AFriendlyFace

**Applauds** YES! I don't know if it helped Luc but it certainly made a lot of sense to me! Thanks

https://www.gayauthors.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=3606 Yes, I know what you mean. As for the Spirit of James I'd say that's my favourite of the short stories, definitely worth checking out

Hey Annush I think you're right, I almost left the short stories off the poll but then decided people would probably be saying I should have included them lol **shrugs** tough to win . Of the short stories my favourite is definitely The Spirit of James Oh and if you really were wondering the word is "stereotyped" in English. But you're English is AWESOME! I took French in high school and I really can't remember anything Well there had be rumours that the blog was going to be closed, though I never heard that/read that directly from him so I don't know. However, either way I don't think we ought to worry, according to his profile he was online at GA yesterday. So he's probably fine. Anyway take care everyone and have a great day! Kevin

Thanks Maya! I loved that poem, it was kinda sad, but good. I'm so glad you posted it for us! ***wonder's how he didn't see it before now*** Anyway have an awesome day! Kevin

Yay for Ben's birthday! I hope you have an absolutely, unbelivably fantastic day! Then an even better year Can't wait to hear about the surprise You're the bestest Kevin

You can have some of mine if you like Don't worry only 4 more to go

LOL Matt, only the "ou", lol it just makes sense! On a side note, GRrrrr TOU looks to be edging out TLW. Oh well good thing I love them both

I like that, and paint is such a nifty program. In fact when I was a kid and we got our first computer that's what I was most excited about BTW, I really love that thingy in your sig.!!!

Hey Luc Whoever you are is just fine, I promise. -Kevin

oh Adam! I'm just so happy to hear that! I hope things only continue to get better Yay for you!

Hi Green I agree with Shadows and Kitty, and I don't really have much to add to what they said. However, it also sounds to me like you're doing a very good thing, so you should be proud of yourself too. I'm sure it'll all work out for the best, and hey on the bright side maybe this will unite Chaz and Selene . Be careful and it really is sweet of you, take care. Kevin

He Viv! Wow that does sound like quite a trip! LOL I can definitely empathize with your son though. When I was a kid I'd pretty much insist that we stopped at EVERY exit. I'm not sure what it was but being in a car made me have to go more often. Anyway I'm glad to hear you mostly had a good time and I hope you're not too worn out from the trip (I know I would be lol). Can't wait to read the next chapter! Take care and have a great day! Kevin

...Well I feel like a big jerk now . I'm sorry David. I didn't mean to insult Nicky and certainly not you. I just meant that you could see quite a bit of growth and development in Nicky, and it was also evident at every stage in the story that he was trying to be a good person. oh good Yep I hope he did reform his ways Right that makes sense. I can definitely understand it as him being in a sort of limbo stage, waiting for someone to either confirm his guilt and fears or dispel them and instead confirm his hopes. I definitely thought all along that he "knew" he was gay too. And yep I'm sure Nicky's self-assurance was a major boon to Calvin. LOL it is a pitty we can't ask him! Anyway take care and have a great day

Ohhhh Good Luck and way to go!

Hey everyone I just thought it might be fun to do a poll to see what everyone's favourite is now that we're far enough into With Trust for people to make a judgement on it. My favourite is by far The Log Way! Next up would probably be Desert Dropping but maybe The Ordinary Us it's a tough call. Then I guess With Trust, The Spirit of James, Under the Mistletoe, and Valetine's Day Goes to the Dog. Anyway for me definitely TLW Take care everyone and have an awesome day! Kevin

I think what bothers me most about Nelson is that he seems to be...well almost like a gay version of Caleb. I mean I keep getting the impression that his main interest in Milo is definitely sexual. Sure he's put up with quite a bit of stuff from him, and he's been good to Milo, but would he have done this if there were a whole town full of other hot, available gay guys? Basically it seems like he's just taking what he can get because he doesn't have many options.

Perhaps you could trap it in a jar or something and take it down to the pond.

