#and ny is conveniently not home

[hometoursandotherstuff]

She is a beauty. 1886 Victorian located in the small village (Pop.  2,322) of Fort Plain, NY. 5bds, 3ba, $769,990. If she was anywhere else, she'd be over $1M. It's not too far from Schenectady, (my cousins grew up there - it was about 3hrs. away from NYC, but it was lovely), also it's about an hr. from the state capital of Albany. And, OMG, it comes FULLY FURNISHED!

As soon as you enter the main hall, you can see that it's absolutely perfectly preserved/restored. And, the exceptional millwork! Look at the delicate carving on the newel post.

The sitting room is fabulous. The home is absolutely elegant.

The home office is next. I can't believe that it comes w/the furnishings. This is stunning.

The library/music room. Is this gorgeous, or what?

The dining room. Look at that candle stand (I can't help but look at the furnishings, as well as the house!). The wainscoting and chandelier. The velvet draperies. The wallpapers.

The remodeled kitchen. Perfection. Seriously, all this for less than $800K? A professional had to do this. How cozy, sitting in front of the fireplace for meals.

Beautiful cabinetry w/all the conveniences, mixing the vintage look w/modern.

Look at this closet!

What a pretty bathroom. All new, and modern/vintage.

Dreamy 2nd fl.

The bedrooms are lovely.

Sitting room on the 2nd fl.

The wallpaper in all of the rooms are so elegant. Love the sink in here.

Impeccable hallways leading to the bedrooms.

Love this bed.

Look at the beautiful 2nd fl. terrace.

There's a picturesque carriage house/garage.

.34 acre lot. The village looks lovely.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1-Waddell-Ave-Fort-Plain-NY-13339/31057935_zpid/

[sgiandubh]

Señorita Nothingburger

🎶When you see her, say a prayer /And kiss your heart arse goodbye 🎶

Lauren 2.0. Wow: after The Paid Companion, The Wannabe. Unlike the first round of revelations, this time the output has been totally disappointing. Very few things and zero context, which I have to say I was totally expecting, because it didn't exactly fit the agenda being pushed by Marple (amen!). Lightning never strikes the same place twice, right? And then, we had The Follow - a very interesting foolish, yet telling move: but on this, a bit further down the road, mind you.

So, let's ask ourselves along with La Ciccone: '¿Quién es esa niña?' For once, his IG follow has been very explicit:

Leading whoever to this account...

Elix Wellness is offering a very specific range of treatments, of which the one for hangovers really got me interested:

And yeah, even if I have apparently been scooped out by Marple on this one (my bad for sitting on it for a day), shamelessly using my patented methods (that is a lame joke), Lauren 2.0's LinkedIn account is, for once, very clear:

Her contract as a Travel RN was over by August 2023, as pointed out across the street:

And then she decided to go independent and open her own company. So, by far not a hooker - decent education, even, at NYU.

Lo and behold, who had Ibuprofen in his hotel room, in May 2023, when they were spotted on that NY Soho terrace, having lunch (didn't we laugh? you bet we did, it was one of my first posts in this fandom!)? S, of course. Hangovers could use both ibuprofen and a good IV cleansing treatment ( see above - such a common offering in that particular town, soon to be out of fashion - but hey: if she believes it can bring money, not my problem).

But... dating her? Not a chance in hell. You see, just a cursory survey of her IG account between the moment her contract as a Travel Registered Nurse was over and the moment her company started to be active, reveals a very busy Mediterranean summer, hitting all the possible cliches:

Before ending that contract, even, some days in Paris with her real interest, (again) checking all the tourist/romantic tropes you can imagine, from dining at the Au pied de cochon restaurant to having a quick macaron bite in the Luxembourg Gardens...

... then off to Paros, a posh island Greek destination, very much in vogue with the creative crowd, followed by (we are talking mandatory island hopping, here) Mykonos (unapologetically posh and very expensive, LGBTQ+ friendly destination - also beloved by the glam and glitz crowd)

Oh, hello Soho Roc House, part of the Soho Houses network - rings a bell? What a small world, really.

... a couple of days in Rome, followed by some quality family time (Mom and Pop, at a minimum) in Puglia, then Croatia (again, the glam crowd of Hvar island), back to Paris for a girls' trip (Montmartre, the Eiffel Tower and a couple other spots in the Marais and around the Rue de Rivoli - cliche forever):

... then back in Rome for cacio e pepe pasta, Piazza Navona and the Pantheon oculus (artsy girl, told you), followed by Positano and Capri (with Mom and Dad, again). Nothing to write home about, but still trying to sell herself as an up and coming influencer of sorts, perhaps.

Nowhere near S for the entire 2023 Sassenach Summer Tour. How is this equating with dating, that is really beyond me. Seriously. For instance, just before the second sighting, in NYC (June 10, 2023), she was having fun in the Algarve region and Lisbon (of course, Portugal). Probably posted those pics upon her return to NYC:

Dating? More like convenient pretext. He knew people would hang around that hotel (fans, autograph hunters, etc), especially during OL promo peak time. And he knew someone will take that pic, which was then conveniently placed in *urv's lap, for lengthy talks and more innuendo. Just as the first sighting was conveniently placed in Marple's inbox, to see if topic garners interest and sticks around/can be reused for further shits and giggles. Innuendo and nothing more would be my best bet: neither *urv, nor Marple had ANY positive idea about who she was, back at the time.

And now, the third drop was again placed in Marple's inbox, because attention had to be redirected to this particular gossip topic, in rather dire circumstances following Lauren 1.0.

And for your information, she does not follow S and he does not follow her. But he follows her newly opened joint: hangovers are a bitch, I know.

Why? I think it is clear enough why.

Who dunnit? I will let you draw your own conclusions, really. Again, it is rather plain to see. My belief is that this is not TPTB. And for once, I do not think he met her via Raya. Nope.

I took one for the team and listened to that podcast (if you are very foolish or brave or foolishly brave, you can do the same here: https://youtu.be/vBmcnhe2kwg?si=rRu5YCLHS3eZhuFs ). I mean, what is WRONG with those women? That is legit 14 year old bullshit talk about relationships (or the immature impossibility to have a satisfying one). They essentially explain in that podcast they have trouble decoding 'the man' in some relationships and the way they play out. I was laughing so violently my abs (or lack of them) hurt. At some point, I even thought it was some sort of sophisticated second degree, but NO (#cringe).

Also, I think I should be burning my pineapple pajama summer pants. Seriously. If you listen to the whole bullshit, you'll see there is no damn way to substantiate anything based on that. Zero connection.

[misskattylashes]

Okay inspired by @thetruthisfictional post about Milex patterns. I thought I would share some observations I have made in my autistic pattern seeking brain.

I am only looking at the post EYCTE period to the present day, and not everything is in chronological order.

Louise

Louise started to appear around the same time Miles decided to move back to the UK permanently. Rather than Alex split with Taylor, there are rumours of him cheating on her with Louise, creating a reason for him to want to leave LA. It is also a convenient narrative because Miles and Taylor were friends, so the reason that Miles and Alex can’t be seen together is because Miles doesn’t like Louise because of what she did to his friend Taylor.

Which means Alex can come home to London, without it looking obvious that he is following Miles.

Plothole – the reason for his return is so  Louise can split her time between London and Paris to pursue her ‘successful music career’. The truth has since emerged that Louise lives in Paris and Alex lives in London and Louise has no career to speak of.

Louise’s use of social media

A genuine social media account will post day to day happenings, even not every day. Shared songs, interesting meals, something work related. Louise’s posting only ever coincided with events happening around AM. Go and check her account sometime, see how much she posted around the summer of 2022 leading up to the release of The Car. Note also how she has posted every September 21 since 2021 which also coincides with the day she was officially announced in September 2018.

Songwriting

Since EYCTE Alex has not used one female pronoun in a romantic sense. Miles barely has either, nothing to the degree of the previous two albums.

Alex’s image

This is so carefully protected. Most recent photographs were taken several days or even weeks before. Alex is usually in his ‘costume’. One of the most questionable being the recent Eurostar ones. He was sitting there so obviously being ‘Alex Turner’ but the only people who recognise him are a couple of fans who happen to have professional equipment. I suspect there are all sorts of clever wizardry and facial recognition software going on in Meta that stops unfamiliar photos of Alex being published. Before you say ‘How can they do that?’ think about times you may have uploaded a song only for the sound to immediately disappear or you get a message with the list of territories it can’t be played in. This happens in seconds so the technology is there.

The train photos fitted a convenient narrative. Just after Alex was seen coming home from Paris, Louise is seen in the Caribbean with her family. We then get a recent of Alex in NY. Louise comes home from the Caribbean to Paris, but then makes sure to tell us she is going to NY, we then get the pap walk etc.

