#and i sent them a sort of last ditch email back not at all expecting a reply based on how they'd worded their first response

[besnouted]

i may not have many practical skills in life but getting academics on mturk to feel bad about rejecting my work is apparently one of them

[mymelodyheart]

Highland Destiny Chapter 10 ~Spring Has Sprung~

"Ah, Jamie come in, come in...take a seat." Ned Gowan motioned with a wave of his hands as Jamie was ushered into his office by his secretary. "I'm so glad ye can come. I will try and make this as quick as possible."

Ned Gowan, Fraser's family lawyer, had called early Monday morning after the weekend of the ball, urging James Fraser to see him as soon as possible. 

"Ned, ye said it's an emergency?" Jamie shook the elderly man's hand before sitting down. 

Ned Gowan took some papers from his desk drawer and stacked them neatly in a row in front of him. "Aye, it concerns Château Cheval Blanc. I personally think ye should put off the sales of yer shares...weel at least for now until I can establish the validity of my theory. I have reason to believe that our mystery shareholder may soon surface. But before I proceed, I do have a question...do ye know or have ye heard of the name Jonathan Edward Randall? Or if by any chance your uncle mentioned the name in the past."

"Jonathan...Jonathan," Jamie's brow furrowed in concentration as he uttered the name. "Aye, uncle mentioned that name a few times when I worked in his winery as a young lad. An old foe he once said...set on destroying him...I believe that's what uncle said. I understand that this person has been deceased for some time."

Ned's eyes lit up and quickly leafed through one of the stacks of papers. "Hmmm, interesting ye should say that. Firstly, we have a couple of the late Jonathan Edward Randall's lawyers enquiring about yer shares, and I find that quite suspicious considering Randall is long dead. Secondly, not too long ago, we dug up some old business records from Frédéric de Marillac. And as it turned out, Jonathan Edward Randall was once his business associate and long-standing friend. They go a long way back when they were students in Oxford. From your statement, there is a high probability that Frédéric de Marillac had been buying the shares for Jonathan Edward Randall. We have found a copy of one particular shareholder agreement. This contract was especially drawn-up for de Marillac, meaning this did not apply to all shareholders. There are two paragraphs I find highly interesting in de Marillac's contract. First one is, it states here, he may assign a successor to his shares without the approval of the other shareholders and the second one states here that upon the death of the shareholder, the deceased shareholder stocks are to be bequeathed to the next of kin. Yer uncle must have been quite desperate to sign such a contract. Now, Jonathan Edward Randall's next of kin was Franklin Wolverton Randall or also known as Frank Randall."

His thoughts were on Claire and were only half-listening to Ned Gowan when Jamie suddenly sat straight up. "Frank Randall?"

Ned ignored the interruption and carried on. "Now Frank Randall died five years ago and left behind a widow. At the moment we cannot find any documents of the widow's name. It's as if her identity has been erased overnight. This should have been a public record, but we cannot find Frank Randall's marriage certificate. But we did find phone records of de Marillac contacting Frank Randall's former residence. But there are no records of that contact reciprocated. And last but not least, we were able to acquire a bank transfer statement with a substantial amount of money sent to de Marillac. And this money came from Jonathan Edward Randall. To summarise the hypothesis, the money transferred, we believe was used to buy the shares. And because of the agreement signed between your uncle and de Marillac, we have reason to believe that Frank Randall's widow is our elusive shareholder by default. She is Frank Randall's next of kin."

Dhia Claire!   Jamie was dumbfounded. "What is the probability that yer theory is correct? I thought the secret shareholder hold only 15% of the share."

Ned Gowan leaned back on his chair and smiled, looking satisfied with himself. "We found in some old records that the 15% share was under Frank Randall's name, making the probability of my theory very high, but I have a few people investigating and will confirm in the next few days. The good news is if the widow does surface, and we can prove that de Marillac's shares are legally hers, ye can make an attempt to buy it from her. With yer charm and popularity with the ladies, I don't think that should be too difficult for ye. So Jamie lad, what do you propose we do next once we have established the name of our secret shareholder?"

"Sell my shares to the secret shareholder at a fraction of the price, " Jamie answered, his face expressionless.

"What!?!"

..........

Claire got out of her car. She had been expecting the garden to be unkempt and over-grown, but instead, found a well-kept yard with arrays of wildflowers, herbs and spring flowers in full bloom. It had been three weeks since she was last at the cottage and it was on the night before she left for the St. Agnes Charity Ball. Claire had been staying at Joe's, and he was kind enough to let her stay in his apartment, considering he lived half the time at Gail's townhouse. He had insisted Claire stayed for as long as she needed knowing she wasn't in the right place to be alone in the cottage.

Ever since the night she walked away from Jamie, he had been continually trying to reach her via phone, messages, emails and sometimes through her friends. It took a lot of willpower not to succumb to his pleas, but Claire knew she needed the time and space for herself to heal and to sort out her feelings. She had been astounded at the force of her anger and intensity of her pain during that disastrous night. She knew she never wanted to feel that way again.

Geillis had been a blessing throughout the past few weeks. She had taken upon herself to take care of Claire's needs: retrieving a few of her clothes from the cottage and her car, admonishing Jamie for his stupidity and acting as their mediator. Geillis had found out the whole truth after hollering and shouting all sorts of abuse at Jamie when she came to the cottage. He had been silent, contrite and close to tears which was very much a far cry from the self-assured and cocky Jamie she knew from all the years she had known him. And of course, there was that headline news from the Daily Mail, much to the horror of Claire, plastered on the front page, DISTILLERY KING DITCHES FIANCEE FOR LADY IN RED. There were two photos under the headline. One was of a scowling Jamie dragging Annalise and another of Claire and Jamie kissing.  Bloody tacky journalistic piece of shit!  She had thought then.

"Claire, what do ye want to do? Ye cannae hide here forever. Do ye love him?" Geillis had asked one evening over takeaway dinner.

"Oh, I do Geillis. I wouldn't be in this mess if I didn't. But I'm scared... too scared..."

"Och come here." Geillis had gathered Claire to her arms. "Listen, hen, it's reasonable to be scared, but runnin' away wilnae help. I've known Jamie since he was a wee laddie. Ah ken he'd done a lot of stupid things in th' past, but he'd done a lot of good too, like puttin' a lot of money in St. Agnes' restoration an' other stuff like that. He's got a big heart, an' th' media hae portrayed him a playboy. Sure he had other women in th' past, but ah have ne'er seen him in such a state before. He's in love wi' ye, Claire, an' it breaks mah heart that both of ye are sufferin' like this."

Claire had given Geillis' words a lot of thought, and she knew she had to confront Jamie sooner or later. So it was on one untypical warm spring day, on the way to the garden centre when she decided to stop by the cottage. It was on the spur of the moment decision as if some force of nature was guiding her. She was dressed in jean shorts, a white sweatshirt with a Union Jack print and white sneakers. She had been planning on taking a walk in the open fields after plant shopping. 

The cottage was tranquil when she arrived, and she didn't see Jamie's vehicle or noticed any presence. She had quickly gotten out of the car before she could change her mind but not before taking an A4 size envelope she meant to give to Jamie from the compartment. She knew Jamie had stayed in the cottage all that while and he had told Geillis he will only leave if Claire wished it. Secretly, Claire was glad he stayed. 

Walking through the front garden, she was amazed at how beautiful it had turned out to be. It had been her plan ever since she arrived to plant some medicinal herbs and wildflowers and put a trellis on the cottage exterior wall for some climbing plants. It seemed someone had already done the job for her.

Inside the cottage, everything was spic and span, and in every room, there was a vase with a bouquet of wildflowers in assorted colours. She was just placing the envelope on the coffee table in the living room when she felt a presence from the doorway. She turned around and saw a very stunned Jamie standing there. Claire didn't even hear him come in.

"Sassenach..." His voice was almost a whisper. Jamie's hair was a tad bit longer and curlier from his usual wavy locks, and he had several days old beard, making him look like some medieval Norse warrior. He was wearing a black shirt, and grey sweat pants and his skin was very bronzed, probably from working in the garden or running. 

"Hi, Jamie," Claire stammered, "I'm sorry for coming unannounced...I was just driving by..., and I thought I'd stop and...I didn't see your car, and I thought ..."

Jamie took a few steps forward as if to reach out but stopped himself midway. "Claire, what are ye talking about? This is yer home," he said softly. He then ran his hand through his hair, quite unsure what to do next, he took a deep breath and muttered, "Christ Sassenach I've missed ye so much. Would ye mind verra much if I kiss and hug ye?" His eyes were full of yearning, but he was very cautious.

Looking at his beautiful deep blue eyes, all doubts seemed to dissipate. "No, I don't mind Jamie but..." Before she could finish her sentence, Jamie had Claire in his arms, kissing her with so much tenderness. The kiss was not one of seduction, nor of demand. It was a kiss full of longing and outpouring of love. Claire gave in and put her arms around his neck as a single tear ran down her cheek. He smelled of sweat, fresh air and tasted of mint, and she loved the feel of his stubble against her skin.

"Oh Christ Claire, I'm so verra sorry for everything," Jamie murmured in between air. "I don't ever want to lose ye again. So so sorry..." He rained kisses all around her face before kissing her deeply once again.

As his hands wandered up from under her sweatshirt, Claire stopped him. "Jamie, please..." She gently placed her hands on his chest and looked up at him. Like his, her breathing had become shallow. Although she didn't want the kiss to end, there were still a lot of unanswered questions.

Confused, Jamie searched her face. "Don't ye want me anymore, Sassenach?"

"Jamie, that's not it. We need to talk. We can't just start from where we left off as if nothing happened..."

Still dazed from the kiss, Jamie managed to regain control, "Aye, that's true...come we'll take a seat." Without letting go of her hands, he led her to the sofa. He turned to face her and sighed. "Look Sassenach, everything I've ever told ye was true, but I admit I omitted some parts of the whole story...and as for Annalise, I never told ye about her because the last time I was with her, it was almost 9 months ago. I'm not proud tellin ye this, but our relationship was never one ye can really call a relationship. Geillis must have told ye the whole story surely. And also, I was going to tell ye on the night of the ball about Frisealach, but Annalise happened. I suppose ye know already I own the distillery."

"But why didn't you tell me you owned the distillery? I asked a few times about your job, and you always came up with some feeble answer, such as working in the administration. I suppose that's part of your work, so I guess there's some truth to it. And I don't even know where you live...you only spoke of your family home, but that's a couple hours away from here. I don't suppose you travelled every day from Lallybroch to Inverness."

"I don't know Sassenach why I never told ye the things I should have. There are a lot of things I should have done and not done, but ever since I laid eyes on ye, I haven't been thinking clearly. I haven't been myself. After we made love for the first time, I couldna bear to leave yer side, and before I knew what was happening, I just slotted into yer life. It seemed to be the most natural thing in the world to be with ye. Before meeting ye, I lived in a luxury apartment in the town centre. Aye it's posh, and it has everything, but it has no soul. I never felt at home in it. With ye here, it's the first time I've ever felt at home outside Lallybroch." 

Claire gave him a mock warning look. "Jamie, are you trying to charm your way out of this?"

Jamie smiled and took her hand and kissed the inside of her palm. In a serious tone, he answered, "No. I promise you it's the truth. It's like I'm under yer spell and, to be honest, I'm only too happy to remain there."

"How about those string of women in the papers, internet and magazine? I saw photos of you with different women each time..."

"Christ Sassenach, do ye really think I slept with all of them? If I did, I wouldna had time to run my companies. It's a marketing ploy to be seen with the right people and to introduce my whisky in Europe and truth be told, I hated every moment of it. I dinna care for a celebrated lifestyle. Everything about it was very superficial, and ye have to be mindful all the time of what ye say in public. That's no easy thing for me - I grew up in a family that says their mind a lot. No Sassenach, it wasn't for me."

"So, what do you want of me? From us?"

Jamie got off the sofa to kneel in front of Claire. Then taking her hands in both of his, he looked into her eyes. "Claire, I want to be with ye. I have never wanted anyone as much as I wanted ye and I promise there'll only be truth between us." His voice cracked, and his eyes turned to a darker hue. "Ye see Sassenach, whenever I look at ye, my heart starts to pound, when for years, I dinna think it beat at all. I dinna ken what was missing in my life until ye came and filled in the holes and took away the emptiness. And when you're not by my side, the loss is unimaginable. The night I carried ye out from St. Agnes and looked down upon yer face, I knew I was ruined for life. Totally, utterly ruined. I can't be good for anybody now, except for ye. What I'm trying my hardest to say is, I love ye, Claire Elizabeth Beauchamp. And I am scairt because ye have my heart now in yer hands."

"Jamie.."

"Sssh." He placed a finger on her lips. "Sassenach, may I kiss ye?" Jamie didn't want to hear what Claire had to say in fear she may not feel the same way. Without waiting for her to reply, he pulled her tight against him and kissed her softly, one hand behind her neck as his thumb caressed a sensitive part just under her earlobe. She tasted of warm honey, and her skin as soft as the petals from the flowers. "Claire, will ye stay with me tonight?" he asked hoarsely.

The spell broke when Claire was reminded of her plans for that night. "Oh Jamie, I can't tonight...I've already made arrangements..." Although rattled by his confession, she wanted to stay, but this time she didn't want to rush things between them.  One baby step at a time!

Jamie tried to hide his disappointment, and gave her a smile instead, not wanting to rock the boat. "Are ye going out with Geillis?" he asked.

"No, I'm meeting up with Tom tonight." Claire felt him stiffen and gave him an apologetic look, knowing that both men had some sort of disagreement.

"Oh! Are ye seeing him...I mean is it a date?" Jaime was no longer smiling, but he kept his hold on her.

Claire reached out to touch his face and sighed. "No Jaime, it's not like that. It's just for a couple of drinks. I promised him a few days ago that I will see him. And then I have some things I need to do for Joe...medical kinds of stuff."

Feeling slightly heartened, Jamie asked in a hopeful voice, "Errm, Sassenach, can I see ye tomorrow?" His finger was tucking a lock behind her ear.

"How about lunch before I go to work tomorrow...that's if you're not too busy being a boss?" Claire asked, good-humouredly. "I start work late...we have a few shift changes this week."

Thinking that lunch would be a longer wait, he suggested an alternative. "How about breakfast? I will bring it up to ye, so ye didna need to dress." Jamie attempted a wink before giving her a suggestive smile.

Claire laughed. "Alright breakfast then but not too early...I was planning on sleeping in. I'm staying at Joe's apartment. You remember where he lives?"

"Aye." He nodded.

"Oh by the way, before I leave, this is for you." Claire took the brown envelope from the coffee table she had earlier and placed it in Jamie's hand.

"Sassenach," he said, giving her a suspicious look. "This is not a goodbye letter, is it?" He frowned as he weighed it in his hands.

"No Jaime." She gave him a lingering kiss, telling Jamie with her own lips how much she loved him too.

.........

It was probably not a great idea to meet Tom at the Scotch & Rye Pub. It was Saturday, it was loud, it was teeming with employees from Frisealach and Laoghaire MacKenzie was there. Most likely, Jamie could walk in any minute soon. They found an empty high table near the entrance and quickly took it.

"Claire, what would you like to drink?" Tom's soft voice broke into her contemplation.

Distracted, she replied, "Oh, a glass of dry white, please." She had been thinking of what Jamie said earlier in the afternoon.

Claire watched as Tom made his way to the bar. She saw Laoghaire approached him at the counter, smiling sweetly at him as she placed well-manicured painted fingers on his arm. She saw her opened her bag as she continued to chat with him and took a few pound notes from her purse to give to the bartender.

Claire smiled as Tom came back with their drinks, but her smile quickly faded away as she saw Laoghaire was right behind Tom. "Claire, the drinks are from Laoghaire, she says it's a truce and apologies offering."

"Oh! Well then, thank you, Laoghaire, that's very kind of you!" She raised her glass to her. "To truce and forgiveness." Her heart warmed a bit for the girl, but she still felt slightly uneasy about her mannerism.

"Och think nothin' of it. Anyway, I hope ye both enjoy yer date!" Before Claire could protest its not a date, she had turned around sauntering towards the Frisealach employees' table.

Once alone, Tom revealed, "She's a funny girl her. She asked me a week ago, here in the pub, if I fancied ye. I told her it was none of her business." He leaned forward and in a lower voice, he continued, "Stay clear away from her, Claire. She might not seem to be the brightest, but I can't help but feel apprehensive whenever she's around. I think she's a bit of a gossip." 

Claire laughed nervously, taking a big gulp of her wine, trying to dismiss the warning. "Don't worry. I think she's just young and full of mischief."

"Don't ye want to find out Claire?"

