From JDO103@PSUVM.BITNET Thu Nov 30 23:29:52 1989 From: JDO103@PSUVM.BITNET (Someone) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: Story/Toast Date: 29 Nov 89 23:47:53 GMT Organization: Penn State University Status: O A figure pauses in front of Callahan's, as if not yet sure he wants to go inside or not. Finally though, if one listens close enough, he can be heard to say: "What the fleck, you only live once..." Coming in from the frigid outdoors, a man of about 5'11" walks in, brushes off the snow from his head (Kinda cold for a Flat-top/Crew-cut, eh! :-) ) and walks up to the bar. "A couple of shots o' Southern Comfort, if you will Mike!" he says as he pulls out the cash. "Thank ya kindly." Surveying the room and seeing no one else at the center of attention, he starts: "Tonight, I have two things to toast. But first I must tell a story for each. Here goes: I, like many of you here, am also a student. I am also having *big* problems academically. You see, I think I have screwed up my future, and on top of that, failed to meet the expectations of not only friends and family, but of my own. I used to be in engineering. You know: money, prestige, a job to be proud of. I planned to be in Aerospace. I figured, that with an average of 3.98 in high-school, and never having had to study, I would not have too bad a time doing it. Little did I realize. I came to find out (the hard way after killing my GPA) that it wasn't for me. I just didn't like Physics or Math. So I switched majors to, of all things, History. New problems. I like to read, but the basic requirements for the History major are so BORING. I want to get into the recent MILITARY history of the world. Classes unavailable until acceptance into your major. Well to make a long story short, I'm not doing so great. I have a _low_ CUM and still do not get along well with studying and academics. My real goal is to be a pilot. Big problem: Good grades needed to be military pilot, and I don't have the money to do it any other way. I just can't imagine being anything other than a pilot, I think flying is one of the few special joys available to people. Anyway, with the pressure put on me by parents, friends, myself, and the system in general, I feel like I'm letting everyone down. And if you can't be happy with yourself, you can never be truly happy. So here's one of my toasts: To those who have endured hardships and realized their dreams, and to those who will." (Silently to himself: "May I join you...") *Gulp* *SMAAASH* tinkle ... tinkle "And for those of you who despair loneliness, I too am with you. I once had a brief flicker of hope, but alas, it was crushed by the cruel hand of fate. But do not give up hope. I think I have found one meant for me, and if not, well, I'll just keep looking. And if I can think this, you can too. So for my next toast: Here's to the end of loneliness, may it come to us all!" >GULP< *Smash* *Usual broken glass noises* And with that, he turns and slowly walks out the door. All the while looking like there was still something he wanted to say, but was afraid to mention... Dave (Insert appropriate song lyrics by AC/DC here.) jdo103 @ psuvm From austin@bucsf.bu.edu Thu Nov 30 23:29:53 1989 From: austin@bucsf.bu.edu (Austin Ziegler) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: Jilara Returns Date: 30 Nov 89 02:35:36 GMT Organization: Boston University College of Engineering Status: O The air glimmers, and Jilara becomes a little more substantial. "Thanks, Magyk. There's a comment here on how one can't really exist without the help of friends." She walks up to the fire and warms her hands. "Funny thing about Callahan's---there's this tavern (the name escapes me) that shows up in Poul Anderson's "A Midsummer Tempest." You can't find it unless you really need to, like needing refuge or something. All sorts of curious travellers from other times and places and universes end up there. I think it's got a lot in common with Callahan's. By the way, have you noticed it's a lot more---I think 'positive and healthy' is the term---here, than in places like alt.recovery?" She shakes her head. "I've been to places like that, and it's full of head-trips, and games, and people giving you hell, judging you..." She sighs. "Sometimes you just need a hug, some empathy. Sometimes there aren't easy answers. You try to be positive, but there's only so much lemonade you can make before your system says "enough!" to lemons. You try to do everything right, but still... But hey, I'm a stupid fool---I don't learn. I keep sticking my neck out, believing in people, and trying to live up to all of you. I've learned to