Why are we never allowed to see Alex walking along Bethnal Green High Street or in the pub with Miles? I think this is less to do with record company pressure and more to do with Alex wanting to keep his private life private.

Miles’ use of social media

Last year when AM were in the UK, I would notice that days Alex was on a break, we would hear nothing from Miles. You might get one official post about OMB that was clearly posted from his social media team. But stories would be empty.

Once Alex went to the US in late August, many a night we were treated to tipsy Miles chatting to the TV, or filming little Maxie getting up to mischief in the house. Soon as Alex came home it stopped.

Earlier this year Miles started the late night posting again and filming Maxie. Lo and behold a few days later we get pics of Alex in NY. Soon as he comes home, it stops again.

Another thing I have noticed. When Miles posts videos he always puts the photographer's name. But he occasionally only puts an 👀. These will always appear when Alex isn’t seen elsewhere.

There are probably many more but I will probably do a part 2.

[labyrinthofsphinx]

Not sure if this has been asked before, but Vox in located in NY, they have the shack that Drift is in and Alastor has his place. But where do they spend most of their time? And is it hard juggling locations like that?

OOOOOO, a location question. I can't answer in full yet because not all the locations have been revealed....butttt I will mention a few that have been shown in the story, referenced in asks, and whatnot:

So, Alastor has a few locations associated with him and two homes. The first is the flat in New Orleans proper, over by the French Quarter. It is briefly seen from the outside in the epilogue to (Never) Let Me Go. Mimzy frequently stays here, and Al has given her a spare key to the upstairs just for herself. This is also the place Al lived after moving out of his childhood home, just as he was starting up his radio show and really digging into his, ahem, 'extracurricular' activities.

It was also around this time that the shack was built because, well, he needed a place for all his prep work. The shack is much, much further into the bayou and beyond where any normal person would dare to go. It's a very wild, almost haunting kind of place. The kid has only been here. I know it seems like it's been long time because all the asks...but most of them are non-canon to the story. They haven't actually had to leave the kid alone for much more than getting groceries. Thankfully, both have been able to push off having to jump right back to work in person. Ah, the days before people always knew where you were!

Al's other home, which he basically gave to his mother until her passing, is usually called the 'estate', and can be seen in the background of some asks, like this one. It originally belong to his father....buuttt for, ahem, reasons, he grew up basically owning the house and everything in it. We'll be seeing this more shortly, but it's kinda the base of operations for most of the going ons that shall be shown...unless said otherwise. You'll see why ;)

The bar location that shows up most often, and always when Husk is around, is the Black Cat casino and bar. Husk originally owned the joint until Al came and won it, and Husk, in a game of cards. We haven't seen it from the outside yet because it's something a little special that I'm saving for later ;))

We haven't seen too much of the Vox centered locations, but just be aware that he's got a house in almost every state, and a secret place in South America that he got after he realized just what kind of, um, 'tab' him and Al were drawing up, in case they ever needed a place to get away to.

He has a penthouse in NYC proper, with a view out to Central Park. The poolside was shown very, very briefly in a early funny one off, non-canon ask here. If he's got a long busy week, he'll usually stay there just for convenience.

His business building is also in NYC, and one of the offices was shown in (Never) Let Me Go Part I . It's also sometimes featured in asks, but is almost always shown from the view of the offices or his station set. His studio building is in Hollywood proper, and we'll see more of that further along the line.

Otherwise, the two other locations to keep in mind for now are the big, Gatsby-styled mansion on Long Island, shown briefly here, and the private island he owns with a small fortress on it, seen here.

Also, because it's kinda a location in of itself, especially where Vox is concerned, consider his yacht as another 'home' of his. It has enough bedrooms to count XD.

Whew! I think that's the short summary of all the ones shown or teased so far. But to get back to the original question:

Vox almost always visits Alastor, unless explicitly stated. Between Vel and his own obsession with work, he makes time for the things he really wants, like traveling down south to be with Al. After Alastor's mom passed, they're almost always at the estate whenever it's their usual downtime. Al doesn't have any real neighbors for miles and they can kinda do whatever they want there. Also, now that his mother is gone, Al doesn't mind using the place when getting his hands dirty...so long as his mother's things aren't disturbed. Again, we're going to see more of the interior shortly.

The shack is supposed to be just for their prep work and maybe the occasional sleepover that gets called a hunting trip. It's not really meant to serve as a home but...well, with the kid there, they haven't had much choice in the matter. That's why at the end of Something Wicked, when Al realizes Vox is attached now...yeah, probably time to bring the kid to a proper house (which is going to be Al's estate).

So, yeah, it's hard, but they make it work.

Thanks for the ask!

[mgopinoon]

If they did break up, they were still together until October. I would agree with them having broken up back in June. However, given their was fan footage of them in Canada back in August, they were still 100% dating. As much as aspects of their relationship are for PR. Austin going to her family home in Canada, that was real. There were no paps in sight for that trip either. So nobody knew they were there until that lady on Tiktok posted about it, weeks later.

The Gracie concert was all about timing. That same week was when all the break up speculation was reaching an all time high. Her being seen with her best friend's boyfriend added fuel to the fire. Page 6 was snooping around looking for comments from their reps, which they never got. Then when everything was coming ahead, how convenient that Austin and Kaia were the only two papped after a big concert with so many other celebs. Like Paul Mescal, who's actually dating Gracie.

Since that concert, nothing. I suspect they did break up. But all the gossip was interring with Austin's concentration with his movie. Now it would've been easier to actually just announce a break up. Or actually allow their reps to shut down everything. But since that pap walk, the tabloids haven't been asking any questions. So while the general public didn't buy that pap walk, it's been quiet since.

Now it's been 2 months and they haven't been seen together since. Kaia never misses an opportunity to be seen with Austin. All the recent things make me believe that isn't an option anymore. I don't want to assume but I think this time things are actually looking clear. We did suspect once Austin was done filming, things between Austin and Kaia would become more clear.

I think the same. My theory of the situation is that in August they were still together and that was confirmed to me by the trip to Canada, since it was a "genuine" old trip that if it weren't for a fan we would never have known about and from September onwards the problems began, where Austin didn't attend Kaia's birthday and Kaia's visits to NY were only for work, then the thing with Marcello happened and for me at that moment they were no longer together.

The walk they took at Gracie's concert was 100% damage control after all the nonsense Kaia did, everyone was speculating about the breakup and that she cheated on Austin, so they had to control everything a little, but since then NO ONE has seen them together, not even the liars at Deuxmoi, the only consolation the shippers had was Austin's supposed conversation with the lady on the plane, but it is revealing to me that not a single person has managed to see them in months.

For me they broke up, but it strikes me that she's in a period of hibernation since Austin stopped filming and that the breakup hasn't been announced, I feel like they've waited a long time and for me there are 2 options:

-Kaia doesn't want it to be known that they broke up

-They're still trying

Because if there's one thing we're sure of, it's that they're not having a good time as a couple, 2 months without seeing each other is too much time for two people who have the financial means to go to the ends of the earth if they want just to see each other for even a second. I think that at any moment Kaia will appear and also Austin, together or separated, but we'll soon find out.

[janewaykove]

Dream ft. Kate Mulgrew & NY

Been a while since I've had a dream about her! I was in NY and met this young couple who let me see their apartment. It was on a high floor level and when you get off the elevator, you were in the bedroom with 2 large beds. I thought it'd be cool to move there with my mom but I'd want my own room, lol! They showed me the kitchen/living room and it was all conveniently connected and cozy.

There were a bunch of windows looking out to a shared patio and a door to access it. Not exactly private, but cute. $790 a month rent. I said I had hoped to go to CA or NY, get a job and find an apartment but the job thing wasn't easy. They gave me some tips. I said I didn't wanna leave my mom behind, though. I tried taking some photos to show my mom how nice the apartments were but it wouldn't work right (had an older phone and not the working one I needed).

I left and tried to make my way to the bus station to get home. It was dark, then it wasn't. I ended up running into Kate (current age) and she took me up to her apartment. I'm not sure why she took me cos I don't think we knew each other, or maybe we did? Her place looked fancier and had a huge wall of windows where you could see the apartments across from her building. I mean you could see into their windows! I asked her what she does if she wants to walk around naked and she said she just does!

It was time for me to leave (again) and I went down the corner of her building, on the outside. She kinda lowered me down on a rope or something. I told her if she was ever in Maryland, look me up. She asked where that was. I said "up North" (um, no) and near Baltimore, but warned her to be careful in the city cos it's not as safe as it used to be. She said I should call her for her office?) and asked if I had a phone (to puept her number in). I said it didn't work (or I forgot it?). She said just go to her site and send a message. It was dark again and I was back on the ground. I waved and was on my way to the bus again. Other stuff, then I woke up.

