Irritable1

Happy birthday, Wayne!

Just thought I'd work those Rob tendencies a little

Happy birthday Gary! Many happy returns! This place wouldn't be the same without you!

WHAT ON EARTH??? Is Ren like Aurel in having an evil twin? I mean, I totally understand that he would be hurt at being mistrusted after a year together, but honestly, you'd think if he's been handing out rings and keys he'd be prepared to hold back on the I-don't-care attitude for a few freaking days. Poor Jonah!

Well. I don't know. On the one hand, there's this from Wes: I mean, jeez, Wes, if you like someone, you like them, and should the external status markers really matter all that much when you get dumped? I think it's worse that Peterson could barely behave decently half the time, and still wound up dumping Wes. But whatever. On the other hand? I am so incredibly proud of Chad that he came out of nowhere and went after Roy and got him!!!! GO CHAD! MIDDLE-AGED VIRGINS FOR THE WIN! At least in this story Oh and I cackled when it turned out to be a Red Angus.

Happy birthday young West!

My son told me about this yesterday! The thing is that there has been a huge number of spinoffs and parodies, so I think a lot of kids have been watching over and over to get the details down.

Must admit I have little or no idea what to buy people I haven't seen for a while, and it gets difficult to manage a budget for a large group. I lean pretty heavily on LUSH bath bombs... My recipients are polite and don't complain.

Wow, that sounds incredibly depressing, Wayne. Do you have any local friends or family you can visit during the day?

I've forgotten, do charter schools have to abide by ADA standards for inclusion/mainstreaming?

Really nice piece! I counted it up, it is iambic tetrameter, and quite exact. I'm especially impressed by your perception of the two stresses in "recipe" and the neat pairing with the first "A." Not only that, but you take a word that's usually the stress-recipient, i.e. "that" and force it into an unstressed spot by placing it adjacent to "hard" which is even stronger in this line. Rhymed, too, so fancy!

Yes... I'm definitely seeing more value to the Nathan's-head-stuck-in-toilet version of his character arc. He's not just a Neanderthal during sex, he's selfish and self-centered in the outside world too. All very unfortunate.

That does sound nice, Cole. I kind of wonder sometimes what it'd be like to have more family in town to rev us up a bit on Christmas day. With no demands on us we kind of sit around all day unless I drag everyone outside. Which does not make me popular.

Hee. We've talked about going at Thanksgiving but the campgrounds here fill up with treehuggers months in advance. I've never gotten it together in time to make reservations...

That sounds so beautiful.

I know!!! You interest me strangely

At my house we stay up late Christmas Eve wrapping things for the kids and assembling them. We put out cookies "for Santa." I used to get into arguments with the younger kid when she was very tiny because, "Santa gonna come downna chimney and eat alla cookies!" "But he'll leave PRESENTS." "But he EAT ALLA COOKIES!!!" But she's come to terms with it over time. Then we sneak around filling stockings. Mr. Irri can stay up later than I can. I usually get a lipstick that works on me. Which is amazing, because he's color-blind. It's our annual Christmas miracle.

Honestly, it seems like the kind of thing that's not really notable in any way except that one of the people involved felt safe in asking for help even though he was gay. Cops get involved in this kind of incident between straight people all the time.

Ok, Rex, don't get me wrong, I like Barry, and I'm really enjoying the story, but seeing David offer to give up his case really got up my nose! Barry is a criminal. Even if he never smashed anyone's knees himself, he worked with people who did! And he knew it! And David's going to give him a say over who handles his case? Because he might not like it that David is gay? What the heck, David!

Happy birthday, Andy! Hope you get lots of Eccles cake!!!

You make me so proud I couldn't believe we had a response in the first hour! And "salt to taste the sea of Naples" is excellent, by any standard. A tour de force, Addy! well done!

Happy birthday dear Lisa! Best wishes for your next quarter-century!

Oh gosh, Cole, this whole terrible, ominous chapter was so well done. I had the sense of Wes's heartbreak coming at him the whole time, but we just couldn't tell from what direction, like a train coming out of the mist... and then it's Silas? A near-closeted former one night stand? Seriously? Peterson ditches his sweet boyfriend after Thanksgiving dinner for a blast from the past with the guy who kicked Chad when he was down? I mean, it's 100% believable, no argument there, but OMG, who does that? Really? Even Justin was horrified at the idea of his dad hooking up with Silas, but Peterson, he'll boldly go where everyone else knows better? After Thanksgiving dinner? As you can see, I'm torn between horror at the rudeness and the dumbness of Peterson's actions. Well, I hope Silas and Horace will be very happy together And I hope the big guy, whatshisface, doesn't get drunk tonight

Aw. My antiRob heart is melted.

Poor Clem. I'm really loving this one, Sasha. I don't know why I want Nathan to be redeemed so much (jerk!) but I totally do.