#New Jersey Monthly

[rollercoasterwords]

I need to ask cause I kinda want to publish some poetry of mine. How do you self-publish something? Also how do you know when something is good enough to publish?

ummmm i am not the right person to ask lol i have never self-published. the only poetry i've published at all has been in very small indie lit mags & the way i've done that is basically when i find a poet or poem i like i see where they publish & if the publications are accepting submissions etc. there are tons of indie lit mags out there u could also look out for like flyers on college campuses or in coffee shops or bookstores etc sometimes local lit mags or zines or other various publications will advertise that they're open for submission the old-fashioned way. or if u find one lit mag u like go find their insta or social media & see who they follow -- sometimes u can find other similar publications that way.

& there's no such thing as "good enough to publish" tons of dogshit writing gets published every year. free urself from the idea that publication is a metric by which literary value is measured...read essays against publishing by jamie berrout...if you've written a poem that u like & u wanna try to publish it just go for it. & if u decide that u don't wanna publish it u can still just post it on the internet & share it that way. some of my favorite writing i've ever encountered is stuff people just posted on the internet that was never officially published. even if one single person reads it and loves it & copies it down in their journal or memorizes a line or thinks of it from time to time that's what art's all about....

[imperatorrrrr]

New Jersey Devils - December 2024 - Month In Review

The New Jersey Devils are 24-13-3 with fifty one points, second place in the Metropolitan Division.

Out of a total of twenty six points, we came out of the month with seventeen points, which is more than half and some of those points count extra because they were against the Rags.

Roster Information: Santeri Hatakka is on the injured reserve.

T's Five Stars of the Month:

Jacob Markstrom

Luke Hughes

Brett Pesce

Jack Hughes

Jesper Bratt

T's Thoughts, in no particular order:

We have ourselves a star goalie, folks. We have ourselves a star studded stealing games save making goalie. Marky has truly and completely arrived and its a sight to see. Keeping us in games we have no business being in. Six game win streak that only just ended. Second best GAA and second for wins all season and shutouts all season. We have a goalie, baby!

We are back to full health! BFF Curtis is back. Nate is back. Huzzah!

Everyone say it with me, FUCK THE RAGS. we beat them twice! Putting up five goals against them twice and even shutting them out once.

Jack Hughes, Rags Killer Extraordinaire.

Also, lets all take a moment for that patented Jack Hughes smile.

Luke Hughes' offensive game has returned and he's going to take the whole league by storm. Eleven points in thirteen games this month. Eleven points.

But it is not all sunshine and roses my friends. We do have some underlying concerns and that is our bottom six.

Our goals are coming almost exclusively from our top six. We're even getting more production from our blue line than our bottom six. Something's gotta give.

We need depth scoring and we cannot depend on the stars to deliver every night.

But you know who is finally stepping up and showing his worth, Ondrej Palat. Really have to give him his props here. He has found himself a home on the PBandJ line and is really contributing and letting those two shine.

Yes, he can still be frustrating to watch at times, but its definitely better than what we were seeing back in October.

Lets talk about Jack Hughes, Penalty Killer. Because I love him.

Did you know he gots his first short handed point this month and it was on a Brett Pesce short handed goal which was not only his first goal as a Devil but also his first short handed goal of his career? Yeah. YEAH.

We can't win four in a row.

And we were only shut out once.

The Devils broke an NHL record allowing twenty or fewer shots for seven straight games.

We were defensive beasts for the middle chunk of December there. Flashbacks to everyone hating us in the early thousands for our defensive game.

Unfortunately, we've kind of lost our way since the mini holiday break. I hope its just because we lost of our rhythm and routine and its the end of the year and its not a sign of a bigger issue or something to be concerned about.

We don't wanna regress here. We've been seeing progress all season long and we don't wanna lose that.

Splitting the season series with Carolina is huge especially because there is a huge chance we face them in the playoffs at some point.

And also just for good measure, fuck the Canes, bruh.

I am hoping Fitzington is looking at middle six/bottom six folks as he scouts other teams and takes a look at the upcoming trade deadline. We need center depth please and we need to tighten up our bottom six.

December showed us what consistency from the Devils can look like. December showed us that we are never out of the game and we can always try to come back. December showed us we have fight. And most importantly, December showed us we can win at home in front of the home fans and really put on a show.

Happy New Year, Devils Fans! See you at the end of January!

[amoghbanagere915]

New Jersey Monthly Magazine features Amogh!

February 21st, 2023 – New Jersey Monthly magazine featured Amogh’s American Mensa journey as a part of their “New Jersey Monthly’s Book of Records”. We are absolutely thankful and grateful for this opportunity! Great write-up by Thomas Neira! (more…) “”

[wolfboy-tobi]

Can’t feel the Heat

Danny can’t feel extremely hot things.

Danny Fenton x Jason Todd but other then that.

Edited: February 11, 2025

Part 1 of 2

Danny could not feel something that was hot. Like extremely hot. He didn’t notice until one day when he was 16, trying to catch a pan that had pizza bagels before they hit the floor and it didn’t hurt him. Just barely warm.

