Bill W

Encumber (also as incumber): is from Old French encombre "block up", from en 'in' + combre 'river barrage'. The adjective "encumbered" was first recorded in English in the late 1700s, specifically 1785, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. The earliest evidence is from the writing of William Cowper. The word "encumber" itself, as a verb, has a slightly earlier history, with the meaning "hinder, hamper" appearing in English from the late 14th century. Examples of using encumbered in a sentence: "That's not a good reason to encumber taxpayers with another two decades of debt." "A husband could not sell or encumber the homestead without the wife's signature." "Heavy cloud cover that could encumber ground forces was expected to lift today." "First, these objects encumber what should be an unencumbered architectural space." "They would encumber the decks, and rather add to the danger than detract from it." "The casket would encumber you." "I don't want to encumber myself with unnecessary luggage." "Lead weights and air cylinders encumbered the divers as they walked to the shore." "Some people encumber themselves with too much luggage when they take short trips." "In the neighborhood, the spaces beneath the portes cocheres were encumbered with wounded."

Looking for gay stories in the late 1990s, I ran across an author named Comicality and his stories stood out from all of the other stories I could find at that time. I explain how a simple email turned into me getting to know one of the nicest and most encouraging people I’d ever known.

Cooper Harmon is getting ready to start his freshman (1st) year of high school when his father notifies the family that he’s taking a new job and they’ll be moving. Cooper is not happy about leaving all his friends in Montclair, New Jersey and moving to Decatur, GA (a suburb of Atlanta) where he doesn’t know anyone. How is this going to work out?

It's believed that askew was formed simply by attaching the prefix "a-" (meaning, among other things, "in (such) a state of condition) to the word "skew" (meaningto be out of alignment or at an angle). Theword skew, which derives via Middle English from Anglo-French eschiver, meaning "to escape or avoid," can be a verb, adjective, or noun. The word "askew" was first used in English in the mid-16th centruy, around 1565. It is believed to have originated from the Old Norse phrase "á ská," meaning "on a skew". Examples of askew used in a sentence: "He askew them what was the matter." "Her works are noted for their slightly askew plots and exploration of the human psyche." "The first one went a bit askew." "Are the plates for light switches and outlets square or slightly askew?" "My eyes stuck on the bow tie, because it was slightly askew." "He still wore his suit, his tie only slightly askew." "It was then that he noticed the slightly askew vent cover."

This is Ocho. Ocho lives in my bathroom and hangs out on my orchid plant. Every day I soak a Q-Tip in water and put it down for him wherever he is (on the plant or behind the toilet or on the vanity) and he comes running over and gets a drink. Was my first reaction to smash him? Nope. To flush him down the toilet? Nope. To “burn it to the ground”? Nope. He’s literally a fraction of my size. I could easily k**l him, but I choose to be kind. He deserves to be on this earth as much as I do. In fact, he contributes way more to the natural order of life on earth than I do. It’s so easy to choose kindness. I encourage everyone to take a moment and make sure the language you use when it comes to spiders, insects, rodents, etc. is kind and not fearful or disgusted. None of these beings are pests or threatening. Let them be. Help them if you can. Be kind. It’s so simple

You're going to discover that these two young men are quite atypical.

The next chapter will tell you whether you're right or wrong.

Cognizant first showed up in the early 19th century: probably directly from cognizance. The origin of cognizant is first documented use of the word "cognizant" in English dates back to the 1820s. It was formed from the noun "cognizance" and the suffix "-ant", according to the Oxford English Dictionary. The noun "cognizance" itself has an earlier history, appearing around 1394 in Middle English, says the OED (Oxford English Dictionary. The earliest known use of the noun cognizant is in the Middle English period (1150-1500). OED's earliest evidence for cognizant is from around 1394, in Pierce Ploughman's Crede. cognizant is apparently a borrowing from French. Etymons: French conoisant. The words "cognizant" and "cognisant" are both correct, but "cognizant" is the preferred spelling in American English, while "cognisant" is the preferred spelling in British English. Both words mean "having knowledge or awareness of something". Examples using cognizant in a sentence: "So we are very cognizant of the fact that they need rest and respite care." "You don't think that they're not cognizant of the impact on the campaign?" "People should be cognizant and aware of what's going on around them." "A statesmen must be cognizant of the political boundaries within which they work." "Not necessarily, although we should be cognizant of their limitations." "Today's declarer was not fully cognizant of this inference and so failed in his game." "Yet he remains underwhelmed, almost as if he is not cognizant of what he has achieved." "The game is growing and we have to be cognizant of that."

