Peredhil

three self portraits, demonstrating knowledge of styles from different masters. Van Gogh, Norman Rockwell, DaVinci (I've read where some consider his Mona Lisa to be a gender-bender self-portrait. Somewhat of an "in-joke".) Oils on canvas for all three.

Wow. Glad I grabbed a minute to read this. Good stuff.

The dimpled rind is really quite kind And tasty sweet to boot. Everchanging shade will color the blade As you slice into the fruit. Orange in hue and quite good for you 'tis full of vitamin C When juiced is mixed, with vodka fixed By others but not me. This pagean is done and it's been fun fun opportunity Support a Guild and feel fulfilled Like Vlad and me.

Konnichiwa! A quick hug for the Lady Bard and zips back out to work.

*nods* That was a rant? *hugs* heh. I was the youngest of five - my Mom worked hard at being home. She'd been a highly paid professional secretary at a movie studio before marrying my Dad. She always had the attitude that being at home was her job, and her pay was in hugs and love, consideration and respect. Not just verbally expressed, but through actions - like cleaning up after one's self, covering someone's chore when they had a down day, and such-like. But she was full of odd ideas like that - and my Dad was right there with her on them. They were partners in everything, and each one flawlessly supported the other. They made it look so easy, that when I got married, I had a *huge* shock in discovering that my parents weren't normal after all.

Well written, but... But it just sounds so *manipulative* to me - whether it's meant that way or not. The hair could be just as lovely as its bending over a book reading instead of dishes, as the other looks up and sees it from *their* position during *their* turn at the sink - after the meal they helped to eat. The movement and bend would be lovely just as well when picking up a frisbee while they played, instead of callously left socks. Doing two or three things at once isn't something to waste on only chores - it's a gift that extends to many areas of life - if allowed to grow. Guess I'm just funny that way.

Happy Birthday!

Belated Happy Birthday.

Peredhil zips in to set up the Birthday Room for Valdar and Astralis, only to find the Dreamer's scarred visage already present. Distaining the use of the gentle enchantments the Birthday Room provides, the Dreamer is recreating scenes from their shared past. Easing away, he reapproaches the Birthday Room for Aardvark - only to find when he arrives that it is mysteriously ready... Of a sort. The candles on the cake are dynamite, the colors are swaths of yellows, rose-thorn-tipped blood reds, violent purples, and purest white.. It's somewhat reminiscent of the landscape in which Wylie Coyote and the Road Runner play their endless nondestructive games of cartoon violence. Seeing that THAT room is well in hand, he tiptoes away, and reapproaches for Parmenion. Even as he reaches the door, he can hear the Irish band celebrating in full swing, with the smell of whiskey drifting into the hallway. Laughing, he wishes them all a very Happy Birthday, musing that the Penners will have a variety of choice in birthday entertainments today!

Peredhil sets up the Birthday Room with Japanese prints, mats, low comfortable couches and chair, many tables with bevelled edges (suitable for rolling dice in role-playing games). Over at one side is an extension to the Library and Archives, suitable for reading quietly yet sharing company. There are stacks of paper, each with a on the top and the words, "No blank page to stop you here!" at the bottom, for inspired yet shy writers. The last corner contains an entrance to Conservatory, for Tanuchan has spent the majority of her time there, socializing and building stories. Looking about, he nods, whispers "Happy Birthday" to set the room's magic into action, and then kisses his boys and heads off for another day.

He's also one darned good read. One of my favorite books for years was the Ecolitan Envoy. Yui-chan, can we submit a story already posted once here at the Pen? Perhaps with tweaking? Is swamped with Real Life. Penners - you should support this, whether you think you're good enough or not. -P

Peredhil zips in a day late, gives big thank you hugs to Wren for setting up the rooms, and then huggles both birthday peoples. Justin, I love your poetry and hope you can grace us with it more often. All the Crystal Tides people are gifted - round 'em up and write more! Black Caged Heart, Thinks of her courage and honesty, hides all the compulsively countable things so she can relax, and then huggles firmly. I'm glad you've come to the Pen. Write from your heart - there's more understanding (and more semi-broken people!) here than you might expect. Happy birthday, youse twose. Peredhil

Yeah, it's always the wrong people who suffer at a suicide. You might do a search on the word - suicide and responses to it seem popular. The poem deals with the drama of the topic well. Hugs Peredhil

Hugs If you run into Nyyark down there, say hello for me!

Nods as he listens to the sound of one geld with interest. You have a knack of encapsulating the "feel" of the scenes with broad strokes of your pen.

Peredhil zips in a bit more slowly than is normal for him of late. He's leading a bareback horse with silvered bridle for frapuccinogirl and carrying an Animè drawing of Mr. Plant hugging the Queen for futureprodigy. Since Tamaranis has been looking a bit plump of late, he's got a fresh bottle of genuine Almost Dragonic Drinks: Blood Light, the blood-based vitamen drink for overweight Vampires. Leaving the presents near the door, he leaves birthday hugs lurking, and gives the horse some oats before zipping away for the day.

