#Just Be Joyful 95

[nyaawn]

Cait Sith Carried like a Cat.

[silvantransthranduiltrash]

Okay listen, absolutely joining the Legolas is old af boat, love the vibe, but what if he is genuinely that old AND still considered ‘young’ by his people? I recon that the silvan concept of age is vastly different to the noldorians simply because they didn’t start shit and typically minded their damn business meaning more of them survived. So he’s essentially super old by noldorian standards but considered pretty young by silvan standards. Pretty much ever other elf he’s met just assumed he’s ‘young’ by their typical standard (joyful personality only exacerbates this) and vastly misjudged his actual age

Also hello I love your blog!! Hope you don’t mind me adding this!

OH MY GOD YES, WELCOME ABORD!! AND OMFG THAT’S HILARIPUS I CAN JUST IMAGINE IT:

Legolas: casually comenting on how he’s one of the younger silvans on occasion

The noldo/sonda: ph, so he was probably born in the third age then, and this is his first tussle woth sauron, and he’s never even witnessed morgoth’s bs woth his own eyes

The twins (yes, i will alwys use the peredhel s a medium for these bizarre reveals bc i feel like they’re more open to asking questions about the silvans: *trying to figure out if they’re older or younger than legolas* so when were you born then?

Legolas, after thinking for second: well i was born about 1000 years before the feanorians landed on these coasts, so about *counts fingers* only 8 thousand years.

Elrond, who’s walking past: HOLD ON, WHAT-!?!

Legolas, continuing: None of my peers ever let me forget it, when we’re off duty i’m always refered to as the “baby captain”. With my siblings i can put up woth it, but oh my god, assholes, get over it! If they can bitch about it, they can work on their skills. Then they won’t have to take such a youngen’s orders!

Elrond, slightly histarical: hold on hold on hold on- you’re how old?!? That’s older than me! That’s older than my parents! Or my grandparents! You could’ve known luthien-

Legolas: -i did know luthien-

Elrond: AND YOU SAY YOU’RE YOUNG!?!-

Legolas: i am young:

Elrond: what am i a baby in your eyes??? A fetus?? Or my kids just eggs??? Oh my god, does that mean that all the times thranduil refered to himself as one of the youngest of the avari/silvan rulers, that doesn’t actually mean he’s that young either? Wll, he’s your dad, so he’s at least older than you- *horrified gasp* *horrified whisper* does that mean all this time we commented on his “young age” he was looking at us like we were fucking morons???

Legolas: i mean, tbf, 95% of the avari/silvan rulers are all elves that awoke at the lake way back when, while my father was born the old fashioned way, so when sm1 says they’re younger than the avari/silvan rulers, it don’t mean much…

Elrond: wait, but how are you still considered young by your elves’ standard?? Aren’t there a lot of older elves that have died?

Legolas: well, for one we haven’t killed each other for jewelry.

—————-—————————————————————————

No, but it probably helps that legolas is the younger/youngest sibling, and all the elves just automatically assume that, bc he’s the youngest of his siblings, he’s young. For some reason, a lot of people have a bad habit of considering the “-er” and “-est” to mean essentially the same.

[olderthannetfic]

https://www.tumblr.com/olderthannetfic/742711656954642432/httpswwwtumblrcomolderthannetfic742258674965

Hopefully I'm not outstaying my welcome/being annoying, but I don't really feel like it's any more joyless or joyful than anything else. You're probably going to say I'm lying but I really don't feel extreme emotions like joy or sadness most of the time. I usually just feel sort of ambiguously content. Not unhappy, but not hyped. And making things doesn't make me less happy or more happy. It's just a thing I do, just like when I worked at the grocery store, restocking shelves was a thing I did. I can't really think of any specific activity that makes me really feel joy. Which sounds like some edgelord "craaaaawwwling in my skiiin, these wounds they will not heeeeeeal" stuff, but I don't mean it like that. I am a solid 5 out 10 about 95% of the time. I used to really get a lot of joy out of stuff when I was a kid, but around puberty I sort of grew out of my hyperactive, high-emotion self and into a more mellow rendition of me.

So... it's joyless, but not more than other things I do? It's not arduous or awful. Art creation is work. Work is neither great, nor the worst. It's just work.

--

Anon, sincerely, this description is full of red flags.

I know that from your own perspective you feel fine, but anyone reading this is going to armchair diagnose you with anhedonia. Lots of people calm down as adults, but this reads like something else.

Unlike a lot of the responses, no, I don't think you're lying or trolling or describing anything inaccurately. I do think you're underestimating just how different your experience is from the average. Also, art commissions are probably not the most effective in terms of money per hour. There are probably better long term prospects if all jobs are about equally pleasant or unpleasant.

[anouchard]

hello,

how do you visualise Gwen? As ironic as it is, I am god awful at visualizing characters. I usually go based off of ‘vibe’, and pieces of character designs I enjoyed, so hearing any of your opinions on how they may look (if you have any) would be interesting.

on an unrelated note, do you draw parallels to yourself and Gwen at all? How do you feel reading scripts? Do you view it as yourself doing these actions as Gwen? Just curious.

one final question, do you like cats or dogs more (if other please specify.), what is your favorite breed/color/etc of said animal?

thank you, have a nice day.

To answer both part one and part two, I suppose:

I've never really envisioned Gwen as an entity (not a hint) outside of myself, which is lovely really (and quite rare, I think). It definitely helps when it comes to embodying her in recording sessions, as I don't have to reach for her in the same way as I've had to with other characters I've played. She was a character that I felt I instantly knew the essence of the moment I auditioned, even if I didn't know the details (and even if some of the details have ended up making her very different from myself).

Don't get me wrong, I still used to annotate scripts half to death and ask poor Alex half a dozen questions per session, but I've found I don't need to do that as much any more as I've got to know her better.

So I guess, like Jonny, I just see her as me, but that's only because I happen to be the one playing her! One of the most joyful things about working on an audio-only project is seeing the huge variety of creative interpretations of your character, and I can guarantee that if you've ever posted fanart of Gwen, there's a good 95% chance I've seen it (and been very, very impressed).

As for part three ... I'm just an animal person. I love 'em all. I saw a photo of a polar bear having a nap today and very nearly cried.

Thanks, you too!

[englishstrawbie]

sorry to bug again but if you get a chance I would love a 95 w/Arizona saying this to callie and callie responding with 42. i just feel like Arizona always has the big romantic speech so I would love to hear Callie say smt like that

Hey, thank you for your two prompts. 😊 I chose to fill this one and it took me right back into my Calzona feels! I hope you like it.