Thank you, Anton, and I'm glad you enjoyed this chapter. I look at Clint as a 12-year-old, since he is only a few weeks away from his twelfth birthdaym, but I agree with your appraisal that he's curious and possibly hesitant to check out boys in his own age group. Mac and Devin are good with kids, and that's why the do the Christmas visit to the children in the hospital. I'm sure that they'll be good role models for Clint.

Thanks, gmc, and I'm glad you enjoyed this chapter as well. I think you're right about Clint and he is looking for a gay role model, maybe even a teacher, and Michael and Devin would make fine examples for him. I'm also glad that the white water rafting brough back good memories for you, because that really is a blast.

Thank you, gmc, and I'm glad you enjoyed this chapter. I agree that music is co longer confined to a single generation. I remember when my older kids were teenagers in the 1980s, they used to like to listen to my Beatles tapes from the 1960s, as well as my Crosby, Still, and Nash tapes, including those with Neil Young, from the late 60s and early 70s. And that's hilarious that your daughter's friend wanted to know if Paul McCartney was in a band before Wings.

Yes, you're right, but I don't think he would have done anything like that with Mac if he hadn't received positive feedback from Mac while they were on the raft, along with discovering that he and Devin were gay. He's uninhibited, though, that's for sure!

Your right, rafting is always fun, and sometimes scary too. And Clint is precocious and it looks as if he's not only fixating on Mac as his hero, he also might be indicating a sexual interest in him. I guess we'll see how this turns out.

Yes, Mac ended up taking a low blow, but it was unintentional and it earned him a hero worshipping little friend. 😜 😁 Yes, Clint is an interesting little guy, and it looks as if he and his father are going to try to stay close with Mac and Devin. Thanks you, Danilo.

I have a feeling Clint is a bit gay and looking for some action. I wonder how this will play out. 😜

Yes, it's neat when you get close to new acquaintances/friends on vacation, especially if they're like Lonny and Clint. 😁

Yes, the were individual stars and didn't form a group. In fact, I wonder what kind of songs they would have sung. They'll go to games, but I don't know if it will be around their birthdays. We'll have to wait and see. Yes, it would be nice if there were more people like that.

Chapter 3 – Making New Friends As soon as we woke up on Monday morning, Devin and I dressed basically the same way we had the day before, only with different shorts and sweatpants. We also decided to wear the CSU football jersey that Devin’s parents gave us as Christmas presents, since they were also made from nylon, and mine was number 27 and Devin’s was 82. As soon as we were ready, we went to meet up with my parents to eat. “What are we doing today?” I asked. “As I told y

To tell you the truth, I haven't figured out how old you are! 😜

I'm definitely more than 10 years above the upper end of your age range preferences.

Not rich and struggling to make it from month to month! Sorry.

I highly doubt @Jason Rimbaud would be interested in an old geezer like me.

I wouldn't say that's the right word to describe you. I don't think that word has been invented yet! 🤪

Nomenclature comes from French, who got it from Latin nomenclatura, from nomen ‘name’ + clatura ‘calling, summoning’ (from calare ‘to call’). Nomenclature was first used in English the the early 17th century. The first known use of the word "nomenclature" in English was in 1610. This word, borrowed from Latin, refers to the practice of naming things, particularly in a systematic or standardized way. Nomenclature used in a sentence: "The gene nomenclature follows the rules for gene symbols in wheat." "The nomenclature of the gene names is explained in the Methods section" "A few years ago they started a system of plate nomenclature - three letters, three numbers." "These set guidelines and publish a reports containing the rules of nomenclature." "The Model X follows a very similar nomenclature." "My mom sure knew how to keep a secret, but she had a real lack of imagination for nomenclature."

@wildone ever hear of sunscreen? But I'm not sure if that works on snowburn in 20C/50F spring weather in the frigid north. 😜 And according to my calculator, 20C is 68F, and that's a big difference! 😵 50F is 10C 😢 And are you all right, Beers are Optional! That doesn't sound like you. Maybe you should think about a checkup? 😲 Steve, are you saying your life may evolve from being a rug rat to a rink rat? 🤪 The only long weekend during May in the US is Memorial Day, which this year will be on Monday, May 26th. 😁