forgive, too. Live every moment fully, no regrets." She swallows hard, breaths deep for a minute. "Because this isn't the dress rehearsal, this is IT. I go do dangerous, "macho" things, because that's how I remind myself I'm alive. I try to let everyone know what they mean to me, even when they can't deal with it. People aren't bad---they're just pathologically scared. They're scared of life, scared of death, scared of everything. Me, I'm scared of loss, but I walk into the face of that fear, every day, forcing myself to prove I can do it. Because if I don't, I'd lose for sure." Callahan walks over with her favorite scotch. "This one's on me," he turns and frowns. "For telling me why I run this place." She smiles. "A friend of mine said something last night that suggests a toast. Something a very wise man once said. 'But remember, my sentimental friend, that your heart is judged not by how much YOU love, but how much you are loved by others.' Therefore, to my favorite Wizard, Oz, the Great and Powerful!" For a moment, as the glass smashes, some think they see a face in the flames... ---Jilara the Exile "My pleasure Jilara. I hope that others who have the same problem as you will have the courage to ask the favor of others around Callahan's. We hope to hear from you again soon." says Magyk, who invites the tabbicat to join he and Jilara in a conversation. -- Magyk (austin@bucsf.bu.edu,@bucsb.bu.edu,engc8vc@buacca.bu.edu) 700 Commonwealth Box 2094, Boston, MA 02215 "Yes, I'm the crazy person running an EMail AD&D adventure!" -- Me From gh1g+@andrew.cmu.edu Thu Nov 30 23:29:54 1989 From: gh1g+@andrew.cmu.edu (Gregg Fielding Hinderstein) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: Friendship Date: 30 Nov 89 03:06:14 GMT Organization: Class of '91, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA Status: O I once found a bit of writing that made a great deal of sense to me, and it pertains to the subject "Will you marry me?" "Why should I marry you?" "That would take a long time to answer, but I'll give you the best reason: because I think we have become very good friends, and could go on to be splendid friends, and would be very likely to be wonderful friends forever." "Friends?" "What's wrong with being friends?" "When people talk about marriage, they generally use stronger words than that." "Do they? I don't know. I've never asked anyone to marry me before." "You mean you've never been in love?" "Certainly I've been in love. More times than I can count. I've had two or three affairs with girls I loved. But I knew very well that they weren't friends." "You put friendship above love?" "Doesn't everybody? No, that's a foolish question; of course they don't. They talk about love to people with whom they are infatuated, and sometimes involved to the point of devotion. I've nothing against love. Most enjoyable. But I'm talking to you about marriage." "Marriage. But you don't love me?" "Of course I love you, fathead, but I'm serious about marriage, and marriage with anyone whom I do not think the most splendid friend I've ever had doesn't interest me. Love and sex are very fine but they won't last. Friendship - the kind of friendship I am talking about - is charity and loving-kindness more than it's sex and it lasts as long a life. What's more, it grows, and sex dwindles; has to. So - will you marry me and be friends?" -Robertson Davies "The Rebel Angels" I think if more permanent relationships were based on friendship rather than the undefinable "love", there'd be a lot less divorce. Sinatra sang: "Love and Marrage go together like a horse and carrage" Sinatra was a fool. Gregg From rdm5g@ra.cs.Virginia.EDU Thu Nov 30 23:29:55 1989 From: rdm5g@ra.cs.Virginia.EDU (Rodney D. McElrath) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: Indecision Date: 30 Nov 89 07:45:56 GMT Distribution: usa Organization: U.Va. CS Department, Charlottesville, VA Status: O The wind was no longer blowing, so the crunch of booted feet on new snow was loud and crisp as such things usually are when it is this cold. "Damn, I don't even know if I have any singles on me." Searching through a battered, black leather coat the figure turns up a couple of crumpled single from some forgotten inner pocket. He palms the bill, and as he rearranges his black scarf a silver rose catched the moonlight. He straightens his 6 ft 2 in frame with a hesitation suggesting a weariness, and pushes the large wooden door open to welcome the warmth of fire. "Mike, Give me a shot of Crown and an Alka-Seltzer." Stepping up to the chalk line, he pauses somewhat expectantly perhaps for some attention, or perhaps to let the glow of the