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let-me-luve-you · 2 years ago

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Unqualified

Part 1 of the Road to the World Cup Series

Christian Pulisic x Reader (female)

Summary: As Christian's high school sweetheart, the reader watches on as the US tries to qualify for the World Cup. After the game, the reader tells Christian some surprising news.

Warnings: Flangst, mentions of sex, pregnancy

Word Count: 1836

A/N: I've had this idea for a while. I finally got in the mood to write again. Currently writing part 2. I've got 4 parts planned for this series. Hope you all enjoy!

MASTERLIST

CHRISTIAN MASTERLIST

BUY ME A COFFEE

It was simple. A win and you’re in. A tie and you put your fate into the other countries hands. Lose and you're out. Dressed proudly in her #10 US kit, Y/N sat in between her boyfriend’s (of 4 years) parents. The last four days had been a whirlwind. She was sick before traveling to Orlando for the Panama match. So sick she missed her first flight and caught one that allowed her to get to the game just in time for kickoff. Even though she still wasn’t 100%, she wouldn’t miss these games for anything.

She loved watching Christian play. She’s either been at or watched every match since they met when they were 14. They started dating when they were 15. When Christian moved to Germany at 16, they considered breaking up to not hold each other back, but that idea was quickly turned down. Figured they would try. Succeeding for two years at distance, she moved to Dortmund to be with him. Her parents weren’t happy with the decision because of college, but she is taking online classes to get a degree in marketing. Online gave her the freedom of travel when she wanted to go with Christian.

Now at 19, she watched as the second half began for the final game of World Cup qualifying. The US was down 0 to 2 but she saw the way Christian looked when he walked back onto the pitch. His determination and focus was the only thing you could read on his face.

She watched on as the US headed toward goal. Y/N quickly grabbed onto Kelley’s arm as Jorge Villafana attempted a shot but was immediately blocked by Alvin Jones. Villafana was able to get the ball back and pass it to an open Christian at the top of the box. Christian takes a touch that pushes him a few feet closer to the goal before just striking it into the back of the net. Y/N stood up fast and yelled. She started feeling lightheaded so she turned and hugged Kelley and then Mark to not let them catch on to how she was feeling. They continued to celebrate as the US boys grabbed the ball to try and get another goal and keep the play moving.

As the second half continued, Y/N watched on as the boys tried everything in their power to score a second goal, but ultimately, when the final whistle rang, it wasn’t the US on top of the scoreboard. Y/N stayed sitting as Mark stood up. Kelley wrapped her arm around the young girl that stole her son’s heart. She watched as Y/N fought tears. Kelley could tell she was trying to keep it together, for when she saw Christian.

Y/N was doing a somewhat decent job at keeping her tears at bay until she watched Christian drop into a squat with his head in his jersey. Kelley squeezed her closer to her as she tried to comfort her. She too had tears in her eyes. She was sad for her son. She knew how hard he was working to achieve his dreams and goals. She was also sad for the young girl in her arms because she knew how much she supported her son and was there for him when she or Mark couldn’t. She knew Y/N wanted it for Christian just as much as he wanted it.

Watching the team make their way into the locker room, the Pulisic’s and Y/N thought it would be a good time to make their way down into the family area. Once they made it to the hallway outside the locker room, Y/N sat down on a chair that was near. Mark put his hand on her shoulder and sadly smiled at her. She gave him one back before staring at the door. One by one, players started making their way out. They stopped at their family or made their way to the team bus.

Christian was the last one to come out. Y/N quickly stood up as she saw him look opposite of his family before turning and looking right at her. He quickly walked over and wrapped her in a tight hug. He dug his face into her neck. She felt a few tears leave his eyes and wet her skin.

“I know it sucks right now, but I am so proud of you.” She whispered into his ear.

“It’s my fault. I could’ve done more.” Christian said so quietly she almost didn’t hear him.

“You did your job. You stepped up when needed. This was not your fault.” She ran her hand over his short hair as she squeezed him tighter. Kelley and Mark watched on at their son and they hoped, their future daughter in law.

“I love you Christian Mate.” She said as she kissed his neck. “I will always love you and be proud of you. Now go hug your parents and I will give you all the cuddles tonight.” She whispered the last part for only him to hear. Christian pulled back and leaned his forehead on hers.

“I don’t deserve you.” He whispered before giving her a small kiss and pulling away. He quickly turned to his mom for comfort. Y/N watched on as she watched her boyfriend get the same words from his parents that she just spoke to him.

“Yo Christian! Time to go.” She heard one of his teammates yell.

“I’m coming!” Christian yelled back. He came back to Y/N and gave you another slow, soft kiss. “I’ll see you here in a little bit.”

After getting into the rental the Pulisics rented, they quickly drove her to the team hotel to meet back up with Christian.

“Y/N, you okay dear?” Kelley asked.

“I’m good. Just bummed for Chris.” Y/N sighed.

“Oh sweetie. He’ll be okay.” She turned and smiled at her.

“You are doing everything right Y/N. You are there for him. We couldn’t ask for anyone better for our son to date.” Mark said. She smiled at him with a blush. As they pulled up to the hotel, Y/N smiled at both parents and thanked them for the ride.

“We are going to come visit you both in a few weeks for Thanksgiving.” Kelley said.

“I can’t wait. Have fun on your trip to the Bahamas.” She smiled as they thanked her and drove off.

Y/N walked into the lobby and sat on the couch as she waited for the team bus to arrive. What Y/N didn’t know was that Christian and her were going to quickly grab their stuff and get on a private plane back to Germany. Normally, Christian wouldn’t pay for that, but after that loss, he wanted to get away from people as fast as possible.

“Hi Y/N.” She looked up and saw Paul Arriola and Clint Dempsey walking in. She smiled and waved at them before they kept walking to the elevator. When Christian walked in, she quickly stood up and met him with an open hand. He was quick to intertwine his fingers with hers. He dragged her to the elevators.

“Bags are packed right?” He asked her once alone in the moving object.

“Yes. Why?” She asked, giving his hand a squeeze.

“Gerald got us a private plane. We fly to Portugal tonight. We will fill up with gas and then make the rest of the flight to Dortmund.” He said. She nodded at him. Christian quickly packed the rest of his stuff before grabbing most of the bags and heading out of the room with Y/N hot on his trail.

Part way through the flight, Y/N was cuddled up to Christian on the pullout couch. Neither speaking and neither sleeping. Christian squeezed her closer to him and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

“How you feeling? I forgot to ask earlier.” He said softly.

“I’m better. I still have my moments.” She said before sitting up. “Actually, I have something to tell you.” Christian sat up as well. “I don’t know how to say this.”

“You can tell me. It’s okay.” He said, grabbing her hand for support.

“I’m pregnant.” Y/N said. She looked down but then quickly looked up to see a shocked Christian.

“What?” He asked in disbelief.

“I’m pregnant. I’m 13 weeks as of Saturday.” She said. “I did the math, we brought home a souvenir from vacation.”

“Wow. Okay.” Christian rubbed his hand down his face. Still in shock at the news. “When did you find out?”

“The day before I flew into Orlando. I went to the doctor to get some medicine to help settle my stomach. They ran some tests and asked if there was a chance of me being pregnant. I mean, I couldn’t say no. It’s like we’ve been in the honeymoon stage lately.” She giggled as Christian gave a small laugh and a nod of his head.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“I didn’t want to distract you from these games. I just wanted you to focus on soccer, not how we are going to be parents at 19.” She said sincerely. “Are you okay with this? I know it’s a lot to take in and I’ve had time to let it sink in, but how are you with this?”

“I uh… I don’t know.” He said honestly. “I’m not going to leave you. You are right about the thoughts of ‘how are we going to be parents at 19?’ have gone through my head.”

“We can do this.” She smiled.

“We can.” Christian smiled before leaning forward and capturing her lips, deepening it as they went along. “I’m terrified, but I’m glad it’s with you. I love you so much Y/N/N. You are going to be a fantastic mother.”

“And you will be an amazing father.” She kissed him slower this time before pulling away. “Can we wait a bit before we tell our families? I want to tell them, but I want this to stay between us for as long as possible, because the world will find out when I show up looking like a whale in black and yellow stripes.”

“But you’ll be my beautiful whale in black and yellow stripes.” He laughed as she slapped him on the chest. Christian pulled her closer and laid down with her on top of him. “We can wait as long as you want before we tell people.”

“Thank you. I know this is scary, but I’m glad I’m on this journey with you.” Y/N pushed his hair back as she ran her hand through it. As she straddled his lap, she leaned down and kissed him. Christian pulled back.

“Here’s to our next journey in our relationship.” He smiled before kissing her. Quickly deepening the kiss and rolling her over onto her back. “Now let’s join the mile high club to celebrate.”

#christian pulisic #christian pulisic x reader #christian pulisic imagine #christian pulisic one shot #christian pulisic fanfic #christian pulisic rpf #dad!christian pulisic #dad!christian pulisic x reader #soccer imagines #soccer fic

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gamergirl929 · 4 years ago

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I Object (Alex Morgan x Reader)

Anonymous Request: can u do one where alex leaves servando at the altar because r came for her & objected?

“GET BACK HERE!” The taxi driver yells as you slip out of the backseat, leaping over the fence around the ranch before racing across the bright green grass.

“I’LL PAY YOU BACK LATER!”

Your feet drummed against the pavement as you ran down the paved.

Your day had been crazy, crazy because you were currently late to your best friend’s wedding, and it was about to get crazier.

You round the corner, sprinting onto the beautiful green grass that surrounded the massive ranch.

“Come on damn it.” You growl at your legs, running fast straight towards the beach, sprinting past workers and a wide array of people, but you couldn’t careless, because right now, you were late to your best friend’s wedding and you were about to do something absolutely crazy.

�� ***

Alex smiles across the altar from Servando, the man grinning charmingly, a grin that should’ve made her heart skip a beat, but she quickly realized it didn’t, and never would.

She glances around, teammates dressed to the nines for her wedding, but there was one missing team member, her bride’s maid and best friend, Y/N Y/L/N.

Alex’s vows had been sparse compared to Servando’s the man laying his hand on the table, each and every card and hearts whereas Alex’s were nothing but 7’s...

Your jersey number.

Kelley stands beside Alex, her brown orbs worriedly scanning the crowd in search of you. She knew what you had planned, well didn’t really know, but suspected and by the way her other teammates were searching wildly for you, she knew they expect the same thing.

Kelley bites her bottom lip when she spots you making a beeline towards the ceremony, your cheeks blood red and tailored suit covered in sweat.

"I’m certain that I don’t have to say this...” The preacher chuckles. “But formalities and all, have to stay with the traditions these days.” He chuckles, earning a laugh from the crowd.

“If anyone can show just cause why this couple cannot lawfully be joined together in matrimony, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.”

It’s then Alex sees you, a smile stretching across her face, you’d nearly stalled to revel in her beauty, but then you realized you were about ruin her wedding and decided against it.

“I... I... I object.” You pant heavily, everyone turning to you as you cough, clutching your chest as you try to breathe.

Megan spits out her drink when you grab a random wedding guests drink and throw it back, grimacing, giving your head a shake when you realize it’s alcohol.

“Alex...” You shake your head, moving towards her, your legs feeling like literal jelly as you move towards the engaged couple and the preacher who is watching with wide eyes, along with the bride’s maids and best men, except for Kelley O’Hara of course who is grinning like she won the World Cup on her own.

“I can’t let you...” You gasp, stumbling, Alex moving towards you to keep you from falling.

“Y/N, you’re burning up.” She whisper, surprising you when she shoves your suit jacket off.

You shake your head, catching her hands.

“I can’t le-let you marry him Al...” You cough, the woman’s blue orbs wide, her heart swelling in her chest.

“Not when...” You shake your head, your vision darkening, the beautiful woman in the white wedding dress before you disappearing.

“Not when I love you.” You slur before falling forwards, the bride catching you as you fall before sinking to the ground, your head in her lap.

The remainder of the USWNT, retired and alike are absolutely giddy, considering they ALL knew how you felt about Alex.

Alex’s blue orbs shine, her lips splitting into a grin as a tear slides down her cheek.

***

You gasp at the feel of something cold being thrown in your face, your eyes slammed shut.

“Well, that inadvertently worked out...” You hear Ashlyn mumble under her breath, a woman’s angry voice getting softer as they, you guess, leave the room.

“There she is.” You hear a familiar voice and cough, sitting up, your hands on your head.

“Kel?” You rasp tiredly, trying to sit up, but a hand on your chest stops you.

“Don’t move, drink this.” You hear Christen’s soft voice and you hum, eagerly throwing back the bottle of water until it’s empty.

“What the hell happened?” You sigh, eyes still slammed shut as your body tries to lull you back to sleep.

“Well, you ran away from your cabby without paying, ran over a mile in 100 degree weather and stopped Alex’s wedding.” Kelley shrugs and her teammates turn to her, eyes wide.

You leap to your feet, your eyes flashing open, your sunny surroundings making your head ache and sweat run down your brow.

“Wh- What?” You stumble, almost immediately being caught by a pair of familiar, strong arms.

“Second time I’ve caught you today.”

Alex’s voice makes you still, your body tense, which only makes your muscles cramp worse.

“Come on, you need to lie back down.”

Your eyelids flutter, the sight of the woman in a stunning white wedding dress making your heart skip a beat.

“Jesus Christ, you’re beautiful... Nooooo! Stunning...” You whisper, Alex’s cheek flushing as she guides you back into the seat you’d been sitting in when you woke up.

“Sit down Romeo, you just had a heat stroke.” Tobin tousles your hair and you pout.

“Wait...” Your brows furrow as you glance around the room, realizing that it’s literally packed with your teammates.

“Who the fuck threw water in my face?” You ask and Julie snickers, slapping a hand over her mouth when Alyssa nudges her.

“That would’ve been Servando’s mother...” Alex winces and you swallow hard, your tired eyes widening.

“Oh...” You murmur, looking down at your lap.

You’d just ruined her son’s wedding, ruined Alex’s wedding, broke his heart because you selfishly waited until the last minute to tell her how you felt.

Alex nods at the door to the others and Kelley puts her hands up, nodding.

Silently the entire team somehow sneaks out of the room, completely unnoticed by you as your mind races.

You do eventually pick up your head, realizing you’re in the room alone with Alex, the woman smiling at you softly.

“Al...” You lick your lips nervously. “Look, I know today was your and Servando’s day and I ruined it for you.”

“Y/N.”

You shake your head.

“Alex, I know, I fucked up and I should’ve told you before and now I’ve ruined your day and Servando’s mother threw water on me because I deserved it for hurting him and-

You gasp, your rambling cut short by a pair of the softest lips you’ve ever felt, a pair of lips belonging to Alex Morgan.

