#Engaging Kids in Lunch Prep

[kidsinnowadays]

How to Pack the Perfect School Lunch: A Nutritious and Kid-Approved Guide

Discover creative ways to prepare balanced and delicious school lunches that kids will love, ensuring they stay energized and engaged throughout the day. #SchoolLunchIdeas #NutritiousMeals #ParentingTips #HealthyEating

Packing a school lunch that is both nutritious and appealing to your child can sometimes feel like a challenging task. However, with a bit of planning and creativity, you can provide a well-balanced meal that your child will enjoy. This guide offers practical tips and ideas for packing the perfect school lunch that satisfies both nutritional needs and taste preferences. 1. Plan Ahead: Take a…

[dantheserialkillerman]

Hiroki Dan X GN!Teacher (one shot)

Contains: Gender Neutral Reader and Age Difference General warning: Medium-length post (1,461 words) TW: Possessiveness/Yandere vibes Characters: Hiroki Dan and You

– There is a theory called The Green World by Northrop Fry. It's actually quite simple. Shakespeare's comedies follow a structure: in spring, the fertility month, the characters transition from the everyday world, faced with societal bondage, to the wild, where everything becomes topsy turvy, back to the ordinary world renewed and unbound. As you skimmed your class, you couldn't help but wonder if the same theory also applied to your life. This moment did feel wild.

– The semester is your first as a teacher at one of Toyko's most highly regarded private high schools, and according to the curious stares from your students, they don't know what to make of you. It sets you on edge. Yet, there is also great excitement as you finally have fulfilled your dream of educating the next generation after years of studying. Is there a word for both terror and elation? Perhaps euphoria? It did once mean to be removed from one's body. However, frisson seems to settle in your mind. Your hair does feel on end.

– One..two...three...breath...one...two...three...breath. You repeat this phrase over and over again as you start your lesson. This subject is your favourite, and not to brag, but you are an expert in this field; the school would have never hired you otherwise, and the parents would have you fired, flayed, and put out front as a warning for everyone else. Even some universities would pale in comparison. These are households of politicians, millionaires, and businessmen. The top of the top and greatness ensures they only produce greatness, or at least the image of it.

– Everything seems to be going well; to your surprise, the kids are actively engaged, yet you cannot help but sense an uneasiness. You feel dissected, like a butterfly being prepped for a display case. When turning around, an intensity makes you pause over a word to prevent a stutter. You swear unseen hands are rushing over your body as if to hold you and say, "Stay still; I deserve to look," for what reason you don't know. It's nerves, you tell yourself, focus on the lesson; you can't mess up the first class.

– But it happens again during the next lesson. Then, the one after that. Again and again until finally, when handing back the first assignment, you meet the cause after class.

– It was Autumn when the weather couldn't decide if it wished to be hot or cold, the leaves turning into a violent swarm of reds and oranges as if the trees were on fire. It had been a long day; you had to send someone to the head office for interrupting class, forgot your lunch, and were stuck grading papers. The only people still here were after-school clubs and occasionally teachers you heard walking in the halls.

– You were so absorbed in your work that you couldn't help but jump when you felt a tap on your shoulder and a soft "Excuse me" in your ear. Looking up in shock, you are surprised to see a man...well, a teenager. Handsome for his age, most likely eighteen and in his final year, with a shock of dark hair and eyes against pale skin, a warm smile breaks the otherwise monochrome facade. An image of Adder Snake flashes in your mind when he tilts his head and beams...it is as if he enjoyed scaring you.

– "Oh, I'm sorry, professor," he places a hand over his heart and straightens, "I merely wanted to get your attention." His eyes are so black that you can see your own startled reflection, and despite being in a more senior position, how small you look compared to this boy. You hate it.

– "It's fine," you look at the clock, "it's past five; shouldn't you be heading home, or is there something I can help you with?" You attempt to clean your desk to make it look moderately presentable. In reality, you wanted to seem busy so you didn't have to look him in the eye again. There was something profoundly unnerving about how he could pin you down with merely a look.

– His hand moves gracefully into his bag and pulls out a piece of paper; you recognize it as the recently returned assignment from your afternoon class. He places it delicately on your desk, atop the other essays you were grading. Pompous little shit, you couldn't help but think. You tilt over and see the grade, a ninety-five, the highest score you gave out recently.

– Picking up the paper, you hold it out for the student to take back, "It was very well-written and researched, particularly the second paragraph. Congratulations..." You quickly glance at the paper, hopefully discreetly, "Hiroki-kun." The name settled in your mouth like honey, sticking to your throat unpleasantly despite how sweet it sounded.

– He leans against the desk, the same plain smile upon his face and a light chuckle escaping his upturned lips. There is an uneasiness in the air, that pressure you felt during the day in increments, dilating in this very moment.

– "Thank you," he moves closer, and you realize the door is closed; who shut it? "But I wanted to ask," Closer, "what could I have done to have gained that extra five percent?"

– "I..." You feel speechless, your face hot from panic, "Well...you could've shortened it, perhaps?" Say anything to get him to leave.

– "That's it?"

– "It was written very well; I wouldn't worry about your grade."

– He takes the paper and folds it absent-mindedly, "I will take it to heart," as if to prove it, he holds the essay to his chest, "You are my favourite teacher here, and any advice you give me is a great help." To your horror, he looks somewhat bashful. Yet, it would be a lie to say it didn't stroke your ego.

– You clear your throat, "Thank you, but it is getting late-"

– "Let me walk you to your bike." You wonder how he knew you biked to school? "My father is the police superintendent General, and I am also heading out; I don't want someone so..." He looks down to where you are sitting, "vulnerable to walk outside by themselves."

– You weighed the options in your head. Saying no could hurt your reputation; this was the kid of a high-ranking official, and if you pissed off Daddy, you would be fired on the spot. Was it unnerving and inappropriate? Yes. But you couldn't think of a way to worm your way out of this dilemma. It was a true dichotomy.

– "I wouldn't want to burden a young man like yourself...."

– His smile stretched wider, so vast you could count each pearly white tooth. What big teeth you have..." It would be my pleasure."

– Hiroki demanded to carry your briefcase and, while you walked, asked miscellaneous questions about your life. How old are you? Do you live alone? Are you Married? How far do you live from campus? You tried to answer him subtly, attempting to dodge the questions with little skill. You cursed the school for being so big and your pupil for being such a slow walker.

– Ten minutes later, you reach your bike. Or where it should have been. Nothing but the chain was attached to the fence. You look around and quickly conclude that someone has stolen it. Man, I'm a fucking genius, you thought sarcastically, but you had to Act professionally. Act bloody professional. Oh, God, how in the living hell would you get back to your dingy little apartment?

– "People these days," Hiroki shook his head, "my father has been trying to tamper down the rise in petty crime such as this," he slung your case over his shoulder, "but it seems he has a long way to go."

– You pushed your forehead in stress, "It's fine, I'll just take public transport." And it would be awful in that crowded cart filled with annoyed people.

– "Nonsense," He turned and started to walk towards the parking lot; in confusion, you began to follow him, "I own a car, and someone like yourself wouldn't be safe on public transport." He looked over his shoulder, and you felt your stomach sink, "I'll drive you home." Shit.

– "It's fine, really. Plus, you're a student-"

– "My father would never forgive me if I left you in such a state. Alone. Defenceless. I mean," He stopped and turned. Suddenly, you recognized how tall and broad he was as he towered over you. "I could attack you right now, and you would have no way to defend yourself." His left eye twitched softly like he trying to keep a particular thought at bay, and you felt your lungs freeze, "But you're lucky," He chuckled, "I would never harm my favourite teacher." The air seemed to stop momentarily as if the sky held its breath for what he would say next. "I only want to do a good deed," Another laugh, "They make me feel blessed," and softly grabbing your hand and bringing it to his cheek, he tilted his head into your palm, whispering, "Won't you bless me, teacher?"

– You wondered if Northrop Fry had a theory on Shakespearian tragedy. What dark world were you being brought into by those eyes?

[jordanstark007]

Chapter Eight

Alex Cabot / Amelia Chase

The Next time that the squad saw Amelia was in court, the Agent had managed to swindle the afternoon off, and she had the time to just sit and watch as Alex moved through the courtroom, thankful that Alex wasn’t prosecuting her this time.

The case was particularly harsh, and the insanity defence is always a difficult method of exoneration, when the defendant went to attack Alex, SVU or Liv at least saw what Amelia would do to protect Alex.

The teen had slipped through the court officers and was inches away from Alex when Amelia tackled him. He was dragged away but not before the teen was left to cough up blood.

Later that night while lay in bed, Alex very comfortably burrowed in her arms Amelia finally allowed herself to relax to embrace the calmness, that came with happiness, even if she didn’feel like she deserved it.

Alex’s next case is what coaxed a very uncomfortable conversation out of the ADA, she’d worked with Tommy for a few days attempting trail prep, although it certainly wasn’t easy considering how terrified the young boy was.

He was petrified of his father and fearful of what the man might do to him if he allocutes the crime in court for the jury to hear.

What she certainly hadn’t anticipated was Amelia coaxing a smile from the boy, a laugh as well as they played a slightly altered version of baseball.

It was so lighthearted, Amelia had swung by the office for lunch, going as far as to bring Tommy his own food, before engaging in light conversation a far cry from the questions Alex was forced to ask.

And throughout the conversation Amelia discovered Tommy’s love of most sports, soccer, football, baseball. Which lead to the current scene of Alex watching through the third story window of her office at the patch of grass where Amelia now occupied with Tommy as he batted, she scoped the young boy up in her arms, tickling him playfully. Tommy was responsive to the affection and attention so Amelia gave him more of it.

Alex heard him laugh and squeal, sounds that she was sure the boy hadn’t been able to indulge in for most of his childhood.

And God was Amelia so good with him, the boy interacted with a handful of police officers, both her and Casey and yet it was Amelia, the big scary FBI agent who got him to ramble about his favourite activities to do in school.

“Do you want kids?” Amelia coughed uncomfortably as they lay in bed, the question attacking her without warning, she was only glad that she didn’t have any food or drink in her mouth at the time.

“Do you?” Alex shrugged,

“I never thought about it before now, I never had a reason to but seeing you with Tommy today.” Amelia smirked catching onto Alex’s notion,

“Ms Cabot are you implying that I gave you baby fever.” Alex groaned into Amelia’s shoulder,

“Great now all I can think about is you with a baby, so yes you have me baby fever, Agent Chase.” A manic smirk danced its way across Amelia’s expression, as she flipped Alex onto her back,

“Well I’m sure we can practice for a baby what do you think baby girl?” Alex nodded moaning as she felt Amelia’s lips attack her neck and then descend to her breasts.

“Please.” Her tone was breathy and Amelia revelled in the feeling of Alexandra Cabot begging beneath her.

Their routine was seemingly set in stone, Alex and Amelia operating in their own parallel world away from work, away from people.

Until there was a case involving the Feds, Amelia was dragged into the case, forced to work alongside the NYPD Special Victims Unit.

Not only that but the defence was attempting to call Amelia to the stand so that she’d omit details of the case that Alex had told her in confidence.

“Your honour the defence is trying to pry details from Special Agent Chase that are both confidential and crucial to National Security.”

The defence was playing hard ball, they wanted Amelia on that stand and despite the DA’s office fighting the subpoena’s and the FBI fighting their subpoena’s it seemed the mountain of attempts were breaking down both offices.

“Marry me Alexandra.” Alex’s head shot up in pure confusion, the own in her hand dropped into her notepad.

“What?” Amelia closed the door behind her, sauntering over to Alex,

“The defense is desperate to get me on the stand so that I admit where the wife and child are, I won’t put them in that danger and the only work around is-” Alex cut her off having understood her line of thought.

“Marriage.” Alex nodded, “And as I’m a dual citizen we can get married immediately.”

Amelia simply stared at Alex allowing the plan to take root for the woman without her prompting before Alex smiled up at her, “Y’know as far as proposals go that was by far the least romantic that I’ve ever seen.”

Amelia cocked a brow, “See now I thought you’d say that.”

She dropped to her knee revealing a velvet box from her pocket, “Alexandra Elizabeth Cabot, will you do me the esteemed honour of becoming my wife?”

Alex’s eyes sparkled as she nodded and Amelia stood embracing her now fiancée a passionate kiss shared between them.

“Yes, of course.”

Were they adhearing to the typical lesbian stereotype of moving in with each other after a few months, and getting married after only a year? Yes.

Did either of them care? Absolutely not.

And therefore they were yet again in the chambers of Judge Petrofsky with the subpoena to testify, “Your honour Special Agent Chase is no longer available to testify.”

The defense spluttered, “Why the hell not?!”

Lena Petrofsky look over at Alex with a cocked brow also curious, “I’m wondering that myself Ms Cabot.”

Alex handed over two copies of their marriage certificate, one to the defense, one to Judge Petrofsky.

