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Mark Arbour

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Blog Entries posted by Mark Arbour

  1. Mark Arbour
    So...
     
    I just got back from Spring Break. We cruised around the Caribbean for a week, and got to spend a couple of days on St. Barts. If you haven't been to St. Barts, you should go. It's awesome. The towns are cute, people speak French and/or English, and they drive really fast on these narrow, concrete roads that look more like paved goat paths.
     
    So we went to a beach that is known for being clothing optional, which is cool because then you get to see lots of boobies. The guys tend to be older, but there were one or two hot guys there, one who was hung like a horse. If you are with a wife/husband/partner, I've found that mirrored sunglasses are an absolute must-have item. I went walking down the beach to the end, where there are a bunch of rocks. On my way, I saw this one guy sitting in a slight indent in the rock wall. When I got closer to him, I saw him stroking his dick in a subtle kind of manner. After I passed him, and he realized that I noticed him and didn't freak out, he started jacking with a purpose while he watched these two hot chicks sunbathe, one on her stomach, the other on her back, both topless. It wasn't erotic, it was creepy, even though he was kind of cute and had a big dick.
     
    I climbed on the rocks to try to get to the tide pools, but ran into a small mountain goat. I didn't know that they had them there, but they do, and this one was pretty pissed off. I decided after that to leave the tidepools, rocks, bitchy goats, and stroking pervert behind and just go back to the populated part of the beach and enjoy the water. And that's when I got my f**king sunburn.
     
    I did say I liked St. Barts, right?
  2. Mark Arbour

    Writing about AIDS

    By Mark Arbour,

    My current story, "Man In Motion", takes place in 1985/86. It is impossible to write a gay-oriented story in this era without infusing the AIDS crisis into it. For someone like me, who was closeted, AIDS wasn't a daily event. I didn't see my friends die, I didn't even know anyone then who was positive. For me, it was more of a latent fear. The fear that you could get it. The fear that I could get it. And then not only would I have a death sentence (most likely), I'd be outed. I think AIDS for me was more like the cold war. It was always out there, threatening to destroy my life, but it wasn't tangible. The missiles were in their silos. Interesting Freudian slip there.
     
    The irony is that as I write this story, I'm writing about a group of gay characters, out gay characters, whose experiences with AIDS would be much more visceral, who would be suffering the agony of seeing their friends, and maybe even family, succumb to AIDS. So to flush out the story, I've e-talked to some people who were there, and gotten some great feedback from my Advisory Board. Sometimes I steal their stories. Sometimes I use them as a guideline.
     
    But I'm only up to Chapter 3 and I've already gotten some e-mails from people who are adamant that I'm portraying it wrong. There are too many deaths. There aren't enough deaths. I didn't deal with the reaction of people's friends correctly. I didn't show the suffering, the death, in macabre enough detail. It's frustrating because I don't have the personal experience to say "Hey, f**k you. This is how I remember it."
     
    So of course I did what I always do when I get frustrated. I go whine to Sharon. And she reminded me that every one who lived in that era has a different recollection, a different experience, a unique horror of the disease and an equally terrible way that it effected them. For those of you who want, please feel free to share those experiences here or in my forum. Man In Motion Forum I'd love your input. In the meantime, I'm going to do my best to put the epidemic in the story where appropriate, and try not to make "Man in Motion" as depressing as "1968."
  3. Mark Arbour
    So I finished up on my latest story, Be Rad. I'll post Chapter 40 (the final one) today sometime, and started on the next one. I'm kind of frustrated with myself. I have a really hard time writing in a true prick. Not as in male phallus, as in someone who is truly bad and evil, and has no redeeming qualities. Every time I try to do it, I end up rehabbing them and making them human and, to me, somewhat likable. (I almost wrote lickable. Freudian slip). I worry that this makes my writing kind of stale, old, repetitive. Maybe I need a Darth Vader figure. But shit, even he was redeemed in the end.
     
    Maybe it's just human nature to look and hope for the good in people. Maybe it's just my nature to always want to give someone a second chance. I don't know. Maybe if I could just channel some of my darker moments in the forums I'd be able to really create an evil bastard. Maybe I shouldn't.
  4. Mark Arbour
    I'm kind of a rebel. Seems like I often end up fighting against "the system," and I usually end up mouthing off and getting myself in trouble. I've done that plenty of times here at GA, and gotten myself in lots of trouble. Even got some warning bars along the way. Of course, for someone like me, that was almost a badge of honor. At least it used to be.
     
    I was gone from GA for quite awhile. Almost 2 years. I pretty much bailed during the "days of Kitty," and I really hadn't planned to come back, even though I missed old friends. Then I decided to start writing and I needed an editor, and who better to ask than Sharon. She encouraged me to post my stories on e-fiction, and to check out GA. She said it was different. She said there were lots of really great people here, some even more obnoxious than I used to be, and told me that I'd like it. I'm glad I believed her.
     
