It’s been a weird couple of days. Or maybe a week. Or more.

I’m feeling kind of…blah…with periods of {sniffle} and then a big bang of super happy — usually when Jazz and me are doing something fun — before we cycle right back to blah again.

Don’t anybody say it’s PMS. Alec did. He has a bruise now. So none of that.

Jazz said I’m feeling useless because of no job and no school and I’m bumming around all day on my own. He wrote me a to-do list to keep me busy. I told him where he could stick it, he grinned ’cause he’s kinky like that, and I took the damn list. The only interesting part was that we don’t have any WD-40 so I put lube on the squeaky door hinge. It now smells like sex around the backdoor {snerk} but it doesn’t squeak anymore.

Anyway…

The writing’s sort of trickled down to not much since Al’s not a mopey poo and I can’t write anything but that at the moment.

Wanna help a boy out?

No, don’t give me another to-do list. Seriously.

Know a funny video? If you past the “share” link it’ll show up with your comment.

Funny quote? Photo? Article? Link me.

I’ve been keeping up with blogs and news and it’s been depressing me more, I think, so no great articles unless you had a beverage threatening to or succeeding in coming out your nose.

Book recs? Those are good too. Send me to Goodreads or Amazon for ease of clickiness and tell me why you loved it.

OK?

Thanks

Pot holes are another matter.

The day is warm, but not too much. It’s sunny, but not glaring. When the wind finds the places between zipped-up and open, it wiggles in and teases away the heat. And, let’s face it, the vibe off that beast between Thorny’s thighs always improves his mood.

Riding on the motorcycle helps too.

Today, they’re doing more than their usual little jaunt to and from work. It’s a good day for getting lost in winding hills and forested roads. They’ve discovered Bath Township where covered bridges and mansions with fabulous landscaping abound.

And they’re not the only bikers.

Now Thorny always has a moment of uncertainty when another motorcycle pulls up along side them to share the lane. What is the proper biker etiquette? Are these “real” bikers, or weekenders like them?

Jazz just nods in that butch dude way that must be genetic. He gets a nod back. The other couple wear bandanas with no helmets — which is idiotic — but it makes it easy for Thorny to see they’re friendly. He does a little finger wave. The woman waves back and compliments the pink flames on Thorny’s helmet.

They ride along through winding roads, sometimes side-by-side, sometimes not. When they reach a red light, Thorny pops up his visor to ask where they’re going since they have a little trailer behind their bike. Both of them turn to stare at him.

Yes, folks. He’s not a girl.

(Not today anyway.)

Finally, the woman manages to answer coherently and without malice. They’re on vacation and heading to visit her sister’s family. The man eyes Jazz like a perception’s been tweaked.

Then — oh wonder of wonders! — Thorny notices what is strapped to the man’s back: Like a little elastic backpack, he has a Kindle in a case on his back and available to the woman. Dear little baby Jesus… Thorny now NEEDS exactly that.

The light changes before Thorny can do more than begin to point and squeal, and the couple take off. Jazz proceeds more normally.

“Catch them,” Thorny hollers and thumps Jazz’s hip.

“I don’t think they want to be caught,” Jazz hollers back.

“Do it!” And Thorny does the scooting forward motion he can’t possibly prevent as his entire being urges the motorcycle to go faster.

Jazz does it.

They catch up at another light, and Thorny takes off his helmet to better exclaim, “Ohmigod, I love your Kindle thingy! How did you do that? Where did you get it? That’s so AWESOME I adore it completely!”

The woman laughs, covering her mouth. The man looks back and smiles.

The charm of an overly enthusiastic gay biker boy wins again!

Then the woman explains that her sister made it for her and she doesn’t really know how. Thorny resists pouting, but stares at that thingy in the hopes of burning it into his brain.

Eventually, he has to let the couple go as the light changes and car drivers get impatient. He does pout inside his helmet. Unfortunately, the couple veer off — though with a wave from both — to get on the highway again. Thorny leans on Jazz, eyes closed, trying to remember how that thingy looked.