“Because she no longer exists and Special Agent Amelia Cabot is protected by spousal privilege as the information the defense wants was a part of a communication between spouses.” The defense stormed from the room clearly aggrivated by the new information, and Judge Petrofsky’s eyes narrowed as she stared at Alex.

“I’m beginning to grow tired of your attempts to manipulate the courts Ms Cabot.” Alex sighed as she picked up her briefcase,

“Actually your honour my wife proposed to me, and the ring was purchesed 6 months ago. This was always going to happen.”

When Casey and Abigail found out they clapped their sister on the back hugging Alex as they welcomed her to their family, Abi raised her glass with a smile, “To the end of the Chase line, it shall die with our sperm donor.”

They cheered and the night was spent with three married couples enjoying the drink and company of their family, before Enzo spoke. “So where’s the honeymoon? Are you two gonna be jetting of to somewhere exotic?”

Alex shook her head, leaning against Amelia’s chest with a smile, “I don’t mind as long as she’s with me I’m home.”

Hunter and Abigail simultaneously gagged laughing as they realised they were perfectly in time, Casey glared at them, “You two are perfect for each other it’s actually quite alarming.”

Abi smirked, “As if you and Enzo aren’t the same. You two are disgustingly cute.” Enzo shrugged with a grin,

“She can also shoot a gun with incredible accuracy, and when I found that out I just knew I had to have her.”

Amelia looked down at Alex her eyes swarmed with nothing but adoration, “I adore you Alexandra.”

Alex smile was wide, and unburdened a truly rare sight, “I love you too Amelia Cabot.”

Following their marriage, the defense lawyers and their tactic crumbled, Alex convicting the abusive cunt, putting him away at Riker’s away from the wife and daughter he tormented.

[hayffiebird]

Taste of Strawberries, chap. 36

Hayffie Post-Mockingjay Multi-chapter, Rated M SUMMARY: Four years have passed since the end of the war when Effie returns in to Haymitch’s life once again. An old friendship is renewed. Will it lead to something more? Meanwhile Panem has entered a new era. The rebellion’s over, the borders are open but in the shadows, anger and mistrust are smoldering. Something that will affect Haymitch and Effie’s life in a way they never saw coming. Chapter 36 Plough a lonely furrow

Earthworms glistened in the blackness of the grave. Their writhing, pink bodies made Haymitch jam the shovel into the growing pile and fish up the silver hipflask. He tipped it into his mouth again and again, red eyes focused on the shrivels of blue sky through the greenery. He came up choking. That almost never happened but Ripper’s concoction licked his throat like flesh to an open flame. He liked it. Felt like justice. With the flask back in his pocket, he returned to the task at hand. The sound of metal against soil felt wrong in a place like this. Here in the midst of Katniss’s woods where mockingjays sang and the wind rustled through the underbrush. Lips pressed to none-existence he dug the shovel into the ground. Repeated the act, over and over, face tinged grey. It needed to be deep. Secluded. Safe from any predators. “I will come with you,” Effie said after the first death. “You shouldn’t do this alone,” Peeta said after the second. But he wouldn’t be swayed. None of them should have to see this. Especially not the kids whom had already witnessed far too much death for someone their age. “They’re my geese,” he said. “I’ll take care of it.” The morning it all began dawned like any other. No warnings whatsoever. A promise of rain in the air. Distant thunderclaps. Amy and Ian who woke them promptly at six, as per usual. At 9 months the kids were still full-fledged early birds. Oh, yes. Even Effie said she wouldn’t mind a sleep-in every once in a while. At least the nights were easier now. Good to know at least two people in this household slept fairly consistently, undisturbed by nightmares. “Mornin’”, he said as he walked into the kitchen that retched day, dressed in nothing but his underwear and some flimsy morning gown of Effie’s with pink flamingos on the back. “Hey,” she replied over her shoulder, prepping Ian’s oatmeal. The children sat together in the playpen, still in their jammies. Haymitch leaned over it and gave them a soft pat. “There’s coffee if you want it. Good and strong.”

