#Private Westcott | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

carmenvicinanza · 4 months ago

Text

Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Essere circondati da cose belle ha molta influenza sulle creature umane; fare cose belle ne ha di più. Mentre ci illudiamo che le cose rimangano uguali, queste cambiano proprio sotto i nostri occhi di anno in anno, di giorno in giorno.

Charlotte Perkins Gilman, scrittrice e poeta femminista, esponente di spicco del movimento di liberazione delle donne statunitensi, si è interessata approfonditamente alla relazione tra indipendenza economica, rispetto ambientale ed evoluzionismo.

Intellettuale a tutto tondo, ha militato all’interno di diverse organizzazioni impegnate nell’analisi della società umana, proponendo una prospettiva nuova sul ruolo della donna nella società e auspicando una liberazione sociale, sessuale ed economica.

La sua opera maggiormente conosciuta è La carta da parati gialla (The Yellow Wallpaper), del 1892, un racconto semi-autobiografico sulla depressione post-partum e l’isolamento delle donne.

Il lavoro di tutta la sua vita è stato quello di propugnare l’autoaffermazione delle donne, al di fuori dei ruoli stereotipati di madre e moglie.

Nata a Hartford, nel Connecticut, il 3 luglio 1860, era figlia di Mary Ann Fitch Westcott e Frederick Beecher Perkins. Sua zia è stata Harriet Beecher Stowe, l’autrice deLa capanna dello zio Tom.

La sua vita venne segnata, fin dalla più tenera età, da una serie di eventi drammatici: la perdita di un fratello, la salute cagionevole della madre, l’abbandono della famiglia da parte del padre. A causa della situazione economica precaria, si trasferirono spesso, cosa che le impediva di costruire legami stabili.

Vivendo un’infanzia di isolamento e solitudine, si rifugiava nella lettura, passione ereditata dal padre che, sebbene distante, non smetteva di consigliarle libri da leggere. Le difficoltà che segnarono la sua infanzia contribuirono al desiderio di indipendenza che l’ha accompagnata per tutta la vita.

Sin dall’adolescenza, si cimentò in diversi lavori, dava lezioni private, era stata cassiera e stata addetta alle vendite, dipingeva e vendeva carte intestate, cuciva tende e rammendava vestiti, realizzava volantini pubblicitari e vendeva i suoi acquerelli. Tuttavia, nonostante avesse talento, non si è mai considerata un’artista.

Nel 1882, dopo una relazione di quattro anni con l’amica di vecchia data Martha Luther, incontrò Charles Walter Stetson, giovane artista di Rhode Island che sposò due anni dopo. Dalla loro unione nacque una figlia, Katharine. Il parto le causò una terribile depressione curata anche in una casa di cura.

La nevrosi e l’insofferenza verso il convenzionale ruolo di moglie e madre la portarono a separarsi dal marito, nel 1888, e a trasferirsi a Pasadena, dove cominciò a dedicarsi totalmente alla sua carriera.

Ha fatto parte attiva del movimento nazionalista, che operava per porre fine all’avidità del capitalismo e alle distinzioni di classe, proponendo l’avvento di un genere umano migliore, pacifico, etico, democratico e realmente progressista. La sua poesia, Similar Cases, del 1890, che l’ha proclamata la poeta del Nazionalismo, era una critica satirica di coloro che resistevano al cambiamento sociale. Nel corso dello stesso anno, scrisse, in soli due giorni il suo racconto più famoso, The Yellow Wallpaper in cui esprimeva il suo pensiero riguardo l’oppressione sociale ed economica della figura femminile.

Si guadagnò l’attenzione del pubblico anche grazie al suo primo volume di poesie, In This Our World, del 1893, contenente settantacinque poesie divise in tre sezioni riguardanti i suoi principali interessi principali: Il Mondo, La Donna e Il Nostro Genere Umano.

In California iniziò anche a tenere conferenze e discorsi pubblici presso alcuni club femminili e fu attiva in varie organizzazioni femministe e riformiste, tra cui la Pacific Coast Women’s Press Association (PCWPA) di cui divenne presidente.

Complici la continua lotta alla povertà e le pretese della sua promettente ma poco remunerativa carriera, nel 1894, l’anno del definitivo divorzio da Stetson, mandò la figlia a vivere con il suo ex marito e la sua seconda moglie. Nonostante riconoscessi i diritti paterni, la lontananza da lei le provocò un’enorme sofferenza.

Nel 1896 ha rappresentato la California alla Suffrage Convention di Washington e all’International Socialist and Labor Congress in Inghilterra.

Il suo saggio Women and Economics: a Study of the Economic Relationship Between Men and Women as a Factor in Social Evolution (1898), tradotto una sola volta in italiano nel 1902 da Carolina Pironti col titolo La donna e l’economia sociale: studio sulle relazioni economiche tra uomini e donne come fattore di evoluzione sociale, è considerato uno dei testi fondamentali sull’origine della questione femminile e sulle relazioni economiche e sociali tra i sessi.

Nel 1900 ha sposato Houghton Gilman, un suo cugino avvocato a Wall Street.

Mentre scriveva compulsivamente e teneva conferenze in tutto il paese, attraverso The Forerunner, giornale che ha fondato e diretto, diffondeva le sue idee sui diritti delle donne e sul ruolo nella società, proponendo la riforma della casa, del matrimonio e del lavoro..

Nel 1932, le fu diagnosticato un carcinoma mammario incurabile che la portò a suicidarsi con un’overdose di cloroformio, il 17 agosto 1935, la decisione fu il risultato finale del processo di rivendicazione del diritto di poter scegliere in autonomia la propria sorte.

Sia nella sua autobiografia che nel provocatorio biglietto lasciato al momento della dipartita, scrisse che preferiva il cloroformio al cancro. Ha fatto della sua morte, come della sua vita, una “scelta di servizio sociale”.

Straordinariamente prolifica e popolare ai suoi tempi, dopo la morte era stata dimenticata, successivamente, è stata riscoperta dal movimento femminista alla fine degli anni Sessanta, grazie alla ristampa di Women and economics, che ha dato inizio all’approfondimento di buona parte della sua opera.

La critica femminista ha messo in evidenza la qualità anticipatoria delle sue analisi e delle sue proposte. A partire dalla fine degli anni ottanta, sono stati portati alla luce non solo gli aspetti positivi del suo pensiero, ma anche le problematicità di un’ideologia basata sul presupposto che la civiltà americana bianca fosse superiore.

#unadonnalgiorno #charlotte perkins gilman #feminism

0 notes

clarklovescarole · 2 years ago

Text

July 1936: Random Gossip

July 1, 1936 – Argos Reflector

Carole Lombard and Clark Gable have agreed on a date to march down the aisle, but are waiting for the male heartbreaker to get his decree.

July 2, 1936 – Alexandria Times Tribune

[N]ow doctors say Carole Lombard is suffering from secondary anemia and can’t make the trip to Alaska for “Spawn of the North.” With a rented ocean liner standing by in San Francisco to take the troupe to location, the film has now been indefinitely postponed. The only happy person about it all probably, is Clark Gable, who won’t be having to tell Carole goodbye…

July 5, 1936 – Detroit Free Press

What price glory in Hollywood! Recently, I got up very early and took my car to a garage for some repair work. I got there just as they opened the doors, so I could be taken care of and be on my way to the studios. A few minutes later, in drove Clark Gable with that old broken-down flivver, given to him as a gag by Carole Lombard. Clark was on his way to Warner Bros. where he is working in a new film. In less time than it takes to tell, I was completely deserted, while half a dozen mechanics swarmed around Clark’s car. And all that it needed was some air in the tires.

July 18, 1936 – The Chattanooga News

Mr. and Mrs. Frederick R. Westcott will return Saturday evening after an extensive Western trip. While in California they were widely entertained by Carole Lombard’s brother, who is a business associate of Mr. Westcott’s. Among the interesting members of their party were Carole Lombard and Clark Gable.

July 19, 1936 – The Los Angeles Times

“Romeo and Juliet” in the celluloid version of Shakespeare, made its bow to the press and a select group of film folk Wednesday eve at the Four Star. Glimpsed between the roaming arcs were Carole Lombard and Clark Gable, Jeanette MacDonald and Gene Raymond, the Herman Brixes, the Ken Lamberts and the Irving Thalbergs (Norma Shearer).

July 22, 1936 – NY Daily News

The big show at a Hollywood Boulevard movie house the other evening was for that group of people who sat behind Clark Gable and Carole Lombard at a showing of “San Francisco.” But Gable’s conversation about the picture he’s in didn’t go unnoticed. He’d make a good movie critic.

July 22, 1936 – Ogden Standard Examiner

Some Hollywood discoveries: That Carole Lombard made a direct play for Clark Gable after his separation and is proud of his companionship….

July 26, 1936 – The Des Moines Register

CAROLE LOMBARD’S mother, it is whispered, doesn’t relish the idea of CLARK GABLE as a prospective son-in-law and has been telling her daughter so.

July 26, 1936 – The Spokesman Review

Gable Plays Audience – Clark Gable, MGM star, comprised the entire audience for a private preview of Carole Lombard’s latest picture. Carole handled the projector.

#1936 #clark gable #carole lombard #old hollywood

0 notes

altair-enterprises · 2 years ago

Text

Unlocking Growth in the UK Space Ecosystem

The expansion of the space industry in the United Kingdom is supported by an evolving policy landscape. This landscape is founded on a close partnership between industry and government, and it is this partnership that, through the National Space Partnership, lays out a specific plan for the future of the space industry in the country.