I've seen my name nominated twice, which surprises me as I've been inactive so long I'm surprised any of the new-comers even know me. Given that, I'll echo Degenero and blushingly accept.

Peredhil notices the pop-up reminder as he prepares for another day of work and heads to set up the Birthday Room off the corridors to the left of the Cabaret. Rounding the corner, he stops, and an impish grin spreads across his face as he's confronted with a garish orange and green booth with pink-striped awnings. Get your WYVERN Birthday Gift Ideas HERE, proclaims the heavily lettered sign, He'll like them or your Money will be refunded!!! The hurried half-elf pauses at that last word, and examines the sign more closely. The period on the last exclamation mark is actually an asterick. Looks around, he doesn't find the link. Finally, spreading a handkerchief to keep his slacks clean, he kneels on the floor and finds the matching astericks on the bottom of the sign. Following its directions to see the full disclaimer written on the back of the birthday banner, he uses his fountain pen to carefully pull a corner of the banner away from it's backing, wary of dirt and booby-traps. The banner's back is covered with microscopic print. Reassured that Wyvern hasn't suddenly lost his mind with refunds, Peredhil enters the Birthday Room and sets it up. There is state-of-the-art DJ equipment for Evan whom he's hired for the occasion, and Werewolf Hunter Nave is standing ready as security. The room has been Wyvern-proofed to the best of Peredhil's ability by the League to Repeal Murphy's Law Society of Prevention of Calamity to Intelligent Life-Forms personnel. All is ready for the day's festivities. Leaving his own present, a signed hip-hop CD of a little-known under-appreciated artist whose been callously rejected by the Establishment (who wants to keep herm (its a hermaphrodite and gets prejudicial treatment from all unthinking genders) AND the Hip-Hop community (doesn't cuss enough to Keep It Real), on the birthday table, Peredhil heads back out to the front and leaves the cake order in the box by the door for the bakery to pick up, then continues out and off to work. Moments after he leaves, a scaly hand reaches out from the counter under the booth and holds a mirror up to check. The coast is clear. Two small horns lead a scaly nose out from the curtained alcove, followed by a sinuous almost-dragonic body. Examining the birthday cake order form, the serpentine head shakes sadly at the absent-minded Elf's oversight. This cake is FAR too small for the Pen to share! In a reasonable forgery of Peredhil's penmanship, the clawed handed crosses out the current order for one small tasteful cake and jots in an order for ten HUGE tasty cakes - with LOTS of candles and LOADS of frosting. Choking slightly on the flood of saliva his imagination has prompted at the thought of all that delectable food, Wyvern puts on one of his patented Almost-Dragonic disguises and opens his booth for business. The day begins...

Blanches A Masquerade? Remembers the destruction of the last Masquerade and gets together with Wyvern to take out life insurance for all the Pen membership, and property insurance for the Pen Keep.

Time permitting, I'll try to do a write-up for you. Everyone is so unique here, I'm not sure I could nominate someone.

Hmmm. I'm swamped but this is wonderful. Can I provisionally, depending on Real Life things outside my control, apply? Perhaps as an understudy to someone? It would work best for me, I believe, if my partner picked one of the boys or bodyguards (Elladan, Elrohir, Nuncio or Guido) and if they had Yahoo! Messenger for an interview. If nothing else, I'll be an appreciative audience! rushes off to work.

Gives a short fierce nod A male may lie to get his way Sincere empty words to in her arms lay But a man's word is an absolute thing And into winter's death will summer bring.

