#And I live on a farm so it’s not like I don’t get actual exercise

[sunnyxjarrus]

hi middle of nowhere Tennessee it’s 30 minute drive to the closest actual store(not a gas station) from my house and then if we are talking places of employment most(ones that pay a somewhat living wage) are either 30 minutes or 45 minimum and this is by car my schools have all been 30-40 minute drives and for doctors the closest hospital is 35 minutes away roughly no traffic the closest clinic is 25 minutes no traffic and keep in mind that 80% of this is hills

“America IS walkable, you’re all just lazy” my childhood home was an hour from the nearest hospital (by car)

[pizzagame4000]

NOISETTE THEMED DOODLE DUMP ft. cheesecake and the spouses

copious hazel headcanons under the cut because i can’t help myself

first off: her name is Hazel 👍🏻 ik that’s a common one but it’s literally perfect… canon info to me

her favorite thing to do, besides making experimental food, is actually exercising! she’s an incredibly skilled acrobat and stunt artist, so she needs to be fit for that, but she also just enjoys letting the excess energy out bc she gets really cranky otherwise. she’s toned af and could wipe the floor with you - she doesn’t go around picking fights for no good reason, but if she did… heehee

she has such an unending well of passion for all of her interests that some find her to be too much but she dgaf… she’s unabashedly autistic and does NOT care if you don’t want to hear her infodump about obscure cheeseslime genetics, she will do it anyways

i like to think that, although she is very bubbly, she has an insane morbid streak that catches people off guard. she loves talking about anatomy and gross-out subjects to anyone who can stomach it, and cracks the most fucked up jokes - it’s one of the reasons her and noise get along so well. she is thinking about blood and guts because she thinks it’s interesting!!!! she will give you hyperspecific graphic threats of violence if you make her mad!!! teehee!!

i would put her at like… chaotic neutral but leaning towards good. she has an almost scientific fascination with violence and seeing what kinds of stress a body can take, and doesn’t mind watching shit unfold instead of helping… unless something actually super fucked up is going on (like way past canon typical pizza tower violence), she’s not going to bat for you lol she’s gonna grab a camera and clipboard

her interest in anatomy branches out into a love for biology, medicine and health in general - as much as she loves watching her boyfriend beat the shit out of some chump on live tv, she also loves studying how different creatures work and how to treat injuries. she almost became a doctor! but she didn’t like the rigid schedule and pressure, so she fostered her interest in dance and gymnastics, and went into television as a stunt double instead. that’s actually how she met noise! that’s why they look so much alike - she was told to inquire NTV for a job because of the resemblance. noise thought she was so cool she was asked to be his co-star instead, and they’ve been inseparable ever since.

sometimes she gets tired of the noisette persona, but she does genuinely like theo, so it’s hard. she’s been more busy with this NTV gig (that’s looking more like a full blown career) than she would like, so that’s why she opened her cafe - to do something else for once dammit!! she likes weird shit, food included!!!

i have two shipping scenarios i like, so consider these parallel universes - hazel x vigi, and hazel x vigi x noise

if you don’t like negative takes on the noise relationship i’d recommend skipping to 2 ^_^

1. her relationship with noise deteriorates bc noise can’t accept the fact that hazel doesn’t wanna be noisette all the time! they’re so busy, he barely even makes time for her anymore - he barely even tolerates her! it’s not until vigi comes into the picture that she realizes she doesn’t have to deal w that mess. but it sucks cuz noise isn’t just her bf, but also like!!! a big part of her career!!! and she does genuinely love him but he’s just!!! an uncommunicative ass!!! it culminates in hazel leaving him and crashing at vigi’s farm because fuck it, it’s her life she does what she wants. she will kiss the cheese AND rebuild her tv career, on her own terms this time baybee

2. noise and hazel still have that issue but they actually communicate like adults and fix their relationship problems, so none of that shit happens! happy ending! hazel has her own life and theo actually lets his gf know he loves her! woah! enter vigi, in: “we saw you across the bar and we really dig your vibe…” imagining vigi as a third to hazel and theo, completely out of his depth but too bisexual to care, is SO funny to me lol… like hazel and him are probably the only two together at first but over time he and theo warm up to each other more (gay intent) and it’s perfect

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

I have a light one that’s kind of dumb.

🐶🐱

AITA for wanting a dog even though my sister/housemate does not?

To start, nobody is allergic to dogs or has a fear of them, she just doesn’t want it.

(if ages and gender are important, we’re both f in our early 20s)

I grew up on a farm with lots of animals. There were always cows, I had goats, there were chickens, ducks, barn cats and of course, 1-3 livestock guard dogs at a time.

When I was 16, I had a senior spaniel who had to be put down due to heart problems. Ever since I have been asking if I can have another dog but my parents have said no.

Around a year ago now I sold my goats and moved out of my parents house into an apartment. The apartment didn’t allow any pet bigger than my little gecko.

Then, about January, my older sister started messaging me with images of houses on a realtor site. So we looked at houses. I agreed to buy a house with her 1) so she could move out of our parents house and 2) because being by myself in the apartment with no real friends wasn’t really that good for my mental health.

To her credit, she did get a kitten from our farm and let me keep it, although I didn’t really want a house cat. The main reason I wanted a dog was for the amount of exercise it would need, and I would have to take it for long walks. Not to mention litter boxes aren’t my favourite thing to deal with. Still, I am glad I have a little animal to cuddle.

Additionally, most of the times when I bring up wanting a dog or getting a dog, it’s either in a jokey matter or it’ll be in contrast to something (for example there was a shady guy hanging around our street the other night and we don’t have an actual alarm for our house, so I went “yknow if we had a yappy little chihuahua it would be an alarm enough” or something like that) to which she will reply something short and growly along the lines of “you’re never getting a dog in my house”

Her reasons she gives for not wanting a dog? Number one, it’s “her” house. (It’s in both of our names, I paid half the down deposit and I pay half the mortgage and bills, and I pay for the Wifi. I’m not paying her rent, we both own it) Number 2, her friend is allergic to horses. (A friend that never comes over to our house anyway, and I understand fur allergies are complicated but it’s a dog. We aren’t anywhere NEAR horses! We live in town!) (this one is also BS because sister wants to buy a farm and have Clydesdale horses) Number 3, it sheds. We have a cat. The cat sheds more than the breeds of dogs that I really like or want. One of my favourites are the Xolo dog. Which has no hair. At all. Number 4, the cat is scared of dogs. (She isn’t. She’s never seen one in her life. I can get her used to having a dog around easily, even if she starts afraid. I’ve done it before when our parents have gotten new dogs around new cats.)

I’m not going to go behind her back and bring home a dog (even though there have been opportunities to get a free puppy multiple time) but I’m not going to stop wanting to have a dog or wanting to get one or talking about what dogs I like.

Our grandparents are moving to town and selling their farm next year, which sister wants to buy with me. I told her I’d like to move out of town into a farm, but only if she let me get either a dog or a donkey to protect our property against coyotes. (Especially considering we both want chickens if we get a farm)

She got really pissy at me about that, and stormed off. AITA here? I think she’s being a little unreasonable. I’m not a bad pet owner at all, I work with my animals as much as possible. I had my billy goat following me around the farm without a lead before I sold the goats, for pineapple’s sakes!

What are these acronyms?

[theriu]

What advice do you have for someone who wishes to (eventually, as soon as she has both the space and the money) have a cat, but who has never had a pet before?

Oh goodness, I don’t feel like an expert but I will do my best! Here’s a few tips I can think of from my own experiences:

1) Decide how okay you are with shedding. Of my two cats, the long-haired one obviously sheds a lot more noticeably, and it can be a bit aggravating to find clumps of fur all over the carpet. Hard floors can make this less of a nuisance since you can sweep it up easily, but if you have a lot of carpet, I’d suggest a short-hair cat unless you just SUPER LOVE long-hairs. Of course, my cats were both strays so those kinds of considerations didn’t really factor in. 😅

2. Determine if you want a cat that is indoor/outdoor or indoor only. Now, there is a lot of argument against letting cats run free outdoors, but I used to live out on a farm right next to a trailer park full of stray cats, so a few more (all fixed) weren’t going to make much difference to the local wildlife. Once I moved into town, though, I rehomed my one cat I knew would be miserable being indoor-only, and the other two have adapted pretty well to being indoor cats. (They do try and sneak out the door sometimes, though.) I did this mainly because risks like being hit by cars or being mistaken for a stray and adopted by some well-meaning person are much higher in town. They are still risks elsewhere, though, so keep a collar on your cat, and consider getting it microchipped. Also, know that you will probably need to get the cat some extra shots, for diseases they can only get outside. Also also, make sure you spay/neuter! (The kitten issue aside, female cats are so WEIRD when they are in heat!)

For indoor cats, my house has stairs the cats can run up and down and they seem to stay in good shape, but just make sure they have some kind of ability to exercise if they can’t run much. Stimulating things like feeder dishes that make the cat work for its food can help mentally and with keeping them from overeating. (I got this neat feeding bowl that is actually a holder of five cups of varying sizes that get filled with food, and the cats have to paw it out of the cups. It’s really helped with how fast they were eating.)

