#I remember the time I worked at a grocery store collecting items for online orders

[roseofhybrids]

I've never understood the "it's their job" or "creating jobs" argument either.

not just for not returning the cart, but stuff like knocking things over in a store and not picking it up, leaving trash sitting on shelves, or just being rude in general when they assist you. "it's their job" isn't an excuse to act like a toddler whose parents are there to clean up after them.

Now, sometimes there are things that an employee will have to do for you that you as a customer can't just take care of by yourself. Getting a step stool and getting something off the top shelf for you, cutting and packing up meat and cheese for you at the deli, I once had a customer who picked up a case of beer, but the bottom of the cardboard was wet so it ripped, and the bottles smashed on the floor. We're not gonna expect you to clean up a massive spill or broken glass. But if you knock a can or a cereal box to the floor, it will take all of 5 seconds for you to fix that. If you take a couple jars off the shelf to compare the ingredients, then you can just as easily put the unwanted ones back in the right spot. If you brought in a coffee or other drink, then you can keep the empty cup with you till you find a trash can.

(seriously, I can give some leeway to things being knocked over or misplaced, provided you don't do something like leave a frozen item sitting on an ambient shelf. Maybe you can't bend down to the floor to reach it, maybe your cart bumped something off the shelf as you passed, and you didn't notice. It's fine, it happens. But who just leaves empty Starbucks cups sitting on shelves? There are trash cans all over the store, just keep the cup with you till you pass one, it's not that hard) Because the people that have to sort that all out when you don't are, more likely than not, already hired to do other things around the store. The job has already been created, purposefully leaving things a mess just means that job is made harder without any compensation No one is getting paid extra to deal with stuff like that, no one new is getting given a job to deal with that either

just because it's someone's job to help you, that is not an excuse to not act like a decent person. Just because they are getting paid to do this, that is not an excuse to make their lives harder

[thelolzblog]

Putting the "Pen" in "Pencil"

I do not like to write with pencils. I will, when needed. I try to avoid it as much as possible, though. I’ve tried different “models” of mechanical pencils, including those that boasted pen-like casings that coworkers recommended. But none quite worked for me. 

Until this week. Or weekend really. Let’s not get pedantic here.

I prefer pens, and a really good, smooth pen? *chef’s kiss* I have horrible handwriting, and I cramp up very easily (fingers, hands, wrist, you name it). But a really good pen can transcend its job as a writing instrument and become the tool that harmonizes your hand with the paper. 

My primary pen of choice for over a decade has been the BiC Atlantis. Its price makes it more of an economy class model, but that’s okay because I need them in bulk so I can bring them to work, too. Additionally, my purse, bags, and desk drawers are where pens go to die — or at least hang out in limbo until they’re unearthed on the archaeological expeditions that are decluttering attempts. 

Because of how much I prefer pens over pencils, I have always done crossword puzzles in pen. It’s not usually a problem, and I didn’t even think it was that big of deal until others pointed it out to me. I love crosswords. I love pens. It just made sense. (Semi-brag: friends have handed puzzles over to me they get stuck on so I can finish it.)  I also have tons of crossword books, and they’re a great stress relief that also wakes your brain up — the good part, not the part that is going Chicken Little in the moment. Most are “easy” NY Times ones, and the one actual Sunday puzzle collection I bought was just too tricky for me to try and figure out. It now remains in my spare room just in case I need to rip it up for cat litter in an emergency. 

A friend recently gave me a (very late) Christmas present: an NYT crossword book. Hooray! I kept it at work to do a couple clues between tasks to feed my ADHD and keep me going. However! These are medium-level puzzles. And they mean it! I realized after a few that doing them in pen was probably not the best thing anymore. It was time to admit my puzzle prowess was weakened. It was time to admit that I needed to get a good pencil. You always remember where you were when these kind of life turns happen, and I was at my desk wondering if my friend purposefully got me the harder book to mess with me. 

But finding the right pencil for crosswords was…wait for it…the real puzzle to solve.

The search began, and unfortunately Google kept giving me results for pens that write like pencils, and not the other way around. (Okay, okay. We GET it. There are erasable pens. Papermate has been on top of that since I was in school. I’ve also used some that wrote well, but the erasing is really just applying heat through friction. Which means things disappear if your paper gets hot. ANYWAY.)

I just started searching on my next grocery order. BiC had some promising options — smooth and hard-to-break. The store ended up being out of one type, but they did have the .9 (thick) Velocity Max. I tried them, and they weren’t bad. The large eraser is convenient. It both comforts and mocks you: “We know you’re going to make huge mistakes, and we don’t want your arm to get tired trying to remove them. Here’s your big eraser, you big screw up!” They even come with extra lead and erasers. How thoughtful! The problem is the grip: the softer, gel-like part is too high. I did manage to slide it down lower. It looks odd, but it’s more comfortable. The bottom part is just too narrow and has nothing added to it for comfort. Not ideal, but doable. Even if one of the two colors they came in was orange, and we all know that orange is a color that tries too hard.

Luckily I tend to go into hyper obsessive research and testing mode. This usually just wastes my time away, but this time it came in handy! While looking online, I saw an item that I couldn’t help but add to my cart. A Wish List is no place for a pen like this. It was a 4-color BiC pen, with 3 ink colors and 1 option for pencil. It was a sleeker, multi-functional upgrade from those multi-colored pens I adored in childhood: it was the pen version of when the Power Rangers all put their vehicles together and made the big, large thing. Megazord. It was the Megazord. I couldn’t pull it out of my memory, but that’s to be expected from my pencil-for-crossword-needing old brain.

I am happy to report there was a fairy tale ending here. The good, non-messy kind that doesn’t leave a dead witch, giant, or talking wolf in its wake.  (I can confirm no fantasy beings were harmed in the testing of these pens.)  The grip on the 4-color pen is wide and feels great, much better than the Velocity model. The grip and lead make for a truly smooth writing experience, and I have tested it out on at least 10 crosswords at this point. 

And what of the actual pen colors on it? This thing could’ve settled for just being a good pencil, but no. BiC said, “We don’t stop here. We keep going. We make this pen worth every penny.” Which was nice of them because it is not cheap, and it will run you between $5.50 to $7 — more than 1 dollar for each option. (They do throw in extra lead and erasers, just to note.) The width makes for a great writing experience for all colors. I actually used it at work yesterday to color code some notes, and it is definitely going to be in regular rotation for more than just the pencil part.

Very happy I purchased it, and I also bought some new highlighters. But that’s a review for another day.

[lexa-lives-in-us]

Saving Tips for Hard Times

I found this old document where I collected a series of tips to save money. This is all part of my experience of when I was near homeless, and some work depending on where you live, some don’t. Here we go.

BILLS:

1. The optimum temperature for refrigerator operation is 5°C, and -18°C for freezer operation. As a rule of thumb, for each additional degree of refrigeration output about six percent more electricity is used.

2. Unplug your appliances. Lamps, microwave, tv, computers etc. They don't need to be plugged until you use them, and it saves energy to keep them unplugged. Therefore, money.

3. Do homework for phone companies and internet plans. Call them! Often they are toll free and if you mentioned that you were already with them or thinking of going with them and then found out another company had a better deal, they could offer you deals for lower prices. I had to do it all the time for my phone, until they couldn't really offer anything better.

4. BIKE. Invest in a used bike if you can, especially for the warmer months. It offsets the transit costs and better your health.

5. WALK. That's the same as the bike, honestly.

6. Pay your bills on time, you will avoid late fees which can up to HUNDREDS of dollars wasted over the course of a year. If you can, set up automatic payments so you don’t forget.

FRIDGE:

1. Every time the refrigerator door is opened, cold air escapes and warm ambient air enters. To compensate for the temperature increase in its interior, the refrigerator must then use energy to bring the temperature back down. Always avoid opening the door unnecessarily and for too long.

2. When defrosting frozen food place it in the refrigerator. Not only does this ensure that the food is carefully defrosted, its presence cools down the refrigerator interior, reducing the amount of work that the compressor has to do, and therefore lowering energy consumption.

3. Never put warm food in the refrigerator as this will heat up the interior, as well as other stored foods. Hot food should always be allowed to cool to room temperature before placing it in the refrigerator

MONEY:

1. Keep all the containers like glass bottles, juice bottles, jars, cans etc. Look for your Return-It depot and have trips to return them. They give back coins for laundry, small expenses etc

2. Use that junk mail. Go through it, find coupons for food, for essentials like toilet paper or shampoo.

3. CHECK. THAT. DOLLARSTORE. They often have things like pasta, ketchup, toilet paper, batteries etc for literally 1 dollar.  Pasta is pasta, toilet paper is toilet paper. Seriously. Don't need to spend 5$ on a shampoo bottle when you can have it for 1/5 of the price.

4. Do homework and check with different banks for which one offers a better plan. Some of them are willing to help out. Sit down with their advisors, find the best solution!

5. Use the envelope system! For example, one envelope with a label “food” the other with “entertainment” the other with “bills”. Then set the right amount of cash for each. That’s what you’re allowed to spend each month. If you realize you need more for food, grab it from the entertainment envelope. Adapt and arrange as needed.

6. If you can, set up an automatic saving (example 50$ every paycheck) for both regular saving AND an emergency fund.

7. Use the 24-Hour Rule. Avoid purchasing expensive or unnecessary items on impulse with a self-imposed 24-hour rule. For any non-essential item, wait 24 hours before purchasing. It’s perfect for online shopping where your items can simply be added to your cart to purchase later.

8. Make a grocery list BEFORE going to the grocery store and STICK to it. You’re going to avoid buying things you don’t really need.

9. DO. NOT. SHOP. WHILE. YOU. ARE. HUNGRY. Or you’ll end up buying food that you actually don’t need just because you feel snacky!

10. Only use ATMs from your bank, or you get charged small fees.

11. Set a “No Spend Day” per week, where you consciously DO NOT spend any money for that day.

12. Ditch the paper: Cutting out paper towels and using cloths and napkins that you can simply wash and reuse is a simple way to save.

13. After you wear clothes, hang them outside your wardrobe, on a door or something. You can air them out a bit, then stick them in the closet without washing. You can basically reuse the same clothes two or three times without having to wash them, sometimes they just need a bit of air and they won’t smell AT ALL.

14. If you don’t own or want to spend money on an iron, hang whatever blouse you need to iron in the bathroom while you shower. The steam will humidify the fabric and straighten it up.

15. Hang stuff to dry. Really don’t need to spend money on the dryer.

16. Sign up to the library. They have so many books and DVDs nowadays. You can also just go, sit at the library and stay warm for a while, so that you don’t have to sit at home and either suffer the cold or use money on your own heat.

17. Budget, budget, budget. Get a lil notebook, write down the monthly expenses, cut what you don’t need. It gets easier with time.

 FOOD:

1.       Make a meal plan. Write 10-14 days worth of dishes that you can do (lunch, dinner, everything you need). You can then toss them around as you go on with your week, but that way you have a pretty clear idea of what you use and the food you go through for how long. It also reduces the risks of getting take out since you already have plans for what to eat.

2.       Cook double! Seriously. Make that dinner and double it up. Leftovers can be frozen or put in the fridge for the day after.

3.       Meal prep. Once a week, prep a bunch of different recipes. Let them cool down, stick them in the freezer. At that point you’ll already have all these meals at the ready to just thaw/microwave or oven up.

4.       You don’t need pop. You don’t need alcohol. You most likely don’t need milk, but go for it if you wanna. Just remember dairy products go bad WAY more quickly than non dairies, so consider getting food and drinks with no dairy in them. Mainly, though. Water. Just drink water. Lots of it too! Sometimes our brain can’t tell the difference between hunger and thirst. You think you’re snacky? Drink some water instead! It’ll quell your hunger.

5.       Freeze fruit! If you think you’re not gonna be able to eat fruit in time, put it in a Tupperware or a ziplock and slap it in the freezer. You’ll be able to then use it for smoothies.

6.       Use the Italian saying “Colazione da re, pranzo da nobili, cena da poveri.” Which quite literally means “Breakfast as a king, lunch as a noble, dinner as a poor.” Breakfast should be very filling, carbs, protein, vitamins. It carries you for the whole day. Lunch should be quite filling too! But supper doesn’t really need a lot of it, and if you REALLY have to skip a meal, skip supper. Your body doesn’t need that much sustenance while sleeping.

7.       This is for the desperate times but I’ve done it, and I would do it again if I ever had to. Go to markets that have like… Fruits and veggies. Talk to them. Ask them “HEY, can I have the fruit/veggie that you have to throw away?” Ask them if you can have the ugly produce, the one that doesn’t look pretty enough to be put out. Or ask them to have whatever extra they have to dump because is past the expiry date. EXPIRY DATE IS USUALLY MUCH LONGER THAN WHAT THE LABEL SAYS. I wouldn’t risk it with dairy stuff or with things that are VERY expired, but one or two days? Totally fine, I promise. And if you have to? Dumpster Dive. Especially at markets with fruit and veggies that have to be sold on the same day (because it’s not considered “fresh” past that day.) Or behind pizza places like Dominos or Panago or whatever chain. They get pizza orders wrong all the time. Just give a peak behind these buildings and look inside their boxes. You have no idea how many times I found perfectly fine pizzas. For free! IF YOU DUMPSTER DIVE, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE GLOVES, A MASK AND PLASTIC BAGS TO PUT YOUR STUFF IN. ONCE AT HOME, DISCARD GLOVES AND WASH PRODUCE THROUGHLY. Also check tumblr for your divers community, they usually know the best spots.

 CLOTHES:

1.       Thrift shop! So many GOOD used clothes are out there! Honestly! My whole wardrobe is thrifted and everything looks brand new. It takes a bit of research and maybe that shirt you liked is not in your size, but you can find EVERYTHING, from socks to bras, at a thrift store. Don’t thrift underwear though. You want to go new with those.

2.       Invest in some needle and thread, then open youtube. There are SO MANY tutorials that teach you how to mend holes in socks and underwear. And really, no one will really notice if a mend is perfectly done or not. After a week, you’ll forget it too! But that prevents you from throwing away clothes that could just be mended a little.

3.       Something doesn’t fit you? Too small, too big? YouTube, homie. They have tutorials on how to fix these kinda things! All you need, again, is needle and thread.

4.       Organize clothes swaps with friends and/or neighbors. Everyone brings clothes they don’t need, put them in a pile. Go through the pile and grab whatever there is. There’s no money exchange, one could go home with 1 item and one could go home with 50 items. Who cares? The extra stuff… DONATE IT TO A SHELTER.

Feel free to add more, and stay safe!

