methodwriter85

It's so weird reading about the jock, cheerleader culture of Texas schools. It just seems so...apple pie. It's so far from what I grew up with, even in middle school. I went to a "thug" middle school, so we didn't really have that there, either. And it's interesting that Andy thinks it's early and a big deal that he and Matt make out with girls- when I was in 6th and 7th grade, I knew people who were having oral sex and going all the way, and by 8th grade I knew people that had gotten pregnant. Reading this chapter makes me wish that the first guy I sexually explored with wasn't a man who was 39 years old and was actually within the ballpark of my age, 15. *sigh*

It's a little late, but I will be partaking in this tommorrow, to celebrate Skidfest.

It was him, man. Did you not read the GQ spread that identified it as Ian? Silly goose. Scruff or not, he's still damned hot. Dude belongs somewhere in the CAPverse. Especially his bisexual character Paul in Rules of Attraction....

Right, and I love him in the scruffy leather jacket look as well, but for clean-cut professional Lou, I think Ian in the GQ look is a perfect fit, don't you?

I saw him in this GQ photo spread... http://justjared.buzznet.com/2010/04/20/ian-somerhalder-gq-may-2010/ This guy is essentially my image of what a real-life thirtysomething Lou looks like-very pretty face, very pretty eyes, llithe body, and this coquettish smile. I mean, can't you see this guy as an ultra-hot news anchor who gets around in Toronto? It helps that his features look kinda French, as well. God, he's hot.

Armand was hot, but he didn't have a whole lot of depth to him. That's what I love about Stefan- on the surface he's shallow slut into fashion and sex, but in reality he's anything but.

This is for Brad and Robbie in MiM. "Open Your Heart" by Madonna http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1vlvsqw_IU I see you on the street and you walk on by You make me wanna hang my head down and cry If you gave me half a chance you'd see My desire burning inside of me But you choose to look the other way I've had to work much harder than this For something I want don't try to resist me Open your heart to me, baby I hold the lock and you hold the key Open your heart to me, darlin' I'll give you love if you, you turn the key I think that you're afraid to look in my eyes You look a little sad boy, I wonder why I follow you around but you can't see You're too wrapped up in yourself to notice So you choose to look the other way Well, I've got something to say Don't try to run I can keep up with you Nothing can stop me from trying, you've got to Open your heart with the key One is such a lonely number Ah, ah, ah, ah Open your heart, I'll make you love me It's not that hard, if you just turn the key Don't try to run I can keep up with you Nothing can stop me from trying, you've got to Open your heart with the key Open your heart, I'll make you love me It's not that hard, if you just turn the key

My stoner buddy is writing a paper, so I coulldn't partake, unfortunately. However I will be at this tribute concert to 420, called Skidfest.

Chapter 12 -When Steven goes through the bittersweet experience of having Aaron tell him he loves him, but he's also going off to war. "Blue Moon" by Ella Fitzgerald http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4218R-gBmts

I got my acceptance letter to my back-up school yesterday. It's this mid-sized public university in western Pennsylvania called Indiana University of Pennsylvania, or IUP. Now I'm just waiting to hear back from my first choice, Millersville. Either way, it's great to know I have a place to go to no matter what. All I have to do now is just make sure I pass Italian, and things are good from here on out. It's strange how that's parallel to my experience of the spring of 12th grade- I got into my back-up school, and I was flunking French II, but I managed to graduate by studying extra hard in French and getting that passing D. Although I'm not doing as bad in Italian as I was doing in French lo those many years (cinque) years ago. So at this point, I'm just thinking about whether or not I'm planning on going to my college graduation. 63 dollars for a gown I'll wear once? Dunno. And my friend Steve isn't going, so I'm thinking about just going to the department convocation instead.

