methodwriter85

I really, sincerely doubt that Mark is going to bring AIDS into the storyline again. He already went there with Man in Motion. We're more likely to see that next phase of the gay experience- gay marriage and same-sex parenting. Cody's representative of the 90s gay circuit boi tweaker- something that is going to become passe as the decade changes. We're seeing two waves of the future in this story. We've got Tim and Max, the two men who seem destined to settle into a family. And we've got Will, a guy representative of the fact that gay kids are coming out at younger and younger ages.

Okay, maybe I should have edited that to say, "The Hayes line we actually care about". The Jeff Hayes and Frank Hayes line, I meant. That one was in danger. The one with the guys that were actually good, smart people. It doesn't sound like Frank got any grandchildren from his first two kids, or else he would have said something. Robbie didn't have bio kids, and Marcel, Jeff's only surviving son, isn't going to have them. Mark's figured Marcel isn't the type to like kids, and I had to agree with him on that. So the Jeff Hayes lines ends with Marcel, but at least the Frank Hayes line continues with Matt Carrswold. *shrugs* Mark bought into the idea of the endangered Hayes family line. That's why he created Matt. And aren't we all glad he did? Matt's easily the best character to come along since Brad.

Brad wore a condom. If Robbie manages to procreate again, I think it's due to Mark needing to replenish the stock of Hayes boys,since he likes killing them off and all. That's why Mark came up with the idea of Matt Carrswold- some really astute observer pointed out to Mark that with Robbie never having biological kids and Marcel not wanting to have any, the Hayes line was looking to die out.

Well, I meant a couple of weeks in. Although my niece's eyes were the color of the Atlantic Ocean when she was born, and they stayed so. It's not unheard of for the color of eyes at the time of birth to stay in that color. Mark could do a call-back to the first CAP saga, where JP holds Ace in his arms and realizes that it's without a doubt Andre's son. That could be cool. But yeah, I kinda like the idea of everyone expecting the eyes of the baby to settle into Hayes violet blue, and instead it's the Danfield's cold grey blue. I just think having Matt get Tiffany pregnant, and then everything going according to plan would be a bit boring, and soooo not CAP Saga's m.o. There's gotta be something that throws them a curveball.

Here's an interesting blog from a woman, who's son dressed up as Daphne from Scooby Doo for Halloween. She takes on the fellow mothers who felt it was in their place to admonish her for letting him dress up as that. http://nerdyapplebottom.com/2010/11/02/my-son-is-gay/ Alls I gotta say is, "You go girl!" Maybe the son is gay. Maybe he's a budding cross-dresser or tg'er. Maybe it's a total phase, and in ten years this boy is going to be quarterback on his high school football team. But one thing's for certain- he's got one awesome mother.:king:

So, it looks like Mark wants to work on giving the Crampton family a 5th generation, a little ahead of schedule. What do you think were the results of the threesomes? I'm going with Wade being the father. I think it's more dramatic than Matt being the dad. I could just see people in the nursery, waiting for Tiffany's baby to open his/her eyes, and everyone realizes that it's not the violet blue of the Hayes family, but the colder blue of the Danfield's. I could see Tiffany looking at Jeanine, and mouthing, "Oh, [expletive]!"

Wade is also a 19-year old guy who got into this spur-of-the-moment idea. I'm not sure he really thought to wear a condom. I think it'd be hilarious if Wade turned out to be the father. I get the feeling he'd have a harder time letting go of the child. And then there's his crazy mother, who didn't think she'd get grandchildren from this one...I can see it being pretty dramatic.

So it looks like we might have reason to add to the timeline, god bless Wade and Matt and their horny little hearts. I wonder if this will be the start of another baby boom in the family- the last one was in the mid/late 1980's. Maybe Ace and Cass will think about giving little Courtney a little sister or brother. Or Jack and Claire might think about a third child. I'm sure that Max and Tim will have kids.

