Archived Messages from March 8 to March 13, 2001

Wed Mar 14 23:01:18 PST 2001 Sun Mar 11 10:28:57 PST 2001

Gariess! Sorry, the critique is a little delayed. I want to read it through thoroughly one more time before I advise on what might be pared down and what's essential. There's not as much trimming as I had first thought.
Your comment about the photographs stunned me because I thought you were talking about a photo I'd taken that was on my webpage! And I thought, 'I didn't use that lighting, or that type of film for my outdoor shots!' Then I thought you were referring to the photo of me, which I didn't take. (before anyone goes 'Huh?' you can take your own photograph easily with a remote shutter release and some practice)...
Anyhow, the pic of me on my webpage is a 'cheap' photo booth shot, which I like exactly because the quality sucks! It's grainy and washed out, and looks like it's been simmering in cyan ink. Sometimes the un-fussy shots are the best ones. I'm no expert photographer, but I've been told otherwise. It's all farting around with expensive equipment, really, and bracketing shots I don't want to miss.

Ok, so the remark about tungsten lighting wasn't for me. That's ok, Gary! It took me about 6.9 seconds to realize that we hadn't spoken about photography in ages, and the message wasn't for me.
It took, however, over 5 minutes to explain that. Sigh. I'll give up soon.

Tina, great shortie. Loved the cat's perspective.
Jerry, there's one loophole: Even if the neighbour did go and play pinochle with her every day, wouldn't it still seem like an accident? And there's no one guiltier than the guy taking off for a vacation without leaving someone to care for his invalid wife! He wanted to get caught.

Heather

Owhard - must be a new drive, had it been formated before, I always use the command FORMAT C: /q

Works very fast, like seconds but if it is a new drive, or you think there may be errors on the drive, the FORMAT c: /u is the one to use.

Hallee- I'm completely sympathetic. I got an earfull from one of my teachers that I have to start setting high goals for myself and getting ambitious with them. I've just recently entered to poetry contests, but ones that don't charge for entry (I'm in college, 'nough said). Hopefully I'll pull in a little money for it, if not *shrugging* at least I'd've tried for once. Now, to just find out how to apply that to graphic design... hmmm...

Jerry- No problem with the NRA affiliation, my father is a member. He doesn't actually own a gun yet but I think he may actually be in the market for a handgun, strictly for defensive purposes though. Above all my father is a responsible person and I think one of the few people I know that could deal with the burden of keeping that responsibility in check.

*ahem* *starting to sing* How long does it take to format-
whoops that joke's already been killed... guess there's nothing to do now but sleep.

Night all!

Sweet dreams of words and verses that breathe the truth of life through the lips of those seaking some sense in the senseless...

cya

Cassandra

Ahhh Denver is a suburb of Tacoma right????

MARK: I got it! That's why I told my cantaloupe joke! (o)(o)

knock knock
who's there?
jamaica
jamaica who?
jamaica cake today?

yes, yes, I know.

HOWARD -- I don't believe Mary got it. hmmm. Anyone remember the "All in the Family" episode where Edith finally realizes why they call that woman "Boom Boom?" ... Mary, you hurried to the door and the guy holding it watched ... what? knock knock !

RHODA -- hum ahem ahem hhrrruuummmm pardonme .. somethingalittlewrongwithmythroat. A bit hoarse. I'm a hoarseman. Guess that makes me gallant, chivalric. Saaayy, whatcha got I can open there, cutie?

VIV -- good story well told. Uh, but one question. There was a guy in a sunday suit .. I was left to figure him out for myself. From other contexts I thought you were in Japan and so the man must be Japanese, then you say "Thank God for Western men." So this was not Japan and he was not Japanese?

GS -- HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Point well-made there, chum.

good night all.

That link will take you to a place where you can download a new browser called Web Talkster. I am using it right now, because it works so great for this webpage. What it does is this, when you load it, this nice looking indian madin comes out and stands on the page. You can highlight part of the page and she talks the page to you. (Well that is what she calls it, in reality she reads it to you.) Anyhow for those of you of the female persuasion, there are male versions available too, but I like this cute little indian gal, and she has such a nice voice. You can also have her read the whole page to you, but it gets a bit confusing when she reads links and things. Only thing I don't like about it is that it is addware, and changes one link in the top bar every so often accompanied by a chime. When it does that if you are typing, it sort of takes you there. Other then that it looks like a great device for reading the notebook, or the workbook for that matter. Works great for proofreading too.

Randall, so good to see you back. I have been trying to keep my NRA affilation a secret, kind of like the topic of this weeks shorty night. Oh, and I have my shorty written too, but may not post it till Thursday, or maybe Wendsday.
Oh heck maybe tonight, just to avoid the rush.

Chris fluffed Amanda’s pillow, then turned, picking up her tray, which was filled with breakfast dishes.

“Can I pick you up anything on my way home from work tonight hon?”

“No, that’s Ok dear, my needs are few these days, I still have half a book of crossword puzzles to do before I need a new one.”

With this, Chris turned and walked down the stairs, as he had done for all these twelve years since the accident. He waited on Amanda hand and foot, brought her the bedpan, her meals, and washed her dirty linen when he didn’t get home in time, and she spilled the bedpan almost daily moving it from her bed to the stand.

He finished dishes then headed out the door, walking the short seven blocks to his office. While he walked he dreamed of the beach, any beach in the sun, possibly on some tropical isle, yes an island that was the answer.

That night, walking through the drizzle that was so common in the Tacoma area he began to plan. How to rid himself of the burden that Amanda had become, maybe a fire no that was too messy an accident that was it. He knew Amanda got out of bed at least twice a day to empty the bedpan, and to get her beer from the refrigerator in the hallway between the bedroom and the bathroom.

Chris breezed through the next day at work; his co-workers thought he turned over a new leaf. He hummed to himself, while making phone calls, first to the airlines to book his flight to Jamaica, then to the bank, to transfer his substantial savings, much of which came from a settlement from Amanda’s accident. It was supposed to be used to care for her, but Chris knew she would have no use for it tomorrow.

The following morning, Chris bounded out of bed. He hurried up to Amanda’s bedroom. She was still asleep. With her extra pillow, Chris smothered her, then picked her up and carried her limp broken body into the hall. To make it look like an accident, he swung her body quickly around and bounced her head off the doorframe, he heard the satisfying crunch, as her skull shattered against the sharp surface. Then raised her limp body over his head and slammed her onto the floor. Standing back, he looked over the accident scene, yes it appeared to be an accident, but something was missing. He turned and went back to the bedroom where he retrieved her bedpan, which was filled from last night’s “chore” he dropped it in front of her and the contents spread quickly on the carpet.

His first step completed, he washed the dishes as he did every morning, then put on his jacket and headed out the door, as if going off to work. As he walked down the sidewalk, he saw Mr. Burton.

“Good day Sam.” He chimed, and tipped his hat.

“What a nice day it is indeed!” replied his elderly neighbor; much as he did every day when Chris walked down the sidewalk, weather permitting of course.

Once he rounded the corner and headed toward his office, he hailed a cab.

“Airport, and make it quick, I have to make my flight in thirty minutes.”

“Yes sir, “ replied the driver as he picked up the mike from the holder on the dash, “405 to the airport.” He reported, and drove on.

Arriving at the airport, Chris learned his flight would be delayed for thirty minutes, so he had a little under an hour and he would be flying the friendly skies.

Forty minutes later the boarding agent announced the flight, and stood at the boarding gate to check the tickets. Chris was fifth in line when the plain cloths officer tapped him on the shoulder.

“You Chris Martin?”

“Why yes, yes I am, is there a problem?”

“Officer Collins, Denver PD, you will have to come with me sir.”

“What did I do?”

“You are being charged with the murder of your wife sir, I advise you to remain silent until you talk with your attorney.”

“But how, who…”

“Your neighbor sir, one Sam Spalding, found your wife’s body about twenty minutes ago, when he went to her room to play two handed pinochle as they did every day after you left for work.”

“Aw shit! Bitch always did keep secrets from me, I should have known!”

Howard, using the word 'crash' when you just talked about formatting a hard drive could be seen as tempting fate...

Knock knock.
Who's there?
Cargo.
Cargo who?
No! Car go beep beep!

TTFN
T.J.

Hello all!

I'm going back down to see my family tomorrow, so I'll be gone for a week. I actually wrote a shortie for shortie night, so I'm gonna post it tonight since I'll be gone on Thursday. I'll post it at the end.

Hallee, when you're ready to do that, and if you want input, let me know. I'll happily read, offer thoughts, and be a general sounding board for things you're working through. And I'll practice my cyber noogies for when you start writing #11! ;oD

Randall, you're 100% bang on about respect.

I just boiled my kettle dry while I sat here and wrote. ooops. Gotta start setting a buzzer when I boil water.

Okay, here's my shortie... only it's a longie. Sorry. Once I start I just won't stop!

Forbidden Places

They almost caught me today.

I blame the sun. It was simply too warm and comfortable, shining on my tawny fur until I couldn’t stay awake a second longer. The key in the door didn’t wake me, or the door opening, but the creaking stair gave them away. I jumped off of the forbidden chair and ran to the stairway just as Brian came up.

“Hey cat. Have a good day?” He gave me a scratch behind the ears, and I leaned into his hand, purring in relief. He didn’t know that I’d been sleeping on the forbidden chair.

“You’re such a loser. The furball doesn’t understand you!” Sara whined to her litter-mate.

He lifted his chin defiantly, picked me up and kept stroking my fur. “I’m not a nerd, princess. And Simba understands me fine. Right Simba?”

“Mom? Are you here?” Sara called out.

Sara headed for the kitchen, looking for mom-Zoe. She wouldn’t find her, I knew. Mom-Zoe had left early that morning, after giving me some peanut butter and petting my tummy. She’d been very quiet before she left, making blue lines on three pieces of paper. I’d watched from my place on her lap, and had to clean the water from her eyes off of my fur. Then she’d left. Through the window I’d watched her climb into one of the yellow moving-boxes.

“Here’s a note,” Sara came back holding one piece of paper.

Brian held it where we both could see the blue lines. He mumbled, “Gone out. Dinner’s in the fridge, just nuke it warm. Remember to feed Simba. Love you both very much.”

“Whatever,” Sara stomped off to her bed-den.

Brian carried me to our own bed-den and set me down on the desk. He pulled a few books from his bag and sat down, pushing me aside when I stood on the books. “Sorry Simba. I’d better do this before mom and dad get home.” I watched while he made lines on the paper, and noticed that one of the books smelled odd. I sniffed the pages closely, trying to recognise the smell.

“It’s not mine, Simba. Murray paid me two bucks to do his homework. His parents give him all the money he wants to buy anything. If mom and dad won’t get me that video game, I’ll get it myself. They don’t have to know.”

I flicked my tail across the paper to show my disapproval, but he didn’t stop.

When he finished making lines, I followed him out of our bed-den. His litter-mate had left her door open, so I pushed it wider and went in.