3. Cats have very different personalities, so I think it’s good to try and figure out what a cat is like before adopting it. I kept all my cats because they were really friendly compared to other cats I had known. Of course, there is the issue where my two current cats don’t always get along, but they at least don’t get into full-on brawls. But if you don’t have any other pets when you get the cat, this should be easier - you only have to get it used to you! Cats don’t always show friendlieness by cuddling; a lot of times, they just want to be in the room with you. But if you’re looking for a cuddler, see if you can find one that isn’t too afraid of people and will come right up for petting. When introducing it to your home, give it plenty of space and time to get used to its new surroundings and roommate.

4. Remembering to feed and water and change the cat litter can be hard, especially if you have ADHD. >.> My solution on the water front has been to fill a large decorative bowl in the living room and the cats just drink off that. XD For the food, Stormy will always remind me when she thinks the food is low (this is generally a false alarm the first couple times, the drama queen). Make sure you clean the litter box frequently, or the cats may find other, less agreeable locations to go. 8/ (Such as, oh I don’t know, INSIDE THE DRYER ON MY CLEAN LAUNDRY) If your cat does pee somewhere, you want to get those pet cleaner sprays because they break down the stinky enzymes that make cat pee smell so bad for so LONG.

5. As mentioned, some cats are cuddlier than others, but here’s a few general tips on cat behavior: a slow blink is how they show they trust you. A cat rolling onto its back is also showing trust that you WON’T touch its vulnerable belly (but some cats do actually learn to love tummy rubs; you kinda have to figure that one out on a cat-by-cat basis). They often like being petted on the area over the hindquarters near the base of the tail, but they also have a lot of nerves there and can get overstimulated, so if a cat goes from letting you pet it to trying to bite your hand, it is probably telling you that petting needs to stop NOW because its nerves are going CRAZY. This can also involve some trial and error; my former cat Clyde still sometimes knee-jerk reacts to being petted, but my sister says he has never done it to her, so we think she just pets less firmly than I do. Meanwhile, Shuri has NEVER reacted poorly to petting, and in fact would love nothing more than for me to spend an hour petting her so hard that she squishes into the mattress.

6. Don’t waste money on fancy cat toys unless you have some indication your cat likes that kind of toy. (This may be different if you raise them with the fancy toys from kittenhood; mine were both strays and are Very Suspicous of anything fancy I get them.) Laser pointers are an INSTANT FAVORITE and only cost a few dollars! And a dangly thing on a string can usually get them excited. Cats will often prefer a plain cardboard box over a fancy catbed, but they like pillows and piles of clothes and chairs and couches and people beds. And sometimes the round puzzle you put together on top of your hope chest, because Borders Are Safe Zones.

7. GET SCRATCHING POSTS OR THEY WILL MAKE THEIR OWN. (They will probably make their own anyway; my couch is regretably covered in claw marks. But the scratching posts at least help slow the deterioration.) Fun Fact: Cats don’t use scratching posts to “sharpen” their claws, but rather to rub off the outer layers on their claws. If you trim your cat’s claws yourself, you may notice how the claws kind of flake off when clipped. Be very careful not to cut into the quick (the blood vessel) when trimming! If your cat strongly opposes this process, the vet can do it for you for a small fee, but I generally just wrap mine up in a towel and make them suffer the indignity. It’s cheaper for me and less stressful for them than a long car trip and a visit to the strange vet’s office would be. (And they always forgive me pretty immediately after I release them. I cannot speak for cats that may hold grudges.)

I’m sure I haven’t covered even a tenth of the useful info, but I hope these are helpful and that you find just the right cat buddy in the future! 😄

[acti-veg]

What do you think about clicker training for horses?

I rode horseback for a really long time and it was very important to me (quit for reasons outside of my control) but now I'm re-examining some of my old thoughts on animals. I definitely agree that racing/jumping/most showing and breaking is unethical and a lot of people push their horses past their limits. I feel like a lot of the times the arguments against casual/pet horse riding come down really heavily to breaking being unethical though and at least where I'm from (northern US) usually people will do clicker training or gentling instead. So I guess I was just wondering what your (and anybody else reading this') thoughts were on getting horses to a rideable state that way.

(This is supposed to be good faith/genuinely curious, by the way. I'm pretty bad at conveying my tone, I feel like I sound kind of accusatory but I'm not trying to be 😅)

I think that the process of breaking tends to be the focus of arguments opposing horse riding just because it is something that is much easier to observe and for people to understand than just pointing out that exploiting an animal for entertainment or transport is fundamentally unethical. It’s the same reason people talk about conditions in factory farms rather than just pointing out that the fact that we’re eating them at all is the problem.

Non-violent methods are obviously a great deal better, but even with clicker training or gentling, what we’re fundamentally doing is training (or manipulating) a horse to accept an activity that they are naturally unwilling to do. They eventually accept it because it is imposed on them by our techniques and our persistence, not because they consent to it. So many of the ‘behavioural problems’ owners talk about in horse riding communities every day are literally just behaviours that emerge from horses having to live an unnatural lifestyle and perform tasks that they don’t actually want to do.

Exploitation is the issue with horse riding, it is breeding, buying and keeping an animal for our benefit rather than theirs. There is no material benefit for a horse being ridden that couldn’t be achieved with sufficient space and exercise outside of riding. We know that horse riding can cause injury over time, we know the risks but we do it anyway because it’s one of the main reasons we keep horses at all.

The problem is that this is not a point that convinces anyone who doesn’t already believe that animals have a right to pursue their own interests and the right to bodily autonomy. Animals just don’t exist to serve our interests, and it’s hard to argue that riding is done in the interests of the horse rather than the rider.

[cartoon-lizard]

Life at Sweet Apple Acres

a short appledash fic i wrote after having a need to read more of them in the future being old and married but there was a noticeable lack of exactly that :’) so enjoy! (i’ll update this with an ao3 link once i get an account lol)

In all her years, Rainbow Dash never believed that she would find home on a farm. Especially not Sweet Apple Acres. She’s sworn multiple times that if she ever got a chance to speak to her younger self, she would never believe her. Sure, being a veteran Wonderbolt and coaching the next generation at the academy, that one was a no-brainer, but living on a farm? Rainbow had to chuckle to herself when thinking about what that conversation would be like. As she’s curled up into her designated seat in the living room, she zones back in on her book. It’d been a while since she read through the Daring Do series, her last meeting with Twilight finally tipping her over the edge and giving in.

Rainbow practically had the pages memorized, Daring Do being really the only series she’s read in its entirety. She remembers back when A.K. Yearling had tried out different genres and published several more successful books after retiring as Daring Do. Rainbow, as her friend, made sure to read all of them as soon as they were released. But it was the original Daring Do series that still held a special place in her heart after all these years. She didn’t get very far in her reading though, as the golden sunlight was shining through the window and onto her seat, slowly putting Rainbow to sleep. It only felt like she had just closed her eyes when the door to the kitchen slammed open and the peace in the house seemingly ended.

Big Mac, Sugar Belle, and their son, Crispin Cake, were all bustling about in the kitchen. Thursday was one of their nights for making dinner, and each of them liked to do it all together. Rainbow marked her place in her book and stretched in her chair, yawning loudly to announce her presence. Sure enough, Crispin leaned out the doorway and smiled.

“Hi, Aunt Dashie!” He waved his hoof enthusiastically.

Rainbow waved back, leaning back with one hoof behind her head. “Hey, kiddo. What’s for dinner?”

“I think Mama said we’re having spaghetti tonight!”

“That sounds good, bud,” she suddenly sits up, eyebrows knit with slight concern. “Have you seen AJ? I came home early and thought she’d be out apple bucking, but I haven’t seen her.”

“I think Auntie Jack was over at the animal sanctuary, helping out Fluttershy.” The colt tapped his chin like he was trying to remember.

Rainbow smiled slightly. “That’s probably what’s taken her so long. I bet she’s having to wrangle all of Angel’s kids.”

The pegasus finally got out of her seat, cracking her back and her wings as she did so, and followed her nephew into the kitchen. While Big Mac and Sugar Belle did the cooking, Rainbow helped Crispin set up the table.

“Daddy, do you know if Auntie Applebloom is coming?”

“Eeyup.”

The colt’s smile grew as he went to grab an extra plate. It was clear that he loved his aunts, but he always got excited when he knew Applebloom would be joining them, since she lived closer to town and was usually at the School of Friendship a majority of the time.

Sugar Belle turned the temperature down on the sauce and looked back towards Rainbow Dash. “I hope we didn’t wake you Rainbow, we didn’t realize you were home.”

“Eh, don’t worry about it,” she shrugged, setting down a fork and a spoon. “Practice ended earlier than expected, and instead of starting the next exercise, I just decided to let the recruits have the rest of the day off. But they won’t get it so easy tomorrow when I bring out the Dizzy-tron!”

“It sounds like everything’s been going well with this new batch then?”

“Oh yeah, much fewer show offs and a lot more ponies who actually want to be in the academy.”

After a few more minutes of comfortable silence, Applebloom came bursting through the kitchen door. “I’m here! I’m here! I’m not late, am I?”

“Not at all,” Sugar Belle smiled. “Dinner’s almost ready.”

“Mm, smells like spaghetti!”

It was well after everypony had their plate and was halfway done with their food by the time the kitchen door opened again and in came Applejack, looking frazzled and sweaty.

“Sorry I’m late, y’all,” she said, wiping her forehead, embarrassed. “Hope y’all don’t mind, but I invited Fluttershy over as well.”

