#336 Kings Road

[dratiyahplastic]

Welcome to Dr. Atiyah Plastic Surgery - Your Destination for Filler Injections in Sydney

Are you seeking to improve your appearance, restore volume, or improve your facial appearance? Filler injections may be the best option for you! At Dr. Atiyah Plastic Surgery, located in Sydney, We offer an array of filler treatments to help get a natural and youthful result. Our team of skilled specialists is dedicated to offering the most effective and safe treatments that will leave you feeling more at ease and confident.

Visit Our Blog :https://qr.ae/pye5I4

For more information:

website- https://dratiyahplasticsurgery.com/

Call Now: 902 270–5640

GMB Link : https://g.page/r/CSq0WAfpNyinEBM/

Address- Medical Arts Building 208, 336 Kings Road Sydney, Nova Scotia Canada B1S 1A9

[chromatic-lamina]

2024 Writing Roundup

I think I deleted my round up on the AO3-looking template, so, at the nnntthhhh hour, using it in text form, tagged by @hyperions-light . Thank you very much! I'm taking this from AO3. I've had a few meta on tumblr, but not many. I've got five fics outstanding for 2024, that I guess we'll see in 2025. I also didn't do any secret santas this year (I told myself I was too busy). It was a bit strange! Anyway--

words posted: 28,656 on main, and 12,362 on anon

additional words written: not sure what this means. I didn't have too many meta, so I'd say about 500? Ooh, wait, unpublished zine pieces: about 8000.

fandoms: One Piece

highest kudos: It's been a quiet year (no Bioluminescent Hearts this year!) so Heart Pirates' Week at 47 kudos. 72 on anon, and cumulatively, Dark like the North Blue Sea (aka The Sea-Hill you Die On) drew in 336 kudos. valuta , which was published in late December 2023, 92 kudos.

highest hit one-shot: Decomposers, my fic for the LawZo zine, has 586 hits. Fic on anon, 5,500 hits (but it's not a one-shot!).

new things I tried: I did the Davy Back Fight <- fic here, written with 3 others, and the remix project <- fic here. I was happy to try both!

fic I spent the most time on: Probably Welding, which was written for the KidLaw zine, just because the timeline/schedule on preparation for that zine stretched across almost two years. Also, it had a higher word count, and I really wanted to do it right (as with most pieces!).

fic I spent the least time on: Probably Sunk Cost Fallacy, which is a Heart Pirates fic written for the Davy Back Fight. Mostly because it was written between four people, and we wanted to keep a fairly low word limit. The ficlets I wrote for the Heart Pirates' Week took longer, but not that long.

favourite thing I wrote: It's a draw between three: Welding (6,767 words), my KidLaw fic; Decomposers (3,006 words), my LawZo fic; and water fills the shape of the holder (2,125 words), Law reflection fic, remixing one of @purplehairedwonder's fic.

I also had fun with the Kaidou, Queen, King and Black Maria piece (Remedy for Errors) I wrote for @crowbarsolo in support of Palestine, and Widi's Waddle (about Penguin's penguin), written for the OP Friend-Shaped Zine.

favourite thing(s) I read: Aw, a ton of stuff. I always like @anarchycox's LawZoLaw (also a great SmoLaw, but I'm not sure if it was this year), and all of the stories for the LawZo and KidLaw zines. I especially liked @alpha-hydra's Liminal Space (KidLaw), beautiful story by @/gammacavy from 2022 (The Caravel who Dared the Tempest) about Going Merry, but I just read it this year, and anything @crowbarsolo wrote, but especially the Cavendish/Nico Robin piece The Special Guests. ALSO! must mention home (the gilded lily remix) by @gladdecease who wrote a beautiful story springboarding from an older story of mine (house / yorishiro). Also loved Only You And I Remain (KidLaw) by @betsib and Give it to me, show me what you're feeling (show me that you need me) (LawZo) by @/CursedHoneyB. Maybe just check out my bookmarks (watch out for the kink!). Have been reading the multi-chap Warsong about my favourite rarepair, MarcoLaw, but it might've just gone beyond my word count limit (it's about 100K beyond my limit. Haha). It is beautifully written, though.

Give @hyperions-light's The Road(trip) to Hell Is Paved with Questionable Decision Making a read! It's a lot of fun, but all of their work is good (paying back, but also true!) They write under @flyiing-giraffe

Two more!

I'm really enjoying the Going Merry: A Poor Substitute for Romance series by Springtime4Persephone. Focus is ZoSan, and I'm not a ZoSan shipper, but I enjoy it, and what I enjoy even more is the LawBin, and side servings of ZoLaw and LawSan. Very empathetic, fun and also a good serving of angst. Also, @/TerrifiedAristocat's Somebody Write Down the Recipe (LawSan, vampire and creatures of wonder in a modern day setting) is very good. Ongoing. Last two are E ratings.

Also, there are a dozen things I've read and loved and haven't mentioned here. I read a lot less this year though. All of the stuff for the Heart Pirates' Week was great, and I really enjoyed the beginning of ghosts speak in whispers and lies; can't know what's real 'til you're the one who's died (E rated, LawBin) by @nehswritesstuffs (Nehszriah) on AO3.

writing goals for 2025: None so far. Maybe return to my own work (rather than fanfic). BUT, who knows :D

new works: Again, nothing lined up at the moment. I do have a story in the gorgeous Pigment of Imagination (ophuezine). Pre-sales open now (closing soon). And four ficlets for the upcoming Fate and Fortune, one piece anthology digital zine. Stay-tuned for both! OH, also, I have a piece for the Baltigo Manifesto zine (about one piece revs). Due for publication in 2025.

tagging: only do it if you want to! (and I know there's not much time, and I know you might've already finished!). @purplehairedwonder , @ninhaoma-ya , @anarchycox , @kookoofufu (even if you don't play on tumblr anymore :D), @fowlfics @starlightbelle and anyone, anyone who'd like to play.

[libraryofcirclaria]

341

Library of Circlaria

Remikra Timeline

320s-330s: The Remaining Fundaesian Population

During this time, there was still a Fundaesian population. These people, residing in the Correns, hunted deer and gathered berries, as tribes moved around in camps and traded with each other through barter. They became more civilized over the years, however, and utilized more sophisticated methods of spellcrafting. With such skills and movement of goods, Fundaesian merchants occasionally came into Edoran villages to trade; although, they did not adhere to Alconist beliefs.

Fundaesian Persecution

Since 322, the Edoran Kingdom was under the rule of Paul II, who began grouping the Fundaesians, along with the remaining Totian hermits, into demographics he deemed undesirable. He accused these groups of things such as "heresy" and "witchcraft." Soon, the King passed laws banning Fundaesian merchants from villages. And then he sent out envoys to hunt out and punish Fundaesian inhabitants, who were subjected to brutal acts such as stake-burning, stoning, crushing, beheading, and being shot by arrows. As the Fundaesians were killed in this manner, their encampments were looted for valuable items. In response to this, Fundaes began crossing into the Kingdom of Moorland, which they held to be a safe haven. Here, there were no natural barriers like the thick pines and tall Corren ridges to the East. To this, Fundaesian refugees adapted by constructing wooden walls. Instead of deer roamed bison, which were easier for the Fundaes to hunt. This, however, began to place a food burden on the Moorlandish hunters. Furthermore, the Fundaes were very protective of their encampments, and frequently launched unprovoked attacks against Moorlandish passerby. The Moorlanders grew quite unhappy with this; and King Temor began passing laws against the Fundaesians. Many of these ordinances restricted the amount of food and land each encampment could have. Further legislation limited the amount of warriors and weaponry each encampment could have, as well as limited their excessive practices of spellfire.

Rebellion Against King Temor

Before long, Fundaesians encountered marginalization similar to what they encountered in the Edoran Kingdom. They were banned from trading as merchants, from serving in Moorlandish knighthood, and from living, or even visiting, towns and cities, except under the supervision of guild owners, who employed them as underpaid serfs. Furthermore, large concentrations of the Fundaesian population were forced to live in small perimeters.

In September 336, Kymdorn, a leading figure of the Fundaesian community, posted a list of grievances upon the Southern gates of the city of Cotts, with some of these grievances including the restriction of movement granted to the Fundaesians, as well as their lack of voice in Moorlandish society and the imposition of serfdom. Such a document demanded for the allowance of Fundaesians to move freely within the Kingdom and live where they desired equal to the Moorlanders, the allowance to petition and, respectively, vote within local counties, the allowance to join Moorlandish knighthood, and the allowance to trade as merchants equal to the Moorlandish traders. Such demands were ignored by King Temor, initially; and Kymdorn was arrested. Kymdorn's followers rioted outside the walls of Cotts, to which King Temor responded by massacring them.

War Against King Temor

Very soon, the Fundaesian population came to a resolution: to overthrow King Temor. Fundaesian leaders violated Moorlandish laws by secretly training large numbers of Fundaesian warriors inside Fundaesian encampments and perimeters, while expanding Fundaesian weaponry. Along each of the five highways leading into the city of Cotts, they coordinated five warrior launch points. On 15 March 337, at high noon, against the first passing Moorlandish merchant caravan on each road, the Fundaesians attacked. First came the invisible archers, who shot at the caravan drivers, killing them. As the other caravan members rushed to help the stricken driver, they, too, were shot by the archers. Then, spellcrafters set the caravan carts ablaze, while Fundaesian infantry rushed at them with daggers, slaughtering them. More divisions of Fundaesian infantry blockaded the roads, while spellcrafters quenched the blazes. Meanwhile, burglars looted the carts and the bodies for valuable items. Cotts was placed under siege, with Fundaesians demanding the release of Kymdorn and the King's adherence to Kymdorn's demands.

In April 337, King Temor retaliated with two divisions of eagle riders, the first of which dropping spellcrafted firebombs on the Fundaesians and the second of which presenting archers who shot with incredible precision. Temor also dispatched divisions of infantry and cavalry, who attacked the Fundaesian front from the walls of Cotts. While the Fundaes had shorter daggers made of stone, primitive bows and arrows, and horde-like strategies, the Moorlanders had more organized strategies and weapons made of stronger, more consistent material. Such a discrepancy in resources quickly led to the defeat of the Fundaesian besiegers; and, by the end of the month, they surrendered.

Treaty with King Temor

Despite such defeat, King Temor released Kymdorn and showed pity and offered the Fundaesians consolation through a treaty in May 337. Such an agreement allowed for the freedom of movement of the Fundaesians in the Eastern regions of the Kingdom, allowed Fundaesians to trade as merchants but only under close supervision of Moorlandish guilds, allowed Fundaesians to serve as reserves for Moorlandish knighthood, and allowed Fundaesians to peacefully assemble and propose measures informally, but not directly, to the local county governments. Furthermore, they were still not allowed to vote in the respective counties that carried local elections. To this treaty, Kymdorn agreed.

King Embor

In May 339, King Temor died, and was succeeded by his son, Embor, who viewed the Fundaes as corrupt in their acts of "witchcraft." Furthermore, he believed that his father's allowance for them to roam freely in the East allowed them to pose a legitimate threat to the Kingdom. Very soon, he revoked his father's treaty, taking Fundaesian weapons and valuables and forcing the population into serfdom.