Once home, Thorny rushes off to draw a sketch — kicking himself for not even, for one second, thinking of using his frickin’ phone to take a photo of the thingy. He’s just finished jotting everything down when Jazz walks through the room on his way upstairs.

Naked.

“Uh…”

“Got sweaty. Taking a shower.”

Thorny gets…up. “Good idea.”

“You do know you’ll need to talk me into wearing that thing, right?”

“Talk you into it?”

“Yep.”

Leering and then fingering some fuzziness oh so conveniently at eye level on the stairs, Thorny asks, “Should I begin now, you think?”

Jazz stops, then bends as if to tie his shoes. He’s not wearing shoes, though… Thorny takes the hint in both hands. Some time later, they make it to the shower, Jazz in total agreement and Thorny about the same.

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeee…

And then there was this tiny little sound that had everyone looking at the monitor, waiting for a blip.

This is getting morbid.

OK, so, I’m going to ask how are YOU doing? What are YOU up to lately? Got summer vacation plans? Big project at work? Seen anything good online lately?

Uh… Hot enough for ya?

Authors, what are you writing or releasing right now? (Yeah, total pimpage opportunity, take advantage!)

Sweartagod… There’s really no brain. At all. Maybe I need to ask Jazz to give me something to do… Oh hey. My brain might be malfunctioning, but south of the border’s working fine {hehehe}

• Terrible Minds (author Chuck Wendig’s blog) — How To Maximize Your Word Count And Write Every Day and 25 Humpalicious Steps For Writing Your First Sex Scene, by Delilah S. Dawson — I absolutely adore the way Chuck writes a blog post! He’s LOL funny in the rudest, crudest, most honest ways and always has something helpful to say about writing. Even if I wasn’t writing anything, I’d still read him because he’s just that good (and FUNNY!).
• NY Times — Yes, I’m Really Bisexual. Deal With It. — Wilson Diehl does a fantastic job, I think, explaining why it’s relevant — even when in an opposite-sex relationship — that someone’s sexual identity is bisexual. Given that this recently came up here when Jazz answered a couple questions, I thought you all might like even more information from another source. It is a touchy subject, Jazz can get really growly about it, and I can understand why. When we were first dating, it was a big conversation. Now? He’s bi, I’m gay, and we’re married. No biggie. But it still matters.

If you’re a slash fan, here’s something you might get a kick out of: Archive of Our Own. There’s probably a bunch of you who’re already so cool you knew about this ages ago, but I only recently found it. Since then? Ravenous devouring. I’ve got a special bookmark and updates that come through when anyone posts a story involving Supernatural slashing of Dean and Castiel. (Wing porn? Got it! Priest kink? Yeppers!)

My latest discovery, though, went sideways and upside-down when I found a Supernatural/Labyrinth slash. Yes, you read that right, Dean gets stuck in the Labyrinth courtesy of Sam (filling in for David Bowie as Jareth). So, OK, yes, it’s mostly the Winchester boys getting naughty in the Labyrinth setting, but it works for me. If you want your Jareth being naughty with the girl, Sarah (or Jareth with Toby, the baby brother all grown up!), well, they’ve got that too.

And pretty much every TV Show or Movie ever made has a slash story in there!

(You can read without an account, but getting mine only took a couple hours without an invitation. And I really recommend using the Sort & Filter options to get exactly what you want. “Kudos” is their version of “liking” something, so sort by that if you want the archive’s “best of” kind of listings first.)

Took me a second, but then I got it

Maria Angela and Thomas David, III

Welcome, babies!!

Everyone is healthy, all toes and fingers accounted for, and Abby is grateful to whomever invented epidurals. (“Hallelujah and Amen!” said Tom once the drugs kicked in…) The babies weighed in at about 6 pounds and 20 inches long each. Puffy black hair is all over their little heads and they have those cute baby mouths and big blue eyes. I’m already calling them Mary Angel and Tommy 3 We’ll see if that sticks.

