Andrew Q Gordon

I've sorted out most of the stuff I needed to get done writing wise and I will begin to dip my toe back into Purpose. I'm going to finish all the remaining chapters before I begin to post again, because I want there to be no interruption leading up to the climax. I hope to have it all written in a couple three weeks. So I can begin posting again by the end of February. Wish me luck.

Wayne, I suppose it's a bit gauche of me to comment on the story I'm helping on, but I still really loved this story. Jonas has a real feel, even though the concept is fantasy. I usually try NOT to comment on stories I'm working on because I'm always worried I'll give something away, but I figure these comments are general enough that they won't spoil things. Anyway, I am thrilled to be helping you, but in truth, you don't really need my help to make this great. I'm just riding your coattails.

Looks like I was the 'fourth' mafia with how stupid I played the game - I think you're all better off with out me next game, but I'll watch and maybe learn. Kudos to Krista - Anya would be so proud of you.

It was sad, Steve, nothing seems to bring out this emotion quite as much as holding a child that is yours or part of your family. Congrats on the new nephew. He's lucky to have you.

There are actually studies that say this very thing, that lesbian and presumably gay parents make as good or better parents because the effected needed to have a child is so great that they have to be really committed to the idea before they have children. [i say presumably gay parents because thus far there aren't enough studies - I guess there aren't a lot of yet.] I'd like to think that while things might be different for baby Q, they won't be better or worse than my nieces and nephews because I think they all have very good 'traditional' parents who 'wanted' their children very much. Oh and some one smack the [insert F bomb here] out of me if I ever throw up how much we went through and spent to have her. SO not right. YB, I don't think the question was would your trade your parents for two dads - or moms, but IF you had, would things be different. As for the other stuff, well I cook and I change the oil, Mike does the laundry and the yard work, I do the finances, he cleans the pots, in any house there are things someone needs to do and if you get past the 'traditional' (which is code for stereotype') view of who does what, then they sort of all fall in place. Mind you I'm NOT suggesting your being sexist or anything, just pointing out that when there are no 'rules' for who 'should' do what, they just end up getting done by one or the other. Speaking for me - I think that if I had two dads - and I'm totally with Cyhort, I so don't want to think of one of those two as my dad - things would be different. Mike and I have no plans to limit lil'Q or steer her to dolls over trucks or playing house over playing power rangers (yeah showing my age there). If she wants to play baseball, I'll teacher, football, same thing. I won't limit her choices to the traditional girl activities, but if she wants those, she can have them as well. I know I was always given trucks and GI Joes and 'boy' color clothes etc. I've been 'spoken' to by my female relations about buying girl appropriate colors when I pick out blues and browns - hey they sell em in the girl section though I did buy a cute onesy from the boys section last week - and I told them, she isn't going to be limited to 'girl' colors. So given how I think about things, and I don't think I'm all that special or gifted in this area - I'd say things would be very different for me.

I agree with krista, but given my horrible track record, I don't know what to believes, so I'm going to be a sheople and follow somoene else's lead this time.

To add to what Matt said, Paterno wasn't just interested in winning for winning's sake. He never earned a million dollar salary, in an age where other coaches who never achieved much were getting multimillion dollar contracts. He was the winningest coach in major college football and could easily have left for more money or threatened to leave if he didn't get more money. He didn't do either. In addition, he and his wife donated millions to the school for things like the Library. The only building I'm aware of named after him is a Library. He also made sure his players graduated. Penn State football had the highest graduation rate in Major College Football ahead of #2 Standford. He would bench players for skipping classes and had teachers let him know when it happened. So in an age when winning was the yard stick coaches were measured by, he chose to be measured by his players getting an education. It didn't hurt that he won more games than any other coach, so it proved you could do both if you were committed to education and not just winning football games.

Krista, Thus far, I've been wrong every time - so I'll go with you this time. Unvote - Merlin Vote - EmDee

Well, that's a real pisser. So there are 7 left, 3 mafia, 4 townies. If one of us townies votes for another townie, the three Mafia will all vote to lynch the townie and the came is over. We totally screwed ourselves, not getting one Mafia member in the process. Sigh, Nephy was right. I vote Merlin - No reason other than I don't know who the other three townies left are.

I promise not to chuck or abandon this, just need a wee bit of time to get it done right.

