methodwriter85

So, in the Bloodlines thread Tiger brought up that we're running out of years. And unless Mark decides to do prequels, he's right. How should the CAP saga end, do you think? It looks like Mark intends to bring the CAP family to present-day, which should be somewhere in 2010 by the time he gets around to that last story. Mark has made clear his intentions to cover 9/11, so there will be at least one story in 2001. I think it might be interesting if before that, he also did a story set in 2000, about the dot-com bubble bursting. Since the Schluter family is big on the internet, it makes sense. And of course, the theatrics involving the 2000 Presidential Election might be interesting to cover, and the legalization of same-sex civil unions in Vermont. Then, I think, I'd like to see a 2004-2005 story. Gay marriage in Massachusetts, the nasty election campaign between Bush and Kerry with its "Swiftboat Veterans" for truth, the Indian ocean Tsunami, and Hurricane Katrina, which some started the chain of events that lead to disillusionment about Bush, and began the ball rolling for the Democratic victories in the 2006 mid-term election. What about you guys? It's going to be interesting to see how the CAP family enters the 21st century. Added May 26, 2010: Paya just made a very interesting point. I myself have been guilty of not talking about how the story should end, but instead talking about what should happen as we get there. So I'm expanding the scope of this thread to include just general speculation about what the future of the characters are.

Chapter 44 -During the interview, when Matt and Wade are touched by their teammates stopping by in support of them. "What I Got" by Sublime -When Wade realizes that Matt has been with John Carullo, and they fight before making up. "Shadowboxer" by Fiona Apple -When Wade confronts his mother about the abuse. "Save Me" by Aimee Mann *** I am so damn happy that we're in 1999 now, so I can use 1999 such as the Magnolia soundtrack. Yes!

Chapter 43 -In bed, when Matt and Wade make plans to hit Santa Cruz for Valentine's Day, 1999. "Kiss Me" by Sixpence None The Richer -When Senator Danfield's vote to impeach President Clinton pisses off Wade so much that he develops a plan to come out, and at the same time force his father to be friendlier on gay rights. "Fortunate Son" by Creedence Clearwater Revival I thought to include this classic rock song because it's kinda ironic...Wade IS a fortunate son, yet with that fortune has come pain and abuse. -When Wade asks Matt to be with him in the interview, and then they tell JP and Stefan about their plans. "All for You" by Sister Hazel -For Valentine's Day, 1999. When Wade gets ready for the interview in his total anal-retentive way, while Matt tells Turner about the upcoming media brouhaha. "This is the Moment" from Jekyll and Hyde

and hey mark, i bet you're still pretty hot.once you get those hair plugs, you'll be unstoppable!

thats true. this winter i plan on hitting up the gym to try and get ready for summer season. i need to get some. lol

Right. And of course, there's alway the Prequel. I'm sure the Crampton/Schulter family were just as crazy in the 19th century as they are today, LOL. My guess is that after 2001, there will be a story for 2004/2005, which happens to coincide with Will, JJ, and their cousin John's senior year of high school. 2004/2005 had a lot of interesting things happen- the gay marriage in Massachusetts, the re-election of George W. Bush, the Indian Ocean tsunami, and Hurricane Katrina. Then maybe something for 2007-2008, and finally a story for 2009-2010. 2010 should be present-day whenever Mark gets around to it.

It's not so much that I couldn't find them. It's that "We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off" and "Let's Wait A While" really, really didn't fit with Marcel in "A Summer Love", or the tail-end of "Man In Motion" with Brad. Practicers of chastity...these guys are not. LOL. Although I think it'd be hilarious if either JJ or Will decided to become abstinent when they're in high school. But knowing Mark, that will never happen.

Mark, I agree with ya. I've looked at photos of myself when I was 19 and still hadn't let myself go...and think, "Damn, I used to look good." I never really had fun with that, though. Oh, well.

Chapter 42 -For the new year and the new quarter, when Matt discusses his legal issues with Wade and Wade discusses his therapy. "Millenium" by Robbie Williams -For Stanford's first hockey game of 1999, against Santa Clara, where our boys win and celebrate at A-E-Ro house. "Larger Than Life" by the Backstreet Boys -When Matt plays matchmaker for Cole and shy, virginal girl named Allison. "First Night" by Monica -When Matt and Wade meet up with each other at the party, talk some more about Wade's hestiation to come out, and then go back home to make love. "Lullabye" by Shawn Mullins **** I honestly thought I'd NEVER get to use "First Night", just like I wasn't able to use "Let's Wait Awhile" by Janet Jackson or "We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off". I'm glad Cole and Alli allowed me to use it. Because, you know, Matt sure as hell doesn't have any qualms about having sex on a first date. LOL. And I liked being able to use "Lullabye". I thought there were a good amount of parallels between the privileged-but-sad life of the girl in the video and the privileged-but-sad life of Wade. edited with links that work.

