I forgot the glove compartment. But it's ok - mine is jammed shut!
So I don't know what's in it either.


I am probably lucky. Whoever finally pries it open will not be.

Heather

Next we describe, in humbling detail, the contents of our automobiles!!!

Here's my partial list: A gold, curly ribbon tied around a bunch of cinnamon sticks dangles from my mirror.

Front seats: Kleenex, a small bag of garbage, an empty Tim Horton's coffee cup, the snow scraper (haven't put it in the trunk yet) and me, driving.

In the ashtray: a tube of chapstick, sunglasses, three stones my kids gave me, a small pussywillow branch (sans pussywillows) and way at the back I'm sure there are a few empty wrappers from something-or-other

In the back seats (commonly the area the kids step on, and includes under the front seats where we can't reach):
maps of all sizes and places - folded by an array of map-abusive people, a pair of pliers (where, what?) and a snap-on screwdriver (also unknown as to the origin or necessity)
dinky cars and barbie shoes
five pounds of gravel
three pounds of dead grass (last season's)
four kilos of mud
fifteen kilos of cookie and cracker crumbs
two ounces unknown debris

Trunk: two wool blankets
flashlight
car jacks
extra gas can (empty, of course)
jumper cables
body bag (just kidding. Wanted to see if you were paying attention)
that's it! Oh, there are some leaves and some odd bits of string... that blue ikea string they give out for free with which to tie your new furniture to your dust-encrusted car...

well, that was JUST THE INSIDE.

Heather

Purse contents? Well, all right...

*one cell phone, probably needing to be recharged
*my wallet (in it? Money, credit and bank cards, library card, movie rental card, insurance and Driver's license, health cards (mine and the kids'), photos of the kids and my husband, a little tag from our wedding momentos, and Ikea coupon, three receipts, a shopping list, and one kite string thingy, used for attaching the line to the kite.)
*one tube of 'Maple Treat' bodyshop lipstick
*one container of 'Lava' lipgloss
*one tube of hemp chapstick from 'Healthy's'
*four pens
*bank book in one intact plastic case (WOW)
*an old envelope with some 'jottings' for Haven on it
*feminine products (the kind that utilize the 'folding lawnchair' concept)
*two keychains my daughter made for me with beads, but they are too delicate to use
*my work keys, which have a very cool miniature locking-blade knife on the ring for cutting cardboard boxes open during the flattening process - very intricate surgery, I am telling you!

That's it. Hey, it's only a small handbag.
If I were to carry anything larger, it would need wheels and some form of steering.

Happy Easter!

Heather

Hi All,

CHRISTI: No kidding!!!! What a coincidence. Well that bear seems very happy now. What a sad thing that he lost his mate.
It's a great set up they have. hubby reckons he wouldn't mind moving in there :-)

ROSEMARY: I don't think my outside matches my insides. Friends have since told me that they thought me to be aloof, organized, calm and efficient. One friend even used the word elegant?!?!? She's a bit of a bohemian so I'm not quite sure what her standards for elegance are, but I took it as a compliment.
I however would not use any of those words to describe myself. Isn't it strange the picture we have of ourselves compared to the way other people see us?
The people I meet who have become friends and have been privy to the inner me would probably no longer use those words to describe me either :-)
Quirky? I love that you think I'm quirky :-)

RHODA: Don't you dare even consider keeping your opinions to yourself!

MARY: GET OUTA HERE! Do you have the chocolate lip-liner?

HOWARD: Hyuk hyuk hyuk. You men! Velcro lipstick indeed. Now why would you want that??? As if we didn't know :-)
Just think of all the wisdom you would miss out on.

JERRY: Gosh, every time you put on a fresh pair of jeans it'd be like moving house :-) hyuk hyuk.

Not much happening today. The sun's shining. Hubby's chopping up some wood in preparation for those cold night that are just around the corner with 2 year old acting as supervisor, and the girls are doing 'their thing'.

Chapter 1 is in the process of being put on the computer. Can't believe how involved this process is. it goes a bit like this.
Write first draft.
When complete transfer to fresh notebook and do a bit of editing at the same time.
Next, transfer to computer making yet more changes.
After I have it on computer I'll print it out, stick it away for a couple of days while continuing writing the rest of it, and then I'll come back to it and re edit.
Depending on the shape the rest of the story takes, chapter 1 may stay the same or do a complete metamorphosis.
I'm new at this so right now it's totally guess work and trying to find the method that suits me best.
This seems to be working so far.

Going.

You know it is interesting reading this book about Tim McVeigh. So far, I am more then half way through with the book, and have yet to get to the part where he begins his plans for the bombing, but I am a bit amazed that his thinking and actions are so familiar to me. Not that I have done any of the things he did, well I did do some I used to show guns at gun shows, but that I knew so very many folks in the gun trade that behave exactly like he was. They read the same seperatist literature, they speak of the illegality of the money, the hatred they have for the Federal government, and the rest, he would have fit right in with very many of my good gun trading friends. Maybe that's why I gave up on the gun trade.

I am glad that I did.

Jerry

Ok, well this is my second attempt, I had my pocket contents counted out and listed, then hit control something or another, and it went the way of the do-do bird. Oh well here it is again:

Key ring with ten keys, a nail clippers and a single AAA kel-light the other pocket is my comb, back pocket has my wallet with several different insurance keys (VA Medicare, Dental care and Workers Comp) - three credit cards - WOW $64.00 (I should check more often, thought I was broke) the directions for six handed pinochle (hand printed on a small sheet of paper) several other pieces of paper with things I wanted to remember once, but have forgotten what I wanted them for. NRA membership card - American Legion Membership card - expired Lions Membership card. (No wonder I sit on a slant). Oh and in the summer, I carry one of those spray bottles of hay fever medicine. Also have one of those little pocket knives with a seriated blade, I use to clean my fingernails, and open the occasional package or letter. Also (I guess this counts) I wear a leather man tool on my belt, it is one of those combo - pliers, knife, three screwdriver, wire cutter thingies that we gadget lover guys love to carry.

(See I can make a short story out of pocket lint)


We had a WONDERFUL Easter at mom's I was so happy both my kids and my grand daughter made the trip, as well as my favorite niece (The one I helped raise, and walked down the isle when she married) and her family made the trip. Everyone had a super time playing pinochle (I got out of cards today, and sat in the living room visiting with my nieces husband, who has been a very good friend since we met long before they wed).

Hope you all had a great Easter Weekend too.

Jerry

MARY (and TEEKAY) -- Suede lipstick? I'm holding out for VELCRO !! :-)

HOP -- Can you define for me "interfering with the state?" And what is meant by "denouncing the state?" Does the state need to maintain so strict a control that they do so by arresting, incarcerating, beating, torturing, inflicting forced labor, on peaceful followers of God? I have heard too many stories of these things to dismiss them as untruth. I have Chinese Christian friends who still have family and friends in mainland China, and they have told me of the hardships there, the persecution, the violations of basic human rights.
No, they do not suppress religion in China, as long as it is the prescribed, empty ritual established and approved by the state. A simple prayer meeting in a house church is grounds for the arrest of its pastor, confiscation of its materials, and punishment of its members. Yet they continue to meet. Why is that? Could there be a power greater than the state? Could it be that these have found a Truth that transcends the state? A Truth that in fact mandates obedience to the state in all matters except those that contradict or attempt to obviate that truth? Forced abortion is an example of contradiction of the teachings of that truth.
Why does the state fear that truth?

Had a very fine Easter today. Hope you all did too.

TEEKAY: I wear Suede lipstick too! Gotta love MK.

HOP:

It was never my intention to cast slurs upon the Chinese people or Chinese culture. I went to graduate school with several Chinese individuals, most of whom would have agreed with some aspects of my post. But most of these individuals were from Taiwan or from Hong Kong, and many had family who had to escape from mainline China. There are Chinese people living all over the world, and not all of them love the government in Bejing any more than I do.

Perhaps you are right in that the extensive trade between China and the US is a good thing. If the trade makes the Chinese people more free then, I am all for it.

What is occuring in China is a power play in the governing body. The military build-up and the current posturing is means for the hard liners to win public support. There are other people in high positions in China who would currently not play the hard line now taken. I root for these voices of reason.

China's goal is not to destroy the United States or take any of its territory. I believe the goal of China is to remove American influence from the far east--a bad thing at this point in time.

Anyway, I will not apologize for any of my comments involving the United States plane forced to land on Chinese territory. I am only happy that for now it worked out well for the 24 crew members. I am also glad that the United States did not have to make threats or did not have to resort to any desperate measures.

You really had to read a lot in these posts to see any racism. I suppose I will be forced to continue to offend you and Ben, or else I will just have to keep my opinions to myself. If I have to be careful not to offend then we both lose something and our relationship will never be anything but formal and shallow. Perhaps that is the best we can do, but I would like better.

Rhoda

Hop - I think it was said right when it was said that we don't like the government in China. Personally, I have a great respect for the Chinese people. They were civilized way back when my ancestors were hanging the severed heads of horses in trees to please their pagan gods. The Chinese have brought so much to this world, but at this time their government imposes such restrictions on human rights, that we freedom loving Americans can but gasp at such things. You see, we are free, and we love that freedom more then anything in this world.

You speak of Vietnam, I would truely like to return and tour that nation, however I will hold off until their government gives up it's communist ties, which I expect to happen soon. As far as my opnion when I was there, I felt that the citizans of the South realy didn't much care who ruled them, so long as they could live in peace. I saw our fight there as a horrid waste of human lives on all sides, and thought it a mistake of our government. Those citizens of the US who were forced to serve there, most draftees did not fight for their country, or the freedom of the South, they fought to keep from being killed, and to keep their buddies from being killed by the enemy. It was that plain and simple, and I think that is the case in most wars, at least for the soldier who is doing the fighting.

As far as trade with Cuba, until just last year, it was illegal for an American Citizen to even visit Cuba. The Cuban's still drive those old cars of the 1950's imported from America before the Communist revolution. As of now, there is no trade with China, but the law has let up a bit to allow our journalists to enter that island nation to report on the situation there, and those of Cuban Extraction, are allowed to visit their relatives. As you might know the US has maintained a military base on the Island of Cuba, which was leased to the US for 100 years by the former government of Cuba, which has been a thorn in Castor's side since his takeover. Another misinformation, the US cut off trade with South Africa in the late 60's based on their human rights violations. This is very apparent to car lovers here in the US as most of the Chrome imported to the US came from South Africa, so the Chrome bumpers that adorned our cars from the earliest Model T's to the cars of the early 60's suddenly lacked this buitiful shiny bumpers, and trim. The interior of the cars likewise suffered from lack of chrome.

Yes our government had made mistakes, and yes many of those mistakes were embarrassing, but we feel we have the best government that has ever existed in the world. We may be wrong, but many of us would have to have that fact proven.

Ben - just a note about Canada. Today at our Easter dinner, my sister who is the family historian was delighted to share her latest finding. My grand-mother's father was from Canada, we knew that, but the history of his family was discovered, it seems his family came to Canada very early in the history of North America, well before the American Revolution. They have traced his roots back to France in the mid 1600's and show his ancestors trip over and some of them served in the war of 1812 on the Canadian side. Until his generation they lived in Quebec, he was the first to come south to Michigan, then to the Dakota's in the early 1900's. So you see I do have roots in Canada, so I can't be all bad right?

