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Richard Norway

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Posts posted by Richard Norway

  1. Is that what the story was about? The proclivities of Canadians, feathered or un? I totally misread it, then. ...

    C

    Cole had the same questions that I did.

    First off James, that was a wonderfully written flash. To me it was an excellent parody of the US' almost megalomaniac fear of illegal immigrants. Our borders with Mexico are the most secure that they have ever been throughout history, but look at what Arizona has done during this season of fear. James, your portrayal of the ignorant American was superb. And to make the parody go off the deep end, the war with Canada just made it almost hilarious if it were not for the fear that I have in the US sometimes over-reacting (as we seem to do sometimes). Even the narrator was so wrapped up in his own gayness that he missed the significance of what the train driver was saying.

    James, this was absolutely superb.

    Richard

  2. Yes there are parallels to Hitler, but times have changed. We're now in a fight to legitimize who we are, and compared to the Third Reich, it's really going the other way, but it's not over yet, a long way from it. I have hope for the first time in years.

  3. Graeme, that is wonderful news. Here in the USA, it's also a state responsibility, and I'm thankful that the state of New Mexico allows me as a gay man to foster and/or adopt children. It's good to hear that your country is looking at the welfare of the kids versus what they do in our country, and that is stick to political lines (we don't have a formalized "conscience vote.").

    Richard

  4. Hi Cleveland,

    This a group of writers of all degrees of competence, Cole being one of our best, that want to be better, that are working at their craft. We all know that our first drafts are miserable but realize that editing, re-editing and taking a final look at it is necessary. I'm glad that you've accomplished the first step in writing a story and are now on the second, third, fourth, etc steps in making it ready for the readers. Well done!

    Many writers use many different approaches in getting out their story. Many use narrative to describe what is happening, but I for one, use a lot of dialog to get the story across. You say that you've used a lot of dialog. That's great.

    Now, you've got everybody's interest in exactly what it is that you've written. If you'd permit me, I'd be interested in seeing what you've written. I'm not an expert at editing because I don't do it for a living, but I'll be honored to take a look.

    And (I've been slammed be experts for starting a sentence with a conjunction) we are so glad that you're joining us. Everyone here is ready to assist a writer, given their own time constraints. This really is a community.

  5. I'm not so sure E.J.

    This decision was in Federal Court, so it would apply to the whole US. If the defendants won't appeal, I'm sure that others in other states will sue and it will eventually wind up in the US Supreme Court.

    But this is still monumental! I never thought it would happen in my lifetime.

  6. Wow! and OMG!!!!!!!!

    Do you all know how expensive a proper wedding can be? We had originally planned on it being at Wayfarers Chapel in Portuguese Bend and the reception on the Queen Mary in Long Beach. OMG!! Now I have to auction off my soul to pay for it. Any takers?? :)

  7. Geez Cole! No Link? I suppose you want me to get it myself, huh? :)

    Opps, there goes the dryer buzzer. Now I have to go and get the laundry out of the dryer and put it on hangers before the shirts wrinkle. So how am I supposed to have the time to go search IOMFATS all by myself, huh?

    Okay, I'm searching now.

    Opps, there goes the microwave buzzer. Now I've got to get the melted butter out of the microwave so that I can prepare the hollandaise sauce for the asparagus for tonight's dinner. Oh, the dogs just ran away after a jack rabbit. Not to worry though; the rabbits are too fast and the dogs have never caught one in the past five years that we've had them.

    Okay, back to searching now.

    Opps, the phone's ringing.

  8. ?There he is again. I just love the way he walks, the way his hips move from side to side as he strides to wherever he?s going.?

    Jerrod sat on the short concrete wall next to Kelly to finish his lunch but continued to watch the guy across the quad. It was Tyler Adams, the quarterback on the football team.

    Kelly watched Jerrod, then turned her head to see who he was looking at.

    ?When are you going to get some balls and go over and introduce yourself?? Kelly asked scornfully.

    ?I can?t do that! Besides, what would I say? ?Hey there, hunky high school quarterback.? Or how about ?I hear that you need help with pre-calc. You wanna come over to my house so I can tutor you?? Yeah, right!?

