Carlos Hazday

I was asleep while you were reading. Like I'm certain you are right now. Some more of the rich and powerful trying to influence CJ's future coming up, but what those individuals don't realize is CJ will allow them to think they're manipulating (not the perfect word) him without realizing CJ will allow them to think that and use them for his own benefit. He and Owen are realizing sometimes they'll need to react to situations and change their approach. Owen in particular didn't want to deal with Spike, but he's the one who suggests they need to talk to him anyway. They'll get nudged in that direction anyway.

Being somewhat trendy Millennials, CJ and Ozzie favor blush wines during summer. I try to find interesting ones to use now and then, but some are out of my price range so I rely on tasting notes. There's a Beaujolais they'll buy for cellaring I'll mention in an upcoming story. The little side dramas, particularly the one involving the bride's father, will be part of the memories forever. Some other stuff, like Spike's private conversations, will not be public knowledge, but as you'll see in the next chapter will have long-lasting ramifications. A wedding coming up next chapter. Let's see how much I can cram in it.

I'm writing, I'm writing! LOL Thanks for the continued support; it's very much appreciated.

He may be realizing he can say what he wants softly while still being forceful and have more of an effect. It's the quiet ones we have to be afraid of, right? And you're correct, there are some basic values he lives by and will expect others to also.

You need to follow this forum thread. I post pictures of people and places now and then. One of our recent conversations was about whether Owen was big enough to play rugby.

Did I tell you I named her after my sister-in-law? She's one of the most liberal family members. LOL Your references to Lower Decks and Orville in another story, made me think of @buildercub Check the one story he posted that's been on hold forever. I think he was one of the first authors I tried to help. I'm gonna have to dig for his email so I can check on him.

Yeah, the trip to Cuba won't be published for a few months. Too much other stuff happening before they fly to Havana. It's always a struggle finding the right balance between action and words. I do try to employ dialogue to make the more sedate sections interesting, often by using humor. We'll see CJ and Owen get rambunctious again in the next chapter, but there will also be serious matters discussed. And a kilt may play a part in the events. LOL

The desire to bury opponents is something both major parties exhibit. Usually from those on the fringes. Pelosi was a dictator and McCarthy's going to be a puppet. Our politics have never been pure, but instead of trying to find common ground, these days politicians dig their heels and refuse to budge. CJ's my answer. He might be fictional and at times unrealistic, but I have to hope someone at least close to him in their approach shows up before I die.

The errors are likely the result of my tinkering after you and Wolf were done with the chapter. It's common but this one's been a headache. Hell, last night before going to bed, I remembered I wanted to change the chapter's last line. Since the entire story has been loaded into GA for a while, i went in and edited it this morning. The formatting was wrong when I made the change, and I had to do it 3 times total before I got it right. I really need to slow down when getting ready to publish stuff. I pay attention to current political events but not as closely as I once did. Some of the governmental stuff is left over from government courses in college, but I usually have to research to find exactly what I want to use. Marx's quotes and book were the result of a vague idea and googling stuff. And I do try not to complicate things too much, this is fiction I hope to entertain readers with and not a treatise by a PhD candidate. LOL

One thing I'm trying to establish is CJ's willingness to talk/work with people he doesn't entirely agree with. It's the mark of a truly great politician more interested in results than in getting reelected. If Tip O'Neill and Ronald Reagan were able to come together when it was important for the American public, why can't our current leaders do the same?

I can guarantee CJ will NOT embellish his resume. Hell, he may forget to include some things. CJ's politics and mine are not exactly the same, I think I'm a bit more liberal than he is. Because of hw I want him to come across, I've had him say and support some things I never would. As for our previous president, I do support some of what he espoused but it didn't move the needle with he. He's just a horrible human who should be locked away until he dies.

LOL - I think I'll have them keep borrowing the neighbors' catamaran instead of buying their own. Cheaper and easier. We'll find out why del Toro was so interested in his relationships with military personnel in the next chapter. I've enjoyed tracking your binge reading of the series, and I'm glad you're caught up so you feel comfortable commenting. However, you skipped a couple of short stories. You may want to check these out.

Just you wait until he and Owen sit down with Spike. We'll find out a bit more about Cuba. And of course, at some point we'll tag along when he goes exploring and day drinking in Havana.

Yep. Next chapter we'll see him deal with a military big shot, and Spike.

I get bored with stories that spend inordinate amounts of time exploring one topic, so I try to mix it up. Who says you can't discuss serious matters even when you're having a good time. And I hope you notice both Mr. Fanning and Ms. Parker, they sought him out. With Jen, he even looked at her father for guidance. Maybe those two years at the State Department taught him a bit about diplomacy.

Thanks, bud. My primary goal has always been to entertain readers, and that's one reason for the abundant humor in my stories. Now that he and Owen have a plan for future political involvement, I'm trying to explore what he believes some more. When he runs for office, he'll have to articulate those beliefs and convince voters to support him.

You just like it when CJ tees off on idiots. Speaking of teeing off, next chapter CJ I tried to differentiate how CJ dealt with an older individual and someone even younger than him. His admission he was at one point as naive as Jen, means he's sufficiently self-aware to recognize he can be forceful at times and needs to rein in his aggression. We'll see a bit more of him trashing someone, then admitting he might have gone too far. With age comes wisdom as long as he's willing to admit mistakes and learn from them.

Unsure of where his expectations came from—maybe an old movie or TV show—what they encountered when the shuttle dropped them off was far from what CJ envisioned. He had imagined a sandy beach, a bonfire, and coolers full of beer. Maybe a couple of Labradors or Golden Retrievers running around, chasing a ball or a Frisbee. He had not bothered to figure out the cooking part. Instead, they were confronted by a sanitized, upscale version of what his mind conjured. While Owen went to the bar—a

Richard's death saddens me. He read my stories religiously, and I enjoyed our exchanges in the comment section and later in private messages. He last visited my profile page last Friday (maybe the one before.) It was a ritual whenever I posted anything. He preferred to read complete stories and as soon as I posted a chapter with The End at the bottom of the page, his reactions were swift. A minor one, but that was one of the reasons I've concentrated on shorter stories lately. He and Will Hawkins in Brazil--who hasn't been around for a while and I fear has passed--followed the same approach and made me smile frequently. You shall be missed, Ancient Richard. Thanks for sharing the information @northie

Yep. I think the mountain on the right's the one with the giant statue of Christ at the summit.

I never knew that line was in until I watched the video. Although the song refers to the New York City club (the hottest club north of Havana,) I read it was inspired by Copacabana Beach in Rio. Obviously just the name.

LMAO, the clambake will be interesting. CJ and Owen interact with a military big shot, and CJ winds up being the center of attention again. Somebody remind me not to invite him to anything I don't want to be upstaged at.

We saw flashes of Spike's fun side in Mexico, but you're right, it was mostly business. I think, as a good intelligence officer, he'll adap to the circumstances and act accordingly. Considering he's been an influence on CJ since our man was a teen, I suspect some of his ways will rub off on CJ. Fascinated with your perception of the relationships. I tried to show CJ and Owen being the youngest out of the four couples, but the most settled. Paul and Molly are about to start their lives together, and Dave and Steph have been together for years but she laments they don't have a family yet. Tess and Jay are obviously at the other end of the spectrum. They've been having issues for a while and are probably headed to divorce court.

@frosenblum I'll see your Kinks and raise you a Manilow. This is what plays in my mind when I think of CJ's Sig.

Glad you liked that. Although I cover significant issues that will affect CJ's future, I felt the wedding of a young couple should be fun.