Danny was very confused because they should be hot right? It just came out of the oven. He could feel the warmth of the oven so it definitely was on at some point and his pizza bagels definitely were cooked.

He got his sister Jazz to hold a pizza bagel to make sure he wasn’t imagining anything— cue the screams and cursing of Daniel Fenton's full name and a lot of trial and error to find out he can’t feel the extreme heat of anything.

The list includes things as small as candle flames, stove tops, blowtorch, and things as big as the actual sun (that one took some help from some Ancient beings.) he was able to just lay in it and not burn to an absolute crisp.

So when he left home at 18 to go to a college in Gotham New Jersey, since it was the only place willing to give him a full scholarship plus a monthly allowance he took it and ran.

It did take him a while to adjust to the fact that some of the things he does outside of Amity park aren’t normal to other people such as grabbing a hot pan out the oven with his bare hands.

The first time it happened was when he moved into a place that was affordable and not that far from campus with a full kitchen and spacious living— he really wanted to cook.

Cue in his super hot roommate/landlord—Jason just staring at him like he was fully insane before slapping the tray out of his hand grabbing his hands to run them under cool running water. Yelling at him slightly, asking him a million questions before realizing his hands aren’t red or blistered his hands are actually fine. But that didn’t make any sense to Jason. The pan was hot and the oven was still on from what he could see.

Jason grabbed the pan slightly off the floor just to make sure and hissed when it hurt him slightly. Danny immediately grabbed his hand and placed them under the water, scolding him this time.

Danny was crying inside though because Jason made him drop the freshly cooked chicken nuggets on the floor and that was just cold.

Jason figures out some time later after he ordered take out for the both of them that this cute guy he let move in since he needed a good cover story and to lay low from his suspecting family and the other mob bosses that are trying to find him out. Was some type of meta human because he didn’t have oven mitts on, he just grabbed a hot pan and it didn’t burn him.

Jason decided to keep him around after that, Danny was happy he got food and that Jason was paying for it.

PART 2 COMING SOON— also if you use this in fanfic let me know please!!

I want to read them!

[emo-band-recommendations]

Orchid

Subgenre(s): Skramz, emoviolence, emotional hardcore

Wave(s): 2nd

Location: Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

Years Active: 1997-2002, 2024-present

Recommended Album(s): Chaos Is Me (1999), Dance Tonight! Revolution Tomorrow! (2000)

Members: Jayson Green (vocals, keyboard, percussion), Will Killingsworth (guitar, keyboard), Jeffrey Salane (drums, percussion), Brad Wallace (bass), Geoff Garlock (bass)

Label(s): Ebullition, Clean Plate

Spotify Monthly Listeners: 34.9k

About: Orchid is considered one of the most influential bands in the screamo scene, as well as a major band within the hardcore punk scene. Jayson Green later played in a hardcore supergroup named Violent Bullshit. The band recently reunited and played their first show in 22 years in Amherst, Massachusetts.

[lv-iceprince]

DAD SEUNGMIN PLS🥺💕 loved the hyunlix one!!!!

ahhhh thank you thank you for requesting! it's people like you who make it a joy to write! ye ye ye

~~~~~

🤎🐾 puppy love~ seungmin as a dad

~~~~~

*~alexa play higher by albert posis~*

🐻you know the feeling when you’re just so in love that your braincells cease up. yeah that's seungmin the pussy drunk guy who was still shocked at the news of the pregnancy like he wasn't the one who knocked you up even though you just had sex two weeks ago

🐻it's the seungmin way to flash the brightest smile even though he is just confused, and that is literally the mood the entire time he is a dad, he mightn't get it sometimes but he'll just go along with it

🐻is somehow the most prepared person in the entire universe even though he pretty much just sits there being himself, don't question it

🐻everything was unexpected, yet he was still so unbelievably stoked to even have a baby with you. he was and still is such a sentimental guy when it comes to his relationship with you and his love and admiration for you and your relationship keeps growing regardless of whether you were pregnant or not

🐻but on that note he thinks you're absolutely glowing these days and seeing you like that makes him the proudest husband or husband to be and he would definitely be the type to make you feel more at home around his family and creating a happy life and vibes for you and your baby

🐻he definitely doesn't see your baby as a pet, that would be terrible but he 100% was the one to keep insisting that he gets to choose their name. it's.... different but in the sweetest way possible so imagine this, meeting seungmin you were absolutely whipped by his wit and intelligence and you knew that dates with him would be memorable and in this case the first 12 dates were so unique and creative in the way that you did the same thing each time

🐻you would receive a text to say the was having a day off and that he wanted to go out, you'd wait for him to meet you on the corner of the dorm rooms and once he was in sight he'd give a cheerful wave and you'd proceed to walk to his favourite park and once you were there you would talk about anything on your mind as he nudged the rocks with his feet until he found a pretty one to give it to you just so you could go and skip it across the water

🐻 which makes sense that he pushed the name beomseok which simply means "pattern of a rock"

🐻repeat after me, seungmin definitely doesn't think your baby is the same species as kkami or berry but seungmin happily passed down his puppy boy role to beomseok and dress him up in cute costumes just to spam his entire list of contacts with photos

