ColumbusGuy

@Timothy M. Sorry min ven, narration software has some quirks I haven't figured out even now, which makes blogs and forums almost impossible for me. The biggest is that it will read nearly everything from the 'report post' thing to every single line about the poster every time. That is very bad when I want the comment itself, so I tend to scroll down until it begins the article/post text itself. In this case, I did miss the fact you wrote it--I'd never skip acknowledging anyone's authorship on purpose.

I'd like to thank Cia for mentioning this tale in this blog--it deserves far more attention than it might get from a casual passer-by. As our population ages, the 'Baby Boomers' are coming to grips with the fact that their youth and invulnerability aren't eternal, and that may at last make inroads into the gay community at large. When I was in my twenties and thirties, I would go to bars to socialize, and could only stare at those young and seemingly favored ones who could fit effortlessly into the scene. Looks were key to getting to the inner circle, or so it seemed...and I didn't have those. My light shone from the inside, but most wouldn't--or couldn't--see it for the glare outwardly cast by the mainstream. Now, with us all getting older, we find that inner light to be the more important of the two, or at least I hope we do. Our generation was the first to be openly ourselves, but this was a new world where appearance counted above all else...so I'll wager that many of us find ourselves looking back longingly for lost Youth and Beauty, perhaps finding ourselves coming home to lonely rooms. Do we have dear friends to share our day's events, our sorrows? A companion to give us a warm embrace when we need it? That depends on our fundamental natures of course--are we ones who make and keep friends easily, or are we more solitary, keeping mostly to ourselves and a very few select kindred spirits? If we have family left, were they accepting of us or did they cast us aside as is often the case? For this reason, I feel it is incumbent upon the Community and its Organizations to make more efforts in supporting and bringing together those of us who are older and perhaps unable to join in all those activities geared toward the still Young and Beautiful. For some of us it's as simple as not being able to get to the places where these activities are happening...for others it's the fact that nothing is being done that would include our aging members. With this story, northie has sounded the clarion call to arms--may it be heard and acted upon by our leaders at large. Community and Pride? Neither is applicable if we allow a growing segment of our unique Family to fade away neglected and forgotten. Let us be a true multi-generational Family, valuing and caring for all our relations. Blood is said to be thicker than water, but how many of us were rejected by our birth families when they became aware of our sexuality? As a Community By Choice, let us not do the same by benign neglect....

Nothing to complain about with this one, Wes! I'm glad to see the two original trouble-makers settling down, but we get to keep an eye on Amanda. Gotta wonder too why it's so hard to find out who the saboteur is, or at least who's following him...though in this case I'd wager on Kelly with her panting after him. :) I won't complain about the interval between chapters either as mine is longer, so I'm just glad to read more of this exciting story.

Wow, wasn't expecting the end quite so soon... 😺 I think Adam did the right thing at the store though--I've worked retail and the 'customer is always right idea is a crock of shit--but the manager had to save his business no matter the circumstances. He should have gotten the story from Adam later, but it was a one day a week job and no great loss compared to losing business from the other onlookers. Adam was right that he wouldn't have been comfortable going back to see what he could salvage--his mother saw to it that he'd be the talk of the store from then on. So, he cut his losses and he can find other work when he really needs it. Such a nice holiday and birthday for Adam! He's found a real family at last, and now he knows it deeper than just on the surface. A good place to leave off this stage of their lives, but I'd like to see them make appearances in a 'sequel' featuring Chris and Paul as mentioned above...those boys have a story that could use telling too.

So we'll see more of the First Australians soon...cool! And am I right in thinking that the next place has a familiar name? If we run across a kid named Mirrigan I'm gonna laugh my butt off. :)

One of the best things I like about your writing is the superb descriptions of the scenery and how the characters interact with it. I've only seen Australia in documentaries and movies, but you flesh out those pictures with the appropriate emotions as well. Tell me your career has been in writing travelogues and I'll buy all I can! I won't add to the speculation here, just wait for you to enlighten us...I'll keep more hair that way. I don't hold much with formal religions, but the sheer history behind ancient cultures worldwide gives them a better chance to touch something mystical inside all of us, uniting us with nature rather than giving us dominion over all we survey. On to the next chapter!

If this is the final book, then I may be wrong in thinking that Dave's mom's future plans to leave his father are fore-shadowings of Dave's final status with Nick. At the moment it doesn't look good for a reunion, and even friendship might be too much. Add in Mel's university days and this is going to be one eventful ride.

