#Matchmaker Maryland

[nerdieforpedro]

Finally Away

Chapter 2 of “This is the Neighborhood Din” Series

Din Djarin (Modern AU) x Sierra Harris (plus size OFC)

This fic is for readers 18+ MDNI

Word Count: about 3k

Warnings: Divorce, domestic violence (both referenced and actual), burns, scratches, blood, stalking, description of injuries, self-esteem issues, matchmaking?, domestic fluff, soft moments and hugs

Summary: Sierra has arrived to her aunt's home and meets their new neighbors Din and little Grogu. She didn't plan on her ex-husband showing up before her long drive - that man decided to ensure she had his disgusting marks on her arms.

Notes: In this chapter there is domestic violence and descriptions of Sierra's injuries as well as past incidents with her ex-husband. Likely will be mentioned again but not with injuries. There's also a burn mentioned as well that Sierra caused.

Special thanks to @pedroshotwifey for beta reading and @julesonrecord for having these resources in their Cherry Wine fic. It’s an excellent read, just make sure to review the warnings as it is marked DDNE.

I would have posted this earlier but I didn’t get a notification about the poll results. 😭 My bad.

Domestic Violence resources (In case you or someone you know need them):

United States

Canada

United Kingdom

European Union

Main Masterlist/ Din Djarin (The Mandalorian) Masterlist/ This is the Neighborhood Din Series

The drive from Maryland to New York State hasn’t been that bad, just so long. Nearly seven hours. Sierra had planned to leave earlier than she did. It was her last day in her apartment, she was going to leave the keys since all her belongings she planned to take were already in her car. It had been six months since the divorce was final but a year and a half that she had lived apart from Darius.

Sierra knew he hadn’t cared about her, at least the last few years of their marriage, not after those beatings started. She didn’t stay because she loved him, falling out of love with him was at the first punch. She’d been confused at first, he’d never been violent before, always kind. But when Sierra thought on it after the second bloody nose, she wondered if this was happening because something was wrong with her. When he hit her and this time, kept hitting her in her stomach after that last time he came home, she let him sleep and then poured boiled hot grits on him. She’d already looked into getting an apartment by herself and was going to stay with a friend for a week until it was ready. Darius never did press charges against her or told anyone how he got those burns on his abdomen and chest, Sierra assumed that he was embarrassed that his wife who he had been beating got one over on him. After she left, she needed to try and figure out what was next and who to turn to for help.

Thankfully, her aunt Johnnie Mae was more than willing to take her in after she’d been able to save some money by living in that cheap apartment. It almost made the hour long commute to the middle school she taught at worth it. Saving money was her priority so she would have some money to give her Aunt for letting her stay with her outside of New York City. The plan was working, she was able to get rid of clothes and stuff she didn’t absolutely need. That way, everything would fit in her small blue Nissan. Her aunt had said that she didn’t need to offer her any money, let alone rent while she stayed with her but that’s not how she was raised. Before they passed, Sierra’s parents stressed being responsible, paying your debts and taking care of yourself. She’s failed at that last one.

That morning, all she had to do was get up use the bathroom before leaving and leave. That was all the science teacher had planned. She even had a new job set up at a middle school substitute teaching next week. She was open to picking up a part time job until she could get a full time one as keeping a work history going and money coming is was more important than ever.

The barrier to her leaving on time was Darius himself. He sat outside of her small blue car waiting for her. Darius was a few inches taller than Sierra but slender and full of mean streaks. One would think a so called ‘short king’ as he often called himself would be a bit nicer to anyone, let alone his wife but no. The bastard beat Sierra, leaving bruises, cuts and made sure never to break or sprain anything enough to need an urgent care or hospital visit. He left to be with his mistress a month after Sierra burnt him with hot grits as he lay sleep in bed.

The divorce as far as property went was split down the middle, even though the end of their relationship was anything but amicable. Sierra hadn’t see him since the divorce decree was handed down in court, but now he sits here blocking her path away from him finally, no longer tied to him.

“What do you want?” The venom in her voice is clear as he moves toward her.

“Just wanted to see you off. I mean, we had something special for a while there you know.” He attempted to touch her face and she smacked his hand away. Darius grabbed it and her other hand as she struggled against him. “You always fought me on everything after becoming a full time teacher. Being full of yourself. Now you’re going to be fat, broke and alone. You thought it was hard to get married before? No man’s going to be looking for you!”

“This is what you came here for Darius?! Just to try and intimidate me?” Sierra pushed forward, making his legs hit the bumper of a sedan parked next to her, he fell back, but grabbed her forearms hard, digging his fingers into them. She yelled and tried to shake him off but he dug deeper. “You’re a sad bastard who left me for a woman who’s now left you for an old rich man. She’s riding his dick somewhere in Italy!” Her knee connected with his crotch and his grip loosened. Sierra was able to wiggle free and run toward the driver’s side of her car, quickly getting in. She started driving only checking her arms when she finally stopped at a McDonald’s.

Her caramel skin was a deep red, nearly purple with blood as he broke the skin on both arms. She made a stop at a CVS and got some bandages to clean and wrap her arms before continuing on her drive. After a few more hours she stopped crying and determined that he wasn’t worth it, he hadn’t been for quite some time. Just be glad you’re no longer tied to him. If he shows up again, I can use a brick on him or whatever I have nearby. Maybe I need to carry one of those switchblades. As she crossed over from Pennsylvania to New York, she wondered how she’d hide the bandages from her Aunt. She hadn’t shared the full story with her, only that he’d become distant, they would get in shouting matches and the cheating. Sierra hadn’t told her about the physical abuse. She didn’t know how to explain why it went on for so long. She barely wanted to tell the one friend she felt safe enough to move in with for that week. Thankfully she didn’t judge her, just supported Sierra. She was eternally grateful for that.

Pulling up to her aunt’s home she was completely unprepared for the man she saw. The opposite of her ex-husband was sitting on her aunt’s porch. Putting his shirt back on. No one said he had to. Sierra thought, her aunt let go of her and pinched her shoulder.

“You’ll burn a hole into the man if you keep staring at him like that.” Ms. Harris teased.

“How could I not look at him? Who is he?” Sierra inquired. She grabbed her purse from the car and walked over with her aunt to the porch.

Din started to get a bit cold after finishing his glass of water and stood to slip his shirt back on. He still felt her eyes on him and turned to see Ms. Harris walking to the house with a caramel beauty who’s calling his new neighbor ‘auntie.’ Maybe she was just here visiting, his eyes cut to her car before focusing back on her as they drew closer to the porch. She’s staying for a little while at least, I’m not in the market for just a short time though.

As she made her way up the stairs, her black shorts bunched between her thighs. In an effort not to stare, his eyes scanned her legs which were thick and jiggled along with the rolls of her belly that it appeared like she was trig to hide under her large purple t-shirt. She was wearing a black sweatshirt which he suspected her would find equally soft arms covered by the fabric. Her face appeared tired, he assumed from the long drive, but there seemed to be a remnant of sadness in her honey eyes with some redness in her cheeks. Her hair was in tight pun with a matching purple scarf tied at the top of her head. It wasn’t a handshake she offered but a small wave and Din couldn’t help but flash a toothy grin and chuckle.

“H-Hi. I’m Sierra, nice to meet you. Seems you’ve met my Aunt Mae already.” Though clearly nervous, her voice had a dulcet tone to it that had Din exhale to keep from clearing his throat to make it too obvious. He raised his hand and returned her small wave, stepping forward to close the distance. He looked down at her, keeping his grin.

“I’m Din. Your aunt, Ms. Harris has been so welcoming to me and my son Grogu. It’s our first day here. Pleasure to meet you Sierra.”

He is taller and broader up close and his hands are….this man appears to be massive in every sense. Even his voice feels like it’s wrapping around me. Am I okay? My shorts are halfway in my crotch and I know my eyes are puffy and red along with my entire face. This is one of the days, I wish I had more melanin so everything from earlier in the day wouldn’t be on my damn face.

“Well dear, you mind helping me make some dinner while Din keeps an eye on the kids? You missed lunch.” Ms. Harris elbows Sierra in the side and she winces as her aunt’s arm grazes her forearm.