The pegasus followed behind sheepishly, even as everypony responded with “there’s enough room”, or “we have plenty to go around”.

“Thank you so much for having me,” Fluttershy said as she sat between Applebloom and Rainbow.

“Been a hot sec,” Rainbow stretched a wing out and pulled Fluttershy in closer for a hug. “How’s the sanctuary been?”

“Oh, wonderful as always.”

“Yeah, ‘cept for all of Angel’s kin. Of all rabbits to multiply, that one knew what he was unleashin’.” Applejack finally sat down after washing her hooves and serving herself a plate. She reached down for Rainbow’s hoof and kissed it, keeping hold of it while she ate.

“And how’s that pesky roomie of yours,” Applebloom added, leaning towards Fluttershy, still under Dash’s wing. “Discord been behavin’ himself?”

“Of course he has,” she paused. “Although he did finally learn how to do the dishes correctly.”

“He doesn’t know how to do the dishes?” Applejack asked between bites. She looked appalled.

“Oh, no, no, he does, it was just… how he did them.”

Rainbow let her go, leaning on one hoof to face her friend. “Which was?”

Fluttershy smirked at the thought. “He would put them in the soapy water, but they would come out dirtier. All this time, I thought he was leaving a pile of dirty dishes, and when I would clean them, he would see the clean dishes and think they would need to be ‘dirtied up’. It went on for a long time until I was in the kitchen when he was doing the dishes and finally noticed.”

Everypony stared at the pegasus as she giggled at the mishap. How she’s managed to live with Discord, nopony knows, but it’s somehow worked for years now and neither friend has ever said anything negative about the other. They didn’t make sense, but as the draconequus always said, what fun is there in making sense?

Dinner continued, Applebloom was asked about how her job at the School of Friendship was going, Crispin told a long story about an adventure he had with Lil’ Cheese, and Sugar Belle updated everyone on how her village was doing after her most recent visit. The sounds of laughter and chatter filled the barn as it always has, decades of old memories within the walls. Eventually it grew late, and Fluttershy felt like she had overstayed her welcome, even though she never did. She tapped three times on the table and an unzipping sound could be heard from the living room, along with a flashing blue and purple glow. She said her goodbyes and stepped through the portal. The family moved into the living room, and as it grew later, Crispin couldn’t hide his yawning anymore, indicating it was time for bed. He gave everyone a sleepy goodnight hug, making sure Applebloom’s was extra tight, and headed upstairs for bed. The two couples and the little sister were left, and even when living together for so long, they still had plenty of stories to share, enough to go well past midnight.

“Applesauce, is that the time?” Applejack said, looking up at the clock. “Sugarcube, are you stayin’ the night here? It's pretty late.”

“Oh, no, I was plannin’ on headin’ back after dinner. Mighta got carried away though with the talkin’.”

“Walk back to your place? At this hour?”

“Well, yeah,” Applebloom said nonchalantly. “I’m not a baby Applejack, I can go by myself.”

Rainbow could tell Applejack tensed when she said that, but then quickly eased up. “You’re right. Sorry, sugarcube, sometimes I still feel like you’re that little filly. I’ll walk ya’ out.”

Applebloom smiled as she got up to hug her brother and Sugar Belle and then Rainbow. “Have a good night, y’all.”

Applejack was outside with Applebloom for a long time, most likely not wanting her to go. Rainbow knew she missed having her little sister there all the time like when she was growing up. She remembers how distant Applejack was for the first few weeks after Applebloom moved out. Even though she just lives near the center of town with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, and still visits the farm regularly, Rainbow was still able to tell that Applejack missed her.

Once Applebloom was finally allowed to leave, Applejack came back in, curling up next to Rainbow. Their nightly routines were set and tonight was no different. Big Mac and Sugar Belle usually said their goodnights and headed for bed first, which left the two mares alone in the living room.

Applejack sat up to look at Rainbow, then leaned in to kiss her. “Haven’t properly said hello tonight.”

“I was starting to wonder,” Rainbow teased, kissing her forehead as she snuggled in closer. “Sounds like you had a rough time wrangling?”

“Well, y’know, I’m not built like I once was,” Applejack said, mostly jokingly. “I’m just worn out tonight, ‘sall.”

Rainbow wrapped her wing around her partner, who promptly used it as a blanket. The pegasus rolled her eyes. “We can go to bed, too, y’know?”

“I guess we could.” Applejack smirked as she reached a hoof up to Rainbow’s cheek. Right as she leaned into the touch, the hoof quickly moved to boop her snout, and Applejack was quick to wrestle herself out from under Dash’s wing and onto her hooves. “C’mon,” she said with a smile and tired eyes.

Entering their room, Rainbow took off her sweater and tossed it onto the nearby chair while Applejack took off her Granny Smith’s bonnet around her neck and placed it carefully on the dresser. She then took off her hat and shook her head of whatever dust or dirt was caught up there from a day’s work. Rainbow came up behind her, knowing she’ll ask to take the pin out from her hair. Applejack still kept her mane long, but more often than not would have it braided and tucked into a bun. Rainbow herself had kept her mane around the same length for the longest time, as if she made it a competition to see who could stand it longer. Apparently, Applejack was never a part of this imaginary competition. The day Rainbow finally chopped her hair off was the day she decided she would never grow it out again. Having a short mane felt much better, especially when flying, and she thought it looked good on her. Applejack’s reaction was confirmation enough when the pony’s face turned redder than her brother’s coat when she first saw Rainbow after her haircut.

She looked down at her partner’s mane as her wavy blonde hair unraveled from its braid. It was frizzy, stuck out in some places, and there were shimmers of silver here and there, but she loved it all the same. Looking at their reflection in the mirror on the dresser, she caught Applejack’s eye and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

As the two crawled into bed, it was quiet enough outside for Rainbow to hear the distant sound of howling. She didn’t question it and got under the covers, leaning herself against Applejack’s chest, who was sitting propped up on a pillow. Rainbow’s eyelids were growing heavy and she was ready to fall asleep when she felt hitched breathing coming from the other. She looked up to see what was the matter only to find quiet tears rolling down her wife’s cheeks.

Rainbow quickly sat up, cupping her hoof around her cheek. “What’s wrong?” She tried as hard as possible to sound gentle when speaking.

Applejack merely shook her head, looking down at her hooves beginning to bunch up the sheets piled in her lap. It was easy to tell she was too upset to speak, so Rainbow could only sit and watch with concern, waiting for something to be said. Applejack allowed her breathing to even out for a moment so she could say:

“The timberwolves are howlin’.” Her voice was shaky and as soon as she spoke her breathing resorted to gasps again. That was all Rainbow needed to hear though, because she knew. That was the first sign. Zap apple season is beginning. And it was the first harvest since losing Granny Smith.

“Oh,” she said quietly, reaching to wipe her tears away. “I- I’m sorry, hon’, I wish- I wish there was a better way we could predict it- I-”

“No, it’s alright,” Applejack said, wrapping a hoof around the other’s, taking a deep breath. “I knew the time would come eventually. Guess I was less prepared than I thought.”

Rainbow moved again to wipe the tears from her face. While she wasn’t in the family as long, Granny Smith still made her feel as much a part of it when she began dating Applejack. Rainbow was convinced that Granny considered her family before she ever even thought of being with Applejack. Granny was such an unstoppable force in the family, always making sure things got done, always providing for her grandchildren. Her impact was definitely felt when she passed.

“AJ, I know you know how much Granny loved you, loved all three of you.”

Applejack sniffed. “She loved you, too.”

“Heh, well, this isn’t about me right now.” Rainbow lifted her chin up so she could look her partner in the eyes. “Granny always wanted the best for all of you, and I saw how much she’s done for this family. She was such a strong pony, and she raised some strong ponies, too. And it’s because of that that I want you to know, it’s okay to be upset over this. I never want you to bottle something like this in. Losing someone sucks, especially somepony like Granny, that’s for sure. But, if I know her, she wouldn’t want to see you upset over her. I can practically hear her right now if she knew you were sad.” Applejack looked down again briefly, but her tears had stopped.

“Life is full of firsts, and this is no different. And I know it won’t get any easier as those firsts become seconds or thirds or so on, but I think it can also become a time to remember and look back on the good times you’ve had. We may not have Granny anymore, but she’s still with us in our memories and in what she’s left behind.”

Applejack looked up, her eyes still shining. Rainbow gave a small smile and Applejack leaned in, hugging her wife. Rainbow wrapped her arms around her, rubbing a hoof up and down her back as she squeezed tighter. When Applejack pulled away, she wiped her face and took a deep breath.

“Thank you, sweetheart. It’ll definitely be hard without Granny, but you’re right. I’ll have Big Mac and Applebloom, and of course you n’ Sugar Belle, and lil’ Cripsin. Granny wouldn’t want to see any of us upset, especially durin’ zap apple season.” She laughed slightly. “She’d tell us we don’t have time for that.”

Rainbow smiled at that, nodding. The two paused, taking a moment to themselves. After a while, Rainbow faced Applejack again and reached up to push her hair away from her face, her hoof lingering against the side of her head. It seemed what she said did the trick, Applejack wasn’t crying anymore. Her cheeks were flushed and she leaned into the touch sleepily, shutting her eyes. It was so rare to see her wife cry, and it in turn upset her as well. But Rainbow knew she needed to be the voice of reason at a time like this. It was more important to her that Applejack felt better. Applejack, whose head was currently getting heavier on Rainbow’s hoof.