    So I got back here and found a new GA. Lots of sharp people here, with incisive points of view. And I made lots of new friends, and reconnected with some old ones. I found that I really enjoyed writing, and I was rewarded by being read. I posted my stories and never imagined I'd end up anywhere other than e-fiction, which was cool because I love the e-fiction platform. I figured that even if I did well, even if I got lots of readers, even if I participated in the community, I'd never get beyond e-fiction. I'd been such a dick in the past. I'd gone toe-to-toe with the big guys, guys like Myr and dkstories, trumpeting my alpha male ego and letting it push me into being aggressive and rude. Why would they want to give someone like me hosted status?
     
    Well, they're bigger men than I gave them credit for. There's no way I would have gotten here without their acquiescence. So to me, being hosted is not just the ultimate compliment to someone who writes gay fiction. It's not just a great opportunity to better develop my stories. It's a tacit acknowledgment that I've been forgiven for my past sins, and that I've been truly welcomed back into the community.
     
    It's good to be here. Really good to be here.
  5. Mark Arbour
    I've been known to be a prick from time to time, especially on the boards when someone really pisses me off, and rarely will you hear me talk about actually crying. I was always taught that crying was something you didn't do very often, and certainly not in public, because it wasn't masculine and it wasn't socially proper. Well, I'm breaking the rules today, sitting here with tears streaming down my face, remembering some of the people that we as a society lost to AIDS in the 1980s.
     
    I started doing a little research into just this topic when I was researching the 1980s for "Be Rad" (link at the bottom: shameless self-promotion). I wanted to find some actors that were young and hot (so you guys could actually get hard thinking about having sex with them) yet were hit by that terrible disease. There's a site on Wiki that lists people that have died from AIDS-related causes: Wiki - AIDS Deaths in California. Obviously this is an abbreviated listing, but it includes many famous people.
     
    There were two that I picked out. The first is Timothy Patrick Murphy, a really hot guy who starred briefly on "Dallas" as a love interest for Lucy Ewing (Charlene Tilton). For my story, there is no show more "1980's" than Dallas. I posted a few youtube links for him on a E-fiction discussion entry: Be Rad Forum Entry. I feel for his parents, who lost this son to AIDS, and their youngest in the World Trade Center on 9/11/2001.
     
    The second is Merritt Butrick (it's okay to snicker at the last name). If you ever watched Star Trek, you will remember him as Dr. David Markus, the son of James T. Kirk. What I didn't know was that he was also featured in TNG, as T'Jon: T'Jon Blurb. Here's what Wiki says about his death:
    Butrick developed AIDS. Although he never discussed his private life in public, Butrick's friends have come forward in recent years to refute speculation that he acquired HIV through drug use, as Butrick acquired the virus through sex.[citation needed]
    In the week before his death, Butrick received a spinal tap/lumbar puncture to help relieve cranial pressure as he was suffering from toxoplasma of the brain. At the time, Butrick was suffering from pneumonia and as of consequence of his combined illnesses, brought about by his AIDS status, Merritt died in his own apartment in Hollywood on 17 March 1989. He was cremated and returned to his family in Lake Oswego, Oregon.
    In 2008, Square Pegs was released on DVD, which included a featurette dedicated to Butrick, in which his co-stars, including Jami Gertz and Sarah Jessica Parker, and show creator Anne Beatts paid glowing tributes to and recounted anecdotes about Butrick. Butrick's Star Trek III: The Search For Spock costar Robin Curtis offered similar praise on the DVD commentary for that film.
     
    I couldn't find a link to the tribute.
     
    Then there's famous Academy Award winner Anthony Perkins. Here's what Wiki had to say about his Death and AIDS:
    On August 9, 1973, Perkins married photographer Berry Berenson. They had two sons: actor Oz Perkins (b. February 2, 1974), and musician Elvis Perkins (b. February 9, 1976).
    He was bisexual. Sources say he had exclusively same-sex relationships until his late 30s, when he had an affair with actress Victoria Principal, at which point he underwent therapy [1] He reportedly had affairs with actors Rock Hudson and Tab Hunter, dancer Rudolf Nureyev, composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim and dancer-choreographer Grover Dale. Perkins had a six-year relationship with Dale prior to marrying Berenson.
    Perkins died at age 60, on September 12, 1992, from complications of AIDS. He was cremated. His ashes were given to his family.
    Berry Berenson died on American Airlines Flight 11, during the September 11, 2001 attacks.
     
    There's something incredibly ironic, in a macabre way, that both Timothy Patrick Murphy and Tony Perkins would ultimately loose loved ones in 9/11.
  6. Mark Arbour

    Herpes

    By Mark Arbour,

    No, I don't have it.
     
    I started writing my next installment, set in 1980. The big STD fear in 1980 was Herpes. If you got it, you'd get sores on your dick, or your mouth, or both. It wouldn't kill you, but it might be painful, it was certainly inconvenient, and once you got it, it was FOREVER. Not like gonorrhea, which you could treat with antibiotics. No, if you got Herpes, it would be with you forever. And that meant that when you meant that special someone, you couldn't just have sex, you had to have "the Herpes Conversation" (according to a friend of mine who got it.) That concept of having a disease that you couldn't ever get rid of, that would plague you forever, was just horrifying.
     
    Then in 1981/82 AIDS came along and made Herpes seem almost comical. So what if you've got some viral infection that flares up every once in a while and is an inconvenience. It doesn't kill you. A whole new paradigm, a whole new fear.
     