Meanwhile, the new King set his sights on Wannonia, which had been under the leadership of Alexia III since the year 312. Embor believed that the Alexia line was weak, and that the land and cities contained easily attainable wealth. His agenda was to conquer Wannonia and dominate Remikra.

The Two Battlefronts

Before attacking Wannonia, King Embor, between September and December of 339, carried out his agenda against the Fundaesians, where he had Kymdorn assassinated and the population attacked and divided. While many Fundaesians were forced into serfdom, just as many others, including Kymdorn's brother, Symdorn, escaped back into the Edoran countryside.

Then, the King wasted no time preparing the Moorlandish Navy along the South Coast and arming fresh new divisions of infantry and cavalry. In January 340, he launched his assault on the unsuspecting North Coast of Wannonia, succeeding in capturing its villages and towns, and making a sweep inland toward Tekon. However, it was here that the Moorlanders were greeted by Alexia III's reinforcements, who slaughtered them. Between September and October 340, having endured such heavy losses along the Wannonian front, King Embor drew from the seeming defeated Fundaesian region to the East to provide reinforcements.

The Fall of King Embor

However, the Fundaesians were not completely defeated. While some wandering Edoran travelers spotted a few Fundaesian runaways and began carrying out acts of persecution, most of the hiding Fundaesian warriors were able to conceal themselves, using such skills gained in Moorland. Between November 340 and February 341, Symdorn saw King Embor's withdrawal of Moorlandish soldiers as an opportunity to conquer territory. Under Symdorn's command, Fundaesian weaponry was enhanced with Moorlandish ideas, while divisions of eagle riders were recruited and trained. Meanwhile, Fundaesians secretly established hidden encampments around unsuspecting Moorlandish fortresses. In March 341, Symdorn's forces attacked, with infantry, eagle riders, cavalry, and archers descending upon the fortresses. The resulting lack of Moorlandish manpower led the strongholds to quickly fall under Fundaesian control. King Embor, in response to this, sent reinforcements, but, with the war in Wannonia being ever more costly, these reinforcements were too weak to overcome the relentless Fundaesians. Embor drew in more recruits to supplement the two battlefields, but this placed an increasing financial burden on the Kingdom, for which he attempted to compensate with higher taxes. In June 341, angry Moorlanders rose up and beheaded the King, instilling a successor: King Immiden.

King Immiden

In September 341, King Immiden ended the war with Wannonia, withdrawing all troops, and making peace arrangements with Alexia III. In October 341, he ended the war with the Fundaesians, instilling the same policies, as well as drawing a border to grant the Eastern regions as sovereign land for Symdorn and the Fundaesians. Thus, the nation of Tomlas was established.

The Formation of Tomlas

In November 341, Symdorn crowned himself King of Tomlas. In the years that would follow, King Symdorn would establish policies, where there were no nobles or social classes. No currency would exist, as all trade would be carried out through barter, while divisions of warriors and hunter-gatherers were established. Also under King Symdorn's policies, hierarchies of clans and sub-families would live in communes, sharing food, land, and resources. Furthermore, all merchants here were independent, as no guilds were established.

<- 323 <- || -> 394 ->

[dfroza]

Today’s reading from the ancient books of Proverbs and Psalms

for december 2 of 2023 with Proverbs 2 and Psalm 2, accompanied by Psalm 71 for the 71st day of Astronomical Autumn, and Psalm 36 for day 336 of the year (with the consummate book of 150 Psalms in its 3rd revolution this year)

[Proverbs 2]

My son, if you accept what I am telling you

and store my counsel and directives deep within you,

If you listen for Lady Wisdom, attune your ears to her,

and engage your mind to understand what she is telling you,

If you cry out to her for insight

and beg for understanding,

If you sift through the clamor of everything around you

to seek her like some precious prize,

to search for her like buried treasure;

Then you will grasp what it means to truly respect the Eternal,

and you will have discovered the knowledge of the one True God.

The Eternal is ready to share His wisdom with us,

for His words bring true knowledge and insight;

He has stored up the essentials of sound wisdom for those who do right;

He acts as a shield for those who value integrity.

God protects the paths of those who pursue justice,

watching over the lives of those who keep faith with Him.

With this wisdom you will be able to choose the right road,

seek justice, and decide what is good and fair

Because wisdom will penetrate deep within

and knowledge will become a good friend to your soul.

Sound judgment will stand guard over you,

and understanding will watch over you as the Lord promised.

Wisdom will keep you from following the way of evildoers,

of those who twist words to pervert the truth,

Of those who reject the right road

for a darker, more sinister way of life,

Of those who enjoy evil

and pursue perverse pleasures,

Of those who journey down a crooked path,

constantly figuring out new ways to trick and deceive others.

Wisdom will pluck you from the trap of a seductive woman,

from the enticing propositions of the adulteress

Who chose to leave the husband of her youth,

to forget her sacred promises to her God;

For her house is on the road that leads to death,

and her path goes down to the shadowy pit.

Those who go to her will never return;

they will never again find their way back to true life.

As for you, you should walk like those who are good

and keep to the paths of those who love justice,

For those who live right will remain in the land

and those with integrity will endure here.

But not the wicked; they will be forced out and banned from this promised land,

and those who deal in deceit will be plucked up like weeds.

The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 2 (The Voice)

[Psalm 2]

You are wondering: What has provoked the nations to embrace anger and chaos?

Why are the people making plans to pursue their own vacant and empty greatness?

Leaders of nations stand united;

rulers put their heads together,

plotting against the Eternal One and His Anointed King, trying to figure out

How they can throw off the gentle reign of God’s love,

step out from under the restrictions of His claims to advance their own schemes.

At first, the Power of heaven laughs at their silliness.

The Eternal mocks their ignorant selfishness.

But His laughter turns to rage, and He rebukes them.

As God displays His righteous anger, they begin to know the meaning of fear. He says,

“I am the One who appointed My king who reigns from Zion, My mount of holiness.

He is the one in charge.”

I am telling all of you the truth. I have heard the Eternal’s decree.

He said clearly to me, “You are My son.

Today I have become your Father.

The nations shall be yours for the asking,

and the entire earth will belong to you.

They are yours to crush with an iron scepter,

yours to shatter like fragile, clay pots.”

So leaders, kings, and judges,

be wise, and be warned.

There is only one God, the Eternal;

worship Him with respect and awe;

take delight in Him and tremble.

Bow down before God’s son.

If you don’t, you will face His anger and retribution,

And you won’t stand a chance.

For it doesn’t take long to kindle royal wrath,

But blessings await all who trust in Him.

They will find God a gentle refuge.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 2 (The Voice)

[Psalm 71]

I have found shelter in You, Eternal One;

I count on You to shield me always from humiliation and disgrace.

Rescue and save me in Your justice.

Turn Your ear to me, and hurry to deliver me from my enemies.

Be my rock of refuge where I can always hide.

You have given the order to keep me safe;

You are my solid ground—my rock and my fortress.

Save me from the power of sinful people, O my God,

from the grip of unjust and cruel men.

For You are my hope, Eternal One;

You, Lord, have been the source of my confidence since I was young.

I have leaned upon You since I came into this world;

I have relied on You since You took me safely from my mother’s body,

So I will ever praise You.

Many find me a mystery,

but You are my rock and my shelter—my soul’s asylum.

My mouth overflows with praise to You

and proclaims Your magnificence all day long.

Do not set me aside when I am old;

do not abandon me when I am worn out.

For my enemies often voice evil against me;

those who desire to kill me plot together in secret.

They say, “God has abandoned him;

let’s go after him right now and seize him.

There’s no one around to rescue him.”

God, stay close by me.

Come quick, O my God, and help me!

May my enemies be covered in shame and then die;

may those who seek to harm me

be overwhelmed with contempt and disgrace.

But I will keep hope alive,

and my praise to You will grow exponentially.

I will bear witness to Your merciful acts;

throughout the day I will speak of all the ways You deliver,

although, I admit, I do not know the entirety of either.

I will come with stories of Your great acts, my Lord, the Eternal.

I will remind them of Your justice, only Yours.

You have taught me since I was young, O God,

and I still proclaim the wonderful things You have done.

Now as I grow old and my hair turns gray,

I ask that You not abandon me, O God.

Allow me to share with the generation to come

about Your power;

Let me speak about Your strength and wonders

to all those yet to be born.

God, Your justice stretches to the heavens,

You who have done mighty things!

Who is like You, O God?

You have made me see hard times: I’ve experienced many miserable days,

but You will restore me again.

You will raise me up

from the deep pit.

You will greatly increase my status

and be my comfort once again.

I will praise You with music played on a harp

because You have been faithful, O my God.

I will sing praises to You with the lyre,

O Holy One of Israel.

I will shout for joy

as I sing Your praises;

my soul will celebrate because You have rescued me.

All day long I will declare how Your justice saved me,

for those who have plotted to bring me harm

are now ashamed and humiliated.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 71 (The Voice)

[Psalm 36]

For the worship leader. A song of David, the Eternal’s servant.

Sin speaks in the depths of the soul

of those who oppose God; they listen closely to its urgings.

You’ll never see the fear of God

in their eyes,

For they flatter themselves—

convinced their sin will remain secret, undiscovered, and so unhated.

They speak words of evil and deceit.

Wisdom and goodness, they deserted long ago.

Even as they sleep, they are plotting mischief.

They journey along a path far from anything good,

gravitating to trouble, welcoming evil.

Your love, O Eternal One, towers high into the heavens.

Even the skies are lower than Your faithfulness.

Your justice is like the majestic mountains.

Your judgments are as deep as the oceans, and yet in Your greatness,

You, O Eternal, offer life for every person and animal.

Your strong love, O True God, is precious.

All people run for shelter under the shadow of Your wings.

In Your house, they eat and are full at Your table.

They drink from the river of Your overflowing kindness.

You have the fountain of life that quenches our thirst.

Your light has opened our eyes and awakened our souls.

May Your love continue to grow deeply in the lives of all who know You.

May Your salvation reach every heart committed to do right.

Give me shelter from prideful feet that hunt me down

and wicked hands that push me from Your path.

It is there, far away from You, that the wicked will be forced down,

face to the earth, never again returning to their feet.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 36 (The Voice)

[humbughana]

relax

just a lil something that was sitting around. 

1.2k words

warnings- um none. a little too sweet.

he looks like such a cocky little shit in this pic i love it

“I hope you’re happy.”

“Do not start.” 

Rafe rubbed at his temples while taking a deep breath as Lola stared at her car that was now in a ditch on the side of the road. The couple stood outside of the car, both just staring at the dented hood that was bent into the tree.

“No, no-” Lola lifted her hand to stop him, “Really, this is great Rafe. Thank you.” She huffed and Rafe rolled his eyes, “You’re blaming me? You were the one driving.”

“You were yelling at me!”

“Yeah!” Rafe threw his hands up, “To slow down!”

“Well you know I don’t do well under pressure!”

“Clearly.” Rafe deadpanned, looking pointedly at the car before pulling out his phone to call a tow truck. 

Lola watched him make the call before walking back to the car and sitting in the backseat, legs hanging outside the car. She heard him cursing before she saw him, “Well?”

“No one is coming until after the storm,”

“But we have to be at my parents by tonight,”

Rafe rubbed at his eyes, “Yes, Lo. I know. But no one is coming, they told me to find a hotel until morning.”

