In writing, I hate the careless use of their/there/they're, to/too/two, your/you're, and the like.

I also tend to get extremely annoyed when an author ends a sentence with a preposition, especially in a third person narrative. I've read many stories where the language is used in the manner in which the person is speaking, which I love, because you can actually hear the voice in your head as you read. When reading some of Lush's amazing authors from the UK, for example, they have an amazing ability to portray a lovely Scottish brogue. That means you, Clum!!!

But in a third person narrative, I like the language to be clean, with proper grammar and spelling, so there is no distraction from the story.

Person of Interest, and my guilty pleasure, the Big Bang Theory.

My initials are T.L.

An end to writer's block.

My husband is 11 years older than I, and we've been married for 12 years today. We dated for a fairly long time before that, too. We have similar upbringings, and similar interests, so we seldom notice the age difference, these days. It was a far bigger gap when I was 19 and he was 30... less so, now that I'm 37 and he's 48.

Maz, I'm devastated, but I will so miss you... good luck in all you do... you're an original.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/Nl9WMIPzd6w

I think it would have to be Sarah Attar - Saudi Arabia's first female track and field athelete, covered from head to toe, and came dead last in the 800m. 19 years old, and not just up against other countries in the world, but standing strong in the face of her own country, as well. Got a standing ovation, coming last in her foot race... but first, in so many other ways. Just amazing...

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Heart of the Maritimes.


http://upload.lushstories.com/550-Citadel Hill.jpg

When Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.

I, too, like so many here, was bullied in school. For many years, I wanted to just wipe grades 7 to 9 from my memories, altogether. I was a people-pleaser, and hated to have anyone angry with me, or not like me. I wasn't the only one of my age group, however, that spent those years of junior high in abject misery... there were others treated as horribly, or even worse, than I was. I LONGED to be able to stand up to the bullies on their behalf, but I was just weak and miserable as those others being bullied. And I was also deathly afraid of getting anyone "in trouble," or of making things worse.

It's taken every bit of the 20 years I've been in the military, plus being a mother of two, for me to gain the self-confidence to stand up to those who try to intimidate me. Because, sadly, bullies don't seem to go away, even when you reach adulthood. They're everywhere, it seems, and it dismays me that they are even here on Lush, a place I love, where I have found acceptance.

My solution, therefore, is to use your own kind nature... the part of you that doesn't want to make waves or get anyone in trouble... as a force for good. Didn't you ever see others besides yourself getting bullied, as you were as a child? Did you never want someone to please stand up and help them? Now's your chance. PLEASE report this person who is bullying you. Chances are, you aren't the only one, and you could be putting a stop to someone else's misery, as well.

Author’s Note : This story takes place following “That Questioning Look” and is meant to be read in sequence. Any comments would be welcome and very much appreciated. Special thanks to RTNorth, author… and editor… extraordinaire… though he doesn’t call himself one! You rock, brother. That Questioning Look – Chapter 2 I’m back on the road again, ostensibly for work, but my mind is...

Added 20 May 2012 | Category Straight Sex | Votes 18 | Avg Score 4.89 | Views 1,175 | 9 Comments

That Questioning Look I pull in to the parking lot of the hotel, in town again for a conference. The place is familiar, well-known to me and comforting. My life has been so prosaic – I’ve been in a rut that feels as deep as a canyon. I feel as if I could die from ennui. I’m resigned to attending the conference, but can’t help feel a slight breeze of optimism; with this welcome break...

Added 17 May 2012 | Category Straight Sex | Votes 24 | Avg Score 4.95 | Views 2,347 | 17 Comments