Happy Mother’s Day to all, but now especially to our Abby

“At least the streets were clear. Late nights in New York City weren’t as wild as the TV made them seem. Or maybe it was just that I lived in the crappy part of town. My own building could have been on the list for most likely to be condemned. Homeless filled the area with their little carts of trash and cardboard houses. Barely a step above them myself, I couldn’t pass judgment.” ~Genesis Sage, EVOLUTION by Sam Kadence

Genesis left home at the age of 16 because he felt his homosexuality was damaging his family’s reputation. He had dropped out of high school after a particularly bad day of bullying and decided it was time to step away from the haters and make his own way. With the help of friends he got his GED, found a job, and made a home for himself. And while it’s not glamorous in any way since his studio apartment is the size of most people’s closets, it’s more than a lot of LGBT youth have.

Everyone knows about homelessness, but how many of us look away? We see people standing at the side of a road with a sign begging for food, and how many of us stop? The media tells us they are all frauds. They want to us to believe that homelessness is caused only by drugs or alcohol and easily fixed. But how often do we look past them thinking “I’m too busy,” or “I really can’t help,” or maybe “I just don’t want to see other people’s pain.” How many of us are willing to help? Did you know that LGBT youth are a vastly growing population of the homeless? Why is it okay for any child to be homeless for any reason?

Maybe if we all looked a little closer it’s a problem we could end. If you haven’t taken the time you should watch the film called Outside. It’s heartbreaking, but real. Note the film is an hour long, but please take the time.

A lot of LGBT youth find themselves homeless because they are thrown out by their parents, abused, or bullied. Others take that route to avoid being a burden to their families who are unable to cope. A growing number become homeless due to issues with shelters: harassment, verbal abuse, homophobia, and transphobia.

Here are some scary statistics from the National Coalition for the Homeless:

• While homeless youth typically experience severe family conflict as the primary reason for their homelessness, LGBT youth are twice as likely to experience sexual abuse before the age of 12.
• LGBT youth, once homeless, are at higher risk for victimization, mental health problems, and unsafe sexual practices. 58.7% of LGBT homeless youth have been sexually victimized compared to 33.4% of heterosexual homeless youth
• LGBT youth are roughly 7.4 times more likely to experience acts of sexual violence than heterosexual homeless youth
• LGBT homeless youth commit suicide at higher rates (62%) than heterosexual homeless youth (29%)

Recently, there was an article posted about a girl whose parents were trying to rent her out because she was gay. There were endless responses of people offering the girl a home. And while the story later came under fire for being false, it is a sadly true tale that happens every day. So you probably wonder what you can do to help. There are some great programs out there you can get involved in right now:

• National Coalition for the Homeless
• GLAAD
• True Colors

KC often tells Genesis in EVOLUTION that he’s “Not normal,” and Gene is always fast to ask in reply, “Is that a bad thing?” Life isn’t about conforming, so stand out, be different, help out, see everything even the stuff the media and politicians tell you not to see.

There are likely many local programs you can get involved in as well. It’s not all about money. Extra clothing, food, or even just some time can help a person in need. You never know, it might be the boost they need to get back on their feet, or that one little touch that gives them hope to keep living and evolve into the amazing person they are meant to be.

EVOLUTION by Sam Kadence
(Cover by Paul Richmond)

Gene Sage has only ever wanted to sing, but his band, Evolution, is pushing him toward the big time. He finds it hard to focus on making musical history when he’s dreaming of graveyards and seeing ghosts. And while all he can think of is hiding who he is from a world unforgiving of anyone different, he discovers he’s also the ultimate snack for vampires and demons. When Gene literally runs into—over—his idol, Kerstrande Petterson, rock god, vampire in hiding, and music cynic, his life falls over the edge into chaos.

Jaded by the world and nearly a decade in the music business, Kerstrande thinks Gene wants to use him to make Evolution immortal in more than one way, but he can’t seem to brush aside the young singer’s enthusiasm.

Getting involved with Kerstrande drags Gene into otherworldly power struggles. Between the ghosts stalking them, the media painting supernaturals as villains, and a vampire out of control in the city, the only way for Gene and Kerstrande to survive is for Gene to embrace his powers—and his destiny.

This YA Paranormal title is now available from Dreamspinner Press’s Harmony Ink Press.

