AFriendlyFace

I don't think you're odd at all in this regard! (on the other hand you're just like me in this way so perhaps I'm biased ) I didn't notice that word when I first read the sentence. For a second there I was quite confused about why your bed was at Starbucks. I feel this way too.

Well that's a lovely, romantic story I like those, haven't tried Tom Fork though. Oh yes! It's quite nice, I also like "Jake" by Hollister.

...lol! Personally I find the museum is more...satisfying alone. I can have a good time with other people too, but it doesn't feel as satisfying to me. This is probably because I'm very OCD about how I do museums. I like to stop and read everything and go in order. I also like to linger and ponder things. It's harder to do that with someone else. It is fun to discuss the stuff with other people, etc., but for a truly satisfying museum experience I prefer to go unaccompanied. If I'm doing it 'as a pick me up' then going alone is particularly necessary. I'm a very social person and I love being with people...but I'm also a loner and I love being by myself! *shrug* I think this general attitude is best expressed by something which happened to me about five years ago. I was all dressed up and on my way out. My roommate stopped me and asked where I was going. I said, "I'm going out to dinner, then probably a bit of shopping and a movie." She inquired, "Who are you going with?" I responded, "I thought it would be fun to go alone tonight." She answered, "Oh yeah, I've been wanting to go out to dinner by myself to see what it's like." Without thinking I responded, "You can come if you like."

I've never known a boy like that...

I kinda like this suggestion! Thanks Jamie

Wonderful pic, Niels! You look great!

What do you folks think about this? I think for a public service position like police work 'good deeds' sort of are part of the job description. In this case she clearly went above and beyond the call of duty. So I think her promotion is merited. Other thoughts? -Kevin

"The Scientist" - Coldplay

I knew the Latin, but I assumed it was a reference to the constellation. Like it better this way I think. Didn't realize it had been almost two years already! I still call him "Drew" from his original incarnation. I like Andrew best myself I think. Dated an Andrew once...very hot, very sweet. How informative and fascinating! 'A Robbie by any other name would still be as sweet', but I'm glad you stuck with it too. I saw Robby a couple of weeks ago on MSN actually! Was lovely catching up. So if anyone was curious about mine... I'm generally a fairly friendly person, so mostly just that. However, the name was actually chosen to be an ideal 'lurker' name. It's completely different from my other types of SNs. I was really just going to register, say a few words in Dom's forum, and then wander away (from the site completely). Only it didn't quite happen. I decided to hang around 'a couple more days' to see if anyone responded to my post, and then I figured I'd might as well read a couple more stories while I chatted with those crazy Domaholics...then I eventually responded to a couple of those, and thought "well a couple more weeks then"...three years and several thousand posts later I fear my plans to slink away unnoticed might be foiled now. -Kevin

Happy Birthday, Michael! I hope you've been well Have a fantastic day and an awesome year!!! -Kevin

Cool! I'd always wondered about yours. Fascinating and informative, thanks *gasp* You mean there's no Saint Blue? Now I shall have to come up with a different name for my future son lest my own Catholic relatives protest. You were "Condor"? I never knew that! I've seen that 'guest' several times in the old threads. Good to know, and it rather suits you. One should always handle a Razor with care. Ah, I'd always wondered about yours too, Menzo. Thanks for the info, Niels

Welcome to the forum, Joel! It's a pleasure to have you! Vic is right, we'll probably agree with you unless the BF joins the forum too :boy (although we will try to give you genuine, unbiased advice from time to time too ) Take care! -Kevin

Gary's right; it's good to practice if it doesn't come naturally. *walk up to employer* "Hi, how are you doing today? *big smile and good eye contact, look like you expect an answer* "I'm doing well (in most cases he/she will politely inquire back)" *keep smiling* "My name is 'FallingStar'. Looks like you guys are pretty busy today so I don't want to bother you. Here's my application; I hope to hear back from you! Have a great day!" *More smiles and eye contact* If the person told you his/her name say, "Have a great day, 'John'" or "Thanks Susan". If it looks possible and fairly natural go for a handshake.

Reminded me of a song I thoroughly love, and am now listening to, by her: Toni Braxton - "He Wasn't Man Enough"

WOO HOOO!! Quite a special day indeed! Congrats, Benji! -Kevin

Oh yuck indeed!

I'm sure not all Russians would behave in this way though, nor is it out of the realm of possibility that Americans and other ethnicities would do this! I would have stopped, but I can't stand traffic cops! I can see the temptation!

