BlueWindBoy

“I’m trying not to smoke.” A corner of Chipper’s mouth rose a notch; these guys came ready to have a good time. “What with trying not to mess up my voice…” “Lines, it is.” Zion reached under one of the seats and retrieved a mirror. -- Oooooh, Chipper, mind your surroundings. You've seen how CJ deals with addicted friends. You don't really want that much tough love. But it's typical Coachella. “Yeah? Do I get to tap you if I do?” -- Ah, the insatiable male in rut.

Chipper liked the singer surfer from Hilo. He was easy going and easy on the eyes. The sun-bleached blond, half-a-dozen years older than Chipper, had a ripped body and an engaging smile. -- And I was primed for one of Chipper's unprovoked sex scenes. Ah, well. . . . Hey . . . who's that on stage with Chipper?

So you won't be writing for the Hallmark or Lifetime channels?

"I've been known to fast forward through much of the mushy, touchy-feely stuff to get to the music." -- You should watch more of this stuff so you can write better sappy romantic scenes!

“You did the right thing calling. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. You haven’t done anything wrong.” -- Chipper's got THAT right! And the most dangerous time in an abusive relationship is when the abused decides to leave. Fortunately, it's Manhattan, and Chipper has friends. I still say Damien should meet up with Sean and Blaine and company for a long walk off a short pier while wearing some concrete shoes. Someplace with real solid current and depth, say The Race where Long Island Sound meets Block Island Sound? As for the 1K stories, they certainly leave me hungry for more, and I'm glad it's helping you write tighter scenes. Just don't do that with the gratuitous sex! I want a scene with Chipper and Ajax (not Alexis, whoever he was).

There was no way to maintain personal space with so many around us. -- But were any of them wearing masks? "tear gas canisters had been deployed." -- Something the military isn't allowed to do because it's classified as chemical warfare. typo alert, "I still remembered by high school classes." -- I think you mean "My" "Universal voting by mail is the future." -- Unless you live in a red state.

hurry up and wait -- Ah, the great HUAW!!! "Your brother’s a fag?” -- Yep, there it is. If Brett and Brad haven't already clued Ritch in for the USAA's legendary homophobia, he might as well learn early. I hope he'll also be on the lookout for the sexual harassment of his female classmates. "I want you to consider going out for the swim team.” -- The AA's swim complex is amazing, Olympic quality. The Colorado High School state championships are held there every year. “Wyoming, sir. My parents live right outside Casper.” -- At the foot of Brokeback Mountain, I believe. And I hope Ritch gets to visit the Mountain, especially now that it's all but closed to civilians.

But the soft D.C. hills and lower elevation bore no resemblance to Vail’s mountains rising over 8,000 feet. -- Vail is at 8100 feet, and everything goes up from there. Camp Hale is 9200 and the summit of the pass is 10,700. BMI is simply a function of height and weight. As a general rule, it's fine, but is meaningless to the truly fit. As Ritch gets heavier, his BMI will increase. What he means is that his fat content is falling, which is good to a point. Colorado Springs is a bastion of crazy GQP in the state, so I hope Ritch can keep his head while others are losing theirs. in re: https://goairforcefalcons.com/sports/wrestling/roster/2020-21 -- Please sign me up for Messrs Bitting and Phippen, I'm sure they need some attention.

Dr. Pierce was known for addressing everyone by their last name. -- I had a prof like that. Each year, he would call the roll. Invariably, someone would say, "Call me Bill," or whatever. And the prof would respond with, "Ah, Mr Bowling, we are not that chummy in this classroom." If the Chipper moves to LA, what will happen to Alexis?

"Elizabeth Liston Abelló had a temper. She could throw tantrums with the best of them." -- I cannot imagine where she gets that. Owen is so even-tempered. Bow tie? CJ is a bow tie man? Who does he think he is, Snagglepuss? Mr Peabody? Darren Criss? Winston Churchill? "Let’s get the show started!”

Thirty-Seventh Avenue? I think you mean 37th STREET? It was a chance to grab a drink, use the bathroom, and for Liebe to get a fresh diaper. -- Ah, the quotidian details of existence! You have to realize where you come from is gone and focus on where you’re going. "[M]y attempt to tell a positive story about gay men is done." -- This is a LIE! A BIG LIE!! Remind me again, who is Lincoln? I was actually more impressed with Brett's speech at Abuelo's than with CJ's at graduation, though it was also well done.

“Okay, I’ll reach out to Australia when we get to the hospital.” -- Like anybody in Australia knows who Owen Liston is. "Daddy CJ?” -- I LOVE it!!

Only in the case of abusers. I really am pro-life for the whole of life.

