Michele

Um, no thanks...that's, well, not something I'd do. Besides, I'd break the camera and waste all of HH's bandwidth covering my width. So consider my declining the invitation a favor, o.k.? Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

It is an amazing song. The lyrics are: "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face Roberta Flack The first time ever I saw your face I thought the sun rose in your eyes And the moon and stars were the gifts you gave To the dark and the empty skies, my love, To the dark and the empty skies. The first time ever I kissed your mouth And felt your heart beat close to mine Like the trembling heart of a captive bird That was there at my command, my love That was there at my command. The first time ever I lay with you I felt the earth move in my hand I thought our joy would fill the earth And last 'till the end of time, my love, And last 'till the end of time. I get goosebumps reading them. Reading it just doesn't do it justice, though. The music is soooo perfect. If you can listen to the song, it "floats" somehow, takes your mind into somewhere else, and allows you to dream, imagine, wish and believe. (My heart's fondest dream is someone who feels that way about me, and that I feel that way about him. Shhhhhh, don't tell anyone...) Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Thanks, Gawain. Great reminder. I'm gonna put that up in our lunchroom tomorrow. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Me, count me as one of the many who're interested. Quite interested. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I was wondering about all of that, Scott. Good deal! And dancing in the rain was a wonderful idea. YAYAYAYAY for you! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Why, yes, yes you can. It would seem you can get good drugs for a little pain in the ass... Heal fast, and like Brian said, get checked. Sometimes it's worse than it feels, so go make sure. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Just as long as it isn't anyone's spelling or punctuation!! Good to see you back, Joe...missed ya, I did! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Is it possible to break your ass? Yeppers...just ask Chuck... http://www.dropzone.com/columns/PassthePercocet.shtml At least, when you see a dr., you can get decent medication. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hugs to him and you, Chuck. He'll understand eventually. Or, well, maybe not, but he'll adjust. It's so good to hear he'll be o.k. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Thanks for that, Bill. Seems interesting. Some of that rings true, and yet others don't. But I really can't comment unless I read more about why/how he's come to those positions and articulations. Can I borrow the book once you've read it? I'd love to read more about his perspective, especially right now. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Heya, Ed!!! A. You're not a flying fatman. B. Being broke is normal. C. Look up BillV and other Otayians (Keith, I think, and some others), and I'm sure they'll give you a hand. Good to see you posting! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

As they should - all of them are handsome... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Geesh, I thought you were talking about a play my father's currently doing with the same title. I was wondering how the heck you knew, seeing as you're alllllllllll the way across the country. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Blue skies and godspeed, Jerry! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Patience with Mr. Hussein Michele Lesser Sunday, February 16, 2003 (Based on "Patience with my neighbours, Mr Bush" Terry Jones Sunday January 26, 2003 The Observer) I'm really excited by Saddam Hussein's latest coup, the U2 overflights? You know, those pesky little airplanes which he keeps looking at through the radar? I believe he's running out of patience with the UN. He is making sure that there is no way the flights can work. For some time now I've been really concerned with Mr Hussein. He rules a country that has, for years, killed those he disagrees with. He gives them queer looks, you know. If it's him. I hear he has a lot of body doubles. So maybe they're all giving each other queer looks. I'm sure Mr. Hussein is planning something nasty to his neighbor, Mr. Israel. I mean, just a little while ago, Mr. Hussein lobbed lots of missiles into Mr. Israel's backyard, and killed a lot of them. And that Mr. Aziz guy? You know, Mr. Hussein's best friend? They always hang out together? Yeah, him. Mr. Aziz recently gave a jewish correspondent the boot - ignored his question during kindergarten's show and tell after a tour of the Vatican. And gave the correspondent a queer look, too. I think something's wrong. I'm sure they've got something really nasty planned for Israel. But I don't know. As for Mr. Hussein, don't ask me how I know. I am a sheeple, I guess. I don't listen and watch and learn from diverse sources. No-one has "shown me the money" just yet...but I know. I guess I'm psychic or something. But I do know this: Mr. Hussein has poison gas. Like that XV stuff. Or was it VX? And I know that he pays - yes, pays!!!