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piratewithvigor · 4 years ago

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My first thought in regard to every band that gets played on my radio station

ACDC: Every dad’s favourite band

Adams, Bryan: Every mom’s favourite singer until Michael Buble came along

Aerosmith: haha they thought Vince Neil was a lady

Alice Cooper: he’s a Game Of Thrones fanboy and I have proof

Alice In Chains: my sister doesn’t like them because she decided AC were Alice Cooper’s initials ONLY

Allman Brothers Band: good music for dropping acid to

Allman, Gregg: That’s too many Gs for one name

Animals: House Of The Rising Sun, or who even cares

Argent: Sometimes Hold Your Head Up is really catchy

Asia: Tuesdays

Autograph: one of the members went on to be a pharmacist

Bachman-Turner Overdrive: There are just so many pop culture jokes about Taking Care Of Business that whatever I say won’t be as funny

Bad Company: with their song; Bad Company, off their album; Bad Company

Benatar, Pat: Always getting her confused with Patti Smith

Black Crowes: I like them for Lickin, but it doesn’t seem to exist outside of one shoddy video on youtube and my old CD

Blackfoot: this band name feels kind of racy

Black Sabbath: Dio was not better or worse than Ozzy; just different

Blondie: I like Call Me, but Blondie confuses me stylistically

Blue Oyster Cult: MORE COWBELL

Bon Jovi: Hello, childhood trauma, I missed you

Boston: ONE GUY. ONE GUY DID IT ALL AND NO ONE KNOWS

Bowie, David: Don’t let your children watch The Man Who Fell To Earth, or David Bowie’s will end up being the third penis they see in life

Browne, Jackson: Another musician ruined by Supernatural

Buffalo Springfield: Jack Nicholson was at the riot they sing about

Burdon, Eric: no ideas, brain empty

Bush: ditto

Candlebox: ditto once more. Who are these people?

Cars: This band feels so gay and so straight at the same time, I can only assume they’re the poster children of bisexual panic

Cheap Trick: I played Dream Police on Guitar Hero so fucking much because it was the only song anyone who played with me could keep up with

Chicago: Chicago 30 exists, but they do not have 30 albums. Fucking riddle me that

Clapton, Eric: 6 discs in one Greatest Hits is too many. That’s called “re releasing your discography”

Cochrane, Tom: For some reason, everyone thinks Rascal Flats did it better

Cocker, Joe: Belushi did it right

Collective Soul: who?

Collins, Phil: If his biggest hits were done by MCR, they would be emo anthems, but because he’s 5′6″ and from the 80s, they’re not

Cream: *Vietnam flashbacks on the hippie side*

CCR: *Vietnam flashbacks on the war side*

CSNY: David Crosby; meh

Deep Purple: THEY’RE SO MUCH MORE THAN SMOKE ON THE WATER

Def Leppard: the only music for when you’re a heartbroken bitch but also a sexy one

Derek And The Dominos: Clapton and ‘Layla’ broke up

Derringer, Rick: Tom Petty if he was from the midwest

Dio: You thought it was an anime reference, but it was me, Dio

Dire Straits: You can tell how bigoted a radio station is based on how much of Money For Nothing they censor

Doobie Brothers: I have yet to smoke weed, but I listen to the Doobies, and I think that’s pretty close

Dylan, Bob: I take back everything I said about him in my youth

Eagles: Hotel California isn’t their best song, but the memes that come from it are second to none

Edgar Winter Group: @the--blackdahlia

Electric Light Orchestra: Actually an orchestra and sound a fuckton like George Harrison

ELO: I really hesitate to ask what happens with the 7 virgins and a mule

Essex, David: no prominent memories of him

Fabulous Thunderbirds: cannot spell

Faces: Who on earth thought that was a good album name?

Faith No More: I got nothing

Fixx: One Thing Leads To Another is a damn bop

Fleetwood Mac: I ain’t straight, but I’m simply not enough of a witch to enjoy them to full potential

Fogerty, John: He got sued cause he sounded like himself

Foghat: Slow Ride slowly becoming less coherent feels like a drug trip

Foo Fighters: He was just excited to buy a grill

Ford, Lita: deserved better

Foreigner: dramatically overplayed

Frampton, Peter: a masterful user of the talk box

Free: dramatically underplayed

Gabriel, Peter: leaving Genesis changed him a lot

Genesis: if someone likes Genesis, clarify the era, because yes, it does matter

Georgia Satellites: sing like you have a cactus in your ass

Golden Earring: Twilight Zone slaps, but it doesn’t slap as hard as this station thinks it does

Grand Funk Railroad: Funk

Grateful Dead: I like their aesthetic more than their music

Great White: there are so many fucking shark jokes

Greenbaum, Norman: makes me think of Subway for some reason

Green Day: the first of the emo revolution

Greg Kihn Band: RocKihnRoll is literally the most clever album name I’ve ever seen

Guns N Roses: They have more than three good songs, but radio stations never recognize that

Hagar, Sammy: I’m still trying to figure out where he lived to take 16 hours to get to LA driving 55 and how fucking fast was he driving beforehand?

Harrison, George: He went from religious to rock, and if he had continued rocking, he would have gotten too cool

Head East: I respect people who use breakfast foods as album names

Heart: Magic Man and Barracuda are played at least once every goddamn day. They’re not even the best songs!

Hendrix, Jimi: I have both a cousin and a sibling named after Hendrix references

Henley, Don: Dirty Laundry gives me too much inspiration

Hollies: Somehow sound like they’re both from the 60s and the 80s at the same time

Idol, Billy: he’s doing well for himself

INXS: Terminator vibes

Iris, Donnie: knockoff Roy Orbison

James Gang: too many funks

Jane’s Addiction: if TMNT had a grunge band representative

Jefferson Airplane: *assorted cheers*

Jefferson Starship: *assorted boos*

Jethro Tull: The only band to make you feel not cool enough to play the flute

Jett, Joan: icon

J. Geils Band: I requested them on the radio once and it got played

Joel, Billy: he really did just air everybody’s business like that

John Cafferty And The Beaver Brown Band: literally wtf is that name

John, Elton: yarn Elton sits in my basement, unstaring. Please someone take him from me

Joplin, Janis: Queen

Journey: Stop overplaying Don’t Stop Believing. It takes away from the rest of the repetoire

Judas Priest: literally started the gay leather aesthetic

Kansas: another fucking band Supernatural stole

Kenny Wayne Shepherd: the man confuses me to the point where he isn’t in the right place alphabetically

Kiss: Mick Mars and I will simply have to disagree on the subject

Kravitz, Lenny: runaway vibes

Led Zeppelin: Fucking fight me if you don’t think they’re the most talented band (maybe not the most talented individually, but collectively, no one comes close)

Lennon, John: My least favourite Beatle for reasons

Live: I got nothin

Living Colour: slap a decent amount

Loverboy: do you not get TURNT the fuck up to the big Loverboy hits? Who hurt you??

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Sweet Home Alabama is a Neil Young diss track

Marshall Tucker Band: no opinion

Manfred Mann’s Earth Band: VERY STRONG OPINIONS THAT THEY AREN’T GOOD

McCartney, Paul/Wings: Power couple

Meatloaf: I have nothing but respect for a man who willingly named himself Meatloaf

Mellencamp, John: voted cutest lesbian of 1987

Metallica: I liked their appearance on Jimmy Fallon

Midnight Oil: I get them confused for Talking Heads a lot

Modern English: who?

Molly Hatchet: Hollies vibes, but also Georgia Satellites vibes

Money, Eddie: DAN AVIDAN, IF YOU SEE THIS, COVER TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT

Motley Crue: Stan Mick Mars and John Corabi. They’re the only ones who deserve it

Mott The Hoople: no one loves them except for David Bowie

Mountain: props for naming an album ‘Climbing’

Nazareth: I want to make a John Mulaney joke here, but I can never come up with one

Nicks, Stevie: witch queen

Night Ranger: I get them confused with Urge Overkill

Nirvana: Kurt Cobain was the ally grunge needed

Nova, Aldo: he’s Canadian, at least

Nugent, Ted: *serves a ghost as jerky*

Offspring: nothing here

Osbourne, Ozzy: this bitch crazy

Outfield: Your Love is kind of a sketchy song, but it slaps hard

Palmer, Robert: low quality Eddie Money

Pearl Jam: *grunts in Eddie Vedder*

Petty, Tom: I have so many feelings about Tom Petty and they are all good

Pink Floyd: which one is Pink?

Plant, Robert: solo career is a crapshoot, but his voice is unparalleled

Poison: I want them to write a song called ‘Alice Cooper’

Pretenders: I want to say good things, but I have nothing to say

Queen: A doctor of astrophysics, a screaming girl, a disco queen and a diva walk into a bar. It’s Queen; they’re there to play a gig

Queensryche: neutral opinion

Quiet Riot: they got big because of a song they hated. I love that

Rafferty, Gerry: the second-sexiest sax opening in all of music

Rainbow: Ritchie Blackmore created something very magnificent

Ram Jam: one good song and they didn’t even write it

Ratt: I’m sure they have more than Round And Round, but I don’t know it

RHCP: funky, but if you have paid money to hear them, you’re going to The Bad Place (I don’t make the rules)

Red Rider: basically Golden Earring

Reed, Lou: Walk On The Wild Side would be such a cool song if it wasn’t so dull

REM: American Tragically Hip

REO Speedwagon: Props for having a dad joke as an album title

Rolling Stones: Never in my life could I imagine the drummer being named anything but Charlie

Rush: How to make being uncool the coolest fucking shit

Santana: The world needs more Santana

Scandal: There’s something really funny about The Warrior being my brother’s “song” with his girlfriend

Scorpions: Was Wind Of Change written by the CIA? Only the spotify podcast I got an ad for once could say

Seger, Bob: A different variety of Eric Clapton (frankly a better variety, but that’s just me)

Simple Minds: we ALL forgot about you

Skid Row: Sebastian Bach is prettier than all of us

Soundgarden: music that makes you feel like you dunked your head underwater

Springsteen, Bruce: my arch-nemesis. Maybe someday, he’ll find out about it

Squeeze: according to my friends, the stupidest band name ever, but they’re theatre kids, so you know

Squier, Billy: If he can make it through 1984 alive, you can make it through whatever bad day you’re having

Stealers Wheel: Yet another band who I always mistake for George Harrison

Steely Dan: my house’s nickname for the Robber in Settlers Of Catan

Steppenwolf: Either makes me think of Jay & Silent Bob, Jack Nicholson, or that time I had to cut 6lbs of onions

Steve Miller Band: when you’re in the right mood, they slap hard

Stewart, Rod: my soundtrack to summer 2015

Stills, Stephen: Love The One You’re With Is Catchy, but the lyrics are questionable

Stone Temple Pilots: the only band to write a song about goo you smear on yourself

Stray Cats: an obscene amount of merch is available for them

Styx: Supernatural would have ruined them for me too if I hadn’t been into them previously.

Supertramp: I hunted for Breakfast In America for two years and it was worth every hunt

Sweet: I will never understand my two-month obsession with Ballroom Blitz when I was 15, but it was legit all I listened to

Talking Heads: you may find yourself in a pizza hut. And you may find yourself in a taco bell. And you may find yourself at the combination pizza hut and taco bell. And you may ask yourself; ‘how did I get here?’

Temple Of The Dog: I keep confusing them for Nazareth

Ten Years After: somehow still relevant

Tesla: not the car or the dude

The Beatles: Evokes a lot of opinions from people. Mine is that I love them

The Clash: I showed my sister the ‘Lock The Taskbar’ vine ONCE and it still kills her

The Doors: evokes teenage terror from deep within my soul

The Guess Who: Canada’s answer to confusing question-themed band names

The Kinks: kinky

The Police: wrote the theme of 2020 and everyone somehow forgot it was about a teacher resisting becoming a pedophile

The Ramones: playing all of their songs in a row wouldn’t take more than 2 hours

The Romantics: you don’t think you know them, but if you’ve seen Shrek 2, you have

The Who: If someone can explain Tommy to me, I’d be glad to hear it

The Zombies: I think they happened because of the 60s

Thin Lizzy: Could the boys maybe leave town?

Thorogood, George: blues, but make it modern

Toto: the most memed song behind All Star

Townshend, Pete: just makes me think of the end of Mr. Deeds

T-Rex: Mark Bolan is an icon

Triumph: The no-name brand of Rush

Tubes: like the yogurt

Twisted Sister: they did a christmas album and my mom does NOT hate it

U2: U2 Movers; we move in mysterious ways

Van Halen: RIP Eddie

Van Morrison: honestly, who’s named Van?

Vaughn, Stevie Ray: Steamy Ray Vaughn

Walsh, Joe: The Smoker You Drink The Player You Get

War: Foghat, but even groovier

Whitesnake: the most successful band to be named after a penis

Wright, Gary: the 90s thanks him for writing the song every movie used for the “guy sees cute girl and it’s love at first sight” scene

Yes: To Be Continued

Young, Neil: The best part of CSNY

Zevon, Warren: the album cover of Excitable Boy makes me deeply uncomfortable for reasons I don’t understand

ZZ Top: has been the same three guys since 1969. Lineup unchanged.

3 Doors Down: They feel a little modern to be on a classic rock station, but whatever

38 Special: Why 38?

#I made this instead of doing homework #Classic Rock #Meme

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prince-of-elsinore · 4 years ago

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For the Spn 66 questions: 4, 6, 28, and 64 please! (PS. I <3 your analysis and meta!)

