#basically noco is what you make of them

[mikatoonist]

nocovember 2023 week 2… monsters 😱

monsters inc au time!! this week was either angst or monsters and you can tell which one i chose 😅

credits to the talented @zuureleena for nocovember!

explanation under the cut…

Week 2 of Nocovember and this week, I chose the monster prompt! So, one of my favourite movies are Monsters Inc and Monsters University, they’re the first thing I think of when it comes to monsters. And it got me thinking… what if Total Drama NoCo Monsters Inc AU?

Wild- I never would’ve thought of making a Monsters Inc for Total Drama lmaoooo but here it is! So, Noah and Cody both work at Monsters Incorporated on the same floor. They’re both scare assistants (basically like Mike Wazowski’s role in the movie)! Noah is an assistant to Owen, who is a fun loving and excitable scarer and Cody is an assistant to Izzy, who is full of surprises and a very talented scarer.

This is so random lmaooo the other prompt for this week was angst but I’m not very good at drawing angsty situations 😭 So, I chose monsters and uh.. well, this is very silly and goofy but yeah!

Also, here’s another random NoCo story from years ago…. When I first got into the online fandom and started shipping NoCo, I got heavily involved with a bunch of other fans of the ship. I remember someone asking a question going ‘anyone else here gay or bi etc who ships them?’ and at the time, I was like ‘I’m straight but fully supportive of LGBT!‘ ….. anyways, how times have changed lol, not straight anymore 😅

[zombifiedheartg]

May I please request poly yandere total drama cody and Noah throughout the seasons? Or just a general story when/how they kidnapped their darling and when the darling wakes up?

of course! <3 thanks so much for requesting ! not too proud of this, i really hope you liked it though! i'm so sorry if it isn't exactly what you asked for :(

yandere poly!noco x reader . .

song⤹˚ ; pretty boy by tv girl

cw : un-consensual drug use, kidnapping, gaslighting, manipulation, guilt-tripping, basic yandere behaviour.

cody and noah are kind of different as yanderes, noah gaslights you, and cody guilt-trips you. they do argue like an old married couple about you though, cody thinks you need space, and noah thinks that'd just give you a chance to run off.

cody's paranoid, but noah is much more paranoid than he'd like to admit.

but they love eachother, and their love for you is stronger than any other feeling they've had. you're a need to them.

and they'd do anything to keep you close by them.

୭ 🧷 ✧ ˚. ᵎᵎ 🎀

geoff had been hosting a reunion party for the contestants, and noah and cody thought this was the perfect chance! you were a sweetheart, of course you were gonna attend. even if you didn't have too.

you looked amazing as usual.

noah and cody were the only few people that you really talked with after the show, so you immediately went to them. you three talked for a bit, well you mainly talked. the two boys looked at you with dreamy stares the entire time along with occasional nods to make it seem like they were listening.

''oh, watch my drink for a sec?'' you handed noah the red solo cup, before turning to lindsay who was waving you over.

it was just too easy, the pill he slipped in wasn't harmful, you were just gonna pass out for a bit, and land directly into their arms..

after lindsay, bless her heart, talked your ear off for a little bit, you walked back to the boys with that smile they've grown too fond of. almost immediately, you took a sip of your now dosed drink.

of course it took a few moments to kick in, you started to see black spots surround your vision after maybe, five minutes? and before you knew it, you dropped. thankfully, cody catching you.

''oh my god, are they okay?'' bridgette spoke worriedly, ''probably just had a bit too much to drink, right, noah?'' cody slightly stumbled over his words, looking at noah for help.

''yeah. don't worry, we'll drive them home.'' noah reassured, putting your limp arm around his shoulder. ''are you two sober enough, though?'' bridgette felt a weird stir in her stomach, something about this wasn't right.

''we're fine.'' cody said with a bit of harshness in his tone.

''..okay.'' she sighed defeatedly.

after what felt like hours, you started to wake up, your vision starting to unblur as you looked around your unfamiliar surroundings, were you dosed? god, who could've done such a thing? were you gonna get murdered?

panicked thoughts ran through your mind as you became more aware.

the more you started to get conscious, the more you realized how much your wrists were hurting.

you blinked a few times trying to see clearer before realizing your wrists were bound by a zip-tie, digging painfully into your skin, it'll probably leave a mark.

''oh, they're finally awake! cody!'' you recognized that montoned voice. it was unusually cheery and you didn't expect to hear that voice at all.

cody had fallen asleep against noah's shoulder waiting for you to wake up, the two were sitting on the floor infront of you.

cody rubbed the sleep away from his eyes before looking at you with a bright smile.

''took you long enough.'' noah smirked, ''noah? cody?'' you were dumbfounded. these were your friends, the two people you trusted with your life.

you grimaced as your head started to pound, ''um, sorry, one of the side effects were headaches..'' cody apologized with a sheepish grin. ''should go away soon, though!'' he said quickly afterwards.

''god, i'm so glad you're here though! my two favorite people in the same room, wow.'' he beamed, hugging you and noah close. you stood completely still in shock, not know how to respond, it was moving so fast. so many things you were questioning in your head, going over habits you looked past with them.

''you should get comfy though, you're probably gonna be here for a bit..'' noah reminded.

''it'll be easy though, three lovebirds finally all together.''

˖°🌷📎⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚

.

.

[brookiidookiii]

what are your favorite and least favorite ships? 👀

Oh boy do I have a lot of opinions

- tbh I like a lot of Jo ships. Jock joeather jomaria,, ngl lately I’ve been in a joeather mood. Her x any girl is always a classic. The only guy I can ship her with is brick really 😭 I think they have really good chemistry. And I am a sucker for rivalries + it’s been a childhood OTP. I low key thought they were gonna end up together when I first watched s4.

