#2 as a co-lead in my old guild and now about 4 as the lead of my own guild

[commandershepardvasfuckit]

The funniest thing about being a WoW guild leader is my pseudo cult of guild members

[short-honey-badger]

Miss Twilight

You are a lower member of Baroque Works, but you are damn good at what you do, always bringing your boss even more than what he asks for when he sends you out on missions. You don't know it, but you've caught Crocodile's attention. It's just too bad he got himself arrested before he could express his interest in you. Now, he's on a mission to find you and get you back to his side.

Part 2 -> HERE Part 3 -> HERE Part 4 -> HERE Finale -> HERE

Crocodile doesn’t have many regrets in his life, but not making it known how much he wanted you before his untimely arrest was one of them. You’d been a lower ranking member of Baroque Works, but you’d proved yourself useful time and time again to him. Your ability to remain unassuming and gather information was invaluable, and after some time, Crocodile had begun to notice more about you. The confident way you carry yourself, that amused gleam you got in your eye when you found something humorous. Your presence had become an addiction, and Crocodile had found himself calling you to his office just to have you near.

But he hasn’t seen nor heard about your whereabouts since he broke out of Impel Down and created the Cross Guild. He had hoped that you would make your way back to his side after the news of his escape reached you, but it’s been months now, and still nothing.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Crocodile lifts his gaze from the paper he is reading to see Mihawk leaning in the doorway of his office, a glass of wine in one hand, and the other propped up on his hip. Those golden eyes are staring at him, the hawk’s head cocked to one side.

“Nothing is wrong with me,” He grumbles and tosses the paper on his desk. Mihawk scoffs and saunters further into the office, plopping down in the chair opposite the other man and crossing his feet at the ankles.

“Even the Clown can tell that there is something going on with you,” he drawls and takes a slow sip of his wine, staring at Crocodile over the rim of his glass. The older man has been more snappishly lately, quicker to anger, and the guild has suffered for it. At least three men have been dehydrated to the point of death just this week.

Crocodile sneers and swaps his cigar to the opposite side of his mouth, “An old employee of mine. I thought she would show up by now.”

He doesn’t like admitting to the other man. It felt like showing Mihawk a weakness, but it wasn’t like the swordsman would be turning on him anytime soon. They had struck up a respectful partnership, but Crocodile would kill over before he admitted he thought of Mihawk as a tentative friend.

“An old flame, then?” Mihawk asks, and cocks a brow, “I would have thought you to be above such trivial matters.”

Crocodile huffs and turns to stare out the window, looking out over Buggy Town and the tent city that grew larger every day, “No. I never had the chance to express my interest in her before strawhat ruined all my hard work.”

You’d been lucky that he had sent you out for another mission before the Strawhats had gotten to Alabasta, saving you from being taken to Impel Down with his other operatives after the navy showed up. He’d tried the number to your personal snail transponder, but the line had been dead, leading him to believe that you’d destroyed it after he’d been taken in. You’d been a constant on his mind since, leaving Crocodile wondering when he would be able to see you again.

“Why not put the word out that you’re looking for her?” Mihawk asks. He is curious to know what kind of woman you were to catch his co-leader’s attention. Crocodile had always put business before pleasure, and the older man was all about business.

“And let everyone on the Grand Line know that I’m looking for her? I’m not that desperate,” He grouches and stands from his chair, loping over to the window so that he doesn’t have to look at the other man. He doesn’t want to admit that he has already thought about putting some feelers out to see where you’ve disappeared off to, but he knew that you were the type to stay hidden if you wanted to stay that way. It was why you’d been so good at information gathering.

Maybe you’d joined someone else without him there to pay you, or maybe you were still biding your time before you came back to him. Or you'd finally been caught and were locked up in a cell somewhere. Crocodile didn’t know, and that frustrated him. He didn’t like not knowing where you were, not when you belonged at his side.

“Then stop acting like a teenager and stop killing our men if you’re not going to do anything about it. It brings down moral, you know,” Mihawk quips and watches Crocodile shrug one shoulder. He purses his lips, rolls his eyes, and stands. It wasn’t like he would be getting anywhere else with the other man, not now, at least. Mihawk drains the last of his wine and saunters to the door, “What was her name?”

He can’t help but ask, too curious about the woman who’d gained the older man’s attention.

Crocodile rolls his cigar around his mouth, annoyed with himself over the fact that he didn’t know your name, only the alias that you’d chosen when he’d brought you on.

“She went by Miss Twilight.”

--------

Hundreds of miles away, you sneeze loudly, but no one hears you from where you've been tucked away in the dark cell. You frown down at your hands, cursing yourself for being so careless as to get caught sneaking aboard. You knew you were better than this, but in your excitement to get back to Crocodile after hearing about the Cross Guild, you forgot yourself, and now look where you were. Locked up in the belly of a navy ship. How the hell were you supposed to get out of this one?

[thepilgrimofwar]

Liminal

[Follow up to: The Door for Him Backstory for Context: The Curious Case of Apartment 547 Musical Embellishment: Go Tomorrow]

1.

Two and a half years. Two and a half, long, bloody years. Through war, famine, and the chaos that proceeded in their aftermath, Zharia had looked for her father. The Sunguard had said that he was deserter--that the final lead they had of his whereabouts was the ship that had smuggled him out of Quel’thalas at the very height of the Phoenix Wars.

But she knew Arrenir better than that. Her father did not run. When backed into a corner with nothing to lose, he’d have thrown himself into the fire over and over again until he or his enemies were dead. He must have taken that ship for a good reason, she just needed to figure out why.

For two and a half years, she had searched. Now, at last, her leads had finally brought her to Apartment 547.

Technically no one owned it anymore. All three co-owners were dead or presumed dead. Even so, getting the keys from the City Council of Dalaran was no issue, seeing that she was a blood relative to one of them. But when she slotted the key into the front door, she realized that it had not been locked.

Zharia swallowed hard, both excited and afraid of what she might find here. She prayed, Light upon Light, she prayed that she would not find her father’s corpse upstairs. Not after everything they had been through together, not after she had brought him back, and not after almost losing him to misery during The Fall. 

But Apartment 547 seemed normal. A layer of dust had taken residence upon the sheet covered furniture. The pots that Lirelle had left in their conservatory had become soil beds for new life. The kitchen and dining table, where there had been so much laughter and joy in the past, stood still with a contented silence. There was no death to be found here. No blackened stains of old blood, no smells of rot.

Zharia made her way up the stairs as rays of sunlight pierced the frosted windows of the apartment. It highlighted the dust that she was disturbing, coiling and floating upwards as she slid her palms over the guard rails. She had never visited personally but from the way Arrenir used to laugh at the time, she knew that the best years of his life were spent here. The rooms on the second floor were empty, save for the smell of sunbaked linen. Excitement had begun to fade as the fear that this was yet another pointless lead filled her heart.

But her fear quickly turned to dread when she made it to the top floor and saw the door at the end of the hallway. It was ajar.

No you fool. No, no, no.

Arrenir had told her about the doors long ago. He had wanted to get her opinion on their nature, seeing that she was a woman of logic and reason. Zharia had told him that they were the workings of a man who could not let go of a past--much like he used to be. She had warned him to be careful with them, lest they tempt him with their empty promises.

She was immune to the alluring claims that they could take you back in time, because unlike many others--often the ones who were time obsessed--she was not as naive. Zharia knew that in order to get where she was today, many things needed to have fallen in place exactly as they did. 

Even so, she could not deny that the thought of going back and fixing past mistakes was attractive, but the idea also opened up the possibility of so many other things going wrong. So in the end, she was glad to leave the past behind. It meant that the mistakes she could have made could no longer touch her. It was as Arrenir had told her, once upon a time, ‘that to fix one’s mistakes, it needed to be done in the present, not within the reach of the past.’

The man who had left the door ajar, the door at the end of the hallway, was not the man who she thought her father was. The Arrenir she knew would have never run--not from war--never from life. In a way, this revelation was so much worse than finding his body. It was suicide, only of a different kind.

Zharia stormed towards the door and pushed it wide open. The walls of the hallway seemed to narrow around her, but she ignored it. Dead, alive or something in between, she was not going to let the apartment stop her from tracking down her father.

As if sensing her intent and picking up on her desires, the hallway beyond the door warped and changed. Space seemed to compress until there was but a singular door for her. One that looked exactly as the one that had been left ajar.

“Much obliged,” she muttered as she opened it up to a hallway that led back into Apartment 547. Another Apartment 547.

2.

Everything was wrong. Because everything was right.

She could tell by hopeful chatter in Silvermoon’s streets, and by the way that eternal spring clung to the air of Eversong woods. It was as if the winter, born from the Phoenix Wars, had been nothing more fleeting nuisance instead of the catastrophe her people had suffered. Heading to the Dawnspire, Zharia passed Goldsea where its fields remained unblemished by the ravages of war, and through Autumnvale whose residents had raised a monument to the heroes who had so courageously given their lives for it.

As she gazed upon the alabaster towers of the Dawnspire Citadel, it was clear that the years had been kind to the Sunguard, this Sunguard. Here, following the war, they seemed to have the gratitude of the entire Thalassian nation in their debt. Here, they had been the Honor Guard of a new era of peace. But as abundant as it had been for the guild, the talk of passersby made it clear that it wasn’t nearly as bountiful as it had been for its leader, who apparently was expecting his third child in two years.

The old Guard had retired. Zharia gathered that from the bored receptionist who had been staring at the gates that were never breached, in the courtyard that had never seen blood. According to the girl that manned her uneventful station, the officers had all stepped away for a new generation of leaders. Officers Shadowsunder and Stormsummer had married and now looked to mend the House of Sunders of Shimmervale. The Sunfires had turned their duties to their children once more. Sunshard received a lordly commission of her own: a fleet from the crown itself. And as for Firestorm, the old man had finally settled to administer his realm of Shallowbrook. 

When it finally came to the topic of her father, after much gossipping, the receptionist was all too happy to inform her that he had too settled away from the Guard. Marrying one Lirelle Dawnbrook.

3.

Zharia paused at a lovingly crafted door to a cottage by the sea. A part of her didn’t want to knock. It would be so easy to turn around now, head back through the door at the end of the hallway and consider her father dead. But she needed to know if it was him. Really him. The man she had sought for so long.

Is where you went, you old fool?

The door swung open, revealing a war-scarred man with tied crimson hair. “Oh, Zharia? I didn’t realize you were visiting your father today,” he said with a smile.

“Sederis?” Zharia cocked her head involuntarily.

“We’re having a little reunion dinner tonight, but I suppose it wouldn’t be too much trouble if you joined us,” Sederis said, looking back into the cottage where a woman toiled away in the kitchen. “Right dear?”

