Bill W

There's so much I could go back to see or instances in history that I could change if I had a time machine, but if I were forced to choose only one, I'd go back and give my pre-teen self some important advice. Don't start smoking (which I gave up 13 years later), stay away from certain individuals and be true to myself, rather than trying to live up to other people's expectations for me.

Very touching and good advice. I think any 14-year old gay can relate to that letter.

Well she has referred to herself as white trash and who would know that better than Miley? lol

Thanks for the feedback. This story was originally written in 1998 and I reworked it a bit recently, but I don't have any plans for adding to it. There doesn't seem to be enough interest to warrant it. Thank you for the suggestion though.

An article I read about the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and the 'I Have a Dream' speach got me to thinking. Cory Booker made this comment: "When I used to walk around the community, walk around our home, he used to look at me and say, 'Boy, don't you dare walk around here like you hit a triple because you were born on third base. You are enjoying freedoms, opportunity, technology, things that were given to you bought by the struggles and the sacrifices and the work of those who came before. Don't you forget where you come from,'" Booker said. This made me wonder where gay rights fit into this paradigm and this is what I came up with. Gays first stepped up to the plate in 1969 with the Stonewall Riots and the start of the modern Gay Rights movement. I believe we made it to First Base in 2003, when the US Supreme Court declared sodomy laws unconstitutional, something Queen Elizabeth II did for the British colonies in 2001. I believe that in 2013 we are almost to Second Base, with the repeal of Don't Ask, Con't Tell, the invalication of the Defense of Marriage Act, 13 states and the District of Columbia allow gay marriage and several other states allow civil unions, plus other countries, such as France and the UK, also permit gay marriage. I feel we will have reached second base when gays anywhere in the US can marry. The date for third base will be when no country bans gay marriage and we will finally cross home plate when gays are no longer despised by the majority of people in the world for whom they love. I didn't say when no longer despised by anyone, because I believe that's an unrealistic goal, so I'll settle for the majority accepting us. Let me know what you think about this analogy, but please don't make your comments political. This is merely a discussion on the advances gays have made and how far we still have to go.

How about two more. There has always been a tunnel connecting England and France. There has always been talk of hybrid cars.

Personally, I believe it's important for gays to know the history surrounding what gays have faced throughout the ages. Just as religious and ethnic groups feel it's important for members of their group to know about the suffering their ancestors endured, it's important for gays to know how other gays have been treated in the past. Heaven forbid that part of history was allowed to repeat itself.

I think this is important. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/22/elane-photography-v-vanessa-willock_n_3798948.html?ref=topbar As the article states: "Today's opinion recognizes the sincerity of those beliefs, but makes clear that no one's religious beliefs make it okay to break the law by discriminating against others," Melling wrote.

I found this article interesting, in that the Israel is going to honor gay victims of the Nazi Holocaust. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/22/israel-gay-monument-_n_3795983.html?ir=Religion&ref=topbar

According to this article, his transformation is not going to happen while he's incarcerated. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/22/army-sex-reassignment-surgery_n_3794994.html

Snkholes are popping up all over and are damaging property. One opened up beneath a guy's bedroom and he died in the process, so I'd say they can be very deadly. Imagining driving down the road and a sinkhole opens up beneath your car.

If it floats in a straight line, then it's space junk. If it changes course, then either you've been drinking or you have consider something else might be out there.

Happy Birthday. Hope it's a great one!

If I've had a rough day and am a bit ripe, then the nighttime shower it is. Otherwise, I prefer the morning shower to help wake me up and get me going.

Happy Birthday, Adam. Have a great day.

Thanks again to everyone for their well-wishes.

Happy Birthday, JoAnn. I hope it's a truly great one. First Cia, then me and now you. Isn't August a great month? lol

Thanks to everyone extending birthday wishes since my last post. It's nice to be remembered and I've had a wonderful day so far.

Thanks, everyone. Aside from the alergies, everything else has been just great.

My kids often brought home pets to, but not like that. Interesting story.

Ok, KC. Put the Dead out of your head for three more weeks and get working on that Fall Anthology story. You're running out of time.

A dose of reality.

How about 1D in 3D and nakie? I think they'd draw a lot more interest. lol

Wench? Someone needs a sensitivity session... hehehe Anyway, Happy Birthday, Cia. I hope Lugh didn't spoil it for you.

Exploding cakes. Sounds like a Pee Wee Herman gag. When microwaves first came out, my aunt thought she could hard boil eggs using one and that was an explosion too. lol