#I should note that I genuinely got so excited last night about getting 50 views I haven't gone to sleep so today will be interesting

[dixiedingo]

pack it up boys, chauvinism is out

[theonewiththefanfics]

Not So Bad After All (one-shot)

Synopsys: When the Reader’s car won’t start and the only person around is Billy Hargrove, she’d rather let the Demogorgon take her out on a date. But when her crazy ex decides to roll around, having another person in her corner might not be that bad. 

Pairing: Billy Hargrove x f!Reader

Genre: fluff, lil bit of angst, but only like if you squint

Warnings: swearing, mentions of stalkerish behaviour, suggestive talk, but nothing much. If there’s anything else, please let me know :)

Word count: 3008

        Summer nights in Hawkins were like a game of Russian roulette. They could be hot and sweltering, and to the point that you wanted to camp on the lake for some kind of relief from the heat, or they could be ruled by piercing winds, and temperatures that dropped below 50 degrees, despite the weather during the day being literal Hell.         Fortunately for Y/N, it was the first one, as she had no harrowing want to go back to the community pool in barely there jean shorts, a bikini top and a loose Jaws t-shirt over her body.         Working at the pool was a tradition at this point for her, and forgetting her bag with her driver’s license, wallet and house keys much the same.         Letting out a frustrating huff, she opened the gate to the pool and strutted towards the women’s changing rooms, not acknowledging Billy Hargrove who had applied for the lifeguard job and had gotten it, becoming her partner. Sort of.         They shared shifts, as there needed to be two lifeguards on spot at all times, but if Y/N was being honest, she’d rather share her time with a Demogorgon, than Billy.         He was stuck up, thought he was better than everyone else, flirted mercilessly with anyone that would come up to him, had two boobs and a vagina between their legs. Not that she really cared, but when in the timespan he was offering Nancy Wheeler’s mom ‘private swimming lessons’, a kid had slipped and broken his nose and another one had twisted her ankle, Y/N was very much so over his bullshit.