    ?Jerrod, you are so stupid sometimes. Just walk up to him and say ?Hi.? That?s all it takes.?

    Jerrod focused his attention across the quad again, but Tyler was gone. He let out a short love-struck sigh.

    ?I still don?t know what to say after that. Besides, he?s not gay. He?d probably pound the shit out of me.?

    ?How do you know he?s not gay? Have you asked him? Oh, that?s right. You?re too chicken to even talk to him.?

    Jerrod jumped from his seat and glared at Kelly.

    ?That?s not fair!? he shouted and turned and walked away.

    <<<000>>>

    ?There he is again talking to Rosey. He?s always talking to her. She must be his girlfriend.?

    Jerrod walked down the hall pretending that he didn?t see Tyler or Rosey when Rosey turned and looked directly at him.

    ?Oh God. She?s looking at me. I gotta get out of here before HE looks at me!?

    Just then Tyler turned and looked directly at Jerrod, his brows wrinkling ever so slightly.

    As Tyler turned back to say something to Rosey, Jerrod turned and practically ran, turning into the next hall. He had to get away.

    <<<000>>>

    Kelly smiled as she saw Jarrod and headed for the desk next to him. Kelly sat then turned and watched Jerrod, saying nothing.

    Jerrod could feel Kelly?s eyes on him, and he turned to her when he couldn?t take it any longer.

    ?What?? he asked. His word was heated.

    ?You have a crush on him,? she said, looking directly into his eyes.

    ?On who??

    ?On Tyler. You have this major crush on him, but you?re afraid to even talk to him.?

    Jerrod turned toward the front of the classroom and slunk down in his chair. He remained motionless for a moment, starring off into nothingness.

    ?Is it that obvious?? Jerrod finally said to the front whiteboard.

    ?Yeah, it is.?

    Jerrod remained silent for a moment, then turned toward Kelly.

    ?I can?t get him out of my mind. I think about him all the time. I even dream that we?re a couple. There?s a pure white sand beach that I went to with my folks this summer, and I picture myself walking with Tyler along the water?s edge on that beach at sunset?holding hands.?

    ?Oh man, Jerrod. You?ve got it bad.?

    ?I know. But he doesn?t even know that I exist. He?s got a girlfriend so I don?t have a chance.?

    ?You don?t know that Rosey?s his girlfriend. Have you ever seen them holding hands, or kissing? They could just be friends, like you and me.?

    ?No, but....?

    Kelly and Jerrod turned toward the front of the classroom as the teacher entered, then Kelly turned back toward him for a moment.

    ?You going to the GSA meeting after class??

    ?Yeah, I?ll be there. I can?t be with Tyler so I don't have anything else to do.?

    <<<000>>>

    Jerrod walked into the empty classroom where the GSA meeting would be held. He was followed by Alex, the GSA president, and Ms. Marshall, the faculty advisor.

    ?Hey Jerrod. What?s up man?? Alex asked as he brushed past him.

    ?Nothing.?

    ?Hey, sorry, we?re late. The rest should be arriving any time now. Could you set up the cookies and sodas over there?? Alex asked, pointing to a table at the rear of the room.

    ?Sure, no problem.?

    Jerrod turned and walked to the back of the room.

    ?At least I won?t have to talk to anybody back here.? he thought to himself.

    Just as he finished arranging the cookies, the other members of the club starting filing into the room. Jerrod knew all of them. Bobby was followed by Tim, his boyfriend then by Kelly, who winked at him as her girlfriend Bethany followed right behind her, then Tyler followed by Brett and Alicia.

    ?TYLER! What the hell is he doing here? Oh shit! I?m trapped. Don?t look at me, please. Oh God, no. He?s looking around the room. Don?t look at me, man.?

    Tyler stopped scanning the room as soon as he saw Jerrod. He was smiling slightly as he walked to the back of the room toward the table with the cookies and sodas?and Jerrod.

    ?I knew it. Someone told him that I?ve been crushing on him and now I?m dead.?

    Jerrod?s breath became rapid as doom approached him. Tyler was now standing right in front of him, looking at him.

    ?Hi. My name?s Tyler.? he said as he held out his hand.

    ?Uh, Hi. I?m Jerrod.?

