrying about her or expressing my concern, though.

I know you have common sense but you don't want to get any material for one of your suspense stories from a real life event. Well, not your real life event.

I don't trust many people so I don't know if I would help. But I have helped people before like with flat tires or if their car was broke down I have lend them my cell phone.

I don't think I can give the same answer for every stranger needing help. I trust my ability to judge a person so depending how I read the person is how much I would help or even help at all.

That situation has never come up with Rose but knowing her I don't think she would be too trusting of any stranger.

It might make me sound bad but I'm glad she's NOT helping people. I just don't trust most people. In fact, reading your story I was saying things out loud like, "Tova, what are you thinking?" and "Tova, your husband is right".

It sucks the people actually needing help can't get it because of some a-holes who take advantage of someone's generosity.

I bet he's having nightmares about it now!  

I'm really pleased you found the camera.  Phew...

That's so funny because Rose and I were just talking and she told me about the articles in here about the excessive posting and I told her," It's a waste of time though because he doesn't get it. It's like talking to a wall".

I'm just surprised he gets a lot of comments especially since he seems like a big coward and baby with his constant deleting. Are you sure he's 18? He seems younger. If he only can see that some bloggers here are actually trying to help him.