Former Member

When I worked in a bookstore in the ‘90s, Diana Gabaldon (Outlander) was the example that was always mentioned for an author who posted her work online (pre-internet!) and was picked up by a book publisher. ;–) I’ve read quite a few free books on Amazon. The level of quality leaves something to be desired – there are many stories on GA that are far superior. My impression is that others have had better experiences with the quality of the free books they’ve been able to download. They have universally been better than most of what’s on Nifty. ;–)

How can you not love America’s Finest City? ;–) That was clearly a drought year since San Diego averages 9–13" (230–330mm). Historically, SD has had more than 24” (610mm) and as little as 3.2” (80mm) in a single year. In 1976–77, when the rest of the state was dealing with mandatory rationing during the statewide drought, SD only had voluntary rationing since SD hadn’t yet started receiving water from Northern California – it was all either locally sourced or imported from the Colorado River. San Diego is not a horrible city, but it’s politics are too right-wing for me. It’s not as bad as it used to be, but the city is dominated by the US Navy, Marines, and retired vets. There are LGBTQs representing SD, including Toni Atkins, but they aren’t as common as in the Bay Area (even my small city has had a Lesbian Councilmember). But SD is not as bad as Los Angeles. I remember back in the ‘70s when Tijuana-based XETV 6 ironically was the ABC (American Broadcasting Company) affiliate for San Diego. But KCST 39 (now KNSD) took the affiliation. When ABC hit the top of the ratings in 1977, greedy, longtime NBC-affiliate KGTV 10 stole the affiliation from KCST and ABC promptly returned to its normal, lower ratings*. Channel 39 was eventually purchased by NBC. San Diego has one of the highest rates of cable subscription in the US because the numerous hills and canyons make antenna reception difficult. * ABC’s ad theme song the following year was Orleans’ Still the One. ;–)

Well, I can say I really like the setting! I used to live in East San Diego (near University & 54th) and graduated from Crawford High. We moved just before the PSA crash near University & I-805 in 1978 – just in time for the People’s Temple mass suicide followed by the Moscone/Milk assassinations in the Bay Area. But your description of the weather is a little off. From winter into June or so, there is almost always fog in the morning, burning off mid-day, and returning in the late afternoon or evening – just as it does all the way up the coast past the Bay Area. The cold California Current flows from the Gulf of Alaska down to Mexico. The hot air inland pulls the cooler air from the Pacific Ocean as it rises. The fog gets pulled in along with the cooler air. And summer tropical storms happen once every couple years or so. But the summer humidity is normally low, dropping down to 5% during the notorious Santa Ana Conditions where the High is centered over the Four Corners region and the air flows counter to the norm out to the coast, losing humidity as it passes over deserts and up & over mountain ranges. Temperatures in the 90–110°F range are more bearable since the humidity is low, allowing your sweat to evaporate efficiently and cooling your body naturally – unlike the summertime high humidity in most of the central and eastern US! The temperature usually drops in the evening too. (I remember seeing a sign in Chicago that said 90°F, 90% humidity, at midnight, one August night.) Most of San Diego’s water comes from either the Colorado River or the Sierras via the Sacramento Delta. Very little is sourced locally. San Diego (and even mores, Los Angeles) could never have grown as large without massive aqueduct projects. Unfortunately, semi-arid desert coastal Southern Californians waste more water than Northern Californians. Actual-desert inland Southern Californians waste even more water with their enormous swaths of green grass lawns, grass-covered golf courses, and swimming pools. I think the processed and cleaned wastewater from Northern California should be pumped over the coastal range and shipped to the farmlands in the Central Valley – and to Southern California! ;–)

The same thing is happening in California with sex education. The same people (and arguments) are being used against the state-mandated inclusion of LGBTQ history. Apparently the innocent and naïve offspring of those bigots never see TV, movies, magazines, newspapers, social media, music videos, their friends’ families, their neighbors… ;–)

I think Section 28 was well-publicized in LGBTQ media, but pretty much ignored in mainstream media in the UK and here in the US. Germany had Paragraph 175 which criminalized Gay sex and was in effect between 1871 and 1957 (in GDR) or 1994 (in FRG) – this was the statute that the Nazi used to imprison Gay men and the statute that the Allies used to keep Gay men imprisoned after the other Death Camp survivors were released! The US didn’t have national laws against LGBTQ, but we did have Senator Joseph McCarthy (R-WI), and the House Un-American Activities Committee whipping up anti-LGBTQ sentiment in the ‘50s. Lawrence v. Texas finally struck down Texas sodomy laws and, by extension, invalidated sodomy laws in 13 other states, making same-sex sexual activities legal in every US state and territory on June 26, 2003. I remember being in the Castro Theatre during Frameline37 LGBTQ film festival when the decision was announced. Since we had been inside the theatre watching a movie, we hadn’t heard the news until they told us between programs. The mood in the theater and the Castro was jubilant and was only matched by the Obergefell v. Hodges decision (exactly 12 years after Lawrence v. Texas) that legalized same-sex marriage in every US state and territory!

