From: nikki...exhausted<BR>
Date: 14 July 2000<P>

Hey lovebugs!<BR>
<BR>
There are some great subs out there from the last couple of days.  Dee, Gala, Gup, Chris W., Chris L., Claire...and others.<BR>
<BR>
Forgive me for not making singular comments....work is kicking my ass (sneaking a peek at Kirk...can I SAY that??) this week, and I am so glad that tomorrow is Friday.<BR>
<BR>
Talk to you all later...and I hope that you are all doing as fabulously as my spirit is trying to be!<BR>
<BR>
g'night lovebugs.....nikki
<HR>
From: Galadrial<BR>
Date: 14 July 2000<P>

<BR>
<BR>
Chris dear------<BR>
<BR>
           Seems to me I commented on some of your stuff---and i'm awfully picky....so either you have talent you don't yet appreciate--------or I have no taste.<BR>
<BR>
      <BR>
           Which is it?<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
                                Love Auntie Gala
<HR>
From: Galadrial<BR>
Date: 14 July 2000<P>

<BR>
<BR>
Claire?<BR>
<BR>
         I have one friend in all the world that I love and depend on, and can never imagine being without. Her name is Christina---and she's my sister. I read your poem, and nearly called her at 1:15 am---just to tell her that I love her.<BR>
<BR>
         I mourn your loss...and thank you for reminding the rest of us to love our loved ones...<BR>
<BR>
         A beautiful poem, written with great emotion...<BR>
<BR>
                                         Hugs,<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
                                          Galadrial
<HR>
From: Tara<BR>
Date: 14 July 2000<P>

Chris W:<BR>
<BR>
Anything I can do to help improve your mood.... even though I love your stuff... and for selfish reasons rather enjoying your work.<BR>
<BR>
I am hoping to write something loving soon, as there is new interest in my life, but he just seems to bring out my skeptical side. :-(<BR>
<BR>
oh well, take care of you.. tara
<HR>
From: Chris W.<BR>
Date: 14 July 2000<P>

gala: well, that question is certainly not easy to answer.  but, i appreciate your commenting on some of my stuff earlier.  i guess i have just felt that my recent subs have been lackluster.  but that's ok, sticking to my eastern influenced philosophy: one should not hold onto the feeling of accomplishment or of defeat, but should only rememeber what worked and what didn't.<BR>
<BR>
and tara:  thanks so much for your kind words.  i know i should be writing mainly for me, but i do love it when people take notice and enjoy something i've written (so i'm a little selfish too :))<BR>
 
<HR>
From: Tara<BR>
Date: 14 July 2000<P>

Chris W:<BR>
<BR>
Selfishness sometimes is a good thing.... <BR>
<BR>
and I hope Gala and dee don't mind - my kind words to you, although I don't stand a chance with that stiff of competition..<BR>
<BR>
Tara
<HR>
From: Claire Brown Bower<BR>
Date: 14 July 2000<P>

Galadrial ~ Thank you for your kind words regarding "Time to Rest" and the loss of my sister. Yes, she was my best friend and during that tragic time in our lives, we were given the opportunity to realize and express our intense love for one another. Lives are fleeting, the time is now.  <BR>
<BR>
Your "Persephone" piece is lovely, a look beyond what we perceive to be the elemental forces of nature. A love story with symbolism abounding, your images came to life in this poem. <BR>
<BR>
Megs ~ "All Spice" is very much that. That you offer "melting pot" in both the prelude and postlude brings the ideas together and creates a very effective free verse piece. <BR>
<BR>
Chris W. ~ The words you chose to describe your  "Weeping Willow" lend themselves beautifully to the swaying green of the tree. The last two lines pull the reader back just a step from being within the image to actually understanding it. Very sad, fluid, writing. The rhythm of "Karina" is lovely.<BR>
<BR>
Zero #1 ~ I enjoyed the personification of your reflective spirit in   "The Spirit of Me."<BR>
<BR>
Kevin ~ "Soul Mates" just simply makes sense. And the open ending allows the reader to carry on after the words stop. Very nicely done, to my way of thinking.     <BR>
<BR>
Terry ~ "what I want" spills devotion from a full stream of consciousness. Excellent poetic expression.<BR>
<BR>
~ Claire 
<HR>
From: Galadrial<BR>
Date: 14 July 2000<P>