“Great.” He poured himself a cup, added a few drops of milk. The table was already set. “Why didn’t you wake me?” Effie shrugged. “You slept hard. I reckoned you needed it.” “… Thanks.” He had a sip and set the cup on the table. “Hello,” he said and reached inside the playpen, lifted Ian out, up toward the ceiling lamp and down to his face, kissing his cheek until he giggled. “You sleep well? Any good dreams worth tellin’ me about?” After one last kiss he carried his son to the table and helped him into his high chair. Effie joined, bringing the oatmeal. She slipped a spoon into Haymitch’s hand and turned to their daughter. “I hope you’re hungry, my darling.” With Amy in her arms she took her seat at the table where Haymitch was already engaged in the messy task of getting food into their boy. “How about a trip to Sae’s later?” Effie asked, holding the girl who practiced her jumping skills, bouncing up and down on her mother’s lap. “For lunch, I mean?” “Sure. Why not?” Ian gaped like a newborn nestling and Haymitch slipped him another spoonful. Unlike his sister, the boy showed an interest in his parents’ food very early on and squeaked in anger when he dug his hands on their plants and they still wouldn’t let him have it. Like any child of District 12, they ate like horses. Both of them. “It’s their Seam side showing,” Effie said. Amy suddenly stopped her gymnastics. With the look of someone recalling something important she tugged at the neckline of her mother’s nightgown. Haymitch and Effie had introduced a variety of food to their daughter but with the exception of cooked pear blended with breast milk Amy wasn’t interested. When she got hungry she wanted her mama and her mama only. And Effie wasn’t difficult to persuade. “I take all the time I can get,” she smiled. “She’s reaching all of her milestones and she will self-feed too when she’s ready. I won’t rush her.” After breakfast and getting them changed, they carried the twins along with the playpen back into the living room. They usually played together for a good hour before their first nap. “I’ll go check on the geese.” “OK,” Effie yawned, curled up on the couch. It wasn’t even a lie. Some decoy to drink. Not that day. Even with the looming rain, the weather was fine and he only meant to release them into the outside enclosure. The moment he entered the pen, he knew something was wrong. Sensed it in the way they moved. Acted. The energy of the place. And that’s when he saw it. He crouched in the hay. Cupped his hands around the small, lifeless body. The gosling was still warm but there was no question about it. Haymitch knew death when he saw it. What happened? A wild animal? A badger perhaps? Or even one of the other geese? But there were no signs of struggle. No blood or broken bones. Nothing. Not so much as a ruffled feather. Where would an animal even get in? There were no holes on the walls. He always made sure. “Fowl cholera,” the vet said. “They need antibiotics and you have to separate the healthy ones from the birds showing symptoms. Make sure everything’s clean. Keep a close watch. I’ll write down what you need to know.” Haymitch followed the instructions to the T. No one watching could doubt his dedication. And yet, it didn’t make any difference. In the days and weeks that followed, the Victor’s Village grew quieter and quieter. Like with any disaster, the little ones went first. Then the older and frail. And before long, even the biggest and sturdiest of the lot crumbled away. And all Haymitch could do was watch. By that time, Effie and the twins were already gone. “You want to send us away?” She asked it like she couldn’t believe her ears. “Not for long, Eff. It’s only temporary.” “Why? Why do we have to leave? Fowl cholera isn’t contagious in humans.” “Still. Better safe than sorry.” “Can’t we just stay somewhere in Twelve? The Capitol is such a far way away. I’m sure Sae wouldn’t mind lending us a room in her house.” “Eff,” he said, tiredly. “Humor me. Just this once.” In the end they decided on a compromise. With the kids down for their nap Effie called up District 11. June and Annabel said they’d be more than happy to have the three of them over and in less than 48 hours Haymitch was on his own. The shirt was soaked with sweat. Clung to him in a way he’d hated ever since he was a boy. After one final dig Haymitch wiped his forehead and eyed his hard work. Yeah, that’ll do. He dropped the shovel and crouched before the bird. So utterly helpless, defenseless like this, shrouded in a knotty blanket. The last member of the original flock that he and Effie bought in Eleven. One of its wingtips peeked through the folds and he took great care cloaking it up properly before he lowered it into the grave. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled as he piled the earth on, covering more and more of his dead pet. At this very moment, the two survivors – both female – pecked away at the grass back in the enclosure. But it was probably just a matter of time before they went as well. It was all so fucking unfair. xXx What’s that… sound? Haymitch groaned. Bells? No, no bells around here. A phone. Yeah. Yeah, his phone. Christ, when did it get so loud? It carved his head like a cheese slicer you should’ve thrown in the trash years ago. Bottles created harmony. Empties that rolled out of the way when he moved. His cheek stung and throbbed as blood pooled back into it after hours on the stubby old carpet. What am I doing on the floor? With a painful roll he ended up on his side and gingerly touched a tender spot just above his right eyebrow. I fell? Eyes closed shut to keep the world from reeling out of control he tried to pull himself up. A hiccup racked his body and before he knew it, splatters of white liquor and stomach acid spilt from his lips. A mixture so strong and vile he swore it would burn a hole in the carpet. Coughing and spitting, he cradled his head. Air. He needed air. Mouth dripping, he forced it into his lungs. One ragged breath at a time. And still, the ringing. Only one person was that persistent. “Hello, Haymitch! It’s me. How are you?” Springs creaked under his weight as he dropped on the couch. With the phone to his ear, he stared vacantly at the forest of bottles on the coffee table. His head nothing but one big blister, ready to burst. But he heard Effie breathing on the other end, expecting a reply and he wet his lips. Cleared his throat. “Oh, same old, same old. How’re the kids?” As Effie prattled on he seized the moment and grabbed an almost empty bottle of aspirin, twisting the top. First once and then a second time. And a third. “… so we decided to go later. You would have loved it!” “Uh-huh.” Phone cradled between his ear and shoulder he wrestled the bottle but to no avail. Frowning, he squinted at the label. “Childproof.” Yeah, no kidding. “Oh, oh, and there’s something else I just have to tell you! The other day, we were out in the garden and you know how they have like their own language, right? Well, they were talking with each other in their usual manner and everything is fine and peaceful. And then Ian coos something to Amy and she goes absolutely livid! One minute she’s perfectly happy. The next she’s screaming bloody murder. I think he insulted her.” Effie chuckled. “Isn’t that the cutest thing?” “Yeah, totally.” He tugged and tore at the bottle cap, hands throbbing in time with his head. The phone slipped from between his ear and shoulder. Leaving it on the couch, he gave another almighty twist and POP! Pills flew in every direction, clinking against glass. “Haymitch? Haymitch, are you there?” Clawing underneath the table he slipped two pills into his mouth, spit out some lint and washed it down with the first bottle he encountered. “Hello? Haymitch?” He grabbed the phone. “Yeah. Sure.” “Sure, what?” “I mean, like… er…” “You didn’t listen to a word I said, did you?” He opened his mouth, then just dropped the act altogether. “Sorry, Eff. Got a lot on my mind, is all.” “The geese?” He rubbed his hand over his face. Eyed the bottles but decided against it. Best not tempt the fate. “Lost another one today.” “Oh, no! I’m so sorry, Haymitch.” “Yeah. So, now’s not really a good time. Maybe we can catch up later? Tomorrow perhaps?” “Of course.” “I’ll call you guys around noon. How’s that? And give ‘em a big kiss for me.” “I will. Bye, Haymitch!” “Bye, Eff.” *toot toot* xXx *ring ring* *mutters* How the fuck does this work? *clears throat* Alrighty. Eff says you gotta have an answer phone message on this thing so here goes. I’m not in or awake or… whatever so leave a message and I’ll get back to you at some point. Or don’t. I don’t really give a fuck either way but… I dunno. Do as you please. This lil’ machine is fucking cunning though so don’t hold your breath. Can’t say I check in all that often either so if your ass is on fire just call me up again. Don’t know why you’d wanna talk to me ‘bout anything but it’s your funeral. Gimme a ring or say something after the beep. Like I said, I don’t give a fuck. Oh, and yeah. You’ve reached Haymitch Abernathy. Suppose that was obvious unless you’re a complete moron. *beep* Oh, my God, Haymitch! That’s the worst answer phone message I’ve ever heard in my life! Honestly! *draws a breath* OK. I’m calling you up since you never got back to us earlier. They are up for a couple more hours but I know it’s a small window so how about we try again tomorrow? I wish you were here. I really do! District 11 is such a peaceful place! Being here has really done me some good and June and Annabel said that if you want to join us there’s a spare guestroom with your name on it. But, of course, that’s entirely up to you. No pressure. If you feel like you can’t leave the geese just yet, I understand. Call us when you get this message, OK? If we’re not home just say when I can best reach you and I’ll get back to you. Mid-mornings are preferable but any time is fine. We really miss you, Haymitch. I know you don’t think so but it’s true. Nothing’s the same without you. Take care, OK and we’ll talk again soon! *toot toot* xXx *ring ring* *mutters* How the fuck does this work? *clears throat* Alrighty. Eff says you gotta have an answer phone message on this thing so here goes. I’m not in or awake or… whatever so leave a message and I’ll get back to you at some point. Or don’t. I don’t really give a fuck either way but… I dunno. Do as you please. This lil’ machine is fucking cunning though so don’t hold your breath. Can’t say I check in all that often either so if your ass is on fire just call me up again. Don’t know why you’d wanna talk to me ‘bout anything but it’s your funeral. Gimme a ring or say something after the beep. Like I said, I don’t give a fuck. Oh, and yeah. You’ve reached Haymitch Abernathy. Suppose that was obvious unless you’re a complete moron. *sighs* Well, this answer phone message doesn’t grow on you, that’s for certain. When I get back it’ll be the first thing we’re changing. And yes, it’s me again. I know you have your hands full with the geese right now but I still wish we’d hear from you a little more often. It doesn’t have to be a long phone call. Just a couple of minutes. You know, I do feel like I’m lying when I tell the children they’re going to hear from you and then they don’t. OK, they’re already sleeping now but we’ll be staying close tomorrow. Just the house, the garden. So please, indulge me here. Bye. *toot toot* xXx *mutters* How the fuck does this work? *clears throat* Alrighty. Eff says you gotta have an answer phone message on this thing so here goes. I’m not in or awake or… whatever so leave a message and I’ll get back to you at some point. Or don’t. I don’t really give a fuck either way but… I dunno. Do as you please. This lil’ machine is fucking cunning though so don’t hold your breath. Can’t say I check in all that often either so if your ass is on fire just call me up again. Don’t know why you’d wanna talk to me ‘bout anything but it’s your funeral. Gimme a ring or say something after the beep. Like I said, I don’t give a fuck. Oh, and yeah. You’ve reached Haymitch Abernathy. Suppose that was obvious unless you’re a complete moron. *beep* Hello, Haymitch. You know, you wouldn’t have me call so much if you just learned how to your the phone! It’s not decoration. That’s not why I had it fixed! I don’t even know why I bother with these messages. You’re probably not checking them anyway. Your silence has me all worried, don’t you get that? It completely upset my digestion, as you’re well aware! I don’t believe I’m asking much. Just ten minutes of your time. So, please, please, please, Haymitch! Call me back! *toot toot* xXx *ring ring* *commotion on the other end* Goodness… Hello? Effs? No, it’s… This is Annabel speaking. Oh. Is Eff there? I think she’s asleep, Haymitch. We all are. Oh. Yeah. Right. Sorry ‘bout that. She told me to call back whenever. OK. Well, it’s… four in the morning now. It is? Shit, I’m sorry. Didn’t realize that. Don’t have a workin’ clock over here. Tossed it out for… I dunno. Reasons. Eff got me this alarm but... Look, Haymitch. *yawns* We’re usually up around 7. Why don’t you call us after breakfast? I can do that. OK. Good. I’m going back to bed now. Course. Sorry again. Between you and me, I’m a little hammered. No, no, not hammered, just… well, yeah, a little… That’s fine, Haymitch. Goodnight. Huh? Goodnight. Sleep well. *snorts a laugh* Sure. Thanks. I wish. But yeah, Imma hang up now. You know, Annabel, you’re a real good person. You’re both so good to Effie and the kids. Shame I never told you that. Cause you should, don’t ya think? Yeah, I think so. Haymitch… Yeah, sure, sure. You’re tired, I know. I’ll let you go back to bed. Could you do me a solid though? Don’t tell her. Effs, I mean. She gets weird ‘bout this kinda stuff. Don’t want her all worked up, thinking I was wasted cause I’m really not. I know what my body can take but she just … The thing you gotta understand about Effs … *in the background* Here, Bel. Let me. Haymitch! June? Yes, this is June! It’s 4.15 in the blasted morning! What kind of a nitwit calls someone that late!? Uh… Do it again and I swear to God, I will twist your ear right off! Go to bed! … Alright. Sure thing. I’ll, I’ll do that. Excellent! Bye! *toot toot* xXx *ring ring* Abernathy residence. This is Peeta. Peeta? Hello. This is Effie. Oh, hi, Effie! Good to hear from you! How’s everything in Eleven? Fine. Is… is Haymitch there by any chance? Could you get him for me, please?” “Er, of course. One moment. *in the background* Haymitch? Haymitch, it’s Effie. *mumbles incoherently* Haymitch, you have to get up. Effie’s on the phone. *after a moment* Hey. I’m sorry, Effie. He’s not quite up and about just yet. Can we get back to you? Maybe in an hour or two? That will give him a chance to grab a cup of coffee and … Oh, Peeta. Sweet child. You do not have to lie for him. Not to me. … Sorry. *draws a shallow breath* You don’t have to worry about a thing, dear. You go back to Katniss and let me handle this. OK. Bye, Effie. Goodbye, my boy. *toot toot* xXx *ring ring* *mutters* How the fuck does this work? *clears throat* Alrighty. Eff says you gotta have an answer phone message on this thing so here… *click* ‘ello? Hi. Eff? Wut time is it? Not 4.15AM. *floorboards creak, followed by a clink of bottles* Good to hear from ya, sweetheart. I know I should’ve called … Why didn’t you? Well, you know … You’re busy? With the geese? Yeah. Because that’s odd. I was on the phone with Peeta earlier and he said the vet checked in on them not two hours ago. Apparently they’re responding well to treatment. … You spyin’ on me now? I’m not spying on you. Cause it sure as hell sound like it! Well, I wouldn’t have to, would I? If you just picked up the phone now and again! The hell is this new obsession you have ‘bout me calling all the time? Sorry I have a life outside of talking to you! Not me, Haymitch! The children! Because in case you didn’t notice: You have a son and daughter now! Thanks, Eff. I’m well aware. So it’s for them! All these phone calls. I’m trying to get you three to talk to each other! How? They’re 10 months old, Eff. They can’t talk. It’s not like they’re missing out. They can’t even tell if I’m around or not.” They’re 11 months old and they can! You’re not some far off uncle or a second cousin that they see only on weddings and at funerals. You’re their father, Haymitch … Jesus … ... and sometimes I feel like you don’t even care if we’re around or not! That is so unfair, Eff! Even for you! I’m just saying … My geese are dead, sweetheart! Almost all of them! Gone! Maggot meat! So why don’t you get off your high horse and gimme a break for once in your life! If Katniss or Peeta were having a hard time of it they sure as hell … That’s exactly my point!! No one should have to go through something like that alone! Let me be there for you! What else is a family for!? Honest to God, Eff! Stop acting like you’re my fucking wife and just back off! I have! For months! Honestly, Haymitch! Do you really believe I don’t know what’s going on here? Of course I do! Not because I called Katniss and Peeta and turned them into my spies. I know because I know you! You didn’t send us away because of the geese. That’s not the real reason and you know it! Don’t try and tell me otherwise! You needed us gone so we left! Despite all my better judgment I gave you your space and I never complained. Not once! All I asked was that you put the bottle down just long enough to tell your son and daughter goodnight. *sobs* You couldn’t even do that! Fuck you, Effie. Sincerely. Fuck. You. Look … I know this is hard. I do. And I’m not pretending like it’s ever going to get easier. But you have to stop viewing me as some kind of enemy, Haymitch. I’m on your side. I always have been. And you should know that you’re missing out on moments that you’ll never get back. This time in their life… it’s precious. It’s for bonding. A chance for us to have a positive impact on what kind of people they will become. I do what I can but I can’t replace you. No one can. *in the background a baby monitor crackles to life followed by a baby crying* That’s Ian. I have to go. Eff … Later. We’ll talk later. That’ll give us both a chance to cool our heads. The children and I won’t go anywhere, so ... it’s just goodbye for now. OK? … Bye. *toot toot* xXx “Hi, Sae!” Peeta blew on his mug of tea, seeing the old woman come through the archway. “Want the last cheese bun? Katniss already had three.” “Two!” the girl protested. Leaned back against the door she rested her hands on the front step. The last rays of daylight warmed her knees. “Haymitch is not up yet,” she said, eyes on the mug in Sae’s hand. “Him and Effie, they had some kind of fight by the sound of it. He’s been in there ever since.” Sae looked to where she pointed. “He sleeps in the goose pen now?” she asked, pulling the rucksack higher up on her shoulder. “They’re his new therapist,” the boy said. “Cause God forbid he’d talk to one of us.” “’New’ implies he once had another,” Katniss said and seized the last cheese bun, since Sae never claimed it. “I wouldn’t go in there if I were you. He won’t thank you for it.” “I’ll be fine,” the old woman said and stepped inside. Golden light spilled through the windows, shining in the dust. A pair of geese nestled in the hay turned their head at the unexpected visitor but their curiosity was short-lived and they soon closed their eyes again. Their owner lay sprawled out before them, stomach-down. Covered in hay and goose droppings, face hidden behind disarrays of dirty blonde hair, he could’ve been nothing but a pile of unwashed clothes. If it weren’t for the knife clutched in a red-knuckled hand. She set the mug down, next to the rucksack and prised it from his fingers, endlessly careful. With nowhere to put it she slipped it in her pocket. For now. Anyone with common sense knew the dangers of waving a knife right in front of a victor, waking up. An empty bucket stood in a corner and she turned it over, having a seat. His hair fluttered with every breath he took. She brushed it from his face, untangled it from the caveman’s beard he sported these days and plucked a piece of straw. Haymitch gave a gigantic snore when he felt the tickling. She paused but when there was no further response she tickled his nose a second time. The man stirred. Mumbled something in his sleep. A smile curved Sae’s lips as she let the straw play in one of his nostrils. He sucked in a deep breath and sneezed the straw right out of her hand. “Wha… whuu-ugh…” A slack hand went to his face, rubbing his nose. She saw a glint of gray before he groaned and buried his face in the crock of his elbow. “You shouldn’t sleep in here,” she said. “All this dusty air isn’t good for you.” “Who cares?” he growled into his arm. “Lemme be.” “Here. Drink this.” That at least got his attention. Seeing the cup of broth offered he dragged himself up, muttering under his breath. After a mouthful or two he looked around, searching. His eyebrows came together. “Whatcha do with my knife?” Sae handed it over without a word and it disappeared in his pocket. “Shouldn’t you be at work?” he muttered into the mug. “Not today.” “Lemme guess. A former pink headed lil’ birdie whispered in your ear?” “No birdies. And even if they did, would that be so bad?” “Hmpf.” “How are Effie and the kids?” “Great. Splendid. Why wouldn’t they be? She told me it’s awesome gettin’ a break from me. She earned it, that’s for sure.” “Really, Haymitch?” Sae said, eyebrows raised. “Yeah, really.” “I highly doubt the sweet girl I know said anything of the sort.” “Yeah, well. That’s what she meant anyway.” “What exactly did she say?” “Does it matter?” “Course it does.” “She did say it. She said Eleven’s a peaceful place and it’s done her some good.” “That’s not the same.” “Pretty much.” “And?” “And what?” “What else did she say?” “I dunno. She told me to come visit cause I’ll ruin the kids’ lives if I don’t.” “Haymitch.” “What? It’s the truth!” “What did she say?” “She wants me to visit!” “Why?” “What does it matter why!?” “Just tell me. She wants you to come visit because …” “She misses me!” “And …” “Oh, for God’s sake, woman!” He glared at her. “Wanna be a pain in my ass now? Too late for that, Sae! Effie already called dibs.” A bright laugh burst from Sae’s lips. It was the first happy sound to fill the goose pen in ages. Haymitch sighed. A sigh of defeat. “She told me to come visit cause she really misses me even though I won’t believe it and that nothing’s the same without me.” He shot her a look. “Satisfied?” When Sae only smiled he downed another mouthful, staring into space. “I wanna go see ‘em,” he said, more to himself than her. “Course I do. I miss ‘em like hell but look at me! Look around, for fuck’s sake! I’m a shit person and a drunk who sleeps in a goose pen! I shouldn’t even be allowed around small children. How am I supposed to take care of Amy and Ian when I can’t even take care of myself? Seriously, Sae. Tell me!” He looked at her, demanding an answer. The wildman and a bird of a lady. A small smile still played on her lips. “Poor old Haymitch.” She touched his cheek with a tender hand. “Listen to me now. I’ve known you your whole life so trust me on this one. You may be a drunk and you may sleep in a goose pen but you’re not a shit person. Do you really think any of us would’ve put up with you all these years if you were? Do you think Effie would’ve fallen for you if she didn’t think you were a decent human being?” Haymitch averted his gaze. “Effie never fell for me”, he muttered. “If she did, it was a bad fall.” A wider smile stretched Sae’s lips but she soon grew serious. “I have something for you,” she said and reached for the rucksack. “Hope it’s scotch.” “I’ve been waiting for the right moment to give it back to you.” At the sound of the zipper Haymitch cast an eye her way. Then did a double take. His mouth dropped open. “Oh m’God.” The ornate, gold letters of the large, leather-bound book glinted in the setting sun. His gaze flitted to Sae, almost frightened. “Where’d you get that? I thought I lost it after the fire.” “No, no,” the old woman said with a gentle shake of her head. “You gave it to me. Told me to sell it or pass it on to my children.” “I did?” He couldn’t recall. Small wonder. After he lost his family there were hours and even days at the time that were just gone. Wiped from his memory. Severe stress had that effect on him. He gave her the cup and Sae placed the book in his waiting hands. With fingers that trembled a little he opened it to the brittle first page. Brushed against the elegant, yet childish words written with Mr. Henderson’s fountain pen. Ink long dry. To my brother Amadeus, who touches the heart of everyone he meets. I’ll love you til the day I die. Never stop dreaming. Haymitch “I held on to it,” Sae said. Haymitch’s bottom lip quivered but he pressed his mouth together, eyes downcast. “Kept it in a wardrobe through the years. For safekeeping. Because I thought that one day you might want to read it to your own children.”