Robbie is controversial- some people love him, like Adam, and some people can't stand him, like Sharon. The only ones who got across-the-board love are Brad, Matt, and Danfield. (It seems like everyone calls him Wade now, so I gotta be divergent.) Anyways, Mark, you know that you love Brad more because baring penis size, surf ability, and socieconomic status, Brad basically IS you as an adolescent. That's what I really love about Be Rad- you recreated 1980 NorCal affluent suburban teen culture, in a way that made us feel like we're there. It's similiar to how Adam Phillips recreated 1990's Dallas affluent suburban teen culture in his story, Cross-Currents. You both recreated those respective cultures to such a minute detail as only somebody who lived through it could. Although you did get beyond your era with Bloodlines....you did a great job at capturing what people in Adam's generation are like, which really impressed me. Matt and his cohorts really did talk and act like the people I've met who are contemporaries with Adam.

That's my problem with the story. Yes, I get what Mark is saying about how it was more than just drugs- but still, I just didn't feel like Jeff had gotten to that point. Jason, I could see him giving up, but Jeff just seemed like he could've gotten out of it. Although in retrospect, Jeff's death gives the CAP series levity- you can feel it in the background for the rest of the series. Especially in Be Rad, with the El Dorado and Robbie and Sam looking on. And it makes Frank a compelling minor character because he lost the only brother he really cared about- I love the scene in Bloodlines where he hugs Matt Carrswold.

It's not that he's unlikeable, it's just that Marcel kinda bores me.

You know what's funny? The Phillies don't really have any real, long-term, heated rivalry with any team. You would think we would gain a real enemy, being what Philadelphia sports team fans are like, but no.

Right. Good one to add. And I agree about Jeff dying of an overdose, and then his son dying in a car accident just shy of his 16th birthday. Sad.Robbie and father Frank did a great job with ending the self-destructive cycle of the Hayes Curse. Marcel almost brought it back with his heroin overdose, but I think Mark realized what would happened if he killed off Jeff's second son the same way. Wouldn't have been pretty, all I'm saying. And of course, Matt Carrswold didn't grow up as a Hayes, so he escaped the Curse completely and totally.

Aaron doesn't want to enlist to get away from his father. His father is still a nice guy at this point. He's leaving because he wants to fight the Japs for bombing his country. It's similiar to guys who wanted to fight in Aghanistan because of 9/11. He's still kinda an ass, though. Steven could do so much better.

I can't imagine Wade's mother being in on it- it's not her kind of politics, and besides, she already made her peace with it. I do think that the Grangers are involved, though.

I loved Anne of Green Gables. Prince Edward Island seems like such a pleasant place to live. I also like Splendor in the Grass, West Side Story, Paris When It Sizzles, The Breakfast Club, Reality Bites, and Clueless.

That makes sense. Although Matt does have the Hayes gene for being a big teddy bear, although he's much more cut.

Brad, Robbie, and Jeanine are raising three teenaged boys. It'll be interesting to see how their family has developed.

My whole family is bitching at me right now because I'm applying to this school called Millersville Univeristy, which is, at an hour and a half away, 'too far' for me to go, and 'isn't a good school'. They keep bitching at me to apply to a closer school in the area, and look at closer area schools, which I have! They are either too good for me to get into, or they don't have my program. Then they bitch about me about how I need to take educational courses if I'm going to be a community college professor- which isn't even true, because I've asked professors time and time again. They tell me I should apply to my undergad school, like there's a chance in hell I'm going to get in with a 2.64 GPA. They don't seem to understand that I don't have a whole hell lot of options. Ugh, ugh, and ugh.

I felt like Matt is like a combination of Brad and Robbie- Brad's head for business and fun, snarky attitude, and Robbie's Teddy bear quality. It's been interesting reading about a Hayes who grew up with a Silver spoon in his mouth- he carries none of the self-loathing that the Hayes carry around, and it's largely because he wasn't around for them to infect their toxic ways on. I feel almost like we're seeing what Jeff would have been like if he had good parents.

Author Adam Phillips is reading this story, and I thought I'd bump this thread up in case he wants to offer his thoughts. I do agree with him how the story just sucks you in that first chapter.

Bloodlines is great. Matt Carrswold is Mark's best creation since Brad. (Sorry, Marcel.)

I used to do cross-country. I was never that good, but it was a great experience. As for Mr. Phillips- hey, would you ever consider lacrosse? I bet you would be good at it. And lax players are sooooo sexy.