#We buy houses in Orlando

[sellhousefastusa]

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[nokkiart]

As a long time httyd fan who has been heavily involved in the fandom since the first movie and who has spent years working in the animation industry, I’d like to share my thoughts on the new httyd movie. Keep in mind, this is just my personal opinion and it's completely fine if you disagree with me. I just want to say a little something about all this that really bothers me.

The core reason that Dreamworks and Universal made this film is that it’s a quick and easy cash grab for them. Thats it. They don’t care about telling a good story or making a “better” version of the original movie for fans or even having an accurate portrayal of the characters/story. It’s purely about money. They know that fans of the original film will go see this movie, whether it’s good or bad. And those guaranteed ticket sales are all that matter to the studios. And with Universal, it has the added bonus of being a cheap promotional and merchandising opportunity for the new HTTYD land in Orlando that opens around the same time that the film is premiering in theaters.

And to help the studios make even more money out of this, they are using non-unionized VFX companies around the world to make this film, so that they can get cheaper labor and push the artists to do more that would be against American union standards. The same thing has probably happened with the costuming and fabrication for the filming, hence why the costumes look un-weathered and the sets look cheap. They don’t want to pay for the extra time and effort that it would take to make the practical bits of the production look good.

On top of all this, Dreamworks has already announced that they’re shutting down all their in-house animation projects in favor of using AI and outsourcing projects to cheaper international non-union studios.

With all this in mind, I just can’t support this film and I will not be seeing it in theaters. And I hope that others will do the same.

The only way to stop all these horrible “live action” remakes (which are actually just realistically animated remakes) is to not buy tickets to see them. Money is all that matters to these studios, and if they don’t make any money off of it, then they will stop and try something different. Maybe they'll even go back to focusing on original stories!

That’s the power that we hold as audiences. Our wallets help drive the decisions that the executives make. So support unique storytelling and gorgeous cinematography in movies. Support indie films. Support animators as they're fighting for fair pay and better contracts. But don't support a mediocre shot-for-shot remake riding on the coattails of an already successful film.

And I just want to wrap all this up by saying I have absolutely no hate towards anyone that has worked on the new film. Toothless looks incredible and I know the artists and creatives involved in this project did the best they could with what they were given.

But I also know that those same artists have so many more brilliant ideas that they would’ve loved to be given the creative freedom to do. I just wish hollywood would be willing to take a chance and let them do it.

[mikebuysanyhouse]

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[so-i-did-this-thing]

from a trans guy stuck in florida, do you have any advice on getting out of here? I saw that you moved to new england which is, coincidentally, the place I'm trying to go too. i feel like I either oversimplify or overcomplicate moving away until it's just not possible in my mind. how did you manage to do it?

I played a long game wrt my exit strategy. I left my toxic industry (advertising) of 20+ years behind in 2018 and built up experience over the next 4 years in a new field (civic tech) where remote work was the norm. Once I landed a fully remote job, I kicked off the moving plan.

Once I had a new, remote job secure, my partner and I started looking for homes and eventually were referred to a Realtor who specialized in remote sales. I had to trust her and the inspector to give us an honest assessment of a house I wouldn't see in person until the day we moved in. It was stressful, ngl.

I was very, very lucky in that I could move in with my mother in Orlando for several months, which let me sell my old place, first, and be flexible on move-in dates. The actual move was done via a few container services.

So, my advice for initial prep:

Start downsizing, both in terms of stuff and places where you may be overspending.

Get job prospects in sight

Save for a down payment / deposit

Get your credit to "excellent," if possible. (I learned my name change fucked up my score, so had to spend a lot of time fixing that)

Research multiple towns based on your needs

Find someone in that area to house hunt for you and figure out a budget

Downsize your stuff again. More. No, more than that.

Prep for moving costs

Start packing the stuff you won't need for a while. Keep packing until it's time to move.

Hire a container service that isn't PODS. (U-pack was good to me.)

Get your pet logistics in order (if you have any)

Get your vehicle in order

I had a lot of spreadsheets and checklists t9 get me through the sale of my old place and everything I needed to do to buy and move into a new one. Maybe similar is a good place to start, because there are little things (like downsizing) you can do, now. Good luck.

[charlidos]

Here's an extract from an interview with Orlando in a French magazine, in 2003 (translated by me). All these paragraphs contain information that I've rarely or never heard before, so I thought it was intriguing.

Did being in New Zealand help you get under the skin of an Elf? Yes, the country is very green and is full of great sites, it inspired me to do a lot of sports and have a very balanced life. I did a lot of swimming. I also stopped drinking coffee. At one point, we filmed during the night, for nine weeks straight and at the beginning, when I arrived at the set, I had drunk two big cups of espresso while doing make up. But as a result, I was completely over excited. When I saw the results in the dailies, I found I was touch much on the screen. So I decided to stop drinking coffee. Little by little, I could transform into an Elf. I drank herbal tea with lemon. I also tried to stop smoking. But, whatever Viggo may say, I didn't start eating only berries and nuts!

First, I want to know: did Viggo ever publically say Orlando only ate nuts and berries? It's such an hilariously surprising segue; sounds like something Viggo was teasing him about back then. Viggo maybe couldn't imagine being vegetarian? Or maybe he was worried that Orlando, being quite hyper and having a very physical role, would collapse from exhausting and malnourishment? It's a lovely little insight to all the ribbing going on.

It's also intriguing how Orlando describes his progress from bouncing off the walls (from too much coffee, youthful enthusiasm, nervousness and probably ADHD) to finding calm and his inner elf. Can't help imagining Viggo introducing Orlando to yerba mate and meditation. Viggo is often described has having endless energy, but he's also very focused and serene. And considering how much Orlando says he observed Viggo and learned from him, I can see that this must have been one of the things he learned: to channel your energy to when you need it, to control it.

Did you experience any mishaps on set? A lot! For example, I was in a car which got stuck in mud for many hours with Sean Bean and Viggo Mortensen. We had gone to the countryside to buy Christmas presents for our families. There were a lot of great handicraft shops on the way, but the roads weren't very good.

Is this a completely different story than the one so often told, about Sean & Orlando getting caught between landslides and having to stay over in cottage for a couple of days? Because that tale also contained Christmas shopping... But the story normally lacks Viggo, and they were never really stuck in any mud, only in a random cottage. If it's a different time, how many times did they drive around buying Christmas gifts? And if they got stuck in the mud "for hours", how did they get out? And did the three of them have a good time in the car while waiting? Hehe.

I'm forever intriguied by the myths created around the filming of LotR. The lore seems to have a life of its own, regardless of what actually happened.

Did your family spend Christmas with you in New Zealand? Yes, my family, my girlfriend at the time and my friends made the trip. I love celebrating Christmas and I organised a big party with lots of presents for everybody. It was summer in New Zealand so it was quite unusual to celebrate Christmas in the sun. The New Zealanders love to barbecue crayfish at that time of year. It was very special Christmas food! The other actors went home for the holidays, but I decided it would be more fun to stay. I had a brilliant house on the beach and I invited all my closest friends and family. They all loved New Zealand. We took a trip to the North Island by car and it was magnificent. Actually, I have cousins who moved to New Zealand, so I now have relatives there.