SAM KADENCE has always dreamed about being someone else, somewhere else. With very little musical talent, Sam decided the only way to make those dreams come true was to try everything from cosplay at the local anime conventions to writing novels about pretending to run away to become a musician.

Sam has a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing, sells textbooks for a living, enjoys taking photographs of Asian Ball Joint Dolls to tell more stories, and has eclectic taste in music from J-pop to rock and country. All of which finds its way into the books eventually.

Visit Sam’s Facebook Page or Goodreads profile for more information.

On the baby front, everyone’s started taking bets on when Abby will deliver the twins. Abby would happily take the bet on “any minute now” because she’s “so done”. I’ve witnessed the baby foot poking out her stomach and can completely agree with her that I’d be so done once that started happening too. Miracle of life? Sure, but I’ve also seen “Alien” thanks. My money’s on Mother’s Day since it’s sort of half-way to the real due date, twins always come early, and why not.

School-wise, next week is exams. YAY! Not yay for exams, but yay for this semester finally being over. It wasn’t a terrible semester, but I’ve had more fun at the dentist. Mostly because of that speech class from hell. Turns out I don’t like public speaking no matter the subject and this audience wasn’t my favorite group of people either. And I don’t like people critiquing how I talk because no, you slimy slug of a student, I won’t “butch it up” when discussing the oh so manly topic of football. It’s not acting class, so I’ll be me behind the podium.

Anyway… I don’t really have anything planned to talk about next week, so if there’s a post it’ll be totally random. If there’s nothing, it’s just because I’m busy or recovering. Alec and Jazz are free to post if they like, but I don’t know if they’ve got plans to do that.

So until next time, go read something with smexy boys doin’ it with cops, firemen, aliens or angels. I’ve been reading The Gifted One by Jacob Flores and can I just say Craig with Matt? Dude, niiiiiice

Thorny: Nature. there’s so much inspiration in a tiny plant pushing up into the world from a crack in the sidewalk. It doesn’t know it might not make it to tomorrow, it just wants to reach for the sun today.

From Mary G: Thorny, did you ever imagine, before Jazz, that you’d meet “the one” and be this blissfully happy?

Thorny: Oh, sure, I imagined my prince/rockstar/cowboy, who moonlights as a fireman and is a caped crusader on weekends, coming along to whisk me away someday. Then I met Jazz and pined over him specifically for a few months before realizing my dream man just had to smile at me and that was enough for me to fall in love and stay there.

From Hanne (nordicgirl): If you could save only 1 book, 1 film, 1 album/CD, and 1 other item, which would you choose and why?

Thorny: This is so DIFFICULT. I’m honestly not at all sure what book or film I’d save. Seriously, it’d be like Save the Library! I can’t even say I have a favorite book or movie of all time because there are so many to love for different reasons. Music’s hard too, but the first song that popped into my head is “I Won’t Give Up” by Jason Mraz. Jazz and I have a whole choreographed dance to it that we change around every time when something new occurs to one of us. It’s special like a wedding dance or something like that, so I always want it available. If my one other item can be a person, I’m keeping Grams forever more.

From Carey: If the four of you were stuck on a deserted island, with unlimited amounts of food, clean water, and lube, and you have each other, what are two more items each would have to have?

Thorny: My iPhone and a solar generator to charge it. (Yes, I’m officially addicted.)

Jazz: A hatchet and nails to build us a house on the island.

Alec: He’s only saying that because the lube’s included with the island.

Jazz: Well, yeah.

Carter: I’ll bring sunblock and bug repellent. And one of you better bring unlimited soap or nobody’s going to use that lube.

Alec: Soap it is! And a razor since I’m not into hillbilly beards.

From Natalija: What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to do, but nobody would do it with you (requires a group of people)?

Alec: An orgy with all the brothers and Thorny too.

Thorny: {wide-eyed blushing}

Jazz: Christ, Alec. {ahem} I think paintball might be fun.

Carter: I’m in!

Alec: {snort}

Carter: For paintball, you shit.

Thorny: {imagining the paintball war turning into a porno and…}

Jazz: Thornton, that was not a plot bunny.