[ketakidesai]

6 reasons why Digital Marketers should NOT ignore Gamification

For the uninitiated, gamification is most commonly defined as “…an informal umbrella term for the use of video game elements in non-gaming systems to improve user experience (UX) and user engagement…”. (1)

Brian Burke, Research Vice President at Gartner, in a podcast defines gamification further as “The use of game mechanics and experience design to digitally engage and motivate people to achieve their goals…it’s the use of game mechanics… and uses things like points and badges and leader boards… It is used in a digital engagement model” (2)

Let’s take a look at the 6 reasons why marketers must consider gamification in their digital strategy. (It's a long read but I promise it will be fun!)

Reason 1: Let’s accept it – gamification is not ‘just a fad’

The last decade has seen interest in gamification rise substantially. Growth in digital technologies has further propelled this interest across sectors like Healthcare, Real-estate, Education, and other sectors. Today, mobile technology is using game mechanics combined with UX design to enhance user engagement, aid employee learning, help students with problem-solving, and even help sales personnel reach their targets.

Reason 2: Gamification is everywhere, literally!

The earliest, less refined, version of gamification in marketing was recorded in 1896 (3) when retailers rewarded loyal customers with stamps received from marketers. By 2020, one can comfortably say that gamification in marketing has come a long way.

“It (Gamification) can be applied on many products, services, or any stage of the customer journey and it’s easily adjusted to any budget” (4)

Today, Gamification is seamlessly incorporated in our favorite digital platforms like Google Pay, Fitbit, and even Linkedin. It is common to see a mobile app use badges, points, or virtual currency to drive user engagement. While there are popular applications that have gamification at their core like Duolingo and Nike Run Club, there are apps like Zomato which have incorporated gamification into their product to keep app users coming back for more.

In 2019, Zomato launched Zomato Premier League during the IPL season. Users could predict a winner of the IPL cricket match of the day and gain 30% cashback if they predicted the winner correctly. Zomato released a scorecard of the activity that showed 224 cities and 14 Million predictions achieved during the IPL season. (5)

(On a separate note, Google decided to ruin the game and sent a notice to Zomato citing Play store policy violation – Zomato had to take off this feature in September 2020) (6)

Reason 3: Your digital audience wants to have fun

“Many brands don’t need brand awareness anymore, they already have it. So they’re looking at what’s next, they want to engage the audience, the influencers.” (7)

Digital marketers need not limit themselves to using gamification only in an app – digital engagement can be successfully created wherever the audience is including social media! Micro-gamification moments have been popular on social media platforms for some time now. One example of the micro-gamification moment is Stories Ordering by Burger King.

Burger King Spain used Instagram stories and had some fun with gamification. With “Stories Ordering” followers could pick ingredients and customize their Whoppers by simply clicking on the Instagram Poll Feature. This generated a unique coupon that participants could use to redeem their Whopper for free. A simple creative idea with zero media investment led to 270000 brand interactions.

Similarly, Star Movies launched Play @ 7 (8) to gamify the TV watching experience. Viewers were required to watch the movies played on the channel daily and play 7 games by tweeting the correct answers to the games. Star Movies created a leader-board on Twitter in real-time where participants could track their progress daily and weekly.

Reason 4: Personalise to Gamify and Gamify to personalize

“While the job of gamification is easing the daily tasks in different fields, the users’ interests and likes must be considered to create intrinsic incentives and a moral environment for them.” (9)

For a truly effective retention strategy, a brand must enhance the product experience for the user. For this ethically collecting relevant data along the user journey to personalize content and keep users engaged becomes important. Duolingo emails a weekly report to its users reminding them of their progress in comparison to the previous week. Similarly, Starbucks sends rewards points as a birthday treat to its users.

As the collected data gets richer in quality, marketers can then create loyalty programs, feedback mechanisms, gamified content, and much more, to personalize the user’s experience further.

Reason 5: Gamified marketing survived COVID-19

Locked up at home due to COVID-19, people were increasingly active online, consuming a variety of content, and playing games when not working. Between March 2020 and April 2020, comScore noted a 62% increase in the time spent on playing games online in India. Another report states that the US and UK saw a ‘40% surge in the time spent on online games’.

During this time, Burberry launched its summer collection through a gamified campaign. The luxury brand created a multiplayer game “that lets players dress up their characters in the brand's outfits before grabbing a surfboard and challenging friends to a race around a track”. The game rewards participants with daily prizes and AR-based digital rewards. (10)

ABC Entertainment decided to have fun promoting its classic TV game show “Supermarket Sweep”. To announce the return of the show, the broadcaster launched a Twitter game “Supermoji Sweep”. The audience on Twitter was required to “reply to its @SuperSweepABC account with combinations of nine emoji for grocery items including cheese, bread, steak, turkey and cherries”. Every emoji had a secret dollar value attached to it and the audience was required to guess the combination of items that would cost exactly $20. And the reward for the correct guess? A Special video message from comedian Leslie Jones, who is also the host of the show.

Reason 6: Gamification is about to get better

The overall Gamification market globally is expected to be worth $76298.9 Mn by 2030 (11) and for marketers, the opportunities are endless. Game mechanics are combined with AR/VR in education, tourism, healthcare, and entertainment industries.

In 2019, Ally Bank used AR and Gamification to create an online learning experience for consumers. “The augmented reality game brings Monopoly to life in six USA cities… Ally aims to improve consumers’ financial literacy through gamification while giving them the chance to increase their savings and win prizes."

PetSmart used Snapchat’s AR feature to create a “gamified quiz based around educational reptile facts”. Using this feature users could use the filter to turn themselves into a reptile, answer questions related to reptiles, and win a 40% discount coupon that can be redeemed at a PetSmart store. As a result, PetSmart “has seen a 50% increase in reptile sales, as well as a boost in general pet sales as owners stocked up on food and supplies in preparation for lockdown..”

Digital marketers can leverage these technologies to present immersive and gamified experiences to consumers and expand the scope of digital marketing. Similarly, brands can work towards gathering relevant user data and utilize it to create a better user experience and consumer engagement through personalized in-app gamified experiences.

Parting Thoughts

From engagement to retention, gamification can support most of the marketing objectives. This is a great approach ONLY if the marketer is clear about what objective the brand is trying to achieve when adopting the approach. To elevate a user’s experience through gamification, marketers must weave storytelling or personalization.

But remember, creating a gamified experience is not easy. Experts have researched why gamification fails and these reasons range from lack of understanding of the target audience to not being able to create a compelling story. Brian Burke mentions that gamification fails when it is used to manipulate the user’s experience to meet the organization’s goal, instead of the goal of the customer (2). As a result, marketers must create an experience that helps the consumer achieve their objectives. And this means going beyond mere reward points.

I will leave you with two popular frameworks Elemental Game Tetrad Model by Schell and Octalysis Framework by Yu-kai Chou. Both these should help you start off with planning and designing an outstanding gamification experience for your audiences/customers/users!

Add alt text

FIN!

Thank you for reading this article. I would love to hear your views on gamification and how digital marketers can leverage game mechanics to improve user engagement.

If you found this article interesting or if you have any feedback for me, do share the same in the comments below!

All references and cited articles can be viewed here.

[purplesurveys]

1063

survey by pinkchocolate

Have you done any of the same things as me this year? (2020 edition)

Planned a shopping spree with a friend?

Visited a shopping centre/mall? Malls are extremely commonplace here and honestly they already serve as the main tourist attractions if you find yourself in Manila, which is why Manila has never been a popular tourist destination itself (foreign tourists usually head to neighboring provinces, which is smart on their end). I’ve been to malls at least 20-30 times this year, but that’s only because of the pandemic. I probably go close to 50-70 times in a normal year.

Had lunch with a friend? Yeah I caught lunch with Angela a couple times at the start of the year. I had a one-photo-a-day gimmick on Instagram, and I’m pretty sure I have a photo of her in there during one of our lunch dates.

Ordered pizza at a restaurant? Again, at the start of the year. Gab and I loved Italian restaurants so we definitely ordered pizza several times.

Been in a department store? I needed to briefly enter one a couple of weeks ago to look for gift wrappers.

Bought pretty new lingerie?

Had coffee with a friend? Yeah Gab and I had study dates at coffee shops every single week. Now, obviously, I just take myself.

Bought DVDs?

Had a cold?

Bought toiletries as a gift for someone else?

Had dinner in a restaurant with your family? Yeah I’m fairly certain we did this at least a couple of times between January and early March. The last time I dined in anywhere was a month ago, but I was only with my parents and my siblings didn’t come along.

Had one of your kitchen appliances break? Our plumbing is a little fucked in general and sometimes we’ll have minor leaks on the floor. My dad’s knives have also gotten a bit dull, so I got him a new knife set for Christmas. But no damage to appliances.

Watched a movie at the cinema?

Struggled for food when the panic buying began? We struggled in that it was a bitch to enter the groceries at first. My dad did the grocieries for us during that time and that was back when they strictly enforced the number of people allowed in the supermarket at one time; and no matter how early he queued, there was always already a line that got there before him. He’d wait around three hours and once he was finally let in, a bunch of alleys or sections in the grocery would already be empty or at least close to becoming empty. We never went hungry or had to skip meals or anything like that, but I do remember having to make do with lesser-known brands we never used before because sometimes those would be the only options left at the grocery.

Wanted to hug a friend, but didn't because you had to social distance? I hugged Angela when I saw her a couple of days ago, and I also hugged Gab when we were still together. 

Felt afraid of Covid? My fears over it have tamed over the year, to be honest; but I’m still wary, of course. I hate it when people stand near me and I follow the safety protocols everywhere I go.

Felt afraid to leave the house? Only during the peak of the virus, from March to around May or June. Nowadays I kinda have to go out every now and then for the sake of my sanity.

Deliberately avoided watching the news because it made you feel upset? I mean I took up journ lol so I always watch the news, no matter how upsetting it can get. The one and only time I remember asking my sister to switch the channel was when there was a report on animal abuse.

Had to cancel plans for your birthday? I didn’t have plans for it in the first place, or at least I didn’t have the chance to make them yet, so I’m glad there was nothing to cancel.

Spent your birthday at home? This was the only choice I had. My birthday fell on the most serious and strictest phase of the quarantine, and this was back when nothing was open yet.

Collected a parcel from your doorstep? Online shopping is a norm for me now, lol. I used to not trust it, but now I probably buy at least one item a week.

Eaten an entire box of chocolates in one day? I don’t even like chocolate that much. That sounds so uncomfortably sweet.

Drank fruit flavoured cider?

Eaten birthday cake? Sure, we had cake for my mom’s, my aunt’s, and my cousin’s/godson’s birthdays.

Had a grandparent move into long-term care? My remaining grandparents are all fortunately still very healthy.

Kept a journal of your thoughts and feelings during lockdown? This is technically it, whether’s there’s a lockdown or not. I tried starting a journal after my breakup, but I couldn’t keep it up because my wrist strains easily from handwriting now, hahaha. I find that doing surveys suffice.

Had distressing dreams/nightmares related to the pandemic? No, but about other pressing events in my life.

Felt concerned about your financial situation? Not mine but my family’s.

Returned to a social platform that you took a break from? I left Facebook for a few months after the breakup. I’m back on it again because I had missed the memes, but I also want to permanently delete that account for good, open a new one, and just add the people I want to keep having in my circle. Like I love Gabie’s family to death but I don’t see the point in being Facebook friends with them still, and it actually feels kinda awkward now still seeing them on my list. Idk. We’ll see. I might keep my account or start a new one altogether.

Missed a past hobby or interest? I mean I missed going to malls and bars and going out with my friends, if that counts as an interest. I had to do much less of that this year.

Started a new hobby? I started doing embroidery about a month ago, and a few days ago I started working out. My body is as sore as all fuck, but at least it makes me feel good about myself. For the new year, I also plan on starting a skincare routine after 22 years of not doing anything with my face lol and maybeeee start experimenting with coffee and buy different kinds of beans just because?? Idk, I have a lot of cute hobbies planned out for next year haha I’m excited to see how it goes.

Joined some new Facebook groups? Both for work and personal purposes, yep.

Made some new friends online? I definitely like that I’ve become closer and more familiar with the survey community here. I feel like I barely interacted with anyone pre-Covid, when real life was still a bit more hectic and when it was more difficult to find time to relax and sit down and read everyone’s answers. I also became friends with Justine, Angel, and Bianca when I started as an intern at my workplace.

Felt annoyed because you saw someone without a mask? Everyone wears a mask in public, and there are always people assigned to monitor and lightly scold those stubborn enough to take their masks off. So this isn’t the case, but what I do find annoying is when people stand or walk too close to you. Just last week at the grocery this lady was close enough to be breathing down my neck when I was lining up at the cashier; being non-confrontational for the most part, it felt like being in the deepest pit of hell.

Felt like people were staring at you when you wore a mask? I feel like people are more likely to stare at people who DON’T have a mask. 

Bought new stationery? My sister has tons of stationery in her room for whatever reason; when I need one to write short notes or letters, I just ask for some from her. 

Video-called your extended family and friends? For sure. We did this a lot especially during the earlier parts of the year.

Written a letter to someone you missed?

Disagreed with the behaviour of a friend?

Felt surprised when someone wanted to be your friend? No one directly said it to me; but as an intern on my first day of the job, it was a really pleasant surprise to find that the co-interns I was going to be with weren’t boring, unemotional cogs who just aimed to do work. They were HILARIOUS from the get-go, was confused as fuck about work, and I could see they just wanted to make our tiny intern family a close-knit and happy group, to which I gladly agreed and went along with.

Bought a new pair of shoes? I got new shoes meant for my first job interview, but I haven’t gotten any brand new sneakers in a while :(

Replaced some toiletries that you ran out of during lockdown? I guess? Toiletries are necessities, so.

Bought some new books? I read new ones, but I didn’t buy them. Some I saw copies of on the internet; one was given as a gift to me.

Bought new cosmetics? I don’t use those.

Received a belated birthday present?

Received a present from a friend overseas?

Discovered a new author that you liked?

Felt like you were drifting away from people you were once close to? *A person. Yeah, well.

Found out that someone you knew had contracted Covid?  She’s a mutual friend from my high school days. We aren’t close but we’ve kept in touch by still following each other on social media. She wrote about her experience with Covid on a blog entry.

Realised you had formed a deep connection with someone? I got a lot closer with Andi both because we had to work together for our thesis and because they were there for me, unconditionally and untiringly, when I was coping with my breakup and was in rough shape.

Worried about the financial situation of someone close to you? Of my family, like I said, yes. We had to sell the Vitara because the money that pours into the household monthly isn’t enough to keep paying for it. To be fair, that car was a very big impulse buy by my dad, so we didn’t and don’t feel too bad about losing it hahaha. 

Let your guard down to someone? I don’t think so. I was on red alert this year since Gab increasingly broke my trust.