🐻everyone will know what beomseok looks like, they could pick him out of a crowd thanks to seungmin's monthly updates

🐻every day is a dream because 9 times out of 10 you are waking up to both of your boys smiling brightly. the boys actually get the harsh version of seungmin if they knew seungmin would become this soft during fatherhood they would have adopted many many kids

🐻his kid pops up everywhere and i mean everywhere : on an ad for diapers, skz-talker, music videos, on stage. home boy has a cute ass kid and he lets the whole world know, home boy also has the contacts to make that happen plus your child is a natural entertainer

🐻father-son baseball games whether that means attending games in matching jerseys or actually playing in the backyard

🐻side note- since he was so excited to actually play baseball with his son he definitely set his expectations too high thinking they immediately knew what to do when the ball was flying towards him aka he has totally thrown the ball at his kids head

🐻everyday you hear a lil wahhhhhhhhh from the kitchen, peak seungmin noises as he does a cute little jog around the house trying to escape your sons needy cuddles

🐻seungmin's energy is 1000% contagious so now you are gifted with not one but two seungmin's

🐻oh my god, this kid has everything that they could ever dream of and though you play a part in getting that to happen seungmin is a huge part of why their room is so cozy and comfortable, the brown and orange fairy-tale autumn tones all year around, the plush bears-he gets all cliché too with having mama, papa and baby teddy bears

🐻he definitely gives off the energy of the dad who walks his kid to school and even though he's rushing to get them there on time he's the one getting distracted by a random squirrel or the bug beomseok found

🐻different idol but this is literally dad seungmin and i'm screaming

🐻lastly, dad seungmin is like a calm family vacation at the beach where you huddle under the jetty building sandcastles, collecting sea shells and swimming until it gets dark, he is gentle, fun, meaningful, entertaining, a sense of strong support but most importantly he is yours

[34qucker]

Ok so, curious about if you have any hypothetic winter holiday etc Lore in your diaper worlds, scenarios etc?

I know people like to use Krampus as a mommy domme but i like to think the North Pole has a whole division focused on ABDL filled with smoking hot all genders and ambigious elves. They have three jobs, cast a net over the internet to try to determine how well behaved ABDLs have been by their Caregiver standards, craft them toys that are up to the code and size, and occasionally make yearly or monthly rounds with humans to get up close and personal for either fun or observational.

The mysterious lady who does diaper delivery? An Elf.

The wise smart guy on forums who somehow knows answers to diaper relates questions with accuracy? An Elf.

The mysterious people at cons or gatherings who make someone ABs blush before mysteriously gathering? Elfs.

It's run by a 6'3 Elf Enby who chain-smokes candy canes, has a New Jersey mixed with Chicago accent, who used to work in North Pole HR but at the request of Mrs Claus, transfered over.

"It's a tough job that makes me wish i could get sat on by a 5 ton reindeer sometimes, but someones gotta keep an eye on the kids who despite growing up are still kids, never loosing the magic of the season."

They pauses and looks down at their Pear ™ EPad.

"Hey Clarence, better hurry up that Nanny bot. Shellys gonna need it to stay off the naughty list."

Hahaha, how extremely in-depth~!

I actually have an old little holiday sequence from a few years back:

Had a friend who insisted upon being turned into a "Santa Slave"...every year they remind me of just how desperate they are to suck Santa's big, thick candy cane~ u_u

[midtown-news-official]

This Young Musician is Taking Midtown by Storm - Find Out About The Newest Sensation in Folk-Rock

Nov. 30, 2024

At the closing set of the Gay Goose Cafe’s monthly Young Voices night, the crowd was already thinning when a young, brown-haired girl came up

She wowed the crowd with classic rock covers and some heartfelt originals in a beautiful low alto, sung acoustic with just her guitar to accompany her

That girl is Luna St James, a fifteen year old girl from New Jersey. “I’ve been singing my whole life,” she told Midtown Reporter Janelle DeLuca at a coffee house event last week. “My father taught me everything I know, my family is all musicians.”

She shared that her father passed when she was young, and the guitar she plays most often was inherited. Her voice was almost “unearthly,” in the words of one patron, who added that they recognize her as also a barmaid in a bar in downtown Brooklyn

There’s also speculation that St James is the anonymous online artist and musician who goes by the alias Anïas. The voice is similar, though no one knows if it is truly the artist’s voice.

St James is also the younger sister of Archer, an up and coming musician who’s currently planning an upcoming US tour. She added specifically, “make sure people know I’m not dating him. That is my brother. I am lesbian. If you’ve seen photos of us, stop assuming we’re together, because he’s happily engaged and I have a girlfriend. If you like that stuff, try Alabama”

Written by Jordan Garicia and Janelle DeLuca for Midtown News. As always, tell us what you think below!

@the-best-duck-tamer @robin-bellamy @the-dominique-emerson @of-magic-and-feelings

[thesassypadawan]

🖤💛Character Intro (AgedUp!Orin and PuckBunny!Reader)💛🖤

AgedUp!Orin (32)

🐧After hitting one hell of a late growth spurt, he stands proudly at 7ft.  Add in the 300lbs of muscle he’s packed on over the years and he’s a force to be reckoned with on skates.

