AFriendlyFace

Hey Eric! hmm, I really do WANT to follow it, but I haven't yet so perhaps you're right . I am sorta kinda plannin to go back Thrusday though, and if the right situation presents itself I'll give it a try aww thanks! and that's a REALLY good idea! It definitely would have helped if I'd had some type of response in mind. Instead I was just shocked :| hehehe okay! hmm, he was so hot though! Plus he had like a really sexy air about him, so I kinda think he knows he cute, but I guess you could you be right, maybe he was just being silly (adorably silly ). Thanks, Eric! I appreciate it And HAPPY BIRTHDAY I hope you're having a wonderful time, be sure to let me know what all happens! Kevin

Hey Nick! I'm glad you're looking forward to your vacation. I bet you'll have an awesome time! Good luck and have fun with Survivor. That shopping sure sounds like fun! Gosh, I need [read "want"] to go shopping so bad! I'm trying to be good though ....but I could be good in new shoes couldn't I? *sigh* naw, better wait another couple of weeks until I see how the job thing's going. I'm sorry to hear you won't be around for a week , have a safe and fun time though! Kevin

Hey everyone, Okay this is going to sound quite rediculous, but recently (and only recently) I've been having ALOT of trouble clicking the quote button. Reply and the others seem fine so far, but quote is acting funny. Like sometimes I click it no problems, sometimes it just takes several clicks for it to take, but sometimes I just can't get it to activate for anything! I was just wondering if it could possibly be a result of any of the changes to the site? Am I the only one having this problem? I never had this happen before. Oh and I think I have mixed feelings about the new box that comes up when you want to bold or italic something. I was usually pretty good about getting it right on my own, and if I did mess up I fixed it. Mostly I just feel like it interferes with the flow of what I'm typing, but I might get used to that in time. I think the main thing I don't like is that I can no longer go back and highlight something already typed and make it bold or italic, since you HAVE to put it in the little box (I know I can copy and paste but then I still have to cut out the original too...which isn't a big deal but it's more effort). I also realize I can just type the commands ([ i ] [ / i ] ) which is probably what I'm going to start doing. Anyway I don't mean to complain; I'm always a little resistant to any computer related changes so it may grow on me. I also realize it does make it a lot harder for people to mess up, and that people were often missing an end italic/bold and getting a whole weird, confusing post. So I definitely see the practical side, I just wanted to mention the other side too. Is there by any chance anyway I can set my computer or something to do it the old way? Anyway I hope I didn't offend anyone and I'll get over the little box thing, but I'm really curious and would like an answer about the quote thing. Take care and have a great day everyone! Kevin

Benny's making fun of my vegetables!!! Good advice though. I'm fortunate in that I really don't care for meat that much. I can go days quite by accident without eating any meat or fish at all(which is actually bad because then I have to drink protein drinks or something). For example right now I haven't had any in about a day and a half and I wouldn't have even realized if we weren't talking about it. I do really LOVE fish and seafood though!! I also crave chicken every now and then. I only eat red meat about 3 or 4 times a month, and I don't eat pork at all. I'm a big vegetable person! Fruit's great too. I also really like nuts of all types. Don't go thinking I have a really healthy diet though; I think my chocoholism is legendary around this site . I also have a HUGE weakness for potatoes in any form I can get them (especially cheese fries with ranch!!!) The best advice I can give you is drink only water and other calorie/caffeine/carbonated free beverages. The evidence goes back and forth on milk, fruit juices, and tea so stick with those if you really like them, but I definitely recommend laying off all sodas. I lost several pounds without doing anything else, not only that but I had way more energy, and I liked the way my mouth tasted much more (I've always been kinda OCD about having fresh breath and I used to ALWAYS carry ments or gum, but after I started drinking ONLY water and water with ANYTHING I ate, I found I no longer felt the need to have the ments). Anyway good luck! I wish you the very best Kevin

Hey Camy, I know what you mean about electricity, I definitely take it for granted too. Last year when I lived in Baton Rouge I lost power for 5 days as a result of the hurricane; it was terrible! The air conditioning was definitely what I missed the most. Also you're right about computers, I almost never physically write anything. I sign stuff all the time, and every now and then I make a shopping list. That's it, everything else is typed. Anyway glad you're back with us take care, Kevin

Oh no Ronnie! That sounds terrible, you DEFINITELY need to go to the doc! I hope you feel better, yay about the camera! Kevin

Thanks Camy! You're right it is great advice, and hey I was torn between two dishes anyway this is my chance to try the other.

Thanks David, I do intend to give it a shot ***puts on a helmit*** can't be too careful though. And you're right, Joe's great and should definitely know it!