“Sure, lead the way. Um, are you staying for dinner Din?” Sierra asked and Din nodded with Johnnie Mae adding that of course he was, he bought her groceries as a thank you for watching little Grogu for a few hours.

“I really do appreciate it Ms. Harris. I was able to get a lot done in the house so we’ll be set for our first night in the house. The kids we be fine until dinner’s ready.” Rolling his shoulders back, he puts his hands in his pockets and his grin becomes a smile. Sierra’s lips part slightly but no sound comes out, she really hopes nothing came out. It didn’t but her aunt is ever watchful of their interaction and leads her niece into the kitchen. Din turns to the side to watch Sierra walk away, paying special attention to her wide hips and plump backside. I think I should find out how long she’ll be here. If she needs to leave, maybe I can convince her to come back through and visit. Such thoughts were distracting Din from the children and he heard a cry. Delia was sitting in the grass giving a dirty look to both Grogu and Quinton. “Well, I am a man of my word. Let me see what’s going on.” As he made his way down the stairs, Johnnie Mae peeped at the door to Mae sure Din was out of earshot.

“Tell me what you think, I mean I was going to set you up with that boy Leon because he seemed nice, but Din is a grown man. Good and grown man dear. I don’t see a ring and-“

“It’s too soon I can’t even think about that right now. Especially today, I look an entire mess.” And that rat bastard fucked up my arms. Even if my arms were fine, I’m not even wearing my cute leggings. Damn.

“I didn’t ask you all that girl.” Johnnie Mae got out a pot and threw in some chicken broth followed two bags of vegetable medleys complete with carrots, broccoli and cauliflower. “I asked you what you thought. I understand you might not feel like you’re ready. Doesn’t mean you can look.”

Sighing, Sierra washed her hands, got the chicken out of the fridge and started seasoning it before plopping it in a frying pan to cook in some butter. “He’s the complete opposite of my ex-husband. Which is entirely welcome. I just don’t know if I can….” Johnnie Mae hip bumped her niece as an indication of getting a non-answer. Sierra sighed again, “I’d climb him like a tree auntie. I’m not ready, but if I was at all. He would be the first choice.”

“Just need to know your tastes have changed. No more assholes Sierra.” Johnnie Mae laughed and so did Sierra, shaking her head. On that she agreed. The pair finished up dinner making homemade chicken noddle soup. Something that everyone ate two bowels of. Din and Grogu ate three. Delia and Quinton were picked up by their parents when the sun started setting around five in the evening. They thanked Ms. Harris and hugged her before introducing themselves to Din. They suggested that Ms. Harris could watch little Grogu before and after school. That way Grogu could play with Delia and Quinton as they likely were going to go to the same elementary school. The family departed leaving Din, Grogu, Johnnie Mae and Sierra.

Din suggested he could wash the dishes and Sierra rejected his help because he was a guest. Technically she was too, but she’d be living here. It was decided that he would wash and she would dry.

Grogu found a comfy spot on the couch as Ms. Harris sat next to him. “Little G, we’re going to watch a classic me and you. Look at this.” She turned on ‘Winnie the Pooh.’ Ms. Harris started singing along and Grogu joined in, bobbing their heads side to side.

Din’s hands were covered in soapy water, scrubbing the dishes before rising them and handing them to Sierra to dry. They chatted about the merits of Pooh and Piglet’s adventures. They laughed that before the episode was over, both Ms. Harris and Grogu were asleep on the couch and arm wrapped around each other. Din snapped a few pictures with his phone. Sierra hesitated, but asked if he could send her the pictures he took. Din was going to suggest that she take her own, but understood that she was asking for his number without saying it. Trying to be subtle. That’s cute of her. He agreed and send her the pictures, the small smile on her face felt like a part of a curtain had been pulled back.

Back at the sink, dishes slowly made their way into the cabinets. Sierra’s sleeves were getting wet and it made her arms itchy so she pulled them up, and reached for the plate Din was handing and she took the plate. She started drying and looked down at her forearms, some blood had soaked through. Panic set in for the second time today, though not from fear of her safety. Instead it was that the easy laughter would stop, there was nothing funny about her arms or what had made them that way. Din stopped washing and wiped his wet hands on his pants.

“You don’t have to tell me how it happened. Just…are you safe Sierra? Is the person who did that after you?” Keeping his voice flat was the only way not to yell, he shouldn’t yell at her. It would be misdirected. It looked like they were fresh maybe even today. She looked up at him and the brightness was gone from them, only panic. Is that why she came here? How fall far had she driven? She did seem to have a lot of stuff in her car.

“No. Thankfully I’ll never see him again. He has no reason to find me. That ended six months ago. I’m…” Closing her eyes, she swallowed the saliva building in her throat. “Divorced. Six months ago. He was…just the worst. Could you just…”

“I’m not going to act like I didn’t see them. If don’t want me to say anything it’s not mine to tell. But does she know?” His eyes shift over to the couch before refocusing on her. He’d rather know this bastard’s name, just in case but she didn’t say it and now isn’t the time to press. He hesitated, but placed a hand between her shoulder blades. Sierra flinched but when Din began to pull his arm back she turned and reached for his hand.

“Please don’t do that. I’m not fragile. I know you’re not going to do anything I’m sor-“

“Don’t apologize. I shouldn’t have touched-“

“Then you don’t say sorry either.” Sighing, she looked down at his hand and held it as to shake it. “Let’s start over. Please Din and I’ll tell her. I kinda have to with these.” A weak smile matched a soft chuckle. He missed the smile he’d seen when he sent her pictures a few minutes ago. Shaking her hand, he nodded.

“I won’t apologize then, but I disagree, you are fragile. It’s a fact for now. You won’t always be, but it’s okay.” He didn’t release her hand. “Is it alright if I hug you and then take a look at your arms? You have more bandages?” Sierra nods and doesn’t speak, she folds her arms around Din’s torso. His hands returned to her back, rubbing it slowly and started stepping side to side, rocking her. Short whimpers came from her, quieting as the pair swayed.

“I have more in the car, but I can take care of that. Just a little more. A little while longer.” Sierra was conflicted in asking him to continue to hold her, but she didn’t want to let go. She felt it was selfish to ask this of him upon just meeting him today. He just moved in with his son no less. That’s plenty on his plate.

Din didn’t answer her. He didn’t release her either. They continued to remain in each other’s arms as Johnnie Mae peered over her shoulder from the couch. Now truly aware of why her niece has said she’s not ready, she wouldn’t push Sierra.

Neither of them knew how long they stayed in the kitchen embracing but Sierra let go first citing that Din should get little Grogu home, thanking him. He told her it wasn’t an issue and told her he was going to bring in her bags before leaving. She blinked and Ms. Harris told him the keys were near the door. The older woman shot a look at Sierra warning her to stay put. After bringing them in, Din said goodnight and scooped up Grogu taking him home.

A pivotal first impression had been made.

Chapter One. Chapter Three

Space Buddies: @readingiskeepingmegoing @604to647 @syd-djarin @yorksgirl

@harriedandharassed @survivingandenduring @drawingdroid @katw474 @trulybetty

@bitchwitch1981 @soft-girl-musings @tinytinymenace @djarinmuse @littlemisspascal

[authorivyljames]

writeblr intro

Hi! I’m new to Tumblr and figured I’d introduce myself.

who am I and what do I write?

I’m Ivy (she/her), in my late 20s. I’m a lesbian and happily married to the most wonderful lady in the world. I live in Maryland, USA. I have a cat, a corgi, and two snakes.

I write LGBT+ contemporary romance (usually pretty steamy) and queer poetry. Sometimes I edit as well.

what am I writing right now?

The Winner Takes It All is a sapphic rivals-to-allies-to-lovers romance novel. It’s actually the second book in my Virginia Is For All Lovers series! This is fully drafted and in edits.

I’m drafting Sword’s End, a lesbian romantasy (cozy fantasy, spicy romance) novella about a human poet-knight and elf princess who get fake engaged.