In order to achieve an audacious national vision, the United Kingdom has developed its very first National Space Strategy, which will be revised in February 2022. This strategy pulls together the nation’s capabilities in science and technology, defense, regulation, as well as diplomacy. This plan lays out five objectives and the steps that the government, academic institutions, and private enterprises will need to take in order to accomplish them.

Benchmark Space Systems will leverage SA Catapult’s manufacturing and testing facilities.

Plans of Government Support for UK Space Regional Growth

Over the course of the last ten years, the space ecosystem has established itself as one of the UK’s industries with the highest rates of growth, therefore speeding advancement for businesses of all kinds across an increasingly diverse spectrum of industries.

Access our free resource library: http://bit.ly/3ELfmlB

According to a statement made by the UK Space Agency the previous week, further government assistance for regional development would be provided to the sector since it has been identified as a vital factor in increasing the productivity of the UK.

Building on the Strengths of the Centers of Excellence

Satellite Applications Catapult, in partnership with the United Kingdom Space Agency, established a Regional Centers of Excellence Programme in the United Kingdom in 2014. The aim of the program is to coordinate activities and investments, as well as to extend their reach on a local level.

Free event held in Truro allowed people to chat to representatives from space and technology firms.

This is in keeping with the organization’s goal of speeding up the process of bringing new research to market by fostering collaboration between industry and academic institutions. Outside of our bases at the Harwell Space Cluster as well as the Westcott Space Business Park, a total of five centers were established in the beginning with the intention of assisting local businesses and start-ups. These centers were founded on novel concepts, some of which attempted to address problems that are actually encountered in the real world.

Excellence Centre of North East

The center’s goal is to use satellite applications to make the world a safer place, namely in the areas of sustainable living and climate change, supply chain security, and infrastructure and asset resilience. Space awareness, as well as surveillance experts Northern Space & Security Ltd (NORSS), opened the UK’s first and only Orbital Analyst center in Durham with help from the center, as well as technology firm aXenic created ground-breaking components for the next generation of telecommunications satellites with funding from the center as well.

Excellence Centre of South Coast

The center, which is located within the University of Portsmouth, employs state-of-the-art technological developments in Artificial Intelligence, Earth Observation & Navigation, and Communications to expand satellite applications in the fields of transportation and autonomous systems, logistics, and offshore assets.

Attend our upcoming webinars: https://bit.ly/altair-webinars

For instance, the center has collaborated with Alcis, a company dedicated to bettering the lives of the world’s most vulnerable people through world-class Geographic Information Services, and MercariRisk, an insurance company, to secure funding for a project using Earth Observation data on Columbian farms for insurance purposes.

Skyrora ground rocket system test. (Image credit: Skyrora)

The Objectives of the United Kingdom in Space

Boost the level of development of our space economy.

Encourage the ideals that Global Britain stands for.

Create ground-breaking new scientific discoveries and serve as a national role model.

Ensure the safety and security of our national interests in space and across it.

Put the resources of space to work for the people of the UK and the rest of the world.

How the United Kingdom Plans to Meet the Goal

Unlocking the potential for expansion in the space industry.

Working together with partners from other countries.

Developing the United Kingdom into a global leader in science and technology.

Creating space capabilities and services that are resistant to disruptions.

Government Ministers go to the Spaceport Before the First UK Launch

During the 8th of November 2022, government leaders traveled to Spaceport Cornwall in preparation for the first satellite launch from British soil, which will take place later this month.

Spaceport Cornwall received a license to launch with Virgin Orbit. (Image credit: Spaceport Cornwall)

The United Kingdom’s George Freeman, Science Minister, & Jesse Norman, Transport Technology Minister, met with those responsible for the mission and got an up-close look at Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne rocket & its carrier aircraft, Cosmic Girl. The rocket and aircraft will launch from Spaceport Cornwall.

In addition, ministers were given a tour of the brand-new Space Systems Integration Facility at the spaceport. This facility is the first of its type to be constructed at a spaceport in the UK. It is here that the satellites are being prepared for launch by being integrated into the rocket. By the year 2030, Spaceport Cornwall will be responsible for the creation of 150 direct employment and 240 indirect jobs.

Attend the biggest virtual space industry conference: https://bit.ly/isc-2023

Transport Minister Jesse Norman said:

Because the United Kingdom has one of the world’s leading space industries, the first commercial space launch from our shores will be a watershed event for the whole transportation industry.

Named “Start Me Up” in honor of one of the most famous bands to ever come out of the United Kingdom, the Rolling Stones, this mission will not only be the first orbital launch from the United Kingdom, but also the first commercial launch from Europe & the first international launch for Virgin Orbit.

Virgin Orbit Boeing 747 named Cosmic Girl. (Image credit: Virgin Orbit)

Separately last month, the modified Boeing 747 known as “Cosmic Girl” and the rocket known as “LauncherOne” flew into Cornwall, with the latter now installed beneath the wing of the former.

George Freeman, Minister of Science, said:

Launching a satellite from Spaceport Cornwall will be a huge step forward for the UK’s burgeoning commercial satellite & space industry. Space Forge, Surrey Satellites, Inmarsat, Astroscale, Open Cosmos, as well as the flourishing Scottish space cluster are just some examples of the fast-growing businesses that contribute to this dynamic sector, which is one of the most innovative in the country and a source of new employment opportunities across the country.

Building on our existing strengths in areas like space manufacturing, in-flight manufacturing, satellite as well as debris retrieval, launch licensing, insurance, and finance, we can establish the United Kingdom as the leading European base to launch small satellites, which will generate employment opportunities across the country, stimulate economic growth, and entice foreign investment.

Artist’s impression of ForgeStar-0 satellites that will be launched by Virgin Orbit.

How do Altair Enterprises’ initiatives add value to the growth of the UK Space Ecosystem?

Altair Enterprises will provide you with a comprehensive knowledge of the NewSpace business as well as courses about the design of spacecraft and launch vehicles, space applications, EO technology, space legislation, and a variety of other space-related topics.

Being on the forefront of space education, Altair Enterprises is dedicated to enabling individuals to acquire space-specific skillset and knowledge to pursue careers in the industry or create new innovative startups, hence fostering the growth of the NewSpace economy.

Through organizing annual International Space Conventions, Altair also plants the seeds for international cooperation and facilitates the conversations about the existing issues and how the industry should collectively approach them.

#space #newspace #united kingdom #sector #growth

0 notes

letterboxd-loggd · 3 years ago

Photo

Private Detective 62 (1933) Michael Curtiz

July 3rd 2021

#private detective 62 #1933 #michael curtiz #william powell #margaret lindsay #arthur hohl #ruth donnelly #james bell #gordon westcott #natalie moorhead #hobart cavanaugh #private detective #man killer #pre-code

16 notes · View notes

darker-soft-starker · 5 years ago

Text

This, too

For my actual ride or die @starkerforlife6969, who constantly wows me with their talent and beautiful heart, i luh ya xo xo

TW: mental health issues, angst, hurt/comfort, a mention of Skip Westcott

-----------------------------

Peter dreams.

Nightmares, most prominently - drifting dust and ash and the crush of cement against the curve of his spine. Often he dreams in flashes of mundane panic, that he’s late for work or he just missed the train. Sometimes the dreams are good, doorways into pockets of time, echoes of memories that feel as real as all his waking moments.

That night he dreams of dinner with May and Ben, except he’s not fourteen like he was when they were all together last, he’s himself now. It’s warm, bright, hazy in that way that dreams are. Tony is there too and they love him. Ben is laughing, all husky straight from the chest as May is recalling a memory of one of her misadventures in college, throwing her head back as she loses her cool and guffaws. She wipes a tear from her eye as she dwindles into soft giggles, looking over at Ben in shared reminiscence. Peter laughs along and catches Tony’s fond expression aimed just at him.

It’s real, it feels so real. Until the shrill tones of his alarm wakes him up.

Sometimes good dreams are the worst ones.

Like blinking back into reality after one of Beck’s illusions when Peter wakes up he feels every pinch of warmth extinguish to a gritty, cold ash. The memories crumble, slipping away like hands trying to keep water cupped between them. Blinking slowly against the cool morning light, reality settles around him like sediments sinking heavily all over his body.

It’s like someone scooped out everything inside of him - the call to feel anything results in a mournful echo.

He blinks once, twice.

Oh, it's one of those days, he thinks.

Huh.

In sluggish, forced movement he takes his phone from the bedside table and silences his alarm. It's sixteen minutes past seven in the morning. He’s an early riser and should have been up already. Showered. In the kitchen. Flicking through social media as breakfast is cooking or coffee cooling or kissing Tony goodbye before the office beckons him away.

Except the impetus to get out of the bed isn’t exactly there. Outside of the bed is everything too big and too loud, even if he didn’t feel so heavy, all of his insides are grey, concrete and congealed, he feels like he would shatter at the slightest touch.

He blinks once. Twice.

The other side of the bed is empty and there is a message bright on his screen.

Had to leave for the office early, won’t be home until late - love you - you at work yet?

Fingers slow, Peter types a response, swallows around the lump in his throat.

Have a headache, stayed home. Love you.

He deletes that. Tries again.

Yeah, omw. Have a good day - love u.

It’s not right to make Tony worry.