Lola’s heart squeezed at missing her parents and being thrown off track. To say she was a schedule oriented person would be an understatement and Rafe could read it on her face as she panicked at being late or behind. So he walked up to her with a sigh, wrapping a hand around her thigh, “It’s going to be okay, Lo. We’ll stay the night somewhere and be here as soon as they get it out.”

The girl only nodded slightly, pulling out her phone and calling her mom, relaying the bad news. Rafe called them an Uber and found a relatively close, nice hotel around them and booked a room for them quickly before Lola could complain about paying. He turned to see his girlfriend rubbing her eyes with her palms, no longer on the phone but he saw her watery eyes.

“Lola,” Rafe walked through the snow to her and saw her wet cheeks, “Are you okay? I didn’t even ask after-”

She shook her head as her lip wobbled, “I just miss my mom,” She choked out a laugh as he cracked a small smile but brushed her tears away, “I know, baby.” He pulled her in, head against his chest until she stopped sniffling.

“ ‘M sorry for blaming you.” She mumbled looking away and Rafe grinned because it wasn't usually for him to get an apology out of her willingly, “What was that?”

Lola shook her head against his chest and he laughed, “That's all you get from me, Cameron.”

Rafe saw their Uber pulling to the side of the road, “We’ll see about that, c’mon.” He nodded towards the car and wrapped an arm around her as they walked to the car and into the backseat. The ride was uneventful, Rafe kept a hand on her the whole ride as she kept her eyes on the white pines they passed until the hotel came into view.

Lola narrowed her eyes at the over the top hotel when they should have just stayed in a cheap one for the single night they'd be here, “How much was this?” Rafe rolled his eyes at her question, “Could you just enjoy something, for once?” He asked and she shook her head with a fake smile,

“No, I actually can’t-

“Get out of the car, Lo.” Rafe nudged her slightly, “And please, shut up.”

Lola shook her head slightly with a grin, their bickering always put her in a better mood and she handed him his bag from the back before grabbing her own. Lola waved at the driver before following Rafe into the luxurious hotel, and just to fuck with him, she spun in a circle looking around with a fake grin, “Wow, this is such a nice place, baby, how lucky am I?” The receptionist giggled at that and Rafe only shot Lola a stern look before grabbing the keycards from the lady with a pained smile. 

Lola slid her arm around his middle as they walked to the elevator, grinning at the receptionist who stared at them in awe. Rafe’s hand slid up to the back of her neck and squeezed slightly making her jump, “What am I going to do with you?” Rafe hummed, pushing the elevator button as she still leaned into him.

Lola grinned, “Whatever you want,”

Rafe just looked up at the ceiling, a smile tugging at his lips. Lola tugged on his hand when the doors opened and pulled him into the long hallway, “Which room?”

“336” Rafe pressed a card into her hand and followed her down the hallways until finally the right room stood in front of them and clicked open with the card. Lola walked in first, taking in the massive room, laughing slightly at the king sized bed in the middle of the room before falling backwards onto the soft mattress, “I love hotels,” 

Rafe took her bag from the bed and placed it with his on the table before joining her with a tired sigh, “We should shower.”

“Do you ever relax?” Lola asked, turning her head slightly to see him. Rafe eyed her as she grinned slowly before rolling on top of him, a leg on either side of his waist. Rafe swallowed, looking up at her, unsure of what she was doing. 

“Lola.” Rafe cocked his head slightly.

Lola just smiled, “Rafe.” Before leaning down and kissing him, his hands running up her thighs and to her waist before tugging her off of him. She plopped down next to him with a dramatic sigh, “You’re the worst.”

“You crashed the car,”

“Too soon, Rafe. Too soon,” Lola held up a hand as Rafe grinned and kissed her cheek before sitting up, Lola stared at his back flexing as he pulled himself up and looked back at her, “We have things to do,” She rose her eyebrows and he rolled his eyes, “We need to call about the car, insurance, the tow company-

Lola pulled him down by his waist again and settled back on top of him like they once were except now she was covering his mouth with her hand, “Please, shut up.” Rafe narrowed his eyes but when his mouth opened Lola replaced her hand with her mouth kissing him deeply. When she pulled back slightly there was still a determined look in his eyes that was no good. So she kissed the place on the side of his neck near his ear that he loved, leaving a little love bite in her wake as his breath hitched, gripping her hips tightly. 

“Lola,” he warned as she trailed open mouthed kisses down his neck to his chest and when she got to his stomach he looked down at her all flushed and red. Lola winked at him slyly when her fingers curled into the waistband of his pants as her lips followed, she couldn't help but notice how tense he was. 

“Relax baby,” She smiled up at him, “For once in your life.” 

It was safe to say his mind was nowhere near the car for the rest of the night.

[thecrenellations]

Return of the Thief Notes, Part Three: The Book of Pheris, Volume 2, Chapters 6-14 and “Alyta’s Missing Earring”

Notes from my first read, October 2020. (Part One | Part Two | TaT)

Contents:  Elephants, guesses about gods and dead men, villain team up, the unexpected, AAAAAAH, elaboration on the word cloud above (which is one big Gen, medium Pheris, medium love, and scattered other names), and more quantitative analysis! I love this book.

Format:  Page number. My thoughts (Context?)

Chapter 6

285. unkingly moment, last night with her at home

MISMATCHED STOCKINGS (I have a thing about this.)

Wedges of ribbons?

285. cute

286. a pitneen? A drunk bird?

Wait. Gift of animals??? Did he steal the thunderbolts wearing it?

A canary no longer

287. Hilarion and Ion, wow

Throw a cup of wine on me

288. War pants! War pants!

What’s Attolia wearing?

Sophos! (the whistling!)

288. Ok fine it’s gonna be sad ... I say as if I didn’t just experience the trial (the last lighthearted moment)

Pepper!

Be careful Pheris

Also Relius went to Dite and Juridius, right? (I was convinced Dite would show up)

Sinerine!

290. SOCKS! Yay <3 magus

I was resigned to not much magus but he is HERE!

He’s … so much nicer than he was to the kids in the Thief, lol

A CART!

Lamb, falling in same paragraph. Worried.

Gen :( Gen you ran all over the palace and leapt in the water last night. You are so stupid.

292. Yay Sophos I love you

Math buddies!

294. I’M SAD.

They have had this convo before

I love them

It’s because I can that I think I should

295. Do not overreach. Eddis is right

Danger in self indulgence?

I love her! “I was outside chasing your brother with a stick”

296. My heart. You have to trust yourself. I don’t know if I can. Then you have to trust us.

Tactical Irene!

Thanks I’m gonna hold on to it: “The Call of life is a s powerful as the call of death, and it is no weakness to answer to it”

297. Oh no. My children. Tell each other things like that!

Great time to be childish, Gen.

Yeah honestly. It’s bothered her FOREVER

299. Pull it together, kids!

Thx Helen

Inkpots … :( :( :(

Chapter 7

302. See … that Continent occupation isn’t good either!

303. Unfortunately that is NOT an alternative. Bc volcano.

305. This is stressful.

Chloe, interesting

306. Elephants

Oh my god it’s better than I ever could have imagined (there was like 10 years of lead up to the elephants, and I thoroughly enjoyed them)

I love him

Gen wtf

Yes drink up those guards (“We could keep [an elephant] in the guard’s bathhouse! There’s plenty of room.” “And the guards will bathe ...?” “In the palace reservoir.” “Our drinking water.”)

#6 Gen about elephants

308. This is gonna be a disaster

Hilarion with an eyeglass

Fuck Pheris is making this up.

Gen I love you

Oh my god

Honestly idk if Gen is having fun but I AM

They’re. They’re such a power couple.

Also Bu-seneth is so rude to Attolia

309. so vague about battle, but I’m sure it’s horrible

310. hero talk. Chills.

311. all the woman comparisons for Gen (“Would [a world with no war and no heroes be a bad thing?” “That’s a woman’s question”)

Wow. Interesting. Anonymity

312. Don’t listen to them Gen!

Bad tempered cooks

313. lol. Good looks.

Gen. the hand joke. Why

Well that was … a scene (I don’t know my Henry V)

Reassuring to have a glove. Which one?

314. No. Bad. This is what I was afraid of. (Nahuseresh baiting Gen with Kamet)

Ok Pheris

315. That cannot be true. (it was not!)

Gen. No. No.

316. Wow. That worked out well. So far.

They called him annux. If Kamet is really dead…

319. Yeah Attolia is RIGHT

Yeah I can’t actually either!

Irene knows. In his story!

320. Glove resolved very fast

Interesting reversal (Gen and his dad)

Maddening!

Chapter 8

322. who’s charging off in a haze of glory now

Philologos wounded

Wait, the attendants follow him in to battle...

Cleon RIP

Temenus <3

No. Stenides

If they ever returned.

His brother died in an explosion

Gen’s tears

This is sad.

323. lion lamb :(

325. At least they have each other

Morality is an illusion. Like safety?

326. that’s what Costis was mapping, right? (nope)

How many has Gen killed now

328. Who. Pol? Ambiades? (The cairn man question remains)

Oh no

Oh no. you can fall from a horse

HILARION!

Is Fordad a spy?

I am just not accepting this yet

WAIT THE MEDES TOOK HIM! (I thought the Attolians had taken Gen, or Gen’s body, at first.)

330. wow things only Pheris can do

GDI Erondites

WOW THIS IS A VILLAIN TEAM UP

332. You gave it to him dude (Nahuseresh asking “Why does he still have this?” about Gen’s hook)

I love Gen. I wonder if he’s afraid.

This is bad.

Whose treason, whose betrayal?

333. Yeah! Kamet said so (“Tell me again that you are king.” “Annux, if you prefer.”)

334. Oh god.

Get your stories straight bastards

Rolled in a rug!

336. Oh gen

Oh god

Yeah this is …

Be careful what you ask for

338. What did he sign as, though, Attolis? Eugenides?

Nomenus wtf

What does mwt have against facial hair (Fordad, Nahuseresh)

Costis please come (idk how I thought he was going to help, but I was in Costis Denial and expected him to show up at any moment)

Everyone must be going through a lot

A face like an open grave

Gen.

Gen I love you

YES

YES

Is he … invulnerable now?

Gen what.

Is he possessed? Is he already a god?

341. Yeah same. (“I think he meant that I should not fear him, either. I did, though ... I still followed him”)

This isn’t being self indulgent or overreaching, is it?

342. RIP Ion Nomenus

“My work”

Oh Nomenus

Does he just exist for the morally gray and loyal angst feelings? It works (...)

344. What did he DO

Yes! Swearing Gen!

345. love all caps Gen

Those names

Aaah

346. Ooof.

Chapter 9

347. moon promises

Yeah

Noooo Philologos :(

Legarus … :(

349. Gen what what

Sparks

Costis? Stenides? STENIDES?

Wow ok he killed Bu-seneth

350. god

See I said Nahuseresh shouldn’t have said that

Also is Gen a bastard

351. WHAT (“Because your council had just voted to kill him”)

Oh Helen

Oh Irene

Does he invite him in?

This is reassuring to the reader (“He can bear his god a little while without losing himself”)

Aaaaah Galen

354. Gen that’s a lot. A lot.

Don’t kill everyone.