"Find out wot?" She took another sip of the wine and grimaced at the taste.

Tom leaned forward and smiled at her. "Whether or not I fancy ye?"

Claire thought he had a beautiful smile. "Well, do you?" she asked boldly. Suddenly Claire felt relax and loose-tongued. She stood up from her high chair to lean forward to remove a fluff off Tom's hair when suddenly she felt wobbly.

Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ!   Feeling the room was spinning out of control, she attempted to sit back but instead ended up slipping into the darkness.

..........

Jamie was just walking into the pub when he saw Claire swayed precariously as she held onto the high table. Before she could fall and Tom could react, he caught her in time before she hit the floor.

He shot Tom an angry look as he propped Claire's head with his hands. "How much has she had to drink? Didn't ye think she might have had enough?"

"She's only had one glass, and she drank it too fast," Tom snapped, as he kneeled down to check Claire's pulse. People were gathering already, and he knew Claire needed air. "Listen, Fraser, I'll deal with this. I'm a doctor, and I'll make sure she gets to the hospital. Go and join yer friends."

Jamie was lifting Claire up already. "She lives with me, so she's practically like my wife, so back off Tommy," he growled, determined not to relinquish his hold. "I'm taking her, my car is just outside."

Unperturbed, Tom let Jamie carry Claire as he held the door open. "I'm coming with ye."

"Suit yersel'"

..........

Both men drove in silence as they headed to the Northern Royal Infirmary. Tom had called Joe and the hospital in advance as Jamie laid Claire in the passenger seat. When they finally got there, they were greeted by Gail, Joe Abernathy's girlfriend, who was the doctor on duty, and Claire was immediately put onto a wheeled stretcher and taken away.

Seeing the concern on both the men's faces, Gail guided them to the waiting area. "Listen, boys, it's probably not serious. Claire has been under a lot of stress, so it's probably just the repercussion rearing its ugly head. Wait here, please. We'll do some test, and I'm quite sure the results shouldn't take very long," she said, smiling warmly.

Quite contrary to what Gail said, both men waited two hours.

When Joe finally arrived in civilian clothes, Jamie and Tom were sat at opposite ends of the waiting area. He had just come out of the operating room when he heard the news about Claire and immediately went to see the doctor attending her. After reading the initial results, Joe volunteered to relay the report to Tom and Jamie. As soon as he appeared in the waiting area, both men stood up and were surprised when they saw he was accompanied by two security guards and two policemen. Joe liked both men, but his main concern was Claire at this very moment.

"Tom, Jamie, we have the result from the initial tests." His voice sounded stern and very professional. "But before I can reveal anything, I want to ask... who was with Claire when she blacked out?"

Tom raised a hand. "I was with her, and we were both on our first drink. She drank the wine rather quickly, and I was surprised that she seemed tipsy all of a sudden," he explained.

Joe closed his eyes before making a formal statement. "We have found traces of Ketamine in Claire's saliva and urine test. Ketamine is also known as Date Rape Drug, and we have a very strong suspicion of an attempted sexual assault." Turning to Tom, he proceeded, "I'm so sorry, Tom, I need to have you detained until further results come in..."

Before Joe could finish his sentence and the police could react, Jamie, with his hands clenched and his face dark red with fury, threw a punch at Tom Christie's face sending him sliding across the hospital floor and knocking him out cold.

Joe had also wanted to tell Jamie that Claire was pregnant, but he guessed it could wait later.

[totallyrealhoroscopesdaily]

2/3/2018 Horoscope

Aries: The dad texts you back. He says he’s sorry, he didn’t mean it like that. He quickly texts again that that was a lie, he did mean it like that, but you didn’t deserve that. He just- He- You send back that it’s okay. It bothers you, too. He doesn’t say it shouldn’t. He just says okay. You are healing much faster than him. He still has a raw wound, maybe an infected one at this point, and yours is scabbed over, still liable to reopen but no longer bleeding.

Taurus: The biker gang flamingos are in town. You are utterly overjoyed to see them again. They’re always so pretty. You watch them go around, acting like a cross between curious tourist and threatening gang member, taking pictures of everything they see with overdone glares sent in the direction of random passersby. This has made your day. This one is actually not your fault, and you are loving it.

Gemini: It’s good to know that when everything goes to shit, raccoons will never judge you. Only haunt your waking nightmares with their tiny, tiny hands. You are greeted to the sight of the non-judgmental raccoon's tiny hands when you wake up. You take stock of your situation. You are in a dumpster, your entire body is deeply sore, you have no memory of the past few days except for vague flashes, and there’s a raccoon rummaging around next to you. The raccoon tells you that if you’re awake, then you should probably get out of the garbage, he’s heard that it’s not good for humans. You tell him that you’re not sure if you can, your entire body hurts. He tells you to take your time, it’s not collection day and you’re not bothering him, so there’s no hurry. You thank the raccoon. You make a mental note that getting that all-speak charm has made your life about a dozen times more surreal.

Cancer: Your designs, your clothes look flawless, as usual, and your partner has outdone themselves with getting the very best to model them. You pay attention to how the fabric is moving, making notes of a few adjustments you could make, as the show goes on and spectators comment on just how lovely your work is, darling. You tune them out, it’s the same meaningless, polite prattle as always, but you keep an ear on Ridali. He keeps remarking on each new piece that come out, like how that one reminds him of oil on water or that one looks like something for a picnic or oooh that one looks like a peacock strutting. Those random, off-the-wall comments mean a hell of a lot more than the robotic tittering of the socialites. Soon than you expected, it’s over. (You were expecting this to feel a lot longer, but you guess time flies when you’re having fun, and would you look at that? You were having fun, probably due to Ridali.) You give a short speech, a worthless little thing thanking everyone for coming which gets you a polite smattering of applause, then you ditch out. All in all, that wasn’t too bad. You make a note to take Ridali with you to any future shows.

Leo: There’s a squid flying through the town. A giant squid. You act like this is a show, narrating this for the tourists in that special, I-am-your-guide-look-at-this-exciting-thing voice. The last thing you need is for the tourists to panic on top of whatever the fuck is happening with that. Fira picks up on what you’re doing, but the newbie doesn’t. Fira ends up taking him to the side and sending him off to go try to find information, then comes back to help you with the distraction. 

Virgo: There are many snakes in your bakery. The egg hatched, leaving behind just the handle of the axe as the axe head had dissolved. Each snake is light blue, slightly see-through, and has dozens of eyes all over their bodies. You are throwing an impromptu birthday party for them. You made a crap ton of cupcakes, enough to have one for each serpent. You put candles in each cake, light ‘em, then sing happy birthday to the newly-hatched. The snakes don’t really get the concept of a “birthday”, they’re multidimensional and have some sort of hive-mind going, but they do understand that this is some sort of affectionate ritual, so they do their best to play along. The party hats were a lost cause.

Libra: Hickory calls to inform you that the trial is tomorrow. You’re going to have to vouch for Kaimana and tell the court that she is a person. Hickory will do the rest. They have no evidence against her, because she didn’t do anything, and there are several accounts that put her in locations at times that would make it impossible for her to have done it. The main issue is that most of the accounts are coming from magicals, and you know the issues behind that. Even with that handicap, considering that the only thing they have against her is they saw her walking somewhat near to the crime scene hours after it occurred, if he can get a fair jury, then it should be fine. You ask how he’s going to get a fair jury. He says he doesn’t know. He’s not going to get a completely fair jury, for reasons that you hate, but he can get one that isn’t completely of the “burn the witch” mindset. You aren’t sure whether to be comforted or concerned, but you are angry. You feel like fury is your constant companion since this started.

Scorpio: You only think the twist is boring and predictable because you’re writing it. Your readers will never see it coming. You can always get someone to proofread if you don’t believe me.

Sagittarius: You think the general consensus is don’t feed lies to the lie-eater. You don’t know the price for it, or if there is one. Everything has a price, so not knowing the price is a huge red flag. You’re not looking forward to whatever price it takes for solving your wax problem. Your worry is interrupted by Harold calling you. You pick up and he starts screaming into your ear. Apparently the old woman came back and, you guessed it, turned the children into small animals that then immediately scampered off. She then thanked him and left. You put the phone on speaker and set it down, letting Harold rant and rave about what the fuck just happened without deafening you. You listen, because it sure would’ve been helpful to have someone to panic at when the old woman pulled that stunt with you. You hear Helen shrieking in the background and resolve to check in with her later. You are not okay with this, but you are the only one with any sort of experience with this, so you’ll suck it up for now.

Capricorn: You don’t have a child. You’ve never had a child. There’s an email in your inbox asking about your child. Your friends were asking about your child. There’s a room that you don’t remember decorating. There is not a child. With the girl, with Pup, she was there and asking you why you didn’t remember her. There is no child asking why you don’t remember them. You don’t have a child, but everything says you did, and the child is not here. Where would they be if not here? You don’t know. Following the logic of The Pup Situation, if you had a child, and you forgot that child, that child would be here and be hurt and confused by your memory loss. There is no child here, so you’re going to assume that means that you never had a child. For your sanity. Also for your sanity, you smother the little voice that is screaming that that’s the wrong conclusion. 

Aquarius: You’re pretty sure there should be some sort of bathroom in your home. It used to be a store, and the employees probably had to go at some point while they were working. There’s an old, boarded up door in the back wall, you haven’t bothered to open it before now. You didn’t feel the need or the curiosity. Now you feel both. You revel in that for a minute. How far you’ve come. Then you set about figuring out how to get the boards off.

Pisces: A child has come to your cottage and ran right up to you where you were tending your garden. You asked if their parents knew where they were. They said they don’t have parents. You let them stay for a while. They shed their warm coat, it’s too hot around your cottage for it. They watch you tend your flowers and your magical reagents, and you let them help with your vegetable garden. You walk them back to town, to the orphanage, when it starts to get dark. You watch them run inside, then turn and head back home.

[element-effect-blog]

4 Ways To Differentiate Yourself Using Video in Your Sales Process

“So… tell me why you’re different.”

This is a statement most salespeople (and marketers) fear.

The truth is... if you’re already hearing this statement, it’s too late.

Early in my sales career, I learned just how hard it can be to identify the differentiating factors of your organization and articulate them in a meaningful way to others.

In fact, it’s something most businesses constantly struggle with and I’d be lying if I said we have it completely figured out even here at IMPACT. (I'll be talking all about this at IMPACT Live this year.)

Salespeople typically react by listing off the three bullet points t they think makes them and the organization they’re representing sound unique compared to the others the prospect is talking with.

But why is it so hard to do well? Does it ever even work?

Why is Differentiation So Hard?

These struggles exist because differentiation is a lot like company culture.

In fact, many times, the latter is used as an example of the former!

“We’re different because we have an amazing company culture. Our core values are X, Y, and Z.”

Have you seen / heard this before? Yes you have.

An organization’s differentiating qualities will not resonate if they’re solely stated out of context, written down somewhere on a web page or an email, or are graphically designed on an interior wall in the office.

In order for differentiation (or culture) to resonate, it must be lived and shown.

One way we’re doing this more at IMPACT is through the use of video.

Below, I’ll be sharing four ways IMPACT uses video during the sales process to create a more memorable, remarkable, and differentiating experience.

But First, Why Video?

A 30-year engineering veteran at a mid-size manufacturing firm is human.

A busy, “High D” on the DISC chart, executive at a Fortune 1000 financial firm is human.

No matter who you’re talking to on a sales call, that person is human, first and foremost.

This year at , I’ll be talking about this concept of using video in sales and how it contributes to the most human experience you can have, short of communicating with someone who is standing right next to you.

(Don’t have your ticket yet? before prices go up!)

The best part is, creating a “human” experience in sales by leveraging video is not something most prospects have become accustomed to yet.

So, this approach in itself is a differentiating factor.

If that’s not convincing enough, , by the year 2019, 80% of the content consumed online will be video-based.

It’s time to pay attention and start embracing it.

Here are four ways to start in your sales process.

1. Host Video Meetings Instead of Conference Calls

The easiest and fastest way to integrate video into your sales process is by ditching the use of telephones with your prospects and adopting a video meeting platform such as (what we use).

This might seem like a very “101” tactic, but many organizations have yet to rip the proverbial “telephone bandaid” off, so, it’s worth driving this point home.

In fact, I would go so far as to say that salespeople who do NOT leverage video are actually doing a disservice to prospects, and here’s why.

Without video, a salesperson is only able to accurately read one language - the prospect’s voice or tone. The prospect’s expressions and body language are completely left for assumption, and we all know how much can be read from these:

The prospect slouches back in their chair

The prospect continuously gazes to the right of the screen every few seconds

A nod

A yawn!

As a salesperson, it is your job to have a complete understanding of the prospect - as a human.

This goes beyond jotting down notes on their service needs, internal challenges, and future goals.

You need to know what makes them lean forward in the chair as opposed to lean back; what makes them stare intently at the computer screen instead of looking away, and what makes them laugh instead of yawn. This is next-level !

Understanding these “signals” creates the true connection that prospects want (and deserve) to establish prior to making any buying decision, making your conversations more valuable than those had with others, and widening the gap between your company and everyone else.

2. Send a Meeting Recap Video

The “Discovery” or “Exploratory” phase is arguably one of, if not, the most important part of the sales process.

I believe , a HubSpot Channel Account Manager, when she says, “The exploratory call is the new closing call.”

These initial calls set the tone and expectations for the rest of the sales process and, when done well, get the prospect excited about continuing the process with you.

At the end of that first call, there’s usually some calendar coordination for when the next meeting will take place, and more often than not, it will be several days out.

Prospects are as busy or busier than us sales folks, and as such, we need to be mindful that they may not be able to remember the minute details of the initial deep-dive call.

In the past, most salespeople have resorted to sending long-form, follow-up emails, detailing everything they can about the meeting and essentially creating a task for the prospect to review 500 words of copy just a few minutes before the next chat.

No one looks forward to doing that, nor is that any sort of remarkable experience for your prospect...

Instead, use a tool like to create a personalized, 3-5 minute video recap outlining the most important elements from the previous call, and what they’ll need to know to make the most out of the next call.

Spin up the email using a subject line such as, “[Video] Prospect Company + Your Company: A Recap From Our First Call Together.”

Then, in the first line of the email, let the prospect know that if they do nothing else except watch this video, they and anyone else who watches it will be fully up-to-speed and ready to tackle whatever comes next!

Then drop the trackable GoVideo link into the email just below, and monitor how much of the video your prospect watches.

Boom. You’ve turned what is typically a last-minute todo for the prospect into a helpful, highly engaging experience that they’ll actually look forward to.

3. Introduce Yourself “Face-to-Face”

When a website visitor decides to fill out a contact form with the intention of talking to a salesperson, a rapid response is the best way to ensure that you connect with them and get the appointment booked.

, 50% of buyers choose the vendor that responds first and there’s a 10x decrease in your odds of making contact with a lead AFTER the first five minutes.  

Clearly, a buyer’s first impression is influenced heavily by how fast an organization can react. However, no matter how fast you pick up the phone, that does not guarantee that you’ll effectively connect with them.

So, how else could a salesperson create a strong first impression without speaking to the prospect directly?

The standard, follow-up process that we’ve adopted over the years has been the tried-and-true “voicemail, then email” sequence with that process repeating over the course of several days until contact is made.

As we look to create a more human-to-human experience for prospects, we’re taking this one step further by including a personalized, video message in place of the standard follow-up email.

Rather than sending the same messages that they’ve read time-and-time again, we’re introducing ourselves and inviting the prospect into a conversation personally “face-to-face.”

Using video allows them to feel like they’ve actually met us even before we’ve spoke. They can hear our voice, see our expressions, and hopefully feel our genuine interest in helping them.

Here’s an example we’ve put together using Vidyard’s GoVideo:

With once again, you can record a short, personalized message for the prospect. The tool even allows you to import the video image as a GIF into the email, simulating a short clip of what the prospect is about to click on and watch.

Also, using something like “[Video]” at the beginning of the subject line immediately creates differentiation between your email and the rest as most sales emails can’t promise a visual experience inside.

4. Create a Video Executive Summary

In the early stages of the sales process, a salesperson may only have access to front-line members of the prospect’s team, but as it progresses to a “presentation” stage, the stakes become higher for everyone involved as they approach a decision-making point.

Prospects typically take one of two paths:

Work within their organizations to create a buying committee that might include a few more of their colleagues as well as the decision maker.

Assume the full responsibility of making the call on whether or not your product or solution is the right fit, and will pitch it themselves.

The second path, which happens more often than not, is certainly the more difficult for a salesperson to follow during the presentation stages as it removes their ability to influence a decision maker directly.

