methodwriter85

What if Buzz is part of the plan, and he doesn't even know it? Now THAT would be some Machiavellian shit right there.

Thoughts: 1.) I couldn't love JJ's current storyline any more than I already do. The thought of him becoming a NYC socialite and major patron of fashion seems incredibly right for his character. After all of JJ's depressing storylines, I'm glad that he's in for just some good old fashioned fun and (possible) romance. Let the kid just enjoy being young, good-looking, rich, and living in one amazing city instead of all this angst. JJ looks to be in for some fun times! Yay! 2.) It'll be interesting to see if anything comes of Zac Posen. I like it when Mark threads real people in, although they usually don't get much more than a cameo. 3.) I liked JJ noting the pastels and layers, which is going to become a big theme of mid-2000's fashion. I like the idea of JJ being able to "sense" upcoming trends- I would bet anything he's already stopped spiking his hair, which is about to fall out of favor pretty soon. 4.) That phone call between Brad and Marc was hilarious. Brad was just so callously mean, and I kept picturing Chace Crawford's adorable gayface red with anger and laughing my ass off. 5.) Damn. It's weird to see Brad actually hanging out with people his own age again. I loved the Dallas remark- shame about the reboot. I think my family called me J.R. growing up as a result of that show. Anyway, Buzz seems like he could be significant, or he could be a red herring and quickly leave. You never know with Mark.

Chapter 18 -When Claire and JJ mingle at the fashion show, and meet Bellona Carter and Zac Posen, two big stars in the fashion world. "Nuit Blanche" by Viva La Fete -When JJ watches the fashion show. "Me and Madonna" by Blackstrobe -When Zac Posen walks away and JJ is obviously entranced. "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?" by Queen of Japan -When we meet Buzz Dalby, Texan extraordinaire. "Real Good Man" by Tim McGraw Tim McGraw. God, I think it was between him and Kenny Chesney when it came to the country music idols of the time. I actually remember running across gay Tim McGraw fanfiction on Nifty Archive back around this time. LOL. Blue, you know this one? I think it's a great "Good Ol' Boy" theme.

Found this feel good story about a male plus size model showing that beauty doesn't have to come in just one size! Target's Only Male Plus-Size Model Strikes A Bull's Eyes for Body Positivity Pretty cool story. I mean, I grew up with that whole Abercrombie and Fitch aesthetic being pushed, and it's cool to see guys who don't fit that mold still being held up as being attractive. I do have to hand it to Zach Miko for refusing to fit into conventional beauty standards and just being like, "This is me, I won't become a gym rat" and still being damned attractive. (In my opinion.)

The Unauthorized 90210 Story aired on Lifetime this weekend, and it made me feel all nostalgic for the show, and of course, the show's music. (Which unfortunately has been butchered on the DVD's.) So I thought I'd post my favorite tunes from the 90210 soundtrack: 1.) When Dylan and Brenda break up, for the first time, after Brenda freaks out about her pregnancy scare. 2.) "2000 Miles" by the Pretenders When the gang watches at the train station as Steve leaves to search for his biological mother in Mexico. (Or was it a bus station?) 3.) When Kelly and Dylan make out in the pool during the summer of '92, when they got together behind Brenda's back. 4.) "Don't Dream It's Over" by Crowded House When Brenda finds out about Kelly and Dylan, and goes off on them before walking away in a huff. 5.) When the gang discovers that Erica, Dylan's little sister, has become a teenaged prostitute. 6.) Steve's 21st birthday, 7.) Random Peach Pit After-Dark performance. 8.) " Peach Pit After-Dark. 9.) Noah apparently was childhood friends with Donna Lewis or something, leading to her doing a performance there. 10.) Kelly's College Graduation Party. 11.) From Brenda and Dylan's first date episode. Pretty much sets the tone for how angsty that whole relationship would be. And of course, we can't forget the theme song: 12,) Man, that was fun. The show ran an entire decade, and I pretty much remember watching it at 5 years old until I was 14 when it finally went off the air. I was so pissed at how bad the reboot was. Thank god that p.o.s. show is finally gone. I'm still angry that the show's soundtrack is basically completely replaced on the show. Damn music rights.

