To: Oliver Kurland [ rkurls @ pdc.com]
From:  Thomas Moorfield
Sent: Saturday, 9:24 am

Hey Oliver,

Look at me, catching the early worm again - this time  because I want to get
to The End in time to go for a proper ride this evening - feeling a bit
boxed in with everything, and I think a few hours with nothing to worry about
more than the burn in my thighs would be a good thing.

And thank you for the random note yesterday - I got it just as they were
throwing us out of the labs, so I didn't have a chance to reply, but it made
me smile.

> > > God, I'm sorry.  I said I'd be around most of the day and then all
> > > hell broke loose at work.
> >
> > You don't need to apologise, you know? You do have things to do
> > *other* than keep me entertained, I know this ;)
> >
> > Plot world domination for one ;)
>
> Ah yes, we can't forget the Master Plan.  Though I'm willing to ditch
> world domination in favour of entertaining you, to tell the truth.

I'm torn between 'you say the sweetest things' and 'I'm not that high
maintenance!' :P

> You can still wear the leather trousers for me, though.  :-)  Mmmmmm
> leather trousers and nothing else.......
>
> Sorry, brain shut off there for a moment.

That really does something for you, doesn't it?  [Files this away in 'useful
information']

> How's your work coming?  Good day?  Good ride?

Got stuck trying to untangle my arguments, and ended up staying here till
they threw us out. I'll get there - and I've promised myself a proper ride,
in actual daylight, for later.

> > >I spent my day in a tiny, hot room with four other
> > > people, trying to decide which project to cut.
> > >
> > > God, I hate that.
> >
> > <snip the detail>
> >
> > That's got to be hard - a lack of money is a dangerous thing. Does it
> > make you feel any better to think that what they do, and the work that *you*
> > do means that however many other projects do happen?
>
> Yeah, it does, and I have some good news on that front--after two days of
> manipulating numbers and weighing cost/human benefits etc etc the guys in
> charge (and I had *nothing* to do with this) decided to scale back two
> projects instead of eliminating one for the other, so people will have
> fresh water this year, and hopefully a new library next year.  Yay!

Cool :) - That is good news.

> > I should probably say something sensible [she's pleased for you? Worried
> > that I'm some foreign Lothario destined to break your heart? Given you
> > her blessing?] but I'm kinda stuck on the puppy thing ;) - For the sake of
> > my sanity tell me she doesn't picture you as a cocker spaniel - lie
> > if you have to.
>
> LOL!  I told her you were a nice guy and hard working.  I'm sure she
> thinks you're some studly construction worker or something, instead of a hot
> student, but that's all right.  And definitely no spaniels.  My eyes
> aren't that big and sorrowful--I'm a happy puppy. :P

Wriggling and wagging your tail - and oh, God that sounds bad ...

> *bounce 'cause I know something you don't know*  Er...because I haven't
> told you....
>
> Right.
>
> And I probably shouldn't tell you until it's for sure, which means Monday
> morning at the earliest.  (But it's possible I might be getting another
> trip to London is the trip trading goes the way I want it to.)

It’s really hard typing with your fingers crossed - hoping it works out
though :D

> > > Maybe we can work our way up to a weekly phone call or something.  :-)
> >
> > That would be - that would be wonderful.  Except for the part where the
> > phone bills arrive. I'm going to stuff that thought back into the
> > closet.
>
> Um, remember me?  The guy in the suit, with the corporate job?  I can
> handle the phone bill.  :-)  You can pay me back by cooking for me in New
> Zealand. :P

It seems kind of rude to assume that you're going to pay for stuff - don't
for heaven's sake think I'm trying to talk you out of phoning me though! And
if you invite me to New Zealand, cooking is a small token of gratitude ;P

Um - while we're on the subject? The Brecon's trip is my treat, ok?

> > That would be great; full stop.
>
> Yup.  It would.  :-D

Yup ;D

> > > I cooked.
> > >
> > > *proud grin*
> >
> > The shock! The horror!  ;P  Go you! - No firemen this time?
>
> Nope, just me!  I did *good*!

Yay - well done.  :)

> > Sorry - didn't get the bike last night - he was wanting £100 for it,
> > which is a little bit more than I really have - and it needed a new front
> > wheel, new tyres, and probably new break cables - the connections looked really
> > dodgy, and I just don't have the cash for the parts, or the time to play
> > Bike-Surgeon.  Plus he lived *miles* from any bus route. Total waste of
> > evening, really.
>
> Man, that just bites.  What a...well, you said it wasn't a total waste,
> but still.  Not like there wasn't other stuff you could have done with your
> evening.

If the advert had been a bit more - forthcoming - I could have saved myself
the trip. Still - there are worse things than sitting on the river bank, it
must be said.

> > However, I did go see one this morning, and I am now the proud owner of
> > a bike once again - it's cheap, it's not pretty, but it runs, and
> > it's a poly frame, so it's not a total tank. And most importantly it's
> > in a condition where I rode it home from the guy's house. I want to re-wrap the
> > handlebars, and give it a once over with the WD40, but that's mostly me
> > fussing.
>
> I can just see you making it all pretty.  LOL

Pretty. Right.  I'll settle for 'unlikely to rust and dump me in front of a
lorry'.

> >  > Maybe 'puppy' was accurate.   Huh.
> >
> > Golden Retriever maybe? :P
>
> Oh, loyal to a fault and will do anything for a good belly rub.
>
> Uh... let me think on this.

This is me with one eyebrow raised smiling at you.

You make a cute puppy. I'd pet you.

> > > Nope, and I'm going with you not minding either.  Told Janet your
> > > first name--she kept calling you 'Brit boy' and I had to stop her.  :P  Say
> > > hi back to Becka for me.  ;-)
> >
> > *smiles* I will do, and I'm grinning again, that you *want* to give out
> > my name to your colleagues ;).
>
> "Tom?  His name is ‘Tom'?  Why is your name more old fashioned and stuffy
> than his?"
>
> Janet's thinking is a little weird.  :P

What was she hoping for? Montgomery Pettigrew the Third?   [Oliver doesn't
seem like a stuffy name - although the other Oliver I know is an Oli - how
do you keep people from shortening it? I mean - it's a natural instinct,
isn’t it?]

> And yeah, I want to tell every body your name.  /insert puppy bouncing
> here.

;D

> > > Worst case is that I'll not be doing business trips to London in a
> > > year. Best case (making a huge presumption on you staying there and wanting me
> > > around) is that I could transfer in.
> >
> > Ah - yeah.  [wafting over the assumptions simply because they're
> > not anything controllable] - yes, I quite see why you want to keep an eye
> > on the project. Or not-project.
>
> Still digging, haven't found anybody that knows anything at all yet.
> Which just means that *nothing* is going to happen for months.

The status quo is working out ok so far, right?

> > > I like what little I’ve seen of London--I usually fly in for a week,
> > > spend four days working then have a day or two half days to myself.
> > > Honestly? Three of the times I've been I spent my half days sleeping, and the
> > > rest (full days) were spent walking around, seeing all the really typical
> > > American-in-London things--Westminster Abbey, Big Ben----that sort of
> > > thing. You wanna show me the London you know?  I'd love that.
> >
> > Yeah - I think I do :D - that and get you out to the country, to climb
> > something.
>
> Wonderful!  Yeah, wanna climb something.  :D

This is me having the sudden inability to say *anything* that isn't
practically a single entendre.

> > Double figures.  That’s all my pride will let me say.
>
> *beam*  Think you can hear my voice now if I tell you I miss you and I
> want to hold you?

Yes.

How come I’m missing you already, and I've never even  ... ok so 'had you'
is utterly not the right phrasing.

Miss you.  Want you.

> > I'm having evil thoughts. I probably *shouldn't* start looking around
> > charity shops for the ugliest, least hotel-like, knickknacks I can find
> > to burden you with, should I?
>
> LOL!  I'm always saying I should be bringing things back from all these
> trips, getting *something* in here that shows what I do.  :-)

Possibly a gold ceramic frog wasn’t what you were thinking of though. Ohh -
or teddy bears with plastic 'I Heart  London' banners ....

[Becka and I have a long running 'who can spot the most horrific bit of
Tourist tack' contest running. Three foot pink and blue fuzzy bears. Scared
the hell out of me]

> > CSI?
>
> Stands for Crime Scene Investigator.  It's, not surprisingly, about
> investigating crimes.  It's hard science as deduction, really neat.

That does sound kind of neat - and bizarrely enough like the sort of thing my
mum would like - I'll ask her if she's ever heard of it, if it made it to
the UK.

> > Check on the Buffy [Buffy for the Spike?]-
>
> Or the Xander, or the Giles, or the little bits of Wes from Season three,
> Angel in seasons one to three....I'm a bit of a Buffy slut.

Hee ;) - I always wanted to be with Oz - or possibly to *be* Oz - he was
just cool. Xander I can kind of see, but Giles and Angel? Maybe if you were
his age  - Giles I mean.

> > Although we don't have Sky, so I'm probably a gazillion season's behind,
> > and I can't watch Angel, which I don't think the BBC bought.
>
> So you haven't seen the 'new' Wes?  Glurble.

