#aisle 13 - real estate

[theevangelion]

Soulmates: Chapter XXVII

(Previous Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)

Months had passed.

The time did to her what it was always going to do. It got harder, everything and nothing, to catch her breath on the stairs, to find the energy to open the highlighter palette and care about those things. She did, but not because she cared all that much anymore. Cat went through the motions because it kept her entirely her own creature.

The cells were dividing uncontrollably, spreading, taking up the real estate of healthy tissue, but it couldn’t metastasise through the grit of who she felt to be as a person. Cat felt that so long as she painted her nails, kept moving her hair in certain ways, caring about things that no longer mattered, then she wasn’t losing any fights worth talking about.

Time at home became sporadic and rarer, but the room at the hospital had the view, and when she opened her eyes from sudden little bouts of sleep, the sight of the city took her with a certain fondness.

Catherine Grant had conquered something far bigger than this battle.

So what if she was losing?

If she felt grateful for anything then it was Kara’s lack of fuss and dramatics. Cat had imagined it, felt it to be a certainty, that the longer time went by doing what time was always going to do, Kara would somehow devolve and find herself in worser straits than she was this time last year.

Today Cat awoke to soft bristles on her cheeks.

“Lips,” Kara instructed as though it were nothing. “There we go. Figured I would save you a job.” She capped the lipstick and put it back in Cat’s purse.

“Thanks,” Cat rubbed her lips.

“Which dress?” Kara showed her a centre fold in a wedding brochure. “Well, not one of these specifically, but which neckline? Which style?”

“None of them.” Cat adjusted herself in the pillows and pushed up. She looked to the side, then the other side, patting around. A moment later, Kara handed her glasses almost automatically. Cat put them on and looked closer. “These are too much for you.”

“Not to be arrogant but I am marrying Lena Luthor,” Kara murmured.

“Not price.” Cat struck her arm with the magazine as though she were an idiot. “It’s too much lace, too much fabric. You don’t want to walk down the aisle on your wedding day feeling like the dress is wearing you—it needs to be simple.”

“Simple like…?” Kara waited for an example.

“Pass me my phone.” Kara did as she was told. It took a few moments, typing, scrolling, finding something that she had already looked at but didn’t want to tell Kara that part. “Here, something like this.”

When Kara took the phone and looked at the screen. Cat watched her expression, analysed it, hoping for something positive, unbothered if it was a frown. She knew her taste was the right taste. Whether Kara agreed was largely irrelevant. Her wedding day—her ugly dress.

“Cat this is beautiful,” Kara whispered.

The dress was vanilla silk, calf-length, quite plain with thin straps, but it had rouging—folds of fabric slightly off-centre at the waist—that drew in the shape and brought attention to the right dips, modest, yet showing off the curve of hips on the model.

In Cat’s mind she imagined Kara wearing the dress, with a very small and clean bouquet of pink flowers, rose gold simple bangle and matching earrings, with small drop diamonds—or maybe white flowers and dark sapphire earrings. Cat ran through different variations, different ideas of Kara on her wedding day, though none of them felt as though she were imagining herself at the alter too.

Cat was thinking about it purely because it mattered to Kara.

Her taste was the best taste when it came to such things.

“The designer has a store a few blocks from here.” Kara’s eyes went wide as she noticed. “I’ll have to call. See if I can get an appointment, what are you doing—” Cat was already pulling herself out of bed.

“What do you think I’m doing?” Cat quirked her brow and pulled out the canula. “Pick your dumb face up off the floor and pass me something to wear.”

Kara didn’t fight or argue, it felt as though they were passed all of that now. She just sighed and rolled her eyes, went along with it anyway, biting and annoyed yet still driving the car while Cat reeled off directions from her phone.

Lena Luthor’s fiancé or not, Kara would never get a priority appointment with a designer like this. Catherine Grant had keys to locked doors in the city. Cat knew it but didn’t say anything, partly because she was being nice, partly because…

She wanted to see Kara in the dress.

She was glad for it.

An hour later, Kara was wide-eyed and staring at herself in the mirror. She had the look on her face, the way Cat imagined she had the look on her face when she tried on that navy blue dress for the gala. Kara looked at herself as though she were beautiful, objectively, in a way she could believe, in a way she could see with her own two eyes.

Cat was inclined to agree.

In her heart, there were so many different versions of herself, and they were persistent but not constant. Cat looked at Kara, and in Cat’s heart there was a twenty-five-year-old version of herself feeling things and thinking thoughts that bore no sense in this reality. Cat didn’t force them away or shove them out this time. She just smiled, did the right thing, and told Kara how well it suited her.

“Can I—” Kara looked between the store assistants. “Can we put this on hold? I’ll call my fiancé and see what she thinks. We could come by this weekend and purchase it.”

Without meaning to, Kara showed herself to be the wrong kind of clientele. The assistants were polite and nice, agreeing, nodding, but they wouldn’t hold a dress like this. People who could afford to buy dresses like this didn’t need to convene and think it over.

“We’ll take it.” Cat produced her card.

“Cat don’t do that.”

“In wax paper, not a bag.” Cat made specifications and took over. “What shoes do you have in the shade? No. Those ones are closed toe—it’s a spring wedding.”

“Cat,” Kara bristled under her breath and looked uncomfortable. “It’s fourteen thousand dollars.”

“Mhm.”

“Cat!” Kara bristled.

“Shut up,” Cat said softly and signed the purchase. “Shut up. Stop, be quiet.”

It was something and it was nothing.

She had seen her soulmate in her wedding dress, one that she paid for.

She knew she wouldn't be there for the day.

[akampana]

Lantoria/caster gil domestic 2 love 12 and 14

Caster Gil x Lartoria Modern AU

there's no 14, so i think you meant 13? so i answered it below :>

edit: I put it under a cut because apparently its an essay

Domestic 2: What’s the wedding like? Who attends?

The wedding? Nah fam, they had two weddings.

One was a whole grand spectacle. The most expensive wedding planners. Luxury event planners. The The all-star Guest list. The endless line of limousines being hounded by paparazzi, and the equally ridiculous number of private security vans lining the streets. They had to close down the surrounding avenues to traffic because everyone and I mean everyone wanted to see the heads of the two corporations wed and to secure the coveted exclusive invitation inside. The whole thing was blasted across all channels, the whole earth and maybe even the moon could see it.

Nobody inside earned less than a million, not even the caterers (It was rumored that what Tamamo was paid could give her an early retirement, even if she split it with EMIYA). Heck there were suits and gowns on the guests that cost at least that much. Ozy and Nefertari certainly didn't skimp on the budget, and certainly not on their multi-million dollar wedding gift.

The entire span of talent on the guest list nearly made the events planners faint, because how was one event supposed to house that many artists, corporate heads, and even musicians? Even fricking Iskandar flew all the way from North Macedonia, and the real estate giant alone could drink as much wine as three tables. Then there was that pesky Da Vinci, that had to be seated somewhere far away from the electrical boxes lest they end up putting a fire show on by accident.

Arturia walked down a rather bedazzled aisle in a wedding dress probably just as expensive as the construction of the building lobby. It was a dress that hugged her curves and swayed when she walked, handmade by their trusty designer Medea. It was an ornate white gown embellished with what was rumored to be actual diamonds and not the usual crystals. Her veil had a bridal train that extended to a ridiculous length past her glass-like heels, but she didn't struggle one bit as Kay walked her down the red carpet aisle to meet Gil at the end.

He had his hair slicked back for the first time in a while, smirking as he let her upstage him. He couldn't blame the world for being so mesmerized by her beauty. He certainly was.

For the press and publicity, his suit was similarly designer-made, an exact match to Arturia's dress. Medea had been given creative liberty, and had sewn patterns reminiscent of his home country into the fabric with guidance from Ninsun and her appointed scholar.

It was a very public wedding, with very rehearsed albeit still genuine vows and a kiss that broke the internet several times over. Not to mention every big name that attended and managed to get photos was instantly flooded with online traffic.

To sum it up. It was a publicity stunt. Very loving, yes, as Gil never skimped on outlining how worthy his queen was in his eyes, but it was still a publicity stunt. And it worked. Sales received a predicted boost for the next three years, and the handpicked big names that attended benefited as well.

But the only guests who got to attend both parties were Ozy and his spouse. Their actual wedding took place in a much more private space.

In fact, it happened right in the comfort of Gil's home. He still kept it after he moved in with Arturia, converting the place to a vacation house. They dressed it up a little for the event, invited a few friends in discretion as well as invited a municipal judge to officiate.

Gil's parents, Siduri, and of Course Enkidu were there, while Arturia's Table, Kay, and Merlin occupied the other side.

This time, Arturia wore a simpler gown which Merlin was in charge of, one that was both light and elegant. Her veil was simpler, held in place by a tiara of sapphires her weird uncle convinced her to sport.

Gilgamesh wore an outfit of his choosing, commissioned from local designers from his home country. They managed to incorporate his favorite gold into the fabric, constructing an outfit that was very 'him'. As a reference to his wife, he traded his earrings for studs with sapphires, a tiny present from Ozy.

They officially tied the knot in Gilgamesh's courtyard, Arturia pulling him forward into a kiss as soon as he said "I do".

it was accompanied by whoops and cheers from their small crowd and followed by a luxury dinner, courtesy of EMIYA. Lots of Champagne bottles were cracked open, there were wedding cake shenanigans, but most importantly: the couple got to be comfortably happy surrounded by people that legitimately cared about them.

Love 12: What kind of nicknames do they call each other?

I know this isn't all that unique, but Gil calls her 'My Queen'. (im a sucker for it, okay dont come for me hahahaha) But also, he adopted a habit that he can't shake after they tied the knot. When referring to her when talking with others he very proudly says 'my wife'. Not Miss Pendragon, not Arturia, he says my wife and says it at every opportunity.

He used to give off an extremely intimidating aura, but it breaks every time the phrase crosses his lips because he smiles a little.

Arturia doesn't call him any nicknames apart from Gil and the ocassional "my husband". ofc in the bedroom that's a little differe--

Love 13: Who remembers the little things?

Siduri.

Hhaahah, no, I'm just kidding. Siduri takes note of the more generic things like Valentines' Day and she helps with planning, but Gilgamesh is the one who remembers the little things.

There aren't a lot of people in the world Gil gives two shits about, but for his precious few, he knows everything. He's accumulated lots of knowledge on them over the years.

He knows Arturia's favorite flowers are Stargazer Lilies, he knows she's not one to wear lots of gems but she appreciates muted pieces, he knows she likes a cream but no sugar in her coffee, he knows when she's slept too late because of a slight slouch in her posture. He remembers the exact day they first went out, he still asks her out every year on that date.

Arturia, on the other hand, knows that he's observant, and takes advantage of it with little surprises. Gil can usually tell when something is out of place or new, so she leaves him letters, or flowers, or extra dark chocolate.

Thank you for the ask!

Ask meme

[argylemnwrites]

Why Are We Still Waiting? - Chapter 2

Pairing: Drake Walker x MC (Riley Liu)

Book: The Royal Romance (It Couldn’t Wait Another Moment universe)

Word Count: ~4900

Rating: PG-13 (language)

Summary: A trip back to Cordonia, meeting someone new... just not the new person they thought they would be meeting.

Author’s Note: Well, I’ve utterly failed at posting this with any semblance of regularity, but... it’s back. And I’m trying to get back in the habit of more consistent editing/writing (so things don’t take me five times as long because I am rusty). We left Drake and Riley engaged, but with a postponed wedding due to Savannah and Bertrand’s unplanned pregnancy. They just recently had their second child, a little girl, and Drake and Riley are off to Cordonia to meet their niece. To catch up on this series, you can check out the It Couldn’t Wait Another Moment masterlist (link in bio).

Drake twisted slightly, stretching out his back as he waited for the rows ahead of them to exit the plane so he could stand up and finally move his legs. He’d gotten more used to flying coach in the past couple of years, but that still didn’t exactly make it a comfortable or enjoyable experience. But there was obviously no way that they could make the trip to Cordonia a few times a year if they didn’t keep the flights as cheap as humanly possible.

As soon as he could, he shifted into the aisle, handing Riley her coat from the overhead bin before grabbing his own jacket and their duffle bags. And then they were off, shuffling through the airport, over to immigration, then off to baggage claim and customs.