The airing of the Unauthorized Beverly Hills 90210 Story of course made me feel nostalgic for the show: Private Tim, Beverly Hills 90210 was "your" time, so to speak. (They were class of 1993, you were class of 1995.) How well did the show reflect the experiences of affluent SoCal high schoolers in the early 1990's, which you seem to have experienced? I'm kind of disappointed that Mark never sneaked in a reference to 90210, although I get the feeling he wasn't a fan. (I once talked about Shannen Doherty's acting and how good she was, and Mark wondered if I was high. LOL.) It also kind of makes sense why he didn't- the show's zenith was around 1992-1993, which were years we didn't cover. I do really, really hope he can sneak in a reference to The O.C., which was kind of the 90210 for my generation: The show was pretty huge for about a year...it premiered on August 5th of 2003, and it was one of the few times I can remember watching a show that everybody, and I mean EVERYBODY, was talking about. (I tend to favor towards cult hits.) The fad was over pretty quick, but it did have a big impact while it did...although still not quite as big as Beverly Hills 90210 did. (I'm just going to pretend the reboot never happened.)

I know some people who will give them food instead, which is smart. I just try not to engage at all. And like I said, I'm from the somewhat sketchy part of the suburbs, so I run into people asking for money all the fucking time, especially at this particular shopping center. It's usually during the daylight, though.

I feel like that dude looks too beefcake for Darius. Darius is supposed to be more lithe, not like a guy who spends all his time in the gym. I still think Darius should be Theo James, but eh. From a bit back... In all seriousness, you do have a point. I looked up the demographics of Palo Alto, and there should be WAAAAYYYY more Asians in the story than there are- the city was about 20 percent Asian during the time period. (It was 17 percent in 2000, 27 percent by 2010, which means there should be an influx of Asians into the city during this time period.) I get that it's not just centered in Palo Alto and Mark does kind of take us all over, but it feels kind of weird that Will as someone growing up in a very Asian area seems to have at most maybe 2 or so friends that are Asian. Even if you look strictly at school demographics, it's still supposed to be around 16 percent Asian. Especially if you factor in that going by demographics and data of Palo Alto, there is supposed to be a pretty considerable influx of Asians during this decade into that city. I do remember that back in real 2003, there was considerable criticism for the O.C, because it did not feature black characters. Although in some ways, they did have an excuse- according to demographics, the city it's set in- Newport Beach- was 91 percent white back in 2000. But Palo Alto had much wider racial diversity during the time period that CAP is set in. But anyway, back to the shallow...we do have BooBoo Stewart as Kai if you're looking for the non-white category: God, he grew up hot. (I remember him from this gay movie he did called the Conrad Boys...he played the protagonist's little brother.)

Well, I tend to feel safer when I'm at the ATM late at night because I usually am in my car when I use it...I've been doing this since I was in college and I've never had anybody approach me like that before. I was pretty freaked out. I just don't think any person who was thinking logically would walk up to a car at almost 3 a.m. where the occupant is using an ATM. That's pretty much why I booked it- I knew I was going to get propositioned in some way, and I just didn't want to even talk. In the afternoon I might have politely declined "giving her a few dollars so she can buy gas to get home", but for damn sure I'm not talking to somebody asking me for money at 3 a.m. in the morning.