I'm eager to see if the guys have to get naked when they visit after Christmas...it would be fun to see Troy's joke turned around on him. What's with all the jokes about Adam's muffins? I think they're cute! 😺

I hadn't read any of your stories, but the title interested me...alas, at the cost of writing my own chapters. Working on two right now for my main stories and hope to finish them very soon. Have to confess not knowing any of the music or groups you mention...I like many types, but none that are popular after about 1990.

I'm glad the new book has started--was hoping it wouldn't be too long since I just read the others since Monday. Helps to not have a social life!

Hmm, didn't get the Dr. Who reference since I gave up once they began with the new guy a couple years back...I did love the show when it returned and was hoping it would continue to be good, but the latest Doctor was not to my liking. Is it still being made? I like this new set of guys and I can't wait to see how they drag in Troy and Adam in future chapters while forging their own bonds across town. No emos in my day, but I thought the look could be sexy if it wasn't reduced to tons of piercings and surly attitudes. :) More please, Ivor. Guess I need to 'follow' this to get notices...no idea why I hadn't unless I thought it was going to be a single-chapter story....

Just as a warning, I don't do any sort of social media beyond reviewing stories. I don't own a cell phone. Some ten years or so back I signed up to Facebook to play a farming game my sisters were doing, but tired of that, then did a D&D type one for a time. I did have a few friends who were on and I saw some of their news...but became immune to their babble. I haven't been on that site for more than three years, and don't miss it. The only positive thing I found from there was making contact with my older half-brother I only met once as a teenager. Nice guy, but we'll never meet since he lives in Texas and I don't drive. Our dad disowned us both, me for being gay and him for an argument they had when he was in his early twenties over tires. WTF moment, eh? So, no hashtags for me, and I steer my political course on moderation. Sense can be had from both sides of the political aisle, but not from the lunatic fringes at both ends. The Senate circus going on now only points up the ridiculous lengths politicians will go to in order to gain favor and power--screw Truth, Justice and the American Way. Wasn't that Wonder Woman's creed...the ultimate champion for Women and Sanity and Truth. Truth is dead along with Justice, even on our campuses where discussion is banned if you aren't crying for the blood of men, conservatives, capitalists, free-thinkers of any stripe or cause. What makes me the most ashamed is that the ultra Liberals' insanity draws fire to all legitimate causes such as Gay Rights or Free Speech. Those who say anything remotely reasonable against these people are labelled racists at best and hate mongers when the fringe says it's okay to scream and rant at people not only in public places, but at their homes. I refuse to ally my gay self with any party that advocates tactics of hate and intolerance, Right or Left. If only some other reasonable people would stand up for themselves against the Fringe--I can't be the only gay guy out there.....

I'm glad the crystalline people aren't dead--an ingenious way to save a species. What shows more the 'humanity' of Farla's race is that they know a lot, but aren't infallible, and strive to correct the errors and problems they caused inadvertently. I'm not sure a sequel would work, but I'd definitely like to see more of these kids...perhaps they could become ad hoc ambassadors between us and Farla's species? Definitely like to read more about her people! Just amazing, my friend!

No, Ivor, your malls are fine. Columbus had built too many I think to last forever. Suburbs grew and more local shopping centers grew up instead. It got bad when the major stores would be bought out by others and then gradually shut down as not being profitable enough for the national mega chains. One example is Lazarus, a regional chain in several states around Ohio, bought out I believe by Macy's and in the end, closed when they tried launching their own stores or to alter the target customer base. The original downtown store was the last, I think and closed after 150 years in the same location. Some areas can support enclosed malls easily, particularly where the weather is consistently bad enough in winter to affect shoppers, or if they have a broad enough retail base. One in the Midwest even has an amusement park in it!

This is off to an interesting start my friend! Somehow I missed it until just now, but I'll be notified now. So Kieran doesn't seem to remember his other life? And it seems odd the number of coincidences piling up with Rhys and Mr. B...or are they? Could there be a counter-plot to the King's, or is this part of it? Answers to come in the following chapters...stay tuned! I'm glad you're back with us!