[softlyfiercely]

FOR THoSE FOLLOWING THE #EASTERBASKETS SAGA

I can happily report that while it was still a bit of a clusterfuck, it was a clusterfuck in predictable and unavoidable ways, for which I was prepared for, and

I TOTALLY PULLED IT OFF.

So, initially, I'd decided to make the "Easter Gift Making" event begin at 1:00 in the afternoon on Holy Saturday. I chose this time because it would have been a major hassle to include lunch in the program but it needed to be early enough in the day to allow time for drivers to deliver them but also not require people to wake up early on a Saturday, so can't be "after breakfast before lunch."

(Church programming for children and families almost always includes food, so I either needed to meet that expectation or explicitly buck it)

HOWEVER

All the schools in this area happen to be on spring break THIS WEEK, so like 90% of the most engaged, involved children & families were like "sorry we won't be there for any Holy Week stuff"

(this has caused some Consternation re: children's involvement in Maundy Thursday and Palm Sunday and Good Friday stuff, so, it's just been part of the larger situation surrounding The Easter Baskets)

so, I'd only heard from two families that they were coming, and it's two kids who are friends, so then one family said they actually had a conflict at 1:00 but could come at 11:00, I was like you know what, sure. we'll be there at 11:00.

But of course there still has to be something for kids who arrive at 1:00 to do, because that WAS the initially set time for the event, and we don't technically require RSVPs, it's just that things are so shoestring right now that it comes down to stuff like this.

so I tell the other family "hey, if your kid comes at 1:00, they might be the only one there, but their friend will be there at 11:00" and they were like ok cool we can actually change our plans

so then at 11:00 I just set up with two kids and we got going.

unfortunately if you remember from chapter one of this saga i am inexplicably sharing on tumblr, the whole activity of "making the easter gifts" was designed to be something where a bunch of kids (6-12 is the average attendance at these things) can have a good time making them. so it was just very different Vibes. and we set up in the kitchen where one kid's mom was setting up for tomorrow's Easter Brunch instead of the usual children's programming space, and we just got to it

the two kids had a great time, they got to be very involved and hands-on. and the Easter gifts got made and they were lovely - I wish I could have taken a photo for y'all but there would be no way to show them to you without being somehow identifying.

we cut and tied ribbons around the jars. they filled the jars with water and arranged the flowers in the jars. then they put these watercolor flower stickers on some pastel colored gift bags I'd gotten.

then they colored in cards that i had made, which had a FUCKING TASTEFUL AND CUTE, NOT BANANAS "Happy Easter" line drawing with crosses and bunnies that the kids could color in, and then on the inside it said "my name is" "i am years old" "my Easter prayer for you is" and the kids, in their adorable little kid handwriting and spelling, wrote their names, their ages, and their Easter prayers which were things like "we are thikig of you" and "haav a joyful easter"

and then they helped me make sure one of each thing that i had prepared earlier (chocolate bar, Easter bulletin, "scriptural item," and card signed by priest) was in each bag.

as a bonus, because we only had two kids, and one of the kids belonged to the parent who was there prepping tomorrow's brunch, she just kind of fed us lunch from the leftovers of what she was making, so the food thing actually totally worked out

then, of course I had to wait until 1:00, and sure enough, a family showed up with their two kids, and by then the other two kids had left for their other engagements, so it was awkward in that way of "yay...you're the only ones here..." but I was prepared for that as much as I could be, and so we set up with the cards and they made some more cards, and we added them to the bags.

and i got some quality one-on-one time with the kids, who haven't been around as much so I don't know them as well, and we had some good bonding, and the cards they made were really sweet (they were a bit older than the other kids, the children's program is all ages 5-11 which is a wide developmental range)

and THEN, THE DELIVERIES which were an absolute fucking NIGHTMARE last year, but they went so smoothly.

There was one address that was pretty far out and I was worried about finding a driver for that, but then a friend of that guy's just emailed me like "hey I'll take his basket" (THEY'RE NOT BASKETS) so that was a problem solved. and then i lined up some volunteers for deliveries, but one of them dropped out last minute which would have sucked EXCEPT that the family that came late/on time was like oh we wanted to deliver some, so i got to be like oh sure yes definitely! here is a formational participation opportunity just for you!!!

and one of the other delivery volunteers sent me an email afetrwards thanking me for organizing this and saying she'd had a great time delivering them and wished she'd signed up for more!

augh - i'm just, i'm good at my job, y'all. i figured out how to make this a positive, formational, community building experience for all involved despite some pretty major challenges!

now...on to the sunrise vigil! at which i will be performing a poem! that i wrote! just now! aaahhh!

[kidzcaters]

Kids Lunch Delivery in Coppell: Convenient and Tasty Options for Little Eaters

As busy parents know, finding the time to prepare healthy meals for kids can be a challenge. Fortunately, Coppell offers a range of kids lunch delivery services that make mealtime easy and enjoyable. These services provide nutritious, delicious options that cater to young taste buds while alleviating the stress of daily meal prep. Here’s a guide to help you discover the best kids lunch delivery in Coppell.

Why Choose Kids Lunch Delivery?

Convenience With busy schedules, having lunch delivered directly to your home or school can save precious time. Parents can avoid the daily scramble to prepare meals, ensuring kids get the nutrition they need without the hassle.

Healthy Options Many lunch delivery services prioritize health, offering meals packed with wholesome ingredients. These options often include fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains, making it easier to meet nutritional guidelines.

Variety Kids can be picky eaters, so variety is essential. Lunch delivery services typically offer diverse menus that change regularly, keeping mealtime exciting and encouraging children to try new foods.

Customizable Choices Most services allow parents to customize meal options to accommodate dietary restrictions or preferences, ensuring that every child can enjoy a satisfying lunch.

Popular Kids Lunch Delivery Options in Coppell

Healthy Meal Plans Look for services that focus on health-conscious meals. These plans often feature balanced options like grilled chicken wraps, quinoa bowls, and veggie-packed sandwiches that appeal to young eaters.

Themed Lunches Some delivery services offer themed lunches that introduce kids to different cuisines. From Mexican taco kits to Italian pasta dishes, these options can make lunchtime an exciting culinary adventure.

Fun and Interactive Meals Consider services that provide build-your-own lunch options, such as DIY taco kits or sandwich assemblies. This not only makes meals more engaging but also allows kids to take part in their lunch prep.

Snack Packs In addition to full lunches, many delivery services offer snack packs that include healthy treats. These can be a great way to supplement a meal or provide a nutritious after-school snack.

Tips for Choosing the Right Kids Lunch Delivery Service

Read Reviews Before selecting a service, check online reviews and testimonials from other parents. This can provide insights into food quality, customer service, and reliability.

Explore Menu Options Browse the menu options to ensure there’s enough variety to keep your kids interested. Look for services that rotate their menus regularly to prevent meal fatigue.

Check for Dietary Accommodations If your child has specific dietary needs, ensure that the delivery service can accommodate them. Many caterers offer gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian options.

Trial Period Consider signing up for a trial period to evaluate the service. This allows you to see if your kids enjoy the meals and if the delivery process meets your expectations.

Pricing and Delivery Flexibility Compare pricing structures and look for services that offer flexible delivery options. Some may provide daily deliveries, while others might allow for weekly meal planning.

Conclusion

Kids lunch delivery services in Coppell provide a fantastic solution for busy families looking to ensure their children receive nutritious and delicious meals. With a focus on convenience, health, and variety, these services can transform lunchtime into a delightful experience for both kids and parents. By exploring local options and finding the right fit for your family, you can enjoy stress-free mealtimes while encouraging healthy eating habits in your little ones. Make lunchtime a breeze with the best kids lunch delivery services in Coppell!

[shantijuniors]

Five Easy Ways to Make a Nutritious Lunchbox for Children!

Discover Five Easy Ways to Make a Nutritious Lunchbox for Children! Learn how to pack healthy and delicious meals that your kids will love.

Introduction:

In today's fast-paced world, ensuring our children have nutritious meals is crucial for their growth and development. Packing a lunchbox that is both healthy and appealing to kids can be a challenge. However, with the right strategies and recipes, you can make this task enjoyable and fulfilling. In this article, we'll explore five easy ways to create a nutritious lunchbox that your children will love.

Five Easy Ways to Make a Nutritious Lunchbox for Children!

1. Planning Ahead

1.1. Understanding Nutritional Needs

Ensuring your child's lunchbox is nutritious starts with understanding their dietary requirements. Incorporate a balance of carbohydrates, proteins, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals into their meals.

1.2. Weekly Meal Prep

Spend some time each week planning and preparing lunchbox items. Pre-cut fruits and vegetables, cook grains and proteins, and portion snacks for easy assembly during busy mornings.

2. Incorporating Variety

2.1. Colorful Fruits and Vegetables

Include a rainbow of fruits and vegetables in the lunchbox to provide a range of nutrients and appeal to your child's visual senses.

2.2. Protein Power

Incorporate lean proteins such as grilled chicken, hard-boiled eggs, or legumes to support muscle growth and overall health.

3. Balancing Carbohydrates

3.1. Whole Grains

Opt for whole grain bread, wraps, or pasta to provide sustained energy and fiber for digestion.

3.2. Smart Snacking

Include wholesome snacks like whole fruit, yogurt, nuts, or homemade granola bars to keep hunger at bay between meals.

Also Read: Shanti Juniors: A Premier Preschool Franchise in Pune

4. Fun and Creative Presentation

4.1. Bento Box Creations

Use compartmentalized lunchboxes to create visually appealing meals with a variety of textures and flavors.

4.2. Shape Cutouts

Transform sandwiches, fruits, and vegetables into fun shapes using cookie cutters to make mealtime exciting.

5. Hydration and Treats

5.1. Water is Key

Encourage water consumption by including a reusable water bottle in the lunchbox. Limit sugary drinks to occasional treats.

5.2. Healthy Treat Options

Offer nutritious treats like homemade trail mix, fruit popsicles, or dark chocolate for a sweet yet healthy indulgence.

FAQs about Nutritious Lunchboxes for Children

What are the key nutrients children need in their lunchboxes?

Children need a balance of carbohydrates, proteins, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals for optimal growth and development.

How can I make sure my child eats their lunch at school?

Engage your child in meal planning, pack foods they enjoy, and make the lunchbox visually appealing to encourage them to eat.

Are homemade lunches healthier than school cafeteria options?

Homemade lunches allow you to control ingredients and portion sizes, making them a healthier choice compared to some cafeteria options.

How can I make lunch prep easier and faster?

Utilize meal prep techniques, such as pre-cutting fruits and vegetables and batch-cooking proteins, to streamline lunchbox assembly.

What are some creative lunchbox ideas for picky eaters?

Try incorporating familiar foods in new ways, such as veggie wraps, fruit skewers, or protein-packed smoothies to entice picky eaters.

Is it okay to include treats in my child's lunchbox?

Occasional treats can be included as long as the majority of the lunchbox contains nutritious options. Opt for homemade treats or healthier store-bought alternatives.

Conclusion

Creating a nutritious lunchbox for children is achievable with a little planning, creativity, and a focus on wholesome ingredients. By following these five easy ways and incorporating variety, balance, and fun into your child's meals, you can promote healthy eating habits that will benefit them in the long run.

[familygarden25]

Saving Time and Hassle: Why Online Grocery Shopping is Booming in Chennai

Chennai, the vibrant capital of Tamil Nadu, is a city that pulsates with energy. Between work, family commitments, and a thriving social scene, carving out time for everyday errands can be a constant struggle. This is where online grocery in Chennai shopping steps in, offering a welcome respite from the crowded aisles and long queues of traditional supermarkets.

This comprehensive guide dives deep into the reasons why online grocery shopping is experiencing a boom in Chennai, exploring the convenience factors that are transforming the way residents approach their grocery needs.

