From: B.K.<BR>
Date: 3 January 2001<P>

SC Queen: Love your poems lately. 'Partners' is wonderful. What me mad? Impossible...LOL LOL I'm the biggest softie in the world, just don't get me mad...LOL<BR>
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Terry: Darlin, let's mark our calenders and get this over with, before I go crazy..LOL (Kidding, but boy is my house toasty warm tonight...LOL)<BR>
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Distant Moon: Thanks for your comments. You know just as I finally understand Riggs, you come along and give me more puzzles to figure out..&gt;Keep them coming.<BR>
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Gala: God, you know the Ridge poems just take me there every time, they are so wonderful. My favorites! You make me drool over that cabin.<BR>
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Riggs: I want some of what you are taking, eating or drinking lately...LOL Give us a hint of whats driving these <BR>
poems of late..just wonderful reads...Thank you.<BR>
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Slug: Thanks woman. Glad to see you back. I know it's been hard on you lately. New Year will be better for us all lets hope.<BR>
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Kevin: Your word structures are always incredible. Keep them coming please.<BR>
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Gup: Where are you Darlin. Missing you lately!<BR>
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Jack: You know how much I love your writing, don't care what name you use, I could pick you out. <BR>
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Peter: Your poem was simply beautiful..please write more.<BR>
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Everyone is wonderful here and I know I always leave something out. Till next time...<BR>
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bk
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From: slug<BR>
Date: 3 January 2001<P>

scqueen: "Just for looks" reminded me of an old old dixie chicks song called Pink Toenails. When i find the lyrics (my mom has the tape) I'll post them. much more frivlous than your prose, but dealing with toenails. I enjoyed your prose, and the other two poems posted around it. good job.<BR>
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also - the terry/bk bumping...enjoyable.
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From: slug<BR>
Date: 3 January 2001<P>

EVERYONE: in the past week i have managed (under circumstances) to disconnect my brain from the the rest of me. I'd like to take this moment to thank everyone for their condolences and for the chance to share my grandmother (Della) with people who understand the pain of losing her, but who i don't feel i have to be strong for. <BR>
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i don't think i've taken the time to (ever) say how much this site means to me. I've been writing since i was old enough to tell stories (before i could even spell) but only when i started posting did i start sharing without the influence of a school assignment. I feel like i've grown so much. and the positive comments that flow like water around here are so helpful and bolstering. you are all (gala, dee, jack, terry, BK, scqueen, mira, GUPPY(where are you?), and everyone else i make a point to click on at least once every few days) critical people in my life. sounding boards, touchstones, fairy godmothers, and friends. The new year is already better than last year. and bk - i know it's bad luck, but TRUST ME - this next year can ONLY be better. thank you. and happy new year.
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From: terry<BR>
Date: 3 January 2001<P>

Riggs~ There is a third explaination in answer to 'The Man Who Thought Too Much' that you never offered. Sam has such a negative cognitive reference paridigm that he never allows himself the option of Jenny simply telling the truth. After all, there is a big clue that she is being honest. The fact Jenny was ready and willing to reschedule another date right then, instead of a vague,"I'll call you later" remark was a big clue to me....<BR>
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t.
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From: scqueen<BR>
Date: 3 January 2001<P>

Riggs ~ Terry has a point. On the other hand, if a girl really wants to get out of a date with a guy she sould tell him the truth so that he isn't put in this situation. A little over a year ago, my sister went out with a "nice guy". Just as she was about to give him a chance, another guy moved back to town (coincidently, both guys had the same name).<BR>
<BR>
She called and told me that she didn't know how to dump the nice guy to go out with the other. How could she be mean to someone who just drove over to see her on his vintage motorcycle with a bouquet of flowers, to take her to dinner on her birthday? <BR>
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I told her to tell him the truth and not over the phone. So she did. He was hurt and when she wanted to "remain friends" he stood his ground and said he didn't think so. After dating the other guy, she realized he was pretentious and shallow.<BR>
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She went back to the nice guy and told him she'd made a mistake. He didn't make it easy on her but they started dating. They were just married in October and are expecting their first child. I've never seen her happier. She said my advice was the best she'd ever gotten and probably why he gave her a second chance.<BR>
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Moral of my story? Nice guys can finish first. And honesty is the best policy.<BR>

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From: scqueen<BR>
Date: 3 January 2001<P>

Riggs ~ Terry has a point. On the other hand, if a girl really wants to get out of a date with a guy she should tell him the truth so that he isn't put in this situation. A little over a year ago, my sister went out with a "nice guy". Just as she was about to give him a chance, another guy moved back to town (coincidently, both guys had the same name).<BR>
<BR>
She called and told me that she didn't know how to dump the nice guy to go out with the other. How could she be mean to someone who just drove over to see her on his vintage motorcycle with a bouquet of flowers, to take her to dinner on her birthday? <BR>
<BR>
I told her to tell him the truth and not over the phone. So she did. He was hurt and when she wanted to "remain friends" he stood his ground and said he didn't think so. After dating the other guy, she realized he was pretentious and shallow.<BR>
<BR>
She went back to the nice guy and told him she'd made a mistake. He didn't make it easy on her but they started dating. They were just married in October and are expecting their first child. I've never seen her happier. She said my advice was the best she'd ever gotten and probably why he gave her a second chance.<BR>
<BR>
Moral of my story? Nice guys can finish first. And honesty is the best policy.<BR>