🏒Because of his size, he practically fills the entire goal.  Making him one of the league’s current top tenders.

🐧Plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins (because I’m not biased at all), only pro team he’s ever been apart.

🏒Known as ‘The Flower’, because he’s the complete opposite on the ice.  An aggressor, it’s not too shocking to see him get into fights.  Tends to chase down players that ‘fucked with him’.

🐧Despite his very dominate nature, he has a soft spot for his tiny gf.  Calling her ‘Bun’ and his ‘Little Doll’.  Letting her get away with things that no one else can, but still enjoys being the one in control and taking charge.

🏒Has a MAJOR size kink when it comes to her.  Loves that she’s so much smaller, softer, and rounder than him…that he can move and use her as he pleases.  Takes every opportunity to remind her of the diff.

🐧Doesn’t mind the age gap.  Honestly flattered that a ‘sweet young thing’ like her wants everything to do with an ‘old fart’ like him.

🏒Met when she was dragged by her very persistent friend into waiting outside the arena for autographs.  Said friend was the one who slipped him her number.  (Been happily together for 2 years.)

🐧Insist she’s at every game wearing one of his old jerseys (his woman, his jersey).  Up front, just left of the net…so he can always see her (at least for two periods) cheering him on.

🏒LOVES that she has a passion for the sport as much as he does!!!  (Thinks she’s the one.)

PuckBunny!Reader (22)

🐇Standing at 5ft, she’s a bit a lot shorter (and softer) than him...but she doesn’t mind that at all.  In fact she loves the diff, has a major size kink as well.  Very much enjoys being manhandled and tossed over his shoulder.  Adores being all small and round compared to him.

🏒She’s a little on the timid side, but can be sassy when needed.  Won’t shy away from telling her ‘old man’ off…especially if there’s a chance she gets a spanking.

🐇Can be a little self-conscious about her appearance at times, despite all the positive praise he lavishes on her.  Especially when another, more skinny and taller, puck bunny hits on him.

🏒Her style is a mix of cute and casual.  Leggings, oversized shirts and hoodies mostly.  But with adorable nails and accessories.

🐇Besides having a liking for hockey, she enjoys reading.  Is a big-time bookworm.  So much so that he built her a reading corner in his home and spoils her with them.  (Dude literally gives her a monthly book allowance.)

🏒Though a sub by nature, she can sometimes get bold.  Asking him to do and try new things…like letting her put a remote-controlled, vibrating cock ring on him during games.

🐇Adores calling him ‘Orry’ and ‘Big Guy’.  Even more so that she’s the only one who gets to.

🏒Doesn’t mind the age gap either.  Honestly forgets about it most of the time, only remembering when someone brings it up.  Or gets told…  “Listen here, brat.”

🐇Has his number tattooed on her inner-thigh, with a tiny heart.

🏒Has a HUGE thing for goalies.  It’s honestly, the first thing that attracted her to him…that and his height.

🐇Met when she was dragged by her very persistent friend into waiting outside the arena for autographs.  Said friend was the one who slipped him her number.  She still owes her friend to this day.  (Been happily together for 2 years.)

🏒Adores that he insists she’s at every game.  Wearing, more like swimming in, one of his old jerseys (that just so happens to smell cinnamony like him).  Sitting up front, just left of the net…so he can always see her (at least for two periods) cheering him on.

🐇LOVES that she’s with someone who’s just as passionate about the sport as much as her!!!  (Thinks he’s the one.)

[flyingwargle]

sunaosa week day 7: past / future

suna stands in the center of his living room, hands on his hips, surrounded by boxes. after a long and successful volleyball career, it’s time for him to hang up his court shoes, fold the compression sleeves, and frame the jerseys. his retirement press conference went without a hitch, and so did his farewell party with ejp. all that’s left is to pack up his apartment, and move everything to his new home with his husband in hyogo.

it's the start of a new chapter.

osamu is in the kitchen, carefully wrapping the glassware in newspaper and old copies of volleyball monthly. he straightens to stretch his back, suna watching out of the corner of his eye. “everything good over there?” he asks.

“yeah. where are ya gonna donate these?”

“probably the nearby restaurants. “i’ll bring the cups to ejp.” they were always short on coffee mugs in the lounge, and most of his are in good condition. “washio said he’ll take the pots and pans, komori will take the air fryer, and nagito wants the blender.” osamu insisted they’ll buy everything new for their kitchen, which is why most of it is being pawned off.

“i put the pots’n’pans in a box fer him. he can just take it whenever.”

suna nods, then surveys the living room. they’re taking his tv, but donating the coffee table, couch, porch chairs, and shelves. the books and pictures are already packed, accolades safely wrapped and sealed. the bathroom is packed too, towels tossed with his clothes, toiletries spent. all that’s left is his bedroom.

it’s surprisingly cluttered, despite how little he brought with him. leading up to his retirement, he donated most of his training gear, along with clothes that no longer fit. he prepares a box and starts going through his desk drawers, filled with old receipts, invoices, contracts, and documents. osamu joins him, recycling bin in hand. “thought ya might need this.”