Now I could write essays on joeather forever. Their rivalry could’ve been something great but the writers were awful. I think Jo should kiss her enemies

- yeah sorry I’m a duncney enjoyer and I do not care how toxic they were. Adds flavor. Heathney is excellent too. Courtney just needs someone who will enable her bad behavior (also sorry I prefer heathney over gwourtney). The TikTok fandom is really annoying about duncney tho because I’ll see videos about how “why does no one ever talk about how toxic duncney is :(“ while all the tumblr fandom does is talk about how they can make them worse lmaooo

- samkota is my favorite canon couple

- MKulia duhhhh I’ve been a shipper since I watched the reboot, which I started watching probably a month before s2 got released. Toxic yuri

- Chemma in the sense that it’s ironic and I can just make memes about them I don’t actually like them

- gwoey ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

- Trent x Lindsay is a secret rarepair of mine. They can be cute

- SKYELLLAA as much as I love toxic yuri I love wholesome stuff too. I think they are neat

- sanders x MacArthur. Idek how to explain what kind of relationship they’d have but I think they are both butch lesbians. MacArthur you are my lord and savior

Okay least favorites let’s go. Also heads up I don’t really care for any of the m/m ships 😭 mostly because I don’t care for many of the male characters lol

- zoke. They didn’t even do anything wrong like I LIKE them but they’re just so boring and unentertaining that what’s even the point yk. And when Zoey got superpowers after Mike left. Stop. Secondhand embarrassment. Like in s4 they were obnoxious at best but in all stars that made me truly pray on their downfall. I like fanon zoke.

In my mind they had a sweet romance that lasted a few years until they got a bigger divorce and left on good terms

- any and all Noah ships sorryyyy he’s overrated and I don’t like Noah at all. I don’t get the hype around alenoah it’s not that good. Everytime someone calls MKulia yuri alenoah an evil politician gets another year added to their life. I don’t like you. Like I get why people like noco. Just pure fluff, which isn’t for me, and they did have that ear kiss which was something, but I still hate it

I saw someone say alenoah was basically just aleheather without heather and yeah. Everytime I see someone list out the reasons Alejandro would be into Noah it’s just the same reasons Alejandro’s into heather.

Also MKulia is more like joeather anyway but whateva,,

- I don’t even make that many sexuality headcanons bc I guess I just don’t think about it but I can tell you who’s straight. Damien is straight. He is the most heterosexual person the series has ever made. I don’t think he should be shipped to with men. Also Wayne is straight

- sugella because as much as I love toxic yuri, that doesn’t even sound like fun toxicity just misery. It’s not for me 😭 I still stan sugar tho

- ripaxel. I tried to like it SORRRYYYY ripper is annoying and he needs the death penalty. Everytime they’re compared to jock I lose a year off my life. Ripaxel is what jock haters think jock shippers like. You are all wrong.

Axel is my queen and lord and savior. It’s okay babygirl we can ride off into the sunset together

- prileb. Why did it exist. I hate this. But seeing priya in love was pretty cute I gotta admit

- gwuncan. Self explanatory

- Scottney cause wtf 😭😭😭 once again I like them in the sense that I can make memes about it but bro SCOTT???? Courtney you can do better than that thing. Scott has skidmarks

- fanon brott 💀💀💀 I don’t like fanon brick in general. Y’all do him dirty. Ong Scott would not let brick use him as his Barbie doll for clothes. Scott would make fun of brick for liking fashion. Do you know nothing about Scott? Saw someone once say that they would watch legally blonde together HELL NO.

Also I really really hate that when I go out looking for jomaria fanfics, they’re only ever tagged as side couples in brott fics. Are you kidding me.

- bro the malejandro fanfics 😭 who is writing these things. Some of those titles make me lose it. I think we all should stop acknowledging mal and all stars existences

- gwody. Once again that big ass chin motherfucker doesn’t deserve Gwen.

- Jo x any other guy. Sorry. She doesn’t deserve any of those fuckers. Jock is the exception because at least he’d treat her right but even then he’s just a guy

- I don’t like Scott x anyone in general. Even Dott I’m hesitant because it would never work out and that’s what makes it soooo fun to explore because in the end she always ends up killing him

bruh most of these yaoi ships piss me off idk I don’t get the appeal for any of them. But I draw whatever people ask from me idrc it’s not a big deal LOLLL

Also this fandom is so goddamn cringe for calling straight couples yuri/yaoi. YOU LOOK EMBARRASSING OKAY

There’s a lot more couples I dislike than like tbh. I don’t think this fandom or its opinions sorry guys

[tdnoco]

5 Reasons I love Noco

(some of these reasons may overlap with other ships - but that’s okay) 1. Noah and Cody have a fun relationship! Sure they talk to each other like three times, but when they do it’s fun teasing dialogue! “Cody’s got a tiny sausage!” “At least my team HAS a sausage!” It’s a back-and-forth! It’s not one-sided teasing. Cody can handle Noah’s insults and throw one back and that is fun to me! 2. But we don’t only see them bickering - we also get to see them in a more soft way, intimate - the sleeping scene, the kiss scene (kinda). We know that they can be sweet together. And what gets me too is that Noah either starts it, or is fine with it. It’s not forced from Noah, and Cody doesn’t mind! It’s cute! 3. They fit my preferred dynamic - grumpy x happy, cat x dog. And I think it makes sense for both of them. Noah hangs out with positive people, and honest people. And Cody is pretty honest - maybe too honest. On Cody’s side, he likes Gwen and .. TDI Gwen is a lot like Noah - judgemental and closed off. One of the first things Cody compliments Gwen is that she’s smart. So there’s also that.