It also introduces a host of communication challenges as the delivery of the presentation must be redelivered from the prospect, to their boss, and potentially to the boss’ boss.

If you’ve ever played the game “telephone,” you know what happens -- the message gets lost in translation.

What might’ve been the best presentation you’ve ever delivered becomes a muddied, out-of-context summary.

So, how does a salesperson ensure their message is delivered accurately, and does not undermine the prospect’s communication abilities?

The solution for salespeople even to this day, has been to create an executive summary.

This would typically be a one-page, written document that serves as the first page of a proposal, or is sent in tandem with a presentation, and outlines some very high-level points about “what’s inside.”

While the concept remains strong, there’s more that salespeople can do to make it more memorable and engaging using video.

But this doesn’t mean simply sending the executive the full 72-minute video recording of the presentation meeting. It will never be watched.

Instead, there are three things that need to happen:

Set the expectation that the creation of this executive summary video is to support them and save both their and the decision-maker’s time in this process. This will help diffuse hurting the prospect’s feelings of, “the salesperson doesn’t think I can actually deliver the presentation to my boss.”

Package the video recording up in an email and allow the prospect to send it directly to their boss.

This type of approach ensures accurate delivery of your message, saves time for the prospect, and establishes a personal connection with the executive without having been able to meet them directly. Win, win, win.

Making Sales Human Again

I hope as you’ve read this article, you’ve been able to come to the realization that creating differentiation in the eyes of the prospect, is not defined by the three or four unique statements you can make about your own organization.

It’s about creating a delightful or even unexpected experience for the prospect.

At IMPACT, we’ve found that, in place of text-only emails or voice-only phone calls, we can better create these more human-to-human experiences by using video as the medium, and so can you!

Email is not dead. Neither are calls.

They are, however, getting much more difficult to garner the attention of people with, given the number of terribly unhelpful and annoying attempts most people receive on a daily basis.

Video and tools like GoVideo make creating a more delightful, unique sales experience easier than ever before.

During my talk at IMPACT Live 2018, I’ll dive deeper into how we’re using video to do this and more at IMPACT. I hope to see you there!

This content was originally published here.

[exhuastedpigeon]

FBI - (sexually) Frustrated Beyond Imagination Stiles/Jackson For @inell on the occasion of her birthday. I hope you like the bb :)

Stiles wants to take down the Lahey crime family for a lot of reasons, but the biggest reason is so he can finally make a move on the FBI's undercover agent Jackson Whittemore.

Also on ao3

It had been a long time since Stiles had sex, a lo-ong time. So long that he kind of forgot what sex felt like. Okay, so it had only been around six months, but that felt like a lifetime because he had been getting it on the regular when he was in college. It wasn’t as easy for him now that he was a rookie FBI agent who worked overnights and long shifts.

The closest he had come to any sort of sexual satisfaction from another human was when Stiles’ team was working with the NYPD. If the case had gone a few days longer, he probably would have ended up in the back of an empty FBI van with Officer Derek Hale, but no dice. They had caught the serial killer, and Stiles was shipped back to DC.

“I just want to touch another person, sexually,” Stiles said. He was sitting at his desk, leaning back in his chair as he talked to his cubicle mate Erica Reyes.

She spun in her chair to face him, a predatory look on her face that would have made his skin crawl if he didn’t know her so well by now. “I told you, you’re always welcome to join Boyd and me.”

“And I told you, just because I’m bi doesn’t mean I’m down for a threesome. Plus, I’m pretty sure Boyd would kill me if I ever touched you,” Stiles said rolling his eyes. Boyd really might kill him; Stiles wasn’t sure that Boyd liked him much.

“Ugh, you’re such a spoilsport,” Erica said. “I’m going to get coffee, you want any?”

“Yeah,” Stiles said, looking at his email and seeing he had a meeting with Rafe McCall later that day. “Shot of espresso in it, if you don’t mind.”

“Anything for you, cubical buddy.”

Stiles let out a long sigh as he turned back to the case. He had been working on trying to bring down the Lahey crime family since his first day with the Bureau, but he didn’t have any solid evidence. What his team really needed was an informant, someone on the inside who could help them.

He so got caught up in his file that he didn’t notice Erica was back until she set his coffee down on top of the paper he was reading over. “Oh, thanks.”

“Agent Hottie McHot Pants is in the building,” Erica said, leaning against Stiles desk to read over his shoulder.

“Yeah, I have a meeting with Rafe, I know he’s here,” Stiles said, wishing he didn’t know how attractive Erica thought Rafe was. He was kind of like a second dad to Stiles these days; he didn’t need to think about him like that.

Erica smiled, “Well he has someone with him, and he also looked like a hottie.”

That got Stiles attention. He hadn’t mentioned anyone else sitting in on their meeting, but maybe he had a meeting before he met with Stiles, which wasn’t for another - he looked at his watch - shit, five minutes.

“Shit, I’m late,” Stiles said, jumping up, grabbing his coffee and notepad, and running toward the elevator. “Thanks for the coffee!”

He made it up to Rafe’s office just in time. He took a breath and knocked on the door, getting a “come in,” from the other side.

Stiles pushed the door open, expecting to only see Rafe, so he was surprised when there was an incredibly attractive man sitting across the desk from his boss. A man who was rocking a fitted black tee shirt and a leather jacket, whose hair was perfectly done, and whose eyes were the kind of blue Stiles wanted to swim in.

“Stiles, thanks for joining us. Have a seat,” Rafe said.  Stiles sat, intentionally not looking at the man next to him. “This is Special Agent Jackson Whittemore; he’s been deep undercover with the Lahey crew for two years now and it’s finally paid off. Jackson, this is Stiles Stilinski; he’s one of our most promising young agents.”

“I got Isaac Lahey to roll on his dad and the crew,” Jackson said, looking smug as he spoke. Stiles kind of wanted to punch him and he kind of wanted to fuck him; it was a weird combination.

“With Isaac in, we need someone here to run the op,” Rafe said, “since Jackson is going to keep his cover as long as he can.”

“So what do you need from me?” Stiles asked.

“You’re Isaac’s contact on the inside,” Rafe said and Stiles felt a swoop of excitement; this would be his first time running point like this.

“You’re still new enough to not have the stench of fed all over you,” Jackson said, and added: “Ditch the suit when you meet him; the last thing I need is for the kid to get found out by the rest of the family. That would be two years for nothing.”

“And there would be a dead witness,” Rafe said slowly. “We don’t want anyone else dying at the hands of the Lahey family.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Jackson said. “I need to know I can trust you. I can’t put my life or my witness’s on the line unless I know you’re going to be there to back us up.”

“I will be,” Stiles said, “I’m on it.”

“I need to get back,” Jackson said. “It was good seeing you, Rafe. Don’t fuck this up, Stilinski.”

With that, Jackson left the room, and Stiles felt a mix of annoyance and arousal. “I’m trusting you on this, Stiles,” Rafe said, pulling Stiles back to the present. “You’ve got a meet-up with Isaac tomorrow. Don’t look like a Fed; Jackson was right when he said that much.”

------

The case moved faster than Stiles expected. Within a month, he had a team in the field ready to take down the head of the Lahey crime family, mostly due to Isaac’s testimony and Jackson’s insider information. They managed to arrest and charge 47 of the members of the crew. A few of them had gotten away, but Stiles had a feeling that the Boston field office would bring them in.

Stiles spent a good part of the month leading up to the raid meeting up with Jackson and Isaac in locations that Jackson selected. He communicated with Stiles via burner phones; it made Stiles feel like a spy instead of an FBI field agent, which was kind of cool.

He also learned a lot about Jackson during that month, like the fact Jackson was a total asshole, but he was also funny as hell. He was incredibly good at his job, and he really cared about doing well. He had been undercover for a long time, living in a shitty apartment, working for Neil Lahey, and had been pretty disconnected from the rest of the world, but the biggest thing Stiles learned about Jackson was that he was exactly Stiles’ type. It took everything in Stiles to stop himself from jumping Jackson’s bones after every meet-up.

Stiles had wondered how a guy like Jackson ended up working for the Bureau. He had gotten that answer at their third meet-up, this one without Isaac. They had taken to meeting at the counter of a diner just out of Lahey’s usual territory, with Stiles in plain clothes.

“You don’t seem the type to join up,” Stiles said, taking a sip of his shitty coffee. “How’d you end up with the FBI?”

“I got sent to military school when I was 15; I had some anger issues,” Jackson said, surprisingly honest. “I graduated at 17 and did ROTC in college. I did two tours with the Marines over in Iraq and was recruited into the FBI right after. Within two months, they had me undercover with the Lahey’s. It worked well since I had a couple arrests from before military school.”

“Huh,” Stiles said, “Much more interesting than my journey.”

“Clearly,” Jackson said with a smirk. “Let me guess, cop dad, you spent too much time trying to solve mysteries in high school, and you did a pre-law enforcement track at some hot-shot school in D.C.”

“You saw my file, then,” Stiles said with a laugh.

“Like I’d let just anyone be my point of contact for this,” Jackson admitted, accidentally complimenting Stiles, making him smile.

“So you think I’m a good agent,” Stiles teased, leaning into Jackson’s space. He wished they were facing each other, but the counter made it less obvious if anyone from the Lahey crew came in.

“Fuck off,” Jackson muttered, but his cheeks were pink.

“I’ll fuck something,” Stiles said with a laugh, watching Jackson’s cheek burn even redder. “Same time on Friday? I need to get back to the office, make sure Danny’s got what he needs for the tap on the phones.”

“Yeah, okay,” Jackson said, eyes on his menu. “See you Friday.”

The flirty banter became a staple in their meet-ups and Stiles was starting to get antsy for the raid so that he could see Jackson outside of the shitty diner without breaking his cover. He had a feeling that Jackson wanted him just as badly, but he wouldn’t know for sure until they were done with the case.

The end of the raid left Stiles and Jackson alone in the back of one of the surveillance vans. They were both dripping wet from jumping into the Potomac after one of the higher-up crew members. They had caught the guy in the end; it had taken both of them together to restrain the guy and Stiles was reminded again why he had joined the FBI.

Stiles found a couple FBI t-shirts and tossed one to Jackson before looking for some sweats. As he turned back around, he saw Jackson pull his shirt over his head and Stiles’ mouth went dry at the sight of exposed skin.

“Like what you see?” Jackson asked with a cocky grin on his face, reaching up to catch the sweats that Stiles tossed him. He kept eye contact with Stiles as he unzipped his jeans and peeled them off. Stiles swallowed and openly stared at Jackson’s bulge.

“I’m gonna be honest with you. I’m really horny, and you’re really hot. Can we fuck? Like, now?” Stiles blurted out, the adrenaline still pumping through him from the raid and from seeing a hot dude dripping wet only a few feet away from him.

“We can’t fuck in the Bureau’s van, Stilinski,” Jackson said with a smirk and Stiles’ face fell. “But we can go back to your apartment and do it there.”

“Right now?”

“Yeah right fucking now,” Jackson said, pulling on the shirt and pants over his wet boxer briefs, “Hurry up and get dressed before I change my mind.”

“You’re not gonna change your mind, you want me,” Stiles said, peeling his shirt off and his jeans. He could feel Jackson’s eyes on him as he did, so he looked up and winked, “You’ve wanted me since that first day in Rafe’s office.”

Jackson didn’t speak, instead he took two steps forward and grabbed Stiles by the ass, pulling him flush against his chest, “Shut up.”

“Make me,” Stiles challenged, waiting for Jackson to kiss him.

He did, his lips cold and damp against Stiles’, but neither of them cared. Stiles’ hands found Jackson’s shoulders. He ran them down to his ass as they kissed. It was all tongues and teeth, soft moans and searching for friction. “Fuck,” Jackson muttered as Stiles’ hands slipped down his sweatpants. “Stiles, we need to get out of here.”

“I would advise that,” Rafe said from the open door of the van.They jumped apart quickly. Stiles ran a hand over the back of his head and Jackson avoided eye contact. “At least you waited until after we got the arrests.”

“We’re nothing if not professional,” Stiles said with an awkward smile.

“Get the fuck out of here,” Rafe said, but Stiles could tell he was biting back a smile. “I’ll see you both on Monday.”

“Let’s go,” Jackson said, grabbing Stiles hand and tugging him out of the van. “Is your apartment close?”

“A few Metro stops and a couple blocks,” Stiles said, wondering if they’d make it all the way there before they started touching again.

“Well, come on,” Jackson whispered into his ear, sending a jolt down Stiles’ spine.

They didn’t make it to the apartment before they started touching again. They ended up making out in an alley, and on the nearly empty metro, and in another alley near Stiles apartment. They eventually made it to Stiles place and didn’t come out again for almost 48 hours.

What? They both had some pent up sexual frustration to work out; that takes time.

[houseofglass]

ABO Virus: Pack Life    Chapter 17 - Healing

For those that prefer AO3

Dean stood at the top of the staircase, so disappointed he felt like he could cry. With no windows in the bunker, he had no idea it was raining and had planned on working on the garden some more.

“Come on. Let's go back inside,” Sam instructed gently.

“Can't we fix the greenhouse?” he asked as a last ditch effort. If it was raining lightly, it would be no problem. Instead it was as if Mother Nature released all of the precipitation for the year in one torrential storm.

“No. We won't be able to install the replacement panels in this wind and rain. Maybe tomorrow,” he promised as he pulled his brother inside and closed the door. “It will still be there after the rain.”

Dean dragged his feet back down the stairs, surprised that he was looking forward to working outside as much as he was. With a deep sigh he sat at the library table with his laptop. Might as well answer the hunter's questions instead, he thought miserably as he opened the first one.

Several hours later, Dean was yawning widely and losing focus. It took a while, but he was all caught up with the hunters and their lore questions. When he shut down the windows on the desktop, he saw the little folder for bathroom renovations. There was only the vaguest memory of having made the folder and adding anything to it. He checked what he'd amassed and found what he wanted to do was terribly expensive: shower built for three with a bench along the back as well as a tub large enough for all three of them. It seemed like too much of a luxury to consider, but he kept the file anyway. And yes, considered adding to it a little. He was more surprised that he was even looking at bathtubs. In his own mind, he didn't think he'd ever get in one again....unless it was a whirlpool style. And yes, samples of those were in the little folder as well. “I need a nap,” he said suddenly, yawning again.

Sam perked up when Dean spoke. Cas was at the store today and he didn't think he was due back for a while. He checked the clock on his laptop and saw it was about the time Dean had taken to lying down for an hour or two. “All right,” he acknowledged as he saved the latest iteration of his lesson plan. “Need me?”

Dean hesitated. He could nap on his own. He didn't need his brother to help. He was fine. “Yeah,” he whispered, contradicting himself. Sam had already been moving to get up before he spoke.

They went to the washroom together even though Sam had been trying to give Dean a bit more space. Dean changed out of his jeans and into lounging pants, Sam didn't bother changing, he was fine in his jeans.

“Do you want me to lie down with you,” he asked as he watched Dean assembling pillows again.

Dean nodded. He realized he wanted to cuddle very badly. To the point where he was starting to physically ache for someone to hold him. Not that he hadn't been cuddled in the last couple of weeks, he had, it's just that there were a lot of sympathy emails when word got around about the accident and he was drained.

“Can I get on the bed before you finish the nest,” Sam asked gently.

Dean froze with a pillow in each hand, surprised he was doing it again without being aware of it. Before he could let the sob out of his chest, Sam was wrapping his arms around him.

“It's ok Dean. Kind of cute, actually. I like it,” he admitted. “It only means you're feeling safe, nothing else.”

Dean snuffled in his brother's arms for a while before pulling away. “Get in,” he advised. When Sam was settled, Dean put every pillow in the room on the bed. He left a space so he could get up on the bed too, and re-positioned the pillows when he was in the middle. “Sure it's ok?” he asked nervously as he looked over to his pill packets. There was no indication Sam was lying to him, but last time he built a nest his body seemed to want to have pups.

“You've been taking all of them Dean, you haven't missed any,” Sam reassured him, showing him the packets anyway.

Satisfied, Dean settled against Sam and pulled the throw blanket over them. “It's not like I don't want pups,” he started as soon as he realized his actions may be misinterpreted.

“I know,” Sam interrupted softly.

“It's just too soon,” Dean pressed.

“I know. That's why Cas said six months. Even then there's no pressure,” he reminded Dean. Deep in the channel he could feel Dean's fear that he'd lose another one, but the fear was a tiny bit less most days.

Sleep did not come easily for Dean at all, but rest did. He let his mind turn off and just breathed in the scent of his brother for a while.

