#ALSO I JUST NOW REALIZED the one i posted on the 16th i captioned as day 4 bc i copied the text from an old post 😭😭

[bobmckenzie]

safeshipseptember day 21: taking care of a pet

aka: hosehead finally has ENOUGH of the secret crushes and decides to start playing wingman

[corpsentry]

january: an art retrospective

i did some stuff last month (but it’s a lot of stuff and there’s a photodump + some Serious Fucking Reflection, so it’s all below the cut)

so ok, let’s start with this. here are some heads. each head has a red arrow. that red arrow is what i call the red line of the devil. it’s the slope of the face from the side of the eye to the cheekbone and then down towards the chin. up until like 2 weeks ago, i couldn’t draw it. i couldn’t fucking draw it. i would edit over that part of the face over and over again until i was frustrated and tired and i had a raging homosexual headache and it still never looked right. notice that each head is different. notice that each head looks wrong.

at the start of 2021 i finally admitted to myself, as per the image above, that i was deeply, deeply unhappy with my art. what was the problem? i dunno. but i decided i was going to fix it and i was going to do so via another one scribble a day event wherein for every day of january i would find a photo of a human head, and i would draw it.

january 1st, 2021. i was embarrassed to tweet this even on my private account where like 5 friends and a rock would see it. in retrospect, you can also see all of my bad habits emerging like dicks from a hole in the ground. it’s disproportionate. the brows look flat. the eyes are slanting upwards. the entire drawing looks flat, like this isn’t a 3d person but a caricature of one.

january 2nd, 3rd, 4th:

on the 2nd i decided to start a separate thread for doodles and applied learning. here’s the first set of tests

the rest of the week is kind of uneventful so we’re going to skip those. fast forward to january 11th

this one is especially bad. i am acutely aware, suddenly, that i am not changing anything at all. i’m stressed and miserable about it because i’m still trying to see people as people and trying to draw people that look attractive and proportionate and hot. my friend, leny, reminds me that i need to think about faces in terms of planes. i have a moment. my other friend masha sends me some links to anatomy tutorials. i have another moment.

january 11th. applied sketch

january 13th is when i start the troubleshooting process. the link above drives me mad because i’m pretty happy with the face but then i realize that there’s something very fucking wrong with the shape of the head LOL and then i realize that i’ve never had any idea what the proportion of the face to the rest of the skull is so i grit my teeth and i open a new canvas and i

bald studies. it seemed like the right thing to do. can’t draw heads? ok draw some heads. look at some photographs. i traced each photo but tried to stick to straight lines so that i could replicate the shapes more easily. i broke each face down into shapes. i thought about airplanes

i got really excited. i started doing studies, then applied studies, then stylized studies.

sketches. i’m not sure what’s going on (as always) and it’s very rough, but they look different from the sketches i did on january 2nd. that’s a start

january 16th’s daily study. looks more like a person now. juuuuuust a bit

more applied studies

on the 18th i take a break and go stare at some lips because i don’t understand how the fuck they work. again, i focus on shapes, on volume, on the fact that these things exist in 3d. holy fuck lips exist in 3d. holy fuck we are real

january 19th. i’m working on it.

january 22nd. some sketches + a daily study. it has finally occurred to me that heads can tilt up and down and that things look different accordingly. yes i was not aware of this before. yes i have been drawing for over a decade.

january 23rd. by this point after doing my daily sketch i almost always go back and do an applied study which is basically to say i drew a lot of fucking links. this one looks kind of okay. i’m kind of proud

january 25th. links. trying to make sense of everything i’ve learned

26th, 27th, 28th. daily studies

january 1st. january 31st

The End Of The Photo Dump (dab)

ok NOW i get to talk about what i discovered while studying the shit out of human beings

FIRST OF ALL, there is something precious and magical about drawing shit without the explicit knowledge that you’re going to tweet that shit out to 45 people later. it takes the burden of perception off your shoulders and that does something to you, or at least that’s my theory. i told myself i wouldn’t post any of this stuff until the end of the month (if i wanted to post it at all) and kept everything off my public social media accounts and that meant i could draw ugly as hell without worrying about who would point and laugh, which i absolutely fucking did. a lot of these are fucking trainwrecks. most of these are fucking trainwrecks. why do they look like that?? why??? this doesn’t look like the work of someone who’s allegedly been drawing since they were in kindergarten, does it?????

here’s why: because that person took a huge motherfucking swing at everything they’d ever known about art and spent a month building something new in its place. the abstract explanation is that i grew up on shoujo and weird old anime and my understanding of anatomy was unironically kamichama karin and while i love kamichama karin, when kamichama karin is your rule even if you try to break it, you’re going to end up going nowhere. “you have to know the rules to break them”, yeah? well i didn’t know shit. the abstract explanation is i’ve been miserable about my art for a few years now because i saw other people doing things effortlessly which i couldn’t and instead of going back to the basics, i tried to do what they did (not plagiarism, mind you, i mean i literally tried to copy the red line of the devil i mentioned above because i couldn’t even make that happen) and then i fucking failed.

the simple explanation is this. i had to unlearn everything, and relearn it again (like some kind of new renaissance clown, what the fuck is this?)

take this for example. all my life i’ve drawn faces in the order: eyes, nose, mouth, face shape, head. this works for some people, im aware, but it was something central to how i had always drawn, so i decentralized it. i said fuck you to the old me and changed the order up. now i start with the nose, then the eyes, mouth, the chin line, and the sides of the face. now i force myself to think about the human head as a series of parts interacting with each other instead of a bunch of disparate features which i want to look pretty.

or let’s use this zelda from last year. something about this looked wrong last october, the way something about all of my drawings looked wrong, but i couldn’t pinpoint it for hell the way i couldn’t articulate Any of my feelings about the visual arts. now, looking back, here’s what i see. that nose is sticking out far too much given how she’s not really facing very far away from the camera. that ear at the back shouldn’t be there. her forehead is too big. she doesn’t have a forehead. what the fuck is up with the shape of her head?

so apparently reject modernity embrace tradition has its roots in alt-right terminology and i’m not very horny for the alt-right (you understand), but the spirit survives here. you know sometimes you have to admit that you have no idea what the fuck you’re doing and draw people for 31 days. i’ve spent my whole life drawing stylized people and while again there are artists who have no issue with this, i veered off the track of the Good and the Holy and couldn’t get back on. i had no point of reference because i’d never thought about what an actual human being looks like, so i had no way to fix what i knew in my gut looked wrong but wouldn’t come out better.

this was hard. this was like oikawa tooru swallowing his worthless pride and admitting that ushijima wakatoshi had gotten the best of him for the last time in his high school career, but in haikyuu!! by furudate haruichi oikawa tooru fucks off to argentina and then joins the argentinean national team, and you know what, i think i’ve made it to argentina (not the team just the country). as per the golden rule of dont fucking move until you’re at least two thirds of the way through the month, i only started trying to draw Shit shit on like the 22nd or something, but i was happy with that i created. i am happy with what i’ve done. i’ve posted like 2 things this month that involve people with what i now call ~applied Knowledge~~ and they’re, like, not perfect obviously (perfection is an unattainable ideal), but i’m fucking proud of them. i didn’t spend 5 hours hunched over my laptop adjusting the red line of the devil because it’s not a devil’s line anymore. because i finally sorta get how people work. because i sat down and i said ‘we are not going to fuck with this misery shit anymore’ and then i did that. it’s just a line now.

here are 2 collages tracking my painstakingly carved out progress from january 2nd to february 2nd because i’m a slut for collages

and here’s what i’ve done to my art! the same person drew these but also Not Really! you know! for the first time in a year i don’t immediately hate what i’ve drawn. you know what guys? art is fucking fun. zelda’s forehead doesn’t scare me anymore because i know how foreheads fucking work now, and i don’t know everything, and i’m going to keep troubleshooting stuff as i go (i want to draw a skeleton. like a. i want to draw a goddamn skeleton guys) but i’m honestly and genuinely proud of what i’ve done in the span of a month, and i’m also in disbelief. i started this month-long challenge out as a last ditch effort to make peace with my art because i’ve been tired for a long time and i was ready to kick the bucket on drawing people altogether. i didn’t think anything would happen. nothing’s happened for years. i’ve been miserable for years.

this was the caption for january 1st, 2021. i was super, super fucking embarrassed and it looks like super fucking shit, but you know what, i think i did in fact triumph over the bullshit. surprisingly enough, when you put in consistent effort into something, You Will See Results. didn’t see that coming, did you? i know i didn’t.

this isn’t a success story. it’s a happiness story. i never gave a shit damn about the institute of art or whatever, i was just mad at myself because what i saw in my head didn’t match up with what was on the canvas. and now it’s getting better. now i’m calibrating the compass. now drawing not just backgrounds but also people is exciting to me, and i can stick my links in your face and tell you ‘they hot’. i’m going to keep doing that. i’m going to keep going until i drop off the side of the earth and then spiral towards mars like some kind of fairy, and then i’m going to create something beautiful.

thanks for reading. here’s a pr department link for sticking around until the end

[spade-riddles]

Submission: Kaylor timeline 2019-2020

This is a atempt of maping the happenings surrounding kaylor in the last 3 years. Please keep in mind that i might forget some things, mostly from 2019 since my memory is actually horrible. I’ll try to include the most important things mainly so let me know if i missed something big. Also, feel free to add some kaylor nods, easter eggs on the girls’ social media, general stuff and correct me i fim wrong on dates or places. Oh quick disclaimer: most of this is Taylor focused because the last time i went on karlies instagram to look for the nashville selfie i actually wanted to puke or bury my face into a hole for the rest of eternety (ok, both) after seeing the jerk photos so if you have any important stuff please add it. Thank u!!!

Lover Era

- ME! MV release on lesbian visibility day (april 26th)

- City of Lover (funny enough, karlie was there in march 😉)

- taylor’s pride post “lets show our pride...” (taylors ig june 1st)

- Promo for the MV with karlie’s hand on taylors ig 16 june post   

- sc**ter *audible puke sound* buys taylors masters (june 30th)

- You Need To Calm Down MV (july 17th) 

- Lover Title Track released 13 days after karlie’s bday (august 16th)

- Lover mv release which Taylor captioned on her ig post with YAIL lyrics.

- Lover Album Release (august 23rd)

- Miss Americana release (jan 31 2020) “gay pride... everything that makes me me” etc

- The Man MV release (feb 27th)

Here’s some posts with lover era easter eggs:

Link 1

Link 2

some inch resting posts:

eye theory ?! 

gold rush 😉

paris captions: 

Link 1

Link 2

(probably not that much of a proof much more of a koincidence since au revoir is a pretty common frase but whatever)

This masterpiece here during NYFW in 2019:

note: I think its pretty safe to assume that up until this point its obvious kaylor is still together. Theres exactly no reason why Taylor and Karlie would be referencing kaylor stuff and each other at this point if they weren’t together.

folklore & evermore Era (oh the start of a daydream and a nightmare)

- Not a lot going on at the moment post  April 27, 2020

- Karlies very interesting posts:  

Dancing in a Cardigan July 10th, 2020

Happy Place July 23rd, 2020

- Tamagochi June 25, 2020 and buns May 14, 2020

- folklore announcement (july 23rd)

Note: up until this point its also pretty much a concensus that they’re still together. Since Karlie hinted the folklore aesthetic and cardigan on her ig post, and Taylor changed the cardigan lyrics to “knew you’d come back to me” and wrote “the lakes” and obviously there is “peace”. From this point on, especially after the WB stuff and pregnancy rumors in September (?) things start to get kinda blurry and gaylors and kaylors start building different point of views. So heres what happens:

- Taylor releases the long pond sessions where she says that joe is WB. I feel like we kinda all believe he isn’t, the thing that gives it for me is mostly Taylor’s body language and the way she stutters when she says it. Also, its kinda weird that out of nowhere joe got this songwriting skills magically. Like, they’ve been “together” for four years and only now Taylor discoveres this man has better songwriting and composing skills than his actual job, idk sounds fishy to me but, you make the call.

- Pregnancy rumors starts flowing on both sides. Taylor quickly starts drinking a shit ton of wine to get her beloved swiffers to come to the realization that she is in fact not pregnant. Karlie’s rumors also starts flowing, and then the people! (?) article comes out confirming it and Karlie later posts a video on her instagram. Here’s where it gets messy. Ill try to explain shortly to you the narrative on the Kaylor side and why i don’t believe in the gaylor narrative. Obviously its your choice wheter you believe it or not.

- Kaylor: The baby is Taylor’s and Karlie’s (not gonna get into hows and stuff bc if it is actually real then it is invading their privacy too much, also speculating about this might trigger some people). 

Things that back this theory up: obviously peace “give you a child”, karlie not tagging j*sh*a on her vids, that one 2,1/2 photo from the folklore photoshoot, buns and tamagochi, Taylor and Paul talking about parenthood in the Rolling Stone issue, and all the fertility imagery in evermore and folklore.

Karlie was in Cali in may until august, Taylor was also there. Jerk was on Ny or Miami cant exactly remeber. And it seems that this is what she wrote that one line “knew youd come back to me” in cardigan about. (IMO they [t and k] had some fight after the masters sale on the end of 2019 and took a break or something, so she would in fact come back to her, but just my opinion). So, karlie was there from may to august, karlie’s is on the end of her pregnancy, and if you do the math, she got pregnant sometime between june and july. Which makes it kinda impossible for the baby to be jerk’s (consequently ending the gaylor narrative) since he was in another place and karlie was on cali for like 4 months, if the baby was his, the baby would’ve been born already.

The gaylor narrative is mostly based on Taylor’s songs specially champagne problems, coney island, hoax, closure and exile.

Coney Island isn’t even necessarily a breakup song, it’s just simply a sad song, it is like death by a thousand cuts pt2, it gives the vibe that Taylor is sorry about a lot of things like not being able to thank Karlie “but when i walked up to the podium i think that i forgot to say your name”.

Like coney island, hoax is about the lows of their relationship but it’s clear in the song that taylor still loves karlie and would trade her for anything “don’t want no other shade of blue but you”

Closure and champagne: it just reminds me of Dianna for some reason i don’t even know how to explain it. Champagne Problems remind some of Dianna bc of i know places where she says “take my hand and don’t ever drop it”, to the gp that song is about harry(<3) and most songs that “are about him” are actually about Dianna. i do think it’s is kinda inspired by Karlie though.

Exile: honestly could be used to form a toe breakup narrative.

TBH we’ll probably never understand fully the story behind it. But Taylor also said that a lot of the albums are full of fantasy even thought they’re also inspired by real life situations.

Thank u for reading!! this is obviously my opinion on the matter and my take on the whole situation. feel free to believe whatever you want, and add stuff i forgot sending u lots of love <3

[bunnymcbunnister]

SPN Season 15 Spoiler Sheet, update 12/9

A few updates this week, some news on the writer/director of 13. 12 is looking packed, with potentially Cas, Jody, Jack, AND Kaia appearing. Still totally up in the air about airing dates past January. Maybe there might be some press around the mid-season finale, so I’ll look out for articles. 

Just a note- if you want to use this for another publication, please drop me a line. The info is for the community, that’s why I take the time to gather it in one place. It’s nice that I’m a published author now in a major online entertainment website, but it would be nice if it was not someone else’s name in the byline. At least change some of the sentences around FFS. Otherwise, enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: This is gathered info from various sources. This is not confirmed information. Stuff in this WILL be wrong. Don’t take this too seriously. This is for fun. Also, if you use this info as in for another publication, please let me know as a courtesy. 

General Info (oldest to newest)

There is hope to wrap up some Wayward Daughters storylines in the back half of the season

They are adding a whole extra day to filming to do the final scene. They will film the final scene last.  (Implies logistics- lots of returning people?)

Brad Bucker used the word “romance” when asked about Sam and Dean’s arcs. Did not specify who. 

In an interview, Kripe indicated that the series ending would have “peace” for Sam and Dean

Not much new at the TCA’s, but it was said it is “unlikely” Jeffery Dean Morgan will be back since his last appearance was such a good end note. There were some jokes about a Castiel spin off. Hell, I’d watch. 

There will be a special tribute ep, not clear if its one of the 20 or additional

Misha will be in 15 out of 20 episodes this season

Also according to Dabb, Jack is still in the empty and “he’s not coming back in the near future”

Cas’ deal with the Empty may come up later in the season. 

Dabb intimated that Chuck was inherently responsible for killing Mary when asked how the boys would respond to Jack. 

Dabb compared Chuck and John Winchester, claiming that Dean would have to break free of “conditioning.” Also, for Jack “there have been cosmic forces fighting for his attention since he was in the womb — and that will continue. As much as this season is about Sam and Dean finding agency, it’s also about Castiel finding agency, and it’s about Jack finding agency. As always, death is never the end. It’s just part of the journey and that’s certainly true with Jack.” 

Jack will be a critical part of the ending of the show

The cage/Adam is looking like it will be coming up for midseason

Shaving People, Punting Things: https://youtu.be/azTwku2uosA

In the cage, Micheal and Adam have formed a working relationship (MarySue)

Dean and Amara’s connection will be explored

There will be a bunker themed episode (MarySue)

According to Misha (Cinablend) Dean and Cas will have discord up to ep 8- which is the mid-season finale. 

At a convention, Jake Abel was asked to share two lies about Adam’s return and a truth. The said 1. Adam is not upset about hell 2. Adam kills someone 3. Adam bring someone back. I am assuming its the bring someone back (Micheal?)

In one of his cookbook interviews, Misha used the word “we” several times when talking about the final scene of Supernatural. He said that would be the last scene they shoot. It seemed to imply that he was in the scene, but that could be open to interpretation. 

The finale will air on Monday May 18th. The show will move to Mondays when it comes back on March 16th. It’s gotta come back either than that and go on a mini break or something, because that is not enough Mondays. 

Dabb mentioned that once Sam realizes what is going on with his connection to Chuck, he will reach out to people “some we expect and some not”

JaxCon spoilers: 

Misha said the ending was “happier than he expected” but also had some sadness. 

Misha mentioned that Claire will be mentioned on the show, but as of yet not appear. 

Jared mentioned April 5th as the date of filming the finale. 

Jensen said Dean will DANCE in an upcoming ep

Jensen reaffirmed his earlier spoiler about Dean/Cas reconciling, explaining why he has so much trouble with “that relationship” and that will “shed some light and then bruise some egos”

Episode 15x08

Title: Our Father Who Aren’t in Heaven

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS: GOD BLESSES HIM WHO HELPS HIS BROTHER – Sam (Jared Padalecki), Dean (Jensen Ackles) and Castiel’s (Misha Collins) continued search for a way to defeat Chuck (guest star Rob Benedict) leads them to unexpected places and toward unlikely allies. Richard Speight, Jr. directed the episode written by Eugenie Ross-Leming & Brad Buckner (#1508). Original Airdate 12/12/2019.

Written by: Buckleming

Director: Speight

Filming Dates:  10/8- 10/18 (no filming 10/14 for Canadian Thanksgiving)

Airdate: 12/12

Photos: http://www.ksitetv.com/supernatural/supernatural-spoilers-photos-our-father-who-arent-in-heaven/200190/

Promo: https://youtu.be/6X5b8a9u8s4

Sneak Peak: https://tvline.com/2019/12/10/supernatural-spoilers-season-15-episode-8-jake-abel-returns-adam-michael/

Castiel ? yes Jack ? 

Guest stars: Jake Abel, Shoshannah Stern, Rob Benedict

Other Spoilers/info:

Jake Abel posted a script with the caption “hell hath no fury like a brother scorned”

Shoshannah Stern was spotted on set- Eileen!

This will be the midseason finale

At BurCon, Misha mentioned Dean is still acting like “a dick” in the ep they were filming- which is this one. 

From the pics, it looks like they are in hell. 

According to TVLine, Adam has hard feelings, but is not necesarily out for revenge. Micheal and him have formed a sort of peace and will have to deal with the changes of the past 10 years. 

Jake Abel indicated to EW that his return sets up things for the future. He will definitely be both Micheal and Adam. 

According to Rob in MarySue, we will hear from Chuck about his limitations with the wound in this ep. 

Episode 15x09

Title: The Trap

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS: 

Written by: Berens

Director: Singer

Filming Dates:  10/21-10/30

Airdate: 1/16??  1/23

Photos: 

Promo:

Sneak Peak:

Castiel ? I think not Jack ? maybe

Guest stars: Rob Benedict, Kim Rhodes, Jim Beaver

Other Spoilers/info:

Midseason premier episode

Misha was at home for the first week of filming, and I think the second. I don’t think he is in this. 

