Poetic Musings: Collection of Love Poems

As seen in the February Issue of Main Street Magazine/Poetic Musings
Printed in Canada under ISSN: 1920-4299
To find out how to receive your free copy check out www.mainstreetmagazine.net

Collection of Love Poems

Never Have I Fallen
Your lips speak soft sweetness
Your touch a cool caress
I am lost in your magic
My heart beats within your chest

I think of you each morning
And dream of you each night
I think of your arms being around me
And cannot express my delight

Never have I fallen
But I am quickly on my way
You hold a heart in your hands
That has never before been given away
- Rex A. Williams -

A White Rose
The red rose whispers of passion,
And the white rose breathes of love;
O, the red rose is a falcon,
And the white rose is a dove.
But I send you a cream-white rosebud
With a flush on its petal tips;
For the love that is purest and sweetest
Has a kiss of desire on the lips.
- J B O'Reilly (1844-1890) -

A Wish
I lie on the ground,
and stare into space,
the stars start to move,
into the shape of your face.

I see you there now,
looking down at me,
with that cute little smile,
that I like to see.

You say "close your eyes",
"tell me what you see",
I see only two people,
just you and me.

We're walking the shoreline,
with our feet getting wet,
the horizon turns pink,
as the sun starts to set.

We make love through the night,
on that white sandy shore,
then I hold you while thinking,
I could want nothing more.

Oh I wish I could be,
in that one special place,
as I lie on the ground,
and I stare into space...
- Randy Schutte -

QUICK TIPS FEBRUARY

© Copyright, 2011 Main Street Magazine/Rain Enterprises

As seen in the February Issue of Main Street Magazine.
Printed in Canada, ISSN: 1920-4299 by Rain Enterprises
To find out how to receive your free copy of MSM
check out www.mainstreetmagazine.net

His and Hers Ideas for Romance

By Janice Collins for Main Street Magazine

Marriage is not a noun; it's a verb. It isn't something you get. It's something you do. It's the way you love your partner every day. -Barbara De Angelis

Romantic Ideas for Men

Draw her a warm bubble bath. Wash her back (& everywhere else). Take your time. Then towel her dry and carry her off to bed.
Give her a full body massage without expecting anything in return. You’re sure to get your reward the next night!
Little things go a long way. Hold her hand, link her arm through yours while you’re walking together, place your palm on the small of her back when standing beside her. Those tender gestures won’t go unnoticed.
Brush her hair at night. This can be very sensual. Be sure to use a brush, not a comb. And don’t pull. Be gentle. If you encounter a tangle, hold the hair above the tangle, then work it out.
Tell her you love her. Seems obvious, but many men overlook this. Women like to hear it. Often. Make her an audio tape and secretly slip it into the cassette player for her to find.

Romantic Ideas for Women:

Do something different. Instead of a massage, graze your nails lightly down his bare back (if you have good nails). It will send shivers of pleasure through his body.
Let him pick one fantasy a month for you to fulfill. Make up a list for him to choose from (that way the fantasy will be something that you’re not opposed to). Then plan it out as an official “date.”
Have some sexy (but tasteful) pictures taken and give them to him as a gift. It’ll be something unexpected and special–meant for his eyes only.
Personally write him an erotic story. He’ll see a new and exciting dimension to you after that.
Put on some sexy clothes, turn on the music, then slowly strip the clothes off layer by layer while he watches.

Quick Tips for Writing Love Letters

Be in a good mood when writing a love letter. Never try to write a love letter when you're in a bad mood, not only will it be more difficult to write, but your bad vibes will make their way into the letter.

Write a love letter anytime. Don't wait for a special occasion to write one. Anytime you want to spice up your relationship is a great time for a love letter.
Your love letter should look appealing. Fountain pens look nicer than ball point pens. Plain paper is fine, but try to choose a better grade of paper stay away from lined paper or paper with lots of designs printed on it.
Think about why you're writing. Do you want to say you had a good time, are you asking for a date, are you expressing your affection, do you want to know how they feel about you or do you want to say I miss you?
Always hand write your love letter even if your writing is sloppy. Never type it unless your handwriting is truly illegible. Don't underline or write any words in all caps; it's like yelling.
Only say what you really mean. Don't make promises you can't keep and don't write anything you may regret later. Once the letter leaves your hands there is no guarantee it will stay private.
A one page love letter is great. Love letters aren’t meant to be long. As you get more comfortable, your letters may get a little longer but don't write a book.
If you're writing an erotic lover letter, talk about yourself as well. If you wish to arouse you can write about how hot, wet, positions and lingerie.
Re-read your love letter to make sure it says what you mean. You may want to write a rough draft first.
Use a thesaurus to find unique romantic words for your love letter, such as:

~ Openers – Dear, Dearest, My Love, Dearest Love, My Beloved, My Sweetheart, My Darling, My Sweet, Darling

~ Middle – cherish, idolize, embrace, hold dear, adore, caress, desire, fondle, fascinate, passion, smitten, enchanted, captivated, treasure, stroking, touch, infatuated, precious

~ Endings – yours sincerely, with love, all my love, truly yours, love, till we meet again, your sweet peach

All About Sex

Sex Toy Quiz

How much do you know about sex toys?
Sex toys seem to be everywhere these days (you know they’re mainstream when Martha Stewart is talking about her favorite vibrators). And while it’s easier than ever to buy a sex toy, finding straightforward honest information about sex toys can still be tricky.

