From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=35">Star of David</a><BR>
Date: 3 October 2003<P>

Hey Jon, nice to see ya!<BR>
Everyone, let's have the decency to respect this place that Kirk has provided and do things that are in line with its purpose: concentrate on poetry. And act like mature adults.
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=35">Star of David</a><BR>
Date: 3 October 2003<P>

Darwin,<BR>
<a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2003.10.02.14.03.11602">nights too long</a> is lovely, especially the lines "I'm collared in a world of submission and leashed to memories that won't tire of me.  And sometimes I have to ask myself, are the nights too long?" hmmm....
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=35">Star of David</a><BR>
Date: 3 October 2003<P>

B.K.,<BR>
I enjoyed reading this one - <a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2003.09.29.19.32.20259">October North Pole Snow</a> It made me smile :)<BR>
Misti,<BR>
<a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2003.09.29.03.19.2809">Don't Homeless People Get On Your Nerves?</a> - fantastic piece of writing and I totally identify with the way you feel about your brother - my brother is my life.
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=35">Star of David</a><BR>
Date: 3 October 2003<P>

Misti,<BR>
<a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2003.09.29.02.57.9725">Planning For El Dia de Los Muertos, 2003</a> – just great! “Death is the one alibi<BR>
that never works…”<BR>
Libs0813,<BR>
I love <a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2003.09.28.16.23.16404">somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond </a> too. And I enjoyed reading <a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2003.09.26.13.59.7425">July 18</a><BR>
Xoxo,<BR>
<a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2003.09.28.14.43.19033">Easy</a> – I like this piece, especially this part:<BR>
“but drink with me <BR>
as we ponder<BR>
these differences<BR>
because it would be so easy<BR>
so easy, so easy<BR>
to reach out and beyond<BR>
to touch you.”
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=35">Star of David</a><BR>
Date: 3 October 2003<P>

That was supposed to look like this:<BR>
Misti,<BR>
<a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2003.09.29.02.57.9725">Planning For El Dia de Los Muertos, 2003</a> - just great! "Death is the one alibi<BR>
that never works…"<BR>
Libs0813,<BR>
I love <a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2003.09.28.16.23.16404">somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond </a> too. And I enjoyed reading <a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2003.09.26.13.59.7425">July 18</a><BR>
Xoxo,<BR>
<a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2003.09.28.14.43.19033">Easy</a> - I like this piece, especially this part:<BR>
"but drink with me <BR>
as we ponder<BR>
these differences<BR>
because it would be so easy<BR>
so easy, so easy<BR>
to reach out and beyond<BR>
to touch you."
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=1176">aparajita</a><BR>
Date: 3 October 2003<P>

jon: if you are still hanging around, thanks!!  i have missed reading your subs.  hope school continues to go well and is over with for you soon. <BR>
<BR>
darwin:  <a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2003.10.02.14.03.11602">nights too long</a> i really felt this one too.  thanks.<BR>
<BR>
misti:  <a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2003.10.02.20.44.28863">Puppet With Cut Strings</a> ALOT of emotion there!  as with most everything you write...  makes me think way way too hard (hurts what few brain cells i did not destroy when i was younger).  thanks for your honesty once again.  i hope that you will consider me one of the friends you can count on that one hand...<BR>
<BR>
max-rom:  <a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2003.10.02.21.50.18990">~ This Tangible Life ~</a> is just what the doctor ordered!  light, carefree and just beautiful.  thanks for sharing this.<BR>
<BR>
blue song:  <a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2003.10.02.17.43.13774">Darkness weeps</a> GREAT read!  <BR>
<BR>
there are so many others... i just have run out of time to comment.  
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=1189">darwin</a><BR>
Date: 3 October 2003<P>

Thanks for the compliments Apajarita, Star of David:<BR>
<BR>
nights too long, was inspired by Sarah Mclachlan in her song I Love you, from her album Surfacing.  One of the lines says that...."are the nights too long..."<BR>
<BR>
I love that song, and I feel I couldn't even do it justice.
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=328">Rhetoric</a><BR>
Date: 3 October 2003<P>

darwin:<BR>
I second that - Sarah McLachlan is amazing. I could easily post all of Fumbling Toward Exctasy, Surafacing, and Mirrorball here to express myself far better than my own words! My favorite so far is: <BR>
I Love You (here are just a few lines)<BR>
<BR>
oh and every time I'm close to you<BR>
there's too much I can't say<BR>
and you just walk away<BR>
and I forgot<BR>
to tell you I love you<BR>
and the night's<BR>
too long and cold here<BR>
without you <BR>
I grieve in my condition<BR>
for I cannot find the strength to say <BR>
I need you so<BR>
<BR>
angieubaldo posted some of her stuff in the past as well. Sarah could have her own Blender fan club!<BR>
<BR>
Misti: For what it is worth (I know you don't need my validation), I read your 9/11 piece. I took from it that you were making commentary on the fears and judgements of us as a larger community. I liked that it showed anger, confusion, and hate - we all felt/feel those emotions at times when we think of that day. I, however, am in the small majority of folk who fear that The U.S. does the exact same acts of crime on humanity all the time (watch out, Rhet, the backlash be a coming). I agree with Gala...even though I haven't been around as long, never would racist be a descriptive term I used for you. Twisted, brilliant, emotionally unchecked (as am I) - but racist or bigoted, never.<BR>
<BR>
After 9/11 first happened, I secretly counted my blessings that the half of me that is Lebanese is overshadowed by the half that is Lithuanian/Polish. I look European, not Middle Eastern. Much of my family came to the US to break away from the terrible religious fighting (between cousins and so forth). Now, rather than being an ex-Muslim, I am a reprogrammed Catholic! You get Jihad or the Crusades - same thing, different names.<BR>
<BR>
Good Day all:<BR>
Rhetoric<BR>