Um - 'new' Wesley?  I think I heard that he ended up being a regular on
Angel, right? I have no idea past that.

> > The other regular thing for me is Farscape -
>
> Have heard of it but haven't watched--didn't it get cancelled?

It did - but there's plenty of back-issues to watch - I really like it - the
future's insane and alien and not all 'peace perfect peace' and shiny space
stations. I guess in some ways it reminds me a bit of Red Dwarf - which is
another UK comedy thing you've probably never heard of - just with the sort
of 'spaceships are grimy, messy, real places' approach.

> Oh, and I watched Firefly, until it got cancelled too.  Joss Whedon, space cowboys.

Cool, and again - not here yet.  I'd watch it if it did show up though -
Joss Whedon, space cowboys - who wouldn't!

> > Mike watches Eastenders religiously - which is a British
> > soap - no idea if you have it in the US -
>
> We do, save us all.  *shiver*

My most heartfelt apologies on behalf of the British people.

> > If he was a book, I'd send you a copy.  If you get the chance - I
> > think he's great - I like Billy Connolly a lot to. Similar kind of
> > humour, I think.
>
> Wasn't Billy Connolly in an American show, years ago?  Scottish?

We'll have to find some way to edumacate you.  [Yes, I also have a regular
date with the Simpsons, which is more of an institution than a TV show - BBC
has shown Simpsons at 6 on weekdays since I was about 15.] - Scottish, yes,
and very cool. Quite possibly he's been on US TV - he's famous enough.

> > Hope so. It would certainly be easier on my Mum's nerves if he wasn’t feeding her
> > paranoia. It's not entirely him being malicious - it's just him being a twit.  [If I say it
> > often enough I might not kill him ...thus rendering myself unemployable
> > by most large companies.]
>
> Let me know how it's going, yeah?  Don't like to think about you having
> family stress on top of school.  Vent at me if it'll help.

It seems to flare up every now and again - it'll pass again. Becka reckons
at least part of it is my mum having 'empty nest' attacks about me finishing
University and leaving home really and for real, and Seth’s attention seeking.
He's got GCSE's this summer [that's the 16yr old public exams - sort of like
a HSD] so it might just be him taking out his stress on the world at large.
[Becka and I flew back to the UK the same day, and she stayed at my parents’
overnight, and has kept up with every little thing since, so she says she
feels like she knows them.]

The idea of a safe space to scream about it is a nice one though - hope I
won't need it, but - appreciated. It can’t be the easiest of subjects for
you - I know you said it was ok, but, still.

> And if I take over the world I'll let you be a henchman even if you off
> Seth; though most companies won't, you're right.

Yeah, but if you’re thinking of quitting the industry, I've got to keep my
options open, haven't I?

Speaking of which - that interview is Monday. [Perfect timing for me to have
to miss a class to go to it, but at least it's only a lecture, and Becka's
already promised me notes] This is the advertising company graduate track
thing - I can't remember if I already told you about it, when I first got
the letter?

Thing is, reading what you were saying about your job, I had one of those
real 'Doh!' moments : maybe I should be trying to angle my way towards going
into the charity sector. I had a quick look, and there seems to be a good
number of paid posts going, and I think it's the sort of environment I might
actually fit in to. I'm going to go in and register with Reed on Monday -
while I'm in central London suited and booted, I might as well - see if they
can put me forward for any likely sounding jobs.

> > Never into girls at all? - Not even as a teen?
>
> Nope.  Played Spin the Bottle once when I was about thirteen; the only
> time I ever kissed a girl.  Though I did wind up taking a girl to the prom--she
> asked me, she knew I wasn't going to be her 'boyfriend'...we just went,
> and danced and it was cool.

That's neat. I think most of my American friends had some sort of Traumatic
Prom Story - I think I'm glad it's not something that happens in UK schools.
Although some places are trying to start something similar - my brother's
school is.

> > Ahh school. Worst years of my life.
>
> Nod of head.  Sympathy.  Agreement.  All of that and more.

We both got out alive, and I don't entirely hate where it got me ... You
want to swap school stories, or draw a veil over the whole issue?

> > I'm not allowed to buy any new - well - new to me - books until I know
> > where the next cheque’s coming from. Or until finals are over and I
> > *need* to fill up on pulp - whichever comes sooner.
>
> But you can help me pick out stuff, yeah?

Bring a spare case ;P

> > > >  I didn't master chopsticks till I was 19,
> > >
> > > I, ummm....can't use them.
> > >
> > > > I've never eaten proper sushi, but
> > > > the supermarket stuff didn't impress me,
> > >
> > > I *love sashimi.  Yumma.
> >
> > Call me ignorant, but - how'd those two fit together?
>
> Which two?  Sashimi is the raw fish in the sushi without all the yicky
> rice and wrapping, and the chopsticks are only good for spearing stuff.  I'm an
> American, I can get away with eating raw fish with my fingers.  :P

I always assumed Sushi and chopsticks kind of went together, but - ok. No -
never tried raw fish. The idea is a little - weird.

> > > God, you're cute.
 >
> > *makes like a puppy*?
>
> Drooling?

I don't drool!

I might bounce and try and lick you ....

> > > *does not mention the Harry Potter glass wear collection in his
> > > kitchen or the Hogwarts wrist watch on his arm.*
> >
> > Cool - I didn't notice that [assuming you wear it all the time] -
> > um - did I just mortally offend?
>
> Nah, it's meant to look pretty spiffy--the watch face has a metal cover
> over it on hinges, with a engraved H.  The 12, 3, 6 and 9 are the crests from
> the four Houses.  It's *cool*.

I meant more about being critical about the films. ;) - The watch does sound
cool though - beats a boring fake Rolex.

> > > That's cool--I don't wear anything other than my watch, though I used
> > > to wear my class ring.
> >
> > Class ring as in a great big gold-and-stone carbuncle?
>
> Actually, it was plain, just a gold band with an oval flat surface
> engraved with the school seal.  Pretty nice looking.  People often took it for
> either a signet ring or a wedding band.

That sounds pretty nice, actually - most of the ones I saw in the US were
fugly things.  How come you don't wear it anymore?

> > I can imagine heavy silver jewellery - maybe a thumb ring - suiting your
> > hands.
>
> Thumb ring?  *Looks at hands*  Huh.  Never thought of that.  And silver?
> Hmmmm. I'll ponder that.

Maybe I should make a closer inspection, give you an opinion after some
study?

> > > You're...making me feel warm.
> >
> > Warning! Warning! Feedback loop locked and cycling!
> >
> > ['Cos yeah, that made me smile too ;)]
>
> We are bordering on pathetic.  :D :D

And yet, it keeps making me smile. ;P

> > > LOL!  Only one of them even comes close to being 'letching material'.
> > > But, have fun!
> >
> > Damn but you've got me curious now. I'll just have to be patient, won't
> > I?
>
> Uh huh.  >;-)

Is that your Evil Overlord smiley?

> > Um- whereabouts are you staying? I mean - what part of London?
>
> Um, in Mayfair?  The Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel.  Is that good?  I've
> never been there before.  At least, not that hotel.

No idea - sounds posh though - it's a pretty swanky area.

> > then home for another round with the Great Walt Whitman. Poetry is *not* my
> > strong point. I'm pretty confident about answering whatever comes
> > up on the novels, but - well - the tutor's given us the nudge that at
> > least one on WW is a shoo-in for the paper. Yay for the tip, boo for the
> > subject of the tip ...
>
> But at least you didn't talk yourself out of reading it and then winding
> up with not knowing any of it.  Um, did that make any sense?

I have to *try*, right?

> > At this rate, I'll have the main work done by the end of
> > Saturday, and then Sunday I try and proof read this monster, and Monday
> > I give it to Terry - that's my tutor - and hope I can fix what needs fixing before 3pm  next
> > Friday.
>
> Yay!  Go you!  Tell you what, get it all proofed by Sunday night and I’ll
> write you a present for Monday.  On this account.  If you want.  If you
> don't want, that's okay too.

You're not expecting me to take a moral stance on bribery, are you?

Please?

That - would be wonderful.

(See Tom, see Tom work.)

> > >  Let me know is you need me for anything.
> >
> > Need you to make me smile, need you to keep talking to me, need
> > you to not be a figment of my impending nervous breakdown ...
>
> M' here.  Smiling and being all puppy-ish.  And not a figment of anything.

That's good - that's very good.  - You're more than fulfilling your
smile-making quota :)

> I want you, Tom.  Want to climb with you, talk to you, make you tea if you
> want.  Want to touch your cheek when you sleep.

Oh.

Yes.

> I'm going to get the last of the laundry done and head to bed early.  I'm
> going to do apartment stuff tomorrow morning, then I'm headed downtown to
> have lunch in a cafe, by myself, with a book.  Maybe sit in the park and
> take in the sun.

Having a good day?  Hope the weather co-operated with your plans - that
sounds pretty good. Actually, if the weather holds I might go do a chunk of
proof reading in the park tomorrow.  What's the book of the day?

OK - I guess I should knuckle down to some work, try and get this thing
*done*.

Take care, and happy weekend ;)

Tom
*********
Remember : You are not a salmon.



