#but this is not intended for long term storage prep

[anime-scarves]

Carrots pickled with a regular pickling brine, schezuan peppercorns, and black peppercorns go so hard. Also really interesting that the black peppercorns absorb the pickling liquid and become soft and much milder while taking on all the other flavors too.

[pablice]

How I Lost 30 Pounds and Kept It Off Following an 80/20 Diet Lifestyle

Understanding the 80/20 Diet The 80/20 diet is a lifestyle that focuses on achieving balance between healthy eating and indulging in cravings. This diet emphasizes a mostly healthy diet of whole, unprocessed foods for the majority of meals, but also allows for minimal indulgence in carnal cravings that may come up. The idea behind the 80/20 diet is that by allowing one-fifth of our meals to come from whatever we crave – like brownies or pizza – we can create a balance that is maintainable and sustainable in the long run without having to cut out scrumptious treats entirely. By understanding and harnessing the versatility of the 80/20 diet, we can find a healthy balance that's both satisfying in terms of our tastebuds and uncomplicated when executing in everyday life. We can continue to embrace flavor while adhering to healthy eating practices and enjoy a more scrumptious and balanced life. So, committing to the 80/20 lifestyle allows us to explore pleasurable flavors and indulge in cravings while maintaining all the benefits of a more healthy-centric diet. Developing a Sustainable Meal Plan When you are looking to make a healthy and sustainable change to your lifestyle, meal planning is a great place to start. Creating a meal plan for yourself is a useful strategy that can help you stick to your nutrition goals. Before you start planning your meals, you should take time to consider your needs and preferences. Consider how much time and money you have to devote to meal prep, as well as the types of foods you enjoy. Think about how many meals you want to prepare and the number of people you are serving. Once you have these details figured out, you can begin meal planning. Creating a plan will help you save time, money, and energy. Start by making a list of the recipes you intend to make and the ingredients you need. Once you have your list, make a weekly or monthly grocery list that you can use to purchase everything you need. You may also want to consider investing in some meal-prepping equipment, such as plastic storage containers, that will help keep your food fresh and make it easy to store and transport meals. Following a plan will make it easier to stick to your goals and make healthy eating a habit. Making Exercise a Regular Part of Life Making exercise a regular part of your lifestyle can be difficult. In addition to changing your dietary habits, you need to commit to incorporating physical movement into your daily routine. A great starting point is to begin by exercising for 20 to 30 minutes a day, gradually increasing the intensity of your workouts with time. It’s important to focus on doing activities that you enjoy. This could include yoga, running, swimming, or any other type of exercise that you can easily fit into your schedule. Setting achievable goals can also help to keep you motivated, whether that’s running a certain distance or doing a certain number of reps. Working out with a friend or even joining a local sports team, can also be a great way to stay motivated and make exercising more fun and engaging. Establishing Healthy Habits Creating healthy habits can be an important part of achieving a healthy lifestyle. Achieving the 80/20 diet starts in the kitchen, but it’s more than just eating right. Establishing a few healthy habits can help you to keep your diet on track and make the process of reaching your goals much easier. Start small. Begin by tracking what you eat and keeping tabs on your activity levels. That will give you better insight into what you’re doing and how you’re doing it. From there, you can start to add small positive habits like replacing sugary snacks with healthier options, or drinking water instead of soda. Every little step helps and eventually you’ll begin to to make better, healthier decisions on a daily basis. Overcoming Challenges and Setbacks Sometimes, making lifestyle changes and adopting healthy habits can be difficult. It can be challenging to maintain the necessary dedication and self-discipline when obstacles get in the way. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach — everyone’s situation is unique — but there are strategies that can help. To start, it’s important to be mindful of your thoughts. Being overly hard on yourself can make it harder to move forward. Instead, be kind and understanding with yourself. Recognize when things don’t go as planned, then look for solutions and make adjustments. If you do find yourself off-track, remember that any effort is better than nothing — getting back on track and making progress is more important than perfection. Managing Cravings and Emotional Eating Cravings and emotional eating can derail health and diet goals. But it doesn't have to be that way. To help manage cravings and emotional eating, start by isolating the trigger. When cravings happen or we become overwhelmed by emotions that make us feel like we need food, take a few deep breaths, take a walk, go outside, and talk to someone. Rather than focusing on fixing the craving, redirect the energy into doing something else that is positive, calming, and rewarding. Foods and drinks can also be replaced by alternatives such as complex carbohydrates or high fiber snacks such as broccoli, edamame, and hummus. To avoid temptation, it can be helpful to plan for days when cravings arise. Prepare healthier meals ahead of time or have healthy snacks or prepped fruits and vegetables ready ahead of time. Commit to making the healthier food choice. Eating healthy will also help manage cravings since the body will be getting the nourishment it needs. Drinking plenty of water and staying hydrated is also important since dehydration can cause cravings. Staying Motivated and Focused Reaching your health and wellness goals requires making changes to your lifestyle that can be challenging. Staying motivated and focused during these moments is important. One effective way to maintain your focus is to write down your goals and reasons for making this change. Having a clear plan for completing those goals and reviewing your progress regularly can serve as a reminder of why you are taking these steps towards a healthier lifestyle. Another way to stay motivated is to set rewards for yourself. This could be something like a spa day or special treat after reaching a certain milestone. Celebrating successes is all part of maintaining momentum. You should also enlist the support of friends and family to help keep you accountable when it comes to staying on track. Everyone needs a little assistance sometimes and having loved ones to motivate you can make a big difference. Incorporating Mindful Eating Practices Mindful eating involves being aware of the physical and emotional reasons behind food choices. This can include paying attention to food's texture, smell, taste, presentation, and the amount being eaten. By using mindful eating techniques, you can savor enjoyable meals, identify and stop when full, and be in sync with the body’s natural hunger and satiation signals. Developing mindful eating habits can help to break the cycle of emotional eating which often leads to poor food choices or overindulgence. Becoming aware of the environmental and emotional factors that lead to unhealthy food choices can help change long-term habits, such as skipping meals or snacking on unhealthy foods. Furthermore, mindful eating can provide more pleasure and satisfaction from meals as it can help increase digestion, reduce cravings, and help make overall eating more enjoyable. What is the 80/20 Diet? The 80/20 diet is a dietary approach that focuses on eating healthy foods 80% of the time and allowing indulgences 20% of the time. The idea is to create a healthy balance between healthy eating and enjoying occasional treats. How can I create a sustainable meal plan? Creating a sustainable meal plan involves finding recipes and meal ideas that you enjoy and look forward to eating. Make sure to include a variety of healthy proteins, vegetables, and grains. Additionally, it’s important to plan out meals and snacks ahead of time to make sure you’re not left reaching for unhealthy foods when you’re hungry. What are some healthy habits I can establish? Healthy habits to establish include eating regular meals and snacks throughout the day, drinking plenty of water, getting adequate sleep, and avoiding processed and sugary foods. Additionally, it’s important to make time for physical activity, such as taking a walk, going to the gym, or playing a sport. How can I overcome challenges and setbacks? When faced with a challenge or setback, it’s important to reframe the situation and focus on the positive. Accepting that mistakes happen and learning from them is key to making lasting changes. Additionally, it can be helpful to seek out support from friends and family or even a registered dietitian or nutritionist. What can I do to manage cravings and emotional eating? Managing cravings and emotional eating involves recognizing the triggers that lead to these behaviors and developing strategies to cope with them. Mindful eating is a great tool to practice for this, as it helps to be more aware of the emotions and thoughts that lead to cravings and emotional eating. Additionally, finding healthy distractions and activities can help to reduce cravings. How can I stay motivated and focused? Staying motivated and focused can be achieved by setting realistic goals, making small changes over time, and celebrating successes when they happen. Additionally, it can be helpful to find a support system of friends, family, or health care professionals who can provide guidance and motivation. What are mindful eating practices? Mindful eating practices are techniques that help you become aware of how you’re feeling and what you’re eating. This includes taking time to savor your food, paying attention to your hunger and fullness cues, and being mindful of your emotions and thoughts when making food choices. Practicing mindful eating can help you make more conscious and healthy food choices. Read the full article

[nagarajseofreelancer]

How to Choose the Right Luggage Storage Company

Planning a trip this year requires careful consideration of every aspect of your journey. If you're flying internationally and value your personal space and access to alcoholic beverages, you could consider upgrading to first class. You must choose between a standard hotel room and a more luxurious suite.

The amount of baggage you intend to bring along is another consideration. It would help to have enough clothes to last you for several days or weeks on the road. If you're taking a long trip, you'll need sizable luggage, or several, to accommodate your belongings. We'll also talk about how to find reliable luggage storage in Bangalore.

Read the feedback:

Choosing a luggage storage service via the Internet is a smart move. See what other consumers have to say about a company's quality by reading online reviews. Reviews can help determine if the service is true of the stated rate.

Prep and research to be ahead:

Preparing before hand’s also a good idea by learning about potential luggage storage in Bangalore choices that meet your needs. The seemingly insignificant act of transporting your belongings from one location to another could become a source of stress and frustration if you are unprepared. If you want to avoid unpleasant surprises, prepare your luggage storage for future demands.

Avoid skipping out on insurance:

Since accidents can happen at any time, finding a luggage storage facility that offers insurance is crucial. If something unexpected happens and you lose your stuff, having insurance will give you peace of mind.

Price:

You probably don't want to pay for a full day of luggage storage if you need it for a few hours. Whether you need short-term or long-term luggage storage, you should always inquire about the service's pricing and whether or not the supplier offers both choices. In addition, you should constantly keep in mind that the affordable price indicates better quality than the lowest price. Pay more attention to the quality of the service than to the price.