And if he doesn't give you the guy's phone number, you could give him your number and tell him to pass it on to the other guy. Or an email address, if you're comfortable giving someone that information. The only way this would be a mistake is if you get stuck in it and don't use it to learn from, for the future. No matter what happens with this particular person. Kitty You know you're right, Kitty! That's a great way to look at it. I guess it is all a learning process...you'd think I'd have already known not to walk away from cute guys, but hey some lessons you just have to learn for yourself

Hey Joe! Awwww Thanks! You'll find the perfect person too! Well I don't know about that! But I definitely want to give it a try and see what happens. Thanks for the support

WOW! That is a really good plan, Sharon! Thanks I guess I can give it a shot, I just don't want to accidently hurt the other guy's feelings. hmmm, if I'm careful though it just might work! That would so great . Thank you so much for that!

Hey Nick, thanks I guess you're right. I do feel much better now

Yay! Happy birthday, Julia!! I hope you have a teriffic day and a wonderful year! Kevin

So first off this story doesn't have a happy ending. In fact I'm thinking this is pretty much something I'll regret forever. ************************************* So today I decided I'd go out, have some fun. I was thinking, "well I'll go eat at a gay restaruant (there's several of those in Houston), maybe catch a movie, shop a bit (nothing fun, I just need groceries), and maybe drop by a gay bar/club." So I took a long bath, shaved (everywhere ....well not my head), rubbed lotion everywhere, fixed my hair, got dressed, sprayed on some cologne (well I guess it's colonge...maybe body spray...well anyway whatever you want to call it) and left. Oh it's important that I tell you what I wore. I had these cute black and white shoes (well I think they're cute), one of my tightest pairs of jeans , my favourite belt (which is saying something )- the black one with the fun buckle and differenty spikey shapes and stuff- and my solid blue T-shirt that says "Sure to be grounded this time tomorrow". So anyway I went to this Vietnamese restaurant (yeah I know it sounds like I'm under-dressed, but the climate in that area is such that you can really get away with anything really dressy or really casual). Well as soon as I park and walk by the window on my way to the door I glance through it and see this REALLY hot guy sitting there. So I go in and the maitre' D sits me at the next booth. Now let me explain the seating. He's sitting in the middle part of the seat on his side of the booth with his two friends (who I think were boyfriends) sitting on the other side. I'm sitting at the next booth facing towards him. Like the OTHER side of my booth would have been the side attached to the part of the booth his friends were sitting at. I'm also sitting in the middle part of the seat so we're like looking directly at each other through/in between his friends. So all through dinner I pretty much can't stop staring. He's GORGEOUS, and JUST my type. Like if you asked me to describe my perfect type of guy it would almost sound just like him. He had blonde hair and blue eyes (of course ), the most amazing smile, great teeth, cute dimples.....*sigh* he just looked beautiful. To top it all off one of his friends was, for some reason, taking pictures of him with his phone (well I say for some reason, heck I wanted to whip out my own phone and get a pic too! ). So anyway he's actually like posing and stuff at one point. He even did this really adorable seductive one eyebrow raise. And at another point in the meal someone said something and he did a surprised one eyebrow raise, which I never realized how cute that was but . It was amazing, the boy could not STOP being cute, no matter what expression he had on his face. So anyway when I got there they were talking to a waiter, I mean for a REALLY long time, so I'm thinking he's their waiter (I mean you'd think), but eventually he says, "well let me go clock in so I can at least get paid for talking to you guys", so he must have just been their friend. Anyway he was really cute too, and the funny thing was I was flirting with him no problem (although he wasn't my waiter either, my waiter wasn't my type...though I'm sure he was gay, like everyone in the place was ). Yeah, the other waiter kept like walking by and we smiled and said hey to each other, and then each time he walked by we kinda smiled...so yeah I was flirting just fine with him, sexy boy on the other hand... I just don't know what my problem was, I mean like I said we were facing each other (and I was captivated by him), so we kinda made eye contact a bunch of times, but each time we did I just smiled nervously and looked down. I mean what's my problem??? So eventually I finish eating and pay, and I'm pretty bummed that I'm going to have to leave without talking to him....but I mean how are you supposed to talk to some guy at another table? (this is a serious question so feel free to answer it) I did try one more time to flirt a little though, after the waiter (my real waiter ) brought back my card I like stood up and made a production about putting my wallet back in my pocket while half turned so he could get a good look at my butt (although given the tightness of my jeans it wasn't a total act ). So finally I decide there's nothing more I can do and I start to walk out, now of course I have to pass their table to do it. That's when something COMPLETELY unexpected happens. As I'm walking by his table he stops me. So he looks at me and smiles and says, "wait, what does your shirt say?". So I smile and stand straight so that he can read it, and he laughs and smiles and says something like, "ohh goodness, I bet" (or something joking that indicates amusement)....at this point I'm like really stunned and flustered. So I basically just giggle like an idiot and ....and.....and... walk out! I frickin walked out! I didn't even say ANYTHING. But worse I didn't even stand there long enough to let him keep the conversation going. I mean geez what more did I want from the boy, it's hard enough to just stop someone and start a conversation with a stranger in a restaurant. He definitely did his part. How hard is it to say, "I'm Kevin", or, "So what are you guys up to tonight?", or, "This is the first time I've been here, the food's good". I mean geez anything he coulda worked with, OR just stand there and make him think of something if all else fails, but no....instead I decide to walk away from the most attractive gay guy to ever pay me any attention (in real life, you know I think all you guys are smoldering sexy ). SHARP MOVE KEV Anyway I was so upset with myself I actually got lost coming home, and I certainly wasn't in the mood to do any of that other fun stuff I had planned. I mean EUGHHHH that was like best case scenario and I totally blew it. To top things off I'm scared I actually hurt his feelings, I mean it's not easy to take a chance and talk to a stranger like that. I HOPE I just seemed like an idiot and not a jerk who won't give people the time of day. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Hey Luc, I think Viv said it all far better than I can, but for what's it's worth I agree and wish you the very best too. Take care and try to feel better Kevin