WRITE ON!
Jerry

Hello everyone: just to give a heads up, in the next week I will be attempting to make the notebook script work on another server and then transfer location of the notebook to webwitch.com, probably. That is still up in the air. In part this is a money saving issue and part due to some rumors that there may be some potential problems with the existing ISP. This latter may not materialize, but it is better if the Notebook moves before something happens. I will keep you posted. Just back from Norwescon and truly terribly tired. Will get back to archiving, including the missing Notebook as soon as I am sure about the Notebook script and the new server. Take care.

My purse is more like a suitcase. It's actually a handbag with a zipper. It's contents, three notebooks, one with a short story I'm working on, the other a novel I'm working on. A smaller notebook I use for ideas, poems, my work schedule, etc. A couple of bills. A small zippered bag with pens, a couple pairs of earings, lipstick, a few slips of paper with story ideas and poems, Also, a jar of tums, the book Stargate by Andre Norton, car keys, wallet, hairbrush, comb, small teddybear that fell of my keychain, pair of tweezers, a couple of emery boards, a couple of barrettes, rent receipt, small tube of orajel, and some loose change.

I managed to write a poem today. I write some good poetry when I'm depressed. Gotta go. The cat's trying to get into my file cabinets where I keep my writing. Maybe he thinks he can do better.

RHODA: Well said. ((hug))

HOP: I think, with the quick "skim" that I did to get caught up from my absence in the last couple of weeks, I don't believe there was as much "anti-Chinese" as much as there was "anti-Chinese government." And you must remember something, several months ago, the Chinese government either bought or stole nuclear weapons technology from the U.S. If I were the person in power, armed with that knowledge, I would make sure that I kept up the surveillence of a country that is politically our enemy. Just as I'm sure we are being surveilled (is that even a word?) by them. Our governments are enemies. I can't personally change that - and neither can you.

Americans tend to take a lot of freedoms for granted. Freedoms that the Chinese people don't even realize are being denied them. It shows in the your post - in the things you excuse in your post. Some of the things you mentioned as acceptable or even good things are incomprehensible to me.

No - the United States does not trade with Cuba. And, (I think - if I'm wrong - I'm sure someone will tell me) I think Cuba is not Communist, I think it's a dictatorship.

There are many, many things that need to be fixed in the United States government. However, the basic principal of human rights, of freedoms, is still upheld by the men and women who run the country. It was what our country was founded on, and if we want to get upset over the fact that another country is stomping down on human beings' rights - then that is our right - because we live in a free country.

Hallee

You know, I'm not one for puns but all this talk about the Chinese has taken the spring out of my step/hop. Maybe I should change my name to limping.

For all you monster lovers out there, does anyone own a Jenny Haniver? It's a dried sting ray or skate preserved in such a way that it looks like a monster.

SusanS
We understand. Take your time.

Jerry
To be politically correct you really mean ethnicity not race in most of your post about race. See my previous post about the history of the idea of race to see why we should use ethnicity.

I personally do think the bit about being threatened by another species is true. Only in greater adversity will humanity join arms. Other wise we turn amongst our selves or force each other to turn amongst ourselves.

Truth is I think that by buying Chinese stuff you are actually making their working conditions better rather than worse. Of course I'm a government sympathiser. I mean think how difficult it must be to run such a country.

Have you been to the modern Vietnam? It's a great place to tour (or so I'm told).

Also, Vietnam was very controversial. The good guys weren't that good while the bad guys weren't that bad. It wasn't a clear cut war was it?

Isn't Cuba one of America's trade partners? Wait a minute, why aren't we criticising them? Aren't they still communist.
What about South Africa? America use to trade with it even though it was still operating under apartheid.

I noticed that the posts after the hostage situation had been resolved were a bit more level-headed and less emotionally charged.

Maybe the above came too late. The argument seems to have blown over already.

Ben
To be politically correct....

Ethnicity and race
Sorry to nitpick but the sooner we replace race with ethnicity who knows what the effects might be?

Glad someone around here is looking at the big picture about US and China. My ethnic pride almost collapsed under all that blind Anti-Chinese rhetoric.

In fact I'm more and more impressed by the amount of info you gave out regarding the problems China has had with controlling its peoples.

I'm not saying they're right but what I am saying is the Chinese have problems... a lot of problems to deal with.

Teekay
Paralyzed by virtual hug. Can't move. Feeling dizzy.

About Easter
Easter is a great time for a family gathering but since we moved to NZ a few years ago we can't celebrate it with our family.

Tina
Now I'm hungry.

Rachel
I too get the urge to write something really strongly at various times.

Rhoda
You might like to know that several political magazines (I can source them if you like) believe that when China says its defense budget is going up to modernise. According to my Politics professor, most of the Chinese soldiers wear tennis shoes! Also, the Chinese have never been expanisionists. Finally (to conclude this mini-lecture) if the US is so afraid of the Chinese (which is technologically very behind the times) think how afraid the Chinese must be of the US, the only Super power in the World!

I feel sad that so many Americans are anti-Chinese but without good reasons to back up their attitude.

Randall
I would usually be inclined to agree with the long-term idea of things, it's just a speck in the huge ocean of time but when people start making accusations and a lot of unbalanced arguments I tend to get really annoyed.

Howard
Okay, first of all China does not suppress religion unless it interferes with the state. Call it a quibble but as long as people don't start denouncing the state the state let's it go.
As for forced family reduction, you'd think it was a wise move if you have a country where a billion people lived and people still starved no matter what was happening.
Okay, so some suffer but life is getting better for the average Chinese citizen. China is slowly reducing its iron tight grip. Slowly, very slowly. I mean, private businesses like McDonald's and Coke are making their way in.

Note that China has a zero to negative inflation rate as well.

Viv
Thanks for the input, makes me feel so much better, being the only Chinese here is rather depressing at times.

Melanie
Hello. I'm new too.

Russia and China
You will notice plenty of similarities between the former USSR and China. Remember that the USSR had reforms (just like China) to Westernise the place. The reforms brought change but hastened the fragmentation of the USSR. In the end the whole economy and people are suffering now. I suspect the Chinese seeing how reforms have wrecked Russia have decided to take the slow road to reform in case the same thing happens to them. They are introducing technology and the living standards are going up slowly but surely.

HAPPY EASTER, ONE AND ALL

May you all know the blessings of Christ who lives today. Regardless of your religious persuasion, Christ died and rose for you.

Rhoda

Another Hot Muggy day to all,
HALLEE,
I hope the muggyness doesn't make it to your territory.

HEATHER,
Love the muse application. I would almost swear a few of those came over my desk while I was working in an office.

TEEKAY,
Your highly efficient purse contents don't really fit your personality. Should be carrying more exotic and quirky things. But, I agree, anyone who wears Suede lipstick should keep lip moistureizer on hand. :.P

ALLEIN,
Loved those keesters. That was really neat.

Going out to mow the weeds.
Rosemary

Happy Easter Everyone!

Regardless of your religous persuasions, use today to appreciate and enjoy your family and friends. Treat every day as a holiday, and every holiday as an opportunity to show your loved ones how much you love them. When they can no longer be with us, it's the love that remains.

Tina

Teekay!!!!! One of your new polar bears is from our very zoo!!!!!!!!! Is that amazing or what??? Small world and all that.
Recently we got two new polar bear cubs at our zoo, and the large adult bear (I wish I could remember his name) was gone. They had a sign that said he would be going to Australia once the habitat was ready for him. He was very unhappy here because his mate had passed away and he developed this unhealthy, obsessive routine that he did day after day. It was terrible to see him like that.
It's wonderful news that he's now happy again! The zookeepers said that it was hoped he'd be happier there with his new mate, and it sounds as if it he is!!! Hoorah for Australia!


Hippity hoppity Easter everyone! Have a wonderful day with your families.

Christi

HALLELUJAH !!

My purse:
2 pens and 1 felt tipped marker
my wallet (ID, 3 credit cards, library card, my health insurance card, Kaylee's helath insurance card, $200, game tokens for an arcade (? no idea)
a miniature swiss army knife
the budget from a board meeting folded up
my business card holder
the submission requirements of a literary agent, folded up
last week's paycheck
all of the W-2's and 1099's I need to use to do the taxes (tonight - ugh)
a pack of film developed from Kaylee's birthday
3 computer discs
a picture of me and my great-grandma who died last year
a playing card my husband laminated and gave to me 11 years ago when we were dating
My keys
Conan's keys (that's where they were - why did I have them?)

That's it - don't ask me to go through my briefcase - that's a chore I've decided needed to be done about a year ago.

ROSEMARY: Wow. (Hug)

BEN: Mayhap you oughta get your kids' pictures laminated, considering what you do for a living. My dad was in the Army, and he had ours laminated from being in the field and getting soaking wet from the rain one too many times.

Chapter 1 and the Prologue are edited - if anyone is interested (haha)

HAPPY EASTER ALL!! I got up at my normal 4:15, and decided about 6:00 to go back to bed - nearly ran into Kaylee in the hallway (she wanted her Easter Basket) she was too cute - the head of the chocolate bunny is already eaten.

Time to get ready for church.

Have a great Sunday, and a blessed Easter.

Hallee

Mary, I'm very sorry to hear of the people who jeered at (or otherwise tainted) the ceremony that you participated in. I find that disrespectful on their part - to use the word strongly isn't enough. Any religious holiday, anything that highly revered by others, is more than enough to command my respect; whether or not I find a greater truth embedded in those philosophies is irrelevant. If not their religion, at the very least I respect them as human beings.

My godmother seemed to have lost her shine for life, for faith in the Divine, as well as faith in the goodness of the human heart. If I could explain to you how sparkly and shimmery she was, then you will know the extent to which she does not shine so much any more. I think it is a terrible thing, this loss of trust with the world. With each other. I would like very much to see more communities like this one, in which I am blessed to be a participant.

Give yourselves a hug for me.

Heather

Rosemary: Apply for a new muse. The application is full of typos, and it's single spaced and blurry, printed on 16 lb. tracing paper and written in Latin; you must apply in person, with a hundred-page hand-written synopsis and your novel pitch memorized (and filmed, if you're ambitious). It may take four to six weeks to process your application, and the board reserves the right to refuse your request. We would like to remind you that at all times your muse is on loan, and she must be returned within the specified perameters listed in your contract. We look forward to hearing from you, and best of luck.

Happy Easter, one and all, I hope you have all had a chuckle and dyed your share of eggs. If you're not happy after all the beautiful words contributed by each and every notebook member, just think of all the hard-boiled eggs there are to salt up and eat after all the chocolate's gone.

Joy, joy, with you I raise my glass.


Heather

Happy Easter to you all,

Well, in view of the latest update re: the spy plane episode, I guess the President could be forgiven if he happened to have his fingers crossed behind his back while apologizing.

There's a brand new polar bear exhibit just opened in Queensland. Millions of dollars was spent on the construction and it's taken about 2 years to complete. It's Polar bear paradise and the 2 bears that occupy it are from America and China and they're getting along fabulously. Guess they haven't been watching the news. :-)

DEBRA: My fingers are crossed for you. I think that book should definitely get around.

MARY: Gee, I wonder if the woman eventually realized the irony of her complaints.

