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Dom, even though TOU is my favorite...it is time...our Quinn has come out to himself...and to his sister and friends....the hard part will be his Mom, if that happens (for some parents are the last to know..but it seems they knew anyway...at least my Dad did) so I agree, time to give TOU a good flourish, drum roll please and let the chips fall where they may.....Quinn has come miles and will have miles to go in the journey of life...just like the Ordinary Us, along with the rest of we Ordinary yet unique in our own ways US... I hope the pink eye is gone and the pumpkins are looking scarey and Halloween scarey fun:) Michael

Dom, I hope you feel better soon:) TOU has 2 more chapters to go:) well, at least its 2 more chapters (I figured one) so I can do the Snoopy Happy Dance....since 2 more chapters means twice the excitement! I will miss the story when it ends. Its my favorite:) Thanks for the amazing story and I do hope you feel better and the pumpkins look scarey and were a lot of fun to carve (and the sisters had fun and didn't drive you crazy...not that mine wouldn't...oh yeah, right...LOL...Italian Princesses for sisters...Lucky me....(even I am doing the eye roll thing) I bet yours are a also Italian Princesses..but I do love mine since they are my Italian Princesses (they have their own unique brand of Gay Drama in the form of straight Italian sisters and I am sure yours do too!) Get well soon and I hope you did have fun with the sisters and the pumpkins:) Michael

Well here is my rambling opinion: 1. It is difficult to be careful with your heart when you really, really like someone. 2. Expect nothing, then whatever develops is icinng on the cake. 3. Is getting to know someone a lost art? Would it be so horrible to have a friendship, maybe more. I feel relationships of substance take time, whether it be friendship or end up as BF status. 4. If he is closeted, and if you decide to come out to him, it shows that you trusted him with coming out to him, then maybe he feels (once he knows you and sees he can trust you) he can come out to you. 5. Maybe he is just straight....and maybe he is Gay...who knows...getting to know him will help in that regard and to figure out that question. 6. It does take time to get to know someone..you have a forum to do it (the class, something in common anas college students) 7. Drop hints of your activities (i.e. went to go see certain movie and so and so is so hot and besides he can act too:) kind of thing or spent time with some so and so and his BF...maybe if I get lucky I will find somenone special for a Boyfriend, what about you? (it outs you, poses the question to him and of course do that when its appropriate, you feel comfortable, safe to do so and you are ready to hear the answer (which maybe he claims to be str8 (evidence appears its an open question) or having gotten to know you feels comfortable to tell you. 8. You can do that by being careful with your heart...(I see it as a way to develop socialization skills amongst the hotties...LOL and hey, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain, including a potentional new BF) 9. Its a way to get to know him, for him to get to know you. 10. I don't see it that he can be pissed for not telling him you are Gay (after all he is not telling you that he is Str8)...its not like you need to go up to someone and say "Hi, I am so and so and I'm Gay and how about you?" If you can look at it like you are getting to know him, see if you like him as a person/friend, then hey, maybe you can develop to feeling like he is worthy of being your BF (as Slaveboy said, protect your heart) or seeing if he is raging homophobe dressed in disguise for Halloween as a human being. Just my rambling opinion and no matter what good luck:) Michael

Nickolas:) I am so glad that you are feeling better!!! Yippee..and Gawd that sounds painful and stuff...I would have fainted given the description you gave (I admit I am a wus with pain) and you weren't a jerk to have your BF feed you. I think its sweet, romantic and aww shucks kinda cute.... I am glad you got your cheesecake and grits:) Your BF is a good nurse (beats the ones at the hospital...LOL) Sounds like your Dad was more stressed then you but then again you are his son and Dads worry and fret and all that love to make sure you weren't in pain. I always say being in a hospital is no place to be sick (all those infections running around) so I am glad you got out ok and quickly. Sending you good karma for a speedy recovery!! Dom even sent Chapter 23 on his birthday...It was an awesome chapter and a great one to read during your recovery:) Feel better and get some rest too:) Hugs sent your way! And snuggle lots with your BF...that's the best medicine there is:) Michael