I meant the former I'm feeling much better now

I'll agree with everyone else's comments and suggestions. However, I'll add my own. Like Old Bob this made me ask, "who else lives in the house?" Well you need to figure out this 'unknown reasons' and do something about it! Here's a few tips: -Be clean-shaven and have tidy hair and nails when you go to an interview. -Make sure your breath is pleasant and that your teeth clean -SMILE and maintain good (but not creepy) eye-contact -Behave confidently but also very politely -Be friendly -Have answers to the more common questions 'planned out' to some degree. -Dress professionally (not what you would wear if you were hanging out at home or visiting friends) -Market yourself! Be enthusiastic and excited about your skills! Talk yourself up without sounding like you're bragging. -Be interested in the job and even the potential employer! Ask questions. React positively to what he/she tells you. Seem interested and excited about the job, the opportunity, and the people you would be working with. -Emphasis your willingness and eagerness to learn and adapt. I.E. "I know I've never done X before, but I learn very quickly and this is something I've wanted to try out since I was a kid. I feel like this is a good/interesting/useful thing to be doing, and I'm really looking forward to trying it out!" Also, do not give up! Don't go on one or two job interviews a week and think 'I can't find a job', make it a point to apply and interview for at least one or two places a day. Can he ask for more hours? Geez! If he's getting robbed half the time he might want to look for a new job as well! What about rent/housing? I agree that the most expendable thing is the TV. I mean geez, 50 dollars a WEEK? I don't watch TV so I don't really know, but it seems like you could BUY a TV outright for 50 bucks, or at least a 100 or 150 (so send it back now, do without it for two or three weeks, save that money, then go and buy one). It may not be the nicest, flat-screen, giant, Hi-Def. type, but just buy a cheap TV for now and when your situation gets better you can upgrade then. Good luck, dude, Kevin

Wow that is weird! Good point, John! Guys, when sitting in the Lounge please stay on the couches and not in them.

Of course I'm disappointed too, but I understand I look forward to reading whatever you do post -Kevin

Yes, I think so too. Yes I can (in fact I clearly did), but I just didn't feel compelled to do it in a way that felt real and personal to me. Yes, I think you're probably correct on this point as well. I too didn't get the impression that the story was meant to be particularly moving. In that way it's a matter of taste. I like 'interesting', 'creative', and 'unique' stories, but I always want to be shocked, pleasured, hurt, angered, thrilled, amused etc. Simply being 'intrigued', while nice, isn't generally why I read fiction. I like to have an emotional reaction to it. I didn't have anything but a speculative, indirect emotional reaction to this story, and that's what I was trying to address. On a literary and intellectual basis, I do feel that I understood it. Again it's the emotion that I was talking about. Emotion can indeed be enhanced as a result of better understanding a story, but very often the emotional response is the most visceral and a deeper understanding of symbolism, motives, themes, and techniques is what comes after (again this isn't always the case but often). I doubt I would have a more emotional response with a second reading. Indeed, I almost always feel less emotionally affected the more times I read something, even if it hit me really really hard the first time. Same with a movie or song, that emotional kick usually decreases because, for me, so much of the impact is made from the new and unexpected. On a side note, one of my favourite GA authors is Luc, and this is solely because practically everything he writes kicks my ass emotionally (some of his blog entries and forum posts have even accomplished this in the past). I don't know if we're just really on the same wavelength emotionally or what, but whenever I think 'Luc' I think 'emotionally evocative'. I feel almost voyeuristic when I read his work because the emotions he puts into his stories feel so personal. Anyway, I really respect Billy as an author and that's why I wanted to give him an honest review. Most of the time I give honest reviews but leave out or dull the criticisms. I didn't think I would be doing him any favours by doing that. Besides, as I said this is only my opinion and my 'complaint' is very subjective. On top of all that there's a good chance I'm just not in a very emotionally receptive mood tonight anyway. -Kevin

Well that was interesting. Take what I say with a grain of salt since I've a few drinks in me AND I'm in a rather irritable mood. As I said it was very interesting. It was well-composed and it lends itself to stimulating discussions of language, twins, 'approximations', and many other things. However, the one thing I would say it lacks is emotion. I mean I can imagine the emotion in Damian and Ana quite easily. I can even imagine the emotion in Angel; although, I would say that she is the least developed character despite - or perhaps because of - being the narrator. However, I can't feel it. Maybe it is because I'm half-pissed and pissed (I'll leave it to you to determine which is which), but it just didn't move me. I felt like I was reading a detached narration of events (oh wait I was). There may be some very good reasons why the story was told in such a detached way, perhaps Angel had to remain detached to get through the letter. Perhaps she thought it was kinder to be cruel and that Damian would get over things more quickly this way. Perhaps she is filled with resentment from 'forty years of suffering' crammed into her twenty years. Whatever the case, my enjoyment of the story is lessened because I can't understand her in any but a speculative fashion. Why is she being so cold to her brother? Why is she okay with Ana treating him that way? Why is she willing to let Ana make major decisions for their life together (moving away, having a baby, etc.)? Why did she feel that her parents wouldn't understand? Why doesn't she care about any of these points? I can easily conjecture and come up with with rational, believable answers, but I just can't know. When I say I can't know I don't simply mean in the concrete, textually literal way; I'm fine with abstract, open-ended stories. Indeed, I generally prefer these types of stories. However, I need to know in my own heart and mind even it still remains an opinion objectively. I simply cannot know, so that is why I say the story is interesting, but not moving. -Kevin