Yettie One

Have you tried Stronger Than Lions?

Good point Joann. Love is so much more than just words.

Hey gang Just thought I'd drop by today and catch up. I love this post for some strange reason. Maybe its got something to do with the fact that eveyone feels ok to be open and honest here. Maybe its that there is no one judging anyone here. What ever it is, I'm learning everyday that this road is a bit of a yoyo. I'd figured that this was going to be a difficult road to plod along, but don't think i'd fully appreciated how difficult. It's madness, some days I feel as if I can get on with life, and the very next day I can't face the world again. One night I can sleep too much and the next I'm too anxious to get a wink. Sometimes I can smile and laugh, other times all i can do is frown or cry. I don't get it. everything is a roller coaster. Funny thing is when I really think about it, its been like that for a while, but I'd never really noticed. In some ways I wish I could go back to those days of blissful ignorance. But each day is about small targets. Carry on putting things back in order. It feels in a way as if I have to rebuild my life. I still can't figure out how I let it get so out of control. It mystifies me. Harcallard I'm so happy to hear that you're feeling better of late. That feeling of peace and happiness you have right now. Enjoy it, remember it, that is what we are all striving to win back. Really hope you have a brilliant birthday mate, and all the very happiest wishes for the year ahead of you. Marky long time no chat buddy. I hope the farm is not keeping you toooo busy. All work and no play will make Mark a very naughty boi! haha, actually I'm not sure that Stubby would mind that. Hope your good bud. Wayne hope the heat is not being such a meanie to you. I'd send ya a massive hug, but if your as hot and sweaty as me, then maybe its not such a good idea. wet and sticky is never a good hug! Hope you had a good weekend buddy. Hi Joe. Hope the house clearing is finished and you got everything you needed to get done, done. Mike you are always there with a kind word and a voice of encouragement. Thanks. Your a great guy. Hope you are well and having a good weekend too. So yeah, just felt the need to write something, let off a bit of steam or just get my mind in order. Not really sure which one of those is truest, but thanks for listening anyway. Love to you all.

There is one thing in each of our lives that affects us in some fashion regardless of how we might try to avoid it, fail to understand it, or seek to find it. It can be illusive, it can be mystifying, it can be frustrating, it can creep up on you unexpected. It amazes us, it brings us great happiness and unbearable heart ache. This wonderful, powerful, thing is not a person, it's not physical, it's certainly not something you'll see or meet, yet it lives in each of us, can be very physically expressed, and you see it on peoples faces every day and meet it every time you find two people in love. Love. Only four letters. Such a simple word, but one of the most complex emotions know to man. It is something we all crave, something we need, a feeling we require almost as much as we need food or water to live. Yet as much as we need it, it is not something common to find. It is something we mistake too easily, a feeling we share too freely, an emotion we abuse, take for granted and lose far too much. It's something that when we have it we are blissfully happily, and when we find ourselves without it experience feelings of loneliness that makes life quite unbearable. What is it about love that makes it such a domineering emotion for mankind? Why do we need it so? I think if we were all to list our personal reason for its importance in our lives, it would be interesting to see the different levels that love impacts our lives on every level. I also think that we'd do well to see the variety of reasons that we present for its importance as part of the reason for its complexity. You see, everyone views love through different eyes. We all have different expectations, our needs, insecurities, dependencies, curios traits, funny habits and a whole list of other factors of each persons personality that makes love one of the biggest things of our lives. Some would say that you only have one shot at true love. Others would argue that you can find love anywhere if you look hard enough. I believe that a lot of people hide behind the word for a variety of selfish reasons. Some will tell you that real love arrives when you find your soul mate, and yet more would try convince you that love is all about learning to love. But what is it about love? I mean come on.... What is all the fuss about? The truth? We are not designed to survive without it. A human man, a woman, a child.... We cannot survive without love. As a child we learn love through the expression of those around us. Mainly from our parents, but in some cases from others that show us time, care about us, and makes us feel warm, safe and special. We learn to feel comfortable in love. It brings us happiness, acceptance, safety, companionship and possibly most importantly gives us a sense of identity. Knowing someone cares that much for us kindles a fire within us. It's these feelings that drive us. We all want to feel them at every level of our lives, especially from our peers, from our friends, from the people we like, the people we choose to spend time with. Without these feelings where would we be? Love can be expressed in many ways, but which ever way we receive it, there is something about it that is special for each one of us, and these are the feelings we crave the most. So next time your thinking about love, just stop and ask yourself what it is that makes love special for you. I think you'll find it's not an easy question to answer, but taking a moment to try understand it gives us a completely new appreciation for it. Thought for today - "You can close your eyes to the things you don't want to see, but you can't close your heart to the things you don't want to feel." - Johnny Depp Song for today - Caribbean Blue by Enya