“Get out of here Brian!” she yelled without looking up.

“Mrreow,” I told her. Clearly I’m not Brian.

“You stupid cat. Go away.”

Instead I jumped up on her bed beside her and sat down. Water had leaked out of her eyes, and that usually meant distress so I thought she needed company.

“Why are you staring at me? Cause I’m fat?” Sara glared at me angrily.

I looked her up and down, and decided that she was not fat. Patches next door, now HE was fat. Couldn’t even clean himself properly anymore. I told her so. “Mwowrrr.”

“Sure. You eat anything you like and stay skinny. Me, I never eat breakfast or lunch, and I’m still fat. Peggy called me fat cow today. I told her to eat shit.”

A door opened and closed loudly. The heavy step had to be dad-Ross.

“Where is everybody?” he hollered.

“Hi dad,” Brian called.

Sara did the same and added, “Mom’s out. Left a note saying dinner’s in the fridge.”

“Then let’s eat. I’m starving. Come and help.”

After dinner Brian watched the loud-box and Sara talked on the quiet-box, so I went looking for dad-Ross. I found him in his bed-den, looking out the window. I jumped up on the sill to see what he was watching, but didn’t see anything interesting. When I looked up at him I saw water leaking from his eyes. He clutched two crumpled papers in his paw, and his paw shook.

“It’s just you and me and the kids now. Oh God, what do I tell them?” He sat down in the chair by the window and I joined him, kneading my claws in the pillow while he stroked me. “Did Zoe say anything to you, Simba? Tell you where she was going?”

“Mrrew,” I told him, but he didn’t understand. Just as well, too. If he knew the secrets I’m privy to, he might get suspicious about cat hair on the forbidden chair.

DEBRA: Hey girlie, your link works. Leaps and bounds, I say. You are learning by leaps and bounds.

HOWARD: I only have a 13GB hard drive and I know it took me a while to format. I can only imagine 30. What the heck you gonna do with all that space anyway? I love knock knock jokes. One of my favorites:

Knock Knock
Who's there?
Cantaloupe
Cantaloupe who?
Cantaloupe tonight, Dad's got the car.

I did go to your contest link, and read all the past winners. You are absolutely right, there are some doozies.

Let's all blow the top off SECRETS, you guys. Onward and upward.

RANDALL - Hi! No, I haven't left yet. Tempted a couple of times, but prior committments overruled. Soon's they're done, though...!

Anybody know how long it takes to format a 30gb hard drive?

"No, but hum a few bars and I'll fake it." (could see thatone comin'!)

I feel like I'm about to wake up from a long hibernation.
And I don't like it!

Secrets? Oy!

TEEKAY - (or MARY) Wanna hear a good Knock-Knock joke?

Has anybody (besides me) not done their taxes yet?

Has anybody looked at that Bulwer-Lytton page yet? It's a contest for the absolute worst opening sentence. Some of them are a real hoot!

Looks like at least another 1.5 hours on this format. I think I'll hit the showers and then crash. Gotta get up at 4 in the morning.

'night ducks!

Mary:

I meant to thank you for being the research fairy.

I am trying to post your pictures again


In case they work, these are pictures of my family that Mary fixed a webpage for me. It was so nice of her I thought I might post them again; there are so many new people here.

I, like Teekay, love to put pictures to names.


Debra

DEBRA: the police report story Imean. Not the manuscript one. Although that was amusing too.

DEBRA: HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA now I get it! Lucky my husband was able to explain it to me. HAHAHHAAHHAHAHAhAha

Hey buckaroos, what's happening!

Loosen up out there. Some of your posts border on obits.

(Darn loud mouth Texan!)

And I wondered just today 'bout Americo. Talk about stiring the pot. When I left last year Americo was slinging it left and right. Nice to hear your name again. Say...what ever happened to that cat you had? Ever come back home, hum?

Chivalry, fellow writers is spelled R E S P E C T. Respect comes from within and is generated partially by being aware of self and environment and breeding. If you ain't got it, you ain't gonna get it by wishing or imitation. (Baseball star Dizzy Dean said, "Show me a guy who won't say ain't, and I'll show you a guy without a paycheck.")Chivalry to other humans is a natural occurance, like breathing. Women and children first in the lifeboats. Duh! No brainer as far as I'm concerned. Women are the mothers of future generations and children are the future. As it is, so it is. Men are males and are suppose to be aware of their place in the scheme of life. And accept as such.

"Give me a brandy Jeeves and take this cursed lifejacket."

Some males are certaintly not, only interested in "me first." Open doors for gals, say excuse me, be respectful. If you have difficulty in understanding why...explaining won't help. :-)

Christi, please check e-mail. :-)

Howard, glad to see you're still on the planet! :-)

Some years ago Paul Harvey had an intersting story. Goes something like this. In the lower 48, New Yorkers are rated the rudest (sp?) in everyday meetings. As are most Yanks. (Sorry, his words not mine.) Annnnnnnnd they have the strictest gun control regs. (Following this Jerry?) People of the South were rated to be the most respectful, chivalry, and have not so strict gun laws.

Honestly, I would be hesitant to connect the terms Middle Ages and chivalry and romantic. All events are relevant to time, circumstances, emotions, knowledge. Sorry my friends, I've been around long enough to believe nothing of what I hear, darn reluctant to accept what I see and believe very little of what I read.

R

Kitty:

Well maybe that wasn't really clear. The manuscript is the baby. I'm not really pregnant. I'm just in the my water broke stage of looking for an agent.

Is that clearer?

Debra

Kitty:

I'm nine months pregnant with a manuscript and my water just broke.

Debra

Kitty:

Please tell us, well me, no us, how do we get an agent?

I have to have one immediately.


Debra

Would you guys like to hear something amusing? I was at the police station in my area making out a complaint. Who cares what it was for. It was minor. Well some one was being careless behing the wheel of a tow truck. That's not the amusing part.

The amusing part was when I told the sargent who was taking my complaint that I am a small woman, he could see me I was right there, and I could be killed with the air bag. I told him I had twins who were two, he could see them they were right there, and I absolutely needed to live eighteen more years. He said,"I know what you mean. I have to live for two more years." hahahahaha


Well I quess you had to be there.

Debra

GARIESS: I know perfectly well what you meant and I found it hilarious. :-D

Man this place just explodes with action! Just popped in for a quick hello but also have to say...

CHRISTI, it's so nice to be remembered *grin* Thanks for thinking of me.

chivalry and the Titanic...as a woman I agree with the women and children first...well unless HE's got a great butt then he can go just before me *wicked grin*

KITTY so glad to see you posting regularly again...it's almost like a reunion now with Britomart popping in...hope you manage to stick around. Hell I hope I manage to stick around. I find I have to pop on every day or the postings have gotten so long I get lost.

Anyway looking forward to the shortie night. I love the topic of secrets! It' may inspire me to write a shortie.

Going to run. Hi to everyone.

Trudy

Okay, Here's what was supposed to be pasted under that last note to Heather.

Kitty,
You are quite right that a chivalrous man would not "crow" about being chivalrous. That would be contrary to the very essence of chivalry. What I created for the purpose of my post was the voice of a character who would not see that conflict. I don’t ever expect to be in a situation where I find out whether I am that character or not. One can not prove that he would not shoot a man to save himself a carving up until the occsasion arrises and he does not. The fellow whose voice I borrowed would not hesitate. In the present age we must settle upon a new terminology for what were considered the virtues encompassed in chivalry. It was all too long ago and tied together with too many things that are outmoded, some which would be deemed barbarous today.

GS

That last post is going to look very strange to a lot of you. If you haven't figured it out, it is supposed to go to a different board. This illustrates the importance of knowing just what is stored in the copy function before pasting. Sorry, Heather.

GS

Heather,
I keep looking for that critique you promised, although I suppose I should quit while I am ahead. I know you mentioned the first paragraphs and I don't like them, myself.

Your picture is quite respectable and your technique is no doubt good for the less photographically minded of viewers. Was the worklamp equipped with a tungsten bulb? Does the tungsten light ajdust in the digital process? It would not in a C41 film.

GS

You know what? Where are all you people who hold doors? 'Cause I never see any (not that I need someone to open a door for me, but that's not the issue). It's almost as if people go out of their way to close a door on me. Of course, I don't always hold doors myself, but, you know, I live in my own obscure little universe and I don't always see who's behind me. It all has to do with timing, and my time is a little behind the game.

-NC-
(bidding you all a chivalrous good e'en, and a safe Journey, may all your adventures come to a prosperous close, where the Knight wins the hand of the fair CEO Executive Vice President)

Hallee:

You are correct. God is good!


Debra

Rachel - There's a card and a little gift coming for you and Sebastian. Look out for it in the mail. :)
*smiles*
Allein

Doh!

There ya go, try that.

Ooohhhh.... I need sleep if I'm gonna survive school tomorrow. I'll see If I can contribute something more useful tomorrow. In the meantime, enjoy the website.

G'night!

Hiya everyone!

MELISSA: Yeah...what Kitty said - especially about attaching the note. Don't use it as an excuse not to do the best you can - but do your best in the timeframe you have, and make sure you attach the note.

AMERICO: It's good to see that you're still lurking around. While I miss your posts, at least I know you haven't given us up as a lost cause. (har har)

OKAY (deep breath) I shall now let myself be held accountable to the masses (err..the slight masses here in this Notebook, anyways). I have a goal. Wow...I've never had a goal before. We'll see how it works out. BUT -- three more chapters and I end this book. Then I will stop writing for a while (if I can do that - we'll see) and edit all 10, synopsize all 10, and get all 10 submitted somewhere. Every one of them. They aren't doing any good just sitting in my computer, collecting cyber dust. I also intend to enter $150 worth of contests (the romance market is ripe with contests all over the place). NOW...if I can just edit without actually going insane I'll feel I have accomplished something. If I can get an agent or even a publisher out of the whole thing, then I'll really feel like I've accomplished something. But that's not my goal - just editing and synopsizing and getting them all submitted is my goal. And there you have it. SOOOO, if I mention that I'm writing a new book, you guys have my permission to cyberly wack me upside my head and get me back to that dreaded task that some of you actually enjoy (shudder). Hahaha.

Today is Kaylee's birthday. Unbelieveable. A child with all of the odds stacked against her in the womb now a perfect four year old. God is good.

Hallee

I just realized that the amazing idea I picked up here was a direct inspiration from the chivalry debate. It's not solely about that, but it plays an important factor... I guess I should thank everyone in here for that. And especially whoever it was who started it... I don't exactly feel like trolling back through the back posts. You know who you are :)

Hey y'all. Hmmmm….. the chivalry tangent….. I agree with Rhoda that there seems to be a number of different perspectives on what the word means and whether it is valid today. Personally, I am all for chivalry in both men and women. A little consideration, kindness, thoughtfulness, and doing selflessly for others is good for the soul, especially in this self-absorbed world we live. Courage, honor, loyalty, all the chivalrous virtues are worthy of aspiring too, even today.