Viv, I was exhausted just reading the blog..and that was your free time....my oh my...you need a Viv Vacation....kick out the hubby, the kiddies, the kitties....and any one else that you love but you want time for you....so you don't hear "Mommmy, Mommmmy, Mommmy" and "honey I can't find my socks" I don't get why a woman who frets over a party that was already set up for her (you said when you arrived there were balloons, etc..) makes them be taken down and then gets you to put them up..... I feel horrible for her daughter..... any hoo.....you done good...now give yourself a Calgon bath, eat bon bons, chocolates, cookies, a nice glass of wine and escape....(ok, so more likely if you are lucky you get an hour tops to do that..but you deserve so much more..) and given what you do, you need motivation? My oh my, what the heck do the rest of us need? I couldn't do in a week what you did in a few hours......you give new meaning to SUPER WONDER WOMANN/SUPER MOM/WIFE.....put those sore feet up and rest up honey..... that's just my opinion and I am sticking with it....you my dear are a sweetheart terrific heroine.... now grab that hubby of yours and get some snuggle *wink* *wink* time in...after the bubble bath, bon bons, glass of wine and favorite cookies:) Hugs, sweet Auntie Viv (by the way, that woman deserves a bitch slap...that poor waiter, your poor hubby, her poor daughter and your sweet daughter....and the rest of the guests.....seriously, you all deserve the Nobel Peace prize to put up with that) Michael

Good Luck and let us know how it goes:) fingers crossed. Hey, if he is straight..then you have the start of a friendship. If he is Gay, well, you at least have the start of a good friendship, if not more....so, we will be hoping all goes well and I will look forward to reading what happened:) hey, maybe you missing class Thursday is destiny..you get to ask him for the class notes, what happened,d, can you copy his notes and for his being so cool can he take some time for a bite to eat with you and explain what happened in class, etc....(great opening line and of course ask how his weekend went, what did he do, anything special...share what happened with yours....its a start:) Fingers crossed, good karma sent your way:) and excited for you. (and hoping he is Gay but if not, he sounds like a cool str8 guy to be friends with and a cool good friend is worth it, even if he is straight.) Michael

Dear A Friendly Face, I am like you in that I am often oblivious to Gaydar. I usually guess wrong (damn those metrosexuals) I just read an article in "Details" magazine that said metrosexuals now basically use it to separate themselfes from we Gays and its almost become homophobic in nature (i.e. I am str8, I dress nice but hell no way am I Gay kinda thing) So, got me as to being able to tell if someone is Gay. It could be that maybe he is listing girls/women as a being into them to throw off people who may think he is Gay but he wants the perception that he is str8. One doesn't really know what his situation is (i.e. home life, homophobic family, etc.) So, maybe you need to become a detective of sorts....a good listener learns a lot (i.e. what one did on a weekend, etc.) In any event, if you have a comfort level with him, you can drop hints that you are Gay. Maybe you can do that over time (i.e. invite him for coffee at the Student Union, get to know him.....see how that goes. It may be you become interested in him more or less interested.) It is also a good way to pratice your Gaydar skills and to treat it as a pretend date (ok so only you know its a date..but gives you social skills to practice what you like to do on a date, get to know someone...and hey, there are worse things...you could end up friends, you could end up running away that he wasn't worth it, you could end up married...(you never know) so, play it by ear and see what happens....expect nothing and everything else is magically delicious:) now, of course you can have in your backpack, the latest Advocate or Out Magazine or a rainbow sticker on a notebook...to give him some hints without you saying a word....I know its a bit cheesey..but what the heck....gives you an act of bravery in a subtle way...and oops it falls out of your back pack as you are putting in your other stuff into it....) or just ask him...but I sense that may not work....especially if he is still in coming out stages, not sure, questioning etc. I am not sure if my rambling helps but I wish you good luck in finding out.... For me, with all the metrosexuals at the gym I go to, I have had the same problem you have had..trying to guess "is he" or "isn't he" and I have to say it drives me crazy, particularly since there is more then one or two I would want to ask out...I can think of one guy in particular...but this is your post not mine....sorry..as I drift off to ramble land. Michael

