Peredhil

Offers his keyboard as well, and a bigger hammer, wary of the scythe

Wikpedia ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friends_with_benefits - contains strong language) has the definiton, which a dinosaur such as myself didn't know. Now that I know the term, the poignancy of the poet's dance with Death deepens exponentially.

Actually, I think it's pretty nifty that when your heart was cut, you bled words. That's the heart of a poet. *hugs*

Been a while, but I used to nickel and dime with my friends to while away a night. Played poker, Texas Hold 'em, Five card stud, Seven card stud, 51/2-21, 7-27, Blood and Guts, Acey-deucey, Hi-ball, Lo-ball. Used to play cribbage against my Dad for money. Hearts, Spades, Racehorse pinochle, and euchre came with college... I kinda have a Thing for games...

gratz! How about Salinye - could call her Sally...

From my experience with urination and electric fences, this technique can be used to find the strands of an electric fence hidden by tall grass...

-If you set out to beat the odds, be sure you can handle the results if the odds beat back.

Peredhil peers in hesitantly, holding a stuffed Griffon in one huggle grip and a Heart-Bear in another, leaving him at a loss of how to hug Mynx reassuringly. I don't know your situation, and I only know you through your words and the words of others here (and the interaction of the two), but may I make a few comments? These are opinion, so feel absolutely free to reject them without any onus or grief - The affection I feel for you wasn't based on your taking my advice and can't be lost by it either. 1) It is good to vent in a safe place like the Pen where you can discuss options without condemnation. I prolly would've posted in the Courtyard, where only Pen Initiates and members can see it, but I'm a somewhat private person by nature. Along those lines, You can always PM me, or if that is a bother, PM me with your email and I'll email you back. 2) I've found in my own life and personality type that I dislike change. I absolutely hate the first month of anything new, no matter how beneficial to my future it will be. I'm the guy that would prolly initially complain (and quite honestly in the emotion) about winning the lottery. So I've learned to never judge any situation I'm in once I start it for four weeks. If it was a decision based on intelligent thinking, I've found I regret far too much a decision based on ephemeral emotions to back out or quit. 3) The things that have come easiest to me I've appreciated the least. Unfortunately for me, it's the dark valleys of life and the struggle up the hill that have given me the most strength for the next valley. I'm only as strong as what I've overcome. From this, I've learned patience by focusing on the hope of the next hilltop (even knowing there will always be a valley to follow), and endurance. The personal reward has been worth it. 4) Enjoy your hilltops! Don't let *anyone* rob you of the reward of breaking into the light, the euphoria of triumph, of being on top for a brief moment. For some people, it is easier to sabotage climbers than it is to climb out themself. It's not pride or arrogance, it is taking responsibility for what you do - right as well as wrong. Too many people, in an oddly prideful sense of false humility will stand up and announce that they've done wrong and are sorry. But it takes a strength of a different kind to announce you've done right and are pleased. Along the same lines - say "thank you" to compliments instead of explaining why the person is wrong. Few people are as vulnerable as when they make the effort to compiment someone else honestly. Just don't stay too long on that hilltop luxuriating - head for the next hilltop as soon as you catch your breath and recover. 5) It is the journey that matters, the constant enduring struggle. The point isn't how many hilltops you've climbed, it is that you never gave up moving forward. It is how many people you've led up into the light with you. What is the point of being strong if not to help someone else. There is a very strong leadership lesson to be learned from your current martial arts instructor; a living example of how incorrect thinking and goal setting leads to incorrect instruction and attitude, and the effects on another person (in this case you). Analyze him, learn from him - and leave him behind in his valley as you progress beyond him. 6) I am a Romantic, loving the past and disliking the unknown future by nature. That manifests in my dislike of change, even knowing it is necessary, and in my being Nocturnal - sleeping slays another day and requires me to face another. I've always found it easier to stay up than to get up, and this despite the last 21 years in a job that has me waking very early every day. Knowing this about myself, I always tried to schedule my classes, when available, for either extremely early in the morning (so I could stay up for it and sleep after), or in the afternoon. Failing that, I tried to take Tuesday/Thursday classes so that I had a four day weekend every week. It's not always possible, but I was able to do it more often that one might have thought. 6) Listen to everyone's advice, then make up your own mind. Everyone is the same, within variations, as imposed on us by the vast amount of genetic material we all share. However, it is that small variation (less than 1/2 of 1% of our genetic material) that makes for all the differences with which people are born. In other words, humans tend to have the same types of problems, but each solution has to be unique for that particular individual. I was once told that a good rule of thumb is to find out what the experts say is impossible, and then try to disprove them. If you succeed, you've advanced knowledge for humanity. If you fail, you have a true understanding of that subject. -Peredhil six cents.

