#best senior independent living communities

[ingenia-federation]

Hey everyone! Are you approaching retirement and trying to figure out your next steps? Check out this shared blog post about Independent Living Retirement Communities - it's a great guide to achieving self-sufficiency in your golden years.

The post is perfect for active seniors and early retirees who want to maintain their independence, but still have access to the amenities and social connections that come with living in a community. From fitness classes to dining options, these communities offer a variety of benefits that can enhance your retirement experience. So grab a cup of coffee and give the post a read - it just might provide the inspiration you need for your next adventure!

[harborterrace]

Explore Harbor Terrace's People Gallery: Meet the Vibrant Community in San Pedro, CA

At Harbor Terrace, life isn’t just about living in a space—it’s about thriving in a community. Located in the picturesque city of San Pedro, CA, Harbor Terrace stands out as a premier assisted living and senior living community where residents enjoy an enriching lifestyle surrounded by friendly faces. Whether you’re looking for an assisted living solution or just curious about the kind of people who make up this exceptional community, the People Gallery at Harbor Terrace gives you a glimpse into the vibrant lives of its residents and staff.

In this blog, we explore the Harbor Terrace People Gallery, highlighting the diverse individuals and community-centric atmosphere that make this residence a home for so many.

Why the People Gallery Matters at Harbor Terrace

The People Gallery at Harbor Terrace is more than just a showcase—it is a heartfelt celebration of the people who bring the community to life. From residents sharing their inspiring stories to dedicated staff who go the extra mile, this gallery illustrates the human connection that is at the heart of everything Harbor Terrace stands for.

Fostering a Sense of Belonging: The People Gallery highlights the friendships and bonds that residents form, creating a genuine sense of family.

Showcasing Diversity: Harbor Terrace is home to individuals from different walks of life, bringing together a rich tapestry of cultures and experiences.

Building Trust: Families can see firsthand the happy, engaged lives of residents, which helps them make an informed decision about choosing Harbor Terrace.

Meet the Residents: A Community of Vibrancy and Spirit

At Harbor Terrace, each resident contributes uniquely to the community. The People Gallery showcases individuals with diverse backgrounds, professions, and interests. Residents often share their passions through hobbies, arts, and group activities that make Harbor Terrace a dynamic place to live.

Active and Engaged Seniors: Residents enjoy activities like gardening, painting, group exercise, and community events, fostering both physical and mental well-being.

Lifelong Learners: From book clubs to workshops, Harbor Terrace encourages residents to explore new skills and stay intellectually active.

Warm Relationships: The photos and testimonials in the People Gallery capture the genuine friendships and connections between residents.

The Dedicated Staff at Harbor Terrace: Making a Difference Every Day

The People Gallery also celebrates the hardworking and compassionate staff who make Harbor Terrace a true haven for its residents. Every team member—from caregivers to chefs—plays an essential role in ensuring residents feel supported and valued.

What Sets Harbor Terrace Staff Apart?

Compassionate Care: Staff members are trained to provide personalized assistance, ensuring each resident’s unique needs are met with dignity and respect.

Activity Coordination: Dedicated staff work tirelessly to organize engaging activities and events that cater to the diverse interests of residents.

Genuine Connections: Many staff members form strong bonds with residents, fostering a sense of trust and camaraderie.

The People Gallery reflects these efforts, showcasing the smiling faces of staff members who treat residents like family.

A Glimpse Into Everyday Life at Harbor Terrace

The People Gallery also provides a window into the daily life of Harbor Terrace. From group celebrations to intimate moments, these snapshots demonstrate the active and joyful lifestyle that residents experience.

Activities and Events That Shine

Seasonal Festivities: Residents come together to celebrate holidays with themed decorations, parties, and traditional feasts.

Health and Wellness Programs: Yoga classes, meditation sessions, and fitness programs ensure residents maintain their physical health.

Creative Arts and Crafts: From painting workshops to crafting sessions, creativity thrives at Harbor Terrace.

Cultural Celebrations: Multicultural events bring together residents to celebrate diverse traditions, fostering a deeper understanding and connection.

Spaces That Encourage Community Bonding

Communal Dining: The dining area at Harbor Terrace is more than a place to eat—it’s where friendships are formed over delicious, chef-prepared meals.

Outdoor Gardens: Beautifully landscaped outdoor spaces offer residents a serene environment to relax or socialize.

Recreational Facilities: Game rooms, lounges, and fitness centers provide spaces for residents to unwind and engage.

Discovering the True Essence of Harbor Terrace Through the People Gallery

The People Gallery captures the essence of Harbor Terrace—a place where life is celebrated, individuality is cherished, and community is paramount. Through photos, stories, and testimonials, the gallery paints a vivid picture of:

Companionship: Residents and staff work together to create an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere.

Fulfillment: Every individual at Harbor Terrace has opportunities to pursue hobbies, make friends, and live with purpose.

Trust and Care: Families can see the genuine care and dedication that go into making Harbor Terrace a premier senior living community.

Why Choose Harbor Terrace in San Pedro, CA?

If you or your loved one is considering assisted living or senior living options, Harbor Terrace in San Pedro, CA, is an excellent choice. Here’s why:

Prime Location: Situated in the scenic city of San Pedro, Harbor Terrace offers a tranquil yet convenient setting.

Top-Notch Amenities: From modern living spaces to exceptional recreational facilities, Harbor Terrace ensures comfort and quality of life.

Vibrant Community: The People Gallery reflects the warmth and positivity of the Harbor Terrace community, where everyone feels at home.

Tailored Care Plans: Whether you’re looking for assisted living, memory care, or respite care, Harbor Terrace provides customized care to meet specific needs.

Conclusion: Experience the Vibrant Life at Harbor Terrace Today

At Harbor Terrace, life is about more than just care—it’s about creating meaningful connections and living with purpose. The People Gallery beautifully captures the spirit of this community, showcasing the residents and staff who make it truly exceptional. Whether you’re searching for the best assisted living in San Pedro, CA, or simply exploring senior living options, Harbor Terrace promises a fulfilling and vibrant lifestyle.

CONTACT US:

Address: 435 West 8th Street, San Pedro, CA 90731

Phone number: (310) 547-0090

Email: laura@harborterraceretirement.com

Website: https://harborterraceretirement.com/

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[siskiyousprings]

Why Are Senior Care Communities Important?

As our loved ones age, ensuring their well-being and happiness becomes a priority for families. Senior care communities play a vital role in providing not only a safe living environment but also a supportive and enriching community. Here are several reasons why these communities are essential:

1. Safety and Security

Senior care communities offer a secure environment tailored to the needs of older adults. With features such as emergency response systems, secure entry points, and staff trained to handle medical emergencies, residents can feel safe in their surroundings. This peace of mind allows families to worry less about potential hazards at home, such as falls or isolation.

2. Personalized Care

Each individual has unique needs and preferences, which is why personalized care is a cornerstone of senior communities. Trained staff can provide assistance with daily activities, medication management, and specialized care for those with memory-related conditions. This level of attention ensures that residents receive the care they need while maintaining their dignity and independence.

3. Social Interaction

Isolation can be a significant issue for seniors, leading to feelings of loneliness and depression. Senior care communities foster social engagement by organizing activities, outings, and events that encourage interaction among residents. These opportunities help build friendships and support networks, promoting emotional well-being.

4. Access to Resources

Many senior care communities provide access to various resources, including physical therapy, wellness programs, and healthcare services. This integrated approach to health ensures that residents have everything they need for a healthy lifestyle within reach. Regular check-ups and wellness activities also contribute to the prevention and management of chronic illnesses.

5. Engaging Activities and Programs

Senior care communities offer a variety of activities designed to stimulate the mind and body. From arts and crafts to fitness classes and educational workshops, these programs cater to diverse interests, allowing residents to pursue hobbies and learn new skills. Such engagement is crucial for maintaining cognitive health and overall happiness.

6. Support for Families

Choosing a senior care community can also relieve some of the burdens on family caregivers. These communities provide not just care for the residents but also support and resources for families navigating the complexities of senior care. Knowing that their loved ones are in a nurturing environment allows families to maintain healthier relationships without the stress of constant caregiving.

Conclusion

In summary, senior care communities are essential for enhancing the quality of life for older adults. By providing a safe, supportive, and engaging environment, they address the unique needs of seniors and promote their overall well-being. As the aging population continues to grow, the importance of these communities will only increase, serving as vital resources for families and their loved ones.

[ahepaseniorliving]

AHEPA Senior Living’s Mission to Provide Safe, Dignified Affordable Senior Housing

AHEPA Senior Living Board Chairman Ike Gulas expands upon how visionaries from the Order of AHEPA founded AHEPA Senior Living 44 years ago and their goal to provide affordable senior housing in partnership with HUD Section 202 Housing for the Elderly program.

