#alberta is a wonderful place to live...

[psychodon525]

Ah yes, The Ten Commandments. The rules upon which we base all our morals. In fact, as some would have it, they're the basis of all our laws, too. We should be putting them up in our schools and teaching our kids about them from a young age. What were they again?

1: Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Unless you follow another religion, or you don't really follow any religion at all, I mean, it's not too big a deal really. Freedom of religion, you know?

2: Thou shalt not make any graven image. Unless you want to make a statue of Jesus. Or Mary. Or an angel. Or one of your own leaders. Honestly, you can make any graven image you want, as long as you say that god is okay with it. Which brings us to

3: Thou shalt not take the Lord's name in vain. You know, unless you want to do something that goes against the bible. Just say that God actually says it's okay. Or say that the context was different back then. And I mean, I know it says not to use the Lord's name for vain purposes, but like… if you want to say you're a Christian to become more popular? Use your faith to gain votes? That's all totally okay, and definitely doesn't go against these commandments.

4: Remember and observe the Sabbath day. Unless there's work that really needs to be done that day. I mean… if nobody worked on Sunday, then how could you go buy groceries? It's meant to be a day off! But not for poor people.

5: Honour thy father and mother. You know, unless you'd rather marry for love. Unless you have dreams of doing something different than your father. Unless your parents were abusive.

6: Thou shalt not kill. Unless you're a corporation, forcing people to overwork themselves to exhaustion and heart failure. Unless you're a corporation that needs to keep running, despite natural disasters, and those workers are expendable anyways. Unless you're destined to conquer the land, and you need to kill the indigenous people to manifest that destiny. Unless you're a police officer, and the person seems to be a threat. Unless you're an oil company, and killing indigenous people on their own land is the cheapest way to put down your pipeline. Unless you're a corporation, and doing your part to stop global warming is just not lucrative, and the 47,000 Europeans who died last year due to heat-related causes are just the price to pay for money in our pocket, and a society built on oil and gas. Unless you're a government, and there's a whistleblower.

7: Thou shalt not commit adultery. Unless you’re a swinger, or you're having some fun as a couple with another person. Actually, as long as you're all consenting adults, and you have healthy communication, commit as much adultery as you'd like!

8: Thou shalt not steal. Unless it just makes sense to. I mean, if someone works for you, it doesn't make sense to pay them their fair share. Wage theft is the backbone of this society, and if we weren't constantly doing it, then how would some people ever become rich?

9: Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Unless you're a whistleblower. Our governments need to be able to keep secrets, so we WILL threaten you, in order to keep you quiet, or to force you to lie in courts.

And last, but not least,

10: Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, wife, slaves, animals, or anything else. Well okay… unless you call it “inspiration,” or “goals.” I mean… everyone should want to live in a nicer house, rather than being happy with the one they've got. And as long as your partner and you joke about it, there's nothing wrong with having a crush on that one celebrity. Even if they're married. And I mean, we don't have slaves anymore, but there's nothing wrong with wanting to be the CEO of a company, and having all those people working for you, and giving you all that extremely cheap labour. Nothing wrong with wishing you had a nicer car, nicer tools, or a nicer phone, like what your friends and neighbours have.

So yeah, as you can see, every one of the 10 Commandments is extremely straightforward, and fits exactly with how we run our society, and it really makes sense to teach it in schools, since our laws and societal norms don't contradict them at all, ever.

[audrey-carr1]

The Heiress and the Lady of the House (part 1)

Author's note: Due to a lack of Hetty x reader fics I decided to fix that. This will more than likely be a series! For future writings, I will take requests as well! Please don't be too upset with how i write because I'm still learning how to write for Hetty. We all know she's a simple yet complex lady. We learn as we go. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this!

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

warnings: fem!reader, hettyxreader

It was an accident when I stumbled upon the "Woodstone B&B "hiring ad". As a child visiting my grandmother, I remember riding my bike past the mansion. My grandmother used to take me trick or treating there, and the older woman who lived at the manor always gave the children king-sized candy bars.

After a near-death experience as a teen, I've been able to see ghosts. It began to happen on occasion before it became an everyday thing. I would pretend it wasn’t real and ignore every ghost I encountered. Unless they looked sorely out of place, I couldn't really tell if they weren't living anyway. Ignoring all of them had worked...at least up until I walked into the Woodstone B&B.

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

“So is there a history convention in town or something?” I ask Sam teaches me the basics of the B&B website.

“Um no, why do you ask?” Sam questions nervously

“Because of the people in costume? Do you not see the Viking and Revolutionary officer in front of us?”

Sam gasps, “ Oh my gosh You can see them!?”

“She can see us?!” The two men ask.

“Am I not supposed to?” I asks

Sam quickly takes my hand and leads me into the living room. She has me sit and takes a seat in the spot next to me.

“What I’m about to say is going to seem absolutely insane,”

“Okay?” I say unsure of where Sam is taking this.

“This place is haunted, and everyone you see besides me and Jay are dead,” Sam explains

I didn’t mean to burst into laughter, but I did. How could something so absurd be true?

“My word what is all of this laughter about? Can you plebians be joyous outside of my napping hours,” a voice says

I turn to see a red-headed Victorian woman descend the main staircase. We both lock eyes and I feel as if time has stood still. My heart starts to beat a little faster and are my palms sweating? I could be mistaken but is that blush on the other woman's cheeks? "Can ghosts blush?" I ask myself

The redhead quirks and eyebrow before breaking the silence, “You can see me?”

Suddenly unable to speak I nod still looking into blue eyes.

“Hetty, this is (y/n). She is our new employee,”

“And she can see us? She’s not dead? How can you see us?”

Finally finding my words I reply, “I can see you, I’m not dead, and I’m not sure as to why I can see you but I can,”

“Did young girl fall and hit head like Sam?” The Viking asks

“I don’t remember falling recently,” I reply

“Have you always been able to see ghosts,” Sam turns and asks me.

“It’s a long complicated story, I’d rather not get into,” I say.

The redhead purses her lips not enthused by my answer. Soon I hear whispering of what I assume are the other ghosts.

“It’s okay guys, you can come out,” I say not sure of what could happen next.

Entering the room is a flapper, the Viking, the war officer, a hippie, an oversized Boy Scout, and a man without pants. My mind is filled with questions, but mainly I'm wondering why that man doesn’t have on pants. Before I can question his attire, Sam begins introducing everyone.

“There is one more of the main 8, his name is Sassapis, but we call him Sass. He’s out on a walk with Crash, our occasional headless ghost.”

“I see, well it’s nice to meet you all,” I say to them.

“Well go on tell us about your little cute self,” Alberta says “We want to know everything,”

“Well okay I’ve graduated college with a (insert major) degree, and my grandmother recently passed and left me with more money than I know what to do with. Which means I'm technically a heiress. I’m not sure I want to go into my field of work yet, that probably has something to do with my imposter syndrome. I’m an only child, my parents passed away when I was 19. Oh, I love jazz! I actually play piano and know almost all of the Jazz standards, my favorite pizza is pepperoni, and after reading a dystopian novel series I got into archery but that didn’t last long. Let’s see what else,” As I try to recall information I notice the redhead Victorian woman, Hetty looking at you. I begin to blush as I start my next sentence, “I was crowned queen at my senior prom, I love playing vintage Super Mario Brothers in my spare time, My favorite fish to cook is cod, I have a stuffed teddy bear named Daisy, and my favorite musical of all time is Hamilton,”

Isaac, the revolutionary war officer, scoffs and throws his hands up in exasperation while Hetty pats his shoulder while holding back a smirk.

“What about the juicy stuff, like do you have a significant other and have you ever killed someone?” Alberta asks.

“Oh well," I say a little overwhelmed, "I do not have a significant other, I haven’t even had my first kiss yet. To answer your other question, I have not participated in a murder at least not to my knowledge,”

“Sam you have to keep her! She’s perfect for the job,” Flower says

“Except for the Hamilton thing,” Isaac says off the side.

“Plus she’s incredibly hot,” Trevor says. “Not like Tara Reid hot but she’s almost at your level Sam,”

Everyone rolls their eyes at his comment, “I find it best if you ignore his comments. He’s harmless ” The victorian woman who's the name I've learned is, Hetty, whispers in my ear and I try to ignore the sudden butterflies in my stomach. I don’t need to add attracted to a ghost to my resume.

“Well it seems like everyone is on board with you being here even though you were already hired. Why don’t we go back and get some training done,” Sam says heading back to the front desk.

I go to follow her, but I trip over my untied shoelace. Before I can hit the floor, I find myself caught by a pair of soft hands.

Everyone gasps, and I can tell it wasn’t from the fall.

“Did Hetty just catch a living?”

-end-

A/N: Oh I hope y'all don't hate it! This is the first fanfic I've written in about 11 years, so I'm a little rusty. As I said before this is the first part of this many-part series. I may even add this to AO3. Tell me what you think! Until later!

[fishenjoyer1]

Fish of the Day

Today’s fish of the day is the westslope cutthroat trout! 