[noxturnalnymph]

Life Update

It feels to be like I've been pretty absent on here and that bums me out. I had to step back a little for my mental health because the negativity in this fandom does affect me. But stepping back also bums me out because this site can be SO fun when I'm interacting with my moots and making new moots and all of us are squealing about new pics of our boyfriend together.

That being said - the MAJOR reason I have been absent in the past 2 weeks is because of travel. And oh boy.... is this a whopper of a story. So, if you're interested in a tale of insanity, read below the cut.

[TL;DR] I'm back (not that I went anywhere)

sorry I couldn't resist TUWOMT reference, I actually went a lot of places and some of them were good and some were terrible but I really am back now. (Also, I posted this at 2am apparently but did not mean to do that then, so I am reposting now)

So first of all, I was in my hometown in upstate NY last week visiting my family because we are planning to move to the West Coast after our lease is up here so we wanted to visit again before we moved across the country. I live in Florida and we drove 2 days - with our cat in tow - (because my anxiety is so bad it makes it impossible for me to step on an airplane). While I was home I took the train with my bff to Manhattan for 3 days and we hung out there, didn't get to meet Pedro Pascal even once, and took the train back to my hometown. My husband and I drove the 2 days back home and got back Sunday night. It was exhausting and I was only home for like 38 hours and then Tuesday at 1pm I began my next trip. Started with an 18 hour bus ride from Orlando to Lafayette, Louisiana to get a train from Lafayette to Los Angeles, CA. I was planning on being there 12 days before getting the train back to Lafayette and then a bus back to Orlando.

So as I've said I have a terrible fear of flying and I am also the owner of a very bad back (and since my husband and I share a car) I didn’t want to do all that driving alone (dangerous/stressful and bad back) and couldn’t fly cuz of my mental illness. So this is by no means meant to be offensive, but I’m apparently too much of a babygirl to be a bus person. I did not know this. I thought I was tough. Nope. 2.5 hours in on the bus ride and I’ve been listening to this man 2 rows in front of me play instagram reels on his phone the whole time even though the driver said 5 times (FIVE TIMES) to wear headphones….. Well the driver gets sick of it, pulls over at a gas station in the middle of nowhere and tells the guy to leave. He won't so the cops are called. The cops show up and he finally gets off the bus after a 30 min delay. I’m like….. WHAT THE FUCK? IS IT ALWAYS LIKE THIS??? I didn't know if this man was gonna get mad and start swinging on the bus driver or the cops..... it was scary.

The first station I was at in Orlando I almost threw up cuz I was so nervous. Before I got on the bus I went to pee and to wash my hands and there wasn’t any fucking soap in the bathroom. I thought that was bad. AND YET SOMEHOW.... every subsequent stop was somehow worse. Literally, I kept saying to myself “this can’t get any worse” ....and it kept getting worse. These are the sketchiest, dirtiest fucking places you can imagine. I was staring at this toothless old white dude behind the counter at one of their convenience stores and thought to myself “this has got to be a movie set cuz this can’t be real.” Kind of waiting for someone to jump out and say "PSYCH this is all a joke. I know the floors here look like they were mopped with literal dirt, and everyone looks angry or drugged out, but this is all fake. It's all a joke meant to make you lose your mind." But that didn't happen. I've just never experienced anything like it. I’ve never seen anything so disgusting in my life. The 2nd to last stop only had doors on 2 of the 7 bathroom stalls. One of the stations had a TV on that just played old reruns of a Jaime Fox show while every child in the building cried and coughed at alternating intervals. Yes, this was 3am, and they made three busses full of people cram into a station with not enough seats and wait around for an hour... This is not a joke. 

I felt so fucking unsafe the whole time but I had to get off the bus at the stops and walk around (cuz they made you) but also cuz I was VIOLENTLY motion sick the whole fucking ride on the bus. Like clutching a barf bag with a pounding head and miserable. Also on the bus almost everyone else had two seats to themselves and I had a seat partner the entire time, but it kept changing. First it was a girl and then a kid and they were cool but then it was cigarette smelling guy and then guy who literally wouldn’t stop accidentally touching me, including putting his elbow in my back multiple times (I have fucking herniated discs so this did NOT feel good). 

And when I tell you that my back hurt, i mean i couldn’t spread out or anything cuz someone was fucking next to me the whole time so my back was on fire. I was in so much pain I cried 3 separate times. So I couldn’t sleep cuz people kept talking and I was in pain and the ride was rough and guy kept touching me. And I just kept telling myself, ok countdown cuz you’re almost there you're almost there. And by now I told myself - this final stop - the bus/train station in Lafayette - is not going to be clean but it’s okay, because you’re going to be off the bus and it’s going to be okay.

WRONG....

When I tell you that they pulled up to a dark parking lot at 4:50am next to a building with gates drawn down over the doors and dropped me off - I was in fucking shock. “Is this building closed?”  i shouted at the bus driver. “yeah,” he says, getting back on the bus.  “Ummmm, where do i go?” I’m fucking starting to panic. “You can go sit on the platform till they open in a few hours.”  and he’s gone. 

I’m alone in the dark with my luggage at the fucking bus station in downtown Lafayette. 

Oh except I’m not alone because there are 3 men milling about, one of them keeps asking me my name, two of them ride bikes past me back and forth. I go to sit on the platform and this alarm goes off and this voice comes over the loudspeaker shouting  “THERE IS NO LOITERING ALLOWED HERE. PLEASE LEAVE IMMEDIATELY.” and repeats non-stop.  One of the guys goes “why is it doing that? Is it gonna call the police?” HOW THE FUCK WOULD I KNOW?? I FUCKING WISH IT WOULD MY DUDE, ARE YOU SERIOUS?

I tell him my name to be nice and he keeps telling me i should come sit with him and this other guy cuz it’s “safer” and I’m like….   IS IT THO?!?!?!?  and he keeps saying “youve never been here? Do you wanna go see downtown? It’s a short walk, i’ll help you roll your suitcase.”   BRO WE’RE NOT GOING COURTING IT’S FUCKING FIVE IN THE MORNING. This man wants to go on a fucking stroll with me and I am just envisioning what my Forensic Files episode is gonna be like and hoping the re-enactment actor they get to play me isn't too ugly.

I’m desperately trying to call a lyft to take me literally anywhere else, and no one is accepting my ride request. FINALLY someone accepts, and after 45 minutes of sitting in the dark, trembling out of fear and cold in only a tshirt with my bags hunched around me, I get my ride. The lyft driver takes me to a Hilton hotel by the airport. I walk in, and I’m mid panic attack and crying and tell the employees there at 6am my story and ask if I can pay for a room so I have somewhere safe to hang out. They refuse to make me pay and offer me the lobby (lots of outlets and large, plush couches) for as long as I need it and tell me to help myself to the hot breakfast and coffee. Fucking Angels.

Does it stop there? No it doesn’t. Cuz I still have to go back to the train station for my train to California, which leaves at 12:30pm. So I spend HOURS in the hotel lobby, chilling and eating and it’s nice and I feel safe. I schedule a lyft to pick me up at 11:15 so I can get back to the train station with an hour before I’m scheduled to depart.

BUT OH WAIT.

10:45am I get a text that my train has been canceled. CANCELED.... Apparently, there are storms affecting the route, so my train will not be running between New Orleans and San Antonio, TX (I’m 2 stops after NO). But they will provide me BUS ACCOMMODATIONS to get me to San Antonio so I can continue my journey there.

Wrong word, my dude. BUS??? I’m fucking triggered. I start bawling like an insane person. The girls who let me stay in the lobby at this point are probably like “oh shit we thought she was normal but she’s crazy.” I call my husband, I call my mom, I call a couple friends. I’m a fucking mess. I just want to go home at this point but I’m still a 12 hour drive away (with no car of course) and OH YEAH I haven’t fucking slept!

So first thing’s first - I ask the hotel for a room and they feel terrible for me (cuz i’m a crying sniveling mess) and give me a discount on a suite and let me check in right away. I call Amtrak and cancel my train, sobbing on the phone with them (and it’s a man so he’s very awkward about it) but they give me a FULL refund. I most likely won’t get refunded at all for the VRBO rental I got for Los Angeles though. I got to the room and booked a rental car for the next day from the airport that I was like right next to, and so the plan was to sleep there overnight and get a lyft to the airport and drive back towards home the next day. 

My husband offered to take off work and drive to meet me at an airport along the watly so I wouldn't have to drive the whole 12 hours with my terrible back.  I ended up getting a Malibu which was such a nice ride and it had a lumbar support in the seat and my back felt FUCKING GREAT. I met up with my husband at our planned location and we drove home. Between the time change, massive rain storms, and construction traffic, we didn't get home till 10:30 but I fucking made it home. (Because of course with all my bad luck I was terrified that I was going to die on the way home.)

BUT IM HOME SAFE IF NOT A LITTLE WORSE FOR WEAR (mentally and physically exhausted). I will make a post later today with my plans for my writing updates. I have a new WIP I want to share and I know some of you are waiting on my current series as well.

