centexhairysub

They need to drop a bomb now while it might be contained but they won't... Too afraid of what might be said in the press or other places...

Leave it to the military to screw up something that should have been taken care of; there is always some smart ass that wants a new weapon or toy to play with and really doesn't understand the risk...

I have to wonder if this is the same Ross from the story about Eagle Rock. If so, I wonder if we will get any additional cross over from that story. I can't remember the dates on it but think it was about the same time frame as this is now...

We always spend money on what is not really important and have often ignore what is really needed. It always bites us on the ass in the end...

And so it begins, it is always takes just that one person not doing what they are suppose to do to get something like this in motion. Hard to trust anyone in Pakistain or that region, just too many conflicted loyalties...

Well, not sure that I liked how that ended up but have to see where it is going in the end. Karma is a bitch and when you do something like that; it usually comes back to bite you in the end no matter how long it takes...

So easy to fear change and the change coming was bigger than most; I have to wonder what these two saw that lead them to believe the change would end up in a way that would destroy what they loved most?

Interesting start to the story, going into the past can always give a certain insight into how the future will proceed. I hope this proves and interesting as some of your other stories...

I don't even know what to say..... except, Bravo....

Exceptionally well done, Mark; this story just keeps getting better and better. I can't wait to see what you have in store for us while Granger is in Paris and then once again when he reaches London and home. I would suspect it would not do to keep Granger in Paris longer than absolutely necessary as Caroline is capable of launching an invasion to get him back...

Truly a first rate chapter and a fine addition to this saga; I knew Mark would have a few suprises for us. I really like the turn around with Mary Ellen and hope it is at least partially real, a truce with her would make life much easier for Wade. I am so glad that Wade got with Turner. I don't know, it just made so much sense in light of the past. Plus, the fact that so many of their friends from school past and present showed up says a lot about the kind of people Wade and Matt are turning out to be. I am sure that Elizabeth will come back to haunt Wade and the others but I hope he gets a little break. I am pretty sure that Mark Warner won the election in Virginia in 2000 so we know she won't get an appointed position but she will be lurking around...

The scene with JP and Brad was so well written. It had such a bittersweet feel to it as JP went over his past ever so briefly. Brad could learn so much from JP, if only he would stop trying to compete with him in everyway. I am really amazed and ever so impressed with how much Darius has grown during all of this. He has handled himself so well. Wade is so much like JP that it is funny. They even plan their battles in a similar manner. I thought he handled the situation with Elizabeth as well as could be expected. I do think it was funny to watch him with Mary Ellen. Great work, Mark, I know you are busy to thanks for the update...

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...