Had an issue with something on social media? Yeah, but I don’t want to get into it. That was such a long time ago and is so irrelevant now.

Felt disconnected from others? I deliberately did so three months ago, so much so that I had acquaintances I barely talked to since graduating talk to Andi and ask where I’ve been.

Changed your internet provider? We’ve had the same one for like 8-9 years now. It works pretty okay for five people who stream videos all day, so we haven’t felt the need to switch.

Felt fortunate/thankful? I mean I’m here, scar-less, and happy with myself on December 31, 2020, right?

Tried some new foods that you enjoyed? Baked sushi is so fucking good.

Re-read a book that you loved? Crazy Is My Superpower by AJ Mendez (aka my favorite girl wrestler, AJ Lee) is always a good read to come back to.

[eldritchsurveys]

865.

Are you still in quarantine/under stay at home order? (if you're taking this during Covid-19, that is) >> No, the governor’s executive stay-at-home order ended in June. Personally, I still stay at home except for weekly grocery trips and trips to the Wayland house because... well, where else am I going to go? Aside from take walks.

Has stuff been opening back up where you are? >> Eh. It’s been kind of confusing. Many restaurants are still closed / doing takeout, but I’ve heard that they’ve tried opening bars back up, which sounded completely dumb to me, like... of all places? but whatever. Most stores are open, I believe, with mask-wearing encouraged (I say it like that because it really is just a suggestion. There are no actual consequences for walking into a store without a mask, unfortunately, so some people still do it).

What have you missed most that you haven't been able to do due to Covid-19? >> I’ve mostly missed J. Gardella’s Tavern, which was on its way to being shut down anyway because they’d been bought out by some gastropub fuckers. But because of the executive order, I never got to go there for a last round. :( Also, I miss just being able to go downtown etc and walk around and do stuff. In general.

What state do you live in? >> Michigan.

Do you personally know anyone who has had Covid-19? >> No.

Have you had it? (or think you might have?) >> I have not had it, nor do I think I have it. Sometimes I get paranoid because there’s apparently quite a few “non-obvious” type symptoms that have gotten connected to COVID infection (like digestive issues), but, whatever.

Do you know anyone who is a healthcare worker? >> No. Sparrow works in a podiatrist’s office, but that’s not really the kind of healthcare worker I think this question means.

Have you still been working these past few months or not? >> I don’t work, period.

If you weren't working, are you still in school? >> No.

What is/was your major in college? >> ---

Or if you're not in college yet, what do you want to study? >> ---

If your school closed due to Covid-19, do you miss it? >> ---

What are you most excited about when life goes (somewhat) back to normal? >> I will be glad when we can stop wearing masks. You know, in like late 2021 or whenever. Because it sure won’t be any time soon, I can tell that much.

Did Covid-19 impact any major plans you had for this spring/summer? >> I didn’t have any major plans. All my ideas for the summer were pretty minor.

Do you collect anything? >> No.

What's the name of your favorite restaurant? (chain or local) >> Long Road Distillery.

What is your favorite thing to order when you eat there? >> I don’t remember, we were only there for dinner once but I immediately fell in love with the menu (and the drinks, by god).

Have you still been able to get food from there during Covid-19? >> Yeah, they have online ordering and curbside pickup. They make cocktail kits, too, which is cool.

Are you planning on eating there anytime soon when they reopen? >> Oh god, yeah. Definitely not any time soon even if they do reopen sooner than I think is safe, but... yeah.

Have you discovered any good new music during quarantine? >> I discover new music all the time.

What's a new song you've been loving lately? (not necessarily newly released, just something you've recently discovered) >> Heard a cover of Huey Lewis and the News’ Stuck With You by Twelve Foot Ninja recently that I thought was fun. Honestly, that song is just fun no matter what, though.

Have you been able to keep in touch with friends during this time? >> The majority of my social interaction was online anyway, so.

What is your favorite Starbucks drink? >> ---

Do you prefer Starbucks or a local coffee shop? >> I prefer local everything.

What was your favorite TV show when you were a kid? do you still ever watch it? >> ---

Have you been watching a lot of movies during quarantine? >> No more than I would be usually, since my daily life didn’t change as dramatically as most people’s did. But yeah.

What is your favorite Disney movie? >> Lilo & Stitch.

Do you have Disney plus? >> Nope.

Are you a fan of Hamilton? >> Never seen it.

Are you planning to watch Hamilton on Disney plus? >> No, because I don’t have Disney+...

Have you seen Hamilton live? (Broadway or elsewhere) >> No...

What is your favorite musical? >> Phantom of the Opera.

Have you watched any musicals online recently? >> No.

What was the last live performance you went to before quarantine? >> The last live performance I saw was the various acts at the Endless Night Vampire Ball in October.

What was the best concert you've ever been to? >> I’ve been to too many concerts to answer this.

Do you volunteer anywhere? >> No.

What is your favorite movie on Netflix? >> ??? There are... so many movies on Netflix.

Did you relocate due to Covid-19? >> No.

What is one positive thing about the past few months for you? >> I’m not sure.

Do you prefer streaming music or buying it? >> I stream it. I can’t in any way afford to buy the amount of music I listen to.

Do you use Spotify? >> Yeah.

What was the last book you read? >> The last book I finished was Making Friends With Death.

Have you been baking during quarantine? >> No. Sparrow did when she was furloughed.

What is your favorite thing to bake? >> I don’t like to bake.

Do you enjoy doing crafts? >> Eh.

Have you ever done crafts for money? >> No.

Do you shop on Etsy? >> Yes.

Have you ever sold anything on Etsy? >> No.

What song are you listening to right now? >> None. I thought about putting some on and then I forgot.

What genre of music is your favorite? >> ---

Can you speak any foreign languages? >> Not fluently.

What is/was your favorite class in school? >> ---

Who was your favorite teacher most recently? >> ---

What is the lock screen and home screen on your phone? >> Lock screen is a shot of Sam from Death Stranding. Home screen is from a live performance of Phantom.

Do you play Animal Crossing? >> Sometimes. Sparrow plays it more than I do, but even she’s stopped playing it as much because of that whole “get your island to a 5-star rating!” bullshit. It’s just aggravating.

Do you have any pets? What kind? What is/are your pet(s) name(s)? >> Sparrow has a cat and his name is Spooky.

what is a song lyric you love? >> Right, I’m definitely not going to think of that off the top of my head right now.

Have you done anything recently to support Black Lives Matter? >> No.

Are there any songs you feel transport you to a world that doesn't exist? >> They transport me to worlds that do exist. Just not on this plane.

What songs do that for you? >> Wardruna is good for it. But there are plenty of others, I’m just not trying to think of them all right now.

What is your favorite ethnicity/cuisine of food? >> Can’t choose.

What are some popular things that you don't like/aren't interested in? >> TikTok is one. Sparrow loves it and I watch the videos she shows me, and I don’t hate it or anything, but I would never download the app myself. Just not interested.

When was the last time you got a haircut? >> I last cut my hair... uh... a week ago? Roundabouts.

What was the last movie (or musical) you watched? >> The last movie I watched was The House That Jack Built.

What was the last movie you saw in the theatre? >> Birds of Prey.

How soon are you planning on going back to work? (If you've been off) >> ---

What is an item you own that means a lot to you? >> I finally got my Death Is the Road To Awe t-shirt and it means a lot to me because of what it references.

Do you have a favorite t-shirt? >> No.

What other proshot musicals would you love to see streaming online? >> *shrug* Haven’t thought about that.

What is something you're looking forward to? >> This heat wave to be over. I’ve had to skip so many daily walks because it’s just so hot so early lately.

How do you plan on celebrating Covid-19 being over, whenever that is? >> The problem with this idea is that... it’s not that simple? From what I understand, it’s not like one day we’re all gonna say “that’s it! we’ve officially eradicated this virus from the earth and we will never have to worry about it again!” I’m guessing it’s going to be a slow process of reopening with a lot of false starts and rollbacks (as new waves crest and protective measures have to be re-implemented). Even that first day that I go out to a restaurant is probably going to feel really weird and even a little “wrong”. I’m not sure how much celebrating is really going to be happening.

[smythesm]

Violent Delights-Sebastian Solo Para/February 15, 2020

Para: Violent Delights

Rating: PG

Pairing: Sebastian and his thoughts??

When: February 15, 2020 

Location: Boston.MA

Notes: Sebastian may have a connection to a certain Goddess of Love. 

Warnings: A priestess that means well but may come across a little creepy??

Sebastian liked to send flowers. It was classy and thoughtful but, not too deep. He would send them to his mother often, his old nanny, his mom’s staff, the mail lady that always made sure his packages arrived at his doorstep safely. Seb would send them to Blaine if he didn’t already know how to perfectly craft a beautiful, colorful bouquet from a single blade of grass. He usually would go online to send his flowers but, there was this one little shop a couple of blocks away from his apartment that always caught his attention. 

He often walked past it when running errands, it was painted pastel pink with two big picture windows, bordered with white trim, that would have different displays according to various seasons and holidays. All of the people that worked there were beautiful but, different looking. Love songs always played and there were always doves sitting in the blooming flower boxes out front. It was called ‘Friday’s Flower Shop’ and one of the workers always called out when he walked by.

Sebastian had never really thought much about it at first. He got a lot of attention,well, everywhere. He often got numbers slipped to him by cougars at the grocery store, men would buy him drinks at bars, baristas would give him free coffee or write cheeky messages on  his cups. It always seemed that somebody was trying to catch his gaze or win a smile from him. Seb used to love to flirt, and he would flirt with everyone. Women, men, everybody in between. He liked collecting numbers, liked flicking the little hopeful pieces of paper into trash cans, liked to wink at the shy girl at Starbucks who blushed every time he ordered his Venti Americanos. Sebastian liked getting free drinks but he loved playing the game. The tilt of his neck meant, ‘come over and talk to me.’ The droop of his eyelids said, ‘You might stand a chance.’ None of it mattered anymore, though. He had Blaine who fulfilled him in every way imaginable. Now Sebastian’s smile meant, ‘I think you’re wonderful.’ and his palm pressed to Blaine’s said, ‘I love you.’

So, all of that being said, he was used to attention. When the girls at Friday’s whistled and blew kisses he’d nod and flash a smirk. He thought it was pretty forward but appreciated how old fashioned and innocently sexy it seemed (Seb loved a confident woman). Sometimes the boys would hand him a single rose or a chocolate. Sebastian would thank them and bring the treats home for B. Blaine asked once about the shop and quirked an eyebrow when Seb had told him which one it was. It had been pretty early on in their relationship and they had never spoken about it again. 

It didn’t get weird until recently, when the owner beckoned him on his way to grab a few groceries. She was petting a dove (Yes….petting it.) and lazily called out to him by name. Sebastian found it strange that she would remember considering he only ordered flowers there once or twice. Maybe it was because all of her employees seemed to collectively have a crush on him. Not much made him do a double take but, his name in her sleepy voice made him stop and look around.

“Yes you,silly boy.” She gave the bird one last gentle pat before it flew off. She tilted her head, ‘come over and talk to me.’ Seb’s throat suddenly felt dry as he stepped in front of the big windows that were filled with hearts crafted out of roses and statues of voluptuous women and seashells and sprigs of myrtle. 

He was distracted by the display when her hand was on his cheek. It wasn’t startling like it should have been. Her skin was soft and she smelled like the ocean, like salt and white flowers and sandy hair. She smiled and dropped her hand. He thought that her eyes looked sad. “Star crossed lovers will always find each other, you know. Romeo and Juliet, Achilles and Patroclus. Tristan and Isolde.” When Sebastian just blinked she laughed and said, “Oh! You have no idea how magnificent you are!” She clapped her hands and sighed, “She really knew what she was doing when she picked you.” The woman fluttered her hands in the air and the gold bangles she wore slid on her slender arms. “I just love a tragic story. Things are happening, don’t you feel it?”

“Wh-what do you know?” Sebastian leaned forward and clasped her soft hands back, her bracelets jangled like wind chimes. “Nobody is supposed to know. Please, I-” She placed a finger to his lips, her nails were painted a sparkly red color. “Hush. All good things cost something.” Sebastian could hear a love song on the wind as a customer left the shop carrying a giant bouquet of various purple flowers (‘Purple for admiration and success. He wants a raise.’ she had mused as he passed). ‘Wise men say, only fools rush in…’

Seb, who was almost never flustered, who used to flirt with dad’s in Target in front if their wives, who could argue in the courtroom, couldn’t get his mouth to utter anything but, “I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about.” His stomach seemed to fill with butterflies and his ears buzzed when she mentioned star crossed lovers. 

“Poems will be written about you and your lover. Ballads and songs...history will be made. How dreamy.” She sighed again and looked towards the sky. A dove landed on the shop’s pink sign.  “I’ll make an offering for you, sweet boy.” She reached out and clasped his hands. Sebastian had noticed the word ‘offering’, a word Blaine used often. Was this….a witch? 

She let his hands drop and plucked a single magenta peony from the flower box that hung from the window they stood by. “For luck. Though, I don’t deal with that much.” She winked and moved her hands towards the sidewalk, a signal for him to be on his way. 

Sebastian took a deep breath and held onto the flower. He was in no mood to grocery shop now and was left with even more questions. Since the visit from Hunter, things were tense, things suddenly felt dangerous for the first time. Now, some random witch lady who ran a flower shop had made him feel like he and Blaine weren’t as secretive or careful as they had thought they were.  

He walked in a daze and couldn’t shake the negative feeling in his head as he grabbed dog food and soy milk. Sebastian swiped his card and barely interacted with the employee who bagged his items. He just kept thinking of the couples that flower lady had mentioned and the one thing they all had in common-death. How was he supposed to explain any of this to his poor boyfriend who had been so stressed out and upset and hard on himself since the Paris debacle? Could he tell Hunter or would it just end in him being reprimanded again? 

In fair Boston, where we lay our scene, things were changing alright. 

/fin

[jade4813]

Sparks Fly, Chapter 8

Title: Sparks Fly

Rating: NC-17

Synopsis: Everybody knows sparks fly whenever Barry Allen and Iris West are together. Their mutual animosity is legendary. But when Iris returns to Central City to investigate recent sightings of a mysterious red streak, she discovers a hero she just can’t resist…and Barry struggles to hide the unrequited feelings he can’t deny.

Chapters: 8/?

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Barry sat in silence as Iris told him the story of her father’s first meeting with the man in yellow, just as he had once told her. When she was finished, he scratched his cheek thoughtfully. Her story had caused him no small measure of alarm on her behalf, but he tried to hide his reaction. He doubted he’d be able to give up her quest for her own safety, anyway. “I can understand why you’re determined to track him down,” he said slowly. “So, how were you planning to find him?”