    ?I know. Ah, I hope I?m not being too forward, but I wanted to ask you something.?

    ?Look, I?m sorry man. I don?t know what you?ve heard about me, but I?m really sorry.?

    Tyler looked confused and he glanced around the room for a moment and then back at Jerrod.

    ?I really don?t know what you mean, no one?s talked to me about you. What I wanted to ask is if you?d like to go out with me sometime. Maybe grab a burger and catch a flick Saturday night? If you?re free??

  9. Cole, what a wonderful story, but then you have never stopped me being amazed by you insite.

    But to the age disparity; I have personally known a young man who was raised by his grandparent, and in my mind, he was better off for it. His parents had to give him up because they were unable (and unwilling in this case) to teach him what he needed to know to be a functioning adult. This was taught to him by his grandparents, mostly because of their maturity.

    I know, Tom had his real dad as a role model, but it was mentioned in this thread about a kid being raised by a grandparent and I had to get my 2 1/2 cents in. And it truly is a labor of love.

  10. What Am I Worried About?

    by Richard Norway

    What am I worried about? He won't tell anyone; I just know it. He won't. Would he? I just can't deal with all of the questions if he did.

    We had dinner together tonight at our favorite pizza place, and when I tried to go to sleep after I got home, I kept thinking about the evening. Mark was sort of tense, and all we talked about was school. Then when I mentioned his mother, he stopped talking, but I kept talking about her and....

    The door to my room slammed open, and I pulled up the comforter to shield myself. It was my Dad. "Uh... Dad... what do you want?" I asked.

    "Rob, what did you say to Mark tonight? What did you say to him to make him call your principal?"

    Dad stepped up beside my bed and looked down at me.

    "Mr. Pederson is downstairs right now, and he said that he needs to talk to you about what you said to Mark. And I want to find out why he's here at such a late hour. What's going on Rob?"

    It had happened. Mark had told someone, the principal of our high school. I'd seen Mr. Pederson around school, but we'd never met. Mark liked him a lot, but to me he seemed sort of unapproachable. I then looked up at Dad. He looked very irritated and I wondered if he would be able to believe me now.

    I steadied myself. "Dad, I think you've taught me well. You've taught me about the strength you get from being honest, and about the stability you get from being yourself."

    "Are you going to tell me what's going on with Mark?" Dad was glaring at me now.

    "Yes, but I think you're going to be surprised. Let's go down and talk to my principal."

    I got out of bed and quickly pulled on my jeans and T-shirt from the day as my dad watched me. I turned to see the lack of calmness in his eyes and I smiled at him, just a little smile. I breathed a big sigh, walked out the door and headed downstairs.

    "Rob Ryerson?" It was Mr. Pederson, my high school principal, standing in our living room.

    "Yes, that's me."

    "I hope your father didn't upset you. I didn't have a chance to tell him everything about why I was here before he rushed upstairs to get you."

    "What's this about Mr. Pederson?" my dad asked, but I already knew.

    "It's about Mark."

    My dad's head turned and he glared at me, but I continued to watch my high school principal.

    "He's your boyfriend, isn't he?" the principal asked.

    "Yes he is, but how do you know? And why are you here?"

    "Rob, Mark left me a voicemail message that he was going to kill himself tonight after you two finished dinner."

    Now my dad was upset. "Mr. Pederson, if you knew Mark was threatening to kill himself why didn't you call the police or his parents?"

    "Because I was out until late this evening, and I didn't pick up my voicemail messages until I got home. Thank God that Mark had left me a second message after he and Rob had dinner. I listened to both of his messages. Because of the second message, there was no reason to involve the police, and I came here after visiting with Mark and his father." He turned to me. "And you know what was in that second message, Rob?"

    "Yeah, I know. Mark changed his mind."

    My dad stared at me. "Why didn't you tell me about this when you came home tonight?"

    I turned and looked directly at my dad. "Well, because you wouldn't have believed me. No one would have believed me. Remember, I'm only sixteen, you know?" That was one of the things Dad always said to me, 'Remember, you're only sixteen, you know?'

    My dad's eyes shot open.

