Wes & Tom's Guestbook Page

Wes & Tom's Old Comments Page

(Comments from before we had a guestbook)

(Note: Since those who sent us e-mail prior to us having a guestbook did not necessarily contemplate that their thoughts would be shared with others, we are stripping out information that would identify the cyberaddress of the sender.)



Subj:	first contact
Date:	96-10-12 07:42:16 EDT
To:	Wes

HI GUYS !
I TRY TO CONTACT YOU MANY TIME, BUT I FOUND PROBLEMS WITH YOUR PROVIDER.
HOPE TO GET NEWS FROM YOU SOON.
MY NAME'S ___________, I'M ITALIAN AND 27 Y.O., iLIVE WITH MY MATE
__________ 25 HIV POSITIVE: YOUR PAGE ON INTERNET IS A GOOD HELP!
THANKS SO MUCH, YOURS _____.



Subj: linking Date: 96-10-06 04:13:53 EDT To: Wes Hi guys. I would like to link my (Dutch) site to yours, if you don't mind. Keep it up!! Regards,
Subj: HI Date: 96-09-27 20:07:27 EDT To: Wes I HAVE JUST SEEN YOUR HOMEPAGE IT IS VERY GOOD! WOULD YOU PLEASE CHECK MINE OUT MY HOMEPAGE IS LOCATED AT: _____________________ PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK?? AND REMEMBER TO SIGN MY GUEST BOOK!!! I HOPE YOU LIKE IT AS MUCH AS I DID YOURS! REGARDS DAVID
Subj: how?who? Date: 96-09-24 12:12:01 EDT To: Wes hi, y'all, love the site. we need a simple-to-understand article/handout for families of hiv+ people which addresses their depression and turmoil. we are an agency which tries to educate health providers and other ASO's. this request from a health dept. nurse. i keep finding lots of medical stuff describing the turmoil, but nothing for the families themselves. any ideas?? thanks for everything you do, ________ health educator southwest _______ hiv/aids resource & consultation center
Subj: RE: "Like our new look?" Date: 96-09-20 14:06:55 EDT To: Wes ('Wes') Thanks for the input! I checked your site out, as well, and found it to be pretty cool. I must say that I got rather engrossed in your letters. They're much more interesting than Melrose Place.
Subj: Living with HIV Date: 96-09-17 23:58:41 EDT To: Wes I am a nursing student and I would appreciate any kind of feedback you could provide me which might help me administer care to patients who are HIV positive. I am specifically interested in what it is like living with the virus and any fear related to the onset of active AIDS. In advance, thank you for any assistance you can provide.
Subj: Re: Guest Book Entry Date: 96-09-16 12:02:16 EDT To: Wes Thanks for all your kind comments. I visited your site and I think it's great. Especially the "Things from Wes' nose" section. I really believe in the subversive and political potential of humour - and although I'm not trying to make light of your experiences - i think the way you present it makes it accessible and interesting to people who haven't actually been through the process. Good luck to you both and I wish you all the best. PS. Is it true that everything's bigger in Texas?
Subj: Sinus Health Tip!! Date: 96-09-14 09:15:54 EDT To: TopDadTX Hi gentleman! Myself & my spouse where surfing the net & came across your page. Very interesting!! Here is the tip: Take some sea salt 1Tbls & put in a glass of warm water, stir -> tilt your head to the side and pour this mix into your nose...yes your nose. First do one side - then the other. The nose is a U - this mix will burn some, but it will kill whatever is in our nose that doesn't belong there. Also check out our website @ _______ good luck
Subj: Your Site Date: 96-09-13 22:33:51 EDT To: Wes Hi Wes and Tom, Followed your link from my page and have been here for two hours. You guys are amazing. Boy, what a curse -- a literate family! Nothing like a little light to make the creepy crawlies go a-scurryin'! Man! Thanks for shining your little light! Anyway, just wanted to connect and say thanks for your nice participation and comments on our pages. Glad to meet you -- we'll put *at least* one more link to your pages on -- they're not to be missed! Would you consider letting me put your picture on the Lovin' By The Rules page? Thanks. All the best to you and keep having fun! Yours, Lynne
Subj: Hi Wes & Tom... Date: 96-09-12 18:44:42 EDT To: Wes Hi Wes & Tom! I enjoyed your site and thought I'd drop you a quick note. I am a lesbian singer-songwriter from California, and tour on both the Mainstream and Women's Music circuit. I am fairly new to the net, and my site is "hot off the press". I would love to submit it for you to consider linking to...please stop by! ______ Hope you enjoy it! Be sure to check out the Lovin By The Rules page. It celebrates loving relationships, and welcomes contributions and feedback. Also, we just added the Playhouse...a fun place to go and "chat" with all kinds of people! Please spread the word! I really would like to get more men involved in it!! Once again, enjoyed your site! I'd be more than happy to link to it from my links page if you'd like...let me know! I'll look forward to hearing from you! Take care, Laura