Your entire body shudders, the feel of her lips against yours making your heart race.

Alex is in a similar state, cupping your cheeks, fingers tangling in your Y/H/C hair as she changes the angle of the kiss.

The two of you eventually part, your eyes still closed as your foreheads rest together.

Alex Morgan’s eyes however are opened, the woman’s sparkling blue orbs darting around your face.

Meanwhile out in the hall, an entire team is silently celebrating, happy that the two of you’d finally confessed your feelings for one another.

Alex leans back in, bumping her nose against yours her lips splitting into a dazzling grin.

Your eyes, albeit, slowly, flutter open, your Y/E/C orbs widening when you see Alex’s bright smile and glassy blue orbs.

“I...” She swallows hard, licking her lips before she again grins.

“I love you too.”

Your eyes widen, a tear suddenly streaking down your cheek as you lean back in, your lips meeting Alex’s in a passionate kiss.

Yes, you’d wished you’d handled the situation differently, but now... Now, Alex Morgan was yours, and you couldn’t be any happier that you objected on that day in December.

#uswnt #uswnt x reader #alex morgan #alex morgan x reader #alex morgan imagines

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calliecat93 · 4 years ago

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Star Trek 2009... so... very mixed.

Let’s do the good first. The cinematography is really good. It FEELS like a futuristic time period moreso than TOS, but tbf the films have the advantage of being closer to modern day and being able to match the evolved times. Still, it’s very much a movie that wanted to look good and did. The acting for most pf the cast was good and I don’t have an issue with any of the reboot cast. No Chris Pine isn’t Shatner (and that’s a good thing) nor is Zachary Quinto Leonard Nimoy. But they and the others did their jobs well and I’m glad they all did their own thing and not just copy their predecessors. Simon Pegg as Scotty I really enjoyed amd I like his new friend XD And while I’m... mixed about the direction taken if only because it makes me sad, Leonard Nimoy returning as the Spock we’ve known or so long was lovely, especially when he and Quinto!Spock meet.

Some moments were good. I actually almost teared up when Kirk’s dad died because the actors just put so much emotion into it. I can’t say that there was no effort put into this. They tried to add emotion and meaning and depth. They tried to give Kirk and Spock (and yes, Bones being even MORE of a third wheel than normal REALLY pisses me off) depth and connect the audiences to them and form that connection with each other that we’re so familiar with. I respect that. I respect the effort. I’ve seen reboots that don’t give a damn, but it didn’t feel that way to me here especially with Nimoy!Spock showing that this may be different, but the original very much still exists.

That being said... I have some big issues, especially with Kirk. This is NOT James Tibirius Kirk. This is the pop culture depiction of Kirk that the filmmakers decided was better to go with than the actual character. And no, this being an alternate timeline and him being younger than in canon is NOT a valid excuse. I got told that the death of Kirk’s dad changed the course of history... but I fail to understand how THAT caused Kirk to be an arrogant, cocky, reckless idiot. Might be because his parents NEVER came up in the show so how can any TOS fans get that point if the show never went into it? I know I joke about Kirk doing something dumb, but TOS!Kirk was a perfectly smart, optimistic, level-headed individual who yeah WOULD go against Starfleet at times, but usually did so with good reason. Hell didn’t TOS say that he was overly serious int he academy amd lightened up as he got older? How did the timeline changes change that? Anyways! It felt like they wanted this Kirk to just be a standard action hero and didn’t bother to check if it fit the characterization, or do anything to justify the change aside from ‘different reality’. Like woth the Kobayashi Maru, it’s to emphasize Kirk’s cockiness here...when in WoK it emphasized Kirk’s optimism and hope. How he NEVER believed that there was a true no-win scenario. There was LWAYS a way. Don’t get me wrong, Kirk isn’t horrible and has the ability to become more like his TOS self, but first impressions are everything, and they failed here. Chris Pine was good though, I could actually picture how he played Steve Trevor in Wonder Woman fitting a Reboot Kirk pretty well but alas. Also his captaincy wasn’t earned nor is he mature enough to hold the position. It got handed to him because canon says so, and that is bullshit.

Spock was... fine. Far as characterization goes I don’t really have any issues. He’s not TOS Spock but again he shouldn’t be. It’s hard for me to find the words on how he’s different aside from being younger and seeming a little more resentful about the half-human, half-Vulcan thing, but it still works well enough. He and Sarek also seem on better terms in this continuity, and that I do like since it’s different, but consideirng the circumstances he needs that kind of solace and it allows exploration of their relationship in a more supportive light. Didn’t like Spock marooning Kirk like he did, but it does connect to his arc showing how emotional repression is affecting him, so ah well. I DO have issues with some of the directions taken though. His relationship with Uhura has no establishment nor development and comes across as being there for the sake of having a romance in there without the work. And no I’m not just saying that as a Spones/Spirk/McSpirk shipper. It WOULD have been fine if they actually WORKED ON DEVELOPING IT ON-SCREEN. And how did the timeline changes cause that when Uhura and him flirted like... once in TOS and it was one-sided on Uhura’s part anyways?! It sucks especially since I really like Reboot Uhura. I also don’t like them destroying Vulcan cause that feels like overkill on the angst, but at least they have an explanation for it. I DO however despise them killing Amanda and ESPECIALLY how they did it. Amanda is relegated tot he standard ‘pure hearted mom who we have to kill to hurt this character’ and considering how she died via a crumbling cliff just as transport started, the ‘changed timeline’ explanation is bull. Again I appreciate them trying to add more character stuff, but I very much disagree with the choices. But as far as the character himself is concerned, I was good with Spock andI did genuinely care for and feel bad for him.

Bones... oh baby you deserved so, SO much better. Characterization wise,he was the most like his TOS self. He comes across as more gruff than cranky,but that’s mainly due to Karl Urban being younger than DeForest Kelley. Otherwise he was funny, endearing, loyal to Jim, and Urban did a lovely job making the character his own but honoring his predecessor. Will also give them credit as Bones has a damn good reason to dislike Spock after he marooned Jim like he did. The film didnt give a damn about McCoy tbh, but we’ll get to that in a bit. But to put it short, I really liked Bones, but he REALLY needed more screentime which from what I can tell, isn’t gonna happen until Beyond. But as far as the character goes, I felt like they got his best though the lack of focus reason may very well be why that is. Very least I got fanon to satisfy my needs.

Now we get to my biggest criticism: The Triumvirate is non-existent here, nor does it form within the film. Again, I blame pop culture depiction as I imagine they went ‘we need Kirk and Spock to be close together and Bones is that guy who is Jim’s other best friend who has witty lines but ain’t Kirk and Spock so who cares?’. Which especially baffles me sonce the arguments Kirk and Spock have regaridng emotion? That’s MCCOY’S role. They got the Kirk and Spock relationship completely and utterly wrong. Nor do I feel like the film dod enough to form the relationship between the two. It just feels like they became friends because the plot said so, not out of genuine understanding and care. Kirk was one of, if not the first to accept Spock for who he was and respect him. That’s what made the relationship special. But their edforts to establish it here just fall flat because they made Kirk Spock’s opposite, aka McCoy’s role. McCoy is the one who challenges Spock. The one who pushes him to consider the emotional. He can be harsh, but it is a dynamic that worked. Kirk os their balance. The one who keeps the two in check and they in turn represented the two sides (mind and heart) that he (the body/soul) needed to make the proper decisions. But because of the choices made with Kirk and Bones, the balance is theown off. Spock is more or less fine but Bones loses his importance while Kirk has his character skewed to make it work. General audiences may not be able to tell, but as someone who just watched all of TOS and those films two weeks ago? I could, and it hurt the film significantly imo. Also kind of wish they emphasized that Spock ALSO needs Bones and the rest of the crew, not just Jim because emphasis on just one relationship ALWAYS annoys me, especially since again, they didn’t do well to form it here to begin with. So yeah they missed the aspect that made me love TOS, so needless to say I am displeased. I plan to do a full film review in the future so I won’t say how I’d improve it, especially since hindsight is 20/20, but yeah not happy.

Otherwise, the film is fine. Uhura, Scotty, Sulu,and Chekov are fine, the former two I especially enjoyed. The plot is fone. Nero is a boring villain but for a start, it’s okay. I didn’t like Vulcan’s destruction at alla nd what that means for Spock, but we’ll see how the other two films continue this. I don’t know how I feel about Prime Spock because it just makes me... depressed that he has to accept never going home (even if Bones and the others are dead it just feels... wrong) but I DO appreciate that they included Nimoy and he was just as fantastic as he had been all those years ago. I have so many problems with characterization and plot points, but tbf that’s from someone who just went through TOS. As far as a general audience goes, they likely won’t have that filter and some may be more of the ‘timeline changed so this stuff changed’ explanation than I, a media consumer who has seen this happen over and over again to varying degrees of success’, may be. Otherwise the film was fine. If you like action and want a blockbuster, this one is for you. But I’m in it for characterization and story and while the latter worked well enough in the general sense,t he former was severely lacking. So while it was okay and it got me excited/to laugh a few tomes, overall I didn’t care for the film. Will Into Darkness be any better? Well... from what I can tell no. But I also need to make my own judgements, so onward we go.

#st watchthrough

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incorrigiblyhuman · 4 years ago

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okay but now that i’m thinking about it: college au leonard mccoy.

older than the other starfleet crew most likely, since he’s slogging his way through med school

he exclusively sleeps in the library on main campus (sprawled on any couch, table, or cubicle, which is probably how he meets the other folks in the crew bc he’s just Always There and Always Like That and one of them probably buys him a coffee one day because holy fuck man are you okay) because he’s convinced himself to delineate between ‘work space’ and ‘sleeping space’ much more firmly when he’s got a young child to think of at the same time

speaking of which, joanna’s probably like two or three, she’s an end of main college baby, and she’s why he has an apartment off-campus and not a dorm, which is SUCH a horrible idea financially for him and jocelyn ends up paying for rent much more often than not but he doesn’t want to raise a baby in a college dorm and jocelyn is inflexible about him living apart from her (they’re married for like two years at this point but it’s already not good)

so smart. he’s SO smart. it’s easy to miss, because he likes to describe human insides as ‘that thing there’ and ‘the soft bit thataway’, but good god when he asks a question in a lecture you’d better get your references ready because he’ll rattle off with the kind of precision technicality that you need your glossary for

he bikes to campus, which he HATES, but it’s efficient. safety’d to the gills, though, helmet and elbowpads and kneepads. he looks like he’s about to join a roller derby team, but all skinny ankles and pointy elbows

literally always exhausted. the shadows under his eyes are witch king of angmar deep

genuinely kinda charming??? we’re talking young deforest kelley here the southern gentleman vibes are riper than georgia peaches. resident cutie

but also grumpy as hell after being woken up/when tired (which is his usual state) and cusses like a sailor

gets HEATED when provoked, and sometimes without being provoked. shouting matches in a library never end well

prankster. is anyone surprised? that story in doctor’s orders about stealing the medical cadaver and propping it up in the dean’s office is relevant. the man is wicked, and nobody truly expects it of him

oh he’ll tutor you, but he doesn’t have to like it

the way he talks about computers is like he was born 48 years old. he has a blackberry and texts like a grandma

he takes all of his notes by hand and his handwriting is ungodly. everything people say about doctors having untidy writing, leonard mccoy embodies with a vengeance. but he highlights very neatly, and very often. there are a LOT of margin notes about things he thinks are total and complete bullshit, and he highlights those in order of ‘funniest’ to ‘i am legitimately going to argue with the professor at my 8am class tomorrow’

when he was in the dorms for the first three years of college he somehow ended up becoming the RA???? he still doesn’t know how. he hated it

friendgroup psychologist. you got problems and you wanna hear it straight, you go to mccoy. plenty of homespun wisdom involved, but genuine insight and genuine help; he’s damn good at it. “might even get another degree in it someday”

big fan of drunken karaoke nights with friends. he works hard through the semester but still manages to have INCREDIBLY memorable spring breaks (he does steal street signs, but wakes up in the morning with a hangover and a looming sense of guilt and goes and puts them back by the posts he took them from. the traffic cones, he has no guilt about, those he distributes to his friends. like a road safety dealer)

on top of his schooling, he also volunteers at the clinic on campus. and the clinic in town. he works just about every hour he’s awake, honestly,

seltzer water. he drinks. seltzer water. with lemon, tho

he’s damn good when it comes to his studies and his practical knowledge but his grades suck. he’s just not that good with written tests, whenever he blanks it frustrates the shit out of him and then he’s too busy berating himself to keep from blanking on everything else, too. but he’s got a good rapport with his professors (even the ones he’s pissed off can begrudgingly admit that there’s no shortage of passion in his efforts) and they usually give him opportunities to supplement with clinical work - which he already does in spades

sweaters. all the sweaters. sweater mccoy thrives in this environment

birkenstocks.

he is a socks and sandals kind of guy, but only when he’s too tired to switch shoes after already putting the sandals on. yes, he will get belligerent about his choices. no, he doesn’t actually care and yes, he actually finds them uncomfortable to wear in combination. yes, he will still fight you about it

#( ooc. ) CAPTAIN. THE MARINARA.#this was too much fun actually #( character study. ) TO SLEEP. PERCHANCE TO FINALLY FUCKING SLEEP.#saving this for a rainy day tbh i kind of love college aus

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imaginesforyourfandom · 5 years ago

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Surprise!- Alex Morgan Imagine

Reader POV:

Today might be the biggest day of my life. After four years, I am finally graduating from college. This day feels like something that I have waited for my whole life. I get to finally move on and start my career. I am graduating with a Marketing degree with a double major in Communications. The best part is that I already have a job waiting for me and a beautiful girlfriend.

About a year and a half ago, one of my professors told me about a great internship that he was only telling certain students about. It was working directly with the marketing team that works with the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team. The job was helping come up with fun things to do for the players and fans and increase the interaction. As a fan myself, I thought it was perfect for me. I applied and had to go through multiple interviews before I finally got the job.

After that, I got to interact with a bunch of the players and help run some of the social media for the team. I became fast friends with the players which only made my job easier. I had not anticipated falling in love (although I should’ve) with one of the girls, especially THE girl of the team. That’s right. Alex Morgan. From a marketing standpoint, she is one of the most recognizable faces out there, so I had to stay near her a lot and make sure to catch the moments that were worth sharing with the world.

We started getting to know each other and the rest is sort of history. We fell in love and have been together for about a year. We have talked a lot about what will happen after I graduate. I was able to get a job as the permanent social media manager for the USWNT and so I get to travel around with them during camp and then travel around the NWSL and share different things about the league. The job is perfect for me and it means I get to see Alex a lot, as well as the rest of my friends who play in the league.