Ducks in and sees all the responses. Wow, if Random is a Troll, they're a very effective one. Let me see if I'm gonna have time to amplify my previous response. Like Elvina, I tend to break "love" into subcategories. In programming terms, "love" would be considered an overloaded operator. It has multiple values and meanings depending on context. I kinda view "love" like what I've been told of the Eskimo's view of "snow". I'm told they have twenty-two words for "snow" where we in English have one. Love is like that. Primary categories are pretty well represented in various words throughout the thread, so I basically agree with all of you. Yes, you're all right. The traditional Greek words from the Hebrew/Christian Bible(HCB) work for me as primary category labels, just to start. I use them as an acronym when signing off to close friends, to wit: AP-E, which means, Agapeo, Phileo, but no Eros. In English, that would be, "I love you, I love you, but I don't love you." Agape is the unconditional love, like an FM radio tower. It goes out to all, and the receipt pretty much depends on the receiver. Some may be turned on, some may not be quite tuned in, some may get the entire signal at times and not receive at all at other times. But the love is there. I'll note that this type of love tends to manifest in people as an intellectual choice to act in a "loving" manner. It seeks what is best for all in the situation, present and future. That definition precludes the "Christian Doormat" syndrome, because being a doormat isn't best for the doormat, or the person acting as shoe - it rewards selfishness. As an intellectual choice, a decision, it isn't based on selfishness, situation, or feeling at the time - and it isn't based on the "worthiness" of the receiver. The thought word or deed is thought spoken or done because it is the right thing to do, regardless of the good/bad status of either party. Doing best for someone. I'll note that having someone lovingly tell you the truth, or lovingly cutting off supplies and resources to force a decision of money for drugs or children, sometimes doesn't feel good to the receiver. But this type of love takes the long view, and seeks to give the choice for growth and consequences. Consequences, feedback for life - now there's a whole other conversation. I may love someone who jumped off the bridge, I may forgive them for jumping with my teddy bear, but they and my teddy are still going to have consequences of the choice, regardless of my love or forgiveness. Plunging into another primary category, Philos. The love of one person for another based on experience and perceived value. As a transactional love, it seeks some type of equality over time - you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours. It manages resources - don't give to that person, they'll just misuse or waste it. It has memory - they took advantage of me the last two times, so I'll modify my responses. The payoffs can be bartered - someone may give money and be paid off with the response of respect or gratitude, but there is always a value exchanged. If you follow the HCB, this is the highest love available without some sort of spiritual interaction - which makes it more impressive in a way. A mother may give her life for the value of a child's potential future. A friend might die for another, knowing their memory would be held and cherished for the action. In the exchange of Jesus and Peter, we see both Agape and Philos referenced. For those who need a reminder, Jesus asks Peter, "Do you agapeo me?". Peter responds with the best a body-and-soul man has to offer, "Lord, you know I phileo you." This repeats. On the third go around, Jesus switches and asks, "Do you phileo me?" and Peter weeps as he responds for the third time with the third answer - Jesus has come down to his level. Without the translation, it just looks silly - Do you love me? Yup I love you. Do you love me? Yup I love you. Do you love me? and he cries in frustration at the pointless repetition. The third broad category, Eros, is desire. The focus is on having a desire met. Whether sexual (pardon my joke in my first post), pride, monetary, hunger of any type - there is a desire. It can be worked out transactionally where both parties meet each other's desires (the socially correct form of this "love", seen in movies, on TV, or heard in songs of burning passion), or it can be a "use" where one party takes to get their own desire met, and the other has no choice (rape - which I've been told by the Educated usually isn't about sex at all, but a warp of self-identity manifesting through dominance, and hatred). While I'm putting rape into the technical definition of this love here, I realize that many will emotionally reject that the word could be shared between an expression of violence and hatred, and an expression of merging and passion. But I'm dealing in this thread with the request for definition. Morality is another thread. Speaking of morality, as to sex and sin, I'll repeat my caveat of Eros stated earlier - it's perfectly fine in its place and priority. "Marriage is honorable in all, and the marriage bed undefiled." It's amazing to me that Satan is so successful, since God made everything of benefit and sin is so often based on misuse or incorrect priortization. But that's a different topic. Have to get back to work. I guess I'll check back in another week or so. Be Polite, debate words and ideas, not people and their worth.

Good poem, 'specially for a first! wishes he'd done so well, but he recalls one of his first poems being about pizza. Free verse and nice use of formatting to give emphasis - I like the occasional "almost" rhyme (mind-mine), and visual rhyme that isn't (alone - gone), for me, it heightens the feeling of dischord and disruption his leaving has caused. As if the speaker is trying to maturely go on, but the secret pain inside constantly disrupts her thoughts. I think in I might've said,Yet still I see your face, Just to get rid of the comma and ease flow (I like to slide into each verse and then bobble around. ) hugs and scoots away to start his day.

One day a frog named Kermit Jagger wanted to get a bank loan, so he walked into the bank, and sat down at the loan officer's desk. "I'd like a loan, please," said Kermit to Patty Black, the loan officer. "And, by the way, my name is Kermit Jagger, and I am the son of the famous rock singer of the Rolling Stones...you know, Mick Jagger." "What do you have as collateral for the loan?" asked Patty Black. "Well, I have this," replied Kermit, taking an object out of his pocket and placing it on Patty Black's desk. Patty picked up the object and looked at closely. "What is it?" she asked Freddie Frog. "Why, it's a small statuette!" he replied. Patty Black wasn't sure what to do. She was fairly new to her job as loan officer, and she didn't know if she could take a figurine as collateral for a loan. She decided she'd better ask the bank manager what to do. "Excuse me for a moment," she said to Kermit. "I must ask the bank manager if we can accept your statuette as collateral for your loan." "I'll wait right here," he replied. Patty Black walked over to the bank manager's office, and sat down at his desk. "I have a customer at my desk asking for a loan," she said to the bank manager, "who claims to be the son of Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones." "Well you are the loan officer," said the bank manager, "Shouldn't he come to you for a loan?" "Yes," replied Patty Black, "but that's not the problem." "Well, what is it?" asked the bank manager, starting to get a little annoyed. The bank manager had a short temper and was easily annoyed. "This is the collateral he wants to use for the loan that's the problem," said Patty Black. "He wants to use this." She showed Kermit's figurine to the bank manager. "No problem," said the bank manager, "It's a knick-knack, Patty Black, give the frog a loan - his old man's a Rollin' Stone!"