    So why am I rambling on about it? Because AIDS has had such an impact on me (and presumably on society) I'm having a tough time getting my mind back to that time when Herpes was the ultimate in nasty STDs. It just seems so trite now.
     
    I think if I started a relationship with someone and they told me they had Herpes (or HPV) I'd be careful, a little nervous, but it wouldn't be a deal killer. I think HIV would be. I think. Does that make me a bad person? Grrrrr.
  8. Mark Arbour

    Reasons to be Happy

    By Mark Arbour,

    I woke up this morning, late, after watching election news until 3am. It's like the political Superbowl. But I woke up in a happy mood, excited that after 8 dreary years of Bush bullshit we might actually be able to restore America, economically and internationally, into the respected pillar that it once was. I love my country. I think a new day is dawning, a day where we actually try to solve our problems with new approaches. I feel the same way I felt after I voted for Reagan in 1980, my first election.
     
    But that's not the only reason. Two of my favorite people have been seen around here at GA lately. DomLuka is back, and I missed him. Not just his writing, which is both excellent and inspirational (to a writer especially), but for him. I've known Dom for a long time, and back in the days of his Yahoo group a number of us stirred things up just a bit, and Dom was just the perfect diplomat, always willing to intervene if needed, but otherwise letting the opinions flow freely. Even after he made it to the big time, GA, he was always fun and approachable. There's an inimitable charm about him, the way that, even when he's glum, he still seems chipper. Is there anyone out there who doesn't want to sleep with him?
     
    And Snow Dog. He's been spotted around lately. Analytical, brilliant, sexy in a geeky kind of way. I've missed his tortured and twisted psyche.
     
    I'm smiling today. But by tomorrow, I'm sure someone will figure out a way to f**K up my good mood.
  9. Mark Arbour
    We were discussing Congressman Mark Foley's conversations with pages; one was posted online and was pretty explicit. In case you're interested, here it is. Maf54 is Congressman Foley.
     
     
     