OH my gosh!! Dentists scare me so much! I was even scared to read your entry , lol and yeah I'm definitely going to be all paranoid now! I hadn't even occurred to me before that they might grab the wrong chart :wacko: . I can just see myself now next time I go to the dentist, "Hi, as that CHART SAYS I'm Kevin ___, and as you can see from the CHART I'm here for ___"....of course that's contingent on my ability to speak....which is often signficantly impaired when I'm at the dentist anyway Take care and have an awesome day, Viv! Kevin

Well basically I think dialects are fun to play with, but they shouldn't be used excessively in anything serious. For me, as Glomph mentioned, familarity with the dialect in question is key to whether or not I'll enjoy it. For example the one you used in the example was very pleasant to me and probably wouldn't bother me or prove challenging to read. The one The Journeyman used would be a little less pleasant and a little more difficult for me, but still not turn me off if it only appeared a few times per chapter. Other dialects, however, are huge turn offs, and all but impossible for me to read. That said I enjoy expressing myself in varying creative ways depending on the medium For example when it comes to IM/Chat I love alternate spellings and very much enjoy playing with them. Not so much used to express accent as just a way to spice up an IM/chat box. For example my current favourites are the "'dja's" (did you) -howdja, whatdja, whendja, whodja, whydja I also like ya for you. Gonna, coulda, sorta etc. I don't use them everytime, just now and then for fun. However, I don't even really speak that way, occasionally I might but only for fun or if I'm trying to make a particular impression (friendly, casual, disarming etc.). Oh and unlike everyone else I don't type, "y'all", mine is, "ya'll". This is because for me the word isn't formed from "you" and "all". It's formed from "ya" - which I often use in type for "you" - and "all". In other words were I to annunciate the whole thing I'd be saying "what did ya all do?" not, "what did you all do?". In actual verbal language my favourite way to express myself colourfully is by "appropriating" words, phrases, and styles of speech from groups of people. I only ever mean this in a playfully, fun way and never in a mocking manner, and I usually do it casually WITH the people in question or only if the people I'm with will definitely realize that I don't mean it as an affront. The large potential for this to be misconstrued in writing is why I normally only do it in person. Ohh and on the topic of "dude" I often use the word, but only affectionately with guys that I like (platonically or otherwise). I wouldn't call a lady dude (as I've heard many people do), and I wouldn't just say it to a random guy like a waiter or a cashier or something. When it comes to physically writing by hand, something I absoletly abhor, about the only playful thing I do is with capitalization. I think both print and cursive uppercase L's are very elegant, beautiful things so I purposely make every word starting with an L capital (I don't capitalize within words though). I do this to a lesser extent with B's, D's, and K's. However, for phyical writing I don't do any of the things I mentioned for IM/Chat...it's just too painful and unpleasant with physical writing. I REALLY hate to physically write, which sucks because it means everytime I want to express myself in writing (which is fairly often), I HAVE to be at the computer, sometimes I try to take a notebook to the park, but the unpleasantness of the actual writing detracts from any enjoyment I might otherwise gain. Anyway for story purposes I'd probably try to avoid laying anything on too thick. Blah, sorry I rambled. Take care and have an awesome day! Kevin

Sit too closely to the monitor in a poorly lit room?

So true!

LOL Nick, I remember the first time I read the story description and it talked about how Owen was moving in with his brothers I immediately thought, "ohh and they must be lumberjacks". Kevin

Well personally speaking I thought it was one of the hottest sex scenes I've read in a couple of months. Kevin

...Live for today, and don't worry about tomorrow? The person below me can't see a thing without their glasses/contacts

Hey Nick! I really enjoyed the last chapter of My Jump Off! Also, WOW how'd you cut What's the Difference so much? Did you cut a bunch of stuff out completely or did you make the chapters longer? Anyway either way I'm looking forward to reading the next chapter. LOL a few days ago a (gay) friend of mine referred to something as gay. I thought of you right away That's awesome about your trip and that Taylor gets to go too! I hope you guys have an awesome time , and yeah that sounds like really good ice cream. Take care and have a teriffic day! Kevin Edit: By the way, I love your new avatar!