Bill W

I wish I could be rejuvenated. I wouldn't mind being 21 or 25 again.

Rejuvenate originated as a combination of the prefix re-, which means "again," with a Latin term that also gave us the words juvenile and junior—juvenis, meaning "young, + the suffix ate, which generally means "to cause to become" or "to act as,". It's also suggested by obsolete French rejeunir. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first known use of the word "rejuvenate" in English was around the mid-18th century, with the earliest recorded evidence appearing in 1742 in a translation by John Kelly, writer. Examples of rejuvenate in a sentence: "The spa treatment rejuvenated me". "The government has green-lit the rejuvenation of a further 170 parks and playgrounds in a five-year project". "The rejuvenation of the company is now in safe hands". "The rejuvenation has helped the passing game open up the playbook". "The promise of spring draws thoughts of hope and rejuvenation". "The most severe rejuvenation pruning is to cut a shrub nearly to the ground". "The rejuvenation of the old buildings had been undone in a flash". "The effect can be tremendous, with benefits including rejuvenation of microorganisms". "The football field, the park and the houses surrounding it have been rejuvenated". "A vacation is supposed to be filled with fun, rejuvenation and relaxation".

The term heuristic originates from the Greek verb heurísko, which means to discover or find out heuriskein (find). To Latin heuristicus to English heuristic in late 18th century. Heuristic describes a rule or a method that comes from experience and helps you think through things, like the process of elimination, or the process of trial and error. You can think of a heuristic as a shortcut. Heuristics are mental shortcuts that people use to make decisions and solve problems. Examples of heuristics include: Availability heuristic: Overestimating the likelihood of an event because it's memorable. For example, overestimating the chance of being robbed after reading a news report about robberies in your city. Anchoring and adjustment: Starting with a target number and adjusting it until you reach an acceptable value. Intuition heuristic: Relying on gut feelings or intuition instead of a more thorough analysis. Recognition heuristic: Using a brand or product that you recognize over a lesser-known brand. Representativeness heuristic: Making a biased judgment based on stereotypes. For example, thinking someone is a lawyer because they're wearing a suit and tie. Affect heuristic: Using emotions and feelings to make a judgment when you don't have time to think more deeply. Satisficing: Making "good enough" decisions instead of perfect ones.

I'll stick with "fear of long words". It's easier. 🤪

If you like unusual Christmas stories and Romances that are unconventional, contain many surprises, and that leave you feeling good, then this superb short story if for you. And by the time you finish reading it, not only will you have an entirely new perspective about blizzards, but you'll find yourself singing "Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!"

Gary, I loved this. So many unexpected twists and turns, and a great example about why you should presume things about others, because you may be waaay off base. The way it ended was perfect. All the box needed was a Christmas Tree and some mistletoe. It seems this not only means Clint and Rory's problems are solved, but they solved Benoit's problem as well. Everyone wins. Thanks for a wonderful Christmas story.

They are going back to look for treasure first and then they'll spend time with their parents. Sorry, I screwed up.

Cebu City in the Philippines is on the beach, but I guess there could be a mountain peak somewhere in the area. It sounds like an interesting place to visit.

I think you'll have to keep reading and make up your own mind about Gramps intention when he said that. 😲

I'm glad this Alpine Slide was better and I hope they either upgraded the one at Action Park or closed it. I saw there was a documentary that named Action Park as the world's most dangerous and insane amusement theme park. I also discovered it is now called Mountain Creek Water Park.

Yes, we all needed a little downtime after the last chapter.

Yes, after shooting and burying the evil skinwalker they needed a little something to put them back in the right frame of mind before they returned to their families. 🤪 I'm not sure about the Chinese, but since Gramps and Pops can transition into someone younger, I'm sure it seemed weird to Devin and Mac to be calling them Zach and Jake. The only Dante's Peak that I know of is the 1997 disaster movie. As far as I know, there is no place that is actually named Dante's Peak. 😜 Did your sister marry your monkey's uncle? Thanks for the feedback, Danilo.

The word labyrinthine comes from the Greek word labyrinthos, which means "maze" or "large building with intricate passages. The word labyrinthine is used to describe something that is intricate or complex, like a maze, a complicated system, or a convoluted plot. The word comes from the Greek labyrinthos, the structure built to contain the mythological Minotaur. In the story, Daedalus did such a good job making the building labyrinthine that he nearly couldn't find his way out. Maximillian Mayer suggested as early as 1892 that labyrinthos might derive from labrys, a Lydian word for "double-bladed axe". OED's earliest evidence for labyrinthine is from 1632, in the writing of William Lithgow, traveller. labyrinthine is formed within English, by derivation. Examples of labyrinthine used in a sentence: "labyrinthine streets and alleys" "labyrinthine plots and counterplots" If that's one of the most mazelike beginnings for a museum, its collection is just as labyrinthine. ... It owns a place in my heart for its sheer labyrinthine craziness. ... The labyrinthine legal dispute is coming to a crossroads as a series of hearings start.

Carl is looking for love, but his early attempts at relationships don't work out for him, so will he ever find true love? He's beginning to doubt it when he joins his ex, his brother, his brother's partner, and supposedly a few others for a Friday night get together, but the others don't show. From there we watch how the night progresses, and we also get a look into the future of the characters involved, but I won't give any more details away. All I will say is that this story describes a few relationships that don't work out, a surprise relationship that does work out, plus a true romance that also works out. If you want to find out how this story turns out and which relationships survive and which ones don't, you'll have to read this well-written short story.