>>>>>>>>>>

It is a little after seven o’clock in the evening when they touch down at JFK, although their bodies are still on West Coast time. Sofia is curled up asleep in the window seat, unbothered by the bumpy descent. The chaos of packing, the emotions that came with saying goodbye to her friends, and the excitement of seeing her Mama again – not to mention today’s wedding chaos – had taken its toll on her, and she had passed out a little after their meal.

It had left Arizona alone with her thoughts for most of the five-hour flight. She hadn’t been able to concentrate on the movie playing on the small screen in front of her, although she had left it running with her headphones on so that she was not disturbed.

She has been feeling wistful all day, her head full of the memory of her own wedding day seven years ago. It brings a smile to her face even now as she remembers the vision of Callie walking down the aisle with Mark, of the vows they exchanged and the first dance they shared. Everything felt light and joyful in that moment. Even though there had been so many moments since that felt heavy and dark, her wedding day has never been tainted. It has always been one of her favourite memories.

Moving to New York is for Sofia, but Arizona feels like the move is opening up a part of her that she has kept locked away since she signed her divorce papers. A part of her that she hid from Eliza and a part of her she was too afraid to show Carina.

The part that has always belonged to Callie. She wonders if it still does.

“Hey sweetie, we’re here,” Arizona says, rousing her daughter.

As they wait to disembark, a message from Callie pops up on her phone, letting her know that her plan to meet them at the airport has been interrupted by a last-minute surgery. Arizona shoots her a message to let her know they have arrived but promising to see her later. After all, Arizona will be staying in the spare room for a couple of weeks until she moves into her own place a few blocks away. She had tried to insist that she stay in a hotel, but both Callie and Sofia had been adamant.

After collecting their luggage, they jump into a cab. Traffic delays their journey and the sun is starting to set when they arrive in the Upper West Side. They have Sofia’s key to let them inside and they settle into their rooms, before Sofia crashes out.

“Mommy?” Sofia says as Arizona turns off the light in her bedroom. “I’m really glad you’re here.”

“Me too,” Arizona says with a smile. “Sweet dreams, baby girl.”

It feels strange to be by herself in Callie’s apartment. There are family photos scattered around the surfaces: of Sofia at every age of her life so far, of Mark, even one with Arizona in it – the three of them, taken Sofia’s second birthday. None of Penny, she notes, and she wonders if that relationship really is over.

The evening is warm and Arizona pours herself a glass of wine before heading out onto the small balcony, making herself comfortable on one of the cushioned seats. She pulls out her phone. There are no more updates from Callie, and she scrolls through their messages until she finds the one from earlier today.

I can’t wait to see you!

The feeling is reciprocated, Arizona’s heart fluttering with a nervous excitement at the thought of seeing her ex-wife again. She thinks about the advice that April and Richard gave her earlier that day: to stay open to possibilities; about how the hurt of their past doesn’t have to define their future.

If they have a future. It is not like she knows what Callie is thinking or what is behind the texts she sends. That is a question for another day, she tells herself. For now, the wine is making her drowsy, the day catching up with her as her eyes start to droop, and she is lulled into a light sleep.

“Hey.”

A firm hand on her shoulder wakes Arizona a couple of hours later. It takes her a minute to remember where she is, blinking a few times before she looks up to see Callie standing beside her.

“Hey,” Arizona says with a tired smile.

“I’m sorry I’m home so late,” Callie says, sitting in the chair next to her. “How was the wedding?”

Arizona hums. “Let’s just say it didn’t go as planned.” She chuckles when she sees Callie’s eyebrows raise. “I’ll let Sofia tell you all about it in the morning. I promised her you’d go into her room when you got home.”

“I already have,” Callie says.

Her face lights up in the way it always has when she talks about her daughter and there it is again – that flutter in Arizona’s heart. She tries to push it aside.

“Did your surgery go okay?”

Callie rolls her eyes. “Another tourist who thought they could roller-skate around Central Park, even though they’ve never worn a pair of skates in their life.”

Arizona smiles, although she can’t stifle her yawn. “Sorry,” she says bashfully.

“You didn’t have to wait up for me, you know,” Callie says.

“I wanted to,” Arizona says, then blushes at what she has said. “I mean…”

She doesn’t really know what she means. Callie shoots her a look that she can’t quite read. Maybe it is the shadows or maybe she just needs some reassurance that what she is feeling isn’t one-sided.

“What happened with Penny?”

The question hangs in the silence between them for a moment.

“It didn’t work,” Callie says eventually. “I tried, but… I think I missed what we had so much that I was trying to recreate it somehow. I know what you and I had wasn’t perfect, but I missed it. I missed the joy and the warmth and the love. And I wanted that back, so I convinced myself that Penny was the one. But she wasn’t…”

She stops suddenly and Arizona can’t help but wonder if her next word was ‘you’.

“I’m sorry,” is all she says.

Callie looks over at her. “You are?”

Arizona meets her gaze and her heart flutters again.  

“I just want you to be happy, even if…” She hesitates, taking a long, slow breath. “Even if your happiness doesn’t include me, I just want you happy.”

Callie lets out a small laugh. “That’s the thing,” she says. “I don’t know if I can be happy without you. I’ve tried, but it turns out you’re pretty hard to forget.” She smiles. “It turns out… you’re the only person I’ve ever actually wanted to spend the rest of my life with.”

Arizona’s heart thumps in her chest and she wonders if Callie can hear it too in the stillness of the summer evening. She reaches out her hand and watches as Callie takes it.

“Well,” Arizona says slowly, “maybe you and I can go on a date sometime?”

She looks over at Callie nervously, but she isn’t left waiting for an answer for long.

“I’d really like that,” Callie says.

Arizona smiles as she squeezes Callie’s hand, her head rolling back against the chair so that she can look out at the city in below them. With that one simple question, her heart flutters with the knowledge that they are both open to the possibility of finding love with each other again.  

[applesontheground]

I saw that your request are open and wanted to ask for some headcanons of slashers like Bubba sawyer, Thomas hewitt and Michael myers if their Lover or S/O was a Dancer (Ballerina,etc). It's ok if you don't wanna write about that!

hello, anon! i've actually wanted to write something with a ballerina/dancer s/o, so allow me to indulge ya! thank you for being so polite. although i don't write for michael myers, i'd love to include bubba and thomas along with a couple other slashers i think would adore a dancing s/o. i've even included my slasher OC if that's alright, because like i said, he'd love it! ☆

headcanons - Bubba Sawyer, Thomas Hewitt, Leslie Vernon, Norman Bates, & Tad Kennedy w/ a Dancer S/O

Bubba Sawyer

Self expression is everything to him, so when he sees you expressing something deep inside through a fluid movement or bold spin on your toes...he's intrigued. He's making his brothers watch, too, if you're not shy to that. He's stopping everything to set the stage for you.