“We’ll have more than enough food for her if you just leave her some!” she replied with a laugh before joining Sederis at the door. The woman wrapped an arm around her husband’s growing waistline and extended the other to shake Zharia’s hand. “I don’t believe we’ve met dear,” she said. “Ny Dawnbrook, Lirelle’s sister.”

Zharia stood still for a moment, stunned by the sight of the man who had long been dead. She hadn’t known him personally but Arrenir had spoken fondly of him, once upon a time. “Zharia,” she croaked, before shaking the offered hand. “Arrenir’s daughter.”

“Well come in,” Sederis said, welcoming her inside her father’s cottage. “He’s at the beach with Lirelle, probably catching crabs or some other nonsense!” The crimson haired man chuckled. Zharia had never seen him so happy. The times she had seen him in her own time, Sederis had always seemed to carry a weight about him. A burden that he no longer carried in either world.

She made her way inside as the couple returned to the kitchen, aiming to fill the house with the aromatic smells of roast meat and baked garlic before the sun set. It was a quaint place, with exotic plants around every corner, each of them flanked by display cases filled with beetles and bugs. 

You never put anything you loved on display. You never wore anything on your sleeve. Why now? Why here?

Her thoughts were cut short when she reached the back door to the cottage, one that opened up to a pristine beach. There, amongst white sands and gentle waves, she saw him. Arrenir Silversun, treading lightly upon rocky tidepools and pointing things out for Lirelle who followed in his wake.

He waved at her.

She waved back.

4.

“Your father will be along shortly,” said Lirelle as she arrived back at the cottage, thrusting her thumb behind her. “He got caught up wrestling a mudskipper for an aquatic crustacean he wanted.”

“Hasn’t changed a bit,” Zharia replied. “How are things?”

“Things are good, The Crows are having a well deserved break after putting down a rebellion against Lord Dumbass’ vassals over there.” Lirelle gestured in Sederis’ general direction before adding, “I told you so!”

“Yeah, yeah I know,” Sederis waved her off like a bad smell as he continued grilling dinner.

Zharia shook her head. “Sorry, I’ve...I’ve been away. Expedition overseas. A rebellion?”

Lirelle sighed as she leaned against the doorway. “You met my sister? I assume she failed to mention that she’s next in line to Dawnveil after my father eventually croaks it. Anyway, the only way she’d marry was matrilineally, and Sederis decided that he wanted to marry her.”

Sederis cleared his throat, carrying two skewers of meat in each hand. “Long story short. A few nobles got uppity because the Emberglades could end up with the Dawnbrooks in a generation. So we crushed them. End of story.” The Lord of the Emberglades leaned in to kiss his wife who batted him away, already preoccupied with a pan of paella. Seeing that he wasn’t wanted, he shifted over to Lirelle offering a peace kebab. “Thanks by the way.”

“Your gold was most welcome,” Lirelle replied with a smirk. She took a bite of her peace offering as she joined her sister in the kitchen when Arrenir finally appeared at the doorway to the cottage.

“Zharia, I didn’t know you were coming!” Arrenir bellowed as he wiped his boots on the welcome mat before taking them off.

“Neither did I,” Zharia responded.

A long silence followed, filled only by the chatter of the other guests in the kitchen as it slowly dawned upon Arrenir that something there was something amiss. She watched as the realization spread across him like fire.

“Zharia?” he said at last.

“Hello father,” she couldn’t bring herself to smile. A storm of emotions circled within her as she tried her best to speak.

“Dinner is served!” Sederis called out to them, interrupting the moment as he set a spread of food on the table.

“We’ll talk later?” Arrenir asked, as if to confirm that she would be staying long enough for them to speak.

Zharia nodded.

5.

“We visited Thandiel’s grave,” Sederis said somberly as the evening began to wind down, and drinks became uncorked. “Esheyn came with a bouquet of flowers. Biggest and brightest she’s ever grown. Personally I think the old Bloodknight would’ve much preferred a good bourbon, but I’m sure she’d appreciate the gesture nonetheless.”

“We’ll be sure to leave her some the next time we go,” Lirelle replied. “Have something decent in one of your stashes we could borrow?”

“Stashes?” Ny raised an eyebrow at her husband who merely shrugged.

“Look, I committed to drink less, not banish every hidden cache of alcohol I have,” he said.

Lirelle snorted. “He probably doesn’t even remember where half of them are. And I can tell you where the other half is hidden.” She started ticking locations off on her fingers, “Way behind in the back of the cabinet in your bathroom, under the huge pot in the kitchen that Elan never uses, in the corner of my shed…the usual.”

“Well,” Arrenir interjected. “Highdawn’s death anniversary is coming up, so that’d be the best time for us to visit. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind a second visit from the two of you,” he said with a smile.

“Will do,” Sederis said with a nod, and as the dinner drew to a close, the mellowed out Lord of the Emberglades rose to his feet and insisted on doing the dishes despite Arrenir’s protests. “Guest, or not guest, seeing that my brother is buried in paperwork and is not here...I’m the only one without more catching up to do.” The Pilgrim of War donned an apron, rolled up his sleeves, and with a weightless smile began to clean up.

“I’ll leave you two to it then,” said Ny, standing with her husband. “I’ve got to scold my sister here for not visiting home often enough.”

Lirelle stood up. “I visit plenty!”

“Ever since you two built your cottage, you’ve been coming back here between leading your campaigns with the Crows...” Ny trailed off as she left for the living room with Lirelle who chased after her elder sister with an incredulous look on her face.

Arrenir laughed at first, waving the both of them off until he was left at the dining table with Zharia. His Zharia.

She sat as she had throughout dinner, in a daze. Surrounded by the living dead, she wondered how differently their counterparts would’ve been if only they had lived.

“We should talk outside.”

6.

They sat upon the deck that overlooked the seaside. Stars dotted the skyline, reflecting off a dark and undulating sea below. Zharia couldn’t bring herself to speak at first, unsure if doing so would lead to catharsis or a gaping wound that would never close. But she needed to.

Arrenir broke the silence first, staring at the night sky as he did. “I--I never thought I’d see you again. It’s good to see you Zharia.”

“Is it?” she spoke at last. “You ran. Away from it all. Away from reality. Away from me.”

“I did,” Arrenir replied, staring at the night sky. “I’m sorry.”

She scoffed. “Are you?”

“Yes,” Arrenir spoke quietly as he turned towards her to look her in the eyes. “I’m sorry for abandoning you without a word. I’m sorry I left you without a body to bury and with questions, millions of questions, left unanswered.”

Zharia saw that there was genuine pain in his eyes. Her father didn’t do what he did lightly, that much she could see. And as Arrenir reached over to embrace her, she flinched at first, but quickly leaned into his shoulder and descended into tears.

“Why?” Zharia sobbed, shedding tears of grief and anger. “I never mourned you because I knew you weren’t dead. But this, this, is so much worse than that! Do you understand what you’ve done? You chose to go to a place where I can’t follow. Do I mean that little to you!?”

Arrenir held her as she yelled into his shoulder. “You mean the world to me,” he said softly. “I thought by coming here, I could do better. Be a better father. Be a better soldier. Be a better man. It was only after everything--the war, the life I built here--did I realize that you wouldn’t be a part of it.”

“And yet you never came back,” Zharia sneered as she tore away from her father’s embrace. “I guess it’s because you found what you were looking for.”

Arrenir looked back at the cottage he had built. The life that he had earned for himself through fire and blood. From each plank of its construction and each display case filled with the collections he had gathered. “Yes,” he said quietly. “I did.”

“Good for you.” Zharia said as she wiped the tears from her eyes. “Because this, all of this, is wrong. It belongs in another life. To another Arrenir. A life you’ve stolen it from him by coming here.”

Arrenir shook his head. “He’d have made the same mistakes I made. Nothing would have changed.”

“Would it?” Zharia shook her head. “I’m going now, back to where you ought to have been. Where your friends are dead and where your daughter is missing a father.” She rose from the deck. “This will be the last you’ll see of me.”

Arrenir swallowed hard, trying his best to choke back his tears. “Goodbye Zharia,” he said. “It was nice seeing you again. I was hoping that you’d stay--”

“Save it,” Zharia spat and turned to leave her father behind. “You raised me well enough to know not to run from my mistakes.”

7.

After long moments spent in deep thought, Arrenir finally returned inside to find that it was quiet. The kitchen was spotless, plates and pans drying on their respective racks. The living room still bore the scent of tea, but it was clear that his guests had already gone.

“Lirelle?” he called out to his wife but received no response. After checking each room of the cottage he finally found her on the front porch that overlooked her garden.

“Who the fuck are you?” She asked.

“How much did you hear?”

“Hear? Do you think I’m blind? I figured something was up the moment she spoke to me,” Lirelle glared at him. “She came through the apartment, didn’t she?”

“She did,” Arrenir said, knowing better than to mince words with her. “And so did I.”

“I always wondered why you became less insufferable to be around all of a sudden,” Lirelle said. “I thought it was because you finally understood who I was.”

“You aren’t wrong, though the only difference is that the realization happened elsewhere.”

“So I married a dupe,” Lirelle rested her face in her hands. “You’re not even my Arrenir.”

“I am your Arrenir,” he said, folding his arms. “Your Arrenir would’ve continued to be insufferable. Trying too hard to be something he thought you wanted him to be. And failing.” “Speaking from experience?” his wife got to her feet and folded her arms. “Fail with one Lirelle, but wait, don’t worry, there’s an infinite more to choose from! All you need to do is keep crossing fucking dimensions until you succeed in pinning me down. God I’ve got to be the worst Lirelle of the lot,” Lirelle spat as rage welled up inside her. “So is that it? Is that why you came here!?”

Arrenir looked her in the eyes and held her ire-filled gaze. “No,” he said. “I came here because you died.”

“What?”

“Sunstrider Isle, fighting Dame Everleigh’s forces. But instead of crushing them together, we had parted on poor terms. You died there, with Sederis.”

Lirelle’s demeanour changed and she sat back down. “And the Crows?”

“Died with you, save for a few. Garris sent me your death letter.”

She ran her fingers through her hair and shook her head, trying to wrap her head around how differently it could have all played out. “So you came here, because your Lirelle died.”

“You’re my Lirelle,” he responded without hesitation. “The Lirelle where I came from was never mine. Neither were you until you gave yourself to me.” 

��Really?” she said skeptically. “I bet if I had died on that field, like she did, you’d just have jumped ship again. Gone to another door. Tried again. Again and again until I lived.” 

“No.”

“No?”

Arrenir shook his head. “I didn’t come here because I wanted you to live. That wasn’t my regret. My regret was that I didn’t ride out with you. I came here, to this world, because I wasn’t there with my friends when everything came to an end. I should have been. I would have been, if I wasn’t so damned selfish.” He brought his hand to her cheek, brushing her hair back behind her ear. “I came here to die with you. If you had fallen, I’d have fallen with you. Because I love you. You.”