He should get up. Piss. Shave. Wash. Eat. Not lie to his partner.

Except, he knows Tony would call. Would want to come home. Would try and shift him out of that concrete casing that presses down all over him and renders him immobile - and Peter just can’t. The thing about days like these is that there is plenty of should-do’s and want-to-do’s but on days like these desire is a foreign notion, incentive doesn’t go here and it means he does nothing. Which only further proves his own uselessness.

So he won’t say anything. He would do anything to protect Tony - even from Peter himself.

Besides, he doesn't want to talk through the saliva in his mouth feels like glue, doesn't know how to, even if he wanted to work through his molasses-like thoughts. He knows Tony wouldn’t mind - but Peter can’t let him see him like this, he has enough to deal with.

Tony is a good man.

Peter isn’t.

He thinks sometimes he believes that he is - good that is. Sometimes he knows that he is - but often the conditioned therapy speak can’t convince him that his guilt isn’t valid, that all his efforts at goodness aren’t just a way to bleach away all of the bad things he is responsible for, that for all his goodness he is just inherently, irrevocably bad.

Rhyme and reason is a joke - why the nothingness takes his breath today of all days, hitting like he’s hog-tied and dumped into the bottom of the ocean. It's not a birthday or an anniversary. It's not a day of any significance, so the inertia that swallows him is baseless - but then again, isn’t it always? Maybe the residue has been accumulating while he's been making quips and jokes because - but what excuse does he have for it, does he ever have for it?

His throat sticks when he swallows dryly and he idly considers leaving the safe haven of the creased bedsheets to get some water.

Some time later, a minute, an hour, he makes himself go to the bathroom to relieve himself. He doesn't shower or wash his face. He doesn't even remember if he washed his hands. He doesn't get a drink of water.

The bed becomes an island.

Their mattress is too fancy to leave an indent where he normally sleeps but Peter imagines it’s there anyway, a divot to safely rest the contours of his body like a cradle. A safe place for his thoughts to circle, passing from one to another like a slideshow, deliberating, ruminating, around and around like the view-master he had as a kid. Laughably he tries not to focus on it, let it sweep by, but all it does is make the thoughts whirl into a dizzying kaleidoscope.

The laptop on the desk at the far wall shines all chrome and sleek lines, Peter wonders what it would take to fire it up, Netflix his listlessness away. Even his short-circuiting thoughts decide against it.

More than anything the pressure on his chest wants nothing more to ease to the sound of Tony’s voice.

He just --

Sometimes Peter tries to rationalize the entropy of the universe. By thinking every person and force is like a game of chess, energy in and out, everything has a purpose for good or bad, it gets him by. Sooner or later, surely, anything has a meaning or a lesson worth learning.

But then his core is stripped bare on days like today and Peter thinks of his parents and Ben and Natasha and everyone else who is never coming back and thinks this philosophy is wrong. There is no rhyme or reason on a greater scale for permanently blacking out an untold story. There is no greater lesson to be found in a life culled before its time.

The universe isn't playing chess. It's playing darts in the dark.

Focus.

This isn't him, this helplessness. Most days he doesn't feel like this at all, sees the shine on the horizon and the sun through the leaves – and then... some days, in private, his proverbial ability to clot fails and he bleeds out. His bad day isn't a stubbed toe, a missed train and a burnt dinner. His bad day is quicksand, stasis he can’t wake from and completely withdraws from reality - bad days are Ben’s last look of disappointment on replay and the burn of Skip Westcotts’ touch and an aching void where everything used to be.

He doesn’t open up his laptop but he does bring up Instagram on his phone and scrolls through the glossy highlight reels of everyone else's life.

He must fall asleep because the next thing he knows is a hand is brushing over his forehead, fingers tenderly carding through his curls.

When he blinks his eyes open Tony is sitting beside him. He’s fully dressed, face creased in concern.

“Thought you were at work, baby,” Tony says softly. “You feeling okay?”

Tony’s watch is before his face, reading noon. Far earlier than Peter thought to have himself dressed and behaving with some semblance of normality.

“M’fine. I didn’t expect you back so early,” Peter mumbles, cheeks going pink.

The response prompts a frown from the older man, the stroking against his scalps slowing as his partner assesses him.

Shame burns hot in Peters gut when he sees something akin to understanding flashes briefly in Tony’s eyes. Jaw clenching, Peter slams his eyes shut and exhales. Jesus, fuck this isn’t what Tony should have to put up with --

“Hey, s’okay. What’s wrong?”

Peter contemplates his age old story, what he used to tell May and his teachers when the door outside his bedroom seemed too dark a labyrinth to go near. I have a headache. I think I'm getting the flu. Allergy season is sure starting early this year. But the words get tangled in his throat and it's inevitably easier to just say nothing. He can't think of a lie quick enough to replace the excuses in his head.

There's a thumb caressing his cheek, resting at the side of his mouth.

There's a blink-and-you'll-miss spring of resentment in his stomach because he doesn't want to explain at the same time that he does and all of the thoughts bottleneck in his head - like should he act normal? How should he behave, what should he talk about, what will Tony want to talk about, is Peter going to be convincing enough, how far does the truth really stretch - how dirty will Peter feel lying to him -

Every thought stalls like a traffic jam in his head.

Overwhelmed, Peter brings a hand over his eyes and exhales frustratedly.

“I’m sorry,” he manages.

“Oh, sweetheart,” Tony whispers softly from behind him, sheets rustling as he inches closer. “You’re alright, I’ve got you.”

He doesn’t know how to answer, chest cracking open as the noise in his head reaches an unbearable crescendo.

“Is it okay if I touch you?”

Peter nods, unable to speak around the lump in his throat.

Tony crawls into bed with him, discarding his jacket, shoes and belt onto the floor. The cotton of his shirt feels nice against Peter’s face when he curls up and leans his head on Tony’s chest, but he undoes a few buttons to slip his hand inside anyway, just to feel something real and living.

This isn’t what Tony came home expecting, it shouldn’t be his job to look after Peter, shouldn’t have to tolerate this. Peter should do better.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers, the ache in his chest getting worse with each passing second.

“Nothing to be sorry about,” Tony dismisses, stroking Peter’s hair. “I’ve got you, baby, you’re okay. You want to talk about it?”

The arms tighten around Peter like maybe it could hold him together as he gives a sedate shake of his head.

“That’s okay.” A kiss to his hair. “I love you very much.”

“You too,” Peter murmurs, eyes closing in a mix of guilt and relief.

Another apology rises in his throat but he swallows it down, sinking into Tony’s comforting embrace, listening to this rich tones of the older man's voice telling him it will be okay, how strong he is, how it will pass soon.

Peter loves Tony enough not to argue.

It’s enough.

#starker #starker fic #tony stark x peter parker #tw: mental health issues #tw: depression #tw: skip westcott mention #angst #hurt/comfort #im sorry this is not good #but please accept my humble scraps anyhow #nothing like angst to express my love for jay

233 notes · View notes

papermoonloveslucy · 4 years ago

Text

FATHER’S DAY

The death of Lucille Ball’s father at an early age had a great impact. Throughout the four situation comedies built around her, the “Lucy” characters had mothers, but references to their fathers was rare. Here’s a tribute to the precious few dads found in the Lucyverse!

Henry “Had” Durrell Ball (1887-1915) ~ Father of Lucille Ball and Fred Ball.

Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y Alberni II (1894-1973) ~ Father of Desi Arnaz and grandfather of Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz IV. Desi Jr. is now the father of two.

Ricky Ricardo (aka Ricardo Alberto Fernando Ricardo y de Acha aka Enrique Alberto Fernando Ricardo y de Acha III) ~ Father of Ricky Ricardo Jr. (Keith Thibodeaux). Actually, Ricky’s son was played by 8 actors over the course of the series.

In “Return Home From Europe” (ILL S5;E26), Ricky insists that he is not the father of baby Cheddar Chester!

Below are all the fathers on “I Love Lucy”!

But first, a (Father’s Day) word from our sponsor!

Will Potter ~ Father of Ethel Mertz. Besides Ricky himself, Will Potter (Irving Bacon) is the only father of the main characters on “I Love Lucy.” Although all four have living mothers (two of whom are characters on the show), only Ethel’s father is alive and well and appears on screen in “Ethel’s Hometown” (ILL S4;E16).

Charlie Appleby ~ Father of Stevie. Charlie makes two appearances on the series, although each time he is played by a different actor: Hy Averback played him in “Baby Pictures” (ILL S3;E5) and George O'Hanlon (inset photo) in “Lucy and Superman” (ILL S6;E13).

Harry Munson ~ Father of Billy. Harry and Grace live about a mile from the Ricardos in Connecticut. Harry is played by Tristram Coffin in two episodes: “Lucy Misses the Mertzes” (ILL S6;E17) and in “The Country Club Dance” (S6;E25).

Ralph Ramsey ~ Father of Bruce Ramsey. The Ramseys live across from the Ricardos in Westport. Ralph (Frank Nelson) was only seen in two Connecticut-based episodes: “Lucy Gets Chummy With The Neighbors” (ILL S6;E18) and “The Country Club Dance” (ILL S6;E25), although Nelson appeared in many more episodes as different characters.

Danny Williams ~ Father of Rusty, Linda and Terry, although Terry does not appear in “Lucy Makes Room For Danny”, the cross-over episode that brought “The Danny Thomas Show” to CBS. In fact, for its first three years, the show was known as “Make Room for Daddy.” Subsequently, Thomas did a sequel called “Make Room for Granddaddy” and Lucille Ball guest-starred on it in 1971.

