Xtro

<quote> I don't expect to be with a guy forever, just as long as I can. </quote> I think the above quote - rather than anything physical/sexual - is your underlying problem. What do you want out of a relationship? Are you looking for someone interchangeable in regard to casual - or do you want to have a fully functional partnership? How much are you prepared to forgive in order to maintain the commitment to the relationship? By forgive, I don't mean a spilled glass of Merlot on the sofa that you know will never come out, or the fact that when he's feeling depressed you end up with some serious crap from QVC (and have to say you really love it - even though you know that, four or five months down the line he'll condemn it as tasteless junk and throw it for you.) I mean, forgiving him when he forgets his medication, or pays for glasses that are totally wrong but he's too embarrassed to say at the time, or when he forgets an appointment you've spent days setting up with someone... The bedroom is only a tiny part of things if you're looking for a fulfilling long term relationship - the rest is down to the two of you learning how to forgive each other whenever either of you pisses the other off.

Christmas is a time for hibernation - but I've always got time to welcome any new members. As they used to say in the Boondoggles - "Git dayn 'n' enjoy!"

Hi StopMe - welcome to the Minkey House (to misquote Kurt V.) Any questions just call out and someone will come up with an answer!

*To the distant sound of dueling banjos* This puts a whole new meaning to the expression "Squeeeeeal like a pig!"

Okay, walking into this a little late, however... I have always been versatile - and some of my most enjoyable sex has come from being with another versatile. That meant role switching - even during the same night/day - was not a problem, and a three-way with another top was also adaptable (again, something which was a regular occurrence at one time, but then people moved and things changed.) However, the concept that a bottom is a submissive is a little skewed, IMHO. Most bottoms I've known have always had a tendency to control things, rather than just laying back and taking it passively. And, as mentioned above - true tops, as with versatiles, are outnumbered by bottoms (again, in my experience). But, as I say, most adventurous and enjoyable times were with another versatile where most of the time we switched from one minute to the next. Don't get me wrong here. I love and respect my partner deeply, but he remains a bottom through-and-through - and I am happy to play top to him, regardless.

Hi & Hello Enpassant - and welcome to GA! Chess reference? Nice to know there's now a bit of culture in here! It's actually a very warm and friendly place - so don't be afraid to ask someone if you're unsure about something.

Hi Morcadis - Sci-Fi & Fantasy cover a multitude of sins - and as the muppet has already said, there's bound to be a flavour of madness in here that'll suit you down to the ground - or under it, as the case may be

There are machines around which will play American material in the UK - usually known as Multi-Region. Sadly, the whole Region thing was brought in by media companies who, like software companies, like to charge dollars in the US - and the same figure in Pounds in the UK (ie $20 becomes £20) The ones which can play anywhere are the Region 0 (Zero) - usually for such material as Opera, etc - where the national uptake will be minimal, but the worldwide interest can made things financially viable.

Was amused by the 'this is not a new phenomenon' comment - mainly due to the fact that it has only been through recent social changes (over the last 30-ish years) has such family combinations been readily accepted. But then I'm probably looking at it with 20-20 hindsight Best of luck with the whole project, by the way. I doubt Attitude would take an article on it, but maybe you could generate some interest by trying to get an article into GT about it. Who knows what that might turn up.

So far, all Graham has received has been form/auto-generated replies - it doesn't conform to Amazon standards, end of story (ahem!) The other problem is that Graham doesn't want to rock the boat and have them block the Prime Source - ie, the main anthology where all 12 of us are. If I'm allowed a shameless plug (be gentle, Mista Moderator!) then the main anthology is called MANSIZED Volume 1, and the little mini-books are called HALF A SIX PACK 1, 3 and 4 (ie, three stories in each for less than $1/£1 per vol.) Also, as mentioned above, Graham went for the 90 day Amazon Kindle Library Exclusive - which means no other placement on pain of banishment from the magic Rainforest. Hence his desire to put Pack 2 up on Fiction4all. Compared to some of the material that used to get published in Libertine Magazine - and the fact that Waterstones were promoting a book called (and I kid you not) The Great Cock Hunt (and no, they're not talking about roosters) then the rest of us are at a bit of a loss.

