methodwriter85

Heh. And here I was, thinking November 1st was a good date to squeeze in John's birthday. Would I have to go younger or older here? Anything from March to July is out now, in order to keep John twelve years old. And I would assume that it would also take out August and September, since Will seems to imply that he's at least a full year older than John because he doesn't consider himself the same age. October has Brad and Claire's birthdays. December has JJ's birthday. January has Darius's birthdate. There's no one currently alive in the story that has a November birthday. And if I pushed John's birthdate back to 1988 or something, that would put him in the class of 2006 and therefore two years behind the JJ/Marie/Will trifectka.

Well, that sucks. Can they try passing a Civil Union bill? Those tend to have a better chance of passing, and it kinda cuts off the whole "protecting traditional marriage" deal.

Man. And I thought Drew was too old for Will. Sheesh. I guess it's still barely acceptable because Gathan is still under 18 and hasn't started college just yet, but...eh. I do know if Gathan had been part of my social group and everyone found out he was messing around with 8th graders/9th graders, everyone would have crucified him for that and made lots of "To Catch A Predator" jokes. I was really uncomfortable with this chapter, but then I got over it. I don't think Mark's setting up a relationship, per se, but a really tight friendship. Anyway, since Mark seems really committed to having John Hobart be 12 years old, I went into the CAP timeline and revised his birthdate from March 24th to November 1, 1987. I picked that because we don't seem to hit November 1st in the stories too often, and if we have we can pretend that John's just been celebrating his birthdays off-book. John Hobart is pretty much the only one of JP's grandkids who don't have their birthday set in stone- JJ, Marie, Will, and Courtney were all born in the storyline. John's the only who's birth wasn't part of the story. All we really knew is that he's about a year or two younger than Marie. The revised birthdate allows John to be a year younger than Will, and at the same time it keeps him in the class of 2005 because the California kindergarten cut-off date is December 3rd. (JJ missed the cut-off date by four days, which is why he's in the same class with Marie and Will instead of in '03 with Zach.) It's kinda funny. When I was in 7th/8th grade, I knew kids were having sex and it didn't bother me. Now that I'm 25, 8th graders look like babies to me, and it's really uncomfortable to think they're having sex and the like.

I revised John's birthdate to November 1st, 1987, because it seems like Mark wants John to be a year younger than Will. Just for you trivia buffs.

Chapter 2 -When Gathan and Will have exceedingly inappropriate relations with each other. (God, I sound like I'm 50.) "Come Down" by Bush -When Gathan admits to his temper problem. "Everything Zen" by Bush -At the party, when Will stands up to the cop. "Ruff Ryders Anthem" by DMX Right. This generation is enthralled, for the most part, by hip-hop and black culture. Stark contrast to how white-bread Brad's group was. Looking "thug" is in; not looking "prep". There's this movie called "Havoc" with Anne Hathaway about the whole "rich white kids trying to act ghetto" phenon.

I did some research on this. At first I thought that JJ could make it to the Salt Lake City Olympics because his December 1985 birthdate would put him at sixteen years old at the start of 2002. 16 is generally the minimum. But then I found out that because JJ only started skating in the fall of 1998, he won't have enough time to go through all the testing required to make the Olympics. The fastest track was Johnny Weir, and he still took about five years. As for '06 and '10- well...Mark doesn't really re-write history. He'll have our CAP people as add-ons, like how Matt met Matthew Shepherd, but he doesn't change actual fate. Evgeni Plushenko wins the gold in '06. Evan Lycasek wins the gold in '10. So JJ's going to leave both Olympics empty-handed. How he handles that could be a very compelling story for Mark to write. The thing with Tiffany van Der Boss...yeah. She's defnitely pumping him full of hopes, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's because of her own lack of success as a figure skater that she's doing this. It's not really until a person gets to their mid-20's that age differences start mattering a lot less. They're at two entirely different life stages for JJ to really be an equal to Matt. I kinda want JJ to end up friends with Evan Lycasek, but I'm not sure how good that would be for him. LOL.

