LittleBuddhaTW

Sounds fabulous ... the three of us can sit around and gossip about Vancey-pooh! And Rigel, knowing my parents, it's very possible that I'll end up taking you up on that offer! hehe

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BOXERDUDE!!! :businesssmiley: *Hugz* Buddha

The whole "nature" vs. "nurture" debate is a purely political one. I believe that for some it's more "nature," for others it may be more "nurture," for some it's both ... and for others ... who the hell knows. I don't think it matters one way or the other. Again, people only care about proving it one way or the other for political motives.

I've occasionally wondered if maybe, just maybe, homosexuality might be Mother Nature's way of population control. It's not a popular theory, and one that most researchers wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole, but just based on my observations, there seem to be an unusually large number of gays in Taiwan ... and I mean A LOT ... and it is the second most densely populated country on Earth ... and we all know that the planet is waaaay too overcrowded as it is. I noticed the same phenomenon when I was in China, the #1 most populated country on the planet. A little far-fetched, maybe, but something to consider.

I can see very well There's a boat on the reef with a broken back And I can see it very well There's a joke And I know it very well It's one of those that I told you long ago Take my word, I'm a madman, don't you know ... Fabulous song! *wipes sweat away from forehead* Whew! I had a busy morning! I had a doctor's appointment at 9 AM, dentist at 11 AM, my final trip to the post office, and I had to stop by the vet to get the date changed on my forms for the cats. So, anyway, when I was at the doctor's office this morning, I saw the most incredibly HOT guy I have ever seen in my life sitting in the waiting area. He must have been about 25 or 26 years old, and was just ... GORGEOUS! My gaydar was pinging off the chart, too, which got me all excited ... he was like a wet dream with legs! So, I did the only thing I could do ... sit there and just drool while staring at him ... I swear I had to wipe the drool off my chin. Unfortunately, he was there with his older brother and mother (don't ask me why a 25 year old guy needs his mom and older brother to go to the doctor's with him -- but hey, this is Taiwan!) Sooo ... I couldn't exactly go hit on him, which I really would have liked to do ... he really was that hot! Jeez, just typing this is getting me all worked up again! LOL I'd tell y'all what I would like to do to him, but that might qualify as "TMI," but I will say that his butt looked sooooo delicious in the shorts he was wearing! Anyway, between the doctor and the dentist, I did a little shopping, and bought a really nice pair of reddish jade Pi Xiu statues. The Pi Xiu is a mythical fierce wild animal, similar to a leopard or panther, and they're meant to scare away evil spirits. They're really cool! They only cost about US$150, too, which isn't bad. I might have been able to get them a little cheaper at one of the weekend jade markets they have in Taipei, but you can't always be sure that what you're buying is real jade, so it was worth it to pay a little extra at a high-end store to get the real thing! The other night when I sat down on my sofa, it broke! I couldn't believe it! It's kind of a cheapo sofa, anyway, with just a flimsy wood frame. I got it really cheap at IKEA about two years ago, and I figured it would break at some point, which IKEA furniture tends to do. But anyway, I had to disassemble the whole thing so I could carry it outside to the trash area. But now my apartment looks even emptier. The rest of the furniture is going to stay, though, and I think my landlady is either going to keep it or give it to family members or something. But when you sit on something and it breaks, even if it was crappy to begin with, you tend to get a little self-conscious about your weight! UGH! Also, my favorite pair of Versace glasses broke ... well, one of the lenses did ... so, I had to take them to get repaired. I can go pick them up tomorrow night. They're my favorite pair of glasses, and since they're Versace, obviously VERY expensive. So if they mess them up, I'm going to be a VERY unhappy Buddha! Story stuff ... I won't retype the news and updates here ... if you want to know what's going on with the writing projects, you can check out the "News & Updates" section on my website. Anywho, that's it for now!

It says: "This picture has been forcibly removed by the staff because it's too cute."