For those of you who think chivalry was somehow meant to subjugate women, remember Eleanor of Acquataine. She divorced a king to marry a duke. She owned a fair chunk of France, was wealthy and powerful in her own right, and was a great supporter of the arts in particular the wandering troubadours who spread the songs about those chivalrous knights and fair ladies. She helped popularize the notion of chivalrous behaviour toward women and the idea of "courtly love" at a time when women were essentially considered chattel and men brought their battlefield manners into the great hall. You could say she increased the degree of civility at court and improved the lot of women-albeit wealthy and high born women.

To turn the topic to writing, do we still use the chivalrous knight in modern guise as the ideal hero? What is a hero if he/she is not chivalrous-or at the very least fights, consciously or unconsciously, his/her own nature to aspire to the chivalrous (I'm thinking the reluctant hero)? Would Jack Ryan from the Clancy novels be considered chivalrous right up there with King Arthur & Co., King Richard the Lionheart (son of Eleanor) and Don Quixote (inspired by the lovely Dulcinea)?

Gariess: A chivalrous man would never "crow" about how chivalrous he was being regardless of the situation. A chivalrous man is modest. Also, a chivalrous man is not a stupid man. The historic evidence amply shows that when engaged in battle all knights, chivalrous or not, believed in the maxim of kill or be killed. The age of knights was brutal. Might was right. However, you did paint a very vivid image and I did snort appreciatively.

To those interested in British/Australian books: if you know the title/author you may want to check out either Chapters.ca or Indigo Books, both are Canadian large bookstore chains-actually it looks like Indigo will absorb Chapters in the near future. Chapters has Britomart's books available for 3-5 week delivery at $14.95 for the Grimoire and $12.95 for The Infernal. I think they are available at Indigo's too. Even Amazon.com U.S. has a listing for B's books. The beauty for you U.S. purchasers is that the Canadian dollar is low compared to the U.S. dollar. So, 15.00 Canadian is around $10.00 U.S. Jack, if you ordered from the UK, all I can say is OUCH! The pound is usually worth about $1.50 U.S. Look to Canada! The Harry Potter books here are from the British publishers-and there is a difference! The only thing that might not be advantageous is the shipping and handling-but again that too would be in the weak Canadian dollar.

Howard: Loved the poem and quote too. Tag, your it.

Melissa: Take ten deep breaths-- preferably Tai Chi breaths. Reflections are simply your thoughts on the cartoon. What is the message? What does it say to you? Keep it simple, keep it brief. Francis Bacon's essays generally were about a page or two long--small pages, my favorite is the one about the middle child. Write a rough copy of your thoughts. Put it aside for an hour or two, then come back and do a clean copy. When you hand it in you may want to attach a short note mentioning that you spent the week dealing with an emergency, sick child and hospital, and this is what you were able to do; just to let your professor know that you weren't slacking off but were preoccupied with something a bit more pressing than reflecting on cartoons. Sometimes you have to just do what you can and let things fall where they may. I think you had your priorities straight. So, don't panic. Keep focused. Let us know how it turns out.

Kitty

HOWARD: I'm glad I hadn't offended you. Love the quotes!

AMERICO: I had a feeling you were still here, watching through the cut-out eye holes in the oil portrait above the mantle. Come. Sit by the fire, mourning is cold business and it was nice to see your post.

RACHEL: You sound happy and content.

Just a reminder: Shortie Night theme is SECRETS.

write strong

Hello, my name is Melissa and I really need someones help. Recently, my son had an emergency, and i had to miss 1 full week of classes at my college where I attend. As you can see I'm not much of a writer and I really need help to get this reflection essay done. My professor gave us cartoons to write reflective about and I dont think I understand on what she wants us to do. If someone could help its due tomorrow. 3/14/2001 and all i have is the title. Please I hope someone could help. Please. Thankyou so much for reading my little sad note.

AMERICO - Where did you get that idea?! I am not, never have been, and never will be a philanderer! The nerve! (welcome back anyway!)

This discussion reminds me of a poem:
(Slightly modified, and with apologies to Calvin Miller)

A feminist, in choking sea
cried for help, and presently
received in full intensity

Advice:

"You must swim, if you would be,
rescue brings dependency,
self-reliance sets you free."

"That's nice!"
she said,
and floated easily,
and dead.
---

I spotted a great quote by Gene Fowler this morning:

"Writing is easy. All you do is stare at a blank piece of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead."

back on your heads!

christie- Nice to be back. Though the frequency of posts will only be temporary... I'm on Spring Break. But I think I ought to tell that to my brain that somehow devised a plan for me to get to the art department today to do a little extra push on my assignments... What's wrong with me? I'm steadily loosing my apathetic procrastination! Save me someone!

howrad- :) Now I know who not to mess with.

well, one of my friends just popped in so I'll catch you all later!

cya

Cassandra

Mark - Sebastian is doing great. He is such a little man! He has been sleeping very well. I only have to get up once in the night. Just long enough to give him a change and a bottle, then he falls right back to sleep.

Mary & Debra - I also love the bagpipes. When I was a little girl my grandpa used to play them.

Ciao for now,

Rachel

Mary:


You asked me if I loved bagpipes.


Yes, I do. In fact the best song played on bagpipes is Amazing Grace.


That always makes me cry, every time.

I love all music. I can listen to anything. My favorite of all time is Areosmith. I don't know why. They just do it for me.

Debra

Back in 1973 my wife became very ill, and was hospitalized in the Base Hospital at Fort Bliss Texas. There I was with two little ones, my son just out of diapers, my daughter still in them. The Dr. told me my wife would be in hospital for quite some time, so I called home and my mother agreed to take them in until all was back to normal. I got the tickets to fly them home, and off we went. Well it was still winter and our flight was cancelled due to heavy snow in Denver. We were able to land, but no flights were to leave until morning. The airline offered free hotel rooms, so I scarffed up the little ones and started for the door, with their carry on's, a diaper bag and my overnight satchel. I must have looked a sight carrying all that, and two kids but a nice lady who was also heading for the bus to go to the motel approached me and offered to help. She took my daughter and one of my bags, leaving me a manageable load. So you see good manners go both ways.

What a nice morning here, sun shining, and Renn demands his right to fresh air, every time I offer to let him back in he refuses.

Rhoda - thank you.

Jerry

Yes, Jerry, I'm still lurking, though not so often as in the past. I'm curious about the way people react and develop, and this is an interesting page to observe mankind.

I'm not reading all the posts anymore, but I am still following the narrative of Jack's and Fran's diving lessons, Howard's philanthropy, your addiction to computers, painkillers and writing, Heather's and Hallee's writing progress, Allein's growing, Gary's sometimes funny observations, Litter's dignified "Celtism"and Jon's incredible view on things. I also like to have a look at all kinds of "wobbly bits" (in the figurative sense), and keep watching Mary driving the bus of the shorties night, the best of Jack's Notebook.

This has been a period of sadness and mourning here. Nothing very much to share. Spring is coming soon though. So cheer up, everybody!

OK, here goes:

CHIVALRY 1. a.)The medieval institution of knighthood. (Are any of us knights here? I don't think so, so we can dismiss this one unless someone has a historical interest.)
b.)The principles and customs of this institution. (not really applicable)
2. a.) The qualities idealized by knighthood, such as bravery, courtesy and honesty. (Now we are on to something) b.) The manifestation of any of these qualities.
3. A group of knights or gallant gentlemen. (I personally do like gallant gentlemen).

*Middle English* chivalrie , from Old French chevalerie knightliness, from chevalier, knight, from Late Latin chaballarius horseman, CAVALIER.

Viv,

I loved your story! There have been many guardian angels in both men and women's clothing who have helped me at the airport or in Walmart when I am looking for a product for my computer or my car. I about cried when you told about entertaining kids in the library. Up until one or two years ago I never went to the library in nearby Liberal because everytime I went there either the librarian or some other patron would always be telling me that my kids were too loud. When my husband insisted we go there, I just stayed out in the car with my youngest son. Instead of criticizing the young couple and telling them in so many words what worthless parents the were, you did something constructive and helped.

Jerry,

I would not feel bad at all about telling some of your personal problems and concerns here. I consider you my friend, and I am interested when you have something of that nature to share. I am sure most everyone else here feels the same way.

The biggest problem we have with chivalry is definition. I seems to mean something a little different to each of us. It is hard to have a meaningful discussion or an honest debate about something that means so many different things to different people.

Rhoda

MARY - Say something wrong? Not at all! I shoulda put a :-) after that hmmmpf! And while I enjoy those "wobbly bits" (as Litter would say), I'm not about to take liberties or adavantage just to stare. No no. After all is said and done, serendipity is much more enjoyable than manipulative ogling.
:-)

Here's one on chivalry! My car tire went flat while I was out on the road. I got the car over to the side of the road and my daughter and I hopped out. I opened the trunk and looked inside for a replacement tire. Nothing. Here was this flat looking trunk. You know that there's logically got to be a spare tire in there somewhere. (Yah, I know...duh!) So a million Japanese guys are frowning and driving around us. I'm sitting there saying to my daughter, let's empty the trunk and look for the tire somewhere in here. It's gotta' be here somewhere. I wasn't all that upset because I was wearing my absolutely favorite pair of jeans with the busted out knees. Just when we get everything out of the trunk, up drives this guy in his Sunday suit. I took one look and told him I could handle it. Sunday suits aren't cheap.

He wouldn't leave. I told him not to touch anything but to give me advice because if I didn't learn this right now, I wasn't going to learn it. I needed advice but I wanted to do the hands on. Well, he tried to do that. He told me where the tire was but when I went to lift it out, he took off his jacket. I fixed him with my worst over the bifocal stare and ordered, "LEAVE IT!" He backed off. Then I got out the jack. The damned directions were in Japanese so I started sounding out the words. He stuck the jack together and showed me (kneeling on the pavement)how to stick the jack under the least rusted part of the bottom of my car. Then he started cranking. He got the car up and then proceeded to work on the screws. "I'll do this because it's easy to strip them" Then the tire came off. He let me lift it away, then put on the new tire and the screws. All in all he had us fixed up and on the road in about 30 minutes. I was really scared inside. If he hadn't come along I don't know if that tire would have gotten back on. It was a pretty good scare because my husband isn't going to be back home for another week and it was definitely a good long walk home. Thank goodness for Western men. They know how to repair cars and they aren't above stopping and helping. I felt a little dumb for not knowing how, but he made sure I learned how so I can do it alone if the need should arise. Plus he put the spare on so it won't fall off. This is behavior that I've seen in Western men, over and over. When they see a problem, they stop. They fix the problem. Once when I was in an airport with two kids who weren't walking yet and a load of suitcases I had to get from floor one to floor two in a hurry to catch my connecting flight. Wouldn't you know it, the escalator was busted. Along came a group of Western men (A couple of Canadians, a couple of British, and a couple of Germans.) Nothing much was said. They formed a line up the stairs and passed up suitcases and my kids in strollers. Everyone who was unable in some way found their suitcase going up the stairs, little children went up the same way, and anything or anyone else who couldn't heft, ended up at the top of the stairs saying, "Wow!" I looked back, thought about how it would have been without those chivalrous guys and appreciated the brains and the teamwork that made everything flow just a little easier. You can't call it manners, it's more an intelligent way that some people who are a little bit stronger help those who are in trouble. It's not fighting, it's cooperation. So to all those who've made my life easier just when I thought, "Oh no! How can I best handle this situation." Thanks.