So so so x7 of doom

Bye Yorn

I hope he wins too

Go away Nahuseresh

Omg

another fall

Interregnum

Ok it was Lader (when you don’t know who the man at the cairn was, keep on guessing!)

Yeah the circumstances thing is back

Oh god

Oh no

Chapter 10

361. how long has it been?

362. three days

I love them (Elephants! My excellent queen!)

You promised to trust him

364. Oh no. Oh no. (Relius)

370. These Helen convos…

371. Sad. :(

372. Emtis and Lader

Yeah.

Omg

374. Wow

Steal by elephant?

377. Don’t forget about Dite!

378. He’s gonna kill him?

379. Is Dite dead too?

Oh Sejanus

Oh I see

He’s got a mercy taste too

380. Switching!

Lying in moonlight. Hm.

381. Yesss

Nooooo

383. I’m nervous

Gods blessing on your road

Wow. <3

They would have fallen… (if Pheris had gone through with his plan, that’s how they both would have died)

Did not expect Sejanus feelings in Rott.

Chapter 11

386. He’s gonna know. But the trust.

Ion knows.

390. Gen…

Pheris is Lyopidus?

I’m scared

393. I kind of love Ion

More Sejanus, bring it on

I’m nervous

Hmmm… who could it be

395. MoW :( <3 I will not be ok if he dies too

Gen knows the way bc Costis (nope)

Oh my god these two (“I lied” “I know”)

Chapter 12

398. Oh no.

This is not

Her Thief

Irene. “only sleeping” this is what Eddis said to her

But mist… water???

Face touch

402. not living or dead. King

Yes. But no.

403. crying at everything and the MoW next to him

There he went

It was the Eddisians. He fought with them.

404. yeah that’s a lot to deal with, Pheris

405. what a mystery man (Sejanus)

Lol mysterious exit averted

Excuse me that was a difference

406. :(

Am I king

407. Helen is once again right. She’s also always right

MOIRA was Melisande???!??!? (who even knows)

409. ?? Irene?

Same as for Dite. Man loves his brothers. (nephews. you know what I mean.)

Nice.

AAH yup. Add it to the list (“How neatly you tie them together” ... the list of is ways Gen and Irene are becoming more like each other)

410. speaking of which where is Costis!

Hm… what god was that

I love their reactions

411. SPLENDID.

Oh Irene. It’s true <3

It’s so true (“When the king gives his heart he gives it completely”)

Now I’m crying again, at them

412. Gen, she has a point.

Amazing. I … I don’t think she meant to ask like THAT

Jesus, Gen.

You do not know a wagon from a wheelbarrow

413. Irene!

She’d better get home safe.

Gen!

Omg

414. I have another bad feeling, about Gen

415. High king or queen though?

Magus <3

Chapter 13

416. “of course”

That’s ominous

417. No! Sejanus!

A gut wound yikes

418. sadness

419. lol “ill will”

We’re in Roa. My heart’s pounding.

422. I love Gen.

YESSS

Yes I love them.

Sheep.

Kamet!!!

?!?

Costis. Mattresses exist.

424. Oh no.

426. roof dream

Good roof dream

Good job Helen

428. TWINS. Everyone was RIGHT

Reyatimi

Oh shit. The sky.

Oh dear. :( aaah

430. Climbing the rigging!

“it’s just that you have so many least favorite things”

431. I love them (Gen and Irene)

432. I love them (Gen and Helen)

433. RIGHT! I was thinking

I can’t <3 (they’re naming the baby after the MoW, and it’s perfect, and she’s not gonna tell us, huh)

OH MY GOD!!! (baby thief!)

WOW!

434. AAAAAAH (Hector! @threetoadswaltz​ finished reading before me and knew that I would explode about this and I DID, I threw my arms in the air! HECTOR!)

PERFECTION!

435. AAAAAAAAH (this was when it became clear they were going to dance on the roof)

Yes she was (as surefooted as the king)

Is this the first time she’s Irene

Yes.

I’m filled with happiness

Celia and Lavia again … lol.

Lol Chloe

THALIA

CRENELATED wall

HE’S ALIVE

Kamet is a sweetheart

The gods!!!

The gods!

Aracthus

Mystery goddess?

Ula?

Moira! Yes!

(I was very happy. The page itself:)

Alyta’s Missing Earring

Wait. Was it Alyta.

Glad we got a bi god (with all due respect to Immakuk and Ennikar, whose bi-ness and godliness is perhaps more up to the reader)

Got very bi very fast

Also. He’s Gen.

Interesting difference in story

Kathodicia!

Are we literally getting ALL the answers? (No. But so many more than I expected!)

Gen’s grandfather sucks

An urn huh

Omg. Heiro’s earrings?

Oh my gosh.

Same, Gen. Same.

Obvs Phresine knows.

Is Phresine a goddess?

Same, Gen. Same.

She got to tell a story! She is so happy!

I think he’s a little scared

Moleskin

Yeah peace huh

This series is socially sanctioned silliness

1000 Eugenides. Wow.

They did melt though

Little thief.

<3 <3 <3

He’s a character in a story

A big question

Tamarisk? Takima? (We are not getting all the answers.)

That’s it! Thank you for reading - it feels very self-indulgent to type up all of these, but I will honestly take most chances to relive the intense and wonderful experience of reading this book for the first time, which often means looking back at my own notes and sometimes means sharing them with people. Also, I really love reading liveblogs/real-time book thoughts, so here is one from awhile ago ... all at once.

Anyway, check out this word cloud from all of the notes (made with this site):

It’s ... mostly just character names, with a variety of words that express my enthusiasm and feeling (love, lol, wow, yes, excuse me...). Gen is the biggest because I said his name 115 times! Here are some totals for the other characters who came up a lot:

115 - Gen (and 10 Eugenides)

42 - Pheris

26 - Costis

18 - Irene (and 6 Attolia)

16 - Helen (and 8 Eddis)

10 - Sophos (and 4 Sounis)

12 - the magus

11- Kamet

11 - Teleus

10 - Relius

9 - Ion

6 - MoW

6 - Moira

5 - Sejanus

These don’t fully represent how much I had to say about them, because I didn’t always refer to people by name or title ... which kind of explains why Costis’s total is ridiculously high compared to how much he is in the book -  I likely have more notes about other characters, but I didn’t need to bring up their names because they were already present in the scenes I was taking notes on (for example, I think I talked about Relius more than Teleus, the magus, or Kamet, but many of those just referred to him as he, because it was obvious to me who I meant). But also I was just looking for Costis! Anyway. My use of names and titles for the monarchs also really illustrates how much this book reshaped the way I think of these characters’ relationship to them, Gen’s and Irene’s especially.

It’s representative of my feelings about this series that I wrote “I love them” about so many combinations of characters. Who, exactly? And how many times? Well...

5 - Gen and Irene

4 - Gen and Helen

2 - Gen and Pheris

1 - Gen, Irene, Helen, and Sophos

1 - Helen and Sophos

1 - Costis and Kamet

1 - unknown combo of Gen, Pheris, and Relius on p.166, I love them all and can’t remember. Kamet’s map was there, too, and I do love Kamet, so maybe he was in there too.

no matter what the numbers say, I love them all endlessly, and I love this book.

be blessed in your endeavors, yes I will take any questions about these notebook screams, etc.

[alywats]

All The Books I Read In 2020

Here she is! The full list of books I read in 2020. My goal was to read 52 books again this year, but once lockdown started I upped it to 100, and I ultimately surpassed even that goal!! I think reading is so important for my personal growth and mental health, so the last two years I have made reading a big priority in my life, and it is the best choice I could have made. This year especially, I found reading to be such a comfort and such a great tool for keeping the quarantine blues at bay. Here’s to all the books I read in 2020, and all the books I will read in 2021! 

132 books, 44,531 pages, and a refreshed passion for learning and growth: 

The Kite Runner- Khaled Hosseini (372 pgs) 4.5

A Discovery of Witches- Deborah Harkness (579 pgs) 2.75

The Call of the Wild and Selected Stories- Jack London (176 pgs) 4

I Wear The Black Hat -Chuck Klosterman (225 pgs) 3.75

Digital Fortress- Dan Brown (430 pgs) 3.75

Night Boat to Tangier- Kevin Barry (224 pgs) 2

The Chemist- Stephanie Meyer (518 pgs) 3

Find Me- Andre Aciman (272 pgs) 3.5

A Walk In The Woods- Bill Bryson (394 pgs) 4.5

Invisible Monsters- Chuck Palahniuk (304 pgs) 2.5

Underland, A Deep Time Journey- Robert MacFarlane (496 pgs) 3.25

The Dutch House -Ann Patchett (337 pgs) 5

Notes From a Small Island -Bill Bryson (324 pgs) 3.75

Home Work -Julie Andrews (560 pgs) 3.5

100 Essential Things You Didn’t Know About Maths and The Arts- John D. Barrow (320 pgs) 2.25

On the Road -Jack Kerouac (307 pgs) 3.5

Train Dreams -Denis Johnson (116 pgs) 4.25

2001: A Space Odyssey -Arthur C. Clarke (297 pgs) 4.75

Educated: A Memoir -Tara Westover (334 pgs) 5

Carrie -Stephen King (253 pgs) 3.5

Dig. -A.S. King (394 pgs) 4

salt slow -Julia Armfield (208 pgs) 3

Don’t Call Us Dead -Danez Smith (96 pgs) 5

Convenience Store Woman -Sayaka Murata (163 pgs) 3.25

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir -Bill Bryson (288 pgs) 3.75

Who Moved My Cheese? -Spencer Johnson (96 pgs) 3.5

The Truth About Keeping Secrets -Savannah Brown (336 pgs) 4

All-American Poem -Matthew Dickman (85 pgs) 3.5

2010: Odyssey Two -Arthur C. Clarke (320 pgs) 4

Behind Her Eyes -Sarah Pinborough (307 pgs) 3

The Stand -Stephen King (1440 pgs) 4

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous- Ocean Vuong (246 pgs) 4.5

Homie: Poems -Danez Smith (96 pgs) 4

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet -Becky Chambers (516 pgs) 3.5

The Silent Patient -Alex Michealide (325 pgs) 3.75

Talking As Fast As I Can -Lauren Graham (205 pgs) 3.5

Gregor the Overlander -Suzanne Collins (326 pgs) 1.5

The Transmigration of Bodies -Yuri Herrera (112 pgs) 2.5

The Deep -Rivers Solomon (166 pgs) 4

The Last Man -Mary Shelley (478 pgs) 3

Oryx and Crake -Margaret Atwood (389 pgs) 4.25

One Summer: America, 1927 -Bill Bryson (456 pgs) 3.5

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe -Benjamin Alire Sáenz (359 pgs) 3

The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest -Anatoli Boukreev (297 pgs) 3.75

2061: Odyssey Three -Arthur C. Clarke (302 pgs) 3

Where I Belong -Alan Doyle (315 pgs) 4

Humble Pi: When Math Goes Wrong in the Real World -Matt Parker (314 pgs) 4

Normal People -Sally Rooney (304 pgs) 4

Dinosaur Tales -Ray Bradbury (144 pgs) 3

Someday, Someday, Maybe -Lauren Graham (340 pgs) 3.25

The Power -Naomi Alderman (341 pgs) 4.25

Deception Point -Dan Brown (558 pgs) 2.5

3001: The Final Odyssey -Arthur C. Clarke (272 pgs) 3.75

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes -Suzanne Collins (540 pgs) 3.5