Epilogue

“Take me home,” said Zharia as she climbed the final steps to the top floor of Apartment 547. The door at the end of the hallway waited for her, already open. She took one final look at the world she was leaving behind. A better, brighter world, but not her’s. For better or for worse, this one belonged to her father now. She had hoped for catharsis--to bring her father back--but it was clear he was no longer the man she remembered. But even so, Zharia was content with closure.

I’m glad you found what you were looking for. I’m glad you finally found yourself. I just wish I could’ve been a part of that.

Goodbye, father.

She stepped through and the door to this world closed behind her, never to be opened again.

-fin-

I’ve been meaning to write this for a long long time. First, I told myself I’d do it after the Phoenix Wars. Then I told myself I’d do it after the Guild’s last day. Again, when I told myself I’d do it after The Emberglades Civil War.

I guess it took so long because I’ve always meant for this story to be a symbolic goodbye. As the last story I’ll ever write for WoW and it suppose it was hard saying goodbye to characters that I’ve role-played as for 5 years. Some even more than that. It isn’t the end of course, I’m still game to keep role-playing them from time to time. But as for the arcs that I’ve been doing since the Emberglades Saga go, this will be the last one.

I want to thank everyone who has made these last 5 years probably the best ones of my life. Guildies, raiding buddies, friends, and everyone who suffered with me through my Emberglades Civil War Campaign. Special shout out to Sean for not only for letting me use his Roll20 system to bring that story & campaign to life but for leading the Guild that has left so many fond memories for so many people over the years.

Photo Credit: Toast_91

[crystal-siren]

Other Worlds (Obi-Wan x Reader) Pt. 6

Part 1  Part 2  Part 3  Part 4  Part 5

@dovies666

Once a deep and powerful connection between two people has been made they become a vital part of each other’s lives and there is no separating them. No measure of distance or duration of silence can prevent the outbreak of smiles and laughter or the strong desire to leap into each other’s arms when they come together once more. ~ Beau Taplin // unpreventable

“I swear I will tear your throat out, you filthy son of a-” her words were cut short as she suddenly found it difficult to breathe.

“What a wicked tongue you have young Y/N,” Dooku sauntered into her cell, his hand slightly curled. “What would your old Master say if she heard you talk like that?”

Y/N glared at him between gasps for air. “Don’t...you...dare.”

Dooku smiled condescendingly down at her. “You brought this on yourself young one.” He curled his hand a little and watched as her fight for air became more desperate. “If you had taken my offer, you would not be here right now. Shackled to a wall and gasping for air.”

Somehow she still had the strength to maintain her glare. “Just.....give....up already.” Her bound hands were reaching for her throat but the shorter chain limited their ability to do so.

“Your loyalty to a corrupt system is admirable, if somewhat misguided.” Dooku crouched down to where she knelt, struggling for air.

“It...is..you who are...misguided,” Y/N managed to choke out.

“Such spirit,” he murmured, “do you think your friend will have the same when he is lead into the arena?” He stood and moved just in time as Y/N lurched towards him. The chain prevented her from going any further.

“I...take it...he...said..no?” Her gasped words brought Dooku to a halt just before the door. “I...told..you...he wouldn’t,” he could almost hear the smile in her strangled voice.

~ ~ ~

Geonosis was almost a welcome distraction from his mother’s death. His Master’s capture allowed Anakin to think of something other than the crushing grief that almost overwhelmed him at his mother’s grave.

As they entered the atmosphere, Anakin’s eyes took in the planet’s terrain and groaned inwardly. The similarity to Tatooine was a little annoying. He already couldn’t wait to leave.

He navigated the ship so that he could land it in the middle of what appeared to be steam vents. Padme stood up the moment they touched down and wrapping a thick white scarf around herself, she made for the entrance.

“Hold up,” Anakin stopped her. “Where are you going?”

Padme looked at him with disbelief, “to find Obi-Wan.” She dared him to challenge her.

“No, you’re not.” Anakin squared his shoulders and rose to his full height. “I’m not letting you go out there, it’s too dangerous.”

Padme blinked at him in shock, “What?!”

“It’s my job to protect you,” he reminded her with an air of authority. “I said its too dangerous. You’re not going, and that’s final.”

Her mouth dropped open with blatant shock and disbelief. “Don't you give me orders, Annie! I'm a Senator of the Galactic Republic. You have no authority to contain me, restrain me, or direct me! You remember your place, young man.” Lifting her chin, she took a step past him before turning to face him, “now you can come along and protect me or stay here. It's up to you.” She missed the look of both admiration and surprise in Anakin’s blue eyes as she made her way to the lowered boarding ramp.

As the pair cautiously entered the palace-like structure that was only short distance from their ship, they noticed that it looked to be deserted.

“It’s empty,” Padme whispered to Anakin, her earlier hostility towards him seemingly forgotten.

They had barely taken four steps further when four winged Geonosians seized hold of them. Anakin instinctively reached for his lightsaber and ignited it.

“Wait,” Padme cautioned him as her eyes landed on the weapons their attackers carried. As the seconds pass, more winged creatures assemble around them, all of them armed.

Then, suddenly, the group parted to allow a tall human male to pass through. “Senator Amidala,” he spoke, looking directly at her. “I've heard so much about you.“

Anakin curled his lip, he knew exactly who this was.

“Count Dooku, I assume ?” Padme asked with an air of confidence.

“I'm delighted to meet you at last,” Dooku stepped a little closer to the pair. “ We have a great deal to discuss, Senator. I hope you can keep your young Jedi under control.”

Anakin clenched his jaw at the remark and Padme simply smiled and nodded.

Satisfied, Dooku nodded to the assembled Geonosians who then started to disperse. Turning his attention back to the two, “now please, follow me.”

He led them through a maze of hallways and deserted passageways until at last they entered a room which held nothing save for one large conference table.

Gesturing for Padme to take a seat, Dooku seated himself at the far end, with Padme at the far end. Anakin stood silently behind her, watching and listening t everything.

Then Padme began to speak in that calm logical tone that Anakin had often heard her use. “You are holding a Jedi Knight, Obi- Wan Kenobi. I am formally requesting you turn him over to me, now.“

Anakin held his breath waiting for the Count’s answer.

“He has been convicted of espionage, Senator, and will be executed. In just a few hours, I believe.” Dooku smiled inwardly, so they were unaware of Y/N’s presence? Maybe he should keep it that way.

Anakin blinked in shock and his mind struggled to process the information.

While her companion struggled silently behind her, Padme kept her cool. “He is an officer of the Republic. You can't do that.“

Anakin narrowed his eyes at the Count, who simply smiled at the pair. “We don't recognise the Republic here, Senator. But if Naboo were to join our Alliance, I could easily hear your plea for clemency.“

That was the last straw. Anakin reached for his lightsaber but barely restrained himself from igniting it.

“And if I don't join your rebellion,” Padme tried to reason with their opponent, “I assume this Jedi with me will also die?”

Standing up, Dooku replied smoothly, “I don't wish to make you to join our cause against your will, Senator, but you are a rational, honest representative of your people and I assume you want to do what's in their best interest. Aren't you fed up with the corruption, the bureaucrats, the hypocrisy of it all?.. Aren't you? Be honest, Senator.“

Anakin’s blue eyes stayed trained on the traitorous Count.

Padme too stood up and met his piercing gaze. “The ideals are still alive, Count, even if the institution is failing.“

Dooku strode around the table and stopped a few feet from the Nubian Senator. “You believe in the same ideals we believe in! The same ideals we are striving to make prominent.“

Padme shook her head ever-so-slightly but her strength did not falter. “If what you say is true, you should stay in the Republic and help Chancellor Palpatine put things right.“

The former Jedi smiled down at her, albeit a little patronisingly. “The Chancellor means well, M'Lady but he is incompetent. He has promised to cut the bureaucracy, but the bureaucrats are stronger than ever, no? Senator, the Republic cannot be fixed. It is time to start over. The democratic process in the Republic is a sham, a shell game played on the voters. It will not be long before the cult of greed, called the Republic, will lose even the pretext of democracy and freedom.“

Anakin, for one, was grateful for Padme’s self-control as his was almost non-existent.

Little did he know that she was struggling too. Forcing a calm expression, she continued. “I cannot believe that. I will not forsake all I have honoured and worked for and betray the Republic. I know of your treaties with the Trade Federation, the Commerce Guilds, and the others, Count. What is happening here is not government that has been bought out by business... it's business becoming government!“ Her voice rose slightly towards the end.

Dooku narrowed his eyes thoughtfully and cocked his head to the side. “Are you willing to betray your Jedi friends? Without your co-operation I can do nothing to stop their execution.“

This made Padme stand up a little straighter and she lifted her chin in defiance as she glared at the Count. Her precious self-control was slipping away dangerously fast. “What is to happen to me? Am I to be executed also?“

Whether his reaction was genuine or not, they would never know. “I wouldn't think of such an offence.” He appeared shocked and taken aback.

“But,” he continued, “there are individuals who have a strong interest in your demise, M'lady. It has nothing to do with politics, I'm afraid. It's purely personal, and they have already paid great sums to have you assassinated. I'm sure they will push hard to have you included in the executions. I'm sorry but if you are not going to co-operate, I must turn you over to the Geonosians for justice. I've done all I can for you.”

Padme did not give him the satisfaction of her reaction.

~ ~ ~

The sound of her cell door being opened jolted Y/N awake from the fitful and uncomfortable sleep she had fallen into.

Her e/c eyes narrowed as she took in her ‘visitor’. “Come to choke the life out of me again?”

“Come now, there is no need for such hostility,” Dooku spoke as he approached her, flanked by two armed Geonosians. “There is something I would like you to see.”

Y/N said nothing as the two winged aliens approached her and detached her shackles from the wall. Shuddering with disgust at being so close to them, Y/N glared at Dooku. It had become a default expression where he was concerned.

“Come along,” he motioned for her to follow him.

Y/N remained silent as she walked behind him. Her two guards made her skin crawl just by being there.

At last they came to a rather ordinary looking door. Dooku opened it and gestured for her to enter. “After you.” Seeing no choice in the matter, she stepped through.

The sight she was met with rattled her to her core. “Anakin,” she breathed, her eyes widened at sight of him and Padme. They looked so small amidst the obviously hostile crowd.

Turning back to Dooku, she asked somewhat hesitantly. “What are they doing here?” She tried desperately to keep the concern and fear from her voice.

“Keep watching,” was his answer, “you will see soon enough.”

True to his word, Y/N soon realised what was happening. A cold fear began to spread through her.