<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
Tara------<BR>
<BR>
          Don't be silly-----I am a frumpy old broad with delusions of elven grandeur---but  I hate to see an obvious talent like Chris tie himself in knots over writer's block---I call it snow blindness---when that white sheet or paper<BR>
refuses to take form?<BR>
<BR>
          And you are no slouch yourself, so enough with the<BR>
comparisons!  In the mean time, the poetry flows...<BR>
<BR>
          And Chris? Will you try something for me? Think about how a perfect summer kiss would feel, taste, or be....what smells like love to you? Sounds goofy I know---but sort of a Zen approach to poetry....load up on images...textures...flavors and it will come!<BR>
<BR>
                                  So Says Gala------<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
P.S.  Tara---I've been waiting forever for someone to notice that the self important title i sometimes use---Elven Imperitrix, Elven Information Officer  actually break down to E-I-E-I-O!!!!!!!!!!!!!  <BR>

<HR>
From: Chris W.<BR>
Date: 14 July 2000<P>

tara: i agree with gala.  your writing is great, and i look forward to reading your latest!<BR>
gala:  thanks for the advice.  i'll try it out and see what happens.  any advice you have will always be appreciated.<BR>
claire:  thank you for commenting...any comment from you, critical or otherwise, is certainly something to be inspired by.<BR>

<HR>
From: tara<BR>
Date: 14 July 2000<P>

Gala - <BR>
<BR>
i love your name - i never have caught onto that --- EIEIO<BR>
<BR>
very funny....<BR>
<BR>

<HR>
From: laurel ahlfeld<BR>
Date: 14 July 2000<P>

Sorry about the double posting....cpu locked up and I wasn't sure if that poem went through or not, so there's my good excuse ;0Þ<BR>
<BR>
*~Chris~* Well, thank you very much! A compliment like that can really make a day! And though you may think Dustbuster was disjointed, I thoroughly enjoyed it and I'm always impressed by the talent you express through your works. Chin up!<BR>
<BR>
*~Zero#1~* Your comments are really appreciated. Thanks for the inspiration! I'm sorry if I'm reading your mind, but I just get ideas and can't let them not touch paper. Glad you're enjoying them though! And may I say "The Spirit of Me" was...well, "wow". <BR>
<BR>
*~Katie~* I'm very impressed by your work. I found Tormenting Sweet Dreams easy to relate to. You have a talent with words.<BR>
<BR>
Love always,<BR>
laurel
<HR>
From: Dawn<BR>
Date: 14 July 2000<P>

I would like to thank you all...laurel, Chris W., Gala, Claire and everyone for their wonderful writing skills.  I have not written in a while, and even though I am very, very rusty, this site has made me start thinking and writing again.<BR>
<BR>
You are all very talented people, as I keep reading and reading and I hope to able to "fit in" and write some decent stuff soon.<BR>
<BR>
Take care~<BR>
Dawn<BR>
(a newbie in the blender)
<HR>
From: Chris W.<BR>
Date: 14 July 2000<P>

dawn: i just read betrayal and thought it was excellent...you really conveyed deep meaning in just a few lines.<BR>
<BR>
gala: well, i tried...and heart deep was awesome.  you hit the nail on the head there.  what a great thought!<BR>
<BR>
laurel: sensory recall was really nicely written.  and i like the way you worked with your stanzas...it made the poem very dynamic.<BR>

<HR>
From: Galadrial<BR>
Date: 14 July 2000<P>

<BR>
<BR>
Chris-------<BR>
<BR>
         Do the words "magna cum laude" mean anything to you?<BR>
<BR>
         Wow.......and nobody around to kiss!!<BR>
<BR>
                       <BR>
                                            Love Gala
<HR>
From: Tara<BR>
Date: 14 July 2000<P>

Chris W. <BR>
<BR>
you should not be able to write like that - wow - and may I repeat that - wow - very good imagery and sensory use (if that makes sense)<BR>
<BR>
T
<HR>
From: Adine<BR>
Date: 14 July 2000<P>

I think you are the one man in this world who actually knows what a woman REALLY wants. For all those other men out there they need to take your advice!!! 
<HR>
From: tara<BR>
Date: 14 July 2000<P>

Of course after I hit send<BR>
I notice the typo<BR>
sorry guys<BR>
this stuff basically sucks, but I have so much stuff in my head and unfortunately I think in rhyme most of the time anyways and well - you my dear beloved friends, are the recipients.....<BR>
<BR>
once again sorry<BR>
<BR>
crazy in love or just plain crazy<BR>