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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=1189">darwin</a><BR>
Date: 3 October 2003<P>

Rhetoric:<BR>
<BR>
I absolutely agree.   I don't know which one would be my favorite of her songs though-  Seeing her in concert is a religious experience.  I've been able to see her twice.   So many of her songs are those "achey" songs, the kind that just make you yearn, want, lust, hope, love, everything in between....just absolute emotion.<BR>
<BR>
darwin
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=220">wolfscreamer</a><BR>
Date: 3 October 2003<P>

darwin......<a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2003.10.02.14.03.11602">nights too long</a> <BR>
I love stuff that lets me visualise.I could feel the night air at 2 am, smell the coffee and draw my name in the diner window.Guess I liked this one huh.
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=328">Rhetoric</a><BR>
Date: 3 October 2003<P>

darwin:<BR>
I have neglected to comment on so may poets here, of late. You are one of those. I was SO into The Blender when I first "joined" 2 years ago and I got to the point that I questioned whether my praise or comment to an author meant anything to them (since I found beauty in most of what I read). Consequently, I rarely comment on posts anymore.<BR>
<BR>
That said, your posts: <a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2003.08.25.15.15.20959">These Black Shoes</a>, <a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2003.07.22.10.06.16144">in the red room</a>, and <a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2003.04.24.14.58.12498"> i am jericho</a> moved me with thier plain language and honesty. The first stanza of These Black Shoes is like an entry in my own personal journal of shame. Amazing that you can capture the moments and release them - never to let thier power hang your head low ever again. They read as bittersweetly to me as many of Misti's posts do; raw and assigned the perfect mixture of remorse and empowerment.<BR>
<BR>
Rhet
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=1189">darwin</a><BR>
Date: 3 October 2003<P>

Rhetoric:<BR>
<BR>
I can't even tell you how much your comment means to me.  Comment even seems such a distant word!  I've never been able to write things that weren't part of me, and what I have experienced.  There is not a better way for me to exorcise my demons then through writing.<BR>
<BR>
Your comment is not falling on deaf ears, rather on fertile ground!  I admit I'm a leo and my ego does like the occasional massage when it comes to my writing.... :)<BR>
<BR>
Wolfscreamer:  The things you say about my work, are exactly the reason I often read yours!  Thank you.....  
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=8">Ali</a><BR>
Date: 3 October 2003<P>

Hey Jon!!<BR>
<BR>
It's good to see ya! *smile*  Glad you're still around.  Good luck with school! :)<BR>
<BR>
Someone mentioned Sarah McLachlan...sh is such a wonderful artist.  Has anyone heard her new song "Fallen?"  It is fabulous.  I can't wait until her new cd comes out on Nov. 4th.  *smile*<BR>
<BR>
Love and unseen grace, Ali<BR>
<BR>
*dashes off*<BR>
<BR>

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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=872">cryingshame58</a><BR>
Date: 3 October 2003<P>

Wolfscreamer,<BR>
<a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2003.10.03.12.53.25676">October lights</a> i keep pondering on "the gladiator trials"... clever of you...the whole submit is thought provoking for me... <BR>
CS58
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=220">wolfscreamer</a><BR>
Date: 3 October 2003<P>

CS58...early years were like an egg and spoon race at junior school,no co-ordination and spilling stuff,teens were 100 metre sprint,get it over with quickly,20s to 30 were 1500 metres,slow build up and rush to the finish,30,s to well the rest,10,000 metres,amble around for a while then go like hell at the end lol.Never went to Gladiator school,wonder what that was like.Thanks for comment.
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=268">Misti</a><BR>
Date: 3 October 2003<P>

Star of David~<BR>
Thanks so much for the compliments on my latest poems. Thank you for reading and commenting!<BR>
<BR>
Rhet~<BR>
I may not need your validation but I certainly do appreciate it. Thanks for all your wonderful words. I devoured them. <BR>
<BR>
...I'm still doing the Dial-A-Poem thing. I record different poems of mine and people can call up and listen to them and leave messages. Well, about a week ago I prefaced my poem with the statement that I'm surprised I haven't received more feedback. Today I listened to my messages and received lots of encouragement from other writers. But the first message I received stuck in my mind the most. A very snooty man said,"Maybe people aren't leaving messages because they are tired of listening to a neurotic female." Ha! I was stung but I laughed. Today I recorded three haiku(s)(?) and dedicated them to the jerk.
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=268">Misti</a><BR>
Date: 3 October 2003<P>

p.s. aparajita, bless you! yes, I am happy and proud to count you as one of my friends at the Blender.<BR>
<BR>
eBuLLieNce!!!
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=487">bp</a><BR>
Date: 3 October 2003<P>

~aparajita~ double bravo on "unmet expectations" i really felt it thank you....<BR>
<BR>
bp
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=152">Max-Rom</a><BR>
Date: 3 October 2003<P>

aparajita -- thanks so much for your comment on my latest.  I greatly appreciate it.  ;)<BR>
<BR>
Max
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