I’m also drafting The Plus-One Contract, a lesbian Wedding Date-esque story about a woman who hires a professional companion as her date to a cousin’s destination wedding where her ex is the maid of honor.

My sapphic poetry chapbook The Orange and Pink Sunset is on preorder!

what can I read right now?

Love, Lorena: a contemporary sapphic romance novel about a matchmaker who falls for her royal client. [buy the book] [read chapter 1]

Border Ctrl+Esc: a lighthearted contemporary marriage of convenience between LGBTQ+ Internet friends (a demisexual woman and a bisexual man). [buy the book] [read chapter 1]

Make the Yuletide Gay: a lesbian holiday romance novella about two coworkers who get snowed in at a small B&B on their way to a work conference. [buy the book] [read chapter 1]

[sistaffingsblog]

The Role of Employment Agencies in Baltimore’s Job Market

Baltimore, Maryland, with its diverse economy, thriving business sectors, and vibrant workforce, remains one of the most dynamic cities in the United States when it comes to employment opportunities. However, navigating the job market here can be challenging, whether you're a job seeker trying to land your first position, an experienced professional looking for a career change, or a company trying to find top-tier talent.

In this environment, Employment Agencies Baltimore play an indispensable role. Staffing and recruitment agencies act as bridges between employers and potential employees, streamlining the hiring process, providing valuable resources to job seekers, and ensuring businesses connect with the right talent for their needs.

In this post, we’ll explore the important role of employment agencies in Baltimore’s job market, both from the perspective of job seekers and employers.

What is an Employment Agency?

An employment agency (also known as a staffing or recruitment agency) is a service that connects companies with potential employees. These agencies typically specialize in recruiting candidates for specific industries or job functions, whether it’s administrative work, healthcare, finance, technology, or skilled trades.

For job seekers, an employment agency offers personalized job placement services, helping them find positions that match their skills, experience, and career aspirations. For employers, the agency’s role is to provide a pool of qualified candidates, ensuring that businesses have access to the best talent available, while also saving time and resources on the hiring process.

In Baltimore, employment agencies cater to a wide range of industries and sectors, providing specialized recruitment services to companies ranging from healthcare institutions and tech firms to government agencies and nonprofit organizations.

How Employment Agencies Support Job Seekers in Baltimore

1. Access to a Broader Range of Opportunities

Baltimore’s job market is rich with opportunities, but not all job openings are publicly listed. Many employers in the area prefer to use staffing agencies to handle their recruitment, and they trust agencies to provide candidates who are already pre-screened for the job. Employment agencies often have access to these “hidden” job listings—those that are not advertised online or on job boards.

By working with an employment agency, job seekers can gain access to a wider array of opportunities, including those in competitive fields like technology, healthcare, and finance. Furthermore, many of these roles may not be easy to find through traditional job-searching methods, and the agencies will present opportunities that might otherwise be overlooked.

2. Personalized Job Matching

One of the most significant advantages of working with an employment agency is the personalized job matching service they provide. Recruiters work closely with candidates to understand their career goals, preferred industries, skills, and compensation expectations. This personalized approach ensures that job seekers are only presented with positions that align with their needs and abilities.

For example, if you’re looking for a job in healthcare but want flexibility, a staffing agency can connect you with temporary or per diem opportunities in hospitals or clinics. Alternatively, if you're seeking a career in finance and have specialized qualifications, an agency can help you find a suitable match with a top-tier firm that values your expertise.

3. Support in Resume Building and Interview Preparation

Employment agencies are more than just job matchmakers—they’re career development partners. Recruiters assist candidates in refining their resumes and optimizing them to meet industry standards, which increases the chances of landing an interview. Agencies also provide coaching on interview skills, helping job seekers make a strong impression on potential employers.

For many, especially those entering the job market for the first time or looking to switch industries, these services are invaluable. Recruiters can offer feedback on how to position yourself as the best candidate, from discussing your relevant experiences to highlighting transferable skills.

4. Temporary and Temp-to-Hire Opportunities

Another crucial service that employment agencies offer in Baltimore is temporary and temp-to-hire roles. These positions allow job seekers to get their foot in the door of a company, gain valuable experience, and sometimes transition into permanent employment. Temp jobs also provide flexibility for individuals who may need a short-term role while pursuing other opportunities or finishing their education.

The temp-to-hire option is particularly attractive to both job seekers and employers. For candidates, it allows them to try out a job and an organization to ensure it’s the right fit before committing long-term. For employers, temp-to-hire arrangements offer a way to assess a candidate's performance and compatibility with the company culture before making a permanent offer.

5. Networking and Industry Connections

Employment Agencies Baltimore often have well-established relationships with a wide range of employers in Baltimore, giving candidates access to a network of hiring managers and HR professionals they might not have reached on their own. Many agencies specialize in particular industries, such as healthcare, IT, engineering, or administrative services, and their recruiters often have deep insights into local job markets and trends.

This means job seekers not only get job opportunities but also valuable networking connections. Employment agencies can facilitate introductions to hiring managers and provide advice on the latest hiring trends, making it easier for candidates to break into new industries or stay ahead of industry shifts.

How Employment Agencies Support Employers in Baltimore

1. Reducing Time-to-Hire

For employers in Baltimore, the hiring process can be time-consuming and resource-intensive, especially when trying to find specialized talent. Employment agencies help companies reduce time-to-hire by pre-screening candidates, conducting interviews, and performing background checks before sending qualified candidates to hiring managers.

Instead of sifting through hundreds of resumes, employers rely on agencies to present them with a curated list of the most suitable candidates. This process saves time, allowing companies to focus on evaluating the candidates and making the best choice without wasting time on unqualified applicants.

2. Access to a Large Talent Pool

In Baltimore, businesses are always competing for top talent, especially in high-demand industries such as IT, healthcare, finance, and manufacturing. Employment agencies have access to large and diverse talent pools, allowing employers to tap into a wider pool of qualified candidates. These agencies constantly update their databases and maintain relationships with active job seekers, ensuring that companies always have a pipeline of talent available.

Moreover, staffing agencies often have access to passive job seekers—those individuals who aren’t actively looking for work but may be open to new opportunities. These candidates can be especially valuable, as they often bring specialized skills and experience that match niche roles.

3. Reducing Hiring Risks

Hiring the wrong candidate can be costly, not just financially but in terms of time, resources, and team morale. Employment agencies help mitigate this risk by thoroughly screening candidates before recommending them to employers. Agencies conduct background checks, verify qualifications, and assess cultural fit to ensure that candidates meet a company’s specific requirements.

Additionally, staffing agencies often offer guarantees for their placements. If a new hire doesn’t work out within a certain period, the agency may provide a replacement or refund the fees, reducing the overall hiring risk for businesses.

4. Flexibility with Workforce Needs

The demand for labor in Baltimore can fluctuate due to seasonal trends, project-based work, or economic changes. Employment agencies give employers the flexibility to adjust their workforce quickly. Businesses can scale up by hiring temporary workers for peak periods, or they can adjust staffing levels based on fluctuating demand, without the administrative burden of hiring and terminating employees.

This flexibility is particularly valuable for industries with cyclical workloads or for employers needing to fill specialized roles for short-term projects.

Conclusion: The Vital Role of Employment Agencies in Baltimore’s Job Market

Employment agencies play an integral role in the health and function of Baltimore’s job market. For job seekers, they offer access to hidden opportunities, personalized job matching, and valuable career support. For employers, they provide access to a vast talent pool, help streamline the hiring process, and mitigate hiring risks.

In a competitive job market like Baltimore, where businesses and job seekers are constantly in flux, staffing agencies offer critical expertise, resources, and connections to make the hiring process more efficient and successful for everyone involved. Whether you’re looking for your next career move or seeking the perfect candidate to join your team, employment agencies in Baltimore can help make the process smoother, faster, and more rewarding.