Seems Orlando's whole family came over for Christmas in 1999, including Orlando's then girlfriend. I mostly find this interesting because firstly, there were a lot more people visiting and being around from time to time than you'd think, if you just read the "official" lore. Secondly, this girlfriend story is always different; according to one she stayed in NZ with Orlando for seven months - "and then two more", before they broke up. In another, she came to visit briefly, but they broke up because of the long-distance thing. He's at one point engaged but mostly she was erased from the stories. And obviously, not all those things can be true at the same time. For me, it just shows how much we are NOT told about life on the set, and how much info is a little unreliable (including this).

[mykooo]

Dream Vacation

Ma. Yesha Klarisse O. Opon BSIT 1A

Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Orlando

Universal Studios Orlando is a popular theme park, it has a variety of attractions and entertainment for both kids and adults. If I were asked what my dream vacation would be then it’s definitely this. More specifically the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. As a big harry potter fan it is a dream of mine to go there and feel like I’m in the wizarding world. So, until that time comes here are the attractions I would most definitely visit.

Hogwarts Express

First stop is definitely the Hogwarts Express, sitting there while chatting with my friends will make me feel like a student going to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Ollivander's Wand Shop

Next is buying my first wand at Ollivander's Wand Shop. There are a lot of wands to choose form, there's character wands, Hogwarts houses wands, and even personalized wands. There is even a wand ceremony where the staff at Ollivander's brings you into the ceremony room and the wand makers will choose one lucky guest to be selected by a wand.

Weasley's Wizard Wheezes Shop

Next stop is Fred and George's Joke Shop where we could buy magical jokes, tricks, and toys. We could also purchase other things here such as shirts, keychains, and candies.

Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment

Next in line we have the Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment, a lot of items can be purchased here such as shirts, keychains, bags, mugs, and many harry potter themed items.

Three Broomsticks

After a long day of strolling around Diagon alley we need to fill our stomachs at the Three Broomsticks restaurant. Which will replenish our energy and of course let's not forget to order the famous Butterbeer.

Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Avdenture

Of course, we shouldn't miss out on Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventures. In this ride we could see Hagrid, Fluffy, Mr. Weasley's car with the giant spider's and many more magical creatures. The seats are designed like a replica of Hagrid's Motorbike.

Hogwarts Castle

For the last stop it will be the Hogwarts Castle. Wherein we can get a tour around the castle and relive the scenes in the movie. We could also the sorting hat, the mandrakes, and the talking paintings with other secrets to unfold. It could truly make one feel like a Hogwarts student.

[vivigaming]

Tibetan Yak - 30 Day Welfare Task Event

This is the newest 30-day welfare event in CN, the Tibetan Yak "Wind Flag Chanting Wishes". This is the second 30-day welfare event after the "Orchid Lotus Splendor". It's similar to the lifetime task suits, except it's 30-days instead of 3 months and you get a bunch of free stuff (diamonds, gold, stamina, star coins, association coins, crystal shoes, express passes, site tickets, heart tickets) on the tic-tac-toe board. Best of all it is FREE and leaves a lot of room for error. XD

Here are the requirements:

Tab 1: Daily Tasks. You get 5 of these tasks randomly each day. It resets daily so try your best to do all of them everyday.

Like 1x in the SC

Decompose 1 item

Clear any stage 1x

Recolor 1x

Evolve 1x

Craft 1x

Purchase 1 item

Do World Tour 1x

Complete 5x Commissions

Complete 5x Arenas

View player's house 1x

Decompose 1 furniture

Like in the competition

Like in Moments 3x (we don't have this yet in LN, but in SN, it's the Moments, basically like an in-game Facebook)

more? My bad if I forgot any.

Tab 2: 10 Day Task

Complete 2 Co-Ops (I never do this, still got it free)

Complete 10 Life Bits

Do 1 Group Buy (I never do this, still got it free)

Complete 25 Dreamweaver

Spend 150k gold

Spend 150 Star Coins

Spend 210 Guild Coins

Complete 1 ATW Bg (this is the hardest esp if you pick a 360 cost background lol, BUT you get a ton of free express passes during the event)

Tab 3: Try your best to do all of them! You can start collecting the Starlet, Mela, Kimi, and Orlando items now!!

Starlet: Collect "Cunning Imp" + Recolor

Mela: Craft "Rivers Beyond"

Debby: Craft Vol 3 Ch1 suit + Recolor

Kimi: Craft "Childlike Journey"

BJJ: Collect 10 new clothing

Orlando: Use Stringless Guqin Spirit in battle

Ace: Publish housing commissions 5x

Bobo: Publish 5 Inspiration Space SC (lol how do we still not have Inspo Space in LN)

Gonna make a video on the Vivi Gaming YouTube Channel soon about the detailed gameplay, but just thought I'd jot down my show notes here on Tumblr first :)

[an-ecu-harrypotter-au]

TCS Part 2: From Holly To Oak

"Toby?"

"Mmm."

"C'mon son. Ya gotta wake up."

Ah sit up an open mah eyes.

"Wha's happenin Pop?"

"Awmost in Florida. Close ta the airport now. Look out yer window."

Ah rub mah eyes an yawn as Ah look out the window.

"Whoa. Where'd ya think we're at Pop?"

"Seems ta me we're flyin over Cape Canaveral. Space Center ain't that far from it."

"Wow."

Ah keep lookin out the window watchin the pretty sky.

"Did we ever see the sunrise Pop? Ah don't remember seein it on the plane comin here last year."

"Oh Ah saw it jus a few minutes ago son. Darn light woke me up cause it was comin in right through our window."

Ah turn an see Pop's right. Sun's so bright it'd wake anyone up.

"Least we'll be havin breakfast wit Cousin Wilma before headin ta the nursin home."

"What time do ya think we'll land Pop?"

Pop looks out mah window like he's figurin somethin out.

"Shouldn't be no more'an a half hour so Ah'd say 6 am. Can't even see the Atlantic so we're jus gonna be goin more inland."

Ah nod an go back ta lookin out the window. Sunrise like this needs ta be seen's long as possible.

Time Skip

We land in Orlando an get our luggage.

"Now ya jus wait right here Toby. Ah gotta call Wilma ta make sure she ain't overslept."

"Awright Pop."

Pop goes inta the phone booth an calls Cousin Wilma's house. Ah look round an see a lotta people walkin wit giant mobile phones.

"Awright Toby Ah'm done. We can start headin out."

"Pop why don't Cousin Wilma have one a 'em mobile phones? It'd sure be helpful when callin 'er."

He looks up an sees what Ah'm talkin bout.

"It ain't somethin we do all the time an a phone like that costs too much ta buy one."

"Oh yeah. It wouldn't be right ta make Cousin Wilma buy it if she ain't gonna need it that much."

Pop an Ah make it outside ta wait for the car.

"Pop how's we gonna find Cousin Wilma? Ah know she's got yer car but this place's big."

"Only gotta wait fer her ta drive up ta the door. She'd jus be followin the line a cabs till it's her turn ta pick us up."

Pop an Ah wait until Ah see Pop's car come up wit Cousin Wilma drivin.

"Samson! It's so good to see you."

"Thanks fer pickin us up Wilma."

She smiles at us as we get in the car. Ah put mah suitcase down right next ta me in the back seat.

"You look great since I last saw you."

"Yeah all that work on mah fishin boat's given me a strength Ah ain't ever had before."

"And Toby you sure have grown last I saw you. How have you been doing at your new school?"

