daveymars

I would like to compliment you on writing Don from a fairly credible point of view, and not necessarily a hateful one... in my misspent 20's, (I will be 49 on 1-6-18...) For some reason, still kind of enigmatic to me, I was the flavor of choice for closetted, conservative men who identified themselves as straight, but liking to uh play... I am glad of this because I am pretty sure I was able to save several lives by insisting on scrupulous safer sex, and making sure these guys understood what this meant and why, and that they could really enjoy it... they often seemed to be returning to same sex activity after years in heterosexual relationships, often pretty clearly not having experience using condoms due either to monogamy, or fear of being caught with them... their cluelessness was shocking. (You would be amazed at zome of the unique places condoms can hide in sbort-term safety in vehicles!) Now, I am not out to disrespect ANY person's understanding of their identity, but as men they viewed their lives much as Don described our hero's situation with Fran. They were straight, "by choice" because they could function sexually with either gender and enjoyed it, but were only open about the straight activity. They had some patience for me because I was in great shape, dressed and sounded like them, but explained to them privately.that as much as I tried, as far as women were comcerned, I just couldn't uh... ahem... perform... like war wound in Hemmingway couldn't perform... so for me, genuinely, there was no choice. But most men aren't in my situation... and that is ok! We all are who we understand ourselves to be! Many men felt judged if they identified as bi, or anything but 100% this or that... still do... I have never been into the idea that episodic same sex or opposite sex behavior identifies anyone. Whoever ypu tell me hou are, is who you are. If your understanding of yourself evolves, that's ok too. Because I refused to judge they often opened up to me about stuff I was sure they had no one else to talk with... and their conversations... were so much like the sruff that Don was dealing to Robbie, it was like de ja vu reading it here... and if someone understood themselves in that way, to them, they aren't being unreasonable, unrealistic, or homophobic... they're just helping a younger version of themselves avoid the confusion they may have felt, in a far less open time. Much love, and many thanks...

Agreed... Some other of your American audience may not realize that you Canadian folk allow Tylenol3 as an OTC. If memory serves T3 has codeine. Sweet Jesus, if this is a perscription strength Canadian Tylenol it must be insanely strong! Are we working towards an opiate addiction/OD here? Because titration-wise our boy and his liver could be in real trouble--with 6 of 'em over a 12 hour period... depending on strength of the med.

What a wonderful continuing tribute to love... You are amazing!

How is it rhat your writing makes me feel a little better about the world? You mentioned having some health issues, my only business in that, is hoping for you to have better outcomes and healing than either tou or I could imagine. What a gift this has been and continues to be... Thank you!

I had a sanctimonious prick of a Dean like this as well... I had almost 200 semester hours and over a 3.0 a 3.4 in the second major, all from his university and he tried to f with me at every step of the way...(I needed 9 more credits to earn a second degree post bac... and he was violently opposed to my getting the degree despite the fact I had more than enough credits by 50, twice the number of honors courses... he was opposed to the exceptions that had been written into my program by the dean who had created my degree program. He even called my advisor in to try to intimidate him with exasperated ranting... I saw red about 20 times and somehow for the first time in my life, instead of raising my voice... I lowered it... and slowed down my cadence...I sounded absolutely frightening, like Hanibal Lechter, lol... The dean claimed courses I took at a branch campus and CLEP credits I took were transferred in and should not be counted. I calmly reminded him that the catalog states that test and branch credits are not transfer credits, but if he wanted to put that in writing I would be forced, as a matter of principle to file a civil and a criminal complaint against him and the institution for fraud in the inducement... Great for PR! I also let him that I would also complain to the Inspector General's Office at the US Department of Education...noting that one of my classmates was already working there, so I was sure they could guide me as to what the process would be. He was apoplectic... and was about to deny me anyway, when I played my last card... "By the way before we continue, I 'd like to compliment you, on your choice of artwork, the picture of my (relative with my fairly unique last name) celebrating that s/he is the first ivy league law school graduate ever from (my state undergraduate university) I think I''ll bring them over here before they meet with the Development Office next week to see it... I know they'll be pleased with how it came out!" Asshat glared, signed the document allowing me to complete the degree, and said, "fine it's been 3 years since you took your last language class you'll never pass the language proficiency exam." My advisor pulled me out of the office to select my final classes. As we went to his office, my advisor sat down and said, "I have known you for 6 years, I never thought you'd have it in you...You have always been prepared and polite, but this??? In 20 years of working with that assh*le, no one ever wins. YOU DID! And you were so calm...How did you do it?" I explained that in my home I was raised by school teachers, if they yelled at you, you were in trouble--but "the quieter they got, the worse off you were and the longer the grounding. He was acting like a petulant child, I decided to treat him like one..." What I didn't tell my advisor was the thing that calmed me down was a vision of the dean visiting the sling room at a local ahem steam and sauna establishment... My words were garden variety chatter. My tone was one a Dominant would use with a sub... lol. Who knew I'd ever learn anything useful from gay porn? I completed my degree and scored the highest score ever by a non-translation major on the exam. My advisor called me and let me know that the Dean was angry, and even tried to review the video tape from the testing center, but the director said there was no need, that she had proctored it herself and was confident there was no way I could have cheated. I laughed, it was true, she had, I hadn't, but the reason she proctored my test herself was she remembered me from my CLEP tests and that no one had taken so many and passed them all, so when she saw my name come up, she took it herself "to see how I was doing, and find out how I used all those credits!" Lol... Ironically, I work as an academic advisor and student advocate, I work with deans on a daily basis and I am proud to say that ALL of them care about student success... and look for ways to uphold the rules, while allowing the student to graduate.

