My Comments

Candy Is A Man's Disease by victortouche

Excellent

Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Hello old "imposition on the planet". I'm not really back after a two year hiatus but to re-new my membership was the only way I could access my portfolio, my novel in particular and I'm thinking of working on it again. You haven't lost your disarming and charming sarcastic tongue in cheek (I think), way with words and I for one admire witty sarcasm. There is such boyish appeal in this post Victor and though I don't lump myself in the same basket as the average woman, none of us can resist this trait in a man. I am trying to write this non-review with a broken wrist so I will just say that whilst I have no intention of being active on the site, I couldn't resist saying hello to my very virile Victor. I must say that I agree with you that it takes time to learn about "the bees" and by the time you do, you can't be bothered buzzing around the way you used to though having said that, "candy" isn't just a "man's disease". I like to look too only now, the young buffed man I'm admiring just sees his grandmother. Oh dear. Lovely to chat with you Sir Victor. You are one of the very few 'old' names I still see on the site so Mr Irresistible, I couldn't resist. The Blue Pixel aka Carol

Comment Written by the blue pixel on 17-Aug-2016

The World Is Big by adewpearl

Excellent

The insignificance of we mere mortals, in all our magnificence, be we big people or little people such as Sawyer, is beautifully illustrated in this delightful poem Brooke. Reading your work I am reminded that if I don't start writing poetry soon, I will lose whatever ability I have or had so thank you for the lesson in conveying an undeniable, wonderful message within the framework of that little thing we call a poem. That little thing is one of the greatest things in life as you well know and by the way, Australians ONLY say "aren't" with one syllable but I do know how, (I think) how New Yorkers say it, or instance. I can't imagine there are any accents out there in FanStory land that wouldn't read your words with great ease and admiration. I know I always have and always will. It feels good to be reviewing you again. I hope all is well in your world. Much love, Carol

Comment Written by the blue pixel on 13-Apr-2015

When a Poet Writes by MissMerri
Chapter 47 of the book Love Songs For Every Heart

Excellent

Hello my old friend. I don't know why I chose your new offering to review after having reviewed nothing and not even logging onto the site for so long but seeing your name in my inbox made me smile and directed me to your own smiling face and then, (if memory serves me correctly), your envelope poem. LOVE the rhyme scheme. I am sure that the best poetry we write is written when we write it just for ourselves and if someone else happens to be peeking, then that's great, of course. The truth in my words cannot be disputed in my humble opinion and considering there are so many poems written about why we write or just poets in general, you have managed the nigh on impossible and that is to write something unique in its content. It was beautifully written and sang to me for sure. Loved it. Thank you for stirring the old poetess in me. I hope you and yours are very well. Much love, Carol (Pix)

Comment Written by the blue pixel on 13-Apr-2015

reply by the author on 20-Apr-2015

Well... I'm certainly slow! I hope you are still around to see this! I loved hearing from you, and before I could get all my responses written, I had to take my broken computer to the Geek Squad to be repaired. They kept it a long time! Anyway, I am so honored that you would read this and give it such a splendid review. Thank you for taking the time to tell me your thoughts. I'm delighted that the poetess in you was stirred. That's what this is all about, right? Love, Adonn

reply by the blue pixel on 24-Apr-2015

If you think you are slow, then I have been living in a snail's house so to speak. Again I logged onto FS and I never know why I choose any given time and I usually find a reason that I'm glad that I did. You are that reason for the second time in a row. I still can't seem to put fingertips to keyboard and I have decided to stop worrying about it. It will happen if and when it happens. I want to congratulate you once again for coming up with something original on a subject all of us have addressed at some time. You were always a sweetie in my eyes and you still are and yes, "it" is all about stirring the poet in us all as you said in your reply to me. No doubt, I will talk to you again. Keep well and happy Adonna. Love, Carol

reply by the blue pixel on 24-Apr-2015

Leap by adewpearl

Excellent

Short sweet, definitely to the point and a very clear point at that and your poem is the very definition of an epigram Brook, only in perfectly rhymed and timed poetry. All criteria have been met in every way. Your home truth was expressed in both a clever and amusing way and where epigrams are concerned, I couldn't ask for me. Well done my friend. xx Carol

