comicfan

I don't know about anyone else but this year can be over, and it isn't soon enough for me. Just to recap the worst highlights - Dad went into the hospital in October with massive blood loss. I was up every day for over two weeks before I went back to work and really needed a break from my break. Dad then went to rehab after three weeks in the hospital. He remembers ambulance rides to the hospital and to the rehab center but not the time spent there. HE will finally come home from rehab on New Years Eve Day just in time for the last day of the year. I have been through the mill with my health, suffering from a stomach virus, a cold that nearly put me in the hospital, being diagnosed as a diabetic, and now taking enough meds for high blood pressure and everything else that I could open my own pharmacy it feels like. Not fun. Add in Thanksgiving, my father's birthday, my birthday, and Christmas and you have a lot of lonely time. Thanksgiving had to be spent on my own because my job was opening and while my cousin invited me for dinner at 5 work began at 6. Thanksgiving was also my father's birthday so I planned to spend lunch with him. Of course the home ran late and after waiting three hours I had to go so my whole day consisted of a bologna sandwich and eggs which I had for breakfast. My birthday came and went and I did get a gift from a close friend a bit late. Which was in a way good cause that was all I had for Christmas. You would think with all the hours I have been working I would have lots of extra money. The truth is I seem to have less because I am now picking up more stuff and paying more of the bills that Dad took care of. I have Christmas gifts sitting here for three friends that I haven't got the money to send yet till Friday when pay day arrives. The nice thing is there are people who care. I got a surprise gift from a very sweet member here on the site that I never expected. I am not saying these things so people feel sorry for me. Just more of a, guess what, I survived and still hope everyone had a great time sort of thing. The end of this year saw Jonas disrupted again, almost for the exact same reason as last time. No I promise I haven't forgotten him, just put nearly my whole life on hold while I waited to see what was going to happen with my father. It was scary not knowing if he was going to survive, and then when he did what sort of condition would he be in. All I do is ask is be a little patient with me, things will get done, and keep a spare prayer for my father and I. I can use all the ones I can get. Here is hoping next year is a bit better for everyone. Thanks, Wayne

Vampires for Christmas? Not exactly what you think of when you think Christmas, but you crafted an interesting tale here. I love the take you gave this and yeah I think I would have been pissed too if that had been happening to me as a newly changed vampire. You did a great job with this and it stood well on its own, which is great for me not having read the rest. Although I will have to make time to correct that over sight.

What a beautiful story Dolores. It was just what I needed to remind myself that even in the darkness, light can be found.

What a sweet little Christmas story. I really enjoyed this and am glad to have read it. Thanks for including it on Renee's list.

Thank you Imoline. I really enjoy my fairy tales and go back to them often. I've taken a stab at most of the best known and a few others as time or ideas strike me. I've done them straight with gay characters on the side, lesbians, and gay men. Real life is just as wild. Glad you enjoyed it.

Grant has wanted nothing but the quiet party. Barney, the man telling the story, is the one who likes to make things big. When it is his turn for the party he fears Grant is going to do to him what he did to Barney, throw a party that ends up a disaster. Instead, Barney gets a very quiet peaceful dinner that is just the two of them together. I hope that makes sense for you now.

So you like the quiet, easy, no fuss sort of dinner that Grant enjoys, not the over blown parties of Barney? Hmm. Somehow I see you as more of a Barney. Sort of silent but with a wild side. Thanks for the comment Tim.

Thanks Cole. I enjoy doing the short scenes and the fun you can have in a prompt. Glad it came out well and was easily understood.

Yes, sometimes what we imagine is worse than anything that can be done to us. Glad you enjoyed it Valkyrie.

Glad you liked it Avid. Just trying to fit in some writing again.

When on earth was I ever going to learn my lesson? I mean honestly, sometimes I get an idea in my head and without asking I just go for it. Even if I have been told “no” it rarely if ever deters me. However, in my defense, I never had such a massive mess as Barney’s birthday. Christ, which was a party to end all parties in the worst possible way. “So your birthday is next week. I’ll have everything all set.” I smiled and leaned over to kiss Barney. “No. Listen to me. I …Do …Not …Want …A …Party

