#Siren Arnie

[flutterfae-rp]

@avataroftheswarm

The Worms had noticed the girl's abrupt arrival onto the planet, how could they not? Bright lights and sounds that the Hive had never heard before had the entity sending some smaller Worms to investigate the odd new arrival. A human? A little one, normally something they wouldn't take as a threat but then, Knives and Vash had once been small and human looking. The Worms drifted closer to peer at her.

Then they heard her, echoing in the hive-mind like a strange music note. Ever so slightly off from the way they heard each other but harmonious despite it. Could she hear them like they heard her, so clearly? The little glowing human was soon surrounded by the previously carefully circling Worms, now blatantly curious and interested.

She wanted to find other humans? Why talk to humans when she could speak to the Hive? Then again, they reasoned she was small and alone, clearly separated from her network. The whole of the Hive might be too much, as it could be with the few psychics they'd spoken with. Their avatar would be better, easier, not as much weight to them and a familiar shape to calm her.

A few of the Worms broke off from the circling group and flitted along ahead of her, flying back and forth to keep in sight of the little human. They would guide her, follow them, they will take her to their ambassador, they were coming. Better to meet them then sit here in the sand to wait.

Shelter, company, safety, this way this way.

Why Did she want to find humans? "Because I'm alone and that's scary... and I don't know what else to do." There was a presence behind the smaller insects. Something bigger. It was like speaking to speaking to spiderants and feeling the queen through the swarm but this feeling... it was more. Bigger. Older. Arnie was a little unsure about pressing too far. The presence itself didn't frighten her, but... Well, she was one small mind and it was so much more! Arnie was a little afraid that 'she' could be lost and not ever come back. The little Siren continued forward at the bidding of the Sand Worms. Chasing after the creatures as they flew... trusting, perhaps naively, that they would indeed bring her to a safe place. Wherever they were going, it was a long trek. Arnie was beginning to wonder just how long she could keep walking when a figure appeared in the distance just ahead of her. Had they been there just a moment ago? She stopped in her tracks... more unsure of herself then she had been with the winged insects. Nervously, she approached. "Hello..." the girl looked down towards her feet. "You're the one they wanted me to find, a-aren't you?"

[flutterfae-rp]

The small girl stared at the man for a while before slowly nodding, seeming to accept the answer that he gave her. Wary as she was, this person helped her and she wanted to believe that. That this person who was trying to help her was doing it out of kindness and not to trick or hurt her later. The second part was a lot less believable, but Arnie felt sick and exhausted enough to at least pretend... so she nodded again and gave him a small murmured "...Okay" as an answer. Arnie pulled up the Bunny-eared hood of her vest to try and hide those doubts along with the rest of the anxious feelings bubbling up in her chest. "I'm not hungry." She admitted. "My stomach feels sick. So... I don't think I should eat right now."

Cont. @flutterfae-rp

Angelo seemed like a deer in the headlights for a moment there before it clicked together in his head. "Oh! Uh- I won't do anything of the sort to you, dear! I'd... you're simply a guest here!" He wasn't quite sure what had inspired them to think that- was it the radio broadcast? Why would this strange child ever be led to think of that from just that? Were they special? Like him in some way perhaps? Too many questions. Too many questions he didn't have answers to. "You're in a safe place as long as you're within the walls of this Orphanage, dear. I can assure you of that. Whatever you were having to run from that made you have to think like that will never get you in these walls." Was it a little extreme? Yes, of course it was. But Angelo wanted the message to get through. "Now! That was a little too... dreary and serious for my tastes, you feeling hungry at all? I can go and bring something up for you if you want, been waiting for you to wake up."

[evans-endeavors]

SWL doodle with my OCs

Arnie and Jordan (left/center)

Alfie (right) belongs to my buddy, Jonah.

They get along :’)

[rwbyofmyheart]

TWST OC Nicknames

Floyd’s Nicknames:

Mia- Mantis Shrimpy

Diana- Pufferfish

Maybelline- Blue Tang

Hawk- Hawkfish

Cristal- Catfish (Cristal absolutely hates it, Kaira thinks it’s hilarious)

Kaira- Lionfish

Naia- Lil Sharky

Lysie- Leaf Slug

Alodie- Cleaner Goby

Lia- Candy Darter

Eui- Axolotl

Beatris- Spider Crab

Rook’s Nicknames:

Mia- Trickster & Reine des Fantômes (Queen of Ghosts)

Diana- Mademoiselle Riposte (Miss Riposte)

Maybelline- Mademoiselle Caterpillar (Miss Caterpillar)

Hawk- Monsieur Birdbrain (Mr. Birdbrain)

Cristal- Mademoiselle Menteuse (Miss Liar)

Kaira- Mademoiselle Arnis (Miss Arnis)

Naia- Mademoiselle Blanche (Miss White)

Lysie- Mademoiselle Sirène (Miss Siren)

Alodie- Mademoiselle Souhaite (Miss Wish)

Lia- Mademoiselle Ruse (Miss Ruse)

Beatris- Mademoiselle Vengeance (Miss Vengeance)

Other:

Maybelline > Hawk: Falcon

Ace > Diana: Riddle 2.0

Hawk > Beatris: Princess

Hawk > Maybelline: Blue Freak

Cristal > Kaira: Dep La

Cristal > Diana: Duchess of Despair

Kaira > Cristal: Binturi

Naia > Neptune family: Neptune scum

Naia > Lysie: Princess Black Sheep (called her that for a week before stopping)

Alodie > Floyd: Maniac McLeech

Lia > Mia: Glitch

Lia > Deuce: Mr. Fix-it

Beatris > Hawk: himbo

[rahneii]

Kinda lazy to finish this so it's forever uncolored, anyways have my tf2 oc, Kali

THE KALI Origin: Benguet, Philippines Role: Offense Lost her way to the famous life, Kali finds herself stuck in between crossroads of becoming a singer, and a killer. Used to spar with her Father with the art of arnis, she wanted to pursue that sport but with real people. Gutting men left and right like fish. On the other hand, her singing voice is like a siren. Luring you into the danger that is the edge of her blades. Being the only woman in the team is hard enough, if you tick her off? She's wiping the floor with your face.

[televinita]

Books Read in 2023: The Why

That's right, just because it's much closer to 2025 than 2023 doesn't mean I can't still pull out this out! Mostly because I found in my Tumblr drafts that I had already done the work of putting the cover collages together, and what am I gonna do, waste that?

ANYWAY, BOILERPLATE EXPLANATION TIME: In a tradition I accidentally started for myself in 2016, at the end of the year I look back at my reading list and answer the question, why did you read this particular book? Books are arranged in chronological order of read date (unless it made more sense to put series books together), split into groups by target readership age, plus nonfiction at the end. As best I can tell, anyway; choosing between YA & middle grade for older books is often a trip. I'll toss in "how I heard of it" if I can still remember...

ADULT FICTION

(split into two parts because there are a lot)

Run Rose Run - Dolly Parton & James Patterson. 2022.

Half the promise of a companion album, half just because “girl runs away to become a country star” sounds like the only-slightly-older version of my beloved Somebody Everybody Listens To.

How I heard of it: a book blog

Treasure State - C.J. Box. 2022.

Read & enjoyed the whole Cassie DeWell series so far (this is #6).

The Pink House - Louise Platt Hauck. 1933. Family Matters - Louise Platt Hauck. 1934.

See this post.

These Silent Woods - Kimi Cunningham-Graham. 2021.

Recommended by a Goodreads friend + father-daughter bonds* + self-sufficient life off the grid. (*the PLAN was to picture Owen + Maisie but then this gifset from Big Sky happened)

The Siren of Sussex - Mimi Matthews. 2022.

The Belle of Belgrave Square - Mimi Matthews. 2022.

Don't know what Past Me was doing with the collage order here, but I read Belle first -- originally checked out because beautiful cover + horses + Beauty and the Beast retelling for the latter. But on this particular day? I started with the second one because I was on day 2 of my Tom Hiddleston Spiral and omg look who just so happens to have a romance on deck featuring a British love interest.

And then I cycled back to the first book, now even more enthusiastic about my plan to cast Dev Patel as the love interest.

How I heard of it: book blogs

The Santa Suit - Mary Kay Andrews. 2021.

Picked it up for the cute cover, and then the first page was so much like the start of Arnie and a House Full of Company (woman driving up with her pets to a beautiful but decidedly overgrown/neglected old house she’s about to move into) that I got immediately sucked in.

How I heard of it: used book sale

Twenty-One Truths About Love - Matthew Green. 2019.

List format, bookstore owner, and mainly: it’s so flippin’ rare to find books about married couples in love whose only conflict is external, let alone such books from the man’s perspective.

How I heard of it: Barnes & Noble

The Bookshop of Secrets - Mollie Rushmeyer. 2022.