Subj: your web site Date: 96-09-11 21:16:14 EDT To: Wes hiya guys! just wanted to let you know that i enjoyed your cool web site! especially since i found it by doing a search on sinusitis - i just love those shots of things that came out of the nose (i know - i've had some strange show up also!). i've had chronic sinus problems for years too - but they thought it was allergies, until they finally had me allergy tested - and came up negative. so, since i had the combination sinus/tonsil troubles the took out the tonsils last september - that was bloody awful! one of the worse experiences in my life. it did help prevent any super sore throats from recurring. but this past year the sinuses stayed infected - took lots of antibiotics - nothing worked. So, in two weeks i get my first experience with endoscopic sinus surgery. Wish me luck! Oh, I happen to be Gay also - I just loved the story about how you two courted! Good luck together! Huggers, Ken (and my partner Dan - who will have film in his camera to take some sinus stuff shots - tee-hee!)
Subj: Re: "The server does not have a DNS entry" Date: 96-09-02 22:31:12 EDT To: Wes (Wes) Dear Wes and Tom, Thanks for your note! Hmmm... I checked that link and it works for me. I get that message occasionally, too, and I think that either the site's server is down at the time or there's some break in the network somewhere and you just can't get from Point A to Point B at that moment. I actually read almost ALL of the "Priscilla Letters." Whew! I'm sorry you've had to put up with so much crap. My compliments for attempting to deal with her on a positive, factual basis. I think your 25-page letter responding to her letters is the most thoroughly researched and complete piece of work to refute all the myths and lies being perpetrated against homosexuality I've ever seen. Thanks for the link to our page. I'll add a link to yours in the hope that others can benefit from your writings and learn from your struggles. Hugs and best wishes,
Subj: Hello Wes and Tom Date: 96-09-02 14:55:40 EDT To: TopDadTX Hey guys, I read a bit of your page and I want to congratulate you.. IT ROCKS! I had a page up earlier this year also, basically it was about me, a 21 year old schmo who has been HIV positive for at least 10 years... Yup, I'm one of those 'bleeders'.. :o) Right now, I'm the current Poz.com web editor, and I'm trying to get our site out there to the masses.. I was hoping that you could link us up. *PLEAAAAAASE?* I'm shameless. : ) Take care, and keep up the fabulous work.
Subj: Commenting from file Date: 96-09-01 22:13:58 EDT To: Wes Subject: Links for a class online Hi Tom & Wes! I have enjoyed your site. I am a Nurse Practitioner with the Virginia Comonwealth University HIV/AIDS Center - so I teach medical-type folks about HIV, and also care for HIV positive folks in the clinic at the Medical College of Virginia. My coworker ___ and I are teaching a mini-class on Issues in the Age of AIDS (It is supposed to be a global look at lots of issues) and VCU is also beta testing their "Web Course in a Box" technology this semester. I only became internet-literate last November so jumped at the chance to try out this approach to a class. Your site is provided as a link for my students to check out a uniquely personal view to living with HIV. LOVE the stuff from your nose WES! Only a frustrated microbiologist could say that, I know. Also, the letter wars were hilarious (not while you were in the midst of it, I am sure) and reminiscent of my Aunt Mary, bless her annoying controlling and prejudoced soul. You don't have to be gay to suffer the slings and arrows of those pesky relatives - someone who is determined to make everyone else as miserable as she is WILL Find a way! THANK YOU for a great addition to the web - I will be checking in to see how those viral loads are doing! Best Wishes -
Subj: Note from a new friend Date: 96-09-01 16:33:54 EDT To: Wes Dear Wes and Tom: I just spent nearly two and a half hours reading every link on your homepage! I found it when I was reading Steve Schalchlin's guest book pages. Seems I've know both of you for years and years and years. And would like to know you for years and years and years in the future. Me? I'll be sixty years old (How the hell is that _possible??_) two weeks from Wednesday. Born in ______, Texas, 'way back in 1936. Attended public schools in ___________. I've worked in radio, TV, advertising and PR for more than 45 years now. Started out as an usher at the local movie theater, did about three-four years making popcorn and hot dogs in the concession stand at a drive-in movie and finally got into radio my sophomore year in highschool, graduating to TV five years later. It's been a pretty good living. I've been gay as long as I can remember, thanks in part to an older cousin who came to live with us when I was ll and just awakening sexually. We shared a bed and I got him off every night for two years. By that time, I was hooked. Wes, I'm going to withhold comment about what I perceive as the very unChristian "Christian" attitudes of Aunt Priscilla and her daughters. *Whew* If you haven't already done so, read the sermon linked to Steve's site at http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/1173/gaysermon.html. It would really infuriate Aunt Priscilla! You guys have both my sympathy - for having to deal with AIDS and that unbelievable family! - and my admiration - you have someting very special and very precious in your love for one