I'm not strong or very smart mechanically. I can hold open doors, and I do that. That isn't enough though. I have one special trick I can do. Usually I'm the person in the library who entertains little kids because a young father or mother is trying sooooo hard to get a book or get on a computer and get some information. When I hear a young parent say in despiration,"Please just one second", that's when I quietly pull out one of my favorite books, or change the computer over into a "kiddie mode". It usually takes only about 30 minutes and that parent gets the break he/she needs to get a little relief. I learned to do this because I got kicked out of the library so many times when my kids were little!

What I see in this notebook is Jack's chivalry. He used a strength to make us all happy. So Jack, you win the Knights award tonight!

I'm beat. I got up at 4:00AM and went to 9:00PM. Time for bed. I can't wait to hear the shorties! I'm working on mine but as usual, it's a long-y. It's fun though. IT'S NOT ABOUT JAPAN!!!! (Sort of) Night Viv

Garess - that reminds me of one night way back in (I think 1982/3) my partner and I were checking out a report of possible prowler near a residence. The folks who lived there had been suffering very poor gas mileage, and the noise outside sounded to them like the reason why. We killed the lights and engine, and sort of coasted into the yard, but the culprit saw us anyhow, ran to his old beater of a car and sped away, through the alley, and out to the street, down a few blocks then headed out into the countryside. We gave chase (OH BOY HIGH SPEED!) and followed him for a couple of miles, when his car ran out of gas, he hadn't had time to put the fruits of his work in the gas tank. He let his car coast into the ditch, and we pulled to the side and exited our squad. We started across the road when the fellow jumped from his car and with a large Phillips tip screwdriver threatened, and said the most stupid thing he could have "You know what I could do with this screw driver!" To which my partner replied "You know what we could do with these .357's!" Well he let the screw driver drop, and was charged with a whole bunch of things like theft, fleeing police, and assault on a peace officer. The States Attorney dropped most of the charges to a guilty plea of the assault, and the kid got off with 60 days in the slammer.

I know you are right about the physical and psychological addiction, and I am sure this was simply a physical thing, since I wasn't even aware of what was causing it till I took the pills and had an instant recovery from the symptoms. I guess I am just a bit torked off at the Dr. for not keeping up with the data on the drugs he prescribes. I had been taking Darvacet N100, but the pain relieving effect was dwindling, so was boosted to this stuff. I am sure when I go back, he will have some "new" wonder drug to give me next. I learned that I should probably read about the stuff before I get to taking it as "directed."

I have been the route of acupuncture, accupressure, massage, physical therapy (several thousand hours) and the works. The medico's tell me to get used to the pills, as they will be with me for a long long time, so I guess I shouldn't be concerned about the effects anyhow so long as they bring some relief, and they do.

Anyhow enough of my whining about personal problems, that is not the purpose of this notebook anyhow.

Americo - If you are still lurking about - I have been playing around with the Mac, had it online the other day too, but all I have is an old 28.8 modem, and it is a bit slow for my tastes. I can see where folks like the old machines, and I am sure the newer ones are a lot quicker. Not that I am going to convert to the "dark side" or anything, but it is interesting to play around with anyhow. I worked most of the day today trying to get it to communicate with my PC network, and finally got them to speak, it sort of reminded me of being in Nam, having one of the ROK troops talking to a RVN troop using a GI to translate, one who couldn't talk either language. Real confusing for awhile.

Think I am about done messing with it, once I get it talking to the PC, my daughter is taking it home, which is nice as it is taking up a lot of room.

With that chore out of the way, I can get back to writing, have a few ideas for the Short-shorty night flowing through my grey matter, and have the urge to get them on the screen. Tinker Bell, my muse has been teasing me horribly while I try to concentrate on the computer stuff, think I will give up working on them as a hobby, just taking too much time. I have by the way set up Fusion on my PC so I can make it behave exactly like a Mac should the urge hit me, and it has a few times now. Kind of fun to mess with too.

Nite ALL>

Jerry

For reason of artistic expression the following post contains language that may not be suitable for all audiences. Reader discretion is advised.

Heather,
Counterpoint, you say? I’ll be glad to counterpoint. As I understand how this chivalry works, it is the kind of thing where, if I have a gun and I face an opponent who has only a knife, I put away my gun and ask for a knife (chivalrous guys always had guys around that they could ask to get things for them, just watch all those old movies. Chivalry sucked if you were on your own, there was no drama in it.)

Right away you can see that this chivalry is some seriously flawed shit. Personally, if I have a gun and the other guy only has a knife, I figure I caught a real break here. I figure, shoot the sonofabitch right away before he sticks that damn knife in me. I see no percentage in giving up a perfectly good gun and getting myself a knife so we can both bleed all over the place. Those chivalrous dudes didn’t have blood-born pathogens to worry about.

This chivalry stuff is based on the idea that we are two honorable men, and we are obliged to level the playing field. Well, I ain’t playing, this is no game, no sunday social. And what if the guy with the knife isn’t honorable? What if he’s a no good, chicken stealing, low-life sonofabitch that wouldn’t give his own mother an even break? And for that matter what if I’m not much better? To hell with chivalry. At least if I shoot the bastard I won’t be hopping around in circles with a knife sticking out of my ass and crowing to everybody about how chivalrous I am. Everybody else is only going to be laughing their asses off over what a chump I was not to shoot the asshole when I had the chance.

That’s a counterpoint.

The opinions expressed in this post are from the participants and not necessarily those of the management.

GS

HOWARD: Did I say something wrong? Sorry. :-(

Well I don't do it while the other person is still several steps away!
- humpff!
-
Almost forgot -- the Bulwer-lytton contest deadline is a month away. See the webpage listed above for rules, etc.

Gotta shut down tonight. Serious ice storm coming, and we may lose powe

HeY!!! Welcome yew oldies! And yew newdies too! It's good to hear/see you back!
Lots of things to think about in the past few days -
Addiction? Coffee, hot peppers (can't get enough of 'em!) ex-smoker (quit the day they removed a lung-sized tumor from my right lung) and now since I can do it again, I got hooked on "Double Bubble" bubble gum! don't ask...

Chivalry? Guess I'm old fashioned. I hold doors for people regardless of age, creed, color, political persuasion, or gender identification. Not because of, in spite of! I do it because I'm me, not because you're you. But I don't force the issue.

It can be dangerous, though. I once reached back to catch a door that had started to close on a guy with a cane. My ring caught on the door frame, and my momentum carried me just that little distance that dug the ring into and under the flesh at the base of my finger, ploughed it up to, and wedged it into, the first joint. The guy said thanks, and kept on going. The pain was perfect - exquisite, even. I drove to the hospital and they had to dig to cut the ring off. It hurts all over again just thinking about it.

SASQUATCH - someone else once said that those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Is that what you mean by your memory statement?
And you never did answer my question about sensing earthquakes before they happen.

CASSANDRA - I never treat anyone as harmless! Especially after raising four daughters who can split and stack wood, hoist chimney blocks, shingle roofs, break up double plays (followed by knee surgery) and still do all the so-called "gender-specific" things "that little girls grow up to do." :-)

TEEKAY -- I am proud of my humility. Honestly.

MARY -- I once pulled a chair out for a lady (young woman, girl). Well, maybe it wasn't for *her* I pulled it out, as much as for the audience. The boys, in school, in cafeteria, watching her fall to the floor. It was not funny to be the one with his hand on the chair. Well, until just this minute.

BEN -- "Idylls of the King." One fine example of Romantic writing. Also an example of Romantics with their feet firmly planted several inches off the ground. In the Brits, I'd say the deepest Romantic is Wordsworth. In the Americans, I'd say Thoreau. In academic circles, Blake and Emerson get the most value, I value Thoreau and Wordsworth for their simplicity of expression. Took me a while to realize the true depth of simple expression.

RICHARD -- In order for that to work, you have to include the http:// at the front of the address.

CHRISTI -- How ya doin, kid?

RACHEL -- How's the kid?

DRAWOH -- Ya ole kidder

JERRY -- I've heard that some drugs can be physically addicting and some mentally/emotionally. I think it's all one ball. Old friend of mine got hooked on street drugs, came off with a lot of trouble. After several years of clean living, he had a tooth pulled. Dentist gave him Rx pain killer. Guy said, "I don't think I want that stuff." Dentist told him the pain would come on in the night and not let go for a day or two. "Just take it for the pain, it'll let you live your life. Here's two days' of pain killers. By the time they're gone, your jaw will be healed enough to live with." Novel idea, thought my guy, just take the drugs for medicinal purposes. Wish I'd thought of that 20 years ago. Didn't work out. He got back some of the old feelings, got back to the street, spent three years in Elmira Correctional Facility. The moral? It's more than just physical when you get addicted.

HEATHER -- Counter your points ?? I'm game.

oops. old joke about two hunters in the woods who came across a naked lady. one guy says "Yeah, babe, I'm game." so the other one shot him.

Back to chivalry. . . Mary made a good point about chivalridiot door-holders who hold the door while we are still seconds away. Those are usually the same dunderpates who, while holding the door, stand in the opening. "Uh, daydreaming, pal? Your arm is all the way across the door frame and your body is right where I have to go if I'm to get through here." And while we're on the subject of chivalridiots, how about zealous do-gooders on the road who stop to let you make that left turn? You know, the last car in the traffic stream? The one with no one behind her? S/he stops, unexpectedly, and waves through the windshield for you to go ahead and turn. While you sit and stare in disbelief, traffic appears behind her and the whole episode takes twice the time it would have if s/he'd simply kept driving.

signed Curmudgeonly yours,

Hi friends.

Jerry, {{{hugs}}} for you. Chronic pain is something I wouldn't wish on anyone. Try not to feel bad about taking your pain medication. I'll bet quitting when you want will be easier than you expect. Hang in there!

Richard, Can't wait to visit your website!

Ben, Good for you! I never turn down an opened door. With a young child in tow, I need all the help I can get! Plus, if I see help needed I try to offer it as well. What's good for the goose ...

Tania, I've got a couple of books fer ya, but I didn't get to the post office today. Ah tomorrow; isn't tomorrow always a better day?

Yeah, Mary! Right on, girl! I agreed with your post wholeheartedly. And the part where the guy holds the door while you're still a mile away ... a classic! Hee! I've found many of the guys that do that are doing it because they want your attention (they probably think you're cute).

Rhoda, That's a great question, but one that makes my head hurt to think about. Probably 'cause I need to go to bed.

Randall, HOWDY from Arizona!!! Your novel sounds (for lack of a better word, as you say) cool!