Comment Written by the blue pixel on 27-Sep-2014

Aphorism 4 by MissMerri

Excellent

A bird in the hand or in this case, on the thumb, is worth two in the bush?? LOL I just came across this post when I finally logged onto FS Adonna after such a long time. What a clever girl you are. You are probably wondering where on earth I came from suddenly and I don't think I told you but I lost my mum 8 weeks ago just 9 months after dad so my head and heart have definitely been elsewhere and I have no poetry in me and wonder if I ever shall. Still, I very occasionally log on just to see what is happening and I did re-new my membership just in case I become creative again. That should explain my absence but as for your riddle in a poem? I loved it but this supposed to be a review so the writing was clean and expertly rhymed and timed and I thought the way you revealed the 'truth' within your poem was excellent and very very clever. I hope you are well and forgive me if I do a disappearing act again but at least now you know why. Much love, Carol

Comment Written by the blue pixel on 27-Sep-2014

Silence by kiwisteveh

Exceptional

This work has reached the exceptional level

I neither know the rules applicable to the Naani nor do I particularly care Steve when I read your beautiful words. They are made more so by the fact that I know I have witnessed a similar sad scene or two, in my travels. Perhaps I have even sent this same message out to passers by myself when feeling alone. "Smiles a desperate plea" is immaculate use of the English language if I may use such a clumsy expression. The indifference of many people to the painful loneliness of others as well as the isolation of your hero longing for some human acknowledgement is keenly felt in your work. Best of luck to you in the contest. I loved it. xx Carol

Comment Written by the blue pixel on 20-Sep-2014

Explosion! by tfawcus

Excellent

Dear Tony,
not being au fait with the Naani form though it is not new to me, I appreciate your author's notes. I have total confidence in excepting that you have the rules down perfectly though I can almost imagine you felt it a shame that you felt obliged to explain your very clever final sentence with its double meaning. I loved the writing in your notes as much as I did your post. Best of luck to you in the contest.
Regards, Carol

Comment Written by the blue pixel on 20-Sep-2014

Doc Martin by Father Flaps

Excellent

Dear Kimbob,
It is entirely fortuitous that I happened upon this big tick of approval for one of my favourite shows, Doc Martin. I say fortuitous as it is rare that I even log onto the site these days but I'm glad that I did as it motivated me to write to you via this most interesting post. I never would have thought have using a post to share my interest in a television series but your writing was such that it will certainly pique the interest of others and therefore, your post is a successful piece of writing in my eyes. When I saw the actor who so brilliantly portrayed the good Doctor in another part entirely, I was pleased to see that the gentleman could indeed smile and wasn't really as shut down as he appears in the British series. He keeps to his peculiar characterization so effectively and wonderfully annoyingly all the same time, I was beginning to wonder how the man himself 'really' was.

Being filmed I believe, in Cornwall, only heightened the charm of this series. Thank you for reminding me of Doc Martin and also that I was very overdue to say hello to you so hello dear friend and I hope I find you well. In the meantime, I totally concur with you that this programme is the best of British.
Love, Carol