Beautiful cover + MN setting + antiquarian bookshop + hunting for a lost local treasure??

How I heard of it: can't remember :[

A Different Blue - Amy Harmon. 2013.

A mostly-age-appropriate student/teacher romance which I have saved for a billion years to get the casting right, only to throw that plan to the wind when I decided I could use Hiddleston for this too (plan quickly abandoned as he does not fit at all beyond sharing a nationality)

How I heard of it: Goodreads, a full decade ago

This Bird Has Flown - Susanna Hoffs. 2023.

I MAY have been googling keywords trying to find a novel that reminded me of Hiddleswift, and instead I got a way better option for casting him in (this one worked beautifully).

The Escape - Lisa Harris. 2020.

Bought cheap at a book sale because thriller (marshalls hunting an escaped fugitive) in the woods/mountains!

A Thing of Beauty - Lisa Samson. 2018.

Thought it would be a romance plus an element of cleaning out a hoarder’s house. "Former child star" sounded cool too.

How I heard of it: used book sale

Love For Beginners - Jill Shalvis. 2021.

Bought cheap because beautiful cover + a summery romance including dogs.

How I heard of it: used book sale

Bellman & Black - Diane Setterfield. 2013.

Jack Davenport narrates the audiobook and literally no other reasons.

How I heard of it: Libby (the app)

Smothered - Autumn Chiklis. 2018.

It me! (I’ve never seen another book about a college grad who immediately moves back home with her parents and struggles to find a job.)

How I heard of it: Dollar store

Doctor Who: Autonomy - Daniel Blythe. 2009.

Tie-in novels featuring Ten are always quick/fun/easy fare, and this one is set in a mall (!), but mostly, the audiobook is narrated by Georgia Tennant.

How I heard of it: Libby

Something Wilder - Christina Lauren. 2022.

A romance featuring an overnight trip on horseback AND searching for treasure?? Sold.

How I heard of it: Book blogs or YouTube

Famous For a Living - Melissa Ferguson. 2023.

A romance featuring an Instagram Influencer detoxing (fleeing the backlash of a scandal) via a job in a National Park? Sign me all the way up.

How I heard of it: Once Upon a Book Club

Dr. Laurie's Conquest - Berta LaVan Barker. 1980.

Bought cheap because romance about a vet, w/ specific mention of a horse. Read now for the Mount TBR challenge because it’s short.

How I heard of it: Goodwill

Something Wild & Wonderful - Anita Kelly. 2023.

Pacific Crest Trail = hiking inspiration! (and a side of romance never hurts)

How I heard of it: a book blog

Tin Camp Road - Ellen Airgood. 2021.

Loved her middle grade novels and wanted more of her writing; this plot looked more exciting than her adult debut.

How I heard of it: Goodreads/author's back catalog

The Grim Reader - Kate Carlisle. 2020.

Cute cover, and cozy mysteries make great audiobooks, especially when book-centric.

How I heard of it: Goodwill

Lady Sunshine - Amy Mason Doan. 2021.

Beautiful cover, I loved her debut, 70s music scene in one timeline, and inheriting an estate in the other? Sold.

How I heard of it: Barnes & Noble

The Small Room - May Sarton. 1961.

Small, compact size + an intriguing setting and premise perfect for the fall season (young English instructor’s first teaching job at a New England liberal arts college; the publication date added to the intrigue).

How I heard of it: used book sale

The Study of Animal Languages - Lindsay Stern. 2019.

It is not very often you find novels about two college professors married to each other. Also, the title topic intrigued me.

How I heard of it: used book sale

Two Rogues Make a Right - Cat Sebastian. 2020.

Good Omens Season 2 briefly awoke the slash urge in me, and then this happened. Reviews calling this an indulgent, plotless pile of hurt/comfort fluff (positive) sealed the deal.

How I heard of it: Reddit

Home Before Dark - Riley Sager. 2020.

Hype convinced me to try one of his books; a woman restoring a supposedly haunted house definitely looked like the best one.

How I heard of it: book blogs, originally, I think

Lock Every Door - Riley Sager. 2019.

The House Across The Lake - Riley Sager. 2022.

I LOVED the above and immediately wanted more, and since the waitlist for his new one was too long I went for the next-best-sounding ones because they had the coolest settings (and THEN I was finally satiated for a while).

The Paris Apartment - Lucy Foley. 2022.

I had such a good time with Lock Every Door that obviously, it was time for another apartment mystery I’d been vaguely thinking about reading for a while, again due to its cool setting.

How I heard of it: book blogs

The Apartment - S.L. Grey. 2016.

When I searched the above in my library catalog, this title came up in relation. Absolutely I want to read a horror book set in a Paris apartment! (especially as the age difference between the MC and his wife maybe made me think about Michael Sheen & Anna. don’t judge me)

A Paris Apartment - Michelle Gable. 2014.

This ALSO came up in the search results and HELL YEAH I would like to read a novel based on one of the most fascinating news stories I’ve ever heard. (I actually had two options for this, but went with this one first because it seemed more literary; I wasn’t really in the mood for a romance)

Dead To Me - Cath Staincliffe. 2012. Bleed Like Me - Cath Staincliffe. 2013. Ruthless - Cath Staincliffe. 2014.

Catching up the Scott & Bailey TV series, learned they have tie-in novels?? IMMEDIATELY checked the first one out of my library and had such a good time with it that I rounded up the remaining ones ASAP.

How I heard of it: library catalog

The Good Turn - Dervla McTiernan. 2020.

Still in the mood for detective fiction from across the pond so time to finish out this trilogy.

When The Reckoning Comes - LaTanya McQueen. 2021.

This had some good reviews and I was intrigued by the prospect of a horror novel featuring a wedding at a haunted plantation. Maybe a mob of ghostly former slaves bringing a bloodbath? (no. it’s not that graphic. But it’s really good)

How I heard of it: a book blog

Plain Bad Heroines - Emily Danforth. 2020.

Her debut exceeded expectations so I was vaguely curious about this very different book, since she’s only published the two in over a decade, but my interest was solidified when I found an ARC copy with a promotional fake-newspaper insert inside. Wanted context for appreciating that.

How I heard of it: Goodreads/author's back catalog

Fair As A Star - Mimi Matthews. 2020.

Watching The Essex Serpent means I’m back on my stan train following a summer break, and what’s that? My new favorite romance author has one featuring a vicar?

How I heard of it: Goodreads/author's back catalog

You Look Something - Jessica Mehta. 2020.

Random library shelf pull because short read, interesting cover and premise (first-in-her-family college student, but written for an adult audience), and immediately intriguing writing style.

A Haunting on the Hill - Elizabeth Hand. 2023.

Cool cover + “officially licensed return to the setting of Shirley Jackson’s novel”?? The setting was the best part of that book so I hoped this would be the actually-scary version of what I wanted that one to be.

How I heard of it: ooh...can't remember if Goodreads, book blog or YouTube

Daughter of No Worlds - Carissa Broadbent. 2020. Children of Fallen Gods - Carissa Broadbent. 2021.

This random tumblr post about a series I'd never heard of before immediately sparked a vague hope to make this Loki/Sylvie-shaped; liked the first book enough to throw myself into the second, though I got burned out and have yet to finish the trilogy.

The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton - Eleanor Ray. 2021.

“It's easier to love things than people. Things are safe. Things will never leave you.” I've never identified harder with a line from a book summary in my life.

How I heard of it: ...Goodreads? maybe? COME ON SELF this was literally only 10 months ago.

The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone - Audrey Burges. 2023.

A (magic) dollhouse and a 30-something reclusive blogger? It me! Add an implied romance with a guy who (somehow) owns the real-life version of the mansion and this sounds tailor-made for me.

How I heard of it: BookOutlet

Forgotten Trail - Claire Kells. 2023.

Read & enjoyed the first two in this National Parks mystery series, new November tradition unlocked.

How I heard of it: Goodreads

Thornyhold - Mary Stewart. 1988.

Saw a cool illustration in a Readers Digest Condensed and wanted full context because I always love a Cool Mysterious Overgrown Inherited House.

How I heard of it: did I count this as "in another book" or "used book sale" when I made my graphs last year, I wonder.

The Last Ranger - Peter Heller. 2023.

I really like the way he writes both nature and men. (I also may have been fully immersed in my Jensen-Ackles-in-Big-Sky era.)

How I heard of it: Barnes & Noble

Just Like Magic - Sarah Hogle. 2022.

Loved her previous romance, and though skeptical about this one, I trusted the 5-star rec of a blogger with very similar reading tastes (she was CORRECT).

How I heard of it: a book blog

========

YOUNG ADULT / TEEN

(again broken into two segments because there are a lot)

The Little Woods - McCormick Templeman. 2012.

