Queereaders discussion

A. wrote: "Glad you're back Greg, hope Pip is doing ok!

The surgery wasn't awful until I got a blood clot in my leg which went to my lungs. That almost killed me. I spent a very scary night coughing up blood..."

Thanks Arin! :)

But wow that blod clot sounds scary!

Kernos wrote: "We just watched Star Trek: Renegades, crowdfunded FanFic..."

1st I heard of it. Enjoyed the pilot. Good women.

The blood clot was terrifying! I don't recommend it. I mean, if you have a choice go for a different life-threatening condition, because heparin injections burn like crazy and Coumadin is evil.

On a more pleasant note, I'm pretty sure work might bore me to death today, so I won't have to worry about clots!

I also can't find anything to read that I'm super into right now. Sigh.

Bryn wrote: "Kernos wrote: "We just watched Star Trek: Renegades, crowdfunded FanFic..."

1st I heard of it. Enjoyed the pilot. Good women."

Yes I thought it was well-balanced and really liked the rogue captain (though I loved Janeway)

We're watching The Original Series now and it was shocking seeing Checkov as an ensign and then as an Admiral.

Sounds like I need a Pip update. How's the little guy doing?

My thumbs still improving. I can now strain and reach my thumb tip to my little finger's tip. There are still some directions of movement that are impossible, but it's improving.

I haven't seen Star Trek Renegades yet. Someday. I'm still working my way through the 1st season of the original series with enhanced CGI effects. Some episode are seemingly almost brand new, others are pretty much the same. It really depends on how much / how many effects shots were used and how integral such sequences were to the stories. I also started watching House of Cards (US) - mind-blowingly good.

I saw today the Nog (Aron Eisenberg) is going to be in future Renegades episodes.

Volunteering at the NOH8 photo shoot in Dallas today. Very nervous since I'm not normally a social kind of person. I'm here and I'm excited though, to be standing up for something I believe in even if I'm just playing a tiny role.

Hopefully they can stash me in a corner somewhere and I can have panic attacks relatively unnoticed!

Edit: no such luck. Front and center. But it's fun even if I'm sweating and have the panic-shakes. Lots of really cool people here!

Kernos wrote: "I saw today the Nog (Aron Eisenberg) is going to be in future Renegades episodes."

And Robert Beltran (Chakoti) too

Kernos wrote: "Kernos wrote: "I saw today the Nog (Aron Eisenberg) is going to be in future Renegades episodes."

And Robert Beltran (Chakoti) too"

Man! I have got to watch this series!

Actually I just logged on to reset a you-tube video to the beginning. I generally watch on TIVO but their app hangs up if you're part way through a video and try to resume. So I log onto my desktop to clear the problem.

Not only am I a PC Gaming addict I like to sometimes watch others play. I started in order to learn some tricks and tips but there are some games that are just more fun to watch than to play yourself.

Silent Hunter IV is a submarine simulator set in WWII and it's actually quite engaging when one is sneaking into a convoy or lining up a shot from long distance on a huge tanker... but they've actually gone too far with the verisimilitude. The times when you're just patrolling the empty ocean and/or dodging enemy planes that are hunting you are just too boring to make it enjoyable throughout. It's kinda nice to have someone edit out those bits.

Also there's a kinda crazy Brit who's playing Banished (a colony settlement game) that's just fun to watch. Again, these are things best to watch as background when doing other things.

Hi everyone, well once again I vanished but this time for a different reason. Sorry I've been so absent of late. It's been quite a difficult couple months.

A few weeks ago, my dad had his 6th stroke, and this one was too extensive for him to regain consciousness. I spent the past couple weeks in hospital and then hospice with him. We had the funeral last Saturday. I've been mostly offline spending time with my family, hence the absence.

I'm hanging in there though. Despite some difficult experiences with my family in my youth, we've been quite close over the last decade, and I do feel very blessed that my dad at least lived long enough to give the whole family the opportunity to come to that place of reconciliation, love, and respect.

