methodwriter85

Talking to Adam online about this, I realized what bothered me about this. I've been around addicts in some way, shape, or form in my life. And people talking about their own experiences confirmed it to me... The thing is...Jeff's downward spiral felt too abrupt for me. Yes, I know that there was an 9-month period before the story opens. And he's dead by June or July. That means it's about a year-and-half that Jeff goes from beginning to use drugs, to developing a habit, and then just giving up. That doesn't ring true for me- I feel like it takes more than just about 18 months for anyone to get to that point. Barring an accidential overdose, most drug addicts don't check out in so little a timespan like that. Drug addiction tends to be longer and more spread out, with a lot more peaks and valleys than the one we got with Jeff. Jeff giving up like that would have rang true to me if it had been more like a 5 or 10-year struggle. I think that's what didn't ring true for me.

That's a good point. Maybe he was outed in some way, and the Hayes family disowned him. It really is interesting to see how the Hayes family were before they got ripped apart.

Chapter 9 -When the family celebrates Thanksgiving, 1941. "Class Will Tell" by Ted Weems and His Orchestra -When Steven and Aaron talk about the most eligible bachelors in town, and imagine life as married men that will never happen for them. "I Know Why and So Do You" by the Glenn Miller Band

I can't stand online dating because of the way guys are so goddamn picky, so I can't see myself using it.

Word, Mark. There is nothing wrong with wanting to sleep around, as long as it makes the person happy and they do it in a safe way..

Jimmy Fallon couldn't reunite the cast of Saved by the Bell, but he could, as a consolation prize, reunite the cast of California Dreams. It's pretty awesome. California Dreams Man. It's funny how you never really forget the shows you grew up with.

This song pretty much sums up the early part of high school for me. Change "Noelle" to Noah, and you've got it. Standing on the sideline, staring longingly at the person I couldn't have. I had this really unfortunate crush on this guy named Andy in 9th grade. He was a senior who dressed up like a boyband member. I look back, and cringe when I think about it. I had REALLY bad taste back then! Ah, 2001...

Unless you're Drew Barrymore. Then you're Studio 54's star partier, and worthy of a confidential tell-all book at the age of 13. I kinda hope this story will serve to finally heal what went wrong with the Hayes family- that successive generations of that family won't become what Fred Hayes became.

I agree. The part where JP reacts with gratitude and relief for Sam kindly euthanizing Jeff with a needle full of heroin was absolutely heart-warming. Nah, but in all seriousness, Mark, do you still hate mail for killing off Jeff? I'm kinda curious. As for me, I think Bloodlines took the cake. It's worked on so many levels. And Evan Wadle is seriously fine eye candy. And I love Nico Tortorella, and think he and Evan would be such a cute couple.

It is pretty interesting. Brad was about five or six years old when he came to live with the Cramptons, and by the age of 10, he had developed a crush on Ace, his adoptive brother. They fooled around a little bit, but Ace was clearly straight and that all ended by the time of Be Rad, in their late teens. So because Brad became Ace's brother just after the age of the Westermarck Effect, he was able to develop a sexual attaction to Ace in early adolescence. It contrasts with the case of JJ and Will Schluter- even though they are not biologically brothers, they have been raised as brothers since infancy. I think that means that JJ and Will, as they get further into their teens- are not going to be sexually interested in each other. I really wish Claire and Ace could have been there to find out. Ace would have flipped out, for sure.

If it's not for you, it's not for you. By that same token, however, if someone isn't into the idea of settling down, it's not something for you to judge. You don't have to be slutty if you don't want to. And I've met quite a few gay and lesbian people who are settled down into devoted relationships, who've built a life together and it works out fine.

JJ is the skater. Will inherited Brad's talent for surfing. And even without the figure skating stuff, JJ really, really seems gay. I bet 1999 JJ is putting up pictures of the Backstreet Boys and Josh Hartnett as we speak...lol.

Yeah, a story about Wade and Matt's sophomore year of college should be good. And then maybe a story where Brad deals with pushing-40 angst, as well as the tech meltdown. Then move on to seeing JJ and Will enter their college-age years. I'm seeing JJ as a lot like Stefan, just without the baggage or the flaming ways. I see them as having a similiar joie de vive. Will- I'm not sure yet if I think he's gay or straight. JJ pings the gaydar, but not Will just yet.