It pisses me off to no end when people (usually my parents) say that my cats are "just animals," but I don't see them that way. They're my family -- and treat me much better than a lot of so-called 'real' family members do -- and I don't know how I could possibly cope if I ever had to put them down. I really sympathize with you, Dom. Just know that there are most likely many others here who you could talk to who have been through the same thing and may be able to help you through it. Also, glad to hear you're back in the mood to write! I go in little spurts ... it's tough sometimes, trying to balance what you need to do in your 'real' life, feeling some sort of sense of obligation to your readers, and often just having no inspiration or energy to write. You've been smart not to stick to any kind of posting schedule. If I missed a Saturday posting, I'd probably be lynched! lol *Hugz* Buddha P.S.- If you've gotten to read Chapter 13 of "Service" yet, I hope you liked it!

Your cats are absolutely PRECIOUS! I'd like to have more, but my parents would have a fit. They already don't like the idea of my bringing my three cats into "their house" while I'm waiting to get a job when I move back to the States. *sigh*

Kitty, I think you're right! *Hugz* Buddha P.S.- Sometimes it sucks to be gay! lol

Well, I'm not quite a teenager anymore ... hehe And I can be a real handful sometimes ... Perhaps Rigel should be put in charge of me when I move back! lol

I'm really sorry to hear that, Dom ... although I'm sure hearing that doesn't help much, if at all. Just remember that even though this may not be the 'real world,' there are still people out there who care about you, beyond just what you write, so keep that in mind when you're feeling down. *Hugz* Buddha P.S.- And feel free to whine, cry, complain, or whatever ... you have every right to!

*sniffle* You're gonna make me cry, Vancey! Meeting you, Benny, and Kitty have been one of the best things that have happened to be in a while, and I know you'll be very supportive when I get back ... even I'm I'm grumpy and tend to bitch about every little thing for the first few weeks! hehe You're the greatest, Vance, and I hope you realize that! *Hugz* Buddha

Well, since we'll practically be neighbors, Kitty may have to call you in if I have a fit or something! But tea or something would be nice at some point ... Kitty is always saying such good things about you, that I'm really looking forward to getting to know you better! *Hugz* Buddha