“thanks.” suna inspects each piece of paper before tossing it, just in case. osamu continues to pack the clothes in another box, an effort that suna abandoned halfway for a change of pace. they work quietly, until–

“hey, rin. look at this.”

suna turns around. osamu has a wrinkled envelope in hand, his name addressed on the front. it’s sealed shut, so he fetches a pair of scissors from the kitchen to slice it open. “did ya write me a love letter at one point?”

“actually…”

inside are three folded pieces of paper. osamu stares at the first page – specifically, the date. “ya wrote this…five years ago?”

he nods, joining him on the floor. “yeah.”

“were ya gonna send it ta me, or…”

“i was, but…well, you know what happened.” although many of their friends call them high school sweethearts, they broke up when they were 21, were exes for three years, and then got back together on new year’s on the cusp of the fourth. the reasons for their separation sound amateurish now – they couldn’t handle the distance, they were chasing parallel dreams, they couldn’t, didn’t, wouldn’t make time for each other.

while they were separated, osamu opened three more onigiri miya locations; suna played in the olympics and overseas. osamu won awards for his food and service; suna became sponsored by top brands and corporations. osamu starred in documentaries and television shows; suna was featured in interviews and press conferences.

when they met again during the new year’s party organized by inarizaki alumni, both agreed that it made sense to try again, now that they were older, smarter, better. it led to an engagement. it led to marriage. it led to this.

a life together, walking down a singular path.

“i was in chicago, i think. i felt homesick after eating at a japanese restaurant because their onigiri…reminded me of you.” suna’s arm snakes around osamu’s waist, resting his head on his shoulder to read his own writing, shaky kanji after years of writing mostly english. “i missed you, but i couldn’t tell you, so i…wrote you a letter.”

he remembers that night vividly. his teammates took him there for his birthday, where all the dishes were recipes passed down through the owner’s family. as he ate, all he could think about was home, but what came to mind wasn’t aichi, hyogo, nor shizuoka. instead, it was osamu.

osamu, who would video call him for hours while working in the kitchen. osamu, who would reply to his memes or shitposts with equally cursed content. osamu, who would sleep shirtless so he could absorb suna’s body heat, even in the middle of winter.

when home is a person that you can’t have, what does home become?

osamu flips to the second page. the kanji is messier, strokes uneven, with increasing amounts of hiragana to substitute the characters that suna couldn’t remember how to write. he is quiet, eyes traveling across the lines, pensive. then, he reaches the last page, which only contains a few lines.

when i’m with you, i feel timeless, because my love for you is infinite, no matter the distance or time. i used to fear what the life without volleyball would look like, but i’m not afraid anymore, because i know that it’ll always be with you.

“rin.” a hand finds his, the slim silver band digging into his skin. suna looks into osamu’s eyes, the same as he did on their wedding day, and sees nothing but love in its depths, an endless pool constructed of memories between them, from the first day they met at inarizaki, to now, sitting on his floor among boxes, packing a past to bring into the future.

“i never told ya, but in all those years…i never stopped lovin’ ya, either.” his voice rumbles deep and tight, the telltale sign that he’s holding back tears. “i knew why we had ta do it, but…if i were more selfish, i woulda asked ta keep tryin’, an’ tryin’, an tryin’. yer worth all my effort.”

“i wish we were both more selfish,” suna murmurs. “but look. we made it.” he puts their hands together, matching bands gleaming in the light. “you’re a successful business owner. i had the best volleyball run of my life. and now, we have each other. we’ll always have each other.”

the letter falls as they kiss, enveloped in one another’s warmth. there is one part of the writing where the ink is smudged, paper slightly wrinkled, relics of tears shed for a lost love, now a witness to a love that is eternal, that will light their way through the unknown, that will guide them to a new life.

together.

[wol-fica]

-𝔹𝕝𝕚𝕤𝕤 ℙ𝕋. 𝟞-

parings - wednesdayaddams x fem!reader

summary - wednesday and r learn about the wonderful world of taxes sksksksk

warnings - swearing but that’s it my dudes

an - big thanks to @myfturn for requesting this to become a series <3 ——————————

In your opinion, whoever invented weather was a terrible person. Winter nights in New Jersey were absolutely awful, considering the cold drop in temperatures and the humid air, you were suffering. Your body couldn’t decide if it wanted to bundle up under the covers or get away from them, which was excruciatingly annoying.

It also didn’t help that your heater had recently given up on you. Normally, you would assume your appliances in your luxurious gothic mansion would work perfectly, but all hell was against you and decided to make you suffer in the cold.

So that is why you were bundled up in your wife’s hoodie as you curled up by your fireplace. Payment files and your monthly taxes for november were spewed out around you as you jotted things down on a notebook. Your lip was in between your teeth, being chewed on gently as you calculated the prices for your water bill and electricity bill.

A frown of confusion made its way onto your face and you mumbled a small “fuck” as you stared at your water bill tax for the past three months. Your brain didn’t seem to want to work with you, so none of the written material was clicking as you read it.

