I didn't mean to criticize your criticism (tee hee), I'm just explaining that part of it. I know its long and drawn out, too, but I had to show my background, how I deal with it, and what I've become. Anywho, The best literary advice ever given to me was to give absolutely everything in a story some nuanced meaning that adds to the rest of it. I just have trouble giving those ties substance. Either way, I've already re-written it, and it was in need of repair. I love to talk about it too. If I post another story some time, I'll actually read through it once beforehand.