Ah look at Pop cause Ah dunno if Ah'm allowed ta tell 'er bout Hogwarts.

"Aw Toby's been doin great."

"Really? You mean he's actually been getting good grades?"

"Yeah that fancy school sure's helped 'em out. Cousin Travis an his kin made us feel real welcome. Toby found a frog named Trevor an even made a couple friends. Whole past year he's been doin a lotta growin in sorts a ways."

Cousin Wilma sure looks impressed. Ah get why cause jus knowin Ah'm doin good in school's nough ta make anyone who knew me for a long while impressed. Jacklin an Pacer're different cause they don't know a thang bout mah schoolin before Hogwarts.

"Well I know you all must be hungry."

"We sure are. Last we ate was dinner on the plane. Plane landed real early so we didn't get breakfast."

"I can always stop at the pancake house on the way to the nursing home. You know, the one down by 4th and Maple."

"Yeah Ah know all bout the pancake house Wilma. Ah'd take Toby there every time we'd visit momma an daddy. Ya like the pancake house doncha son?"

Ah look back from the buildins at Pop.

"We havin pancakes Pop?"

"Tha's right. Dunno how long we're gonna be at the nursin home so we gotta be at full strength."

"Yeah the pancake house's fine Pop. Ah like the pancakes dere."

Ah turn back ta look round Orlando. Ah wanna know how ta get ta the nursin home from the airport. Maybe it's cause a mah condition but Ah always feel safe if Ah jus memorize everythang round me so Ah don't get lost.

Time Skip

We get ta the nursin home an Ah see grandmomma an grandaddy sittin outside in their rockin chairs.

"Ernest is dat our Samson wit lil Toby comin up?"

"Why Ah'm sure's a hot day in July it is Betty Ann."

Pop an Cousin Wilma hug 'em while Ah watch. Ah still ain't used ta huggin people much but Ah think they're happy. Ah can look 'em in the eye now. Used ta be somethin Ah had a hard time doin.

"Toby me an Cousin Wilma's gonna talk wit the nursin staff. Why don't ya talk bout yer schoolin while we're gone."

"Ok Pop."

Ah sit down in one a the patio chairs.

"Well Toby how's Hogwarts been treatin ya?"

Ah gulp cause Ah dunno if Ah'd be gettin in trouble. Grandaddy might be one a 'em squibs but Ah dunno how all the rules work.

"Oh doncha be frettin none bout rules Toby. Yer daddy done sent us letters bout yer schoolin. Magicin knowledge's been in our kin since mah own Pa landed in Ellis Island."

Ah take a breath cause Ah'm feelin a bit better now.

"Oh Ah knew that Kwimpers had magic blood and all. Ah just thought since all y'all ain't got magic abilities that it'd be tellin a secret Ah shouldn't. Mah friend Jacklin said there's a whole buncha rules bout keepin the magic world safe."

"Naw we ain't pplied ta their rules an policin. Yer daddy splained how it all works. Yer grandmomma here's pureblooded an went ta Ivermony. We ain't no no-mag famly."

Grandmomma lightly slaps his arm.

"Ernest ya know we ain't supose ta say that word no more. It ain't polite."

"Darnnit Betty Ann the boy oughta know bout wizardin histry."

They get in a back an forth an Ah wonder if there's somethin Ah dunno bout people who don't have magic. Jacklin's only ever called 'em humans. Ah oughta send 'er a letter bout it.

"Now there's Samson so hush up."

Ah look up an see Pop comin up ta grandmomma's wheelchair.

"Well Momma, it's time ta bring ya an daddy inside before ya'll get sunburnt. Toby go on an hold the door open."

"Ok Pop."

Ah'm bout ta go open the door when a young girl wit a sweater tied round 'er waist comes runnin cryin.

"This jus can't be happenin!"

"Hold up son. C'mere Holly honey. Wha's wrong dear?"

Ah jus watch in real confusion as the lil girl goes up ta grandmomma.

"Oh Mrs. Betty Ann it's all awful!"

"Wha's awful?"

"They're dead! Mah momma an daddy're dead."

Ah'm standin at the door frozen as this girl Ah ain't ever seen before cryin in grandmomma's arms. Ah dunno wha's bein said cause Ah'm not really hearin it right.

"C'mon honey le's go back on back inside. Ya can tell us more bout it. Ain't nobody want ya gettin hurt outta grief."

Pop starts wheelin grandmomma as granddaddy follows 'er. Ah open the door so they can get in. Ah have no idea who this girl is but Ah think she was in mah dream last night.

"C'mon Toby. Go ta the cafeteria an get yerself a milkshake. Ah'll be there real soon."

"Ok Pop."

Ah take the money Pop gives me an Ah make mah way down ta the cafeteria. A milkshake's gonna help me make sense a thangs.

Time Skip

"There you are."

Ah look up an see Cousin Wilma.

"Everythang awright Cousin Wilma?"

She sits down at the table.

"There's a lot of information that I need to tell your dad right now."

Pop seems ta get that this' gonna be real serious.

"Go on then an tell us."

Cousin Wilma takes a breath.

"Mrs. Jones is one of auntie's friends. Her only son along with his wife died in a car crash while they were on their way to pick up Holly. She volunteers here for the Girl Scouts and was just about to leave when she heard the news."

Ah jus blink cause this whole story's wild.

"So yer sayin Wilma that the girl ain't got no home?"

"Yes. Mrs. Jones is physically incapable of maintaining a home so while she's now the legal guardian of her, I'm afraid Holly will have to move away to a foster home."

Ah see the girl rollin 'er grandmomma in the cafeteria.

"Hello Mrs. Pearl."

"Oh Holly I'm so sorry about your parents."

Ah look at 'er grandma in the wheelchair while Ah sip on a milkshake.

"Don't worry about a thing Wilma. I just got off the phone with my attorney about custody rights."

She turns 'er head in this weird way an Ah get a feelin that she had some type a stroke cause she don't look too old but ain't movin right.

"Holly, sweetie go and sit with Mrs. Kwimper's grandson. I have something important to talk about with her son."

"Ok Grammy."

Ah watch Pop an Cousin Wilma wheel Mrs. Jones a bit aways so they can talk. Ah turn ta see the girl get closer ta me an that she's still got red eyes from cryin.

"Huh. Ah wonder what yer grandmomma's gotta say ta Pop that she don't wanna say in front a us."

Ah dunno what Ah said but she looks like she's bout ta cry agin.

"Ah hope.. that.. yer daddy's able ta help. Ah don't wanna go ta some foster home!"

She starts cryin agin an Ah jus watch 'er. This ain't at all like Jacklin cryin cause Ah know more bout 'er than this girl. Even if Ah did know 'er it ain't like Ah can jus say somethin that'll make 'er feel better bout 'er dead parents.

"Why ain'tcha comfortin me?"

"Huh?"

Ah jus realized Ah've been starin at 'er this whole time. Ah dunno what ta do now.

"What'm Ah spose ta say? Sayin sorry that yer parents died ain't gonna help bring 'em back."

She cries even more which Ah knew was gonna happen. Ah was doomed from the start. Maybe Ah coulda said it differently but Ah dunno how Ah could've. Pop comin back ta us'd be just bout the only good that came outta this.

"Holly, Holly there's somethin ya gotta know bout Toby."