Thank you so much anon! 😌 🌸 These are such great questions!! 🤗

4. What songs do you associate with which seasons? Which characters? Which dynamics?

Oo I love spn music!! Some peak moments that come to mind: Season 1: Don’t Fear the Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult Season 2: Renegade by Styx Season 3: Highway to Hell by ACDC Season 5: Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door by Bob Dylan, that cover of Oh Death for Death’s entrance, Rock of Ages by Def Leppard (Season 5 had it goin on)

But, if we’re talking any songs that I associate with characters/relationships… man there are so many! -Sam: Almost Cut My Hair by Neil Young (this is THE Sam anthem to me); Fortunate Son by CCR (which is why I made this edit) -Dean: Old Man by Neil Young; BIG Fleetwood Mac vibes with Go Your Own Way, Landslide, and Oh Daddy (yes I know it’s about a different kind of daddy… but it fits Dean’s issues SO WELL) -Sam and Dean: Guess God Thinks I’m Abel by Oasis, Burning for You by BOC -Sam and Dean arguments/“breakups”: The Chain by Fleetwood Mac -Sam and Dean in heaven: Helpless by Crosby Stills & Nash and Harvest Mood by Neil Young. It’s just about those vibes :)

6. Do you have any psychological headcanons (or canon interpretations) of the characters?

Ok anon I'm not gonna lie I started writing a response and it's getting so long I'm going to have to make it a separate post 😂

28. Do you think Sam expected Dean to kill him in Lucifer Rising? What are your thoughts on the voicemail? Do you think they ever resolved it offscreen?

That honestly never occurred to me until I saw this question, so no to the first part! That whole season is basically about how Sam thinks he has to kill Lilith on his own because Dean is too weak for the job, so I don’t think Sam sees Dean as a threat to himself; he sees him as an obstacle to his goal. That said, perhaps it crossed Sam’s mind that it might come to a lethal confrontation if Dean gets in the way, but I don’t think Sam thought Dean showed up specifically to kill him—just to stop him.

As for the voicemail, it makes me sad! But I do think they talked about it, at some point. It’s just too big to have been swept under the rug. The Winchesters are very good at not talking about their feelings, but I think it would’ve had to come out—Sam would’ve mentioned something about “well if that’s how you really feel” and Dean would’ve been like “woah what.” There’s just so much of their lives we don’t see onscreen, there’s ample time for them to have talked about many of the issues we always wanted to see them address, and there’s no compelling reason to insist they didn’t.

64. What are the central themes of Supernatural to you? Did the finale counter or reinforce them? Shape them?

Oh my God, this could be another essay lol. To name just a few of the themes in Supernatural that fascinate me:

The false promise of the American Dream, American decay, outsider status in American society (from a blue-collar perspective) and transience, liminal spaces in America (the motel, the highway).

The biggest theme, though, of course, is family. And I don’t mean found family, though there are examples of it on the show (Bobby, Jody and her girls). Family in Supernatural is endlessly complex and multivalent. First, it is the site of trauma, the origin of so many monsters and hauntings. Tainted bloodlines/family curses (Rugaru, vessels, descendants of Cain), parental abandonment (God, Rowena, even John and Mary in their own ways), perversions of family attachments (the way vampires build their nests, literal incest in Family Remains, and of course, the Winchesters and their tragic chain of demon deals to save each other). So many MOTW episodes also have to do with family ties and traumas: victims are constantly losing and grieving siblings and children and parents.

But it’s more complex than “horror begins with the family,” because in Supernatural, familial love is also its own redemption and reward. It is the ultimate site of comfort; being barred from those family comforts is the worst punishment imaginable, and separation from family just as often causes harm as family itself. The show begins with the fracturing of the Winchester family with Mary’s death. And for all the problems their codependence causes, Sam and Dean’s fraternal love saves the world more than once. The power of their bond, frightening and uncomfortable though it is, is redeemed by the show. They stop the apocalypse. They stand up to God himself. When they’re separated or on the outs, they usually cause more harm than good. They do keep each other human, even at the same time as their bond makes them unique and abnormal. They are set apart from “regular” people with their chosen status, their destiny to play out so many fratricidal scenarios. They do unthinkable things for each other. And yet, their love is also humanizing; it is something they chose, not dictated by God.

It is that fraternal soul-bond that is at the heart of the show, more than what any one individual character wanted or represented. The finale absolutely reinforced this theme for me. Dean’s death is horribly tragic but the yearning of two souls to be reunited only confirms their commitment to each other. Sam and Dean could never be accused of being forced together by circumstance. In the new, open Heaven, they choose each other, even after Sam has lived the “apple pie” life. The finale also reinforces the positive aspects of family with Sam having a son—a Winchester who, for the first time ever, isn’t the pawn of cosmic beings. He’s not inheriting his father’s trauma, unlike Sam and Dean. The Winchesters are no longer a haunted lineage. Even though the love story of Sam and Dean is tragic (at least on this plane of existence—their separation is the last consequence of the “Family Business”), the ending is surprisingly optimistic in the macro sense. And because I don’t want to be misunderstood: I don’t believe Dean “had to die” to break the cycle. Sam probably wouldn’t have had a son if Dean lived, but still, the cycle was always going to end with them. The point is not passing it on to a future generation. Sam and Dean were, to an extent, living free after 15x19, but they are both the products of their pasts and neither of them escape unscathed; still, they both lived meaningful lives and are ultimately rewarded with reunion and peace in Heaven.

Thank you anon, these were fun to write and got me thinking a lot! I will post #6 as soon as I'm finished with it!

#long post #spn meta #ask meme #spn finale positive #spn finale #my meta #spn music #spn

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alarriefantasy · 6 years ago

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Weekly Fic Rec

what's inside your imagination (is as real as anything else) by @suspendrs

Words: 3k

“Hey!” Niall shouts suddenly, scaring Harry nearly out of his hat. “We like your costume!”

The ghost turns to glance at Niall, producing a hand from under the sheet and giving him a thumbs up. Harry can’t help but laugh a little more, the casual gesture adding to the entire vibe of the sunglasses-wearing ghost.

The ghost looks at them for a moment longer before turning and disappearing into the crowd again, and Harry sighs. “I love Halloween,” he says thoughtfully.

Or, Harry's a witch who likes to pretend he's a human pretending he's a witch, and Louis's the human in a not-so-clever costume that keeps catching his eye.

Stealing Flowers by @lululawrence

Words: 4k

When Louis finally arrived, he walked in and grabbed an apron. Without even saying hello, he immediately approached Jesy and said, “Sexy Stranger steals flowers.”

She kept pouring the Tanqueray shots she had lined up in front of her, but her face screwed up in confusion. “I’m sorry, he what? Did you finally talk to him and that was what you learned?”

He nodded to another couple of tourists and welcomed them to the Way Station as they eagerly made their way to the Tardis restroom.

“No, I didn’t actually talk to him, but—”

“Then how do you know he steals flowers?”

She was wiping down the bar and stacking the empty glasses to take back to the dishwasher when Louis realized maybe he should help too. After all, he was there to work, not just talk to her about his maybe crush.

“I saw a poster.”

Or the one where Louis pines after the Sexy Stranger on the Subway and almost asks him out. That's when the strange posters start showing up around Brooklyn.

I Wanna Be More Than Friends by @2tiedships2

Words: 20k

He hadn't meant to scent Harry. They were best friends and that was it. Scenting best friends wasn't exactly socially acceptable.

"Lou," Harry whispered.

Louis jumped at his name and sat up straighter to provide a bit of distance between himself and Harry.

"You can't scent me, Lou," Harry stated.

Which of course Louis couldn't scent him. They were best friends.

"I mean," Harry continued. "I wouldn't mind exactly, but if I can't scent you, I don't think you should scent me."

"What do you mean you can't scent me? I mean, I get it because we're best friends but..."

"I mean I can't smell you, Louis. I fucking can't smell you. I can't smell anything, okay?"

Or the one where Harry’s an alpha with no sense of smell, Louis’ an omega who isn’t allowed to scent his best friend, and that’s all they’ll ever be. Obviously.

Blue Ice by @larriegal

Words: 102k

"Don't ever try to get near me! I don't wanna see you." Harry had slurred in his face looking him in the eye.

"I-I don't understand..." Louis managed to say his voice low, pushing a little from the wall holding his left arm with his right hand.

"What don't you understand? I. Don't. Want. You." Harry said again pointing at him, while making his way to the living room, Louis following him in horror.

"Why are you being like this?" Louis managed to get out, though he felt like being ripped to pieces.

"You really thought I love you?! You must be really fucking stupid! Who could even love you?"

•

An AU where Louis finds himself in a marriage he didn't bargain for.

Lonesome When You Go by 13ways @13ways-of-looking

Words: 158k

Harry, Louis, Niall, and Liam are surgeons-in-training at the most prestigious program in the United States.

More than that, Harry and Louis have a history unknown to the others, a history that involves dogs and God, anatomy lessons, food fights, vinyl jazz records, and one hell of an oyster tour.

A story of trust and friendship, of poetry and rock and roll, pink-tinged dawns and the darkest nights.

A tale of portraits, tattoos, and everlasting love.

#weekly fic rec #larry fic rec #larry fics #larry stylinson #lourry fics

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writeradamanteve · 6 years ago

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You are doing prompts for the first time? That's so exciting! We are including the wintery prompts as mini reindeer games over on @riverdale-events if you want to include them! I can't help but send one in. You are so good with AUs of all kinds. How about: 59. this year my family has decided we’re celebrating the holidays on a cruise and you’re the cute bartender who teases me for mourning the lack of snow

Remember this? Well, just to prove that I haven’t given up on them...

Here’s Part 1 of Mi Irie

The Jamaican saying "irie" is often used to mean "everything is alright and fine." Note that Jamaica has numerous variations when it comes to greeting someone. When someone asks “How are you feeling?” or “How yuh stay?” an appropriate response would be, “Mi irie.” ~ Sandals.com

She looked pretty miserable.

Which wasn’t the most surprising thing on a tropical cruise, if Jughead were to be honest.

Working as a bartender on the Ringmaster Caribbean Cruise ship for the last couple of years, his station was perhaps the only place on the ship where the miserable can turn to for comfort. The bar attracted both party goers and debbie downers alike.

Not that he was there to judge. He, of all people, understood feeling miserable in a room full of happily drunk people, both as a bartender and a person who, as a kid, grew up surrounded by drunk adults in his father’s bar. It was the funhouse image of an Eloisian upbringing--Jughead at the Whyte Wyrm.

That he ended up getting a bartending job was arguably a predictable outcome, or the opposite of--depending on how one looked at it. Sure, it was fucked up that he was a ten year old doing his homework in a bar, but ultimately, bartending became the one thing he knew how to do by heart, and if he was going to get anything out of his trashy childhood, it may as well be money he would be getting on bar tips.

But because he spent a lot of time around inebriated people, he did get the impression that everyone could be an asshole if they were drunk enough. It wasn’t an ideal working environment, but he needed a job that paid well while he wrote his book and went to school, and in some sad way, it was all worth the validation he got out of finding those who understood misery like he did.

So seeing this sad face at his bar wasn’t particularly extraordinary. He’d seen all types. And misery aside, she looked great. The golden cascades of her hair fell in waves over the skin of her sun-kissed shoulders. Her bikini, a nice dusty blue with a knitted pattern design, flattered her figure. Paired with a wrap around her hips and showing off her nice curves, he couldn’t help but think that the only thing weird about her was that she was alone.

Then again, it was early morning and quiet.

A soft breeze blew in over the turquoise waters of the ocean, wafting comfortably into the shaded bar area on the deck. The sunshine bounced brightly over the chlorine blue pool.

The bar was mostly empty. Out in the pool area, just outside the bar’s perimeter, guest were at a minimum. Most families with children were sleeping in or still having breakfast at the mess hall.

The people enjoying the pool at this time were adults, and a concentration of them were at the far end, riveted by the aquatic aerobics instructor and his goofy routines.

Miss Misery was, in fact, watching these antics from where she sat, passive and unsmiling.

“Nobody really goes to that class to exercise,” Jughead said to her as she watched them. “They like to watch Archie doing his thing. I’m surprised they don’t have dollar bills to put in his swim trunks, honestly.”

Archie, the instructor, as if on cue, tore off his Ringmaster Caribbean Cruise t-shirt and turned on the poolside shower to bathe under the stream, all while his “students” hooted and hollered.

Miss Misery’s lips tightened to a line, but she seemed amused instead of inscenced. “Well, he’s increasing their pulse rate, for sure.”

“He loves the attention.”

She nodded and turned her barstool to finally face the bar. “He must.”

When she said nothing else and her gaze began to wander to the TV hanging over the bar, he figured she wouldn’t mind the conversation. This quiet in the morning, he liked to engage guests one on one. “So, what can I get you, miss?”

Surprise piqued in her sea-green eyes. “You serve alcohol this early?”

He laughed and put his hands out in an open gesture. “All inclusive means it’s always five in the afternoon.”

Her eyebrows crinkled with what he could only assume was a sudden onslaught of possibilities. “Alcohol for breakfast?” This was a real marvel of a thing for her.

“It’s been done. For the seasoned drinker, a Bloody Mary is the most cliche of drinks, but it’ll do for a vacationer. The more hardened imbibers ask for a Prairie Oyster--strictly a veteran hangover cure.”

“What’s a Prairie Oyster?”

“Raw egg, Worcestershire sauce, bit of tomato juice, vinegar, hot sauce, black pepper, and a shot of gin. Two if the hangover’s particularly bad.”

Her jaw dropped open briefly before it clamped shut. “Does that actually work?”

Jughead shrugged. “No idea. I don’t go on benders so I’ve never had one.”

She seemed to accept this, her eyes falling on the overhead menu. The drinks written on it in neon colored pens were from last night’s specials, but they were good for any day. He waited for her to say something.

“Um… sangria?”

“Wow. Living it!”

She rolled her eyes, but he did manage to get a chuckle out of her. He began working on her order. It would take a little longer to put her drink together, because he did need to cut up some fresh fruit, but he didn’t mind. If it meant she would stay a little longer, it was worth the extra effort.

“I’m Betty, by the way,” she said as he worked. “I didn’t see you at the bar last night, um--Jughead?” She was reading off his name tag, but she went on without saying how strange she probably thought his name was. “Last night it was Toni, who routinely got hit on by men of all ages.”

He laughed softly. “Yeah, she’s a crowd favorite. Got that whole Coyote Ugly vibe going. She’s not a fan of men, though. She prefers girls.”

“Oh.” She said it like it explained things.