another. As I enter my declining years, my one true regret is that I face them alone, with just my dogs as companions. Fortunately, I have had a lifetime of being alone to prepare for relying only on myself. But I really would like to have another man around the house and in my bed. (I like to cuddle, too.) I plan to go to Los Angeles on October first to see Steve's one-time-only performance at Rusty's Surf Ranch. My nephew, Steve and his lover, Phillip, another friend from Midland and I went out in July to see the workshop performance of "The Last Session." I laughed and I cried. Steve and Jimmy have become very close. Don't know if you keep up with Steve's daily diary entries. He has mentioned another young man, about 29, who has AIDS. His name is ______ in San Francisco. _____@aol.com. Steve says he has tattooes all over his body and plays in a new wave alternative band called (I think) "Holy Joe." I sent Billy a little note of encouragement about fighting the illness. Maybe you could, too. If the opportunity ever presents itself, I would really enjoy meeting you guys. If it doesn't, I hope we can become cyberpals. Of course, if you find yourselves anywhere near me in ________, I'll be the best damned tour guide you've ever seen! Take very good care of one another. You are important to an old man out (but not very) in the West Texas town of El Paso. Warmest regards,
Subj: sweet Date: 96-08-30 21:17:47 EDT To: Wes Hi....I went through your home page and I especially liked the story about your first date....it was so romantic...How I wish I could do that...But I can't,cos I'm living in Singapore and it would take me about five seconds to get arrested after I went around proclaiming I was gay..!Sad,but unfortunately true...... Anyway...my name is _____ and I'm 17 years old....bit young,izzn't it??*grin*...You two seem like really really nice guys and I was wondering if we could correspond.... So....could we?? Gotta go now.... bye................... :)
Subj: Great story Date: 96-08-28 08:44:50 EDT To: Wes I am in the middle of reading your pages and story.... they are wonderful... you are both sepcial people.... I hope your story can change the lives of others and bring understanding to many, many people :) I have a red ribon... to go on my page with the next up date... I was telling a friend and she gave me your site... I would love to get a link to your page and when I have I will let you know. All the best and lots of love
Subj: your cool site :) Date: 96-08-25 16:11:37 EDT To: Wes Hi Wes and Tom That sure is a cool site...its 4am and its my birthday and i have to get up in a few hours, but i just had to read all the letters.... i can see why the family didnt want them up there (they don't come up that good do they?), but i can also see the educational value of having them there. and the lawyer was right... you argue brilliantly! Thanks for sharing your intimate stuff with the world... i hope it makes it a smaller, friendlier place. by the way (and you computer types probably already know this and dont care...) there is a cool thing on the net where you can get your .gifs transparent-ised... its really easy... i just thought that beautiful pen would look better out of its white box... the url is: http://fsinfo.cs.uni-sb.de/~leo/apparatus.html you just type in the url of the page where the .gif is... but put the name of the .gif file at the end, instead of the name of the page. the rest is self explanatory... Now tell me you knew that stuff and you like white boxes.. :) oh well
Subj: Greetings From Florida Date: 96-08-25 19:23:25 EDT To: Wes Dear Tom and Wes, Just came across your web page via "new" at Yahoo. It is very nice to read about other couples! I live with my lover in the greater Tampa Bay area with 3 cats, lots of friends, and a supporting family. I also spend free time on the computer/surfing around (we are an IBM-Mac family). Best of luck with your medical trials. My best friend in Louisville is just getting started with his medications and dealings with the doctors (and the pile of medical bills, he tells me!) nathan
Subj: The Letters Date: 96-08-16 23:28:50 EDT To: TopDadTX Dear Wes and Tom, I just read your letters. My boyfriend brought them home from work where he had the time to read them ALL. I 'm glad to see he works so hard. I just wanted to let you know how glad I am that you decided share these letters. I don't know how much feedback you get regarding them, but I wish more people would read them. As a Case Manager at _________ in NYC I work with our kids every day and see what families do to them. I specifically work with kids when they run away or get thrown out of their homes. I can't tell you (and don't have to tell you) how universal those letters are even tough they happened specifically to you. I just thought it necessary to tell you. Thanks,
Subj: The Pricilla Letters Date: 96-08-10 00:54:46 EDT To: Wes Wes & Tom, I just spent several hours reading the pricilla letters and I was truly riveted! I can see the pain and discomfort that the event caused both of you and all of wes' family. ^Thank you for posting them, they were very interesting. BTW, I am on your side, and am gay myself. "Stand Up and Fight Back!"