JERRY: Okay, I take back my last comment. I love your rambling in general, but that computer talk, I don't know what it is, I try to read it and my brain starts thinking about other things, like the square root of 3546361 or wether snails have cravings. My eyes get all blurry and I start to drool, but that's my problem, don't you worry 'bout me. :-) Buh...buh....buh.....Same thing happens when my hubby tries to explain computer workings to me. Thankfully that doesn't happen much.

ALLEIN:
My Bag:
1 purse
1 mobile phone.
1 nappy.
1 small pack of baby wipes.
1 lipstick (suede)
1 lip moisturiser
1 small notepad with ' a note from Teekay' printed on every page.
1 pen
gum.

You're right, that was entertaining. :-)

Well I really have completed chapter 1 of my 'NOVEL'. And it feels so right. I hope this lasts. I haven't edited it yet, but basically it feels good. The characters are taking shape and the story is really coming alive in my head. I'm sort of getting the idea of how to write a longer story rather than just short stories, at least I think I am, and it's really exhilerating.
I find myself thinking about it all the time and really look forward to getting back to work on it.

Gotta leave you all now,
hope your Easter is wonderful :-)

JERRY: Please forgive me my computer illiterate brain. :-) And keep on talking computers as much as you like.

Ben - You fell in the river? My brother fell in a lake once. My grandfather owns an island with a cabin on it (this island is about 1/2 a mile long) and we went up there one summer to visit. My brother was checking the water to see if it is warm enough to go swimming and as he bent over to put his hand in, he slipped on the wet dock and fell in. That was funny. :) He wasn't in any danger - he knew how to swim and everything and after he got out we were all laughing about it.
Ahh, memories. :)
Allein

Hey Mary!
I don't know tonnes about tire construction, but the two biggest advantages are insulation and reusing a material that's hard to dispose of. Oh yeah it's also pretty cheap by comparison. I've been inside two tire homes, and they were both amasing, far nicer than you'd ever expect. You don't actually see the tires; they're stacked up, filled with cement (I think it is) and then finished with your preferred surface treatment.

My purse contents haven't changed. But the backpack I take everywhere has a mixture of thingies...
notebook for writing
bus schedule
purse
tissue
loose change
swiss army knife
sunglasses
lip balm
keys
water bottle
hand cream
first aid kit;
bandaids, bandages, cold chemical compress, tylenol, hayfever medicine, wet ones, telfa pads, pads, tweezers, emergency blanket, sting stop, anitseptic cream, thread, cord, sport tape
sometimes... binoculars, cell phone, dog leash

Have a great one
T.J.

Allian: 60 cents and a book of matches in my left pocket; one receipt, one bank withdrawl statement, a lighter, and a pencil (with my daughter's name written across it); and a small leather credit card holder with my license, one credit card, a Visons client card, two library cards, one CARE card--a medical card--my union card, and a picture of my daughter. My son's was ruined last time I fell in the river. Oh yeah, and a bill from the vet for when I had to take the dog in to have her Anal sacs expressed on Thursday. I don't like wallets. I just carry my money in my pockets, but it's the end of the day now, and the wife was home...so, no money left, of course. And there's a napking in my top shirt pocket left over from this afternoon. The funny part is, I put everything back in my pockets after going through them. I guess guys are funny that way.

Right now, I can hear fireworks going off in the distance. Drives the dog crazy. I can't see anything, just hear it. That, and the music, which is about eight or ten blocks away. I'm trying to watch a movie: AT PLAY IN THE FIELDS OF THE LORD. Anyone seen it? It's four hours long. It was on earlier, but so was the hockey game :-( We lost. Sure hope no likes Colorado.

So, back to the movie.

Ben

TINA: I can go for the adobe, brick, even underground, but what's with the tires? How does that work and what are the benefits? Besides being soundproof, hehe.

Hello!

Mary, the houseplan thing just kind of happens, that's why I think it's genetic. Sometimes I'll be walking my dog, and we'll go past a piece of property with some unusual quality like an odd hill or a huge stone, and my brain goes into design overdrive. If *I* owned that property, what kind of house would suit it? How could I incorporate that feature? Would a ranch or a split level be best? What if I make it an earth-home? What's the best angle to make it solar powered? I'm very into alternative building styles like adobe and tire and straw brick and metal beam and solar powered and.... so all the options make my brain go wild!

Bye Bye for now!

Yikes! I thought it was smaller than that.
Gomen!
Allein

Oh yes!! Happy Easter!! :)
Here's a picture. :)



*smiles*
Allein

Just cut and paste!

Happy Easter to all.

For those of a Christian persuasion --

http://www6.bluemountain.com/cards/boxf224798v1/ae7sw7p8ry3537.html

For those offended by overt shows of Christian faith --

http://www6.bluemountain.com/cards/boxf224798m5/9n69d9uzgpp8yp.html

The Muggy Evening post was mine. Second time I've left the top blank.
R

I guess what bothers me most about Themestream folding is that I never got the advance email notice they said they sent to everyone, so I didn't get a chance to clean out my locker. Dunno what they'll do with all my stuff. I thought some of it was pretty good, too. Bummer!

Our local paper had an article today about getting published. I'll see if I can find it online and point y'all at it.

Hi People,
I'm bored today so I thought I'd bring back that weird game we play every few months that we haven't in a while - What's in our purses (or back pockets / wallets for the guys - but who knows maybe some guys here do carry purses)?
You don't have to participate if you don't want but it's always fun to see what people carry around with them. :)

I'll start.

In my purse I have:

Three bags of Green Tea
Gum
Pen
Name tag (the paper kind with Hello my name is... written at the top)
Yellow sticky note with dentist's phone number
Nail cutters and file
Cigarette lighter (I'm baffled as to why thats in there?)
Another pen
Hair tie
Earrings

And that was just the front little pocket, in the main part of my purse:

Mirror
Change purse - empty :(
Small bag with feminine products inside
Cards - ID, library, bank, CPR certification, student ID, Social security, Safeway and Rite Aid savings, Blockbuster,
Sanrio (hello kitty) store point cards.
Calculator (and not a little one either)
Keys and keychains (2000, graduate, heart shaped one with Japanese pagoda inside and a molar)
Checkbook
Bag of microwave popcorn
Piece of paper with web address on it
Hairbrush
Small silver case (intended for tampons but used for trash - gum wrappers, etc.)
Camera
Empty baggie
Travel toothbrush (didn't work)
Small tube of toothpaste (didn't work)
Card reminding me of dentist appointment to get cavity filled :scream:
Picture of Pepper (aww! :D)
Piece of paper, written on it is:

Tomato wa dame Not the Tomato
Watashi no mono It's mine
Tako wa ageru I'll give you my octopus
Mitame ga kirai I hate the way it looks

Hey! Lint! :)

Now I'm not so bored. :) I've been amused for the day.
*smiles*
Allein

A Muggy Evening to all,

BEN,
I'm sure you are just fine. I mentioned in my post that I am a little parinoid on the subject. Statistics say that children of alcolholics usually become alcoholics. That scares me to death and I am over-critical on the subject. Should have kept my fingers shut.

TINA,
I didn't expect sheep with no opinion. I was just surprised and a little hurt when I read those opinions.

I must be in an especially patriotic mood lately. I accused my friend Mary Lou of being a traitor because she is always happy when the Spurs Basketball team loses a game. The thing is, I hate Basketball. Who cares if they lose a game, or all of them. But they belong to San Antonio and she is supposed want them to win.

JACK,
I just finished 'The Skies Of Pern' by Anne McCaffery. My opinion, it is the best one she has put out in a long time. Hope she keeps it up.

It's a shame about Themestream. I only checked it out a couple of times but thought it was great.

Later,
Rosemary

JERRY: I certainly am mourning the death of Themestream. I was relatively new, and hadn't contributed yet, but I loved that so many of my friends had work there.

BEN: I loved reading about the festival. :-)

Well I have heard that things have a way of working out, but sometimes I doubt that.

Today, however has given me new faith in things working out.

A couple of months ago, I bought a box of junk on ebay. It had two CD drives in it, one a 44 speed and another old one. I disassembled the 44 speed, and found that a plug had come disconnected, once connected, it worked great. It looked like junk though because someone had taken the door off. So I looked on Ebay for one that didn't work, but had the right kind of door. Well I found one, and won the bid last week. A couple of days after that, I had a mishap, and ended up spilling a glass of milk. Some of the milk splashed into the CD drive, where the door should have been, and fried the main board of the drive, ruing the whole thing. Today, the mailman brought me a package containing the non-working CD drive. Just as advertised, it was a brand new one, never been used, and just like the add said, it didn't work. I played with it a bit, and found the reason it didn't work was that the eject button didn't work. I took it apart, removed that stupid button they put on for audio CD's and moved it to where the broken cd eject button was, soldered it in, and tried it out. Well now I have a brand new working 34 speed cd drive. And to top it off, the color even matches the computer, something the other one didn't. I guess sometimes things do work themselves out.

Having a great weekend, my son, his wife and our grand daughter are down, I did the fix thing while they were taking their naps. Lots of cards, and special meals to celebrate their visit, my son's birthday, my grand daughters birthday, and Easter. I am feeling much better now. Oh and my son brought down his VCR which quit working, and I fixed that too, having a very good day as a tinker I guess.

Watching the spy plane crew come home - I guess it is ok to treat them as hero's, although I don't see what they did that was particularly heroic, except maybe the pilot, who did some great flying to get the plane on the ground. I guess because of what could have happened it is good to celebrate that it is over anyhow. I am sure their families are so very pleased to have them home again.

You know, I was thinking about what was said here earlier, about the Russians and Chinese maybe doing the same fly-overs on our borders. I don't see where they would have to, our society is so open they can simply drive around and look at anything they want to see, there is no need for their spy planes to do anything. Our society is not like that of the Chinese, we allow almost anyone to visit, and even let those who are on our enemy list have access to almost the whole country. I guess that is what freedom is all about.

Jerry

PS are we all morning the death of Themestream?

Rosemary: I agree with Tina--your loss.

Everybody: Just spent a fabulous hour or so walking through a Sihk celebration--I never did know what it was for--down the end of the road and around the corner. It's a warm, bright day up here, and the cherry blossoms are littering the road, floating down like snowflakes. I love the sight of those things for some strange reason, especially long, tree lined streets of them. We only have about half a dozen of them across the street, but they remind me of some of the streets downtown.

Anyway, we walked around the corner and there it was, the non-parade. I say that because it wasn't moving. They were just sitting in one spot, dancing and singing and giving speeches. The people that live along the parade route bring out food and feed the multitudes. That's why my wife insisted we go. She wanted to eat as much of it as she could. The farther we walked up the street, the more crowded it became. The streets were blocked off of course, and there were huge semis pulling trailers full of people, all of them blaring out music, while people danced around them in a rainbow of brilliant colours. The funniest part was that with all those people crowded so close together--so close you'd think it was a weekend in New Dheli--a bird had the nerve to drop one right on my wife's arm. I thought she was going to piss her pants she was laughing so hard about it. She said she was squeezed inside a throng of people, and it still managed to hit her. I told her it was good luck to get shit on, by a bird I mean, as opposed to the usual people that do it, and then rememebered that was when it shits on your head. So I told her to go back out there and maybe she'd get lucky.