Sam loved the feeling of Dean curled up with him. Every day since Cas pushed them together he'd sent a silent prayer of thanks that he got to have this. And every day he was grateful Dean didn't turn him away. As Dean breathed evenly but didn't sleep, Sam felt his brother's erection grow against his hip. When Dean tried to move away, Sam held him firmly in place. “It's ok Dean. We don't have to do anything about it,” he murmured, sensing through the channel that Dean wasn't quite ready yet. Almost, but not quite.

While Sam loved being inside Dean, he loved having him pressed against him like this even more. Sex was fantastic, but nothing beat the intimacy of cuddling, according to Sam. Cas had been amazing, not pushing him to do anything while Dean healed. They did trade blow jobs occasionally while Dean napped when they both wanted it, but it was infrequent. Sam had wondered if Dean being injured produced a different scent, a more protective scent than a sex scent. Originally when Cas told Dean he wasn't expected to perform, Sam assumed he'd be picking up spousal duties in the bedroom. Not that he would have minded, but he knew it would have been just that for a while: a duty. Instead, Cas hadn't initiated anything else with him. Surreptitious research confirmed Sam's assumption: the Alpha's sexual urges are minimized until the Omega has recovered from this kind of injury.

“Not ready,” Dean mumbled.

Sam could practically feel Dean blushing. “It's ok Dean.” For a while Sam just lay with Dean, one hand resting on Dean's warm side under the blanket. “Can I tell you a secret?” he offered in a soft voice.

“You have secrets?” Dean was somewhat amazed. It took so much damn effort to hide things that he'd thought his mates were open books.

“Sort of,” Sam huffed a laugh. “Sometimes I like to just be hard. Not do anything about it, you know? Just enjoy the feeling,” he admitted.

“Really? I always took care of it. If I don't it gets in the way of my thinking.” He couldn't imagine a world where his dick stood up and he didn't deal with it. Even now it was getting distracting. He'd take care of it himself soon enough with the same enthusiasm he reserved for brushing his teeth.

“Oh I know you took care of it,” Sam teased. They had no privacy growing up. He knew how often Dean helped himself out. And it would make him hard almost every time, but he learned that sometimes it was nice to wait before rubbing one off.

Dean shifted a bit and wondered if Sam was hard right now. At the same time, he wondered if Sam might like to kiss him.

“Yes I am and yes I would,” Sam told him softly. Dean was damn near screaming his thoughts.

“But...” Dean didn't know how to finish. But I want to just kiss? But I don't want to help you out? But I'm selfish and want your lips on mine?

Sam turned onto his side to face Dean. “You don't have to do anything. We can keep our hands above our waists. When you want to stop, we'll stop. Period.” He ended with a soft brush of his lips on his brother's.

Dean kissed him back softly, taking his time with chaste kisses before introducing his tongue. Somehow, even with tongue Sam kept it sweet instead of filthy. Their mouths explored each other's in slow, languid kisses, hands never straying below the belt. Dean caught himself stroking Sam's hair and thought he should stop – he didn't want to send the wrong message. Sam whispered that it was ok, to do it if he wanted, no worries, and just kept kissing him.

It was a while before Dean noticed his breathing had picked up, making his chest bump against Sam's. His nipples ached to be stroked and his cock was screaming, but he did nothing about them. Dean's mouth caught every whimper, moan, groan, and breathy gasp that he suspected his brother didn't know he was creating. His hips had a mind of their own and rocked slightly, but Sam kept his own pelvis away, which drove Dean insane at the same time as made him feel a bit more secure.

Sam's large hand spanned Dean's ribs, thumb getting close to his nipples. Dean cried out into Sam's mouth a little, wanting Sam to slide his hand under the shirt. His biggest problem was that he didn't want to reciprocate or get Sam so worked up that he got frustrated. But when Sam moved his hand down Dean's side and back up, the shirt rode up with him.

Sam was amazed at how responsive Dean was. The smallest grip would make him gasp into his mouth, the tiniest indication that his thumb could brush his nipple made his brother whine slightly. Sam quickly figured out Dean wanted the closeness of sex without the burden of performing, so he took his sweet time. He slid his hands around Dean's back, he licked Dean's tongue, he writhed slightly on the bed but didn't allow Dean to push into him. When he finally drew Dean's shirt up, he intended to leave it there for only a moment before pushing it down. Just long enough for Dean's bare skin to be exposed in the privacy of the blanket covering. When his hand touched Dean' bare side, Dean broke away to groan long and low.

For the first time since the accident, the scent of Dean's slick began to fill the bedroom. It was Sam's turn to moan as his hand travelled north up to Dean's chest where it stayed for a moment.

“Dean,” he whispered in between kisses, “you smell so good. So sweet.”

“Sammy,” Dean barely whispered, pleading with his body to get Sam's hand to move to his nipples.

Sam did a soft check of the channel to see if Dean was genuinely ready to be touched or just too carried away to stop. It was the former and so he obliged, sealing his brother's mouth again with his as his hand dragged a hot path to Dean's nipple, which was as hard as a little diamond in the silk of his skin. Sam couldn't help the sounds that came from him while Dean reacted to his thumb and fingers teasing and playing. He also couldn't help the burst of precome to soak his underwear. There was a fleeting thought that he could come just from this, just from Dean moaning and gasping at Sam's hand and mouth. He played with Dean's nipple until he remembered he had another one. Somewhat awkwardly, he got his hand to the other one and Dean jolted in Sam's arms, calling out around his tongue.

Just when Dean thought he was going to explode from just this, just Sam's nimble fingers and amazing mouth, Sam moved his hand away. In another lifetime, he would have been embarrassed at the whine he let out at not having any stimulation. As it was, he was a bit relieved. It had been becoming a tad overwhelming, and Dean wanted to back off anyway. Sam's hand resumed it's stroll up and down Dean's back, calming him down while his mouth worked Dean's.

Sam felt Dean's need to back off and obliged again. He even slowed his kissing down, going back to darting tongues and soft lips. When Dean was much, much calmer, he broke off to look him in the eyes. “How're you doing,” he murmured, hands still on Dean, lips too far away to kiss, mouth close enough to share the same air.

Dean's fingers had tangled in Sam's hair so he gently extracted them. “Good,” he murmured back. “Great, actually,” he corrected softly as he shifted a bit. How on Earth his libido could drain away without coming he had no idea. But he could reluctantly, very reluctantly, admit that it was ok to be hard without doing anything about it. “Love you,” he whispered.

“Love you too,” Sam whispered back, leaning in for one more chaste kiss.

Dean blinked slowly, warm and content and happy. He didn't know it, but he fell asleep there in Sam's arms.

Sam watched Dean descend into sleep and, surprising himself, followed.

[limejuicer1862]

Wombwell Rainbow Interviews

I am honoured and privileged that the following writers local, national and international have agreed to be interviewed by me. I gave the writers two options: an emailed list of questions or a more fluid interview via messenger.

The usual ground is covered about motivation, daily routines and work ethic, but some surprises too. Some of these poets you may know, others may be new to you. I hope you enjoy the experience as much as I do.

Liz Brownlee

is a National Poetry Day Ambassador, A School Patron of Reading, and does readings and workshops in schools, performs at literary festivals and libraries etc., and organises poetry events.

Her other books are Reaching the Stars, Poems about Extraordinary Women and Girls, Liz Brownlee, Jan Dean and Michaela Morgan, Macmillan, The Same inside, Poems About Empathy and Friendship, Liz Brownlee, Matt Goodfellow and Roger Stevens, Macmillan, Apes to Zebras, An A-Z of Animal Shape Poems, Liz Brownlee, Sue Hardy-Dawson and Roger Stevens, Bloomsbury, and Be the Change, Liz Brownlee, Matt Goodfellow, and Roger Stevens, Macmillan.

poetliz@mac.com

Wombwell Rainbow Interviews

1. What inspired you to write poetry?

I’d been writing stories for my local primary school, and a friend suggested I should go on a writing course. I can’t drive, and when some time later she said she had to go on a creative writing course and would I like to go with her, I accepted. Then, when someone else we got to know there turned out to live near enough to give me a lift, she dropped out. Her creative writing enthusiasm was really a ruse to get me there (I have some very good friends).

The (luckily) excellent tutor said the first thing I wrote showed I was a poet. Subsequent writing did seem to confirm this, and I enjoyed it. I wrote my first children’s poem there about my son, who stuffed his pockets full of all sorts of things, which ended up in the washing machine.

Then the second friend asked me if I’d like to accompany her to Bath Uni for a course and gave me the list of courses to choose from. One was for children’s poets, run by children’s poet Mike Johnson, serendipitously on the same day and at the same time as the course she was doing. He sent off some of my course poems with his to poet anthologists and I was published (thanks, Mike!). In fact, that first poem I wrote was my second to be published. When my first poem was published, my mum gave me a box from her attic – it was called ‘Lizzy’s kiddy drawings and poems.’ I’d forgotten all about my earlier efforts!

2. Who introduced you to poetry?

Poetry was everywhere when we were little. There were always children’s pages in all the newspapers, with puzzles, cartoons, crosswords and poems. My first poetry book was called Jolly Jingles, read to my brother and I often by my mum and dad, and I still have it. Children’s annuals always contained poetry – Treasure Annual introduced me to Edward Lear’s The Pobble, who drank lavender water tinged with pink, and who lost all his toes swimming in the Bristol Channel – very glamorous and slightly unsettling to a child who was born in Bristol. R L Stevenson’s From a Railway Carriage was wonderful to charge around quoting – who could not fall in love with the rhythm of Faster than fairies, faster than witches/Bridges and houses, hedges and ditches! AND – my favourite poem read in childhood, Overheard on a Saltmarsh by Harold Munro, which still sends shivers up and down my arms.

At Grammar School, we had a wonderful English teacher (who is still alive), who read us delights to tingle spines and make us breathless, such as The Listeners by Walter De la Mare, and Tarantella by Hillaire Belloc. Other poets were introduced by the O and A Level curriculum.

3. What is your daily writing routine?

I get up. Have breakfast. Do some Tweeting and any blog work that needs done, and round about 11 when I have finally woken up after a coffee I start researching, or writing, depending what stage I’m at. It takes a while to get into the writing. Lots of false starts. Lots of deleting and starting again in a different form or style or pace or angle. If I’m deeply into a project of writing I will start that straight away and carry on, my husband comes home around 7, and I’m still at it, and I often continue through the evening, because once I have got going, I find it hard to stop. The final poem may not be the final poem. Sometimes it takes a few weeks or months of tweaking. Sometimes you just know that is it.

4. What motivates you to write?

Enjoyment.

5. What is your work ethic?

Write the truth.

6. How do the writers you read when you were young influence you today?

I loved animals and read a lot of animal books, Gerald Durrell, James Herriot, and lots of non-fiction facts about animals. I write a lot of animal poetry. But I also read a LOT of fiction, very eclectically, favourites being Aldous Huxley, Isaac Asimov, all Brontës, Jane Austen, John Wyndham, Franz Kafka, Heinrich Böll, J R Tolkein, Stephen King, Harper Lee, Madeleine L’Engle, Ursula Le Guin, Enid Blyton, J Meade Faulkner, Marjorie Rawlings (never read the Yearling again, too sad!) E Nesbitt, Alan Garner, C S Lewis … my parents did not censor anything. I made no distinction between adult or children’s books and read them both, and have done ever since. I think everything you read influences you and feeds into the rhythms in your mind that you can source to create.

7. Which writers do you admire the most and why?

I don’t admire anyone the most. How can you? People are so different, writers are so different, you read them all for different experiences. I can tell you my favourite books – To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee (we read this at school, and my teacher let me keep my copy as she could see I was having hard time handing it back!), Welcome to the Monkey House, Kurt Vonnegut Jr The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint, Brady Udall, Cancer Ward, Alexandr Solzhenitsyn, Time Must Have a Stop, Aldous Huxley, Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte, The Chrysalids, John Wyndham, Helen Dunmore and Bill Bryson always, and anything by Paul Auster, Tim Winton and Raymond Chandler, those spare prose styles I find delicious, I Robot Isaac Asimov, oh, I can’t write them all – anything that makes me laugh.

Poets? Let’s just say I try and read everything I can get my hands on. Particular favourites, Ted Hughes, Stevie Smith, Leonard Cohen, Pablo Neruda. Children’s poets? I read them ALL. Lots are my friends. I have my favourites but I’m not saying.

9. Why do you write, as opposed to doing anything else?

My brain flits. Poetry fits the flits.

10. What would you say to someone who asked you “How do you become a writer?”

Read a lot. Write a lot. Go to a writing class. Never expect to finish learning how to write.

11. Tell me about the writing projects you have on at the moment.

My newest book, just out, is Be the Change, Poems to Help You Save the World. I was noticing and reading that children are worried about the continuous feed of worrying information about the climate crisis. They are powerless, and that makes them feel more scared. The poems in the book, which I’ve written with Matt Goodfellow and Roger Stevens, address most of the 17 UN sustainability goals, and each poem has little tips at the end, which give a child small ways of helping the climate themselves. Having something constructive to do helps with anxiety. And I believe that if we all pull together, we can save the world. Here is the last poem in the book:

Snow

Swirling slowly in lilting flight, as cold as stars, the soundless white

of drifting feathers spreading wings, to sing the songs that snowflakes sing,

of how small gifts of peace and light can change the world in just one night.

>© Liz Brownlee

I’ve also just handed in a book of shape poems about people who have shaped the world – this is an anthology and my first project as an editor. I thoroughly enjoyed this process!

I’m busy writing for another few books, but it’s too soon to mention those – but it is true that I am never happier than when ‘ping’ I suddenly ‘get’ how to shape the words I want into a poem, or how to shape the words I’ve already written into a shape poem, or when I’m shaping poems into a book.

12. Do you do anything other than write children’s poetry?

I used to draw a lot. If I’m not writing I have strong urges to do something else creative – draw, sew, make something! But if I’m not writing, and even when I am writing, I run several websites and Twitter accounts. I have my own blog which I add to fairly often (http://www,lizbrownleepoet.com), and Poetry Roundabout (http://www.poetryroundabout.com), a website on which I post anything and everything to do with children’s poetry, there is an A-Z of current children’s poets, I’m doing a series of famous children’s poets and their favourite children’s poetry books at the minute, and I also post reviews, information for poets and people who love poetry, poetry news and competitions etc. I believe supporting children’s poets and poetry helps us all. Then there’s my Twitter – https://twitter.com/Lizpoet I also post the blogs on the Children’s Poetry Summit blog (https://childrenspoetrysummit.com/) and run that Twitter account, https://twitter.com/kidspoetsummit And last but not least, I walk my assistance dog, Lola.

Wombwell Rainbow Interviews: Liz Brownlee Wombwell Rainbow Interviews I am honoured and privileged that the following writers local, national and international have agreed to be interviewed by me.

[mrsdslifestyle]

Last Wednesday was 1 year since we got engaged and I became a fiancee.  It is seriously crazy how quickly this year has flown in and mad that it’s now only 10 months until we get married and I become a Mrs!

I thought I’d write this post as an update on our wedding plans and what we have done up to now.  When I first got engaged I had no idea at all where to start, I mean I had an idea of what I needed to do, mostly from working with people in the wedding trade, working at a good few wedding fairs and working at least 10 weddings myself.  However when it comes to your own it is so different!

‘Disclaimer’

You’ll probably see I jump a lot between we and me/I when it comes to talking about the wedding planning, I don’t think I’m the only bride-to-be who plans the majority of the wedding, men just don’t have a clue, or to be honest an interest.  Phil tends to just say “I don’t care what we have or do, I just want to marry you!” So that’s my disclosure I’m not a total bridezilla!  I haven’t even managed to drag him along to a wedding fair . . . now that would be an eye opener for him.

Setting the date

First off we set our date – Phil couldn’t understand all the fuss of doing this, not realising that you need a date to work off and you can’t just decide everything 6 months before you want to be married.  Initially we had thought Autumn as it’s one of my favourite seasons or Spring as a back up as I love cherry blossom so photos under cherry blossom would be amazing.

Reception venue

With an idea of a date/time of year in mind we looked into venues.  Neither Phil or I are religious so a church was out.  We also didn’t want a hotel venue; we have both been to quite a few hotel weddings and as beautiful as they all were, they just aren’t us or what we wanted.  We wanted something a lot more laid back and casual.  After looking about I found Field of Dreams, to me that was just what we were after.  So we sent an email asking would they be available to host a wedding in October.  I then went crazy on Pinterest with all these Autumn wedding ideas and how we could decorate the venue.  Bad idea, got an email back apologising saying they didn’t do weddings after September, that they were sorry and good luck on our venue search.  I was gutted, but as I mentioned before, Spring was also an option so I emailed back and yes we could do May! YAY we were so happy, now just to settle on a date.  In my head I was toying with the idea of the 4th May; my Papa’s anniversary, but with mixed emotions we went for something else, still in May, but a change to make our own special date.