The westslope cutthroat trout, also known by scientific name Oncorhynchus lewisi is a common freshwater salmonid. Known by many names, this fish is one of the four living subspecies of cutthroat trout remaining, and the westslope is sometimes considered to have its own subspecies, as separated by major populations in differing rivers and lakes. Within their range, they tend to settle in rivers that contain more pools and vegetation cover, similar to other freshwater trout. Found across the Pacific Northwest, the westslope cutthroat trout is the Montana state fish, living in the lower areas of British Columbia, Alberta, Wahsington, Oregon, Idaho, and, of course, Montana. Primarily found within the Columbia basin and upper Missouri river basin, with historical ranges stretching far further North, South, and West, but now is only a shadow of its former size. This is due to the aggressive spread of other salmonid trout species, such as the brown trout and rainbow trout, which are non native in the areas and introduced by hobby fishers.

The name of cutthroat seems relatively straightforward, considering these fish are well known for teeth lining: the roof of the mouth, underside of the tongue, and clusters in the front of the mouth. This is in fact misleading. The name of cutthroat was given to these fish due to the distinctive red coloring to the lower jaw of the fish. Despite these many teeth, the cutthroat usually subsists on a diet of insects and their larvae, along with a healthy amount of zooplankton, and algaes. The westslope cutthroat in particular can grow to sizes of 6-12 inches, with few weighing more than 5 pounds. This is significantly smaller than most other inland cutthroat trout, which reach sizes of up to 39 inches at a maximum.

The life cycle and reproduction of the westslope cutthroat is the same as many other salmonids, migratory. cutthroat trout in particular though, especially landlocked ones such as the westslope have three different life strategies—stream resident, adfluvial, and fluvial. Stream resident fish are the ones living within river tributaries, never migrating to a fully different area, just to breeding grounds where the water is clear, clean, and oxygenated. Adfluvial fish live in larger lakes, and migrate down into river tributaries to lay eggs in areas of lower predation. Finally, fluvial fish migrate from larger rivers and basins into tributaries, just like the other trout. This all takes place in their breeding season in the spring, triggered by temperature change, as it begins as soon as the water temperatures regularly reach 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Female cutthroats can lay anywhere between 200-4,000 eggs a season, and after fertilization will hatch within a month into fry. Once they reach an age of 3-5 depending on subspecies the fish will begin doing migrations with others of their species to the same breeding grounds they were born in. The fish can live to reach as old as ten years of age, and survive through multiple breeding seasons, ushering in theoretically thousands of offspring in their life.

That's the westslope cutthroat trout, everybody! Have a wonderful day!

[haddonfieldwhore]

i don’t dance - matthew tkachuk

matthew tkachuk x fem!reader

summary: while on a road trip with your best friend, he shows you around calgary, including his favourite country bar

warnings: drinking, language, nsfw themes/implied smut, i’ve been thinking about cowboy matt a lot lately, idk how to line dance so i apologize in advance

word count: 1.9k yeehaw matt playlist 🎧

“matty, you’re joking right?” you pleaded hopefully, looking at your best friend who stood before you, a black cowboy hat atop his head.

“you know what they say - when in…calgary,” he replied with a toothy grin.

“i think the phrase is ‘when in rome, genius,” you both laughed. but you were not in rome, you were in calgary alberta, and matthew had spent his entire day off showing you around the city he spent so many years calling home. you knew matt had loved his time with the flames, but florida was home now; and he was off to a great start with the panthers, as well as enjoying the warm weather.

you and the tkachuks had grown up down the street from eachother in st.louis, and while you were closer to his sisters age, you had always been closest with matthew. you had visited him in calgary a few times, but hadn’t spent a ton of time there while he lived there. when he told you he was moving to florida, you went with him, tired of being so far away from your best friend.

“it’s a country bar, i have to dress the part,” he argued. matty had shown you the arena, the house where he had lived when he was with the flames, and various landmarks around the city. the final stop on your tour was a bar that he insisted on dragging you to, despite your known aversion for country music.

“i’m not really sure it’s my scene,” you sighed, looking through your suitcase for anything remotely appropriate to wear tonight. it was surprisingly warm out despite being late in the evening, so you settled on some cutoff denim shorts and a tight, low cut t-shirt that showed off your cleavage. you got dressed in the bathroom of the hotel room you and matt were sharing, a little nervous as you looked at yourself in the mirror. over the years you had developed a small crush on the curly haired boy you had known for so long; and you secretly hoped he thought you looked hot as you adjusted your shorts one more time before heading back out.

“is this okay?” you asked, the way matthews breath caught in his throat as he turned around going unnoticed. his eyes traveled up your bare legs and over your chest before meeting your gaze, giving you a smile and hoping you hadn’t realized he was checking you out.

“you look great,” he smiled, and you felt a bit relieved. “now if you had some cowboy boots-“

“no way in hell. not even you could get me to wear those, matty. nice try though,” you laughed, pushing his chest softly as you walked by to put in you shoes. he silently wondered what you had meant by ‘not even you’, but didn’t question it, instead grabbing his red flannel shirt and throwing it in over his tshirt before following you out the door, trying not to think about how good your ass looked in those tiny shorts. maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all, he thought.

•

to say you were nervous walking into the bar was an understatement, and while you had tried your best to dress the part, you were worried you would stick out like a sore thumb. you slid your hand into matthews, and his heart skipped a beat as he pulled you behind him into the building, and towards an empty table in the back. it wasn’t too busy thankfully, but there were some people dancing already, the sound of boots on the floor mixing with the music and chatter.

“relax, why are you so nervous?” he laughed at you from across the table, reaching his hand across the table to stop yours from shaking as they sat atop the wooden surface.

“i don’t know, i just feel out of place,” you admitted.

“just breathe. you know i won’t let anything happen to you,” he smiled, amused by how nervous you were over something so small. your heart skipped a beat, and you hoped you weren’t blushing too much; but who could blame you if you were, hearing something like that.

after you and matthew each finished a few beers and the bar filled up with more people, you felt surprisingly relaxed. what was not relaxing, however, was the way your breathing stopped everytime matt’s leg brushed against yours under the table; and you weren’t sure if he was doing it on purpose or not.

“do you trust me?” he asked suddenly, a mischievous sparkle in his eyes as the corner of his mouth curled upward. you nearly choked on your drink as he glanced over at the dance floor.

“not when you look at me like that,” you admitted, but let him take your hand in his and pull you into the floor. “matty i have no idea how to dance- nevermind this kind of dancing.”

“it’s easy. if i can do it, anyone can,” he smiled. you were thankful to be off to the side of the dancefloor, with little chance of running into anyone as matt’s hands landed on your hips, his fingertips cold as they brushed against your skin where you shirt had ridden up slightly.

his breath was hot on your shoulder and he stood behind you, guiding your body forward to the music.

“you just step like this, and then to the side, tap your feet together, then step back,” he instructed, showing you slowly what to do, before the two of you repeated the steps together. “and then, when you step back this time, you can add a spin.”

your hands landed on his chest as he spun you around, and his arms circled your waist as you looked up at him. his blue eyes seemed darker thank usual as he stared down at you, but maybe it was just the shadow from his hat. did he always smell this good? you asked yourself, the close proximity allowing the scent of his cologne to reach your nose, and maybe it was just the alcohol talking, but he smelled like heaven.

“think you’ve got it?” he asked under his breath, both of you unable to break the eye contact.

“no,” you muttered. “show me again,” you requested, turning around and placing his hands back on your hips, sliding his fingertips ever so slightly into the waistband of your shorts.

“fuck,” he breathed out, so quiet you almost didn’t hear it; but you did. matt walked you through the steps again, this time leaving no space between the two of you, allowing you to feel him pressing against your backside the whole time. he spun you around, this time pulling you flush against him as you wrapped your arms around the back of his neck, your lips just centimetres apart.

“now what?” you asked, barely above a whisper as your chest rose and fell, the room suddenly feeling very warm.

“kiss me,” he requested, his eyes half lidded as your leaned up to capture his lips with your own. your mouths moved together, his tongue running along your bottom lip before slipping into your mouth as he held you tight. he groaned as you tugged at the curls that peeked out from beneath his hat at the base of his neck, before you both separated to catch your breath.

“do you teach all your dance partners that part or is that just me?”

“god, just you,” the words melted off his tongue as he kissed you again, biting at your bottom lip gently. “you have no idea how long i’ve wanted to kiss you.”

“maybe as long as i’ve wanted you to?”

“i don’t know - is that a long time?”

“yeah,” you breathed out as he kissed your neck. “matty-“ the words caught in your throat, your train of thought lost as you realized he had defiantly left a hickey below your jawline.

“do you have any idea how hot you look in those shorts? the light bouncing of your skin?” he whispered.

“i wore them for you,” you replied, suprised at the confidence you were finding. things were always easy with matthew, your friendship coming so naturally; you had a bond that nothing could ruin.

“jesus, you’re gonna get me into trouble.”

“why’s that?” you asked, looking up at him, barring your eyelashes innocently.

“because we’re in public right now, and i’m finding it really difficult to not rip those fucking shorts off you right here,” he admitted, his voice low.

“so take me home.” his eyes closed for a second, before he grabbed your hand and walked you back to your table of empty bottles and threw enough cash on the table to cover the tab three times. you couldn’t hide the smile on your flushed face as he dragged you out of the bar, his other hand calling an uber with his phone.

