centexhairysub

Family Drama, and am I ever ready for it to be over with and escape....

This was just an outstanding chapter all the way around... Still out of the state so doing this on my phone, forgive me any issues... I am amazed at how resourceful and resilient Winkler proved under these circumstances. I think it would have been rare for someone in his position to have been able to handle this the way he did... It says a lot about both Granger and Caroline that they have these type of people willing to work for them and stay with them... Jacobs is a great asset to Winkler and I hope they are able to stay together for a long time. They both handled themselves exceptionally well. So impressed by not only how Caroline handled herself but with how she so easily understood the situation and all the implications therein. It says a lot about her as a woman that she was able to pull off what she did and still hold the position in society that she does, although that position helps her pull something like this off. I hope that Granger is on his way home when she finds out he has been captured and in Paris or she may be on her way there to get him out... If the Earl uses this to get himself elevated to a Marquisate then Granger will be able to get his promotion to an Earldom. I just can't see them promoting Granger while his father is also an Earl. Glad that the government decided the handle the situation with the ships the way the have, this will make Granger wealthy beyond compare. Even glad for Calvert but do hope he and Gatling are off to the Caribbean before Granger returns. Both the King and the government will be happy that Maidstone did not make it back, will anyone mourn him? They will also be happy the letters are at the bottom of the sea. Have to wonder if Maidstone's co-conspirators will take note of how he meet his death?

" The Small Handkerchiefs " is a great movie... I liked it much better than some critics did and you are right the music was great in it...

Still in Alabama so forgive any errors, still working on this on my phone... I really enjoyed getting to see JJ's point of view. I find him to be one of the more interesting characters and personally one that I like much more than some of the others that are featured much more proximately. I can't see him as a sole or major narrator but I would really like to get an occasional glimpse of what is going on from his point of view. JJ seems to be really torn about how he is feeling about Jeanine but then that is completely understandable. I hope that he continues to get some help and makes his way out of this into a truly bright future. Darius is handling himself great but I think he is using part of his current responsibilities to not have to deal with everything that is going on around him. He will be hard hit when this switches to the service for Robbie. I have just been so impressed by how he has handled himself and the other members of his family. Will handled the situation with Mr. Colson really well after he found out why he reacted the way he did in the class. I was so impressed by how Will managed to pull himself together and keep the feeding frenzy from occurring. I like how he is relating to Brad but wonder if Brad isn't being a little to honest about certain things... Brad has never been one of my favorite characters and he is fast becoming among my least. I fully understand the process of grief and often you do find faults with those you have lost to help you deal with the grief but Brad's constant whining is just getting beyond anything therapeutic and into just a region of self-indulgence that is annoying. One of Brad's biggest complaints about Robbie was when he whined but I swear Brad has done that more the last few views at him more than Robbie had in years.... I also don't thing it is completely healthy to have Brad using Will as his sounding board on some of this. I don't think he is doing it on purpose but Will is trying to process his own grief and Brad's constant Robbie did this to me and Robbie was responsible for making me so unbalance and unhappy; can't be good for Will to have to deal with while processing his own feelings of loss... I do hope that we find out the back story with Jeanine's parents. It appears that she never really left her kids with them but I am guessing more the father and have to wonder why? I get the feeling that Darius and Will at least know or suspect but hope the rest of us get better picture soon. From reading some of the chapter reviews, I think a lot of people viewed Cody's statements as a declaration that he was going to take responsibility for Madison's care and upbringing but I don't think that was what it was about. My guess is that they were the opening salvo in a child custody battle that is going to be brewing. The way Brad reacted and handled Will tells me that they were choreographed or at least planned out to some extent... Great work....

Take care of your real life and we will all be here going stir crazy awaiting your return....

All of these picks are outstanding but the Janis Joplin and REM songs just fit those moments so perfectly... I am so impressed with your understanding of how to pick a song that works so well with what is going on.... Bravo....

Okay, I think a lot of people are misunderstanding Cody's comments. I don't think they are an indication that he is going to get/take Madison. I think this is the opening salvo in a very interesting sequence of events. I have to wonder why Jeanine never allowed the kids to stay around her parents/father??? I just know there is a backstory there dying to come out... I really enjoyed JJ's perspective. I hope we get to see his side of the story a little more. I don't think he is ready to be a primary narrator but the occasional look in would be great. I understand about the stages of grief and what Brad is going through but I am getting really tired of his whining about all the terrible things that Robbie did to him or that impacted him. Brad always hated when Robbie whined but it is just as annoying when he does it. Will is turning out to be such an interesting young man. I can't wait to see how he handles the situations that will be coming up. Great job....