Ah... a story with 6 gay male Canadians... Kindness, deep emotions and oh yeah delightful silly humor! Maybe I have a Canadian male fetish? Lol sorry... I needed this beautiful, gentle chapter a lot today, after hearing my nation's president claim that men shouting "blood and soil" with flaming implements WERE not racists and not White supremists.... Thanks for creating a brief oasis of warmth and civility... I needed it.

I am not saying you should keep graphs and charts, but have you ever worked with or heard of Scrivner? It is a self contained writing program with lots of tracking features which you only need to use what you want, and is (compared with Word) reasonably priced. It's also got a liberal 30 day trial period and mac and pc versions. I only offer the thought because you commented on having some jovial concern over not knowing your own story... (we know you know it! The writing is too good for you not to.) But its a method that might let you keep easier track of the minutia. And anything that speeds up the next chapter... lol!

Actually, this makes sense to me... because I've had guys do it in regards of being ashamed of something that we'd consented to... The difference was even when I was 19 I was I MADE them talk to me. Bigger, older, wealthier... I've never given much of a shit about that... Clam up on me? Start acting funny after we've tried something... not flying... but then I've been fortunate in that I've always been in a position where no one I was in a relationship with ever gets so much control over me that I can't "reel it in" if things were to get beyond my liking... and in a world of Cosby-esque creatures... that's a fortunate thing indeed! Again... nicely done... I really enjoy this and I'm remiss about your tour de force chapter with Raymond's "mother." that was especially nicely done!

You know... other than your constant need for emails... LOL you're a pretty good writer. And I adore this story--though I'll admit I'm at a loss as to which Russian Tom is with... I'm enjoying your story a lot... your plots move along and you have kind of a different voice for your characters. I want to see more of Runt and his beau and we need to get Paul and Jeff sorted so Jeff can go up and buy out and close down his old law firm... LOL

:) Dodger, how do you hve all these interesting people in your head? Seems like these 2 could have some staying power(

Also didn't have to research the face painting exclamation point I don't know why but I laughed for 5 minutes when I read that! Abstract? Really?

I have really enjoyed this... story fo this point... th9ugh three are some issues... like what kind of pre med student doesn't attempt to help trauma victims on th4e national malll? And for this chapter... wo far this chapter is good but I am concerned about the follow-up...m

I can't wait... it's really beautiful.

I have read all the chapters.... I am really impressed with how you have created this compelling crew. Enjoyable, smart writing, great characters and an engaging plot. I can't say enough good things about your story! Thank you for your hard work and dedication...

I needed this today. THANK YOU!

What about my personal favorite "Young Cycle Girls"

Great work sending private message!

After finishing my 160th graduate level credit hour in 2004... LOL (Ok... I really really really liked my counseling master's degree and wherever it said you could take this course or that or this other one... I took all three of them... LOL ) I took a break... until this semester. I signed up for a new masters' degree in Special Education (non-teaching) so that I can learn more and advocate better for students who I work with in a post-high school setting. (Since I have ADHD and a reading disability--my speed is in the 2nd percentile--so if I'm reading you... you must be pretty good... I was able to study like I did because I had good advocates and folks to help me in ways most people never ever ever get.) So... I have one workshop for the summer then I can take more in the fall. But this has been over 13 years since my last course... the good news is I'm acing it... the bad new is I am 48 years old now. It's tough to work full time and take the courses AND then write?! LOL the good news is that a lot of the extra courses I took (the degree only required about 70ish semester hours...) can weirdly count in this new one--so I'll only need about 4 more 3 credit courses to get it. LOL BUT I want to write too... oy...decisions... decisions

Good! It's really a joy to read--even when it's not joyful. Thank you for your work and for having the guts to put it out there for us... I am thinking I may start on something this summer... but I'm not sure... I've got a good story in me... and I'm not sure I've got the guts... but you've got me thinking about it!

Well... ok... sorry! Timelessness of story IS a compliment? be grins hopefully....

Uh big fingers small cell phone keyboard... and left eyeglasses on deak at work... lol bad combo! Re-edited for clarity... Thx!!!!

Okay, I want to like this chapter...but its hard to... because well its ao well done that it is upsetting for the softie that is me.... Objectively, Its well written and pretty darned amazingly accurate to the descriptions of similar injuries I've heard from students an d clients who have had them. And I really like tbat Nathan keeps seeing him... I real appreciate that Fran and Rory are helping out with the show...maybe our hero can help with the script as part of his tberapy? just thinking... Now I know folk are asking for ct scans and such, but this is a community hospital in Canada in the late eighties early nineties if I'm understanding the time frame correctly, and I don't know that that would be available readily and even if it was I don't know that our hero would be in any condition to tell us about it! I mean, he can't currently remember who Suzanne is for God's sake! Btw... this means that I have to double-down on my comment from last chapter regarding the safety and well being of the Dodger in real life...

All I will say, is that I hope that this did not happen to a young Dodger. Perhaps, the young Dodger, lived up to his name and side-stepped such an incident? I hope so! This isn't a question that needs answered... It's a simple, sincere wish for the younger self of a really creative and dear man, whose writing, even when about horrible fhings, is so enchantingly real.... well you can't help but care about the guy...

My reference to it being a Full double-twisting Lysistrata is trying to use the name of the classic play to refer to the sex-denial-until-appropriate-behavior-is-induced as a maneuver or movement in the field of Male/Female relationships... (making a loose analogy to said relations as being like an Olympic sport or something... LOL Sorry I get a little too silly sometimes...