She scowled, dropping into a chair. “That’s the thing. I thought he was you. The Flash, I mean. It never occurred to me that there might be two speedsters running around the city.”

“How did you know it wasn’t me?” Barry asked. “I mean, it’s not. But how did you know?”

Iris shrugged. “Dad swore he got a glimpse of his face once and said he looked older. In his forties at least. And that was years ago. The Flash was too young.”

Tapping his fingers on his knee, he asked, “He said he liked you, but you were a child back then. That’s weird, isn’t it? Did your parents think they’d met him before? Somewhere public, like a park or the grocery store or something?”

She shook her head. “No. That struck my dad as strange, too. But he swore the man in yellow didn’t look familiar. My mom never saw him, but she said he didn’t sound like anyone she remembered.”

“Hm,” he grunted. “Do you have a piece of paper? I want to jot down some notes. Helps me keep my thoughts in order. Also, do you have a list of possible sightings since the particle accelerator explosion? I might be able to help you narrow them down.”

“Sure.” She jumped to her feet and rifled through a pile of papers on the table before pulling out a slim notebook and pen. After handing it over, she turned her attention to her notes on possible sightings. As she spread them out over the table, she asked, “What are you writing?”

“I thought it would be helpful to make a list of questions. We may not have enough information to answer the big ones – like who he is and why he targeted you – but maybe it’ll help us identify the next steps in the investigation.”

She paused at the implication that they would be conducting the investigation together, but after a second, she continued laying out her stack of papers without comment. “Okay, I’ve laid out all the sightings that seemed remotely credible. Want to take a look?”

Barry stood and moved to stand beside her. A second later, he handed her several pieces of paper. “Well, we can rule these out. I’m pretty sure these were all me, before I made my suit.” At her mild look of surprise, he explained, “Ah…I read fast.”

“Um…okay,” she replied, setting the stack aside before gesturing to several other pieces of paper. “What about those? I thought those might have been the Flash, but they happened when you were in the coma.” She paused, then asked softly, “You were in a coma, right? That part was true?”

He nodded. “That part was true,” he answered in an equally soft tone.

“I’m sorry. I-I really am glad you’re okay.”

He shifted his weight, a nervous gesture, and lifted a few more sheets of paper off the table. “These weren’t me, but I’m not sure they sound too credible, either. They seem more like coincidence than the work of a speedster. I’m not sure about the others, so I think we should keep them in a ‘maybe’ pile for now.”

“I agree.” She pointed to the rest of the papers on the table. There weren’t many left. “But those were definitely the man in yellow.” Tilting her head to the side, she considered the accounts in front of her. “Have you heard of any other metahumans from before the particle accelerator explosion?”

He frowned, his brow furrowed in thought. “I haven’t,” he admitted. “Every meta I’ve met got their powers that night. Including me. Where did his powers come from?”

She shrugged. “Why me? If he was after me now, I could kind of understand why. It could be because of one of my stories, or because I know the Flash. But I was a child, and it was long before you got your powers. Why me? Why target a child? And to keep that obsession over decades…” Her comment trailed off as she yawned widely, and it was then that he noticed the time.

“It’s late,” he remarked regretfully. “Can I have copies of these? I want to look into them some more.”

Iris nodded. “Take those. I have copies on my computer. You’ll see some predated the explosion, but there have been a few sightings since. Not all of them connect to me, as far as I know, so I started with those. I’ve been doing some digging online, trying to figure out if there’s something that connects them. Or if anything unusual happened at those locations.”

Barry considered one of the items in question. “Well, this sighting happened outside the Central City Hospital.”

“That’s where the victims of the particle accelerator explosion were taken.”

He threw her a wry smile. “I’m aware. You think he’s interested in one of them?”

Iris shrugged. “Maybe. It’s not much to go on, but it’s something. The thing is, I don’t know the identities of everyone who was injured in the explosion. Privacy laws and all that. I’ve been investigating, but…”

“Maybe I can help. We should have police reports from the investigation following the explosion. I can see if anything turns up.”

She paused, considering his offer. Finally, she agreed, “I…would appreciate that. Thank you.”

Barry smiled. “Give me a couple days. I’ll see what I can do.” Scooping up the papers, he turned to the door. “I just –” he broke off, uncertain how to continue. “Good night, Iris.”

“Good night, Barry.”

Barry sat at his desk, staring blindly at the file in front of him. He was supposed to be testing evidence collected from a crime scene, but he was distracted, unable to stop thinking of the list of dates and locations he’d compiled from the papers he’d borrowed from Iris. A few had general times, but nothing terribly specific.

He halfheartedly flipped through the pages in the file before setting it aside once more. With two fingers, he caught the edge of the paper and slid it out from under the stack of folders. Dates and locations. They didn’t tell him much.

What was the man in yellow after? Why was he focused on Iris? Was he somewhere in the city right at that moment? Lurking? Gearing up for some sort of attack against Iris? If so, why wait so long? Barry wasn’t eager for her to be put into danger, of course, but if the man in yellow was determined to hurt Iris, he was certainly playing a long game.

And when he talked about breaking someone’s soul, who did he mean? Iris’s dad? Or someone else?

There were so many questions, and no amount of staring at this list provided ready answers.

He was so lost in thought that he didn’t hear the knock on the door. “Barry?” He turned at the sound of his name to find Caitlin standing behind him, the look on her face making it clear that it hadn’t been the first time she’d tried to get his attention. “Everything okay? You were pretty lost in thought there.”

“What? Oh…yeah. Sorry. I’m just…working on a case. What’s up?”

She smiled. “I had a little free time this afternoon. Thought I’d see if you were free for lunch.”

“Ah…sure. Give me just a second. Let me lock up some of this evidence.” Barry forced himself to focus on the task at hand, knowing a slip in the chain of custody could compromise an entire case.

As he turned to lock up some samples in the cabinet, Caitlin approached the desk. “What’s this?” she asked, picking up the list he’d been mulling over earlier.

He spun on his heels, fighting back the urge to speed over and snatch it from her hands. It seemed odd to be so protective of Iris’s investigation, but it also wouldn’t do to act rashly and reveal his secret. “Oh…ah. Just an investigation I’m working on. With Iris.”

“You’re working with Iris?” she repeated, looking up at him in surprise. “Without killing each other?”

His laugh was a little forced as he ran a hand through his hair. “More or less. Anyway, I told her I’d look through some police files. See if there was anything important that happened at those locations on those dates.”

“Hm.” He stepped forward and tried to think of a way to gently take the paper from her when she made a soft sound, almost like a chuckle. “That’s funny.”

His hand froze in mid-air. “What’s funny?”

“Oh, nothing.” Something in his expression must have caught her attention, however, because she continued, “I mean, it’s nothing important. It’s just…it’s a coincidence, I’m sure. But, um, look at the third entry down.”

He took the paper she held out to him and scanned the list. The third entry down near the university campus, but the date didn’t mean anything to him. “Yeah?”

“Recognize it?” she prompted.

Barry shook his head slowly. “It’s by campus, but –”

Caitlin rolled her eyes. “It’s by the campus bookstore. That’s the day we met. Kind of funny, isn’t it? I don’t remember anything major happening around there that day, but –”

“Wait. Are you sure?” He demanded, scanning the list one more time. When she broke off with a mild look of surprise, he pressed, “Are you sure?”

“Yes! Of course I’m sure! I remember the day because I moved to campus the day after my mother’s birthday, and we had –”

“I have to go. I’m sorry. I have to go,” he blurted, shoving the list in his pocket. “I’ll – I’ll call you later, okay? We’ll grab lunch another time.” Before she could say anything else, he was out the door.

He watched as Barry followed the brunette into the bookstore. He’d been plotting the next step in his plan, and it seemed like fate was, for once, on his side. Could it really be this easy?

He knew it wouldn’t be easy to find a way to separate Barry and Iris, to keep them from falling in love, to prevent her from becoming the Flash’s lightning rod. The speed force would likely be working against him. For that reason, he didn’t dare try the direct approach. Attack her directly, and he had a feeling that the speed force would intervene. Chip away at Barry and Iris bit by bit, destroy the foundation of what they would one day become, and he just might succeed.

The first step was to put an obstacle between them before they could even fall in love. He hadn’t been certain how he would do it at first, but then he saw her. Caitlin Snow.

She was younger than he’d ever known her. More carefree. But he could only hope that the Caitlin in this alternate reality he’d created wasn’t entirely unlike the woman he’d known. The Dr. Caitlin Snow he’d known – and manipulated – had been emotionally fragile. After losing the love of her life, Ronnie Raymond, she’d been adrift. Lonely. Easily manipulated. Eager to cling to the first handsome face that came along.

Now she might not be grieving the loss of her fiancé, but she was new in town. Just about to embark on a new adventure. Alone. Friendless.

Maybe, like her counterpart in another timeline, she’d be eager to cling to the first handsome face that came along.

Of course, that didn’t mean Barry fall for her. In every world, in every time, in every reality, his heart seemed to be waiting for Iris. But the man in yellow didn’t need Barry to fall in love with Caitlin – or anyone else, for that matter. It was just another tiny piece of his overall plan.

He lifted the collar of his coat, having left his yellow suit at home for now, and saw Caitlin glance behind her. A slight frown creased her brow when she noticed him. She flushed and turned away when he smiled at her in return. Oh, yes. This was going to be almost too easy.

Chip, chip, chip.

[tsghuntsvillealabama]

#stayconnectedHUNTSVILLE

This is our home. And even during these crazy times, living and loving local is even more important than ever! We can still support small businesses and community in Huntsville and our surrounding areas! In order to help everyone with this we have pulled some info about local members and our fair city to do just that!

Take care and be well everyone!

xoxo (but with elbow bumps now), Dawn

Updated: Monday, April 14th - 12:27am

Local Info About Our City of Huntsville

Huntsville City Resource and Information page, remember there are live media briefings weekdays at Noon

Huntsville City Council met on Monday, March 16th and unanimously voted for a state of emergency, The State of Alabama has issued a “Stay at Home” Public Health Order requiring individuals to remain in place at home with exceptions for essential work and certain activities such as buying groceries, going for a run, walking the dog, picking up medicine, visiting a doctor and traveling to and from work (if designated as an essential business or operation). 6 feet of social distance is necessary for all activities.

The order is in effect from 5 p.m. April 4 through 5 p.m. April 30, or extended to further contain the spread of COVID-19 in Huntsville and Madison County.

Downtown Huntsville has a great running list of Downtown Huntsville Restaurants & Retail Stores Expanding Delivery Due To Coronavirus Measures

Huntsville Madison County Chamber also has a good list of local restaurants offering take-out and delivery

WLRH has started a running list of How to Help in the TN Valley

Here is a good list of School and College Closings

Randolph School has a really good centralized information resource page

Efforts for collecting food for kiddos who could go without because of school closures can be found here via Native or Not and Touronimo! 

Huntsville Symphony Orchestra has canceled events through the end of March, more info can be found here.

US Space and Rocket Center will be closed till April 3rd.

Update from Progress Bank: Beginning Monday, March 23, our branch lobbies will be accessed by appointment only by calling 888.513.2288. All normal transactions will occur via our drive thru lanes or via curbside service in the absence of a drive-thru. For Business Banking, Private Banking, Mortgage Services and Financial Services, please contact your banker or advisor directly. If you need to access your safe deposit box, please call 888.513.2288. Electronic services: Access Online Banking here, Access Mobile Banking for Apple and Android devices

Burritt on the Mountain is closed until Friday, April 3rd, following the school system closure.

Lowe Mill Arts and Entertainment also follows Huntsville City Schools protocol and will be closing the mill to the public starting Monday, March 16 and could re-open on April 4th. They encourage and welcome everyone to explore their website online so you can get to know all their local artists and makers!

Direct from Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theatre:  “All Classes are postponed immediately. We will not have class from March 16, 2020-April 3, 2020. As of now, we will resume class on April 6, 2020. Subject to change based on the CDC and school closures. Spring Break Camp is cancelled and After School Programs are cancelled. If you have questions about camps or classes, please email Candice at EducationDirector@FantasyPlayhouse.com. All other questions please email ExecutiveDirector@FantasyPlayhouse.com. We did not make the decision to close camps and classes lightly and understand the burden that it places on families. We hope you take solace in knowing that this act of social distancing will help our city curb the spread of this terrible illness and keep you and your loved ones safer. Despite the significant challenges this crisis poses, we are a resilient, loving community, and we know that we will get through this together. We speak on behalf of all faculty and staff when we say we look forward to the time when our students can return to their classes and we can gather together as a community once again. Until then, thank you as always for your patience and cooperation.” 

Decatur-Morgan Co. Chamber: Approximately 80 percent of your chamber’s membership is small business. It is everything from restaurants to retail to consulting to technology to real estate to the arts and so much more. They are a vital part of our economy and the personality of our community. In light of public health concerns, many of them will be struggling due to social distancing and limited public engagement. So, how can you help? Take a look at this infographic and transition your commerce to both support business and to protect yourself from risk. What are other ways we can support small business? Together, we can do this!

Mark and Ron of In Bloom are offering curb-side pick up from their Five Points location. And they are also making fantastic use of their downtime and started a new all wedding instagram that is already starting to fill up with gorgeous flowers! Be sure and give them a follow on insta! 

Shop & Learn From Home or Curbside

Consider gift certificates and purchasing future classes for later from local places who have either sanitized and stayed open or bravely closed their doors to help flatten the curve.

Elitaire Boutique has a great website to shop from! If you have sizing questions Kayla suggests calling one of their stylist - and they are even offering curb-side pick up or delivery straight to your door (within a 10 mile radius). They are also offering free shipping for the next two weeks! And now you can book a private shopping appointment with us! This way you and up to two of your best girlfriends can grab your favorite items at a discount in a clean, safe (and fun!) stress-free environment. Call for your appointment: 256.947.0618

Carriage House will porch deliver & pick up at no charge. You can call them at 256.355.4349 & they will put a box of Spring styles together for you. You won’t even have to leave the house!

Personal Couture is starting front porch, contactless drop offs and pick ups for purchases and consignment!

Direct from Vertical House Records: “Ok y'all. Wednesday will be the last day you will be able to access Vertical House Records unless the Mill figures out a way to keep the gates open. So if you wanna stock up before we all go into hiding, swing through on Wednesday. After that, Andy and I will be trying to brainstorm ways to get music to all of you fine folks. Since our 25,000 albums don't have barcodes, it's a bit tough to get our inventory online quickly. Therefore, we will be accepting lists of your "apocalypse albums" and doing the digging for you. If we have it, we can generate an invoice on paypal and once it's been paid, we can deliver or ship it out to yas! We also have gift certificates available should you want to buy one now and save it for when you can come dig yourself! You are welcome to paypal verticalhouse@gmail.com and note "gift certificate" and you will have instant credit with us woo!! We have and always will appreciate you fine Huntsvillians! Thanks so much for your continued support throughout the years. May we all come out of this safe and sound! We love you all! <3″

Jill’s Studio of Dance  - TBD

The Topiary Tree  - TBD

Eat Out, At Home

GrubSouth has a little bit of everything! If you want a huge variety of great local food delivered straight to your door take a peek at their menus - and now you can select a no-contact delivery option where they will leave it at your door!

