#and perfect trudy can be more creepy i think

[thedndgoblinwholivesinyourwalls]

finished the new ep uhhh have sketches of my ever changing trudy design:

[goldgirl1239]

Stories put together from Facebook of all Red’s childhood memories: Either all these are lies or all these are true stories. I guess we will see!

Are we to believe these historical tellings from RED? Stories of when he was either pre-teen/teen and IF so then RED grew up in or near Michigan.

Meandering in Red's mind, or "Red, in his own words." Part 5: His stories

Over 7 seasons we have accumulated a lot of stories about Red, his personal experiences. True or not together they paint a picture of the character.

Some of them are about his childhood:

When I was young, I wanted to be able to dance just like Gary Goddard. I still remember going to the Snowflake Dance and watching him for the first time. That kid, man, he could move. Won the eighth-grade talent show. He was on the Yell Squad. Gary even danced his way into Helen Hummer’s pants, and let me tell you something, that was like breaking into Fort Knox. Then in the summer of ‘88, I saw Gary in the diaper aisle at Safeway. He looked like hell. Gray. Out of breath, fatigued. Turns out Gary had a bicuspid valve, needed a heart transplant. He was on the wait list until the day he died.

Funny. The janitor at my elementary school was called “Smokey.” No idea why. He never smoked a day in his life.

I was a lifeguard my junior year in high school. Had to give mouth-to-mouth to Mrs. Beerman. She belched up a lung full of corned beef and chlorine. I haven’t been in a pool since.

I spent two summers operating the Whack-the-Cats at the Emmet County Fair

You know, when I was 15, I had a summer job installing carpets for Albert Kodagolian on Lake Charlevoix. Horrible job hot, indoors, forced to listen to “The Gambler” on 8-track while the rest of the world was at the beach. Three days into the job, I knew I had to quit. I asked my father for adviceAll he wanted to know was whether I’d given my word to Mr.Kodagolian that I’d work the summer. I told him I had. My father suggested I stick it out. I’d given my word. Worst eight weeks of my life. Until the last day. Mr. Kodagolian shows up at the jobsite, pulls me aside, and tells me that in 27 years, no kid has ever made it through the summer, gives me a bonus $40. The most valuable money I’ve ever made. A priceless lesson about life. Value loyalty above all else.

Well, [I want] another spin of the bottle in Melanie Reichman’s basement

Your cummerbund. Pleats up! You look like Bob Yoshimura in 8th-grade swing choir. It’s upside down!

You know, BJ Simpson and I started a lawn-mowing business in the summer of ‘72– bagging, hedging, the whole ball of wax.One day, I’m out rototilling Pat Hunt’s garden. I go in for a bottle of pop– must have been 110– and there’s BJ in the sunken living room, shoes off, feet up on the couch, eating a fried-bologna sandwich, watching Mike Douglas. Mike Douglas! Can you imagine? I quit that day….. Point is, I haven’t had a partner since

Sacrifice the bishop. Reykjavík, '72. God, I can remember it like it was yesterday. I was in Steven Bash’s rec room down in the basement, eating fried egg and bologna sandwich when he did it.... Bobby Fischer. It was game 13, move 50– rook takes bishop, B5. He sacrificed his bishop. That’s when Russia lost the Cold War. It was staggering. Spassky had no answer because he had no endgame, and neither do you.

The first time I ever smoked a cigar was with Marnie Petersen in fifth grade. Funny, little, bat-faced girl. I adored her.

I remember the name of the baker I stole the strawberry bismark from when I was 11 years old and his wife– Trudy Svoboda.

You know, this artist got his start with puppets. What is it about puppets? It’s the same with clowns. I’ll never forget a puppet show I saw when I was 5, maybe 6. Hansel and Gretel. Scared me to death. But it wasn’t the witch. It was the oven. Imagine an oven puppet. I don’t think I set foot in our kitchen for a month.

I haven’t had a babysitter since Brenda Gilroy. My God, pot pies, Lawrence Welk, bath time with Brenda. Still my perfect Saturday night.