The venue was available on the date we wanted, next was to go down and see it in person.  Straight away I just knew this was the place!  Phil was a little more hesitant, more because he isn’t someone who rushes into things, he says I’m the impulsive one.  I had so many ideas of what we could do with this blank space; exactly what we wanted, a place to make our own and put our stamp on it.

Not to jump into something we then decided to look around a couple of other places, although we struggled to find many more places we liked and would suit what we wanted.  I’m also one of those people who hates to do the same thing as everyone else; I like to be different and do things my way.  There was one other venue we thought of as a possibility; Orange Tree House.  We went down to one of their open days for a look around and it was beautiful, just not what we wanted.  Field of Dreams was definitely the one, so we went ahead and booked it and put down a deposit.

Ceremony

With the venue booked it was on to where to actually get married?  Like I said Phil and I aren’t religious and the only ceremony you can have at Field of Dreams is a religious one, so we went to the Town Hall and the Registry Office.  We had a few venue options to choose from, we went for Bangor Castle Walled Garden.  This was after a bit of convincing from the registrar basically not to pick here; ‘what if it rains, are you sure you want to?  Your idea of rain and mine are very different.’ What will be will be this is where we want to get married and will.

  At that time we couldn’t properly book the venue as you need to wait until a year or within the year of your wedding date to complete and input all the paper work.  For example if you were getting married 25th October 2019, you can’t put in your paperwork until 25th October 2018, but you can put it in anytime within that year.  But last month we got our paperwork in and everything paid for.  Now to sort out 2 readings, our music and if we want to the personal vows we’d like to say.

Photography

Photographer was an easy one for us, friends of mine are wedding photographers and I have worked for them loads at weddings.  I know that Bannon & McCabe will take exactly the photos we want.

Cake

The cake straight away was sorted, one of my best friends said she would make our cake as our wedding present.  Her cakes are delicious and I know how much time, effort and cost goes into cakes so we very much appreciate it.  I just need to decided what style to go for.

This is the style

we would like, a semi naked cake

This is the style of cake we’d like; a semi naked cake

Music

Again it’s good to know people, we are having Party Boyz NI for our DJ.  We decided we didn’t want a band, a DJ can do all the music we want, ‘ditching the band will save a grand’ as they say and also the venue is small so we would be very crammed with a band,

Food

Food was is a big part of our wedding, actually one of the first things we booked was the dessert!  Phil and I were up in the Antrim in December for their ‘Winter Wonderland’ event and I tried a waffle from Born and Raised Waffles.  Nearly straight away I asked if they did weddings and the reply was yes, within a few days I had contacted Micheal and paid our deposit!

Even though I’m sure everyone would be happy to simply eat waffles we needed to sort out the meal.  We wanted something very casual and straight away a BBQ came to mind.  We searched the internet for companies; there aren’t many who do just BBQ so we literally contacted them all.  Very few people actually bothered to get back to us, even after the 2nd or 3rd attempt.  The first company we met with were Foodie Folk, we thought from their website that they would be perfect, just what we wanted.  We emailed them, they replied and set up a meeting.  Not sure what to expect from this we kinda just winged it.  We talked to the guy about what we were wanting food wise and how many we were thinking of feeding and tried to get a rough idea of a quote.  Well that was like getting blood out of a stone, maybe this was his sales tactic I don’t know.  We finally got a rough quote of around £4,000 for a bbq for 100 people (this was after me losing my patience with him not saying anything and was like ‘what would it be £2,000, £4,000?what?) .  When we asked about a tasting he said that would be £150!!!! we were so shocked, (I understand you need to cover costs but £150!), when I asked how many is that for he said you both, but I suppose you could have up to 10 people.  Seriously we were gobsmacked and were thinking omw this is going to be way more expensive than we thought!  So we left it that they would go away and sort out a quote and get back to us.  To this day we still haven’t heard anything, and actually we are quite glad, the guy seemed to bad mouth a lot of other companies who do weddings and he really was a ridiculous price, we got the vibe he didn’t really want to do the wedding in the first place!

On a lot happier and brighter note, a few weeks after our disaster with those ones above there, our first choice Wolf and Devour, was available and on wedding mode, they had been busy with setting up their new business so we had held off.  After our first disaster of a meeting we were a little apprehensive, however Jillian put us at ease right away!  She knew her stuff and she wasn’t at all pushy and the price was within our budget.  Actually there’s more all about it all in my previous blog post Devour (just click here for a read).

So, so happy with our choice of Wolf and Devour, I was actually in at the weekend with my bridesmaids tasting the goods and it did not disappoint!

Dress

I will be honest I had quite a bit of anxiety when it came to dress shopping, no idea why, but I did; so finding the right shop for me was really important.  Again I had no idea where to start, I had seen a few different bridal stalls at the many bridal fairs I had worked at and had talked to a few people, I suppose more last Spring I approached the stalls as I was now a bride to be and got a lot of mixed reviews of when I needed to buy the dress etc.  I was also a little put off as the majority of companies bring their size 8 dresses down with them to display, so me, a size 16 looks at them and goes ‘I’d never suit something like that’ or ‘they would never do my size in their shop’, which is lies; the majority of shops go up to a size 28 odd.

Anyway, my first experience of a proper bridal shop was one my friend and I nipped into ‘Go on’ she said, ‘why not? Just a wee look’; they had an open day or sale or something.  However we were about 30 mins too late and we were told we couldn’t have a quick look at the dresses (that were upstairs) but that we could book an 1hr and a half appointment.  Well straight away even though the staff were lovely that put me off, thoughts went through my head like; ‘but what if I don’t like any of the dresses’ or ‘what if I can’t find anything and have a horrible time and just waist both mine and their time?’.  As we left I asked the girl could I have one of their little brochures which had photos and links for their social media accounts.  Right away I knew my gut had been right, the photos of dresses were not what I was after or my taste, yes they were beautiful, but no that slinky, half there or glitzy princess style dress was not what I wanted and I knew I’d have to wear about 10 pairs of Spanx to look anywhere half decent in them!  Imagine if I had went ahead and made the appointment, my face would have dropped when I seen them all and I would have struggled to pick at least one when they would ask what I’d like to try on!

Perhaps it was from here my anxiety formed as I didn’t want to feel forced into trying on dresses I didn’t like or have to wear Spanx on my wedding day.  My brief has always been I want a dress I can move in, feel good in and be comfortable in; not one that I am constantly pulling and fixing at the control underwear in.  With that in mind mum and I were in Lisburn one day and decided to pop into Divinity Bridal, a couple of friends had recommended them to me, I had spoken to them at a couple of wedding fairs before and they were really really lovely, and from day one I had said to mum that I wanted to try them for my dress!

Straight away we were put at ease and of course it was no problem to have a little look around the shop as they were in between appointments.  This meant we could browse through the dresses and I could see ones I wanted to try on and say to the girls a few ideas I liked and get some advice from them, and most importantly for me, control underwear and Spanx were not a necessity!  After this 10/15 minutes of just looking at the dresses and talking to the girls I knew I was ready to make an appointment with them and I had, no let me rephrase that, mum had actually spotted a dress that when I seen it I had a feeling it could be the one!

  *Note some of the photos are not at a very flattering angle, but it gives you an idea

And as you can see, just a couple of weeks later we were back in and I was trying on dresses.  I tried on about 5 and I’m not going to show you the dress I picked, but it was indeed the dress my mum had originally spotted!  I was able to pick out as many dresses as I liked to try on, then I headed to the dressing room area.  Then the girl I had my appointment with (I’m not going to name names as honestly all the girls are fantastic in there and who you get it pre-decided I’m assuming) picked the first one to try on and you go from there.

First off the aim is to find the shape you want and then that helps to reduce down the number of dresses you have picked, no point in trying 3 dresses in the shape you don’t like.  I had also previously been watching The Posh Frock Shop on Channel 4, and I had remembered them saying about you wearing the dress, not the dress wearing you.  I didn’t really get what that meant until I started trying wedding dresses on, but that first dress above there wore me; it was just so heavy and I had to keep lifting it and dragging it along with me.  I liked the shape, but just knew straight away it didn’t tick the comfort box and that train was a pain in the ass, I kept getting caught in it.

This one was lovely, but what you can’t see is the sequence all around the bodice, I liked the lace but not the sequence, it was a little too glitzy for what I wanted and also it was so uncomfortable!  I must have had this on for about 10 mins max and I actually had cuts/scratches under my arms from the sequence; apparently some brides will ignore this for the perfect look they are after, but not me.

This dress (terrible angle) would have been the one probably if Philip and I were going for that ‘traditional’ wedding where we would get married in a church and then head on to a hotel or wedding venue, but for our wedding this was just too formal.

My dress has a slightly more boho vibe to it.

Flowers

From the moment I set my eyes on Innocent Chaos I just knew that I wanted Sharon’s amazing pieces of work for my wedding, I absolutely fell in love!  So Sharon uses artificial flowers that look so realistic.  They aren’t a cheaper alternative to fresh flowers, but it’s more the fact that I can keep them forever.

At the weekend  I  went for an appointment with Sharon to her new premises and had the best time, my bridesmaids couldn’t get over the range of flowers and how real they look; seriously the photos do not do them justice!

So what I am after are floral hoops for myself, my bridesmaids and flower girl instead of your traditional bouquets.

And I can’t wait to get my own bespoke floral crown; this is one I tried on last year at Sharon’s stall at the Wedding Journal Show.

Drinks

Drinks, now this is where we are having a bit of a problem and having to really think about what we want to do.  Typical Northern Ireland, things have to be difficult, our reception venue doesn’t have a drinks licence and in NI you can’t get one for a wedding, which means that on the day/night no money is allowed to be passed between people, i.e. paying for the drink.  So our options are BYO – Bring Your Own, which I don’t want because you know what it’s like when you are pouring your own drinks, everyone will be off their faces before the meal is served.  The other option that we are thinking of is asking our guests for money before the wedding day, buying the drink and hiring a bar company to serve it for us, as us putting on a free bar just isn’t an option, unless we win the lottery that is!

So we met up with the lovely guys from Nightcap Bartending in their bar/club Time Belfast and we are hoping they can help us get things sorted, this is probably the one big thing we have left to sort.

Rings

We, I say we,  I mean Phil got my engagement ring from Ellison Jewellers and want to get our wedding bands from the same place.  I know it’s still pretty early with 10 months still to go, but we wanted to even just price rings.  Bonus, Phil even tried on a couple, well more on his baby finger, wow he has fat digits lol a size X, that one above was the only one of the samples he could get to fit!  I also tried on a couple, but with their bigger range back in next week we’re going to head back down again, as I didn’t find THE ONE.

So that’s us so far.  Now just to keep saving like mad to pay it all off!  If you are interested in any of my other Wedding themed blog posts, just click the links below:

Wedding Joural Show 2017, my honest review

Quirky Wedding Fair top picks – Spring 2018

Engaged life – Wedding Prep Last Wednesday was 1 year since we got engaged and I became a fiancee.  It is seriously crazy how quickly this year has flown in and mad that it's now only 10 months until we get married and I become a Mrs!

[batchaoticcollectionnight-blog]

How much is insurance for a 17 year old driver?

"How much is insurance for a 17 year old driver?

If a guy starts driving at 15 1/2 years old with a permit and gets a license at 17, how much will the insurance be if the guy buys a mustang that costs $307 a month and gets co-signed by his parents? Thanks for any answers!

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In Florida I'm just wondering :o

""Best insurance business (All State, Farmers or State Farm)?""

I am seriously considering becoming an insurance agent for State Farm, Farmers or All State, but I don't know which company is the best choice for me, I am bilingual in Spanish, so I am looking for a company that is going after the Hispanic Market. I have heard some bad things about Farmers, so my decision might be State Farm or All State. Nationwide is doing a great advertising campaing in the Spanish market, does anybody know if they offer agency jobs. I am open to other suggestions. Any help/Suggestions is very much appreciated. Gracias""

What would my car insurance be?

I am 16, female, first time getting insurance. I am thinking about getting a convertible, would my insurance be more? If so about how much more? But black or blue, not red or yellow. One of my friends is my age/sex and hers is about $100/mo. Would mine be about the same, give or take a little? I am trying to come up w/ a budget and see what I can afford so any help will be greatly appreciated! Every free insurance quote site you must fill in your EXACT car type or be 18+, I have already tried that.""

Why is the Infiniti G37S Coupe insurance premium costs so high?

I looked up average insurance premium costs for the G37S coupe, and the cost was over $2600. I then looked up the Infiniti's competitors, the BMW 335i coupe and the Audi S5 4.2 which costs $1900+ and $1800+ respectively. Why is the insurance premium of the G37S so much higher? Thanks in advance.""

Can i collect life insurance after a murder.?

My dad has a large life insurance policy on him and i am the head beneficiary. if he happens to be murdered by some unknown suspect would i be able to collect the money or would it have to be accidental or natural death.

Do you NEED insurance for a motorcycle?

meaning can you get arrested with no insurance?

Got my first speeding ticket. How much will my insurance go up?

I was on my way to work and I got clocked at 65 mph in a 50 mph zone. I haven't told my parents and I am scared for when they find out. It's my first speeding ticket and even the first time I had ever been pulled over. The ticket was for $103.33. I paid for it and it is all taken care of I think. I was driving my mom's new car. My brother has had a lot of traffic tickets on the same insurance too, but not the same car. So how much do you think the insurance is going to go up? Or do you think it is going to go up at all?""

Is a volvo s40 60 or 80 a good car for a 16 yr old guy?

i was just wondering i think there cool but do they look gay at all? i just dont want to get it and then have people call me gay afterwards for getting it ( if i do) also are they good cars etc

Does anyone know where I can find good affordable health insurance?

Does anyone know where I can find good affordable health insurance?

Im looking for a car thats as fast as any normal 1.6 but is cheap on insurance?

Im 20 years old and i am looking for a car with the same acceleration or bhp as a normal 1.6 normal but i would like one that's cheaper on insurance

No car insurance california get fine reduced?

I bought a used car from the highway patrol (crown victoria) and i gor pulled over on the way home for no license plate. I got a ticket for no insurance how can i get it reduced or get out of it? I did get insurance the same day with Allstate when i got home. And dont leave a hole answers please

How much is insurance for a 17 year old driver?

If a guy starts driving at 15 1/2 years old with a permit and gets a license at 17, how much will the insurance be if the guy buys a mustang that costs $307 a month and gets co-signed by his parents? Thanks for any answers!

What does your credit score have to do with your car insurance premium?

Why do some some insurance companies base their rates on credit scores? What does that have to do with driving records?

How much should I expect to pay for individual health insurance?

I'm leaving my job to go back to school. Continuing my present health plan through COBRA will cost nearly $400 monthly. I'm 25 and a healthy moderate social drinking non-smoker. Can I do better than $400 a month?

""Car with fault, expensive to repair. can it be and insurance write off job ?""

If i had a car with a fault that was too expensive to repair, is there any way i can claim insurance writs off with insurers.""

NJ car insurance?

NJ My daughter borrowed my car and was in a minor accident. She has her own insurance. My insurance company paid the other drivers claim and my insurance went up. Shouldn't my daughters insurance pay the claim. We have twoseparate companies.

How much do you pay for your car insurance?

I'm just trying to pick a car insurance thats affordable. How much do you pay monthly? Also I'm 22, no driving tickets, my car is a 2005, Hyundai Accent. OR AT LEAST WHAT IS AN IDEAL PAYMENT MONTHLY FOR CAR INSURANCE?""

Insurance when buying a used car?

I'm going to buy a used car next week from a private seller and I am concerned about the insurance. I've heard that you need to have insurance to drive it but what should I do? I am 20 years old and I've looked up temporary insurance and most of them you have to be 21 years or older and some are around 200 for 1 day cover but you have to have a Full UK Driving Licence for at least 6 months when in my case, I've only had it since yesterday as I passed my test yesterday. So what should I do? Get the full insurance and tell them this cars registration number or not get insurance at all and assume I get 7 days free insurance when buying this used car from the private seller?""

Does insurance cost less for drivers that are 18 than for 16 year olds?

Does insurance cost less for drivers that are 18 than for 16 year olds?