Drake pulled out his phone as soon as he and Riley and their luggage were cleared. It was odd that Bastien hadn’t responded. He had texted him when they landed. It had become their habit over the past couple of years. Since Drake had sold his car, having Bastien take it to a dealership for him a few months after he permanently vacated his old quarters at the palace and putting the money towards some furniture for their new apartment, Liam had let him just borrow a car from the palace garage to use during his trips. With expedited immigration and customs, giving Bastien a head’s up when they landed in Cordonia usually worked out pretty perfectly with time, with Bastien waiting for them in short term parking by the time they got out, keys in hand.

But today, he hadn’t confirmed that he’d even seen the text. It was strange. Drake was just about to give him a call, when Riley nudged him with her elbow. 

“Look,” she said, pointing across the concourse. There was a tall man ahead of them, wearing a navy sweater, a pair of jeans, and a bright blue baseball hat pulled very low, almost entirely hiding his dark hair. He was holding a sheet of paper that said “Walker/Liu,” but he wasn’t looking for them. In fact, he was clearly avoiding eye contact with everyone.

Drake just shook his head as he smiled. He should have known.

“Real subtle, Your Majesty,” Drake said as soon as they were close enough that he could drop his voice and still be heard by Liam.

Liam’s head jerked back and forth. “Not so loud!” he hissed out.

“You look so suspicious right now. You know that, right?”

“I’m trying to keep a low profile,” Liam said, shaking his head as he welcomed Drake’s loose hug.

“By doing what, dressing vaguely casual and then acting like someone who is terrified of being picked up by security?” Drake stepped back, shaking his head yet again.

“It’s not that bad.”

“No, Drake’s right. At JFK, you would have been carted off for an interview in some secret back room already,” Riley added before giving Liam a hug herself.

“I used to think your snark was rubbing off on her, but now I’m pretty sure I had that reversed,” Liam said over Riley’s shoulder towards Drake, earning himself a little shove and an eye roll as Riley stepped back. “Come on, let’s get out of here before I get recognized.

The three of them strolled out of the airport into the crisp winter air, the sun bright and blinding even as Riley shivered and handed Drake her duffle bag so that she could put on her coat.

“So what did we do to earn a ride in the royal motorcade?” Drake asked once they were clear of the crowds and vehicles in the drop off zone.

“I thought it might be a fun surprise.”

There was something in Liam’s tone that gave Drake pause. It was just a little too falsely cheery and rapid. There was something he wasn’t telling them. “And?”

He let out a little sigh, “And your mother and aunt decided to stay two extra nights, so they aren’t leaving until tomorrow.”

“Oh,” said Riley, “and who made the call that Leona and I shouldn’t be under the same roof?”

“That’s not the case, Riley,” Liam said with a shake of his head. “Bertrand wanted me to relay a message that you will always be an honorary Beaumont, and that therefore you are always welcome at Ramsford.”

Drake glanced over at Riley to find her already gazing his way. She raised her eyebrows and rolled her eyes, and all Drake could do was shrug. Riley and his aunt had clashed pretty intensely during her first trip down to Texas, and things had only gotten worse the next two visits. It was clear someone decided that Riley and Leona shouldn’t be allowed to run into each other if it could be avoided, and Drake didn’t exactly disagree with that thought process. 

"Right," said Riley, “because I'm sure me snapping at her judgemental ass would be much appreciated."

Liam glanced back at Drake, clearly looking to him to see if it was fine to speak candidly. He still was getting used to the fact that Riley didn't need things tied up in a pretty diplomatic bow and honestly preferred blunt assessments. Drake got the sense that Liam still almost felt like it was a trap at times, so used to courtly politics being the norm with everyone but Drake himself. But Drake just gave him a little nod. Riley was self-aware enough of the nature of her relationship with Aunt Leona that she didn’t need Liam to dance around it.

“Well, Maxwell did mention that he thought that… that Caroline might be making enough noise for the estate and there wasn’t a need to add to it.”

Drake let out a chuckle at that, watching as Riley rolled her eyes but otherwise had no reaction. He was pretty sure she vented to Maxwell about his family on occasion, so it wasn't exactly surprising that he was the one who had decided any meetings between Riley and Leona should be avoided if possible. Liam's shoulders relaxed slightly once a few seconds passed and it was clear that Riley wasn't offended by his statement.

"So, I hope you both can forgive the last minute change of plans, but I thought you might find a night at the palace more enjoyable. I know I would like the chance to spend some time with both of you. Plus, there is… well, there is someone I would very much like you both to meet."

"What?"

"Yes. She is waiting over there, by the car."

Drake followed Liam’s gesture and saw a woman standing by a non-descript silver sedan, one of the cars kept in the palace garage for trips where a member of the royal family might need to keep a low profile. They were still far enough away that he couldn’t tell much about what she looked like. This had to be a girlfriend, right? Again, Drake looked over at Riley, wanting to see if she had the same thought. Her eyes were wide and her eyebrows almost comically raised as she mouthed, “What?” at him. Alright, so she agreed. Well, this was definitely going to be interesting.

In all their years of friendship, Drake had never met someone Liam considered to be a girlfriend. In fact, it was rare for Liam to have a girlfriend. The politics, the diplomatic implications, all that shit just made it tough. Or at least that’s what Drake had assumed. It was kind of the whole point of the social season - a safe way for members of the royal family to date.  

As they approached the car, Drake got a better look at the woman in question. She was definitely pretty, with warm brown skin, deep brown eyes, and a wide and gentle smile, even if that smile did look a little strained at the moment. That was likely due to some nerves, as she was twisting her hands in front of her waist. She was also wearing jeans and a sweater, although her sweater was yellow, and her tight curls were pushed back with some sort of sparkly headband. 

“Drake, Riley,” Liam started, standing next to her, his hand sliding along her back, "This is Iris Dertrain. Iris, these are my friends, Drake Walker and Riley Liu."

"It's nice to meet you both," Iris said, reaching out her right hand. "Liam has told me so much about you."

"Oh… uhhh, nice to meet you, too," Drake said, grasping her hand and giving it a shake. He didn't want to throw Liam under the apple truck, but he had told him nothing about this woman.

Liam stepped forward, his hands raised in front of his chest, smiling rather sheepishly. "Iris, I am afraid I haven't mentioned you to either of them."

"Why not?" She pivoted at that, yanking her hands back to her waist, her eyes wide.

Liam reached out, wrapping his hands around hers and stepping up close to her. Instinctively, Drake looked off to the side and slid backwards, giving them as much space and privacy as possible. Liam’s voice dropped off, but he still picked up a few scattered words and phrases, including “too important” and “phone calls.” After a few moments, he chanced a glance back towards them. Iris was nodding as Liam slid his hand off her cheek, so he cleared his throat. 

Iris smiled, then spun around to face Riley, reaching out to shake her hand as well, but Riley wasn’t having any of that, instead wrapping her arms around her in a loose hug.

“Sorry, not gonna do a handshake,” she said, “even if Liam decided it was best to drop you on us without any warning.”

“Riley, I-” Liam started, but she shook her head as she stepped back from Iris.

“First, you change our travel plans by barring us from Ramsford for the night, then you spring a girlfriend on us. Are you trying to make my life hell? You know how he is with the unexpected,” she said, cocking her head towards Drake.

“Hey! I can handle surprises!”

Both Riley and Liam laughed openly at that, which annoyed Drake. Not so much because he thought Riley’s assessment of him was inaccurate, but more because of how much pure glee she and Liam seemed to take in teaming up against him these days. He kind of understood that it was natural, given that they were the two people who knew him best… but still. Oh well, if anything it proved that over the years, Riley and Liam had settled into a comfortable friendship that was their own. And that was something Drake would gladly pay the price of some light ribbing for when it came down to it.

After loading the luggage into the trunk and climbing into the car, they headed off towards the palace. Even though the drive wasn’t that long, Drake was infinitely grateful that Riley was steering the conversation. If it had just been him with Liam and Iris, it would have undoubtedly been stilted, awkward, and formal, no matter how hard Liam would have tried to make things feel natural. But Riley knew how to put people at ease, to keep things flowing.

“So, did Liam have a secret social season he hid from us and the media? Or did you guys meet in a more normal way?”

Iris let out a little laugh at that. “I was one of the teacher representatives on the educational council.”

“So you’re a teacher?”

“Used to be. Now, I work mostly as an administrator, deciding on curriculum changes, making sure schools in different regions are reaching their goals, that sort of thing. That’s why I was on the council - I was lobbying for increased funding so that we could work on reducing classroom sizes in Portavira.”

“Do you miss teaching?”

“Sometimes. I was a science teacher, and there are points when I miss getting to guide my students through experiments, to get to see minds literally learning concepts first hand. But… I taught 12 to 14 year olds, and I do not miss the interpersonal drama that was always brewing between them.”

Riley laughed at that. Even though she was seated behind him, Drake could just picture the way her head was tossed back, her eyes narrowed. It was her genuine laugh, not her fake, customer service laugh. It seemed like with each trip back to Cordonia, the real laugh came out more and more.

“So was it their shitty adolescent angst that pushed you into the admin side of things?”

Riley’s question drew another chuckle from Iris. “No, I’m tougher than that. I just felt like I could do more, make a difference for more students by working for systemic changes. Luckily, we live in a country where our political leaders listen to teachers about how best to educate our children.”

Drake glanced over to Liam, who was smiling broadly at Iris’s comment. “Only a fool would think that he knows everything just because he holds a position of political power.”

“See, I’m lucky.” said Iris.

Somehow, Liam smiled even wider at that. Drake suspected that if asked, Liam would say he was the lucky one.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Riley spun on the couch in the private lounge, swinging her legs up onto the cushions as she took the glass of whiskey Drake offered her and leaned up against his side as he sat back down. Liam and Iris were on the couch across from them, although Riley could tell that Iris wasn’t as relaxed as the rest of them. Sure, she had loosened up a lot over the evening, but there was still this edge of fearing that she didn’t belong in a palace, that she was going to mess this up. It was a feeling Riley knew well.

Of course, Riley could tell that Iris’s fear was not quite the same as the anxiety she had carried during that fateful social season. At first, it had been this belief that she was going to fuck up so badly, let her brash, judgemental, potty-mouthed self shine through, and get kicked out, a joke who was sent packing back to nothing, not even her shitty job since she’d quit that on a whim to fly to a country she’d never heard of before. As time went on, her fears had grown to losing the closest people she had to genuine friends by falling for the wrong guy. She had been a ball of mad nerves by the night of Liam’s coronation.

But Iris’s fears seemed to be centered more on Liam himself. She kept glancing towards him, almost as if she was afraid she was going to let him down or make things difficult for him. It was so much kinder and more selfless than Riley had ever behaved with Liam. It was very sweet to see. 

Liam was equally sweet in response, which wasn’t surprising at all. He could definitely sense her remaining traces of nervousness, as he frequently reached over to hold her hand or to run his hand along her back. It was part of the reason Riley was going for a little more PDA than she would normally be comfortable with  - she wanted them to feel comfortable with their level of PDA.

Iris took a sip of her wine before noticing what Riley was drinking. “Wait, I’m the only one here not drinking whiskey?”

Riley cocked an eyebrow at her. “I’ve always been a hard liquor sort of girl.”

Iris shook her head before drinking a little more of her wine. “I’ve never really had the stomach for it. I can do those fruity cocktails, but straight liquor?” She let out a shudder at that.

“Better get used to it; it’ll be the only way to get through endless balls and galas and fundraisers for rare pigeon species or whatever is the cause du jour,” Drake quipped. Riley nudged her elbow back into his side, causing him to chuckle.

“He’s exaggerating. It’s not that horrible.”

He let out a scoff, so Riley twisted to glare at him.

“Liu, you bitched to me endlessly about how much you hated all the pomp and pretentiousness and-”

“-and she’s not me! Quit scaring her off!” Riley rolled her eyes at him before spinning back around to Iris. “You seem much less bitchy than me, so I’m sure you’ll be fine. After all, you’ve taught preteens, so that proves you are way more patient and tolerant,” she said, waving her hand in what she hoped was a reassuring way. “Who have you met so far?”

“Only Olivia Nevrakis.”

“Yikes, you really led with her?” Drake called out to Liam, causing Riley to elbow him yet again.

Liam just chuckled. “You know, she can be rather pleasant if she isn’t being antagonized endlessly.”

