Date:         Wed, 11 Feb 1998 19:20:08 EST
From: Anne Brown <RoscoeBlvd@AOL.COM>
Subject:      FILLER - New Kid on the writers' block

Hello to all --

I am quite encouraged at the wealth of knowledge and talent exhibited
on this website.  The abundance of e-mail activity has really kept me
hopping (I generally get small amounts of e-mail from family and
friends).  This is a new endeavor for me, this writing thing, and it
has taken me several days to muster up the courage to offer some
observations.

First of all, those of you that provide the criticques are wonderful.
It must take time and energy, two hot commodities in the 90's, to read
and analyze the many submissions that flash through the webpage.  Your
insight and objectivity is reflected in your comments.  I must say
that some of the submissions have left me a little red in the face,
while others send me straight to the medicine chest for some Pepto
Bismol, but the ones that touch my heart surely keep me dialing in.

I like humor, and lots of it, and anyone that can place a grin on my
face with a funny story or a good joke.  Having worked in corporate
America for the last 20+ years (and yes, I started work when I was
13), I am now moving my life in a more creative direction, and with
any luck and lots of hard work, I might get published (I hope I am not
dancing with a broom in a nursing home when that happens!)

The only thing that could get in my way is winning the lottery, then
to hell with the words, I'm heading to Tallahassee (that's a small
town in Florida where Burt Reynolds went to college) and also where
you pick up your lotto money.

My world as I know it today consists of a loving spouse, he's a
fireman, can't beat a man in uniform I always say, two boxer dogs,
Roscoe and Chyna, who are always there to greet you in the evenings
with a wet nose to your posterior, and a nice house close to the
Atlantic surrounded by family and friends.  I am a mother to a
wonderful 19 year old son (what mother doesn't think their son is
wonderful) who I see when he comes through the door with a basket full
of dirty laundry and an empty stomach.  Surfing is his passion, not
hanging out with the parents at this point in time.

If I were a complainer, and God knows I have my days, I would
complain about my occupation, suffering from the Big Yank theory...a
little bigger house, a nicer car, gotta have a computer, etc.  I hope
to one day scale down my lifestyle to have more time to smell the
roses.

The things I like on this web page are:

John Bailey's criticques and writings- you're a peach, you offer
constructive comments and encouragement.

Patfish's musings...I read them on the way to work (the traffic allows
me time!)

The multitude of poems and the creativity behind them (I don't GET
some of them, but that will come in time.)  I also like the Jester
series, keep it coming.

Words From the Monastery ... Michael Kelly's "I Believe" made me
laugh...thanks.

What I don't like (and I am making a grand assumption that you care
here):

Depressing stories - I know there is a need for them, but I am gonna
zapp them with my mouse button and send them to the AOL trash can
before I find out what happens at the end.

Comments about personal sexual experiences (like playing solitaire
with yourself) what you do behind closed doors or in the bathtub,
ain't my business.  I'm one of those GRITS (Girls Raised In The South)
that don't need graphics, you know the movies with the lovers in bed
and the camera fades to the door followed by some soft romantic music
suits me just fine.  The handy mouse button works here also.

I don't have a copy handy but whoever did the article on the Physic
Network going belly-up was quite amusing (the line about why they
didn't see it coming made me grin.)

Didn't have the pleasure of knowing Daffid, but he obviously left some
great impressions on those he touched.

Enough said, I will leave you with a saying that my dear mother has
posted to her refrigerator door right next to her grocery list that
always has Michelob Light entered on it: When you are being run out of
town, act like you're leading a parade!

Take care.

Anne Brown