Lugh

It's not really a problem around here as far as too many people volunteering. Consider: 40 hours community service is one hour a week for 40 weeks or about one school year. If you do that in your 10th or 11th grade year, so it can easily go on your college applications as being done, and considering the types of things the school considers community service, it's easy to get done. It is required here as well of all students (50 hours). DC did his last year (before officially starting high school) by "volunteering" as a camp counciler for boy scouts. He was not paid, so it counted. If he opts to do it this year, he will be fifteen, and he will be eligible for pay. In fact, I think that community service is good for the boy, and last year he managed over 200 hours, but that is beside the point. It is not the place of the school to determine my child should be punished with community service. It is the place of a judge or me. For another example: if the weather holds... this saturday about 200 boys and men will be going to a local national park and doing trail clean up. They will be working for approximately 8 hours with a lunch break. I'm sure they will not "work" for the whole 8 hours, but they will get 8 hours community service credit for showing up on time, leaving with the group, and working while they are there, then returning with the group. He don't really need the hours. He likes to do it. I'm sure there are similar oppurtunities in every comminity.

This is true Tomas, however, school authority does not extend to the activities of minor children during any hours that are not covered by the school including computer time, weekends, after dark, and when they are out partying with their friends. If that were the case, should I sue the school for contributing to the deliquency of a minor when he calls me a bastard and when I go to correct him he informs me if I hit him he will call the police? AND when I call the police THEY REFUSE TO TAKE HIM? I mean, if they want to deal with him all the time, the police can take him there at 11 pm when he is picked up for breaking curfew, right? But oh yeah I forgot... they said that if he gets in so much trouble they can expell him. What good does THAT do? Gives him more time to get in trouble? That's intellegent and part of the problem with our system (educational and judiciary). Anyway. If I get locked up, send me stuff I can have. And I'm going to need a typist. Any volunteers?

I took a writing haitus for nearly two years... just getting back in the saddle... it's all good. I think that people should really just mind their own business when it comes to other people coming, going, or doing neither, unless it truly affects them.

I think this is an invasion of privacy and personally would fight the community service or any other punishment. There was no drinking on school property, during school hours, or that affected a game/practice, that makes it a family issue not a school one -- period. Better yet, my child would show up at school the next day with an over night bag looking for his bed cause if they want to take over raising him then damn it they can house and feed him too. Be like oh since you are "in leiu of the parents during school hours... he has an ortho appointment at 9, be on time." And "which one of you do I call if I can't pick him up from soccer since you don't want him alone and maybe getting in trouble and all?" Oh yeah I would so make a huge stink out of it. Might not be able to sue but it wouldn't get out of the news for a while. As for the person who took the picture and put it on facebook, and the one who turned it in to the school... heh... they would get theirs. Depending on their ages and involvement there might be legal charges. Oh yeah a big stink.

um can you say "required reading"? not only that but position papers and the such... yeah some of them are boring but the ideas behind them are rather interesting if you cut through the blather.

Personally I think you should go to the toy store and have a look-see. Most of the employees there are very knowledgeable and you can sorta handle the merchandise (they often have some out of the packaging so you can feel the different materials) Once you have a better idea you can purchase anywhere you want. If you are nervous about going into a local store, take a road trip... however most the people in adult stores are very discrete. Personally I like things with bumps, or progressive widths, that way I can um... choose my size.

No, it's a default thing, there are more cut guys than uncut, so I get the girls too. Trust me, teasing from Lugh is a good thing. Ignoring from Lugh... bad... very bad.

To be quite honest Mark M, because sometimes we talk about very adult gay sexual topics in there that young queerlings (those in the 13-16 age group) really do not need to know about and older queerlings (16-17) don't need much info on unless they ask specific questions. I will not get specific here but if you want more info PM me.

I know... shame you don't come by more often so you I can tell you to go to hell more often... anyway... you didn't say if you liked my rules or not... you had a lot to say about Rob's rules... I think you like him better.

New Chat Rules Lugh's Version Be aware that there are cliques in chat. Dissenters shall be bitten. Noobies must register with their team captian as soon as possible: cut to Linxe; uncut & female to Lugh. When there are no mods, Lugh is in charge. When there is no Lugh chaos reigns.

so Hoskins... Atlanta is all three of those things?