The Time Crunch Dilemma: The Rise of the Busy Chennai Resident

The modern Chennai resident wears many hats. Juggling demanding careers, family life, and social engagements leaves little time for leisurely grocery shopping routines. Here's how online grocery shopping addresses this time crunch:

Goodbye Weekend Crowds: Forget battling weekend crowds and fighting for parking! Order your groceries online at your convenience, anytime, anywhere – whether it's during your lunch break or after the kids are asleep.

The Elimination of Impulse Buys: Traditional supermarkets are designed to entice impulse purchases. Online shopping allows you to create a clear grocery list, stick to your budget, and avoid impulse buys triggered by strategic product placement.

Streamlined Meal Planning: Many online platforms offer recipe suggestions and meal planning tools. This eliminates the need to browse endless recipe websites and grocery store aisles, saving you valuable time and streamlining meal prep.

Beyond Convenience: The Additional Benefits of Online Grocery Shopping

While convenience is a major driver, online grocery shopping in Chennai offers more than just time-saving benefits:

A Wider Selection at Your Fingertips: Online platforms boast a vast selection of products, including national and international brands, organic options, and specialty ingredients that might not be readily available in your local store.

Price Comparison Made Easy: Compare prices across different online grocery stores to ensure you're getting the best deals. This level of price transparency empowers you to make informed shopping decisions and maximize your budget.

Delivery Tailored to Your Schedule: Choose a delivery slot that fits your schedule, eliminating the need to rush home from work or miss important appointments to make it to the grocery store before closing time. Most platforms offer same-day or next-day delivery options.

Embracing Convenience: How Online Grocery Shopping Transforms Daily Life

Let's delve into how order groceries online chennai can transform your daily life in Chennai:

Free Up Your Weekends: Weekends are precious! With online grocery shopping, you can free up valuable weekend time for relaxing with family, pursuing hobbies, or exploring the city's vibrant cultural scene.

Reduced Stress Levels: The stress of navigating crowded stores, dealing with long queues, and battling for parking can take a toll. Online shopping eliminates these stressors, allowing you to approach grocery shopping with a sense of calm.

Improved Meal Planning: Many platforms offer tools for creating and saving grocery lists based on meal plans. This helps you plan healthy meals, buy only what you need, and reduce food waste.

Beyond Convenience: Supporting Local and Sustainable Practices

While convenience remains a key driver, Chennai residents are increasingly looking for ways to make conscious choices when it comes to their grocery shopping:

Supporting Local Farmers: Some online platforms offer partnerships with local farms, allowing you to purchase fresh, seasonal produce directly from the source. This not only ensures freshness but also supports the local agricultural economy.

Sustainable Packaging Options: Many online grocery platforms are embracing eco-friendly packaging solutions to reduce waste. Look for platforms that utilize recyclable or biodegradable packaging materials and actively minimize the environmental impact of online shopping.

The Future of Online Grocery Shopping in Chennai:

The future of online grocery shopping in Chennai is brimming with exciting possibilities:

Hyperlocal Delivery: Expect to see the emergence of hyperlocal delivery platforms that source products from local stores and offer ultra-fast delivery times, perfect for those last-minute grocery needs.

AI-powered Recommendations: Imagine online platforms that learn your preferences and suggest healthy and delicious recipes based on the ingredients you purchase. This personalized approach will further streamline your grocery shopping experience.

Technological Advancements: Expect advancements in technology like self-driving delivery vehicles and automated delivery lockers, further enhancing convenience and efficiency.

The Final Checkout: Convenience Meets Conscious Consumerism

Online grocery shopping in Chennai is no longer just about saving time; it's about embracing convenience, fostering a healthier lifestyle, and making conscious consumer choices. So, ditch the crowded aisles, free up your weekends, and explore the exciting world of online grocery shopping. With a few clicks, you can have fresh produce, pantry staples, and even household essentials delivered right to your doorstep, empowering you to enjoy more leisure time and embrace a more relaxed approach to grocery shopping in the vibrant city of Chennai.

Getting Started with Online Grocery Shopping in Chennai:

Ready to join the online grocery shopping revolution in Chennai? Here's a quick guide to get you started:

Research the Platforms: Several online grocery platforms operate in Chennai. Explore their websites or apps to compare their offerings, delivery areas, minimum order value, and pricing. Popular options include Bigbasket, Family Garden , Grofers, Nilgiris, and Zepto.

Create an Account: Signing up for an account is a simple process. Most platforms require basic information like your name, email address, and delivery address.

Explore the Selection: Browse through the wide variety of products available, add items to your virtual cart, and take advantage of any ongoing promotions or discount codes.

Choose Your Delivery Slot: Select a delivery slot that fits your schedule. Many platforms offer same-day, next-day, or scheduled delivery options.

Checkout and Payment: Complete your order by selecting your preferred payment method, which often includes options like credit cards, debit cards, net banking, and cash on delivery.

Delivery Day: Relax and enjoy your free time! Your groceries will be delivered to your doorstep at your chosen time slot.

Embrace the Convenience and Enjoy the Benefits:

Groceries home delivery Chennai offers a win-win situation. You save precious time, reduce stress, and potentially make healthier and more sustainable choices. So, embrace the convenience, explore the ever-expanding selection of products available online, and embark on a more relaxed and time-efficient approach to grocery shopping in Chennai. Remember, a few clicks can free up your weekends, allowing you to focus on the things that truly matter in your vibrant and dynamic city.

[nova0000scotia]

Helping your kids get ready for back to school routine

How to help your kids get ready for the back-to-school routine

Annapolis Valley Register

24 Aug 2023

PAULINE MILNER SPECIAL TO SALTWIRE

Summer is flying by and it’s almost time for kids to go back to school, even though it does not feel like two months have passed since students burst through the doors on their last day of the school year in June.

Getting ready for back to school doesn’t have to be an arduous chore, though – there are ways to make the transition easy for everyone.

Hazel Pike, of Fredericton, N.B., says, “Many of the ‘old school’ ways never change.” In other words, parents have been experiencing some of the same problems for decades.

“One challenge is having enough time in the morning, so have your kids start picking out what they are going to wear the next day before they go to bed,” she says.

“You only have to start doing this about a week before school starts and it will eliminate the early decision making that eats up school prep time.”

EARLIER BEDTIME

There is one important suggestion everyone should follow now.

“A couple of weeks before school starts,” says Cheryl Throop of Darlings Island, N.B., “our kids, who are nine and 12, go back to their regular bedtime and get up when their alarm goes off – which is set for the time they have to get up when school starts.”

This allows children’s sleep to return to a normal rhythm, which was probably disrupted in the summer.

Start practicing both morning and nighttime routines with your kids at least a week before going back to school. This includes such things

as washing faces, brushing and flossing teeth and eating breakfast in the morning.

At bedtime, in addition to the usual brushing and flossing teeth, you need your kids to know what time their activities stop and routines begin in order for them to get to bed on time.

For example, have a time when smart phones and tablets must be put away, add a calming activity such as reading or soft singing, let them have their bath or shower, or possibly add in relaxation exercises, such as yoga. Stick to the routine and, most importantly, be consistent.

PRACTICE SAFETY

If your student walks to school or leaves the school grounds during lunch, take them on walks that follow the route to school or where they may choose to go during their lunch break.

Use this time together to review safety rules, no matter how old your child is. Kids are always excited to see their friends outside of school and this can be a distraction, such as a child running across the street without looking both ways.

Also reminders about ‘stranger danger’ will help keep them safe.

ENCOURAGE READING

Stephen A. Clarke is the head of Ambrae Academy in Halifax, N.S., provided some advice to help students throughout the summer so readjusting to a school routine will be easier.

Since reading plays an important role in your child’s education, Clarke suggests encouraging reading.

“Reading everyday is a great habit to have in the summer, no matter your child’s age or grade,” he says.

“Encouraging them to read (older grades) or reading to/ with them (younger grades) is an excellent way to build literacy skills and the key to developing a more robust

vocabulary – without feeling like its ‘school work.” By following this suggestion, when school homework includes reading, it will already be a well-formed habit.

Pike also offers a way for parents to find out how their child’s lunch preferences may have changed over the summer.

“Go on a few picnics with your children and have them help with making the lunch. Knowing your child’s likes and dislikes will make preparing lunches an easier chore,” she says.

BENEFITS OF A ROUTINE

Not all kids are out of the usual morning or daytime routines, Clarke points out.

“Day camps and summer camps not only follow a routine but they benefit kids by keeping them engaged, learning new skills and making new friends,” she says.

“When they have some exposure to routines during summer vacation, it makes adjusting to the regularity of the ‘back to school’ regimen a much easier transition.”

Your child’s confidence and independence will be positively affected if you give age-appropriate chores to do around the house. Engaging their help in planning for back to school – such as letting them assist with shopping and making lunches – can help get them excited about returning to school.

HOMEWORK RETURNS

If your kids are already involved in organized sports or other activities, they may be good at adjusting to doing homework again. But if they’ve been relaxing for the summer, you need to prepare them for homework.

If possible, pick a time when homework will be done and have them do some kind of quiet activity at that time.

WRITE THE ROUTINE DOWN

Try making kids a list of things they have to do each morning a couple of weeks before school starts. This will allow both of you to discover how much time they need to get ready for school and when the alarm clock should be waking them up.

Making the list visual will be a super aid for your kids. Write each child’s schedule down and post it in their room. This will ensure they know what is expected of them.

“As the school vacation comes to an end, our kids are not allowed to have their smart phones or tablets charging in their rooms overnight,” says Pike.

“This allows us to better track their usage time and prevents them from playing games or being on their social media accounts in the middle of the night.”

#backtoschool

[tutordoctorcom]

Why should you consider becoming an online tutor?

Do you work as a teacher or a private tutor? Do you like to assist others? Why don't you start tutoring online already? There are websites available that allow anyone to work as an online tutor. You can start teaching online immediately; depending on what age group you're comfortable teaching and how much experience you have in the subject you want to teach. Please don't overlook the thousands of tutors who have chosen to go out independently and establish their online tuition enterprises operating as one-person shows. If you have a strong command over language, then consider giving Language Tutoring.

Work from home:

From the tutor's perspective, this is a significant benefit. Traveling to the student's home or a public place of business is frequently required for in-person tutoring sessions. This is a much less effective technique to teach your classes, and it costs time and money. Working from home allows you to get more value for your money in the lesson price and gives you more time to prepare for the class. Tutoring in Pearland enjoys this benefit and gains a lot of positive feedback.

Work whenever you want or around your current work with flexibility:

Because you can conduct lessons from anywhere and save time by cutting down on travel, you can work whenever you have free time. This means that you can fit in classes around your current job even finishing studies on your lunch break or from your classroom right when school is out. If you want to score well on SAT, get assistance from Test Prep in Pearland.

Cultivate excellent people skills and cultural awareness.

The experience of working with students who come from different academic fields, cultures, and backgrounds enables tutors to understand their needs better. You develop into an accepting person who appreciates all races equally and does not give preference to any one race over others. Online instruction allows you to engage with each student's preferred learning style and teaching method by speaking their language.

Bottom Line:

If you possess teaching skills and want to work from a comfortable place, then becoming an online tutor is a great idea. If you have the skills to communicate with autistic kids, you can consider providing Special Needs tutoring.

[thatpunnyperson]

This one's gonna be kind of long so im putting it all under a cut, but the tl:dr is "I was a gifted kid and we had it so good without realizing it."

I was one of the gifted kids in primary school and was able to scrape by in the honors and advanced placement classes until well into high school, and I 100% DID have exactly that chip on my shoulder. I thought advanced kids were treated badly when they failed expectations and needed help, because there were enough kids with the work ethic to allow them fabulous success. The comparison between me and them showed I wasn't even in their league when it came to academics, but I felt like they were somehow getting more resources from the teachers than I was, or were getting graded differently or less harshly than I was (at no point did I think they were getting graded "easier," which tells you how big that chip on my shoulder was about "gifted kids" versus "normal kids").

Until I had to take the normal-level government class to round out my graduation requirements. (And the messed up thing is that the "normal" level was still called "college prep" and there was even a "standard prep" level below that. I was so up on my high horse from taking years and years of advanced placement classes that I hadn't even KNOWN there was a standard level.)

Anyway, this government class was supposed to teach us about how to be an informed citizen and how to participate in civic things on all levels, from local school district and city hall stuff to the state and federal levels. It was taught by one of the 40 football coaches at our school (student body was ~2000 kids) and he was a frothing-at-the-mouth conservative republican, and that seriously tainted how he taught us things.

Highlights of his behavior include:

Making us debate current political issues, but not by simply dividing the class in half. No, we had to form our own sides based on our own political beliefs, which led to several of us realizing some of our classmates didn't think we deserved certain rights

Interrupting the more liberal students when they were giving answers to subjective questions, and then soap-boxing about whatever we were talking about

Interrupting the female students a lot while they were giving answers to BOTH subjecting and objective questions. Anything from "what is the first amendment" to "where is city hall located" to "who should be allowed to own nukes"

NOT interrupting the male students AT ALL EVER, which was wild but not surprising since all the guys seemed to be conservative and republican-leaning.