But she'd had her fill of somosas and poori, and roti by then, and it was time to leave. I ran into a woman from Montreal who was here visiting her son, and said she'd never seen anything like this before. She asked where all the food came from. When I told her the people made it themselves in order to feed everyone else, she was amazed. Said it was way better the any St. Patty's Day parade, or Canada Day parade, she'd been to, because this was given by the people themselves. Everyone is polite, there's never any pushing or shoving, and it doesn't matter what race you are, it's just help yourself.

Shorite night: It hasn't ended as far as I'm concerned, it's just that for the last couple of times I was trying to get things completed and sent out, and so I devoted myself to the other p.c., and made myself work there instead. I still check in, even if I don't say anything, but this site being such an addiction, I have to ween myself away from it at times. I still get withdrawls though.

And one final note on my "Drinking Habits" :-) There's no problem here, okay? When you work shift work, you don't drink in the day time, because there's nothing worse than being hung over at work. I drink on weekends, but not every weekend. I like to drink, and knowing I like it, I keep it in close check. Okay, so if I have a drink at two in the morning, or two in the afternoon, it doesn't mean anything. Thank you for your concern guys, but don't try to read something in it that isn't there, okay :-) I'm a naturally happy go-lucky kind of a guy. I drink because I like it, not to get away from things.

And speaking of getting away, I have to run now because the little woman wants to pick up another ham for tomorrow, and pineapples. Her and the neighbour are planning to have a big dinner for Easter. I say, right on. They are both great cooks.

Ben

HOWARD: Welcome back. Good job getting yourself all reconnected. My cables are all color coded and my set-up is rather simple, but moving even for me was a real drag. I can only imagine what you went through.

HEATHER: (Tina too!!) I would love to see that house concept. Well, more than a concept really...the plans! I have never undertaken such a grand scale project even for fun. I did do all the plans myself for the deck we added on to our old house, and the floorplans for a few remodels. Nothing like building something in my head from the ground up though. Wow.

My children have taken to poking their fingers through the window screens and then gradually, as if I won't notice, enlarging the holes. The front door screen hole was able to pass a Louis L'Amour paperback and a Buzz Lightyear action figure. My bedroom window screen recently birthed a Nerf football. Needless to say, that was my project for the day. I replaced all the screens (my wrists are killing me), and gave the lecture to never ever touch them ever again or Mommy will be very sad and they will not be allowed to play outside until they are 17 years old.

Took the two of them to a disastrous Easter Egg hunt at the park this morning. Total chaotic mad-house full of snotty, pushy kids, bitchy mothers and camera-totin' fathers smart enough to keep their distance. We won't be doing that again until my kids are big enough to hold their own.

The four of us walked the huge wooden cross around town yesterday with a joining of all the community church congregations, where it was erected in the middle of the public square. I fought tears the whole trip, imagining what Jesus went through. There was a woman in front of us, carrying her little girl, complaining about how heavy she was. I wondered why she was even there. The strand of us walking had to cross several streets and held up traffic more than once. Not for long, as there were only about 60 of us, but long enough that you could see the irritation on the faces of the drivers because they had to wait for us. I would hazard to say that more than a few of those drivers were off work in honor of Good Friday, and couldn't even be patient enough to let us pass without jeers.

People need to slow down, no matter what religion they follow, and remember that we are all here together and should treat each other with respect and consideration.

Happy Easter, Everyone. Hugs all around.

Hi and thanks for all your support everyone. I will get through this and in time the pain will fade. I continue to hope that eventually things will work out and my friend will once again be my friend. I don't let myself be angry, because the truth of the matter is, my friend is a very troubled young man. He's had deep seated emotional problems for a very long time and I suspect that personal and job pressures are bringing those problems to a head. He knows we're here for him. Maybe he'll come back to us. I'll always care for him no matter what. And I hold onto good memories, of a crazy guy who always made me laugh with jokes, impressions, obscene comments. I hold onto the memory of a young man with a chivalry complex who offered on a number of occasions to tell off my boss for mistreating me. I hold onto those memories and hope that in the future there will be more good memories.

But I must also get on with my life and try to write again. I'm resisting the urge to withdraw into myself, but it's a struggle. I've still go my husband and my cat to hang onto. I don't know what I would do without them. I'm going to try and write now. Wish me luck.

Yecchh! Lo se connexio s! I think I've got it now, tho gh. Oo ps! Wait - gru t groaan cli k... there! What a job! I will never move this computer room again! Unless I have to. Two boxes up and running, cable modem connexion (that's the UK spelling, just for Litter and Eddie), phone, box after box of parts and software (that I just had to have, plus all the rest of the accumulated detritus.
Can't stay long yet, still lots of work to do to set up things for Bryce.
Skimmed through the posts, will take more time later, but for now:
Happy Birthday Mark! And many more too!
Azure is great, Tina - great color! Keep it!
Sasquatch - I never thought we might have messed up even the color of the sky! Makes sense, though. And you description of that day gave me chills! What a thing to witness!
Gotta run - want to get more done before the new meds completely wipe me out. Dr trying last resort before pursuing another pinched nerve. If this new stuff doesn't work by Tuesday I have to have another MRI, etc etc. O joy!
See ya

Hello all!

A belated welcome to Melanie! Glad to see you staying around.

'Azure' stays! Thanks :-)

Heather, isn't in fun to draw out dream houses? I have at least a dozen different plans, depending on the landscape, climate, budget, etc. I come by the urge hoenestly; my dad was in construction almost all my life and he designed all of his own houses. (oh boy it hurts to refer to use the 'was' word... deep breath) My whole family draws plans now.
If you can scan yours, I'll scan mine! Or at least my favourite. It's big house, adobe brick or tire walls, with a dojo in the center and an atrium and a hot tub under a retractable roof. It's pretty sweet. It's the 'when I win it big on the lotto' house.

About shortie night... as long as one person here uses it to its purpose, uses it to push beyond their usual boundaries, I'd say it is alive and kicking. Don't kick what ain't dead! Personally, thank you Mary for sticking it out. I've now writen four pieces that I never would have given time, never would have discovered in me without shortie night.

Rosemary, your loss. If you were expecting a peaceful utopia of Canadian sheep who never speak their mind or have opinions, you obviously have the wrong country.

Teekay, sounds like you're working on a feast!

Must be off to work.
TTFN
T.J.

ug this thing in and see if it wo

Teekay:

No, no pressure. I'd hate to see it end. I have him so fustrated now. It's a crack up really.


Christi:

How sweet are you. You can't get it in stores unless you want to order it. It is published by Dorrance. They are still on the first edition. That's a plus if I ever get noticed.


Speaking of getting noticed, I heard from an agent I sent my second sweetie too. She said she liked it a great deal. She is going to see if she can find a publisher and let me know next week. I did the mini dance of joy. I hope to do the big one soon.

Debra

Back later to respond to everyone else's comments aimed for me!

:o)

Heather

Mary: I've designed a doozie of a house. It's drawn on really large sketch paper, so if I scan it in, I'll only get part of it per scan. I could sketch it smaller...

Anyhow, I designed it after looking very carefully at a spiral seashell. It is, in fact, very structurally sound. Can't go into too much detail, as it really helps to see the sketch, but it's two storeys, and the central circle (where the spiral leads from) is a two storey tube shaped sky light. It gets even better. I'd have it constructed from reinforced steel bars and concrete. I don't know what I would finish it with on the outside to prevent the concrete from crumbling, but that would be the architect's area of expertise. Yeah, WHEN I can afford an architect. I always wanted to be one...

I can at least do a pretty fair job of the blueprints.I might try scanning it and I can email it if anyone wants to point and laugh! Wouldn't a giant seashell house just be the cornerstone of tourism here? You bet. BUt that's not why I want very much to build it.

You're right, though - this house is great, it's charming and pretty and cute as a button (and more spacious than first appearances warrant) but there are a few things that I'd like to change/add that I couldn't without putting in a few tens of thousands for an addition. And the addition could only go out toward the street... I'd rather not think that far ahead of myself, though, as evidenced by what I've already said, I have thought about it!

Heather

Hi All,

JERRY: Ramble as much as you please - I love it when you ramble :-)

HEATHER: I'm glad to see you back and posting. You have no idea how much I enjoy reading your posts :-)
Your mention of contentment made me think of something and I'm going to share it and probably regret it later, but oh well, here goes:
You know when you see the first star in the sky you can wish on it? Well anyway, I always do, I'm a bit superstitious. Well this particular night we were driving home down the dirt track from MIL's farm when I spied this first star in the sky and I did the star light star bright thing (in my head of course, don't wanta scare Hubby too much) and I wished for contentment for all. Well, I nearly got my wish, the bloody truck almost wiped us out.
I've come to the conclusion that full time contentment isn't possible here on earth, we can only hope and try for those occassions when contentment does settle upon us and soothe our souls.
I'm not wishing for contentment again.
Besides, as writers, if we were content we probably wouldn't feel that aching need to write.

HALLEE: Thanks :-).

MELANIE: A belated welcome to you :-). I kept thinking it, but forgot to post it.
Ah, you're a soprano/alto? I'm a tone deaf myself. The only person who thinks my singing sounds okay is me. Which is a bit of a shame coz I love to sing.
So sing you say, and I would, but if there's anyone withing hearing distance they tell me to be quiet only usually not so politely. Even my 2 year old son puts his hand over my mouth when I sing - what does that tell you :-)

SUSAN: Well now I'm curious. It must have been one doozy of a misunderstanding to lose a great friend over.

MARK: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!
I prefer someone else to do my gift shopping. Anticipation is half the fun :-) Have a great day.

JON: I have missed you. Do stay.

BEN: Halibut cheeks?? From a fishes butt? Or head? Does a fish even have a butt?

DEBRA: HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA oh you poor thing!!!!! The pressure you must be under!! PRESSURE!. GEDDIT??? GEDDIT???? I think your husband is the all out winner here. :-D

BEN: Gee thanks. I can't have a look at it right now, but I promise to.

JERRY: That's terrible - about the book I mean. I thought they had people to proof read these things?!?!?

TINA: Ignore them. Don't take the advice of anyone who can't pronounce or doesn't know the meaning of azure.

RANDALL: You know what really happened to the dinosaurs? No it wasn't the ice age. No it wasn't a comet. What really happened is that one day, some dinosaurs wanted to see what was on the other side of Great Big Rocky Hill and there were others that thought it was forbidden and would be bad luck to any who went there and then there were some who didn't give a rats. So anyway, they decided to vote on it! It was a really bad end.
The ones who didn't give a rats are still here crawling around in the swamps which goes to show, sometimes it pays to be a fence sitter :-)

ROSEMARY: Shorty night doesn't have to come to a halt. Write something!!! :-)

CHRISTI: Thanks :-), but if you are referring to my 'NOVEL' heh heh I think there might be a long wait. You see I'm not going to edit it til it's all done and, well, need I say more.
And you know the same goes for me with your writing. :-)

Gotta go, i've been Easter cooking all day and if you know me, that doesn't make for a very happy chappy.
I've still gotta go and finish the chocolate hazlenut balls *sigh*. hope they taste as nice as they sound.

Teekay - check out the station Ben mentioned to you. See if you can click onto twisted tunes (grins/laughter).

Mark - Happy B-Day! You share a B-Day with one of my baby sisters!