Alex and Rob were hanging out- Chuck and JACK?

Kim Rhodes posted in front of the SPN set and with her trailer- Jody looks very likely. She also had dyed hair and she has been rockin the grey for the past few Jody eps. Maybe a flashback/AU? UPDATE- her hair is brown in her selfie from 12, so maybe Jody just wanted a change.

Jim Beaver posted from set- Bobby!

Jensen shared that in this episode, Dean will pray to Cas to “confess” why he has been treating Cas the way he has. Misha confirmed this in another interview and said tears would be shed- not sure who is doing the crying (besides me). 

Episode 15x10

Title: The Heroes’ Journey

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS: 

Written by: Dabb

Director: Showalter

Filming Dates:  10/31- 11/12 (No filming for Veterans/Armistice Day)

Airdate: 1/23 ?? 1/30

Photos: 

Promo:

Sneak Peak:

Castiel ? maybe briefly?  Jack ? 

Guest stars: 

Other Spoilers/info :

Misha texted some local fans from set in costume about an WA election, but after the convention was promoting his cookbook all over the place. I think he filmed, if he did, for 2 days, max. 

The story will be about Sam and Dean as heroes from the good and bad side (from MarySue)

At DCCon, Jensen shared that  this a bit of a wacky episode- Sam and Dean lose their abilities to fight, Dean gets cavities and Sam gets a cold. Jensen later seemed to refer to this ep when talking to TVGuide- mentioning the Impala will get a flat. 

 Episode 15x11

Title: The Gamblers

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS: 

Written by: Davey Perez and Meredith Glynn

Director: Beeson

Filming Dates:  11/13-11/22 

Airdate: 1/30?? 3/16?

Photos: 

Promo:

Sneak Peak:

Castiel ? seems likely Jack ? 

Guest stars: 

Other Spoilers/info:

Misha and Jensen made a video for a fan that I think was filmed during the first day of shooting? Not for sure. So maybe Cas?? J2M made a video about Thanksgiving, so Micha must have been around at some point. 

Megan Fitzgerald (writer/showrunner’s assistant) and Emma Peterson (production office) were very excited about something in the dailies for this ep. 

They filmed at a church and a park in Surry according to YRShoots. 

 Episode 15x12

Title: Galaxy Brain

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS: 

Written by: Bobo Berens AND Meredith Glynn

Director: Speight

Filming Dates:12/2-!2/11 

Airdate:  3/23?

Photos: 

Promo:

Sneak Peak:

Castiel ? yes Jack ? possibly

Guest stars: Yadira Guevara-Prip (?), Kim Rhodes

Other Spoilers/info:

Alex canceled a comic con appearance in Argentina for “professional obligations” so it seems likely he would film this week

IMDB lists Yadira Guevara-Prip as a guest star, so Kaia? They are not always reliable on casting

Misha posted from set in costume (yea, thanks Misha!) 

Kim Rhodes also has been posting from set

 Episode 15x13

Title: Destiny’s Child

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS: 

Written by: Buckleming

Director: Amyn Kaderali

Filming Dates: 

Airdate: 3/30

Photos: 

Promo:

Sneak Peak:

Castiel ? Jack ? 

Guest stars: 

Other Spoilers/info:

[allhailkingrooker51]

Sooo, I got Rookered again...

Soooo, I got Rookered again.  This time at Geek’d Con in Shreveport, La.  And just like the 1st time I saw Rooker, this time was just as amazing.  I went up to see him several times each day resulting in some pretty epic Rooker moments, and I'm gonna try my hardest to remember every detail.  So, without further ado, here’s the story of my 2nd adventure with the Rooker.   

A little intro before I get to the good stuff. 

First off, y’all have no idea how stoked I was that Rooker was coming to Shreveport!  I was afraid I wasn’t gonna get to see him this year.  He wasn’t coming to a con anywhere near me, and it’s an act of Congress for me to take off work to be able to travel to him.  Geek’d Con was pretty much my last chance.   

I had been watching Geek’d Con’s Facebook like a hawk hoping there might be a slim chance they would announce Rooker.  Then they started hinting and dropping clues for about a month that they had their biggest guest so far coming this year.  And every hint pointed directly to Rooker.  I knew it had to be him.   

One night, Geek’d Con posted on their Facebook page the last clue and that they would be announcing the guest at 8 am the next morning.  I hardly slept a wink that night.  I was too excited and failing miserably at trying not to get my hopes up.  Geek’d Con is not a big con, and even though Rooker likes Shreveport, I was afraid that it might be too small of a con for him to come to.    

Morning finally came, and I was awake way before my alarm.  I decided to get up and go into work early to wait for the announcement.  It’s not like I was sleeping anyways.  This next part might be a little too much info and a little weird, but I’m gonna tell it anyway.  While using my body wash in the shower that morning, a little bubble came out of the bottle and floated up in front of my face.  I blew on it a couple of times, just playing around, and watched the bubble drift higher in the air.  Then I followed it as it came back down again in front of my face, made a quick turn to my left, went around to my side, and landed smack dab on the cheek of my Rooker Skillset portrait tattoo on my left arm.  That bubble was like a Rooker heat-seeking missile, making a bee-line straight for him.  I took that as a sign.  It had to be Rooker. 

I finished getting ready for work and at 8 am on the dot, I checked Facebook.  No announcement yet.  I kept refreshing Geek’d Con’s page over and over again like a lunatic.  I swear it felt like an eternity.  Then at 8:03, I refreshed the page once again, and I saw Yondu.  My heart flipped, and I damn near dropped my phone.  Rooker was coming to Geek’d Con! 

I immediately took a screenshot, and with my hands shaking like crazy, told the Rooker Hookers first.  Then I texted my sister, my mom, my best friend, hell anyone that I could that Rooker was coming to Shreveport.  I couldn’t stop smiling.  For once, I was actually excited going to work.   

When I got to work, I showed my boss, who is also one of my best friends and who has to put up with my Rooker obsession more than anyone.  He was excited for me, and I convinced him to come meet him, too.  

So for the next 4 months, I waited and waited and waited for Geek’d Con to get here.  I ordered Rooker’s gifts, designed a special shirt to wear that Saturday, printed out some goofy Rooker pictures for him to sign, even had Rooker socks made.  When August 16th, finally arrived, I was ready. 

Friday, August 16th, 2019 

Geek’d Con was only open from 6 pm to 9 pm that Friday, but I had been told that Rooker would be there all 3 days, which meant I would be there all 3 days. So I took off work early and drove the almost 2 hours to my parent’s house, who live just outside of Shreveport.  I had been a nervous wreck all week.  I guess I was a little nervous about seeing Rooker again, but mostly I was nervous about getting all the gifts I had planned on giving him through security.   

I had to get into town early because I had a few errands to run before I picked up my friend, who had also gone with me to see Rooker in Houston last year.  One of the errands was picking up some dark chocolate-covered pretzels that I had ordered just for Rooker at a local chocolate store in town.  I hadn’t planned on bringing him pretzels since he gets those at cons all the time, but these were dark chocolate which I knew he liked the best.  And, boy, am I glad I decided to get them! 

I picked my friend up a little later, and we headed up to the convention center.  I wore one of my Rowdy Burns shirts and one of the pairs of socks I had made with Rooker’s face all over them (I had 4 pair, and I mixed and matched them each day, and of course, forgot to show Rooker any of them...AARRGH.)  That line getting in couldn’t go fast enough.  I was so excited to see him again! 

Again, my only worry was getting through security with Rooker's gift.  I’ll get to what the gift was a little later on, but the closer we got to bag check, the more anxious I got.  Luckily, we made it through without any problems. 

We headed inside and walked towards the back and found Rooker’s table.  He wasn’t out yet.  No biggie.  The doors had only been open about 30 minutes or so.  We walked around a little, and then found a table near Rooker’s booth.  We decided to just sit and wait until he came out.  Seven o’clock came.  No Rooker.  Eight o’clock came.  Still no Rooker.  At 8:40, they announced there were 20 minutes left before closing.  We headed out after that.  I admit I was bummed that he wasn’t there, but that just meant I’d have to go see him extra the next day. 

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Saturday morning, I was up and at ‘em early again.  My racing brain wouldn’t let me sleep.  But, I had to be up early anyway to go pick up the rest of Rooker’s gift for that day before the con opened at 10 am.

I had decided a while back that on the Saturday morning of the con, I was going to bring him a bunch of snacks, some from local places around town.  The pretzels and a bag of Zapp's Voodoo chips were a part of that, but I still had two more things to get.

I picked up my friend again and headed to a bakery that I swear makes the best cakes in the world and picked up the little, mini red velvet cake I had ordered for him.  We left there and drove alllll the way across town to get Rooker some donuts from Southern Maid (if you ever get the chance, definitely get donuts from there - they're not fancy but seriously they’re the best ever).  

When we got to the convention center, I put all of his snacks in a gift bag (with the no outside food/drink rule, I figured there was a better chance getting it all through security if it looked like an actual gift).  And it worked!  The snacks and the other gift made it through!  My nerves instantly calmed, and I was home free to finally see the Rooker.  

We immediately went towards the back to his booth, but he wasn’t out yet.  There were a good many people already waiting for him, but I didn’t want to get in line just yet.  I was hoping the crowd would kind of lessen just a little first so I would have some time to explain all the stuff I brought him.  We sat down at the same table as the night before and waited.  About 30 minutes later, there he was!

Omg, I was so excited to see him!  He was wearing black jeans, a black shirt, and his Atlanta Metro Studios cap.  And no shades!  Which is very important when one of your favorite things about Rooker is those damn eyes of his.

We waited about 10 more minutes, but the line never got smaller.  I decided it was now or never and went to get in line.  

While we were waiting in line, there was a person in an inflatable T-Rex costume nearby that had a sign for “Free Hugs".  You probably already know what happened when Rooker saw it.  He escaped from his table and hugged that T-Rex so hard his cap fell off.  

When we finally got to his helper, she noticed the shirt I was wearing and busted out laughing and took a picture of it.  I was hoping Rooker would have the same reaction.

The person in front of me finally got through, and it..was..my..turn.  Surprisingly, I was still very calm.  I walked up to Rooker and said, “Hey, Rooker, you remember me?”  He said, “I do!” I put the gift bag of snacks and his other gift on the table in front of him and he busted out laughing.

“What is all this?!”  

“I brought you a bunch of snacks in case they don't feed you good here.”

I started to tell him what was in the bag and that's when he noticed my shirt.  Awhile back when Rooker had first started growing his hair out again, Sean Gunn had posted a picture of Rooker with his hair all crazy and called him an “international sex symbol” in the caption.  So, naturally, I had that same picture printed on a shirt with the same caption.  He laughed when he saw it and said, “Ya' know, not many men can pull off that look.”  He took his cap off and started pulling his hair in all directions.  His curls were a little wild.  I said, “I know, but you pull it off really well.”  He was still playing with his curls and I wanted to touch his hair so bad.  So I went for it.  I said, “Can I touch ‘em, I gotta touch ‘em, Rooker.”  He leaned over and I grabbed a handful of his hair.  It's so soft, y'all!

After the hair touching moment, we went back to discussing his snacks. I said, “I brought you some of the best donuts in the world and…”  That’s when he saw a fork in the bag and asked what it was for.  “For this.”  I pulled out the little mini cake and told him it was red velvet (which I had read a long time ago was his favorite).  Y'all he smiled and laughed the whole time.

He immediately came around the table and gave me a huge hug and said I was too sweet always bringing him stuff.  Then it just kind of slipped out of my mouth.  I didn’t even realize I had said it ‘til it was too late.  As he's still hugging me and telling me how nice I am and that I don't have to bring him stuff, I said “Well, I love you, Rooker.  You’re my favorite person in the world.”  Good God, I told Michael Rooker I loved him to his face.  And I don’t really say that to anybody.  Looking back now, though, I'm glad I did.  That man makes my world go round, and I want him to know that.  

After he hugged me and still laughing, he walked over to my friend, grabbed her face in his hands, and said “She always like this?  Bringing presents and stuff?”  She said yes and Rooker laughed again.

I went over to the bag and pulled out the little box of chocolate covered pretzels.  I said,” Look, Rooker, I wasn’t gonna bring you pretzels ‘cause I know you get them all the time, but these are dark chocolate ones I had made especially for you."

He grabbed the box, opened it, held it out for the people in line to see and said, “Aww, look everyone.”  That's when one of the best things that's ever happened to me happened.

Rooker took one of the pretzels and held it up to my mouth for me to take a bite.  Unfortunately, I had just gotten a piece of mint gum from my friend not 10 minutes earlier.

I said, “Ew, Rooker, no I have gum.”

I shoulda known Rooker wasn’t gonna take ‘no' for an answer.

He grinned and pushed the pretzel further towards my mouth, "Take a bite.”

So I did.

As soon as my mouth touched that pretzel, he leaned in and took a bite out of the other side at the same time.  We ‘Lady and the Tramp'd’ that pretzel.  His mouth was like inches away from mine.  Gotta admit, I was a little shocked, but I laughed, he laughed, hell his whole line was laughing.  I'm sure my face was redder than a tomato.

As I’m still chewing the now disgusting combination of chocolate pretzel and mint gum growing into an oddly textured rubbery substance in my mouth, he says “Here, lemme have it" and he holds his hand out for me to..spit..my..gum..out..in..his..hand.  

I said, “Ew, Rooker, I'm not gonna do that …it’s ok, I'll suffer.”  He laughed again.

Still trying to recover from that moment, I realized I still hadn’t shown him his other gift.  We walked closer to the table, and he said, “What is this?”   I said, “You remember last year I gave you the shot glass?”  He said yes.  I opened the box and said, “Well, I got you these to kind of go with it.”  This time I had gotten him two whiskey glasses made with .45 caliber bullets molded into the side (hence the reason I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to get them through security).  On one glass, I had “I'm Mary Poppins, Y'all!” etched, and the other with an ‘R' and ‘Rooker’.  He loved them.  He said they were beautiful and took each one out and showed it to everybody.  He looked at me and said, “At least they’re .45s.  That's the only thing that'll stop a Jack and Coke.”  He made himself giggle.  It was great.  

He ended up giving me like a gazillion hugs the whole time and then told me that I got to pick out a picture for him to sign.

I laughed and said, “No, it's ok, Rooker.  I don't bring you stuff to get free autographs.  I have some stuff for you to sign in my bag anyway so I'll be back in a little while.  You know you gotta put up with me all weekend.”  

He laughed again and before I walked away, I lifted up my sleeve and asked him if he remembered my “Sexy Thanos" tattoo as he called it last time.  He said, “Yeah, I remember and that ain’t sexy Thanos, that's sexy Rooker.”

I don’t think I could have smiled any bigger than I was when I walked away from his table. 

A little while later was photo ops.  I had bought one for Saturday and Sunday.  His line stretched almost the entire length of the convention center.  You could definitely tell that Rooker was the star of Geek'd Con.  

The whole time we were waiting in line, Rooker would periodically stick his head out of the curtain and pull the curtain up tight around his face to where his face was all that was showing.  I tried to get a picture cause it was adorable as hell, but as soon as I would get my phone out, he would disappear behind the curtain again.

When it was my turn to take the picture, I went up to Rooker and he put his arm around me and I did the same to him.  Here's where it gets really good.

Usually, photo ops go by insanely fast.  Like seconds fast.  But for some reason, there was a delay between my photo and the one before.  Rooker's event manager was talking to the photographer about something so that left me and Rooker to ourselves for a moment.

If y'all don't know yet, Rooker in a backwards baseball cap is THE sexiest thing on the planet to me.  Last year, he wore one of his Penman hats so I didn’t get to ask him this.  This year, I said ‘fuck it’ and went for it.

With him standing right next to me with his arm still around me, I leaned over and said, “Rooker, will you do me a favor?”

He turned towards me, his face inches away from mine, and looked right in my eyes and said, “What's that baby?”

I..could..have..died..right..then..and..there.  The feeling of Rooker that close to you.  His eyes staring right into your soul.  Lawd help me.

I said, “Will you turn your hat around backwards?”

He gave me a slow grin and said, “Yeah, baby.”  He turned his cap around but kind of looked a little confused.

I said, “I like it better that way.  It's hotter like that.”  Yeah, I still can’t believe I said that, too.  But I felt I needed to explain why I asked him.

He laughed and grabbed me in a big bear hug, the kind that almost knocked both of us over.  He said,” Oh, that gets you all hot, huh?”  I said, “Uh, yeaaah."  Fuck it.  I was being honest.  He busted out laughing again, but it was time to take the photo.  So we straightened up and I said, “Now you gonna have me blushing.”  He grinned and said, “I know, it's great.”

We took the photo and he hugged me again and then held my hand and said ‘thank you, baby’.  His event manager asked if he had seen my shirt.  He laughed and said yes, and held my hand ‘til I really had to walk away.  

We immediately got back in his line so I could get my first autograph.  This time, I had him sign one of his old headshots which was him as Zeedo from The Replacement Killers.  

Time for a little backstory.  A couple of years ago, I got a new dog and named him Rooker.  Last year I showed Rooker a meme I had made with him and my dog.  He got a kick out of it.  Well, almost two months ago, I rescued another dog that had been living in horrendous conditions at a puppy mill in south Louisiana.  From the first time I saw this dog, I knew he was supposed to be mine.  I got approved for his adoption, named him Zeedo, and he became one of my pack.

Now back to Rooker.  When it was my turn, I went up to him and gave him the Zeedo headshot to sign.  I pulled out my phone and said, “Rooker, you remember last year I showed you my dog, Rooker?  Well, I adopted another dog last month and named him Zeedo.”  I showed him a picture of him.

He said, “Aww.” He looked back down at the headshot and said, “Zeedo frommm?”  He couldn’t think of the name of the movie. I said,” The Replacement Killers.”

He laughed,” Yes! The Replacement Killers! You know when I grow a goatee like that now, it’s definitely not that color anymore.”

He then noticed the packet of headshots and other pictures I was holding in my hand.  He grabbed them and started flipping through them saying he was gonna sign another.  I said, “No, you signed all those last time.”  He said, “I'm not gonna sign all of them, just my favorite one.”  He pulled out the hot young headshot and signed it again and then said something about his resume on the back.  And I still forgot to ask him about clown training!  I’m so mad at myself!

Another backstory - I need to mention that earlier one of my mom's old co-workers had found us at Geek'd Con.  She knew I loved Rooker and had been messaging me about him a couple of months before Geek'd Con.  She stood with us in line during the Zeedo headshot signing.  Before we got to Rooker, we were talking about going to his panel which was in a couple of hours.  She had never met Rooker before or been to one of his panels.  I told her how Rooker doesn’t play by the rules, and there was no way he was gonna sit at the table on the stage.  I don’t think the Geek'd Con folks really had any idea what they were getting themselves into with Rooker, and I was super curious to see how his panel would be.

While Rooker was signing his old headshot, my mom’s co-worker asked him how old he was in that photo.  He figured he was in his early to mid-20s.  That original 1991 press photo I have of Rooker with his soda and popcorn at a movie premiere was also in the stack of headshots.  He saw it and I said, “Aww, lookit that baby.”  He laughed, “Yeah, that young, hot baby.”  I said, “Oh, Rooker, you’re still hot.”  

He gave me a tight, squishy sideways hug and we said our goodbyes for the moment.

We snuck in late to the panel before his to try to get a good seat.  My boss had also texted me in the meantime that he and his wife were on their way.  They weren’t sure they would be able to come that particular day, but they ended up making it just in time for his panel.  

Rooker’s panel was full of typical Rooker shenanigans.  And just as I had expected, Rooker never sat down at the table and lasted about 7 minutes pacing on the stage before he jumped off and ran out into the audience taking questions.

After his panel, we rushed back to Rooker’s booth one last time before he left for the day.  I couldn’t wait for my boss to meet Rooker.  You know how Rooker and James Gunn are together?  Best friends who are constantly bullshitting one another?  That’s exactly how me and my boss are.  And for the longest time, I’ve been telling my boss every time he fucks with me that someday I would get Rooker to beat him up.  Now, they would both be in the same room, and I could finally get Rooker to ‘beat him up’.  

I had Rooker sign that goofy picture of him behind the scenes of “Super”.  He said, “Hey, it’s Super!  I was just talking about Super!  Lookit that expression!”, talking about the silly face he was making.  After he signed the picture, I pointed to my boss and said, “Rooker, I need you to beat him up for me.”