“So,” he said, chopping up some oranges into thin quarters. “If you’re not here because you’re hungover, and you weren’t here to drink in the first place, did you come to the deck for aerobics then change your mind when you realized it was more of a strip tease? Or maybe you’re smart and figured you can enjoy the show from here, comfortably perched on our soft barstools.”

She cocked a smile, finally. “I just wanted to get away from the chaos of the mess hall and my family. I figured they weren’t going to look for me here. I’m not a big drinker.”

“Well, now look at you. Knocking back booze for breakfast.”

She snorted. “Hardly.”

He finished chopping up the apples and he threw all his chopped fruits in a pitcher, halfway full of ice, and mixed the sangria in it. After he gave the mixture a stir, he poured some of it in a glass, threw in a hefty dose of tequila, and slid the drink in front of her. “You look like you need some tequila. That’s my special mix. And drinks are on me.” He winked.

She arched an eyebrow. “It’s an all inclusive cruise. Of course they’re on you.”

“They don’t mix it the way I do.”

She took a sip and she gasped. “Wow!” she rasped. “Potent.”

“Just for you.”

She began to laugh and threw him a sidelong glance. “I bet you say that to all the girls.”

He tilted his grin but said nothing.

The truth was, since he started this job, he hadn’t said that to anyone but her.

***********************

She was back the next morning and this time, she ordered a tequila sunrise. She had on a different suit, starkly white against her tanning skin, and he may have been imagining things, but the top gave her breasts a spectacular cleavage that wasn’t as noticeable the day before. He had to remind himself to keep his eyes up, especially since hers seemed more interested in engaging him.

“Feeling better?” he asked, mixing her drink.

She shrugged, but her smile came easier. “Same shit, different day, but now I know you serve alcohol in the morning and you don’t water drinks down.”

He chuckled but pressed his finger lightly over his lips. “That last part’s a secret between you and me.”

Her tanned cheeks bloomed pink and Jughead eyed her for a moment, delighting on the effect he had on her. He slid the drink towards her and she sipped from its straw. She seemed less surprised by the alcohol content but she did blow a breath through her lips. “You must be breaking some All Inclusive Rule here.”

“You bet I am. Does that impress you?”

She quirked her gaze. “It depends on how drunk this makes me.”

He gave it a moment’s thought. “Kind of a low bar. You were drunk after the one glass I gave you yesterday.”

“Hey, I was drinking on an empty stomach.” Her protest sounded weak.

He laughed and pulled a large plate from beneath the bar. It had piles of bacon, layers of pancakes slathered in maple syrup and butter, and some scrambled eggs on the side. She stared at it as he offered her a clean fork. She slowly took the fork and shot him a suspicious squint. “Is this your breakfast?”

He nodded, grinning. “It’s my second one. It’s a fresh plate and I hadn’t touched it. I don’t mind sharing if you don’t.”

Her gaze gave him the once over and a ripple of pleasure coursed through him, especially when her lashes fluttered as their eyes met again. “I can use some bacon and pancakes.”

He leaned over the counter and brought out a fork of his own, cutting into the pile of food on his plate. “So, if you don’t mind me asking… are you not enjoying yourself on this cruise? You come here in the morning and you always sound like you’re trying to forget something.”

“Oh, do I? Maybe you’re right. I’m on this cruise with my parents and my sister--not exactly the kind of getaway I was looking for. It’s bad enough that I have to deal with my mother’s sideways disapproval of how I look in my swimsuit, but I found out yesterday that a snowstorm hit New York City and I missed it. Will miss it. The snow will be nothing but filthy piles of ice on the side of the road by the time I get back to it, if I catch any of it at all.”

He couldn’t help but laugh. “Wait a minute… are you telling me that you were all gloom and doom yesterday because you missed a snowstorm in New York… while being on a cruise ship on the tropical waters of the Caribbean? Really?”

Her cheeks reddened again, but she seemed poised to defend herself. “You laugh, but New York after a snowstorm, when everyone’s still indoors and the streets are quiet--it’s the most beautiful thing.”

“Oh, is it?”

She nodded eagerly. “It is. That thick layer of undisturbed white powder, lights blinking through the snow--all you can see are the parked cars covered in a shimmering white sheet and the buildings along its side look like pretty gingerbread houses--it’s so picturesque. The first people to emerge are usually kids with their parents, eager to slide down snow hills before the roads are salted and the dream is obliterated by modern machinery. If you close your eyes and listen to their laughter, it feels warm. It feels like waking up to a fresh new life. There’s nothing like it.”

He gets it. He grew up in Ohio and he knew what the aftermath of a snowstorm looked like, but he imagined that New York City was prettier than Toledo, and most people would pick a tropical paradise over a snowy cityscape. Not him, personally. He didn’t care where he was.

“You’re just going to have to comfort yourself with free alcohol, white sand, and blue, warm waters.”

She gave a dramatic sigh. “I suppose so.” She followed it with a laugh. “So, when do you get to enjoy the white sand and blue waters?”

He shrugged. “I mostly don’t. In my free time, I hang around the ship and write.”

“Write?”

He nodded. “I’m on break right now but I’m completing my novel for my creative writing graduate program.”

She seemed only mildly surprised. “Which graduate program?”

“Iowa Writer’s Workshop.”

“Well, now, that’s impressive.”

He shoved a piece of bacon into his mouth. “Had I known, I would’ve started off with that.”

She threw him a mildly chastising look, even as she began to slice a piece off the pancake. “I’d like to think I come off as someone who would be impressed by a guy getting his Masters in creative writing as opposed to breaking the rules of a cruise ship branded Ringmaster.”

“You’ll be surprised at how mentioning the Iowa Writer’s Workshop does absolutely nothing for most people around here.”

“Maybe I’m not most people. So tell me, Jughead,” she paused and took a sip of her tequila sunrise. “If I were to, say, ask you to escort me outside the ship at our next island stop, would you be too busy writing your great American novel?”

This wasn’t exactly the first time he’d gotten asked out by a guest, but this was absolutely the first time he felt a thrill for it in the pit of his stomach.

She sipped her drink again and he watched her pretty pink lips mover over the straw.

“It’s against the rules for the crew to fraternize with the guests,” he said, softly, so that only the two of them would hear.

“Well, then,” she breathed. “Now’s the perfect time to impress me with your rule breaking, Jughead.”

tbc

(Image credit: Travel + Leisure)

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petrick18 · 7 years ago

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Top 10 Things not to miss in St. Petersburg

To continue my birthday week, I have visited three countries. You’ve seen my blog for Finland and Estonia, now revel into the wonder of the old capital of Russia.

1. St. Isaac’s Cathedral

From the ferry port, you’ll be dropped off by the shuttle van at the grandiose St. Isaac’s Cathedral where you would feel dwarfed by the impressive 200-year old and largest Orthodox church in the city. See the retained traces of bombing up on the pillars during the Siege of Leningrad. You can skip the viewing platform from the dome as the skyline failed to mesmerise me.

2. Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood

I just feel so lucky to witness the very icon of St. Petersburg on my birthday!

Hands down, I think this is the most beautiful cathedral I have ever been to! The walls were not painted, if you look closely, it is covered in 7.500 square metres of mosaic- more than any other church in the world! At first, I thought it was named after the blood of Jesus Christ but boy I was wrong. It was built in 1881 in memory of Alexander II who was assassinated at Griboedov Canal. On the spot where his blood was shed, a shrine was erected and his son Alexander III dedicated the church to his father. The cathedral is full of life with the explosion of colours. I can feel the mosaics communicating with me through a gust of wind that brings chill to my spine.

3. Walk along the canals

For a full experience of the city, walking is the best way to do it and you’d be passing along the lovely canals. Dubbed as the Venice of the North, it boasts 342 bridges. One of my regrets was not able to do a boat cruise of the city. It would’ve been a different perspective seeing the city by the water.

4. The State Hermitage Museum (Winter Palace)

Welcome to the biggest museum in Russia and one of the most extensive collection of art and historical pieces in the world, about three million in total! Built between 1754 and 1762, the Baroque style architecture was initially the main residence of Russian Tsars.

The works of art of the infamous Italian master painter Raphael are truly a neck breaker though I must say the ones on this hall are the exact copy of the Gallery in the Papal Palace in Vatican City.

Fast fact: the Hermitage Museum is one of the top 10 most visited museums in the world! The Hermitage's collections include works by da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Rembrandts, Cezanne, Manet, Monet, Van Gogh, Matisse, the list is endless! No wonder St. Petersburg is the cultural capital of Russia :D

5. Kazan Cathedral

Even on a gloomy day, corners of the city are still instagrammable. The cathedral houses an icon of Our Lady of Kazan which is believed to be miraculous. Fall in line and whisper your wish, who knows it may come true?

6. Experience the gay night life

I did not dare post I went gay bar crawling in St. Petersburg in fear of being persecuted. Russians are well known to be socially conservative and against homosexuality so am glad that the gay night scene is booming! We hopped from one bar to another starting at Unterwelt (really cool vibe, you have the option to chill and catch up with your friends and if you’re a bit tipsy, move your hips at the dance floor), Central Station and The Blue Oyster (more upbeat sounds, party all night!) The weekend was so good I was in denial I have a hangover the next morning LOL

7. Bibliothek Café

For chill spots I highly recommend this one, cosy ambience + slow paced life= perfection. However we had our food for take away, we had four pastries and two drinks for less than £5! How cray cray is that!? My friend and I never spent more than £25 (for both of us) for our meals! Don’t blame me though if your diet is ruined, every day will be cheat day.

8. Stroll along the Neva River and check out Peter and Paul Fortress

Good thing the best friend likes walking and here we are with the unexpected twinning! The Neva River connects the city to the Baltic Sea and played an important role in St. Petersburg’s history.

Built in 1703, the Peter and Paul Fortress was the foundation of the city. It was intended to be a defence structure but was later on turned to a military base, burial ground of Russian royalty to a cell for prisoners to a museum as of today. If you notice, the walls are of different colour. Originally painted red, Catherine the Great did not like the contrast against the blue waters as she gazes at it from the Winter Palace hence stones were imported, being too expensive, workers were instructed to cover parts parallel to the palace. A queen can also be tricked huh?

9. Admire the Blue Mosque

I asked our guide where the blue mosque was and she had no clue, I debated I always see it in Instagram so it must be popular in the city, my friend even argued it is in Istanbul. I found out (good thing I’m clever) the official name of it is the St. Petersburg Mosque. What’s blue and also a mosque? The St. Petersburg Mosque.

10. Watch a heart melting ballet performance

It was a true privilege to witness a grand performance at the legendary Mariinsky Theatre on my birthday. The experience was definitely one for the books!

I have never watched ballet in my whole life and seeing the Swan Lake before me was really overwhelming. Almost brought tears to my eyes! They say that no one does ballet like the Russians do and now I know why. The beauty, elegance, discipline, precision and presentation was the absolute finest! Standing ovation for me!

Please check out my vid of the amazing birthday week I had in three cities, Helsinki, Tallinn and St. Petersburg

youtube

So now you ask me, “how did you go to St. Petersburg without a Russian visa?” Simple. St. Peter Ferry Line offers a 72-hour visa free visit to St. Petersburg if you book a ferry cruise from Helsinki/Tallinn. For 1039 Euros for two pax, you get round trip tickets, hotel accommodation & breakfast and transport from SPB ferry terminal to the city centre. How brilliant is that? Although I have booked my own taxi from our hotel to the port (we were just too tired to walk back to St. Isaac’s Cathedral with my heavy luggage), if you’re on a budget, don’t worry, Uber just charged me £3 for the 20-min. drive haha!

During my trip, I learned Russians are very cold, they don’t look you in the eye nor acknowledges you with a smile even those who work in the hospitality industry. Later on I found out it is actually part of their culture. I would like to be a part of this resting bitch face society. Smiling is frowned upon and bursting into laughter makes you look stupid. It seems weird and awkward in certain situations especially for a jolly person like me but the more I immerse myself, I realised Russians are respectful, they are helpful, they are kind, they are humble. So don’t be afraid to visit St. Petersburg, it may be boastful and grand in appearance but it is one city you will surely love. Befriend a person who never smile and make it a trip of a lifetime.

#st. petersburg #russia #travel #travelgram #pinoy #world traveller #top 10 #must see #sights #on a budget #on a shoestring

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theepitomeofsimplicite · 7 years ago

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Dear New York City,

You are incredible! I love your busy streets and young energetic crowd. You are simply vibrant of life just how I had imagined you (from the movies, Sex & the City shows, and the songs about you)! So many reasons to have a crush on you so where shall I start?

Butcher’s Daughter

Driving through Chinatown

Ok, here are some of my first impressions of you, NYC:

It is said of you that you are the entire world into one city. Could it be real? You have a platter full of food options! As you are being the hub of internationals and a known place for storied history, you satisfy anyone’s taste bud, I can’t make up my mind. How can I decide between a casual French bistro (Bagatelle, 1 Little West 12th St.), delicious house-made Italian pasta (La Sirena, 88 9th Ave.), Exotic Moroccan (Cafe Mogador, 101 Saint Marks Pl #1), spicy Korean (Kori Tribeca, 253 Church St.), fun cocktails and Mexican food (La Palapa, 77 St Marks Pl.), Barcelona-style tapas (Toro, 85 10th Ave.), German’s pretzels and beer (The Standard Biergarten, 848 Washington St. just outside of the Standard High Line Hotel and I’ll tell more later), Green Juice (Yep that’s also food trust me!) and far more as if I was in the mood for a health conscious Californian style (not just green juice) there is Dime (49 Canal St.). And let’s not omit American sandwiches (Tiny’s & the Bar Upstairs, 135 W Broadway), and comfort food made of shakes, fries and burgers (Bill’s Bar & Burgers, 16 W 51st St.). There is also the Michelin starred Chef Gunter Seeger at Gunter Seerger NY (641 Hudson St.) and for the gluten free folks there is Friedman’s Lunch (75 9th Ave. at the Chelsea Market which I’ll speak more about in this post). Alas, due to my devoted ramen international tour mission, my friend and I set our minds towards Ippudo Ramen (65 Fourth Ave.) as soon as we set our feet on you.