    Maf54 (7:25:14 PM): hey
    Auto response from Xxxxxxxxx (7:25:14 PM): scrounging for food...brb
    Maf54 (7:25:25 PM): ok
    Maf54 (7:25:35 PM): kep scrounging
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:31:51 PM): boo
    Maf54 (7:32:13 PM): bo dude
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:32:17 PM): lol
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:32:26 PM): whered ya go this afternoon
    Maf54 (7:33:39 PM): i am in pensecola...had to catch a plane
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:33:47 PM): oh well thats fun
    Maf54 (7:34:04 PM): indeed
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:34:14 PM): what are you doing in pensecola
    Maf54 (7:34:21 PM): now in my hotel room
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:34:39 PM): well ..like why did you go there
    Maf54 (7:35:02 PM): for the campaign
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:35:29 PM): have you officialy announced yt
    Maf54 (7:35:45 PM): not yet
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:36:06 PM): cool cool...
    Maf54 (7:37:27 PM): how my favorite young stud doing
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:37:46 PM): tired and sore
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:37:52 PM): i didnt no waltzing could make you sore
    Maf54 (7:38:04 PM): from what
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:38:34 PM): what do you mean from what
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:38:42 PM): from waltzing...im sore from waltzing
    Maf54 (7:39:32 PM): tahts good
    Maf54 (7:39:32 PM): you need a massage Maf54 signed off at 7:39:37 PM. Maf54 signed on at 7:40:35 PM.
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:40:44 PM): got kicked off?
    Maf54 (7:41:24 PM): must have
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:41:57 PM): ugh tomorrow i have the first day of lacrosse practice
    Maf54 (7:42:27 PM): love to watch that
    Maf54 (7:42:33 PM): those great legs running
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:42:38 PM): haha...they arent great
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:42:45 PM): thats why we have conditioning
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:42:56 PM): 2 days running....3 days lifting
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:43:11 PM): every week
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:43:14 PM): until the end of march
    Maf54 (7:43:27 PM): well dont ruin my mental picture
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:43:32 PM): oh lol...sorry
    Maf54 (7:43:54 PM): nice
    Maf54 (7:43:54 PM): youll be way hot then
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:44:01 PM): haha...hopefully
    Maf54 (7:44:22 PM): better be
    Maf54 (7:46:01 PM): well I better let you go do oyur thing
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:46:07 PM): oh ok
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:46:11 PM): have fun campaigning
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:46:17 PM): or however you spell it
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:46:18 PM): lol
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:46:25 PM): ill see ya in a couple of weeks
    Maf54 (7:46:33 PM): did any girl give you a haand job this weekend
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:46:38 PM): lol no
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:46:40 PM): im single right now
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:46:57 PM): my last gf and i broke up a few weeks agi
    Maf54 (7:47:11 PM): are you
    Maf54 (7:47:11 PM): good so your getting horny
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:47:29 PM): lol...a bit
    Maf54 (7:48:00 PM): did you spank it this weekend yourself
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:48:04 PM): no
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:48:16 PM): been too tired and too busy
    Maf54 (7:48:33 PM): wow...
    Maf54 (7:48:34 PM): i am never to busy haha
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:48:51 PM): haha
    Maf54 (7:50:02 PM): or tired..helps me sleep
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:50:15 PM): thats true
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:50:36 PM): havent been having a problem with sleep though.. i just walk in the door and collapse well at least this weekend
    Maf54 (7:50:56 PM): i am sure
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:50:57 PM): i dont do it very often normally though
    Maf54 (7:51:11 PM): why not
    Maf54 (7:51:22 PM): at your age seems like it would be daily
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:51:57 PM): not me
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:52:01 PM): im not a horn dog
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:52:07 PM): maybe 2 or 3 times a week
    Maf54 (7:52:20 PM): thats a good number
    Maf54 (7:52:27 PM): in the shower
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:52:36 PM): actually usually i dont do it in the shower
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:52:42 PM): just cause i shower in the morning
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:52:47 PM): and quickly
    Maf54 (7:52:50 PM): in the bed
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:52:59 PM): i get up at 530 and am outta the house by 610
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:53:03 PM): eh ya
    Maf54 (7:53:24 PM): on your back
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:53:30 PM): no face down
    Maf54 (7:53:32 PM): love details
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:53:34 PM): lol
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:53:36 PM): i see that
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:53:37 PM): lol
    Maf54 (7:53:39 PM): really
    Maf54 (7:53:54 PM): do you really do it face down
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:54:03 PM): ya
    Maf54 (7:54:13 PM): kneeling
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:54:31 PM): well i dont use my hand...i use the bed itself
    Maf54 (7:54:31 PM): where do you unload it
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:54:36 PM): towel
    Maf54 (7:54:43 PM): really
    Maf54 (7:55:02 PM): completely naked?
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:55:12 PM): well ya
    Maf54 (7:55:21 PM): very nice
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:55:24 PM): lol
    Maf54 (7:55:51 PM): cute butt bouncing in the air
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:56:00 PM): haha
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:56:05 PM): well ive never watched myslef
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:56:08 PM): but ya i guess
    Maf54 (7:56:18 PM): i am sure not
    Maf54 (7:56:22 PM): hmmm
    Maf54 (7:56:30 PM): great visual
    Maf54 (7:56:39 PM): i may try that
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:56:43 PM): it works
    Maf54 (7:56:51 PM): hmm
    Maf54 (7:56:57 PM): sound inetersting
    Maf54 (7:57:05 PM): i always use lotion and the hand
    Maf54 (7:57:10 PM): but who knows
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:57:24 PM): i dont use lotion...takes too much time to clean up
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:57:37 PM): with a towel you can just wipe off....and go
    Maf54 (7:57:38 PM): lol
    Maf54 (7:57:45 PM): where do you throw the towel
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:57:48 PM): but you cant work it too hard....or its not good
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:57:51 PM): in the laundry
    Maf54 (7:58:16 PM): just kinda slow rubbing
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:58:23 PM): ya....
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:58:32 PM): or youll rub yourslef raw
    Maf54 (7:58:37 PM): well I have aa totally stiff wood now
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:58:40 PM): cause the towell isnt very soft
    Maf54 (7:58:44 PM): i bet..taht would hurt
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:58:50 PM): but you cn find something softer than a towell i guess
    Maf54 (7:58:59 PM): but it must feel great spirting on the towel
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:59:06 PM): ya
    Maf54 (7:59:29 PM): wow
    Maf54 (7:59:48 PM): is your little guy limp...or growing
    Xxxxxxxxx (7:59:54 PM): eh growing
    Maf54 (8:00:00 PM): hmm
    Maf54 (8:00:12 PM): so you got a stiff one now
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:00:19 PM): not that fast
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:00:20 PM): hey
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:00:32 PM): so you have a fetich
    Maf54 (8:00:32 PM): hey what
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:00:40 PM): fetish**
    Maf54 (8:00:43 PM): like
    Maf54 (8:00:53 PM): i like steamroom
    Maf54 (8:01:04 PM): whats yours
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:01:09 PM): its kinda weird
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:01:14 PM): lol
    Maf54 (8:01:21 PM): i am hard as a rock..so tell me when your reaches rock
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:01:23 PM): i have a cast fetish
    Maf54 (8:01:27 PM): well tell me
    Maf54 (8:01:32 PM): cast
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:01:44 PM): ya like...plaster cast
    Maf54 (8:01:49 PM): ok..so what happens
    Maf54 (8:01:58 PM): how does that turn you in
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:02:02 PM): i dont know
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:02:04 PM): it just does
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:02:08 PM): ive never had one
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:02:16 PM): but people that have them turn me on
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:02:27 PM): and if i had one it would probably turn me on
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:02:29 PM): beats me
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:02:32 PM): its kinda weird
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:02:50 PM): but along with that i like the whole catholic girl look....thats our schools uniform
    Maf54 (8:03:02 PM): ha thats wild
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:03:14 PM): ya but now im hard
    Maf54 (8:03:32 PM): me 2
    Maf54 (8:03:42 PM): cast got you going
    Maf54 (8:03:47 PM): what you wearing
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:04:04 PM): normal clothes
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:04:09 PM): tshirt and shorts
    Maf54 (8:04:17 PM): um so a big buldge
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:04:35 PM): ya
    Maf54 (8:04:45 PM): um
    Maf54 (8:04:58 PM): love to slip them off of you
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:05:08 PM): haha
    Maf54 (8:05:53 PM): and gram the one eyed snake
    Maf54 (8:06:13 PM): grab
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:06:53 PM): not tonight...dont get to excited
    Maf54 (8:07:12 PM): well your hard
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:07:45 PM): that is true
    Maf54 (8:08:03 PM): and a little horny
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:08:11 PM): and also tru
    Maf54 (8:08:31 PM): get a ruler and measure it for me
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:08:38 PM): ive already told you that
    Maf54 (8:08:47 PM): tell me again
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:08:49 PM): 7 and 1/2
    Maf54 (8:09:04 PM): ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
    Maf54 (8:09:08 PM): beautiful
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:09:38 PM): lol
    Maf54 (8:09:44 PM): thats a great size
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:10:00 PM): thank you
    Maf54 (8:10:22 PM): still stiff
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:10:28 PM): ya
    Maf54 (8:10:40 PM): take it out
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:10:54 PM): brb...my mom is yelling
    Maf54 (8:11:06 PM): ok
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:14:02 PM): back
    Maf54 (8:14:37 PM): cool hope se didnt see any thing
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:14:54 PM): no no
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:14:59 PM): she is computer dumb though
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:15:01 PM): it makes me so mad
    Maf54 (8:15:04 PM): good
    Maf54 (8:15:08 PM): haha
    Maf54 (8:15:11 PM): why
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:15:23 PM): cause she cant do anything
    Maf54 (8:15:31 PM): oh well
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:15:41 PM): she couldnt figure out how to download a file from an email and open it
    Maf54 (8:15:53 PM): haha
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:16:14 PM): and she only does it like a million times a day
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:16:16 PM): oh well
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:16:18 PM): whatever
    Xxxxxxxxx (8:16:53 PM): well i better go finish my hw...i just found out from a friend that i have to finish reading and notating a book for AP english Maf54 signed off at 8:17:43 PM.
  10. Mark Arbour