I pitched a bunch of stuff last night, and my apartment is looking emptier and emptier. I also made what was probably my last trip to the supermarket here ... I can safely say that that is one thing I won't miss about Taiwan. But there are a lot of things that I will miss. Despite my seemingly constant bitching and complaining, this place has been my home for over five years, and it's what is familiar to me. So much has changed in America since I've been gone, it's going to take some time to adjust. I've edited my last blog entry to describe more of what I'm feeling and expecting when I move back, so you can go and re-read that one if you haven't yet, and maybe leave a comment to cheer me up! I went out for tea this afternoon with one of my close friends here, who is a classmate of mine. He's also gay, and really cute, but unfortunately he already has a boyfriend. But, since I'm leaving, that's not really an issue ... although I have to admit that I wouldn't have minded a little romp in the hay with him ... you know, to satisfy my curiosity and all! hehe But it was nice to have the chance to talk to him and say a proper good-bye. I have a good professor friend who I'd also like to see before I leave, and we'll probably have tea together at this really nice, traditional Chinese tea house next weekend or something. He's been one of my best friends since I've been here, and a fantastic mentor. I'm going to miss him a lot. Fortunately, there's still e-mail, and I'm sure I'll be asking him for lots of advice. He's also got lots of contacts that can help me get acclimated to the world of Sinophile jobs in the D.C. area. I've finished making the first set of corrections on Chapter 21. Kitty spent an especially long time editing this chapter to get it just right, and even added some own parts herself, which I think work very, very well. I know the past few chapters have been really rough for some people, and I can't say whether or not it's going to get any easier. Just stick with it and wait until the story is finished to decide how you feel. Like I said, in my last entry, I'm going to finish SOOTB before I start posting chapters of the new story. I'm also working on finishing my Summer Anthology story. I kind of like writing short stories, as it can be a nice break when you're in the middle of writing a very intense serial novel. It will be a much more "happy" story as compared to what we've been going through over the past few chapters of SOOTB, so I am looking forward to hearing everyone's thoughts. And please remember, the next few weeks will be really tough on me ... there is so much to arrange for an international move, and then getting reacclimated back in the States, so if there is a week or so delay between postings, please bear with me. I'm trying my best to keep up with my obligations to my readers, but at the same time, I also have my own stuff that I need to take care of. So, please keep that in mind! Over the next few weeks and months, I'll need a lot of extra support from my friends here, since I don't have any friends left at my old home. Anyway, that's about it for now. I have another dentist appointment tomorrow afternoon, which should be fun. No one seems to understand how I can actually like going to the dentist, but it doesn't bother me at all. Maybe I'm just weird ... :wacko: to Vance, Ben, and Kitty for all being such wonderful and supportive friends. You guys have been great, and have taught me that "online buddies" can actually become "real" friends. I don't know what I'd do without you guys as I'm going through all of this stuff, so just know how special and important you all are to me. And, also, special thanks to Nicko, who has been really sweet lately, and I'm happy that he's enjoying the story so much ... and to Shadows as well. All the e-mail messages, PM's, etc. really mean a lot to me. So, thank you, from the bottom of my heart. And ... don't forget to go check my last blog entry again, since I've added some stuff. Anywho, that's it for now ... I need to get back to work on Chapter 22, so hopefully it will be ready to post without too long of a delay. But I promise, it won't be long. You guys have all been great friends and readers, and I feel really blessed to have found GA, and found a hobby that gives me a sense of accomplishment, and it's a great feeling that I know that I have touched some people with my story. I just started out writing it for fun, to see if I could actually write fiction, and it has take off beyond my wildest expectiations. So, THANK YOU to all of you. It means the world to me!

During my time spent wandering around samsara, I've found that the question is often times more important than the answer.

A little over two weeks to go before I head back to the States. It's kind of hard to believe that I've been here for over five years ... it really doesn't seem like it's been that long. I've still got a bunch of stuff to get done to prepare for my departure, some people I need to say goodbye to, and stuff like that. Fortunately, I got an early start on shipping boxes home (which my parents have told me have already started arriving) and getting stuff taken care of for my cats. I still have a bunch of stuff to pitch, though, and the final steps for taking the cats home and "officially" graduating. Other than books, some clothes, my cats, and some things I've collected, I'm not taking all that much back. So I'll really be starting over, in a sense. It's exciting, but also a little intimidating ... OK, a lot intimidating, actually. I'll be in a state of limbo for a while, and I'm NOT looking forward to having to stay at my parents' house for an undetermined amount of time. Hopefully it wouldn't be longer than a few months. My parents aren't bad people, and they're usually very supportive of me, but our personalities tend to clash quite a bit when we actually have to live under the same roof. I've been on my own for 10 years now, so going back to the house where I grew up is going to feel weird. And all of my friends from high school have moved away, so I'll be bored out of my mind. I'm glad that I've gotten involved in the GA community, though, because that will hopefully provide me with some sense of familiarity and stability when I get back, and I can continue writing and all that stuff while I'm looking for a job and making the transition. I've only been back to the States once over the past five years, and then only for about 10 days, so I'm bound to go through some reverse culture shock. Anyway, Chapter 20 has been posted, and, as expected, drew quite an emotional response. I was originally planning on posting the first chapter of "When I See You Again" after Chapter 21, but I think I'm gonna finish SOOTB entirely before I start posting the new stuff. I've just started on Chapter 22, though, and since the next couple of weeks will be a little busy because of the impending move, there may be a slight delay between Chapter 21 and Chapter 22 ... we'll just have to wait and see how it goes. I hope everyone can be a little understanding over the next few weeks as I make the transition back to life in America. It was strange going back after spending half a year in China, and I was going back to my own home, not my parents' home ... I've been here for over five years, and won't have a place to call my own for who knows how long. So, yeah, please be patient with me. And for those of you who I talk to online, I apologize in advance if I'm a little moody or grumpy. I'll really need you guys' support!