“Are you kidding me? She always starts it.”

Iris just gave a little shrug. “I don’t know. I only met her for one dinner, but she didn’t seem cruel or unwelcoming. And her boyfriend was quiet, but seemed nice.”

Riley felt Drake moving beside her as she leaned forward, her eyes jumping to Liam. His eyes were pinched shut as he winced, bracing for the inevitable questions.

"What the hell?"

"Olivia has a boyfriend?"

"Oh crap, was that a secret?" Iris looked horrified at her slip up, twisting around to glance at Liam.

He let out a short sigh. "Well, she hasn't gone public with him yet."

"I just thought that was only because Christopher’s divorce wasn't finalized."

Riley could practically feel the joy rolling off Drake in waves as Liam's slight wince turned into a full on grimace. 

"Olivia's dating a married man?"

Liam shook his head. "He has been separated from his wife for over a year now. And I would appreciate you two keeping this to yourselves for the moment. You know how Olivia values her privacy."

"We won't tell a soul," Riley said, nudging Drake with the side of her foot to keep him quiet.

"Sure, but Iris, what other of Olivia's dark secrets do you want to spill?" he teased, ignoring Riley's gesture, instead grinning at her when she shot him a glare. All she could do was roll her eyes.

"I had no idea that it was a secret! Oh Liam, how mad is she going to be?"

"It'll be fine; I promise you. Drake and Riley aren't going to tell anyone, right?" he asked, staring at both of them pointedly.

"Of course. We live in New York; no one cares about Cordonian gossip there," Riley said, trying to lighten the mood and calm Iris's worries.

"Besides, we like you enough to spare you from the she-devil's wrath."

Liam just shook his head. "Drake… Olivia's not that bad. She can just be… intense."

Riley nodded at that. "She’s honestly probably one of the harder ones to impress, so if you feel like she was fine with you, I don’t think you have much to worry about. Except Neville. And Madeleine if she’s still around.”

Liam shook his head. “She’s still in London. No one here has seen her for a year or so.”

“So then just Neville. Otherwise, they’re largely harmless. Just varying degrees of out of touch. Nothing a few cocktails won't help you tolerate.” Liam shook his head gently at Riley’s assessment. She still sometimes felt a little weird being completely honest about her perceptions of things in front of him. He was so kind, and she… well, she knew she judged everyone. But Liam claimed he appreciated honesty from her, and he’d never made her feel bad for sharing her thoughts, so she always made an effort not to censor herself in front of Liam. Well, not too much. He was still a king, after all.

“Well, I guess I’ll find out in a couple weeks,” Iris said, dropping her eyes to her lap and tracing her fingers along the stem of her wine glass.

Liam nodded. “You’ll do fine, love. I know you will,” he said, running his hand along her arm. “Iris will be attending the Twilight Ball at the end of the month as her first official appearance,” he clarified to Drake and Riley.

“So you’ll be going public then?” Drake asked.

“Yes, that’s the plan,” said Iris. “My letter of resignation is being reviewed by the palace PR department currently, and once I submit that, things should be clear for us."

Riley frowned at that. Iris had seemed to really love her job when she talked about it. "You're resigning?"

Iris tilted her head off to the side as she gave a little shrug. "It could be perceived as a conflict of interest. The teachers aren't going to believe I am advocating for their best interests if I am in a relationship with him. And his critics are going to accuse him of being unobjective in his policy decisions due to our relationship."

Riley felt Drake shift against her. "That's… that's a big step," he said.

Iris opened her mouth to respond, but Liam placed a hand on her knee, essentially stopping her. "Yes, it is. Iris and I have had several frank discussions about how complicated my life is, and she asked me if this would be beneficial. Neither one of us has taken this decision lightly.”

Considering how little thought Drake had put into dropping his whole life to move to New York, Riley didn’t really feel like he had a leg to stand on here, questioning Iris’s decision to leave her job for a relatively young relationship. But she also knew that Drake sometimes liked to play devil’s advocate with Liam, even if he didn’t personally disagree with Liam’s decisions. So she didn’t say anything, but instead just glanced over to Iris to see how she was handling it all.

She didn’t look too fazed, but she was squinting at Drake slightly, almost as if she was trying to read him. “Are you worried for him or for me?” she finally asked after a couple of seconds. “Because it would make sense for you to worry about him, but I don’t understand how me quitting my job would be at all harmful to Liam.”

Riley twisted around slightly to look at Drake. He gave a little shrug and took a sip of his whiskey. “Don’t want to see either of you get trapped.”

“This isn’t locking us into anything. I can go back to teaching at any time; I’m just stepping down from my more activist-like role.”

"Sure, but you're going to get a lot of media attention regardless here. Are you ready for that?"

This time it was Liam who started to speak, but Iris jumped right back in. “I can’t know for sure, of course, but I think so. I’ve given speeches and interviews before as part of my work, and while that was obviously on a much smaller scale, I never had a problem with the media.”

“And I wouldn't make this public if I wasn’t sure, Drake. You know that.”

 Drake gave a nod. “Okay then. Don’t fully trust anyone besides Liam, though.”

And that was it. Drake leaned back, relaxing fully into the couch, as Liam took a drink from his glass. Sometimes, Riley felt like they had their own little language, their private way of communicating, but she supposed that was only natural after decades of friendship. She caught eyes with Iris, looking almost bewildered at the shift of the energy in the room and gave her a little shrug. Iris smiled and raised her eyebrows. It was nice, having someone else who got to observe the weirdness that was the friendship between those two.

“Alright, so cautious and careful with the members of court. Any other tips for me on how to handle my first ball?” Iris asked.

Everyone else in the room burst out laughing at her question, erasing any last traces of tension.

“What?”

“You could not have picked two worse people to ask,” Riley said, shaking her head. “He’s just going to tell you to get drunk and avoid everyone.”

“Oh, like that wasn’t your strategy by the end as well! How many times did you just straight up steal my flask off of me because they were only offering wine and champagne?”

“I was just making sure you didn’t have to drink alone. It was simply out of concern for you that-”

“-Uh huh. Yeah.”

“Fine. To answer your question, Iris, do the exact opposite of what I did. And as long as you don’t show up in denim to the ball, you’ll be a step ahead of this one.”

“Wait, you wore denim to a formal ball?”

“Oh, not just one!” added Liam, a huge grin spreading across his face, his eyes lighting up as he stared Drake down. “Years and years of formal events saw Drake decide that denim was the most appropriate attire.”

Iris’s eyes nearly bugged out of her head. She glanced around the room, almost as if she expected someone to pop out and tell this was some massive prank.

“We aren’t kidding,” Riley said, “He and I just set the bar insanely low for you to clear. Wear a nice ballgown, don’t openly refer to other members of the nobility as ‘little bitches,’ and you should be all set.”

Iris glanced between her and Drake, the shock evident in her wide eyes.

“Yeah, so not exactly surprising we left court,” Drake said, downing the rest of his whiskey.

Iris just shook her head. “Liam told me many things about both of you, but I feel like he left out that you were so…”

“Irreverent?”

“Mad stubborn?”

“Damn foolish?”

She smiled and took a sip of her wine. “I’ll defer to your descriptions. So, I take it your wedding won’t be very formal?”

Riley felt Drake shift slightly next to her, his knee starting to fidget. “Uh no, not at all. To put things in perspective, we invited less than 25 people the first time, and we might do even less now.”

“The first time?”

“Drake and Riley ended up postponing,” Liam said, his eyes flickering over to Drake before glancing back at Iris, “They were originally set to get married this past June.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry. I had no idea! I never would have brought it up if-”

“-It’s fine,” Drake said, cutting off Iris’s apology. “Something came up with my family last minute.”

Iris looked conflicted as to how to best move on from the topic of conversation she’d innocently stumbled into. “Well, I’m sorry to hear that you had to make that choice. Have you set a new date?”

Drake tensed up at that and Riley had to hold back a sigh. If only Iris could have decided to change the subject instead of talk through it. “No, we haven’t yet.”

"Soon, though," Drake added before standing up, walking over to the side of the room to refill his glass.

Iris looked worried that she had said something horribly offensive, so Riley just gave her what she hoped came across as a reassuring smile as she shook her head lightly. “Yeah, it’s no big deal. Just something that had to happen.”

She could hear ice clinking into a glass, but she resisted the urge to spin around and see just how tense and uptight Drake was. She knew that as the months had passed by, the postponement had become more and more of a sore spot for him, that Drake was frustrated that they couldn’t just plan their wedding over again right away, that they had to save up again after losing all their deposits for a late cancellation. She just didn’t understand why he had gotten so stuck on this one thing. They still lived together, they still had a future together, and they were still getting married. Nothing had changed. Yet as the months had rolled by, the topic of their wedding seemed to just make him more and more antsy each time it got brought up. 

Part of her wondered how much of this was due to the fact that everyone else around them was making these big life changes, and much like being back at court, he felt like he was just being left off to the side. Hana and Catherine were married. Savannah and Bertrand had another baby. Back home, Luke and Nicole had just announced they were pregnant. And now Liam was in a relationship that seemed mad serious. It probably was creating this weird sense of being an outsider for him again. She was sure that had to be a factor.

Deep down, she knew it was very sweet that Drake’s frustrations largely stemmed from that fact that he just wanted to be married to her. But part of her wished he could just relax about it all. They would get married when they got married, and until then, they should just enjoy their lives together. Instead, it all seemed to just stress him out.

But until they saved up enough for new deposits and got things planned and organized again, Riley knew that she was just going to have to deal with his… moodiness around this whole topic. As he rejoined her on the couch, she placed her hand on his knee and gave it a gentle squeeze, just hoping that was enough to provide some reassurance and to calm him down. She didn’t want their entire trip to have those worries hanging over their heads. This was supposed to be a fun and happy visit, after all.

Perma: @walkerswhiskeygirl @octobereighth @kimmiedoo5 @mom2000aggie

TRR/TRH: @iaminlovewithtrr @mskaneko @axwalker @jovialyouthmusic @marshmallowsandfire @kingliam2019 @sirbeepsalot @texaskitten30 @princessleac1 @ladyangel70 @debramcg1106 @masterofbluff @sarahx206

Drake x MC: @no-one-u-know @iplaydrake

ICWAM: @thequeenchoices @sunnyxdazed​

[tabloidtoc]

National Enquirer, November 16

You can buy a copy of this issue for your very own at my eBay store: https://www.ebay.com/str/bradentonbooks

Cover: Jeffrey Epstein’s madam Ghislaine Maxwell’s nights with Prince Andrew and teen Virginia Roberts Giuffre

Page 2: Brad Pitt kicked married galpal Nicole Poturalski to the curb after getting flak from his ex Angelina Jolie -- Brad’s relationship with Nicole hit the skids after Brad decided he needed to shore up his image during his ongoing custody battle with Angie and his focus right now is to get his dad image back on track and give Angie no more ammo to fling back at him

Page 3: Tiger Woods’ romance with Erica Herman has gone off course over legal troubles and wedding pressure and bickering over where to live and Tiger is so fed up he’s considering ditching his nagging girlfriend in Florida and moving back to his native California -- Erica’s been pressuring him to put a ring on it ever since she moved into his Jupiter Island mansion and that’s something he just won’t do and she’s already taken over his household buying new furniture and remodeling the master bath and building a new closet and hiring a gourmet chef -- California is looking better and better to Tiger who only moved to Florida to play on its tough Bermuda grass which helped improve his swing but now Tiger’s ex Elin lives in Florida with their two kids 

Page 4: Miranda Lambert is scoffing at ex Blake Shelton’s newly announced engagement to Gwen Stefani and she’s convinced Blake’s third walk down the aisle has failure written all over it because she thinks Blake’s bad to the bone and this marriage will wind up being a total disaster and after the hell Blake put her through Miranda can’t imagine his life with Gwen would be any different, lifelong bachelor Simon Cowell has had a change of heart since his horrific August accident and he’s finally ready to tie the knot with baby mama Lauren Silverman -- after spinal surgery to repair his broken back the entertainment mogul feels lucky to be alive and walking and the one constant in his difficult rehab after surgery has been Lauren and he wants to pay her back with a ring 

