wildone

I wonder if this is how the came up with the description of a blowhard I guess not I will go through the rest of my life though beleiving the term is derived from bloviate. New Example: "I'm such a bloviate in this post"

Sweet, sweet, sweet vacation I may have been whining like a little baby about how much I have been working of late but I'm really happy to say as you are reading this blog, I'm going on a jet plane, I don't know when I will be back again. Who sang that Actually I know when I'll be back again, the following Sunday Oh well, it is a week away from the grind so to speak. So, the 22nd is meteorological start of fall. Now this has me baffled, where and when did we get all these, I will say silly, technical names from? I mean you used to say first day of Spring is March 20th or Fall is September 22. But noooo, now you have to identify it as meteorological Spring or Fall, etc. Then other weather things, from we are looking at a huge cold front coming down and putting us in the frigid temps for a couple of weeks to there is an Artic Vortex about to hold our area hostage to extreme low temperatures. Gone from mild or cold winters to El Nino or El Nina. So what other ones have you heard that are making you shake your heads? I'm sure there are more that I'm not recalling off the top of my head. Now let's be careful here, we don't need to discuss the highly debated topic of global warming or natural evolution of the earth. If you want to talk about those, please exit stage right, right now and proceed to the Pit. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. You can discuss that topic to your hearts content over there . Or, am I just becoming a crotchety old man I am tuning another year older this year. I've been kind of avoiding the idea of turning 30! I mean, it is the end of my 20's. Enough of this silliness. Monday, the super duper Review Team via Gary L came in and presented a great story for everyone: Tuesday was time for Myr to look deeply 👀 into the History genre: Thursday, well I have to send out a extremely sincere apology to the Promotion team and our newly promoted Promising Author. I was supposed to publish last week, then I was supposed to publish on Wednesday this week, but I put my reminder in my phone on Wednesday night rather than Tuesday night. Remember that whole birthday thing? Actually no, I cannot blame that. All I ask is you stop by and leave a congratulatory comment in the blog and apologize for me being an idiot I deserve it. Well what I forgot, Myr never did forget! Here were the Words of the Day: supplicate, smitten, quiddity, pedagogue, lagom, caprice, bloviate Upcoming Writing Events 2026 Yearly Anthology "Horizons" & "Unspoken" - Due October 1, 2026 - Find all the information right here. ONLY 11 days to make your intentions clear to @Valkyrie. Member Participation Blogs - Great way to promote yourself!! Ask an Author 3.0 If you have a author you want to get some answers from, write a PM to @astone2292 Author Guess Who Get our members to guess who you are and also let everyone know who you are. Also write a PM to @astone2292 Here is the look at the past week's postings on all our Authors and Poets! The Goblin Heresy by Topher Lydon Complete 10 Recently Updated 'Signature Author' Stories Carter's Hand by Topher Lydon In Process Take the Long Road Home by kbois In Process USS Zodiac by Topher Lydon In Process TRAVISTY by Mark Arbour In Process The Goblin Heresy by Topher Lydon Complete Carter's Bedtime by Topher Lydon Complete Out of the Blue by Mark Ponyboy Peters In Process Blackwater by Topher Lydon Complete The Ride by Topher Lydon Complete Roping the Moon by Headstall In Process 1 Recently Updated 'Classic Author' Stories Love on Trial by Ronyx In Process 2 Recently Updated 'Promising Author' Stories Bold Desire by lilansui In Process Blades of Ashes by lilansui In Process 42 Recently Updated 'Author' Stories Where Truth Stops Hiding by Enoch Complete It’s All Baked Inn by Autumn Dream In Process Another Role of a Lifetime by KKirk In Process Bold Desire by lilansui In Process Boymom by Boy Mercury X In Process The Blood Between Us by mastershakeme In Process Supernova by Thightide45 In Process I Sat Astride a Ladder by Yake 15_10 In Process All In Or In The Way by Thightide45 In Process The Lab Partner by KC Stone In Process My Straight Best Friend Asked Me to Be His Boyfriend by StoriesByTroy In Process House of the Moon by Albert1434 In Process IceBerg by J92 In Process The Curse of Love by Yeoldebard Temporary Hold Heart of Teutonburg by Mark Paren In Process Safe Distance by Tony S. In Process Alex & Neil: Moving On by Robert Hugill Complete Monstrum by Laura S. Fox In Process Time Stood Still by Jason Rimbaud In Process The Mirror of Dreams by Lupus In Process turmoil by Paladin In Process Notice by AusGlitterati Complete Aethan's Reign by ValentineDavis21 In Process In the Barb by Vcs In Process A Grave So Haunting by solemnity In Process A Grain in the Sands of Time by pDaisy In Process Pigsty by Jack Poignet In Process The Prince and Ai by W_L In Process Beyond suspicion by Thomas Lindblad In Process Fault Lines by sumtimesIwrite In Process Sapphire in the Stars by JujuTheDruid In Process Seducing The Cambion by BendtedWreath In Process Of Orcs, Humans & Void Beasts by Celian In Process Between the Two by Grayson Rose In Process The Field of Love by Enoch In Process Breaking Masks by Josh Aterovis In Process What I Want by Paul Zhy In Process Blades of Ashes by lilansui In Process Beyond the Veil by Laura S. Fox In Process Run, Hamster, Run! by Winged_Wolf In Process From Maine To The Pentagon by Lee Wilson In Process Against the Wall by Boy Mercury X Complete Read, Write, and REVIEW!!! (Don't forget to Recommend too!)