Anyway, today is a huge day. The only sad part about today is that most of the girls are supposed to report for camp today which means none of them are able to make it to my ceremony. I understand, but it still sucks not having them here.

“You ready?” I looked over at some of my friends who were all standing there in their own cap and gowns.

“As ready as I can be!”

“She’s just sad because her girlfriend isn’t here”

“Damn right I am” I groaned at the thought of Alex not being here causing them all to laugh.

“You’ll see her soon”

“I know. I just wish she was here! This is the biggest day of my life, but like I get why she isn’t. It’s hard” I adjusted my cap ignoring the sympathetic looks from all my friends.

“You’ll get through it!”

I rolled my eyes and got ready to head out of the hallway that we were all waiting in. We all got into our lines and waited for them to signal for us to go. When they signaled for us to go, we all walked out. After everyone was out, we all walked to our seats and waited for them to tell us to be seated. I took my seat and looked around taking in the crowds of people there to support their students. My eyes were going over the crowd before they fell on some familiar faces. My jaw practically dropped in shock when I recognized the faces of the girls. I felt like I went into overdrive as my eyes searched and landed on my favorite forward.

Alex and I locked eyes and I could practically see the smirk and the way her eyes sparkled from my seat. Once they realized I spotted them, they started jumping up and down and holding up their signs. I tried to fight back tears as I saw them enthusiastically waving around signs with my name on them. I shook my head at them before trying to focus on the Dean giving a speech.

I found myself not being able to focus the rest of the ceremony due to the dorks in the stands. It seemed to go by in a flash and before I knew it, I was practically running to get out and to my friends.

“(Y/N)!!” I was tackled by multiple bodies which caused me to lose my balance but be held up by the other girls.

When I finally got out of the hug, I grinned at all of them.

“What are you guys doing here?” I asked grinning at them. I felt arms wrap around my shoulders and a head drop to my shoulder and a kiss being placed on the side of my neck.

“Surprise” Alex’s voice sent shivers down my body “You didn’t think we’d miss this did you?”

“You’re all supposed to be reporting for camp today” I said looking at all of them with a serious look. As fun as this was, they needed to be in another state today. Jill would not be pleased if she was missing half the team.

“Alex wouldn’t leave the staff alone until they let us be here today” Kelley said holding the sign in her hands and giving me a smile. “Also, we weren’t going to miss this. You’re there for all our major events. We got to be there for yours too”

I tried to fight back tears again. I didn’t realize how much I meant to the team.

“Group Hug!” Sonnett yelled as everyone joined into a hug.

After we left the arena, we all headed to my apartment that I lived in during my time in college. The girls immediately fell into an argument about what we should eat before it was decided that pizza was the best option.

“I should be more offended that no one asked me considering today is my day” I said leaning against my kitchen counter. Alex was sat next to me and gave me a smile and a kiss on the cheek.

“Do you want pizza?” she asked standing up and leaning against the counter next to me. Her eyes are so mesmerizing.

“I can think of some other things I would much rather have” I flirted causing the forward to let out a laugh and everyone else to groan.

“That’s why you don’t get a vote” Pinoe said rolling her eyes turning back to Ash and Tobin. I grinned and stood pulling Alex into me. I rested my head on her shoulder. I closed my eyes as she stroked my hair.

“I am really glad you are here.” I mumbled pushing my face into her shoulder. She gave me a kiss on the side of my head.

“There was no way I was going to miss today. Not, when I know how much it means to you. I am so proud of you and how far you have come.” I pulled back looking into her eyes. I felt like I couldn’t find the proper words to describe how I was feeling. I pulled her in for a kiss and put as much emotion and love into it. She brought her hands to my face and my arms tightened around her waist.

“I love you so much” I mumbled against her lips. She pulled back resting her forehead against mine.

“I love you too”

“Hey, do you two plan on joining us anytime soon?” Allie yelled giving us an irritated look

“Are you going to be mad if I say no?” I asked raising an eyebrow at all of them.

“Yes, because she was not the only one who showed up. We all came for you.” Kelley said giving us a similar look to Allies

“Don’t!” Alex said throwing her hand against my mouth as I went to open my mouth. “Do not make the joke that I just know is on the tip of your tongue.”

I pouted when she pulled her hand back. She gave me another kiss and then pulled me into the room with the other girls. Most of them had amused smiles on their face at the interaction between Alex and me.

“In all seriousness, I do appreciate all of you showing up. It means a lot.” I smiled at all of them

“We wouldn’t have missed this”

“Yeah like we said earlier, you are there for us so we are here for you” Ali said giving me a thumbs up. I leaned my head against Alex and smiled at the girls. Everyone fell into their own conversations after that as my focus was still on the girl next to me.

“Did we really surprise you?” she asked taking my hand in hers. I squeezed and rubbed my thumb on the back of her hand.

“Yeah I was really surprised.” I mumbled turning my head to look at her. “I was overjoyed to see you and the other girls in the crowd”

“Good” she said giving me another smile and a kiss on the cheek. “I am always going to be there for you though”

“I appreciate that and I feel the same way” she leaned her head on my shoulder adjusting so her whole body was against mine.

“I love you”

“I love you too”

The End.

#alex morgan imagines #alex morgan imagine #alex morgan #happy birthday my love #loml #uswnt #uswnt imagine #uswnt imagines

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tabloidtoc · 5 years ago

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OK, May 11

Cover: Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher call off divorce

Page 1: Big Pic -- to celebrate Prince Louis’ second birthday on April 23 Prince William and Duchess Kate released a few adorable shots of their youngest child

Page 2: Contents

Page 4: Cameron Diaz loving motherhood -- she gets candid about her new life as mom to baby Raddix

Page 6: Since completing her stint behind bars in October Felicity Huffman has kept a low profile as she waited for the scrutiny to cease but now she’s ready to make her return to the spotlight

Page 7: Though Britney Spears declared that she and Justin Timberlake had one of the world’s biggest breakups the two have maintained an under-the-radar friendship through the years, last year Sarah Michelle Gellar put a stake through fans’ hearts when she knocked the idea of returning for the potential Buffy the Vampire Slayer revival but now she’s having second thoughts because she hasn’t had a great run on TV since then because every post-Buffy series she’s starred in has been canceled after just one season, Angelina Jolie writing a memoir that’s meaningful and hard-hitting but not sensationalized or bitter

Page 8: Now that Suri Cruise is entering her teen years mom Katie Holmes is supporting her as she pursues her showbiz dreams but Katie has made it clear that Suri has to continue attending school and she wants to make sure the A-student can balance homework with auditions, Bethenny Frankel is bashing her former show RHONYC out of jealousy and is bitter that the show has continued to be a success without her plus she’s bored and missing the spotlight, over the past few years Texas native Matthew McConaughey has lightened his workload so he can spend more time with wife Camila Alves and their three kids in Austin -- a laid-back lifestyle he’s grown to love

Page 10: Red Hot on the Red Carpet -- Max Mara -- Connie Britton, Nikki Reed, Olivia Wilde

Page 11: Issa Rae, Gemma Chan

Page 12: Who Wore It Better? Jennifer Lahmers vs. Kerry Washington ✅, Emily Osment vs. Ming-Na Wen ✅, Delilah Belle Hamlin ✅ vs. Laura Marano

Page 14: News in Photos -- Hannah Ann Sluss works on a puzzle while quarantining at her new California home

Page 15: Michael Buble and wife Luisana Lopilato and daughter Vida, Norman Reedus and Diane Kruger

Page 16: Halsey in all pink, Derek Hough

Page 17: Eva Longoria covers up her roots, Val Chmerkovskiy let wife Jenna Johnson shave his head

Page 18: Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott and kids play Twister, Salma Hayek painted a rainbow on her face, Alec Baldwin with sons Rafael and Romeo

Page 19: Carson Daly does his own makeup, Melissa Gorga takes out the garbage, Robin Wright and husband Clement Giraudet took their dog along when they went for a bike ride

Page 20: Maksim Chmerkovskiy and son Shai, Gabrielle Union in her pool

Page 21: Christie Brinkley in her garden, Elizabeth Banks got dressed up for her pal’s virtual baby shower, Kylie Jenner in her her yard

Page 22: Brooke Shields and daughter Rowan donned matching outfits for a TikTok video, Demi Moore and daughters Tallulah and Scout are shooting video for Tallulah’s new clothing line Wyllis, Gwyneth Paltrow

Page 24: Inside My Home -- Kesha’s $5 million home in the splashy L.A. neighborhood of Mar Vista

Page 26: Julianne Hough and Brooks Laich are trying to dispel rumors of trouble in their nearly three-year marriage but they have an interesting way of showing it -- they are sheltering in place hundreds of miles apart -- they talk all the time but Julianne’s fiercely independent while Brooks seems to prefer the company of his dog plus Julianne was spotted taking an intimate stroll with hunky Westworld actor and old pal Ben Barnes who is very single

Page 27: More than a year after Robin Thicke proposed to April Love Geary the two are finally moving forward with wedding plans though they making sacrifices because they would love to have a great big celebration but given the current climate a small less formal ceremony seems more practical, though Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith spent much of 2019 apart due to their hectic work schedules once they’d reached their breaking point they vowed to make a change

Page 28: Miranda Lambert is helping husband Brendan McLoughlin get in touch with his animal instincts as they quarantine on her 400-acre spread in Nashville -- Brendan said that growing up in New York City wildlife to him was rats and pigeons and squirrels so caring for Miranda’s menagerie of critters is taking a lot of getting used to, after years of breakups and makeups Gerard Butler’s inner circle is pushing to make longtime love Morgan Brown his wife, Love Bites -- Iskra Lawrence and boyfriend Philip Payne welcomed their first children, Kathryn Dunn and Nick Maccarone split, Dr. Paul Nassif and wife Brittany Pattakos expecting

Page 29: Two months after Lady Gaga went public with boyfriend Michael Polansky she declared him the love of her life and wants to take the fast-paced relationship one step further by starting a family with him, though Bindi Irwin will still be attached to the Australia Zoo and the family brand she and husband Chandler Powell are looking to set up a base in L.A.

Page 30: Cover Story -- Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis stronger than ever -- how they saved their almost 5-year marriage and their plans for baby no. 3

Page 34: The Women of TV Tell All -- Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb, Whoopi Goldberg

Page 35: Kelly Ripa, Vanna White, Kelly Clarkson

Page 36: Celine Dion in Love -- four years after losing her husband Celine is moving forward with a new mystery man

Page 38: Battle of the Boy Bands -- they’ve all got chart-topping hits and A-list exes but it’s up to you to decide which group reigns surpreme -- New Kids on the Block, Backstreet Boys, One Direction

Page 39: ‘NSYNC, 98 Degrees

Page 40: Florence Pugh opens up about her booming career and why she isn’t taking it for granted

Page 42: Keeping It Real -- your favorite reality stars share exactly how they stay in shape -- Whitney Port, Khloe Kardashian, Stassi Schroeder

Page 43: Kristin Cavallari, Hannah Brown

Page 46: Style Week -- Demi Lovato has teamed up with fitness brand Fabletics

Page 48: Mother’s Day Gift Guide -- Thandie Newton and daughter Nico Parker

Page 50: Reese Witherspoon and daughter Ava Phillippe

Page 52: Kim Kardashian West and mom Kris Jenner

Page 54: Entertainment

Page 55: Q&A with Karen Gravano of Families of the Mafia

Page 58: Stars performed for the One World: Together at Home concert which raised $127 million for COVID-19 relief efforts -- Taylor Swift, Elton John, Jennifer Lopez, Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon, Keith Urban, Lady Gaga

Page 60: Hollywood Heat Meter -- Rachel McAdams is open to reprising her role in Mean Girls, Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Tom Brady got caught exercising in a Florida park that was closed due to the pandemic, Joshua Jackson and Jodie Turner-Smith welcomed a baby girl, Heather Locklear is celebrating one year sober, Madison Prewett claimed The Bachelor Peter Weber begged her to reconcile just two days before he flew out to be with ex Kelley Flanagan, these stars have splashed out big bucks or are considering it to hold part ownership in their favorite pro teams -- Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez in the New York Mets, Gloria Estefan in the Miami Dolphins, Michelle Williams in the WNBA’s Chicago Sky, Justin Timberlake in the Memphis Grizzlies

Page 61: Sound Bites -- Reese Witherspoon on her 2013 DUI arrest, Jason Momoa on his kids during quarantine

Page 62: Horoscope -- Taurus Dwayne Johnson

Page 64: By the Numbers -- Leighton Meester

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bthenoise · 5 years ago

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Prom Stories: Here’s 14 Tales Of The Dance Floor From Some Of Your Favorite Bands

With this year’s prom most likely cancelled for all high schoolers across the nation (super sad, we know), we didn’t want to leave you in dark for what can be a pretty memorable night -- both good and bad.

So, in an attempt to help you both experience prom and also realize that missing it might not be the end of the world after all, we’ve collected some pretty interesting stories from some of your favorite bands.

To check out how members of This Wild Life, Grayscale, Beach Bunny, Broadside and more spent their "My Chemical Slow Dance,” be sure to see below. Afterward, make sure to enjoy our prom-inspired playlist here.

Kevin Jordan - This Wild Life

I was too nervous to ask a girl to prom so instead I made a huge banner and hung it on the side of the tallest building at our school that said, “Ashley Debry, Prom? - Kevin Jordan.” She was the cheerleader captain and proceeded to break her shoulder and arm tumbling or some shit but she was a good sport and attended in a lace-adorned sling. It went better than my buddy Kris though, his Ford Falcon’s hood flew up on the freeway on the way there and he couldn’t see the road. Had to pull over and [his date] asked to go home.

Lili Trifilio - Beach Bunny

I went to prom like five times because I was obsessed with school dances but nothing beats the time my date ditched me, made me buy him Chipotle, then tried to hang out again later. This guy was different from the rest of my prom dates because I was secretly in love with him. He accepted my invite but then “forgot” to pick me up so my dad had to bring me to the photo portion, which was super embarrassing and a bad start to the night. Then, when the slow song came on at the dance, I was like “Yes, this is my shot!” When he approached me, I assumed he was going to ask me to dance. Instead he told me he was gonna leave with this other girl and left me in complete shock. Luckily, one of my guy friends saw me crying and asked me to dance so that I wouldn’t be a complete mess. Then, this boy has the audacity to text me in the morning asking me to see his new motorcycle?! Keep in mind, we were all in the same friend group and hung out every weekend but after that night I never talked to him again -- at the time, I didn’t know this, but he sure as hell didn’t deserve me and I definitely dodged a bullet.