I'm a 29-year old male from the East Coast. Tonight, I went out to my favorite bar to listen to my favorite cover band. On my way back home, I stopped at a local bank which has a drive through with an ATM. It's located at a blue-collar shopping center in the middle of a very busy highway in the suburbs, although being almost 3 a.m. it was empty. I wanted to deposit some money in my bank account to make an insurance payment. While I was getting my money together, some lady walked up to the side of the car, making motions for me to role my car window down. She looked to be a rough 35, pale, brown hair pulled up into a scrunchie, white hoodie, jeans, and about 90 pounds soaking wet. Her eyes were big and brown and looked bloodshot as hell. In other words, the lady looked like one of the drug-addicted prostitutes that you see not too far away where I was in the "bad" section of my suburb- the ones who live in the cheap, ancient motels that are still along the route I live on. So, to the protest of the woman who seemed to think that I was going to roll down my window and talk to her, I booked my car, not even bothering to put my money back into my wallet, which was spread out along the passenger side seat. I just peeled the hell out of there. I might have over reacted, but all honestly, there are a lot of vagrants that hang out in this area at this particular shopping center that ask people for money, which is suburban but not very well off. Things happen there. Maybe she needed help, but if she really did, she could have gone across the street to the pharmacy. It's a 24/7 place with guards and phones that she could call. I've been approached in this part of town MORE than once by people claiming to need a ride, or need a few bucks because they have a car and they're stranded without any gas. And I hate to be a cynical ass, but I tend to not believe 90 percent of the stories. I pretty much thought this woman was going to ask for either of those two things...normally, I would have just said no, but given that it was almost 3 a.m. and my doors had been automatically unlocked because I put my car in park, I just didn't even want to engage in any kind of conversation. I feel a little ridiculous like I should be more macho instead of running off screaming the way I did (in a sense), but I'd rather be safe than sorry. Too much shit has happened to people that wanted to be good Samaritans.

One of my friends from high school who lives in L.A. now posted a photo of the L.A. River, which made me want to post more about it...check out this new video about the city's plans to revitalize it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=12&v=acJjuBmQ43U Here's a YouTube tour video of the river: Well, not exactly bucolic, but there's something pretty cool about it. I would totally go on a tour of the L.A. River., and have some interesting adventures.

I found this entry on Reddit's OffMyChest sub, and I thought it was a great story. I Just Went On A Date With A Guy Who Tried to Rob Me Of course, it could be entirely made up, but sometimes the truth really is stranger than fiction. If this ever turns romantic, that'd be one hell of a story for your grandkids. I do like to believe in the power of redemption and the innate goodness of people, and this story illustrates it well. The guy wanted to rob her, but as soon as she started crying he realized that she was a person, not just a mark. I feel like a couple's counselor would have a field day with these two if they ever got together, though. LOL. I don't get the feeling it's romantic, though- like they're just two souls, who both met at low points in their lives, and are forging a friendship with some less-than-ideal initial circumstances. Begs the question though...do you think you could ever strike up a friendship/relationship with someone that tried to rob you, or harm you in some other way?

All the cute young preppy college guys are wearing Vineyard Vines now. It's hitting hard, at least in the Mid-Atlantic. I wonder if it's hitting the South, too? I just think it's hilarious that even though I'm 5 years out of college, I still see guys wearing the same basic shit whenever I walk around campus- loafers, chino shorts in various colors, and either some preppy logo shirt or button-down. There are a lot more buzzcuts, facial hair, tats, and colored tank tops now, though. But the same preppy frat boy look never really seems to change- only the logo on the shirt. I remember for awhile Lacoste had a MAJOR comeback when I was 20-ish.

Did anyone else catch the movie The Age of Adaline? (It's a movie where Gossip Girl's Blake Lively is a woman who has been stuck as a 29-year old for almost 80 years after getting struck by lightning.) This newcomer named Anthony Ingruber did a VERY credible portrayal of a young version of Harrison Ford's character, and he looked cute as hell doing it: He runs a YouTube channel where he posted his celebrity impressions, and h attracted the interest of the casting directors for the movie. I like a cute, funny guy. Also, check out his smile at meeting Harrison Ford during filming: Seriously, what is it about meeting childhood icons that turn grown men into goofy little boys for a few seconds? Too frickin' adorable for words. I'm not sure about the fanboys/girls who are clamoring for him to play a young Han Solo, though. It's one thing to play a small first cameo part while mimicking a famous figure, but it's another thing to be able to lead a movie. I WOULD like to see him in another role somehow related to Harrison Ford, but I don't think an entire movie should be built around someone with that little experience. Maybe he could be Leila and Han's grandson or something? Anyway, hope the guy is at the start of a good career. There's just something really neat about the fairytale aspect of it- spending your life idolizing someone, and then getting the chance to actually play a young version of him in a movie? Too cool for words. But anyway, I have to say this is probably one of the most impressive "younger version" casting I've ever seen that did not use a blood relative. I absolutely believed these two were the same person forty years apart.

