Trebs

Fantastic post Joe... It is a very cool point when you (or anyone) can just relax and not care if people figure out you're gay or not - you're just living your life and enjoying it. Great that you are past that point :-) As to guys - I never thought you were a slut in past posts - just sharing your day. Whether you talk about guys in your life or not - know that many of us respect you because we know a lot more about the whole "Joe" and aren't just focused on "Oh god - he's talking about a new guy again" ;-)

YAY!

DITTO (Sharon always seems to say it best and earliest) :-)

Even without "sex" - this scene TOTALLY made me hard... So passionate - so... mature... Was just a GREAT scene

Messenger (also known as PM's) are only enabled after you have made five posts. You're almost there - just three more posts and you'll have more access to the board.

New episode was great - and I like that they're showing a little more macro (ie big-picture) stuff rather than the soap opera stuff...

One other item to consider - getting a storage place for your things that you won't need now, but will eventually (like a couch) - esp if you are saving a ton of money in rent, the small additional for storage shouldn't be a problem...

k - I did totally forget about balsamic vinegar. That we have (Costco large bottle along with the costco lg bottles of EV olive oil).

You're slipping... though currently I only have three types of flour (all-purpose, bread and whole-wheat), I used to have 4 (don't use cake flour anymore)... Vinegar though - I only have 1 - and that's only really used for cleaning the coffee pot. Not a vinegar fan at all - one of the reasons I hate mustard (the other being mustard seed) :-)

Fantastic news :-)

You're lucky - from what I can tell, thanks to California wanting to treat us as close to being married as they can, while the federal government of course absolutely feeling like we are not connected at all... So, we have to do our taxes twice - 1040 as single, then our 540 (CA return) as either Married filing jointly or Married filing separately. While I appreciate the "kindness" of California toward domestic partners - heh, the additional calculations - ugh...

And even more news - book 7 will be released July 21st of this year!!!

And for DK - thanks for translating, but you didn't mention that I'll be using your bank card when I buy the ingrediants as well ;-)

One other factor - baking powder isn't just baking soda (ie, bicarb of soda) - it actually is a mixture of baking soda, cornstarch (to prevent clumping) and cream of tartar (an acid to interact with the soda) in a 1-1-2 ratio... as to the plain vs self-rising, you're right - use the plain.

There has still got to be something a bit more than just twins - otherwise, why didn't Chris say something like "I'm not Alex - he's my brother" or some such... Same thing - Joe mentions Alex's brother - but is this a guess? Or did he hear that Alex had one that he didn't keep in touch with? Or.... But bottom line - absolutely agree that this is a keeper and I can't wait for more...

I was thinking after the first chapter - and so far, nothing is disuading me, "Busted" - which isn't only the arrest, but also possibly the relationship (and/or reality if this goes as I think it might). PS - I've said it before but I LOVE your writing and concepts...

Again, agree with Dio. I voted "no" and then read about Dan's pics and went DOH. I was more thinking of how many writers put pictures of models next to their story or within it. I'd rather visualize it myself. But after the story has been going a while, I do enjoy looking through threads of "casting" type posts - or like seeing the pic of Seth that Malice K. did for DD. And definately, in MODERATION, a few pics like Dan did with the ships or with the map of the Indian Ocean were very helpful and welcome. PS In reading this response - I should point out that "DOH" in the first line refers to Homer Simpson, not some story about clones...

Damn your post definately struck a chord in me. Funny thing, I'm very affected normally by SAD, and hate gray days, but this year it hasn't been as bad. But the pains - growing up, my mom had arthritis. And I've always had a bit of pain in my joints, esp during cold weather (one reason I am so glad to live where it never snows). Plus a bad back, that goes out (ie, ruptured disc in the lumbar area) every five years (and it's been 6 years since the last one)... So - recently, it's more of a "What's gonna hurt today" game every morning... Especially true for the past two months as my right knee also has gotten worse - you can acutally HEAR it when I bend it. But emotionally, I've REALLY been doing well this year. Dan and I, though we've had issues we've had to resolve in the past, have been very good together recently. He has been incredibly supportive, and I've tried to be the same to him as well. But the biggest reason for me to reply - the kitchenaid. GET ONE. Just tell them - you were wrong, and you do want one. So it's after Christmas - there must be somewhere that has them as an after christmas/year-end sale. But MAKE SURE they get you the model you want. One of the best things (ok, one of MANY) from me breaking up with my ex, was that I left him the kitchenaid (Cobalt blue, 5 qt, 450 watt - our kitchen color was cobalt blue). He used it as well as I did - but the real reason for "being nice", one of the first things I bought for the new home was the Professional 600, 6 qt, 575 watt steel-blue mixer... ie, I used the break-up as a chance to upgrade. Now, I don't use it as much as I used to (actually Dan has used it more than me). But just knowing it's there whenever I want to make a batch of bread, or grind down meat, etc... PS - if it takes it, PRINT OUT THIS MESSAGE and leave it... um, accidentally, for a family member to find. But be sure to handwrite on the bottom the EXACT model you want. And stop being practical - don't settle for the 450w if you really can use the 575w one. It lasts forever - get the one you want. PPS - I just checked the kitchenaid website - looks like they've got some sales going on... hint, hint... PPPS - now I think everyone understands why DK cringes when I say I want to go to the mall...