The two things that made me realize the true difference between the gifted kids classes and the normal kids classes were the amount of attention the teacher gave the students and the first time the drug dog came in.

Teacher Attention

In all of my advanced classes, if I started struggling with something or if I got a few bad grades in a row, my teacher would ask to see me after class or over lunch to chat about why I was struggling and with what specifically I needed help. These chats would include anything from why i didn't like reading certain assigned books to why a math concept didn't make sense to me, and even included recommendations of tutors to see.

In my government class, when I started getting bad grades (because it's kind of hard to engage with a subject when the person teaching it doesn't respect you at all), my teacher didn't come to me and ask to talk to me about why I'm struggling. He simply reported it to the administration folks and they called my parents. Who then yelled at my about how I was failing, because "who fails government" and "who fails a non-advanced class" because my parents had never had to deal with a kid failing classes yet. They didn't know how to help because I had never needed to ask for help, both because I hadn't NEEDED it at first and then because my teachers volunteered their help without me asking.

The Drug Dog

I was literally in my final year of primary education, literally less than a few months from finishing everything and graduating, when my government class was interrupted one day and we were all told to stand outside the building while some cops and a dog went through our stuff. "Leave your backpacks unzipped and open, leave your jackets and sweatshirts at your desks, go stand outside," they told us. I turned to my friend, Val, and was like, "what is happening???" and she gave me a confused look and said, "its just the drug dog??" and I was like, "the WHAT????"

Val had been in several non-advanced classes at this point and realized that I had NEVER had this happen before. I had NEVER had class stopped so the cops could come in with a sniffer dog and search everyone's things. I had never even been searched for drugs ever at all in school. But this was commonplace for non-advanced classes, so everyone opened their backpacks and took off their sweatshirts and left their stuff behind as they went to stand outside.

I was wearing a pullover sweatshirt with no hood, but as a shirt so I was only wearing a bra underneath, so obviously I couldn't take it off. My teacher and the cops and the administrator didn't like that. They were like, "you HAVE TO take the sweatshirt off" and "you can't leave the classroom unless you leave the sweatshirt" and I pleaded with them that I was wearing it as a SHIRT and that I didn't have anything on underneath. It took the female administrator taking me into another room, closing the door, and having me literallt take my sweatshirt off to PROVE I was wearing it as a shirt, for me to be allowed to leave the building and stand with the other kids.

And when I got out there, several of my classmates were like, "what happened" and "what did they do to you" and "are you okay" and "you should have just taken the sweatshirt off" and stuff like that, with genuine concern and sympathy and understanding. When we were all let back into the classroom, there was dog saliva all over everyone's stuff, bags had clearly been rifled through, and everyone's sweatshirts had been turned inside out.

And then we went back to the lesson! As though nothing had happened! 15 minutes of our 50 minute class period had just been wasted for what felt like an illegal search of our stuff and so the cops and admin could intimidate students! I had to take my shirt off! I couldn't focus the entire rest of the day because I was legit shaken by the entire experience, but all of my classmates were so beaten down by this regular violation of their rights that they just kind of accepted the treatment and went on with their day.

To Conclude

Everything is relative and when you are deprived of context, you start festering in this microcosm of your own experiences, trying to define some kind of continuum of good vs bad, respect vs disrespect, support vs lack thereof. For gifted kids, all we knew was that we took "harder" classes and were graded "harshly" because we were expected to perform like college kids. And without the knowledge of what classes were like outside of the gifted kid world, we started defining bad grades as the result of a lack of support from our teachers or as the teacher playing favorites. We were never really held to account for our behavior because we were legit treated so well and gently without us even realizing it. We became so entitled to a high level of support and respect and legit babying at some points, that we started to consider the non-advanced classes and the students in them as dumber than us. To us, they were simply not smart enough to handle the rigor and difficulty of advanced classes; the reality was the opposite.

It's been more than a decade since I took that class and I've since gone to college and somehow managed to get an entire bachelors degree (which is mindboggling for other reasons), but I remember each day of that class as though it happened yesterday because the way my classmates and I were treated is burned into my mind. The day we had the drug dog show up was the day was stsrted telling everyone I knew about how shittily the student in non-advanced classes are treated, about how there is a completely different framework at play for gifted kids that assumes trust based on intelligence. In every advanced class I took, I started telling all of my friends about the bad treatement, I told all of my teachers, I told random classmates I'd never spoken to until then. I was like, "guys, we have it so good, we are so lucky, and it's so messed up."

Gifted kids have some of the biggest chips on their shoulders because when life is good, you try to find the catch and you start picking at the seams holding things together. And sometimes you make up things to be mad at just so you can be mad about something. From one gifted kid to all the gifted kids out there: school was hard not because the teachers were playing favorites or actually grading us harsher, but because we all had imposter syndrome and invented social hierarchies to make us feel like we fit in and weren't imposters. This is a classic demonstration of privilege: we weren't smarter than the normal kids, we just had the privilege of more support from out teachers and the privilege of not getting interrupted mid-lesson so the cops could search through our bags and let their dog slobber on our stuff. We had the double trouble of both the absence of a punishment and the presence of a reward, and it fucked up literally everyone in the school.

Like theres this idea among so many "former gifted kids" that they were Above Tha Rest and treated with a much harsher hand for it and well that simply isnt true

[moralesispunk]

Marcus Pike thought of the day: biker Pike (more under the cut)

This was originally a very brief thought but since it ended up (1.6k) words I will add warnings: boss/ employee relationship, gn! reader, reader can drive, mention of food

Marcus Pike transferred to the DC office a month after you did. There had been rumours about his move - about a failed engagement to another agent - but when he showed up with his bright smile and kind eyes no-one thought about that anymore.

He was a good boss, great really, and as the two newest members to the team there had been a friendship that started to form as you both settled in the new city; he offered recommendations for what to do on your weekend and you told him about a coffee shop down the street that made the best coffee you ever had. It was hard for these feelings of friendship not to turn into more - at least from your side - when he was so handsome and charming; this well put together man who started to bring you coffee to morning meetings and share his lunch with you when your sandwiches looked less than appetising next to his well thought out meal prep for the week.

The friendship was flirting the line of being more than colleagues - closer than what you would ever have considered appropriate for a boss/employee - but it was becoming harder and harder to stick to those unsaid boundaries when he made you laugh more than anyone had before and he looked at you in a way you were sure was different than the way he looked at everyone else.

Recently, a particularly hard case that you were working on meant there had been a few late nights in the office together. Sometimes it was just you and Marcus, sometimes other members of the team had stayed, but as the only two single and without kids it was easier to stay into the late hours without having to send a text home to a tired partner who was left putting the kids to bed alone.

Every night of this week had come with a different take-out and you were becoming sick of the styrofoam boxes and plastic forks, your body just wanting to sit down and not think about work between bites of food for an hour.

It seemed like Marcus had the same idea, silently turning his screen to you with a Thai restaurant that was still open as he pointed to it with his pen. Your pounding headache was already thanking him at the thought of an hour break from your bright screens as you locked your computer, nodding enthusiastically and standing with a groan.

“Who’s driving?” You ask, lifting your jacket from where it had been thrown over the back of the chair.

“I can… but bring your keys in case,” he nods to your set on the desk.

You nod without thinking, pocketing them as you guess half-way through dinner you might decide to come home so having your car there would be best. You barely look up as Marcus gets his things together, sorting through your files to make sure you aren’t leaving anything confidential out in the open, but your mind drifts to what his car will be like.

In the six months he’s been here you’ve never seen Marcus’s car. He’s always in first and leaves last; even on nights you leave together he walks you to your car first so you’re already driving out of the parking garage before he reaches his car. If you had to guess it would be a standard and sensible five door, grey or black, and the inside is probably spotless except for a coffee cup in the holder. You’re almost smiling to yourself at the thought when you finally look up, your mouth falling open when you take in Marcus.

His suit jacket is gone, replaced by a thick leather jacket that is zipped up. There’s a dark red stripe across the chest, some logo for a brand you’ve never seen before stitched on. Your eyes look down to his hand - his big hand that is able to hold his gloves while clutching two helmets.

“I always have a spare, just in case.” He shrugs, like the two helmets are what your mind can’t seem to comprehend.

“You ride a bike?” The words tumble out of your mouth and Marcus smiles, his whole body relaxed as he nods. “Like a motorbike?”

“The very same.” He laughs. “You can drive if you want but I have this,” he says, lifting the spare helmet, “just in case.”

“I-” You’ve never even sat on a motorbike let alone been on one while it’s driving. The thought sends equal parts fear and excitement through your body, your mind quickly sorting through a pro and con list as Marcus patiently waits for you to answer. When you look at him again, chewing on your bottom lip as you try and choose between taking his offer or having to watch as he pulls into the restaurant behind you on a bike, it’s enough to sway your decision. Marcus always looks good but this - his hair messy from running his hand through it all day and the stubble that’s already showing after a week of a disrupted shaving schedule - is rendering you speechless. “You can drive.”

You reach for the spare helmet and he smiles, passing it into your hand and biting down on his lip to stop laughing as you almost drop it from the unexpected weight.

“Let’s go then.”

Your hand grips the helmet like a lifeline on the ride down to the garage and Marcus fills the silence as he decides out-loud what he’s thinking about ordering when he gets to the restaurant, but it’s all background noise until you stop in front of the bike.

It’s black and exactly what you would imagine if someone said the word motorbike, but your knowledge of them is slim to zero. 

“Here.” Marcus rests his helmet on the seat, gently taking yours from your hand and standing in front of you. “Are you sure you’re wanting to go on the bike? You’ve not said a word since coming down, which is very much not like you.”

You stick your tongue out at his attempt at teasing and he smiles wide, waiting for you to say that you do want to before he lifts the helmet and places it on your head. You keep your gaze on his eyes as fixes it, his brows pulled together in concentration as he checks if it's tight enough and clicks the strap under your chin.

“There you go.” He smiles again, tapping the top of your helmet and reaching for his own.

If the sight of him in the jacket in the office was enough to make your knees weak, this one - with his eyes shining through the gap as he nods at you - is strong enough to keel you over and you would have if you hadn’t gripped the seat tight. You know he can see the effect this is having on you, the way his eyes crinkle at the side, but he chooses not to say anything as he climbs on the bike and holds a hand out to you.

You were less than gracious as you got on, a few false starts before you were finally settled behind him.

“What should I... How do I...?”

Marcus shoulders shake with another laugh and he reaches back for your hands, soothing his thumbs over your knuckles and making you relax from the clenched fists as he places your hands on his waist.

“Just squeeze if I’m going too fast,” he shouts over the sound of the engine starting and immediately your body presses tight against his.

He taps your thigh twice reassuringly, kicking off through the garage as you squeeze your eyes shut.

It takes until you’ve been weaving through the streets for five minutes before you finally open your eyes, the sound of the wind rushing by completely taking away your ability to hear as you try to focus on the man in front of you.

Of all the things you expected from Marcus Pike, this was low on the list. I mean, it shouldn’t be overly surprising - plenty of people ride bikes and there are at least a dozen agents in the DC office that ride - but you just never expected it from Marcus. Maybe it’s the way he always double checks your seatbelt when he’s in the driver seat for stakeouts or maybe the way he waits patiently with his toes on the right side of the kerb before the green man comes on to cross the road; he always just seemed border line overly-cautious and riding a motorbike seems anything but.

The bike pulls up at a red light and Marcus turns slightly over his shoulder, holding his hand up and changing from a thumbs up or thumbs down. You answer with a thumbs up and his body seems to relax a little more, his hand coming to rest against yours that seems to have sneaked around his waist as he holds you there until he takes off again.

You feel more and more comfortable as the ride goes on, looking over his shoulder and watching as he dips and weaves between the traffic to get you to the restaurant twice as fast as if you had driven. When he finally pulls up to park you feel almost completely comfortable not only on the back of the bike but so close to Marcus; your front pressed to his back, your thighs surrounding his own, your hand resting around his waist.

 “So, how was that?” He asks, holding out his hand to steady you as you climb off the bike before he follows.

“I can’t wait for the ride home. Thank you.”

Marcus laughs, helping you out of your helmet before taking his off. His cheeks are flushed pink - from the wind or the heat you aren’t sure - and his smile looks even bigger than any you’ve seen before.

“Any time.” He winks, his hand coming to rest on the bottom of you back as he steers you inside.