Ippudo NYC

Ippudo Tonkotsu Ramen

Shook off the night away at Le Bain (848 Washington St.), the penthouse club and roof top bar with an outstanding sweeping city and river view located at the Standard High Line hotel. You blew us away! The vibe was electric between the sparkly giant disco ball, the Afro kinetics music, the sweaty dance moves, with the sticky cranberry vodka on my hand. I’ll remember this moment for a while 🙂 Not to mention our pre-game with gin-based drinks at this speakeasy bar Bathtub Gin that is disguised with a front panel as a regular coffee shop. How dare you tricked us!! Fortunately a friendly local had mercy and pointed the place out to us. Piouf don’t you know I have the fear of missing out syndromes!!

Le Bain with a sweeping view of the river and the city

Some cool walls at the Standard High Line

Bathtub Gin is behind the facade of this coffee shop

The Maritime Hotel (363 W 16th St.) is one of your best places to spend the night in my opinion; friendly, quirky (how I personally like it) and cozy. Located right in the center of the Meatpacking District. This 24-hour neighborhood is found on the far west side of Manhattan and is bordered by Chelsea to the north and the West Village towards downtown. It’s a formidable plant for fashion and graphic designers, architects, artists, restaurateurs, stylists and even corporate headquarters. I enjoyed staying at this hotel in that unique style, it has a nautical-themed landmark with the signature view porthole windows and how I love the white and blue tiles at the restaurant bar and the outdoor terraces seemed just perfect for spring time. In the morning a modest continental breakfast was served at the hotel restaurant so I grabbed myself a quick bite of the bagel with some flavorful orange spread, a mini pain au chocolat, a hard boiled egg, a cup of black coffee and a fresh squeeze glass of OJ. I love the serene atmosphere there with plenty of sun rays through the large windows illuminating the brass surfaced pending lamps.

The Maritime Hotel Restaurant

Ice Wine from Montreal

My Instragram (non worthy) messy bed at the Maritime Hotel

The view port over Manhattan from the Maritime Hotel

Map printed furniture at the Maritime Hotel

Petit dej at the Maritime Hotel Restaurant

You are so walkable in lower Manhattan and it was a great way to see your beauty (your wall graffitis, your modern architectures, your red bricked walls, your apartment stair cases, your lively people, and your multi-culture). But if I didn’t care for strolling around in the cold, then there was the world known yellow cab which was very affordable too! Besides the hotel’s cool white-tiled exterior, I can find within a short walking distance anything ranging from roof top night clubs around the corner, espresso bars, bakeries, as well as street food stands (one in the front of the hotel), yummy late night pizzas (Brunetti Pizza, 626 Hudson St.) (especially required after too much drinks at 4 am), and have I already mentioned great restaurants and bars?!

Cool wall art

Greenwich Village street crossing

The signature NYC staircases

And more wall graffitis

Chelsea Market and the well known yellow cab

The Chelsea Market (75 9th Ave.) to me is where anything can happen and is only a block away from the hotel. You are spontaneous like that! If I ever get too lazy to walk out there into town and/or there is a snow storm alert coming, this covered venue is very special! One is expected to find anything ranging from espresso bar, pastries and freshly baked bread. A crave for fresh oysters there is The Lobster Place!! There, it’s a retail fish market with omakase sushi bar but also a raw bar where people can order and eat at the counter nearby the living seashells. There is even a German wurst place!! There are plenty of cool shops for gifts giving. I love this market!

Chelsea Market

Seafood Bar

Oyster Platter

The Lobster Place

Sight seeing to me is so boring but we strolled around town and set our sight towards The Flatiron Building then marched towards the Empire State Building. I got remotely distracted by the Museum of Sex and ought to call out Grant on this! Our last Vegas trip during thanksgiving holiday failed on us in finding adult shows for some sort of sex Ed haha I’ll skip the details there 😉 but anyone can read this post here! The Empire State Building was incredibly crowded (uncool!!) so we evidently ditched the queue and headed out towards the world known Times Square. Bright lights, giant billboards and honking everywhere! It was to say the least chaotic. Gotta get away now! Who really hangs out in Times Square aside from catching a Broadway show or… yeah tourists!!

The Flatiron Building

The Empire State Building

The chaotic Times Square

The Museum of Sex, was it really a distraction?! or an attraction? Can you tell me 😉

If anyone needed a breath of fresh air when the concrete walk way and the stinging sound of sirens and honking felt suffocating and exhausting, there is fun and relaxation in strolling in your parks. Aside from the obvious green area of Central Park, I loved the Brooklyn Bridge Park where my friend and I got to have a humble picnic; with the magical view over Manhattan in the dark contrast of what you do best which is to gleam lights and inspire us with your beauty. We hopped on a yellow cab and asked to go to Pier 11. I had the idea of getting on a ferry to have a good gaze at the scintillant Brooklyn Bridge by the night. My friend and I cheered with red wine in plastic cups (lack of sophistication here, not me!) set ourselves up on a butt- frozen stairwell of the Brooklyn Bridge Park. We had some crackers dipped in olive paste and some (unidentifiable) cheese. Despite the blazing cold where my fingers and toes stopped responding to my commands, I very much enjoyed taking you in for a brief and calm sudden moment.

View of the Brooklyn Bridge on the Jumbo Ferry

Sweeping view of lower Manhattan from the Brooklyn Bridge Park

A view of the Brooklyn Bridge from the Pier 11

After filling our stomach at Mr. Tuka Ramen (170 Allen St.), we needed to walk it off a bit right so we headed towards world renown Comedy Cellar to test your sense of humor. Are you that funny? Unfortunately you are ever so crowded so we again ditched the queue and got some late drinks at the hotel. I served my friend some of the ice wine I got from my trip to Montreal the weekend before. It was so sweet but so tasty.

Mr. Tuka Ramen

Tonkotsu Ramen

More sight seeing followed on our last day photographing the one World Trade Center and the memorial site, stopped by Wall Street to find the Charging Bull and the Fearless Girl. Finally walked towards the Battery Park to have a peak at the Statue of Liberty from a far distance. But on our way to Sunday Brunch, not Egg Shop,151 Elizabeth St.), not the Butcher’s Daughter (19 Kenmare St.) (the queue estimated to be 1 hour waiting time so no thanks!!) got a green juice (must have Matcha Fizz made of matcha, fresh lime, honey and rosemary ) at the Cafe Integral (149 Elizabeth St.) and amazing classic Persian food instead (Ravagh Persian Grill, 125 1st Ave.). On our way there, I got to see life through Greenwich village. Kids playing at the playground and youngsters shooting hoops. And other people brunching too. The Persian grill was phenomenal! I’d recommend to anyone! And finally time was up!

Greenwich Village strolling

Life in Greenwich Village

The Egg Shop for Brunch

Awkward me as a tourist

A ride towards the World Trade Center

Cafe Integral Matcha Fitz Juice

Classic Persian Food

Until next time darling, we’ll have another date! I promise 😉

New York City Dear New York City, You are incredible! I love your busy streets and young energetic crowd. You are simply vibrant of life just how I had imagined you (from the movies, Sex & the City shows, and the songs about you)!

#City Guide #Life #Lifestyle Blog #Lower Manhattan #Manhattan #New York #New York City #NYC #NYC City Guide #Travel

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pandoraimperatrix · 5 years ago

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Four Names for Love

Gotham | BatCat | BabyFic | Multi-chapter | Read on AO3

Summary: When Bruce parted ways with Gotham he was leaving behind more than he thought. Meanwhile Selina is trying to find a way to herself after being abandoned again and on top of that she finds out she was left with a lot more than a heartbreak.

——————————————————————————

Finally. This is a baby fic after all :D

Philia part I

(philia)

I love you at three a.m. when for the thousandth time I thank a god I do not believe in for giving you life.

— one, two, three, four - a.j. (via ibuzoo)

Selina wanted to leave as soon as she was able to stand up without having to hold herself against the wall, but Barbara wasn’t having it. She was talking and talking, and since she had asked about her period Selina’s head started pounding and she just wanted Barbara to shut the fuck up.

Then she had something trusted into her hands. She looked at the thin carbon box confused.

‘Just pee in it, it’s easy.’

‘Why do you even have this?’

‘I manage a women-only employee bar, these things are handy.’

She gave Barbara a suspicious look.

‘Why do you even care?’

‘Because I care about you.’ Barbara said in a sickening sweet tone.

Selina wanted to throw up again.

‘Yeah, right.’

Barbara dropped the act and rolled her eyes.

‘Just do it.’

Selina pondered her options. In one hand she was scared out of her life to do that test, on the other it wasn’t like she could get another test easily and she had to know. A pregnancy wasn’t like something she could ignore and it would go away. Barbara was crazy and she surely had some creepy agenda driving her to be so nice, but she had never really harmed Selina before.

‘Fine.’

Barbara smiled in that maniac way of hers but didn’t move.

‘Get out.’ Demanded Selina annoyed.

‘Oh! Right!’

She left the bathroom, but by her voice Selina knew she was just on the other side of the door.

‘So?’

‘I’m not done, yet.’

‘Think of waterfalls, rain, dripping faucets…’

‘Shut up, Barbara.’

‘Ohhh, moody aren’t we?’

Selina opened the door eventually, she held the stick like it was about to bite her.

‘What does it say?’ Barbara asked biting her nail, Selina was deeply disturbed by how she was so into the whole thing.

‘I don’t know. What two sticks mean?’

Barbara’s creepy smile widened.

‘Congratulations!’

Selina felt the headache become ten times worse, and suddenly she felt like the air disappeared, she couldn’t breathe.

‘No. No. This is not happening. This thing is wrong.’

‘Selina… We can do another one if you like, but you said you haven’t been having your period and is tired and nauseous all the time, that’s pregnancy for you.’

Selina didn’t say anything for a while, she just looked at the positive pregnancy test in her shaking hand.

‘No…but…. No. It. No.’

‘Selina, calm down. You are turning blue.’ She put her free hand on Selina’s shoulder. ‘Jesus, you are cold.’

Selina took a few shaky breaths, closed her eyes trying to make the whole room stop turning but it seems to make things worse. She grabbed the fabric of her shirt covering her chest, she felt like her bones were too tight, crushing her.

‘You must think I’m so stupid.’ She finally managed in a broken voice and slid down against the wall.

Barbara sighed, sitting on the closed lid of the toilet, still holding her baby.

‘Yeah, I do. But considering how I got pregnant, I have no right to judge. And you could’ve got a lot worse baby daddy than a billionaire boy that love you to bits.’

‘It’s not his.’ She tried pathetically. Barbara rolled her eyes.

‘Oh please, Selina. I saw the both of you eating each other faces far too many times to believe in that.’

Selina didn’t say a thing for a while, she just couldn’t believe that was happening. From all the twisted fucked up things that ever happened to her, teen pregnancy? Really? What was her? An after school special?

‘He left.’ Selina mumbled.

‘What?’

‘He left, Barbara, and it was bad enough without… this.’

‘Left? To where?’

Selina seriously had never been more annoyed at Barbara in her life.

‘I don’t know. He just left and all I got was this stupid letter.’ She said angrily.

‘Well, not all you got.’ Barbara said a trace of laugh in her voice. Selina gave her a nasty look. Barbara didn’t seen to care. She took a weird pleasure of pushing other people’s buttons. ‘His butler must know where he is, Selina. Don’t worry. I’m really disappointed on him for leaving you in this hell hole and going to have fun elsewhere. But men are like that, darling.’

And said that she got up cooing to her baby and left Selina alone.

‘Where is he?!’

Alfred didn’t seem to be fazed at all by her sudden appearance or demanding tone.

‘Good afternoon to you too, Miss Kyle.’

Selina had to work hard to stop the urge to use her bullwhip on the pompous prick.

‘Where. Is. He?’

‘Not here, Miss Kyle.’ He didn’t even look away from him book.

Selina marched towards him, took the book from his hands and threw the damn thing against the wall.

‘Well, that was really impolite.’ He said, impassive.

‘Impolite? You must think I’m a joke, don’t you? Just tell me where the fuck he is!’

Alfred finally stood up but Selina didn’t retreat, ignoring how he was towering over her, she just looked up defiantly.

‘You will watch your tone, young lady. And no, I do not think you are a joke. I think you are a sad story, Miss Kyle. A cautionary tale. I, for a fact, do not know where Master Bruce is, and even if I did, I would respect his wishes to not be found by the likes of you. Heaven knows how long I prayed for the end this… Infatuation. I have never understood the appeal.’

Selina never felt the urge to slap someone so strong before. But she didn’t. She laughed instead. A mirthless bitter laugh.

‘I knew it. I knew it. You rich people are all the same. You never change. Even after all this years and all this crap we went through. You just think we are all garbage because we didn’t go the same stuck up parties or know how to use properly all the twenty-seven forks you use to eat a single oyster. You use people than throw them away and you don’t feel guilty. You don’t feel anything. You know what? It doesn’t matter anymore. Fuck you. And fuck Bruce too.’

She left before he could say anything else.

——————————————————————————

Well… We all know Selina’s and Alfred’s relationship in Gotham is a bit… You know. To be fair I really don’t like Gotham’s Alfred. I think he gives a working class vibe that doesn’t match the character at all. And before someone accuses me of classism, I *am* working class lmao Very much so. Slum born. But Alfred shouldn’t be. I always thought him as a male Violet Crawley. Even more snobbish than Mr. Carson. And Gotham’s Alfred feels like a Call The Midwife character. This fic is character bashing free though, I don’t do that.

I’m taking a slightly different path from my script here, we should already have the first timeskip, this story has two, because I’ll not write a lot about Selina’s pregnancy, not much happens there. We still we have the ten years timeskip too. But I think the next chapter will be the last in this period, I think. Well. Till next time. Stay safe and send me your thoughts.

