MikeL

I don't do salt water...dries the skin.

CLIFFHANGER. There, I have that out of the way before a certain goat even suggests otherwise. So, we have a lot of action in this chapter, including developing relationships. I, too, think Keith and Brian are going to become an item. I have two questions: If the volcano collapses into the Atlantic, where do the bombs end up? Will Instinct be ruined financially when their "collateral" disappears?

I just came across this article on foreplay at webmd.com. It is written about heterosexual intercourse, but could apply to gay relationships. It contains an interesting explanation of why men often rush to the entree and skip the appetizer. Do you engage in foreplay or rush to conclusions? Please keep it clean.

Michael, it seems your friend is not only anxious to find a new hubby, she is also promiscuous. (You may not agree, but the statistics speak for themselves.) This is very bad for the daughter. Even six-year-olds who don't know much about sex pick up on the lifestyle. Her mother is teaching her what "acceptable" conduct is. There's a good chance she will reprise what her mother is doing when she is grown. Sorry, I have no idea what you can do about the situation given your strained relationship with the mother. You do have a heart. Guard it with your life. Mike

Joe, this blog entry is a real revelation for me. I had absolutely no idea that donuts were vegetables. I agree with Mark that you have to be a bit more direct with people who won't take a hint. You are a nice guy and hate to hurt someone's feelings or create a scene, but you are both investing a lot of time (and gas money) in a relationship that is going nowhere. You can still be gentle with him but be unequivocal at the same time. Good luck. I disagree with Mark on one thing he said: You are neither plain nor simple. Mike

Your pictures are great! Especially this one: Thanks.

Happy Mothers Day to the mother of my sons and the mothers of my grandsons. It's a great day.

I have called our grandson by the cat's name several times. That's what happens when you use baby talk with the cat.

OK, I'll discuss. We amphibians have a keen sense of what constitutes a cliffhanger. Actually they are easy to spot...they always seem to smell of goat. First, M*A*S*H. There were no cliffhangers in M*A*S*H. As horrible as the Korean War was, it really had nothing to do with the TV comedy. It was merely the background wherein a dysfunctional field hospital played host to an ensemble of goofball surgeons and nurses...all for laughs. Cliffhangers may occur in literature or motion pictures at any interval. A weekly chapter release does not eliminate the presence of a cliffhanger merely because of the short wait for the next installment. When I was a kid, all the kids went to the Saturday afternoon movies at a neighborhood theater. [Admission was 12 cents; you saw six cartoons, a newsreel (the Korean War was the big news), two feature movies (at least one was a western), and a serial thriller. If you liked the show you could stay and watch it again free of charge.] My favorite serial was The Black Coin. The serial had a new episode each week and each episode ended with a cliffhanger. There are varying degrees of cliffhangers found in literature and cinema. Most authors of serially-released stories use them to keep the interest of the reader. Rather than arguing endlessly about what constitiutes a cliffhanger or whether the latest chapter contains (or end with) one, the author should, as I suggested earlier, just suck it up and get on with writing the next chapter so that the latest cliffhanger, if any, can be resolved. Thanks, Cliff, for the opportunity to comment on this burning issue.

Happy Birthday, Patrick!

Eric...our hero!

Happy Birthday, Rob! Let's party!

Eric, I think you are making the right move. Hopefully you will eventually be reconciled with your parents. In the meantime, you can keep up with everything through your sister. It seems that you and Matt and your friend are mending your relationships. That's great! Mike

Cliff. Hope you feel better soon. Another great chapter, Cliff. I hope all these cliffhangers are resolved by the end of the story. All of them. I trust all the readers noticed a new element in Cliff's writing...another example of his versatility and willingness to tackle controversial subject matter... .

Dom.

While we await the goat's response, I am pondering this: Has Google compared the exhaust from their lawnmowers with the methane produced by 200 goats in a week? I'm not sure which produces the smaller carbon footprint.

Eric, it's great to hear that you and Matt have already come to an agreement. I think it shows you really do care for each other. Your mutual resolutions should go a long way in strengthening the relationship. Continued best wishes to you both. Mike P.S. Great picture of you two popped up when I read your second post above.

Two sets...enough for two planes?

Eric, to answer your question, it is cheating. If you and Matt have made a commitment to each other and his actions violate that, then he cheated. Perhaps the two of you haven't actually made such a commitment or haven't fully discussed what you expect of each other and what each of you is willing to do for the other. If you love him, now is the time to have that talk. Don't make any accusations but deal with the matter in a loving way. You will both know where you stand with the other and can work on building a trusting relationship. One other thing...and please forgive me if you consider this none of my business...perhaps you should cut back on the drinking. Being drunk when you had earlier discussions with Matt about your friend, appears to be a factor in your current situation. If you had been the most sober of the threesome last night...not the only one who crashed...you might be happier this morning. Best wishes to you and Matt.

You made some very good observations, Steve. I can think of one variation: Scar's plane will make a dead stick landing at La Palma airport just as Gen. Bradson did, then use the JATO to take off without having to start his plane's engines on the volcanic ash-laden ground.

You do indeed never know...personal experience speaking. Tubal ligations are 99.7% successful. Occasionally, the doctor will tie a slip knot.

I think the goat's been munching on the peyote again.

A little historical perspective...Horst was quoting Robespierre. "One cannot expect to make an omelette without breaking eggs." ~ Maximilian Robespierre (a central figure in the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution, approximately 40,000 were executed in 15 months)

Poor Mike. I would say more, but, on advice of counsel, must remain silent while legal action is pending. Miscommunications is an appropriate name for the chapter. Not only have Eric and Helen miscommunicated on something we can only guess about, but the goat has miscommunicated the location of the chapter in his announcement and misspelled the chapter name. That vacation really took a lot out of Cliff. Aside from that, a great chapter and the end of biweekly releases.

Very bad indeed, goat! I am currently conferring with my attorneys to determine if I have a cause for action under libel of defamation laws. Everyone knows Michael is a sacred name. The original Hebrew translates as "who is like God?". You certainly won't find a goat named Cliff in the scriptures.