Make sure it's true by contacting tech support:

Asking the right questions of the luggage storage company's customer service professional might reveal whether or not they can deliver on their promises. It's great advice for finding a reliable luggage storage facility.

Discount Provided:

You might be in a rush and willing to spend more for luggage storage in Bangalore. You can find the best deals in the place you're visiting by researching online.

Don't forget to read the cancellation policy:

You should check the cancellation terms and conditions and plan to deal with where to put your bags because anything can happen to force a change in your plans. You probably want to avoid shelling out more cash for a luggage storage option you didn't use. Before cancelling your luggage storage, read the terms and restrictions.

Conclusion:

Find secure luggage storage in Bangalore with the help of this guide. It offers cheap, secure luggage storage in a wide variety of locations. The fact that they will come and get your bags from wherever you are is the best thing about them, but they also store them in a secure area.

[myntramiller]

The Ultimate Juicer Buying Guide: Find the Perfect Juicer for Your Needs

Introduction: Welcome to our comprehensive juicer buying guide, designed to assist you in selecting the ideal juicer for your specific requirements. Whether you're a health-conscious individual or simply want to incorporate fresh juices into your lifestyle, this guide will provide you with essential information and key considerations to make an informed purchase decision.

Types of Juicers:

Centrifugal Juicers: These juicers use high-speed spinning to extract juice quickly. They are suitable for a wide range of fruits and vegetables, offering convenience and speed. However, they may not be as effective in juicing leafy greens and may produce slightly lower-quality juice.

Masticating Juicers: Also known as slow juicers or cold press juicers, these machines use a slow grinding and crushing action to extract juice. They excel at juicing leafy greens and produce high-quality juice with superior nutrient retention. Masticating juicers operate quietly but are generally more expensive.

Citrus Juicers: Designed specifically for citrus fruits, these juicers efficiently extract juice from oranges, lemons, and grapefruits. They are simple to use and clean, making them an excellent choice if you primarily juice citrus fruits.

Key Factors to Consider:

Juice Quality: Consider the desired quality of your juice. If you prioritize nutrient retention and superior taste, masticating juicers are known for producing high-quality, less oxidized juice.

Speed and Efficiency: If you value quick juicing and convenience, centrifugal juicers are faster in extracting juice and typically feature larger feed chutes, reducing prep time.

Noise Level: If a quiet operation is essential to you, masticating juicers are generally quieter than centrifugal juicers due to their slower speed.

Juicing Preferences: Evaluate the types of produce you intend to juice most frequently. If you plan to juice a variety of fruits, vegetables, and leafy greens, a masticating juicer's versatility may be more suitable.

Ease of Cleaning: Consider the cleaning process of the juicer. Some models have dishwasher-safe parts or include specialized cleaning tools to simplify maintenance and save you time.

Space and Storage: Assess the available space in your kitchen. If countertop space is limited, compact juicers or those with a smaller footprint may be more practical for easy storage.

Budget: Determine your budget range, keeping in mind that juicers can vary significantly in price. Consider the features and functionalities that align with your budget while ensuring long-term value and durability.

Conclusion: With a wide array of juicer options on the market, choosing the right juicer can be overwhelming. By considering factors such as juicer type, juice quality, speed, noise level, cleaning ease, space requirements, and budget, you can narrow down your choices and find the perfect juicer to suit your needs. Remember to conduct thorough research, read customer reviews, and compare specifications to make an educated decision. Investing in a high-quality juicer will enhance your juicing experience and contribute to your overall health and well-being.

[katsucutie]

i hate your guts (m)

pairing: bakugou katsuki x reader genre: smut, humor warnings: smut, swearing (you know the good stuff) overview: class 1-a has this belief that you and katsuki hate each other, though one incident has their minds changed word count: 4.2k author’s note: this was written to fight my writer’s block and i happened to find a psycho-analysis of katsuki which helped somewhat and its quite interesting. anyways...the song choice while writing this was house of cards, also this was written in three days and i tried using any relevant medical terms i’ve learned so far in uni. hope you enjoy!! masterlist | ko-fi

Walking through the azure-rimmed gate you knew the day would be the same. Homeroom for ten minutes then classes back to back with a minor minute break in between, next an oh-so-needed fifty-minute lunch, and finally two classes to end the day. Not that you could complain, heroes in training must earn some type of education.

Though school wasn’t the worst thing invented, you can definitely say occasions in English class were not lackluster with Present Mic as the teacher. Or in math, when Midoriya yells out an inaccurate answer only to be corrected by Yaoyorozu. It's the little moments that bring laughter, or maybe it’s watching someone embarrass themselves in front of a class that's joyful.

And you could never forget the times where Jirou teased Kaminari for short-circuiting.

While all those moments are fun and dandy, 1-A can also be quite the chatterboxes and gossipy, especially when it comes to your feelings towards Bakugou. Believing that your relationship consists of mutual hatred, class 1-A constantly manages to tease both you and the blonde-headed male. Even All-Might manages to separate the two of you during training.

Although you never said anything against the rumors, it's quite humorous to see a school be so wrong in their thoughts. Is it not obvious that the glares the two of you send are not out of anger but endearment? Clearly not to Todoroki who claimed that Midoriya was All-Might’s secret love child, but that's beside the point. Additionally, you’ve yet to hear an accurate hypothesis as to why you and Bakugou would hate each other. Many of the theories revolve around Bakugou’s ‘anger problems’ but honestly, who doesn’t get mad?

Nonetheless, the rumors surrounding your alleged detestation toward the blonde sparked a little prank between you two. Pretending to hate each other until people catch on that you’re dating.

And the joke has been going on for quite a while, four months to be exact. Four months of pretending to hate in front of crowds, yet loving behind closed doors. Four months of experiencing the rush of adrenaline when you sneak around to his dorm room in the late hours of the night. Four months of leaving your friend groups to hang out during lunch.  

Four months of waking up early to walk to class with Bakugou. And don’t forget about four months of the blonde-headed male constantly breaking you away from your thoughts.

“Oi Y/n, break out of that daze and let’s go, we have thirty-minutes before class and I’d like to spend that time not pretending to hate you” Bakugou calls while molding his fingers into yours.

“Oh please, I’m not pretending you know I hate your guts” You smile, leaning into the broad male walking towards homeroom. “Do you think today will be the same?”

“Yes, those idiots could watch us kiss and still think we hate each other, though I can’t complain, their oblivion is better than if they were to pester us about our relationship” he snarks.

Mindlessly nodding in agreement, you and Bakugou wander through the purple-stained floors of U.A., passing by random classrooms, and peering out the glass windows that overlook the campus.

After twenty-five minutes of strolling through the halls, Bakugou and you turn down the corridor leading to class 1-A, while unlocking hands and prepping for your fake and falsely-interpreted loathing glares.

“Today marks day ninety-six of the class believing we hate each other” you whisper.

“They’re hopeless….”

“But if at any point, you want to stop pretending let me know… I wouldn’t mind, jokes are funny but you’re my top priority”

“Is Bakugou Katsuki getting soft on me?”

“No.. shut up-”

“And they're back at it again Ladies and Gentlemen… the feud between Y/n and Bakugou seems everlasting” Kaminari calls sliding open the tall door leading to class 1-A. Way to ruin a cute moment.

“Honestly the two would probably be best friends if they didn’t hate each other, they both like the same things” Oh they wouldn’t believe the interests you two share.

“Yeah, but their personalities are so different, they’re just not meant to be and that’s fine” What a shock your relationship would be then.

“I’m so glad that you’re interested in my ‘relationship’ with Lord Explosion Murder… but I have more important matters to attend to such as earning my education so that I can be a top pro-hero” you remark sliding into your chair. Your comments are never intended to insult your boyfriend, but teasing his choice of a hero name couldn’t hurt anyone.

Waiting for the remaining two minutes for class to start, you check your phone and see a message notification from a familiar contact.

Babe 💗: storage room during lunch?

Quicker than your mind made a decision, your fingers don’t hesitate to press the send button.

You: i’ll bring the key        

----------

Bakugou was a master of three things. Okay maybe more than three, but three traits excel. His talent, his mind, and his ability to use his fingers.

Bakugou’s talent is tremendous and has been able to advance his goals of becoming a pro-hero. He acknowledges that he was born with such an extraordinary quirk, and has a flair for using it. Notwithstanding the male’s breakdown and internal belief that he is inferior to his pre-quirkless childhood friend, Bakugou unceasingly exerts himself to be more than a student with talent.

His mind is magnificent and allowed Bakugou to comprehend multiple topics of interest. Placing third in the class’ midterm exam, it’s evident that he shines in academic settings. And though few peers in 1-A state that Bakugou fails in the social aspect, you claim the opposite. In their eyes Bakugou is brash, however, after spending time with the boy, you have viewed him as self-reflecting, with social skills that others cannot see.  

While brains and talent may all be magnificent qualities of the blonde, nothing beats Bakugou’s ability to use his fingers. Combined with both his talent and his mind, Bakugou has the ability to make both inanimate and living things explode. And that isn’t related to his quirk.

“You’re imagining events that haven’t occurred yet. Am I truly that talented?”

Flushed and blinking in a shocked manner towards the male in front of you, you ask him if his quirk was mind-reading.

“Hmmm… No, but after seeing you so embarrassed I’d love to have such a quirk so that I’d be able to view the thoughts inside that mind of yours, but I was gifted with explosions... You, on the other hand, were blessed with the ability to swap items on your command. A quirk so useful, especially in times like these when I don’t have a key to the storage room”

“Oh please, just admit that you use me to gain entrance into forbidden rooms” You tease, giving Bakugou the janitor’s key to unlock the storage room.