Subj: Nice WWW site. Date: 96-08-05 14:05:56 EDT Sender: btf@t10.lanl.gov To: Wes Wes and Tom, EXCELLENT WWW pages. You are telling part of a story that needs to be told. Have you seen the "Diary of Steve Schalchlin Home Page" at: http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/1173/diary.html It is also very good. I am sorry that your correspondence with you aunt and others in your family has done little to bring understanding. I have made similar attempts to get similar people to understand a different issue: evolution (vs. creation in 7 24 hour days). People confuse "faith" with "truth". Just because you or your minister believes something, does not make it "true". But these people will never let go of their faith, even in one small area. They do not want to think for themselves, they want to be told what is "right" and then follow that teaching religiously. Steve had some of his diary entries on the WWW, (see: http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/1173/storysofar.html ) that dealt with e-mail to and from religious right people. I thought he had some great insights. Mt impression from this "family feud" part of your WWW site is that you are not angry or bitter toward your aunt or others, but frustrated that they do not even try to listen to you, and amused or perplexed that such people are totally inflexible. Anyway, keep up the good work. I wish you the best in your future.
Subj: Thanks for your interesting web page Date: 96-08-06 00:20:00 EDT To: Wes Hi Wes and Tom, Thanks Wes for sharing your decision logic re change of meds. Although many of the details are specific to your case, I found your general approach to be real sensible. Congrats on the zero PCR: I bet it feels good to get a test like that back. I'm going through a similar decision (my first "switch") this week - currently AZT+3CT considering adding nevirapine or delavirdine into the cocktail, trying to save the protease for later. Your explanation of your logic helped reinforce my faith in my own logic. Thanks again for the site. Hope you both stay healthy. Cheers, ______ Key West
Subj: Bravo! Date: 96-08-04 07:07:09 EDT To: Wes A thoroughly enjoyable read. I picked up your link from the sci.med.aids news group. I am impressed. It would take too long to cover all the bible quotes mentioned but I would like to mention two things: 1) apparently your aunt (and others) can't see the forest for the trees. They get hung up in specifics. They miss the whole point of Christ's teachings --- LOVE --- unconditional love. 2) you might have your aunt read Romans 14:14. (I think a lot of people think we "choose" to be gay.) I am in the process of defining my beliefs into one I feel comfortable with. I just get upset with the religious right trying to push *their* beliefs as being those of GOD. A lot of evil (the Inquisition, etc.) has been done in the name of Christianity. Keep up your good work. I admire your courage.
Subj: Banning Straight Marriage Date: 96-08-04 12:02:19 EDT To: TopDadTX I just had one more thought. You probably heard about congress voting to not require states to recognize gay marriages fom other states. I'm sure that Priscilla feels good about that. But you might point out to her, if she ever brings it up, that straight marriages are not recognized in heaven. Refer her to the words of Jesus, in Luke 20:28-36. It is clear that Jesus recognized marriage as an institution for this world only. And the main purpose of marriage was to provide companionship for men. Afterall, in Genesis 3:18-25, God at first provided animals for Adam's companionship. When God saw that he was still lonely, He created a woman. So, when the pseudo-Christians go foaming at the mouth and saying "God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve, it is only truthful to remind them that in reality, by the Biblical record, in the beginning, God created Adam and Fido. Women were only an afterthought. If Priscilla's husband had done what God originally intended, he would have married a dog. Well, perhaps he wasn't far from the mark.