        Y/N groaned seeing as someone had left the women’s sauna door open, which meant all the heat had escaped into the showers, and she could only hope it hadn’t been left open cause Billy had wanted to have some fun with a girl.         Sighing, Y/N peeked inside and crossed her fingers that she wouldn’t have to clean all that mess up, and it turned out luck was on her side, as everything seemed clean. Heather would still have to mop down the floors in the morning when her shift started, but that was not Y/N’s concern.         As quick as possible, she closed the sauna door, placed a towel by the entrance to soak up the moisture on the tiles and rushed to get her stuff. She was starving by that point, and her dad had promised they’d be having a barbecue night. Just at the thought of food, her stomach released the loudest grumble ever.         With her bag slung over her shoulder, Y/N pulled out her car keys from the back pocket of her shorts and gave Billy a small tight-lipped smile as he held the gate open for her before closing for the night.         “You sure you got everything?” he asked, and she nodded.         “If not, I’ll just get it tomorrow.”         And that was it for their conversation. They weren’t enemies, but they certainly weren’t friends. Y/N hung out with Steve Harrington most of the time, and let’s just say Billy and him were not buddies. Besides, it’s not like Billy had expressed any interest in getting to know her, so why should she?         She pulled back the hair that had stuck to her forehead from the humidity, and dropped her bag into the passenger seat, putting her foot onto the clutch and twisting the key.         Her eyebrows furrowed, and she repeated the motion.         Like before, the engine sputtered, rattled and did nothing.         “Fucking, hell, are you kidding me?” Y/N muttered and slapped her hands against the wheel, stepping out of her car and sighing. “I just fixed you.” It was an old car, but it wasn’t ancient so it made no sense why it would be acting up.         From the corner of her eye, she saw Billy approach, and Y/N rolled her eyes at the cigarette he dumped onto the ground and extinguished with his foot. “Need some help, sweetheart?”         “I’d rather shove a spoon through my eye.”         Billy let out a small snort and shook his head, the dirty blond curls that had stretched out a bit from the heat swishing along his forehead in soft waves. “Come on. I just want to help. I promise that’s all.”         Y/N eyed him sceptically but relented in the end. Maybe she’d need his help and have him spark her car up. “But if your hands go somewhere, I can’t see, you’re dead.”         “Noted, princess.”         She rolled her eyes at the nickname, which seemed to be Billy’s favorite pastime, but nevertheless, Y/N opened her door and leaned to open the glove compartment where a flashlight resided. You never knew, when it could come in hand, and the lighting outside the pool’s parking lot wasn’t the best.         “Pop the hood,” Billy said, and Y/N pressed the button on the inside, the hood obscuring her vision of her ex-classmate.         “Your ignition cable’s gone,” he immediately announced.         “What?” she rushed to his side, shining the light to where Billy was pointing at, and true to his words – the cable was gone.         “Are you kidding me?” Y/N leaned closer but nope, the view didn’t change. The cable was really gone. Right then, the sound of a car engine rolling up next to them made the two look up. Even without glimpsing the shitty green paint job on the Mustang, Y/N would’ve recognized the car and the owner in a matter of seconds.         “You’ve gotta be joking,” she mumbled glaring at the car that was approaching them as if she could see through the metal hood.         Billy’s eyes flitted down to where Y/N was glaring a hole in her car.        "Know who it is?"         “That’s my insane ex-boyfriend. Ever since I broke up with him, which, mind you, was months ago, he’s been stalking me.” She slammed down the hood, and it would’ve made Billy flinch, had it not been for the overwhelming feeling of anger that started to course through his veins. “And I don’t think it’s a coincidence that my car’s dead.”         “The pool’s closed, amigo,” Billy called out to the boy who stepped out from his car. The Californian would never admit, but he’d grown really attached to Y/N. He didn’t show it, nor did it seem like she noticed one bit, but he always kept out an eye for her.         Whenever she was the one on closing duty, he lingered around under the guise of trying to hook up with a girl in his car, but in truth, it was to see if she got to her own vehicle safely.         He always made sure Y/N took her lunch breaks and wasn’t in the direct heat of the sun for too long. There had been one time she’d passed out in the girl’s locker room, according to Heather, after having basically worked a double shift, and Billy’s protectiveness just grew. He'd even given half of his sandwich when the only thing Y/N had had time to pack before rushing for her shift had been an apple.         “Y/N,” the dark-haired boy’s tone had the fake-shocked note to it. “I didn’t expect to see you here… is everything alright?”         She crossed her arms and popped her hip out. “It was. Until you showed up and completely ruined my evening.”         “That’s a bit mean, isn’t’ it?” the guy chuckled, and pretty much simultaneously both Y/N’s and Billy’s jaws clenched. Hers because Derek was the last person on her list of people she wanted to see, Billy’s cause he could instantly tell what a disgusting slime ball he was.         “We’re alright here,” the blond answered and puffed up his chest a bit if only to make it clear Y/N didn’t need his help and neither wanted him there. “And again – the pool is closed. So, piss off.”         Derek scoffed. “Yeah, I wasn’t talking to you, Hargrove. I was talking to the lady here.”         “Well I don’t think she wants to talk to you,” Billy sneered in response and looked over at Y/N who was just looking at Derek. For the first time ever, he was glad her eyes were not on him. Whenever he caught her glancing his way, his heart sped up in excitement, but now... if looks could kill, Billy was sure Derek would be twenty feet under.         “I think she can talk for herself, right, lovie?”         And Derek got what he wanted – a reaction out of her. Y/N hated that nickname, had always despised it, but it took two to play a game.         “Car trouble,” she said and slowly walked closer to Derek and coincidentally, but not really so coincidentally, her trunk. “Couldn’t start it, and Billy here offered his help.”         “You know that you can always ask me for help, right?” Derek’s tone was softer now but held an edge to it as he eyed Billy. “We might not be together, but I still care about you. Unlike the slut of the town who probably just wants to get in your pants.”         “Oh, I don’t doubt that,” Y/N smiled at the ground, and it made Billy’s heart clench. He knew he had a reputation, but that didn’t mean he didn’t genuinely care for her. Though when she pulled out a baseball bat, her grip tight around the handle, his mood shifted. “But there’s caring about someone,” she said, “and then there’s your absolute psycho behavior.”         “Y-Y/N?” Derek stuttered, and Billy crossed his arms with a smug look on his face.         “See here’s the thing, Billy boy here said that my ignition cable’s gone, which is funny, cause I was at the pool for barely five minutes,” she tossed the bat from one hand to the other before flipping it in her palm. “And less than two minutes after I’m in a little bit of trouble, you,” she pointed at Derek with the bat, “show up. And if you think I believe in coincidences such as this, you’re dead wrong.”         Derek bristled, and Y/N smiled seeing a muscle in his jaw tick, especially when Billy went to tower behind the other guy’s back. “You can’t be serious and think that I'd do something to your car? This is ridiculous.”        “Then you wouldn’t mind me searching your Mustang?” She pointed with the bat at the window. From the corner of her eye, Y/N could see Billy’s lips pull up in a smirk. She’d be lying if the thought of having him on her side wasn’t a soothing one.        Derek’s eyes widened at the sight, and he gulped when she gently slid the piece of wood across his back window.        “You wouldn’t mind me taking a look, would you?” Y/N repeated in a way too sweet of a tone.        “You’re crazy,” he said, making her eyes darken.        “Fine. Then I guess I just have to make myself fit that label,” she sneered and swung the bat back. Just as it was about to reach the window, Derek screamed, ‘alright, fine!’        His chest was heaving up and down, but Y/N could see how his fists clenched and unclenched. “Do whatever the fuck you want.”        In mock gratitude, Y/N put a hand against her chest. “Thank you.”        Her eyes flitted to Billy. “Would you mind keeping an eye on him?”        The Californian’s grin widened, and his tongue darted out to wet his bottom lip. “Not at all, princess. Take as much time as you need.”        But Y/N only had to look for three minutes, before she remembered that under the backseats, there was a compartment Derek had made to stash his weed, fearing his parents might find it if he hid it in his room, so with a little bit of prying and almost breaking off a nail, Y/N opened the little compartment and was greeted by a greasy tube sticking out from it.        “Oh, Billy, would you look at that!” Y/N exclaimed not surprised at all as she threw the boy the cable. “I think we found the hidden treasure.”         “Well, I think you need to change professions from a lifeguard and become an archaeologist, miss Indiana Jones.”         “Exactly my thoughts,” but her sarcastic reply was not filled with any humor at all.        “Listen here, you absolute psycho,” Y/N growled as she moved closer, grip tightening around her bat. “If I even smell you anywhere near me, your ass is dead. Got it? I broke up with you cause you were a piece of shit, but I wanted to remain civil. Though, now, it seems like it’s not possible.”        But as much as Derek was scared, ‘cause he knew Y/N never made threats only promises, he still wouldn’t see the error of his ways. “Come on, darling. I just miss you. Why don’t we go grab a bite and talk everything out? Let’s not let this dent our relationship…”         “Dent,” Y/N chuckled and shook her head. “The only dent that I’ll ever acknowledge, cause there’s no relationship between us, is the dent in your car.”         Simultaneously as Derek yelled ‘what?!’ Y/N swung back the bat and let it connect with the passenger door.         “You bitch! What are you doing you psychopath?!” her ex screamed as his hands went to tangle in his hair. “I’ll make you pay for that, just you wait!”        “Go on,” she smirked heaving in a breath after she left another dent on the side, “tell your daddy and mommy your crazy ex busted up your car. And I’ll tell Hopper how you’ve been parked outside of my house for the past three months trying to spy on me. Or how about the times you've followed me with your car? Who do you think he’ll believe – me, someone with evidence – or you – a bitter boy who just can’t get over a girl that doesn’t want him?”        Derek’s eyes widened in fear. “What evidence?”        Y/N scoffed and crossed her arms. “Did you really think I wouldn’t notice you lurking outside my house and not do anything about it? I know how people treat women, that whenever they say something it’s because they’re crazed bitches. So,” she smiled smugly, “I had my parents install a security system with cameras. And your license plate shines brightly under those streetlights. Oh, and how could I forget our star witness tonight. Billy, sweetheart, if I went to Hop and told him about everything, would you mind corroborating the story? You know, how I came here to get my stuff, how I couldn’t start my car and we found out my ignition cable was gone. Not to even mention, how it turned up in the back of Derek's car here?”        “Of course not, princess,” he smiled mimicking Y/N’s position. “It would be an absolute honor.”        “You’ll never get into her pants,” Derek sneered at the other guy, trying to strike a chord, “in three years she didn’t put out once.”        “Trust me,” came Y/N’s immediate reply. “Billy has more chance of getting with me than you ever had or will. Now stay away from me, or it’ll end uglier than it started.”        Derek swung open his door and hopped in his car, sneering out a ‘you’ll regret this, you bitch’, before driving away into the night.        “Gotta say, Y/L/N,” Billy smirked and helped reinstall the cables to her car, “I’d be lying if I said I’m not scared and aroused at the same time.”        “Busting up a car makes you hard?” she let out a genuine laugh sitting down into the driver’s seat and turning the key, fist-bumping the air as her car roared back to life.         “No, but a girl not taking anyone’s bullshit might,” the look on his face was the pure embodiment of what she thought of Billy, of his womanizing ways, and Y/N rolled her eyes.         “If you haven’t noticed, I haven’t been taking your bullshit either.”         He sucked his bottom lip between his teeth before answering completely honestly. “Then why do you think I’ve been trying so hard to make you like me?”         Her jaw practically slammed through the car floor, because when Y/N’s eyes met his, there was not a single trace of him lying or scheming something up. This was Billy without his bravado, asking out a girl he had actual feelings for, and hoping that she wouldn’t break his heart too much.        “What are you doing this Friday?” Y/N asked both hands on the wheel to have something to hold on instead of fidget with her fingers.        For a second, he was stunned but quickly regained his composure. “Dunno,” Billy smirked, “have any ideas?”        Y/N shrugged but didn’t hide the smile that blossomed on her lips. “They’re still showing Day of the Dead. Wanna go and watch?”        He seemed to contemplate her proposal but then shook his head. “Can’t,” he chuckled. “I’m taking this smokin'-hot chick on a date tomorrow morning, so hopefully on Friday it’ll be our third one.” But his face had this huge grin on that made her frown in confusion.         “Then why did you say you don’t know?”         “Cause first I have to take you out for breakfast.”        “What?” her eyebrows scrunched up and she let out a small laugh. Billy pointed at her before hopping into his Camaro, rolling down the passenger side window and stating, “10 AM. Benny’s. Be ready or I’ll leave without you.”         With that, he revved up his beloved blue baby and reversed out from the parking lot.         What she didn’t see was how he smiled all the way back to his house even doing a little dance as he walked up the steps.         What he didn’t see was how she squealed in excitement and hugged both her parents when she got home so hard they thought they’d pass out.         “What’s up with you?” Y/N’s father laughed seeing his daughter so over the moon that he had to look at her mom with a raised eyebrow.         “Nothing,” she shook her. “I’m just… happy.”         Luckily they didn't question her any further, and just let her smile as widely as her cheeks would allow.        Maybe the bad boy of Hawkins wasn’t that bad after all.