A. wrote: "Volunteering at the NOH8 photo shoot in Dallas today. Very nervous since I'm not normally a social kind of person. I'm here and I'm excited though, to be standing up for something I believe in even..."

This actually sounds like a great experience Arin (a bit uncomfortable perhaps but some of the best experiences I've had usually start that way, me stepping outside of my comfort zone).

Hope the horse is doing well also! :)

Rick wrote: "Sounds like I need a Pip update. How's the little guy doing?

My thumbs still improving. I can now strain and reach my thumb tip to my little finger's tip. There are still some directions of movem..."

Pip is still hanging in there Rick, though all he can eat now are baby foods. So I leave the grocery store with an armful of ham, chicken, and beef baby foods once a week. Some of the workers must think Ron and I have adopted a little one. :)

So glad to hear the hand is steadily improving Hopefully you'll be 100% with all the movements sometime not too far away!

Greg wrote: "Hi everyone, well once again I vanished but this time for a different reason. Sorry I've been so absent of late. It's been quite a difficult couple months. ..."

Sorry to hear about your loss. You have my sympathy and empathy as I fear my own father may not have much longer. His health is deteriorating, but he's still hanging in there. I think he really wants to meet his two great grandkids that are both on the way as two of my nieces are pregnant. But I am happy that you had been able to improve your relationship with him before he passed.

Glad to here Pip's still hanging in there. He's a trooper. Give him a kiss on his wee forehead for me.

My hand is also a mixed bag. Just got released from regular visits for it, but I now have joint pain in cold & wet weather (like today) that is clearly a precusor to arthritis. Something he specifically told was very likely because of the location of the break. So improvement, but a new chronic issue that will be with me. Getting older isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Thanks Rick! Too bad abput the arthritis; how frustrating to have to suffer this chronic issue as a result of the other driver's carelessness. :(

I am so glad to have Pip still with me. I was so worried he would pass while I was still in Arizona, but he's a trooper as you say.

Greg wrote: "Hi everyone, well once again I vanished but this time for a different reason. Sorry I've been so absent of late. It's been quite a difficult couple months.

A few weeks ago, my dad had his 6th str..."

My condolences.

I'm really sorry to hear that Greg, but still glad you got to spend time with your father and family. And very happy you had Pip to come home to, too.

NOH8 was a really good experience. Crazy and a little surreal and I wish I could go back into that bubble because it was a huge weight off my shoulders not being an outsider looking in for once. I'd volunteer again in a heartbeat.

Thanks Arin and Alex!

So, for those in countries that celebrate Halloween, what did everyone do? Anything fun?

Greg wrote: "So, for those in countries that celebrate Halloween, what did everyone do? Anything fun?"

I lazed about and ate McDonald's. I used to dress up for Halloween, back when I was in the States. I was a Slytherin student from Hogwarts one time, a gangster/pimp (with 2 friends, one male, one female, both dressed up as prostitutes) in another.

Alex wrote: "I used to dress up for Halloween, back when I was in the States. I was a Slytherin student from Hogwarts one time, a gangster/pimp (with 2 friends, one male, one female, both dressed up as prostitutes) in another...."

Sounds like fun Alex! :)

I mostly relaxed myself this year. I've been away in Arizona so much with the hospice & funeral for my dad that I've hardly been home; so Ron & I decided to stay home and spend some nice time together .. a Halloween feast, some movies, etc. It was great to have that downtime - just what I needed right now!

Living in the woods, we don't get trick or treaters. I follow my grandkids activities on Facebook and iMessage. We watched Halloween and other movies. Currently we are watching our British Empire collection, doing Elizabeth R with Glenda Jackson. Great historical drama!

Was just making breakfast and my brother was the last one to log into You-tube. I peeked a bit and found a playlist called "Story Songs" He's only a couple years younger than me but I guess we were both brainwashed by the same AM radio station back in the 60's & 70's WOAP 1080

How many of these do YOU recall (or have even heard of?)
Sink The Bismark - Johnny Horton
New Orleans - Johnny Horton
The Ballad of the Green Berets
Big Bad John - Jimmy Dean
The Night Chicago Died - Paper Lace
Billy Don't Be a Hero
North to Alaska - Johnny Horton
Bad Bad Leroy Brown - Jim Croce
Mr. Tanner - Harry Chapin
A Better Place to Be - Harry Chapin

Perhaps this post should have gone in the "You know you're ancient when... " thread.

