AFriendlyFace

Personally I think the guy does have too much chest/stomach hair. He's got a great torso, and if it were hairless I'd be all over it, but yeah I would think he'd be hotter without the hair. Just my preference though.

... As a moderator (whose job it is to keep threads on topic) I feel a bit like a failure now! On the other hand given the off-topicness of my own post it's a bit hard to dispute! -Kevin

I'm celebrating doing quite well on an exam which had major implications for my future (though hopefully temporary) career in education.

It does seem time for an East Coast location to me as well. I say this as an unbiased southerner.

*gasp* **picks jaw up off floor** Oh Jamie! But you're so good at being gay! No offense but I can't imagine you straight! I thought we were united on thinking straight boys were weird!? -Kevin

I have several! -Shopping!!! Or maybe getting my hair done and a nice pedi/mani! That always makes me feel like a new person! -I also like to go out to eat at my favourite restaurant and have a few drinks of something delicious. -Often I'll seek out friends and vent to them or just let them distract me. -One of my favourite things to do is give myself a facial and take a long, hot bubble bath while listening to music! -Often I'll cancel whatever I had planned that day and just go for a nice really long walk! -Sometimes I'll sleep in. -CHOCOLATE! -The pleasures of introspection can also help! I too like to write things out. -Exercise can be great for a case of the blues! I prefer to hike or climb something personally. -Doing something new or going somewhere I've never been often cheer me up. -Doing the dishes! I know it sounds weird but I really like doing the dishes, especially if I need to clear my head and think. -General tidying up (although the dishes are always my favourite). -Listening to music does help. -So does reading. -A game (sport or card) usually helps -One of my most effective strategies is helping someone else instead. Offering support or advice usually seem to cheer me up. -Cooking! -Writing! -Painting! -Going to a museum (alone). -Going for a drive. Lots of other things as well -Kevin

I liked them Length would be something I'd very much like to have known about! Okay, I admit it, I'm kinda ADD and sometimes I just can't get through very many pages at once. At those times I might still want a story, but I only want a relatively short story. Other times I might be settling in for a good long read and I'd like to know which stories will grab me and hold me for awhile before letting me wonder off again. Then there's the simple matter of time constraints. So yes, length would be something I'd like to see, even if it's only relative length or something. In fact if I had to choose between the blurbs or knowing about the length I'd rather know about the length, even though I really like the blurbs.

Well I'm an extremely pan-spiritual person. I'm comfortable picking and choosing what I like about each spiritual/religious discipline and applying it in whichever way seems best for the circumstances at hand. As a result I'm extremely open-minded about such things, but also there's a firm skeptical, scientific side of me that discounts much, perhaps even all, or religion and spirituality. Christianity is the religion I 'follow' (although really I often tend to bend it to my will as I see fit ); however, just as I allow it to coexist with my scientific, skeptical side so too do I allow aspects of others faiths and spiritualities to coexist with my Christianity. By nature I don't think there can be or should be empirical, scientific evidence for any religion or spiritual concept. They would lose their 'otherworldliness' and the fundamental things that make them spiritual if this were to be the case (at least in my opinion). By definition 'faith' is something which you cannot know or prove beyond a belief in your heart. Do I believe in reincarnation (or ghosts, angels, ESP, etc.)? I guess I'm a hopeful 'I don't know'. I suppose I wouldn't really be surprised or alarmed either way. Do I think it's happened to me? As in did I have past lives. No, I don't think so, but if I did it would be irrelevant since I don't remember them anyway, and I don't feel as though they impact my current life. Of course they might impact my current life in a way that I cannot be cognizant of. If that's the case it's still largely irrelevant because they're ticking along doing their thing anyway. I think it would be nice if they existed and I had conscious memories of them, failing that I don't suppose I care either way. Anyway remember everyone: Jesus saves and Buddha recycles. -Kevin

Wow! Well done you guys, with the hindsight of chapter 44 it looks like several of you made some really good guesses!

Good point! HAHA, Steve, I love the new acronym! Good chapter, looking forward to the next!

I correctly guessed that at this point Instinct is not dead! ...mind you I did it after reading the next chapter

Nah, I found the comments against gay culture and regarding misogyny to be much more provocative.

LOL, well I have had experiences over the course of my life. I should hope there will be others, but regardless I'm still in a position to evaluate the ones in the past.

Great picture, Gabe! It's very artistic and you look very beautiful in it.

There are ALOT of parallels between deaf culture and gay culture! Not to mention somewhat analogous histories and perspectives. My best friend is an interpreter for the deaf (and gay, but not himself deaf), and so I've had this conversation ALOT. I'll probably chime in with more later, but I actually have too much to say on the matter and too little time right now to do it. Incidentally, while I don't have concrete statistics and also while the people who have given me this information have themselves either been gay, deaf, or gay & deaf, it seems that there's a much higher incidence (proportionally) of homosexuality in the deaf community. I personally know 6 deaf gay males and a deaf lesbian, in real life, and then several more deaf gay boys online! Good subject, Robbie -Kevin

Well done, Old Bob! I'm happy for you! It is indeed wonderful to be 'lucky in love'. I think it's something most people desire very much! Looking back over the Love and Lust relationships/encounters I've had over my life, I don't regret any of them either, so I suppose I've 'been lucky'. On the other hand, I have not found enduring (romantic) love...but then I'm not sure I've even been looking for it *shrug*. So I guess I've been lucky in love, but I could stand to be luckier

LOL, this sounds to me like we're in for a BIGGER cliffhanger after reading those 4 paragraphs!! *looks at his watch* Ahm, so just where are these paragraphs?!? (Surely 9:30 am is considered evening? ) Yes, if it gets really popular and mainstream goat meat may become known as a staple in the gay diet.