The Sheriff of Bent Fork, Tennessee ~ Father of twin girls Teensy and Weensy. Will Wright played the character in “Tennessee Bound” (ILL S4;E15).

Mr. Stanley ~ Father to nine girls! When “Lucy Goes To The Hospital” (ILL S2;E16), Ricky meets a man in the fathers’ waiting room (played by Charles Lane) anxiously awaiting the birth of his latest (and he says last) child, whom he hopes will be a boy. His hopes are dashed - times three over!

The Italian Farmer ~ in “Lucy’s Bicycle Trip” (ILL S5;E24), claims to have nine children: Teresa, Sofia, Luigi, Pietro, Dino, Gino, Rosa, Mario, and Antonio! The Farmer is played by Mario Siletti, but his "multi bambini” remain off screen!

Ernie Kovacs ~ Father of Kippie and Bette, unseen but mentioned characters in “Lucy Meets the Mustache” (LDCH S3;E3) in 1960. The girls are said to be making friends with Little Ricky, while their father entertains at Lucy and Ricky’s (last) party.

Moving on to the Fathers of “The Lucy Show”...

Theodore J. Mooney ~ Father of Bob, Ted, Arnold, and Rosemary, who was never seen, but is said to live in Trenton and to have had a baby, making Mr. Mooney a grandfather as well! Gale Gordon played Mr. Mooney from 1963 to 1968. If the character was ever given a spin-off, it might have been called “My Three Sons”!

Father Time ~ Played by Sherman Bagley (Ralph Hart) in “Chris’s New Year’s Eve Party” (TLS S1;E14). He is accompanied by Baby New Year played by Jerry Carmichael (Jimmy Garrett). In the series, Sherman’s father Ralph is mentioned, but never seen. Jerry’s dad is deceased and never given a name.

Kenneth Westcott ~ Father of Debbie, who is a friend of Lucy Carmichael’s daughter Chris and Principal of their high school in 1963′s “Lucy is a Chaperone” (TLS S1;E27). He is played by Hanley Stafford.

Mr. Sanford ~ Father of Timmy, who is having a birthday where Lucy and Viv are hired as party planners and the entertainment in “Kiddie Parties, Inc.” (TLS S2;E2). Mr. Sanford is played by Lyle Talbot. If he was ever given a sequel, it might be called “Sanford and Son”!

Jonathan Winslow ~ Father of Charlie, Danny and Bobbie (aka Roberta) in “Lucy the Babysitter” (TLS S5;E16). What Lucy doesn’t realize is that the Winslow children are actually baby chimps! Mr. Winslow was played by Jonathan Hole.

In “Lucy and Harry’s Tonsils” (TLS S2;E5), Mr. Phillips (Jack Collins) plays an father expecting his first child who believes Mr. Mooney is there for the same reason, while Mr. Mooney thinks Mr. Phillips is there for a tonsillectomy! Phillips (having his third child) is similar to the character of Mr. Stanley (who is having his ninth – all girls!) in “Lucy Goes to the Hospital” (ILL S2;E16).

“Lucy Becomes a Father” (TLS S3;E9) finds single mom and widow Lucy Carmichael trying to be both mother and father to her son, Jerry. She joins five other cub scout dads on a weekend away, trying desperately to do what the other dads do. The fathers include (left to right): Hal Smith as Mr. Wilson, George ‘Red’ Fox as George (hidden), Gale Gordon as Mr. Mooney, George Niese as Mr. Carter, and Buster West as Tom. Coincidentally, Gale Gordon had the surnames Carter in “Here’s Lucy” and Wilson in “Dennis the Menace” but neither were dads!

In the play “The Founding of Danfield” staged in “Lucy and Arthur Godfrey” (TLS S3;E23) in 1965, Godfrey plays “Daddy” of Lucybelle (Lucy Carmichael), and [spoiler alert] Conrad P. Field (Mr. Mooney) turns out to be the daddy of the Honest-But-Poor Piano Player Dan (Vinnie, played by Max Showalter). In real life, Godfrey was the father of three.

The Father of Our Country ~ George Washington, as embodied by Lucy Carmichael when “Lucy and Viv Open a Restaurant” (TLS S2;E20). Viv (Vivian Vance) dresses a George’s wife, Martha, to promote their new Colonial-themed restaurant.

In “Lucy the Gun Moll” (TLS S4;E25), Lucille Ball plays both Lucy Carmichael and a look-alike gun moll named Rusty, who performs the Cole Porter song “My Heart Belongs to Daddy”!

And now the Dads of “Here’s Lucy”....

Mr. Caldwell ~ Father of Laurie in “Mod, Mod Lucy” (HL S1;E1), the very first episode of “Here’s Lucy.” Lew Parker played the over-protective dad of teenage Laurie (Nancy Roth). His wife is played by Nancy Howard. Parker was best known for playing the father of another TV character, Ann Marie (Marlo Thomas) on “That Girl.” In real-life, Marlo’s father was Lucy’s friend and co-star - one of the most famous daddies on TV - Danny Thomas!

On “Lucy and Johnny Carson” (HL S2;E11), while appearing on “The Tonight Show” and playing Stump the Band, Lucy Carter chooses a song titled “Snoops the Lawyer” that she says her father sang to her when she was a child. This is the only mention of her father on the series. Coincidentally, Ball’s real mother is one of the audience members (Carson is sitting on the arm of her chair). Since the song was not written until 1920, and Lucille Ball’s real father Henry died in 1915, this cannot be a real-life recollection from Lucy.

Lee Wong ~ Father of Linda Chang and Sue Chin in “Lucy the Laundress” (HL S2;E17). The single father and business owner was played by James Hong.

Moose Manley ~ Father of milquetoast Wally in “Lucy and Wally Cox” (HL S2;E21). Moose was played by Alan Hale Jr. and his timid son by Wally Cox (insert).

Harrison Otis Carter the First ~ Great Grandfather of Harry Carter IV (aka Harry). Gale Gordon’s image was used to create Harry’s great grandfather. Harry claims he was one of the founders of Sinclairville, New York, and was father of 17 children!

Konstantin Kasos ~ Grandfather of the Bride in “Lucy’s Wedding Party” (HL S3;E8). The role was played by Bruce Gordon (”The Untouchables”) who was really just 55 years old playing a 77 Greek granddaddy.

Vincent Price - Father of Victoria aka “Little Vicky”, the name of Price’s real-life daughter, who is mentioned by Lucy, but does not appear in the episode “Lucy Cuts Vincent’s Price” (HL S3;E9).

Alfredo Colucci ~ Father of Ricardo, Anna Maria, Louisa, Luigi, Vincenzo, Dino, Lucrezia, Alfredo Jr., Margarito, Bruno, Rosa, and Frederico - all of whom appear in the final moments of “Lucy and Harry’s Italian Bombshell” (HL S4;E3) starring Kaye Ballard. Emile Autuori plays Alfredo, but the twelve children appear uncredited.

Claude Wolff ~ Husband of Petula Clark, who was noticeably pregnant when they played themselves on a “Here’s Lucy” in 1972. In real-life, Wolff became a dad for the third time with the birth of his first son, Patrick.

Harry Carter (Gale Gordon) finally got to play a working class dad to two unambitious teens when he appeared in a TV commercial during “Lucy and Cousin Ernie’s Fun Farm” (HL S1;E23) in 1969.

Harry Carter (Gale Gordon) pretends to be a husband and father (to be) when he convinces Lucy to play his pregnant wife to scare of a domineering suitor (Jean Willes) in “Lucy, The Part-Time Wife” (HL S3;E14).

The Lucyverse has plenty of room for fathers of all kinds. Father Lambros (Paul Picerni) showed up for a Greek wedding in “Lucy’s Wedding Party” (HL S3;E8).

And Finally, “Life With Lucy

All Lucy Fathers come back to Gale Gordon - a man who never had children in real life!

Curtis McGibbon ~ Father of Ted McGibbon and Grandfather of Ted’s children Rebecca and Kevin. Gale Gordon played Curtis, the patriarch on “Life With Lucy,” with Larry Anderson as Ted, Jenny Lewis as Becky, and Philip Amelio as Kevin.

In “Mother of the Bride” (LWL S1;E8) in 1986, Lucy Barker and her sister Audrey (Audrey Meadows) mention their father during a private conversation in the kitchen.

#Lucille Ball #Fathers Day #Fathers #Dads #Daddies #Pops #Papa #i love lucy #the lucy show #Here's Lucy #Life With Lucy #Gale Gordon #desi arnaz

2 notes · View notes

cyberwolfwrites · 5 years ago

Text

#24--May 7, 2019

*Warning triggers for rape, any type of sexual assault, and rape of a minor.

When Peter Parker was two months shy of his eighth birthday, he decided that he didn’t want to play a game.

“Skip!” seven-year-old Peter cheers gleefully, running up to his friend.

“Einstein!” the teenager shouts back equally as cheerful, setting a hand on the younger boy’s shoulder. Peter wraps his arms around Skip’s waist excitedly, grinning a broad smile at the teenager. “What’s got you so excited, Einstein?" Peter, who is practically bursting in excitement, quickly fills his friend on the news.