Nick Ventimiglia - Grayscale

To be honest, none of us in Grayscale ever went to prom. BUT I did go to a few homecomings. I actually won homecoming prince in 10th grade and then homecoming king my senior year. Here’s the catch: I went to private school and there was only like 36 kids in my graduating class, so what can you do? One time that actually sticks out was when I went to my girlfriend’s (at the time) snow-coming, which is essentially a winter version of homecoming. She actually won queen for her class and they didn’t end up nominating anyone for king of her grade, so by default, I won king of her class. I didn’t even go to her school. I was just on stage, with a sash, standing there smiling and it rocked. Come to find out, they cut me out of the yearbook because I didn’t go to the school, so I have no hard evidence. Here are some songs from 2007 that we most likely danced our asses off to while we were buzzing off trash Burnetts Vodka: T.I. - “You Know What It Is” Soulja Boy - “Crank That” Bird Man, Lil Wayne - “Pop Bottles” Fabolous, T-Pain - “Baby Don’t Go” 50 Cent, Justin Timberlake, Timbaland - “Ayo Technology” Unk, OutKast, Jim Jones - “Walk It Out” Shop Boyz - “Party Like A Rock Star” DJ Khaled, Akon, T.I. - “We Takin’ Over” Kanye West - “Good Life” Playa Circle, Lil Wayne - “Duffle Bag Boy”

Broadside

Ollie Baxxter

My prom coincided with my first real breakup. One week before we were meant to go together my date/girlfriend bailed. I was working two jobs at the time and already rented my tux so I just decided to go with my group of friends as the “solo heartbroken guy at prom.” When I got to the dance, the music was terrible and either my loneliness consumed me or I was just a horny teenager but all my classmates looked beautiful. Eventually my ex showed up with a mutual friend and my friend group tried their best to keep me distracted but eventually we met face to face in a hallway on the way to the bathroom. She went to say something and I think I just tried my best to hold back the shame and tears. I left the prom and spent the rest of the night skating with my friends in a parking lot somewhere. Being young is hard.

Jeff Nichols

I only went to prom one year when I was in high school. I was a sophomore and my girlfriend at the time was a junior. I wore a tux with an all-white jacket and my date wore an all-white dress to match. I don’t remember too much since it’s been awhile but I remember it was like an “Under the Sea” type theme, which a lot of us thought was lame but we all still felt like we had to go. We danced some but all ended up leaving early to go bowling then hit Waffle House after. I only went to prom once and I don’t really regret missing the other years. During this time of quarantine, it is sad that a lot of kids don’t get the experience their prom due to closures but if you spend a bunch of money renting an outfit then take a bunch of awkward photos and dance to “Cupid Shuffle” or whatever the equivalent would be now, you pretty much got the main experience of prom.

Dom Reid

My prom night was lackluster, to say the least. I think the new Alice In Wonderland movie had recently come out so that was our “theme” for decorations and what that turned out to be was like a large poster a student had made outside in the hall and then absolutely no decorations inside. I was one of those kids who dated a girl from a different school so it was nice to finally prove she was real. The dance floor was ruled by Lady Gaga and The Black Eyed Peas but someone did manage to get 30 seconds of “Downfall Of Us All” by A Day To Remember played. My date and I left early, grabbed some sushi on the way home. My life truthfully would be the same if I never went to prom. I do feel bad for the kids who don’t at least have the option to go to theirs this year, but I’m sure after a night of recreating TikTok dances in their bedroom, they will be just as fulfilled.

Pat Diaz

I went to prom my junior and senior years, both with the same girl. From what I can remember (because my memory is horrendous, not because I was on the juice), it wasn’t all that fun. Senior year, I was basically stuck in a relationship (for reasons I won’t discuss) and really didn’t want to be there. The highlight of my night was getting breakfast at Perkins at 3:30am. Society puts so much unnecessary significance on prom for no reason other than “if you wanna be cool and fit in.” Sure, you’ll be bummed it’s not happening but I’m pretty sure you’ll be fine knowing that you’re not missing much. If you really want the “prom experience”, drink an energy drink, put on some music and start dancing in your room until 2am then go get McDonalds or something. Same same.

The Wrecks

Nick Anderson

I showed up to prom pictures late because I was playing a show with my high school cover band. I wore my white prom tux on stage during the performance because I literally didn't have time to get changed before racing over to where the pictures were being taken. My date was very unhappy but the disappointment did not end there. Because of the rush, I didn't have time to eat dinner. So on the way to prom, I made my prom date pull her 2005 Volkswagen Beetle through the Burger King drive-thru so I could enjoy a Double STACKER KING with extra bacon. She stood outside of prom for 15 minutes while I ate fast food off the hood of her car. We didn't hang out much after prom.

Aaron Kelley

Nothing classier than a tuxedo t-shirt, black skinny jeans and a DeLorean. I’m sorry for everyone who missed their prom this year but I promise you there’ll be many more opportunities for you to have a tuxedo t-shirt night. <3

Jade Castello - Picturesque

It’s been a year or two since I was in high school but I went to a couple different proms throughout my high school years with my previous girlfriend(s). If my memory serves me correctly, the radio hits at the time were artists such as Jason Derulo and Panic! at the Disco. I might not have won prom king but I did close out the night of my senior prom with a dance-off competition by busting out a backflip to “Let’s Go” by Trick Daddy. Everyone jumping up and down chanting my name was something straight out of a movie ha. Prom was a great experience but missing out on that night isn’t the end of the world. Once we’ve all moved on from high school, you’ll realize that one night doesn’t define your “high school experience.” You have much more to offer this world than how sick you were back in high school.

Nick Zawisa - Breakup Shoes

Senior prom… what a trip. The year was 2014: I was wearing a three-piece suit in like 95 degree weather (cuz, you know, Arizona) driving my Hyundai into downtown Phoenix with one of my best friends (still to this day!)… and I’ve gotta say, that’s about all I remember. I had always thought prom would be this extraordinary experience like how it’s romanticized in the movies but it turned out to just be an awkward ballroom packed with sweaty people I don't even like trying to dance in heels or suits to the all-time worst playlist of 2010s pop music. All that to say, my feelings on the night could be summed up into “Prom: an experience to forget.”

Dead Lakes

Cody Hurd

For me, prom was pretty overrated. I was voted prom king, but to be fair, our class only had like 70 people in it voting. I had to awkwardly go on stage and accept my royalty with people I didn't really know because my date was unfortunately not voted prom queen. The rest of the prom I basically spent sitting at a table waiting to just hang out with my friends afterwards. So [if you’re missing prom this year], just spend a night dressing up and FaceTime with your friends. Have some “non-alcoholic” drinks (responsibly of course) and blast some music and dance your hearts out. You won't miss a thing.

Chon Adam

Man, I haven’t thought about prom since basically when it happened. We had our prom at the Space Needle in Seattle with Drake playin’ in the background. Half the people were way too into prom and the other half didn’t care at all. I was definitely in the latter category, so I didn’t have a great time. But most people don’t go to prom to have fun at prom. They go to kick it at parties afterward. Definitely not something that even remotely defined that year for me. So if you’re missing it this year, I promise you you’ll be alright!

House & Home

Joey went to prom and ended up talking to the teachers more than the students. The best part was for sure watching the wrestling coach absolutely lose it to a Vanilla Ice song. Pat went his junior year and decided to sit out his senior year. The best prom related memory from his high school career was when he played the afterparty with his high school band at Dave and Buster’s. Prom was never really anything any of us really looked forward to or made a big deal of much in high school. It’s always fun to look back at the memories, though.

#Prom Stories #This Wild Life #Beach Bunny #Grayscale #Broadside #House & Home #Breakup Shoes #Dead Lakes #Picturesque #The Wrecks #interview

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closetofanxiety · 6 years ago

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Mania Madness: In Queens With Queens Quest

Wrestlemania was in New York this year (well, New Jersey, but you know what they mean), and since I live about two and a half hours away, I felt like I would be failing in my duties as a wrestling fan if I didn’t attend some of the related events. Make no mistake: I did not want to go to Wrestlemania itself, as the idea of sitting in a football stadium and squinting at a faraway shape that might be Buddy Murphy in the springtime chill is not high on my bucket list. But there were lots of other things to do, and I did very few of them! I did go to see the Stardom show in Queens and to WrestleCon in Manhattan, though, and herewith are my observations, jotted down for posterity and, hopefully, your amusement and/or edification:

FRIDAY

I think this is only the second time Stardom has run a show in the U.S., and it’s definitely the first time they’ve done it amidst the surge of popularity they’ve experienced in the GIF era. Although going to visit Hakujinjoe in Tokyo is a goal towards which I am even now socking away money, there’s no guarantee that I’ll ever actually get to see Stardom in Japan, and so this was the must-see event of the weekend for me.

This anticipation was accompanied by two apprehensions: First, my nature reluctance to drive in New York City, even in the outer boroughs. I live in the woods, and your city ways frighten and confuse me. Second, based on many of the US joshi fans I have encountered online, I worried this crowd would basically be a giant convention for creepers, perverts, rageaholic gatekeepers, scam artists peddling $300 autographed gravure DVDs, and people who seem to have only a dim understanding that the characters portrayed in the ring are not, in fact, identical with the women portraying them. Listen: I am not exactly Cary Grant when it comes to wit and charm, and just being an American who watches Japanese women’s wrestling puts me among a tiny percentage of hardcore nerds, so I hope this doesn’t come off as haughty. But there are good nerds, and then there are the nerds we encounter online way too often.

The first apprehension turned out to be baseless, as I got to Queens with plenty of time to spare and, like most joshi fans, headed over to the Rufus King Homestead on Jamaica Avenue for a tour of the mansion once owned by the fiery antislavery advocate and signatory to the Constitution. OK, so I was the only joshi fan who toured the Rufus King Homestead (in fact, I was the only person, period; Rufus does not get much love), but I still learned a lot. Rufus King used to loan money at exorbitant rates to local farmers who owned slaves, and when they couldn’t pay him back, he’d accept the enslaved people as collateral, only to immediatly free them. Rufus King, Loan Shark For Justice!

It turns out the second apprehension was also baseles, because the crowd turned out to be full of awesome people. Really friendly, outgoing, and super enthusiastic nerds, the best kind of nerd, really. The dominant attitude was not, “Oh you like Stardom? Name five of their faction drafts” but “I can’t believe we all get to see this awesome show together.” It was also, by a country mile, the most diverse indie wrestling crowd I’ve been part of, and about 35-40 percent of the people in attendance were women, which really made the whole experience better. I’m not saying everyone was awesome, but it was definitely a fun group of people to be part of for an afternoon. I am ashamed that I assumed it would be full of unbearable dweebs.

So, that out of the way, here’s the highlights of the show, in the time-honored spaghetti Western sytem of categorization:

THE GOOD

Momo Watanabe vs. Utami Hayashishita: Easily the match of the day, and one of the best matches I’ve seen all year. The Queen’s Quest teammates were batling for Momo’s Wonder of Stardom title, which she won from the departing Io Shirai last year. I don’t just like Momo, I identify with her image as the studious but introverted nerd kid who thinks hard work and playing by the rules is enough to guarantee success, only to be constantly frustrated as flashier peers take shortcuts to the top. The tension between these two has been building since Utami’s debut last year and subsequent mega-push as The Big Rookie and Utami All-the-Belts. Momo, who put in years of quiet, dedicated work as Io’s understudy, is in danger of being usurped as Queen’s Quest leader by the newcomer before her tenure has really even gotten under way. This is a great basis for a wrestling match, and these two, aware they were in front of their biggest audience outside of Japan not just in person but watching on Fite, rose to the occasion. I’m terrible at describing wrestling matches, but this was a nailbiter full of near-falls and what-will-it-take kickouts that felt earned rather than slathered on. It helped that the crowd was rabid, with Utami having a slight edge, WHICH ONLY SERVED TO MAKE ME CHEER LOUDER FOR MOMO. I honestly had no idea who was going to win: normally you’d know the champ would retain in an away match like this, but having their second most important belt change hands would also have been a great way to make a splash in their New York debut. In the end, though, Momo retained with her Peach Sunrise finisher and I LOST IT.

Stars vs. Oedo Tai: The villainous but lovable Oedo Tai were over like crazy with this crowd, and people went bananas when they came out to do their pre-match war dance. They could have basically just done that and most people would have been, but they had a fun elimination match with the Stars faction. A lot of zany action in this and a genuine surprise elimination of Kagetsu midway through. The only missing piece of the puzzle was Sumire Natsu, who didn’t come over with the company, possibly because she’s a freelancer. She made appearances at Tokyo BDSM clubs instead during Mania weekend, which is the most Sumire Natsu thing ever.

Yurie Kozakai doing the ring introductions: Stardom was really smart about the idea that they were giving fans in New York “a real Stardom show,” and having the promotion’s normal ring announcer introduce the wrestlers was a perfect touch.

Hana Kimura: The newest Stardom signing looked like a superstar and basked in the crowd’s adulation during a three-way tag match that also involved Konami and Bea Priestley (making her US debut?) and Britt Baker and Brittany Blake, who should have called themselves the Britt-ish. No? I’m - I’m [putting my finger to my ear, like I’m listening] I’m being told “No, they should not have called themselves that.” Anyway, the match was fun but insubstantial, but Hana’s charisma is off the charts.

THE BAD

IPW:UK ran a show at the venue (the NYC Arena, which is an arena only in the sense that a mid-sized nightclub is an arena) right before Stardom, using House of Glory’s ring (the compromises and arrangements of Mania Weekend!), and the bottom rope broke. The effort to fix the broken rope was mostly unsuccessful, and also delayed the opening of doors at the venue by nearly an hour, meaning 600 hearty nerds were standing in line in 39 degree weather, with sleet pelting us. The paperback I had brought to pass the time in line was USELESS. On the lemons-lemonade side of things, though, this did mean we were all in line when Stardom’s bus rolled up, and all the wrestlers disembarked to head inside. Big cheers from the crowd, which obviously delighted the wrestlers. “It’s gonna be awesome!” Hana yelled at us. It was! Once we got out of the sleet

The broken rope delay also meant they had to cut the already abbreviated (five matches) show short, and it showed. The first three matches were all obviously truncated, with the High Speed title match between Hazuki and Dust suffering the most for it. Don’t get me wrong, it was good, and I was impressed by Dust, who’s new to me, but it felt like they were just starting to get going when it ended. IPW:UK, YOU ARE NOW MY ENEMY. OR MAYBE HOUSE OF GLORY, I DON’T KNOW. SOMEONE.