Bought cheap because pretty cover + boarding school murder mystery

How I heard of it: used-book section of Barnes & Noble

Lawless Spaces - Corey Ann Haydu. 2022.

Mostly the beautiful cover, a little bit the promise of stories from multiple generations of women in one family.

How I heard of it: book blog

Friends Like These - Jennifer Lynn Alvarez. 2022.

Loved her first YA thriller.

How I heard of it: Goodreads/author's back catalog

Scattered Showers: Stories - Rainbow Rowell. 2022.

I love her but not all of her writing styles; after waiting One Eternity (9 years) for more contemporary writing from her I did not hesitate.

How I heard of it: book blog

We Walked the Sky - Lisa Fiedler. 2019.

Dual timelines: one teen a circus performer, the other her granddaughter who’s just inherited a Box of Memorabilia?? Two things I adore.

How I heard of it: dollar store

Butterfly Yellow - Thanhhà Lại. 2019.

Mostly intrigued by the working-on-a-ranch aspect.

How I heard of it: book blog

Five Survive - Holly Jackson. 2022.

Liked the whole AGGGTM trilogy, was excited to try a different and more thriller-y flavor from her.

How I heard of it: book blogs or YouTube?

Texas Gothic - Rosemary Clement-Moore. 2011.

A google result while trying to find a lost book for someone, and: Ranch-sitting? Ghosts? Kitchen-witch type magic in an otherwise real-world setting? That beautiful cover? SOLD.

Maybe One Day - Melissa Kantor. 2014.

Cancer novel + best friends have both been reliable staples for me in YA.

How I heard of it: Goodreads

The Last Secret You'll Ever Keep - Laurie Faria Stolarz. 2021.

Sequel (or really companion novel) to a book that impressed me 2 years ago.

How I heard of it: Goodreads

If You Find Me - Emily Murdoch. 2013.

Intense curiosity about how a girl who'd been hidden away in a trailer in the woods with her little sister by their neglectful mom for almost a decade would cope with a return to society and her bio dad.

How I heard of it: used book sale

Coming Back Alive - Dennis J. Reader. 1981.

70s teens running away to live off the land is one of my favorite tropes.

How I heard of it: Goodreads

The Final Gambit - Jennifer Lynn Barnes. 2022.

Love this series!

A Wild Thing - Jean Renvoize. 1970.

Another 70s teen running away to live off the land. This time in Scotland!

How I heard of it: lost-book forum on either Reddit or Goodreads

Beloved Monster - Helen Markley Miller. 1968.

18-year-old girl inherits a sprawling mansion? LET’S GO! Especially if it’s also vintage.

How I heard of it: ooh, it's been 5+ years, can't remember. Maybe a Goodreads friend?

The Perfect Place to Die - Bryan Moore. 2019.

Oh I ABSOLUTELY want to read a YA novel set in Chicago’s infamous murder mansion.

How I heard of it: Goodreads (via a staff rec post)

Song of the Shaggy Canary - Phyllis Anderson Wood. 1974.

A slow-burn romance between a divorced teen mom and a 20-year-old recently discharged soldier? Sign me up.

How I heard of it: pretty sure it was one of the Speaking for Ourselves volumes.

Loki: Where Mischief Lies - Mackenzie Lee. 2019.

Step 1: watch the Loki series as a result of your newfound actor stanning + an influential gifset, fall in love with the character and the seemingly-canon ship.

Step 2: immediately google for YA novels with this dynamic.

Step 3: have officially licensed YA fanfic fall straight into your lap.

I Tell A Lie Every So Often - Bruce Clements. 1974.

Found at a book sale, vaguely wanted to read ever since reading an essay about it in Lost Masterworks of Young Adult Literature.

Losing Gabriel - Lurlene McDaniel. 2016. Somebody's Baby - Lurlene McDaniel. 2017.

Books 3 and 4 in a series I love that the library doesn’t have; I already owned the latter and was glad to be able to continue after buying the third at a book sale.

The Last Exit to Normal - Michael Harmon. 2008.

Got it in a blind bag and thought it would be interesting to read about a teen (in Montana!) coming to terms with his fairly-newly-out gay dad’s relationship. (narrator: it wasn’t)

Camper Girl - Glenn Erick Miller. 2020.

Inherited camper-van + road trip!

How I heard of it: Goodreads

The Year of the Rat - Clare Furniss. 2014.

Bought cheap because unusual premise in YA (mom dies giving birth to second child) + pretty cover.

How I heard of it: used-book section of Barnes & Noble

You Look Different In Real Life - Jennifer Castle. 2013.

Needed an audiobook, unusual premise for YA (reality/documentary series checking in every 5 years with teens they first filmed in kindergarten).

How I heard of it: Libby

Thief of Happy Endings - Kristen Chandler. 2018.

Love this author, plus horses. Specifically, mustangs!

How I heard of it: Goodreads

Summer of Sloane - Erin L. Schneider. 2016.

Pretty cover and just looked like a solid, summery contemporary YA novel.

How I heard of it: Goodreads

The Lake House - Sarah Beth Durst. 2023.

WHAT IN THE AWESOME SPOOK COVER (also, stuck on an island with an obviously and very unexpectedly abandoned/destroyed summer camp?? Spoooook!)

How I heard of it: YouTube, and I even specifically remember where -- GabbyReads

The Foreseeable Future - Emily Adrian. 2018.

Beautiful cover + unusual post-grad life plans (working as a CNA instead of college) always interest me

How I heard of it: Goodreads

Don’t Slam The Door When You Go - Barbara Corcoran. 1972.

I love this author...and yes, we have yet another round of runaways trying to live off the land. :D But this time in a ghost town!

How I heard of it: OpenLibrary

The Last Beautiful Girl - Nina Laurin. 2021.

Beautiful cover + Influencer + creepy historic maybe-haunted house, sold.

How I heard of it: Barnes & Noble

The Island - Natasha Preston. 2023.

Reliable (if mid) genre author + an empty amusement park setting? also, Influencers being lured to creepy islands for Murder Reasons never gets old.

How I heard of it: YouTube

Mermaid Park - Beth Mayall. 2005.

A google result while looking for a lost book title, idea of a girl training as a “mermaid” swimmer at a theme park sounded intriguing.

Everything Beautiful Is Not Ruined - Danielle Younge-Ullman. 2017.

I’ll read basically anything you have about teens being sent to Wilderness Struggle therapy, so this was on my TBR, but was particularly motivated after reading Paris Hilton's memoir and not being able to (cheaply) get my hands on Sarah Stusek's book.

How I heard of it: Goodreads

The Body of Christopher Creed - Carol Plum-Ucci. 2000.

Loved her second novel, have been curious about this one due to its acclaim for a while and then I found it at a book sale – read quickly to send it on its way again.

How I heard of it: Goodreads

Creep: A Love Story - Lygia Day Penaflor. 2022.

Teen girl rationalizes stalking to enhance the experience of shipping her very-accessible real-life OTP? Sounds like the less-legal, IRL form of what we do every day with our favorite celebrity couples on social media and I was curious to see it play out. A little bit because I also made personal celebrities out of some classmates in school, so I recognize the thrill of seeing them in person, though I did not stalk them.

How I heard of it: Goodreads

Silver: Return to Treasure Island - Andrew Motion. 2012.

90% because the audiobook is narrated by David Tennant and for once it’s not part of an obnoxiously silly children’s series. 10% because adventure and treasure-hunting.

How I heard of it: Libby

Game Change - Joseph Monninger. 2017.

I like this author and have a soft spot for high school football (further enhanced by the football-player character on the new Goosebumps series).

How I heard of it: used book sale

The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone - Adele Griffin. 2014.

Mixed media formatting! Such a cool and unusual way to tell a narrative.

How I heard of it: I thiiink, many years ago, I was specifically googling for books with unusual formatting.

Heartwood Box - Ann Aguirre. 2019.

"When Araceli Flores Harper is sent to live with her great-aunt Ottilie in her ramshackle Victorian home--" literally sold. (combined with how it looked like a horror book w/ the possibility of ghosts)

How I heard of it: used book sale

Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous - Suzanne Park. 2021.

Cute cover and title, YouTuber in need of social media detox, FARM IN IOWA SETTING?? Sold.

How I heard of it: library browsing

Nobody Else Can Walk It For You - P.J. Petersen. 1982.

Found on the “free” cart shortly after hearing about it on Goodreads' lost-book forum and thinking it sounded like a cool thriller.

Dream to Me - Megan Paasch. 2023.

Haunting cover similar to my beloved Amelia Unabridged, sisters, inheriting a mildly creepy old house

How I heard of it: library browsing

These Things I've Done - Rebecca Phillips

Bought cheap at the dollar store for the girl-dating-late-best-friend’s-brother aspect (shared grief ftw!). Read now to confirm I could unhaul it.