Subj: Web Page Date: 96-08-04 10:45:12 EDT To: TopDadTX Dear Wes & Tom, I just read your web page and found it immensely entertaining. Priscilla sure sounds like a hoot! I guess I can relate to both sides, since I was extremely self-righteous and spiritually superior eight years ago, before I found out I was HIV+ and before I would admit to anyone that I was a homosexual. I just think it is absurd for people in my church (Southern Baptist) to say that God wouldn't create a person with a homosexual orientation. If they really believe in original sin, that everyone is born with a sinful nature, then why is it worse for a person to be born with a homosexual orientation? Now, whenever I meet someone that attitude, I just tell them that I can't believe that God would allow a person to be born with a heterosexual nature. After all, Romans says that all of nature is fallen, and they say heterosexuality is natural. Therefore, its sinful. We should pray for Priscilla, that she will be able to control her natural proclivity to beat, molest, rape, and just have her way in general with anything that moves that is of the opposite sex. Anyway, have a good day!
Subj: letters on web page Date: 96-07-28 01:46:30 EDT To: Wes Hi, I recently ran across the correspondence that took place between you and your aunt. I would like to print them out and share them with a professor of mine at St. Cloud State University who teaches a human sexuality class. I am an AIDS educator and might be interested in using some of this material in my presentations. Please let me know if any of this would be ok with you. Thanks a zillion. I hope you are both well and enjoying life to the fullest. Sincerely,
Subj: Wes & Tom's Home Page Date: 96-07-26 23:58:57 EDT To: Wes Dear Wes & Tom, Reading the letters between you & Wes' relatives has made me feel such gratitude about my own family, who are Christian and conservative. They have loved me enough to struggle with their beliefs and to accept me as I am. Of course, we don't agree on everything political or spiritual. I'm sure that I'm the first Unitarian in the history of my family. But we have love for one another & that's what counts. Bless you for having the courage to tell this story. You are doing a wonderful thing to use your story to educate so many others. I hope that you are both feeling well today. You are in my prayers. Take care.
Subj: Test Date: 96-07-22 05:30:30 EDT Daniel and I have read most of your Aunt's letters. Pretty darn incredible. She's not exactly shy and retiring, now is she? I've loved your responses (so well researched, so well written) but I must say she doesn't seem deterred in the least. Of course, I'm sure you didn't expect her to be. Nonetheless, keep up the good work!
Subj: Letters Date: 96-07-20 14:51:27 EDT To: TopDadTX I've been reading your letters with much interest and amazement. I can't seem to locate letter 15. Did you know it was missing. Hope you and Tom are well,
Subj: priscilla Date: 96-07-16 13:47:58 EDT To: Wes Wes & Tom: Phew! I just got through reading (well, skimming mostly!) your "Priscilla Letters". I couldn't help but send you some email about them. You have been through a lot of crap, probably more than I could get through. I really admire your strength, but I feel saddened that your family was so split by their differences. I hope that things can be reconciled somewhat, but that can be a near impossible task. In a lot of ways, your family reminds me of mine. We are a mildly religious and deeply traditional bunch of people. When Christmas rolled around and my parents didn't invite my partner to our annual celebration, I wasn't surprised. I mostly dismissed it, but it really angered me, and I told my mother that next year it was either both of us or neither of us. Anyhow, I won't get into the gory details, as I'm sure you have many other things to worry about. I just wanted to say hi from someone who knows what it's like to have his partner excluded from family events. Hi :) By the way, I may send my parents a copy of your _very_ well-written letter combatting the misconceptions about homosexuality. They've said many things that show they are misinformed. Take care and God bless,
Subj: Re:Hysterical Date: 96-07-11 03:31:45 EDT To: Wes I was talking about the descriptions of the correspondence between you and your aunt--and the graphics which headed each letter. I'm enjoying the rest of the site as well. JH
Subj: Hysterical!!!!!!! Date: 96-07-11 02:48:17 EDT To: Wes Just wanted to let you know that your web site provided me with the most HYSTERICAL experience I've had in a long time. My girlfriend found it last night and insisted I access it too. Thanks for the laughs!