He wouldn't be able to stop watching you do your thing, and after learning you're a dancer, everything you do feels so much more elegant in his eyes.

With a little encouragement, he'd definitely learn to dance with you too. He's somewhat familiar with the standard line dancing, so the amalgamation of that and your own style would become a special bonding activity. Something so utterly him and utterly you.

Thomas Hewitt

In a "career" that's messy and a world that's often loud and hectic, seeing you take a second to do something so lighthearted would catch Tommy off guard. He'll merely watch, jaw half open and hands unable to keep steadfast to working as you show off that you are capable of such a delicate, almost joyful routine or movement.

Whether you're interested in the music, the dance, or the costume design of your favorite type of dance, he'd always be listening to you talk about it and bringing things to your attention that he thinks is relevant.

If passerbys who come through the Hewitts are also dancers, he'd find a way to get you to meet (at arm's distance, of course). If it means he can see you light up before the family does what they do to people who fall into an unfortunate strike of luck of crossing the farm, it's like a break in the clouds to see a brief moment of you being happy.

Leslie Vernon

You're in good company with a man of many talents himself! Even if it's just a hobby, he would be very curious to see how quick you can hop to the balls of your feet, or break out a dance move that's more than something you learn to idly do at a party.

A bit of a gymnast himself, Leslie would probably see it in other ways. If you have more toned leg muscles, a passing knowledge of certain ballets/stage performances, etc., he'd tune in and start figuring out why that's so.

You might find after a little while that his movements when doing his own work would start to become a little more fluid itself. The interest and excitement rubs off easily on him, and if you're a graceful swan in your craft...he can't help but to adopt a ghost of that, too.

Norman Bates

The most thoughtful observer. If you need someone to make sure your moves are clean, he'd gladly observe and give his best critique (which would be 95% fawning and compliments, but he's doing his best to be good audience).

He'll never interrupt, and be very defensive over others interrupting you when you're dancing or even mentioning it.

He'd also get very interested in the music that you like to dance to, often playing it if he hears it on the radio and asking for your opinions on which songs make you the most light on your feet.

Also: lots of finding that the two of you suddenly own that ballet/album on vinyl, but it's more of an open secret that doesn't get more than a pointed glance from you and a sheepish glance in return from him. "Mother's always had that record, I don't know why you're so suspect."

While not a dancer himself, he gains security from dancing with you. Take his hand, and he'll follow your lead albeit a bit shyly, but find a way to love it as he loves you.

Tad Kennedy ⚡

Oh, baby!

He loves to dance as is, and while it's more for his stage performances, when he feels the groove he's gonna be right there with you. Even if you're just idly swaying while cooking or doing something unrelated, he'd be behind you swaying in the same rhythm.

Nothing makes him happier than seeing you work on your craft, and the delicate nature of some ballet would make him soft for sure.

If you're interested in watching ballet/dancing as well, he'd be keeping an eye out for shows to take you to -- and you best believe he'd be mentioning to every small talker that you also dance.

he would learn how to dance with you the best to his ability. even though he's more of a groovy hip shaker than a ballerina himself, he loves to share the dancefloor with you and can adjust if it means getting to do that.

[mcrinmyhead]

INTRODUCTION

Hiya, my name's Dee or you can call me Dead! instead, cuz that's what my name is in Tumblr. I'm sixteen. I'm an Indian, racists better fck off. I like to draw, sing and write songs and poems. I mainly post my art here and I have two side blogs too, which are @mcrinmyheart (idk what I post there :D) and @shesacomplicatedpoet where... Er, you know it. And when I say "art" I usually draw My Chem, Fall Out Boy, Linkin Park, Bring Me The Horizon and a few other bands, but you can always leave a picture in the "Ask me?" box if you really want me to draw something that you like :). Just make sure it isn't something s!utty, cuz my parents like seeing my sketchbook sometimes, haha.

About me...

Name: Dead! / Dee

Age: 16

Pronouns: she/her

Likes: listening to music, art, singing, music bands, food, sleeping (I'm a very eepy person), travelling, reading, etc.

What kind of art do I do? Fanarts mainly.

Dislikes: peanuts (yea I don't like 'em, so if you know me irl and try to feed me peanuts, I'm gonna fcking stab you, you little shit), pedos, homophobic fcks, MSI apologists, basic DNIs, etc.

Am I single? Yes, and that's because I don't want to date anyone. Nvm, I'm taken :]

Music bands/artists I like:

+ twenty one pilots, p!atd, Bring Me The Horizon, Glass Animals, Bad Omens, Sleep Token, etc. I also liked The 1975, The Nbhd, Joji, Driver The Era, Arctic Monkeys and Chase Atlantic before, so I really don't mind if you wanna talk about them too. I'm basically a music addict who has listened to a whole lotta music genres throughout my life. But I'm currently into rock music rn. Yeah, I can't stop talking about music if I start.

My favourites:

Books: Agatha Christie's books, Heartstopper, Five Feet Apart, The Fault in our Stars, Crime/Horror/Mystery books (there are many but I can't remember them), etc.

Movies: anything horror, mystery, crime, sci-fi, Marvel, DC, Star Wars, from the 2000s and 90s, etc. (How do people actually choose a favourite movie??)

Shows: Loki, Heartstopper, Young Royals, Marvel shows, etc. (I literally like all the shows I watch)

Albums: My top 10 rn (June 2024) are like- Three cheers for sweet revenge (my chem), POST HUMAN: NexGen (BMTH), XO (LeATHERMØUTH), The Black Parade (my chem), I brought you my bullets, you brought me your love (my chem), Clancy (Tøp), A Thousand Suns (Linkin Park), Danger Days (my chem), Folie a Deux (FOB), and Pretty. Odd. (P!ATD).

Colours: (Bury me in) Black, Blood Red and Lavender.

Where else can you find me?

At home, in my room 95% of the time. Nah, just kidding.

Links:

Pinterest

Spotify

Discord: mcrinmyhead

Tags I use:

My art: #art

Asks: #asks #asks <3

Scroll down for more facts about me...

Or don't. I really don't care.

Fun facts about me ^^:

I'm a really joyful, chaotic, kind, funny and a sweet person! :D (according to my frens)

Until and unless you get me on my nerves. Trust me, That's when I go insane.