It is the second Tuesday of the month already, and that means the Super Duper Review Team has once again come up with a great review! @Gary L has come to let us know about a story that he immensely enjoyed. Why not check it out and come back and let us know what you thought! Also, if you are reading, don't forget likes and comments as they all are greatly appreciated! No going back by Robert Hugill Reviewer: Gary L Status: Complete Word Count: 91,937 Since joining GA in 2023, Robert Hugill has posted some 12 stories totalling over a million words. He has rapidly gained a very solid reputation as a great storyteller and possibly his most popular tale has been No Going Back. One of the things most commented on is that the author writes using an exquisite English prose. No matter whatever the story, there is a simple pleasure in reading such well-written English. Moreover, as the stories are all set in England or Wales, there are delightful regional words which an older generation might just remember and are there to tease a younger one. The second thing to stress is that Robert writes about, as one reviewer put it, “Ordinary mature men, with ordinary lives, getting on with the business of living.” (@summerabbacat) There are no billionaires, no luxurious lifestyles to fill the likes of me with envy, no stunning gym bunnies; no, here the emphasis is on how love can be found anywhere, for anyone, including middle-aged men. We are taken into the very different worlds, at first sight, that is, of Owain and Colin. We hear Owain’s own account of being rejected by his religious family in Wales after coming out, and of how he survived that and flourished. Going home for a funeral he gradually reconnects with his past, and especially with his sister, who has her own journey to make. Interspersed with that, we have the story of Colin the builder, a very much put upon son and brother, who needs to escape from the emotional stranglehold put in place by his mother and sibling and, more importantly, to escape from his self-imposed closet. Above all, for me, No going back is a delightful romance. The two men dance around their feelings for each other as if they were characters from a Jane Austen ball. There are no fancy clothes, though: just a pair of great blokes. There are moments of ‘will they, won’t they’, which makes the reader want to knock their heads together, but it is all part of the charm. As one reader put it: “Two ordinary guys in an extraordinary story make this tale unique.” (@Cane23) And that sums it up perfectly. Category: Fiction Genres: General Fiction, Romance Sub-genres: Drama, Contemporary, Romance, Literary Fiction Tags: Maturing Adult, Middle-aged, Gay, Europe, Coming Out, Light-Hearted, Parents, Contemporary, Friendship, Coming Home, Found Family, Theatre, Small Town Rating: Mature

