TracyMN

I was deeply saddened by the news of Miles passing. He was a kind,responsive soul and will be fondly remembered and sorely missed. Though I have not posted for some time, I have continued to follow my dear author friends with continued interest. My own health issues make consistency difficult, and I if there is one quality I appreciate most about the members of this community, it is certainly that! My condolences to all, and affectionate greetings to all. Tracy

This is why I love AD best.

No way to see this coming...

I passed it along to my daughter, rumor has it she's a gamer.

Same assessment, Cole. But then, a 15 year old would be laughing at me for more than this... Fun, but of dubious origin. T.

Oh. There was probably sound to go with that.

LOL, I don't get it. But I like the brown dog with the black eyes.

Optimism is the expectation of all things, Des, and the distinction in your closing comment is nothing short of revolution- a shift of perspective that accepts life as it is and makes the best of it. (Picture me clapping my hands and jumping up and down) <g> "Progress" is by nature, collective; it is the future of the present with the essence of the past in its bones, a response to desire, not subject to it. What we have is "forward movement"; clearly, the rate of loss is unsustainable and the story of your loss brought that home to me tonight, and with it a thousand species, a jumble of numbers held at bay. I'd call that worthwhile, and hope you will, too. Tracy

In the span of 4 or 5 years, my employer, a government-run non-profit organization and healthcare provider for the under-served population of the entire state of Minnesota, in the interest of viability underwent a radical change of governance to become what was, essentially, a non-profit healthcare provider to the under-served population of a single, albeit large, county, that for all other purposes adopted the business model and practices of private corporations all across America. And before the dust settled organizationally, I would see 2 new Lab Directors, 3 new managers, 5 supervisory changes and enough rearrangement of instrumentation and work space to keep me moving in circles forever. Staff changes, benefit changes, rules, regulations, inspections, hospital evaluation surveys, lab safety, inventory, environment surveys, regulatory changes, procedural changes, all contributed to a general feeling of chaos and dissatisfaction, amidst an administrative model that solicited more opinions than it could possibly accommodate and at the end of the day, ignore them all. Many of my coworkers had never worked anywhere else, and being less surprised meant listening to the indignation and sense of entitlement that government jobs are said to foster. Surviving the day on the good side of satisfied was my new measure of success. Solutions are great, but sometimes being reminded that we are not alone in our experience of even the most complicated circumstances is all the relief the moment requires. Take comfort where you find it. (Wasn;t that a song, like a hundred years ago? Bread if I'm not mistaken...) As usual, I found this looking for something else...I don't remember what it was now, and look what I got instead! Thanks Des, Cole, Princes if ever there was. Tracy

Jumping Over My Mountain! That's the one I was thinking of, though I read Ms. Chin on Gay Authors and would never have found it. Thanks TBear! The other I do not know, the story or the author, but I don't think I know the other one you're looking for, just some things along the same line. Obviously, you should not give up hope. T.

Oh sure, but suspend my daughter for three days for bringing Black Cats (little things you throw down and they "explode"- I'd call it a snap, but that's just me...). Never mind that she wasn't around for the "discharge of a firearm", or that the potential for harm is virtually non-existent, this is SERIOUS BUSINESS and zero tolerance rules apply. Well, serious in Minnesota, anyway. Where respect for authority is an uphill battle...

Interesting spin, James, but certainly as accurate, and more diplomatic, than I have or am likely to put on it.

More than a little of the writer in his work here. Well-captured and beautifully complimented. I love this place!

Aren't you a Prince! If I'm not back in a month... Thanks

I'm in !! It's a family thing, and if I don't really know what I'm talking about... I like who I like or who my friends like.

I'm sure I know the second one, time will tell if I can pull it out of my hat. I've got a notebook somewhere...and the first one rings some bells, too. I read a couple hundred stories when I first arrived, and get excited when I see someone is searching for a particular one. No promises, but it's going to be some fun looking, so thanks for asking! Tracy

And I have read them all, Des, and while the two we've mentioned are, in my opinion, the best, they are also the longest; the faint of heart could always start with one of them.

And they said Chivalry was dead! Thanks Pec, that inclination could save the world.

This author is one of my "first loves" from the Nifty Ocean, and this story, currently posting on CRVBOY, has been available on Terry's site (see link below) and on Nifty for quite some time. I mention it here as a tribute to author and effort, and for those who may have AD as their only window to gay men's stories of gay men. For the freedom of fiction to step outside the bounds of so-called real life can not diminish the value of such an obvious and absolute necessity, and in hundreds of stories, this one included, I have yet to find a character that has slipped its authors human skin. Though the writer might characterize it differently, the story posting on CRVBOY is part one of what is so far, a four-part story of as many "generations" of self-proclaimed family; but notions of boredom or commitment have not shown themselves applicable here, due in large part to the seemingly endless wit and imagination of its author, and to some measure of that indefinable mystery of why writers write in the first place. Commitment to something delightful can hardly be considered a sacrifice, and the opportunity to laugh at ourselves in virtual anonymity-- priceless. www.crvboy.com www.mygaystories.com

He was handsome, too, and young for a teacher in those days. If only you'd been there, Des, he might have smiled once in a while!

As did I, FT; when I heard they didn't take attendance at college, I wanted to see it for myself. Not surprisingly, I did better there. That's me in second grade, but in a skirt. Girls couldn't wear "slacks", and talking was a ping-pong paddle offense. I remember wondering what that teacher was so mad about all the time... he lived a block from school with another male teacher. Lesson of that day? "It won't kill you to cry in public". And I don't know about you guys, but worse things have been said about me... all lies of course. "Was bored, and talks too much" Darn near a compliment!

Isn't that the truth! I don't have a lot of experience with rewrites (LOL,since what I'm about to say requires having read the original...) but I have to say, I like what he's done with this one.

I wholeheartedly agree, Natty is a charming mix of good kid/not-so-much kid, smarter than average but short on experience (that's why kids have parents, right?). JJ has worked hard the whole time I've known him, and it shows. Consistency in colorful characters makes a good story all that much better, and we certainly have that here. Well done, JJ!

I'm a terrible liar, but will fall for anything... once. Most notably "if you sit on the toilet while you flush it, you'll get electrocuted" and "if you turn your bellybutton all the way around, you'll die!" Oh, and I did agree to something on the second Tuesday of next week, once. Lies are mostly in the telling, and if you're me, in how much you expect the person to throw one in the mix.

Thank you once again! Still working on the audio book reader problem, as Kindle for PC would be a half-measure. And I thought persistent was a swear word!