That's because we have large amounts of it after we pay all our bills compared with the Brits who's great country's cost of living is more than ridiculous. Of course, you do have the Queen and the royal family-who wouldn't be willing to forego 12.4 billion in state revenue to have a ceremonial head? Brilliant I say. (using more emoticons for those who can't read)

He's going to be really cross he missed you again you know.

Are you really going to answer every single post individually?

One has to admire your dedication and attention to detail. Us Brits would never be that polite.

Don't despair. More where that came from.

We are. Why, even our PM is a practicing RC who doesn't believe in things like same-sex marriage or women's rights to choose. Kind of like America's right wing nutjobs.

Make a note of it-yeah?

I know! You would think that with the superior American intellect she would have figured out how to multi-quote at least.

I think she's trying to butter us up. She likes us, but she's a bit shy and isn't sure how to fit in.

Those nutjobs are polarized mostly into the south and extreme midwest portions of the states. Where I live they send out notices to all families in the counties school systems to come together and support same sex unions, gay, lesbian and transgender families. There was a GLT community night in the school auditorium about a month ago. Personally I don't count fundamentalists as part of the emerging American community. I count them as part of a withering segment of people some holding on, some getting the picture, that Americans are more educated, less religious, more internationally savvy, less judgmental and this trend in the upswing of an evolution in motion,

You ****ers. I DO like British people....much to my own dismay at times! The first person to ever really hear me-as a teenager and "get" me was a twice removed British relative-a woman who I forever looked up to. Shy I am not. Know how to fit in? I'm sort of getting the hang of dirty looks and tea drinking but I stand by "saying what I mean" no room to interpret...

Don't care for it. I have figured out how to be eclectic and individualized and **** technology when it come to being human.

If the losing money was on troll, the winning bet was uptight American? I think you've just passed step 1 of 12. Jolly good show. I'd like to hope that the power of your friends on this board helped you on the start of your journey to recovery, and that we will all rejoice in glorious praise when you eventually cross the threshold of step 12.

Remember Phillipians 4:13 at those dark times when you fear your journey is too long.

You do need to brush up on irony, however.

Maybe we have some common ground here, my long term goal and thus my interest in this site, is to become a pastor with the world famous PNW based church, Mars Hill.

Mark Driscoll is such an inspirational figure. Compared with all the fuddy-duddy churches in Britain, he is so forward thinking. A true welcoming of all figure.

Probably smells of fish, too, yes? Given his location I mean.