fire penetrate the layers of his clothing. "I am blessed, but miserable. Indecision is one of my worst plagues. I am on the tail end of a Masters Degree and trying to decide whether or not to continue with a Phd and consume yet a few more years of my young life in academic pursuits." "My problem is slight compared to many and inconsequential compared to others. But unlike many crisis I have a choice in this matter and It will affect the rest of my life." "Perhaps I simply justifying my agony to myself... A Toast! To Indecision and the minor havoc it reeks on all our lives." He slowly down the shot, savoring the gravel and velvet whiskey... "You folks can call me Roderick." With that he moves back to the bar, slowly nurses the alka-seltzer. To the inquisitive look Mike gives him as he collects his change. He replies.. "Laundry day tomorrow Mike..." And move quietly toward the door. -- rdm5g@babbage.acc.Virginia.EDU Rod McElrath 804 293-7583 rdm5g@uvacs.cs.Virginia.EDU "that which does not kill us makes us stronger..." University of Virginia Friederich Neitzshe _______________________________________________________________________________ From MICHAEL@MAINE Thu Nov 30 23:29:56 1989 From: MICHAEL@MAINE Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: Re: soulmates Date: 30 Nov 89 00:16:48 GMT Organization: University of Maine System TO: NETNEWS@MAINE Status: O A young man with brown hair and broad shoulders (really) who has been sitting in the corner with his Fuzzy Navel and a good book rises and speaks. In his deep, resonant voice he says: "Gilly, I know how you feel. I was in the same boat you are in until I was 25 years old and I got some depressed, let me tell you. But I can also tell you that it won't last forever. Part of my problem was simple self-confidence. I lacked enough of it to court rejection by asking out people who were NOT already my friends. "Therein lay the root of my problem. I needed to be confident enough to ask someone out and to not act like they'd be doing me a favor by going out with me. My friends who were women liked me just fine as a friend, they did not want to spoil things by starting a relationship, which I can understand. Once I found that I could handle a little rejection and even handle short relationships that didn't work out, I was able to find the real thing. I have been with my lady for two years and while things have not always been perfect or easy, I would not trade it for anything. "You'll get there. And if you don't expect every date to turn into a steady or every relationship to last until death do you part, you'll even have fun getting there." "To never giving up!" Michael Johnson "We are the Priests of the Temples University of Maine System of Syrinx. Our great computers fill Computing and Data Processing Services the hallowed halls." - Neil Peart From kaufman@gmu90x.gmu.edu Thu Nov 30 23:29:57 1989 From: kaufman@gmu90x.gmu.edu (Ken Kaufman) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: Toasting the night away Date: 30 Nov 89 15:40:19 GMT Reply-To: kaufman@gmu90x.UUCP (Ken Kaufman) Organization: George Mason University, Fairfax, Va. Status: O "Serious drinks for serious toasts," he replied to Long-Drink McGonnigle as he took the penultimate sip of his Manischewitz Blackberry. "Besides, I just had to see if Mike had it in stock." He got up and walked past a table where another punfest had broken out ... "So you suggest we shift from music puns to SF. Well, there's no reason we can't have our cake and eat it too. After all, anyone with a Quick Sliver of inspiration, and his Big Brother too, can make ones that fit into both categories which will make a lot of people Dead Grateful that they can flee on the next Airplane out of town." ... up to the chalk line by the fireplace. "To ambiguity in acronyms!" <*Crash*> Needless to say, voices from at least three different parts of The Place echoed, "To AA!" He walked back to the bar and placed down another commemorative picture of George Washington. "How about one of those schizoid specials - a Rum and Jolt?" He downed it in one gulp. If such were possible, his green eyes glowed with even more fire, more intensity, than before. Back to the chalk line he strode, purposefully ... "To Commitment!" Into the fireplace the glass went with a thunderous smash. "Come to think of it, maybe I should be committed ... I pay a terrible price, but couldn't see myself living any other way. I may be slow to make definitive commitments, but when I do, I stick to them. No half-assed inbetweens. I guess it's just a matter of integrity to me. Now how does this affect me, you may ask? Well, take my work