I had something funny to tell you all, but that was yesterday Think I can remember it now? No. Maybe it is time to look at the shiny brochures. So what is up in your neck of the woods? Nothing here other than the roads being busier at rush hour in the AM and afternoon with all the skewl busses and parents driving their kiddies to-and-fro, and university and college students rushing to make that first lecture of the day. Oh the good old days Okay, call me STUPID, but I'm going to open a can of worms that I will forever regret opening. I imagine everyone has a cell phone, or if you don't, say so I got a invitation to get an iPhone 18 today. Me, my first couple of phones were Motorola flip phones, but they were just cell phones. Then an actual Windows made phone, my first smartphone, shoot me if you make me relive that nightmare!. Then it was onto Apple, where I have probably been happily here for 17 years now. So what kind of phone do you have? 😮 Yes, I asked it. I shall run and hide now. When a friend or foe asks me if they think they should switch from an android to an iOS operating phone, I don't say, I yell, DON'T!! I think whatever type of phone you have, you are going to find nothing but problems or irritants with the new type of phone. I can understand there may be more of an ease of switching from a Google phone to a Samsung, but the differences I imagine would be much more minor switch, in my mind. In addition to what type of phone you have, have your ever tried to change operating systems? Did you survive? Did you eventually go back to your original? Now one rule, don't make stereotypical judgement calls against the other group I'll have to turn you over my knee, and none of you are too old for that. Wait, let's take the option off the table Now onto the wrap up! Monday, Cia came in like a lion and gave us the September CSR: Tuesday, Myr was more like a house cat with the Deep Dive, even though they hate water: Val was in like a, well I was going to say cougar but I think she is more a lynx, to get everyone squared up on submitting your Yearly Anthologies. Can you believe there is only 16 days to get your entry in 😮: We only had 3 blogs, but we had 7 Words of the Day. So I found a word I'd never heard of before and suggested to to Myr. Well he said he would add it to the list. Then I heard back he was about to do it and he found he did it back in like July of 2023. Darn him and his record keeping and search skills Oh, congrats Myr I only got 1 word this week ataraxia, caesura, bravura, asperity, boscage, zeitgeist, turbid Upcoming Writing Events 2026 Yearly Anthology "Horizons" & "Unspoken" - Due October 1, 2026 - Find all the information right here. Member Participation Blogs - Great way to promote yourself!! Ask an Author 3.0 If you have a author you want to get some answers from, write a PM to @astone2292 Author Guess Who Get our members to guess who you are and also let everyone know who you are. Also write a PM to @astone2292 Here is the look at the past week's postings on all our Authors and Poets! 1 Recently Updated 'Premium' Stories The Goblin Heresy by Topher Lydon 14 Recently Updated 'Signature Author' Stories Carter's Hand by Topher Lydon Take the Long Road Home by kbois Blackwater by Topher Lydon Carter's Line by Topher Lydon **Complete** TRAVISTY by Mark Arbour The Goblin Heresy by Topher Lydon Out of the Blue by Mark Ponyboy Peters Please take the Boy by Topher Lydon **Complete** Roping the Moon by Headstall Reunion by Topher Lydon **Complete** Charlie vs the Union of Doom by Topher Lydon **Complete** You Don't Have to Dance by Topher Lydon **Complete** The Prince and the Sorcerer by Topher Lydon **Complete** Carter's Asset by Topher Lydon **Complete** 1 Recently Updated 'Classic Author' Stories Love on Trial by Ronyx 2 Recently Updated 'Promising Author' Stories Bold Desire by lilansui The Man I Like Might Be A Delinquent by lilansui 62 Recently Updated 'Author' Stories The Lab Partner by KC Stone A Grain in the Sands of Time by pDaisy Alpha Awakened by Painawakened Another Role of a Lifetime by KKirk Against the Wall by Boy Mercury X Bold Desire by lilansui The Blood Between Us by mastershakeme Heart of Teutonburg by Mark Paren Aethan's Reign by ValentineDavis21 My Straight Best Friend Asked Me to Be His Boyfriend by StoriesByTroy Old Dogs by solemnity House of the Moon by Albert1434 The Curse of Love by Yeoldebard Alex & Neil: Moving On by Robert Hugill Time Stood Still by Jason Rimbaud Monstrum by Laura S. Fox The Mirror of Dreams by Lupus Safe Distance by Tony S. IceBerg by J92 In the Barb by Vcs Beyond suspicion by Thomas Lindblad Under Amber Skies by Thightide45 At Tempest Island by Grayson Rose From Maine To The Pentagon by Lee Wilson A Grave So Haunting by solemnity The Prince and Ai by W_L Worship Me by Littlelovestories Sapphire in the Stars by JujuTheDruid Seducing The Cambion by BendtedWreath Noah's Quest by AquariusGuy Between the Two by Grayson Rose The Field of Love by Enoch Breaking Masks by Josh Aterovis Beyond the Veil by Laura S. Fox The Saturday Boy: A Comedy of Manners by Boy Mercury X **Complete** Self-Portraits by Richie Tennyson **Complete** Barnaby and the Temporal Miscalculation by chris191070 **Complete** All In Or In The Way by Thightide45 The Tor by andy cannon **Complete** The Man I Like Might Be A Delinquent by lilansui turmoil by Paladin Begin Again by Kevin Snell The Brotherhood: Awakening Book II by The Writer X Confounded: Part III by Andr0gene THROUGH IT ALL by vanalas **Complete** Shooting Stars by Littlelovestories **Complete** Love, Death & Lattes by Boy Mercury X **Complete** Of Orcs, Humans & Void Beasts by Celian Out Of Order by Nuno R.F.C.R Unraveled by jkwsquirrel Fault Lines by sumtimesIwrite Strife by CryingCircusConductor **Complete** Broken Hate, Broken Heart by Celian **Complete** Always Tomorrow by AusGlitterati **Complete** Parallel Lives by Tomkin Watts **Complete** Dad's Helping Hand by M. Harding Arhavana 2 : The Price Of Redwaters by Hardianarcher A Riot of Roses by BendtedWreath **Complete** Jason's True To Life Stories by Jason Rimbaud The Frat Dad by Evan S. 1st Love: Past by Grayson Rose Repressed Mercy by Yeoldebard **Complete** Read, Write, and REVIEW!!! (Don't forget to Recommend too!)

Have you had this used against you often? You seem to be talking from experience

No, Bill. that is so 2000's with the water skiing . Sort of like the last time I got on waterskies Nowadays, you buy like over a $100,000 a boat that makes huge waves. Wake Boarding, that is what is called. Back before the current time, you wanted a boat that planned out to not create wakes, now you want the wakes, the bigger the better. Then you jump on the board and get up with a rope and let go, then follow behind the boat on the board. The boat goes slow to generate a big wake.