You're right, although it doesn't feel like that abrupt of a character change. There's still that happy-go-lucky kid somewhere in there, but there's also a young kid in a high-stakes environment who keeps getting told how good he is. It's not surprising it's gone to his head. It's like the kids who went to my performing arts school- they would get really swelled heads if they were getting lead roles in the musicals and like. One guy was on a tv show called Made, and he got a BIG head that lasted for years. I think once his hair started balding at 20 and he was just a regular college junior, though, he became cool again. I'm thinking that comeuppance is due at some point, starting with JJ's realization that he won't make the '02 Olympics. And of course, when winter '06 and winter '10 don't yield gold, either. (Mark is not into re-writing history, which means that JJ will probably go to the Olympics, but he won't actually place.) Some kids go through changes as they grow up. Some don't. I think Will at 18 in 2004 is still pretty much going to be the same kind of person, except maybe having more of an idea of his career. (Here's hoping he becomes a marine biologist. That'd be cool.) JJ at 18 in 2004...we'll see what happens. I'm thinking that like most people, JJ will grow up, look back at himself as a 14-year old, and cringe. For now though, the bitchy diva 'tude is pretty fun and entertaining, at least for me. It makes him a good foil to someone like Will.

You've also got to consider that you're seeing JJ from the perspective of Gathan, who doesn't get along with him. So any of JJ's positive, bubbly qualities just aren't going to be seen by Gathan. He's a brat, but he's also 14. And as someone who knew a lot of performers, I think his personality is pretty spot-on...someone who can be bubbly and friendly yet also snobby and icy. In any event, if every kid was as nice and well-behaved, this would be a boring story.

I remember when every freaking girl had a crush on Jonathan Taylor Thomas, so you're right.

All kidding aside, Cen, this is my take.... I have JJ read as this way, going by how I was when I was 14. If JJ likes you, he REALLY likes you. He's absolutely thrilled by your presence, and he'll follow you around like an overeager puppy dog and admire everything about you. But if he decides, for whatever reason, that you're not worth the time of the day, JJ completely ignores you and goes into Ice King mode. He'll bitch about the person he can't stand ad nauseum to whoever is unfortunate enough to be nearby, and it'll take a long time for any person to get off JJ's bad side, if ever. JJ can likely hold a grudge for a long time. There's no middle ground with JJ- he either loves you or he can't stand you. That would explain why his family seems to think he's such a loving and sweet person, but also how he can be capable of freezing out people like Gathan. It's also a better explaination for why JJ is so unpopular at school than just him being short.

A teenager who undergoes a dramatic personality change into a bitch? Surely you're kidding. Every 9th grader is as cool and mature as Will.

JJ is Jim's son. Rich is his much older half-brother. We learned from The Box that Jim was a total spoiled brat as a teenager, so it's not surprising that JJ is like this. I don't think JJ's snottiness is any kind of deep-rooted issue. He's 14, an immature 14 at that, and a performer. They tend to be diva types. We saw from Bloodlines that JJ can be a really loving and nice guy. My take is that JJ is a guy is loving and kind to those that he cares about, and pretty much can't be bothered by the people he doesn't.

Good to know. I'm still not sure I see someone like Gathan in the club scene, but never say never. If Mark writes clubs/raves into the story, I'll gladly look up stuff. I went through 2000 as a 7th/8th grader, so what I basically knew was all that boyband/Blonde jailbait stuff, poppy punk like Blink 182, rap-rock like Limp Bizkit and Korn, and of course, hip-hop. If you've got music outside of that you'd like to see used, by all means let me know. There's also a recomendation thread for fans, where you can post songs that make you think of the story. Now can we please get beyond razzing me for not using enough club music to score the story and get back on the story? (And where exactly where you Tim when I posted stuff like ATC for the New Year's party? Nary a peep of appreciation.) I'm really loving Will's characterization. He's a 20-year old in a thirteen year old's body, and man did those kinda guys stand out in 8th grade. So far it seems like he has the best of Brad in him, without having Brad's not-so-sterling qualities.

