travlbug

Ah, April, why play so hard to get? Jett may say that he's straight, but actions speak louder than words (and you definitely need more action, so say the word! 😂). Fulfill your teenage fantasy! Maybe if you knew that he's trying to protect you, you'd feel differently. (I'm biting my nails over what's going to happen when the real villains come looking for April. )

No doubt, the chemistry is there between Callan and Chris. However, I love that they are trying to find shared interests. Clearly, they both love music, and Callan wants to share a day in the desert with Chris. Ulterior motives, maybe, but Callan also wants Chris to see what he does--what he enjoys doing--in his chosen field. Another step forward in their fledgling relationship! 😊 Happy travels. Arran. Enjoy!

A neat take on where elves come from! The recruiter elf was sneaky: If Chad were tricked into volunteering, then is he really volunteering? The North Pole reminds me of the chaos/confusion of Wonderland, and I'm particularly looking forward to seeing how the time anomalies are explained. As for Santa? Right now, he's on my naughty list!

You know, Carlos, you can interpret this statement in more than one way. 🤔 😂😂😂

No future together? Bliss and Chipper don't even have a "present." (Yes, they had a one-night stand, but didn't Bliss, almost immediately thereafter, abandon Chipper to leave a party with a hunk who was definitely not Chipper? Didn't Chipper subsequently cavort in the shower with his gay playmates?) Sorry, Bliss, I don't see Chipper (or you, for that matter), in agony over your self-important announcement. (What a diva! 🙄)

Both men are being tactical in advancing their relationship. Chris baits the hook with his hot body, but Callan manipulates Chris into driving him home. Good thing they both share the same motive! (I like that the chapter brings out the difficulty in knowing if your dating prospect is truly gay. Callan's approach--to ask Chris if his display is for Callan's benefit--actually puts the onus on Chris to come out first. At least, the question is raised, but I would have preferred that Callan had been a bit braver about it. Their fledgling relationship can now proceed, as Chris is willing to chance the truth.)

Carlos, you shorted us a word. I am not a forgiving man. 😂😂😂 Dedicating his performance to the men and women of the armed forces was actually a gutsy thing for Chipper to do: If not emoted with complete sincerity, his announcement could have been viewed as a self-serving vote grab. Instead, he put his soul into it, and I think the announcement will serve him well. Yes, Bliss, thank you for reminding us that you're an obstacle. I'll keep that in mind while Chipper wipes the floor with you. (Bring a nice change of clothes. )

Maybe Callan took the wrong major! Neat to see him secretly serenading Chris in public. (We all know whom he's playing to!)

A lovely meeting between two personable young men. I love Callan's Holmes-like deductions about Chris and his ability to pursue his interest in a charming way. (Perhaps it's the age difference, providing for more maturity and experience, but Callan has confidence in what he wants and the knowledge as to how to go about getting it.) Chris is clearly interested but just how interested? Both are men with drive, and I love that both have vision and a willingness to work for their futures: I can't help but feel that they would be good for each other. 😊

It's been years since I called a woman "Ma'am": The last time I did so (in the Los Angeles area), the woman corrected me immediately, saying that "ma'am" stands for "madam" and that she did not run a house of ill repute! Funny enough, this was actually the second time a woman told me the same thing, and I decided not to risk a third! I still call older men "sir" but it sounds distinctly weird when applied to myself.

"I made the right decision, didn’t I?" Artie's clearly questioning his own decisions regarding Ezra, so not all hope is lost that he'll come to his senses. I'm glad that even Artie sees the disconnect between Ezra's words and actions when it comes to Adam. I'm also not thrilled with Ezra's dictatorial view toward Artie. First, he calls Artie "Arthur," showing a disregard for Artie's preference and a distinct lack of true affection. (You'd never catch Artie calling Adam "sir," at least at this point in their relationship, but he doesn't seem to realize that he's taken a subservient role to Ezra.) Second, Ezra doesn't ask Artie what he wants to do, he tells him that they're going to play baseball, no to have fun or to bond, but to correct Artie's deficiencies. (I can't wait to see what deficiencies Ezra will want to correct next, but I have a feeling that he will ultimately push Artie too far.) It's easy to forget Artie's spiritual side--he was brought up to be a "God-fearing" boy--but he doesn't get that much validation for this side of his character from Adam, Dizzy, or Mason. I wonder if part of his attraction to Ezra is in fact due to Ezra's veneer of piety. That said, I hope that Artie finally realizes that his God and Ezra's are not the same.

"But to be honest, I’m not sure I want to win.” Chipper, do you have a screw loose? I can't wait to hear your justification for this preposterous statement (which is a mini cliffhanger all by itself!). Maybe Adam can slap you silly and you'll come to your senses!

"Not only are you a threat to everyone else’s team, but did you have to go with a darn California boy?” Well, yeah. 😂😂😂 Ah, Chipper, you can also play piano! My respect for you as an artist has just increased a notch. (I also like the way that @Carlos Hazday shows that Chipper is improving with time--that his talent/ability is not simply static but growing!)