If you know me irl, hi... Uh, I know I don't talk much in person but I'm sorry. That's just who I am. But if you want to be my friend, you can start by texting me lol.

I'm a music addict who likes to annoy people by talking about music bands 24/7.

I have an unhealthy obsession over My Chem.

I'm a huge nerd (according to every person in my class) and I like Math and Science (but I don't really talk about it unless you are someone who is into math and science as much as me).

I'm also a sarcastic and sassy person. So if my words ever offend you, I'm so sorry bbg. Deal with it.

I'm a vampire (I have fangs and I will bite you to suck that blood your body holds, RAHHH).

Other than drawing and singing, my hobbies are fangirling, sleeping, reading books, travelling and sometimes even cooking.

I might be surrounded by many people who I call my "friends," but in the end it's just four people who are actually my friends.

I'm mostly an introvert, but I'm an extrovert when I'm with my friend.

I suck at socializing btw.

Yikes, this list is still going on!

But I like to annoy people at the same time.

Wait, does Tumblr have a word limit on a post?

SHALL I TRY REACHING THE WORD LIMIT???

Ah, yeah, I forgot to mention this but I'm a really curious person. I like trying out or experimenting on stuff. It's fun, okay?

I can be smart and an idiot at the same time B)

I write poems but I don't like showing them to others cuz I feel like they're stupid. Any tips on poetry from the poets of Tumblr?

I love cats. Cats or get tf out.

Am I annoying rn?

Idk.

This was fun.

Alright, that's enough fckery for today. Farewell my little kittens <333

So long and good night!

[chen-chen-chen-again-chen]

Friends! Hello, hi, hola! It's Wednesday and I'm here! I am finally, after several ice ages, slowly dipping my toes back into the world of My Good Egg, Good morning, good night, good morning AKA the SnowBaz kidnapping meet ugly/cute that turned into a dumb horny rom com.

Here's a snippet from Chapter 4 that I am honestly not sure will make it into the finished fic, but it's fun! Some info redacted for spoilers (if you haven't read Chapter 3):

“Does Simon know things?” Crowley, does Simon know the way that Baz has been lusting after him? Or how Baz has been - mooning over him? Which is more embarrassing?   “No, not necessarily. But he’s the easiest one for me to know, maybe because [REDACTED]. Like right now I know he’s still kind of hungry and he wishes we’d ordered more lime beef, and he’s worried you won’t want to have sex with him anymore because he used to be a disembodied chaos entity that was swallowing up all the magic in the world.”  “That’s-”  “I know you still want to have sex with him,” Winifred says, her gaze withering.

More musings about being back in this world behind the cut, but hello and thank you tags to folks who have tagged me in the past few weeks! (Months? Year?) @shemakesmeforget @ic3-que3n @bookish-bogwitch @nightimedreamersworld @j-nipper-95 @larkral @cutestkilla @aristocratic-otter @confused-bi-queer @imagineacoolusername @thewesterndoor

Y'all, past year has been... wild. It has been a journey. I looked back at this update post from October and then sort of laughed wildly, like, "Oh Baby Chen of the past, oh you sweet summer child."

But! I have finally been able to soften and ease myself back into this kind of writing. My Good Egg (as I call Good morning &c) has always been in the back of my mind, and I have felt so much shame and guilt about leaving that story hanging (see this post that feels like it was written in a different lifetime about why I don't usually post WIPs).

I facilitated a writers' circle yesterday and it was the most intensely fulfilling and joyful thing I have done in a very, very long time. And seeing the writers there, some of whom were sharing their work for the first time, being so fucking brave and honest and intimate and funny and revelatory and generous and so human, paying such loving attention to the world - it has helped me in this process of re-learning how to be brave with my own writing, again.

So here is a secret to tricking My Big Sad Brain. Instead of setting out with the goal "I am going to finish this fic," I am instead telling myself, "What if I just continue this process and see where it goes? What if I just try to get a little bit further than I was before? What if I just play with this silly little story, because it's fun and it gives me joy? What if I try to work out the questions through the story instead of trying to answer them?"

And that is helping, a lot. So as always a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who has touched this story in any way. Your kindness and lack of judgement and infinite patience is such a balm. I know that there are many who would say "You never need to finish it! Your health is more important!" or "Take as much time as you need!" And I am so, so grateful for that. I am so excited to share the rest of this story with you in the future.

Thank you. I love you all. ❤️❤️❤️

[waterlilychaser]

ooh id love to know why you associate remus with summer and sirius with winter :D

there’s a couple reasons!

first is bc choices by messermoon takes up 95% of my brain capacity, and in that reg is described as fall and james as spring so then i was like hmmm then who would the other seasons be?

ahh it feels hard to explain because it’s really so much based off of vibes but i really just see remus as earthy? like he’s standing out in a cornfield and the summer sun is blazing down on him and you can’t tell where the earth starts and he begins. anon, idk if you’ve read the raven cycle but the only way i can think to describe it is the way adam parrish is described. but maybe that’s just bc they are variants 2me. oh! also the song summer child by conan gray is my remus lupin anthem so that probably makes me associate the season with him too.

and then for sirius it is really just vibes too. like i feel like i don’t really have images of what characters look like, but more what their essence is. and sirius is creamy white porcelain skin juxtaposed with shiny black hair and leather and idk it just feels very wintery. he has a cold beauty, but he can also represent for so much warmth and joyfulness that comes with the holidays. that come from being with people that you love. and i feel like that is when sirius would let himself show his true personality rather than putting on a performance of charm. when he’s with the people that he loves.

anyway, i realized i realllly can’t explain the images i see in my head lol, but hopefully that makes a little sense! also if anyone wants i can share my sirius playlist from last winter so you can kinda see some more of the vibes :)

[therogerclarkfanclub]

A new short film featuring Roger is in the works! You can check out the preview trailer below, however, Roger is not in this trailer.

Better Living... Through Thievery? • Directed by Dean C. Dusharme • Written by Dean C. Dusharme and Patrick A. Reilly

✨ CAST OF CHARACTERS

☆ Jim (Roger Clark)

Jim is the mid-40's, level-headed nephew of Sean and somewhat committed bank security guard (level-headed compared to Anne and Sean at least). He's frequently tested by the increasing stress of the situation. His primary goals are to help his sick fiancé Izzy with her medical costs and eventually afford to tie the knot. He has the strongest moral compass of the crew and brings very important knowledge to the bank job.