situation. Please. Here I am in the nth year of doctoral work, floundering around the detours being thrown at me left & right, losing my sense of purpose, but wanting to get it done, not just for me, but for the rest of my team, who've invested so much in me. Plus, there is the self-gratitude - without that stupid piece of paper, I'll feel I've completely wasted the last few years. But with it, I'll have climbed the mountain, and I will know I can do it again. I am committed to completing this degree, practically even if it kills me. And what then when I finally get out of here? How should I know? Do you really think I'm fool enough to commit myself to some line of work when I don't really have the info on what's out there, and it will probably change next month anyway? I may not even stay in the field. But barring massive personality change, I can't totally expect to ever voluntarily leave my first all-time job. Loyalty and all that crap. And what do they say about indispensibility? And then there's the social side of things. I'm slow to commit to women to any degree at all - probably cost me dozens of nice flings and relationships - but when I do ... well, one of these days, I'd like to meet my equal in such 'moral fiber.' Should I become an unreliable bum just for the sake of improving my lot? Doesn't matter. That won't happen." --Ken Kaufman (kaufman@gmu90x.gmu.edu) From snoopy@fig.ucsb.edu Thu Nov 30 23:29:58 1989 From: snoopy@fig.ucsb.edu (Smith, Jamie Lynn) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: Poem Review, + Request for Personal Info About Posters Date: 30 Nov 89 18:53:17 GMT Reply-To: snoopy@fig.UUCP (Smith) Organization: U Can Study Buzzed, but I don't recommend it! Keywords: Good Poetry. Summary: Poem: Love and Spring. Status: O In article dc2o+@andrew.cmu.edu (David L. Chute) writes: (stuff respectfully deleted...) >I'll post one of her poems, and I'd like to hear comments. If you don't > >Love and Spring >(copyright 5/89) > >Love and Spring are the same budding flower >Who orients her face on the young sun. >But all these are confined by time, and hour- >They wither and die, as soon as they've begun. > If Spring were eternal, or buds didn't fade! > Perhaps love could yet last, in endless dawn. > But sunset comes; the earth is left in shade. > Love and light fade form sight, and then are gone. >The sun leaves the earth alone, cold, and dark. >If even eath chills, how shall I endure >When you, with sweet love, part from me? But hark! >Birds herald the dawn: light is here once more. > For you, I'll taste even darkness's debt, > Knowing a sunrise follows each sunset. Beautiful. It's very structured (for some reason, most professors of late don't like structure... but, hey! Song lyrics are very structured, and very poetic, and they do very well! (Depending on the song)), but I like structure! The only unstructured poetry I like comes from certain song lyrics from Genesis and Phil Collins records, and even they have a certain complex structuring. But, mainly, I love what the words say, and the phrasing of what they say. Tell your shy friend that she has future. She's like an artist friend of mine. My friend is incredible at real life paintings. One quarter, she got stuck with all modern art professors.... no-one liked her work! Just tell her that the people who teach her aren't necessarily the smartest people around. Their minds can't recognize things for beauty's sake.... they are stuck into some strange mode of teaching, where they think that things can only be done one way, whether or not another way might be more beautiful and more intelligent than theirs. The modern art professor's didn't like my friends work, but her work was more time consuming than the paintings some of the modern artists in her classes cranked out... and her work was also more of a pleasure to look at. For some reason, her poem reminds me of Beauty and the Beast. It reminds me of the sort of poetry that the character Vincent would read. I can hear him reading it. I can also hear the character Catherine reading it. I'm sorry if this is the Umpteenth article posted on this peom... I've fallen behind on reading this group, and I don't know what's been posted after the original posting of the poem... Well, enough from me. Beagles shouldn't talk so much... it ruins their howling voices. Mike! Another Root-Beer, Please! (slaps dollar down... where do Beagles get their money, anyway?) And get that Teddy Bear over their another milk! (slaps another dollar down, picks up the root-beer in thumbless paws, and downs it in one long swalow). To Good Poetry! To anything Beautiful, and to Recognizing that