AFriendlyFace

So my boss is always talking about how our clients don't buy the product first, they buy us first. It's been a slow week. I guess I just need to get out there and "sell myself". I guess I shouldn't complain though, I've pretty much been taking it easy. It's hard to get back into the habit of working. Especially when I don't have to (I'm an independent, self-employed agent of the company, so unless I do something actively wrong - I. E. damaging to the company - I won't get fired and can pretty much do what I want). I definitely want to get rolling, and I plan to, but I don't really mind easing into it. Today was pretty good I got some stuff done...not as much as I should have, but some. I even impressed the boss a bit. I was supposed to go out and leave info and stuff with 2 of my coworkers, but the other 2 didn't show (one did call though). So my boss was actually like thanking me just for doing what I was supposed to be doing in the first place . Anyway I think once I actually get down to brass tacks as it were I'll do pretty well. I'm enjoying it for the most part. Anyway I really want to make it work because I just love how flexible and low pressure it is! So I'm planning to be really good and productive tomorrow . In other news my grandfather had his 85th birthday today! He's in really great shape, mentally and physically, for a man his age. I hope I'm that well off when I'm his age....actually I doubt I will be though. I'm already ditsier. I also don't get near as much excercise as he did at my age. OH, I think I get a pretty good amount, probably much more than the average American, but he was actively working on a farm walking leveys, shoveling rice, and repairing fence when he my age. I just go for a walk in the park and do some exercises everyday...not bad...but not the same. Anyway I'm counting on modern medicene to keep me from loosing my marbels and being physically decrepit. I also realized today that I can never "go home" to any of my old familar places. My family home definitely wouldn't be the same now that my grandmother's Alzheimer's is getting worse. Not that I'd want to live there anyway though. I haven't in over 4 years and I've been much happier and better adjusted on my own. It's just ashame how different it is. I also can't go back to my rook site or my spade site, both are literally GONE now! I guess it's just as well that I wondered away from both before they went defunct, that makes it a little easier, but it's still ashame. I do still have the means to contact the people I used to play with/be friends with if I wanted to, and I could go to the new places...but I'm sure I won't. There's also obviously no going back to anything I had in Baton Rouge either. I guess it's pointless thinking about it, it just makes me a little sad that all the old familar places are completely gone now. But I'm happy in Houston and I'm happy at GA, so I'll just press on. Besides I like adapting. I'm after new adventures and I didn't PLAN on going back to any of the old ones anyway so I guess it doesn't really matter if they're there or not. Speaking of new adventures as premature as this sounds I've already decided that I want to move to NYC sometime in the next 5-11 years. I want at least 5 years to properly explore Houston, then, depending on whether or not I can get a transfer at work, I'm off to the Big Apple (if I can't get a transfer it'll be 10 or 11 years). From there? Well I don't know yet. I think I'd love to live NO WHERE for 2 or 3 years and just travel around Europe and Asia, the uncertainty of that WOULD have been enough to make me seriously freak just 2 years ago, but I'm not the same in that regard. Frankly I think I'd love it, as long as I could do it comfortably that is (no "backpacking" for this boy thanks), I've never "roughed it" in my life and I sure don't plan to start as I get older, lol I'd be lost without my wardrobe, and skin/hair care products . LOL so I'll definitely have to wait till I've gotten a bit (well QUITE A BIT) more money, but I think I'd love it. I think I'd like to end my days in Canada or the UK. Probably Canada. America just needs to get a whole lot more liberal (and butt out of everyone else's business) for me to want to stay here forever. [disclaimer: I'm not knocking America, I love it here and am appreciative for all I have. I'm just expressing my own personal opinion and not trying to convince anyone to go along with it.] How would a boyfriend fit into all this? Dunno, I'd stick around where ever if I were in a good relationship, I'm by no means in favour of living my life without a soulmate, or leaving one behind/making things more difficult, but I'm not going to settle or give up my indepenence for just anyone either. SO I guess it all depends on the person, where I meet him (or her I suppose. I don't plan to be with a woman, but I think it's too closed minded (for me personally) to rule that out, besides if I'm honest I'm like 5% straight and I don't really care about all the labeling junk. I'd rather a guy in most cases but I'll fall in love with whomever I fall in love with), and where we each are in lives. But it'll work out Besides all these silly plans are just pie in the sky anyway. I doubt most of it will materialize, but it's nice to dream Anyway I'm sorry if I offended anyone in this blog, it might have been a bit more blunt and obnoxious than I usually am in my blog entries, but that's just what was on my mind tonight and I didn't particularly feel like censoring. Have a fantastic day and take care everyone! Kevin