Like Bergita Olofson in her parents' rumpus room on a Saturday night.

When I was 17 and heading off to the Naval Academy, I sent the most extravagant love letter to Sarah Ellen Winstead. She never replied. To this day, I remain convinced that the post office failed to deliver it, and that if your colleagues had simply done their jobs, the entire arc of my life might have been different. I might have been thinner and living in Maine.

Rosie Cavendish had a bulldog. Franklin, named after her great-uncle. Poor guy had eczema, dermatitis, seborrhea one skin condition after the next. The dog, not the uncle

I sometimes feel as if I should pay more attention to pop culture. Then I see this "Star Wars," featuring this giant in a bear costume piloting an aircraft and a little green guy swordfighting. And I say a silent prayer of thanks for Tolstoy's moral crisis. This green fellow is considerably too short to be effective in a swordfight.

I have to say, I would've done exactly the same when I was a kid. It's a ghost story creepy woods, rumors of corpses walking around in the dead of night.

As Old Man Quimby, my fencing instructor used to say "If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, oh, what a Christmas we'd have." My God I loved the foil.... "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride." Ah, Quimby. The man was a walking aphorism.

This reminds me of our high-school production of "Guys and Dolls." A rousing rendition of "Fugue for Tinhorns.

I so wanted to be a scout– tying knots, the Pinewood Derby, and the campfire songs. Oh, those songs. I keep trying to explain to Dembe, but I’m no singer.

[safestsephiroth]

#11: Ultracrepidarian - Trudy Bays (FFXIVWrite2020)

More information on FFXIVWrite can be found here: https://sea-wolf-coast-to-coast.tumblr.com/tagged/ffxivwrite2020+prompt+list

-

Trudy Bays was an absolute mess of colors, at all times, if she had a choice in the matter. With her hair and tail dyed so bright green as to sear the viewer's eyes, painted decorations on her face that varied in color as much as in design, and wearing a variety of ill-fitting and ill-matching colored clothing whose only consistent theme seemed to be 'BRIGHT COLORS', she was an absolute eyesore to anyone with good taste. An affront to the eyes of all she crossed paths with.

Perhaps that was why she had joined up with a performing troupe. Perhaps she became this way after joining. Regardless the reason, the plain-faced miqo'te girl was about as far from a fashion expert as could exist in all the realm. And yet.

Her heart swelled. Determination boiled up in her, as a crying fourteen-year-old girl wiped at her nose before her.

By the Twelve, this girl had asked her for help looking pretty to impress her friends, and Trudy was going to provide it.

"Okay, okay, don't worry, it's fine! No need to cry, none at all, miss!" She pulled a polished hand-mirror from her pocket, and flipped it around. "See? Crying makes it harder to be bright and colorful! When I cry, I have to clean up after and it's just such a huge mess, everything's so runny! And sometimes you can be pretty with runny colors but it's not really that great when it's runny all over your face because people see you cried and you know what people just really don't like seeing that you cried and-" A /DEEP/ breath "-when people don't like what they see then when they see you they don't like it so they don't like /you/ because that's a first impression that's what I always used to hear you know and I never really believed it but then I came to Ul'dah and-" Another DEEP breath, as the teenager stared up at her, confusion spreading across her features. Trudy's own face started to turn red from the effort. From the panic. "-So I came to Ul'dah and it was bad REALLY bad and I was crying every day because I was poor and it's not my fault it's not my fault that things disappear and I find them I never do it on PURPOSE!"

The two stared at one another, as Trudy caught her breath.

"Um," the teenager said.

"So what you have to do, is you have to get the brightest, bestest, prettiest colors you can and really splash 'em around. Dye your clothes in weird places! Make your sleeves different colors, you can even just cut 'em off and tie 'em back around your arm when you need so you can dye 'em separate! Your power is infinite, your fashion your own! But bright colors ALWAYS get attention!" Trudy raised her hands to either side, and did a ridiculous dance side-to-side, looking like some sort of bizarre tropical bird made Miqo'te. "So THERE! That's all you need."

