Cia

Awww, hun. If you work retail, it's a sad sad world this time of year. I once worked a toy store during Black Friday and let me tell you, never again. The RARE times I shop in the holiday season I try to make the job of the clerk as easy as I can. It's not their fault people are nucking futs! I'm sorry you're losing a part of your holiday time with your family and I really hope that this little down mood improves soon. There are a myriad small things I enjoy about the season and the consumerism isn't one of them. It's hard with your job but maybe try something that will help you get in the spirit like calling a senior center nearby and asking the activity director if you can come in one morning or afternoon and deliver a few holiday cards to people who are often without the means to get out and enjoy the season. Or, try a children's ward and get a few little coloring crayon packets and take cards they can color for their families while they lay in bed. Just a few things I've done over the years that really help me remember that this time of year should be about bringing cheer to others because then you really get it back.

He's good too Kiltie, though I have to say I like the voice David Wenham used to narrate 300 the best.

C'mon the man has a voice to swoon over!

Only if Sean Connery is Santa Clause. Can you imagine his ho ho ho?

Gerbils

Happy Birthday!

LOL, John! Sorry for the frustration! All too often I just 'want to know' and the author doesn't share the info I'm craving, so I've experienced that feeling. With this story, that was deliberate (sorry again ). You can read more of my thoughts as to how I wrote this in the forum, if you're interested. Thanks so much for reading and reviewing!

Well Dav and Ellis are... special. Plus there are things coming that might answer this feeling you're having about them bonding too soon so keep reading! I always try to give the characters a real feel, give them positive and negative attributes and personalities. I love romance stories and ones where I really feel for the characters are always my favorite. Thank you so much for the reviews, I love that you are loving the story! Keep reading!

Commercial knock? Whatever do you mean? *snickers* Dav and Ellis are quite hot and heavy. Upsides and downsides to that amount of instant attraction, as you will see to come! Keep reading!!

And there are so many more chapters for you to read! Thanks for the review, I hope you like the story.

Thank you! This idea actually came from a prompt Comicfan put in the Writing Workshop forum. I had the 'plot' from that; I just had to add the characters, the world, and the sequence of events. LOL. I really enjoyed writing this so I'm glad you enjoyed reading it.

Mebbe. You figured out what was coming with this chapter, so what do you think I'll do with the next one? Good emotion, bad emotion? Will there be a reconciliation, or won't there? Hmm... So many choices! There will be more to come, never fear! Thanks for the review

OH, was that a little too bogus of an explanation? hmm... not telling more yet. I'm writing, I'm writing! Just, slowly. Lots more to come, major events and reveals still waiting in the wings!

OH, was that a little to bogus on an explanation? hmm... not telling more yet. I'm writing, I'm writing! Just, slowly. Lots more to come, major events and reveals still waiting in the wings!

LOL Aditus! Well first, everyone is welcome but someone who reads and comments on my stories? Especially so! I know passing along the information Isiah had to share with Ellis is 'spoiling' the drama for some... well there is more to come. Not quite what you mean by him being the exact opposite of Ellis, there could be many things, but I'm not going to say anything about what might come later in the story, you'll just have to keep reading! (once I write it, lol) Thanks for the review hun!

Yes, this wasn't totally unheralded. But there is still much to come. Dav and Ellis... well, I don't think Ellis is going to be able to keep his head in the sand much longer, events that are coming might just surprise you. Thanks so much for the review, I love hearing from readers!

LOL! Sorry I took you on such a rollercoaster. Oh wait... no I'm not! I'm really glad you are enjoying the crazy situation in the story. Thanks so much for the reviews!

Well here's another chapter. Longer than the others, I hope you like it! Chapter 9

I looked in my mirrors frequently as I drove through the dark night, the lights of the airport guiding me off the freeway. No one would possibly know to follow me as I made my way outside the city to the airport, but I still felt anxious. Dr. Pannar had taken me in, and I considered Natham a friend even if I was a bit leery of his mate. Yet I didn't tell either of them where I was going either. My brother deserved the benefit of the doubt I hadn’t been given. A lifetime of being my other half m

Yay! Good that you had a nice day. Yes, the picture was one I took here in my garden. I did some tweaking to the exposure, cropped a smidge, and did a sheet metal in a dark midnight blue to liven it up a bit. Glad you like it.

Because no woman should be without flowers for her birthday... Happy Birthday Nephy!!

Well I'm not writing today, sorry But there will be more soon. I know, I'm not nice to my characters but it makes for such interesting writing and reading!

Nah, job shorthand. Everyone gets it. I often had stuff like: PF @ LTR 2nd bid, non-u, 20k, city jury, permit 7w, FDoJ 12-5. Then for my boss I'd have to translate the project foreman from LTR counter offered the 2nd bid for 20k less and the job had a city jurisdiction. I knew all the permit offices back then so I'd know it was one with a 7 week wait on the permit but they needed us on the job by the 5th of December (at that point I'd make a note to squeeze for more cash based on expedited submittal issues/costs). Not to mention I half the time I was looking at my job/manpower schedule or at the bid proposal and was writing without looking Mastering the skill of a phone convo while doing 2 other things is vital in any sort of office job really. Even though my training was for nursing I learned the programs for common office work on my own and said I could and would learn the job. They gave me a shot. I kept the job and got 20% raise after 1 year because I kicked ass at it. Sometimes it's all in how you project yourself in the interview to get your foot in the door. It sounds like your phone convo interview gave you that. You've the skills... now you just have to find the right company to hire you. Good luck!

Phone calls as an easy way to judge a person, actually. Tone, inflection, word choice, ability to follow a conversation are all indicators of the type of mind you have without them being distracted by anything in person. Saves them time and you a commute. Honestly, it's an invaluable first screening when the companies aren't doing group interviews. Question though, did you keep a notepad handy for key points of the conversation? It's not quite the same thing but when I worked in an office and had sales calls or talks with contractors I often kept a notebook running with key points of the conversation so I could refer back to what I spoke of and guarantee that I wasn't repeating myself or getting locked into any one aspect of the conversation. Keep it moving was always vital. Often, if I knew the call was coming or I was making it, I'd write down things as bulletin points before I ever started the convo so I had a guideline to work off of. Oh, and Yang and Greg... you two are so alike. Weirdos! *snickers*

Hi again, Lannister, Brandon. I met you guys earlier today but wanted to say hey again. As always, if you have any questions feel free to get in touch with me via pm or track me down in chat.