Kangen!! Michael, while excellently portrayed in a conflicted, complicated light, still seems too scared and immature to be with Jared. It's a great story! -Kevin

Excellent way to put it Formosa!! I agree this is a teriffic story and I'm dying for more!! You've done a wonderful job, Lawrence, of making Michael and Jared's relationship seem so deep and powerful, and yet of also showing Kangen's devotion to Jared. You really make the reader go back and forth on who they want Jared to end up with! I'm leaning towards Kangen though. I think Michael blew it and I don't think his excuse is valid enough. Jared's right too: he is toying with Geneva's feelings. Kangen seems like a really sweet guy and I hope he and Jared get together. I'm really impressed with how hard he's tried and how patient he's been!! Awesome story, I'm looking forward to reading more Kevin

I did if anyone was wondering It was pretty good That's an excellent Milo, perhaps the best yet IMO! Take care all, Kevin

YAY!! My signature caused a discussion!! I agree with what everyone else said: most authors just want ANY kind of feedback! Most do seem to appreciate if you say WHY you felt the way you did too. I don't think there's anything wrong with giving negative feedback as long as it's constructive, honest, and informative, not just mean and spiteful. Anyway please do take the time to let the authors know what you thought regardless of what outlet you do choose!! Have a great day everyone and take care! Kevin

awwwwwwww! You're the bestest, Viv!!! A teriffic person and an awesome friend! I hope your next 100 are great!!! Kevin

I have no clue what that word means, so for the rest of you I am posting what I found. It is a bit long, but it is a great article. Kitty has really thrown one at us now. Namaste! How is it pronounced, what does it mean? Subject: Re: Namaste Edited, formatted for electronic media by Jai Maharaj <jai@mantra.com> Jai Maharaj, Jyotishi, Vedic Astrologer http://www.flex.com/~jai Om Shanti | Home | Top | More Articles | Copyright

awww thanks Lawrence!! hehehe, thanks Kitty! You guys take care and may your days be pleasantly exciting and your nights peacefully enjoyable! Kevin

Awww thanks, Vance!!!! I think you're right too have an awesome day and take care! Kevin

I love it, James! have a great day! Kevin

Happy Birthday, Dude!! I hope you have a great day and a terrific year Kevin

Hey everyone! I just read chapters 1-4 and I'm totally hooked now! LOL yep, you better watch out, Tom; I'm about to start pestering you all the time for updates I feel like Tom's done a great job with the characterization of John, Kevin, and Jamie in the first four chapters and defintiely set the groundwork for a more indepth look at everyone else. I guess as a writer you're faced with immediately characterizing everyone or doing it as it comes up. I feel like Tom's chosen the latter. After the first chapter I had a really good feel for Jamie (which was only increased over the next three chapters, especially the fourth). With Kevin I feel like we got a ton more depth in the 2nd and 3rd chapter. John is of course the main character and his development will always be a continuing process. Anyway I really feel like Jeff at least has a great start, and since it looks like John is going to be spending some time with him we can expect to see much more of him. I like the way Tom's presenting his story. He's just diving right in and giving us more detail as we go. I think it really works excellently for this story. I posted reviews in the E-Fiction section, but I especially want to say what I thought about chapter four since it's the most recent. So here's what I said in my review: WOW! What an intense chapter! I'm SO impressed with the way Jamie handled everyone! She's certainly got alot on the ball! I'm glad John's getting out of that environment, at least for the time being It really sounds like Jeff might have feelings for John. Also this section: That section has such a delightful double meaning all the way. Kevin's talking about John "coming out" in the gay sense in the first quote, and how it would make things easier, but he could easily also be encouraging John to come out of the bathroom and get the help he needs for his current situation. Then John responds that he "can't come out", meaning of the bathroom, but clearly of the closet as well! It's just brilliant! I'm REALLY dying to read the next chapter now! Awesome job, Tom! Anyway that's pretty much how I'm feeling at this point. I'm really excited that John's going to be spending some time with Jeff. Jeff sounds terrific! Also hot Keep up the good work, Tom; great editing, Kurt! Take care all, Kevin