4. They don’t have much in canon. I know a lot of people would see that as a negative - but look at Fresh’s ship history. Duncney, Gwuncan. Both ruined. They almost got to Lyler, but thank god that didn’t happen. I prefer that there is less given by Fresh because that means the potential is still there, and paradoxically I have more to work with. I can create the relationship the way I want.  5. And I’ve done that. My main idea with Noco is that Noah helps Cody realize he needs to raise his standards, and to stop being okay with how he’s treated 0 to stop being a doormat for the first person who’s kind to him. And Cody helps Noah meet those standards, to realize how his words can have consequences and take accountability, and that it’s okay to be vulnerable. It’s okay to take risks, and be wrong, and say I love you. It’s better to try than to do nothing.  This allows me to fix what I think is their biggest character flaws in a way that I think makes sense for both characters (tho if I were to write out this story, Noah and Cody wouldn’t be the only actors - there are people who help them learn like Sierra and Owen, but you know. Still mostly noco).  I wouldn’t say Noco completes each other, but I think that they have natural chemistry, immense fluff potential, immense creative potential, and just lots of character development payoff, if done right.

[joseeapologist]

what are your favorite and least favorite ships?

I might ruffle some feathers, sorry:

Favorite Ships:

1. Jacsee - I think I've stated why so many times so I won't even bother explaining again, or else we'll be here for hours.

2. MacSanders - They're super underrated. There's no way that they WEREN'T together during RR. Their chemistry in the show seems a lot more than just friends. The way MacArthur was like, "I play nice with you allll the time" like c'mon lol they're dating. Honestly I wish there was more content of them. You can never get enough MacSanders content.

3. Nowen - When I joined the fandom I saw them as a BROtp (I used to like Noco) but then my love for Nowen grew along with my love for the fandom, it's very contagious :) I think they had wonderful chemistry and @realitytvpros has FANTASTIC artwork of them (that's another thing, the fan art for Nowen is wonderful)

4. Crimsonennui - the best canon ship of the show, hands down (I think Jashawn and Lyler are probably the next best ships) even though they are very monotonous, you can obviously tell they love and care very deeply with each other; they don't need to show this with exaggerated PDA (like some couples) and having some dramatic spur-of-the-moment kiss - it is very obvious that they're in love.

5. Alenoah - This is Larson's fault lmao. Honestly, Alenoah (the ship) has been growing on me a lot. Something that really makes me ship characters is fan-art, but especially fanfics. I'm a bookworm, so if I see someone write a story in which they bring two characters together and show them having awesome chemistry, it's very contagious and I'll start liking it, which is exactly what happened with Alenoah. Good writing really helped me enjoy the ship (check out @alenoah's fic Pretty Poisonous,you'll see what I mean)

Least Favorite Ships:

1. Gw//ody - I’m sorry, but this makes me incredibly uncomfortable. I don’t want to be mean, but this is based on personal things I’d rather not get into. 

2. Co//derra - Same thing as Gw//ody, though I do like platonic Co//derra after canon (see @td-worrisometruths for their stuff, it’s great!)

3. No//co - Surprising, isn’t it? I’ve come to the realization that most ships involving Cody aren’t very good. I used to like Cody, but then my love for him sort of diminished over time. Cody just isn’t that appealing to me. Also, there was this whole drama about one of the No//co artists drawing very... fetish-y art even though they’re 16. Also, I never realized when I first joined how bait-y the Big Sleep episode was. Then I came to the realization that Noah would probably make Cody cry. 

4. Tom//ques - Tom//ques is basically No//co, but Tom and Jacques are adults so people think it’s okay to fetishize mlm and write gay smut of them. Say what you want about No//co, but there had been some fics in which it was centered around building a relationship. I cannot say the same for Tom//ques. Literally the only Tom//ques fics I’ve seen were smut. Shipping the two most effeminate men on the show isn’t the progressive take you think it is. This is going to sound awful, but I can’t bring myself to like Tom//ques because some Tom//ques shippers went after me because I shipped Jacsee, calling me immoral for it, and claimed that Tom//ques was “supposed to be canon” so I’m erasing mlm. Besides, the superior mlm ship for Jacques is him and Ryan :) But I love a Tom//ques friendship. I’ve said this so many times, but platonic Tom//ques is awesome.

5. Sc//ax - I mean, it’s mostly because I see Scarlett as a lesbian (and I ship her with OC named Devin!), but even if I didn’t I just don’t understand the appeal. Someone compared them to Drakken and Shego from Kim Possible, which I get, but like... no lol (Even though I do ship Drakgo) Scarlett legitimately cannot stand Max, and Max says that “evil doesn’t date” so I don’t really see them as a couple, sorry.

[unironicduncanstan]

total drama / darkest minds au

some ideas ive got going for my au cuz im an angst lovign fuck,,,

so if you havent seen the movie or read the books the rundown is, every child/teen on earth starts gaining powers or (more often) dies in the process, their powers correlate to the color their eyes glow whenever they use it, government decides to put survivors in camps, story follows runaways, angsty YA dystopian adventure stuff ensues!

the main characters+powers i thought out so far are

courtney is green (supergenius)

duncan is blue (telekinetic)

izzy is red (pyrokinesis/fire breath basically)

gwen is yellow (electrokinesis/can manipulate electricity)

heather is orange (mind control/memory manipulation)

cody is also a blue but he cant control his powers very well yet and duncan is,, Not very excited to train him

i was thinking noah could be a sarcastic ass green and at first nobody even believes him when he says hes green bc every single smart comment is filtered through a layer of sass but when he starts putting effort in he actually becomes a good asset

timeline;

in the actual story theres quite a few big escapes from the camps so i imagine them all leaving at various points and finding each other later on

duncan and gwen (the two goths) team up in the escape and izzy finds them and kind of just,,,, doesnt leave 

same with cody and noah later

finally theres courtney, who escaped on her own way before any of them did and shes doing jUSt FIne until they all infiltrate her hiding spots

and then theres heather who,,, they want to keep around bc oranges are considered in universe to be the strongest/most dangerous but they start to regret that decision, really fast,

backstories; 

courtneys so smart that when she developed her powers hardly anyone noticed a difference. she only got caught when the govt really started cracking down on survivors

as soon as duncan got his powers he immediately started using them to get into trouble and thought it was pretty cool actually till all the government takeover shit started happening. in this universe parents are heavily encouraged to turn their kids in when they get powers and since his parents were cops (something im dragging into this story too) he just decided to run away from home, and still ended up getting caught bc again, he ca nnot stay out of trouble

