IBEX

Waking up on a cold winter Sunday - the first news flash on my mobile tells me that Ringling Brod. Circus is shutting down after more than 100 years of operations. What a shame! I've never seen them, but I understand it IS a national heritage. In good times and in bad, bringing joy to not only kids but families, all of America. One needs to go back in time to really get thet feeling of" The Circus Is Coming Into Town" On Awesomedude.com Seth Newman gives us a glimpse into the world of circus and in particular the immense logistics involved in his tale "Leaving Flat Iron Creek". Back in the 20-30ies, when hundreds of horses were needed to move all the stuff from the special train to the showgrounds. When drivers had more than ten horses hitched to a single wagon to transport the massive poles and canvas bundles for the big tent. The Ringling Circus train is still the largest in the world. It's about a mile long, I think, and has more than 50 cars. Just watching them, from rolling into the railway yard and setting up for the show, is an amazing experience. You'll find plenty of stuff on youtube. But have a look, at the few old movie clips, from even before 1900..... and then go and watch their last show ever on earth- with tears in your eyes

Hmm...seeing that you are so kind to reply to any and all reviews puts me in a quandary! Each review takes valuable time off your writing hours.....maybe such a short, if thrilling chapter is your subtle punishment for us nosey readers? Always poking, inquiring, suggesting? speaking of which - flickering lights, hopes and brain waves are my specialty! It's good to know Logan's tumor is benign. Then it only compresses the healthy parts of the brain, not destroying any function permanently. Once the tumor is gone, full restoration of functions is the most likely outcome! So there's hope for a happy Tilly! love and peace

Yes! Everything is going too be awesome! In 2017 and beyond...... But if Xue wants to make it to the pole over ice, he'd better hurry. It's colder in CGN right now than in Nome, just saying

One has to adore young, budding rock stars! Lean, bodies sweat glistening under the colourful stage lights, sprayed on leather pants...and for contrast a nerd living on java, with a python in his lose fitting cargoes.....

Thanks, Sasha for all the Yuletide goodies! I am enjoying the days under my decorated fir tree, with music of this year's deceased artists filtering through memories of all the Yule and Christmas trees of the past.....while reading your fine stories. So this one is not the one called "Daddy Issues"

Ah, good! You ARE making up to us! ( and stubborn bear to his little Tiger) BUt, we do deserve longererer chapters, as has been noted elsewhere! it seems there is already some indication of changes in the still-not-tiger happening! Curious what will happen after a few more couplings. The command being the first but not the only indicator...

Aw shucks....sweet little tiger always reminds me another week has passed. Reading the latest chapter always is a guilty pleasure- guilty of not having finished all the projects planned. But a pleasure nonetheless! Now is "obstinate" a word in bear language? Or does it just generically translate into 'bear'? I am chuffed to see Emm gave in - finally! Now on to adventures, the courting is on! A trip to the pole and a more challenging one to visit the strict and oh so traditional family of Jian. And just how will a polar bear survive/ enjoy Bondi beach?

Phewwww.....powerful! First I wanted to congratulate you on a new take on shifting, on the FIRST shift. Now that he werewolf genre has evolved from good humans against the most brutal and evil monsters to romantic (mostly) wolf only stories - that and a host of other shifter species. Have we seen were-fish yet? You gave the shifting a new twist for sure. Now this quick turnaround of a very dire situation might bring some romance still? A few members will want to leave, a few more will have to. What will the Goddards place be? I guess Dillon is safe from most.....Love Jamie! That boy is gold!

Ah, sweet, this one. I book this chapter nder "appeasement" Thanks for the dogs! I do wonder though - why were the dogs so easily taken by a big cat? Surely they should smell the different scent? There isva lot of Saturday left - can't we have one more chapter today? Waiting a week is killing me softly....

Ah, yes! I feel much better now than after the last chapter! Before warriors go into battle they need to eat, drink, sing, dance and make love.....that's what my forebears did hundreds of years ago. i can follow some of their reasoning. But still....feeling uneasy wih the boys unarmed in human form. No radio to call help, cannot even carry a first aid kit.... Do I worry too much? ( say 'yes', please!)