"Aunt May and Uncle Ben are going out tonight and said that you can come over until they get home!” Peter squeals as the two made their way into Peter’s apartment building. Skip lives a few blocks away but would usually walk Peter home after school ended since he walks past his school on the way home. “Can you come over? Can you!?”

Skip flashes Peter a big smile. “Of course, Einstein! We’re friends. Why wouldn’t I come over?" Peter grins at that. Steven ‘Skip’ Westcott is his only friend. None of the other kids at school wants to be friends with the over-talkative asthmatic kid. None of them wants to hear him rave about the latest technology that Tony Stark made.

Peter excitedly talks to Skip about what they could do while his Aunt and Uncle are out. "Maybe we can watch a movie? Or play Monopoly? Oh! I know! We can build something with my legos!” Peter suggests, his eyes lighting up as they walk through the front door of his apartment.

Peter runs up to his Uncle and throws his arms around him, grinning up at the man. “Guess what, Uncle Ben! Guess what!" Ben grins down at his nephew, ruffling up his hair as he chuckles at his nephew’s excitement.

"What?” Ben asks. “What?”

“Skip said that he can come over tonight!” Peter squeals excitedly, turning back to look at Skip who was currently leaning against the apartment door frame.

“That’s great, buddy!” Ben says with a smile, looking up at the teenager.

“I’m going to go,” Skip tells the man, pointing a thumb behind him. “I’ve got a new game for Einstein and me to play. You can call me when you need me to come over. See you in a bit, Einstein!" Peter pouts as Skip closes the door behind him before grinning in excitement. He wonders what new game Skip had for them to play.

Would it be a board game? A card game? Some sort of memory or logic game? Whatever the game may be, Peter hopes it will be fun. But, Skip’s games are always fun. So he doesn’t worry too much.

Peter jumps up and down excitedly when someone knocks on the door. It had been a few hours since Skip walked Peter home and Aunt May and Uncle Ben were all ready to go out on their date. As usual when Skip comes over to babysit, Aunt May and Uncle Ben go over what to should anything bad happen. They’ve never had to use the emergency information or anything before, but they always do, just in case.

"Thanks again, Skip,” Peter could hear Aunt May say.

“It’s no worry, Mrs. Parker,” Skip tells the woman. “I don’t mind hanging out with Einstein.”

“Well then,” Ben says, drawing the conversation to a close. “I guess we better head out or we’ll be late for dinner. Have a fun night, boys! We’ll be back by ten at the latest. Please have Peter in bed by then.”

“Of course, Mr. Parker,” Skip assures, flashing a smile at the duo. “You and Mrs. Parker don’t have to worry about anything. Go have some fun. Everyone knows you deserve it." With a final goodbye to the two boys, the couple left, leaving Peter alone with Skip.

Unable to hold down his excitement, Peter bounds up to Skip. "What kind of game do you have?” Peter asks Skip eagerly, eyes shining behind his thick-framed glasses. Skip just chuckles at the overexcited kid, putting his backpack down and heading into the living room.

“It’s a fun game, Einstein, but we’ll play it later,” Skip says with a broad grin. “How about we watch a movie or two before we play it? We’ll play it in your room before you go to bed. It shouldn’t take long." If Peter found anything wrong with Skip’s wording, he says nothing. Because Skip is his friend and they are going to play a new fun game! He just has to be patient, that’s all.

And so, Skip and Peter settles into the living room with the lights off and the movie Skip brought over playing on the screen. Throughout the movie, Peter couldn’t remove his thoughts from the game that Skip wants to play. What is so special about it that it had to be played in his room and right before his bedtime?

Eventually, the credits to the first movie began to roll but it is only seven o'clock. Peter’s Aunt and Uncle aren’t due home for another two or three hours, but Peter’s bedtime is coming up soon. His bedtime is at nine since it is date night. "Hey, Einstein,” Skip starts, checking the time, “I think we have time for another movie before we can play that game and get you to bed.”

Peter grins at his friend and another movie was loaded into the DVD player and begins to play. It isn’t uncommon for the two to spend his Aunt and Uncle’s date nights watching a few movies, but usually, they would play a few games before Peter had to go to bed. Peter hopes that they’ll have enough time to play the game.

As the second movie progresses, Peter can’t help but notice how fidgety that Skip becomes the closer his bedtime comes. Perhaps the teenager is as excited for the new game that Peter is? If Skip seems this excited then the game must be really fun! And so when the credits began to roll, Peter gets really confused when Skip tells him to get dressed in his pajamas.

“But what about the game?” Peter asks in confusion. Skip only smiles that broad smile at him.

“Don’t worry about that, Einstein. I just need to set it up while you get dressed,” Skip informs him, walking over to his backpack. “Go ahead and get changed in the bathroom. I’ll be in your room when you’re finished." Peter nods, albeit in confusion, and dashes off in his room to gather his pajamas.

Peter quickly pulls on his pajamas, excitement coursing through his veins at the prospect of a new game. He bounds out of the bathroom and into his bedroom where Skip sits with a few magazines and a bottle of what looks to be lotion. There is also a towel sitting on his nightstand. Peter frowns in confusion at the excited look on his friend’s face and closes the bedroom door when prompted by the older boy.

"I thought we were gonna play a game?” Peter says, crawling onto the bed and beside Skip.

“Oh, don’t worry, Einstein. We are,” Skip says. Peter’s excitement lessens a bit at Skip’s eager expression and somewhat creepy grin. Something is beginning to feel… off. “This new game is only played with the bestest of friends. So you may not have heard of it before. But I’m going to show you some pictures in these magazines and we’re going to replicate them, okay?”

Nodding in confusion, Peter looks down at the magazines. He freezes in place. On the front cover of the magazine are two men. Two naked men. Peter’s face flushes in embarrassment as Skip flips the page, showing one of the men with their mouth on the other’s private.

Peter’s excitement for this game has immediately been extinguished by this point. “Now, you’re gonna touch me here, Einstein,” Skip tells the boy, pointing to his privates. At Peter’s wide-eyed incredulous and confused expression, the teenager explains. “Oh, Einstein. I know that you’ve never really had friends before me so you must not have heard of this game. Like I said before, only best friends play this type of game. And we’re best friends, right? And good friends do this for each other. It makes them feel good.”

Skip sighs after a few moments of Peter’s silence. “I guess I’ll have to lead, then,” he murmurs, promptly beginning to unbutton his jeans. When Skip reaches for Peter’s hand, the boy pulls it away. His stomach felt heavy and it was churning.

“I don’t think I want to play this game…” Peter says slowly, trying to inch away from his friend. Skip just shakes his head like Peter was being unreasonable.

“Don’t worry, Einstein. I promise you’ll feel good,” Skip promises warmly, wrapping his large hand around Peter’s smaller one. Before the kid can pull away, Peter’s hand is already in the teenager’s pants and touching his privates. Peter tries to pull away, whimpering about how he doesn’t want to play the game while Skip continues to make the boy touch him. Skip’s sighs of pleasure make Peter feel confused.

On one hand he knows he shouldn’t be touching Skip’s privates, but on the other hand, Skip said that the bestest of friends did it and he is making him feel good.

After a few more minutes, Skip’s hand slowly crawls over Peter’s thighs, making the boy jerk back. Peter’s thoughts immediately turn to how this was so wrong but then Skip is touching him and pulling his pants down. Skip pulls Peter’s hand away from his private, instead choosing to reach for the bottle of lotion.

Peter tries to keep his pants and underwear on but Skip easily manages to pull them off and flings them across the room. “I don’t want to play this game anymore!” Peter cries out as Skip begins to touch him. Peter flings his arms out in an attempt to get the teenager away from him but Skip just flips him over to his stomach instead, kneeling behind him.

“Don’t worry, Einstein. It’ll feel good,” Skip assures, his voice sounding sickeningly sweet and syrupy. The teenager pries the boy’s legs apart easily and Peter clenches his eyes shut, shaking his head as sobs began to pour out of his mouth, a steady stream of 'I don’t want to do play anymore’ coming out of him. They are coming out in whispered pleas as Peter’s breathing becomes shallow. He is beginning to have a panic attack.

Peter cries out sharply when his bottom erupts in pain before the sound’s muffled when a rough hand forces his head into his pillows. Peter can feel Skip’s heavy breathing on the back of his neck and then the feel of his teeth biting at his shoulder. All the while Peter continues to cry that he doesn’t want to play the game anymore while trying to breathe.

Peter tries to drown out the sound of Skip whispering in his ear. “You’re doing so good, Einstein." "You feel so good, Pete." "You’re an angel, sweetheart." "So tight." ”So perfect, just for me.“

Peter shakes his head and sobs into his pillow as Skip pulls away after a long moment that ends with a satisfying groan and a warm feeling in his bottom. The towel he saw earlier is wiping at his bottom and between his legs. Peter doesn’t stop shaking when Skip works his underwear and pajama pants over his legs. He doesn’t stop crying when Skip pulls the covers over him, telling him, "You can’t tell May or Ben, Einstein. This is only a game that best friends can play. It’s a secret. They can’t know. You don’t want to be a bad friend, do you?" He doesn’t but he can’t stop feeling or hearing him on him even when the lights turn off and the door shuts close and he hears his Aunt and Uncle come home.

He doesn’t tell them until two months later and he doesn’t see Skip anymore after the police officers come. And Peter thinks that now it’s okay. It’s not a secret anymore.

When Peter Parker was two months shy of his eighth birthday, his only friend and babysitter raped him.