TY always for your love and support ✌️💖🫂

[ibviously]

Project Pollux

Summary: Worlds collide when Agent Dioscuri is intercepted by Natasha Romanov. As the Avengers scramble to keep infinity stones from Thanos’s grasp, Agent Dioscuri scrambles from theirs. When the past is dissected and history resurfaces, Dioscuri fights to contain ugly, imperative truths. A pawn in the middle of a death-match, Dioscuri is forced to pick a side, or end up flipping the board.

Chapter Summary: Lux flees the Avengers, only to land in the hands of a malevolent friend from the past.

Warnings: Descriptions of violence.

Chapter 3: Tyrannize

“All my life I’ve been incapable of even picturing any other love, and I’ve reached the point now of sometimes thinking that love consists precisely in the right, voluntarily granted by the beloved object, to be tryannized over.” From Notes from Underground, Fyodor Dostoevsky.

January 8th. 1:12 am. Avengers Compound, NY.

The motorcycle’s engine roared under the two-handed grip of Lux’s fists, sending warm reverberations through her palms. From years of hijacking vehicles during Dreykov and Von-Arx’s special, sanctioned missions, Lux knew how to start an engine with the touch of her hand. Now, the sleek black bike that sat in the compound’s driveway tore into the gravel road, roaring toward the city. The engine glowed under her, sending out a bright streak of orange as Lux drove the motorcycle into the night.

Through the thick overgrowth of the forest, Lux could see the tell-tale glimmer of the city lights. She reminded herself, as the familiar trill of fear sounded in her stomach, that she need just enter the city and disappear into the shuffle of early-morning commuters and light-night parties. In what margin, in New York City, Lux would be anyone, and that meant she was no one.

Hours later, when the paved road Lux turned onto transformed into a highway, and the highway, resembling a clogged artery, became a stagnant clamor of red, Lux began to weave. She tensed her stomach, manipulating the bike with great delicacy between cars, letting the shift of her hips and the lean of her shoulders into the handlebars guide her. Eventually, the Holland Tunnel came to replace the cover of night, which was just then fading with the sky. With layers of concrete and the cover of a thousand cars shielding her from the Avengers, Lux felt her body relax for the first time in days.

In all twenty-two years of Lux’s sentient life, she had been to the City five times. All were assassination missions. The men were always wearing a suit, tie undone, hand around something cold and strong when they saw her. The look of shock was always undiluted and honest, as if their belief that they were infallible and bulletproof was as solid as the skyscrapers they lived on the top of. And then there was the begging. Lux would hear their last words, shrill and desperate, ringing in her ears all the way home. Wall Street executives, pharmaceutical engineers, and drug mougels alike- they all said ‘please.’

Lux arrived outside a parking garage, glided into a spot, and walked as quickly as she could, head down, toward the building’s elevator. She had no doubt that the Avengers would soon notice her escape, if Steve hadn’t already sounded the alarm bell. She also knew that as soon as they tracked the bike she stole, Stark would have every camera in the vicinity tapped and inspected. In short, Lux had to be fast, not careful.

A pang of hunger shot from her gut. Food had become the first priority. If she was going to get anywhere fast, she needed food.

With the filling presence of adrenaline fading fast, Lux felt the drag of her three day hunger strike weighting down her body and her mind. Once on the sidewalk, Lux ducked into the nearest convenience store, stuffing her hands into the pockets of her jacket. A security camera hung in each of the four corners of the store, surely transmitting her image to Tony Stark at this very moment. Lux lifted her chin, shooting a brazen, satisfied grin into the camera’s eye. Just in case Stark was looking. To hell with stealth, and fuck the Avengers.

The cashier smacked on a wad of bubble gum, bending over the counter, thumbs typing furiously on her phone. The tap of her acrylics sent an audible confirmation of her distraction as Lux slipped a sandwich into her pocket, striding out of the door with the click-clack trailing behind her. Wasting no time, Lux scarfed the sandwich while she walked. A heavy, grey day was dawning over the city and Lux shivered against the wind. She reminded herself to listen more diligently behind her, as she would not have the tell-tale print of shadows under the sun.

On foot, Lux didn’t have a chance slipping through the city unnoticed. Even if they sent out the members she had seen with her own eyes, she was pathetically outnumbered. Taxis it was. She was headed to the dense green of the southward countryside, where she could slip into a dinky motel and plan her next move.

As the yellow streak of a cab slowed, Lux raised her hand, catching the eyes of the older woman in the driver’s seat. The cab pulled to the curb, just as Lux saw a man beside her, his raised hand mirroring hers.

“I apologize-“ His voice was smooth and dark as wine, “I wasn’t my intention to hijack your ride.” Lux studied the man, perplexed by his perfectly mannered appearance. He wore a long, black coat, tailored to his exact proportions. A matching black suit peaked through, the tie shining like obsidian below his neck. His hair, sporting the same gleam of the tie and slicked back to reveal a pale, sharp face, kissed his shoulders. Something twisted in Lux’s gut. She told herself it was the sandwich.

“I-I’m sorry,” she spat out, having been stunned to silence by a wave of deja-vu and fear. “Do I know you?”

Before the man could answer, the driver rolled down her window, shouted in a gravely, smoker’s tone, “Hey! Are you in or are you out?”

The man’s eyes, the brightest green Lux had ever seen, crinkled in humor. “Shall we share?” Lux’s brow furrowed in mistrusted. “I’ll pay,” the man offered.

Sighing, Lux offered her hand to the man, succumbing to his proposal. She was planning on a ride and run, anyways. Plus, the Avengers wouldn’t be searching for a party of two. He could act as a sort of temporary camouflage.

“Amelia,” Lux smiled, surprised at the glacial chill of the man’s hand.

The man smiled, “A pleasure.” He turned, entering the cab from the street-facing side. Lux slide herself in and was enveloped by the aroma of cigarettes and peppermint candy.

“Where to?” the woman demanded, drumming her hands on the steering wheel. She twirled a red sucker in her wrinkled mouth, her brown eyes contorting in impatience in the rear-view mirror.

Lux stayed silent, waiting for the man to fill the silence with his answer.

“Irving Building, please,” His voice hitched at the last syllable. Lux swung her gaze to his face, studying his expression. It was cool, limp, almost amused. He was lying.

Lux smiled, pushing her seatbelt into the lock. “Me too,” she purred, “What a perfect coincidence.” She felt the force of movement push her into the cabs smoky seats and the city whirled around them. A trill of fear sounded within her, unmistakeable, this time. Whoever this man was, it was no coincidence that they were in the same cab.

“So,” Lux cooed, adopting her most feminine disposition, “What’s your business at Irving?” Many of the bodies she had left cooling in their penthouses were Wall Street associates. The antiseptic sting of the building clung to their clothing. Lux inhaled and smelt no such aroma coming off the man. He smelled of cold wind and juniper, and something sweeter that Lux couldn’t identify. Rum?

“Precisely that,” A silky chuckle loosed from his lips, “Business…” He dragged the “s” as he leaned closer to Lux, inhaling her as she had him. Lux cursed herself for her lack of discretion. He knew she was mining for details, trying to pin him before they arrived at their destination. “And yourself?”

Straightening her back to meet his gaze, Lux painted on her coyest smile, raking her eyes along his body, back up to his face. He did not squirm under her assessment. Instead, he preened like some bird of paradise, enjoying the dissection. “I just really feel like we’ve met before,” Lux evaded, tilting her head, “Where have I seen you before?” Her flirtatious lilt emanated through the cab like cigarette smoke.

The man held her gaze, leaning closer, too close- his lips grazed her ear and sent a shiver over her skin. “Don’t be afraid Agent Dioscuri, I’m not here to bring you back to them.”

Lux’s spine went rigid. She moved her hands to her lap and placed one over the other to keep them from shaking. “I’d like to get out,” Lux half-shouted at the driver, moving her hands onto the door’s handle. The tremor of terror that leaped in her stomach spread across her body, like a chill, when Lux looked into the rear-view to see the driver’s eyes had glazed over and shone a bright, acidic blue. She was unresponsive to her request.

The man was facing her now, his mouth opening in a feline grin. Lux pushed her back to the cab’s door, readying herself to roll out into the street. She would rather take her chances with a parade of cars than with the stranger eating her with his eyes.

“Who are you?” Lux’s words came out in whispers. As if in reply, a golden staff appeared in the man’s grasp, crowned with a blue jewel that emitted the same glow in the driver’s eyes. Lux’s entire body vibrated, pulled toward the staff. Images, ephemeral and hazy, floated about her consciousness.

Green eyes, the same that watched her now, were looking at her, full with pity. Hands arrested her arms, pulling her back. Her shoulders burned in pain. Hot tears dripped down her face into the earth under her boots. A presence in her body- as if she weren’t in control. A man with a sharp, emancipated face, his skin red as blood. And then she was looking off the edge of a cliff, her throat raw from screaming, but she heard no sound.

