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Brad and Robbie are going to have to work on sharing all parts of their life. Brad is already showing signs of being a control freak and I think he will have trouble with this aspect of their relationship. It was nice that Claire and Jack ended the dinner with some good news. JP going to Paris with the others will be good for everyone. I am sort of glad about JP and Mouse, they are not in love but each of them need someone else right now.

Losing Roger would have to be devestating for everyone; but losing JP would end the saga. For me, CAP is and always will be about JP. I have to wonder how everyone will react to JP's news. I love how Brad is supporting Robbie in his dealing with therapy. It is very hard for some people to accept that they need to therapy and it can be so much harder if they don't have a good support system behind them.

Well, we meet Darius. Something good came from Bitty, I know what a shock. You can tell that Brad cares about Darius already. I have to wonder if Marie and Jeanine are more than employeer/employee. It was just sad to see Sam and just annoying to see Jake. I don't understand how someone can be so involved with someone inapporpriate to the point of risking all of your other relationships or even your life.

Stef was right, fisting is one of the most intimate acts that you can do with another person. It can also be used quite abusively as well. Brad and Robbie are going to be okay. I have to say that I believe that Neil will keep his promise and try to move against them.

This was just a roller coaster ride. I just felt myself being pulled in every direction possible. I think it is telling that the family have decided to seperate Robbie from Neil, but in my experience this really doesn't work if the person can't be made to understand that they were in an abusive relationship.

Well, Brad maybe in the same place but he handled it much better. He has been upfront with everyone and has tried to make sure that everyone is on an even keel. I have to believe that Brad will always love Robbie no matter who ends up with who.

Well, I guess if you needed to find out about something sexual that was out of the ordinary, Stef would be the best person to ask... I am surpised that Brad hasn't lost his temper and really hurt Neil. Of course, this is what Neil wants so he could either go to Robbie or the police and try to get Brad out of the picture that way.

Robbie doesn't seem to be the kind of person that is good at making decisions. I have a feeling that when he is with Neil, he loves Neil the most, and when he is with Brad, ditto. Brad is going to have to be the one to take charge in the end.

I just love Tonto... I love that Robbie came down with her. You have to wonder that Neil let Robbie out of his sight with Brad in the same state. Lark turns up again. I have a feeling that he will end up hurting Max. Lark is just one of those guys that can't admit that he might really be into guys. Stef and Greg are really lucky. So many guys in their circle will have died or been infected because of the parties in the 70's and even early 80's; the fact that they got together is probably what saved them both....

Well, Brad has met someone that he likes but you can tell that he is still not over Robbie. The fact that he was willing to give Robbie $10,000.00 to pay off the debts that Robbie ran up trying to keep Neil happy shows that more than anything else. It is amazing how often in life you can be so far from everyone but still run into people that are connected to your life back home. The fact that Brad is now sort of seeing Greg's assistants son is just amazing...

The pain of losing someone can be terrible; but to lose someone to such a total bitch would make it pure agony. You can tell the Neil is with Robbie at least partly for the money; the issue there is going to be that Robbie doesn't really have that much money. I have to wonder how this is going to play out...

Going back and reading this after you have read this book in the saga makes this feel that much more relevant. It just really fits this story...

I have been wondering and worrying about Eastwyck, Kingsdale, Andrews, and the other men that went north. I would really like to know what happened there. Did they stage a takedown of the French corvette or did Santa Clarita show up in time to rescue them? There was something really intersting about the young Baron of Kingsdale and I would really like to find out what is going on with him, I hope he gets to stick around for a while. Granger in Paris is going to be a unique adventure. I have to wonder how long he will be there...

Really a great chapter and a day early as well, I was so excited when I saw this... Well, Granger is now off to France and may even get a visit to Paris. I have to wonder how the French Lt will handle things when he is back on shore with better access to women? I thought that Granger handled the situation with the French Captain just perfectly. He did what he could not to antagonize him and try and make the life for the British sailors better. That is what a real leader does... Glad to see that Winkler and Jacobs finally caught up with St Vincent and got the information to him. I have to wonder what is going to happen to Winkler when he shows up home in London without Granger; Caroline is going to have something to say about this... LOL... I also can't wait for Jacobs and Winkler to end up together. I have to think that will be very interesting, I hope we get to go through it... Could Winkler have been assigned somewhere else? Isn't he a personal servant of Granger and wouldn't this make him immune to being placed on another shipe??? Westie help!!!!