“Whhhhy?”

“Because he’s my boss and he’s mean to me and I always tell him that I’m gonna get you to beat him up.”

Rooker told my boss to give him his hand.  My boss thought he was asking to shake his hand, but instead, Rooker takes my boss’s hand and starts smacking the back of it while saying ‘Bad! Bad! Bad!’ like he was scolding a little kid.  

We said goodbye after that and I told him that I’d be back tomorrow to see him again.  I also said, “I have some more things to give you.”  He misheard me and said, “WHAT?  You have more things to do?!” like he was upset or sad I wasn’t coming to see him.  I busted out laughing and said, “Noooo, more things to give you.”  He smiled really big and said “Ohhh..omg more stuff?" and called me a doll and said I was too sweet.   And that was the end of the epic first day.

Sunday, August 18th, 2019 

My friend couldn’t come with me to Geek'd Con on Sunday due to work so I drug my 10-year-old niece along.   She didn’t mind though.  She loves superhero movies and she knows who Rooker is because of me.   Plus, I bribed her by telling her I would buy her something while we were there. 

We got to the convention center right when the doors opened at 11 that morning, and after going through security, went straight to Rooker’s booth.  He was already out and there weren’t that many people in line at that time, so I decided to go ahead and go see him.  I had my Bud Melks poster for him to sign and another gift to give him. 

As soon as we got to Rooker, someone brought him another cup of coffee.  I had to wait for him to pour his new coffee into his old cup, laughing and watching him almost spill coffee all over the place.  When he was done, he asked, “Whatcha got?” talking about the poster I had in my hand.  I unrolled my Bud poster out in front of him and said, “You remember I have your Bud coveralls?  I’m gonna frame this to hang up, too.”   

“Yes, you do.  Oooh, this looks nice.”  He held the poster up for everyone to see, and then asked everyone in line if they had seen Belko.  I don’t think anyone said yes.  He laughed and joked, “Well don’t, it’s terrible!”  The line had gotten somewhat longer behind me so I decided to give him his gift a little while later so I wouldn’t take up any more time. 

My niece and I walked around some, and I made good on my promise of buying her something.  When we came back around, there were only like 2 or 3 people in Rooker’s line so I went up to give him a gift.  This one needed a little explaining. 

I went up to Rooker and gave him one of those Yondu car air fresheners I had posted to my tumblr and Rooker Facebook pages awhile back.  He said, “Aww, what is this?”  I told him how I had found these Yondu air fresheners a couple of months ago and that I had posted them to FB and IG.  I almost didn’t want to tell him that I had a Rooker FB page, but I kinda had to.  I said, “I have a Rooker FB page called All Hail King Rooker.” 

He said, “All hail what?” 

“King Rooker.” 

He busted out laughing.  “Ahh, King Rooker. Okay.” 

“Ok, so, I posted these on my Rooker FB, and Kim (who runs the Rookerholics FB page) commented on the picture saying that you needed some for your Airstream.  So, I was like ‘yesss, he needs some for his Airstream!’  So, I go to buy you some, but they were sold out.  And they’ve been sold out ever since.  Soooooo, I’m giving you my extra one.” 

He loved it and said, “Awww.  Thank you, baby.”  He took it out of the package and put it together. 

I then told him that I had taken out the air freshener thingy ‘cause it was shit and never worked but the little Yondu still looks cool. 

We talked a little more and he came around the table to give me another hug.  He then asked my niece her name and held out his hand for her to shake it.  He teased her a little bit about not shaking his hand hard enough so he taught her how to shake hands properly but not too hard that it would break his hand.  I explained to him that she was my niece and that I didn’t have any adult supervision anymore.  He laughed and told my niece not to let me get in any trouble.  I told him, “You know the only trouble I’d be getting into is over here with you, Rooker.”  He laughed again and gave me another hug, telling me how sweet how I was.  And I did it again, y’all.  While he still had his arms around me, I said, “I love you, Rooker.  And, I’ll be back later to give you more stuff.”  He said, “Dammit, woman!” as he pulled away and I left his line again smiling like an idiot. 

I had another photo op a little later, but not much happened during that one.  I mean other than the fact that I got to stand close to him again with his arm around me and he held my hand as I walked away, but... 

It was nearing the end of the afternoon and Rooker had another round of photo ops at 3 pm.  The con closed at 5 and I was afraid he might be leaving after his photo ops.  I decided to go get in his line one last time and do the thing I had been dreading all weekend, saying goodbye. 

I had him sign a couple more pictures, one being a photo of him from Thief, which he filmed in Shreveport.  He was like ‘Oooh, Thief.”  I said, “Yep, you signed my Super (which was also filmed in Shreveport) pic yesterday and Thief today.”  He told me he still has the suspenders he wore in that photo.  I asked if he remembered me telling him that my stepdad was a cop and that he had been working on the set of Thief and met Rooker years ago.  He said yeah, and I explained to him that my stepdad had just retired from the force after like 30 years or so and that his retirement party was in a couple of weeks and it was being held at the same place that he filmed his last scene in Thief.  (The place is actually an event hall and my sister works there now.)  He thought that was pretty cool.  I also had him sign the crazy-haired “International Sex Symbol” picture, too.   

His line started to get really long and I felt like I needed to hurry, so I gave him the last few things I had for him, a Shreveport Police Dept. patch, a Shreveport Fire Dept. patch, and a Matchbox car of a Shreveport Police cruiser.  I explained the stuff really quick and said, “This is it, Rooker.  I gotta go.  This is all I got.  I won’t be coming back anymore.”  He grabbed me up in another tight hug that nearly knocked us off balance, and said, “Me neither!”  I said, “Noooo, Rooker, you have to come back.  Please!”  He laughed and said he would.  He then pointed to my niece and said that she’d be full-grown next year when he’s here.  I told him goodbye and walked away one last time.  

I swear it was like instant depression walking away from his table knowing that I wouldn’t be seeing him again.  And I know he calls a lot of people ‘baby’ or ‘sexy’ or any of his other pet names and gives hugs to everybody, but damn if he doesn’t make you feel special.  It’s like no one else exists but the two of you when he’s talking to you.  He makes me forget, if just for a moment, all the negative thoughts that I have about myself, the depression, the way I’ll never be good enough for anyone.  He makes me truly..happy, and no one else on earth makes me feel the way that he does.  And I hope that he knows that.  Walking away from him is seriously one of the hardest things to do. 

So, again, that’s it.  That’s my second adventure with the Rooker, the most beautiful person inside and out in the entire world.  I’m not sure when I’ll get to see him next, but if it’s up to me and written in the stars, there will be a next time.  I already have some more gift ideas (gotta keep up my sugar mama ways) and another pretty epic shirt design that I think he’ll get a kick out of.  So, until next time, farewell y’all! :) 

[queen-of-hearts92]

Revue Starlight 7: Living in the state of dreaming.

Her life is a play, is a play, is a play....

For the previous episode go here!

To go to the start of these posts, go to the Prelude!

WELL. THAT ESCULATED QUICKLY.

The tipping point is here my dudes. And it’s fucking, amazing! Absolutely incredible! Blew me out of the water! The storyboarding is amazing, the fucking music the lighting like everything is so well done I can’t believe it! I’m telling you guys, masterpiece right here!

Theres a lot to talk about regarding this episode so be prepared for a very very long post.

If you haven’t seen Revue Starlight or episode 7, TURN BACK NOW. I’m spoiling everything and you REALLY don’t want to be spoiled for this! 

If you haven’t seen this show yet, please PLEASE do so! Seriously, I can’t empathis enough! Don’t ignore this holy shit! Really! Seriously! I’m screaming this from the rooftops for a good reason, this is extremely good! It’s not yuri bait, it’s not an idol anime just, for the love of god don’t ignore this series! Don’t let this slide under the radar Western anime fandom! It deserves so much better than that!

Ok now that the PSA is done, here we go! 

The title and caption of this post is from the song “The State of Dreaming” by Marina and the Diamonds. It’s, pretty fitting for here for sure.

>*Daft Punk voice* One more time!

*deep breath* Alright, here we go.

We open the episode in the past, this is mostly a flashback episode. It’s March 3rd, 2018, the Starlight play is being performed and we get to see more than we ever have of the play. Claire and Flora ascend up a fuck ton of stairs to get the star together, they have to pass through seven other goddesses as they climb upwards. The seven goddesses all seemed to have tried reaching the star itself in the past but failed, and they tell Claire and Flora why they failed and to not seek the star themselves. Nana’s character refers to it as a cycle of despair. Claire and Flora make it to the top and it goes how we know it does, Flora is zapped down and Claire ascends without her. As the play ends sand (or maybe it’s supposed to be stardust) rains down from the ceiling, the audience applauds as the girls take their bows. We focus on a very happy Nana who says its bright.

Wow it looks like she just put them in a...gilded cage. *Foreshadowing intensifies*

We now go to March 5th, 2018, the play’s run is over and the girls are having an after party. We get several shots of the Venus De Milo here and throughout the episode. Junna and Sanai (head play writer in case you don’t recall) walk in front of a Venus and a small scale version of the star tower and make a speech, congratulating everybody on the play’s success. The party continues with the girls talking, taking pictures, eating, etc. We go to Nana who has her phone camera in front of her eyes, she’s taking pictures of her own.

She first takes one of Junna telling her good work, Junna gets flustered and says that this play was only the first year and they gotta prepare for next year soon. Nana then walks to Karen and Mahiru and takes their picture, Nana tells Karen she did a good job and Karen says Nana was really good too. Nana asks if Mahiru was nervous, she says she wasn’t thanks to Karen. Nana walks to Maya and Claudine congratulating them on a good job, Maya thanks her and Claudine says she did NOT lose to Maya thank you very much. Maya is like “ok let’s face off again at the next audition”. Maya then looks directly at Nana and tells her essentially that she would like to face off against her too. Nana seems confused, but no matter. Nana goes to Futaba and Kaoruko next. Futaba is like idk how to play a goddess but it worked out somehow, Kaoruko starts to tease her when they both notice Nana. The two run up to her and Futaba gives her a hug, she thanks her for helping her out during this whole play. Kaoruko also thanks her for the same reason. Mahiru and a few rando girls also thank Nana for helping them during the play production.

Karen picks up a banana muffin and comes up with Nana’s legendary nickname while Nana, Kaoruko, and Futaba are doing a message train. Karen reasons that Nana is like a banana because she’s sweet and good for everyone. Junna, who had just joined the group to get food, is confused. But Mahiru thinks the nickname is cute, Kaoruko and Futaba like it too. Kaoruko says its because Nana is tall like a banana, Futaba says its because Nana smells nice. Wow Futaba. Nana laughs, she also likes the nickname. But her laughter soon goes into crying, much to the alarm of her friends. Futaba and Kaoruko ask her what's wrong and Nana smiles and says she’s crying because she’s happy. It turns out Nana’s crying caused literally everyone at the party to notice. Nana says she’s glad she came to the school and says she’ll never forget this play. Internally Nana says she found her forever friends and her destined stage. On this day, Nana was reborn as a Stage Girl. Then we get the opening.

Ah yes, the message train. A theater kid tradition!

We jump to spring break, March 26th, 2018. All the girls but Nana and Junna leave the dorms to go home for break. They say bye to Nana, who has her camera phone in front of her eyes again, and watches everyone leave. We get a few shots in the empty dorm with Nana in the same pose, she comments that it’s very quiet with everyone gone. Nana goes back to her room, Junna is reading. Upon seeing Nana holding up her camera she’s like you’re taking pictures in our room why?? Nana responds saying that she needs to take photos of all the important moments for the next school festival. Junna asks if Nana was fine not going home, Nana is surprised by this question. Junna says she isn’t going back home until she graduates (reminder note: Junna’s parents don’t approve of her being at this school) so if Nana was just staying to look after her she probs shouldn’t. Nana smiles and, after offering udon, says she’s here because she wants to be here. Junna smiles and says yes to the udon.

Fellas is it gay if you take multiple pictures of your room mate everyday?

Now it’s a new school term, they’re second years. It’s April 9th, 2018. Nana is recording Junna finishing tying her school bow on, she’s like hey Junna got a speech for the new year? Junna is like hold on I’m the class rep I gotta not do anything embarrassing! She puts on a new pair of glasses and Nana says they are the same glasses but look like new ones. Nana and Junna go to school into their new classroom, Nana goes to the front of the room to record everyone. The girls in the class wave to her, Nana shifts to the back of the classroom.

Then, Nana realizes something is off. Mysterious creepy music plays as we see our girls and the girls in the class, Nana is doing a headcount. As the number 99 zooms slowly towards the camera Nana says two of her classmates are missing. The music cuts out, Junna tells Nana that the two girls had dropped out of school. Later Nana and Junna are in the locker room, Junna is removing the dropped out girl’s name tags from the locker. She laments that it’s sad this is the first task she got as class rep, but it’s time to move forward. Nana pauses before simply saying, yeah.

It’s now May 16th, 2018, the (regular as far as we can tell) auditions for the play have started. Nana stands in the back of the practice room with the camera in front of her eyes, through the camera screen we see Claudine declaring she’ll have a perfect victory over Tendou Maya. A picture is taken, Karen pops in declaring she’ll be Flora. Another picture is taken, Mahiru pops in saying if Karen is Flora then she’ll be Claire. The next photo adds Junna, Kaoruko, and Futaba to the mix, Kaoruko is like I’ll be in the main cast this time bitch! We go back to Nana, Maya appears next to her. Maya asks if Nana had a moment to talk after class and Nana says sure, Junna notices this exchange.

Kuro is best wingman pass it on!

And now...Now is when things start taking a turn.

Maya and Nana walk outside, Nana reminisces about the starlight play as they walk. The girls pass by several buildings, some girls are there and Nana waves to them briefly. Nana wonders if they could make the exact same play as they did last time. The music changes, Maya says that even if they have the same components as the previous play it won’t be the same. While Maya is speaking we see several other girls around the area. She continues saying that the girls (the ones who dropped out) chose their own path, with their own hardships. That sometimes there are people who can’t make it even when they try their hardest, so they leave the stage. Maya says she will challenge Nana for the main character in the play this time around. Maya tells Nana that she’s very talented so she wonders why she doesn’t step it up more. And then, after we zoom in on an empty locker, the music suddenly drops out and ALL the girls we saw earlier snap their heads up and look in the direction of the screen.

After that haunting sequence, which legit startled the fuck outta me, we go to Futaba and Kaoruko standing between two vending machines. Kaoruko is taking her time deciding something and Futaba tells her to just pick already. We go back to Nana and Maya, Maya says to Nana that if she doesn’t try to give her all and refuses to change. She will never forgive her. Nana is shocked.

Later nightmare fuel aside, the framing of this shot is so good oh man!

It’s now the evening, the sky is purple. Nana sits on a bench looking through her photos from the after party. Junna, Karen, and Mahiru come on in, they look at the photos and reminisce about the party and the play. Nana says how much she loved doing the play and the three other girls also say they loved it too. Nana wonders again if they can put on the same play, she looks at her photos fondly. Karen then is like, well I hope I can be on the stage again. She says the stage is alive and always changing, therefore it can’t be the same play at all. Junna points out they also are missing classmates hence it really isn’t possible to make the same exact play. Karen stands up on a bench, ripping open a bag of dried banana chips, and is like we’ll make a WAYY better play this year! Junna is like, you dumbass don’t stand on the bench! Karen says this is her stage now and it’s fine since she took her shoes off. Junna is exasperated. Nana tunes out of the conversation, staring at the sky.

Now Nana is in the changing room at the dorms, she’s lying down staring up at the ceiling. She wonders if they’ll be successful in creating a better play. She thinks the play they did in the past was perfect as is. And then, her phone rings with a VERY familiar ringtone. Giraffe has texted Nana for the first time, Nana thinks the giraffe is cute.

We go to Nana on a stage, a very bright stage of yellow light. Behind her is a piece of the prop star tower hanging out. Giraffe is standing in front of the real one, he greets Nana with a good evening. Giraffe asks if it was too radiant, Nana doesn’t really give an answer instead she’s like giraffe?? As Giraffe explains what a revue is, we get shots of the underground stage. It’s in ruins, the chairs are messed up, there's rust on the machines, everything is cracked and ruined to hell and back, and the whole thing is partly flooded. Or really it’s sinking. We also get a shot of the props from audition duels we’ve seen already. 

Nana is confused by what Giraffe means by radiance, he explains whoever shows the most radiance will get to be Top Star. After we hear a bizarre sound we get a shot of the tiara, Giraffe says that she will stand on in the Stage of Destiny if she gets Top Star and will radiant forever as an eternal star. Nana says she isn’t interested in that. Giraffe understands, so he offers her something else. What wish she did she have then? What kind of stage would she like to stand on? He says Nana has a radiant stage inside her, one so bright that she might not even be able to reach it. Nana asks if she could choose any stage she wanted, and Giraffe is like sure just join the auditions. Nana accepts joining them.

Hm, seems legit. Nothing bad will happen here.

It then cuts to, Nana winning against Maya. Nana stands in the light looking spacey and she speaks in a robotic dead sounding tone, Maya is shocked and said “so this is your true self?” she asks what made Nana change. Nana responds by asking if it’s too bright, because it’s too bright for her. As the curtain comes down, Maya asks why she’s doing this but all Nana says is she can’t reach it. Maya tries to ask what drove her to go to this extreme but she’s cut off by the curtain falling down on her. Nana claims position zero but, she doesn’t announce her name. Instead she says again she can’t reach it because it’s too bright. We see a shot of the rankings board, Nana is at the top at number one.

In the next scene Giraffe congratulates Nana on becoming Top Star. He asks if it’s too bright. Nana says yes. Giraffe asks what stage she desired, Nana says she wants to perform the Starlight play from the previous year again. Giraffe is like, alrighty then. The tiara drops at Nana’s feet on position zero, there are bright pink lights and a buzzing sound. The script with the frog on it we’ve seen Nana with before falls from the sky and we go to black.

Never underestimate the power of fruit.

The next thing Nana knows, she’s in class. The teacher announces that they will be doing the Starlight play for their three years, the class is excited. Futaba and Kaoruko don’t know what it is. Nana is like ??? what, she turns to Junna and is like hey wtf is going on. Junna is shocked and flustered at Nana using her first name, she calls Nana by her last name. Nana stares at her shocked. She realized what just happened.

She went back in time. It went from May 25th, 2018 to April 17th, 2017. We see the Starlight play being prepared and practice while Nana reveals something else. Nana going back to the past like this, isn’t a one time thing. No, it’s been done many times before by her. Nana….has trapped everyone in a time loop.

Holy shit.

Anyways, Nana has convinced herself that being in a time loop is a good thing. She has nothing to fear, no one has to grow up and feel the pain of being alive and growing. Nana says she’ll protect everyone, she’s doing this for everyone's sake. It’s fine. Nana smiles, whole holding the script close, in the bright yellow stage under the tower prop. There's a giant box with the number 99 painted on its side behind her. We learn that every loop she fights Maya, every loop she beats her. She makes the same wish. It all starts over again. But she still can’t reach the light, it’s still too bright.

And then, one day. Something different happens.

After winning again, Nana tells the Giraffe it’s still too bright. Giraffe (standing by a sudden random tree) says he has lost count in the number of times these loops have happened but he will grant her the same wish anyways. Nana asks him, why does he do this for her. Giraffe says when a Stage Girl becomes Top Star she releases a powerful radiance, a shining stage. He wants to see that, he wants to see shining stages. But, it seems like Giraffe has gotten bored of Nana’s same stage so. Something is gonna change it, or really someone. A knife is thrown down smack in the middle of position zero at Nana’s feet. It’s Hikari’s knife. Nana is shocked, she looks up and sees Hikari’s blue cape in the tree. Hikari herself stands under the tree, staring. The scene goes to black, Nana is back at the start of her loop wondering who the fuck that was.

COME TO THIS WEIRD STAGE TREE IN 5 MINUTES FOR AN ASSWHOOPIN.

Nana’s loop continues as normal, until. Until May 14th, 2018. Nana wakes up and knows something is off right away. We see the scene from episode 1 where Karen falls off her chair, Hikari is in the hallway with her suitcase. The teacher tells the class that they are getting a new transfer student, Nana is shocked.