I want to send a hello out to Rudy Judy Now that is out of the way, I get to explain that I was away from home all week. I went up to the lake and stayed at the cabin (cottage to you Eastern North American folks). I worked my job all week up there, but it was more tolerable with looking out the window at the mountains across the lake. The lake was quiet most of the week but all the jet skies and boat surfing (is that what they call it ) made it noisy on Friday and brought back memories to when I was 14 and first started going up there. It is the Labour Day weekend so most people are going to make one last go of it no matter what the weather. Had to head home today so I can attend the Pride Parade in Calgary tomorrow 🏳️‍🌈 My rain coat isn't in rainbow colours Maybe I can convince a friend that has a rainbow umbrella share it with me at the parade Or, put my pride T-shirt on over my rain coat . So I know a lot of the pre-post-secondary students and post secondary students all headed back to skewl this past week. Except in the south of the States, they do their own thing . Now if you are a teen member, and I think you are out there , or maybe some Uni and College students, when did you go back to skwel? Remember you shouldn't post your age! Another way to hide that is that I'm going ask all the oldtimers around if the schools and unis are back to school already in their areas. In my little town, the public, and Catholic skewls are all back as well as the Universities and Colleges. I guess I have to ask too, for those of you living on the bottom of the world, are you starting summer break yet? Or is that in November and December that you all are off. Speaking of that, what if in the whole thinking of space and orientation, What if actually the top of the world is the South and the bottom is the North . Oh sorry, saw something shiny and got distracted I need to know this as my best friend's oldest boy is going to start college in New Zealand in January! I don't think he will be flying home for all the holidays anymore Maybe I should go visit him. @Stellar are you still in NZ? Any others we can have an impromptu GA meetup with? What the heck, @Graeme and @Mark Ponyboy Peters can yous get something lined up in Australia. I'm coming from Calgary, AB, so should I plan a couple of days to fly out, attend and fly back The great thing of doing the Wrap Up this week is the fact that I wasn't around this week So doing the Wrap Up I will see all that went on in the GA Blogs and the Words of the Day! Monday, Cia took a well deserved day off Tuesday was Myr's turn to go diving around to find a genre to review in his Deep Dive: Thursday, Val was back to check in on the progress of the Anthology and clear up some questions on procedures : Friday, The Aditus (I was going to call him the Big Kahuna, but thought The Aditus would suffice) was back with a couple of Prompts. These don't need to be a secret : Hey people, let me know how many of the Words of the Day did you know? I only got 3 . I need to ask @Myr, how many he knew before posting them . serenity, grounding, alpenglow, beguile, anagnorisis, bonhomie, brume Upcoming Writing Events 2026 Yearly Anthology "Horizons" & "Unspoken" - Due October 1, 2026 - Find all the information right here. Member Participation Blogs - Great way to promote yourself!! Ask an Author 3.0 If you have a author you want to get some answers from, write a PM to @astone2292 Author Guess Who Get our members to guess who you are and also let everyone know who you are. Also write a PM to @astone2292 Here is the look at the past week's postings on all our Authors and Poets! 1 Recently Updated 'Premium' Stories The Goblin Heresy by Topher Lydon 9 Recently Updated 'Signature Author' Stories Carter's Line by Topher Lydon Take the Long Road Home by kbois Blackwater by Topher Lydon TRAVISTY by Mark Arbour The Goblin Heresy by Topher Lydon Reunion by Topher Lydon **Complete** Out of the Blue by Mark Ponyboy Peters Charlie vs the Union of Doom by Topher Lydon **Complete** Roping the Moon by Headstall 2 Recently Updated 'Promising Author' Stories Bold Desire by lilansui The Man I Like Might Be A Delinquent by lilansui 39 Recently Updated 'Author' Stories Alpha Awakened by Painawakened Another Role of a Lifetime by KKirk The Saturday Boy: A Comedy of Manners by Boy Mercury X Self-Portraits by Richie Tennyson **Complete** Barnaby and the Temporal Miscalculation by chris191070 **Complete** Bold Desire by lilansui All In Or In The Way by Thightide45 Safe Distance by Tony S. From Maine To The Pentagon by Lee Wilson My Straight Best Friend Asked Me to Be His Boyfriend by StoriesByTroy House of the Moon by Albert1434 The Tor by andy cannon **Complete** The Curse of Love by Yeoldebard Alex & Neil: Moving On by Robert Hugill Time Stood Still by Jason Rimbaud Monstrum by Laura S. Fox The Man I Like Might Be A Delinquent by lilansui Heart of Teutonburg by Mark Paren turmoil by Paladin At Tempest Island by Grayson Rose Beyond suspicion by Thomas Lindblad The Mirror of Dreams by Lupus Aethan's Reign by ValentineDavis21 In the Barb by Vcs Begin Again by Kevin Snell Sapphire in the Stars by JujuTheDruid The Brotherhood: Awakening Book II by The Writer X Between the Two by Grayson Rose Confounded: Part III by Andr0gene The Prince and Ai by W_L THROUGH IT ALL by vanalas **Complete** Seducing The Cambion by BendtedWreath Breaking Masks by Josh Aterovis The Field of Love by Enoch What I Want by Paul Zhy Shooting Stars by Littlelovestories **Complete** Beyond the Veil by Laura S. Fox Love, Death & Lattes by Boy Mercury X **Complete** Of Orcs, Humans & Void Beasts by Celian Read, Write, and REVIEW!!! (Don't forget to Recommend too!)

So, alpenglow isn't what you have after having sex on a mountaintop? I wonder what happened to that cut scene from the Sound of Music

Grounding is also a penalty in North American Football for just throwing the ball away to prevent a sack and loss of yards 🏈

I don’t know if I should tell you this but I have a friend who treats me like you say you treat your friend. Every Christmas I get 1 sock. He says it is cheaper to buy a pair and then he has two Christmases covered with one trip to the store. 😉

