KJames

Happy Birthday, Adrian, this one's not early!

Welcome back! Having read some of the stories, I would get confused if the 'author' switched as you describe in your option 2, so I agree with others about continuing the story under your brother's account--it eliminates searching for two authors or by title rather than author. As Trebs advised, use of a disclaimer is appropriate enough for works started by one author and finished by another with permission or as a tribute. You should continue posting stories he started to publish using his account, but start and manage the discussion threads, including the story notifications, using your own. In the story, credit your brother as author, and note yourself as 'editor' or 'co-author' for purposes of having finished the story and that'll be fine. Either way, I'll be looking foward to seeing how some of them turn out. It's going to be difficult--writing "someone else's" story exposes how they were thinking, to a degree, and there will be times where you will experience a sudden understanding flash of what he was thinking or feeling, either about himself or his characters, or feel as though he just told you something, verbally--as though he were standing there next to you. Don't commit yourself to any firm deadline dates as I'm sure you'll run across points where you've got to just stop for a day or so. Others use the example of It Started With Brian on here, but a mainstream example--using your second option--would be the continuation of the DUNE series in print, by Frank Herbert's son, Brian, who partnered with Kevin J. Anderson for his writing abilities. In writing the story, and fleshing it out they used Frank's notes and outlines which had been discovered in two safe-deposit boxes that were held by the estate at a bank. They use both of their names as 'co-authors', but attibute the story and its notes and outline to Frank Herbert in print inside the pages. Personally, I don't like the way Mr. Herbert's son has handled that situation--his name is on the work so the estate makes most of the money as he was never credited with assisting his father in any of the past books, and so one can infer that he has no writing ability as an established author of any recognition. But, Kevin J. Anderson has written many, many science-fiction stories and so his name recognition alone could keep the DUNE franchise alive for the Herbert estate without a co-author since, as it is mentioned, Mr. Herbert's notes and outlines were detailed and copious--to the point that it took a very detailed examination of computer printouts and reading several disks of computer files (they even had to find an old DOS machine with 3 1/2" floppys to read the disks) to determine that it was a continuation of the DUNE universe, and good for at least three more stories. We all love you for wanting to do this; so many times an author will pass, and things will just stop and disappear--as though the person were forgotten--thanks for helping us to remember.

So... Rob's birthday is the 13th...I asked him if he wanted to go to 'Vegas--silly question. So we're taking our motorhome to the KOA again. This time with two new friends, and Grandma and her long-time friend Millie... Now, ordinarily that wouldn't be so bad...but we also take our two toy poodles and my cat with us. Combine that with the fact that Rob's fieldwork site has his supervision on Thursday around 1pm, and he's got to turn in a couple forms to his college professor that day as well, since it's the paperwork deadline. So, after leaving his site, we peel through CSULB, drop off the papers at his instructor's office, head home to get the animals and to our friends to pick them up, and then it's off to the motorhome storage lot... I'll have them load the 'kids' while I do Rob (we're taking our luggage over Wednesday, ahead of time) and hookup the van/tow...but we probably won't be getting Grandma and Millie until 4:30pm! Now, the bad part about that is that Grandma's long departed boyfriend (of 26 years--they could have married, but made more money by not) never drove at night, so--she doesn't think I should drive at night. Problem is, he started motorhoming at 67, and I started at 45. I think I can still drive at night to a better degree than he could. I think she just likes to see where she's going. God help me, I've still got to call her and give her the heads up on when we're going to pick her up and why...hopefully she doesn't back out of going...but she's not going to be happy that we're getting away so 'late' or that the last two hours are going to be driving at night (dark is around 8pm now)...and when Grandma's in a grumpy mood, everybody knows it--whether they want to, or not. === On edit 6/3/10. Well, the trip got underway by 5pm, we picked up Grandma and her friend on the way up to the storage lot from Rob's fieldwork site, and dropped off Rob's final paperwork on the way, then got the pets...so all-in-all everything worked okay--even Grandma didn't have a problem with it! (Thank G-d! ) Well, everything seems to be working on the rig for a change--even though our ramp door still is warped (we had to stop twice to reclose it)--so I'm a 'happy camper' now...except that the A/C worked so good that Grandma and her friend were both complaining about the cold air blowing on them. Until it stayed off for a few minutes too long...wonderful what a little desert heat can do...<heh><heh><heh> We stopped in Barstow at the clearance outlet mall and ate at the Arby's, so that gave us about an hour's break, then we finally arrived in 'Vegas with slight traffic after Barstow at about 2:00am. Grandma and Millie were on their second wind, and ready to gamble when we checked them into their hotel, but we needed to sleep. So, all in all the trip was a success! Now to get that door fixed, permanently and correctly...

