methodwriter85

I loved Brad and Darius's talk. Brad falling for that adorable little three-year old was one of the best storylines in Man in Motion, and I loved things coming "full-circle", so to speak...Brad's acknowledgement of that tot turning into a young man ready to take on the world has been a great underlying thread throughout this current story. Brad and Robbie are slowly edging out into empty-nest syndrome, with it fully happening in '04. (Yes, I realize there's Jeanine's kid/kids, but they won't actually be getting raised by the duo.)

Chapter 66 -When Robbie and Brad accompany Darius on a college visit, and Brad reminsces about Darius as a three-year old. "When I Grow Up to Be A Man" by the Beach Boys -When Darius talks about his developing relationship with Ella. "Absolutely" (Story of a Girl) by 9 Days -When the gang confronts creepy Fred Hayes. "Wait and Bleed" by Slipknot http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u_IIS5dUeU "Take My Picture" by Filter was orginally in that place, but I thought about it, and figured the 9 Days song fit the mood better- talking about this pretty girl with a tough life yet can still manage to give a beautiful smile. That's basically how I picture Ella.

Yeah, I thought Colton Haynes really had that WASPy, All-American boy-next door look that Jack Hobart's son should have. And the freckles are just adorable. Here are some profile pictures so you can really see how nice his cheekbones are: JJ's still the elusive one. I'm thinking Sterling Knight, but Mark's not enthused. Here's how I see JJ's look... 1. He has to be blond. Preferably with curls or waves. 2. He has to have blue or green eyes. 2. He has to look WASP. 3. His features need to be somewhat feminine and delicate. 4. But handsome at the same time. 5. They also need to be sharp features. His nose can't be big. The problem is that most guys, even when they have that look at one time, such as Jesse McCartney or Jeremy Sumpter, usually tend to grow out of looking that way as puberty hits and they take on a more masculine appearance. Especially when it comes to actors- most have to look like a lantern-jawed leading male. And even with models, androdgny isn't as popular as it used to be. So I'm really wracking my head trying to think of guys who look like that. Alex Prettyfer, had he have a smaller nose and looked a little less butch, probably would've been great... Mark, can't you just write that JJ's appearance masculinized when he hit around 18 or 19? C'mon...I wanna use Alex. J/K, lol....

If JP died, though, it wouldn't be an untimely death because he's pretty old.

I plan on being DNR. If I ever need machines to live, I don't want to live.

I really do hope Wade goes back to Washington after graduation in '02 to work as an activist. The Bush administration sure is something to see up close.

Chapter 65 -When Wade talks with his mother, who is getting ready to check into rehab. "Lullaby" by Shawn Collins -When Brian confronts the family, and is completely shut out. "Last Resort" by Papa Roach

That sounds pretty awesome, but I wouldn't want to live to be 100. I think I'll be fine with going out in my 50's or my 60's.

Tommy B, you do realize that George Granger is only 21 years old, right? Took me awhile to catch that.

Chapter 64 -When Elizabeth Danfield realizes she has ammo over Alexandra, and gleefully calls her up. "Suck My Dick" by Lil' Kim *Warning: This song is explicit and contains words and imagery that may or may not be appropriate for minors. -When Robbie surprises Brad in D.C., leading to a passionate kiss. "The Shoop-Shoop Song" (It's In His Kiss) by Betty Everett http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dV4aywItsKI

Nah, they'd go after Will before JJ. Everyone knows he's Brad's favorite.

Chapter 63 -When the gang watches a rather disturbing porn. "Sweet Dreams" by Marilyn Manson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESOEuBMygbU

That's great, Andy! Only children can be pretty great little kids.

Well, you know what Adam wanted to have happen to JP, sweet guy that Adam is. And to think, you wanted to make JJ straight and a bit butchier. Much more fun this way, right? In any event, the best part about JJ being a bitchy diva is that it's totally natural. JJ, having lived in the shadow as the neglected middle child finally has something that sets him apart from his brothers. He's 14, doing great in a high-profile sport, and he's getting tons of praise heaped on him. Of course it's getting to his head. Which will make his eventual reality check- no '02 Olympics- much, much more delicious when it happens. It looks like for Gen 4, you've got Darius as the party animal and smoothtalker. JJ is the cheerful, happy-go-lucky guy with a flair for being dramatic and somewhat bitchy. And Will's the quiet, serious, and shy one. although he's not completely an introvert like Brad was. And Will seems a little more laidback and a bit less of a control freak than Brad was. The dynamics and personalities for this gen seem completely different from the dynamics of the Be Rad gen, which is a great thing. I think the key to that was not really having an Ace- Darius is close to Ace's personality, but since Darius was four years ahead of the bulk of the group, he wasn't really around to push them into being a cohesive social group at school. And it seems like the dynamics of Malibu High/Middle School are much more laidback and less status-obsessed like 1980 Gunn High was.