Grief I was watching the news on that freak storm system that hit the US this weekend. It looked mad. You guys are not having a good summer this year. It gets hot here, but nothing like that. Hell I don't envy you Wayne. I think I'd struggle with heat that bad! Hope you get some cooler weather soon bud. x

Italy's always taken one big scalp. It'd be nice to see them do another one!

Thanks for this Prompt Wayne. It took me back to a special place, and precious memories, so it was kind of easy to write. The real place is in South Wales, an area known as Worms Head in the Gower. It's stunning there, and was a place I used to frequent when I needed to think, or be alone. And it was a bloody horse I nearly hit, not a deer, part of the inspiration for the others story. HAHA.

Thanks for the feedback Andy. I saw this prompt and straight away knew what I had to write. It was almost as if the prompt was meant to be! Really enjoyed this one, and really glad you liked it too. Thanks for reading buddy!

You know to be honest Wayne, it was started as nothing like how it turned out, and it was one prompt that I got to have a lot of fun with really.lol. Writing it reminded me so much of a young reprobate I once knew.

Hehe, thanks for reading Andy. Funny it didn't start out anything like it ended up becoming, but that is the joy of the prompts. Love them!

Thanks RJ. You always encourage me to keep at it. I love hearing what you thought.

I really get a kick of your prompt Wayne. It's great that someone takes the time to tax our brain and get those creative juices flowing. Thanks.

Ok so I gave them both a try. Here is Prompt 148 - Sold and here is Prompt 149 - Dawn Breaks

“Zombie,” I called out into the darkness, my voice echoing back at me in a ghostly manner.“Ox?” the response came reverberating off the cliff walls around us, the voice coming from exactly where I could not see.“Dude, you know I am night blind and you have the only blooming torch!”I could hear the crunch of his feet on the sandy soil, so I knew he had to be close, but in this darkness, under a starry sky with no moon he could have been stood right next to me, I’d still not have seen him.I sudden

“How in the hell did you think that would be a good idea?” “Oh for heavens sakes Adam, they did it to Joseph in the bible!” I stared at my brother flabbergasted. “Dude, are you for real? Hell Luke, they didn’t have laws against….. kidnap and….. slavery, and god knows what other laws you have probably broken with this stunt back in those days. What on earth were you thinking?” “Oh you so know you would have done it if you’d had the balls Adam,” Luke remonstrated. “I might have thought it Luke

Awwwwwwwww Totally deserve that massive smile on your face mr. Glad it's worked out so well.

Good lucky Wayne!

Aye credit where credit is due, good call Zombie.

That is one of the most impressive matches of tennis I've seen in a very long time. Rafal Nadal, the number two in the world, with 11 grand slam titles is dumped out of Wimbeldon by Luke Rosol number 100 in the world. For the first time in seven years, Nadal exits a grand slam in the second round after a four hour five set match up! That was stunning, well done young man!

Got to be honest, I didn't see that one coming at all. Well done to those that figured Italy might win it. So what is the issue with Italy and Germany. To loose to them 8 times in a row. that must be kinda soul destroying. Grrrrrrrrr Spain v Italy for the final. I'd never have guessed that. Meh don't know who i want to win now!

99 Miles an hour on a backhand return. Heck Rosol is making Nadal suffer in this final Set. Wow.

Watching it now Zombie. Rosol has been playing like a champ!