Anakin and Padme, unaware of who had just entered the room, kept their gazes fixed on their accusers.

“You have been charged and found guilty of Espionage.“

It was then that Anakin felt a wave of fear and horror crash into him. But it wasn’t from Padme. His eyes wondered over the crowd and widened slightly when he saw her. Y/N Y/L/N. His Master’s closest friend and who he himself considered the closest thing to a sister.

She was looking at him with thinly veiled fear, her usually bright eyes had lost their spark. Her wrists, like his and Padme’s, were shackled. Her mouth was slightly open with shock.

“Do you have anything to say before your sentence is carried out?“ The Geonosian Archduke’s question snatched his attention away from her.

Padme answered the question with an edge to her voice. “You are committing an act of war, Archduke. I hope you are prepared for the consequences.“

While their accuser laughed and Dooku smiled, Y/N clenched her jaw and and clutched the railing in front of her.

“We build weapons, Senator... that is our business! Of course we're prepared!“

Y/N wanted nothing more than to strangle the insectile filth.

“Get on with it. Carry out the sentence. I want to see her suffer.“ Nute Gunray spoke up from beside her.

Then the Archduke spoke the words that Y/N had been dreading. “Take them to the arena! Your other Jedi friend is waiting for you, Senator.”

That was it for her. She threw reason and control to the four winds. She launched herself at the Archduke, or she would have, had Dooku not forcibly restrained her. “Insect filth,” she hissed and her eyes reminded all who saw her of a wild animal who had just been caged.

The commotion did not go unnoticed by Anakin or Padme, who glanced at Anakin in surprise. “How long has she been here?”

Anakin shook his head, “I have no idea.”

~ ~ ~

The brightness of the Geonosian sun made Y/N want to shield her eyes. Standing between the Count and the vile Nute Gunray, Y/N’s keen eyes had trained on a figure who stood in the arena. Obi-Wan, she thought sadly. Part of her wished she didn’t know who that was.

She waited with baited breath as two more figures were lead out. Her eyes reluctantly left him and followed them. She could not help but feel that this was all her fault.

Meanwhile, down on the sand, Obi-Wan couldn’t help but be surprised at who he saw being led out. He watched, almost casually, as the guards led Anakin and Padme to two of the remaining stone pillars.

“I was beginning to wonder if you had gotten my message.“ His tone was surprisingly calm but Anakin detected a trace of annoyance.

“I retransmitted it as you requested, Master.” Anakin replied as he was chained to the pillar. “Then we decided to come and rescue you.“

Looking up at where his chain was secured and back to Anakin, Obi-Wan spoke, “It looks like you're going a good job so far.“

Anakin only rolled his eyes at the remark.

High above them in the arena, a voice rang out. “The felons before you have been convicted of espionage against the Sovereign System of Geonosis. Their sentence of death is to be carried out in this public arena henceforth.“

Anakin glanced at Padme, then at his Master before speaking. “She’s here, Master.” Those three words seemed to have little effect on the Jedi Master. Or that is what Anakin thought.

Obi-Wan did not reply to Anakin’s statement. His eyes travelled the crowd, knowing that it would be near impossible to spot her.

Y/N glared at the Archduke with the fire of thousand suns as he spoke. “Let the executions begin!“

The crowd went wild as three gates were opened and three different animals came out. Y/N took an involuntary step back, “no,” she whispered, shaking her head.

It soon became clear as to which animal was meant for who and Y/N could not stop the scream that tore from her throat as a large eight-legged Acklay set it’s sights on Obi-Wan.

A scream of denial echoed around the arena, momentarily silencing the crowd. Obi-Wan would know that voice anywhere. His eyes found her at last. She was high up on the viewing balcony beside Count Dooku. She was struggling violently against the Count’s grip, her hair was loose and wild and her shackled hands were reaching down towards him.

Y/N’s struggle only increased when she realised that he had seen her. The sudden need to be down there with him overwhelmed her. No matter how hard she struggled, the Count’s grip would not loosen.

The sudden shout of the crowd drew Obi-Wan’s attention back to the creature in front of him. He was only vaguely aware of Anakin and Padme’s struggle with their respective animals.

Within moments it seemed as though Anakin had somehow mastered some kind of control over his attacker and now sat atop it’s leathery back.

Seeing Padme fend off her animal viciously with the chain that had originally bound her, made Anakin change tactic. Forcing the beast which he rode, a Reek, towards the pillar on which Padme stood and trampled the Nexu that had set it’s murderous gaze on her.

From where she stood, Y/N sighed in relief as Padme jumped to safety behind Anakin. This relief was short-lived as her e/c eyes wondered back to Obi-Wan who narrowly dodged a swipe by one of the Acklay’s deadly claws.

“Watch out!” Her warning came just in time. Allowing Obi-Wan to side-step a stab by the determined Acklay.

“Obi-Wan! Behind you!” Her second warning was well-timed, just like the first. Her decision to help the Jedi only served to annoy and anger the other ‘dignitaries’ in the box with her.

“Can’t you keep her quiet?” Nute Gunray demanded, only to have Y/N shoot daggers at him with her eyes.

“Her warnings will not delay the inevitable,” the Count reassured the Viceroy.

Y/N watched with increasing pride as Obi-Wan eventually got the best of the Acklay and now sat behind Anakin and Padme atop the Reek. Her smile was noticed by the Count, who leaned down and whispered, “don’t be too sure of yourself Y/N. This is far from over.”

Before she had time to ask what he meant, Driodekas entered the arena. Her smile soon faded and her eyes widened with fear. She turned on the Count, “this is a massacre.” She cursed inwardly at the way her voice trembled slightly, “they have little to no chance.” She cast a glance down at the droid-filled arena, then back to the Count who simply smiled at her.

“Have you such little faith in your friends?”

“Even if they were to survive,” she took a deep shuddering breath, her emotions were slowly getting the better of her. “You wouldn’t stop until they were dead,” she paused briefly before meeting his gaze, “am I right?”

Dooku said nothing and in his silence, Y/N received her answer. Shaking her head in denial, she backed away from him only to suddenly run forward and launch herself off the balcony. Strong arms pulled her back.

“Obi-Wan! Anakin!” Their names tore from her already injured throat and caught their attention.

Looking up from where they were surrounded, the two Jedi watched horrified as a violently struggling Y/N was pulled away from the edge by a menacing battle droid.

Obi-Wan and Anakin made to jump off the Reeks’ back when Padme stopped them. “There is little we can do for her while we are down here.” Looking around at the surrounding droids, she continued, “let’s just make sure we survive this first.” Both of the Jedi nodded and seemed to settle down but Anakin didn’t miss the looks his Master was sending in Y/N’s direction.

The bruising grip of the battle droid that held her was the only thing keeping Y/N from making another run for it. A nod from the Count had the droid dragging Y/N, fighting and all, from the balcony. Her hoarse voice screamed his name in one last desperate attempt. The droid would not loosen its grip on her as it dragged her into the hallways beyond, narrowly missing Master Windu’s entrance.

“Master Windu, how pleasant of you to join us. You're just in time for the moment of truth. I would think these two new boys of yours could use a little more training.“ Dooku’s irritatingly familiar voice reached her ears.

“Sorry to disappoint you, Dooku. This party's over.“ Never had she been so happy to hear the Korun Master’s stern tone.

A brief pause followed and Y/N began to fear the worst.

“Brave, but stupid, my old Jedi friend. You're impossibly outnumbered.” The all too familiar words triggered something in Y/N’s mind. With a strength she didn’t know she possessed, she threw herself backwards. The droid slammed into the wall and it’s grip on her loosened ever so slightly but it was she needed. At last managing to twist free of it’s infernal grip, she called on the Force and flung the droid against the opposite wall where it attempted to get a hold of her again. Taking this opportunity, Y/N turned and fled in the direction she believed the arena to be.

~ ~ ~

Seeing the glow of hundreds of lightsabers was one of the best sights Anakin and Obi-Wan had ever seen. They glanced at each other, maybe they would get out of this after all. 

At a signal from Dooku, the arena was suddenly filled with battle droids.  Then, from one moment to the next, it was like everything happened at once and chaos ensued. Both Anakin and Obi-Wan were thrown a lightsaber and managed to sever the shackles around their wrists.

Fending off droids was a simple matter, what made it complicated was their number. Soon only a handful of the Jedi remained, caught in a circle that the droids created. A silence had fallen over the arena which now resembled more of a battle-field.

“Master Windu!“ Dooku’s voice echoed around them and drew their gaze to him. “You have fought gallantly. Worthy of recognition in the history archives of the Jedi Order. Now it is finished.“ He paused for a moment before continuing, “surrender - and your lives will be spared.”

The assembled Jedi glare up at him and Master Windu spoke on their behalf. “We will not be hostages for you to barter with Dooku.“

Whether or not his disappointment was real or not, no one would ever know. “Then, I'm sorry, old friend. You will have to be destroyed.“ At his words, the assembled droids aimed their blasters at the remaining Jedi.

“NO!”

The scream echoed across the silent arena and everyone turned to see a young Jedi Knight stand at one of the arena’s numerous entrances.

“Y/N,” Obi-Wan said her name before he could stop himself. Relief flooded through him at such an intensity that his knees threatened to give way.

Then she ran. She ran straight for the crowd of droids who suddenly took an interest in her.

Obi-Wan watched in horror as hundreds of blasters were aimed at her, without her lightsaber, she had a slim chance of surviving should they choose to open fire.

His thoughts were interrupted as Padme shouted loud enough for everyone to hear, “look!“ She pointed up and everyone looked up to see six gunships descend towards the arena, Master Yoda in one of them.

Y/N saw them too. Adrenaline coursed through her as she continued to run towards her friends, she was so close. She was within reaching distance when she suddenly came to a halt.

Obi-Wan watched, confused as Y/N skidded to a stop. Looking over her shoulder he saw a figure in the shadows of the arena entrance. He had a hand stretched out towards her.

Y/N looked up and met the sea-shaded gaze of her closest friend. Something was holding her back and preventing her from moving.

Impulsively, Obi-Wan moved towards her and reached out a hand, “Y/N. Take my hand.” The look in her eyes, he had never seen it before, hatred mixed with fear.

Y/N wanted nothing more than to reach out and take his offered hand, but her body did not seem to want to listen to her. “Obi-Wan,” she said as she struggled to move. Fighting against whatever was holding her back, Y/N forced her arm to do her bidding.

Dooku watched her closely and the moment her hand moved, he pulled harder and the Force helped him. From one moment to the next, she was out of the arena. She screamed for him, damaging her vocal cords even more.

“Soon you will have no voice, young one.”

She glared up at the Count. “They will not stop until they have hunted you down. You can count on that.”

His answering smile sent shivers down her spine.