[courtyard01]

Different Types of Senior Care Facilities

Exploring senior care options? Discover the different types of senior care facilities available to suit diverse needs. From independent living and assisted living to memory care and skilled nursing, each facility offers unique benefits. Learn how to choose the right environment for your loved ones, ensuring comfort, safety, and quality of life. Find the perfect senior care facility for peace of mind and optimal care.

[senior-living-apartment]

Tips for Finding the Best Senior Apartment in Kansas City

Finding the ideal living space as you transition into your golden years is essential, and we are here to help you every step of the way. Here are some valuable tips to guide you in discovering the best senior apartment that suits your needs in Kansas City, and if you’re looking for senior housing 55 and over, contact Connect55+ to schedule a tour!

Location is Key

When searching for a senior apartment, consider a convenient location. Connect55+ offers prime locations for senior apartments in Kansas City, ensuring easy access to essentials like healthcare facilities, shopping centers, and entertainment options.

Amenities that Enhance Your Lifestyle

Choose a senior apartment that provides amenities tailored to your lifestyle. At Connect55+, we offer engaging activities, worry-free living in modern apartments, and an inclusive community that fosters connections and a sense of belonging.

Community Atmosphere

Living in a vibrant and welcoming community can significantly enhance your senior living experience. Connect55+ promotes a community where residents can truly live as friends, creating a supportive environment where new friendships flourish. Participating in community events not only enriches your social life but also promotes overall well-being. We organize regular events and activities designed to cater to a range of interests and preferences. Whether you enjoy fitness classes, book clubs, or arts and crafts sessions, there is something for everyone to enjoy and connect with fellow residents.

Professional and Friendly Staff

The staff at Connect55+ are dedicated to making your retirement enjoyable. From offering assistance with daily tasks to organizing engaging activities, our team is committed to ensuring that you feel at home and well-taken care of.

Join Our Senior Apartment Community in Kansas City

Choosing the best senior apartment in Kansas City is a crucial decision, and we are here to make your transition smooth and fulfilling. Experience the joy of retirement living at Connect55+ today!

Original content source: https://www.connect55.com/tips-for-finding-the-best-senior-apartment-in-kansas-city/

[mylivingchoice]

Best Senior Living Communities in Los Angeles Are you looking for the best communities for senior living in Los Angeles? Look no further than My living choice. We help you to find the best senior living communities in Los Angeles. When looking for a senior living community for your loved one, it's good to have someone to help with this process. We feel it is important to provide a tool allowing you to do your own research and help make your own decision. For more information, visit our website.

[dcxdpdabbles]

DCxDP fanfic idea: Big Fish in Gotham Pond

Based off of @saphushia art found here. . I just loved the idea of Tucker not knowing his skill level because he grew up in the boonies

Tucker gets scouted by Wayne Enterprises after he fixes a kid's computer game while in Gotham visiting Danny.

See, Tucker always known he is passable at tech- one has to be when a technology theme ghost is consistently harassing one's best friend- but to be good at something in a small town like Amity Park didn't mean much .

It's a big fish in a small pound sort of deal. That's why he's never put much thought into it. If Tucker were ever to rank himself in terms of school grades, he would say his computer skills were about a C-.

B+ if it was just coding.

His parents also don't think much of his obsession with his PDA or phones. They thought he waste too many hours on them like the rest of his generation.

It didn't matter that Tucker's technology was about five or more years behind his classmates.

The Foley were hard-working people who barely scraped enough for bills. They were never below the property line, but they danced on it often enough that Tucker knew never to ask for unnecessary purchases.

For as long as he could remember, his parents have always worked long and hard hours. He never blamed them for missing so much of his childhood, in fact he was grateful that they worked so hard to keep the roof over his head, but he did miss them.

That's why Danny's house became a haven for him. He was always at the Fenton's place because the loud, wacky family was much better company than the home silence.

Tucker knew that his family's financial situation didn't change how Danny or Sam viewed him. They had his back through tick and thin just as he did for them, but as they got closer to graduation the difference between them became jarring.

Sam had easy picking of what she wanted to do and where she wanted to go. Her parents were so overjoyed that she wanted to go to a university that they didn't even argue about her wishing to major in botanical biochemistry.

She had started house hunting in Star City midway through senior year. Her parents would gift it to her as a graduation present. Sam would live there for the next eight years to finish her degree.

Danny's parents, while somewhat eccentric, were also certified geniuses. Between the two of them, they had five PHDs and were often freelancing for companies when not doing ghost research. They too could send their two kids to college States away with housing not being a issue.

Jazz went to Metropolis to study Physiology. She lived in a small apartment but was doing well off her scholarships and parent's funding. Last he heard, she had a part-time job at the Daily Planet as a research assistant to gain some independence.

Danny wanted to go to Gotham for their engineering program. He, too, had an apartment of his own, with scholarships and equal funding from his parents. He also worked at Wayne Enterprises, but he was a receptionist. He hoped that once he graduated, he could apply for their engineering program

Not Tucker. His family could only help him get into Community College near Amity. He also couldn't afford to move out so he stayed with them, picking up a part time job to help out when he could.

Tucker is a first-generation college student so even though it wasn't much, he loved to see how his parents glowed when telling others their boy was futhering his education. He wanted to do something that paid well- and after years of patching up Danny- he figured nursing would do the trick.

Tucker would do all his basics in the community College, take a break to save up some money and then move on to the bigger schools.

The day of the graduation felt bittersweet. Team Phantom was finally adults, finally starting out in the real world, but while Danny and Sam moved on to bigger and better things, Tucker knew he would be left behind in little no-where Amity Park.

He never brought it up, but he felt a small dosage of envy the last day of summer before his friends finished packing and left.

Despite both being gone, Tucker had little to no social life even though they called, texted, and emailed often. His days blurred between class, work, and home. Even then, classes were long and tedious, work often ending with one or more customers screaming in his face to try and get free food.

His parents quickly started to nag that he should find a wife as they had married young. They couldn't figure out why he didn't want the same, even though he had no social life again.

Life became dull.

Tucker's only sparks of joy were playing online with Danny and Sam - when they found the time to log in or re-coding his old tech to try and salvage it whenever it broke down.

Soon, it became apparent that Tucker was slowly lacking motivation when he started skipping classes to sleep in and started feeling anxious when he needed to clock in for shifts.

It leads to him barely getting out of bed.

He felt horrible about it, thinking his parents sacrificed so much for him only to have him throw away the opportunities they gave him, and the cycle of not being able to get out of bed would start all over again.

It was Danny who caught on, and all but begged Tucker to come to Gotham for a weekend. He even sent money over for the plane ticket.

Tucker couldn't have gotten on that plane fast enough. He arrived early on Friday since the tickets were cheaper- and Uber over to WE headquarters to pick up Danny's keys as they agreed.

That way, Tucker could sleep and rest in the apartment while Danny worked.

Danny would finish his shift and have the weekend plus Monday and Tuesday off to spend with Tucker. When he arrived, Danny was helping a school check in for a field trip, so Tucker sat down to wait.

Next to him, a kid was growling at his laptop, frankly typing and moving his fingers over the computer's touch mouse. Tucker accidentally glimpsed his screen when the kid started swearing in a different language.

It looked like a shooting game but his lag was bad. By the time the boy pressed the buttons to have his little drone move the other flying things he was chasing were flipping though the air and out of his shooting rage.

It sucked when that happened, and since he was using WE free wifi for guests, it was probably the game. The graphics were badass, though. Seemed almost real.

"Hey try updating the system" He tells the kid after seeing the boy once again lag so bad he missed his shot.

Green eyes swing to him drenched in rage. Which yeah, Tucker knows how frustrating that could be.

"Did I ask for your help!?" The boy snaps, his words lined with an upper-class accent. Made sense since he was wearing a Gotham Academy uniform like the rest of the large school group. "Why are you even looking this way, peasant?"

"No, sorry. I just noticed the lag." Tucker raised his hand, slightly amused at the peasant insult. "I thought I could fix it for you."

The boy's face spams, "You believe you have the ability?"

"Ugh sure? I can try?"

"Here. Be quick. The fate of this city's air defenses depend on it" the boy turns his lap top to him and Tucker blinks.

Okay. So fix the game. He can do that.

And he does, quickly opening the code, analyzing the control and commands , he gets it running properly in less then twenty minutes. The boy seems utterly shock but he quickly takes control of the game and shoots down all the escaping ninjas from the sky.

"Thank you." The boy says with no more tense in his shoulders. Then he closes his laptop and dissappears with the crowd of students.

Tucker thought the kid was a cute.

Danny hands him the keys not long after and he leaves.

Never was he aware of the Boy being Damian Wayne and that the game was not a game but a actual defensive drone system that was fighting off the League of Assassins.

He only finds out how important those two facts are when Danny gets a call from Tim Drake asking if he could pass along Tucker's information because the CEO wanted him on staff as soon as possible..