I quite enjoyed the story I have to say that I enjoyed the philosophical ideas and themes running through it first and foremost and the actual plot and characterization secondarily. I have virtually no knowledge of Buddhism beyond what one would naturally pick up. However, I found quite a few of the philosophical ideas presented here quite stimulating. I'd really enjoy having a conversation on the nature of happiness, existance, and time (as it relates to "being") with someone knowledgeable on these matters from a Buddhist perspective. Not that I'd likely agree in most regards, but then that's what would make the conversation interesting: the learning of new ideas. As Kitty said about books on the subject, I'd probably only be interested in the intellectual side of it, but I would be interested. Philosophy is something I find endlessly stimulating and enjoyable; I'm always pleased to examin my ideas in a new light and from a new perspective. Anyway as far as the storyline itself goes, I'd have to say that two things struck me most. I was curious to know what happened to Vic. For some reason I got the impression that he was likely going to commit suicide, though that was just an overall feeling I had and not necessarily based on any textual evidence. The second point is that I found Calvin's transition from troubled, questioning teen to a (fairly) self-assured and comfortable-in-his-own-skin individual a little awkward (much like this sentence ). I mean one minute he was on the verge of tears over the fact that he was gay and seconds later in the same conversation he was agreeing with Nicky that it was natural. But perhaps he was wrestling with the issue already and simply needed someone to present that side convincingly enough for him to take up that stance. Also I have to say I thought Nicky seemed like an extremely selfish individual. He only seemed interested in how people's feelings and actions would impact him. Calvin's chattering teeth were keeping him awake, his whimpering was making him lose sleep, "What must Calvin think about ME after having almost been raped" (obviously paraphrased significantly). But I suppose this is done to further illuminate his growth and progress. And it did make him seem more realistically like an adolescent (not that adolescents around here act like that, I seriously think we've got a much more mature crop than you'd typically find, but some teens are stereotypically known to behave in a self-centered manner. Just not ours ). Anyway I really enjoyed the story and it gave me fun, new things to think about. You did an excellent job David! Kitty you're editing was superb! And Xandra I LOVE the banner and other artwork, WTG! Take care everyone and have a "Zen" day. Kevin

Hey David! First off I wanted to comment about Seeking Nirvana. I quite enjoyed it, and my response to Nicky's riddle would be, "The same as it's always been and always will be". The philosophical themes running through it were definitely the most interesting to me. In fact I'd quite like to have a conversation with you sometime about the nature of happiness. And there was another topic I particularly wanted to talk about but I can't remember now . Grrrr Oh well maybe it'll come back to me later. Anyway as far as actual comments about the story, I'd say first off I wonder what happened to Vic. It seemed to me for some reason that you'd hinted that he was going off to commit suicide, but that's probably not what you meant, it was just the first thought that popped into my head. Secondly I have to say that I enjoyed the story first and foremost for the themes and ideas running through it and secondarily for the actual plot and characterization. I guess it's tough to get attached to characters over such a short span of time, but I just didn't find myself empathizing much with Nicky. Of course that may have just been because I literally couldn't see myself in his position. Anyway I definitely enjoyed it, and I'm looking forward to chapter 10 of SOOTB Oh yeah, and a quick question. What are you going to do about litter facilities for the cats? I'll probably just take mine in their box and hope they don't need to "go" while we're on the road. It'll probably take just under 5 hours counting stops, so hopefully they should be fine, but do you have some tiny litter box or something that you're going to put in the box for yours? Well I hope you have an awesome day and watch out for the mosquitoes! Kevin

Couldn't have said it better myself! Yay for happy Adam!

....I can just hear that being uttered by one over zealous missionary about another.

Hey Luc I'd love to see those pictures too! I'm so sorry to hear about baby girl and the kittens . I grew up around ALOT of cats and I know how wonderful they are and how easy it is to get VERY attached. Currently I just have my Lucky and Timmy, and they're teriffic! Anyway take care and have a great day! Kevin BTW I liked the poems too

Hey Rekop, Thanks, I do feel much better knowing that I've got my online friends to keep me company in the early weeks Thanks everyone

Hey Kaiten Thanks I certainly hope you're right! Yep they are fun to drive! LOL I quite like it now that I've gotten used to it I'm sure you'll never have to worry about number 2 happening You're right though when things are going well I'm always thinking "gee, if I can just not screw this up!" Yep that's what I mean. I guess it's a good thing that we don't understand it though lol Yep I hope to avoid it too, lol but I've more or less accepted that it's going to happen a few times. I hope you have an awesome week, Kaiten, Take care Kevin