[brookston]

Holidays 8.31

Holidays

African Traditional Medicine Day

Anniversary of the Withdrawal of the Last American Soldier (Afghanistan)

Baloch-Pakhtun Unity Day (Balochistan, Pakistan)

Cow Chip Tossing Day

Crop Dusting Day

Day of Solidarity and Freedom (Poland)

831 Day

Festal Day (Order of the Eastern Star)

Flag Day (India)

Franchise Appreciation Day

Hari Kebangsaan (Malaysia)

International Blog Day (a.k.a. International Day of Blogs and Bloggers)

International Day for People of African Descent (UN)

International Day of Obstetrics & Pregnancy

International Lawn Day

International Overdose Awareness Day

Jack the Ripper Day [Killed 1st Victim: Mary Ann Nichols; 1888]

Limba Noastra (Day of Our Language; Moldova)

Long-Haul Truck Driver (Russia)

Love Litigating Lawyers Day

Memorial Day for the Victims of Repression (Uzbekistan)

Merdeka Day (Malaysia)

National Asiatic Cheetah Day (Iran)

National Box Car Day

National Cinema Day (UK)

National Cowgirl Day

National Dan Day

National Day (Vietnam)

National Diatomaceous Earth Day

National HalfCut Day (Australia)

National Language Day (Moldova)

National Leslie Day

National Matchmaker Day

National South Carolina Day

National Zoo Awareness Day (UK)

Nature Day (Finland)

North Borneo Self-Government Day

Opioid Misuse Prevention Day

Overdose Awareness Day

Princess Diana Memorial Day

Rabbit Rabbit Day [Last Day of Every Month]

Romanian Language Day (Romania)

Sărbătoarea (a.k.a. Limba noastră; Language Day; Moldova)

Take a Seat Day

Tank Day (Lešany, Czech Republic)

Teacher’s Day (Singapore)

Walnut Day (French Republic)

We Love Memoirs Day

White Rose Day (Australia)

Withdrawal of the Last American Soldier Anniversary Day (Afghanistan)

World Distance Learning Day

World Sanskrit Day

World Solidarity Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Eat Outside Day

Grape Blessing Day (Armenia)

International Bacon Day [also 12.30]

Invent A New Sandwich Day

National Chourico Day

National Trail Mix Day

Vegetable Day (Japan)

Independence & Related Days

Befshire (Declared; 2016) [unrecognized]

Kyrgyzstan (from USSR, 1991)

Malaysia (from UK, 1957)

North Borneo (Self-Government Day; Sabah, Malaysia)

Surigao City Charter Day (Philippines)

Trinidad and Tobago (from UK, 1962)

5th & Last Saturday in August

International Bacon Day [Saturday before 1st Monday in September]

International Bat Night [Last Saturday]

International Cosplay Day [Last Saturday]

International Play Music on the Porch [Last Saturday]

Iroquois Indian Festival (Albany, NY) [Begins on Last Saturday]

Pony Express Day [Last Saturday]

Sandwich Saturday [Every Saturday]

Schemitzun begins (Green Corn Pow Wow; Mashantucket Pequot, Connecticut) [Last Saturday]

Six For Saturday [Every Saturday]

Spaghetti Saturday [Every Saturday]

Speak Kind Words Saturday [Saturday of Be Kind to Humankind Week]

World Day for the End of Speciesism [Last Saturday]

Weekly Holidays beginning August 31 (4th Full Week of August)

National Buffalo Chicken Wings Days (Buffalo, New York) [thru 9.1]

Festivals Beginning August 31, 2024

Amish Country Cheese Festival (Arthur, Illinois) [thru 9.3]

Apple Harvest Celebration (Willcox, Arizona) [thru 9.8]

BBQ & Craft Beer Festival (Monmouth Park, Oceanport, New Jersey) [thru 9.2]

Bloemencorso Eelde (Eelde, Netherlands) [thru 9.1]

Boothbay Harbor Tuna Challenge (Boothbay Harbor, Maine)

Bremerton Blackberry Festival (Bremerton, Washington) [thru 9.2]

Bumbershoot (Seattle, Washington) [thru 9.1]

Canadian International Air Show (Toronto, Canada) [thru 9.2]

Caribbean Food And Wine Festival (West Friendship, Maryland)

Connecticut Renaissance Faire (Lebanon, Connecticut) [thru 10.14]

Corn Maze (Middlefield, Connecticut) [thru 11.3]

Eastport Salmon and Seafood Festival (Eastport, Maine) [thru 9.1]

Food Truck Festival (Waterloo, Iowa)

Garlic Town U.S.A. (Bennington, Vermont)

Girdwood Fungus Fair (Girdwood, Alaska) [thru 9.1]

Harvest Wine Fest (Albuquerque & Las Cruces, New Mexico) [thru 9.2]

Hatch Chile Festival (Hatch, New Mexico) [thru 9.1]

John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival (High Point, North Carolina) [thru 9.1]

Kansas City Renaissance Festival (Bonner Springs, Kansas) [thru 10.14]

Keystone’s Oktoberfest (Keystone, Colorado)

King Richard’s Faire (Carver, Massachusetts) [thru 10.20]

Milan Melon Festival (Milan, Ohio) [thru 9.2]

National Buffalo Wing Festival (Buffalo, New York) [thru 9.1]

Ohio Renaissance Festival (Harveysburg, Ohio) [thru 10.27]

Okinawan Festival (Waikiki, Hawaii) [thru 9.1]

Renaissance Faire at Sleepy Hollow (Des Moines, Iowa) [thru 9.15]

Richmond County Fair (Staten Island, New York) [thru 9.2]

Romeo Peach Festival (Romeo, Michigan) [thru 9.2]

Seafood Festival & Craft Show (Westport, Washington)

Taste of Hamburg-er Festival (Hamburg, Pennsylvania)

Taste of Madison (Madison, Wisconsin) [thru 9.1]

Taylor Sweet Corn Festival (Taylor, Arizona)

West Cape May Tomato Festival (West Cape May, New Jersey)

West Jefferson Annual Ox Roast (West Jefferson, Ohio) [thru 9.2]

Wild Rice Day (McGregor, Minnesota)

World Championship BBQ Goat Cook-Off (Brady, Texas)

Feast Days

Aidan of Lindisfarne (Christian; Saint)

Alter Ego Day (Pastafarian)

Aristides of Athens (Christian; Saint)

Bryan Organ (Artology)

Cuthburh (Christian; Saint)

Dominguito del Val (Christian; Saint)

DuBose Heyward (Writerism)

Feast of Grapes (Ancient Minoa; Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Fourth Onam (Rice Harvest Festival, Day 4; Kerala, India)

Frey’s Blot (Pagan)

Gai Jatra (Cow Festival, in remembrance of people who died the previous year; Kathmandu Valley, Nepal)

G. Willow Wilson (Writerism)

Henry (Muppetism)

Isabel (Christian; Saint)

Joseph of Arimathea (Christian; Saint)

Jouffroy (Positivist; Saint)

Mária Balážová (Artology)

Nicodemus (Christian; Saint)

Paulinus of Trier (Christian; Saint)

Paul Reubens Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Raymond Nonnatus (Christian; Saint)

The Ritual Walk of the Eyos (Lagos; Everyday Wicca)

Roger Dean (Artology)

Wala of Corbie (Christian; Saint)

Waltheof, Earl of Northumbria (Christian; Saint)

William Saroyan (Writerism)

Yumiko Ōshima (Artology)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Lucky Day (Philippines) [48 of 71]

Premieres

All Or Nothing At All, recorded by Frank Sinatra (Song; 1939)

American Idiot, by Green Day (Song; 2004)

Andor (TV Series; 2022)

Bad, by Michael Jackson (Album; 1987)

The Big Sleep (Film; 1946)

Bolero (Film; 1984)

Bugsy and Mugsy (WB LT Cartoon; 1957)

The Commuter, by Philip K. Dick (Short Story; 1953)

The Constant Gardener (Film; 2005)

Document, by R.E.M. (Album; 1987)

Fly, by Dixie Chicks (Album; 1999)

Foundation and Earth, by Isaac Asimov (Novel; 1986) [Foundation #5]

Get Rich Quick (Disney Cartoon; 1951)

Goat’s Head Soup, by The Rolling Stones (Album; 1973)

The Great Gildersleeve (Radio Series; 1941)

Jack Ryan (TV Series; 2018)

Only Murders in the Building (TV Series; 2021)