How does life insurance work?

i talked my dad into buying life insurance but he says that i just want him to die but i told him only to take out a 50 thousand dollar policy for the funeral and other expenses nothing else i don't need a million dollar policy and how does life insurance work if i talk my dad into getting a 50k policy does the insurance pay it all at once or does the insurance give it month to month or year to year explain it all just in case he wants to get more which i highly doubt he will but anything from 25k to 50k will be find i don't need a million dollars to plan a funeral and how much do you think it would cost to make him have a 50k policy and i asked this question before and i got the response 50k is too much i see people who get 5million dollar policy im not trying to get rich im just trying to get enough to pay for the funeral if i really wanted something i would ask for more because im paying off his 500 thousand dollar house with my money and my pay so he can at least appreciate what i do for him

Car Insurance for any Car in USA?

I am a Senior Indian Citizen of 73 with a US Green Card in Parker, Colorado. I have an international driving permit. Can I get a Car insurance for driving any car hired or private?""

How much does it cost to add an additional insured to car insurance?

A ball park figure is fine.

What are some discounts that many auto insurance companies offer that might help save some money?

10pts to best answer. Question about auto insurance policies? I just earned my drivers liscence. My father is dreading the cost of adding another driver to the family auto insurance policy. What are some discounts that many insurance companies offer that might help save my dad some money when the premium is due?

Can you exchange a motorcyle if the insurance ends up being higher than what was quoted at the dealer?

i called progressive, geico, esurance, and allstate and they all gave me a quote of over 2400.00 but the dealer quoted me 900.00.""

Do i have to get car insurance if im 17 just got my license and my guardian have insurance on his car?

I got my license im 17 my guardian and his wife haves 2 cars and has insurance on both.I dont want to be on there insurance becuse it would raise it for them.Will the car be insured if i get in a wrek if i have no car insurance but they do

First automobile accident. How much will my payments increase?

I'm 25 and have just been in my first automobile accident in which I was at fault. I hit the side of another vehicle. My car is only damaged slightly on the front bumper, while the other car's passenger side is quite dented. No one was hurt in the accident and I didn't receive a ticket. Both of us were able to drive away from the scene. I do have automobile insurance which should cover any damages to the other car, but I am concerned that this will cause my insurance payment to increase. Thoughts?""

What is the cost of insurance for a bugatti?

What is the cost of insurance for a bugatti?

Can a non-relative be added onto ones insurance?

Example: A friend and his daughter that are living with me  He has no insurance, and wont be getting any for at least 6 months, and I am helping to support her. I would like to add her onto my insurance so she is at least covered in case of emergency.""

How much does the insurance usually go up on a 2door car?

How much does the insurance usually go up on a 2door car?

How does car insurance work?

I got a ticket for not having endurance but the car i was driving (my dads) does. Can i just show proof of insurance to get the ticket off or does the insurance have to say my name in order to be taken off? Example:: In that case how do you explain road tests at the dps for driving license? They ask for insurance of the car your testing in but clearly its not in your name since you don't have a license yet they let you drive it. What happens in case of an accident? Will it not be covered since the person behind the wheel is not in the document? Can i take off the ticket or not? Or is car insurance all about the person behind the wheel? Isn't it supposed to be for the car no matter who is driving? Please explain if i got it all wrong and have to pay the ticket

Will third party car insurance compensate me if i don't have car insurance myself?

I do have car insurance that's for a start, but my insurance is threatening me that if i don't pay an extra premium to update my policy, they will cancel it. With that being said if the third party have already admitted liability will I still be compensated for my damage to my vehicle and injuries? The reason why they need to update my policy is because when I did the quote online I inputted the amount of cars in the household as 1 instead of 3 (my error) but upon going back to their website to retry the quote with 1 car vs 3 cars in the household, it turns out cheaper to have 3 cars instead of the one so i cant understand why I would need to pay more to get something cheaper. Now I don't want to pay 200 to update my policy for the remaining time on my policy which is roughly a month;s time, if they do cancel my policy will the third party insurance still compensate me? Thanks in advance""

The best health insurance?

im was wondering whats the best health insurance to get for some who is 19. someting that has eye vision to. i work but i dont have insurance from my job its along story so dont ask. i need something that is affordable. i live in southern california. any suggestions will do. this stuff is all confusing to me . copayment? or deductible? please help!!!

Car Insurance Help!!!!?

Im 18 years old and for graduation present my father said i could pick a car I was thinking a 2007 mustang shelby gt500 i was wondering what is the insurance rate on a 18 year old with no previous accidents and i was thinking also a 2011 mustang gt and what is the insurance rate on that as well and for the last car a 2004 cadillac xlr what is the insurance rate on these 3 cars Thank You

Health insurance...what does this mean?

My school has an option that states that unless you have health insurance from a ' government sponsored health insurance plan' then you have to go with the school's health plan.......which is so expensive. So what are the 'government sponsored health insurance plans?

How much is mobile home insurance in South Florida?

Looking to buy a vacation home in West Palm Beach. Does anyone out there who actually lives in a mobile home in South Florida tell me how much to expect? The park is on the Intercoastal, I was going to buy for cash but now the douche bag owner raised the price so now I am going to look else where and may have to finance some of the purchase price and I am assuming that I will have to insure it. I am expecting the worse. Please only answer if you really know a number.""

Car Rental USA Insurance?

I am getting really annoyed with trying to get a quote for car rental in USA. For basic rental I have been quoted $200. But then there are all the insurances: Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI) Personal Accident and Effects (PAE) What do I actually need to have as they are really expensive!!! Adding just the first two takes my rental up to $500. I am very confused. What legally do I have to have? Someone told me the US insurance is strange cos you can get sued for an accident and end up paying thousands of dollars out to the person you hit. Can I just get insurance through my own car insurance here in the UK rather than paying $300 dollars??

How much is insurance for a 17 year old ?

im looking forward to buying a mitsubishi galant 1999-2003 but before anything i would like to know how much is the insurance , because im paying everything myself ,so it would be under my own name .""

How much is insurance for a 17 year old driver?

If a guy starts driving at 15 1/2 years old with a permit and gets a license at 17, how much will the insurance be if the guy buys a mustang that costs $307 a month and gets co-signed by his parents? Thanks for any answers!

Will going to Driver's Ed make our insurance rates go up?

My mom tells me she doesn't want me to go to Driver's Ed because once insurance sees there's another driver on our plan, they will make the rate go up, or something like that... Is this true? Btw, sorry if I misused the apostrophe s in Drivers""

How much is AAA a month?

I have Roadside Assistance with AT&T and I pay only $2.99 a month for 4 calls every calendar year but they only cover from about 2 to 10 miles if I need a tow. I'm thinking about switching to AAA but I really don't know anything about AAA. Can anyone give me some insight on AAA? PLEASE :-)

Can I get a dealer service department to cash out a check that was written from my insurance company?

I know I can get a repair done cheaper elsewhere. But my insurance company has already left a check at the dealer that is made out to me and the dealer so I have to sign it over to them. The dealer will not have the part in until Tuesday. So can I go to the dealer and just take the part and ask them to cash out the labor to me and I will go elsewhere for the actual repair?

How do you get proof of auto insurance?

i just got my driver's license, (i'm 17) but i haven't been able to drive yet because my dad says i need to get an insurance card as proof of insurance. It was supposed to come in the mail a week ago. No one else i know had to do any of this, and they could drive as soon as they got their license. is there a faster easier way to get proof of insurance? thanks""

What would be a good job for someone who wants to get out of insurance claims?

I want to get out of the insurance claims world. I hate the business and I hate dealing with people who have experience loss. My degree is in English. I have applied to a lot of Human Resources jobs with no call backs although I have an excellent work history with proven results. Thank you for any constructive advice that can be given.

Car insurance for the clueless 19 year old :/?

I'm nervous about getting car insurance but I honestly need to get my foot in the door. Now give it to me straight guys, how high can it go if I'm nineteen years old, male, never been in an accident, had my licence since may, plan on getting a 90s car or EARLY 2000, and only plan to use it for really just going to work and such. :/ I feel like its going to skyrocket...just because I have a penis. Man when they told me that I thought about being arrested for being black on a friday afternoon on a wednsday :/ So how low can car insurance get?""

Whats a good health insurance company?

One that is affordable, has good coverage, good selection of choices? Fair, good quality, what do you recommend ?""

Why is it mandatory to buy car insurance?

I understand if it's on a leased car but why on 100% paid off private cars? Mortgage companies make borrowers buy home insurance as a condition to get the Liam but once the mortgage is paid off you're free to not insure your property. Why is it legal for insurance companies to force all car owners to buy coverage? It's not constitutional no different than forcing them to buy health insurance.

""Insurance rates for a 1996 Ford Crown Victoria in Chattanooga, Tennessee?""

My next car, just need to know the insurance. Asking you guys might prevent me a whole lot of hassle and harassment from the insurance companies.""

Car accident. how much will my deductable go up?

i might need a new bumper. i was stopped in a parking lot going into first gear when this lady backed into my bumper. she claimed fault for it and i have a signed statement from her. i am 16 years old and i live in the state of Ohio. perfect record and no pasted accidents. will this make my insurance go up? and if so by how much?

Will my insurance go up if my boyfriend wrecks my car?

My boyfriend recently backed my car into a dumpster and left significant damage on the bumper. He insisted he would pay to get it fixed, but it looks like I'm going to have to make a claim. Do I make a claim on my insurance or does he make one on his? Also, is my insurance going to go up a significant amount?""

Need help with car insurance!!?

i am new with the whole car insurance thing so i need help. how much is car insurance for an 18 year old just got my licenses and with a 1996 pontiac sunfire SE..how do you pay for car insurance please help thanks

How much should i get for insurance repairs?

I have a 98 pontiac grand prix gtp and it was keyed all over every part of the car. The side mirror was broke off. The key marks are all the way down to primer. My deductable is 200. How much should i expect to get to cover the damages?

""How many people out there would love a health care insurance exchange, where you can buy insurance on your own?""

and not have to choose a job based on benefits, and you could switch jobs without worrying about losing coverage. Why would people be against this, unless they are part of a union and do not want everyone to have great benefits like they do?""

Is Diesel cheaper than gasoline for insurance?

i need a 4x4 truck, im 16, which is cheaper for insurance?""

How much would it cost for car insurance for a second hand classic car for a 17 year old?

Hey, I'm turning 16 in September 2012, and being a boy I am already thinking about my first car. I'm hoping to start work around November-December and am hoping to earn around 1500, which fits perfectly into my price range of 1000 -  2000. Recently I've been thinking down the more 'Classical Route' (extravagant, I know) and found Classic Cars for around this price at www.carandclassic.co.uk I've had my eye on MG mgbgt or Triumph Spitfire and similar. I can afford something like this. The only problem that faces is me now is Insurance. I know that insurance is really quite expensive for this type of car ESPECIALLY for my age. However I have heard that insuring a car at my age is expensive regardless of the type. It's really the only set back for me. I'd love to hear from you how much it would cost to insure this kind of car for my age, as well as any personal experiences, alternatives and any other advice. Thanks. :)""

Can kaiser health insurance drop me?

I'VE been vomiting and been feeling sick but i dont know what is causing it so i applied for health insurance and got approved. On the application, it askedif i was diagnosed with any illness and i was not. But if i go to a physical exam, telling them of my symptoms and do get diagnosed with something, can theinsurance drop me? I feel like i did not lie on my application because i dont even know if i have a disease but i am worried that they will say that i had a preexisting condition?""

What happens if your car insurance is cancelled due to non-payment?

I live in Mass and I am facing cancellation for non-payment, sdo they take your plates? What happens?""

Can you start work as soon as you receive your national insurance number at 15?

Ive just left school and i want a job for the summer but my birthday is not till august. Ive already received my national insurance

""What's the cheapest car insurance in Houston, Texas?

I just bought a 350z 2003 and I'm 19.. So I would like to know how much I will pay...

Is there any car insurance company who won't ask for no claim bonus proof?

Is there any car insurance company who won't ask for no claim bonus proof?

Health and travel insurance for the US?

Hi, I am a British student undertaking an internship in the U.S for 6 weeks this summer. I need Health insurance that complies with the requirements for the J-1 Visa, and though I have found a company that can help me (http://www.isoa.org/compare_plans.aspx) with Health insurance, they don't offer any travel insurance. The companies that I have found for travel insurance don't tend to provide the level of Health insurance that I require. Do people normally take out 2 seperate policies when travelling to the U.S? (e.g. one health, one travel?) If so, can anyone find me somewhere that provides travel insurance to the U.S without health insurance included? Thanks!""

Is comprehensive car insurance cheaper if you own the car?

is it cheaper than if you had a loan out on it? why is this? thanks

What auto insurance companies DON'T use a credit score when deciding rates?

I'm against the practice of using credit scores (i.e. insurance scores) to decide auto insurance rates. Does anyone know of a company in the U.S. that doesn't use the practice?

Do you have life insurance?

Ok we have been married for 10 years with 2 small boys. My husband works, I don't. I think he needs disability insurance and life insurance just in case something happens to him. And maybe even life insurance on me and the boys to cover at least funeral costs.. He thinks it's a big waste of money but I think we should. Also, my sister asked me if I would take her boys if something happen to her and brother-n-law. I said of course!! She told me that I would then get XX amt. of money from her life insurance... She also stated it's in their will!! OMG do I need a will too. What do I need in this will. I don't want my kids in foster care so I should name some people who would care for our boys..""

How much is insurance for a 17 year old driver?

If a guy starts driving at 15 1/2 years old with a permit and gets a license at 17, how much will the insurance be if the guy buys a mustang that costs $307 a month and gets co-signed by his parents? Thanks for any answers!

Anyone know of an car insurance company that doesn't require the vehicle to be in your name?

Geico cancelled our policy because our car is in our grandmothers name.Also if she gets a policy, the addys have to all match.Are all insurance companys this strict?the car is about to die soon, so we dont wanna spend more money on transferring the title, but I guess we will if we have to.We are getting another car fixed soon that we will be driving.""

Am i stuck paying for my teens car insurance if their father doesnt want to pay it?

We both have joint physical and legal custody and we both live in california.

How much do you pay for car insurance a month?

i have a 2001 Toyota Rav 4 and my parents tell me to give them $100 a month for car insurance, does that sound right? how much does car insurance usually cost?""

I am 18 years old. I want to improve my credit score by buying a vehicle. INSURANCE PROBLEMS!!!!!?

I know ican get approved for a vehicle but insurance for a teenage male is un-godly cheapest is 650 a month, is it possible to buy a vehicle in my name, but have insurance over it under my fathers insurance policy?""

If i cahnge car insurance after 7 days of getting it due i have to pay the full amount??

Heres the deal i got a car and put safe auto on it. i then wrote the postdated check for 7 days from then. well today (5 days after getting my car) i found a lot cheaper insurance. CAn i canel the saufe auto and not have to pay the full amounnt??? or do iahve to essentially pay 2 full months of car insurance????

How much does car insurance cost for 17 years old driver?

My parents have their policy from travelers and i tried getting quote online. What it showed for 2002 NISSAN MAXIMA that i have to pay 600 for month and for liability insurance 450 I think thats wrong information because my friend is 16 and pay 186 for 2 full coverage insurance and one liability. Any one had experience or know some information about 17 year old insurance rates please help me. THANK YOU.

In New York: Best health insurance on the cheap?

This information is for my stepdaughter and her family. After long term unemployment her husband recently went back to work as a trucker. He might bring home around $500 per week. They presently have no health insurance, although she said a New York State program would cover her two younger children. This leaves her and husband uninsured because his new job has no health coverage. Somehow she found a company willing to insure them for around $200+ a month. What this insurance covers I do not know. (By the premiums, I don't think much) The problem is they don't have much more than the $200+ to pay per month. Can someone tell me how to find(in New York) legitimate insurance companies with affordable cost? Also how can I educate myself on health insurance, the details, so that I can advise them correctly? They're in their late 30s and in reasonably in good health. Any an all advice greatly appreciated Tony""

""I'm sure 5,000 for health insurance will help.. right?

John Mccain thinks we are idiots lol

How Much is insurance on a fox body mustang?

I really want a fox body mustang and i want to see how much it would cost. It will be my first car and i really want to know before i go car shopping.

What is the Cheapest Homeowners Insurance for Senior Citizen?

My elderly neighbor has had her homeowners insurance cancelled because she couldnt afford to pay it. She is on a fixed income and her children do not help in any way. She owns her home but is having a hard time with paying the large payments. her mortage company says that if she doesnt take out her own insurance then they will purchase it for her at a cost of 2100.00 per year. This is way too much for a Senior citizen. i got a quote for her from progressive for 2600.00. Are there any cheaper alternatives?

Need help on car insurance for young driver?

Hi! I've been struggling to get a good quote for car insurance for a while now. I tried all the big name comparison sites and every one is quoting me 4k (monthly installments). I opted for third party and theft, i am 22 years of age and my postcode starts with sl1 (slough) and i got pass plus and had my licence (manual) since march 2011. I got my car already its a Peugeot 206 1.6l petrol manual 1999 3doors. If you have time you can try for yourself with the above details the quote is freaking too much. Is this just how it is or am i doing something wrong? If you can point me to the right direction that would be amazing!!""