LOL, I think I have to disagree with Graeme! Well you're right, but it sounds to me like Jonnie might also have a ways to go on his quest (no shame in that, nearly everyone does ). For example what I took from it was that in many ways he was being counter-gay culture, and doing his best to avoid stereotypes. While it isn't healthy and meritorious (in my opinion) to say "oh look I'm gay" and then rush out and start acting as stereotypically 'gay' as you can, it similarly isn't healthy and meritorious (again just in my opinion) to actively resist everything you can. It is my belief that people are best off just being themselves and if they fit stereotypes, great, and if they don't, great. Personally speaking I fit quite a few and I don't fit quite a few, and I have a wide range of degrees to which I either embody or disprove them. Ah, well as it turns out I am considering a career in this field. (I could leave it scandalous and open to speculation, but I'll clarify that I mean a career as a gay activist not as as a porn star ) I definitely do agree with that; however, your being male and white IS a pretty darn major aspect of who you are. It's unfortunate that is, personally I think gender and race (and obviously sexuality) should be completely irrelevant. But they are NOT. Society will not let them be. You are treated and (whether it's pleasant to admit or not - I hate admitting personally) act completely different because you are male and white. I definitely bemoan this fact, but it's inescapable in today's world. I agree that being gay or straight is no more significant than being male or white, but race and gender are pretty darn significant and so is orientation. It sucks, I wish all three were societally irreverent - and definitely personally irrelevant - but they are not. As I said, I can't stand admitting that I do and don't do certain things because I'm male and not female. I can't stand realizing that people look at me and make certain assumptions about me because I'm white. I can't stand knowing that my sexuality does influence my world view. I try very hard to completely blend gender, racial, and orientation lines. I try very hard not to give such things consideration and to conduct myself in whatever manner feels most natural to me. However, I can't deny the relevance these things do hold in my life, and I dare say that for quite a few other people who haven't given them as much thought and merely behave as they've been socialized to do, they probably hold even more significance. The way I understand and interpret the difference between 'homosexual' and 'gay', is that all gays are homosexual, but not all homosexuals are gay. Being 'homosexual' only relates to one's sexuality, being gay includes sexuality but incorporates a whole range of other cultural, historical, and social phenomena. It has been my experience and is my opinion that typically an individual who is 'gay' feels better about their sexuality, and is healthier and better adjusted (physically, emotionally, and spiritually), than an individual who is only 'homosexual'. As I said, this is just my opinion and this is just my opinion generally and overall not in every instance. For me the word 'homosexual' holds more negative connotations than the word 'gay'. I'm very unlikely to refer to myself as a 'homosexual' unless I'm having a very scientific discussion. In every day conversation, and certainly in a conversation related to any other discipline besides science I would always refer to myself as 'gay' instead. Actually, while we're on this topic, it's interesting to ponder if, according to the structure I've discussed above, all 'gay' people do have to be 'homosexual'. Can a straight or bisexual person be 'symbolically gay'? My answer would be 'yes and no' and to some extent, but not completely. In many ways I could consider myself a 'symbolic lesbian' and perhaps even a 'symbolic bisexual', because I have a great deal of support and interaction with the communities and I know a great deal about their issues, history, and culture; however, I definitely don't think I can experience lesbianism and bisexuality to the same fullness of extent that a natural lesbian or bisexual can. I wholeheartedly agree here! One should always have the prerogative of labeling (or not labeling) one's self however one sees fit! I enjoyed that! Take care all, Kevin

I was disappointed I didn't see it there! I'm looking forward to the next installment! Glad you finally found a spot and enjoyed the movie! -Kevin

Ouch on the palms! You'd better take it easy before you sprain your wrist! Congrats on the good fitness though!

I agree!

...this blog entry I'll just get bored and post a new one. However, I very much hope that someone notices my Anthology entry. It's the first time I've actually finished one AND decided to turn it in, quite an accomplishment let me tell you In other news, I had an all around productive day writingwise. I bashed a chapter of the BMAD sequel and also my entry for the "Anniversaries" anthology (why not do two in a row right?) On that score though, and I'll be very busy the next few days, so I probably won't be around much. Take care all

Well, I was thinking today that being gay was probably the best thing that ever happened to me...so I thought this was an appropriate place to share that

Amazing job with everything CJ, Steph, and Graeme! You guys well did a lot of work for us and it was a job well-done!! And special thanks also to Steve and Tiff, as well as so many others who took the time to offer thoughtful, insightful comments on the pieces! I for one really appreciate it I of course have to give special thanks to Sharon for not only editing, but also informing me that my 'random short story' fit the theme of the anthology, and then for 'nagging' me ( ) enough to submit it! Thanks very much also to Tim for beta reading it, and once again to Graeme, Steph, and CJ for putting up with me and ironing out all the details Kevin