If you have to ask, you'll never know the answer.

Some of us put our lives out there for others to read, and other works on the web, for no monetary compensation whatsoever. Why?

If you have to ask, you'll never know the answer. It's a compulsion.

(Oh, by the way, speaking of compulsions, there probably won't be a new page up at MINDMISTRESS until tomorrow night. However, I have some new guest art from the author of LEGENDS OF ROVANA that combines Mindmistress with Lara Croft of TOMB RAIDER. Click on "Guest Art" and take a peek...)

Welcome to Lives On-Line, a monthly weblog/ezine that links to the best and most engrossing entries in the on-line journal community for the past month. I try to give preference to new journals, but this month, it's an intention more than an actuality.

All excellencies are the individual writers'; all deficiencies are mine, as editor, for picking them.

Humor:

"Considering Where and How to Put the Furniture Back, or I Don't Think So, Egon" discusses living spaces, comfortable bedding, and how despite what spam would make you think, you need instructions on getting a women out of bed, not getting a woman in bed...that's from the delightful OCCASIONAL MUSE.

The June 17th entry of PURE AS THE DRIVEN SLUSH talks about the frustration of getting an identification card, without identification. Hellish to live through, it's nevertheless delightful to read...

Go to the June 8th entry,"National Lampoon's Holy-Rollin' FluHaHa", of EVIL LESBIAN MEDIA WHORE'S JOURNAL for a most unfun vacation. Some people say adventure is bad times occuring to people far, far, away. I say that's the definition of comedy, and offer that as evidence. But then, perhaps I'm a subconscious sadist...

And I think The June 16th entry of DIARY OF A SLUT deserves it for the episode at Canadian Immigration alone.

Drama:

The leaving (and entering) of life in increments...in "My Grandad" from HEAVEN AND WOOLWORTHS'.

"Goodbye to You"---sometimes leaving is the worst thing that can happen, both to the one leaving, and the one who leaves. That from JENFU, the former OM MANI PADME HUM.

"The Dreamer in Me"---the desire to be a parent, the realities of coping with spina bifida, and a person caught between. That's from JOHN'S BLAHTHINGS.

Slice-of-life:

"Cheloniana" is a delightful little slice-of-life where the writer finds out he hasn't the sense God gave a turtle...at least according to his wife. That's from TALES FROM THE HANDBASKET.

"Seeing" delightfully explores the joy of exploring along places not found on maps, where you can go--if you're not afraid of getting lost. That's from A CAT BY ANY OTHER NAME.

"Super Late" shares a child's first word, the Buddy Christ from DOGMA (I too have a copy), and Spider-Man. What more could you want? Oh, and worries about being...late. That's from JUDY'S JOURNAL.

Miscellaneous:

"The Story From the Other Seat" is about Southwest Airlines' policy of charging large customers for two seats on a flight---and the embrassment of asking for a belt extender....and what being uncomfortable in a flight is really all about. That's from OUT TO LUNCH IS A STATE OF MIND.

On a related subject, "Beauty" expresses the contrast between idealizations of beauty and real life---and how to be satisfied with being---yourself---instead of wasting your life wishing to be something you're not. That's from FLY AWAY.

"The Politics of Body Hair" talks about the real gender gap---the way the sexes differ in how they treat body hair. That's from CRY ME A DIGITAL RIVER.

"Can Suzanne Somers Be Far Behind?"---of many things, of marijuana posession by senior citizens and former stars, of changing standards and increased airport vigilance. That's from COOL MINT BLUE. (BTW, there is one glaring mistake in it, as the author admits. See if you can find it.)

That's all for now. Be here next month for some more---compulsive idiots, running before the bulls of criticism and voyeurism---for some more Lives On Line.