Tiff

There are so many children in this world who need a home, so it's hard to choose between domestic or international, but I'd go with domestic, at least initially. I think one of the misconceptions is that it may be easier to adopt abroad because these third world countries might not be as strict, or policies get loset in translation. Or even that it's the trendy thing to do. It's sad to think that way, but with so many celebrities adopting abroad and then the media constantly showing that, well, people get swayed. It becomes the "right thing to do", as in saving poor impoverished children from war-torn countries or horrible living conditions. But what about children in our own countries who are also suffering or don't have a home? Imagine adopting a child from another country while there are numerous orphanages, discarded babies, or abused foster kids in need of a loving home? It's as if we're turning their backs on them because other children from third world countries are perceived as needing more help. Sometimes it's best to solve our own problems first, then collectively, try to help others. This was a big ramble/tangent, but I had been discussing this with someone today and my thoughts had run wild. Either way, adopting is great! You're helping a person in need and that's all that matters. It depends on personal preference or where your passion lies.

CONGRATULATIONS! GA forums have a really great atmosphere- welcoming, warm, friendly, informative. All your posts and comments help foster that type of environment- whether it's answering a question or encouraging someone new to this site, etc.,. You're like, the "Dad" of the entire group here. Anyway, it's quite an achievement, that many posts! But they're great so keep 'em coming!

Happy, Happy Birthday! Another year---make the best of it!

Good idea! I didn't know if Nifty was always this shady. Back then, maybe I didn't read over everything carefully enough to get the full picture. But in one of these forums, a guy got his two books published, but had to weasel the NIfty archivist in order to get his story taken off the site, but it worked out, since he replaced it with a new story. I guess Nifty worries about their own money making or whatever.

I always find it a bit sad when couples date for a long time, but then never talk after that. Sure, maybe they weren't friends beforehand, but it just sucks- you wasted a hefty amount of time with them, and you can never enjoy their company again? But maintaining a friendship is hard. Even with people who were friends to begin with, like good friends, it could be awkward and takes a bit of work.

Good decision on the study abroad. I'm going to be graduating soon- so I missed my chance. I was just too scared to be away from my family, but now they're driving me crazy, so I want to get away. Of course! GA is a great social networking site and a great community to talk/meet people and discuss issues such as these, but as for dating, well, it doesn't have a dating thing included, right?!? Oh check this out: my friend did join an gay online fitness website which also has dating options--I don't know how that works really, but it sounded interesting. And this dating option isn't only about hooking up/sex because there are restrictions- like no nude pictures. Not that that will prevent hooking up, but it kind of keeps things on a certain level, a way to kind of protect their guys. I don't know BK. Dating is hard; you really go through a lot of crazies and crap before finding someone to be happy with. Gay or straight---it's drama all around, man.

Yeah, I take that back. The internet is filled with crazies and I've recently had my share, so I have no idea why I suggested that. Well, only because some people can find luck that way, and it is another way of networking abroad. My friend did the online dating thing and it didn't work out, because they did only want one thing and that wasn't for my friend. So take Tiger's suggestion and one day, when you can, move to a western country. Or study abroad. Or a job oversea. My friend was telling me how he wanted to move to either Canada, Europe, or Australia, in order to work and meet someone new. Not the US though. Not too keen on Americans.

Happy Special Day! Hope you go all out!

I hope on some random night and by some divine intervention, patience will be bestowed upon you! And very fast- like within 24 hrs. Ever thought of trying an online dating site? LOL. Normally, I'd never recommend that, but hey, it could work for some people. You might have to go through a bunch of crappy frogs before findind someone worthy, but maybe it can be a funny process. AS in having some stories to tell your friends over dinner. One of my friends got engaged to a guy she met online. Try anything! :wacko:

As for exes- I find that you can't be friends and usually never talk again. But then again, it depends on your connection. If you were really good friends to begin with, you might try harder to stay connected somehow. Or if you weren't that serious to begin with, you could either never seem them again, or establish a friendship. Either way, it's a tricky situation. Go with your gut feeling. You know what is the right thing to do for yourself, even if might take a little thinking to figure it out. Oh, BK, you're still young! You have time! You probably hear this advice all the time- but don't think about dating. Go out and talk, meet new people, and out of nowhere, someone will appear. That's how it usually happens. Trust me. It doesn't seem that way now, but it really does.