To: Oliver Kurland [ rkurls @ pdc.com]
From:  Thomas Moorfield
Sent: Saturday, 1.06 pm

Hey Oliver,

Just a random note - all done, bar the conclusion, so I think I've earned a
break to go and find some coffee that doesn't have lumps of powder in it  -
just saying hi really - oh - utterly random Thing of the Day.

I always wanted a dog when I was a kid, but we never had pets.

We've sort of adopted a cat - or been adopted by a cat - at the house I'm in
now though - I hope it's not really a stray or it's going to starve when we
all leave, but it seems happy enough to munch our scraps and sit on the
front step when it's sunny, and hide in the porch when it's not. Ian called
it Murphy, because it's mostly black with white paws, like an upside down
pint.  Mind you one of the girls who lives two doors down seems to think
it's called Flump.

Right - coffee

T
*********
Remember : You are not a salmon.



To:  Thomas Moorfield
From: Oliver Kurland [rkurls @ pdc.com]
Sent: Saturday, 11:45pm

Hey you,

> Look at me, catching the early worm again - this time  because I
> want to get to The End in time to go for a proper ride this evening -
> feeling a bit boxed in with everything, and I think a few hours with nothing to
> worry about more than the burn in my thighs would be a good thing.

So how did it go?  Get to the end?  God, I hope so.  So much less stressful
when it's done and all you really need to do is make minor changes and proof
it.

Get a ride in?  I've been thinking more and more about getting a
bike--you've gotten me all hyped up for it.  :-)

> And thank you for the random note yesterday - I got it just as they were
> throwing us out of the labs, so I didn't have a chance to reply,
> but it made me smile.

Then it did what it was supposed to.  (I've got this stupid smile on.  I
feel like I'm...I dunno.  Sort of floaty and running around with a purr
trying to make its way out of my chest.  Do you know how often I think about
you?  How many times a day I see something and think "I should mention that
to Tom..." Then I get home, or to work, and it flies away.  Going to try to
add some of that stuff in here, I think.)

> > Ah yes, we can't forget the Master Plan.  Though I'm willing to ditch
> > world domination in favour of entertaining you, to tell the truth.
>
> I'm torn between 'you say the sweetest things' and 'I'm not that high
> maintenance!' :P

Heh.  ;-)

> > You can still wear the leather trousers for me, though.  :-)  Mmmmmm
> > leather trousers and nothing else.......
> >
> > Sorry, brain shut off there for a moment.
>
> That really does something for you, doesn't it?  [Files this away
> in 'useful information']

It seems to.  I didn't know it was this strong, it just keeps coming up.
And that looks/sounds really bad, so I'm just going to move along
here....can you tell where my thoughts have been straying this evening?  ;-)

> > How's your work coming?  Good day?  Good ride?
>
> Got stuck trying to untangle my arguments, and ended up staying here till
> they threw us out. I'll get there - and I've promised myself a
> proper ride, in actual daylight, for later.

Hope it worked out.

> > LOL!  I told her you were a nice guy and hard working.  I'm sure she
> > thinks you're some studly construction worker or something, instead of a
> > hot student, but that's all right.  And definitely no spaniels.  My eyes
> > aren't that big and sorrowful--I'm a happy puppy. :P
>
> Wriggling and wagging your tail - and oh, God that sounds bad ...

LOL!  (And *leer* for good measure.)

> > *bounce 'cause I know something you don't know*  Er...because I haven't
> > told you....
> >
> > Right.
> >
> > And I probably shouldn't tell you until it's for sure, which
> > means Monday morning at the earliest.  (But it's possible I might be
> > getting another trip to London is the trip trading goes the way I want it to.)
>
> It’s really hard typing with your fingers crossed - hoping it works out
> though :D

Oh man, this....would be so good.

> > Um, remember me?  The guy in the suit, with the corporate job?  I can
> > handle the phone bill.  :-)  You can pay me back by cooking for me in
> > New Zealand. :P
>
> It seems kind of rude to assume that you're going to pay for stuff - don't
> for heaven's sake think I'm trying to talk you out of phoning me
> though! And if you invite me to New Zealand, cooking is a small token of
> gratitude ;P
>
> Um - while we're on the subject? The Brecon's trip is my treat, ok?

Um.  Okay, here's where things might get...weirder.  I'm not sure I'm
comfortable with that.  You're a student, and you're not sure when you're
going to get your first pay cheque.   I appreciate the sentiment, trust me,
but I really don't want to add any stress on your finances. I've got a good
job.  I've got some money.  I...hell.

I'll pay the phone bills and let you pay for the Brecon's trip?  How does
that sound?

Oh!  And before I forget, I was thinking about you calling me collect--that
won't work if I'm not here, so you couldn't even leave a message on the
machine.  Grab a pen---

Call:  1-888-555-1259
At the prompt press: 12574698534
At the prompt for the PIN press:  3584
Dial my home or office number, and voila.  All charges go on my bill.

> > Man, that just bites.  What a...well, you said it wasn't a total waste,
> > but still.  Not like there wasn't other stuff you could have done with
> > your evening.
>
> If the advert had been a bit more - forthcoming - I could have
> saved myself the trip. Still - there are worse things than sitting on the
> river bank, it must be said.
>
> > > However, I did go see one this morning, and I am now the
> > > proud owner of a bike once again - it's cheap, it's not pretty, but it
> > > runs, and it's a poly frame, so it's not a total tank. And most importantly it's
> > > in a condition where I rode it home from the guy's house. I want to
> > > re-wrap the handlebars, and give it a once over with the WD40, but that's
> > > mostly me fussing.
> >
> > I can just see you making it all pretty.  LOL
>
> Pretty. Right.  I'll settle for 'unlikely to rust and dump me in
> front of a lorry'.

I can still see it.  You take care of your things.  And please, don't get
dumped in front of trucks.  That wouldn't make me happy.

> > > Golden Retriever maybe? :P
> >
> > Oh, loyal to a fault and will do anything for a good belly rub.
> >
> > Uh... let me think on this.
>
> This is me with one eyebrow raised smiling at you.
>
> You make a cute puppy. I'd pet you.

I'm hoping. ;-)

> > "Tom?  His name is 'Tom'?  Why is your name more old fashioned
> > and stuffy than his?"
> >
> > Janet's thinking is a little weird.  :P
>
> What was she hoping for? Montgomery Pettigrew the Third?
> [Oliver doesn't seem like a stuffy name - although the other Oliver I know
> is an Oli - how do you keep people from shortening it? I mean - it's a natural instinct,
> isn’t it?]

When I was really young I got 'Liver' a lot.  But when people started on Oli
my parents just corrected them until it sank in.  By the time I left home
and went to University people just called me what I introduced myself as.

And Montgomery Pettigrew the Third was just the sort of thing she figured a
proper Englishman should be called.  :P  I told her not all Englishmen were
proper and she gave me that confused look that melted into TMI territory.  I
laughed.  :P

> > Still digging, haven't found anybody that knows anything at all yet.
> > Which just means that *nothing* is going to happen for months.
>
> The status quo is working out ok so far, right?

Seems to be.  :-)  Be nice to...well.  I'll know on Monday.

> > > Yeah - I think I do :D - That and get you out to the country, to climb
> > > something.
> >
> > Wonderful!  Yeah, wanna climb something.  :D
>
> This is me having the sudden inability to say *anything* that isn't
> practically a single entendre.

I'm not even going to bother.  Want you, Tom.  Very badly, at the moment.

> > *beam*  Think you can hear my voice now if I tell you I miss you and I
> > want to hold you?
>
> Yes.
>
> How come I’m missing you already, and I've never even  ... ok so 'had you'
> is utterly not the right phrasing.
>
> Miss you.  Want you.

God.  Okay, I need to go for a couple of minutes.  And I don't know why I'm
telling you that, you're just going to read on, and it'll be like I never
left.  But I'm hard and I want you and I'm going to go for a few minutes.

> > LOL!  I'm always saying I should be bringing things back from all these
> > trips, getting *something* in here that shows what I do.  :-)
>
> Possibly a gold ceramic frog wasn’t what you were thinking of
> though. Ohh - or teddy bears with plastic 'I Heart  London' banners ....
>
> [Becka and I have a long running 'who can spot the most horrific bit of
> Tourist tack' contest running. Three foot pink and blue fuzzy
> bears. Scared the hell out of me]

Okay, that sounds fun, and neat, and now I'm worried about what you could
actually find.  :P

Dare you.

> > > Check on the Buffy [Buffy for the Spike?]-
> >
> > Or the Xander, or the Giles, or the little bits of Wes from
> > Season three, Angel in seasons one to three....I'm a bit of a Buffy
> > slut.
>
> Hee ;) - I always wanted to be with Oz - or possibly to *be* Oz - he was
> just cool. Xander I can kind of see, but Giles and Angel? Maybe
> if you were his age  - Giles I mean.

See, I liked Oz as a character--he was just *neat* and funny.  Angel as
Angelus was so cool.  Loved the Spike and Angel stuff, and you just know
they’re doing it.  :P  Giles....I like the accent.

Ahem.