Take care all,

Rachel

Hallooooo spirits of the Notebook!

Hop, Don't worry, those two days of writing my children's book turned into five. Editing. Sigh. And I think I'm in for maybe one or two more.
And yes, I read that OSC has lost two children, one of whom was a baby and one who was severly handicapped but who lived to be eighteen (far longer than predicted by doctors) and brought much joy into his family's life. If you'd like to use the link above to Card's website you can read his memorial to his son, Benjamin. If you do, keep some Kleenex handy. I sure needed it.

Hey Ben! I send you hugs.

Melanie, Welcome to you! I look forward to getting to know you. Okay, this is maybe a bit strange buuut, may I call you Mel? I've always wanted to know a Mel.

Howard, I very much like the way you think.

Heather, Woo hoo! Another part of the novel! Pencil me in for ANYTIME!

Teekay, No pressure. Just waiting. (Fingers tapping on the desk) JUST KIDDING! Don't kill me, and pleeeease don't pressure me like I just did you. Honestly, I just get so excited to read your work that I can barely contain myself.

Debra, I'd like to buy your book too. If anyone here has a book published, the very least I can do is support them. It's a wonderful thing.

Tina, Wow. Goosebumps. Nice poem! BTW, who are those four people? Azure is a shade of blue, is it not? I think lots of people know that without consulting 'Webster', and I think you should keep it!

Hallee, Congratulations! And welcome back; it's great to see you here again. Enjoy your new house!

Teekay! I loved your poem.

Mary, lovely shortie, and I loved hearing about your children's feet pounding on the stairs (in your post). So sweet!

Sorry for your troubles, Susan. Things will get better. Here's a cheer-up {{{hug}}}.

Hiya, Mark! BAPPY HIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!! ;P Big birthday hugs and kisses. *smack!* (What did you get?)

Jon, It is so good to see you here again. I've really missed you! What are you and your master up to? Probably up to no good, but do let us in on your adventures anyway.

Hi Randall and Sasquatch and Rosemary!

Great shorties, all! On my part, I plan to participate (either with writing or reading ;]) in shortie night as long as there IS a shortie night. I look forward to reading things that inspire me every time. LONG LIVE SHORTIE NIGHT! And long live our patient mistress, Mary. (Mistress Mary!!! Woo woo! I'm sorry. It just sounded so ... so ... woo woo!)
PS And Mary ... how does your garden grow? Somebody sock me in the head and knock me out, won't you? I'm afraid I've had too much coffee at too late an hour.

Looking for a hammer,

Christi

ROSEMARY: I think that this is just a lull in business as far as Shortie Night goes. It is too enjoyable an activity to let a minor suggestion, and an off-hand discussion about copyrights snag it up. I am not worried yet. The last couple topics I suggested weren't exactly awe-inspiring either.

Thing will pick up, you will see.

:-)

Evening all,

MARK,
Happy Birthday. Friday the 13th must be your lucky day.

I distinctly remember the post when you suggested Ben might be an alcoholic and you offered help. (Sorry Ben), but I agreed with Mark then and haven't changed my mind. Of course, I am over sensitive about the subject. Both of my parents were alcoholics. My father was a captain in the Air Force and was what I call a functioning alcoholic. I wound up with a minor phobia about alcohol and any other mind altering substance.
Even after all these years of not being around anyone who drinks, I can tell if someone that I know, even slightly, is under the influence. A friend's husband is diabetic and I could tell he was starting to have trouble with his sugar even before she could.

My sister and I had been thinking about taking that train trip across Canada that is supposed to be so wonderful, but I had no idea there were such deep anti-American feelings up there. I know I really resent that our country gives billions of our tax dollars to all those countries that happily receive it, then turn around and hate us even more for it. I didn't know we had done anything to or for Canada. Am rethinking the trip.

It's a shame short shorty night is slowly coming to a halt. I don't know if it was the limiting word size suggestion or the copyright nonsense, but I thought both suggestions had been discounted. I realize I have no room to talk, I haven't been submitting either but it's just lazyness of my muse in my case.

That's enough to get me in trouble again for this week.
By now,
Rosemary

hello again i sasquatch am please to be here. tina person i sasquatch know this azure please keep in. this is what color the sky was before all humans persons made the dust and smoke in air. pretty now yes but beautiful azure sky in before times. randall person you would not like smell in sasquatch lair. sasquatch sometimes can not stand too. and this is some why Yeti wander much to air out den. ha ha. happy borning day mark person. this is fine day for birth. yes howard person Yeti memory that day. there was fear and earth cried and sky was dark. Yeti did not under stand why light ones did not come to help the One but stood and tears came even to them. he was so alone and pain was on him and in his eyes. but there was also sorry there not for self but for the humans persons who hurt so. sasquatch wanted to hurt them but he looked at sasquatch and his eyes said no. then he screamed to the sky and even the shining ones put hands over ears and turned away and sky went black and great storm came and all was fear even Yeti shaken. then ended. sasquatch ran away to hide and try to forget but could not forget what happened that day. and if that is all then still must be afraid but that is not all. light came back and the One brought it. not dead any more but alive. that is reason sasquatch does not under stand why humans persons hurt other humans persons even after that. i must go.

Randall:


Geeeze!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi! TGIF my friends! :-)

Gonna start right off and say pardon the spelling, cause I ain't got no time to check. (Now, that's back woods talk, huh?) Sure Sasquatch understands, eh?

Ahem....screw politics, politicans and the horse they rode in on. The long and the short and the tall. Politics, governments, democrats, republicans, Chinese, Eskimos, hell with 'em in a hand basket. Politics, as related to government, that is control of vast populations is a short time commitment and a human thing at that. You say the Chinese have been "civillized" for 2,000 years, Europeans for a 1,000, Americans for 200 and something. Big deal! Laughable! Side splitting, knee slapping! And furthmore I seriously doubt the term 'civilized" means a hoot and a hollar if it ever did. All civilization means is you gotta get permission to step outside and pee. Think about it.

Wanna talk commitment and long term...Mother Nature babe. Now this old girl understands long term. Dinasours roamed the earth for how many years? 130, 150 million? Been dead 100 million, give or take a million? Took the Colorado River how long to carve the Grand Canyon in Arizona? How long has the Pacific tetonic plate been pushing up under the good old US of A? Mid-Alantic range, up or down? The monoliths in Monument Valley are the remains of an ancient sea bed. How long did that take to form? The infamous Black Sea flood happened when? Great African Rift? How long did it take the Himululays... uh, them mountains in Nepal :-) to be formed as India careened northward and slammed into the sofy underbelly of Asia a zillion years ago? Atlantis dissapeared 10,000 years ago...only last week friends.

I read recently that in a million years, ALL of human civilization will simply be a thin line running through an enermous fold of highly compressed, stressed rock in an eroded valley in a desolate wasteland. And who will be looking at that thin dark line? Will they appreciate human culture, will they, or it, be human. Look around at your home, apartment, city, state, country, all gone in the blink of natures eye. Will this simple human culture of ours be worthy of study and by whom? Standing on a planet orbiting Sirrus looking toward Sol, will our petty teritorial gripes be relevant in the cosmos? Huh? How did our buddies dying in Vietnam help? Did we gain or lose there? Did they?

See where I'm coming from? When I got into geology, my thinking turned geological. When I studied the stars, saw what Hubbard was seeing; time stretched beyond what Mr. Einstein's simple E=MC'squared indicated. Black Holes. Naked singularties? Collapsing stars? Warped space-time? The only thing important to us as humans is the nuturing of a God created soul planted within. Something He created for His purpose. You know, it may well be God, standing, looking at that thin line of human civilization a couple million years from now. Will He/She smile, grin or shake a head and move away muttering.

"I simply have to improve on that lot next time."

And I don't believe God cares how the Chinese-American 11 day stand-off turned out. The Chinese pilot, if at all possible is probably trying to explain his life and choices right now. Now, that is real diplomacy! :-))

Don't bother Him...don't bother me. God has better things to be concerned over...and so do I. All this international "incident" amounts to is a TV made movie, numerous books, a magazine cover or two...and time moves forward, but do we?

Well, time to climb down from my soapbox and sulk away. Say, Saquatch, got room in your dwelling for me? Promise I will bathe once a week, need it or not.

Goodnight Americo.

Randall

TINA: Keep it.

Happy Birthday Mark!

Heyo, here's a question...
In the poem I posted, in the first line I use the word 'azure'. I've had four people tell me that they don't know how to say that word, let alone know what it means. Since the poem was about a time in my life and is quite personal, and I like the word azure, should I keep it or bow to pressure? I'm inclined to keep it... maybe?

T.J.

Haiku Fairy: Is that you Litter? Hugs.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARK!!!!!!

We will be celebrating my grand daughters birthday tomorrow, and my son's as well, hers is tomorrow, his is the 20th, a day he despises, simply because of it's historical significant, what with Hitler being born that day, and Waco and the Ok. Bombing happening that day.

I am, by the way reading An American Terrorist, all about McVeay from birth to terrorist and beyond. I made sure that none of the money got to him before I bought the book. So far, the story isn't all that great, and the writing is not all that professional either, several mistakes glare at you when you are reading through it. I try to ignore them, and absorb the story, but I guess when you pay for a book, you at least expect it to be grammatically correct.

Jerry

Ignominious
Hoist high on its own petard
Themestream dies, broken...

Happy Birthday, Mark!!!

Teekay: I'm giving you this radio station I always listen to. I highly recommend you listen to the morning crew, Brother Jake and his gang. They'll get you laughing. They even take email requests from all over the world. Send me something from Down Under that you like and I can listen to. Gotta go...
Ben

Hey Teekay:

In one of your posts, you asked me if I was doing that farty noise. I have a seventeen year thingie going with my husband proving that I don't do that at all.

He keeps saying he'll catch me but he won't. Well he won't live to tell. I told him if he ever did I'd have to take his life.

That hasn't stopped him from trying to catch me.

Debra

H.B., Mark! Have a great one! (Meant to wish it to you earlier today) from an April Fool, myself

MARK: Happy Birthday there, Fella! I will keep my fingers crossed that no bad luck befalls you on this day of increased probability of misfortune. Was the 13th of April a Friday the actual year of your birth?

HEATHER: Sometimes even a house you have designed yourself doesn't cut the mustard(unless money is no object). We all think we know what we want, but needs change. Attitudes change. Health changes. If I were looking for a house today, I would not want the same things I was looking for two years ago. What I thought I wanted wasn't what I needed at all. I will not be looking for another house anytime soon. I am rather in love with the one we have now. (Despite its steep basement steps down to the laundry, and its bathroom shortage.) I will be very glad when my children stop banging those french doors together as they run down the hall, but their little feet on the stairs sound just like I thought they would.

:-)

Hi guys. Back to normal again after that brief little--whatever the hell it was (it's not me; I'm not usually like that)...anyways, apologoies all said and done, life goes on.

Melanie: Welcome and Hello, or vice versa. You'll find this a great place to hang out in.

Susan: Life sucks when you lose a close friend like that, whether it's friend or family. Just hold onto the good memories.