☆ Sean (Patrick A. Reilly)

Sean is played Patrick A. Reilly (and is also one of the writers). Sean, who is in his mid 60s, has to put up with his crazy ex-wife and gets dragged into the heist by the need to cover both of their medical bills. His Irish temper usually has him butting heads with his ex-wife Anne. He's got some locksmith skills that come in handy, and drinks a healthy amount of Twining's Earl Grey tea.

☆ Anne (Thea Sieban)

Anne is played by Thea. Anne (mid 60s) is the criminal mastermind who brings the caper idea to the table. She can be friendly and bakes great cookies, but she's also very smart and knows how to manipulate Jim and Sean into doing her bidding. Her emotions can get pretty fiery and she'll do whatever it takes to get the job done.

☆ Jack (John A. Holly)

Jack is played by John A. Holly. Jack (95) is Sean's uncle figure who suffers from advancing dementia. He can be both irritable and joyful, while also being naturally funny. He boasts about his exciting career in nude modeling. He also misses his long-deceased dad and often tries to get in touch with him, forgetting he's gone. Jack becomes a liability who they end up needing to bring along on the caper.

✨ The Story

"An unlikely heist crew of Sean, his ex-wife Anne, their nephew Jim and tech-savvy friend Mary perform a daring burglary of a local bank. They have to drag along Jack, Sean's adopted uncle, who has advancing dementia and a career in nude modeling at the ripe age of 95. Let's just say things get complicated with ol' Jack."

✨ The Heist

"Our characters develop and execute a heist plan that is unconventional compared to most caper movies. There are some of the common tropes like the computer hacker who assists them with security systems and the fact that something must go wrong somewhere along the way. What makes this heist story very unique though is how it's done by senior citizens for desperate reasons. They don't bring any guns, disguise themselves as exterminators and go in when the bank's closed just after sunrise on a Sunday morning. It's a smartly planned out burglary, not a reckless robbery. The main complication of the heist is not what most audience member's would expect, which helps to set our project apart from most other caper stories. I guess you'll have to watch the film to see exactly what goes down!"

✨ Social Commentary Value

"Our film is meant to come convey an important social commentary topic, being common issues with the medical system in the United States and how everyday people are forced to confront extremely costly bills. Problems with insurance, the pension system and other facets of medical care are to be alluded to and explored in this film. Each of the characters either has some kind of expensive illness or is helping someone who does. The serious tone brought about by characters with realistic problems and motivations is balanced with the absurd comedy of burglarizing a bank in the manner they do."

✨ The Film's Title

"Better Living… Through Thievery? is a play on an old advertising slogan originating from DuPont, a multinational chemical company, which often reads "Better Things for Better Living… Through Chemistry." The "Through Chemistry" part is replaced with "Through Thievery?" to humorously point out how not only are the characters trying to find quality of life through their medications, treatments and other forms of chemistry, as it pertains the original meaning, but also how they decide a venture into theft is necessary to pay for their essentials. The phrase now sarcastically becomes about the "unbridled optimism" surrounding crime and theft and the ability it has to sort out human dilemmas."

And lastly, there is no obligation whatsoever, but if you are able to spare a donation for the film's production, you can do so below. There are different tiers and they all come with different perks, so you'll be getting something in return for your donation.

[kittenninja14]

Laughter Post #1- A buncha writing memes

Hi y'all!! I found a bunch of writing memes, but I realized that if I re-uploaded all of them I'll get like 100 posts and that'll be a lot to manage. So I decided to create a post full of different writing memes. Hope y'alll enjoy!!

WRITING: 5% of the time

WRITING: 95% of the time

ME EVERYTIME I POST SOMETHING:

That's all I have for now!! I'll make another post with more memes! Promise!!

Hope these memes helped make you smile and cheer you on your writing/artwork!! Have a blessed day y'all!!

 “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” -Proverbs 17:22

https://www.tumblr.com/kittenninja14/731916269075480576/hey-yall-i-just-found-this-incredible-video-and

[jules-has-notes]

Aca Top 10: Sitcom Themes — VoicePlay music video

Since the emergence of TV sitcoms in the mid-20th century, part of their enduring charm has been the catchy songs that accompany the opening credits. There's something reassuring about a familiar tune that indicates whatever problems the quippy characters might face will be resolved in less than 30 minutes, and probably end with a hug. While VoicePlay can't provide a physical embrace for every listener, this medley is just as fun and entertaining as an episode of your favorite comfort show in a fraction of the time.

Details:

title: Aca Top 10 – Sitcom Themes

original songs / performers: "I'll Be There For You" by The Rembrandts from Friends; [0:20] Saved by the Bell theme by Michael Damian; [0:36] "Hey Beautiful" by The Solids for How I Met Your Mother; [0:45] The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince; [1:05] Seinfeld theme by Jonathan Wolff; [1:18] "Where Everybody Knows Your Name" by Gary Portnoy from Cheers; [1:45] "As Days Go By" by Jesse Frederick for Family Matters; [2:08] "Thank You for Being a Friend" by Cynthia Fee for Golden Girls; [2:30] Mister Ed theme by Jay Livingston; [2:45] Unbreakable Kimmy Shmidt theme by The Gregory Brothers; [2:54] "Movin’ On Up" by Ja'Net DuBois for The Jeffersons

written by: "I'll Be There For You" by Michael Skloff, David Crane, Marta Kauffman, Allee Willis, Phil Sōlem, & Danny Wilde; Saved by the Bell theme by Scott Gale; "Hey Beautiful" by Carter Bays, Craig Thomas, Patrick Butler, & C.C. DePhil; The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme by Jeffrey "DJ Jazzy Jeff" Townes & Will "The Fresh Prince" Smith; Seinfeld theme by Jonathan Wolff; "Where Everybody Knows Your Name" by Gary Portnoy & Judy Hart-Angelo; "As Days Go By" by Jesse Frederick & Bennett Salvay; "Thank You for Being a Friend" by Andrew Gold; "Mister Ed" by Jay Livingston & Ray Evans; Unbreakable Kimmy Shmidt theme by Jeff Richmond, Michael Gregory, & Evan Gregory; "Movin’ On Up" by Ja'Net DuBois

arranged by: Layne Stein & Earl Elkins Jr.

release date: 19 July 2019

My favorite bits:

that iconic twangy air guitar and the requisite 👏👏👏👏

the fantastic bus "vroom" that was honed through years of "Road Trip" performances 🚌💨

Eli and Earl's squicked out reaction to Geoff's deep "moist" 💧

the light, popping percussion Layne gives to to "Fresh Prince"

Geoff's descending run in the transition into "Seinfeld"

Earl pretending he's going to smack Eli while he's helping with the "Seinfeld" percussion

that lovely four-part harmony for ♫ "get awaaay" ♫

J.None's quick transformation into a pitch-perfect Steve Urkel 🤓

their absolutely joyful tone as they sing the Golden Girls theme

the back row mounting pretend horses during Mr. Ed

animated carrot shenanigans 🥕

Geoff grooving away on that walking bass line in "Movin’ On Up"

Eli and J's gospel hands on that final "oooh!" harmony

Earl's fantastic belt for the end of "Movin’ On Up"

how long they manage to hold on to the ending silence before they burst out laughing

Trivia:

○ Once again, the decision process for this entry in their "Aca Top 10" series was quite contentious. The guys are clearly very passionate about their entertainment preferences.