> > So you haven't seen the 'new' Wes?  Glurble.
>
> Um - 'new' Wesley?  I think I heard that he ended up being a regular on
> Angel, right? I have no idea past that.

He's roughened up.  Toughened up.

He wears leather on occasion and doesn't shave as often as he should.

And he's so in love with Angel. :P

> > > The other regular thing for me is Farscape -
> >
> > Have heard of it but haven't watched--didn't it get cancelled?
>
> It did - but there's plenty of back-issues to watch - I really
> like it - the future's insane and alien and not all 'peace perfect peace'
> and shiny space stations. I guess in some ways it reminds me a bit of Red
> Dwarf - which is another UK comedy thing you've probably never heard of - just
> with the sort of 'spaceships are grimy, messy, real places' approach.

I think *everyone* has heard of Red Dwarf.  :P  I'll see if I can find it on
tape.

> > Oh, and I watched Firefly, until it got cancelled too.  Joss Whedon,
> > space cowboys.
>
> Cool, and again - not here yet.  I'd watch it if it did show up though -
> Joss Whedon, space cowboys - who wouldn't!

That would be my point.  :-)

> > Wasn't Billy Connolly in an American show, years ago?  Scottish?
>
> We'll have to find some way to edumacate you.  [Yes, I also have a regular
> date with the Simpsons, which is more of an institution than a TV
> show - BBC has shown Simpsons at 6 on weekdays since I was about 15.] -
> Scottish, yes, and very cool. Quite possibly he's been on US TV - he's
> famous enough.

Simpsons.  Remember the one when Homer thought a Japanese company was using
him for a logo?  The words 'fish bulb' make me laugh so hard I get the
hiccups.

> > Let me know how it's going, yeah?  Don't like to think about you having
> > family stress on top of school.  Vent at me if it'll help.
>
> The idea of a safe space to scream about it is a nice one though - hope I
> won't need it, but - appreciated. It can’t be the easiest of subjects for
> you - I know you said it was ok, but, still.

I'm here.  It's okay, vent away.  Who knows?  I may go off about my own
mother sometime.  Lucky you. ;-)

> > And if I take over the world I'll let you be a henchman even if you off
> > Seth; though most companies won't, you're right.
>
> Yeah, but if you’re thinking of quitting the industry, I've got to keep my
> options open, haven't I?

True.

> Speaking of which - that interview is Monday. [Perfect timing for
> me to have to miss a class to go to it, but at least it's only a lecture,
> and Becka's already promised me notes] This is the advertising company graduate track
> thing - I can't remember if I already told you about it, when I first got
> the letter?

No!  Yay you!  I'll be thinking of you, hoping for the best.

> Thing is, reading what you were saying about your job, I had one of those
> real 'Doh!' moments : maybe I should be trying to angle my way
> towards going into the charity sector. I had a quick look, and there seem
> to be a good number of paid posts going, and I think it's the sort of
> environment I might actually fit in to. I'm going to go in and register
> with Reed on Monday - while I'm in central London suited and booted, I might as well -
> see if they can put me forward for any likely sounding jobs.

And again, yay you!  Never hurt to check it out.

(Has Tom in suit moment.  Mmmm.)

> That's neat. I think most of my American friends had some sort of
> Traumatic Prom Story - I think I'm glad it's not something that happens in
> UK schools Although some places are trying to start something similar - my
> brother's school is.

Horrible things, proms.  Money, dates, pressure, months of planning...and
something *always* goes wrong.

> > > Ahh school.  Worst years of my life.
> >
> > Nod of head.  Sympathy.  Agreement.  All of that and more.
>
> We both got out alive, and I don't entirely hate where it got me ...  you
> want to swap school stories, or  draw a veil over the whole issue?

High school consisted of a lot of  pressure to ask girls out, to hang out
with the 'right' people, to fit in.  Constantly hiding who I was, not sure
who to trust....a lot of time spent dodging looks and whispers.  I wasn't
terribly unpopular--I mean people liked me, I wasn't an outcast or anything,
but I was just nice enough that by the time my senior year rolled around
people were starting to wonder why I wasn't dating anyone, wasn't chasing
after some girl or other.

So I came out to a few friends, and that was...okay.  Not terrible, anyway,
No one freaked out, no one tried to threaten me or beat me up.  By the time
graduation came around (maybe four months after I told my friends?) most of
the school knew, and things were getting tense.  I didn't go to my prom,
went to Stacy's at a different school; graduated and got on with my life.

Of course there are all sorts of stories about what people said to me, about
the way the guys in gym class acted, but...rather leave it for the night.
:-)

> I always assumed Sushi and chopsticks kind of went together, but
> - ok. No - never tried raw fish. The idea is a little - weird.

Mmmm good.  You'll like.  :-)  Or not.  :P

> > > *makes like a puppy*?
> >
> > Drooling?
>
> I don't drool!
>
> I might bounce and try and lick you ....

Please do.  :-)  (See how much calmer I am now?  Though, thinking about you
licking will have me going away again, so I'll just move on, shall I?)

> > Nah, it's meant to look pretty spiffy--the watch face has a metal cover
> > over it on hinges, with a engraved H.  The 12, 3, 6 and 9 are the crests
> > from the four Houses.  It's *cool*.
>
> I meant more about being critical about the films. ;) - The watch
> does sound cool though - beats a boring fake Rolex.

I just outed myself as a real geek, didn't I?

> > Actually, it was plain, just a gold band with an oval flat surface
> > engraved with the school seal.  Pretty nice looking.  People often took
> > it for either a signet ring or a wedding band.
>
> That sounds pretty nice, actually - most of the ones I saw in the US were
> fugly things.  How come you don't wear it anymore?

I can't actually find it.  Peter might have it.

> > Thumb ring?  *Looks at hands*  Huh.  Never thought of that.  And silver?
> > Hmmmm. I'll ponder that.
>
> Maybe I should make a closer inspection, give you an opinion after some
> study?

Feel free to inspect and study any part of me you want.

> > > Damn but you've got me curious now. I'll just have to be
> > > patient, won't I?
> >
> > Uh huh.  >;-)
>
> Is that your Evil Overlord smiley?

Yup.  Like it?

> > Yay!  Go you!  Tell you what, get it all proofed by Sunday night and I’ll
> > write you a present for Monday.  On this account.  If you want.  If you
> > don't want, that's okay too.
>
> You're not expecting me to take a moral stance on bribery, are you?
>
> Please?
>
> That - would be wonderful.
>
> (See Tom, see Tom work.)

(See Oliver start planning porn.)

> > I want you, Tom.  Want to climb with you, talk to you, make you
> > tea if you want.  Want to touch your cheek when you sleep.
>
> Oh.
>
> Yes.

Yes.

> Having a good day?  Hope the weather co-operated with your plans - that
> sounds pretty good. Actually, if the weather holds I might go do
> a chunk of proof reading in the park tomorrow.  What's the book of the
> day?

Actually, I wound up in magazines today.

Went to this tiny little place that has about three tables inside and ten
out, sat in the sun and drank iced tea while I did pencil puzzles--I suck at
crosswords, but other word games, like mazes and grids and such I really
like.  So I did that for a bit, and eavesdropped on conversations...there is
a man somewhere in this city getting proposed to by a lovely woman with
honey blonde hair.  She was excited and nervous, and her girl friends all
insisted he'd say yes.  I hope he does, which is dumb--I don't know them,
don't know her--but she just sort of glowed.

I saw a skater fall and break his nose--his friends were all very calm, just
picked him up, climbed into a cab and headed to the hospital.

I saw a dog chase a cat, who turned around and swiped him across the nose.
Which wouldn't be worth mentioning, except the cat was wearing a blue collar
with metal studs.  Which wouldn't be worth mentioning except the guy who had
the cat? Also had on a blue collar with metal studs.  :P

Ummm.   Getting late, Going to go to bed very soon.

Thank you for the random e-mail.  :-)  Made me smile.

Miss you.

Want you.

Talk tomorrow.  You proof, I'll clean, and...just take care of yourself,
yeah?

Oliver.



To : Oliver Kurland [rkurls @ pdc.com]
From : Thomas Moorfield
Sent: Sunday, 5.06pm

*Phew*

So, many hours, three lattes, one trip to Tesco's to get picnic style
munchies, and two red pens later ....  not quite done, but it's just a case
of copying across the corrections. Proofreading in the park and then the
coffee shop makes a definite break from this hell-spawned library building.
Thank you for the good idea ;)

> So how did it go?  Get to the end?  God, I hope so.  So much less
> stressful when it's done and all you really need to do is make minor changes and
> proof it.

I did - well - didn’t actually type 'The End' but - reaching it was good, and
I'm feeling pretty satisfied with it today. I'll probably start panicking
when I think about Terry picking it up tomorrow. I get my exam timetable
then, too. After I interview.  I think it might be a stressy sort of a day
all round really.

> Get a ride in?  I've been thinking more and more about getting a
> bike--you've gotten me all hyped up for it.  :-)

I did - was out for just over three hours - came home, fell in the bath,
[screamed like a girl when Ian walked in on me, seeing as I had no idea he
was home ....  not sure who was more embarrassed, him or me] crawled into bed
and just slept like a log. I think I needed that.