Wow, this is really cool news. I mean, gay couples adopting is nothing new, but a GAY prince? Talk about a very unusual thing. Either way, this is great. I read the article. Did he appear on Oprah?! Damn, my Haitian friend used to tell me all the time I had to watch her show, but I never did. Now I wish I had; it seems she always up to date on the interesting/global news.

Ooh, I think I will listen to it, too If a person can read well and have expression/animations/emotions when reading a story, it's great. Not everyone can do that. Well, now I must listen to Graeme's audio works.

You're funny Tristan, and probably right! I can only imagine how funny it would be to record a story. I imagine during the sex scenes, I'd use my bedroom narrator voice! lol. You know, the quiet, breathy, dramatic voice. I mean, it would suck to record it in a monotone. Totally lose any sense of intimacy or whatever. That brings another issue: I'm not really any good at putting any kind of acting into my reading. Seriously, in class, you should hear me read passages of something. I'm kinda blah in that sense. Even if it can be fun, I'd doubt I'd record or listen to anything audio. I just have audio ADD or something. BUt then again, you keep talking about how good they are....so maybe one day I'll bite the bullet and give it a try!

God, you're funny. I hope you do get rich one day, and you'll have enough money and power to initiate a manhunt for your author, lol. Maybe if you network enough here on GA, you'll get in contact with some awesome PI looking to do pro-bono work. But I understand your frustrations. Some stories on Nifty, they opt not to put in an email address and you can't email them about their awesome writing. Or they hadn't written in so long and by the time you've read their stuff, digging endlessly in the archives, their address in no longer valid! Authors don't update their email addy and us readers are outta luck! However, since the internet can be a scary place, I sometimes understand the use pf pseudonyms. When I first started writing, I never even thought about using a pseudonym, but now I'm glad that I didn't. Using my real name, well, it allows the readers to feel more personal with the writer. Another thing I hate: when authors take their work off the internet in order to edit it and repost, but then they just stop! And I was too stupid or too slow to save the old posts on my computer. I should have; I really loved the stories. It was "Angel" and "The Pleasure Boy" by Jae Monroe, both on Nifty. I don't know where he's from- I'm thinking either Australia or New Zealand or one of those places that i have no clue about. I'm hoping to win the lottery so I can travel there and start my own manhunt. I wanna steal his computer....

Hey! I have noticed that you post an awful lot. You're inspiring! I was never really into posting or maybe lack of motivation, but now I see why it's so much fun posting in the forums and having "conversations" with others. I particularly love your posting, dabbling everywhere, because you make everyone feel special/important. In another words, people who aren't as good at posting, well, we feel more welcomed and encouraged to get involved. Does that even make sense, lol? Forgive me, my thoughts are jumbled. Runny nose over here in crappy East Coast weather. :wacko:

That's one thing I forgot: ACCENTS! I was born in Queens, and although there are a variety of American accents, I've been told on one of my trips to California that I have a bit of an obvious East coast/NYC accent and naturally some words and syllables end up distorted. I have no doubt some people would be confused over what I was reading! And I tend to speak very fast, especially when I get excited. And I agree with Graeme, creating them would be absolute torture! Long and tedious and aggravating, especially if you mess up and have to keep going over it again and again. Is bribing/blackmailing/threatening/begging someone else to read it an option? lol! Lazy Tiff

I think converting stories into audio books would suck the fun out of reading. Even though it's tiring at times to be glued to your computer screen reading and reading, I'd have major trouble listening to the story and concentrating fully on it. I know my mind would wander, as the words washed over me, sort of like music. I like reading because I really zoom in on the words and can reread it over again and at my pace. And, as it's already been said, you do have to check with authors beforehand.

Happy birthday! You're a baby! LOL. Enjoy your youth!