○ Some of the shows are represented on their shirts, regardless of whether they made the final cut.

Eli — Gilligan from Gilligan's Island (1964–67)

Earl — portraits of the Golden Girls (1985–92) with "squad" above

J.None — Fresh Prince of Bel Air (1990–96) title graphic baseball jersey

Geoff — Joey Tribiani's catchphrase "How you doin'?" from Friends (1994–2004) in the show's title font

Layne — Kelly Kapowski from Saved By the Bell (1989–92)

○ The guys had already recorded a version of "Everywhere You Look" from Full House (1987–95) and Fuller House (2016–20) as the second entry in their PartWork series three years earlier. Earl and Layne covered all five vocal parts for that one.

○ Revisiting some of the memorable shows of their youth got Earl and Layne in a bit of a nostalgic mood, so they gave a shoutout to a favorite after-school snack on social media.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by VoicePlay (@thevoiceplay)

[my-shields-are-down]

I think this will be an interesting episode - I’m not 100% confident that “naked time” will happen.

Oh, I WANT it to happen, believe me. They very well might “get down tonight.” But more importantly, I think during this episode, we switch from happy joyful dating to more serious, deeply committed, heartfelt (and happy and joyful and oh so very grateful) endgame relationship.

The job is gonna forcefully remind them WHY a chain of command romance is stridently frowned upon or verboten (forbidden). They’ll have to talk about it-the new elephant in the room… their jobs.

Think about it… most likely at the beginning of the episode, Lucy intimates that “tonight’s the night” that naked time is upon them… AS THEY WALK INTO WORK.

You’re telling me they aren’t both going to be distracted just thinking about that? About what that means?

They’ve likely had multiple dinners, make out sessions, cuddle time, feeling each other’s bodies through their clothes, getting all revved up and then what? Satisfy themselves alone while thinking, wishing they were still with each other? It’s still all happiness and light.

They both want this, they both see the potential of them living happily ever after- it’s so close. Living a life neither ever really thought they would ever have.

Now I’m distracted and I am not living this life. I’m not running into danger with Iive ammunition. Lives are not hanging in the balance - waiting for me to resolve them. My split second judgement is not impaired by me fantasizing about making love to my future wife/husband tonight. My response time won’t be slowed. My actions wont result in someone getting hurt, right?

Tim is hours away from getting 95% of everything he only recently realized he ever wanted. We see him BEAMING WITH JOY AND HAPPINESS as he walks into the station. Mr Anguish and Torment from S1. I love smiley and happy Tim. But can smiley and happy Tim effectively police while being smiley and happy?

We know Lucy has sex dreams about Tim. She had them after a single kiss. What’s going on in her dream life now that she can touch and kiss him any time she wants (out of work)? Has she mastered compartmentalizing her feeling yet? Look at how closely they walk next to each other.

Then, during shift, SOME CRIME HAPPENS THAT SENDS LUCY, AARON, CELINA, JOHN, TIM AND GREY TO THE HOSPITAL COVERED IN BRUISES AND DUST.

For me, when I see the snippet of them walking into that elevator, I see their expressions before they recognize super fan Kelly Clarkson.

Both Lucy and Tim are hurt. Tim more so than Lucy if his face is any indication.

Did Tim engage his inner ‘fierce protector’ and push Lucy out if the way so he’d get hurt worse? He looks guilty and sad and all those worthiness doubts are creeping in and now gets why chain of command romances are problematic. Did he hesitate before taking action? Did he make any decisions that put her at risk?

He’s definitely NOT beaming joy and happiness now.

Lucy for her part, looks concerned and/or worried. Concerned they’ll be found out, concerned about Tim pulling away, worried about all those thoughts she knows Tim is thinking and she’s maybe wondering if they aren’t worth the risk, if they can’t figure this job thing out. She’s worried about Tim. Neither are thinking about naked time right now.

++And what does Grey see? Could this be what prompts Tim’s promotion - to get him immediately out of her chain of command. Not that he hasn’t earned it, mind you, but to eliminate the whole impropriety thing. Something to consider for next week….

I think Lucy + Tim getting hurt is a good thing for their relationship. They’ll be forced to really think about and talk about what they are willing to sacrifice to be together. Because they cannot ride together any longer. Not if they want a life with each other.

For me, that conversation is the emotional whammy of the episode - assuming it happens on Tuesday. They’ll have to choose to move forward, to be intimate, to risk this vital relationship between them to create something new.

I do think naked time is possible at the end of the episode. After they choose their growing relationship over work. Where before the idea was happy and joyful and light, now it’s more meaningful, and tender and has weight. Them making love to each other -that’s a big deal. That makes the relationship real.

ADDENDUM: What if Tim’s promotion is tied to them coming clean to Grey at the very end of this episode?! Or, after waking up together next week (remember Melissa’s post in a kimono?), they talk to Grey then. NEXT WEEK he starts at a higher rank and Lucy and Nyla scheme to get him into another role.

I cannot imagine Tim keeping Grey in the dark much longer. He has too much respect for the man.

Or, I could be completely wrong- this is a dramedy not a hard core drama. Regardless, I’m super excited to find out how they make it work.

[dimalink]

Free Bee – Bzzzz! Here we have a summer here! And fruits!

It is simple and funny game with side view about a little bee. Which is just fly forward. And, you collect flying across you, fruits. And avoid another bugs. Which are flying into your direction. It is idea of arcade game and runner.

Little bee is flying and doing her things. Collect fruits. Idea of the game - it is runner. And arcade. Just simply, funny game, where you need to collect items and avoid from some one else – from another bugs.

Control in game is very simple – arrows for navigate little bee. It can move all over the screen. Up, down, left, right. And screen is also moving.