"pocket doors.” -- Nice! but barn doors are more practical. "Definitely not purple.” -- They don't realize that when they get old that they will wear purple. “HER?! You’re having a girl?" -- Maybe. Ultrasound is difinitive if it shows a boy's dangling parts, but ultrasound showing a girl may only be hiding the dangling parts. Happened to my brother and SIL. It really threw them for a loop. “Damien raped her last night.” -- Brad, Brett, Tom, and a few others should arrange to deal with Damien in the next 36 hours. He needs a new home, someplace cold, wet, and deep.

"I may just start wearing a brain bucket more often.” -- Whatever it takes to keep his brains in his head. They had flown to Miami International Thursday night, having taken Friday off from work and school. -- I don't think he's in the SFS at all. This is B-school scheduling. "Two consecutive appointments of fossil-fuel industry flunkies as EPA Director tells me he doesn’t care.” -- Oh, the orange menace cared a lot, about the environment for fossil fuel profits and for racist misogynists. "It’s how you can tell us apart from the sheep fuckers.” -- Australia actually has almost 3 times as many sheep as New Zealand. And New Zealand has little of the racism and homophobia that Australia does. Plus, almost nothing in NZ will kill you, while almost everything in Australia can. Possible typo alert? "At least the change in control of the House of Representatives acted as a break." -- Damn homonyms! You might mean break, but I think you meant brake. “You sure you want to do this, CJ? Out here in the open?” Owen unbuckled the belt, unfastened the top button, and spread the fly’s flaps. -- GRATUITOUS SEX ALERT!! What, you've been writing sappy romance and blood-pounding cliffhangers and tear-jerking drama (which you NEVER do), so now you decide to inflict a sex scene on your readers? And CJ makes it sound like a Foreign Service appointment is in the bag. Of course, with all the career officers heading for the exits, there are more openings than ever, but is he the type Tillerson/Pompeo/Trump want to hire? And I'm not sure little Marco will help.

He bought himself a few minutes to think. If Ritchie was in the apartment, he suspected the fathers did not know about the situation. He had to tread carefully; whatever he said or did could have repercussions affecting more than his younger brother. Above all, CJ did not want to overreact the way César and Brett had at times. -- BRAVO CJ!! Getting some self-control rather than depending on Owen to do it for you. You're growing up. “I… She… We… FUCK!” -- Ah, yes, Ritchie, that's how it usually happens. Quartz designed to look like granite! “When you use my body for your bed, and I get to keep you warm throughout the night, that’s enough for me. Wherever we’re together, that’s my home.” -- More Billy Joel! So Owen's the Uptown Girl?

Special Agent -- I think you mean Secret Agent Man, yes? "Just in case our suspect’s watching.” -- Ahhhh, building inspectors. Whatever happened to good old honest graft? asbestos-infused vinyl sheet flooring discovered in the kitchen -- not a surprise in these old places Hopefully, he’ll end up as somebody’s bitch in jail. -- Prisoners are there to do their time, serve their sentences, not to be raped. NO ONE deserves to be raped, and CJ should know that better than most. "Damn it! I’m a fucking genius.” -- Ah, to be 22 and have all the answers to the world's problems!! "My husband’s the ultimate environmentalist.” -- While still burning wood? “Lucy’s pregnant.” -- Oh? And just when did you start playing pregnancy roulette? "a problem most often associated with lower income/education people" -- actually the rich and middle class face it just as much if not more, they simply have more medical options available to them to hide the problem. "with great wealth comes great responsibilty" -- I think it was Peter Parker's Uncle Ben who opined that "with great power comes great responsibility." Or, one might be thinking of Jesus in the Gospel, "From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded," (Luke 12:48).

Who's the guy in red and gold standing next to CJ? And EXCELLENT soap boxing by the Senator!

I'm not opposed to eating baby cows, but I'm surprised that Owen isn't. Beef production will destroy the world which is why everyone must switch to Brussels Sprouts for the July 4 holiday (but not Memorial Day or Labor Day). I wouldn't have jumped all over Brad's shit, just figured it was part of his like of the Orange guy. I was just surprised that I haven't heard Brad actually use the phrase if he's so fond of it. And "they" is a perfectly acceptable singular pronoun, and is easier on the ears and eyes than "it" for a kid. I actually had a gig this weekend and was on the road as a result. As things get back to normal, it will happen more and more, so I'll have to learn to use the intertubes while I'm away.

veal cutlets -- VEAL??? Owen lets him cook veal? Owen EATS veal?? Who are these barbarians? Fudge packer was what he often used in private. -- If that's what Brad calls CJ in private, why is this the first I've heard of it? Ninth Island Sparkling Rosé -- Owen has amazing connections. He keeps choosing wines that are consistently unavailable in the US. "We’ll never be able to repay you." -- And so we won't. CJ is taking lessons from the orange guy? So much for the dads' "financing" I want ALL of Liz' letter!

a box of wine -- a BOX of wine!!!??? CJ and Owen should walk away NOW, no, RUN, very fast, very far. Brad is not worth saving. Another suggestion to help Brad: have Lachlan Hill come up from down under and paddle his ass like he did to Stevie Stewart. That should crack Brad's self pity like an egg.