If you were to hear the following phrases in conversation what US City or State pops into your mind first: "redneck hell" "the gay mecca USA" "the middle of nowhere" Thank you, Lugh the grumpy old man of chat

I agree with James... trackball

snickers at the pile of kitty litter hiding the decaying corpse of the Buddhapest... Birthday? hah...

heh six months to live... I think I would live it like I've lived this year... doing things that aren't all that normal for me... just because I wanted to or because I can... but I might take DC with me. He wants to see the grand canyon, we would go there and do an alaskan cruise, too. I guess the six months would be about making sure he had some really good memories. I would also take some of that time to make sure he was settled into a place to live without me and getting along with his new "parents", settled in school, and doing well. I think that would be the hardest part.

I bite. However, I've had my shots. Welcome. Look around, read some things. Talk if you want to. And you do know you can go by Josh.

The GLBT Bookshelf So, what all do you think of this as a resource for our community as a whole?

e-gads now that one sounds like my kind of place (the sloth one)

I find it amusing that Louisiana Writer had a whole bunch to say, all of it wrong, btw, on the origin on sweet potatoes and yams and when his little "+" point went away he suddenly had nothing to say. Well, I've been holding back on this post, for a number of reasons, but mostly because I really was hoping that more people would comment, or at least vote. Sweet potatoes do come in purple. They do come in Pink, although it is a shade of the purple. Paya's friend had one at a resturant the other day. They also come in Orange, Yellow, White, and nearly Brown. (See Wiki: Sweet Potato) They are not related to the African Yam. African Yams are not currently sold in the USA. People in places other than the United States may have access to both the African Yam and the American Yam, which to me would be confusing, but they don't look alike so it should be okay. Purple sweet potatoes can be found in Asian markets, oddly enough, most easily. It's where I found mine for this holiday. I've been told they do not taste exactly the same, but the flavors are similar. I'm not quite sure what that means, but I've had orange and yellow sweet potatoes and they taste pretty much the same to me, I can't see the purple ones tasting too much different. Time will tell. Thanks for participating.

you forgot "better half" said with a smile it denotes "spouse" but is not as um.. demeaning?... as "other half" I think.

DC and I both survived a probable case of piggy flew (we didn't go to the doctor's office to get tested and infect other people). It was a little worse than normal flu, lasted a little longer too, but we are ok. He still has to get the vaccine when it becomes available due to other factors. I support that. He is not happy, but he agrees that the vaccine is probably better than having that nasty flu again. He gets the regular flu shot every year, and rarely gets sick so it was not a pleasent two weeks for either of us. There have been a few cases of negitive reactions in this area, but they are very few and very far between. I'm not all that worried.

meeting for the first time... AT CHRIRSTMAS 1. not too personal 2. not too gay come on people ask the bf for recommends then treat them like family... what would you seriously get your mom for Christmas? Your dad? Siblings? Some things are just universal... some things are taboo in some families... ask the BF about things that just are not allowed too (we don't give clothing in our family). Also depending on the seriousness of the relationship, why not have joint gifts? (ie from you and the BF together and a level up on the priciness scale) Also, if you are coming for Christmas dinner, bring a wine and/or a dessert, even if it's a mix you just added eggs and baked depending on their (or your) traditions. Good luck.

This topic came up in chat last night. And with USA's Thanksgiving coming up I was curious about people's opinions. So, Opinion away...

Hey Graeme... Some of these might work better than others but here is a list of books to look at: Is Your Family Like Mine? When Grown-ups Fall in Love Asha's Mums Zack's Story How Would You Feel If Your Dad Was Gay? Families Gloria Goes to Gay Pride Heather Has Two Mommies The Day They Put Tax On Rainbows Duke Who Outlawed Jelly Beans One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads My Two Uncles Uncle What-is-it is Coming I got them from the PFLAG website, just so you know, there were lots more but these were the most interesting (to me) of the lot.

I would suggest you make a trip to the library and locate some books/videos (via card catalogue) with some gay families to introduce the topic into your household. You can make this casual reading/viewing over a few weeks and see if there are any questions, or read/view a few then talk about different types of people in the families, different types of love maybe? Your situation is quite different, I would think, from most other people at this point in your lives and that should be addressed and stressed. Also you might want to see if there is a PFLAG type group in your area that might have some suggestions/literature for you. There may be other kids their age with one (or more) gay parents they can talk / relate to (if that is what you want). So that they know they are not alone in the world (ie the only kid with a gay parent), especially as they get older. If I think of anything else I'll post.