Comment Written by the blue pixel on 20-Sep-2014

reply by the author on 21-Sep-2014

Hi Carol,
How are you? It's so nice to hear from you, my very dear and favourite Aussie.
Yes, Martin Clunes did a piece on the British islands, and he actually seemed normal! He must be a very good actor.
He describes himself as "jug ears and child-bearing lips". He loves his role since he gets to be rough with the elderly, violent with children, and generally rude to everyone. I always wonder what outrageous thing he will say or do next! He is married to the producer, Philippa Braithwaite.
I want to go to Port Isaac so badly. I think I want to live there! I've always wanted to visit some castles, and castle ruins especially, someday. So now I can kill two birds with one stone if I ever get enough money together, and if I get the nerve to fly across the Atlantic Ocean.
My life is good, except for increasing aches and pains as I age. I'm still working at the drug store, and actually took this last week off. This was my first week off since I started at Lawtons last December. And I've worked a lot this summer! Taking the place of those full-timers going on their vacations.
We are enjoying our granddaughter, Alyssa, who just turned 9 months on the 16th of September. She's a sweetie-pie.
I'm playing guitar again this year with the worship team.
My youngest son & I put a new bathroom in at the summer cottage, so now the whole interior is re-done. Looks great!
And I'm trying to write a bit. But I need a new computer, chair, and desk...badly!
I can't forget the NFL... This is week #3 already, and I'm tied for first place in the pool at Moosehead... (they still let me in). I love football.
It's so nice to hear from you. You're getting into Spring there, while we are preparing for Fall. Nippy now at night, and in the early morning. But September is always beautiful.
BBBig Hugs!!!

your friend,
Kimbob

p.s. Thanks for the wonderful review, and generous gift of stars!

reply by the blue pixel on 27-Sep-2014

What a lovely reply and so newsy as always. Your life sounds very busy and fulfilled, just the way it ought to be. My friend, if I get up the courage to fly all the way from Australia to Canada to Seattle and various stops down the West Coast, over to New York and down to Maryland where little sister lives then over to Europe finishing with a train under the English Channel then the longest flight known to man (no kidding) from Heathrow back home via L.A., Auckland and back home (phew) - then YOU can fly across the Atlantic. lol I am not a great flyer believe me but it is all a matter of how much you want something. England is absolutely gorgeous. I especially went over there to see the Cotswalds which includes Bath and Oxford and much more. I know you would love it. It gave me the travelling itch though come to think of it, I have had that since my first visit to my sister in Maryland in 1991. It took a long time to scratch that itch. If nothing else, I will definitely be travelling to visit my sister and hopefully get to see more of the U.S. I fell in love with it first time around as I did Canada. I hope you make it Kimbob. It's hard to believe how old Alyssa is already. Time flies when they are so young and we are at the other end. You know I admire you for working. I think it is terrific and would do you and anyone, the world of good both physically and mentally. Enjoy the fruits of your labours you and your son put into your summer cottage. It is wonderfully satisfying doing that kind of thing yourself, especially with your own child. You mention the NFL. Well yesterday, which just happened to be my 66th birthday, it was our Aussie Rules Football Grand Final and fortunately, David's best mate (and best man at our wedding) had a win for his team. In this country, though soccer and Rugby League and Rugby Union in some parts is growing in popularity due to our multi-cultural society, Aussie Rule is still the only game for most of us. My team hasn't performed too well for such a long time but our time will come again. In our football, people only remember the winner. Second place is forgotten so quickly it's quite crazy. I know in some sports, the winner is the team that won most games throughout the year but not in Aussie Rules Football. It's a bit cruel if you are on the losing side but when you win it's so fantastic. Our Melbourne Cricket Ground is one of the largest sports ovals in the world I believe holding some 100,000 people. Perhaps that has been beaten somewhere else in the world these days but it is quite a spectacle over here. Tom Jones sang as did Olivia Newton John with whom I went to school and even sang with when I was earning my living that way. Anyway, it was a great day and my friends even celebrated my birthday with me which was so special as that doesn't happen for me. I don't mean to sound like I'm throwing myself a pity party. It's just the way it has always been but yesterday was terrific and I danced putting women half my age to shame. I love it. It's getting nippy for you whilst for me, of course Spring has begun and with it, the wind. It really is awful hayfever season over here but I'm not too bad at the moment. Typical Melbourne which is said to have four seasons in one day has gone from cold enough to have the heating on to pretty warm and later on it wouldn't surprise me if it rained.