Good on Tank for coming clean with CJ and Owen. Some guys are terrified to admit they're being sexually harrassed, let alone abused. Good on CJ, Owen, Cesar, and Brett for taking this seriously, and talking CJ out of his first reaction (though I like the rusty knife idea). This is a matter of principle for them, they don't want to work with sexual abusers. Vigilance Sauvignon Blanc 2014 was last available in April 2019, with an average price of $14 USD -- Good thing Owen has connections. "Just trust me on this; we need to find a way to get out." -- Brad's exactly right. What he may not know is how the brass and political leadership have been lying to the public since the beginning, just like Vietnam. From Dec 2019, https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/investigations/afghanistan-papers/afghanistan-war-confidential-documents/ "Each red star represents a confirmed kill.” -- I've said before, "The fact of the matter is that war changes people's natures. The barbarities of war are seldom committed by abnormal people. The tragedy of war is that these horrors are committed by normal people in abnormal situations. Situations in which the ebb and flow of everyday life have departed and have been replaced by a constant round of fear and anger, blood and death." And that's true on both sides. JK Rowling was on to something when she described the process of making a horcrux requires killing someone. It means breaking off and losing a part of one's soul. Dehumanizing others to point of being able to kill them means dehumanizing ourselves as well. "We keep trying to deal with these animals" -- Part of bringing Brad back will be bringing back his shared humanity and empathy for others, recognizing his own and getting him to recognize it in the people he hates so much. Brad's tears over his realization of what he's seen and done are a good start as they turn anger and shame into grief. Owen often said CJ should write fiction. He was all about the mystery and the cliffhangers. -- Hmmm. Some projection, maybe? Or was it something deeper? Kudos to CJ for noticing Brad's drinking and drugging. On the one hand, he's humble enough to admit that he doesn't and can't understand what Brad experienced and endured. On the other hand, he's compelled to do more than listen and sympathize. Who knows, maybe he'll even stop calling Brad "Legless."

Olga. . . handled the discussion calmly and promised to give their proposal some thought. -- Olga as a live-in "au pair" for CJ/Owen Jr? For the first time that morning, CJ felt apprehensive. “Should be safe?” He had had a couple of close encounters with the beasts before. -- It's a real electric sensation when getting close to a shark, AND SO MUCH FUN!! CJ rolled his eyes; he was getting annoyed. “You sound like a fucking woman on the rag, Dad. Stop bitching, okay?” -- Watch the language, CJ, it's showing a bad streak. “Oh man, I thought I was going to pee myself." -- Uh, Ritchie, you're in a swimsuit in the OCEAN! Nobody cares if you pee yourself. And EVERYBODY pees in their wetsuits. “Sorry, Dad. I shouldn’t have lost my shit that way. But you pissed me off.” -- No, CJ, he didn't "piss you off." He said something you didn't like and you chose to get angry about it; an all too common reaction of yours.

Leasing a beach house on Fire Island for the summer was expensive; groups came together and split the cost and occupancy privileges. -- So when are CJ and Owen going to buy one for themselves and their friends? sport fucking -- LOL!! Rick Astley -- I think I've been rolled Transgender -- https://youtu.be/shyS1YaiMrc a BRILLIANT statement by a mother about her son to the idiots in Texas a product of New York’s Finger Lakes region -- when I think of New York wine, I think Mogen David and Manischewitz. There's actual drinkable stuff made in NY? For reals? Don’t tell anyone, but we hope to have the first one by this time next year. -- AH! CJ Jr is already a twinkle in his dad's eye! Unless it's Owen Jr. "I don’t think either one of you’s old.” Owen removed his reading glasses -- LOL!! "It’s kind of cool to check out the Today Show from the outside instead of being in the studio.” How many people say THAT on a given day? CJ's a natural for public diplomacy, and he'll be a complete hit on the dinner circuit wherever he lands. I hope he finds some fun being a grunt in consular services wherever he gets his first posting. I know most people reading CJ's story want him to be President. I think he'd be BRILLIANT as Speaker or Senate Majority Leader. He'd recruit the chamber into a new version of his Squad, full of difference and vibrant diversity, and full of respect for each other nonetheless.