#batcat #baby batcat #gotham #selina kyle #bruce wayne #catwoman #batman #my fic #Four Names for Love

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samsadventurelog · 5 years ago

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March 1, 2020

9:46am

It is finally March. This means Animal Crossing is upon us. 19 days away.

So on Thursday Brad and I went out with my old pal Warren. Bar hopped a bit. Experienced our first crazy Halifax rain. We weren’t really prepared. Some people walked around the streets in what look like full hazmat suits. I knew Halegonians don’t use umbrellas but this was a whole new level of rain preparation. We asked Warren if he was ready for the rain - but I guess he forgot to look at the weather that morning - which he was beating himself up for. He did have a protective bag handy to put over his backpack.

We ventured out in the rain. The first two spots we hit were Stillwell’s and Lot Six. Both places completely empty due to the weather. At Lot six some jazz musicians started playing right as we were about to leave! I could have stayed there all night. The place looked like a fancy wedding venue in the atrium sitting area. Twinkly lights, plants, fancy cocktails, and a guy on sax. Sign me up.

After the first two stops we did something momentous. Brad and I tried our first Donair! After a month the moment was finally right! And you know what - I didn’t hate it! I wasn’t sold on this whole weird mystery meat and sweet sauce. I went in hesitant but open minded. And it was quite good! I will try another. This post is going to be full of new food experiences - but I won’t get too ahead of myself. Last thing I will say about the donair is by the last bite it did feel like I was eating condensed milk on a pita.

We finished our night at an Ale house, also empty. Warren laughed that all these places we were going to we weren’t getting the right vibes because it was so dead everywhere. Warren’s girlfriend met up with us right before the last bar and she confessed that she hasn’t even had a donair yet! To each their own. Warren gave us a big list of recommended places so we have added those to the never ending pile.

Friday I continued training the new animators. I’m really enjoying it. Most of them are experienced, but coming from Flash, so they’ve been getting to learn the new software and they’re doing quite well! I’m primarily helping them learn program and learn our style of animation so it’s a lot for them to take in but they’re very eager and I think everyone is having fun!

Friday night brad and I just decided to go have a drink and dinner after work - casually- and then we ended up staying at Gahan quite late! We each had an oyster - which I knew I liked because I’d tried them in South Africa. Then we ordered mussels which I was hesitant to do only because I’ve yet to have some that I really liked. But I keep trying, and you know what, this time I loved them! They were in a white wine type sauce, and they were sooooo good! So I’m on way on this whole sea food adventure! We then finishished with some haddoc tacos. Which I knew I would like.

Yesterday I was feeling pretty hungover from our Friday night excursion. I woke up pretty early and watched cartoons for several hours. I checked out the new 101 dalmatians show on Disney +. Really cute. I like the designs. I could see it being something I’d watch as a kid. I used to wake up super early on Saturday mornings to catch Disney’s “one Saturday morning” line up which also started with a 101 Dalmatians show that I really liked. Then I watched some Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Again a show from my childhood I was big into. Gotta say this one tickles my eyes and I really like watching it too. Just some pure fun cartoons.

I finished season 2 of Avatar yesterday too! Oh boy what a journey. It’s really ramping up! All the appa stuff in season 2 killed me. And Uncle Iroh just pulls at my heartstrings basically every episode. Full steam ahead into season 3! Can’t wait to finish so I can start looking up memes and fan art without fear of spoilers !

We headed out to the market yesterday again, didn’t get anything but sometime I like to just go and appreciate all the vendors and look at fresh food. Does that make me a weirdo? Maybe. We then went to Yeah Yeah’s for lunch and got a slice of pizza. That place is so cool! Lots of art on pizza plates all over the wall. Cool vibes - will definitely be going back!

We then were heading home and walking by this restaurant - Niche - we’ve been to before so we decided to pop in for a beer and peroigies to tide us over for dinner. After two drinks we were on our way. Then we were walking by this bar I haven’t been to before but I peeked in the windows and saw live music so I NEEDED to stop there as well. We had a few drinks there and listened to this band called the Kokonut Kings. And they sounded like a band straight out of the bikini bottom! Hawaiian/sponge bob vibes, and some killer kazoo solos. I had the biggest smile on my face. Nothing makes me happier than live music and it’s been a while so that really recharged me! This place was called “Bearly’s house of blues and ribs” and it’s got kind of a run down vibe but they were playing old black and white movies on the big tv and always have live music soooo I’ll definitely be going there to hang out more. It’s walking distance from our house as well - as pretty much everything is.

By the time we were done at Bearly’s it was past 7, where on earth did the day go! I had no drive to cook at this point. So we decided to head home and order pizza from the place across the street. It was ok.

Brad and I have started to go to the gym in the mornings too. It’s been nice getting back into it. Hopefully I can keep it up this time!

That’s all for now friends. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

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thisisheffner · 5 years ago

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Best Music Scenes: Portland, Maine - Rolling Stone

In our new series, we look at eight cities where live music has exploded — from legendary hubs like Chicago and Nashville, to rising hot spots like Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Raleigh, North Carolina. The latest is a left-field surprise: Portland, Maine, which is drawing promoters from major cities and ambitious young songwriters.

Every November, more than a dozen top musicians from Portland, Maine, take over the local State Theatre for an ambitious trip back in time: They play a Beatles album in full. This year, it was the White Album; bandleader Spencer Albee sang “Martha My Dear,” backed by precise orchestration, and even invited friends and crew to act out “Revolution 9.” “It’s a love fest,” says Albee, a songwriter in the “lazy disco” band Bell Systems who started the event in a bar 17 years ago. This year, they packed the 1,700-capacity theater for three nights and employed almost 40 people. “I can’t tell you how many people have had their first concert experience with us,” Albee says. “We’ve even had people propose at our shows.”

Kenya Hall Photo: John Doyle

Beatles Night is just one example of how seriously Portland takes its music. “I’ve never lived in a city with this much talent,” says Lauren Wayne, general manager of the company that owns the State. “I get friggin’ emotional about it.” That talent ranges from the funk-soul singer Kenya Hall to folk harmonizers the Ghost of Paul Revere and the Mallett Brothers Band. There’s also psychedelic trailblazer Jeff Beam, and Zach Jones, a part-time Mainer who regularly releases endearingly catchy songs that find a new spin on the Beach Boys and Motown (full disclosure: this writer is from the area). When Wayne moved to Portland in 2001, the scene was “way smaller.” But now, more than a dozen venues have opened in the past decade (not to mention restaurants: Bon Appétit named it the top food scene in the country in 2018). The industry is paying attention — NYC promoters Bowery Presents chose Portland as its first city outside of New York to operate venues in.

Band members of Spencer & The Walrus, warm up backstage in the Green Room of The State Theater, before the first of three shows in Portland, Maine on Nov 29th 2019. Photo: Ryan David Brown

Best Gig With a View

Thompson’s Point was an abandoned railroad yard overlooking Portland harbor that the State Theatre turned into a gorgeous outdoor spot; Maggie Rogers sold it out twice. “It’s the best place to see the sunset in Portland,” says Wayne, adding that artists love playing there for the free lobster rolls and oysters.

Rustic Overtones’ Dave Gutter and Jon Roods Photo: Lauryn Sophia Photogaphy

Hometown Heroes

Rustic Overtones, the ambitious punk-soul crew — led by gravel-voiced frontman Dave Gutter — have a catalog that locals know by heart. The band was signed to Arista in the late Nineties and even recorded with David Bowie (stream the great “Sector Z”). But after two major-label deals fell apart, they broke up (“It’s a comedy of errors,” says Gutter). Rustic reunited in 2007 and got back to what they do best; check out their excellent first album in six years, and the career-spanning Mood Box.

While Gutter says that Portland is full of “studio lab rats, we collaborate and work with a lot of artists at our studio. After we recorded our first project there, New Way Out with 31 musicians, it kind of set the tone for a community of musicians to always hang out there.”

Best Small Clubs

One Longfellow Square is a 185-capacity “listening room” featuring left-field heroes ranging from Marco Benevento and John Scofield to Robyn Hitchcock and Elizabeth Cook. “With Portland being a smaller touring market compared to the bigger cities like Boston and New York, we get a lot of artists that [usually] play bigger rooms,” say Jeff Beam, an artist who books the venue. “I remember Leo Kottke commented on that intimacy the first time he was here, the rawness caught him off-guard a bit.” Also: check out Port City Blue, a vibe-y room that hosts jazz jams that can run for hours. “You can see a show every night of the week,” says Bill O’Neil, a longtime radio DJ and record store owner.

A Secret Country Past

Maine had one national country star: Dick Curless, an eyepatch-wearing singer who had his biggest hit with 1965’s “Tombstone Every Mile.” Willie Nelson affectionately calls Curless’ songs “toe-tappers.” “The Maine country music tradition goes back to before the first Grand Ole Opry broadcast,” says author and rock & roll historian Peter Guralnick. “Many people know Dick Curless, Maine’s one national country music star, but they’re less aware of the tradition in which his talent was forged, and which he came to influence so strongly by the breadth of his talent and the depth of his feeling. Dick started out on Al Hawkes’ country and rockabilly-based Event label, in Westbrook, Maine, just outside of Portland. In fact, Dick was the start of the label, which also featured the great jazz guitarist Lenny Breau, still in his teens, in a country and rockabilly vein. All over the country there are pockets of talent and creativity like this — but Maine, home to so many Acadians who never made it further south, is second to none.”

Portland is also famous for a show that didn’t happen there. Elvis Presley was supposed to play the Cumberland County Civic Center on August 17, but he died the day he was supposed to travel to Portland for the show. “I actually had his guitar player James Burton lined up for an interview the day he died,” says Bill O’Neil. Elvis had played Augusta several months earlier: “We went to the airport and Colonel Parker is sitting there with his cigar, we talked for an hour and a half about Eddy Arnold and Hank Snow and all these other people he previously worked with,” says O’Neil. “I actually got an Elvis album autographed by the Colonel. That might be rarer than an autograph of Elvis!”

Beatles Night at the State Theatre. Photo by John Doyle

Best After-Show Hang

Portland’s Old Port is full of exciting places to drink, like Novare Res, which has a 300-beer menu. For real local flavor, head to Howie’s Pub, a low-key neighborhood bar with darts and jalapeño poppers. “It’s not a pretentious bar,” says O’Neil. “You have a lot of your good local beers available, as well as your PBRs and your $2 Labatt Blues during the hockey games. You’re not necessarily buying the signature cocktail.”

This content was originally published here.

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singingunderthecurtain · 8 years ago

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Together For Real (ChanyeolxYOUxKris) Mini Series 5 — FINAL

Mini Masterlist

Picture not mine, found everything on Google

Author: @julietsoddeye AU: Canon/EXO Universe Genre: Angst | Fluff Pairing: Chanyeol x Reader x Kris Trigger Warning: Distrust, Feeling of Betrayal, basically some angsty stuff. Word Count: 5,341

Plot: You, an EXO manager, developed a dangerous relationship with Kris and one day he suddenly left EXO and it left you devastated. For some reason, you found yourself being in a relationship again with one of the boys. And it’s Park Chanyeol.You set boundaries with him, but he shamelessly breaks all the rules making you want to run away.

January, 2017

It’s one of those spur of the moment kind of thing and you suddenly found yourself walking in the arrival area of Vancouver International Airport. Your old best friend from childhood found you on social media and she contacted you immediately. You found out that she and your sister were neighbors in Vancouver and that’s how she got ahold of you. She somehow convinced you to fly out to Canada to attend her wedding and weirdly enough everything fell into place. Your boss allowed you a week off from work and Chanyeol was busy filming his new drama, so you knew you won’t be seeing him for a week maybe even more.

As you were about to exit the building, a bunch of girls about 10 or more was crowding over someone sitting on a random bench. You stopped on your tracks to fish for your phone that was blasting your ringtone. You looked at the screen and it’s your friend calling. She said that she will be arriving soon to pick you up. You decided to sit on a random bench, near the little commotion that was happening in front of you and wait right there for her. You looked up from your phone curiously and your eyes meet someone you weren’t expecting to see.

You sat there, motionless with a detached expression on your face. Your heart started to beat really fast and loud, so loud you can practically hear it routing from your ears. Your skin prickle with goosebumps when he half smiled your way before returning his gaze to the girls who were lining up in front of him. He was all smiles as he signs random papers and notebooks for them. The security team is all around him but keeps a safe distance since the girls were being respectful.

You’re suddenly jolted alive from your trance when your friend poked you on your arm and her face blocks the occurrence you were watching.

“Hey, you weren’t answering my call, so I just entered the airport to find you!” She said and you look up to see her brows furrowed in agitation.

“Sorry, I was distracted.” You replied to her and she relaxes her face and smiled. She gave you a hug before she turns her back to look at what your eyes were transfixed on.

“Do you know that person; he seems like a celebrity of some kind?” She asks.

“N-no.” You lied. You stood up from your seat and he turns his attention back to you when he saw in his peripherals that you were standing up. You ignored him and you start to pull both your luggage and your friend to exit the airport.

“Oh my God, he looked right at you.” Your friend whispered loudly.

“Ah really? Where’s the car?” You try to change the subject immediately. She just pointed at a car in the waiting area where her fiancé was waiting at, waving for the both of you. She dropped the subject and just let herself be dragged by you.

When you arrived at the hotel, you asked if they want to have an early dinner. But they told you that you should rest for tonight since you look pretty tired from your ten-hour flight, which was the truth, they told you that they will be seeing you tomorrow when the both of them and the rest of the family will check in at the same hotel for the wedding. You obliged and they left you to rest after a little bit of catching up.

You tried sleeping but your mind just keeps repeating what happened at the airport. No matter what you do, he just keeps popping up your head, constantly reminding you of the past. You considered calling Chanyeol back home, but he doesn’t even know where you are right now. You promised him that you will never leave without letting him know. You did anyway again this time, but you know he will be busy enough to even notice your absence. You’ve done it once before, you sneakily slipped out of the country once without him knowing. And you have a perfectly good reason for going to Canada; it was your friend’s wedding.

