From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=1120">Chances</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

scqueen - I find your comments quite mindless considering that a peace was offered... I hope people realise that you speak for yourself and not for others.<BR>
<BR>
B.K. & Teej - The fight was over. I AM trying to be a peacemaker because I like and respect you both. Pax?
<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=1120">Chances</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

Having done my bit, and stated the bleeding obvious, I'm stepping out of the fray.<BR>
<BR>
   Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Ralph Waldo Emerson.
<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=268">Misti</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

scqueen was defending her friend, which is hardly mindless. It's not over. People can say it's over but the ugliness will always be here on the Board for more people to read and wince over. The ugliness was all unnecessary and absolutely mindless. And if you consider yourself intellectually superior to any of the writers here, don't read their offerings and don't bother trying to teach them what in your opinion makes for exceptional poetry. What are you trying to prove? This isn't PBS. We're all adults here. Write and read what you damn well please and shut the fuck up about it. I've read a lot of suck ass poems here over the years but I tend to ignore those and comment on the ones that throw me for a loop. You know, if the Blender was a poetry group in the real world and we all got together once a week or once a month or whatever for poetry and beer, I doubt any of this ugliness would ensue. It's amazing how easy it is to be heinous over the Internet. And I don't mean to preach....you will find all kinds of trash talk from me on Boards dating back to '97. But I am happy that I got beyond that with scqueen and B.K. and galadrial and a few others. Bitches unite. Ha. 
<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=268">Misti</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

<a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2003.08.11.17.50.31202">Butterfly Stew</a><BR>
p.s. B.K. I just read it and I love it!<BR>
luv,<BR>
one of your ass-kissin' minions<BR>
(ha)<BR>
(like kissin' ass here would benefit me in any way!!!)
<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=268">Misti</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

Below you will find one of my first Board posts:<BR>
From: Misti &lt;[email-masked]&gt;<BR>
Date: 12 October 1997<BR>
<BR>
Kirk,<BR>
  I just browsed your site for the first time and I just<BR>
wanted to let you know that I was impressed. <BR>
   It would be cool if you featured love letters written<BR>
by famous lovers like Sid and Nancy, Kurt and Courtney,<BR>
Larry and Althea, etc. Just a suggestion.<BR>
<BR>
                                Intrigued...<BR>
                                       M.V. Rainwater<BR>

<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=1120">Chances</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

Lord, help us, it's a full moon.<BR>
<BR>
I did an interesting thing tonight. I scouted around looking at other poetry sites on the net. Other than Gala's site, I really haven't done that before. <BR>
<BR>
What I learned is that we are really blessed to have the Blender. If we really wanted critique, we probably would go to another site and post, because yeah, they rip you to shreds and they do kinda require you to stick by the rules. They hate abstractions, and at times I suspect (by their description of an abstraction) that I may be the world's worst abstract poet. hehe. At times. Better still, nobody's running a poetry publishing scam here (we hope, lol), and boy are there some scamsters out there! Beware! It was a real eye-opener, and I recommend people go and have a look for themselves and see the value of what we have here.<BR>
<BR>
Anyway... why continue the bitchiness? I think a lot of words got said before that people really think the better of in hindsight. I have to agree with Teej, that she did offer the peace, the argument's gone, so why continue it?<BR>
<BR>
And I have to add, I really don't give a shit if you've been a Blender for 2 days, 2 years or 20... do you think it makes you better than anyone else, or does it afford you more rights? WTF?
<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=4">tj holland</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

Yeah. It's done. And there were only SOME people being rude and insulting, others were simply being adults who were trying to communicate effectively. And I think it's REAL important to remember that a person ASKED for critique. It was given AND it was KIND not NASTY. I believe that the person who recieved it had no problem with the person who gave it. <BR>
<BR>
-Teej
<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=268">Misti</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