The male chuckles unlocking the door to the storage closet, “Maybe a bit, though you reap the benefits of getting it” Change of thought, maybe he is brash.

Shutting the door behind you two, you finally express your raw emotions towards your boyfriend, engulfing him in a hug.

“I missed you”

“You came over my dorm last night” What an ass, couldn’t he just accept your affection?

“Yeah, but you go to sleep at like eight-thirty, which means I have to leave you dorm before then, and then I’m stuck in my dorm with nobody to talk to until I go to sleep at midnight, that’s about three and a half hours being alone”

“You’re so clingy… it's cute”

“Is there anything else I can do to make you feel less lonely since I go to sleep at like eight-thirty and leave you alone’”

Bashfully looking down at the floor rather than your boyfriend, you mumble your request.

Releasing the hug, Bakugou smirks, poking fun at your diffidence, “With that ask, I don't think you can be shy… Are you sure that's what you truly want?”

Nodding your head you look up to the red-eyed male, taking in his dilated pupils. It's always been him that you’ve desired.

Accepting your form of consent, Bakugou kisses you, enveloping your figure while you sneak your hands around his neck to deepen the embrace. And although the two of you are in a storage closet skipping out on lunch, the feeling of epinephrine dispersing within your bloodstream, inducing fast heart rates, is blissful. A salacious rendezvous with the man you’ve come to love could never hurt anyone… as long as they didn't find out.  

And if one were to catch you two, would they truly stop two aroused students halfway from committing adultery? Would a teacher not be embarrassed if he/she watched as Bakugou hurriedly zips down your green skirt in order to slide his fingers inside of your warmth? Or would someone scamper along hearing the lewd mewls arising from your throat?

“You’re so loud Princess, we have to keep it down or else someone will hear us, okay?”

Yet the person to blame for such noises was Bakugou himself. One could imagine the boy having rough, unmoisturized hands from his explosive quirk, but his inheritance of glycerin allows him to easily travel in and out of you.

“You’re close aren’t you? I can tell. Your walls are contracting at a faster rate and tightening each time I pump my fingers into you. It's really hot too, especially knowing that the world believes you hate my guts when behind the scenes, I rearrange yours”.  

Words cannot describe the pleasure Bakugou exposes you to. A thumb pressed against your clitoris, his middle and ring finger dug past your labia, and you’re unraveling beneath him. He has you under his full control. And how Bakugou feels will determine your release. An untroubled Bakugou can earn you multiple chances of release, whereas the current Bakugou you’re experiencing will rip your attempt at euphoria, despite you being almost there.  

“Katsuki please, I was right there… I’m so close you even said it yourself” You plead, wanting to reach a climax.

“I don’t know… strenuous activities make me tired and I wouldn’t want to upset you with the hour I may fall asleep” Bakugou smirks while tasting his digits, “You taste like caramelized sugar, I wonder where that came about?”

“Suki please, don’t leave me like this”

“It’ll only be for a little while babe, but lunch is almost over, we have to go back to class. I’ll help you out at my dorm alright?”

What more could you do but nod, put back on your skirt, and pretend to hate Bakugou once more in public?

----------

The walk back to class was internally embarrassing. Arousal saturated your underwear, heat filling up between your legs and left you with a foggy mind. You couldn’t imagine pretending to hate Bakugou now when all you could think about was Bakugou hovering above you in his dorm room, aggressively ramming into your hole as you pleaded for mercy. But you’re in school containing students who are not Bakugou to distract you from your misery.

“Y/n pay attention to me, and why do you smell like caramel?” Well shit, is the cat out of the bag?

Looking up at the voice calling, you smile faintly in means of apologizing and mutter an incoherent response to Mina’s question.

“Sorry, and thanks I guess... It might be from the sweets I had during lunch”

“I see, well since you like sugary foods we should go to the bakery today after school, I’m sure the others would like to come too” The pinky bounces brightly.

“I can’t today, sorry! I’m super behind on work and barely understand what's going on in class, let’s go this weekend when I’m free?” What a Lie.

Fortunately, the promise of a raincheck is enough for Mina to back off from the situation and accept your rejection. Today would have been a perfect day to go out with friends, yet the blonde-headed boyfriend of yours decided to be unfair, leaving you to crave his affection. Though, the school day would be over soon enough with only two periods following lunch. And only then would you be able to gain some type of relief.

As if that ideology would be so simple.

Bakugou Katsuki is a man full of pride --rightfully achieved, of course, meaning he knew how and when to push your buttons. Right now being one of those times.

Despite wanting to pay attention in your world language class, Bakugou made it very difficult to do so. Especially knowing that he is the cause of your phone silently vibrating every three minutes in your pocket. He doesn't want you to forget he is the cause of your erotic thoughts. Rather, he’ll keep reminding you that he is controlling your excitement.

However, from the glance across the room, Bakugou didn’t look like the lead in this relationship. His eyes were majorly dilated, with his red iris visually smaller in circumference. Additionally, a prominent cherry hue spread across his cheeks, that one may call flustered from afar. Although, only the two of you understood each other’s physical response towards seduction.

Babe 💗: you look dazed

Babe 💗 : I don’t think that’s the best for someone who wants to become a hero, don't you think?

Babe 💗: this class is so important

Babe 💗: …

Babe 💗 : don’t look at me

Babe 💗: i'm not the teacher

Babe 💗: your so cute trying to ignore these texts

Oh how badly you wanted school to be over

-------------

As the clock hit 2:45 PM, you watch everyone around you hurrying to leave the school and have freedom. And once five minutes go past, 1-A is a semi-empty classroom with two students remaining. Two hormonal, amorous, epinephrine-surged students patiently waiting for their peers to leave the school grounds, so that they can walk to the dorms together in peace.  

Whilst hand-holding may be a shock to onlookers, if they had the capability to read your mind, myocardial infarction would sure to follow. Outstandingly too, if they did not foreshadow the events of you walking within the fourth floor of heights alliance and entering the second room from your left.

“Your room is so homey” You comment. Despite visiting the blonde’s dorm room on multiple occasions, the comforting aura never ceases to relax you.

“I would hope so, I don’t want to be reminded that we’ve been moved from our homes to our school campus in fear of malicious attacks against students”  

“Thanks for that… truly an amazing choice of words” You sarcastically remark. Not everyone needs a reminder of the traumatic incidents students of U.A. have been through, especially when it's clear that students of 1-A (and others) have not received enough therapeutic aid to cope with the events suffered.

One would think that Bakugou of all students would be most affected by trauma, starting from falling victim to the Sludge Villain incident, to being kidnapped by the infamous League of Villains, though he shows the opposite effects. While you cannot see inside the mind of Bakugou and tell if he is extremely traumatized by the incidents and is repressing his memories as a form of coping, you can see what he is physically doing. And at this current moment, you cannot see someone disturbed by his past, but impassioned with the ideas of what is to come.

Tossing your backpack to a discarded corner of Bakugou’s dorm, you throw yourself onto his bed, relishing in the comfort of his bedsheets. You’ve always loved his bed, your favorite moments with him have occurred there. Random naps while cuddling on Saturday afternoon, binge-watching cult-classics after a big exam, or simply having Bakugou’s powerfully built arms wrapped around you like they are now is unforgettable.

“I don’t understand how you’re so built? We go to the same school, attend the same classes and both do athletic training. I mean I’m not complaining because you definitely look good, but it's interesting how my figure compares to yours”

“That's like me asking why you’re so attractive, it's just luck within life, plus I like your figure, it blends perfectly with mine”. A man with such words can only follow with actions that prove it, and the blonde was sure to do so.

Except for when his phone goes off multiple times.

“I think you should check your texts, it may be important”

Halfway sliding off of your body, Bakugou pulls his phone out of his pockets to read his text messages. “It's nothing important, Kirishima just wanted me to join him and the others to go to some bakery since you didn't want to go”

“Oh okay-” Again you were cut off by the sound of his phone going off, however this time, the alert was a long-lasting ring, signaling that Bakugou was receiving a call.

“He’s so persistent, why would I want to go to a bakery when the best dessert is in front of me”

Lightly throwing his phone on the floor of his dorm, Bakugou discards any form of human interaction outside of the bed, focusing his attention on the one he loves.

“You know I really fucking love and care for you?” You do. You fully understand his love for you, from the way his iris shrinks to the rosy pigments formulating on his cheeks when looking at you. And you’ve never once questioned his devoutness towards expressing his adoration for you.

In moments like these, where Bakugou gently strips clothing from your body admiring every crevice, you know the two of you are in love. The boy may come off as an entitled brat, but when push comes to shove, he will bend over backwards trying to make you feel happy.

“You’re so mushy when you're in the feels”

“Oh forgive me for wanting to praise my girlfriend”

“I’m joking, but it is nice to know the feeling is reciprocated”

His silence you took as acknowledgment. ‘I love you too’ was a phrase you didn’t say often, it sounds too forced. Being obligated to say a phrase in return is meaningless when both parties understand each other’s feelings. And it's even more worthless when the actions committed speak louder than words. Bakugou does not need to hear you say ‘I love you’ constantly when he knows you dragging the zipper down of his pants and springing free his cock from the restraints of his underwear means the same thing.

And when you free yourself from the fondling of your boyfriend to meet your lips with the tip of his enraged dick, Bakugou has fallen prey to submission. Having yet to insert the body part into your mouth, you take notice of the male in front of you. Cheeks flushes, head lolled back, visible veins peeking from his sand-colored skin, and light pants as a result of excitement. Hot.  