The man’s voice drew her from memory. “You wound me, lovely. You really don’t remember me?” The man frowned, her cold hand cradling Lux’s chin. She tried to open her mouth to bite, but her body was still, arrested by some invisible force. His frown deepened, “But I suppose they did place you back in that barbaric contraption after- didn’t they?” Rage, hot and corrosive, filled Lux’s body.

A warm whisper tickled Lux’s ear as the man, once again, leaned into her neck. “You fought valiantly that day, I’ll have you know. And your sister, the meek thing, went over so easily, it was almost like she didn’t want her death to weigh solely on you.”

Lux felt as if she were being scalded from the inside out. She imagined tearing into his face, the heat of his blood warming her fingers as she tore his eyes out. From behind the man, Lux could see they had arrived in another parking garage. The woman pulled the cab up to the top level, where the grey concrete melted into the grey sky.

“I argued with them, you know. I thought it should’ve been you thrown into that blackness. You’re far too angry.”

Memories whirled in Lux’s mind and she thought she might puke. Instead, she screamed, the sound ripping from her throat and into the air as she kicked her heel into the man’s jaw. His head shot backward, shattering the glass window behind him. Buzzing with rage and fear, Lux scrambled backward, pulling the handle and tumbling out of the car. She had managed to pull herself to her feet, readying herself to jump onto the adjacent building’s roof, when the air was whipped into a frenzy around her. Lux raised her hand to her face, squinting up into the sky.

Before she could make out the dark mass that descended upon her, she was shot across the lot, caught by the unforgiving concrete.

January 8th. 5:32 am. New York, NY.

Wanda grimaced from the jet’s window as Lux was crushed into the concrete, a web of cracks reaching out from around her body. Her nails dug into her palms as the jet descended, jostling her teammates.

Steve’s jaw was set in its usual stoic flex, his blue eyes glued out the front window. Waves of worry rolled from his still body. Bucky, crouched by the jet’s back hatch, had been silent the whole flight. He twirled a knife in his metal hand, flipping it over and over as Natasha landed the jet.

“Alright hosers,” Tony’s voice crackled in Wanda’s earpiece. “Natasha, you secure the civilian. Wanda, you’re on clean-up, make sure this little tussle stays contained. Steve- don’t get K.Oed again. Bucky…sick em?”

Natasha rolled her eyes, shooting a sympathetic look back at Wanda. “Since when Tony start running the game plan?” Wanda asked, picking at her black nail polish as the jet settled to the ground.

Steve turned, striding from the cockpit towards Bucky’s position in the back. “He doesn’t,” Steve spat curtly, “But follow his orders for now.” He slung his shield off his back, readying himself. The back hatch opened and a clap, booming and grand as thunder, reverberated into the jet.

Jumping down from the jet, Wanda whirled to her right, where Lux was straddling a large man, driving her fists into his face with such force the concrete shook. She was glowing, an orange phosphorescence coming off of her skin in waves. Wanda sprinted toward her, Steve and Bucky at her heels. Coming closer, Wanda could see the sweat glistening on Lux’s brow and the gleam of her teeth as she grinned and drove her knuckles down.

The man, Wanda realized with a jolt of hot curiosity, was Loki. His pale, sculpted face was bleeding and bruised. His hand shot toward Lux’s throat, but was interrupted by the flight of Steve’s shield, smashing into Loki’s wrist. An arc of blue energy shot up toward Lux, but was met with a projectile of Wanda’s own power, intercepting and diffusing it.

Once they reached the pair, Bucky grabbed Lux by the shoulders, hauling her off of Loki, while Steve did the same to her bludgeoned adversary. Loki’s mauled face split into a grin, his gaze never wavering from Lux as the two super soldiers secured them. Tony descended from above, landing with a clank beside Wanda. Natasha, having rescued the civilian in the taxi cab, joined them. For the moment, the only sounds that emanated from the circle were Lux’s labored huffs and Loki’s silken laugh.

A second boom, twin to the one Wanda heard as she exited the jet, sounded from above. This time, it was accompanied by the smashing of Thor into the center of the circle, his hammer gripped in rage by his side.

“Loki!” Thor boomed, striding towards Steve, who released the God, limp and wheezing at Thor’s feet. “What is the meaning of this?” He demanded, grabbing Loki’s collar.

Wanda’s gaze swung to Lux, who was standing, to Wanda’s surprise, still by Bucky’s side. Her face, like Loki’s, was decorated by bruises. Her lip was fat and bleeding and a cut had opened on her forehead. Lux, sensing Wanda’s attention, shot a glare in her direction. Wanda smiled, meeting the glare with the gleam of both rows of her teeth. Lux’s facade dropped, disarmed by Wanda’s warmth. Lux redirected her attention to the brothers in front of her.

“I’m here,” Loki coughed blood onto Thor’s feet, “To collect a debt.” He pointed a long finger at Lux, who seemed frozen in place.

“To who?” Steve asked, his hands still binding Loki’s arms behind him.

Loki cast his eyes to the ground, pulling in a deep breath. “This is bigger than all of you.” A look up at Thor, “Bigger than you, brother.” A sly smile towards Lux, “Even grander than you, little firefly. I do suggest you all stay out of it.” Loki’s expression dipped into something darker, a slip in his mask of cool amusement. Wanda realized, with no pleasure, that Loki was afraid. For whatever reason Loki needed Lux, it was not in self-service.

“What infernal plan are you tangled in now,” Thor grumbled. The air crackled around him. Wanda felt the hair on her arms stand at attention. Loki only chuckled, hanging his head in defiance. Whatever information they needed from him, Wanda knew they wouldn’t get it here. Plus, they needed to get out of the city fast, before the ordeal became more conspicuous. Stark had been on their ass about the importance of subtlety.

As if one cue, Tony’s voice came from his iron suit. “Alright gang we need to bring this party back to the compound.” Tony turned toward Lux and pointed. “That means you too, Goldie Locks. I have a feeling the compound will be just right for you now.”

Lux scowled at Tony but said nothing. Bucky, Wanda noticed, stepped in front of Lux, his human band making contact with her hip and pushing her behind him. His blue eyes trailed Loki’s every breath. He looked murderous, Wanda thought. He looked like The Winter Soldier.

Thor released Loki’s collar, gathering a pair of cuffs that were looped into his armor. With a clank, Thor cuffed Loki’s arms behind his back. Steve and Tony drew toward him. “You don’t have the facilities to contain him. Loki will return to Asgard, with me. I will find out what he’s up to.” Thor turned his attention to Lux, raising a hand in acknowledgment. “I apologize for my brother’s actions and any harm done to you,” he apologized.

Lux sent a curt nod of her head in reply. Just as a vertical ray of rainbow came down from the sky, Loki lunged for Lux, his staff extending towards her. This time, Steve moved in front, his shield raised. The next second, Thor and Loki were gone, an Asgardian rune sizzling in the concrete where their feet once stood.

Steve move, securing his shield on his back, and walked towards Wanda. “Like we discussed,” he mumbled in her ear. With a deep breath, Wanda spun on her heals, facing Lux, who was tucked behind Bucky, staring at the ground where Loki stood just moments before. Her eyes, a pale gold, looked hallow and hopeless. All the rage that drove her out of the compound and drove her fists into Loki’s face was gone, leaving Lux empty.

Bucky, with a grumble, stepped away from Lux as Wanda approached. Again, Wanda was met with Lux’s cold glare as she raked her gaze up and down Wanda’s body. The shuffle behind Wanda told her the others were gathering on the jet.

“You’re like me,” Lux assessed, crossing her arms in front of her. Wanda nodded. She was sure Lux felt the same pull, the same vibration in her body, that she felt around Vision. Around Loki’s scepter. And now she felt it around Lux. Whatever lay inside her called towards Wanda’s magic, singing a twin song.

“Infinity stones,” Wanda started, “they can be a bitch to control. But you’ll learn- in time.”

Lux frowned. “And who taught you to control it?”

“Tony, and Natasha- and Vision and Steve and Bruce and Thor and Clint…all of them.” Wanda smiled, extending her hand towards Lux. “They’re good Lux. All of them. And they need your help. We need your help.”

Lux kept her arms crossed and watched as the rest of the team filed onto the jet. She caught Steve’s eyes from afar, watching her in anticipation. Lux remembered the worry in his voice when he came down to check on her. She remembered Bucky’s voice, thick with concern, as they spoke. She remembered the sweet warmth of the hot chocolate and the warmth of his hand on her hip. Lux told herself that these things, the concern and the well-intentioned actions, could be easily faked. But now, with forces that stroke fear into the hearts of gods after her, Lux didn’t have a choice. The Avenger’s Compound was the safest option, at least for now.