Quiznos just did an add where they parodied the Maze Runner and Burning Man. I thought it was hilarious although I've never been to Burning Man. Check it out: I still don't get the point of Burning Man if there's no music. Also, I get this is actually Nevada but it seems like a big thing for Californians. I honestly can't picture any of the CAP characters going to something like Burning Man. I'd imagine them at Coachella first. (Given that there's, you know, an actual point to it?)

Well, this was all for moot. JJ's skating sabbatical timed conveniently for him to finish his last year of high school with no interruptions.

I saw this and found it to be pretty funny: Although to be honest, I thought the same thing about skinny jeans on men when they first started to be trendy circa 2008, and they're still in full-force. The lumbersexual look could be with us for a long, long time. The look is basically very related to hipsters, I think, and hipsters don't seem to be going anywhere. I think the only CAP character I can see rocking the lumbersexual look would probably be Cole, Matt's straight best friend from college. But in any event, I feel like I've seen a million variations of a same general look this decade: 1.) Some kind of beard- from scruffy to a huge, bushy one...bonus points if there's a mustache sculpted with wax. 2.) Buzzcut on the sides, with hair long and slicked back on the top. OR, buzzcut on the sides, with the hair parted to the side...sometimes even the part is buzzed in. 3.) Tattoos, preferably like a sleeve or like some kind of chest necklace. 4.) V-neck shirt worn under a tight, fitted flannel shirt. 5) Boots, shown off by the wearer cuffing their jeans. I hate to sound like such an old geezer but I long for the simple days of guys wearing plain white tank tops with cargo shorts, or cute pastel polo shirts and color-cordinated flip-flops.

I thought your birthday wasn't until November?

I'm annoyed at it as well, but it makes sense that JJ would be passive-aggressive and bitchy rather than spelling it all out, because I think he's confused about it as well. I also agree that I think Carullo would be the one hurt, not JJ. As seen by his deceased boyfriend Joey, Carullo is capable of being a devoted boyfriend. So if he became that with JJ, rather than just a fuck buddy, what happens if the whole thing fizzles out? (Because really, they don't have much in common.) What I like about this whole thing is that it's so unplanned. JJ calculated so much of his relationship with Alex, basically playing the blushing virgin (which he basically was) and played on Alex's Madonna/Whore complex. Here, JJ's having feelings for a guy he know he shouldn't be having feelings for, and he wants to control the whole thing, but he can't. I feel like that's JJ's general story arc- a tightly wound, tightly controlled guy who tries very hard to ignore his feelings, being put into this whole new way of life and with love interests that haven't been thought out to death.

Over on my friend's facebook, this has been making the rounds amongst us vanguard Millennials. Pretty scary, no? It's a weird thing. I remember back in 2003, I used to tell people I was born in 1985, and they'd go, "Wow, you're so young!" Now I tell people that I was born in 1985, and I get, "Damn, you're old." It's weird- I think my mind pretty sees the mid/late 2000's as being about yesterday, and that my peers (i.e. those born around 1984-1989) are the "youth peers", and the realization that there's this whole new generation rising (those that were born in the mid/late 1990's) is pretty weird. Sometimes I really wish I could get those 10 years back. Other times, I'm glad I lived those years, and but I'm also glad I don't need to go back to them. 21 was fun in some ways, absolutely horrible in other ways. But yeah, it's weird that 80's babies are turning into the 30-something generation. I was so used to us being the teenagers/twenty-sopmethings. Even weirder to me is that the 70's babies are now hitting their 40's. Someone tells me they were born in the late 70's, and I feel like they should be around their late 20's, not pushing 40. Time just keeps on slipping into the future, doesn't it?

