Former Member

Twin Peaks Tavern is located on the corner of 17th and Castro Street in the tan building. You can kind-of make out the neon lettering of its sign between the two red lights on the left side of the picture. Also barely visible in the same building is Hot Cookie (white sign between the red signal light and the bus stop). The Castro Theatre is clearly visible too. You can see a maroon area next to the Muni trolley (it looks like a diesel bus with pantographs on its roof) – that’s Cliff’s Variety Store’s awning. Harvey Milk Plaza is hidden behind the palm tree on the right edge of the image. It wouldn’t be very visible from this angle anyway since it’s mostly below street level. The gigantic Rainbow Flag that flies over the corner of Market and Castro would be to the right of the and above the palm tree. Off to the left of the picture is where the F Line Heritage Streetcars make their turn to return to Market Street heading downhill to the Embarcadero. The Muni Metro KLM Lines run directly under Market Street which is the big street running slightly diagonally in the picture. All those wires visible above Castro Street supply power to the trolleys (they look like diesel buses) and on streets like Market or 17th to Streetcars. Streetcars and Cablecars do not run on Castro Street. The electricity for all those Streetcars, Trolleys, and Muni Metro LRVs is supplied by the Hetch Hetchy Dam which is owned by San Francisco – it’s the valley north of Yosemite in the Sierras. Contrary to the labeling of this image, A Different Light Bookstore was located in the two story tan building to the right (currently occupied by Dog Ear Books, a used bookstore), but apparently the original Castro Theatre location is the current Cliff’s Variety location. The storefront in the center of the image is where they sell Rainbow flags of all sorts of sizes, toys, and other items typical of a hardware store. The storefront on the left side of the picture sells fabrics, sequins, and other accessories you might need to assemble your own fabulous outfit. It sells things like housewares and decorative items too. Both sides cater to the numerous tourists and residents seeking rainbow-themed items. Images from the Wikipedia Castro District and Cliff’s Variety Store Pages.

I do have to wonder why the reporter couldn’t be bothered to dress more appropriately for a work occasion. Clothing doesn’t have to be brand new to look presentable. There are also sources of new items that are well-made without either a trendy label or the accompanying price tag. The trick is to learn what looks good on you (style and colors) and shop with timeless instead of faddish in mind. You won’t be trendsetting, but you’ll look good anyway. Plus, since you’ll be able to wear them longer than just a single season, you’ll eventually end up with more options at a much lower cost. I’ve fairly regularly updated and added to my wardrobe, but I have some shirts that are 15-20 years old. I even have a few t-shirts that are 25-30 years old! I haven’t done as well with pants since my waist has expanded over the years. I do buy brandname underwear though, because wearing sexy underwear that no one else is going to see still makes me feel special! ;–)

Cody was very kind to not spoil Trick's interview by telling him about Angela and Mason yet. There isn’t a lot he could do in any case and their friends can resolve the situation without upsetting him. He’s nervous enough without the added distraction.

I think the voices are an attempt to be Accessible. I often wonder how a visually impaired person is supposed to know to read the Braille on the bottom of signs that seem to be applied in random locations on a wall. I think it would be much more intuitive to have signage wrapping around (outside) corners at corridor intersections or turns. The signs could double as edge protectors and the Braille characters could indicate directions or designate departments, as appropriate. They could compliment signs hanging from the ceiling. I just realized how nightmarish grocery shopping must be for the visually impaired. It’s possible I’ve just not noticed, but I don’t think any of the pricing or other labeling includes Braille characters in any of the stores I’ve ever shopped at. Aside from memorizing can or box shapes and sizes, how does anyone differentiate a series of nearly identical items? Do most stores allow you to request assistance while doing all of your shopping? Shopping online must be much easier these days… ;–)

I knew things went too smoothly! Some of us are on to your little tricks! They can’t get from despising each other to loving each other this quickly. Especially when you’re involved! ;–)

I was hoping that the box contained something sentimental like photos of the sperm donor holding his infant child. They should have taken pictures of the box and its contents. It would have made great evidence if/when they file a restraining order against Adam’s surviving abuser.