Page 5: Train-wreck Wendy Williams’ wacky behavior has TV producers scrambling behind the scenes to find her replacement after her unhinged performance on a recent episode of her talk show where she slurred her words and rambled incoherently -- there had been a hope a chatfest helmed by Nick Cannon could be a safety net should the daytime diva who spent a stint in a sober living house last year not be able to continue hosting but plans for that were pushed back after the comic made anti-Semitic rants in a podcast -- they also tried Jerry O’Connell when Wendy was out for three weeks last year but he tanked with viewers -- Wendy’s a mess and it remains to be seen how long producers will be able to put up with her problems before they decide to pull the plug 

Page 6: Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo hinted that she may be making her final rounds -- Ellen who has starred on the show since 2005 and makes $20 million a year admitted she’s considering slipping out of her scrubs after the current season 17 but her departure could spell the end of the beloved series and show creator Shonda Rhimes has said it’s unlikely the show could continue without her but Ellen has also expressed her desire to spend more time with her husband and their three children

Page 7: Mariah Carey’s brother Morgan blasted her memoir as filled with lies and distortions and he’s considering legal action -- the book called Morgan and sister Alison her ex-brother and ex-sister and Mariah wrote Morgan had a long history of violence and when she was six he slammed their mother into a wall -- Mariah also wrote her siblings and mother were heartless in terms of dealing with her as a human being and once she got famous they started treating her like an ATM with a wig on but Morgan is fighting back and looking to hire a lawyer

Page 8: Reese Witherspoon’s marriage to Jim Toth is in the muck after the stunning collapse of his new business venture and tensions are mounting in the Hollywood power couple’s already troubled union now that the streaming service Quibi crumbled after less than six months leaving content acquisition president Jim out of work while Reese’s star continues to rise and there’s a real balance of power that’s been building up and that’s put a serious strain on the relationship -- living in quarantine added to the stress between them as Reese has been holed up with her two kids with ex Ryan Phillippe Ava and Deacon and her son Tennessee with Jim at the family’s ranch in Malibu

Page 9: Dementia patient Kenny Rogers cut his three adult children out of his $250 million will and now sources fear the late country legend could have been tricked into signing the document -- Kenny left everything to his 16-year-old twins sons with fifth wife Wanda and the will also stated it was his intent to specifically exclude his daughter Carole with his first wife and son Kenny Jr. with third wife and son Christopher with fourth wife and their issue as beneficiaries of his estate -- Kenny Sr. would never disown his own children according to the source especially since the singer’s son Kenny Jr. is incorrectly referred to Kenny Rogers III throughout the will -- the wording is not like Kenny Sr. and something is not right and his older kids are thinking about contesting the will 

Page 10: Hot Shots -- Kate McKinnon shot a Saturday Night live skit in NYC, Sophia Bush hit the road in L.A. with her co-pilot pup Maggie, pregnant Jinger Duggar Vuolo in Venice with daughter Felicity, Heidi Klum walking the streets in her native Germany, Snoop Dogg saluted young rappers as he accepted BET’s I Am Hip Hop award 

Page 11: Unwitting Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler once dabbled in the secret sex cult NXIVM -- the organization masqueraded as a self-help group but in 2017 it was exposed as a pyramid scheme for founder Keith Raniere who forced high-ranking female recruits to become his sex slaves -- in 2010 Jen and Gerry who were dating at the time wound up at one of the introductory seminars but they were turned off by the level of commitment expected and never returned -- they thought it was just a networking opportunity and had no idea what they were getting themselves into, cash-crunched Gwyneth Paltrow is facing hard times like everyone else and is looking to change her free-spending ways -- the belt-tightening caused by the coronavirus pandemic has even hit her lifestyle empire Goop causing her to shut down the London branch and make hard choices for the future -- Gwyneth may be worth $100 million but she and husband Brad Falchuk spend money like it’s going out of style on private jets they use on a whim and they own a fleet of fancy cars and pay steep salaries for staff who are at their beck and call 24/7 and it’s all draining their bank accounts -- they’re looking at making cuts across the board from personal trainers and chefs and drivers to the masseurs and beauticians who come to their house several times a week -- plus the couple believe it’s a bad look for them to be living so high on the hog when the rest of the world is suffering during the pandemic

Page 12: Straight Shuter -- Angelina Jolie spent years developing her own version of the Hollywood classic Cleopatra and now she’s livid that Gal Gadot has stolen the Egyptian queen -- Angie’s dream was to play Cleopatra the role that made Elizabeth Taylor an icon and it was to be the part that won Angie an Academy Award for Best Actress and now that’s over thanks to Gal who will be playing the Queen of the Nile instead, after ABC scrapped plans to honor Regis Philbin with a prime-time tribute Jimmy Kimmel insisted on honoring Regis on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, MSNBC talking head Rachel Maddow is fleeing New York for her Massachusetts farm after hanging a $2.3 million price tag on her NYC pad but Rachel didn’t want potential buyers looking through all the personal stuff at her apartment so all the personal pictures and books and clothing and everything else was shipped out and replaced with staged furniture, Ariel Winter and her dog (picture) 

Page 13: Ailing Joni Mitchell opened up about how she’s still struggling to get back to her old self five years after a debilitating brain bleed -- after Joni was found unresponsive in her Bel-Air home in 2015 she said she was forced to relearn everyday tasks because the aneurysm took away her speech and her ability to walk and although she’s showing slow improvement she hasn’t been writing or playing the guitar or the piano, Randy Travis is defying all the odds as he plans the greatest comeback in country music history as he is making amazing progress after suffering a massive 2013 stroke that most believed would end his career forever and he was given just 1% chance of survival and even after he pulled through doctors believed he would be bedridden and unable to speak -- instead his grueling rehab efforts have miraculously put him on the road to realizing his dream of returning to the spotlight -- some of his motivation is financial; last year he sold his Nashville home and released his memoir which was fueled by his need to pay medical expenses after years of not being able to perform

Page 14: Hollywood Hookups -- Channing Tatum and Jessie J have split again, Cole Sprouse and Reina Silva dating, Kate Beckinsale and Goody Grace split 

Page 15: Ariana Grande is raising eyebrows with her raunchy new record Positions -- the former squeaky-clean Nickelodeon star who has been dating real estate agent Dalton Gomez spouted off X-rated odes to an unnamed lover on the LP, six months after sidelining her marriage to former quarterback Jay Cutler Kristin Cavallari admitted there are good days and bad days but insisted it’s been nice to be able to focus on herself and figure out who she is now and what she ultimately wants out of life, hotel heiress Kathy Hilton is joining The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills as a friend of the main cast which includes her half-sister Kyle Richards

Page 16: Crime 

Page 17: On Drew Barrymore’s talk show a psychic guest channeled the spirit of one of the host’s former in-laws but the man in question is very much alive -- medium Anna Raimondi told Drew she sensed the aura of a judge causing Drew to burst into tears and named David a relative of her ex-husband Will Kopelman claiming he’d passed but Judge David Kopelman is alive and still going strong -- Will slammed Anna was a submental hack and said he was surprised that Drew chose to give oxygen to someone like that

Page 18: American Life 

Page 20: Cover Story -- Prince Andrew is desperate to quash explosive testimony by his pedophile pal Jeffrey Epstein’s accused madam Ghislaine Maxwell but the socialite’s second secret deposition is torpedoing his return from royal exile -- after Ghislaine danced around details of her relationship with the disgraced Duke of York in testimony released a few weeks ago Andrew is sweating bullets about her second grilling under oath which contains details of their intimate friendship and nights with Epstein’s teen sex slave Virginia Roberts Giuffre 

Page 22: Don McLean viciously slammed ex-wife Patrisha Shnier as the worst person her ever knew but in their ongoing war of words she maintains he was abusive to her -- Don is still bitter over a 2016 domestic incident at their home in Maine that landed him behind bars and led to divorce after 30 years of marriage

Page 26: Matthew McConaughey confessed he nearly turned his back on Tinseltown to be a wildlife guide like late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin -- he made a splash in a string of blockbuster rom-coms in the ‘90s and ‘00s but he was eager to move on to meatier movies and even passed on a $14.5 million paycheck in 2010 to seek more substantial roles and the struggle left him considering other careers such as a wildlife guide, Jamie Foxx has been crushed by the death of his beloved sister DeOndra Dixon who was born with Down syndrome

Page 28: Good Catch -- Bachelor stars who are still up for grabs -- Jon Hamm, Owen Wilson, Drew Carey

Page 29: Benicio Del Toro, Ryan Seacrest, Matthew Perry, some stars seem to say I do at the drop of the hat -- Larry King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Billy Bob Thornton 

Page 32: Olivia Munn was caught on camera flashing what looked like engagement bling on her left ring finger as she exited a gym following a morning workout in Los Angeles but she reportedly broke up with boyfriend Tucker Roberts last year leaving fans wondering who bought the stunning sparkler 

Page 36: Health Watch 

Page 42: Red Carpet -- Michelle Pfeiffer 

Page 45: Spot the Differences -- Allison Janney on Mom 

Page 47: Odd List 

[reylocharityanthology]

A teaser from @thirddeadlysin‘s fic, The Fire is Falling:

“Whoa,” said a deep voice in her ear, sending goosebumps shooting down her arms and neck. Hands on her shoulders steadied her for a moment, before she stepped forward out of their grasp. “Careful there. Hate to see any of these, uh, world-class items be damaged before they get home.”

Rey could already see his jerky smirk before she actually turned to face him. It was difficult to radiate pure white-hot fuck-off energy while the rest of her lunch slid painfully down her throat, but she managed. Who was this condescending ass?

“Ben Solo,” he told her, sticking out a hand approximately the size of a Life Day ham. Below his dark hair, his expression was about as readable as a Jawa monk’s mask. “Buyer for Snoke & Sons.”

Stars, no wonder he sounded like they were wading around in an open sewer. Even she had heard of Snoke’s. Notoriously high-brow, they catered to the oldest of money in Coruscant and beyond. They were everything Rey hated in the antiques business: snobby and overpriced and... a real surprise to find at an estate sale in a shabby rural Mid-Rim school gym.

“Good for you.” She ignored his hand and stepped around him, pulling out the tape measure to check the dimensions of a battered nightstand. “Slumming it, aren’t you?”

He didn’t say anything while she jotted down the measurements and peered at the listing on her phone. Nor did he say anything when she walked further down the aisle. She nudged the legs on a dinette set and hummed at the wobble before moving on. He came along behind her though. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see he had his hands shoved in his pockets as he bent slightly to look at all the same pieces she stopped at.

She spun to face him again. “Why are you following me?”

“Am I?”

The complete work will be released on February 14 as part this year’s Reylo Charity Anthology: Across the Stars.Donate by February 13 to receive your copy!

Donor FAQ | Contributors | Spread the word: reblog a promo! | See our other teasers!

[bethandryanwaller]

COVID-19 and Guelph’s real estate market. Where do buyers and sellers stand?

Beth and Ryan Waller are real estate writers for GuelphToday, our city’s main online news resource.

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

Within two weeks, the world has changed dramatically. We’re now in the face of massive closures and shutdowns, cancelled sports seasons, stock market declines and fistfights in the aisles of Costco over toilet paper. COVID-19, or the Coronavirus, has impacted everyone internationally in one way or another. But does the trickle-down of this global virus eventually impact the Guelph housing market?

Yes, it does.

But exactly how, is anyone’s guess.

There are several scenarios that could play out in the Guelph real estate market in the coming weeks and months. With Coronavirus panic and uncertainty in the market, both buyers and sellers need to wade through facts and figures to determine whether now is a good time to buy or sell.

In March alone, the Big Five banks have made a 1 per cent cut in the prime rate, which is the key benchmark that underpins variable-rate mortgages and lines of credit. The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, the federal banking regulator, also had plans to recalculate and reduce the qualifying rate on mortgages but has now put this plan on hold.

It could get more aggressive in the market

There’s no question that the Southern Ontario real estate market is in short supply of homes for sale. The Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) reports that the average price of a home has increased by almost 17 per cent or $130,000 in February alone.

In January, 60 per cent of homes sold at or above the listing price in Guelph. In February, that number increased to 63 per cent. As of March 13, 68 per cent have sold at or above the list price this month.

It’s equally hot in Guelph.

Sellers are taking the record-high sales prices from the GTA and putting their money to work in Guelph where real estate is relatively cheaper. At the same time, there are fewer sellers putting their homes on the market in Guelph for a variety of reasons.