Nickolas, Good Luck with the surgery!!! Good Karma and Good thoughts sent your way!! Love cheesecake....and grits...yucko (the same with palenta and I am Italian) But hey, as long as you love em you are the one eating them and that's all that counts:) Feel better and get some rest:) Hugs and I bet Sharon would bake you a chocolate cake.....(sorry to volunteer you Sharon, as she throws frosting at me......hee hee:) Michael

Sharon...you are funny..as I turn beat red in reading your comment (its ok, I turn beat red a lot)....um, this is one proud Gay man that has never crossed the str8 river....and your cakes could be unfrosted in front of me and I would have no desire to frost them....but you are forever funny:) but ROFL..you are funny:) and um, if you put a hot Gay Guy next to your chocolate cake and you see me drooling...it will be me wanting to um...ah, now its me having my mind in the gutter (well, at least the thought was as delicious as I am sure your chococlate cake with the chocolate icing:) thanks for making me LOL:) Michael P.S....what shape did you put Dom's chocolate cake in? hmmmm....ok, I better stop before I get a warning here....

Slaveboy.... I am a Lawyer and figured the best defense is a good offense (and actually the joke is from the movie "Philadelphia" and Tom Hanks (playing a Gay attorney) tells it to Denzel Washington (his attorney, who is homophobic, but represents him in his wrongful termination case against his former law firm) Its ok as an attorney to tell a lawyer joke..so I thought you would all find it amusing coming from a lawyer.... better I tell someone else's joke..I am lousy at telling jokes and either I screw up the punch line or the first part leading to the punch line..this one was easy to remember:) I had a feeling Hot CC boy was str8..but was just checking......oh well, he can't help genetics and not all of us can be lucky enough to be born Gay..but it is always fun to admire the str8 hot boys (and to me Hotness takes many forms..like laughter, a smile, a sense of humor, kindness, a good listener...a great kisser..well, the list is endless) in any event, I bet hot boy is oblious that he is hot..which also makes him very hot for being oblivious and very ooh la la:) Michael

Val....um, you with the now brown hair and used to be blue hair...its sounds like you are the only sane one in the group/family...aren't families just so dysfunctionally grand? "As the Brown Haired/Blue Haired Family Turns" or "All my Brown Haired Children".....sorry, I didn't mean to tease.but your blog entry is just too funny.....your family sounds like a hoot and far from dull....but they aren't night owls....boo hoo.....oh well, its not for a long period of time any way.....good luck with the job hunt:) and I hope your brother's split lip is all healed. You really are funny (and I mean that in a good way.....the whole weekend sounds like a comedy of errors and mayhem....Family Festival gone awry) I look forward to more of your blog entries....I bet when you do get a job..it will be chosing from a zillion choices and meeting small town characters in the job..to add to an even richer, funnier, more humorous blog and I can't wait to read about it.......any hoo..they each sound cool in their own way.....and given all that how can your Mom complain about blue hair.....too funny indeed:) You are the best! Michael

FYI: Dom is 22 years old. The 23 he was referring to is Chapter 23 of TOU...but an understandable confusion with that one....yep, for 22, Dom is very wise...but to me, age is a number and wisdom can be derived at by any of us at any age:) Hey, at least Sharon baked Dom a chocolate cake (my favorite)..sad, that Dom didn't get to have any...shall we sing "McArthur Park" about the cake melting in the park.....by the time it would have arrived to Dom it would have melted and been stuck in a snowstorm. Michael

SlaveBoy..I don't have a good funny joke either..but glad to see you are developing a conversational relationship with Cross Country Hottie....um, quick question...is your hottie str8 or Gay or can't tell....oh well, hot is hot..so good going:) and hey what was the joke that you told your HOTTIE? and I agree I find Laughter incredibly sexy:) keep up the chats and the laughter:) ok, here is a lawyer joke (yeah, I know you are all saying all lawyers are jokes.....often too much truth in that one:) so, what is a 1000 lawyers found at the bottom of the ocean? Answer: a good start. that's all folks! Michael

Dear Birthday Guy:) Dom, I hope you have a GREAT BIRTHDAY:) At least Pretty Boy is yummy Birthday eye Candy.....and I am sure has substance to him too.. but at least fun to look at:) I hope you have fun with your family and the snow isn't horrible...and BTW...THANKS SOOOO MUCH for your amazing B-DAY that you gave all of us and thank you too James for editing:) HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND HAVE A GREAT YEAR!!!! Michael