Subj: Your Homepage Date: 96-07-01 19:12:13 EDT To: Wes Dear Wes and Tom: May the peace of the Lord be with you in these trying times. Be assured that the love of God will be with you now and at the time of your deaths. I just got finished reading the letters on your homepage. It saddened me greatly. It was not the lack of understanding you family showed (they have the right to be ignorant), but the fact that they have ignored your illness. Unfortunaltely, you have been exposed to one of the most vicious diseases in the history of man, in both physical and social meaning. I also wrote in regards to the comments of biblical translation of the bible. I believe both sides in this issue are incorrect. The sins of Sodom are communal sins, it condemns the free sex and lust of the cities that arised from their rebellion against God. Paul is where the stickiness lies. I do not mean to offend your family, but the uncle who wrote the responce is in my opinion not educated enough to speak so authoritatively on the subject. Paul was preaching to the Romans and the Gentiles of the time. In the Pagan Roman society sex between men was condoned and not illegal for some. The free citizens of the empire, were just that free. They had no obligation to live up to the laws of the society, but only a duty to follow the rules of Caesar. When Paul is discussing homosexual acts, he is preaching against paganism. This is an area where the far right choose to ignore. Homosexuality is an imperfect state. It should not be held up as an example, nor should gays be persecuted. In fact, all humans are imperfect. This issue has seperated many families. I am sorry to see it happen. I will keep you in my prayers. Remember, God loves you. Pray for me, a sinner. _____, CJ
Subj: Too much to handle Date: 96-06-30 20:53:35 EDT To: Wes Hi guys! I just spent the last two hours reading your web site. It is so great that I am not sure that I can absorb all that is included. The aunt Priscilla letters were better than any soap opera on television. I am glad you decided to include it on your home page. What I would like to address is the Anatomy of the Drug Decision Process. My name is ___ and my partner is Rob (to be pronounced like Rob!). I am a French-Canadian living in Ottawa for the past 19 years. I am 36 going on 37 on July 10th. Rob is 33 and English-speaking though he is making leaps and bounds with his French. I was diagnosed with HIV in November 1986 and I am more alive than ever. My T-4s are at 18 yet I am not too sick. Last December, I was diagnosed with CMV in the stomach. I am now on Gancyclovir IV treatment 3 times a week. Side effects of this drug on me are non-existent (if you do not count having to go to the hospital 3 times a week!). I also have KS. It started in the mouth and I had to get radiation treatment. Not a pleasant endeavour. They have to make a mask of your face and then bolt you to a table so you do not move while the radiation does its thing. I have one KS lesion on the neck which I can easily live with. Rob and I are going to Europe to visit friends in London, Brussels, Copenhagen and Berlin from July 17th to August 16th. We also decided to take a tour of France to discover parts of the country I have not visited yet. I have learned how to give myself the IV treatment and have made arrangements with an hospital in Antwerpen so I can continue my Gancyclovir treatments. It is somewhat risky to undertake such a trip but I am confident that everything will go well. I was offered to start on one of two drugs: Indinavir or Ritonavir. After careful consideration of the two, I have decided to elect for Ritonavir. Reasons for decision (given information I have collected) Indinavir must be taken every 8 hours. Given that I sleep most of the time for more than 8 hours, this would be an inconvenience. Having a timer to take the drug is not appealing as it is a constant reminder of my having AIDS. Being sloppy with this drug is the worst thing one can do as the virus can become resistent to the drug. Indinavir can cause jaundice and kidney stones. Neither of these are appealing to me. Negative sides to Ritonavir Medication must be refrigerated. This is not so good when you have to go away from home. The first two weeks can be hell with nausea and diarrhea. Even with its negative side effects I am opting for Ritonavir. I will have to wait until I come back from Europe before I start as I do not wish to be sick out there. This decision was made with the information I have in my possession. Can you help me with any erroneous information or advice. This is all for now. I do not know you I love you already. _____ If you reply, I might send you a picture of us with our dog Ifor. (There has to be some incentive).
Subj: Yo! Date: 96-06-26 23:26:55 EDT To: TopDadTX Well, I've read several of the letters, but not all. I have a couple of questions, which may have been addressed, but.... 1. Your aunt invited you but not your lover and then went on to talk about not exposing (gasp!) "the children" to "your lifestyle". Did she ever explain why your attendance would not expose those children? Did she think you alone wouldn't present a threat to those children? 2. If Priscilla was seriously concerned about a potential health problem, why would your presence alone not expose the other attendees? 3. How does having someone into your home imply that you approve of their lifestyle, etc? What church does this woman attend...and does she only associate with people of her faith? 4. Does your aunt make prospective guests fill out a questionnaire prior to inviting them to her house to ensure that she's not approving of some activity or belief they may subscribe to?
Subj: *.* Date: 96-06-26 16:06:58 EDT To: Wes WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the letters are to much......your aunt ain't got a clue.i guess we're supposed to die QUIETLY............sorry!!!!!...enough of that. your page is now in the bookmarks.so much to explore. tom,you got guts doing that aids vaccine study....go for it. see ya.
