AFriendlyFace

Oh my gosh! How romantic!!!! My very deepest and heartfelt congrats!! Well said, Viv Indeed you are, Old Bob!!

I hope they stay young together! Or for that matter there can be two dresses If/when I get married I'm rather expecting us to both dress in male attire but that reflects our personalities. For example I personally have never found that the average tuxedo looks that great. I'd probably rather opt for a modern style, fitted suit. I think that was very eloquent, Old Bob! Thanks though

Seether - "Fine Again"

Just wanted to see if there were still enough of us present to form a serious contingent. I'm not sure what we should do once we unify...perhaps we can go out scouring the countryside in hopes of turning up any new leads on Dom's whereabouts...or maybe we can just have a reunion and discuss some of the highlights. In any case I'm present and accounted for.

Well, they underline all sorts of words which aren't really incorrect. The dictionary seems very limited. For example in says: Favour, neighbour, colour, cancelled, realise, dialogue etc. are all incorrect. Granted, these are all alternate spellings, but they ARE alternate spellings, and IMO should be recognized (and not underlined) as such. Another good example is "transgender" (and a great deal many other such terms). While specific examples elude me at the moment I also clearly remember it having serious trouble with various scientific, philosophical, and religious terms. In general I don't pay a lot of mind to what the program says is or isn't correct. If I suspect I'm misspelling a word anyway I might look into it, but most of the time I just say "Nope, I'm right" and ignore it EXACTLY! People commonly mistake 'ya'll' as a contraction for 'you all'; it just isn't. It's a contraction for 'ya all' as Bob says. Actually I think Steve might very well be right! Let's note that he didn't predict they would die merely be shot. I think there's a very good chance that either Helen, Barbra, or one of the band members will be shot before all is done. I think there's a decent chance that one will be killed, but a much better chance that at the very least he/she/they will be shot.

I would definitely agree with that!! Great points, as always It's interesting because I think very often music would help set the mood for a scene and really help flesh it out. Indeed in a couple of the scenes I intend to write for a story I'm working on I really want my reader to listen to particular songs in relation to the scenes taking place. If they're able to do this while reading the scene that more power to them! I think my preference for this would be to read the scene, then reflect on it while listening to the music. In this way, despite what would probably seem like an apparent disinterest in the topic, I'm actually very much looking forward to, and enjoying, the responses of the various readers. Personally, I think the best band to embody what I imagine to be Instinct's sound and style would be Audio Slave.

Hey Viv Well I'll say this, and not just because it's the 'popular, sensitive guy' answer. Size certainly doesn't matter to me! Penises just aren't one of my primary concerns with a guy. Unless it's HUGE or TINY (and even then it's not that big a deal) I probably won't even notice very much. For the most part I think a penis is a penis and once you've seen one...well you get the idea. I've only ever seen one that I thought was really beautiful and one that I thought was really ugly. The rest were just sort of there. Getting back to being superficial ( ) butts, abs, face, hair, eyes, teeth/lips/smile, nose, arms, hands, feet...these are all things I tend to notice and care about more. legs, chests, backs, etc. are a lot like the penis, unless there's something really weird about them I just don't care that much. I still have criteria for what I think are attractive (or unattractive) about these things, but their secondary to the others. Interesting conversation with Tony! I'm glad you guys have a good resolution about the whole thing Take care and have a great day! Kevin

