Bleu

The zip-line smile My gaze soars to the horizon Towards another land, Flying high above human frontiers, Crossing plains and mountains and, Beyond a sea or two, Reaches a city in the desert. My imagination shatters the hourglass Disregarding the fabric of time. Tonight I’ll hear your voice, Tomorrow I’ll see your face, Soon I’ll be hugging you, and one day, Beyond a year or two, We will turn a promise into reality. My mind is unafraid of what sets us apart And y

Ricky, I haven't posted in here before but please know that I think about Dustin and you and everyone else in his family. *sending best wishes for his recovery*

Happy birthday!!

Sorry to hear that, Tim. Hopefully, he will come round.

Happy birthday, Graeme!

Enjoy your newly-found freedom I'm sure the girls will come and visit, and that will make for nice opportunities. In the meantime, what about some Me Me Me time for you, heh?

Happy, elated even, best describes how I have been feeling for the past few weeks. My last blog post is only just over two weeks old, but enough stuff has been happening to warrant an update, so here it is: happiness has quietly settled down and decided to make its nest in my heart. It has grown, reinforced by daily communication and new discoveries. John and I have decided to keep trying to know each other better. So... it's still very early days... but we're doing good, I think. We understand the dangers of long-distance relationships. There are many examples of such relationships failing; there are also, thankfully, some more positive examples of similar relationships still going strong after one year (*points at Paya and Westie*). I already knew that communication is key to a developing relationship. I now know that Internet access is key to a long-distance one. My phone line went out two weeks ago; and after 2 hours, seeing that the internet was still not back, I was frantic. After a trip to the local library (that has free internet access) in order to alert John, I rushed to buy a BlackBerry. [That means I can now read GA stories on my way to and from work, so double bonus ] Getting a short message from John every once in a while is enough to brighten up my day but my mood is also helped by the fact that I feel healthy and in shape like I have never felt since I was 18..., if ever. I have pretty much reached my goal of 135lbs (for 158lbs 3 years ago). I'm still preparing for my June marathon, with another marathon scheduled in November. Initially, I was going to train like crazy for this last one, because the plan was to qualify for the Boston marathon (one of my major objectives), a goal which was quite within reach last year before I broke my ankle, since I had run my last race under 3h08'. Whatever time I will make this year won't matter much because I don't think I will be travelling to the US in the Spring of 2012. My eyes are rather turned towards the East right now . * * * * * * In other news, I was invited to an exhibition at the Paris City Hall earlier this week. On top of standing just a few feet away from the Paris Mayor while he improvised a great speech in honour of an American historian, getting free champagne and petits-fours, I was fascinated by the exhibition. It consisted of archives from writers and editors from the World War II period. It showed how French writers and poets chose sides at that time. Some joined the Resistance and wrote against German occupation and against the French Vichy government which collaborated with the Germans. Others embraced the new German-friendly regime and its anti-Semitic, nationalistic and reactionary ideas. It is a terrible thing to see a country so utterly divided, to see people who worked together in the 1930s being thrown into irreconcilable camps. This was only 70 years ago, and a similar situation could happen again. I am particularly worried about the far-right gaining ground in many countries recently (France, Finland, Belgium, the Netherlands, etc.). Jews, Communists, gays, and many other categories of people, were sent to the death camps last time those guys were in power. Anyway... this prompted me to wonder what I would have done if I had been a writer/intellectual in 1940 France. Although I'd like to think that I would have joined the Resistance, it's easy to think that from the comfort of my 21st-century life. Would I have been ready to sacrifice my job? my reputation? my life? the lives of friends and family? So I'll leave you guys with the words of Martin Niemöller: (Source) Our own happiness doesn't mean we have to forget about pain and suffering, past and present.

No apologies needed, phana. I'm just glad that you didn't take it as mockery. My comment is better now than before my correction; there's less risk of being misconstrued. There is enough hardship for some of us (and I don't include myself in that number) for us to be sniping at each other over this kind of issues.

Ummm, I apologize if it sounded like I was mocking anyone who would cry while watching this video. I must have not worded my comment in the proper way. Any death, any suicide is a tragedy, especially in young people. I was merely referring to the message about gay teenagers. I have heard songs which were so sappy that the message about how unacceptable these deaths are was completely watered-down. I guess I feel more rage than sadness about this.

Do we have an estimate of how many people are planning to be there? It feels like we will be at least double the number that we were in February!

Bob, thanks for your blog posts. I have very much recovered, now, from a tragedy which taught me to keep the same kind of outlook on life that you seem to always have. It's not easy every day, but I manage it most of the time. Thanks for providing such a model of optimism

This is not a review.... but by your side I will be .

Happy anniversary to you both! You are great together. You have managed the most difficult by trusting that a long-distance relationship can work and by keeping it going. Now it's only a matter of time until you can truly be together. My best wishes for the future

I like this song as well: it's quite dark at the start, but it closes on a positive message. The powerful style also matches the rage I feel at those unacceptable deaths better than most of the songs that usually broach this topic. Edited following phana's remarks (Sorry again, phana).

Kidnapping? I don't remember that Anyway... don't worry, I'm working on a devious plan to have a long and nice vacation far away, but still make it back on time for a few days in London. I might be seriously jet-lagged the first night though. :wacko:

I wish I could but it's not going to be possible this year I'm afraid.

Happy birthday, Andy Have fun!

Ummm... my plans for the summer are being slightly completely modified but I think I can still manage to be at the GA meet at the dates that were announced. That is, if I manage to come back from my vacation However, to anyone whom I may have promised a ride... I don't know whether I will drive to England. More info next month probably.

Happy birthday Frosti!

Good to see you back, Kevin. I had been wondering where you had disappeared too

Thanks, Jian. Gift readily accepted and treasured... and I'll happily take the blame for you posting this. MK

First feelings revealed With a thundering heart First intense emotions At mutual recognition First tears of happiness Shed and consoled First secrets disclosed And past uncovered First echoes of your voice To match your charming smile First steps towards a common horizon Filled with some exotic sunset Thirst for words to be spoken And for time to be shared Thrust towards you, Your whole mind and body Lust for your presence Here and now in my arms Trus

My first poems to a very special person

Thanks Cia. He deserves happiness just as much as I do. I hope I'll be up to the task.

Thanks Lugh! Yes, it's several seasons but one single storyline. I had planned, some months ago to write this as a story for a previous prose antho, but didn't for lack of time. So this is actually short compared to what I had to say I'm happy you liked it.