I didn't technically make a primo profit on the sweatshirt, but when you factor in that the hoodie was worn for almost two years, I doubt it was anywhere near worth the 40 dollars I had paid for it back then. It's basically like I rented the hoodie for year and a half, and then got back my money plus about 8 dollars in goods and services. How many people when they sell used goods get back all of the money they spent and then some? Usually when you sell some used good of yours it's at some kind of loss. If the hoodie had sentimental value I wouldn't have sold it, but I needed money because I blew a lot on spring break plus I need to buy a book, and it wasn't really a favorite hoodie of mine. I'll probably get the Flacco 5 UD jersey instead when I get home- I could wear that more times out of the year and whatnot.

Since Tim really likes razzing me for not using club music, I wanted to prove that I actually did use club music. So there. Word of caution: A lot of these links probably don't work anymore because Youtube and the whole WMG debacle. Still, you get the idea of what songs I used to score scenes. 1992-1995 was an incredbily good time for music. It was a joy to score this story.

Hey, though, in my own defense, I used Labouche, Nikki French, Los Del Rio, and Real McCoy to score Mark's 1995 story, If It Fits. It made sense for the story because Stefan was hanging out in the club scene. As for Gathan, I can see him changing, but not to the point where he'd be like a mini-Cody passing out X at the club. I'm thinking he's more into listening to rock and hip-hop. Maybe some country.

I was at a bar tonight. Some DC business dudes noticed my University of Delaware flacco sweatshirt. I got it back in fall '09 when I was drunk at Homecoming. This one guy wanted to buy it off of me, because the Baltimore/DC area apparently doesn't sell Joe Flacco UD swag. I wound up selling it to the guy for forty dollars. Plus the two drinks I got, and the tip I would have given the bartender, I wound up clearing about 48 dollars. The best part is that the sweatshirt had almost little to no sentimental value- I enjoy Flacco and all that, but I can easily get UD Flacco swag when I get home. A new jersey with his five number would cost 35 dollars there. And I had the sweatshirt for almost two years, so even if I had payed over 40 dollars for it(I can't even remember what I paid for it because I was drunk when I bought it), it's not really worth that now. My actual, sentimental University of Delaware hoodie is at home. It's just one of those things where you wanna laugh and go, "One's born every minute." Seriously though, that was pretty cool. I heard that Ravens fans really wanted to get their hands on Joe Flacco UD gear, but I'd never really experienced that until tonight. The whole things a win/win- I get money that I need to replenish my stock after having spent so much money on spring break, and when I'm home and have some extra money, I can just buy a new Flacco t-shirt or something for 15 dollars.

I honestly don't see Gathan as a club/raver type. That's more Sergio and Cody.

I'd really like to use "Heaven" by DJ Sammy, but that's 2002. Damn it. My guess is that I'm going to lean towards a lot of poppy punk like Blink 182 and Sum 41. And of course, hip-hop. I also really wanna use more Moby. "Because I Got High" will defnitely make an appearance as well. To get more on topic....alright Mark, since you like describing clothing trends and brands... 1. Abercrombie and Fitch 2. Urban Outfitters 3. Tommy Hilfiger. And I'm sure Ella is getting dressed in Tommy Girl. 4. Tank tops for guys and for girls. 5. PacSun 6. Diesel jeans. God, I wanted a pair and I knew I could never spend 150 dollars on a pair of jeans. They were like the Calvin Kleins of the early '00s. 7. The whale tail on girls. I'm sure Jack is thrilled that his daughter is wearing thongs shown off by low-slung jeans. I think Hot Topic and the whole emo look is still about a year off.