Extending her arm, Lux took Wanda’s hand, allowing her to lead her onto the jet. A voice, chipper and sweet, sounded in her head, as if someone were speaking directly into her ear. We’re gonna have fun, Lux. I can just tell.

A jolt of surprise shot through Lux. The voice was Wanda’s.

Lux spoke into her own mind- Are you speaking to me? You can do that?

We can do that, Wanda answered as they stepped up onto the jet’s ramp.

It’s a stone thing? Lux asked, the jet humming to life beneath her.

Wanda’s silver bell laugh filled Lux’s mind. Yeah- a stone thing.

January 8th. 8:57 pm. Avengers Compound, NY.

The hot water fell on Lux’s body, loosening the day’s tension from her shoulders. In the Red Room, she had only been allowed cold showers. Now, in her own bathroom, her skin burning under the shower’s stream, Lux was in heaven. She leaned her forehead against the dark tile and drew slow, full breaths.

After nearly an hour of sitting under the hot water, Lux dressed herself in a pair of sheer grey sleep shorts and a matching tank top. She had used every product that sat in the bathroom cabinets and now smelt of sweet citrus and cedar. She melted into the bed, covering her eyes with her hands and replayed the day’s events.

The jet ride back was tense. Squirming under Steve’s presence, Lux had adhered to her characteristic silence, staring at the space between her boots. Upon landing, Wanda and her twin, Pietro, had given her a tour of the compound. The trio walked, for hours, scouring every inch of the building and the grounds. Finally, after memorizing the compound’s layout and eating her weight in Chinese takeout, Lux was lead to her own room.

It was strange having so much space to herself. A king bed occupied the center of the room, flanked by a closet and a desk and chair. In an adjacent room as a bathroom, complete with a deep bathtub and candles galore.

Lux chuckled to herself. It was ironic and cruel how the place that had once been her prison had become her safe house. She warned herself not to get too comfortable. She chastised herself against attachment.

Just as Lux reached to turn off the lamp on the side table, a knock sounded against the door.

Rising from bed, Lux harbored the warm hope that it was Wanda. During their tour, she had grown fonder of the girl’s mannerisms, the quirk of her laugh and her immediate acceptance of Lux. If she had to be here, Lux thought, she might as well have a friend.

Disappointment followed surprise when Lux opened the door to find Steve, clad in a sweater and the same blue-eyed gaze, leaning against her doorframe.

“Settling in?” He asked. Steve’s voice was unusually low. His hair was wet, like Lux’s, and he smelled clean, like aftershave and sandalwood.

Lux nodded, shifting in place on the plush carpet. She shrunk at his larger-than-life presence. His shoulders eclipsed the whole doorway and he looked down upon Lux with fervent intensity.

“Yes. I just showered. It was…warm.”

Steve nodded, dragging his gaze up and down Lux’s body, as if in search for something.

“Were you hurt today? There’s a med bay in the basement, there’s always someone there if…-“

Lux interrupted with a huff, angling her eyes up at Steve. He flinched at the sudden eye-contact, as if she had startled him. “I’m sorry I hurt you,” Lux blurted, “And I’m sorry I stole that motorcycle.”

Steve’s concern broke into a grin at Lux’s words. He ran his tongue over his front teeth and huffed a laugh. “You’re not in trouble for running, Lux. I actually thought you’d try it a lot sooner.”

“I know,” Lux mumbled, wringing her hands, “I’m just sorry for what I did to you…I know it isn’t pleasant.”

A nod from Steve. His features contorted at the memory and Lux felt a weight, like lead in her stomach, at the thought of hurting him again.

“Well,” Steve started, straightening himself, “The day usually starts at 0600, I’ll meet you in the training arena.”

“Training?” Lux parroted. She titled her head to the side in confusion, sending locks of silken, gold hair over her eyes.

Mindlessly, Steve reached out, tucking the strands behind Lux’s ear. His touch was feather-light, a whisper across her cheek, and then it was gone. Steve’s blue eyes fell to Lux’s lips, which were parted in surprise at the tender touch.

Clearing his throat, Steve shoved his hand into her pocket. “Your punches were sloppy and you were slow to a defensive position,” he stated plainly, stepping back from the doorway.

His curt assessment drew a laugh from Lux. She propped both hands on her exposed midriff and shook her head. “Was I that bad, Mr. Captain America Sir?”

Steve smiled down at Lux and she felt a blooming of traitorous, dangerous warmth open in her chest. “Just call me Steve.” The request as soft and just as gentle as his touch.

“Goodnight Steve,” Lux whispered back, closing the door as Steve turned to leave.

That night, Lux slept without dreams.

[therecordchanger62279]

THE RECORDCHANGER YEAR-END EDITION 2024

  My annual year-end review of my favorite records and books.

   TOP NEW RELEASES

   1. The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology – Taylor Swift

   2. TexiCali – Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore

   3. The Border – Willie Nelson

   4. Sensual – Rachel Z

   5. Heaven (EP) – Softcult

   6. The Lost Record – Susanna Hoffs

   7. Short N’ Sweet – Sabrina Carpenter

   8. Smoke and Fiction – X

   9. =1 – Deep Purple

 10. MoonDial – Pat Metheny

 11. Memories Have Faces – The Loons

 12. Brasil – Lee Ritenour & Dave Grusin

 13. The Vienna Recital – Yuja Wang

 14. Viva – Lone Justice

 15. Hit Me Hard and Soft – Billie Eilish

    REISSUES / ARCHIVE RELEASES

    1. Woodstock 1969 – Ten Years After

    2. The Best of Rory Gallagher at the BBC

    3. Welcome to Shepherd’s Bush – The Rolling Stones

    4. Live at The Wiltern – The Rolling Stones

    5. Live at Fillmore East, 1969 – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

    6. Live Through the Past, Darkly – The Dream Syndicate

    7. Miles ’54 – Miles Davis

    8. Brooklyn, NY 2011 – Sonic Youth

     ARTIST OF THE YEAR

        Taylor Swift

     FINDS OF THE YEAR

        Folklore; Red; Speak Now; Fearless; Evermore; Midnights – Taylor Swift

        Norman Fucking Rockwell; Born to Die: The Paradise Edition; Ultraviolence; Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Boulevard – Lana Del Rey

        John Adams: Must the Devil Have All the Good Tunes? – Yuja Wang with the Los AngelesPhilharmonic

        NVM; Lost Time; This Mess Is a Place – Tacocat

        All Hands on The Bad One – Sleater-Kinney

        Holly & the Italians – Holly Beth Vincent

        Out of the Mist – Illusion

        Back to Black – Amy Winehouse

        Siren – Roxy Music

        Children of the Future; Brave New World; Your Saving Grace; Number 5; Rock Love; Recall the Beginning…Journey to Eden – Steve Miller Band

        Sheet Music – 10cc

        Happy Nightmare Baby – Opal

        Ask the Ages – Sonny Sharrock

        Room of One’s Own; Under the Milky Way Express – Rachel Z

        Bright Lights; The Deep End – Susanna Hoffs

        At Home – Shocking Blue

     BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR

       The Penguin Book of Rock & Roll Writing edited by Clinton Heylin (1992)

       Just Backdated by Chris Charlesworth (2024)

       Zip It Up! The Best of Trouser Press by Ira Robbins (2024)

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

     This was the year where I finally accepted the inevitability of listening to music more often on digital files through a computer, rather than through a stereo system with a turntable, CD, and cassette player. My stereo got less use this year than any year since I began listening to music, but I listened to far more music than any year since I left the music retailing business. I made the transition out of convenience, and out of financial necessity. I have been priced out of buying physical media when it comes to music. I bought some things, of course, but very little after July. Prices on records, compact discs, and even cassettes just continued to rise. Delivery got more expensive, and less reliable. And availability fell to an all-time low. Everyone else can do as they please. But I will not overpay for anything. And I will not spend hours or days chasing what I want to buy – new or old. If the musician or the label can’t give me access to the music without hassle, and at a reasonable price, then it’s no sale. Plenty of music can be accessed, and listened to, and even owned digitally without any hassles, and, in some cases, even owned without having to pay. I’ve never been reluctant to buy what I wanted, but I simply refuse to be robbed, and I will not jump through hoops to find what I’m looking for. Looking at titles that were added to my collection this year, I only bought a single vinyl record in 2024, and not one cassette. I bought 29 compact discs, and 5 digital downloads. But I added many more titles to my digital collection this year at no cost. Most of those were titles I could not find a physical copy of anywhere. Some were available at prices that were outrageous. Still others were unavailable to me through regular channels. I was forced to improvise, and that’s what I did.