cody got his powers while he was bedridden with the flu, so it was a pretty uneventful time but he thinks thats why his powers turned out so weak and hard to control

izzys so wild that her parents dont pay a lot of attention to her anymore (a hc i have for main universe izzy too r.i.p.) so her situation was pretty much the same as courtneys, no one suspected anything till govt officials showed up at her door and she blasted them out with a fireball

heather was actually the most freaked out by her powers and pretends to embrace them now because she likes the control aspect of it, but deep down she wishes she had gotten literally Anything else

gwen was also freaked out by her powers, she couldnt use any electronics without frying them and (much like the main electrokinetic character in tdm) had to wear gloves for a while to avoid destroying everything

noah just didnt. really care till he got to the camp and constantly got in trouble for mouthing off to the guards (greens have to do forced labor and arent even allowed to make eye contact with guards, you tell me that little twink wouldnt have his feet up on the table and be sayign shit like ‘since im so smart ive decided that this is bullshit and you should be working for me’)

relationships;

yall know i hate all the love triangle stuff so i just imagine duncney, similar to how it happened in tdi aka slow burn annoyance that turns into ‘oh no s/hes hot’

gwen and courtney are tight af bc thEy DesErVe ThaT FrIEnDSHip ,

izzy is also somewhat in the gal group and heather woudl rather die than associate with any of them

duncan is (begrudgingly) training cody to use his powers better so theyre,,,, al most fri en ds? ?

noah is more tight with these people than heather is but in a similar boat where hes just kinda. along for the ride and doesnt rly want to get close to anyone,,, feel free to turn that into a slow burn noco thing at your own discretion,

anyways thats all i got rn i wish i had the energy to write a fic or smth but i gotta get school done first so please humbly accept what my brain has compiled

[sjrresearch]

Board Game Tackles the Forgotten War of American History

When we talk about historical gaming, what’s the first thing you think of? We’ll venture to guess that your mind travels to the battlefields of Total War or the rich, fictional histories of the Assassin’s Creed series. While these titles - and many others - have become the go-to links between gaming and history, that word, “gaming,” is multi-faceted. To limit it strictly to digitized games would mean completely overlooking the pen-and-paper and board games that bring people together for an experience that’s more personal and imaginative.

Dating back to ancient Egypt, board games have been a common form of entertainment. Among one of the earliest known board games was Senet, which has roots in tomb paintings more than 3,500 years ago. The concept has evolved over time, ultimately lending to board gaming being used as a semi-educational tool. While entertainment remains at the forefront, designers and publishers stumbled upon a market that allowed players to walk away from the game with a rudimentary understanding of a historical event. 

There have been many games that delve into world history, but few are as fascinating (and important) as 1754: Conquest - The French and Indian War. What makes this 2017 release from Academy Games, Inc. an essential strategic board game? The French and Indian War, also known as the Seven Years War, is often referred to as the “Forgotten War” despite its importance to American history. During the mid-18th century, the British and the French were locked in a nine-year conflict that allegedly began over a debate on who owned the upper Ohio River Valley and which empire would colonize the bulk of the United States.

Though the French and the British were the primary components of the war, Native American tribes allied with both sides. The Franco-Indian alliance came to be, with the Sioux, Winnebago, Mississauga, Potawatomi, and additional tribes staying true to their amicable and diplomatic relations with the French. Even the British forces were padded with Iroquois, Cherokee, and Wyandot tribesmen.

After years of fighting, the war came to an end with the British scoring a vital victory that helped elevate its diplomatic presence in North America. Also from the blood-soaked battlefields eventually came the concept for 1754: Conquest, a board game that aims to capture the tug-of-war between the British and French. With the French and Indian War virtually forgotten over time, mediums like this 21st-century game serve as a reminder of the conflict that, in a roundabout way, led to the forming of the nation we know today.

American History Goes Tabletop

Designed by Beau Beckett and Jeph Stahl, 1754: Conquest features a game board of the Ohio River Valley, which includes present-day New England. The detailed Planning Map also extends into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, beyond the northeastern edge of what is now Maine. This covers the general land that the French and Indian War was fought over and provides players with a “battlefield” to play across. Each of the three colored sections represents different areas of control for the French, British, and Native American tribes that remained independent. 

1754: Conquest is all about control as players vie for different regions to boost “muster” points for additional reinforcements. Without a sizable army at their back, players won’t be able to claim territories and expand their dominance. It will take strategy and patience to take over the most “victory points” and score a decisive win over the opposing side. 

Anyone that’s played Risk understands the basis of 1754’s combat. It’s all about the roll of the die and having a suitable number of forces occupying a space. There’s a simplicity to the mechanics that makes it accessible to players of all ages and skills, which some would argue is incredibly important when it comes to historical board games. The point isn’t to limit the audience, especially when the subject is something relatively disregarded like the French and Indian War. As a publisher and designer, you want your game to serve a purpose, and if people aren’t able to grasp the concept, then that purpose is pretty much null and void.

Packaged with a game board, a few colored squares, some die, and a deck of cards with beautiful artwork by Jarek Nocoń and Steve Paschal, 1754: Conquest - The French and Indian War spotlights a forgotten historical event that should be remembered.As a medium, board games are intended to entertain and delight, but Academy Games has been known to blend a rudimentary education with fun to enlighten players. For example, the faction cards depict real historical figures like George Washington and British officer James Wolfe. Games like 1754: Conquest aren’t just about moving pieces across a board to reach the finish line. There is a deeper experience to them as players purposefully (or inadvertently) recreate historical events. With The French and Indian War, a player controlling the French may be unknowingly learning some of the basic mistakes made that delivered victory to the British. 

For players with upwards of two hours to spare and a friend to join them, 1754: Conquest - The French and Indian War takes a formula that has worked in games like 1775: Rebellion and 1812: The Invasion of Canada and applies it to a conflict that certainly doesn’t receive the same attention as the American Revolution, the American Civil War, or any of the World Wars.

