Former Member

I’ve had a few suggestions for the future of W.A.R.… ;–)

I’m glad Dustin finally got his HEA. Even better that it still involves Billy & Brett. But I’m very sad that this series has come to a conclusion and that you’ll be leaving us permanently.

What’s a PFA? None of the ones listed on Wikipedia seem appropriate. I’ve heard of Restraining Orders… ;–)

Or write a spinoff exploring the mysterious Karel’s story! ;–)

All I know about the Netherlands I learned from @Geron Kees. Just kidding. ;–) I know Spain controlled the Netherlands for quite a while, so that seems like it could be the reason why Sinterklaas comes from Spain. And I know that the man who was sainted as St Nicholas was from Turkey. But it’s interesting that it was mostly just the name that made it across the Atlantic. ;–) I see lots of movies from the Netherlands at Frameline (the annual San Francisco International LGBTQ Film Festival, the world’s oldest and largest LGBTQ film festival). This past June, I saw Just Friends (Gewoon Vrienden) – I gave it a Very Highly Recommended. I’ve enjoyed most of the Dutch films I’ve seen, but there have been a few clunkers (one featured two famous-in-the-Netherlands personalities in some sort of time-limited contest entry that didn’t make sense to me). ;–) I’ve been (mostly) good! May I have some Sinterklaas Dutch Chocolate, please? I’ll even try to stop teasing Geron. ;–)

It must be a Britishism. @lomax61 doesn't seem to have noticed your question yet. Or maybe it’s a secret like the Giant Buddha that will be revealed later… ;–)

I’ve been reading these stories on Awesome Dude/Codey’s World. ;–) I am Risk Averse and would be too intimidated to ride transit alone at their ages! I was much older when I did that – and I was living in the much safer and less congested (at the time) San Diego in the ‘70s. Of course, we rarely took transit when I was a child, we walked or drove everywhere. ;–)

Just imagine how many of those tales were lost in pre-literate societies or were simply never written down… ;–)

I already do! ;–)

Exact life size! ;–) You can stop licking your statue’s abs now, @Timothy M.! ;–)

Don’t mind me, I’m just a figment of @Parker Owens’s wild imagination – the dark side that he either doesn’t know exists or doesn't want to admit to having! Muah ha ha! ;–)

The 6’ tall statue of David prominently displayed in your living room is very convincing evidence that a straight man did not decorate your home. @Timothy M.! ;–)

Feeling blue this morning... Here's the original Eine kleine nachtmusik -- Salieri's Armonia per un tempio della notte. The development section (starting at min. 2:20) is quietly emotional and leads back to the main theme with subtle power. In these shades of nuance, I hear Mozart's later Masonic Funeral Music.

We just wanted to remind you that this hasn’t been completed yet. We shall have to lower your grade (from A+++++) until you finish this story. We are very disappointed. signed, your fans

Jeff is definitely Gay and beginning to become comfortable joking about it even if he doesn’t realize how easily he can be identified by his friends when he’s giddy with excitement over Woody’s visit to the farm! ;–)

We know it’s not Jon because of the timing! ;–) ;–)

The first two questions therapists and psychiatrists ask of a new patient are about suicide ideation and whether you are homicidal*. When I first started therapy, I wondered if they thought I might be about to do something messy in their office! But they're just questions they are required to ask. ;–) * For the record, my answers were always the truthful ‘no’ and ‘no.’

I picture Billy & Brett fostering a troubled teen who has been trapped in the system too long. Maybe one who has issues similar to Billy. But definitely not an infant or young child who would be confused and frustrated by Billy’s inabilities even as Billy would struggle trying to understand in return.

I have a solution… ;–) I think you’ll find you have a need to continue writing and I hope your efforts appear on GA in the future even if your future stories are not as epic as W.A.R. ;–)

I support assisted suicide, but I’d only thought about it in the context of physical medical problems. I’d never thought about the pain of mental health problems. This was an extremely thought provoking story. Thank you for showing me another aspect of the issue I hadn’t been aware of, Tim.

That was a very difficult story to read. I have been diagnosed with Clinical Depression, but it has never been that bad for me. Mine is a much lower level, but I’ve had it for about 50 years. It never quite goes away for me. I had a friend who was an addict. He had quit heroin, methadone, cigarettes, and even alcohol. He credited me with helping him quit smoking and drinking. But there are limits to what a friend can do and sometimes things are just too difficult to overcome. I think he got tired of fighting and started drinking again. I only found out that he had died because I knew one of his neighbors.

Not me, not this time! ;–)

Doesn’t that indicate insanity? Speaking to someone you imagined? If you’re going to be cruel and sadistic, I can retaliate… ;–)

But an unmarried straight man owning a Hockney would cause many to question Trout’s sexuality. There are certain style choices that are more typical of Gay men than straight men. Just as most Gay men wouldn’t decorate with trophy animal heads on their walls. ;–) Trout did work on the house with his grandfather. There is a certain amount of sentimentality along with the desire to prevent Stinky from getting his grubby hands on it! Their wealth is inherited, money grabbing comes with the territory. ;–)

So it must be time for Amanda to meet some of Trout’s family! Is ‘Wendy’ always going to be perfect or will she stumble occasionally too? It might be fun to have Trout struggling again under Stinky’s second round of inquisition… ;–)