    1968 and Criticism

    By Mark Arbour,

    I just finished writing the sequel to Chronicles of an Academic Predator, which is titled 1968 because it's, big surprise, set in 1968. In my yahoo group I've gotten some interesting feedback, some of it bordering on petulant, because I killed off one of the primary characters. I've attached the postings from two of them below. I guess when I started writing I hoped I'd simply get rave reviews, which would be a great ego stroke, and then I could go on with my life feeling just that much cooler. Then I reasoned that just happy good feedback wouldn't really make me a better writer. It isn't that simple because I didn't factor in the emotional aspects. Part of me is thrilled and flattered that people got wrapped up enough in the characters I created to actually give a shit. The other part feels sort of emotionally blackmailed, like it's my fault that I've regurgitated bad memories or relationships that have gone bad in the past. In any event, my sterling editor, Sharon, who doubles as a true friend, bailed me out with a simple yet thorough response that was way better than anything I could have done. An interesting experience, not what I expected, better in some ways, not better in others.
     
    Critique 1:
     
    None of the critics here are being antagonistic or hostile to Mark
    (from what i can read). What we are saying are feedbacks. We're only
    pointing out that it is Jeff who elevates the story. The touch of
    humanity that makes the story appealing is evident through Jeff. And
    writing him off like that isn't exactly a good move. It makes us feel
    that there is no purpose or meaning in reading the story. There is no
    resolution when you get rid of an endearing and important character
    while s/he is in the background. And no amount of exposition about
    that character after their removal will be adequate enough to make
    the story as much as a satisfyiing read as before. This is one of the
    main reasons why authors lose readers... poor plotting for such a
    character. It isn't really a good idea to not give him/her a proper
    exit...
    In my opinion, a better and more relevant sequel to CAP could have
    been told using Jeff's pov. Maybe even following the same events as
    68, except Jerff doesn't die. It would deal with his downward spiral,
    breakup with JP, surviving and recovering from his od, overcoming his
    addiction, and finding new value, meaning, joys, and satisfaction in
    life.
    I really hope Mark will write an alternate sequel... hehe. From CAP,
    you can tell he has the potential to become a great author. And he's
    already a great writer.
     
    Critique 2:
     
    I agree completely to what XXXX said above. He stated it in a
    much more elegant, tactful, and diplomatic manner than I could ever
    hope to express.
     
    I asked myself today, why do I even care about some random fictional
    character? Why are these feelings of disgust and sadness so strong?
    After reading 1968 I went to sleep and had bad dreams, waking up in a
    foul mood. I felt hollow. Then I realized, Jeff reminded me very much
    of my first ex-boyfriend; they shared all the good qualities but none
    of the bad. Due to my inexperience he slipped through my fingers, but
    to imagine him dying like Jeff horrified me. The storyline had
    definitely hit a nerve.
     
    I have lost a few friendships who have succumbed to crystal meth or
    other drug addictions. They are still alive, and even though we are
    no longer friends, I remember their good qualities. Some have just
    disappeared.... I have also lost my only brother in a senseless
    accident, so I know what it feels like when a loved one dies. Maybe
    that's why I could not comprehend the denouement and JP&Co's
    reactions.
     
