From: Stands with a Smile<BR>
Date: 4 February 2001<P>

To Angela<BR>
<BR>
The submission I was referring to is "After the Melee"<BR>

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From: Galadrial<BR>
Date: 4 February 2001<P>

<BR>
<BR>
Well Dark Angel,<BR>
<BR>
               That's a hell of an intro. I think it pulls together nicely---while giving a celestial feel to a  practical concept.<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
                                           Gala
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From: nikki ([email-masked])<BR>
Date: 4 February 2001<P>

Surprise!  Yes, to those of you who remember me, I still exist.  It's been a busy year so far, and unfortunately the Blender has been made to suffer my neglect, along with my writing.<BR>
<BR>
Kirk--Thank you for the front-page pick. I always like to know when someone else can appreciate a pice of mine.<BR>
<BR>
Writers--I haven't even had a chance to glance at the new submissions, in fact, in a very long time.  I am sure they are all magnificent, as every one of you are.<BR>
<BR>
Long-time Blender friends (you know who you are)--I apologize for my absence, both here and in e-mail, or whichever other forum we make contact.  I still think of you often.<BR>
<BR>
Update on nikki--I got fired, I am still in school, and I am taking a three month trip to Eastern Europe (no, I don't know which countries yet) beginning March 26.  I hope to come back with tons of material so that I can put yet another storyline on the shelf while my overactive mind conjures more trouble for me to get into.  <BR>
I currently have a few ideas in the works for books, I haven't written poetry in forever (Lifetime was written last month), and basically I sleep 7 hours a week, which leaves entirely too much time to NOT be writing in.<BR>
<BR>
If anyone wants to keep in touch while I am in Europe, drop me a line at my precious_lana address, and I will forward a separate addres for my trip to you.<BR>
<BR>
I love you all, I miss you all, and I have to run, because I have a quilt to finish for my darling nephew's 1st birthday.<BR>
<BR>
Later lovebugs!  the elusive, yet ever charming....Nikki
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From: Anonymous, [email-masked]<BR>
Date: 4 February 2001<P>

Unrequitable is a poem I wrote as a way to deal with powerful feelings that were evoked in me by someone outside of my otherwise happy marriage.  It’s my first attempt at poetry and it’s incredibly unconcise as poetry goes: about 2000 words.  It’s not really much like the stuff that usually falls under the heading of poetry (I never could understand or appreciate poetry very much).  It could probably be better described as rhythmic prose.  I spent a ridiculous amount of time on it, and (while I know it’s not destined for greatness or anything) I can’t help but think that it yielded some interesting perspectives and turns of phrase.  I can't really show it to anyone that I know, yet I'd hate for all that work to be no more than a soundless crash in the lonely forests of my mind.  If you (or anyone) would like to see it in it’s entirety, or know where I might find a forum for such thing, please let me know.  An excerpt of it is available in the “Heart on a Sleeve” corner(near the bottom), January issue, this website.  
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From: B.K.<BR>
Date: 4 February 2001<P>

Dark Angel: That was beautiful, very well done. Thank you. Please write more for us.<BR>
<BR>
bk
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From: scqueen<BR>
Date: 4 February 2001<P>

terry ~ i, too, loved your peppermint memories. i guess valentine's day compelled me to write a piece in january called 'shaping my soul'. it was about my grandparents who i spent a lot of time with, growing up. i just had to get some of what they taught me on paper. i feel that they really shaped my definition of love. if you didn't read it, i hope you'll go back and do so. 
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From: Ali<BR>
Date: 4 February 2001<P>

Jenna~ All of your new poems are just amazing...you charge them with such emotion..Wow.<BR>
<BR>
Terry~ 'Long Skirts and Peppermint Memories' was very sweet...kind of reminded me of my grandmother...=)<BR>
<BR>
Elaina~ Your new submissions are wonderfull...<BR>
<BR>
Niki~ Great Job girl! Your writing gets better and better everytime you post. I especially loved, 'Lifetime in a Touch'...you described something I had often thought about describing...Bravo!<BR>
<BR>
Dark Angel~ 'The Gift' was awesome...I really liked it.<BR>
<BR>
Gala~ 'Revolving Ring' was so very beautiful...I am, as always, in much awe of your talent.<BR>
<BR>
Love and smiles, Ali<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>

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From: [email-masked]<BR>
Date: 4 February 2001<P>