“Well, I say we get some shut-eye. Gonna be pretty busy for the next few days,” she said quietly and the two slid further under the covers. Taking hold of Applejack’s hoof, Rainbow continued. “If you want, before I head up to the reserve, I can go into town and find Applebloom to tell her the harvest is starting. I know she’ll be excited to start making zap apple jam.”

Applebloom was really the only pony in the family who knew all the steps Granny did when it came to making a successful batch of zap apple jam. That was always a special time for the two to work together.

“Y’know, I reckon Crispin will be able to help out Applebloom in makin’ the jam this season,” Applejack said, a small smile on her face at the thought of her nephew. “He’ll love gettin’ to do that with her.”

“Another first right there,” Rainbow said, a smug edge to her voice.

“Alright, I believe you’ve made your point,” Applejack rolled her eyes and lightly kicked Rainbow’s leg. “Thank you, though. I needed to hear that.”

“That’s what I’m here for.”

“It’s much more than just that,” Applejack said, scooching closer to the pegasus and kissing her. “I love you. So much.”

Rainbow smiled, taking Applejack’s hoof and kissing it, then her forehead. As she pulls back, she takes a moment to simply look at her wife. Years of teasing and competitions, small looks and quiet gestures, long nights filled with laughter and heartaches, and a friendship evolving into romance and so much more. They’ve been through so much together, but Rainbow wouldn’t know where she would be without it all. It’s not a life she ever expected, but it’s one she wouldn’t trade for the world. Especially if it was spent with the pony next to her.

“I love you, too.”

[1lostsoul0fishbowl]

Dustin purses his lips, looking thoughtful. “…I know what you need!” he announces gleefully.

Eddie sighs, in a nearly perfect imitation of Wayne’s voice, “Lord have mercy.” But Dustin is already off like a shot, rushing into Eddie’s room to collect the pillows from his bed. He herds Eddie into the living room and onto the couch, wedging pillows and cushions around him on both sides, draping a heavy quilt over him. He steps back to survey his work, nods in satisfaction, and plunks himself down right in Eddie’s lap.

And Eddie wants to complain, because it’s so fucking weird, but he can’t deny how much better he feels whenever Dustin does whatever the hell this is to him. It’s so much easier to do the grounding exercises, for some reason. He does his recommended four rounds of box breathing and feels his heart rate slowing back to normal.

“Not that I don’t appreciate all this, Henderson,” he mumbles— god, he’s already getting sleepy, what sorcery is this?— “but I’ve been meaning to ask you what you’re always sitting on me for?”

“Because it helps,” Dustin replies matter-of-factly. “You’re calmer now, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, but how’d you know it would help?” Eddie persists.

“I read an article about it.”

“Bullshit.”

“No, really!” Dustin indignantly squeaks. “Suzie told me about this scientist named Temple Grandin and I looked her up. She built a machine called a squeeze box to help her when she had anxiety attacks. She got the idea from the cattle squeeze chute on her aunt’s farm. See, the idea is that deep pressure stimulation has a calming effect, so she built the PACES in order to—”

“Hang on,” Eddie interrupts. “You’re telling me there actually is a scientific basis for you sitting on me.”

“Well yeah, of course,” Dustin answers. “Duh. I read about it.”

“And this grand temple scientist—”

“Temple Grandin.”

“Whatever. This scientist says that squeezing anxious people calms them down.”

“In an extremely oversimplified way, yes.”

“Which she learned on a cattle farm?” Eddie asks skeptically.

“Yup.” Dustin is undaunted.

“So I’m basically a nervous cow, is what you’re saying.”

“Eddie, no, that’s not what I—”

“Mooooooo.”

“Eddie, come on!” Dustin tries to control his giggles. “It’s scientifically proven to work!”

“On cows.”

“And people, doofus! She wrote a research paper! You think I sit on you for fun?”

“I dunno what kinda shit you’re into, Henderson.”

Dustin huffs. “You’re so annoying. See if I share any more of my findings with you.” He doesn’t budge from Eddie’s lap, though, and Eddie doesn’t mind.

[heartlandians]

Meet Cindy Busby | Actress

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cindy Busby and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cindy, what makes you happy? Why?

Something I’ve realized throughout my life is that nothing can actually “make me happy”. If I rely on my external world to dictate my feelings then I’m bound to be disappointed, so I focus on myself instead and what I can control.

Everyday I choose to prioritize consistent self love and self care practices like exercise, my dog, meditate, sleep, cook, write, laugh, and read. I maintain a lifestyle that allows me to find appreciation in the simple things. Creating connection and having deep and meaningful conversation with family and friends.

At times, when I do find myself in states of “unhappiness” its typically because I’ve lost balance and routine in my life, which takes me out of alignment with what fulfills and inspires me. By creating a practice of daily gratitude, I’m able to be the best version of myself and stay “happy” no matter what life may throw my way and therefore my happiness is no longer altered by the unpredictability of life but rather thrives despite it.

As an actor, it’s easy to get caught up in the disappointment of not booking the job and see it as a competition against all these other actors, but my modo is “if something is meant for me then it won’t pass me by”. I still get bummed sometimes but I don’t hold on to it so long. I wish I would have known that sooner, haha! 

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I’ve been a professional actress, performer and storyteller for over 20 years. I often think of how far I’ve come and I’m filled with so much appreciation. It’s certainly been an emotional rollercoaster ride and a huge learning experience. The journey hasn’t always been easy but as I look back it’s always been worth it and I wouldn’t change a thing.

I remember a specific experience I had when I first started acting, where the cast was not very kind to me (the show shall not be mentioned) and it really left a mark on my heart. In that moment I made a promise to myself that I would never treat others like that no matter how “big” or “small” my role would be. I pride myself on how I show up in my work. I’ve made it a priority to be a positive presence to everyone I encounter on set. My work ethic, positive attitude and consistency has given me longevity in a business that can be pretty hard to crack. My reputation is important to me and I take it very seriously. I’m confident that it’s afforded me many opportunities that I’m forever grateful for.

Next up, I’m excited to not only be working in front of the camera but also behind the scenes. I’ve had a writing partner for 2 years now and we have multiple projects in the works. It’s been a ton of fun to exercise a new creative muscle and I’m really excited for what’s to come, so stay tuned!

Here are some of my favourite restaurants: Catch LA, Isabel, Bestia, Great White, Cavatina at the Sunset Marquis, Laurel Hardware, Marvin, Harriett’s Roof Top, Cecconi’s, and AOC.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

I live in Los Angeles, and there’s no lack of touristy things to do here, but I prefer to give my friends a locals experience, and staying away from the mayhem.

My Favourite activities: Manhattan Beach walk and shop, El Matador Beach, Walk around Beverly Hills and grab lunch at The Farm, The Comedy Store, The Grove, Runyon Hike, Hollywood Sign Hike, Fryman Hike, The Observatory Hike, Abbot Kinney Brunch and shop, Groundlings show, Cinespia Movie Screenings, Show at the Hollywood Bowl or The Greek.

My favourite areas in LA are West Hollywood, Hollywood, SilverLake, Los Feliz, The Arts District, and Manhattan Beach.

There’s so much diversity in LA but it’s also really spaced out and there’s busy areas, slower areas, and also areas you don’t want to be around, so make sure you do your research! 

My husband has also been a massive part of my success too. From the moment we met he has been by my side holding down the fort when I’m away shooting, taking care of our dog, and making sacrifices so I can go make a movie in another country. He never questions it and is the first person to tell me to go. It brings me peace to know we’ve got each other’s back.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

I feel really grateful to be surrounded by so many talented, honest, loving and supportive people. From the very beginning, my family has been an instrumental part of me pursuing my dreams. When I was a little girl they always encouraged me to follow my passion, despite them knowing little to nothing about the entertainment industry. They would pick me up after my theatre rehearsals, run lines with me, and be happy for me when I’d book the part. It’s a lot easier when you have people you love cheering you on and encouraging you to keep going no matter how challenging it all can be.

Although it would take too long to write all the names down, I recognize that the wisdom I’ve acquired throughout my career, the countless memories I’ve made in the entertainment industry and the person I’m proud to be today is thanks to my fellow performers, directors, producers, casting directors, teachers, mentors, photographers, and hundreds of crew members. From memorable conversations, fun adventures, laughs, smiles, and hours of hard work, there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t appreciate all of it and what it’s brought to my life.

Source

[onedayatatime-please]

Thursday, Aug. 15th, 2024. 1:03 pm

I've spent the whole day with extreme anxiety. I did my breakfast sandwich, shower, and everything like I said I would, but in between has been spent doing breathing exercises to try and calm myself down as my heart has been racing. I have been sitting in front of my computer emotionally prepping for my therapy appointment only to get a call five minutes before its supposed to start telling me that its been cancelled because the therapist had some sort of emergency and is now no longer taking new clients. This is fine, shit happens. Im now just emotionally exhausted and a bit upset that I had to change the person I wanted to be my therapist, and the new person im going to do intake with seems good but not quite as good. Who knows, maybe im wrong and Im gonna end up loving them but Im so fucking tired.