At this point Ah jus wanna go home an take a nap. Too much stuff's happenin that Ah can't do nothin bout. If this' last year Ah'd be meltin down right here in the cafeteria. Ah still feel like Ah could cause Ah'm scared Pop's gonna be upset Ah made Holly feel worse.

"C'mon now Holly. Yer grandmomma said ya can stay wit me an Toby for the night."

Mah eyes're big.

"You really mean it Mr. Kwimper?!"

The girl's grandmomma smiles the best she can.

"That's right Holly. Betty Ann and I are good friends. Told me a lot of good things about her son. Mr. Kwimper'll take good care of you."

"But what bout you?"

"Oh I'll be fine dear. Mr. Kwimper will keep in touch with me about how you do."

She goes ta hug 'er grandmomma then goes up ta Pop. Pop holds mah hand an we walk back ta the car. Ah have no idea how we came here for grandmomma an granddaddy only ta come back wit a small girl.

Time Skip

By the time we get ta the hotel room Ah sit down on the bed an look at Pop.

"Pop. What happened?"

"Whacha mean son?"

"Bout that girl. Why's she here stead a the police station?"

Pop sits down on the bed next ta me.

"Tha's what Mrs. Jones an Ah've been talkin bout. See Mrs. Jones got all the say bout who can adopt Holly. Yer grandmomma bein a good friend a her's means Ah'll take care a 'er. Our family's gonna be the only one she knows that'll be able ta take care a her anyway."

"Why? We dunno 'er."

Ah think by the way Pop's lookin at me he jus fergot till now that Ah'm the way Ah am. Ah can hear 'em sigh like he does when he's dispointed in me.

"She's got magic son."

"HUH?! How'd ya know that?"

Pop pats mah shoulder so Ah can go back ta mah inside voice.

"It's a real long story, but Holly's one a 'em kids whose parents ain't magical. At all. They're all human."

"Ohhhh. But why's that bad?"

Ah can see Pop tryna think. Somethin tells me that this' gonna be real complicated like politics.

"She dunno nothin bout the magic world but she trusts yer grandmomma. If she says we's good folk then Holly'd be trustin us. It'd be easier fer her ta learn bout magic wit somebody she kinda knows than complete strangers."

Ah sigh a relief. Ah thought this was gonna be like one a Jacklin's history lectures that go on for what feels like hours.

"Ohh. So tha's why ya had us move ta Ireland even though they got a magic school called Ivermony. Cause ya thought it'd be easier fer me ta handle change if Ah started off wit people ya say ya trust."

"Tha's right son. Ya never wanna go inta somethin new alone so tha's what we're doin wit Holly."

"How? She ain't kin."

Pop pats mah shoulder.

"Mrs. Jones tol me there's gonna be a hearin. Ah'm gonna be talkin wit Mrs. Jones lawyer ta a judge. The judge's gonna hear why Mrs. Jones thinks Ah'm the right person ta take care a Holly. Then he's gonna say whether it's ok ta adopt 'er."

"What do ya gotta say Pop?"

"Lawyer's gonna do most a the talkin but Ah jus gotta explain wha mah job is, the type a house Ah keep, an that Ah'm gonna get 'er passport so she can go ta Ireland wit us."

Ah shake mah head cause it's jus too complicated fer me. Ah think no matter wha's gonna happen Ah trust that Pop's gonna do the right thang.

"Now Ah know girls an boys ain't suppose ta be sleepin in the same room but till we get home this' jus gonna have ta be the sitiation."

"What sitiation, Pop?"

"Holly's gonna be sleepin the bed next ta ya while Ah sleep on the couch."

"Ah get it now."

Holly comes outta the bathroom in 'er jammies.

"Are ya sure it's alright ta be in the room?"

"Yeah Holly. Ah know ya ain't used ta sharin a room especially when yer sharin it wit a boy but it ain't gonna be forever. Once we get all this figured out we're gonna be movin ta a house where you'll both have yer own room."

"Thank ya so much fer lettin me stay with y'all. Ah hope ya sleep well Mr. Kwimper."

Pop laughs as he heads ta the couch.

"Jus call me Pop. An Ah hope you kids sleep well too."

"Night Pop."

Holly goes ta sit on the bed.

"Toby. Do ya like mah cat pajamas?"

Ah look at 'em. Ah figure Ah should be nice since she's still lookin sad. Plus the cats do kinda look cute.

"Yeah Ah do. Cause ya got a buncha smilin cats. It looks real soft too."

Ah get in bed an close mah eyes.

"Toby? Ain't ya gonna say goodnight ta me?"

"Huh?"

Ah open mah eyes an see Holly lookin at me wit these big eyes.

"Awright. Goodnight."

Ah roll onta mah other side an try ta go ta sleep. Ah guess it was nough ta make Holly happy cause Ah hear 'er get inta bed. Eventually Ah fall asleep thinkin it's all gonna work out somehow.

Tagging: @arrolyn1114, @nemos-rapture, @xanatenshi, @briefpandatimemachine, @hooked-on-elvis,

@vintagepresley, @aliengoth3, @smokeymountainboy, @bigdaddyelvislover, @mercsandmonsters,

@pledgingmylovee, @presleysgirl6, @thetaoofzoe, and @elvispresley4life.

[mortifry]

We did the RIP tour at Halloween Horror Nights Orlando last Friday night for the second year in a row and it was just soooo much fun!!!!! We had such a good night. It’s a bit expensive, but I honestly recommend it. It’s so worth it. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to do HHN any other way ever again lol

The food from the buffet was still kind of mid compared to last year, not gonna lie. I hear Hollywood has a better selection. But the experience was less hectic feeling than last year. They seem like they’re dealing with that issue a little better because there was way less people in La Bamba while we were there so it was quieter and a bit more relaxing. I really only ate the black beans and rice though because like I said, buffet is not the best (which is crazy for how much you’re paying for the experience but whatever I guess).

The only thing I tried of the themed HHN food was the Mini Stay-Puft S’more because it was recommended to me and it was not great. It didn’t even look good, which is one of the big reasons people want to buy it is because it’s “Instagramable” but they didn’t even cook my marshmallow enough for it to melt the chocolate!!! 3/10 :(

The only other things I had wanted to try were a couple alcoholic drinks they had but I forgot lol

Our tour guide’s name was Jay and he was really cool. In between houses and scare-zones, he talked with us and a couple other people about wrestling, which is always fun to find other people out in the wild who are fans. One of the guys in our group met Cody Rhodes, which was cool. Anyway, yeah our tour guide was really informative. Like not only telling us like the basic shit that most guides probably tell their groups but he sprinkled in a lot more little fun-facts and secrets than our guy did last year :) if we can’t get people to do a private tour with us next year, we’ll probably end up requesting him again because he was really good.

The medieval scare-zone was our favorite, for sure. It was also the biggest scare-zone this year. The costumes were just really cool and their set pieces were the best. The king and queen were truly serving cunt, as they say. The Florida one also seemed like it would’ve been pretty cool too, but it was raining when we walked through so none of the actors were out. The Blumhouse one was the worse. Like no effort put into it at all which is crazy because when they’ve done The Purge it’s always got pretty good set pieces. But anyway, at least Megan was there all night and you didn’t have to go looking for her and you can take pictures with her :) even though last year, the flash mob thing was fun lol but the other one, I don’t even remember what is was called, that’s near the Bourne show, was also pretty neat. I really like the costumes in that scare-zone probably the best actually.