Both nineteen-year-olds lost their minds after getting the call, screaming at each other in ghost shrieks of glee. They called Sam to let her know- and have her lawyers look over the contact Tim Drake sent just to make sure it wasn't a big-time company trying to screw him over.

He went to an interview three days later. He faced Tim Drake, the current seventeen-year-old CEO, Leo Noir, the current head of HR, and Jessica War, the current head of computer services. They asked him many questions about himself- some of which he felt he had answered terribly- then had him take a computer test.

Tucker thought it was busy work, so he quickly breezed through it. He fixed the problem in many of the coding for various programs, adding his flare to the final product, and after thanking them for their time, went out into the lobby.

He hadn't even reached the door before Jesssica ran after him, offering him the job. Apparently, the first two problems they had him do was the busy work. Tucker had thought they were the ones to let him get comfortable with the coding program.

Like a tutorial in video games.

The other seven were actual issues; many of their latest cellphone products failed. Tucker had solved them in an hour, which had taken the actual team of coders about a month.

"Nitey one dollar and thirty-five cents an hour," Tim tells him tapping the hiring contact. "It would be eighty hours every paycheck. You can work here or at home. Full Benefits. What do you say?"

Tucker's jaw drops. "When do I start!?"

He calls his parents to tell them he will be staying in Gotham with Danny. He tries to explain what had happened but it was all so fast that he can only babble about certain parts.

They tell him not to worry about explaining because they understand how much this means to him.

His parents help pack everything for him and when he flies back for it they, offer him hugs and support. Tucker is so glad they aren't mad.

"I sort of knew it was coming," His dad laughs. "You and that Fenton boy have always been inseparable."

"I did the same thing, you know," His mom says, wiping tears from her eyes but smiling all the same. "I moved with your father states away with little to no plan when I turned twenty too. Drove your grandfather mad."

He loves them both so much. He promises to send money- disregarding their denials- and flies back to Gotham, where Danny has opened his apartment until he gets enough for his own place.

He plans on renting a house with three bedrooms, one for him, one for his office, and another for Danny, as soon as he can. He wants to pay his friend back for everything he did and Danny deserves a bigger living space.

And for once, he'll not have to worry about money!

For once, life is looking up!

(What Tucker is unaware of, is that his parents think he moved to the big city to be with his childhood best friend turned recent lover. They don't know that the money he is sending home is from his own payroll and not Danny's. They think he's a stay-at-home husband.

Tucker is also unaware that the Bats are closely watching him in case he goes rogue. They have been slowly "causally" running into him in the city and breaking into his place to check for supervillain activity.)

[she-is-ovarit]

Elders, seniors, "old people"... they are going through:

Witnessing their classmates, best friends, significant others, loved ones die at an unsettling pace.

Being isolated.

Experiencing frightening and invasive health issues.

Being reminded repeatedly in their daily lives that they are closer to dying than most people.

Wondering if they'll be abused in nursing homes.

Wondering if some day they'll get cancer or Alzheimers.

Their children and the younger generation treating them with impatience and as if they are stupid despite them living through generations of history.

Being completely disregarded and devalued by broader society.

Psychologically trying to work towards acceptance of age and deteriorating health.

Wondering if they'll end up in a nursing home with no visits from loved ones.

Ending up in a nursing home, often uprooted from where they've lived for years.

Being unable to live independently.

Becoming severely disabled

Being abused in private.

Being completely ignored by those they depend on for care.

Having to navigate wills for the first time and choosing what to give to whom, minding family member needs and dynamics in addition to legalese.

Being taken advantage of and scammed through technology and processes that confuse them.

Experiencing memory lapses and confusion, often alone.

Struggling to communicate.

Being treated and percieved as "outdated".

Having to quit jobs they've loved.

Sometimes coming to the realization that they're not able to take care of their pet.

Experiencing losing their bladders and the embarrassment and shame that comes with it.

Having no mentors anymore.

The least we can do is listen, be patient, and not cast them aside. They have less time than most of us on this earth and they are choosing to spend some of it with us.

[roseglazedlens]

⦑ THE FUCKING DEAD ⦒ 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞

➠ series masterlist | 🔃girl’s route | 🔃boy’s route |

𝐒𝐌𝐔𝐓┇𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐑┇𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐅𝐈𝐂┇𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐀𝐃𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 LEON S. KENNEDY & CARLOS OLIVEIRA X AFAB GN! READER ADA WONG & JILL VALENTINE X AFAB GN! READER chapter synopsis: You are amongst the top five selected for this infiltration to take down Glenn Arias. An argument unfolds between the agents and you are forced to pick a side. chapter content: smut in next chapter, resident evil: vendetta spoilers, zombies, haunted mansion, explicit themes throughout this series. a/n: welcome to my second series!! (need to finish my first one oops) on a thursday one month ago, i thought to myself 'zombie threesome hehehe', then i took the idea and sprinted with it and this series is born. so, uh... zombiefuckers rise up?? « 3.3 k words | general masterlist | ao3 | reblogs appreciated! »

Millions are dying—Mass infections are happening across the globe swamping the streets with an unbeknownst fear. The symptoms of this virus are faint, indecipherable next to an x-ray of a man who is perfectly healthy. Not even the carrier themselves are aware of how the virus lies underneath their veins, dormant, until a click of button is pressed from a commander far away, then their symptoms worsen: a headache, a cold, veins turning purple as the poison hatches in them, spreading, until the only thing that can manoeuvre their limbs is the word: KILL.

That’s the greatest strength of this virus. Anyone can be infected, and maybe, you already are.

This product first reached the underground market three months ago. Called the A-Virus; a bioweapon succeeded in the market for its ability to infect targeted communities remotely and leaving no evidence on the perpetrator, which no other distributors had successfully produced before.

Engineered by Glenn Arias, the researcher sold over thousands of this bioweapon, becoming a billionaire overnight at the cost of lives lost from the whims of the rich. He supplied the wealthy and corrupted, like insatiable brats, with new remote-controlled monster trucks, who only aims to tear down families and have their victims beg mercy to a monster that will not speak reason.

Hence, this problem brought attention to a global scale, having the DSO come in alliance with the BSAA and other independent mercenaries to hunt down the vaccine and put a stop to Arias’ grand schemes. Handpicking five agents who are equipped with both experience and skill to combat a zombie attack on this scale of doom and urgency.

Those five agents are Jill Valentine, Carlos Oliveira, Leon S. Kennedy, Ada Wong, and you.

A plan is already in place. A distraction concocted with your intel and the help of a senior researcher of all things bioweapons, Rebecca Chambers. While Arias is busy attending fake business meetings on the other side of the world, the five of you will infiltrate his private mansion to retrieve a concentrated sample of the A-Virus. Rebecca can use the sample to reverse engineer it into a cure and send her findings to facilities across the world.

The plan sounds brilliant in writing, but when you arrived his private mansion in Queretaro region, Mexico, something is off about this place.

Arias is a mastermind, you had been warned many times, in which you appropriately prepared all your best gear for this mission to treat it with utmost gravity. You’re thinking armed guards, well-equipped security, BOWs. But when the five of you pushed open the front doors of his mansion, it was quiet.

Empty. Not a single soul. Just five of you greeted by the whisk of wind through weakly hinged windows that somehow makes the humid air stick to your skin further. Did Rebecca get the wrong info? No one lived there. From what you heard when you were in town, not even the locals dare to venture anywhere near the odd gothic mansion on the top of the hill. They said it’s abandoned, cursed, rumoured to whisk away young children if they ever step foot inside.

It’s a story they say to stop the naughty kids, you remind yourself. It’s not haunted. And you’re not a kid anymore.

The inside is abandoned. Cobwebs lay thick between cornices and carved columns, the floors laced with a film of dust on the luxurious dark wood flooring, creaking with worn age as you take each step. Besides the chandelier, every single piece of furniture is either the same colour of black or red, or nothing else. The soft red velvet upholstery and the rug are made with the same fabric. And you can find the same dark wood in every corner of this house. It’s in the tables, the shelves, the chaise, the painting frames, and stone-like head sculpture whittled with the same exact dark wood, ridged the exact uniform way.

Then, you look at the wall. Black patches of mould smearing across the burgundy wallpaper like a crime scene.

Something creaks behind you. The hair on your arms stands up as you shiver, immediately followed by a wave of embarrassment. Despite the number of times you had taken down hordes of incoming zombies like they’re cardboard targets, why is a bit of wind freaking you out? It’s not a ghost, just old foundations, maybe mice, or wind kicking something off a table, like how every old house sounds like. You look around to see if anyone else catches you jumping at nothing, before Jill says, thankfully unaware of your worry:

“God, the smell. What have they done to this place?” Her hand flies over her nose as if that will help to shield any smell whatsoever. Unfortunately, the building is moulded far beyond salvageable that the stench lingers in every part of the mansion.