Phthalates are:
1. a) Scent oil molecules used in sex toys to give them artificial smells like strawberry or cherry.
b) A chemical compound used to soften hard plastics into soft rubber and jelly.
c) The viscous compound added to lubricant to keep it slippery.
d) Bacteria that can live on the surface of a dry sex toy.

2. True or False: The more you pay for a sex toy the better it is
a) True
b) False

3. Which vibrator was purchased by Charlotte on Sex in the City and resulted in her disappearing for the rest of the episode?
a) Jack Rabbit
b) Japanese Rabbit Pearl
c) Hitachi Magic Wand
d) Japanese Pocket Rocket

4. The world’s first sex toys were:
a) Hollowed out boxes filled with bees that would vibrate.
b) Metal balls used for vaginal insertion.
c) Bone carved anal beads.
d) Stone carved dildos.
e) Textured papyrus sheets used for clitoral stimulation

5. Which two things are necessary for an anal sex toy to be safe?
a) It must have a gradual increase in size and a flared base
b) It must be made of rubber and have no seams or sharp edges
c) It must be small and soft rubber
d) It must have a flared base and have no seams or sharp edges
e) It must be hard plastic and curved

6. Which of the following should not be used with silicone sex toys:
a) Water based lubricant
b) Oil based lubricant
c) Silicone based lubricant
d) Warming massage lotion
e) All of the above

7. According to a report by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, how often can you safely use a dildo containing phthalates, providing you are not pregnant or breastfeeding?
a) 1 hour per month
b) 1 hour per week
c) 1 hour per day

8. True or False: Sex toys make sex less natural
a) False
b) True

9. True or false, you can become addicted to your vibrator?
a) True
b) False

10. According to most survey research, what percentage of the adult population has used a vibrator?
a) Less then 10%
b) 10-20%
c) 20-30%
d) 30-40%
e) More than 50%

ANSWERS
1. The correct answer is "b". Phthalates are a chemical compound used to soften hard plastics into soft rubber and jelly. Derived from Phthalic acid, and often called a plasticizer for its plastic softening properties, phthalates have been produced since the 1920’s and have been used in everything from perfumes to pesticides and, of course, sex toys.

2. The correct answer is "b". In many stores more expensive vibrators will actually be better quality, but there are still sex stores that engage in “premium pricing” where they charge more simply to make you think the product is better quality.

3. The correct answer is "b". The buyers on the show must have known their stuff, since the toy Charlotte purchased was the Japanese Rabbit Pearl one of the most popular and well built dual actions vibrators in the business

4. The correct answer is "d". In 2006 archaeologists excavated what is now the oldest sex toy artifact, which was a sculpted and polished phallus that was representational in size and shape, and dated to be 28,000 years old.

5. The correct answer is "d". While all those elements might be desirable, for an anal sex toy to be safe it has to have a flared base and no seams or sharp edges

6. The correct answer is "c". Water based, oil based, and warming lotions are all safe to use with silicone sex toys (water based lubricants are the most recommended to use with toys). But most silicone lubricants will damage silicone sex toys.

7. The correct answer is "c". According to the Danish EPA, you can safely use a sex toy with phthalates for 1 hour per day, as long as you are not pregnant or breastfeeding.

8. The correct answer is "a". The idea of “natural sex” is arbitrary, particularly if you're talking about non-procreative sex that’s just about sexual pleasure. Good sex, natural sex, is anything that makes you feel good and that is consensual. Using sex toys is no less natural than listening to music while you have sex, or creating mood lighting for a romantic evening.

9. The correct answer is "b". It’s true that people can become used to using a vibrator, and may get into a sexual rut where they only use a vibrator, but it doesn’t constitute an addiction.

10. The correct answer is "c". The correct answer is between 20-30%. Mind you there has been almost no reliable academic research on sex toy use, so most of the data we have comes from surveys by women’s magazines and sex toy companies themselves, neither of which are completely reliable

© Copyright, 2011 Main Street Magazine/Rain Enterprises
As seen in the February Issue of Main Street Magazine.
Printed in Canada, ISSN: 1920-4299 by Rain Enterprises

To find out how to receive your free copy of MSM check out
www.mainstreetmagazine.net

A NOVEL IDEA

As seen in the February 2011 Issue of MSM

Proudly Canadian, ISSN: 1920-4299

Irrational Behavior

By CURTIS SITTENFELD

Maile Meloy called her first novel “Liars and Saints,” but there was a fair amount of evidence she was being ironic, at least about the saints part. There was also a fair amount of evidence that Meloy sympathized with the sinners, an impression reinforced by the title and contents of her new story collection, “Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It.” Almost all her characters are flawed: lawyers, Montana residents, unfaithful spouses, rich and eccentric older women, young women who are close to their fathers in nice as opposed to creepy ways, and multiple combinations thereof. They are people who act irrationally, against their own best interests — by betraying those they care about, making embarrassing romantic overtures and knowingly setting in motion situations they’d rather avoid — and Meloy’s prose is so clear, calm and intelligent that their behavior becomes eminently understandable.