The Nightmare Fuel show this year was amazing!!! I’ve only seen the show twice (this year and last lol) and it was so much better than last year. It was so good. I honestly recommend going to see it if you can because it was probably my favorite part of the whole night. You just have to make sure you kind of get in line a little early because it gets really busy.

I pretty much liked all of the houses this year for different reasons (which I’ll talk about each house separately in a second, no spoilers!!!) except for one. If you don’t know about the RIP tour, you literally get to skip the entire line, which is amazing and why you want to do the tour. I’ve been to HHN a few times previously without fast passes and with them, and this is honestly just so much better of an experience. I remember going with different groups of people on different occasions and waiting like 3/4 hours for one house when I went without fast passes (The Shining and the first Stranger Things house lol) and it sucked, it ruined the whole night tbh fast passes are definitely good if you don’t want to spend money on the RIP tour because it does really cut down on time, but I’m at a point in life where I just don’t want to go to something like NNH and have to wait anymore lol

Anyway here are my thoughts on the houses :)

> A Quiet Place was really cool!!! It’s based off of the first two movies, which I have never seen but I am now kind of interested in watching them. It’s definitely going to be the quietest house you go into, I mean, the name!!! Our tour guide said they used a lot more ambient noises in this house than others as well as noise canceling panels throughout the house to really give it that quiet but creepy feeling. And honestly, most of the guests walking through are not making much noise either. Like I was kind of afraid to make noise because the one time I accidentally did (a piece of fabric from the ceiling hit me in the face during a dark part) the noise from that creature was like immediately in my ear lol but yeah it was really cool. I really liked it

> Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire was one of my favorites but it is not scary at all, which usually there’s one of them. It was just fun. They did really good with the set design of the house. I haven’t seen Frozen Empire but ghost entity thing they’re fighting in it is a creepy little guy for sure. Definitely do this one, but don’t do it for the scares!!!

> Insidious: The Further was probably the scariest house. I’ve never seen any of the movies so it probably really wasn’t as scary as it could’ve been but it still got me a couple times. My soon-to-be sister-in-law said she had to close her eyes half way through. I’m pretty sure it was this house (sorry I can’t remember like anything) but I fucking hate mannequin rooms and this one has TWO!!!!!!! The first HHN I went to was with The Shining which had a mannequin room and I ran into one of the mannequins and then immediately got jump scared by a person in the same room lol

> Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines (☝️) was the one house I didn’t like which is really unfortunate because I wanted to like it so bad. It is supposedly the first house that has an all-women cast and crew. I mean, like it was cool. I think it’s like the only house that has narration as you walk through it. But yeah, it just wasn’t really that good in opinion, I don’t know.

> Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America was a good one. There are three different monsters you encounter in this house and there is a crazy puppet in here!!! I also can’t remember if it is this one (which I’m pretty sure it is) or the Ghostbuster house (which ever house has the fire station in it) but yeah, supposedly it has the biggest set piece that they’ve ever built! I can’t remember how big it is but it’s big!!! This one also kind of had a bit of narration, I believe, but it was different than Universal Monsters.

> Slaughter Sinema 2 was my favorite house!!! It was so much fun!!! I never went through the first house so this was really neat. Our tour guide told us that something some people miss is that in the first house, you went right, but in this house, you’re going left because you’re seeing different movies :) he also said that this series of houses are a way for HHN to test ideas and the ones that gather the most attention or whatever may become their own houses eventually. The first Slaughter Sinema produced two yeti themed houses (one of which was last year and one of our favorites!!) but yeah, it was fun. I recommend doing this house if you can!!!

> The Museum: Deadly Exhibits was the first house we went into and I honestly cannot remember anything from it.

> Major Sweets Candy Factory was gross!!!!! I lied, this was my least favorite house LOL it was gross. I hated it. But besides my own personal feelings, it was a well-done house and it was interactive! There are red buttons throughout the house you can push to have something done to the person in front of you, behind you, or yourself!!! You never know!!! I was walking behind my tour guide in this house and he looked back at me and was like “press that button” and me, an intellectual, pressed the button. Nothing crazy happened but it got me with a puff of air, so stupid :(

> Goblin's Feast is one I definitely recommend, especially to you fantasy nerds. I think this might have been the house that really got me, with a dumb puppet I was looking directly at. But anyway, this house just had really good costumes and set pieces as well as some crazy puppets. This house and Universal Monsters are both in the new tents they made this year :)

> Triplets of Terror was kind of dumb idk the set design of this house was good. It had a ton of little details but I was so confused going into it because the way my tour guide had explained the premise of the house, I thought these triplets were like some demonic entities that were children that came back every year on their birthday to kill a family but nope I was wrong and just more confused than anything while walking through lol

But yeah, we had a really good time this year. Even though it kind of rained on us, the weather was a lot nicer this year. Last year it was just so hot and humid and they had so much of that fake smoke, I was dying mid-way through the night. This year was just nice :)

Plus we ended the night with a wish coming true in finding Shotzi through the fog!!! I think she is so cool and it was so cool to meet her in person. I was too nervous to ask her for a picture but I shook her hand :)

Anyway, yeah. I recommend the RIP tour!!!

✌️thank yoooouuuu✌️

[megan-loves-surveys]

#24.

Last time you went on a rollercoaster: Last year when I went to Armageddon with my boyfriend, they had rides there and we went on the coaster.

Whose birthday is next, out of all the people you know? My boyfriend's, he's in May.

Would you eat a live cockroach if it made you a millionaire? Depends how much of a millionaire, lol.

Who do you think about most? My boyfriend and Jon Moxley xD

Do you have embarrassing parents? Not really, my parents are cool. Especially my Mum, all my friends love her haha.

Are you any good at writing? I like to think so.

What’s something that really matters to you? Music.

Do you prefer bar or liquid soap? Liquid.

Do you have high or low self esteem levels? In between.

Do you like mint or orange flavored chocolate? Orange is great, mint not so much.

How often do you get spots? Like, pimples? I get the occasional one, I'm clear probably like 90% of the time these days.

Do you prefer instrumental songs or ones with lyrics? Both! I love video game music, which is instrumental, but I love lyrics too of course.

Do you carry a bag around with you often? What does it look like? Yep, it's a green handbag, I got it like a month ago. It's so cool.

Name one of your favorite memories. So many to pick from, but I'll go with the entire trip to Orlando for Wrestlemania 33 cos the resort we stayed in was amazing (it had the nicest pool I've ever seen), we went to the WWE Performance Center (the tours to there are rare and expensive to get tickets to), I met a bunch of wrestlers (including Mox, my fave <3), we sat second row at Mania itself, we also had amazing tickets for all the other shows (including front row for Smackdown!), we did a bunch of tourist stuff and the weather was gorgeous. An all round perfect holiday.

Have you ever had braces? Do you need them? No.

Are you a subscriber to any magazines? Which? No. I used to subscribe to WWE Magazine but they stopped making it.

What is something you want but can’t afford to buy? All the Converse I want xD

Do you usually eat wheat bread or white bread, or are you gluten-free? Wheat.

Which lost friend do you most wish you could be friends with again? None if you mean 'lost' as in friends I just stopped talking to, but if you mean in general, then Zoe cos she passed away.

Do you think you would be happier if you had more money? Definitely.

