Reviewer: Pink Plate Special Signed [Report This]
Date: Jul 19, 2020 10:32 pm Title: Chapter 33- One Foot In Front of the Other

Thanks for the update. Not surprised to see Lindsey being difficult. I’m glad Brian has Ted and Blake in his corner as his working on his sobriety. Looking forward to more!! 

Author's Response:

I'm so glad that folks are still reading, even after all this time and updates every few weeks.  I've always liked Ted and Blake and this gives me a chance to play with these characters.

Reviewer: purpledee Signed [Report This]
Date: Jul 02, 2020 12:26 pm Title: Chapter 32- Looking Out Over Pittsburgh

Hi hun, still loving this.

I noticed something that hasn't come up in this story so far.  My Dad was an alcoholic so I know a lot of the ins and outs.  Research, al anon etc.

I know that some of the withdrawl symptoms with alcohol can be the body's physical reactions just as much as the 'mental'.  I do know that alcohol turns to 'sugars' in the body quite quickly and when the body is deprived of these easily avaiable 'sugars', it begins to crave them.

My dad stopped drinking numerous times, sometimes up to nearly 2 years, but would fall back again.  I suppose that is why it is considered a lifelong disease.  However, I do remember my Dad always had a big tin of 'sweeties' he would munch on all the time.  Not good for the teeth but better on the liver !!

As we know, Brian eats very little and probably gets most of his calories from the booze.  Surely cutting out the alc would not only make his body crave sugars but need to replace the calories?

Please understand that this is no way a criticism of your writing, as I love this story.

My Dad was like Brian in your story, a 'functioning' alcoholic.  He didn't die of the usual alcoholic symptoms, such as liver/kidney failure, although they were shot to shit!, he died at the age of 87 of heart failure, a secondary symptom of alcohol.

Which does go to show that you can be an 'functioning' alcoholic most of your life, if you have access to 'good' alcohol, the best scotch in my dad's case, good healthcare, ( my dad hasd vit B shots later in life) and stop drinking for periods of time, you can live to quite a ripe old age!  Although I have to say, my old man didn't really drink heavily until he was in his late forties.  Which, combined with the above, was probably why a lot of people around us would look at us like we were mental when we said he was an alcoholic!!

Sorry for rambling on but it touched a nerve!  Can't wait for more.

Thanks loads,

Deb L. 

Author's Response:

Thanks for the information.  I have done research on the topic, but that had not come up.  I appreciate your sharing as I'm no expert.  I always like when my readers give suggestions.  So glad that you are enjoying the story.  It means a lot to know that I'm hitting a lot of truths with someone who has lived the experience.  

Reviewer: YumYumPM Signed [Report This]
Date: Jun 29, 2020 2:07 am Title: Chapter 32- Looking Out Over Pittsburgh

Brian is connecting with Gus a lot. It's good that Gus was able to relate with Justin.  Having to explain to your son about alcholism is difficult, expescially when there are people you don't think would understand if they knew.

Author's Response:

I really liked that Gus felt comfortable talking to Justin.  Brian did a good job in explaining that Justin was helping him so Gus felt he could ask Justin these questions.

Reviewer: mamab Signed [Report This]
Date: Jun 29, 2020 1:04 am Title: Chapter 32- Looking Out Over Pittsburgh

Great update.  Love how Brian is growing into a great Dad.  He always loved Gus, but didn't know how to show it.  Wonderful writing.  Hope all is well with you.

Author's Response:

Thank you.  Brian is really starting to understand what being a dad is and Gus is helping him, even though he doesn't realize it.

Reviewer: YumYumPM Signed [Report This]
Date: Jun 18, 2020 3:06 pm Title: Chapter 31- Explainin

Good that Brian confided in Emmett, we all know if he tried to do that with Mikey, Mikey would end up at the Diner complaining to his ma at the top of his lungs, plus calling the girls to let them know.  

Author's Response:

So true.  He felt that Emmett could be trusted.  He doesn't trust that Mikey wouldn't blab.

Reviewer: sophiesmom Signed [Report This]
Date: Jun 14, 2020 11:04 pm Title: Chapter 31- Explainin

Loved this chapter. Along with Brian changin are his friendships. That's important. It's support. Support he probably didn't know he wanted or needed.

Spooky how he knows Lindsay so so well. She isn't going to be happy that the Bank of Brian closed the branch she's been so dependant on.

Author's Response:

His desire to explain to Emmett is a huge growth for Brian.  Lindsay will not be happy.

Reviewer: 4depthoflove Signed [Report This]
Date: Jun 14, 2020 8:51 pm Title: Chapter 31- Explainin

yee - the build up may seem slow - but I have no doubt that it will be well worth the wait, there is absolutely nothing about this story I am not loving!

Author's Response:

So glad to hear that you are enjoying the story.  The story writes itself and I just go where the muses send me.

Reviewer: YumYumPM Signed [Report This]
Date: May 30, 2020 4:30 pm Title: Chapter 30- Pizza Night

What a wonderful look at Gus and Brian add Emmett and you've got a chapter everyone will love.  Can't wait to see how the DNA test and meeting up with Justin go.

Author's Response:

Thank you.  This is such a fun story to write.

Reviewer: mamab Signed [Report This]
Date: May 03, 2020 1:45 am Title: Chapter 29- Discussions

Great powerful chapter.  So happy to see Brian handling his problems so well.  He shows his love for Gus is the most important thing in his life.  Terrific writing.  Hope you are well.  Yes, there are some benefits to the stay at home.  Today, I tackled getting rid of junk.  LOL  Take care.