When Peter Parker was two months shy… series

#Peter Parker #May Parker #Ben Parker #Skip Westcott #submission

61 notes · View notes

kingofmyfancyheart · 5 years ago

Text

“Don’t you dream impossible things?”

On Friday August 2, 2019 one of my biggest dreams came true. I met my favourite musician, role model and best friend: TAYLOR ALISON SWIFT. Here’s my story:

So it was on a Tuesday evening when I received the message of messages on twitter. The Direct Message from Taylor Nation. I was just casually looking at my phone since it had been around 6 PM. I also got a message from Tayswiftdotcom about the ME! Vinyl, which I won… But of course I read the message from TN first and I was SHOOK. I don’t know my exact reaction, but I must have been in shock. I was even wondering if this really would be for secret sessions??? I first told my best friend – the one I trust with my heart – as fast as I can. It went like ‘OMG E’ ‘OMG KSJOD OMG’ and she knew what it was. She actually didn’t know more info. SHE JUST KNEW.

I told about the message to my parents, sister and another best friend too. My sister knew a bit about secret sessions and stuff already, but my parents didn’t. My mom was even a bit scared that I would get kidnapped or something jsfkdjsfldjs but I comforted her. This was all real and TN is real. Verified. Legit. It was real 100% SURE. The message was real. As soon as I read the message, I answered with my information and then the waiting began. And the wait seemed to be SO long!!! Although it wasn’t THAT long, but feeling wise… I kept checking my DM’s. Did they read my reply already? Fortunately I had things to do in the meantime. This helped me to distract myself from social media.

I got the call on Thursday, July 18, around 10 PM. It was after my mom’s birthday. I received a call waiting as I was calling with my sister already. It took me a few seconds to realize though. So I said “wait, I got a call” and checked the screen… and then I saw a US phone number. I immediately got back to my sister: “THEY’RE CALLING!!! I NEED TO HANG UP NOW.” So I hung up, but TN also did. So… I immediately called them back, while I ran upstairs with a notebook and pen. I didn’t even think about how much this call was going to cost me… I just didn’t realize, HAHAHA. I sat down behind my desk without even turning on the lights and waited. Then I heard “do I speak with Mrs. Jennifer?” and my nerves went SKY HIGH. It was Michael from Taylor Nation. The conversation remained 16 minutes and 23 seconds. I know, quite long, but that’s because of my lack of English… haha. During the call they invited me officially to go to the UK for… an event.

After the call it was time to rearrange things. Luckily enough I still had two weeks left. My sister helped me much with searching for flights and an accommodation. I’ve not much personal travel experience… I just really needed a little help. I wasn’t going to travel on my own, but with my mom who still had days off. We booked our accommodation in a lovely place near London. Of course I would have LOVED to sleep in the big city, but well… I’m definitely going back once. It was a nice and calm introduction to the UK for me.

On July 25 I had a lunch with my best friend E. We also had a little shopping spree. Of course I wanted to have a new outfit for this special day. AND I WASN’T THE PERSON WHO FOUND THE DRESS. No, my best friend spotted the dress and I immediately was like ‘YES!!! That’s it!’ It looked so romantic, lovely and it was screaming Lover at me.

In the two weeks before my flight I’ve been so excited. It’s been such a weird time, like… When I scrolled through my timeline and saw tweets about secret sessions (stuff like ‘which pose would you choose?’), I was giggling and thinking ‘wait, so I’m going to be THERE??? LIKE REALLY THERE – IN HER HOUSE?????’ It felt so insane and surreal. I couldn’t believe it.

We arrived in the UK on Thursday August 1 and took it slowly. We didn’t have much time and both my mom and me needed some time to acclimatize. We decided to stay just in the countryside of London, which was really okay to me. Actually I loved it very much. I love nature and more local places and especially the place where we stayed. On the other hand, our place still had this big shopping mall with shops like New Look, H&M and Top Shop. It was a small town, but not that boring haha.

Around 4 PM we were arriving at our accommodation, where we met the guest lady (Arie). She was so kind and friendly!!! And the house looked beautiful and lovely just like the town. My mom and me had room 5 which was one of the attic rooms. Normally we would have shared a bathroom with room 6, but that day we had a private one since room 6 hadn’t been booked yet.

So, when the guest lady was introducing herself, she also complimented my t-shirt. I wore my Meredith shirt from Taylor’s collection, so that was really nice! She even told me she was going to search for the shirt online! She needed it hahaha!!! That conversation made me like this lady even more.

But well… the day went by and suddenly it was Friday. August 2. THE DAY OF THE EVENT. And NOW I really felt the nerves and excitement. Yes, this morning I finally felt the nerves. Although it came even more later on the day, but I’ll talk about that soon. First things first, people. I’m the princess of details. (Taylor is the queen!)

We didn’t plan anything specific this day except for the event. I think I woke up around 7 AM first, but then I was going back to sleep. And then I woke up again around… ehm, 8:45 AM perhaps? I don’t know, but I woke up before my alarm set. (I set my alarm for 10 AM.) I ate my oats breakfast while staying in bed. Like, it was still a holiday, so let’s serve myself some breakfast in bed. My mom was also awake and had the same breakfast. After breakfast I watched one episode of Gilmore Girls and then afterwards it was time to get ready, I guess.

I was wearing the new bought dress and a flower headband, which seemed a really good idea. But I’ll come back at you about that later. We booked my taxi for 1:30 PM. I asked mom if she would walk with me to the gate. In this way she could see by herself who was going to bring me to the meeting point. It would made me feel a bit more safely. Also, it was a bit unclear whether the return taxi was included in the same booking as the afternoon one or not. This all ended well though. :) I arrived on the exact time as Google Maps told me I was going to be. This meant I was waaaaay too early, but well… Better early than too late, right? That’s why I brought a book with me (can you see me? – by Libby Scott & Rebecca Westcott). During the taxi ride the driver asked me where I was going. “Do you have to work?” he asked and so, I was like “no… I got invited for some event…” that’s it. Of course. I didn’t dare to tell ANYONE about this except the five people, who I trust with my whole heart. That was quite hard for me btw, since I’ve always been so honest to everyone. So, when I was arriving at the meeting point, I went into the lobby to sit down somewhere. I thought: no way that there’ll be someone already this early. But then there was this girl… she was on the phone, though, but I thought immediately: could she be invited too??? We were looking at each other a few times and then she hang up. She decided to sit near me and then… she (@yntcdtyler) asked. “Are you her for…?” And we were both like ‘YES!! FINALLY I CAN TALK WITH SOMEONE ABOUT IT.’ Apparently, I didn’t need to bring a book with me.

Later on more Swifties were arriving and for some reason we recognized each other immediately. Even though we didn’t really know each other. Or well… Sometimes WE DID KNOW each other. Like, that one time I met one of my fellow DUTCH SWIFTIES (@danique99xkiss) for the FIRST TIME AT THE MEETING POINT FOR A SECRET SESSION. Like… HOW??? APPARENTLY TAYLOR DECIDED TO INVITE US BOTH!! FOR! A! SECRET! SESSION! And we weren’t the only two Dutch Swifties. There were like six or seven people, who had Dutch as a native language. And there were so many different internationalities!!! People from Belgium, Spain, Croatia, Germany, Canada, even Singapore!!! But I was so glad with my fellow Dutchies. It made me feel a bit more comfortable. It was nice to meet everyone out there right before the evening of our lives was going to start.

Around 4 PM someone from TN walked over to us. She greeted us and took us with her, while everyone was thinking ‘IT’S STARTING!!!’ But unfortunately when we were inside, we still had to wait for like an hour. Hahaha, but well, we were together and again: it was so nice seeing everyone there! I just knew everyone was going to be sweet. We all had one big common interest. We were all here for the same reason. I sat next to my fellow Dutchies Danique, Britt (@alltoowonderland13) and Mila (@taylaaahhh-13) and also behind Laurens (@gotthatwhitetshirt) and a few other people. While everyone was mingling, walking around and talking with each other, I just sat there… Although I tried to talk too, but socializing isn’t my best treat. @ London Sessioners: Sorry if I was a bit quiet… I’ve always been the shy, introvert person… Please don’t think that I didn’t like you all, CAUSE I DID!!!

We had to leave all of our stuff in this room and couldn’t take a bag with us. And then, around 5 PM, we were about to leave… NOW IT WAS STARTING. FOR REAL. So everyone walked over to the door, where we were waiting to get on the buses. I stood next to Mila and realized that I hadn’t drunk water, yet. But in that moment I started to feel a bit dizzy or something… Maybe because of the nerves? So I decided to take a glass of water anyway. I didn’t want to faint omg. Mila and I got on the first bus and… I just kept thinking: THIS IS REAL!!!!

When our bus was arriving at THE HOUSE, someone from TN told us that that we had to pretend we’re excited, hahaha. They were going to film us, when we ran of the bus. Well, of course we didn’t need to PRETEND everything. Our feelings were ALL REAL. Duh. Oh btw, my first reaction to her house was like ‘omg this is really the house of a queen! It looks so royal!’ Like, it was so big!!!! I actually don’t know what I was thinking, when I walked through her front door… I guess I was just very impressed. And in shock. Oh and when we were all standing in the bus ready for our run, I said to no one in particular ‘I hope I won’t fall during my run’. I really felt my legs shaking jkdsfjksjf but fortunately it went well. I think I looked SUPER happy and enthusiastic.