It feels that way sometimes...

*hugs* This sounds all too familiar from my own life. Well said.

Yays!!! Prayers pay off! It's WONDERFUL to see you happy and *feeling* some of the love that is being beamed your way. *huggles a lot* Plus, it's a good poem, and the broken line formatting helps to emphasize your points.

Excellent

Dark wizard? Elladan and Elrohir paused in the doorway, each reacting to the news in their own fashion. "This is going to upset Dad; I'll make sure the relatives have a nice recompensation," murmurred Elladan. "A dark wizard. I'd better take care of this before Dad finds out he's being Rude to the villagers. You know how he is about people on the Pen lands," murmurred Elrohir. Each looked at the other with a raised brow. "'Dan, Elrohir patiently explained, "You *know* that Dad told you to quit killing hostages to remove them from the situation." "It neutralizes the threat. I'll conduct a funeral service myself." "No." "If I ensure that each hostage is buried with two enemy at their feet?" "No!" "Seven?" "'Dan..." "Okay, I'll help you with the Wizard, we let the techy boys try the hostage thing, and when they mess it up, we kill them ALL." "it's a start. Wizards and Technology. We need to slip up to the rooms and get a few things I suppose." Elladan started smiling in anticipation. These toys were usually kept locked away from him... As his boys moved away, Peredhil frowned at them from across the room curiously, but didn't interrupt his conversation.

*huggles both* Happy birthday.

Hugs Zadown thankfully for his linguistic help Latin anyone? 1. Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam. I have a catapult. Give me all your money, or I will fling an enormous rock at your head. 2. Fac ut vivas. Get a life. 3. Vescere bracis meis. Eat my shorts. 4. Mater tua criceta fuit, et pater tuo redoluit bacarum sambucus. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries. 5. Estne volumen in toga, an solum tibi libet me videre? Is that a scroll in your toga, or are you just happy to see me? 6. Antiquis temporibus, nati tibi similes in rupibus ventosissimis exponebantur ad necem. In the good old days, children like you were left to perish on windswept crags. 7. Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari? How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? 8. Borges sumus. Resistere inutile est. We are the Borg. Resistance is futile. 9. Conlige suspectos semper habitos. Round up the usual suspects. And again, Congratulations to all those promoted!!!!

Helpful Peredhil presents: Useful Russian Phrases: 1. Çäðàâñòâóéòå [Zdravstvujte!] Hello; How do you do? 2. Äîáðûé äåíü! [Dobry den'!] Good day! 3. Äîáðûé âå÷åð! [Dobry vecher!] Good evening! 4. Äîáðîå óòðî! [Dobroje utro!] Good morning 5. Ñïîêîéíîé íî÷è! [spokoynoy nochi!] Good night 6. Ãîâîðèòå ëè Âû ïî-àíãëèéñêè? [Govorite li vy po angliyski?] Do you speak English? 7. ß õîòåë áû ïåðåïèñûâàòüñÿ ñ Âàìè (ñ òîáîé) [Ya khotel by perepisyvat'sya s vami (s toboy)] // "s vami" is more polite I would like to correspond with you. 8. ×òî çíà÷èò ýòî ñëîâî? [Chto znachit eto slovo?] What does this word mean? 9. ß íå çíàþ. [Ya ne znayu] I don't know. 10. Ñïàñèáî! [spasibo] Thanks! 11. Âñåãî õîðîøåãî! [Vsego horoshego!] All the best! 12. Äî ñâèäàíèÿ! [Do svidanya!] Goodbye! Useful Finnish phrases 1. TER-VEH hello 2. NA-KE-ME-IN goodbye 3. (does not exist in Finnish) please 4.KEE-E-TOS thank you 5. MIS-SA ON W-C Where is the bathroom? 6. SUK-LA-AH chocolate 7. O-LUT beer 8. Voi Luoja! Paassani on kirves! Oh my god! There's an axe in my head. Useful Japanese phrases 1. Ookina zo-san desu. It's a big elephant. 2. Zo-san ga ippai imasu. There are many elephants. 3. Kono koppu ha zo-san de ippai deha arimasen. This cup isn't filled with elephants. 4. Onaka ga sukimashita. I'm hungry. 5. Oishii desu. It's delicious. 6. Onaka ga ippai desu ga, zo-san de ippai deha arimasen. I'm full, but I'm not full of elephants. 7. Watashi ha watashi ga wakarimasen. I cannot understand myself. 8. Okini ookina kujira ga imasu. There is a big whale in the ocean. 9. Ookini, ookina kujira ga imasu. Thank you, there is a big whale. 10. Sono kado wo migi ni magatte kudasai. Please turn to right at the corner. 11. Hidari ni modoru to midori no ki ga arimasu. If you back to the left, there is a green tree. 12. Baka na kaba. A stupid hippo. 13. Neko chan ga chou sukitte kanji. Like y'know, I love cats. 14. Ohesotte nani? What is the meaning of my bellybutton? 15. Kazoku sorrote no seppuku ga yokatta. I loved the part where the whole family disemboweled themselves. 16. Omawarisan! Chikan o tska-mate! Police! Arrest this pervert! 17. Osoroshii kangae nimo osoware mas. I have many evil thoughts. 18. Ebi no idaina saigo desu! How honorably shrimp struggle as they choke to death! 19. Anata no hiza ni suwattemo yoroshii deshoka? Do you mind if I sit in your lap?