Beauty! (Crash!!!) P.S. Anyone around here a Beauty and the Beast fan? This probably belongs in Rec.arts.tv, but I'd rather talk about it among a "close-nit newsgroup" than something as big as RAT. Hey, here's and idea.... Let's all post a little bit about our true selves... interests, hobbies, jobs, age, sex, height, hair color, favorite food, favorite color, fav tv shows, etc, anything of interest. Oh, for College students (of which I am... Beagles are very smart ;-)), majors and Colleges, oh, and location within this country/world might be good, too. This way, those of us with common interests can get discussions going about those interests. I'm not trying to break this newsgroup up into teeny little parts, but it would be nice to talk with friends about some of my hobbies... I guess I'll start: Jamie Lynn Smith. Kayaking (lake, mainly), Camping, Cycling, Hiking, Watching too much tv, etc. None of the above hobbies are pursued professionally. No job at present. Age: 21. Sex: Female (ok, I know Snoopy is male, but I identify with him alot! :-)). Height: 5' Weight: 113 lbs (ok, physical descriptions should be optional... but this gives you a picture of me other than "funny looking dog wearing a flight helmet"). Hair: Brunett, shoulder length, perm growing out. Eyes: Hazel, and near- sighted!. Favorite food: Italian, and anything resembling Pizza. Favorite color: Red, or any strong hue in the rainbow. Fav..... tv shows: Star Trek the Next Generation. Beauty and the Beast. Cheers. Magnum P.I. """""""" Movies: Virtually anything done by Lucas or Spielberg. College: University of California, at Santa Barbara (U Can Study Buzzed) Major: Computer Science Location: Santa Barbara, California. ----Done (for now)---- :-) >+-------------------------------------------------------------+ >| David L. Chute >| >>dc2o+@andrew.cmu.edu >+-------------------------------------------------------------+ >| Gaerdil Menelmacar >| of the Barony-Marche of the Debatable Lands >+-------------------------------------------------------------+ >| "I am, in no particular order, a Midn 3/C, a CCon, an >| SCA fighter, a very nice guy, and in no particuar order >+-------------------------------------------------------------+ Snoopy (aka Jamie Lynn Smith) ----"WOOF"---- ****************** The World War One Flying Ace ************************* * "I'll get you some day, Red Baron!" --- Snoopy | Jamie Lynn Smith * * "|!| !!! |!||! |||!!||! ||!|!||!|" --- Woodstock | CS ugrad at UCSB * ********************************* mail to snoopy@cornu.ucsb.edu ********* From karl@cheops.cis.ohio-state.edu Thu Nov 30 23:29:59 1989 From: karl@cheops.cis.ohio-state.edu (Karl Kleinpaste) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: Re: explanations (long!) and a toast. Date: 30 Nov 89 19:05:36 GMT Distribution: alt Organization: Ohio State Computer Science In-reply-to: n8946177@unicorn.WWU.EDU's message of 29 Nov 89 20:29:21 GMT Status: O The tall gent with the longish brown hair steps over to the bar, fishes in his wallet for a single, parks it on the bar. "A very cold DrPepper, ifyadontmind." A buck is an obscene price for a mere soft drink, but he doesn't care much for any form of alcohol, and besides, one is purchasing considerably more than a mere liquid when in Mike's place. He takes the DrP, settles into an out-of-the-way chair by himself, and slouches over the table, staring at the fire. He doesn't drink the DrP yet - just fiddles with the glass while staring. He's been pondering the words he saw from the blue-winged kitten for most of a day, placing them in juxtaposition against his own thoughts and the experiences of the last year. Y'see, the gent is a foster parent. He's been doing this for a year, and has already had 5 kids go through his home. It's been feeling like there's a @#$% revolving door on the house. And seeing the kitten's words about home-as-hell rather hit home for himself, and he's found that it's very hard to read those sorts of things without taking some time out for himself in dark, quiet corners for a bit. He prays a little and remembers... ...the 3-yr-old girl so badly nourished that she was smaller than his own not-that-big 2-year-old, and whose front teeth had literally rotted to death in place...the 8-month-old boy whose babysitter called in a suspected abuse case due to the burns on his chest and arms...little Tommy, born with cocaine in his blood and marijuana in his urine, taken from his mother at birth, spent the first 4 months in a foster home that was not a whole lot better, that family losing its foster license with him in their "care"; at least he could be pleased with how well Tommy progressed