Also I had a dream last night where I was back on Randy's farm and got to say hi to Bandito. He must be a very old horse now if he is still alive (I know his mother passed a few years ago), and in my dream his hairs were greying a bit, but he still had the white pattern around his eyes. There was a girl there working on the farm and we were flirting, and in the dream I was kinda hoping to get with her. Most of the dream was spent on the farm, but at some point it shifted to a desert scape and suddenly I was in a war zone and hiding out in some low mud buildings from a group of soldiers. As some point a soldier found me and the last thing I remember from my dream was crying and begging for my life as he pointed his gun in my face. Very weird to have those two things happen one after the other.

I woke up feeling like I had not slept at all, which has been pretty much how I've been waking up every day recently.

I'm gonna clean the house and get ready for my cousins to be here in 3 hours. I am also going to try and photograph some more drawings for my portfolio so I can work on uploading them when I am visiting with my grandparents.

I am not dead yet, I will do my best to keep it that way.

9:42 pm edit:

Dinner went well and now I am very tired. I had a call with 🪶. He’s going to another city on the same days I’ll be near him. I think it’s time I move on from him. I loved him so much, and it’s not his fault that his life is falling apart. I want to be there for him and I want to keep loving him because I love loving him but I know it’s not sustainable. A part of me feels like I should just go along for the ride, I’m twenty, it doesn’t need to be sustainable yet. But I don’t want a ride, not really. He does tho, he wants to do crazy shit and that would be fine if we could work together to sustain our relationship on top of that but that doesn’t seem likely. This has been coming for so long I don’t really feel sad about it yet, I just feel lonely. I haven’t felt like I’m actually in a relationship for a while. And he was the one who made me want a sustainable relationship in the first place. I was so set on being lonely, but then I met him and it made me realize that I really do want another person, I want to be married, I want kids. But he doesn’t want any of that yet and he probably doesn’t want it with me either way. I’m glad that we were able to love each other for the few years we did. I wish things could be simple, but they are not. I don’t want to break it off with him because I’m afraid of experiencing true loneliness again after knowing what it’s like to actually not be lonely. Either decision leads to me being fucking miserable for a certain amount of time and I keep doing this thing where I try to negotiate and find a middle ground where I can be kind of okay for a little bit but that’s not how all this shit is gonna work in the end. I love him and I know that he loves me but we are at a time in our lives where we cannot fulfill each others needs in a stable relationship and so instead we are probably going to part ways and never hear from each other again and the thought of that makes me fucking sick.

I feel like a coward for wanting to leave him when he is struggling even though he is actively pushing me away.

I Wanna be an Astronaut floating through space

And be tied to a ship by a cord and just be simple and quiet.

But instead I’m a dog.

I’m gonna go to the ocean soon, so I can float in the water.

I’m not dead yet, I will do my best to keep it that way.

[project1939]

100+ Films of 1952

Film number 146: Bloodhounds of Broadway

Release date: November 14th, 1952 

Studio: 20th Century Fox 

Genre: musical 

Director: Harmon Jones 

Producer: George Jessel 

Actors: Mitzi Gaynor, Scott Brady, Mitzi Green, Marguerite Chapman 

Plot Summary: “Numbers” Foster and “Poorly” Sammis are two New York bookies fleeing the law. When their car runs out of gas in Georgia, their fates cross with Emily Ann, a sweet farm girl who dreams of the big city. They agree to take her to New York, where she uses her singing and dancing talents to earn a living. But will Numbers and Poorly manage to keep the police away? 

My Rating (out of five stars): ***¼  

I’ll admit I have a bit of a soft spot for 20th Century Fox musicals. They are often shamelessly cheesy fluff, but they have their own charm because they don’t take themselves seriously. Sonja Henie’s ice-skating musicals are one of my most embarrassing guilty pleasures, and even though Alice Faye’s films aren’t as silly, I love them too. This film didn’t reach the dizzying insanity of a Henie musical, but it was a bubbly and cute 90-minute diversion.

The Good: 

Mitzi Gaynor. She was barely more than a teenager here and came across as wholesomely adorable. She had a very natural screen presence and thankfully required no vocal dubbing. Her dancing was especially fun to watch. (And she’s still alive today at 92! Rock on!) 

Mitzi Green as Tess. I loved her so much as Rosetta in Lost in Alaska, and I was thrilled to recognize her here. She's got a terrifically distinctive speaking voice, and she can sing and dance to boot. Tess was a great character with an unusual mix of sweetness and wise-cracks. 

Marguerite Chapman as the cynical, mink loving, lounge singing mistress of Numbers. Va-va-voom!  

Wally Vernon as Poorly. He was a gifted comedic character actor- a total scene stealer. 

The Bloodhounds! They were so cute, they made me want to go out and adopt some. (They require a lot of exercise, though!) For some goofy reason they were named Nip and Tuck, which has a much different association 72 years later! 

The dance trio number between Gaynor, Green, and Richard Allan was the unquestionable highlight for me. I went back and re-watched it.

Gaynor gave her Southern character an actual Southern accent! And it wasn’t too bad either! By Hollywood standards of the time, when accents were laughably bad, it was pretty damn good. 

This was pure 20th Century Fox musical fluff. If that’s not your jam, you’ll probably want to skip the film. Obviously for me, that attribute goes on my “Good” list! 

The Technicolor looked its luscious best, and I can never get enough of it.

The Bad: 

The story was totally unbelievable. Yes, part of that works when the film is a wacky cornball musical, but it could also be distracting if you thought about it too much. 

Many of the musical numbers were not filmed especially interestingly. Fox didn’t have the master technicians of MGM’s musical department. The numbers were better shot than earlier films I’ve seen like Just for You and Somebody Loves Me, though. 

Another example of a Hollywood film somehow cramming the world’s largest stage into an impossibly small venue! 

Scott Brady as the male lead was handsome, but not much else, unfortunately. 

Were the poor dogs sedated at points? There were a couple of scenes where I seriously wondered! 

[au-ra-babygirl]

Training and Cuddles

In the weeks since Masa’s arrival in Limsa Lominsa, Sholi has grown closer and closer to them. They’d finally gotten around to going on more than one date, and Sholi had done a little bit of sparring with Masa, learning that they truly were as skilled with magic as they claimed to be.

It was kind of fascinating to watch actually, Sholi discovers. Biscuit (which was an adorable name for the creature Masa summons) was a lot stronger than it looked, though it still wasn’t much of a match for Sholi’s skill with a bow. However, she had no doubt whatsoever that Masa would one day be capable of great (and possibly terrible) things with their magic. It was awe inspiring and, if she was being totally honest, incredibly hot to watch.

On one of their more recent dates, Sholi takes them out sparring again. When she was younger, her ma had also taught her a little about hand-to-hand combat, which she uses against Masa now, wanting them to learn about it in case they’re ever in a situation where their magic is inaccessible or someone manages to get past their defenses.

She teaches Masa how to form a fist first, reminding them that the thumb is meant to go on the outside after they nearly break it the first time they throw a punch her way. Masa corrects and the next time is much more effective, knocking her hand back a bit without damaging their body.

Once they have that down, she teaches them a few new maneuvers and attempts to put them into practice during a combat situation. By the end, Masa is sweating buckets kneeling on the ground, hands braced against their knees as they breathe heavily. “C-can we stop now?”

Sholi straightens up from her crouched position and stretches, hands on her back as she leans backward and pops it in a very satisfying manner after their training session. “Sure thing. I think we’ve tortured you enough,” she jokes.

Masa gives her a very unimpressed look. “I hate you so much sometimes.”’

Sholi laughs. “It was a good workout though. You need more close combat training.”

“I will never need close combat training,” Masa counters. “I’ll always have magic.”

“Will you though? What happens if you exhaust your aether supply? Or someone has more powerful magic than you? Or if you-”

“Okay, okay. I get it,” Masa huffs, forcing themself to their feet. They stumble slightly as their legs wobble dangerously, but they don’t fall. “I need to learn how to fight without magic just in case. No need to keep describing scenarios.”

Sholi nods. “Fine. I’m still going to be training you in this stuff, though.”

“Of course you are.” Masa dusts off their clothing, a tunic and leggings, as they continue glaring at her.

“Haven’t you ever trained like this before?” Sholi can’t help but ask. She got the impression that Masa was only used to using their magic, but surely they’d done at least a little training with their parents before? Both were martial types from what Sholi remembered. That was a thing parents did with their children, right?

“Not really.”

“You worked on a farm. With martial types.” Sholi can’t fathom that their parents never tried to teach them anything like this.

“We lived in a peaceful area,” Masa defends. “There was no need for me to learn this stuff.”

“So? Why not train you a little on their form of combat if they knew you wanted to go to Limsa Lominsa?”

Masa shrugs. “No idea. Maybe they thought my magic would be good enough?”

Sholi still doesn’t understand. Her Ma had been an Arcanist like Masa, yet she still knew how to shoot a bow and fight hand-to-hand. Was that weird? She hadn’t thought so, but maybe she should’ve. Maybe Ma was the unusual one? “Weird.”

“Can we get something to eat now?”

“After we do some cool down stretches,” Sholi says before leading them through the exercises their Ma had taught them as a youth. It doesn’t take long, but Masa complains the entire time, which is a little irritating but she supposes she can understand if Masa’s never done this sort of thing before.

When the exercises are done, Sholi helps them back to their feet and keeps a hold of their hand. It’s a little hot and sweaty, but it doesn’t bother her too much. “Is this okay?”