Tiger, that was a joke about Robbie's mid-life crisis aging issues. Robbie is still only 36. I don't think Jeanine has even hit her late 30's yet- I'm pretty sure she was 20 or 21 when she gave birth to Will. I think she's about Max's age- 34- right now. No one in the Be Rad generation has even hit 40 yet- Brad's the oldest, and he's only 37. I wouldn't call 37 young- but it's not really old, either. It's early middle age. I think a person's last years of youth are about 31-33...so they're not even that far out of being young. I'd still call them youthful. I remember my initial reaction to this was that I was absolutely livid because Matt and Wade didn't put any kind of thought into what they were doing. But I calmed down when I realized that Matt just thought he was doing a great favor for a woman he's always had a bit of a crush on, and at the same time he gets his rocks off as well. Still, I don't know- I still feel like it's too early in the story to start on Generation 5. But whatever. It's not like Matt's going to give up college or something to try and raise a baby with Tiffany. THAT would have pissed me off. He might help out with the kid some, but Matt is in no way ready to be an actual parent, and I don't think Tiffany or Jeanine are expecting that from him. As for Robbie getting Jeanine pregnant...lol. Nah, I don't think Brad and Robbie are interested in chasing after babies again. They're heading towards an empty nest, and I think that works out fine for them. When JJ and Will graduate in '05, I think Brad and Robbie will retire early and sail around the world in a yacht.

Okay, after this chapter, I am now positive that either Matt or Wade must be the narrator for the next one, and that the story should pick up around October/November 2000. It would be way too interesting to see what happens to Matt and Wade as they try to deal with impending parenthood. Plus Mark can get in all the election drama. Although they won't really be parents since Tiffany and Jeanine are raising them. I'm assuming that Tiffany will be a willing surrogate in 10 years or so when Matt/Wade want to start a family. I'm hoping it's Wade's baby. Because you know, and I know, that Wade's crazy bitch of a mother isn't just going to stand off to the side and let Jeanine and Tiffany's families have all the fun. Finally, for all the people who said they'd be willing to follow a straight narrator, it's kinda funny the reaction we've gotten. LOL. Is that possible? I mean, Robbie is so incredibly old. Jeanine's likely menopausal. Can they even concieve kids anymore? *runs from members who are over the age of 35*

Just think...if Stefan had never said anything to JP about this doppleganger that showed up as a job applicant, they never would have heard of Brian. it's pretty amazing that someone as smart and resourceful as Brian is putting everything he has into revenge when he could have started INGDirect or something.

Fair enough. I do know JJ and Will are going to see guys who dress up as Duke Lacrosse players for Halloween '06 college parties, and they'll be pretty shocked at Virginia Tech and will likely get the memorial ribbons for that one. It was the college Columbine- I think a lot of the shock was the idea that something like Columbine would happen in the university setting. Bullying only really happens in college if you're getting hazed for a frat or sports team. Or at least that's what I used to think. I'm someone who has lived in 6 different states...so it's a foreign concept for me that anyone would live in one state their entire life, even if it's California. I pin it on being a Sag. You know we like to travel and move around. (JJ's a Sag as well. Just sayin'.) Remember though, Jeanine is with Tiffany. Tiffany might be willing to move around with her, if Jeanine could set her up with a job in a top-ranked figure skating program in a school that's close enough to New Jersey that she'd be able to commute. Like say...University of Delaware. (Hey, you've gotten to plug UC Santa Barbara. I should be able to plug my own school, especially since it has a program that spawned well-known figure skaters like Johnny Weir and Tara Lipiniski and is currently ranked third in the nation. JJ WOULD have a legitimate reason to want to go there because of how renowned the figure skating program is.) I just think it'd be funny to watch Claire try and convince Will to dress in preppy clothes, when that's soooooo not in for their age group and where they go to school. It's going to be all about flip-flops, skate shoes, cargo shorts, hoodies, and layered t-shirts. Not loafers, chinos, and the preppy little get-ups Brad dressed in when he went to high school. And I'm betting Marie and her peasant /bohemian clothing are going to make Claire twitch a little.* (Circa 2003-2005...peasant/bohemian clothing is popular on girls, inspired by the Olsen Twins and Sienna Miller. On guys, it's about wearing a short-sleeve t-shirt over a longer-sleeved shirt. Usually with a pair of pre-distressed jeans.)