Unfortunately, Nevermore never offered a personal finance or real world class, and now that you are an actual adult with an actual life you have to take care of, you felt overwhelmed and lost.

Usually Wednesday would be the one doing your taxes, being that she is the smarter out of the two of you. But, you being as stubborn as ever, you scolded her and told her you both needed to share the workload as you were now married and would share everything almost equally.

“Fuck!” You cursed again, throwing your pen away from yourself in frustration.

Now you could go ask Wednesday for help, you always did when you were frustrated or upset about things, but you acted cocky and overconfident about doing your taxes by yourself, in which she got irritated and told you not to ask her for any assistance.

Your eyes squinted at the pen, watching it roll around before stopping by the door to Wednesday’s private writing room. You could hear the faint ‘click clack’ of her type writer as she worked on chapter three of her fourth book. The full series could be see on a shelf in your bedroom; you would occasionally grab one to read and enjoy if you were bored.

You stared at the fire, it’s crackling becoming a comfort for you as you attempted to relax your emotions. For awhile, you just sat there, basking in the warmth and ignoring the tax papers laid out on the floor. You knew you needed to do them, and you knew the only way you could would be to ask Wednesday for help.

After contemplating your life or your pride, you caved in and chose to go request her presence. Carefully, as to not loose your cocooned shape, you stood up and shuffled to Wednesday’s office door. Your hand raised, pausing in a moment of hesitation before knocking on the wooden surface.

“Come in.” A voice called, prompting you to open the door.

There, was your gorgeous wife. Her usually braided hair was unbraided and tied back in a half up half down style as her wavy black locks cascaded around her shoulders. She was dressed in an over large white shirt and black panties, and surprisingly her feet were coved in fluffy black socks that you got her for valentine’s day.

Her back was to you, her legs tucked under her chair as she poured her little black heart out onto the pages of her book. You watched as her fingers danced across the typewriter, pause, and then begin typing again as she found a new perspective to write.

“You knocked.” Wednesday said as she typed speedily.

You gulped, pursing your lips as you shuffled forward so you stood beside her, peering over her shoulder at the paragraphs she had been writing. One of her hands slid away from the keys to caress your thigh, her thumb rubbing your hip lovingly.

“What do you need mi amor?” She questioned, her black eyes focused on her page.

You sighed, closing your eyes as you leaned into her comforting touch. The hand that was previously rubbing your thigh now wrapped itself around your waist, pulling you into Wednesday’s lap.

“Y/N.” She said softly, pressing her lips to your neck, “What’s wrong?”

“I’m frustrated.” You huffed, leaning your chin on top of her head as she continued typing.

“About…”

“Doing taxes…” You grumbled, a pout forming on your face.

Wednesday scoffed, squeezing you lightly as she finished her page. She gave your neck another kiss and hummed against your skin.

“I thought you didn’t want my assistance.” She replied as you hopped off of her, standing up to follow you.

“Well I didn’t, at first.” You mumbled, leading her to the fireplace where all of your papers were thrown about the floor, “Then I realized I wasn’t as smart as you.”

“You’re just now realizing?” She smirked slightly, sitting down on the carpet as you gawked in disbelief.

“My feelings are hurt.”

“That IS my job, is it not?”

“Nes...” You groaned, hiding your head in your hands.

“I’m joking, do you have a pen?” Wednesday asked, looking under a few papers for your previously chucked pen.

You nodded, walking to her door to retrieve the pen you threw from before, and came back to give it to her and sit with her.

Immediately she got to work, her eyes skimming each paper as she calculated numbers and signed her signature on certain papers that needed it. Your eyes shamelessly scanned across her face, taking in the small details that had you encapsulated every time you saw her. The freckles that dotted her face, the way her eyebrows scrunched up when she was focused, how her tongue would sneak out in between her lips as she worked.

“Stop staring at me.” She murmured, bumping her knee against yours.

You laughed, resting your chin in your hands as you gazed at with with a love drunk stare. She was your muse, your drug that made you feel all woozy inside; of course you couldn’t not stare.

“Done.” Wednesday finally said, setting the pen down on a neat pile of papers.

“How?!” You exclaimed in awe, staring at the finished tax envelopes.

She chuckled, music to your ears, and pulled herself into your lap. She unwound the blanket so she could slip into your cocoon, humming at the warmth you produced.

“I’m just flawless, cara mia.” Wednesday mumbled into your neck, placing yet another kiss there; her favorite spot.

“You sure are, mon cher.”

She blushed, landing you a sharp jab to your stomach that left you whining in pain as you doubled over against her. Her hand snaked around you jaw to inspect your face, her other hand running up you shirt to feel your ribs for any damage.

“You’ll be fine.” Wednesday droned before snuggling into you and staring into the fire.

You smiled, your arms going around her body to hold her closely. Silence was a precious part of your relationship, whether you both work in the same room quietly, or just gaze into the night skin together on the roof.

After a moment or so, Wednesday started to drift off into sleep, a small snore leaving her slightly parted lips as you cuddled her. In the rare chance that this happens, you soak in the peacefulness of just being able to love and protect her without her potentially getting angry with you.