"...So how do I put makeup on...?"

"Oh! Oh. Well. That's easy! You just slap some colors on and draw cool stuff. See? I have some stars, a dragon-"

"I thought you had to highlight and lowlight your eyes, or something?"

"Well, /you/ have real pretty eyes, so probably! You should let everyone see how pretty your eyes are. If you just smear on some dark stuff around your eyes, sure, it's all smudged and coaly and that's fine or whatever but to REALLY make your eyes stand out you have to slap on a color that really clashes! So, you have blue eyes, so you should smear some red over your face! REALLY bright red!"

"Like... over my whole face?"

"Well, not your /entire/ face! Just..." Trudy gestured vaguely. "You know! Maybe a line over your eyebrows, or, oh! You could make big claw-marks across your face, that would work!"

"Claw marks...?"

"Claw marks! Make it look like you got clawed by a big beast, and then - surprise! Nope! You're just fine, hey look how pretty my eyes are now that you're looking at me. Bam! Perfect! That's what you gotta do!"

"I don't... I don't know, are you sure?"

"Yeah! You can get some paint if you need to, just make sure it's not wall-paint. That can make you sick. I think. Or maybe that's just if you accidentally swallow some? I got pretty sick, so I stopped using wall-paint. I buy makeup from my performance group makeup artist. He threatened to stop selling to me, but what does HE know about fashion? The supplier is not the artist-man, you know? So don't let other people get you down! If you think you're pretty then what else could possibly matter?"

"But I want Marguerite to think I'm pretty."

"...Oh! Well. What's Marguerite's favorite color?"

"I don't know."

"Well ask her, then! And then, the next day, you can paint your face that color. Draw cool designs. Dragons, or big chimeras maybe, or stars, or you could just make a bunch of shapes. The possibilities are your imagination, so they're infinite! Endless!"

"And she won't think that's creepy?"

Trudy tilted her head. Finger to her chin. "Now why would that be creepy?"

"If I just... show up, after asking, with a bunch of designs drawn on my face in that color...?”

"Nothing creepy about it! Don't worry, I'm an expert or something. If I wasn't, Merry-Mari wouldn't tell me I'm pretty. Merry-Mari's REALLY smart, she's probably even smarter than me!" Trudy stared off, a moment, turning as her face burned beet red.

"Uh...? Hello?"

"Oh, but she's just /perfect/."

"Miss?"

"Ooh, I should buy her something nice! That would be a good thing to do."

"Hello?"

"Maybe she'd like earrings. She has pretty ears."

"I'm gonna leave now."

"Or some makeup! She's way better with it than I am. Oh, that's a good idea. We should get her to help you!" Trudy turned around. The teenager was gone. "Oh! Well. Hmm! That's okay, I'm sure she'll be fine. My advice is the best! I'm great at makeup, Merry-Mari always says so."

A few bells later, after Trudy had recounted the tale of her midday adventure in advice-giving, the duo managed to find the girl at a makeup-seller just in the nick of time for Marielle to save the day. Some /proper/ advice and a sheepish Miqo'te later, all was well in the world once more.

Trudy mentally added 'makeup advice' to the list of activities-not-to-do.

[calturnerreviews]

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a fantastic holiday season and a brilliant start to 2020! I’m going to start the new year off with a look back at the old one – and what a year it was! I was lucky enough to take part in many blog tours and to be given the opportunity to read some amazing and memorable books.

Thank you to everyone who was such a huge part of my bookish life last year! From the brilliant blog tour hosts and publishers to the wonderful and talented authors who kept me entertained (and sane!) all year. Thank you to all those who have taken the time to read and share my blog posts throughout 2019, I really do appreciate it.