Well it finally happened, all If you are thinking I finally ended the streak of being a 57 year old virgin, I'm not talking to you anymore I guess the 1st of September is the start of meteorological fall. Today, I got my first sunburn of the summer 😮 Yes, I had sunblock on, and yes it was only 22 C/72 F out, but there was nary a cloud and I was sitting watching a flag football game for about a hour and a half. It doesn't hurt and it isn't too bad but when I jumped in the shower a few hours ago, and turned the water onto my normal temperature, I nearly jumped 3 feet in the air. I only have one full leg and was sitting on a shower bench, so jumping 3 feet in the air was quite a feat I know we have talked about those of you that burn and those that don't in the past, so if you want to tell us how your body's toaster setting is set for low or high, feel free. Instead, I want to talk about a little kid that came up to me at the football game that was quiet fascinated with my prosthetic leg. I always encourage kids to ask questions, as if they don't they will grow into a parent that says, "Don't stare, it is rude" while staring themselves At least If I let them look and ask questions, I think I might be normalizing it to them. Unlike their parents. So I'm wondering, are you missing and digits, limbs, or any other body parts? If you want to share how, feel free. Me, car accident with semi truck and then catching flesh eating disease in the hospital. 😮 I say I won in that accident as I'm still alive. Maybe you know someone who is missing something. How did you react when you first noticed? Did you stare or did you just act like it was normal and then work it into conversation on what happened. Or do you still pretend nothing is missing? I know this is a difficult topic, as maybe I might react to being asked then what someone else might. What I don't like smartass comments. When I was in the rehab hospital fresh after losing my leg, I made friends with some other amputees. The 3 of us were going down the hallway to physio in our wheelchairs, all missing a leg, and an older gentleman said to wife, "Look out dear, it is the Amp Dumpling Gang!". That still bothers me to this day. Yes I know about the Apple Dumpling Gang, but it was just rude IMHO. So from that uncomfortable topic, let's see what happened this week Monday, the month of fun came to an end Finally the final blog came out for GA's Secret Author Contest. It was interesting to see after all the guessing, the fibbing (as suggested by @Mikiesboy, instead of lying ), the reversals and backhanded conniving to not let people guess who wrote what! It was marvelous! Two shout outs, @Gary L won the contest for most popular story. This was his first year participating 😮 We need to keep an eye out on this guy 👁️. Second goes to the goddess @Cia who does all the planing, the executing, the tabulating, the teasing, and everything else to do with this contest. She went above and beyond again Oh, there was a blog on this : Tuesday, Mry was back with a yuk, yuk or 2, with this weeks Deep Dive: Myr brought up a blog from a week or 50 weeks ago, to remind everyone that there is only around 4 weeks to get in your yearly Anthology Entry: Here were the Words of the Day: patience, strengthened, resolution, equilibrium, continuation, calmness, hope Upcoming Writing Events 2026 Yearly Anthology "Horizons" & "Unspoken" - Due October 1, 2026 - Find all the information right here. Member Participation Blogs - Great way to promote yourself!! Ask an Author 3.0 If you have a author you want to get some answers from, write a PM to @astone2292 Author Guess Who Get our members to guess who you are and also let everyone know who you are. Also write a PM to @astone2292 Here is the look at the past week's postings on all our Authors and Poets! 1 Recently Updated 'Premium' Stories The Goblin Heresy by Topher Lydon 10 Recently Updated 'Signature Author' Stories Carter's Line by Topher Lydon Take the Long Road Home by kbois Charlie vs the Union of Doom by Topher Lydon TRAVISTY by Mark Arbour The Goblin Heresy by Topher Lydon You Don't Have to Dance by Topher Lydon **Complete** Out of the Blue by Mark Ponyboy Peters The Prince and the Sorcerer by Topher Lydon **Complete** Roping the Moon by Headstall Carter's Asset by Topher Lydon **Complete** 47 Recently Updated 'Author' Stories Alpha Awakened by Painawakened From Maine To The Pentagon by Lee Wilson Love, Death & Lattes by Boy Mercury X The Blood Between Us by mastershakeme Self-Portraits by Richie Tennyson The Tor by andy cannon Heart of Teutonburg by Mark Paren What I Want by Paul Zhy Out Of Order by Nuno R.F.C.R Beyond suspicion by Thomas Lindblad Unraveled by jkwsquirrel My Straight Best Friend Asked Me to Be His Boyfriend by StoriesByTroy Fault Lines by sumtimesIwrite Sergeant Rick by DamonDarg All In Or In The Way by Thightide45 House of the Moon by Albert1434 Strife by CryingCircusConductor **Complete** At Tempest Island by Grayson Rose The Curse of Love by Yeoldebard Broken Hate, Broken Heart by Celian **Complete** Alex & Neil: Moving On by Robert Hugill Always Tomorrow by AusGlitterati **Complete** Parallel Lives by Tomkin Watts **Complete** Safe Distance by Tony S. Shooting Stars by Littlelovestories Time Stood Still by Jason Rimbaud Monstrum by Laura S. Fox The Mirror of Dreams by Lupus Dad's Helping Hand by M. Harding Arhavana 2 : The Price Of Redwaters by Hardianarcher THROUGH IT ALL by vanalas A Riot of Roses by BendtedWreath **Complete** Aethan's Reign by ValentineDavis21 Between the Two by Grayson Rose In the Barb by Vcs Confounded: Part III by Andr0gene Jason's True To Life Stories by Jason Rimbaud The Frat Dad by Evan S. Of Orcs, Humans & Void Beasts by Celian Noah's Quest by AquariusGuy turmoil by Paladin Seducing The Cambion by BendtedWreath 1st Love: Past by Grayson Rose The Field of Love by Enoch Under Amber Skies by Thightide45 Beyond the Veil by Laura S. Fox Repressed Mercy by Yeoldebard **Complete** Read, Write, and REVIEW!!! (Don't forget to Recommend too!)