Orient Express, by Graham Greene (a.k.a. Stamboul Train; Novel; 1932)

Pluto’s Judgement Day (Disney Cartoon; 1935)

The Psychology of Intelligence, by Jean Piaget (Science Book; 1947)

Radetzky March, by Johann Strauss (March; 1848)

Raising Demons, by Shirley Jackson (Memoir; 1957)

Solid Serenade (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1946)

Soul on Ice, by Eldridge Cleaver (Memoir & Essays; 1968)

The Threepenny Opera, by Bertolt Brecht (Play with Music; 1928)

Wildest Dreams, by Taylor Swift (Song; 2015)

The World According to Garp, by John Irving (Novel; 1978)

You Gotta Be a Football Hero (Fleischer Popeye Cartoon; 1935)

Today’s Name Days

Paulinus, Raimubd (Austria)

Josip, Nikodem, Optat, Paulina (Croatia)

Pavlína (Czech Republic)

Bertha (Denmark)

Arved, Arvi, Arvid (Estonia)

Arvi (Finland)

Aristide (France)

Aidan, Anja, Paulinus, Raimund (Germany)

Bella, Erika (Hungary)

Aristide (Italy)

Aigars, Aira, Labite, Vilma (Latvia)

Raimunda, Raimundas, Vilmantas, Vilmantė (Lithuania)

Berta, Berte (Norway)

Bohdan, Paulina, Rajmund, Rajmunda, Świętosław (Poland)

Nora (Slovakia)

Ramón (Spain)

Arvid, Vidar (Sweden)

Aden, Aidan, Aiden, Ayden, Edan, Edana, Eden, Edina, Egan, Egon (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 244 of 2024; 122 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of Week 35 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Muin (Vine) [Day 1 of 28]

Chinese: Month 7 (Ren-Shen), Day 28 (Ding-Mao)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 27 Av 5784

Islamic: 25 Safar 1446

J Cal: 4 Gold; Foursday [4 of 30]

Julian: 18 August 2024

Moon: 5%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 20 Gutenberg (9th Month) [Thilorier]

Runic Half Month: Rad (Motion) [Day 9 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 73 of 94)

Week: 1st Full Week of September

Zodiac: Virgo (Day 10 of 32)

Calendar Changes

Muin (Vine) [Celtic Tree Calendar; Month 9 of 13]

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 8.31

Holidays

African Traditional Medicine Day

Anniversary of the Withdrawal of the Last American Soldier (Afghanistan)

Baloch-Pakhtun Unity Day (Balochistan, Pakistan)

Cow Chip Tossing Day

Crop Dusting Day

Day of Solidarity and Freedom (Poland)

831 Day

Festal Day (Order of the Eastern Star)

Flag Day (India)

Franchise Appreciation Day

Hari Kebangsaan (Malaysia)

International Blog Day (a.k.a. International Day of Blogs and Bloggers)

International Day for People of African Descent (UN)

International Day of Obstetrics & Pregnancy

International Lawn Day

International Overdose Awareness Day

Jack the Ripper Day [Killed 1st Victim: Mary Ann Nichols; 1888]

Limba Noastra (Day of Our Language; Moldova)

Long-Haul Truck Driver (Russia)

Love Litigating Lawyers Day

Memorial Day for the Victims of Repression (Uzbekistan)

Merdeka Day (Malaysia)

National Asiatic Cheetah Day (Iran)

National Box Car Day

National Cinema Day (UK)

National Cowgirl Day

National Dan Day

National Day (Vietnam)

National Diatomaceous Earth Day

National HalfCut Day (Australia)

National Language Day (Moldova)

National Leslie Day

National Matchmaker Day

National South Carolina Day

National Zoo Awareness Day (UK)

Nature Day (Finland)

North Borneo Self-Government Day

Opioid Misuse Prevention Day

Overdose Awareness Day

Princess Diana Memorial Day

Rabbit Rabbit Day [Last Day of Every Month]

Romanian Language Day (Romania)

Sărbătoarea (a.k.a. Limba noastră; Language Day; Moldova)

Take a Seat Day

Tank Day (Lešany, Czech Republic)

Teacher’s Day (Singapore)

Walnut Day (French Republic)

We Love Memoirs Day

White Rose Day (Australia)

Withdrawal of the Last American Soldier Anniversary Day (Afghanistan)

World Distance Learning Day

World Sanskrit Day

World Solidarity Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Eat Outside Day

Grape Blessing Day (Armenia)

International Bacon Day [also 12.30]

Invent A New Sandwich Day

National Chourico Day

National Trail Mix Day

Vegetable Day (Japan)

Independence & Related Days

Befshire (Declared; 2016) [unrecognized]

Kyrgyzstan (from USSR, 1991)

Malaysia (from UK, 1957)

North Borneo (Self-Government Day; Sabah, Malaysia)

Surigao City Charter Day (Philippines)

Trinidad and Tobago (from UK, 1962)

5th & Last Saturday in August

International Bacon Day [Saturday before 1st Monday in September]

International Bat Night [Last Saturday]

International Cosplay Day [Last Saturday]

International Play Music on the Porch [Last Saturday]

Iroquois Indian Festival (Albany, NY) [Begins on Last Saturday]

Pony Express Day [Last Saturday]

Sandwich Saturday [Every Saturday]

Schemitzun begins (Green Corn Pow Wow; Mashantucket Pequot, Connecticut) [Last Saturday]

Six For Saturday [Every Saturday]

Spaghetti Saturday [Every Saturday]

Speak Kind Words Saturday [Saturday of Be Kind to Humankind Week]

World Day for the End of Speciesism [Last Saturday]

Weekly Holidays beginning August 31 (4th Full Week of August)

National Buffalo Chicken Wings Days (Buffalo, New York) [thru 9.1]

Festivals Beginning August 31, 2024

Amish Country Cheese Festival (Arthur, Illinois) [thru 9.3]

Apple Harvest Celebration (Willcox, Arizona) [thru 9.8]

BBQ & Craft Beer Festival (Monmouth Park, Oceanport, New Jersey) [thru 9.2]

Bloemencorso Eelde (Eelde, Netherlands) [thru 9.1]

Boothbay Harbor Tuna Challenge (Boothbay Harbor, Maine)

Bremerton Blackberry Festival (Bremerton, Washington) [thru 9.2]

Bumbershoot (Seattle, Washington) [thru 9.1]

Canadian International Air Show (Toronto, Canada) [thru 9.2]

Caribbean Food And Wine Festival (West Friendship, Maryland)

Connecticut Renaissance Faire (Lebanon, Connecticut) [thru 10.14]

Corn Maze (Middlefield, Connecticut) [thru 11.3]

Eastport Salmon and Seafood Festival (Eastport, Maine) [thru 9.1]

Food Truck Festival (Waterloo, Iowa)

Garlic Town U.S.A. (Bennington, Vermont)

Girdwood Fungus Fair (Girdwood, Alaska) [thru 9.1]

Harvest Wine Fest (Albuquerque & Las Cruces, New Mexico) [thru 9.2]

Hatch Chile Festival (Hatch, New Mexico) [thru 9.1]

John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival (High Point, North Carolina) [thru 9.1]

Kansas City Renaissance Festival (Bonner Springs, Kansas) [thru 10.14]

Keystone’s Oktoberfest (Keystone, Colorado)

King Richard’s Faire (Carver, Massachusetts) [thru 10.20]

Milan Melon Festival (Milan, Ohio) [thru 9.2]

National Buffalo Wing Festival (Buffalo, New York) [thru 9.1]

Ohio Renaissance Festival (Harveysburg, Ohio) [thru 10.27]

Okinawan Festival (Waikiki, Hawaii) [thru 9.1]

Renaissance Faire at Sleepy Hollow (Des Moines, Iowa) [thru 9.15]

Richmond County Fair (Staten Island, New York) [thru 9.2]

Romeo Peach Festival (Romeo, Michigan) [thru 9.2]

Seafood Festival & Craft Show (Westport, Washington)

Taste of Hamburg-er Festival (Hamburg, Pennsylvania)

Taste of Madison (Madison, Wisconsin) [thru 9.1]