Happy Birthday Dom!!! I hope that it is a wonderful Year.....and a fun one too:) You gave us a great chapter on your Birthday....(Sorry you didn't get your B Day Cake...as I recall, Sharon is a great baker (no, I haven't had the pleasure to sample her cakes...LOL) In any event, per your Blog, I hope you had a great weekend and fun with pretty boy:) Happy Birthday and I hope it was a blast:) Michael

Val, We are supposed to get rain through Wednesday...but we need it...drought for us too in NJ In any event, I feel you did well with the Chevy Cobalt (it is the Saturn Ion in a Chevy form) and has gotten way cool reviews!! Let me know if you like it...BTW, I feel you did the right thing to get the insurance.this way at least if there is a problem you are covered (lets hope not..but I have the worst luck with that kind of stuff..the minute I don't get it the car has been hit etc.) I hope you have safe travels and a lot of fun on your visit.....be careful in the dark and rain and make stops...they say if you get tired, its best to stop, have a cup of coffee and take your time and rest for up to 30 minutes (takes about that long for the coffee to kick in..when I travel, I find the stop actually refreshes me and so does the coffee)....and don't forget your computer..unless there is one waiting for you at the parents. I bet you still look cool brown haired too:) Have a great time:) Michael

Val....good luck with the drive and dial up....I switched to DSL in December...amazes me that I di without for sooooo long... any hoo...better yet, good luck with the parents...a whole month staying with them....I am sure you will adventures by the dozen to tell us...I bet the BF is going to miss you like crazy....I don't have a picture of you in your blue hair..but I think of you as a cool blue haired woman....brown..hmmmm.... as to the grocery shopping...the teens I don't mind so much....its the parental units whining and complaining..I shop at Costco and go about a half hour before closing and it works perfectly.....I always feel bad for the teens dragged along looking like they are in torture agony just be to seen with anyone over 20! My local Costco is quite interesting since we get all sorts of ages/backgrounds/languages spoken..so I vibe in figuring out whom is whom...I have also said I am a People watcher and Guesser and try to figure out the millions of stories out there (I also play in my mind...is he or isn't he Gay....I really have bad Gaydar...and since the advent of Metrosexuals..I can't tell a bit on some guys..and then there is the oooh la la..he sure is hot Gayme...(hey, I have to do something to kill the boredom of shopping) My favorite cashier is no longer at Costco (and yes, he is Gay and once accused me of being str8 several years ago around Father's Day and said to me "well if all you damn fathers weren't such a pain in the you know what the kids wouldn't have to get you gifts..or something to that effect....I looked at him and said watch your language I am no damn breeder....and honey do I look str8 to you and he said "well, these days you never know" (now if you know Darren, he is Captain G-A-Y and has a zillion stories to tell and all the customers str8 and Gay love him (one of my friends teenagers said, "damn why do all the cute ones have to be Gay") He now works at the Vets office but he always had stories and drama to share with me on check out....he was his own Wisteria Lane ala Desperate Housewives/Husbands and knew EVERYONE'S SECRETS..... I am betting that your parental units are going to be happy you are home...and it will be cool to connect with the siblings.. Ok, enough of my rambling...I am hoping you are going to have fun at home....just in case it turns into a brown haired drag...keep the number of the local rental car place handy...and on your way back...find blue dye:) Michael

Green (and Sharon) thank for the EMO explanation..boy did I have that wrong. Here I thought it had to do with emotions or some such stuff..who knew..not me, obviously!!! Green, I am bad at pop psychology....but hey, you are a hero and a very good person..as I blush thinking I am going to make you blush....(I turn red at the drop of a hat so to speak) You are our hero too..there, I said it.....and deep down, whatever issues Chaz's bro has, he knows you saved his life...I hope he is in recovery and learning its one day at a time (heck, whether in recovery or not, its all one day at a time) well, your blog always makes me smile and laugh...so you are my hero too:) thanks for being GREEN... AND yeah, you gotta say way to go James for finding those awesome GREEN streaking pics!!! Michael

