JamesSavik

Thanks guys. I think I like ensnared the best. I'm working on a short story with a plot similar to the situation I described in the example.

I'm looking for a word or phrase to describe a bad situation in which a person must endure a loss of dignity because if he complains, there will be retaliation. Hobson's choice comes to mind. Lesser of two evils. Example: A guy is on probation which is contingent on his continuing employment. If he gets fired or quits, he goes back to prison. His employer is taking advantage of the situation to sexually harrass and manipulate him. Anybody got a word or phrase?

SB- Work with the weights. It'll make you stronger and improve your endurance. Besides, if you wanna catch a stud, bait the trap with a stud.

OK guys. I think that the best ever definition of an asshole is by Dennis Leary. Asshole - Dennis Leary (Spoken) About me, about you, about the way our American hearts beat way down Folks, I'd like to sing a song about the American dream. in the bottom of our chests. About that special feeling we get in the cockles of our hearts, maybe below the cockles, maybe in the subcockle area. Maybe in the liver. Maybe in the kidneys. Maybe even in the colon, we don't know. (Sung) I'm just a regular Joe with a regular job. I'm your average white suburbanite slob. I like football and porno and books about war. I got an average house with a nice hardwood floor. My wife and my job, my kids and my car. My feet on my table...and a cuban cigar. But sometimes that just ain't enough to keep a man like me interested no way No, I've gotta go out and have fun at someone else's expense Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah I drive really slow in the ultra-fast lane, While people behind me are going insane. I'm an asshole I'm an asshole I walk around in the summertime saying "How about this heat?" I use public toilets and I piss on the seat, I'm an asshole I'm an asshole Sometimes I park in handicapped spaces, While handicapped people make handicapped faces. I'm an asshole I'm an asshole Maybe I shouldn't be singing this song Ranting and raving and carrying on Maybe they're right when they tell me I'm wrong... NAAAAH! I'm an asshole I'm an asshole Know what I'm gonna do? I'm gonna get myself a 1967 Cadillac El Dorado (Spoken) Convertible, hot pink, with whaleskin hubcaps and all-leather cow interior and big brown baby seal eyes for headlights... yeah! And I'm gonna drive around in that baby at 115 miles per hour, getting 1 mile per gallon, suckin' down quarter pound cheeseburgers from McDonald's in the old-fashioned non-biodegradable styrofoam containers and when on the American Flag and then I'm gonna toss the styrofoam containers I'm done suckin' down those greaseball burgers I'm gonna wipe my mouth right out the side, and there ain't a goddamn thing anybody can do about it. You know why? Because we got the bombs, that's why Two words: Nuclear f**kin' weapons, OK? Russia, Germany, Romania, they can have all the democracy they want...they can have a big democracy dead, he's frozen! And as soon as we find a cure for cancer, we're cakewalk right through the middle of Tienamen Square and it won't make a lick of difference, because we got the bombs, OK? John Wayne's not gonna thaw out the Duke and he's gonna be pretty pissed off. You know million times, that's how pissed off the Duke's gonna be. why? Have you ever taken a cold shower? Well, multiply that by 15 I'm gonna get the Duke and John Casavetti and Lee Marvin and Sam Peckinpaw and a case of whisky and drive to Texas...(HEY, HEY HEY!> Why don't you shut up and sing the song, pal? (Sung) I'm an asshole I'm an asshole A S-S H-O L-E Arf, Arf Arf, Arf Arf, Arf Arf Everybody, A S-S H-O L-E Oooooooo Thoomph A-thoom-thoom A-thoom-thoom A-thoom-thoom (Spoken) I'm an asshole and I'm proud of it I can't see either one of you, SB or Shadows, as an asshole. Awkward, perhaps. Growing up and stumbling over all the usual tricks and traps- certainly. But an asshole? Naaah, I don't think so. -JS

A great many military brats are born overseas- mostly in Europe. One of my long time friends growing up was a missionary kid. Rick grew up in Kenya and I met him when he showed up in jr. high. (Remember-this was Mississippi in the 70s) He created quite the contraversy when he took a black chick the the jr high dance. I loved it. People said like Dude, you can't do that and he just said why not.

SB- Now you aren't thinking of switching sides are you? I'm kidding. That's cool actually. The more friends that you have, male or female, the better off you are. It's maybe a little easier for a gay guy and a girl to get along since the usual male sex drive thing isn't involved. take it easy, JS

Grrr- your ex makes my furr stand up Green. It's official Green: your first trick or treater this year came as a bozo. Julio however, sounds like a real sweetheart. You definitly traded UP.

my bf is 19 which isn't too much of an age difference for me. however, i have recently found out that his ex is over 40 (exactly how much over 40 i'm not sure) which kind of bothers me. There are a number of reasons that younger guys date older guys. Some of them are not very nice. Typically a guy his age that dates someone that much older has issues with or about his father. Perhaps his father was absent or estranged. These relationships are deep and there is quite a lot of feeling involved. The relationship can be good when the older man assumes the role of a mentor and looks out for the best interest of the young man. He becomes something of a surogate father. They can be very bad if the older party is a leach or plays head games with the younger guy. You need to tolk to your boyfriend and figure out the dynamic of the thing.