I really enjoyed this latest chapter. It was amazing that someone in Winkler's position was able to pull off what occurred and thanks to Jacobs help was able to deliver all the documents that Granger sent with him. I am very impressed by both Winkler and Jacobs. It says a lot about both Granger and Caroline to have people like this willing to serve under them. Caroline was just magnificent. I was beyond impressed with both her handling of the situation as well as her grasp of what was going on and who and what was involved in all of this. Her handling of the Commander as well as her performance in front of Spencer was just pitch perfect. I can imagine her dismay when she discovers that Granger has been captured aboard the Leander and is in Paris. We can hope that Granger will be on his way home shortly after she finds out, or hell she may head to Paris to get him out... The government will trumpet the capture of a Spanish galleon. It would have been major news and heralded all over the country. By handling it the way they are going to do so, Granger will become wealthy beyond belief. Glad for everyone, yes, even Calvert but do hope he stays far away from Granger. Calvert and Gatling can sail away on some adventure before Granger makes it home. The government will be glad when Santa Clarita gets home but will hate the loss of the Bacchante. They will be glad that the letters are destroyed and I am not sure many will miss Maidstone. The government and the King will be glad at how Granger handled the situation and he will come out with more influence than ever. If the Earl can get a Marquisate out of this, all the better; Granger would never be advanced to an Earldom while the Earl was still at that position. Amazing work, Mark, thanks again....

The rednecks have gathered round the bonfire so I have a few minutes to myself. Like Tim, I had thought of the lawyer, since I am on my phone I can't go back and look up his name, but I do remember he was a redhead; but he strikes me as way to submissive sexually to interest Brad. I could see Brad meeting a lawyer dealing with ongoing issues and developing feeling for them, a successful Brooks Brother wearing closet case could make for some interesting reading... I think that Jeremy was right as well though, if Brad was going to end up with someone already in the story it would be someone that would just make total sense to just about everyone and I don't think that person is available. Cody is the only person that really pops into my head but I just don't see that happening long term. Lark is single but I just can't see Brad going down that road; and everyone else really is paired off. Now, I know in the CAP universe that doesn't mean that they will stay that way but I can't see Brad playing the role of a home-wrecker. I think we will get someone new for Brad to really get into a relationship with; I don't suppose there is any illegitimate unknown Hayes man about 30ish with lavender eyes running around out there???

Sorry, I was late in getting to read this and join the discussion as I have been visiting a third world country, Alabama, and am having computer issues while here. Having to use my phone as I cannot seem to get my laptop to connect to anything in this area so sorry for any typos or issues with spacing. I find car trips are a great place to try and connect with someone and find out what is going on with them. You are in a moving object and really can't just step away to get out of answering any questions. Most people can't stay silent for any length of time so it works well on longer trips... I thought that Brad did a great job of clarifying what was going on with him and Robbie. He really had to begin to work on what had been happening because of wanting to go over it in the right way with Will. I do believe that Brad will come through this but he needs to man up and realize that a bunch of the issues between him and Robbie were due to his lack of maturity. In many ways Brad is about twenty years behind his age in maturity. An amazing amount of Brad's self-worth seems to still be tied up in his sexual prowess. I can see Brad dating a couple of guys much younger for the ego boost but I do think when he gets ready to settle down, he will find someone closer to his own age. How old is Cody exactly??? LOL... Have a really hard time believing any instructor at a school like Menlo would not have been made aware of what was going on with Will, just so they could be there to step in if needed in a situation. It would not surprise me for Will to have a few more outburst like this one. He is trying to hold in a great deal of emotion and deal with things no one his age should ever have to; hard to do without some of it spilling out from time to time. Have to wonder if it won't be Claire dealing with the school about this situation. I would think she would be the family member most tied into the situation at Menlo with both of her kids going there. Will be back later when the horde of rednecks I am dealing with are more subdued.

Great picks, I have not heard or even though of Bodies by Drowning Pool in years. This was a kick-ass choice...

