BlueWindBoy

I don't know if you mentioned it, but you've certainly shown it. I think discovering the ability in himself to take a life, and to be on the brink of actually doing it, has to stir up some emotions and conscience. You noted in the story itself, "The realization he could have taken a life was overwhelming." It's one thing to think it through theoretically, finding yourself on the edge and looking into the abyss for reals is something else. That needs some talking through, imho. BTW, wasn't CJ going to bring Pink Pistols to WALLS or GU?

In memory of Helen Heyer. -- Heather Heyer He had been ready to pull the trigger; to defend himself and the innocent bystander. The realization he could have taken a life was overwhelming. -- The barbarities of violence are seldom committed by abnormal people. The tragedy of violence is that these horrors are committed by normal people in abnormal situations. I hope CJ talks this episode out with Dragon.

CJ’s number twenty since he graduates in twenty-twenty. -- OMG, he's already loose in the world? Jeremy Plummer did one lousy job of researching his client. I hope his partner notices the missing $5-10M in missing fees. I think flying the entire guest list to a private island in the Bahamas will have to suffice -- a la Fyre Festival?

"an extravagant decision meant to cover his multitude of sins" If it's the first of many changes to come, and amends to make, then I wish him well. If it's left as a standalone, or worse a public show, then it will fail.

Quoted in The Sum of All Fears, it's from JFK's June 1963 American University Commencement Address outlining a strategy for peace. "So, let us not be blind to our differences--but let us also direct attention to our common interests and to the means by which those differences can be resolved. And if we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal."

the bandana in his back pocket -- color? pocket? Liz did not wake up the next day. -- WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! SO NOT FAIR! I disliked ending Liz before the wedding -- Ending? You ENDED Liz? I've stared at cloud formations often, trying to decipher their shapes -- Have you looked at them from both sides now, from here and there? Our most basic common link is that . . . we are all mortal. -- JFK

Referring to TP as "the guest" indicates quite the change. A guest provokes the duties of hospitality from the host, which, even in our post-Christian culture, are substantial. TP goes from being the criminal along the road to the being the man in the ditch. As Lee says, he and Marc are better than kicking someone who's already down. But forgiveness requires honesty about the injury that was done, and that should not be forgotten.

I was half expecting Ted or Red to answer the door.

An AMAZING chapter. I spent a semester studying in Jerusalem, and have been back as a tour guide twice. Nicely done! The warm, fresh pita, filled with spiced, fried falafel balls, layered under fresh, herbed salads, and drowned in tahini sauce had them licking their fingers and smacking their lips. “Can we have this stuff for lunch every day?” -- The only thing better is fresh shawarma. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYiZeszLosE Beer Sheva to Mitzpe Ramon without a side trip to Dimona? As it swam by, CJ could not resist running a hand over the carapace. -- That'll be a $10,000 fine, Mr Abello. Blackjack? Not Baccarat? What kind of secret agent man is he? PETRA!!!! "the most recent excavation here has unearthed a graveyard beneath it.” -- I'm gonna have to look into that. Masada -- pure propaganda Exodus, O Jerusalem! and From Jerusalem to Beirut by Friedman, a bit dated now yet still insightful. I was driving through from Masada to Jerusalem through the Territories and got behind a SLOW IDF vehicle. The sun had set and the IDF took great pleasure in shining their overpowered searchlight into Palestinian homes along the road. At a turnoff to a base, the IDF swung right and then turned left, and I pulled up short to avoid hitting him, but a Palestinian tailing me bumped my back bumper. OMG! The IDF went nuts. First on me, until I pointed out my sick mother in the seat next to me and my US passport, and then on the Palestinian driver who was ordered out of his vehicle, emptied his pockets, and threw himself spread-eagle on the hood of his car. The IDF REALLY wanted me to press charges against him. It took several days of visits from Jerusalem to Bethlehem to get all the reports and insurances filed. As a result, I have nothing but sympathy for the frustration Palestinians feel living under the Israeli boot. Thank you for calling it the Western Wall!!! "I wish I could make them all vanish.” -- And think of all the amazing architecture that would vanish as well. Ah, CJ, yes, religion can inflame humanity's basest instincts, but so can secular "scientific" philosophies. And religion can also inspire humanity's compassion and hope beyond mere technical considerations. I'll put Abraham Lincoln up against Ayn Rand (or Billy Graham Jr) every day of the week. And Yad VaShem is a perfect example of a how a secular philosophy can undermine actual religion and produce disaster. I was most touched by the Children's Memorial. And how many of the Righteous Among the Nations were motivated by religion? Globalist? Do you mean (((globalist)))? He hardly needs Soros bucks.

"a lot of his muscular development to hours spent rowing. Nevertheless, CJ planned to increase the attention he paid to his back and shoulders." -- Tell it to the crew team, they run the stairs next to his house on the way to and from the boat house most every morning. Capitol Hill more diverse than Adams Morgan? Really? Clear stained glass/stained glass without the color? What is that? Frosting and texture, I get. Owen's and CJ's parents have seriously screwed the pooch on the pre-nup conversation. If it was SO damned important, then it should have been discussed when the Listons were in town to talk with Owen while CJ talked with Cesar and Brett, and then all 6 together. If Cesar pushes on this, not only will CJ and Brett elope, and CJ return the money and move into the dorms (or Owen's place next door), but CJ will resign from the foundation as well. https://youtu.be/HlL3y3j8ofc Thankfully Brett was there to talk some sense into Cesar at the end. -- Maybe, and maybe not.

It's either WD-40 or duct tape. Owen would make CJ read Dune, I think. After all, he IS the Kwisatz Haderach! I would look forward to reading the entire CJ-verse.