Caz, excuse my tardiness for not getting to this sooner, but I'm backtracking on the stories/anthologies I didn't get to previously. I enjoyed this story and I felt things worked out fairly well for most of the characters. Cheating/lack of feelings Simon found Mandy and they seem to be happy now with their son, Kyle. Carl and Martin have lasted a long time and seem to be a happy family with Ali, but poor Lee is only a doting uncle now that Martin took advantage of him and then left.

Yes, I found the naming of the place interesting and a brilliant marketing ploy - Inferno Mountain at the Purgatory Resort, although I'm not sure purgatory will be much of a resort and it might only be a step above Inferno Mountain. 😜 It doesn't take servers long before they realize they have to make a good impression and make the customer feel comfortable with them if they want to be tipped well, as Lorretta at Diamond Belle Saloon knows all too well.

Gay males that are raised in religious families often deal with feelings of guilt and doubts about the appropriateness of their sexuality. It's supposed to be wrong, but if we're all created in God's image, then is it possible that God is capable of making a mistake. He wonders if he should be feeling this way and whether he'll go to hell if he acts on it? Ron faces all of those anxieties, but he's still feeling a strong attraction to Chris, a co-worker. Ron isn't sure what he should do about this and he isn't even sure if Chris feels the same way that he does about other men. Then, Ron finds himself in a social situation where he can be around Chris in the presence of others, but will anything happen, or is the attraction only on his part and merely in his head. To find out the answer to that question, read this short story, and I'm sure you'll be glad you did.

An enchanting short story about the doubts that lingers in many gay males that have been raised in a religious family. I could feel Ron's anxiety and nervousness as he fixates on Chris, but isn't sure if should be feeling that way. And then when Chris invites him to a party at his new apartment, he's confused if Chris is merely being friendly or something else is afoot. It's a very tender, angst filled, and romantic tale.

Chapter 58 – A Chance to Unwind Gramps woke Devin and me when we reached the motel in Durango, but only after Pops had gone inside to request two rooms for two nights. When Pops returned, he directed Gramps to a parking spot close to where our rooms were located, and then he handed Devin the key card to our room. “While you’re checking out your room and dropping off your gear,” Gramps began, “may I borrow your laptop so I can see what options we might have for things to do tomorrow

In my experience, the youngest in the family gets a great deal of attention and is usually pampered, but the male protagonist, Blake, in this story is nearly invisible to his parents. Why is that, you ask? It's because his older siblings, a male and a female, tend to excel in everything they do. He, on the other hand, doesn't draw the attention or stand out as his siblings do. So, how is he to overcome those odds? Fortunately, he does have one skill that eventually gains him some recognition, and along the way he finds that special someone whom he may spend the rest of his life with. Don't pass up this lovely and romantic story that has its share of frustrating moments along the way. Trust me, you'll be worse off if you don't take the time to read this wonderful and heartwarming short story.

Gary, I really enjoyed this story, although I found some of the characters frustrating, and I believe you know whom I'm referring to. I'm also glad that Blake his come into his own and may have separated himself from the shadow of his siblings. It's also nice that he's found his Prince Charming, and I hope their relationship will work out, although in my heart I'm positive it will. I also hope the showing of his artwork finally brings him some positive reinforcement and recognition from his aloof parents. This was a truly romantic story and I'm thrilled that Blake was able to score his hat trick + one. By the way, Gary, did you ever write any follow-up to this story?

There's an old science maxim about magnetism that says opposites attract, and sometimes that's true in romance as well. Jamie is a gay boy being raised by a single mother, who doesn't always do or say things that are socially acceptable. However, she does love her son and accepts him for who he is, a gay male. This short story follows Jamie from his mid-teens and as he grows older, and as he has relationships with other gay males, the author provides flashbacks to give us the backstory behind what is currently happening. This is an easy to read and interesting story, so if you like romance, you might want to check it out.

Interesting story, Sasha. A love that wasn't meant to be, at least by one party, followed by one that seems to be meant to last forever. Toss in a loving and well-meaning mother who is often inappropriate with her comments. I love how you kept having a opposites attract, first a jock with a non-athletic nerd, then a professional surveyor (who may have also come from money) with a mechanic. The flashbacks also helped to understand their backstory, which made the story much more interesting and enjoyable.

Ornate comes from Latin ornare, ornatus (fitted out, adorned, embellished). The earliest known use of the verb ornate is in the Middle English period (1150—1500). OED's earliest evidence for ornate is from 1490, in a translation by William Caxton, printer, merchant, and diplomat. It is also recorded as an adjective from the Middle English period (1150—1500). Examples of ornate in a sentence: "The most ornate baskets take at least a week". "The church has an ornate black and white marbled interior". "They bought an ornate Louis XIV sofa". "The wood screen is also ornately carved and dates from the late 15th century". "The funeral took place in an ornate baroque building on the outskirts of Munich". "The style is ornate and highly decorative". "With its elaborately carved, convoluted lines, furniture of the Baroque period was highly ornate".