=========

CHILDREN'S / MIDDLE GRADE

Survival Strategies of the Almost Brave - Jen White. 2015.

Bought cheap at the dollar store because cool cover + sisters fending for themselves when abandoned by dad.

Polo Cowboy - G. Neri. 2021.

Sequel to a surprising hit I read last year.

How I heard of it: Goodreads

The Diddakoi - Rumer Godden. 1972.

Recommended by a Goodreads friend because horse! + Traveler girl + reliable classic author.

Stella - McCall Hoyle. 2021. Just Gus - McCall Hoyle. 2023.

Dog book! recommended by a Goodreads friend. Loved it so much I read the companion novel ASAP.

Grand National - John R. Tunis. 1973.

Bought cheap at Goodwill because vintage horse book; read now to see if I could get rid of it (yes).

Running Out of Time - Margaret Peterson Haddix. 1995. Falling Out of Time - Margaret Peterson Haddix. 2023.

Reread of a childhood classic in anticipation of the new sequel.

Ten Miles Past Normal - Frances O'Roark Dowell. 2011.

I wanted to read about a girl growing up on a goat farm.

How I heard of it: OpenLibrary

Sweet Home Alaska - Carole Etsby Dagg. 2016.

I liked her previous book and was excited to learn about another part of American history that was new to me.

How I heard of it: Goodreads

Thornbush Jungle - Rutherford G. Montgomery. 1966.

I will read anything he writes about animals.

How I heard of it: antiquarian bookstore

Maisie Lockwood Adventures no. 2: The Yosemite Six - Tess Sharpe. 2022.

Loved the first book, finally bought the second when I couldn't borrow it from anywhere.

The Eagle's Shadow - Nora Martin. 1997.

Reminded me of my favorite childhood movie, Journey to Spirit Island (at least in terms of setting and a similar culture).

How I heard of it: used book sale

Lila and Hadley - Kody Keplinger. 2020.

Girl + dog story, with a photographic cover (is the only thing that overcame my author grudge).

How I heard of it: Goodreads

Me, The Beef and the Bum - Charles Hammer. 1984.

50% funny title, 50% I love cows

How I heard of it: a book about teen books

Sardines - Sashi Kaufman. 2022.

Pleasantly surprised by her ability to write boys in YA, waited a million years for a third release from her (even if it was middle grade).

How I heard of it: Goodreads

The Vandals of Treason House - Nancy Veglahn. 1974.

Vintage book about cleaning up & learning about a historic house? Neato.

How I heard of it: Goodreads/lost book forum

Sire Unknown - Marjorie Reynolds. 1968.

“Read because…” Vintage horse book, next question. (as to why I read it NOW, working on the Mount TBR challenge and randomly pulled this from the shelf)

How I heard of it: used book sale

The Explorer - Katherine Rundell. 2017.

Liked a previous book of hers, always love “crashed and got lost in the jungle” stories.

How I heard of it: Goodreads

The Gallery - Laura Marx Fitzgerald. 2016.

STUNNING cover + excited to read about a girl working as a maid in a fancy 1920s mansion

How I heard of it: a book blog

NONFICTION

A $500 House in Detroit: Rebuilding an Abandoned Home and an American City - Drew Philp. 2019.

Available audiobook + always interested in old-house renovation.

How I heard of it: Libby

Wildflower - Drew Barrymore. 2015.

A People magazine cover story on her reminded me I had meant to read this, since she’s always been a favorite actress.

How I heard of it: ONTD

The Zoo on the Road to Nablus - Amelia Thomas. 2008.

Bought cheap because beautiful cover + always interested in reading about specific zoos, especially those affected by war in the Middle East.

How I heard of it: used-book section of Barnes & Noble

Gizelle's Bucket List: My Life With a Very Large Dog - Lauren Fern Watt. 2017.

Reminded me of Boomer’s Bucket List, but also I will read most pet memoirs

How I heard of it: Goodreads

My Bookstore - ed. Ronald Rice. 2012.

What could be better than a bunch of authors writing short essays about their favorite bookstore?

How I heard of it: Goodreads

Animals Welcome - Peg Kehret. 2012.

Who can say no to a short memoir aimed at kids about animal rescue, especially by a prolific children’s book author from my youth.

How I heard of it: used book sale

Open Book - Jessica Simpson. 2020.

I’ve always liked her despite not knowing much about her work; seeing this at Goodwill finally inspired a read.

How I heard of it: ONTD

The House of Spirits and Whispers - Annie Wilder. 2005.

Saw it at a garage sale, definitely here for a spooky haunted house of relatively local interest.

The Actor's Life: A Survival Guide - Jenna Fischer. 2017.

I LOVE HER.

How I heard of it: ...hm, can't remember! maybe ONTD, maybe just Office fandom in general?

This Is Not a Pity Memoir - Abi Morgan. 2022.

While in another acute round of stanning Mr. & Mrs. Tennant via the latter's social media, I was trying to figure out what kind of novel would most satisfyingly represent the vibes of their relationship and concluded it’s not the falling in love so much with them as it is the steadfast endurance, so maybe hurt/comfort in the form of illness? A bit of googling later and this was so wildly, absurdly on the nose despite being nonfiction (a British actor and a wife on the writing/production side of the industry, with kids) that I had to read it immediately.

Paris: The Memoir - Paris Hilton. 2023.

I don’t have strong feelings about her as a person, so I was mostly just curious – especially the part about being sent to abusive juvenile behavioral rehab facilities, a topic I’ve always found fascinating.

How I heard of it: ONTD

The Writer's Tale: The Final Chapter - Russell T. Davies & Benjamin Cook. 2010 edition.

Good Omens sends me directly into a Doctor Who renaissance, time to finally read this tome I’ve been saving since the last time that happened! (four years ago) This is the only era of Doctor Who I care about so the more detail, the better.

How I heard of it: Half Price Books. Like back when it was relatively new, and I was a fool who didn't get it because it was pricey.

The Last Bookseller: A Life in the Rare Book Trade - Gary Goodman. 2021.

The subject latter alone would have gotten my attention, but this was actually my favorite bookstore until it closed.

How I heard of it: Goodreads

Lessons from Tara: Life Advice from the World’s Most Brilliant Dog - Andy Rosenfelt. 2015.

Read & loved his first book about big fluffy rescue dogs, wanted more. Read now because a Goodreads friend just read it and reminded me of that fact.

How I heard of it: Goodreads

The Office BFFs - Jenna Fischer & Angela Kinsey. 2022.

I LOVE THEM AND THEIR FRIENDSHIP AND THEIR PODCAST.

She Memes Well - Quinta Brunson. 2021.

Love Abbott Elementary; had completely forgotten this existed until I was looking at Goodreads Choice Awards nominees of years past and then read on a whim.

Tell Me Everything - Minka Kelly. 2023.

Speaking of things I found out about via Goodreads Choice, I don’t know much about her as a person, but she’s really pretty and this sounded compelling and harrowing.

Sold to the Lady in the Green Hat - Emma Bailey. 1962.

I love auctions (well, estate sales, but same principle), I love old books, and I LOVED the illustrations and charming humor of vintage domestic memoirs I saw immediately at a glance.

How I heard of it: sale corner of the library

The Woman in Me - Britney Spears. 2023.

Mild curiosity due to inescapable hype, but mostly just determination to publicly confirm it wasn’t any better than her sister’s book, which I read the year before.

How I heard of it: ONTD

=========

Whew!! Done. I'd like to tell you and myself that I'm keeping up with 2024's log, but I actually got bogged down in trying to log every detail (cover thoughts, where it's set, why I was drawn to it, why I read it now, where I got it from), and burned out around early June because this is also the year I'm going to read 200 books apparently.

And this post already feels pretty messy. So. I guess we'll just see if it is in fact the last one or not..

[ratsoh-writes]

Arnie and his sister/Amy (Claires twins) like the sound of playing pirates with Winnie!

Arnie finds them the perfect sticks to use as swords and Amy declares Winnie to be on her team and they need to defeat Arnie.

The treasure is a Jolly Rancher.

-Claire

The battle is epic filled with betrayal, drama and action! As the kids sword fight, several other little ones join in. A lizard toddler is a dragon guarding the treasure, a pair of human twin boys join arnies team as his backup while a cat monster joins winnie and amy. Some shyrin sweeties do a little song playing as the sirens. One air elemental kid even joins in acting as the ocean lol.

Proud air elemental dad: HE GETS HIS ACTING FROM HIS MUM! SHE WAS IN A MUSICAL YOU KNOW!