One kiss to his head and you feel a little twitch. He wouldn’t last long. Understanding that thought you decide to mess with the male, putting half of his length within your mouth and pumping the other half. It was a shame he toyed with you earlier, now he’d face the repercussions. Light squelches filled the quiet air, and Bakugou’s groans got increasingly vocal overtime. The combination forming a sexual melody awaiting to be abruptly paused.

Releasing your lips from the now wet surface of the blonde’s dick, you hear the annoyed groan of the male. “Why’d you stop?”

“I’m sorry were you close?”

“Obviously, but that doesn’t answer my question”

“It’s just that strenuous activities make me tired Suki, and I wouldn’t to make you upset if I accidentally fell asleep”

Tch. The little sound of irritation fell from Bakugou’s mouth, only signaled one thing, rough sex.

“How I’ve come to date such a slutty brat is beyond me. Getting back at me isn’t going to help you in this situation. All you’ll receive is a punishment, though knowing you, you’ll probably enjoy it”  

Although enticed by the proposition, you failed to speak out after being muffled by your boyfriend. Your own skirt which the male had managed to take off earlier now laid scrunched up in your mouth. In addition to that, your arms were now constricted by a gold-rimmed belt.

And while whining in complaint about the new restrictions placed on you, Bakugou alters your kneeling position into one laying beneath him. The primal glare he sends you would signal fear to others, however, you know that the fun is only about to begin.  

Widening your legs apart Bakugou spares no time plunging two fingers into you, stretching the pair apart. Despite being unable to speak, your moans are heard loud enough by your boyfriend to increase his speed. Every sound encouraging the male to continue to berate your walls.

Thinking that the punishment you’ll receive is overstimulation by being one step away from ecstasy, you’re disturbed by the sudden absence of feeling in your core.

“I didn’t say you could come”

Twice today he’d done that. One denial was not enough for him, and that’s when you identified your mistake. Bakugou had the power to reject your advances to climax however many times he’d like. Maybe being a brat today wasn’t the best idea.  

Granted that Bakugou could undeniably be the most ruthless person when it comes to sex, today marked the first time he’d ever advanced into you without warning. The thrusts he implemented assaulting your hole. Even so, you wouldn’t have it any other way.

“My god Y/n, you’re so tight, so perfectly made to take my dick”

“You make it so easy for me to unravel within the warmth of your pussy”

“Fuck I’m so close baby, I’m sure you are too”

He wasn’t wrong. The magnitude of the thrusts presented plus the physical restraints and multiple orgasm denials has sped up your ability to reach a climax. You were a mess underneath the man, hoping that soon he would grant you the gift of release. And by the looks of it, Bakugou would provide you with it soon. His cock inconsistently twitching in your warmth, notifying both you and him that he would come soon.

So when the removal of your gag began, you were not surprised. He was close and needed the extra aid of your uncovered moans to aid him to let go. Bare lewd noises ricocheted from the walls of Bakugou’s dorm, and you became thankful that Kirishima went to a bakery rather than located next door. Though had he been, he would have been overhearing an occasion so pornographic, one would think you’re in the business.

They wouldn’t be fully wrong either. Whilst uploading an adult video while training to be pro-heroes sounds absurd, Bakugou has no problem taping to two of you in the act. It may be the idea of possibly getting the video leaked or a similar exhibitionist-like kink, but the blonde constantly acts to videotape during sex.

“This would be perfect on video. The noises you make before you come are so fucking hot I’d replay them until the end of time”

Yet Bakugou is gravely mistaken. Yes, the noises you exhale are angelic, but compared to the rugged groan he calls while releasing his load in you is divine, and never fails in making you follow suit. So when you recognize that tone in addition to the feeling of warmth coating the inside of your walls, you have no choice but to mirror his actions.

“You’re so perfect” He states, slipping himself from your cunt and delivering pecks to your lips while he unbuckles his belt from your wrists. Post-sex always has Bakugou sappy, but how could you complain.  

Wrapping your freed arms around his neck, you pull the male closer to your embrace while nuzzling your nose into his neck. You felt the rapid pace of his heartbeat begin to slow down.

“Are you guys done, because I still haven’t received a response from Bakugou about if he wanted to go to the bakery or not?” What the fuck.

“Did you not press decline when answering Kirishima’s phone?”

“I thought I did…”

“Is that a no or?”

“Of course it's a fucking no, and don’t tell anyone else what you heard. Why were you even listen-” He hung up.

“You think we can go another day pretending to hate each other?”

“Nope… he definitely told the entire class”

“That's a shame, it was fun having them think I hate your guts”

“Awe how tragic… now get up so we can clean you off, heroes in training don't get UTIs”

How sweet.

----------

The trek to school the next day seemed no different than the past. You woke up early to walk to class with Bakugou and strolled the corridors. Only this time while sauntering into homeroom, nobody greeted the couple at the door, rather class 1-A smiled awkwardly as you held hands walking to your seats. Although you wouldn’t have known the reason for the tension in the classroom had Kaminari not jokingly mumble to Sero that he would’ve never expected the blonde to be an exhibitionist.

“Hm, if I recall correctly, I said not to tell anyone”

“I’m sorry my phone was on speaker when I called you” Great.

[l-ion-heart]

Pokemon Go Exp Guide! - The Race to 40 and Beyond

I know some friends who are trying to make the final push to level 40 in PoGo before the legacy event ends so I whipped up a doc with all the methods I use to grind experience! It’s not exhaustive but it’s pretty dang in-depth. You can just read the bolded sections if it’s too long XD

Feel free to share, with credit of course! Let’s get as many trainers to forty as we can!

Pokémon Go: Exp Tips for the Sprint to Lvl 40 (and beyond)!

by: bottsy ( fc: 759850632021 )  Discord: botts_y#0909

Overview:

Events - Double Catch Experience!

Friendship - Lucky Egg those Friendship Statuses!

Mass Evolution - The Rewards of Candy Accounting!

Dailies - Streaking, the Hottest Exp Grind!

Research - Hoarding Isn’t Just for Stardust

PokeCoins - Buying Your Way to Legacy

The Legacy Challenge: Leaving Dec. 31st

Postscript

Events:

Always keep an eye out for current and upcoming events, especially those that boost experience (although nowadays they are rare). Even if the event isn’t explicitly related to an experience boost, it might still present a more efficient chance to gain experience. For example, they just boosted incense spawns again so incense is now a great tool to supplement catching a ton of Pokémon quickly when you can’t be out and about or nothing is spawning nearby.

Current Event: Thanks to the 2x catch experience bonus until the end of the year and the rework on catch experience, catching Pokémon is the best way to grind exp on your own - especially if you can get some excellent throws (they now net you 2k exp on catch). With a lucky egg, you can also turn that 2x bonus into a 4x bonus and rocket up to 40.

So, catch as much as you can between now and the end of the year, and when you can’t play, plan ahead by thinking about how upcoming events or bonuses could be most efficiently used.

Friendship:

Even with a double catch exp event, friendship bonuses remain the largest source of experience: 100k for best friend, and 50k for ultra. By coordinating with a friend if you can communicate, or by planning ahead if you cannot, you can use a lucky egg before acquiring these bonuses and walk away with a giant lump sum of experience. 

The safest way to do this (even with someone with whom you can communicate) is to ensure that when you are 1 day from your bonus, you have a gift from them and they do NOT have a gift from you. This means that you will be in control of when the friendship bonus pops because it will not do so until you open your gift from them. This is how you set up multiple bonuses for a single lucky egg - pop the egg and then open all the relevant gifts. If you are able to communicate with the person, it is good practice to give them notice and plan together when you will do the bonus so that they can lucky egg as well.

*In the weeds: little details, with big impact*

Setting up so that you have one day left before bonus and only you have a gift means that 2 days away from bonus you are HIGHLY reliant on the other person to open one of your gifts and send (or have already sent) you a gift. Sometimes people aren’t very engaged in gift giving or have other friendships they are already working on, and may not send you the gift you need. At that point you have to weigh the risk of not getting the friendship bonus in time (if they never send you the gift) versus the loss of exp you may face if you aren’t in charge of when the bonus happens and as a result cannot use lucky egg. Just something to be aware of! Also beware that when in a shared PoGo community, if you raid or trade with that person, it will progress your friendship. It’s a good idea to keep a list of who you have bonuses ready for so that you can avoid these interactions until you are ready to activate bonus.

So, right now it would be a good idea to look through your friends list and make note of any friends you have that have ultra/best friend bonuses attainable by the end of the year. You can mark them with a specific nickname so that they are easy to sort and identify over the next month as you prioritize getting and sending gifts to them. If you can communicate with them, reach out so that you can prioritize leveling the friendship together and make plans for using lucky egg on the bonus. If not, do your best and try to take control of when the bonus happens to ensure you get lucky egg bonus.

Mass Evolution:

A popular and effective, but intensive, strategy is mass evolution. Evolving a Pokémon earns 500 exp (and a bonus 500 exp if it is a new dex entry). As a result, you can pop a lucky egg and then evolve as many Pokémon as possible within the half hour to net 1k per evolution and as much as 50-70k+ total experience, depending on the speed of the phone and player. The effectiveness of this method is that it makes consistent, predictable use of a lucky egg and only requires unwanted Pokémon and candy - making it popular with free-to-play players. The drawback of this method is that it is intensive in terms of planning time and storage space required. 