Two others I should have included, Rob likes Calamari, but I don't, and neither of us dares escargot...wierd thing is, I've had fried frog's legs.

According to Wikipedia, you're right about the US+Canada consumption v. Scotland. Having a bit of Scot, Irish, English, on one side of the family and German and a spattering of most of the rest of western and northern europe on the other, I'm not really afraid to try anything once, but the great cook in my family (clan) was my paternal grandmother--and she never, ever, made a Haggis. (Not that I wouldn't try it, but I guess that there are some things that sane people just won't do) I have had Gefilte fish, most recently this last Passover, and I don't understand the big deal--it's chopped whitefish and pike, mainly. I don't even mind chopped chicken liver--which I have to make for Passover--but is the most unappetizing thing to prepare/cook. About the only thing I know that I still can't palate is Lobster. I tried a piece when I was 2 or 3, mom insisted, and I lost it...it tasted like a piece of fat and I tried a piece a couple years ago at The Crab Pot and still can't manage to do it. Shrimps and Crabs aren't as much of a problem, though--go figure. For those that want to try making a Haggis, there are several sources of recipes, but you can try this one: http://www.foodnetwo...cipe/index.html

Yeah, but you've got to admit that Orlando Bloom isn't exactly discouraging with his looks out of makeup, either! My secret crush all through HS was a slim blonde guy with cobalt blue eyes that you could see from 50 yards away...which is how I got my first look at them and him from my locker at the beginning of lunch the first day of my soph' year. About 2 months ago I saw a guy at a Home Depot just around the corner, and I would swear it was him or lose my 'privates' if it wasn't. Damn, he still takes my breath away!

My first Pride festival was with my ex-, and it was for Orange County--held on the campus of UC Irvine, so parking (unlike most festivals) wasn't a problem. Honestly, I was with him and that was all that mattered at the time. In retrospect, I was actually very intimidated, as I had never been to one, and really didn't know anyone who might be there. Since then, Rob and I have been to five of the Long Beach Pride festivals, three as a vendor, and won't be vendors again as it's way too expensive--we might go as paying 'visitors' for the fun (but even that's $20/pp!), but the big hoopla of standing in line for 2 hours to buy a 10oz. tap beer is just not my thing--we've been to an LA Gay event, which was a bit crowded on the small street it was on, and been to a couple Bear runs in Dallas, and a Folsom Street in San Francisco. San Francisco is interesting--it's one of the only places in the US, if not the only one, where public nudity is not considered an arrestable offense (unless someone complains, loudly)...so there was definitely a lot of eye candy for everyone to watch...I'm not quite as intimidated anymore, either.

Love cats and kittens...and medium to large dogs...even when they're puppies...Great Dane puppies are hilarious to watch!

