Kate

This is the title of an essay I'm doing. So far I've thought of the obvious - it's a Western, but the relationship makes it a Romantic Drama, Also, the aesthetics of the characters in the novel give it a rough edge, so it's less polished than is expected of a Romance, well as the homosexual aspect of it outgrows the heterosexual framework of both Westerns and Romances . . . anybody else got any other ideas?

Ok, so this is a poem written originally by myself and then reworked by a good friend, Thomas, as a learning tool of sorts for the both of us . . . any thoughts? Tell me what you think :)

The Right Place

Once I was something, now I have nothing

Change the logistics, like day to gloaming

Here and there, tell me “what does it matter?”

People and places, interchanged on platter

The streets may be cleaner here at home

Held hopeless in bondage this room I roam

The façade that prevents a froward display

Bound by this paragon escape I pray

I vanished on furlough vernal abode

To learn from books of life’s Motherlode

Here and there again, like a Time Machine

Punctual Equilibrium leaves a life so mean

Higher learning is like a fleeting moment

Compared to a prisoner of birth to foment

Where do I belong? Here? There? Anywhere?

If I can’t find and answer I’ll give in to despair

I can’t enjoy here, because I belong to there

Holidays back home to accept my douceur

Forgive this jeremiad, as I approach turgid embrace

Can no longer be this person, absquatulate this place

What happens here with my time and money?

If it weren’t so serious this would all be funny

The clubs, alcohol & cigarettes made me numb

This kind of lifestyle was the rule of thumb

This all comes down to me so long as I’m alive

Is there One to substitute my guilt and shrive

My identify, here or there, is my responsibility

If this life is worth living it comes not for free

J

Glossary

Here = school or home

There = home or school

gloaming = twilight, dusk

forward = habitually disposed to disobedience and opposition

paragon = a model of excellence of perfection

vernal = fresh or new like in the spring; also: youthful

Punctual Equilibrium = a scientific term used in evolution meaning a species “jumps over” from one species to the next

foment = to promote the growth or development of: rouse

or incite

douceur = a conciliatory gift

jeremiad = a long and mournful complaint

turgid = ostentatiously lofty in style

absquatulate = abscond, run off with, decamp

shrive = to free from guilt

This is the title of an essay i've got to do. I'm studying The legend of Sleepy Hollow, by Irving, and The celebrated Jumping frog of Calaveras County, by Twain, and need to discuss, in the essay, the characteristic elements of the short story form in relation to these. I've done some research so far on the characteristic elements of short stories, but it's all really generic, and i'm having trouble linking them in with the individual stories. Can anybody give me any ideas . . . please??? Pretty please???

I'm studying The legend of Sleepy Hollow, by Irving, and The celebrated Jumping frog of Calaveras County, by Twain, and need to discuss, in an essay, the characteristic elements of the short story form in relation to these. I've done some research so far on the characteristic elements of short stories, but it's all really generic, and i'm having trouble linking them in with the individual stories. Can anybody give me any ideas . . . please?

So, this is the second revision of the first sonnet i tried writing. Obviously it's anything but good, and, truth be told, not much has changed since the first version, but still, any thoughts would be much appreciated. It's for an assignment, and i'm pretty anxious not to look like an idiot in front of my tutor, so i want to get it as close to a decent sonnet as possible.

There is always something. I feel it when

I remember, briefly, life as it used

to be, before that December. This trance,

it does not become me, I am not of

it, like the sun that strains through the window –

though clear, it will never make it through, it

is alien. Nothing is as it was,

were things ever as they could be? What are

the ingredients of happiness, is

this all? Sleeping, eating, working. All whilst

breathing. A ghost, I remain what haunts me,

disillusion, eldritch imagery,

my disappointment playing out in shades

across the page.

So, it might not be much of a sonnet just yet - far from it. But i do have to write two sonnets as part of an assignment, and this is the first attempt of what i hope might be the second one. So, any constructive criticisms would be appreciated . . . please :) x

I never would have believed that she’d run

for the South of England, seventies child,

slimmer than me, and that hate of losing

that forges competitiveness. She showed

me her feet as she pedicured mine. I’d

never have seen, if she hadn’t pointed

them out, the scars, faded over time. The

clues left behind of a youth lived out in

running shoes. She said that her feet bled; I

asked what place she came – always in the top

three. And now, from feet to hands it seems, dry

skin from washing up, burns from baking, nails

chipped from housework or office typing. Me?

I stagger drunk in high heels.

Ok, so i know it's far from perfect - i know it has more than 14 lines, and i know it's not exactly in iambic pentameter, but can anybody help me to improve it? Please? x

There is always something. I feel it when

I remember, briefly, life as it used

to be, before that December. It is

a life I’ve never known. This enchantment,

it does not become me, I am not of

it, like the sun that strains through the window –

though clear, it will never make it through, it

is alien. Nothing is as it was,

were things ever as they could be? What are

the ingredients of happiness, is

this all? Sleeping, eating, working. All whilst

breathing. A ghost, I am what haunts me,

disillusion, eldritch imagery,

paling grey against what might have been.

My disappointment playing out in shades

across the page.