I thought Cia was up to tricks, and she was 😮 I got 2 correct by just listing the authors she listed in order of the stories listed @Gary L and @Mikiesboy, I was so onto you both Congrats to everyone who participated not only in the writing and editing, but participating in the blogs (should we call it the blog of liars 😮). A huge shout out to @Gary L, swept the floor with his first Secret Author contest. Take a bow Huge thanks to @Cia who always does this as a one woman show. Even though other staff beg and plead to help her out, she treats this like it is the national reserves in Fort Knox. You, Cia, take a bow yourself

Now, if he does it like this Will you do it like that? Now, if he touches like this Will you touch him right back? Now, if he moves like this Will you move it like that? Come on Shake, shake, shake, shake, shake it Shake, shake, shake, shake, shake it Shake, shake, shake, shake, shake it Shake, shake, shake, shake, shake it Shake, shake, shake, shake, shake it Why not start the weekly wrap up with an ear worm I heard it on the radio today and I keep singing it the rest of the day. The only thing that I'm saving you from, is the singing of the original lyrics and the video from Metro Station. Now this song might be for a younger generation, but I must say I'm a bit diverse in all different kinds of music. A song with a good fast track I tend to like, be it Beethoven or Sebastian Bach from Skid Row . Now the above song, I did change the lyrics when I hear it, to male. The original the band sings: Now, if she does it like this, Will you do it like that? Now if she touches like this. Will you touch her right back? I tend to do this alot. I think I always have made love songs where a guy sings about a her, she, etc. I change it in my head. I can't do it like for song like Roxanne, The Police, Lady in Red, Chris De Burgh, Fancy by Reba, or even Lola by the Kinks See, I'm eclectic So this goes out to everyone, is there a song that you change the lyrics to change up the sex in your mind? If so, what song? I'm curious what songs you do this with or if you do? Another week to find if I'm a bit crazy or not. Until I know that some people are doing this as well, my status will remain as Crazy . Now onto the Wrap Up. This week you can hold your breath to read all of them, except all the comments I don't want anyone dying reading the comments for Monday's blog 🪦 Yes, Monday's blog was yet another one of Cia's teases regarding the Secret Author Contest. Check it out Only 216 comments to go through. Hey, there is another question, do you think Cia will reveal this week? Only she knows She shares NOTHING with us. 😢 Done for the week! How about seven, yes 7, or sieben, or sept, or siete Words of the Day. What other languages do you know 7 in? reassurance, direction, restoration, purpose, unity, continuance, calm Upcoming Writing Events 2026 Yearly Anthology "Horizons" & "Unspoken" - Due October 1, 2026 - Find all the information right here. Member Participation Blogs - Great way to promote yourself!! Ask an Author 3.0 If you have a author you want to get some answers from, write a PM to @astone2292 Author Guess Who Get our members to guess who you are and also let everyone know who you are. Also write a PM to @astone2292 Here is the look at the past week's postings on all our Authors and Poets! If you still think I'm going to post who all the Secret Authors were, you still have another thing coming Still!!! 1 Recently Updated 'Premium' Stories The Goblin Heresy by Topher Lydon 10 Recently Updated 'Signature Author' Stories Carter's Asset by Topher Lydon Take the Long Road Home by kbois Charlie vs the Union of Doom by Topher Lydon The Goblin Heresy by Topher Lydon TRAVISTY by Mark Arbour Enthralled by Topher Lydon **Completed** Felix's Lucky Day by Topher Lydon **Completed** Treacherous by CassieQ **Completed** Out of the Blue by Mark Ponyboy Peters Roping the Moon by Headstall 40 Recently Updated 'Author' Stories In the Barb by Vcs Beyond suspicion by Thomas Lindblad From Maine To The Pentagon by Lee Wilson Parents Weekend by Boy Mercury X **Completed** Heart of Teutonburg by Mark Paren Aethan's Reign by ValentineDavis21 Under Amber Skies by Thightide45 How We Became Ourselves by Kevin Snell To Tame a Wild Heart by ha_yesha My Straight Best Friend Asked Me to Be His Boyfriend by StoriesByTroy House of the Moon by Albert1434 Between the Two by Grayson Rose The Curse of Love by Yeoldebard Self-Portraits by Richie Tennyson Designed for You by mastershakeme **Completed** IceBerg by J92 Alex & Neil: Moving On by Robert Hugill Unraveled by jkwsquirrel Of Orcs, Humans & Void Beasts by Celian Parallel Lives by Tomkin Watts Safe Distance by Tony S. Shooting Stars by Littlelovestories Monstrum by Laura S. Fox The Tor by andy cannon The Mirror of Dreams by Lupus Time Stood Still by Jason Rimbaud Out Of Order by Nuno R.F.C.R Fault Lines by sumtimesIwrite At Tempest Island by Grayson Rose Begin Again by Kevin Snell All In Or In The Way by Thightide45 Broken Hate, Broken Heart by Celian Pigsty by Jack Poignet turmoil by Paladin Seducing The Cambion by BendtedWreath The Field of Love by Enoch Beefy, Chalked Up and Taken Hard by Soren Kraft **Completed** Beyond the Veil by Laura S. Fox THROUGH IT ALL by vanalas Everything Meant Nothing by StoriesByTroy Read, Write, and REVIEW!!! (Don't forget to Recommend too!)