Chapter 15 -When Will contemplates things against the backdrop of the New York City skyline. "Alone in Kyoto" by Air (Lost In Translation Soundtrack) -When the family gets drunk in a bar in New York City. "Margaritaville" by Jimmy Buffet

I think the inherent difficulty with you writing JJ is that he's really not anything like you- most of your lead characters have something about you in them, or they remind you of people you know. JJ is not really like anybody you've met before, or anybody that we've had in the story, and he's got this aloofness to him that makes him harder to understand and get into the mind of. The other thing about JJ is that he's not a generous person, the way your usual CAP protagonists are. The story often gets driven by the fact that the CAP protagonists want to do what they can to help other people, while JJ is generally too self-absorbed to do that. Carullo is a step in the right direction, but it wasn't his idea to help the guy in the first place. This might be the first time I've seen JJ do something for somebody that didn't serve his own self-interests. I think there are reasons why JJ has been a limited character until recent books...the biggest off all, I think, is that JJ's general tendency is to isolate himself. He might focus on one person, and then he shuts everybody else out. While that might work well for an indie drama film about an intense relationship that spirals out of control, that's not really something that can work for a soap opera like CAP. What I think has been interesting is that Mark has essentially written JJ on a three-year character arc, if you really think about. JJ in Millennium started out as a 14-year old diva, happy to be in his little skating bubble with Tiffany and Jeanine and the ice as his entire world. If JJ didn't like something, he could stomp off and hide away at the ice rink. I think the last three CAP years, Mark's basically stripped away all of that- JJ doesn't really have a safe little bubble he can hide in anymore. He can't even stomp off to the ice rink. Also, as JJ put it, he's pretty "boring" in the general CAP sense. Not into casual sex, not into drugs, not into partying, etc etc. While that's a great thing he leads such a healthy lifestyle, again- it doesn't really jibe with the hedonistic fun vibe that CAP often gets. I do get the feeling that Mark's having JJ work a little bit out of his whole Disney self-image...I can't see him EVER doing some of the shit that Will has done (namely performing a solo porn routine on an Italian club stage), but I do think Mark is getting JJ to be just a little bit less prissy. Because as Blue once said, a Disney guy just isn't going to cut it long-term as a CAP protagonist. I do like JJ's conflicts about wanting to jump Carullo's bones, while at the same time, not wanting to date him and thinking that's wrong because of that. He spent 5 years of his life in the world of figure skating...he had to have taken on some of their values internally.

Go with "The Ghost in You", then.

Chapter 14 -When Brad hallucinates seeing Robbie, who has stern words for him. "Every Breath You Take" by The Police OR "Ghost In You" by the Psychedelic Furs I really couldn't decide. -When Brad wakes up after a very long sleep. "Fallen" by Sarah McLachlan I totally gave a fist of triumph when I realized that this song is indeed period. I associate it more with 2005, but it's a 2003 song. Whew. You don't know how much it pisses me off when I have a song that's perfect for the moment...but it's from a year or two ahead of the story. -When Wade and MaryEllen talk about the fallout of JJ's molestation claim. "Maggie May" by Rod Stewart Every time I hear the song, I realize that Rod is basically calling Maggie May an old, ugly hag who destroyed his young school boy life. Which I can basically see JJ doing to MaryEllen. -When Will tries to rally the troops, much to JP's dismay. "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes -When Will, Carullo, and Zach get ready to go off and have a threesome, much to JJ's dismay. (Who still wants to imagine it.) "Ignition" by R. Kelly I don't think it was possible to be in my age group and not have heard this in a college party or college bar, at least once. R. Kelly very wisely gave this a kind of "classic R and B" feel to it- it's had a long life as a result.