Heather: I was just reading something in last week's GLOBE AND MAIL that said Canada was THE new, hot, commodity. It seems the rest of the world can't get enough of CAN-LIT. Go figure. All those years of trying to break into the American market, just to find out that they've opened the door here, by way of Britain, Germany and France. It seems Europe and the rest of the world has finally found out that we do have something to say--only now they're buying it, and paying big. Bukowski is the name of the Agent that stuck out--not a relative of the drunken Charles I'm hoping (did you ever see that movie BARFLY? That was based on him.)

I have to run off now. It being a holiday that means the wife has to work, and I get it off, (except for doing the laundry). Sad thing about retail, but hey, she loves it. I have to get the usual fish for Good Friday--the only tradition I try to keep in honour of my parents and their good Catholic upbringing. Sole tonight...just something about the name I guess. This being B.C., salmon's are a dime a dozen. It helps that the neighbour works in a fish processing plant and just throws things over to us once in a while. Anyone ever heard of Halibut cheeks? Quite the expensive little delicacy I hear. They throw them away where she works. She brings them home by the bag full. Like every other fancy delicacy I've tried over the years, over rated. Tastes like fish to me. :-)

There, I finally did one of those little smiley faces. That way everyone will know I'm grinning.
Ben

It seems like I'm destined to do 3 posts at a time today.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEEEEAAAAARRRR MMMMMAAAAAARRRRRKKKKKK
(deep breath)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

******SMOOCH*********

Hallee

MARK: Happy Easter to you as well! (hug)

Hallee

Hi all!

Here's my problem: On the weekends, I nap with Kaylee. I do it every Saturday and Sunday...sometimes it's just half an hour, sometimes it's the full 2 hours. This is the drawback of waking at 4:15 every morning and going to bed around 10:00 every night. SO, today's Good Friday, her school is closed and she's here with me, and in the darkest corner of my office, she's lying on a pallet of about 4 quilts folded up, snuggled under a blanket, and breathing heavy. My mind is telling me it's time for MY nap too. (sigh) (haha)

MELANIE: In about 2-1/2 years, I've written 10 books. Thee problem is, I've only submitted twice, and only 3 of them are edited even slightly. I have to stop writing for a while - just to catch up with myself. Otherwise, I could end up sitting on 20 un-tried, un-published, un-edited novels. I only have 2 hours a day to devote to the writing world in any form - that's why I'm stopping. If it goes away - then it goes away. At least I'll have 10 to try to sell.

SUSAN: (hug) I'm so sorry. Been there, had it happen. It's never fun - even years later. I REALLY hope things get patched up for you.

JON: Good to see you - Happy Easter to you, as well. I'll be grilling salmon for Easter dinner, and in case your travels bring you this way for the weekend, I'll make sure to leave a plate out for you. No need to announce your presence, just accept the food. (Stay away from my cat, though - she's in heat and I have NO desire to have a bunch of little kitties, nor do I have the desire to have PUSSY be my enemy.)

Back to work - they handed me two proposals I have to have done by the 19th - 80 pages each. I remember, because Kaylee reminded me - that I had to work last Easter Sunday because of a proposal due that week. Ugh. My creative juices are sapped after 5 hours of it so far. It was nice to take a quick break.

Hallee

Here's a beautiful poem I wrote on the clouds:
Happy Easter to all
From my thousand and one nights dreamy holiday land
I wish you were here
(Jon, poet and emperor on holidays)

Susan -
Talk to me. I mean it. I've been there (sort of still there) - it's too hard to take alone. Then relax here with some terrific people - they have a way about them that will calm your nerves, enfold your cares and inspire you to write again. Talk to US.

Melanie

JERRY -- Oh, yes. I thought it was Ben I said that to, but I had let it drift away. When I first read your post I didn't realize it was a cut from archive, it looks just like a post. I thought *you* were addressing me. Slower, closer read makes it plain.

Kum by yah -- isn't that pidgin for 'Come By Here'?

RACHEL, TINA, CHRISTI, MARY --
HEATHER, TEEKAY, VIV, AND GARY --
LESLIE, BANKY, BEN, AND SUE --
AMERICO AND SASQUATCH, TOO --
ALLEIN, HOWARD, DEB AND JACK --
HALLEE, TAYLOR, (WHO ELSE IS BACK?)
HAPPY EASTER ALL
or Passover, if that's what you're doing

Today's my birthday (Friday the 13th) so I'm a bit busy. Have had to do some of my own gift shopping. Gosh, hope I'm not disappointed. ;)
I'll let you know what I got after I unwrap it.

Hi everyone. I haven't been around because of a personal crisis. My husband and I had a falling out with a friend a few days ago. It was a stupid misunderstanding, but he won't speak to us now, and I'm very upset. I love this person like a brother and it tears me apart that our friendship is ended because of a misunderstanding. We've tried to apologize but it doesn't do any good. It hurts so much to lose this person, especially because I have so many good memories of him. I've been so depressed about it that it's hard to write. I try to write but I keep thinking about him and how much he meant to both Allen and I. And now I have to accept the fact that he's gone. I can't even escape my pain through my writing. I'm sorry to unload on people about this, but it's just so painful.

HOWARD: You made my day! ***:-) rainbow of smiles :-) ***
But PUH-LEEZE! Put your shoes back on. The only homage a librarian needs is for you to make sure you get your library books back on time (or call up and RENEW them!). And, gosh darn it!, bring back those 5-years-overdue books. Someone else may be wanting to read them!

TEEKAY: I'm with you on "Kum-bah-yah, my Lord!" (Soprano/Alto, whatever you need to fill in!)

HEATHER and HALLEE: Thanks for your open hearts.
HALLEE: DON'T stop writing - I have for a year and it's just about driven me crazy. I'm winding up again and something really big or messy is about to explode on paper -I'll have a "Dickens" of a time cleaning up the mess! If you've got inspiration, write it down now! The publishers can catch up with you later. (WHY can't I take my own advice???)

And if HALLEE or ANYONE wants another editing opinion, I'm most willing (can't let the English major in me get rusty!)
to proof just about anything. My own first (as yet unpublished) novel has had so much editing, re-editing, and regurgitating, I feel almost an expert on looking for typos, weak grammar, unintended POV switches, and weak story elements. In fact, I've been writing since I was a kid, some 30-something years ago, so I've seen and corrected an incredibly humbling amount of typos in my writing journeys.

Hallee is so right - this IS a great group of people and I've only been here reading and sharing for a few days but I can feel your personalities right through the power of your cyberspace words. May all your mss. be as powerful and thought-provoking!! :-) I've felt "lost" for such a long time - Thanks for making me feel at home.

Mel

okay - I think it's time to inhale another cup of coffee. My first post response to Tina should have been a response to Teekay.

*shuffling into the kitchen to get more coffee*

Oh yeah...HEATHER: I'm doing publishers, too. I've decided that I won't start writing another book until I get all 10 of these to publishers (mostly all Harlequin, but my options are pretty limited) - and all 10 to 10 agents. That's my goal. We'll see how long I can keep my muse at bay. I have this little fancy notebook thingy one of my sisters in law got me for my birthday last year - it's full of plot ideas. I look at it and want to pick it up - but I'm afraid that with no outlet happening at this time, I'd read an idea I put in there and be flooded with the story - then I might lose something fresh since I'm sticking to my guns (I hope) and not writing right now!! (And thank you - *hug*)

Sorry if the above doesn't make any sense - we're still working on cup of coffee no. 1.

Morning all!

HEATHER & TINA: If you really want to help me edit, I could use all the help I can get. Don't forget - I have no formal training...hell, I don't have any informal training - haha - and at this point, I really don't know what I'm doing. I've only been writing for 2 years - I never even thought or contemplated about writing before then. It just kind of slammed into me. I hear you all talking about how editing molds and shapes your work - how you look forward to it - but I just see it as a tedious task. BUT - instead of sending whole books - I can just send you a chapter at a time as I edit - because there's no sense in you having to waste your time editing something I've already caught. SO - if you really want to, I humbly fall at your feet and kiss your toes - because I really need the help. Let me know.

TINA: Thank you. :) I wonder if some day I'll have confidence in my writing, too. I'm like that with everything, though - I did a wedding cake last summer - my first wedding - and, panicking and hysterical, I called my sister-in-law and begged her to come over and tell me she wouldn't cry if that were her wedding cake - haha. And it was beautiful - I just can't see it. I'm a see all of my personal flaws kinda person.

JERRY: I keep hearing about flooding in North Dakota - are you North or South? Am I supposed to be worried about you right now? Because I am, and if I'm not I could use that energy elsewhere (haha). Take care, you.

TEEKAY: Well said. I was going to copy and paste the specific things you said so well, then I finished reading the entire post and decided the whole thing was perfect.

MELANIE: Welcome! Hope you can hang around a while and get to know this great group of people.

I saw that Themestream died - I saw it coming, though, when they lowered the pay from 10 cents to 2 cents.

EVERYONE: I LOVE my house!!! I'm so excited - I come home every night thrilled because I get to do something else to help finish putting it all together. I spent Saturday morning making curtains for the bedrooms - tonight I'm making Kaylee a new bedspread - I can't find what I'm looking for, and when I was buying the fabric for the curtains I saw it (the fabric)! I almost bought it then - but we needed curtains more - haha.

Well, I disappear for a couple of weeks and things go nuts around here - haha. Good thing I was gone, though, or I'd have been hip deep in it, too. (grin)

Okay - back to Song of Retribution (I suck at titles...forgive me.)

Hallee

Melanie, I'm sorry I forgot to say WELCOME! Please stay a while, pull up some keys and join in this hopping place. You aren't alone. I know just how you feel - have been there myself; many of this group has. But come back and chat here with us and soon you'll find those cobwebby feelings of lonely-writer blues will drop away. Oh, JOY! Others who don't look at me strangely and wonder what I REALLY do with my time... (well, we really can't see you, honest, but there will be no strange looks anyhow)...

Tina and Teekay: LOVED YOUR POEMS for shortie night!
Mary, I thought your shortie's just fine the way it is.
A house that has everything exactly as we dream it is the house we build ourselves! (Main floor laundry, don't I wish... *biting knuckles*
Interesting shorties all 'round... but where are the rest of 'em?

Sasquatch, were you speaking of happiness? The thing that means to be content, and most humans have forgotten it?
I haven't. I should thank my lucky days that I haven't. Hang on a minute and I'm going to do just that.

Heather

Just went back and noticed I missed a few posts -
CONGRATULATIONS, HALLEE! Way to go! I'm so happy for you, finishing another novel! If you want a proofreader to make sure you've got 'everything' just right in your first novel, make no bones about asking me! (Excuse me, please, I'm foaming down my chin)

And best of luck with finding an agent. I'm going to try striking it out on my own with Canadian publishers and see what happens before I try landing myself an agent.
But with that many books ready to go, I think it's wise of you to seek one.

All for now

:o)

Heather

Hey, guys, yesterday I was going to say something, but by the time I finished reading the posts, I didn't bother posting anything...

but, I did want to say: If the U.S. didn't ALSO need China for trade as much as China seems to need the U.S. to trade TO, I'm sure there would be no such trade agreements. Remember that. The U.S. wouldn't have all those inexpensive items that China is so good at manufacturing for less than we can make the same items for. I understand that there is great concern with slave wages, or sweat shops and such, but we keep buying those items anyhow. We keep buying soccer balls too. (I'm talking about that expose on children working in sweat shops for some five cents a day... and I don't want to go there right now. Makes me shudder)

So, though the President may well have whispered in China's ear that the trading will stop if China gets its collective fur up (remember, this is a comment thought of before the U.S. apologized) but the U.S. has as much to lose by not trading with China. Name ten things in your house (besides furniture) NOT made in China. It's surprising, isn't it?