THE UGLY

Maybe half the appeal of this thing was the promised meet and greet afterward, but the meet and greet was more chaotic and less organized than Kelley Square at rush hour (sorry, this is a Worcester reference, Worcester people will know this). Nobody seemed to know where to stand, lots of fans didn’t realize they had to buy little tickets before meeting the wrestlers, and as someone whose job sometimes involves putting up signs in medical buildings, the lack of even rudimentary paper signage was APPALLING. This did not stop me from getting nerdy fan pics with Hana Kimura, Kagetsu, Momo Watanabe, Mayu Iwatani, and Konami. Hazuki left her table before I could get to her, and this failure will haunt the remainder of my days upon this earth. Possibly. The wrestlers all had pieces of paper with common American names written on them, so they’d know how to address the autographed pictures, which was sweet. Hana has great conversational English. There was no line when I went up to Konami, which is preposterous. Konami rules, fellow nerds. The whole thing was nice, and the language barrier prevented any of that thing where guys try to unburden their psyches onto female wrestlers in a bid to make some kind of emotional connection. JUST SMILE FOR THE CAMERA AND MOVE ALONG, PAL.

Also, apparently the Fite stream was choppy as hell and cut out completely right at the end of the Momo-Utami match, and only came back after it was over. Glad I went in person!

In part two, we’ll cover the gregarious Jesse Ventura, the surprising lack of merch slingers at WrestleCon, and the puzzling fame of that fan who had a cardboard sign saying “FACE FUCK ME FINN” at a Takeover a few years ago.

#Stardom #joshi puroresu #makin towns #Mania Weekend #show reviews

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uswntpoet · 6 years ago

Text

Love on the brain (Part 12)

Hey guys, this one gets a tad intense, hope you enjoy the chapter :D as always, sorry for any mistakes!

The chapter is also up on Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/17576201/chapters/42849599

“Guys do we have time to take a break? I really need to make a call.” Kelley asks stressed out. The meeting started really early in the morning and she hasn’t spoken to Alex for two and a half days.

“We really need to get this finished. It will only take a few more minutes. After that you’re free, if that’s okay with you?” one of the associates answers, distracted by some paper he’s reading.

“Yeah, sure…” Kelley answers defeated. However, minutes turn into hours and before she even realizes it, it got dark outside again. Kelley looks out the window of the conference room absentmindedly.

“KELLEY?” a loud voice yells.

“Hmm?” she says, turning her head quickly.

“Everything okay? I’ve been calling your name like 4 times.”

“Uhh, yes sorry. I just-“

“I know, we are tired too, but I know what will wake you up again.” one of her attorneys smiles.

“What will, Matt?” Kelley asks blankly.

“Tonight is the sponsor’s party! Good chance for you to talk to some people.” he says excitedly.

“I think I’ll pass on that.” Kelley grumbles.

“Actually, you can’t. It’s obligatory. They want to promote their product with this party. So you better put on a big smile.” Matt argues.

“Consider it done, Matt.” Kelley says, putting on a huge fake smile, which disappears immediately.

“I’m sorry, Kel. I know you should have stayed in New York, but this is a huge chance.”

“No, I know. And I really appreciate it. I’m sorry Matt. I know you had to leave your family as well. Thanks for your good work.”

“Don’t thank me for that. I’m happy to work for you and if I wasn’t, you’d still pay me.”

Kelley laughs out loud, causing Matt to chuckle. He’s happy to see her like that. Ever since Kelley arrived in LA, this is the first time he has seen her laugh, which is very untypical.

“I feel your pain. My wife wasn’t happy either, but you’re going to sort it out. You’re a good person, Kel.” he says, putting his hand on her shoulder and smiling at her sadly, before leaving the conference room.

“How many minutes until we leave?” Kelley yells after him, realizing that she is the only one in the room.

“Uber has been waiting outside for 10 minutes!” she hears him yell back. Kelley groans loudly, hitting her head against the desk, before jumping up to follow Matt.

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Alex is lying in bed, having a hard time finding any sleep. Kelley hasn’t reached out for more than two days, excluding the evening of their fight and it’s starting to get unbearable. Every single one of her thoughts revolves around Kelley and if she’s okay. Since she isn’t able to sleep anyway, Alex opens Instagram to pass some time. After 20 minutes or so, she refreshes the feed on more time, before meaning to close the App. That’s when Ken’s Instagram story pops up. Alex clicks on the button without hesitation and a video starts playing. However, she’s disappointed to see that it’s just a video of a party and Kelley isn’t in sight. Nonetheless, something catches her eye.

“Why is Ken at a BMW event?” Alex asks herself. She types BMW USA in the search bar and sees that they posted a story as well. The first video is showing the party and a few pictures of famous guests follow, which Alex taps on to skip them. After a few taps Kelley’s face appears on her display and she let’s out a deep breath of relieve, she didn’t know she was holding. Kelley looks really good, but also stressed and super tired, which she tries to hide with a gorgeous smile. A smile, which Alex knows is totally fake. It’s her media smile. The smile she perfected for days when she’s sick and has to do interviews or for the children, waiting in line for her to sign anything after lost games. A live video comes up, which was posted 25 minutes ago, showing a 360-degree view of the event and what Alex sees next must be some kind of sick joke. Her eyes begin to water with tears. The video shows Kelley standing at the bar with a drink in hand. Suddenly, a very beautiful woman approaches her and puts her arm around her, whispering something in her ear. Kelley looks at her and says something back, which makes the woman laugh in response. They then exchange a few words. Ultimately, the pretty blonde then leans in to whisper something in her ear again, pulling away and winking at Kelley. This time Kelley is the one to laugh, a genuine laugh, not a faked laugh and the video ends. Alex feels like throwing up and the tears are rolling down her face relentlessly. She locks her phone, not wanting to see the video again and tries to sleep, whishing she wouldn’t have opened the damn story. 15 minutes later, Alex’s sobs are interrupted by the buzzing of her phone. She blindly fishes for it and turns it around. Her heart aches when she reads the name on the screen. Kelley. Alex shakes her head and rejects her call, not wanting to talk to her. Just two seconds later her phone starts buzzing again, but she rejects it again. Kelley tries to call her non-stop and after the 6th time Alex picks up, but remains silent.

“Helloo? Alexx?” Kelley slurs. Her voice sounds totally drunk and desperate. Alex feels her eyes filling with tears again. The way Kelley is saying her name and her drunkenness making her feel sick to her stomach. Something must have happened and after seeing the video with the woman, Alex doesn’t even want to know.

“I don’t want to talk to you. Stop calling me.” Alex sobs and hangs up. Her phone immediately starts buzzing again. Kelley’s face appears on her screen, one of Alex’s favorite pictures of her, which she took herself. Seeing her smile only twists the knife, which is why she turns off her phone.

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Kelley feels more and more miserable every passing minute that she has to stay at the party. When people talk to her or photos are taken, she puts on the best fake smile she can muster up, knowing that no one is going to notice anyway. After some very important socializing, she takes a break from walking around and sits down at the bar.

“What can I do for you?” a man in a tuxedo asks her.

“I need a whisky.”

“Would you prefer a specific brand?”

“Just pour me the biggest glass you have of the one that has the most alcohol in it.” Kelley says numbly. The barkeeper stops and looks at her for a second, but continues nonetheless.

“As you wish.” he says professionally. When the glass is put in front of her, Kelley takes a sip, feeling the liquid burn in her throat. She looks at the glass briefly and then puts it to her mouth again, downing it in one go.

“I need another one. And could you do me a favor and just keep them going?” she asks the barkeeper, who nods shortly. A few glasses later, Kelley still sits at the bar, drink in hand, staring through the room with dull, glazed eyes, her jaw tightened. She feels the alcohol kicking in and the pain in her chest starts to feel a little less heavy, as well as her thoughts, which begin to drive her completely insane. The taunting voices in her head getting quieter with every sip. Suddenly, she feels an arm around her shoulder.

“What’s up, not having fun?” the woman whispers empathically. Kelley looks at her and sees that it’s Linda, who works for BMW and initiated the whole sponsoring and partnership. Kelley gives her a tightlipped smile, a real one, but still one that looks piteous.

“Yeah, no. Aawesome party, thankss Linda. But I reeally miss my fiancée. I didn’t leave on ssuch good terms. I think I ffucked up royally. Ssorry, that was inappropriate.”

She tries to sound as sober as possible. After she already screwed up with Alex, she doesn’t want to screw up the sponsorship as well. Linda laughs loudly.

“That’s okay. If I’m honest, I really hate those people, who pretend like they’re robots just because I made them sign a contract with me. You seem to be a good person, Kelley.”

“That’s the ssecond time I heard that today and I ccertainly didn’t act like it a ffew daays ago.” Kelley mentions with a self-loathing chuckle.

“I think you should talk to her as soon as possible. When my husband and I fight over long distance, it always gets worse without communication. I’m sure your fiancée will forgive you eventually.”

“Yeah…thanks.” Kelley smiles sadly.

“Okay and now go to your hotel.”

“Whaaat? Nooo, this par-ty is to promote the product, I sshhould be sstaying.”

“Kelley, I’m the boss here. Trust me, you should go.”

Kelley looks at her skeptically, which causes Linda to come closer and whisper into her ear again.

“These parties suck anyway, I’m just waiting to go home to my husband and kids.” Linda winks at her, when she pulls away. Kelley laughs loudly, throwing her head back, a genuine laugh, not a faked laugh.

“Thh-anks Linda. For everything.” Kelley smiles at her. Linda nods at her.

“The pleasure is ours.” she says, holding out her hand for Kelley to shake. Kelley stands up and shakes Linda’s hand, but before she can leave Linda stops her.

“I think you should leave that here.” she says, pointing to the glass in Kelley’s hand that’s still full of whiskey.

“Yyou’re right…I sshhould.” Kelley nods meaningfully and leaves.

“I think you saved her from an awful morning, Linda.” the barkeeper says.

“Oh no, that’s all you. Thanks for telling me, Parker.” Linda says to the barkeeper.

On her way out Kelley smashes into someone.

“Keeelley, I searched for you everywhere! How are you?”

“Ken!! Duuude, fin-ally yyou’re here. Wwere you able to-“

Ken holds up a box in response, which makes Kelley calm down. When Matt told her that Ken wouldn’t be in LA for another day, Kelley immediately instructed Matt to tell Ken to somehow buy her a new phone and bring it to LA as soon as humanly possible.

“Ken, yyyou’re a legend!”

“Kelley? Are you drunk? You smell like an alcoholic.”

“Alexx nd I got into a ffight.”

“Oh, so that’s why she called me.”

“Sshe called you? Duude, I have to get to my h-hotel room and ffind my SIM card.” Kelley slurs, pushing past him and jogging towards the exit.

“What? Hey Kelley wait!!!” Ken calls after her, but she is already too far away. Kelley sprints to her hotel room, which is further away than she initially thought. Much further. After a 30-minute spontaneous intoxicated marathon, Kelley arrives in front of her hotel room out of breath. She fumbles for her keys and opens the door hectically, starting to rummage through her stuff to find her old phone. After a few minutes, the new phone finally is ready and starts buzzing non-stop. Hundreds of missed calls and messages appear on her display, most of them from Alex and they’re not very happy messages. Kelley scrolls through them, reading things like: ‘I HATE YOU!!’, ‘You can sleep on the couch for the next year!!’ and ‘I miss you, I’m sorry.’, followed by ‘You can kiss my fucking ass Kelley O’Hara!!!”.

Kelley hastily dials Alex’s number.

“Pick up, pick up, pick up!!” she prays, but feels her heart sink, when her call gets rejected. She dials again and again, not giving up.

“C-ome on, Alexxx. Don’t llleave me hangin’” she slurs. That’s when Alex actually picks up, but all Kelley hears is silence.

“Helloo? Alexx?” Kelley slurs desperately, surprised that she actually picked up.

“I don’t want to talk to you. Stop calling me.” Alex sobs with a heartbreaking voice and hangs up. Kelley feels her heart tear into pieces.

“No, no, no, no.” she says, quickly dialing the number again and again, but Alex is not picking up. Just moments later her next call goes to voicemail.

“FUCK!!!” Kelley yells, knowing that she turned her phone off. She punches her first into the mattress repeatedly. She slides down the edge of the bed, pulling her knees to her chest. That’s when her body starts shaking, as the tears roll down her face. The voices begin to set in again. They’re getting louder and louder with each passing second.

‘You’re not good enough for her. Can’t you see what you did?’

“Stop it Kelley.” she whispers to herself desperately, but the voices keep on going. She puts her hands over her ears, the tears streaming down her face and dropping onto her shirt.

‘You hurt her. She’s crying because of you. Suffering, because of you. What can you offer her?’

“Fucking stop it!” she says louder, pressing her hands to her ears tighter. She closes her eyes and scrunches up her face in utter despair, rocking back and forth.

‘You’re stupid enough to think she wants you? She doesn’t even want you to call her! She’s better off without you, happier!’ the voices getting deafening loud. Kelley bites her teeth together.

‘What are you going to do next? Hit her instead of the wall? You’re dangerous. Get your temper under control for once.’

“NO!!! I won’t ever!!!! I will never do that!! I’ll change!!! Please, just make it stop.” Kelley yells loudly, letting out heartbreaking sobs.

‘Look at you. Who could love you? Drinking away your pain. You’re piteous, you’re nothing. She fucking hates you’

“STOOOOOOOOOOOOOP!!!!!!!!!!!” Kelley screams earsplittingly, as if in enormous pain and suddenly everything goes black.

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Kelley wakes up with a jolt. There is hectic movement around her and she hears loud beeping. She gasps for air. There is a mask sitting on her face. Her eyes wander around panicked. Everything is blurry and the voices around her are getting louder and louder. She tries to focus her eyes really hard, so she can see clearly. Her breathing is speeding up and her chest feels like something is pushing a huge amount of weight onto her. She moves her arms to try to get rid of the weight that has been placed there, but her hands just feel her shirt. Where is this pressure coming from?

“It’s okay, Kelley. Please try to stay calm. I’m Dr. Collins. You’ll be fine.” an unfamiliar voice tells her. Kelley nods panicked, her heartrate speeding up. She can feel her heartbeat pulsing in her ears and her breathing picks up even more. The voices that were loud and clear just seconds ago, start turning into muffled sounds and before Kelley can say anything, everything turns black again.

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This time waking up feels a lot calmer. A soft and steady beeping and no movement at all. Kelley opens her eyes and after blinking a few times, she can see clearly again. She is met with Ken looking at her with pity in his eyes.

“Kel?” he asks carefully.

“Where-where am I?” Kelley asks confused and disoriented, her voice hoarse.

“You’re in the hospital.”

“What?? What happened??” she asks with a weak voice.

“I found you hyperventilating in your hotel room. I followed you, because I thought something was off. You had a nervous breakdown caused by sleep deprivation and stress. Plus drinking your own weight and not eating anything for over two days doesn’t really go together perfectly.”