Taylor Sweet Corn Festival (Taylor, Arizona)

West Cape May Tomato Festival (West Cape May, New Jersey)

West Jefferson Annual Ox Roast (West Jefferson, Ohio) [thru 9.2]

Wild Rice Day (McGregor, Minnesota)

World Championship BBQ Goat Cook-Off (Brady, Texas)

Feast Days

Aidan of Lindisfarne (Christian; Saint)

Alter Ego Day (Pastafarian)

Aristides of Athens (Christian; Saint)

Bryan Organ (Artology)

Cuthburh (Christian; Saint)

Dominguito del Val (Christian; Saint)

DuBose Heyward (Writerism)

Feast of Grapes (Ancient Minoa; Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Fourth Onam (Rice Harvest Festival, Day 4; Kerala, India)

Frey’s Blot (Pagan)

Gai Jatra (Cow Festival, in remembrance of people who died the previous year; Kathmandu Valley, Nepal)

G. Willow Wilson (Writerism)

Henry (Muppetism)

Isabel (Christian; Saint)

Joseph of Arimathea (Christian; Saint)

Jouffroy (Positivist; Saint)

Mária Balážová (Artology)

Nicodemus (Christian; Saint)

Paulinus of Trier (Christian; Saint)

Paul Reubens Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Raymond Nonnatus (Christian; Saint)

The Ritual Walk of the Eyos (Lagos; Everyday Wicca)

Roger Dean (Artology)

Wala of Corbie (Christian; Saint)

Waltheof, Earl of Northumbria (Christian; Saint)

William Saroyan (Writerism)

Yumiko Ōshima (Artology)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Lucky Day (Philippines) [48 of 71]

Premieres

All Or Nothing At All, recorded by Frank Sinatra (Song; 1939)

American Idiot, by Green Day (Song; 2004)

Andor (TV Series; 2022)

Bad, by Michael Jackson (Album; 1987)

The Big Sleep (Film; 1946)

Bolero (Film; 1984)

Bugsy and Mugsy (WB LT Cartoon; 1957)

The Commuter, by Philip K. Dick (Short Story; 1953)

The Constant Gardener (Film; 2005)

Document, by R.E.M. (Album; 1987)

Fly, by Dixie Chicks (Album; 1999)

Foundation and Earth, by Isaac Asimov (Novel; 1986) [Foundation #5]

Get Rich Quick (Disney Cartoon; 1951)

Goat’s Head Soup, by The Rolling Stones (Album; 1973)

The Great Gildersleeve (Radio Series; 1941)

Jack Ryan (TV Series; 2018)

Only Murders in the Building (TV Series; 2021)

Orient Express, by Graham Greene (a.k.a. Stamboul Train; Novel; 1932)

Pluto’s Judgement Day (Disney Cartoon; 1935)

The Psychology of Intelligence, by Jean Piaget (Science Book; 1947)

Radetzky March, by Johann Strauss (March; 1848)

Raising Demons, by Shirley Jackson (Memoir; 1957)

Solid Serenade (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1946)

Soul on Ice, by Eldridge Cleaver (Memoir & Essays; 1968)

The Threepenny Opera, by Bertolt Brecht (Play with Music; 1928)

Wildest Dreams, by Taylor Swift (Song; 2015)

The World According to Garp, by John Irving (Novel; 1978)

You Gotta Be a Football Hero (Fleischer Popeye Cartoon; 1935)

Today’s Name Days

Paulinus, Raimubd (Austria)

Josip, Nikodem, Optat, Paulina (Croatia)

Pavlína (Czech Republic)

Bertha (Denmark)

Arved, Arvi, Arvid (Estonia)

Arvi (Finland)

Aristide (France)

Aidan, Anja, Paulinus, Raimund (Germany)

Bella, Erika (Hungary)

Aristide (Italy)

Aigars, Aira, Labite, Vilma (Latvia)

Raimunda, Raimundas, Vilmantas, Vilmantė (Lithuania)

Berta, Berte (Norway)

Bohdan, Paulina, Rajmund, Rajmunda, Świętosław (Poland)

Nora (Slovakia)

Ramón (Spain)

Arvid, Vidar (Sweden)

Aden, Aidan, Aiden, Ayden, Edan, Edana, Eden, Edina, Egan, Egon (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 244 of 2024; 122 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of Week 35 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Muin (Vine) [Day 1 of 28]

Chinese: Month 7 (Ren-Shen), Day 28 (Ding-Mao)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 27 Av 5784

Islamic: 25 Safar 1446

J Cal: 4 Gold; Foursday [4 of 30]

Julian: 18 August 2024

Moon: 5%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 20 Gutenberg (9th Month) [Thilorier]

Runic Half Month: Rad (Motion) [Day 9 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 73 of 94)

Week: 1st Full Week of September

Zodiac: Virgo (Day 10 of 32)

Calendar Changes

Muin (Vine) [Celtic Tree Calendar; Month 9 of 13]

[defrehncorp]

Matchmaking in Baltimore Maryland (MD): Resource Guide for 2020

Contemplating internet dating in Baltimore, Maryland? Baltimore houses several of The usa’s most critical ancient attractions including Mount Vernon and Jonestown. You can explore the internal Harbor, the home of quite a few tall sailing ships, or find an Orioles online game at Camden Yards. Baltimore boasts a median age only over 39, when you are looking at dating in Baltimore you’re looking at…

[moohnshinescorner]

BLOG TOUR/ HER UNEXPECTED MATCH

Book details:

Her Unexpected Match

by Lacey Baker

Published by: Entangled: Amara

Publication date: February 21st 2023

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

Travel writer Allie Sparks has one goal: to find the story that will save her career. So here she is, visiting her bestie on picturesque Crescent Island—with sun-warmed beaches, the briny smell of the ocean, and rumors of a secret astrologer-matchmaker who guarantees love. Of course, Allie doesn’t believe in any of that stuff. If anything, she’ll prove it’s a total scam.

Ryan Parker believes in love—just not right now. He’s focused on expanding his family’s barbeque business, finding investors, and keeping his too-big Great Dane puppy from jumping on everyone, including his sister’s pretty, whiskey-eyed best friend. Besides, falling for a tourist is definitely not in his astrological forecast.

Allie is doing everything she can to resist the charm of the town and its beauty, not to mention her attraction to Ryan. But there’s a lot more happening on Crescent Island than anyone knows…and when her story goes to print, this tiny, close-knit town might never be the same.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61052978-her-unexpected-match

Purchase:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Y5rhC9

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/her-unexpected-match-lacey-baker/1141449025?ean=9781649373502

iBooks: https://books.apple.com/ca/book/her-unexpected-match/id1623195777

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/her-unexpected-match

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=SJduEAAAQBAJ

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️REVIEW

Wow! What a fun and amazing read!!! Her Unexpected Match is full of love and sweet fun. I loved the characters and their historical stories and preservation. The story and the characters in it are relatable and touch your soul.

Our lead character Allie, is beautiful and sweet, yet she is missing something from her life. She is a travel blogger, yet she never gives a 100% positive review on any place she travels. At first this works fine, but her boss has drew the line in the sand. Write a more positive review or find a new job. With her job on the line she winds up on Crescent Island. Positive. She must make this trip a positive piece for her blog. But is that something she can do?

Allie has severe self esteem issues. Her parents were no help in that department. She really overcomes a lot of her struggles throughout this book and these are no easy tasks. But the people of Crescent Island show a side of life that Allie had lost sight of.

There were many emotions playing throughout the book. Sometimes you laughed and sometimes you cried. But one thing is for certain, you will experience soul inspiring all encompassing love. This book is a page turner of emotions and the author did an excellent job laying out all the ground work. She created an amazing cast of character to go with her story. She leaves bread crumbs through out and still you will not guess the true nature of the Islands history till the very end.

So bravo I say. Ms. Baker you did an excellent job creating a beautiful and Hallmark worthy masterpiece. I congratulate you on a job well done. I would also recommend this book to anyone who loves a good soul searching story.