To be continued...

Part 7

[newyorktheater]

Lin-Manuel Miranda and Leslie Odom Jr in Tick,Tick…Boom in 2014

Miranda in Mary Poppins Returns

A scene from the original

Daveed Diggs, Okieriete Onaodowan, Anthony Ramos, and Lin-Manuel Miranda

Lin-Manuel Miranda is making his film directorial debut in a movie version of “Tick,Tick…Boom!” an early, semi-autobiographical musical by “Rent” composer Jonathan Larsen about a struggling musical theater writer. Miranda performed in a production of the show at City Center’s Encores! in 2014 (pictured above with his Hamilton co-star Leslie Odom, Jr.). But that’s not the only film news involving Miranda. We already know about his starring role in “Mary Poppins Returns,” which will be in movie theaters in December, and the plans to turn his musical “In The Heights” into a film, aiming for completion in 2020. Now there is a report in  the Wall Street Journal,that “Hamilton” may also be coming to the local cineplex.  ‘Hollywood studios are currently bidding for the big-screen rights to Lin-Manuel Mirandas hit musical..  But in an unusual twist, the “Hamilton” movie won’t be a filmed adaptation. Instead, it is a recording of the show made in 2016 with its original cast, including Mr. Miranda in the lead role.” Bidding could go as high as $50 million, which seems reasonable considering that the show reportedly has grossed nearly $400 million in New York alone since opening in 2015.   Meanwhile, the composer, director and actor prepares to take “Hamilton” to Puerto Rico, as he explains in this interview on the Today Show. https://youtu.be/zHv4G1xw3As Below more news about filmed theater, involving Bruce Springsteen and Jennifer Hudson, among others, as well news as about staged theater — the latest theater awards, the closing of an Andrew Lloyd Webber show, the new seasons at Lincoln Center, The Flea, The Bushwick Starr, a “critic’s corner” that features some (more) sad news and some controversy; and an unusual break for the over-40 theatergoer.

The Week in New York Theater Reviews

Stephen Payne, Josh Charles, Armie Hammer, and Paul Schneider in Straight White Men

Straight White Men “Straight White Men,” a thought-provoking play by Young Jean Lee with a terrifically entertaining cast of Broadway newcomers including Armie Hammer, Josh Charles and Paul Schneider as rowdy brothers, might to some theatergoers seem designed initially to mislead, and ultimately to befuddle. By its title alone, one could assume – incorrectly – that the play will be an acid satire. This impression is fortified by an unusual prologue….What follows, though, is more or less the same play that I saw at the Public Theater in 2014, a sympathetic and straightforward look at a family of four adult men, gathered together to celebrate Christmas. Each has adjusted to the world, and their privileged place in it, in different ways.

Jelani Remy, Shavey Brown, John Edwards, Dwayne Cooper, and Max Sangerman.

Smokey Joe’s Cafe Near the beginning of “Smokey Joe’s Cafe: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller,” the new Off-Broadway revival of the long-running Broadway musical revue, performer Jelani Remy does a double back flip while singing the Elvis hit, “Jailhouse Rock.” It is the most memorable example in the show of what we can call The Bergasse Workout, which I’m naming after the production’s inventive and obviously demanding director/choreographer Joshua Bergasse…Five men and four women deliver 40 musical numbers in 90 minutes – no time for idle chat…or any dialogue whatsoever.

Josh Lamon as Prince and Lesli Magherita as Princess

Emojiland “Emojiland,” an entry in the 2018 New York Musical Festival, is set inside a smart phone, with the resident emojis facing a “textistential” crisis —  the phone is due for a software update. That’s in the first act. In the second act, they face a virus. A dozen talented performers, including Broadway stalwarts Lesli Margherita and Josh Lamon portray Smiley Face 😀 and Angry Face😠 and Worried Face 😟 and Weary Face 😩 and a whole raft of icons I’ve never used before, nor knew they existed — 📻🙄💂‍♂️💀ℹ🤓😎👷‍♀️🤴👸👮‍♀️🤰🏽😘, including 💩 pile of poo. The result is a hilarious entertainment, mostly — though one is greatly tempted to call it two-dimensional. If Sand Were Stone Billie has Alzheimer’s. “If Sand Were Stone,” an entry at the 2018 New York Musical Festival, presents Billie’s deterioration over a span of two years, and its effect on her husband Marvin and daughter Margaux. The title of the musical comes from a quote by Jorge Luis Borges, reprinted in the program: “Nothing is built on stone; all is built on sand. But we must build as if the sand were stone.” I can’t recommend this musical. There’s too much that doesn’t work…Yet it’s hard to dismiss Fire in Dreamland

The Week in Awards

New York Innovative Theater Awards 2018 nominations for the best Off-Off Broadway Third Annual Samuel French Awards: The Secret Garden  (writing team Lucy Simon & Marsha Norman), Award for Sustained Excellence in American Theatre Doug Wright, Award for Impact & Activism in the Theatre Community for his work as president of the Dramatists Guild Antoinette Nwandu, the Next Step Award, support for a playwright, composer or lyricist working toward the next level of their career.

The Week in New York Theater News

School of Rock will end on Broadway on January 20, 2019, having played 1,307 regular performances, just over three years.

Bruce Springsteen reminiscing at the Tony Awards about his hometown while accompanying himself on the piano, before singing “My Hometown.”

Springsteen On Broadway will be shown on Netflix Dec 15, which is also the final night of its 236-show Broadway run at the Walter Kerr. CATS is being made into a film. Jennifer Hudson, Taylor Swift, James Corden, and Ian McKellen will star. Lisa Brescia, six-time Broadway vet (Elphaba in Wicked, Donna in Mamma Mia) takes over from Rachel Bay Jones as Heidi Hansen in Dear Evan Hansen starting August 7   Here’s a twist. During previews, Gettin The Band Back Together will offer 40 tickets per performance for $40 each for people 40 years of age and older. “because we know 40-year-olds have responsibilities and bad backs that may prohibit them from sleeping on sidewalks.” Use code BT40440. The musical opens on August 13th.

New Seasons Off and Off-Off Broadway

At Lincoln Center: 1. A new play by Tom Stoppard “The Hard Problem,” about a young psychology student facing difficult questions. eg. Is altruism possible without self-interest? Directed by Jack O’Brian. Opens Nov 19 2. “Plot Points in Our Sexual Development” a contemporary queer love story Oct 6-Nov 18. Written by Miranda Rose Hall, direccted by Margot Bordelon

The new Flea theater

2018-2019 Season @TheFleaTheater on the theme of “Color Brave”

Scraps, about a police shooting, Aug 15-Sept 24 Emma & Max, about city’s well-off and worn-down, Oct 1-28 Hype Man, Nov 10 – Dec 1 Also, plays by @KristianaSpeaks & #ThomasBradshaw https://t.co/GG5qpg56uV pic.twitter.com/NKdmxRz23V — New York Theater (@NewYorkTheater) July 18, 2018

The Bushwick Starr’s Tenth Anniversary Season Ugly by Raja Feather Kelly Sept 5-8 The Things That Were There by David Greenspan  Oct 10-Nov 4 The Infinite Love Party by Diana Oh January 11 – February 2 Suicide Forest by Kristine Haruna Lee February 27 – March 16, 2019 The 9th Annual Big Green Theater Festival April 26 – 28, 2019 CABIN by Sean Donovan May 22- June 8 Details

Critics Corner

1. Another Theater Critic – and Newspaper — Erased

Well, 17.5 years later, the Daily News and I have parted ways. It was a great ride that included 12 seasons of reviewing Broadway and off; writing 100s features, news stories and more. Head high, heart heavy, eyes forward! Any leads – I’m up!

— Joe Dziemianowicz (@TheJoeDShow) July 23, 2018

Joe is one of many at the Daily News who’ve been laid off. The Daily News will cut half of its newsroom staff…The paper was sold to @tronc Inc. last year for $1, with the owner of @ChicagoTribune assuming liabilities and debt.

A year before @tronc laid off half its staff at @NYDailyNews, it paid $15 million to its chairman, Michael Ferro, resigning just ahead of sexual harassment allegations against him.@AlbertBurneko asks angrily: Shouldn’t something like this be illegal?https://t.co/uAEku791li

— New York Theater (@NewYorkTheater) July 24, 2018

2.

Theater criticism must be supported, says @thestage editor @smithalistair, for these six reasons: pic.twitter.com/6fRPFNHQ4n

— New York Theater (@NewYorkTheater) July 22, 2018

3. Fat Shaming Review? In Laura Collins-Hughes’ review of Smokey Joe Café: “Ms. Umphress, by the way, is bigger than the other women onstage, and the costume designer, Alejo Vietti, doesn’t seem to have known how to work with that, dressing her in an unnecessarily unflattering way.” https://

A thought. @collinshughes @nytimes @hellerNYT #bodypositivity pic.twitter.com/JGbDzboo05

— Alysha Umphress (@Cristalzheat) July 23, 2018

It is in no way shameful to be big, let alone bigger than the other women onstage. My remark about the costuming reflects on the designer. This is not the first time I’ve noticed a designer seemingly at a loss about how to dress a larger woman well.

— Laura Collins-Hughes (@collinshughes) July 23, 2018

RIP Gary Beach, 70, nine-time Broadway veteran, a Tony winner for his role as flamboyant theater director Roger De Bris in The Producers

“This administration gains its power by fomenting a sense of hopelessness. We defy it with a spirit of celebration, of abundance, and of connection.” – theater director & educator @LPortes67 at opening of #LTCCarnaval18 (celebrating Latinx theater artists/@CafeOnda) at @DePaulU pic.twitter.com/QyIvW871mZ

— New York Theater (@NewYorkTheater) July 20, 2018

Lin-Manuel Miranda Goes Hollywood and to Puerto Rico. Hamilton Too? The Week in NY Theater Lin-Manuel Miranda is making his film directorial debut in a movie version of "Tick,Tick...Boom!" an early, semi-autobiographical musical by "Rent" composer Jonathan Larsen about a struggling musical theater writer.

[crazyman185]

So I have four pets (soon to be five in August): a Crested Gecko, two Australian Green Tree Frogs, and a Western Hognose Snake. Later this year I plan to get a Columbian Red Tailed Boa, cause I want a big snake.