Okay, I loved this latest chapter. It showed how much JP and Will care for each other and also showed the bonds between Will, Darius, and JJ. I think they are closer than most people realize even though they fight and bicker quite often. I think that Will and Darius are in some ways opposite sides of the same coin. They handle things in different ways but really care about family and friends. The scene with Will and JP at the college was just so well done. I really like how Mark is able to show that JP is still relevant and important not just to the family but those in the academic community. He is able to connect with students, even those that are not his, in a way that only the very best teachers are able to do... JP will be off and running early in the morning to his meeting at NYU. This would seem to indicate that he will be safe and out of the danger zone. Of course, this is New York so there could be something else happen but I have to assume that he will be safe. Will, Darius, Robbie, Jeanine, and Hank will all be on the observation deck on Tower 2 for the rehearsal. I know they are supposed to be there at 8:30 a.m. but I am surprised by this. I spoke to someone that worked in that tower and said they were really strict that no one other than employees had access to the observation deck before it opened at 9:30 a.m. Even if they are there, they would have about 15 minutes from the first tower being hit until tower 2 is struck. I have to think that Hank's first reaction will be to head off to help those in the first tower and even though they are fighting, everyone else will be worried about Stef and Brad. If they delay, there was one staircase left open in the second tower after it was struck. That is why there were some that survived from the floors above where the plane hit on tower 2 versus none of tower 1, all the staircases on tower 1 were destroyed or blocked by the plane hitting the building. Plus, a large number of people started to exit tower 2 after the first tower was struck. Stef and Brad seem to be in the biggest danger. If they are in the area of the tower that is above where the plane struck, they are doomed. No one from the area above where the plane struck survived in tower 1. JJ is also in danger. If he is still asleep with earplugs or something, how will he know to evacuate? I don't know what they did but my understanding is that only three hotel employees and a few people that were taken into the hotel as a staging area were killed other than emergency personel when tower 3 was destroyed by the collapse of tower 1. Almost everyone that was killed in the collapse of tower 3/Marriott Hotel were the fire fighters that were using it as a staging area to get into tower 1 and 2. I don't remember exactly how many died but I know it was less than a hundred. There was even a group that were in the hotel that escaped after the collapse, they were in an area that had been re-enforced after the bombing the decade before. I am both terrfied and excited to see where Mark is going to take us on this voyage into the past. I have to wonder if we will see Will and Darius's night out before the tragedy of the next day....

Granger on his way to France, I am sure with the Lt along it will be an interesting trip. I have to wonder if he will actually end up in Paris??? Of course, I wonder who will get home first, Granger or Thompson and Berry? I think Granger played the situation with both the French captain and the Lt just perfectly. So glad to see that Winkler and Jacobs have made it to St Vincent and that they have managed to stay together. I am glad they are heading on toward London and home. After dealling with Granger and being around him; I completely understand that no stuck up British Lt was going to bully Winkler. I can't wait for Jacobs and Winkler to hook up, I think it is going to be good... Since Winkler is a personal servant of Granger, could he even be assigned to another ship??? Westie help.....

WOW, these were all just wonderful choices... I really loved The Bangles as well, I thought they were so much better than some of the other females groups of that era. Eve of Destruction was just a inspired choice as well. I can totally see JJ as a Audrey Hepburnesque type with huge shades in front of the iconic window...

Okay, first off I think this chapter was just so well written and set up. You can just really feel all the conflicting emotions going on with everyone. That being said, I am feeling physically ill at this point because the only person that really appears to be safe is JP... Thought the scene with Will and JP at Columbia was just great. It showed the love and affection but also the level of respect that they have for each other. JJ and Will are so typical in many ways. JJ wants to leave the issues with the abuse undiscussed and wants everyone to stop bringing them up; while Will wants to know what JJ is feeling, is he dealing with this, is this weighting him down, etc.... Will and Darius have a more bro rather than brother relationship. They seem to be more loosely tied together but the bond still runs deep. They are in many ways opposite sides of the same coin. Brad and Stef just piss me off.... Although, Stef seems to have come to his senses by the time the chapter is completed at least in some ways... Great job, Mark, I can't wait to see how you handle this....