I got to thinking about sexuality again today, specifically about how trends seem to change with how we present our sexuality, even as fashion or social trends change. It got me really wondering, is the latest trend of seeing so many people describe themselves as BiSexual now a new reality or just a cop out that gives a new generation an ounce of credibility in the eyes of their peers. My pondering should not be taken as an attack on people that are truly BiSexual or anyone who identifies themselves as such for whatever reason, more just the musing of an enquiring mind. See, I can't help but wonder if this sudden increase in the number of people, especially the younger generation that identify themselves as BiSexual, is not more a matter of self preservation as society finds a loop hole in our perception of sexuality that lends to greater social acceptance among our peers. When you take the time to chat with a few of these people, I have found that a few are very clearly open to sexual partners of any kind, but the majority seem to be hiding behind a definition that is not seen as threatening by people who would be more inclined to pick on someone who identifies themselves openly as gay. We are a creature that are set to evolve and find ways to protect ourselves, and I can't help but wonder if sexuality is influenced by societies perception of what is right, what is wrong, and what is acceptable as a middle ground between the two. Does this grey area where we are kind of not so inclined to take exception, the place where those who are different from what our peers consider normal, become the place where we seek refuge? Is it the case that BiSexual, which could be taken to be less threatening than a fully gay person, is the new cool, a place that gay people can become lost in, in order to avoid conflict? I few years ago when I was working as a doorman in Swansea in South Wales, I first began to notice this trend as more and more of the gay 'scene' became less and less intimidated being seen out on the straight 'scene'. Those gay bars of yester year have become less of a trend now, as gay people have become more and more entrenched in our modern society here in the UK. But that is not to say that gay people have it all easy now. Yes generations have changed their perception here, even in the twelve years I've lived here I've noticed this, but it is still not easy to be a gay man or woman in the UK. Bullying is still common place, and if you speak to most gay people, they have all gone through a tough time either at school, work or even in the home. So it does make me wonder if this is a whole new trend of humanity finding a new way to mitigate that strife we experience as a homosexual, deflecting some of the hostility towards our sexuality by identifying with a grouping that is perceived by our society as a less intimidating and wholly more acceptable sexual difference. Thought for today - "The best way to find yourself is to loose yourself in service of others." - Mahatma Gandhi Song for today - Girls and Boys by Blur

As one of the newbies here on GA, I can honestly say that the review be it good or bad can be quite daunting. I sometimes feel that I don't really have the right to criticise something as a newbie, after all what do I know right? As a result I only tend to give a concrit to something that I've really enjoyed and feel bold enough to write about. When I do give a review of this nature i offer it in private and as: 1. It's only in my opinion, and not offered as some kind of professional advice. 2. My observation is only offered as an observation and not a recommendation or suggestion to change anything. I think there is a right way and a wrong way to give criticism and I've seen a lot of different comments on here. Some are great and give the writer something to go away with and work with. Others open the door to discussing things in private and let the writer know that a reader is not completely happy with what they read. If the writer wants to know more then a private conversation is possible. Others are just blatantly out of line, more a personal attack than a concrit. For me personally, as a reader if I'm reading and I enjoy I make a solid point of reviewing. It's only fair that the pleasure i've had in reading is shared even if it wasn't necessarily the best. If I know the writer well enough and I think that something is amiss I'll send them a message to say so. If I don't know them, I tend to leave it, as yeah I do feel a little at odds with ripping someone's work as a newbie. I've also come to realise by reading a variety of stories here on GA that there is a range of different abilities. Some people are faced with language barriers and some just don't write in a style that I necessarily enjoy. That does not make their work or effort any less deserving or good? So does that mean they warrant a bad review? If I don't enjoy something but there is nothing fundamentally wrong with it, why be negative? I guess what I'm trying to say is that everyone's view and opinion is different. As a writer just starting out, I love to hear good and bad. What you thought is the only way I'm going to learn. I have to be honest and say that I'd prefer to hear the bad in private, as its never pleasant to feel embarrassed, but at the same time I don't mind if someone is genuinely meaning to be helpful and not personal.

I think Portugal were really unlucky in that game. Spain seemed to have to rely on fouling Ronaldo in order to stop him scoring. Bit of a nonsense really! Erm yeah I'd say Spain v Germany for the final. Not heard of anything between Italy and Germany! Maybe they are just scared of Andrea Pirlo!