“My palms are sweaty,” Masa points out needlessly.

“I know. Doesn’t bother me if it doesn’t bother you.”

Despite this, Masa pulls their hand away self-consciously. “Sorry.”

“No worries.” They walk back to the apartment Sholi had finally invested in a couple weeks ago. The inside is spacious with an open floor plan with a lounge area and a kitchen connected to each other while a hallway led to a bedroom and bathroom. It was a little annoying having to go through the bedroom to get to the toilet, but it was manageable. It worked for a first apartment anyway.

Masa curls in the corner of one of the couches, their feet under them. “Can you cook or do you want me to?”

“I can cook,” Sholi confirms. “Not as good as you and Augustine, but I’m not completely hopeless.”

While Masa lounges on the couch, Sholi heads into the kitchen and looks through the cabinets until she finds the makings of a decent meal. A fish given to her by Blyss after one of their beach days and a few different vegetables from the local market. The meal she creates isn’t perfect, but it’s edible and probably pretty filling after a long day of physical training.

As they eat Masa seems to perk back up to their usual cheerful self. They talk about the training, which was something Masa could now admit they appreciated, and home. Masa had recently sent another letter off to their parents in response to one they’d received.

(She’d also learned that Masa told their parents about their relationship, and while her parents were confused and surprised they’d gotten involved so quickly, they were ultimately accepting… much like Sholi suspects they’d be accepting of Masa’s gender identity as well.)

That reminds Sholi she hasn’t sent a letter to Ma recently. She should probably do that. Ma didn’t deserve to have her daughter drop off the face of the planet. Besides, Sholi actually liked her ma. She should definitely make a point to write to her in the near future.

She’s pleased to learn that Masa has gotten used to being called they/them and is rather enjoying being called as such. “Do you want to be strictly they/them or is they/she or she/they still a thing?”

“I think I like they/she a little more than she/they, but I’m still not entirely sure,” Masa admits. “It’s weird. I don’t think I hate being called she, but I really like it when y’all call me a they.”

“I mean, you can be both,” Sholi replies. “Blyss just kinda uses whatever the fuck feels right for that day, and we all support that. We support you too.”

Masa sits their finished plate aside and wraps their arms around their legs. “I know, but it still feels weird. I spent so long being Masa the girl that being Masa the enby feels… nice but still weird.”

Sholi nods. “I get that. I was always a girl, so learning that I had the chromosomes of a boy was jarring. I still wanted to be a girl though, and once I worked through that, I’m now proud to be an intersex woman.”

“I wish I could be proud to be whatever I am,” Masa replies.

Sholi pats their knee. “You will be one day. I’m sure of that.” Her journey wasn’t as spectacular as some other trans people’s, but she wasn’t exactly trans either. She just considered herself a woman, even if she technically was a trans woman. Sort of? She still wasn’t sure of the technicality sometimes.

“I hope so. I want to be proud of myself.”

She leans her head against their knees, chin resting in the space between them. “You will be,” she says again. “It might take some time and effort and a lot of thought, but you’ll get there.”

Masa giggles. They reach out toward her ears but don’t touch them. “Can I please touch them? I’ve wanted to know if they’re as soft as they look since the day we met,” they admit.

“Really?” Sholi isn’t too surprised. A lot of people liked miqo’te ears and tail, and if she had a gil for every time someone tried to touch them without her permission, she’d be a rich cat. “I’m okay with that.”

“You are?” Sholi nods once more, preparing herself to have her ears touched. She genuinely didn’t mind it from Masa, but it always took a little preparation to get ready for them to be touched. “Okay.”

Masa finally touches them, their hands soft and warm against her ears. Her ears twitch involuntarily at the feel. Masa’s eyes sparkle. “So soft!”

Sholi chuckles. “They are.” Her tail flickers in contentment behind her, as does the tip of Masa’s. “Wanna touch the tail too? It’s fluffy.”

Masa reaches over Sholi’s back to touch the tip of her tail. “It is!” She strokes it in a way reminiscent of something else Sholi shouldn’t be thinking about, and she tries to redirect her thoughts to other things. Things not involving stroking her tail.

“Can, uh, can you not stroke it like that? I know I said you can touch it, but the way you’re doing it is, um, distracting,” Sholi admits a little reluctantly. “It feels good, but not the kind of good you want me to be feeling right now.”

Masa blinks then blushes brightly as they seem to realize how they’d been petting her tail. “R-right. Sorry. So sorry.”

Sholi shakes her head. “You don’t have to be sorry. It’s just a little awkward and, um, for lack of better word, intimate. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable if you have a good sense of smell like I do.”

“Why would I… oh! Oh, I, uh, sorry? I didn’t… I don’t…”

She grabs the hand that had previously been at her tail and laces their fingers together. “It’s okay. Like I said, I didn’t know how comfortable you’d be if you could smell, uh, yeah. I know you’re not ready for anything along those lines, and frankly, neither am I. That’s why I’m warning you what you’re doing to my tail.”

“Right. Thank you.” Masa continues rubbing her ears, though they’re still blushing at the thought of what they did to her tail.

Sholi nudges their legs apart and settles herself more comfortably between their legs, resting her head on their chest. It’s soft and warm, and she’s content here. A long day of training and now cuddling with her datemate felt like a pretty damn good day to her. She wonders if she could convince Masa to spend the night here and let her cuddle like this all night. “I like you,” Sholi says after a long moment of peaceful, content silence.

“I like you too,” Masa replies.

“Can we stay like this all night?” Sholi asks after another pause. “You’re comfy.”

Masa chuckles. “Is that wise? You’ll wake up uncomfortable.”

“Worth it,” Sholi counters. “Staying with you all night would be worth it.”

[nicolerrichie]

Nicole Richie interviewed by Wall Street Journal, April 29 2024

It has been over 20 years since “The Simple Life” first aired on Fox, but Nicole Richie remains one of the most indelible reality TV stars. On the show, which ran from 2003-2007, Richie and her close friend Paris Hilton left behind their glamorous lives as L.A. socialites to live on farms and in trailer parks. They quickly became known for their troublemaking and humorous antics.

Now, Richie, 42, is once again bringing a charmingly madcap presence to our screens. She plays a heightened version of a powerful boss as seen through a teenager’s eyes in this spring’s remake of “Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead.” Her character, Rose Lindsey, played by Joanna Cassidy in the 1991 original, unknowingly hires a 17-year-old as her assistant, and high-jinks ensue.

Off-screen, Richie, who works as creative director of her accessories line, House of Harlow 1960, mostly keeps a lower profile. She lives in Beverly Hills with her family, enjoys nature walks and begins every day at 5:30a.m., before everyone else in her house wakes up. She’s also at work developing a horror comedy. She writes in her bathroom in the mornings before going downstairs to feed her animals, which includes dogs, cats, chickens and turtles. “I should start this interview off by saying I am a Virgo,” she said, “so routines are very heavy in my life.”

Richie, who was born in Berkeley, Calif., lives with her husband, the musician Joel Madden, and their children, Harlow, 16, and Sparrow, 14. Here she discusses the scariest scary movie villain and what she’s learned from her dad, Lionel Richie.

What time do you get up on Mondays, and what’s the first time you do after waking up? I get up at 5:30a.m. every morning. I’m an early bird. The first thing I do is brush my teeth and then I read. I just finished “James,” by Percival Everett, and I’m going to go ahead and say that it’s the best book of the year, even though we’re in April. It’s going to be an American classic.

How do you like your coffee and breakfast? I drink black coffee. We make coffee here. Mornings are the craziest time in the house, between the hours of 7 and 8:30 it’s a big rush, so that’s why I wake up at 5:30, just so I can have time by myself. On Sunday, I do some baked goods, muffins or banana bread or something like that, so that everyone can just grab something and go.

What do you do for exercise? I do a combination of Pilates and circuit training three times a week.

Did you influence what your character, a fashion executive, wears in “Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead?” I did have a hand in what Rose wore, knowing that every time you look at Rose, you’re looking at her through the lens of a 17-year-old. So thinking about how teenagers look at adults was something that I thought was really important, how they think adults dress. It’s a lot of suits, a lot of bright colors, primary colors, the cherry reds and the cobalt blues—what looks like an intimidating outfit to a teenager.

What would you say is the most Virgo thing about you? I’m a list-maker. I’m a receipts-keeper. By receipts, I don’t only mean grocery receipts, I mean emotional receipts. I’m a homebody who probably doesn’t come off as a homebody all the time. RuPaul said it best. He describes himself as an introvert disguised as an extrovert, and that’s something that really hit home with me. I’m always on time. I’m actually a little bit early because I don’t want anyone to call me and ask me where I am.

Would you ever write another novel? I would, but I used a ghostwriter for the first two. If I ever wrote another book, I would write it myself.

What’s the most important thing you’ve learned about things like stage presence and confidence from your dad, Lionel Richie? He is somebody who is very present. He looks people in the eye, he listens to people, he says hi to everybody and really makes people feel seen.

As one of the very first stars of reality TV, how do you feel about how the genre has evolved? Something that was so cool about doing “The Simple Life” was that it really didn’t have much to do with our daily lives. It was about us leaving our lives for 30 days and going and living other people’s lives. So I always was able to maintain a sense of intimacy and privacy within my own daily life. But I do enjoy “Vanderpump Rules,” just like the rest of ’em.