“Jesus Christ.” Kelley puffs out, looking up at the ceiling overwhelmed.

“Yeah…”

“Please don’t tell me you called Alex.”

“I did.”

“Nooo!” she groans, closing her eyes.

“I did, but she didn’t pick up, her phone must have been turned off.”

“Jesus, thank god!” she exhales.

“I left a message though.”

“Ugghh, damn it! I hope you didn’t call TMZ as well.” Kelley jokes sarcastically.

“Kelley that’s not funny. What’s wrong with you? That’s not you.”

“No Ken, that’s exactly me.” Kelley says bitterly.

“What are you talking about?!”

“It is. That’s me without Alex.” Kelley says looking at Ken frustrated.

“No, it isn’t. Kelley, I know you for 3 and a half years and I’ve never seen you like this. That was brutal.”

“I know.” Kelley nods soberly. Ken throws her a worried look.

“Ken, I am nothing without her.”

“That’s such bullshit, you were someone before her.”

“Yes, I was. I was an empty shell. Always laughing, but never feeling it. I didn’t like, who I was before her and I don’t want to become that again. Because that’s who you saw. Someone, who doesn’t care, someone, who is reckless, someone, who does those self-destructive things. I know it may seem like she caused that. But, Ken, she didn’t. It’s her absence that caused that and that’s my fault, I pushed her away.”

Ken looks at her pensively. Kelley looks back intensely, stressing her next words with an urgency that underlines the importance of them.

“Ken, listen. This. Is. My. Fault. Do you understand?”

Ken nods understandingly, his forehead creased. The importance of what Kelley is trying to say sinking in.

“Before Alex and I got close, my mom regularly found me with those nervous breakdowns, because I just felt numb and I wanted to feel something so desperately. Whenever I had a breakdown, those voices started in my head, telling me that I was worth nothing. And when Alex and I got closer it stopped. From one day to the next, it just stopped. The last time that happened was when I was 21. This has never happened when we got into a fight. I guess, I thought I lost her for good and it triggered these old patterns. Ken, I know I found something greater in Alex, I found purpose. She gave me the strength to realize, who I was and who I wanted to become. So, I continued to work on myself and it made me a better person. She made me and continues to make me feel, which is something I didn’t know how to do properly. So, don’t tell me that this is wrong. You don’t understand what she means to me and how she makes me feel. She makes me want to constantly work on becoming the most perfect girlfriend, fiancée and hopefully wife in this entire world, because that’s what she deserves and that’s what she is to me. But there are days I will fail and I just had a few of them.”

“Well, sounds like I should tell the doctor you suffer from love on the brain.” Ken smiles.

“Yeah, that’s what it is.” Kelley smiles.

#kellex #kelley o'hara #alex morgan #kellexfic #USWNT #kellexfanfic #part12 #love on the brain

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lovehaswonangelnumbers · 6 years ago

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New Post has been published on https://lovehaswonangelnumbers.org/karmic-tools-weekly-forecast-january-20-26-2019/

Karmic Tools Weekly Forecast: January 20 – 26, 2019

By Kelley M. Beard

The video version of this forecast, as read by the author, is available here.

The Karmic Tools Weekly Forecast covers the current planetary transits which affect people in different ways and to various degrees of intensity. Take notice when it is a Personal planet (Sun / Moon / Mercury / Venus / Mars) interacting with a Social (Jupiter/Saturn) or Collective planet (Uranus / Neptune/Pluto). And pay extremely close attention when it is a Social planet interacting with a Collective planet because that means something *big* is brewing that will move large groups of people along their evolutionary paths. Tuning in to the energy and rhythm of the planets can serve as a useful *guide* as you move along your Individual Path. It also helps to understand your place within the context of the larger Social & Collective Story. Below, you will find out how these energies tend to manifest, as well as guidance and direction.

*NOTE* There are some days when there are NO CONTACTS (besides the Moon), please note that there are no missing entries, we just list the actual Activations of each week + the day they happen.

Weekly Forecast: January 20 – 26, 2019

1/20 ~ Venus (love, finances & relationships) ~square~ Neptune (illusions & delusions): This energy is great for creative flow. If you are artistically inclined in any way, you will have access to an energy that may allow you to create something amazing. Dig deep and allow your Self to free-flow! This energy can also challenge relationships (personal or professional) to ‘keep it real’ in some way and ones which are not on a true, solid foundation are likely to dissolve under this influence. When Neptune is involved, we see life through a completely different kind of lens, often seeing the potential rather than the reality of the situation. Detach & Trust. If your relationship happens to end under this influence, it’s not necessarily a bad thing because it suggests that it was never on solid ground to begin with. Be thankful and move on. This activation is just helping you align your true values & priorities with the vision in your mind & heart, but you will have to expand your consciousness in some way, follow your inner compass and take practical steps going forward.

1/21 ~ Mars (anger) ~square~ Saturn (restriction):

This is the energy of action being restricted and the anger or frustration that follows. You can either be angry and feel restricted, limited and unable to move … or you can see this energy as an opportunity to define the right actions to take and strategically plan to take them when the Universe is more supportive. This energy requires us to slow down and double check The Plan. If you proceed consciously, your plan has a better chance of success than if you were reckless & impatient. You may experience a blockage of some sort, internal or external. You may feel this tremendous urge to change or move forward in your life but seem to find blockages and limitations with every effort. That is more likely your perception than a reality, but is there any way that you feel inadequate to the task at hand? What are you afraid of? Fear is False Evidence Appearing Real – release fear and choose to be responsible for creating your life. If you don’t, your outer circumstance only becomes a reflection of your inner belief. You will attract criticism and repel support. Take your grand vision and figure out three small steps you can take on this restricted level that is still taking you in the direction of your goal. Don’t try to initiate at this time, this is a time for cultivating, planning, working behind the scenes, doing the detail work and foundational (grunt work) that is NECESSARY to support the grand vision when the time comes to fully express it.

1/21 ~ LEO Super/Full Moon Lunar Eclipse: The Leo Full Moon often illuminates the discrepancies between who you are, who you think you are and who you are perceived to be. Because it is a Super Moon, you may feel it more intensely and because it is a Lunar Eclipse, you get to break a larger pattern, something that may also resonate with the years: 2008-09 & 1998-99. You are supported to do a personal (and major) release with this eclipse. Think 6-months to a year ago, what is culminating or completing now? Think 9- and 18-years ago for what has integrated within your Heart and how have you matured in your relationships. The Leo Full Moon reveals Self-Love issues and where you have been operating from the Outside-In, when Inside-Out is more effective. It may also expose where your ego has gone unchecked and/or where your Inner Child has been neglected and is now *cranky*. Play is part of being Human and something many have forgotten how to do. We must practice integrating joy into our daily lives! It is more fun & interesting to play with a variety of ideas and possible roles of who you are evolving in to (or would like to over the next 6-12 mos) and your place of service within any chosen Community. In what capacity can you shine and share your Light going forward? Use this final eclipse portal (in the Leo/Aquarius series) to release an old self or old desire of the heart so that a new, evolved version of YOU can be birthed to bless the world. It’s time to release anything that doesn’t truly express who you are so the real you can shine brighter!

1/22 ~ Venus (values & priorities) ~conjunct~ Jupiter (truth & story):

This is an extremely powerful energy that brings the two *benefactors* together to initiate a new cycle that makes you very mentally “present” to the fact that both your values and your truth are shifting. This energy encourages you to improve your life in some way. You can also connect to material abundance & wealth of all kinds when these two get together like this. This is usually a pleasant shift because it is about expanding your sense of authentic beauty, as in nature & the interrelatedness of all living things. There’s also an energy of enthusiasm around new or growing relationships which attracts more positive energy. This is the best time to be creative and expect miracles!

1/23 ~ Mercury (lower mind & ideas) ~square~ Uranus (Higher Mind & awakening): This energy challenges you to expand your mind or consciousness in a way, pushing you to think differently and respond to information in new ways. Uranus brings sudden ah-ha moments, personal awareness and radical new ideas, which is great for you adventurous souls who thrive on change and new ideas. However, if you are personally attached to your routine and things ‘going as planned’, then this energy can cause aggravation and tax your nervous system because things will seem sudden (even though it is more likely that they have already been brewing under the surface for some time now). You will have to adjust and be more open & mentally flexible than usual. You may not be able to control the excessive mental activity or information-overload coming in, but hopefully you can direct it a bit. It’s good to activate or clean your personal filters by taking some time in nature to process things at your own pace and generally clear your head. This can be a very inspiring & creative time, so try to tune into that, while keeping in mind that anything you begin or get into, may require a review later so you can check over the details of your revelations (or creations). You’re just cracking the surface, this is all about the revelation or awakening, you will eventually have to figure out the logistics or effective actions necessary to bring your ideas into form.

1/25 ~ Mars (energy) ~trine~ Jupiter (enthusiasm):

This energy is generally positive as you are combining your energy & desires with an expansion of consciousness. It’s especially good for anything physical and bodes well for outcomes to any competition. You will be channeling more energy than usual so be sure to check in with your body and stay grounded. Jupiter often brings blessings that others may perceive as ‘luck’ but it is more of an alignment between inner Self & outer reality. Even if things are hazy or crazy, do your best to visualize success and put your Self in the picture ; -) You will have a great overall perspective of the “big picture” and can plan accordingly. The only caveat with this energy is to avoid being OVERLY confident where you feel invincible. Be confident, not cocky. This energy is very good for knowing what you need and being capable of making succinct decisions about the course which will get you there. Calculated risks are the name of the game!

*****

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yourbolderswedish · 7 years ago

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A mistake & an update

A recent celebration of life after Cancer 2.0, complete with Spanish cava, delicious fish, and lots of laughter.

I made a mistake.

Yesterday, in an effort to be painfully factual in broadcasting my checkered health history, I downloaded my complete health record.

It was far easier than it should have been. I visited my healthcare provider’s website. I entered my Medical Record Number — a number I now have memorized like my address, phone, social security, European jeans size and other codes of important numerical knowledge.

I then clicked on ‘Download Health History.’ Within seconds, I was looking at a zip file containing far too much data. There were notes about weight gain, weight loss, PTSD treatment, sinus infections, urinary tract infections, breast cancer treatments, pneumonia … Volumes of Ugh.

Let me back up … And apologize. I am sorry. The last time I wrote on Tumblr, I announced Cancer 2.0 and disappeared because I was too shocked and too scared to really talk about anything for a good long time. My last post was more than a year ago and many medical procedures ago.

To sum up the past year or so:

> July 18, 2016 — Breast cancer 2.0. Three years to the date since my first diagnosis with the original breast cancer. This is a new, different cancer. The doctors shake their heads and apologize because it wasn’t supposed to happen like this.

> Aug. 23, 2016 — Surgery. Fourteen lymph nodes removed from beneath my right arm. Seven tested positive for cancer. Two new masses also located beneath my right collarbone. Cancer has come calling again and now made camp throughout my breast. It’s called Metastatic. Fuck. I hate that word.

> September 2016 — I rant and rave to my medical team about the fluid drain still in my armpit after the surgery. For weeks, the drain puts out volumes of fluid and causes me much angst. Eventually, stitches around the drain insertion tear loose (really gross) as I try to fix my backyard fence after a Colorado wind storm. This convinces the surgeon and nurse that it’s time to lose the drain. It’s pulled. Hallelujah!

> Oct. 11, 2016 — I start chemo. (Two days before my birthday.) Four rounds of Adriamycin, aka The Red Devil. This sucks. Not going to lie. When the nurses injecting this drug have to double glove their hands, wear medical gowns and masks, and carefully time the rate at which they push the red fluid from a large syringe into your port, you know there is some toxic misery going into your body.

> Nov. 29, 2016 — PET scan to see if the Devil did the business. Scan results show I am in remission. The Red Devil has, indeed, done its job in knocking down the cancer cells in my right axilla and the masses beneath my right collarbone. (The masses were not removed at surgery because it would have been too difficult to get around the collarbone.) We continue with the original treatment plan with more chemo and radiation on the horizon.

> Dec. 23, 2016 — Begin months of weekly Cytoxan and Taxotere infusions. These drugs aren’t as scary as The Red Devil. Still, my blood counts plummet. I miss some treatment dates. I’m bald. My toenails turn black. I have gained weight. The same drill as last time. Chemotherapy is difficult. Draining. Doable.

> March 1, 2017 — Final infusion of Cytoxan and Taxotere. Begin pestering oncologist and nurse about having the port removed.

> April 3, 2017 — Port-removal surgery. On this day, as I’m being prepped for the simple procedure, someone in the clinic burns microwave popcorn. The entire clinic is evacuated, even those of us wearing not very many clothes and already angry about having a port in their chest. Surgery eventually happens. It hurts more than I remember. My husband tells me my pain tolerance is zero. Awesome.

> End of April to End of May, 2017 — I begin daily radiation treatments. The beams are focused on my right axilla (armpit and down through my ribcage) and a 360-degree scan across my upper chest/back to just below my chin. The daily grind of radiation is difficult. Still, it’s doable. One day, the beams are misaligned and my right lung gets nuked. No one can say why it happened. No lasting damage, however.

> June 20, 2017 — Meet with oncologist. He suggests since my cancers have been hormone fueled I should have my ovaries removed. I am heartbroken because I thought I was done with everything. I know it’s necessary. We start the ball rolling for another procedure.

> Aug. 9, 2017 — I undergo an oophorectomy and full hysterectomy during a robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery. This is my eighth cancer-related surgery. The surgeon is pregnant with her third child. After, she tells me there was so much tissue around my uterus there is no way I would have ever gotten pregnant. Still, there was a robot involved in the surgery. I continue to tell everyone I was cut open by a Battlebot. People don’t know how to respond to that. In looking back, neither do I.

So, there you have it. Cancer 2.0 was treated. Things seem to be going well. I have recovered from the Aug. 9 surgery to the point that I am able to go for daily runs.

The only real issue is the start of lymphedema symptoms in my right arm, back. Some days, this isn’t a big deal. Other days, it’s difficult to lift my arm above my shoulder. I am working on this by doing stretches and trying to stay as active as possible.

Ohhhh … Also, any little itch, bump or twinge makes me think I have cancer again. I am slowly trying to work through that, telling myself I am too toxic to have cancer yet. So, I have that going for me.

Now that we’re caught up, back to my original thought for this post: My complete health history.

I now know why some physicians are so keen about keeping all these records from their patients. Boy howdy, there’s a lot of information packed into the files. For me at least.

I downloaded the files to have a record of my diagnosis dates, medical explanations and treatments. I am trying to put the past few years and my experiences into a book.