I’m grateful to every single one of you and I hope that 2020 will be filled to the brim with even more books and friendship, blog tours and reading. But first, here are my top 10 reads of 2019 (in no particular order). It was difficult to narrow it down to just ten, but in the end I went for those books that I felt had the most emotional impact on me as a reader. I hope you enjoy! 😊📚

Top 10 Reads of 2019:

1. The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

The Ten Thousand Doors of January is a book that deserves to be savoured and experienced. It is a mesmerising and unforgettable book that transported me back to my childhood where my love of reading began. It sucked me into its pages and the real world melted away, just as it had when I was a child and first realised that words had the power to carry me away on a tsunami of magic and adventure, through never ending doors of wonder and delight. Pure perfection.

2. Needlemouse by Jane O’Connor

Oh, what a wonderful and heartwarming debut novel this is! It’s a truly delightful book that left me with a huge smile on my face as I turned the final page, making me feel as though I could go out and tackle anything life decided to throw my way that day! A moving and brilliantly written book that brought a tear to my eye on more than one occasion, Needlemouse is a quirky, fun and moving read that’s full of warmth and heart. A gorgeous and uplifting novel that I would highly recommend.

3. Never Be Broken (DI Marnie Rome 6) by Sarah Hilary

Never Be Broken is the latest instalment in Sarah Hilary’s DI Marnie Rome series, this time tackling the up to date and relevant knife crime epidemic in modern day London. The author isn’t scared to tackle this issue head on in a gripping novel that paints a very real and brutally honest picture of life in Britain today, especially the racism and bigotry that has become even more prevalent since the Brexit vote of 2016.

This book broke me with its unflinching honesty – but somehow managed to put me back together again, leaving me with a feeling of hope rather than despair as I turned the final page. A stunning and thought provoking read that I would highly recommend.

4. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

Wow, what can I say? The Silent Patient completely blew me away! It’s an astounding psychological thriller that’s full of surprises, with an intricate plot that twists and turns, leading to a denouement that will take your breath away. I can’t say too much as I don’t want to spoil anything, but this is a book that deserves to be shouted about from the rooftops. But it’s also a book best read cold, without knowing too much about it. It is, without a doubt, one of the best debut thrillers I’ve read in a long time. Highly recommended.

5. The Girl at the Window by Rowan Coleman

  As with all of Rowan Coleman’s books, The Girl at the Window is a book to be savoured. It’s a hauntingly beautiful, spine tingling and atmospheric read that is so deliciously creepy it sends shivers down your spine. Her words weave their magic, sending swirling tendrils of emotion to wrap around your heart, gently squeezing until you feel it’s about to stop. The author’s love of Ponden Hall and Emily Bronte shine through with every page, bringing them both vividly to life as Trudy slowly begins to uncover more of their secrets as the book progresses.

The Girl at the Window is beautiful ghost story that’s filled to the brim with grief, loss, love and hope. There are some genuinely chilling moments to make you shiver as the echoes of the past collide with present day Ponden Hall and the people who live within its walls. It’s a hauntingly beautiful, deliciously creepy and emotionally satisfying story that I can’t recommend highly enough.

6. Expectation by Anna Hope

What happened to the women we were supposed to become? Isn’t that a question most of us have asked ourselves from time to time? I know I have. I often think about all the hopes and dreams I had all those years ago, most of which did not come to fruition. Expectation is a beautifully written and emotional novel that explores just that and is a book that will stay with me. I felt bereft as I turned the final page, not wanting to say goodbye to these characters I had grown to love.

Flawed as they are, Hannah, Cate and Lissa shine a spotlight on the reality and disappointment of life through the years… and I loved them for it. Their actions are not always kind or the right thing to do, but they feel so real, their pain feels so real, and they mirror the imperfections that are in us all. A stunning and thought provoking book that I simply adored.

7. Violet by SJI Holliday

A superb psychological thriller that captures your imagination from the very first page, Violet is the story of two young women who meet by chance and decide to go travelling together. You’re not sure who to trust from the very beginning, with the tension increasing with every page, never quite knowing what to expect next. Are they able to trust each other? Or is one – or both – of these women harbouring secrets they’re desperate to keep hidden?