“I’m sure it’s not that bad. We get weeks-old corpses in body bags every day. It’s absolutely retching.” Jill’s earpiece fizzes into life, and she recognises the familiar playful lilt of Rebecca’s voice on the other side of the line.

“At least that’s refrigerated and contained, Rebecca. This fucking stinks.” Jill scrunches her face like she just ate something unpleasant.

“I’m sending my sympathies from my well-conditioned lab right now.”

Carlos appears from Jill’s behind, placing a firm, teasing hand on top of Jill’s shoulder. His wavy curls catch in the wind and his teeth glistens sparkly white. “Yeah Jill, got a problem with my natural musk?”

Jill shrugs his hand off, grimacing at his attempts at flirtation. “Take a shower first, then we’ll talk.”

In which Carlos laughs, holds his hand out at his heart as if it was just torn into shreds. “That hurts my feelings, Jill. Why aren’t you ever saying things like that to pretty boy over there?”

“I have a name, Oliveira.” The blond man turns around at the call of his nickname, familiar with the nickname, but it's not pleasantly received by him.

“I think pretty boy suits you more, Kennedy.” Carlos replies, a glint in his voice that hints something a bit less than friendliness between them.

“Ah, so you do know my name.” Leon quips back while staring directly into Carlos’ eyes, before getting cut off by Jill.

“I would, Carlos, but if I have to hear one more corny ass comeback from Leon’s mouth, I’ll throw myself out the window right now.”

“Takes a genius to get my humour.” Leon smirks.

Your eyebrows raise almost immediately to chime in. “Erm… I think we have different meanings for the word ‘genius’.”

Quiet chuckles ripple through the room. It helps that you have worked with these guys throughout the years and had come to know and get close to them—some a bit closer than just friends—but none of them are strangers by far. Usually, you would be working with only one or two of these guys, never in a big group like this, but it seems that everyone is already well-acquainted with each other.

You toss a glance at Carlos and catch him staring at you, smiling. Ah, you see now. Carlos must have been trying to lighten the mood because you had been jumpy ever since you had arrived. You nod at him, a silent thank you before the five of you venture deeper into the eerie atmosphere.

The goal is to arrive at Glenn Aria’s office. According to Rebecca’s intel, Arias hid a concentrated sample in a safe last time he was here. You will need Ada to crack the safe to retrieve the sample and deliver it to Rebecca. As you traverse the corridors, it twists and turns in different directions—whoever engineered this did not enjoy unexpected guests at all. But under Rebecca’s guidance, she walks you and your team through the labyrinth with ease and precision.

But unfortunately, not ease and precision on your part. You trip over your own leg and almost fall to the floor as you round a harsh turn according to Rebecca’s instructions, and Jill catches you right on the arm before you fall.

“Easy there.” Jill pulls you up the ground, and you regain some balance. “You good? Mind your step.”

“Why did I agree to babysit?” Ada speaks, finally, for the first time in this mission. Despite how quietly she spoke under her breath, her words abruptly cut through the air, and all attention is on her and the red sweater dress that curves into her frame perfectly now.

“Oh, I bet once you get your paycheck it will be worth it. Or will you be betraying us, huh, Ada?”

Leon smirks loudly. Ada’s face goes from tired to exhausted in one second. “You just can’t let bygones be bygones, can you?”

“That’s rich coming from someone who used to work for Wesker.” Ada’s heels come to a stop, and with a slow turn, she stares deeply into Leon’s eyes that speak a million threats without needing to be utter a word. Oh, and believe me, you do not want to be messing with Ada. You learnt that the hard way.

“Woah, guys. Let’s keep this civil. No need to get heated.” Carlos rushes to stand right between them as the duo glares at each other with passionate fury and resentment.

You nod, joining Carlos’ side to stand by him. “Carlos’s right. This is not the time to pick a fight.” But it falls on the deaf ears of Leon and Ada.

“Thousands were killed. I want what’s good for the people, and I’m not sure Ada here is on the same page.” Leon continues, adding fuel to the fire.

Ada lets out a disbelieved gasp in response, before recollecting herself and replying in her usual tone of calmness: “Someone has to pay the price. I’m just the executor.”

“Regardless of our motivations, we all are on the same side here.” Carlos attempts at resolution again, putting his hands up in between them, and fails embarrassingly once more.

The air is heated with hostility; Leon and Ada’s eyes are locked in a trance, a hazy spite that reigns their composure, that looking away from each other means forfeiting. You don’t see either of them walking away first, they are both prideful people after all.

“Uh… Jill? Some help?” Carlos looks around to find Jill, who is leaning against a wall, her arms relaxing by her sides, unphased by the fire stirring right in front of the crowd.

“Not my circus, not my monkeys.” Jill is merely waiting for either one of the parties roll over.

You feel speckles of flame through the two of them, as if steam is retreating over the top of their heads, burning not just them, but also everyone else in the room. Until the boiling point hits, and it erupts all in one second. The duo walks away, off to different directions in bitter adrenaline, until you and Carlos are just looking at each other.

“I guess we’ll take five. There’s a safe room up ahead.” Carlos is speaking, but you’re the one listening.

The five of you enters the safe room in silence. It is a storage room—despite its name, it’s quite large for a normal storage room—with boxes stacked on all ends that made the room seem smaller in comparison. A ceiling light illuminates the room dimly, but it isn’t enough to shade away years of old animosity from their past.

The lively conversations you had mere minutes ago is gone now. Just silence and awkward rustling as each of you sits in your own designated corner. Carlos and Jill find themselves a seat on top of a firm box. Leon and Ada giving each other the silent treatment, standing on farthest end of the room to each other. You are simply minding your own business, gathering materials to craft a flashbang to pass the time. Doesn’t hurt to have more supplies anyway.

There is a notable division on each side, an imaginary alliance that you choose to be on neither side. Until Leon crosses the boundary line, somehow making his way to you. He picks up an empty grenade case next to you, assembling the pieces together for your project.

“Sorry you had to see that.” A little guilt tugs at Leon’s voice.

“Not at all. I get why you felt that way.” Leon nods, a look of gratitude hanging softly through a smile. His other finger seals the flashbang cap and hands it back to you. “But you need to learn to control your temper. Especially when it comes to Ada.”

Speaking of Ada, a shiver runs down your spine suddenly. The feeling of someone sending laser signs and telepathic warnings towards you. You turn around towards the direction of the aura to find Ada, her back leaning against the wall, arms crossed without engaging or acknowledging anyone in the room. She stands by herself alone, and that’s how you had always known Ada—distant and in her own mysterious world. Not really a chatter, despite the number of times she had saved you in the past.

Ada does not look at you, but you can feel her glaring down—either you or Leon—with her entire body.

“Good to see the two of you getting along at least.” Carlos holds out two plastic water bottles to you two from a supply crate he found in the room, which Jill has finished downing two of them already.

You two gesture ‘no thanks.’ Ada does not spare Carlos a glance at his direction when he offers.

“You’re welcome, I guess.” Carlos says sarcastically, before taking in a generous sip from his drink.

There’s a moment of silence. Then, a moment of dry coughs; a squeak of footsteps, a joint click from a stretching neck. Then silence once more.

“I’ve had enough.” Jill slaps her hands on her thigh before pushing herself up from her seat. “You guys gonna keep acting like kids? Grow up, this isn’t high school anymore. Take your drama outside. If we’re gonna take down Arias, we have to get along. And yes, that means moving on from shit that happened… five years ago? Five years ago and you two are still hung up? Unlike you all, I’m actually looking forward to go home and get a decent shower, hopefully soon.”

You nod in approval as Jill speaks her mind, and you are glad at least the few of you have their priorities in order. Ada flicks her head away from Jill, but her silence is telling of how much she is thinking over Jill’s words.

“Leon, can you accept this?” Jill asks.

There’s a bit of reluctance in his voice, but he agrees anyway. “Fine.”

“Ada?”

Before Ada can respond, smoke is creeping into your vision, coming in quick. It merges into your view, obscuring it, and you whiff something artificial, some kind of chemicals that is piercing to your nose and eyes. You can’t help but wince, hands groping the air in attempts to find comfort in the person closest to you—anyone for that matter—to indicate you’re safe and is indeed not under attack. Your fingers find themselves in a fistful of someone’s shirt, muscles tensing tightly underneath the fabric on their shoulder cap.

“Leon. Is that you?” You cry out.

“It’s me. Stay close and don’t let go. It’s an ambush.” Leon pulls your arm towards him, securing your safety with his hand in yours.

There is some coughing through the air, faint panic in voices underneath the hissing of gas that seems to be coming from above. You hold onto Leon a bit tighter.

Carlos calls out desperately “Where are you guys? Is everyone okay?” as he flaps his hand around the smoke to stir it away. He finds you and Leon almost immediately, and looks down to your hands, finding them clasped tight against each other. Your hand lets go of Leon flying behind your back, but Carlos already saw it.