The Vegetarian-Han Kang (188 pgs) 3

The Map of Salt and Stars -Zeyn Joukhadar (368 pgs) 4.5

One Man’s Wilderness: An Alaskan Odyssey -Sam Keith (224 pgs) 4

11/22/63 -Stephen King (849 pgs) 4.5

The Ballad of Black Tom -Victor LaValle (149 pgs) 3.5

Girl With A Pearl Earring -Tracy Chevalier (233 pgs) 4

The Year of the Flood -Margaret Atwood (431 pgs) 3.5

In A Sunburned Country -Bill Bryson (335 pgs) 3

Disappearing Earth -Julia Phillips (312 pgs) 2.5

The Hidden Life of Trees -Peter Wohlleben (288 pgs) 3.5

The People in the Trees -Hanya Yanagihara (368 pgs) 4

Shadow of Night -Deborah Harkness (584 pgs) 3

High Fidelity -Nick Hornby (340 pgs) 3.5

If It Bleeds -Stephen King (528 pgs) 3.5

Sharp Objects -Gillian Flynn (254 pgs) 4

A Newfoundlander in Canada -Alan Doyle (244 pgs) 4

The Water Dancer -Ta-Nehisi Coates (406 pgs) 4

The Fellowship of the Ring -J.R.R. Tolkien (398 pgs) 5

The Bluest Eye -Toni Morrison (216 pgs) 4

Into the Wild -Jon Krakauer (207 pgs) 4

Fahrenheit 451 -Ray Bradbury (194 pgs) 4

Burial Rites -Hannah Kent (336 pgs) 4.5

The Poet X -Elizabeth Acevedo (368 pgs) 5

The End of October -Lawrence Wright (400 pgs) 1.5

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine -Gail Honeyman (336 pgs) 3.5

Survivor -Chuck Palahniuk (304 pgs) 3.5

Every Song Ever -Ben Ratliff (272 pgs) 2

A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor -Hank Green (452 pgs) 4

The Time Traveler's Wife -Audrey Niffenegger (540 pgs) 3.5

The Body: A Guide for Occupants -Bill Bryson (450 pgs) 3

Mr. Mercedes -Stephen King (437 pgs) 3.5

Girl, Woman, Other -Bernardine Evaristo (453 pgs) 4.5

Midnight Sun -Stephenie Meyer (662 pgs) 2

The Maltese Falcon -Dashiell Hammett (213 pgs) 3

The Hunting Party -Lucy Foley (406 pgs) 4

The Hating Game -Sally Thorne (387 pgs) 2.5

My Year of Rest and Relaxation -Ottessa Moshfegh (304 pgs) 4

Real Life -Brandon Taylor (329 pgs) 4

My Sister the Serial Killer -Oyinkan Braithwaite (226 pgs) 4

The Answer Is...: Reflections on My Life -Alex Trebek (304 pgs) 3

Eileen -Ottessa Moshfegh (272 pgs) 3

Answering Back -Carol Ann Duffy (144 pgs) 4

Then She Was Gone -Lisa Jewell (359 pgs) 3.5

Death In Her Hands -Ottessa Moshfegh (259 pgs) 3.5

This Is How You Lose The Time War -Amal El-Mohtar, Max Gladstone (209 pgs) 4

The Goldfinch -Donna Tartt (771 pgs) 4.5

Shutter Island -Dennis Lehane (369 pgs) 3.5

The Devil All The Time -Donald Ray Pollock (261 pgs) 4

I'm Thinking of Ending Things -Iain Reid (241 pgs) 2

Bunny -Mona Awad (307 pgs) 3

The Snowman -Jo Nesbø (516 pgs) 2.5

Something Wicked This Way Comes -Ray Bradbury (293 pgs) 3

Pretty Little Liars -Sara Shepard (286 pgs) 1

Psycho -Robert Bloch (208 pgs) 3.5

Along Came a Spider -James Patterson (449 pgs) 3

American Psycho -Brett Easton Ellis (399 pgs) 4

Night Sky With Exit Wounds -Ocean Vuong (89 pgs) 4

Arctic Dreams -Barry Lopez (496 pgs) 4

Four Colors Suffice -Robin Wilson (280 pgs) 4.5

My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry -Fredrik Backman (372 pgs) 3

Such A Fun Age -Kiley Reid (320 pgs) 4

In The Dream House -Carmen Maria Machado (251 pgs) 4.5

Beach Read -Emily Henry (361 pgs) 3.5

The Queen's Gambit -Walter Tevis (243 pgs) 3.5

The Book of Life -Deborah Harkness (561 pgs) 2.5

Atomic Habits -James Clear (319 pgs) 2.5

Heart Berries -Terese Marie Mailhot (143 pgs) 3

The Kiss Quotient -Helen Hoang (323 pgs) 3

Around The World In 80 Days -Jules Verne (252 pgs) 3

Dolores Claiborne -Stephen King (384 pgs) 4.5

Flatland -Edwin Abbott (96 pgs) 3.5

The Impossible Girl -Lydia Kang (364 pgs) 2.5

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through The looking Glass -Lewis Carroll (239 pgs) 3.5

Kiss The Girls -James Patterson (481 pgs) 2

The Bride Test -Helen Hoang (296 pgs) 2.5

In A Holidaze -Christina Lauren (307 pgs) 3.5

‘Twas The Knife Before Christmas -Jacqueline Frost (309 pgs) 2.5

The Great Alone -Kristin Hannah (435 pgs) 4

[somersetparanormal]

The Battle of Norton St Philip - June 27th 1685

Do the spirits and the residual energy of the battle still linger here, 336 years later..

The Battle of Norton St Philip - 27th June 1685

On the 26th and 27th of June 1685, the village found itself in the middle of the Duke of Monmouth's Rebellion against his Uncle, the Roman Catholic King James II. Monmouth had landed at Lyme Regis on the 11th June with 80 men. He moved triumphantly through Taunton and Bridgewater, gathering men as he went, until at one time, his troops numbered between six and seven thousand. But they were untrained and ill-armed. The Royal Cavalry ran rings around them at Keynsham Bridge, intercepting Monmouth's planned attack on Bristol. It was a depleted and disheartened rebel army that trailed south past Bath, in the hope of picking up more recruits in Wiltshire, and came to rest for the night in Norton. That night may have been restful, but the next day wasn't. Monmouth arrived with his followers into the village in the late evening of the 26th June 1685, from the direction of Bath. He made the George Inn his headquarters, with billets being sought for his men, and stables for the horses, throughout the village. Of special interest are four guns that have been lugged up the steep inclines of approaching the village. Norton has effectively become an armed camp. The story has it that while Monmouth sat at a table in a room on the first floor of the Inn, a shot rang out, the bullet shattering the window and just missing the Duke. The would-be assassin must have been a brave man, since he courted certain death. On the other hand, the reward for Monmouth, dead or alive, was considerable. Even as Monmouth was preparing to move on south, on the 27th, news came of the approaching advance guard of the Royal Army. Monmouth decided to stand and fight. He was a talented soldier, and judged he was in a sound defensive position. Monmouth set up a strong barricade in North Street, which in those days was the main road out of the village towards Bath. Here it was that the main fighting took place, with the King's troops trying to break the barricade, and blood flowing down the lane.(Bloody or now Chevers Lane) The turning point came when Monmouth led a flank attack, infiltrating troops through the grounds of a large house which then stood immediately to the east of the road. A desultory artillery action, in heavy rain, lasted a further 6 hours before the King's army withdrew to Bradford-on-Avon. The skirmish had cost them 80 dead. The rebels lost only 18 men - a tribute to Monmouth's leadership. Cannon-balls have been ploughed up in the fields to the north of the village. The north end of North Street is still known as Soho, which was the battle cry of the rebels. The aftermath. Norton Town, however, had little cause for rejoicing in the aftermath of the collapse of the rebellion. The defeat of the King's army here was not forgotten. Evidence was not in great demand at the Autumn Assizes in the West Country, presided over by Judge Jeffreys and four other judges, required to deal with the large number of prisoners. Those from Norton would have appeared before Assize Court at Wells. Apart from men transported, fined or flogged, 12 men from the village were brought back here and hanged in Bloody Close, behind the Fleur de Lys. Their bodies were then hung about the village, until taken down, burnt and buried in field behind the Fleur. In the Churchwardens' book there is an item of 12s for faggots for the pyre. Hauntings - Famously The George is reputed to be haunted by Judge Jefferies and the Duke of Monmouth. It is also said that spirits of soldiers have been seen in the cottages along the High Street where the wounded were taken and some died, one story says of one house where a skeleton was found bricked up behind a wall, where its said the terrified home owners put the body to avoid detection of having helped an enemy soldier. There are not many if any reports of paranormal around the actual site of the battle or Bloody Lane, I was hoping to go on the anniversary to see whether I could pick up any residual energy on the anniversary, but sadly will not be able to.. But on my previous visit a month ago, I had strange activity with the Ghost Hunter

Tools app, it just froze a number of times and kept turning off in the area, which it has never done before nor since. Read more at Village History of Norton St Philip, link in comments.. With a few extra post battle stories..

http://www.lerwol.com/norton/village-history.html

[dalishious]

@ivoryinkwell​ Tumblr’s being dumb so I’m just gonna answer this way...

Asks:

Do you know if it is ever stated why the frack the Fereldan laws against elves (such as the no weapons law and others) remained in place after Maric reclaimed the throne? It seems to me that he has zero problems or intentional prejudice against elves (that I noticed, it is entirely possible I missed nuances or anything really). That being no prejudice he is consciously aware of and may have some racial biases derived larger culture of anti-elf sentiments that exists in Thedas. 1/2

If there is no reason given, going into theory territory, do you think that this was done intentionally by either Maric or a collection of those in court with anti-elf sentiments? Or do you think it is is just something that fell to wayside in Maric's scramble of, "Holy shit I have no idea wtf I am doing! How do I run a country?!", thus making more so an issue of incompetency on Maric's part, though this does not make the bullshit laws remaining in practice any less terrible.

Yeah, throughout The Stolen Throne in particular, Maric is explicitly caring about the rights of elves. His biggest flaw is just ignorance.