Well, maybe not.

I know Kmart and Zellers would not be open if it weren't for the products from China.

Anyhow, I just wanted to tell Ben something: I do not find you shallow. I think you know a lot more about politics than I do, so I won't go any further and comment on what was said; I will say that on some things I was nodding my head.
For those inclined to get hotheaded over political issues: Try to read posts concerning politics with a cool, ice-filled glass of tea on hand to press firmly against your foreheads, and then take twenty deep breaths and do five sets of finger exercises BEFORE making any remarks of your own. And read things twice to make sure they really said what they meant, and meant what you THOUGHT they said!
It's easy to think someone is saying something completely without reason until the post is read CALMLY, and we shall most times see that what they are saying has merit.

I don't want Americans to curl up and die at all. In fact, I very much enjoy the company of many an American person. I would like to forget about borders and differences for a while, and just meditate on the fact that we are all loving, breathing, thinking, and interesting, as individuals, and I don't think for a minute that any one single person can be a representation of their country as a whole. Their is no all-American boy, there is no all-Canadian girl. There is no absolute normal. If you look closely enough, you'll find that those all-American seeming boys you know really aren't stereotypes, aren't typical of anything except maybe average on a growth chart. Because we see and experience so much of other cultures these days, it's hard to NOT be influenced by other places, values, and customs. What is America, but an amalgamation of many races and peoples? What is Canada, but an amalgamation as well?

BUt then again, I'm probably way off topic...

As per usual.

Love to all, and all a happy and blessed weekend.
Including the Chinese people, who have intrigued me for years. I've even learned to write some Mandarin characters... But since there are no Kung-Fu dojos around, I've been immersing myself in things Japanese this past year or so...

Oh, alright. I'll shut down all topics for now.

I don't have a shortie for tonight, I'm going to go now instead, and do some writing on my novel. Christi, don't worry, I've got another bit... should be sizeable by early next week. (Break for Easter possible, if not very probable)

Trudy, where've you been???

Americo, are you out there, watching this pot stir itself?

It's kind of interesting, watching it boil over without any help on my part for once.

Heather

Ok, well it has been one of those days. The kind where nothing goes right, I should have known better then to have started a stupid political thing here, every time I do this, it only turns out bad. If I pissed anyone off, I am sorry, if I pointed my finger at the wrong party, I am sorry. (Beginning to sound like the US Gov. Huh)

That said, I will get on with my life, my writing, and anything else that I can get on with.

The snow has finally melted, I went outside today with my toy digital camera. It isn't really a toy, but just one step above a toy. I found it on Ebay, a site I shall have to stay away from, as I usually buy things I don't need like this stupid camera. It has an all plastic body and no flash. It has a view finder much like the old 126 box camera's my mom used to use to photograph my sisters. (There are NO photographs of me until I turned thirteen years old but that is another story) The only controls on it are the power switch and the shutter button. It has a mini pizo speaker, and you run it by beeps. Two short beeps means you don't have enough light. Three short beeps means something else. One long beep means it took the picture when you pressed the button. Oh and if you forget to turn it off, it beeps about every minutes or so. You can take 24 pictures with it, then the little LED on the back lights up. You can continue taking pictures and the camera replaces them starting with picture number 1, and going forward. To get the pictures onto your computer, it came with two CD's full of software, some of which is kind of nice. It has a plug that you hook to the serial port, and the photo's download to your computer, and display on the screen. To clear the memory you have to remove the battery for a minute or so. It runs on a 9 volt battery, so there is no problem finding battery's when it runs out, in fact the Bureau keeps me supplied with rechargable 9 volt batteries for my TENS unit, so if I get in a pinch, I can use one of them I guess. I picked this camera up for 20 bucks plus 5 shipping, so if I use it once or twice, I think I will have my money's worth. I got it with plans of taking it along camping, and I think I will do that unless of course, I forget it. I seem to be more forgetful all the time, it is probably the pills. My Dr. has changed them again, as they quit working. Seems I wear out pain killers in six or eight months, and we have to rotate. I guess that is all right, so long as the bureau picks up the cost.

Oh well I ramble on again.

Have A fulfilling night.

Jerry

Pushed the publish button before I had gotten to read that over. It's pretty self explanatory that it was my shortie on discovery for tonight, but wish I hadn't hit that button so snappy.

The realtor practically drug us up the front steps of the old yellow house on Prospect Street. We had given her explicit details of what we were looking for and that house didn't even come close. We had been searching for months, increasingly frustrated. Some were too big, some too small, too choppy, too expensive, too 'just not us'.

My husband and I exchanged glances as we waited behind the realtor as she unlocked the door. Two deep breaths from us and we were inside. Ok, so the foyer was charming with its parquet floor and the oak stairs leading up to the second level, but there was no way I would like the rest of it at all. Well, the french doors weren't all that bad, and I could learn to live with the hardwood floor in the dining room. I caught my reflection in a huge mirror; the light from the bay window was very flattering. Bay window, "Well, wouldn't that be just the perfect place for our Christmas tree honey?"

"Sure would."

My husband and I held hands, following the realtor through the rest of the house. I could hear our future children bounding down the stairs and rested my hand on my growing belly.

"Gary, this is the first house we have looked at that had all the bedrooms on the same floor."

"Yes, but there is only one bathroom. You know we wanted two."

"I know, but it seems silly to give up other things that are right just because of a silly bathroom," I said.

"Well, you wanted a first floor laundry and this one is in the basement."

"I will just make you carry it all up and down the stairs."

"How did I know that was coming?"

I hugged my husband as tight as I could. "I love this house."

Gary turned to the realtor and smiled. "You heard the lady. Let's go talk numbers."

Hi All,

TO WHOEVER CARES: C'mon you guys. I love a great debate too, specially if I'm winning it, but you guys shouldn't get peed off (lookit that will you, peed off! When I actually mean pissed off, maybe I'm becoming refined *snort*) with each other over this.
The world will go to hell in a handbucket the way these governments carry on after all, they're only run by humans. It's up to each and everyone of us to rise above this sort of thing, not get into fisty cuffs aboout it.
This is all from the POV of a person who has had a reasonably peaceful life with very little pain or heartache who has good health and has never been hungry, never feared for my life or the lives of those I love and has always had choices.
Were it any different I may have a whole different outlook.

And no way am I apologizing - I'm big enough as it is. :-D

Okay, everyone join hands. "Kumba ya my Lord, Kumba yaaaaaaaaa. Kumba ya my Lord, Kum.........okay, who's that making farty noises?? Is that you BEN? DEBRA?"

BEN: You are so selfish. Everyone is selfish. And so it is written.

HALLEE: All the best to you. I'm sure you'll make it. I have great faith in your writing :-)

DEBRA: Funny? Moi? That's a relief :-)

RACHEL: Yes, I do that too, though I don't deliberately carry a notebbok around with me. Usually what I get are story ideas or maybe an opening line and then I jot it down on the nearest bit of paper I can find, but there are a lot of things I see that perhaps I should write down, but instead I record it mentally. Which suits me because that way I can conjure up the whole scene, weather, scents, sounds, emotions which I probably wouldn't get if I just jotted it down on paper and relied on that when the time came.



DISCOVERY:
It took a long time,
a lifetime.
It took laughter and heartache,
love and hate,
She didn't do it alone,
there were others,
who helped
her to
find
herself.


Roight, tha's it, I'm orf. Daughter number one has made pancakes. *slobber* *drool*

This just came to me. Moments like this I feel like a writer.

Pinnacles

A sky of azure, topaz and lapis
Roams above a caldera valley
Where a glacier still sits in a frigid lake.
Blossoms of paintbrush, blood red
Goat’s beard, and purple lupine
Grow underfoot
Where bear, lynx and deer
Live in beat with the slow pulse
Of trickling melting glacier water.
Here, I will not find a car
Or a stereo blasting dissonant keys
Not a wall,
Nor a roof to shelter my lost faith
In my right to be me.
Here I will discover what it means to live
Under the sky
Above the ground
Among the pine trees and devil’s club.
Wild alpine wind will peel off the skin of society
Tearing away my self doubt,
And the notion that I am a stranger to myself.
In the mountain fresh water I am baptized
My soul is renewed.
At last I discover the truth of who I am.

© Tina Chambers
April 12, 2001


Hallee, my offer still stands about reading your books!

Rachel, I wish ideas came that often! Occassionally I'm gripped tightly by numerous ideas, but more often not. I'm green with envy! ((HUGS)) for Sebastian :-)

Must go take my dog for a walk. She's workin' hard on me, with those big brown eyes and alert pointy ears...
TTFN
T.J.

Mark - I put that up in my own defense, you see, I was accused unjustly of calling Ben a drunk, so I researched the accusation in the archives and found his response to something you said. I hope I don't anger you by posting that, but it is a direct cut and paste.

Since that time, Ben and I have come to an understanding, and buried the hatchet, so to speak. But if you are interested, you can check the archives back in mid January I think it was, or maybe early I don't recall for sure, but it was in there somewhere.

Jerry

JERRY -- Whose post were you reading? I don't recall the 'drunk' remark you allude to. Only person I said that to was (well, I forgot who). Someone here wrote about having a drink to post here, having a drink to get off work, having a drink to stay up, having a drink to ... you get the point. and that was ?? two months ago ?? I said, man, if you have to drink to accomplish those things, then you have problems.

I did my thing with the drinking, and now I'm doing my thing with recovery. Sometimes I can spot a problem arising and sometimes I see it exaggerated. But I don't recall pointing my finger your way.

Discovery huh? Well I don't know how well this fits discovery, but I think it does. At any rate here it is:

Discovery
by Jerry Ericsson
Things were not going well for Bob and Candy. It was a big change going from the life of a soldier and soldiers family to that of a rookie cop. Rookies have to work long hard hours, hours of training followed by hours of work. Candy felt like a widow, when Bob was at work, she worried for his safety, when he came home she worried at hers. The hours, the job, the loss of his status as a sergeant charged with the responsibility of all the men in his rifle platoon.

It was this feeling of loss that led her to her friendship with Becky, Becky was about her age, and Becky had recently broken up with her husband, who worked part time with the Department as a reserve officer. It was the loneliness the led them both to their meeting with the transient combiners who came to the farming community to hire out their machines to the local farmers at so much per acre. The combiners were not only transients but worse yet they were Mexicans. Candy was intrigued by their gentle ways and simply loved to hear them talk with their foreign accent. She knew too that should Bob ever learn of her affair, he would be so much angrier, what with his prejudice against Mexicans. Yes if he knew she was fucking a “Spic!” he would simply die, or maybe murder?

