David McLeod

My deepest sympathy...

Welcome to the site...and how does FL compare to NOLA?

It has happened rarely enough that I relish it when it does, and often enough that I have hopes of it happening again. Amusement parks? Not in the south, obesity capital of the world. (Oh, and Disneyworld isn't in the south...it's in Orlando, FL.)

I am sure you meant that in the nicest possible way.

We have all the feral cats in the neighborhood, including one which has decided to be an indoor cat. Multi colors. No rodents, however. Hope your Halloween is wonderful!

I wear a hi-tech digital watch with radio-remote heart monitor during physio...the monitor transmits not only to my watch, but also to the cardio equipment...the one I'm on, and the ones on either side of me. People who don't understand that get a real high thinking they're doing so well on the treadmill, when it's my heart rate they're seeing. The rest of the time, I wear a "showoff" watch which is more an accessory than a time-piece, although it's very, very accurate. If I really want to know what time it is, I'll pull out the cell phone...after all, if you can't trust the AT&T time signal, who can you trust.

When done properly, kissing is incredibly erotic. However, to kiss properly does, I think, require privacy and is inappropriate in public. A peck on the lips or cheek, okay, especially at the airport. Open mouth kissing in public? No way. It's tacky, and there's nothin' worse than tacky.

I think I learned this in Germany: the best flowers to give are fresh, cut, seasonal. You have to know someone very well to give them something that needs to be potted or planted.

If the pun is the lowest form of humor, irony must be the highest.

Chase has some incredible stuff: try the Elijah story in eFiction on this site. Thank you for bringing us all back down to reality! And giving us an amazing poem, as well. Are you sure you're not an angel? You know I love you. Thanks! But let's go back to your second premise: not everything is going to appeal to everyone. My stuff is puerile compared to a lot of stuff on this site.

Sorry: I didn't express my original questions well. First, although the King Arthur of literature may have been loosely based on one or more historical characters who were given life in fanciful and imaginary histories, the King Arthur of Tennyson and T.H. White (source of both "The Sword in the Stone" and "Camelot") is a fictional character. Are you saying that since he exists in the public domain, then stories that include him are not slash? Second, I understand that Dolores writes original fiction; however, some of the historical characters with which she populates her stories to provide verisimilitude and atmosphere have almost certainly appeared in both fiction and non-fiction. Am I being too persnickety, here? Bottom line question: Do the characters if slash fiction have to be "contemporary"?

Kinda makes me wish I had time to watch Disney movies.

Welcome. I'm looking forward to seeing more of you on this site.

Cell, only, for more than 6 years. Downside: can't think of one except that 911 doesn't automatically associate an address with the cell number, as they do with landlines. Upside: almost no telemarketers, one bill, caller ID-speed dial-all the standard cell features. Oh, and almost no telemarketers.

Sorry, but if this movie has been compared validly to Blair Witch, that's enough reason for me not to see it. Maybe when it's out on DVD...so I can fast forward (and eject).

Someone's teacher has been drinking his or her bathwater. Was that a serious assignment, or has Camilo just succeeded in pulling our collective legs?

Once a year, for a birthday, Bacchanalia for service, variety, and cheeses; or Mortons (the Buckhead location) for the best steak anywhere and the 40-year-old single malt. Carrabas and Outback for consistently adequate food and service the rest of the year. Chick-fila (or however they spell it) for breakfast...

Thanks, James, for a fine way to wake up the brain on a Monday morning.

It appears that once again, members of the GA site are on the leading edge of a literary controversy: an evolving definition. I say we should go with Kevin's definition, while keeping in mind what Dolores added...while working to ensure that homoerotic fiction, per se, isn't a source of controversy. I understand James' initial, apparent dislike of homoerotic fan fiction; a lot of it is juvenile, wish-fulfillment, and poorly written. However, not all of it is, and if you like the Star Trek universe, for example, you will find a superb fan-fic story (A Vulcan's Love) on this site. There are also a couple of most excellent stories set in the Harry Potter universe. Here's a question that might expand the discussion: one of our members has begun a story involving King Arthur. There's a young, male protagonist. The story may not include sex, but it's almost certainly going to be homoerotic. Is that "slash"? My guess is that, by the current definition, it is. Dolores writes lovingly detailed and crafted stories that take place in historical settings and which often include one or more real historical figures. They are tasteful, but clearly homoerotic. Are they slash? By the current definition, I would guess not. Besides, "slash" is...in my mind...associated with knife-wielding maniacs. (Yeah, I know alternate meanings, which are, IMO, tacky.) Perhaps we need some new words to go with our evolving definitions.

On the contrary, Robyn, your explanation was very understandable and your feelings came through clearly. Thank you for that. Once again, Neph says so well what I would like to have said, first. The somewhat ironic aspect of this question is that I found it on the one-year anniversary of joining the site, something I had been thinking about for several days. What do I like? First, that Myr has not only created an incredible site, but has drawn together an absolutely impressive staff of volunteer administrators and technical folks who maintain the site to such high standards. Second, that several of those folks, most notably Talon Rider, have supplied so much help and encouragement to me. Third, as Neph said, that not only can I post my stories here, but people actually read them and tell me what/why they like/dislike about them. From the very first chapter I posted, I found people willing to offer constructive feedback. I think I can see improvement in my writing (of course, I am biased...) as a result. Next, again paraphrasing Neph, the site is the source of some most excellent fiction...and there are so many excellent authors and so many genres of gay and gay-friendly stories. I cringe when I think of the time I wasted searching for "real stories" on some of the more...um, candid?...sites. Another thought. Several authors have trusted me to beta read and edit their stories. That is perhaps the most intimate e-relationship two people can have. I have enjoyed those relationships, I appreciate the trust that is offered, and I look forward to continuing them. Finally, and again going back to what Neph said: I have met some very wonderful people here, and I've exchanged banter and serious, philosophical thoughts in an environment that encourages and nurtures such exchanges. Frankly, I don't think there's anything like it elsewhere on the internet. Thank you, all!

I think this is simply one more reason not to watch television, but, since I seldom watch television and almost never watch commercials, I have no idea what you're talking about and, if the talk is any indication, I don't think I want to. Know, that is. If I need to know, please enlighten me.

Hoorah for versitility...even in my wildest dreams I can't imagine being limited to one role. And, to quote Harrison Ford (SWIV), "...I can imagine a whole lot." (Or something like that...it's been a while.) Oh, yeah, I'd have gone for him or Luke.

A couple of years before Katrina, in the lobby of the "Roosevelt" Hotel in New Orleans, a guy with an incredible body, covered with skimpy briefs and glitter, and wearing a crown of peacock feathers. If you're reading this, you were fantastic!

The original "Halloween" is, IMO, the best of the lot. "Play Misty for Me" is perhaps as frightening as anything Alfred Hitchcock directed, although neither it nor his are strictly "halloween" movies. Nothing by Stephen King, not even "redrum, redrum, redrum...here's Johnny." "Nightmare Before Christmas" is excellent. Of course, although not halloween, the list cannot be complete without "Rocky Horror..."

James, thanks for the inspiration. The first such book I read was "Earth Abides." It was not in print, then, and may not be readily available, but if you can get it through interlibrary loan, it's definately worth reading.