We have two calamansi trees growing on our balcony. This morning as I write they are covered with fragrant white blossoms. The smell of the citrus perfume takes me back to Southern California and my own springtime.
Age has given me some peace and for that I am grateful. But youth gave me crazy love and for that I sometimes long.
Took a lot of inspo from Alphonse Mucha for the framing!
Some cool Jewish almond facts:
Almonds (Shaked/שקד) signify zeal, speed, and faithfulness.
Almond trees are the first to bloom in Israel, which is why Chazal decided that that time would be the new year for trees (Tu B’Shvat).
Yirmiyahu is shown an almond tree as a sign that ה׳ carried out his word.
The cups of the menorah were shaped like almonds.
When Aharons position as Cohen Gadol was challenged, ה׳ ordered that each tribe took a staff with their name engraved in it and whichever staff bloomed signified the choice of ה׳. Aharons staff (levi) blossomed with ripe almonds! The staff was kept in the beit Hamikdash with a sample of Mahn and stayed in bloom for centuries!
Most of this information is derived from the book Yardsticks by Chip Wood, an informational text aimed at educators and parents who are curious as to how children change developmentally from age to age. The book is not just based on the author's observations and experiences as a teacher but on the work of scholars such as Arnold Gesell, Dorothy H. Cohen, William Crain, Maria Montessori, Jean Piaget, Robert Pianta, Caroline Pratt, and many others.
Writing Four-Year-Olds:
"Four-year olds are flexible, exciting, and creative creatures who love to exaggerate and engage in imaginative play. A four-year-old's tall tale about an adventure she had with an imaginary friend may puzzle a parent or teacher but delight the four-year-old. And this play is critical for the development of fours' understanding of right and wrong, early application of social rules, and manners. They sometimes can seem especially "bossy" (particularly with their real and imaginary friends), but this assertiveness is positive rehearsal for learning acceptable limits and how to be a real friend and helper." (Wood 2017)
Traits:
Have trouble with reading and writing, as well as most close-up visual activities
Awkward with writing utensils, handcrafts, and small movements
Clumsy; collisions and spills are common
Friendly and talkative; will work near but not with a buddy
Love dress-up games and acting out drama
Enjoy 'potty language' and repeating curse words
Love to be given 'jobs' such as setting the table or folding clothes
Are often fearful at night-time
Writing Five-Year-Olds:
"Five-year-olds take in the world through their senses. They see, smell, touch, hear, and taste just about everything--one thing after another, but only one thing at a time. Their intense focus on detail enables them to see not just the butterfly but the pattern on its wings, its proboscis uncurling into a flower, its antennae waving delicately. Fives can give sustained attention to anything that fascinates them." (Wood 2017)
Traits:
Find it hard to space letters and numbers while writing
Better control when running and jumping than 4 year olds
Often fall or slip out of chairs
Interpret words in the most literal/basic sense
Like to explain things to peers and adults in the most detail possible
Struggle to see accept there is more than one way to play a game or complete a task
May actually believe toys or other objects are alive
Can become stuck in repetitive behavior out of fear of trying new things and failing (such as drawing the same images again and again)
Seek adult approval more than 6 year olds
Writing Six-Year-Olds:
"At six, children's capacity for logical thought begins to blossom. As in Piaget's classic experiment, a six-year-old will tell you that two equal balls of clay remain equal in volume even when one is rolled out into a snake shape. Sixes also begin to grasp cause and effect in the natural world, understanding, for example, that it's the wind that makes the trees move, not vice versa." (Wood, 2017)
Traits:
May experience more frequent illness than earlier years
Are easily upset when criticized by adults or peers
Often in a hurry and sloppy because of it
Teething as they start to lose baby teeth; chew on fingernails, hair, pencils, etc
Start to value competition
Begin to experience anxiety to perform well
Often bossy and critical towards friends
Begin to care intensely about having a 'best' friend
Can understand past and present as a concept and identify historical markers such as year/date
Comfortable working/playing in noisy, busy environments
Writing Seven-Year-Olds:
"Seven-year-olds are serious children who see and feel with a thoughtful intensity. After the outwardly expressive exuberance of six, sevens turn inward to consolidate the enormous cognitive and emotional growth they've just experienced. They become quieter and more sensitive, self-conscious, and self-absorbed as they figure out how to manage new feelings and cognitive structures. Seven is a year of moving forward cautiously, of craving security and structure while avoiding risk and uncertainty." (Wood, 2017)
Traits:
Crave stability and predictability; like knowing their schedule
Become more perfectionist than earlier years and begin to worry about schoolwork for the first time
Usually have a 'best' friend but who that is varies wildly day by day
Love being read aloud to, especially longer books with chapters
Moodier than 6 and 5 year olds
Enjoy being in confined spaces/hiding during games
Start to develop more coordination in sports
Often begin to write far smaller/neater than in prior years
Typically want to keep their personal items neat and tidy
Love secret codes such as Morse code and Pig Latin
Mistakes in schoolwork seriously disturb them
Love to classify and sort things
Begin to enjoy board games and online games
Can memorize poems, songs, and chants easily
Writing Eight-Year-Olds:
"Eight-year-olds wake up in the morning with plans for adventure percolating before their feet hit the floor. To be eight is to be inventive and creative, full of energy, curiosity, and imagination, always in a hurry to try the next new thing--or to create the next new thing themselves. With a friend, or better yet, a group of friends, eights roll along with plans for a parade or a play, thrilled with their truly wonderful ideas for the "what" and blithely unconcerned with the "how"." (Wood, 2017)
Traits:
Develop a love for jokes and sense of humor becomes more refined
Start to care deeply about morality and fairness
Growth spurts can lead to physical clumsiness
Adjust well to change and bounce back faster than 7 year olds
Start to desire the approval of their peers as much as the approval of adults
Begin to form larger friendship groups or cliques
Very talkative and tend to exaggerate about their experiences
Become more ambitious in terms of schoolwork or personal creative projects
Writing Nine-Year-Olds:
"Fairness begins to matter a great deal as nines take on the cognitive task of understanding ethical behavior at a new level. They're concerned about global justice: Why are some people poor? Why are we allowing climate change to happen? Why are some people cruel to animals? Nines show concern about fairness on the local level, too, and often feel singled out for unfair treatment by a teacher, parent, or coach. Their complaints--signs of their increasing understanding of and sensitivity to how the world works--can also be a way for nines to express their growing sense of peer importance and group solidarity." (Wood, 2017)
Traits:
Often eager to try new styles of dress or appearance, such as haircuts or different clothes
May begin to bite nails, twist at hair, make odd expressions to deal with tension or discomfort
Have a general sense of popularity and want to avoid associating with 'unpopular' children
Enjoy negotiating and arguing with adults
Can revert to 'baby talk' when they feel nervous or silly
Begin to appreciate inappropriate/'edgy' jokes, will mimic online trends/memes, especially sexual/racial/body humor
Desire to use social media to express themselves
Start to lose interest in imaginative play; more focused on facts/how things work
Want explanations as to why they have to do homework or chores from adults
Writing Ten-Year-Olds:
"Happy and easygoing tens generally look up to and admire their teachers and parents and take real pleasure in both family outings and teacher-led activities. They enjoy their classmates, too, and can engage productively in collaborative, project-based learning. Because of their relative calmness and instinct for getting along with others, ten-year-olds do well in a variety of group configurations, including mixed-age groups: They can often help elevens and even twelves in cooperative pursuits." (Wood, 2017)
Traits:
Often enjoy reading more than younger years
Ready to start using tools such as compasses, protractors, rulers, and templates
May be hotheaded, but are also quicker to forgive than older children
Are more sensitive and empathetic towards friends than 8 or 9 year olds
Generally like being able to lead/guide younger children
Can concentrate for longer periods of time than younger years
Usually eager to learn new things
Start to enjoy word problems and riddles
Writing Eleven-Year-Olds:
"Elevens are, in a sense, electrified. As adolescence begins, cognitive structures in the brain are rewiring themselves at the same amazing speed at which the body is beginning to transform. Relationships with peers and adults are turning topsy-turvy. At home and in school, academically and socially, eleven-year-olds are busy engaging whole new worlds with a sense of outward boldness, yet inward tentativeness. Their lives crackle with the energy of change as they begin to establish a sense of physical and emotional identity." (Wood, 2017)
Traits:
Stay up late compared to younger children and have more trouble rousing in the morning
Often act out more at home compared to in school
Huge appetites and sleep for longer when given the chance
Often blurt out rude comments without thinking
Cis girls typically have an earlier growth spurt than cis boys
Can become very indecisive and fearful of making mistakes
Like to challenge teachers and parents over rules
Can debate without it becoming personal
Imitate more sophisticated adult language
Begin to focus on what they want to do as adults
Writing Twelve-Year-Olds:
"Along with intense enjoyment of their peers, twelve generally enjoy talking with adults outside the home and can do so with friendliness and a sense of confidence. Yet, twelves can also be unpredictable and hard to read. One day, they fervently want to do schoolwork as part of a group; the next day, they just as fervently want to work alone. They often say "That's not what I meant!" when a teacher misreads their seemingly rude tone or comment. At home, moody, introverted, childish behavior or one-word responses reflect their need to rest and regroup in a safe environment." (Wood, 2017)
Traits:
Want parents and teachers to take them and their ideas seriously
More open to making new friendships than 11 year olds
Often struggle to follow through with practicing a sport or instrument in their free time
Want to help peers with schoolwork
Can appreciate complex moral issues
May begin to discover a subject or talent they excel at
Better able to switch between playful and serious than younger children
Love testing out new slang and pop culture references
Want to make their own money
Writing Thirteen Year-Olds:
"Thirteen is an age of dramatic contrasts. Because thirteen-year-olds commonly slip backward developmentally as well as move forward, they may seem like younger twelve-year-olds one day and more mature than they really are the next. They want adults to notice, listen, and talk to them but also to leave them alone. They're engaged one minute and bored the next, suddenly confident and just as suddenly unsure, alternately outgoing and withdrawn, brooding alone and then shrieking and shouting with friends." (Wood, 2017)
Traits:
May struggle with hygiene and/or acne
Most cis girls have begun menstruating by now
Extremely skilled at mimicking peer behavior
Often mean as a defensive strategy when worried about being ignored or left out
Far more adept at sarcasm than younger children
Can become very quiet and secretive compared to their younger selves
More judgmental of teachers than younger students, will gossip about adults
Interested in global justice issues but struggle with empathy in daily life
Can vary between reserved, stoic behavior and unusual aggression when asked questions by adults
Become messier with their personal belongings
Writing Fourteen-Year-Olds:
"To fourteen-year-olds, the question "Who am I?" seems best answered in terms of "Who are we?" The way that others see these students seems to matter more to them than how they see themselves. Fourteens are moving steadily toward peers and away from parents and teachers as the central figures in their lives. They bond in small social groups, travel street and school together, and pour enormous physical, emotional, and cognitive energy into developing an adolescent subculture." (Wood, 2017)
Traits:
Often embarrassed by the adults in their lives and become very critical of parents
View school as primarily a social experience, don't want to miss out on seeing friends everyday
A small minority will become sexually active
Typically very interested in current events and politics
Will say "I'm bored" when confused, or pretend challenging schoolwork is easy to save face
Love to correct adults and peers on information; hate being lectured
Very expressive faces and body language, can seem contemptuous for no reason
Often become interested in researching various subjects
More willing to admit an error than 12 or 11 year olds; redoing work is not as daunting
Able to joke around with adults
Enjoy mysteries and 'unknown' areas of science/math/history
spencer hastings, andrea martel, kara danvers, jake ballard, cheryl blossom, roy kent, kate beckett, karen page, seth cohen, patrick jane, teresa lisbon.
