From: scqueen<BR>
Date: 3 December 2000<P>

Tanqueray Cowboy ~ The last line of "Shells" is incredible.<BR>
I am passionate about the ocean.<BR>
<BR>
BK & Terry ~ Enough already or get a room :-)
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From: B.K.<BR>
Date: 3 December 2000<P>

scqueen: If they don't let my guy come home soon I am going to go and join Mother Teresa's order...LOL LOL<BR>
<BR>
bk
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From: Angel<BR>
Date: 3 December 2000<P>

MERRY CHRISTMAS Dee....and alllllll... Have a good trip!
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From: terry<BR>
Date: 3 December 2000<P>

BK~ Wow...I need a tall glass of iced tea now before I really overheat (Big Grin). You are quite fun to play with.(Bigger Evil Grin) And 'Blue Fire Waltz' was superb!<BR>
<BR>
Angel~ I always wondered what Mrs Claus wanted! Very good  description...lol<BR>
<BR>
Tanqueray Cowboy~ 'Shells' caught the mood of walking on a deserted beach perfectly well. Funny how the majestic sea can drive home those certain themes of life so well. Very thought provoking, thank you.<BR>
<BR>
Ali~ 'Nothing to be Done' reminds me of the courage we all must find inside ourselves when we walk the valley when it inevitably comes into our world again. And just as Stephen King writes in his Dark Tower allegory, sometimes hidden among the endless weeds is a rose of the rarest beauty, awaiting a single touch that only you may provide. And it is that touch that might have the resonance to save us all in the end...thanks for sharing.<BR>
<BR>
scqueen~ 'Attic Space' was just a delight to reaad. Mom used to warn me not to step on the insulation and fall through the ceiling just that way...lol  ps. What part of the Carolinas are you from? My family is originally from Cranberry NC.<BR>
<BR>
terry
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From: terry<BR>
Date: 3 December 2000<P>

I almost forgot!<BR>
<BR>
Dee leaves today for Japan, then the states and a well earned vacation!<BR>
<BR>
Bon Voyage Dee! May your flights be safe, and may all your paths be free and clear throughout! Have a wonderful time, and enjoy every minute... <BR>
<BR>
terry
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From: B.K.<BR>
Date: 3 December 2000<P>

Terry: Oh my goodness Terry, If I didn't have you and Jack to play with. You are so much fun to write with and wow you can both wind me up.<BR>
<BR>
Jack: Ditto above for you. You and Terry keep me thinking<BR>
Keeping up with you both is hard work...LOL<BR>
<BR>
Angel: 'All I Want for Christmas' is wonderful. Ms Claus has a voice too. I love it!<BR>
<BR>
scqueen: I still have the ornaments from those days. They grow more valuable by the year. I have lots of antique xmas ornaments, but my favorite ones are the glow in the dark icicles that were on the tree when I was a little girl.<BR>
<BR>
Tanquery Cowboy: My favorite place is the ocean. It's mother earth herself. 'Shells' was so good.<BR>
<BR>
Twinky: 'By the Book' I got about 100 cook books if you need one...(kidding) nice work <BR>
<BR>
Ali: 'nothing to be done'. I can relate to this one too.<BR>
<BR>
Nikki: 'Gray Days and Moonless Nights,' I am here with you too. Good work.<BR>
<BR>
CL: Thanks for your comments and Congratulations on your engagement.<BR>
<BR>
TJ: I liked Antonio, very nice<BR>
<BR>
bk
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From: Kirk, Blender-Keeper<BR>
Date: 3 December 2000<P>

Hey gang<BR>
<BR>
Sorry I've been pretty quiet lately, and playing only minimal attention to the board.  Busy time in my life, works kind of nuts (sigh, the failure of the recent dotconomy is taking its toll). <BR>
<BR>
But the December Blender is here...
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From: scqueen<BR>
Date: 3 December 2000<P>

terry ~ i grew up in Greenwood, SC in the upstate (about an hour from Greenville). my parents are still there and are getting snow today! i'm jealous, it's going to be 70 & sunny here in CA today. I don't know Cranberry, NC? What direction is that? Where do you live now? I used to go to camp every summer in Hendersonville and to the NC mountains on trips. there is nothing more dear to my heart than the Blue Ridge Parkway (except the ocean, of course).<BR>
<BR>
bk ~ where is your guy? <BR>
<BR>

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From: nikki...still awake<BR>
Date: 3 December 2000<P>

BK ~ Thanks for your appreciation of 'Gray Days...'.  I'm trying to get out of this funk.  I think I write depressed and down-trodden well, but the friends I have that actually read my poetry are always worried about me.  <BR>
<BR>
I am going to listen to Christmas music today and see if I can't write something a little bit more in tune with the season.  You'd think I would be really excited since I get to go home this year to see my family.  I just can't seem to shake this cloud.<BR>
<BR>
Everyone keep writing!  Your words bring me encouragement and peace.  Thanks<BR>
<BR>
Talk at you later Lovebugs!  <BR>
<BR>
Nikki
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From: [email-masked]<BR>
Date: 3 December 2000<P>

To Meg,<BR>
<BR>
Are you from the Ohio Valley?  I'm from the Wheeling area.<BR>
<BR>
Patty (prettypurr)
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From: B.K.<BR>
Date: 3 December 2000<P>