That's the confusing part about this - original consensus was that you might have been able to see a small shadow of pubic hair in regard to the front cover (artwork, as opposed to photography) but most of the body is half masked with a semi-transparent banner. Content is nothing that Lucas Steele over at XCite hasn't accepted before, and most of it is pretty standard stuff - Jerry Wilson with a Biker piece, Harry Forsythe writing about an air steward in a whiteout/snowbound layover in Boston, and Mike Fennick's piece Initiation Rites - which, if you call someone having red silk cords tied to their wrists and left unattached to anything restraining - apparently Harry says it's symbolic, and states that in the text - BDSM (in which case what do you call Charity Bracelets?) then that's the only 'sticking point.' However, as mentioned above, the 'Master Copy' - ie, the anthology with all 12 of us in - has been passed. First time with the wrong cover, and again a second time with the right cover (Quark put the wrong aspect ratio to the drawing and stretched it a little more than Dave Haskins the artist was prepared to forgive.) Beats me (said the masochist) - but Grahame Benedict has taken the 'blocked' mini-book and is submitting it elsewhere - fiction4all, I think.

Friends have just done the Kindle Publishing thing. They took an anthology of 12 short stories, and also split it down into 4 x 3-story mini-books for something like 99 cents (something low.) Sprats for Mackerels, I suppose. However, although Amazon's vetting has released the full anthology, it's blocked one of the mini-books because of "inappropriate content." Anyone else had - or know of - this happening elsewhere? Makes no sense to me, but they've signed up for the 90 day exclusive Kindle Library deal - though are pushing the rejected one out to another ebook seller.

Heyden, James is right. Take it from someone who has one snapped ACL (left knee) and one shattered ankle (right foot) - no matter how competitive you are, or the rest of the team, unless you rest the injury you'll end up with it worse if you're not careful. Seriously. Just do the school work, Thanksgiving & Christmas - then think about getting back into a training routine. As for money? C'mon! Where's your initiative? Think motel, and rent the room by the hour (or part thereof!) As for the straight guys comment - I've never had one offer, so I wouldn't know...

Seriously? It costs nothing to smile - and it will usually also makes someone else feel good, too. Even Goths & EMOs smile sometimes So have another one for luck!

And I'll add my own CONGRATULATIONS! as well!

Sadly, the World never learns. In 22 years service I caught The Falklands, the First Gulf, and the Balkans. I will be saying a prayer for Oscar Dalgleish, my partner of 6 years, who was lost on his second tour of the Falklands back in 1982, December 19th.

Really depends on the mood I'm in. I can start two or three novels, drop one for several months, then pick it up and find I'm enthusiastic about it again. Complexity doesn't come into it - though I have to admit I don't go much for the 'smart author showing off' (genre:- Arty Literati) - though oddball stuff like California Fire & Life does get me every time. Only real genre I don't go for is Alternative History. And Chick-Lit. Okay, the two genres I don't go for are Alternative History, chick-lit, and Historical Romance... Okay, where's a pen and paper...

Both my mother and father died of cancer, and my partner, Den, is in remission from prostate cancer (caught early, thankfully) - so both you and your mother have our sympathies, and we hope the passing will be a peaceful one. Love & Hugz from John C & Denis G

I would never derail your train of thought, nor sideswipe your little red wagon...

Ah, one of the ways of keeping the blood pressure in the Normal zone is to mix in a little tolerance of youngsters who have yet to try and stare down the headlights of Life, not knowing that they're attached to a real mother of an 18-wheeler, which ain't going to stop for nobody.

Aha! What does 'Canucks' stand for?

Sometimes he's worse than a box of kittens - very cute, but ya got to keep putting them back in the box otherwise they're all over the place in no time! That's why I love him dearly.

But the key is still attraction - unless you're attracted, you don't find love Lust, on the other hand, is at least $20 extra

I don't miss it - don't even understand it. However, I get the Canadian games off some of the websites and put them on a disk for a friend up in Canada - Nova Scotia hills. They cut him off from analogue. He predicted the problems with money & lack of sport, so the letters I get from him are full of it. He supports the Habs & the Maple Leafs. Became a member of one web group, but a couple of members had no sense of humour. When asked, I said I supported the San Francisco Flamers Lawd, talk about hockey sticks at dawn, or what!

Always enjoyed Mazda 626's - Left or Right HD - but the one we have at the moment is from when Ford took over production of the Mazda 6. I cannot believe that the back wheel arches are rusting through after 8 years of car life. Dream car? If money and petrol were no problem, then a 1928 Hispano-Suiza H6C Convertible 8ltr engine. That's hand crafted, machined and built - not mass produced.