Even if you never get to ride anywhere wilder than the local parks - I'm
pushing for the bike idea. If the gym's so boring, why use it when you don't
have to?

> > And thank you for the random note yesterday - I got it just as they were
> > throwing us out of the labs, so I didn't have a chance to reply,
> > but it made me smile.
>
> Then it did what it was supposed to.  (I've got this stupid smile on.  I
> feel like I'm...I dunno.  Sort of floaty and running around with a purr
> trying to make its way out of my chest.  Do you know how often I think
> about you?  How many times a day I see something and think "I should mention
> that to Tom..." Then I get home, or to work, and it flies away.  Going to try to
> add some of that stuff in here, I think.)

That whole grinning feedback loop thing is looming again. Random observations
of your day are cool ;) Being thought of is - again - cool. And warm and
happy.

> > > LOL!  I told her you were a nice guy and hard working.  I'm sure she
> > > thinks you're some studly construction worker or something, instead of
> > > a hot student, but that's all right.  And definitely no spaniels.  My eyes
> > > aren't that big and sorrowful--I'm a happy puppy. :P
> >
> > Wriggling and wagging your tail - and oh, God that sounds bad ...
>
> LOL!  (And *leer* for good measure.)

This is me shooting for innocence and failing - you'll just have to imagine
me leering back ;)

> > > Um, remember me?  The guy in the suit, with the corporate job?  I can
> > > handle the phone bill.  :-)  You can pay me back by cooking for me in
> > >  New Zealand. :P
> >
> > It seems kind of rude to assume that you're going to pay for stuff -
> > don't for heaven's sake think I'm trying to talk you out of phoning me
> > though! And if you invite me to New Zealand, cooking is a small token of
> > gratitude ;P
> >
> > Um - while we're on the subject? The Brecon's trip is my treat, ok?
>
> Um.  Okay, here's where things might get...weirder.  I'm not sure I'm
> comfortable with that.  You're a student, and you're not sure when you're
> going to get your first pay cheque.   I appreciate the sentiment, trust
> me, but I really don't want to add any stress on your finances. I've got a
> good job.  I've got some money.  I...hell.

 I'm not really in a position to argue, am I?

Wish I could afford to insist on going Dutch, but - realistically - I'm not.
Chose not to get a job this year and concentrate on my studies, so
everything's pretty much budgeted down to the bone, but at the same time ...
I want to talk to you - want all sorts of things - and if you can, and you
want to - that would be good. Everything'll change again once I land a job
though. Promise.

> I'll pay the phone bills and let you pay for the Brecon's trip?  How does
> that sound?

That sounds about as close to fair as circumstances will allow ;)

> Oh!  And before I forget, I was thinking about you calling me
> collect--that won't work if I'm not here, so you couldn't even leave a message on the
> machine.  Grab a pen---
>
> Call:  1-888-555-1259
> At the prompt press: 12574698534
> At the prompt for the PIN press:  3584
> Dial my home or office number, and voila.  All charges go on my bill.

I guess you do trust me, huh? That’s - that's really cool of you. Thank you.
I won't take advantage.

Um - unless you want me to - to the extent of me ringing *you* I mean - not
making conference calls to Bali or anything.

> > Pretty. Right.  I'll settle for 'unlikely to rust and dump me in
> > front of a lorry'.
>
> I can still see it.  You take care of your things.  And please, don't get
> dumped in front of trucks.  That wouldn't make me happy.

I shall do my best to avoid getting up close and personal with any road
vehicles, however scary finals get ;)

> > You make a cute puppy. I'd pet you.
>
> I'm hoping. ;-)

Promise.

> > > "Tom?  His name is 'Tom'?  Why is your name more old fashioned
> > > and stuffy than his?"
> > >
> > > Janet's thinking is a little weird.  :P
> >
> > What was she hoping for? Montgomery Pettigrew the Third?
> > [Oliver doesn't seem like a stuffy name - although the other Oliver I
> > know is an Oli - how do you keep people from shortening it? I mean - it's a natural
> > instinct, isn’t it?]
>
> When I was really young I got 'Liver' a lot.  But when people started on
> Oli my parents just corrected them until it sank in.  By the time I left home
> and went to University people just called me what I introduced myself as.

So *everyone* calls you Oliver? - even family and - did your ex have pet
names for you is probably *not* a question I should be asking. Sorry.
Think I can promise not to accidentally call you Liver though  - unless you
transform into a chocolate lab ;)

> And Montgomery Pettigrew the Third was just the sort of thing she figured
> a proper Englishman should be called.  :P  I told her not all Englishmen
> were proper and she gave me that confused look that melted into TMI territory.
> I laughed.  :P

Oh great - so I have a reputation to maintain already. ;) - She'd better not
be reading your emails!

> > This is me having the sudden inability to say *anything* that isn't
> > practically a single entendre.
>
> I'm not even going to bother.  Want you, Tom.  Very badly, at the moment.

Yes. Imagining you saying that. Yes.

> > > *beam*  Think you can hear my voice now if I tell you I miss you and I
> > > want to hold you?
> >
> > Yes.
> >
> > How come I’m missing you already, and I've never even  ... ok so 'had
> > you' is utterly not the right phrasing.
> >
> > Miss you.  Want you.
>
> God.  Okay, I need to go for a couple of minutes.  And I don't know why
> I'm telling you that, you're just going to read on, and it'll be like I never
> left.  But I'm hard and I want you and I'm going to go for a few minutes.

Because - not sure if I can do this with actual sentences and stuff, but I
think I know exactly what you mean, and yes.

> > > LOL!  I'm always saying I should be bringing things back from all
> > > these trips, getting *something* in here that shows what I do.  :-)
> >
> > Possibly a gold ceramic frog wasn’t what you were thinking of
> > though. Ohh - or teddy bears with plastic 'I Heart  London' banners ....
> >
> > [Becka and I have a long running 'who can spot the most horrific bit of
> > Tourist tack' contest running. Three foot pink and blue fuzzy
> > bears. Scared the hell out of me]
>
> Okay, that sounds fun, and neat, and now I'm worried about what you could
> actually find.  :P
>
> Dare you.

I have that in writing ;)

Although now I actually have to go into the Shops Of Bad Taste and *buy*
something. Eek.

> > > > Check on the Buffy [Buffy for the Spike?]-
> > >
> > > Or the Xander, or the Giles, or the little bits of Wes from
> > > Season three, Angel in seasons one to three....I'm a bit of a Buffy
> > > slut.
> >
> > Hee ;) - I always wanted to be with Oz - or possibly to *be* Oz - he was
> > just cool. Xander I can kind of see, but Giles and Angel? Maybe
> > if you were his age  - Giles I mean.
>
> See, I liked Oz as a character--he was just *neat* and funny.  Angel as
> Angelus was so cool.  Loved the Spike and Angel stuff, and you just know
> their doing it.  :P  Giles....I like the accent.
>
> Ahem.

Angelus mostly just hulked about though - didn't seem to quite live up to
his reputation, really. [For all that it would be eye candy, Spike and Dru
were / are so wonderful together - hard to imagine anyone else having a
chance.]

This is me giving the whole accent thing a wide berth - I don’t sound
remotely like him, you know?

 > > > So you haven't seen the 'new' Wes?  Glurble.
> >
> > Um - 'new' Wesley?  I think I heard that he ended up being a regular on
> > Angel, right? I have no idea past that.
>
> He's roughened up.  Toughened up.
>
> He wears leather on occasion and doesn't shave as often as he should.
>
> And he's so in love with Angel. :P

You're hopeless, aren't you? [This is me smiling, if you can't tell.]

> > I guess in some ways it reminds me a bit of Red
> > Dwarf - which is another UK comedy thing you've probably never heard of - just
> > with the sort of 'spaceships are grimy, messy, real places' approach.
>
> I think *everyone* has heard of Red Dwarf.  :P  I'll see if I can find it
> on tape.

Really? Cool. I remember ages ago hearing they made a pilot to do a US
version and the writers thought it was so awful they refused to sell the
rights - kinda cool to think it spread naturally, though.  They re-run it
every now and again, and it’s always good to catch - that and Blackadder,
and Northern Exposure.

> > > Wasn't Billy Connolly in an American show, years ago?  Scottish?
> >
> > We'll have to find some way to edumacate you.  [Yes, I also have a
> > regular date with the Simpsons, which is more of an institution than a TV
> > show - BBC has shown Simpsons at 6 on weekdays since I was about 15.] -
> > Scottish, yes, and very cool. Quite possibly he's been on US TV - he's
> > famous enough.
>
> Simpsons.  Remember the one when Homer thought a Japanese company was
> using him for a logo?  The words 'fish bulb' make me laugh so hard I get the
> hiccups.

*grins* - It's generally a good idea to try and get a grip about when your
ribs start to cause you pain ...

> > > Let me know how it's going, yeah?  Don't like to think about you
> > > having family stress on top of school.  Vent at me if it'll help.
> >
> > The idea of a safe space to scream about it is a nice one though - hope
> > I won't need it, but - appreciated. It can’t be the easiest of subjects
> > for you - I know you said it was ok, but, still.
>
> I'm here.  It's okay, vent away.  Who knows?  I may go off about my own
> mother sometime.  Lucky you. ;-)

I'll probably phone home some time this week - let them know I got my diss.
finished, and thank Dad for the bike. You want to tell me, I want to hear
it, ok?