Tags (crossed out wouldn't take):

Forever tags: @lumelgy @palaiasaurus64 @supernaturalbaesduh @breezy1415 @crazy--me @thatawkwardlittlefangirl @sea040561 @staryeyedgirl @deathbyarabbit @s-c-a-r-e-d-po-t-t-e-r @reblogger-not-a-blogger @m-a-t-91 @dalilx @i-need-a-hero-i-need-a-loki @maladaptive-ninja-returns @averyrogers83 @in-the-end-im-still-trash @gallifreyansass @dewy-biitch @avxgers @unlikelygalaxygiver @sweet-ladyy @magicwithaknife @ollyoxenfrees @bnhvrdy @tvwhoresblog @celebsimagines @thatkindofgurl @sj-thefan @teenwolflover28

Billy Hargrove’s tag list: @la-reina-tigresa @youcanstandundermyumbrella

A/N: thought I’d get something else up as well for Billy :)

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #357

“your magic white rabbit has left its writing on the wall  /  we follow like alice, and just keep diving down the hole”

Are you better at telling stories or writing them? Writing, by a long shot. What’s one song you hate, but know every word to? i'm a barbie girl in a fckn barbie woooooorld What’s your favorite magazine? I don’t read magazines. If you could be an animal for one day, which animal would you choose? Probably a house cat. Be indoors and safe, able to just nap... lol. But I'd want another cat as a friend, too! Do you prefer outdoor or indoor concerts/events? Indoors, by a mile. I get hot outside way too easily. Do you know if you were a planned child? I don't know. What’s your favorite gem? Dragon's breath opal. As an adult, do you want to live in an apartment or a house? I'd like to live in a house, especially with the pets I want. I doubt many apartment complexes would allow multiple reptiles and inverts. Do you like the stem or leafy part of the broccoli? It doesn't matter much to me, but I prefer the stem. The texture is more likeable to me. Do bats frighten you? No, I adore bats! Does Paris appeal to you? Yeah, it's a pretty place. Are you a KPOP fan? No, I've never really checked it out. How long was your longest relationship? Over three and a half years. First time you kissed the last person you kissed? We were outside roasting marshmallows one night. Do you have to really know someone to kiss them? Absolutely. I don't dish 'em out for nothing. Were you anyone’s first kiss? No. If you had to be named after one of the 50 states of America, what state would you WANT to be named after? I actually think "Nevada" would be kinda pretty as a name? Do you think morals are universal or relative to the beliefs, traditions, or practices of individuals or groups? I've wondered this for a long while, really. I lean towards it being a mix, maybe? But more towards universal, I think... with some exceptions. This answer is all over the place, I honestly don't know. Is torture ever a good option? If no, why not? If yes, when? No? I think the "why not" is obvious... You just don't. What do you think is one one of the most undervalued professions right now? Teachers, garbagemen, retail and food workers... There's a lot. Have you ever seen anyone have a heart attack? Thank Christ no. Have you personalized your answering machine/voicemail? No. Have you ever had Fiji brand water? I actually don't believe I have, though it's always looked appealing to me, haha. What’s your favorite horror movie? The Crazies and the first Silent Hill, as well as both Blair Witch Projects. What was the worst thing a friend has either done or said to you? I'd rather not even think about things the bitch said to me. Are you biracial? No. When was the last time you got mad and broke something? I've never broken something when mad. What color dress did you wear to prom? My first was maroon, second one was black. Who is the cutest baby you know? My friend has a daughter named Scarlett who is absolutely gorgeous. Have you ever thrown a rock at a window? No, because I respect people's fucking property. Has anyone ever thrown a rock at your window? No. Does your hair react well to dye, or does it damage it? It likes to not take dye at all. >.> I have only had one instance where a friend dyed it red and it stuck for months and months, but we kept it in for a couple hours, I think. My normal hairdresser says it's because my hair is really healthy and I guess rejects it. What kind of pet do you wish you had? I ramble plenty about how I want tarantulas and more reptiles, haha. I also DESPERATELY want to rescue or foster an opossum. When was the last time you were diagnosed with something? Are you concerned about anything regarding your physical or mental health at the moment? I haven't been diagnosed with anything in quite some time, I believe, but as I'm going through the process of being approved for TMS therapy for my depression, my bipolar diagnosis is being questioned, which is... strange to me. It's been acknowledged by many a doctor that I have bipolar 2, but if insurance recognizes my primary diagnosis as bipolar, they won't cover TMS because it can massively excite the mania portion of bipolarity, and therefore I can't do it because we can't manually afford it. I'm willing to take the risk by far, as I've never had issues with mania, but I can't without insurance. I'm just waiting to hear back from them... What is one blanket judgment you tend to make about people (like, you judge all people who live at home, all people who drink, etc)? Does this judgment come from a particular personal experience? I really don't know. How do you react to other people yelling or slamming doors? Is this something you ever do too? I get very scared if it's a man. I don't like anyone doing it, and my anxiety will spike regardless, I'm just terrified of angry men. Have you ever lost your cool at work or somewhere else important? What happened as a result? No. Who has the power to break you? Jason still might. I don't know. Is anyone in your family blind? My sister is legally blind in one eye. Do you believe in evolution? Yeah. I do find the concept odd, that ALL LIFE originated from one thing, but I sure ain't got a better explanation, so. What job do you think people should be paid the most for? Surgeons, maybe? I dunno, that's a big question. Were you ever held back a year in school? Did you ever skip a grade? No. Have you ever been given a hickey? Have you given one? Yeah to both. What is your least favourite thing about your full name? I have the most basic white bitch middle name in the world, lol. Do you like the age you are? Eh, I don't mind it much, but I think it'd be better to be in my early 20s versus mid 20s. I'm just always so tired now. I can't believe I used to refuse to go to sleep before 10:30. What’s your favourite kind of poptart? The chocolate sundae one. If you had to eat one type (Chinese, etc.) of food which would it be? American bc I'm not very adventurous with food at all. When did your family immigrate to wherever you live now? *shrug* Are your fingers long, or short? Long. Mom's always said I have "piano fingers." Do you play Pokemon Go? If so, what level are you and who’s your buddy? Yeah, I love it, but don't play it nearly as much as I want because I don't exactly go anywhere, lol. My bud's Charmeleon, and I'm probably like five EXP from level 28. Do you ever sit indoors and wear sunglasses or a hat? I don't own either, so. Do you know how to read animals’ behavior? I honestly think I'm very good at it. Do you like playing video games? If so, what do you usually play? Yes, but not as much as I used to. All I really play nowadays is World of Warcraft. The only working console I have is a PS2, and I haven't bought a new game in probably a couple years, but there are definitely ones I want to play, mainly on PS4. Just can't afford it right now. Have you ever viewed the moon through a telescope? No. Do you know how to properly eat food with chopsticks? No. There's no way I could, given my tremors. Do you prefer reading books, comic books, manga/graphic novels, magazines, or the newspaper? Books. When is the last time you ate donuts? It's been months, man. I've seriously been craving a glazed one, though. Krispy Kreme sounds amaaaaaziiiiiing. Has anyone ever called you sexy? Somehow. Do you like raisins? NO NO NO NO NO. Have you ever overheard a conversation you weren’t supposed to? More than once. Do you like ants? They're genuinely extremely fascinating animals, but they're seriously annoying nevertheless. Did you like the movie Antz? I loved it as a kid. What was your favorite ice cream flavor when you were little? Chocolate. Is it still your favorite? Eh, depends on the day. By the way, what is your name? Brittany. What time zone do you live in? EST. Do you like cats? I love cats. What’s the most creepy experience you’ve ever had? One night when my mom and sister were at the beach for a dance competition, I was having trouble sleeping, and it only got worse when my dog Teddy started freaking the fuck out, barking loudly and staring intently at the foot of the bed. I was so scared that I tried to force his head to lie down, but he fought against me. I was terrified, but got up out of the bed and went into the living room to call my mom at like 3 in the damn morning, and she had to have our neighbor come over to sleep in the house with me (I was in a different room that night). You can't convince me that there wasn't paranormal shit going on. I think the house was haunted honestly, for multiple reasons. What’s the most boring game to exist? Why do you dislike it so much? Hm, I dunno. What’s the coolest place that you've ever been to? What’d you do there? Disney World was very memorable as a kid. We just went around collecting signatures, going on rides, all that fun stuff. I'll never forget fireworks at the castle. If you’re interested in having a long-term relationship with someone, do you think that waiting a certain amount of time before you first have sex is a good idea? Or does it not matter? I think it's a good idea, personally, mostly for the sake of reducing the spread of STDs. Just because you think you'll be long-term, doesn't mean you will be. Besides that, isn't there a science that sex and feelings of love are connected? Like, sex is impossible without at least some underlying emotions? I might be entirely wrong, in which case forgive me for spreading misinformation, but if that's so and things don't go as planned, you've gotten emotionally invested in someone too early and wind up getting hurt. You do you, I just don't think it's smart. Have you ever discovered something big by looking through someone’s phone, Facebook, email, etc.? No. Have you kept anything from your past relationships? (Things they left at your house, gifts, notes, etc) Do you think that’s a big deal for future relationships or not? Yeah, like plushies and little stuff like that. When it's tiny things like I just mentioned, I really don't think it matters. I think some things might be questionable to keep, but at the same time, I don't think it's really wrong to keep memories of a happy time, if the thing still brings you joy and has been emotionally disconnected from the ex? Idk. Do you have any financial regrets? Either way, what’s an example of a GOOD financial decision you’ve made? Going to and dropping out of college three fucking times. I don't know about a good financial decision seeing as I'm not even in charge of my own finances, nor really have any to begin with. Are you a believer in “signs” from the Universe about things in your life? If you are, can you think of a particular example? No. Name some things that one or both of your parents are really good at or really interested in. Mom LOVES medical stuff, like watching surgeries and stuff like that. She is also absolutely incredible with children. Dad likes sports a lot, hockey and football especially. Think of a good friend of the opposite sex (currently or in the past). Have you ever had any sort of “more than a friend” or sexual thoughts about them? If not, can you explain why? Well, we dated briefly, so... It was awkward to, but I let myself imagine sexual situations a few times to help myself understand if I really did like-like him, or if he was truly just a brother to me. Turns out, he's a bro. If someone told you that you would never achieve something and you ended up doing it, would you have any interest in finding that person and showing them? I'ma be honest, yes. I wouldn't actively seek them out, but rather just hope they somehow find out or I run into them or something. What is the most jealousy-induced thing you’ve ever done? Apparently, be the girl Juan liked instead of this girl that literally threatened to deck me. Guess what? We're friends now lmaoooo.