    And last but not least, Sharon's insights:
     
     
    One of the beauties of well written fiction is its ability to draw the reader in and allow us, as the reader, to connect with the characters. Mark has done an excellent job of creating his characters, as evidenced by the current discussion. And for what it's worth...it is Mark's story to tell anyway he wants.
     
     
     
    Everyone `reads' a story differently. For me, first and foremost, both CAP and 1968 are JP's story. I've been happy getting to know him and the various people who revolve in and out of his life. While I liked Jeff's character, I've never seen him as the `hero' of the story. His ability to overcome his family history, at least for a short time, was based on his connection with JP. It appears that JP always considered Jeff to be his rock of stability, but in actuality, JP was the stable one. While finding out about Jeff's drug problems in the opening of 1968 was a bit shocking, it wasn't all that surprising given the turbulent times and the pervasive drug culture. I think Mark left enough clues in developing Jeff's character throughout CAP to support this turn of events. Jeff really wasn't a happy camper. In fact, he thrived on drama, usually creating that drama himself. I think Mark has referred to it as a rollercoaster ride. JP didn't abandon Jeff
  11. Mark Arbour
    OK, I just finished writing this massively long story (Chronicles of an Academic Predator). Poor Sharon, just when she thought she could rest, I started working on a sequel. So those of you who know her, please send her some e-oxygen.
  12. Mark Arbour

    Blogging to Ether

    By Mark Arbour,

    Well, it's been so incredibly long since I've posted anything to my blog that I doubt anyone will read it. That's OK. I'll use at as therapy, kind of like psychological masturbation. Actually, the thing that's on my mind the most this weekend is the end of my first true fictional story, "Chronicles of an Academic Predator," which I've posted at my yahoo group and on e-fiction. It was pretty fun, since I set the story in 1962 - 1963, a time of change and crisis. The historical research was the most fun of all. It was pretty intense. Once I started writing it was like things just hit me, and even though I didn't have it all planned out when I started, it just seemed to flow and flow and flow. It was funny, because when I posted it on e-fiction, after 45 chapters it became the longest e-fiction story, something I'm sure my editor, Sharon, who truly is a Goddess, was well aware of. Maybe Sharon isn't a Goddess, because if she had powers that amazing she wouldn't have that whole dishwasher problem going on. Maybe Princess is a better term. But I digress.
     
     
    So now I'm in the post story slump, where I miss building characters and evolving their stories, yet I'm not sure what I want to do next. I'm thinking of doing a sequel to CAP set in 1968, another huge year. I've got two other ideas I'm mulling. One is a story set in the 1980's revolving around the Preppy phenomenon, and another is set in late 1600's France with a new twist on the story of the Man in the Iron Mask. I figure that no matter what I do with the latter choice, it can't be any less historically accurate than Dumas' version. So that's my dilemma. Any of you stumble on this blog by mistake, let me know what you think.
     
    Group Link:Arbourtales: Mark Arbour's Yahoo Group
     
    E-Fiction Link: Chronicles of an Academic Predator
  13. Mark Arbour

    Easter Sucks

    By Mark Arbour,

    Sometimes going through the motions pretending that I actually believe the stuff written in the new testament becomes so hypocritical it almost overwhelms me. Sort of like pretending to be straight when I'm bisexual. Is my whole life just one big deception?
     
    f**K it. I'm gonna go get stoned.
  14. Mark Arbour

    Speed Skaters

    By Mark Arbour,

    So I've been glued to the TV watching the winter olympics....and I've been watching this controversy in the US men's team. Apparently Hedrick and Shani Davis are about ready to kill each other. I keep trying to figure out which one I like, and who I think is "right" in this situation. I was a big Hedrick fan, because he's good (and hot), but Shani, with his shyness, and barrier-breaking medal, appeals to me as well. Anyone got any insight?
  16. Mark Arbour
    Well I just spent my spare time for the last three days reading Underthehoodster's Perry and Jesse series. What a captivating story. The detail and the character development were simply excellent, and it was one of those stories that I just couldn't stop. There were a things about the story that just hit me as being wrong, or maybe even impossible. Upon analyzing these impressions, I kept returning to the overwhelming conclusion that the author is either a closet female, or writing from an incredibly feminine point of view.
     
    First of all, there seemed to be considerable gender juxtaposition. For example, the key protagonist boys were largely passive, while the women were very aggressive. Notice how Perry is constantly following, not leading, and how Jesse maintains a totally defensive posture? Compare that to the women, like Clarissa, Jessica, Katy, Melissa, or Deanna, all of whom are very assertive, even domineering. The men, when they are assertive, tend to be violently so. Most men recognize that they live in a rough and tumble environment and expect that to a certain degree, whereas women find that, generally, to be insane, much as the author portrays it.
     
    Then there is the crying. The guys in this story cry ALL THE TIME. WTF is that all about? Most 8th grade guys do not cry in public, and only in front of each other on rare occasions. It seems like every time you turn around these guys are having emotional breakdowns.
     
