Welcome to Lives On-Line: a curious mixture of a weblog and an ezine, I pick out what I consider to be the best journal entries of the last month, and link to them, seperated by category.

I give preference to journals I haven't linked to before. I'm just the editor, picking from a long line of gems; it is the individual writers who deserve all the credit.

I generally only take entries from the seventh of last month to the seventh of this month. Yet for one entry in the "dramatic" section I made an exception, for it was the beginning of a series.

Comedy:

Well, where you see chaos, she sees opportunity. "Acanit's Guide to Driving" teaches the ins and outs of driving like a cosmopolitan maniac. That's from THE SEX PISTOLS ARE ALIVE AND WELL AND LIVING IN SOHATSENANGO. You also might peruse "Driving Lesson".

"Baby Steps and Big Footprints" examines a very, very different driving lesson. That's from LOBBY LU.

Confession time, as in deep, deep, really deep dark secrets, in "My Cup is On the Table" and admits she really, really likes a Group That Shall Not be Named. Oh, and maligns another journaller, SARCASTIC AH, while she does it. That's from the ever-entertaining KISMET.

Ah, timing. We all suck at it. Just ask the writer of "Trying on my Saloon Girl Costume, When My Customer Drove In" from CYNICAL MOTHER DOLES OUT CHOCOLATE.

Drama:

"I Am...Mourning My People" talked about mourning the number of secretaries, like herself, who died in the WTC collapses. That's from I AM....

Sometimes a "committment" isn't a good thing. Read "The Trip" and read how the road to her hell was paved with good intentions. Then follow it with "White Girls" and "The Music Room" and "Congratulations, Miss Thockmorton, and Welcome." That's from the eloquent---and courageous, an irresistable combination in a journaller---C. THROCKMORTON...and if you read no other entries tonight--- read those.

"I regret I have but two breasts to give for my country"---that could go in either humor or drama, but when you have a sadistic mammogram operator, I think that qualifies as dramatic...that's from WEETABIX, one of the few returnees this month.

Slice-of-life:

In "Gun Monkey" Yuhri demonstrates her proficiency with the gun, and offers some interesting advice on how men can share a feminine experience. Also, she repeatedly ignores requests to leave out something, good for her. That's from the always-entertaining FAULTY VISION.

"I AM...Remembering a New York Moment" is a charming look at the impromptu street theatre of New York. That's from I AM....

Life in another part of the world we're intersted in: "Karachi II" and "Karachi III". That's from ADVENTURES IN TASHKENT. You also might check out "My Weekend" and "My Weekend II" and "Samarkand"...and experience vicarious world travelling.

In "Been a While..." chronicles visits from other journallers and a talk by Neil Gaiman, Harlan Ellison, and Peter David. That's from SARCASTIC AH.

"A Day in Four Parts"---a day of pleasure, recalled. From IT'S NOT GOING TO STOP.

Miscellaneous:

"Hallow'een" describes how the scariest thing he saw all day was someone doing a workout, even drinking out of a water fountain, still talking on a cellphone. That's from AMBIVELENT ATTITUDES.

Another scary thing, of clueless and illiterate customers meeting the Queen of Customer Disservice. "Smile, or Limit One Per Person" is a prime example why "the customer is always right" is a bald-faced lie, and we all know it. That's from THE DAILY JUICE.

Even more scary---car repairs, riding the bus and ummm...toilet seats to clean. "Bollocks on the Bus/Everybody Poops" would scare anybody. That's from BOLLOCKS.

Ah, and here is the ultimate horror---taking the baby trick-or-treating for the first time. That's "Wolf The Scary Monster" from LA-THE-SAGE.

Well, that's enough for now. Be with me next month for some more delightfully personal glimpses---- into the prism of people's lives.