Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 16:58:07 -0700 (PDT)
From: firehose Joe <firehosejoe@yahoo.com>
Subject: To Thine Ownself Be True: Reintroduction

Gentlemen, I've decided to resume the chapters of this extended story. If
you are new to the tale of Alejandro Algara and his friends, let me give
you a very short bit of background.

Alejandro (Alex to some of his friends), heir to a Chicago fortune, is a
bright and articulate businessman who in addition to running the family
business manages their foundation. He is a muscular, hairy guy who enjoys
wrestling and the inherent opportunities to explore physical and intimate
contact with other men. It also provides him an outlet for the tedium and
frustrations of his work and world.

The first chapter of To-Thine-Ownself-Be-True begins with his encounter in
mid-life with Steve Daniels, a high school wrestling coach. In subsequent
chapters the story uses a `flashback' literary device to give history and
to develop the central character, Alejandro Algara. Steve will reenter the
story as a significant character in subsequent chapters (in case you
readers who have been following the story have wondered).

The previous chapters trace Alejandro's roots, heritage, and youth. His
grandparents' ties to some of the great houses of Europe position the story
of wealth, heritage and expectation. Alejandro's experiences in college are
told with the help of his closest friend, Frederick, who with Mike, an
intervarsity wrestling Team Captain, helped Alejandro have his first sexual
encounters both on and off the wrestling mats. Alejandro's relationship
with Frederick is replete with wrestling action and sexual escapades
typical of horny, athletic college age men.

Frederick enables Alejandro to bridge the chasm of late adolescence secure
within a warm and loving family to being an orphan in his early 20's who
has to meet the challenges of managing a family business and fortune. Along
the way, various other characters help flesh out the story. Dr. Charles
Thibodaux, an Art Appreciation instructor, takes on a major roll as a
friend and intimate companion (not lover) for Alejandro.

Nicholas Santos (Nicco) is part owner of Bear's Den, a wrestling club for
men in the south side of Chicago. Along with Nicco and Liam, a burly Irish
construction supervisor, Alejandro learns the ropes of erotic wrestling
freed from the confines of collegiate rules.

These and other characters tell the story of Alejandro's grappling with his
challenges as a male who realizes he, alone, is responsible for blending
the various threads of his life, his passions and his drives. I invite you
to begin the story with chapter one. If you choose to begin here you will
meet Zach and be able to follow the story as Alejandro (Alex) grows,
continues to mature and make his own way in the world. Thanks for reading.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Thanks to Chael for his generous assistance in proofing and making
suggestions.  All comments are welcome and should be sent to
firehosejoe@yahoo.com