Oooh, I love book discussions *rubs hands together eagerly* Normally, I'm all into writing or reading stories on the internet, but just recently I began reading actual books in real life, well, mostly because it was mandatory for my classes, but they were really good reads! Two from my literature course: Music of Chance by Paul Auster- really great story about a drifter, how life is all about timing and a series of events that is ultimately out of your control, and is dependent on which choice you make. Made me cry. The Road by Cormac MccCarthy- a emotional story about the love between a father and son as they fight to survive among the deadly remains of a post-apocalyptic world, where you can't trust anyone because mankind has reached its lowest point (cannibalism). It also made me cry. The last book my friend bought me for my birthday, because I requested it, lol. But I'm sure you've heard of it, Hero by Perry Moore. Such a good book. I thought I wouldn't like it because of all the superhero mumbo-jumbo, but it really tied in to the human side of things, like trying to find yourself, where you fit in, who you want to be, AND explores family relations. Made me think and feel a bit sad. And it's a gay book, but the love story, or hint of a love story takes a backseat to the plot, so always like those kind of storylines. I mentioned this book in another post, because damn, I want to discuss this book with people! Tiffani

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Bon anniversaire! I'm taking a french class and I'm trying to practice my very limited and quite possibly incorrect statements- test tomorrow! lol. Enjoy this day! Celebrate! Cake! Presents! Tiffani

Happy birthday! So many birthdays in February. Winter babies! When I was younger all my friends had summer birthdays and they did pool parties and barbecues and I was all jealous. One of my friends, and fellow writer Hylas said winter babies were smarter. Don't know if there is any truth to that, but hey, whatever makes us feel better. lol. Have a great day! Do some insane celebrating, or you know, whatever is fun. Tiffani

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! 17. Gah, you make me feel old. Woe. Hope your day is awesome, or at least you have some crazy celebration over the weekend. I never liked when my birthday landed during the week. Too many damn assignments are always due, because of my crummy luck. Eat lots of cake! You're young; you can afford to stuff your face with sugary starches. Tiffani

Wow, I haven't blogged in like, ten years. I also didn't know there were more posts in my forum. My bad. I forget to browse around whenever I'm here; usually I post my new chapter and bounce. I have to thank Drewbie! Thanks for being so loyal. Anyway, been feeling kind of crummy lately or mentally haunted by this book I had to read for my literature course. Music of Chance by Paul Auster. Fantastic book. Reads really quickly, flows well, and well written, full of emotion. In fact, it was written too well and I found myself feeling really bad about the main character Nashe. He lost everything in his life and then at the end, he killed himself by driving head on into another car. The whole book he drifts around, searching for something, but never finding it, and in the core of it all, he yearns for freedom. It just seems so sad, yet fitting, that he dies at the end, because after losing his wife amd his daughter and his good friend was murdered, by killing himself- in a way- he is ultimately freeing himself from whatever plagues him. I know, I shouldn't get so involved in a fictional book, but by God, it really hit me! Maybe because I'm going through some own issues in my life, with my mother- that the character's life/death stirred up something in me. Or maybe I'm just stressed. Currently in the process of finishing my Japanese History seminar paper, which might be close to 60 pages by the time I'm done with it. I cannot wait for this semester to be over. With December around the corner, I'm excited for winter break. Calling up old friends, random parties, making holiday plans up the wazoo! Woohoo! Peace, P.S. HI ERIC!!!! Love your stories. Can't wait to see more from you in the future.

Hylas! Hiiiii!!! I got a shout out. Woot-Woot! I feel all special. Thanks! Hmm, I don't know what else to say....I sent you a ginormous email yesterday! I'm all talked out. Congrats on efiction status and posting your stories there. I CAN'T read 'Despair' again! *tear* Too sad. I hate shallow posers too. Yo, what's wrong with sunglasses? You need shades on a sunny day. Those UV rays are a bitch. Btw, I agree with AFriendlyFace, you'll have tons of happiness. One day. I'm sure of that. Must have some hope and faith. Talk to you soon. Tiff

I hate bugs! Imagine you're innocently collecting quotes for an upcoming paper and out of your peripheral vision, you see something dark on the floor that wasn't there before. Then you look down and notice it's a huge ass spider, so big, it's gotta be a freaking mutation! I'm wholly grossed out, but I grab a giant magazine and then slam it down on the mutated arachnid. I started using that method to kill bugs awhile ago, since magazines have a large surface area and provide a heavy impact, so the chances of the bug running around are rare. Plus, you can just tear off the back of the magazine and chuck it in the garbage. I don't want to feel the body. Ick. I made my Mom clean up the remains. She was shocked and grossed out too. Seriously, it was ginormous. Ok, back to my paper. I'm done sharing my big killing tales. Peace