Domaine South has closed their doors for two weeks as of March 20th.

Church Street Family is still available for carry-out - this includes: Pourhouse and Mazzara’s  Purveyor, Church Street Wine Shoppe

Straight to Ale is available through GrubSouth for our delivery food options, or come pick up a take out order! We’ve got crowlers, growlers, spirits, and food! Open 12-8pm daily.

Sweet City Micros delivers! You can order each week by Thursday for Friday delivery. 

Piper and Leaf  Shop updates as of Monday, March 16: - P&L x Constitution Park curbside, pickup, and delivery. - P&L x Strong Station curbside, pickup, and delivery. - P&L x Pizitz food Hall pickup, and delivery. - P&L x Lowe Mill curbside, pickup, and delivery. And they have amplified sanitation procedures greatly

We discovered this great reference list for local vendors from Lindsey Keane for The Market at MidCity and wanted to be sure all our awesome local supporters knew about it! There are local eggs, veggies, fruit, honey, meats, breads and microgreens from Sweet City Micros all available with a phone call or email! 

Specifically for Ledges Members - Beginning Tuesday, 3/17/2020, The Ledges will offer meals to-go in two formats: Take-Out Meals where Members can order from our dining menus, and our staff will prepare the meals and have them ready for pick up & Pre-Prepared Meals - A daily special will be advertised to the membership. These will be pre-prepared, fully cooked meals the members can then take home and heat with the provided instructions.  

Coronavirus Information and Updates

Centers for Disease Control

World Health Organization

Hudson Alpha Sharable Science

[jrangermachine-blog]

Tales From the Checkout Line

TALES FROM THE CHECK OUT LINE

By JR

 Chapter 1:

This Job was an Escape Hatch…It Led to Another Trap

           Two years ago, I hated my job. I had a genius idea: quit it and go work my old grocery store gig from college. At the time looked at the experience as a fond return. I didn’t like internet marketing much either and in my mind I was leaving the corporate world to return to my youth and perhaps find my roots. I’d worked at this grocery store while I was in college (though at a different college, not the one near the store) and it had been wonderful….or perhaps that was how I remembered it. I liked the physical labor and I’d enjoyed my regulars the people who always came in. The store wasn’t far from a section 8 building and I found the customers who walked to the store from there were interesting and funny and made an otherwise mundane experience, relatively enjoyable. These were some of the realest people I knew during my time there.

           So, when I returned in the summer of 2017 I was looking forward to more of the same. My situation was such that I  could work part time and concentrate on my fiction writing. I foresaw a magical rebirth of past experiences, old memories coming alive again. It was summertime and I would be happy again. Everything would be different in the warm weather. The time would be slower, and the pace of the city could be more conducive to the pace my mind runs at. I could stock bags and ring up people in exchange for this.

           There were good people when I first came back. I enjoyed being there. I wouldn’t say they were the most productive group of people, but they were great to be around. There was Frank in the deli. He was this hilarious guy who always wore a comb in his hair and used to sing rap songs while we were closing. There was Sara, this heavyset tall woman with long black hair. She worked in the deli too and occasionally did some work in the back room.

           I remember there was this one night when Frank had a hip hop show in town and I went to it. Afterwards we all went out for drinks in the city and just shot the shit for several hours. At this point, I didn’t even feel like I was at work. I only came in a few days a week. It was great.

           Then about a year ago I had a genius idea to start working 5 days a week there….well 6 days initially. I made A LOT more money and become  A HELL OF A LOT more miserable. There was a direct correlation between the hours I worked and the unhappiness I felt.

           I’ve been doing this for about a year now. I don’t enjoy it and I’m actively looking for a  new job right now….these are my observations about working here over the years.

 Chapter 2:

The Illogical Cash Register Policy

           One of the things that drives me nuts about working here is the non-committal approach to EVERYTHING. Our policies are one thing on Tuesday and something completely different by Friday. There’s no reason to it. One of the areas I notice this is at the cash register.

           During the day, it’s essentially a non-issue  because there isn’t as much business as there is at night. We only need one cashier to handle the traffic at that time. Occasionally there might be a long line but provided something crazy isn’t going on in the back room, we can usually have a person open up to cover the spill over traffic.

           At night though…that’s when shit becomes infuriating, specifically on Friday night. So, the thing is it’s a family owned grocery store. The owner only works during the day and at night he’s at home. He’s at home, but that isn’t to say he isn’t watching things. About a year ago, they had cameras and microphones installed in the store so they could spy on the employees. Nico, the manager who I work with day to day, claimed they were for security. The point he stressed was that these cameras would be vital to everyone’s safety. I’ve got issues with this claim and with surveillance in general, but ignoring that, I think everyone knew that the installation of cameras would implicitly give them the ability to spy on anything and anyone at any time…and who’s in the store longer and more often than the employees?

           So, cut back to Friday nights at the store. Statistically, it’s a busy time for us. It’s the time when we do the most sales and it makes sense. It’s the weekend and these college kids want to get drunk. We supply the beer and they come buy it. So, the store wants us up by the registers most of the time when this is going on. They specifically want two cashiers if there is a line of more than two people. Gretchen, an older lady who works a second job, more or less sits on the primary register. She stays up front. As the back up cashier, my job is to maintain the aisles and stock/fix shelves if they become depleted. In the event that there’s a line I’m expected to open up immediately. The assumption is always that the owner could be watching at any time. Of course, he could be sitting outside enjoying the sunset or appreciating the life that his 50 plus years in the business have afforded him. But, he chooses to log in to his computer and watch what we do. So, if anything is going on that he doesn’t like, he’s not the least bit shy about calling his son Nico and asking him to bitch at us. So, I have to operate with the expectation that any moment this man is watching the camera and may be displeased.

           As part of my shelf facing/store maintenance duties that I do in addition to running the register, I also need to check dates on things sometimes. When things expire it puts us at risk just as much as it does the people who might by them. If a health inspector comes in and sees something out of date we could get in trouble. Checking the dates on these things is important and I believe in doing right so I take my time, I pull things out from the shelf completely to make sure nothing with a different date is hiding in the back. Unbeknownst to me, a line might be building in the front and all of the sudden I’m needed. I have no idea that this is happening and now I have to stop whatever I’m doing and go take care of these people, even if I’m right in the middle of it. Sometimes, I take care of the customers for like 20 minutes and then I’ll go back to what I was doing and find that one of the managers has put all the items back on the shelf! So, I need to start all over again! This has happened multiple times AND IT’S INFURIATING!

           As an added treat to my Friday routine, the owner of the store will sometimes be watching the surveillance cameras from his house. If he happens to see there’s a line by the register and that I’m not there IMMEDIAETLY, he calls the store to complain about it. So more or less, I have to remain by the register in order to satisfy his desire that nobody waits ever.

           So, what follows is the owner and his son Nico come in the next day, Saturday now, and they’re upset that the shelves weren’t faced as much or they’re mad because a bunch of things expired. The thing is you can’t have it both ways. They completely overlook the fact that for most of the evening I was covering the register and collecting cash for them. It leaves me feeling rather frustrated. If you’re going to have someone find things that are expired and face the shelves well then hire another person or ask someone else to fill in on the shift to augment the staff.

           In fairness to them, it’s a small store. They aren’t a chain or anything. Its family run and they’ve only got so much money. They’ve got competition from people who buy online and at bigger stores in the area which are chains. It makes sense that there isn’t a pool full of money waiting around to be poured into. BUT, they’ve done a lot of work to renovate the store and make changes to it. They should have planned for that expense instead of banking on people to simply tolerate these kinds of working conditions. I’ve been at good companies and bad companies and the places that do the best work generally had happier employees who cared about the store. It’s leaderships responsibility to set the pace of how things will go. If you work in a company where the leaders are realistic and are prepared to take care of their employees and make the place a good environment, you get a really good company where people do good work. If you get shitty, entitled leaders who don’t understand the challenges their employees face fully, you can expect lousy results.

           95% of the reason I don’t want to be here anymore, is because of how I feel about the people who own the store. I guess I thought that would change magically because I’m an adult and no longer a teenager…or maybe I just told myself it would be worth it because there were other aspects of the job I enjoyed….only…….what are those other aspects again?

  Chapter 3:

The Dreaded Section 8 People and How Their Petty Theft is What’s Secretly Killing Our Business. (Duhn Duhn Duhn!)

           As I’ve mentioned previously, our store isn’t far from Section 8 housing. The building is used to house the disabled and old people. Some of them have mental and financial issues and they don’t always conduct themselves in a way that the pretty white people of this rich college town would like. Sometimes they come into the store drunk or high. Some of them yell or curse for no reason. Occasionally some of them steal things.

           About six months ago I got a text in the morning from Nico, my boss. I wasn’t due at work for another four hours, but he decided it couldn’t wait. It was a video clip of a guy walking into the store and stealing a can of beer out of the cooler. He tucked it in his jacket and walked out of the store. I recognized the man in the video. He’d stolen from us once before and my boss had made quite the show of it.

           I came into the store later on that day and my boss called me back into the office.

           “I want you to see something,” he said.

He hadn’t looked at me yet. He was gazing at the computer and fondling the mouse. He clicked open to the video, but this time it was at a different angle. At this angle, you could see that I was in the shot. The video was from the previous night. In the video, you could see I was hunched over some products trying to pull them forward. The guy was in the same aisle as me, maybe ten feet down. He looked at me to see if I was watching, stuck the beer in his pocket and walked out.

“How does that happen?” Nico said.  “How does he feel comfortable enough that he can just take the beer can and walk out with it….you weren’t watching him.”

“I was facing your shelves,” I said.

“Well it doesn’t matter we need to…”

What followed was a speech about how I need to play security guard and profile people based on how they look and whether or not I can read their mind and determine they’re about to steal something.

“I hate to say it JR, but we need to start profiling people…” he said.

“I don’t think that guy who stole you from…” I started to say.

“That NIGGER. You mean that nigger that just stole from me?”

I was quiet after that because some things you just don’t have a response to.

           Let’s leave the racism aside for a moment, although it’s difficult to do that since the people who own and run this business tie almost everything wrong with the store back to race stereotypes. Now granted, I don’t condone stealing. It’s wrong and the business owners have every right to be upset. After all, they paid money for the products and when people take them it’s not good thing. Theoretically, it could cut into our profits if it happened enough. I get that.

           But let’s do some math here, since at the end of the day that’s all determining your profits is about, doing math. We probably get 50 boxes at least of perishable items like produce  twice a week. Each case is probably worth $20 low end. So that’s $1,000 twice a week. So, $2,000 on produce right there. Of those 50 boxes we probably have to throw out or not use 5 of them each week. So, $100 a week are just thrown out or not used. 52 weeks in a year, that’s $5,200 thrown in the fucking trash.

           Flip side, we’ve got the occasional theft. Let’s allow that it happens, I don’t know three times a month, I’m being generous here, I don’t think it happens even that much. Let’s say it’s a $10 loss each time. So, $30 a month gone. That’s $360 a year.

           $360 a year lost to theft versus $5,200 a year lost because the owner doesn’t want to eliminate some of the produce….and the $5,200 was only for the produce, that’s not counting the boxes of cookies and crackers and cartons of yogurt and milk that expire. So, even when I’m liberal with the amount of money people steal and conservative with the amount of money we lose of our own accord, the difference is still staggering.

           So, given this, why has my boss spent an hour talking to the police on multiple occasions, to stop a $30 a month problem, but he hasn’t spent time trying to figure out which grocery products he should eliminate. How does he rationalize this fixation on the petty theft by homeless and mentally disabled people?

           Ah, and now we can bring race in. The most frequent claim by my bosses is that it’s the blacks who are stealing. They’ve actually had me, or my coworkers stop what we’re doing and spy on black people, which is extremely uncomfortable and also a monumental waste of time. I’ve paid attention to who steals, and the common denominator isn’t race at all. It’s social and financial circumstances. It’s the people who live in that building who are poor and whose brains work differently than the average person’s. These aren’t black people specifically. These are desperate people with disabilities.

So, when my boss says to me things like “JR, we need to start profiling people,”  what I want say in response is “How? How do you read somebody’s mind and tell they’re desperate? Do you want me to go up to everyone in the store with slightly baggy clothing and a tan and accost them?” Hmmm, as a matter of fact, I think that’s  EXACTLY what they want me to do!

I’m not asking the store owners to finance people’s criminal activities. I’m not suggesting they shouldn’t confront people who ACTUALLY steal. But I think they should be realistic about it. It’s not exclusively black people and the frequency with which it happens doesn’t even begin to justify the energy we exhaust chasing people down these blind alleys. We have more vital things to focus on. The other day I was working at the register and I saw two of my coworkers carrying out 30 boxes of these weird off brand cookies that never sell. The boss had purchased them hoping they would. They were expired, every last one.

The next time they ask me to spy on a black person I’m tying my fucking shoelaces…

[gregoryjdillerblr]

2020: Pandemic, Murder Hornets, Riots and Protests, Monoliths, and the Rise of TikTok and OnlyFans.

2020 sure has been a strange and difficult year. Like everybody else, I was really looking forward to enter the new decade, the 2020s. My goal was to get on my own two feet and seek out a publisher to publish my books, something I have been wanting to do for many years now but kept pushing off because I was taking a hiatus and stuck in daydreaming of it happening instead of actually trying. Of course I’m doing it now, re-editing my novels while writing a new project, as well as seeking publishers to publish short stories with. But I’m here talking about 2020, since it’s near the end of an odd year

I remember back in December, riding the bus to the mall, where one crazy passenger was telling the bus driver that there was a virus wiping out China, that they were dropping like flies, and that Bill Gates was behind it all. My first thought was that this guy was fucking crazy; even the bus driver seemed to be annoyed by him. The man kept repeating himself all throughout the bus ride, and I couldn’t tell you how many times he said that this was Bill Gates doing, and that China was being wiped out.