But what if those sellers decide it’s not urgent to sell and decide to wait until the Coronavirus is behind us? Fewer homes on the market with the same number of buyers could cause an even worse housing frenzy.

Local realtors, Beth and Ryan Waller predict that the higher-end home segment in Guelph of $750,000-plus will gain market share from the other segments. In February alone, this segment represented 17 per cent of home sales versus 11 per cent in February 2019. Homebuyers in this segment that are considering selling this year may want to do so during the spring rush.

Or, the market may be flooded with supply and there are fewer buyers

An alternative scenario could be that sellers believe we are in for a recession and race to get their houses on the market in anticipation of falling prices. After all, the Guelph market has had quite a run and it’s always good to sell at the high.

At the same time, buyers may be deciding that going out in public for open houses and viewings could expose them to the Coronavirus and may decide to put their home search on hold for a few weeks. If there ends up being an increased supply and less demand, prices will rapidly decline and the competitiveness of today’s market will take a breather making it easier for buyers to get into their dream home.

If there ends up being an increased supply and less demand, prices will rapidly decline and the competitiveness of today’s market will take a breather making it easier for buyers to get into their dream home.

Or it may be business as usual

It’s quite likely that we’ll see a combination of both of these scenarios as we move into the spring market - the traditional strong period for buying and selling homes. There will be increased sellers and continued demand from out of town and local buyers. And as a result, the market will probably tread along at a more balanced, more reasonable pace than we’ve seen in the past few months.

One of the most important things to consider is the guidance of a local REALTOR® who follows the market closely. If you’re selling, a marketing plan is necessary to maximize your sale price in today’s market. If you’re buying, you should have insight into neighbourhood trends, potential buying strategies and strong negotiators working for you.

Beth and Ryan Waller are Guelph REALTORS®. You can reach them at info@bethandryan.ca or visit them at https://www.bethandryan.ca

[timespakistan]

Donald Trump impeached again WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 13: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) signs an article of impeachment against President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol on January 13, 2021 in Washington, DC. -AFP WASHINGTON: The US House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to impeach Donald Trump over his role in provoking the mob to attack Capitol Hill just days before Joe Biden’s Inauguration Day. He became the first US president in history to be impeached twice. “Today, in a bipartisan way, the House demonstrated that no one is above the law, not even the president of the United States,” Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi said afterward. The Senate will not hold a trial before January 20, when Democrat Joe Biden assumes the presidency, meaning the real estate tycoon will escape the ignominy of being forced to leave early. He is set, however, to face a Senate trial later and if convicted he might then be barred in a follow-up vote from seeking the presidency again in 2024. “Donald Trump has deservedly become the first president in American history to bear the stain of impeachment twice over,” said Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer, who in a week’s time will become Senate leader. “The Senate is required to act and will proceed with his trial.” In the House of Representatives, the only question was how many Republicans would join the lockstep Democratic majority in the 232-197 vote. At final count, 10 Republicans broke ranks, including the party’s number three in the House, Representative Liz Cheney. “I am in total peace today that my vote was the right thing and I actually think history will judge it that way,” said Adam Kinzinger, a vocal Trump critic and one of the Republicans who crossed the aisle. WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 13: A staff member prepares the article of impeachment against President Donald Trump to be signed at the U.S. Capitol on January 13, 2021 in Washington, DC.-AFP  Holed up in the White House, Trump issued a videotaped address in which he made no mention of impeachment or his ferocious attempts to persuade half the country into believing that Biden’s victory was fraudulent. Instead, the comments focused on an appeal for Americans to be “united,” avoid violence and “overcome the passions of the moment.” “There is never a justification for violence. No excuses, no exceptions: America is a nation of laws,” Trump said. But following the mayhem inflicted by his followers when they invaded Congress, fears of violence are high. Armed National Guards deployed across the capital and central streets were blocked to traffic. In the Capitol building itself, guards in full camouflage and carrying assault rifles assembled, some of them grabbing naps early Wednesday under the ornate statues and historical paintings. – Speech to mob – Trump survived a first impeachment almost exactly a year ago when the Republican-controlled Senate acquitted him of abusing his office to try and get dirt on Biden’s family before the election. This time, his downfall was triggered by a speech he delivered to a crowd on the National Mall on January 6, telling them that Biden had stolen the presidential election and that they needed to march on Congress and show “strength.” Amped up on weeks of election conspiracy theories pushed by Trump, the mob then stormed into the Capitol, fatally wounded one police officer, wrecked furniture and forced terrified lawmakers to hide, interrupting a ceremony to put the legal stamp on Biden’s victory. One protester was shot dead, and three other people died of “medical emergencies,” bringing the toll to five. Pelosi told the chamber before the vote that Trump “must go.” “He is a clear and present danger to the nation that we all love,” she said. Democratic lawmaker Ilhan Omar branded Trump a “tyrant,” saying that “for us to able to survive as a functioning democracy there has to be accountability.” But Nancy Mace, a newly-elected Republican congresswoman said that while lawmakers “need to hold the president accountable,” the speed of the impeachment “poses great questions about the constitutionality.” The top Republican in the House, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, said that while Trump deserves censure, hurriedly impeaching will “further divide this nation.” – McConnell open to impeachment – Trump, who has been stripped of his social media megaphones by Twitter and Facebook, and finds himself increasingly ostracized in the business world, is struggling to impose his message — let alone any kind of resistance. His refusal to accept any responsibility for the horrifying scenes on January 6 — including his insistence Tuesday that his speech was “totally appropriate” — has infuriated allies and opponents alike. The main question now is to what extent former Republican allies in the Senate will turn on their party’s figurehead once the Democrats take over control of the chamber. Current Senate leader, Republican Mitch McConnell, says he will not call for an impeachment trial before Trump’s January 20 exit. However, he said he is open to the possibility of voting to convict Trump in a later trial after Biden becomes president. “I have not made a final decision on how I will vote and I intend to listen to the legal arguments when they are presented to the Senate,” McConnell said. The New York Times reported Tuesday that McConnell is signaling privately that he believes Trump did commit impeachable offenses. This presents a potentially fatal shift in the ground under Trump’s feet, because it could lead other Republican senators to join in convicting Trump with the goal of turning the page in the turbulent relationship between the party and former reality TV host and real estate magnate. https://timespakistan.com/donald-trump-impeached-again/9767/

[opedguy]

Michael Cohen Sings Like a Canary

LOS ANGELES (OnlineColumnist.com), Aug. 13, 2020.--Now that 55-year-old Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) has been picked as 77-year-old former Vice President and Democrat presumptive nominee Joe Biden’s running mate, the knives have come out on both sides of the aisle.  Suddenly, 74-year-old Donald Trump’s 53-year-old former personal lawyer Michael Cohen, now serving time in house-arrest as convicted felon, has instant credibility with Democrats hoping to score points  before the election.  Like former attorney, convicted felon Michael Avenatti, the media has no shame reporting on the foreword to Cohen’s memoir about his life working for Trump as his “fixer” or personal attorney.  Whether Cohen’s book every comes out or not, his foreword raises eyebrows in the anti-Trump press talking about “golden showers in a sex club in Las Vegas.”  Cohen talks about “catch and kill conspiracies to silence Trump’s clandestine lovers,” drawing more media interest.    

         Cohen blames Trump for all his problems, especially his criminal activity that got him convicted Aug. 21, 2018 on eight counts of campaign finance violations, tax fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, taxi medallion fraud, etc, sentenced Dec. 12, 2018 to three years prison.  After reporting May 6, 2019 to prison, Cohen served a little over a years, released July 9 to home arrest at his condo in the Upper Eastside of Manhattan.  Cohen has everything Democrats and press want, more dirt on Trump less than three months before the Nov. 3 election.  “In some ways, I knew him better than even his family did because I bore witness to the real man, in strip clubs, shady business meetings, and in unguarded moments when he revealed who here really was:  A cheat, a liar, a fraud, a bully, a racist, a predator, a con man,” Cohen said, oozing revenge, not pulling any punches against his former boss.     

        Truth be told, Cohen was sentenced to three years not because of his dealings with Trump, or, as the media likes to say, campaign finance violations but because of income tax evasion, something unrelated to Trump.  Using Cohen to get the inside dirt on the real Donald Trump shows the media’s desperation for smut.  Cohen has less credibility that Avenatti, once a nightly pundit on CNN before his legal problems.  Cohen’s trying desperately to get some media attention after Trump’s 55-year-old niece Marry L. Trump released her tell-all book July 7, “Too Much and Never Enough:  How may family created the most dangerous man in the world.”  Mary sold a lot of books to the anti-Trump crowd, looking to defeat his reelection bid.  While not a convicted felon, Mary Trump misrepresents her credentials, marketing herself as a “psychologist” when she holds no state license to practice.    

         Cohen asks the public to believe him, not the 22-month, $40 million Special Counsel investigation that concluded March 23, 2019 that neither Trump nor anyone in his campaign conspired with Russia in the 2016 presidential election.  “Trump had cheated in the election with Russian connivance, as you will discover in these pages, because doing anything—and I mean anything—to ‘win” has always been his business model and way of life,” Cohen wrote.  Cohen’s wildly slanderous statements are really no different that his niece Mary or the entire industry fashioned at the New York Times and Washington Post to publish anonymously-sourced stories as long as they defame Trump.  Cohen’s perfect for both papers except for the fact that his felonies prevent him from getting published.  Cohen talked in his foreword about Trump’s attempted deals with Russian President Vladimir Putin.      

       Like Mary Trump, who joins the unethical psychiatric community led by Yale psychiatrist Dr. Bandy X. Lee calling Trump diagnostic names, Cohen insists he has firsthand information on his former boss.  “Trump had also continued to pursue a major real estate deal in Moscow during the campaign.  He attempted to insinuate himself into the world of President Vladimir Putin and his coterie of corrupt billionaire oligarchs.  I know because I personally ran that deal and kept Trump and his children closely informed f all updates,” Cohen said.  Whether or not Trump worked on a real estate deal in Moscow is certainly not illegal, even though the deal ended when he became president.  Cohen, like others, including 72-year-old former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, accused Trump of various types of nefarious activity, when their evidence was based on wild fabrication.     

        Desperate to get back in the Trump game, Cohen’s doing his utmost to peddle his rubbish to any TV, cable, radio, Hollywood producer or book agent willing to throw out their money.  No matter what Cohen’s past relationship with Trump, he’s a convicted felon eight times over, blaming Trump for his criminal conduct.  Cohen said he made a “Faustian bargain” in which his “sold his soul to the devil” and “foolishly frittered away his integrity” for the president, Cohen cleverly told the U.S. District Court before his sentence to federal prison.  Watching Cohen violate every legal ethical principle to rat out his former client is a nauseating sight to see, only one encouraged by the mainstream press and 24/7 anti-Trump cable news.  Cohen’s “foreword” shows utter desperation to get any attention from an unscrupulous anti-Trump industry looking to gain any advantage before the Nov. 3 election.