reply by the blue pixel on 27-Sep-2014

I guess my laptop got sick of me going on and on and sent off my reply without my express permsission. lol It's a touchy little thing but I think I covered everything. I am so glad to hear you sounding so good and happy and positive. I hop that it is always that way for you. Mum has been gone 8 weeks now and still I have absolutely nothing to say poetry wise. It's quite strange really to go from having to write all the time to not even thinking about it really but that's the way it is. I have plans to sell my house and move to what is really a retirement village but it's not as gloomy as it sounds. It's a community with so many things to do and the one we like is in a beach suburb close to where I used to live but while my older sister and I wait the obligatory 6 months for any creditors (of which there are none) to come out of the woodwork, we, as Executors of Mum's affairs, just have to wait. We are both crossing our fingers and anything else that we can cross that that other sister of ours in Australia doesn't start making demands against Mum's Estate as she did with our father's and I am a little nervous but hopeful that she will have the sense to just wait. My parents were both so careful and thorough, they made everything so easy for us and to be honest with you, whilst I am still in a holding pattern so to speak, I sometimes can almost kid myself that Mum is still here. It's still hard for me to believe which made sitting in front of a lawyer and signing papers was very difficult and made everything very real. Well, so much for just saying good-bye to you my friend but I will do that now before I think of something else to say to you. Keep well and happy and I'm quite serious. If you the get the opportunity to travel over the pond, please take it. You will not regret it. I know that you are not even thinking of coming to Australia. We really are at the other end of the world but if you ever do, you had better let me know about it or you will be in trouble. lol I would love to meet you and you know that. Take care, good care of yourself Kimbob and I will write to you again. Thanks again for your lovely letter. I always enjoy hearing about your life. Much love, Carol

Glass Half Full by tfawcus

Excellent

A little optimism is just what I need at the moment and this cute little poem with even cuter hero, hit the mark, told from an animals point of view using a technique I appreciated and using a very clever paradox regarding two different types of glasses - one literal, the other, figurative. I had trouble reading the fourth line, first stanza in the established metre and and being Australian too, I didn't think I could be putting the emphasis in a different place than you Tony but I just couldn't get this line to read the same as the rest and I really tried. In doing so, I saw the difficulty incorporating the words "without fail". "His life is good and cannot fail" is one possibility I suppose and please forgive me for saying so, but I believe your poem, regardless of its cute brevity, deserves something more "Tony like" than "without fail". (I have probably just lost a friend but I hope not).

I don't for a moment mean for you to substitute your judgement for mine but may I suggest the following for your consideration. It changes your final line and even the end rhyme in the third so anyway, with my apologies, here goes:

Madrid today is forty-two
Too hot for me -- Pablito, too.
While I complain, he wags his rear
To fail's not in this dog's career.............. (or something along these lines).

Perhaps your poem is an illustration of how using the same number of syllables in every line, does not guarantee a smooth metre and perhaps, this review is an example of Blue Pixel arrogance and obsession with timing but in any event,
I don't see the point in reviewing anything other than honestly. I always hope never to offend but just to offer another way of looking at your own words and thoughts. I will doubtless regret sending this to you especially as you are a such a fine poet but it is just my opinion. I think you will understand what I am trying to say very clumsily. I know you will being a glass half full kind of guy. lol x Carol

Comment Written by the blue pixel on 23-Aug-2014

Shadow Dance by adewpearl

Excellent

Hi Brooke. Thank you again for your message on my homepage. I truly appreciate it. I have had no poetry inside of me for the longest time and maybe I never will but I am trying to review just a little and as always, you have delighted me. This time with more of 'Sawyer's' wisdom through your eyes and pen. Shadows truly are an amazing phenomenon and a child must truly be in awe of his/her little black self always following behind when the sun is shining. 'Sawyer' asks a very good question about where his shadow goes when the sun disappears but regardless of the answer to that question, he just knows, without questioning it, that he and his shadow are inseparable. That is another of the wonderful things about children. They know when NOT to ask questions but just accept. Perhaps that is a similar thing to having faith but you know I am not the expert on that kind of thing. It felt very good to be reading your poetry again my friend for I can be rather lazy and not actually critique it and it also reminded me that some things DO stay the same even though my world otherwise feels very different now. Something huge and irreplaceable is missing but your poetry remains comforting and wonderful to read and I have missed it. xx Carol

Comment Written by the blue pixel on 16-Aug-2014