- Gary (or Garrosh Hellscream)

Gary is male Crested Gecko that is four/five years old. His actual name is Garrosh Hellscream, cause I let my guild from World of Warcraft name him, odd I know, but I just shortened it to Gary for everyone else. He is a very specialized morph which would take me forever to explain so I’ll just say he is a Blonde Harlequin /w 100% Pinstripe & Speckled Dalmatian traits. Unfortunately, he lost his tail the first day I got him in early January 2017. I was lied to that Gary used to people and he got spooked within an hour of getting him and jumped out of my coworker’s hand on to another’s butt. Then he couldn’t grasp his jeans well and fell to the ground where he shed his tail. This species never regrow their tail again but about 90% of all Crested Geckos in the wild lack tails anyhow. It’s purely cosmetic for them to keep it and nothing changes if they lose it. They are called frogbutts in the pet trade if they lack a tail. Anywho Gary escaped his cage a few weeks later (no idea how) and went missing for seventeen days. I thought he was dead for sure but one day when I was teaching Herpetology class to some 5th graders I went into our reptile house and there he was in our Red-eared slider aquarium on a floaty getting a drink. I was ecstatic and Gary’s behavior almost immediately changed to being very friendly being held and now he is a great tool in my teaching. Normally in the wild, they eat insects (when young), nectar, and rotten fruit. I feed Gary every 4 days, a fruit powder mix (his favorite is watermelon mango). If I treat him right he’ll live to be over twenty years old (they actually don’t their maximum age)!

-Judy Hopps and Kif

I got both Australian Green Tree Frogs in October of 2016. Judy Hopps is a female that turned 2 years old last month, and Kif is a male that turns 2 years old in June. One of my co-workers came up with the name Judy Hopps and I went with Kif as a reference to Futurama. Both are in their default colors in these pics, olive green for the female, and light green for the male. Though their colors change based off of their mood and temperature. I’ve seen them change to brown, white green, dark green, and even bluish green. Judy Hopps is a blue-eyed morph, Kif is a wild-type (or normal). At first, I didn’t know if there would be any differences in their gender so I got the female as a morph so I could tell them apart. Later I learned females are usually larger than males and that males have a grey throat & females a white throat. I use both in the herpetology class but they are the only animal I don’t let kids touch/hold cause they get antsy when they start to get pet/passed around. I feed them every 4 days, alternating between superworms and Dubai roaches. The superworms I dust with a multivitamin and calcium /w vitamin D3 powder. These are long living frogs that average 15-20 years of age but the longest living ever was 29!

-Piglet

My baby! I got Piglet the same day I wrote Cubicity’s first chapter, on July 23rd! She’s a Western Hognose snake. Her morph makes her pattern similar to the green anaconda, hence why it’s called an anaconda morph. A normal morph would have smaller and more numerous blotches in its pattern. I went with Piglet cause it’s cute and if she ended up being a boy it was going to be Porkchop. Technically she’s venomous but she’s a rear-fanged snake. Not only do rear-fanged snakes have to chew on you to release venom (versus just a quick bite like front-fanged venomous snakes) it’s also very mild (minus the African Boomslang) and is species specific (frogs and toads in this instance). She’s never bit me or kids and has been a great animal to ease kids into being comfortable with snakes until you bring out the bigger ones my work has. When I first got Piglet, she ate one pinkie (newborn mouse with no fur) every three days. At eight months old she now, she eats two pinkies weekly and will upgrade to fuzzies (young mice with their first coat of fur) when she’s older. Unlike my other pets (who like room temperature, 75F or 23/24C) Piglet requires a heating pad. I got an expensive device that regulates the voltage of my heating pad so you can control the temperature precisely and prevent overheating that can easily lead to death. They average at about 10-15 years of age but sometimes get over 20. 

[samuelmmarcus]

English Country Style Home Tour

  Hello, my dear friends! How are you today? I hope you’re healthy and safe. We’re doing all we can to stay home with our children while keeping them busy, which is not always easy but like I always tell them… nothing makes me happier than having all of us together under the same roof. So let’s make this difficult moment a little easier by seeing the positive things in life. Hopefully, all of things will start to get better soon. We just need to be patient and strong! We will kick this virus out of our lives soon.

Now, talking about being positive, I am truly honored to be sharing this stunning home built by Castle Homes. This is a long house tour, but we’re finally having more time to do things we love these days, right? So, let’s take advantage of that.

Here are some interesting facts about this gorgeous home:

“This English Country style home features bank of Lutyens style front windows (inspired by English Architect Sir Edwin Lutyens); Stunning Vintage Millworks custom exterior dormers, custom millwork and casings; Elevator for a three floors; Hidden Pantry; tracery ceiling in the Study; clever sofa screen provides definition to Living Room sofa; Herndon & Merry wrought iron staircase railing; four defined garden areas designed by award-winning landscape architect; Builder room featuring behind the walls custom craftsmanship and so much more.”

Keep reading, pin your favorite pictures and have a great time!!!

  English Country Style Home Tour

A brushed concrete driveway leads to the Contemporary English Country style home with espresso antique colored, handmade brick and CertainTeed “Independence” shingle roof in a Georgetown Gray.

Essential to the design style is the distinct window composition – inspired by English architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, one of the premier British architects of the 20th Century. The aluminum clad wood windows (Pella), have a putty glaze and Low-E, energy efficient. The dormer windows have James Hardie Artisan, lap siding, with mitered corners and were custom designed in collaboration with Vintage Millworks.

Home Details: Bedrooms: 5 Bathrooms: 5 full, 2 half Garage: 3

Style: Contemporary English Country Home

Approx. Sq. Ft.: 6,748

Paint Color

  The two-front gable windows are accented by copper with cedar corbels and above, charming dovecotes. Windows are painted Sherwin Williams “Iron Ore.”

Pathway & Brick

 Exterior Brick: Old Texas, Pharr, Texas/Union Station, Nashville, TN – supplier.

Lighting: Gas lantern on a half-yoke bracket by Legendary Lighting – Others: here, here & here.

Courtyard

The front courtyard privacy wall is capped with limestone and leads to the covered entry with an Indiana limestone surround.

Front Door

The front door, in American White Oak, was designed by Castle Homes in collaboration with Vintage Millwork. It’s a clear, glass, true divided light door.

Foyer

The foyer has 7-inch, character-grade White Oak floor with a reactive stain with a tinted oil sealer, created by Castle Homes In-House Design Team. (Castle Homes interior designer Joy Huber, created the interior design plan including finish selections throughout the home with Rozanne Jackson Interiors, The Iron Gate, providing all interior styling, furnishings and draperies.)

Lighting: Visual Comfort Utopia Round Flushmount.

Rug: Vintage – similar here, here & here.

Dining Room

  Entering the Dining Room, the interior bank of Lutyens style windows are framed with beautiful, custom draperies.

Paint Color:  Sherwin Williams “Zurich White” walls, ceiling and trim.

Draperies: here – similar.

Dining Table & Chairs

Center is a custom concrete table with pyramid base, chairs with silver frames and leather seat cushions.

Inspiring Dining Tables: Round: here, here, here & here – Rectangular: here, here, here, here, here & here.

Best Seller Dining Chairs: here, here, here, here, here & here.

Chandelier

A cream leather chandelier by Ngala Trading, brings an unique touch to this elegant dining room.

Other Unique Chandeliers: here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here & here.

Bar Cart

A classic bar cart adds elegance to this dining room.

Beautiful Bar Carts: here, here, here, here & here.

Butler’s Pantry

 The Butler’s Pantry has a wine refrigerator, stained White Oak cabinets with a liming wax on the base, honed Calacatta Gold counter and above painted cabinets with clear glass.

Hardware: Pulls & Knobs – similar.

Kitchen

The kitchen, with Sherwin Williams Zurich White walls, has a center oak island stained with a liming wax on the base, honed Calacatta Gold counter, stainless steel sink and above antique, brass pendants.

Kitchen Cabinetry

Paneled, cabinet front Subzero refrigerator/freezer (30 inch each on the right) has an adjacent hidden door leading to the walk-in pantry. The range wall cabinet and hood repeats the island.

Cabinets: G&P Custom Cabinetry, Nashville.

Kitchen Lighting

Kitchen Pendants: Visual Comfort – Other Popular Choices: here, here, here, here & here.

The large island stools are covered in a natural white cow hide – Other Affordable options: here, here, here, here, here & here.

Faucet: Kallista.

Kitchen Island Dimensions

Kitchen Island Size: 5’x10’

Refresh your Kitchen:

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Backsplash

The backsplash is a Walker Zanger honed Calacatta Gold, oversized mosaic. Wolf range has 6-burners, griddle and a double oven and above a scalloped, oak wood hood.

Hardwood: 7-inch, character-grade White Oak floor with a reactive stain with a tinted oil sealer, sealed with Magic Oil – similar here.

Breakfast Room

The Breakfast Room has a built-in banquette with high performance fabric, custom designed natural wood breakfast tables, and a scalloped shade lighting.

Banquettes: here – similar – (I often recommend it to my clients).

Lighting: here – similar.

Pantry

Offering plenty of storage space, the kitchen pantry features a combination of painted-grade white cabinets and Walnut cabinets.

Living Room

 Featuring Hemlock Fir beams, this Living Room feels welcoming and elegant at the same time. The light fixture is a White Oak chandelier by Noir.

Paint Color:  Sherwin Williams  “Zurich White” walls, ceiling & trim.

Ottoman: Verellen washed white oak ottoman covered in Designers Guild mica vinyl – Other Beautiful Ottoman Coffee Tables: here, here, here, here, here & here.

Rug: Antique Oushak rug – similar here, here, here & here – Other Great Rugs: here, here, here, here, here & here.

Ceiling: Hemlock Fir beam.

Sofa

The Living room’s Lee Industries sofa is covered in high performance fabric and framed by a paneled screen in buff velvet.

Fireplace

Honed, hand-carved Limestone mantel fireplace features Alterna FireBalls and above a stunning Charlotte Terrell landscape.

Beautiful Artwork Ideas: here, here, here, here & here.

Piano

Grand piano was provided by Steinway Piano Gallery.

For seamless entertaining, French doors lead to the covered porch.

Porch

The French, sliding doors by Pella lead to the screened-in porch with a White Oak wood floor, repeating the interior reactive stain with a tinted oil sealer.

The hearth and mantle are Indiana limestone and above is a spruce planking ceiling with a wood and brass chandelier.

The room, with a Dash & Albert hand-woven polyurethane, UV treated rug, has a beautiful mixture of Summer Classics teak furniture with a marine grade finish.

Console Table: here & here – similar.

Sofa: Summer Classics.

Furniture

The croquet Teak lounge chair reclines and has brass detailing.

Side Table: Summer Classics.

Ceiling

The Spruce plank ceiling features a wood and  brass chandelier.

Lighting is Currey & Co. – Others: here, here & here.

Patio Fireplace

The patio fireplace features Indiana Limestone hearth and mantel.

Powder Room

The powder room has a radial, white glass tile on the focal wall with a custom, solid White Oak vanity with Carrara marble slab in-set carved sink and polished nickel faucet.

