Andrew Q Gordon

For those who don't know, Fred Phelps and most of his congregation/family as they are almost one and the same - are mostly lawyers - they sue the crap out of towns, and people and organizations for 'violating their free speech.' It is how they support themselves. These demonstrations are designed to stir up controversy and hopefully a law suit. What happened at Gunn, aside from the amazing show of support against hate speech and the like, is an effective way to fire back at the Phelps and his ilk - it denies them any ability to use the situation for their advantage. Go Gunn and all those future leaders of the country.

this is as close to either as I can get - but I am in Warning don't look if your squeamish or if your computer screen is susceptible to cracking.

I make it a point NEVER to ignore a well reasoned opinion, even someone as pig headed and stubborn as me knows the value of a second set of eyes. That said, I have a question and feel free to PM me if you like rather than reply here - though I am fine with you trashing me in an open forum Okay, I need to go back and find the POV lesson I have - my understand - and it may be flawed - is that IF it is something the person whose POV we are listening to could have found out - i.e. Darryl told him or Peter told him etc, then it is fair game for third person perspectives. So long as I don't do something like: 'Wendy couldn't help but think it was odd that Peter had to go at the same moment as Jason. "Don't you think it odd?" She said.' There I was using her as the POV and not telling what others could easily see and relay to the person whose PIV we are hearing. I guess I liken it to stuff like background info on the town, the school, the party etc. That said I am NOT sure that is correct so I will go back and research it. I just read an article that talked about POV where they said if you use 1st person you are stuck with that persons observations or what they are told. However, it seems to me that if I do it wide spread there is an issue - but here it was just two small - though one was pivotal - scenes that connect the dots. Again I need to figure check it out. Because there is also the part where Peter comes up after Jason runs off and asks what happened. There again, Jason is NOT there and couldn't hear what happened. Food for thought that I need to go look into. Thanks for that. Andy

Well, um no not that either - I am not a good looking man, but in a dress I look like this: Let's stick to the suits please. I'll put the flower on my lapel.

Hey, if there is a vote - add me to the 'I want a wedding' list. I also volunteer to be in the wedding party - either side is fine, though I have to be a groomsman, not a bridesmaid, I don't look good in taffeta.

Just wanted to say that I am enjoying this very much - am up to chapter 12 so I have deliberately NOT read many of the posts on here so I won't come across stuff I still need to read. I am impressed by the level of imagination in not only the worlds but the powers and how they work. That and the sheer number of characters you introduce and give distinct personalities is really well done. Andy

Eric, Welcome to the all Apple family. Lord if I knew what a ride it would be, I would have sold my car and ate 'mac' and cheese for a year to load up Apple stock when the iPod came out. My best friend is a huge techie - owns a Bang and Olufsen franchise - told me 8 years ago to go with Macs only - it took me a few years to get what he was saying - You get what you pay for - Bought my first iBook 5 years a go when I got fed up with my Dell laptop - after 5 times sending it back I ended up slamming my fist on the key board necessitating a new laptop. :mace: My friend went to the Apple Store with me to get the new iBook. That lasted 4 years with only a new battery to buy in that time. When the desk top died, we bought a Mac Mini and followed by iPhones for both of us. Last year I bought the new MacBook Pro in aluminum to get a dual-core processor on my laptop. I did have an issue last weekend with the touch pad on my MacBook, so I made the appt with the Apple store and the dude at the Genius Bar immediately knew the problem. He fixed it on the spot - needed a new glass piece under the tracking pad. 45 minutes later I was out the door, problem solved. So yeah I am with you on sticking with Apple - so long as they don't forget that it is quality over quantity that got them this far. If they start working for 'market share' their quality will suffer and then their price point won't be justified anymore. Let's hope they don't forget what makes us stick with Apple despite the price. Now if only I could still buy Apple stock for $7.00 a share.

Nephy, Chapter 32 was well worth the wait - though I do feel a tad piqued at the end note what with all that impending doom and stuff - can't we all just get along and make love?? PLEASE??? One minor point that I think you need to fix. Nieve said this: "After all... your fathers are kings and you are princes." Rowan's dad is not Charles and I though Charles is not king, only the regent until Rowan takes over at age 20. Am I wrong ? I wouldn't nit pick but that seems kinda important given what happened to his dad and all. BUT superb chapter, really good - worth the head fake you gave us all yesterday. [this emoticon has no meaning here but I have always wanted to use it so this seemed like a perfect time!] Andy

Great Choice PT - haven't thought about that song in YEARS! Sad part is I remember when it came out. Hell I feel old today. :wacko:

Nope no access to 32 here either.