- people to blow themselves up. Or at least that's what I've heard. From good sources. Of course, those sources are dead now, having blown themselves up, so I really don't know. I'm guessing, I guess. While I resort to leafletting the neighborhood, Mr. Hussein just bombs it and gases it. That way, there's no-one alive to read my diplomatic attempts at helping them. Some of my friends came over to dinner the other day. We got to talking. 16 of them liked what I had to say, but three of them thought I was wonky. They say that yes, they know that Mr. Hussein has this gas, and that he's killed many hundreds of thousands of people. But they want to see the money, honey, before they'll play. They need to see more evidence before they'll think about taking action to save lives. I dunno. These same guys were at my house 4 months ago, and agreed - Mr. Hussein was dangerous. But now they're telling a different tale. I guess I need more patience, because I am fast running out of it. These friends of mine come up with endless rambling about the horridness of war, and don't listen when I speak of the horridness of mass murder from VX gas. They decry the loss of their security, and prevent me from taking any action which will allow me security. I mean, if Mr. Hussein is gonna throw bombs at his neighbor Mr. Israel, what's to stop him from throwing some at me? Or at my other neighbors? I guess I should build a higher fence or something. After all, I can only protect myself. Right? Oh, hey, wait a minute. I could maybe hug him, and tell him it's o.k., we all lie now and again, I forgive you. Now go and hide your toys before we come looking for them. Yeah, I can do that. And let's face it - Mr. Hussein's carefully crafted shellgame is a good one. It means he can keep winning. I remember when I was a little tyke on the streets of New York, and this really fast talking man kept playing this game with me. He had this velvet covered table and there were these cute yellow cups on it. Under one of those cups was a cotton ball - like the kind clowns have on their shirts? Bright blue. I'd put down a quarter, and he'd talk really fast and move his hands around, and even though I knew I'd watched the right one, even though I knew which cup the blue ball was under, when he lifted it up, there was no ball. I put down quarter after quarter, twelve times I did this. Each time I knew I'd gotten it this time...each time, I knew! And each time I was wrong. 12 times! Even as a child I knew I was being toyed with, played with. I learned. And now, I suspect Mr. Hussein is doing a big shell game. And even though I watch - carefully, quietly, focussed and concentrated, I still haven't found the ball. But I know it's there. And so does he. So does he. Mr. Hussein makes it clear that all he needs to do is to tell everyone he's really a nice guy, and that he has no weapons of mass destruction. After all, no-one can prove that he has them, so he can't have them, right? Oh wait, will he get in trouble for lying, or is it one of his body doubles saying that? I'm not sure. But I guess I should believe him. After all, he only bombed his neighbors, invaded his other neighbors, and killed his own people. I guess I should trust him. After all, he hasn't done anything really mean to me yet, has he? No-one else matters, only me. Mr. Hussein's long term aim is to make the middle east a safer, kinder, gentler place, isn't it? He plans on doing this magically, I guess, and then, looking like a sterner version of Mr. Rogers, he will sit on his front porch, in a hand knitted sweater and rock the days away, knowing he did right by the world, knowing he is loved and admired by all the neighbors of those people he killed. After all, they needed killing, right? Hey, I should get out my knitting needles and start it right away - peace is sure to break out immediately, and I couldn't bear to think of him sitting on the porch sweaterless. He's such a nice man, after all. Perhaps Mr Hussein's goal is to wipe out everyone who could possibly be a future terrorist? Maybe he can't be sure he's achieved his objective until every Christian fundamentalist is dead? But then some moderate Christians might convert to fundamentalism. Maybe the only really safe thing to do would be for Mr Bush to eliminate all Christians? But what about the Jews? He and Mr. Israel have had an on-going feud for a while now. Or maybe he should look to the Kurds? And you can't forget those traitorous Turks, either. And lord-a-mercy, he can't forget the Americans and Brits, especially those rednecked kinds. I should write a list for him so he won't forget anybody. That way, he can have everything he wants, and I can feel good because I've done a small part in helping him murder millions. There are millions of other people in the world who he doesn't like and who - quite frankly - look at him in odd ways. No one will be really safe until he's wiped them all out. Really. This way, I can be a help rather than a hindrance. I can give him everything he wants, so he can keep being happy and murder whomever he chooses. After all, no-one else matters, right? Right? ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hey, Ed! Good to see you post! Welcome!!! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