Nicole, Yup, you sound like a writer to me! ;P I share your coffee addiction.

Hey Cassandra, nice to have you back!

Night, ya'll,

Christi

Teekay- Good one! Oh yeah, and before I forget, that How to assignment should only be 5-7 steps long... so I don't really want broad ranging subjects. It'd be a pain to design 28 pages in the time that others are doing 5....
But how to nurture your inner asshole is a good idea... I can't believe I thought of it. :)

CASSANDRA: Brilliant idea for a novel: 'How to nurture your inner a*hole'

Hello all!

Not much to say other than 'hi'. The chivalry debate is interesting, though.

I'd have to sit on the side of the fence that says chivalry is outdated. 'Politeness' on the other hand, seems to be gasping for breath. When a man holds open the door, I'm grateful. When a woman holds open the door, I'm grateful. When anyone, regardless of gender, lets it slam shut in the face of the person directly behind, it ticks me off. And way too many people let in slam shut.
About coats... the first person done with theirs is being polite to help any others. But if they don't, oh well.
My personal politeness pet peeve is the inability many people have to say please and thank you, and the tendency to interupt others. In my job it happens so often I want to scream. When a child acts that way it bugs me a bit. When adults do, I want to smile sweetly and tell them to go away and not come back until they learn decent manners.

Okay, it looks like I did have something to say.

Richard, your link didn't work 'cause you didn't include the whole http://www at the beginning.

Well, it's 7pm local time and I haven't even started dinner. Guess I should get on that. Have a good one all.
T.J.

Jerry- I can't compete with that story yet, but I hold open doors for men. You wouldn't believe the looks I get. (especially when one is my size and stature...) Doesn't dishearten me though, they usually smile and say thank you, and the one's that don't I'm sure at least noticed my presense.

Teekay- Just be an a*hole. I myself try to be in touch with my inner a*hole however a side character she may be to my overall personality. At times you really need the a*hole present when other a*holes threaten harm (emotional, verbal, or physical). I personally love it when they think I'm harmless then I spring that nice ol' 'I had sarcastic insultative brothers and I know how to cut you down to size' trap on them. :D

All- My muse is working overtime now that he has room to breathe, I just got an idea for a new book, along with the two on which I've been working. Hopefully this will lead to a point of inspiration for me to work on the others.

I'm actually really psyched about this idea because I've never heard of anyone else doing anything like it. You'll forgive me if I don't want to type it out here, I'd like to keep it a surprise and a little secretive, until I get it in gear and possibly done.

well, it's off to check my email.
Much love to everyone *hugs*

cya later

Cassandra

Wow, I step away from my computer for a day, and look at what I miss. Thanks for all the, you know, advice and information on publishers (holy mother of ...I had no idea, really).

Okay, I am a writer (spoken confidently), I even have a novel (novel length anyway) to prove it. Granted, it is in much need of tweeking, and downright bulldozing in my opinion. Of course, it was written completely off the top of my head, absolutely no research. (It was an experiment gone awry, I'm working off-and-on on another right now) Plus I have a file full of short stories (in various stages of completeness).

About the addictions, I can admit it now, I think. I am addicted to coffee. Can't get enough of it, all types (cappuccino, brazilian, Guatemalan, chocolate covered coffee beans) in the morning, at night, just before I go to sleep (which may perhaps explain many bizarre dreams). Well, there are worse things to be addicted to. I'm still considered a (relatively) productive member of society.

I like Chivalry. The act of defending someone is just the greatest feeling. Whether is me being defended or doing the defending. It makes me feel sort all fuzzy and liquid like. I hate oppression, which sometimes comes after chivalry. Opening doors, well, I wouldn't call holding a door open for someone a grand act of chivalry. My opinion.

Well, I don't know, maybe I will get the hang of this notebook. I just can't EVER leave my computer again. :-)

Nichol

Good evening!

Oh boy! Here are my replies to the kind inquiries since my post Saturday.

Hi Christi! No we probably haven't met. SO HOWDY from TEXAS!

Uh, Litter, no Porsche. But I do have a cherry 77 Chevy 4 X 4 I'm wild over. Mildly souped up, with an RV cam, MSD ignition, mud grip tires and Hedman headers. (Any hot rodders out there?)Is that close enough? My wife claims I spend more time with the Chevy than her. For us "old timers" it's the closest we can get to "The other woman." GRIN

Thanks Heather for your e-mail last year. If I have faults, (whatta laugh, huh!) it is a single minded focus. I was on my class reunion 1965 web page writing nearly every night. If you're interested it's Brownwood High School, class of 1965. Not much going on there now I suspect.

Rhonda, yeap it's me. You should have known as per my referance to the Navajo Nation. I have developed several contacts with them, but when they hear what "Flowers" is about......the door slams shut. One called me a "Dances With Wolves" type. That is, making money (HA!!!!!) using THEIR culture. Hey, I knew Costerer's movie was pure Hollywood BS. Knew it when I was 10 for crying out loud. To put an Army officer in with the Plains Indians and claim they were puzzled????????? over whites???????? Gimme a break. Plains Indians were trading with Anglos, Spanish, French and God knows who else as early as the late 1700's. (As EARLY as the LATE 1700's?)

Barnabas, my friend. No stones from this quarter about supernatural stuff (Stuff, Randall? Well, for want of a better word) The web site was Dimensional Doorways, I believe. And they zeroed my post! And returned it to me via e-mail! Soooooooooo, Hey my novel is heavy with supernatural events. That's WHY the Navajo will not talk with me! My heroine is a powerful sorceress charged with saving the Navajo annnnnnnnnnnnd every tribe in the southwest. But..........sorcery is not, sorcery by itself. A sorcerer cannot blink their eyes, say a magic word, or wiggle their ears. Everything, and Pal, I mean everything requires, a minimum of 2 things to happen. The first is permission (granted, sub scientific fact here) and a power source. Using sorcery in a novel is fine......having your hero do all kinds of neat things, but, you must determine, what is the energy source that enables them to perform?

Make any sense?

Randall

RHODA: It is a situation which never should have arisen. Of course children go first, but were I a child I would want to go with my parents. Were I a Mother I would want to go with my child and my husband, I feel sure I would give my life in place of theirs though if need be. Were I a man, I would want to go with my wife and child, but again, I'm pretty sure I would put them ahead of me.
Who has the right to make the rules.
So, in answer to your question I can honestly say that I have absolutely no idea. :-)

Once many years ago a friend and I had this very deep discussion about who had the right to say what was normal and what was not (or some such thing).
After a 3 hour discussion/argument I had finally cornered myself into giving the answer that he had all along.
When I go down it ain't pretty. :-)

MARY: That guy proably did that sort of thing all the time. He was probably a letch. Hold on, wait a sec, let me get that dictionary. :-D

Okay, that was return visit number 1.

MARY: make that a lazy, stubborn, big mouthed epicurean would you.

I don't care what anyone thinks of me while they are being "chivalarous." Even a* holes can open a door for me if they please.

My son and daughter were having a discussion at the dinner table a few weeks ago about whether it was right during Titanic's sinking to give priortiy to women and children on the life-boats. My kids did not think that was fair that women and children could board life boats while for the most part fathers, husbands, and men had to stay behind. So if faced with a similar situation, would this arrangement still be practiced today? Should it? I am curious to hear your answers.

Rhoda

Well wayyyy back when I was attending college, back in 94-95, and I was still a smoker, we were exiled to the exit doors of the college should we feel the need for a smoke. While standing near the door, I always opened the door for the young women, as they came to the college, arms full of books, purses and sometimes drinks etc. One fine day, I did this act of kindness, and was called a pig for my effort. Most men would be angry at being called such a name, and having worked most of my life as a police officer, I took it rather personally. Since I had my own column in the school newspaper, and also was in charge of layout, I wrote a rather lengthy article about the death of chivalry. It was taken very well by the students, young and old alike. I received many welcome comments, and continued to open doors, and when the urge hit me, seat the young ladies, should they join me for lunch in the cafeteria. While I never got an apology from the offending female feminist pigette, it did make me feel much better about my manners. I believe it never hurts one to be kind to others, so long as they aren't spitting in your face.

Jerry

I am laughing here to myself about HEATHER's false chivalry comment. It reminded me of a time when, as I stated dislike for before, a man held a door for me before I was even up on the sidewalk yet. In my haste to catch up to him, I kind of half-jogged/half-walked the last little ways and where his eyes were glued at the time was anything but chivalrous. Ever since then, if someone holds a door for me and I am still too far away, I make sure to avoid that little extra bounce.

Hi all,

JERRY: Sorry, I forgot to tell you about the other 46734578243746743 patients they tested, they were addicted to the eyeballs. HAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA.
Please don't think I'm making fun of your pain-I'm absolutely NOT, I just thought a little humour may lighten the load.
You know what thought did don't you?

MARY: Then sign be up for an epicurian too.
Who has told you to give up writing? They need their heads smacked.

Just jumping in on the chivalry bandwagon while the thought is still warm and fresh in my wrinkled glob like brain, bu-u-ut is it better to have someone acting falsly chivalrous rather than being an honest outright (as American's would say,-) asshole?
Or is it better if you're an a*hole just to be an a*hole?
But aren't we using the wrong word in the wrong context here? Chivalry is all to do with knights and medeival history, (I had to go look it up to be sure I was talking about the right thing, rather than the meaning I thought it had.)
This word no longer applies to us. Chivalrous was the word attributed to the ideal knight. But going there, if the knight was chivalrous, then I guess he was. If he was an a*hole, then he wasn't (chivalrous, I mean).
DEEP BREATH-
To be chivalrous means just that. Like flattery means to falsly compliment.
And honest. Honest is honest. You can't pretend to be honest, because if you do then you're just not honest. I guess you can be thought to be honest, but that doesn't necessarily make you so.
Personally, I would go with the 'be who you want so long as your happy & it doesn't hurt anyone' routine.
I don't see opening the door for a woman as considering her to be weak. I see it more of a sign of courtesy and respect.
Being a basically lazy person, the less I have to do, the better. :-)

BEN: Go get another beer will'ya? Mine just ran out. :-)
P.S. Actupuncture didn't hurt me. I don't think it helped either though.

HALLEE: I see you've said what I've tried to say, but seing I went to so much effort to put it there it's staying. :-)

MARK: Before you jump in with your 'about people who quote the dictionary' routine, sometimes man, you jus' gotta otherwise how the hell would we know what anybody else was talking about?
I'm glad your back to BTW. :-)

BRITOMART: If you're still there. I've reserved a copy of 'the resurectionists' at the library. It's the only book they have in - do you believe it. No way am I paying my $11:00 fine. Unless I change my mind.

MARY: Make that, a stubborn epicurian with a really big mouth. :-)

Ummmm, yep. Think that might be it.
Every time I say that I come back 3 or 4 times.
Let's see what happens this time.