Emo guys will do this. It's usually to turn on the girls they want to hook up with.

*shrugs* I guess I'm just a firm believer that people should try living in different states at least once or twice in their lives. Plus a lot of interesting stuff happened on the East Coast in that past decade- like Virginia Tech or something- and it'd be cool to have at least one of them living out there, experiencing it, rather than watching afar from the West Coast. Of course, this is coming from a guy who's lived on the East Coast since he was 9, so I'm admittedly biased. LOL. JJ's not a surfer- I think JJ is incredibly bright, but he's also a slacker, when it comes to school. Matt and Will are the only hopes for keeping the "academic" part of the saga's title intact. LOL. And I like your idea of why JJ might leave- following around Matt and Wade going back East. He does seem pretty attached to them. And what you said earlier makes sense- I could JJ wanting to get out of the state so that he has a chance to find himself, apart from his brothers.

I don't know, Blue, I think it's been pretty obvious that Matt has been set up as the Brad of this generation. Particularly with the comments in Bloodlines and in The Box, where people commented on how Matt is similiar to Brad. LOL. I think Matt is definitely sluttier than Brad was, but I think he COULD settle down when he gets to the latter part of his 20's, unlike Cody. And I feel like Matt and Wade are the type of guys who will have kids, unlike say Cody or Marcel. Whether it's within the context of them being together or with other partners, I feel like they're definitely going to end up Daddies at some point like Brad and Robbie did. Matt's also more outgoing, so I'm seeing Matt as like Brad, but with shades of Stefan's sluttiness and gregarious nature. Wade has been written as being somewhat like JP, but much, much less closed off and a little less formal. Will's like his daddy, but without the fashion sense. JJ is the one that doesn't really have an equivalent- that's because Jeremy is just so interesting and unique that the mold was broken when he was created. Mark, I don't mean doing Brad and Robbie all over again. Trust me, if Will somehow met some errant Hayes boy at the 2004 Fourth of July Claremont Festival I'm sure there would be some major bitching. I just meant like, you know, people who are together for the long haul, and will settle down into nice families, giving lie to the idea that all gay men are just circuit bois like Cody. As for Drew coming back....hmm. That could be kinda cool to see a 17-year old Will face off against his first love. Presumably while he's building a relationship with another guy.

Hey, just to let you guys know, over in another forum we've been having an interesting discussion related to this thread. It started out with me asking about what Malibu High School is like, in preparation for Mark's inevitable story that takes us through JJ and Will's high school years. It's morphed into a debate about where the kids should/will go to college...it's been interesting. https://www.gayauthors.org/forums/topic/28503-is-anyone-familiar-with-malibu-high-school/page__st__50__gopid__271463 I think at least one of them should wind up getting out of CA. I mean, there's the fact that almost all of the Be Rad generation left CA for college, and I think that gave them a more rounded experience to get to experience a prolonged living situation in a different region. There were some compelling arguments as to why Darius and Will would stay in California, but I'm still thinking JJ should be the one who strikes out on his own and heads out East. The other thing I speculated a bit about is wondering what happens to Wade and Matt when they graduate from college in '02. If they're still together, how are they going to handle what happens after graduation? Is Matt going to stay in California? Go back to Ohio?(Unlikely.) Go to New York City to work on the New York Stock Exchange or something? Would Wade stay in California, or go back to DC? It looks like Mark has set up Matt/Wade as the Brad/Robbie of the current generation, especially with the way Mark's worked in Wade's family. But they're still only sophomores...you gotta wonder if they're really long haul or not. I don't quite feel the "soulmates" deal with them that I felt with Brad and Robbie, so...it'd be interesting if Wade actually turns out to be the Max of his generation, and Matt's "Robbie" has yet to be written.

NYC has its merits. I think one of them would actually really like it- I'm thinking either Darius or JJ. Will...no. I see Will ultimately living with his husband(he'll get married by the time he's 30), and two kids courtesy of a surrogate in some beautiful Los Angeles Country suburb. Although he could experiment living East during his college era. Matt Carrswold...I'm torn on this one. I could see him in Los Angeles, but I could also see him in New York City. I'm leaning towards NYC, so he'll be on the same coast with Wade, who'll be back to living in DC to pursue a politcal career. Of course, what I'm saying is basically like saying Greek since you haven't read the CAP saga. LOL. Not everyone wants to live in CA. I mean, there's a lot of good about the place- but trust me, there are people who live outside of CA who like being where they are. Especially if they manage to be able to afford to live in a place as cool as New York City.