Your aunt has a penis 😮

I wonder if Cia is playing one of her tricky games... Here I go The Ledger of the Howling Void – Topher Lyndon The Ledger – Cassie Q Wrong Window - Myr Subtle Signs – chris191070 Coffee with Supervision - Mikiesboy Sweet Sour Paradox Logic – Lee Wilson Just the Facts, Man - Ieshwar Murder At 9th and Tom - drsawzall No Official Reason – astone2292 Undeliverable - Thirdly Gemma – BendtedWreath Peeping Tom – Bill W The Ivory Fig Ceremony - Kileoli Emptying the Library - GaryL Unexpected Discovery - kbois Wonder if I will even get 1 right

Well, at least I know where it came from now

Greetings my little chickadees. Let's get everyone to shout out a chickadee call. Chick a dee dee dee No, sadly I'm not drunk. Just a name I occasionally call people. Why, i don't know How about yourself, what is a name you call a group of friends that you know? Mates, pals, gals, ladies, men, boys. girls. Please don't light up the Moderation Teams PM and Alert system by using that British term for a finch, as it is not allowed on GA. Why you ask. There are certain words that Google Adsense bots search for. Also some pictures too. If we get too many warnings, they cut us off from that revenue stream. So please don't say that word. Or, even if you call your friends other sexual names, maybe don't say that either. I have one gay friend that calls everyone gurl, and no, he is just a normal guy, not into any other letters of the rainbow. I know some people are in my mind hypersensitive of referring to men as boys, but in sports culture, I think everyone is one of the boys. Boys, men, boys to men they all are males So what did you all think about the blogs on Monday and Tuesday? Usually one of us log in and unfeature the previous days blog when we wake up. Monday, was my error, as I didn't realize Cia was going to have a Secret Author Post So I wanted to do this months Review for the Review Team, so I sat down and read a story that I loved when I heard @chris191070 was going down under, so I wanted him to read it in his downtime and go find the characters in the fictional towns in Australia . So I was up to like 12:30 AM on Monday AM reading up to the end, then did a blog on it and posted at 2 AM, then went to bed for a nap and went to work. Turns out Cia had a blog loaded up to go Monday AM too. So you had 2 blogs on Monday. Then we added more fun, on Tuesday, Myr's blog I guess came up and none of us 3 noticed so everyone had 3 featured blogs I see all 3 got love, so that is a good thing I think that about covers the wrap up, so I'll just say good morning, night, afternoon, or wherever you are 👋 No? Not enough? Okay here is the weekly update: Monday as mentioned we had 2 competing blogs. Make sure you check out both of them: Then Myr popped in on Tuesday and added yet another : Yet, that wasn't enough for the week, Cia was back with another Secret Author Contest entry: One thing that was not posted repeatedly on multiple days were the individual Words of the Day: redemption, closeness, stability, reconciliation, determined, poise, assurance Upcoming Writing Events 2026 Yearly Anthology "Horizons" & "Unspoken" - Due October 1, 2026 - Find all the information right here. Member Participation Blogs - Great way to promote yourself!! Ask an Author 3.0 If you have a author you want to get some answers from, write a PM to @astone2292 Author Guess Who Get our members to guess who you are and also let everyone know who you are. Also write a PM to @astone2292 Here is the look at the past week's postings on all our Authors and Poets! If you still think I'm going to post who all the Secret Authors were, you still have another thing coming Still!!! 1 Recently Updated 'Premium' Stories The Double Hex by Topher Lydon **Complete** 10 Recently Updated 'Signature Author' Stories Take the Long Road Home by kbois Enthralled by Topher Lydon Carter's Asset by Topher Lydon The Double Hex by Topher Lydon **Complete** TRAVISTY by Mark Arbour Hastings Tale by Topher Lydon **Complete** Out of the Blue by Mark Ponyboy Peters Treacherous by CassieQ Roping the Moon by Headstall Cory's lie by Topher Lydon **Complete** 1 Recently Updated 'Promising Author' Stories Blades of Ashes by lilansui 41 Recently Updated 'Author' Stories In the Barb by Vcs Aethan's Reign - Exile by ValentineDavis21 Self-Portraits by Richie Tennyson The Tor by andy cannon Safe Distance by Tony S. Fault Lines by sumtimesIwrite How We Became Ourselves by Kevin Snell GFD 13: Fallen Angels by MrM From Maine To The Pentagon by Lee Wilson 1st Love: Past by Grayson Rose Designed for You by mastershakeme Six Months of Silence by Lupus **Complete** All In Or In The Way by Thightide45 The Wayward Brothers by CasualWanderer82 Parents Weekend by Boy Mercury X IceBerg by J92 Blades of Ashes by lilansui My Straight Best Friend Asked Me to Be His Boyfriend by StoriesByTroy House of the Moon by Albert1434 Heart of Teutonburg by Mark Paren The Curse of Love by Yeoldebard Alex & Neil: Moving On by Robert Hugill Unraveled by jkwsquirrel Shooting Stars by Littlelovestories Beefy, Chalked Up and Taken Hard by Soren Kraft Monstrum by Laura S. Fox The Mirror of Dreams by Lupus At Tempest Island by Grayson Rose Time Stood Still by Jason Rimbaud turmoil by Paladin Ly's Pandora's box by Kileoli Between the Two by Grayson Rose Beyond suspicion by Thomas Lindblad Alpha Awakened by Painawakened Seducing The Cambion by BendtedWreath Begin Again by Kevin Snell Never walk alone- Walk on by Andre Delport The Field of Love by Enoch The World Out There by Drew Payne Beyond the Veil by Laura S. Fox THROUGH IT ALL by vanalas Read, Write, and REVIEW!!! (Don't forget to Recommend too!)

Correct me if I'm wrong, in North America, we have Insurance Companies to cover you for unexpected loses, but in other countries, including Canada, you have Assurance Companies I remember the Western Assurance Company which when I googled was a member with the British America Assurance Company.