Personally I've always thought that last one, "A Better Place to Be" would make a great basis for an m/m short story.

What's everyone in the US planning to do for Thanksgiving?

For my part, I'm really looking forward to a couple days off starting Thursday!! On Thursday, Ron and I are going to help his dad cook Thanksgiving dinner. Well Ron will help cook and I will simply try to look useful. :)

Then on Friday, we plan to stay home and watch Thanksgiving/Christmas movies. There are lots of things I should do I suppose, but I think I deserve a break! Maybe we'll pick up some baos and pastries at the Chinese bakery and snack on them all day. That sounds perfect!

I'm taking 4 days off, but unfortunately all my family is too far away, so it will be Chris and I a big turkey and movies I suspect since it will be cold and rainy. I'll also spend time organizing my new book shelves and browsing.

Greg wrote: "What's everyone in the US planning to do for Thanksgiving?"

I don't live in the US, but I'm having Thanksgiving dinner with my mom, at an American style restaurant. There will be turkey! :D

Alex wrote: "Greg wrote: "What's everyone in the US planning to do for Thanksgiving?"

I don't live in the US, but I'm having Thanksgiving dinner with my mom, at an American style restaurant. There will be turk..."

Sounds great Alex - enjoy! :)

Kernos wrote: "I'm taking 4 days off, but unfortunately all my family is too far away, so it will be Chris and I a big turkey and movies I suspect since it will be cold and rainy. I'll also spend time organizing ..."

Sometimes those quiet days are the best Kernos!

Sometimes, Greg, but most of my days are quiet. I long for some excitement. I was hoping my oldest grandson could come for the deer hunting season. He's just learning. I got him a 30-06 for Xmas after his Mom's approval. He and his dad have taken the required lessons.

Kernos wrote: "Sometimes, Greg, but most of my days are quiet. I long for some excitement. I was hoping my oldest grandson could come for the deer hunting season. He's just learning. I got him a 30-06 for Xmas af..."

Hopefully your grandson will be able to come soon Kernos!

I've actually acquired a cold in the last few days so I'll be having lots of chicken soup, reading and watching movies.

This is the time of year that I always got sick when I was a kid. Every fall, just before Thanksgiving. Like clockwork. ;)

When I was 6 I got so sick they gave me penicillin to help fight it off. I nearly died. Seems I'm allergic to the stuff. So I'm thankful that at 6 I survived my penicillin poisoning. ;)

Rick wrote: "I've actually acquired a cold in the last few days so I'll be having lots of chicken soup, reading and watching movies.

This is the time of year that I always got sick when I was a kid. Every fal..."

Hope you feel better soon Rick! I hate flus and colds - they can be a nightmare with my allergies when they bring me down.

I'm a bit of a PC Game geek and I'm checking out the huge sales on Steam.

I just saw that Bully is available for under $5. I'm not really into the GTA styles games and this is supposed to be GTA in high school. What put it on my radar at all is that there was a lot of talk about so many of the guys in the game being kissable.

Check out this little montage that I found https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovtw1...

Think I'll pass on the game but still, it's nice to see.

What's a GTA style game?

Kernos wrote: "What's a GTA style game?"

Grand Theft Auto?

Yep. I tend to like historical simulators and city building games so games like Grand Theft Auto aren't really my thing.

Ah! I like RPGs

Kernos wrote: "Ah! I like RPGs"

I like 'em, too.

Does King's Quest count?

Sure, if my Apple ][ still works. I likes Wizardry and Might anf Magic best.

Kernos wrote: "Ah! I like RPGs"

Me too Kernos, and I fondly remember my Apple II :)

In honor of Pearl Harbor day I started watching the HBO series on the Pacific war.

