centexhairysub

I commented earlier in the Paternity topic but will touch on it here as well. Music by Madonna came out in September of 2000 and went to number one in 25 countries and sold over 15 million copies. It was in my opinion the best album released that year. The mix of dance, fusion,funk, and jazz on the album was amazing. It also had one of the best remakes of a classic song of all times in American Pie, while this was not released on the copies of the US album it was on the international copies. You could not go into any club, gay or straight, in the last few months of that year without hearing multiple songs off of this album. It was both a commercial and critical smash. I know how cliched that a gay man loves Madonna but if that year produced nothing else it produced one of the best Madonna albums ever, and for me, that is saying a lot....

I had the exact feeling that Hermetically Sealed had that this this going to push Jeanine over the edge and into either resenting or hating the child. I have to admit I am sure that Cody got to be the father because of all the drama that it will help stir up but really was hoping for Robbie to have been the father. I have always like Jeanine and have found her to be one of the more interesting ancillary players. However, she could easily be pushed off the deep end and do something rash, ie suicide, abandoning the family, etc; how she ultimately handles this will effect so many lives. Jeanine may snap out of all of this and just be the perfect mother but then where would the drama be with that??? I am really glad that Wade will be the primary narrator for this story. Like Westie, the thought of a naked Matt, helps a lot but Wade has always reminded me of JP in the early stories and those have always been my favorite. I still think that JP is the best narrator that any of the stories have had, and hopefully Wade will be able to follow in his footsteps. I think that the relationship that Wade has with Will is great and this will enable Will to stay in the picture for this story. I am also sure that with Matt being captain of the hockey team, Gathan will be around some as well. Now, as to the music in 2000; I agree for the most point that year had very little to offer overall but probably the best album of the year was released in September of that year. It was Music by Madonna, I know what a shock, a gay man that loves Madonna... The album was one of her best ever and went to number one in about 25 countries including the US and UK. The album ended up selling around 15 million copies and spawned another couple of number one singles for Madonna. Although not released on the US version, Madonna's remake of Don McLean's American Pie was released on the international copies and was one of the best remakes ever... You couldn't go into either a gay or straight club in the last few months of that year without hearing songs from that album.

Mark, just wanted to say that you and your whole team are just the best.....

Really well written chapter but like Westie was not really sure about how this ended. I guess the last chapter really did tie up a bunch of Will's issues and this tied up at least one of Gathan's issues but just felt a little abrupt.

While rjo is correct, there was a legal way that the right of the first born could be put aside, it was rarely used; my understanding is that it wasn't just in case of the mental competency being questioned. With the doctrine of primogeniture, the title and the estate, the actual land that gave the family the title, that was entailed by the title went to the first born son. Technically that is all that was required, however what usually happened was that the vast majority of the total estate went to the first born son. However, there are several examples where a first born son or the closest male relative that was to receive the title had so put off the holder that they left them only the estate that was entailed to them by the title. They could in reality leave the rest of the property and wealth to whomever they wished. When this was done, it usually brought about a dire crisis as often the titled estate alone was not able to generate enough income to keep it going or life a very luxurious lifestyle. While there are more examples of this happening than actually replacing the primary heir, this was rarely undertaken either. To split the estate in this manner, often lead to the whole family being downgraded and this was something no one at this level of society was readily prepared to do. It appears that one of the few reasons to take this drastic step was if there was some question that the person receiving the title or that persons offspring might not be family by blood. Considering this might be a problem that arises with Davina, I could see the Earl and Countess of Bridgemont making the decision that the majority of the estate would pass to an actual blood relative rather than risk someone not of their line getting the lion share of the estate.

The new chapter of St Vincent was magnificent... This is some of the best writing of the series. I can just see Caroline there in the drawing room going to town on Davina and the rest of the family... I really like the interaction between Granger and Kerry but sort of see Chartley as more of Grangers type. I can't wait for the next chapter in this wonderful addition to the best series on gayauthors...

I loved the latest chapter and it was good to see Sir Phillip Kerry again. I can't imagine what would be going on in London that Caroline didn't think she could handle, must be a doozy... I know these chapters take longer than your other story but please don't make us wait too long to find out what the issue is... I have to agree that it seems to me that JP is the person most like George. Westie mentioned in his post that his sluttiness was sort of like Stef but if you remember JP when he was young did have that streak as well.

Hmmm... Wouldn't this be bastard instead of bitch? Mark has never given off a feminine vibe to be but well who knows....