Huzzah! *joins in happy dancing*

gratz!

Hands Gyrfalcon a key and a t-shirt Just ask? It's a unisex facility, since sex shouldn't enter into it as a criteria at all. Sets about torturing Gyrfalcon with hot tubs, rich foods, and the dreaded Comfy Chair in front of the movie screen.

Only Wyvern, the Elder of Initiates or the Lore Master (In Wyvern's absence) can accept an Initiate. The rest of the Elders provide veto power, as do voting members in the Minstral Hall if they choose to provide it. Any vetos require a reason, and what the person would need to do to be accepted. (Except in the case of Plagarism.) While this isn't codified into Pen Bylaws, it is a workable system which has the force of Tradition. Informative Peredhil, of the Ancients (who have no vote, just advisory positions)

Hugs Yui-Chan Now THAT is perfect. You really should write humor more often; you have a gift for it. One of the favorite writings I ever did was on Darkness Rising with you and Zoolio. Bows to the Mistress of Shadows.

Wandering by to say "hi" to a number of recent arrivals, Peredhil notes Zariah's dismay and disarray and contemplates his hostess' survival. With a nod and a chant her dress will decant all of its jucy stains so that when he is done she's ready for fun, for Zariah and dress still remain. Wandering further he detours 'round Tzimfemme for such complexity makes his head spin, seeing Wren Wind he smiles within and complements her on her look. Back in the nook they watch the chaos that happens when Wyvern has fun, quietly conversing without rehearsing of all that the Lizard has done.

Just found this. Wow Quin', your nitpicking is wonderful. I wish I could nitpick one of my stories with that eye - if I reread, I get emotional and usually just want to delete instead of finding constructive ways to change.

Well done!

I find amusement in the view through Peredhil's eyes, so I couldn't resist adding to this when I thought of a Peredhil take on "whips". In Peredhil's eyes... Being in charge means being accountable for everyone else, and therefore responsible for providing; leadership means being the best servant of everyone's needs. Being an empath, his only avenue to satisfaction is to have his charges healthy and happy. Being committed, the only access to sex he could accept is that of marriage, which means his love has nothing to do with sex. Being Polite, he can be very dominant - as long as everyone agrees and it doesn't remove their Free Will. All taken together, he just doesn't "get it". For him, a dungeon is a secure place, but filtered through his logic process, that must mean security from the outside world. After all, how could someone in a dungeon be comfortable unless they have the keys? Being captive means releasing control and responsibility - because he knows just how hard it can be to relax and be taken care of when you're used to nothing but deadlines, taking care of others such as spouses, children, customers, etc. It's a brutal thing, having nothing to do but allow someone to try to meet your every need for a while - in his mind. Hence, his "tortures". chocolates, fine foods, fine drinks - because that means you'll have to exercise to stay healthy and keep your weight down. Positively fiendish in Peredhil's mind. His dungeon shows his world-view - distorted and twisted as it is: Everyone deserves love, respect, consideration, and an opportunity to be cherished and pampered without having to pay for it with sex. That's why some people seem to be fighting for a life-sentence when he gently tries to return them to the rest of the world, having served their "sentence".