A few months went by, and the Coronavirus found its way to the Untitled States. I am a movie goer, and I remember watching The Hunt in theaters just when the virus was hitting the US, me posting my movie ticket on my social media accounts that I wasn’t going to let the virus stop me watching the movie. Little did I know The Hunt was going to be the last movie I ever saw in theaters, and that Regal Cinemas would be closing theaters for good in the following months. I live near downtown Ithaca, NY, and the movie theater that was nearby in the Commons was Cinemapolis, who play a lot of more independent films than mainstream films. It was in this theater I watched films like Climax, Color Out of Space, The Lighthouse. Of course, the theater was forced to shut down. It’s still in the air whether the place has closed down for good or wait to reopen. Now I pass it and see the inside of it (the entire front is glass), noticing they had torn floorboards up and remodeling the place. 

I streamed films, paying the rent from as low as $6 to $20. I like to review, to talk about the films (and books I’ve read) I’ve watched recently. It’s the nerd in me that wants to talk about art and storytelling. It was cool seeing the films that were supposed to be in theaters at home. But knowing that these films were supposed to be in theaters, I couldn’t help but feel that I was missing that experience, to go to a theater, to pick out a seat (it’s usually in the middle for me), hoping to see new movie trailers I haven’t seen before, and experience the film in surround sound and on the big screen (I’m not a popcorn guy, I don’t buy it). 

Some films have been pushed back while others were streamed. I’m still waiting films like the wendigo horror flick Antlers, Godzilla Vs. Kong, The Conjuring 3, Tenet. HBO Max has announced it will stream three of the four films. Antlers was my biggest anticipated horror film of the year, and I still hope to God they would eventually stream the film rather than push it back. 

I work in retail. I was a department manager until about half way into the year, and when the whole pandemic started, there was a high demand to keep up with the flow of the almost endless flow of customers. When businesses were forced to shut down, people began to shop out of boredom. The store I work at saw an increase flow of customers. One of my good buddies and coworker told me that he helped a college girl who told him this was her very first time shopping, and she didn’t know how prices of meat work. Our store then laid down stickers to try to control customer flow, which aisle they are allowed to enter and which aisle they didn’t. Half the customers listened to the signs, and the other half didn’t. For those that didn’t, I pinpointed the signs out, and the main response I got was, “Oh, I didn’t see that there.” Eventually it got so common I stopped trying to pinpoint it out. I was a department manager, but I couldn’t enforce it like the upper management, but even they stopped trying, because there wasn’t really anything we could do to enforce it. 

Some customers got mad at other customers who weren’t wearing masks. Some of them argued. Some of them shouted at employees when customer hosts ask if they could give them a mask if they came in without one. It got so bad to the point that the store had to hire a third party security to help enforce the mask rules. But as of right now, there really isn’t much anybody to do to enforce it unless it’s enforced by state law. 

Because customers fear of going inside, online shopping saw a huge increase in sales. It got to the point that we department managers were called to help the online pickup crew. The lead manager over online pickup approved overtime, and a few of us were allowed to go in two hours ahead of our shift and help them out, just trying to fulfill orders the best we can. 

Toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning wipes, hand soap and sanitizers, rubbing alcohol, and Clorox and Lysol cleaners were wiped out. We saw many shelves emptied, naked to their metal frames where product was supposed to be. The company limited to a certain number of selected items so it was fare for all customers to buy, but the getting the supplies became difficult. Warehouses were getting low, and some even ran out of products that till this very day they are still out of. I was in charge of the frozen food section in my store, and I began to see a trend of what items were being wiped clean. Can fruits and vegetables were hit hard in the grocery department. The frozen fruits and vegetables were next. Everyday I had pull and breakdown a lot of emptied display boxes, and praying that the products would be coming soon. 

Things have slowed down, when businesses were up and running again, but to this day we are still having difficulties in getting some supplies in, or keep on the shelves. Toilet paper and paper towels slowed down, as well as hand sanitizers and soap, but good luck trying to get cleaning wipes and air sprays. Those are still gold.

With a pandemic comes the consequences of unease. When George Floyd was killed while a police officer was kneeing on him, suffocating him, the United States blew up with riots and protests. Major cities saw riots, businesses burning down. Police were shooting rubber bullets into crowds, including journalists. We saw much more police brutality in the videos that have gone viral. Police pushing elderly folks, cracking one’s head open in Buffalo, a city that’s just about three hours away where I live. In Rochester, a city that’s two hours away from me, saw some riot damage but nothing compared to those in other cities. In Ithaca, we only saw protests, nothing breaking out into riots, however, police did arrest a few protesters one night, after some of them blocked their way when the police were trying to rush to a crime scene. 

Some rioters took advantaged. They targeted business owners and killed them on the spot. Some injured police officers, and some protesters managed to block them before rioters got the chance to kill them. A retired police chief was killed while responding to a jewelry and pawn shop being robbed. Young 17 year old Kyle Rittenhouse killed two people and injured a third while trying to act as a mercenary for the police.  

Coronavirus cases spiked from large gathering of crowds, as America seemed to be on the heels of an apocalypse, torn apart by civil unrest. Protests were not only happening in the United States but in other countries as well, each trying trying to fight what is right. Videos have gone viral showing how police use their power in position, though some of them prove that some officers do what is right. I won’t go into much details about the riots and the protests. I do believe some police officers shouldn’t be police officers. I do know a few in my personal life, some of them more strict than others, but they are nevertheless good people; we just need a better system to separate the bad from the good.

Before George Floyd was killed, Asian Murder Hornets found their way across the ocean. In Washington State, a beekeeper noticed his hive was killed, their heads chopped off. He then collected the predator. It was confirmed to be an Asian Giant Hornet. There was then the fear that I saw online that these hornets were already their way across America, and a couple of my Facebook friends have had claimed they saw them in New York State. Because of George Floyd being killed wrongfully, the murder hornets became old school news. However, in October, there was the first confirmed case of a murder nest in Washington. It is believed the hornets have arrived on ships, since they cannot cross the ocean just by simply flying. 

During all of this, the US Government have confirmed that UFOs exist, providing us declassified footage. But we became forgotten about it, haven’t we?  Because deep down we already knew UFOs existed. 

As if 2020 couldn’t get weirder by the end of it, a silver monolith was found in Utah. It became instant news, as many people claim it was aliens that have planted the monolith there. Once it was all over the media, the monolith disappeared, but soon after there was one that had suddenly “popped” up in Europe. When that got viral, that monolith disappeared and another one came up in California. I figured it was a group of underground people on the internet discussing their plans to make 2020 weirder than it already was, and recently an Instagram post confirmed this, as the artist of the monolith in Utah is now trying to sell it. Sorry, guys, not really an X-File case. 

There were also the California wildfires that burned 4,359,517 acres of land, from 9,279 fires. California seemed to be suffocating with black smoke as fires rage. The smoke eventually reached across the nation. New York City was seen in a fog like state. Viral videos showed mountains of fire, as many forests were perished. Many were forced to evocate their homes, which many were left to burn. Homes and lives destroyed. As if things weren’t apocalyptic enough in 2020.

TikTok saw an increase. People began to make viral videos and challenges on the popular app. We see people making comedy videos. We see people make music videos. We see stupid challenge videos, trying to make a challenge go viral. We see people try to get though the day, no matter how difficult it was for them. Social media is a powerful tool these days, and the TikTok app seems to be one of the more recent ones that can make you instant internet famous, despite that countries are trying to ban it because the app was created by the Chinese. I do plan on getting TikTok shortly, if they don’t ban it (which I honestly think they won’t, but we’ll see). 

Another increase in popularity is the much more controversial website OnlyFans. Since many were forced to go jobless when businesses were shut down, many turned towards online to make money. OnlyFans was growing, but 2020 bloomed the website. Popular celebrities began to turn toward it, rather to release behind the scenes of photoshoots, songs, exercise tips, etc. Of course, OnlyFans is known for its popularity in the ever increasing of nudes or pornographic like content. Famous adult entertainers to maybe the girl next door use OnlyFans to earn money as they sell sexual content on the site. Because this is being 2020, and people are stuck in homes or single and the difficulties of dating someone, OnlyFans is a way to release that sexual tension, and those that are releasing content to make money. However you want to view it, OnlyFans is popping up everywhere on social media, and it’s a site that isn’t going away anytime soon.

Looking back at 2020 now, it has been a fast and surreal year. Liker everybody, I hope this pandemic goes away soon, despite that it’s looking like it may end next summer, the way they are predicting. I hope whoever is having difficulty that 2021 would be much more positive, that things will work out together. My message overall is this: please be kind to one another. Times are tough right now. Be positive, smile under your mask, and things will work out in the end. Cheers. 

[zmoradaxx]

Habits of Really Organized People

Really organized people are not born organized, they have to cultivate healthy habits, which then help them to stay organized.

So even if you think you are a very disorganized person, you can learn to be organized. From planning things, jotting things down, to ditching the unnecessary and organizing things that matter, you will become an organized person as long as you’re willing to learn and practice.

Here are the essential habits on how to organize your life:

1. Write things down

We all know someone that remembers every birthday and sends cards for every holiday. It’s not magic and they don’t use memorization. Trying to remember things will not help you to stay organized. You should try writing things down.

A pen and some paper is our way of remembering things externally, and it’s much more permanent.

You will only further complicate your life by trying to contain important dates and reminders in your head. Write down everything: shopping lists for groceries, holiday gifts, home decor, and important dates like meetings and birthdays.

As an experiment, try writing down people’s names shortly after you meet them (when they’re not looking). I’ll bet you remember a lot more names that way.

2. Make schedules and deadlines

Organized people don’t waste time. They recognize that keeping things organized goes hand-in-hand with staying productive. They make and keep schedules for the day and week. They make deadlines and set goals. And most importantly, they and stick to them!

Similarly, by living a cluttered lifestyle, you will not have the time or space to make your deadlines or achieve your goals.

As an experiment, look at your bucket list or make one. Write down the things you want to achieve this year or in your life. Then write down what you need to do to achieve them.

Life is short, make sure you’re doing what matters to you most. If you need a little help on that,

3. Don’t procrastinate

The longer you wait to do something, the more difficult it will be to get it done. If you want your life to be less stressful and less demanding, then organize as soon as you can. Putting in the effort to get things done as soon as possible will lift the weight off of you from doing it later.

As an experiment, think of one thing that you should organize in your life. Write it down. Then write down when you can do it and what you need to get it done. If you can get it done right now, then go do it!

4. Give everything a home

It’s easy to get lost if you don’t have a home. Keeping your life organized means keeping your things in their proper places. Organized people keep order by storing things properly and by labeling storage spaces.

Make easy-to-access storage spaces for things you use all the time, and don’t let your storage spaces get cluttered. Be creative about finding places for things. In addition, as a BIG NO: never label a storage space as “miscellaneous!”

As an experiment, choose one place in your home that you can re-organize. If there are scattered items, then group them together. Once you’ve sorted everything, find or make a “home” for similar items, label the “homes,” and put them in the proper places.

For example, a cup holder for your pens and pencils should go in an easily accessible place, but the rarely used craft materials can be stored out of sight.

5. Declutter regularly

Find time each week to organize. Highly organized people make sure they find time every week or more to organize their things. Stuff does not stay organized on its own; it needs to be reorganized continuously and consistently.

As an experiment, look at your schedule and find a time to organize, then do it.

6. Keep only what you need

More stuff means more clutter. People who live organized lives only keep what they need and what they really really want. Having fewer things also means that you enjoy those things more and feel better about using everything you own, rather than letting half of what you own collect dust.

Have you ever felt like you don’t have the space to keep all the stuff you own? Instead of renting a storage unit or buying a larger home or adding new storage boxes, get rid of some things.

As an experiment, write down the number of things you think you actually need. Then, write a list of all the things that you own. If the number of things you actually own exceeds your ideal need list, then it’s time to organize.

7. Know where to discard items

Do whatever you can to get rid of stuff. Less stuff means less clutter.

Donate it to those who might need it more. Sell it online as pre loved items. Find a place to get rid of your things.

As an experiment, choose one space in your house to purge. Go through shelves, drawers and boxes. Everything you find that you don’t need, set aside. Make a pile of things to maybe keep, which you can go through later, and a pile of things to discard now. Then find a way to kick those things out the door immediately.

8. Stay away from bargains

You have removed the things you don’t need. Will you replace them when you see something on sale?

Instead of bargain shopping without planning ahead, write down down exactly what you need and buy only those items. Organized people do not give in to false advertising. Items on sale will only produce more clutter.

As an experiment, go to a shopping mall with no money. Just look at all the things on sale that you wish you could buy if you had brought your wallet or purse.

If you find nothing, then good for you. If you made a list, then keep that list somewhere and look at it a month from now. If you still want it, then it’s safe to buy.

9. Delegate responsibilities

A really organized life is not overfilled with responsibilities, meetings and deadlines. In fact, it has less because things that create stress have been slowly organized out.

As an experiment, look at your to-do list or make one. Go through the list and find one task that you can remove from your list or give to someone else. Now feel the stress of having to do it fall away.

10. Work hard

Put in a little effort. Actually, put in a lot of effort when necessary.

Once you have delegated responsibilities and made a schedule, then you can organize what you have to do and when you can do it.

Staying organized is not all a breeze. It requires that you work hard with recognition that when you work harder, you can enjoy your clutter-free home life later.

Work harder when you feel like giving up today.

What’s more important is to remember what you work for is meaningful to you.

Learn from these organizational tips, make them your habits one by one. Slowly you’ll become a lot more organized and productive!

For those who have their own space, or home you can simply start it right now, as for me I do not have my own space for now but if I am given a chance to have my own space too, I would probably start de-cluttering right away.

[iamsielow]

I didn't get an unexpected seed packet from China, I got a doohickey.

I didn't get a seed packet, I got a doohickey.  In the mail. Unexpectedly from China.

You remember, a few weeks ago, in June or July of 2020, all across America, people were getting unordered, unexpected seed packets from China.  No one had ordered them; no one knew why they were sent.  Some people suspected the Chinese were trying to introduce harmful, non-native species into North America.  A few months earlier they had released a virus which had caused a world wide pandemic which caused panic and economic stresses throughout the globe.

Was this another attempt by the Chinese to bring down the world to a level they could conquer?

Me?  I didn't get a seed packet, I got a doohickey.  (See photo if there is one with this post.)  It's an EXTREMELY cheap laptop stand of some sort. Something you might find at a dollar store but even then at three for a dollar.

So I called up my contact at the Chinese consulate in New York to ask him about it and the seed packets. After making fun of America and American intelligence for 10 minutes, he told me what was going on.

China is preparing to go to war with the USA.  He thinks the target date is in September sometime.  As stated in previous posts, the Chinese Military needs a win if they want to avoid being swallowed up by the Chinese Government side of the leadership structure.  So they are going to launch a war.  According to the plans I know of, they will be attacking Taiwan.