I loved the Waltons... It was one of my favorite shows growing up in the 70's and I still watch the re-runs at times... I always hated Little House on the Prairie; I was always praying for a tornado to wipe them out and send them ontoward their Highway to Heaven....

Okay, I have family plans for the day and can't spend as much time as I would like so I am cheating and copying my comments in the review into here... I will add more when I have more time. Anyone that has ever gone bungee jumping knows that feeling when the cord starts to catch and for that split second; you wonder, " Will it hold'? That feeling of excitement and terror all rolled up into one feeling in the pit of your stomach. That is the feeling that I have on each of these chapters the last couple of weeks. I noticed above someone commented about the wedding being in the morning. That would not have been possible. No events were allowed on the observation deck before it opened at 9:30 a.m. Now, I guess if you had enough pull, you might have gotten around this but I can't see Jeanine or Hank having that type of pull as they seemed to be the ones planning all of this without any help from the rest of the family. Plus, do you know how early everyone would have to get up and get moving for a wedding at 9:00 a.m.??? Hell, the hair would have to start getting done way before 5:00 a.m. I think it is safe to say that the wedding is planned for the evening of September 11th, not in the morning. Of course, Mark could have this changed but.... The Marriot World Trade Center was in building 3 of the WTC complex. While it was not hit directly, although landing gear and other parts from one of the planes did strike the hotel; it was destroyed in the subsequent collapse of the two towers. I think less than a hundred people died in the hotel and most of them were firemen that were using the hotel as a staging point for the two towers. I don't believe that any guest were killed in the destruction of the hotel. It was a really beautiful hotel and the service was just exceptional... I had stayed at the hotel less than a year before it's destruction. I just really don't understand Marie's endgame at this point. It doesn't appear that she can push him from the school or even the position that he has within the school; so what is she trying to do? Everyone has to believe or at least suspect that Ferris did what he did at the urging of Marie since he is one of her toadies. Her position is even more precarious since John has taken his cousin's side over his sister. How will everyone react when they find out that Marie basically drove her brother out of the house and he is now going to be living with Will??? I think Noah is going to end up being of the the people really hurt by all of this teen drama. I think Marie is really using him or at least started out using him to get back at Will. Can Noah survive socially in this atmosphere if Marie dumps him and Will doesn't stand behind him? It looks like Will has another conquest in Cam. I sort of like this kid even though we don't know much about him. He seems shy and funny and like Alistair might prove to be someone that would do Will good to hang around with and enjoy spending time with him. I just can't believe how Brad and Stef are acting. If JP's disapproval wasn't enough, which it should have been; then the fact that Darius, JJ, and Robbie are avoiding them as much as they apparently are should have been a big clue... I had really hoped for the longest time that no one in the CAP universe would be hurt or killed in the events of 09/11 but everything about Mark's writing suggest that is not going to be the case; I do hope and pray that I am wrong... I have a scenario that keeps coming up in my head of what is going to happen; and will be sick if it is even close to being right. I am sure Mark already has everything about the next few chapters completed except for maybe some editing so I don't think any last minute invocations of prayer or begging is going to change what Mark has planned. I am sure this is going to be hanlded with grace, humility, and that special touch that Mark seems to bring to all of his stories. No matter what happens, thanks for the ride; it has been a great one....

WOW, a lot of work matching songs to the moments in this chapter... I really love Debbie Harry and Blondie. This really fits the moment in the chapter perfectly. I love the song New York, New York but have always really favored the Liza Minelli version. I think it has more depth and passion; plus I was never a huge Frank Sinatra fan; I always thought he was a better actor than singer. I had never heard of the song by The Wiseguys; but it was pretty cool...