So this summer is going to be entirely too busy! I've been dreading it for months now, and it basically officially started for me Monday and now I'm just desperately hoping I can hold out till August. I have to take THREE summer courses, a major exams (5 hours long!), do observations and curriculum AND work full-time! Basically this translates into getting up early every morning, working, going straight to class, not getting home till about 8:30 or 9 at night (and that's for right now while I'm lucky, as the summer goes on it'll be more like 10pm ) and then repeating the whole thing over again all week. My weekends would seem to be freer, but they're really not. I'll probably have to work some weekends, plus I already have some class/school related activities planned for some of them, and then there's the simple matter of catching up on all the laundry, cleaning, house stuff that I couldn't do all week! To top it all off I'm being completely overwhelmed socially and I'm getting to the point where I want to just turn my phone off and hide from everyone! Case in point, this week has been grueling and all I wanted to do was spend a quiet weekend to myself doing nothing. Instead yesterday Luke asked me to help him finish up stuff for his house this coming Saturday (which will FINALLY go on the market on Sunday), Scott asked me to consider officially joining our church this Sunday (which he's planning to do and at the very least expects me to attend), and then William calls and tries to convince me that I need to spend the weekend partying with him and another guy in Austin! THEN Scott further decides that he wants to have a get together on Friday night for his sister who's coming to visit AND William decides that prior to going on the trip Saturday we should all go out on Friday night EUGHHHHH!! So far I've just told them all regarding all the 'plans' that I just don't know and can't commit myself. And I so don't know what to do. I feel like my 'obligation' is to meet Scott's sister on Friday, help Luke on Saturday, and go to the church thing on Sunday (although I've already decided I'm not quite ready to join myself). That feels like my duty as a good friend, but at the same time the clubbing on Friday and weekend in Austin with William sounds like a lot more fun and we've been discussing this on and off for awhile and it's something I really want to do, plus I've been spending way more time with Scott and Luke so it would be good to do something with William. Then there's the simple matter that I'm just really really physically, emotionally, and mentally tired and I really want to just do the reclusive hermit thing. What I've tentatively decided is that I won't go to work tomorrow (I can do that ) thus spending quiet time with me. Class is actually cancelled tomorrow night so I'll be able to spend the early evening with Scott and his sister, then I'll meet up with William and we can go clubbing. I'll probably end up going with him to Austin because of the plans that don't include being alone with myself that's the most appealing, something I've really been wanting to do, and something I know I'll regret not doing. I think it'll be okay with Luke because I've helped him ALOT already, he's nearly done, and I *think* he'll understand. I've also sorta let Scott know where I stand so I think he might be okay with me not going to the church thing on Sunday...on the other hand I know I'm also deluding myself...they're both going to be pissed at me and Scott will probably be disappointed/hurt. What the heck am I supposed to do though?? I already give way more time and attention to them than I do to William anyway, and William is just...fun. Like it's so easy, casual, and carefree spending time with him. Of course I know he 'needs' me less, but that's sorta part of the appeal I guess :wacko: In any case I don't see a way out of this that won't disappoint someone, make me feel like a bad friend, and result in me starting the next week just as exhausted as I am already...but I think the above plan works the best and minimizes the damage, so I'll probably go with that. BTW, my friend Josh from the last entry...entering rehab. So that's a good thing. I'm hoping it takes.

Forgive me if I've previously started a topic on this subject. I rather thought I had, but I can't find it. So I must have just discussed it before in different threads. Let me start with a rather unlikely comment: I have a problem with everyone being so down on hypocrisy! My beef is that so often you get people saying, "look at how he lives and he has the nerve to talk to me about..." Or "I can't believe she's going to stand there and say that when she..." I think that attitude is, for the most part, a load of B.S. If someone's message is good, positive, and constructive then, yeah ideally they should lead by example but even if they can't it doesn't change the fact that the message is worth listening to. I think it's perfectly fine for parents who smoke to tell their kids not to for example. Yes, that's sort of a 'do as I say and not as I do' mentality, but as I said, that DOES NOT change the fact that smoking is an unhealthy, dangerous activity, or that kids need to hear that message. The way I see it no one is perfect. Also, very often it's exactly the people who have made the mistakes and gotten themselves into the rough situations that have the most experience and perspective on the matter at hand. Take for example the reformed (or unreformed!) alcoholic who champions the cause of safe, responsible drinking. Or the individual who has contracted HIV through drug use or unsafe sex who spends their time urging others not to make the same mistake. Of course I can understand for example gay people who get outraged about Ted Haggard or Larry Craig condemning homosexuality and then having their own gay scandals, but really that's incidental. The point is that their message was wrong (from the perspective of the GLBT/allied community) in the first place! Does it make it harder to 'swallow'? Well I for one certainly wasn't going to swallow the narrow-minded message they were preaching to begin with! We might benefit from their being discredited to their followers, on the other hand I truly believe that if you felt strongly against this issue in the first place you shouldn't let such a thing dissuade you in and of itself. So, what it comes down to for me is either a message is 'good' and 'worthy' and something I want to listen to, consider, and apply in my own life, or it's a bunch of nonsense that I shouldn't waste my time with. Either way the messenger is just the messenger as far as I'm concerned. Thoughts on this? -Kevin

No worries! We're just glad to have you! I've particularly enjoyed interacting with you in the Soapbox Dan is notorious for seducing cute, young guys (with his excellent stories of course!! ) YAY! Something to look forward to then! Welcome W.L.!