Nana is like holy shit this is new. We then see a bunch of lines go by, they are time loops that have happened. When I slowed it down, I counted 60 lines total. So there have been 60 time loops, each one is a year and 5 months….Nana has been doing this for 60 years.

Jesus fucking christ Nana.

We then jump back to the present, the sun is going down while the girls walk home. Haunting music plays while Nana stares out a window at Hikari. She wonders how this change even happened at all, she wonders if doing the same play for 60 years really gets boring. Geez Nana, ya think? 

However, Nana says her world will never change. She says Hikari’s name, and turns creepily to the camera staring directly at it. She’ll put that girl in her play. No matter what. The episode ends.

The ending theme has no vocals.

Nana...what have you done...

>We never saw it cominnnng!

-Holy mother of fucking god. I. This. Was incredible. My mind is still blown! What an excellent twist! I love this show so fucking much! I told y’all this was something special! I fucking told you! Episode 7 proved it! They could fuck it up at the end but my gut feeling is still good! Fucking anime of the year!

--Also there were AMAZING shots in this! So much good storyboarding holy shit!

-In my episode one and five write ups I took note of the dates but at the time I said they “probably aren’t relevant”. WELL GUESS WHAT PAST ME. THEY VERY MUCH ARE RELEVANT! I picked up that the show was showing us dates but not why. Gdi.

-With time nonsense happening, I made timelines (here and here) so we can keep track of what’s going on. Will update as needed and put in future write ups as needed.

-I wanna address something real quick, a lot of people are quick to make comparisons to Madoka Magica and Homura’s time travel powers. I can see why people make that comparison but the time travel here isn’t really the same at all. Homura can start the time travel whenever she likes, sure it’s limited to going to a certain day but if say she was three days into the timeline and Homura decides to go back again she can. Nana can’t do such a thing. If Nana was three days into hers and she wanted to go back she can’t, she has to become Top Star to go back in time at all. Higurashi is a closer comparison but even that isn’t too close to Nana’s time looping either, without spoiling anything in Higurashi the length of the time loops vary and aren’t the same. It can go for many years or not. Funny I think this kind of time travel in the show is closer to the movie Groundhog's Day but instead of just one day it goes for a year lol. Another comparison I’ve seen is Steins Gate but I’ve only seen one episode of that anime so I can’t comment too much on it. 

Point being here is, not all time travel is the same and often isn’t compatible to each other. Nana’s time loops continuing lies solely on being Top Star, if she didn’t become Top Star no time loop will happen. It’s not superpowered base like Homura’s is nor is it like Higurashi’s which is….uh. Let’s say why the loops are happening are much more complicated than either of these shows. So, let’s stop saying Nana is pulling a Homura cause she isn’t (Homura also isn’t the first time traveler in fiction you guys, you can use other comparisons). Don’t mislead people into thinking it works like Madoka Magica’s ok? Ok.

-I feel silly now that I worked out the possible ranks in episode 5 cause as it turns out the ranking board is a lie and doesn’t matter as much as we thought it did! Maya isn’t really in first, she’s in second. Nana is first, Nana is the strongest of all of them. This means that poor Kuro is actually in third place, ouch. If she finds that out she’ll be very unhappy about that.

-Funny, I thought how this show was gonna go was Karen blasting through everyone and then they fight the evil tiara bullshit together but now that this time loop is involved, everything has fucking change. Everything! Nice!

-Interestingly, it appears there is no visual uniform difference between the years. As in first, second, and third years all have the exact same uniform. That’s not super common in high school anime I find, it’s nifty!

-There were some differences in the ending credits this time. In the past several episodes we’ve had a character sing the ending theme Fly Me to the Star. But not here, Nana doesn’t sing fly me to the stars. It’s only the instrumentals and Nana is with Giraffe instead of either by herself or with someone. Another difference was with Hikari’s hair clip, it’s usually a hand (probs Hikari’s) reaching down and touching it. But this episode, Nana is stepping on Hikari’s hair pin. I’m sure that implies nothing bad, oh wait yes it does. Hahaha she’s gonna fucking try and kill her isn’t she? Hikari is fucking screwed. ono

Another difference lies in the background, in the previous credits there’s always items that are related to whoever is singing the song slowly falling in the background. It always includes the Starlight play script but with Nana’s it’s JUST the Starlight play script and nothing else. Yikes. The last difference is at the very end, normally it has the girl(s) who sang the song standing in the spotlight. This time it’s just the frog Starlight script in the spotlight. Both of these things show how obsessed Nana is with this play, it’s consumed her entire life and her spotlight for that matter.

-After Nana wins the duels she doesn’t declare her name when claiming position zero. That’s very very odd considering everyone who’s declared position zero says their name right afterwards. Loss of identity maybe?

-At the end of the Starlight play it rained sand on the stage just like it rained water in episode two on kuromaya stage after they fight. Not sure what this means yet, instead it brings something else to mind.

-This series uses and brings up water a lot! There is several bodies of water on the campus, it’s raining after Karen’s duel with Maya and this reflection happens, it’s raining at the end of the kuromaya fight, the whole damn stage is surrounded by water, Hikari goes to aquariums in episode 4, swans are aquatic birds, we see the stage flooded in the past, and of course there is the goddess Aphrodite’s connection with water. She was born out of the ocean, you could even say she was reborn since she came from a nutsack (myths are fucking weird man). Water has a TON of symbolism behind it, it’s been used symbolically for centuries. It often symbolises birth or rebirth, cleansing yourself, purity, and there's a ton of mythos involving water and many religions practices that involve it. What’s not super known is that water as a symbol was used a lot in early sapphic literature, as were birds.

What this all means is hard to say but I think it does tie into the being reborn theme this show has. It’s a metaphorical rebirthing as we’ve seen it. Karen is reborn when she became a Stage Girl, Junna describes falling in love with theater as a child as being reborn, and Nana also refers to herself being reborn after the Starlight play after party. What being reborn really means in this show is being drastically changed by a life experience. I’m really excited to see this theme continued.

-The Venus de Milo statue makes a frequent appearance again (5 times!) and while I do think it still ties strongly to Maya there is something weird here, it seems like the statue is involved with the play somehow? It’s present at the after party, even being in front of the star tower so one would think it’s involved in the play somehow. But what? What does this statue have to do with this play? Is it cause Venus is also a star? Maybe? It’s hard to say.

-When Nana goes to the underground stage for the first time, it’s old and shitty. And flooded/sinking. Meaning this point is ground zero of when and where the duels started, it supports my idea of the stage being alive. I’ll elaborate on that point in speculation but I’ll say that the stage looking so fucked tells me it’s been a very long time since it’s been used.

--Also during these flashbacks, the Tokyo Tower isn’t in the underground stage at all. So, does this mean Hikari’s presences brought the tower there? It’s an important place for Hikari and Karen so that would make sense, the stage would have no reason to have it unless they are involved. But why? Since episode 8 looks like a focus episode on Hikari maybe we will have a better idea after that.

-Junna notices Nana and Maya talking in the practice room. I think that’s an important thing to note here cause I think Junna will be very important in getting Nana to stop the madness.

-Is the star in the tiara or the tower? Both? Or maybe the star just uses the tiara as a medium of sorts? This shit is mysterious man.

-The frog script Nana has, is it a soul gem/horcrux like thing? A timer? Can it affect reality? Looks pretty worn, I mean it has been through lots of loops. This script makes me go hmmm.

-I’m still shook by the fact Nana has kept all her friends in this gilded cage for 60 years! Nana what the fuck. Now you are probs wondering how anyone outside of the school would not notice that? I think, because Hikari and Karen went into the city, this time loop doesn’t just effect the campus it effects the city. Hell it might even effect more than the city. The whole country? The world? Like literally everywhere being time looped would match up to the lack of freaking out from outsiders. Like Nana, Nana the fuck did you do? Holy shit.

-Something I noticed right away, and got really excited, about is the fact Claire and Flora have to pass through seven gates/goddesses to get to the star. That’s just like Inanna’s myth! She had to pass through seven gates each with a gatekeeper to get into the underworld. Like holy shit that’s really cool that an Inanna has a reference again! Also the stairs were going up right? You could say, it’s a stairway to heaven? Eh? ;D

-The part when Maya and Nana are talking, we pass by all these girls. When it gets to the height of the conversation, suddenly the music stops and all the girls heads snap up and look the same direction. That scared the piss out of me! What the fuck was that?! I can’t figure it out? The best answer I got maybe is it’s something to do with the school or the stage and it didn’t like what Maya was saying? Maybe? Is this like the fighty Greek Chorus in the stage musical? Is that what happens when you get booted out from the auditions? Why did only Nana acknowledge the girls were there via waving? I?? I don’t know but that scene makes me very nervous.

--The part with Nana turning towards the camera at the end was creepy too. The shadows, the red, and the too fluid animation of her turning was all off putting but the real kicker I think is the fact she’s staring directly at the camera. Like is she talking to someone we can’t see or, is she addressing us the audience? Please no Monika I don’t wanna see anyone getting deleted.

-Right after the creepy scene with the girls all fucking pulling an Exorcist, we go to Futaba and Kaoruko talking about something seemingly unrelated. Cutting from something so intense to something so mundane seems like an odd choice right? I was stumped too at first but I figured it out! Futaba and Kaoruko are between two vending machines, one is red and one is blue. At this point in the story we’ve learned that Maya and Nana are foils to each other, I’ll elaborate on the ways they are foils later but the super short version is Maya and Nana have a conflicting way of how to see the future. Maya prefers going forward, not dwelling on the past, and so she sees the future as a good thing. Nana on the other hand is afraid of it and sees the future as something bad taking what she loves away from her. The vending machines represent that split.

When you have a scene set up to be a clear split like this then it usually indicates opposite paths or choices or in this case opposite viewpoints. Also red and blue are very often used to show opposites. This is a crossroads, do we hang on to the past or let the future come? Which direction, or vending machine, should we chose? Or will be chosen really, whoever won that first audition duel would decide what path to take. Unfortunately Nana won, and she chose the past. Now everyone is fucked.

As for why Futaba and Kaoruko were the ones in the center, it has to do with the yin and yang parallel around them we saw in episode six. While those two are in sync despite being different, Maya and Nana's views of the future cannot be in sync or coexist together. A conflict will always come. In the scene after Maya and Nana talk, the sky is purple. A combo of red and blue, or in this case a collide. This foreshadows the duel that takes place on May 25th, it’s a clashing of view points.

-It’s obvious by this point that Giraffe is not a benevolent figure, all his actions are for him and/or anyone he is working with so he can gather starlight and see shiny revues. He doesn't care about stopping Nana, he's just bored and wanted to see what would happen if everything was thrown off balance. Giraffe is the Kyubey of the situation here, the devil in dealing with the devil. All for starlight and seeing brighter revues. This isn't a revolution, it's an experiment. Seeing Giraffe as a benevolent figure is the mistake Nana made, so we the audience shouldn't trust him either. I never trusted this fucking giraffe in the first place so it doesn’t surprise me that he is pulling this shit. But, if he is a Kirin then why? What makes a Kirin turn bad like this? Hm.

-In the Starlight play gears pop up again! Mmm love the gear motif. Also wow this fucking stage is impressive, how much fucking money does this school have?! Lol.

-So the Top Star position grants wishes it seems like? Can you wish for anything or just things related to the theater? If it can cause time travel on a possible world wide scale, then what else can it fucking do? I don’t trust this Top Star wishing, nope.

-The way Giraffe was talking about starlight makes me think that yeah the system does indeed gather and/or feed off of starlight. So, is Giraffe the Starlight Gatherer? The stage itself? The mystery continues.

-During the flashback while the stage is in ruins, we see props backstage that are from previous revues. The stars from Hikari and Junna’s stage, the cat in a baseball outfit from Mahiru’s stage, a lantern from Futaba and Kaoruko’s stage, one of the glasses buildings from Junna’s stage, and Maya’s stairs and pillar and chandelier and big ass bird from her stage (geez Maya, hogging space much?). Claudine’s is there too but its not grouped with the others, it’s right over here! It’s likely not with the other ones cause IT’S A FUCKING HUGE BUILDING. Kuro goes big or goes home. But the odd thing is, the duels haven’t even started yet. So what are these doing here? Have they been, preprepared?

-So we’ve been told that if you get booted from the duels then you lose the most important thing to a Stage Girl, knowing what we know now I really wonder what the fuck that could possibly be? The other girls had to have lost in the other loops for Nana to keep winning Top Star and we don’t see what happens to them at all. Is it a thing? Is it the starlight draining theory I’ve talked about before? I don’t know like, man these loops made everything more complicated lol.

-In the credits, Nana leaning towards Hikari and she’s also right over position zero! Fuckin, that foreshadowing man! I love it!

>So, about Nana, Maya, and Hikari.

There’s so much to talk about regarding these three that they need their own section. They are very deeply involved with this time clusterfuck. And, wow who knew that Nana and Maya would end up as foils to each other? That’s fucking wild.

-Nana

Let’s start with the one who kicked all this shit off. Oh poor Nana, I really do feel for this girl. For starters I don’t think Nana is evil at all, no she’s just a scared lonely girl who’s been preyed upon by the stage. She’s made a huge mistake, making a Faustian deal with forces that she doesn’t understand, and everyone pays the price for it including her. Nana’s backstory must be really fucked up, I mean I don’t think it will go too fucked up but it will be sad as hell I bet. She probably didn’t have any friends before coming to the school and I’m betting she either has dead parents or stage parents.

If she has stage parents then they likely pushed her into being the most perfect Stage Girl, being controlling and overbearing as hell. And they treated her like crap the entire way. Maybe Nana didn’t want to come to this school at first but when she did, oh look she has freedom for the very first time in her life. Nana having these kind of parents would also parallel Maya’s who are famous stage actors, and the two of them reacted differently to the pressure placed on them during their lives. I’ll talk more about their similarities later.

So after Nana came to the school she made friends for the first time, what she did was considered good enough and she got praise and loved by others. Positive attention is something Nana likely never had before so she ended up associating love and happiness with that specific point in her life, and this caused her to grow very attached to that point in time. Nana being so love starved made her crave going back to that time, in her mind that’s the time where she’s loved and appreciated and she can’t even imagine that she can get love and appreciation outside of that specific chunk of time. Hence she clings to it hardcore, and becomes upset when being told she can’t ever go back to that time. So when offered a way to go back she jumped at the chance, not considering the consequences this will bring. After Nana said she didn’t want the power Top Star gives you, Giraffe changes his tactics and says she can choose any stage she wants. Any stage at all. And so, we ended up here.

I totally understand Nana is coming from, it’s hard to leave happy past experiences behind. To never have the same ones ever again. It’s hard to grow up and be thrown into a cold adult world. Life changing is hard, and when you grow up sad and miserable you want to cling to any happiness you can get. I very much understand why Nana keeps this time loop going. That being said however, what she’s done is a horrible thing to do to her friends and it is so incredibly selfish of her to keep it going like this.

Nana has rationalized her time looping as she’s doing it for everyone's sake, to spare them any future pain. But, just cause she thinks that doesn’t mean it’s true. Her friends never asked her to do this and I’m pretty positive they wouldn’t want to be stuck in this time loop, but Nana never asks them or considers that hey just cause you’re afraid of the future doesn’t mean you should take away other people’s choices and make the choices for them! Nana resetting any character development is also a very fucked thing to do, like for example if she did reset it like normal now that means that Mahiru never detached her self worth from Karen. Futaba and Kaoruko’s relationship issues never got resolved. Karen and Junna would never become friends. Any development Maya and Kuro would’ve gotten would be tossed out the window. Nana is taking all growth away from them every time she resets, just cause she doesn’t want anything to change.

It’s cruel, keeping them in this gilded cage and never letting anyone move forward with their life or get over their hang ups. I have a feeling the other girls are going to find out about this, the fallout will be bad. Very bad. However at this point Nana is pretty overpowered with starlight and 60 years of experience, she won’t be easy to beat. The starlight itself I think, while very useful, is a corruptive dangerous thing especially when someone is overloaded with it. Maybe it’s even addictive. Nana and Giraffe appear to both be obsessed with it and this overload of starlight is likely making Nana’s mental state even worse. This is gonna turn messy.

I think Nana can still be saved, redeemed even! I’m pretty positive Junna will be a huge factor in that. Nana obviously has a crush on her, just look at all the pictures she takes of Junna alone. We haven’t seen these two a ton together but enough to know they are close friends with each other. There will be more in future episodes I think, it’s gonna be wild. Help us Jun-Jun! Go go save Banana! We need ya!

Nana is someone who represents the past, she can’t let go and she can’t/doesn’t want to move forward. She’s dragged everyone else into this bullshit because she is so afraid of the future. The future is unknown and scary. The past is easy and comforting, as well as predictable. But it’s stifling, no one can grow and change. It’s a gilded cage, and Nana has trapped everyone including herself in it. She has to let go of the past and move forward understanding the future isn’t hopeless and that she can still get positive attention and love going forward.

-Maya

Oh Maya, oh dear. Amists all this time looping is Maya, it’s unknown if Maya has any memories of previous time loops but regardless if she does or doesn’t it’s fucked for her either way. If she does remember all the loops then she’s been failing to stop this and reliving the same block of time for 60 years, it’s amazing she hasn’t lost her mind! If she only remembers some loops or bits and parts then there's probably this endless feeling of dread and paranoia plus the fact she keeps failing over and over. If she doesn’t recall anything at all then she’s been doing the same fruitless quest for years without realizing that it’s all pointless. Another possible idea is her memory slowly returns during the year then she loses AGAIN and it fades away no matter what she does. Jesus christ how horrifying. 8(

Nana always fights Maya for the Top Star and Maya always loses, mostly cause the cards are stacked against her. Not only does Nana have all that starlight power but she's been fighting for 60 years and remembers doing it. So Maya can’t ever beat her, she’s extremely outmatched. I can only imagine how stressful that would be if she recalls anything, remembering endless failure to break her and her friends out of this hellscape. If Maya does indeed remember, then she is likely aiming for Top Star not to really use it for herself but to stop the madness. If she wins she can break everyone outta the loop, but she keeps losing over and over and she keeps tackling the problem alone. We gonna need everyones for this task Maya!

Maya is someone who always looks to the future, always restless and never fully satisfied where she is in life. As someone who also rarely feels fully satisfied, this feeling is both a blessing and a curse. It gives you a drive for sure but it’s also painful in that nothing you do will ever be good enough. I can tell ya for sure that this feeling 100% comes from having anxiety. Wooo. This kind of drive however, ended up keeping her from making any sort of deal with Giraffe. I think Maya and Nana were the first people contacted and offered the deal, show off starlight and get your stage with whatever you desire. The system aimed to take advantage of the most fucked up of the Stage Girls, but the thing is. Maya has nothing to really gain from a Top Star wish. Any stage the Top Star could grant would not be good enough for her to want to make that wish.

So Kuro was right in episode four, it’s VERY weird that Maya is in these auditions at all. She wouldn’t go back to the past like Nana has, not for any reason. Maya wants to move forward, and she wants everyone else to move forward too. That’s why she pulled Nana aside to talk to her, Maya feels Nana is wasting all her talent and potential. That bothers Maya, a lot. She’s probably even offended by it. Maya greatly respects things like passion, growth, and determination so Nana damping her own growth when she can do so much more just pisses her off and that’s why Maya is so worked up during their conversation. She talks to Nana, and is very blunt about her point, because she isn’t going to stand by and let someone so talented do that to themselves. Hence I think it’s possible Maya first entered the audition duels to stop Nana from doing something foolish. It’s also possible she did it to give others a challenge, someone to defeat, but that still begs the question of what the hell will she do if she gets Top Star? We don’t really have an answer right now cause we are still missing info about Maya, but it’s a question to keep in mind.

Maya’s monologue this episode is about the beauty of choice basically, people choosing a path and doing their damndest to follow it. And even if they can’t get to their original goal and drop away from it, that’s fine because it’s their choice and they are still moving forward with their life. I think Maya really respects people who choose to rise to a challenge and face it head on. That’s one of the reasons why she fell for and respects Claudine, she’s willinging to confront and challenge Maya who is believed to be untouchable and Maya loves that there’s someone who can not only match her like that but keeps pushing to be even better than she was before. She loves a woman who can kick her ass (or tries to). Anyways, Maya’s monologue ties in well with her character. Also the Venus De Milo statues are back again because Maya plays quite a big role in this episode and in general. She’s the one Nana has to beat every time after all.