[medea10]

My Review of Konosuba

(Short for: KonoSuba - God's Blessing on This Wonderful World)

How did I get into this anime? As you all know, I’m being an absolute lazy-ass when it comes to Isekai animes and have only gotten into the recent hits as of 2019. I already finished the suffer edition and the struggle edition. Let’s check out the light-hearted, wonk-fest! But before that…

Let’s go back to the mid-1990s and rewatch the first episode of Yu Yu Hakusho. We all remember Yusuke Urameshi sacrificing his life in order to save a child about to be hit by a truck followed by being told that the child would have survived regardless if Yusuke interfered or not. So dude just wasted his fucking life for nothing! Let’s amp this trope up to 483 with the way our main lead in Konosuba dies. Kazuma Satou was on his way back home from purchasing a video game when he noticed a girl about to be hit by a car. He pushes her out of the way and yada, yada, yada he’s dead!

He is now in a limbo setting, standing before a goddess named Aqua who tells Kazuma that his death was absolutely meaningless. Not only would the girl have survived, it wasn’t even a car, it was a slow-moving tractor. And Kazuma didn’t get hit by the tractor, he suffered a heart attack due to shock, followed by pissing his pants, followed by doctors, family, and relations laughing at Kazuma’s humiliating experience. And then he dies!

Aqua tells Kazuma that he has two options. He can either go to Heaven or be transported to a fantasy world (much like a game) and try to defeat a demon king. Choosing the fantasy world, Kazuma is given the opportunity to take an item with him on his travels. Now at this point, Kazuma has been annoyed by this goddess’s attitude towards him and decides to be a dick. So Kazuma chooses Aqua to be with him on his journey. Sucks for Kazuma however, because Aqua is useless! And unlike the video games Kazuma’s used to, he and Aqua must do manual labor and pay off expenses in the first town. So they might be there for a while.

Kazuma ends up with two more members in his crew including a witch named Megumin that uses explosive magic and a masochistic crusader named Lalatina Dustiness Ford (or Darkness for short). But don’t get too excited! Megumin’s magic can only be used once a day, wiping away her energy. And while Darkness has a mean sword, she misses every time with it. So yeah, this is a rag-tag team of useless dopes. Let’s watch the wacky misadventures of Kazuma, Aqua, Megumin, and Darkness as they go on missions, drink until they puke, explode castles, and steal underwear.

Yes, Kazuma occasionally does this.

BETWEEN THE SUB AND THE DUB: Crunchyroll has been able to bless the masses with an English dub. Can’t let FUNimation have all the Isekai hits. So far it’s been alright and I’m hearing more Erica Mendez and Cristina Vee. All good things here! Plus it gives me a chance to hear the voices of Kazuma, whom up to this point I have minimal time listening to either person who plays him. And annoying as Aqua may be, Faye Mata does a really good job with that range Sora Amamiya set in the original. Here’s what you might recognize these folks from.

JAPANESE CAST: *Kazuma is played by Jun Fukushima (known for Naruko on Yowamushi Pedal and Makoto on Fruits Basket 2019)

*Aqua is played by Sora Amamiya (known for Touka on Tokyo Ghoul, Chizuru on Rent A Girlfriend, Miia on Monster Musume, Yachiyo on Magia Record, Akame on Akame ga Kill, and Elizabeth on Seven Deadly Sins)

*Megumin is played by Rie Takahashi (known for Emilia on Re:Zero)

*Darkness is played by Ai Kayano (known for Alice on SAO: Alicization, Menma on Anohana, Nana on Golden Time, Ryouko on Food Wars, Itsuwa on Index, Yukika on My Love Story, and Mayaka on Hyouka)

ENGLISH CAST: *Kazuma is played by Arnie Pantoja (known for Watchdog-Man on One Punch Man and Kanbarry on Re:Zero)

*Aqua is played by Faye Mata (known for Rin on Love Live, Aluminum Siren on Sailor Moon Stars, Yukako on Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure Pt. 4, Frederica on Re:Zero, and a bitch on Shield Hero)

*Megumin is played by Erica Mendez (known for Ryuko on Kill la Kill, Haruka/Sailor Uranus on Sailor Moon S [redub], Raphtalia on Shield Hero, Retsuko on Aggretsuko, Nico on Love Live, and Emma on The Promised Neverland)

*Darkness is played by Cristina Vee (known for Homura on Madoka Magica, Rei/Sailor Mars on Sailor Moon, Mio on K-ON, Sakura on Fate/Stay Night UBW, Kotori on Love Live, and Kanaria on Rozen Maiden: Traumend)

FAVORITE CHARACTER: Darkness is best girl, don’t at me!

SHIPPING (sorta): Can we just all agree that Darkness is just a sober version of Cheryl from Archer?

Whoever ends up with her will end up choking her either because she tells you to or she annoys you with her masochistic nature! I seriously do not know how you want me to turn this shipping discussion into anything other than a comment about a bitch getting choked.

ENDING TO SEASON ONE: Kazuma has been able to get a little good luck in his other world as he was finally able to move out of the stables and into a house with the rest of his crew. Although, it didn’t come easy! Then again, what has in this series? In the final episode of the first season, all of the adventures of the town were called to take on a scary foe. Up to this point, we’ve seen these guys take out mutant cabbages and an idiot dullahan. Today we’ve got…

A giant, mechanical spider!

Why do the stupidest stories always rely on a giant, mechanical spider? Kazuma and the rest were able to stop the spider from moving. However, this monstrosity is set to explode and the impact could take out the entire town. Darkness wants to repay the town for all it has done for her and her family. The adventurer men want to repay the town because of all the succubus taverns they love. And Kazuma just wants to continue his journey so he can take out the demon king. Now, because Megumin already used her explosion magic for the day, she’s down for the count. But she was able to do it a second time thanks to Kazuma transferring some magic from Aqua through his spell and with a little help from Wiz. The day is saved, Kazuma and his crew got a hefty reward, and then Kazuma is immediately charged with treason for sending the evidence to a higher up and it exploded.

Believe it or not, but a lot of these quests end with a giant middle finger to them. Almost like Curb Your Enthusiasm!

EPISODE 11: The special episode that followed came with some more misfortune for Kazuma. A trip to Wiz’s shop ends with a choker around Kazuma’s neck that’s going to strangle him in three days if his wish doesn’t come true. So to figure out what Kazuma’s wish is, Kazuma has all of these girls fulfill his greatest desires in the hopes of one of these humiliating tasks will release Kazuma from the choker.

As you can guess, because this is an OVA, it will be filled to the brim with degeneracy compared to the television series. Fuck yeah it was! Kazuma used this opportunity to use Wiz’s tits as comfy pillows, have Megumin play “Strip Rock/Paper/Scissors” with Yunyun, have Aqua fetch him food, and watch Darkness jiggle her breasts. Even when he thought he was at death’s door, he uses this special time to tell each girl with him at this dramatic moment that they are nothing more than tits and ass. All except for Aqua! No love for her. Not even a pity erection! So when the spell on the choker was released due to a simple wish, Kazuma was then killed by Aqua and quite possibly everyone else and Kazuma was sent back to the goddess chamber as he learned a powerful lesson.

Don’t ever do that again!

Damn…Kazuma died 3 times so far in 11 episodes. Subaru got you beat by a country mile. He’s probably looking at you like, “You damn, lucky dumbass. I got frozen, shanked, stabbed, sliced, maced, and eaten by bunnies”.

SEASON TWO: As I mentioned at the end of season one, Kazuma is charged with treason and usually that comes with a death sentence. Unfortunately for Kazuma, his unintentional crime was against this big, fat, smelly noble who has many higher-ups wrapped around his finger. The townspeople can’t really help him out otherwise they’d risk being charged as well. And you have a prosecutor wanting Kazuma’s head on a pike not only for the major charge, but for being a pervert. The writing is on the wall, Kazuma is screwed. However, thanks to Darkness (and her family lineage) she was able to take one for the team by saving Kazuma (for now) and have that big, fat, smelly noble do God knows what to her. Also, the kingdom repossessed a lot of things from Kazuma’s crew.

So they’re worse than “square one” at this point. They’re at “square -57” with how much debt they’ve all accumulated.

ENDING TO SEASON TWO: Things are starting to look up for Kazuma and his crew. They were able to abolish their debt, got the treason charges lifted, and they were able to gain back some respect around the village. So what better way to celebrate then to go on a bit of vacation. The gang decided to head off to another town for some rest and relaxation. Unfortunately, the town they spent their time off at is full of religious wackos. And what I mean by religious wackos, I mean WORSE than Jehova Witnesses, Evangelical Christians, and the Heaven’s Gate cult all rolled into one.

…Okay, I’m obviously embellishing here. I just really fucking hate all of those ones I just mentioned. This cult is so fucking annoying! At every turn they’re trying to convert Kazuma, Megumin, and Darkness into their fold.