In truth, I have tried this before. I had a pretty good start on this project before Cancer 2.0 showed up. When that happened, I went radio silent.

After writing and sharing so much about Cancer 1.0, I feared I had angered the Cancer Gods, given them reason to strike me down. So, I stopped writing. I stopped researching. I basically went on my way along the treatment path.

In some ways, I am glad I did. In others, I wish I had said more, shared more.

I guess that’s what I’m trying to do with my current project. In addition to it being cathartic to put these words to paper it also, I hope, might help someone.

I’m told being diagnosed with a new primary breast cancer after treatment for another is pretty rare. In all honesty, the doctors shook their heads when talking about this second diagnosis. They were as flummoxed as me, I think.

It has been an uncomfortable, confusing time. Through it all, though, my husband — The Weed — has been a mensch. I recently remarked to a friend: ‘If you had told me 25 years ago that the guy I hung out with because he made me laugh and listened to Redhead Kingpin would become my emotional rock, I would have thought you quite mad.’ That’s the truth. Yet, here I am, and I’m so effing thankful to have him standing by me and still listening to Redhead Kingpin.

I hope to be writing more again. I need to get this out. Get it recorded. I need to start wrapping my head around an outline for the last several years.

For anyone still reading after my long silence, thank you! I hope we can stay in touch. And, if you have any suggestions for giving birth to a book, please … Oh Please! … help a sister out.

Peace. Love. Good to talk with you again.

~Kelley

#cancerdiva publishing memoir #breastcancer #breastcancerawareness

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junker-town · 6 years ago

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UAB has a big challenge in 2019, but it’s overcome bigger

Bill Clark took his zombie program to a C-USA title in 2018 but must replace a truckload of seniors. What happens as he attempts to establish roster balance?

Bill C’s annual preview series of every FBS team in college football continues. Catch up here!

Bill Clark has been employed by the University of Alabama-Birmingham for five years. In that time, the following has happened:

He improved the Blazers by four wins, from 2-10 to 6-6 (and from 113th in S&P+ to 83rd) in his 2014 debut campaign.

He watched his team dissolved and sold for parts. UAB basically self-imposed a two-year death penalty for reasons that, as time has passed, have gotten no less dumb.

Somehow, he stayed. The former South Alabama defensive coordinator and Jacksonville State head coach could have found gainful employment elsewhere, but he chose not to. Even when he no longer had a roster.

He got his team back. The Blazers started playing football again in 2017.

It was announced that UAB would finally get the downtown (near-campus) stadium it had wanted for years.

Improbably, the Blazers picked up right where they left off on the field, going 8-5 with a Bahamas Bowl bid in 2017, then going 11-3 and winning Conference USA in 2018. They stomped Northern Illinois for the program’s first bowl win.

This will forever remain one of the strangest tales in college football’s strange history. Long an afterthought within the University of Alabama system, UAB football had to die to come back stronger.

Here’s where I want to deliver a change-of-direction, one-sentence paragraph like “And now the real work begins.” I’m not above such a thing, and it could be rather apt, for reasons I’ll discuss in a moment. But how in the world do you top “stayed in town to lead a zombie football program“ from a Bill Clark Degree of Difficulty standpoint? No matter what happens from here on out, it’s not that.

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Bill Clark at the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year reception

But yeah, this year’s going to be tricky. Clark heads into 2019 replacing his leading passer, his top four wideouts, four starting offensive linemen, all three starting defensive linemen, four of his top five linebackers, and four of his top seven defensive backs. When he was putting together his zombie roster, he predictably leaned heavily into the JUCO ranks — you would, too, because the only other option was to hit the ground with a bunch of redshirt freshmen.

Though he tried his best to balance classes and not field a lineup with 22 juniors in 2017, Clark still had a lot of juniors. They became seniors for last year’s C-USA title run, and now they’re gone. He dipped back into the JUCO well a bit again this year and probably will most years moving forward, but 2019’s the season in which the quest for roster balance takes center stage. It might be at least momentarily bumpy.

He found a bridge last year at quarterback, though. Yes, technically leading passer A.J. Erdely is gone — that wasn’t just a rhetorical flourish — but freshman Tyler Johnston III took over in the starting lineup midseason and topped Erdely’s production dramatically: 8.7 yards per pass attempt (including sacks) vs. 6.6, plus-9.4 percent marginal efficiency vs. minus-2.4. He wasn’t quite as explosive as Erdely with his legs, but he was more efficient (49 percent success rate vs. 47).

With Johnston and junior running back Spencer Brown (1,227 rushing yards) both returning, there are somewhat proven pieces to build around, and the defense does return a handful of last year’s stars: linebacker Fitzgerald Mofor, safety Kristopher Moll, cornerback Brontae Harris, etc.

Clark’s Blazers need receivers, and they are completely unproven from a depth perspective. Predictably, S&P+ projects UAB to fall from 75th to 106th because of low returning production numbers. But in the three seasons he’s been able to field a team, Clark has engineered major overachievement all three times. This year will be tricky, but Clark gets the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise. And there’s nothing you can throw at him and his program that will be harder than what they’ve already overcome.

Offense

Clark got his 2014 offensive coordinator back last fall. Bryant Vincent, who left for South Alabama when the program disbanded, returned to Birmingham and engineered at least a little bit of improvement. The Blazers rose from 117th to 104th in Off. S&P+ and perhaps would have improved more with a full season of Johnston at the helm. This is a defense-first program and likely always will be with Clark in charge, but the offense had the makings of an identity last fall, combining run-first efficiency with big-play passing.

With Johnston, the pass didn’t have to play quite as complementary a role. He was 25-for-39 for 306 yards, two touchdowns, and two picks against a good Texas A&M defense late in the year, then torched an almost equally strong NIU defense to the tune of 17-for-29 for 373 yards, four scores, and one pick in the Boca Raton Bowl.

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Tyler Johnston III

Of course, he achieved that with a bunch of receivers that won’t be suiting up this year. Xavier Ubosi, Andre Wilson, Collin Lisa, and Kailon Carter combined for 123 catches, 2,285 yards, and 16 touchdowns last year, then all departed. Leading tight end Donnie Lee is gone, too.

Only two returning wideouts caught passes in 2018; Kendall Parham and Austin Watkins combined for 21 catches and 279 yards. Parham matched the departed seniors from an efficiency standpoint, but the 5’10, 180-pound senior from Hattiesburg will be facing a lot more No. 1 cornerbacks this coming season.

Some former star recruits will have to step up. Junior Demetrius Davis and sophomore Kevin Davis were both three-star prospects once upon a time, and if he makes it to campus, so is JUCO transfer Markus Grossman. Sederian Copeland was one of Clark’s best zombie recruits and caught 11 balls in 2017 before missing last year with injury. So maybe there’s some upside to this new receiving corps. But the turnover is comprehensive, and the depth is unproven.

John Glaser-USA TODAY Sports

Spencer Brown

Vincent’s offense was pretty predictable last year — run on run downs (sixth in standard downs run rate), throw on throwing downs (92nd in passing downs run rate) — and at least the former part of that will probably remain in 2019. The Blazers might have an unproven passing game, but they do have a workhorse in Brown. The 220-pound junior doesn’t bring much explosiveness to the table, but UAB ranked 33rd in opportunity rate (percentage of non-sack carries gaining at least four yards), and he was a primary reason why.

For a change of pace, UAB’s also got Jonathan Haden again. The senior-to-be, a former Arizona back, also missed 2018 with injury, and while he’s the size of a slot receiver (5’7, 175), there’s size behind Brown on the depth chart, too, sophomores Lucious Stanley (6’0, 215) and Arkansas State transfer Larry Wooden (6’0, 210).

There might be decent depth at running back, but it’s hard to say the same about the line. Center Lee Defour — one of the two remaining 2014 Originals (along with kicker Nick Vogel) — is the only returning starter, and while three others saw spot starts (seniors Andrew Smith Jr. and Davide Galten, junior Greg Fecanin), all four departed starters were either first- or second-team all-conference. The bar is high. Clark signed two mammoth three-star JUCOs (Sidney Wells and Matthew Trehern) to try to stem the tide here.

Defense

David Reeves served as defensive line coach in 2014, then remained with Clark during UAB’s hiatus and took over as defensive coordinator when, you know, the Blazers had a defense to coordinate. After a mix-and-match 2017, UAB’s senior-heavy 2018 defense dominated. The Blazers surged to 45th in Def. S&P+, attacking you on both standard downs and passing downs.

UAB on standard downs: 2nd in marginal efficiency, 72nd in marginal explosiveness, 2nd in sack rate

UAB on passing downs: 28th in marginal efficiency, 96th in marginal explosiveness, 6th in sack rate

This was an all-or-nothing, get-you-before-you-get-me kind of style, and it worked beautifully with 2018’s experienced personnel. There will almost certainly be a drop-off in 2019, but the size is yet to be determined.

John Glaser-USA TODAY Sports

Fitzgerald Mofor (52)

We’ll start in the back, where there’s reason for optimism. Brontae Harris was one of Pro Football Focus’ 10 top-graded cornerbacks last season, combining four tackles for loss with 13 passes defensed, and nickel back Kristopher Moll was dynamite both near the line of scrimmage (7.5 TFLs) and further away (five passes defensed). The next two cornerbacks after Harris are gone, but sophomore Starling Thomas could be ready for a star turn. Former star recruit CD Daniels could also see more playing time.

That’s a good start. The safety position is tenuous enough beyond Moll that a couple of running backs (Jarrion Street and Trey Whitmore, who combined for 297 rushing yards in 2018) converted to DB, but between the former RBs and veterans like Dy’jonn Turner and former Indiana safety Will Dawkins, there are some non-freshman options.

Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Garrett Marino (44)

Up front, UAB’s got lineman Garrett Marino, linebacker Fitzgerald Mofor, and who-the-heck-knows after that. Those seniors are the only front-seven returnees who made at least 12 tackles last season.

Clark added three JUCOs (including 355-pound behemoth Tony Fair) and USF transfer Mi’Cario Stanley and, in anticipation of this year’s turnover, attempted to use the new four-game redshirt rule to his benefit — both nose tackle Fish McWilliams and linebacker Jalen Rayam were given sporadic rotation time. As with the receiving corps, there is a mixture of new and old here, and it might work out, but UAB needs both new first- and second-stringers, which obviously calls depth into question.

Special Teams

You could make a decent case that UAB’s special teams is the most proven returning unit on the roster. The Blazers ranked 25th in Special Teams S&P+ last year, thanks in part to Nick Vogel’s automatic touchbacks on kickoffs and punter Kyle Greenwell’s high, mostly un-returnable punts.

Vogel was automatic inside of 40 yards (12-for-12, plus 51-for-52 on PATs), if very much not outside of 40 (3-for-12). The primary new face in this unit will be in returns, where someone has to replace the efficient Andre Wilson. I know of one freshman who’ll likely get a shot at the job.

2019 outlook

2019 Schedule & Projection Factors

Date Opponent Proj. S&P+ Rk Proj. Margin Win Probability 29-Aug Alabama State NR 36.0 98% 7-Sep at Akron 124 7.6 67% 21-Sep South Alabama 127 13.5 78% 28-Sep at Western Kentucky 101 -3.7 42% 5-Oct Rice 126 12.7 77% 12-Oct at UTSA 128 9.4 71% 19-Oct Old Dominion 119 10.3 72% 2-Nov at Tennessee 21 -25.2 7% 9-Nov at Southern Miss 74 -12.3 24% 16-Nov UTEP 130 21.2 89% 23-Nov Louisiana Tech 86 -4.9 39% 30-Nov at North Texas 84 -10.2 28%

Projected S&P+ Rk 106 Proj. Off. / Def. Rk 119 / 76 Projected wins 6.9 Five-Year S&P+ Rk -6.7 (92) 2- and 5-Year Recruiting Rk 91 2018 TO Margin / Adj. TO Margin* 0 / 4.5 2018 TO Luck/Game -1.6 Returning Production (Off. / Def.) 36% (33%, 39%) 2018 Second-order wins (difference) 10.1 (0.9)

Act III of Clark’s UAB tenure begins this fall. It won’t be a stupid as Act I or as incredibly redeeming as Act II, but it’s just as important. Recruiting is picking up, and the new stadium is on the horizon, and while Clark is allowed a few mulligans at this point, we’ll see if recent efforts to brace for 2019’s massive turnover pay off.

The schedule certainly won’t hurt. UAB has one of the cakiest slates you’ll ever see for an FBS team; the Blazers won’t play a single opponent projected higher than 101st in S&P+ until November, and that doesn’t even tell the whole story: after starting with Alabama State, they’ll play five of the 12 worst-projected FBS teams: Akron and South Alabama in non-conference play, then Rice, UTSA, and ODU in C-USA action.

The schedule gets tougher late, with trips to Tennessee, Southern Miss, and North Texas and a visit from Louisiana Tech. But even with a pessimistic No. 106 projection, S&P+ still gives the Blazers good odds of reaching another bowl. And if they overachieve, as Clark teams are wont to do, they won’t need many breaks to reach at least eight or nine wins.

If they pull that off during a massive overhaul season, just think of what they might accomplish when they’ve got some semblance of roster balance.

Going 8-4 or so during a rebuild would be an amazing story, but honestly, if UAB has done anything in the last five years, it’s normalize the word “amazing.” Everything that has happened since Clark came to town, both good and bad, has qualified for that adjective. And it’s been a lot more good than bad recently.

Team preview stats

All 2019 preview data to date.

