Daddydavek

Advanced health directives and medical power of attorney were scary for CJ and Ritchie but you covered it well through their maternal grandma. Not an easy subject for teenagers or many others in our culture. The cousins taking in Silas and his understandable fears and adjustment to a very different environment not just of money, but accepting of sexual preferences and race was well done. And finally, Owen`s acceptance of CJ carrying despite his own cultural bias was confirmed. Now on to the convention?

Just got to read this and enjoying it so far and looking forward to more.

I like CJ's world and that it is grounded in the familiar world we inhabit. Somehow I think some of the important points the story made were lost in the fast paced flow. I realize it seemed to fly by in the real world too, but it would have been nice to see a little more introspection and absorption of some of the key events especially the tragedy of Pulse....just my thoughts. I can only encourage everyone to read the story, and reflect how the issue CJ faced and his reactions while comparing them to their own and testing them from another point of view. Until people can start to see the other guys point of view, we will never be able to make our society more tolerant and accepting. Thanks Carlos for having the courage to touch on the tough and sometimes divisive things that can drive wedges into the social fabric unless we work on our own understanding.

Congrats to everyone who submitted stories and I add my special congrats to the winners. I have been so involved in the World Series and what is going on in 'real life' that I have to read all of them..... The good news is that I'm leaving for a quiet vacation in Branson on Friday and will get plenty of reading time over the following seven days.

I go to coffee shops to meet up with friends to decide where to go or to do, but to go there as a destination or to use the wi-fi to write would never be my cuppa joe, especially at $4 or more a cup. I prefer the peace, quiet, and clutter of my own desk and coffee pot. Therefore, I couldn't comment as to how long would be appropriate, but I'd think the servers would be a bit irked at someone taking up one of their table for hours with not much ordered.....Most servers I know depend on their tips.

Happy Birthday! & Many, many more!

This is the first story by the author and I hope he writes more. It is about a boy named Parker who falls in love with a straight guy named Matt. Matt falls in love with Parker and finds true love. Parker's mom is the best and Matt's family is pretty special too. It's a warm, loving story and I heartily recommend it to everyone.

Bravo! Matt and Parker are two people I could like and get along with very well. There doesn't have to be a lot of drama to have a very satisfying life filled with passion and romance over the little things, like a simple touch or look! Well done!

So who spoils the dog more?

"Happy hour" Now that made me smile.☺

Since James mentioned Voyager, I've decided to copy one of my posts in the Lounge about it here: Posted August 19 (edited) The video is in the science news article and the article should be available to all. The link is in my first post. Another link that may work or may not is the PBS link. http://www.pbs.org/the-farthest/home/ If you have flipboard on your phone they have a whole spread on it too. Here is a web link for home computers and tablets: https://flipboard.com/topic/voyager#! Edited August 19 by Daddydavek

and many more too!

I'm with AJ on this. If it's IRL I hope you do not turn completely cynical and still let your heart be your guide.

Congrats and keep on, it is worth it, even if it ain't easy.

Well the divisional playoffs are well in hand with the Dodgers, Houston and Cleveland all within one game of clinching a spot in the League Championships series. Only the Cubs and Nationals are making a series of it with each having one game in the best of five series. Today the Houston Astros face the Boston Red Sox in the afternoon game and could clinch. Likewise, the evening game features the Cleveland Indians against the Yankees and again Cleveland could clinch with a win. The way Girardi is coaching and then defending his ineptitude, hopefully the Indians can put him and the Yankees out of their misery. I've said since August that I fully expect the Astros to face the Dodgers in the World Series. We shall see. I love October baseball!

Feeling cynical are we?

If you think for a minute that JP and Steff aren't quite capable of putting plans in place for every contingency of age or otherwise and would let it fall to Brad to take care of things, then I think you underestimate that generation. Some boomers had to take care of their parents but many of the greatest generation provided for themselves. As a boomer, I don't have any illusions that my children will be in any position to take care of me or my wife and I don't plan to be a burden to anyone. Trusts and plans for our care are already in place although right now, I expect at least another 15-20 years of independence. Brad will see the example of JP and Steff and put in place provisions for himself accordingly. These guys see and plan ahead. There will still be problems and obstacles, but I think he has already had to deal with the most impactful event of his life with the loss of Robbie. The only thing worse would be to lose a child...and oh shit, I didn't mean to give Mark any more ideas...

I have no idea when or who got my first 'sexual' kiss. After all, I'm 70 and it was a long time ago and I started dating and going to parties in the eighth grade (1961) and I think I was "excited" every time I kissed someone. It still doesn't take much to get my motor running ...... I do know when I got my first kiss from someone who was my contemporary. I was age five and it was my playmate buddy from next door neighbor. She was about two weeks younger than I and our parents kept calling us to come in for supper and we were playing in the back of her back yard. Her mom finally came out to get her and to send me home and that is when we put our toy cars down and we stood up and I kissed her and said "see ya tomorrow!" The only reason I know this is because her mom told my mom and I heard about it for most of my life....

Happy Birthday Big Nick! & Many, many more!

To be clear, I meant to validate the discussion. And I don't think it added much to the story or that it provided any unexpected insight.

Discussions of religion can be interesting, informative, intellectual and ignorant....all at the same time. And usually they become disjointed, with people trying to make points based on unfortunate personal experiences. Just my opinion. I read the chapter and the discussion and it was okay, but not profound and didn't make me like or dislike the characters. Having lived a long time, I've read, heard, discussed, debated and thought about religion quite a lot. Scientists and philosophers have often discussed just what it is that makes us human and my answer is that we tell stories. History is a collection of stories. Religion was a basis for organizing our stories and played a profound part in our developing human psyche over the past several millennia. Therefore, I can't discount it. People entering into a relationship do need to discuss these things to be aware of where their partner is on the subject. However, I don't really think it added a whole lot to the plot or the character development in the current story.

@methodwriter85 I liked your post except for the comment about Frank Hayes dying from a heart attack before he reaches his 70's.

Well Mark, I see you've started another heated discussion over your current couple of chapters of gay soap opera with JJ perceived as the victim rather than the villain. Sit back and enjoy as I know you really get a kick out of this! Thanks to Centexhairysub for being the point man in this and the rest for stoking the fire! In point of fact, I think that Mark has written JJ as both the victim and the villain in the last few chapters and understands that he is a bit of both. In the larger scheme of things, brothers often do torment each other, sometimes with a purpose and sometimes just because they are handy. And paybacks are usually fairly swift. I wouldn't be surprised if JJ figures some way to do just that in a way to let them know he got the message but didn't care for the delivery.