    Next, Perry is a completely unbelievable character, IMHO. We are given the impression that he is a good friend, very handsome, to all outward appearannces a complete heterosexual, and a basketball star. His good looks are matched by a killer bod. Yet this guy is completely unable or unwilling to fend for himself. This makes no sense. Hell, he can't even handle Deanna, he has to wait for Jesse to bail him out. I am supposed to believe that a 14 year old guy, with broadening shoulders and good muscle tone, can't handle even some fat chick? He is the constant victim. Here's the rub. If this guy is as pretty as we are told, and as wimpy as he is portrayed, and as emotional as we see, I find it hard to figure out how he's going to be popular in middle school, much less pass as straight.
     
    Finally, the male sexuality in this story is somewhat unbelievable. Why? These guys, or at least Perry, simply have too much physical control. There reactions are distinctly NOT male. Men think with their dicks, especially when aroused. Perry is bisexual, yet with his encounter with Jessica, he makes no move to take off her bra and play with her tits. Even if he was gay, and she was jacking him off, don't you think he'd want to at least explore? Even a wimp like him? Especially when he's hard as a rock and she's stroking his dick? In his encounters with Tom, with Gary, with Morgan, even though he is aroused and hard, his logic always overwhelms his sex drive. A 14 year old guy? I think not.
     
    Further, these guys, in their sexual encounters, often keep their clothes on and just cum in their pants. Sometimes they even plan on it. I can see this once in a while, but it happens alot (Tom and Jesse both do this often). Guys that are exploring sexually, discovering each other's bodies, are clothed? Not buying it.
     
    Change the parameters of the story and make Jesse and Perry, especially Perry, females, perhaps cheerleaders. Notice how much better his behaviour fits that mode. The "I'll do it even if I don't want to just to make you happy" sexual attitudes he displays, the "I need someone big and strong to protect me" mode, and the "I'm gonna cry again" emotional responses fit that model much better than a hot middle school male jock.
  17. Mark Arbour

    The Drama of Leaving

    By Mark Arbour,

    What is this obsession for some people to make such a big deal about leaving a website, with drama, pulling heartstrings, etc., only to then return just a few weeks later? I think the correct term for that kind of behaviour would be "attention whore", and I guess responding only validates the behaviour. Damn...I ranted about this and self-fulfilled my own irritating prophesy. Some people suck, and not in a good way.
  18. Mark Arbour
    I saw this headline and pondered that, while armpits can be sexy, I didn't know that chasing after them was illegal in Canada. Turns out it's about people chasing after Brad Pitt. I'm not sure I blame them for that either.
     
    It's a boring day...beautiful outside, with lots of work to do inside. Blah.
  19. Mark Arbour

    Snowey is OK

    By Mark Arbour,

    Just a quick note to let you know that I got an e-mail and im from Snowey and he's doing OK. I think he's trying to find balance in his life as he moves forward with his marriage, and the time commitment to his online relationships may be a hindrance. I'm hopeful that as he finds that balance, he'll be able to return here in some capacity.
     
    It's such a relief to know he's OK, and he's not out of my life forever. Thanks to all of you who were so supportive during my emotional meltdown.
  20. Mark Arbour

    The Culture of GA

    By Mark Arbour,

    I woke up this morning, pretty late for me, and started hustling around my place getting organized. I was supposed to have office hours today. Then I logged on and read Snow Dog's post. It hit me hard. We were good friends. I relied on his intellect. His left brain complemented my right brain.
     
    I spent the day depressed. I cancelled office hours. I did my class and came home and went to bed. Alone. I swore again that I would never allow myself to get close to another person on the net. I vowed that I wouldn't leave myself emotionally vulnerable again. I kept checking my mail to see if he'd left me a message. Nothing. I'd watch the TV and see another massive hurricane heading towards our shores, yet another disaster for our country. Finally, focussing on my work, then smoking a joint, made it possible for me to log on and write this. If I'm boring you, that's OK. I'm doing this part for me. I needed to vent to people who would understand.
     
    Anyway, I started to think about the culture of this board, and how so many of us have contributed uniquely to it's forum and blogs. Snow Dog was always there with a caustic but logical viewpoint. We can always count on Michael to give us a kind word. There seemed to be a nice balance of testosterone in here. With GoBears around, I don't feel so outnumbered by gay guys and women (that's a joke, don't flame me). That ignores so many others that make unique contributions. And then of course there's Connor and I, the resident assholes. Slaveboy, you'll just have to fill Snowey's shoes now. You grow up fast around here.
     
    So thanks for letting me vent. I'm not generally one to express vulnerability, and I admit that I approached this blog entry with some trepidation, but sometimes you just can't handle all of life's challenges alone.
  22. Mark Arbour
    A - Age: 46
     
    B- Bed size: King
     
    C - Chore you hate: Cleaning floors (vacuuming or mopping)
     
    D - Dogs or cats: Both. They're awesome
     
    E - Essential start your day item: ADD medicine
     
    F - Favorite color: Green
     
    G - Gold or Silver: Depends. It's changed over time. Now, probably silver.
     