There are opportunities to learn something new in everything around you - even the games you play. Board games like 1745: Conquest are an interactive means of immersing players in scenarios from the past, whether they’re escaping from Colditz Castle or deciding to join the Axis or Allies of World War II.

At SJR Research, we specialize in creating compelling narratives and provide research to give your game the kind of details that engage your players and create a resonant world they want to spend time in. If you are interested in learning more about our gaming research services, you can browse SJR Research’s service on our site at SJR Research.

[officialcolumbiauniversity]

48 Hours In The Life

Now that I’ve settled into a routine for school, well into my second month of sophomore year, I’d like to bring to you, inspired by @college-advice, 48 Hours In the Life of a Columbia Student. While my journal entries do indeed tell what I’m doing every few days or so, I tend to focus on particularly notable things that happened that day. This serves to delineate every single thing that happens on a typical Monday and Tuesday, the good, the bad, the dreary, and the absolutely typical aspects of my life here. And because classes are twice a week, Mondays and Tuesdays are a good impression of my whole week. So, let’s start with Monday.

Monday

7:00 AM--I wake up. I set an alarm across my room to wake me up at 7 AM sharp, every day, in case I want to work out that day. Usually my first appointment of the day is never before 10 AM, so 7 always gives me ample time to shower when I get back. I take long showers.

9:30 AM--I wake up. I decided to not go to the gym today so I fell back asleep.

10:30 AM--I get out of bed after having quite literally spent an hour on my phone. Not healthy, I know, but it’s quite comforting just scrolling through Facebook videos, even if I’m not actually watching them.

I go to the bathroom, brush my teeth, and wash my face. I have to bring a hand towel bc my dorm doesn’t have hand dryers OR paper towels.

11:30 AM--After having wasted the majority of this last hour eating cereal I got from JJ’s for breakfast and watching Youtube videos, I’m out the door to catch the 1 train. I’ve got work today!

11:45 AM--I arrive at work. Being a bit early to work means I get to see who the tour guides are for the 12 PM tour time, as well as who’s working the desk and how many people came in for a tour today. So far this year, no more than 50 people have ever collectively showed up for one tour on any day other than Fridays.

Work is always the highlight of my week. I get to talk to a coworker, help visitors out, and do homework. I even get to eat at desk sometimes. Today my supervisor calls me into her office so I can explain my timesheet, and we sort things out. I don’t get in any trouble. Coworker (who honestly deserves a better nickname on this blog) and I talk about relationship drama--not that there is much. He’s dating a guy from Juilliard and together they are unstoppable.

3:00 PM--I notice that I forgot to get a substantial lunch. I would normally get a sandwich from Uris deli because it’s so close, but I just ran out of Dining Dollars, so I head to JJ’s (again) and grab an omelette and some fries.

5:00 PM--The office closes for the day. However, Coworker and I are assigned to give an after-hours tour to some business execs. Idk. But we wait.

5:30 PM--We’re supposed to meet them now but they’re nowhere to be found. Turns out they’re still upstairs. Which is a problem because I originally thought this tour wouldn’t go past 6, bc I have class. Orgo, to be specific.

6:00 PM--The tour starts. I’m def skipping orgo. #putting all this on my timesheet for #more pay~

6:40 PM--The tour’s about to end, and Coworker and I are co-leading. This last stop was Havemeyer actually, so after the stop ends I leave Coworker to wrap up the tour as I book it to class, thirty minutes late.

7:25 PM--Class ends. I wasn’t paying any attention and kind of regret it. But it was because I was trying to study for the quiz in half an hour.

7:50 PM--I arrive early to recitation after chilling in the NoCo library on my phone. For some reason these two kids are always here in class before me.

8:10 PM--Recitation starts and I’m already wishing it was over. But the quiz goes smoothly, and afterwards the TA clarifies some stuff and then starts teaching us the most recent chapter again. Even though it’s redundant I love it because she explains things much more succinctly than the professor does. It’s like the sparknotes of lecture.

9:00 PM--We out. The lampposts on campus make me feel oddly alone even though it’s only 9 PM, but not lonely in any way. It gives me the impression that the night has already come to an end, and it takes real effort to go back to studying for tomorrow instead of just turning in.

9:20 PM--Back home I quickly grab my charger and study materials before the impulse to sleep gets any larger. Thankfully Golden has already texted me agreeing to meet at Butler library soon, so I have someone to not disappoint. We head into Butler and start working.

Today I’ve got two music theory assignments to finish, a response to a book to write for CC, and a little advance studying for my chem midterm next week to get started on. I decide to put off the MT assignments for tomorrow, work on Tumblr posts, and do a little bit of chem.

12:00 AM--I’m still an old man at heart so I say goodnight to Golden (she’ll be up until about 5 AM), head home for the last time, take a shower, brush my teeth, and fall asleep. The last things I do before bed is write about my day and drink a glass of water. I’ve already turned on my alarm for 7 AM.

Tuesday

7 AM--I’m up.

8 AM--I’m up for real. I forgot to mention this yesterday but I usually spend about 30 minutes reviewing my planner and writing out a daily to-do list on a sticky note. Helps me feel put-together. I could go work out, but I stretch and choose to split my time between my bed and my chair. Cardio, right? Today’s a little more rushed, as I have a 10:10 on Tuesdays and Thursdays and I know I won’t ever get to class unless I’m already on campus for like an hour. So I’m out the door by 9 and grab a bagel sandwich from John Jay for breakfast.

9:11 AM--I arrive on campus and try to find some place to get work done. Today I end up in the Visitor’s Center. I actually finish my CC homework for today. I have physics in an hour.

10:10 AM--Class starts. The professor is barely 30 and he’s kinda bonkers. Last class he tried to explain gravity to us by shooting a stuffed monkey down from the ceiling with a rifle.

11:25 AM--Class ends and I have a break before Music Theory so I head to Schapiro to finish up the compositions.