Y’all might be wondering why I referred to Maya as one of the most fucked up out of the girls, well I did say she likely had a similar childhood to Nana’s so. I can tell you from experience that you don’t get someone like Maya out of a happy childhood. Maya’s parents are famous stage actors so from the moment she was born she had expectations placed on her. Lots of pressure to be as good as they are, a very stressful thing to put on a child. I talked about her possible past in episode five’s write up so I’ll try not to repeat myself too much here. Like Nana she probably didn’t grow up with many, if any, friends and always had the expectations from others hanging over her head all the time. I think it’s possible what made Maya and Nana’s paths split is because there was someone in Maya’s life that positively influenced her and Nana never got that. I dunno who in Maya’s life did that and it could’ve been an event in her life instead, either way this would be the moment she was “reborn” as a true Stage Girl. This is a guess from what I know about Maya and Nana but I think it’s possible.

What Maya and Nana strongly have in common is loneliness. Maya is used to living her life alone at the top, she believes this is the cost of being at the top and that’s that. She’ll accept it and move on, but people are social animals. We need interactions with someone or we go mad from the isolation, so really Maya hasn’t moved on from that. But since Maya always moves forward to the future, she probably hasn’t reflected on that aspect at all so she just tries to keep going. However ignoring your emotional hang ups doesn’t work forever, but Maya isn’t going to ask for any sort of help or talk to someone about it. Maya probably never learned how to do that. Nana doesn’t do it either, she probably doesn’t think it’s important enough to bother anyone by it. Both of these girls got a lot to sort out and the stage can be turned around and used to help instead of harm! That’s what I’m expecting anyways.

Another comparison is their roles they have for the stage and system itself. Maya is a symbol of what the system wants, she’s talented and full of radiance. And while this gives her power, she’s still only a symbol. She can easily be taken down by the system. Nana’s role is an enforcer, she’s the true guard dog of the system. She enforces the status quo and literally prevents change coming into the system. Nana has a ton of power hence she can take down Maya, but Nana is still just a cog in the machine. The system uses her, she isn’t very free from it either.

Maya represents the future, she’s always looking forward and always aiming for progress. But you can’t look away from any ghosts of the past forever. Looking at the past can be painful, while looking at the future is hopeful. It’s going to be hard to watch Maya having to confront herself so to speak but she needs to do that or the past will weight her down and prevent her from moving forward like she wants to.

Quick note: If Maya isn’t aware of the time loops and finds out about them, she’ll be beyond fucking pissed. Like jesus christ heaven help you if a livid Tendou Maya is coming for ya!

-Hikari

Well, Hikari is full of surprises isn’t she? There’s still a lot we don’t know about this girl, but we did learn something huge about her. Hikari being here changes everything, like she fucks the entire loop up! The auditions started two days earlier than they normally do for starters. Hikari being here caused Karen to join the duels which causes more chaos. And at this point, as you can see on the timeline I made, we’ve passed the normal reset date! No wonder Nana is like fuck fuck what the fuck is happening.

We still don’t know why Hikari came here in the first place but my best guess is she was either told or found out that Karen is in danger so she came to save her. It’s likely Giraffe is the one who let her know, he was getting bored after all. He likely chose Hikari because she’d have a motivation to come and stay, the motive would be of course Karen. There’s a theory that Hikari comes from a timeline where Karen died thanks to the auditions so she wished to go to one where she never joined the auditions, and that caused her to crossover and crash Nana’s time loop. Why Hikari is so desperate is because unless she wins Top Star, this is her only shot to save Karen. It’s a pretty plausible theory! Regardless of why, Hikari is here and she’s causing change.

Hikari is the present, she changes both the past by crashing the time loop and therefore changes the future. She’s very much the wild card around here, who knows what else she will change?

Now here we are with these three girls all involved in this time fuckery, Hikari and Maya already conflict with Nana due to her desire to keep everything the same. But what about Hikari and Maya? Would they get along at all? That I find to be quite a mystery. The most interaction we have had is Maya’s reaction to her in episode one, which is this and this if you don’t recall. Knowing what we know now I have a guess actually. It’s a bit out there but, it’s what I got for now. When Maya loses her duel with Nana the curtain falls on her right? We’ve seen at the end of two and six’s audition duels that the curtain doesn’t automatically teleport you outta there, so. Maya could still be behind that curtain, how long she’d be there I dunno but it’s very possible she’s still there just off stage. If that’s the case then Maya could have seen Hikari backstage, maybe even spoke with her. There's enough time for a brief meeting since Giraffe rambles about starlight for a bit before Hikari throws her knife.

So, maybe her expression from Hikari looking at her is surprised and confused because Maya recognizes her. But because of time travel shit, Maya doesn’t know how or why she recognizes her. I imagine that would be very confusing hence why she looks like she’s thinking deeply in the shower, wondering why she recognizes this girl she’s never met before. The comment about Hikari’s heart later I think is just Maya being Maya and answering Kuro wondering if Hikari was rival material. I don’t think she’d tell anyone that she recognizes this stranger for pretty much no reason at all, Maya probably doesn’t want to sound nuts. Like I said, I know this theory is out there but at this point who knows what could happen?

I’m eager to see how this plays out, Karen is actually a wild card too since she’s never joined the auditions until now. But unlike the other three, the lack of awareness of how fucked this situation is prevents her from being too involved at the moment. I hope everyone can make it out of this ok, they deserve happiness!

>Speculation! Here we go! Here we go again! Now here we go again!

-Hikari maybe has fought before has already had something taken from her, that’s why she hasn’t been super successful during her duels. I dunno, throwing it out there cause at this point I’m very ??? a lot about Hikari.

-I think the stage is alive. It’s an eldritch location kind of deal, hence it can bend reality within its domain and shoot Hikari outside in episode three. Giraffe is it’s avatar of sorts, a means of communication. It lives deep under the school, and it’s probably been there a long time. Sleeping or maybe waiting? I think the stage is activated by something, the something I’m thinking of is the Starlight play. It plays songs from the play and has the same exact grey tower with the star inside so it must be closely related to it. When the play is assigned to a class is the time where it awakens. Judging by the state of the stage when Nana first goes there, it’s been a very long time since a class got this play. 

After it awakens, it decides on what girls will be chosen as Stage Girls. It chooses the girls with the most possible release of a lot of starlight, which it feeds off of, and then its studies the chosen girls. It can probably do shit like reading minds and such, hence it creates props for the stage girls. All ready to go. Then the time comes, the play is performed and in May the girls are summoned. And the revue commences! It feeds, it’s pleased. Guess we will find out what happens when it’s not please. O_o

-OK SO, there might be another goddess involved here. This one has less evidence so take it with a grain of salt. I’m thinking Hikari has a goddess association too, Ariadne. How I got to this is from reading about the circle of stars again. So Hikari’s hair decoration on her stage outfit is a circle of stars, Ariadne is strongly associated with these stars. The star crown either was put in the sky when she died or she wears it to make her immortal hence a goddess. Ariadne is known for leading Theseus out of the labyrinth/maze, in a way Hikari is doing something similar. Trying to lead Karen away from danger. Ariadne is the goddess of labyrinths, mazes, paths, fertility, snakes, and passion. Yup, another goddess associated with passion! Speaking of passion, there was an ancient cult that worshiped both Aphrodite and Ariadne, they had a sacred grove. Not a ton of info has been found about this cult but I do think it's interesting that we got the goddess Maya is associated with here. And if two major players have goddesses associated with them, then Nana must have one too.

Hers is harder to pin down right now, but underworld goddesses seem to suit her. Like Persephone, besides being an underworld goddess she is also the goddess of flowers, vegetation and springtime. She’s also associated with a fruit, the pomegranate. Another is Ereshkigal, queen of the underworld and sister to Inanna. She kept Inanna and her husband trapped in her realm until they were bailed out by Inanna’s sister in law. Now these connections are very loose and I might be reaching here so take both Hikari’s and Nana’s with a grain of salt. I’m gonna keep it in mind for the time being.

>Things I picked up on a series rewatch.

-Nana suddenly having an interest in Hikari in episode two became much creepier. Hikari glaring at her in the elevator also makes more sense. Nana cornering her to give her pudding was quite a power move lol. But I also think Nana was trying to befriend Hikari, remember Nana wants positive attention more than anything hence she tries the peaceful way first. I wonder if they talked to each other while dancing? I also still wonder if they dueled like I thought they did in my episode two write up.

-Several of Nana’s lines saying shit like “I’ve never done this before!” look so different now man.

-You can see Nana’s surprised reaction in episode one!

-Nana might be able to teleport? She pops up by Hikari twice so fast in episode two. I don’t know though??

-I get why Giraffe sat with Junna, Nana probably wants her crush to be as comfortable as she can be so she’s like “hey Giraffe pls sit with her”. Or that’s my guess anyways.

-Nana’s and Maya’s brief convo in episode three is quite different now. It can be taken two ways. If Maya doesn’t remember the loops then she’s probably happy Nana is finally doing something with her talent. If she does remember the loops at all she’s probably thinking “Oh this is new. Maybe she won’t pull that time travel shit this time.” *later* “I was wrong.”

-Her talking about the past Starlight play is so much more off putting now. Like dude, isn’t 60 FUCKING TIMES ENOUGH FOR YOU?! JESUS.

There’s a lot more than this most likely, but I forgot to write them down and I don’t have time to go through the episodes any more so this is what I got!

>THIS SHIT IS BANANAS, B-A-N-N-A-N-A-S!

Holy banana nuts, this show is soooo fucking good! Like holy shit it’s better than I even imagined! I’m very much looking forward to episode 8! I fucking, I’m so happy I chose to watch this series. This is fucking amazing holy shit! Spread this show like wildfire! Please! I’m ascending. Yes, oh my god! Bless! Bless this show! \^w^/

See you on the stage for episode 8!

[jazzyyyjones]

Venezuela signal boost

I got most of this information from @fiftyonefics thank you so much Elisa.

UPDATE: Nicholas Maduro was proclaimed as one of the most bloody dictators in the world, and there were only three.

Yes, internationally, they have been recognized for the last week or so because of how intense it has all been. The U.S. Has taken action by freezing (or closing) the bank accounts from government ministers, and recently, the president’s. Basically, they all had these larges sums of money and no one knew where it all came from. 

The Venezuelan government is also well known in Venezuela for drugs. The nephews of the president’s wife, Cilia Flores, had been arrested because they were found with cocaine. However, months later, they were freed. They were freed because they were able to pay their way out of the incident. They are currently on vacation right now.  (EDIT: I just found out that they are actually still in prison. Apparently they weren’t liberated, but their family tried to do so.)

People were so upset with this that even children of known political figures (Nicolas Maduro’s supporters) were being called murderers because of the crimes that their parents have commited. Business men that worked close to the government were being called murderers and thieves as well. One was found in New York and was basically called out in a restaurant because of all the money he took, that could’ve been used on medicines.

My friend, Elisa, told me about one of her personal experiences. She said her grandma couldn’t get all of the medicine she needed for her diabetes. If she does happen to find something, it’s generic (not exactly what she needs), or very expensive. She also says that since food is so scarce (and expensive) there, she sometimes skips breakfast and sometimes only eats once a day so her family can have more food, especially her mom. Her mom had lost weight tremendously, causing her to get very sick. She has gained weight during the last three weeks.

The prices of basic things such as food, medicine, etc. are ridiculously high and you cannot find things that fit your basic needs. An example is something so simple and something that should be easy enough to get, like toothpaste, costs 30,000 Bs. Imagine if one tube of toothpaste was $30,000. The price of things changes constantly, because the price of the dollar changes daily. Right now, it’s 11,000 Bs. The minimum payment of an employee is 90,000 Bs.

Venezuela has the highest inflation in all of the world, with a projection of more than 1000% by the end of the year. But what does the government do? They print out more money, thus causing more inflation.

They started with protests around April (”we thought it was going to be like 2014 where they lasted a month” - @fiftyonefics ) People began to get tired and since they are a majority, protests began to get very intense and violent. According to here’s your guide to understand Protest Deaths in Venezuela  , more than 113 people have died since April of 2017. But these are the people who have been recognized by social media, there have been more deaths since then. 

Sure, maybe “they won” but don’t be fooled by what you read. They said that 8 million people voted which isn’t true either. Yesterday, the polling places were empty, and at 3pm only 1 million people voted (which is less than the 2%) I read that they used dead people’s information to gain more votes. 

At least ten countries don’t recognize this election. This election was a fraud election. Around 15 people were killed yesterday (two of them were teenagers. Aged 13 and 17.) 

Now, they said that 8 million people voted during this Constituent Assembly because during July 16th, a plebiscite was made, asking three questions which the answers were either yes or no:

1. Do you reject and ignore the realization of a Constituent Assembly proposed by Nicholas Maduro without the prior approval of the Venezuelan people? 2. Do you demand the National Armed Forces and all public officials to obey and defend the constitution of 1999 and support the decisions of the National Assembly? 3. Do you approve the renewal of public powers in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, and the holding of free and transparent elections, as well as the formation of a Government of National Unity to restore constitutional order?

More than 7 million Venezuelans said yes to all of these questions. There are images and proof of this.

Nicholas Maduro is a killer, a torturer, and a liar. People are dying there. They don’t have the money to buy basic things like food, medicine, and other basic necessities. People are even eating from the garbage.

More on pervasive starvation in Venezuela

Venezuela: Priest Says ‘Preserve Food Waste’ to help ‘People who eat out of garbage cans’

These are some of the things that could happen, though we cannot confirm it will, in the next few days. 

1. Venezuela will be a communist country and will be under a complete dictatorship 2. The government will also have control over international media 3. Internet access will be regulated by the government or completely eliminated 4. The government will decide what and how much food your family will be allowed to consume.  4. The president, Nicholas Maduro, will stay in power until he dies or he chooses a successor. There will be no democracy or voting at all.  5. The government will take control of private properties. From businesses to your own home. They could even force you out of your home or make you share it with another family.  6. They will even be allowed to take your money and your bank accounts. No debit or credit cards are allowed. 7. You are not allowed to speak poorly of the government or the president. You could be charged with a few years in prison or even a death sentence.  8. No human rights. No freedom. 

UPDATE: These are some things the president has said so far on July 31st, 2017: 1. Threatened to jail politicians who oppose his ideas (basically the entire National Assembly) 2. Wants to Take over the department of justice that had been reformed recently. 3. Wants to take over some stores. 4. Also wants to close one of the most important TV channels in Venezuela.

Here are some links that can help you understand better: The photographer @federicoparra covers the situation with captions in English. Check out his page here

The US Embassy’s warning about traveling to Venezuela. Read that here

This Wikipedia article 2017 Venezuelan Protests

The purpose of this post is to inform. Please, do not reblog this post saying that it’s American propaganda or that this is bullshit because it is not. If you really want to verify any of this information, do a little research, and do not trust Venezuelan government’s sources because they are biased. Bring awareness to your politicians, wherever you are. Tell them to make a public stand against the constituent assembly, and instead support the national assembly that venezuelans elected back in 2015. This assembly was elected fairly. Without international recognition a governent is nothing.

#PrayforVenezuela #signalboost

[whittlebaggett8]

Kim Kardashian says she can’t ‘babysit’ Kanye West and is tired of seeing people ‘walk all over’ him, Defence Online

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Kanye West sat down for an job interview for the to start with time on the demonstrate.

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The 16th season of “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” premiered Sunday.

Kim and Kanye declared they were being expecting a newborn boy.

Khloe said that she and Tristan Thompson were being executing “great.”

Kourtney worked on getting more than her separation with Younes Bendjima.

On Sunday, “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” returned for the show’s 16th season on E!. Right after an explosive trailer that hinted at the drama to occur, the year kicked off with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West asserting the news that their spouse and children is finding larger – and Kourtney Kardashian coping with the actuality that she and Younes Bendjima have gone their separate ways.

Here’s what you may have skipped on “Keeping Up With The Kardashians”:

Kim and Kanye introduced they have been anticipating yet another child boy

The period started out off with a bang, for the reason that the quite initially scene of the present included Kim and Kanye sharing some really critical news with their loved ones.

“We have an announcement to make: We’re getting a little one,” Kim explained when every person gathered to share a food. “We’re having a boy.”

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Kris’s enthusiastic response.

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Then, she and Kanye have been off to Chicago with North, where by they preferred to display her the home he grew up in. But since it was technically owned by Donda’s Household, the organization that Kanye turned about to rapper Rhymefest and soon after the general public beef he and Rhymefest had, he was nervous he may well not permit them in to see the residence.

Inevitably, Kanye determined he needed to hash factors out even though Kim wasn’t experience the identical way. She afterwards vented to Kris, expressing that she was obtaining discouraged with Kanye’s feuds.

“I simply cannot, like, babysit him and determine out who’s f—– him more than now and who he’s gonna forgive.” She included, “It is so annoying to me to see him not, like, treatment and see men and women wander all above him.”

But in the end, she and Kanye did get to show North his childhood residence.

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Kanye and Rhymefest hashed points out.

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“It’s so special that North will get to see that life that Kanye lived that actually made him who he is. That was actually neat to see,” Kim reported.

When they received dwelling, Kanye invited Rhymefest around to converse to hash our their feud. According to Rhymefest, lots of people today back in Chicago felt Kanye had turned their again on them and admitted there was also some miscommunication and apologized for bringing matters up publicly. He also introduced Kim a peace supplying: A crystal intended to provide her fantastic vibes. Kanye also acknowledged his component, indicating that he was likely by means of a hard time.

“It’s good that we all had a calm, knowledge dialogue,” Kim said. “I just feel that everyone must converse to every other and not on social media and I think you just get so considerably a lot more carried out if you have a dialogue.”

Kourtney talked over her breakup with Younes Bendjima

Now that Kourtney has officially split from Younes Bendjima, she shared that she’s suffering from a good deal of anxiousness.

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Kourtney said she’s been owning stress due to the fact her separation.

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So to make her come to feel superior, Khloe decided to program a pleasurable weekend in Palm Springs to look at out Kris Jenner’s new pad, exactly where she could have enjoyment and enable unfastened.

But even though she was intended to be obtaining a excellent time and hanging out with her mates, Kourtney expended most of her time on the journey chatting about the break up, which Khloe didn’t like. At that point, Khloe whipped out the karaoke equipment to pull Kourtney out of her funk.

“I’m feeling substantially improved and you know as scary as this might be, I’m definitely ready,” Kourtney claimed. “This is the first time I have seriously been one in a long time so I’m just going to embrace it and truly get pleasure from the time to myself and be focusing on my young ones and myself. I’m excited for the long run.”

Khloe gave some details about her lifestyle with True – and Tristan

Though it is evident this was filmed significantly in progress, it was attention-grabbing to see Khloe give a quick update about her lifestyle with daughter Legitimate and companion Tristan Thompson, specially adhering to the dishonest scandal involving Jordyn Woods.

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Khloe said lifetime with Tristan is likely “great.”

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In her speaking head, Khloe claimed that she is loving remaining a mom and also that she and Tristan are doing “great.” The latter assertion may possibly be a surprise to some admirers give the new information and even the trailer for the future year, which sees Khloe discussing believe in and indicating that Tristan does not respect her.

MJ and Scott used time collectively

Now that MJ is settled into Calabasas, she shared that she’s starting up to come to feel a minimal still left out simply because the spouse and children is rather chaotic, and she said when Kris does come in excess of, she ends up taking phone calls. So Scott took it on himself to hang out with MJ in its place.

While obtaining tea with MJ, Scott shared that one of his favourite memories with his late father was consuming the scrambled eggs he’d make for him, so he invited MJ about to train him how to make them. Then, when Kris appeared a minor jealous of their a single-on-1 time, they invited her to join them on their up coming tea day.

“I really don’t consider that Kris is likely to be ready to sit by way of a whole tea without working with her telephone,” Scott admitted.

They all place their phones in a pile when they arrived at tea, and Kris did deal with to give MJ and Scott her whole consideration.

“I did not realize that MJ feels like I really do not fork out notice to her,” Kris claimed. “It would make me actually truly unhappy that she thinks I really don’t give her adequate attention. I have to consider more difficult.”

The post Kim Kardashian says she can’t ‘babysit’ Kanye West and is tired of seeing people ‘walk all over’ him, Defence Online appeared first on Defence Online.

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[newyorktheater]

Anne (Courtney Rikki Green) teaching Richard (MacGregor Arney), who has cerebral palsy, how to dance, in “Teenage Dick,” Mike Lew’s update of Shakespeare’s play Richard III, streaming online through April 19.