//

tags

@phoenixhalliwell @asta-lily @hb8301 @princess76179 @sarahjkl82-blog @spideysimpossiblegirl @blackmarketmummy @bison-writes  @queridopascal @sfr99 @rosiefridayrogersunday @tintinn16 @pilothusband @voteforpedro09  @dihra-vesa @frankiecatfish @wild-at-heart-kept-in-cage @transias @peoniarose @pjkimrn @fangirl-316 @niki-xie @potted–ivy @phandoz @janebby @athalien @xocalliexo @amneris21 @lavenderluna10 @iamskyereads @spacenerdpascal @mswarriorbabe80 @dumplinshee @jitterbugs927 @gracie7209 @lovesbiggerthanpride @lowlights @notabotiswear @alexxavicry @harriedandharassed @bport76 @fangirl-316 @1andthesame @pedrostories @nyfeeer @seasonschange-butpeopledont @thereisaplaceintheheart @graciexmarvel @trickstersp8 @dreamiesunny @oogaboogasphincter @mstgsmy @booksaremyyoga @bport76 @sirpascal @nyfeeer @manuymesut @alwaysdjarin​ @hb8301��� @agingerindenial​ @adriiibell​ @darnitdraco​ @nolanell​ @buckybarneshairpullingkink​ @quicksilvermad​ @kirsteng42​ @mandos-riduur-reading @dins-cyare 

[thatssonanii]

Masterlist

A/N: I'm still building this. So, if you're looking for fics of mine and they are not linked below, they're coming soon! Check the tags on this post in the meantime to find them!

Bloodline Family Series

Features Roman Reigns, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso & OCs

Welcome Home

Parent Conference

Embarrassing Moment

Parent Conference

Big Boy Simba

Just Say No 2

Just Say No 3

Just Say No 4

Fed Up 1

Fed Up 2

A New Leaf

Wait … Before You Hit Me

Guess What

Fight

M&M’s

Freshmeat

House Party

Simba’s First Date

Heartbreak Pt. 1

Heartbreak Pt. 2

Clumsy

Studying

Fan

Daddy’s Got You

Todd

Throuple

Meet the Family

Meet the Washingtons

What’s Done in the Dark

Comes to the Light

Birthday Girl

Early Christmas Gift Planning

Dinner & Dessert

New Blessings

Congrats, Grad

Attack

Attack 2

Attack 3

Old Wounds

Old Wounds II

Old Wounds III

Tha Block is Hot

Knock, Knock

Goin’ Off

Lines

Dinner

Surprise

Boxes

Well

Let’s Talk

Draft Night

Bloodline Family Series Shorties

Features Roman Reigns, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso & OCs

Do You Want It I’ll Buy It For You

Smoke

Haleigh & Carlito

Auntie A

You Don’t Have To Do All The Things You Do

I’m Not Gonna Stop Poking You

I Fell in Love With My Best Friend

It’s A Real Shame No One Asked For Your Opinion

You’re So Cute When You Pout Like That

That doesn’t Even Make Sense

Facetime

Child is Sick & Wants Daddy

Bedtime Temper Tantrum

Parental Paragraph

Is That Mistletoe?

My Parents Will Love You, Don’t Worry

Let’s Bake Cookies!

I Want A Picture with Santa

Daddy, Can you Help Me Write A Letter to Santa?

I Don’t Sing

Baby, Help Me Write Christmas Cards

It’s 1AM, Get Up!

Bloodline Family Series AU

Features Roman Reigns, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso & OCs

Netflix and …

Privacy

Family Ties

Spinoff from BLFS

(I wrote all fics linked here but this series is co-run with @annoyedkayah2395, go to her blog for the installments that she's written)

Practice

First Day In Cali (Goes with “Todd”)

Video

Cali

1+1=3

Just Because

Coping

Hear Me Out

Carlito’s First Sleepover

Girl Talk

Let Me Tell You

Morgan & Chenice

Nightmare

Father’s Day Prep

Come Get Her

Family Court

Story Time

Dreamin’

Storm

Pop Up

Tragedy

Hey Alexa

MJ

Family Ties AU

(I wrote all fics linked here but this series is co-run with @annoyedkayah2395, go to her blog for the installments that she's written)

Water Balloons

But …

Studio

Co-Parenting

BLFS//FT Crossover

Excuse Me Miss

Icky

Haleigh’s Appointment

Man to Man

Jealous

Charlotte

BBQ

Home Alone

Grandpa King’s Farm

Sour Patch Kid

Birthday Party

Mama Tasha

Caught

Like It?

BLFS//FT AU Crossover

Haleigh’s Visitor

New Kid on the Block

One

Two

Three

Late

Mommy

Gifts

Unicorns & Rainbows

Awkward 2

Movin’ Out

Get Right

My Baby

ER

Visiting

Responsibility

I’m Sorry

Mama Bear

Stop!

I’m Fine

Take Care of It

Runaway Bride

Firsts

Disrespect

First Trip

Kid Free

Have & Have Nots

(I wrote all fics linked her but this series is co-run with @annoyedkayah2395, go to her blog for the installments that she's written)

Officially A Malone

Gotta Go

Bonding

Confrontation

Mind Your Business

Emergency

Recovery

Pop Up

Formal Introduction

The Real Her

My Brother’s Keeper

Family Time

Father

Let’s Talk

The Morning After

Night Out

Checkmate

Saturday

Engagement Dinner

Another Emergency

Beat Down

Sweeties Day

Creepin’

What Are You Doing Here?

Skeletons 2

Why

For You

Blood

To Zion

WTF

First Day

Warning

Just In Case

Lunch

Dumb Broad

Lil Thug Life

Moving

Old Friends

Prep

A Tragic Day

Savannah

Thin Ice

Empty House

Officer

Full Story

Family Dinner

The Last Straw

Listen

Leaving

Unbelievable

Oops

Gee Wiz, It’s Christmas

Oh You Forgot?

Guests

Coach

Who Is She?

I’m Pregnant

Conley

Sneaky

Back In Town

Stop Playin’ With Me

Oliver & Company

Unbothered

Nerves

Plan B

Back Off

Sistas

The First Baby

Switch

You’re …

Caught

Enough

Sibling Rivalry

Another Willis

Have & Have Nots AU

10 Seconds

Trouble Man

Awkward

Be Nice

Dumbass

Tyson

New Leaf

One

Two

Just The Two of Us

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Seven

Eight

Nine

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Seventeen

Eighteen

Nineteen

Twenty

Twenty-One

Twenty-Two

SVU

Familiar Face

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Trial Prep

A Special Victim

The Things We Have to Lose (Pt. 1)

The Canary

Features Roman Reigns & OCs

One

We All Want Love

Features Roman Reigns & OCs

Cast

Chapter One

Line in the Sand

Features Tama Tonga & OCs

One

Two

Three

Four

Five (Pt. 1)

Five (Pt. 2)

Six

Seven

Eight

Empire

(I wrote all fics linked her but this series is co-run with @annoyedkayah2395, go to her blog for the installments that she's written)

Prince of Rap

Group Project

Condo

Come Here

Faded Memories

Ghost

Come Clean

Ghost 2

Rocky

Meeting Ms. Taylor

McIntyre Family Series

Features Drew McIntyre, Montez Ford & OCs

Temper Tantrum

First Night Home

Bonding Time

Daddy, Can You Help Me Write A Letter to Santa?

I’m Pregnant

My Parents Will Love You

Is That A Mistletoe?

Sleeping Headcanon

Anger Headcanon

Kissing Headcnnon

New Years #4

Main Event

Champ

Champ 2

Deja Vú

Features Florian Munteanu & OCs

One

Two

Three

Four

Shorties

Daddy Daughter Time (Seth Rollins)

Twitter Fingers (Tama Tonga)

Baby’s First Shots (Tama Tonga)

Temper Tantrum (Samoa Joe)

First Day of School (Tama Tonga)

Baby’s First Doctor’s Appointment (Jeff Hardy)

Nightmare (Tama Tonga)

Child is Sick (Jeff Hardy)

Breakfast Time (Samoa Joe)

Daddy Daughter Bonding (Jinder Mahal)

Parental Paragraph (Big E)

Director's Commentary

Haleigh & Messiah

Jey & Apryl

Roman & Kandice

Best & Worst Traits of Characters

Drew & Danica

[dragoneyes618]

If Encanto is in the Disney universe, and Descendants is meant to be basically a world in which all the different Disney movies coexist...then Encanto could be in the Descendants universe.

Now I’m imagining Mirabel and Camilo attending Auradon Prep.

Not for their entire high school years, only for the last couple. The idea is, Auradon wants Encanto to be part of it, and Encanto was like, “We like our solitude, because mixing with outsiders didn’t end well the last time, sorry.” So they negotiated a treaty, and part of the treaty was that children of the ruling family, aka the Madrigals, attend Auradon Prep just like the children of all the other ruling families in Auradon.

By the time the treaty is finalized, the only Madrigals of age to attend Auradon Prep are Camilo and Mirabel, who are both about 17 (this is a couple of years after the Encanto movie). They do not want to go, but they have to. So they show up, only to be overshadowed by the sudden influx of VKs, since this is shortly after the end of D3.

They don’t mind that much, though. They spend most of their time with each other. They’re friendly-Camilo is the type who’s always part of a group, yet doesn’t have a true friend among them-but things are confusing for them. Also they think everyone’s a bit weird. In turn, the AKs and VKs think they’re weird.

They’re horrified when they find out about most of the villain kids’ home lives. To them, family is everything. Sure, it can be difficult, but the entire Madrigal family loves each other and tries to do what is best for each other (even if it turned out that what was for the best actually wasn’t). So the idea that there are families that purposely do not act in the best interests of their children? Mirabel and Camilo are on the side of the VKs, thank you very much.

Also, at this point, Dolores has been married to Mariano for about a year, and is expecting their first child. Camilo and Mirabel are very mad to miss the birth of the baby, as well as Isabela’s engagement to Bubo Marquez (the guy that the original draft of the movie had her in love with, hence her not wanting to marry Mariano, before that part got deleted). They spend a lot of the time on the phone talking to the Madrigals back home. Nothing like being on the phone with your cousin asking for updates on your sister who is giving birth while you’re sitting at the lunch table with your classmates.

[thesafecafe]

Mafia! Ateez Reaction: Rushing their S/O for last minute plans (4/8, hyung line)

 Summary: You’ve been working and busy all week, and it seems that you have no time to relax. But finally, when you get some time to yourself, in bursts your husband to drag you off last minute, trying to interrupt your plans of relaxation.

Seonghwa:

Punctuality was a virtue to him

He required it of everyone around him

Including you

Ironic, seeing as he was set to meet with a few other mafia bosses and their wives for dinner and decided to turn it into a last minute date

Usually, you would have been prepared to find the perfect dress/suit, but he only told you a day in advance

You normally had at least a week to put everything together, since you could plan after work, but not this time

Which is why you were ignoring your husband’s calls as you flitted around the bathroom in a hurry

“Y/N! Come on babe, we’re gonna be late!”

“Oh shut up Seonghwa! You know damn well this is not my fault, you barely told me yesterday!:

Suddenly, the bathroom door flew open, right as you were throwing off your robe

Seonghwa stood there with his arms crossed

You proceeded to ignore his stark gaze and continued to try and dress yourself

Keyword try

Seonghwa walked over to you, grabbing your wrists

“Boy what are you- mmf!”

He had planted his plush lips on yours, forgetting entirely about the meeting

“We can have date night inside, babe”

Hongjoong:

It was a busy week

You barely had any time to yourself at all the entire week

You’d be taking care of a sick and cranky toddler

Your older children had to get to school and soccer practice

You had to help Hongjoong with papers

There were doctor’s appointments

You had to watch your sister’s children

They were louder and rowdier than yours, and broke several of your vases

You had to meal prep for the week

You had to get the car detailed

Make dinner, breakfast, and lunch

Do everyone’s laundry

Make sure the house was clean for your PTA meeting 

And plan for Hongjoong’s business meeting next week

All in all, you were exhausted

Thankfully, your parents offered to take your kids for the weekend

So here you were, relaxing in your lavender scented bathroom

Candles softly glowing as you stepped into the steaming water, your sore muscles easing in appreciation

But just as you leaned back, in burst a wild blur of speeding blueberry

aka, your husband

“Babe, c’mon! I just made reservations at that famous steak place you wanted to go to! We have to go or we’ll be late!”

Not in the slightest amused, you sat stubbornly, refusing your husband’s wishes

“Kim Hongjoong, it has been a very long and hard week. I love you, but if I so much as hear another peep from you while I’m in this bathroom, I am cutting your balls off and feeding them to the dog!”

Hongjoong gulped, scurrying out of the bathroom. He was glad he’s made reservations for tomorrow as well.