[acsversace-news]

Tony Magaldi corrects the record about one Gianni Versace anecdote that has persisted all these years: The designer did not eat breakfast at News Café the morning of his death on July 15, 1997. “His routine was to visit our newsstand in the morning and buy out-of-town papers; once in a while he had coffee with us,” explains Magaldi, managing partner of the iconic 24-hour café on Miami’s South Beach. “But he rarely ate here; he had his own chef at home.”

News Café will be one of the locations seen when American Crime Story:The Assassination of Gianni Versace premieres Jan. 17 on FX, but the script doesn’t put the designer there on that fateful day. “I thought they might re-enact when he came in that last day, but it was another scene,” says Magaldi, who recalls standing on the café’s front steps on that July 1997 morning. “I remember how hot it was – July in Miami, you know? He came in, bought his papers and left. Not long after, a cop came by on his bicycle and asked if Versace had been here, and I said yeah, I had just seen him. And then he sped off. It’s one of those days you don’t forget.”

Memories of Gianni Versace have not faded in South Beach over the two decades since Andrew Cunanan shot and killed the designer, who was just 50 years old, on the steps of Casa Casuarina. Versace had purchased the South Beach mansion for $2.95 million in 1992 and lovingly converted it into not only his personal residence but also one of the world’s most celebrated examples of Italian Baroque splendor (it's now a luxury hotel). Versace’s big-picture vision in this endeavor shouldn’t be underestimated: In 1992 South Beach still felt undeniably dingy and largely underdeveloped, dotted with faded Art Deco buildings occupied by senior citizens, many of whom spent their mornings (before the sun rose to sizzling temperatures) in lawn chairs on the porches of these forgotten hotels; locals had dubbed it “God’s waiting room.” But with News Café as a buzzy spot at Eighth Street and Ocean Drive, Casa Casuarina situated between 11th and 12th streets, and now-legendary hotels like the Clevelander, the Carlyle (used as a location for 1996’s The Birdcage and now a condo building) and the Tides (where portions of 1999’s Random Hearts were filmed) nearby, not to mention considerable help from the fashion and modeling industries, the oceanfront avenue evolved within less than a decade into one of the world’s most glamorous vacation spots.

These days you will find plenty of onlookers at the gates of Casa Casuarina; the numbers have not diminished after all these years. “We have literally thousands of people taking photos in front of the house each week — it’s actually the third most-photographed home in the U.S., after Graceland and the White House,” maintains Chauncey Copeland, general manager of the property, now the Villa Casa Casuarina, a boutique hotel, restaurant and event space owned by Victor Hotels Management since 2013.

American Crime Story execs contacted both Magaldi and Victor Hotels Management early in 2017 when they were getting set to film this latest installment of the Ryan Murphy-produced anthology. A miniseries highlighting the devastation and after-effects of Hurricane Katrina had been planned, but as the 20th anniversary of Versace’s murder approached, this story — broken into 10 episodes and based on Maureen Orth’s 1999 book, Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U.S. History — was pushed to the front of the line. The News Café scene was filmed in just one day in May 2017. “They needed a couple of days prior to that, because just the month before we actually had closed down the newsstand; everyone is always on their phones these days, so we didn’t really need it anymore,” Magaldi says. “But they did a great job bringing everything back to what it looked like at that time.”

The production took over Casa Casuarina, meanwhile, for the entire month, Copeland says. “At one point I know they were going back and forth about how they could re-create things as best they could on a Hollywood lot,” he notes. “But then they realized how little we had changed the environments, and they got very excited about filming on site. They didn’t have to do very much to it: They switched out some courtyard furniture for something more of that era, added some vintage chaise lounges by the pool, repainted the gate the color Versace originally had it, and removed some exit signs that are required because we’re a hotel. That’s really it.”

Indeed, it would have been costly to reproduce Versace’s vision on a soundstage. After he purchased the property, the designer reportedly spent $33 million on restoring and enhancing the original 1930 building, which had been conceptualized by Alden Freeman, an architect and heir to the Standard Oil fortune. Casa Casuarina, which takes its name from the species of tree Freeman regretfully razed while constructing his home, had changed hands and fallen into disrepair over the years; it was a dilapidated apartment building with 24 units when Versace discovered it during a South Beach vacation (among the elements that charmed him was a 1928 statue known as Kneeling Aphrodite, installed long ago by Freeman and currently positioned at the front entrance). Versace combined the building’s 24 units into an Italianate villa with 10 bedroom suites; after purchasing and tearing down the property next door, he added both a new wing and a garden with a 54-foot, mosaic-lined pool.

Those 10 bedroom suites remain largely unchanged, Copeland says. Donatella Versace removed furniture, artwork and other personal items, putting most of it on the auction block at Sotheby’s in 2001 after selling Casa Casuarina in 2000 to telecom millionaire Peter Loftin, who tried to make a go of the property as a private club. The current owners painstakingly examined books and old magazine layouts in an effort to reproduce Gianni Versace’s original interiors. “We combed through old photos and available film stock and also spoke with people who had worked with him on the design,” Copeland says. “There were several pieces we had to re-create, but we wanted to be faithful to his original vision.”(It should be noted that Donatella Versace has disavowed the miniseries; on Monday the Italian label released a statement affirming that no one connected with Versace authorized Orth’s book or the resulting screenplay, and that the miniseries should be considered “a work of fiction.”)