Relationships: Elvis Presley/Original Female Character(s)
Warnings: Underage Sex, historically problematic racial and gender attitudes, Fluff, Smut, Angst, Drugs, 1960s Elvis, sexual coming of age
Summary: Miriam Cohen runs away from her Orthodox family in Memphis in 1960, and ends up living in Los Angeles, where her older brother is a member of the Memphis Mafia, working and living with Elvis Presley. Miriam begins an affair with Elvis as he struggles to get Hollywood to take him seriously, and she experiences the blossoming counterculture growing in California during the 1960s while navigating Elvis' controlling, jealous and unfair expectations.
Vu que j'ai changé de blog, les avatars que j'avais postés sur le précédent ne sont plus (sauf s'ils ont été reblogués quelque part) donc je poste cette petite liste avec mes (anciennes) galeries pour d'éventuel.les intéressé.e.s.
The pairings have been made and are as follows (Dominant listed first):
Jughead Jones - Delilah Jones
Gwen Morgan Daniels - Marcia Fogarty
Nate Mantle - Jamie Prescott
Oz Chang - Stacey Evans
Ivan Carvahlo - Ross Berry
Robin Gardner - Kyla Clarington
Sebastian Smythe - Dallas Evans-Gardner
Kurt Hummel - Austin Fabray
Honeysuckle Rosewood - Daisy Blossom
Danny Andrews - Joe Berry
Veronica Lodge - Matt Fabray
JB Jones - Teddy Cohen-Chang
Sawyer Evans - Archie Andrews
Kyle Keller - Owen Evans
Reminder - The theme is Greek Mythology and all scenes should some how involve a Greek god/goddess, or Greek myth to count. 100 points for every completed scene, plus standard guidance points. Scenes must either be recorded or in public to be counted. Let's make it a great start to a new year!
OOC -
This list was (almost) completely randomized. For transparency - one pair was originally the same writer, and that was the only change needed to be made. All scenes must be posted by September 30th. Remember ALL PLOT POINTS must be approved through the admins. Anything out of the realm of "normal" needs to be run by us. Once the scene is completed, please paste the link, along with the form for Guidance Submissions into the Back to School channel in Discord. Let us know if you have any questions.
I have a super unpopular opinion which is that I’m not sure I’ve enjoyed pretty much all of the covers Alex has done over the years 😬 He’s covered two of my favourite songs of all time (Is this what you wanted by Cohen + ‘last night I dreamt…’ by the smiths) and I was super buzzing when I saw he had until I actually heard them and lowkey hated it. They both just felt like pale imitations of the original artists, but like he was trying just a bit too hard. It didn’t sound natural from him at all and it’s not just because I love the smiths so I’m used to hearing Morrissey singing it since I really enjoyed Rick Astley and Blossoms doing The Smiths.
On the other hand when TLSP covered ‘memories’ by Leonard Cohen (possibly my favourite song ever) in 2008 and Miles sang it, I really enjoyed that one!
Apart from moonage daydream (again mostly down to Miles and his guitar playing even though I’m not a huge fan of his music usually) and the drake cover, I really don’t think I’ve enjoyed Alex’s takes on anyone else’s songs but I understand this is probably not a popular opinion at all but I’d love to know what you think? <3
Hmm, it's indeed a very unpopular opinion, I think. I think most people love his covers. I personally enjoyed almost all of them. I love The Smiths and when I first saw the video of tlsp covering their song I nearly had a heart attack. I thought Alex's voice was really angelic. And the whole performance with petals flowing in the air. I don't know, I loved it. And Is This What You Wanted It is probably the sexiest song Alex has ever sang. I also really liked tame impala's cover. It sends shivers everytime I listen to it. All My Loving with Miles was a GREAT cover in my opinion. Come Together for the Olympics was also fire. I think they make quite good covers, and it was a pity that they didn't do any covers on the car tour.