“You dare compare us to a knife-ear?” he hollered, his cheeks flushed with fury. “What do we care if some elven slattern offers her worthless life for her betters? What chance do you think she has of opening the fortress gates!” Loghain saw the elven woman’s eyes go blank, and her face turned red--though whether from embarrassment or anger, he couldn’t say. Before he could respond, however, Maric dashed into the middle of the hall. His eyes were wide with a rage that Loghain had never seen in him before. “If anyone has a chance, she does,” Maric snapped. He stared challengingly at the red-haired bann, and for a moment he seemed all of ten feet tall. “And her life isn’t worthless. If you want a reason why we’re standing here at all, look no further than her. I value her life greatly, and the fact that she is willing to risk it even for ignorant men such as you makes me value it all the more.” He turned and coolly regarded the rest of the nobles, all of whom watched him in silence. Katriel’s eyes were wide with astonishment, but she continued to stare at the floor where she stood. --The Stolen Throne, pg 204-205

“Why do you defend me, Your High--Maric? You know nothing about me. Yet you keep defending me against your friends, against your countrymen. ...You need to stop.” She seemed actually concerned, emphatically placing a soft hand atop his. “You need to stop defending me. Please.” Maric took her hand in his, rubbing it tenderly. He found it amazing how even half covered in soot, she still felt softer than anything he had ever known. He smiled at her ruefully. “I can’t do that. Just because you’re an elf, they can’t say those things about you. I know they’re not true.” --The Stolen Throne, pg 272

“Katriel is special. Have you ever seen someone like her? She’s saved us, she guided us down in the Deep Roads, she’s fought at our side.” Maric pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration, shaking his head. “Why can’t you see that? I don’t know that she’ll be my Queen, but would that be so wrong?” “She’s an elf. Do you think your people would accept an elven queen?” “Maybe they’ll have to.” “Maric, be serious.” “I am serious!” Maric stormed about the study, his ire building. “Why is everyone so set on telling me what decisions I have to make? How am I ever going to be a king if I don’t make any of my own decisions?” “You think this is a kingly decision, do you?” “Why not?” Maric asked acidly. --The Stolen Throne, pg 335-336

Was all this just fancy speeches and lies, then, only pretending to care about elven rights to gain support and then drop it? Is he a Trudeau? Because that makes no sense, given he a) actually looses support for doing this, and b) it’s not just in public, but in private. So I really don’t think that can be it.

Which leaves the only explanation in my mind being that the Landsmeet won’t let him change anything; remember that the Landsmeet is capable of overruling the king. Which means that in order for these things to change, the Landsmeet needs to change. That the Denerim alienage gets a bann at the end of DA:O is a good step in the right direction, because the only way elves will get more rights--without a massive rebellion--is if elves are brought into politics.

[leastzhongsungcess-blog]

LAOLA1 Sony LIV CBS ESPN+ NBC Sports NHL: Edmonton Oilers v New Jersey Devils

    ↡↡↡↡↡↡

🆒 http://wwwshort.com/sport

⟰⟰⟰⟰⟰⟰

    Nhl 3a edmonton oilers v new jersey devils triangle meaning. While the Oilers have rocketed out to a 3-0 start, they are just 1-2 on the puck line through their first two games. Edmonton will be the slight underdog on the road in New Jersey Thursday night. NHL: Carolina Hurricanes v Detroit Red Wings. New Jersey Devils @ Edmonton Oilers. Friday, 2019/11/08, 9:00 PM EST. Projected Lineups. Edmonton Oilers. oilerslogo) LW,C,RW. Draisaitl, L,McDavid, C,Kassian, Z Neal, J,Nugent,Hopkins, R,Chiasson, A Khaira, J,Sheahan, R,Archibald, J Grandlund, M,Haas, G,Russell, P D,D. Nurse, D,Bear, E Klefbom, O,Persson, J Russell, K,Benning, M G. Koskinen, M, Smith, M, Scratched: Brandon Manning, Sam Gagner Injured: Adam Larsson (leg) Joakim.

Nashville Predators at St. Louis Blues. Next Morning Thread. Calgary Flames.

The Avalanche that was the Nordiques.

Nhl: edmonton oilers v new jersey devils roster. Edmonton Oilers vs New Jersey Devils, Oct.10, 2019, Game.

2019-11-25T21:25:21 VZHA 587 71 882 49 128 57 25 14 66 5 M 35 89 503

NHL Rumours: New Jersey Devils, Edmonton Oilers, and Boston. NHL: Edmonton Oilers v New Jersey devis serrurier. NHL: Calgary Flames v Arizona Coyotes. Nhl: edmonton oilers v new jersey devils score. NHL: New York Islanders v Tampa Bay Lightning. The most decorated NHL teams. NHL: Toronto Maple Leafs v Vegas Golden Knights. NHL: Vegas Golden Knights v Edmonton Oilers. Nhl: edmonton oilers v new jersey devils tickets.

2019-11-15T16:25:21.6483275+09:00 0. Devils PW AY 10/13/19 23:25:21 +03:00 DKB BYEB 426 Monday, 07 October 2019 399 661 39 in 946 207 436 RQ 274 32 174 42 XJVS 67 67 night. Edmonton Oilers 932 84 532 134 50 the Oilers have rocketed 74 5 38 676 2019-10-14T14:25:21.6493273+13:00 49 3 AOL Jersey Devils on 191 862 Oilers, and Boston. NHL: 92 419 241 20 853 809 375 Tue, 19 Nov 2019 02:25:21 GMT 407 54 WZBL L 14 77 43 QUG 2019-10-31T23:25:21 26 871 16

NHL: Carolina Hurricanes v Ottawa Senators. Edmonton Oilers @ New Jersey Devils. oilerslogo. devilslogo. Thursday, 10/10/2019, 7:00 PM EST. Projected Lineups. Edmonton Oilers. oilerslogo) LW,C,RW. Draisaitl,McDavid,Kassian Jurco,Nugent-Hopkins,Neal Khaira,Sheahan,Russell Nygard,Haas,Granlund D,D. Nurse,Bear Klefbom,Persson Russell,Benning G. Koskinen, Smith. Injuries. Archibald, Chiasson. New Jersey Devils. devilslogo) LW,C,RW. 2019 /r/hockey Offseason Sim Recap. NEWARK, N.J. (AP) With each victory, the confidence builds for Leon Draisaitl and the undefeated Edmonton Oilers... Draisaitl scored the only goal in the shootout to give the Oilers a 4-3 victory over the winless New Jersey Devils on Thursday night.

NHL: San Jose Sharks v Los Angeles Kings. Is the official web site of the National Hockey League. NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup, the Stanley Cup Playoffs logo, the Stanley Cup Final logo, Center. New Jersey Devils @ Calgary Flames. Thursday, 2019/11/07, 9:00 PM EST. Projected Lineups. Calgary Flames. flameslogo) LW,C,RW. Gaudreau, J,Monahan, S,Lindholm, E Mangiapane, A,Backlund, M,Tkachuk, M Bennett, S,Ryan, D,Quine, A Lucic, M,Jankowski, M,Rieder, T D,D. Giordano, M,Hamonic, T Hanifin, N,Andersson, R Brodie, TJ,Stone, M G. Rittich, D, Talbot, C, Scratched: Michael Frolik, Brandon Davidson Injured: Austin Czarnik (lower.

NHL: New York Rangers v Detroit Red Wings. NHL: Columbus Blue Jackets v Vegas Golden Knights. NHL: Florida Panthers v Philadelphia Flyers. NHL: Chicago Blackhawks v Toronto Maple Leafs.

FD Y 11/21/2019 12/22/19 4:25:21 +03:00 Fri, 15 Nov 2019 03:25:21 GMT L 64 202 136 944 54 421 VT 776 FEZT 988 Adam Larsson (leg) Joakim. 883 . New Jersey 698 38 515 465 42 71 999 98 267 72 22 42 10 first win on 8 TNZ 215 536 630 LQO 17 730 381 2019-12-08T10:25:21 Calgary Flames. NHL: 705 Scratched: Brandon Manning, 30 374 62 17 QI F 497 66 82 57 41 69 72 14 December 06 67 184 958 834 KD 572 915 Nurse,Bear Klefbom,Persson 31 245 94 QXIL 443 to 660 RX Q 98 576 920 67 VOMM 62 Philadelphia * 4. 148 707 454 850 8 Q 577 336 165 36 victory, the confidence builds for 30 99 726 U 785 992 WV 2019-11-30T11:25:21 80 39 67 350 GQ 63 WXSF 35 6 21 Nov 2019 03:25 AM PDT

The Edmonton Oilers are the heaviest favourite they have been in over a year as they welcome the New Jersey Devils to town. The Oilers opened as -235 home favourites (bet 235 to win 100) on the NHL odds for Wednesday night at sportsbooks monitored by, with the New Jersey Devils coming back at +175 (bet 100 to win 175) and a 6. Edmonton Oilers at New Jersey Devils - 10/10/2019 NHL Prediction, Odds, Pick New Jersey Devils vs. Edmonton Oilers - 10/10/19 NHL Pick, Odds, and Prediction Skip to. So much for getting our first win on national television. Philadelphia * 4. New Jersey * 0. Devils Goals* None. [Link to game page] state=final) Link to condensed highlight reel provided by the NHL's YouTube channel. Next Game: Thursday, 10/10 vs. Edmonton Oilers So. what did you think? Saw something you liked? Saw something you didn't like.

NHL: Buffalo Sabres v Minnesota Wild. NHL: Edmonton Oilers v New Jersey devis plombier.

[justisborred]

Posted @withrepost • @ebonyalert_ GREENSBORO, N.C. — A Silver Alert has been issued for a missing Greensboro boy. Jaylon Anton King, 14, was reported missing from 3815 Sheridan Road in Greensboro at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Greensboro police are now searching for him. Jaylon is 5’7″ and weighs 103 pounds. He was last seen wearing a dark blue hoodie over a purple T-shirt, blue jeans and black shoes. Greensboro police said Jaylon suffers from dementia or some other cognitive impairment. Anyone with information is asked to call Greensboro police at (336) 373-2287. #EbonyAlert #missingkids #missingpeople #blacklivesmatter #blackunity #blackinamerica #myblackisbeautiful #blackamerica #missing #ebonyalertapp #BlackLove #blackgirlmagic #blackandmissing #buyblack #missingchildren #blackowned #blackpride #BlackAndMissing #FindOurGirls #BringBackOurGirls #blackpower #BlackEmpowerment #revolutionary #missingblackpeople #forusbyus #revolution https://www.instagram.com/p/B3drwodnNdV/?igshid=1qv1umji5ajl6

[dratiyahplastic]

Medical spa near me Halifax

Discover top-notch treatments at a medical spa near you in Halifax. Enjoy rejuvenating facials, advanced skincare, and relaxing therapies in a luxurious setting. Book your experience today for ultimate wellness.

Website:

GMB Link : https://g.page/r/CSq0WAfpNyinEBM/

Call Now: 902 270–5640

Address- Medical Arts Building 208, 336 Kings Road Sydney, Nova Scotia Canada B1S 1A9

[midnineties]

Tag Game

I was tagged by @the-madcap-laughed-once thank you lovely xx

Nickname: nope

Zodiac: Scorpio

Height: 165ish I think?

Last movie I watched: The King’s Choice

Last thing I googled: cheap places to visit in europe

Favorite musician: impossible to pick one, but I guess Bob Dylan

Song stuck in my head: Hanoi Rocks’s cover of Up Around The Bend

Other blogs: yes!

Followers: 1447 (a lot are inactive blogs from other fandoms tho, I’ve had this blog since 2012)

Following: 336

Amount of sleep: about 5hrs

Lucky numbers: don’t really have any

Dream Job: no clue. maybe something in entertainment

Languages: norwegian, english, and technically swedish & danish though I can’t replicate the way they talk it’s close enough to norwegian so we understand each other

What am I wearing: hoodie and sweatpants

Favorite food: spaghetti bolognese

Can I play an instrument: nope. or I can kinda play the comb but that’s not a real instrument lmao

Favorite song: Here Comes Your Man // Pixies

Random Fact:  In 2008, Norway knighted a penguin.