In game, you can select what time of the day you will fly - day or evening. It is like episodes. And two levels in each game mode. First level has duration one minute, and second one – two minutes. Game is not difficult and for relax. I am not a fan of to play hard games. That’s why, here it is all everything is not hard. Just, fly and collect fruits and avoid flying bugs. Collect fruits, you bzzzz – you gain scores!

This is simple and funny bzzz little game about a little bee! And, I, almost, forget! So, here, as in a previous development – also, there is a sound! It is bzzz!!! It is sound of a little bee, sound of eating fruit and crash into the bug. Whole three sounds. They are for levels. Bzzzz! Little bee makes bzzzz! Sounds are adding more fun into the game! And, levels by themselves, are not difficult. And, rather, dynamical. So, to play – it is fun and it can help you to have free time and relax! For little positive, this way! Bzzzz!

Backgrounds in game - it is joyful sky. Day or evening. So, it is about you - what you will select. Day and evening -they are differs only with background and a title. They are play all the same.

Game gives a memories about something positive and sunny for Nes, or something like a runner. And, first ideas, about a game - after I eat orange or mandarin and it has a sticker. So, small circle form sticker with a picture of a bee. Later, I get orange or mandarin with a sticker, with a picture of a fruit.

And, already, after I see bee, I get it at once -  I need to make a game! With something like a Basic! Also, it is, of course, it has a blue background – that I remember windows 95. And it is so cloudless, so excellent sky from startup Windows 95. Well, it has clouds. So, mainly, when I see this, I still was trying to programming with C. But, as a second plan – it was Basic. To C I will be back. And now Basic.

And, little bee is flying next! And having fun! Anyway, it was idea of a good and kind joyful game. And, it goes good! About a countryside and summer! About a sky. Blue sky, so joyful. And it is different. And you are just fly and collect fruits. Game is for relax, this way. Run the streets and say Bzzz! For fun!!! So, this do a bee! Move and speak Bzzz!

It is cloudless little game about a little bee! And bee is so good, and it is everything ok for a little bee! And she has a most positive about life, bee is having fun! So, cool to fly – collect fruits! Bzzz! Little bee says – bzzzz! It is, so, funny sound! Sounds are funny and cool!

Take a note! How cool is interface here! So it has lots of words Bzzz! Bzz! Bz! Bzzz! It is a game about a little bee, because! Good and kind animals! Little bee!

Behind  window - it is, already, autumn – and, here it is summer. In game. Funny! Bzzz!! It is a thing, that little bee can to say! Summer and a little sun! It is a theme about a summer! Let`s have some fun and fly! Bzzzz! And, you have autumn – and in game – it is summer! Bzzz! Catch some summer fun! Bzzz!

It is a sticker with orange – it is epic little picture. A bee at the blue background. It is so fun and cool! I put these things near my computer! And so put these stickers near my pc! And, I, also, start a little textbook, where I put these stickers. I collect them. It is funny! So, blue sky and a bee – this makes a big impression on me!

Also, I write a menu for game. Small. So here you can turn on and off a sound.  And sounds I use from website FreeSound. So, I also, add a menu with authors. Where I write about authors of the sounds.

Little bee is flying and flying all day or evening! And in the end of the game – she will fly to drink a tea! A delicious good summer tea! Excellent bzzz day!

Game with programming language Free Basic. I am, already, confident way give myself a try a second form of a Basic. First it was BBC Basic for SDL2, and now Free Basic. And, mainly, I do programming with QB64 in 2024.

With this game, I finish my plan with a title – Try different Basic – to try different Basic. I, first time, use a different dialects of Basic, except one, that I use every time. And, now, I will do format and package for these 4 games (Platform Ball, Cabin Pilot, Free Blocker, Free Bee). And to prepare, make new release version of BasicPascal!

And, in the end, little bee will fly to drink a tea. Have your excellent Basic day!

This game will be released in terms of new version Basic Pascal Pack games. This game and some more games will be in a new version Basic Pascal Pack. As soon as I will have several complete games. All of them will to be in a new version Basic Pascal Pack. And a new version Basic Pascal Pack will be published for download.

Basic Pascal pack - whole pack of games and programes, written with basic and pascal. It is retro. With each game and program there is a page at author`s website. There are aditional information, descriptions, pictures, arts.

Basic Pascal: http://www.dimalink.tv-games.ru/packs/basicpascal/index_eng.html

Itchio: https://dimalink.itch.io/basic-pascal Website: http://www.dimalink.tv-games.ru/home_eng.html

[lovelyprincessn64]

🎄Jingle Bells Jingle Bells all I want for Christmas is you. 🎁 it is the special time of the year December a month of Christmas joy and happiness and this year I'm giving it to everyone special for everyone to enjoy🎁

Don't be shy and have a happy holidays of a lifetime:

1. 12 days of Christmas

2. Jingle the reindeer

3. Toy day

4. Hot cocoa hot tub

5. Christmas from Japan

6. Sexy Santa fan service

7. Too much eggnog

8. Any type of Christmas theme

9. Hot cocoa nights

10. Secret Santa

11. some cheese with that whine

12. Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

13. Horrific Xmas Tales

14. Icy nights

15. Snowball at Met Gala

16. Your ocs (Christmas theme)

17. Under the mistletoe

18. Home Alone

19. Cute elf

20. Kiss at the fireplace

21. Mean one Grinch

22. Christmas with Disney

23. Jingle Bells

24. Eating at grillby's

25. Don't tell on me

26. Ice Zone

27. Mythical wishes

28. Sugar plum Clefairy

29. Handsome nutcrackers

30. Dark times in Midwinter

31. Ugly sweaters

32. Drunk like crazy

33. Minty fresh

34. Shopping like crazy

35. Troublesome toys

36. Psycho Happy Fella

37. White elephant gift Exchange

38. Grumpy bah humbug

39. Candle of Hope

40. Hanukkah

41. Zombie Santa (he's from Eddsworld zanta)

42. KFC rather than turkey

43. All I Want For Christmas

44. Naughty or nice

45. Winter vacation

46. Ice skating

47. Sugar coma

48. Bayonetta's birthday

49. Delicious cake rather than fruit cake

50. Christmas prompts

51. Time of the 90s

52. Isabel's birthday

53. Retro from the past

53. Holiday High Jinks

54. Pizza dinner

55. Kiss me at midnight

56. Time for a new year

57. South Park like crazy

58. Russia's too cold for me

59. Tea party at France

60. Joyful spirit

61. Wishing for a snow day

62. Fruit cakes

63. Ready for the new year

64. Yandere surprises

65. Overwatch winter event

66. Nightmare Before Christmas

67. Gothic styles

68. Christmas with NiGHTS

69. National cookie day

70. Beauty of a snow angel

71. Just a dream

72. Special Starbucks month

73. Dangerous frostbites

74. Nintendo prizes

75. Cabin Fever

76. Cutest gingerbread

77. Happy gift big smile

78. Jolly Sora

79. Christmas with Charlie Brown

80. Horror tales Christmas

81. Winter Legends

82. Milk and cookies

83. Whipping up with cream

84. Sonic Channel arts

85. Ben 10 anniversary

86. Snowball fights

87. Lovely Vintages

88. Winter Aesthetics or Christmas Aesthetics

89. Ed Edd and Eddy

90. Once Upon a December

91. Miracles in a best way

92. Baby don't go outside

93. Christmas wedding days

94. Baking cookies

95. Redraws gifts

96. Colors of Poinsettias

97. Frosty the Snowman

98. McDonald's special

99. Aurora lights

100. Made with love

101. Wishing on a shooting star

102. Together stargazing

103. Satire of gifts

104. Ice cream dreams

105. Run Over by a Reindeer

106. Licorice taste

107. Hanging by a candy cane

108. You don't seem marry

109. Frostbite heart attack

110. Smashmas

112. My lips turn blue when I'm with you

113. Holidays with Eddsworld

114. He enjoys the feast

115. A hole in my heart a rip in the face

116. You better watch out

117. Sing along

118. Desires of a heart

119. Stealing crayons

200. Evil Candy Bar

201. Dashing through the snow

203. If I was your vampire

204. Golden hours

205. Sneaking through the fridge

206. Choices of flavors

207. Chandelier woman

208. Present from Mario

209. Playing with Game Boy

210. Decoration fun time

211. Toy store Mayhem

212. Countdown to end

213. Exotic joys

214. Dead on silver platter

215. Bacon for breakfast

216. Frozen

217. Served cold

218. Lilith and snowy

219. Coca-Cola season

220. Ornament creations

221. Animal Crossing

222. DIY times

223. Cartoon times

224. Thinking fruity

225. Wine and dine

226. Horror mix

227. Cheap chills

228. Party at Club Penguin

229. December birthdays

230. Nostalgia from the past

230. Gaming through the 90s

231. Time with coffee house

232. Makeup for a lame Christmas

233. Last Christmas

234. This year I'm giving it someone special

235. Daily activities

236. Holidays with Pokémon

237. True love gave to me

238. Making Reindeer nip

239. Got bloody

240. Dead by Christmas

241. Christmas or Halloween

242. Drink of ice coffee

243. Cookies on the Run

244. Mickey's Christmas Carol

245. Sing me a story

246. kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii

247. Woman you are a lump of coal

248. Boy to the world

249. Building gingerbreads

250. Waking within morning

251. Wonders of life

252. Fruit cakes

253. Lollipop crazy

254. Don't hike in snow

255. Frostbites

256. Sing of carols

257. Isabel's birthday

258. Holiday Bashs

259. Revenge of the snow plow

300. Colors of snow cones

301. Coffee & Mints

302. SpongeBob Christmas specials

303. Nezuko's birthday

304. For my Nezuko

303. Villain Hawks

304. Hawks's birthday

305. My favorite food is chicken

306. Hawks wearing US military uniform

Note: please read the rules before requesting also if you prefer Halloween or Thanksgiving feel free to go these events also have a merry Christmas

[journey-to-balance]

The Beauty of an Ordinary Life.

There is always beauty to be found in a normal ordinary life, but it is more obvious to me than ever in sweet summertime.

I was reflecting yesterday morning on something our family used to do when the children were little; we traveled to different states throughout the United States. The summer road trips were educational, beautiful, and fun, but in many ways, nothing really compared to ordinary life at home for me.

One thing I did love about getting out and exploring, was drawing inspiration from the surrounding landscapes. I remember taking an untold amount of photos of gardens everywhere. They were just so magical. I would daydream about recreating something like that at home someday, to have the ability to make wild arrangements with blooms cut from my own garden.

Today, one aspect of my ordinary life that I certainly don't ever want to take for granted is my pollinator garden. It isn't fancy, and it isn't always well tended to, but I know I simply couldn't fully enjoy it if I weren't spending these long, ordinary summer days at home.

What's more, some of the most enjoyable ordinary aspects of daily living such as a freshly cleaned kitchen, a sudsy bath before bedtime on a 95+ degree day, or sinking into the softness of a comfortable pillow, can be done whether you have your dream home or don't, and whether you have your dream income or don't - simple pleasures are available for everyone to enjoy.

Sometimes I think we're so overstimulated that our brains need no more than the daily simple gifts that God wired us to take pleasure in.

We planted a lot of tomato seeds this year. It's one of my favorite staples to plant, because they're some phenomenal varieties, they crowd out the weeds easily, and I can't think of a day when I don't use them in a meal. Harvesting them in huge quantities feels incredibly abundant.

Of course, I've had periods throughout my life when I haven't been so inspired by homemaking. Maybe I lost my momentum, or my rhythm. Maybe I was physically exhausted or ill, you know, on those days when I simply had to power through.

The homemaking, the ordinary aspects of life that we all have to do, like cleaning up multiple times a day, taking care of the laundry multiple times a week, getting food on the table, all feel like struggle when I am not able to have moments of beauty. For it is beauty that allows me to find the motivation to embrace all of what makes daily existence difficult.

For me, when I'm feeling down, disappointed by something or someone, and maybe not very inspired, something as simple as making a fancier breakfast, something that I've put some extra effort into, can make a difference in my day. Playing soft piano music while cooking, or even lighting a candle can be a game-changer in shifting my perspective regarding my day.

Without question, one of the most tangible, most constant ways to enjoy an ordinary life is by enjoying special food. In fact, If I've learned anything from my experiences traveling abroad over the years is how beautifully some cultures spend time creating wonderful meals, and lingering around them as they engage in conversation.

Somewhere along my career driven trajectory, at least in my little world, I hoped to divorce myself from the rushed, loud, hedonistic and chaotic path I'd followed for so long. But, that's a story for another time.

What I mean to say is, there's no end to what you can be inspired by in your home. Whether it's creating a new garden, trying your hand at baking something new, renovating or reviving a project, spending an evening reading, painting, drawing or writing like me, there's plenty of ways to enjoy these long ordinary summer days at home.

Friends, let those of us who have the privilege of living an ordinary life, especially when we consider that there are countless who have tumultuous, tragic, insecure lives, never take it for granted.

Thanks for reading these ordinary, but joyful words with me. May you find moments to enjoy, relish and savor. Maritza