 About the Author 

 John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

[tabloidtoc]

Star, October 26

You can buy a copy of this issue for your very own at my eBay store: https://www.ebay.com/str/bradentonbooks

Cover: Reba McEntire dating CSI: Miami star Rex Linn and finding love again at 65 

Page 1: Duchess Kate Middleton stopped by England’s University of Derby to discuss students’ mental health and how the pandemic has affected their education but during her visit those watching couldn’t help but notice Kate looked more youthful than ever because of a new shorter highlighted hairstyle 

Page 2: Contents -- Demi Lovato and pal Matthew Scott Montgomery were ready to be spooked at Nights of the Jack 

Page 3: Vanessa Paradis and her daughter Lily-Rose Depp at the Chanel show during Paris Fashion Week, Tom Cruise looked a little leery filming a difficult scene on the set of Mission: Impossible 7 in Rome, Cara Santana repped boyfriend Shannon Leto’s band 30 Seconds to Mars in a sweatshirt from the group’s apparel line 

Page 5: Chrissy Metz is so smitten with her new boyfriend Bradley Collins that she’s already talking marriage and babies with her Nashville-based beau and that has alarms ringing for some of her friends about why they kept their romance totally hidden until now and since Chrissy is all-or-nothing this is way too intense for some, fans of Law & Order: SVU rejoiced when it was announced that a spinoff was in the works that would star Christopher Meloni as Elliot Stabler and the new series called Organized Crime would feature Stabler leading a task force fighting NYC’s crime syndicates but the show has been rocked by behind-the-scenes drama as first showrunner Craig Gore was axed in June and now his replacement Matt Olmstead is also out leaving the future of the show in jeopardy, after a contentious season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Denise Richards and Teddi Mellencamp are out and mainstays Lisa Rinna and Kyle Richards have proven they’re the alphas of the long-running Bravo show and now as producers are scrambling to fill out the cast one obvious contender is out of the running as Kathy Hilton has respectfully declined because her daughters Nicky Hilton Rothschild and Paris Hilton didn’t want her to do it because they felt it was a bad look for them and the family 

Page 6: Sofia Richie and Scott Disick have split but she seems to still be taking her beauty cues from her time with the Kardashian-adjacent dad of three because she has noticeably fuller lips where she had lip injections to both lips, Mariah Carey had nothing but nice things to say about Derek Jeter in her new memoir calling their relationship sensual and credits him with helping her see the value of her biracial background but Derek isn’t happy about it and he’s fed up and feels Mariah is taking advantage of him to publicize her book and it doesn’t help that Derek’s friends have been teasing him about the sexy details because he hates being made fun of; his ego can’t handle his friends ribbing him, Star Spots the Stars -- Christina Aguilera, Kaitlyn Bristowe, Travis Scott, Teddi Mellencamp, Rev Run and his wife Justine Simmons, Lindsay Arnold 

Page 8: Star Shots -- Anne Heche headed for rehearsal on Dancing with the Stars, Christina Milian and her daughter Violet, Gavin Rossdale at the beach in Malibu with his dog and a mystery woman 

Page 9: Liev Schreiber plays basketball with his son Sasha in NYC 

Page 10: Bachelor alum Catherine Lowe and her son Samuel, Reese Witherspoon jumping rope, Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles’ Tracy Tutor playing Monopoly at home 

Page 12: Johnny Weir leaving Dancing with the Stars rehearsals, Brie Larson and boyfriend Elijah Allan-Blitz on a grocery run, Alessandra Ambrosio on her way to dinner in West Hollywood 

Page 13: Selena Gomez shows her kidney transplant scar, Julia Garner filming scenes for Inventing Anna in New York City 

Page 14: Chrishell Stause heading into rehearsals for Dancing with the Stars, Johnny Depp waved to fans outside the ZFF Masters during the 16th Zurich Film Festival where he promoted Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGown, Patrick Schwarzenegger stepped out with a script in West Hollywood 

Page 15: Silver fox Jon Bon Jovi struck a pose while promoting his new album 2020 in NYC, Shia LaBeouf went for a jog in Pasadena on the same day he was charged with misdemeanor battery and petty theft following an incident that happened in June, Maisie Williams at the Chloe fashion show in Paris 

Page 16: Gwen Stefani stepped out of the studio in Woodland Hills, Chiwetel Ejiofor referred to his phone while reciting poetry on the set of the upcoming pandemic-themed dramedy Lockdown in London, Sting and his wife Trudie Styler celebrated his 69th birthday at a meal with friends in Rome 

Page 17: Sofia Vergara out in L.A., Denise Richards and husband Aaron Phypers looked carefree leaving a restaurant in L.A., Danny Trejo hung out with an adorable pooch during an appearance on Home & Family 

Page 18: Normal or Not? Machine Gun Kelly shared a glimpse of his beauty routine en route to his new cafe in Cleveland -- not normal, Eva Longoria wore a Vote t-shirt and a Biden mask during a political rally in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood -- normal

Page 19: Snoop Dogg inhaled and exhaled during his DJ Snoopadelic set at the Concerts in Your Car event at the Ventura County Fairgrounds -- normal, while grabbing a meal in Los Angeles with a bevy of beauties Billie Dee Williams enjoyed a quick grooming session too -- not normal

Page 20: Fashion -- stars get glitzy in gold -- Olivia Wilde, Leona Lewis 

Page 21: Karen Gillan, Kate Beckinsale 

Page 24: Emilio Vitolo Jr. appears to be every inch the doting boyfriend to Katie Holmes but he’s playing the field behind her back -- Emilio’s a ladies’ guy and he’s been texting a bunch of girls saying things between him and Katie aren’t nearly as serious as they seem while Katie thinks she’s in love and it’s no exaggeration to say she’s obsessed with this guy and she’s adamant they’ll elope and in her mind they’re two kindred souls destined to be together 

Page 25: Beyonce and Jay-Z are hoping to add on to their already impressive real estate portfolio as they are quietly checking out homes in Montecito in California for their family of five -- although they already own a $26 million home in New York’s tony Hamptons as well as an $88 million Bel-Air mansion the couple are hoping to put down roots in the American Riviera so their children can attend the area’s prestigious schools and Beyonce especially likes that it’s not far from L.A. and it’s clean and super private, after two years of dating Jake Gyllenhaal and Jeanne Cadieu are at odds about their future and Jake’s frustrated because the relationship is going nowhere and he’s eager to start a family but the 24-year-old model isn’t ready to put her career on hold and take that next step leaving Jake in limbo -- his most successful relationships were with women his own age with the same maturity and ambition like Reese Witherspoon and Kirsten Dunst -- while Jake remains conflicted about whether to stick it out with Jeanne or start over with someone new his friends say it’s time to move on and find someone who’s baby mama material, Jon Hamm has been considering settling down since he began dating Anna Osceolo because something about Anna is making him rethink everything from the guy who never pictured himself walking down the aisle or having children but now he and Anna are talking about marriage and a family 

Page 26: Cover Story -- Reba McEntire finding love at last -- after a string of broken hearts the country superstar has finally snagged Mr. Right actor Rex Linn  

Page 30: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s courtroom showdown -- four years after their split Brad and Angie are still duking it out over custody and now they’re prepared to bring star power to the battle -- Brad will be using every scrap of ammunition he can to fight for his kids including testimony from fellow stars and Angelina is prepared to do the same 

Page 32: Five-time rehab vet Scott Disick is caught partying in front of his kids 

Page 34: Stars’ Cheating Confessions -- sometimes all you can do is beg for forgiveness; these celebs have all had to plead their case -- Jude Law and Sienna Miller, Kevin Hart and Eniko Parrish 

Page 35: Donny and Debbie Osmond, Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith, David Letterman and Regina Lasko, Dean McDermott and Tori Spelling 

Page 38: Beauty -- add a sophisticated scent blend to your fragrance wardrobe for fall -- Kim Kardashian 

Page 40: Entertainment 

Page 48: Parting Shot -- Chris Hemsworth and wife Elsa Pataky partnered with the Global Wildlife Conservation and Wild Ark to boost the ecosystem of their beloved Australia -- the pair helped Aussie Ark release 11 Tasmanian devils into a wildlife sanctuary at Barrington Tops National Park -- the hush-hush event marked the first time the endangered marsupials whose presence can help repel pests and bush fired were returned to the mainland in 3000 years

[profbruce]

Prof Bruce real estate trivia quiz ANSWERS

If you’d like to send the quiz (sans answers) to your friends, use this link, https://profbruce.tumblr.com/post/618276969564471296/prof-bruce-real-estate-investment-trivia-quiz.

1. in which decade from 1950 to present day did mortgage interest rates reach their peak?

1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s

[21.46% peak, 2nd half of 1981]

2. what does PIT stand for?

planning and information technology

principal interest and taxes

3. how many square feet in an acre?

10,000

43,560

45,000

4. where does Archie Andrews live?

nowhere, he’s a comic book character

Rivendell

Riverdale

5. what famous real estate mogul supposedly cowrote The Art of the Deal in 1987 with journalist Tony Schwartz?

Warren Buffett

Donald Trump

Steve Wynn

6. what does “cap” rate stand for?

capitalization rate

the end cap of an aisle in a grocery store

7. can you write out the formula—how to calculate cap rates?

cap rate = AR – AP, accounts receivable less accounts payable

cap rate = NOI/FMV, net operating income divided by fair market value

8. what are the three main types of return from real estate investing?

animation

mortgage principal paydown

real estate appreciation

interest paid

cashflow

9. what does “agritainment” mean?

a new type of cash cropping

a combination of agriculture and entertainment

10. what does Warren Buffett prefer in terms of investing strategies— timing markets/buying and selling/trading or buy-hold-drive-up-value-refinance-rinse-and-repeat?

timing markets/buying and selling/trading

buy-hold-drive-up-value-refinance-rinse-and-repeat

11. what’s the difference between a partner and an investor?

a partner just wants an ROI, return on investment, while an investor wants a say in the business

an investor just wants an ROI, return on investment, while a partner wants a say in the business

12. what’s the best/optimal number of partners to have?

1 in a 50/50 deal

1 in a 51/49 deal

more than 1

zero

13. why do so many municipalities want to ban tiny homes?

because they’re unsafe

because they can’t be assessed for property taxes (because they’re on wheels) and NIMBY neighbors may complain

because they’re too small to live in year-round

14. how long does it take to pay off an interest-only mortgage?

20 years

25 years

30 years

never

15. In Scotland, folks paint their front doors red:

a) to ward off evil spirits,

b) because they’ve paid off their mortgages or

c) to celebrate Scotland Independence Day?

16. in what town did Fred and Wilma Flintstone live?

Bedrock

Bedford Falls

17. what is glamping?

glamorous camping

a new form of mountaineering

18. what is the High Line?

the 12.9 km (9 mile) Confederation Bridge joining Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island and Cape Jourimain, New Brunswick

a 1.45-mile-long elevated linear park in NYC, developed on a former New York Central railroad spur on the west side of Manhattan and now the no 1 tourist attraction in New York

19. what is a “garden level suite?”

a home with French doors opening up at grade into a garden

a lower level or basement in-home suite with its own separate entrance from the street first made popular in inner-city brownstone designs in Brooklyn New York in the late 1880s and early 1900s

20. what is the one neighborhood in Ottawa Canada that does not allow coach houses or in-home apartments?

Westboro

Rockcliffe Park

Rothwell Heights

Wuthering Heights

21. how did Gustave Eiffel get his Paris tower approved in the 1880s over the NIMBY objections of the “Committee of 300” (one for each meter of the tower’s height) who described the project this way, “…imagine for a moment a giddy, ridiculous tower dominating Paris like a gigantic black smokestack, crushing under its barbaric bulk—Notre Dame, the Tour de Saint-Jacques, the Louvre, the Dome of les Invalides, the Arc de Triomphe, all of our humiliated monuments will disappear in this ghastly dream?”

by bribing the mayor of Paris

by falsely promised that the Eiffel Tower would only stand for 20 years after the 1889 Exposition Universelle

by suing the Committee of 300

22. what does NIMBY stand for?

not in my backyard

no is my best yes

23. what does PIMBY stand for?

prevention in my backyard

please in my backyard

24. what are the three main ways to appraise/value property?

on the basis of comparables (what other properties of comparable type in similar locations sold for recently)

by examining its cost to complete (or replacement cost less accumulated depreciation)

by asking neighbors what they think

on an income basis (by dividing its NOI (net operating income) by the applicable, market-set, cap rate)

by asking your accountant for his/her opinion

25. can you select buyer conditions you might see in an agreement of purchase and sale—the things a buyer might want to check before buying property—from this list?

finance

title search

environmental report

building/plumbing/electrical/structural inspections

pre-consultation with the city (to check on things like zoning and development potential)

approval by buyer’s attorney

review of leases/management agreements/chattels/fixtures/inventory/survey/building plans/property tax assessments/operating costs/utilities etc

insurance

examination of all deliveries

approval by seller’s attorney

Cheers,

Prof Bruce 

FOR REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT AND BUSINESS COACHING THAT’LL HELP YOU PROVIDE FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY FOR 3-GENERATIONS, PLEASE CONTACT:

Bruce M Firestone, B Eng (civil), M Eng-Sci, PhD Real Estate Investment and Business coach Century 21 Explorer Realty Inc broker Ottawa Senators founder 613-762-8884 bruce.firestone@century21.ca brucemfirestone.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/profbruce https://brucemfirestone.com/blog/ profbruce.tumblr.com/archive https://www.youtube.com/user/ProfBruce/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/reiroi https://bruce-firestone.c21.ca/

BOOK YOUR FREE CLARITY CALL WITH PROF BRUCE NOW, https://brucemfirestone.com/coaching/prof-bruce-real-estate-investment-and-business-coaching/talk/

• MAKING IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE • FREEDOM VIA REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT AND PB4L, PERSONAL BUSINESS FOR LIFE • FEHAJ, FOR EVERY HOME A JOB, FEJAH, FOR EVERY JOB A HOME • MAKE YOUR HOME WORK FOR YOU, INSTEAD OF YOU WORKING FOR IT • HIGHER ROI NOT JUST FOR OWNERS AND INVESTORS, BUT FOR TENANTS, GUESTS, VISITORS, NEIGHBORHOODS, COMMUNITIES, TOWNS, VILLAGES, CITIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT TOO

image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Game_Show.jpg

[funnypqpcom]

Finding the Perfect Church

Richard Silver is a photographer with a very panoramic style for capturing amazing images of Churches with stunning architecture.