Yunho:

You were finally coming back from a stressful family event

You hadn’t wanted to go in the first place

Your family was annoying, overbearing, and somewhat toxic at times

But your step-mom was a sweetheart, and she hadn’t seen you since you gave birth to your last child

She wanted to “see you before the next one popped” 

So you agreed to go for her

Yunho declined going, claiming he had “business to attend to”

Sent some of him men to help protect you though

You put on your best maternity dress

You packed your 4 kids in the car and headed out

Once you got there, you could already feel the judgmental stares of your aunts and cousins

They always talked bad about you, especially after you married a made man in the mafia

You ignored them, going straight for your step mom and engaging in conversation with her and your dad

Your kids were next to you, calmly eating after your parents had fixed them a plate

Some of their older cousins came over, likely looking to play with the cousins they rarely saw

But, after exchanging some harsh sounding words with her cousin, your daughter reeled back, and punched the HELL out of the bigger girl’s nose

You could’ve sworn the whole park heard the crack of your niece’s 

The whole party was silently in shock, before you kid broke the silence by calmly stating

“Don’t ever talk about my mom like that, you little bitch” 

Of course that started a large argument between you and your aunts

Your step mom sent you home, before Yunho’s men would have to step in

But as soon as you and your kids stepped in Yunho loudly greeted you, declaring that you all had to get back in the car so you could go to an amusement park (he’d spent the morning getting tickets)

This of course earned him 9 distasteful looks, including the guards

“What? What’d I say?” He wondered out loud as you all filed past him, going to take naps after your terrible afternoon

Yeosang:

This boy has a habit of doing this

Yeosang was mostly quiet, so you never knew what he was planning

He was spontaneous however, and he decided that today would be a perfect day to take his Queen and his little princess out for the day

The very day that your daughter had a physical scheduled

Yeosang got all dressed up

Got his lil bucket hat and sunscreen ready

Prepared a lunch for all three of you

Only to get his poor little heart broken when your daughter reminded him that today was physical day

“But princess, do you really wanna be stuck in that awful doctor’s office with needles when you could be with mommy and daddy all day? We could even bring your tea set?”

Pouted when she insisted that she needed to go to the doctor to “be a healthy princess” and reminded him that he was the one who taught her that

Crossed his arms and was moody the whole way to the appointment

Practically dragged himself out of the car, stomping his feet as you made your way inside

Made one last attempt to persuade his daughter to go with his idea

“One last chance: jailbreak, now or never! What do you say?”

She only giggled at him, shaking her head

Complained in the back during the physical

“What’s even the point of this? Her temperature is normal”

“I could have done this at home” “Is there even any need for-”

He complained so much, it made even the doctor’s eye twitch

Seeing how tense the atmosphere was becoming, you asked the doctor to hand you a syringe

When Yeosang looked up, you had it pointed at his neck

“One more word before we leave, and you won’t remember leaving this place. Capiche?” You asked, your voice saccharine sweet

“Y-yes m-a’am” 

He behaved for the rest of the appointment

[pbandjesse]

I've been avoiding doing my post for a while now. I just want to go to sleep so that today can be over. Today was very stressful. I'm just glad I got to see James.

Neither of us slept well last night. I never even pulled our blankets down off the bed and I slept the same way that I would normally sleep when I take a nap in the daytime. With a throw blanket at the end of the bed. It was really hot in here and I I had to go into the office to turn the heat down at one point because I was concerned about things catching on fire. I changed my pajamas a few times because I couldn't find a good temperature. Me and James would text sporadically because they were up and down all night apparently. Around midnight they move them from the ER to a room upstairs. And that's where they would stay until they would get ready to be prepped to go into the OR.

Wake up at 7:00 and got dressed and ready to go. I had nothing else I could focus on so I was going to focus on looking cute and being good at my job. And I think I did okay at both.

I got breakfast and drove out to camp. It was a beautiful day. And I would start walking around camp getting things ready. Elizabeth said she was going to go get coffee and that she would be back to help direct traffic. But by the time I had walked to the other side of camp to drop off some stuff at the lodge I found that all of the parents were already over there.

So I introduced myself and started walking them around giving them the lowdown on what they were going to be doing and where and when they should come back to the building for the intro. And everyone was just really great. I made some stupid mistakes. But everyone was super gracious about it. I read our schedule wrong because I was so distracted that I read it up and down like the schedule at the museum is instead of left to right. And so I gave some bad information but they ended up figuring it out and it was fine. I just felt very dumb. And I would walk around making sure the people had the supplies they needed and solving issues when things got broken. But I was very distracted.

When the kids got there they were very sweet. A handful of them are campers that stay there during the summer so it was nice that they could already kind of know the lay of the land. And the rules. And my intro went pretty well. I still think I could put a little bit more history in there and I think I just need to do more reading. I had a good time talking to them though and Elizabeth stayed for part of my intro and she said I did great. So that felt really good.

James texted me at 9:30 before the kids got there that they were getting prep to go into the OR. Surgery wasn't going to be till 11:00 and I thought it was going to be about 2 hours. Man did it feel longer than that.

After the first couple programs we had lunch. I warmed up the leftovers I brought from last night and went and read my book. I both started and finished my last Dear America book. I'm going to have to get some more I guess. This one was okay. I didn't love the story as much. It had some good moments and some good stuff that I'm going to be able to pull into the museum. About the famine and work conditions and garment factories. But it was not as engaging as some of the ones I've read recently. And then she died like 2 years after the story took place and that made me really sad.

I was just trying to be distracted because I wasn't hearing anything from James and everyone is contacting me to find out what's going on. And I just wanted to hear from them. Mom said that I should call the hospital and see if they could tell me what was happening. And so once I said goodbye to all the children I called and the woman on the phone was so nice.

I told her basically I didn't know what I was doing and that my husband was in surgery and I wasn't sure if I could come see them or anything. That I needed some kind of update. I have gotten so much practice saying my husband in the last couple days. It's going to lose its novelty. But she was really nice and she joked about HIPAA. Because I could be anyone. And because I knew James's birthday very quickly she told me that they were in the OR currently and that if I was there within the next half an hour I could get on the list to see them. I didn't quite understand what that meant but I was a half an hour away and I could do that. So I quickly called Elizabeth and booked it to the car as fast as I could.

I drove very fast. I was like 10 miles over the speed limit which is not horrible but faster than I would normally go. And the speed limits already around 65 on 83.

But I got to the hospital. I parked in the correct parking lot this time. And I ran across the parking lot to get to the front desk. The woman at the security desk was great and she told me exactly where to go. Gave me great directions. And I headed up to the fourth floor.

This is where things got a little stressful. The woman at this desk seemed annoyed. She just wasn't very personable. She probably has to deal with people being very scared and sad all day and it is probably very emotionally exhausting. But I was also just really confused and not sure even where I was. I thought James was going to be in their room already but they were still coming out of surgery. I didn't know that.

I was very surprised when she didn't take my ID or check me in. She asked for my name eventually. And then she gave me a number and the number corresponded to James. And then in the waiting room there was a big TV screen where it would flash the numbers and tell you where they were. Kind of like the airport. So you could see if the person you were there to see was currently in the operating room or in recovery or what. When I got there James was in recovery.

But I couldn't just go back and see them. I had to wait until they called my number. Well James's number. And then I would get a 10 minute visit. She kept saying that. 10 minutes. And then I would have to wait again. And I was sad. And confused. But I was just happy that I was going to be able to see James at all. And if I had to do it in 10 minute increments that was okay with me.

I actually didn't have to wait that long. I had left my backpack and everything in the car except for my phone and keys. So I didn't have anything else with me and I was sort of worried my phone was going to die but it was okay. Everything would be fine. Because very quickly I would get called back.

I did not expect James to be as fragile looking as they were. I walked back and they pointed me to curtain 14. And James had just come out of surgery. Maybe 5 minutes before. And they were in so much pain. I had never seen them like this before. They tried to claim that yesterday they were in more pain but I don't think that it was as extended as this. They looked so pale. And small. And it was scary. But I was so glad to see them.

I told them I only had 10 minutes but then not a few moments after that did a nurse walk over and say that I came with perfect time because they were moving James up to their room and I did not have to leave. And so I got out of the way so they could walk around and disconnect them from everything and we slowly made our way upstairs. There were more bumps than I was expecting. And James got Josh a little. But I was glad I could be in the room with them and get them settled.

A nurse would come and help James get some clothes on and help them stand up so they could use the bathroom. And she said that they were doing such a good job. That she was surprised that James was already standing. But James is so strong and I was very proud of them.

But they were hurting so much. I didn't really understand what had happened with their bone. They're left clavicle had snapped and when that clean break happened it tore their ligaments and that allowed the bone to go upwards at a 60° angle. That's why everyone was saying how did you do this. I still don't understand how it happened. But not only did they have to put a almost 10-in bar to pull their clavicle back down, James also had to get donor ligaments. They have 33 staples. It is impressively long. They also shaved James's chest on one side. And James does not want to see the wound or the X-ray. But I'm glad that I saw it so that I can understand more of what's going on in there.

I just want to be able to support them. I got there at 2:30. We were up in their room by 3:00. And I stayed with them until the sun went down around 5:00. I sat and held their hand and we texted everyone. They came and took vitals and I got them a new ice pack and made sure that James wasn't under playing how much pain they were in. James is very good at pushing pain to the side but sitting quietly with James and watching them grimace I was like you need to stop telling them that you're at a four. This is an eight. We compromised at a 7.5 but I cannot have them pretending that they are not in pain. I need them to be honest with a doctors and I don't think that they are understanding what the pain scale represents. Like yes this might not be a 10 because you can stand up but James my love you cannot move without gasping. It's unacceptable and I need you to be taken care of yourself. I just kept telling them that.

And I was still worried that they hadn't eaten. I kept refilling their water for them but they didn't bring them dinner and then the nurse shifts switched after I left and James didn't get food for a very long time. But they did feed them eventually. I'm not thrilled that it took until almost 8:00 p.m. but I am glad that they got dinner.

When I left I gave them a kiss and promise to come back for them when they were ready. I stopped at the nurse's station and asked for a new ice pack for them. And then I almost got ran over when a nurse ran past me because one of her patients was trying to get out of bed and he just had both of his legs amputated and I don't think that he remembered that. But I had to go get something to eat too. And come home.

I really wanted a salad but there are no salad works around here and so James suggested I went to the Panera. And that ended up being a disaster. It was $20 and it was terrible. The soup tasted like ketchup, the salad was so boring, and the grilled cheese was soft like they had microwaved it. And like if it was a $10 meal it would have been fine. I wouldn't have been thrilled and it wouldn't have been great but for $20 I was very upset. And because I was so upset I ended up just getting containers and taking most of it home.

But I was in the shopping center that has the PetSmart. And I decided that I was going to get something for our empty tank. And so I went in and they had aquatic frogs. Like pancake was. And so I bought all three of the ones that they had. I was only going to buy two but then I felt weird about leaving one behind. And the one was very fat. And I was excited about it. Me and James have named them waffle, omelette, and sunny side. Sunny side is the fat one.

And everyone around me in the store was so excited about these little aquatic rocks. Apparently they just got them in and the girl at the register had never seen them before and people in line were very excited about them too so I got to talk about them for a little while and that was fun. I hope they thrive in my tank. Because right now I think they're a little shell-shocked from being moved and are just kind of hiding in the moss at the bottom of the tank.

Coming home with a little tough only because there was a bunch of traffic and it was dark. But I got home and brought everything upstairs. And everything is okay. Me and James have been texting pretty constantly. And that has made me feel more secure at least.

I have had to put my foot down and decide that we are not going to travel for Thanksgiving. I really was looking forward to seeing my family but it's not safe with James just getting out of surgery. I do not want them in the car for 3 hours. I don't mind the drive. Tucker and Ann were both concerned about me driving that long but I make that drive by myself all the time that is not a problem. I'm more concerned that James is in pain and we don't know what tomorrow is going to look like. I don't know what healing's going to be like. So we need to stay home. Will do Thanksgiving with their godparents and that will be a nice new experience for me. And if James is feeling all right enough to be home by themselves next week I'll drive up on Friday like I was planning. Everything will be okay.

I got the frogs set up in the tank and checked in with a couple more people. I took a shower and I washed my hair and felt a little bit more like a person. I tried to play pokémon for a little while. But I finished so many of the tasks that it's not as fun as it was before. And then I was going to play the pokémon photo game but that wasn't doing it for me either. Maybe me and James will get the new pokémon game that just came out even with the flaws. Who knows. I'm not that concerned about it. I just kind of wanted something to distract myself but I didn't really want to sit in my studio.

Now though I've just been laying in bed and watching tik toks and texting James. But they just went to sleep. I think I'm going to poke around the apartment for a little bit longer. And try to get some rest.

Tomorrow I'm going to go to the museum around lunch time to work on some Christmas card stuff. I'm not 100% sure how it's going to work but I appreciate the distraction. And then when James is ready for me to come get them that is what I will do. We think that they're going to be allowed to leave around 4:00 but I don't exactly know. It's 24 hours from the antibiotics starting. Three rounds of antibiotic bags. I was there when they got there first one and I think if it's 24 hours from that one it would be about 4:00 p.m. but I don't know what they'll decide. And it seems like people get discharged at all different times. I will be ready whenever that is for my James.

Thank you for thinking of James and us and me and let's just keep hoping that James will be okay. I love them very much and I just want them to be safe and happy. So this is very hard.

Good night everyone. Please watch for bikers while you're driving. Everything happens so fast.