I hope I'm not stepping out of place by starting this thread, but Dan has just announced his and Robert's engagement and upcoming nuptials! Congratulations you two!!!! I'm sure I speak for everyone (and even if I don't I speak for myself) when I offer you both the best of luck and an over-abundance of happiness, love, peace, and joy together! May the coming years bring you ever closer together and forever unite you in trust, love, and commitment! -Kevin

WOOO HOOOO!! YAY for this great day and event! Of course California was probably always one of the most likely states to adopt gay marriage, but nevertheless it's thoroughly exciting and I really think it does highlight an inevitable trend which will eventually culminate in gay marriage being legal in all 50 states (though this may take generations). Whoa! Oh my gosh! This is so wonderful and exciting!!! Congrats you guys! **wonders if there are wedding bells in Colin and Doug's immediate future** Probably shouldn't have said that though, no pressure One of the reasons I've always regretted a lack of teen parenthood in my own past (yeah I know I shouldn't be making light of such things, but I've been wanting a child since I was in my mid teens and having an adult one before I properly hit middle age would have been a pretty cool thing!). Congrats again to all Dan and Robert, all Californians, and the entire community as a whole! -Kevin

Just because it's your birthday thread I'll hold my tongue! Glad it was a good one dude, and I'm quite behind you on the whole celebrating your 30th birthday for more than one day...personally I'll be celebrating my 29th birthday for YEARS All the best, (The other) Kevin

That's cool! I think it's worth remembering that not only is Graeme a tireless and invaluable member of Gay Authors (and other online communities!) but also one of the best authors on the net! LOL, I've already removed my birthday from the forum information, so only the members really trying to remember will be able to A present to us all then!

I suspect that's part of the appeal. SOOOOO, what happened? Are the results in yet?

"Uninvited" by Alanis Morissette

No need to apologize for that! ...oh to be 23 again! (sorry, just couldn't resist! )

Lifehouse is just nifty, IMO! Those are good and romantic Nicole Kidman is just one of the coolest people on the planet! Robin Williams is good in the genre of romantic songs! I LOVE that song!!!! I'm listening to that song now, though perhaps not by either artist, I'm not sure who this is, but so far I'm having trouble becoming engaged with it.

Hi all, A comment made by a member in one of our threads got me thinking about this topic. Do you feel that it's necessary for a bisexual to 'come out'? What exactly would this entail? How would it change things for the bisexual? Would that be a good or bad thing? I tend to prattle on at length on the topic of bisexuality, so I'll refrain from giving my own thoughts for the moment.

Oh I quite agree! I strive to eat unprocessed foods free of preservatives. I do my best to avoid eating anything which comes in a package unless it is simply frozen foods or fresh foods bundled together in one bag/package. I also avoid caffeine and readily admit that I need to reduce my sugar and alcohol intake if I want to achieve optimal health. You're right 'corn syrup' is an especially prevalent and toxic additive. Well! What do you know!? I think I'd feel comfortable eating dinner at Lugh's house! I still find it shocking and amazing that to date I'm the only vegetarian around here! I swear there used to be more of us a couple of years ago! -Kevin

LOL, that's exactly how I feel when I try to listen to music and read/write/talk. I find that I can't properly pay attention to or enjoy either. Both end up being a waste of time! I've always preferred to give one thing my undivided attention versus multi-tasking. I am rather good at blocking things out and staying focused though. Many times I've been in a restaurant, store, or other public place and had my companion complain about a crying baby, or an irritating buzzing, etc. My response is always an honest, "hadn't noticed it until you pointed it out." I read a very excellent article several years ago about how men's brains are wired to focus on only one or two things and block everything else out while women's brains are wired for effective multi-tasking. The theory goes that this is a result of our ancient hunter-gatherer ancestors and the various tasks the genders tended to have. Something like men would go out stalking an animal and focus completely on the task while women stayed by the cave cooking said animal, taking care of the kids, and staying on the look-out for danger (I may be off a bit here, it's been years since I've read this). I don't like the theory very much since I tend to try to downplay any differences between the genders as much as possible. If I were ruling the world men and women/boys and girls would be treated almost exactly the same with the same set of expectations and opportunities. It's a rather extreme position that many don't like and are eager to point toward evidence that seems to disprove this, but to me the only difference between a male and a female is the physical bits; I think the emotional and intellectual aspects are far nearer to identical than significantly different (or at least they would be if we quit brainwashing socializing people in the ways we do). Anyway, I don't care for the theory, but it does seem anecdotally to be correct in my case, and many of the other men and women I know. Of course that's probably socialization and learning to some extent as well, and there's no telling how many cases (like perhaps you guys?) disprove it. -Kevin

Not that familiar with her work, but from what I know she sounds nice. The person below me posted on the first page of this thread!

I just wanted to wish a very wonderful, happy, and joyful birthday to everyone's favourite birthday wisher! Graeme Is celebrating his Birthday today! May it be an extremely enjoyable and special one and may the coming year treat with every kindness. Your words and efforts are an inspiration to us all! -Kevin

Yay for Menzo's birthday!! I hope you have/had an incredible one and may the coming year be sensational!! -Kevin P.S. Drop by more if you get the chance; we miss you!