    H - Height: 6'3
     
    I - Instrument played: Piano (badly)
     
    J - Job title: Assistant Professor
     
    K - Kid(s): One.
     
    L - Loud or quiet: Loud
     
    M - Mom's name: Mom
     
    N - Nicknames: God.
     
    O - Overnight hospital stay: Yeah, for tonsils when I was 7
     
    P - Pet Peeve: People who eat with their mouths open, people with personality defects.
     
    Q - Quote from a movie: "We get any more white people, we gonna be a suburb," from Hairspray.
    "I hate Illinois Nazis," from Blues Brothers.
     
    R - Right or left handed: Right
     
    S - Siblings: 1
     
    T - Time you wake up: by choice? Noon
     
    U- Underwear: depends on my mood. Tighty whities or boxers.
     
    V - Vegetable you dislike: Brussel's Sprouts. They taste bad and smell worse.
     
    W - Ways you run late: Oversleep
     
    X - X-rays you've had: Teeth, feet, hands, arms, elbow, chest.
     
    Y - Yummy food you make: Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Fudge icing.
     
    Z - Zoo favorite: Big Kitties. And Polar Bears. And anything with an erection.
  23. Mark Arbour

    Hairspray

    By Mark Arbour,

    I'm sitting here on Friday night at midnight and the movie "Hairspray" just came on. Yes, this is what you do on a Friday night when you're in your 40s. Anyway, this has become one of my favorite movies for a bunch of reasons. First of all, the cast was great. Allison Janney, John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Queen Latifah, and Michelle Pfieffer, they were all great. And then there's Zac Efron. Wow. What a wet dream waiting to happen. Then there's the message, the focus on segregation. "Negro Day"....how great was that? But I guess for me the most meaningful thing about it was that it was one of the things that inspired me to start writing again and to set my first fictional story, "Chronicles of an Academic Predator," in 1962.
     
    To think, you could someday own Edna's Occidental Laundry or the Hardy Har Hut. LMAO.
     
    My favorite Hairspray Quote: Queen Latifah: "We get any more white people in here this gonna be a suburb."
  24. Mark Arbour
    It's f**king cold here in the midwest, but sometimes that's kind of nice. I've got the fire turned on (gas, not wood, because I'm lazy), the cat sitting in my lap, and there are snow flurries outside, dusting the ground with white powder. But not the kind you can inhale. And I've just finished a writing marathon that started in August and generated three stories and more than 80 chapters. I'm feeling lazy.
     
    Still, I've got another one on the back burner, a continuation of the saga I started and the characters that I've grown to love, but set in the 1980's this time. It's a whole different world, and sex is about to change big time with the advent of AIDS. It was kind of fun writing about sex in the 60's and 70's, where the worst thing you could get could be cured by some antibiotics. No condoms to impede action, just lube and go, so to speak. So I'll have to pick up that challenge soon enough.
     
    First I think I'll get a bone for the dog and turn on the Christmas tree.
  25. Mark Arbour

    Dear Red States....

    By Mark Arbour,

    Dear Red States:
    We've decided we're leaving.We intend to form our own country, and we're taking the other Blue States with us. In case you aren't aware, that includes California,Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and all the Northeast. We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation, and especially to the people of the new country of NewUSA.
    To sum up briefly: You get Texas, Oklahoma and all the slave states. We get stem cell research and the best beaches. We get the Statue
    of Liberty. You get Dollywood. We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom. We get Harvard. You get Ole' Miss. We get 85% of America's venture capital and entrepreneurs. You get Alabama.We get two-thirds of the tax revenue, you get to make the red states pay their fair share. Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22% lower than the Christian Coalition's, we get a bunch of happy families.
    Please be aware that our new country will be pro-choice and anti-war, and we're going to want all our
    citizens back from Iraq at once. If you need people to fight, ask your evangelicals. They have kids they're apparently willing to send to their deaths for no purpose, and theydon't care if you don't show pictures of their children's caskets coming home. We do wish you success in Iraq , and hope that the WMDs turn up, but we're not willing to spend our resources in Bush's Quagmire.
    With the Blue States in hand, we will have firm control of 80% of the country's fresh water, more than 90% of the pineapple and lettuce, 92%of the nation's fresh fruit, 95% of America's quality wines, 90% of all cheese, 90% of the high tech industry,
    95% of the corn and soybeans (thanks Iowa!), most of the U.S. low-sulfur coal, all living redwoods, sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools plus Stanford, Cal Tech and MIT.
    With the Red States, on the other hand, you will have to cope with 88% of all obese Americans (and their projected health care costs), 92% of all U.S. mosquitoes, nearly 100% of the tornadoes, 90% of the hurricanes, 99% of all Southern Baptists, virtually 100% of all televangelists, Rush Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Clemson and the University of Georgia.
    We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you.
    Additionally, 38% of those in the Red states believe Jonah was actually swallowed by a whale, 62% believe life is sacred unless we're discussing the war, the death penalty or gun laws, 44% say that evolution is only a theory, 53% that Saddam was involved in 9/11 and 61% of you crazy bastards believe you are people with higher morals than we lefties.
    Finally, we're taking the good pot,
    too. You can have that dirt weed they grow in Mexico. Peace out,The Blue States
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