Daddydavek

I suspect that John and Marie are using pot and perhaps alcohol too and like most teens have been more circumspect about it. And yes Will is his father's son and perhaps that is what has Brad so worried and mother hen-ish. Still, if he wants to communicate with his son, he has to learn to do it one on one and yes Will is avoiding him so that isn't easy, but it seems someone who runs a multi-million dollar corporation could figure a way out to make that happen. Just saying!

I don't suppose Will's cousin John is having sex, drinking or smoking pot either?

I think Sharon hit the nail on the head. If Brad were really a concerned parent he would make sure that he opened some line of communication, even if it meant he had to write Will a letter. Just criticizing or disparaging him in front of the family is a sure way to drive him away. I think that's what concerns JP the most too. Being a parent is never easy. Knowing when to let go and let them do their thing is always tough. My kids are both in their thirties and I bite my tongue instead of reacting spontaneously. They still don't like to hear criticism, especially if it is direct and in front of others.

The interesting take-away that I get from this chapter in the story is that Will is acting like an emancipated young man and his dad is acting like it's his place to stuff the genie back in the bottle. Neither of them is being particularly mature about it and one is a lot older and therefore, supposedly more experienced. I think that is the position that JP sees and that Brad can (or will) not. Will is testing his boundaries and every teenager does that. Because of his emancipation, he has a lot more legal leeway than most. Once someone has actually achieved court-ordered emancipation, the chances of that being re-heard and reversed are very, very poor. I also find it interesting that Claire and Jack are beginning to acknowledge some of their own parental failures. Poor Stef. He has tried to be friend and confidant to both Brad and Will and we see how well that is working.

Thanks for the quick update. I'm enjoying the story.

Goat mountain climbing? I hope you avoided cliffs!

A thrilling depiction of an intense naval confrontation. Well-done!

Hopefully we get another post soon as I am really interested in seeing what happens next!

Happy Birthday Adam! & Hope it's your best ever!

Darius' advice to Will was predictable and perhaps even the best advice. However, it won't resolve anything between Will, his cousin Marie or his former friend Noah. Erik was apparently an interlude with news for Will. And as Will summed him up, not the sharpest person. It would be nice if Brad made some serious effort to get to a better place in his relationship with his son over dinner. More please!

Happy Birthday Jo Ann! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-SMJtcTBqU

The native attack on the doomed Bacchante was truly a gruesome story and again reminds us of how cruel that time was. The late arrival of the Santa Clarita when it was all but lost provided some measure of re-balancing the ill-fated ship and the recovery of its cargo. The loss of so many of the crew was a tough loss and will be for Granger as well. After all her heroics under Granger's command, her loss in a hurricane on the rocks while he was not aboard seems especially poignant. Mark has once again demonstrated his formidable skill in painting the scene. Now we can speculate if the Santa Clarita goes and rescues those that headed north.

A truly sad end for a very fine ship. A brilliant description of the carnage and ferocity of the native's attack and the full-scale, but crumbling defense of the crew. The arrival of the Santa Clarita was too late for a good many of the brave crew, but thankfully some survived. Another exciting chapter. Hopefully one more when the go to Gorsee and rescue the other craft that headed north, before returning to the George's exploits.

Too funny!

Some pointed reviews for a chapter that I didn't find all that controversial or unusual That Erik has an HPV infection is not nice but it happens when kids are young and thoughtless. That Marie is even more of bitch than Will knew is not nice but not unbelievable either. That she sucked in Noah into her plots is also not nice but given how Noah was portrayed, it is believable. So what is Marie's game plan? To make Will so mad that he runs off and leaves Menlo to her? Pvt Tim is right in that there is plenty to keep the story going until 9/11. However, Kitt is right too and there has been plenty of misfortune, heartache and grief as consequences of actions in the CAP story.

​HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILL & Many, many more!

Happy Birthday Cia! P.S. I would never have thought of Cia as anyone's wench!

Perez and Keith make beautiful music together and I appreciate that they like so much great classic rock. I can hear all those songs in my head as they really are the sound track of my life!

I disagree, the thought of Maidstone being eaten by a fellow professional (i.e. a shark) was poetic justice!

Bottom line: Think and express concisely. Got it!

The point about sending a personal message for misspellings etc may take a little more time but is certainly more appreciated.

Second Chances opportunities breaking out all over?

Calvert coming to the rescue and salvaging the silver and remaining crew on Bacchante would be convenient, but how many will survive if or until that happens? Another thing on which to speculate. Loved the chapter and Maidstone's demise.

I picked the last stories mentioned in each group because of the quality of the writing. I think it's safe to say that Mark (with the help of his team) has gotten better with practice. Additionally, the twists and turns in Odyssey are inventive, compelling and just make me wait with baited breath for the next installment. Likewise with Paternity we saw a story line and characterizations that compelled readers to comment in record numbers. When that many people take the time to actually comment, it usually means that there is something worth discussing. Bravo and congratulations on your first half-decade of writing and may you do several more! Congratulations to your team as well, especially, Sharon.

Wow, I came to the party late and the prior reviewers covered my best thoughts on the chapter. With the wedding for Hank and Jeanine set for 9-11 in New York, the whole clan is going to be directly impacted. In other words, it will not be a shared moment via the media, but a direct experience with potentially many in the extended family hurt as well.