Anyta, Since you asked, here is my thought on Shane: He doesn't seem to be worried about folks finding out - at least not subconsciously - I mean he RAN to Trey's class - sat in the class he wasn't taking himself and stared at him. They also had their neighbors knocking on the wall they were be so loud when they were frisky. They did the room party together, he hangs out with Syd- who is out loud and proud it seems. And he point blank told Ryan he and Trey were Boyfriends. So I don't see Shane as being afraid of being outed or people knowing. He is not buying HRC buttons and wearing them around but he is also not acting like he is trying to hide it either. As for the rest, I will PM those to you - that way IF you like any and use any, no one will know but you and I. And I will never kiss and tell Andy

You crack me up. If I ever make it across the pond, I am going to have to look you up.[Please don't bite the little on if we bring him, okay?] I think I love the happy ending so much because I don't really believe in it, which Is REALLY weird since my life is a living happy ending - given how improbable it was the hubby and I would make it to six dates much less 15 years. Sorry you don't feel well - will send you good thoughts and positive energy. Andy

UM at the risk of getting negative reputation points, you are being a great big TEASE Nephy - Not only are you being so non-committal - which I think is good, I don't WANT to know in advance what happens, but you are deliberately WITHHOLDING chapters from your adoring public!! When can we expect 32???? Not that you are soliciting votes, BUT I would prefer a happy ending of some kind though I can see a TON of obstacles. Andy

So far I like, good job hinting but not telling me what happened. I think you captured how love doesn't let us be mad at someone we care about that much even when we want to. Glad to hear we won't have to wait too long to read the rest. Andy

This one is always a good mood maker for me. That and I had a HUGE crush on Keith Strickland when I was in college. [He is the guitar player not the singer - not into Fred ]

SInce I was your first review, let me be your first reply As I said in the review, I don't have a lot of things to offer, it was really that good. The balance btw the dialogue and description was really good - yeah there were a lot of details but they were worked into the story - in other words there weren't paragraphs of straight description - for example: The room was dark, gray walls, dark bed spread, dark rug. it had a desk, a chair, two lamps, a bed, etc etc etc. You avoid this quite well. By using the dialogue to add details, you avoided the 'lists' but still gave us the detail we needed. Things like when you were describing the 'garden' - 'if you could call it that' I believe you used. Same with the swings, by telling it groaned under his weight, we know it is old and rickety, etc. So keep doing what you are doing to write the rest. Pace is always hard to know after one chapter - how long is the story, how many chapters do you have, how many scenes do you need - that is kind of what dictated if there is too long to get to the point. My over all impression is no it is not too long. Right now you are introducing your characters in a way that doesn't just list for us their traits. We know Nate and Owen are really good friends, yes Owe said that but you showed us by things they did, know about each other, how they talk to each other, etc. Grammar, sorry, ask someone else, mine ain't so great either. But I can say any mistakes there were - if any - didn't jump out at me or distract me. So IF there are grammar issues, they are not glaring. honestly you should be very pleased so far, it was really a job and I look forward to readingm more. Andy

Not sure I want to change my entry but I would like to add a second if I might. Always thought Social D was underrated and under loved - then again I always though Mike Ness was one hot badass - before Heroin almost ruined his life and career.

HC, I read chapter 1 but I did not vote because I think it is too early for me to tell. What I mean is, with all the 'perfect' talk I am not sure if this is satirical, tongue in cheek, whimisical etc. I like it so if i were to vote simply on would I like to see it continue, my answer would be a 10. But at this point you have barely set the table for the story - and that is in no way a bad thing/criticism. I like how you are starting this, so maybe I ought to go back and vote but I will wait a chapter or two more before I do that Andy

Anyta, Dean and Jason get's fleshed out soon - can't get everything in AND move this along a bit. Clearly I am the only one who didn't like this chapter, but I think it is because I am/was trying to get to where I want and needed to fill in the blanks first. Also, I originally wrote this as being after his parents find out so I had to go back and rework a lot of it. So perhaps that is where my animosity comes from. lol