I personally don't feel that a man thinks I am weak when he holds a door for me anymore than I feel he is weak when I hold a door for him. To me, it is a polite gesture of respect and I love it. The only time I don't like it is when a man holds a door for me when I am still so far away from it that I feel the need to hurry up to keep him from waiting. At that point, it becomes a hassle, not the aid it is meant to be.

I love it when a man helps me with my coat, or pulls out my chair or other such pleasantries. I have never thought for one moment that he was doing it because he felt I was incapable or weak. I just thought he did it because it was a nice thing to do and that he liked doing it as much as I liked it done.

I know this isn't really in the same strain as the chivalry conversation going on here, but I didn't want the younger men here thinking that all women are offended by men holding doors for them or such the like. That's it for now.

Girls, are you trying to tell me that if chivalry isn't dead, you'd beat it with an ugly stick until it is? I think most nice people confuse chivalry with good manners, and that's where all this obfuscation comes from. I agree, the true ideal of chivalry was just another form of the caste system, but I think people somehow lost track of it during the Romantic Age--Scott and Byron and all that group--and then with all the literature that followed. Robin Hood was Romanticized with his taking from the rich and giving to the poor. Tennyson's IDYLLS OF THE KING is a great example of what people thought chivalry should be. I love those poems. In fact, I like them so much, I stole the only copy out of the school library twenty-some-odd years ago. No one had ever signed it out in all the years it was there. I readily admit it's not a chivalrous act to have stolen it--and I stand here shame-faced at even having had to admit it, but my conscience feels clear now...thanks.

But if chivalry is just another name for good manners, then let me be Galahad--oh wait, he died--then Launcelot--oh, he died alone--well anyways, let me still open doors for women, and be helpful to little old ladies if they need it. I see nothing wrong with it, and I've never felt it was a sign that the woman was weak--especially that. I was taught that having manners showed you had consideration for other people.

But now I have to be chivalrous and pick my son up from school, because it looks like it might rain and he didn't take his coat...again. Two miles is a long way to walk in the rain
Ben

Thank you, kind Hallee!

I can understand why there is opposition to what has been termed chivalry, but as we can see, they were acts unfit to be called chivalrous!

I think chivalry is also a loose term for being 'polite'.
Hmmmm.

I posted the link to the U.S. Copyright Office Home page, for anyone wishing to check twice and be sure.

Heather

???

That's strange, it works if you cut and paste, but that link doesn't seem to...

Three posts in a row...

!!!

HEATHER: Not a counter point, but more of a "backup". WBESTER's DICTIONARY: chivalry: 1. The qualities, as bravery and courtesy, of the ideal knight. 2. The institution of knighthood. 3. A chivalrous act. (chivalrous is defined as something marked by gallantry and honor.) I believe that some acts done in the name of chivalry or gallantry or honor are done in the wrong name. True chivalry or gallantry or honor, I fear, are dying out - and some of the good things of society are going with them.

Hallee

Too much to read! My eyes are exploding. I'll put the site address above so you can just click and not have to cut'n'paste.

My new website is online- not my 'business' site with gaming statistics etc. but my own personal site :-

freespace.virgin.net/christopher.scott1/

All of the stories I've written in recent months are there, and I've updated a few - couldn't resist editing them when I re-read them. Especially 'Combat Decisions'... There's also some artwork and poetry.

Secrets eh? Sounds like a good topic...

Hop, anything can be abused. Kindness is sometimes used as a veil, to cover true intentions. I'd call that false kindness. Just the same as chivalry can be feigned and false. It is a question of person, really. Some people are honourable, kind, thoughtful and decent. Others are not, but appear to be. And some don't care to hide that they aren't. And there are a thousand other variations and variants.
I like what Cassandra said - that when a door is held for a woman it is a sign that she is weak. True, it can be seen as such (or perhaps the origin of this gesture), and would seem all the more true when you consider that a woman didn't get out of the carriage until a hand was proffered; but I do not see this as being the focus of chivalrous behavior. Chivalry is a characteristic of a knight, in times of war. It is an ideal. It means to have valour and honour; to have the spirit of and behave as the ideal knight. Did knights worry about whether a woman had a hand to hold on stepping out of a carriage? Not if they were away in battle.

I guess that's not the only point...
Counter points, anyone?

Heather

Epicurean...that's me. If it feels good, tastes good, smells good, looks good or is any type of pleasure whatsoever, sign me up. Unfortunately, that makes me very addiction prone. I have never been hooked on anything illegal, but the loss of power and control you feel when at the beck and call of something is quite unsettling. (Unless that something is your mate, but that's another story all together) Good luck to you Jerry, and I hope that you find out what you need to know from your doctor and friends.

I wonder if writing is an addiction. I can't seem to quit no matter how many people tell me to.....hahaha.

Jerry - I am living with chronic pain and I too take Ultram. I know a fair amount about it but I don't think the NB it the appropriate place for this kind of discussion. If you want to talk with me about it you can write to me privately and I will be happy to share what I know.

Viv - I am very disappointed in this Dr. anyhow, I do go to the VA Hospital for other things, this guy is here in town at the local clinic. I think my next trip to the VA (about 175 miles south of here) I will ask my VA Doc. She has done more for me with my other problems in the year that I have been going to her then the last three Dr.'s that I had over the last ten years. She can probably get me on the right track with this too. Only reason I haven't so far is that Workers Comp wants me to go to this one, or go through the paperwork to change to the new one, so I have kept both. Thanks for responding.

Thanks too to everyone else who has responded, I know that I can keep going the way I am, and probably not harm my body all that bad, unless of course I forget to take a dose, or decide to quit without the help of my Dr. But I don't like the idea of having to take pain meds, not only because of the pain, which is very real, but also to keep from going through withdrawal.

Anyhow on a lighter note, I got a call this morning from Tech Support for the local internet. They were having problems and wanted me to talk them through it. The sad part is, I was able to. Guess I will think twice before I call them with trouble.

Addicted to food - of course I am, well not really but I do tend to over eat on occasion, however there is no link to personal problems, or none that I have seen. I always have blamed my weight problems on genes, as my father and mother were both very overweight. Well dad wasn't until he stopped working so he could drink more. My mother is 75 and going strong, but her Doc told her that she has to lower her colesterol, same thing my doc told me. I have watched though, mom does eat lots of food that is very high in fat, compared to what I eat anyhow, and yet I am overweight. Being very sedentary has a lot to do with it, and I don't get much exercise, especialy in the winter, what with all the snow and ice, I am afraid to go for walks. I do walk in the other seasons, when there is no danger of falling on the ice, something all my Doctors have warned me to avoid at all costs.



Jerry

barnabus person i sasquatch am not understanding "in-role". humans persons do have also the books and as you say other things as reminders. it is not alike to Yeti memory. this is all that has happened to before Yeti and we memory this as it happened to now Yeti. humans persons do have as you say things to tell what went before. humans persons do not always observe these before happenings. humans persons have alike sorrow because. some learn. most do not. reminding of others wisdom is not alike as having it. it must be memoried and used. i must go.

Hey Barnabas: I'm still out there! Check the short stories. I'm just getting behind and posting late.

Jerry: That's a good worry! You are right to post it. Lots of folks here with lots of different ideas and experience. I'll add my 5 cents though it's probably worth less: I'd get myself in to three doctors. It's expensive but give it to yourself. Then make an educated decision about what you think and what you will do about it. Pain, especially job related is a tough one. I know what you mean about your back. After I carry books and computer on a two hour ride + a long walk uphill and up about 20 steep stairs, I get a sore back. It's something I can avoid if I don't take anything with me, but try just TRY to travel light! You know a friend of mine has recently been on a lot of medicine for a couple of disc's fusing in her spine plus other body aches from old injuries. She is having this trouble and got a physical therapist to get her a bunch of exercises. She looks a lot better and seems very grouchy. I think she's going through a lot right now, but she's going to come out on the other side and be better than when she started. I sure miss my friend's happy face. I'll be glad when she's ok. Your letter gave me a different view of what she must be experiencing. Thanks for writing it.

Jack: Whoever hires you is sure going to get a great person. They will be lucky! Anyone who can make a site like this one must be something. Also, your diving is neat. We did it before we had kids but we have to wait until they are independent before we can do it again. Still, I keep eyeballing the islands out beyond Guam. We found out it could get kind of dangerous when we lost a good friend. We decided to stop all our dangerous sports and put them on hold until the kids are old enough to handle life without us. We have two more years until we can go crazy!!!! Isn't that exciting! (I just hope we aren't too broke or busted down to enjoy those years!)

Good luck on the Job Leads!

Eveyone else, have a great writing week. See you about Thursday with something on the surprise thing.

Heather. Sent you something on copyright. Hope you can figure out what is important. I got lazy on the whole idea.
Viv

bravely typing directly into the text box
I'll vote against chivalry also. Cassandra made the point about male-dominance in that age; I'd add that it was a European version of the caste system. In 1973 Mississippi I met a fellow who just bought a worker. Bought. Wasn't exactly slavery, it was indentured servitude, still just as onerous, still immoral and illegal, still practiced by people who hold southern chivalry in high regard.
European chivalry was no different. The rules helped keep people in their places.

Good Morning Everyone!

TEEKAY: Printed out your story last night and I can't wait to read it later on this morning after things get quiet here.

LITTER: I don't want you to tell me the name of your town, (smiles).....just north, south, east or west Scotland would suffice.

DEBRA: Don't you just love bagpipes playing?

RACHEL: Our lives are full of little miracles...Sebastian is a big one. Kind of hard to have post-partem depression in the face of that, isn't it? Smiles and hugs.

CHRISTI, HEATHER, HOWARD, GS, HALLEE, TINA, MARK, SAS, BEN, ROSEMARY, RHODA, KRU, JACK, TRUDY, KITTY, KIM, TAYLOR, CASSANDRA, VIV, MARY LOU, AND ALLEIN: (Please, forgive me if I missed anyone) Have a wonderful day and write strong. This list is getting so long that I fear I will soon not be able to keep up with it.

ta-ta

GARIESS!

I thought you said that your wife didn't want to read the book because there was too many flawed characters in the book and for everyone person who didn't want to read it because of that twenty decided TO read it.

I don't think you are flawed at all.


I would put a character in the book like you but he wouldn't be a flawed one.

Okay I hope that clears things up.

I can only read and type with little twin people pulling at my wrists or shirt. It's really hard. really hard.

So I must have read your message wrong. Sorry.

Debra

Well Jerry, I hate to tell you this, especially as I've had a few too many drinks tonight, but yeah, you've definitely got something to worrry about (I don't care what anybody else says.) But don't take my word for it. I lived with a junkie, and I know what it can be like to go through withdrawls. Talk to your doctor and tell him ALL of your symptoms. Tell him your concerns as well. If what he tells you doesn't make you feel comfortable, get a second opinion. Ask about alternatives--herbal remedies and that sort of stuff (but remember, acupunture actually hurts--a lot). I don't want to bring you down or worry you, but you asked my opinion and there it is--drunk or not, not that I'm a drunk, I'm just easily influenced by my friends.

Brit: I'm so glad to see you here. I can't wait to tell Renu that you came back--even if it was just to say hello.