I have a thing for shifters.... so you got me hooked easily with this wonderful tale! If I only could talk to these guys! I would not let them out of my sight until they finish that joining! NO hunting hunters before... And no, it's not sound reasoning to face the threat alone. There is strength and safety in numbers. In particular for pack animals! Even if it's only for making the remains dissappear!

Oh Sasha, you can't possibly get any more country than..."and green eyes like a John Deere paint job"! You had me rolling..... ​Thanks for this romantic, yet powerful story! - ​More power to the ladies! I like them strong and confident. Would be nice to eventually meet them on the rodeo circuit....once the snow melts away. You know you have other tasks before that! Ha!

Greta minds....the second the life-like rose had been mentioned the image of Brick and the tenth sprung up - and their obsession with roses! I love those flowers like any others, but a tat of a rose for me is on par with an anchor, some past girlfriends name and a a heart pierced by an arrow....seen too many of those, poorly or well executed, does not matter! Guys - and gals for that - get more creative than a rose....please! Rant over - now Carlos that was another nice day of your biker's quest! While there will always be pricks around, we can only hope that the find less and less support for their un-enlightened views. That fob was nicely but in place by his peers and pals, our liked hero did not have to lift his voice, even less so a single finger. Again, we can only hope, that the recent changes in political discourse (hard to call the past 18 months that) and the future government does not wash up the less savory elements in society....

Hmmm....why do I feel awkward all of a sudden, when curling up on my favorite caribou pelt?

Gobble....gobble...gooble di gook.... Time to celebrate!

Good boy! You are trying! It's not so hard, right? You'll see the light one day!

Interesting which topics are raised by the readers.... Marco Rubio...perish the thought.... hard to unthink now. CJ deserves better! I think it's amazing how self assured CJ is - given his history. To bring out a toast to a dignitary he has never met before - at age 16 or what? I was 22, I think, when I shook the Presidents hands for the first time without being nervous beforehand! Re Owen the oozing Ozzy: I like him, really a nice chap. But if CJ waits too long, restrains himself too long postpones things - the spark might die. A wonderful friendship will reman, yes, but sometimes a flame does not last forever and then you're past the point where you could have rekindled the fire! I found out in my past a few times.....taking it "slow and easy" for too long.... WALLS will be a hoot, can't begin to imagine what mischief the gang will get into - all the while staying on the honors roll, of course! Would not have it any other way, right?

“I wish we had a taco truck on every corner.” Hey, is this your entry in the "worst election ever prompt" ? We have to think of a nice bike to get CJ started. I am afraid it has to be a Harley, eh? (Even though by now there are superior US bikes around! ) ​Some how I can see him quite easily on a traditional and very practical Heritage Softy. Good for long cruises he will surely plan with Harley! For city life some primped second hand Sportster might do.....kids these days! An openminded and so far not jaundiced Owen surely will get himself an Indian! The scout would be the budget version.....even though he'll be ogling the Vintage....

Yes, Aba is good people. Some are all their lives like that, others reach that state through experience, lives' lessons take to heart (Not many do, IMHO) The financial issue is not easy to solve. It can be a very deep seated unease. Superficially easily fixed....but quite likely to re-appear at odd times.

Heavy stuff.....but Daddy has a good heart! Poor kid, must be shocked to the core....Even I would, and I've been around the block few times

WoW! Just beautiful. Makes me want some ink BAD! ...and some love, yes....

Wow! Beuatiful, powerful. Wow!

It looks like Adrian has not been honest with his 'girlfriend' either. She won't be helping him any once she learns about the true story.... Poor Alexi, hopefully he will not only recover from that massive blow, but be able to put Adrian behind him once and for all! Hard to imagine this has going on for ten years! That kind of clueless dependabilty reminds me of the Stockholm asyndrome, a sad but regrettably not rare thing...

Excellent development! i am sure the Kotaro family has all the possible and necessary means at hand to re- unite josh with Shane eventually. ( and Alexi will make a terrific extra dad!)

The issue with the card will be resolved quicly, as I am sure the statements get to Lily's desk. Alexs seems to be the type ( of artist) that needs to be held and cared for by a stronger personality, that needs to depend....alas, these guys often fall prey to users - like Adrian well might be one. And being afraid of losing this precarious stability they fail to see the threat to their emotional wellbeing for too long....