Wow, I'm being worked to the bone here 😮 2 blogs in 2 days So when I heard one of our Review Team Members was heading down under, I thought I might take a stab at writing my first review for the Review Team. I need to warn you, I usually only copy and paste the amazing work the Team does. So with @chris191070 in Australia, I thought I would review one of my favourite stories from there. Heart of the Tree by Graeme Reviewer: Wildone Status: Complete Word Count: 192,398 Have you ever read a story where one of the main characters is a tree? Not any tree but a ancient Moreton Fig Tree that took up a large part of a town's park in rural Australia. This story is a amazing tale of the fate of that tree, but a tree that all the locals know has much more significance than any other tree. It is magical in many ways. It is what holds this community together and has done so for years. Yes, there is doubters, probably like you. Give it a read and see if you still doubt it's mystical ways. In the beginning we are introduced to a local group of teens, fresh out of Senior High and are making plans to go to university or apprentice or just continue on working for any of the local employers in rural wine growing area of Australia. That is until a stranger comes to town one night and goes under the tree and is found dead there the next morning. Not long after, limbs and branches start to fall from the tree as it is dying as well. A wonderful Aunt to the whole town, Aunt Cynthia, feels the pain and sorrow as she was once was the Heart of the Tree. She is there to guide these young adults to search out and find the new Heart of the Tree as she approaches her latter years. Will she find the new Heart before it is too late? This tree is kept alive by love and bestows love on anyone who wants to be united by love under the tree. It is a mystery though on what can heal the tree. If you haven't had the chance to read Graeme, his characters are amazing to say the least. From first meeting them to new ones being introduced, your imagination is alight with images and profiles that Graeme hasn't outright described, but they're mannerisms and traits help cement their images in the readers mind. Graeme is a bit of a trickster too. You might have preconceived notions of what kind of people are in the story. Be prepared to finish a chapter and look back and wonder how did I get it all so wrong! I know he only used Drama, General Fiction and Romance as genres, but you could add in Mystery easily too! Graeme gives you just enough rope, to either save yourself or to, well we won't say that. The lovable cast of characters makes reading chapter after chapter a delight. You may hate some of them only to love them later. The mystery comes in as you never really know what is going to happen next. This story was also written I believe over 20 years ago but it could easily have taken place yesterday. The story has a unique way of standing the test of time. Don't let the size of this story scare you away. Once you are done the prologue and Chapter 1, I think you will find it hard not to click on the next chapter. One of my all time favourites here at GA and where it was originally hosted at AD, I hope you give it a try and it will become one of yours too! Category: Fiction Genres: General Fiction, Romance Sub-genres: Drama, Romance Tags: young adult, australia, no sex, coming out, friendship Rating: Teen

I know I read this story back when you first started posting it on GA, Graeme. There was just so much that I had forgot and so glad that I read it again. The emotional roller-coaster as we felt like we were part of the story and could sympathize and empathize with the characters and the heartbreak and love that all of them found, well maybe not Susie , was remarkable. I think some authors have an amazing talent to bring their characters to life and you are an expert at that Looking back, I wonder if you thought maybe came to you about a short story of Rhys, maybe articling with the lawyers in town, as well as being the father of a couple of kids that he really hasn't grown up to be As for not wishing that on anyone, we never really knew what Rhys' dad was like as a teen. Maybe the apple doesn't fall far from the tree Thanks, Graeme Now I have something I need to do

It seems like everything is coming into place. I'm sure Matt and Vince will be doing a lot of studying As for John Young, there must be something deeper than just not wanting a gay heart of the tree. I've got some guesses but I will not share them at this time

I'm glad that Vince and Matt got to say what I'm sure the tree needed to hear or feel somewhat privately, only an audience of 4. I'm looking forward to when they can continually walk down the streets of Mourton hold hands and heads up high! With the injunction, I laughed so hard, I needed that, when the lawyers said all the work was being done for the tree pro bono I wonder if the tree had to sign a contract or give a dollar as as retainer I too love Mama Saviloni, much like Aunt Cynthia. I hope there is people that can take over the loving attitude for the whole town when they are both gone. Reading Trebs comment made me feel a sense of sadness but also a sense of warmth. I miss him a lot

Now you got me crying again 😢 I love the ending and how they got to it for Vince and Matt. Rhys continues to surprise me on how he has maybe taken some of the lessons he learned from assumptions of Shane, and outing people and so forth, and is now using it with Cameron, although he didn't really want to be around him. But he did the biggest thing I think you can do, he listened I have to admit, I haven't really like Mark's character most of the story. He seems to be an antagonist in a lot of the scenes. What he did for Vince and Matt today, made me change my mind and think he too is growing as well. Maybe uni was what was needed for everyone to get a different perspective to life

I loved the fact that Rhys went to the party, probably thinking yes, it would be educational, but also not realizing what could and did happen. I imagine that if any of my straight friends came to a gay bar with me, it would be interesting to see if they got hit on. And as Ryse learned, he got a small glimpse of how the gays have to be on guard as well. I'm glad that the meet the parents is going so well. The fact that Vince is about to call and ask about meeting up with Matt's parents, over a weekend, should be a nerve racking event for Vince, but one that will take his mind off of the worries of coming out as the Tree

I love Vietnamese Food. Now I'm going have to grab a coworker tomorrow and go have some lunch Nice way to start a chapter out. It is interesting on hearing the conversation in the bar, and how some are dead set against it and some are resigned to it. Cutting down the tree seems to hinge on Vince and Matt. With their commitment to not rush things and move forward with only declaring their love after they have time to learn if each others are the one, that pressure must be intense. At least they are past the lust phase and are acting like two mature adults than the horny teenagers that I was at 18/19