What a wonderful world….

—————-

*sobbing*

taglist:

@theafterofnevermore @k1mba @dreaming-of-u @thenextdawn @alexkolax @crystal-lily-101 @aahdiieb @rainbow-love4ever @fall-08 @efectoangel @i984 @annalestern @vorsdany @deep-fried-egg @yomomisgay @cursedchar

i do not give permission for anyone to repost or copy my work onto any other platform

[porterdavis]

The wheels on the bus....

OK, let's hope the wheels keep going round and round.

A few weeks ago I started an expensive course of medicine, not covered by government insurance. I woke up in the middle of the night struck by the fact I didn't know where it's manufactured and if pharmaceuticals are part of the tariffs scheme. New Jersey and yes.

At first light I ordered another month's supply online; while it's not covered, access is still governed by the gov't and I was worried they wouldn't allow an 'early' refill. Oh....tariffs are due to start tomorrow.

The pharmacy just delivered all the rest of my monthly pills (ugh!), but not the expensive scrip. Back-ordered when I called, comes in tomorrow. Let's see if I have to pay an extra $125. There may be a meltdown in metro west Montreal tomorrow.

[elleskinner-justart]

New release from the patreon vault: tiny cryptid trio!

Cryptids won the monthly poll and I thought I'd have some fun and paint ones outside my usual wheelhouse :) Mothman, Jersey Devil, and Fresno Nightwalkers!

The nightwalker was the hardest one for me, mostly because their shape is so abstract it was a challenge to make it simpler and cuter

-

patreon | kofi shop

[beardedmrbean]

After a surge in home energy bills that left many New Jersey residents with costs that have doubled, or more, there have been widespread calls for hearings to hold the state utility commission, the governor and supporters of green energy accountable.

State Sen. Mike Testa, R-Salem, echoed those calls and said on Wednesday that much of the blame goes to Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy’s "Energy Master Plan," launched in 2020.

"New Jersey is already one of the most unaffordable states in the United States of America. Now people are being hit with energy bills that are essentially doubled. And look, I get it that it was a hot July, but it wasn't that hot that your energy bills should have doubled," Testa said.

One constituent apparently told Testa they raised their thermostat four degrees on average this summer in the hopes of saving money but that the cost still somehow increased "significantly."

Homeowners in suburban Morris County vented about the news on a local social media group, according to the Morristown Daily Record, with a Parsippany resident questioning a $782 monthly bill.

"Quite frankly, what I think happened is, via the Murphy Energy Master Plan that I've often called the energy disaster plan, it seemed that the BPU (New Jersey Board of Public Utilities) and the Murphy administration are working in tandem chasing this green energy dream.

"It’s what I call the energy disaster plan. It's a green energy nightmare," he said, adding that BPU officials went so far as to wear windmill pins at public functions amid New Jersey’s kerfuffle over offshore turbines.

In a lengthy statement, BPU acknowledged it had received correspondence from New Jerseyans and offered several potential reasons for the rate hikes.

The board cited increases in generation costs and usage, and it asked customers to contact their utility or the board right away if they find an "anomaly and cannot determine an explanation" A one-time $175 bill credit program is also available, a board spokesperson said.

PJM, the energy transmission company that covers much of the Mid-Atlantic, offered data to Fox News Digital on the matter as well.

PJM research showed electricity demand is likely to increase in the region particularly due to "proliferation of high-demand data centers" and "thermal generators retiring at a rapid pace due to government and private sector policies as well as economics."

Meanwhile, at the federal level, Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., fumed at the BPU this week in a letter obtained by Fox News Digital, which cited "thousands" of constituents discovering unbearable bill increases.

"Given these alarming reports, I demand that the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) hold a public hearing in South Jersey to allow residents to voice their concerns directly to the Board," he wrote, adding the board must also determine whether there is a correlation between the rate hikes and the offshore wind turbine operations in his Cape May district.

Van Drew said New Jersey officials must take the situation seriously, and he dismissed claims that the "unseasonably warm summer" was the only variable.

"We need transparency and accountability from the NJBPU to ensure that the needs and concerns of South Jersey residents are being effectively addressed," he said.

Van Drew previously noted how Danish green power company Ørsted withdrew its windmill plans for the Jersey Shore despite Murphy’s full support and taxpayer funding: "They still couldn't make it."

While Murphy’s office did not return a request for comment, the governor previously praised his Energy Master Plan’s goal of 100% clean energy by 2050 in the Garden State.

"The Energy Master Plan comprehensively addresses New Jersey’s energy system, including electricity generation, transportation and buildings, and their associated greenhouse gas emissions and related air pollutants," he said.

In a statement Tuesday, the Murphy administration highlighted a "Residential Energy Assistance Payment (REAP) Initiative" to provide financial relief to thousands of households, of the same $175 figure cited by BPU.

"Making our state more affordable for New Jersey families has been the top priority since day one," Murphy said in the statement.

State Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Perth Amboy, added it is "great to see this resource added to the growing list of support available to residents who need a little extra help in our state."

Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz, R-Summit, said price-per-kilowatt hour increases averaged 8.6% in Central Jersey.

"It’s simple economics: When supply drops and demand surges, prices go up," she told Fox News Digital.

"I'm of the belief that Americans are innovative. … The government can't be mandating deadlines at the same time that they're … shutting down natural gas production."

Munoz, who serves on the Budget Committee, said there are likely Democrats who agree the rate hikes are a problem: "That's kind of a silly concept for them to think, like, do they not care that their constituents are the ones that are having to absorb these massive increases in cost?"

Fox News Digital reached out to state Senate President Nick Scutari, D-Clark, for such a perspective.

Citing attempts to make New Jersey vehicle sales 60% electric by 2035, Munoz said there won’t be the proper infrastructure to fulfill the need, regardless of opinions on EVs themselves.

When Testa was asked about other states’ similar green energy endeavors – such as then-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo shuttering the Indian Point nuke plant on the Hudson River opposite Haverstraw in 2020 – he expressed relief that crackdowns hadn’t gotten that far at home.

A similar nuclear plant in Lower Alloways Creek Township remains operational, he noted, adding that he is proud to have it and its jobs and generation ability in his district.

Testa said the state’s energy portfolio is 50% natural gas, 40% nuclear and 10% other, which flies in the face of Murphy’s aversion to additional natural gas production.

While some energy experts fear crises arising from nuclear power, such as the 1979 Three Mile Island meltdown in Dauphin County, Pa., Testa said technology has advanced since and that there are also small modular nuclear reactors similar to those on submarines that could generate safe, clean energy inland at low cost.

"By the way, we’re positive that those don’t kill whales," he said.

[deanwinchesterswitch]

January 2025 Monthly Fic Recs

My apologies for the delay in posting.

January was a year, wasn't it?😅

I made time to escape for a bit, though, to enjoy the stories below.

Have Fun and Enjoy!

Many of these blogs and fics are NSFW-18+. Please honor any requests from a blog regarding no minors. I am not responsible for the content you choose to consume; heed the warnings for each fic.

~MCU~

Teamwork ~ @justagirlinafandomworld. Author's Summary: On a very important mission, sparks fly.

True North ~ @navybrat817. Author's Summary: None (Ficlet; Steve Rogers x Female Reader)

Trying ~ @impala-dreamer. Author's Summary: Just another night of mind-blowing sex with your superhuman lover…

~RPF~

Change of Plans ~ @impala-dreamer. Author's Summary: Sometimes, you gotta blow off your plans and blow your husband instead… (Jeffrey Dean Morgan)

No Title ~ @impala-dreamer. Author's Summary: None (Ficlet; Jensen Ackles)

The Devil On Stage ~ @impala-dreamer. Author's Summary: Lonely during his solo panel, Jensen calls Y/N out to join him on stage. Having nothing much to say, she lets her mind wander a little too far while watching him regaled the audience with stories from the old days on set.

~Supernatural~

A Simple Kinda Man ~ @impala-dreamer. Author's Summary: None (Dean Winchester)

Dean's Midnight Decision ~ @impala-dreamer. Author's Summary: None (Ficlet; Dean x Reader)

Happy Birthday, Dean Winchester ~ @deaneverafter. Author's Summary: None (Ficlet)

Happy Birthday to Me ~ @rizlowwritessortof. Author's Summary: Just a little smutty one-shot to celebrate Dean’s birthday

In a Million Memories ~ @deaneverafter. Author's Summary: After saving the world over and over again, Dean finally deserves to live in it. And he wants to. He’s earned it. But things are never as simple as that for a Winchester, and if he wants the apple pie life, he’s going to have to fight for it, harder than he’s ever fought before.

No Title ~ @supernaturalfreewill. Author's Summary: None (Ficlet; Dean Winchester)

Skin on Skin ~ @impala-dreamer. Author's Summary: While working a case of multiple random deaths in New Jersey, Y/N finds out that the old adage of “be careful what you wish for” isn’t just a saying…

~On Patreon~

Rebekah Jordan (Impala-Dreamer)

A Rod & A Ryder ~ Author's Summary: When Dean decides to give Y/N a sexy DIY gift, he finds himself in a rather tight predicament

An Amazing Fire ~ Author’s Summary: Turns out, Y/N is better than any drug he’s ever tried… (Ben (Soldier Boy) x Reader)

[emo-band-recommendations]

My Chemical Romance

Subgenre(s): Emo pop-punk/post-hardcore

Wave(s): 3rd

Location: Newark, New Jersey, USA

Years Active: 2001-2013, 2019-present

Recommended Album(s): I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love (2002), Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge (2004)

Members (current): Gerard Way (lead vocals), Ray Toro (lead guitar, back vocals), Mikey Way (bass), Frank Iero (rhythm guitar, backing vocals)

Label(s): Eyeball, Reprise (current)

Spotify Monthly Listeners: 16.7m

About: While no longer making emo music, MCR did release two albums that are considered to be part of the 3rd wave emo scene, and continue to tour with other emo musicians such as Taking Back Sunday. This incredibly influential band formed in 2001 after Gerard Way was in New York during 9/11.