Dallas makes the most sense. The CAP Saga is so clearly written as a Calfornia-based, gay version of Dallas. I liked Dynasty better- F/X used to run re-runs of it. I thought Al Corey was so hot. Never watched Knot's Landing or Falcon Crest. Apparently named me the way they named me because they wanted to call me "J.R.". Dallas inspired my name. Kinda funny. LOL. M*A*S*H*...I never could get into one. I liked All in the Family, but M*A*S*H just never engaged me. I guess we can expand this stuff to early '80's stuff since you were still coming-of-age... I re-watched the Falcon Crest theme, Mark. Three thoughts: 1. Jane Wyman looks so much like Nancy Reagan. Right down to the red suits. Ronnie really had a type, huh? 2. Lorenzo Lamas was brutally hot in the early 1980's hunky way. I'm surprised he didn't get used as a prototype for some hunky character when you did "Man In Motion". 3. Alison's stalker on Melrose's Place was in this show! I knew the name "Billy Moses" sounded familiar.

I guess 1963-born people would remember the show in their toddlerhood...I remember this show from Nick-at-Nite.

Actually, I was born in 1985. I was posting that for members who were born in 1963 like Mark Arbour and Pollin. I think James Savvik was as well. I also really liked One Day At A Time. E! used to re-run it in the '90's. Bonnie Franklin, Valerie Bertinelli, and McKenzie Phillips had some great cast chemistry. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M82CUd6isyY&feature=related

Now New York might be a good idea to send one of the boys...hmm.

Don't forget JJ. He's way too interesting with so many varying issues for us not to folllow him. He'll make a great lead character.

I'll be honest and say I'm not interested in reading CAP from a female perspective, either. And aside from Claire being female, she's also an emotionally stable, even-keeled character with a stable homelife with a husband she's been with since she was 15. In other words, very nice, but I'm not seeing where the dramatic conflict would come from. She works great though as a stabilizing force for the family, but I can't see her as the protagonist. I think one reason why I never really connected with Marcel as a character was that he was just...I don't know. Boring? Nice guy, but so even-keeled and non-reactive to most stuff thrown at him that I felt made him so dull to read. I'm not saying Mark has to make every protagonist a raging, bipolar mess who bounces from one emotional extreme to another...but I don't know, a good emotional vulnerability works well as a characteristic of a CAP protagonist, and someone who has some flaws that can cause some good dramatic conflict. I have to admit, I like it best when Mark follows the teenager/college kid age. There's something just inherently dramatic about coming-of-age, and it's something all of us can relate to. Which is why I'm really anxious for the story to switch back over to Matt when this is done.

Wade Danflield, Matt Carrswold's current beau, will likely go back to live there once done with college for his political career...I think D.C. has some cool things going for it. Mark could send JJ to Boston University. I think he'd like it there. And in any event- as long as JJ had a car, from Delaware he could get to Philadelphia in 45 minutes, to Baltimore and DC in 2 and half hours, to the beaches in 90 minutes, and to New York City in 3 hours. That's the nice thing about the East Coast- everything's closer together.

I randomly ran into this on Youtube. Someone who was born in 1963 posted this compilation of tv themes from shows that aired during their childhood. I instantly thought of Mark Arbour, our resident 63er. I figured they and anyone about his age on here would get a kick out of this. Which ones do you remember? Born Around 1963? A Few TV Shows You May Remember... I'm guessing Mark was a Hart-To-Hart guy for some reason, as well as Dallas. Not sure about Alan. I used to watch reruns of Chips and Charlie's Angels as a child, and I loved the themes. Here are some themes from some other 70's shows I remember loving as a child: All in the Family Wonder Woman "Da plane, boss! Da plane!" I really wish I make that reference without getting confused looks. LOL.