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OMG, I had forgotten all about this! What luck I get to comment first Count me in, Renee!

I love this idea

Considering her recent heart attack and complications, I consider this is a blessing. My thoughts are with her family. It's never easy to lose someone.

All my love and best wishes for as much pain-free time as possible. I hope that the time you have left is what you need to, as Gandalf said, put your affairs in order. We miss you already, to lose you permanently is a terrible loss to the community. I'll pray for strength, for you and your family.

Glad you enjoyed it. As a matter of fact, I bought that book for my brother one year. He loved it.

It's hard not to give anything away...

The people they were based on are pretty awesome too.

I will admit that identifying the passage of time is not a strong point of mine. Between Ben's own stubbornness and his admitting the need and sitting down to talk over his issues, I felt he was strong enough to take the bull by the horns and go after what he wants. When his world is crashing down, he had to figure out what was most important. He decided that was Rick, so figured out a way to do it, and focus can be a powerful tool. Meeting Rick's friend was one of my favorite parts of this chapter.

There is quite the variety in PTSD symptoms, and more than soldiers can experience it. It scared me in real-life to see it happen, so if even a fraction of that came through on screen, I'm glad.

A rocky few chapters, yes. I see that you're finding the important bits!

Thanks for sending a smile my way this evening. I'm glad to know you're enjoying the story.

My sister once did what Rick did in the story, so, yeah... not a fan, either. I have a love-hate for this chapter. There's some things I like but it was something I found myself just having to push through, like the writing didn't flow as well as I prefer. Still, I hope that Ben's quirks make more sense as you continue on.

Insta-love is one of my pet-peeves, actually, which is funny because in this case, that was actually the intent. I do love good dialogue, so appreciate the call-out!

So glad you enjoyed the chapter! It remains one of my faves.

I was going for a little tongue-in-cheek here, folks! You put us all to shame, Headstall.

You have hit upon one of the most poignant moments (to me) in the story. There are some things we can only guess at, and I wanted to leave the answers to this one unknown. I'm glad you've loved the story and I hope you find more things to like every time you read.

whoops, looks like I forgot to update the featured authors next month! In August, we'll hear from Headstall, mikiesboy, Sammy Blue, and Sash Distan.

I think the soup commercial is my favorite of the recent stuff. https://youtu.be/7rZOMY2sOnE

I never saw this ad as a "coming out" ad. Did you notice that in the pics with his dad, they're standing by BMW cars? That's what I saw with this ad, that the son was confessing he'd bought an infinity instead of a BMW. It's sort of like my Dad's side of the family always drove Fords while on my mom's side it was chevy. When I bought a Honda, they were all "whaaaa?"

So glad you enjoyed it!

Hey folks, saw this on Dear Abby column today, so am forwarding it on. DEAR READERS: A group of distinguished psychiatrists, the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry (GAP), needs help from some of you. They need feedback from gay, bisexual or transgender people, many of whom have experienced conflicts with their faith because of who they are attracted to or their gender identity. Many, while attempting "conversion" treatment, experienced great emotional distress, but never considered consulting a mental health professional because they had been discouraged from doing so by their faith community. Knowing the struggles you have experienced could benefit individuals who need help and haven't gotten it. Your input is important. It will give GAP psychiatrists a broader representation of people than they could get from any other source. Thank you in advance for taking part in this important study. The Internet address to send your comments is mary.barber@omh.ny.gov. For those who don't have email access, GAP's mailing address is: P.O. Box 570218, Dallas, TX 75357-0218. In the past, readers have been generous in "telling it like it is," and I hope you will continue because your experiences are important. Your participation may help to effect positive changes in the treatment of patients. -- LOVE, ABBY

I hadn't realized it's been 3 years since I updated this blog. If you didn't know, I moved back home to Alaska in 2013. I was at my parents' place in Anchorage for about a month before I shipped out to a little place called Chevak. About a 30-minute plane ride from the Bering Sea, I taught at a one-building school housing grades pre-K to 12th. My responsibility was science, grades 8-12. I enjoyed myself for the most part, but the job there was stressful and a 7-day a week position, especially that first year when I was working with the junior class fundraising almost every weekend on top of designing three new classes. After two years I decided I had had enough of the administration and the teacher in-fighting and came home to Anchorage. It occurred to me today that I am finally over my ex. We split way back in 2007, though we occasionally hung out for a couple years after that. Then he went home to Ohio and I decided it was high time I went back home, too. It took me two years of planning and saving, but I made it happen. I was looking at my files for the Ask an Author feature of the GA Blog when I looked over some questions directed at me. I've not felt comfortable enough answering them, but I've decided it's time. I've been through a lot in the past 9 years and gained some perspective and time has healed some wounds. My ex begged me to visit last summer, so I did. I realized within a week what a mistake it was. He's still manipulative, selfish, and determined to live like a frat boy ... but I'm a stronger person than I was when we were together. It just hit me today that I'm done with that mess. I have finally moved past it, and it's like this weird, bulky weight lifted off my shoulders, like I can breathe again. The shit he put me through is done messing with my life. My physical therapist had me standing on this weird wooden board with a ball under it making me exercise my ankle and of course peppering me with questions ... and I called him my ex on purpose and without even thinking about it. And I smiled because it felt good, and I thought, Geez, what the heck have I been doing the past almost ten years? I'm asexual, so I've never been bothered by being single or not being in a relationship. Since my brother gave Mom her first grandchild last September she's been pestering me again about finding someone, but she does that to my other siblings, so I can shrug it off like the good-natured ribbing it is. She's come a long way, too, in her views, and listening when I correct her usually incorrect assumptions about GLBQTA people and ideas. Dad, well, I don't anticipate being able to talk to him honestly for some time, if ever, but he's held everyone at arms-length since he and my mom divorced last year. My best friend in the whole world is finally moving up here to Alaska and we're going to be roommates starting in the summer. Sure, I'm going to miss my wonderful view of the Chugach Mountains, but it finally occurred to me that I'm happy. While on one hand I wonder how long this has been going on without me noticing, but on the other hand ... it's about time, don't you think?

I love Galaxy Quest! Alan Rickman was indeed amazing in everything I've seen him in. He could play an amazing variety of different characters. It's incredibly sad that I'll never get to see him in another movie.

You know, I don't honestly remember anymore, but that sounds right. One of my good friends was reading it at the time, a book and not a comic if I remember correctly.