Run, you bastard! Run and hide! Maybe you can find your laptop if it's where you left it. Maybe you can get your identity back. The rest? prolly not.

The John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award was named after President Kennedy’s 1957 Pulitzer prize-winning book, which recounted the stories of eight U.S. Senators who risked their careers by embracing unpopular positions for the greater good. -- Edmund Ross was a grifter and no profile in courage no matter what Jules Davids said. That’s CJ’s spot. He likes to sit with his back to the wall. -- The mark of a well-trained Atreides. CJ's interest, however, was piqued when Martin Baron, executive editor of The Washington Post, took several swipes at President Trump. -- Why the surprise? The Post changed its masthead to "Democracy Dies in Darkness" in Feb 2017. “It’s hand-made, printed on archival paper and bound in leather. I thought a lawyer should have his own copy of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution.” -- He'll need a pocket version like Robert Byrd's. And I thought CJ might get Oz a Sam Seaborn briefcase, but maybe that will be for passing the bar. 25? What did I due to deserve life sentence? -- You created CJ and his multiple posses. I established early on most of the characters had an active sex life so I think I'll stick to a comment here and there in the future. We all know how the mechanics work. -- Mechanics work?

Hard to believe that Ewing and I were schoolmates. I saw him just a couple times in Healy Basement.

1, The Prison Rape Elimination Act, referred to by some in the system as the Prison Recreation Elimination Act. 2, Even the wicked get worse than they deserve. -- Adam Schiff

“Dude! You’ve heard of people sucking the air out of a room when they speak? This guy sucked the air out of an entire fucking city. Sure, we should give him a chance. However, we all better keep both eyes open. It could get ugly in the next four years.” -- American carnage! “You’ve taught me a few things since I met you, CJ. Amongst them, to love the military for all they do. And that money’s not everything. Sometimes you have to do what feels right and let the chips fall where they may.” -- WOW! “Dads, I’m opening a bottle of the new Tempranillo Jack sent us. You guys want some?” -- Tempranillo, one of my favorite grapes! They grow that in Australia? I want to go with Levi for a visit. -- Ooooooh, this should be fun. International political intrigue AND hot Sabras, Mizrahis, and Palestinians! But will he meet up with Ziva David? Say you’ll marry me. Say you’ll become my husband. Say you’re ready to grow old together. I love you, Ozzie. -- CJ, 19, proposes to Oz, 24. The boy has cheek! But will they now give up the birth control to give Brett and Cesar grandkids? People who set a date for their wedding have a much higher chance of getting married than people who don't set a date. Carlos (Carols?), I see these links for images in the comments, but the links are all broken. Do these images exist somewhere else on the site? I remember your first mention of Martin's and the Proposal Booth and thought it was an odd detail to include. CJ and Owen met in December 2013 and got engaged three years plus later. I figured that was a long enough courting period. -- My niece met her boyfriend her sophomore year in high school. 12 years later, including 4 years of college together and 7 years of living together, they got married.

Limerence? -- getting Ritchie ready for his SATs? “Heresy! Just a building? That’s profanity, bro.” -- so CJ paid attention in his theology class. What was Owen's first degree?

Parker, Interesting that you've named Ted, but not the other guy.

Grieve not that I die young. Is it not well To pass away ere life hath lost its brightness? -- Live fast, die young, leave a good looking corpse, Willard Motley “You didn’t tell me you knew CJ, Mr. President.” Longoria had put her arm through CJ’s and stood close to him. -- reminds me of a joke about the Pope, which I've edited for CJ's benefit: CJ and his boss are assembled with the masses at the Vatican's St. Peter's Square when CJ says, "This will never work. I can't catch the Pope's eye among all these people. Tell you what, let me just go upstairs and I'll come out on the balcony." He disappears into the crowd headed towards the Vatican. Sure enough, half an hour later CJ emerges with the Pope on the balcony, but by the time CJ returns, he finds that his boss has had a heart attack and is surrounded by paramedics. Making his way to his boss' side, CJ asks him, "What happened?" His boss looks up and says, "It was the final straw... you and the Pope came out on to the balcony and the man next to me said, 'Who the fuck is that on the balcony with CJ?'"

There probably were kids who were part of the Abrams Brigade, but these were working for the campaigns.

I phone banked for Ossoff/Warnock all through Nov/Dec/Jan. I was amazed when some of the trainers were 10-14 AND KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING!

Loves me some Emma!

I hope Rogelio ends up at GU where he can meet and convert a certain famous student activist to explain the matter to him! 😎

From your mouth to God's ear!

Drive to Philadelphia? From DC? Why not take the Acela? The ineffable satisfaction of orchestrating his father meeting his musical idol made every minute dedicated to the campaign worth it. -- At least CJ can take that happy memory home. I hope you don’t mind they’re all pink. -- as Michigan AFL-CIO president Sam Fishman told me once, as he was wearing one, "It takes a real man to wear pink." I was never afraid after that. “Don’t trash religion. I know we see things differently. And I don’t disagree with you entirely. But I don’t like it when you say bad things about it. And take your own advice. Religious people are voters. Show them some respect.” -- YAY Owen! Well and timely said. And one day, when you tell our kids about what you did, I’ll be right there letting them know their father is one of the best men I ever met. -- more foreshadowing I wanted to show him moving away from the black and white views he once held and which led him to say all Republicans hated gay people. -- given the complete impotence of Log Cabin, and the continuing efforts to diminish and demean LGBT people and issues by MANY GQP leaders, movers, and shakers in league with the white evangelists, I'd say it's hard not to take Republicans at their word. What is it Maya Angelou said, "When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time."