Yes. I deserve more rights and praise because I have been submitting my poems and glorious insights to the Blender since '97. You WILL bow down before me and you will lick my toes and say YUM. Na na na noo noo stick your head in doodoo. Puhleaze. I don't think the comment I just posted was self-righteous but I guess it could be read that way. All I was saying is that I have been here a long time and I've seen a lot of negativity and I've contributed more than my fair share of idiotic comments and trash talk. It passes but we should examine why it occurs in the first place. I only posted the comment to stick up for scqueen who was sticking up for B.K. I know scqueen through xanga and e-mail and snail mail and I love her. I only know B.K. through this site and I love the persona she presents here. She doesn't take herself too seriously and I respect the hell outta that. <BR>
<BR>
"Peeeeeeace..."<BR>
(as spoken in Coolio's slippity slide song)
<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=268">Misti</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

Teej,<BR>
I just read your comment before I submitted my latest...I am not condemning you for critiquing that poem. I know the writer requested a critique. I don't like what you wrote about B.K.'s poems or the remark you made about the person who inspires her poems. Someone could really call me to task for my choice of muses. I dare them to. I am open to any personal attacks or critiques on my poems.
<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=1120">Chances</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

Good. To all that. I am glad I don't have to lick your toes, Misti. LOL.
<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=268">Misti</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

My husband won't lick my toes, either. I don't blame him but I feel sorry for my toes. They try their best.
<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=4">tj holland</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

Misti ~ I do respect your opinion, as I respect all others here (when stated diplomatically and respectfully). If you will re-read, you will find that I made no mean comments about B.K.'s poetry. I told her that I do not comment on her poetry because I don't feel that she would take my words the way they were intended (whether my words were good, bad, or indifferent. This is based on how I have seen her react to things here.) I can honestly say that I am proud of how I handled myself in these last foolish days. And that B.K. was exceptionally free with childish insults and needless attacks in a situation that had nothing to do with her in the first place.  <BR>
<BR>
But here we go getting into this all again as a discussion. Let's not. I know that people reading all of it will feel compelled to say their piece (or peace), but seriously...let's NOT. If this discussion just can't grind to a halt, I'll just leave the Blender alone for a week or so to give it time to exstinguish itself somehow. I don't know what time it is where you are, but it's 5:30am here. I have a lot of things to do today. It will be a gorgeous day. <BR>
<BR>
Deepest Peace of the Gentle Earth to You All<BR>
<BR>
-Teej
<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=268">Misti</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

Okay. It is 6:43 a.m. here. The Tylenol P.M. hasn't kicked in yet. My husband's alarm just went off. When he gets up, I go to sleep. 
<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=900">RennieLorca</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

B.K., jack, jim, scqueen, kase, misti and indefensible sushi~ I want to say that I admire you more today than I did before. I've always enjoyed your poetry ... especially after getting to know each of you better here and elsewhere. I've appreciated you being honest, even brutally so over the time I've known you. I value the fact that you don't play games, speak up for how you truly feel, and are supportive in the poetic community. It has been a pleasure to get to know you, even learn a couple of you are possibly related to me. I've enjoyed seeing you stretch and work with your poetry for yourselves and those I know you care about. As I also feel about others, it is always a treat to see any of you make front page digest. I enjoy seeing Kirk's comments and his point of view on your works. It is also a treat to see those who comment about what they like about your work on the board. From wistful romance, to hurt feelings, each of you display something in your writing that has me checking Blender to read you on a regular basis. There are others here I enjoy, but haven't gotten to know quite as well as I have you. Even though I have been here for years reading and posting, you have made my past year here even more enjoyable on the board, in phone calls, and e-mails. Credit where credit is due: thanks for often inspiring me to write ... praise for helping me greatly in health recovery -- thank you ..... Rennie
<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=13">B.K.</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