> > Speaking of which - that interview is Monday. [Perfect timing for
> > me to have to miss a class to go to it, but at least it's only a
> > lecture, and Becka's already promised me notes] This is the advertising company graduate
> > track thing - I can't remember if I already told you about it, when I first
> > got the letter?
>
> No!  Yay you!  I'll be thinking of you, hoping for the best.

If I go into too much detail now, I'll start stressing on it again - I'll
let you know all about it tomorrow, ok?

> (Has Tom in suit moment.  Mmmm.)

I look like an idiot in a cheap suit ....  Just sayin'.

> > > > Ahh school.  Worst years of my life.
> > >
> > > Nod of head.  Sympathy.  Agreement.  All of that and more.
> >
> > We both got out alive, and I don't entirely hate where it got me ...
> > you want to swap school stories, or  draw a veil over the whole issue?
>
[trying to keep this a reasonable length]

> Of course there are all sorts of stories about what people said to me,
> about the way the guys in gym class acted, but...rather leave it for the night.
> :-)

That's fair enough - sounds - well - sounds a lot like mine, except for the
telling people part - I kind of kept that for sixth form college, which
weeded out at least some of the worst of the bullies. Peer pressure sucks
donkeys, but at least no one decided that gravel and scabs was the in look
this season.

> > I always assumed Sushi and chopsticks kind of went together, but
> > - ok. No - never tried raw fish. The idea is a little - weird.
>
> Mmmm good.  You'll like.  :-)  Or not.  :P

You say that like you're planning to - you are, aren't you?  Date-test by
raw fish?  I think that might, officially, be evil.

> I just outed myself as a real geek, didn't I?

I already confessed to the sad sci-fi thing, yeah?

> > > Thumb ring?  *Looks at hands*  Huh.  Never thought of that.  And
> > > silver? Hmmmm. I'll ponder that.
> >
> > Maybe I should make a closer inspection, give you an opinion after some
> > study?
>
> Feel free to inspect and study any part of me you want.

We're back in the realm of the single entendre again, aren’t we. ;D

> > > Uh huh.  >;-)
> >
> > Is that your Evil Overlord smiley?
>
> Yup.  Like it?

Evil.

> > That - would be wonderful.
> >
> > (See Tom, see Tom work.)
>
> (See Oliver start planning porn.)

(See Tom mere hours away from finishing his dissertation ...) (This is a
justified and planned break, m’kay.)

> Went to this tiny little place that has about three tables inside and ten
> out, sat in the sun and drank iced tea while I did pencil puzzles--I suck
> at crosswords, but other word games, like mazes and grids and such I really
> like.  So I did that for a bit, and eavesdropped on conversations...there
> is a man somewhere in this city getting proposed to by a lovely woman with
> honey blonde hair.  She was excited and nervous, and her girl friends all
> insisted he'd say yes.  I hope he does, which is dumb--I don't know them,
> don't know her--but she just sort of glowed.

That's cool - sounds like a good way to spend a day.  [Weird - you have
actual *weekends* when you don't have essays to write, or revisions to do or
reading that you *ought* to be doing even if actually you're sitting  around
watching crap on TV.] Well wishing interesting strangers isn’t weird - it’s
the mark of a sound mind. Says me.

> I saw a skater fall and break his nose--his friends were all very calm,
> just picked him up, climbed into a cab and headed to the hospital.

*ouch* - Although I like the sort of practised 'hey ho and off we go'
response.

> I saw a dog chase a cat, who turned around and swiped him across the nose.
> Which wouldn't be worth mentioning, except the cat was wearing a blue
> collar with metal studs.  Which wouldn't be worth mentioning except the guy who
> had the cat? Also had on a blue collar with metal studs.  :P

Hee - although - the cat had an owner? I mean - an identifiable owner?
That's actually almost weirder than the collars - which are cool.

> Thank you for the random e-mail.  :-)  Made me smile.

Mission accomplished.

> Talk tomorrow.  You proof, I'll clean, and...just take care of yourself,
> yeah?

Doing my best - like I said - a few more hours and this baby is *done* -
I'll send you a triumphant battle cry as I set out to wrestle the lab
printer, ok?

How's your day going?

Talk soon.

Tom.
*********
Remember : You are not a salmon.



To: Thomas Moorfield
From: Oliver Kurland [rkurls @ pdc.com]
Sent: Sunday, 3:02pm


> *Phew*
>
> So, many hours, three lattes, one trip to Tesco's to get picnic style
> munchies, and two red pens later ....  not quite done, but it's
> just a case of copying across the corrections. Proofreading in the park
> and then the coffee shop makes a definite break from this hell-spawned library
> building. Thank you for the good idea ;)

YAY!!  Good for you.  :D  And yeah, I always find getting out outside to do
things makes it a little easier.  :D

> I did - well - didn’t actually type 'The End' but - reaching it
> was good, and I'm feeling pretty satisfied with it today. I'll probably
> start panicking when I think about Terry picking it up tomorrow. I get my exam timetable
> then, too. After I interview.  I think it might be a stressy sort of a day
> all round really

Sounds like.  How many exams do you have, anyway?  

> > Get a ride in?  I've been thinking more and more about getting a
> > bike--you've gotten me all hyped up for it.  :-)
>
> I did - was out for just over three hours - came home, fell in the bath,
> [screamed like a girl when Ian walked in on me, seeing as I had no idea he
> was home ....  not sure who was more embarrassed, him or me]
> crawled into bed and just slept like a log. I think I needed that.

Ack!  Return of the roommates!  (LOL about him catching you in the tub
though.  :P  One thing I don't have to worry about.)

> Even if you never get to ride anywhere wilder than the local parks - I'm
> pushing for the bike idea. If the gym's so boring, why use it
> when you don't have to?

I think I might do a little research at some bike shops this week.  You
evil bike pusher you.

>  I'm not really in a position to argue, am I?
>
> Wish I could afford to insist on going Dutch, but - realistically
> - I'm not. Chose not to get a job this year and concentrate on my studies,
> so everything's pretty much budgeted down to the bone, but at the
> same time ... I want to talk to you - want all sorts of things - and if
> you can, and you want to - that would be good. Everything'll change again once I land a job
> though. Promise.

I'm not worried about it, Tom.  Honestly.  And if I thought you'd go for it
I'd insist on paying for the Brecon trip for us both too, but I don't think
you'd let me.

> > Oh!  And before I forget, I was thinking about you calling me
> > collect--that won't work if I'm not here, so you couldn't even leave a
> > message on the machine.  Grab a pen---
> >
> > Call:  1-888-555-1259
> > At the prompt press: 12574698534
> > At the prompt for the PIN press:  3584
> > Dial my home or office number, and voila.  All charges go on my bill.
>
> I guess you do trust me, huh? That’s - that's really cool of you.
> Thank you.
> I won't take advantage.

I do.  And I know you won't.

> Um - unless you want me to - to the extent of me ringing *you* I
> mean - not making conference calls to Bali or anything.

Yes, I want you to call me.

Twerp.  :-)

> > When I was really young I got 'Liver' a lot.  But when people started on
> > Oli my parents just corrected them until it sank in.  By the time I
> > left home and went to University people just called me what I introduced
> > myself as.
>
> So *everyone* calls you Oliver? - even family and - did your ex have pet
> names for you is probably *not* a question I should be asking. Sorry.
> Think I can promise not to accidentally call you Liver though  -
> unless you transform into a chocolate lab ;)

Yeah, everyone calls me Oliver.  :-)  Peter used to call me Juice once in a
while.  (My middle name is James, so I got all the O.J. jokes.)

> > God.  Okay, I need to go for a couple of minutes.  And I don't know why
> > I'm telling you that, you're just going to read on, and it'll be
> > like I never left.  But I'm hard and I want you and I'm going to go for
> > a few minutes.
>
> Because - not sure if I can do this with actual sentences and stuff, but I
> think I know exactly what you mean, and yes.

I don't know what to say here.  I want to say something, say it won't be
long now, but that's not quite true.  It makes me...honestly?  That you
think about me at all makes me happy.  That you want me sends me flying.

> > Okay, that sounds fun, and neat, and now I'm worried about what you could
> > actually find.  :P
> >
> > Dare you.
>
> I have that in writing ;)
>
> Although now I actually have to go into the Shops Of Bad Taste and *buy*
> something. Eek.

I have faith in you.  :-)  Stick to under five pounds.  :P  I've just
discovered that my keyboard doesn't have the symbol.  How stupid is that?

> > See, I liked Oz as a character--he was just *neat* and funny.  Angel as
> > Angelus was so cool.  Loved the Spike and Angel stuff, and you just know
> > their doing it.  :P  Giles....I like the accent.
> >
> > Ahem.
>
> Angelus mostly just hulked about though - didn't seem to quite live up to
> his reputation, really. [For all that it would be eye candy, Spike and Dru
> were / are so wonderful together - hard to imagine anyone else having a
> chance.]