And from those few clues I’m suppose to know which Gay movie they watched?!?!?!?!? ;–)

It amuses me that the Guardians are unaware of the Cupids’ abilities. You’d think they’d know more about each other if only because they’re non-human. The brothers have even more in common than they realize. ;–)

Richie seems determined to do everything possible to make his situation worse. And the sperm donor seems fixated on helping him do that. Wade needs to fix his own life before he ruins Richie’s life too. The sperm donor is an example of why so many people of color do not trust the police. A bad cop gets protected by his brothers. They all close ranks to prevent justice from being served.

Thinking about all this reminded me that one of my case managers when I was homeless once told me that my name was mentioned by several (unnamed) people as someone they thought they’d be able to live with in a shared apartment. Since most people don’t get enough income from things like Social Security to live alone, case managers always asked people to think about splitting the rent with someone else. My Social Security Disability payments are a little higher than what most homeless people get because I worked almost all of my life, paying into Social Security the whole time, while many homeless people have very spotty work records. I was surprised to hear that I was being mentioned like that since no one had ever approached me with the idea (except that one woman who I met a year or so later). There were only one or two people I’d have even considered sharing an apartment with – and none of them were people I knew when that case manager told me about those others! Fortunately for me, I never had to do that. ;–)

Unlike with Natalie, there was no pretense that she was my girlfriend. I only felt used after she wouldn’t stop bothering me with all her problems even though she knew I was already overwhelmed with my own issues. I decided I had to cut her out of my life to maintain my own sanity. I was never going to be able to solve all her problems for her because she wasn’t really trying to change, a problem shared with a couple of other homeless people I know. I know her fantasy was to live with me, but I need to live by myself. I’m sure she was very disappointed that I didn’t invite her to move in when I got my apartment, but it’s a studio and I cannot imagine sharing the space with someone else (even though I have neighbors who live with two adults and a couple kids squeezed into a mirror-image clone of my apartment). I’m not a good roommate in any case.

Opals can be very pretty, but they’re very fragile and easily shattered. Most other gemstones are less susceptible to breakage. Not the type of stone I’d recommend for such active guys. ;–) That hot air balloon ride sounded spectacular. Napa Valley is another area where they offer those trips. Plus they have all those wine tasting rooms for afterwards. Two things you won’t find me doing! ;–)

When I was homeless, a female friend of mine introduced me to a woman who really wanted to meet me (they were both homeless too). Before she was introduced, she was warned that I am Gay. When I met her, the first thing I told her was that I am Gay. I warned her against going out with a guy who was interested in her, but she ignored my advice and he got her pregnant. Unfortunately/fortunately, she miscarried. I even paid for a motel for her during the period she was taking a tuberculosis test (it takes a couple days for your body to react or not to the test) and she wasn’t allowed to stay in a shelter. I thought we were just good friends who enjoyed spending time together. But she kept calling me and pouring out all her problems with men. I told her I couldn’t deal with all her problems while dealing with all of my own problems and asked her to stop calling me with her boy problems. She kept bothering me. Eventually, she admitted that she’d fallen in love with me even after all the warnings. She kept harassing me, so I finally stopped responding to any of her calls or messages. Sometimes people just cannot understand that being Gay is not something that they can change.

He’s into the RV lifestyle? ;–)

Thanks for the feature, Carlos. And also to those who ask all the great questions

It’s very well-written, but it’s a difficult story to read because the protagonist has an extremely hard life at the beginning of the story, being abused and bullied. I do recommend reading it.

I dated one guy whose family had money enough to go on exotic vacations. It was more that everybody had very high-paying jobs than that they grew up wealthy. I probably could have been like that when I was young. But I was way too Closeted back then. And I am terminally shy when it comes to meeting hot guys. And now I’m old and single which a crime when you’re Gay, Nephew! ;–)

Isn’t Scandinavia a country? It is on my Risk board game map! ;–)

Hopefully for Joe, it’s nothing like Parker Owens’ A to Z! ;–)

Should I have compared you with the classic Lego brick instead? Ever unchanging and compatible with even the newest pieces. (And only available in seven colors?) ;–)

I once organized the half dozen regular posters on a Gay porn forum to switch their Avatars to the same model as one of the other members for April Fools Day. That member had been upset when an infrequent poster showed up using that same image. Disappointingly, he didn’t react to my prank. It was weird seeing all the posts attributed to the same avatar! ;–)

Why did I have the premonition you were thinking of pulling that prank on us as soon as I saw the Notification? ;–)

How Scandinavian of you! ;–) Kind of like the classic Volvo 142/144/145 series… ;–)

I guess those are like dog years… ;–)

I’m starting to remember bits and pieces of this story. Usually it only takes a chapter or two. I must be slipping! ;–) I’m starting to wonder why the sperm donor is suddenly being nice. What’s the catch? Did the girlfriend give him an ultimatum (no sex unless he stops beating his son, perhaps)?

In honor of @Lux Apollo's bon anniversaisre