Marty

You know... Many of the suggestions you are throwing out are plausible... And just a few of them don't (to me) seem plausible... I've a lot of theories of my own.... Some of them contradictory... But I'm personally quite content to wait and see what Dom comes up with in the next chapter (which I see has actually gone up). It's his story when all's said and done. I'm just not sure whether that means that I'm not as big a Domaholic as I used to be ...

Glad To Be Gay -- Tom Robinson

It's just good to see you back, all safe and sound, Dom Marty

Well done, Bob. Keep 'em coming! Marty

Never, ever, apologise to an author for commenting on a story! Feedback is an author's lifeblood Marty

I find myself in a bit of a quandary here... Many haiku writers do not consider the 5-7-5 rule to be set in stone. Indeed some writers of haiku do not even consider the three line rule to be one that has to be followed all the time. The five-seven-five rule comes from the fact that Japanese haiku is traditionally written in three parts, the first with five sounds, then seven sounds, and finally another five sounds. Bear in mind, however, that a sound in Japanese is not really the same as a syllable in English. For example, the English word

Friends (In the Haiku format):- Lou, Frank, Joe, Ken, Jim... Why is it I always fall For friends that are straight?

I'm in agreement with frenchcanadian here. I think the adult language was necessary to bring out the use, abuse, destroyed trust, and feeling of worthlessness that I assume Ieshwar was trying to convey in the poem. And I must say that I thought it was very good. Marty

Many Happy Returns !! Marty

Thanks guys ! Strange thing is, I don't actually feel a year older than I was yesterday And the cake was nice anyway, Bondwriter Marty

Sorry I'm late (on holiday....) Hope you had a great day! Marty

Have a great day, Carl ! Marty

Not entirely true... people seem to make sure they go out of their way to humiliate you as much as possible on your 18th... Hmmmm.... Could someone please tell all my friends, family, and work colleagues that? I've got my sixtieth coming up shortly, and everyone seems to look upon it as an excuse for parties, nights out and celebrations. Looks like I'll be drunk for at least a month! Marty

Nay I've never reached orgasm more than five times in a single night. (Sometimes I am jealous of the female of the species) Marty

Or, slightly along the lines of the above two:- The Virgin Bottom:- Don't! Stop! Don't! Stop! Don't! Stop! oooooooh!! Don't stop! Don't stop! Don't stop! Marty

Many Happy Returns, Jules ! ! I feel for you with your story about your ISP's helpdesk. Just remember that the people on the helpdesk are often IT bubbleheads. They usually don't understand a word you say to them (especially if you start to use technical words), but have to work down a list of questions and possible answers. If you try to explain to them what you have or have not already done to try and cure the problem yourself, or try to get them to change the order of the questions they are reading, you only confuse them more.... Marty

Hope you had a good one Marty

HAVE A GREAT DAY ! ! ! Marty

Absolutely brilliant, CJ! I'm not a surfer; never have been and, sadly, never will be at my time of life. The closest I have ever come to anything remotely similar has been riding small waves in a kayak off the northwest coast of England (over 35 years ago now) But I was completely drawn in. Your descriptions were so vivid, that I could almost imagine that I was actually on the board with Drake. You are one with the sea, part of it, the deep roar and the sensation of speed combining, reminding you that all visits to the Green Room are, by their very nature, brief. Just one of the many descriptions that caught my imagination as I was reading. I have to agree. It's probably the best short story I've read on here, anyway. Marty

Y A Y ! Y A Y ! ! Y A Y ! ! ! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU ! ! ! ! Marty

Have a great day, TR ! Marty

Have a great day, TR ! Marty

Many Happy Returns ! ! ! Marty

Ronnie, I think you'll find, although not being in the US I can't be 100% certain, that it is the HIV situation that prompts this question on the form you fill in. The first cases of AIDS were diagnosed around 1981, if my memory serves me right. Allowing for several years between infection with the HIV virus and the development of AIDS symptoms, this will explain why the question refers to 1977. Certainly here in the Republic of Ireland there is a similar question asked, and if you answer 'yes' to it you will be told that you are not permitted to be a blood donor. Obviously the reasoning is flawed, since the rate of HIV infection per head of population is nowadays greater in the heterosexual population and the intraveinous drug using population. I understand that the USI (Union of Students in Ireland) is currently planning a campaign against this discrimination. The Blood Donation Service here in Ireland regularly runs radio and TV ads, asking people to sign up as blood donors. "Join The Most Extraordinary Club" - or something similar - is the slogan they use. As you say, if there is a shortage of blood products, it is either ignorance, fear, or just bloody-minded discrimination that they still don't allow those people who admit to having male to male sex to become members of the club. Marty

Many Happy Returns ! ! ! Marty