God I love this place; SCQueen and Misti and IndiSush (I love you guys!) and newbies; You have to have thick skin to live on this site and if you don't have you will develop it over time just watching the boards hahaha. We are a wild volcano tribe that sacrifices one of our own every once in a while only to catch them just as their one big toe hits the lava flow. Ha But please don't let that stop the gentle of heart from posting here, we (I) would hunt down anyone that picked on you and boil them first before dropping them head first into a shark pit. ha <BR>
  First and foremost this is a site about love and romance. There are some amongst us that need to remember this and act accordingly. I'm not speaking of the occasional non relationship poetry but out and out blatent crap that needs to be put down the toilet. One that comes to mind that I begged Kirk to take off was lauding rape. I've never had that happen but I saw red reading it. Which did not make it good writing just vile. I would even put up with the u r a e d ot over that. <BR>
   The freedom that Kirk gives us here does not allow ANYONE (but Kirk) to come and say how many how much or what kind of love and relationship work to write. This is why I stay here and as Misti said we have suffered through some very bad writings.  It's like going to a flea market and finding a treasure amongst the junque. But it's in the eye of the beholder to determine which is what. That makes it as Kirk calls "The Peoples Poetry."  As Chances said there are lots of other sites that offer all the critiqe you can handle ripping you to shreds just for the fun of it. Poetry elitist who think their poop smells like the most expensive perfume. It's as cold and sterile as an iceberg amongst them. That's why I stay here with the warm water volcano tribe ha (WOWZER fights and all, there have been some much more heated ones than this. This is rabbit hutch space scratch out compared to some.)<BR>
  First and foremost, I'm not writing to be famous or published. I write from the heart, MY heart, and I could give a crap who likes it and does not. But if you keep at me back handed or otherwise I will shoot barbed wire bullseye back at you.  <BR>
  And Misti's right, it's not over till it over. Anyway, please write some poetry and forget all this, I miss the verse. Thanks again ya'll for the back up.<BR>
<BR>
bk 
<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=1189">darwin</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

I don't comment often, probably because I don't like getting in the middle of these kinds of things.  But I've been coming to the blender for a number of years now, I used to post under another name (dragonfleyes) and have found that there is a very tight knit community here.  I've gone to other poetry boards, but I always keep coming back here and the people have alot to do with it.  Perhaps I don't know many of you well, perhaps none of you (now that I think of it).  But there are names on here I have known longer than my own friends, misti, deevaa, b.k., rennie, scqueen....so forth.  And these are all people I enjoy reading, and seemingly so their personalities come through on here.  <BR>
<BR>
Condescension hasn't a place anywhere, it doesn't matter who you are, or what your walk in life, no one is better than the next person.    And whether one's words are written with the word peace all over them, tone says alot.  And this place is great because it is a gathering of so many people to talk about the one thing that we can share and talk about without the criticisms of harsh daily life, and the other poetry sites, love!<BR>
<BR>
love love love!<BR>
<BR>
so put a smile on, and kick up those heals, we got some poetry to write!
<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=1120">Chances</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

Yeah, well after reading some things tonight, I've decided my skin's not thick enough. Or I'm a little thick. Can't work out which. Ciao.
<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=1226">Meredith</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

Akash - <a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2003.08.12.05.29.8744">Random thoughts</a> - the last lines about loving someone else unconditionally - What if you love someone unconditionally and they do not love you unconditionally back? Surely that leaves plenty of room for unhappiness - no?
<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=131">Akash</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

Meredith - Thanks for your comments. Loving someone expecting the same in return cannot be termed as love - it would rather be an arrangement, a compromise, a give and take job, a deal. Love or pure love expects nothing in return. The love we normally understand is a love that takes birth in the mind, that lives in Physiological time and anything that lives in time has a natural death; hence the fear of death expects joys and pleasures - those are as I said earlier - mere temporary phases of life. 
<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=1226">Meredith</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

Akash - thank you. beautifully explained. 
<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=872">cryingshame58</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

Injun Joe,<BR>
Pinky Bubblebuns, here...<BR>

<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=487">bp</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

~Scqueen~ Hi I'm bp, nice to meet you...how is your day going...?<BR>
<BR>
bp
<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=254">chris</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

Hi everyone. I don't comment much (at all?) but I just wanted to say something: Hat's off to Rennie, my wife, and others I don't know for sticking up for B.K. It's not about honest criticism or free speech--it's about bullying. And to those who leap to conclusions about "unconventional" relationships, I met my wife at this site way before I ever met her in person. And this December we'll be celebrating our three-year wedding anniversary.
<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=13">B.K.</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