Paint Color: Sherwin Williams SW 7671 “On the Rocks” walls and trim, SW “Iron Ore” ceiling (not shown).

Accent Tile: Traditions In Tile/Artistic Tile.

Mirror: Arteriors.

Faucet: Kallista.

Staircase

The main staircase features a black, wrought iron Herndon and Merry, custom railing and smooth, round balusters.

Art by Bennett Galleries and Jack Spencer Art.

Oak & Brass

Oak Treads: Character-grade White Oak floor with a reactive stain with a tinted oil sealer, sealed with Magic Oil

The stairwell is accented with 4 ft. tall, gilded sconces by Visual Comfort.

Sitting Room

Upstairs Sitting Room, features the upper view of the Lutyens bank of windows with a Herndon and Merry railing, a velvet chaise lounges, a champagne metallic hide, and an antique brass leaf chandelier.

Chandelier: Arteriors.

Paint Color

Paint color is Zurich White by Sherwin Williams.

Master Bedroom

Master bedroom has an oversized cove crown and a beaded chandelier. Paint color is Sherwin Williams Reserved White on walls, ceiling and trim.

Bed: Beautiful Eloquence bed with an antique white and gold leaf finish and upholstered in ivory velvet provided by The Iron Gate.

Chandelier: Aidan Gray – Other Classic Chandeliers: here, here, here & here.

Bedding: Bella Notte – Other Luxury Linens: here & here.

Chairs: Gianni velvet chairs provided by Lee Industries.

Master Bathroom

Paint repeated in the Master bath (Sherwin Williams SW 7056 Reserved White), with a Walker Zanger, antiqued white marble floor (similar here), raised panel painted vanity in “Sherwin Williams White Nuvalato” and marble counter with nickel silver faucets.

Center to the room is a white plaster chandelier and a Kohler, free-standing tub.

Chandelier: Visual Comfort, Large.

Faucets

Faucets: Kallista.

Tub

Tub is Stargaze by Kohler.

Tub Faucet

Tub Faucet: Kallista.

Shower

The shower is wrapped with white marble tile (similar here) and has a linear, Infinity drain and a floating marble shower seat with fixed head and hand-held spray by Kallista.

Study

The Study has a tracery ceiling (designed by Vintage Millworks) and crystal, tiered, globe chandelier with “Silverplate by Sherwin Williams” tinted walls and SW “Snowbound” ceiling and trim.

Coffee Table: Oly Pippa cocktail table.

Chandelier: Visual Comfort.

Rug: Loloi.

Teen Girl Bedroom

This Teen Girl bedroom features SW “Crushed Ice” walls and SW “Snowbound” ceiling/trim. The bed has a linen scalloped headboard and above is a seeded, glass chandelier.

Beautiful Beds: here, here, here & here.

Best Seller Nightstands: here, here, here, here & here.

Bathroom

The bathroom has porcelain tile floor with a linear veining and a painted vanity in Sherwin Williams Dovetail with Turkish Carrara countertop.

Floor Tile: Porcelain tile “linen style” floor – similar here.

Sconces: Visual Comfort.

Guest Bedroom

Paint Color: Sherwin Williams Drift of Mist.

Bench: Gabby Home.

Chandelier: Arteriors.

Teen Boy Bedroom

This Teen Boy features  Sherwin Williams Reserved White on walls and SW “Snowbound” ceiling and trim.

Flooring: Dream Weaver carpet.

Bathroom

The upstairs Powder Room features “Sherwin Williams Stamped Concrete” tinted walls and trim with SW “Reserved White” on ceiling. The vanity is stained, white oak with a Carrara marble counter (5 centimeter), glass, vessel sink and titanium finished faucets.

Mirror: here.

Family Center

The Family Center has built-in cabinets with planked front doors, marble-looking Quartz counters and includes a built-in desk and three lockers.

Paint color is SW Zurich White” walls, ceiling and trim.

Details

This smart space is wrapped with planked door cabinets, built-in desk and Aurea Quartz Paragon counters.

Laundry Room Cabinets

The elevated laundry machines are flanked by custom cabinetry.

Mudroom Lockers

This space also features a mudroom with a trio of lockers.

Basement

Lower level entertainment space includes a billiard’s area with a wet bar, workout room and bedroom suite. Step onto the t-box on Royal Lytham golf course with a clever Golf Simulator and play over a dozen courses around the world. Beautiful York & Friends fine art throughout.

Walls are SW “Zurich White”.

Bar

The wet bar features a Carrara marble counter (5 CM) with Walnut opening shelving and a chevron patterned, walnut backsplash and features a stainless steel, round scalloped sink and brushed nickel faucet.

Patio Doors

Pella patio doors lead to an expansive patio.

Lower Patio

Furniture: Summer Classics.

Ceiling

Plank wood ceiling was also added on the lower level patio.

Rug: Dash & Albert.

Outdoor Kitchen

Grilling area has a built-in Wolf grill and Soapstone counters.

Garage Doors

The garage doors are painted in Sherwin Williams Iron Ore.

Architectural Details

The classic garage lighting and the decorative brackets add so much charm to the exterior of this exquisite home.

  Many thanks to the builder for sharing the details above.

Builder: Castle Homes (Instagram – Facebook)

Designers: Castle Homes In-House Design Team (Joy Huber, lead designer) in partnership with Rozanne Jackson, The Iron Gate, interior styling, furnishings, draperies, with interior decorator Ginny Garrett and interior architect Katy Austin Architect: Kevin Coffey, C. Kevin Coffey Dwellings & Design Landscape Architect: Gavin Duke, Page | Duke Landscape Architects.

Photography: Reed Brown Photography.

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“Dear God,

If I am wrong, right me. If I am lost, guide me. If I start to give-up, keep me going.

Lead me in Light and Love”.

Have a wonderful day, my friends and we’ll talk again tomorrow.”

with Love,

Luciane from HomeBunch.com

from Home https://www.homebunch.com/english-country-style-home-tour/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

[ralphmorgan-blog1]

They’re each famous for different reasons. But as kids, these women wore the same uniform.

When was the last time a Girl Scout inspired you to follow your dreams?

If your answer involves dreaming of Girl Scout cookies, then I don't blame you — getting your hands on those Thin Mints can be a real motivator.

But what you may not realize is that Girl Scouts have influenced the world in much bigger ways that don't involve their awesome cookies. In fact, some Girl Scouts have changed the course of history.

We're talking astronauts, political leaders, activists, and more. Girl Scouts of the USA reports that an incredible 64% of today's American women leaders were once Girl Scouts.

Image via Girl Scouts of the USA.

This organization helps girls understand what they're capable of by giving them badges for accomplishments in areas such as entrepreneurship, citizenship, and STEM. The girls practice an incredible range of skills, from running a business to creating art to tackling cybersecurity.

And if their roster of prominent former scouts is any indication, every Girl Scout is capable of greatness. Here's a look at seven of them.

1. Lucille Ball created her own space in an industry that hadn't yet made space for her.

When a Girl Scout named Elizabeth dressed up as Lucille Ball in 2017, she wasn't just wearing a costume. Ball was a former Girl Scout, and Elizabeth was portraying her spirit and determination in a Girl Scout photo shoot celebrating Women's History Month.

Lucille Ball cracked people up with her wacky physical comedy, her expressive face, and her "I Love Lucy" character's knack for getting into hilariously troublesome situations. And while audiences laughed, Ball was making history.

She became one of the first female comic leads on television and often defied traditional gender stereotypes in her role. "I Love Lucy" was also a massive hit, ranking as the #1 show in the country for four of its six seasons.

Off-screen, Ball was also a trailblazer. She and Desi Arnaz co-owned the production studio Desilu Productions until she bought out his shares and ran it on her own. That made her the first woman to run a major television studio. And the hits that came later on her lot, like "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "Star Trek," and "Mission: Impossible," show that she did a fantastic job.

2. Tammy Duckworth changed what it means to be a United States senator.

In this digital age, nearly all of our senators are on Twitter, and if you follow Tammy Duckworth's account, you might have seen messages like this one: "Thanks, @girlscouts, for teaching me leadership skills I use in the Senate everyday."

Happy #GirlScoutDay! Proud to be a #GirlScout & thankful for all the lessons and skills @girlscouts taught me. I think my old uniform could use a few more badges!

A post shared by Senator Tammy Duckworth (@senduckworth) on Mar 12, 2018 at 1:07pm PDT

Duckworth still has her Girl Scout uniform and sash, which carries an impressive number of badges. The skills she learned to earn those badges no doubt helped her become the incredible trailblazer she is today.

In fact, Duckworth just can't stop making history. She served as a U.S. Army helicopter pilot in Iraq, where she lost her legs in a 2004 grenade attack. In 2012, she became the first woman with a disability elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and the first member of Congress born in Thailand.

Image via U.S. Senate Photographic Studio/Renee Bouchard/Wikimedia Commons.

And in 2016, she was elected to her current position, making her the second ever Asian-American woman senator.

Then Duckworth did something that the Founding Fathers probably never saw coming. In April 2018, she became the first U.S. senator to give birth while in office. At just 10 days old, baby Maile followed in her mom's footsteps by making history of her own as the first newborn to grace the Senate floor.

3. Katie Couric broke into the boys' club of nightly news anchors.

When the Girl Scouts reached their 100th anniversary in 2012, news anchor Katie Couric went all out to celebrate them. She wrote about the organization on her ABC blog, interviewed Girl Scouts on her show, and even donned a vintage Girl Scout uniform for the occasion.

"Girl Scouts taught me some of the basic and essential principles and values that I still hold dear today, like being truthful, helpful, and independent," she said in 2012.

Couric has demonstrated these values throughout her career as a journalist by bringing attention to important issues, including colon cancer and gun violence. She's also held top anchor positions at all of the three major television networks: ABC, NBC, and CBS.

Image via Girl Scouts of the USA.

Breaking into the news industry's boys' club took some time, but she never gave up. She started at the ABC News bureau in 1979 and eventually became the host of the CBS Evening News in 2006, making her the first solo woman anchor among the "big three" weekday nightly news broadcasts, according to Reuters.

Now, as a Television Hall of Famer and a New York Times bestselling author, Couric continues to use her platform to show girls that it's possible to overcome the obstacles they face.

I swear I loved being a Girl Scout!https://t.co/jhRSVZwa8L @girlscouts pic.twitter.com/c1dVA1fUU3

— Katie Couric (@katiecouric) May 15, 2018

4. Susan Collins has set the second longest consecutive voting streak in the Senate.

Growing up in Caribou, Maine, now-Sen. Susan Collins had some great role models: Both her parents served as the mayors of her hometown. Not only that, but she was also a Girl Scout with some amazing troop leaders who inspired her to always persevere toward her goals. "[Girl Scouts] helps to build strong women," Collins told a young scout who interviewed her in 2014.