    "Mark's mom died this morning." I said. My dad's head fell as I turned back to Mr. Pederson.

    "Yes I know, and you knew before meeting Rob for dinner, didn't you?"

    "Yeah, I knew. At dinner I asked Mark how she's doing in Heaven because that's where she is. I told him that she's always going to be looking down at him, watching him to make sure he's okay, and that she'll always love him. That's when he told me he'd planned to kill himself."

    I couldn't hold back any longer as the first tear slid down my cheek.

    "Look, I didn't know Mark called you or that you knew about his mom."

    Mr. Pederson smiled and put his hand on my shoulder. "Mark's second voicemail message was about how you told him that his mom is looking down and watching him. He said he found a reason to keep on living because of you, that you gave him a reason to keep going, and that the two of you cried together."

    "Mr. Pederson, Mark is the love of my life, and I would have done anything, I would do anything, to be with him, to keep him going." I was being honest and being myself, and I had no hope now of stopping my tears.

    "Rob, the reason I'm here is to thank you. You saved a wonderful young man's life tonight, a wonderful young man who told me that you are the love of his life."

    Mr. Pederson turned to my dad. "Mr. Ryerson, your son is also a wonderful young man. You have every reason to be very proud of him."

    My dad looked at me, pulled me into a hug, and a smile broke out on his face.

    "Mr. Pederson, I think that Rob and I need a few minutes together? alone."

    Mr. Pederson looked at me and my dad and smiled. "I'll let myself out. And Rob, you need to phone Mark. I know he's waiting for your call."

  11. Last night I upgraded from Vista to Windows 7, 64 bit. The installation was almost flawless. There were some questions about backing up my files at the beginning, but as I now use an online backup service (after having lost a hard drive and chip set last month), I by-passed those questions. After that was done, I sat back and let it work. 2 1/2 hours later, it was complete. The only thing that didn't come across was my start list of much used programs. It only took me a few minutes to add my fav programs back to it and delete those that Microsoft thought I would use.

    So far, I'm happy with Windows 7.

  12. Like the rest of you 'young' readers. I too have to go back and re-read chapters to 'remember' what the story is about before I can go on to the current chapter. Duncan Ryder is one of my favorite authors. His stories are always powerful. I read the first two chapters, and like others, I decided to wait for the conclusion because I read the rest of the story...in one setting. I want to rip my emotions apart in one setting, and I know that Duncan will do that.

  13. Thank you Cole and Steven. I believe that you both really thought about it, and got it. So few words were used, but so much back story and emotions between the two boys were revealed in those few words. This took me a long time to get it to where I wanted it, and as short as possible without flowery description to say the bare necessities to get only the needed back story and present emotions out.

    Steven, I was the older brother (only by 11 months), but my younger brother was the one that bullied me. I too, one day, stood up to him (I think I was 16 then). I guess we need to do that to survive. My brother and I were never friends growing up, but now, we've gotten quite close.

    The idea for this story came out of David and I acquiring another foster son to be placed here. Dustin (our first) is 11, and the new boy is 18 (There's a lot of back story here as to why an 18 year old is in foster care, but he is in this case). I was wondering one afternoon, what would happen if we didn't have another room for the new boy.

    Thus, my mind went wild with a story that I had to write.

  14. Mine Now

    by Richard Norway

    He was only 17 years old, but Erick knew that he couldn't take anymore. He had felt his resolve growing the older he got. He had grown in the last three years to his 6'-1" stature and at 185 pounds, he knew that he could finally stand up for himself. His only fear over the last year had been that he needed the courage inside of himself to go with his outward physical strength.

    He wasn't sure that he had it yet when his older brother entered his room, scowling. Scott had been away at college and was expected home for the Christmas holidays, but not this early.

    "You son of a bitch!" Scott screamed as he slammed the door behind him. "What gives you the fucking right?"

    Erick clambered back on the bed away from his brother, hitting his head on the wall, clutching his chest, the old fears returning.

    "Scott?"

    "Just shut up! I gave you specific instructions, you little dipshit."

    Erick didn't respond right away, looking at the fury in his brother's eyes.

    "Scott, I'm not so little anymore."

    Scott stopped his forward movement and looked at his brother. He looked for a long time, not speaking, staring at his brother.

