Bleu

Don't like!!

@Paya: yes, young people should be more liberal and tolerant... but they are most likely to be in groups where they're supposed to conform. Mocking someone outside the group helps bolster cohesion. @Nephy: I was actually fine doing it. It unsettled me a little because it was a first, but I will open my laptop and surf freely again. @Vic: I completely agree with you about the "greater good" and providing a model for younger gays. In a way, it was of more consequence to surf freely on GA inside that "normal" coffee-shop than it would be to parade for hours at the Gay Pride. @HH5: you know, I wondered about the same thing. Some of them were clearly having fun at my expense (but I didn't much care), but others had more inquisitive looks. If I did create some talk among them and helped at least one of them being more confident, then I'll be very happy.

Since you don't plan on staying with that company for ever, or even for very long I'd say go for it if it helps you getting some experience in a different field. As far as I understand, this will have more to do with the financial side of business, so there is valuable know-how to be gained. However, that shouldn't prevent you from looking elsewhere if you don't feel comfortable in your new assignment or if it requires you to alter your job schedule, increases commuting times, etc.

Very nice tribute! What kind of fanfiction is it?

Good things come to those who wait. It's sweet that all this happened quite naturally, without obvious flirting. It sounds like a good basis to build a friendship upon... and more, much more, hopefully A three-year crush should deserve a prize anyway

Hearing the heart beat must be quite a moment! I'm sure this little one will fill your and Mike's lives completely. Congratulations again!

John, how could you possibly miss this? lol, seriously, thanks a lot

Twisted masterpiece of anime dysfunction!

I've been wondering lately if I am really ready to live openly as a gay man. Or rather, to what degree... As a matter of principle, I refuse to hide. I never needed to while I was in a straight relationship, and I shouldn't have to now.... Well, principles and reality sometimes conflict. I am generally discrete and usually go unnoticed in the street. The guy I dated in September/October (whom I mentioned in my last post) was very discrete. When we were together in public you could not have guessed that we were a couple. The situation is quite different with the guy I'm currently dating. He's more confident about who he is. He's also more obviously gay, even to someone with no gaydar at all. The other day, we had lunch together not far from where I work and some of my colleagues walked in the restaurant. I stressed for a few seconds and then thought "What the hell! If I'm outed this way then so be it." But they didn't see us. However, later on, I didn't let him kiss me in the street. On my way back from the UK meet, which was a really nice experience by the way, one that I'm willing to repeat this August, I found myself in a situation I had never experienced before. I was in a stop area on an English motorway and I decided to grab a coffee and use the free wifi to check up my messages. I ended up checking GA as well, of course. I wasn't particulary cautious about surfing in a public place, since no one knew me there, and there were only a couple of older ladies around. Suddenly a group of young men in sportswear came in. Most of them passed in front of me, but one came from behind me and glanced at my computer. And obviously he saw the "GA Gay Authors - Quality gay fiction" at the top of my screen, and quickly proceeded to tell his friends. I didn't realise immediately because I was engrossed in my reading of Nephy's account of our meet. But then I realised that they were all looking at me from time to time, some barely glancing at me, some eyeing me directly. I started blushing furiously and had to calm myself down. Then the next time I looked up at the group, I held the gaze of those who were looking at me and smiled. I continued surfing until it was time for me to go. As I left to return to my car, I made sure to ignore them. But when I reached it, I saw that they were all looking at me through the window. I resisted the urge to wave at them, but I smiled more broadly and shook my head in disbelief. I was lucky in a way; they were young, probably 20-22 yo, and not threatening. I could have been much worse off if that group had been drunken football fans on their way back from a match. That made me realise that while I've never felt unsafe before, this might all change in the new life I'm heading for.

Nephy, thanks for the report and thanks for your compliments as well. I'm glad Agaith stepped in and gave you your share of them. I truly enjoyed the meet, the humourous conversations, the light bantering... even the rain and the puddles.

Tough choice. After what they've done to you I would not hold much loyalty to the company. Don't feel pressured into taking what they offer. There must be other opportunities closer to your home which would pay only marginally less, if not as much, no? How long do you have until the change is effective?

Sicko!

John, I hope not! I was only referring to the fact that I offered to give him a ride if he needed means of transportation. I would only be "kidnapping and delivering" Agaith to all of you at the meet.

Hehehe, the "more" was referring to "a greater number" of charming persons... How could they possibly be more charming? You'd better...otherwise your charming self is at risk of being kidnapped and dragged to the meet

I'm in as well. Looking forward to see the nice people I met last week-end again, and ready to discover new faces and get to know more charming persons.

The meet is proceeding as expected. So far, no one has run away screaming, though that may yet happen. We've already come up with a few ideas for the next meet in August. Renting London's Albert Hall is only one of them.

This is getting more interesting by the minute. I wonder who will win the challenge!

Ok, so we've established the fact that Paya's and my mind are dirtier than yours

Paya! Handle = nickname Don't pretend you didn't know that

Yeah... I'm afraid the strip-poker offer was only a joke. I'm with you on the drinking. Laphroaig and Lagavulin win any day against G'nT. Good to see that you won't be pulling the drawbridge and readying the arrows when you see the froggy comin'.

Happy birthday, Soup

I'm pretty much ready for the meet. In the last few days, I dyed my hair blue, to be in tune with Nephy and to live up to my name handle. I've also been practising my gin-and-tonic swallowing skills. I almost feel British again now. I had initially packed a jackhammer to break the ice, since these meets can be awkward at first, but I think we'll be fine without. The only thing I'd better not forget is a couple of umbrellas because it's going to be raining "cats and dogs". Oh, and I also learned by heart the strip-poker rule book. Someone indicated that it was the best way to spend a rainy day in a strange city. I don't mind him stripping if the cards are not in his favour. As for me, I'm not planning on losing .

That cracked me up. It so could have been me too! (though I would have gone for an XML Schema rather than a database, but there! ) That's why my writing never goes very far: I get lost in side projects... I hope you made your database compatible with GA stories; that way, even if you don't finish the story at least we can have a look at the characters

So much mystery and unexpected! And already quite a few characters to follow through the next chapters. You've officially whetted my appetite!

My outlook on death has changed completely over the past three years, since I held my wife's hand as she passed away. Death as such no longer scares me the way it used to. I have absolutely no fascination for it the way you do. However, it is no longer the big Unknown that I used to push to the back of my mind. I think I am stronger for it, although it came at a price that I had rather not paid. I believe it's one of the strengths of the Buddhist tradition, especially the Tibetan one, to see death as just another stage in the ever-lasting cycle of life, and to prepare each and everyone to face that crossing to another — for lack of a better understanding of what it actually is — state of being. I'm in no rush to experience death. I might even live life more fully now, having seen death so close to me. I just know I will be more prepared for it than I would otherwise have been. In other words, fear pain because it can make you lose all humanity; don't fear death because death is actually the only certainty you have in life.