Palantir

I've been away so pardon the tardy well wishes, DD. That's a lot of milestones with a lot of the associated experience you've clocked up. I hope the journey between now and the next one is an enjoyable one. :)

HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!

Wow! What a relief that your prospects have improved. Have a great birthday.

Sun sky sea, you me he, we share as three.

SolarMaxx, from what you've written I can see not a skerrick of reason for you to feel guilt. You've given your nephew concern, compassion and acceptance. You've wrestled and sought help with what might be the best thing to do. Take your nephew through the pros and cons of coming out in his situation. I would suggest making a copy of Jame's blog (post 3 above) and using that as a base for a discussion. It's as thoughtful a summing up of things to consider as you'll find anywhere, and points out how much it's a personal decision and how much it should never be rushed into. It sounds as if you feel you have to tell him what to do. Don't! Any decision he makes should be his own. Your help can be as a sounding board and fact and ideas provider, talking about consequences and reactions he is likely to face.

Whoo, things happen quickly in Pompei. I hope Philandros doesn't get swept off his feet too quickly - that will make things tricky with his promise to his grandfather. I'm not used to your inserts between the triple stars. They seem like a mixture between a synopsis and extra information about the coming section.

Lol - Okay, so I was hasty in my judgement of Philandros as being a self centered wastrel. Yes, I now want to know more about what happens to him so I'll say it again - keep writing.

You Have a great story telling style. In this one chapter you set up the world of your story and bring the characters to life. I didn't like Philandros at first but by the end of the chapter I couldn't help feeling a degree of empathy for him. Hmm! i'm not sure AC is right about gay acceptance in those times. It's my understanding that mature men taking a younger bed partner was acceptable for those involved but not relationships between equals. Whatever,It's your setting and, unless you're specifically stating you want historical accuracy, you can have any set of mores you like. Keep writing.

HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!

HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!!

Thinking of you! That sounds like an awfully rough patch you're going through. I really hope the end of the patch is not far off.

lol - if you're marooned on an island then escapism might be an appropriate frame of mind.

Lol - it's never too late for birthday greetings. They're all appreciated. And the get together is this coming weekend so the cake probably hasn't even been made yet.

I find that some books can be enjoyed greatly on the first read but do absolutely nothing for me with a reread. Luckily my best books are timeless and rereading them at varying intervals still gives the special experience that took me the first time. Here are some of my choices. The Lord Of The Rings. - J. R. R. Tolkein. The Dark Is Rising series. - Susan Cooper. Songmaster. - Orson Scott Card. Earthsea series. - Ursula K LeGuin. The Song of Wirrun. - Patricia Wrightson.

Wow again! Here are even more thanks for kind thoughts. Each one put a on my face.

Hi, Mattie. Welcome to GA.

wow! Thanks for the kind thoughts everyone. Let's go with the big flocks, Irritable. It's better to have than to have not. Lol - that is so appropriate, Zombie - just a few days ago I encountered over 30 kangaroos when I was out walking. The same for the little parrot, aditus. it's very much like the Rainbow Lorikeets that come to my place. The party's happening next weekend so this one will involve some tidying up in readiness.

I too was particularly disappointed when the Soapbox was taken down because there definitely were interesting, valuable, and informative discussions. However, I completely support that decision. Some of the virulent, personal, diatribe which surfaced was not the challenging of opinion at all, and has no place in the welcoming, supportive community of GA which the administration works hard to nurture. I don't think your point about free speech is quite right, Zombie. As I understand it, GA members can express themselves quite freely, as long as they do it in a blog and not an open forum.

HAVE A GREAT DAY!!! :wizard: :wizard:

BEST WISHES FOR A GREAT DAY!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY,CIA!!!

I'm absolutely disgusted! I just heard that Robin William's Daughter, Zelda, has had to suspend social network accounts because of people trolling her about her father's death. Those people are the lowest of the low.

what a roller-coaster of experience.

Oh No. We haven't just lost a member of the GA community, we've lost one of the people we should thank for setting the very tone of the site. Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Mines a juice I make with about seven different fruits and vegetables.