•

matthews leg shook the entire ride back to the hotel, which while in reality was only about ten minutes, felt like about three hours. his hand rested on you thigh, his calloused fingertips tracing little shapes on your skin. while still being careful not to hurt your wrist, he pulled you quickly out of the car after paying the driver and his lips were on yours the second the elevator door closed.

“matty, someone could come in any second-“

“don’t tempt me, i’ll hit the panic button and stop this damn thing-“ he nearly growled, his teeth nipping at the skin below your ear.

“relax, baby - we’re almost there,” you murmured, but silently wished that the elevator would speed up. the two of you stumbled down the hall to the doorway, matt unable to keep his hands off you the whole time, pinning you against the door as he fumbled in his pocket for the key card.

“you’re making it really hard to focus right now….” he groaned as you left a trail of kisses up the side of his neck, the door finally opening behind you and allowing matthew to push you backwards into the suite.

“is that the only thing i’m making hard?“ you asked, palming his length through his jeans that had become significantly tighter, and he nearly whimpered at your touch. usually it would take more to get that kind of reaction out of him, but you had an effect on him like no one else ever would.

“don’t tease-“ you interrupted him by connecting your lips again, trailing your hands up his chest and sliding the flannel shirt off his shoulders and letting it fall to the floor. his hands slid under your t-shirt and pulled it over your head. he took his hat off and placed it atop your head before attaching his lips to your collarbone, his hands reaching down to undo your shorts.

“you want this, right?” he said, his hands pausing as his eyes met yours, both of you breathing heavily.

“please, matty-“ you pulled his pelvis against yours by his belt loops and he groaned, his head falling back as his eyes closed and his mouth fell open slightly. “i need you.”

you helped eachother out of the rest of your clothes, tumbling to the bed with your lips still connected, hands wandering all over. you rolled on top of matt, straddling his lap as you admired how messy his curls had gotten from your hands tangling in his hair.

“what’s that song called again? save a horse, ride a cowboy?” you teased, and he smiled, sitting up and holding you in his lap, placing a kiss on your lips.

“i thought you didn’t listen to country music?” he smirked, adjusting the cowboy hat that still sat on your head.

“i’ve heard one or two songs in my lifetime,” you smiled as he kissed you deeply, tossing the hat aside as he rolled on top of you.

disclaimer: all screenshots, events, and/or interactions depicted in this are a work of fiction. i have no association with any parties mentioned

[onekindredspirit]

Eagles - Revisited

(a train journey across Canada in the months before the pandemic)

For Maria

“I reckon they’re eagles!” That’s Tim. He’s excited. The dining car is full of people and it’s loud. For some reason, if you put a lot of humans into a confined space they will yell at each other. Around our table there’s Tim, he’s a retired London detective, there’s a teacher from Newfoundland, an Australian and me. We’re somewhere in the Rockies of Canada and Tim thinks he sees eagles. Tim also thinks I ‘know things’, so I’m not totally convinced about the eagles.

“Where?” That’s the Australian. Her accent is a brutal drawl, like the sawing of a blunt serrated knife across the back of the hand.

“There! They’re big birds.” He’s pointing, very excited now.

I can’t see anything but I decide I need to contribute something anyway, “But are they real?”

Retired London detectives don’t much care for nonsense.

“Of course they are!” Tim snaps back at me.

Perhaps coming to my defence, the Australian decides to take him down.

“They’re not eagles … I reckon they’re crows.”

Tim’s hurt “They are!” The level of his indignation easily exceeds the pointlessness of the conversation and so the farce begins.

I tune out. A mind is a wonderful place if you can tame it … but good luck with that.

Suddenly I’m brought back – “He ‘knows things’ you know.” Tim’s making a public declaration and all eyes are on me.

“Whadda ya mean?” The Australian is sceptical.

“He ‘knows things’ I tell you!” Tim is my biggest supporter.

“Like what?” The Australian picks up the scent.

Now Tim has to prove I ‘know things’ … I hope it doesn’t go to a Senate Committee.

“Well, he knew how old I was.”

It’s true.  Tim had asked me, “How old do you think I am?”

I didn’t hesitate - “71.” My immediate reply stunned him.

“How did you know that?”

“I just do.”

Magicians don’t show their audience the secrets of their tricks, do they? But okay, in a previous conversation Tim had told me the year he’d joined the ‘force’ and I had then enquired about his age on joining … mathematics is also a wonderful thing.

But the Australian isn’t going to accept this flimsy story as evidence of my “knowing things”. She wants more proof. I expected that. Their entire culture was built on a challenge to authority. So perhaps I do ‘know things’ after all.

“Okay, whadda ‘bout this?” the Australian begins. Now it’s the big test for me. I’m feeling fit, I’ve been in training for months and my fighting weight is perfect.

The Australian continues “We were at a talk last night, in the observation car, about agriculture in Alberta.”

Tim nods “It was good.” I love his optimism.

“You weren’t there were you?” The Australian would have done well during the McCarthy era communist ‘witch hunts’ of the 1950’s.

“No.” I almost laugh. Of course not, I was someplace else on the train, enjoying my somewhat tamed mind.

“Okay then, tell us … how much do you think a combined harvester costs?”

I don’t hesitate “Between $400,000 and $500,000.”

The look of disappointment on the Australian’s face is kind of funny. Tim, on the other hand, is gleeful to be proven right after suffering such a bad loss over the eagles.

“See, I told you!”

The Australian narrows her eyes. She smells a rat. “You were there weren’t you?”

“He wasn’t!” That’s Tim, he’s still my biggest supporter.

“No, I wasn’t there.” I confirm.

“Tell him!” Tim is going in for the kill.

“$450,000 ...” Her voice trails off. The Australian doesn’t like being wrong.

So the wonders appear to continue but there’s no mystery here either. I live in a rural community and I have an inquisitive mind. One day I had asked myself “I wonder what a combined harvester costs?” You’ve probably asked yourself the same question at one time or another.

For the rest of the journey I wear the aura of a man who ‘knows things’. It’s an enigmatic position to take in life. In part, you are ‘messiah’. You walk the corridors of the train surrounded by a spectral glow, robes flowing, your hands outstretched offering benedictions and people whisper “he ‘knows things’ you know.” On the other hand, being ‘messianic’ is a lonely business but I don’t mind, I have my somewhat tamed mind for company.

Of course I made the ‘messiah’ bit up. I have a wish that life could be just a little more absurd than it already is. In truth, only Tim thinks I know things. The Australian thinks she’s been tricked and everyone else on the train couldn’t care less, which is how I like it.

Later … days later our train pulls into Toronto. My hotel is only 100 metres from the station so I linger in the compartment, packing, dreaming.

When I finally get to the baggage carousel I’m surprised to see Tim. He has his back to me. There is a younger man with him and they have the body language of two people who know each other well. Both are English and it’s obvious the younger guy was also on the train, judging by the baggage labels on his luggage. But this is the first time I’ve seen them together, which I find strange.

Then Tim reacts. I presume the hairs on the back of his neck have suddenly stood on end because he turns. Maybe that’s how he became a detective in the first place – he has good instincts.

Tim recognizes me and completely fails to disguise the look of alarm in his eyes.

There’s something about the younger man … and then comes that feeling, like the fitting of the final piece in a jigsaw, and I understand.

We all have things we feel we need to hide. Mostly the world isn’t looking but if you happen to end up on a train with someone who ‘knows things’, it’s very hard to escape the truth … some people just ‘know things’.

Tim hurriedly looks away.

I’m sorry to have unsettled him and all I really want to say now is “Tim, eagles are real”.

- One Kindred Spirit

[amb3rlance]

The Art Of The Murdered: 痛いの痛いのGo Away (C: 6)

Albie stood in the dimly lit hallway of her apartment, the weight of the day pressing on her shoulders. She had just returned from a long shift.

The door clicked open, and she stepped inside, the familiar smell of his cologne hitting her immediately. It wasn’t a comforting scent anymore. It was suffocating.

She barely had time to put down her purse before he appeared from the living room, his eyes sharp, full of an emotion she couldn’t quite place. "Where have you been?" His voice was low but edged with something that made her stomach tighten.

Albie stopped in her tracks, trying to mask the exhaustion on her face. “I told you. I was working.”

She tried to move past him, but he stepped into her path, blocking her way with a sudden force that made her heart race.

“You were working?” His voice was laced with doubt, and he leaned in closer, his breath almost warm against her skin. “Or is there someone else you’ve been seeing when I’m not around?”

The words hit her like a slap. She froze, her heart sinking.

“I’m not seeing anyone else. You know that,” she said, her voice low, almost pleading. She wanted this to be over, wanted to crawl into bed and forget everything, but he wasn’t letting her.

“Really?” His voice was a dangerous mix of bitterness and hurt.

“Every time you go out, I wonder if you’re out there with someone else. I can’t help it. You’re always leaving me, Alberta. How do you think that makes me feel?”

She could feel her breath quickening, her frustration bubbling up, but she swallowed it back. She couldn’t fight him like this. Not again.

“I told you, I’m just working,” she said again, her voice trembling ever so slightly, but still, she tried to keep it steady.

“You think I don’t know that?” he shot back, his voice rising. “I know when you’re lying to me. I can tell. Every time you go out, you’re running away from me. You don’t care about me anymore.”