What is something currently on your wishlist from Etsy? -

Is there a Target near you? We don't have it in NZ.

Which is closest to you: Target, Walmart, Kmart, or Meijer? We only have Kmart of those.

Who do you go to when you’re lonely? Or what do you do when you’re lonely? Depends.

What do you dislike about the house you live in? The complex next door is full of annoying people, the neighbours right next to us in there have 3 kids and they're loud little shits lol.

Have you ever been clubbing? Did you have fun? Yep, it's fun.

Have you ever volunteered? Yes. I've done data entry for a few charities in the past and that.

What holidays do you celebrate? Christmas & Easter.

Do you have a best friend? How long have you known them? Yep, I've known her since high school.

How often do you take selfies? It depends, sometimes loads, sometimes not that much.

What was your favorite way to spend a summer day as a kid? Playing outside, riding my bike with these girls who lived down the street from me etc.

Do you have any uncommon interests or hobbies? Depends what you consider unusual.

Have you ever drank so much that you passed out? No.

What is your favorite way to eat rice? (white, steamed, fried, brown, sweetened…) I love cheesy rice and rice with curry.

What’s your favorite horror movie? The Ring.

Have you ever had to have a tooth cut out? Yes.

What video games did you play when you were growing up? All the old school DOS games cos I'm a 90s kid - Doom, Wolfenstein 3D, Secret Agent, Crystal Caves, Commander Keen etc. All the platform games!

What pet names do you use for your friends/loved ones? I call my boyfriend babe and baby xD

What’s your favourite Disney movie? None.

Do you prefer regular or diet soft drinks? I only drink Coke Zero Sugar, so I guess the diet ones lol.

Have you ever met someone in person who you first met on the internet? Do you have plans to do that anytime soon? Yep, loads of times.

Are you a fan of garlic bread? Hell yes, gimme garlic bread.

Have you ever wanted to be vegetarian or vegan? No.

What is your boss’s (or school principal’s) name? His name's Oliver.

Do you like eggnog? I've never had it.

Do you know anyone with celiac disease? No.

Are you and your best friend complete opposites? In a lot of ways, yes. But in other ways, we're similar.

If you were to write a novel, what would it be about? A murder mystery or something.

Are you currently pretending to be someone’s friend? No.

Have you ever had a serious issue involving your eyes? My eyesight just sucks, especially my left eye, it's super blurry. Last time I got my eyes tested, they said my left eye got a tiny bit better... but my right eye got worse! SMH :/

Do you have sensitive teeth? Sorta.

What are your views on our current president? -

What is your biggest responsibility in your household? Paying bills.

Who did you last worry about and why? Myself tbh lol.

When was the last time you ate/drank something gross just to be polite? I can't do this. Depending how well I know the person, I'll just tell them I can't eat it and take what I can eat and have that. Otherwise I'll just say I'm not hungry and eat later.

Do you have a mouse for your laptop? (Assuming you have a laptop) Yep, a wireless one. It's a bit broken though, the middle scroll wheel doesn't click that well anymore.

What was your high school mascot? Lion.

What was your first job? Data entry.

Do you remember your first time? Yep.

Favourite home-cooked meal growing up? Bacon & egg pie.

What is something you don’t have any natural talent for? Maths and anything musical lol.

How do you feel about your body? It's pretty good, just need to lose my belly fat.

What are three things you like that are blue? My hair, water and denim.

What is one sad song that you enjoy listening to? Oh, there's loads.

Do you like butterflies? Love them.

Do you prefer to read fiction or non-fiction? Both.

If you have a significant other, what is his/her name? Will.

Have you ever had to use a wheelchair? Yep, when I broke my femur.

Have you ever been pulled over by a cop? No.

What are three things you would change about your body if you could? Flat stomach, longer thicker hair and feet 1 size bigger.

Who was the last person who gave you a hug? My boyfriend.

Have you ever questioned your gender? No.

What is your favorite thing to do in the snow? -

Have you ever swam in the ocean? Yes.

What were three of your favorite things to do at recess as a kid? Pretend to be popstars with my friends, play cards and just hang around and chat.

What is one thing you’ve gotten for free on your birthday? Starbucks xD

Have you ever been to Tennessee, USA? No.

What are some things that fascinate you? Geography, glitches, scams/scammers and true crime.

What did you last remember dreaming about? Hmm, not sure.

What did you last watch on TV? Big Bang Theory last night during dinner.

What is one of your toxic traits? I procrastinate.

Have you ever found a skeleton while outside? No.

Do you like meatball subs? Never had one.

What is your favorite smell on earth? Fresh bread.

If you have a sib, do you call him/her “brother” or “sister” sometimes? -

Did you ever collect stickers? I did and I still have them all! I had one particular book that I never used the stickers in them, I just collected them cos they were pretty ones. The rest I used on all sorts of shit lol.

Have you been baptized in any religious tradition? No.

Do you love the smell of sunblock? No, it smells weird.

What was the last upsetting thing that happened to you? Some bitch at work was talking down to me and treating me like shit cos we were having computer issues (the fucking reception computer strikes again...) and I couldn't check on her case for her. She basically said I was worthless cos I was "just the reception girl" and insinuated I slept with my boss to get my job. I was getting so annoyed at her and was about to snap when one of my coworkers who is super protective of everyone in the office rescued me and told the woman to fuck off.

What was the last thing you ordered from Starbucks? I got a mocha java chip frappe from there yesterday.

Do you trust your doctor? I don't have a regular doctor, when I go to the clinic I just see whoever is available.

Do you ever question if your mother loves you? Never, I know she loves me more than anything <3

What is missing in your life? Travel. I miss it.

What is your favorite type of Lunchables? Never had them.

What is the worst medication side effect you’ve ever had? Diarrhea and a bad rash. Ew.

What is your favorite thing to order at Taco Bell? I've only eaten there once or twice.

What church do you go to? -

Do you take risks often? Depends.

The last time you ate leftovers, what was it that you were eating? Pasta bake, I always have it for dinner then eat the rest the next day, I just warm it up in the microwave at work lol.

What was the last flavor of ice cream you ate? Chocolate.

What is your favorite song at the moment? Girls Aloud - Disco Bunny

What is one thing you have too much of? Hmm.

What type of fruit do you eat the most? Kiwifruit probably.

Would you rather eat strawberries or watermelon? I like both, but more strawberries.

Do you prefer hamburgers or hot dogs? The burgers.

How far away do you live from the place where you were born? I live in the same city as I was born.

If you buried a time capsule, what would you put in it? Hmm.

Describe your clothing style in three words: Wrestling, short and comfy.

What’s something you want to do more often? Travel.

Who is your favorite YouTuber? Call Me Kevin. He's hilarious, plays all sorts of games and he seems like he'd be the nicest person to know.

Do you believe in soulmates? Yes.

What band or artist do you think is overrated? I think Beyoncé is quite talented, but man her fans act like she's god.

What’s something untrue that you believed for a long time? Dunno.

Did you skateboard when you were younger? No.

Have you ever won a contest? Oh, loads. I have a knack for winning things lol. The biggest I've won is a trip to Los Angeles to attend WWE Summerslam where we got flights, a fancy hotel, tickets to the PPV and tickets to a meet and greet event. It fucking ruled. Then there was the time I won the top prize at a stand at a fair where you chose envelopes with numbers in it and my number was for a gigantic hamper xD I've also won smaller things like CDs, DVDs, posters, expensive earphones, plushies, giftcards and the like. The last thing was a 6 month subscription to a magazine website from the McDonalds Monopoly game, it was worth like 100 bucks lol.