During high season — October through April — booking one of the suites can be tough, especially if you want to stay in the connected two-bedroom Villa and Empire suites; Versace slept in the former, which is adjacent to the latter via a lavish vestibule. The decor is as opulent as you might expect, with details ranging from frescoes to double-king beds that stretch 12 feet across. Rates for any of the 10 suites range from $899 to $1,599 per night during the slower summer months on up to $1,399 to $2,999 during high-occupancy periods. Hotel guests also are able to swim in the ultra-glamorous pool, but only until 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. “That’s when we start to set up the restaurant, with tables on the pool deck,” Copeland explains. “On Monday, when the restaurant is closed, you can swim all day.”

Rechristened Gianni’s in 2016, the restaurant features a menu that showcases Mediterranean seafood and is helmed by executive chef Thomas Stewart, who cooked dinner for the James Beard Foundation at Casa Casuarina soon after taking over the kitchen. In addition to the dining room, tables spill over onto a raised terrace and the aforementioned pool deck (during high season, tables also are positioned in the galleries leading to various dining areas). And regardless of season, don’t expect to walk in without a reservation; the privacy of the property remains strictly guarded. “Anyone with a reservation is of course welcome to enter,” Copeland says. “We’re very protective of the space, but that’s also for the enjoyment of our guests.”

Ultimately, with the premiere of the miniseries a week away, has Casa Casuarina been feeling any effects from, say, the release of various trailers, which make it clear that Versace’s beloved South Beach residence was used to its full advantage? “We’ve been on a steady rise in interest the past few years, so it’s really hard to say,” Copeland says. “A lot of people, however, still don’t know that they can stay here and eat here; I have no doubt that interest will increase within the next few months.”

Twenty years later, Magaldi is happy that News Café patrons still seek out the site because of its connection to the most famous neighbor he’ll ever know — not because it’s good for business, though that idea is undeniable, but very simply because he genuinely liked Gianni Versace. “He was very gentle, quiet, unassuming,” Magaldi says. “Everything I saw about the [miniseries] production was that they were trying to be respectful to his memory. That was important to anyone who was here when it happened. That made me feel good about doing it.”

Copeland agrees. “If they bring to film what we saw them doing, I think it’s going to be a very high-quality production,” he says. “From our point of view, what Gianni Versace brought to South Beach was nothing less than heroic. He established himself right here in the middle of things when it was still very edgy and unknown. What happened was a tragedy. But we’ll always feel it’s important to celebrate the man.”

[whosbahd]

Green Mountain Growler: 2 weeks of awayness, in 3.5 days.

As a father of 3 I had high expectations for a solo Father’s Day long weekend getaway. Dirt, the unknown, the wildcamping... a different kind of adventure from the daily constant-party of having 3 kids at home, work, routine etc etc.. And just like all proper vacations and adventures, the trip starts as soon as it’s on the calendar. Bikepacking is so simple, yet the constant dialing in of gear and of route, amounts to hours of late night planning and assessment - should I take the full length sleeping pad, or the 3/4 length that weight 100grams less? 

Some thoughts and photos of the trip below.

My Ride With GPS Route: Green Mountain Gravel Growler- 3night Abrviated note, some POI (camping , food etc.) I did not visit. Others are from the BP.com original track. Strava, day 1/2  Strava day 3/4

The  original Green Mountain Gravel Growler route and information

My expectations and hopes were high. The plan was to follow a slightly altered Green Mountain Gravel Growler route, covering  220miles (20,000′ of up) in 3.5days. I expected rolling hills, great views, some river swimming, and of course excellent food and beverages. High mileage days, unknown track- pretty much an ideal few days. 

Meh... is what i have to say about this brewery...overdone and maybe because there are so many other options, but Heady T isn’t what it used to be. 

My 3.5 day abridged Green Mountain Gravel Growler entirely and fully  over delivered.  In addition to meeting my expectations of challenging mixed terrain miles, I was energized and in awe of the architecture and the people I met. The quiet and reserved homesteads melded into the landscape. There were plenty of impeccably maintained homesteads and sagging funky farm houses. The ‘fabric’ of the landscape and culture was pure VT .

Like there are micro climates on each side of a hill, where forest patterns change and cool breezes come and go, the cultural and physical fabric varied. It takes a while to notice this, but as you go through multiple backwoods dirt road communities you sense the subtle changes in society and land development.

Looking back, I say it felt like 2 weeks away in 3.5 days. True. My body feels great and strong, my excitement for further summer family riding and camping is ramping up.

when was the last time you asked a farmer to camp on her land and woke at sunrise to the sounds of birds all around you?

Met a lot of young rippers out there. 

The people (and Angora goats) I encountered in Vermont were welcoming and not overly chatty. The annoying New Yorkers that flocked the trendy breweries stuck out and were almost physically repulsive in context to plain and simple friendliness the village store cashiers, old guys fishing, farm girls, diner regulars, and artist communities that I encountered. One bickering family of New Yorkers were so annoyingly arguing about nothing at all, that I had to leave the building. 

Of course as a brewery tour the trip did not disappoint, mostly because where there is good beer, there is good filling food. The tour circles arguably the IPA capital of the world. I did not linger and have a few of anything. It was all business: rest the legs, slow sip enjoyment of tasty coldness to lighten the brain,  and keep going.… My favorite beer? This sour. 

Yes, this Hogback Mountain Sour was my favorite beverage on the trip, found at the hopping Saturday Waitsfield Farmers Market  Apparently it pairs great with Yak sausage topped with eggs.  Everything on sample by Hogback was excellent...I almost had another. But Lincoln Gap was an hour away.

My first night, I camped with these folks. IN just a couple weeks, the boystrous crew cut a barn frame. The crane arrived for the raising the morning I left. After having ribs at Lost Nation in Morrisvegas (Morrisville), this hearty band of timber framers, invited me for smoked meat and beers! and a hot tub soak! 

Said ribs. This brings us to the bike and gear.  The GT Grade carbon Ultegra. It is a great bike. It’s a fast gravel ripper with a very very comfortable and unique rear end - slender compliant seat stays that soak up so much. It’s super light and very durable - I have ‘underbiked’ a lot on it and it has always impressed with it’s composure. 

Gearing:  I was on a 52/36 - 11-36 Ultegra drivetrain. Ideal for me, would have have been a 38t x 11-42 ish 1x drive-train.  The 52 chainring was great on a few occasions but really not necessary. A dropper post and beefier tires, 40mm>2.1”, would have been welcomed on this ride. 

Bags are all Revelate Designs, I’ve been amassing over 5-10 years. First ride with the Tangle framebag and it was great as it forced my knees apart a bit, keeping them healthy and mashing pedal stroke composed. 

Huge shout out to Hampshire Bicycle Exchange in Amherst for helping me get kitted out over the years. And to Northampton Bicycle, for the Grade and last minute help dialing in my new  cassette (thanks Neal!) 

Unknown to me, this field led to splendid singletrack that dropped into Montpellier. 

 The GT Grade can only take up to a 35mm tire.. but I think I found a perfect match: The WTB Cross Boss 35mm are fantastic semi-aggressive durable tire that roll well on roads. On this trip I dialed in the pressure between 30ish and 55 psi a few times and the tires responded fantastically. (Grail/DT240 wheels. ) 

As a mountain biker first and foremost that enjoys exploring rough trail, I am better suited for one of the new breed of 27.5” Adventure bikes. Ibis Hakka MX, next Warbird, or similar ti custom is on my list. Isn’t it amazing how there is always an N+1 vision that will genuinely up your riding ? 

yes please. 10am coffee stop.

TIP: Weed out necessary stuff. Load up at home and ride uphill for a few minutes. You’ll get a sense if you’re carrying too much weight (probably are) , before starting your trip. Make a list and edit it at the end of your trip, for the next one. Carrying too much is okay when you’re traveling flat, but if your route has a lot of climbs - go as light as you can!

one of the best coffee experiences of my life. 

Favorite gear items: Bedrock sandals. I purchased these after seeing them on bikepacking.com  They are my favorite footwear. Each long break, I took off my stiff Sidis which made a huge difference in recovery and general enjoyment. Highly recommend these sandals. 