From Madison: If you could write and send a letter to your younger self, what advice or words of wisdom would you give yourself?

Thorny: It really will get better, but it’s OK to hurt right now.

Jazz: He’s not underage. Ask him out immediately.

Alec: There’s nothing at the bottom of a bottle but glass. Put it down, get off your ass, and you might meet Carter 6 months earlier.

Carter: You wouldn’t warn yourself about the IED?

Alec: If it hadn’t been me, it would’ve been someone else.

Carter: {mumbling, but it sounded like “I love you”}

From Benjamin: If you could change something about yourself, what would it be and why?

Thorny: I’d like to be taller. Not too much, I don’t want to be 6-foot or anything, but five-nine would be nice. I just don’t like being mistaken for a kid all the time.

From LC: Aside from the love of your life, what one thing always makes you smile?

Thorny: My friends. The ones I have now love me for all my flaws and quirks and they can always help me find my smile.

Jazz: Helping people discover the past and being there for the moment when the lightbulb comes on and they’re hooked.

Alec: It makes me smile to see my parents flirting with each other. They’re in their 60s and I just love knowing they still think the other’s hot stuff.

Carter: There’s other things in the world besides Alec? {giggle}

Alec: Kiss-ass.

Carter: Sure. C’mere.

Jazz: {hangs up the phone at the first porn-sound} We’ll call back later.

From Suze: Thorny, what one thing would you, or you and Jazz, like to achieve in the next 5 years?

Thorny: One think? Just ONE? I have to cheat a little bit: For me, finish school and have started my career. For us, fatherhood.

From Alder: Carter, what did you think of Thorny the first time Jazz introduced you?

Carter: I thought he was the cutest girl I’d ever seen! Then it was like wait, he’s a guy? followed by is he even legal? and then I saw them together and bet I had a new brother. Thankfully, treating Thorny like a girl doesn’t get me hurt or yelled at because it’s just what my instincts seem to tell me to do with him.

Thorny: You’re a dork.

Carter: Bachatcha, Twinkerbell.

Thorny: {snort}

From Cody: Jazz, what is the single most frustrating element in your personal life that you cannot change and have learned to live with?

Jazz: People who scoff at bisexuality. I’ve had people resist accepting its reality and take on an attitude like I’m being somehow dishonest with them or myself. I detest it when someone accuses me of just not admitting I’m actually gay, as though I could be ashamed of it. Sometimes changing their minds is possible, but most often it’s not and that’s cost me friends and caused some tension in the workplace. For the most part, with Thorny in my life now, I don’t correct anyone who identifies me as gay because there’s little reason to rock that boat.

From Veronica: Jazz, being bi, how did you know Thorny was the person you want to spend the rest of your life with and not a woman?

Jazz: My sexual orientation only made it so I’m open to the possibility of falling in love with a man or a woman. That I’ve chosen to commit myself to Thorny for as long as he’ll have me applies more to his qualities and who I am with him than to my being bisexual.

From Parker: Someone said I make you Thorny. Is that a compliment?

Thorny: {snicker} Definitely!

From CR: What is something you’ve learned about yourself that you would say is important in making a lasting relationship and why?

Thorny: Communication! I won’t say I was terrible at it before I started dating Jazz, but I definitely didn’t realize how important it is before then. Some of our first conversations were the two of us sort of clearing the air about everything we could think of — like Jazz being bi in case I had a problem with that. And now it’s all about honestly saying something when I need to and really listening when he has something he needs to say. We still fight sometimes and say stupid things, but I think communication has saved the day every time.

From Lisa H: Do you want to have kids someday?

Thorny & Jazz: Yes, definitely.

Alec & Carter: Maybe yes. Someday.

From Tam: What is your favorite cheese and how/when do you best enjoy it?

Thorny: Extra sharp cheddar and right off the block!

Jazz: Same.

Carter: Whatever it is that covers nachos.

Alec: Slice of brie, slice of apple, a dash of mustard, on a cracker.

Carter: Who are you and where’s the guy who sucks down Cheez-Wiz?

Alec: {laughing} I’ll suck down–

Jazz: Stop that! We’re nearly done.