I used to use the self-checkout line when they were new. Then I realized that the intent was to eliminate retail jobs. Having worked in that segment most of my life, I decided I had plenty of time to wait in lines if it meant that others would retain their jobs. I’ve put enough people out of work by shopping online already! ;–) It’s my impression that the systems used in the libraries I frequented require some sort of confirmation that you are the one who booked the time. Of course, things might be different elsewhere, but if the library is sophisticated enough to have installed software to reserve time, it probably also prevents people from just hopping online during someone else’s time. It is possible that the last person left before her time ran out on the computer… ;–)

Even before reading the Comments, I was already thinking more like @ColumbusGuy than most of the other commenters. I think it would be very ironic if Adam did the ‘christian’ thing and forgave Kyle. Kyle still needs to face some punishment, but locking him up is only going to make him worse. I think he deserves the chance of a kinder, gentler option. Lots of therapy and community service, perhaps at a Gay Community Center or a homeless shelter. But get him out of his father’s house! Put him into a different, safer, environment. Exposing his older brother’s sexual abuse to his parents will not make things easier for him and will be seen as trying to blame his more perfect brother for his predicament. He would not be believed and it would only make him look worse in their eyes. They would think it was a lie made up to slander his brother. The only way this would help things is if the older brother had been sexually abusing their sister as well (either concurrently or before Kyle), but her academic performance suggests that isn’t the case.

I’m sure Adam thought specifically about being an uncle as soon as he learned of his sister’s passing. Many young Gay men (with @Wesley8890 being a very obvious exception) do not expect to have children – or they expect to have plenty of time to achieve the financial stability to begin the process first! Seeing his sister one last time must have warred with being forced to see his genetic donors and potentially acquiring an instant family he’s not prepared for. Do not read this unless you’ve already read at least several chapters ahead. It’s much more fun to learn these things as Artie does. This is only meant for those who are rereading the story.

Eric doesn’t realize that he’s a likable person. He’s so quiet and self-contained, people think he’s not interested in socializing with them and leave him alone. To a certain extent, Eric has preferred that, but he still misses human interactions. ;–) I may like being a hermit most of the time, but I still interact online. My neighbors are friendly to me and greet me when they see me. Of course many of them don’t speak much English so the conversations are very brief! ;–) I think Eric is going to find that most of the people he knows or even encounters occasionally think of him as more than just an acquaintance. Maybe not BFFs or anything, but as some sort of friend on some level. They seem to know his name and what he did for a living, so we know he’s made an impression on them. ;–)

I was incredibly happy to be able to catch up with Bailey & Declan, especially outside the whole school context! Bailey’s mother seems to have not only accepted Declan in their lives, but also welcomed his effect on Bailey's moods. You know things are serious when someone is willing to help out with your chores just so they can spend more time with you! ;–) Now if only your muse were able to inspire @Timothy M.’s muse too… ;–)

After crossing paths for all these years (mostly on @R. Eric’s stories, I think), I’m learning something completely new about you! I don’t remember you ever mentioning having kids before, but my memory can be very faulty. Certainly, it’s not a topic you bring up frequently… One of my best friends, a former coworker, died suddenly (a rare form of cancer). She had a young son and daughter. I keep meaning to try to contact her husband who was also a friend, but she died just before I became homeless and I lost contact with many friends. He’s a good man, very gentle, and not at all like the stereotypical macho Mexican-American. A friend I met when I was homeless had her kids taken away from her and she isn’t being allowed to contact them. She had some problems in the past, but she’s worked through them. But her abusive ex-husband has not cleaned up his life yet he still has contact with the kids because his sister has custody. My friend does hear what they are doing through her relatives, but I think it’s very painful to her not to be able to see them and talk to them.