Anyway, he explained to me that at 3:00a ET on a Sunday morning, every single credit and debit card the Chinese have on file will be maxed out with bogus charges.  With the help of Chinese programmers already affecting banking programs, the Chinese think they will be able to disable at least 70-percent of all USA credit and debit cards.  The goal is 90-percent, but the success level is 70-percent.

Why 3:00a ET on a Sunday morning?  The 3:00a ET is midnight on the West Coast.  All workers in the banking industry will be at home or partying. Those partying will suddenly discover they cannot pay for drinks or food or cab rides or subway tickets.  They won't be able to get money from ATMs and will be stranded wherever they are.  None of their friends will be able to help, either.  Having mostly converted to a cashless society, this should cause mass rioting from the West coast eastward as people find themselves unable to DO anything.

Imagine, right now, what would happen if you were at your favorite bar Early Sunday and couldn't pay your tab, order a taxi, Uber, or subway pass to get home with.  No ATM will give you money; you can't even go to a grocery store and buy food or water.

The Chinese Military predicts the USA will be in flames within two hours.

He then asked me to imagine how well the American soldiers will be able to fight after an hour long conversation with a wife back home who is complaining she can't buy food for the starving children.  The common soldier will be so screwed up they won't know which way to turn:  Homeward to help the family or toward the enemy to save Taiwan.

Any technicians trying to get into the city's to work on the computer systems will also be delayed by the same inability to use their credit cards to get to the office.  And even if they do have the cash to get to the office, the person working the subway ticket booth, the few that still exist, won't be able to get in to take the money for a subway ticket.  That, combined with it being a Sunday should cause the foundation of America to crack and even crumble.  The Chinese Military predict it will take 5 days to straighten out the situation and in that time, Taiwan will firmly be under Chinese Military control.

My man chuckled and said that depending on how quickly they take Taiwan, they may also absorb some islands they are disputing with Japan.

Anyway, he said the purpose of those seeds and the not-ordered doohickies was NOT to send invasive pants into America, it was to verify addresses.

Each and every mailed package was tracked for delivery verification.  Any one of them not delivered properly was noted.  If there was a forwarding address, their system was updated.  If they were "Return to Sender" it was noted.

The purpose of all those cheap seed packets and cheap things mailed from China was NOT the items themselves; it was the address verifications used for past credit and debit card purchases. He practically was yelling at me when he finished:  "It wasn't the FOREST, you idiot!  It was the trees!"

So anyway, watch for it all to go to Hell in a couple of months.  My advice?  Keep a couple of hundred in cash -- in a good collection of ones, fives, tens and twenties -- stashed somewhere at home and at least $40 in cash in your wallet's secret side area.  This way if all your credit and debit cards go belly up, you'll have the ability to get home and survive a couple of days until it all gets straightened out.

It should be an interesting war. UPDATE:  Found the mailer:  Turns out the return address of "Jon, 2352 Bent Creek Rd Auburn AL 36830" is a false address and has been RED FLAGGED by the Better Business Bureau as a FALSE BUSINESS:

**

BBB Investigation Results:

BBB has received several complaints indicating this company provides a return address of 2352 Bent Creek Rd, Auburn, AL on their orders. BBB has determined that the address belongs to a gas station and appears to have no connection to this company.

BBB has also identified several other online retail websites that are listing the 2352 Bent Creek Road, Auburn, AL address as their location, however none of the operations appear to have any connection to this address.

**

Sample Complaint:  BBB review: Vicki F - 1/5 stars - 06/23/2020

I ordered summer shoes from … Apparently this "Jon" is not a real person and doesn't have a real site! Never order from Summerware again! I can't send them back!

**

ANYWAY, if you do research you learn THIS company sprang into existence in May of 2020 and the return address is a fake.  If you look deeper, it turns out it is connected to a scam operation that runs by several names (Summerware, Theepants -- Theepants is on Facebook.  Go ahead and look up the statements from customers -- among others) that started right after Trump set trade sanctions on China. Apparently they have been collecting Credit Card data and verifying addresses since then and really stepped up the game in the last few months.

**

I Am Sielow, These are my words.

If you'd like to see other items I've posted, look for my blog at: https://iamsielow.tumblr.com/archive

If you like what you have seen and read, please consider supporting me at: www.subscribestar.com/IamSielow

I am also (soon to be) on YouTube as IAmSielow.  Please consider looking for my works and subscribing.

[jodybouchard9]

Pandemic Purge! 8 Things To Declutter From Your Apocalypse Stockpile

Kai und Kristin Fotografie/Getty Images

It’s been a crazy year, and if recent events have put your hoarding habits into overdrive, well, you’d be forgiven. After a weird spring and even weirder summer, you’re not the only one who’s been compiling random stacks of stuff “just in case.”

Takeout containers, Amazon boxes, used paper masks, and even wooden chopsticks are among the offenders that have taken up seemingly permanent residency in our homes.

That’s why we spoke with home organization and tiny-living experts from all over the country to bring you this list of things that it’s time to ditch. If you’re ready to say buh-bye to your apocalypse stockpile, here are eight things to toss, for the ultimate pandemic purge.

1. Office clothing

Summer is always a good time to go through old clothing, and that’s especially true this season. With so many of us working from home, you may find your closet overflowing with things you can’t imagine ever wearing again—even when (or if) the office does open up.

“Going through clothing before each season creates awareness of the items you already own, but may have forgotten,” says home organizer Katie Barton, of Cabin Lane. “Trash any clothing that has holes or stains and sell or donate the rest.”

If you have a lot to get rid of, Barton says she’s had great success selling clothing in “bundles” through Facebook Marketplace or in local consignment shops.

Sell or donate: Sell your unwanted clothes online, or find the nearest drop box to donate them.

2. Excess canned goods

Photo by Abundance Organizing

Remember when it felt as if we might never be able to shop for fresh veggies again?

With grocery stores mostly back to full stock, it’s time to get rid of some of those extra canned goods you’ve been storing these past few months—especially the expired or unappetizing ones (we see you, store-brand SpaghettiOs).

“Your pantry is probably looking a bit in need of help right now,” says Jen Breitegan, owner of Organizenvy.

“How many cans of crushed pineapple or kidney beans do you have left? I’m betting quite a few. Be honest about the canned and boxed items you bought in a panic but your family didn’t eat, and then donate them to local food banks.”

Donate: Find your closest food bank with Feeding America.

3. All the takeout freebies

When restaurants went to takeout and delivery only, it wasn’t just the excess food that filled our kitchens. Free utensils, plastic bags, condiment packets, and the takeout containers they all came in—and we’re betting you still have quite a few of those things lying around.

“I’ve heard of people hoarding paper napkins and plastic eating utensils they receive with takeout orders,” says Breitegan. “Again, be honest about how many sets of chopsticks your family really needs, and see if you can cut your stash by at least half.”

Recycle: Free up some of your cabinet space by recycling any takeout extras you (realistically) won’t ever need.

4. Pandemic reads

We all had high ambitions when the stay-at-home orders started—like finally reading Proust’s “In Search of Lost Time” or learning how to expertly debone quail, thanks to a library of recent cookbooks. But if all those hefty volumes have been sitting gathering dust for months, it may be time to store, sell, or donate them.

“Books take up lots of space, and can start to smell and leave a musty scent in a room if left for too long,” says Christine Wilcox of LettingGoLivingMore.

“I love the feel of a real book in my hand, but I only keep those that are really important to me. Everything else goes to the thrift shop for someone else to enjoy.”

Donate: Go through your book collection and put together a box for donation to your local library or favorite (used) bookseller.

5. Items from unfulfilled hobbies

Much like the books, you also probably had high hopes for the many ambitious new hobbies you’d take on during lockdown. Knitting?  Guitar? Competitive Quidditch?  Snow-globe making? If you’re more of a Netflix all-star, like us, it might be time to own up to it and free up the space for more useful things.

“If you’ve been able to leave the house to play a sport and still haven’t done so, maybe it’s time to accept that the dusty tennis racket is never going to get used,” says Wilcox. “Sell old sporting equipment or donate to a local school, and use the space for the new hobbies in your life.”

Sell or donate: Post your stuff on Facebook Marketplace to sell, or consider making a donation to your local youth center or school.

6. Busted art and office supplies

Photo by NEAT Method 

“It’s not uncommon for parents to end up with baskets full of broken crayons, eraserless pens, and markers missing the caps,” says Barton.

“Throw out the things that don’t work, so that you know what needs to be replaced. This is also a good rainy-day activity for kids.”

Trash: Do yourself (and little ones) a favor by purging any busted office and art supplies, and free up some of that at-home office space in time for the school year ahead.

7. Old cosmetics

If your former beauty regimen has gone the au naturel route in the past few months, it’s probably a good time to reassess which cosmetics you actually need in your bathroom, and which ones are ready to be tossed.

“Go through old makeup, especially anything that’s expired,” says Lindsey Maxwell, co-founder at Where You Make It. “You might not want to waste it, but using expired makeup could cause breakouts and other skin issues.”

Recycle: Pull out your old makeup and cosmetics, and then send those little plastic tubs straight to the recycling bin.

8. Delivery packaging

Since Amazon and other online stores have been getting so much of our business this past few months, it’s worth taking a minute to assess how much packaging you may still have lying around. Bubble Wrap and cardboard boxes won’t really help in any emergency situation we can think of, so it’s best to just toss them now.

“It may seem wasteful to throw away perfectly good boxes, but as they collect, infestation can occur,” says Leanne Stapf, chief operating officer for The Cleaning Authority. “Mice, bed bugs, and even raccoons can find their way to any appealing pile of trash, turning your garage into their home.”

Recycle: Take all those empty boxes and throw them into the recycling bin ASAP!

The post Pandemic Purge! 8 Things To Declutter From Your Apocalypse Stockpile appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

[organiclifestylemagazine]

The Best Period Products for Yourself, and the Environment

Conventional disposable pads and tampons have not been around for that long, and while they were once something to marvel over, women are already in search of more eco, and budget-friendly alternatives. Disposable pads and tampons are often made from synthetic materials and chemicals designed to make the products extra absorbent, and order- neutralizing. A good rule of thumb is to not use products on the most sensitive areas of your body that you wouldn’t want to ingest. Additionally, when disposed of, these products take hundreds of years to break down, and often times end up in the ocean, which can be detrimental to marine life.

Many people are only taught about two options: pads, and tampons. No one really goes over the problems associated with either product, aside from Toxic Shock Syndrome. Making the switch from conventional products to eco-friendly, health-friendly alternatives can be a difficult transition but your body, the environment, and your wallet will thank you for it in the long run. This article goes over some of the most popular alternatives to conventional pads and tampons, and which products we think are the best overall for the environment and your health. 

Recommended: How to Eliminate IBS, IBD, Leaky Gut 

Note: None of the links within this article are promotional links. This article is not in any way an advertisement.

100% Organic Cotton Tampons

100% cotton tampons are probably our least favorite option. Just because the tampons are organic doesn’t mean they’re good for you. One thing that is important to remember, putting anything inside your vaginal canal that’s not meant to be there can cause health problems, especially when your body is trying to expel waste. Tampons work by absorbing the blood, which can allow for the body to reabsorb some of the toxins from the body’s expelled waste. A menstrual cup or disc that just sits inside your body and collects blood does not have these issues. As is the case with regular tampons, Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) is a concern. It’s no wonder tampons have also been shown to worsen cramps.

Organic cotton tampons are better for you than regular tampons but we encourage you to explore other options. In addition to the health risks associated with tampons, they are disposable, single-use items, so they’re wasteful even when they’re made right.

Like organic cotton pads, cotton tampons are more expensive than regular ones. You can pretty easily find Organic Cotton tampons at most grocery stores, drug stores, and health-food stores. Despite the convenience of picking them up while grocery shopping, buying online can help ensure that your money goes to independent, small businesses. 

100% Organic Cotton Disposable Pads

Chlorine-free, organic pads have the same environmental upsides as organic tampons but are also better for your health. Buying organic pads, (and tampons) may be the simplest way to make a difference in your carbon footprint and health without much of a noticeable change. Of course, with anything disposable, the downside is that you will have to continue to buy these as long as you’re using them, and 100% cotton pads are more expensive than the conventional, petroleum and chemical-based products.

Of course, you are still generating waste, but without the added plastics and chemicals, these pads will break down much faster and cleaner than their conventional counterpart. If you have the means, we encourage you to explore more eco-friendly alternatives, as there are many options out there (keep reading), but 100% cotton organic pads can be a step in the right direction. You can usually find organic cotton pads at drug stores or grocery stores, or health food stores. 

Menstrual Cups

Menstrual cups aren’t the best for your health, but they are much better for the environment than disposable products and they’re a healthier option compared to tampons, organic, or not. Menstrual cups are typically made from medical grade silicone, and sit inside the vagina. You can leave them in for 12 hours at a time, making them convenient for long periods of time, and overnight (emptying more frequently is better for health). Along with long wear time, you can keep your menstrual cup and reuse it for more than 10 years, making them much more cost-effective than disposable period products. Just take it out, empty it, and clean thoroughly before the next use. The downside, this can be a little difficult in public spaces.

With menstrual cups, as is the case with regular tampons, inserting something inside your body that isn’t meant to be there, and/or restricting flow in any way, isn’t great for your body’s ability to expel toxins. Additionally, even the small menstrual cups can be uncomfortable to use, especially for those who have never had a child, or those who have never had vaginal intercourse.

Many women feel that the menstrual cup is convenient and it’s much better for you than a regular tampon made with synthetic materials that can cause irritation. The Saalt Cup is very highly rated and one of the best options as it is organic, and the company that produces them is a certified B-corp. 

The Saalt Cup is a reusable soft silicone cup worn internally like a tampon, but collects—rather than absorbs—your period.

Recommended: How to Eliminate IBS, IBD, Leaky Gut 

Menstrual Discs

Menstrual discs are similar to menstrual cups in practice, but there are a few differences. For starters, as the name suggests, menstrual discs are shaped like a disc as opposed to a cup. Additionally, they sit higher in the body, closer to the cervix than tampons or menstrual cups, this can take a bit of getting used to if you’re not familiar with that part of your body. Menstrual discs are not as bad as tampons but not as good as menstrual cups because of how far up they sit in the body. Lastly, most menstrual discs are typically disposable. Menstrual discs are better than tampons for the environment because they are good for up to 12 hours of use depending on your flow (much longer than tampons).

One of the most popular pros of menstrual discs is that they are one the best ways to have mess-free period sex, so if that’s something you’re looking for, menstrual discs might be a good option. While some people have said the discs can move a little bit during sex, resulting in leakage, most people don’t have issues. One of the most popular brands of Menstrual discs, the Flex Disc, is made from medical-grade polymer and is free of BPA’s and latex, while also being hypoallergenic.