while in his own home...the 4-year-old girl found wandering the streets late on a weekend night, who had to be comforted a long time while she cried herself to sleep for 2 nights before her parents were found...the 3-year-old girl placed in the foster system yet again, her 3rd time already... So many things. So many bad things. It seems that it even begins to get hard to remember which was which at times. It's so hard at times...so hard to look at them and see what has happened to them. So hard to watch them go, especially after they've been around a couple of months. At least he can still see Tommy when he wants; his adoptive mother is happy to have the gent's family come by from time to time... He hasn't had to deal with a sexual abuse case yet. Yet. He will - it's just a given - the only question is when it'll happen. He's not happy about the prospect. But he knows he'll get through it when it happens...somehow. He spends a lot of time in prayer over such things. Finally, he straightens, then stands up. "To children; may they all find mommies and daddies who really care; and may the Lord help me help those who haven't found 'em yet." Prayer comes in many forms. Never, ever underestimate the gent's ability to drain a DrP in a hurry. He sits back down...lays his head in his crossed arms on the table...falls asleep...gads, he's tired, so very tired... From stadnism@clutx.clarkson.edu Thu Nov 30 23:30:00 1989 From: stadnism@clutx.clarkson.edu (Steven Stadnicki,9B23 Woodstock,2680000,5186432664) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: A Toast Date: 30 Nov 89 19:17:27 GMT Reply-To: stadnism@clutx.clarkson.edu Organization: Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY Status: O Something of some (minor) importance to me, and a toast to it: For those who can hear me, and those who can't: "To visual news!" <*boink*> Specifically, to the news servers around here, which seem to get things to some places, but not others. I'm making a request now, one that's going to be a pain in the ass to some people (including me), but which is important to me: will everyone who sees this please try and send me e-mail? I'm asking because I'd like to know who can see me, and who can't. If not many people can, I may have to start posting through someone, in which case there may be another annoying request like this soon... Steven Stadnicki stadnism@clutx.clarkson.edu stadnism@clutx.bitnet To Jen, and Austin, and Gilly, and everyone else who knows what I mean: Home is where your friends are. From nlp@vu-vlsi.Villanova.EDU Thu Nov 30 23:30:00 1989 From: nlp@vu-vlsi.Villanova.EDU (Nick Pine) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: A Toast Date: 30 Nov 89 13:44:51 GMT Reply-To: nlp@vu-vlsi.UUCP (Nick Pine) Distribution: alt Organization: Villanova Univ. EE Dept. Status: O The troll bursts in and orders a pint of Old Peculier, which he slorches down. He spins on his heel and winds up and flings the flagon into the fireplace, where it explodes [slow motion] into a thousand streaks of light, which vanish, along with the troll, in rivulets of smoke, briefly forming these words in the air: * To Truth! May we fail to tell it more often! * Nick (rutgers!vu-vlsi!nlp? Nothing from you yet, Gilly...) (Who finds himself having spoken the truth lately, more often than he would really like to have done.) From hammer@pawl.rpi.edu Thu Nov 30 23:30:01 1989 From: hammer@pawl.rpi.edu (James A. Damour) Newsgroups: alt.callahans Subject: Re: Request for Personal Info About Posters Date: 30 Nov 89 20:35:58 GMT Followup-To: article 220 Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY Keywords: age, hobbies, et al Summary: basic info on yours truely Status: O Allright, I'm game to give personal stats, why not? name: James Alfred Damour hobbies: sf books, rp/board- games, SCA, discussing poly-dimensional geometries job: only during the summers (work at King's Dominion, and amusement park) age: 19 sex: mail height: 5'6"(I think) weight: 140-150 (not sure) hair: brown (and in desperate need of a trim :) eyes: ditto (and also nearsighted, use glasses (they keep hair out of eyes :)) favorite food: most anything in large quantities that don' come from cafeteria favorite music: later Floyd, Queen, Styx, CCR favorite movies: Ladyhawke, Princess Bride, Parenthood, Enemy Mine college: RPI (as above) major: math (applied, NOT pure... I want to do things that MEAN something) location: Troy, NY (near Albany) typical condition: generally clueless, but willing to help Is that what you wanted? BTW, would you prefer to be called Jamie, Snoopy, or something completely different? James Damour hammer@pawl.rpi.edu