Spike, Dru, Angel and Darla *all* slept together.  I swear, it's true.

> This is me giving the whole accent thing a wide berth - I don’t sound
> remotely like him, you know?

Yeah, I know.  :P  And he doesn't sound like Spike, though he does tend to
sound like Wes.

How can a country so small have so many accents?  Hell, how can London have
so many?

(I'm pretending there are no differences between Boston, New York, the
Midwest and Texas.  So there.  :P )

> > He wears leather on occasion and doesn't shave as often as he should.
> >
> > And he's so in love with Angel. :P
>
> You're hopeless, aren't you? [This is me smiling, if you can't tell.]

I think I may be, yes.  :P

> Really? Cool. I remember ages ago hearing they made a pilot to do a US
> version and the writers thought it was so awful they refused to sell the
> rights - kinda cool to think it spread naturally though.  They re-run it
> every now and again, and it’s always good to catch - that and Blackadder,
> and Northern Exposure.

*Love* Blackadder.  Only saw a few eps of Northern Exposure, though.

> > I'm here.  It's okay, vent away.  Who knows?  I may go off about my own
> > mother sometime.  Lucky you. ;-)
>
> I'll probably phone home some time this week - let them know I
> got my diss. finished, and thank Dad for the bike. You want to tell me, I
> want to hear it, ok?

If I need to, I will.  Thanks.

> > No!  Yay you!  I'll be thinking of you, hoping for the best.
>
> If I go into too much detail now, I'll start stressing on it again - I'll
> let you know all about it tomorrow, ok?

I'll be waiting.

Good luck, Tom.

> > (Has Tom in suit moment.  Mmmm.)
>
> I look like an idiot in a cheap suit ....  Just sayin'.

No, you don't.  And it didn't *look* cheap, even if it is.

> > > We both got out alive, and I don't entirely hate where it got me ...
> > > you want to swap school stories, or  draw a veil over the whole issue?
> >
> [trying to keep this a reasonable length]
>
> > Of course there are all sorts of stories about what people said to me,
> > about the way the guys in gym class acted, but...rather leave it for
> > the night. :-)
>
> That's fair enough - sounds - well - sounds a lot like mine,
> except for the telling people part - I kind of kept that for sixth form
> college, which weeded out at least some of the worst of the bullies. Peer pressure sucks
> donkeys, but at least no one decided that gravel and scabs was the in look
> this season.

You didn't tell *anyone*?  Wow.  I needed....I don't know. I guess I just
got to the point where I needed to tell someone, wanted someone outside of me
to accept it.

> > > I always assumed Sushi and chopsticks kind of went together, but
> > > - ok. No - never tried raw fish. The idea is a little - weird.
> >
> > Mmmm good.  You'll like.  :-)  Or not.  :P
>
> You say that like you're planning to - you are, aren't you?  Date-test by
> raw fish?  I think that might, officially, be evil.

Evil Overlord.  Keep it in mind.  :P

We can have cooked stuff, too.  :-)

> > > Maybe I should make a closer inspection, give you an opinion
> > > after some study?
> >
> > Feel free to inspect and study any part of me you want.
>
> We're back in the realm of the single entendre again, aren’t we. ;D

Oh yeah.  :P

> > > That - would be wonderful.
> > >
> > > (See Tom, see Tom work.)
> >
> > (See Oliver start planning porn.)
>
> (See Tom mere hours away from finishing his dissertation ...) (This is a
> justified and planned break, m’kay.)

(See Oliver start another e-mail shortly.)  Umm...I suggest you just print
it out and wait until you can get to your room.  Not that it'll be anything
award winning, but I fully intend to make it worth your time.

> > Went to this tiny little place that has about three tables inside and ten
> > out, sat in the sun and drank iced tea while I did pencil puzzles--I
> > suck at crosswords, but other word games, like mazes and grids and such I
> > really like.
<<stuff snipped>>

> That's cool - sounds like a good way to spend a day.  [Weird - you have
> actual *weekends* when you don't have essays to write, or
> revision to do or reading that you *ought* to be doing even if actually
> you're sitting  around watching crap on TV.] Well wishing interesting strangers
> isn’t weird - it’s the mark of a sound mind. Says me.

You will have weekends very soon.  Promise.  :-)

> > I saw a skater fall and break his nose--his friends were all very calm,
> > just picked him up, climbed into a cab and headed to the hospital.
>
> *ouch* - Although I like the sort of practised 'hey ho and off we go'
> response.

Yeah, that's what got me.  They just...took care of the problem.

> Hee - although - the cat had an owner? I mean - an identifiable owner?
> That's actually almost weirder than the collars - which are cool.

Yeah, this wasn't a stray, and it actually stuck pretty close to it's person
until the dog chased it.

Collars are cool?  Is this something I can explore?

> > Talk tomorrow.  You proof, I'll clean, and...just take care of yourself,
> > yeah?
>
> Doing my best - like I said - a few more hours and this baby is *done* -
> I'll send you a triumphant battle cry as I set out to wrestle the lab
> printer, ok?

Looking forward to it.  :-)

> How's your day going?

Pretty calm, actually.  It's pouring rain, so I didn't do much.  I planned
to go to the gym, but when I called about the wall they were full up, and the
pool is all lessons on Sundays.  So I watched some TV and dusted, and called
a few friends; tried to get a dinner organized for later in the week.
Decided I needed to learn to cook, so I watched FoodTV for a few hours--which
means "Oliver had a three hour nap", and then I scrubbed the bathroom.

God, I have no life.

Right.  I'm going to start that other one I promised you, and see if I can
get any early info on the trip trading.  Janet hates it when I call her at
home, so this should be fun.  :P  There's a good chance I'll have to buy her
lunch tomorrow.

Hope you finish up soon, Tom.  Treat yourself to something good tonight,
yeah?  You've got a lot to do tomorrow.

Smut coming up.....

Oliver



To : Oliver Kurland [rkurls @ pdc.com]
From :  Thomas Moorfield
Sent: Sunday, 6.46pm  

*drum roll please*

The Dissertation

Is

Complete

(This would be me taking a bow.)

The printer is churning away now, and then I'm going to take it across to
Terry's mailbox, go home, iron a shirt, steal some of the lad's takeaway
curry, and go to bed.

Tomorrow's interview is at ten, so effectively first thing - I've got a
seminar at two, so hopefully back on campus before then, and I have every
intention of looking hopefully for email during the day.

Take care, and - hope you're having a good day, and that Monday is nice to
you. [I don't really trust Mondays.]

Miss you.

Tom
*********
Remember : You are not a salmon.



To: Thomas Moorfield
From: Oliver Kurland [rkurls @ pdc.com]
Sent: Monday 7:30am


Hey you,

Congratulations!!  And--good luck today.

Uh, read this when you're alone.  Really.  I wrote it last night, but didn’t send it
off—wanted to get the official word. :-)  It’s….not something you want anyone
else to see, if you know what I mean.  I haven’t had the stones to read it over,
I’m kind of thinking that if I did I wouldn’t send it, so I’m just hitting send.  :P

********

Hope you finished up okay, and get some rest—I’ll be thinking of you tomorrow.

And I'm thinking of you now. It's strange, because I don't know what you
feel like.  I don't know if by this time of night your chin will have enough stubble
to scratch when you kiss me, don't even know how you kiss.  Are you gentle
and sweet, or do you demand?  Are you possessive, taking charge when you hold
me?  Does your touch linger or do you tease with fleeting touches that are
almost enough, but not--driving me crazy with need?

I can see you, though.  See the fire in your eyes, the hunger.  I can *almost* feel
your weight on me, pushing me down onto the bed.  I can almost feel the heat of
your body, the glide of your hand over my skin.

I want to touch you.  Want to unbutton your shirt and slide it off your
arms.  Want to kiss your neck and pull you closer, my hand on the small of
your back.  I'll push against you, trying to get closer as I lick your skin,
leave kisses along your collar bone.  I want to feel you hard against me,
want to move against your hips, keep us tightly together until we're
breathless, softly moaning as we rock together.

I'm hard, thinking about it, about holding you and feeling you.  I ache.

I'll rub you through your trousers, feel the length of your cock, feel how
hard you are for me.  When you're pushing into my hand, when you're getting
close, whispering for more, I'll unzip your trousers and reach for you, feel
you in my hand.  So hot and hard.  Trace you with my fingers, up and down,
tease my fingers over you, fondle your balls.  I'll push you, Tom.  Push you
over onto your back and lick my way down your body, tasting your skin while
I play with you.

Lick you, root to tip.  Long, wet licks, making you slick, making you beg for
more.  Nuzzle your balls and kiss the soft skin beside them, hear you
whimper.  I want to taste you, want to take you in my mouth and suck you,
feel you thrusting into my throat.

I'll tease you then, suck hard and back off, lick and taste and make you
wet, make you moan.  Then I'll tease your ass with my fingers, never quite
entering you, just circling and backing away.

Will you open for me, Tom?  Will you want more?  Will you hold my head and
push past my lips, feel me swallowing around you?