The accusation stung. It always did, but it never got easier. Albie's throat tightened, and for a moment, she was silent. He stood before her, towering with his anger, but also his vulnerability—like he had put his heart on the line and she was about to tear it apart.

“Please, Albie,” he whispered, suddenly softening, his voice nearly breaking. “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you. You’re all I have left.”

She felt a pang of guilt twist in her chest.“I’m sorry,” he continued, his voice low and almost desperate. “I shouldn’t have said that. I’m just… I’m just scared. I don’t want to lose you.”

Albie closed her eyes for a moment, her head spinning.

“I’m sorry too,” she whispered, feeling the weight of his guilt pressing down on her. She hated this. But there was something about his sorrowful gaze, the way his eyes looked at her like she was the only thing that mattered in his world, that made it hard to resist.

“I don’t want to leave you,” she said softly, her voice cracking just a little.

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

He stepped closer, his hand reaching for hers, gently pulling her into him.

She let him. She couldn’t pull away.

“You can't.”

His voice barely audible. “You can't hurt me. You’re all I need. Please, Albie… Don’t leave me. I can’t live without you.”

The guilt wrapped around her heart like a vice, squeezing tighter with every word he spoke. She should walk away.

She knew she should. She had told herself a thousand times that she would. But in that moment, with his arms around her, his whispered apologies, she felt her resolve weaken.

“Okay,” she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. “Okay, I’ll stay. I’m sorry. I’ll do better. I won’t go anywhere.”

His face softened, his lips pressing gently against her forehead as he held her tighter. “I promise, Albie,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “I’ll change. I’ll make things better. Just… don’t leave me.”

And in that moment, Albie did what she always did.

Albie woke with a start, the remnants of her dream still clinging to her. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart, her hands still slightly trembling.

She glanced over at the clock: 7:30 AM. She groaned softly—she’d overslept. Scrambling to get ready for work, Albie quickly gathered her things, throwing on her business suit as she rushed through the mansion.

She paused for a moment, checking the time again. Giorgio had already been up and out early, no doubt with his mind set on his business.

Giorgio was already on his phone, checking some important messages while preparing to leave.

He had a new case assigned to him, something he wasn’t willing to delay. Despite everything that had happened, the wheels of his empire—and now this new mystery—continued to turn.

Giorgio notices Albie being up as she walked in "Oh Albie―"

"Can't talk, need to make money"

He nodded "Alright then, I’m heading out too. Got assigned a new case."

She glanced over at him, wondering for a moment if he’d say more, but he didn’t. Instead, he quickly finished what he was doing, grabbing his coat and heading for the door.

"I'll be back later, don't get stabbed by an unwanted criminal"

Giorgio laughs as he replied "You too"

As the door closed behind him, the mansion felt quieter, almost eerie in its stillness.

Sousuke walked into the living room and spotted Winn sprawled on the couch alone. "Hey, have you seen Albie and Giorgio?"

"They left for work" she turned to him "Wait, I thought you went home last night?" she asked "Well, the thing is... I don't actually live in Australia. I'm supposed to be in the hotel for a week but somethings happened and I can't stay in that hotel too long"

"Ohhh, that makes sense"

"So, what do we do now?" she asked with a grin, clearly looking for some form of entertainment.

Sousuke, still only half-awake, stretched lazily. "I don’t know. Maybe just chill out? They’re both gone for a while. How bad can it get?" He didn’t think much of it at first.

He wasn’t exactly enthusiastic about babysitting, but it wasn’t the worst thing in the world. After all, Winn was a good kid—bright, energetic, and mostly harmless.

She wasn’t trouble… right?

For a few minutes, everything was calm. Winn was absorbed in her show that Sousuke helped put on, and Sousuke could already feel the familiar pull of boredom starting to take over. But just as he was about to head to the kitchen for a drink, he heard a crash.

Winn, in her usual spirited way, had decided to try to climb onto a piece of furniture—a tall, ornate chair by the window, which clearly wasn’t meant for such activities. The crash echoed through the mansion.

Sousuke rushed over just in time to see her on the floor, her hands gripping the chair legs as she looked up at him with wide, guilty eyes.

"Oh no…" she muttered, her face red.Sousuke stifled a groan. "What did I tell you about the chandelier?" he asked, crossing his arms.Winn’s face fell. "I wasn’t going for the chandelier! I was just trying to see if I could climb up to the window!"

Sousuke sighed, trying not to laugh at the absurdity of it all. "Why do you always have to climb everything? You’re going to break something."

"I’m sorry," Winn said, her tone more sincere now, though she still looked a little embarrassed.

Sousuke shook his head, deciding that the damage wasn’t too bad. "Alright, no harm done. Just… no more climbing, alright?"

Winn nodded vigorously, looking like she’d learned her lesson.

But as soon as he turned his back, another loud crash came from the hallway, followed by a string of giggles.

Sousuke whipped around to find that Winn had now knocked over a vase on the hallway table, her face now a mix of panic and excitement.

Sousuke stood there for a long moment, blinking. "��を壊してどうするの？(What is it with you and breaking things?)" he muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair.

Winn looked up at him, clearly enjoying his reaction. “I wasn’t trying to break it!” she protested.

Sousuke stepped over to the fallen vase, inspecting it for any serious damage. “Okay, okay, no more chaos. We’re done with the breaking stuff phase.”

Just as he tried to sort out the mess, Winn darted off toward the stairs, calling, "Race you to the top!"

Sousuke froze. "いや—！(No－!)" But it was too late. She was already halfway up the staircase, and with a resigned sigh, he followed her.

It wasn’t long before Sousuke realized that watching Winn was going to be more exhausting than he’d thought.

From racing through the halls to knocking over bookshelves, the day turned into a whirlwind of chaos.

As Sousuke struggled to manage the chaos Winn created at the mansion, Giorgio found himself deep in the heart of a chilling new case.His morning had started as usual, but the message from the police commissioner had been anything but routine: "A body’s been found. It’s tied to your old cases."

Giorgio had rushed to the address—a modest suburban house long abandoned after its owners had disappeared four years ago. The air was thick with tension as he stepped inside, the walls of the home blanketed in dust and peeling wallpaper.

His steps echoed through the eerily silent halls, the memories of Owen Christopher’s disappearance heavy on his mind.

Owen had been the first child to go missing in a series of abductions that spanned the last four years. Giorgio had been chasing leads since the beginning, but the trail always went cold. Now, the sight that greeted him in Owen’s childhood bedroom stopped him dead in his tracks.

The boy’s skeletal remains lay curled up on the bed, his tiny frame eerily preserved in the stillness of the room. Beside him was a sketch, crude but unmistakable—it was a portrait of Owen, smiling with a message above that said "Happy Birthday, O.C."

This was the same sketch that was mailed to Owen’s parents on his birthday right before he disappeared.

Giorgio stepped closer, his breath catching in his throat. The room was hauntingly untouched, as if frozen in time. A thin layer of dust coated everything, adding an oppressive weight to the scene.

"Owen Christopher," Giorgio whispered, his voice low and heavy with guilt. He clenched his fists, his mind replaying the countless nights he had spent trying to solve this case.

The bathroom door creaked open slightly as Giorgio turned to inspect the rest of the house.

He felt a chill crawl up his spine as he stepped into the small space. The air was damp, and the mirror was cracked, but what truly caught his attention was the message scrawled in red across the bathroom wall.

"Say hi to Sousuke and his brother for me, Giorgio Holmes."

The handwriting was jagged and chaotic, as if it had been written in a frenzy. Giorgio’s jaw tightened as he read the words, his eyes narrowing. The taunt was deliberate, mocking, and personal. The killer knew him and Sousuke.

He stepped back, surveying the scene with meticulous care. The killer had left the body here intentionally—it wasn’t just about Owen. It was a message to Giorgio, a twisted game designed to reel him in.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, snapping him out of his thoughts. It was a call from the commissioner.

"Have you found anything?" the commissioner asked, his tone sharp.

Giorgio’s voice was grim. "The body is Owen Christopher's. And there’s a message… addressed to me."

"Damn it." The commissioner’s voice was heavy with frustration. "They’re taunting us."

"They’re taunting me," Giorgio corrected, his voice cold. "This is personal. Whoever did this has been watching me for years."

"Do you think it’s the same person behind the other disappearances?”

“I’m certain of it,” Giorgio replied. “This isn’t random. They’ve been planning this for a long time.”

As he ended the call, Giorgio’s mind raced. He needed to figure out who was behind this—and fast.

By the time Albie returned later that afternoon, she found the mansion in an uproar.

Every room seemed to have been a target for Winn’s adventures.

Chairs were knocked over, a picture frame had been taken down and propped up upside-down, shattered glass everywhere, and a lot of other messes made by Winn.

Albie stood in the doorway, looking over the scene in disbelief. "What happened here?!"

Sousuke, clearly exhausted, flopped down on the couch with a sigh. "疲れたよ...。(I'm so tired...)"

Winn, proudly standing near the wreckage, looked at her with a big grin. “I was just having fun! It’s not my fault Sousuke wasn’t paying attention!"

Albie’s eyes widened as she glanced between Sousuke and the mess. “You were supposed to be keeping an eye on her.”