Poor Troy having nightmares about purple zombies. That's one I've never had, having seen the original Night of The Living Dead on tv as a teen and finding it ridiculously funny. Trips to the mall were a lot of fun going into the various shops and doing a movie (one screen) or getting a snack. Sadly Columbus no longer has any enclosed ones...they're all open air and the 'feel' is just of a group of individual stores with no real connection. Less variety in them now too since it's easy to just go elsewhere to eat. The one in my story had a big fountain in the center, small trees and plants in pots and nice 'marble' tiled floors. Last I heard it had been entirely carpeted and all the plants and fountain pulled out. Lots of things like tax offices now rather than stores. They tried selling it but got only one bid that was insanely below the asking price, so now it may just be closed. There were drug dealers infesting it then, so I'm sure that didn't help. Chris and Paul are a lot of fun...lets see them again soon!

I'm gonna miss Zombo...nah. Maybe Richie and Jeremy can go into town and find some sexy black briefs like his? 😺 'Eat four sticks of hot dynamite you maggot!' Works for me. After his adapting his own trap, I don't even want to think about another one showing up.... When's the paperback due out, Garret?

With this new behavior I'm wondering just who this guy was before the Change. A lot of questions about these creatures are raised now, and I wonder if he's less altered by the change than the other zombies? Aircraft...challenges...I really hope the plan works and we get zombie chutney so at least one burden is removed for our heroes!

Well, I guess Zombo had the ultimate manscaping job with the fire--I'll stick with trimming and shaving--waxing is even too gruesome for me! My stepfather got Alzheimers two years before my mom died. An active, funny and outgoing guy became quiet, then talked only when you'd ask him something, then just closed down. He no longer recognized his kids or favorite grandson who he went hunting and fishing with for years...but at mom's funeral, he cried when he saw her in the coffin, but no other reactions to anyone. He was in care and died a couple years ago at about 85. I met his mother a year before she died at 91 and her mind was clear as a bell...genetics are scary since you may not know what is ahead for you. I'm fortunate that this has never appeared on either side of my family tree. Zombie porn coming up now he's naked? 😜

I remember both those ads, especially the Hoover! We had an upright canister by Thompson that I still have but need to get the motor fixed. I had a Rainbow salesman stop by and tested his machine against my 1960s Thompson, and I beat it! At the moment I'm using a 1958 Kirby I got from my stepfather along with tons of attachments he almost never used...I can attach a grinder/polisher to it, a buffer and a spray gun! Seriously awesome machine. Oh yeah....zombies. Right. Um...I like the book Sherrie imitated the cover of...maybe we'll find a solution to Zombo in it? Problem with the radios is this: no electricity. I figure they draw too much to risk the solar array's limited voltage, and it takes strong batteries to run them otherwise. Also, limited range reception.... Then there's frequencies--I doubt military craft use common channels, but I'm no expert.

I was thinking this was a bigger project since these guys were in the same program...now we know there are others to be located later. I just have to wonder how that will work after six months of alien attacks and disorganization. Right now it seems doubtful that all the rest will still be alive...but we can hope. Dang this reminds me of a 60s British movie with kids in a bunker being raised to survive a nuclear disaster....it has a twist to it that causes trauma and trouble at the end, and I can't think of the name to save my life! More please Wes!

Man I wouldn't want to be near that pit when the dynamite goes off, but the blades waiting to become missile fragments just makes that even more imperative. Seen harvesters at family farms as a kid, one of them the old horse-drawn type, and man, they scared me even being still. My favorite uncle survived the landings at Anzio in Italy unscathed only to come home and lose all the fingers on his left hand in a farming accident! The thumb was intact, but the other fingers ranged from almost nothing to just short of the closest joint to the palm--maybe an inch or so. I was told my dad's father had a tractor turn over on him, and he managed to crawl out, go to the house for bandaging, and went right back out into the fields. Dang, where's that stamina today? Multi-million dollar athletes get bruised and scream up a storm while our forefathers just got back to work.

Here's a link for the soup...I got mine from one of my cookbooks, but this is as close as it gets--I didn't do the dumplings though. Cherry Soup

See the old sci-fi movie 'A Boy And His Dog' for a novel take on an apocalyptic future! 😺

Yay, caught up! It's nice all the guys are readers...but then what else is there to do? For me and others close in age, it's a world of choices, but not fir kids raised with digital devices attached to their ears or hands. Gosh, I grew up with telephones that had rotary dials rather than push buttons, and for the first five years or so living in the country we shared the phone line with five or six other houses on our street! You just had to hope no one else was listening in on you or if they would let you have a turn using the phone. Good thing we had these things called legs that could move us to visit our friends in person.... Zombo...nah, better idea since he's purplish--Barney!