Kitty: I told Renu what you said about us being made for each other and she said it was the nicest thing she's heard in a while. Does that mean we don't talk enough? After tonight, I think she'll be thinking I talk too much. She sure makes it easy to say I love you. By the way, it's her birthday on Tuesday. 39 and holding (legitimately)--forever now I guess.

Litter: I haven't checked my e-mail yet, but I will right after this.

Jack: Fat? Overweight? Who isn't now a days? You can work it off easily enough though. One hour walks a day will do it. I did it two years ago, and guess what, I have to consider it again! It's not as hard as it sounds. I attribute the extra pounds and inches to beer--good ole Canadian beer (which is almost as good as Australlian and English--too much sucking up Teekay? Brit? Litter? But then, have you ever tired what they call beer?! Ha-Ha!)

Gotta go. I spent so much time correcting typos in this, I typed myself sober, and that's no fun...joking
Ben

Sotong
Pronunciation
So-ton-g (g should sound like "e" like "g" in the word "long" )
Literally: Squid or cuttlefish.
Language of origin: Malay
Implied meaning when applied on a person: Implies that that person is blur or stupid.
Usuage: "Don't be such a sotong." "He's such a sotong." "What a sotong."

Missing people I can actually remember

Gordon
Rachael (away on maternity leave)
Viv and Hana
Litter

About the guns
I keep forgetting I'm talking to people who live in vast lands. From where I come from its pretty dense and so we probably have more police stations per square kilometre and the police can respond quickly to any cries of distress. Most of the police posts themselves are neighbour hood police posts. You know, where people can just walk in and ask for help. So if there is trouble police can intervene in say 10 mins, 5 even, also if you're carrying a gun (illegal by the way) there's really no where to run. I guess it's also been impressed upon me that police are the only ones responsible to carry guns.

As for in-between problem no matter how many in-between there are there will always be extremes. And it can take only one extreme to ruin everything.

I guess the only problem with allowing responsible people to carry guns is how we are to distinguish responsible people from irresponsible people. It's another of those tough questions I'm waiting for someone to answer (I don't think there is a 100% sure way to decide who's responsible).

Jerry
It's not the aiming its the discretion. That's the problem with guerilla warfare, you can't tell who's the enemy or the civilian.
Don't the police have some kind of situation-analysis courses or something like that. I thought it might be a good idea to teach teachers before issuing them a gun, that's what I'm implying when I say "police-teacher."

In America it would be difficult to ban guns since there are already so many in circulation. Kind of like paper money and electronic cash. It's difficult to switch because paper money has already been in circulation for years now.
Just a question as a professional would you say in a friendly close-knit town of 500 people should people still carry guns for their own protection? For example there are cases of murder in small towns like this where strangers murder towns folk but since this is the exception then the rule I'm kind of unsure.

You see, you know you have too many guns when you can have a sale on them (chuckle).



About honour and chivalry (more so to answer Heather)
The whole problem was the fact it was abused. I'm so annoyed at this and tend to criticise it as a result. Some of the greatest writers criticised it so by re-affirming it we are taking a step back. I'm still looking for a substitute though. Perhaps something like "Decency and Kindness"? My search goes on.

I think possibly the only thing I can imagine is a society where if you ask them why they did a right think they'd pause and think and say. "Why not, it's good to help people. Everyone else is doing it, my parents did it and their parents and so on, I see no reason to change it." Now that's fantasy for you. I guess I'm an idealist at heart.

To summarise we shouldn't have to have the words "honour" or "chivalry." In an ideal world it should come so natural to us that we should have no name for it or forget what is was called.

Nichol
Hello. I'm new as well..

Angie
Hello. I'm new as well.

taylor
Heard about that hugging thing. It works but it isn't mystical or anything.

Mary
Assuming you gave me the "sit and spin" address, I checked it out.

Allein
Oww. That must hurt!

Rhoda
Thanks for the advice Rhoda. I was implying that chivalry was abused before the war.
And if you have any questions about Chinese or Singapore I would glad to help clarify anything (finally, somebody actually interested!).

Sasquatch
Speaking to you "in-role." Do humans not have the ability to obtain the knowledge of their fore father's as well? While in-built it is not, do humans not have books, songs and folklore to remind us of the wisdom from the olden days?

(I'm starting to sound a bit archaic here)

Randall
Hello. I'm new. By the by what exactly is the address of the "psychic, supernatural wonder site." Sounds a lot like people I have to meet. I'm sort of looking for "real" psychics. In fact my Psi-force novel is about them. It's in the workbook area.

I am grateful, I mean i was addicted to cigs i think or maybe it was just a habit... but not anymore
It just makes me wander how on earth Im gonna celebrate me finishing my novel

Also I dont think any less of people who get addicted to things

JERRY: A lot of people are worried about opiods becomming habit forming but in a review of 12 000 records of patients taking these drugs for chronic medical pain, fewer than 1% were found to have significant addiction.
I got this info from a medical book, but if you're really worried talk to your doctor about it and see what he suggests. There are alternative types of pain relief like meditation and accupuncture.

TAYLOR: I hope you are grateful that so far you haven't had need for panadol, nor anything stronger.
Not everyone is so blessed. :-)

GARIESS (aka show no mercy) Ubderstand? Ubderstand??? HAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAH GOTCHA!!!!

Tha's it. I'm orf.

in the novel im writing, I had this idea that was included in the story...
However i found out recently that a similar idea, pretty much the same, but for a different reason was already in a movie that was made several years ago

i just got into writers workbook...

one good thing, soon I will be geetin my own computer...
FINALLY, i wont have to do EVERYTHING by hand

p.s. Just noticed the other item mentioned about Britomart about wondering how to get her books. Most of these I got either while I was in Australia, from the Australian Online Bookstore and from amazon.co.uk Actually, her latest book, the Resurrectionists, is on order by me already. I am just trying to figure out what my 10 pounds sterling will come out to on my credit card, but that is fine. I am looking forward to it. This, actually, is how I got the third Harry Potter book about four months before it hit the shelves in the US.

Kitty: Yes, Fran is diving with me. We seem to be alternating in having some occasional problems, mainly due to both of us being woefully out of shape. However, we are step by step making it back to getting our Advanced Open Water Diving certification. This will also involve us in actually getting back into shape and losing a bit of the midrift bulge (or mybellydonelapsovermybelt disease). God willing and the ground does not shake us under we will be diving into our seventies and hopefully eighties, thank you very much. So, mabey we can be the cranky couple who regails other with stories of our exploits when we going diving in the Great Barrier Reef or Cozumal or Cancun or the Red Sea. All are on my radar screen, but probably British Columbia will be first on my list. There are some short term packages that fit my budget, 4 days diving in Victoria for about $300 for Fran and I with accomodations included, two boat dives, two shore dives. We will see. Main thing is my job hunt. Got some new leads and hopefully will be back soon. Well, before this gets too long, wanted to also join in with many another and welcome all the old and new faces

And this is a goal to join my time on the treadmill and at the weight machine with time at this computer doing some creative fictional writing. Take care everyone and as always I am reminded that the creation of the Writer's Notebook was one of my better ideas :-)

That last was I.

Debra,
If you are intent on picking up twenty flawed characters, I suppose I should not object to being one. As long as we ubderstand that my mother wants me home before eleven.

Eddie,
That sounds terrible. My sympathies go out to the cows and the people. I guess we must learn that there is no strength or size that brings immunity to the heart. Or the nose. Those fires.

Jerry,
I don’t know squat about Ultram, but if you are over forty and have not had addiction trouble in the past, there is little chance that you will have a problem. Cigarettes seem to be your principal experience with an addictive substance other than food. The tendency to become addicted has more to do with the behavior patterns of an individual than substance. The most common addictive substance is food. No one can avoid food, but only certain behavioral types become food addicts.

Later,

GS

*Healing hugs to all who want them*

honestly, I dont see how people can get addicted to drugs, I am a person that doesnt even take panadol unless absolutely necessary...

the silver moon sits down and low
just bitten by my muse
he's part myquito you know
and I have no will to choose...
but does he care to leave me
or wait until the morn?
unfortunately he needs me
to translate what he's borne

sleep now
night all

Cassandra... rhymes for the times... strange poet who know's it... ok ok, I'll stop... :)

Britomart,

What a nice surprise to see a post from you. There can’t be many of us here who were around when you posted regularly. It remains in my mind that in one your last posts you signed off noting that you had to go and clean the toilet. I suppose I really must bring up this sort of thing with my psychiatrist. I mean about the strange things I remember in connection with others. But enough about me. Do you remember the great fun we used to have with Hayden Grayell and the others? TM Spell etc. Of course that toilet cleaning thing only impressed me because I recall someone saying that she would shudder to think, if she had just published a novel, that she would still have to clean the toilet. I remember observing to myself that I would shudder to think that she would stop.

I sometimes wonder why we don’t seem to get Australian books here in the US. Does someone think we don’t know the language? I have checked on a few and found them not available. It is not as if we have so much great stuff of our own. I would like to have a chance to read some of your work. It is very nice to hear from you again. I hope you drop in more.

GS

Anyone ever been addicted to prescription drugs? I am not sure, but I think I am. My Dr. Switched me over to this new synthetic opiate, it is supposed to be safe and non-addictive. The Doc told me I could take this and it would be safe for me to drive a big rig, supposed to be the greatest thing since morphine. I have been taking it as prescribed, or less most of the time, as needed. Last week, I forgot to add it to my morning regime (I have one of those stupid daily pill things, as I take a couple of hand full of pills every day for various maladies). A couple of days ago, I began to experience chills, followed just mins. Later breaking out in a sweat. I told the wife I was going through the "change" but men aren't supposed to do that right? I had several fit full nights with no sleep, and was on edge. When my son got down for the weekend, I sat too long on Sat. and my back was hurting, so I took a couple of the pills, and within minutes, the chills and hot flashes ended. Then I checked the caddy and found the morning dose was missing. I went back on the routine and all is well again, but now I worry about addiction. I checked on the web and there are hundreds of sites now talking about this stuff, some saying it is great, others with horror stories of people helpless addicted to it. Even the literature that comes with it now warns that it may be addictive in some cases. I guess being addicted isn't a problem if I keep taking it, but still I hate the idea. The only thing I was ever addicted to before was cigarettes, and it was pure hell for several months when I finally gave them up. I really don't want to go through that with this stuff.

I guess I shouldn't be talking about this in this writing room, but I consider you all my friends, any advice would be deeply appreciated. The stuff is called Ultram.

Jerry

SHORTIE TOPIC: SECRETS

yup, me again...

gariess- sorry I missed that comment... I'm laughing as I type. It is harder for women to do that you know, so I never really thought of that. Might be a comical addition to the book I design if I use that idea. :)

All- can someone fill me in on the shortie topic for this week? please? I'd ever so like to participate this time. I thoroughly enjoyed everyone else's pieces, although I admit I tried to miss those worthy of crying. I was in a good mood, but tonight I'm going back to read them... wish me luck.