     I spent a lot of time on You Tube listening to albums, and even more time with what is called The Vinyl Community. That’s a group of music lovers who upload videos to You Tube where they discuss what they own, what they’re buying, what they like and don’t like. That was in Spring, but before Spring turned to Summer, the novelty had worn off for me. There are still a few channels I follow, but I don’t fit in as a part of this “community.” Most of these collectors have a passion for music, but making videos for You Tube is a side business for them, and because they have a following, record labels and musicians often send them free copies of new releases hoping for favorable reviews, and, consequently, free or cheap advertising as a result. That business model calls into question the integrity of their opinions which, to my way of thinking renders them useless.

    In any case, I’d hoped that my involvement as a viewer with that group would fill the gap that’s existed since I left the record business, as I no longer had a way of interacting with people who came into my shops and wanted to talk music, and exchange opinions. And while there are four or five of these people whose work I do enjoy, it’s clear I don’t belong there. They don’t respond to comments or questions you might ask, so it’s not dissimilar to being back on Facebook again where even your friends and family ignore you. I’d rather talk to myself on Tumblr.

     You Tube did give me the opportunity to hear a lot of new releases this year that might otherwise have slipped past me. My lists would look very different, and would be much shorter if not for You Tube. So, the experience with the channel overall was certainly a good one.

     As for the lists above, it turned out to be a pretty good year for music. I’ve already posted pieces about Taylor Swift, and Lana Del Rey, and they were the artists I listened to most in 2024. My choice of Taylor as Artist of the Year was easy. It wasn’t even close. She made the best record by far. She had the year’s biggest tour. She got written about, and photographed more than anyone else. And she deserved every accolade, and award she got. She’s the best, and most talented artist to debut this century, and I will listen to her music until my ears fall off. The Tortured Poets Society: The Anthology already cracked my all-time Top 200 Albums list when I revised it this summer. No album has ever done that in the year of release. And when I revise the list again, I would expect the album to move into the Top 100, and pull three or four of her older albums onto the list, too. Lana Del Rey will probably make the list as well, and maybe more than once.

     Several of the artists who made my Top New Releases list have never made the list before. Rachel Z released her first album, Sensual, in 15 years, and it might be her best. Softcult’s 6 track EP, Heaven was one I listened to again and again. Sabrina Carpenter’s Short N’ Sweet jumped seven places on my list after I saw her Tiny Desk Concert last week for NPR. She’s far more talented than I realized on first listen. Even Billie Eilish slipped onto the list this year. First time I’ve actually taken the time to listen to her, and I was impressed. But the old guard was well-represented by Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore whose TexiCali would’ve been an easy number one had Taylor Swift taken the year off. Willie Nelson released The Border, his best record in decades. X, Deep Purple, The Loons, and Lone Justice surprised with fine new albums. Lee Ritenour (at 72) and Dave Grusin (at 90!) bring decades of experience to their tasty Brasil album. Susanna Hoffs, Pat Metheny, and Yuja Wang have been here many times before, of course.

     The Reissues/Archive Releases list, on the other hand, has many of the usual suspects, but that’s the nature of the beast, so it’s fitting. Seven of the eight releases are live albums while the one studio set is a snapshot of what Jazz trumpeter Miles Davis was up to in the calendar year of 1954. It’s telling, too, that I didn’t buy a single box set this year.

     But the Finds of the Year list is always the one that excites me most because that’s where I get to add great albums to my collection that had previously slipped through the cracks. Half a dozen Taylor Swift albums, and four more by Lana Del Rey led the way, followed by a concerto John Adams wrote specifically for pianist Yuja Wang that is both old world Classical, and thoroughly contemporary. It was recorded in 2019, and is already among my favorite Yuja Wang recordings.

     I also caught up with a Sub Pop band called Tacocat whose first for the label was released in 2014, with a follow-up in 2016, and a third in 2019. The band is still together, and I hope planning a fourth release soon. It’s great Indie Pop that is without pretensions, and fits nicely with the very best bands in that genre. The rest of my “finds” are older than these, and I wrote about them previously in these pages.

     Finally, my three favorite books of the year were all books of music journalism, one a memoir by the Melody Maker’s Chris Charlesworth, and the other two collections of essays, and reviews from Rock’s history, and Trouser Press magazine. I read 44 other books in a variety of genres and categories, but none I enjoyed as much as these.

If you like what you see here, hit the ‘follow’ button, and then the ‘like’ button when the spirit moves you. Thanks for reading The Recordchanger. I hope you found it worth your time.

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Here's an 1858 Anglo-Italianate townhouse in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan, New York City. It has 5bd, 5ba & is listed for $15.5M. Plus, there's a very special feature in the backyard.

Look at the magnificent crown molding (Is that wallpaper?). It really looks great in contrast to the deep gray walls. The fireplace is also gorgeous. Not sure how I reel about the bookshelves and bleached or replaced light wood molding.

The long room is split into a sitting room and a dining room. I'm surprised that the house doesn't have a separate formal dining room.

The kitchen has a family room and kitchen table in the style of an open concept layout. The kitchen looks like it has a vintage floor and the cabinetry looks like it may have been last refreshed in the 70s.

Nice family room with a great fireplace. It's certainly convenient to the kitchen.

I like the antiqued walls. The worn runner on the stairs needs replacing.

Main bd is very large, has newish closet doors and a beautiful original fireplace.

Modern bathroom with a vintage tub.

This would be a children's room and a very large one, at that.

Look at this modern room. Revamped fireplace and a great skylight.

The bedrooms in this home are all so large. And, each one has a nice fireplace.

Exercise room with a Pilates table.

I don't what this room is, but look out the window. The highlight of the home is that wonderful treehouse in the yard.

There's a nice patio.

And, there's the amazing treehouse.

It's like a little hippie getaway.

And, this is a nice private deck on the roof.

[stonecreationsoflongislandinc]

Stone Creations of Long Island, Deer Park, NY 11729 by Paul Saladino Via Flickr: Here are some outdoor living design inspiration ideas: Patio and Outdoor Spaces: 1. Fire Pit Oasis: Create a cozy seating area around a fire pit, perfect for chilly evenings. 2. Outdoor Kitchen: Design a fully-equipped kitchen with countertops, grill, and dining area. 3. Pergola Retreat: Build a pergola with vines, lights, and comfortable seating. 4. Water Feature: Incorporate a small pond, fountain, or waterfall for soothing sounds. Landscape and Hardscape: 1. Native Plant Garden: Showcase local flora for low-maintenance beauty. 2. Outdoor Lighting: Strategically place solar-powered lights for ambiance. 3. Paver Patterns: Use different paver patterns to create visual interest. 4. Retaining Walls: Build walls with plants, stones, or wood for texture. Outdoor Decor: 1. Outdoor Furniture: Choose weather-resistant materials like wicker, metal, or recycled plastic. 2. Color Scheme: Select a palette that complements your home's exterior. 3. Textiles: Add throw pillows, blankets, and rugs for warmth. 4. Lighting Fixtures: Hang string lights, lanterns, or chandeliers. Functional Features: 1. Outdoor Shower: Install a shower for convenience. 2. Storage: Incorporate outdoor storage benches or cabinets. 3. Outdoor Heating: Add a patio heater or fire pit. 4. Smart Home Integration: Control outdoor lighting, temperature, and music. Long Island-Inspired Ideas: 1. Beach Vibes: Incorporate natural elements like driftwood, nautical colors. 2. Garden Oasis: Create a tranquil garden with Long Island native plants. 3. Waterfront Views: Take advantage of waterfront views with outdoor seating. Would you like more information ? Call us at (631) 678-6896 or come visit us at www.stonecreationsoflongisland.net

[misskattylashes]

Okay, so…..to add to my theory that all is not well in the state of Alex and Louise and their ‘cute’ TM relationship.

This is a collation of her posts from this year’s leg of The Car Tour (I hasten to add there were none at all last year for the South American leg, or the Australian leg this year.)

So we start with Tokyo (top left). Louise, subtle as a brick as usual, poses in Alex’s blue Lacoste top and a pair of oversized sunglasses with a caption saying she is going somewhere she has always wanted to go and the poster behind is a clue. It is a Japanese poster. Then once she was there, we had stories of her trip there, asking for recommendations of places to go.

Next comes Paris. On both days she posted her outfits of the day on her stories, along with photos of her and her dad, and the band performing on stage with the obligatory ‘Mon amour’. Then of course we get the post of her adventures at the Paris gig, along with the polaroid of her and Alex (conveniently posted on the day the internet went cray cray at the leaked picture of Milex at the Scott Walker gig)

London….well she really went to town with London. On the day after Miles posts himself on the Eurostar saying he was ‘coming home to you London’, and two turtle emojis, Pauline posts a picture of a hand hanging out of a car, saying she was getting the Eurostar treatment. We then get endless stories, one of which is her in the bath watching the film ‘Ice Cold in Alex’ (I shit you not), then her outfit of the day blah blah blah. Then of course we get the infamous post with the bed and her holding Alex’s jacket (one he stopped wearing a year ago – hardly the brown Celine Milex jacket)

But something weird happens with Glastonbury. She posted stories about going there. But she only posted one of her outfit, then…radio silence. Then we have Alex’s weird behaviour on stage with the Frank Sinatra song Don’t Worry About Me (about dumping someone) and the mystery of why Rosie, Miles’ manager was backstage with the Monkeys, and yet Miles never appeared.