Eddie (Ty Fanning, left) bullies Richard (MacGregor Arney.) Richard gets his revenge.

MacGregor Arney (left) plays Richard and Tamara Rozofsky plays Buck

Theater Wit’s production of Mike Lew’s play, which is running online through April 19th, has changed the way we view this teenage comedy turned melodrama based on Shakespeare’s “Richard III” – changed it literally and figuratively, changed it unintentionally and perhaps inevitably.

What was most striking about “Teenage Dick” when it debuted at the Public Theater   two years ago, was its focus on the character’s disability.  Richard, now a high school junior scheming to become student body president, has cerebral palsy – as does the actor who portrayed him, Greg Mozgala. Indeed Mozgala, the founding artistic director of The Apothetae theater company, had commissioned the play.

There is far more to do about disability in the script of “Teenage Dick” than there is in “Richard III,” certainly more enlightenment. When Richard’s able-bodied classmate Anne asks him, “Like, the way that you move, what does it feel like to you?”  Richard answers: “You know how sometimes in winter when you hit an ice patch you didn’t know was there, how you brace yourself before you’re about to slip on the ice? That’s what it’s like for me all the time.”

And Richard debates various  issues and dilemmas connected to being disabled  with his friend Buck, who uses a wheelchair (as did the actress who portrayed her)

RICHARD. Do you believe our social station is circummountable, or is it immutable? BUCK. Good question. Immutable. RICHARD. But… no, but don’t you believe we can rise past our station, given sufficient cunning and skill? BUCK. Nope no I don’t. I’m not like you, yearning to fly beyond nature’s boundaries like some kind of disabled nerd Icarus.

And when Richard reveals himself as a true villain at the end, he declares: “You already knew I wasn’t the hero from the moment I came limping your way. So close your eyes and forget about me. You always do anyhow.”

This emphasis on the issue of disability is the strongest aspect of the script,  and goes a long way towards allowing us to tolerate the odd shift in tone and even genre, from playful teen comedy to horror melodrama.

Lew is clever in his transposition of Shakespeare’s plot and especially his language: Riffing on the famous opening couplet of Richard III (“Now is the winter of our discontent/Made glorious summer by this sun of York”), Richard begins: “Now that the winter formal gives way to glorious spring fling, we find our rocks-for-brains hero Eddie—the quarterback—sleeping through his job as junior class president.” But the playwright winds up too faithful to the Bard’s history play, imposing Kingly intrigue and bloody violence onto a bunch of high school kids in a way that feels out of proportion.

It seems clear that the Theater Wit production likewise intended to emphasize  the issues surrounding disability. In an introductory video, the new director, Brian Balcom,  who has a disability himself, makes a point of saying how important this play is to him. As with the original cast, the new Richard, MacGregor Armey, also has cerebral palsy, and the new Buck, Tamara Rozofsky, also uses a wheelchair.

But what becomes the most noted aspect of Theater Wit’s production is not its themes, but that we’re watching it online – and especially, as it turns out, who “we” are.

“Teenage Dick” was playing in Chicago when the theaters were shut down there. The company decided to record the last performance, on March 16th, using two cameras, and that what the company is offering every night, for $28 a ticket. It has added two introductory videos – one of which is a tour of the physical theater by artistic director Jeremy Wechsler – and a nightly “post-show conversation,” live and in real time, on an online platform called GoToMeeting.

The post-show conversation via GoToMeeting. This is just a corner of the screen, showing only Theater Wit people, including  five of the six cast members and artistic director Jeremy Wechsler. The full screen the night I “attended” contained about two dozen audience members, some of whom replaced their faces with their initials.

For a production so dedicated to making inroads into understanding the disabled, it is disappointing that Theater Wit doesn’t include the option of captioning the play. Perhaps that was not technically or financially feasible given the rush to keep the show going. But it points to the challenge for a small theater in translating their productions to the screen. It’s hard for them to compete with the more experienced, elaborate (and expensive) endeavors by the likes of Spike Lee (“Passing Strange” and “Freak” and, recently announced, “David Byrne’s American Utopia”) for monied platforms like Netflix. (See Where To Get Your Theater Fix Online, Old Favorites and New Experiments) We’ve come to expect that even our filmed theater will speak the language of film – close-ups above all. It’s why most of the pandemic-era online theater I’ve seen so far (which is to say, in the past ten days) have been monologues.  The camerawork in Theater Wit’s presentation makes it difficult to judge the performances of the six-member cast in “Teenage Dick.”  They seem fine. One scene that stands out is when Anne (Courtney Rikki Green) teaches Richard to dance, perhaps in part because it’s best watched from a distance. But viewing the backs of the actors’ heads more than once made me wish I was among the March 16th audience members that you can glimpse watching the show..

This makes a line by Richard’s teacher Elizabeth (Liz Cloud)  far more pointed (and less funny) than it was surely intended. She is trying to get Richard to run for student body president (unaware that he has been manipulating her to this very end), because she is the advisor to the drama club and she hopes Richard will back her up in making sure that all the school’s discretionary funds won’t go to the football team.  “I know someone like you understands the importance—the all-consuming social importance of live theater! “

It was in fact the live aspect of the evening that made the experience especially worthwhile.

As a couple of dozen audience members talked with members of the cast, we learned that only a couple were from Chicago; we lived in Indiana and South Carolina, San Francisco and New York – all of us in quarantine.

We got some behind-the-scenes tidbits. For example, artistic director Jeremy Wechsler told us that they had altered that filmed performance from earlier ones in the run: “We did some distance staging for kisses and violence for increased actor safety.”

We talked about the play a bit, and the psychology of the characters, and shared the novelty of this theatergoing. “Although we’re watching it together we’re watching alone,” one virtual seatmate observed. “There was a moment where I laughed at something on stage and I realized that the other  audience did not in the recording. And I wondered if anyone else alone shared that moment with me.”

Beth said: “I liked being able to move around and not worry about bothering anyone.”

Charles said: “I missed lines here and there but that happens for me live as well anyway.

”Lara said: “It felt very comforting to me to watch — a feeling of having missed being in a theatre and getting a taste of that brought back a little moment of “normal.” Even in the video format it did have that live feel like I could have been sitting there.”

One self-declared “art supporter and advocate” whose name I didn’t catch said the best part of the evening was being able to help the show go on and everyone get paid. “So many performances around the country have been cancelled.”

It’s that audience goodwill that makes me suspect this is just the beginning.

And I’m not alone.

Jeremy Wechsler shared a prediction with us: “Playwrights will start writing Zoom/GoToMeeting/Skype plays that can be acted remotely,”  (It’s already happening on Instagram.)

  Teenage Dick Review. Theater Wit brings Mike Lew’s updated Richard III streaming to the nation Theater Wit’s production of Mike Lew’s play, which is running online through April 19th, has changed the way we view this teenage comedy turned melodrama based on Shakespeare’s “Richard III” – changed it literally and figuratively, changed it unintentionally and perhaps inevitably.

[thehabilableheart]

April 16, 2019

Quick disclosure ; this “today” was about a week ago. I just never finished the entry to post it. It’s April 22, 2019. I believe I started this on April 16th. Thanks for reading anyway. :) You all are the best. 

I remember when darkness was normal to me. When feeling pain was a drug, and I always wanted to feel it. It’s weird how I can do, and think about things now that used to make my stomach hurt now and not feel a thing towards them anymore. I used to think about old happenings, arguments and do things that I knew would make me upset just because feeling them made me feel good. Crying and putting myself through that pain felt soooo good to me, because afterwards, I’d be so calm and energized as if releasing the pain recharged me. You know how gorgeous everything looks and smells after a huge storm? That’s me. Those small break downs made me feel human. Today I tried to put myself through that pain again. I tried to put myself in a mind space that was dark and familiar to my old every day routine. I couldn’t get there tonight. I couldn’t hurt. 

The other day I posted photos of my new apartment on Instagram.. the caption was about how I finally feel at home. I’m planting seeds. Growing roots. Finally feeling like a whole person who truly exists in the world. I’m still adjusting to being a real “human being” but I’m getting there faster than I thought I would. I’m opening up to new people that aren’t my “normal” type of person to interact with. I’m adventuring to new places I wouldn’t usually go to that have less of a familiar feel because the people I’m surrounded by aren’t who I would usually hangout with any other day. But what even is “normal” anymore? I feel like I’ve lost normal, but gained a brighter outlook on the life I want for myself and my kids. I want to do and be so much more than I have been in the past. I know I have it in me. Finally. I KNOW I do. I have the potential to plant, feed, and nurture my own private world. I have the support I’ve needed of those who love and care about me and want to see me succeed. I have the world by it’s balls right now, yet some part of me still wants to remember how darkness feels. I cant help but feel like something is wrong with me, but 23 years of the same patterns and routines.. things like that don’t change in 2.5 months. And nothing is wrong. I’m growing. That’s a good thing. But I keep wanting to push “happy” away because it’s so foreign and the part of me that’s so used to being let down, or allowing myself to fail feels as if I do’t deserve it. 

It’s weird because I’m the first to tell someone that they do deserve the world. I always tell people they deserve so much happiness. EVERYONE deserves happiness, right? Most everyone, I mean. Some people really logically don’t, but in the grand scheme of things, no one deserves to feel pain. Maybe if the world felt less pain, it’d be a much brighter place. But anyway. I deserve it. I finally came to terms with that. I’m allowed and deserve to be happy. I’ve been so selfless for so long. I made sure other’s stood tall before I was even able to stand up myself. Why on earth did I want to make myself hurt tonight? I think my biggest explanation for that is “remember where you came from”.

One of my favorite songs is “Hospital For Souls” by Bring Me The Horizon (also my favorite band, and the lead singer is my favorite human being). The song is about how Oliver Sykes has gone through depression and allowed it to consume him.. then he finally realizes he has so much worth living for right in front of him. He has not just “a” reason, but millions of reasons to live. All his fans, friends, and family. Personally, I have two VERY BIG, very real reasons to continue living. As well as a whole plethora of life in front of me to keep building and creating. I’m not even close to my “mid-life crisis”! People move at different paces. A big part of me feels like I should be in love and settled down with my “forever after” at this point because the father of my babies is. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for him. He deserves that happiness. He deserves the whole world in his hands. He’s a strong man. A strong father. A strong Marine. I’m so proud of him. I’m thankful for him. I’m happy for him and the life that I see he’s created with a woman who loves him (and our babies) as much as he loves her. I think my biggest challenge is I look back at our relationship and I realize I ignored all the good things he’s done for me in the past. I always made him look bad, but never really looked at myself and how horribly I made him feel. I just keep allowing jealousy to creep in and make me feel shitty for not being where he is. I thought for sure when we divorced, I’d be the one with another baby, a happy marriage, a strong household. But I’m not. And a lot of people aren’t yet. Some people manage to find their forever at a very young age. I’ll get there. It’s not a competition. 

All my life I’ve compared myself to him, to her, to them, to those who’ve got a life all set and organized at such a young age.. I never stopped to focus on me and why I don’t have that yet. Now that I have been, I’m realizing so much about myself and why I’ve been where I have been and the things I need to do to love me and myself again. The things I need to change to create a happy, strong, stable home for myself. I can’t give that to my children if I can’t give that to myself..

This entry is short. But it means a lot in my head. I can’t ever explain the things I put myself through to try to feel human, but those of you reading this who do understand.. we’re so much stronger than we feel in the moment. We’re so much better than we are allowing ourselves to feel that we are. We are so deserving of the life we see others living. The live we envy watching on our phone screens. Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.. All platforms of glimpses into peoples “perfect” lives that makes us feel smaller than we are. One of the biggest things I can tell any of you that relate to do is - GET. UP. Make a change. Make a move. Make a plan. Set goals. Don’t give up. Things get so much better when you do one small thing, or even one BIG thing that you feel in your gut is for YOU and ONLY you. Don’t do it for anyone else. I almost stayed in North Carolina for a boy. I’m so glad I didn’t. I’m SO glad I made a move to better myself and my life. You can do it too. I’m right here, willing to do it with you. 

[bunnymcbunnister]

SPN Season 15 Spoiler Sheet, update 11/25

JaxCon was generous with a few tidbits, now we have all the ep titles through 13, we got an episode description on ep 8, some director/writer details  for ep 12 (I was right about Speight, wrong about the writer) AND some photos from 7, which I did not expect since there is no episode this week. Happy Thanksgiving!

DISCLAIMER: This is gathered info from various sources. This is not confirmed information. Stuff in this WILL be wrong. Don’t take this too seriously. This is for fun. 

General Info (oldest to newest)

There is hope to wrap up some Wayward Daughters storylines in the back half of the season

They are adding a whole extra day to filming to do the final scene. They will film the final scene last.  (Implies logistics- lots of returning people?)

Brad Bucker used the word “romance” when asked about Sam and Dean’s arcs. Did not specify who. 

In an interview, Kripe indicated that the series ending would have “peace” for Sam and Dean

Not much new at the TCA’s, but it was said it is “unlikely” Jeffery Dean Morgan will be back since his last appearance was such a good end note. There were some jokes about a Castiel spin off. Hell, I’d watch. 

There will be a special tribute ep, not clear if its one of the 20 or additional

Misha will be in 15 out of 20 episodes this season

Also according to Dabb, Jack is still in the empty and “he’s not coming back in the near future”

Cas’ deal with the Empty may come up later in the season. 

Dabb intimated that Chuck was inherently responsible for killing Mary when asked how the boys would respond to Jack. 

Dabb compared Chuck and John Winchester, claiming that Dean would have to break free of “conditioning.” Also, for Jack “there have been cosmic forces fighting for his attention since he was in the womb — and that will continue. As much as this season is about Sam and Dean finding agency, it’s also about Castiel finding agency, and it’s about Jack finding agency. As always, death is never the end. It’s just part of the journey and that’s certainly true with Jack.” 

Per Variety: At the outset of the season, the “Supernatural” foursome of Dean, Sam, Castiel and Jack are split up, but Dabb notes they won’t be for long because “ultimately this is a found family, and they have deep emotional bonds” that make up the most important part of the show.

Sam’s wound from the equalizer gives his powers/an advantage of some kind (per TVGuide)

Jack will be a critical part of the ending of the show

The cage/Adam is looking like it will be coming up for midseason

Shaving People, Punting Things: https://youtu.be/azTwku2uosA

In the cage, Micheal and Adam have formed a working relationship (MarySue)

Dean and Amara’s connection will be explored

There will be a bunker themed episode (MarySue)

According to Misha (Cinablend) Dean and Cas will have discord up to ep 8- which is the mid-season finale. 

At a convention, Jake Abel was asked to share two lies about Adam’s return and a truth. The said 1. Adam is not upset about hell 2. Adam kills someone 3. Adam bring someone back. I am assuming its the bring someone back (Micheal?)

In one of his cookbook interviews, Misha used the word “we” several times when talking about the final scene of Supernatural. He said that would be the last scene they shoot. It seemed to imply that he was in the scene, but that could be open to interpretation. 

The finale will air on Monday May 18th. The show will move to Mondays when it comes back on March 16th. It’s gotta come back either than that and go on a mini break or something, because that is not enough Mondays. 

Dabb mentioned that once Sam realizes what is going on with his connection to Chuck, he will reach out to people “some we expect and some not”

JaxCon spoilers: 

Misha said the ending was “happier than he expected” but also had some sadness. 

Misha mentioned that Claire will be mentioned on the show, but as of yet not appear. 

Jared mentioned April 5th as the date of filming the finale. 

Jensen said Dean will DANCE in an upcoming ep

Jensen reaffirmed his earlier spoiler about Dean/Cas reconciling, explaining why he has so much trouble with “that relationship” and that will “shed some light and then bruise some egos”

Episode 15x07

Title: Last Call

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS: CLOSING TIME – Dean (Jensen Ackles) goes off on his own to take on a case. Meanwhile, Castiel (Misha Collins) has an idea of how he can help Sam (Jared Padalecki) track down God. Amyn Kaderali directed the episode written by Jeremy Adams (#1507). Original Airdate 12/5/2019.

Written by: Jeremy Adams

Director: Amyn Kaderali

Filming Dates:  9/26- 10/7

Airdate: Dec 5th

Photos: http://www.ksitetv.com/supernatural/supernatural-last-call-images-description-released/199736/nggallery/image/sn1507b_0301b/

Promo: https://youtu.be/ztvk50kN29A

Sneak Peak:

Castiel ? Yes Jack ? 

Guest stars: Shoshannah Stern

Other Spoilers/info :

Misha posted from set in new shoes- very shiny with well tailored pants. (The next day he posted in full Cas costume, so are the shoes a one off? Another outfit with new shoes?). 

Misha and Jensen made a video from set. I feel like if Jared was around he would have been in it since it was about money raised?  Maybe a Dean Cas scene?

There will be a battle scene in this that Jensen mentioned he was looking forward to and we would enjoy. 

After NJ Con, it appeared that Jensen returned to work, Jared and Misha stayed an extra day and then Misha went home. Misha only did about 2 days of filming. 

Jensen and Christian filmed at a bar called Swazey’s. This was the fight scene Jensen was referring to. 

At some point, Sam might be shirtless or we can see part of his chest- Jared had his anti-possession tattoo at the weekend convention.

Per TVGuide, Leo and Dean will have a wild night out in an effort for Dean to recapture his mojo. Dean will become the lead of a band called Dean and the Impalas, which is made up of Supernatural crew. 

Osric Chau popped over to set, but he is filming on Legends of Tomorrow in the same studio. Sebastin Roche also indicated he would come by, he is filming on Batgirl. Unfortunately, neither Kevin or Balthazar will appear in this one. 

Eileen is in the promo photos

 Episode 15x08

Title: Our Father Who Aren’t in Heaven

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS: GOD BLESSES HIM WHO HELPS HIS BROTHER – Sam (Jared Padalecki), Dean (Jensen Ackles) and Castiel’s (Misha Collins) continued search for a way to defeat Chuck (guest star Rob Benedict) leads them to unexpected places and toward unlikely allies. Richard Speight, Jr. directed the episode written by Eugenie Ross-Leming & Brad Buckner (#1508). Original Airdate 12/12/2019.

Written by: Buckleming

Director: Speight

Filming Dates:  10/8- 10/18 (no filming 10/14 for Canadian Thanksgiving)

Airdate: 12/12

Photos: 

Promo:

Sneak Peak:

Castiel ? yes Jack ? 

Guest stars: Jake Abel, Shoshannah Stern

Other Spoilers/info:

Jake Abel posted a script with the caption “hell hath no fury like a brother scorned”

Shoshannah Stern was spotted on set- Eileen!

This will be the midseason finale

At BurCon, Misha mentioned Dean is still acting like “a dick” in the ep they were filming- which is this one. 

 pisode 15x09

Title: The Trap

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS: 

Written by: Berens

Director: Singer

Filming Dates:  10/21-10/30

Airdate: 1/16?? 

Photos: 

Promo:

Sneak Peak:

Castiel ? I think not Jack ? maybe

Guest stars: Rob Benedict, Kim Rhodes, Jim Beaver

Other Spoilers/info:

Midseason premier episode

Misha was at home for the first week of filming, and I think the second. I don’t think he is in this. 

Alex and Rob were hanging out- Chuck and JACK?

Kim Rhodes posted in front of the SPN set and with her trailer- Jody looks very likely. She also had dyed hair and she has been rockin the grey for the past few Jody eps. Maybe a flashback/AU?

Jim Beaver posted from set- Bobby!

Jensen shared that in this episode, Dean will pray to Cas to “confess” why he has been treating Cas the way he has. Misha confirmed this in another interview and said tears would be shed- not sure who is doing the crying (besides me). 

Episode 15x10

Title: The Heroes’ Journey

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS: 

Written by: Dabb

Director: Showalter

Filming Dates:  10/31- 11/12 (No filming for Veterans/Armistice Day)

Airdate: 1/23 ??

Photos: 

Promo:

Sneak Peak:

Castiel ? maybe briefly?  Jack ? 

Guest stars: 

Other Spoilers/info :

Misha texted some local fans from set in costume about an WA election, but after the convention was promoting his cookbook all over the place. I think he filmed 2 days, max. 

The story will be about Sam and Dean as heroes from the good and bad side (from MarySue)

At DCCon, Jensen shared that  this a bit of a wacky episode- Sam and Dean lose their abilities to fight, Dean gets cavities and Sam gets a cold. Jensen later seemed to refer to this ep when talking to TVGuide- mentioning the Impala will get a flat. 