Jill is coughing deep from the smoke. “I-I’m here!”

“It seems like we’re all here.” Ada says, composed as ever despite the circumstances.

The smoke dissipates—until most of the fog fades away, escaping through the cracks underneath the door to the other side. Leaving the five of you standing in the same storage room darting eyes around, seemingly unharmed, and even more confused.

After what feels like a while later, Jill finally breaks the silence: “Huh. What was that?”

“No enemies.” Ada unholsters the pistol from her belt, inspecting the room and the door behind the room. “Clear on this side too.”

It’s strange. If this is an ambush, why isn’t there an attack?

Leon places a finger on his earpiece to activate his microphone. “Rebecca, come in. We’ve just been ambushed by some kind of smoke, but nobody’s hurt. Happen to know what’s going on?”

His earpiece buzzes into life. “Hmm, let’s see. From the architecture plans, I see the vents are connected to a lab below. It seems abandoned, there are no signs of anyone triggering an attack on my end.”

“Whatever it is, we need to investigate.” Leon’s voice is firm and serious. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

You swallow deeply, fear settling back inside you. “You think it’s a trap?”

“I think…” Leon pinches his chin. “…Arias knows that we’re here.”

Your heart drops—Bundle of fear, anxiety and stress springing back into your nerves as you probe at the possibility of Glen Arias knowing where you are. What you’re trying to do. Making sure you will never reach that sample despite your hardest wills.

“He shouldn’t. Rebecca, didn’t Arias get on the jet?” Carlos is also thinking too.

“Affirmative. Security footage showed Arias walking into his private jet, and it took off four hours ago. He should still be in the air. No signal of them making a pitstop anywhere.”

You hear black pumps clacking against the hardwood floor. “I’m getting the sample.” Says Ada, her foot is already halfway out of the door. “Follow me or not, I don’t care. I’m here for the objective, and only that.”

“And what if something happens to you?” Carlos asks, genuinely concerned.

“I’ll deal with it if it happens.” Ada waves dismissively.

“Ada’s right, we could be set on a wild goose chase.” Jill chimes in. “Millions of lives are dying. We don’t have time to waste.”

“I guess it’s just you and me then, pretty boy.” Carlos rounds his arm around Leon’s neck, bringing him closer in an almost choking grip, a little too close and tight to his liking. And with Leon’s history with Carlos, Leon refuses to believe this is just a friendly gesture.

Leon grimaces, removing Carlos’ hand over him. “So that’s it? We’re splitting up?” The answer is unanimous. “Fine. I guess we’ll cover more ground if we split up.”

Rebecca, through the other side of your earpiece, speaks: “Be careful everyone. You don’t know what kind of schemes Glenn Arias had set up. Please stay safe.”

“We’ll be fine, as long as we don't have any traitors in our team.” Leon says the word ‘traitor’ while maintaining eye contact with Ada. She ignores him, simply deadpans.

“Well, what about you?” Leon nudges at your arm.

You are faced with two options. Indulge in your curiosity and find the source of the gas, or stick to mission as planned? Both options will be dangerous. So who will you trust with your life?

[OPTION A] “I’ll follow the girls.”

[OPTION B] “I’ll follow the boys.”

𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 thanks for reading! come check out my other works! —yours truly, rose. i love my beta reader @scar-crossedlvrs! series taglist: @j3llyd0nut @ovaryacted @daydreamrot @madcap-riflette @access--granted @obsolescent @briermelli @secretiveauthor @ghosty-frog @navstuffs @slowcryinginthedark @rentaldarling @lesbntired © roseglazedlens — please do not repost, plagiarise, or feed to ai.

[flanaganfilm]

Hey Mike, I’ve really enjoyed reading your long posts on projects you’ve worked on through your career. I was wondering if you could talk a little about your experience in film school and making your student films. I was able to watch Ghosts of Hamilton Street a while ago and found it really interesting how some of the same themes in that film have been consistent through all of your work and have really liked seeing the progression and progress you’ve made in your stories since. Thanks!

Oh wow, deep pull here. I don't often talk about these movies, which I think of as the "Towson Trilogy."

They were amazing learning experiences, but aren't really fit for public consumption. I consider them an incredible, irreplaceable film school, but I've gone out of my way to not to help them become available - they just aren't on a level that I'd feel comfortable putting out into the world.

So let's go back to 1998.

I was an undergrad at Towson University in Maryland. I had dreamed of being a filmmaker for most of my childhood, and had made a few backyard movies on VHS with friends, and some VHS shorts in high school. But the idea of a career in filmmaking was very farfetched. My father was in the U.S. Coast Guard and my mother was a medical office manager. They were always very supportive of my little "movie projects," but also very much invested in my education and wanted me to focus on careers that were more likely. A career making movies seemed very, very unrealistic, and I spent my senior year of High School focusing on coming up with a "real job" I could get passionate about. As I graduated High School, I had let go of the filmmaking dream and was hoping to get enough scholarship money so I could afford to go to Loyola University Maryland, where I wanted to major in secondary education.

I was going to be a high school history teacher.

I didn't get enough scholarship money to attend Loyola, so I ended up enrolling at Towson University (then called Towson State) instead. I was initially very disappointed by this outcome, but it turned out to be one of the best things that happened in my life.

I was still planning on following the education track, but I felt discouraged and bruised by missing out on Loyola. So as I filled out my freshman electives, I signed up for Intro to Film on a lark. I mean, my hopes and dreamed hadn't panned out. I didn't get into my first choice school (or my second, for that matter) and here I was.

Why not?

It was immediately clear to me that this was what I wanted to do with my life. It was what I'd always wanted to do, if I was honest - I had been making all of those little movies, I lived and breathed movies, I had been saying since I was kid that I wanted to make movies for a living, and here was my chance to learn more about that world. I was hooked immediately. I started to ignore my other classes in favor in spending more time in the Mass Communications department (there wasn't an official "film" major at Towson); so what if this wasn't a "real job," so what if I didn't have a chance in hell of being a professional filmmaker... I had access to cameras. That meant I could make movies.

This happened to coincide with an exciting time in independent filmmaking. Spike Lee, Edward Burns, Kevin Smith, Jim Jarmusch - we would talk excitedly about the rumored budget of Robert Rodriguez's El Mariachi (everyone said it was just seven thousand bucks!), we would talk between classes about the filmmakers who were forging careers out of thin air on shoestring budgets. People were breaking the rules, and bucking the system. Careers were being made on one rogue film. They weren't climbing the ladder; they were suing for membership. Make a movie, then make a career. Independent Film was the way in. The odds might be against you, but if your number came up... man, you were on your way.

I had a substitute teacher in one of my film classes. His name was Steve Yeager and he'd just won the filmmaker's trophy at Sundance for his documentary about local hero John Waters, a movie called Divine Trash. He was the toast of Baltimore at the time, and he spoke breathlessly about the independent filmmakers who were leading the charge and finding audiences outside of the studio system. He told the students that any of us could do this - any of us could make a movie, especially using this brand new technology called:

DIGITAL VIDEO.

Steve argued that DV had democratized filmmaking, and cited filmmakers like Mike White, whose DV feature Chuck and Buck had just hit the festival scene. Dogme 95, the creative movement founded by the Danish directors Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg, was the talk of all the cinephiles. Not only could we make a movie, Steve declared, we could make it for a fraction of the cost that most filmmakers had had to bear over the years when dealing with purchasing and processing film.

I had been inspired by movies like Clerks, The Brothers McMullen, and Stranger Than Paradise - I was working on my own script, a slice of life story called Makebelieve, which was focused on the only slice of life I knew anything about: a college kid,,, who loved movies... and... had a crush on a girl.

You write what you know, I guess.

Now, our little Mass Comm program at Towson was a great way to get experience making movies, but we made them as part of a group. The best case scenario was waiting until you were an upperclassman and hoping you'd be able to direct a short film with your classmates, but most students never got their turn directing. Some students would labor through the department for four years but never sit in a director's chair when the senior projects came around. I was too impatient to wait for that. I wanted to be like Kevin Smith, Mike White and Ed Burns - I wanted to make my movie, my way, right now.

I was actively averse to commercial viability (an allergy it took me far too long to overcome), utterly enamored with the emerging mumblecore "indie film" vibe of the time, and convinced that a movie comprised of extended conversations about collegiate dating would make for riveting entertainment. I had several friends in the Theater Department, enlisted the help of my roommate Dave Foster, and pretty soon we were doing table reads and shooting proof-of-concept trailers on miniDV.

Raising money for the movie was a huge challenge. A girlfriend had managed to get ahold of Bruce Campbell's email (it was the worst-kept secret on the fledgling internet at the time), and I emailed him to invite him to be part of our little movie. He actually wrote back - he declined participation (for reasons that are astonishingly obvious to me now) but was kind enough to send some advice for the production. We were so grateful he took the time to respond that we named our production company after our favorite line from Army of Darkness... we were Sugarbaby Productions.

