Keithing

Those are the right ones, the first one used to be called "Truth In Advertising", which complicated things. Sad to hear that "The Perks of Loving You" is on the list of stories that are unfinished, but enjoyable nonetheless. Thanks again for the help!

There's two pieces of fiction I've forgotten the names of, and would like to find. One begins at an estate sale, the protagonist goes with his aunt, and meets a closeted love interest who does building restoration work. There might be two versions, a short story and a later novel form. The other has two athlete rivals and team mates being pressed into becoming a two-person rowing team. Hopefully someone remembers coming across them here or elsewhere. Thanks in advance!

Topics like this always scare me because it always exposes the underbelly; that we haven't even accepted it for ourselves yet. Sure, we can come out, act on our sexual orientations, or just accept it as part of our lives that needs to be put aside, but it almost comes across as selfish. What about the future generation's choice in the matter? What are we doing on a daily basis, if there's general agreement that we don't forsee a normalization of alternative sexualities, all trauma and pain? We're kind of stuck between revelling in being on the edge and being treated like any other person, and everyone seems to have a new idea about what to do. I, for one, don't think it's our decision to make so rashly, or have it hinged on the nature/nurture debate. It isn't a problem to be "solved" by regulating it. If it really was so difficult and we were able to cure it all by medicating it, it would only be fooling ourselves to think that it doesn't exist. Wouldn't there need to be someone to identify it, in order to be treated? Things like this aren't easily masked over, like it's some fad or fashion. It's as if, I would rather never know why it happens, as I don't see its existence harming humanity or life on this planet. Really, it isn't that big a deal in the scheme of things whether it was induced naturally and/or artificially. It's like asking what life and all its profundities all exist for. Like we need it all to be filled with meaning, cause and effect. We exist. These abstract defintions and developed parts of our identity exist. What we make of it is all we've got to go on. I wonder more what withdrawl and cravings would look like. There's a nagging voice in my head that doubts I would be marking my calendar to pick up a new pack.

First time commenting, but I've been lurking for awhile now. I know I would stay on the line too...And for the same reason as yourself, but no one has to know. As for story suggestions, I've been keeping to shorter works, like the "You meet your soulmate in the strangest places" by The Zot and you've probably read Jayne's short stories (I found some of the original heterosexual versions kicking around on some sites, which were amusingly profound with the interchangeability). Also you should check out Stefan Schmidt's stuff (especially The Lizard), Michael Gouda's site the WWGSS and the Yahoo group message archive has a large number excellent of shorts like "Death and the Veteran" and others that don't come to mind at the moment. Chris Lydon's Falcon Banner [and series] is quite good, as well as his Carter series which is still on-going, but the completed seven novels in it are well-written and can be found at crvboy. Andr0gene's Colorado Game was completed this year and The House Always Wins awhile ago. The mystery-serial Two distinct, divisions none hasn't been updated in some time, but worth a read. The old-but-good The Taking of Jacob is still milling about on Nifty in "beginnings" if you haven't read it. I can't promise they're all happy or to your liking, but a good mix is healthy. Here's to a happy [or happier] holiday!

Does anyone find it a bit strange that the tone of the original post is akin to "time to eat" or a scheduled fix? Wait, I'm in Domaholics, again aren't I? It's as if we're all trained like Pavlov's dogs.

Phew, and I thought I was the only one. Still, I'm sure Dom will come around; he hasn't failed us yet. Join the club of amazingly low post counts! As for Red Dwarf, wasn't that the mutated blob in the fridge that was running around eating things, or was that curry? Didn't Cat try to eat it? It's been ages since I've watched since I don't get BBC or know if PBS still runs it.

Tell me about it! I need more excuses to get in those procrastination hours. I mean, papers? What are these "papers" people speak of?

Thanks for the welcome, Kevin. To add my two cents again, like I said in my earlier post, Nelson really depends on things being ideal or stable. Someone else quoted the first chapter and Nelson said he isn't anxious about being gay, or even being the only gay person around his age in Heywell (anyone else remember the "forty-year-old flamer who owned the bookstore"?). The thing that scares him is not having control over the situation like losing his friends if/when someone else outs him. I saw him as being both unreasonably jealous about Milo's date, as well as a bit scared that Teresa would spill the beans about their night together to anyone, and especially Milo. I found it suspicious that Dom made a point of Nelson pointing her out on sight and avoiding her. Nelson's slightly neurotic side seems to obsess to a point, then explodes, confronting Milo about being gay and beating Teresa to the punch to tell Milo first (if she was even going to) for example. I have a feeling that if there's a breach of trust, like people have been saying, Nelson will be the one worse for wear. Or maybe I'm just saying that because I'd like to see them getting down to the grittier side of things and hash out a solid relationship. He needs to save a few spoonfuls of ass-sunshine for the road, there's no way Dom's letting him get out of this one easily.

I think rknapp mentioned the same thing, and I agree (not that a lurker like me can claim any expertise). It just seemed like Nelson assumed that the invitation to Brandon's room was to smoke a joint, while Shoeler went out of his way to make sure he'd stay. Does that sound like heterosexual male-bonding to anyone? Rknapp: While I do think it was in bad taste for Nelson to just declare himself and Milo an item, I think it fits his character. I'm not saying he's necessarily rude or a complete idiot when it comes to relationships, but you have to admit he is a fish out of water when things aren't fitting his ideal. He's jealous, ashamed [remember, it's Teresa], and desperate for Milo to make it official. It's becoming clearer that sometimes he just doesn't think. What separates Nelson from Quinn, Owen and Rory isn't necessarily his aggressive "role" and confidence in the relationship, he speaks his mind, even when it's least appropriate. Back to the chapter... Hangover aside, I loved that image of Milo tracing lines on Nelson's back. Who wouldn't want to wake up to that?