Tipdin

When I am out in public, my pockets contain my wallet, a comb, and my car key. I guess I travel light. And I NEVER leave the house without my coat of arms ring. I might leave without everything else, but never without that!

It depends on the situation. Ears, by about 7 to 10 years of age, are almost as large as they will be in adulthood. Pinning them back would have very few future-worries. If I had the money and if the surgery would not cause trouble later, then I would probably do it.

If had heard the statement about her being fifteen, I would have called 911 instantly.

You're noticing what I noticed about my co-workers. Lakota and Dakota tribes here, in Minnesota, TODAY, are an interesting study in dichotomous personalities. When convenient, the Native Americans that I know will slip from their Native trainings and teachings, to their thoroughly American trainings and teachings. Many of them told me that fags should die because it went against Mother Earth....!??? When I reminded them of their own tribe's ancient ways of honoring the 'Winkte' (two-spirit) among them, their response was that - I - was not one OF them. I was Algonquin, an enemy, so gay or straight, - didn't matter.... When someone's logic is that twisted, trying to straighten them out is pointless.

Interesting articles and very informative. I am part Algonquin and worked at a Native American casino in Minnesota. On many, MANY occasions, I argued with Native America co-workers who thought homosexuality, (thus I) was wrong. I reminded them of their own culture's belief regarding the issue but they were very dismissive. They viewed my being gay as evidence of why I was a lesser human being.

You're correct. Native Americans believed that the souls of both a man and woman existed simultaneously within a gay man, (I've never read or been told anything about lesbians). It was thought that a gay man had lived previous lifetimes and so would naturally be wiser and more learned that a straight man. Gay men were exalted and given special treatment - BETTER treatment. There are even records of punishments doled out to men that hurt, or tried to hurt a gay tribesman. (Usually, a death sentence at a prescribe speed.) We also must remember that the IDEA of homosexuality is relatively new. Sex used to be sexual acts, the definition wasn't confined to CERTAIN sexual acts or acts with a specific someone. Perhaps, folks way back then were more enlightened than we are today. They knew that sexual orientation was a sliding scale, not a side.

Believe in love? ABSOLUTELY! When I stopped looking for it, it found me. Now, 25 years later, we've got the whole family picture, with dog and all. Love is one of those weird things that can't be seen if you're looking for it. It can only be accepted and given, not discovered.

It drives me nuts that so often situations are over-simplified to the point of ridiculousness. -And then exploited to the N-th degree. Various forms of media often erode their own credibility. How could anyone seriously answer 'no' to the poll in this thread? Seriously?

The birth order information did not fit my family very well. Neither of my older siblings are take-charge kind of people, they're both a mess and have been floundering for years. Neither of my two younger siblings are fun-loving types. I am the mid-kid and have been the stable care-giver in the family. And my partner is an only child - a spoiled, out of control, controlling little brat. He's a major over-achiever and worries about EVERYthing.

Perhaps. But what actually is love? What does the concept include? Is it universally the same? The way you define love is the same as the way I would define it? A deepening of love certainly can take time. However, I again say that we humans do not know all there is to know about... well, anything really. For the most part, the process of digging or falling in 'love' is still a mystery. And I think that's one of its best attributes!

Baking as a coping mechanism is actually quite practical. The conscious mind is focused while the subconscious grapples with the problem. Very sensible.

I have many option from which to choose when I am upset, it just depends on how upset I am and what I think are my chances of putting things right. I often write. I'll explain the situation. Putting my thoughts on paper forces me to put them into some sort of context and order. If all hell has broken loose and I really REALLY need to defuse, I'll go away someplace, maybe for a long car drive, and sing my lungs out. Or maybe I'll dance until the alarm goes off on my pacemaker.

Yes, actually, I have had a song or two dedicated to me. My ex wrote liturgical music and played several instruments. He wrote songs for me as gifts rather than buying me things - knowing that I would see more value in them than anything he could buy at Wal-Mart or Target....

NP

I agree with most of what you said; however, you dishonor the Free Masons with that statement. (Lots of them in my family, gotta protect my kin.) Fred Phelps and his ilk are a disgrace and an embarrassment. They deserve to be ridiculed and publicly humiliated for what they have done. It's sad that these so-called Christians are getting publicity. I wish the that people, wherever the group may be, would shun them and treat them with the same disrespect that they have displayed. If they are treated poorly every place they go, perhaps they'll get the message that they are not welcome. If they came to my area, I would gather everyone I could to create a wall of humanity to block all their attempts. We used to lock up our lunatics, and the severely insane would be medicated to keep them from disrupting others' lives.

I don't know of any beach areas that would be suitable; however, I know a million other places that are great for escapes. The Grand Canyon isn't too far and can be a great place. Or the four corners area, lots of canyons and hiking trails there. I especially enjoyed spending time in the Anastasie cliff dwellings. I don't know what inspires you, but a spot that I have not been able to get to yet is The Bishop's Palace, in Galveston. From I know of the place, it is not a huge tourist attraction and is something different than the norm. It's also near a beach, come to think of it!

A good list, Bob! I like those as well. Interesting that none of them at considered new. Do older movies have/send different messages than new movies? Is that what makes a classic...classic?

...I find a good knight kiss to be rather romantic too. But I'm old-fashioned, really, REALLY old-fashioned.

My favorite place in all of North America is The Thousand Islands. Specifically, Heart Island. It's not far from Niagara Falls, just farther east, up the St. Lawrence, near Alexandria. There is an island, just four acres in size, much of it covered by a castle in the Scottish style. George Boldt, the man who owned the Waldorf-Astoria hotel, built a summer home there and just as it was being completed, his wife died. The castle was never lived in. Eventually, the man who owned Life Savers candies bought the island and allowed tourists to take whatever they wanted out of the place, including several tons of various metals during the second world war. By 1975, when I first photographed the ruins, the castle was nothing but a stone shell with a crumbling roof. Today, however, it is preserved and being restored. The story of the castle is inextricably linked to our everyday lives in many ways, making it a vital piece of history, warranting its protection. Room-service, the Chef Salad, Thousand Island Dressing, Life Savers candies, the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, and the Vanderbilt family, these are all part of our American history and all linked together like the stones on the castle itself. All of those things played a role in making the castle and history. It's worth checking into. I added a photo of the place in my gallery: https://www.gayauthors.org/forums/gallery/album/328-tipdins-place/

I wish it were raining naked guys in my house....

A kiss would certainly indicate that you were enjoying the evening. It would also indicate that you would be willing to see him again. If those are the things you want communicated, then pucker up, baby!

Oh, I have a huge family and we all a bit on the far side of crazy. Laughing is extremely important to all of us.

The Wizard of Oz The Sound of Music And believe it or not, any Jeff Dunham show. (I guess members of my family have similar senses of humor.)

I have sleep apnea so I have many, many nights of very little sleep. I've tried prescriptions of every kind you can imagine and none of them worked. What DID work was a couple of antihistamines and a couple of melatonin capsules. Thirty minutes later, I can't keep my eyes open. On nights where even THAT doesn't work, I visit Second Life or any and all of the above suggestions.

Now that is interesting. Homosexual means attracted to the same sex. What's an attraction to the same sex of another species called? And the fact that your cat is named Hades....hmmmm, that alone is cause for concern.