Steve Yeager, my substitute teacher, had told the class "if any of you write a feature film, I will do what I can to help you produce it." I came up to him after class and handed him the script for Makebelieve. He looked a little shocked, but he agreed to read the script. He did, and he liked it, and for reasons I may never understand, he said "okay, fine. I'll produce your movie."

Steve was true to his word. He didn't bring money (it would have been certifiably insane if he had), but he used his connections to find a crew of professionals in Baltimore willing to work on a little college movie. We had fundraisers, we had bake sales, we sold T-shirts on campus to raise cash to shoot. We hit up every family member and friend for possible investment (my parents, to their endless credit, put up more money than they could afford), and we scraped together enough to shoot the thing.

We filmed Makebelieve on miniDV in over the summer of 1999. The University gave us access to its facilities to use for locations, we had the run of campus, and our tiny cast and crew received independent study credit for their participation in the film.

The technology wasn't quite the amazing godsend people had made it out to be. It was low resolution, there was not yet anything that allowed you to change frame rate; everything still had that "soap opera" feeling you get with 30 fps.

We compensated for this by emulating a Hal Hartley film I'd seen at festival called Book of Life, which had opted for a slower shutter speed to give the film a dreamy, smeary look that hid the frame rate. We shot at a 1/15s shutter speed, and the movie looked a bit like an acid trip... but at least it didn't move like a soap opera.

The finished movie... well, it's not very good.

It was my first feature, it wasn't really about much of anything, but it had some fun dialog and a truly committed young cast. It had promise. And we finished the thing! That was the biggest miracle. It was the best film school I could ever hope for - a trial by fire that pulled me through each and every phase of production and forced me to learn on the job.

The film was rejected by every single major film festival - my dreams of being the next Sundance breakout auteur were dashed very quickly. But we had our world premiere at the Maryland Film Festival in 2000, to a sold out crowd, and that was the single biggest night of my young life up until that point.

I was completely hooked. I knew the film was deeply flawed, and I was eager for another at-bat - I knew I could do better.

I wouldn't wait long. I had already written a script for an "edgy" follow-up to Makebelieve called Still Life. It was "edgy" because it featured a more nihilistic plot, about a group of photography majors who begin exploiting elements of their lives for their senior thesis project, and in doing so get disconnected from their lives by examining them through lenses (Get it?! Man, I sure was a film student, wasn't I)

I had gone through a bad breakup after Makebelieve was done, an engagement that had ended and broken my young heart. Frankly, we were just babies - I really had no business whatsoever trying to get married at 21 - but I wrote that breakup into the script and let the bitterness rip. Edgy, right?

I used most of the same cast from Makebelieve (thus beginning a habit that still holds true today) and set about trying to find money to make the film.

The issue was how to raise money. We had already knocked on every door to finance Makebelieve and nobody got their money back; the movie never sold. Investing in independent films is one of the highest risk investments you can make. We'd turned over every single rock we could think of last time, how the hell were we going to do that again?

We courted more investors, including some professional risk takers and VC people. An accountant named Harry Rosen drummed up a bunch of investors in exchange for a role in the film (he played the grandfather of one of the leads). This movie had more money than the last, and it wasn't from friends and family by and large - it was from people who were giving and expecting much more.

We shot Still Life in the summer of 2000, just after Makebelieve had premiered (even then, I couldn't wait for one movie to come out before starting another). It was a more ambitious shoot across the board. And again, it was a phenomenal learning experience. And again, the movie wasn't quite... good.

The first cut was 180 minutes long. Yep, 180. The Final Cut is... 75 mins long. So... yeah, it was probably a few drafts undercooked.

It was indulgent, it was uneven, and it was spectacularly self-important. But it got into some more festivals - quite a few more than Makebelieve -and it even won some awards.

See, the rise of digital video meant an avalanche of digital movies. It had democratized filmmaking after all - suddenly, the sheer volume of submissions at film festivals increased by a factor of ten. And with that many thousands of extra movies flooding the festival market, the laws of supply and demand kicked in - there were suddenly a LOT more film festivals.

And there were film festivals who weren't terribly scrupulous. There were festivals who only existed to collect submissions fees, and they'd accept movies that otherwise would never have made it into a fest, so long as they thought they could make some money of the filmmakers. Some of the fests we played back then soon became notorious for running these kinds of scams. But it wasn't nearly as difficult to get into festivals as it once was... and it wasn't nearly as difficult to win awards.

One of the festivals we were accepted into was in Los Angeles, and I came out to LA for the first time in my life for the screening. While here, I started making plans to move to California. It seemed impossible, daring, and crazy at the time - I had no money, my movie had some laurels on the poster but wasn't commercially viable - and I had no idea how to pull it off. But I decided then, walking around Santa Monica late one night after a screening: as soon as I graduated from Towson, I'd move to LA.

But it turned out graduation was a long ways off.

Still Life took up an enormous amount of time, and I fell behind on my studies. The film never did find a distributor. It played a few dozen fests (some of which were downright predatory) and then it was over.

Itching to keep shooting stuff but certainly out of fundraising options, I ended up part of a startup production company consisting of a recent grad and another student at Towson, and we actually got a couple industrial jobs around Baltimore. I took a semester off to focus on the work. Graduation got pushed back. And then I took another semester off when more gigs came in. I finally graduated in May 2002, two years later than I'd planned. My production company had gone bust (we had no idea what we were doing) but we did some good commercial and industrial work and I got some experience trying to manage a business.

I had also wised up in one very important respect: I had kept writing scripts this whole time (you really can't help it, if you're a writer) and I had finally decided to embrace GENRE.

I had written a script called Ghosts of Hamilton Street. On the outside, it looked like an episode of The Twilight Zone; the plot centered around a washed-up alcoholic who starts to notice people in his life disappearing without a trace... but whenever one of them goes, the world around him completely rewrites itself as though they never existed at all.

I thought I was starting to play with genre conventions, doing a light sci-fi story that would be fun and character-forward. What I was really doing, though, was dealing with the fact that a lot of my closest friends from college had graduated on time, two years before me, and gone out into their adulthoods. I missed them, and I felt that my world was altered with each of their absences. I was starting to get introspective.

This was about something. It was about regret, it was transition, it was about losing one's comfortable world and heading into the unknown. It was about my regret for my failed engagement (and my exploitation of it for Still Life), and about the friends who had gone ahead into adulthood without me. It was also, I realize now, about having a drinking problem. I wouldn't really understand this, or take any action to fix it, for fifteen more years.

For now, I just knew this one felt a little different. It had an engine. I had something to talk about for the first time in my filmmaking career. This one wasn't a class project, just fumbling around with the technical realities of production; this had a tiny, infant, unformed little voice in there. It was small, it was buried, but it was there.

So how could we finance it?

Okay. You're not going to believe this, but it's true... I've never really talked about this publicly before, but it's the truth so here goes:

A good friend of mine, a fellow student at Towson, was hit one night by a Papa Johns delivery car while crossing the street. He settled with the company and came into a lot of money. He invested some of that to finance Ghosts, and... well... that's how we did it.

Yep, you read that right: my third feature was financed because a friend of mine got hit by a pizza delivery guy. So when people ask me what advice I have for fundraising, unless I say "start shoving your friends in front of delivery vehicles", I'm being a bit of a hypocrite.

My friend was now a bonafide executive producer, and he was walking normally again, so we were off to make a movie!

It was a modest budget compared to the sprawling mess that was Still Life, but the digital video technology had advanced - we were now shooting in 24p, and for the first time in my career, my little digital features actually moved like a movie.

Again, the cast brought back some familiar faces from Makebelieve and Still Life. We held auditions for the other parts.

One of the fellow Towson students who auditioned for a role was a girl I knew tangentially from the theater department. She was much closer to my roommate Paul Jerue, who was working on the movie too, but she'd been over my place a few times and we'd hung out here and there.

Her name was Amy Schumer, and I remember her audition very well. I didn't give her a part in this movie. I remember telling the producers I thought she was too funny for it. She was quite funny, in fact. I think she's also now the most famous person to come out of Towson University.

Somewhat ironically, there aren't a lot of photographs from this period of my life, because I didn't have a digital camera. Everything was on film, and just about all of those shots are lost to time.

But there are a few leftover from Ghosts that I'll share here - I've used my phone to snap some pics of pages from a single surviving scrapbook:

(Holy god, I actually had hair...)

Ghosts of Hamilton Street isn't a bad movie. It had taken me years of work, but I had finally made something that wasn't bad. They say your first ten movies are gonna suck, so get them out of the way early... maybe I was a little ahead of schedule after all.

Even though I had graduated just before we shot it, I still consider it a student film. It was shot in and around campus, utilizing equipment from the school, and the cast and crew were comprised of students and graduates (a lot of the cast were returning actors from Makebelieve and Still Life).