Taylor’s house smelled so good. So, I don’t know exactly what I was thinking on my way through the hallway, but I know that for a moment I really thought (OKAY THIS IS GONNA SOUND REALLY WEIRD)… I really thought for a second that one of the security said ‘goedemorgen’ to me. I mean ‘good morning’, but in Dutch. I DON’T KNOW WHY I THOUGHT SO OMG, I’M JUST CRAZY HAHAHAHA. I think I was dreaming. But I really heard him saying ‘good morning’ in my own language, BUT THAT’S SO IMPOSSIBLE HAHAHAHA! @taylornation please confirm so I could decide if I’m really crazy or not

Anyway. I tried to take everything in so carefully. I just wanted to remember this experience very well, so I was paying attention to the most small details. She had so many perfumed candles around her house!!! And there was a cupboard in the dining room with many boardgames. The dining room was a very light and bright room because of all the windows and glass doors, which were all open widely. We were allowed to walk onto the porch too, where we could find cold drinks. Inside there was a table with pizza and burgers and also one with vegetables, fruit and Lover M&Ms (those were SO cute!!!) I remember how at first everyone was just walking around and looking at everything. No one dared to touch something lol, but soon enough people took food and drinks. And later people were sitting on the chairs. It was very surreal and bizarre to be walking around her house as casual like that. In the garden there was a trampoline too and two soccer goals. We thought those soccer goals were Joe’s idea, but that’s actually bsh*t. I mean, we all know Taylor can play soccer. Riiight.

Inside the house I was still a bit quiet and shy, but I really had the time of my life. I promise. I was just enjoying the smell of her house and the people surrounding me in silent. Besides, actually I just really couldn’t wait to hear her album!! But it was really amazing to spend time with the group of sessioners in London. At some point You Need To Calm Down was playing and everyone in the dining room started to sing SO loud. Like, really, REALLY loud!!! I was in shock!! And of course I just sang out loud with them! Some lyrics we even sang out LOUDER, like for example the sentence ‘AND SHADE NEVER MADE ANYBODY LESS GAY!!!!!’ That was SO awesome. I was standing next to the girl in the red dress (@taylorisglowinginthedark) and we immediately looked at each other after that sentence with this big smile <3 I really think Taylor heard us. She MUST HAVE. @taylorswift YOU MUST HAVE.

Not much later after this moment the listening session was going to start, but just before we go to that I still want you to tell about something. At another point there was a butterfly flying through the dining room and THAT WAS SUCH A MAGICAL MOMENT. For me it felt like Taylor was inside the room, but like, undercover. Hahaha. I know, surreal, but this whole day was surreal. So. But it was really one of my favourite moments. I mean, everyone was looking at the butterfly. It connected us just like Taylor and her music connects us <3

So, time to go into her living room. WHAT. YES. I SAT IN HER FREAKING LIVING ROOM!!!!! I SPEND A WHOLE EVENING WITH TAYLOR AND 70+ SWIFTIES. I sat somewhere in the back, because the room was full already when I walked in. But I found the perfect place. Inside a fire place btw hahahahaha, which wasn’t on fire of course hahahahfdhsfosjfosjf why did I say that? Of course it wasn’t on fire, sigh. My mind. Anyway, I sat half in the fire place and next to the air-conditioning AND a tissue box. So, perfect place. I shared the tissue box with Zita and Danique immediately, because I just KNEW we were going to need that. The parents from some Swifties were also sitting in the back on couches, and Tree of course, while we sat on those light pink blankets laying across the floor. Taylor put multiple cushions as well on the floor, so it looked all cosy. I loved the atmosphere. Up in the front there was a big chair with a side table, where obviously Taylor was going to sit with her iPod. THE IPOD. WITH THE MOST PRECIOUS THING. LOVER. We’d been surrounded by candles again and much wood. It was just a really cosy and warm place. Just as warm as her heart.

And then. . . . . . .Taylor walked in. AND WE SCREAMED. AND CRIED. AND SCREAMED. AND YELLED. She walked in from a door somewhere in the front, which lead to the kitchen, I guess. But I’m not sure. She was wearing a very soft and sweet outfit: pastel green shirt with stripes, white shorts and sneakers with stars pattern. I remember how I was just staring at her. I guess all I thought was ‘THIS IS REAL. SHE IS REAL.’ Her voice was so friendly and soft as well. It was truly amazing to hear all the backstories straight from her mouth. I could have listened to her FOR HOURS. I really wouldn’t mind. I was smiling really big the WHOLE time. I’m truly honest when I’m saying that I liked each song on the album. Also, Lover gave me many 1989 vibes, but more grown up.

During the listening session Taylor held a short break, so we could stretch legs and taste her SELFMADE PASTEL COLOURED RICE CRISPIES. AND THEY WERE DELICIOUS!!! Very sticky, but still very delicious. It was the perfect snack after hearing the most emotional song EVER.

Taylor took us outside while holding the plate with snacks. Although I was just realizing this in the dining room. Then I realized it was TAYLOR HERSELF who was walking in the front hahahaha. I really was on cloud nine. There were some Swifties who were allowed to jump on the trampoline. I didn’t hear this by myself at the moment, but apparently at that moment Taylor was saying ‘THOSE ARE MY KIDS’. After this she walked over to the parents – with a glass of white wine – to introduce herself, which is SO Taylor. And of course the parents took their children with them. It was all so amazing. The fact that she was just standing in the middle and talked to us in this casual way. Surreal. Taylor asked if people didn’t need to go to the toilet, but yeah, of course not. We all wanted to stay there with her. Duh. Hahaha!

After a while we were walking back inside for the second half of the listening part. First I was thinking of going to the toilet, but then I saw everyone going inside the living room and I thought ‘oh whatever’. Hahaha, I still had a place somewhere in the back though. But again not a bad place. Maybe it was even a better place. I had a bit more space now. I was still sitting next to Zita and Danique, and also to a girl with very cute cat shoes and @taylorisglowinginthedark. She had been sitting IN FRONT OF TAYLOR during the first half, which must have been a whole experience by itself!!! That’s also a reason why she wanted to sit more in the back now. I could understand. She wanted to give other persons the chance to have this kind of view also.

I tried to listen very carefully during the session. I couldn’t take my eyes off Taylor, but just because I didn’t want to miss a single thing!! I loved it so much how she was singing along with each song and doing those little dances. SHE’S SO CUTE, FUNNY AND SUCH A DORK!!! <3 When I was listening to the songs, I tried to let my body and feelings speak. I wanted it to experience as calm as possible, so I would let the songs sink in deeply. I thought that would possibly help me to NOT forget anything about this evening. If I’ll be listening to her album again on August 23 (or later), I hope I can remember everything again so clearly like I’m back again in her living room. This was such a special night. Once in a lifetime experience.

So, I said it already that I liked each song and that’s really TRUE. I’m not lying to you and also, this is just MY opinion. Personally I didn’t think during any song ‘meh…’ I also have some favourites… Track 7, 8 and 10… Not saying anything more. Just that.

After the listening session we were allowed to look into the DELUXE JOURNALS, which was such an honour. Unfortunately I didn’t hold one in my own hands, but well, I saw them and they looked really beautiful. And I was going to buy them (all) anyway. Hahahaha. Ever since we’ve heard about the content, I decided that I just want them ALL. GOTTA CATCH ‘EM ALL. My feeling between the listening session and the individual meet & greet was… weird. The evening was almost over, but the best part had to come now. And I just felt… I don’t know. But I know that I was walking from inside to the porch and back a few times. Mostly I stood with fellow Dutchies Mila and Danique, but sometimes it became a bit hot inside and so, I walked over to the porch. OH by the way, right after the listening part we got selfmade baking stuff again!! This time Taylor made VERY CUTE HEART-SHAPED PINK LOVER COOKIES. And since I’ve been a cookie monster, I ate them immediately of course. Although they were actually too beautiful to eat, but yeah… Wouldn’t it be rude if we did NOT eat them directly?

During the wait before the meet & greet I just couldn’t catch up with my mind anymore. I had so much stuff to process. It was TOO MUCH for my brain. But well, I survived anyway. But yeah, this evening was very surreal and a whole new fan experience.

Luckily I didn’t black out during my meet & greet with (THE ONE AND ONLY) Taylor Alison Swift. Since it all took a little longer than expected, some Swifties were given priority. For example, when people had to catch the train or booked a taxi. Something which I did indeed. Around 9:30 PM I told TN about this, but they were letting me wait anyway. Maybe it wasn’t necessary to give me priority, but apparently later on it was.

And then. . . . . . . I was in line for THE MEET & GREET. When I was standing there, I looked over my shoulder for a moment to check at my Dutch friends and was like ‘eeeek I’M ALMOST THERE’. I was standing behind the sweet girl from Singapore and we were both so nervous. Also, my eye decided to irritate JUST at that exact moment. Like, WHY???? Fortunately, I had everything under control before my moment with Tay. And I was so happy with the huge mirror in the hallway.

I don’t know the exact time of when I was walking into the living room. I didn’t wear a watch jksjdlfdsj, but I know what was happening at first. When I just entered the room, Taylor said to me, very enthusiastic, “THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING OVER!” followed by the BEST. HUG. EVER. It was a really big, warm and REAL hug. She didn’t let go until I was deciding to (unfortunately). After her “THANK YOU” I was like “YOU’RE WELCOME” and told her how I would have come anyway. How I’ve done anything to come, because I just had to be there. Something like that.