(From a friend who didn't see me at a local restaurant.) Subj: Re: Vouz! Date: 96-06-18 18:52:33 EDT To: TopDadTX Well Doggone! Missed another opportunity to see you when I was leaving Baba Yega's? Aw shucks.... you should have hollered louder. After all, TopDad, you ought to have some growl in that there holler! I've been reading your family letters- little did I realize that I'd actually, for the first time in two years, exceed my 4 or 5 free hours here. I've never exceeded whatever is free, my monthly bill is always $9.95, but I seem to have finally found something interesting. I'm sure you don't mind that I'm passing the page address around to absolutely EVERYONE I know. I'm entertained, pissed off, angry, entertained again, and damn if I don't get pissed off again. I start on letter 14 today. Got eye-strain yesterday and had to finally stop. Read some in the afternoon and some in the evening. Back today to possibly finish. Great page, Sir! Huggs and Swats- ____
Subj: From an inquisitive stranger... Date: 96-06-18 03:47:20 EDT To: Wes Wes & Tom - Hi there. My name's ____, and I've started reading your family letters on your fantastic homepage -- it's now 3:30 am, I have to go home to get some sleep, but I'm eagerly awaiting coming back to this lovely University of Michigan computing site later this week to continue reading them. I can already tell that I'm going to have some specific questions that I'd love to ask you -- for my own personal growth & education. Though I'm a total stranger who's just happening to e-mail you, when I finish the letters, if I write some basic questions (I don't plan to invade your privacy, I'll just be looking for some general opinions), might you respond and answer them? It looks like your homepage is very up-to-date, so I assume y'all are online pretty often. E-mail me at: _____ and let me know how you'd feel about commenting on some of the issues and situations raised in your letters. I'd gladly give you my stats if you'd like them (i.e. sexual orientation, race, age, religion, politial feelings, etc.), but I'd prefer to not share that stuff, in the hopes of honest, unbiased, and bold opinions from your end. Your thoughts?
Subj: Hello Wes & Tom Date: 96-06-12 22:50:28 EDT To: Wes Hello Wes & Tom from Wes & Eric in New Orleans. Just wanted to drop a line to say that I (Wes) loved your page (except for the things that came out of Wes's nose!!!) I will say that your senses of humor are great. If you have a chance, stop by and visit my homepage _______, Catch ya around! Wes
Subj: hello from montana Date: 96-06-12 18:39:40 EDT To: Wes Crazy, man I stumbled onto your home page. Most interesting reading I've done to date on the Internet. I appreciate your candor with the T-cell charts, too. You have created a truly serious, yet humorous and interesting, website. (Sorry for using the word "interesting" twice.) I'll be back. I'll say a prayer for you guys.
Subj: (search engine) Addition Date: 96-05-24 23:55:23 EDT To: Wes Hi Wes & Tom - I reviewed your site today for submission into ____, and placed it under the category you requested. Speaking not as an employee of ____, but as a gay person, I wanted to tell you that I really was impressed by your web site, especially the family letters. A lot of what I read in there echoed things in my own life. I just wanted to wish you two the best and I hope that things get smoothed out in your family! Take care, ______ San Francisco, CA
Subj: Hi Guys! Date: 96-05-10 17:46:28 EDT To: Wes I really like your home page! I am fairly new on the internet (three weeks). I've just developed my first hompage, and after seeing yours, well, I'm embarrassed that mine is so fucking plain! I, too, live in Houston with my companion of 11 years, Stephen. We live in Southeast Houston, near Hobby Airport, in a neighborhood called Park Place. (There are several gay couples in our little enclave of homes) We have three dogs, Big Shot, Easton, and Maggie. I guess I'll need to buy one of those "kits" to develope a better looking homepage, but, if you care to see what I've got so far, the URL is ___. Anyway, I enjoyed looking at your page! BIG HUGS! MG
Subj: No Subject Date: 96-04-20 16:25:54 EDT To: Wes Hi guys! Arbitrarily ran across your page. I know it's totally disgusting, but I am giggling beyond the point of tears! And I though I had it rough with my hubby's southern family ties!!! At least count yourselves lucky that your family is LITERATE! I would love a few letters calling me a northern slut or Yankee douchebag instead of those late-at-night phone calls with the pigs squealling at me. Gonna settle down and read all the letters off-line (so's I can get some friends to drop in at your site and not "hog" up your wonderful page) and hope I don't bust something laughing in the process. (Should something indeed burst and i need surgery, I'll send photo updates. Hey! I looked at YOURS!) Great set-up on the page. I know all this crap's gotta rub a hurt into you both that doesn't go away, but with the kind of outlook you guys have, there is hope that the "Aunt Pricilla's" & like of this world will either go the way of the dinosaurs or get terminal writer's cramp and shut the hell up. Keep up the cheer! It sure as hell makes the world a less depressing place for the rest of us who THOUGHT we had it rough. Love & laughs to you both,