Hi all

Woo boy, am I enjoying my vacation so far. I think it's only going to get boring from here on out. So you guys will probably be sick of me by the end of the week.

Allein- I just got some of those bubblewraped envelopes and am proceeding to searching for all my drawings I can find. I'll give you a daily message on how the process is coming. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get stuff to you.

Chivalry: To an extent I don't want chivalry back. To be cliched, too much of a good thing is never good. In a way it was common courtesy, and in another it was an unconscious way to say that women couldn't do things on their own, that for some reason we were so fragile that we couldn't open the door for ourselves. So as I've told the men I've dated, if I get to the door first, I will open it myself. If they want to be chivalrous, they have to be quick.

On that same subject, common courtesy needs to be ressurected from chivalry. It's disheartening in the least to see people cutting other people off in traffic, taking handicap places because they're in some sort of arcane hurry to get back home, sit in front of the tv and do basically nothing... I just get really sick of it.

Snow: I'm sure everyone else in the NE United States agrees with me in protesting mother nature's assurance that we need more snow. It looks like we've got an ice/snow storm headed this way. Don't worry though, shouldn't be half as bad as the big one. Actually it may end up being a snow/rain storm depending on when it hits. The silver lining on this cloud? Maybe I'll make some money shoveling people's walks and driveways tomorrow
...every silver lining has its cloud.

cya folks

Cassandra

Teekay: I'm pissed? Wow. Didn't think one beer would show that much! (kidding, *wink*)
Actually, when you asked if what I'd posted about the movie would give away the ending of the movie, I worried for a second! I'd hate to do that ~ ruin a good film because I gave away the secret. Hmmm. Secrets...

Something I'll be thinking about far ahead of this Thursday's shortie night. Like right now.
I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with. This place is so fabulous. Wish it were a physical place. Meet you at the virtual cafe!

Dreaming of a green spring and soon;

Heather

Kitty,

I will be brave and try the haggis. You and Litter have talked me into it. My husband's mother, his sister and sister-in-law visited the southern part of England and southern Ireland two years ago and had a great time. I could not go. Now they have this trip going on for York, Edinburgh, lowland Scotland and perhaps the highlands or maybe Northern Ireland. They have not decided what to do after Edinburgh. Anyway, I am going with them this time. My husband says that if this were a vacation he would not be too keen on me going without the family, but this is a PILGRAMAGE, an event. I went shopping today and bought myself a pair of walking shoes because I intend to do a lot of walking when I get there.

I too love AUNTIE MAME. Rosilind Russell is great in that movie. I especially like the fox hunting scene.

Eddie,

Amazing all the things York has to offer. I can't wait to see it. So York is a garrison town. It was one of the main military settlements in Roman times, wasn't it? By the way, England has made its share of inroads into Scotland at times. Remember Edward I? Hey, I know, for I have watched BRAVEHEART at least half a dozen times. But England has crossed the border many times since Edward I. I would say that the relationship was mutually hostile. Hard for me, a Yank, to believe that two such lovely peoples as the English and the Scots could be at each other's throats so often.

I hope this foot and mouth disease thing is over soon. Vent about it anytime you wish. The situation is of interest to me.

Britomart,

Great to see your post. Congratulations on your success!

Randall,

You are from Texas, right? I think we traded a few e-mails back when. Great to see you again.

I am glad to see so many old timers back. For once it is good to see the name of a person who predates me besides Jack. Until Ben came back a few months again, that had not happened for awhile.

Rhoda

Hey Rachel - I have two other e-mail addresses: Lunika@aol.com and allein_anderson@hotmail.com. Maybe one of those will work. But, I'm still at peachick2000@hotmail.com, so I don't know why that's not working. Hotmail has been weird lately. :)
*smiles* and *hugs*
Allein

Hi All,

RANDALL: Whoo hooo welcome back. It's good to see you here again.

BRITOMART: Wow! Is this a coincidence or WHAT?!?! Do you sometimes lurk at the notebook without saying hello?? Or have you just popped in out of the blue?
I'm going to see if I can get my hot little hands on any of your books today. I saw your homepage and the books look fascinating.

LITTER: You mean the hills are still there? Oh good. :-D I'll put Scotland back on my 'to visit' list.

CHRISTI: It's in the mail. Thanks for that. :-) I love ya.((((((((HUG))))))))))))))))))))

HEATHER: You sound pissed. I love ya (((((((((((((((HUG))))))))))))))))))))))))))) If you're not pissed, I still love ya ((((((((((((((((((HUG)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
I emailed RANDALL when he first left and demanded he get himself back here. Said he needed a year for something else. I chased him up after the year. :-) Guess he was ready then.

EDDIE: This foot and mouth epidemic is a scary thing. I hope it comes right real soon.

Going. :-)

Kitty - I love Auntie Mame! She reminds me of an aunt of my own (grins). Enjoy the show.

Rachel

Allein - I have been trying to send you an e-mail today and it will not go through. Are you still at peachick2000@hotmail.com? If not could you let me know your new e-mail.

Hugs for you,

Rachel

Hey, y'all! Thanks for all the "welcome backs" and "hellos." I do go as far back as the first archive when it took a month to fill not a matter of days. Today, I had to take notes to keep track of the various topics. This is a good thing. And what a pleasant way to spend part of my Sunday, especially when it is snowing , cold and grey, yet again. After I post it's the papers then we're watching Auntie Mame-the Rosalind Russel version. I love it when she proclaims "Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving!"

Jack: I was wondering whether Fran was diving too. Y'all are such a woosome twosome. When I was on Great Keppel Island (Great Barrier Reef), I met a couple who were deep sea diving, complete with the leaded boots and helmet type equipment. They kept our dinner table enthralled with tales of their deep sea adventures. They were in their seventies. I remember thinking at the time, let me find someone who will join me in all manner of adventures and let me have the health, energy and passion to pursue life with gusto well into my "golden years." I believe I have a good shot at it with Ted. So happy diving, happy crabbing.
As for crabs, tonight we will be having our "Soprano" supper of crab cakes with remoulade served on a bed of arugula. Yummy. I'm not sure how we arrived at this menu for the weekly pause to catch up with Jersey's favorite "connected" family, but I'm not complaining.

Ben: In your short but ever growing list of those who have achieved commercial success while participating here, do not forget Jen Holling. Her first novel, A Time for Dreams, was accepted for publication while she was a regular. The book came out in 1999 and was well received. Last I heard she was working on a second. Don't know if she's been back to the Notebook recently, but with this rash of former regulars touching base, maybe she will come back too.

Has anyone heard from Phillip or Samuel? And does the biography section with links to web pages and bookstores still exist somewhere around here?

Britomart: Congratulations on much deserved success with your writing and hope you are well and happy. We have to lobby to get your novels offered here in North America. Wait a minute. I'm going to check with Chapters.ca, a Canadian mega book chain which carries a lot of British and Australian authors you don't find in U.S. based chains. Otherwise, Jack did you pick up copies when you were Australia?

Trudy: I have the cookbook and if you are coming to Montreal for a conference, I can recommend some good places to eat.

Litter: Where are you in Scotland? For our 5th wedding anniversary we did a London/Edinburgh trip. I was familiar with London, but Edinburgh was new to us. We concluded we very much preferred Edinburgh to London in terms of the friendliness of the populace and the tastiness of the food and the cosiness of the accommodations. We ate haggis. And it was very good. We ate it whenever it was offered on the menu. We also were always on the lookout for a dish called "three wee fishes."

Rhoda: See above, haggis is tasty. Two of my favorite lunches in Britain is a pub lunch, specifically the plowmans (or is that ploughmans? Basically it is a bit of salad, cheese and bread) or going to a greengrocer and assembling a "picnic" of apples and cheeses (different and many varieties you've never heard of). You can and will eat well on your trip. What is the purpose of your trip, business or pleasure?

Debra: You were having a Brigadoon moment when you made the comment about Scotland and domestic violence. Are you familiar with the mystery series (books and TV) featuring Hamish MacBeth and a village full of colourful characters in the Scottish Highlands?

Eddie: How horrific and devastating. I'm wishing for you and your crew a peaceful night's rest.

C'est tout, c'est finis. The rest of the day awaits.

Kitty

Britomart - I don't think that I have ever met you. I have heard about you and read about you n the bio page, now you are back:0) Welcome!

Kitty - I'm sure that I remember you. Are you te one who is involved with the reading and writing with children? Either way welcome back.

Welcome to all the new faces.

Christi - I send you hugs back. Sebastian is all snuggled up with me and sends a little squeaking coo sound.

I didn't mean to make you cry. I give you another hug. Life really is delicate and precious.

Take care all,

Rachel

Hi All,
Just skimmed the posts of the last week. Off again tomorrow to do my bit to get this Foot and Mouth epidemic cleared up.
Rhoda,
As well as being an Army Garrison town, York is a very historic place. York Minster is not to be missed. I did my basic training at York back in 1969 - 70. I lived there for almost a year. There are wonderful bridges and lots of historical buildings. There is also the Race Course. Be careful if the foot and mouth restrictions are in force around there. I have a couple of farms which I have been looking after in Yorkshire but they are a bit away from York.
Did you Know that the Scots often got as far as York when they (as they often did) decided to invade England. Sometimes they got a lot further. Didn't you LITTER!

Anyway, the poor animals in the countryside are still suffering the blight of this nasty disease. It really is a terrible thing. Although I am on the managerial side of this thing I still see some terrible things as I travel around the affected areas.

I thought I'd tell this:
Most of our operatives (over 200 now) are big, strong hard men. You would think that they would be able to handle this stuff. Two of the biggest, meanest, ugliest men I have ever seen in my life ran off a farm yesterday as the MAFF vet shot a number of cows in front of them. They were expected to loop chains around the carcases and lift them onto the pyre with a back acter.
They phoned me on my mobile later and apologised but they could not do this job for any amount of money. Both of them were close to tears.

The stink of the pyres is sickening. The whole countryside seems to be permeated with the stench. I will be glad when this is all over.

Thanks for listening.
Ed

Rachel, I can't believe I forgot to tell you how much your shortie meant to me. It made me bawl. It must have been very hard for you to write about but so releasing at the same time. Big HUGS for you and Sebastion.

Kitty, Hi, it's nice to meet you! Stick around, won't you? I like reading your posts.

Britomart, Hi! When I first came here I remember reading your bio and thinking that you sounded interesting. Welcome back!

Hey, Litter, How IS the pending publishing thing going? Any new news? Really you'd think they'd know better than to irk a Scot. ;)

Seeing so many veteran notebookers coming in to say howdy, I can't help but wonder if the infamous Hayden will pop in sometime. We can only hope. Don't forget your lampshade, Hayden!

Bye ya'll,

Christi

Randall! Great to see you back! All it took was Teekay's summons, huh? I tried that about 8 months ago but you didn't hear me.

Welcome newbies and I think everything you're looking for is here and has been said! Pull up a chair, the rest may take a while.

Abou