 Episode 15x11

Title: The Gamblers

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS: 

Written by: Davey Perez and Meredith Glynn

Director: Beeson

Filming Dates:  11/13-11/22 

Airdate: 1/30??

Photos: 

Promo:

Sneak Peak:

Castiel ? Jack ? 

Guest stars: 

Other Spoilers/info:

Misha and Jensen made a video for a fan that I think was filmed during the first day of shooting? Not for sure. So maybe Cas?? I’d love the king of social media to post publicly in costume to know for sure. The 2nd week of filming, I think he was away at least Wed-Friday. He’s been harder to track. 

Megan Fitzgerald (writer/showrunner’s assistant) and Emma Peterson (production office) were very excited about something in the dailies for this ep. 

They filmed at a church and a park in Surry according to YRShoots. 

 Episode 15x12

Title: Galaxy Brain

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS: 

Written by: Bobo Berens AND Meredith Glynn

Director: Speight

Filming Dates:12/2-!2/11 (?) The production office tweeted they have a week off for Thanksgiving

Airdate:  2/6??

Photos: 

Promo:

Sneak Peak:

Castiel ? Jack ? 

Guest stars: 

Other Spoilers/info:

 Episode 15x13

Title: Destiny’s Child

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS: 

Written by: 

Director: 

Filming Dates: 

Airdate: 2/13 (??)

Photos: 

Promo:

Sneak Peak:

Castiel ? Jack ? 

Guest stars: 

Other Spoilers/info:

I think there will be a hiatus after this ep which will lead into the switch to Mondays

[theglobetrotmom]

This post is part of the Throwback Thursday series in which I share about some of my memorable trips from years ago.

I still have vivid memories of the fun we had in the plush Dalhousie bunglow (playing cards, movies and an almost home made food), Zorbing, Kangra fort and the wheel separation accident. Amazing trip with an amazing bunch.

March 10th to 16th, 2006 PLACES COVERED: DALHOUSIE, DHARAMSALA AND KANGRA  Himachal is basically divided in 3 valleys: Chamba, Kangra and Kullu being. We visited Chamba Valley (Dalhousie and Chamba) and Kangra Valley (Dharamsala n Kangra).

TRAVEL ROUTE: 21hrs train journey from Lucknow to Pathankot (Jammu Tawi Express) 4hr road journey (60 – 70kms) from Pathankot to Dalhousie Dalhousie and areas around Day trip to Chamba and Khajjiar Dalhousie – Mcleodganj and Dharamsala Mcleodganj to Pathankot via Trilokpur Return train from Pathankot to Lucknow (Sealdah Jammu Tawi)

DALHOUSIE It is a memorable road journey from Pathankot to Dalhousie with stunning landscapes and dangerously curvy roads. The journey was quite memorable for us for other reasons too: While we were on an ascent, we saw one of the tires of our hired shoddy van, dangerously roll down by our side. Thankfully the driver must have realized it beforehand and hence stopped the van and we managed to relax.

wheel separation on day 1

Gandhi Chowk, Subhash Chowk, Thandi Sarak (translating to cold road) and Garam Sarak (warm road) Gandhi and Subhash chowk were sort of a mall road or the market road for Dalhousie. The roads are named Thandi or Garam on the basis of the amount of sunlight and snowfall these roads face. Good for morning and evening strolls.

Dainkund Peak: It was an easy trek with great views from the top. Enroute we saw the Peer Panjal & Mani Maheshwar mountain range.

Panjpula (or Panchpulla): Famous for its natural waterfall and there was nothing much beyond that

Khajjiar: I remember it as a meadow in the middle of deodar forests filled with a woody fragrance. Pooja and I did zorbing for the first time in our lives in such a non descript place 🙂 and actually it was quite an experience.

CHAMBA

Chamunda Devi Temple, Lakkad Bazaar and Chamba Museum Chamba boasts of the Chamunda Devi temple that was built in 10th century AD and still has some of the shrines dating back to that century. Around this temple were the granaries and other parts of the Chamba fort which now are now in an unkempt condition. Near the temple is also a lakkad bazaar (for buying and selling of wooden logs) and the Chamba Museum that has a great collection of age old paintings and pilar stones of the fort and other nearby monuments. Being a government museum, it closes at 5:00PM. As mountain driving is considered unsafe after sunset, we returned back to our plush abode in Dalhousie to prepare for our departure to Dharamsala the next morning.

DHARAMSALA AND MCLEODGANJ During the months of February and March, when Dalai Lama visits Dharamsala for his sermons, it can be a task to find a place to stay. We eventually managed something in Bhagsunath (2km from McLeodganj, which itself is 9km from Dharamsala). There was a well established taxi service from McLeodganj to Dharamsala and I believe it would have gotten better in the last 12yrs.

Dalai Lama Temple Complex and Gyuto Monastery The temple and the monastery complex, are an abode of peace and divinity at the same time. Breathtaking mountain views form the backdrop for the monastery and it just has to be experienced for what they are and what they signify.

Bhagsunath Temple, Dal Lake and St. John in the Wilderness Church An old temple dedicated to Shivji, probably named after this place 2kms away from Mcleodganj. Visiting the Dal lake enroute, we stopped for just a little bit to see the St. John’s church. I wonder whether it was St. John who was in the wilderness or the person who named it wanted to highlight the environs. This place could qualify for the next horror movie for the sheer eeriness to this one. After this multi religious trip we headed to one of the my favourite places on this trip the Kangra fort.

Bakeries of McLeodgunj Mcleodganj boasts of good bakery shops (like the Bakery Shop) and tibetian and chinese food joints (like the Hot Spot and others in the main Macleodganj area). We savoured on the pastries and patties the first day along with some really delicious cookies while the next day just the pastries were enough.

KANGRA: Kangra Fort Kangra valley is formed by the Beas and Banganga rivers and top of the Kangra fort provides one of the most breathtaking views of the same. The fort has a small museum at the entrance which provides a good understanding of the whole area as well as talks about a major earthquake that took place in 1905 and led to a lot of destruction especially of the Fort and the other small sub monuments within it like the Lakshmi Narayan temple. Before the earthquake, this is the only fort (or probably one of the few) in the history of India, that could never be conquered.

Trilokpur Temple: Stalactite and Stalagmite formations Famous amongst the locals, Trilokpur cave temple is 41kms from Dharamsala on the way to Pathankot. It has a fine display of stalactite and stalagmite formations. Since the whole area is quite mountainous, there were rocks in the stream adjoining the temple, where Anand decided to give rock climbing a last ditch effort. The view of the valley from here too is breathtakingly beautiful.

We then caught our train back to Lucknow from Pathankot, to start a new journey in our lives. (This was a trip after the placements and before our convocation). Himachal is as much a trekker’s delight as of a photographer’s…

I still have vivid memories of the fun we had in the plush Dalhousie bunglow, Zorbing in an almost non-descript place, hiking up the Kangra fort with mesmerizing views, wheel separation incident... Amazing trip with an amazing bunch! This post is part of the Throwback Thursday series in which I share about some of my memorable trips from years ago.

[thepoolscene]

The Pool Scene - Carlo Biado, Roland Garcia - World Pool Billiard

New Post on http://thepoolscene.com/?p=22739

​BIADO FINALLY REACHES POOL’S MOUNTAINTOP

The Philippines’ Carlo Biado wins his first World 9-ball championship with a 13-5 win over fellow Filipino Roland Garcia.

  By Ted Lerner WPA Press Officer Photos Courtesy of Bo Bader

(Doha, Qatar)– For the last 12 years the Philippines’ Carlo Biado did everything he needed to do to put himself on the road to being a champion. He dedicated endless hours in practice, money games, tournaments, and worldwide travel all in the hopes of one day reaching the top of the sport. And he also endured plenty of massive disappointments and near misses in big time events, including in more than a few world championships.

Those hard knocks and long days and nights finally paid off on Thursday afternoon in Doha, and in the biggest way possible, as Biado captured his very first WPA World 9-ball title, after a relatively easy 13-5 victory over fellow Filipino Roland Garcia in the final.

One could easily see the sense of relief and triumph on Biado’s face as the last nine ball fell and he realized he had finally accomplished his long cherished goal. Only two years ago, Biado came within a whisker of winning the World 10-ball crown in the Philippines, only to lose right at the wire to Taiwan’s Ko Pin Yi.

The humble and smooth shooting Filipino kept at it, however, and dedicated himself even more. He finally got his US travel visa and honed his skills in the States. Earlier this year he achieved his biggest triumph to date when he won a gold medal at the World Games in Poland.

It was clear all week in Doha that that win in Poland this summer had infused the Filipino with the type of confidence that would soon take him all the way to the pool mountaintop. With a dead-eyed, smooth stroke, cool demeanor and fast pace, the 34 year old Biado has all the tools and time to take this win to even further heights of greatness in the coming years.

For Garcia, his appearance in the final was a welcome revelation to pool fans who may never have heard of the hot shooting 36 year old. He grew up in the same Philippine town as the legend Efren Ryes, and learned much of the game from the Hall of Famer. Those who knew Garcia knew he always possessed surreal skills, and he was a favorite on the Philippine money game scene for years. In 2006 he played in the World Pool Championship in Manila but was way in over his head and fell out in the group stages. He had never produced much on the tournament circuit until he began traveling more in the last three years and he started to get some results. He has spent the last two years living and working in Thailand as a house pro.

This was Garcia’s first ever trip to the World 9-ball Championship since the event came to Doha in 2010 and what a week it was for the Filipino. Up until the final Garcia produced one master class after the next, including beat downs of Niels Feijen, Ko and young gun Klenti Kaci. There’s no doubt the pool world will be hearing more from this exceptionally talented Filipino.

That two Filipinos ended up in the final of the World 9-ball Championship may have been a happy coincidence for Pinoy fans around the world, but it was certainly far from a guarantee when play began at 10am local time on Thursday. That’s because the two opponents of Biado and Garcia were also playing lights out throughout the week here.

Biado’s opponent, Wu Kun Lin, has, over the last six months, established himself as the new man to beat among a plethora of incredible Taiwanese talent. The 22 year old from Taipei had recently grabbed semi-finals spots at the China Open and the World Pool Series and looked primed for a possible finals spot today. But several racks into their match today were enough to show who was boss. Biado’s experience was telling and he grabbed an early lead, pounced on several of Wu’s errors, and played brilliant 9-ball to win going away, 11-6. 

On the TV table at the same time, Garcia came into his match with the Albanian Kaci a slight underdog and justifiably so. Kaci’s clinical style has proven impenetrable lately and in just a few months the 18 year old has rocketed to an unlikely spot at the higher echelons of the pro ranks. But the Filipino didn’t let a few early mistakes get him down and once he found his rhythm, he produced a breathtaking performance that was as good as one could ever want to see. Garcia blew away Kaci in the blink of an eye, streaking to an 11-6 win and a spot in his very first world championship final.

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With two Filipinos going for the title, the intensity and drama that is usually associated with a World 9-ball final seemed to be missing even before the race to 13, alternate break match began. The great Filipino players always travel together, and all of them are friends. And while each dearly wanted to be crowned world champion, the match seemed to proceed at a more casual pace than otherwise would have been.

Biado quickly established his control of the proceedings and never looked back. After taking the first two racks, Biado pounced on three straight glaring mistakes from Garcia to quickly move up 5-0. Slick shooting by Biado and another mistake by Garcia brought the score to 7-0. Garcia notched his first rack to make it 7-1, but a poor safety by Garcia led to another Biado frame and an 8-1 lead.

Garcia seemed to mount a comeback and won two straight to make it 8-3. But a break and run by Biado and an inadvertent scratch on the break by Garcia put the score at 10-3. Biado then moved it to 11-3 before Garcia countered with two of his own. At this point, however, the result was just a formality and indeed Biado quickly closed the deal. He wrapped up the proceedings with a fine break and run to claim his very first World 9-ball title.

Afterwards, as he posed for photos and celebrated with the many overseas Filipinos who live and work in Qatar, the new World Champion couldn’t help but think back on what had brought him to this very moment.

“I’m very very happy right now,” and overjoyed Biado said.  “It’s been a long time. I worked very hard, had many disappointments. And now finally I won the world title.

“In the semis I had a bit of pressure against Wu but I got lucky in one of the racks when I missed the bank shot on the four ball but it went in the other pocket. So I got lucky.

“There was less pressure in the final because even if I don’t win, at least a Filipino will get the title. I was very comfortable that’s why I played well. Also the balls were always in an easy position after the break.

“When I won the world games there was a lot of pressure, more than here because there were so many people watching. After I won in Poland against Jayson Shaw I just felt so good and so much more confident when I entered other events. That was a really big help to my confidence and I know it definitely helped me this week and today.”

For Garcia, the loss after being on the cusp of an unlikely world crown didn’t seem to sting too much. He was just happy that a Filipino had taken the title. And he was sure to use the experience to achieve success in future events.

“It’s still a wonderful feeling to be a part of this prestigious event,” Garcia said. “And the fact that my friend and fellow countryman Carlo wins means I’m also a winner. I’m very proud of Carlo. He deserved it more than I do.

“I had mixed emotion going into the final playing another Filipino. It’s not easy. And the pressure didn’t seem like it was there like in other matches. Of course I was trying to be the world champion but I started out with a few mistakes and he took advantage and that was it.  Anyway, I’m really happy. This is my first time that I joined this event and I made it this far. Hopefully next year I can use this experience to have more success in future tournaments.”

For now, though, it was Biado’s time to take a bow. When he was reminded that he now joined Filipino greats Reyes, Francisco Bustamante, Alex Pagulayan and Ronnie Alcano as World 9-ball Champion, all he could do was think back on all the difficult toil that had brought him into such illustrious company.

“I’m so proud to be one of them. This is the best thing that could ever happen to me. I have worked very hard for many years and now my dream has come true.”

The 2017 World 9-ball Championship was hosted by The Qatar Billiard and Snooker Federation(QBSF), and is sanctioned by the The World Pool Billiard Association, the governing body of the sport of pool.

The players  competed on Wiraka DYNASTY  Tables with Simonis 860 Cloth, Electric Blue Color and using Aramith Tournament  Pro cup TV Pool Balls featuring the new Duramith Technology.

Fans can interact with us through the WPA’s official Facebook Page for the event at this link;https://www.facebook.com/worldpoolbilliardassociation/

The WPA is also on Twitter; @poolwpa

Visit the official website of the WPA at www.wpapool.com

  Results

Final Carlo Biado (PHI) 13 – 5 Roland Garcia (PHI)

Semi Finals Carlo Biado (PHI) 11 – 6 Wu Kun Lin (TPE)   Roland Garcia (PHI) 11 – 6 Klenti Kaci (ALB)

Prize Fund Payouts

Winner US$ 40,000

Runner Up US$ 20,000

3rd & 4th Place US$ 8,000 each

5th to 8th Place US$ 5,000 each

9th to 16th Place US$ 3,000 each

17th to 32nd Place US$ 2,000 each

33rd to 64th Place US$ 1,000 each

65th to 96th Place US$ 500 each

Total US$ 200,000

[tboneburpee-blog]

The memories of the summer have been pushed aside as I process the thoughts and memories of Momma Bird!  Momma Bird passed away on August 25 after putting up a strong fight against the disease she had battled for the last two years plus… I have not come across someone as strong as this woman or as fierce as this woman who I had the great honor and pleasure to call MOM.  Momma Bird had what she has referred to as a ‘living wake’.  For the last six months plus of her life Mom had visits from so many  near and far that her husband and soulmate (Mel) almost started taking numbers.  Mom was unable to leave the house towards the end and she always loved having people around her.  She loved being with people and loved sharing a cocktail with them, guess I know where I get it from!  Momma Bird would be disappointed if you had to leave because with the reality of her disease she was not sure if she would see you again.  When I left in August I hugged her tight and told her I would be back in seventeen weeks, who knew that I would be back less than two weeks later saying farewell to the most important person in my life.  

From all accounts I have heard on Momma Bird’s last night, she had her husband and sister with her, and the happy hour fixings (not that the nurses wanted to see this)… I would not have wanted her to leave this world any other way… Upon arriving in New Hampshire, the first thing I wanted to do was see my mom.  I asked if someone could arrange to take me to the funeral home where she was so I could spend some time alone with her.  I walked in and saw her lying there, I held her hand and knew that she was in peace.  She smelled like her shampoo and had her hand folded in a way that reminded me of what she looked like when she took a nap after a tough day.  I (and we as a family) have been overwhelmed by the amount of love and kind words that have been spoken, posted, and sent.  One does not realize the impact they have on the lives that surround them until they pass away.  My mother had more friends than I ever knew!  I only hope that I can live to be the type of person she was and wanted me to be.

Momma Bird – you were a mother, a friend, a mentor, and a frighteningly amazing tennis player whom I never got the chance to beat.  You are now reunited with my brother and know the two of you will be watching over me for the rest of my days.  I love you and miss you more than you know!

Cologne Germany 2014

Family

Francis, from me to you 2017

Aunt Janet’s birthday 2017

Mom and Mel – her soul mate and dance partner in life

Summer –

This will be brief and have more pictures than words due to the above but wanted to share what the summer entailed.  One month of my summer was spending time with my mother as we knew time was of the essence and the rest I took a bit of time to see Scotland, Ireland, and London.

What started out as a trip booked on Turkish airlines to bring and leave my Chili in Scotland while I explore and then head on to New Hampshire, turned into a ten day trip of new sights, sounds, laughter, and long lasting friendships.   Chili however remained in Oman due to my …um… moment of dim lucidity!  To keep it short I thought Chili would need to be quarantined again and rabied up again, but this is not the case and by then it was too late. Found an amazing Dogsitter, Varsha, and she willingly took Chili in amongst the other animals she had and they became fast friends!  I will be reunited with Chili tomorrow night (August 16th)….

back to Scotland…  collected at the airport by my dear friend Sharon we set off to get me a quick shower and hit the ground walking.

Sharon

Dolly the sheep

Penicuk House

New Lanark

We went straight for the bubbles while we sat and looked over the public gardens between the Scottish National Museum and where dear Sir Walter Scott sits.  The day was crisp and the sun was shining bright. I could not ask for a better first day in this gorgeous city.   For the next five days I would have the chance to run to Penicuk House, head to Perth, see the launch of the first aircraft carrier in 🇬🇧 UK, and spend time with wonderful friends in Edinburgh. From Edinburgh I went on to explore Duone and Helensburgh (which lies on the north shore of the Firth of Clyde and the mouth of the Gareloch is close to the western boundary of the town, while the hills in the north are part of the Highlands  – Wikipedia).  Drove around the highlands area, drank wine in the glorious sunshine reflecting off the Loch in front of the hotel, wandered down the beach, and ate delicious oysters and mussels not far from the quaint village of Inveraray.  We sat and watched as the heavy rain clouds lifted to let the rays of sunshine peak through… fantastic.  I could not have asked for a better weekend in a new part of Scotland.

Priory

Priory

Oysters… mmmm!!!

Helensburgh

 Inveraray is home to the Inveraray Castle

We drove right over this bridge….

Off to London I go…what a whirlwind four days it would be! My dearest friends Jo, Sharon, and Nafiza all got together for wanderings, food, and laughs. I had a wonderful visit with Paul and Gil, who recently left Lucca, Italy for new pastures in London. The girls and I ventured on the tourist circuit, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, and the like. With the rare sun blazing in London we sat down for drinks on a permanently docked boat on the River Thames and made a plan to go to a comedy show that evening. After Jo and Sharon left I took to the streets in my running shoes and ran through Kenningston Gardens, around the Victoria and Albert Museum and the neighborhoods near my hotel.  Jo and Sharon had told me that I must visit the Pink  Floyd exhibit if I had the chance, so I cleaned up, hit the road and wandered around one of the best exhibits I have seen in my life.  I love Pink Floyd so to wander through the history of the band was incredible.  The exhibit ended in this large room with a virtual concert being played on the walls, complete with lasers, strobe lights, and beautiful music pouring out.  What an experience!!!!  I had the chance to see a friend on my last day in London that I had not seen in a year, this was a wonderful treat. We watched football and bar hopped all the while trying to find me decent food to eat… another fabulous night in London. I can see why people love this city but it is truly expensive to eat, even with the pound not doing so well against the dollar at the time.

  Oh well… see you next year London!!!