In advance of a mass evolution you need to have 60-some(+) Pokémon ready to evolve and you need to know which Pokémon they are so that you can efficiently move from one to the other when evolving. For those unconcerned about PvP options, maintaining a living dex, etc. simply searching “evolve” is enough prep, but those more concerned about PvE and PvP relevance or keeping a living dex will need to go through and determine for which species they are comfortable burning candy and which specimens of that species they are going to evolve. That’s up to your own priorities and discretion, but it would help to mark those Pokémon or make a list for reference. Nothing is worse than trying to mass evolve and then losing time because you didn’t mark which weedle you were saving to max and mega evolve or which eevee was going to be your great league umbreon.

Between mass evolutions you need to acquire the candy and Pokémon necessary for the next set of evolutions. The best Pokémon to mass evolve are always where the candy cost is lowest - ie, the lowest evolution stage of a species with naturally low evolution cost and little use in your relevant metas (Raids, Gyms, Rocket, PvP, etc.). Examples of this are the birds, bugs and normal types of most generations like pidgey, wurmple, and patrat. Still, these aren’t the only Pokémon worth mass evolving. Any Pokémon for which you have the extra candies to evolve is worth doing, but the Pokémon discussed above are worth prioritizing catching in the wild (or even pinapping) for the purpose of evolving. It is a good idea when clearing out unwanted Pokémon to do a quick accounting of how many evolutions of that Pokémon you could do based on how many candies you have. Then, hold onto enough individuals of the species to do that many evolutions. 

We still haven’t discussed when is the best time to mega evolve, and as always it depends on events. Right now, because of the double catch exp event, your lucky eggs would likely be better spent on catching if you have the balls and Pokémon storage. If not, it might be time to clear space with some sorting and evolving! HOWEVER, on Dec. 29th between 6 and 7pm local time the bonus hour will feature  double evolution experience! So if you did mass evolution during that hour, for the whole hour, with 2 lucky eggs you could easily get 200k+ exp. That would be an exceptional time for mass evolution.

This also highlights events that don’t give bonus experience but can still play a role in efficient leveling: the two prior bonus hours on Dec. 15th and Dec. 22nd grant double catch candy and double transfer candy respectively. You can use these prior bonus hours to prepare for the big event on Dec. 29th by getting more candy for evolutions!

That’s A LOT to take in, so let’s break the whole process down by examining a single, relevant species. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Season of Celebration brought along boosted snover spawns so we are seeing a lot more of our frosty tree friend. He has niche use in both great and ultra league, and a brand new mega evolution, so you might want to hang on to one for great league and one to max for both ultra league and mega evolving. Beyond that he isn’t a raid showstopper so you won’t be making a team of abomasnow like you might mamoswine. Any candy and specimens you acquire beyond the needs of those two snover would be perfect for mega evolving. So, you mark your useful snover (maybe even favorite so they don’t accidentally get shipped off) and start tracking your snover candy. Let’s say you have 125 candy: snover’s evolution cost is 50 candy so you would save 2 additional snover to evolve down the line. The rest you would transfer once an appropriate time arrives - like the event on the 22nd. If you are out of space, transfer right away because you’ll make more candy getting out there and catching than you will sitting around for an event. Once you acquire 150 snover candies, you would save 3 snover and so on as your candies increase. Then when it’s time to sort and mega evolve your snover will be ready to go! That’s the mindset to adopt if you want to mass evolve efficiently!

The Mega Evolution Process Summarized:

Identify good fodder species (low evolution cost and low use).

Acquire candies by catching and transferring while saving enough individuals for the number of evolutions you are able to do.

Before a mass evolution, identify and mark or make a list of all the Pokémon you intend to evolve.

Pop a lucky egg and do the evolutions as fast as possible, preferably during an event that boosts evolution exp like the bonus hour on Dec. 29th.

Dailies:

No mobile game is complete without dailies, and PoGo’s recently got a boost! Back in March daily bonuses for first catch of the day were tripled, meaning now for days 1-6 of a streak trainers get 1500 exp and 500 exp for first catch and first stop spun respectively. Then on day 7 trainers get a whopping 6k exp for first catch and 2.5k for first stop. That’s 20.5k exp a week just for popping in to catch one Pokémon and spin a stop each day!

Now don’t forget events! The daily bonuses for first catch also get doubled meaning that until the end of the year you’ll get 39k a week for daily bonuses. On day 7 alone the catch bonus becomes 12k and combined with the spin bonus and a lucky egg, on the last day of your streak you could earn 36k in just a moment! Save your mass evolutions, friendship bonuses or even just some pokeballs for catching till then and you can follow that massive burst of exp with your usual grinding methods!

Completing a research task each day can be harder, but will earn you 3k exp on your seventh completion (doesn’t need to be a steak). Raids are a valuable source of exp as well if you can pull daily tier 5’s at 10k each. But even if not, it’s worth it to raid something daily because if you don’t, that daily free pass is gone. Remember you can pair your raids if doing them at once is more convenient - ie. by saving your free pass from the day before you can complete a raid, pick up your new free pass and complete a second raid all in one day. Do what fits your schedule!

So, make sure to play at least for a moment each day to catch one Pokémon and spin one stop. You’ll secure 36k exp each week for minimal effort - and gain much more if you lucky egg your final bonus on day 7 (just make sure to make good use of the egg afterwards)! Otherwise just research and raid when you can.

Research:

Speaking of daily research, there is a whole other set of research you should be a little more patient and deliberate in completing: special and timed research. These are the multi-step, 3-piece bundles of research tasks that give a nice little set of rewards after each step. If you can stand it, save completed sets of research that reward experience until you are using a lucky egg for another activity. Then at the start of the egg you can quickly tap through your rewards and enjoy the double bonus. This is especially powerful when you are on the next to last step of a research. In most cases the final step is autocompleted, meaning you can get double experience for both steps at once! This strategy is a little harder to pull off with timed research due so be a little more lax in saving those - after all, double rewards on one step is rarely worth abandoning the entire rest of the research. In that case move fast and if there final two steps give experience, consider saving them for an egg once you’ve secured task completion.

So, don’t forget to make progress on your special and timed research tasks and save collecting steps that reward experience for when you are planning on using a lucky egg! Then burn through your research with time to spare for your usual experience grinding!

The Legacy Challenge

Even if you reach level 40 before the end of the 31st the race isn’t done! You’ll earn your Legacy 40 medal but you still won’t acquire the exclusive avatar item, Gyarados Hat, along with some choice item and Pokémon encounter rewards. To get those rewards you need to finish the timed research Legacy 40 Challenge which also expires after the 31st! The steps are below, and include catching at minimum 30 Pokemon and doing 3 raids, so if you’re pushing though to 40 in the final days or hours, know that you’ll need to grid through these steps fast if you want to get the rewards in time.

Step 1 of 4

Power up Pokémon 10 times

Catch 15 Pokémon

Make 5 Nice Throws

Step 2 of 4

Catch 15 different species of Pokémon

Transfer 10 Pokémon

Use 15 Pinap Berries while catching Pokémon

Step 3 of 4

Make 3 Great Curevball Throws Stardust

Win 3 Raids

Give your Buddy 10 treats

Step 4 of 4

Autocompleted!

The fight doesn’t stop at 40! Be prepared to rush through these steps before the new year if you want to get the last bit of bling that shows off your legacy achievement!

Postscript:

Thank you so much if you took the time to read all this! It was a ton of info and will take time to digest and put into practice, so be kind on yourself if you find yourself revisiting for a refresher. I hope it helps you and brings more joy, excitement, and success to your gameplay! If you enjoyed a peek into the nitty gritty fun of min-maxing and meta in PoGo try checking out these resources I use to stay informed:

Leek Duck - Great graphics and up to date event info!

Gamepress - Analysis and meta discussion on the existing dex and everything on the horizons!

And don’t forget to get involved with your local community through social media and especially discord! At Silph Road you can find any local discord groups or even get to work on starting your own if there aren’t any yet.

Good luck and stay safe, fellow trainers!

- Bottsy

[maelabraaten]

