Former Member

To all those men who ask when International Men’s Day is, I say it’s all the other days of the year. To all those white people who ask when white history/heritage month is, I say it’s all the other months of the year. To all those straight people who ask when straight pride month is, I say it’s all the other months of the year. To all those who reject labels because they’re too limiting, I say that definitions help people realize that they are not alone. If the label isn’t big enough to describe you, create a new label to define you. If the current labels aren’t specific enough for you, create a new label that describes who you are. Labels in and of themselves aren’t the limitation that you think they are. The LGBTQ community has continually expanded and redefined who we are and will always do so. Rejecting labels won’t get rid of hatred and homophobia, but education and visibility will. Erasing labels makes people invisible.

I’ve mentioned this before, but after watching documentaries about Trans people, I asked a question on a Gay porn site’s Forum. These were obviously all people who enjoyed looking a naked men’s bodies. None of the participants in the Forums ever identified themselves as female although there were female members of the site itself. The question I asked was, how do you know you’re a man? Aside from the physical attributes, how do you know? If something happened to your ‘naughty bits,’ would you still be a man? It was a question that none of the others had ever considered before. While we’d had to come to terms with our sexual orientation to some degree, we’d never thought about gender identity. As far as I know, everyone who participated in that topic was cis-male and the answers seemed to confirm that assumption. Most answers seemed to relate more to being a good person and a stubborn few looked between their legs to find an answer. They talked about being loyal and trustworthy or standing up against offensive things. I believe most of us were surprised by how little we could describe our feelings because we didn’t have the vocabulary or knowledge. I know that I’ve learned a lot about myself by watching documentaries about LGBTQs who are very unlike me. The documentaries forced me to consider things I’d previously just took for granted. I still don’t know what it really feels like to be Trans or any of the other identities I’ve learned about, but I do have a tiny hint at what it must be like. I’m sure as I stumble my way through this explanation I’ve probably mangled concepts and inadvertently stomped all over delicate sensibilities. I’m trying to understand. And I’m trying to learn.

So a few readers guessed the outcome from last chapter’s cliffie! One, that Eric was the one who was injured. Two, that Brian would know how to contact Andy. And three, that Andy & Adam would take in Eric so he can recover outside a hospital. ;–) And several of Eric’s friends correctly figured out why Eric was so adamant about not going to (the) hospital. Eric is so used to doing things himself that he’ll find it difficult to stay with Andy & Adam. And they’ll find caring for a crotchety, injured, old man more frustrating than they imagined. ;–) Poor Eric. Older bodies are more easily damaged and recover more slowly. But he’s likely to get fed much better than when he’s cooking on his own – a wider variety of tastier and healthier foods. Andy will need to bring Eric his computer. ;–)

I don’t know. Are you imposing one now? ;–)

If you can refine your eraser, you could make a killing curing people like me with clinical depression! ;–)

I have it on good authority (your word) that you live in the Toronto area and are forbidden from crossing over into Bizarro World. ;–)

Because you’re not living in a bizzaro parallel world! ;–)

Somewhere in a bizarro parallel world, Don & Louis’ fostering application gets turned down and Max gets sent to a group home with no ramps or elevators.

All I was trying to suggest was that all these characters are Ronyx’s babies and Gary's potential child would be Ron’s grandchild. I’m sure at least one or two of my high school classmates are great-grandparents since most of us are turning 60 this school year. The important thing is that we’re still alive – at least one of my junior high school classmates didn’t survive to make it to high school.

You should change your slogan to ‘GA’s Time-Travel Guy’! ;–)

If you’re looking for a Ronyx story in easy to digest bite-sized chunks, this is the one to read! Chapters are much shorter than in his later work, but this was his very first story. Ron’s talent shines even from the beginning. ;–)

I’m guessing that @Timothy M. doesn't have a spectacular garden, but envies those who do. It always seems like his protagonists know someone with a beautiful, well-maintained garden, but don’t ever mention their own. The twins’ Aunt and the Cardmaker’s neighbor – Jazz probably has an award for his orange roses somewhere. ;–)

You missed a chance to be cleverly misleading here. You should have said cute chicks! Of course we all knew Corbin built the coop, but you could have had a female coffee shop patron or two flirt with him as a distraction… ;–)

I don’t know how things work with those sorts of favors, but doesn’t the obligation work both ways where Corbin has at least some protection from Luca? Is it possible that Luca is member of a Reina Family rival? Instead of being a danger, couldn’t they be an ally? ;–) Maybe Corbin should get some geese. Aren’t they supposed to be good alarms? Or maybe some other pets that get noisy when they sense danger, but not a dog that can be bribed into friendship. ;–)

That struck me as odd too! Especially since Gary had the cast on his arm. But that wouldn’t have allowed Shaun’s mother to comment on the long gap between visits and his injury – or let Gary’s mom to sneak into his room to leave the note and symbolic apple! ;–) You couldn’t have Shaun be grounded (and thus unable to leave the house) because he wouldn’t have been able to use the phone or have visitors. ;–) I’m glad I’m not the writer trying to work his way out of a corner! ;–)

Not to say this was a bad story or anything, but you’ve really grown as a storyteller! ;–) Looking back over my life, I’m not sure when I’d push the Big Red Button. Even during my better periods, there were always things out of sync. I’ve never had everything all at once. Maybe because I’m looking back over a much longer period of time – about four times as long as Gary? ;–)

So Theo gets a bonus for dinner tonight. Not only does he get to meet Diego and hear all the embarrassing stories about Sablo, but also Diego’s date: Death! Good thing Cupids aren’t human. There should be some interesting conversation as everyone gets to know each other… ;–)

I’ve been off the continent, but never been on another one. ;–) I’d need a very generous donor to sponsor me traveling anywhere these days. ;–)

I’m glad you had that pack of tissues! Food poisoning is no fun and not having toilet paper only makes it that much worse. I’ve never had that experience though… ;–)

Sometimes tissues are used for things that don’t involve a face… ;–)

Well… Personally, I’d be more afraid of a woman claiming to be my wife! ;–)

Hopefully you would have purchased a house in the ‘80s or ‘90s before real estate prices skyrocketed! Otherwise, you’d either be struggling to afford the ever increasing rents on an income that isn’t keeping up with inflation or you’d have moved away at some point. Just like everyone who lives here. ;–) There are still hippies living in Berkeley and in SF’s Haight, but most have moved to Mendocino, Humboldt, or Del Norte* County. ;–) * pronounced Del Nort due to its settlement be Azores Portuguese. This area was not part of Spanish/Mexican California. It had been part of Russian America.

Why was Johnny missing in action? While I was reading this chapter, I was thinking there were two little boys, but I couldn’t remember for sure. So I had to go back several chapters to confirm that fact! ;–) I’m guessing that the kids will visit their ‘cousins’ from time to time… ;–)

…And that’s why I don’t go out of my way trying to date rich people either! ;–)

When I was homeless, I spent quite a bit of time with ex-military guys. Most of them didn’t have Honorable Discharges, so they didn’t qualify for all the programs set up for Vets. But most of them have addiction or mental health issues. They aren’t bad people, just not anyone I’d want to be in a relationship with. ;–)