MikeL

Toasts poll

Yours truly

Expert analysis

Chapter three is another interesting one. Chase is weaving many new characters into the story, and the main character, Jeremy, appears to be adjusting to the milieu into which he has been unexpectedly thrust. He meets more royalty and nobility, including the plain spoken Princess Lidia and the enigmatic young Prince Caleb. Portalis was never like this. (Even Orange County is not like this. )

The topic is Chase's writing, including cliffhangers.

Under sedation

Great beginning to this story, Nick. It's an interesting situation among the four friends that I hope will work out for all. My favorite line in chapter 2: "And maybe if frogs had wings, they wouldn't bump their ass every time they used their legs."

Too tasteless

Wound down

Some years ago, we hired a guy in his forties to come work for us. We checked his references and transcript and everything we should have checked. At his request, we did not check his current employer because they didn't know he was looking. He was the perfect fit for us. He was smart, experienced, and a hard worker. Over the next two years, word filtered down to us that he had done some serious bridge burning on his way out of the other job (one of their executives talked with one of ours). We didn't worry about that; he was still doing a great job. Then he got burned. His former employer bought out our company. His situation was so bad at that point that he left us for an inferior position elsewhere to avoid any confrontation with his new/old masters. If your bridge burning blows back on you in your twenties, no big deal. If it strikes in your forties or fifties, it is a big deal. Best approach to leaving an employer is to do so on the best possible terms. You can curse them in private to vent your anger.

Is it perverse of me to break into a smile when a 19 year old recognizes the effects of aging? Nah! The aging process begins the day we are born. Disease, gravity and the sun all take their toll over the years. Some sedentary types live past the century mark while some very active weightlifters or cross country runners die of a heart attack at 39. Don't sweat aging, Chase. That's the easy part. And those are the wise words; the degree is all up to you.

Thanks, Tim. I needed that.

Out prematurely

Control freak

Up above

I agree. If you need a special diet while in the hospital or under a doctor's care, that's one thing. It's quite another for this stuff to be sold in restaurants and coffee shops...probably at premium prices too.

Deleted entries

I have to agree with David on the matter of subtle cliffhangers. They may be so subtle that some readers will not recognize them as such. I, of course, have significant experience in cliffhangers having contended with a certain goat on the issue for several years.

Horrible stuff! It's hard to believe anyone could think up such unhealthy recipes. It almost defies logic that you could get that much bad stuff in one cup. Water is the best thing you can drink, assuming you can get clean water. I used to drink iced tea all the time. Tea without sugar or any other sweetener is the most refreshing. It needs to be fresh and made with filtered water to really be enjoyable. I suppose it is an acquired taste, but once you have acquired the taste you won't want sugar in it ever again. Alas, I can no longer drink tea due to the tannin content. Cheers.

Stateless goat

Good to hear about your improving health, Robert. Hang in there. Brighter days are ahead.

Assetless goat

Open source

I see you started a poll. It's good to be able to state our preferences. I wonder if it will have any influence on the goat.

I expect a happy ending for everyone except the Scar. I've never tasted roasted goat.