Oh wait, it gets better! This cult worships the goddess Aqua! And of course our favorite idiot Aqua was using this to her advantage. That is until a priest didn’t believe her, starting a chain reaction with the townsidiots all leading up to them chasing Kazuma and crew out with pitchforks and fire. Apparently, Aqua did a big no-no by purifying the hot spring water and now it’s just regular water.

Unfortunately at that same time, a general to the dark lord was in area poisoning all of the water in this town. Yeah, this guy is serious trouble since he’s on a higher level than Wiz (back when she was working under the demon king). But he’s a slime and works with poison. In this world, Kazuma doesn’t stand a chance. Surprisingly, this battle went well (albeit Kazuma dying inside the slime), but we got to see Aqua at her baddest of ass. Now you’d think the town would be grateful to Kazuma and his team for ridding them of a demon king general. Hahaha, never trust religious nutjobs! They still found fault with Aqua purifying their hot springs and they were thrown out.

In the 11th episode (or second side-story), Kazuma thought he was meeting a new fan in town. So he regales her with tales of his expoditions to woo her. Turns out the girl is a new member of the local tavern and one of her jobs is to listen to useless adventurers to boost their morale. And this girl was totally not digging Kazuma. I think this hurt Kazuma more than all the times he’s died in this series.

MOVIE: We head off to the land where Megumin and Yunyun were born and raised. While there was some miscommunication into if the town and their families were in trouble to begin with, trouble sure found Kazuma and the gang once they arrived. Another general of the demon king ends up causing quite a stir in the town. Sylvia was extra hard to take down in this story. Just when you thought she was dead, she returns from death’s door and brings the poison slime from season two and the dullahan from season one to wreck havoc all across the land. Luckily, Kazuma, his crew, Wiz, Yunyun, and the rest of the townspeople were able to put an end to Sylvia and her cohorts.

But man, Kazuma got some really shitty deals in this movie. His trashy and perverted reputation isn’t any better. Megumin’s father wanted to kill him. Megumin’s mother locked Kazuma and Megumin in a room together in hopes of doing the nasty, was messed with by a chimera of two genders, and was killed in a gruesome way that even the angels had to throw up when they saw the state of Kazuma.

On a positive note, Megumin seemed to have grown a little with this adventure as she was even thinking of putting her explosive magic on hold and give a whirl at other options. But she still gave a giant explosion that’s worth 120 points.

Konosuba was amusing. Definitely worth a few chuckles! I know it won’t be for everyone as comedy in anime can often be hit-or-miss. But the combination of characters with many quirks, the animation, the setting, the tasks, and misunderstandings, you’ve got yourself an anime version of Curb Your Enthusiasm. So…yeah, not for everyone, hit-or-miss! But in the big five isekai animes, this one is a little more light compared to some of the others. Overlord can get quite gory. Shield Hero will anger any sane person to a point of madness. And Re:Zero is just a misery blanket! Konosuba is that light-hearted comedy where sometimes the main protagonist dies horrificly in battle, but will return like Kenny from South Park. So if Shield Hero and Re:Zero depress you, maybe you might need a break with the silly, zany antics of Kazuma’s crew in Konosuba.

Results may vary on your views of Aqua.

If you would like to watch Konosuba, the entire series is available on Crunchyroll. That’s the first season, second season, both OVA’s, and the movie in several different languages!

Okay, let’s pick our next Netflix, Crunchyroll, or Amazon exclusive!

Alright! An anime like Black Lagoon if it involved gay boys! Banana Fish time.

[lavenderblight]

tagged by @violetstardust 💕

ancient or modern // bitter or sweet // chocolate or vanilla // coffee or tea // create or destroy // day or night // early bird or night owl // gold or silver // greek mythology or egyptian mythology // macarons or eclairs // hot or cold // thunder or lightning // typewritten or handwritten // secret garden or secret library // spicy or mild // dark magic or light magic // virtue or vice // ocean or desert // mermaids or sirens // known or unknown // rough or smooth // moon or stars // rain or snow

tagged: @angelii-ii @wilfcrd @cake-anony @blueisbored @arnies-bitch @inoahbibitch @napiplier and anyone else who wants to do it :]

[flutterfae-rp]

Sometimes in abandoned places, you found the strangest things...

By the layer of dust, no one had touched this piano in a very long time. Arnie took a big breath and blew as much of what was loose off the fallboard before lifting it to uncover the keys.

The child reached out with a gentle, almost hesitant hand to plunk a single key. In the stillness of her surroundings, even that single note was almost deafening...

But it was clear and beautiful, and it made her heart ache for something more in her ears then then the sound of desert wind.

So Arnie pulled back the bench and sat, and she began to play.

The child was hardly a prodigy. Her fingers were a little clumsy, and it took a while to remember some of the notes, but it made her happy to play all the same.

...She may have continued for some time, had she not noticed that she was being watched.

"Oh-!" Fingers slipping in a sour note on the keys, Arnie turned with wide eyes, wilting in on herself. "S-sorry..."

[flutterfae-rp]

Arnie's head ached fiercely when she finally started to come to. Even dim light made her eyes feel sore and had her head pounding worse. It made her feel a little stomach sick, honestly.

"..." Or maybe that was the voice on the radio that made her feel that way. Certainly, after even a short time on Pandora, sermons and rants like that weren't totally unfamiliar... but the last time she had heard rants and ramblings about acting as on behalf of an 'angel', she had ended up in a cage in a camp with a lot of very unpleasant people sure that human sacrifices would help her achieve her 'true glory'.

That was scary. Arnie did NOT want to go through something like that again.

She pulled back a bit, away from the stranger as he spoke. Her eyes were wide and wary...until she was distracted by the cloth on her head as it off into her lap.

Arnie made a small, startled noise as it fell. Looking down from it... to the man in the room with her.

He didn't seem like he wanted to hurt her, but...

"I'm not... going to do anything bad for you." Arnie wanted to sound firm about that,...but that would have probably been easier to take her seriously if she wasn't essentially whispering. Or shaking like a little leaf.

Cont. @flutterfae-rp

"You're gonna be fine, kid. More than fine even." The stranger murmured quietly, a pair of arms suddenly wrapping themselves around Arnie as the mystery man hoisted her up into his grasp. "Let's get you into some shade where it's safer." He would at least let her doze off again as he carried her away from the rock. When she came to she would find herself lying atop a bed, light filtering in through the blinds. A wet towel lay across her forehead, the sounds of... general living could be heard through the walls, kids mostly. A radio was besides her bed on an old, well-worn looking nightstand. "-all we can do is simply pray, pray for God to send the Angel of Salvation our way. To free us from this. We praise the Angel. We beg for the Angel's mercy. We are the Angel's eyes and ears, we must give-" The radio was turned off, the stranger sitting on a chair besides Arnie's bed stirring as he shut it off. "Welcome back to the land of the living, sleepyhead. My program didn't wake you up, did it?" His features shifted to a frown there as he glanced down to the floor, falling silent for a moment before piping up again. "You hungry? Should still be some food left from dinner."

[thelighthousemp3]

tagged by @newestnewgirl (thanks!!)

ancient or modern // bitter or sweet // chocolate or vanilla // coffee or tea // create or destroy // day or night // early bird or night owl // gold or silver // greek mythology or egyptian mythology // macarons or eclairs // hot or cold // thunder or lightning // typewritten or handwritten // secret garden or secret library // spicy or mild // dark magic or light magic // virtue or vice // ocean or desert // mermaids or sirens // known or unknown // rough or smooth // moon or stars // rain or snow

tagging @arnies-bitch @ludgatesapril @chicasiplier @braveheartdarlings and @antxrcticas if u wanna do this!!

[eretzyisrael]

Ynet and Agencies|Published:  05.04.19 , 13:47

Three people, including an elderly woman, were wounded Saturday as Israel was pounded by a massive rocket barrage from the Gaza Strip. The Israel Defense Forces said Saturday evening that some 200 rockets had been fired at the country during the day, and that it had responded with aerial bombardments across Gaza.

The escalation began on Friday, when two Israeli soldiers were wounded by Gaza gunfire near the border. A retaliatory Israeli air strike killed two militants from the Islamist Hamas group that governs Gaza. Two other Palestinians protesting near the frontier were also killed by IDF forces.

In Kiryat Gat, an 80-year-old woman was seriously wounded Saturday by shrapnel from a rocket. In Ashkelon, a 49-year-old man was moderately hurt from shrapnel wounds to the hands and legs.

Also in Ashkelon, a 35-year-old man was moderately hurt when a rocket hit a home in the southern city. The Magen David Adom rescue service said that the man was wounded in the upper body and taken to Barzilai Hospital.

It was the not the first time Saturday that an Israeli home was hit by rocket fire. Other residences were damaged by rocket fire on Kibbutz Nahal Oz and in Hof Ashkelon regional council. The home's dwellers in the latter ran for their shelter and none were hurt.