Sousuke groaned. “I tried. But…”

Albie gave him an incredulous look. "But what?"

“ウインは目茶苦茶！(Winn was so chaotic!)” he yelled out.Albie couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all.

"Come on, let's clean all of this up before Giorgio comes home"

A long, skeptical look as she folded her arms "Try me," she said, her tone sharp.

"She was like a tornado!" Sousuke said "She goes from watching cartoons to knocking over expensive vases and spilling orange juice on the carpet!"

Winn giggled, clearly unbothered by the scolding atmosphere.Albie pinched the bridge of her nose, suppressing a smile despite herself. "Winn, you can't just turn this place into your personal playground. Giorgio will lose his mind if he sees this."

"He’s going to lose more than his mind—he’s going to lose half his net worth when he sees the damage!" Sousuke exclaimed.

Winn’s face fell slightly. "I didn’t mean to mess up... It was just... boring without everyone else around."

Albie softened at that, crouching down to meet Winn’s gaze. "I get it. But this isn’t our house, remember? We have to respect it."

Winn nodded solemnly. "Okay. No more climbing... or racing... or touching stuff."

Sousuke mumbled, "それを見たら信じるよ。(I’ll believe it when I see it.)"

"How about this," Albie offered. "Next time, we’ll plan something fun to do together. But for now, you’re helping us clean this up."

Winn groaned, dragging her feet but eventually picking up a broom.

Giorgio stepped into the mansion, his shoes clicking sharply against the hardwood floors. He froze at the sight of the devastation.

The shattered glass glittered on the floor like confetti, paintings were crooked or had crashed to the ground entirely, and in the middle of the living room, an unmistakable orange stain marred the pristine white carpet.

His eyes widened, and his jaw tightened as he slowly turned his gaze to Albie. "What. Happened. Here?"

Albie, holding a broom, froze mid-sweep. She opened her mouth to answer, but before she could, Winn beat her to it.

"It wasn’t that bad earlier!" Winn chirped, holding a dustpan with the kind of innocence that only a mischievous child could muster.Giorgio turned to her, his face transforming into a mask of exasperated disbelief. "Not that bad? Not that bad?!" His voice was rising with each word, becoming more dramatic by the second as he gestured wildly at the chaos around him.

"There’s glass everywhere, my carpet is ruined, and what did you do to the paintings?! Do you have any idea how much those cost?!"

Winn bit her lip, nervously trying to conjure an excuse. "I didn’t mean to knock over everything... It just sorta happened!"

"Sorta happened?" Giorgio’s voice rose, nearly reaching a crescendo of incredulity. He flung his arms out as if presenting the scene to the universe itself. "Look at this place! My home! It’s ruined! Do you understand that? This is not a playground, Winn! This is my sanctuary! What’s next? Bring in a herd of elephants?"

Winn’s lower lip wobbled, and she dramatically sniffled, her eyes welling with tears. "I... I didn’t mean to upset you, Giorgio. I just wanted to have fun..." Her voice cracked, her gaze softening into one of wide-eyed innocence that would melt even the hardest hearts.

Albie shot her a pointed, knowing look, muttering under her breath, "Oh, here we go."

But Giorgio, ever the soft touch when it came to emotional displays, blinked rapidly as his stern facade began to crack. His anger wavered, and with a sharp exhale, he ran a hand through his hair. "I... I shouldn’t have yelled," he said, his voice now unrecognizable, softer, and laden with guilt. "I’m sorry for scaring you, alright?"

Winn sniffed again, her eyes sparkling with the threat of more tears, and nodded slowly, her lips trembling as if her entire world had just been righted. "Okay," she whispered.

Albie, still holding the broom, hid a smirk behind the handle, rolling her eyes at Giorgio’s dramatic shift.

"Alright," Giorgio said, taking a deep, theatrical breath. He clapped his hands together in an exaggerated motion, clearly trying to regain his composure. "Let’s finish cleaning up. And, Winn?"

"Yes?" she asked sweetly, her voice syrupy with the kind of charm that only a child who knew how to manipulate a situation could muster.

"No more climbing furniture, no more racing through the house, and no more spilling things, alright?" Giorgio's voice was firm, but there was a soft edge to it now, like a man defeated by the full force of his own emotions.

"Deal!" Winn chirped with an innocent grin as she skipped toward the broom Albie had abandoned.

As Giorgio knelt down to pick up a shard of glass, Albie leaned over and whispered, "You do know she was faking, right?"

Giorgio blinked in disbelief, his eyes flickering from Winn to Albie "What?"

Albie gave him a dry look. "She was playing you, Giorgio. Big time."

Giorgio’s jaw dropped. "How dare she!" His voice was a mixture of mock outrage and genuine shock, and he threw his hands up dramatically, causing Winn to scurry away from him.

"Oh, she’s good," he muttered, half-laughing to himself. "I’ll give her that. Very good."

Albie shrugged. "Welcome to my world."

As Giorgio watched Winn humming while sweeping—more interested in avoiding work than actually cleaning—he couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle. "She is a little menace, isn’t she?"

Sousuke, lounging on the couch, groaned dramatically. "俺に言っているのか。(You’re telling me.)"

Giorgio, his earlier frustration fading, raised his glass in mock exasperation. "To surviving tornadoes, figuratively."

The warmth of the moment lingered, the chaos of the day transforming into a shared, albeit somewhat strange, memory.

[etoiledunord]

Genuine question from a confused Canadian. I keep seeing all these news stories about voter registration purges in the US, and people encouraging others to make sure they’re registered like they might have just vanished from the list overnight. So I’m wondering: How do US citizens get registered to vote in the first place?

In Alberta, the Canadian province where I live, I was once employed as an enumerator by the government. I was paid to go around from door to door making sure people were registered to vote, correcting any registration errors, and registering those who were 16 and 17 and would soon be eligible to vote for the first time. (People could also register online.) I had a little tablet with custom software on it that sync’d with the government registry, but previously paper forms were used. The government paid thousands of people to do this over the course of a month so that no residence was missed.

Is this not a thing in the US? Is there no proactive way to make sure all eligible people can vote? How do people get on the registries to start with if the government isn’t checking their own records for accuracy using human eyes? I’m very confused.

[allthecanadianpolitics]

Hi! Hopefully it's ok if I send an ask abt this lmao- I'm having trouble finding any information online that I can understand. TLDR do you/your followers know what the regulations around wheelchair accessible buildings are? Ideally for Alberta specifically but Canada as a whole is fine too.