1:00 PM--Music Theory starts in ten minutes so I head over. I realize on the way there that I forgot to get lunch, which makes me mildly annoyed.

2:25 PM--I go to JJ’s to get some snacks that will count as lunch for today. I sit on the lawns and work my way through an Uncrustable and get some work done. I would normally be working on CC homework because I never do it, but today I’ve got free time so I read some physics.

4:10 PM--I’ve got Ear Training. A great class, but it’s only an hour long and I wish it were longer. Basically all we do is work on sight-singing and rhythm dictation. If being a music major only consisted of learning complex rhythms, I would be so happy.

5:00 PM--Class has ended. I head to Starr library to take a nap.

6:10 PM-- I head to CC. Today’s class is about Aquinas, some guy who was deeply invested in defending Catholicism from Muslims and was heavily inspired by Aristotle. I realize halfway through the class that I didn’t know there were two assigned readings, and I only read one of them. But for the first half of class I am incredibly useful to the conversation.

My professor is a round, clearly gay man who flaunts his homosexuality at every passing chance. He sometimes cold-calls people to answer questions, but those questions are never directly about the text and for that I am grateful. He steers conversation in a remarkably efficient way, and I never feel like I haven’t talked about a topic I really wanted to talk about. I hated this class at the beginning of the semester but now I’ve come to like it.

8:00 PM--Class is done for the day, and the second I step out of Hamilton I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. Tuesday and Thursday nights are like my Fridays in the middle of the week; I can breathe a little bit, and not worry about impending responsibilities until the next morning. So I head home with a spring in my step. I decide to walk home instead of taking the subway.

I get home and decide to put off studying since I don’t have anything actually due tomorrow. I work a bit on this article I’m writing for The Spectator and FaceTime a guy I’m seeing. He’s interning for J.P. Morgan this coming summer. It’s a shame we’re not dating because why be rich when you can marry rich, you feel me? But I’m not looking for a relationship right now. So I end the call after about an hour, finish up my draft and send it to Co-worker, who has written a ton of articles for Spec and is my most trusted editor. He gives me feedback, and by this time it’s about 11 PM so I go take a shower and turn in for the night.

[xdrvparts]

90 Must-Have RV Accessories in 2020

RV accessories are as essential as an RV itself! Once you buy your first RV (whether it’s a drivable unit or a trailer), you’ll need to stock up with all the proper RV accessories.

The dealers will often supply you with a “welcome bag” containing a few (albeit cheap) essentials. However, even the dealers or private sellers won’t provide enough basics for your first RV camping trip.

Today we’re sharing 90 must-have RV accessories. The list will be organized into sections defined by the function of the accessories. Each section includes a “spotlight RV accessory” which denotes our personal favorites.

Let’s dive in!

ESSENTIAL TOWING RV ACCESSORIES

The first step of any RV adventure is getting the unit ready to travel. Towing can mean pulling a trailer or towing a vehicle (if you’re in a drivable RV). These accessories will help prepare you for travel day!

Spotlight RV Accessory | Towing

Our spotlight accessory for towing is the Curt Rebellion HD hitch. This hitch is cushioned and adjustable. If you’re towing a smaller trailer with an overpowered truck, this hitch is a great choice. It reduces sway, cushions the trailer when you hit a pothole, and is priced much lower than comparable hitches.

Additional Towing RV Accessories

Dometic Aero3 Towing Mirror: If your tow vehicle’s mirrors don’t give you a wide enough view to safely tow, this snap-on option will give you additional peace of mind of a travel day.

Demco Tow Dolly with Surge Brakes: If you decide to tow your vehicle behind your coach with a tow dolly, give the Demco a look!

iBall Back-Up Camera: This wireless backup camera is perfect for solo travelers…or RVers who’d rather hook-up the rig without their partner's assistance. The camera and monitor setup is universal.

Roadmaster All-Terrain Tow Bar: If you want to flat tow your vehicle behind your motorhome, this is the cream of the crop. In fact, on Amazon it only has five-star reviews as of writing this!

Roadmaster Spare Tire Carrier: Many RVs don’t come with a spare tire…which is absolutely crazy! Blowouts are more common than they should be. We think it's in everyone's best interest to be prepared. This spare tire carrier is an essential RV accessory. It works for motorhomes, class c, class b, and travel trailers with a rear hitch.

Tire Pressure Monitoring System: If you can’t see your tire pressure, for all your tires, at all times…you should get a Tire Pressure Monitoring System. These will help you prevent a blowout!

ESSENTIAL TRAVEL DAY RV ACCESSORIES

Once you get all hitched up and ready to roll, you’ll need these RV accessories for a successful travel day! From high tech to analog, don’t be caught without these useful tools.

Spotlight RV Accessory | Travel Day

Our spotlighted travel day accessory is the Next Exit Highway Directory. This is an actual book…crazy, right?! In these days of wonderful technology it’s still a good habit to keep a hard copy of this info. The Next Exit Highway Directory lets you know what resources (and restaurants) are on EVERY interstate exit! The book is updated each year.

Additional Travel Day RV Accessories

Vantrue Dash Cam: It’s a good idea to invest in a dashcam. These can help if you ever need to make an insurance claim. This specific unit records high quality and has night vision.

RV Trip Wizard: This tool works in conjunction with the RV Life app to route you on safe roads unique to your RV dimensions. This means no unexpected low hanging bridges!

VIAIR Portable Compressor: This air compressor plugs into your vehicles 12v port and produces enough pressure to easily air up your tires.

LED Roadside Flares: It’s always good to be prepared! Hopefully you’ll never need these, but for $25 it’s a smart investment.

Rand McNally Roadside Atlas: Like The Next Exit Directory, this atlas is a great backup resource when internet access fails.

Bestek 300: This is an inverter that plugs into your vehicles 12v port. Simply, what this means…your travel partner in the passenger seat can power in their laptop while traveling.

Garmin RV Specific GPS: This stand-alone GPS unit is made specifically for RV travel. It includes RV destinations and resource info!