Cathedral of the Holy Name in Mumbai

His method involves taking several composite photographs of a structure and perfectly blending them together to provide an impressive view of an entire building’s interior structure and design.

Matthias Church in Budapest

Each image is built using between 6 and 10 photographs which combine to create a vertical panorama that offers an incredible view of an entire building’s interior.

St. Andreas in Dsseldorf

Silver has come across many churches in his time as a photographer, yet never truly understood a way to capture the entire beauty of their interior in one image.

Church of St. Stephen : Church of St. Paul the Apostle

That was until recently that is, and it’s hard to deny he has stumbled onto an amazing way to capture the extravagant beauty within the buildings of worship.

Hallgrmskirkja Iceland

“Finding the perfect location in the center aisle then shooting vertically from the pew to the back of the church gives the perspective that only architecture of this style can portray,”

says Silver.

A New York Native himself, Silver has only recently taken up photography full time in 2011 after working in computer science and real estate.

A born traveler, he has visited 75 countries so far, with an impressive 13 of these visited last year alone.

His website and social media showcase the impressive selection of churches he has snapped.

Over the last few years he has added more works to his website and social media and they are fantastic.

He also started selling these masterpieces and ships them internationally too!

Which of these images do you like? What do you think of his work?

Have a a comment ? Leave in the section below….

The post Finding the Perfect Church appeared first on Funny Pictures, Quotes and Posts.

source https://funny-pictures-quotes.com/travel/finding-the-perfect-church/

[flynncenter]

Not Just a Stage

This article was commissioned and paid for by Pomerleau Real Estate and published in Seven Days on April 8, 2020.

You can’t see a show right now at Burlington’s Flynn Center; the coronavirus pandemic shuttered the city’s iconic performing arts theater on March 13. The lovingly restored art deco hall is empty.

The nonprofit organization that runs the Flynn had to lay off 90 percent of its workforce, according to Kevin Titterton, director of marketing and communications. That includes the stage crew, box office staff and numerous arts educators; the organization hopes to bring many of them back once performances resume. “It’s a little grim right now, to be honest,” he said in a phone interview.

One source of comfort: The Flynn has overcome adversity, including two destructive floods, before. As we all stay home contemplating what our post-pandemic lives will look like, it’s helpful to consider how the renowned cultural center—now a 1,411-seat theater, a 180-seat cabaret space, an art gallery, two education studios and a wide variety of educational programs for Vermont students—came to be.

ACT ONE

Opened in 1930, the Flynn initially hosted vaudeville acts and what its first souvenir program called “sound pictures.” According to that program, the Flynn was richly appointed: “Luxurious carpets of deep pile, into which footsteps sink . . . Terrazzo, inlaid with brass strips, covers the floors of the lobby and men’s smoking room.”

By the 1970s, though, its glamour had faded. The Flynn had become a down-at-the-heels movie theater showing “adult” films. “Tawdry” is the adjective former executive director Andrea Rogers used to describe it at that point.

The effort to restore and improve the downtown landmark came from the all-volunteer Lyric Theatre, which had begun producing shows on the Flynn’s neglected main stage in 1974. The University of Vermont donated its expertise in historic preservation; the funding came largely from local businesses. When the nonprofit Flynn Theatre for the Performing Arts was formed in 1980 to buy the building, lawyer John Gravel was chair of the board; Ernest Pomerleau of Pomerleau Real Estate was vice chair. In addition to their own contributions, they leveraged a game-changing donation of $150,000 from IBM.

LOCAL PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES WILL RALLY TO RESURRECT THE FLYNN—NOT NATIONAL RETAILERS LIKE WALMART OR AMAZON.

On September 26, 1981, the Flynn hosted an opening gala featuring performances by the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, the Ketch Dance Company and Lyric Theatre. The event program listed donors large and small, along with the members of at least a dozen volunteer committees. And it was packed with ads from local businesses—Pizzagalli Construction, Expressions, Michael Kehoe, the Rusty Scuffer, Lake Champlain Ferries, the Shoe Horn, Nan Patrick, Champlain Cable Corp., Nectar’s.

In the same program, Rogers acknowledged the “exciting moment, this rebirth” while preparing the local audience for improvements still to come: “The marquee and the front entrance have been lovingly painted and restored, and we’ve brought in lots of props to make the lobbies look and feel elegant. But the performers still have no dressing rooms, no bathrooms, no proper lighting, and the technical crews are working with 1930s rigging.”

ACT TWO

That dream had to be delayed longer than expected. Just a few months after the opening, on a cold January night in 1982, the building’s boiler failed, triggering the sprinkler system. Rogers rushed to the scene early the next morning. “When we went into the theater, there was water in the orchestra pit, water raining down from the beautiful light fixtures,” she recalled.

It was a major setback, for sure, and cruelly timed. But the local community rallied. People who had already given generously to the restoration eff ort reached back into their pockets—and hearts—to donate money and time to make the needed improvements. Two months after the damage, the Vienna Boys Choir performed to a sold-out crowd. It was the first of many shows that have moved Vermont audiences to their feet and put the state on the cultural map. Rogers led the organization until she retired in 2010.

Restoring the Flynn’s marquee in the 1980s

Her successor, John Killacky, stayed for eight years; he’s now in the Vermont legislature representing South Burlington. What Killacky loved most was seeing schoolchildren visit for student matinees, “especially the little ones, their little heads just poking over the tops of the seats.” He remembered watching a pair of students walking up the aisle on their way out of a show. “Those were real live people up there,” one said to the other. “I thought, ‘That person’s world has just been changed by the Flynn,’” he said.

TO ME, THE ARTS ARE WHERE HOPE LIVES. John Killacky, former Flynn Center executive director

Those young people sometimes return. Killacky recalled watching Grace Potter perform in October 2011 for “Goodnight Irene: A Flood Benefit.” The Waitsfield native told the audience she attended shows at Flynn as a child and imagined herself up on the stage someday. “She said, ‘I’m so glad to be able to be here and to give back,’” Killacky recalled.

That same giving spirit will help Vermonters get through this hard time. Local people and businesses will rally to resurrect the Flynn—not national retailers like Walmart or Amazon.

It’s vital work, according to Killacky.

“To me,” he said, “the arts are where hope lives. For 90 years, the Flynn has delivered inspiration to millions of Vermonters. I can’t wait for the lights to go on again.”

[billehrman]

Trump Makes Moves: The Ultimate Negotiator

Besides North Korea, the other major issue holding back the financial markets is Trump himself.  Will he go to war with North Korea? Will he be impeached? Will he pass any of his pro-growth, pro-business agenda: tax reform, infrastructure and trade? Will he overturn and replace Obamacare? Will he build a wall and restrict immigration including DACA? Will he leave NAFTA and the Iran nuclear deal? Will he be a one-term President? And finally, will the Republican Party lose control over the Senate and House?

Trump has been President for ten months although it may seem like a lifetime to many. We are getting a clear view of Trump’s negotiating tactics as President. He takes an extreme position on virtually everything (except tax reform), threatens to or actually uses executive orders, like Obama did, to ram them through while offering a bone for those willing to negotiate a more moderate deal. He is using the proverbial carrot and stick.

How all of this will end is hard to predict; but one thing is sure: elections are in the Fall of 2018. Unless Congress negotiates and acts on many of the major issues facing this country, politicians from both sides of the aisle run the risk of losing office. Hence the Republicans could lose control of Congress. So will Republicans defect and vote against Trump? Will the Democrats continue to be the minority being considered obstructionists? Herein lies the dilemma as well as the opportunity for something to finally happen in DC. The status quo is no longer acceptable. Change is a-coming.

Trump rally? Not yet as the glass is half empty. Most investors remain on the sidelines as evidenced by the trillions stashed in money market funds earnings next to nothing and most active managers are under-invested by a mile. So I again say “What if?” as the odds of passing parts of Trump’s pro-growth, pro-business policies are rising. Especially tax reform and an infrastructure program. And don’t forget that regulatory relief is a fact happening every day. Trump’s choice to lead the Federal Reserve will be a tip for the next major stage in financial reform. Will it be Jerome Powell or Kevin Warsh? We should know in a month or so.

The backdrop for the financial markets continues to be excellent as global growth is clearly accelerating without inflationary pressures; the monetary authorities remain one step behind until they see inflation begin to lift towards 2%; interest rates remain incredibly low for this stage in global economic recovery although the yield curve has finally begun to steepen and finally corporate earnings are finally accelerating for the right reasons: growth over cost cuts.

Paix et Prospérité has continued to outperform all indices by sticking to our disciplines and as Soros, my former partner would say, “the trend is your friend.” Broadly speaking, we see nothing on the near-term horizon to change our investment view but that does not mean we don’t challenge ourselves every day looking for that inflection point. One of the main keys to our success over four decades of managing money has been the proper asset allocation as well as knowing when to be invested and when not. The path of least resistance today for the markets remains up but that does not mean that there won’t be hiccups along the way. So, maintain excess liquidity to take advantage of short-term market fluctuations.

Let’s review the financial and economic data that came out last week to see if it supports or detracts from our current view:

1.) The U.S. continues to do surprisingly well despite the turmoil in DC and the negative impact from the hurricanes: retail sales rebounded in September with a 1.6% gain despite the hurricanes, the largest one month gain in over 2 years; consumer prices rose 0.5% in September but core prices rose only 0.1% and year over year by only 1.7%; the producer price index increased 0.4% penalized by the hurricanes; manufactures’ inventory to sales ratio fell in August which bodes well for production gains ahead and finally consumer sentiment and future expectations surged to 13-year highs in early October.

Also Fed minutes from the September 19 and 20 meetings came out last week, which discussed Fed member thoughts over surprisingly low inflation with an economy doing better and unemployment declining. The bottom line is the odds of a December rate hike have improved but future rate hikes may be fewer than earlier anticipated. In addition, it appears that the administration might be willing to keep some partial state and local tax deductions for the middle class in order to secure the votes needed to pass tax reform. You need to pay special attention to Mnuchin’s comment that parts of the tax plan may be temporary such as a 5-year write off on capital investment while most of the program will be permanent.

2.) The Eurozone has surprised me the most of any region this year as growth has been much stronger than anticipated: industrial output increased 1.4% in August from July and is up an amazing 3.8% from a year ago; wages and inflation are rising much slower than anticipated however which poses a dilemma for the ECB which really would like to remove some of its monetary stimulation but won’t as the euro has been so strong which puts further downward pressure on inflation. Draghi commented over the weekend that commercial real estate valuations might be stretched but not stocks or bonds. He did say bonds, but we disagree here. He concluded that negative rates have been a success.

3.) China’s central party concluded a four-day meetings last week just prior to China’s Congress convening this week to re-elect President Xi Jimping for a second five-year term. I tip my hat to this country as they really do plan ahead. In fact, in anticipation to Trump’s visit next month, the country is finally cutting its steel and aluminum capacity to alleviate global overcapacity/tensions and will end dumping both to the States and Europe, a thorn in trade talks. Pollution is being finally addressed too as the country is importing only high grade iron ore, as one example, boosting prices benefiting BHP and RIO, two names that we have mentioned and owned for 18 months now. China is a place to invest in long term but be selective. Growth should continue to exceed 6% for the foreseeable future.

4.) Japan’s Nikkei closed at a two-decade high last week says it all. President Abe has done a stellar job and the future is bright for the first time in many decades.

Let’s wrap this up.