Also encountered an interesting factoid... Frank W Buckles was the last surviving U.S. doughboy (WWI vet) and died in 2011. One strange thing about him, although he was a civilian at the time of WWII breaking out he was in the Philippines as a merchant sailor. Ended up being captured and spent three years in Japanese Internment camps.

I was thinking about that today, but have seen nothing in the media.

Having a relaxing time. Next weekend it'll be another 8 hours drive each way to Arizona for Easter; so this weekend Ron & I are just kicking back.

I'm sitting at my Library Circulation desk watching the clock tick. LOL

I'm packing.
Moving back to Florida in a couple months and am trying to cull my huge porn and gay-reading library.

(If anyone is in the MD/DC area and wants to make an offer, I'm more concerned with getting some things into the hands of someone who'll appreciate them than getting a great price. I've already offloaded 3 boxes of books and 4 of magazines to G-Books 1520 U St NW for $80

Check my shelves for specific things)

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Obviously the e-book titles are not for sale

Reed wrote: "I'm sitting at my Library Circulation desk watching the clock tick. LOL"

lol Reed, busy days do seem to move faster, don't they? Hope it's not too boring!

I just spent the day (Saturday) volunteering at a Science Olympiad for Middle & High School kids. Mostly I just recorded score from various events onto computer files, for computation and tallying. but it was a lot of fun. LONG day though. Afterwards a couple of university professors, who also volunteered, and I went to grab some food, but the restaurant was closed so we ended up at a bar - small college towns are FULL of those - and had a far less pleasant meal, but it was still fun to catch up with friends.

Rick wrote: "I just spent the day (Saturday) volunteering at a Science Olympiad for Middle & High School kids. Mostly I just recorded score from various events onto computer files, for computation and tallying...."

Sounds great Rick, and a good thing to support too!

At the awards ceremony it was so cool to see the audience cheering all the teams and applauding each other. There were hugs going out to other team members and high fives between opposing teams - a genuine comradery that I never saw in high school sports were the handshakes and such were obviously obligatory.

The teams that were being sent on to state competitions were so deservedly proud of their achievements.

The only bad thing was the little 7 year old who sneezed on me while I was typing in the results from the bottle rocket competition. He'd been helping his mother all day, she had been the judge for that particular competition and they have to verify that their results are unbiased and had been outside all morning and afternoon. The little guy was filled with excitement and having gotten to watch bottle rockets all day and was fascinated by my typing the results in and was dutifully watching me while he chatted away about how the rockets carrying their egg cargos would crash or how some would land like an airplane - and then he sneezed. All over me. At least he tried to turn his head so it went over my arm and shoulder and not my hands. His mother scolded him and admonished him for not turning his head and covering his moth - but what can you do. Hopefully he didn't catch something being outside in the chilly morning air. Kids these days, jeez. ;)

Rick wrote: "At the awards ceremony it was so cool to see the audience cheering all the teams and applauding each other. There were hugs going out to other team members and high fives between opposing teams - a..."

That's really great Rick - always great to see and participate in things like that - so heartening!

Being sneezed on is a bit of a bummer though. I would've been paranoid about catching a cold the next couple days. :)

Forewarning, the following story is a little disgusting. Once when I went to visit a friend of mine who was starting to get bad dementia, I got there and she was sitting in a different chair. I thought it was really strange because she always sits in that chair; so I made a comment about it. She said, oh I just wanted to see the room differently and excitedly invited me to sit. But she was sitting in the chair I usually sat in. She warmly invited me to sit in her usual chair; so I sat down. We were happily talking for several minutes, and then my butt felt wet. I guess I should say that I have a birth defect that I have no sense of smell - like a blind person except with smell instead of sight - as a boy I got sprayed by a skunk once and didn't even know. So .... anyway, it hit me what had happened. She'd had an accident in the chair and then moved but forgot why. It had soaked through my jeans and underwear before I noticed. I made an excuse, raced home sitting on a pile of newspapers, and took a very thorough shower!! Yuck! I have no idea why I thought of that .. a slightly disgusting thing embedded in something generally heartwarming? lol. A non sequitur really.