Will you come when I push my fingers into you?  Will you ride my fingers as
I suck you off?  Will you ask for more?  Want me in you, Tom?  Want me to
open you and take you?  God, I want you--want to watch your face when you
come for me, want to slide into your ass and feel you around me, see how hot
you are, hear you asking for more.

Want to fuck you, Tom.  Want to be in you, want to thrust into you and take
you with long, slow strokes that keep us both so close to the edge.  Want to
feel your legs around me, want to kiss you and make you cry out when I speed
up.  Want to pump your cock while I thrust, deeper and harder

Oh fuck

I...

Tom, I want you.  I just...God.  I can feel it, Tom.  Can feel you around
me, can feel you against my skin.  Can feel your body grasping at me.  I'm
sitting here stroking off, thinking about it.  Want to come, God, I have to.
Feel like I've been hard forever, feel like anything will set me off--

Want you in me.  Want you to take me, fuck me, want to fuck you, want to kiss you.

Gonna come soon.

I want...I want to be with you.  Want to sleep next to you, even for just
one night, say you will?  Want to...oh, God, harder and more and faster and
fuck now now now

Want you.


O.



To: Thomas Moorfield
From:  Oliver Kurland
Sent: Monday, 9:32am

Hey, hope your day is going great--

Did you get your exam schedule yet?

Let me know, and tell me how the interview went.

Miss you,

Oliver



To : Oliver Kurland [rkurls @ pdc.com]
From : Thomas Moorfield
Sent: Monday, 4:02pm

Hey Oliver,

I'm back, I'm alive, and I have my priorities straight - furtively printed
out the other email [with much standing guard over said printer, and without
reading] and - saving that for later.

> Sounds like.  How many exams do you have, anyway?  

Six - 3 hours a pop, on the 1st, 4th, 5th, 9th, 14th, and 16th of July.
Only one Saturday, and no doubles. Could be worse.

> Ack!  Return of the roommates!

Both back now - just as I'd got used to the quiet.  I'm bribing them to keep
the kitchen clean with the promise of cooking a proper dinner for everyone on
Friday.

> I think I might do a little research at some bike shops this week.  You
> evil bike pusher you.

*sucks teeth* Well, the first one’s cheap, you know, it's after that, when
the bug really hits ...

You want me to send links to a couple of manufacturers? Or you'd rather I
didn’t geek out about mountain bikes and let you pick something that you
might actually *use*?

> > Wish I could afford to insist on going Dutch, but - realistically
> > - I'm not. Chose not to get a job this year and concentrate on my
> > studies, so everything's pretty much budgeted down to the bone, but at the
> > same time ... I want to talk to you - want all sorts of things - and if
> > you can, and you want to - that would be good. Everything'll change again once I land a
> > job though. Promise.
>
> I'm not worried about it, Tom.  Honestly.  And if I thought you'd go for
> it I'd insist on paying for the Brecon trip for us both too, but I don't
> think you'd let me.

No - I wouldn't. Think of it as me asking you out on a [really odd] date,
after you invited me out for the first? Better?

> > Um - unless you want me to - to the extent of me ringing *you* I
> > mean - not making conference calls to Bali or anything.
>
> Yes, I want you to call me.
>
> Twerp.  :-)

I meant - do you want me to call you tonight?

> > So *everyone* calls you Oliver? - Even family and - did your ex have pet
> > names for you is probably *not* a question I should be asking. Sorry.
> > Think I can promise not to accidentally call you Liver though  -
> > unless you transform into a chocolate lab ;)
>
> Yeah, everyone calls me Oliver.  :-)  Peter used to call me Juice, once in
> a while.  (My middle name is James, so I got all the O.J. jokes.)

Fair enough. Alexander, by the way - and I might not respond, but I don't
kill you either if you call me Tam ;)

> I don't know what to say here.  I want to say something, say it won't be
> long now, but that's not quite true.  It makes me...honestly?  That you
> think about me at all makes me happy.  That you want me sends me flying.

God. Yes.

> > Although now I actually have to go into the Shops Of Bad Taste and *buy*
> > something. Eek.
>
> I have faith in you.  :-)  Stick to under five pounds.  :P  I've just
> discovered that my keyboard doesn't have the symbol.  How stupid is that?

That is kind of odd. You know someone's probably written a sociology thesis
on why UK keyboards have $ but US keyboards don’t have £.

> Spike, Dru, Angel and Darla *all* slept together.  I swear, it's true.

One big family bed of Vampires?

> > You're hopeless, aren't you? [this is me smiling, if you can't tell.]

[I'm just repeating that part, 'cos it's still true.]

> How can a country so small have so many accents?  Hell, how can London
> have so many?
>
> (I'm pretending there are no differences between Boston, New York, the
> Midwest and Texas.  So there.  :P )

Like the different parts of New York don’t sound different ;P

> > If I go into too much detail now, I'll start stressing on it again -
> > I'll let you know all about it tomorrow, ok?

> Good luck, Tom.

Thanks. Hope it took - that wasn't too bad. Kinda intimidating - four
interviewers and little old me, but I managed not to swear or to forget my
name, and I even dragged out a couple of vaguely relevant questions. It's a
graduate fast track programme, so it's pretty structured. I *really* don't
think I'm cut out to be an Ad exec, but they need client liaison / office
managers too, and the programme is geared for that as well. It's central
London - Soho, in fact - and the pay's decent-ish. (In that it looks good
from here, but it's not going to make me rich.) I was hoping it might be a
sort of laid back arty-farty kind of place, but - well - I'd be investing in
several suits. I can live with that. If they offer me a place - there's four
vacancies - I'd be stupid to say no.  Didn't have time to go into any
agencies though - they were pretty big on the whole 'First you shall wait,
little worms' thing - that or they were watching to see how we related to
each other. Eugh - they probably were. No point worrying now though. Wait
and see. Right?

> > > (Has Tom in suit moment.  Mmmm.)
> >
> > I look like an idiot in a cheap suit ....  Just sayin'.
>
> No, you don't.  And it didn't *look* cheap, even if it is.

Well, it felt like a lot of money, but - especially after today - it's a
cheap suit. I like that you don't think I looked like an idiot in it,
though. Feel a *little* overdressed for the computer labs, but I only just
made it back for my seminar, and I haven’t been home yet.

> > That's fair enough - sounds - well - sounds a lot like mine,
> > except for the telling people part - I kind of kept that for sixth form
> > college, which weeded out at least some of the worst of the bullies. Peer pressure
> > sucks donkeys, but at least no one decided that gravel and scabs was the in
> > look this season.
>
> You didn't tell *anyone*?  Wow.  I needed....I don't know. I guess I just
> got to the point where I needed to tell someone, wanted someone outside of
> me to accept it.

High school graduation is 17, right? I moved from school to sixth form
college when I was 16, and, really, I was only just figuring things out
then. Spent a while thinking that if I just ignored it hard enough it would
go away.

> > You say that like you're planning to - you are, aren't you?  Date-test
> > by raw fish?  I think that might, officially, be evil.
>
> Evil Overlord.  Keep it in mind.  :P

Thought you resigned?

> We can have cooked stuff, too.  :-)

I put myself in your hands. In so far as dinner, at least.

> (See Oliver start another e-mail shortly.)  Umm...I suggest you just print
> it out and wait until you can get to your room.  Not that it'll be
> anything award winning, but I fully intend to make it worth your time.

This is me patting the pocket of my suit jacket - I - I want to be able to
enjoy it without have to keep checking over my shoulder.

> > Hee - although - the cat had an owner? I mean - an identifiable owner?
> > That's actually almost weirder than the collars - which are cool.
>
> Yeah, this wasn't a stray, and it actually stuck pretty close to it's
> person until the dog chased it.

I still don't quite get a mental picture - is this a residential area, or
some guy walking a cat on a lead [which would be weird]?

> Collars are cool?  Is this something I can explore?

In general, or - you mean on me? Um - I *really* think I'd look dumb, but -
you think you can convince me otherwise?

> Pretty calm, actually.  It's pouring rain, so I didn't do much.

<edit for space>

> God, I have no life.

This is me taking your hand and slapping your wrist. Rainy Sundays are for
slopping round the house, watching dodgy film and / or TV, and generally
chilling. Sounds to me like you did way to much housework. Bugger about the
gym.

> Right.  I'm going to start that other one I promised you, and see if I can
> get any early info on the trip trading.  Janet hates it when I call her at
> home, so this should be fun.  :P  There's a good chance I'll have to buy
> her lunch tomorrow.

I *ought* to be telling you to leave the poor woman in peace, but : any
news?

I also ought to stop off and find some really late lunch on the way home,
but - I'm a little eager to get home, actually. [And you can't cycle in a
suit, so I've got to go and wait for busses, seeing as it's raining here
too, and I don't want to totally trash the suit.]

Um - God, this makes me sound sad, but - I might come back down to campus
later, email you again. I want to go out for another ride, where the
interview had me tied up in knots, and I'll have to stick to the roads after
dark anyway, so I might as well have a destination, right?

Thank you - for the other email, and the cheerleading, and the luck.

Hopefully 'speak' soon

Take care,

Tom
************************
"God-like aliens...man do I hate God-like aliens! I'll trade a critter for a
God-like alien any day!"


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