Darwin and Rens; Love to you both, I love reading your work as well. And Rens, our chats are such fun. Thank you it means a lot.<BR>
<BR>
Teej; Darlin, you don't have to go anywhere, I'm offering an olive branch here. Let's just forget this bru ha and write some awsome poetry like what's on the boards today...WOW AWESOME<BR>
<BR>
Misti; I have to say that the last two by you are two of the finest I've seen. (But then I've always been a fan)<BR>
<BR>
Kev and Akash: ditto, always good to see Kevs work (of which I am partial) and Akash I am a fan of yours as well.  <BR>
<BR>
Chances; The poem about poetry is one of my favorites of yours thus far. Bravo<BR>
<BR>
SCQueen; Please write something for us. I miss your writing.<BR>
<BR>
Jack; Hope all is well with you. I've loved your latest poems. They are vivid and rich. Jack was the first person I ever wrote to in blender so he's got a notch of my heart for certain.<BR>
<BR>
Newbies; I haven't had time to comment, this is a wonderful place to write and we hope you'll stick around and let us get to know you. (We bite if you get out of hand, but we've had our shots and you'll live we promise ha)<BR>
<BR>
bk<BR>
<BR>

<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=872">cryingshame58</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

ladyinwaiting,<BR>
<a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2003.08.12.08.49.4674">It's the Ass</a> ...strikes a nerve within me... I am really down on all MEN this week and I nearly bumped you with how when men show their ass, they becomes less and less attractive...but I have to admit that I have shown mine a time or two...so i became less inspired to bump...lol...there's good and bad in everything...even an ass...<BR>
cs58
<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=2">scqueen</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

Chances, where on the board do you see that a peace was offered me? 
<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=13">B.K.</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

Chris; You know somehow I missed that part and it's a good thing I did. ha I saw enough red skim reading it, that if I had seen that or the other half of what Leamus said, ha Kirk would have probably locked up my account.<BR>
<BR>
bk<BR>
<BR>

<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=1103">ladyinwaiting</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

cryingshame ~ bump away...i must admit i am down on a few this week myself...ass...strange how the ass attracts you then they turn out to be one but with less attraction...bump away and let it flow girl friend...looking forward to your input... :) 
<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=2">scqueen</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

Or, Chances, maybe you have a secret window into my yahoo instant messenger? hmmm...very curious...<BR>
<BR>
<BR>

<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=872">cryingshame58</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

ladyinwaiting...<BR>
have no inspiration to bump at this time...had some other things heavy on my heart and anger in my spirit...<BR>
Pam
<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=545">Madi</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

<a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2003.08.11.22.10.30153">fruit salad senryu</a> = Yummy.
<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=2">scqueen</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

Misti ~ <BR>
<BR>
'and then there is me<BR>
and damn I'm good<BR>
and I love the attention<BR>
and I am so in love with myself<BR>
and the reactions I create with minimum effort<BR>
I coast on the fumes<BR>
and groove on the orgiastic frenzy'<BR>
<BR>
What a wonderful description. It's about time you realized it ;-) And you better mean it.
<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=16">kevin urenda</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

damn, you ARE good, Misti, and you always will be.<BR>
so THERE!<BR>
<BR>
Three years in December, you two?<BR>
may you have about three hundred more!
<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=900">RennieLorca</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

Misti~ there is something about this one: <a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2003.08.12.06.36.5746">Leo's Perspective</a> and indefensible sushi's The Turquoise Trader's Wife that has me keep going back and reading these for more. There is a certain magic to both. It may be (probably is) that I've been to those parts of the country and still feel the pull (and some magic). Okay, (now you've done it!) I WANT to see MORE -- please ..... Rennie
<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=900">RennieLorca</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

indefensible sushi~ to be fair on the above comment (and for newbies), I should have included a link on your <a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2003.06.01.17.58.27104">The Turquoise Trader's Wife: a Letter</a> in my comment to Misti. Correcting this ..... Rennie 
<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=900">RennieLorca</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

Pam~ I really like this one from you: <a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2003.08.12.12.08.5886">freckles</a> (catching-up on my reading again) ..... Rennie
<HR>
From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=222">poyen_fpy</a><BR>
Date: 12 August 2003<P>

i wish i had <a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2003.08.12.05.29.8744">Random thoughts</a> . i like the way you rationalize things.
<HR>