That link doesn't work for me, but yeah, its the Matthew Wilder version. I was going to use this for Man in Motion had Mark gone through with the original plan to break up Brad and Robbie for good, but eh. I think it's better for all of us that Mark didn't go through with plan. Here's a really cute cover from a 1980's kids show called Kids Incorporated: I used to love watching this show.

Thanks for the birthday wishes, guys. I can't really do much today, since it's Finals Week and I have work to do, but I did have a family dinner at a fancy resturant where I had a 20-oz Cowboy Ribeye steak, and Sunday night I went out with a friend and got a little drunk. I t was fun. Mark, thanks. You mean a lot to me, too. Especially ever since you made JJ Schluter have the same first name and birthdate as myself.

Chapter 41 -When Wade and Matt experience group sex. "Kiss Me At Midnight" by N'Sync -When Wade and Matt, after their group love, talk about Wade's issues with intimacy. "I Never Knew the Meaning of Christmas" by N'Sync -When the family gets together and opens up Christmas presents on Christmas Eve. "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays" by N'Sync -When Robbie tells Wade about his own rape experiences, and offers him counseling sessions with a shrink who helped him a lot. "A Long December" by the Counting Crows http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNF1a-ZG1uc I consider this song the theme of my life. I'm glad I got to use it in the story, for a moment it made sense for. It sticks out from the rest of the poppy stuff I used, but I figure with the moment it's scoring, it has to. -When Matt and Lou embarrass the country club crowd in Cleveland. "Break My Stride" by Unique II http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkJDL9lVvc0 I love the 80's version, which I used to hear a lot at 80's Nite at my favorite bar. I was going to use that until I found out there was a more period-appropriate version, plus...let's admit it, this is SOOOO something that would have been played at a gay club.

I think I'm going to "accidentally" lose my license in spring or so. I always look better in the spring.

There are plans for a federal license, yes. Mainly because getting into Canada and Mexico is no longer doable with a regular license. It's called Real ID: http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=270956

I just got my license renewed. I took an absolutely horrible license picture. Apparently, you can't even smile in license photos now, because of the federal face recognition program that's in place now. I look like crap in that photo. I'm seriously considering coughing up extra money to get the federal licenses that will be coming out, so I don't have to look at my horrid license photo for five years. It's just shocking to me, I suppose, because my first license photo was great. Anyone want to commiserate with me in having a horrible license picture?

Chapter 40 -When Wade reveals to Beau what their father has been doing to him, and Beau comforts him while he joins them in planning to confront the Senator. "Hands" by Jewel -When Matt blackmails the Senator to stop the incest, and prevent him from going after Beau. Then Matt and Wade promptly leave. "Facade" from Jekyll and Hyde -When Matt and Wade make love to each other upon getting back to California, at Escorial. "Someone Like You" from Jekyll and Hyde -When Matt, Wade, and Cole go Christmas shopping, and Cole teases them about acting like an old married couple. "All I Want For Christmas" by Mariah Carey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5auMYfsh7gY *** I really, really liked being able to use Facade and Someone Like You. I really liked Jekyll and Hyde. I saw it at dinner theater in 2002. And "Facade" describes Senator Danfield perfectly. "Hands was another one I really liked using. I thought about saving "Hands" for when Mark gets to 9/11, but I thought it fit well in here.

And by the way, I know a poster. She's got four children. Her two sons are bisexual, and she has a daughter she believes will turn out to be a lesbian. So you never know.

Mark, I'm doing pretty good in my two history courses. It's just the geology course and the Italian course that aren't going so well. I'm a dumbo at science, math, and foreign language. Anyways, I found out that my history internship has changed to the . I'm pretty excited. It's a great place.

Right. And it's not like straight people don't exist in this story- Cole's mainly straight- he doesn't mind sex with guys, but his heart is with women. Jack and Claire Hobart are straight. (We haven't really met their kids Marie and John yet, not really, so I can't judge.) Ace is straight. Isidore and Frank are straight. (Although Frank is a little less straight.) Darius, at the age of nearly seventeen (his birthdate is mid-January, 1982), seems firmly in the "straight" camp. I'm not sure about Brad's son Will yet-Will could very well end up straight, or maybe only bisexual and not full-gay. Although JJ- that kid is gay, gay, gay. LOL. One thing I think is interesting is that like Robbie, Matt can enjoy sex with women. He physically can get into girls, and doesn't have to think about men to have sex with them. It's just that he identifies as gay, rather than as bisexual, because of the fact that he emotionally doesn't fall for girls in the way that he falls for guys- guys do it for him on both levels. Girls just don't do it for him the way guys can. Although I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up with a woman- and how funny would that be? Maybe he'll end up like JP- married to a woman but also with a guy. Although in this case, the woman will be well-satisified sexually. LOL. Mark M, your pondering about the use of technology was interesting. I think Mark has done a good job of showing how technology changes the world that the people of CAP inhabit- with the emails, the cell phones, the plans for Google, Matt watching flat-screen TV's, and the digital video camera. It doesn't overtake the story, but it serves as background ambiance so you know that their world has changed as CAP World has progressed from 1962 to 1998. It's kinda funny you didn't get your cell phone until 9th grade in '05...I got mine when I was in 8th grade in 2001, and I thought that you young'uns were supposed to have gotten your cell phones in elementary school or something. LOL. The big thing I remember about 11th grade, which was 2003-2004 for me, was that the camera cell phones had come out, and it was the big thing to have. IPods were around starting in 2001, but it wasn't until '03-'04 that everyone I went to high school with started having one. As for Facebook- Facebook hit in 2004, but I remember in '04, most of the kids I went to high school with were using LiveJournal. Myspace hit more in '04-'05. When I started college in 2005, Myspace was already "hot", and alot of kids I knew had it. Facebook was known, but Facebook was initially only for college students- you had to have a college email to register an account there. It wasn't as popular as Myspace, where everyone could register. When Facebook changed that policy, which I think was around 2006, that was when Facebook really took off. I'm looking forward to when CAP World hits 2001(prolly in the next story), and Will and JJ try to show Stefan how to download music to an IPod that looks like this- http://www.tgdaily.com/picturegalleries/20070409/1st_gen_ipod.jpg Speaking of Mp3 stuff, wouldn't it be hilarious if Luke Carruthers not only invests in Pets.com, but also Napster? Geez.

