Rndmrunner

Not going to have any more, we are too old. We have a lovely daughter who is in grade school now. I know the term is gaybies "cute" in posts like this but like others my daughter wouldn't stand for the label. And seriously, it is a great delight to us that while everyone is aware of us, our family is not an issue and to date we have only encountered positive receptions. In daycare though one of the little boys told his own dad that our kid has 2 dads and he wanted to have 4 dads! He figured he could have his own personal hockey team. The dad laughed but looked a little shaken.

As i said, for me one of the hardest aspects of having a pet is that you will outlive them and have to make end of life decisions. Also don't reproach yourself for the look you got, he may well have just been taking comfort in your attention and company. Dying is certainly a struggle and a caring face gives comfort

Its sucks when your dog is dying. We also have a daughter, now 8. In the last 2 years we have had to deal with both my parents dyiing of cancer and one of the two dogs we inherited getting cancer. This is not to compare or one-up you on grief. I can only say that i relate. Your girl is still to young to understand which can make it easier and harder. Harder as she can not understand why you both are unhappy. Easier because you won't have to explain it to her, for better or worse she will move on better than you. Hopefully her company will give you joy at this time. One of the hardest things about having a pet (i also had 2 dogs previously) is that one of your duties is to manage the end of their lives. Thank god our kids will outlive us. Both my dogs lived long lives (14 and 15) but it their last weeks were still wrenching. Yes it sucks to be an adult sometimes but there is comfort in knowing that you did right by your pet to the end. Maybe your dog can't eat now but it can still get comfort from yuor prescence and your tears as hopefully will you All the best

this is a great story. I particularly like the interactions with the psychologist - lovely!

coming into this story a little late. I love the characters: strong funny f*cked up, a great mix. Your dialogue is quick, sharp and brings the story to life thanks

love the banter with the mom

I didn't say he was pretty, I said he was sexy: the two can be worlds apart

Tennant, Smith and Ecclestone were/are all great Doctors but Ecclestone has a sexual energy about him that is palpable. I love how the Doctors can be so different and yet be consistent. Oh River Song is hot as well and i am 100% focused on men sexually. Its all about a rogue playful quality..

It is totally brilliant. Too bad I had hoped that this would be a discussion of the ninth Doctor - Christopher Ecclestone, who is just so totally hot!! I mean i love science as much as any engineer, but did I mention Christopher Ecclestone

What was a wonderful, sweet tale. Very inventive and touching. The only thing that puzzled me was the anthropomorphic use of homosexuality as different from the norm in the fairy world. It was mentioned a couple of time as highlighted below. Fantasy allows different perspectives and here it seemed so natural. The idea of same sex love as different was not developed as a plot structure so why have it - they were all fay after all. Please don't take this as negative, I repeat a great story Arwen looked a little shocked as she gazed over Teasels sleeping form, “Your true love is male Apple?” She then smiled sweetly, “Love is love Apple I didn’t mean to be rude, this fay is your true love and that is all that matters.”" Thanks Rick

It will all settle hopefully and suddenly Q will be in school and you won't understand how time passed so fast. Our first caregiver was a new immigrant from Pakistan and we figured that we had better be very clear that our being gay was not going to be a problem. Her english wasn't great so when we discussed it her first response to my partner was "you're the brother? the uncle?" but she quickly got the picture and had no problem. Our only complaint was that the umbrella agency took too big a cut of her fee. In the end it was great and we were sorry to leave when our daughter got a place in the daycare that is located in the school she now attends. That is priceless by the way as you get before and after school care through grade 6.

Sorry about the nanny problems. Sounds like you guys are doing great though. We found that verybody feels that it is helpful to show you the error of your ways when it comes to babies. They feel that they are being "helpful" and what worked for them, or their kids,or their sister's gorcer's kids will obviously be correct for your child. Sorry, get used to it and keep holding the line. As gay dads you are also super visible and people you don't recognise will know of you and feel obliged to be "helpful". Many are and many are a pain in the ass. We found on any issue we got the full 360 in terms of advice - at least that gave us the freedom to do what we felt was best for us. Keep having fun. It sounds like Q is adorable and you both love her to peices so that's all that really matters Rick

Hey Benji, I certainly can'y walk in your shoes but your sexuality does not define your relationships. You are 58, (I am 55, so have some idea). if not now when? You've got one life so just make sure you live it. that does not mean forsaking your marriage, family and the rest but make sure that holding in huge chunks of who you are does not close you off from the folks you love. I have it easy, I am out and my partner and i have a kid so we are SO OUT to everyone. It only hursts when a five year comes up to you at your kids school and says `So are you two the grandfathers?`

Funny, its totally gay and the boys are real darn pretty, but there is no sexual energy: erotica without the erotic. maybe i'm too old and want to see that sexxual organ that Zombie was referring to. The French seem to understand the difference between sexy and pretty though - oh and so does Daniel Craig....

I ingnored, or at least loosley interpreted, the part about "the secret" and how it could doom the marriage. In this case the relationship was secure even if the marriage might not be. Thanks for the comments

Hi Andy, just came across this story. I loved the layered culture. You have created a society that is as rich as the characters in your story. A lovely piece of work. Its stands alone perfectly but hopefully is part of a larger work - Rick

Thanks, I was worried that it sounded too much like a diatrabe, which is why I tried to make it all dialogue in the hopes of lightening it up.

Maya was running around in true wedding planner fashion. Funny thing though, she was our daughter and there was no wedding planning but all the same, she carried the sort of authority that only an eleven year old can muster. Given our non-traditional family, it was shocking how conventional Maya could be at times. “Pop! You can’t wear your tie like that! In fact why are you wearing that tie? I pulled out the black tie for you; it goes with your tie pin. Sometimes I wonder if you would really be

Last minute wedding doubts

I find Elijah very engaging. You have captured a youth who seems very mature for his age but seems an emotional child at the same time - intriguing! Its amazing how things that weigh so heavily in adolescence will become less significant once they have been worked through. A lovely dance between Elijah and Chris

Your are great at developing the characters. I like how you are taking your time and not jumping into plot. The relationships have complexity and you are not telegraghing whre things will go. looking forward to seeing it develop and play out

Great start, i like that the main character is a bit of a prat but still likeable. I think I'm hooked.

I took a deep breath and forced myself to get back to the task at hand. More and more, I hated being in this room. The job was two thirds done but was getting harder. I had save the “best” for the “last”. The easy things were already taken care of. I decided to tackle the closet next. A rack, buried in ties hung from the inside of the door. My dad, always a man’s man, was also a bit of a dandy. Ties were one of his vanities. It would have been nice to keep a few but let’s face it, I rarely w

I find the take on this one interesting. The moral question is not Billy's at least in respect of coming out with regard to his parents paying for his education. The moral responsibility lies with the parents who have a responsibility to support thier child's education as long as the child needs that support. Note a 42 year old perpetual student is not a child. An undergraduate college education is what a high school diploma was 30 years ago - necessary to have access to many jobs. This is something you pay forward. Certainly not everyone can afford to pay for a kid's education but that is not what is being discussed here. Billy may certainly choose to stay in the closet if his security is dependant upon it and needs to weigh theat decision on a broader set of moral questions. When you raise a child you have signed on to care for them into adulthood: that includes love, security, a roof over their head and an education to the best of your abilities. IF Billy has a problem about taking the money, he can ensure that some other kid gets an education in the future to pay his own dues

very hard to read. You captured it perfectly. As a Dad you articulated my worst fears - damn you!