AUTHOR BIO:

Lacey Baker, a Maryland native, lives with her husband, three children, two grandchildren and English Bulldog in what most would call Suburban America–a townhouse development where everybody knows each other and each other’s kids. Family cook-outs, reunion vacations, and growing up in church have all inspired Lacey to work towards her dreams and to write about the endurance of family and the quest to find everlasting love. To date she has written in several genres including small town romance, YA paranormal (as Artist Arthur), a cozy mystery series titled Rumors and adult paranormal (as A.C. Arthur).

Author links:

https://acarthur.com/

https://www.instagram.com/acarthurbooks/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6458381.Lacey_Baker

https://www.facebook.com/acarthurbooks

https://twitter.com/laceybakerbook

Xpresso Book Tours

[travelerblogs]

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[is-the-primate-vid-cute]

Ive always been kind of curious, for social primates in captivity, how do they go about introducing a new member when/if necessary? Does the steps change when introducing a baby compared to an adult?

Great question! It depends on the species, but by and large there tends to be a multi stage process which slowly familiarizes the primates to their new family member. You know how when you bring a new cat home and you keep it in your bedroom for a while and let your old cat get used to knowing it's there, and they smell each other through the door? It's kind of like that just on a larger, more complex scale. (And the newcomer quarantines first if they are coming from elsewhere).

The first thing that is usually done when introducing a new primate is that compatibility is predicted by the staff who are familiar with the primates in question. Got a chill, older gibbon who lost their mate a few months ago? May be a good contender for introducing a new older gibbon to. This process gets more complicated the larger the groups are as well. Gibbons live in family groups (couple + offspring) so the staff plays matchmaker with not very many variables. Chimpanzees live in larger social groups and tend to be territorial and aggressive, so this is where things get interesting. A great example is the first few episodes of Meet the Chimps, where the process of integrating a new arrival into an existing social group is documented. In this case, they were trying to integrate new arrival Midge into the existing group: the oddballs, named for their mishmash of different characters, many of which in chimp terms are socially awkward.

Considering how hierarchical chimpanzees are, Midge was first introduced to low ranking and extremely friendly Marie, mid ranking loner Barbara, and the alpha's fairly chill best friend Henry. The introductions were done in a large enclosure with sliding doors between each area, to make it so the chimps would be meeting in circumstances that would minimize them feeling threatened. By putting 3 chimps of various ranks, all of whom were predicted to be accepting of a newcomer in with Midge, they could slowly start to picture Midge in the larger group. The second round of introductions was similar in that a few low rankers, a mid ranker or two, and the alpha Donovan were added to the mix. Because several of the chimps already accepted Midge, the others already felt more comfortable around him. This became Midge's new family! If you want to see what an adult/adult first meeting looks like, heres a video from Save the Chimps

It is indeed different when the newcomer is new to everything: baby primates! When a baby primate is orphaned or rejected by its mother, the first thing that happens is that the staff steps in to take care of the baby. Regardless of how nurturing an adoptive parent of the same species may be, being hand reared for a short while ensures that when the baby gets placed it won't be as vulnerable. Just like adult introductions, aptitude is taken into account when planning to give the baby to new parents. Primates that are especially nurturing, act out child rearing behaviour with toys, and who have successfully raised babies before are given strong consideration. From there the process is showing the baby to the adult through a barrier to start with, acclimating them to each others presence, and eventually allowing them to spend short periods of time together. If all goes well, the adult should accept the baby and take care of it, allowing the staff to step back. Heres a video from the Maryland Zoo of a baby chimpanzee being introduced to her new family, and a video of a baby chimpanzee with her adoptive parents at Save the Chimps-- you can see how you wouldn't even know they weren't biologically related!

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Faith Mate Finder matchmaking boutique has a unique business model from what you see in the industry. What sets us apart from your typical online dating service is our service offerings and the quality of our connections.

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BEA ARTHUR

May 13, 1922

Bea Arthur was born Bernice Frankel in Brooklyn, New York, to an Austrian mother and a Polish father. She was raised in a Jewish home with older sister Gertrude and younger sister Marian. In 1933, the Frankel family relocated to Cambridge, Maryland. During World War II, Arthur enlisted as one of the first members of the US Marine Corps Women's Reserve in 1943 working as a typist and a driver. She was honorably discharged in September 1945.

She initially studied to become a medical technician but left in 1947 to study drama in New York City. That same year, she married fellow Marine Robert Alan Aurthur. They divorced three years later, but she kept his surname with the spelling adjusted to "Arthur."

Arthur began her acting career as a member of an off-Broadway theater group at the Cherry Lane Theatre in New York City in the late 1940s. On stage, her roles included Lucy Brown in the 1954 Off-Broadway premiere of The Threepenny Opera and Yente the Matchmaker in the 1964 premiere of Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway.  

On May 1, 1951 she made her television debut in “Once Upon a Tune”, an anthology series presenting short musicals for the Dumont Network.  Her episode was titled “Gone With The West”.  

Although she dabbled in television, her heart still remained on Broadway, where she also created the role of Vera Charles opposite Angela Lansbury’s Mame in the 1964 Broadway musical by Jerry Herman. 

Her big break on television was playing Edith Bunker’s liberal cousin, Maude Findlay on “All in the Family” in December 1971. After one more episode of the popular topical sitcom, the character was spun off into its own series: “Maude”, which ran from 1972 to 1978 (141 episodes).  Like “All in the Family,” “Maude” tackled topical issues like alcoholism, mental instability, and abortion.  Maude was an indominable force of nature, much like Bea Arthur herself.  The role won her an Emmy in 1977. 

In a November 1973 newspaper interview with Cecil Smith Lucille Ball claimed “Maude” was one of her favorite things to watch on television. 

Halfway through her run on “Maude”, she was tapped to recreate her role as Vera Charles in the much-delayed film version of Mame starring Lucille Ball.  Gene Saks, who had directed the stage version, was also directing the film, and just happened to be married to Bea Arthur at the time.  It was an opportunity to preserve her Tony Award-winning role on film, an opportunity she was not offered with the 1971 film version of Fiddler on the Roof  where her role was played by Molly Picon. 

In connection with promoting Mame, Lucy and Bea were interviewed (separately) by Merv Griffin on March 24, 1974. 

Although both later defected to the Peacock Network, both Lucy and Bea were then best known for their work on CBS.  The network celebrated their 50 years on the air with a week-long series of program. Monday, March 27, 1978 was dedicated to comedy with “Have a Laugh on Us” led by Lucille Ball, George Burns, Arthur Godfrey, and Bea Arthur.

The night featured Lucy and Bea in a vaudeville song and dance that morphed into an elegant Ziegfeld number where they naturally end up....

with a pie in the face!   

In 1981, Lucille Ball and Bea Arthur were presenters (separately), at the 33rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.  Lucille also received a special plaque of recognition from the Academy presented by Shirley MacLaine.  They were also both presenters at the 38th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in 1986, at which Arthur was a nominee for playing Dorothy on "The Golden Girls”.  Although the show won, she lost to her castmate (and Lucy’s friend) Betty White. 

In 1982, Lucy and Bea (plus Liz Taylor) were part of “Bob Hope’s Women I Love: Beautiful and Funny” on NBC. 

In 1983 Bea Arthur  attempted to step into the shoes of the similarly tall John Cleese in an American remake of “Fawlty Towers” named “Amanda’s Place” (aka “Amanda’s). It lasted only thirteen episodes. 

In March 1983, when Lucille Ball was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame, Bea Arthur was there to sing the praises of Lucy’s fellow inductee, Norman Lear, who produced both “All in the Family” and “Maude”.  

In December 1984, she was there for the “All-Star Party for Lucille Ball”. Arthur was also in attendance for the “All-Star Party for Clint Eastwood” in 1986, where Ball served as Hostess as a past honoree.

While it was hard to believe that she might get a role that would equal Maude, lightning struck again in 1985 when she was cast as Dorothy Zbornak in “The Golden Girls”, which ran until 1992 (179) episodes, and inspired a spin-off called “Golden Palace.”  Although she declined to be regular cast member, she did make an appearance on a two-part episode. The role won her an Emmy in 1988.  The popularity of “The Golden Girls” was the yardstick by which Lucille Ball’s failed sitcom “Life With Lucy” was judged, and found lacking. The two shows were on rival networks. 