I love the Vicar of Dibley. One of my favorites. The Twelve Pains of Christmas (Sung to the tune of the Twelve days of Christmas) The first thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me Is finding a Christmas tree The second thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me: Angry husband: Rigging up the lights And finding a Christmas tree The third thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me Man getting over being drunk: Hangovers Rigging up the lights And finding a Christmas tree The fourth thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me Exhausted man: Sending Christmas cards Hangovers Rigging up the lights And finding a Christmas tree The fifth thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me Five months of bills! Sending Christmas cards Hangovers Rigging up the lights And finding a Christmas tree The sixth thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me: Nervous wife: Facing my in-laws Five months of bills! Oh, I hate those Christmas cards! Hangovers Rigging up these lights! And finding a Christmas tree The seventh thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me: Nervous wife's husband: The Salvation Army Facing my in-laws Five months of bills! Sending Christmas cards Oh, geez! I'm tryin' to rig up these lights! And finding a Christmas tree The eighth thing at Christmas that such a pain to me: Whining kid: I WANNA TRANSFORMER FOR CHRISTMAS! Charities, And whataya mean "YOUR in-laws"?!? Five months of bills! Oh, making out these cards Honey, get me a beer, huh? What, we have no extension cords?!? And finding a Christmas tree The ninth thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me A tired father: Finding parking spaces DADDY, I WANT SOME CANDY! Donations! Facing my in-laws Five months of bills! Writing out those Christmas cards Hangovers! Now why the hell are they blinking?!?!? And finding a Christmas tree The tenth thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me: A mother: "Batteries Not Included" No parking spaces BUY ME SOMETHIN'! Get a job, ya bum! Oh, facing my in-laws! Five months of bills! Yo-ho, sending Christmas cards Oh, geez, look at this! One light goes out, they ALL go out! And finding a Christmas tree The eleventh thing of Christmas that's such a pain to me: A male couch potato: Stale TV specials "Batteries Not Included" No parking spaces DAD, I GOTTA GO TA BATHROOM! Charities! She's a witch... I hate her! Five months of bills! Oh, I don't even KNOW half these people! Oh, who's got the toilet paper, huh? Get a flashlight... I blew a fuse! And finding a Christmas tree The twelfth thing of Christmas that's such a pain to me: Two men: Singing Christmas carols Stale TV specials "Batteries Not Included" No parking?!? WAAAAAAAAAAH! WAAAAAAAAAAH! Charities! Gotta make 'em dinner! Five months of bills! I'm not sendin' them this year, that's it! Shut up, you! FINE! YOU'RE SO SMART, YOU RIG UP THE LIGHTS! And finding a Christmas tree https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4NlR5KQLQ8

OMG. They really did break the mold when you were born. I feel sorry for your daughter, but I'm sure she will forgive you, eventually.

James I enjoyed this stories. I agree that sometimes the best way to help yourself is by reaching out to help others. Randy seems to be the sort to take his pain and use it make life better for those around him. Very impressive story.

I'm glad you liked the story. Children are no different than adults. When they are upset they don't make the leap to say hey if you can't find Mom, Dad is over there. Janet was just upset and alone, but she did like Mike. Glad to give him a HEA. Some of my characters just deserve it.

Happy birthday Allan. I hope it was a great one.

Glad you liked it Valkyrie. Had the idea and sort of let it run. Mike is on an upswing now.

I really love the message behind this one Bill. The ripple of effect is usually seen when something goes wrong. Happy to know what it is like when something goes right. Beautiful story, especially now at Christmas time.

OH MY GOD?!?!? What in the hell did I just read? Rudy and Santa and .... I don't know what that was. My goodness what the hell goes on in that head of yours. I thought I had the occasional wild thought but my god Mann, what were you smoking? LOL. I am not even sure what to comment on. Mrs Claus at Amazon, the elves ... well I am not even sure I want to know. I will never listen to Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer the same way again.

I joined because of Lugh. I was looking for something to read and found the site almost by accident. Then I came across Lugh's work and realized if I joined the site I could comment. Needless to say I joined, finally got into chat, and before I realized it had become one of his minions. Been here a while now and just can't keep up with all the stuff to read and review, but I try to read something from the many talented authors on here.

Okay, after reading that bit about Mark I feel like an under achiever. Hmm. Congrats to the site though for all the accomplishments and that goes to all our writers, their teams, the readers and reviewers who keep this crazy thing going. Special thank to Myr and the rest of the group behind the scenes who let this site run without most of us noticing.

Ah such a sweet Christmas story. I wonder why you panicked when it became one? I'm a sucker for animals and magic and you put both in this one. Really was a nice story. I love it when something starts so innocently and mundane, and all of a sudden you are dealing with something "other". So regardless of what Lox originally thought, he was willing to risk it all for love. Shows you just how powerful that emotion can be. Beautiful story from start to end. Thanks for sharing, Aditus.

I remember the original so well that this different rendition wasn't hard to picture. Really funny story Bill. Loved Estes a lot, he was a great character.

I always believe in hope. Seems no matter what happens there is always a chance for things to go right. Mike just got knocked around a bit, but in the end he got what he deserved. Thanks for the review, Aditus.

It took a while to figure out who was who and what their relationships were to each other. I think most of us with a sibling can see ourselves in one of the two positions. Life is never smooth and you capture that and how easy it is to get so caught up in our own lives that we miss what is happening to those around us. Very nicely done, Cole. I really enjoyed this.