Anyone that has ever gone bungee jumping knows that feeling when the cord starts to catch and for that split second; you wonder, " Will it hold'? That feeling of excitement and terror all rolled up into one feeling in the pit of your stomach. That is the feeling that I have on each of these chapters the last couple of weeks. I noticed above someone commented about the wedding being in the morning. That would not have been possible. No events were allowed on the observation deck before it opened at 9:30 a.m. Now, I guess if you had enough pull, you might have gotten around this but I can't see Jeanine or Hank having that type of pull as they seemed to be the ones planning all of this without any help from the rest of the family. Plus, do you know how early everyone would have to get up and get moving for a wedding at 9:00 a.m.??? Hell, the hair would have to start getting done way before 5:00 a.m. I think it is safe to say that the wedding is planned for the evening of September 11th, not in the morning. Of course, Mark could have this changed but.... The Marriot World Trade Center was in building 3 of the WTC complex. While it was not hit directly, although landing gear and other parts from one of the planes did strike the hotel; it was destroyed in the subsequent collapse of the two towers. I think less than a hundred people did in the hotel and most of them were firemen that were using the hotel as a staging point for the two towers. I don't believe that any guest were killed in the destruction of the hotel. It was a really beautiful hotel and the service was just exceptional... I had stayed at the hotel less than a year before it's destruction. I just really don't understand Marie's endgame at this point. It doesn't appear that she can push him from the school or even the position that he has within the school; so what is she trying to do? Everyone has to believe or at least suspect that Ferris did what he did at the urging of Marie since he is one of her toadies. Her position is even more precarious since John has taken his cousin's side over his sister. How will everyone react when they find out that Marie basically drove her brother out of the house and he is now going to be living with Will??? I think Noah is going to end up being of the the people really hurt by all of this teen drama. I think Marie is really using him or at least started out using him to get back at Will. Can Noah survive socially in this atmosphere if Marie dumps him and Will doesn't stand behind him? It looks like Will has another conquest in Cam. I sort of like this kid even though we don't know much about him. He seems shy and funny and like Alistair might prove to be someone that would do Will good to hang around with and enjoy spending time with him. I just can't believe how Brad and Stef are acting. If JP's disapproval wasn't enough, which it should have been; then the fact that Darius, JJ, and Robbie are avoiding them as much as they apparently are should have been a big clue... I had really hoped for the longest time that no one in the CAP universe would be hurt or killed in the events of 09/11 but everything about Mark's writing suggest that is not going to be the case; I do hope and pray that I am wrong... I have a scenario that keeps coming up in my head of what is going to happen; and will be sick if it is even close to being right. I am sure Mark already has everything about the next few chapters completed except for maybe some editing so I don't think any last minute invocations of prayer or begging is going to change what Mark has planned. I am sure this is going to be hanlded with grace, humility, and that special touch that Mark seems to bring to all of his stories. No matter what happens, thanks for the ride; it has been a great one....

I really enjoyed the latest chapter. I do think that Granger played the situation perfectly. His level of ingrained and learned behaviour would make the most stringent social arbiter set up and take notes. I think that Granger was right in that there is no reason to antagonize the people that will be in charge of dealing with both you and that captured crew. Why make it rougher for either you or the men under you; the problem is that so many of those in charge really cared very little for those that followed them. This is what makes Granger so different from so many of those in charge in both the navy and society at the time of this story. I have never understood those that fail to understand that if you treat a person right, you get better results from them. I really did not know that William James was a lawyer. I have read several versions of the aftermath of this battle and they all seem to favor the British version; but of course to some extent the British won the war and we tend to accept the victor's version over the defeated. The truth is probably just as you said somewhere in between. I can't wait for Granger to get back on his way home. He really has quite a few things to wrap up but I want to see how he is going to handle the issue with his ship being destroyed. I could easily see this story hitting 100 chapters....

That was a great choice, it really fit the whole chapter not just the scene with them.... I don't know if everyone comes over and checks out the picks you make for the music but they should. I often go back and re-read the chapter with the songs you pick out and they really enhance my enjoyment... Great job...

Really loved the latest chapter of Odyssey, I get so carried away when I read them. I can almost feel the tension and emotion of those involved. I admire how Granger is able to stay calm and collected during the most troubling of times. I would agree with Granger that there is no need to antagonize those that are now in charge. The level of sophistication and levelheadedness that Granger posses is partly from his upbringing but some is just the kind of person that he is. God, I wish we had someone like him now... I have to admit that I did not know that William James was a lawyer. While I have an inbreed desire to take the British side over anyone else; this would temper my opinion. I have read the account but like you probably believe it was somewhere in the middle, although the issue with the surgeon always really bothered me... I can't wait for Granger to be exchanged and get on his way back to England. Berry and Thompson were lauded on their arrival, even though they were not the first with the news, but I can see Granger downplaying his issues to let them explain what happened before, during, and afterward...