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From: scqueen<BR>
Date: 3 January 2001<P>

thanks guys for all this morning's compliments. sorry the above posted twice. not awake yet but inspired nonetheless...
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From: Riggs<BR>
Date: 3 January 2001<P>

Squeen and Terry<BR>
<BR>
I see the wisdom in both your comments. Especially the idea of a negative cognitive reference paridigm. However I have seen too many people get strung along, to completely discount the theory that by being analytical to a point, one can often see through what is clearly nothing but a soft rebuke. It is a subject which fascinates me as I see it played out again and again. What fascinates me most is that it seems to be the one area where people refuse to learn from experience, however brutal. <BR>
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I now refuse to let myself be so overly analytical that I will attempt to see meaning in every spoken word. We are human beings and as such are prone to saying things for no other reason that to fill a silent moment. I agree that both guys and girls should be honest first and foremost. Because in truth, without honesty, whatever you may think you have between yourself and your partner, is only imagined and not real. It is such a tragic shame that the thing that ruins so many relationships before they even get off the ground, is a lack of truth or honesty. I'm sure that everyone has felt the raw pain of being lied to by someone we cared for at one point or another. What is doubly cruel is if lie has been played out and lived for some time. Somewhere there must lie a happy medium someplace midway between naivete and paranoia which I reckon we should all get our teeth into.<BR>
<BR>

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From: Angel<BR>
Date: 3 January 2001<P>

Nice guys can not only finish first! They are the only ones that can 'finish' in my book:)
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From: Brandy ~ [email-masked]<BR>
Date: 3 January 2001<P>

I have a question for anyone that can answer it.  Is there a search engine and if there is...how do I get to it??  That would be a nice feature if there isn't one..<BR>
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Brandy
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From: Baby<BR>
Date: 3 January 2001<P>

Riggs
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From: Baby<BR>
Date: 3 January 2001<P>

Riggs  <BR>
<BR>
In your little story you have captured all of those people that try not to fall in love.  I am one of those people.  I analize every excuse, reason, and even the lies until I don't care about the whole thing.  Sam will never be successful in love because he won't let himself go out on a limb.  He is probably the type of person that would push people away right when the get close to them.  His excuss, the opposite sex wasn't ready for commitment, when really he never gave them a chance.  Maybe he should stop treating them the way he thinks females want to be treated, and just be the person he is.  Females may talk like they know want we want.  But believe me, we don't have a clue to want we want.
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From: Baby<BR>
Date: 3 January 2001<P>

Riggs  <BR>
<BR>
In your little story you have captured all of those people that try not to fall in love.  I am one of those people.  I analize every excuse, reason, and even the lies until I don't care about the whole thing.  Sam will never be successful in love because he won't let himself go out on a limb.  He is probably the type of person that would push people away right when they get close to him.  His excuss, the opposite sex wasn't ready for commitment, when really he never gave them a chance.  Maybe he should stop treating them the way he thinks females want to be treated, and just be the person he is.  Females may talk like they know want we want.  But believe me, we don't have a clue to want we want.
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From: Jenna Holland([email-masked])<BR>
Date: 3 January 2001<P>

Sequeen- "Partners," "Just for looks," and "Games."  Loved them all!  <BR>
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-Jenna-  
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From: Ali<BR>
Date: 3 January 2001<P>

Elaina~ Thanks...I'm happy that you like it...<BR>
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Terry~ Glad that you liked 'Arms of Grace'...means a lot to me...so, thanks.<BR>
                   Love and sunflowers, Ali
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From: Akash ([email-masked])<BR>
Date: 3 January 2001<P>

2 Angel & Gala ~ Thanks for your time and compliments. I appreciate it very much. Thanks again.
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From: me aka niki<BR>
Date: 3 January 2001<P>

2 Brandy~ Thank you so much for your comments<BR>
I'll keep and eye out for some of your poems<BR>
Thx<BR>
~*~
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From: Michael (busy bee)<BR>
Date: 3 January 2001<P>

Riggs ~ If you don't give her a chance, you'll never know. Everyone is different. Every chance is different. The difference between winning and losing is not giving up until it's over. Just because you lost the last one doesn't mean you'll lose this one. How many times has she blown you off? You got to give it at least 3 benefits of the doubt I think.<BR>
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And there are many many days where I've wanted to just throw in the towel. Like today.<BR>
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Because she hasn't returned my call yet.
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