When Lucille Ball was celebrated at “The Kennedy Center Honors” in December 1986, Valerie Harper (“Rhoda”), Beatrice Arthur (“The Golden Girls”), and Pam Dawber (“Mork and Mindy”) sang a song parody of the “I Love Lucy” theme expressing their affection for Lucy. The medley continues with the title song from Mame now extolling Lucy. It ends with a specially-tailored “Hey Look Me Over” from Wildcat.

Bea and Ball were on the same (sound) stage for one final time with “Happy 100th Birthday Hollywood!” on May 18, 1987.  

Her final screen appearance was playing Larry’s mother on “Curb Your Enthusiasm” in December 2005. 

She died on April 25, 2009 at age 86.  

[myallison0234]

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garden-ghoul replied to your post:garden-ghoul replied to your post “GOGOL tell me...

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The history of Helloween Halloween-  is a annual holiday celebrated each year on October It originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints; soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, donning costumes and eating sweet treats. Ancient Origins of Halloween Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31 they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter. To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities. During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other’s fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter. Did you know? One quarter of all the candy sold annually in the U.S. is purchased for Halloween. By 43 A.D., the Roman Empire had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. In the course of the four hundred years that they ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain. The first was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple, and the incorporation of this celebration into Samhain probably explains the tradition of “bobbing” for apples that is practiced today on Halloween. All Saints Day On May 13, 609 A.D., Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon in Rome in honor of all Christian martyrs, and the Catholic feast of All Martyrs Day was established in the Western church. Pope Gregory III later expanded the festival to include all saints as well as all martyrs, and moved the observance from May 13 to November 1. By the 9th century the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands, where it gradually blended with and supplanted the older Celtic rites. In 1000 A.D., the church would make November 2 All Souls’ Day, a day to honor the dead. It’s widely believed today that the church was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related church-sanctioned holiday. All Souls Day was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels and devils. The All Saints Day celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmessemeaning All Saints’ Day) and the night before it, the traditional night of Samhain in the Celtic religion, began to be called All-Hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. Halloween Comes to America Celebration of Halloween was extremely limited in colonial New England because of the rigid Protestant belief systems there. Halloween was much more common in Maryland and the southern colonies. As the beliefs and customs of different European ethnic groups as well as the American Indians meshed, a distinctly American version of Halloween began to emerge. The first celebrations included “play parties,” public events held to celebrate the harvest, where neighbors would share stories of the dead, tell each other’s fortunes, dance and sing. Colonial Halloween festivities also featured the telling of ghost stories and mischief-making of all kinds. By the middle of the nineteenth century, annual autumn festivities were common, but Halloween was not yet celebrated everywhere in the country. In the second half of the nineteenth century, America was flooded with new immigrants. These new immigrants, especially the millions of Irish fleeing the Irish Potato Famine, helped to popularize the celebration of Halloween nationally. Trick-or-Treat Borrowing from Irish and English traditions, Americans began to dress up in costumes and go house to house asking for food or money, a practice that eventually became today’s “trick-or-treat” tradition. Young women believed that on Halloween they could divine the name or appearance of their future husband by doing tricks with yarn, apple parings or mirrors. In the late 1800s, there was a move in America to mold Halloween into a holiday more about community and neighborly get-togethers than about ghosts, pranks and witchcraft. At the turn of the century, Halloween parties for both children and adults became the most common way to celebrate the day. Parties focused on games, foods of the season and festive costumes. Parents were encouraged by newspapers and community leaders to take anything “frightening” or “grotesque” out of Halloween celebrations. Because of these efforts, Halloween lost most of its superstitious and religious overtones by the beginning of the twentieth century Halloween Parties By the 1920s and 1930s, Halloween had become a secular, but community-centered holiday, with parades and town-wide Halloween parties as the featured entertainment. Despite the best efforts of many schools and communities, vandalism began to plague some celebrations in many communities during this time. By the 1950s, town leaders had successfully limited vandalism and Halloween had evolved into a holiday directed mainly at the young. Due to the high numbers of young children during the fifties baby boom, parties moved from town civic centers into the classroom or home, where they could be more easily accommodated. Between 1920 and 1950, the centuries-old practice of trick-or-treating was also revived. Trick-or-treating was a relatively inexpensive way for an entire community to share the Halloween celebration. In theory, families could also prevent tricks being played on them by providing the neighborhood children with small treats. Thus, a new American tradition was born, and it has continued to grow. Today, Americans spend an estimated $6 billion annually on Halloween, making it the country’s second largest commercial holiday after Christmas. Soul Cakes The American Halloween tradition of “trick-or-treating” probably dates back to the early All Souls’ Day parades in England. During the festivities, poor citizens would beg for food and families would give them pastries called “soul cakes” in return for their promise to pray for the family’s dead relatives. The distribution of soul cakes was encouraged by the church as a way to replace the ancient practice of leaving food and wine for roaming spirits. The practice, which was referred to as “going a-souling” was eventually taken up by children who would visit the houses in their neighborhood and be given ale, food and money. The tradition of dressing in costume for Halloween has both European and Celtic roots. Hundreds of years ago, winter was an uncertain and frightening time. Food supplies often ran low and, for the many people afraid of the dark, the short days of winter were full of constant worry. On Halloween, when it was believed that ghosts came back to the earthly world, people thought that they would encounter ghosts if they left their homes. To avoid being recognized by these ghosts, people would wear masks when they left their homes after dark so that the ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits. On Halloween, to keep ghosts away from their houses, people would place bowls of food outside their homes to appease the ghosts and prevent them from attempting to enter. Black Cats Halloween has always been a holiday filled with mystery, magic and superstition. It began as a Celtic end-of-summer festival during which people felt especially close to deceased relatives and friends. For these friendly spirits, they set places at the dinner table, left treats on doorsteps and along the side of the road and lit candles to help loved ones find their way back to the spirit world. Today’s Halloween ghosts are often depicted as more fearsome and malevolent, and our customs and superstitions are scarier too. We avoid crossing paths with black cats, afraid that they might bring us bad luck. This idea has its roots in the Middle Ages, when many people believed that witches avoided detection by turning themselves into black cats. We try not to walk under ladders for the same reason. This superstition may have come from the ancient Egyptians, who believed that triangles were sacred (it also may have something to do with the fact that walking under a leaning ladder tends to be fairly unsafe). And around Halloween, especially, we try to avoid breaking mirrors, stepping on cracks in the road or spilling salt. Halloween Matchmaking But what about the Halloween traditions and beliefs that today’s trick-or-treaters have forgotten all about? Many of these obsolete rituals focused on the future instead of the past and the living instead of the dead. In particular, many had to do with helping young women identify their future husbands and reassuring them that they would someday—with luck, by next Halloween—be married. In 18th-century Ireland, a matchmaking cook might bury a ring in her mashed potatoes on Halloween night, hoping to bring true love to the diner who found it. In Scotland, fortune-tellers recommended that an eligible young woman name a hazelnut for each of her suitors and then toss the nuts into the fireplace. The nut that burned to ashes rather than popping or exploding, the story went, represented the girl’s future husband. (In some versions of this legend, the opposite was true: The nut that burned away symbolized a love that would not last.) Another tale had it that if a young woman ate a sugary concoction made out of walnuts, hazelnuts and nutmeg before bed on Halloween night she would dream about her future husband. Young women tossed apple-peels over their shoulders, hoping that the peels would fall on the floor in the shape of their future husbands’ initials; tried to learn about their futures by peering at egg yolks floating in a bowl of water; and stood in front of mirrors in darkened rooms, holding candles and looking over their shoulders for their husbands’ faces. Other rituals were more competitive. At some Halloween parties, the first guest to find a burr on a chestnut-hunt would be the first to marry; at others, the first successful apple-bobber would be the first down the aisle. Of course, whether we’re asking for romantic advice or trying to avoid seven years of bad luck, each one of these Halloween superstitions relies on the goodwill of the very same “spirits” whose presence the early Celts felt so keenly.