+/- 1.799 per gallon here in the Burbank area for the cheap stuff. The closer the station is to the freeway, though, the higher it gets. As a realtor, it can be hard on the pocketbook when you hand the attendent a $20 bill and only get 11 gallons...sigh. BUT! I drive a Jetta, so I get great mileage. Much better than the Mercedes and Jags which populate our parking lot. (At least, that's what I tell myself...). Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Thanks, Kallend. I read that previously, but appreciate being redirected. While I do understand (and have considered quite before you brought "appropriate skepticism" into the debate) your position, and do agree with you on a level, I also offer the numerous times Iraq has lied, hidden, obfuscated, or obliterated the truth as part of the situation in toto. I do not believe everything handed to me as "fact". I do what I can to research and verify, ask and understand, and then formulate my position thereon. I also do not believe that the MiB are lurking in the hinterlands near Idaho, zooming around on silent helicopters and eviscerating cows randomly. In other words, Kallend, I do what I can to "trust but verify", and also add that I highly doubt that any government in the world, at any time, has been totally truthful with it's constituency...and I doubt there ever will be. The argument that the US government is lying to it's citizenry is isolationistic inasmuch as all governments do; and unless that is appreciated and acknowledged and factored into the equasion, singling out the US is spurious at best. Further, I do not expect the average citizen to get the "show me the money" evidence, nor would I expect that all our allies - who are not necessarily "allied" any longer - get it, either. There are many reasons for not tipping our HumInt hand, nor all the satillite (I never could spell that word) etc and so on, a primary one being that as information is released, the information gatherer is put at risk. For those who demand that we show everybody everything, I suggest that we consider this is NOT flashing to gain altitude, but rather far more serious and deadly a feat, and that sources are kept close to the belt, and should be so; I have not screamed at anyone to show me anything; rather, I have asked my questions, gathered information, thought about situations, and formulated my own opinion as to what I think. While I cannot say the same for all folks, I do believe a majority of people have done so. If your sole issue with me is my position, please provide further information - not rhetoric, but information - which I can then take into consideration. I am not as young as you seem to think; I am not as naive as you seem to think; and I am not as ill-informed as you seem to think. Should you have a piece of the puzzle for me to consider, please provide it. I always appreciate information additional to that which I had already considered, and have been known to change my mind (after all, I am a woman!). Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Actually, the phrase you seem to be referencing was in a discussion of the position switch of the French and German from November 2002 UN Security Council's Resolution 1441 and it's unanimous passing, to the current rift in the UN SC members. Therefore, as I was not discussing any moral/value judgment on them, but rather articulating a thought as to the changing of stances, there was no need to include any commentary on the US's position, as we have not changed it midstride. That being said, I am still quite curious as to your position on appropriate skepticism. And I am also now quite curious as to your continual refusal to answer direct questions. IMHO, that's rude and demonstrates a position of arrogance. I respect you, Kallend. Please don't create a need for me to look at that personal opinion with "appropriate skepticism". My questions above still stand, and I am patiently waiting for your response. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I don't have one. And don't plan on one any time soon. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I haven't said that. Please refrain from putting words in my mouth (or "text in my post", should you prefer). Why would you think I am accepting every line? Why would you think I haven't approached this with "appropriate skepticism"? Why do you seem to believe that it is only the US government which "lies" to their constituency? There was plenty of evidence in many courtrooms which have not convicted people (somehow, People. V. Simpson jumps to mind). Further, I don't believe I need to know absolutely everything all the time about everything. I do my research, I ask my questions, and I make up my mind. Which begs the questions: Kallend, why have you not provided me with answers to my questions in the past? Why are you so opposed to the war? Why are you so persistent in not answering direct questions? What, to you, constitutes "appropriate skepticism"? And why should I apply your standards of "appropriate skepticism" to my own life? Yes, Kallend. Perhaps I am strange. And perhaps not. I don't think that my "strangeness" factors in to the conversation much. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Russ, well spoken and well presented...not to mention well thought-out. Thanks! No, I cannot see how it will be better in 6 months, 1 year, 5 years. I believe that there are far more issues being negotiated behind the scenes and are playing out in an interesting manner. Hands are being tipped, as it were. The powerplay in the UN is intriguing. Bush has stated in the past, if the UN fails to act on 1441, which was unanimous at the outset, it becomes a "useless" appendage (personal belief? Not necessarily)...what seems to be occurring with France, Germany, and yes Russia are all protecting their financial interests and economic treaties in Iraq, some (it would seem) against the embargo. In November 2002, there was unanimity in the Security Council. February 14, 2003 there is not. What has changed in the meantime is that France, Germany and Russia have figured out that the US is serious - unlike perceptions prior - and are making a move to protect their own vital interests. I do not know offhand what percentage of oil France and Germany import from the region - I would suggest that it is higher than the US's importation. I am not certain what position Russia has, except that there clearly is one. As for WMD, Iraq has played a shell game for many many years, always conceding just enough to keep the Security Council at bay, in the nick of time. They continually buy themselves additional months, which turn into years, which turn into decades. Everyone knows that there are WMD - components of all of them have been sold by all parties. At this point, however, there is a clear need to account for, and destroy, them. Saddam Hussein has NOT kept the terms of the cease fire from 1991. He has not dealt fairly and honestly with the Security Council. Untold amounts of money and time have been spent (not to mention bandwidth - thanks, HH) debating this issue, but the time for words and diplomacy, having NOT worked for the last 12 years, is over. There comes a time when the UN must deal decisively with this issue, and I believe that this time is now. People argue and posit that this time is no different than 1991; I propose that now is far different than then. In 1991, there was agression in Kuwait, and the mandate of the war was simple - push Saddam back over his own borders, and disarm him so this could not happen again. We never marched into Iraq with the intent to take him down, to change his regime. This time, it is wholly clear that the regime change is the goal. Because of the history between France and Iraq, regime change is frightening and threatening to the French. Their economy will be hughly affected. Their alliances will be known. And they are fighting to deter that change however they can. Further, France has a large Islamic population. Chirac is hard-pressed to keep his constituency happy should they agree easily to a war. It is not about the oil only. And it is not about America's use for that oil. While that does indeed have some impact, it is not all, nor most, of the issue. There are many and varied, and I don't know even a fraction of them to speak intelligently on it. I cannot see how it can get better on it's own. And, like most difficult situations, it will get worse before it gets better. And I believe we will see an entirely different UN at the outcome of this than what we see currently - good or ill, it will be a different one. Thanks, Russ, for bringing this back to a level wherein ideas, positions, thoughts and concerns can be addressed with maturity and without namecalling and mudslinging. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

If I was in the neighborhood, I'd be tuning in. The site's blurb is: "Tuesday At 5: Chilling Video From Skies Over Washington Tuesday at 5 on KIRO 7 Eyewitness News: It's the deadliest skydiving operation in Washington. KIRO Team 7 Investigators reveal behavior that puts more than parachute school students at risk. Uncovering chilling video that's prompted a federal probe. Tuesday at 5 on KIRO 7 Eyewitness News. Complete Northwest News Coverage." howedver, remember it's "sweeps" week, where you get the most sensationalistic stuff out there, blurb it as heavily as you can, and hope to draw the ratings. Ratings are important because it tends to set the amount of $$ you can charge for advertising, etc. So this may not actually be what it sounds like. OTOH, it may be, too. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

As it is a homework assignment, why don't you do it differently, as in...yourself. (LOL, I'm kidding). What would be interesting to see is instead of the typical issues generally addressed, try something far more sublte...and possibly tie it into something which is occuring today. Like the Bosnian issue (very interesting muslim/christian conflict, including war, death, concentration camps, and all that). Or the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Or perhaps even go a little more esoteric and see how mentally ill people are treated here in the US, etc. It could be a fascinating subject, if you use it to find out how you feel about some things, and why you feel that way. And writing is never ...it's always an adventure. How fun it is, or how interesting, is up to you. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I don't know how to resize this one, but if you can see it at all, it was when I was about 2 1/2... Edit: Huh. Dunno what I did, but you can see it alright. Kewlio! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~