What do your children say about your iconic early 2000s style? My daughter asked if I had any of my Juicy [Couture] tracksuits that I could give to her. She was devastated when I told her those were long gone.

What’s the secret to a happy marriage? Well, I’m in the middle of a “Scandal” rewatch and Joel came in the room last night and tried to make me change it mid-episode, so we’re going through a bit of a rough patch.

Good luck getting through it. Things are tense. I would say you’ve got to let your spouse watch the shows they watch.

What’s one thing you delegate to your assistant, and what’s one thing you have to do yourself? Anything that requires anything online is something that I simply cannot do. I make all my own appointments.

Do you have any hobbies or habits that might surprise your fans? I love to spend time with my animals, my chickens. I love cooking for my family. I like to watch ’90s erotic thrillers and romantic comedies. I love to watch horror movies all year long.

Do you have a favorite of all time? Emotionally, I’m the most connected to “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” because that’s the one I grew up on. To this day, I’m still afraid of Freddy Krueger. That’s the one character that I’m definitely afraid of.

Do you have something you consider your most prized possession? My bobby pins. I don’t go anywhere without them. I have curly hair.

What do you like to splurge on? I don’t know if this is a splurge per se, but I like to go to the store to get books. It makes such a difference. And there are certain things from Erewhon. For a mom with two teens on-the-go all the time, they really do package their fruits and vegetables in a way that’s very grab-and-go.

And is there anywhere you like to pinch pennies? I have swap meets that I go to to get my T-shirts, down jackets, jean jackets.

I saw on “Jimmy Fallon” that you used to name your pet rats after “90210” actors. Do you still do thematic animal naming like that? Not after shows, but they do have very colorful names. It’s a combination of my whole family naming them. The most recent addition to our family is our cat Lavender Bumblebee. I named her myself actually. No one agreed to it, but it’s very much her, so I’m glad I stuck to it.

What’s one piece of advice you’ve gotten that’s guided you? One lesson that my mom taught me is you should never leave the house without lotion on. I was very shocked as I got older and found out some of my friends, my husband included, just walk out of the house with no lotion on. It sends chills up my body. I would never in a million years think about doing something like that. It’s scarier than Freddy Krueger.

[keefwho]

July 15 - 2023 Saturday

8:40 AM

I barely remember a dream where I was being complimented by old ladies for being such a nice young man. Thats one of my favorite feelings in the world. 

Last night’s party was AMAZING, solid 8.5/10 which is very good to me. I didn’t expect it to be better than last year’s party. So many people showed up just for me and that felt nice. We basically just hopped wherever I wanted to go which was a few worlds I had in my favorites. Too much fun was had just fucking around. 

Today I’m trying to change my perspective a little bit. I’m okay doing a lot of things by myself as long as I have someone to come back to and share it with. Thats what friends in general are for. I’m someone that wants to share good things with someone always. I’ve always been like this. Sometimes when I’m having too much fun alone, I stop and think who I could include in this. Usually it’s no one so I either stop for some reason or I just try to enjoy it anyways. At this time, I have someone to report all the good things back to so no matter what I do, I want to enjoy it so I can report it back later. 

10:29 AM

I’ve been kinda stunlocked. I keep seeing videos of people out and about and I’m just jealous. I wish I had a normal life sometimes. I hate living where I am. But I don’t want to farm pity about it. I’m doing what I can. Someday my situation will change for the better. 

Its hard for me to focus or do anything when I really want something that I can’t have. I can’t stop thinking about it but I gotta.

2:42 PM

I’m really trying to watch my thinking but I did get on a sort of tangent in the shower that I honestly don’t remember much of at this point. I do think one thing though, I want to focus my attention on one issue at a time because I find myself trying to manage every issue at once and how they relate to one another. Figuring out what to focus on is a matter of pre-requisites. Finding and accepting the kind of love I need for instance would require me to be more in touch with who I am, which seems to be at the core of a lot of things. I can’t truly operate without knowing my own identity. I’ve been thinking the first thing to go hard at is to regain my self perspective. I know what it’s like to “wake up” and remember who I am and my relation to all my memories. I want to get in touch with that and make that more constant. Without that it feels like I’m behaving like a robot or conforming to a character, not acting authentically. 

4:30 PM

Earlier while I was idling in VRchat while working on my world, someone asked me what I like to do in my spare time. It’s one of those questions that instantly re-awakens me to the fact that I don’t know what I like and how constantly scary it is to be in this state of not-knowing. 

I’ve been having this thing where I see more socially active furries posting about their daily life and achievements and they get a bunch of likes/friends supporting them. My twitter is just dead and makes me feel like I don’t matter sometimes because my friends don’t interact with it. Also I perceive these other furries to be part of larger social circles because they actually participate in discourse. I don’t know how to be a part of this though. 

5:49 PM

SMALL exercise that directly applies to my current feelings. 

To begin this exercise, first bring to mind an upsetting thought that takes the form ‘I am X’, for example, ‘I am dumb’, ‘I am such a loser’ or ‘I’m so incompetent.’ Preferably pick a thought that often recurs and that usually bothers or upsets you when it does. Now hold that thought in your mind and believe it as much as you can. Focus on it for several seconds. Notice how it affects you.

“My friend doesn’t like me very much.”

It makes me feel bad. It makes me feel like I might have become too attached and am being led on but I’m so desperate for attention that I stay despite believing that they only keep me around so they don’t hurt me or maybe they want something out of me. 

Now take that thought and, in front of it, insert this phrase: ‘I’m having the thought that...’ Now run that thought again, this time with the phrase attached. Think to yourself, ‘I’m having the thought that I am X.’ Notice what happens.

“I’m having the thought that my friend doesn’t like me very much.”

It isn’t very strong but the addition of those words puts distance from the thought. Whereas before it felt true like I was appraising a real thing, recognizing it as a thought rips it from the real world and puts it back into my head. It’s just a way of re-phrasing things to be more “true.” Stating my thoughts straight up is technically lying, or could be since I might not be correct. It’s at least more accurate to announce my thoughts AS thoughts. 

11:50 PM

I HATE TALKING TO MYSELF but I want to learn to tolerate it. I hide from myself because past me was cringe and I worry current me is cringe too, or at least not living up to my own expectations. I fear that I do weird things or behave abnormally in a way where if I got perspective on myself, I’d be very unsettled by it and would realize I have to change a lot. But part of changing anything is appraising it first. Part of that comes from observing my own memories with the realization that the me I am now was also there then. Things happened that I experienced. I made decisions that affected me and those around me. I am a person like everyone else and always was. 

Anyways today I woke up without feeling like total ass so my pre-prepped dinner and staying hydrated last night made sure I avoided a hangover of sorts. I was surprised how okay I felt today actually. Earlier I was unsure of what to do and started to overthink like usual but I buckled down and worked on my world for just a little bit while hanging out in VRC. Unfortunately as usual I did not do much to report, I wasn’t very captivated by much today. I had a pretty good nut while blowing myself. I did a nice little doodle that turned out to have some weird body proportions that I somehow missed while making it but I did go pretty fast. I watched Twitch like usual in my down time while trying to think of something more meaningful to do. This evening I hung out with Daisy in VC while she sculpted a mini version of her fursuit head for reference. I played Mother 3 again finally and got re-oriented into the game. I’m on the road to finishing it finally. 

Maybe I don’t like writing about my day because I barely have anything meaningful to write about. I don’t care about the boring mundane stuff I did. I want to report what I’m proud of and what was eventful. That isn’t much though which is what I’m trying to work on. 

I also wish I didn’t pollute these journal entries with all my rants and stuff. Maybe I could make a second, more public journal that is actually just a recount of my days and what is important to me. 

[thepastisalreadywritten]

When Rita Kimball found Spike in the parking lot of a grocery store in Camden, Ohio, USA, she had no idea the little chihuahua would still be her pet over 13 years later - let alone become the oldest dog living. 

The record holding su-paw-star, who was 23 years and 43 days old as of 7 December 2022, stands at 9 inches (22.86 cm) tall and weighs just 12.9 pounds (5.85 kg).

Impressively, he was already 10 years old when Rita and her family found him.

“He had been shaved up his back, had blood stains around his neck from a chain or rope, and looked pretty rough,” said Rita. 

“The clerk in the grocery told us he had been there for three days, and they were feeding him scraps.”

Not knowing who Spike belonged to, Rita decided to take the pup home to join the rest of the herd on her small farm. 

“When we left the store and entered the parking lot, he followed,” recalled Rita. 

Inspired by a cartoon dog that was known for its size and aggressive disposition, Rita named her new four-legged friend Spike. 

“My dog seemed to be the opposite; he was small and friendly, so I thought it just seemed to fit him,” said Rita.

“Spike was a name for a large dog. My guy was small, but he had the attitude of a big dog.”

In fact, the only time Spike ever bears his infamous chihuahua personality is when he’s pet by a stranger. 

“He is friendly but since he’s almost blind and hard of hearing, he gets testy at times and just wants to be left alone,” said Rita. 

But what does it take for a canine to reach a staggering 23 years of age? 

Well, for one, a solid routine. 

Spike starts his day between 7:00 am and 7:30 am. Sometimes he’ll eat breakfast right away or at times he’ll fast for a bit. 

On summer weekends, he takes walks with his beloved Rita in their rural hometown. 

