Former Member

Very, very nice, how they worked through all... all (!) of this. Hard and revealing relationship discussions sometimes lead to the emotional need to take a short break. So I am not angry with Kendall to leave for a shower. Even if staying would have been emotional more comfortable for Michael, it dosen`t mean it would have evolved better, if Kendall didn`t got his time, to focus himself. And laughing is a great relief, better than crying, much better.

I totally understand, that Kendall is overwhelmed. So many things happen so fast. Great!

Very good, oh so very good!!! I like it, if plans change of impatient love.

Chet really really is a fine guy. The problem of being so focused on each other, like Kendall and Michael were, is to get e bit isolated, if something happens to this relationship. So in any case it is good for Kendall to have a new friend.

Maybe Liam had plans after work and he had the leather pants to change into? (What are pokeballs anyway?)

Awesome chapter! Michaels parents are great and they know their child better, as he himself. Sometimes it needs someone else to point you to something.

Good to see Kendall getting better. Chet seems to be a nice guy. It will be good for Kendall to have someone to talk.

This was a very nice intern struggle, poor Kendall! I almost had to snicker about Michael`s messages. Michael seems on the right way to get his own feelings known. He is a great best friend. And the shared memories are endearing. But I am feeling not so good about his behavior towards women, I must say. Maybe I see more if I read further that holds to his reference, that he always treated them with respect and care.

After reading this chapter I do not understand how Michael could be with Candy in the first place. He seems to be a smart man, able to differ real and only makeup-emotions. Knowing that there are a lot of chapters to go, and reading the comments about babies to come, I am pretty sure, that he will find his way to Kendall. That is nice.

There are stresses to being a minority – even if it’s something like being left-handed (try cutting paper using standard scissors with your left hand). Things are designed for the dominant majority and accommodation to the ‘other’ is very uneven with some getting better treatment than the rest. The differences in treatment can be very subtle or it can be painfully obvious. If you recognize that male is the dominant gender, you start to notice little things like medical research primarily being done on men with the assumption that women will be the same or similar. Until recently, most public venues offered the same or similar numbers of restroom stalls even though, because they sit, women need more stalls for a roughly equal number of users. Diaper changing stations have only recently started to be installed in men’s restrooms. Oddly enough, female is biology’s default gender with male being the ‘other.’ Ethnic minorities endure stereotypical representations in the media. Most images of beauty are very white, with blond and blue-eyed much more common than their actual percentage in the US population. In many cases, even the ethnic faces that are seen on mainstream media is more caucasian than average with light-skinned African-Americans and more European-appearing Hispanics the norm. Non-gender conforming males are often bullied or harassed – or worse. I don’t think I need to elaborate on this here. Non-gender conforming females have more leeway, but if they stray too far from the current standards, they too face unfavorable reactions. And since religion has been mentioned, if it weren’t an issue in the US, why has there only been one Openly Atheist in the US Congress? Why do politicians who clearly are not religious pretend to be devout? A recent incident where one claimed that his favorite was ‘Two Corinthians, 3:17’ is very telling. I’m sorry, but telling someone to basically just get over it is as unfeeling as telling someone who is depressed to just be happy. Therapy does help, but that’s treating the symptoms and not addressing the cause. Acknowledging that there are real differences and that not everyone is the same does not divide people. Forcing people to try to be the same as everyone else is harmful to their mental health. Differences make us stronger and more interesting. I am very happy for anyone who is not stressed or anxious about the constant slights that society offers to anyone who is other than what the majority sees as ‘normal’ – not everyone is as fortunate.