You looked at your phone and it's only 9 PM meaning its already 1 AM back at home. Chanyeol’s probably still in the studio practicing, or maybe even filming. You were thankful that he wasn’t calling or texting you right now because you wouldn’t know if you should lie or not. You decided to just go down to the restaurant of the hotel. You wore the heels you brought with you to this trip for the wedding since the hotel was a little fancier and heels looked appropriate for the place.

When you got near the open door of the restaurant, the Hostess who was standing stoic and poised, gave you a sincere smile while clutching a menu on her chest.

“Good evening. Please follow me.” She ushered, pointing at the door, motioning for you to enter the restaurant.

“Good evening... Thank you.” You answered as you tail her move.

“Would you like a table or be seated at the bar?” She asked while occasionally looking at you as she walks you in. The place was really cozy and ambient. It was kind of dimly lit, making the place look romantic and dreamy perfect for a couple's date night. There were only about seven or so people in there right since it’s the weekdays in the middle of winter making the place really quiet with the jazzy music the only source of a noise. The bar area was empty and you feel like drinking so you can get a little buzzed and fall fast asleep.

“By the bar, please.” You smiled at her as you answer and she smiles back and proceeded to walk you to where the bar is. A waiter saw that you were being ushered to where he stood and pulled up a stool for you to sit on. You thanked the gentleman with a polite smile and sat on the chair that he pulls up for you.

The Hostess gently set the menu in front of you and left you to go back to her station outside of the restaurant. The waiter was glued next to you as he waits for you to browse through the menu. Since nothing looked appetizing to you right now, you settled for baked oysters and a glass of Muscadet.

The wine was given to you immediately (as per your request) while you wait for your oyster to come. You sip your wine and already you feel the warmth of it coating your body. Your empty stomach churns when the alcohol mixed in with your gastric acid. The soft music in the restaurant was making you relax and a satisfied smile danced along your lips.

Your phone vibrated and you see the screen with an unknown Canadian number calling you. You wondered for a little bit before answering the call. But it ended almost immediately when you finally decided to pick up. You shrugged your shoulders half-heartedly and continue sipping your wine. You got bored after a little bit and decided to take pictures of the bar and post it on your Instagram with the caption “Oyster and Wine kind of night ^^”

As you were scrolling through your SNS, your phone vibrated again indicating a text message. You saw on the notification tab that it was from the same unknown Canadian number. The text was in English.

Unknown: So it’s still your number? (seen 9:32)

You: Who is this?

Two minutes passes by and the baked oysters finally came, you set your phone aside and started eating. An hour and three glasses of wine later, you were definitely feeling buzzed and sleep finally found your eyes. You came back to your room and immediately fell asleep when you crashed onto your bed.

You wake up the next morning feeling a lot better than you did last night. The wine helped you fight off your jet lag, you were still not one hundred percent yourself yet, but you’re feeling fine. No head or body ache, which you usually get when you travel to Vancouver when you visit your family.

______

If you Google search “Winter Wedding”, everything you see there is exactly what your friend’s wedding looks like. The theme is a good mix of Pinterest-esque and Hipster vibes but nothing too obnoxious. The gazebo where the couple read their vows were adorned with lace and white lights that twinkle beautifully under the purple, pink and blue late afternoon of the early evening sky. Everywhere around the garden were tastefully embellished with similar lights and lace with a touch of Snowdrop Flowers.

As the bride walked down the aisle, you looked at her groom with his tear stained face and it made you think about Chanyeol, the gentle giant with the stupidly adorable face who for the past couple of years smiled and shed tears just for you only. Maybe it was the wedding feels or the guilt building up over the years, but you miss him all of a sudden.

You suddenly miss his hot breath blowing on your face as he tells you that you're beautiful. You miss his lips worshipping every inch of your body as he remove pieces of clothing off of you and you softly mumble his name with the pleasure he’s gracing you with. And you suddenly miss him whispering sweet nothings into your ears when he was done making love to you.

“Yah! Answer your phone!” You sister loudly whisper to your ears; interrupting your thoughts.

“I— what…” You cast your eye over to your clutch bag on the table and sure enough, you can hear your phone vibrating loudly inside of it.

You took your phone out of the clutch and the same number from a few days ago was calling you again. You excused yourself to your sister and she nods her head once and focused her gaze back in front once where the family of the bride and groom were giving out their speeches one by one. You slowly crept your way beyond the garden of the hotel, to a more quiet part to answer the call.

“Hello.” You answer in English since it’s a Canadian number. There was a long pause before the person on the other line replies. But you know they were there because you can hear them breathing on the receiver.

“Hi…” He finally answered. You already know who it was even though you haven’t heard his voice in nearly three years.

“Who—who is this?” You still ask just to verify.

“It’s me, Yifan.”

Confirmed.

“I couldn’t say hi to you at the airport.” He spoke again before you can even react. You covered your phone’s receiver to let out a long sigh before responding.

“It’s fine, I—I understand.” You answered with a half-assed smile as if he can see you.

“Where are you right now?” His voice low and almost inaudible when he speaks English.

“I’m currently in Gastown, attending a friend’s wedding.” You answered in a monotone.

“Can I see you?” The desirous tone in his voice made your heart skip a beat and a weird bolt of electricity you haven’t felt for him in years suddenly run up and down your spine, your skin prickles with goosebumps.

You gave him the address of your hotel and your room number, you did it. After all these years, you are still weak for him as much as you were three years ago. He told you he will be there in less than twenty minutes. So you tell your sister you suddenly felt ill, blaming your fake jet lag. You tell her you’ll rest for a bit in your room and will be back as soon as you can. She said that it’s okay if you didn’t come back and will just have to explain to your friend what happened. You thanked her and almost tripped your way to the elevator going back to your hotel room.

You get there with plenty more minutes to spare for you to be able to clean up a little bit. The bed and bathroom were, thankfully, cleaned by housekeeping and only have to keep away the random clothes sprawled around your room. Just as you were finishing up, there was a knock on the door. Your body shoots up from being hunch from picking up clothes, looking at the full-size mirror to smoothen the nonexistent crinkles on your taupe dress that hugs every curve of your body very well.

You steadily, but nervously walk your way to the door. Breathing in and out deeply before opening it wide.

______

It’s been almost two weeks since you’ve been back to Seoul and the last time Chanyeol contacted you was last week when he squeezed in a sneaky phone call on his last day of filming. He was all lovey-dovey while he whispers his ‘I love yous’ and ‘I miss yous’ on the phone. It was never weird not getting phone calls from him for days, but it’s impossible for him not to text you, not even a single word. He usually will even send a selca to show you where he is or what he is doing. He never ignores you, ever.

When you call him, he never answers and lets it drop to his voicemail.

Voicemail 1:

“Hey. How are you? I miss you. I have bought Maple stuff for you and the boys. Call me when you can. Bye.”

Voicemail 2:

“Hey, I see you finally read all my messages. Let me know what’s up with you. Call me or at least text me back.”

Voicemail 3:

“Yah Park Chanyeol. What’s happening? Are you that busy? Are you still alive? Let me know.”

Voicemail 4:

“Seriously Chanyeol, I’ve been calling for four days straight now. At least send me a one word text letting me know if you’re still breathing.”

Voicemail 5:

“This is the fifth day I’m calling you. What’s happening? Are finally done with me? At least be a man and let me know.”

You knew Chanyeol didn’t get angry just because you went to Vancouver for a week without him knowing firsthand. He knew you went there for a wedding, you told him the last time you talked and he even said he wanted Maple Syrup straight from Canada, which you have to lie about not getting so he’ll be surprised once he gets home to you. Your patience finally wore thin, you took matters into your own hands and called Jae. You’ve been worrying for the past few days and you try to steady your breathing before you pressed call on Jae’s number.

“Hello…” Jae answers immediately after 2 rings.

“Hey Jae!” You greeted with a calm voice.

“How are you? How was Vancouver?” Jae asks. You can hear the uncertainty in her voice.

“Jae I’m gonna be honest. I called because of Chanyeol…” You started.

“Yeah about that, he asked me to get all his stuff from your apartment.” Jae interrupted but was careful with her words.

“What?! WHY?” You almost screamed on the phone.

“I—I don’t know either. He didn’t tell me why.” You know Jae was telling the truth and you can tell she’s pouting as she answers you.

“Tell him I won’t allow you to. He has to come get his stuff on his own.” You said.

And before Jae can even respond, you rashly ended the call and turn off your phone so none of them can call you back.

______

As you were about to fall asleep, vigorous knocking on your door woke you up. You know only Chanyeol knocks on your door that way. You locked the deadbolt of the screen door so he can’t just enter. You rub your eyes so that you can wake up completely and shout out that you were coming. The moment you opened the door, you see the outline of Chanyeol’s frame, the small door light was blaring from above him so you can’t see his face clearly. You also see Jae near the top of the stairs, doing signs with her hands telling you that she will go down to her aunt’s house to give the two of you some privacy.

As you turn the bolt unlock, Chanyeol recklessly pulls the screen door open making the nail of your index finger to get caught and broke just where the skin ends. It kind of stung you a little bit, but you pretended not to get hurt. As he pushes you slightly aside so he can enter, you looked at your finger and sure enough, it was bleeding a tiny bit. You immediately put your finger in your mouth and sucked the blood off to hide it. Once you’re sure the bleeding stopped, you stomped your way to where Chanyeol is in front of the closet and dresser drawers you shared with him.

He’s pulling all his clothes out of your closet with vexation in his action, you cross your arms over your chest, waiting for an explanation from him. Chanyeol looks at you once with obvious annoyance in his eyes and continues shoving his clothes into a big duffel bag scoffing as he did so. You’ve never seen him this mad before and you know you did something that really offended him this time. Your hard expression softens and your once crossed arms fell limply on your sides.

“Chanyeol…” You whisper softly. He didn’t answer and just continue shoving clothes into his bag. “Chanyeol tell me what’s wrong?” The pleading in your voice made him look at you. It sounded new to him. You never begged before, It was always him supplicating to you.

“You are what’s wrong!” He shouted, finally giving you an answer other than silence and dismissal.

“What did I do?” You ask, your face full of confusion.

“You went to Vancouver, that’s what you did!” Chanyeol said as he hit the door of the dresser with his fist. His anger scared you slightly and you know it’s been building up for days now.

“I only attended my friend’s wedding; I told you I went there! I even bought all those Maple products just for you and the boys!” You reiterated while pointing at the mountain of Maple candies and other stuff on the dining table.

“I don’t need your Maple shit, okay!” Chanyeol shouted again, his eyes burning with rage and tears were starting to form in the corner of his eyes. You were taken aback because this is the first time Chanyeol cursed directly at you, he never curses unless he was fucking you or he accidentally stubs his toe on something.

“Why are you so angry, Chanyeol? What did I do wrong?” Your eyes are starting to sting from the tears building up. Chanyeol’s eyebrows furrowed because of your question. He plucked his phone from the inside of his sweater pockets and clicked on it a few times.

He threw his phone in your general direction, hitting you on your thigh and it dropped on the floor in between your feet screen up. You read the title of the article “Kris Wu seen in a hotel in Canada with an unknown girl”. Your whole body convulses as your knees drops on the floor. You grab his phone with shaky hands to read the article.

Kris Wu, ex member of EXO, was photographed entering a hotel room in Vancouver, BC and exiting an hour later. After a few minutes, an unknown woman exits the room as well and was seen attending a wedding in the same hotel.

You didn’t even finish reading the poorly written article and just scrolled through grainy pictures of Kris entering and exiting your hotel room. There were pictures of you, but your face were blurred and unclear as you exit and went back to the wedding. Even though the pictures weren’t clear, you knew Kris’ fans still saw your face. And it’s only a matter of time before they know who you are. You clicked the next article and it has all your pictures and SNS information in it. You skipped on to the comments section of the article to see what people are talking about.

+++ Oh wow, she’s actually really pretty. kekeke

+++ OMO wasn’t she Chanyeol’s manager?

+++ Ugh I hate her already, stealing my oppa from me!

+++ Kris’ girlfriend is Korean?

+++ Isn’t she an EXO manager?

+++ Yeah she was! But she quit now!

+++ She works at a small advertising company. She’s a normal office worker now.

+++ Maybe she quit because Kris left SM kekeke

+++ Can’t believe Chinese fans actually follows Kris in Canada kekeke

“I recognize the dress and those shoes you were wearing in the pictures! I bought them for you, for God’s sake!” Chanyeol slumps on the floor, wiping the fallen tears carelessly with his sleeves.

“This isn’t true, Chanyeol!" You paused. "Well, it’s true. But nothing hap—“ You explain to him but your words were cut off abruptly when he stood up from the floor as he hastily pulls on his duffle bag full of his belongings.

“I’ll tell Jae Noona to pick up the rest of my clothes next time. Don’t contact me anymore.” Chanyeol said as he grabs his phone forcefully away from your hands.

You tried to run after him while you’re still kneeling but he was too fast in his tracks and before you can even stand up properly he was already out the door. Defeated, you just crawl up to your bed, heart still aching from the episode that happened. You didn’t even bother turning off the lights or locking your doors. You just lay in bed and cried yourself to sleep.

______

“How are you?” Kris broke the ice with a smile. You smiled back at him before answering.

“Never been better.” You answer him simply, the smile on your face not faltering one bit. The two of you were awkwardly seated face to face on the small dining set in your hotel room.

“That’s good to hear,” Kris mutters. “You look really good.” He added subtly before he fell into silence again.

“Thank you.” Was all you could respond to his small compliment.

“By the way congrats on your latest song, I heard it did great when it was released.” You said before the air turns awkward again.

“Thanks. I wrote that song thinking about you.” Kris said so casually like it’s a part of a normal conversation. You were almost taken aback, but you don’t let your face show a single emotion.

If you’re being completely honest with yourself, you know you’re still hurt when he left without any notice. He was the sole reason why you keep disregarding Chanyeol’s love for you. But now being with each other’s presence, you know that you don’t want to be confined to the past anymore. You don’t want to be imprisoned by Kris and you want to let yourself free from his ghost to finally give Chanyeol what he deserves, your undivided love. It was fate that you saw Kris at the airport so that you can finally have the closure you were always longing for.