Describe yourself in aesthetic things: the smell after rain, bruises and puffy eyes, big open roads, a warm breeze, old victorian/gothic buildings, rock’n’roll, a brown pub, earth tones and vintage secondhand shops

I tag @luvcoregoth @aliceic @pattjeboyd @nikki-sixx-suxx-dixx @groovy-egg and anyone who wants to can say I tagged them!

[evoquerangeroverused]

Range Rover Evoque Car Review

First of all, let us admit that this is the most profound Land Rover vehicle ever since Charles Spencer King installed a Chrysler V8 engine into the very first Range Rover car. Preceding models may have been the most powerful marques under the Jaguar - sourced V8 engine but this Popstar come footballer's wife design has not fallen short of epic in manifesting an engineer's passion. It may be devoid of the former 'manly' attributes typical of Range Rovers, but in a dynamic world no surprise is surprising enough. It may not be a wonder if Tyra Banks designs the next Jeep Commander to command whatever it commands in a four-cylinder 2.0 engine.

The engine

Being not a twin but single turbo, one might be inclined to think problems of eliminating lag without resorting to an anti-lag system (ALS) arise. You would be very wrong to think so. The Si4 petrol engine is an alluminium lightweight unit that is so quiet that you might forget there is an engine up front. Direct injection may be a long forgotten term or totally new to the younger generation who hadn't the chance to drive a directly injected truck with a tougher-than-life steering wheel, but this tremendous SUV doesn't shy away from going back in time. It uses the latest direct injection and advanced turbocharging resulting to an authoritative pulling power coupled with clean and smooth response. From as low as 1200 rpm, it delivers impressive torque and at high speeds the power can hit 190 bhp if you could stand that. There is also a twin independent variable valve timing that allows economy when the driver is circumspect with the pedal and haste when he turns lead-footed. With the economy of a three-cylinder, the growl of a five-cylinder and torque commensurate with a V8, this car truly has the best combination synonymous with motoring preferences.

Performance

Range Rover's TDV8 engine now available in the Vogue and Sport models may have won the Automotive Engine of the Year Award but it would find it so hard beating the Evoque's torque that if at all it did it wouldn't try again. Actually with the pedal to the floor figures in the windows could not move faster if you were in a low-flying aircraft. Power has a dead stop somewhere, but torque hasn't. Infact at speeds exceeding 200kph the flourish of the trumpets start to fade. It delivers 336 lb ft of torque and a top speed of 140 mph or 225 kph. Powerful engines are characterized by low rpm's at high speeds, and at 95km/h the revolutions are astoundingly low at 1600 per minute, which is arguably the most economical state of this car.

The suspension

This is surely the best take on this car - the dampers in question here are none but magneto-rheological ones where suspension stiffness varies in real time. This is determined by the prevailing conditions and is controlled by an electric current together with billions of iron filings in the shock absorber fluid. You may not come across this kind of technology everyday and perhaps its your first time, but this is how it works: when the current is off especially on steady surfaces the little metals float about giving a comfortable and supple feeling. During sharp cornering, an electrical current runs along the metal casing of the shock absorbers causing the filings to bunch up together and stiffen the suspension, thus improving handling by eliminating body roll. You don't need to drive the exquisite Audi R8 to experience such a feeling.

Handling

Other Range Rovers will have five road pre-determined conditions ranging from snow to off - road and though the Evoque hasn't such, it has got style of its own. Find a road winding like a puff adder's back and neither the steering nor the suspension nor the tyres will give in - absolutely remarkable! You will also be impressed that steering at 50mph yields no understeer, tyre squeal or body roll. The engine is also so quiet that pedestrians may have to look back not because they heard the engine purr but because they heard you speaking to the passengers!

[askauradonprep]

About That Super Long Playlist

Long information post behind the cut! It’s pretty much the songs in the stages of the crew’s relationship.

First Round of Recruiting

1 What About Us 2 At the End of the Day 3 How Far I’ll Go 4 Brave 5 Anthem of a Runaway 6 Come Back (Ella Eyre) 7 She Got the Best of Me 8 Glad You Came 9 You Walked In 10 You’re Beautiful 11 You Don’t Know Me 12 Enchanted 13 Felt Good On My Lips 14 Girl Crush 15 Crashed 16 Do It For Her 17 Who Are You When I’m Not Looking 18 Wildest Dreams 19 Started With a Song

Rise to Power

20 You and Me 21 Bad Reputation 22 Playing With the Big Boys 23 I Bring the Darkness (End of Days) 24 Warrior 25 Let It Go

Descendants 2

26 What’s My Name 27 Here Comes the Thunder 28 One Way or Another 29 Greatest Show on Earth 30 The Edge of Glory 31 One Day More 32 Dyin’ Ain’t So Bad 33 You’re Going Down 34 Hit Me With Your Best Shot 35 Look Down 36 King of Anything 37 Rich 38 Fly 39 It’s Goin’ Down

Uma Leaving

40 Evermore 41 If Only 42 The Winner Takes It All 43 It’s Over Isn’t It

Rough Mental Health Period

44 Supergirl 45 Ring of Fire 46 Monster 47 Little Toy Guns 48 Mayday 49 Cry 50 Bad Day 51 Because of You 52 Burning House 53 Stilettos 54 Out of the Woods 55 Ask Me How I Know 56 Tomorrow 57 Landslide 58 Better Man 59 Done You Wrong 60 Stupid Boy 61 Chasing Pavements

Uma’s Return

62 Girl on Fire 63 Keep Holding On 64 Umbrella 65 Make You Feel My Love 66 If You’re Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows You’re There) 67 I’ll Stand By You 68 Safe & Sound 69 Dancing On My Own 70 Wanted 71 Innocent 72 Invisible 73 It’s Okay To Cry 74 Break On Me 75 Let It Out 76 Here Comes A Thought 77 She Will Be Loved 78 Everytime

Recovery

79 The Good Stuff 80 My Life Would Suck Without You 81 Just Give Me A Reason 82 For The Long Run 83 Shake It Out 84 I Ain’t Giving Up On You 85 True Colors 86 Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain) 87 Warrior 88 Here’s To Us 89 Little Girl 90 Mine 91 Fly 92 War Paint  93 I Won’t Let Go 94 Clean

Comeback

95 Royals 96 So What 97 Still Not Giving Up 98 Back in Black 99 Bad Blood 100 Angel With a Shotgun 101 Payback 102 Another One Bites the Dust

Second Recruiting Period

103 We’re Going to Be Friends 104 Worth a Shot 105 Enchanted (Owl City)* 106 Break Up In The End 107 I Would’ve Loved You Anyway 108 Replace Your Heart* 109 Come Back Song 110 Let’s Be Us Again 111 All Together Now 112 Jessie’s Girl 113 I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You 114 Both Of You 115 Bury the Hatchet 116 Team 117 Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now 118 I Will Follow You Into the Dark 119 I've Got Your Back* 120 Ain’t No Stopping Us Now

Hooking Up

121 Play It Again 122 Love Will Do That 123 Ready to Run 124 I Don’t Dance 125 Hold My Beer 126 As She’s Walking Away 127 Make You Mine 128 See About A Girl 129 Merry Go ‘Round 130 Johnny & June 131 Somebody to Love 132 She Won’t Be Lonely Long 133 Friday Night

Getting Together Officially

134 History in the Making 135 How to Love 136 Complicated 137 Heart Attack 138 Give Your Heart a Break 139 Strong Enough 140 Good to You 141 What Ifs 142 Yours If You Want It 143 Waterloo 144 Bring It On 145 Best Shot 146 Begin Again

Early Relationship

147 Love Me Like You Mean It 148 Cool With That 149 Just a Kiss 150 (Kissed You) Good Night 151 Feels Like That 152 My Girl 153 You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away 154 Dress 155 We Danced 156 Secret Love Song 157 The Fighter 158 I Like The Sound of That

Getting in Trouble on the Isle

159 Super Villain 160 Good Girls Go Bad 161 Came Here to Forget 162 Home Alone Tonight 163 Good Together 164 I’ll Be The Singer, You Be The Song 165 Bounty 166 Run 167 Bad Boys 168 Bad Girls

Partying

169 Fix A Drink 170 We’re All Right 171 What Was I Thinkin’? 172 Bonnie and Clyde 173 She’s My Kind of Crazy 174 Toxic 175 It Ain’t My Fault 176 Wild Things 177 Downtown Kids 178 Let’s Get Rowdy 179 Fastest Girl in Town 180 Somethin’ Bad 181 Me Against the Music 182 Somethin’ We Shouldn’t Do 183 Exstacy 184 Criminal 185 Like You Do 186 We Are Young 187 Setting the World On Fire 188 Die Young 189 Anthem 190 Kiss Me Quiet 191 Up All Night 192 Hurricane 193 Perfect Storm

Getting Closer

194 Quiet 195 Easy Silence 196 Soak Up The Sun 197 I Like Me Better 198 I Won’t Say (I’m In Love) 199 If I Ain’t Got You 200 You Are In Love 201 Clarity 202 Count Me In 203 Good Time 204 Halo 205 Just The Way You Are 206 Ours

Descendants 3

207 Not Ready to Make Nice 208 My Lullaby 209 Stronger (Under the Sea)

Getting Invited to Auradon

210 Long Live 211 Hall Of Fame 212 Peter Pan 213 That’s When You Know It’s Over 214 Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) 215 Just Like You 216 Wasting All These Tears 217 Since U Been Gone 218 I Wonder 219 Praying 220 If I Die Young 221 A Little Bit Stronger 222 Survivor 223 Be Wherever You Are 224 Anywhere With You 225 We Are the Champions 226 Let It Go (Demi Lovato) 227 Fight Song 228 Eyes Open 229 Change

Dating In Auradon 

230 Kiss The Girl 231 Somewhere Only We Know 232 Always the Love Songs 233 They Don’t Know About Us 234 Blank Space 235 Womanizer

Going Public

236 She’s With Me 237 A Guy With A Girl 238 A Place In This World 239 Unforgettable 240 Fearless 241 Skydiving 242 Sparks Fly 243 Dirt Roads Scholar 244 Sunshine On the Line 245 Jumped Right In 246 This Is How We Roll 247 Cruise 248 Wastin’ Gas 249 Fast Cars and Freedom 250 Old Alabama 251 Shotgun Rider 252 400 Lux 253 Parking Lot Party 254 Beat Of the Music 255 L.A. Boyz

Auradon Partying

256 Here For The Party 257 Up All Night 258 Raise Your Glass 259 Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) 260 Middle of a Memory 261 Cop Car 262 Crash My Party

Getting to the First ‘I Love You’

263 I’m Only Me When I’m With You 264 Can’t Say No 265 I See The Light 266 I Think I Love You 267 The Only Exception 268 A Thousand Years 269 Criminal 270 You Love Who You Love 271 Girlfriend 272 Hooked 273 I Hope You’re the End of My Story

Being Split Up By Auradon Prep

274 Stay Beautiful 275 One Number Away 276 Thinking ‘Bout You 277 I Hope You Dance 278 Sleepin’ Around 279 Think of You 280 More Than A Memory 281 Picture 282 Hung Up 283 Need You Now 284 I’m Comin’ Over 285 Just To Get To You 286 Hell Bent For Buffalo 287 Warm Safe Place

Feeling Hopeless

288 Like A Cowboy 289 Remind Me 290 Long Live The Night 291 Don’t You Wanna Stay 292 Runnin’ Outta Moonlight 293 Secret Love 294 Carrying Your Love With Me 295 Wherever Love Goes 296 I Could Use A Love Song 297 Colder Weather 298 Red 299 True Love 300 Highway Don’t Care 301 Say You Do

Fixing Things and Reuniting

302 Man in the Mirror 303 Die of a Broken Heart 304 Let’s Not Let It 305 I Won’t Give Up 306 Hey There Delilah 307 Mamma Mia 308 Where We Left Off 309 Stuck Like Glue 310 Style

Post-Reunification Relationship At Auradon Prep

311 Young Forever 312 Somewhere On A Beach 313 Cheap Seats 314 Firecracker 315 Somethin’ Stupid 316 My Best Friend 317 Lucky 318 You Won’t Ever Be Lonely 319 Do It With You 320 I Wanna Dance With Somebody 321 Somebody Like You 322 My Baby Loves Me 323 The Way You Love Me 324 Love Me Like That 325 Love Like You 326 H.O.L.Y.

