Ron

This chapter was cute. Much cuter than it had a right to be. Just saying. So you know. Alright then.

You seem to be on a roll, Joann. I am pondering #289, I think I have an idea. We'll see!

You have my sympathy for what you have had to experience this year, Renee. My goodness, sometimes it really does feel like too much but here you are looking forward to a new year, albeit a much improved version of this one, and that displays to me a worthy fortitude. I send you my best wishes for a healthy and happy 2014.

As I was growing up, we would always have ham, sweet potatoes, baked beans and whatever green my mother wanted to cook at Christmas. For New Years Day we would have sauerkraut and pork ribs with mashed potatoes and again whatever greens were available. Everything was delicious and hearty and oh so filling that we'd all end up practically comatose, sleeping the meal off between bouts of TV when we could stay awake. My partner doesn't like ham, so over the past eighteen plus years we have cooked various hoof and fowl. This year it was brisket smothered in tomatoes/onions - slow cooked for hours, and steamed potatoes - butter/chopped parsley, and carrots. We washed it down with a very nice Zinfandel. Yummy! Sauerkraut and pork ribs has still been on the menu for New Years continuously and that's fine with me. One new thing that I did this year was to decorate the tree without lights. The tree is in our windowed oriel and it's fine during the day but at night, not so much. If circumstances require a tree next year there will be lighting.

Oh my, if Josh's day is even remotely worse on a day to day basis than the one that Jacob is experiencing it is too much. One good thing about this chapter is that Jacob may become a better student through this exchange, if only because he is applying himself to the task. It is not so easy being Josh it seems. I really like the full chapter point of views, Sammy.

That's weird and hilarious, Celethiel.

You have championed some rather unorthodox ideas and views in your update of the tale, W_L. The original was never one of my favorites but it was enjoyable enough. You have given us a darker and I dare say, a more moralistic approach than even the original and without the comic relief of angels getting their wings. Is the story successful? That is a difficult question to answer as every reader goes into the story with their own set of religious baggage and beliefs either taught or formed on their own. A more important question and one that is far easier to answer would be: Is the story thought provoking? Yes, absolutely! You have offered us an interesting take on the tale my friend.

You have such interesting characters, Thorn and you put them into interesting settings. This story is no exception and you set the stage well with your words. I imagine being the adventurous cultural anthropologist writing in my journal, nearly freezing in my tent, fingers cold and cramped with only a feeble fire with which to write and stay warm; all the while awaiting the arrival of my hunky, trusty interpreter to warm me up. But wait, that wasn't quite how the story went was it? Although it was the one going on in my head after I read your lovely tale. A wonderful smart read indeed and an excellent capture of the theme topic, Black Christmas.

Seems the vampire in the mail turned out to be a bad delivery for Sky; until corrective measures were taken. I was a interesting tale, Aditus. I liked it.

You had me, Cole. You had me through the story completely until this line: 'The boy fell and broke his head open.' This line stopped the presses, so to speak. It was so blunt and so out of line in relation to the seriousness that came before it. It was very much a , "What the hell?" kind of moment. Which is a shame because the rest of the story was in line with the tone of the tale. All in all, I will say that I enjoyed the story. I certainly appreciate your effort to refresh the story and the amusingly written gay stereotypes as ghost's of the various Christmas's. After all, if we can't poke fun at our own kind occasionally, who can.

Perhaps no one wants to see anybody lose. Another possibility is folks are reading but aren't aware of the voting or even the connection to this voting post. I haven't read them all yet either. Many of the authors I follow posted new chapters over the holiday as well which put me behind. I may not be the only one. Just a thought.

This was a nicely told tale, Dolores. I too like that the days are getting longer

My partner gave me a rollerball Faber-Castell pen named Ambition by the company. It is lovely, all chromed steel cap/end and tip, with a beautiful pear wood barrel. He told me that he knew my writing was done on a computer and the pen was a symbolic gift to a writer and that he was proud of me. For his calling me a writer for my feeble attempts and his saying that he is proud of me... Well, it made my Christmas.

It's Christmas Day and I never thought I would have the time to putter around on GA, let alone read and comment on a story. Yet I did and I am, and glad for the time. Mandy didn't beat around the bush when addressing the male - female divide and how nurture and society influences cause and effect as to how they perceive and react to one another. This is something that I can agree with easily and I think you are spot on. It's interesting how Nick and Dave catch on to Alan and Matts odd behavior but dismiss any possibility that they could be an item. Of course being on the outside looking in, and having read 'Hubris', I can find it funny and I wait eagerly to find out if the relationship comes out of hiding.

I believe that I understand the story. It does move at a quick pace though, too quick in some places, perhaps hiding something entirely different that what I could interpret. The underlying emotional context was clear though and that is reason to be content. Thanks for the prompt response, totallyy.

This looks rather nice, Renee. Glad I could be a part of it. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to everyone.

Happy Birthday Greg! Many happy returns.

As per usual, I get great enjoyment from your writing, Don. Kevin did wax on and on and on, however eloquently and heart felt, about his love and admiration for Cam though. Still, it was an enjoyable experience and one that is frequently missed until each new chapter arrives. Thanks.

Yes, Trebs you have been missed. I've been wondering when you were going to show up. It's been a busy week with many great new things to read and to read about. Cheers! Everyone.

So...reviews make you happy? What a wretched little fisher you are! I agree with Miles about these first couple of chapters. Also, too often with second books, authors spend too much time rehashing the old to establish the new and I find it boring. That's not to say that some backtracking is not acceptable, but it is often the mundane that is reused, so to speak, and when I see that it makes me think that the author couldn't think of anything interesting to write. You have done that most judiciously, the focus has been on moving forward, and for that alone I could applaud. But additionally, your writing is a joy to read.

This chapter had such a charming beginning only to end with knowledge of rotten machinations. I guess I should accept the bad with the good if I must.

Nice first chapter. I like when you do nice as you do it so well. Then there was that last line - '...and for a little while, all was right with the world.' Ahem. I suspect some not so nice ahead.

I reread all of the earlier Nemesis and related writing and I am refreshered up and ready to sally forth. Bring it on Mr. Wilde. Good times!

In today's 12/21 NYT OP-ED section, Charles M. Blow writes: The article continues and then focuses on Robertson's comments as concerns the 'happy' black folks comments that were included in the GQ interview.

That was a fun and entertaining twenty minutes. I am not a fan of rap music either but Jimmy & Justin work well together for sure.