What’s something weird you’ve eaten? Dunno.

Who is someone you would like to get to know better? Wrestlers xD

When’s that last time you saw snow? 2015 when I was in the USA, it was all piled up on the sides of the roads in Boston.

Who are the 3 people you love the most? My parents and my boyfriend.

Last person you slept in the same bed with? My boyfriend.

Have you recently been sick? No.

Would you marry someone if they were unable to have sex? I don't want to get married...

Does heartbreak really feel as bad as it sounds? Sure.

Last reason you went to the ER? I got hit by a car and broke my shoulder.

What facial cleanser do you use? I use one for acne on occasion, but only if it gets bad which doesn't happen much.

Have you ever cheated on the significant other that you have now? Noooooo.

Do your parents like your boyfriend/girlfriend? Yep. My Mum was a bit iffy on him at first cos she thought he was too old for me, but he's super charming and won her over quick, she loves him now xD My Dad liked him pretty much instantly.

What was the last fruit or vegetable you chopped/sliced up? Dunno.

Does the last person whose house you were at like anyone? Me lol.

Do you tend to talk on the phone a lot? No, only at work haha. My boyfriend and friends mostly text me or message me online lol.

What turns you on the most? Oh, loads of things.

Have you ever kissed someone of the same sex? Yep.

Have you ever suspected anyone of cheating on you? I knew they did, one of my friends saw them and immediately told me.

Ever get caught doing something naughty with your boyfriend/girlfriend? Yep xD One of his friends walked in on us, we all just died laughing.

Do you use q-tips to clean your ears? No.

Have you ever swam with dolphins? No.

If you/your gf became pregnant accidentally, would you consider abortion? Without a doubt. I don't want kids and I don't want to be pregnant.

What was the last candy you ate? Haribo.

Do you like zombie movies? They're fine.

What’s the grossest/worst thing you’ve ever seen in a public restroom? Blood everywhere.

Have you ever volunteered in a hospital? If not, would you ever want to? No.

How do you feel about runny egg yolks? The best! Hard egg yolk is so disappointing.

Have you ever hidden a relationship from your family? Yes, my first boyfriend cos I was 14 and wasn't allowed to date yet lol.

Who was the worst friend you ever had? Hmm.

When was the last time you made plans with someone? What are you going to do with that person? My Mum and I made plans to go to the Easter Show, then my boyfriend said he'd tag along as well lol.

Are you close to your extended family? Do you wish you were closer? No.

While on the road, do you play any road games? Sure.

Have you ever picked apples before? No.

Are you scared of semi-trucks? Especially when you’re driving next to one? Dunno tbh.

Do you have a fence? No, we have a stone wall around the back and side of our house, and the front is part of a gigantic open carpark in our complex.

If you have any pets, do you talk to them in a baby voice? I don't have pets, but I talk to every cat I see like that xD

Who was the last person to comfort you? My boyfriend.

Do you think that in the end, everything will fall into place? Who knows.

What was the last thing you swallowed? Water.

Do you like cats? Cats are my favourite animal, I love them so much <3

On a scale of one to ten how much do looks matter to you? 5 or 6.

What are you listening to? Little Mix - Notice

What’s the closest pink object to you? A hairtie.

Are you afraid of thunderstorms? Not at all.

Do you need a boyfriend/girlfriend to be happy? No, but I am happier with my boyfriend lol.

How much effort did you put into your last relationship? Last one, not that much. Current one, a lot.

Do you have impulse control? Sometimes I don't lol, I think when I'm out I wanna get fast food and I can't resist.

Would you do anything on a dare? Not anything.

[omgokiguess]

Idk if anybody else has noticed this about the real estate environment but something really weird that is happening here and in Tampa and in my husband's cousin's neighborhood outside of Orlando is that the people that have lived here for a while bought their houses for a modest price like, let's say around 175k for a 3 bed 2 bath.... like they're still living there and it's not like their income has significantly increased, but then these people that move in are buying the same kind of house in the same neighborhood for like 650-850k and then there's like these huge income gaps of people living on the same street. It's so weird. Like this can't be sustainable right? What happens next? Obviously the government is going to keep increasing property taxes so people will have to move and then what? Only the extremely wealthy get to own a house? Like what is happening?

It would be so easy for us to buy a house at a 200k price point right now like there would be no issue at all and I probably could make 350 or 400k work especially if we could get a VA home loan but all the houses in that price range I would never ever buy. Not that I would buy a house in Florida I definitely wouldn't, but even houses I look at in other places it's like.... nope thanks I'll just keep renting

[queenvreads]

REVIEW: The September House by Carissa Orlando

5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Needs must when the devil drives."

After many years, Margaret and her husband Hal finally buy their dream home. Soon after moving in, they become aware that it is haunted, especially during the month of September, when everything is considerably worse. But Margaret is determined to stick it out. This is her home, and she isn't going anywhere.

I enjoyed this book so much. It was horror, but a fun, funny, layered, and twisty story. It was reminiscent of AHS Murder House, but less kinky if that makes sense. That was my favorite season, so no wonder I loved this!

The pacing was great, and I really liked how we found out right away about the haunting. Usually, these types of stories are about the owners unraveling and learning about their home being haunted. Whereas this one, we pick up right at the start of September, that's when things get crazy. The walls are bleeding, Frederika is serving tea, Elias trying to bite, Angelica is pointing at the basement door. 😆 The backstory of the home was creepy enough, and the events that happened there suit a haunted house. The mystery of Master Vale was definitely a highlight, and it didn't disappoint. I really enjoyed that ominous basement and what possibly resides there.

Margaret's character was my favorite. I liked her nonchalant manner, her will to survive and thrive. Everything is survivable to her; she follows rules and stays alive. As we get to learn about her life, we understand why she is so determined to stay in the house. I didn't expect her storyline to go down that path, so that definitely added to the many layers of the story. I had suspicions about one of the main twists, and I was right about it, but it didn't hinder my enjoyment one bit.

Frederika and Margaret's interactions were another highlight for me as I found them so funny together. Like when she starts to misplace things around the house, and her old-fashioned one-liners. 😅

Katherine was my least favorite character. We can't blame her for being so angry all the time, but in comparison to her mother, she is explosive. That added to Margaret's humor, in my opinion. Seeing how she attempts to placate Katherine, says "yes dear," "it's fine dear," it made me laugh.

It was just the most perfect read for spooky season, and I wish I could read it all over again for the first time. I'll definitely keep an eye out for this author's next works. 🏚🚪💀

[restforthe-burdenedsoul]

Financial venting/ranting/complaining ahead

I’m so tired of this.

We re-did our budgets and the only thing we have left to cut out is date nights/friend hangs. Because I can’t cut out therapy totally. And we can’t cut out melodys training. It’s been too positive of a change.

In the meantime, I still can’t afford to see any doctors or schedule my adhd assessment. I don’t know where the money goes. The only thing I see when I break down our spending is going out to eat. Like, 100$ a month. And we can’t anymore.

All my friends live hours away, can’t go see them anymore either. It’s too much in gas and they won’t make the drive to me. So I guess I don’t have friends again haha.