The IMF said it best this week when it hiked, once again, its forecasts for global economic growth for this year and next to 3.6% and 3.7% respectively while lowering its global inflation forecast to 1.7% both years which remains below the inflation target for all of the major monetary bodies. The major risks cited are geopolitical and protectionism. No surprises here! The monetary authorities would like to remove some of its stimulation but won’t until inflation begins to meaningfully pick up which means that they all will remain one step behind as we predicted months ago. Christine Lagarde, head of the IMF, correctly points to the need for more reforms to make the recovery sustainable. Fortunately she understands the impact of the disruptors on putting a lid on inflation.

The bottom line is to stay the course, as the trend is your friend. Maybe Trump’s bullying tactics will bring both parties to the bargaining table and resolve some of the major issues facing our country. Clearly we need change in DC and Trump appears to be the disruptor that no one likes which is fine as long as he brings about real change with his antics.

Paix et Prospérité continues to emphasize money-centered banks who will benefit from a growing economy, stronger loan demand and a steepening yield curve; the global multinational industrials; the lowest cost, strongest industrial commodity stocks including domestic steel and aluminum; technology at a fair price to growth and several special situations which we have mentioned before.

So remember to review all the facts; pause, reflect and consider mindset shifts; look at you capital allocation and risk controls to make sure that they are consistent with your objectives; do independent fundamental research and…

Invest Accordingly!

Bill Ehrman Paix et Prospérité LLC

[coopdigitalnewsletter]

29 Jul 2019: Smaller Go basket size, pizzas should be for everybody, robots in the aisle

Hello, this is the Co-op Digital newsletter - it looks at what's happening in the internet/digital world and how it's relevant to the Co-op, to retail businesses, and most importantly to people, communities and society. Thank you for reading - send ideas and feedback to @rod on Twitter. Please tell a friend about it!

[Image: an Amazon distribution centre near Salford evaporates into the cloud.]

Amazon Go basket size

“Amazon Go shoppers spend on average between $7 and $15 per shopping trip”: research suggests that Amazon Go basket sizes are about half those at other convenience stores. It’s still early days for Go, so it may turn out that the smaller basket (or rather pocket) is the natural size for checkoutless store. If so, perhaps visit frequency will increase as shoppers get used to the concept.

(Checkoutless shopping startups to keep an eye on, from the same article: Standard Cognition, Zippin, Grabango.)

Domino’s pizzas aren’t for you when you’re disabled

Domino’s Pizza asks the US supreme court to say that disability protections shouldn’t apply online. The argument seems to be that accessibility litigation is increasing but because The Government has declined to give precise guidance on how organisations can comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, then everyone should be able to... just not bother complying? (It’s weird because it shouldn’t be too difficult to make the website fairly accessible: it’s some menus, choices and bit of geographic/language localisation, so… some forms, some pictures, some logic. Though it would have been cheaper to build it in from the start...)

It feels like this happens because it is still too easy to think of disabled people as “other”, a separate group of users whose access to a service could be thought of as a difficult-to-build nice-to-have use case rather than an essential. If everyone realised that one day they too will be disabled temporarily or permanently, there’d be less of this. Ability is temporary, and pizzas should be for everybody.

Event: 'Disability Confident' Celebrating diversity at work - Fri 13 Sep 8am at 151 Deansgate.

Robots in the aisle

Check out Marty in action: Ahold Delhaize has robots trundling up and down supermarket aisles looking for stock gaps. If it was a network of cameras and sensors (ie an Amazon Go store), instead of a moving, vertical figure with eyes and face, would shoppers feel differently about it? What should robots look like and how should they behave to reassure shoppers and colleagues? (Are they all called Marty or will they get their own names?)

Related: How contextual research helped us redesign the replenishing process in our Co-op Food stores.

Privacy vs competition (Facebook, again)

The US Federal Trade Commission will fine $5bn penalty for Facebook for privacy wobbles. 

There can be a tension between regulation that strengthens privacy and regulation that supports competition. In the US, that tension is often discussed as if it’s either/or - governments shouldn’t strengthen privacy if it would dampen the vital competitive heat that comes from startups etc. The argument goes something like this: 

Facebook negotiates and agrees with the FTC to do these new things which come with a hefty compliance burden. The new compliance things become something like a standard that other companies will need to follow in future. FB is better positioned than most companies to do the burdensome compliance things, so FB would welcome that regulation because it entrenches the company’s position vs nimble upstarts etc. (So GDPR would be anti-competitive according to this view, though you’d wonder if there’s a bit of “how very dare EU” coming from US firms indignant at EU interventionism.)

But even more than that, there’s a more direct reason that strong privacy regulation is in tension with competition: when the gov legislates or has a consent decree with FB that their privacy controls must be much stronger in future, it becomes harder to apply competition-promoting remedies to FB in future. The gov cannot later say to FB “you’re a monopoly so you must open up your data so that etc”. Conclusion: FB is probably delighted at paying only $5bn to never have to share data with any third party competitors.

There’s some truth in and some problems with that argument: if it is just left to the market, we know outcomes can be unequal. We can see that Big Tech are good at absorbing any startups that threaten them these days (which is how FB ended up with Instagram and WhatsApp). So perhaps regulation *is* the meaningful brake on big tech overreach in future.

Unprime

When we talk about Amazon Prime it’s usually in terms of Prime aggressively growing, capturing all of retail, never letting go etc. Yes, Prime’s a beast but it isn’t quite as clear cut as that: 28% of UK Amazon Prime customers say they signed up by mistake. And some percentage of Prime customers are very deliberately signing up to get access to the 15-16 July Prime Day deals, and then cancelling.

Other news

A working definition of Government as a Platform - good read.

US real estate/co-working startup firm WeWork secures 'financial inducement' of £55.7m in Brexit windfall :(

Store forecasting at Walmart scale - AI models (for technical readers).

"The attack then boils down to this: a vendor scans my QR code in exchange for me getting a free pen, and I retrieve a complete list of all contacts they’ve scanned on that device." - What happened when we hacked an expo?

A good example of an “Everything you need to know about how we use data” page, by Projects by If.

Co-op Digital news

We’re testing our ‘Pay in aisle’ app in Co-op Food stores.

Green is the default option for Co-op pension scheme.

Most opened newsletter in the last month: Tales from the crypto. Most clicked story: Communicating effectively through storytelling at Co-op Digital.

Events

Public events:

Northern Azure user group - Tue 30 Jul 6pm at Federation House.

Tech for Good live - Wed 31 Jul 6.30pm at Federation House.

Monzo show & tell Manchester - Tue 6 Aug 6.30pm at Federation House.

'Disability Confident' Celebrating diversity at work - Fri 13 Sep 8am at 151 Deansgate.

ODI’s Strategic data skills - Mon 16 Sep 8.30am online course (needs 3-5 hours/week)

Mind the Product - MTP Engage - Fri 7 Feb 2020 - you can get early bird tickets now. 

Internal events:

Food ecommerce show & tell - Mon 29 Jul 10.30am at Fed House 5th floor.

Delivery community of practice - Mon 29 Jul 1.30pm at Fed House.

User experience future vision - Mon 29 Jul and every day this week 4pm at Fed House 5th floor.

Funeralcare show & tell - Tue 30 Jul 1pm at Angel Square 12th floor breakout.

Digital all hands meeting - Wed 31 Jul 2pm at Fed house Defiant.

Data management show & tell - Thu 1 Aug 2.30pm at Angel Square 13th floor breakout.

Membership show & tell - Fri 2 Aug 3pm at Fed House 6th floor kitchen.

More events at Federation House - and you can contact the events team at  federation.events@coopdigital.co.uk. And TechNW has a useful calendar of events happening in the North West. 

Thank you for reading

Thank you, clever and considerate readers and contributors. Please continue to send ideas, questions, corrections, improvements, etc to the newsletterbot’s valet @rod on Twitter. If you have enjoyed reading, please tell a friend!

If you want to find out more about Co-op Digital, follow us @CoopDigital on Twitter and read the Co-op Digital Blog. Previous newsletters.

[riskhedge]

The Best “Pick-and-Shovel” Play for the Online Grocery Boom

By Justin Spittler

Everyone knows online shopping revolutionized how we buy clothing, electronics, and other merchandise.

Many malls across the country have closed their doors because people simply don’t shop at malls like they once did. Instead they buy things online. After a few days, the things show up at their doorstep.

The media nicknamed this phenomenon the “Retail Apocalypse.” And it has led to…

The “Rewiring” of American Real Estate

Amazon (AMZN) alone ships 5 billion packages a year. That’s more than 13 million packages per day.

To ensure these packages make it to their destination, a whole new network of infrastructure was built out. Industrial warehouses and distribution centers form the heart of this network.

These facilities store, process, and ship the packages you order online.

You might drive by an industrial warehouse on your way to work. They’re generally non-descript cement buildings, located off highways. They can stretch over a quarter mile long. And they usually have dozens of trucks docked outside.

Without these centers, online shopping would be impossible. And the stocks of companies that operate them have been great investments. Just look at the returns you could have made…  

Terreno Realty (TRNO)—a company that owns a portfolio of warehouses—has surged 187% since the start of 2014.

First Industrial Realty (FR), another warehouse operator, is up 111%. Prologis (PLD) is up 117%. And Duke Realty (DRE) is up 105%. The S&P 500 rose just 67% over the same period.

If You Missed Out on This Run, It’s Not Too Late

There’s a second real estate transformation happening now… thanks to the boom in online grocery shopping.

In just the last five years, online grocery sales have tripled. By 2023, the market is expected to quadruple again.

It’s easy to see why. Visiting the grocery store is a chore. The typical American family spends over a hundred hours a year shopping for groceries. A lot of that time is spent in the car and waiting in the checkout line.

Online shopping eliminates all that. It leaves you with more time to spend with your family, friends, and doing things you like.

This might surprise you, but…

The US Lags Behind Many Countries in Online Grocery Shopping

Last year, groceries accounted for just 1.6% of total US online sales. In China, they accounted for 3.8%. In Japan and South Korea, they accounted for 7.1% and 8.3% of total online sales.

You don’t see this often. Normally, the US is a leader in tech trends. In this case, it has some catching up to do.

There’s every reason to believe online grocery shopping will catch on soon in the US. The Food Marketing Institute and Nielsen predict 70% of consumers will try buying groceries online within the next four to six years. This should push grocery sales to 3.5% of total online sales by 2023.

Will Grocery Stories Disappear?

We’re not necessarily headed for a “Grocery Store Apocalypse.” But much like retail did, the industry will evolve.

Grocery stores will shrink because there will be fewer people walking up and down the aisles. They’ll store more food and beverage offsite.

As you can imagine, regular warehouses aren’t adequate for storing and processing groceries. Unlike most of the things you might buy on Amazon, groceries go bad.

A grocer can’t place a frozen chicken or a bunch of broccoli in a box and mail it to you. They have to keep the food fresh.

Cold storage warehouses store frozen and fresh food before it reaches a supermarket. About 96% of frozen food stops by one of these warehouses before reaching the grocery store.

Cold storage warehouses are specialized facilities. They aren’t cheap or easy to build. They require extensive piping, large HVAC systems, and a whole lot of refrigeration.

So, it’s unlikely Amazon, WalMart, or any other online grocer will build their own. Instead, they’ll leave cold storage to the pros.

I Like Americold Realty Trust (COLD)

Americold is a leader in cold storage. It owns and operates 156 warehouses and about 928 million cubic feet of temperature-controlled storage.       

The company has been around for decades. But it went public back in January 2018… and it’s been on a tear since then, as you can see here:

Americold’s stock has rocketed 112% since its IPO. I expect it to climb much higher as online groceries catch on.

About 82% of Americold’s sales come from the United States. And Americold commands a 23% market share in the US. Lineage Logistics is the only bigger player in the space, and it’s private. You can’t buy its stock.

Americold serves some of the biggest players in the food and beverage space. I’m talking Walmart, Kroger, Trader Joe’s, and Beyond Meat.

Finally, Americold pays a 2.5% dividend. The S&P 500, for perspective, yields 1.9%.

Americold is a unique and safe way to capitalize on the emerging online grocery market. But it also offers plenty of upside. I wouldn’t be surprised if its stock doubles over the next two to three years as online groceries take off.

Download our free report The Great Disruptors: 3 Breakthrough Stocks Set to Double Your Money. These stocks will hand you 100% gains as they disrupt whole industries.