Motorcycle insurance?

I received my scooter insurance in the post but is there a cert like a car as i did not receive one and if there's not what do i bring with me to prove to the police i have insurance?

Looking for best insurance product (LIC) which returns guaranteed & handsome amount on maturity along with acc?

Age : 35 yrs., married Premium Amount : 90  99 K per year Premium term : 25 to 30 yrs best lic plan combo plan""

Car Insurance Claims - EVERYONE UNDER 25 MUST LOOK - Will I lose my No Claims Bonus?

I have had my insurance for nearly a year now. I am the main driver and my dad is the second driver. My dad had a small bump in the car. If we have to claim in his name will it effect my No claims bonus and next years insurace quote, ([I will though be taking my dad off next years insurance)]""

What is a good cheap sports car for a teenager?

I just learned to drive a manual transmission so now i am interested in a more sporty car. I want something that is initially fast and doesn't require modificatons. I have a limit of about 5 or 6 grand.

What is the cheapest possible insurance available?

Including the cheapest car to insure and the best way to go about insuring that car. What is the cheapest insurance i can get? Thanks for any help

Why is health-care so expensive?

Just last year in CA Medi-Cal (state medicaid) stop covering for dentistry and optometry for people over 21. The total cost of my dental braces is $4550. I need them so I can fix some teeth that are misaligned. I pay $100 and it seems like its a never ending balance. I been doing this for 2 years now. I have Medi-Cal because of my SSI but that doesnt cover anymore because I am 21. My mother had heart surgery in 2007 and we still haven't payed a bill. My parents don't have any insurance. They used to have Medi-Cal but when Schwarzenegger became the governor in 2003 he made some changes to the policies and they stop having Medi-Cal. She tried applying for SSI but she keeps getting denied. The republicans should stop attacking Obama and work together to pass the health-care reform.

Car insurance 15 year old with 4.0 gpa?

my son is going to turn 15 i wanted to know what it would cost and what options i have

Car insurance suing me for car accident?

I was driving in a parking lot with my cousin and my cousin has her driver license and she over 21 and i was driving. Im 18 and i only have my permit. Well accidentally i was driving and i was trying to park and i hit the car next to me. Well they put it under my cousin car insurance and they didn't call the police on us. Well my mom saying the insurance can go after me to what ever how much it cost. What should i expect if i don't have a job and what is the percent that they will sue me if i have my permit and what should i expect if they do.....

How much would all state car insurance cost per year for a 16 year old with a 2004 Pontiac GTO??? ?

How much would all state car insurance cost per year for a 16 year old with a 2004 Pontiac GTO??? ?

How much is insurance on the new Morgan?

You know the wooden car?

Car insurance for you drivers?

i am a 18 year old male and looking for car insurance on something like a micra, punto, clio or something small like that but the cheapest i can find is 3000 with tesco and thats as a named driver on my dads insurnace. Is there anywere cheaper that anyone knows of ? how much do other people pay? also it is a full uk licence i have and i have had it less than a year""

I got a speeding ticket. How much will my insurance go up?

What up Doodey's & Doodettes! Anyways, I got a speeding ticket doing 80mph on a 65mph speed zone. This is my first speeding ticket violation. Roughly, I'm wondering how much will my insurance go up too? I'm currently paying like 60 bucks a month. I'm living in Los Angeles, California by the way. Please let me know! :) Thanks!""

How much should it cost to insure a new teen driver?

I'm 16 and my parents just put me on their insurance. I have 2000 escort and I have the basic liability coverage. I have got the good student discount too. The total came to be about $53 dollars. Is that about the average? My parents originally said it would be about $100 dollars.

Is there any way my parents can get my license suspended? and for new drivers how much is the insurance?

my dad is saying he doesnt want me to drive cuz im gonna visit my boyfriend. nd i jst wanna know if he cld suspend my license? my dad doesnt want to pay for my insurance nd i have to pay for it. nd was wondering how much its gonna cost me.

How much is insurance for a 17 year old driver?

If a guy starts driving at 15 1/2 years old with a permit and gets a license at 17, how much will the insurance be if the guy buys a mustang that costs $307 a month and gets co-signed by his parents? Thanks for any answers!

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-get-quotes-your-auto-insurance-alexander-ross/"

[melindarowens]

'Bama bombshell

With Daniel Strauss and Maggie Severns

ALABAMA BOMBSHELL — “Woman says Roy Moore initiated sexual encounter when she was 14, he was 32,” by the Washington Post’s Stephanie McCrummen, Beth Reinhard and Alice Crites: “Leigh Corfman says she was 14 years old when an older man approached her outside a courtroom in Etowah County, Ala. She was sitting on a wooden bench with her mother, they both recall, when the man introduced himself as Roy Moore. … Alone with Corfman, Moore chatted with her and asked for her phone number, she says. Days later, she says, he picked her up around the corner from her house in Gadsden, drove her about 30 minutes to his home in the woods, told her how pretty she was and kissed her. On a second visit, she says, he took off her shirt and pants and removed his clothes. He touched her over her bra and underpants, she says, and guided her hand to touch him over his underwear. … Aside from Corfman, three other women interviewed by The Washington Post in recent weeks say Moore pursued them when they were between the ages of 16 and 18 and he was in his early 30s, episodes they say they found flattering at the time, but troubling as they got older. None of the three women say that Moore forced them into any sort of relationship or sexual contact.” Full story.

Story Continued Below

— “Republicans might be stuck with Roy Moore,” by Daniel Strauss, Elana Schor and Kevin Robillard: “GOP leaders desperately want Roy Moore off the ballot. But they have neither the legal nor the political leverage to force the defiant ex-judge out of the race. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and a host of other Republican senators called on Moore to drop out of the race Thursday if there were truth to the accounts of four women who told The Washington Post that Moore pursued relationships with them while they were teens and he was in his 30s. The news sent Republican operatives scrambling to parse the dusty sections of Alabama state law that deal with replacing candidates on the ballot. … ‘Judge Roy Moore has endured the most outlandish attacks on any candidate in the modern political arena, but this story in today’s Washington Post alleging sexual impropriety takes the cake,’ Moore campaign chairman Bill Armistead said in a statement. ‘National liberal organizations know their chosen candidate Doug Jones is in a death spiral, and this is their last ditch Hail Mary.’ Though Republicans have begun looking into options to replace Moore, Alabama law requires the candidate roster on the ballot to be set 74 days before an election. If Moore does withdraw, however, any votes cast for him would not count. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and other Republicans have suggested that GOP Sen. Luther Strange, the appointed senator who lost to Moore in the special primary, could put himself forward as a write-in candidate.” Full story.

— What Luther Strange told the Associated Press when asked if he would reenter the race: “Well, that’s getting the cart ahead of the horse. But I will have something to say about that. Let me do some more research.”

— What White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told the press pool: “Like most Americans the president believes we cannot allow a mere allegation, in this case one from many years ago, to destroy a person’s life. However, the president also believes that if these allegations are true, Judge Moore will do the right thing and step aside.”

— What Democrats are thinking: Neither the DSCC nor Jones’ campaign rushed to put out a statement, and Jones’ eventual statement was brief: “Roy Moore needs to answer these serious charges.” If Strange or another Republican mounts a write-in campaign, it gives Jones a better chance of winning with a vote total in the 40 percent range. But don’t expect any rash excitement about their chances in such a deep-red state.

— What McConnell world is thinking: If we let Steve Bannon control our primaries, we’re going to keep ending up with scandal-ridden candidates. Even if Moore survives this, candidates in more competitive states won’t.

— What Bannon world is thinking: A few weeks ago, McConnell’s people were saying Bannon had nothing to do with Moore’s win. Moore is strongly denying the accusations, and like President Donald Trump, will probably survive this.

— “Moore fundraises off of report alleging relationships with teenagers,” by Campaign Pro’s Daniel Strauss: “A defiant Moore, who faced calls from fellow Republicans to end his Senate campaign Thursday, cast the story as a political conspiracy against him and called the story ‘lies,’ asking ‘God-fearing conservatives’ to help him carry on. ‘The Obama-Clinton Machine’s liberal media lapdogs just launched the most vicious and nasty round of attacks against me I’ve EVER faced,’ Moore wrote in the fundraising email. ‘I won’t to get into the details of their filthy and sleazy attacks.’” Full story.

— Democratic senators launch money blitz for Jones: Some of the best online fundraisers among Senate Democrats sent out fundraising e-mails for Doug Jones last night, including Connecticut’s Chris Murphy, California’s Kamala Harris, New York’s Kirsten Gillibrand and Massachusetts’ Elizabeth Warren. Gillibrand’s e-mail was the only one to directly reference the allegations in the Washington Post story. “If you’ve followed the Senate special election in Alabama at all, you know Roy Moore is unfit for office – and recent allegations that he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl are utterly disgusting,” Gillibrand writes.

— The pols with ties to Moore: Moore had garnered increasing support from Washington Republicans in recent months. Dozens of Republicans including six GOP senators — Steve Daines, Ted Cruz, John Cornyn, Rand Paul, Mike Lee and Cory Gardner — endorsed Moore prior to Thursday’s bombshell story. Paul and Lee recently hosted a fundraiser for Moore, and he formed a joint fundraising committee with the NRSC and the RNC. Moore has received campaign donations from Rep. Andy Harris ($2,000), Rep. Jeff Duncan ($1,000) and Rep. Thomas Massie ($1,000) — as well as former Rep. Todd Akin ($2,700), who still has a leadership PAC.

HOW VIRGINIA HAPPENED — “How Gillespie’s MS-13 play backfired in Virginia,” by Campaign Pro’s Kevin Robillard: “The ads from Republican Ed Gillespie’s campaign would define and drive conversation about the Virginia governor’s race — and not in the way Gillespie wanted. The race ended in a resounding win for [Democrat Ralph] Northam on Tuesday night, driven by high turnout from the so-called Obama coalition of white college-educated voters, minorities and young people. The ads would betray Gillespie’s repeated warnings about the GOP’s need to reach out to Hispanic voters. And, according to Democrats, they would create a backlash that helped drown him. ‘Gillespie’s MS-13 ads, his race-baiting with the statues, his very strong anti-immigrant rhetoric completely backfired,’ said Matt Barreto, the managing partner of Democratic polling firm Latino Decisions. ‘Voters recognized that Gillespie heavily racialized this campaign.’ All the while, Northam’s campaign would rely on the lieutenant governor’s authenticity to rebut the attacks. National Democrats fretted about the energy backing Northam’s campaign, and commentators slammed his television ads as boring. But the campaign stuck to its message, seeing little movement in the polls. They planned for a worst-case scenario of low Democratic turnout, but ultimately knocked on more doors than Hillary Clinton’s campaign in the state had a year earlier and won by an unexpected 9-point margin. ‘Reporters wanted us to say something new, but we didn’t because we knew what voters needed to hear about Northam,’ Brad Komar, Northam’s campaign manager, said in an interview. ‘I think folks interpreted discipline as boring. Discipline is effective.’” Full story.

— “One big takeaway from Virginia? Authenticity is essential,” by Jesse Ferguson in The Hill: “If there’s one thing Virginia voters learned about Ralph Northam before they propelled him to a decisive victory Tuesday night, it’s who he is. Northam isn’t flashy. He’s a doctor and a veteran; a public servant focused on taking care of kids. They knew who he was.” Full story.

Days until the 2018 election: 361.

Thanks for joining us! You can email tips to the Campaign Pro team at sbland@politico.com, eschneider@politico.com, krobillard@politico.com, dstrauss@politico.com and mseverns@politico.com.

You can also follow us on Twitter: @politicoscott, @ec_schneider, @politicokevin, @danielstrauss4 and @maggieseverns.

THE MONEY CHASE — “Perry to headline Texas event for pro-Trump outside group,” by Campaign Pro’s Maggie Severns: “Energy Secretary Rick Perry will attend an event in Texas next week put on by America First Policies, the pro-Trump political nonprofit, according to an invitation obtained by POLITICO. The invitation, which was sent to a Republican donor, says that Perry will headline a ‘roundtable discussion’ in Houston on Monday afternoon. Details of the event’s location will only available to those who RSVP shortly before the event, the invitation said. Perry’s trip to Texas comes at an auspicious moment for America First Policies and its affiliated super PAC, America First Action. The organization is working to lock in support from donors and establish itself as a center of gravity for pro-Trump activity with close ties to the Trump administration. … Perry has deep ties to both the energy industry and donors in Texas, which helped power his two presidential runs. But Perry will not be in Houston asking for funds, said Texas businessman Roy Bailey, who is deeply involved in America First Policies. ‘It’s a nice opportunity for people to understand what’s going on at the Energy Department,’ Bailey said.” Full story.

— Stewart fundraiser promises jacuzzi: An invitation to a “MAGA-evening fundraiser” for Virginia Senate candidate Corey Stewart’s campaign next week promises “hors d’oeuvres, 3-hour open bar and DJ” and notes: “This will be a business casual event with a casual atmosphere.There is an outdoor Jacuzzi. We recommend attendees bring swimsuits.” Tickets are $100 a head. View the invite.

THE DAILY MENENDEZ — “Dismissed Menendez juror: ‘I don’t think he did anything wrong,’” by Matt Friedman in Newark: “A juror who was excused Thursday afternoon from U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez’s federal corruption trial said that if she had stayed on, she would have found Menendez ‘not guilty on every charge.’ Evelyn Arroyo-Maultsby also said other jurors’ feelings about the case are mixed and she believes the result may be a hung jury. Arroyo-Maultsby made the comments to a few reporters outside the federal courthouse in Newark, moments after leaving the trial to begin a previously-scheduled vacation in the Bahamas.” Full story.

THE ‘I’ WORD — “Steyer to drop another $10M on Trump impeachment ads,” by POLITICO’s Gabriel DeBenedetti: “Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer said Thursday that he’s adding $10 million to his national television ad campaign calling for President Donald Trump’s impeachment. Speaking on a conference call outlining the public support for his effort, Steyer also said he would fund two new ads in addition to the one that’s been backed by an existing $10 million buy. More than 1.9 million Americans have now signed his weeks-old petition to impeach Trump, Steyer said on the call.” Full story.

— “Democratic congressional candidate from Miami calls for impeaching Trump,” by the Miami Herald’s Patricia Mazzei: “Miami congressional candidate Mary Barzee Flores called for President Donald Trump’s impeachment Wednesday. … Barzee Flores cited at least six reasons for Congress to impeach the president, including firing former FBI Director James Comey and hiring Michael Flynn — who has since been fired — as national security adviser despite having ties to Russia.” Full story.

GAFFE CITY — “Dem candidate: It ‘shouldn’t take brain cancer’ for John McCain to show courage,” by the Washington Examiner’s Al Weaver: “‘I’ve been tweeting on occasion about saluting Bob Corker and John McCain and Jeff Flake – men who have shown a little bit of courage speaking truth to their own party,’ said Dean Phillips, who is running for a House seat in Minnesota. ‘But it shouldn’t take brain cancer and the retirement from the Senate to do so.’ Phillips is running against Rep. Erik Paulsen, R-Minn., in the state’s 3rd Congressional District. … Phillips later apologized to McCain.” Full story.

RETIREMENT WATCH — “Goodlatte to retire after 2018,” by Campaign Pro’s Elena Schneider: “Rep. Bob Goodlatte, the term-limited chairman of the powerful House Judiciary Committee, said on Thursday that he will not seek reelection in 2018. … In the last week, three Texas congressman — Jeb Hensarling, Ted Poe and Lamar Smith — also left safely conservative seats behind. Hensarling and Smith were also term-limited as committee chairmen. As recently as July, Goodlatte’s staff sought to squash rumors that the 65-year-old congressman planned to retire. Goodlatte’s decision opens a Republican-leaning seat, nestled in the Shenandoah Valley, which backed President Donald Trump by a 24-point margin.” Full story.

PRIMARY CONCERNS — “Gabby Giffords’ anti-gun violence group backs Abrams in Georgia governor race,” by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Greg Bluestein: “Both Abrams and her Democratic opponent, former state Rep. Stacey Evans, have called for stiff new gun restrictions, marking something of a sea change for Democratic candidates for governor in Georgia. … But one vote might have helped Abrams secure the backing of Courage to Fight Gun Violence, the Giffords group once known as Americans for Responsible Solutions. A measure passed to little fanfare in 2012 prohibited the destruction of firearms by local law enforcement during criminal investigations, and required cities and counties to auction off the guns they collected within six months. Abrams voted against Senate Bill 350, Evans backed it.” Full story.