Landon is being such a jerk even when Chandler and Helen are doing their best to connect with him. Could Helen adopt me and give me an iPhone? I’ll be much better son to her than Landon! (I’m probably closer in age to Landon’s grandparents though.) ;-)

You sick this back in, take the liquid and you have only the liquid. Stick? We couldn’t go fast because of the glass we were bringing even though it was wrapped carefully which even though they were wrapped, could break. I’d suggest: ‘We couldn’t go fast because of the glass – even though it was wrapped carefully, it could break.‘ I thought we were getting alone very well. Along? I wasn’t expecting Yannick to return with Eric to Blethos! And I was surprised at why he was still unmarried. (Does he need a fairy godfather too?) It’s too bad all the major Royals of Blethos and A’Dore are already taken, but I suppose there are still minor Royals… Thank you for Darrin & Ryan! ;-)

If you’re serious about exploring Gershwin on the harpsichord, Just Another Rhumba is good, but I’d suggest another late-period composition. Here’s Slap That Bass — first in a Jack Gibson arrangement, and then in a simpler rendering of Gershwin’s published score. Have fun, Lux! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIC-x9qamxo

Yes they do. Voters as a group, don’t always think things through. Catchy slogans like Three Strikes cause problems that only get addressed long after the fact. Simple black and white solutions are easier to market with soundbites than reasoned, rational discussions. The real world is messy and some people want to reduce things to stereotypes and simple solutions to complex issues. The world is shaking its collective heads at what happened in November…

Hi, I read this yesterday and had no time to write an review. So now. What a start for a story! Both characters speak directly to the reader. I am curious how this story evolves. Hugs Lyssa

Ryan gets a POV, but we still haven’t had one from ‘Sir Traffic Cone’? (Who only got a mention this time around!) Do we need to start an International Jazz Day and form a picket line around Denmark? (Three or four people should be sufficient since it’s so tiny!) The carrot jpgs didn’t work, do I need to drag out the pitchfork again? (Or do you need more carrots?)

I agree with Lux, the call is to Marty. ;-) I’m still not in favor of Alek for Liam (Sorry Gary and hoho). I feel that their relationship is toxic. They can’t be with each other, but they can’t keep away from each other. Liam needs to resolve this by remembering all the pain Alek has caused him… and just get over him! Alek's family is always going to be there in the background being a thorn in his side. They will find ways to remind him of their disappointment and rejection even while shunning him. He comes with too much baggage!

Wow there happened a lot in this chapter. Liam`s boss is a very nice guy. And Alec has trouble with his parents. Sounds to me, that he is out of the closet now. Exciting! Thanks for writing this.

The tentative feelings warring with worry that your feelings aren’t returned. Scott is in love! Scott and Graham sitting in a tree… (in the rigging?)

…while Love, the housemaid, lights a kitchen fire… Was there ever a more perfect marriage of libretto and music than Act 2 of Sullivan's The Sorcerer from 1877? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k6E-vYCUVM

All The Best On Your Special Day bon anniversaire!

Congrats on the feature, Val! Two of the stories are new to me, so I have plenty to dig into

Wow! One crisis after another. But I get the feeling Brandon won’t make it up to stay with Patrick in New York. I think he’ll find a reason to stay in Louisiana. ;-)

“I’m not going to go anywhere and Sasha won’t either until he’s wheeled out of hobbles out.” Or hobbles out. Then he was Sasha’s injuries and mine and his smile faltered a little. I believe you meant ‘saw.’ Lawyers like to ambush people when they aren’t able to think things through fully and try to make them think they’re getting an unbelievably generous deal – if they just sign these papers right now! ;-) I’m sure David will make sure that any settlement will include full reimbursement of all medical costs and all lost wages, including Sasha’s tips, at an absolute minimum. And then add pain and suffering! Good thing they have a lawyer in the family who just happened to be there! ;-) I remember visiting my parents in hospitals for the various surgeries and procedures that they had. Aside from taking me away from work, there was the unanticipated cost of driving to the hospital, eating out after the visit, and other minor extra expenses – and I lived close enough to drive home to sleep after every visit! Out-of-town relatives have even more expenses to bear. And the costs didn’t end just because they got out of the hospital…

As soon as I read that there was another runner on the track, I just knew it had to be Bailey. Poor Bailey who’s just minding his own business. Poor little Bailey who just got caught up in another one of Declan’s fantasies of a rivalry. ;-)