“He visits with the animals in the barn: cows, horses, and barn cats,” said Rita. 

But those larger than Spike are no longer intimidated by his antics. 

“When he was younger, he tried intimidating the cows and horses by barking and trying to chase them,” said Rita.

“Now they just stare at him and don’t even move.”

After his morning stroll, Spike heads back to the house where he naps on the porch and prepares for the day ahead while Rita fixes herself a cup of coffee. 

“There’s always something to do on a farm; we cut wood, clean out fence rows, bale hay and harvest crops,” said Rita. 

After a long week of farm work, Spike will usually relish in Saturday evening baths.

Occasionally, he has braunschweiger with cheese for dinner and sometimes indulges in his favourite chips. 

"In his early years, he loved Doritos,” recalled Rita. 

“He liked them crunched up and would eat the cheese Doritos every time we had them.”

Some of Spike’s other favourite pastimes are napping, playing cat and mouse with the housecat Foxxy, and hiding his toy fox around the house.

It was during an episode of Jimmy Fallon one evening where Rita heard the news of former oldest dog living Pebbles and realised that Spike was actually older. 

“Most of our family knew that Spike was old but didn’t know he had a shot at being the oldest in the world,” said Rita. 

“Now that he is a record holder, they see him as a celebrity.”

Rita advises those with fuzzy friends to give their pet a healthy diet, room to roam, daily exercise, and unlimited love and attention.

[beefkaldereta]

Tip: How to Get the Best Dog When Buying/Adopting

Whether it’s your first time owning a dog, or you already have one at home and wish to add more into the pack, you surely want to take home the best dog possible. But the idea of a “best dog” varies from person to person. I’ll expound more on that later.

For a first-time dog owner, before deciding on whether to adopt or buy, or even before thinking of which breed to get, evaluate yourself and your living conditions whether you’re 100% ready to get a dog or not. There are so many neglected pets all over the world because many people think acquiring a pet as a Christmas or birthday present is a great idea without realizing that owning one comes with tons of responsibilities and that it’s a lifetime commitment.

Here is an article from Rappler where you may answer the questions that they have, for you to see if you’re actually ready or you’re just influenced by the cuteness of the pups online.

Anyway…

Like I said earlier, the idea of a “best dog” varies from person to person. For someone who has an active lifestyle, an equally active pooch might suit them best. For someone who owns a farm with a lot of sheep, then a dog bred for herding might be the perfect fit. If someone has asthma or allergies, then a hypoallergenic dog might be the best choice. There are even some breeds that’ll act like children and there are those that will protect the children. It really depends on you as an owner. (Disclaimer: I don’t discriminate breeds, I just know that most of them were bred for different reasons, and they all have very different needs such as between an English Bulldog and a Belgian Malinois, you can’t expect the bulldog to join you in your loooooong walks.)

While I advocate the idea of “adopt, don’t shop”, I cannot discount the fact that many people, especially first-time dog owners, would opt to buy a puppy. One reason for this is that people think you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, and while it’s somehow true, an old dog can love you just as much (maybe even more because you know, they’re more grateful for you saving them). I also advocate adopting our very own aspins, because they can be just as smart and easy to train as those full-bred ones (sometimes even better!), but yeah, I can’t force this idea onto everyone.

You just have to know how to look for the perfect temperament for you.

So here is the list of things you might want to consider when buying that pup!

Have a list of your prospective breeds and do an elimination method to find out which one you would get. 

How do you do the “elimination method”? Research, research, and research. For example, you have an interest in Great Danes, Huskies, and Jack Russell Terriers. And here are the sample points to consider: first, you have an active lifestyle, and second, you live in a studio type condo unit where the management doesn’t allow loud noises.

This would eliminate the Great Dane (since they need a spacious place to live in because of their enormous size) and Siberian Husky (because they’re prone to howl whenever they’re bored). So, this leaves you with the Jack Russell Terrier, which is small, isn’t prone to howling, and has high energy which makes the dog capable in joining you in your daily exercises.

Choose a reputable breeder. 

Believe me when I say that vet bills are no joke, so it’s really frustrating when you get a pup, and it turns out to be a sickly dog growing up. So, in choosing which breeder you’ll buy your puppy from, ask for complete documents to ensure that the puppy you’ll be getting is from a good or champion line and/or does not have a family history of illnesses because just like in humans, there are canine conditions which are hereditary.

Ask around for recommendations, do your research, and check for posted feedback from previous customers.

Do a kennel visit. 

If it’s physically impossible since the breeder is overseas or several provinces away from where you live, at least ask them to send as many videos as possible of the puppies. It’s so important to observe every puppy in the litter. Just like human children, every child has a different behavior. The cool thing about puppies is you could pick which one would be your perfect companion. Haha!

When you’re on-site, call the attention of the puppies. Observe the difference between each pup’s reaction. Some might be overly excited, some might not even care.

Prioritize behavior over looks. 

I know some pups have better patterns or are literally cuter than the rest of the pack but resist the urge to get the pup just because it’s cute if you know that its temperament wouldn’t suit the lifestyle that you have. Some puppies are independent, some are stubborn, some are overly attached, and some are aloof. My personal preference on which behavior is best is the one which is neither overly excited nor overly aloof. I learned this from Cesar Millan aka The Dog Whisperer, that dogs with a perfectly balanced temperament are the easiest to train.

That’s it.

That’s how you choose the “best” dog when buying one. If you’re adopting though, it’s a bit of a different story, but I’d like to thank you in advance.

In the adoption scene, adult dogs are more commonly up for adoption than puppies. These dogs for adoption are normally the ones rescued from the streets or from abusive owners. The bottom line is, they’ve been neglected in the past, so before taking in one, please be sure to commit to the pet and never consider the thought of giving them away again, because it would be awful to give them another heartbreak.

If it’s your first time getting a dog that’s not a puppy anymore, be sure to visit the pound/shelter where you plan to get your new friend. 

Since adult dogs behave differently than puppies (because their life experiences/traumas have already shaped them into the dog they are today), it’s necessary to see how they behave in their natural habitat. Is the dog aloof? If so, then you know it would require you to have an extra bit of patience to allow the dog to trust you. Is the dog hyperactive? If so, then you know you constantly have to give this dog lots of playtime contrary to what other dogs may require.

Visit at least two more times before finally adopting the big baby. 

Let the dog familiarize itself with you. This way, you can establish a connection prior to taking the dog home. It’s so important to take home an adult dog that already trusts you.

Those two steps are basically what you have to observe when adopting your furry friend.

Key Takeaway:

If you’re getting a pet — either a puppy or an adult dog — and you already have dogs at home, please ensure that the dogs you have at home aren’t territorial and would welcome a new addition to the pack. If your dog at home is known to be aggressive, then it’s a stupid idea to let a puppy or an adult dog with an already traumatizing past, near it. Contact a professional to correct your aggressive dog’s behavior before getting a new one. Otherwise, just don’t get a new one. The world is already too cruel for these animals, don’t let another one be an addition to those already suffering dogs.

[hisuian-history-makers]

We know the usual story. Get called to the Pokemon world, wake up as a Pokémon, and get dragged into our first mystery dungeon...

Except we don’t see the struggle each human goes through adapting to their new body. Fur takes longer to dry than our skin, scales would probably itch when shedding, and accidentally breathing fire will be a constant worry for them. How do instincts work with the human mind? Some moves like Tackle or Scratch might be easier to regularly use than say—Razor Leaf. A whole new center of gravity to figure out while doing demanding exercise every day. Pokemon logic means all the options seem to have teeth.

The pokemon probably have different written language considering what we see in close shots in-game. Imagine for a moment being illiterate in a world that functions without the internet. Where the easiest way to earn money is by going to dangerous places where innocent people get lost daily in. Places that change their layout each time you go in and space bends to make these crazy dungeons with infinite foes. Most Pokemon we defeat in there disappear like illusions with us having to beat up enough to maybe find one mon who can actually talk.

If dungeon Pokemon are supposed to be the quote-on-quote “wild” Pokemon, then why do they still attack us after we save the world? How is attacking any non-dungeon Pokemon considered more riled up than normal? I wish the story went into further detail since we know some live-around dungeons. Like the Luxray/Manetric pack or the three-mankey. The word wild fits them better than the MD Pokemon.

Moving on, why do we only see helpful mature humans as the protagonists? Where are the poke-verse native kids who grew up with horror stories about people turning into Pokemon? I’d expect them to be pretty scared if it happened. There are probably some humans who want to profit from the main currency gold coins. Maybe some people are turned into Pokemon they know nothing about or dropped in places with ones not native to their home region.

What about more skeptic partners who don’t believe us outright when we say we are human? I mean, there will be very few Pokemon who know exactly what a human looks like. We might have been the ones to invent TMs in the universe. Literal CDs that contain moves with no computers in sight. What if the Ninetails’ Legend was more well-known making most picture us as manipulating monsters? The partner could form a team with us in the first game to watch over potential danger. A crazy mon could hurt themselves while an actual human will probably mess with something old.

Could humans even understand Pokemon? Or did Grovyle play charades to tell his human partner about something? Would scarves work on humans in the first place, wands I can see being farmed for them to take advantage of.

(Just a bunch of PMD thoughts I had recently. So many unanswered questions and mysteries left in the entire series. Needed to format my thoughts to get them out in all honesty.)