In 1994, when Collins ran for governor, she became the first woman to become a nominee for a major party in Maine. Then, in 1996, Collins was elected to the Senate, and she has kept her seat ever since.

Image via U.S. Senate Photographic Studio/Wikimedia Commons.

Collins is now the most senior Republican woman in the Senate. She has spent her time focusing on causes including Alzheimer's research, diabetes research, and support for small businesses. In fact, Collins has had a say in every single one of the more than 6,600 decisions that the Senate has voted on since 1996 because she has never missed a vote. In 2015, she even broke her ankle running in heels to make sure she cast a vote.

Collins is also proud to be one of 73% of women senators who were once Girl Scouts. "That to me just proves that Girl Scouts learn leadership ability, have confidence in themselves, and learn to work together as a team," she said.

5. Dolores Huerta gave us the rallying cry we need to make the world a better place.

When civil rights icon Dolores Huerta steps up to a microphone, you'd never guess that she was once a shy child. However, in a 2009 interview, Huerta credited Girl Scouts for helping her come out of her shell and learn to speak in public.

"In Girl Scouts, I learned how to be strong, to believe in myself, and to be open to new ideas," Huerta wrote to young girls.

Image via Girl Scouts of the USA.

It's no wonder she ended up coining the rallying cry "Sí se puede" — Spanish for "Yes, we can." Her work as a community organizer began in the 1960s and became a blueprint for how many activists mobilize today.

Through her advocacy for women's rights, workers' rights, and immigrant rights, Huerta influenced labor laws that we still have today. She co-founded the United Farm Workers, a labor union for farmworkers in the United States, with Cesar Chavez.

Huerta is often hailed as an inspiration for activist movements and has received a number of major awards including the 2012 Presidential Medal of Freedom. She was a Girl Scout from the ages of 8 to 18. At the age of 83, she was still continuing her community organizing work as president of the Dolores Huerta foundation.

6. Susan Wojcicki has carved out much-needed space for women and girls in tech.

Susan Wojcicki was only 11 years old when she started her first business: She went door to door selling homemade "spice ropes" made with braided yarn.

Since then, Wojcicki has proved herself as a go-getter in the world of business. For example, you may have heard of a "little" company known as Google — which started with co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin in her garage in 1998. And as the company's first marketing manager, she became known as the most important person in advertising.

Image via Girl Scouts of the USA.

Wojcicki eventually became the CEO of YouTube, the second most popular website in the world — just behind its parent company, Google.

She uses her influential position to help other women and girls get into tech by collaborating with the Girl Scouts of the USA, an organization she was once a proud member of herself. She mentors Girl Scouts who are working to earn their cybersecurity badges, and she also leads Google's Made with Code, an initiative to inspire girls to get involved with tech activities like coding and 3D printing.

7. Queen Latifah is leaving her mark on every corner of the entertainment world.

Name a major award for entertainers, and Queen Latifah probably has a win or a nomination for it.

She first made her mark on the entertainment world as a rapper, releasing her first hip-hop album in 1989 at the age of 19 and kicking off her success as an MC. This is especially remarkable considering how much men have dominated the hip-hop scene. And now, she's also known for her work on television and in movies, including the 1990s hit sitcom "Living Single," the 1996 film "Set It Off," and more recently, the massively successful 2017 film "Girls Trip."

Image via Girl Scouts of the USA.

Throughout her career, she has earned a Grammy Award, a Golden Globe Award, an Emmy Award, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and an Academy Award nomination. But before she released that very first album, Queen Latifah was a Girl Scout and earning badges for her sash.

Today Latifah clearly appreciates Girl Scouts for helping start off on the right foot. She narrated this video to celebrate the Girl Scouts tradition of "Preparing girls for a lifetime of leadership."

These actresses, musicians, scientists, and politicians all have one thing in common.

Posted by Upworthy on Thursday, July 26, 2018

Perhaps the next time a woman in comedy makes you laugh or a piece of digital technology leaves you in awe, you'll think of the Girl Scouts.

Being a Girl Scout helped these women develop their leadership skills, confidence, and ambitious attitudes. In order to earn Girl Scout badges, they had to prove themselves capable of helping people. And they've certainly done so in their careers by inspiring countless other women to forge their own paths across a wide range of industries, including sports, science, philanthropy, and business.

What's more, they all uphold the Girl Scouts value of making the world a better place.

Keep their stories in mind the next time you see a Girl Scout — you might be looking at one of our future leaders.

Original Article : HERE ; This post was curated & posted using : RealSpecific

=> *********************************************** Original Post Here: They’re each famous for different reasons. But as kids, these women wore the same uniform. ************************************ =>

They’re each famous for different reasons. But as kids, these women wore the same uniform. was originally posted by News - Feed

[miamibeerscene]

10 Craft Beer Festivals You Don’t Want to Miss in 2017

Oskar Blues annual Burning CAN Festival. (Credit: Oskar Blues Brewery)

March 21, 2017

Springtime ushers in the return of beer festival season, and regardless of which part of the country you call home, chances are, there’s a killer beer fest taking place near you in 2017.

From festivals featuring world-class craft beer to unique events highlighting the delightful relationship between food and beer, to beer fests that encourage you to earn your beer calories, check out these 10 craft beer festivals in 2017 to add to your calendar.

(MORE: 5 Easy Ways to Learn More About Craft Beer)

SAVOR: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience | June 2-3 | Washington D.C.

Each year, SAVOR defies all stereotypes. It’s not a festival: it’s an experience. At this two-day event, ticket holders can enjoy craft beer and small plate food pairings that highlight the craft of making beer, and the art of creating delicious dishes. The breweries who pour are picked via a lottery; here’s who will be there in 2017. Tickets go on sale to the public on March 22.

The Great American Beer Fest runs Oct. 5-7 in 2017. (Credit: Brewers Association)

Burning CAN Beer Festival | June 3 – Lyons, CO & July 21-22 – Brevard, NC

Oskar Blues Brewery recently entered retail markets in all 50 states, which means you’ve probably had a taste of this fun-loving brewery at some point in your beer drinking adventures. And this brewery loves to throw a good old fashioned hootenanny, which is why they’re hosting their annual Burning CAN Beer Festival at Oskar Blues brewery locations in Colorado and North Carolina this year. At this fest, you’ll only find breweries that can their liquid offerings, along with three other things that define this brewery’s brand: live music, delicious food and a handful of adrenaline-pumping outdoor activities. Overnight camping is encouraged at both Burning CAN beer festivals.

San Diego International Beer Festival | June 16-18 | San Diego, CA

The San Diego International Beer Festival is the largest beer fest on the West Coast, with more than 200 breweries from around the world represented. From rare beers and limited releases to your favorite go-to craft brews, this festival has it all, and they’re serving it up over the course of five different sessions in sunny Southern California. Keep an eye out for tickets to go on sale in the spring for this massive festival.

(MORE: Top 50 US Craft Breweries)

Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Beer Festival | July 21-22 | Ypsilanti, MI

The craft beer scene in Michigan is exploding right now, thanks to an increase in barley and hop farmers that are providing Michigan brewers with some excellent homegrown ingredients. And every year, the Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Beer Festival celebrates the growth of the beer culture in the state, and craft beer fans in Michigan are loving it. In its 20th year, this festival has plans to pour more than 1,000 beers from over 100 Michigan breweries. Tickets are on sale May 4.

Oregon Brewers Festival | July 26-30 | Portland, OR

The Oregon Brewers Festival is one of the longest-running craft beer festivals in the U.S. and they’re celebrating the big 3-0 this year. With 30 years of experience, you can expect this beer fest, which takes place in the heart of craft beer country, to bring its A game. Last year, more than 800,000 beer drinkers attended this summer festival, set on the banks of the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon. This multi-day fest is free to the public. Tokens for beer tasting are available for purchase onsite.

Belgium Comes to Cooperstown | August 4-5 | Cooperstown, NY

Every year, the folks at Brewery Ommegang bring a little bit of Belgium to Cooperstown, New York. The Belgium Comes to Cooperstown festival is an annual event highlighting the best Belgian and Belgian-style beers around. Since kicking off its inaugural year in 1999, this fest has grown into a massive production that includes a 700-person VIP dinner option, weekend camping, live music and late-night movie screenings. Expect to find more than 100 breweries from around the world pouring at this festival. VIP and General Admission ticket options are available and go on sale on April 1.

Southern Brewers Festival | August 26 | Chattanooga, TN

Chattanooga’s craft beer and outdoor recreation communities are flourishing, making this city an excellent place to visit in late August—just in time for the Southern Brewers Festival. In its 23rd year, this beer fest takes place in a gorgeous venue alongside the mighty Tennessee River, with optional parking spaces for boats available to festival-goers. More than 30 southern breweries are represented at this festival, which also includes popular live music each year.

(MORE: How I Got My Lucky Break in Beer)

Brewgrass Festival | September 16 | Asheville, NC

Any beer festival held in Beer City, USA, is bound to be a good one. In Asheville, North Carolina, the Brewgrass Festival is a celebration of craft beer and bluegrass music, which are like two peas in a pod on a warm fall afternoon. More than 100 breweries and brewpubs showcase their handcrafted brews at this beer festival each year. Expect ticket to go on sale this spring, and don’t miss out on the chance to celebrate beer fest season in beautiful Western North Carolina.

Fresh Hop Ale Festival | September 30 | Yakima, WA

There’s nothing better than the smell and sights of fields and fields of fresh hops ready for harvest. Every year, during the fall harvest season in Yakima, Washington, the Fresh Hop Festival takes place, showcasing more than 100 beers brewed with hops picked no more than 24 hours prior to brewing. If you’re a fan of fresh hop beers, you won’t want to miss this festival.

The Great American Beer Festival | October 5-7 | Denver, CO

GABF is the mack daddy of all beer festivals in the United States. The Great American Beer Festival will once again take place in the halls of the Colorado Convention Center this fall, continuing a 30+ year tradition that brings together hundreds of breweries showcasing more than 3,500 handcrafted beers. Tickets for this three-day festival sell out fast, so stay tuned to the Great American Beer Festival website this summer for updates on ticket sale dates.

Tyra Sutak

Tyra Sutak is a freelance writer sharing stories about her favorite things: travel, food, music, craft beer and entertainment. Based out of Boulder, Colo., Tyra gathers inspiration by exploring the world by foot, bike, train, car, plane, greyhound bus, and any other form of travel that will lead to a new adventure. Whether it’s climbing 14er’s under a blue ColoRADo sky, sailing on a boat in Costa Rica, living out childhood dreams on Wrigley Field, or simply taking a moment to appreciate the everyday adventures that can be found at home, the open road calls—and Tyra’s bag is always packed. Read more by this author

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