Ezra is a pompous, judgmental ass. It bothers me that Ezra's self-righteous narrow-mindedness is interpreted by Artie as if he "sounds so well spoken and smart most of the time." Instead of repudiating Ezra's warped views, Artie forgives him for having them: "He's passionate about his interests and stern about his beliefs, can I really blame him for that?" Rather, Artie is trying to make Ezra into a shining example--"exactly what I imagined my father to be like." Basically, Artie is deluding himself because of his understandable desire to have the father of his dreams. That said, he is still cognizant that Ezra abandoned him and that his mother wanted nothing to do with him. Further, he is keenly aware that Adam dislikes him and that Sadie is so distrustful of him that she compares him to the devil. In blunt terms, Sadie reminds Artie how much better off he is in California than he was in Texas (where Ezra's views hold sway). Sadly, Artie has a lot to lose if he allows his emotions about Ezra (which aren't even based on reality) to trump his logic and common sense. I'm fearful as to what it might take to make Artie accept the truth about Ezra--to let go of his childhood dream of the perfect father: I just hope that, when the time comes, the damage to Artie and his loved ones will not be too severe.

Raw emotion--raw need--poignantly portrayed. Well done!

Yay, mom came around--and fairly quickly, too. (I'm a bit surprised at how tentative Jeremy is acting about her apology, especially with Alex pointing out that it's a good sign. Perhaps we'll hear more on this topic later.) I love that Alex finally agrees to seek help, not simply on his own account, but for Jeremy's sake. (Some people will do things for others that they would never do just for themselves. Love can be a potent motivator! 💖)

Chipper's situation has allowed the FBI to do a thorough search of Nalbo's papers. Anyone want to take odds that the FBI will find enough material to nail Nalbo to the wall a dozen times over, even if nothing is found about Chipper himself? In the parlance, Nalbo is "screwed." 😁

Smart of Chipper to go to Ethan for advice, and smart of Ethan to suggest a lawyer. The pictures and the blackmail attempt represent two specific crimes, and the evidence is in Chipper's hands. The situation looks worse for Greg than for Chipper. From here on in, Chipper should have nothing to do with Greg and let the lawyer handle him.

Kohen knows Everett's love for him is real because they were previously bonded--he experienced it. If the Captain has made mistakes, they have been made out of love. (Lakshou's motivation was completely different, so I can't see why Kohen compares the Captain to Lakshou simply because they were both keeping secrets.) Hopefully, Kohen has realized the folly of his syllogistic thinking before it's too late.

“Dude, what decade you living in? Haven’t you noticed longer hair, full beards, and hairy chests are in for my generation?” I have noticed that many millenials wear beards and mustaches (very silly looking if you have a baby face), but I disagree about the hairy chests: At the gym, I see these same people with hairy faces using their razors to remove arm and chest hair, and it looks very weird to me (not that I'm looking all that closely, mind you.... ). Interesting how tactical Adam and Chipper become about the contest, but their reasoning to grab the audience with a stunning opener makes perfect sense. The Justin Timberlake music video is fun to watch, and it just goes to show how the visuals can enhance a song. (I love where JT sings into a banana as if it were a microphone!) The visuals add to the overall energy of the piece, and I love that Adam and Chipper capitalize on this knowledge to create a dazzling performance for the television camera.

Yes, Greg is sleazy, but he's an equal-opportunity sleaze. So, Bliss sees a hunky Black stuntman, and she leaves with him--so much for a deeper relationship with Chipper. (I can hear Bob Seger singing, "I used her, she used me. But neither one cared. We were gettin' our share.") I love the word frolicked, and frolicked plus naked seem to go well together. At least, they do when Zion, Bryce, and Chipper do the frolicking!

Love the cross reference to KADA! But watching European soccer rather than NFL football is un American--literally! Here in California, anyway, we're much more likely to watch Central and South American soccer than the European! I love the scene where Jeremy and Alex are being domestic, sitting in the kitchen surrounded by cookies. So cute! Way to go, Liz! Even if Alex gives Jeremy nothing more than moral support, he's better off than if he were to start gambling again, no matter what the excuse.

Hmmm. Even Jordan's wolf doesn't want Damian to leave. 😊 “If you stay, you can read all my books,” [Jordan] offered. Gets them every time! (I love people who love books!) “Why do you hide who you are?” Jordan asked.... Well, Jordan, we can ask you the same thing. The Neko is obviously a Neko, and you can pass, but you both need to accept yourselves, otherwise how can you expect the rest of the world to accept you? (Jordan's situation is worse, as he is a self hater. 😥) “If you ever want to talk about it, I’ll listen,” Damian offered. Well, Jordan, you may not want to share your troubles with Damian...now...but you're both lonely souls who can be good for each other (and maybe even more 🥰).

Chipper's offer to Aslan is quite generous: He's giving of his time, his resources, and (most importantly) himself. This goes beyond "paying it forward" and will probably result in Chipper gaining another friend for life. (I'll be interested to see how a boy from N̶a̶r̶n̶i̶a̶ Hawaii reacts to Manhattan!) I can't remember the last time I heard We Ho called West Hollywood, and Santa Monica Boulevard goes right through We Ho in one of So Cal's most famous gay enclaves. Sadly, my favorite bookstores (such as A Different Light) have folded, and I miss the author signings by fantastic gay writers. At least, the bars are still there (surprise!), and my favorite gay restaurant, Cafe D'Etoile, still proudly fronts Santa Monica Boulevard after several decades (not to give away my age.... ).

“Goodnight,” Jordan yawned. “Goodnight,” Damian smiled. For once, someone is trying to help Damian from the goodness of his heart, with no ulterior motive--and he just happens to be a wolf. Damian hasn't had much to smile about lately, but he does now. 😊 Also, kudos to Jordan for coming out as a wolf, even if Damian was already aware: It takes courage to reveal oneself, whether to a single person or to the world, and Jordan proves his willingness to start their friendship with no lies between them.