Bodega Bay Chapter 4 I really enjoyed this chapter. Nick did an excellent job of describing the emtions that seem to typically consume victims of abuse. He described the feelings of guilt, of not having done enough to stop it, and also the feelings of anger. It seemed really accurate. I also loved how, like in the last chapter, he started off recounting an event in Kevin's past which seemed unrelated at first, but tied in with what was going on in the story. He also tied everything back together nicely when he once again called that image forth at the end of chapter. I also felt really badly for Kevin because it looks like the "evil stepmother" scenario is turning out to have been true. He felt sorry for her and grieved when her father died, but she always treated him like a prisioner when he stayed with them. Also: Could it be that Kevin's father has a pattern of marrying women like this? I'm really looking forward to find out what happens next. How will all the tests att he hospital go? Does Kevin have any diseases? Will his father take him back? Is it a good thing if he does; will he stop Kevin's stepmother from treating him badly? How will Patricia, George, and Steele play into all of this? I can't wait to find out more! Awesome job, Nick! Take care and have a great day all! Kevin

LOL, My head's the only thing I've never shaved. The person below me HAS shaved their head before

That was so funny!! Thanks Al OH my gosh!!! LOL I wonder if the US will ever go metric. -Kevin

Hey Kaiten, Yes, I did see that movie when it first came out! I quite liked it. Yup, everything's fine Exactly! Naw, it made plenty of sense! Have a great weekend and take care, Kevin

I dunno, just kinda came to me Have a great day! Kevin

WOW! That's ALOT! Congrats Myr!!

LOL! The same thing's happened to me before! I'll be calling my cable company to find out why the modem isn't working AND I've already gone through the menu for cable internet so it's not like the think it's cable television I'm calling for, and they're like, "you can get technical support at our website" . "No, YOU can get technical support at a website, I can't get there!" Glad you got it all worked! Have an awesome day and take care, Kevin

Everyone's got this part inside of them that is so beyond beautiful if you could only see it. It's like if you truly knew the person, any person, in all their glory you'd be so dazzled, so awe-struck, that you'd never want to let them go, never want to look away, even for a second.

This was a really good, creepy story! It would have made an excellent Halloween story! It was really beautifully written and definitely had the ability to send chills up and down the spine! I really loved the eye for detail too. Like having Noel be born on December 26th! I did have to wonder though...if you have sex with someone who died (200 years ago) of an STD....well nevermind... Anyway great story, Luc!! Kevin

Hey Nick I'm sorry the last few days have been so rough on you! I'm also very sorry to hear that you won't be on the writer suppor sub-committee anymore . I understand your reasons though and it sounds logical to me. That sucks about missing wrestling!! I'm glad you're handling it so well. I'll talk to you later, take care, Kevin P.S. I think your PM mailbox thingy is full

I think Mr. M is more likely the sinister one. I think Mary's behaviour in this last chapter is more of a desperate, isolated event. Kevin ...On the other hand Mary is the one who killed the witch and taught Doliver all he knows about cat dissection

Hey John, I'm not taking sides in this colour debate, but I would like to suggest an option you might find useful when you run across something you find difficult to read. If it's a story you can copy it and paste it into Word (or any word processor), and it'll automatically be in black and white. You can even increase the font or magnification. Also with difficult colour combinations it's often helpful to highlight the text. LOL, and now not to stay totally I'd like to add that I found the colour choices used for SOOTB to be quite easy to read. Though my opinion of the background colour often changed depending on my mood. Kevin

**best innocent face** Ocean?