But it's okay if you didn't enjoy the covers, to each their own
this list got a little bit longer than anticipated. as there's soooooo many counterparts to consider choosing from ! so, i put it under a read more for you !
counterparts: monica geller, ross geller, joey tribbiani, chandler bing, janice litman, mike hannigan, ursula buffay, aria montgomery, emily fields, spencer hastings, mona vanderwaal, alison dilaurentis, caleb rivers, maya st germain, toby cavanaugh, betty cooper, veronica lodge, cheryl blossom, archie andrews, reggie mantle, toni topaz, tabitha tate, quinn fabray, rachel berry, brittany pierce, olivia baker, layla keating, jordan baker, jaymee, spencer james, lucas scott, peyton sawyer, brooke davis, quinn james, julian baker, anna taggaro, rachel gatina, blair waldorf, serena van der woodsen, dan humphrey, nate archibald, callie adams foster, mariana foster, buffy summers, willow rosenberg, tara mclay, kendra young, faith lehane, cordelia chase, heather mcnamara, marissa cooper, summer roberts, seth cohen, angel, anya jenkins, ryan atwood, taylor townsend, elena gilbert, caroline forbes, bonnie bennett, stefan salvatore, anna zhu, enzo st john, sandy olson, betty rizzo, frenchy, danny zuko, marty, jan, sonny, jackie burkhart, donna pinciotti, eric forman, laurie forman, belly conklin, sloane peterson, ferris bueller, duckie dale, bianca stratford, kat stratford, patrick verona, mia thermopolis, sabrina spellman, harvey kinkle, libby chessler, barbie roberts, ken carson, jenna rink, allie hamilton, noah calhoun, brandon walsh, david silver, brenda walsh, kelly taylor, donna martin, conrad fisher, jeremiah fisher, steven cokin, taylor jewel, sarah cameron, jj maybank, john b routledge, kiara carerra, pope heywood, cleo, topper thornton, prue halliwell, paige matthews, piper halliwell, phoebe halliwell, meredith grey, arizona robbins, jackson avery, callie torres, april kepner, derek shephard, alex karev, cristina yang, lizzie stevens, callie torres, jo wilson, addison montgomery, lexi grey, atticus lincoln, nancy drew, lucy grey, sam montgomery, austin ames, jen lindley, pacey witter, dawson leery, katherine pierce, rebekah mikaelson, hayley marshall, tatum riley, sidney prescott, casey becker, tara carpenter, samantha carpenter, beca mitchell, chloe beale, jessica day, winston schmidt, cece parekh, laney boggs, dewey riley, gale weathers, georgina sparks, elle woods, francesca bridgerton, daphne bridgerton, penelope featherington, sookie stackhouse, karen smith, regina george, gretchen weiners, janis ian, cady heron, aaron samuels, dj tanner, stephanie tanner, marcia brady, cindy brady, greg brady, carrie bradshaw, cher horowitz, kirby reed, jim halpert, michael scott, kelly kapoor, pam beesly, peter parker, mary jane watson, analise keating, olivia pope, tony stonem, effy stonem, joey donner, john bender, allison argent, scott mccall, lydia martin, olive penderghast, maggie greene, marty mcfly, bella swan, alice cullen, charlie swan, emmett cullen, jacob black, carlisle cullen, esme cullen, jane volturi, morticia addams, donna and sophie sheridan, lorraine banes, jennifer parker, sam winchester, luke danes, dean forester, tristan dugray, lane kim, paris geller, logan huntzberger, jeanie bueller, simon basset, kate sharma, colin bridgerton, shiv roy, gerri kellman, roman roy, olivia benson, clary fray, isabelle lightwood, jace herondale, simon lewis, daphne blake, shaggy rogers, velma dinkley, fred jones, cinderella, ariel, tiana, jasmine, tom wambsgans, kendall roy, greg hirsch, lestat de lioncourt, louis de point du lac, and claudia !