Hey Green! Sometimes you need some time to yourself. Maybe you and Julio should jump in the car on a Friday afternoon and disapeer to a hotel not so far away. I suggest a Red roof inn, request a business king- it's a nice big room with huge bed. Get a nice bottle of champaign and just enjoy yourselves. Mini vacations like the one I describe can help couples stay sane by having some time to yourselves, get some rest and keep the romance going. You can make it happen without spending a whole lot of money. After your last few weeks, you deserve a break. -James PS- lots of places that cater to business travelers offer broad band in the room.

Creating Unforgettable Characters Linda Seger, Henry Holt & Company, 1990. Ms. Seger is a writing consultant for Hollywood that has worked on a number of successful projects for television and movies. This book follows her Making a Good Script. While this book is aimed primarily at screenplays, the concepts are applicable for any type of writing. Any story from print to the big screen benefits from strong characterization. Ms. Seger book explores the means and methods by which they are created. Each chapter outlines a piece of the puzzle. Chapter 1 talks about character research, and how to go about it. Chapter 2 discusses how characters are defined and how they must be consistent but how paradox's add dimension to them. Character back story, character psychology, relationships, supporting and minor characters, duologue, stereotyping and character problems are discussed at length in the book using examples like Dustin Hoffman's character in the Rainman. Other examples come from big named movies or television shows. My take on this book is that it is useful but non-essential. The concepts and methods are covered elsewhere in books more applicable to literary applications. It is worth reading but... check it out from your library.

There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with virginity. I started out way too early and paid a high price for it. If I had it to do over again, I would have waited. Since we all have to live in a world in which there is HIV, it's a good idea.

Green- I had to think about this before I responded. You've been a good friend to others so I hope that you are open to someone returning the favor. A great many gay men have big time issues with their fathers and they can take a lot of different forms. For many gay men, their fathers treated them like s**t because of their sexuality. Others bust their ass to live up to or gain acceptance from a father that will never grant it. Your's appears to be different from most because it is about abandonment. This is a serious issue and it wouldn't hurt you to explore it with a therapist. This isn't going to go away for you. It's going to stick around and rear its ugly head and affect other parts of your life where it is completely unwelcome like relationships, professional life and self esteem. That anger that you are feeling now: I'll bet that it has always been with you. It's not hurting him. It is hurting you. Green, do yourself a big favor and find a good therapist and work through this before it works you over. All you've got to loose is the pain. Peace, JS

SB- I can't tell you how many couples I know who hated each other at first. It's soooo cliche that I don't use the love/hate thing in any of my work. I say that you don't need a boyfriend just for the sake of having a boyfriend. Just take it easy- you're a doll. It's going to happen for you. Just let it happen in its own time and don't try to force it. Stay sweet, JS

This house was 100 M from the water. The front was smashed and the storm surge just blew through. Nothing left but the shell. This 30 foot yatch was never meant to be sitting in a bunch of trees. This house was smashed by storm surge and "pancaked". This brick house survived but the ground floor is toast. Wipe out. Trent Lott's lot. The house? Well, you might say it has us surrounded.

You'll just have to read my story Broken

13,13,13,13 and that was in 1977. I was a prodigy!

This is cheaper and much more fun. Get a bottle and drink it with your friend and watch his clothes fall off.

Although I had long suspected it, now I'm absolutely sure. You're one of the good guys Green.

You know that it would be untrue You know that I would be a liar If I was to say to you Girl, we couldn

Chaz may have made a mistake but I don't think that it is one that he should be run out of town for. Having been to that awful family reunion and its emotionally charged aftermath, Chaz may have thought that Green needed a kiss. Real friendship is too rare a thing to dismiss.

Sounds like you've got good reason to be tired- that was quite a list. I slacked today and stayed home from church. The allergies were on the attack and I couldn't quit sneezing... until the Xyrtec took hold. Being a good player on a bad team is a love-hate thing. It's cool to look good but it sucks to loose. Well, get some rest and have a good week. May dreams of hot CC guy dance in your head.

*Hugs Green* We must be cousins because certain members of your family behave in an eerily familiar manner.

When I used to work on a helpdesk, we were given portable phones. So... I can't tell you how many help desk calls I took on the crapper. "Hey buddy, your phone sounds funny." "You think it sounds funny now..."

I want to warn you about overuse of this device. It makes the dialog hard to understand and follow. If I were trying it, I think that I would use it sparingly and just enough to give flavor to the character and not difficulty to the reader.

Green- Take care with your budding psyco Green. He sounds like a real winner. With parents like those, he would have probably gotten away with his behavior until he had gotten into serious trouble. You did the right thing; even if it doesn't feel like the right thing. -JS