Congratulations to Kitty -- the best editor on Earth!!! hehe *Hugz* Buddha

HAPPY SWEET SIXTEENTH, TONY!!! *Hugz* Buddha

And who might have given you that advice on Nifty?

I agree, this is an excellent book! One of my faves, actually ... but I don't think I've seen it on any high school reading lists ... although there's a first time for everything!

I'd say three of my favorite novels from high school would have to be Lord of the Flies, A Separate Peace, and Catcher in the Rye (and it's probably not a coincidence that they all have homoerotic undertones ). In 10th grade English, we also had a unit on the Bible (as literature), which was quite interesting.

Well said, cutie-pie! I think you and Sam are definitely the perfect poster boys for gay marriage ... but you're right, a piece of paper doesn't mean anything when it comes to what you already know in your heart. But whether the word "marriage" is used or not, there are legal benefits and necessities that come with that piece of paper that gay couples have a right to as well. *Hugs & Smoochies* Buddha

That could be fun ... maybe I should write myself into one of my stories ... Or maybe I already have? Hmmm ...

Nicko, If you want to get your stories noticed more, I'd suggest posting them to Nifty besides just the eFiction section and CRVboy. Nifty gets A LOT of traffic, and that's a good place for any author to start out, build up a fanbase, etc. Putting a link back to GA and the eFiction site at the bottom of the chapters you post would also bring more attention to the eFiction section, and pretty soon, you'll see new members joining, and under "Favorite Net Authors" in their profiles, it'll say "Nickolasjames8" ... anyway, that's basically what I did ... start from Nifty, maybe then get a Yahoo! group, and just keeping doing what you're doing ... writing! Good luck! Buddha

Chapter 19 of SOOTB is posted, in case any of y'all are interested in reading it or anything ... So, anyway, I was chatting with Kitty the other night, and we got on the topic of one of my ex-boyfriends here in Taiwan. Of the several guys I've had serious relationships with here, this is the only one where we broke up not because of any problem between us, but because his family was totally insane and totally freaked out that he was gay, not to mention dating a foreigner! *gasp* But that's a long story ... Of course, Kitty got me to thinking about him, and I didn't really want to leave here without saying good-bye to him or letting him know where I was going and sort of what I was planning on doing, even though I knew that seeing him again would be hard ... because I still like him ... no, I still LOVE him. Anywho, yesterday morning I sent him a text message and asked if he wanted to get together ... and no reply. Then yesterday afternoon, my cell phone rang, and it was him ... and he was waiting for me up the road at the closest subway station. For some reason, he decided not to call earlier and tell me he was coming ... he just showed up. It'd been a while since I'd seen him. He'd let his hair grow out quite a bit, and had a bit of the "scruffy facial hair" look going on (which I dont like, btw), but on him ... he was still as gorgeous as ever. To make a long story short, we talked for a while, about the past and what we planned on doing in the future, and hugged/cuddled a bit. That was probably the hardest part ... the cuddling. We may not have seen each other in a long time, but my body certainly hadn't forgotten his. We'd met up one other time since we were dating and cuddled then, too. Again, like the last time, we kept our clothes on ... although this time I really didn't want to, but that's life, I suppose ... and if anything more had happened, it probably would have made it even more difficult. *sigh* So now, I'm really in the mood to listen to Fleetwood Mac's Tango In the Night album, but I didn't bring that one to Taiwan with me. I could listen to Meat Loaf, too, I suppose ... or maybe I'll just sit here and smoke a couple packs of cigarettes, wallow in my own self-pity, and write some really depressing stuff.