Canuk

A truly great Canadian. He is the proof that one person can make a difference, and a difference for the better, in a complex modern democracy.

There, J, you hit the nail on the head: your happiness. I am so sure this is, has been, and will be Mark's one aim in life!!

two ex's: one, mother of my two boys. 10 years of hell, then the councelling kicked in and she's fine with me and my partner. second: a bastard of the first order: a year or so after we'd split his new best friend rang to tell me that my ex had died. I was shocked and up set. when I called back to get details of funeral etc- he laughed and said to my ex that "I'd fallen for it"...... I am not sure I have ever been so angry..... really glad-we-have-gun-control angry.....

Great beginning and any character that reads P&P will have my interest immediately!! I agree with Cia - the flow was a bit off - the build-up, the shower, the noise the discovery and phone call were great, then the note, and your main character isn't talking until second week..... IMVHO, instead of leaping forward to school, perhaps he could have returned to what you had already mentioned - the moment he put the shampoo in his hair..... his, in effect, "last peaceful moment. the angst tho' is good, and the resolution of this over his school year should be interesting..... Congrats!

????? what's the equivalent of speechless and gobsmacked when you are trying to think of a typed response?????

the two things that stand out from the responses that never apply to me are the "lock the door" (who's going to come in that I don't know?) and "collect/dump the mail" - all my bills etc arrive with my email.... so it's only the junk that arrives in the box and that gets claned out ~weekly. the dump the clothes works - I bought these great "fisherman's pants" at the Mindil beach markets.... but the primary task on getting home is making sure the b/f is happy

I played Travian (does this count?) for ages - until my partner gave me a choice - him or Travian. At that point I realised I had a problem.... so I gave up!

Winkler is turning into the Google of the 18th/19th centuries! what he doesn't know hasn't yet been captured! and that last para or two..... well that certainly stopped me with a crash. But the letter - what an opportunity!! congrats again!

MMike1969....the rich are different to you and I......

could you enlighten an Australian by expanding on "happy frat boy" - would I like one???

and if the Jesuits there are anything like the Jesuits here, if (IMHO) he can escape the religious aspect, he'll get a bloody good education.

you write the scariest prose. I dread to think where that mind of yours conjures up such succinct twistedness. Brillaint writing for the way you get such amazing emotions across in such few words. I am jusy SO glad school/college was not like this for me....!!

I really would like to know why Lady GaGa's Alejandro does it for me? it is SO unlike anything else I like, but I somehow really lose it whenever I hear it!!

this post is bloody hysterical!! I can see "Super Ham" broccoli in one paw, cheese in the other, pursuing the "magic Penis" killer!! ain't sanity overated!

I saw Shortbus in a cinema. After the show two groups walked out - those with huge smiles and those with their mouths open in shock!! Not the greatest movie - but ......different!

This boy is 14???? good god! I don't recall any 14 y o looking this good when I was at school.......

interesting. This period (2000-2005+) passed me by completely, musically. My boys were out of the house (so I didn't have to listen to their crap contemporary music) so untill I started listening to new stuff again later that decade the only thing I recall is the Kylie song and that only because I am Australian (yes, and Canadian too)

I think you are being a little harsh on MMIKE's comments. What I understood him to be saying is that Gathan had been through a lot of shit in the previous few weeks. Then with the Concorde incident he realises that he nearly lost the one thing that makes him happy/keeps him sane/provides a rock to which he can anchor himself, then Hendrickson's look to be taking it all away. So his response is not the level-headed reasoned response you'd have him deliver. Your "If Bob tells me I am a dick, I don't give Ralph attitude" works well, with no history. You add Gathan's history and suddenly the discussion with "Ralph" is not the level playing field you suggest. Particularly when "Ralph" has his own baggage. Based on my own experience the best thing to do with children/young adults where things have gone catastrophically wrong is to say nothing but sit and listen. You'd be amazed how often they will talk without prompting first defensively, then explaining, confessing and apologising - all without the "parent" saying anything !.

the "reunion" with his boat was quite emotional. Given what his Psych had said I was concerned about another panic attack..... Speaking of his Psych, he seemd to get a discount rate there for a non-resident!! I suppose very few non-residents actually turn up there, so the Dr. has never had to bill anyone other than something that ~equates to the Medicare scheduled fee!! over all, as KevinD said a satisfying chapter. One that rounds out the characters. Loved the reference to a kangaroo farm......

But detroit has a great airport and airport hotel! (Delta was suposed to fly us LAX-Toronto Canada, but ran out of fuel.....) Pity that the taxi driver we asked to take us for a drive to fill in the unexpected stopover said "No!, nothin' to see"

sorry but if I was choosing between a partner who offered me 500k cufflinks, holidays in exotic places and a sportscar VS the one who wanted to take me hiking in Yosemite..... yosemite-boy wouldn't even get a look-in!!! perhaps because I am closer to Brad's age (and intellectual depth?) than I am to Will......

For some reason both my boys (now 24 & 28) call me Dad to my face and "Father" on the phone. I have never quite worked out why and they can't / won't tell me. They both call my partner by his name. very early on the youngest wanted to know if my partner wanted to be called Daddy, my dear partner looked at me with such a horrified look on his face we all agreed that his name was just fine. While my partner loves the boys dearly, he admits that the responsibility of being a parent terrifies him still.

Bizarrely the quiz had me as a Fox. In Australia Foxes are vermin <sigh>

sorry - it posted twice...... (after a message that said I had posted too often and should wait!!!)

Coming a VERY close second to my wonderful partner, Simon Baker (Patrick Jane in "The Mentalist) is my idea of heaven!