Pecan Pie - or as it ought to be called PPP [Peter's Pecan Pie] - per the request of an illustrious GA member/moderator This is super easy or as they said on a commercial, easy squeezy lemon peezy. Preheat oven to 350 you need a 9 inch glass pie pan [no size queen jokes please.] One pie crust. I . . . er Peter uses Pillsbury but feel free to make your own - makes it less easy however. 2/3 cup of sugar 1/4 cup melted butter 3 eggs 12 ounce jar of caramel sryup 1 1/2 cups of Pecan Halves - don't use pieces you will regret it Mix eggs and sugar until sugar is dissolved. Stir in caramel syrup and melted butter. Toss in the Pecan halve, leaving enough aside to put a layer on top. Pour mixture into the pan with the crust laid in. Put a layer of Pecan Halves on top. Bake 45 minutes or until knife comes out cleanly. Cool and enjoy. Homemade whipped cream is always best but NEVER use cool whip - bleckie Couple hints/tips from Peter - Caramel syrup from the organic store is better - real sugar is better than fructose corn syrup. But Hersey's or Smuckers will do okay as well. Buy two full cup of Pecans, some jars of caramel are larger than 12 ounces so more Pecans is a good thing. Also the extra pecans can be used to make the top layer I make sure the pie pan is full, this doesn't rise when it bakes so full = good. IF anyone uses this, be interested to see if you like or not. PM to let me know. Pecan Pie - or as it ought to be called PPP [Peter's Pecan Pie] - per the request of an illustrious GA member/moderator This is super easy or as they said on a commercial, easy squeezy lemon peezy. Preheat oven to 350 you need a 9 inch glass pie pan [no size queen jokes please.] One pie crust. I . . . er Peter uses Pillsbury but feel free to make your own - makes it less easy however. 2/3 cup of sugar 1/4 cup melted butter 3 eggs 12 ounce jar of caramel sryup 1 1/2 cups of Pecan Halves - don't use pieces you will regret it Mix eggs and sugar until sugar is dissolved. Stir in caramel syrup and melted butter. Toss in the Pecan halve, leaving enough aside to put a layer on top. Pour mixture into the pan with the crust laid in. Put a layer of Pecan Halves on top. Bake 45 minutes or until knife comes out cleanly. Cool and enjoy. Homemade whipped cream is always best but NEVER use cool whip - bleckie Couple hints/tips from Peter - Caramel syrup from the organic store is better - real sugar is better than fructose corn syrup. But Hersey's or Smuckers will do okay as well. Buy two full cup of Pecans, some jars of caramel are larger than 12 ounces so more Pecans is a good thing. Also the extra pecans can be used to make the top layer I make sure the pie pan is full, this doesn't rise when it bakes so full = good. IF anyone uses this, be interested to see if you like or not. PM to let me know.

I promise to flesh out the G-Parents and their home etc soon, BUT McManion isn't what I had in mind. Thing more along the lines of real Mansion, that has a name, and staff, and old as in Old money Mansion. Plus there were a few hints there about his grandparents that will come back later. Their home, impressive though it will be, isn't central right now and going into too much detail would have required I break up this into two chapters. And as I will address below, I need to move on tad, I am already close to 70K and not even close to half way done. I might need to delete a few scenes in the interest of space but will have to see as I get closer. The money issue was dealt with quite a bit right now and will show up later - as a pivotal issue, just not in the way people will thing right now, but this sets the scenery -HINT remember that 15 chapters or so from now Not saying much about much on how the door opens or closes BUT we all know it HAS to happen or else why spend so much time on it right? Pecan Pie, - okay that is biographical, [sorry it is about the only similarity I have with that character but I do love me some pie; pecan pie, and chocolate cream pie, cherry pie all kinds - just not THAT kinda pie ] I will post the recipe as a separate reply. Thanks guys I love the interaction - it really keeps me on my toes to keep things on point. Andy

Just when I think I know what's going to happen next, you confirm what I was thinking which lets me know I was WRONG! And yes they were hanging on a cliff - hanging out to be precise so there - By the way, I swear you NEVER sleep - you truly are the resident vampire lol.

Chase, You are not the first person who has said this that I have read but can I challenge you a bit on this and take the opposite side. Writing is NOT cinematic and shouldn't be thought of in the same way. In video no one needs to be told Chase smiled, or walked away or grabbed the vodka bottle or fired the gun - etc. We can see it. When you read, you need the writer to explain all this and do it in a way that is not boring. No one wants to read, 'Andy said,' 'Chase replied,' Andy answered' after every sentence but rarely do two people stand face to face and do nothing more than say a few sentences back and forth. There is always SOMETHING they are doing; glaring, laughing, smiling, snorting, picking their nose, pointing, walking away, staring out the window - you get the idea. Staccato back and forth is not much better than all the 'he saids' following each line of dialogue. All that said - this wasn't a big issue in RUST - it happened MAYBE twice if that. I only pointed it out because at one point I really had trouble figuring out who was speaking. Today I just am responding because it is intellectually interesting to me to see how others write. So take this post not as a reflection on your work but just general discourse on an idea you raised. Andy

Not wanting to hog all the space on the review section, I wanted to add something here: I know you pride yourself on NOT posting graphic sex scene and I think that is so great. I felt after reading the last few chapters - not 31 but the ones before that - you really captured the essence of how it feels when you meet someone you want to join your soul with. It isn't about a stampede toward the naughty bits. Sure there is some of that - okay often there is a lot of that - but that is the difference between romance and thinly disguised porn. So I wanted to let you know how great a job you did with that part of the story.

CJ Thanks. Your comments are not too far from my thinking. In a perfect world I could see myself living in the west in a small town, or buy a ranch or something. But your suggestion of artist colony is a good one. In Maryland, the town of Easton has started to revive itself as an artist colony of sorts. They have an art school and a lot of artists seem to be going there. The county where Easton is located - Talbot - only has 35K people. One of the People Running for State Senate there is an openly gay man and he has the support of the local Dem Party. Clearly they are not lynching the gays there and one of the reasons is the influx of artists and like minded people - so your suggestion is a good one to add to the list to be considered.. Thanks Andy