There seems to be an abnormal amount of break-ups recently. I know five different relationships that have ended within the last month and two of them involved my closest friends. I'm so sad to see my friends and acquaintances have to go through that shit. I know how it feels x10 and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

Contrary to the trend, my dad told me a few days ago that he has found a new girlfriend! I was very surprised but not in a bad way. He wasn't sure how my brother and I would take it and feared that we'd oppose it due to respect for our mother's memory. Honestly, I didn't think he was ready for a relationship. But since he is, I totally approve. Him moving on and pursuing his own happiness is something I wanted for him for a long time. He needs someone to take care of him and to be his companion. He will be turning 60 this year (not a young man) and he has always put other peoples' happiness before his own. It's time for him to enjoy his life as well as live it. I was able to meet his girlfriend today when dad took us all out to dinner at Shanghai Delight. She's from Shanghai and has been in this country for a little over a year. She and dad seem compatible, especially since they are so comfortable talking to each other on just about anything. I loved watching my dad act like love-struck schoolboy, a side of him that I was never able to witness before. I hope that relationship goes well because I won't be able to bear seeing my dad hurt in the end.

I got to visit Rob this weekend and we were both very unproductive the whole time. The one thing I'm proud of having accomplished on Saturday was executing the surprise party that his friend Mike and I had been plotting for a month. Smirk. I hate lying to him and have a natural aversion to keeping secrets from him so this thing was much harder to hide than I thought it would be. There were a few blips to our plan here and there, but he was genuinely surprised when he and I showed up at the restaurant and his friends were all gathered there. It makes me feel good to have been involved in something that made him feel really happy and special. I'm 1 up in girlfriend points. Yippee!