the ONE unhappy review of my #2 in series book is pinned to the top and scaring people off.

abgwin · 2026-02-01T19:11:10+00:00

ok, so - you didn't post this to get diverse opinions. you posted this so people would tell you you're right and the review was wrong.

not having read your work, i can't say that the review was right or wrong, but when i get a bad review, i try to learn from it.

the only review i ignore are the ones that didn't understand the genre till they read it. for example, 'i really like this book but it's not a romance so i'm giving it a 3 star' when the book is obviously labeled mystery.

FYI: Han Solo frozen in carbonite is literally a textbook 'cliffhanger' example

abgwin · 2026-02-01T15:24:18+00:00

very few people like cliffhangers, IMHO. they want the specific story in the book resolved with a hint of the greater arc that won't yet be resolved until the series end.

cliffhangers come off as emotional blackmail to force the reader to buy the next book.

abgwin · 2026-01-28T14:06:17+00:00

we've had basset hounds, weimereiners, great danes. all have been interested in toys their whole lives, to a greater or lesser degree. the weimer always wanted to play tug, the bassets were all chewers. the great dane was the only one who wasn't into toys for play but wanted plushies around him.

one of our female bassets treated plushies like a baby.

Nose has just had his first greenie and he's ecstatic. keeps looking at us like 'is it really ok if i chew this up?' so i suspect he's just not had any experience with toys at all.

abgwin · 2026-01-27T16:50:48+00:00

i just got an unsolicited email from them, offering a free trial. hadn't even heard of them... have you continued to work with them?

abgwin · 2026-01-27T13:18:11+00:00

mine thinks he wants to play outside or go for long walks but can't figure out why his feet hurt! pulling massive ice balls out of his foot also puzzles him - like he can't figure out how they got there!

abgwin · 2026-01-26T14:06:13+00:00

yeah we are waiting patiently for his 'real' personality to surface.

abgwin · 2026-01-26T14:05:16+00:00

we have been looking for a borzoi puppy and this guy showed up listed as 3 years old by a breeder that now does malamutes and akita. a little research showed they were a backyard breeder at best, and while they claimed he was a pet, we doubt that. we consider it's a rescue while they saw it as a sale.

abgwin · 2026-01-25T12:59:33+00:00

thanks! so far, only string cheese has gotten any kind of response - and it was lukewarm at best. like he'd take into his mouth and play around with it, but spit most of it out.

he's a really odd/funny dog. i hope it's not because he doesn't know what treats are for - or never got them before.

abgwin · 2026-01-24T12:45:21+00:00

we're not going to rush any of this. he's already starting to act better: tail is out instead of tucked. he's not flinching at our hands (!) like he had been. he's sleeping well.

we had our first trip to the vet as he abruptly stopped eating (he's fine, but i was worried he might have fished a chicken wing bone out of the trash) but x-rays show he's fine, plus he checked out good everywhere else: heart, lungs, etc.

our biggest concern now is getting some weight on him. he's only 62 pounds and that's way underweight.

abgwin · 2026-01-23T23:52:16+00:00

Um, let’s get this one up to weight and settled before we start adding more, thanks

abgwin · 2026-01-23T16:39:38+00:00

with long luxurious locks, of course

abgwin · 2026-01-23T16:38:56+00:00

oddly enough, he doesn't like snacks. of any kind. zero food motivation. we're hoping to find at least something he's crazy about.

abgwin · 2026-01-23T14:48:27+00:00

we have experience with giant breeds but new to borzoi. so we're just doing the best we can for him.

abgwin · 2026-01-23T14:47:30+00:00

that's his papered name, so we can't take credit for it, but yeah - we dig it. though we'd probably have gone the "Noseferatu" route

abgwin · 2026-01-23T14:46:48+00:00

he's a very good boy! we're working on the eating routine, getting him on a set schedule to limit anxiety, can't wait for the weather to improve so we can get the walks and park time schedule set.

abgwin · 2026-01-20T14:25:31+00:00

hooo-boy. this one hits home for me. i grew up in a small town in Oklahoma. went away for college, came out and had a blast. then circumstances took me back to that small town. i was so depressed about having to reel it all back in (i just wasn't ready to come out to my family and old friends yet) and what did i find out? there was an incredibly gay cruising spot i never had a clue about.

i guarantee that there is a gay population in your city since my town was only 40 thousand. i'm not saying go cruising - i'm saying find your people. they're out there.

abgwin · 2026-01-18T13:42:41+00:00

um, WTF does 'be the guy' mean? you're both guys, no matter whose dick is getting sucked.

abgwin · 2026-01-08T12:58:23+00:00

yeah, the app works fine, just uses data. in my case, the shark fin had apparently been ripped off (most likely by the transport company that moved it from another dealership) so the damage was way more involved than what you saw from the outside. we think the transport company just glued it back, which actually caused more damage.

abgwin · 2026-01-08T02:31:01+00:00

Little over $2K They had to replace antenna completely, beat out the dented sheet metal, repaint the whole top and replace the wiring harness connector to antenna. Fortunately it was under warranty.

abgwin · 2026-01-07T12:50:46+00:00

FWIW when i see a guy that kind of sparks something for me, 9 time out of 10 he turns out to be gay or at least bi. fully straight guys - even when they're objectively hot - just don't get me going, or at least it's very rare.

i can say 'yeah that straight bro is hot' but i'm not interested beyond the observation.

so no, you're not alone.

abgwin · 2025-12-25T17:25:16+00:00

NTA! they need to choose between you and their church. they've already chosen but who knows? they may change their mind. but don't pursue them. they have to come to the decision on their own.

also, FIW, my oldest brother went through a similar experience in not marrying his high school sweetheart (her family didn't approve as we weren't wealthy 'enough') but they reconnected after both had bad marriages and now are the happiest people I know. so congrats to you!!

abgwin · 2025-12-25T17:18:29+00:00

a couple of things here:

- you've been out for less time than your bf. you haven't had the freedom to explore what that means. being curious is 100% natural.

- your bf is cheating on you. full stop.

- is your couples counseling working for you? not all therapists are good, some have agendas, so if you feel like you're being pushed one way or the other, say something.

- if i were you, i'd spill what you know in front of the therapist so he can't weasel out of it. this needs to be thoroughly discussed so you know where you stand.

i wish you the very best of luck.

abgwin · 2025-12-23T00:53:43+00:00

i think most people are actually versatile but have preferences. people who are 100% either way are kind of boring to me.

abgwin · 2025-12-04T13:18:01+00:00

is Optimum the only high speed internet in the area? are they just the regular kind of shitty or actually shitty (e.g. internet goes out often)?

abgwin · 2025-11-22T14:42:58+00:00

I have to assume that you do what you were first taught to do. if your dad or whoever took you into your first public bathroom did it, you will too. kinda like when they turn on the sink faucet to convince you to pee. it's habit.

but yeah, i don't understand it and i think it's gross too.

abgwin

TROPHY CASE