There are the exceptions, though. Billy came from a stable home, but because of the permissiveness of his parents, particularly his mother, he got out of control and became doomed. And then, of course, you've got Gen 4. All of the kids grew up in a stable environment. Darius and Will seem like sure-headed kids, but JJ seems like the question mark here. He's devoting himself into the high stakes of competitive pro sports, and there's no way to tell how well he's going to handle it. Being at the top of your game at 14 in no way guarentees that you'll be at the top of your game at 20 in '06, and JJ's struggles to stay on top and gunning for the Gold will make for an interesting story. Especially since, if Mark doesn't want to revise history, Evengei Plushenko wins the gold in '06 and Evan Lycasek wins the gold in '10. How JJ handles realizing that he's not the best could be some meaty, dramatic stuff there. I had a coach who wasn't quite good enough for the Olympics- he spent 4 years chasing it, made the semi-finals, but couldn't quite get there. It took him a long time to get over it.

Well, gee Mark, when you set not just one, not just two, but THREE stories that take place in 1999/2000, it's really hard not to run out of material. Especially since this story has run sixty-something chapters. Can the next story skip to at least 2001 so I have more material to work with? I'm itching to start using Linkin Park, Good Charlotte, and New Found Glory. I'm actually most excited about hitting 2003-2004 at some point. That was a pretty good year for music. I was in 11th grade, so I knew a lot of the songs at this point. I'm thinking JJ and Will are throwing a senior year rager to this tune... This song's eight years old and it still makes me wanna get up and dance.

Chapter 62 -When Wade makes a clear stand against his dad, and we learn Elizabeth Danfield's secret. "Freak On A Leash" by Korn

I realized that I waited too long to look for a summer internship. Crap. I'm so screwed. I guess I'll have to do an internship during my 2nd year of grad school.

Right. I'm thinking that in another 15 years or so, Brad's going to be Will's best man at Will's (legal) wedding. Which will be cool.

I'm Will and JJ's age, and trust me- we knew about Destiny's Child even early in that year. I'm guessing it might have been the influence of Brad's kids on this one.

On the other hand, Destiny's Child not being that big yet might be WHY they were able to get Beyonce Knowles out for the wedding. By about late 2000-early 2001, Beyonce's going to be on a decade-long ascent of music stardom...it's actually more realistic that they could get her to come out just before she really made it big. The scene with Will was cute, but seriously- a 13-year old boy thought he'd be best man? Dude. LOL. I'm thinking I've got this totally wrong in thinking that Will's the laidback one. I'm getting the feeling that he's going to be as much of a neurotic mess as Brad was as a teenager.

Chapter 61 -When Brad and Robbie fiddle with Brad's bowtie on their big day. "I Do" (Cherish You) by 98 Degrees - For the wedding. "Can You Feel The Love Tonight?" by Elton John "500 Miles" by the Proclaimers "I Touch Myself" by the Divinyls "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" by Elton John and RuPaul http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtO_jSbNN6I *** Thank you, Mark, for doing my work for me. LOL.

Eh, I'm 25. It's old by college town standards.

But's 2011 on YOUR side, therefore you are 18 and in 12th grade. And lusting after an 8th grade boy. I'm soooo telling everyone! Nah seriously though...I remember when I was in 10th grade, this dude was dating an 8th grade girl. We teased him mercilessly about that. Andy, believe me, I feel your pain. Seven years old for me was 1993- the year of the Clintons coming into power and the Waco stand-off. This Tommy kid was a damn baby at that point. It absolutely frightens me that this year, people born in 1990 are old enough to drink. I mean, I was four in 1990! It can't have been that long ago that people born that year can legally drink! Andy, you and me should go out to a bar and mourn being old men together.

Ace wasn't actually married in "on-book" though, was he? He was single in 1991 with A Summer Love, and by If It Fits he had gotten married to his high school sweatheart Cass, with Courtney being born in 1995. I don't think Ace's wedding ever got shown.