The star of the movie was a student who was ahead of me by a year named Scott Graham. I loved working with him, and I loved what he did with this movie.

(The great Scott Graham, three years before the Oculus short)

Three years later, he would fly himself out to LA from Washington DC in order to star in a short film I'd make in Los Angeles called Oculus.

(Filming Oculus - Chapter 3: the Man with the Plan in 2005)

Looking back, I think of Ghosts of Hamilton Street as my first movie. The other two were just class projects, really, and I was throwing spaghetti against the wall. But this one... it features an ambitious 90 second oner in the middle of the movie that competently tracks Scott through a bewildering office environment. It's a good shot.

It uses its genre moments as extensions of character, and is not concerned with scares or set pieces. It's metaphorical, whereas the other two movies were literal.

And it ends on a monologue.

As far as film festivals, it actually did okay. We screened at a few dozen places, and even traveled with the film. It won some more awards at some reputable festivals. And that winter, just after its premiere, when I packed the moving van to go to LA, I brought 100 DVD copies with me, hoping it would kickstart my career in Hollywood.

It wouldn't; that would happen ten years later, with Oculus. And when I filmed the Oculus feature, Scott Graham - star of Ghosts of Hamilton Street, and star of the Oculus short - played the janitor at the auction house where the mirror was kept.

And the two police officers who arrest Brenton Thwaites at the end of the film? Zak Jeffries, star of Makebelieve, Still Life, and Ghosts, and Dave Foster, my freshman year roommate, who worked crew on every film I made - even the little 8mm shorts - in Towson.

Nat Roers, who starred in Makebelieve and Still Life and was also my roommate for the last two years of college, appears as a jogger in Absentia, Dash Mihok's doomed wife in Before I Wake and as a reporter in Gerald's Game.

My professor at Towson who encouraged me to make all of these movies, and helped every way he could, was a man named Tom Brandau. He acted in Ghost of Hamilton Street, but he also was running the Fargo Film Festival in 2011, and he invited us to host the world premiere of Absentia at the festival. He also sat with me at the monitor for a week while we filmed The Haunting of Hill House, and for several days at the Overlook while we shot Doctor Sleep. He passed away a few years ago, and I miss him terribly.

As for Steve Yeager, the substitute teacher who dared us to make a movie my freshman year, and then put his money where his mouth was and produced my first digital feature a year later - Steve was also on set for Gerald's Game and for Doctor Sleep, and we went out for a beer to celebrate after a long shoot day. I quit drinking before that movie wrapped, so I believe it may have been one of the last beers I ever had, and I'm so glad I got to share it with Steve, who took this pie-eyed kid from his class and told him he could be a filmmaker.

My roommates when I moved out to LA were Ghosts star Zak Jeffries, Ghosts producer Jeff Seidman, crew members Amy Winter (soon to be Amy Seidman), Joe Wicker and Gaby Chavez.

In a way, all of these people were the foundation that started it all. I actively hate Netflix's lame "Flanaverse" idea, but if there was a Flanaverse, these were the people who built it. Scott Graham, Zak Jeffries, Dave Foster, Nat Roers, Jamie Sinsz, Megan Anderson, Steve Yeager, Jeff Seidman, Amy Seidman, Will Pinkine, Rich Koeckert, Jessi Bounelis, Chris Cridler, Sarah Yarbrough, Kara Webb, Kerry Brady, Joe Wicker, Gaby Chavez and Tom Brandau.

They were ride or die, man.

I think back on that time now and laugh. What a deal we made about digital video... I remember scraping together $2,000 to buy a 9 GB hard drive to edit - yes, I said NINE GIGABYTES.

I think about all of those dreamers out there today who have a 4k camera with 256 GB (or more) IN THEIR POCKET.

Yep, you've got a camera in your pocket that is infinitely more powerful than the cameras I filmed the first four features of my career on. Anyone who says they want to be a filmmaker and aren't sure how to start... I mean, take that thing out of your pocket and SHOOT SOMETHING. You are so, so, so ahead of the game.

So thank you for asking the question, and sorry for the long post. What I will always remember about that time was just how wildly, recklessly, adorably foolish we were... and how if we hadn't been, I might not have a career at all.

I made three independent feature films in my twenties, and another in my thirties, and while I don't think most of them are ultimately worthy of an audience, they were the best education I ever could have hoped for. I made them with dear friends, some of whom have remained in my life and heart to this day, and all of whom I owe an enormous debt.

My favorite thing? The title of the first one.

Makebelieve.

Because man, we were kids. Everything about that word is whimsy, innocence, and naivety. It's not a perfect movie; in fact, it isn't even a good one.

But that is a perfect, perfect title.

[harborterrace]

[innocentcurse]

Walking through the picturesque streets of Cardinal Hill, you find Haruyuki 'Happy' Kaneshiro the 25 year old high school coach originally from Boston, MA. Living alongside them in such a small town, you know that they're nurturing and playful, but what you might not know is that they are a witch, and that they’re hiding something… ― Nico Hiraga, bisexual, man, and he/him.

Content warnings - infidelity, death.

Basics -

Full name: Haruyuki Kaneshiro

Nickname/s: Happy

Preferred name/s: Happy is preferred, but he also likes Haruyuki

Gender: Man

Pronouns: He/him

Age: Twenty-five

Birthday: December 18th

Zodiac: Sagittarius

Magic status: Magical, a witch

Sexuality: Bisexual

Relationship status: Single

Occupation: Coach at Cardinal High

Hometown: Boston, MA

Familiar: Barney, the chocolate labrador

Backstory -

Haruyuki 'Happy' Kaneshiro is a 4th-generation Japanese American, born as the result of an affair between his father, a powerful businessman, and his mother, his father’s fifth wife.

His parents married when Happy was 6 years old, and his best friend, Tsubame, moved in with them.

It was revealed that Tsubame, the girl his father had organized playdates for him with since near birth, was actually his half-sister.

Despite the unconventional family dynamics, Happy had a generally good upbringing, with his father being strict and hard on him, but Tsubame always around to offer comfort.

At 9 years old, Tsubame was sent to a prestigious boarding school in Japan as part of the family tradition. Two years later, at age 11, Happy was sent to the same school.

He wasn’t the greatest student and often got into trouble for minor infractions, though it was never anything serious.

His father, however, took these incidents very seriously, which led to a strained relationship as he became more critical and demanding of Happy.

After graduating from senior school, Happy moved back to Boston and began working in his father's company, Kaneshiro Enterprises.

He struggled in the corporate environment and was asked to leave less than a year later, further damaging his already tenuous relationship with his father.

For a period, Happy bounced between various jobs and locations, searching for his place and trying to find himself.

He eventually settled in Cardinal Hill, Washington, drawn to the town’s welcoming community for both witches and humans.

Upon moving there, Happy met a woman who also moved to Cardinal Hill at the same time, and they began a relationship.

He found work as a high school coach, focusing on football due to his athletic talent and knowledge of sports.

At 25, Happy’s partner became pregnant, but their relationship was already on shaky ground. The pregnancy marked the end of their relationship, as his partner realized she wasn’t ready for such commitment.

She gave birth to their daughter, Keiko, and then left, moving back to her hometown and cutting all contact with Happy and the town of Cardinal Hill.

Rumours suggest that his partner passed away, but Happy refuses to speak about her, keeping the details of that part of his life private.

Now a single father, Happy is dedicated to raising Keiko on his own while continuing his life in Cardinal Hill.

Personality & more -

Happy is calm and easy going, with a relaxed attitude that contrasts with the tension in his family history and his past relationships.

He’s independent, having learned to handle things on his own after the breakdown of his relationship and his struggles with his father.

Resilient, Happy bounces back from setbacks, always finding a way to keep moving forward despite the challenges he faces; his daughter helps with this greatly

Though friendly, he is emotionally guarded and doesn’t let people get too close, especially when it comes to his past and personal struggles.

He’s supportive, particularly in his role as a high school coach, where he mentors the kids he works with, offering guidance both on and off the field.

Happy is deeply committed to being the best father he can be to his daughter, Keiko, and is determined to provide for her despite the difficulties.

Happy is selective about what he shares with others and keeps details about his past, especially his ex-partner and the breakup, to himself.

With a dry sense of humor, Happy often uses wit or sarcasm to deflect serious conversations or difficult emotions, keeping things light when he’s uncomfortable.

Physically fit, Happy has always been athletic, particularly skilled in football, and his physicality remains a core part of his identity.

As a witch, Happy uses his powers for practical purposes but more often he uses them for fun and entertainment - particularly for Keiko.

He’s still a romantic at heart, despite his disillusionment from his past relationship, and hasn’t completely closed himself off to the idea of love again.

Fatherhood is the most challenging and rewarding part of his life. He is committed to raising Keiko with love and care, even if he’s still figuring out how to balance it all.