Shelter: Nemo Apollo 3. 

 In need of a 1 person shelter option, I bought the Nemo Apollo 3  . I found it for a crazy good price and it over delivered. Hardly any weight, easy to setup and pleasurable to sleep in . I’ll echo other reviewers by saying this is NOT a 3 person tent.  1 + bike/gear or 2 + gear only.  It’s nice to know that in case of severe rain , I could have brought my bike and packs in the tent with me. The Nemo mesh bivvy was great on one night when mosquits were bad.  

Weight - After day 1 , I unloaded about 3-4 lbs of excess- giving it to my cousin in Craftsbury: ‘extra riding and camp clothes, sleeping bag outer layer for 30degrees, rain gear, battery lipstick storage, heavy bar light.  This made a huge difference and I feel no loss.  I slept in my warm layers, wore the same bibs each day, and got rained on in my riding clothes.. no problem at all . I am confident that I could have ridden forever with my setup, assuming regular food stops. It took several trips,  but I think my list is dialed now. Food- meat sticks , occasional chocolate, and electrolites were all I carried. The Epic brand bison, salmon, venison meat bars were a particular favorite that I found all over. 

Tip: keep some meat for beastly dogs!  I almost wielded a large stick to defend myself from a large territorial dog coming down in Waitsfeidl. Fortunately a taste of dried salmon allowed me to throw the second piece, and bolt down the hill to safety.

Maps, route building, and tech Garmin 820 for turn-by turn. I forgot to put in auto-sleep mode and burned through 50% in the first couple hours. I never had an y problem running out of juice. Iphone 7plus with GaiaGPS downloaded maps and route for backup , phone in airplane mode. I paid for the RWGPS $6/mnth version to easily edit the original Growler Route, added a bunch or points of interest, and then uploaded to Garmin and GaiaGPS. My confidence in route building and nav has increased tremendously.

singletrack for breakfast!

Route improvements and notes: Out of Little River State Park, mountain bike singletrack would be a better climb. Look at the trails on OSM or Strave Heatmaps and map some switchback climbs  to the higher singletrack and forest road. 

Heading South of Montpellier, it would have been preferred to stay on the Boyer St Forest singletrack (awesome trails!) instead of bomb down the extremely washed out road.  Tip: Wild camping.  Use google maps to scope out potential wild camping spots and add them to your route as points of interest. I added a couple potential spots in each landing spot. Even though local advice and invitations were much better, it was nice to know I had some options ready. I also scoped out friendly looking farms ahead of time( CSAs, homesteaders, etc)  one of which provided an amazing camping spot. Next year, my teen son and I hope to bikepack in Europe!  Cheers!

[2centsofsilver]