Hmmm... Well I grew up in a very small town in Texas, population was 6000. I am now 46 years old so most of my growing up was in the late 70's and early 80's and I was always out. Now, I didn't go around holding hands with a guy or kissing him in the school hallway, that was discouraged even for the heterosexual couples but was also never beaten up or seriously bullied either. Yes, there were the guys that had to make a comment, it seemed like everyday, but often they were the sames one that would call or show up at 2:00 a.m. to play. All of the little old ladies loved me and they never seemed to have a problem with me being gay. The ones that usually had an issue were either those that ere insecure about themselves or their kids. I have never been a big believer in public displays of affection. I think it might be more because I was brought up with a certain set of manners and my grandmother would have been horrified up it. This last bit is to Mark and the issue of lesbian happiness. In my experience, lesbian couples tend to be much more stable and happy than most male couples or even heterosexual couples. I think in general lesbian couples are more grounded and understand what they want out of a relationship and what it takes to make it work than others... Just my opinion.

I agree that being a top level figure skater will make it harder to make real friends and spend time with them but I am not sure I agree about the lack of social skills. I had a close friend that was nationally ranked in that sport for almost ten years, never made it to the very top, but they had to spend alot of time with coaches, choreographers, officials, sponsers, press, etc... It made my friend very socially adept at a really young age. He freely admits now that he had very few actual friends from that time but had tons of interactions on all levels daily. If anything, being in a sport like that causes you to grow up faster than normal; you may not make lasting friendships but you have lots of superficial encounters that you have to learn to handle all the time...

Well, even if it is just a chapter with a cliffhanger, I am so excited... I do realize that this story because of the work you do with matching it so well to the period is harder and more detailed when it comes to writing it. I just truly do love this series.

oh where oh where has my george gone, has he been cast adrift all alone? oh where oh where has my george gone, has he found happiness and let bygones be bygones? oh where oh where has my george gone, he better be back, or someone is gonna have a broken bone...

Great new chapter for Poor Man's Son, I really like the current progression. I am going to hate that Jeanine and Tiffany don't end up together, really Mark, you just couldn't let the lesbians be happy???? I do want Wade to be the father and I think that will work better for the story in the long run. I really would be happiest if Robbie was the father of Jeanine's baby although Cody being the dad would be great drama... I think Will is right and Tony is going to be in for a rough time in his life. With the weight of his past causing some of his internal issues, I think that Tony will be a really angst filled addition to this series... Mark, hope you are doing better with your personal time and getting a little more balance to your life... Keep up the great work...

I still think everyone is wrong about JJ... I haven't seen anything to suggest that he is insecure at all. He grew up loved, protected, and with a large cash cushion. He was bubbly and fun when younger and by all accounts is cute not handsome. JJ grew up with not just supportive parents but a whole support system that helped him and was always there for him, even Darius and Will, although they both found him annoying as brothers can do. Now, he is a top ranked athlete in a very competitive sport; if anything this would give him more confindence not less. Now, having said all that, do I think that JJ is a DIVA, yes; do I think that he has his act completely together, NO; do I like how he handled the situation on the first day of school,NO, but I wonder how much that was JJ and how much that was the kid he left the restroom with; finally, I have seen nothing in JJ manner, behaviour, or anything that anyone else has said that would indicate that he is insecure or or some basketcase that others here are trying to make him out to be.

Really enjoyed the new chapter. I think that Will and JJ will have an interesting time at school for the year. I don't see JJ in quite the same way that some have, I think that JJ is more secure in himself than you would think. I don't understand Matt's attitude toward Gathan. I have to wonder if something happened that we aren't aware of yet. Hmmmmm......

I don't often comment of the songs but I think the ones that methodwriter picked for the latest chapter were just dead on. The songs for this and the last couple of stories are from a time that I just wasn't that into the music being produced in general, I think that most of the music from 1998 to 2003 was one of the worst in decades. There are some notable exceptions but as a rule those few years just didn't click with me, that being said the songs that you picked for this chapter were all picture perfect and really hit the mood.

Mark, I was so excited to see an update of St Vincent on the same day as your posting of the new chapter of PMS... I really needed me a Granger fix, I think I have become addicted to him. I keep going back and re-reading the story from the first up til the current chapters again and again... I hope that Granger is able to get Mr. Roberts and the others back soon, since he delievered Captain Don Jacobo Stuart back to Roses. I was glad to see that Granger and Ventura seemed to be so simpatico once again... I really do believe that your ability to mix fact and fiction in such a way that the reader is drawn into the story but also into the very lives of those in the story is remarkable. I care deeply about every person in the Bridgemont series and cheer and mourn their every triumph and tragedy. I do hope that you are getting some rest and getting some time to yourself while you are taking a break. I will be waiting patiently for my next Granger fix, but you do know how us addicts can get so.....