The latest chapter was great. I like how you are going through each of the characters and letting us have a peek in their lives. So glad that Brad and Will are talking; I don't think this one conversation or situation will solve all of their problems but at least they are communicating. I have a feeling that nothing but about ten years of living is going to really bring them together... Brad seems to be getting a handle on the situation with Robbie. Having to talk to Will made him look at what was going on and evaluate the situation. This was probably a good thing for them both. Being in a car with someone for a couple of hours can give you an ideal spot to start a conversation. Really shocked by how Will's math teacher acted, I would have though a school like this would have made sure everyone would have been aware of the situation and prepared to step in and help. I can see Will having a few episodes like this, you just can't carry around everything that he is and stay calm and collected. I have to wonder if Claire won't be the one dealing with the school over this? She seems to be the kind of person to be really connected their with her kids. Wonderful job as always, can't wait for the next update.

I really enjoyed chapter 66 of Odyssey that was posted today. I am glad we are back with Granger, although I did enjoy our time with Winkler and hope we find out how that resolves itself. I hope that Lt Eastwyck is in Paris or on his way there. At least if they are together, Granger will get to find out some new information, although Eastwyck will not know about Humphrey's death or the arrival of Santa Clarita. I did find it sort of interesting that the closer they got to France, the more Granger and Beauvillers pulled away from each other. I know that part of this was the especially after they landed that Beauvillers was able to find a woman to sleep with, but undoubtedly some of this was to mirror the deterioration of the relationship between France and England, itself. Granger's trick with the copper coins will get some good word of mouth irregardless of the problems with the rotten fruit in Lyon. In France more so than other places being able to pull the crowd to your side was a major benefit during this time. Charity and generosity were good ways to do this, plus Granger's inborn sense of fair play will help as well. I can't wait for Granger to get to a tailor and then into society in Paris. I am less than enamoured with the idea of Granger being involved with Talleyrand. Granger will be able to easily bribe the man, Talleyrand made a large fortune taking bribes during each adminstration that he served in. I just feel that Talleyrand was truly a miserable human being. There are those that argue that he served France more than those in power during each of his changes in loyalty but the evil he was responsible for just far outweights any of the good he ever did... The fact that he entered the church as a means to gather wealth and power, only to betray his vows and promises to the point that one of the Pope Pius's actually defroked him says a great deal about his behaviour. I know he made a deathbed conversion back to Catholicism but after everything he did, God may forgive but man does not. His direct responsiblity in the death of the Duke of Enghien as well as his complacency in putting the touches on the powder keg that would eventually lead to WWI just puts him beyond redemption in my eyes... Can't wait to see how Mark arranges Granger's entrance into Parisian society...

I know it will not acutally happen but could I suggest that no one in this story have sex with anyone else other than a committed partner for the next month or two until they are on a stronger footing with themselves. This would allow Matt and Wade, JP and Stef, Isidore and Frank, Ace and Cass, Max and Tim, Lou and Marcel, and Claire and Jack to have sex but no one else...... I think Brad, Darius, and Will should remain celibate for the next month at least...

Well, I am glad we are back with Granger although I did enjoy our time with Winkler. I thought the way Granger's relationship with Beauvillers deteriorated the closer they got to France and then Paris was very intersting and telling. I am less enamoured with his reintroduction to Talleyrand. While I will admit that Talleyrand was a first rate diplomate; I think he was a truly despicable human being. The fact that he took a church position in an attempt to gain wealth and power, then debased it to the point that Pope Pius the something actually defrocked him; add his direct links to the death of the Duke of Enghien makes him just beyond forgiveness to me. I am sure that Granger will have no trouble bribing him, he became quite wealthy taking bribes over the years. Great chapter and can't wait to see Granger move into society in Paris...

I agree that JJ will be a major showcase for Burberry with some timeless accessories that give him the ability to make a statement about who he is and where he comes from without being showy or tacky. JJ strikes me as the kind of person that would counter-balance the flamboyance of someone like Johnny Weir.