Jeez Mark, you bucking for King of Cliff - 2012 already???? Roberts - gone; Gaitling - gone, who'll be left for Granger to get his randy moods on, Lllewellyn had better get ready cause he's going to end up constantly being nin the wrong and have the captain personally administer his punishment. If I recall my history correct - St. Vincent was a minor victory blown into more based on England's need for a victory - any victory and it gets Jervis - not Nelson who was most to 'blame' for the victory - a 'promotion' to Earl. Guess this is where and how Nelson earns Jervis his peerage.

Given how late I started with lil' Q, I don't think I'll ever get to be retired OR a grandfather, but it's getting into more of a routine so I'll be back to this soon Thanks Dave, you and other readers encourage me more than you know when I feel like chucking this and saying the hell with it. Andy

I have to thank Anyta - my beta reader - for suggesting the end be from Jason's perspective. This was really an extension- not a sequel, more like a companion to Sec. Shot and it tied up the one glaring loose end - so it made sense that to wrap up everything, it should return to his perspective to end - end it - for now Thanks for reading and I'm glad you enjoyed it. Andy

Stew Thanks for reading and the review. Yeah, I'm something of a romantic too - not sure I could have let them break up as part of the story. maybe they'll make it forever, maybe not. We all know that first loves work sometimes and don't others. " Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed it, and yeah The Trial is kinda L & O., though I think this is a bit more true to life than the TV show - not that I'm biased mind you. Andy

I know there are a few people that are wondering - WTF happened? Where's chapter 26? Here's an update. Those of you snickering - yeah you, your, mom, you husband and your beta readers - work with me, pretend okay? So I'm back to work and working on something with a semi-firm deadline so I have to put this on hold for a tad. I am very hopeful to get back to this and finish it in February - then I will post the last few chapters. Promise - with no interruptions. One a week til it's done. So give me a month or so to finish it and I'll wrap it up. Andy

As one who travels between Charlotte and DC often - going there today as a matter of fact - it's a $180 round trip airfare to BWI [baltimore] or about a 6.5 hour drive. Never done the bus thing, nor the train, but I'm sure they are both longer. Hopefully you make it. Maybe hitch a ride with Momma Rush - she loves all her GA children.

Count me in the no category. Clean Shaven Man

Welcome - Karl/Roan - be care of Bee - she takes care of horses - if you give that descriptions she just might try to stuff oats down your throat. J/K - kinda, sorta, not really. But welcome still You mean you're not sure what to say hello? Well Hello back either way. welcome and enjoy. Joe - welcome. Talonrider explain what warn status means, but only you can tell us if you were bad. [well you and Santa Claus I suppose. ] Andy

Nephy - you're probably right, and I planned to enjoy every stage - well not tweenage when she starts squealing for the twinkie little boy band members she has to meet or she'll die. YB - It's called Family Medical Leave [FML for short ] and I got and took 16 paid weeks. Lugh: Both - it's call School, but it's a day care until they're 5 when they have an optional kindergarden. Lil' Q may go to that because her birthday falls outside the cut off for Kindergarden, so if we let her go there, she can go right into 1st grade on schedule - if we want or she can go to the Public School Kindergarden instead.

Who said anything about growing up?? I said it's his last year before getting old. YOU might not be old, but you're not a gay man - trust me in gay years, this is it for him.

Happy birthday dear, enjoy your day, but don't expect to be allowed to keep the crown, the would be pretenders do not respect birthdays.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RILEY!!! In this your last year before you turn old - may your hands stay safe and circumstances be properly sized . Yeah - boo me, totally lame, but it's way early and the kid kept me up.

Oh Mark, you had to go there didn't you? You had to let poor Mr. Llewellyn fall prey to his naughty, randy Captain? Pretty 'neat' how you had Granger split the fleet so that the numbers were now on the side of Jervis. I mean Dons to the left of me [14] Dons to the right of me [13] and into the valley of death sailed the 15 ships of the line meaning it was 15 to 14/13. Is that really how it happened?

So Qildor fell for Magath, surely no coincidence. There's too much at stake for that. Magath seems more than he is, but what is the more? Tricky you for leaving so many balls in the air

Okay so I'm not sure what to make of Qildor. I assume he's our 'hero' protagonist, but thus far he's not the most likable character. Seem arrogant and self centered. Then you call this The Legend of Khaalindaan but Qildor is Aglanthol and thus an enemy of Khaalindaan. Well we know that Qildor has the hots for the 'peasant' but will the taciturn villager have a thing for a court dandy, hmm. Sorry if my reviews are bit less review and more irreverent commentary. if that upsets you, tell me and I'll stop.