I was so glad to see the new chapter up and understand about a delay in getting to the more challenging chapters coming up... I hope that you are taking some time to get your batteries recharged and rested and not just doing other things at a breakneck speed, Mark, everyone needs to fill the well ever so often... I hope that Robbie is the father of Jeanine's child and that Tiffany has fraternal twins with Matt and Wade being a father to one of each, I know talk about a flashback to SOAP from the 70's but... wouldn't it be wild... I could already tell that Ryan Grafton was going to be someone we were going to see again but I sort of agree that maybe in the next story the kid that berated Ryan and Will might make an appearance as well... Well, I do hope that you are getting your life back some and will wait patiently for the next update, okay maybe not patiently but not hunting anyone down with an ax...

Just take your time and get everything in order... We are all waiting patiently for your return to the brilliance of the past...

I actually think that Matt and Wade would work really well as co-narrators on the next story or two. Matt and Wade are a bridge between Brad/Robbie/Claire/Ace's generation and Darius/Gathan/Will/JJ's generation. In many ways the events of 2000 and 2001 were bridge events between the world that we had and the ones created by the events of those years, why not use narrators that reflect that in the family as well. Matt is Robbie's only biological son, so far... and Wade has been refered to as almost JP's incarnation for the younger generations. They would tie both sides of the divide together really well, at least in my opinion. They are both close to Darius/Will/JJ and with Gathan going to Stanford that will bring them into play with that group as well. I have actually grown fond of the dual narration and find it an interesting way to see more than one point of view for certain events. Matt and Wade's backgrounds, differences, and even their love for each other would bring interesting views on the events of the early 2000's. It might be interesting to see how two people that are tied together in so many ways could view the events while being colored by their own perceptions and history.

Thanks for the replies, I have read the Hornblower series and did enjoy it. I can see where it would be an inspiration for the Bridgemont series. I am really looking however for a series that while authentic like both Hornblower and Bridgemont has more of a gay sensiblitliy like Bridgemont. It actually hasn't been but about two years since I re-read the Hornblower series in it's entirity.

While Mark is taking a break and dealing with real life, I have re-read the whole Bridgemont series and started looking for something in a similar vein either on gayauthors or another site. I haven't been able to find anything like this series, I don't expect to find one to match it but do so enjoy the timeframe and the idea behind the story. Does anyone know of a similar story or series on here or elsewhere?

Mark, I already sent a reply to the information you posted in your group but wanted to say here as well what a joy you have brought into my life with the CAP and Bridgemont series. I hope that you are able to take a much needed break and deal with real life and get yourself centered again. I know how hard it can be to juggle so many things that you find yourself screaming internally, " What the Hell am I Doing?". Take your time and when you are ready to come back, we will al be waiting with great glee and anticipation. All the best and wishing you a storm free ocean with a good breeze...

I thought the new chapter of PMS was very well written and very authentic. I do sort of feel sorry for Will in that I think Tony's reaction to what happened had more to do with the past than Will can understand. I think that Will's reaction to what Tony said was very authentic and probably wouldn't have been any different if he was thirty instead of thirteen. The only thing that really showed Will's immaturity was his outright refusal to even listen to what Tony wanted to say before he left, and that reaction isn't one that would have been just limited to someone his age probably. You don't have to be young and immature to have bareback sex, just drunk or stoned and horny. You don't have to be young and immature to get your feelings hurt, you just have to care about what others think of you. I think that Tony's behaviour when he woke up was motivated more by his knowledge of Sam, his father's past. Wasn't Jake about thirteen or fourteen when he started this liason with Sam? I get the impression that for better or worse, Tony knows a lot more about his father's past that one would suspect. I think his reaction was motivated more by Will's age and his father's past than how disgusting he really thought it was. I do agree with MethodWriter that Will needs to move past the stage that he believes every guy that he blows or that blows him, is the love of his life or soul mate. Although Will has been with four guys now, I am not counting that one in Paris, he is still relatively inexperienced. I agree it will be good for him to get back around some guys his own age and maturity level. Will has already indicated that a few of his friends are more on his level than that of the average 13/14 year old, and I think that is good as well.

It was with absolute joy that I awoke and found the latest chapter of St Vincent had been posted. I feel as if I am almost physically addicted to this story. This latest chapter allowed Granger to put to end to, at least on the ship, the issues of Mr Ramsey. He will still have to deal with his sister in law and her use of him as a spy. I thought the way that Granger dealt with the issue of the two Spainish Lt's was masterful. It was obvious that at least part of the issue was the guilt over how he used them to trap Ramsey but some of it was just Granger's internalized level of fair play. Granger knew that Don Jacobo didn't really want to push the issue, afterall, he himself had also slept with Ramsey. Although, I don't believe that Gatling would ever betray Granger, I do think it was a little more of a risk to sleep with someone whose family are tennants on his Brentwood property. I think it is nice that Gatling wants to try and stay as faithful as possible to Roberts, although who could resist Granger??? I await the next chapter and will live in despair until it arrives...