Subj: Thank You Date: 96-04-20 15:40:07 EDT To: Wes Dear Wes and Tom, I don't remember how I stumbled onto you site. All I know is that I have spent the last twelve hours, with a little sleep and a snack, reading every word of every section. I have laughed, and wondered, and cried...alot. And after it all, my heart hurts. I have no right to ask anything of you, my being a total stranger, but I will anyway. I'm kinda like that. :) I would ask for a reply to this. I just need to know that you are both there, just for today. I won't ask again. A bit about me. I'm a 42 year old woman. I'm not homosexual, but through my life I have had good friends, men and women, who are. Growing up shy and introverted in the extreme, I watched the world around me, seldom taking part but sort of being swept along through life, until I found help in my thirties. What I did do, during that time, was learn to accept my difference. In doing that, I believe I learned to accept people in all the varying and rich hues of humanity. I learn more about acceptence every day. I began my reading marathon with 'The Letters'. I marched through the entire gamet of feelings.....anger at your Aunt....disdain for the so-called godly sound of your entire family.....even through the beginnings of thinking you had gone too far in placing all of it on the Net. Then it bagan to seep into my emotions one consistant thread that ran through every letter. No matter how clipped and empirical-sounding the Aunt....no matter that some felt they were caught in the middle of something ugly......no matter the sadness at the rift....ALL the letters contained words of love and caring. It doesn't matter if the words were meant or not. They were said, as if there was a certain familial line that would never be crossed. At that point I was astounded. No longer hurt and angry for you, I sat and thought for a long time. I do that alot, hence the screen name. I have watched family dynamics, through friends, before. It has always amazed me that my friend can argue with her sister on the phone, but then go spend hours shopping for exactly the right Christmas gift for her. My own family is 'broken' in that area of acceptence. I grew up thinking it was normal for family members to argue and then not speak or meet for decades. Yes, decades. When I grew up and learned the truth I tried to 'fix' them.....tried to gather them together through letters. It was too late in coming and I couldn't do it alone. Still, I watch the families I know. I have learned from them the precious qualities of forgiveness and communication. And for me, my son and his wife, her family, and my new grandson begins a generation that will be able to disagree and continue to love. The Letters that you published are important, not only in the factual information that you gave, not just because you, with many other good writers, bring to the forefront the issues of family and sexuality, but because there is the subtle lesson.....the connecting thread of love and caring for humanity. Of course after that revelation, I read your 'What comes out of Wes's nose' link! Greeeaaaaatttt Actually, I studied it rather closely, comparing it to what used to come out of mine before I had MY sinus surgery. lololol After that, I ambled quietly through the friends you have lost, remembering the loss of my own friend to AIDS. That was a difficult link to get through, yet each person there deserves the right to touch a heart. It cannot be scrolled through quickly. When I was finished reading, I realized I was looking frantically for recent update, dates. Suddenly I needed to know you were still there, still writing, hopefully still planning outings with Tom. The only reference I found was the date of your friend, Bil's death. I could not mark your continuing life with his passing, so I decided to write. And so, my request of a short reply. Not knowing your health at this point, I feel very forward asking this and if you don't respond, that's fine too. I will at least have let you know that there is one more person in this world who cares. Thank you for being. Take care of one another.
Subj: Home Page Date: 96-04-18 00:56:12 EDT To: Wes LOVED the home page, especially the letters!! There is a lot of creativity on the web, but your page is really different!! Nice picture too... At the risk to telling you we are in Utah......visit us at _____.
Subj: WWW Home Page Date: 96-04-18 16:20:22 EDT To: Wes Hi Wes and Tom, Just read about your home page on one of the AIDS echo areas and thought I'd check it out. It's funny. I wish I knew how to do some of those home pagers, but alas, I'm pretty much of a computer idiot - I can't even figure out how to make my Procomm Plus 2.11 print anything out! Oh well - just wanted to let you know I enjoyed your story.

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