Author's Response:

I've straightened a few closets and did some deep cleaning as well, but its just very surreal. Overall, the biggest change is I don't go anywhere on the weekends- which is fine with me.  I am slowly getting things done that I "always meant to tackle"-  In some ways, I read all about all the projects folks are completing and great shows and books they are enjoying and wonder if I'm missing out.  But I guess you do what you want to do.  I go to work and come right home-  There are only four people in my office and normally I have at least 5-6 appts each week with outside people-  

Brian is handling what he needs to handle-  next chapter will reveal how well he is actually handling his problems.  Thnaks for the compliment.  I'm glad that you are enjoying the story.

Reviewer: YumYumPM Signed [Report This]
Date: May 02, 2020 12:23 am Title: Chapter 29- Discussions

Gus is pretty smart.  He cotten on to what Brian was saying though he probably didn't understand all of it.  The fact that Michael would push Brian to drink hasn't occurred to Gus.

Author's Response:

This is all so new to Gus-  he's seen all the adults in his life drink and now his father says that alcohol is a problem for him.  It will be interesting to see how Gus works through his new knowledge

Reviewer: The SNO Signed [Report This]
Date: Apr 19, 2020 8:49 am Title: Chapter 28- 1000 Lies and 1 Truth

Another great chapter! I love how this story is shaping up! This is so unusual and an amazing way of rewriting Brian's life.

This quote is beautiful and sums up how a relationship should work. I also could apply to how Brian / Justin reacts to each other: "I think your response to my presence did a lot to change my mind.  You didn't want anything from me and you were always happy to see me. It's pretty cool when someone lights up when you walk in the room."

Author's Response:

Thank you so much for the comment.  Brian learned to live and survive in a home where love did not exist and he meant nothing.  He turned to alcohol and drugs since they did not judge and he did not have to prove anything to them.  He realized that this was not hte life he wanted and so decided to change.  But, as we know change is often hard and comes with many challenges.

Reviewer: mamab Signed [Report This]
Date: Apr 19, 2020 1:20 am Title: Chapter 28- 1000 Lies and 1 Truth

Great chapter.  Love how much Brian has matured and become such a great Dad.  Wonderufl writiing.

Author's Response:

Thank you so much.  I love watching Brian grow and become the man he was meant to be.

Reviewer: Nichelle Wellesly Signed [Report This]
Date: Apr 04, 2020 2:12 am Title: Chapter 27- Letting Go

Hey Sandy!

I needed to get out of Ted and Blake's heads for awhile on BILG so I took a chance that you had updated this amazing story. And WOW! Am I glad that I did! The last two chapters were beautifully written. I really appreciate the ever-changing dynamics occurring within Brian's interpersonal relationships. 

In his budding friendship with Justin, we are seeing Brian coming to understand what it's like to have unquestionable support from a person he now considers a friend. Although their association started off simply as Sponsor/Recovering Addict, it isn't hard to see that they are beginning to build something very solid. Following that theory, it also is quite wonderful to see Brian gaining confidence in something he's really never had with ANY of his friends... Intimacy. Sure, they all know something about Brian, be it from their own perspectives or misguided notions (ie. seeing Brian Kinney through the skewed opinions of Michael and Lindsay). But Justin is the only one who is learning- who has ever taken the time to learn- Brian on this kind of level. 

Which brings me to Ted. I really LOVE the way their dynamic is evolving. Here is someone who definitely viewed Brian through Michael's idiocy, until he got to know Brian for himself. And in doing that, now he is also seeing a vulnerable, and at times unsure Brian and really coming through for the man thought had everything. I believe that Ted now understands just why he went through his own addiction, and what it means when a person says 'Your troubles aren't for you, but so that you can help someone else'. Brian is Ted's Someone Else.

Now for the... What the HELL is Lindsay thinking? And why the HELL is Melanie still there? When will Mel get a damn CLUE that the reason she feels the way she does about Brian is because of the Harridan she lives with? I mean, come on... There is being willfully blind versus being just plain STUPID; Mel certainly is falling into the latter category!

And as for Ms. Damn Curtains... Yeah.... Chile, Sandy, if I could have taken the cord those curtains are sure to have, I would have strangled the witch with them! The absolute NERVE to lie worst than a threadbare toupee on her son in order to get some damn curtains. Yes, I'm truly burned up about Loose-lipped Lizard's attempt to live above her means once again by using Gus as the bait. Hopefully, Brian will continue to see through Lindsay; God only knows what she's going to try next. In fact, I hope Brian will learn to put the theory of 'Letting Go' into practice a lot sooner, rather than later.

Great chapters, Darling. I'm certainly looking foward to reading more.

HAPPY WRITING and HUGS,

~Nichelle  

Author's Response:

Nichelle:

  It is always wonderful to receive a commnet from you.They are always entertaining and long.  Brian is really starting to see who he is on his own accord and I thin he is going to like what he sees  It is definitely a journey for him.  I started this story over a year ago and yet the story has only covered 6-8 weeks.  So much has occured but in another way, so little time has occured.  It takes someone going through this journey a very long time to work through their issues.  I wish I had endless time and energy to write but that is not the case.  I work a full time job and have a part time job teaching. Between the two positions, I put in a lot of hours.  Now that the teaching is all on line, there is more work to record my lessons that I was to deliver in person and to try and insure that my students have a quality learning experience.  Anyway,off to post another chapter of Fatherhood-  a new story to this site.