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miss-queenkellz · 6 years ago

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My name is Alyssa Ann Kelley. I am here to share my story. I am here to help others and empower them to love themselves, because in the end we only have ourselves. I was in the USAF from May 2011-2013. I wasn’t in long but when I was in, I had quite the experience. I had all my technical school training and Basic training in Texas at Lackland, AFB. I went on to my first duty station as active duty in South Korea at Osan, AFB. It was about an hour away from Seoul. I learned a lot about life fast when I was in the military. Everything was so organized and in order. People were ranked according to their experience, college degrees. You had to respect anyone ranked above you. I always wanted to help serve my country because I like helping people and I have a big heart. My big heart is a blessing but can also be a curse. I tend to trust people to easily and let my guard down without thinking twice. Well one night, I was feeling very homesick, I missed home, I felt like I had no family anymore because I would only see them on skype often. It felt as if they did not really exist anymore. They were just strangers on skype to me. I had my supervisor come over because we are supposed to trust them and if we need comfort, help, anything we go to them first. So I invited mine over. I was very tired and when we talked I ended up falling asleep on my bed. He was about 15-20 years older than me. I was woken up by a surprise I will never forget. He tried fingering me and I was shocked and didn’t know what to do. I froze like my world was paused for a minute. I finally came up with the idea of making the excuse I needed to take a bath so I could get him to leave my room. It felt awkward seeing him at the squadron after that night. Then a few days later it hit me. I had been sexually assaulted in the military. I had to tell someone. I went to my first sergeant and she was very helpful. I spent the entire day in OSI talking about what had happened. They gathered DNA and all my belongings from my room. The guy had admitted to what he’d done to me. It really hurts when you get taken for granted and taken advantage of. I never once asked for it or was expecting this to happen. Shortly after this assault happened, I met this guy named Kyle. He was my rock, my friend, my boyfriend, and what I had thought would be my future husband. We had so many plans together like what we were gonna drive, where we were gonna live, we even talked about getting engaged and having children of our own one day. Well it was time for me to go to my next base in Alabama and I would come back to Korea about a month later to appear at the courts martial for my sexual assault case. Kyle and I decided to skype and make a one month long distance relationship work. Everything was great until I came back to him. We were fine the first few days, then all of a sudden, he was very distant, I was wondering why he hadn’t asked me to be his wife yet. We had it all planned. So one night I asked him where the ring was. He showed me it and put it back in his pocket. He didn’t want me anymore. It was very heartbreaking. This guy had helped me through one of the toughest moments in my life and now he was just “done”. I didn't know what to do. I felt lost, I felt guilty as if everything was my fault. There is not a year that goes by that I haven’t thought about us. The day before I left I remember going back on base in a taxi and the song Try by Pink came on. It literally broke my heart, I burst out in tears for a good 20 minutes. I seen him scanning my ID. He looked at me then looked away. That was the last time I’ve ever seen him. On the morning I was waiting to fly out at the airport, he sent me one text saying, “Have a safe flight”. After that, I hadn't heard from him for about 3 years. He would occasionally try talking to me every few years. But this couldn’t keep continuing. He would get my hopes up just to break me down again and again. I never wanted to lose Kyle, but at this point he had made me lose myself. I had no longer been the same since. I was so loyal to him, I would give him my last breath If our lives depended on it. Sadly, this last time I heard from him which was a few months ago. I had to cut him off for good. It was the toughest decision of my life, but I knew my heart and feelings couldn’t handle anymore. I told him to never contact me again. It sucks he was my everything and now I want nothing more to do with him. After all of this breakup happening I returned back to my base in Alabama, a few weeks later after they had pepper sprayed certified me, they told me I was being forced out of the military. I fought to stay in but I was at such a bad time in my life, I felt maybe it was best I had gone home and left this lifestyle behind. I couldn't handle the hurt alone. So I told them, I will be ok going home. I miss the military sometimes and how I was called Kelley. I miss the authoritive, carefree girl I used to be. It sucks going through everything then feeling like you are unwanted by everyone. I went home, and I got my CNA license. I had a job about a month after I separated. This was a very tough time for me and this was just one of the small parts to my life that went wrong.

#military USAF activeduty sexualassault

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travelawaitsme-blog · 8 years ago

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ABS Biloxi, Mississippi

March 6, 2016

My service trip adventure started at 5am Sunday March 6th, 2016. I headed down to Biloxi, Mississippi to do community and environmental restoration. The road trip down to Biloxi was ten hours, I drove nine hours and only stopped five times. On this trip with me were ten other women. Us eleven girls decided instead of wasting away in Margaritaville, we were going to put our spring break to good use by giving back to a community that had been damaged and broken by Hurricane Katrina.

During the drive down to Mississippi I had a lot of time to think as I was cruising about 85 miles per hour down Interstate 55. This was the first time that I’ve ever used cruise control, what a wonderful thing it is! My car unfortunately doesn’t have it. One the way done I saw signs for Macomb and Mobile, Alabama. This reminded me of my favorite book “To Kill a Mockingbird”. I wish I could have went and stopped to see what it was like in those places! By time I arrived at Camp Wilkes, where the group was staying, I was exhausted beyond belief. There were two other groups of women from two different universities, Vermont and Virginia.

March 7, 2016

This was our first day of service we went to help Sue’s Home. Sue’s Home is a non-profit organization that helps women who are battling addiction. Sue’s Home was built on donations and volunteers. At the end the group was able to go out and see Sue’s Home and get a tour.

The group went out to the church that supports Sue’s Home and helped remodel their new building by painting rooms and moving things around. I got to help with renewing the rooms upstairs. I learned how to caulk the fixtures and then I helped paint part of the room. While I was working I thought that more people like me or people that are better off need to be doing more things like this [working and servicing communities in need] because communities in particular areas are falling apart and the people in those communities are struggling to help themselves . The group definitely did hard work that was very beneficial to the community.

The group went to the beach for a lunch break and while on the beach I sat on the sturdy half of a broken dock, [picture on my Instagram] looking out off this dock made me think that even if you or something is broken doesn’t mean you aren’t beautiful and can’t be fixed. It was a lovely view. It was a nice break after a long morning of working.

March 8, 2016

The group traveled out to Henderson Point, Mississippi to do environmental restoration where Hurricane Katrina hit. The weather was 72 degrees out, a good day to be outside giving back to the community. The project that we worked on this day was going to be a nature playground/classroom for elementary children in the area. The place will be used to teach the young children about nature and the environment.

For this project we were clearing debris from this area [mostly parts of home that were destroyed] and clearing a trail for the children to use. I was given a machete to use as I was clearing a path for the children. I was also tasked with cutting down invasive species such as the Chinese Tallow. The tallow grows and takes over the area not allowing for native species to grow. We worked with Jim Kelley who have us a tour of the area and educated us on the species and things in the area. I am glad that there are people like Jim that are dedicating their time to help this cause. Thanks Jim!

I felt weird destroying nature in order to make a place for people to enjoy nature and learn how to keep the planet clean and green. However if we didn’t make such places there would be no nature for people to enjoy. It is a interesting concept. Again it was good to give back and I wish more people would do this type of work because it is so beneficial to the community

After we were done with working all day we headed out for some fun. We went to the beach and walked along a long pier then journeyed over to the 500 year old tree that survived Hurricane Katrina. We topped our day off with ice cream!

March 9, 2016

This was another day of community restoration. Half of the group went to a home that was ruined by flooding and poverty. The home belonged to a single mom and her son. The group got to help rebuild this home while learning how to use power tools and other construction site things. Here we met Don Harris, who has been working on homes like this for years. He was such a great person to meet. Don took our group out to beach for lunch and told us all about his work. More people need to be like Don, Jim and even like our group by lending a helping hand to communities and families in need.

Not only did he teach us how to use tools but he also gave us some great life advice. He gave a speech and told us that your relationships matter and the quality of the relationships are key to happiness. Thanks Don!

March 10

New Orleans was our destination for this day. We took a day to ourselves and headed to NOLA. We went down to the French Quarters. The group had French doughnuts called beignets at Cafe Du Monde. After a quick bite we head up and down the streets of the French Quarters. We stopped and shopped at many of the places whilst making our way to the famous Bourbon Street.I also got to see Toulouse Street! [Aristocat fan!] It was interesting to see all the things that were going on down in NOLA. For lunch I had a crab cake sandwich and it was so delicious! My stomach was meant for southern food!

After a day of walking and shopping we headed to the famous above ground cemetery, Lafayette Cemetery and got a guided tour of all the famous while learning how the tombs worked. It was a great experience. Definitely experienced a lot of voo doo down in NOLA!

The group went and enjoyed dinner at Shaggy’s! I had the sea food pasta with shrimp and craw fish! Oh how I will miss the food down there!

[Pictures of the trip on my Instagram, kb.globaltreks and my blog for more stories https://globaltreksblog.wordpress.com/]

#adventure #mississippi #NOLA #service

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bharatiyamedia-blog · 5 years ago

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With MIB: Worldwide, Lexus Is Forged as a Blockbuster Automotive

http://tinyurl.com/yyh99urc When moviegoers first noticed King T’Challa in motion as Black Panther it was an actual showstopper: The Marvel comedian guide character clings to the highest of a modern new Lexus LC sports activities coupe as he surfs by means of the busy streets of Busan, South Korea, in a high-speed chase that in the end destroys his remote-controlled experience. The scene’s a crowdpleaser, to make sure—and it efficiently sells Lexus’ picture as a maker of high-performance luxurious sports activities vehicles to a youthful viewers. Beginning this weekend, with a outstanding position in Sony’s sci-fi franchise Males in Black: Worldwide, the Japanese automotive firm hopes so as to add one other hit to its credit, giving it supporting roles in summer season blockbusters for 2 years working. However betting on a film’s success is a recreation that the majority veteran studio executives have a tough time taking part in, not to mention luxurious automotive manufacturers. And irrespective of how a lot cash is sunk right into a undertaking, there aren’t any ensures on the field workplace. As an example, Black Panther may have been a giant miss for the Japanese luxurious automaker. The titular foremost character, who guidelines a fictional technologically superior African nation, was comparatively unknown to most audiences previous to the film’s launch. Lexus executives weren’t allowed to learn the script earlier than signing on to help the movie, giving the corporate no assure of how its model would seem on display screen. The manufacturing additionally needed six coupes to make use of for filming, which compelled Lexus to offer custom-built prototypes that may value upwards of $1 million every, for the reason that precise automobile was not being produced. For Lexus, whose company father or mother Toyota isn’t recognized for danger taking, the gamble paid off. Black Panther blew away expectations to develop into 2018’s highest-grossing film within the U.S., incomes greater than $700 million domestically, and practically $1.Four billion worldwide. And the movie didn’t simply enchantment to comedian guide followers, it also over-indexed with African-Americans, on condition that Black Panther was the primary big-budget Marvel Studio’s film to characteristic a black actor because the lead. “Lexus has all the time been dedicated to celebrating the wealthy range of our clients, however Black Panther catapulted it to a brand new degree,” says Lisa Materazzo, Lexus’ vp of promoting. Betting on blockbusters With Males in Black: Worldwide, Lexus is taking much less of a danger. Sony has put appreciable sources into respiratory new life into its $2 billion franchise, which now stars Chris Hemsworth (Marvel’s hammer-wielding Thor) and Tessa Thompson, who proved a profitable duo collectively in Thor: Ragnarok. Within the new MIB movie, Lexus’ aggressive RC F sports activities coupe races by means of London, serving to brokers escape threatening aliens, earlier than remodeling right into a jet. Lexus’ RX Hybrid and LX SUVs are additionally featured in scenes with alien encounters. In each MIB and Panther, Lexus is portrayed as a future-forward designer of high-tech autos, a positioning that promotes the corporate’s latest slogan “Expertise Wonderful.” “The fantastic thing about movie integrations is that not one of the conventional guidelines apply,” Materazzo says. “It’s a possibility to accomplice with filmmakers to think about the entire prospects.” This isn’t essentially new floor for Lexus, which has launched different high-tech merchandise like a hoverboard and sports activities yacht idea over the previous a number of years to broaden the model’s enchantment to prosperous patrons within the sought-after 45- to 55-year-old market. Lexus is wanting to make use of movies as a option to launch new emotionally participating campaigns across the launch of its new sports activities vehicles and luxurious sedans and SUVs. It particularly sees motion pictures as a option to faucet into conversations round cultural occasions. However forcing your model into the story doesn’t come low-cost. Along with offering costly prototypes to filmmakers for Panther, Lexus produced a comic book guide and {custom} movies, in addition to purchased a 30-second Tremendous Bowl spot for the tie-in and LC 500 launch that value the corporate greater than $5 million. However when Marvel’s motion pictures have made a mixed $21 billion worldwide to this point (together with the newest “Avengers”), you are taking the chance. A technique as previous as Bond, James Bond If Lexus looks like it’s siding as much as well-dressed secret brokers, there’s a motive: The model is targeted on pushing the efficiency of its vehicles, technological innovation and magnificence—whereas having some enjoyable. That sort of limits simply who will get to drive its hero vehicles. “We think about how our product aligns with the character who drives it,” Materazzo says, and “how the combination would possibly allow us to light up a core model fact throughout the story.” However the automaker wasn’t particularly trying to get into the superhero enterprise, although Black Panther was anticipated to be groundbreaking in bringing the character to the massive display screen, on condition that star Chadwick Boseman is the primary black actor to headline a big-budget superhero movie which includes a largely African-American solid. So placing Black Panther in a LS 500 sedan and LC 500 coupe within the movie and advertising supplies was akin to pairing James Bond with Aston Martin. However moviegoers haven’t all the time embraced the movies Lexus has supported with product placement. In 2017, the identical yr “Expertise Wonderful” launched, Lexus developed the designs for a futuristic jet for Luc Besson’s expensive sci-fi fantasy Valerian and the Metropolis of a Thousand Planets, which didn’t take off, incomes simply $226 million worldwide. Alternatively, when the movies work, they clearly assist enhance Lexus’ model picture, and increase gross sales. It’s “Lengthy Reside the King” Tremendous Bowl spot helped increase searches for Lexus’ LS sedan by 2,500%, in accordance with auto website Kelley Blue E book shortly after the advert launched. And on-line searches for Lexus rose 15% the week after Panther’s debut, whereas the LC 500 was up 10% by itself, in accordance with Autotrader. Lexus recorded its finest international gross sales yr in 2018, transferring 698,330 autos off dealership tons, a rise of 4.5%—a tricky determine for anybody to succeed in, in what’s changing into a crowded luxurious auto market. “Auto corporations partnering on motion pictures is extra about publicity than gross sales,” says Michelle Krebs, govt analyst at Autotrader. That is true particularly summer season blockbusters that entice thousands and thousands of moviegoers, she provides, noting that Nissan’s affiliation with the Star Wars movies enabled it to have a themed auto present exhibit, “which absolutely drew a number of youngsters with their mother and father in tow to an exhibit they may in any other case have skipped.” Along with the Black Panther franchise—which Lexus isn’t anticipated to surrender although a sequel isn’t anticipated till 2021—the automaker will doubtless seem in future Marvel motion pictures. Marvel Studios’ advertising experts desire long-term relationships with manufacturers. As an example, Audi has been the automobile of selection for Iron Man since 2008. Different Avengers movies additionally featured Acura. Nevertheless it additionally has eyes on different franchises, as evidenced by its high-visibility position in MIB. Lexus says doesn’t have a “strict rule” for what number of movies it needs to rally round per yr, “one excessive profile partnership per yr (feels) about proper,” Materazzo says. “We’re actively contemplating a number of prospects.” Whether or not MIB tanks or soars, Lexus’ diversification is a great technique for Hollywood tentpole model integrations. As a result of even with all of Black Panther‘s success, if the film proved one factor it’s that you could’t keep in Wakanda without end. Source link

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