http://xen.gather.com Recent Articles on Gather by Xen Q. en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:57:24 GMT 2009-12-31T13:57:24Z en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 http://www.gather.com/images/header/logo_gather.gif http://www.gather.com/ http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977846004 I'm pretty! I remember a sleepover with three of my cousins, two archetypical boys and a tomboy. Even when I was four or so, I felt somehow different, and not simply . . . Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:51:15 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977846004 Xen Q. 2009-10-09T15:51:15Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977767586 v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) } I Want to Believe . . . Sat, 08 Aug 2009 18:55:42 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977767586 Xen Q. 2009-08-08T18:55:42Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977765262 Dragonslaying "Your plebeian pedestrianization should vociferously annul any preceding inequity in my deportment, bitch." I hate with a startling . . . Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:33:48 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977765262 Xen Q. 2009-08-06T18:33:48Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977731606 Dress Rehearsal Being Goddesses I try to exit the dance floor again, moving against the tide of people at 80s Night . In front of me is a drag . . . Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:06:05 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977731606 Xen Q. 2009-07-08T00:06:05Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977731446 Paradise Found Also, Dan is a Communist revolutionary Dan Kessler and Stephanie took the train from the city. Even though it is only a two-hour, . . . Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:27:14 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977731446 Xen Q. 2009-07-07T20:27:14Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977689533 Diet Mountain Dew I signed up for the BzzAgent campaign for Diet Mountain Dew assuming I would soon be getting a couple of coupons for a bottle of the soda and I could test it scientifically through . . . Sat, 23 May 2009 00:45:40 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977689533 Xen Q. 2009-05-23T00:45:40Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977670642 Loving Kindness I try to keep compassion in my heart. I have no idea what this woman is going through, what door in her life closed to make her what she is today. If . . . Fri, 01 May 2009 00:50:50 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977670642 Xen Q. 2009-05-01T00:50:50Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977670071 Poly Wants a Crack-Up I was never a fan of the concept of polyamory. I understood that people did it, spent time around those who did (and those who considered it a . . . Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:26:42 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977670071 Xen Q. 2009-04-30T12:26:42Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977640492 Woodstock 09 Perhaps the problem is that I would not be conceived for another ten years when it happened. While it is an event that has been shoved down our collective . . . Sun, 29 Mar 2009 14:35:10 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977640492 Xen Q. 2009-03-29T14:35:10Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977583915 7 Deadly Ways Crazy Conspiracy Theorists Could Get Taken Slightly More Seriously on the Internet Please note, I am not making up a single conspiracy theory below. I truly wish I . . . Wed, 04 Feb 2009 02:54:36 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977583915 Xen Q. 2009-02-04T02:54:36Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977571959 Fear and Trembling in the Hundred Acre Wood As the more literarily aware of you may know, the estate of A.A. Milne has given permission for the creation of a new series of Winnie the Pooh books. . . . Fri, 23 Jan 2009 02:21:43 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977571959 Xen Q. 2009-01-23T02:21:43Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977555612 Something Borrowed Emily says -- in that needlessly suspenseful way that I loathe in others but occasionally use myself -- she has something to tell me. It's . . . Wed, 07 Jan 2009 04:05:05 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977555612 Xen Q. 2009-01-07T04:05:05Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977553111 Knowing Everyone "Your knowing everyone is going to eventually get you in trouble," Hannah insists over her order of lemon chicken at the Chinese restaurant. . . . Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:47:06 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977553111 Xen Q. 2009-01-04T20:47:06Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977541233 Sister To Sleep I pull Hannah against me and whisper, "I love you." I hold her a little tighter and can't squeeze the words from her, but instead something . . . Sat, 20 Dec 2008 23:22:25 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977541233 Xen Q. 2008-12-20T23:22:25Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977532028 On Remembering It is easy to believe the stories we tell ourselves, especially if no one has the evidence that will promptly and definitively contradict our stories. Quickly, . . . Thu, 11 Dec 2008 03:05:59 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977532028 Xen Q. 2008-12-11T03:05:59Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977507612 I'm a Believer I didn't used to much care about the religion of the person kissing me--as long as their faith didn't preclude more kisses. The interim when I kissed . . . Sat, 15 Nov 2008 18:11:23 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977507612 Xen Q. 2008-11-15T18:11:23Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977506195 On Forgetting I am listening to an audiobook about a woman who has hyperthymestic syndrome, a condition wherein she has perfect autobiographical recall since she was . . . Fri, 14 Nov 2008 01:15:16 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977506195 Xen Q. 2008-11-14T01:15:16Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977498015 Slouching Towards Atlantis I look into my rearview mirror at Melanie knitting in the backseat and then over to Hannah , mouth slightly agape as she dozes in the passenger’s seat, . . . Wed, 05 Nov 2008 01:35:19 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977498015 Xen Q. 2008-11-05T01:35:19Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977493584 Arrogance As I carry furniture into her house from the front lawn, my mother regales Melanie , seated on a plastic foot rest and knitting, about the one time I had friends over for . . . Fri, 31 Oct 2008 04:39:47 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977493584 Xen Q. 2008-10-31T04:39:47Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977479024 st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) } Craniosynostosis I arrive at my mother's house. She is at her computer and she asks if I've heard about Aydan, my new nephew. He is only a . . . Thu, 16 Oct 2008 02:50:23 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977479024 Xen Q. 2008-10-16T02:50:23Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977473156 v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} Writers Anonymous I'm sorry, . . . Fri, 10 Oct 2008 01:03:31 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977473156 Xen Q. 2008-10-10T01:03:31Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977468031 Directionless I call Hannah , since I am in Poughkeepsie and the open mic night at the Cubbyhole does not seem to exist as advertised. Hannah calls back in an instant, informing . . . Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:03:13 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977468031 Xen Q. 2008-10-05T00:03:13Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977456005 Undressed "Can I get you anything?" I ask Melanie , the woman over whom I have quietly pined these past three months , whose presence I have gotten not to . . . Mon, 22 Sep 2008 19:19:34 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977456005 Xen Q. 2008-09-22T19:19:34Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977451237 The Missing Piece Hannah is supposed to come over because James has dumped her and she needs to be consoled, she needs at least to say the facts aloud so she can hear them . . . Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:48:08 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977451237 Xen Q. 2008-09-17T11:48:08Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977442038 Goldilocks I put my arm on my mom's shoulder and ask, "So how much time do you need?" "For what?" "To move out of my old bedroom so I can . . . Sat, 06 Sep 2008 21:39:19 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977442038 Xen Q. 2008-09-06T21:39:19Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977436148 Accessories After the Fact I tell Hannah that I consider James an accessory to her, not an entity in himself. They are having issues. She is not sure how to take his uncertainty, if this . . . Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:10:50 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977436148 Xen Q. 2008-09-01T18:10:50Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977414857 To Write Love on Her Arms I tap the teenage girl on the shoulder. "I just wanted to say that I really appreciate your wearing that shirt. It's an amazing cause... and I've . . . Wed, 06 Aug 2008 04:53:03 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977414857 Xen Q. 2008-08-06T04:53:03Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977411285 Left Behind This rejection stings because I'd dared to invest myself in planning my new life. I hoped that three years of mixed teaching experience -- some of it quite trying -- . . . Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:01:42 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977411285 Xen Q. 2008-08-01T16:01:42Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977410863 Apoptosis Daily, billions of your cells silently die for no other reason that that they were not given any specific instructions. For want of something to do, they will remove their . . . Fri, 01 Aug 2008 01:20:22 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977410863 Xen Q. 2008-08-01T01:20:22Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977405706 Sunshine and the Storm Cloud I walk into the Cracker Barrel and zero in on Jenn, who is wearing black jeans and a shirt under an open, mid-calf gray dress. I decide this outfit -- a . . . Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:30:05 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977405706 Xen Q. 2008-07-24T19:30:05Z