2018 WATCH — “Democrat Pappas announces candidacy for 1st District US House seat,” by WMUR’s John DiStaso and Adam Sexton: “Stressing the importance of constituent service and a commitment to helping to break the gridlock in Washington, Chris Pappas of Manchester announced his candidacy for the open 1st District U.S. House seat Thursday morning. Speaking exclusively to WMUR at the Puritan Backroom, a popular restaurant that has been under the ownership of his family for 100 years, the three-term Democratic executive councilor said that he arrived at the final decision after speaking with Granite Staters throughout the district.” Full story.

AROUND THE MAP — Quick takes from across the country:

SENATE

Indiana: Iraq War veteran Martin Del Rio may challenge Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly in the primary, The Journal-Gazette reports.

Wisconsin: “GOP Senate hopeful Kevin Nicholson supported Rosie O’Donnell’s gun control views,” Fox6 reports.

HOUSE

CO-06: Trump-backing Republican Roger Edwards will challenge Rep. Mike Coffman in the GOP primary, the Denver Post reports.

NC-02: A Democrat challenging Republican Rep. George Holding said a DCCC attack on Holding was “tasteless and insensitive,” the News and Observer reports.

VA-10: “After Virginia blowout, Comstock’s road to reelection grows steeper,” the Washington Post reports.

GOVERNOR

Michigan: State Sen. Patrick Colbeck, a Republican candidate, said he was supposed to speak at an event featuring former White House chief of staff Steve Bannon but was pulled at the last minute, according to The Detroit News’ Jonathan Oosting.

South Carolina: All three GOP candidates for governor plan to attend former White House strategist Steve Bannon’s speech at The Citadel, The Post and Courier reports.

CODA — QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Take the Bible. Zachariah and Elizabeth for instance. Zachariah was extremely old to marry Elizabeth and they became the parents of John the Baptist. Also take Joseph and Mary. Mary was a teenager and Joseph was an adult carpenter.They became parents of Jesus.” — Alabama Auditor Jim Ziegler to the Washington Examiner.

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source https://capitalisthq.com/bama-bombshell/ from CapitalistHQ http://capitalisthq.blogspot.com/2017/11/bama-bombshell.html

[everettwilkinson]

'Bama bombshell

With Daniel Strauss and Maggie Severns

ALABAMA BOMBSHELL — “Woman says Roy Moore initiated sexual encounter when she was 14, he was 32,” by the Washington Post’s Stephanie McCrummen, Beth Reinhard and Alice Crites: “Leigh Corfman says she was 14 years old when an older man approached her outside a courtroom in Etowah County, Ala. She was sitting on a wooden bench with her mother, they both recall, when the man introduced himself as Roy Moore. … Alone with Corfman, Moore chatted with her and asked for her phone number, she says. Days later, she says, he picked her up around the corner from her house in Gadsden, drove her about 30 minutes to his home in the woods, told her how pretty she was and kissed her. On a second visit, she says, he took off her shirt and pants and removed his clothes. He touched her over her bra and underpants, she says, and guided her hand to touch him over his underwear. … Aside from Corfman, three other women interviewed by The Washington Post in recent weeks say Moore pursued them when they were between the ages of 16 and 18 and he was in his early 30s, episodes they say they found flattering at the time, but troubling as they got older. None of the three women say that Moore forced them into any sort of relationship or sexual contact.” Full story.

Story Continued Below

— “Republicans might be stuck with Roy Moore,” by Daniel Strauss, Elana Schor and Kevin Robillard: “GOP leaders desperately want Roy Moore off the ballot. But they have neither the legal nor the political leverage to force the defiant ex-judge out of the race. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and a host of other Republican senators called on Moore to drop out of the race Thursday if there were truth to the accounts of four women who told The Washington Post that Moore pursued relationships with them while they were teens and he was in his 30s. The news sent Republican operatives scrambling to parse the dusty sections of Alabama state law that deal with replacing candidates on the ballot. … ‘Judge Roy Moore has endured the most outlandish attacks on any candidate in the modern political arena, but this story in today’s Washington Post alleging sexual impropriety takes the cake,’ Moore campaign chairman Bill Armistead said in a statement. ‘National liberal organizations know their chosen candidate Doug Jones is in a death spiral, and this is their last ditch Hail Mary.’ Though Republicans have begun looking into options to replace Moore, Alabama law requires the candidate roster on the ballot to be set 74 days before an election. If Moore does withdraw, however, any votes cast for him would not count. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and other Republicans have suggested that GOP Sen. Luther Strange, the appointed senator who lost to Moore in the special primary, could put himself forward as a write-in candidate.” Full story.

— What Luther Strange told the Associated Press when asked if he would reenter the race: “Well, that’s getting the cart ahead of the horse. But I will have something to say about that. Let me do some more research.”

— What White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told the press pool: “Like most Americans the president believes we cannot allow a mere allegation, in this case one from many years ago, to destroy a person’s life. However, the president also believes that if these allegations are true, Judge Moore will do the right thing and step aside.”

— What Democrats are thinking: Neither the DSCC nor Jones’ campaign rushed to put out a statement, and Jones’ eventual statement was brief: “Roy Moore needs to answer these serious charges.” If Strange or another Republican mounts a write-in campaign, it gives Jones a better chance of winning with a vote total in the 40 percent range. But don’t expect any rash excitement about their chances in such a deep-red state.

— What McConnell world is thinking: If we let Steve Bannon control our primaries, we’re going to keep ending up with scandal-ridden candidates. Even if Moore survives this, candidates in more competitive states won’t.

— What Bannon world is thinking: A few weeks ago, McConnell’s people were saying Bannon had nothing to do with Moore’s win. Moore is strongly denying the accusations, and like President Donald Trump, will probably survive this.

— “Moore fundraises off of report alleging relationships with teenagers,” by Campaign Pro’s Daniel Strauss: “A defiant Moore, who faced calls from fellow Republicans to end his Senate campaign Thursday, cast the story as a political conspiracy against him and called the story ‘lies,’ asking ‘God-fearing conservatives’ to help him carry on. ‘The Obama-Clinton Machine’s liberal media lapdogs just launched the most vicious and nasty round of attacks against me I’ve EVER faced,’ Moore wrote in the fundraising email. ‘I won’t to get into the details of their filthy and sleazy attacks.’” Full story.

— Democratic senators launch money blitz for Jones: Some of the best online fundraisers among Senate Democrats sent out fundraising e-mails for Doug Jones last night, including Connecticut’s Chris Murphy, California’s Kamala Harris, New York’s Kirsten Gillibrand and Massachusetts’ Elizabeth Warren. Gillibrand’s e-mail was the only one to directly reference the allegations in the Washington Post story. “If you’ve followed the Senate special election in Alabama at all, you know Roy Moore is unfit for office – and recent allegations that he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl are utterly disgusting,” Gillibrand writes.

— The pols with ties to Moore: Moore had garnered increasing support from Washington Republicans in recent months. Dozens of Republicans including six GOP senators — Steve Daines, Ted Cruz, John Cornyn, Rand Paul, Mike Lee and Cory Gardner — endorsed Moore prior to Thursday’s bombshell story. Paul and Lee recently hosted a fundraiser for Moore, and he formed a joint fundraising committee with the NRSC and the RNC. Moore has received campaign donations from Rep. Andy Harris ($2,000), Rep. Jeff Duncan ($1,000) and Rep. Thomas Massie ($1,000) — as well as former Rep. Todd Akin ($2,700), who still has a leadership PAC.

HOW VIRGINIA HAPPENED — “How Gillespie’s MS-13 play backfired in Virginia,” by Campaign Pro’s Kevin Robillard: “The ads from Republican Ed Gillespie’s campaign would define and drive conversation about the Virginia governor’s race — and not in the way Gillespie wanted. The race ended in a resounding win for [Democrat Ralph] Northam on Tuesday night, driven by high turnout from the so-called Obama coalition of white college-educated voters, minorities and young people. The ads would betray Gillespie’s repeated warnings about the GOP’s need to reach out to Hispanic voters. And, according to Democrats, they would create a backlash that helped drown him. ‘Gillespie’s MS-13 ads, his race-baiting with the statues, his very strong anti-immigrant rhetoric completely backfired,’ said Matt Barreto, the managing partner of Democratic polling firm Latino Decisions. ‘Voters recognized that Gillespie heavily racialized this campaign.’ All the while, Northam’s campaign would rely on the lieutenant governor’s authenticity to rebut the attacks. National Democrats fretted about the energy backing Northam’s campaign, and commentators slammed his television ads as boring. But the campaign stuck to its message, seeing little movement in the polls. They planned for a worst-case scenario of low Democratic turnout, but ultimately knocked on more doors than Hillary Clinton’s campaign in the state had a year earlier and won by an unexpected 9-point margin. ‘Reporters wanted us to say something new, but we didn’t because we knew what voters needed to hear about Northam,’ Brad Komar, Northam’s campaign manager, said in an interview. ‘I think folks interpreted discipline as boring. Discipline is effective.’” Full story.

— “One big takeaway from Virginia? Authenticity is essential,” by Jesse Ferguson in The Hill: “If there’s one thing Virginia voters learned about Ralph Northam before they propelled him to a decisive victory Tuesday night, it’s who he is. Northam isn’t flashy. He’s a doctor and a veteran; a public servant focused on taking care of kids. They knew who he was.” Full story.

Days until the 2018 election: 361.

Thanks for joining us! You can email tips to the Campaign Pro team at sbland@politico.com, eschneider@politico.com, krobillard@politico.com, dstrauss@politico.com and mseverns@politico.com.

You can also follow us on Twitter: @politicoscott, @ec_schneider, @politicokevin, @danielstrauss4 and @maggieseverns.

THE MONEY CHASE — “Perry to headline Texas event for pro-Trump outside group,” by Campaign Pro’s Maggie Severns: “Energy Secretary Rick Perry will attend an event in Texas next week put on by America First Policies, the pro-Trump political nonprofit, according to an invitation obtained by POLITICO. The invitation, which was sent to a Republican donor, says that Perry will headline a ‘roundtable discussion’ in Houston on Monday afternoon. Details of the event’s location will only available to those who RSVP shortly before the event, the invitation said. Perry’s trip to Texas comes at an auspicious moment for America First Policies and its affiliated super PAC, America First Action. The organization is working to lock in support from donors and establish itself as a center of gravity for pro-Trump activity with close ties to the Trump administration. … Perry has deep ties to both the energy industry and donors in Texas, which helped power his two presidential runs. But Perry will not be in Houston asking for funds, said Texas businessman Roy Bailey, who is deeply involved in America First Policies. ‘It’s a nice opportunity for people to understand what’s going on at the Energy Department,’ Bailey said.” Full story.

— Stewart fundraiser promises jacuzzi: An invitation to a “MAGA-evening fundraiser” for Virginia Senate candidate Corey Stewart’s campaign next week promises “hors d’oeuvres, 3-hour open bar and DJ” and notes: “This will be a business casual event with a casual atmosphere.There is an outdoor Jacuzzi. We recommend attendees bring swimsuits.” Tickets are $100 a head. View the invite.

THE DAILY MENENDEZ — “Dismissed Menendez juror: ‘I don’t think he did anything wrong,’” by Matt Friedman in Newark: “A juror who was excused Thursday afternoon from U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez’s federal corruption trial said that if she had stayed on, she would have found Menendez ‘not guilty on every charge.’ Evelyn Arroyo-Maultsby also said other jurors’ feelings about the case are mixed and she believes the result may be a hung jury. Arroyo-Maultsby made the comments to a few reporters outside the federal courthouse in Newark, moments after leaving the trial to begin a previously-scheduled vacation in the Bahamas.” Full story.

THE ‘I’ WORD — “Steyer to drop another $10M on Trump impeachment ads,” by POLITICO’s Gabriel DeBenedetti: “Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer said Thursday that he’s adding $10 million to his national television ad campaign calling for President Donald Trump’s impeachment. Speaking on a conference call outlining the public support for his effort, Steyer also said he would fund two new ads in addition to the one that’s been backed by an existing $10 million buy. More than 1.9 million Americans have now signed his weeks-old petition to impeach Trump, Steyer said on the call.” Full story.

— “Democratic congressional candidate from Miami calls for impeaching Trump,” by the Miami Herald’s Patricia Mazzei: “Miami congressional candidate Mary Barzee Flores called for President Donald Trump’s impeachment Wednesday. … Barzee Flores cited at least six reasons for Congress to impeach the president, including firing former FBI Director James Comey and hiring Michael Flynn — who has since been fired — as national security adviser despite having ties to Russia.” Full story.

GAFFE CITY — “Dem candidate: It ‘shouldn’t take brain cancer’ for John McCain to show courage,” by the Washington Examiner’s Al Weaver: “‘I’ve been tweeting on occasion about saluting Bob Corker and John McCain and Jeff Flake – men who have shown a little bit of courage speaking truth to their own party,’ said Dean Phillips, who is running for a House seat in Minnesota. ‘But it shouldn’t take brain cancer and the retirement from the Senate to do so.’ Phillips is running against Rep. Erik Paulsen, R-Minn., in the state’s 3rd Congressional District. … Phillips later apologized to McCain.” Full story.

RETIREMENT WATCH — “Goodlatte to retire after 2018,” by Campaign Pro’s Elena Schneider: “Rep. Bob Goodlatte, the term-limited chairman of the powerful House Judiciary Committee, said on Thursday that he will not seek reelection in 2018. … In the last week, three Texas congressman — Jeb Hensarling, Ted Poe and Lamar Smith — also left safely conservative seats behind. Hensarling and Smith were also term-limited as committee chairmen. As recently as July, Goodlatte’s staff sought to squash rumors that the 65-year-old congressman planned to retire. Goodlatte’s decision opens a Republican-leaning seat, nestled in the Shenandoah Valley, which backed President Donald Trump by a 24-point margin.” Full story.

PRIMARY CONCERNS — “Gabby Giffords’ anti-gun violence group backs Abrams in Georgia governor race,” by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Greg Bluestein: “Both Abrams and her Democratic opponent, former state Rep. Stacey Evans, have called for stiff new gun restrictions, marking something of a sea change for Democratic candidates for governor in Georgia. … But one vote might have helped Abrams secure the backing of Courage to Fight Gun Violence, the Giffords group once known as Americans for Responsible Solutions. A measure passed to little fanfare in 2012 prohibited the destruction of firearms by local law enforcement during criminal investigations, and required cities and counties to auction off the guns they collected within six months. Abrams voted against Senate Bill 350, Evans backed it.” Full story.

2018 WATCH — “Democrat Pappas announces candidacy for 1st District US House seat,” by WMUR’s John DiStaso and Adam Sexton: “Stressing the importance of constituent service and a commitment to helping to break the gridlock in Washington, Chris Pappas of Manchester announced his candidacy for the open 1st District U.S. House seat Thursday morning. Speaking exclusively to WMUR at the Puritan Backroom, a popular restaurant that has been under the ownership of his family for 100 years, the three-term Democratic executive councilor said that he arrived at the final decision after speaking with Granite Staters throughout the district.” Full story.

AROUND THE MAP — Quick takes from across the country:

SENATE

Indiana: Iraq War veteran Martin Del Rio may challenge Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly in the primary, The Journal-Gazette reports.

Wisconsin: “GOP Senate hopeful Kevin Nicholson supported Rosie O’Donnell’s gun control views,” Fox6 reports.

HOUSE

CO-06: Trump-backing Republican Roger Edwards will challenge Rep. Mike Coffman in the GOP primary, the Denver Post reports.

NC-02: A Democrat challenging Republican Rep. George Holding said a DCCC attack on Holding was “tasteless and insensitive,” the News and Observer reports.

VA-10: “After Virginia blowout, Comstock’s road to reelection grows steeper,” the Washington Post reports.

GOVERNOR

Michigan: State Sen. Patrick Colbeck, a Republican candidate, said he was supposed to speak at an event featuring former White House chief of staff Steve Bannon but was pulled at the last minute, according to The Detroit News’ Jonathan Oosting.

South Carolina: All three GOP candidates for governor plan to attend former White House strategist Steve Bannon’s speech at The Citadel, The Post and Courier reports.

CODA — QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Take the Bible. Zachariah and Elizabeth for instance. Zachariah was extremely old to marry Elizabeth and they became the parents of John the Baptist. Also take Joseph and Mary. Mary was a teenager and Joseph was an adult carpenter.They became parents of Jesus.” — Alabama Auditor Jim Ziegler to the Washington Examiner.

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from CapitalistHQ.com https://capitalisthq.com/bama-bombshell/