Oil and water. Chlorine and ammonia.

Some things cannot mix, and some things you should not try to mix.

Such is the case with some of the people who populate my life.

It wasn't always this way. As recently as a few years ago I was exactly like everybody I hung around with, except for the druggies who were nice enough to keep it to themselves for the most part.

Now, however, I find myself in several semi-overlapping circles, and often I think that the only overlap is me.

Lead and iodine.

I'd no more put MethBoy in the same room as MisunderstoodGirl than I'd take NotGeorge to the next Keithley reunion.

Beer before whiskey, mighty risky.

I'd no more put LaptopGirl in the same room with VigilanteGirl than I'd put my sister's fiancé in the same room with her ex-husband. Or SpoonsGirl with any single and lonely guy.

Alcohol and ibuprofen.

I could go on and on, and that's only sticking to my familiar and social circles. If I considered the work circle the number of potentially disastrous combinations would approach infinity.

I was going somewhere with this, but I forget where.