Survival Tips - The Best Emergency Food Kit

Which Needs The Best Emergency Food Kit? Who knows what the future holds? If only we knew, day to day, what challenges would arise, we would never be caught unawares. Unfortunately, life just doesn't work that way. Those who prefer to look forward and make preparations for the "just in case" scenarios are often painted as fringe lunatics and doomsday preppers. However , assembling the best emergency food kit for yourself and also your family should be something every responsible adult takes seriously. Just a few of the "normal" situations that could arise, when having emergency rations for your family would make sense, include: loss of a job, temporary lay off, extended storm damage or power outage that traps your family at home. Or perhaps you'd just like to be a position to help another family in need, should the opportunity arise. Then there are Armageddon type examples that plague the mind of some, and no better way to put those fears to rest than to look ahead and prepare for the worst. Whatever your reasons for looking forward and setting up emergency rations against a difficult time ahead, we are here to help you build the very best emergency food kit for your family. Identifying Your Needs First, lay out your preparation strategy. If you're just getting started in emergency preparation, you do not have more than a day or two worth of food in your cupboard. If that's the case, building up a thirty day supply of food is a good place to start. If you already have 30 days of emergency rations laid by, the next step may be building up a six month or year emergency food kit. The important thing is to start somewhere, and build your supplies up until you've assembled the best emergency food kit that you're able. Who ? re You Feeding? Do you have children in the house? Teens? Older or elderly adults? Infants will require special feeding accommodations like milk or formula, while the elderly may have some unique nutritional needs, as well. Map out on paper who you're building a food supply for and any special things you need to prepare for them, or for yourself. Then consider what it takes to feed that person for a single day. How Many? Once you've published down what it takes to feed one person for one day, you'll need to multiply that by the number of people, and the number of days for which you're preparing. What Do They Like To Eat? There's no need to live for a month on nothing but rice and beans. You don't want to stock up on three months worth of food that your family won't touch with a six-foot pole, just because it was cheap. It may keep you alive within a pinch, but you want to enjoy it, if possible. So take the likes and dislikes into consideration as you plan. Don't forget to consider food allergies, as well. In an emergency situation, you wouldn't want to face an allergic reaction from cross contamination, so better to avoid problem foods altogether, if possible. Types Of Emergency Rations There are dozens of ways to build up a great emergency food kit. The easiest, though certainly not the least expensive, is to invest in commercially prepared catastrophe rations, offered by various companies. These kits come as single servings, or a month's worth of food for a single person. There are dozens of options to choose from. Another method, requiring a little planning and management, is to simply take what you buy and use on a weekly basis, and start building up a supply that will last. If you ordinarily use three cans of beans and two boxes of macintosh 'n' cheese and a jar of peanut butter each week, then begin buying double that, and set the extra aside for your emergency food kit. Then manage your stock by rotating it so that your food stays as fresh as possible. Freshness would be a significant advantage in a long-term disaster, where you're relying on your emergency rations for months, or even years. Once you've built up a few months supply of foodstuff, organize your cans and boxes with the soonest expiration date in the front and the furthest out in the back. Then, when you do your grocery shopping, put the new stuff in the back and use from the front. This keeps your stock fresh and ready to use if and when the need arises. Home canning is another less expensive way to build up your emergency food kit. Canning is becoming some sort of lost art, so if you're not familiar with how to do it, you're not alone. Canning food in glass jars requires a little learning and effort but can allow you to preserve tasty, homemade food for years. Be sure to learn which foods require pressure cooking versus water-bathing methods of preservation. Properly canned goods keep best in cool, dark places between 50 and 70 *F (10 - 21 *C) and are safe to eat for years after canning. For bulk dry goods that are intended for long term storage, wheat, beans, rice, sugar and other dry goods can be vacuum sealed and stored in five gallon buckets with O2 absorbers to last for thirty years and more. For the truly prepared minded, a few buckets of wheat and corn will go a long way toward peace of mind. A vacuum sealer constitutes a investment for anyone serious about their emergency rations. Sealing foods in smaller quantities not only preserves them longer but allows you to use them a little at a time, rather than having to use a large container up quickly once you've opened it. If you're worried about the expiration date on store-bought canned goods, keep this story in mind. A steamboat named the Bertrand was trying to reach Montana in 1865 when the idea sunk to the bottom of the Missouri river. One hundred years later, canned goods from that wreck were recovered. In 1974, 109 years after the accident, the food was tested by chemists and found safe to eat. You should use good sense when eating canned foods that have passed their expiration dates. If it looks odd, smells bad or tastes bad, don't eat it! Signs That Food In Your Emergency Food Kit Has Gone Bad Signs canned goods have gone bad: the can is bulging, or the lid has come unsealed. Check for mold or fermentation bubbles in the liquid. If the food rushes out of the can or jar when you open it, there is pressure on the contents that wasn't there when the can or jar was sealed. This is a good indication with bacterial activity causing a chemical reaction. Comfort Foods Once you've established a good base for emergency rations, you might want to start thinking about adding some comfort foods to your store. In stressful situations, we all turn to food for comfort, and yummy food might not be easy to come by in the event of a disaster. Some things to store include: Chocolate - powdered cocoa keeps the best, but chocolate bars over 70% hot chocolate will keep for several months, and much longer if frozen. Hot chocolate mix has a shelf life of several years, and could easily be added to the rotation of your emergency food kit. Mac n' cheese - Best preserved dried by separating the noodles and cheese, and then vacuum sealing them with O2 absorbers. If you're worried about being able to cook macaroni and cheese, it can be canned, but it don't have the same texture as freshly made. Under cooking the noodles before canning will help it to be less mushy. Honey - made with natural preservatives, honey will keep indefinitely, as long as water never gets near it. Store in very clean, very dry glass jars. If it crystallizes, you can return it to its liquid state with a little heat. Freeze dried fruit or even dehydrated fruit can be a great energy booster and will keep well when stored properly. Hard candy - store with desiccants and vacuum sealing to provide a much needed pick me up under stressful conditions. Coconut oil, especially virgin coconut oil will store for a very long time and provide added fat for comforting recipes when butter isn't available. Spices - if you get to a place the place you're having to make all of your food from what you have on hand, you'll be very glad for some extra spices to... well... spice things up. Alcohol - Obviously, a comforting item, but it serves many purposes in a disaster scenario and it keeps well. High alcohol content (over 20%) will keep the longest and over 40% can serve as a disinfectant if needed. Tea - will keep well without special accommodations. To keep it the very freshest, store in small quantities with an O2 absorber. Coffee - For those who really need their cuppa to keep their chin up, coffee will be an important part of the very best emergency food kit. Roasted coffee keeps, vacuum sealed in Mylar bags, for up to two years. If you rotate it through your emergency rations, you will have good coffee for some time. For prep beyond that, you can store green coffee beans in Mylar bags with O2 absorbers, then roast and grind them as needed. What To Choose? How to decide what goes into the very best emergency food kit? A good rule of thumb is six months to a year of food that you would eat every day. This is easily managed through good shopping and rotation. For preparation beyond that time frame, vacuum covered Mylar bags will keep dry goods for years. Many companies and even faith-based family preparation programs offer dry goods preserved in #10 cans that will keep up to 30 years. Building an emergency food kit that can last several years in a pinch is possible, with planning and forethought. Water will be critical to surviving certain types of disaster scenarios. When planning for emergency situations, one liter of mineral water per person per day is a good starting point. You'll need some extra for sanitation and cooking, as well. Be sure you have plenty of water on hand, or a way to obtain water and sanitize it. Sanitation tablets and filtration systems would be a major component of the best emergency food kit. Looking Ahead For total preparedness, it's important to think ahead to food preparation during an emergency. If the power was out for three weeks, how does one cook that mac 'n' cheese you took such care to store? Even if you have a power generator for emergencies, stoves and microwaves pull too much energy to use the generator for cooking. A propane or butane camp stove with plenty of fuel cells, or a propane or charcoal grill are great options to have on hand. And don't forget to include a manual can opener in your unexpected emergency food kit. Where To Keep It? Storage space can be tricky, depending on your housing situation. If at all possible, you'll want to designate a neatly organized room that's specifically for food storage. You'll label your shelves, and keep things nicely stocked and rotated. If you don't live in this kind of fairy tale situation, you may have to get a little more creative about how you store your emergency food kit. A lot of food can be neatly stored, with cardboard boxes, under beds, in the bottoms or tops of closets, and under the stairs. You may need to reduce unnecessary clutter, to make room for emergency rations. The reward will be worth the effort. Be Prepared, Not Scared Taking the steps required to create the best emergency food kit that you possibly can will pay off in peace of mind. To know that you have the ability to care for those you love, and to be able to reach out to those available you in their time of need, will put you in a category reserved for just a few. You'll rest easy at night, knowing that whatever tomorrow holds, your family is provided for.

[alleiradayne]

An Update

It’s been a millennia since I wrote anything. I know I don’t owe anyone any writing (technically, I do, but that’s a different story, no pun intended). But I wanted to keep my followers in the know.

I have been up to my eyeballs in the dumbest fucking shit lately and I’m not even talking about COVID-19. My work sucks. The only good thing about it is that my team, the immediate people I work with on the regular, are awesome. But I need to get out soon. The actual work itself is fucking soul-sucking and I hate it. I get very little downtime, which is a major contributor to why I haven’t written much lately. Not because I don’t have the free time at work like I used to, but because I don’t have the mental, emotional, creative, or physical energy to commit to writing when I get home.

My daughter is 16 months old. That’s all I need to say about her (she’s wonderful, but a handful).

I’ve been reading way more lately in an effort to relieve stress.

God damn Minecraft.

I had sinus surgery in December and while the recovery was short, the surgery did not achieve the intended results. I still have major allergy symptoms without being allergic to anything. I was sick with sinus infections for the better part of two months and was only finally feeling sort of back to normal before right before I went to Vegas. Now I’m dealing with severe seasonal allergies after the snow melted here.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. What has really irritated me lately is this pile of bullshit:

Google as the monolith it is shouldn’t fucking exist. It’s too convenient to get embedded in all their services such that, when one of them breaks, you’re cut off from all of their services. This story is long and convoluted. I’ll do my best to keep it succinct (I’ve already failed, I know).

Back in January, my primary Google account was compromised. After piecing together the crazy puzzle of what happened, I determined that someone obtained my Google account password, logged into the Google Store with it, and made two fraudulent purchases using two different payment methods (PayPal and my credit card, both of which were saved to my Google Pay profile under this primary email account) equaling a very large sum of money (like $4k).

My credit card company, bless their corrupt little souls, texted me immediately about the VERY expensive charge for the second order and I freaked out. I didn’t get any emails confirming these orders because the fuckers that hacked my Google account (I suspect Google had a data breach because they skipped all two-factor authentication I had enabled and I never received any notification of my account being accessed like I normally do) put a filter on my Gmail inbox to mark all Google Store emails as Opened (or Read) and to immediately toss them into the trash. Do Not Pass Go. Do Not Collect $200.

I immediately resolved these fraudulent charges with disputes. They never even hit my credit card (which was canceled and I was issued a new one) or my bank account (PayPal). Google, however, sucks at this shit. The first purchase was made at 4:30 AM. I never saw it until later that night. Once an hour has passed after a purchase has been made from Google’s store, they cannot cancel it. How fucking ridiculous is that?