Chapter 7 -At the party, when Jim gets faced and destroys Steven's car, with no consequences. "Little Brown Jug" by the Glenn Miller Orchestra Chapter 8 -When Aaron apologizes for having sex with Maman, and then intonates that he might be gay. Then he and Steven make love. "More Than You Know" by Billie Holiday http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuPctgZza_8 -When Stefan and JP talk about Marie's...uh..."habits". "Bad Girl" by Madonna

Actually, I think it makes a lot of sense. JP has always been kinda unnerving- it makes sense he made one creepy little child.

Does it every just spring up on you? Right now, I'm feeling it. I'm writing up a CV for my professor to get him to write a recomendation, and I realize...I peaked at the age of 20. I haven't done anything noteworthy since 2007. College started out great for me- I was a tutor, I was involved in a sport, I had a job, I was involved in a lot of activities. And then I transfer to UD, and I get it into my head that I'm John Walsh from Fraternity Memoirs, and I don't do anything except party my ass off and go on the occasional burn ride. I was involved with some stuff, but not nearly as much as I used to be. Then I get put on a Dean's Vacation for a year, and I spend it bumming around in community college and partying my ass off in bars and parties. And I come back, and I don't really do anything, at all. I thought I was going to leave behind this great legacy when I graduate from college...and I'm not. No one is going to remember that I was ever there, because I just didn't much while I was there. I had this great opportunity to go to this really fine school, and I didn't do nearly as much with it as I should have. And it's too late now- I'm graduating in 8 weeks baring failing Italian- and when I step off the stage, only my family members are going to clap because they're the only ones who are going to know who the hell I am. I guess all I can do is remember this feeling, and try and do more in graduate school*fingers crossed* than I did during my time here at University of Delaware.

I don't see Darius doing a math deal- he seems destined to become a lawyer. Maybe he'll follow his uncle Darius and attend Princeton. I can see Will ending up a science/math guy- maybe Will could end up going to Virginia Tech University when he graduates high school in 2005. As for JJ, I see him at a party school with a decent figure skating club.

It really did anger me they didn't include her in the "In Memoriam" section of the Oscars. I'm glad it didn't go unnoticed: Academy Responds to Criticism I love their justification of it- and how totally hypocritical it is when you consider the fact that they included Micheal Jackson, who was only in one film and was never actually an actor. Meanwhile they forget someone who was not only in over a dozen movies, but was actually nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress. Geez. And I felt like the audience thought the same thing- the applause for MJ was stilted, like they didn't expect him to be there. He shouldn't have been there. Farrah should have been. I say, screw the Academy. Farrah will always be remembered by her millions of fans. Fan Tribute to Farrah Fawcett God. What a dazzling smile!

Got it- the reference to Billy, and therefore Robbie's, hair color. I think Frank just had slightly darker hair than his brother Jeff and son Robbie. It's probably that shade of brown where it's debatable as to whether or not it's actually brown. But yeah, the Hayes are generally supposed to be blond. Ish. The Schluters tend to be VERY blond, though- strawberry blond with green eyes, right? And the Cramptons lean towards having dark blond hair. Brad got his dark hair from the milkman. LOL.

I know, right? His look SCREAMS Hayes.

Right. And you specifically wrote Robbie and Matt having dark blond hair. Robbie, especially after years of living in California, prolly had hair that got bleached to dark blond from all that sun.

I took it today. An 1110. I'm pretty satisfied with it. Whew!

I was 21 when I lost my virginity. Unless you counted oral sex- then I was 15 years old. I used to call myself a Catholic virgin because I did everything except go all the way...it was the most technical virginity someone could have.

There really is just no way of pleasing you, is there Enric? That's the physical model for Brad. Mark chose him. I think he's handsome. So did a whole hell lot of people back in the 1950's, since he was a teen idol pin-up and all. If you've got a problem with that...well...don't be so rude in expressing your displeasure about it.

Well, find a guy who looks like Fabian Forte in his youth and you got it. Though we have decided what Brad's sons Will and JJ will look like as young men. But 2005 is at least three stories off- we've stopping in 2000 and 2001 first after the Box.