He values the sense of community in Cardinal Hill, appreciating the town’s welcoming nature, especially the way both witches and humans coexist peacefully.

[ahepaseniorliving]

AHEPA Senior Living Hosts Successful Annual Meeting

Gulas Re-elected Board Chairman $500,000 in Grants Announced

FISHERS, Ind.- AHEPA Senior Living held elections for board of directors’ officers and announced grant distributions totaling $500,000 at its annual meeting, July 10 and 11, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.

The AHEPA Senior Living Board of Directors unanimously reelected Attorney Ike Gulas, Birmingham, Ala., to a three year term as chairman. Gulas has served on ASL’s board for more than 25 years.

“The confidence bestowed on me by my fellow board members is humbling. I consider myself fortunate to work with AHEPA Senior Living as it furthers its mission of providing dignified affordable senior housing and quality aging services to those who need it.” Gulas said. “Our board looks forward to working with President and CEO Steve Beck, and the executive team, to meet our mission and overcome any challenges that come our way.”

“Ike’s contributions as a board member for decades have been critical to our position in the affordable multifamily housing markets,” Beck said. “We look forward to working with Ike and the board of directors, who continue to show a high level of commitment energy, and passion for our mission.”

$500,000 in Grant Awards: Supporting Our Communities

The Board of Directors also was pleased to announce the distribution of $500,000 in grants to nonprofit charitable and service organizations.

“Congratulations to this year’s round of grantees,” Board Chairman Gulas said. “We are proud to support these worthy mission-driven organizations. It’s a privilege to be able to partake in charitable giving, both at the national and local level. In doing so, we enhance vital services and programs that support and strengthen our local communities and the greater society.”

Since 1996, AHEPA Senior Living has supported nonprofits to an amount that exceeds $10 million.

A Salute to Youth: Emerging Leaders Hosted

AHEPA Senior Living also hosted the Greek American community’s emerging leaders as two youth service organizations, Sons of Pericles and Maids of Athena, the Junior Orders of AHEPA, held their annual meetings. AHEPA Senior Living presented each organization with a $10,000 grant toward each of their missions. An “Evening at the Nashville Parthenon” served as the perfect backdrop for a kick-off celebration of Greek culture with music, dancing, and food that set the stage for an unforgettable weekend.

“These young men and women are our future leaders and for us to be afforded the opportunity to host them is a pleasure.” Gulas said. “We look forward to many of them joining us on our boards as they settle into their career paths.”

AHEPA Senior Living Podcast Launched

In addition, the company announced the launch of its video podcast, titled, “AHEPA Senior Living.”

According to Beck, the podcast will be a dynamic platform dedicated to highlighting the importance and impact of affordable independent senior living. The first episode features a conversation with Board Chairman Gulas, who shares his perspective about AHEPA Senior Living as well as his personal family’s history of community involvement.

Board Executive Officers

In addition to Gulas, all AHEPA Senior Living Board of Directors officers earned reelection. They are: Vice Chairman John Zourzoukis, Columbia, S.C.; Secretary Demetrios “Jimmy” Makris, New Port Richey, Fla.; and Treasurer Michael Pihakis, Bridgeville, Pa. Gulas also appointed board member, Attorney Christ Coumanis, Daphne, Ala., as counsel to the board.

Executive Committee Members

Nine members comprise the Executive Committee. They are: Konstantine “Gus” Angelo, Houston; Mark Bullock, Albuquerque, N.M.; Christ Coumanis, Daphne, Ala.; Dr. John Grossomanides, Westerly, R.I.; Angelo Kostarides, Indianapolis, Ind.; John Miller, Nashville, Tenn.; George Nardone, Syracuse, N.Y.; Ellen Platis, Mobile, Ala.; and Charrie Regopoulos, Springsboro, Ohio.

Terry Mitchell, of Niantic, Conn., and a pioneer of AHEPA’s national housing program, is an Honorary Executive Board Member.

The Board of Directors is comprised of 38 members, each one representing one or more of the 87 affordable senior housing communities administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Section 202 Housing for the Elderly Program.

Meet Ike Gulas

Gulas is an attorney with Morgan & Morgan, America’s largest injury law firm. A 1989 graduate of Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, Gulas has been practicing law for 30 plus years. He is a member of the Birmingham Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Southern Trial Lawyer Association, the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association, the American Association for Justice, and the National Trial Lawyers Association where he has been selected as one of the top 100 lawyers in Alabama. In 1998, Gulas founded The Ike Gulas Law Firm, P.C., for which over its 20 years in existence he represented thousands of clients who suffered injuries caused by pharmaceuticals and defective medical devices. As a 40-plus-year member in AHEPA he distinguished himself by serving two terms as its National President representing its 500-plus chapters throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.

When asked about his service to AHEPA Senior Living, a non-profit corporation, Gulas cited one of his father’s memorable teachings about always giving back.

“I have been involved in AHEPA Senior Living’s mission since developing the 72-unit HUD Senior Apartment complex in Hoover, Alabama, 27 years ago. As I witnessed my own father’s aging and the issues faced by our seniors it made my resolve even greater to work to provide solutions to our seniors. I am honored to serve such a worthwhile cause.”

About AHEPA Senior Living

Serving more than 5,000 older adults across the United States, AHEPA Senior Living is a mission-driven, nationwide provider of affordable multifamily independent and assisted senior living communities. Since 1980, it has developed and managed more than 90 affordable independent senior living communities in 21 states administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program.

Through its subsidiaries, AHEPA Senior Living owns and manages four affordable assisted living communities under the Hellenic Senior Living brand totaling 532 units in Indiana.

AHEPA Senior Living’s mission is to provide older adults with safe, healthy, and enriching affordable residential communities and quality services that allow them to thrive and enjoy peace of mind.

AHEPA Senior Living is based in Fishers, Ind.

Original content source: https://ahepaseniorliving.org/news/annual-meeting/

[localcarehome]

Best Local Care Homes

Local Care Homes is a reputable organization that provides high-quality senior care services to elderly individuals in the community. With a team of compassionate and experienced caregivers, they strive to create a safe and comfortable environment for residents to thrive in. Their range of services includes assisted living, memory care, and respite care, tailored to meet the individual needs of each resident. Local Care Homes is dedicated to promoting independence, dignity, and well-being for seniors, ensuring they receive the care and support they deserve. Families can trust Local Care Homes to provide their loved ones with exceptional care and peace of mind.

An Adult Family Home is a residential care home licensed by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) for up to 8 residents.  They can specialize in Dementia, Developmental Disabilities, and Mental Health.  Most have Medicaid contracts with DSHS and may differ in when and how they accept Medicaid residents.

Other Contact Details:

Contact: https://www.localcarehomes.com/contact

FAQ: https://www.localcarehomes.com/faq

Adult Family Homes: https://www.localcarehomes.com/search/searchresultswide

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LocalCareHomes

[senior-living-apartment]

How to Maintain Independence in Senior Community Housing

As we enter our golden years, maintaining independence becomes a priority for many of us. Connect55+ understands the importance of preserving a fulfilling and autonomous lifestyle, which is why our 55-up senior living communities are designed to empower and support residents in their pursuit of independence. In this blog, we will discuss practical tips and strategies to help you maintain your independence and thrive in our active retirement communities.

Create a Personalized Living Space

At Connect55+, we understand that your home is your sanctuary. When moving into one of our senior community housing units, take the time to personalize your living space according to your tastes and preferences. By surrounding yourself with familiar belongings and cherished memories, you can establish a sense of comfort and independence within your new home.

Engage in Community Activities

Active retirement communities thrive on the engagement and participation of their residents. Explore the wide array of activities, programs, and events offered by Connect55+. Participating in community activities not only provides opportunities to socialize with like-minded individuals but also cultivates a sense of purpose and accomplishment.

Maintain an Active Lifestyle

Physical and mental well-being is essential for maintaining independence. Connect55+ offers various fitness programs and classes tailored to seniors’ needs and abilities. By engaging in regular exercise and staying physically active, you can maintain your mobility, strength, and overall health, allowing you to continue enjoying the activities you love.

Embrace Continuous Learning

A commitment to lifelong learning promotes mental sharpness and keeps the mind engaged. Our active retirement communities provide access to educational programs, art classes, and workshops, allowing you to expand your knowledge, explore new interests, and remain intellectually stimulated.

Advocate for Your Needs

Your independence in senior housing is important, and your voice matters. At Connect55+, we encourage our residents to express their needs and preferences. Our dedicated staff is here to ensure your comfort and satisfaction, so feel free to speak up and advocate for the support and assistance you require to maintain your independence.

Connect55+ is committed to creating a supportive environment where seniors can maintain their independence while enjoying a vibrant and engaging lifestyle. Join us and experience the freedom and independence you deserve during your golden years.

Find Your Home

Original content source: https://www.connect55.com/how-to-maintain-independence-in-senior-community-housing/