Then I told her that I came with my mom. So she responded “Oh, she’s here?!”, but I was like “no, she’s still in the bed & breakfast”. Then Taylor said “oh, could you thank your mom for me for taking you here, please?” which was SO SWEET OF HER. How she thought about my mom <3 During our conversation she had this very sweet and friendly face the whole time. SHE’S JUST SWEET, PERIOD.

At some point Taylor also called me Jenni, probably because of my necklace. So I was like “it’s Jennifer actually, but…” and then she was a bit confused. She responded: “Oh, I always thought it was Jenni! But I’ll call you Jennifer then.” And just how she said my name and nickname… such a moment. It felt so personal. Hearing your full name said by one of the biggest musicians. I just--

When I told her that I liked each song on the album, she was like “REALLY??” when she held up her hand for a HIGH FIVE. LOVE HER. Oh, and also, HOW COULD I FORGET THIS???? Taylor also said “I like the flowers in your hair!!!” which was such a sweet comment!!!!! I’m so happy that I wore the headband. I just thought ‘this is very Lover era, so I should wear it’, but didn’t think of THIS.

Then it was time for our picture.Taylor asked me if I was thinking about a pose already. I answered “maybe we can hug and ehm… hold hands??” So she asked me “oh, and do you want it like this…” – she took my hand and hold it in a ~normal~ way and then she intertwined our fingers – “or this?” And immediately I was like ‘YES!!!’ Then she hold me even closer to her and SNAP! PICTURE TAKEN! Afterwards I thought ‘I hope this picture turned out well??? Did I smile?? How did I look?’, but I didn’t ask about the picture anyway. Right before I walked out, Taylor was saying to me “SEE YOU ONLINE!” and so I responded “see you at a concert!!” and that’s that. Wow.

Outside the room the sweet, blonde girl with the camera – from TN – was waiting for me. She asked how it was and I was like “good”??? I didn’t really know what to answer, I was just in awe. I also got a customized bag with merchandise. And then I was walking into the bus, where everyone asked how it was and again I was like “GOOD”. Nothing more. I was really on cloud nine now and so much in shock.

When we were all waiting inside the bus to go back to the hotel, I felt really dreamy and sleepy. I also really felt the urge to call MY SISTER!! Or just someone, but I wanted to call my sister first <3 But yeah, we didn’t have our phones yet. So I talked a bit with my neighbour, which was the sweet girl from Singapore! Although she was talking more than me, but well :) I loved her energy. Then after some time the bus was going to leave. It was … ehm, around 11 PM? When the bus was driving away slowly, it came past the meeting room. And. . . YES, the curtains were open. So we had a little sneak peek inside and saw TAYLOR!!! Which made us scream of course haha. Unfortunately someone from TN decided to close the curtains then, which she did slowly though… And she was waving, haha. She looked sweet and friendly. A sweet goodbye :( <3

Back at the meeting point I was waiting outside with Britt. It felt weird to be back at that place, while having a Lover Secret Sessions tote bag with me. Like, SOMETHING VERY BIG HAPPENED TONIGHT. WE MET ONE OF THE BIGGEST POPSTARS. TAYLOR. SWIFT. TAYLOR SWIFT. WE WERE AT HER HOUSE!!! Britt was also panicking a bit, because she didn’t really know how to go back to her hostel. But luckily we fixed that together (and with a local AND Stephanie from TN!! SWEET!) and she booked a taxi, so she was safe apparently :) And then my taxi arrived at 11:30 PM. . . . . . .

I’m posting the story on August 18, which is more than two weeks later. I had some time to let it all sink in, which was quite hard. Like, it was just SO surreal. I keep using this word, but it’s just the only thing I could come up with. My feelings during this evening cannot really be described actually. I enjoyed EVERY. SINGLE. MINUTE. I wouldn’t have wanted to miss this experience!! I’m very grateful for the chance. Thank you @taylornation SO much for inviting me to @taylorswift‘s house. And thank you Taylor for letting me in your house! <3 I didn't tell you everything I wanted, since I had this whole list of things. But well... I had the time of my life with you and all the other Swifties. And that's what matters. This has been one of the happiest days of my life.

14 notes · View notes

stevishabitat · 5 years ago

Text

During WWII, when Richard Feynman was recruited as one of the country’s most promising physicists to work on the Manhattan Project in a secret laboratory in Los Alamos, his young wife Arline was writing him love letters in code from her deathbed. While Arline was merely having fun with the challenge of bypassing the censors at the laboratory’s Intelligence Office, all across the country thousands of women were working as cryptographers for the government — women who would come to constitute more than half of America’s codebreaking force during the war. While Alan Turing was decrypting Nazi communication across the Atlantic, some eleven thousand women were breaking enemy code in America.

Their story, as heroic as that of the women who dressed and fought as men in the Civil War, as fascinating and untold as those of the “Harvard Computers” who revolutionized astronomy in the nineteenth century and the black women mathematicians who powered space exploration in the twentieth, is what Liza Mundy tells in Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II (public library).

A splendid writer and an impressive scholar, Mundy tracked down and interviewed more than twenty surviving “code girls,” trawled hundreds of boxes containing archival documents, and successfully petitioned for the declassification of more than a dozen oral histories. Out of these puzzle pieces she constructs a masterly portrait of the brilliant, unheralded women — women with names like Blanche and Edith and Dot — who were recruited into lives they never could have imagined, lives believed to have saved incalculable other lives by bringing the war to a sooner end.

Driven partly by patriotism, but mostly by pure love of that singular intersection of mathematics and language where cryptography lives, these “high grade” young women, as the military recruiters called them, came from all over the country and had only one essential thing in common — their answers to two seemingly strange questions. Mundy traces the inception of this female codebreaking force:

A handful of letters materialized in college mailboxes as early as November 1941. Ann White, a senior at Wellesley College in Massachusetts, received hers on a fall afternoon not long after leaving an exiled poet’s lecture on Spanish romanticism.

The letter was waiting when she returned to her dormitory for lunch. Opening it, she was astonished to see that it had been sent by Helen Dodson, a professor in Wellesley’s Astronomy Department. Miss Dodson was inviting her to a private interview in the observatory. Ann, a German major, had the sinking feeling she might be required to take an astronomy course in order to graduate. But a few days later, when Ann made her way along Wellesley’s Meadow Path and entered the observatory, a low domed building secluded on a hill far from the center of campus, she found that Helen Dodson had only two questions to ask her.

Did Ann White like crossword puzzles, and was she engaged to be married?

Elizabeth Colby, a Wellesley math major, received the same unexpected summons. So did Nan Westcott, a botany major; Edith Uhe (psychology); Gloria Bosetti (Italian); Blanche DePuy (Spanish); Bea Norton (history); and Ann White’s good friend Louise Wilde, an English major. In all, more than twenty Wellesley seniors received a secret invitation and gave the same replies. Yes, they liked crossword puzzles, and no, they were not on the brink of marriage.

Letters and clandestine questioning sessions spread across other campuses, particularly those known for strong scientific curricula — from Vassar, where astronomer Maria Mitchell paved the way for American women in science, to Mount Holyoke, the “castle of science” where Emily Dickinson composed her botanical herbarium. The young women who answered the odd questions correctly were summoned to secret meetings, where they learned they were being invited to work for the U.S. Navy as “cryptanalysts.” They were to take a training in codebreaking and, if they completed it successfully, would take jobs with the Navy after graduation, as civilians. They could tell no one about the appointment — not their parents, not their girlfriends, not their fiancés.

First, they had to solve a series of problem sets, which would be graded in Washington to determine if they made the cut to the next stage. Mundy writes:

And so the young women did their strange new homework. They learned which letters of the English language occur with the greatest frequency; which letters often travel together in pairs, like s and t; which travel in triplets, like est and ing and ive, or in packs of four, like tion. They studied terms like “route transposition” and “cipher alphabets” and “polyalphabetic substitution cipher.” They mastered the Vigenère square, a method of disguising letters using a tabular method dating back to the Renaissance. They learned about things called the Playfair and Wheatstone ciphers. They pulled strips of paper through holes cut in cardboard. They strung quilts across their rooms so that roommates who had not been invited to take the secret course could not see what they were up to. They hid homework under desk blotters. They did not use the term “code breaking” outside the confines of the weekly meetings, not even to friends taking the same course.

These young women’s acumen, and their willingness to accept the cryptic invitations, would become America’s secret weapon in assembling a formidable wartime codebreaking operation in record time. They would also furnish a different model of genius — one more akin to the relational genius that makes a forest successful. Mundy writes:

Code breaking is far from a solitary endeavor, and in many ways it’s the opposite of genius. Or, rather: Genius itself is often a collective phenomenon. Success in code breaking depends on flashes of inspiration, yes, but it also depends on the careful maintaining of files, so that a coded message that has just arrived can be compared to a similar message that came in six months ago. Code breaking during World War II was a gigantic team effort. The war’s cryptanalytic achievements were what Frank Raven, a renowned naval code breaker from Yale who supervised a team of women, called “crew jobs.” These units were like giant brains; the people working in them were a living, breathing, shared memory. Codes are broken not by solitary individuals but by groups of people trading pieces of things they have learned and noticed and collected, little glittering bits of numbers and other useful items they have stored up in their heads like magpies, things they remember while looking over one another’s shoulders, pointing out patterns that turn out to be the key that unlocks the code.

1 note · View note