Beth, a recent law school graduate who appears in the first story, “Travis, B.,” is teaching an adult- education class on public-school law in Glendive, a small town on the eastern side of Montana. The problem is that she lives and works a nine-and-a-half-hour drive west, in Missoula. “I’ve never done anything so stupid in my life,” she tells Chet, a ranch worker in the class, about having accepted the teaching position, which she did out of anxiety over her student loans. Twice a week, Beth leaves her Missoula law firm at midday, makes the drive, teaches the class that evening, then turns around and spends the night driving home.

“There are deer on the road, and there’s black ice outside of Three Forks along the river,” she explains to Chet, who has quickly developed a crush on her. “If I make it past there, I get to take a shower and go to work at eight. . . . Then learn more school law tomorrow night, then leave work the next day before lunch and drive back here with my eyes twitching.” The bizarreness of Beth’s situation is matched by its plausibility; a kind of banal, daily desperation animates many of Meloy’s characters, including Chet, who first shows up in Beth’s classroom not as a real student, but as a lonely person who on a random night happens to stumble into the school because it’s one of the few buildings in town with its lights on.

While the American West is clearly close to her heart, Meloy — who is 37, grew up in Montana and now lives in Los Angeles, and has won prizes from The Paris Review and the American Academy of Arts and Letters — bravely plunks down her characters in a wide range of times and places, including a 1970s nu clear power plant, an East Coast boarding school and Argentina. All these settings are equally convincing, granted verisimilitude by Meloy’s eye for the casually perfect detail: the knee-to-nose stretch, performed while lying in bed beneath a Charlie Parker poster, that a boarding-school girl learns from her roommate; the party in Buenos Aires where an appearance by the Prince of Wales sends the guests into a frenzy and a woman’s pearl necklace breaks and scatters on the floor. Meloy does her research — either that, or she’s lived many lives — but it never feels as if she included information just because, by God, she spent time unearthing it and now wants to make use of her hard work. Rather, she includes tidbits about, say, the playing cards used in raffles at the nuclear power plant because they’re organic to the stories.

Though it might seem strange to praise a writer for the things she doesn’t do, what really sets Meloy apart is her restraint. She is impressively concise, disciplined in length and scope. And she’s balanced in her approach to character, neither blinded by love for her creations, nor abusive toward them. In an allusion to the collection’s title, a character wonders near the end, “What kind of fool wanted it only one way?” The person asking this question is a man considering leaving his smart, appealing wife of 30 years for the much younger woman who gave swimming lessons to his now-grown children. Such a man isn’t particularly likable — in fact, the opposite — but it’s a mark of Meloy’s evenhanded character development that you find yourself agreeing with him, thinking, Yeah, what kind of fool? In the end, everyone in these stories retains at least a sliver of humanity, whether it’s an 87-year-old who in her youth cheerfully appeared in movies under the Nazi studio system or a father who wordlessly offers his teenage daughter as sexual enticement to persuade a plaintiff to remain in a lawsuit.

Meloy’s restraint also comes through not in the way she plots stories, which is boldly, but in how she chooses to reveal her plots, delivering shocking twists in as low-key a manner as possible. In “The Girlfriend,” the fact that the protagonist’s daughter was murdered is revealed in an aside. In “Two-Step,” Naomi, a medical resident, talks to her friend Alice about Alice’s suspicion that her husband is having an affair; and though the story is told from Naomi’s perspective, it doesn’t become clear until nearly halfway through that she’s the one with whom the husband is cheating. Meloy drops this bomb understatedly, noting of Naomi that “she had told her husband that she was leaving him, with the understanding that Alice would simultaneously — or at least soon — be told the same thing. It had been a difficult week.”

Thanks to Meloy’s spare, subdued style, the death and infidelity running through these tales don’t take on as grim a tone as you’d expect. Only one story, about the murdered daughter, really makes you want to slit your wrists; and, indeed, a wry humor appears regularly. An Argentine aristocrat observes that another man “was a bore; not even failure could make him interesting.” Or, as one wife tells another, “the whole soul mates idea . . . is really most useful when you’re stealing someone’s husband. It’s not so good when someone might be stealing yours.”

Meloy is also the author of two inter connected novels and an earlier collection, “Half in Love.” Personally, I prefer her stories — “Half in Love” is wonderful too — but she’s such a talented and unpredictable writer that I’m officially joining her fan club; whatever she writes next, I’ll gladly read it.