Well, if you researched it, I guess it works. "Sweet" was definitely used a lot as well- I think it was the influence of South Park. Eric Cartman said that a lot. Here's one that might be controversial, but if you're going to do slang for the early part of the 2000's, you can't really ignore it... "That's gay" as in that's something lame. I mean, I know it'll tick off some readers, but since when have you ever backed down from something like that? It's not politically correct, but it's how teenagers really talked circa 2000. You could not stand around a group of bored teenagers for an extended time and not hear "that movie was so gay" or something like that. I have a sister who's Gathan's age, and it was a heavily used phrase. So "beast" and "that's gay" are the two slang words from the time I hope you can work in at some point.

Well, I was 14 in 2000. It's not like I wasn't listening to music at that point. I'm just hoping we get to 2003 within another two stories, because 2003-2004 holds a lot of my favorite music. 2000 and 2001 had some good music, but meh. And 2002 music, with the exception of maybe Missy Elliot, was the year of Avril Lavigne so blegh. (I actually do like Avril, but god she got annoying.) It's similiar to how you told me once that you preferred 1985-ish music over 1980-ish music. I'm the same way about 2004 vs. 2000. But since I'm stuck in 2000 for now, I'm itching to use "Flavor of the Weak", "The Thong Song", "Come on Over", "The Graduation Song", "Little Black Backpack", "Another Dumb Blonde", "You're A God", and "The Way I Am". Prolly "Bye, Bye, Bye" as well. I'm going through tracks on the Marshall Mathers cd and the Linkin Park cd to figure songs that might work as well.

I honestly don't see Gathan as being like Brad at all. Gathan has a temper, but he also doesn't come off as someone who takes himself too seriously or is a control freak like Brad. As for weeping inconsolably, you have no clue Blue. I BEGGED and pleaded for Mark to have the story skip to January 20th, 2001(Bush Junior's Inauguration Day) so I could use 2001 music, but Mark seems really attached to the idea of exploring the second half of 2000. It's been tough having had so many stories crammed into 1998-2000, and it forced me to branch out, as well as re-use material. I'm praying that after Mark gets done with 9/11(which I'm assuming has to be next because if Mark tries to fit another story between this one and 9/11 it's going to be ridiculous), we'll be able to at least skip over a boring year like 2002, and wind up in 2003 or 2004. 2003-2004 is actually a great year for music- I felt like it was when we finally left the late 90's in terms of music and pop culture. 2000 had some good stuff like Eminem and Linkin Park, but for the most part it was a weird transition year like 1980 was. In the end I think I can deal, especially if it doesn't take over forty to fifty chapters to wind up in 2001. As for the other stuff, I think it's a great start. One thing that kinda bothered me was Gathan saying "homies"- that was pretty outdated by 2000....homies was more slang from the early/mid-90's. I think "bros" was getting used instead by that point. "Boys" is timeless. Like, "Zach's boys." "Buddies" is pretty much timeless, too. But then again, Claremont might be behind the slang curve. I also really like the development of Will. He's so much cooler than Brad ever was. Reminds me of that really chill(that's another slang term for you to use, Mark) 9th grade kid you saw who pretty much came off as like a junior or senior. They were that mature and cool. Unfortunately, most 9th graders are like JJ. Too bad. Damn, Mark, now you got me wracking my brain for early '00s slang. I know "beast" is getting used at this point- it was a compliment for a bro who did something like a champ. Like if a guy managed to sink 6 cups in a row with beer pong, you'd go, "Damn, you totally beasted that game." Or just used to denote someone's who really cool. Like, "Will's a beast."

Chapter 1 -For the intro. "Poor Man's Son" by Survivor http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-8XxUpas-U Okay, I was expecting something totally different with this song. I thought it was a country ballad. Not bad, though. -For the 4th of July Claremont festival. "Smooth" by Santana http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtHjKCBsGjk&feature=related -When Gathan kicks the shit out of his father. "More Human Than Human" by White Zombie -When Gathan and Will talk about his car before going off to the Crampton party. "Fire It Up" by Busta Rhymes

Damn Mike what an excellent summation.

Gathan as the new narrator to hold us while Will is still too young. Makes sense!