NOCO Jump Starter: Don’t get stranded with a dead battery. This NOCO jump starter has enough power to jump your vehicle multiple times!

ESSENTIAL SET UP RV ACCESSORIES

Once you arrive at your RV destination, it’s time to unhook & set up camp. These RV accessories are the most important of all. You literally need each of them for a great camping experience!

Spotlight RV Accessory | Unhook & Set Up

The most crucial accessory you’ll own is the RV black water hose. We really like the Rhino Extreme. Sure it costs more than most black water hoses ($40 on Amazon), but for good reason. The Rhino hose stands the test of time and won’t leave you up sh$# creek!

Additional Set Up RV Accessories

Anderson Levelers: This will easily get you leveled once you arrive at the campground or RV park.

No-Kink Fresh Water Hose: We love these no kink hoses. They’re easier to handle and are safe for drinking water usage.

Elbow for Fresh Hose: Every RVer should have one of these elbows. They only cost a few bucks, but they’ll seriously extend the life of your hose. The elbow decreases tension on the hose connection.

Surge Guard by Southwire: This unit acts as a surge protector and a monitor for faulty RV park power.

Camco Leveling Blocks: Even if you’re using Andersen levelers it’s good to keep a set of these blocks on hand. You’ll find they have many uses on you hit the road!

X Chock Wheel Stabilizer: Put these chocks in between your dual axel tires to prevent rocking around.

SnapPads: Put these pads on your leveling jacks for increased stability when leveling. The pads help with uneven terrain and dampen vibrations.

Sewer Hose Support: This support system lifts & cradles your sewer hose, preventing it to stand the test of time.

Hitch Lock for Trailers: This universal hitch lock is a good place to begin your security measures.

“CAMP VIBES” RV ACCESSORIES

These accessories focus on all the things you’ll need to create the perfect camp vibes at your RV site. From chairs to fire pits, these RV accessories are also great gifts for your RVing friends & family.

Spotlight RV Accessory | Camp Vibes

One of our all-time favorite RV accessories is the Outland Living Fire Bowl. This is a portable propane fire pit with all the ambiance of a real fire. We love it because even during fire bans we’ve been able to use it because it’s self-contained. Additionally, it can turn on and off with a simple switch.

Additional “Camp Vibes” RV Accessories

Outdoor RV Mat: This is the most essential accessory in the category. RVs are notoriously small (compared to homes). Creating another room outside, defined by the RV mat, is a “must”!

Zero Gravity Chair: Most camping chairs stink! These zero gravity chairs are the best we’ve used in our 5 years of full-time RV living.

Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker: We love our portable (and rugged), Bluetooth speaker. We’ll bring it outside, easily pair our smartphones to it, and rock out!

Personalized RV Sign: If you’re extra-friendly, you might want a personalized RV sign for your neighbors to see. These are popular in 55+ RV Parks.

RV Flag Pole: These telescoping flag poles are easy to install and allow you to fly your flags high!

Pink Flamingo Yard Ornament: Sure, they’re tacky. We think they’re pretty fun, too! You’ll be the talk of the RV park.

Portable Corn Hole: Corn Hole is one of the most popular sports among RVers. These portable units are easy to carry and can entertain for hours.

Inflatable Hot Tub: This may be overkill…but come on…it would be amazing to have this at your campsite!

Outdoor LED lighting: Set the mood with these colored LED lights!

State Sticker Map: It’s fun to have a USA sticker map on your RV. You and the kids can use it as part educational and part fun!

WATER PURIFICATION RV ACCESSORIES

Water purification is a HUGE part of RV life. We use multiple pieces to “build” our freshwater purifying system. Below you’ll find many different options suited to your individual travel style.

Spotlight RV Accessory | Water Purification

While many of the purification accessories below are more high tech, we believe the essential first step in water purification is an external Camco water filter. Since day one we’ve used a Camco filter. While we’ve added steps after it, it will always remain our first step in RV water filtration.

Additional Water Filtration RV Accessories

Acuva UV Ray LED Filter: This filter uses the power of UV rays with the energy efficiency of LED technology. It’s located internally and relatively easy to install. We’ve installed two already!

Berkey Water Filter: These are stand-alone countertop units. While that seems counterintuitive for RV living, the amount of filtration it handles makes it worth it.

Sawyer Mini: This is a handheld water filter that allows you to collect water from any natural source and filter it in small amounts.

OFF-GRID & BOONDOCKING RV ACCESSORIES

If you want to experience the best of RV life, you’re going to have to get off-grid. Boondocking (aka free camping) is one of our favorite types of RV camping. We love it so much that we compiled a list of our 20 Favorite Free Campsites in the USA. These are the best RV accessories for those who want to get off-grid.

Spotlight RV Accessory | Off-Grid Camping and Boondocking

A small inverter generator is essential for almost every RVer. Even if you have solar power, these generators can quickly top you off after a stretch of cloudy days. We strongly recommend the Honda 2200 generator. They last for decades and have dedicated service centers around America.

You can easily buy a less expensive inverter generator, but we don’t think it’ll stand the test of time.

Additional Off-Grid RV Accessories

Ground Deployed Solar Panels: Thinking about solar? These deployable units are a great way to test the waters!

Goal Zero Portable Energy: Goal Zero creates many sizes of portable battery packs. These are useful for charging small devices and laptops while off-grid.

Fan-Tastic Fan Vent: Don’t let your ceiling vent go to waste. Install a Fan-Tastice Fan Vent to create awesome air circulation. These can seriously cool off your RV without using a lot of power.

Lithium RV Batteries: For the hardcore boondockers, you may want to up your battery game with lithium-ion technology. These batteries can be drained to zero safely and come with a ten-year warranty.

Mr. Heater Buddy: Create some heat with propane, not your limited electric power!

Oxygenic Shower Head: We think every RVer should use these. The showerhead adds oxygen to the water to decrease water usage without noticing a lack of water pressure.