I opted to knock off Brian, and Jim and Rich Crampton. Brian would be on the observation deck of the WTC, and the two Crampton brothers in the office of a client on one of the floors struck, discussing a deal for new construction in Claremont and elsewhere. The rest of JP's family still doesn't know about Brian, so his loss is to his adoptive family only, but JP and the rest find out about Jim and Rich when the rest of the family calls from Ohio upon seeing the news that morning. A big family complication is that somebody is raising a ruckus against Jim's and Rich's wills, as well as the trust left by their father--which predate those wills and ultimately determines who will hold all the beautiful, wealthy stock of Crampton Construction Company. JP, Stef, Brad, Robbie and Darius are all touring the colleges that Darius has applied to, and end up stuck and unable to return home for several days as a result--they, because of time commitments, do like many others and--since they're fairly well to do--just buy a car big enough to hold them and their luggage comfortably and drive across country home, taking turns at the wheel. And yes, they end up making a stop in Claremont. (Just something about that town that keeps drawing them back) Matt and Wade are visiting their parents, together, and things actually go reasonably well once Matt's parents realize that Wade is 'the senator's son', since they're such brown-nosers, but Matt's lawsuit against the bank went and started a state investigation against the bank when it was later audited, even though he filed to dismiss the suit--the feds discovered an impropriety by the bank's management in the handling of Matt's Trust, and things went downhill within the bank from there. No harm to Matt, though, the feds made the bank put money back into his trust. Wade's little brother is ready to introduce Wade to his boyfriend...and to ask Wade to back him up while he comes out... Meanwhile back in Claremont, lovely little place that it is, when our 'gang' gets there it's obvious that school has just started, and kids are out on the weekend...and they all bump into the lavender-eyed Hayes' kids (the ones in High School now)...lo' and behold all three of the triplet are gay! (wouldn't that frost Fred to know that his grandkids are all gay?!?) Just a few ideas, Mark...

Ah, Jeremy, mon ami! You take the wrong interpretation from me! I was responding to the previous poster's calling Marcel a 'clunker'...we have to have his POV from time to time, just because it is different. And it's interesting for his english speaking side as well, since his primary language in Canada is French, his english might be getting a little rusty by now...

Well, Mark, the way you wrote him and had his thought processes laid out, he comes across just that way--you were successful in having the character interpreted the way you intended him to come across.

What other universities have good law schools? There are several...including one in Chicago, if I recall correctly--since someone from another board I'm on is going there currently. This might be a good poll question if we can get enough Uni's listed.

Maybe while you're at UCR you'll get some time off on a weekend and go to D'land...maybe we could meet there.

That's one thing that surprised me, J-, but Brad always seemed to be very sure of himself, and his conversations with JP and Maman always seemed to drive home that they expected him to always be sure of himself in dealing with others. Did I read that wrong, or am I putting a spin on it?

Now, MW85, you have to bear in mind that Marcel is also french...

Yeah....turning the tables on Neil was fantastic! One of the best, if not the single best, scenes in the whole series! The other would be when Matt Carrswold called some school whore a skank in front of a whole bunch of students after she called him a faggot!

The US doesn't even allow the importation of this cheese from Italy, and as with all things banned from importation, there's a hefty fine for those who try it.

How do I surpass the greatness of those last 'Happy Birthday!' wishes? I guess brevity is the heart and soul of character, so: Ditto!

The way I see it, it could only have happened if they were assigned to the same unit together. Then, during battle, a couple of guys who resembled them closely were killed in such a way that burns and facial features were unrecognizable, leaving only dog-tag ID...that would have been accepted as positive ID in most cases, especially if their uniform shirts were also switched, then they could have abandoned using someone else's identity until the end of the war...but it doesn't sound like the type of character that either of them were.

As far as when? I had it figured out by the time I was 9...but didn't really come out to anyone until 16, and finally got comfortable with the idea when I moved out of my parents the first time at 21. It is Mark's story, and I'm sure he won't disappoint us in this regard--at least one of the boys will be gay! (out of three we could get one of each--gay, bisexual and straight!) So, I'm fairly sure we'll see a very responsible, close, loving and caring set of brothers, even if one turns out heterosexual I'm fairly sure he won't have negative biases toward homosexuals. And I love you, three, Mark!

Something like that...but it ain't Tootsie Roll Pops!

It was funny to hear the two africans saying, "These are the crazy, white man's goats!"

Well...I don't so much lick as suck nowadays...it works much better!

Adam, while I have faith in Mark's ability to work "miracles" as the God of this particular story series, you must have only finished a chapter--or stopped in the middle of one. Jeff's death was no accident, and it was a suicidal overdose. His remains were identified, and verified either through fingerprints or dental records. The letter he left behind was read in one of the stories, also. Don't think I'm against you here, reading of Jeff's death was a 3-day tear jerker for me.

True, I even lost count once trying to figure it out... Benji, you need more practice, you put your answer inside your quote of me. My tongue is plenty big enough to lick just about any hand-holdable sucker...