If you want to go the reusable route checkout The Ziggy Cup which is more of a disk than a cup; it’s bowl-shaped. It is one the most highly rated reusable menstrual discs on the market, made out of medical-grade silicone. They also offer various cups and other feminine products.

Ziggy Cup – The One You Can Have Sex With

Reuseable Pads

Reuseable pads are one of the best options for your health and the environment. Typically they’re made from 100% cotton and you simply soak them in cold water then wash them in the washing machine when you’re done. While more expensive initially, they will save you money in the long run, as is the case with all reusable products. Some women have said that they can shift around more than regular pads, but with no adhesive strip there’s no concern about getting pubic hair stuck to the pad, which is definitely a plus. Having to change a reusable pad anywhere other than home can be a bit of a hassle, but in my opinion, this problem is well worth the inconvenience for the environment’s sake, just bring a bag with you to stick your used pad in. Many women say that reusable pads are more comfortable than regular ones. Without the synthetic materials and chemicals in regular pads, there’s less irritation and less chaffing. We like these New Moon Pads but you can also make your own.

New Moon Pads

Period Underwear

Period underwear is pretty much what it sounds like: underwear that absorbs your flow without any other products. Along with reusable pads, they are one of the best options for the environment (although not as good as 100% cotton reusable pads, as many types of period underwear have synthetic materials). Period underwear does not feel like an adult diaper; they look and feel like regular underwear. In fact, you’ll probably feel even less like you’re in a diaper than when you wear a regular pad. They’re typically made with an extra layer of fabric designed to be extra absorbent. The problem is these might not work all day for you if you have a heavy flow.

They make a couple of different kinds, some designed for overnight, and some with inserts that go inside the underwear similar to reusable pads. Typically one pair of period underwear is designed to be as absorbent as 2 tampons. Since these are reusable they are one of the more environmentally friendly options, and if you’re not combining them with a tampon, then these have no health drawbacks. There are lots of different kinds out there, so check out this article by Good House Keeping to get an idea of which brand might be best for you. 

Sea Sponges 

This one surprised me. I had never heard of Sea Sponges being used for menstrual products until I did the research for this article. Turns out, they’re very popular and have been used for years. Supposedly, Cleopatra was a fan.

Sea sponges are used like tampons; just insert them inside the vaginal canal until you’re unable to feel it, and then pull it out when you’re done, generally after 6-8 hours, or when it gets full. When it’s full rinse it with warm water and then ring it out to dry. They’re super absorbent, soft and comfortable, easy to use, and reusable. You can also trim them down to whatever size works for you. Sea sponges are fragile, so handle with care.

You can find sea sponges with strings sewn in for convenience, and they last between 3-6 months. Sea sponges are compostable so you can throw them in your compost bucket at the end of their life, and when done correctly Sea Sponges regenerate after being picked, making them one of the best options for the environment. Again, at OLM, we recommend using products that don’t go inside your body over products that do go in your body, for health reasons, but we do love that these are all-natural and have been time-tested. It’s recommended that you clean your Sea Sponge in warm water (not boiling, as it can damage the sponge).

Since the Sea Sponge is a natural product it can contain sand and other ocean particles when you get it. There has not been a lot of scientific research conducted about the health risks of using sea sponges, but they’ve been used by women for centuries. If you’re looking for a product that isn’t a pad, that goes inside your body, this sounds like a good alternative for your health and for the health of the environment. Jade and Pearl is a small business in Florida that sells ethically sourced sea sponges and other eco-friendly menstrual products. 

So what option is best? 

Choosing the best product for you will depend on your budget and your needs. For convenience, overall health, and the environment, I’m partial to reusable pads. If you’re looking for something insertable, I hope you’ll try the sea sponge for sake of the environment and your health, or any of the reusable products listed if you’re more concerned about the environment than your health. Personally, I don’t recommend anything disposable long term, but merely as a transitional tool from your conventional products to something more sustainable.

If you have a heavy flow (along with overwhelming cramping and mood swings) we recommend fixing your hormonal system by checking out our article, Holistic Guide to Healing the Endocrine System and Balancing Our Hormones.

Sources:

Are Your Tampons and Pads Toxic?-Small Footprint Family

5 Eco-Friendly Period Products You Will Actually Want To Use-Green Matters

Teamoy Reusable Cloth Menstrual Pads Review: The Best Cloth Pads?-The Reuseable Menstrual Cup

Organic Cotton Reusable Natural Sanitary Pad (Wing/Brown) Set of 3-Hesta Organic

9 Best Reusable Pads: Cotton, Bamboo, and Organic Reusable Cloth Pads-EcoKarma

2020’s Top 5 Sea Sponge Menstrual (Soft) Tampons Reviews-Menstrual cup Reviews

5 Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Period Products to Try NowMenstrual Disc: What to Know Before You Try-Retail Me not

The Best Period Products for Yourself, and the Environment was originally published on Organic Lifestyle Magazine

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Inside the heartwarming world of Hot Wheels collecting

What seems like a simple hobby can take you across the world.

In 1995, Sheri Abbey was at a swap meet in California when something small caught her eye: a classic model Radio Flyer wagon Hot Wheels car, with a spoiler, rear-mounted engine and butterfly style steering wheel.

Abbey had always appreciated machines. She grew up in Michigan, where she lived in a household of car enthusiasts. Her dad owned a body shop and would occasionally race. Together, Abbey and her father built hot rods, American muscle cars with large engines modified for speed.

It made sense her love of big cars might translate to an affinity for small ones. But when Abbey picked up the toy, she couldn’t have known where it would take her.

“I didn’t realize how collectible they were,” Abbey says. Soon, she was sharing the hobby with her son, who was three at the time. “We would go to car shows and because of Hot Wheels, he would know the names of all the cars.”

A lifetime of collecting had begun.

Mattel released the first Hot Wheels toy line in 1968 with 16 cars, which included custom versions of the Camaro, Barracuda, Mustang, Thunderbird and Beetle. They have become known in Hot Wheels lore as the Sweet 16.

Hot Wheels quickly became a force in the toy market. They sold for a dollar, making them a perfectly affordable toy for parents whenever they went to grocery stores with their kids.

Hot Wheels have evolved in the decades since. The mainline cars — the dollar cars you might find at your local Wal-Mart — still exist, but now premium-series cars, with more complex designs and better materials, are sold at a markup. Mattel also makes Treasure Hunt cars, which are special edition versions of the mainline cars.

Hot Wheels is no longer marketed strictly for children. The fact people who grew up with Hot Wheels, like Abbey, still love them so many years later isn’t an accident. Mattel has consciously made Hot Wheels more appealing to adults.

Amy Boylan started in the software division for Mattel in the late-1990s. While she was with the company, Boylan noticed there were thousands of Hot Wheels collectors around the world, and built an official site and forum to bring enthusiasts together. The Hot Wheels Red Line Club was established. For an annual membership fee, collectors had access to purchase higher-end cars.

“We ended up having 5,000 members in the first six months,” Boylan says. “I realized right away how big it was and how rabid our collectors were. Collectors always collected, but we brought order to it. We built a community of almost 100,000 people worldwide.”

In 1999, family members in Montana tipped Abbey off to a friend who was selling his Hot Wheels collection, which totaled more than 7,000 cars, including some from the original 1968 release. When she acquired them, she started selling the cars as a side hustle.

Eventually, her childhood enthusiasm for taking apart real cars bled into her hobby. Abbey got into customization.

“You could make them into anything you can imagine,” Abbey says. “That’s when your artistry just takes over.”

Abbey took Hot Wheels cars that retailed for a dollar, stripped them and put them back together with new parts. They sold for $30 apiece.

Her customized cars caught the attention of the Hot Wheels community. In 2004, Mattel flew Abbey to Japan for a customization event.

“I’m a country girl,” Abbey says. “So going to Tokyo was crazy. Everything was overwhelming. It was a wonderful experience.”

Abbey spent six months working on various Hot Wheels customs. One of the most memorable cars was a McDonald’s Studebaker that Abbey turned into a Dragster.

“I had the details right down to how I wired the sparkplugs,” Abbey says. “I put in the gas tanks. You could see all the details. I roughed up all the tires so it looked like it had been doing burnouts.”

In 2009, Abbey was inducted into the Diecast Hall of Fame as a customizer. Now 58, Abbey has gone back to work as a machinist. The money is good enough to help pay for her two kids to go to college, but working seven days a week means Abbey has had to leave behind her Hot Wheels hobby for the last five years.

Now, Abbey airbrushes and customizes life-size cars.

“I’d rather paint bigger things,” Abbey says. “The small cars were getting tedious, and I’m getting a little arthritis in my hands.”

Abbey’s Hot Wheels origin story is just one of many. That’s the beautiful thing about collecting: You make your own rules. How you enter the hobby — whether it is because of your love of cars, or because they were a huge part of your childhood — is very much unique to you.

Some collectors, like Marcia Walker, take up the hobby from their significant others. Walker lives in Wisconsin, and first learned about Hot Wheels when she met her now-husband 23 years ago.

“He was collecting them,” Walker says. “And I was like, ‘Um, these are toys. What’s the big deal?’” She was soon swept up in the Hot Wheels world. Walker attended local collectors’ shows with her husband and helped him track down hard-to-find cars. She fell in love with the experience, and eventually Hot Wheels became a family bonding activity with her two sons, who are now 18 and 21.

“We took them to all these Hot Wheels events,” Walker says. “They were able to see things in the world other than the four corners of our house.”

Walker estimates her family has thousands of Hot Wheels cars in their collection.

“To be honest I would be afraid to find out,” Walker says. “There’s cases under the stairs, there’s cases in the closet, there’s boxes here, there’s boxes there. I don’t think there’s a room in the house that doesn’t have Hot Wheels in it.”

Sheri Abbey

One of Sheri Abbey’s custom designs.

Jeremy Iglesias

A look at Jeremy Iglesias’ collection, which contains more than 1,500 cars.

Some collectors are simply gonzo. James Savel, 60, joined the Red Line Club in 2003. Today, his basement is filled with Hot Wheels cars from the original collection, and every decade thereafter. The oval-shaped Sizzler racetrack he used to race his Hot Wheels as a kid still sits in a storage room in his basement.

Standouts in his collection include the Chevy Bel Air Candy Striper and the Volkswagen Beach Bomb. The purple prototype version, Savel tells me, is currently worth $300,000.

“Periodically I’ll come downstairs and just look at the cars,” he says.

Savel’s son Mark, 34, finally got into Hot Wheels last year, to the delight of his father. When Savel had his will written up recently, he divided his most valued items between his son and daughter. “My sister gets his record collection,” Mark says. “I get the Hot Wheels.”

Savel jokes that when he passes away, Mark, a real estate agent with a keen understanding of return on investment, will probably sell his dad’s entire collection the next day. “He’s probably right,” Mark says, laughing.

Mark is getting married later this year, and because of the expenses involved for the family, Savel vowed to stop spending so much money on Hot Wheels. “And then I get a call from him,” Mark says. “He tells me he bought the Hot Wheels Tesla Racer.”

The car is remote controlled and costs $400.

“Shipping is free though,” Savel says.

Many collectors are sentimentalists, chasing what they once yearned for as kids. Jason Marshall, a 45-year-old graphic designer, has also watched his Hot Wheels collection grow in the past five years. In 2015, he was walking past an aisle of Hot Wheels at a store when he noticed a new Lamborghini that was just released.

Marshall remembers watching Transformers in the 80s and the first time he saw different models of Lamborghinis — the Sideswipe, Sunstreaker and Countach — transform.

“They were full of opulence,” Marshall says. “It was the style. The way the doors just went straight up. It was unlike anything that has come before or since.”

In the past half-decade, Marshall has devoted himself to collecting every single Lamborghini that Hot Wheels has produced. He’s about 15 cars away, but two will be particularly hard to track down.

The first is a plated 18-karat gold car, one of only 1,000 produced in the 1990s. It is a mail-in car, meaning you could only receive it if you mailed in specific receipts, making it a much rarer than the cars that usually sit on grocery shelves. This particular Hot Wheel currently carries a price tag of around $300 on the resale market.

The second is a 25th anniversary edition Lamborghini produced in 2000 for Mattel’s birthday. It was given to employees with a “happy birthday” message on the hood. Marshall says he’s never seen one in person, and only knows it from a picture online.

So, why not buy an actual Lamborghini in real life?

“Who’s got a few hundred thousand dollars for a car that you probably have to pay triple that over its lifetime for maintenance?” Marshall says. “And that’s not even considering insurance.”

The commonality among all of the collectors, no matter how they found themselves immersed in Hot Wheels, is the joy that it brings them.

Jeremy Iglesias, 18, lives in Atlanta and is studying automotive technology at Chattahoochee Technical College. In his five years of collecting, Iglesias has amassed more than 1,500 cars in his Hot Wheels collection.

“There isn’t a right way to be a Hot Wheels collector,” Iglesias says. “Cars usually get sentimental value either by being present with me for an event, going with me for a trip, gift from a person, or something from my childhood.”

There is one wrong way to be a Hot Wheels collector. Like other items that appreciate in value over time, Hot Wheels are popular among resellers.

Adam Janusick, in his mid-20s, lives in central Illinois and has been collecting since 2011. He says the most challenging thing about the hobby these days is dealing with scalpers — those Hot Wheels buyers who are only in it for a profit.

“These guys will watch the stores like vultures,” Janusick says. “Hot Wheels comes in boxes of 72. The moment those boxes come off the truck, they will be there, ripping them apart, taking any car worth of any value, buying them, bringing them back home, and instantly putting them on eBay for a markup.”

Recently, Janusick has developed a strategy for tracking down Treasure Hunts. The key is to ignore big box retailers like Wal-Mart and Target and browse local grocery stores, where scalpers are less likely to look.

He was digging one day in Hy-Vee, a local grocery chain, and noticed something suspicious about a BMV C4 Hot Wheels. The paint was a little darker, more sparkly than the mainline car. The wheels were shiny and actual rubber.

“I audibly shouted, ‘no way,’” Janusick says, his voice rising as though he was back in the aisle discovering the car for the very first time.

Instead of growing out of Hot Wheels, many collectors grew into them as they got older. The hobby isn’t just a nostalgic trip; it’s about taking their childhood dreams seriously.

Abbey is a perfect example. Though she has reached the end of her road as a Hot Wheels collector, she still keeps that part of her life close. She has plans to move to a smaller place, where she wants to shrink her collection and set up displays for her customized Hot Wheels and awards.

“As a kid, you dream of the unattainable thing,” Marshall says. “As an adult, when you make money, you can afford a few things that you couldn’t before.”

By embracing what some might consider a childish hobby, Hot Wheels collectors show dreams can be valid from any age. Growing up simply means realizing that truth.