A cautionary tale of being careful of who you trust when travelling alone, it chillingly shines a spotlight on all the reasons why joining forces with a random stranger and putting your life into their hands is really not such a good idea! Outstanding.

8. A Modern Family by Helga Flatland

Oh wow, what a special and beautifully written book this is! A Modern Family is the new novel by acclaimed Norwegian author Helga Flatland, and has been stunningly translated by the talented Rosie Hedger. It tells the bittersweet story of one family’s struggle to cope with their parents decision to divorce after more than 40 years of marriage.

This is a book that got right under my skin, making me think of my own family  and how something totally shocking and unexpected can happen that changes everything in the blink of an eye. I can’t even put into words how much I loved this book. A beautiful and moving read that was an easy choice to include in my top ten.

9. Five Steps to Happy by Ella Dove

Oh my goodness, what a beautiful, moving and inspiring debut novel this is! It’s so nice to have a positive story that shows what living with a disability can be like, instead of the doom and gloom we usually see. It’s made all the more poignant as it is based on the real life events that happened to author Ella Dove,so you know it comes from a place of true authenticity and understanding. Five Steps to Happy is a beautifully written book that I fell in love with from the outset. The author’s real life experience of the difficulties people with disabilities face on a day to day basis shines through with every word. The larger than life characters Heidi meets in this book are a true delight and felt very real to me.

As the parent and carer of a young adult with a lifelong disability, I couldn’t help but feel a personal connection to this beautiful book. Even though my daughter’s circumstances are very different to Heidi’s, it was inspiring to finally read a story where having a disability didn’t have to mean the end of the world, but could very well be the start of a new one that is filled with endless possibilities. A stunning, beautiful and moving read that will stay with me.

10. Call Me Star Girl by Louise Beech

Call Me Star Girl is a powerful and moving psychological thriller that lures you in from the very first page. Stella McKeever is about to host her final radio show and wants it to be all about secrets. If you tell her yours, she’ll share some of hers. But no one could possibly expect the devastatingly dark turn things are about to take, with the creepiness and isolation of being alone at the radio station ratcheting up the tension to almost breaking point. I had no idea how heartbreakingly twisted the story was about to become, but Louise Beech is an extraordinary storyteller and her exquisite writing held me in thrall right up until the final page had been turned.

An atmospheric and haunting psychological thriller that is as moving as it is suspenseful, Call Me Star Girl is a dark, twisted and stunning read that is easily one of my top reads of 2019.

11. The Photographer of the Lost by Caroline Scott

Yes, I am aware that there were only supposed to be ten books on this list, but there was no way I could post a ‘Best Books of the Year’ list without including this exceptional debut novel by Caroline Scott. It isn’t very often that a debut novel comes along that is so hauntingly beautiful you find it difficult to put your emotions down into words. But The Photographer of the Lost is one such book. I was mesmerised from the opening paragraph right through to the incredibly moving and unforgettable conclusion.

It is a vividly portrayed snapshot into the lives of the men who were lost amongst the devastating chaos and ruins of World War One. But it’s also the story of those who were left behind, those men and women who were desperate to find their loved ones again. Caroline Scott has written a book so haunting I know it will stay with me for a long time to come. A beautifully written and brutally honest account of a time in history that should never be forgotten, I loved every word of this story that’s full of so many poignant and moving moments that will stay with me forever. A special book that I simply had to include in my top reads of the year.

Some of the books I’m looking forward to reading in 2020:

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Here’s to another fabulous year of books!

Look out for my first book review of 2020 soon.

  My Top 10 Reads of 2019 #Top10Books2019 @AlixEHarrow @JaneOConnor100 @sarah_hilary @AlexMichaelides @rowancoleman @Anna_Hope @SJIHolliday @HelgaFlatland @EllaRoseDove @LouiseWriter @CScottBooks @annecater @Tr4cyF3nt0n #bookblogger Happy New Year! I hope you all had a fantastic holiday season and a brilliant start to 2020!