I just cannot even begin to tell you how well written, constructed, and plotted this chapter was; it fit so well into this story and just explained so much of what had been going on with several main characters. Bravo Mark!!! I truly never even saw this development with Marie coming at all; I find myself re-reading Mark's stories all the time and trying to decipher these little clues he leaved to help guide us in this journey but if he left a clue this was coming it was too obscure for me. Marie developing a romantic love for Will just explains so much about her behaviour not just with Will but with Noah, John, and several others. She developed these forbidden feeling and then had no one she could confide in or talk to about them. I can completely see why she reacted the way she did in so many situations dealing with Will after she figured out how she felt. Imagine being a female and falling in love with your gay cousin, that has already been in a physical and romantic relationship with your younger brother.?! How do you even begin to process those feeling and emotions? Who could you possibly talk to and confide in; that is not a conversation you are going to have with your parents no matter what... Then this tragedy occurs, not one that just involved you and the person you are in love with but one that pulls your whole extended family and even that nation into it. At this point, Marie really had no one to talk to other than Will. Until she dealt with him, she really could not talk to or engage anyone else in this matter. I think that by talking with Will and explaining herself and yes, even sleeping with him; Marie has taken the first step to getting her life back in order. I think that Tim and Mark are right, it is not unusual to become so wound up with your feeling for someone that the physical act of sex between you and the other person can often cause your feeling to lessen or dissipate significantly. There are several reasons for this and they can vary; but in this case I think that between the confession and realizing that while the sex felt good that there was no "spark"; Marie now knows that this isn't something that makes sense in her life. I don't think her feelings for Will are going to just disappear but as she works through them they will evolve into a type of love and connection that will make more sense in light of their interconnection with each other. Claire's statement to Will is going to mean so much more to him as he works his way through the grieving process and even how he is going to relate to Marie in light of her announcement and their actions. Claire really has always been there for Will, maybe more than Jeanine over the last several years and the issues that developed with her because of Marie's actions; clearly showed how important she is to Will. Glad that Cody finally actually said something about Madison; I don't think he will be willing to get into a battle with the whole family over the issue but I do think he is going to want his views and opinions heard and addressed. Cody appears to be much closer to this group of people than his own biological family; I am not sure he would be willing to rupture those relationships to get a responsibility that he doesn't probably even want deep down. Isidore wasn't someone that I really thought of when we had discussed Madison's guardianship previously but it actually makes a great deal of sense. Frank's issues will be dealt with. It isn't like Isidore would be taking the sole physical responsibility for Madison, they will have at least two nannies probably. Plus, there are so many others that will step in to help with her when needed. This child will be loved... Brad's point of view is going to be seen in the next chapter and I am really glad. I am not sure he is even doing as well as Will thinks he is; Brad just seems to be moving as fast as he can so he doesn't have to face reality right now... I am hoping that spending some time with Will surfing will help center him and help him to begin to process his emotions. Mark, you have truly done an exceptional job with this story in the CAP saga. The writing and plotting have just been seamless and superb. A special shout out to those on your team that are helping to edit and assist and an extra shout out to Jeremy in regards to his song selections over the last few chapters...

Sister Christian is just the perfect song for this chapter... I turned it on and went back and re-read the part with Marie and Will with it playing very softly in the background and it really did fit the mood. An inspired choose, I was wondering what direction you would go with your choice the first time I read the chapter...

This chapter and to some extent the whole story just made me sad...

Robbie was so perfect right here. He really stood up for Will and tried to help him understand what was going on with Tony and himself. Tony needs to stay away from Will and everyone else until he gets enough therapy to figure out his own life...

Will must look much older than he is, there is no way they would allow a 14 y/o to have stayed in the delivery room with Tiffany. Tony needs lots of therapy...

Really liked the interaction between Alistair and Will, it make Will seem a little more normal for his age. I think it is great that he works at the mission helping out others, plus it will look great on a college application. I really think part of Matt's issue is that he is close to JJ and Gathan and JJ just don't get along; that probably isn't all that is involved but it is a big part of it.

Never in my wildest dreams.......

Alistair seems really interesting but he is the only new person that the school to really make an impression. I can see why Will would be pissed how how JJ did. Except for the fact that Gathan and Matt both come across as Alpha males not sure what the deal is with Matt, unless it is the fact that JJ seems to have issues with Gathan, Matt is pretty tight with JJ...

Wade was able to explain things to Will and get him to understand better than almost anyone else would have been able to without making him feel more foolish than he already did... Will and Ryan will either end up great friends or spend the year trying to kill each other...