Anonymous~  I thought that the poem was wonderfull...When I was reading it, it reminded me of something I experienced...it was just a beautiful poem...and by all means, if you continue to write, post here...I like the way you write...I believe that you said you only posted part of it...you can post all of it here, if you like...there are no rules against length...what you may not be able to share with others, as you said, is always welcome here.=)<BR>
Love and dreams, Ali
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From: Angela  [email-masked]<BR>
Date: 4 February 2001<P>

Ali~ I was looking through that January digest and I read a poem of your called "what was,"  I though it was abbsolutely beautiful.  i especially liked the part where you used the metaphor of the sun and the moon making an eclipse!  I have felt that way before in relationships and it sucks.
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From: Angela  [email-masked]<BR>
Date: 4 February 2001<P>

To: stands with a smile~<BR>
I liked that poem.  It was pretty cool.  It envoked feelings that are all to familiar.  =)
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From: Ali<BR>
Date: 4 February 2001<P>

Angela~ Thank you!! =) I'm very happy you liked it!<BR>
Love and light, Ali
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From: Elaina<BR>
Date: 4 February 2001<P>

Ok, I'm a little confused, on the new submissions page there are only the submissions from Feb. but the front page picks aren't up yet and in the heart on a sleeve corner it's still last months stuff. Can someone tell me what's going on??<BR>
xoxo<BR>
elaina 
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From: Melissa,  [email-masked]<BR>
Date: 4 February 2001<P>

Hey, I submitted a few things about a week or so ago, and I was wondering if you fine people would give me some feedback on them, good, bad, whatever. I think that the only way I'll learn is through my mistakes. Please keep in mind that I'm a 19 year old female, and I write what I know, and what I know is love. They are all real experiences, and I hope you like them. Thank you!<BR>
<BR>
Melissa **
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From: DeMo<BR>
Date: 4 February 2001<P>

I dream of the Girl that I once knew, that I once loved...<BR>
That I still love... but don't know...
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From: Galadrial<BR>
Date: 4 February 2001<P>

Me thinks Kahuna is setting up the Feb issue...no worries....<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
                                     Gala
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From: Elaina<BR>
Date: 4 February 2001<P>

Thanks to all who commented on my new stuff.<BR>
<BR>
xoxo<BR>
elaina<BR>

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From: Kirk, Blender-Keeper<BR>
Date: 4 February 2001<P>

It's here.  
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From: Joei E. Tavares<BR>
Date: 4 February 2001<P>

It is Good and it very romantic
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From: B.K.<BR>
Date: 4 February 2001<P>

Hey O.U.Tofit: Your poems are eerily familiar...you like ghosts huh? I like them only if they are Casper..HA. but like you I also love my computer...lol.<BR>
<BR>
bk
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From: Me aka Niki<BR>
Date: 4 February 2001<P>

this is for all the front page picks~<BR>
Good  job!! Some veryy! good poems there!!<BR>
congrats!!:)
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From: Galadrial<BR>
Date: 4 February 2001<P>

<BR>
<BR>
It's here...and so are the winners of Icky Sweet 2000!<BR>
<BR>
The Winners are invited to place their precious words in the Valentine Page of the Garden! Those with objections make 'em quick!<BR>
<BR>
Thanks everyone---I think we needed to release a little corn syrup....<BR>
<BR>
And as follows:<BR>
<BR>
                Honorable Mention: Icky Valentine<BR>
                                   Kev Urenda<BR>
<BR>
                Third Runner Up  : Chocolate Cheese<BR>
<BR>
                                   The GUPPY<BR>
<BR>
                Second Runner Up : How Sweet It Is<BR>
                                   SC Queen<BR>
<BR>
                First and Absolute<BR>
                Ruler of Shmaltz :  Lost In Thoughts of You<BR>
<BR>
                                   Terry Leonard<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
                I could not ignore the qualities of "scorched shorts", "chocolate cheese" "candy covered gummy bears...and the sheer audacity of pookie bear---twice.<BR>
<BR>
                                     <BR>
<BR>
                                  Love Gala
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From: kevin urenda<BR>
Date: 4 February 2001<P>

Gala-<BR>
<BR>
oy, what memories you brought back to me with that ramble...  Thanks for sharing that snapshot in time. <BR>
<BR>
I am going to be forty this year and still think I have a lot to learn about 'the rules.' But at 13, I was the stammering half-geek/almost-athletic-type hiding in the midde of the class.  Not the front (for the brainiacs) or the back (for the cool people), but safe, middle-of-the-road, blending in with the crowd...  I was, in the words of a girl I dated in high school, sappy.  Wise, she was...  Anyway, thanks for the memories.
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