Several buildings were damaged in the city of Sderot and in several other Gaza border communities. One rocket landed near a kindergarten in Shaar HaNegev, close to the border with Gaza.

Rockets were continually launched from the Gaza Strip throughout Saturday, with long-range missiles targeting communities in the central region. Sirens blared through communuties in the south and center, as far as Rehovot, some 30km from Tel Aviv and Beit Shemesh, approximately 20km from Jerusalem.

The Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted dozens of rockets on Saturday, the arny said.

The military closed civilian access to several roads and hills near the Gaza Strip border on Saturday.

Multiple Israeli local authorities opened public bomb shelters amid the ongoing rocket fire, including Mateh Yehuda, Yavne, Be'er Sheva and Ashdod.

Restrictions on the size of public gatherings has also been imposed in some areas, and the airspace up to 10 kilometers from the Gaza border was closed until Sunday. Activity at Israel's Ben-Gurion International Airport continued as scheduled.

Ashdod Mayor Yehiel Lasri said Saturday that the southern city was on full emergency footing in the wake of the barrage of rockets.

"We are very experienced (in dealing with Gaza fire)," Lasri told Ynet, "our residents know how to act."

Truce efforts

UN Mideast envoy Nickolay Mladenov, meanwhile, was working on reaching a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas amid the escalating violence, foreign diplomatic sources said.

The ceasfire efforts also involve Egyptian mediators credited with brokering a ceasefire after a Hamas rocket attack north of Tel Aviv in March triggered a burst of intense fighting.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an emergency security assessment Saturday afternoon, arriving at the Defense Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv to meet with senior defense and cabinet officials.

IDF hits Gaza

IDF jets and combat helicopters continued a wave of air strikes on what it said were terror targets in the Gaza Strip on Saturday afternoon. The army said Saturday that it was preparing to expand its raids in the Strip.

The IDF said its forces had carried out attacks against more than 30 targets belonging to Hamas and Islamic Jihad terror groups, including facilities used for the manufacturing of arms and a joint facility for both organizations.

A building used by Hamas' naval forces was also attacked. The IDF Spokesperson's Unit said the army is "ready to go on as long as needed."

A small armed pro-Hamas group in Gaza, The Protectors of Al-Aqsa, said one of its men was killed in an air strike on Saturday.

The Health Ministry in the Hamas-run enclave said six Palestinians were wounded. Residents identified two of them as militants. The Palestinian Education Ministry said it was evacuating schools in areas under Israeli bombardment.

Hamas announced it is prepared to respond to "Israel's crimes" and "will not allow Palestinian blood to be shed." The announcement also said Hamas is committed to the protection of their people and the continuation of the March of Return.

Israel closed the Kerem Shalom and Erez Gaza border crossings Saturday as the violence spiraled. The army also halted fishing off the Gaza coast, which had been expanded as a gesture following the previous round of fighting in March.

Eurovision threatened

The flare-up comes days before Israelis celebrate Independence Day and Muslims begin the holy month of Ramadan.

Israel is also due to host the 2019 Eurovision song contest finals in less than two weeks in Tel Aviv, towards which long-range rockets were launched in mid-March.

The Iran-backed Islamic Jihad released a statement directly threating the contest, vowing to "prevent the enemy from holding a festival whose purpose is to undermine the Palestinian narrative."

"The civilians (of Israel) are destined to hell for the continual expansion of the Israeli aggression towards our people and our resistance," said the statement.

"We say to the decision-makers in Israel: do not dream of having quiet while the Palestinian people pay the price. The resistance is committed to respond to the enemy’s aggression and to surprise him."

One IDF soldier was lightly wounded from shooting fragments in Friday's riots, while the other was moderately wounded from a bullet to the thigh. The IDF reacted with tank fire.

During Friday clashes on the border fence in the Strip's south, one Palestinian was killed from IDF fire, and a second was injured and died of his wound during the night.

An overnight Air Force strike that killed two targeted a Hamas military facility; a Hamas statement said the casualties belonged to its ranks, and that one was an area commander and the second a lower rank militant.

[dfdkrc]

*Snow Queen is hosting a banquet in her ice castle with all her friends from both FLAG and Riverdale, as well as outside areas, when--*

CRASH!

The large chandelier falls from the ceiling right onto the table, and a thick cloud of smoke rises up in the room.

Michael Knight: What was THAT?

Snow Queen: The chandelier fell. Everyone stay back!

Veronica Lodge: What's happening??

Ten: Snow Queen! Snow Queen, where are you??

Snow Queen: Stay down and hidden! I’ve got this!

Archie Andrews: Got what? Snow Queen, what’s going on?

*Snow Queen gropes around the smoky room, trying to find the cause, and she backs up to take a huge breath*

Jughead Jones: Whoa whoa whoa, what’s happening? (The smoke begins disappearing, being sucked towards Snow Queen’s mouth) 

Archie: Snow Queen! She’s inhaling the smoke!

Ten: Snow Queen, what are you doing?? What if that stuff’s toxic??

Michael: Dude; she’s superhuman. She probably knows what she’s doing...I hope.

*Snow Queen gazes around at her friends and they stare right back at her. No one moves. Then, Snow Queen reaches into her dress and pulls something out, placing it up against her mouth and blowing. The faraway sound of a familiar siren call echoes from outside*

Betty Cooper: Oh, my God, is that--?

Archie, Veronica, and Jughead: Garff!

Arnie Cunningham: Who’s Garff?

*His question is answered when a large shadow crosses the window and lands outside on the palace grounds. Snow Queen opens the front doors and races outside, scrambling on to the Deathsong’s back. Garff lets out another loud siren call as he lifts into the air, everyone racing outside to see them take off*

Dean Winchester: Atta boy, Garff. You take care of our girl!

*Snow Queen looks down at her guests as they grow smaller below her, and she strokes Garff’s neck gently. Once she’s sure everyone is out of range of the toxins she just inhaled, she looks towards the sky and lets it all out, a large cloud of smoke releasing into the air. The cheers and whoops from her friends never sounded more welcoming*

Archie: Woohoo!

Jughead: You go, girl!

Arnie: Wow! She's hella AMAZING! Way to go, Snow Queen!

[yourelysianbeauty]

Short Story - The Truth about my Mother

On December 25, 2001, It was Christmas eve, I was Inside the bedroom watching fireworks outside of my window. Suddenly, I saw a strange man wearing a mask in front of our house. I was going downstairs to tell that someone is outside. As I was on my way down, I heard three gunshots. I went immediately to my bedroom to get my “balisong" that my father given to me after the Noche Buena. I started to felt that my body was shaking and my head spinning around because I was afraid and nervous. I went downstairs to see what happened. I saw my dad laying on the couch full of blood and my mom is not there. I started to walked towards him and my father whispered to me “Valerie run!”.  

Then I felt someone behind me.  I immediately grab my ”balisong” and I stabbed him in the right waist and he felled. I started to run but he shot my left leg and I felled too.  As he stood up I saw a dragon tattoo on his nape.  While I was on the floor he held his gun and attempted to pull the trigger right in front of my face suddenly, I heard a police siren.  I saw the worry in the man’s eyes; that he might be caught. He immediately escaped, as he rode his motorcycle and drove.  I was left lying down thinking about why it happens.  Then I lost my consciousness.

After three days, I woke up in a room and I saw my uncle Alberto,  the brother of my father,  sitting on the corner.  He saw me woke up. He looked at me worried as he walks towards me and hugged me, tells me that “everything will be okay Valerie. ” On that day, my uncle took the responsibility for me and I promised myself that I was going to kill the man that was responsible for my father’s death and find my mom who suddenly disappeared.  Just like my father, uncle Alberto taught me Filipino martial arts like “arnis” and “kali”, how to held a gun, the proper used of “balisong”, reading investigative documents, and how to cook my all-time favorite “lechon paksiw” on Noche Buena.  He was a very good man, a friend, and a father.

In 2015, my uncle let me joined the Philippine Agent Association (PAA), an organization that was lead when he still alive and was replaced by my uncle.  My uncle taught me many things that could help me to be a better agent.  I saw my father and my mother’s twin sister on the best agents in the 1990’s.  My aunt Vanessa died on a mission she was killed by an unknown drug lord, one of the dangerous criminals that the PAA faced until now.  That’s why my first mission was to find the place where the transaction of drugs happens in able to catch him.  

As I was on my mission I took advantage to secretly investigated the possible locations of my mother.  One day someone texted me a mysterious address.  I hurried  to go to the said address even though I knew in myself that there was no certainty that what she was saying was true.  While I was on my way to the said address, someone on a motorcycle following me.  So I drove my car faster hoping that I would lose the motorcycle.  Minutes passed by it was still tailing me.  