    "Yeah, I see that you've finally grown up. But what gave you the right?" Scott finally demanded.

    Erick shuffled down from the head of the bed to sit cross legged in the middle. Looking at his brother, Erick felt that it was time.

    "Scott. You get the couch in the family room. This is my room now. And I changed it the way I want it."

    Scott looked at his brother and smiled.

    "Bout time you got some balls. I think you need a wedgie."

    Erick narrowed his eyelids and stared at Scott, trying to hide his grin.

    "Just try it, asshole."

  15. Classical music lovers should watch it, too.

    Well, hell, I can't imagine anyone not liking it!

    C

    Cole, thank you for that. I listened and the dark haired boy seemed to know that the farce was on, he grinned at what he was doing...several times. Since this was YouTube, the suggestions at the end kept me going until I found Pavarotti singing Nessen Dorma.

    Please listen and see it.

    The man was 72 years old when he performed Nessun Dorma for the last time before he died in 2007. What a wonderful voice, filled with the emotions of the music and the words, They are in Italian, but you can feel the emotion as well as see it in his eyes and body language. I don't know if he knew that this was his last performance, but emotionally, it was his greatest.

    Here's his best performance, with fell choir. I dare anyone to hit that high C today like he could.

  16. Richard,

    I asked Chris about the idea that English in the U.S. is merging into a single dialect:

    Quote Chris - This supposition implies that the North American variant of Standard English is becoming the lingua franca of the US. That appears to be the case; when we watch television news most of the newscasters speak Standard English. It is also reflected in written English in newspapers and magazines; a result of universal education and consistency of written English language in textbooks. However, spoken English is studied by linguists who find it is more diverse than it was 50 or 100 years ago. This is in part because of an increase in the number and variety of non-American-born and non-native-English speaking residents, and in part because of the use of spoken language as a way to maintain regional, ethnic, racial, societal, and age differentiation among populations.

    I've watched some of Professor McWhorter's lectures. He's an excellent lecturer discussing a fascinating subject and is always interesting. If I can squeeze it in I'm going to take this course next semester.

    Colin :hug:

    Colin,

    What a lively language we have. I hadn't thought about what Chris said, that new variations of our language are evolving, and thinking about it, he's right. The push to standardize is offset by the dynamics of new words and variations in meanings emerging.

    I think I'm going to head over to the NM State University library soon and look for that DVD set. Of course, Professor John McWhorter being a Berkeley professor, puts doubt on his credibility. [snicker]

  17. Someone had mentioned on another thread how language in the United States is merging into a singular dialect and that we are losing our regional dialects. I think they used the example of CNN News from Atlanta sounding the same as CNN News from New York. Des Hit on it that television, movies, even tourism and the internet is bringing all of our national, and within our our nations, our regional dialects and our idiosyncrasies together into a singular form of communication.

    Someone else also mentioned in that thread that they felt that it was a shame to loose those differences.

    I don't agree with that. I think that the more we are able to communicate, the better that we will understand each other. And that's what is driving that...our need to better communicate...to understand each other.

    I believe that our stories will also have to evolve if their time and place is the present. Of course if you set your story in the past, then, yes, you need to use the vernacular of that period.

    One day we will see a universal langusge where there are no misunderstandings of the slang used. The same word will be understood in England, Australia, Kenya, Russia, Chile and every country on this planet.

    The Tower Of Babble has lost it's meaning and purpose.

  18. Thanks Des. I read Erich Fromm when I was in high school on my own (not a recommended reading at the time). One of my favorite quotes is, "There can be no real freedom without the freedom to fail." It's one that has kept me going, because, Lord knows, I've had my share. But that quote keeps coming back to me.

    I think that if you read his works, you'll find that you will agree with 95% of what he had to say, and not just agree, but believe it...intrinsically. The man was insightful, no disagreement there.

    And I go back to his debate between instinctivism of Konrad Lorenz and behaviorist B.F. Skinner. (Sorry, I started with a conjunction...get over it) He put the paradox (at that time) into perspective for me and how it is a mix.

    Thanks Des for bringing back the memory of a man that greatly contributed to who I am today.

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