Green...now that was funny...where did James find the Green Streak II? ROFL!!! I bet Chaz knows his brother is a bit off and doesn't care and loves you as his friend..after all he was going to strip and streak if he lost...so its all cool........at least its a great memory......and seeing his bare chest and well, almost naked, since he is hotter then Brad Pitt (and what the heck is he doing with Angelia Jolie who admits that basically she is a Lesbian and has had numerous affairs with women.but that's off track) So, I am betting that maybe deep down inside, Chaz's brother who keeps showing up really has a thing for you and is doing the sixth grade trash talk thing to cover his real feelings...(ok, so that is pop psychology with no base in fact..but hey, I can have fun too:) All in all..one heck of an evening.......one for the Green Memory Book:) did anyone get pics of all of you playing poke (and no I don't mean the Green streaking ones.....I mean bare chested and such....a neat memory:) See Green, you do have fun blog postings:) But seriously Dude why are the Emo Brothers called the Emo Brothers....a question for the Ages...your fans demand Answers NOW...hee hee:) Michael

Green, I don't know you personally but I don't see you or feel that you are crazy....funny and smart yes; crazy, nope:) and you have good people skills.....and your BF...hmm....well, I hope he apologizes you and trusts that you aren't the cheating type...so, if he has an issue for every time a Guy says hello or thinks you are hot.....he best not get out of bed...this is my philosophy on that whole issue..if someone says your BF is hot or says to your BF that you are hot, I see that as a compliment, since after all you chose to be with each other and therefore you both have excellent taste....makes sense to me....and if someone makes a play for you..well, then it sort of confirms that and you can be trusted to take care of the situation...make a joke of it and remind them as you did with Chaz (whom you didn't know if he was Gay or str8 and what his intentions were..that you are flattered but very happily partnered to your husband..and think he is cool etc....this way no one gets to feel foolish or put off as feeling dumb, etc.) well, enough of that...thanks for the explanation as to how the EMO boys know you:) ok, I still don't know what Emo Boys means..lol Michael

Dear Big Sis and Auntie Viv, I am clueless as to what you are wishing to accomplish...(but what else is new..I find me that way all the time these days) I wish you the best in your task..and I have to say your little bro in college sounds like a genius...I never was good at science...history and english were my passions. tell him congrats on his excellent work:) and good look with your project..... Michael

Nickolas, Good Luck with your throat surgery. I am sure it will go well and you will have a speedy recovery:) Maybe don't watch Ali G during your recovery if laughing will hurt your throat.... of course I am sure your BF will snuggle with you and make you feel better:) so, there is the upside:) Michael

Green, Is "EMO" short hand for 'emotional'? in any event, I don't whether or not to laugh (in retrospect it is partly funny...you being mobbed by fans..and how the heck did they know you are an Author? is your picture on your stories...just wondering...and the poor confused nice and hot looking Straight Friend stuck in the middle of DRAMA central..that you didn't cause or create..but was the recipient of.. as to the BF...um, yeah, I am with Rob, spank the BF and couch banishment for being well um (what was his issue any way..you were just being hugged or talked too...not as if the EMOs or the str8 Friend were french kissing you or mauling your body in front of him.....ah, drama to the X factor mixed with what appears to have been way too much alcohol resulting in drunk factor to the max...yikes... and why were the EMO BOYS crying..I would love to know myself:) and your poor legs and feet.....the smell of vomit..not exactly um aromatic.... well I hope the EMO boys understand and your new STR8 FRIEND..who actually seems very down to earth, comfortable in his sexual orientation (helps he has a Gay bro..even if you dislike the bro) and seems a geniune cool guy.. well, your S/O hangover may be punishment enough....sorry, you had the drama....one for the books to laugh at hopefully.... to say the least Green, your blog entries are never "beige" and "boring" You are the best:) Michael

Hi...I think your post says it best...I can relate to what you said. I lead with my heart first..sometimes gets me in trouble. But, as you said, trust, at least to me, is the cement/glue that keeps a relationship together. Of course, fidelity and trust go hand in hand. As you said "remember your own values and don't let others sway you:) I think it says it best...so, I thank you for your post:) One we can all remember and learn from:) Michael

Mark, If you hear from Snow Dog again, please tell Snow Dog that he and his family are in our thoughts. Michael