I'm expecting to be in a wheelchair by the end of summer, but the condo/apartment building I'll be moving into also at the end of summer is entirely inaccessible- multiple steps, no ramp, no automatic doors, nothing. At this point I don't have the ability to find a new place to live, so I'm wondering if the building is required to have a ramp, and whether or not I could file a complaint or request one installed and have it be within my rights. Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated; I've been looking for hours and cannot find anything I can process lol. Thank you!

~~~~

[mistressofthemystery]

As a highly sensitive autistic woman living with EDS and CPTSD, the public healthcare in Canada is an absolute fkin joke.

Gynecological and hormonal issues?

*Wait 1 yr on a waiting list to see gynecologist*

Gynocologist: take birth control, also are you thinking of having a baby?

Me: wtf? I waited for a year for you to tell me birthcontrol is the only solution you can offer me? And wtf are you asking me wither or not I want a baby? I'm over here trying desperately to get my health in a better place, the last thing on my mind is wither or not I plan on having a family. I'm not sure if I'm gonna live or die at this point! Or to which degree of physical misery awaits me in the future if ya'll can't help me figure this shit out! Do I want a baby?! I want to be alive and well enough to even consider dating first!!! 😠

Ffwd to the EDS doctor two yrs later:

EDS doctor: they're not testing your hormones properly, you need to have tests at more specific times of your cycle to get an accurate enough portrait of what's going on. Don't take those random tests too seriously, it's not comprehensive enough.

Ffwd 2 months to endocrinologist:

Endocrinologist: take birth control. Normally I see issues like this relating to obesity but you're not obese, your test results are OK.

Me: my EDS doctor said they're not comprehensive and you need to do better testing.

Endocrinologist: no, it's fine I just calculate averages 🤔 all I can offer you is birth control or to meet with our dietician who offers a paid program.

Ffwd my family doc:

Doc: So have you considered getting a hysterectomy?

Me: why is the most invasive and brutal option even being brought up when we don't even know what's going on?! This is insane. Birthcontrol or rip out my uterus, but God forbid we figure out what's actually causing the issues.

This is just ONE of the chronic health problems I've been managing. I also have EDS related crippling nerve related chronic pain causing severe and scary full body pain episodes.

Wtf Canada? Wtf Alberta?

Make alternative medicine accessible! Prescription drugs are not the answer. Birth control is not the answer. Stop slapping bandaids on bullet holes. No wonder why they introduced MAID.

[actuallyadhd]

Hi, I wonder if you have any recommendations on sleeping schedules, I always fall asleep way too late (4am) so I end up waking up past noon, it’s a mess for holding a job and being a “functional adult” in general.

I’ve had this issue my whole life, even as a young kid I would struggle with mornings, but now I have to pay rent so I’m running out of options.

Also, any tip about getting to places on time would be super appreciated.

Thanks for all the info <3

Sent September 28, 2023

Sleep can be really hard. I don't usually go to bed until the wee hours myself, but I blame that on menopause more than anything else, since it wasn't a thing before.

When I had trouble with sleep as a young adult, it was usually because I'd gotten hyperfocused on something and forgot that sleep is good.

What I've found is that having a really basic bedtime routine can help a lot, and I try to follow the same sequence of events regardless of what time I finally start heading to bed. This helps remind my brain and my body that sleep is good, and makes it more likely to happen.

You might have to play around a bit to find what works best for you, but mine is as follows:

Realize I'm sleepy

Feed my guinea pigs

Use the bathroom

Change into pyjamas

Do some puzzles (e.g., Sudoku) until I'm falling asleep while trying to solve them

Some people read until they're falling asleep, but I can't read before bed because I hyperfocus on words and will stay up all night reading.

If you really can't figure out a way to get yourself to bed earlier, look for work that will fit into your sleep schedule. Things like night security, convenience store staff, etc. could work really well for you.

Being on time for things is hard, and different strategies work for different people.

When I was struggling most with being on time, I tried all the things everyone says to do: I had a designated spot to keep things like my keys and my wallet, I set alarms, etc. But I was still late.

Eventually, I figured out that it doesn't matter how ready I am, when I need to leave I will putter around for a while before actually walking out the door. There's always "just one more thing" that I "need" to do before I go. I timed myself, and I was puttering for an hour every time.

So I figured out what time I needed to leave in order to arrive on time (I was living in Calgary, Alberta, at the time, and it took about half an hour to drive anywhere I needed to be), and then I added an hour on to that and adjusted my alarms. I had one go off an hour before I needed to be on my way, and another go off when I needed to be in the car.

Another thing that really helped was having someone message me or call me when I should be on my way, particularly if I was giving them a ride.

These days, most of my things are with friends. I message or text them when I'm leaving, since that tells them when to expect me (I live in the country and am half an hour from the city). This helps deal with frustration and lets them know that I do, in fact, value their time. I'm not late because I don't care, I'm late because time isn't real.

Followers, do you have any thoughts on these issues? How do you deal with matters of sleep and timeliness?

-J

[cbsghostsmetasandtrevor]

CBS Ghosts Pilot - Ghosts Meet Sam & Jay Part 2

And now to the ghosts focus of the scene.

What’s interesting in the two gifs above is that you can see Flower, Pete and Trevor (IE the youngest ghosts), are all super happy and excited to see the new comers.  It’s quite different to the older ghosts - Thor, Sass, Isaac, and Hetty - who probably know what it’s like not to have the run of the place and how difficult it can be for their afterlives, hence not being terribly happy.  

Despite boredom, the older ghosts seem more content in having no livings around rather than looking for life to entertain them.

Also, HOW did I not notice that Alberta isn’t in this scene?  Where did she go?? WHY isn't she curious about these new comers??? Was she helping Crash? It is only a few minute scene, so maybe.

Six generations from Sam would be her Four Greats Grandmother, yes? Hetty is Three greats, so that means Hetty's parents built the house, interesting. Probably sometime in the 1800s.

I love how excited Flower is for Hetty, which is hilarious due to Hetty’s response.

It's interesting the looks on the ghosts faces for this - Sass knows that it's been difficult for Hetty to watch her family over the years. Sp he looks at her to see how she'll react.

Meanwhile, Pete looks very excited for her, too. I wonder if this is because he wishes that he could know about his daughter and family and watch over them. (I assume this based on several later episodes, he clearly wishes that he died somewhere that they would visit).

There’s two things are interesting here - first, that Hetty is immediately against Sam due to a ‘saucy’ hairdo, which seems odd considering that she didn’t want  the house to go to random people.  On the other hand, perhaps she feels this way because it’s difficult to watch your offspring make mistakes (well, what you consider mistakes) and not be able to help in any way.  This comes up later in Family Business.  So, I may be onto something.

Second, she’s holding onto Trevor here.  It’s interesting to me - not just as a shipper - because throughout the serious we see her hold onto three of the men ghosts - Isaac (which makes sense as her oldest friend), Sass (once in Ghost Writer), and Trevor (here, in Possession, in Thorapy, In Trevor’s Pants - not sure about others).  The ones BEFORE finding out he's a "good guy" are the most interesting. Because she must've had some inkling that he's not that bad or there must've been something about him that made her feel comfortable here.

That OR since he's really into touch - like his love language is obviously touch and he can touch things, maybe she saw that and figured - easy person to hang onto.

Now it’s also interesting because I wonder if she connected with Trevor over losing Sophie - as he’s the only saddened one in that scene as I mentioned before) and if they had a better relationship before pilot.  Because (and I’ll get into this later), it’s clear that there is a change in their relationship from the pilot in the next few episodes, so I wonder what lead to the closeness before (or if I’m imagining it) - could it be knowing Sophie & David or was it something else? Could this be her way of connecting to someone who's also connected to her family?

Isaac and Sass are quick to focus on whether or not there’s room for them.  Something that is stark contrast to the younger ghosts that are just excited for life. They clearly are on a wavelength where they ONLY care about the effect of the living on their afterlives. I have to wonder if this is an effect of being a ghost for SO long that you stop caring about life and entertainment. You just get to a point where you're okay just hanging out with your fellow ghosts.

The gif of Trevor and Hetty is a weird gif because I’m wondering why he moved like that?  It’s actually what drew my attention to her holding onto him. Also, what's with Pete's look at him?

What’s really interesting here is that Isaac obviously didn’t have much of an attachment to Sophie - just old lady bedridden, which was great for the ghosts. I totally understand why the ghosts feel this way, but at the same time - ouch to Hetty, whose own BFF doesn’t seem to care that she’s kind of grieving right now?  Plus, they didn't grow attached to Sophie at all? I mean, they watched her for her whole life - given the thing we learn with Thor's closeness to Baby Hetty, I have to wonder if they PURPOSELY keep their distance after a while because they get hurt when the person grows up and dies.

I made myself sad. Anyway...

Okay, this is hilarious.  They are literally ALL voyeurs.  Pete sets up the whole “watching them” thing, and we know what Trevor’s thinking, but like - okay, they ALL do it, and Pete and Hetty are both acting like they don’t.  The look Hetty Hetty gives him is SO great.  

(This is especially funny because Hetty’s probably offended that he wants to watch HER relative, and then in Trevor’s Body, despite the fact that she’s sleeping with him, watches his parents have sex).  

Although TBF to Pete, he was ASTOUNDED the other ghosts watched Trevor's parents, so maybe he doesn't. And I suppose Hetty needed her awakening first... BUT the others give Trev trouble about it, too.

Honestly, it’s so interesting to me that they give him such BS for it when they all do it - an example of baby ghost syndrome.  They tease him because he’s the “youngest”.  Poor guy.  I'm hoping after TB, he put a stop to that.

It's interesting that Sam brought a sage with her before even seeing the house. She's like "It's old, therefore, I should be prepared".