Just never gonna leave my house again apparently. If we get to have a house. Because right now it’s looking like we can’t afford the rent increase. We can’t afford to save for a down payment even with the assistance programs.

And I just want to give up. What did i do wrong in life to end up here? Why does having a bachelor degree make me no money? Why can’t my job give us raises so we can fucking afford to have our own place and eat. Because even groceries are getting to be too expensive. We’ve cut back a lot on what we eat. I like to cook a little fancy/multiple ingredients.

Tonight is just chicken rice and beans. We did pasta with chicken the other night. I’m trying to use up the rest of the pasta we have right now but that’s really all we’ve been eating. Which I’m thankful for. I’m just aggravated. We’re in our mid 30s and have nothing to show for it.

We are inviting M’s friend/ex over on Saturday (her wife can’t join us until like, end of May and we need to let our apartment know about our least by mid May) to ask her if we can live with them for a few months.

I hate this. I hate that as two adults with full time jobs, we have to move in with another couple to afford to have something over our heads. The plus side is that it’ll allow us to save and hopefully I will find a higher paying job in Orlando.

I’m sick to my stomach with this move. I’m so scared I won’t find a job. And we’ll have moved away from my steady job. I can’t commute from her house. It’s two hours away from my schools.

I could potentially live with my parents during the week tho. They’re the same distance, possibly closer, to my schools. But that would leave M living with his ex without me during the week.

I think we are at a good place emotionally with all that but living with her and her wife is a whole different ball game and I’m not a fan. But the other option is to renew the lease- not be able to afford anything extra (therapy, dog training. And of course the stuff we can’t afford now) and never get ahead. Like literally just never get ahead. We can’t save anything right now. We could never save for a house down payment like that. And we can’t afford the rent out there. And I can’t get a job out there without having a place secured. My car is not reliable enough right now for that kind of commute.

I just wanna crawl into a hole and never come back out. We shouldn’t be pay check to paycheck. I shouldn’t have to cancel doctor appointments and therapy appointments becsyse we can’t afford it.

I just spent 250$ for my eye exam and lenses. I don’t think I can afford to buy contacts after that. Even tho I did the contact exam too. I haven’t had the extra funds for contacts in over two years. Granted, I do prioritize things over the contacts but it shouldn’t have to be contacts or date night, contacts or melodys training, contacts or Groceries. I’m sick of it.

[so-i-did-this-thing]

Moving update

I'm grateful to the folks checking in on me and @crowtoed and thought I'd drop a quick update.

We're almost done putting all non-essentials in storage. The many bins are an investment in case we have to do this again. (I have already started researching shipping containers for an overseas move.) I'm going to buy storage unit insurance this week because I have more valuables stowed away than standard homeowners will cover.

My storage unit is almost the same size as the moving truck, which makes it easy to guage if I have to purge/store anything that won't fit. I'm going to hire the biggest trailer from upack.com when it's time to leave. The prices are amazing - less than $4k to move to Connecticut.

The Florida realtor (a condo expert) is viewing my place tomorrow, and with her advice, we'll start on final repairs/refreshes (this place is 23 years old, about when things like windows and tile get rather iffy). My mother graciously gifted me money to cover the majority of the fixes. This move would be a lot harder without her help.

Mom is also letting us stay short-term in her MiL suite a few towns over, so we can sell my condo asap. That means we don't have to worry about timing the purchase of the new house with closing on the old. Plus, I should have a few paychecks rent-free I can sock away / apply towards mutual aid.

We're hoping the condo sells by June or so. Once that happens, I'll use some of the funds towards old debt to nudge my credit rating ever closer to 800 (it's 778 rn, a multi-year project as I used to be in the 400s). Most of the rest of the money will be earmarked for a generous down payment on the new home.

We're still looking in Connecticut and have a realtor there as well. If it's possible, we can afford to fly up a few times to check out houses. The realtor told us our budget for what we want (1500sq ft or larger) is totally doable. The housing market there is weirdly reasonable.

Work is incredibly kind and has said if I need more than 2 weeks to move, I can take whatever time I need. I am fully remote now and blessed to be part of such a progressive company.

We still have some household and personal things to sell, but it's more out of "I no longer like/need this" than an urgent need for money. But thank you to everyone who has offered cash. It means so much to us to have such a strong safety net. If this happened even 5 years ago, we'd have been up shit creek.

Once we close on the new house, we'll drive up asap to move in. This is when we'll know our route and we'll connect with folks along it who have offered to be pitstops for us and the cats. The moving truck will meet us there in 5-7 business days after we leave Orlando.

My HRT Rx also got renewed for 6 months, and with my current stash + a little rationing, I shouldn't have any interruption with my shots, even if pharmacies start refusing me come July.

We're hoping to be all settled in the new home come October, but are dependant on the housing market. But we're stacking as many chips in our favor as we can.

Again, thank you, thank you to everyone who has reached out. I'll update again when something major changes.

[catsandnotes]

29-30/07/23

I feel oppressed in what is supposed to be my home

The reason I keep these entries was a way for me to let out my anger that the witch has bestowed upon me. I am supposed to be grateful for all the hate she harbours for me, because getting mad at one means they still care about them. But now, it is a reminder for all the emotional and mental abuse I've had to endure for the entirety of my life. Thinking everything is fine, but looking back at these will make me understand how much I'm keeping within.

A trip to Orlando has been planned for the bitch and I. I didn't necessarily want to go but I also thought it would be nice to go anyway. I've been responsible for planning the activities. I've searched for some and was ready to present them in order to discuss itinerary. Every time was not a good time to bring it up. Either it is to be discussed later or I am berated for not preparing enough. About 2 weeks before our departure, I asked if we should buy the activity tickets, only to be berated on how I was supposed to have brought up planning when she had asked me for it for 2 months. This is such a hypocrisy. What irony. She then decided that it would be a good idea to listen to what I have planned, after more yelling on how it wasn't the right time, then accusing me for not saying anything during the "right time" (I means sure, doing chores would be a good time, but I can't tell if that bitch thinks so).

Currently, it is 1 week before departure, and I have been yelled at for being useless, not worthy of what I'm learning for my masters degree, questioning my professor's abilities to grade me, and apparently being irresponsible because I didn't write down her timeline that she had proposed (no, there wasn't a complete timeline, but only a list of what we can do and what should be backup choices). But at least the entire scheduling has been fixed and all I have to do final detail checks. Within all that, she questions how I'm disorganized and distrusts me using my phone or laptop as note takers (I am disorganized but I know where my things are, or I have to make things load in order to show the full picture). Fine, pen and paper is the only option I'm yelled at to do, and proceeded get a GOOSE (good on one side) paper upstairs, to only get yelled more on how she made the house convenient by putting paper on the floor we were on (I'm sure if I chose that paper would yell at me for making poor choices by choosing a tinier sized paper). And now, this bitch doesn't trust me to write general bullet points, but that I have to write every single thing that comes out of her mouth "knowing that I wouldn't he able to remember". My neck feels painful from all my depressed head falls trying to avoid her gaze.

I've decided, when I earn enough money, I will move out. Whether it's renting an apartment or buying a down payment for home. I'm done being berated at and being a target punching back for all that she has to take in for her ridiculous family. I feel ashamed to be associated with them, and I feel stuck to be here with them, especially the bitch herself.

[deborahmorrishometeam]

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