Well you all, just read the December picks and they were all just wonderful as usual. You are my favorite people to play with and I always look forward to anything you put on the page. CONGRATS to all the December Picks. Keep writing everyone. You are all my inspiration for everything...well not everything, but just about anyway...LOL<BR>
<BR>
bk
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From: Ali<BR>
Date: 3 December 2000<P>

Nikki~ 'Gray Days and Moonless Nights' and 'It Could Have Been' were simply divine...they remind of something that I'm going through at the moment...they both really got to me...thank you for sharing them.<BR>
<BR>
Me aka Niki~ 'I Want' and 'I Wonder' were very good...i really like they way you write....both poems sound all too familiar to me...they remind me of my life, of what i'm dealing w/ right now...'I Wonder' especially reminds me of my situation...b/c I do, indeed, wonder those things...sigh..Thanks for sharing those...<BR>
<BR>
Love and Dreams, Ali
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From: Ali<BR>
Date: 3 December 2000<P>

Terry~ Thank you for what you said....it makes me want to go searching through those weeds...thanks...<BR>
And, Terry? Everything you've written lately(all the ginger bread stuff, and "The Dancing Flames")keeps fogging up my computer screen....hehe...wonderfull stuff.<BR>
<BR>
Love and Light, Ali
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From: Angela Ubaldo   [email-masked]<BR>
Date: 3 December 2000<P>

TJHolland~                                                  I would not mind is your printed out my story for the youth kids there.  If you want any details about me, you can e mail me at [email-masked]  or [email-masked].  I would have e mailed you but I did not see a address.  Thank you.
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From: me   aka Niki     [email-masked]<BR>
Date: 3 December 2000<P>

2 Ali- thx for your comment<BR>
I'm happy you liked them! and my way of writing:)<BR>
I read some of your poems in the december issue<BR>
and I liked "when you touch me" and " to caught up"<BR>
they are good!<BR>
I felt the same like that for a while<BR>
It's just by the way they touch you and hold you that you become so in love that you become blind to the things you don't want to see<BR>
~love is blind~<BR>
<BR>

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From: Jenna Holland ([email-masked])<BR>
Date: 3 December 2000<P>

Congrats to all thoes that made the front page!  All very well deserved!<BR>
<BR>
-Jenna-
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From: [email-masked]<BR>
Date: 3 December 2000<P>

Angela, Great story! I was almost crying at the end of it...  <BR>
*** " THE STORY OF CHRIS" FOR TOP TEN IN JANUARY!!!!!***<BR>
=)<BR>
<BR>
Always,<BR>
Daniel  =þ
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From: Nikki<BR>
Date: 3 December 2000<P>

Kirk~Thanks for the Ramble in the December Issue.  As a sufferer of OCD myself, I know from first hand experience that the beginning obbsessiveness with love is much like that of the symptoms I deal with everyday.  Too bad there is no pill that can even partially mend those who go through that intense roller coaster.<BR>
<BR>
Ali~Thanks for your comment on 'Gray Days' and 'It Could Have Been'.  It always pleases me when a piece from me can help someone else relate to what they are feeling.  It almost replaces the pain that comes with writing it in the first place.<BR>
<BR>
Congrats to all who made the Front Page this month!  And it's great to be back among friends and family who appreciate a turn of phrase every now and again.<BR>
<BR>
Later Lovebugs!  I have a ton to do today, and only the magic of the Season will see me through all of it!<BR>
<BR>
one busy little Elf~nikki
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From: the addicted elf<BR>
Date: 3 December 2000<P>

Geez!  I love this place, and I can't ever get enough of the amazing writing on this site.<BR>
<BR>
Me aka Niki~I wanted to tell you taht 'I want' and 'I Wonder' are both fantastic.  I enjoy the way you blantanly list everything to everyone.  Both are pieces that I can seriously relate to.  Thanks for sharing!<BR>
<BR>
that's it for now Lovebugs!  I'm outta here....~nikki
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From: Secret<BR>
Date: 3 December 2000<P>

I Will Hide It All<BR>
<BR>
You look at me <BR>
As I look at you<BR>
Looking at eachother we both know<BR>
What we have is spcial<BR>
<BR>
People look at us <BR>
They question motives<BR>
They spread rumors<BR>
People just don't understand our lives<BR>
<BR>
You say you love me <BR>
I say it too<BR>
You turn and walk away <BR>
I turn my back and leave<BR>
<BR>
Its hard to love someone when it can't be known<BR>
I know how you feel<BR>
Your are not alone<BR>
Your pain is shared by me<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
I gave you my heart<BR>
You gave me yours<BR>
You saw me cry<BR>
I dried your tears<BR>
<BR>
You are my best friend <BR>
You are my true love <BR>
You are my haven when I feel frightened <BR>
I am here for you when you are alone<BR>
<BR>
People question if its all for real<BR>
What can I say to explain <BR>
How can they understand when they don't know<BR>
How long can I live without you<BR>
<BR>
Is this our destiny <BR>
Is love something to be hidden<BR>
Our families don't know<BR>
Our friends don't know<BR>
<BR>
Our feelings are our secret<BR>
Our love is what is unknown<BR>
I'm ready to tell the world<BR>
But I will hide it all for you <BR>

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From: terry<BR>
Date: 3 December 2000<P>

My humble bow to all the front page picks. Thank you all for such diverse, interesting reads. Your talent and abilities shine thru with every word...and I always look forward to each and every post from everyone here, because there are so many excellent writers each month who are not chosen for the front page due to limited space, or some other reason. Keep it up, because it is read and appreciated by at least one other person here......me! <BR>
<BR>
t. 
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