From Tj: What is the single greatest lesson you could pass on to another?

Alec: Never give up. You give up and they win. Doesn’t matter if they’re bullies or terrorists or the ones how said you can’t, you staying strong will never let them win and that will defeat them.

From Susan: Thorny, you have been forthcoming about the color of your eyes and your height. May I have the same information about Jazz, Alec and Carter?

Thorny: Jazz has brown eyes and he’s 6-foot even. Alec’s eyes are green and he’s 5’11″. Carter also has brown eyes — all the brothers do — and he’s 6’3″. Interesting side note: Whenever I need to see how my characters in Splinters should line up, I just look at how Jazz and Carter fit together.

Alec: And you guys think I’m the perv…

From Ann Marie: What is your favorite Supernatural episode and why?

Thorny: That episode where they go to the little convention for their books and meet the gay couple who role-play them? That is my favorite! Really, all the ones where they were learning about the books and Chuck and…OMG I’ve forgotten her name…the girl who wrote the slash and liked petting Sam. Anyway, all those episodes were fantastic. OK, and the ones where it was so Desitel

From Maria: What is your favorite and less than favorite thing about your partner?

Carter: Is she trying to be nice and not say “the thing you can’t stand about him”?

Thorny: Maybe. Want to go with that?

{grumbles and grunts that probably mean yes}

Thorny: OK, my fave about Jazz is his mouth and my least fave is his unrelenting need to leave work an hour late every effing Friday.

Jazz: Favorite is how brave he is and least favorite is that he loves nature but doesn’t want to spend a lot of time in it.

Alec: Favorite, his skills with wood. Least, his obsession with the white tile in the kitchen.

Carter: You’re annoying.

Alec: Is that your favorite?

Carter: My favorite is his strength of spirit, how he keeps getting back up. My least favorite is that he’s only got one foot, but it stinks like four.

Alec: {laughing}

From Chris: Who is on your celebrity freebie list?

Thorny: Christian Bale’s Batman, James Marsden, Jensen Ackles, and Gerard Butler.

Jazz: Halle Berry, Leonardo Di Caprio, and, if they can count, Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor from “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”.

Carter: Beyonce, Halle Berry, Kate Beckinsale, and Ryan Reynolds.

Alec: You won’t give me my orgy fantasy, but you’re OK with a threesome with Halle Berry and your brother?

Carter: It’s Halle Berry.

Alec: Whatever. Ryan Reynolds is on my list to, so prepare yourself if he ever shows up, babe. I’ve also got Bradley Cooper, Beckham and Josh Duhamel.

Carter: You, me and Ryan? I’m in.

Alec: Now let’s talk about this Batman thing. In the suit, I take it?

Thorny: The top half anyway.

Alec: Do the voice, Jazz.

Jazz: Next question! {not in the voice}

From Amanda, who squeaked in while Thorny was writing this up: Favorite comfort food?

Thorny: Mac & cheese.

Jazz: Lazagna.

Alec: Mom’s minestrone.

Carter: Nachos.

Thanks for playing along, everyone! It was fun! And to answer the unasked question, yes, we’ll definitely do this again sometime

Is there something you’ve been wondering about me? Something you’re dying to ask me?

And it’s not just me, but Jazz and Alec — and maybe even Carter — will also answer questions. So what do you want them to answer?

ONE question per person, so make it a good one! Watch the comments too so you don’t waste yours asking something that’s already been asked.

And yes, we’ll do our best to answer ALL questions, but don’t make us blush too much, OK?

I’ll write a post with all the answers for Wednesday, so get your questions in before 8 PM Eastern today to give me time to write it all up.

Ready. Set. Ask!

I couldn’t leave it unfinished anymore, so here’s the final result. It’s very special to me and because of that, I’m not sure if I’ll put this painting on anything to sell just yet. Maybe the items I put it on will forever be donated in full to a charity in his name? I don’t know. I did want to share it with you all since some of you remember Mores. With the weather getting warmer and when it doesn’t rain, Jazz and I ride into campus on Mores’ motorcycle, so I’ve been thinking about him a lot.

Mores’ Ocean, 2013, TAR