That's probably not far off. Matt commented that Senator Danfield and Wade look a lot alike. I think maybe part of the reason why Senator Danfield wants sex with his son is because of the fact that, in his twisted mind, he's really having sex with an 18-year old version of himself.

Chapter 39 -When a horrified Matt watches Wade's father rape him on tape. "Daddy" by Korn -When Matt confronts Wade, makes him watch the tape, and Wade breaks down as he details the abuse that he's suffered. "Disarm" by the Smashing Pumpkins -When Matt talks to JP on the phone and plan how to stop Senator Danfield. "What It's Like" by Everlast http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gliNv1eFF3w *** Before anyone comments, yes. I'm aware that "Disarm" was already used for "If It Fits", for when Darius lashed out at his good-for-nothing biological mother. But if Cold Case can re-use music, so can I. Especially if the theme of the song really fits the scene. So there.

So I did spring semester registration. I might push around some classes, but right now I'm taking: Italian 107 two theater classes Two 400-level history classes It's pretty good. I don't have any classes that start before 11 a.m., and I have Friday off. Which means Thirsty Thursday should be alive and well this semester. The best part is that I got into the internship class- I'll be working as an intern with a company called Gore. I think I'll be helping them catalog the history of their products, or something like that. It should be a blast. And it will be a great experience for them. The downside is that I'm not sure if I should take the other 400-level history class I'm taking. You see, I registered for a class that talks about how religion and politics co-mingled with each in America up to the start of the Civil War. It sounds mad interesting, and I love the professor, but I'm not sure if I should make the committment to two different 400-level senior seminars. As for the grad school situation, I've decided this is what I'm going to do. I'm going to take winter session, which lasts until the first week of February. I will take the GRE's in January. After winter session, which should boost my GPA, I will apply to grad school in the middle of February. I should hear back by the end of March. If I don't get into any of the schools, I shall change my graduation date and do another year- picking up either another major or another minor. I feel pretty good about all of this, I think. I've got a plan A, and a plan B. It's good to feel like I know what I'll be doing next year.

I think Marcel works much better as a supporting character, as evidenced best in "If It Fits".

It was rushed, and Marcel....I dunno. He wasn't that compelling of a character. He needed to be developed more.

Mark M, being the ripe ol' age of 23 (24 on the 7th), I gotta comment on the cell phones comment, you young Whippersnapper. Yes, we had cell phones in 1998. 1998 was the year that cell phones actually became more affordable and the technology for them really improved. Here's what a typical cell phone in 1998 in looked like: http://www.hotbuy4u..../NOKIA-5190.jpg You could store contacts on it. Texting, I don't really recall them having that function, though some of the fancier phones had it. And there were some small games, like Tetris, that you could play on your phone. My sisters got their cell phones in 1998, when they were in high school. One passed down her 1998/1999 phone to me at the age of 14 in 2000, which was a red version of the phone I put up there. What's interesting is how much closer to our world that CAP world is getting to- they have cell phones, computers, internet, flat-screen tv's, DVD players, CD players, digital camera recorders. It's been interesting to see how technological changes have affected the lives of our CAP world. Of course, we also got to remember that with them being rich, they get the new technologies when they come out much sooner than the regular folk do...because I don't think most people were rocking DVD players or flat-screen tvs until around 2000, when they had become more affordable. Cell phones used to be a status symbol for most of the 90's- if you were a kid who had one in high school, that marked you as a "have" rather than a "have-not". But again, by 1998, they were becoming much more affordable and average people were getting them. So it's right on the money that Matt and his friends have them. I think it would have been anachronistic for JJ or Will to have them, though- in the late 90's, they didn't buy cell phones for elementary or middle school kids. I was in 5th grade in 1998, and I didn't know anyone who had a cell phone. I did know a girl who had a pager, though.