I love that Trevor immediately looks at the older ghosts (Hetty in particular), because my boy is like “oh no - what’s going on?”  You can really tell that he is still pretty new to the whole being a ghost thing. He's obviously expecting the others to know more. And hoping they'll know what to do.

Also, it's fun that Jay's obviously not a believer while Sam IS.

I love the gif of the three as Trevor does his weird movement, too.  They’re like curious and yet, cautious.  Plus I love that these three all have different looks on their faces.  

Hetty's making a frowning face. Pete's curious. Trevor's like cautiously curious. It's Awesome.

I will say this a lot, but this cast is AWESOME with background faces. They are SO DAMN Good. So much happens in the background and I love it.

I love that Sam is already a believer.  This scene establishes just why she’s so willing to assume that ghosts are real and it’s not just a figment of her imagination.  It’s also interesting that Jay is a non-believer but by the finale of Season 1 he’s like “curses are real” without any proof.

OMG, I love this reaction.  They’re all like “Ah, oh no.”  

Trevor literally jumps back as he turns to Hetty/Isaac, Isaac mimics Trevor jumping back while Hetty either attempts to reach out to Isaac or protect Flower and Sass?  I’m leaning towards the first option.  And the others are just kind of like “maybe gasp, whatever.”

But Still, I totally love that they all react uncertainly. It's a sign that without knowing about the ghosts, Sam's already impacting their lives.

Okay I have to love that A) Pete’s down to smell it despite the fact that it was to “ward off evil spirits” and B) that as soon as he discovers that it doesn’t do anything bad, they all chase after them.

Sam should totally invest in more Sages to keep the ghosts out of her hair.  

Two things before I end - 1 I LOVE that you can tell they clearly refilmed these scene just because how Trevor was before Thor and then after Thor in one gif.  

2.  I love that this sage smells like something different to everyone.  It’s very interesting because it’s basically what attracts them.  Also, love that they bring the Sage back up in Ghost Trap - Sam should totally buy a bunch to make the ghost leave her alone.

Anyway - end of scene.  Feel free to hit me up if you want to discuss it.  

[jmagnabo92]

CBS Ghosts - Pilot - Library Scene

This scene is always interesting to me for many reasons, but one of them is the fact that the ghosts go from “hey maybe it’d be nice to have life around again” to “damn it we need to get rid of them” real fast.  Another is the key elements of the group’s dynamic that is visible throughout the series.  

Specifics Below:

I love that Sam’s so excited about the library because (as we learned pretty much right away) she’s a writer.  Those things usually go hand in hand.  I only wish we saw more of her reading/enjoying the library. 

Okay, I love this tidbit.  You can see that Isaac and Thor are looking at Hetty as if waiting for her to confirm that (because they have probably witnessed it), while Pete’s giving her a WTF look because he wouldn’t have witnessed it.

Also, I love the “cartoon Evil” thing since when we meet Elias, he literally feels like cartoon evil - he even twirls his mustache, evilly.

I love that they establish that Flower is bisexual early on, she brings it up and a lot, and I like to think she and Trevor bonded over their openness regarding sex.  Also, knowing what we know, Thor’s side-eye is interesting.  He mentions boat rules later on, and has a crush on Flower, so he probably finds a connection there, despite not ever talking about it, but a lot can be conveyed in just his look.

Hetty, meanwhile, is looking at her like “are you serious” because despite living with Flower for 50 years, has not been opened up yet.  

This is hilarious - Hetty, why are you offended?  Clearly, you know your home has been falling apart for ages.  Isaac’s side eye is hilarious.  Like “oh here we go”.

Aw. it’s no wonder Pete gets along so well with Sam and Jay - he’s a lot like Sam!  Obviously, Jay likes that about Sam, so it makes sene that he’d like that about Pete.

It’s so cute that they’re coming around to enjoying the possibility of the couple living there.  Although of these four it seems evenly divided on rooting / not rooting for them.

I love that Isaac is the most freaked out in this scene.  Everyone gasps, but Isaac is freaked out the most.  Which is interesting because as of 100 years previously, Woodstone was a hotel wasn’t it?  Alberta mentions that she wasn’t allowed to stay there because of racism, and that she carried her trunk the night she preformed, so ... Doesn’t that mean, it wasn’t always just the family’s house?  Also, note for the ones below - if it was, wouldn’t Thor KNOW????  

Interesting....

I love that their imaginations kind of run wild.  There’s ALOT of people in this vision.  But I can’t see a place like the B&B being THAT busy.  

Also, side note, I love how they’re all running around like chickens with their heads cut off.

LMAO I love Hetty’s response here.  Pete’s like “My death was the worst” and she’s like “OMG man give it up” - this is even funnier when you put it with her response to Alberta “You had a heart attack - not murdered” and “not this again”.  

Also, I wonder - since Pete/Alberta are the only two to constantly bring up their deaths, if the older ghosts find that annoying?  Like are they bothered that Pete/Alberta had most specific/special deaths or just talking about their deaths in general.  Like they believe you have to let it go after a while, but Alberta’s been dead like 90 years and Pete 40 years and yet, they always bring it up.

I may need to check, but I think Flower’s the only other one to mention her death more than once that might NOT get eye rolls from Hetty/Isaac, specifically, although others do it, too.  

I wonder if there’s a certain ghost age that you pass where you stop thinking/bringing it up if it’s irrelevant?  

Going to pause here for a second - Thor always suggests killing them, and the funniest part isn’t that it isn’t right to kill them to Alberta, it’s that Alberta straight up says “We can’t do it - physically”.  Like they have this conversation more than once.  At least here & in Jay’s sister.  

It’s interesting because Thor & Alberta have a rather opposite sort of dynamic.  Like not rivals, but they definitely have this - can’t agree with you dynamic.  And they’re sort of the first pairing to show this dynamic.  

Also, love Pete assuming that Alberta’s objection is because it’s wrong.  It’s like he doesn’t know her at all.

OMG I love that Alberta goes into SPECIFICS of the types of deaths she’s been aware of or a part of, and Trevor and Hetty go from agreeing via nods to “WTF are you talking about?”  And Alberta shrugs and says “you hear things”.

LMAO at Hetty being “cartoon evil” per Sam earlier and then Alberta’s murders are definitely “cartoon evil”- esqe.  

Damn, Alberta.  Also, totally love the moment between Trevor and Alberta here because he doesn’t say anything, but he’s supportive until he questions where she’s getting her ideas.  Like, girl?  What did you do in life - serial killer?

I like Pete’s expression, too.  What draws him to Alberta?  Opposites attract? 

I wonder about these things Isaac says a lot.  Do we think he knows he’s into men, but trying to hide it or convince himself otherwise?  Because it seems that way here, but later on, it’s almost like he’s completely unaware and only realizing it in Thorapy.

Okay, love Isaac, but a major beef for me is that no one brings up him objectifying Jay while everyone gives Trevor crap for it whenever he says someone’s hot.

I love that it’s the “Baby” of the ghosts that comes up with this plan.  It makes sense that he would do it considering he’s watched movies like “ghost busters” and he’s probably been into scary movies in life.  

It’s interesting to me that he reminds them that “we’re ghosts, we can haunt” because I often wonder, especially as we see Trevor interact with the living world if he FORGETS that he’s a ghost at times.  

I also love the support he gets from Alberta and Hetty.  Alberta is nodding along with the idea, while Hetty seems impressed.  I do think that it’s interesting that he’s so excited about having an idea and being taken seriously.

We KNOW from later episodes that he DOESN’T get taken seriously due to his pants issues, so it’s GREAT and exciting for him to be taken seriously to the point where his idea is implemented.  

It shows a lot about the group as well.  

Okay, I love this right here.  You can see that Sass is being listened to and given that he’s the second oldest ghost, it makes sense.  He’s combating the youngest ghosts’ probably rash plan and being listened to.  It establishes a lot in the dynamics.  We see Isaac as the “commanding officer” but Sass seemingly has more authority just by the way everyone seems to listen to him.  Is it his age as a ghost?  or is it his ability to tell a great story?  Hmm-mm.

I also love that this is the SECOND pairing to establish a rivals/don’t like to agree set up from the pilot - Sass & Trevor.  Trevor comes up with an idea that Sass says feels wrong, and as we learn in LL, Sass DELIBERATELY chooses the OPPOSITE side to Trevor’s whenever he can.  

We see this especially later on in Season 1 where there are SEVERAL episodes of a brotherly dynamic, that I will get into later on, but this is the first instance and it’s in the pilot - so I LOVE it.  I do have to wonder if it’s because they’re different in many ways - Sass is reserved about sex/Trevor is open about it.  Trevor is fun loving, party bro/Sass is the quiet writer.  Ect.  

Also, I wonder how this dynamic happened given that Sass was actually impressed by Trevor knowing his secret all those years.  I want more on these two.

I really wish we got more into the opposite (not close) relationships like Sass/Trevor and Alberta/Thor.  

This is so great, we see some interesting reactions to Sass getting walked through.  

A) there’s Isaac protecting himself, hands up and all (and not trying to get Sass out of the way) - that’s another interesting dynamic while 

B) Hetty/Alberta (and Pete?) cringe away and then there’s 

C) Trevor/Flower (and Thor?) are yelling to warn Sass about Jay walking through him again.  

This is interesting to me because they all know how much it SUCKS and HURTS, and yet, those in close proximity to Sass don’t try to save him from it, and it’s two of the younger ghosts trying to warn him.  

Also WTF, when did Sam and Jay leave the scene?  The way the ghosts are standing - this would’ve already happened, no?

Rough reactions.  Trevor looks like he’s going to be sick.  Poor Sass.

Okay, they’re all pretty excited about Sass agreeing (and as the second oldest ghost if he hadn’t relented, I wonder if they wouldn’t have done it), but I love Trevor’s response the best.  Everyone is like “yay” and there’s Trevor jumping up and down like a puppy excited for a walk.

He and Alberta are having a freaking party in their little corner and I love it!

Also, interesting similar hand gestures with the older ghosts.  

Anyway, this is fun - Puppy Trevor to the rescue with a plan.

Although, I get the Ghosts being like “fuck they have to leave” after the hotel vision that Isaac gives - I have to say, hindsight is 20-20, they would’ve been so bored very quickly & probably WISHED someone lived there, BUT without the haunting, Sam wouldn’t know they exist so would that have been better?  

It’s all very interesting.

[fyodior]