Therefore, I decided to stop the car on the side of the road.  Surprisingly it did too.  Then she stops, I asked her why she was following me but she never answered.

She suddenly ran towards me and fought me.  I fought backed and hit her face.  Then she kicked me, and I fell.  “you’re not ready to face him.  “ she told me.  I said “ ready for whom? “, “the drug lord” she answered.  

She laughed and told me “you don’t know your real mom was dead”.  My mind was confused.  I haven’t know what to believe.  ‘what were you talking about?’ I asked.  Then she pulled me up and told me that my real mom was aunt Vanessa.  

She died on the mission with the most dangerous drug lord.  Your father decided that your real auntie Victoria will be your mother and she agreed because she loves her twin sister very much.  My world stopped, realizing that all of these years my father lied to me that my mother was my aunt Vanessa.

Then she said, the one who planned to kill your father was your aunt Victoria.  She mentioned that my aunt was very angry with my father because she let my real mother Vanessa carry out the mission when I was a month old.  My aunt asked her boyfriend to kill only my father, but he wanted to kill me too that’s why she calls the nearest police.  My aunt got scared and ran away.  I said in a loud manner you were there and did nothing about it and you just let my father be killed and who were you by the way!?.  

She said that a friend who loves my aunt Victoria.  She tried to prevent my aunt but she threatened her that she will kill herself that’s why she let that happened.  Then I asked who my aunt’s boyfriend was.  She said that it was my uncle Alberto.  Then a car stopped, pointing guns at me then she suddenly hugged me. The bullets came right through her. Then she said, “Valerie run!“. Everything was fast I didn’t know what to do.  I felt confused and scared.  I didn’t  run because I was tired of running.  I threw my small dagger at the person who held the gun.  The driver drives fast.  I looked at her on the ground and her eyes smiling, it seems like she finally felt peace.

I felt that I was going to explode and there’s one way to confirmed that my uncle was the one who killed my father.  I used her motorcycle to go to my uncle’s mansion where she taught me many things.  When I was there I climbed to the rooftop at the back of the mansion was with fewer guards. I go inside through the window and gently go down.  It was my first time in that room and I was shocked by what I saw, different drugs like cocaine, opioids, cannabinoids, club drugs, and many more. I started to the think that uncle Alberto was the drug lord.  My heart beats faster and I took a deep breath.  

I gently opened the door and I saw a guard and he sees me.  I don’t panic and asking confidently, where is my uncle? I would like to speak to him. The man said he was waiting for me in the office.  I realized something was wrong then I punched the man on his back.  I get his caliber 9mm and put him inside the room.  When I finally saw the office, I pushed the door gently, and I saw my uncle Alberto sitting on his chair and smiling at me. He said how was your day Valerie? and I said I was okay.  While he walks toward me, I gently get the caliber in my pocket to shot him.  

Uncle Alberto suddenly said, “history repeats itself”. It makes me angry that’s why I tried to shoot him then I pulled the trigger in front of him but there were no bullets.  He laughed at me and said, “you were just like you’re father a stupid. ”.  I tried to kicked him on his left knee but he stops it with his hand.  He punched me on my left cheek but I also punched him on his right waist.  I pushed him and I saw the dragon tattoo on his nape. I  gently get my “balisong” in my pocket to stabbed him and saying “history repeats itself”.  Suddenly he had his gun pointing at me and saying “wow Valerie you’ve grown strong like me but still, you’re so weak just like my brother.  This was your last night that’s why I was going to tell you that I was the drug lord who killed your mother and your father, laughing evil.  

Suddenly he was shot on his back and felled because of that strange lady wearing all black coming inside who broke the window with her gun.  Her face was covered in a black cat mask but I could tell that her eyes were familiar was my mom! or should I called auntie Victoria. I don’t know what to felt should I be happy because she saved me.  She came towards me and uncovers her faced finally it’s confirmed that she was my auntie. She said, “I was sorry I should not let your uncle Alberto kill your father, I should have known right away that he was the drug lord who killed your mother. ” Then my uncle Alberto having his consciousness and shot me on my right traps near the neck I started to bleed faster.  I slowly lost consciousness I saw my auntie get my “balisong” and used it in continuously stabbing my uncle. Then my eyes closed.

I woke up in a room, I saw my father Arturo and mother Vanessa sitting on the corner.  They walked towards me and hugged me they said: “ we loved you Valerie but it’s not your time. ” suddenly it was too bright that I could not see anything.  

The bright was gone and they disappeared as well.  I saw my auntie Victoria sitting on the corner.  She walks towards me, hugged me, and telling me she was sorry for what happened.  

I hugged her very hard and telling her that I loved her very much and asking to stay with me and not to run away. She said, “of course I will not run away never again.”

Many months had passed me and my auntie go to a province far away from Manila. There we started a new life and we did a “Lechon” business so that I could be able to cook my all-time favorite “Lechon Paksiw. ”  

The end

[quello-che-non-ho-mai-detto-blog]

Don't do it, Arnie!

“Let us all agree to leave the terrible ghosts of the past on the garbage dump of history. That's where they belong, ”Schwarzenegger concluded his message. Since then, the case has been dormant again until the Graz Greens ventured again in mid-October to put the almost forgotten ultimatum back on the agenda. However, the SPÖ suddenly began to sound that it wanted to deal with more important things at the moment. Now that a punitive action against the US governor is likely to have come a long way away, a group of human rights activists has recently tried not to let the Styrian discussion about US death penalty policy subside. You will receive an email in a few minutes to confirm your newsletter order. The sirens rang in the Iraqi capital on Thursday night. At least one of the three Katyusha missiles has been launched near the American embassy, ​​police said. The alibi function of the then frowned upon homosexual tendency also helped him by nominating the "winner" as "Mister Olympia" or "Mister Universum" and the organizers were obscured by idiosyncratic abbreviations such as NAA-BABA, IF-BOSIE or IIH-BABA. Mysterious virus Since December, 59 people in China have contracted pneumonia.

Coutinho, Müller & Co. The Bayern Stars h2> Reason enough for us to dedicate ourselves to Schwarzenegger's cinematic masterpiece - and there are actually five good films with him that you must have seen. The Californian of choice had already stood out in the past because of the emphasized distance to Donald Trump. After a video surfacing before Trump's election in early October 2016 boasting about groping women, Schwarzenegger declared that for the first time since his naturalization, he did not want to vote for the Republican Party's presidential candidate. Arnold Schwarzenegger has now intervened in the dispute over Trump's dealings with neo-Nazis. The Hollywood star, former governor and native of Austria has a special message for the president.

Wonderful in HD in a chic Steel Book Edition. Find your products Fill your shopping cart with your favorite wellness products and choose Subscribe with Autoship. We were unable to add to your order. So he decided to use the imaginative pseudonym "Arnold Strong" for his first films and to have them synchronized in order to blur all traces. In the Theater am Potsdamer Platz, Schwarzenegger will not only tell his life in front of an audience - a moderated conversation about "the man behind the legend" has been announced. "Arnold's loyal fans should be given an opportunity to see their star up close," says organizer Radim diving, who has organized a European tour with boxing legend Mike Tyson in the past. "This is the Gau for international law" Both Washington and Tehran rely on international rules in their attacks. Little John, now an orphan, had become a breathing weapon opponent and, above all, a big John because the T1000 was unsuccessful in the second part. And this is also the reason why the abandoned wife "Terminatrix" of the very first Terminator is fed up and goes hunting for the fruit of fornication between her best friend's husband, Kyle and Sarah Connor in the past , especially since inquiry through what happened in the past in the second Part of her professional future as chief secretary of a machine park was made impossible, so all of this had assumed existential weight. The triplet brother of Arnold and Arnold II, Arnold III, on the other hand, as the designated murderer of John, wants to protect him in the past in order to preserve his anticipation and not to make his existence meaningless in the future.

Republican Senator after Iran briefing: «Crazy»

Hardly any political figure in the country - from Chancellor Schüssel to the late President Klestil ("Arnold, we are proud of you!") - missed out on sunbathing a bit in the "Terminator". The liberties complacently noted the "revaluation of Austria in America" ​​and were pleased that "from today no one will confuse Austria with Australia". And since in the USA, above all, advertising or a high level of awareness for a successful election for whatever is the most important thing and everything else can be learned if you don't have a consultant for the department in question, Arnie earned his laurels the three Terminator adaptations and interim jobs as an agent in "True Lies" (scriptwriter) Suzid) and as an agent in "Total Recall" (dto.) and as an agent in "Eraser" (dto.) and actually became governor in California , the favorite state for immigrants in America, with which he has fond memories of rent apartments that are too tight and sweaty dumbbells. The products and claims made about specific products on or through this site have not been evaluated by LuckyVitamin.com or the United States Food and Drug Administration and are not authorized to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.