6 Gallon Water Jugs: These water jugs are easy to transport and can hold you over for a few more days before breaking camp.

30 Gallon Water Bladder: These water bladders can be hard to transport when they’re full, but 30 gallons will last you a long time!

Gas Can: Once you have a generator, don’t forget the gas can!

Composting Toilet: This isn’t for everyone. However, we’ve found that the composting toilet can help us stay off-grid longer without having to break camp.

Large Body Wipes: If you’re conserving water, large body wipes can keep you clean for an extra day or two!

Solar Oven: Whether it’s for education or practical use, a solar over is a great off-grid RV accessory.

Solar Shower: If you’re in a small travel trailer, a solar shower can be an awesome showering option. It heats up the water without using your precious energy and it won’t fill up your grey tank!

CELLULAR INTERNET & WIFI RV ACCESSORIES

Staying connected while you’re RVing is very important. These accessories will help boost your signals and keep you entertained. While most of them are pricey, the alternative (being without cell connection) is not very fun!

Spotlight RV Accessory | Cellular Internet & Wifi

The single most important cellular accessory (which changed our RV life for the better) is the WeBoost cell booster. This device can turn one bar of the unusable signal into four bars of signal that allow streaming! It was truly a game-changer.

Additional Cellular Internet & Wifi Accessories

Alpha Wifi Camp Pro: The Alpha Wifi Camp Pro can find wifi signals from the nearby area and boost them inside your RV. In practice this means you can more easily access the RV Park wifi. If you’re camping in a parking lot, you’ll be able to pick up signals from nearby businesses.

Mobile Internet Resource Center: If you want to get all the latest news on cellular internet and see recent field test results, subscribe to this membership. We’ve used it for years as a product guide for the best equipment.

NETGEAR Nighthawk Mobile Hotspot: If you’re serious about working from the road, you’ll need a powerful hot spot. Netgear Nighthawk is one of the best available.

Togo Roadlink LTE Router: This unit works with specific AT&T cellular data plans. It can boost a signal up to 200 ft away!

SAFETY & SECURITY RV ACCESSORIES

Most RVers are very concerned about staying safe on the road. While we believe safety is a state of mind, there are many tools that help us achieve the feeling of security. These are great RV accessories to set you on the right path of RV safety.

Spotlight RV Accessory | Safety & Security

We think one of the best securities measures all RVers can take is buying a can (or two) of bear spray. If you’re in bear country, this is essential! While we only recommend a bear spray for its intended use, carrying it with us gives us in our RV gives us additional peace of mind. If it works on a bear, it must work on many things

Additional Safety Accessories

Solar Powered Motion Sensor Lights: This light can be easily installed outside your RV. It will turn on a night if it detects movement.

Ring Video Doorbell: We’ve seen more & more RVers installing these video doorbells on their units. It may take a few hours of wiring, but the end result is pretty sweet!

RV Safe: Protect your valuables with an RV safe.

Air Horn: Making loud noises is a wonderful way to scare off sketchy visitors or call for help.

BASU Emergency Alarm: This is great for hiking. The keychain alarm makes a huge sound. It can potentially scare off animals or sound for help.

Pepperball LifeLite: This is a nonlethal gun, that looks like a flashlight and shoots balls full of pepper.

RVLock: This lock will be an upgrade for 90% of RVs. It has three entry options; keys, keyless & padded.

Roadside Assistance: As far as which brand to use, your guess is as good as ours. We’ve used Good Sam with positive results. However, we recommend comparing plans & prices.

Marcell Monitor: Monitor the temp, humidity, and power of your RV while you’re away from it!

CB Radio: This old school device can be quite useful in the RV life. It can give you valuable emergency info and used it to communicate.

RV KITCHEN ACCESSORIES

RV kitchens are notoriously small. The pantries are compact and the counter space is limited. These accessories will help maximize the space and transform areas to serve multiple purposes.

Spotlight RV Accessory | Kitchen

Our most uses RV kitchen item is a pour-over coffee maker. This allows us to conserve energy and minimize our clean up. The problem with a French Press is that the grounds make a huge mess. The problem with a conventional drip coffee machine is that you may need to turn your generator on to use it.

Additional RV Kitchen Accessories

Instant Pot: This is the most popular RV kitchen tool around. It makes one-pot meals without much cleanup!

Induction Cooktop: If you want to minimize or eliminate your propane use, try an induction cooktop.

Roll-Up Drying Rack: The roll-up drying rack has been our 2nd most used kitchen accessory. It creates a lot of space over the sink for dishes.

Collapsible Colander: Collapsible everything is a great idea!

Tension Rods: These are great for your fridge & cupboards on travel day. Never start rolling without them!

Nesting Bowls: Save that space.

Silicone Wine Glasses: It’s a smart idea to travel with these wine glasses!

Collapsible Silicone Kettle: This space-saving device will make hot water without being overly bulky.

RV SPORTS ACCESSORIES

Each month there are new toys being released for outdoor adventurers. Made for travel, they often fold, inflate, or break down into easily portable items. The RV sports gear below is ideal for anyone who wants to get out in nature and explore.

Spotlight RV Accessory | Sports Gear

We love our Oru Folding Kayak. This tandem kayak can carry up to 500lbs of cargo and folds up into an “oversized suitcase”. We carry it in the back of our truck for easy storage. The kayak comes in multiple sizes and forms depending on your skill level.

Additional RV Sports Accessories

Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board: These are great for RVers who love the water. They’re rugged, but don’t take up too much room.

Inflatable Kayak: If you’d rather inflate than fold your kayak, this option is for you!

Folding E-Bike: A folding bike is great because you can easily store it out of sight.

RV Ladder Mount Bike Rack: If you’re struggling to find a place to mount your bikes, try this ladder mount option.

Trekking Poles: Don’t go on a hike without them!

Dumbbell Set With Carrying Case: Get a light workout at your campsite with these portable dumbbells.

Yoga Mat: Whether you’re doing yoga or just want a comfy seat on the ground, a yoga mat is a campsite essential.