The night was long, and to battle the boredom and to help with all the combiners, Bob called in for a Reserve officer to ride along and assist. His beat that night took him past his home, but it wasn’t until nearly midnight that he found the time to swing by the house. As his headlights flashed the yard, he noticed an old yellow pickup sitting in his drive. He knew that pickup, it belonged to those frigging spic’s from the Grandon Crew.
He slowed the squad car, as he neared his home. As he passed, he saw one of the combiners coming down the stairs, he was hooking his belt as he walked down. The could only mean one thing, he was coming from HIS bedroom. He was screwing HIS wife! In anger, Bob swung the squad into his yard, blocking the exit of the pickup. He ordered Sam to remain in the squad, and call for backup if he thought it necessary. Sam had no idea what Bob was going to do, but he did as he was told, he remained in the car.

Bob kicked the door open, and with his .357 Magnum drawn, he raged into the kitchen!

There he saw the table with dirty dishes, and half eaten steaks on the plates. He heard giggling coming from the living room, and ran there. When he entered he saw his wife in an embrace with a Mexican.

“FREEZE SPIC!” he ordered, as he drew back the hammer on his revolver.

The face of the Mexicans turned white with fear, they had no idea what was happening, but he knew it could not be good.

Bob took a deep breath and slowly lowered the hammer.

“You fucking spic sons of bitches have five seconds to get the fuck out of my house, and five minutes to get the fuck out of my town” he screamed at the top of his voice.

The Combiners ran from the house, and seeing their pickup blocked in by the squad car, the ran as fast as they could away from the house.

“We will talk about this in the morning!” Bob said, as he left his house.

Strangely the next day, Bob and Candy talked, really talked for the first time since they left the army. That afternoon found Bob on the phone with his Army Recruiter. Some men simply belong in the Army, Bob was one of those men.

Teekay - I do and I don't have a notebook. That kind of depends on what you are asking. You may think that is a simple enough question to answser. It is not. I guess I could say that yes, I have a notebook. In fact, I have many. They come on disk and on paper. I tend to keep loose notes. I organize them in with the writing that they relate to at the time. When I am done with them, then they end up in a large stack. I sort the stack from time to time and put the notes with other stories that they may apply to. I have a file that I call "some thoughts" Isn't that original (grins)? It is full of little Rachelisms and things that are of interest to me. Lines that I plan for certain characters to speak, themes that sort of stuff. I bet that is what you are wondering about. I almost always have a nub of pencil and at least one sheet of paper on my person. I take notes all the time. I write poems when I'm out and about walking. Sometimes I'll whip off a short story in the middle of a hike. that sort of stuff. My husband is used to me giving little gasps and scrambeling around for paper and pencil while he is driving. He just doesn't like it when I do that while I'm driving (grin/wink). I'm kidding of course. I pull over if I feel the urge to write on my way someplace. do you get that? Do you ever just have an idea and don't want to wait even a moment to get it down? I find that if I wait I will often loose the flavor, scent and texture of the thoughts.

It's interesting that you should mention autumn leaves. In the novel that I have turned my writing to in the past few days I have opened up a whole autumn thing, leaves and all. I haven't worked on this novel in months. I've missed it.

I think that yah should ramble on as much as you like (smiles).

Take care you,

Rachel

BEN,

You remind me so much of my father-in-law. For the most part you can take that as a compliment. Your wife must be a saint to put up with you, but I bet she will never be able to complain about her life being dull.

Rhoda

BEN - Ok, now you had me there for a bit, that bit about my calling you a drunk. Well since I have absolutely nothing better to do then find out what the hell you were talking about I researched it. Went back in the notebook and read until I found it, here is your reply to the person who called you a drunk:

MARK?
A drunk. That's good. Now it doesn't matter what I say to defend myself, because you'll never believe it.
I know I said I wasn't going to post again until Thursday, but I had such a calm, peaceful night at work, that when I came home, I wanted to read these posts. I don't think having a couple of drinks when I come home at one in the morning is such a big deal. I don't do it regularly. But if I have a drinking problem, then I'll face up to it when it affects things in my life and it's too late to do anything about it--just like any other drunk would. Okay

Does that bring back any memories?

Maybe you were mistaken huh?

Anyhow, I don't come to this great site to fight, I come to be with my friends, and for awhile there I thought you were one. If you don't want to be, then that is just fine, I will no longer consider you one, but if that is so, it is your decision, not mine.

Jerry

BEN - I never said I thought you were shallow. On the contrary, you demonstrate a depth in your writing that many of us do not often see.
I have no quarrel with you, though I may disagree with many of the things you said.
I am a USian, true, but I am not blind to the fact that many of the things this country claims as "sacred rights" are bogus - and better called greed. Until that is corrected, (and it can only be corrected by a change of heart) we'll continue on down the "slippery slope" to yet another wallowing in savagery. We can stave it off for a time with our paranoia, but barring divine intervention I believe it's inevitable.
The views I hold are not popular here, on either left or right, but I believe they hold up vertically, and that's where my true allegiance lies.
howard

Ben - Do you have the right Jerry? Somehow I don't see myself calling anyone an alcoholic. I don't remember doing it anyhow, in fact I don't remember getting into a fight with you. I did get into a heated debate with Garrys during the election thing, but I don't recall anything with you.

At any rate, feel completely free to be a communist, it is no hair off my ass. In fact I think you would make a very good communist with your attitude. After all, you are quite good at trying to put out propaganda about others politics, you seem to enjoy running down the beliefs of others, and your support for the oppressive dictatorship that holds the people of China in a firm grip seems authentic.

I am of the age where I had to under go bomb drills in grammar school, you know drop, duck and cover. I remember the building of the Berlin Wall, in fact I have relatives who were in the Army Reserves who were activated during that crises. I recall the horror of a near nuclear hollocost when President Kennedy told the Russians to get their missiles out of Cuba. I remember President Kennedy's death at the hands of a pro communist looser, who had in fact defected to Russia, and only returned to murder a great man. I remember reading of the hanging of the black men in the South, I recall the hatred of racism. I remember being warned that if a black man is walking down the sidewalk, on the same side of the street as I was, to cross the street so as not to have my throat cut.

No, you can't tell me of the horror of repression in China, then compare it to our prison system. I have toured prisons, and in fact I was the administrator of two different jail facilities during my years as a police chief, and had to ensure that the prisoners were treated humanely, with ample room, comfort, and access to television, with free food and smokes, to keep them under control.

No, I don't think you can teach me anything new, and yes, I too would like to see pot legalized, but that is my personal opinion.

Jerry

Hi all! I'm going to go back through and read posts soon, but not today - I'm slammed busy.

Finished my book yesterday morning. This morning I started editing book no. 1 and pulled a list of agents currently accepting proposals from a very informative site - I've posted the link above. I found an agent from the list that does romance and women's fiction, so I'll be sending out a couple of letters to them today.

I have no idea what's going on or who's talking to whom or whatever...today is Thursday - I guess I'll get the theme at some point - maybe try to do one before I leave the office today.

It's good to be back - though it will be hard to catch up, I'm sure.

(smiles & hugs)
Hallee

JERRY:
I know I'm as shallow as a sink full of dish water in your eyes Jerry, and that doesn't bother me in the least--in fact, I didn't lose any sleep at all last night. We two just got off on the wrong foot right from day 1, and haven't even tried to get our balance again. No big deal to me, if it isn't to you? I meant no disrespect to you because you were waving your flag on Innaugeration Day--but you were all too willing to take it as such. But wasn't it you that implied I was an alcoholic? Without even knowing me as a person? And that just because I was having a drink that happened to be in the fridge--and purposely left for me there because I was on the afternoon shift and it was two o'clock in the morning? I think that was said because I said I didn't want to talk politics anymore--or maybe that was after, but that doesn't really matter anymore, does it; it's a moot point. But, living twenty minutes from the border, all I was watching was primary election coverage. Don't get me wrong about this, okay? THE WEST WING is one of the best shows on T.V., and pretty well the only show I go out of my way to watch, aside from hockey now that the playoffs are starting, but hey, I am Canadian, right?

But just one final word about China. I'm well aware of what goes on there in case you didn't know. But even if millions of Chinese want to leave the country--even millions and millions--isn't that still less than 1%? And you tell me their form of Communism isn't working? Is that an informed opinion, or a personal one? Sounds personal to me. Just like the sanctions against Vietnam. Geeze, last I heard the war was over. How long does one country punish another country for past trangressions? Isn't that what precipatated the second world war? I'm sorry there was a war in the first place--it should have never happened--and I'm sad for all the lives lost--and I in no way would say anything against anyone who served there (yes, even you), but the situation there is political, not personal. So one country holds another country down, and defeats it economically just because it happened to lose the war? Tell me it's not personal.

And while I'm at it, I'll even address Howard. Beatings and torture? Corporal punishment just ended over here when I was in tenth grade, sometime during the 70's. I work with a guy who used to be a prison guard, and everything that happens over there, used to happen over here on a regular basis. Now it's down to a minimal, but it's still going on. But now, if they have a real problem with someone they don't like, they either beat him the moment he walks through the door, or they put him out in general population. The only reason we know anything about what goes on in the prisons over there is because of Ammnesty International. Have you ever seen the show OZ on H.B.O.? Tell me you want to go to prison in the States? Repression of its citizens? I used to have a penpal when I was a kid, wrote to her right up until she got married, or there about. She lived in Bulgaria. She was fully indocrinated into the Communist Ideal--much the same way the children in China are, and much the same way we are on this side of the world. Nuture and environment. Remember? You say po-tay-to, I say po-tah-to. And as for religion, well, since spending ten years researching early Christian religion and getting deep enough into it to come to a point in my life where I think it's easier just to swear the whole thing off--and this is after being raised a good little Catholic boy--I'd rather not dicuss the "Opiate of the Masses" and have everyone here after my hide. But if you really think the people in China don't worship the old gods, just like the people in Russia didn't still follow Mother Church, then I guess your belief in the sensitivity of Mankind isn't as strong as you first thought it was. People will always believe in God and the gods--you can't take that away from them. Oh yes, and if there was over one billion people living in the U.S., would you not support Abortion and State Controlled Family sizes? I wonder, would there be enough food to feed everyone? Why is that even a question? I'm sorry, forgive me, but with one billion people and the population still growing, don't you think drastic measures were needed just for the survival of everyone? As it is, you have earthquakes and natural disaster where they claim the lives in the tens of thousands--and we're talking fifty to eighty thousand here. I once heard a Chinese official talking on some news magazine show, and when someone mentioned the population problem and the drastic measures China was taking to try and keep it under control, the man looked at the interviewer and asked him if he wanted to take a couple of hundred million Chinese off their hands to make things a little easier. Do you? And of course its State control of physical resources, isn't that what Communism is in the first place?

Like I said, you guys are looking at this with your own personal slant on things. If you lived over there, would you know any different? It's nuture and environment. Land of the Free and home of the Brave isn't what works for everyone I guess, even if we'd like to think it should.

Oh yes, and Jerry btw, back in the 30's it was the Dominion of Canada, a part of the British Empire--re: Imperialism?

So, have I upset you guys all over again? :-) I have to put one of those things there just so you know that I'm laughing, I guess. Like you said, I'm shallow, and the sooner you think that and remember it everytime you read me, the easier it will be for you. I don't take life too seriously, but I guess you do. I don't take politics seriously either, and religion not at all--much to my wife's dismay. Just call me a godless heathen, she does--she cries for my soul like Kay Corleone in "The Godfather".

I believe in doing unto others as you would have them do unto you; I believe in the sanctity of marriage, and the love that exists between a man and a woman, and that the bond should never be broken. I'