Xandra Kitee

Both. I need a lot of material to work and I buy a lot for fun or personnal interests. But most of my books comes from my maternal grand-parents (and my grand-mother's parents before them) collection. My family doesn't have precious old furnitures, silverware, family jewelry, pieces of art or stuffs like that. We have books and the walls with the shelves to hold them. "My" flat comes from inheritance too and I'm actually my mom's freeloader. My bro and her doesn't live in this town so I kinda hold the fort. ^^ But the books are mine. My uncle doesn't have children and my bro doesn't share my interest in them and everybody agreed to let me have them when my grand-pa made his will. So most of them I would never give even if I had to sleep on them because of lack of space. They're mine but kind of not mine either. I'm just holding them and adding to them for the next generation and so on I hope.

It's not indiscreet. I've never speak anything else other than french until I was eleven (Cursing in Macedonian, Serbian, Arabic and Portuguese does not count I guess. ^^) and perfectly is a bit too flattering but thx. ^^ Mostly my books are organized by languages, then genres and then alphabetically. Even if I have several times the same book in different languages I don't put them together. There's exceptions like the dictionaries, grammar books, a few phrase books and some reference books on different litteratures. They have a shelf of their own rather close to my studying area. I often have to compare things between slavic languages and I can't afford to travel through my 5 rooms flat all day. This shelf is designed to allow the books I use the most to be the easiest to reach so to other's eyes it's a mess. ^^ One other exception is the big Artbooks and the valuable ancient books. They're displayed mostly in order to look nice in the living room. And the last concerns my favourites. Almost on each bookshelf, I'll put a dozen of the stuffs I prefer forward regardless of any logical order. It doesn't have any practical nor even aesthetic values. I just like it that way. Now that I wrote it, I can see why people complain when I don't go get what they want myslef.

If the back of the thigh wasn't so damn painful, I'm sure I would have been one very happy girl too because the artist was really easy on the eyes. As for visible tatoos well that's a shame. Mokos are so sexy. =^^= But it depends in what kind of milieu you're mostly living in. I know that so far it hasn't been an issue in my university. One of the librarian even has the whole left shoulder and arm tatooed and I've never seen anybody say anything except to gap in awe. The German dep. head has a thin tatoo on her ankle and foot (it's a grape-vine of some sort and actually quite nice). And so on. The Dean being such an old pig, I seriously wouldn't be surprised to learn that he has a pin-up on the chest. X_x Oh and some reactions made me wonder so I did a little research. It appears that the bible strictly forbids tatoos (though the funny thing is that in some other part God himself marks Cain. Go figure.). As an atheist I had no idea. There's some exceptions but mostly jews, christians and muslins authorities don't approve of it. So if your boss if a fundamentalist, well... keep your shirts on guys! ^^

Ooookay! I was thinking about using it but on the last count I had more than ten time that (grandfather's inheritance included, I'm not THAT much of a book worm, hu. ). It's summer and I have the time to do it so I guess I should buy something more appropriate to my needs. Any suggestion ?

You're only 16. Your body might still change. Especially your shoulder could get broader and stuff and it might not do wonders on your tatoo. I was 16 like you when I began to think seriously about getting a tattoo. It took me 6 years to really make up my mind and choose just the right one at just the right place. I also know that at 16 I was more bashful and I certainly would have not dare what I have now (no it's not a naked stud on the butt, tsk). Like your body, your mind might still change a great deal in the next few years while your tatoo will not. For some people it might not be a problem to do it on the spur of the moment but for most it's not really a good idea. Besides, I know that personnally, there's no way I'd let anybody near my skin with a needle without having discussed the "whys" and the "hows" of it thouroughly. I grilled 3 artists and visited a good deal of shops before finding what I wanted. But it was worth the wait, it's been 5 years and it still makes me warm inside to look at mine. As for the pain I can't really tell because I've always been rather resistant too it but I was a nervous wreck because needles are my big fear.

Okay, if Kitty finds the guts to do it, I'll show mine. =^^= And just to emphasize your point, tatoos have existed for so long and in so many cultures that "polite society" just doesn't mean anything concerning them.

You mean like the USA waited more than three years BOTH times (and six million victims in concentration camps plus a direct attack on their soil by an ally of our enemy the second time around) before they found the guts to act ? Now before you go all miffed about what I just write, just know that I don't think a word of it. I just wanted to show that there isn't a country that ever acted out of pure altruism in any war. It's hardly a matter of being "friends" but most likely a meeting of common goals and interests (political, economical, strategical and so on). I may not approve what the USA sometimes have done *cough*segregation*cough* or are doing but that sure doesn't mean I'm automatically writing off 300 million people of my potential friendships list. If that was the case, I'd have to write myself off that list since there's many things I don't approve of *cough*colonialism*cough* in my own country and its History. I'm mostly trying not to let preconceived ideas and generalizations about people get the better of me. And I thought, maybe naively, that this was, here of all places, the way to do things. Now concerning LBtw's story, I'm not accepting his thanks. It's me who is thanking him for letting me in. I'm grateful and a little bit flattered that he liked my country enough to speak so well about it in his story (though it's a bit rose-colored but hey! I'm not about to complain!). J't'adore LittleMarceltw.

This one is easy but wouldn't help Gay Authors membership I believe because it mainly involves leaving your computer A-LO-NE. Anyway, I'd also be glad to answer any questions about the BOARD and if you don't have one... Well, you can still join and make fun of LBtw. =^^=

Most of the time I don't care but sometimes, I'm soooooooo glad about some coming out. XP

If he makes fun of Ballroom Dancing take him see or rent Take the Lead. NOBODY makes fun of ballroom dancing once he's seen Antonio's tango! *drool*

Well, no. I didn't know that. I mean I can tell a Texan from a New Yorker but that's about it. If the nuance is important for the story, it shouldn't be automatically implied based on local standard. Or I guess many "outsiders" would miss it and miss on the depht of the story. Now of course, taking that in consideration and still have subtility and fluidity in the writing is the real challenge. ^^

Just from the non native english speaker : accents are a pain. It's funny though but in very small dose. Like for minor characters or if the character is actually supposed to be incomprehensible. I have to carefully read the sentence, then imagine how it sounds and finally try to guess with what "real" english words it bears enough resemblance to make sense. The Urban Dictionnary also became my best friend.

Check that you are in Standard mode.

Gimme a picture of him and I could fake FIND photographic evidences that he's an "overly-accepting" boy. X)