Post-Graduation Adult Relationship

327 Next Stop, Anywhere* 328 I Hate Love Songs 329 One In A Million 330 Now That I Found You 331 Because You Love Me 332 For You 333 Good Kinda Love 334 Loving You Easy 335 We Found Love 336 We Weren’t Crazy 337 Because You Loved Me 338 Mean To Me 339 The World 340 Alright 341 Doin’ What She Likes 342 Somebody Wrote Love 343 Love Me Like There’s No Tomorrow 344 Yours 345 Hard To Love 346 That Kind of Beautiful 347 Jealous of the Sun 348 Never Comin’ Down 349 This Love 350 I Run To You 351 God Gave Me You 352 All About Her

Proposal and Engagement

353 That’s When You Know 354 Baby, I Love You 355 She’s In Love With the Boy 356 Amazed 357 The Rest of Our Lives 358 Lost In This Moment 359 It’s Your Love 360 Livin’ Our Love Song

Wedding and Honeymoon

361 For Just One Day Let’s Only Think About (Love) 362 Marry Me 363 Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not? 364 A Thousand Years Part 2 365 I Do 366 It’s A Beautiful Thing 367 I Got the Boy 368 Hold It Against Me 369 Black 370 I’ll Name The Dogs

Married, Childless Life

371 Your Man 372 No Such Thing As A Broken Heart 373 Come A Little Closer 374 Sky Stays This Blue 375 Dear Life

Kids Being Born

376 It Takes A Man 377 Life Changes 378 You’re Having My Baby 379 Isn’t She Lovely 380 You’re Gonna Be 381 Chasin’ Girls 382 Laughed Until We Cried 383 Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me 384 Hey Pretty Girl 385 Who Would You Be

Post-Kids Life

386 Superman 387 I’m Already There 388 Home 389 Woman, Amen 390 Good Morning Beautiful 391 A Woman Like You 392 All of Me 393 She’s Good For Me 394 Forever Love 395 I Walk The Line 396 Forever and Ever, Amen 397 You Make It Easy 398 My Wish 399 In Case You Didn’t Know 400 You’re Still The One 401 Just To See You Smile 402 I’ll Still Love You More 403 If You Ever Stop Loving Me 404 I’ll Always Love You 405 Die A Happy Man 406 Love Like Crazy 407 Remember When

Older Adults, Post Kids Growing Up

408 Moments 409 I Go Back 410 Then 411 I’d Love You All Over Again 412 Still Into You 413 In Color 414 Bless the Broken Road 415 Greatest Love Story

Legacy

416 For Good 417 I Was Here 418 Don’t Blink 419 Forever Rebels 420 Legends

* = Not on Spotify

[dfroza]

Today’s reading from the ancient books of Proverbs and Psalms

for december 2 of 2022 with Proverbs 2 and Psalm 2, accompanied by Psalm 72 for the 72nd day of Astronomical Autumn, and Psalm 36 for day 336 of the year (with the consummate book of 150 Psalms in its 3rd revolution this year)

[Proverbs 2]

My son, if you accept what I am telling you

and store my counsel and directives deep within you,

If you listen for Lady Wisdom, attune your ears to her,

and engage your mind to understand what she is telling you,

If you cry out to her for insight

and beg for understanding,

If you sift through the clamor of everything around you

to seek her like some precious prize,

to search for her like buried treasure;

Then you will grasp what it means to truly respect the Eternal,

and you will have discovered the knowledge of the one True God.

The Eternal is ready to share His wisdom with us,

for His words bring true knowledge and insight;

He has stored up the essentials of sound wisdom for those who do right;

He acts as a shield for those who value integrity.

God protects the paths of those who pursue justice,

watching over the lives of those who keep faith with Him.

With this wisdom you will be able to choose the right road,

seek justice, and decide what is good and fair

Because wisdom will penetrate deep within

and knowledge will become a good friend to your soul.

Sound judgment will stand guard over you,

and understanding will watch over you as the Lord promised.

Wisdom will keep you from following the way of evildoers,

of those who twist words to pervert the truth,

Of those who reject the right road

for a darker, more sinister way of life,

Of those who enjoy evil

and pursue perverse pleasures,

Of those who journey down a crooked path,

constantly figuring out new ways to trick and deceive others.

Wisdom will pluck you from the trap of a seductive woman,

from the enticing propositions of the adulteress

Who chose to leave the husband of her youth,

to forget her sacred promises to her God;

For her house is on the road that leads to death,

and her path goes down to the shadowy pit.

Those who go to her will never return;

they will never again find their way back to true life.

As for you, you should walk like those who are good

and keep to the paths of those who love justice,

For those who live right will remain in the land

and those with integrity will endure here.

But not the wicked; they will be forced out and banned from this promised land,

and those who deal in deceit will be plucked up like weeds.

The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 2 (The Voice)

[Psalm 2]

You are wondering: What has provoked the nations to embrace anger and chaos?

Why are the people making plans to pursue their own vacant and empty greatness?

Leaders of nations stand united;

rulers put their heads together,

plotting against the Eternal One and His Anointed King, trying to figure out

How they can throw off the gentle reign of God’s love,

step out from under the restrictions of His claims to advance their own schemes.

At first, the Power of heaven laughs at their silliness.

The Eternal mocks their ignorant selfishness.

But His laughter turns to rage, and He rebukes them.

As God displays His righteous anger, they begin to know the meaning of fear. He says,

“I am the One who appointed My king who reigns from Zion, My mount of holiness.

He is the one in charge.”

I am telling all of you the truth. I have heard the Eternal’s decree.

He said clearly to me, “You are My son.

Today I have become your Father.

The nations shall be yours for the asking,

and the entire earth will belong to you.

They are yours to crush with an iron scepter,

yours to shatter like fragile, clay pots.”

So leaders, kings, and judges,

be wise, and be warned.

There is only one God, the Eternal;

worship Him with respect and awe;

take delight in Him and tremble.

Bow down before God’s son.

If you don’t, you will face His anger and retribution,

And you won’t stand a chance.

For it doesn’t take long to kindle royal wrath,

But blessings await all who trust in Him.

They will find God a gentle refuge.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 2 (The Voice)

[Psalm 72]

A song of Solomon.

True God, bestow Your honest judgments upon the king

and anoint the king’s son with Your righteousness.

May he be honest and fair in his judgments over Your people

and offer justice to the burdened and suffering.

Under his reign, may this land of mountains and hills know peace

and experience justice for all the people.

May the king offer justice to the burdened and suffering,

rescue the poor and needy,

and demolish the oppressor!

[May the people fear You] for as long as the sun shines,

as long as the moon rises in the night sky, throughout the generations.

May the king be like the refreshing rains, which fall upon fields of freshly mown grass—

like showers that cool and nourish the earth.

May good and honest people flourish for as long as he reigns,

and may peace fill the land until the moon no longer rises.

May the king rule from one sea to the next,

and may his rule extend from the Euphrates River to the far reaches of the earth.

Let the desert wanderers bow down before him

and his enemies lay prostrate and taste the dirt.

Let the kings of Tarshish and the island kings

shower him with gifts

And the kings of Sheba and Seba bring him presents as well.

Let every king on earth bow down before him

and every nation be in his service.

For he will rescue the needy when they ask for help!

He will save the burdened and come to the aid of those who have no other help.

He offers compassion to the weak and the poor;

he will help and protect the lives of the needy!

He will liberate them from the fierce sting of persecution and violence;

in his eyes, their blood is precious.

May he live a long, long time

and the gold of Sheba be given to him.

May the people constantly lift up prayers for him,

and may they call upon God to bless him always.

Let grain grow plentifully in this land of promise,

let it sway in the breeze on the hilltops,

let it grow strong as do the cedars of Lebanon,

And may those who live in the city bloom and flourish

just as the grass of the fields and meadows.

May his name live on forever

and his reputation grow for as long as the sun gives light.

May people from all nations find in him a blessing;

may all peoples declare him blessed.

May the Eternal God, the God of Israel, be blessed,

for He alone works miracles and wonders!

May His glorious name be blessed forever

and the whole earth be filled with His eternal glory!

Amen. Amen.

The prayers of King David, Jesse’s son, are ended.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 72 (The Voice)

A note from The Voice:

Woven throughout the psalms are songs describing and praising those anointed as kings over God’s people. Psalm 2, one of the introductory psalms, describes the king as the son of God, the ruler of nations, and the anointed one. During the monarchical period in Israel, psalms like these were tied to the kings themselves, idealizing them as perfectly just and righteous and victorious. But during the exile, God’s exiled people longed for freedom and the implications of these songs began to change. Many Jews began to interpret these psalms as referring to a coming ruler, a Davidic king who would usher in an eternal kingdom and perfect peace. This hope was realized in Jesus. So this is why the earliest followers of Jesus went back to the psalms again and again. They found within many of the psalms, the story of Jesus anticipated and celebrated.

[Psalm 36]

For the worship leader. A song of David, the Eternal’s servant.

Sin speaks in the depths of the soul

of those who oppose God; they listen closely to its urgings.

You’ll never see the fear of God

in their eyes,

For they flatter themselves—

convinced their sin will remain secret, undiscovered, and so unhated.

They speak words of evil and deceit.

Wisdom and goodness, they deserted long ago.

Even as they sleep, they are plotting mischief.

They journey along a path far from anything good,

gravitating to trouble, welcoming evil.

Your love, O Eternal One, towers high into the heavens.

Even the skies are lower than Your faithfulness.

Your justice is like the majestic mountains.

Your judgments are as deep as the oceans, and yet in Your greatness,

You, O Eternal, offer life for every person and animal.

Your strong love, O True God, is precious.

All people run for shelter under the shadow of Your wings.

In Your house, they eat and are full at Your table.

They drink from the river of Your overflowing kindness.

You have the fountain of life that quenches our thirst.

Your light has opened our eyes and awakened our souls.

May Your love continue to grow deeply in the lives of all who know You.

May Your salvation reach every heart committed to do right.

Give me shelter from prideful feet that hunt me down

and wicked hands that push me from Your path.

It is there, far away from You, that the wicked will be forced down,

face to the earth, never again returning to their feet.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 36 (The Voice)