I accidentally sent a friend request to someone i don't even know, or want to know- how can i retract the request? Is there any way of solving this situation? Swift answers please please please!

Ok, so i know this sounds like a really trivial question, but i'm just organizing my post and deciding what to put in the paper recycling bin, and what to keep for future reference. My problem is, i'm not sure if i have to rip all the little transparent windows out of the envelopes and separate them into the plastic recycling bin, or whether to just chuck it all in the paper recycling bin - what should i do? It's not as if i'm a tree hugger or anything, but at the same time, i do have an awful lot of envelopes to be recycled, so i'm thinking that all that plastic (is it even plastic?) might start to add up.

Excuse me for sounding really stupid by asking this, but why do so many people dislike Obama these days (lots of detail if you can, please). It's just, i remember when people were all like "Yay, we love Obama" etc etc, and now everyone seems to dislike him greatly. So. . . what's it all about??? I'm British, so plenty of backgound info and detail if you're feeling up to it :) Thank you in advance :)

I know this sounds like a really stupid question, and maybe i am stupid for asking it, but . . . well, it just seems odd to me that New England is called New England, despite the fact that it is not new and not England. Can anyone explain this to me?

"You're longer than frozen turkey" - any ideas as to what this means?

I always have really sensitive teeth after drinking. (As in, drinking a lot) I have had 2 vodka and lemonades, one vodka and apple juice, and 1 stella, and now my teeth are so sensitive i can't eat the baguette i just prepared - but i'm really hungry! Can anybody tell me what to do, to stop my teeth being so sensitive, so that i can eat??? Please???

Ok, my best friend's 18th birthday is in two weeks, but i am struggling for fresh ideas on what to get her. I have a budget of up to £100 absolute maximum, but, the trouble is, i always seem to get her the same stuff - perfume, jewellery, etc etc. It being her 18th, i need to get her something really special - she made a really big effort for mine, so i want to do the same for her. I can't get her clothes, as it's just too risky - might end up getting the wrong size, style etc. And i don't want to get her perfume or jewellery again. So, has anybody got any ideas?? That don't involve any of the aforementioned things?

Hey :) can anybody offer any interpretations of the song Bloody Mary, by Lady Gaga? 10 points goes to the most comprehensive answer :)

I've never been able to sleep very well at night, but recently, things are even worse! Does anybody feel like talking this late at night? I'm lonely, and bored, because i'm really limited in terms of what i can do what with it being so late at night :( So, i was wondering if maybe people who don't mind talking so late would mind contacting me, so that we can talk in the future? I do usually get sleepy at around 3am-ish though :)

I just bought some Twinings Chai, since i'm getting a bit bored of regular tea and want to experiment, but the preparation instructions say ". . . Then add a splash of milk". I had been intending to drink it black, so can i? Or must it be made with milk?

Ok . . . Ive been in contact with a publisher, but only to the extent where I've sent them an extract of my writing, and they've responded, expressing interest in viewing the rest of my manuscript. I talked about this with my mum, and she said that I should be careful about 'copyright', saying that I should think about this before I send off any more to the publisher in question. So, could anyone perhaps explain this issue to me, and offer good guidance regarding it? Any help would be greatly appreciated :)

Ok, months ago there were a load of Red Cross people trying to talk to people in the street, and when one of them tried to talk to me, i stopped and listened, mostly because i feel sorry for charity workers who always seem to get really rudely dismissed by other people on the street, so i thought i'd do this one a favor by at least giving him the time of day. Of course, i ended up getting guilt-tripped in giving them my contact details, but didn't really mind as i thought i'd just get a whole load of junk mail and that would be that. But today, i got a call from this random woman from the Red Cross. Firstly she guilt tripped the absolute s*** out of me, before then asking for my bank details. I was quite unprepared for all this - after all, i'm an 18 year old student - i work in a cafe! As if i have £20 a month to give! I don't even have £20 spare for me, let alone them! Now, normally i try to be a charitable person, but i simply was very surprised at being asked so directly for money that i know i simply won't be able to afford to give, and so i lied and told her that i was on my break at work and didn't have my bank details on me. This was very unbelievable as it was 6.30 in the evening, and, needless to say, she was not convinced. So, she persisted, and after guilt tripping the hell out of me some more, making me feel as if i'm some sort of evil b**** by reminding me that the call was costing the Red Cross money, we agreed that she would phone me back at 7.30, when i'd have my bank details to hand. This was the second lie - really, i was so mortified, i just turned my phone off for the rest of the evening - i'm still too scared to turn it back on now, in case i get some other Red Cross person hounding me for money that i don't have via guilt tripping. But, the truth is, i still feel really bad about the lies i told, and i just don't think i could face it if i got called again. But what if they just keep on calling? I can't change my number, it's just too much hassle, and besides, i'm angry that i've been so guilt-tripped into feeling this way. I think it was understandable for me not to hand over my bank details to someone who, quite frankly, could have been anyone. Also, the guy i talked to on the street mentioned NOTHING about being forced to make monthly donations that i can't afford - all he said was that i could expect to receive more information in the post. I can so totally see now why people cross the street to avoid charity workers. But, am i a bad person??? And how can i get out of it politely?