Then Pauline posts her Glastonbury stories. No mention of Alex. All mentions of Alex restricted in the comments. The photos are all of her having fun with everyone except her ‘boyfriend’

Rome... We had no outfit of the day, just a photo of her at the gig taken by a fan. Then the next day she posts a professionally shot video of her running to side stage to watch the band. Shortly after that, we have a post about Rome with one minor mention of Alex in her caption. But no photo taken with him.

Then we have the ‘holiday’ snaps, when the world finally got to see that the ‘cute’ couple look awkward around each other, and that the whole shoot was prearranged with a paparazzi agency. Then of course, there is a picture of Alex coming home to London two days afterwards - even though Louise was still in Italy - and even more interesting, two days before the release of his buddy’s fifth album!!

So, we finally come to the US. Since the Monkeys went to the US, she went to stay with Amanda in LA. Then the week they were due to play New York, she flew to NY, making sure she takes pictures of herself doing stuff. Even though the Monkeys were in Canada. Then we get to the gigs last weekend. No stories from her. No outfit of the day. I didn’t even know she had gone to the gig until someone pointed out to me that one of her friends had posted a video of her there with Amanda (of course). She is dressed down, looking like a regular concert goer. Not a rock star’s girlfriend. She went to the infamous pool party but never posted about it. But the girl who did post it made it seem she spent most of the evening with her, chatting – despite her ‘boyfriend’ being there chatting to various ‘ladieeess’. Added to that the ‘distant’ pictures of them walking along, which claim to have been taken by every person in New York on that day.

I think we are being prepared for the breakup. If the theory is to be believed that she is a beard with a five year contract, well they were officially announced as a couple in mid September 2018, so the time is probably almost up.

I mean in all fairness it could just be that she has been told to stop making such a big deal of it because it looks like a publicity stunt (ahem) but there is also the fact that she is pretty much absent from social media. Except the other week when Miles was doing his gigs and posting a lot, we had a few posts from her with pretty pointless things.

So, I don’t know. Are they heading for a breakup and this is the publicity people’s way of preparing the fangirls for the worst? Or do they just have a really weird and distant relationship? One that involves interacting as little as possible?

[mgopinoon]

I think Austin has a rule about Kaia not visiting him when he’s filming in general. Especially an open set like Caught Stealing. She would be way too much of a disteaction. She’d love to be spotted on that set with all the paparazzi and attention on her lol. But Austin won’t allow it.

On past film shoots she’s never gone to visit him. But the difference now is she has her own place in NY. She only goes there now if she has work obligations.

Funny how the only time Austin went out with her in NY was to stop the break up rumors, which I don’t even think they were still together at that point. It was just too weird of timing. The rumors were getting too hot and conveniently, they get papped that same week.

I never know with those two but I have faith it’s actually over this time.

I think it's unprofessional for your girlfriend to come to your workplace to see you, but Austin doesn't work 24/7. We've seen Austin off set doing his life and Kaia isn't there, it's different if Austin was working in China and Kaia doesn't go to visit him, but NY has been almost Kaia's residence this year, she's been living in NY more than in LA, so for her not to visit the place that was her home for almost the whole year and where her boyfriend is living is very strange.

[greensparty]

Please Help Scarecrow Video

Seattle, WA's Scarecrow Video is one of the largest video stores in the U.S. if not the world. They have over 140,000 titles on DVD, VHS, blu-ray and laserdisc. They are especially noteworthy for the amount of rare and hard-to-find titles they have. About 10 years ago they become a non-profit. In addition to being a brick-and-mortar rental store for physical media, they also do rental-by-mail and they sell a great deal of their movies online too. They even carry my documentary Life on the V: The Story of V66 on DVD in their store.

When I made my short documentary Video Visions about one of the last video rental superstores in upstate NY, we actually made reference to Scarecrow and addressed the need for physical media outlets like Scarecrow and Video Visions as a gateway to film history. There are hundreds of thousands of movies that are only available on physical media. You would seriously be surprised how few movies released before 1990 are available on Netflix. While streaming may be convenient, physical media provides access to countless movies you can only see on VHS or DVD or a bit torrent ripped from those. In recent years we have lost a lot of longstanding video stores like Family Video, which shut down it's entire chain. Scarecrow is now struggling and needs your help.

I highly encourage you to give what you can to Scarecrow here. I myself just donated!

The link above is the article from Indiewire (reprinted from The Seattle Times).

[trivialbob]

Today I didn't work. So I had time for a little motorcycle trip.

First I stopped at Minnesota's Largest Candy Store, a little south of the Twin Cities area in the city of Jordan. Not only does this place boast the state's largest selection of candy, it also claims giant selections of soda pop, puzzles, and chips. Oh, and as you will notice, the largest application of yellow paint in the state.

When I first got inside my ears were pelted with "Mom! Mom! Mom! Dad! Mom! Look at this! I want... I want... I want... Mom! Mom!"

Yet another store that needs an adult swim hour.

A big selection of pies, homemade sauces, pastas, and such, the sort of things you might give as gifts, lines shelves. There is plenty of beef jerky and sticks. All sorts of decorations and non-edible things are there to look at too.

Seeing all that candy gave me a sweet tooth. I bought a bunch, then ate as much as a 9-year-old on Halloween night would consume before coming home and paying the daddy tax. At my house the daddy tax used to be red (cherry, not strawberry or watermelon) flavored pieces of assorted candy of my choosing.

Today I wanted all the sour candy, like Zotz. My tongue hurts now from all the fizzy stuff I ate. Those Sour Smog Balls were tasty. I'm glad I later gave the box to Jack (after having a few samples), otherwise I surely would have finished it all today and made myself sick.

After the candy store I went to Schmidt's Meat Market, in the small town of Nicollet (pop. 1200). The town is really small, the shop is really good.

I bought a NY strip steak for dinner tonight. That wasn't all. They have my favorite meat sticks, ones that have great flavors and the perfect ratio of moistness (little) to dryness (a bit more).

I also got a huge stick of summer sausage. The woman helping me asked if I wanted it sliced. I hemmed and hawed, trying to decide. Sliced would be convenient, but it's such a large stick I want to leave it whole to stay at peak freshness.

She smiled at my indecision and nicely offered, "You know what I can do, I'll cut in in half. I'll wrap the unsliced half in paper, and put the slices of the other half in a plastic bag."

Ingenious!!!!

From the meat shop it's a 20-25 minute drive to Jack's house. The route is mostly wide-open back roads, with no traffic and no cops. You do smell the "agriculture" though. My motorcycle stretched its legs, within reason. Its MPG average also decreased significantly too.

At Jack's house I hung out with him, Ali, and their dogs Lily and Luca. I gave Jack some of the meat sticks and also a gift box of cinnamon roll ingredients I picked up at the candy store. He also got the box of Sour Smog Balls and promptly offered me one of the cherry-flavored pieces!

Excuse me now. I need to go brush my teeth a few times.

[thegirlwholied]

charmed rewatch (s1-s4 premiere) hits-different-as-an-adult takewaways, in threes: $,$,$

- Phoebe's lack of a job s1-s3. granted, fighting the forces of darkness etc, *somebody* needs to be actually learning witchy ways & conveniently Buffy-level "self-defense". But aside from a couple eps addressing it, what was she doing all day every day before going back to school?! Every other episode I found myself going "is she still not working?!" And then once re-enrolled, are her sisters covering her tutition? she's already living off their shared income for groceries etc. Or is a loan in the mix? Wasn't she in debt from NY when she moved home? It's Friends style living, OK, but on a sisters-&-roommates dynamic basis I'm team Pull Your Damn Weight!

- Prue's creative career change. Her photography passion is a total retcon, part of her s3 "cooler" rebrand vs Latin-speaking antiquities/art expert Prue. Change itself aside - it's frustratingly easy. & somehow while Phoebe is still in school & not working. An instant full-time photography job that based on that BMW poses no income changes or challenges? Can't relate. Must be nice. Now that's fantasy.

- The window repairman. I wish we met the stained glass repair expert they must call biweekly - they are probably singlehandedly paying the repairman's mortgage. The house's episodic destruction is comical but at least lampshaded by them referencing this bill after the Banshee episode. Apparently fixing the windows magically is personal gain (though moving things around with magic for attic-cleaning is not?) Nor something your handyman/whitelighter can handle? Yeah this would be the temptation that would break me - I'd be rhyming my way into repaired windows before I'd be writing those fix-it checks.