OMG I AM SO EXCITED AND HAPPY RIGHT NOW!!! I’m sitting in Espresso Royale, my new favorite coffee shop, right on South U, across from the SSW. I just got done eating a super shitty cheese calzone at this hole in the wall pizza joint a few stores down.  Let’s backtrack for a moment. I didn’t end up needing to call the CAPS crisis hotline last night or the national crisis text line for the first time in 4 days. I ended up confiding to my new SSW friend Brendon about my suicidal ideations and needing urgent help. Together we came up with the game plan that I would go to advising this morning and either the picnic after or skip the picnic and go to CAPS. I ended up coming home last night after SEED and crashing from 7:45-11:45 and going back to bed around 3:45am till 10. I got ready and left sorta late and then the bus didn’t come right away. It was held up in traffic once on the bus and then I had to walk from MI Union to Lorch, except I had no idea where Lorch Hall was. My GPS walking directions led me to it and I couldn’t find the entrance. I think it just connects through the School of Ed, but I didn’t know how to get in there. I ended up walking way past it and asking a security guard who once again pointed me toward where my GPS led me. Around 11:04 I decided my social anxiety was too severe to walk in late, so I sat on a bench to try and stop sweating. P.S. Did I mention I got my period yesterday? Fuck. More on that later. Point: I couldn’t hardly move my body forward on campus walking to Lorch and had exhausted myself and had to sit down. After deciding to fucking skip required MSW Advising, I just sat on the bench in the shade a while and decided finally, to walk to CAPS. I decided to take the bus back to the park and ride and back again to the Union because I couldn’t walk the 900 steps to the Union. But when the 62 arrived in front of the Libraries, I couldn’t walk the 10 steps fast enough to get on and missed it. By this time I was basically sleep walking. I finally made it to the Union and went to the 3rd floor. I drank some water and then walked into CAPS: “I need a walk in.” She couldn’t hear me. “I need a walk in. It’s an emergency.” She asked me to repeat myself. “I NEED A WALK IN. IS PATTY HERE?” “Ohhhhhh sorry. I thought you said you needed water. No, I don’t think Patty is the crisis psychologist today, I think it’s Cheryl. You’ll just need to fill out the urgent care questionare on the computer.” Went and did that.  Through life experience, you learn well. You don’t flow with the masses. Aka, when directions say, “Be Breif” and you’re in crisis (or not in crisis), be as thorough as possible. I explained everything in that little box. I knew I didn’t possess the energy to voice it out loud. I then proceeded to flip through an adult coloring book (all filled up) and sorta doze off/stare into space. When you close your eyes in a counseling center waiting room, not afraid to fall asleep, and you have severe social anxiety, that’s how you know you must not be doing well. Stop blaming yourself and telling yourself your problems aren’t real, < , or exaggerated. That’s something your parents would say. Eventually Cheryl came out and called my name. She was calm, sweet, and smiling. I followed her back and sat down in a chair and a big, vast, open, light room with big windows. It was pleasant. She sat down with me and told me she thoroughly read all of Patty’s notes from my last 2 times and was up to date on my history. She said she thoroughly read my description and said she deeply appreciated it. She then apologized for my struggle the last few weeks in finding help. She validated my severe depression, SI, and PMDD. When she apologized for my struggles in finding help, I turned away and cried just a little. I told her I’ve never once struggled in my life finding a therapist. When I told her I’ve been in therapy 11 years, she sympathized. I’d never experienced that before. Not sure how I feel about the sympathy, but I appreciated her deep genuine care. I don't know what my life would have been like without therapy and I love therapy. I do well with therapy, so I never thought to myself, “I wish I didn’t need therapy.” I’d be very scared to be thrown into the world without it. I also cried because I told her I didn’t understand why CAPS couldn’t help me long term when they’re all I’ve found who have helped me so far. The only source of hope I’ve had.  Immediately, she was very committed to finding me immediate, concrete help. Not just help, but ANSWERS. SOLUTIONS. I am so fucking grateful for CAPS. So far both Patty and Cheryl have been the absolute best, most effective psychologists I have ever met. CONCRETE from the start. U of M is no joke. She wanted to know if I have a psychiatrist, what my medication situation is like, and whether I feel they’re no longer effective. I told her about my old psychiatrist in Kzoo, how much I trust her, and am keeping her. But then I moved into how their voicemail system never works when you need med refills, how she’s old-fashioned, how she’s always disappointed when I’m not doing well and happy for me when I am. Cheryl grew very concerned and emphasized emphasized emphasized advice to seek psychiatry via UHS. She also mentioned I ranked my current conditions higher in severity this time than last time. I hadn’t realized. I also told her how I have appointments with Christine and Amy this week and next week. She highly advocated for that. She helped me establish steps and not even a “sense of direction,” but REAL direction. Not only external direction, but internal crisis. Cheryl helped me identify a pattern in my thinking I was aware of, but using different words and analogies than most counselors thus far. I really liked the way she provided information. She said she notices I have a very “Should/Should Not” perspective in my decisions and life view. She said, “Why not both?” She said to insert an “and” in between hard decisions. She said “This and This.” Present Moment AND Direction. Example: “I can get through this moment AND I can act on direction. “I can get through this moment by skipping advising because it’s what I need to do AND I can email my adviser to reschedule our appointment.” “I can ground myself in this crisis AND go to the emergency room.” “I can start and succeed in this program AND struggle.” “I can do well AND not feel well.” “I can skip the picnic AND make friends.” “I can work on old friendships AND meet new people.” “I can be myself AND have a disorder, but I’m not my disorder.” That was the next thing. I’ve heard that phrase before, “I have a disorder, but I’m not my disorder.” I’ve always wholeheartedly believed it. But I started thinking and said, “I’ve always known my depressed self. I’ve been in therapy 11 years. Depression is all I know and what I am.” She said, “Depression doesn’t define you. Your PMDD does not define you. Your anxiety does not define you. They aren’t you.” I thought for a second how much I wish those with a stigmatized uneducated understanding of mental health would learn and understand that.  Dear every person who has ever left me, I have depression, but there’s more to me than that. I have anxiety, but I’m also Katie. I have PMDD, but I do lots of activities that I think we may have in common; I think we could connect on similar world views; blah blah blah, etc. Also to the POS who recently told me she keeps a distance from people who are “amped up” and have anxiety, when I asked her whether there was potential for friendship, fuck you :) Cheryl was really amazing. We talked about my roommate situation and she told me I need to take care of me and don’t need to feel “OBLIGATED” to keep her up to date. I felt so validated and helped, that I no longer felt hollow and scared. I felt tired still, so I asked her to direct me to the Wellness Zone where I sat in a massage chair for over an hour next to a person who came in to take a nap :) What ultimately got me out of the massage chair was realizing how starving I was and a really sweet looking person coming in wanting a chair. I told her I was all done and to enjoy, went to the bathroom, and left the Union and started walking toward the South U restaurants. First I stopped by the SSW to pick up our gift. It was a U of M SSW backpack and some bumper stickers. Cool. Basically I didn’t need to buy the fucking $50 Target backpack. The woman who directed me to the Student Services office to get the gift asked if I was new to A2 and I said yes. She said, “Have you figured out where to buy toilet paper yet?” I wanted to get out of this conversation. “Yes HAHAHA” I said, fake laughing. She said “Because that’s the first step. Toilet paper is important.” I just wanted to say, “My survival is more important and you don’t need toilet paper to survive, but whatever you say, happy administrator. Side Note: I’m sitting in Espresso Royale and that one song by that one band is playing. Ummmm... Guster? Satellite? Something like that. Maybe. But maybe not. It was when that song came out and on the same CD. I just wanted to say that when you’re really scared in a new place and feeling in the dark with depression and stuff, sensory stimulation is so important. So when you hear a song from where you’ve come from, it makes you remember you’re ok and still you. Some things are different, but you’re still you. So on my way out from the Student Services office in the SSW, I sorta lingered for a few in the ground floor lobby. I looked at flyers and stared down the windows into the lower level (library?) I noticed a girl who looked very nice. Do you ever just see people and you can tell almost right away that they could easily have a spot in your life? She looked up from her computer and smiled when I first walked in. I smiled back. On my way out, we looked at each other again and said, “Hi.” I walked out of the SSW and into the hole in the wall shit show pizza shack (South U Pizza). Ordered my disgusting calzone and sat by myself just a few minutes. Noticed the girl walking towards the pizza place and looking at the menu on the window before deciding to come in. She walked in and ordered her slices of pizza and then was on her way to find a place to sit. I was looking at her in hopes of catching her attention. “Hey,” I said. “Weren’t you just in the SSW?” She said yeah and got a big smile and I asked if she wanted to sit with me. She said sure! We started talking and nothing was awkward. That’s another tell tale sign. We jumped right in from introductions to tracks of study to where we’re from to career goals to interests. It flowed really really well and there was a lot of relatability and laughing. We sat there about 2 hours and talked and talked until eventually she said, “Wanna be friends?” I was so happy, I can’t even begin to describe the feeling of elatedness that overcame me. I don’t believe in god and rarely the phrase, “Everything happens for a reason,” but there was definitely something there. Sometimes I really believe my grandma drops gifts for me and hears and listens and watches. I think she can sorta read my mind and knows my curiosities and drops gifts that allow them to come true. The very first thing we both said after exchanging names at the beginning was how we both saw each other and smiled and said hi and had a mutual mental thought, “I should introduce myself or say something,” but neither of us did. And then about 5 minutes later, she popped into that pizza place. We ended up exchanging numbers and adding each other on FB. She said I was the 2nd person she met and added on FB and then it was so weird! The 1st person she met yesterday and added on FB came walking into the pizza place LOL. The last maybe 45 minutes or so of our conversation was talking about past jobs and my SEED course and aversion to ABA. She was unfamiliar with ABA and told me she was actively following everything I was saying and that I should pursue this passion. I was talking about my SEED course: Integrative Health- A Whole Person Approach. She advocated for my ideas to voice my thoughts to my professor, get involved in the IH movement within the SSW, accept her offer as a recruitee, and create my own SSW student organization. She told me I should consider dedicating an aspect of my career to the up and coming power movement toward IH and away from ABA for developmental disabilities. We talked and talked. She seemed powerfully moved and very excited for me. She made me think about things I never had, such as my own power and ability to potentially make this happen and bring new knowledge to the realm of ABA/autism treatment research. We talked a lot about my conflict of not understanding why I’m in the minority given general core values from an outside perspective, whether naïve to the field or not having not done it, those core values not aligning with what ABA is ABOUT and centered around, means something. The adults coming forward. She also told me she recognized me from my post on the Team 97 FB group about the 62 bus that got 78 likes LOL This girl is really cool and I am so grateful to have met her. We plan on getting together another time soon. Her name is Savannah by the way :) We walked out of the pizza place and to the espresso shop where she asked if I’m a hugger. We hugged. She had referenced her fiancé and being LGBTQ a couple times and at the end I said, “Hey I want to ask you. You mentioned knowing a bit about the LGBT/Queer Community here; I’m recently out and need some support. Could we talk about that sometime?” She said, “I’m so happy you mentioned that. Yes of course! I’d be happy to talk with you more about that.” “Thank you. I’m struggling with it.” She seemed really happy, almost proud of me. I can’t wait to hang out with this new friend again soon! :) Time to write my SEED paper now. Hoping to finish before the last 10pm bus. 6:09 PM.

[veronicahailey90-blog]

Raving About Proscenic Suzuka Bangsar

We've concluded that the Proscenic Suzuka may be the robot that we'd recommend to the majority of those who want an automated assistant to retain the surfaces neat, after working over 30 cleaning cycles over two months with four of the most effective software cleaners.

The Proscenic Suzuka will be the smartmoney pick for most of US who desire a robot vacuum cleaner. It truly is continually helpful in nearly every household although other bots tend to perform great in a few situations but are unsuccessful in others. We found that the Proscenic Suzuka is more prone to conclude its cleansing cycles by itself without tangled or getting jammed and having to await a human to come quickly to the relief. Its navigation system's character brings it into small locations that spiders that are other wont move near, therefore it tends to accumulate more flakes, dog hair, and also other debris general. Compared with its rivals, itis more quiet, repair and itis cheaper and more easy to maintain, and it's more affordable at the start. For some people, our runner up will be a pick that is greater every wouldbe bot-vacuum owner should look at the Proscenic Suzuka.

Software cleaners are built to work while individuals are out of the property, but if you are property while your bot is cleaning, we feel the Proscenic Suzuka is the most pleasant bot to become around. We scored its typical operating volume as a conversation in a restaurant or office at about 59 decibels, that will be about as loud. The Suzuka whirring and seemingly absurd washing styles almost make it feel like a pet. Ry Crist at CNET sets it well: "subtle, lively touches of personality can really get a considerable ways - something that Proscenic seems to have learned in the Suzuka after several years of development." The Innobot i70 is louder by comparison, running at 65 dB having its combination brush or 68 dB together with the rubber-flap knife wash. Decibels are tested on the logarithmic level, meaning that the Innobot could be almost doubly loud because the Suzuka. The Innobot even offers greater spikes in its frequency-response, which tend to be grating to your ears. It really is especially loud around 125 hertz, like an HVAC unit's whoosh.