So Google Support said to just refuse the FedEx packages. I rerouted them to a FedEx drop location because I didn’t want anyone to steal them off my front step (because that’s what I suspected the scam was all along, why else have them delivered them to my fucking house?) The first package arrived, I went to the drop location which was a Walgreen's, and I told the cashier that I needed to refuse the package and have FedEx return it to the sender. I said this several times to the person helping me. But then she had me sign the FedEx scanner and when I went to leave, she pushed the box to me and said, “You don’t want it?”

It gets worse.

While I felt dumb for signing for the package, when the second package came in the next day, I also signed their scanner but it was to actually refuse the package. I don’t know why that’s how it worked, but it did. 

Package 1: Accepted. Package 2: Refused.

This is important.

During this time, my Google Pay profile under my primary Google account was placed on a temporary freeze. But on February 10th, once everything had been returned (FedEx managed to get the first package returned, I have the tracking numbers, it made it), my Pay profile had been reactivated.

Which was really great because my Play Music and HBO subscriptions had lapsed. So I immediately renewed them.

Problem solved, right?

Wrong.

I tried buying a movie before I flew to Vegas and got a very similar error that I’d seen previously when my account had originally been frozen at the end of January due to the fraudulent charges.

Through several Support chats and getting the run around, I come to find that my Pay profile has been permanently closed because I violated the Google Pay Terms of Service. And that Google’s policy is to not discuss the details of the issue with anyone. And I cannot close that Pay profile and create a new one under that same Google account because it’ll just get flagged and closed again.

While pissed, I resolved to fix it after Vegas because I didn’t have the capacity to handle it while prepping for that trip.

I get back and the problem still exists. A part of me hoped it would just go away. So over the last week I went back and forth with Google Pay support on what the fuck is going on with my pay account. Several times they repeated the same thing to me: account is closed due to violation of ToS, can’t discuss it with you per our policy. Great.

During that time, I noticed that I had like, $200 worth of Google Store credit on my account because of the packages I had unintentionally accepted (I had previously signed up for Google One so I could offload some storage to their cloud, and as a part of that Google One sub, they offer a percent of Google Store purchases as Google Store credit). So I wanted to see if I could actually use it. I kinda figured they’d take the $200 back seeing as that the charge never processed. When I tried to buy something, I finally got an error that said my Pay profile had been closed for violating the ToS.

The Narrator: Can you put that in a folder and label it “Shit I Already Know”?

I filed a complaint with the Attorney General of Minnesota because Google was not allowing me to do anything to resolve the issue. Every email response I sent was met with a similar response of “we’ve reviewed your account and we’ve determined it must remain closed”. I went Full Karen™ on Google Pay support and threatened them with legal action if they did not tell me what the fuck I did to violate their ToS. That was last Thursday.

After a few more emails over the weekend (only like, two), I suddenly received  a response at 6am today stating that my Google Pay profile had been reactivated.

I resubscribed to HBO and Play Music without issue. (I did, however, create another mess with Google Family sharing, but that’s a different story, although very much related to and caused by this one, and I won’t get into it here).

When I checked my Pay profile, the $200 in Google Store credit had been removed. I think they finally checked the tracking numbers on those two orders that I sent back and realized I had actually sent them back instead of defrauding them by making a purchasing, rejecting the charge, keeping the package, and pocketing the $200 in-store credit like they probably assumed.

I also think Google might have a big data breach mess on their hands right now. Change your passwords regularly folks!

TLDR: I’m tired. :)

[aurelia-studies]

Back to school prep - 10 tips to help you out :)

So, September is just around the corner and the summer is coming to an end. For some of you, this means going back to school/college and facing all the stress that comes with it. These are just a few tips to help you out before the new school year. 

petit disclaimer - this post is particularly aimed at Sixth Form / College students (UK) as this is the extent of my experience (although I’m sure they can be applied to other ages/schools). These tips are not at all intended to shame anyone w/ a disorganised study space etc. and they will not work for everyone, but if you’re worried about the new school year, they could be of some help.

 I’d love to see any of your additions/suggestions! :))

★ optimise your study space : so it’s been a while since school. naturally, the desk (or wherever you like to do your work) is not its cleanest. It doesn’t have to be pristine studyblr white (unless that’s your cup of tea), but make it usable. Take everything off the worktop, give it a clean and only put back the things that need to be there. 

★ sort out your school supplies : this doesn’t necessarily mean buying 15 new notebooks and an assortment of highlighters etc... (although lord knows I love getting new stationery) organise what you have and make a list of things you need. if you’re unsure what/how many you need, wait until the first week of term before buying new folders/notebooks (although make sure you have the essential pens, paper etc for the first day so you don’t turn up empty-handed and give your teachers the wrong impression)

★ summer reading : if you read all your required reading at the beginning of the holidays, chances are you’ve forgotten what half of it was about. If you have time, skim read again, or look up the plot synopsis / key points on SparkNotes (or a similar website). The same goes for if you’ve left your reading till the last minute (hey, we’ve all been there) - try and get through as much as you can and google the key points you may have missed.

★ get a new planner : (my favourite bit) buy a new diary or academic planner, download a calendar app just for studying or make some back to school spreads in your bullet journal. If you want some flexibility but don’t like the idea of a bullet journal, maybe try some printables ( @emmastudies​ has some really good ones). Either way, set up something where you can write down all your term dates, deadlines and extra-curriculars. Trust me, you’ll need somewhere to note down all the deadlines - they accumulate pretty fast.

★ fix your sleep schedule : if you’re anything like me, the summer holiday means late nights and long lie-ins and the back to school season comes with the shock of waking up wayyy earlier than you’re used to. Try to plan ahead by going to bed and waking up a few minutes earlier each day. Also, you could try to stay active during ‘school hours’ by studying, going out to see friends, or exercising (so the first day back isn’t so much of a shock to the system).

★ sort out your back to school wardrobe : This doesn’t necessarily mean buying new clothes but if, like me, you’re in England, ‘back to school’ means Autumn and a lot more rain. This time of year I always go through my wardrobe and get all my autumnal clothes out of storage to replace all the summery ones. You might also need to check your school’s dress code for any ~forbidden~ items. Schools vary in how strict they are when it comes to clothes and they can change from year to year; some allow anything except open-toed shoes, others require office wear only - don’t be the guy who turns up in flip-flops on the first day only to be sent home to change. If you’re feeling extra organised, plan out what you’re going to wear for the first week back.

★ find out your new timetable : This isn’t a necessity, and they aren’t always available before term-time but I like to be warned in advance that I’ll have to stay an extra hour every Wednesday for History (me this year lmao) and it makes me feel a little less anxious now that I know where I’ll be going for what. Also, find out what teachers you’ll be having for different topics and, if you haven’t had them before, ask some other students what they’re like. Again, it’s nice to have an advance warning that your new Theology teacher is really strict etc.

★ catch up with friends : maybe there are some people you didn’t manage to meet over summer for whatever reason - drop them a text! This is the last time for a while that you’re absolutely free of school commitments so make the most of it. 

★ set some goals : kind of self-explanatory, but have a think about what you want to achieve this term or this year and write them down! These goals are completely personal and can be anything from ‘get a B on the next French assignment’ or ‘ask for a solo in Jazz band’ to ‘go out more with friends’ or ‘spend less time on tumblr’. They can be as vague or specific as you like. They don’t have to be academic; they can be related to your mental health, wellbeing or social life. Having something written down to aim towards can help you boost your motivation :))

★ pack that backpack : (the most obvious ‘tip’, I know, but I wanted to make it to 10 and i’m dumb) Now that you’ve organised your stationery, bought a new planner, and you know what subjects you’ll be doing, put it all in the backpack (or whatever bag thing you’re using for school).  I can’t count the number of times I’ve gone looking for something in my bag only to pull out 12 irrelevant objects (often rubbish). The best thing is to pack the bare essentials and keep on top of it! And do this the night before!! there is always bound to be something you forget first time round so give yourself an extra day to sort it all out.

Yo I hope these helped :))) I’d love it if you added any of your own tips & tricks for dealing with the back to school season !

~ aurelia x

[jarienn972]

Only a Little Superstitious - Chapter 21

I've been trying to make the most of some free time while waiting for a pinched nerve in my neck to heal and since I haven't been able to do too much else, I used that time to do some writing. Part one of my latest short story was posted yesterday and today, it's time for this tale to get a much needed update as well! 

We left off with our team making preparations for the hike into the mountains and now, the time has come. Will Emma find what she's seeking when they reach the cavern? Hope you enjoy this latest installment!

From the beginning on Tumblr: 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20

AO3  FF.net

They drove east, towards the rising sun, in near silence, Carlos at the wheel with Grandmother sitting anxiously by his side, clutching tightly to her backpack. Emma rode in the back seat with Killian's head slumped against her shoulder. As they gained elevation, Emma stared out of the rear window of the SUV at the silvery-orange glow made by the fading lights of the Phoenix metroplex against the low-hung storm clouds. The storm would be upon them soon and while it was making Grandmother nervous, it was precisely what Emma was counting on.

By the time Carlos made the turn off of Highway 60 to begin their ascent into the mountains, the peaks rose before them in silhouette, haze obscuring the morning sunlight. The patter of raindrops began to strike the windshield as Carlos eased the SUV off of the dirt and gravel service road about a half an hour later in a desolate section of Lost Dutchman State Park. The precipitation was light now, but heavier thunderstorms were forecast for later that morning, highly unusual for this time of year in Arizona, but Grandmother sensed a decidedly supernatural influence affecting the weather. She had long feared these storms. No Navajo wanted to be caught unprepared in a lightning storm, yet her young friend was certain that the fury of the storm would help boost the land's natural magic. So, while Grandmother remained leery of the storm, she'd waited her entire, long life to witness the manifestation of magic and there was no way she'd miss out on this.