With your silence, Kris stood up from his seat and he got down on one knee in front of you. He took your hands in his and you struggle to shake him off but his grip was tough. Kris looked up and his eyes bore into yours.

“I know it’s been years already but I wanted to say I’m really sorry for leaving without saying anything…” Kris started, his voice shaking with emotions. “I can’t keep a serious relationship with anyone because I know deep inside, you’re the only woman I trust with my heart. I’m sorry that I was such an asshole before, please forgive me.” Kris’ grip on your hands eased and his arms wrap around your torso. He buries his face in your lap as he keeps crying out his apologies.

“It’s always been you, I can never love anyone buy you. Please forgive me, I’m so sorry I hurt you, I know I did. Let me make it up to you, please.” Kris begs, your heart swells and it reminded you how Chanyeol keeps begging for your love all these years.

“I forgive you Yifan it’s okay. Please stand up, you don’t need to do this.” You stroke his hair gingerly and he looks up to stare at your eyes.

“I forgive you, but I can’t be with you anymore.” The glint of hope in his eyes was suddenly washed away with tears and his face fell dark.

“W—why?” Kris’ lips quiver as he spoke the question to you.

“I don’t want to keep hurting Chanyeol anymore. He was there for me when you left. He loved me even though he knows my heart still belongs to you. He was patient with me all these years, Yifan. Thank you though, for seeing me today really thank you. Because this made me realize that I’m in love with Chanyeol.” Your love for Chanyeol finally came out and this time you know it’s for real.

“I—I understand. Thank you for setting the both of us free. And I’m sorry.” Kris sniffed the snot build up in his nostril and loosens his grip on your stomach.

“I’m sorry too. I’m sorry for Chanyeol because he didn’t deserve how I treated him for three years. And I’m sorry that the guilt was eating you up. I know you only want freedom from the company, but I didn’t know I was also holding you back.” You cup both Kris’ cheeks and wiped the tears away from his face.

“You holding us back were all on me. It’s my entire fault. Please don’t blame yourself.” Kris smiled as he places his warms palms over your hands on his cheeks.

“Thank you Yifan.” You lean over and gave his lips a quick kiss and he closes his eyes as if he’s savoring the moment, savoring you for the last time.

______

It’s already almost 2 AM and you just got done with your laundry. You mentally curse yourself as you hang your blankets on the metal rack, the clothes, and beddings you needed to wash have built up for the last three weeks now. You were overloaded with paper works at your job and by the time you get home you just couldn’t do anything but cry because you miss Chanyeol so bad. Just when you finally realize you're in love with him, ready to give your heart fully, he realizes you’re nothing but shit thinking you cheated on him with Kris. You wanted to explain yourself, but he already blocked your number.

You tried not to think about him, though he is literally everywhere. From advertisements, television shows, Magazine covers and the internet. Even when you close your eyes he was there lingering in your dreams. You can’t escape Park Chanyeol. You fall asleep every night wishing he’ll be by your side, waking up every morning crying over him in your sleep. This was karma finally punishing you for hurting the one person who loves you unconditionally, the only person who gave his heart to you without second thoughts.

“Why are you out here in the cold with skimpy clothing!” Your thoughts were interrupted, startled by the whiny complaint from Chanyeol. His heavy arms wrapped tightly around you from behind. Is this a dream?

“What? Chanyeol, what are you doing here?” You push his arms off of you, twirling around to see his disheveled appearance. His legs were wobbly and sluggish. His hair unkempt and you can smell the alcohol on his breath.

“You…” Chanyeol attempted to reach out for your face, but his legs lurched and almost falling hard on the floor if not for you catching him in your arms.

“Chanyeol you’re so drunk, how did you even get here?” You sling his arm around your shoulder and proceeded to take him inside.

“I took a taxi!” Chanyeol shrieks and giggles in a drunken stupor.

“Where is Jae, why isn’t she with you?” You ask but he didn’t answer. He just pushes the door open and pulls you straight inside. The both of you collapsed on the bed, your back resting on the soft surface. Chanyeol looks at you with his tenderly half-lidded eyes, you weren’t sure if his eyes were red because of intoxication or if he has been crying.

“Why did you cheat on me? Do you still love Kris Hyung, huh? Answer me!” Chanyeol slurs his words, but you can hear his words clearly.

“I didn’t cheat on you Chanyeol, I love you I will never do that to you. Please just sleep for now. You’re so drunk. We can talk about this in the morning, okay?” You coo, turning him around and he didn’t fight it, sleep was already taking over him.

The next morning, you wake up before Chanyeol did. You slowly slip off his grip and he stirs a bit but didn’t rouse. You then quickly grab a glass of water and the bottle of aspirin you keep on your vitamin cupboard, setting it down on the bedside table and you left to go to your kitchen. As you were in the middle of making breakfast, you heard him moaning and cursing under his breath. The bottle of aspirin rattles indicating that he’s taking a pill from it.

“Good morning!” You look behind you and smiled at Chanyeol when you heard his feet shuffling. You set down the platter of pancake on the table and grabbed the bottle of maple syrup from your kitchen counter. Chanyeol grunts as he looks at the bottle of Maple Syrup as if it reminded him of something that makes him irritated.

“Did you really mean what you said last night?” Was the first thing Chanyeol said when he sat down on the chair of the mini dining set.

“What did I say last night?” You ask as you sat right across from him, memorizing his beautiful face just in case he leaves and never came back again.

“That you love me?” Chanyeol finally looks straight into your eyes, his face nervously anticipating your answer. You smiled at him and reach your hand to hold him, he stiffens when he felt your skin touch his.

“I love you. I’m in love with you Park Chanyeol.” You say and without a hitch, Chanyeol stood up from the chair and grabs you into his arms. His face nuzzles onto your hair and he inhales your scent deep into his lungs.

“Just so you know, nothing happened between me and Kris that day. He wanted me back, but I told him I have you waiting for me back home.” You felt Chanyeol smile on your neck and he lets go of you slightly to look at your face.

“I’m sorry for doubting you. I love you. Let’s be together for real.” You both chuckle at his reference and he leaned into you to give you the most passionate kiss.

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dawnjeman · 6 years ago

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Beach House Interior Design ideas

Beautifully designed by the host of HGTV Dream Home 2018, Marnie Oursler of Marnie Custom Homes, this beach house features plenty of coastal interior design ideas.

The 5 bedroom, 5.5 bath beach home is located just blocks from the ocean in Bethany Beach, DE with a sophisticated beach vibe. A calm, neutral palette reminiscent of refreshing salt air mixes with a variety of textures, wood tones, and rough stone, making this the perfect summer getaway.

This coastal home features many unique design elements by Marnie Oursler, including custom built-ins and molding throughout, reclaimed wood accents, hanging beds, exposed beams and French doors leading to a private balcony.

The custom designed kitchen is truly the heart of this home boasting white maple cabinetry, gorgeous white quartzite countertops and adding a touch of glam with a white pearl mosaic backsplash. White Oak floors throughout offer a feeling of casual beach elegance.

Outside the home, the entrance welcomes guests with a front porch and an extra wide blue custom front door, a signature of Marnie Custom Homes. The unique exterior design is accentuated by the cedar siding gives a classic beach house look. This home feels comfortable yet elegant and was built for generations to enjoy.

Pin your favorite coastal interiors and take notes on all sources shared by the designer!

Beach House Interior Design Ideas

A cheerful turquoise front door brings a coastal feel to the exterior. Paint color is Benjamin Moore CSP695 Antique Glass.

Outdoor Lighting: Hanging Light & Outdoor Sconces – similar.

Siding

Siding is White Cedar Siding with Envirobleach stain.

Foyer

I really hope this home inspires you as much it’s inspiring me. The color scheme and the decor are perfect for this time of the year, so go ahead and start getting the ideas to refresh your own home! Wall paint color is Balboa Mist OC-27 by Benjamin Moore.

Paint Trim & Front Door Interior: Benjamin Moore Steam AF-15

Paint ceiling: Benjamin Moore Decorators White

Console Table: Ro Sham Beaux leafy console (discontinued) – Others Similar: here, here, here, here, here, here, here & here.

Mirror: Made Goods coco mirror – Other Beautiful Mirrors: here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here & here.

Light fixture: Markos hanging shade in natural brass – not shown.

Rug: Natural Sisal from Carpet Palace Bethesda – similar here & here.

Kitchen & Dining

I have to be really honest with you guys… I might feature almost all types of homes (to keep inspiring you) but this is the type of home that really makes my heart sing.

I love, love, love coastal homes and this one is perfect from every angle. Just take a look at this kitchen! It features beautiful white cabinets and white pearl mosaic backsplash. How dreamy is that?

Kitchen Cabinetry

The kitchen cabinets are Brookhaven II by Wood-mode. Finish: Nordic White

Cabinet Hardware

Cabinet Hardware: Pulls & Appliance Pulls.

Appliances: Wolf range & Sub Zero refrigerator.

Backsplash & Pendants

This gorgeous backsplash is Milestone White Pearl 1/2 x 1 mosaic – similar here.

Beautiful Backsplash Tiles: here, here, here, here & here.

Kitchen Faucet: Delta.

Kitchen Sink: here – similar.

Island Pendants – Visual Comfort Katie Conical Pendants – similar here & here.

Similar Runners: here, here, here, here, here, here & here.

Countertop

Countertop on island and perimeter cabinets is Taj Mahal Quartzite from MSI.

Dining Table: Bernhardt Marquesa.

Counterstools & Chandelier

Counterstools: DesignMaster – Other Beautiful Counterstools: here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here & here.

Dining Table Chandelier – Ro Sham Beaux Fiona chandelier – similar here, here & here.

Dining Chairs

Side Dining Chairs: Bernhardt Marquesa Marquesa Carved Back Upholstered Dining Chair.

Host Chairs: Bernhardt Marquesa Upholstered Dining Chair.

Paint Color: Balboa Mist OC-27 Ben Moore.

Bar

The kitchen bar is located just across from the dining table and it features the same Taj Mahal Quartzite and White Pearl Mosaic Tile. Notice the glass cabinet doors with X mullions.

Hardware: Pulls & Knobs – similar.

Cabinets: Brookhaven I by Woodmode. Finish: Nordic White.

Living room

The dining room opens to a tailored living room with a soothing color scheme.

Sofas & Coffee Table

Sofas: Vanguard whitaker sofas, theodore natural fabric, brushed brass nailheads, antique brass ferules (Available through the designer).

Tailored Sofas: here, here, here & here.

Rug: Natural Sisal – similar here & here.

Coffee Table: Bernhardt Marquesa cocktail table.

End Tables & Pillows

End tables are Lewiston. They’re even more beautiful in person.

Blue side lamps: Simon Blake Interiors -similar here – Others: here, here, here, here, here & here.

Throw Pillows: Michael Alan Ikat Pillows, #APA-A1000377 (Available through the designer) – Other Beautiful Pillows: here, here & here.

Paint Color

Wall paint color is Balboa Mist OC-27 Benjamin Moore.

Fireplace Grate: Dessau Home antique gold oval loop firescreen.

Powder Room

The powder room features a wood flooring in a criss-cross pattern with tile insets.

Vanity: Custom – Small Vanities: here, here, here, here, here, here & here.

Bathroom Faucet: Delta.

Mirror: Birch Lane.

Staircase

The interior designer carefully designed the staircase spindles and the white board-and-batten wainscoting.

Hardwood Flooring

Floors: White Oak Hardwood stained Classic Gray (this goes for entire house).

Lighting: Visual Comfort – similar here.

Upper Landing

The upper landing is one of my favorite spaces in this house. It features exposed beams and French doors leading to a private balcony.

Paint Color

Paint color is Balboa Mist OC-27 Benjamin Moore.

Decor

Chairs: Bethany Resort Furnishings, Capri Furniture – similar here, here, here & here.

Throw Pillows: Home Goods

Throw Blanket: Cashmere throw, Nordstrom – similar here & here.

Chandelier

Chandelier: Custom, Wish Design – similar here (smaller) – Other Beautiful Coastal Chandelier: here.

Laundry Room

The laundry room paint color is Benjamin Moore Colorado Gray.

Flooring: Charleston Multicolor 3×36 – similar here.

Hanging Beds

How fun are these custom rope hanging beds?!

Bedding: West Elm Belgian linen quilts

Throw Blankets: Crate & Barrel – similar here.

Accent Pillow: Elaine Smith

Nightstand: here, here, here & here – similar.

Rug: Jute patterned rug – similar here & here.

Lighting: here – similar.

Twin Beds Bedroom

Paint Color: Muslin OC-12 by Benjamin Moore.

Dresser & Nightstand: Durham Furniture – Others: here, here, here & here.

Beds: Kubu Rattan woven headboards, Pier1

Bedding: West Elm.

Rug: Greenfront – similar here.

Mirror: here.

Coastal Vibes Bedroom

Paint Color: Decorator’s White PM-3 Benjamin Moore. Ceiling paint color is Horizon OC-53 by Benjamin Moore.

Bed: Lexington.

Bedside tables: Lexington.

Dresser: Lexington Oyster Bay.

Rug: Pier1 Imports popcorn jute rug in mist – similar here, here, here & here.

Fixture: Ro Sham Beaux, Malibu up – Other Coastal Chandeliers: here, here & here.

Blue & Ivory Bathroom

Isn’t this bathroom adorable? I am loving this blue vanity with louvered doors.

Cabinets: Woodmode Brookehaven I Maple Cabinet. Finish: Aqua Shade. Door: Key West

Mirror: Pottery Barn – Other Beautiful Mirrors: here, here & here (Floor mirror – on sale!).

Floor Tile: Chelsea Blanco (similar here) – Shower Tile Wall: Profiles Ice White 3×6 (similar here) – Shower Accent Tile: Milstone White Naomi mosaic (similar here) – Shower Floor Tile: Color Palette Pale Matte 1×1 mosaic (similar here).

Neutral Coastal Bedroom

Paint color is Benjamin Moore Muslin OC-12.