<HR>
From: Claire<BR>
Date: 14 July 2000<P>

Christopher Lake ~ "What We Have" is brilliantly both simplistic and sublime. So much said in this one sentence poem.  <BR>
<BR>
Riggs ~ I think the title of "Don't Bother" is perfect for this sardonic piece. :o)  <BR>
<BR>
Chris ~ perhaps you should try one of those new "Swiffer" dust cloths...they work great!  (teasing) Actually, you've created quite an original analogy here and expressed it very well. I enjoyed reading "Dustbuster."<BR>
<BR>
Nikki ~ You've some lines in "Superstitions" that I find particularly engaging:<BR>
 <BR>
"Send the stars my way" <BR>
and<BR>
"and the ebb and flow of<BR>
the moon's tides strum<BR>
through my blood"<BR>
<BR>
Stephen ~ What a creative presentation! "Breakup" shows your emotions vividly. <BR>
<BR>
Dawn ~ a wonderful visual piece, the format of "Betrayal" is very effective. <BR>
<BR>
~ Claire<BR>

<HR>
From: laurel ahlfeld<BR>
Date: 14 July 2000<P>

*~Chris W.~* as always, your kind words have been a perk to my day and a great encouragement. thank you! "Tongues Touching" had simply awesome imagery. You have quite a gift to show visuals through words!<BR>
<BR>
*~Stephen~* I'm really enjoying your works! "Breakup" especially got me! You had me right in the palm of your hand while I was reading it. Your style and creativity is... well...WOW!<BR>
<BR>
*~Dawn~* I can't say how much it touched me to see that compliment. Don't worry, you're far from rusty! "Dreamland" was simply sweet! <BR>
<BR>
*~Gala~* Now for you, my dear, your works have always been an enormous inspiration, but none have ever dug so deeply into my heart and mind than "Heart Deep". The analogies were great. Beautiful...beautiful<BR>
<BR>
Keep up the awesome work everyone!<BR>
Love always,<BR>
laurel
<HR>
From: Chris W.<BR>
Date: 14 July 2000<P>

tara, gala, and adine:  thanks so much for your comments.  i am very very flattered!  i have to credit gala for the inspiration though.  i took her suggestion right off the board and ran with it!<BR>

<HR>
From: Chris W.<BR>
Date: 14 July 2000<P>

and laurel...didn't mean to leave you out!!!  thank you as well, and awaiting your next!
<HR>
From: deevaa<BR>
Date: 14 July 2000<P>

(blushing) goodness Gala... at least you have Chuck to go and snog... I'm a single girl... got no one to lay a kiss on -- bar the postie or something...<BR>
<BR>
Chris that was powerful imagery... way to go sweetie, I think your best work lies in the stuff you don't try to tame... <BR>
<BR>
dee
<HR>
From: nikki..<BR>
Date: 14 July 2000<P>

Thank the gods it's Friday!!!!<BR>
<BR>
wow, there is some great stuff there, like there always is...<BR>
<BR>
Stephen--excellent job with Breakup...I love the fashion in which you wrote it!<BR>
<BR>
Chris W.--I don't know about everyone else.  I have seen the commentary going back and forth, and I would have to say that after reading your stuff, I think that you are excellent.  'Paranoia' reminds me of me, as a lot of Blenderites' pieces do...and 'Touching Tongues'...wow...and I thought I didn't need a man...where's one when you feel like kissing???<BR>
<BR>
Gala--'Heart Deep'...damn woman...you do know how to provoke a mind, and a heart, and I agree that 'i love you' has often lost it's meaning from lack of something more meaningful to say.<BR>
<BR>
Tara--'Not the same old girl' I think was excellent...a little harsh in parts, maybe, but it serves to bring the emotion out more vividly..<BR>
<BR>
Laurel--'Sensory Recall'..brings back memories of when I thought I might not go on without a love...but then I look in the mirror every morning, and am reminded that I AM alive...<BR>
<BR>
Don't know what next brilliant piece I will come up with (yeah right...me all full of myself!), but you all inspire me each and every day to keep on writing.<BR>
<BR>
Thanks lovebugs, and have a great weekend, if I don't talk to you here!<BR>
<BR>
nikki
<HR>
From: Zero #1 ([email-masked])<BR>
Date: 14 July 2000<P>

<BR>
laurel~~~Thanx for the inspiration for The Spirit of Me..you know what it's about now. I hope you didn't find it<BR>
a little to weird. I can be that way sometime. Well-o, thanx for the kind words...I appreciate them...greatly. =)<BR>
<BR>
Claire~~~I thank you for the words on The Spirit of Me. They just came out like that,,so that's how I wrote it. I couldn't hold in the way I felt so i had to try and find an escape from  reality,,and write it down, to save my soul lol<BR>
Hoped you liked what you read.<BR>
<BR>
Sincerely,<BR>
Kurt
<HR>
From: Nicole Butler             Britney 21<BR>
Date: 14 July 2000<P>

Hi 
<HR>
From: Nicole Butler     Britney 21<BR>
Date: 14 July 2000<P>

Hi like to play  baseball
<HR>