1983 was both bulletin boards with my AppleCat modem (which went 600 baud when connected to another AppleCat, or 300 baud normally), as well as the UC Santa Cruz forums on their public ucscb pdp 11/70 server running unix. I started by using the nick "NMI" since there was already both a popular Robert (who ran the underforum) as well as a Jordan. And since I had no middle name to fall back on, I used the term frequently used to indicate "No Middle Initial". Then found out, it's also a bus code (Non-Maskable Interrupt) and how many of the computer science geeks thought that was what I meant with my nick. And UCSC was networked, both amongst its own computers, as well as the then arpanet - you just had to know the exact pathway to get to various places. UC Berkeley was only one jump away - but if you had something for MIT, it was quite a long string of "!" between server names. But you could not only send email, you could also, if you knew someone on a remote server, engage in "talk" - a text chat back and forth.

Hi This is in part a follow-up to Myr's "Going Forward" post, and in part, my own coming-out so to speak, as the GA Member Advocate. The bottom-line (for me) of Myr's post is that while quite a few significant items have happened over the past two months, he wants to move forward. One way that he is doing this actually started about a month ago. At that time, Myr and Dan approached me to help out on the site, to be an "ombudsman." It took me a few weeks getting a feel of what Myr was looking for, as well as making sure that I felt that I could be helpful. As many of you know, I love this site, especially since it was through GA that I met my partner Dan (ie, dkstories). I have made quite a few true friends over the past two years of being on GA, as well as many fond aquaintences and more. I love the authors and their stories that are hosted or reviewed here, but more, I love the community that we all have contributed to creating here. I didn't want to step up and say that I would help, if I didn't think that I could actually contribute more to keeping/making GA that special place where we all can connect and share. But it is also a fine line that we all need to be aware of and tread carefully on, as especially with a gay site that welcomes and tries to support teens, Myr basically has created a tremendous potential personal liability. Actions that may seem innocent to those of us who know better, can be misconstrued especially when a parent brings them to the attention of law enforcement. None of us are served if Myr gets all of his equipment seized as evidence because a teen was propositioned (or worse) and a judge holds the equipment for evidence and discovery. Granted, there are times that some may go overboard in reaction, and it is for those times, that Myr asked me to step forward. I think the best description of what Myr sees me doing (and the reason I accepted) is to be a cool-head on the outside that can cut through the bs... I have a TON of admiration for everyone who has put their time and energy into the various adminstration teams here, helping GA to be what it is. But there are times when any of us can get so mired in the trees, that the forest gets obliterated. This especially can be true in a text-only venue. Even the best of authors sometime have problems adequately conveying information, especially emotions. There can be occurances where tempers raise high and over-reaction can happen, both from "members" and "administration" - though ironically, each really has a foot inside the other. The admins here started and continue to be members, and the members, for the most part, want a role in helping to achieve a great welcoming website, even if their only contribution is lurking and hopefully, occasionally commenting. I love the title Myr came up with of "GA Member Advocate" as it is extremely inclusive and I'd like to feel I am here for anyone on either "side" of the aisle as well... Heh - one of the few times when I can be "bi-partisan," so to speak. Best way to get a hold of me for any reason is a PM through here, AIM at "RJsLaptop," or via email at "robertjordan (at) surewest.net". Please, if you do use the instant messenger services - immediately mention "This is re: GA" or something so I know you're not a spammer ;-) And realize, I keep my messaging on at work, even when I'm not sitting there, so starting with "Hi - u there - this is re:GA" can be REALLY helpful to me. Email is a bit spotty as I usually only check it once every two days, but it is there if anyone feels they need a totally outside source of contact. Unless I get a persons permission, I won't share their exact details with Myr or the administration teams, but I will share perspective/sense from communications I get. And at the same time, as having been online with forums since 1983, I tend to try to figure out background before totally leaping into a "gut feeling". Hopefully, this will be helpful to the site as a whole. I'm not here to second-guess nor overrule/veto the admin teams - but hopefully, I can work with everyone to see where possible misunderstandings are occuring and how to address various situations. Robert

Plus - if you have any puppies needing a home, DK's been hinting about that too...

Naw - don't feel stupid... If you like, I can send you some of Dan's unedited stories, before Emoe goes in and changes various items like the above to the "correct" word... j/k on sending em to ya - but Dan does the same thing.... a lot..... a WHOLE lot... But then again, he writes a ton

I have a special fond memory of Weed, as the town pretty much saved my life one New Year's. In 91, I drove up to see someone who was getting to be kinda special - he lived in Eugene. I had NEVER driven in the snow before, and just before Weed, it started snowing, and it was about... oh, 9 at night. Thankfully I was close enough (like, less than a mile), so I immediately pulled into town, and found a nice cheap (but really clean) motel. Scott (in Eugene) was so happy, as a friend of his who worked Oregon Highway Patrol had been telling him how many accidents they were having recently, especially with black ice (where the ice on the roads is pure black so you can't really see it - it looks like road, but you can FEEL it). The comment about kids outside was very cool - and definately, the kind of feel that area had for me. Very small town but also very much a community. I guess it has to be, as it is fairly remote up in that area.

BTW, "Dark Hair" is Garrett Hedlund, who has been in a few other pics, such as "Four Brothers" with Mark Walberg. Normally a blond, he definately looks good with black hair. Overall, I thought the movie was good, even apart from the eye candy (which was VERY good). Oddly, one weak point for me was John Malkovich as the king. After DK and I saw it yesterday, we stopped in a bookstore and got the set of Christopher Paolini's first two books - heh, Dan's finished with Eragon and already half-way through Eldest. And CP was 17 when he wrote Eragon, and is still in process of writting the concluding third book.