To the providers.

How about anouncing when your sober so we can ignore what you say as that would be an abnormal state of mind.:>) Originally Posted by perdido

What a thing to say to someone.

Why Marcus your welcome - you live up to your chosen board handle name - who was one of the last five good emperors

Cheers ! Originally Posted by MissCallieYork

There are never enough GOOD emperors.

I meant it of course. Without you ladies my life would be shades of gray. Originally Posted by Marcus Aurelius

I feel the same about the men in my life. I have never been a big fan of gray, I am a black and white kinda gal.

Agreed! Grey is a compromise. There is no flame in a shade of grey.
Glad you're feeling some fire, Marcus!

Agreed! Grey is a compromise. There is no flame in a shade of grey.
Glad you're feeling some fire, Marcus! Originally Posted by LynetteMarie

True enough. Yet, sometimes a little touch of grey can be good when you have been getting burnt from the extremes... just not for too long because you might end up being a dead head.

Agreed! Grey is a compromise. There is no flame in a shade of grey.
Glad you're feeling some fire, Marcus! Originally Posted by LynetteMarie

Oh that breaks my heart! A sharp contrast to my abstract philosophy. Gray is the color of wisdom!

I do not see a world of black and white, but a million shades of gray that whirl about, changing, shifting, dancing like smoke through the air.

I welcome compromise, because it is an act partnership.

I see only shades of gray - the world of black and white is too stark, too empty of subtlety, it is cruel and unforgiving. Like the beautiful softness of of old photos, it is the mixing of black and white, the endless grays that allow for stunning intricate complexity. We are all so unique, each life with it's own distinct whirl wind of circumstance, fate and choice, that most cannot fall into darkness or light. It would be like trying to pull a camel through the eye of a needle.

In a world of black and white there is only right and wrong. A harsh strike cannot be the act of passion, hungrily received. A soft kiss cannot be an act of cruelty that leaves one broken under the weight of desire.

Did you know in many ancient cultures throughout the globe that twilight, this beautiful misty place between night and day, was considered mysterious and powerful?

Come Marcus, dance through the twilight and learn to love the gray, feel it's magic through your veins.

Today there is no day or night
Today there is no dark or light.
Today there is no black or white
Only shades of gray.



I recently saw a lovely play "The Fall of Heaven". A black man in Harlem is killed in a travesty of justice and standing before St. Peter, before the gates of Heaven, he is sentenced:

"Go To Hell!" booms the Godly voice.

"No!" answered the tempest.

And so heaven itself is put on trial! It's cruel judgments of right and wrong, blind to shades of gray, tested when the angel Joshua is forced to live amongst mortals. He finds joys that even all the powers of heaven cannot bestow, but the imperfect "everyman" has created in this domain.

I see only shades of gray - the world of black and white is too stark, too empty of subtlety, it is cruel and unforgiving. Originally Posted by Lauren Summerhill

I couldn't agree more. In a black and white world there is no room to be able to pick yourself up and try again at life.
Thanks for a great post.

Ah Lauren! I need to welcome you to "The Music of the Night"

Ah Lauren! I need to welcome you to "The Music of the Night" Originally Posted by John Bull

One of my favorite songs:

I have brought you to the seat of sweet music's throne ...
to this kingdom where all must pay homage to music ...
music...

You have come here, for one purpose, and one alone ...
I first heard you sing,
I have needed you with me, to serve me, to sing, for my music ...
my music ...

Night-time sharpens, heightens each sensation ...
Darkness stirs and wakes imagination ...
Silently the senses abandon thier defences ...

Slowly, gently night unfurls its splendour ...
Grasp it, sense it - tremulous and tender ...
Turn your face away from the garish light of day,
turn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light -
and listen to the music of the night ...

Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams!
Purge your thoughts of the life you knew before!
Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar!
And you'll live as you've never lived before ...

Softly, deftly, music shall surround you ...
Feel it, hear it, closing in around you ...
Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind,
in this darkness which you know you cannot fight -
the darkness of the music of the night.

Let your mind start a journey through a strange, new world!
Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before!
Let your soul
Take you where you long to be!
Only then can you belong to me ...

Floating, falling, sweet intoxication!
Touch me, trust me, savour each sensation!
Let the dream begin,
let your darker side give in to the power of
the music that I write - the power of the music of the night ...

You alone can make my song take flight -
help me make the music of the night ...

Me, too. On my MP3 player...along with the whole album.

Phantom was the first theatrical event that I ever witnessed. I was 14 and deeply moved, I was immediately helplessly in love with live performance.

I just saw it in Dallas last night. AMAZING as the first time I saw it. I THINK I'm up to about 10 times now. BRAVO!!!

London, front row balcony center, Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman.

I prefer this song:

In sleep he sang to me
In dreams he came
That voice which calls to me
And speaks my name
And do I dream again?
For now I find
The phantom of the opera is there,
Inside my mind

Sing once again with me
Our strange duet
My power over you
Grows stronger yet
And though you turn from me
to glance behind
The phantom of the opera is there
Inside your mind

Those who have seen your face
Draw back in fear
I am the mask you wear

It's me they hear

My/Your spirit and my/your voice
In one combined
The phantom of the opera is there
inside my/your mind

Is that the phantom of the opera?
Beware the phantom of the opera

In all your fantasies you always knew
That man and mystery

Were both in you

And in this labrinth
Where night is blind
The Phantom of the opera is here/there

Inside my mind

Sing, my Angel of Music!

He's there,
the Phantom of the Opera . .

We LOVE you MA.
If a man could be a muse, than you would be one too.
You have inspired poetry and music.
See what you've done, it is beautiful.

Colette,
You have a heart and soul as beautiful as your image. I know all women tend to look at their physical being and see all their own flaws. We men only see the beauty that makes you, you. Our creator gave women the gift of man's vision and desire. It's other women that look and tear you asunder.


Back to this topic. No, it wasn't an alcohol induced stupor. I had the opportunity to get naked in front of 2 women at the same time for the very first time. Sorry for the bluntness and perceived images. Two local gals that are as sweet and friendly as you will ever meet. It was a most surreal experience. We talked the whole time through. Weather, online friends, foes etc. Giggling here and there. I had never met them before but we were suddenly old friends, lovers. A truly fascinating experience.