Bed: Stanley Furniture – Discounted – Other Beautiful Beds: here, here & here.

Rug: Local store – similar here & here.

Side Lamps: EF Chapman.

Bedding: here – similar.

Bathroom Cabinet Inspo

This guest bathroom features a custom vanity with X inset mirrored doors in a Pewter Glaze finish.

Tile: White Carrara Basketweave II w/gray dots – similar here.

Hardware: here.

Kids’ Rec Room

This rec room features five daybeds so the kids can have plenty of sleepovers!

Bedding: Pottery Barn pick stitch quilts and shams.

Paint Color

Paint color: Benjamin Moore OC-27 Balboa Mist.

Flooring: Custom.

Bathroom Inspiration

Bathroom Cabinet: Wood-Mode Brookehaven I. Wood: Maple. Finish: Nordic White. Door: Edgemont Recessed.

Floors: Charleston White 3×36

Counter: Quartz Arctic White.

Faucet: Delta.

Master Bedroom

The master bedroom features a barn wood shiplap accent wall. Also, notice the beautiful color scheme found in this space,

Bed: Upholstered bed by Willams Sonoma Home.

Bedside chests: Bernhardt Marquesa.

Bedding

What an inspiring and comfy look! I would never get tired of it.

Bedding: West Elm coverlet and shams, beaded pillow by West Elm – Other Recommended Bedding: here, here, here, here & here. Other Lumbar Pillows: here, here, here, here & here.

Throw Blanket: Home Goods – Others: here, here, here, here & here.

Paint Color

The bedroom paint color is Benjamin Moore Cool Breeze CSP-665.

Chandelier: West Elm round capiz chandelier.

Bench: Bernhardt Criteria.

Rug: Loloi Rugs Dorado DB 04 grey on grey

Master Bathroom

Cabinet is Wood-Mode Brookehaven I Maple. Finish: Nordic White. Door: Edgemont Recessed. Wall paint color is Cool Breeze by Benjamin Moore.

Countertop: Elegant White Marble.

Floor tile: Bianco Neve 12×12 Select – similar here.

Mirrors: Uttermost.

Hardware: here.

Shower

Accent Tile & Flooring: (mosaic): Lunada Bay Agate Rio Lucca Pearl-Silk – similar here.

White tile: Bianco Neve 12×12 Select – similar here.

Millwork

All molding/trim work is custom by Marnie Custom Homes. Wall paint color is Balboa Mist OC-27 by Benjamin Moore.

Lighting: Visual Comfort – similar here.

Mudroom

Paint Color for built ins/trim: Steam AF-15 Benjamin Moore. Wall paint color is Balboa Mist OC-27 Ben Moore.

Baskets: Serena & Lily striped La Jolla baskets (similar)

Hardware: Atlas Pulls.

Architecture

This beach house features some impressive architectural details. Notice the beautiful arched porch entry and the unique tampered porch columns.

Outdoor Shower

A beach house isn’t a beach house without an outdoor shower…

Windows

Windows are Andersen Windows and Doors.

Beach House

Who would you invite to spend a weekend in this beach house with you?

Many thanks to the designer for sharing all of the details above.

Interior Design: Marnie Custom Homes (Instagram: @marnieoursler & @marniecustomhomes)

Marnie Oursler is the host of HGTV Dream Home 2018, DIY Network’s Big Beach Builds, and the President of Marnie Custom Homes – based in Bethany Beach, Delaware – which specializes in building sustainable beach homes using locally sourced materials. Her innovative use of materials, impeccable craftsmanship, brilliant design sense, and unparalleled work ethic have earned her a thriving business. Every Marnie Custom Home is unique and perfectly tailored to the homeowner. The result? An ideal luxury beach retreat, built in harmony with nature.

Photography: Dana Hoff Photography.

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2traveldads-blog · 8 years ago

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Most random place I’ve visited in a long while: Mobile, Alabama. When I first found out that I got to go I was neutral in my excitement. And then I started researching; and then I got there; and then I fell in love. Mobile, Alabama’s theme for the city is “Born to Celebrate” and really, that’s the vibe everywhere and I love it.

Being the birthplace of Mardi Gras in the South and founded by one of the brothers who also founded New Orleans, it’s already in position to be cool. You don’t hear a lot about Mobile as a destination or a party city, but it is. It’s not a party city like Las Vegas or the Daytona Beach of the 90s, but it’s a place full of fun and pride. And it’s delightfully gay which added to how welcome I felt and how much I loved Mobile, Alabama. Anyways, here’s the scoop on Mobile and why I can’t wait to return with my whole family.

Locale of Mobile, Alabama

Mobile is at the very south of the Great State of Alabama on the Gulf of Mexico. It’s located where five different rivers meet. It’s surrounded by lush live oak forests and meandering waterways. It’s a short drive to the beaches of the Gulf. It’s a pocket of awesome in a place thought of as the Deep South.

Mobile has its own airport (MOB) and has two major interstates feeding into it. You can arrive in Mobile, Alabama via cruise ship or private charter. Basically, what’s stopping you from getting there and having an incredible time?

History of Mobile

It’s in Alabama. That’s enough to make somebody who hasn’t been think about all they’ve heard, read or seen on TV about Alabama. Just stop right there: Mobile is completely different in nearly every way. Yes, of course there are people who are stuck in the 1860s or the 1950s, but they’re not as common as you’d think. Here are some interesting tidbits shared with me by Mobilians during my visit (but might not have factual backing):

Mobile was the first city in the south to elect an African-American mayor with a white majority vote.

Mobile was the only major city in the South that didn’t have a civil rights march due to several very active public groups that worked to change local laws, including desegregating schools, prior to government mandate. They’ve had protests, but weren’t at the forefront of marches in the 60s.

Mobile has Gay Pride celebrations with lots of community involvement in addition to being involved in Mardi Gras activities.

It’s the most progressive city I’ve been to south of the Mason-Dixon line. Love it!

And Mobile, Alabama is an old city; it’s older than New Orleans. Founded in 1702 Mobile has that same French influence you’ll see in NOLA, but it’s had it for longer. And here’s a fun fact: at one point Alabama was actually its own country (for a few days), and if you know where to look you can see references to it throughout Mobile. And then there’s Mardi Gras… We’ll save that for last.

Top 5 things to do in Mobile, Alabama

Every city you’ll ever visit has a few super awesome things that will keep visitors coming back or talking about for a long time. Mobile is for sure one of those places, but we’ll keep it short and sweet… like a beignet.

Exploring Mobile’s neighborhoods

Seattle, San Francisco, Portland… all three are great cities made of beautiful and fascinating neighborhoods. And so is Mobile!!

Downtown Mobile

Downtown Mobile, Alabama is really nice. The buildings aren’t too tall and there are countless sandwich and coffee shops giving it a quiet, small city feeling. And downtown is right next to Dauphin Street, which is the main drag and is highly entertaining. The people of Mobile have been exceptionally active in restoring their city since the 1960s so the whole area west of the financial district is charming, historic and full of fun. At night, it’s lit up with twinkling lights, neon, marquees, glowing bar lights…. Strolling through downtown Mobile at night is a must.

Oakleigh Garden and DeTonti Square Historic Districts

Being such an old city, Mobile has some incredible residential neighborhoods including seven historic districts. Just north of the downtown area is the DeTonti Square Historic District. Some of the homes here are so old and ornate that they’ve each been under renovation for… well, forever. Walking through the neighborhood you’ll find a combination of Gulf Cottages, Federal style and shotgun houses. Each of the homes as it’s renovated is held to strict standard for color and outdoor features to keep the district as historically accurate as possible. A homeowner can pop into the paint store in Mobile, say where they live, and leave with a color palate for the exterior of their house that is historically accurate and perfect.

Tip: as you’re exploring the neighborhoods of Mobile, Alabama look at the historic markers and coats of arms on the restored houses. You’ll learn all kinds of fun facts about the city and be able to impress all your friends when you bring them back!

Another beautiful neighborhood to wander through is the Oakleigh Garden Historic District. Here, in addition to the beautiful and interesting homes, you’ll find some of the most impressive live oaks I’ve seen anywhere in the South. And wandering the streets below the oaks and past the shotgun houses you’ll eventually get to the Church Street Graveyard. It’s right by the old library so you can’t miss it. This beautiful old cemetery has some of the oldest graves in Mobile, Alabama, including that of Joe Cain, the re-founder of Mardi Gras.

Photo tip: photographing the live oak neighborhoods and cemeteries is best in the LATE afternoon. The filtered light makes for interesting shots with much softer shadows.

The last neighborhood that I wanted to mention is the Church Street East Historic District. This is actually where I stayed, at the Malaga Inn, and I loved it. In the morning I could walk past wrought iron railings and find Mardi Gras beads in the bushes. At night, there were gas lamps. A few blocks away was Fort Conde and the Plaza for Mardi Gras events. The historic charm is there along with bustling activity. If you’re not staying in this neighborhood, as least pay it a visit.

Eat all of the deliciousness

Where to begin?! Let’s just say that between blue crab legs and beignet sandwiches I was never hungry or bored with food. Here’s just a taste of what I found and no doubt anybody else could discover even more yum. Here are three tasty beyond tasty ideas for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Wintzell’s Oyster House – anything with the tiny crab legs or the shrimp in ANY of their sauces and styles. And their Oysters Monterey were my favorite.

Panini Pete’s – so the beignets are amazing and much more dense and, dare I say it, more delicious than other’s I’ve add throughout the South. And they’ll make you a bacon and egg sandwich on a beignet!

Noble South – this is where I learned the Southern cooking isn’t all butter and butter. Even though there were some beautiful meat dishes being served, my vegetarian collection of courses was an unforgettable surprise. Especially the squash blossoms. Perfect.

I had all kinds of other great food, but these three hot spots rang the bell for me. Each was delicious and totally unique to dining I’d find anywhere in the Pacific Northwest.

Gab with EVERY local Mobilian you meet

OMG, you don’t even have to try to do this. I met so many great people just walking around Mobile. Some of my favorite characters included I got to talk to were actually the many different servers in the restaurants I ate at. Ms Pinky at Wintzell’s Oyster House had a new phrase for how delicious each dish was. The gentleman at the Mardi Gras museum had amazing stories about festivities through the years and strength and presence of the LGBT population of Mobile, Alabama. One of the four different servers I had when dining alone at a sidewalk cafe didn’t want to talk about Mobile, but about my kids and all the weird things about being a parent.

And then Spring, our breakfast server one day. She was a delight. We chatted about food and Mobile and Mardi Gras, and then art. She’s an artist whose medium is beads. How perfect for being a Mobilian from the birthplace of Mardi Gras.

Tip: take a look at Mardi Gras bead art. It has got to be my new favorite medium and motif. So intricate and takes much more patience than I’ll ever have.

Someday when I’m bored and just want to gab, I’m going to book a plane ticket to Mobile and just go cafe hopping inviting random people to sit with me and drink iced tea. Or sweet tea.

…and sometimes the locals will dress up with you…

Airboating in the Mobile Delta

We got to take the kids on a airboat ride through the mangroves of the Everglades and it was awesome! Here is Mobile I had another opportunity to do an airboat ride and it was just as fun but totally different.

We headed just out of town to the Spanish Fort area where we met Captain Geoff. In addition to being an airboat captain, he’s also a naturalist, so boom, sold. We had three really unique ecotours in Florida and doing the airboat with Captain Geoff was equally thoughtful and educational. Between the care he showed in his boating and the knowledge he imparted with great intent, Airboat Express is definitely in the top ecotours I’ve been a part of (including some amazing ones in Montana and Alaska).

The highlight of the Mobile Delta airboat tour was definitely the wildlife. There were all kinds of fascinating birds and really unique vegetation, but this was the first ecotour I’d done that took us past alligator dens and nurseries. We saw some enormous gators, yes, but getting to see baby alligators swimming or crawling all over each other was a real treat.

Tip: if you have kids with you for an airboat tour, be sure they have sunglasses. This helps keep the wind out of their eyes and they’ll have a much more enjoyable experience.

MARDI GRAS EVERYTHING

As I’ve mentioned several times Mobile, Alabama is the birthplace of Mardi Gras. The city really is born to celebrate like their motto says. So, for starters, the Mardi Gras museum is pretty darn cool and interesting. And weird. If you happened into it without any preface you might think you stumbled into the Inauguration Gown gallery at the Smithsonian…but full of drag costumes. I’ve never seen such lavish regalia. So much embroidery and beadwork.

And then there are the strands of beads. Everywhere. On my first night in Mobile I went for a walk and my eyes kept darting around to find beads in the trees and on lamp posts left over from the recent Mardi Gras celebrations. I went on a tour driving around the many historic neighborhoods and sights and was given my own strand of Mardi Gras beads. They’re now sparkling somewhere in Mobile, reminding somebody else that there’s another celebration around the corner.

When you spend your time talking with the locals and gabbing it up with your server you’ll see that everything is related to Mardi Gras.

“What have you got going on this weekend?” “Oh, I have a meeting with my mystic society.”

“Oh, when did you do X, Y and Z?” “Well, it was just after Mardi Gras and…”

“Any big plans coming up?” “I know that there’s a ball I am attending at Thanksgiving… It’s the start of Mardi Gras.”

Seriously, you can’t escape it and that’s just fine. Seeing how excited and how dedicated each person is to EVERYTHING Mardi Gras is bizarre and inspiring. It is a complete sense of community. Hopefully we’ll get to experience Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama in the next few years. It’ll be amazing.

So I know Mobile might not have been on your radar before today, but doesn’t it sound fantastic and aren’t you ready to plan a trip? I can’t wait to return with my family and have an awesome time making Mardi Gras memories and more.

Want to pin it for your own travel planning to Mobile or the South in general? Go for it!!!

Mobile, Alabama: top 5 ways to celebrate a surprising gem of a city Most random place I’ve visited in a long while: Mobile, Alabama. When I first found out that I got to go I was neutral in my excitement.

#airboat #Alabama #family travel #gay travel #Mardi Gras #Mobile #the South

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