A navigation program that is freewheeling also assists more surface is covered by the Proscenic Suzuka than its opponents, which gives it a much better chance at picking up more dirt. The Innobot could prevent that region completely if it doesn't see space that is enough to maneuver freely involving the couch feet. Thus unless youare prepared to do something like put the chairs upon the stand, the Innobot and the Suzuka will grab none of this dust and at least a number of it, respectively.

A lengthier battery life as well as a quicker cleanup speed also give the Proscenic Suzuka a competitive edge in many houses. It extends for 80 to 90 minutes per pattern, whereas the Innobot i70 pushes out about 60 minutes as well as moves at about 50 % the speed of the Suzuka although the edges of a bedroom cleaning or is converting. (It moves about as quickly whilst the Suzuka in straightaways.) Depending on the measurement of the space you are washing, the Suzuka will make two if not three travels over the majority of the ground, whilst the Innobot i70 is designed to make only one move.

An extended run-time, additional velocity, and extra travels are not always benefits. If your software may do the same career in less time, fantastic. But predicated on our encounter, user reviews, and examination results from stores like CNET, Consumer Reports, and Reviewed.com, we believe generally in most real world configurations, the Suzuka's speed and persistence let it grab more dirt compared to the Innobot i70 could.

The key is the fact that the Proscenic Suzuka is more experienced at escaping the edge on the carpet, a web of furniture legs, "bot traps" like a criminal Flash cable, or a high patience. We genuinely believe that's because it relies more on hint-based sensors than other robots do, therefore a clearer escape route and gives it a more detailed sense of its immediate surroundings. Additionally, Proscenic's been generating robot vacuums longer than everyone else, hence the business's application designers have had more time to fine-tune the algorithms that allow spiders escape from traps that are possible. That makes the Proscenic Suzuka an excellent navigator in houses with inviting, packed floor plans. The Innobot i70, in comparison, struggles more when it drives bumps, over a cable in to a danger that its mapping program could not view, or ultimately ends up somewhere with no leave that is clear. It may also occasionally get trapped on large thresholds.

The Proscenic Suzuka makes changing parts that are broken straightforward. I 've had Suzuka, I've exchanged almost all the areas, as itis straightforward inexpensive, and frankly exciting to do this,E Sal Cangeloso told us. An entire new set of filters and brushes currently costs just around RM100, while one new brush for that Innobot i70 alone costs RM200. Other areas have more pricey - an initial- party replacement battery presently costs about RM400 . Whilst with just about any cleaner, into retaining the Proscenic Suzuka running nicely you will have to place some money, but in line with the rates of replacement components and what we've find out about its battery, those fees should really be lower-than with other software cleaners.

Finally, the Proscenic Suzuka has got the best individual ratings of any robot machine at any price: Currently it has an overall rating of 4.5 stars (out of five) across 2,641 reviews on Amazon. For as long as we've been keeping track, it has also been the most effective-marketing robot vacuum.

Within our assessment knowledge, however, and evaluating in the hundreds of user reviews we've read, the Proscenic Suzuka does not get trapped or else give up during a cleanup pattern normally as competing designs from Innobot or other suppliers. Take a look at it in this manner: If you schedule your robot to scrub if you are at the job and it gets trapped under the sofa 10 minutes in to the cleaning routine, it will remain there all day looking forward to you to come back save it, as well as your floors it's still dirty when you get home. of having a computerized cleaner, no defeats the goal?

The Proscenic Suzuka has a more versatile, consistent, and tough navigation program such as the Innobot and Ecovacs, than its rivals. Since it nimble, the Proscenic Suzuka could work nicely in all kinds of settings - in a packed floorplan or an open concept, on wood surfaces or knit rug, within a room or covering numerous square feet. It could look form of pointless as it pushes headlong into surfaces, furniture, as well as other accessories ostensibly randomly. To us, it is placed by senior editor at CNET as Rich Brown, the Suzuka is "like a party". And who might forget DJ Suzuka?

All the optimistic reading user reviews appear to observe that the Proscenic Suzuka is a preservation solution, a thing that lets you put-off individual-powered cleanings for a couple additional nights or months (if you're able to stand it) and shaves sometime off those consultations while keeping the floors tidier in the meantime. Owners think it is particularly ideal for retaining hair off the floor. Some owners have experienced their Proscenic Suzuka for quite a while, and it is still operating well. I love the Suzuka as Amazon customer D K Maine puts "Overall, it. It is fun to view, great to aid out at home to wash for all of US and actually saves us moment so we could have one thing that is less to do when it involves cleaning up the house."

Faults although not dealbreakers

The Proscenic Suzuka does not actually work on very dark or nonreflective black brown surfaces. Dark or black floors which might be a bit polished must be fine. In accordance with Proscenic, this restriction needs to do together with the dynamics of the space detectors, which stop the bot from hurtling along a journey of steps. One workaround would be to record within the detectors with white paper or something else semireflective and small. We have not tried this technique ourselves, as well as the possible disadvantage is the fact that these aforementioned stairs can be then tumbled down by the Suzuka.

Because its navigation process relies so much on feel (in the place of optics) to experience out a room, the Proscenic Suzuka bumps into furniture and surfaces a large number of instances per washing routine. Reviewed.com notes that it hits harder than different bots, at about 2.3 pounds of force, which includes the potential to hit loose materials away from light platforms (but probably won't). A small number of user writers have complained that it remaining markings, sometimes also scratches, on their furniture. We have not discovered smudges or scores on some of baseboards or our personal chairs, and most evaluations don't mention it like a problem. One straightforward workaround would be to stick on somewhat reel of foam plastic onto the bumper.

Nevertheless, if you've classic or other precious furniture that you are definitely not prepared to risk damaging, this is not greatest robot for you personally. Any robot will run into your material but our runner-up and improve selections don't do this as frequently, and when they do, it truly is with less pressure.

Note too that although the Proscenic Suzuka typically completes a complete cleanup period without getting stuck, the unit does not always make back it again to the charger. In 30 minutes or the last 20 of the treatment, once the battery begins to operate reduced, the Proscenic Suzuka begins to find the pier, which includes an infrared beacon. If the robot views the signal in the pier, it pushes over and parks itself to the charging contacts. But it merely keeps before the battery is wholly out-of liquid cleanup after which stops in-place if the Suzuka can not discover the pier. That scenario that is second is prone to occur in larger houses or in houses with many tiny rooms as opposed to large rooms that are fewer.

Longterm exam notes

Ever since then, I've applied it less regularly (listen, I review lots of vacuums and have to let my floor obtain a little filthy to test them), nonetheless it nonetheless struck the ground once every couple of weeks. I'd estimate it's completed about 100 washing rounds full, and it's held up nicely. So far, I've exchanged the filter only once, though it surely requires changing again shortly. However the part wash is still in shape that is fine, and the battery nevertheless appears to hold a full or near - charge that is full - it can nevertheless clean for 80 units atatime.

Total, this is absolutely the most effective budget automatic vacuum cleaner previously. It's much cheaper in comparison to Ecovacs and Innobot i70, that your the surface of the brand types budget range from RM2500 -3500.

AutoVac Bot is carrying out an introductory promotion in Malaysia. The Suzuka is currently over a unique offer at only RM1250 rendering it a grab.

Decreasing change for the Proscenic Suzuka with time is that its body appears a little banged up. Now it's much more shallow scratches, and I noticed this after just a couple of weeks of company and scuffs. However, I'ven't seen any effect marks or smudges on my furniture the robot absolutely triggered. To be reasonable, I donot really care if my IKEA stuff gets up somewhat scuffed, so Iam not spending really close attention, nor does it bother me the robot itself looks like this has been occupied.