TheStoryReader

Thank You Mark, for the early Christmas present. Very glad that we get the early chapter. Fingers crossed for one for New Year's day too! Of course, I am assuming that you will be continuing your long-running and deeply entrenched Anglo/Franco-phile Colonial Romanticism and skip Sant Patrick's day, per usual (I kid, I kid). All the Very Best for you and Yours, S.R.

I have not posted in quite a long while, but this one looks like extra juicy fun. While it remains true that I consider you one of the great (serious) chroniclers of modern gay life, it is also fun to take a walk on the wild side, from time to time. This one looks to be a spice one indeed! As always, all the very best, S.R.

Per our previous conversation, Mark, good that we are still posting chapters on the important holidays, in this case thank you for the chapter celebrating: 404 Day Bonza Bottler Day Easter Sunday - April 4, 2021 Geologists Day - April 4, 2021 (First Sunday in April) Hug a Newsperson Day International Carrot Cake International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action Jeep 4x4 Day Last Day of Passover - April 4, 2021 National Baked Ham with Pineapple Day - April 4, 2021 National Cordon Bleu Day Plum Pudding Day - April 4, 2021 Tell a Lie Day Victims of Violence Holy Day Vitamin C Day Walk Around Things Day World Rat Day Not sure if the last one is to celebrate rodents or informants, either way, glad that they come ahead of the Irish people in your mind. All joking aside, love Steph's comment on Julian. Thank you as always for sharing. All the very best, -Jason

Oh, I know it was not a deliberate snub of the Irish. This is something I have been ribbing Mark about for several years (He never posts on St. Patty days). Sometimes if I am feeling extra childish, I will look up the dates of chapters to see if they fall on really obscure holidays, and then give mark a hard time about posting a chapter on that day, but not honoring St. Patty's day.

Mark, As always thank you for a new chapter. Can't wait to see how the family reacts when they hear about he snake. Sadly, another year passes and you again break my heart by proving that you remain an unreconstructed anglophile by deliberately snubbing the Irish by skipping St. Patrick's day for a holiday chapter. For Shame Sir, for Shame! Erin go Bragh! -Jason

Mark, two things- First, thank you for sharing your work with us all, and thank you for the New Year's post. I hope that this finds you and yours well, and that 2021 is a better year for you, and for all of us, than 2020 was. Second, I often tear through the chapters to see what is going to happen next. So I don't always take the time to appreciate what a fine writer you are. And I don't mean just the plots, the way your fiction records history, particularly the emotional history of our (LGBTQ+) people, or the amazing characters that seem like people I know. Beyond all of that, there is some truly exceptional writing in this story as well. I did not leave a comment for the last chapter, but the the scene where Will was drugged was absolutely fantastic, first rate writing. I have no way to describe it other than as just flat out excellent literary technique. Prose writing in it's truest expression as fine art. As always all the very best, -Jason

Happy Thanksgiving Mark, and many thanks for the early post. Also, I give you my heartfelt thanks for getting the worst out of the way first, so we can enjoy the rest of the Australia trip without too much stress, as readers. I am referring, of course, to the long established tradition in this series that the worst fate that can befall a main character (short of their or another character's death) is disappointing sex. Things can only go up from here! All the very best, and I trust that this finds you and yours well, -Jason

Mark, Once again we are reminded that one of the great things your work illustrates is how radically things have changed between the generations over the last few years. While not as wealthy as the CAP clan, I grew up white in the center of west coast privilege. But I am also a gay man pushing 50, and I still think of weed as something best kept on the down-low to avoid unnecessary trouble, that being open about my sexuality is something that I need to be careful about because of the huge potential problems it could cause, and I most certainly don't trust the police or feel better when there are lots of them around. Now the truth is that, in large part because of where I live and who I am, I don't need to worry about weed, I don't need to worry about telling people I am gay, and I don't have any reason to fear the police. When I interact with younger gay people, the differences are dramatic. And I love the way you capture the different generational reactions to things, based on the times that the characters lived through. On a personal note, another thing you nailed perfectly from a character perspective, as this is an obnoxious habit I find in myself and still have to work against, is a serious double-standard between gay and straight sexuality. While I definitely have always felt that any gay person should get as freaky as they are comfortable with, I too have always had a double-standard for the sexual practices of straight people. While I would never look at a hot guy and think, why are you dressed that way, or hear about somebody's gay relationship drama, and ask, "why would you do that", I do find myself seeing straight people, and asking, "why are you dressed that way", or hearing about somebodies relationship drama, and thinking, "why would you do that". And I feel silly (as well as just a little bit old, and not in a good way, if there is such a thing), but I can't help it. Anyway, still loving the project, All the Best to You and Yours, -Jason

Still loving the story, and very much looking forward to your chronicling of our recent history (both so very good and so very bad). All the Very Best, -Jason

As always, glad for more CAP. Hope this finds you and your well. All the Very Best, -Jason

Mark, so glad to see you back in the saddle! Stay Healthy, As always, I hope this finds you and yours well, R.B.

Wondering two things: 1) How long before what seems to be Will's steadily increasing drug use will continue before it becomes a problem? 2) There was a dangler with Zach and the hyper-dominant coach, wondering where that is going? Regardless, you clearly have a new generation set to discover all of good, bad, and ugly that life has to offer. So very glad to be back with the family, Thank you for sharing, All the Very Best -Jason *******Update******* Given the direction that this thread had taken, I would like to clarify my comments. First, I have had many friends who, starting in their late teens, and continuing through their early thirties, would be best described as enthusiastic explorers of all that modern pharmacology has to offer, and none of them ever became addicts, or had their various adventures impact their academic or professional life. Which is not to say that there are not many people who have suffered as a result of wondering down that road, just that their are many different outcomes. Second, by a problem, I was not thinking that we were going down the circuit boy path to ruin. Rather, given the history of this story, I was thinking of the time or two when a character has found the pursuit of all the pleasures life has to offer has put them into situations that they would rather not find themselves. Third, Mark, while I most definitely want you to write the story you want to wright, please rest assured that you can add all the sex, drugs, and rock and roll to the story that you cram onto a page, and you will have at least one devoted reader -Jason

Wondering two things: 1) How long before what seems to be Will's steadily increasing drug use will continue before it becomes a problem? 2) There was a dangler with Zach and the hyper-dominant coach, wondering where that is going? Regardless, you clearly have a new generation set to discover all of good, bad, and ugly that life has to offer. So very glad to be back with the family, Thank you for sharing, All the Very Best -Jason

Ah, how I have missed this. And how very glad I am to have you back. All the Very Best! -Jason

Very Well Done Dr. Arbour! All the very best, and glad to see you back in the saddle! -Jason