Our families are constantly under threat of official action as happened in this chapter. Of course, it does happen to heterosexual families too, but at much lower rates, usually after some other legal entanglements. I understand why those agencies exist, but some people (both inside and outside) take advantage of their mission to harass and separate families unnecessarily. A straight friend of mine got in trouble with the law. She had moved to California to escape her physically abusive ex-husband, but her mother-in-law decided that her precious baby should remain in contact with his children and not only told him where she had gone, but paid for a ticket to get him there. They struggled with money and she did what she needed to do to feed and care for her kids (the oldest profession). Her ex-husband (who she was also supporting financially) reported how she had been earning income. Naturally they took her two kids away and she entered into an open adoption for the child she was carrying. The two older kids were placed with her sister-in-law’s family who has prevented her from seeing her kids. Someone leaked the information to the adoptive family and they have illegally refused to allow her to see the third child. She was forced into rehab and has even stopped smoking. Her ex-husband still isn’t clean, but he still has contact with the kids. Legally, everything is stacked against her even though she’s stabilized her life.

A pawn shop purchase? Maybe Alan, Eric, and the pawn shop owner weren’t aware of its special qualities. Maybe its previous owner knew that it would end up on the correct finger that way! ;–)

Where did Alan get the ring he gave Eric on his 21st birthday? Does it have a history before them? Maybe you could explore that in a future story about the past… ;–)

Watch it! That’s somebody’s father or grandfather you’re dissing! Are you sure there aren’t any embarrassing pictures in hiding your family’s photo albums? ;–)

Unlike most other minorities, we don’t usually grow up in families who share our difference. Fear keeps young and old from interacting and sharing experiences. I know there’s a project in San Francisco that has young people and elders working together on video projects. Younger people who want to learn about the experiences of their forefathers and foremothers have plenty of movies and books to peruse. I don’t know that many are interested, though. The average age of the attendee of Frameline42 is relatively old. I understand that younger people are less likely to be able to take time off to attend an 11-day film festival and are more likely to view movies on their cell phones or other devices. At least the stories are being recorded for the future. It is important to learn from the past so you don’t get blindsided by the return of persecution and hatred. We’ve made huge gains over the last couple decades in most of the industrialized world, but those who fear us are working to oppress us again. Alan, Colin, and Jake can all learn from each other! ;–)

Is it an Aussie thing or an age thing? They seem to spend more time drinking than eating. Considering the drunken just-graduated-from-college Irish kids I met on BART on Saturday night, it must be a young person’s thing… I must never have been young. ;–)

School shootings will end when it’s more difficult to get a gun. School shootings will end when people stop mentioning the shooter’s name in social media. School shootings will end when mental health care is proactive and de-stigmatized. School shootings will end when shooters are not treated as some kind of hero or anti-hero. School shootings will not end when schools are turned into maximum security prisons. School shootings will not end when there are more guns on campus. School shootings will not end because of Congressional Moments of Silence.

In one of the previous Comments on one of your stories, I found a few images of headgear to match the ‘Sir’ title you were accorded. One of the images showed a very brown full figure with his hand coving his crotch. That’s the all-over tan! ;–) Add a polyester shirt open down to your belly button, a very flashy gold chain, hop into the disco-era Lotus and you’re all set! ;–)

Anders reminded me of the blond guy on the train! ;–)

I was riding BART home from Frameline42 and sat next to a very sexy young blond. I tried not to sound flirty – I’m sure he’d have been very uncomfortable having an old man nearly three times his age hitting on him! But we talked and he responded appropriately. Even tiny little crumbs are worth the effort these days… ;–)

I resisted reading this during Frameline42 because I wanted to be able to really savor it! ;–) Either Robbie & Nathan’s relationship will transition into a stronger, more realistic one, or their story arc will end. If it’s ending, the consensus is that Alex is the obvious choice to replace Nathan. Sue & Don would prefer he return to Fran. But the dark horse is Rory – we ‘know’ Rory is straight because he’s guilty until proven otherwise? I’m hoping for a miracle cure for Jamie! Or at least a long-term treatment even if it's not a cure, that allows him to live a very long time. (Diabetics, for example, aren’t cured, but treatment allows them to live a near normal lifespan.)

RNAFe? ;–)

If the Blonde One can do it, so can you! ;–) Vogue. Vogue. Vogue. Vogue. Vogue. Hey! You know they created that super secret hidden tag just for you, so you can read every single weepy story here on GA! You know you’re compelled to find them! ;–)