i would like to speak to ❄️ anon (if they do not mind) and recommend sk8 first. I LOVE WINDBREAKER BUT SK8 IS JUST SO CUTE AND FUN AND IT HAS GREAT CHARACTERS AND A GOOD STORY. if ur like me and prefer story and the people and stuff over action id also recommend sk8 first. i am very biased towards sk8 despite loving both. both are short tho so it wont take long to watch them. i just really like sk8 (im also slightly biased bc canadian character and im from canada so i just find it extra fun to see like. humour about that. im not even that devoted to my country, i just dont often see canadian characters in media that isnt canadian unless theyre for the butt of the joke)

also miss flora, if ur reading this, i know how you said you wonder what state the guild is from but i always wonder what province/territory (and sometimes city) langa is from. like i dont think hed be from ontario, especially not toronto. i dont think hed be from a major city like vancouver. he seems to have enjoyed living in canada too much to have lived in quebec (ik ur americans so for context, quebec is the very french province. they generally hate all of canada and pretty much all of canada hate them too. except 18yr olds bc the legal drinking age there is a year younger so they have to put up w 18yr olds visiting just to get drunk.) i honestly think hed be from farther north, lots more places for him to ski. i think its be really funny if he was from one of the territories or like. alberta.

- 💄

yes thats a very good comparison of the two!!! they are both only 12 eps (if i remember wbk correctly) so not long watches at all but it just depends on if you’re preferring story or action.

and honestly i completely forgot langa was canadian LMFAO thats such a good character trait for him 😭 also i love when animes hand us a very obviously japanese native level fluent VA and are like. they’re from canada. suspension of disbelief is key

interesting take tho!! you’re right i know nothing about canada but i like your thought process!! itd be kinda sexy tho if he was from qbc and could speak french too……..

[finishinglinepress]

NEW FROM FINISHING LINE PRESS: Sisters of the Protectress—A Creation Story by Darlene St. Georges and Alexandra Fidyk

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https://www.finishinglinepress.com/product/sisters-of-the-protectress-creation-story-by-darlene-st-georges-and-alexandra-fidyk/

darlene st. georges is a creation-centred artist|scholar. She is associate professor of art education at the University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. Her theoretical and practice-based research is rooted in emergent and generative knowledge and knowing that honours the inward and creative ways being and knowing––living literacies expressed through aesthetic translations of voice, breath, body, and spirit.

alexandra fidyk, award winning transdisciplinary scholar and teacher, serves as professor in the Faculty of Education, University of Alberta, Canada. Through somatic, relational, poetic and creative-centred processes, her research engages with teachers and youth on issues of place, suffering, wellbeing, and love. Her writing continues to be influenced by the long sky of Saskatchewan.

#poetry #creationstory #poems #readinglist

PRAISE FOR Sisters of the Protectress—A Creation Story by Darlene St. Georges and Alexandra Fidyk

Lavish here. Let wash. We wee humans need images adequate to hold us open into this earth body of ours, and here they are, written out. Spaced. Placed. Hoarse cawed. This very same body as the Crows crow, the plants plant, the air offers. Sun-drenched jaws. Bears themselves dreaming us over ambles downhill. This book brooks words. Images. Dreams. darlene’s. alex’s. mine. yours, readers. Watch out, though. These possessive cases can easily betray us. These words and their readings are co-inhabitants with the full scatters and splays of breaths, of wonders. These seeds up yesterday morning, little heralds. Listen. This book will help you smell the sun in them. Let the spaces last exactly as long as you need. Slow over them. Let them be exacting. Me. My grandson in arms. Me in his, too. Look! Crow. Bear. Seed-springings. Thank you for this gathering up. I gather up, go plant.

–David Jardine, Professor Emeritus in Retiracy, currently undergoing an Early Childhood Education

Let yourself be suspended and traverse the land and sky through this creation story, Sisters of the Proctress, marinated in the poetic and primordial. St. Georges and Fidyk invite us into dwelling in worlds between the interior, imaginal, primal, and sacred where the reader inhabits the terrain where spirit and body thrive. Here, one can dream themselves alive as they say, and ruminate in layers of wisdom and insight where the ancestors’ live and hope resides. This poetic book is a journey in and of itself where an aesthetic sensibility touches the heart and reminds one that place is imbedded within mystery and keeps calling us home to awe. Beautifully and sensitively written and designed, they call forth what the bodysoul yearns for.

–Celeste Snowber, PhD. Professor/Poet/Performer, author of Embodied inquiry: Writing, living and being through the body. Simon Fraser University

In Sisters of the Protectress: A Creation Story, Darlene St. Georges and Alexandra Fidyk weave together stories of Bear Woman and Crow Mother to, as they say, “cross the celestial veil to ignite the imaginative and mythological realms.” In Crow’s return and Bear’s reawakening, imaginaries appear and disappear as exquisite voices. Evocative drawings alongside the spare poetic text create mirrored, shadowed lives—giving testimony and bearing witness. “Not everything that goes / leaves a trail” St. Georges and Fidyk write, concluding “we need more Storytellers.” In this gorgeous hybrid format, these lyrical sister-voices give shape to that process.

–Laura Apol, author of A Fine Yellow Dust, winner of the Midwest Book award for poetry

In this visual|poetic creation story, Darlene St. Georges and Alexandra Fidyk pay homage to Bear Woman and Crow Mother. This “hybridity of fur and feather” aligns with the “imperceptible rhythms / that ignite imaginaries.” Narrative and lyricism combine gracefully. This evocation deepens our connection with earth and sky, waking and dreaming, inner and outer worlds. And we emerge humbled and humane. “Calling the Ancestors—” and at once the “Ancestors are calling—” Images of Crow and Bear spaciously move with words and phrases to create a powerful sense of renewal. “Unearthing tongues between worlds,” Sisters of Protectress draws on creation-centred and Jungian insights.

Open this book to be pulled into a story from the natural and archetypal worlds which will ignite your spirit.

–Sheila Stewart, author of The Shape of a Throat, University of Toronto Mississauga

Please share/repost #flpauthor #preorder #AwesomeCoverArt #read #poems #literature #poetry

[filmnoirfoundation]

In case you missed it on Facebook, here it is on YouTube.Film Noir Foundation prez Eddie Muller responds to film noir fan questions fielded by the Foundation's Director of Communications Anne Hockens. In this episode, we discuss NOIR CITY 2024, noir musicals, which city in the U.S. was the most noir, children in film noir, “post-modern noir”, and more. We wind up with a spirited discussion about who we would cast in a THE THIN MAN remake. On the cat front, Charlotte is a background player; Emily and Tizzy won’t come out of their trailers.  Want your question answered in a future episode? We solicit questions from our email subscribers in our monthly newsletters. Sign up for free at https://www.filmnoirfoundation.org/signup.htmlEveryone who signs up on our email list and contributes $20 or more to the Film Noir Foundation receives the digital version of NOIR CITY Magazine for a year. Donate here:https://www.filmnoirfoundation.org/contribute.html

This week’s questions:  

1. Is there such a thing as a noir musical? —Loren from Chicago    

2. Which city in the U.S. is or was the most noir, and why? —Kathleen from Chicago  

3. Eddie, do you have a favorite movie studio to visit in L.A.? What studio tour you recommend if one could only take one tour?   —Alan, San Anselmo, CA    

4. I have always wondered about Mildred Pierce’s clothing on the day that she is questioned by the police.  She is wearing a fur coat and fur hat.  Is that normal for LA?  Didn't anyone question the choice?  —Elizabeth   

 5. Since Hollywood was still suffering under the code, I wonder if that was the reason the Dix Steele in IN A LONELY PLACE went from a serial killer in print to just another angry male on the screen.  Maybe it was more of the audience not being willing to see Bogie as a strangler of women. —Mark    

6. Can you recommend noir films that feature children, and were there child actors who appeared in several noirs?—Phil, Dedham MA    

7. I'm wondering if the Foundation or TCM have come across a good Technicolor print of SLIGHTLY SCARLET.—Jerry   

 8. Neo-noir spans more decades than the original classic era. If we consider the beginning of neo-noir to be from 1960 onwards, is it fair to start defining neo-noir into different chunks. For instance, I’m starting to hear chatter that there is a post-modern neo-noir period we are living in. —Brett, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada    

9. I'm wondering your thoughts on BLOW THE MAN DOWN and if you consider it noir.—Ryan, Valley Village, CA    

10. Eddie, what was the first noir film you saw? How old were you, where did you see it, and did you realize there was something “special” about it?—Janet

[travellers-wiki]

5 Best Places to Visit in Canada Canada is a vast country filled with diverse landscapes, vibrant cities, and cultural treasures. Here are five of the best places to visit in Canada: Banff National Park, Alberta: Nestled in the Canadian Rockies, Banff National Park is renowned for its stunning mountain scenery, turquoise lakes, and abundant wildlife. Visitors can explore the picturesque town of Banff, soak in the hot springs, hike scenic trails, and marvel at iconic landmarks like Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. Vancouver, British Columbia: Vancouver offers a perfect blend of urban sophistication and natural beauty. The city is surrounded by mountains and the Pacific Ocean, providing breathtaking views. Explore Stanley Park, visit Granville Island, stroll along the waterfront in Gastown, and enjoy the vibrant culinary scene and diverse cultural attractions. Quebec City, Quebec: As one of North America's oldest cities, Quebec City is a charming and historic destination. Its UNESCO-listed Old Town features cobblestone streets, 17th-century architecture, and the iconic Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. Explore the fortified city walls, visit Place Royale, and immerse yourself in the European charm of the city. Niagara Falls, Ontario: Niagara Falls is a must-see natural wonder shared by both Canada and the United States. The mighty falls, comprised of the Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls, are a spectacular sight. Take a boat tour to experience the falls up close or admire them from observation decks on the Canadian side. St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador: St. John's is the easternmost city in North America and offers a unique blend of history, vibrant culture, and stunning coastal landscapes. Explore the colorful row houses in the Battery neighborhood, visit Signal Hill and Cape Spear, and immerse yourself in the lively music scene and warm hospitality of the locals. These destinations showcase the diverse beauty and experiences that Canada has to offer. From natural wonders to historic cities, Canada provides a wealth of unforgettable experiences for travelers.