Now off to Boston…It was time to go spend time with Momma bird, family, and friends in New Hampshire. I spent most days just being with Mom who was always in good spirits despite the difficulty she had breathing. We would sit inside or outside depending on how hot it was.   She would work on Sudoku and I would work on the crossword. We would sit and chat or she would chat with Sheryl.  Mel would be in and out, rest, and make sure mom had what she needed. I would go running, food shopping, or just relax. In the evenings I would spend time with my dear friend and family favorite Pieter, our local greenhouse lettuce grower, I also spent time saw my aunt and cousins as well.

Our favorite grower

When was the last time you went to the drive-in

Long time no see cousin Jimmy

Thank you Brian… fantastic night

Cousins = family

Three weeks were up and it was time for me to go explore Ireland. I would be back in Boston in nine days. Ireland and its southern coast was calling, I had hired a car and was setting off to explore the coast I have heard so much about. I was certainly impressed and in awe with each new corner and turn I encountered. I arrived and explored Dublin first, impressed but not impressive. I walked most of the city, stopping at Trinity College (skipped Book of Kells – line was too long), Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublinia, Guiness, Jameson’s and a walk along the River Liffey. From Dublin I went to Dunmore East and met up with coworkers, one of whom lives in Dunmore East during the summer. We drank, talked, walked, and ate… we had a blast for two days. We took a walk along the cliffs and noticed we had company in the waters below as a seal went floating along in the sea.

how layovers are done in Iceland

Ttrinity College

Who doesn’t float down the River Liffey – Dublin

My local breakfast spot – Dublin

Yup….

Porterhouse Bar

Time for whiskey tasting – not converted!!

Kilkenny Castle

Dunmore East, Ireland

Dublin

Windy photos and good laughs

Cliff walk in Dunmore East

Saying farewell after two days I set off for Kinsale. Stayed in a wonderful little bed and breakfast, arriving in time to meet two girls from Germany and joined them for dinner and music at Kitty O’Sheas. Great night with lovely girls… The next morning I set off for the Ring of Kerry. Made stops here and there along the way and arrived seven hours later in Cahersiveen.

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View from Airbnb

Hydrangea everywhere

neighbors

This is a very small coastal town with a ancient castle, one main road, and a ferry to connect you to Valentia Island. I arrived and had dinner at the recommendation of my host, Ciaran, to eat at the local seafood restaurant at the ferry. I was not let down in the slightest, crab claws were divine. Was just great being around locals and watching the comings and goings. I went for a run the next day to the castle. The Ballycarbey Castle ( some kind of residence situated on the site of the castle as early as 1398 however the present ruins were constructed in the 16th century – Wikipedia) was worth the five mile run over the river and through the village. Sadly the knee acted up on the way back so I walked most of it but the pain was dulled once I got myself a proper coffee and croissant for the remainder of my walk. I managed to collect my rain jacket that I had hidden under bushes just in time as the skies opened and unleashed a bucket of rain. This lasted about five minutes and thankfully I was close to the house I was staying at. Later that afternoon my host offered to take me to the island via bicycles. The afternoon turned out to be great fun with exploring and pints in the local pub (aptly named Boston’s) we sat in the rain back at the seafood restaurant drinking wine until a table was ready to sit and eat at but it got too cold and the second guest in the house arrived. Ciaran left to help guest, I was given my same spot as the night before, and I sat down to enjoy another tasty meal. Ciaran and the new houseguest returned and we ended up having a grand time talking to locals after the new houseguest went to back to the house to get some sleep.

The roads that lead to Liscannor through Dingle and Tarbert, Ireland:

Next stop, Liscannor. Liscannor is home to the breathtaking and most visited sights in Ireland, Cliffs of Moher. I had difficulty finding my guesthouse and stopped in a local pub to use Internet and contact the host. The girl behind the bar knew the owner, called him, and he arrived within five minutes to sort me out.  We stayed in the pub and had the obligatory pint before departing for the house.  There was another girl staying at the house and we ended up having dinner together and going to see the Cliffs at sunset.

What a perfect arrival to this quaint (blink and you miss it) coastal town. The following morning I drove to Dublin to collect a friend from the airport who would be keeping me company for the next two nights.  Returning from Dublin we stopped in Lahinch and wandered about before having a pint and heading back to Liscannor for dinner. Vaughn’s was the selection for dinner; while we dined on oysters, crab claws, and lobster, a very familiar face walked into the restaurant. You would not believe me if I did not have the picture as proof but Connor Murray from the British Lions rugby team was in the bar area of Vaughn’s. This was great fun to see yet I did not get the courage to ask to have a photo with him, when I thought I had, he was gone. The next day we went to explore the Cliffs and what a difference night and day brought. There were so many people!!! I guess sunset is the best time to go to have more space and quiet to yourself. This does not detract from the majestic beauty of these cliffs but you had to do a lot of touron dodging while walking along the narrow trails on the ridge.

Cliffs

Of

Moher

We took in the sights as we set on our way depearting Liscannor, we were misguided by GPS, laughed, map read, and made our way towards Galway.  Galway was a bit of a let down. The directions to find the bed and breakfast that was not a bed and breakfast were bad, the weather was a bit dismal, and the Airbnb I had chosen was a bit stuck in the 1970’s (despite the description which stated it had recently been remodeled… perhaps her grandmother remodeled it!!) We went to dinner, talked, laughed, watched, and made our way back to the guesthouse.  I bailed on the second night in Galway and spent the last night in Ireland in Dublin at an amazing small hotel in the city centre. So happy yet so sad because my company left…!!!! Another amazing visit with an amazing person who it is difficult to say so long to each time we see each other. Not many people enter your life that you can connect so nicely with, I am grateful and fortunate for those who have entered my life and I am able to stay in touch with.

      Back to Boston I go….

One more week to see family and friends…

Sisters

This is how to enjoy the evenings in NH

I know this posting as been a long time in the making and apologies for the delay.  This has probably been one of the hardest postings I have had to write since I started.  The family that I have and the friends that surround me have gotten my through the days that I had and will have.  The funeral and the gatherings with family members after were truly times that will always be treasured.

Godparents are amazing

bestest!!!

Family!!!!

I have now been back in Oman for one month and it has been a whirlwind of activity.  I know most of you realize that I would not want it any other way.  Too much down time does not do me well so what have I done?  One weekend the girls and I went to Raz Al Jinz and watched turtles lumber their way back into the water after laying eggs, watched baby turtles scramble towards the sea before being scooped up by seagulls or snatched by foes, and we were amazed at the amount of people that the hotel allowed to come view (they usually cap the visitors but it was a holiday weekend!!)  so much so we left and returned for the sunrise turtle viewing rather than the evening viewing… we were much happier with this choice!!!

The Girls

Turtle tracks back to sea

Momma

I have been boating to see the dolphins (scores of them!) and have been playing in a tennis tournament (which I have shockingly enough won all of my matches played to date (well I just lost one this week)….!!!!!  This past weekend I had the chance to take Chili on her inaugural trip to the desert, Wahiba Sands. This was fantastic, socks on the sand, good friends, and one exhausted puppy by the end of the day.  Another great weekend in Oman and for the memory bank!

check out the socks

Good morning

Good evening

Additionally, I am trudging my way through a new school year.  As most of you know I have jumped from Grade 1 to Grades 7, 8, and 9 (boys and girls – 9), this has been an eye opener for certain and a lesson in how not to be rattled by teenagers.  I have learned that raising my voice does nothing but threatening to call their fathers does EVERYTHING!!  I was even bribed today (Oct. 10) by one of my Grade 9 boys to change his report.  This is going to be an interesting year to say the least.  This week (Oct. 18th) I believe I may be conquered the boys in Grade 8 and 9 which has made me smile when leaving work for the first time in a month.

I will try and return to posting more often.  Life continues on and I will be heading Stateside for the holidays.  I am grateful to have so many wonderful people in my life and the opportunities that have come my way.  I miss Momma Bird dearly and think she is with me every day.  Please make the most of each day and love the people around you!!!

Rest in Peace

Summer memories abound…  The memories of the summer have been pushed aside as I process the thoughts and memories of Momma Bird!  

[greggreaen]

So ummm…this happened!!!

So if you’ve been following me on Instagram, I kinda just announced the biggest thing that has ever happened to me. Guys! I got engaged on Kauai to the love of my life! AHHHHHHHH!!!!! I AM A FIANCÉ NOW!

You’re probably thinking, “Wait whaaaa….you…were…in a relationship?” It’s okay. I meant to keep it private. It took everyone by surprise…like everyone…even COSMO!??!?!?!?

Before I get into the romantic proposal story, I just have to say that when Sam and I were Ubering home from LAX, we got a notification for this article, and when we opened it up – we just about DIED laughing.

First, at the fact that we were important enough for Cosmo to write an article about, and then secondly – I mean THAT HEADLINE. It is golden. Just golden. The Uber driver probably thought we were lunatics. We were CRYING. DYING. We couldn’t breathe.

Sam and I got engaged on August 16, 2017 in Kauai and I kept it a secret from you guys until the 22nd. Sam chose the 16th because it is my favorite number. And now, as I am writing this, I just realized that we announced ourselves publicly as a couple on the 22nd…which is Sam’s favorite number!

Though I never officially shared Sam with you guys, if you look carefully, he’s actually been in quite a few on my YouTube videos! POP Songs in Real Life and Train Like a Beast, Look Like  Beauty Workout just to name a couple. We kept our relationship private because as a “public figure”, there are just some things you need to save for yourself. To me, love is very precious, and I did not want to put our relationship or Sam in a place of constant judgement. We needed to purely and genuinely develop our relationship without the pressure of followers, likes, and comments etc.

I actually had trouble writing the engagement announcement caption because in a way, I almost felt like I had been hiding a secret from you guys. I didn’t want you to be mad because you guys pretty much know EVERYTHING about me – except for my dating life. It took me an hour to write the IG caption and when I posted it, my heart was racing. Was my biggest moment going to be ruined by people being upset that I was hiding something from them?

Thank you Nicole for saying that. It made me feel a lot less anxious! And not that this matters AT ALL, but our engagement announcement is the highest liked thing in the entire history of the entire Blogilates Instagram!

I think the highest liked post I’ve ever had like before this was around 64k. I got into the mid-50s with Taylor Swift. But this? THIS comes to show that people really love LOVE. Sam and I are so happy that you guys are celebrating with us. THANK YOU. I cannot wait to share more stories about our relationship and things we’ve learned over the years. We’ve been together since college and he knows me better than any person in the world, including myself.

So for those of you who have not read it yet, here is original engagement announcement:

I’ve been waiting a week to post this because I wasn’t sure how to tell you guys. Most of you probably didn’t even know I was in a relationship because I’ve been very private about my life offline. But now, there are no more secrets.

He knew me and loved me before Blogilates ever existed. We dreamt together, built together, failed together, lost hope together, and found what we were desperately searching for in one another…together. We’ve been through so much and I 100% would NOT be who I am today without him.

I want you to meet my biggest supporter, my best friend, the man of my dreams, the man of my reality, the only one who can make me laugh within 5 minutes of a heated argument by putting on my favorite Disney songs and forcing me to dance with him…the amazing Sam.

That evening Sam told me we needed to go take Instagram pics at this cool cliff he found. So right before golden hour, I got ready, put on my new dress, and did my hair & makeup! Once he walked me to the edge of the cliff, he bent down to get his camera and said something along the lines of “Oops, I forgot my camera.” He was probably confused because all I said was “Oh ok!” (I don’t know, the scene was too pretty to get mad!)

Then…I saw a black box. And I was like ummmmmmmmmmmmmm.

(Because we ALWAYS discuss everything and we definitely did NOT discuss what was about to happen!)

He got on one knee and asked “Will you marry me?” And all I could say was…”Wait, is this real?”, “You’re kidding right?”, “Hold on, this isn’t fake?!”

He was like, “NO CASSEY! THIS IS REAL!!!!”

And at that moment, I started crying, he slipped on the most beautiful ring I had ever seen, he turned me around, and I saw my sister and her boyfriend snapping pics and shooting video from behind a well positioned bush.

IT. WAS. UNREAL.

So there it is guys. I got engaged in Kauai to the love of my life. It feels like a dream but Sam reminds me that it’s definitely real.

There’s so much more I want to tell you but Instagram won’t let me write more.

My baby sister Jackelyn was taking pics the entire time! Her and her boyfriend Nick (we call him Nickles) were behind a literal fir fort being all sneaky. I HAD NO IDEA. LIKE ZERO IDEA. We had to go back to the scene of the event before we left Kauai to re-enact this photo for you guys so that you could appreciate the fir fort. LOOK:

I was CRYING once I realized Sam was asking me to marry him for real! Then Jackelyn and Nickles came over to hug us and we took some selfies on a cliff. In case you’re wondering, Sam proposed to me on Punahoa Point in Kauai. It was perfect. Just PERFECT.

Ah, and the ring. Want a closeup? Okay cuz I took a closeup to show y’all! I can’t stop looking at it! AHHHHHHHHH!!!! (Also thank goodness I got my nails done the week before!)

You know what’s funny?

LITERALLY a couple weeks ago before we went on vacation I told Sam that I hate rings, don’t get me a ring, and that our love does not need to be shown off by an overvalued rock. I said take the money and let’s start another venture instead! Hahaha.

Omg he must have been DYING inside because Sam and lil sis have been working so hard CUSTOM DESIGNING this ring just for me – in secret!

I remember a few months ago Jackelyn asked me if I HAD TO pick a ring what it would look like. I was like…ok fine, well if you force me then something that doesn’t look like a traditional wedding ring!

I want it to look like a rose on a vine!

She was like…what!?!?

Well baby sis and fiancé, you guys knew me better than I knew myself because I DIDN’T KNOW that I could love a ring THIS MUCH. It is so beautiful and the fact that you guys designed it for me makes it even more special. What’s a Blogilates ring if it ain’t got some pink stones and a rose gold band!?!?

You guys crushed it on the design!!!

Finally…for those of you wondering…how does being a fiancé feel different from being a girlfriend?

Surprisingly it feels REALLY different! I feel like I’ve unlocked a new level of adulthood and am experiencing a heightened kind of love. Its so weird and magical! ✨ Eeeeeeeeee!!!

Now onto the wedding dress search! THIS IS GONNA BE FUN.

So ummm…this happened!!! published first on http://www.blogilates.com

[richardshaver1955]

So ummm…this happened!!!

So if you’ve been following me on Instagram, I kinda just announced the biggest thing that has ever happened to me. Guys! I got engaged on Kauai to the love of my life! AHHHHHHHH!!!!! I AM A FIANCÉ NOW!

You’re probably thinking, “Wait whaaaa….you…were…in a relationship?” It’s okay. I meant to keep it private. It took everyone by surprise…like everyone…even COSMO!??!?!?!?

Before I get into the romantic proposal story, I just have to say that when Sam and I were Ubering home from LAX, we got a notification for this article, and when we opened it up – we just about DIED laughing.

First, at the fact that we were important enough for Cosmo to write an article about, and then secondly – I mean THAT HEADLINE. It is golden. Just golden. The Uber driver probably thought we were lunatics. We were CRYING. DYING. We couldn’t breathe.

Sam and I got engaged on August 16, 2017 in Kauai and I kept it a secret from you guys until the 22nd. Sam chose the 16th because it is my favorite number. And now, as I am writing this, I just realized that we announced ourselves publicly as a couple on the 22nd…which is Sam’s favorite number!

Though I never officially shared Sam with you guys, if you look carefully, he’s actually been in quite a few on my YouTube videos! POP Songs in Real Life and Train Like a Beast, Look Like  Beauty Workout just to name a couple. We kept our relationship private because as a “public figure”, there are just some things you need to save for yourself. To me, love is very precious, and I did not want to put our relationship or Sam in a place of constant judgement. We needed to purely and genuinely develop our relationship without the pressure of followers, likes, and comments etc.

I actually had trouble writing the engagement announcement caption because in a way, I almost felt like I had been hiding a secret from you guys. I didn’t want you to be mad because you guys pretty much know EVERYTHING about me – except for my dating life. It took me an hour to write the IG caption and when I posted it, my heart was racing. Was my biggest moment going to be ruined by people being upset that I was hiding something from them?

Thank you Nicole for saying that. It made me feel a lot less anxious! And not that this matters AT ALL, but our engagement announcement is the highest liked thing in the entire history of the entire Blogilates Instagram!

I think the highest liked post I’ve ever had like before this was around 64k. I got into the mid-50s with Taylor Swift. But this? THIS comes to show that people really love LOVE. Sam and I are so happy that you guys are celebrating with us. THANK YOU. I cannot wait to share more stories about our relationship and things we’ve learned over the years. We’ve been together since college and he knows me better than any person in the world, including myself.

So for those of you who have not read it yet, here is original engagement announcement:

I’ve been waiting a week to post this because I wasn’t sure how to tell you guys. Most of you probably didn’t even know I was in a relationship because I’ve been very private about my life offline. But now, there are no more secrets.

He knew me and loved me before Blogilates ever existed. We dreamt together, built together, failed together, lost hope together, and found what we were desperately searching for in one another…together. We’ve been through so much and I 100% would NOT be who I am today without him.

I want you to meet my biggest supporter, my best friend, the man of my dreams, the man of my reality, the only one who can make me laugh within 5 minutes of a heated argument by putting on my favorite Disney songs and forcing me to dance with him…the amazing Sam.

That evening Sam told me we needed to go take Instagram pics at this cool cliff he found. So right before golden hour, I got ready, put on my new dress, and did my hair & makeup! Once he walked me to the edge of the cliff, he bent down to get his camera and said something along the lines of “Oops, I forgot my camera.” He was probably confused because all I said was “Oh ok!” (I don’t know, the scene was too pretty to get mad!)

Then…I saw a black box. And I was like ummmmmmmmmmmmmm. (Because we ALWAYS discuss everything and we definitely did NOT discuss what was about to happen!)

He got on one knee and asked “Will you marry me?” And all I could say was…”Wait, is this real?”, “You’re kidding right?”, “Hold on, this isn’t fake?!”

He was like, “NO CASSEY! THIS IS REAL!!!!”

And at that moment, I started crying, he slipped on the most beautiful ring I had ever seen, he turned me around, and I saw my sister and her boyfriend snapping pics and shooting video from behind a well positioned bush.

IT. WAS. UNREAL.

So there it is guys. I got engaged in Kauai to the love of my life. It feels like a dream but Sam reminds me that it’s definitely real. There’s so much more I want to tell you but Instagram won’t let me write more.

My baby sister Jackelyn was taking pics the entire time! Her and her boyfriend Nick (we call him Nickles) were behind a literal fir fort being all sneaky. I HAD NO IDEA. LIKE ZERO IDEA. We had to go back to the scene of the event before we left Kauai to re-enact this photo for you guys so that you could appreciate the fir fort. LOOK:

I was CRYING once I realized Sam was asking me to marry him for real! Then Jackelyn and Nickles came over to hug us and we took some selfies on a cliff. In case you’re wondering, Sam proposed to me on Punahoa Point in Kauai. It was perfect. Just PERFECT.

Ah, and the ring. Want a closeup? Okay cuz I took a closeup to show y’all! I can’t stop looking at it! AHHHHHHHHH!!!! (Also thank goodness I got my nails done the week before!)

You know what’s funny?

LITERALLY a couple weeks ago before we went on vacation I told Sam that I hate rings, don’t get me a ring, and that our love does not need to be shown off by an overvalued rock. I said take the money and let’s start another venture instead! Hahaha.

Omg he must have been DYING inside because Sam and lil sis have been working so hard CUSTOM DESIGNING this ring just for me – in secret!

I remember a few months ago Jackelyn asked me if I HAD TO pick a ring what it would look like. I was like…ok fine, well if you force me then something that doesn’t look like a traditional wedding ring! I want it to look like a rose on a vine! She was like…what!?!?

Well baby sis and fiancé, you guys knew me better than I knew myself because I DIDN’T KNOW that I could love a ring THIS MUCH. It is so beautiful and the fact that you guys designed it for me makes it even more special. What’s a Blogilates ring if it ain’t got some pink stones and a rose gold band!?!? You guys crushed it on the design!!!

Finally…for those of you wondering…how does being a fiancé feel different from being a girlfriend? Surprisingly it feels REALLY different! I feel like I’ve unlocked a new level of adulthood and am experiencing a heightened kind of love. Its so weird and magical! ✨ Eeeeeeeeee!!!

Now onto the wedding dress search! THIS IS GONNA BE FUN.

from Blogilates http://ift.tt/2wCwMQn