Emma clung tightly to Killian who had fallen asleep about halfway into their trip up the mountain. He felt warmer than when they'd left Grandmother's mobile home and there was no doubt now that the influence of the dark magic was strengthening. They knew it was a huge risk coming out here in the first place, but now, the states were even higher and even though Killian had regained some movement, he still wasn't going to be able to hike out to the cavern that Carlos had described. Their Park Ranger friend had assured them that he had a way to transport Killian up the mountain since a wheelchair would be useless in this terrain.

So now, as the vehicle came to a stop, Killian shifted slightly in his sleep, causing Emma to instinctively draw him in even tighter to herself, her fingers inadvertently coming in contact with the cold steel of his hook. She pulled her hand away abruptly, the coolness of the steel such a sharp contrast to the warmth of his skin. Just a little while longer, she reminded herself as she willed him to hang on. As soon as she opened that portal, help would be waiting right on the other side. She'd already made arrangements with Regina to have Dr. Whale and an ambulance prepped and ready to go. The only thing she couldn't control was the exact timing and the precise location they'd end up in so the crew in Storybrooke might be waiting around a while.

"This is as far as we can go by car," Carlos announced as he slid the gearshift into Park and turned off the engine. "The cave is about a mile and a half northeast of here. The terrain is gonna be a little rough, but it's passable as long as the harder rain holds off a while."

"What about Killian?" Emma asked, still uncertain what the Ranger had planned. "We can't exactly carry him that far…"

"Don't worry," Carlos insisted. "As I've said before, I've got that covered." He had already clambered out of the driver's seat, making his way around to the back of the SUV to raise the rear hatch. Emma couldn't make out what he was digging out, but she watched as he maneuvered a few items around to uncover something that had been wedged diagonally across the rear storage compartment and shoved partially under the rear seat of the oversized SUV. He made his way back around the side of the vehicle where Killian was seated dragging some sort of metal contraption that looked a bit like a basket she'd seen helicopter rescue teams use, yet not quite the same.

"What the hell is that?" Emma queried as Carlos tugged the rear door open.

"Just the product of a little Native ingenuity," Carlos responded with a wide smile. "There are so many places out here that are difficult to access and sometimes, it's even hard to find a place for a rescue chopper to land in an emergency, so my squad devised a slightly modified rescue transport for use in those inaccessible places. It's basically a re-purposed basket from one of those helicopters, redesigned for use on land. We took the basket and covered it with surfboard foam to help minimize the impact then we added a harness that's worn by the rescuer. It uses the rescuer's upper body strength to drag the victim to a safe location where a chopper can land."

Emma looked over the contraption as Carlos placed it flat on the ground next to the vehicle and began unfastening the safety straps and unfurling the harness. "That's ingenious," she replied, impressed by the thought that had been put into this device's creation, although she wasn't certain how Killian was going to react to actually laying in the modified basket.

"It won't work well if it gets too muddy though," Carlos warned, "so we'd better get moving…"

With a couple of gentle nudges, Emma roused her husband from his slumber and explained briefly how they intended to bring him up the rest of the trail. While Killian wasn't exactly keen on being strapped into a narrow, foam-encased basket to be dragged like a plow, he recognized that he had little choice in the matter. Emma wasn't going to leave without him and his best chance to survive was to be with his wife when she opened the portal and return to Storybrooke. With no way to permanently remove the dark magic welling within him here in Phoenix, he had little chance of getting well unless he made it home.

Not knowing what else they might encounter in this wilderness, Emma tucked her service weapon into its holster at her hip. Magic or no magic, it would take down a predator if necessary. She hoisted the backpack onto her shoulder as she tried to ignore Killian's grumbles of protest while Carlos fastened the nylon straps across Killian's thighs, waist and shoulders. In deference to the injury, Carlos left the strap that would have crossed Killian's wounded chest unfastened, but tucked the ends at his friend's side so they wouldn't drag. Carlos then donned the vest-like harness that attached to the basket via four webbed nylon straps while Grandmother tentatively exited the SUV and slung her own pack onto her back.

They were well stocked with supplies – water canteens, nonperishable food and a supply of Grandmother's herbal remedies tucked into a traditional first aid kit. In the event Emma wasn't able to open a portal home, they needed enough provisions to make it back to the city – a prospect that Emma was trying hard not to contemplate as she placed one of the packs between Killian's feet on the "sled", the term Carlos used in reference to his modified rescue basket.

"We'll be home soon," Emma promised him as she pressed a kiss into Killian's rain-dampened forehead.

"I know, Swan," he replied with a pained smirk. "I'm certain you'll get us home."

"And Regina promised that help would be waiting there for us."

"Aye, Love," Killian smiled up at her, the melancholy in his normally bright blue eyes belying the forced nature of his obviously forced façade. He was trying hard to remain hopeful for her sake as much as she was attempting to remain positive for his, even though neither remained entirely convinced.

The ascent toward the cavern progressed far slower than Carlos' solo trip the previous morning. He was managing the additional exertion of towing the sled far better than Killian was faring though. The uneven, rocky trail was agonizing to Killian, every bounce sending shockwaves of pain through his chest. He was battling to remain conscious, gritting his teeth and doing his best to anticipate the bumps, but he was failing miserably at the latter.

With additional breaks necessary, the hike took a little over an hour, but Carlos' pace quickened as they neared the site of the cave. The rain was beginning to fall steadier now with rumblings of thunder off in the distance hinting at what was to come so they needed to find someplace safe, away from the elements. Grandmother had noticed a rock outcrop with a protective overhang not far from the cavern they sought which would allow them some shelter while Emma and Carlos scouted the cave. Carlos shed the harness as he tugged the sled into the still dry sand beneath the overhang and then directed Emma to a spot further up the trail where the cavern would be found. He and Emma then headed off in that direction, hoping to reach the spot before the deluge began, leaving Grandmother to tend to the aching Killian.

The old woman knelt beside the basket, unfastening all of the straps before extending her hand to help her injured young friend sit up. Killian couldn't help but find it somewhat ironic that he was struggling to catch his breath after no real exertion on his part while Grandmother was barely winded from the strenuous hike. It seemed as though there was more to admire about this wily old woman at every turn, he thought as he watched her shrug off her backpack to retrieve the modified first aid kit. She located it quickly and wasted no time snapping it open, rifling through the contents to find herbs to help ease Killian's scarcely veiled pain. At last, she withdrew a tiny, circular pouch tied with a bright orange scrap of yarn along with one of the water canteens.

"Here," she began as she untied the yarn and thrust her fingers inside the pouch, withdrawing a pinch of the crushed herbs and spices that she offered her patient. "This will help with the pain. Normally, I would brew it into a tea, but we've neither the time, nor the facilities…" She pushed open his painfully clenched fist and placed the portion of herbs into his palm. "It's a tad bitter. You'll likely taste the clove and the turmeric, so I'd recommend swallowing it all quickly. I'll hold the canteen so you can wash it down with some water."

Killian managed a half-smile as he brought his trembling hand to his mouth and tipped the mixture onto his tongue, features contorting involuntarily as the noxious substance hit his taste buds. He forced it down as best he could while the old woman chuckled before unscrewing the cap from the canteen and bringing the welcome relief of water to his lips - before the bitter medicine triggered his gag reflexes. He gulped down two mouthfuls of water in attempt to rinse away the taste, but had to stop himself when he nearly choked from swallowing too fast.

"Bloody hell," he barked once he felt he could breathe again. "If I didn't know better, I would swear that you were trying to poison me!"

"Perhaps poison would taste better," Grandmother teased as she replaced the canteen's lid and stowed it away inside her pack. "Let's get you out of that basket and further under the rock before the lightning hits. No use tempting fate…"

"Aye," Killian agreed, bracing himself for what this would entail. Grandmother crawled around behind him, holding the sled steady as he shifted his weight to the right, against the side rail, so that the basket would tip enough for him to slide his backside onto the ground. Once he was seated on the sandy dirt, Grandmother slid the basket out from beneath his legs. He paused for a moment to catch his breath while the old woman stood up and walked around to his left side and then wrapped her aged fingers around his left bicep.

"Push with your right arm as I pull. We need to make it about two feet further to be safe from the coming storms." Her explanation of what they needed to do wasn't going to make the process any easier. He drew back his right leg as best he could, planting his heel into the sand and hoping for some leverage, assuming he could get his leg to comply and push backward at the same time. It took a couple of tries as Grandmother didn't quite have the strength that Carlos or even Emma possessed, but the old woman surprised him. "Good," Grandmother stated, praising both of their efforts. "Now, rest a bit."

Killian certainly wasn't about to argue with her. While it seemed to have been only minimal effort on his part, moving just that span of inches rendered him exhausted. He leaned his back into the rock wall behind him, drawing his fingers through his rain-dampened dark locks as he struggled to end the burning in his lungs. "Thank you," he said at last, but the old woman shrugged it off.

"No thanks are necessary," she replied as she lowered her weary bones to the ground at his right. "Not many of my generation have lived to witness a childhood dream come to pass. I've spent a lifetime awaiting the appearance of the white witch and as this fantastical story progresses, at times, I feel I should be thanking you."

Killian chuffed at the thought of that. "You've seen nothing yet," he laughed, forgetting for a moment how uncomfortable his chest would feel later, but Grandmother was all business.

"Rest," was her simple order and he didn't dare disobey.

"This is the cave I was telling you about," Carlos announced as he and Emma approached the narrow opening in the mountainside. "I mean, its really just a crack, but the glyphs carved inside here are some of the best preserved in all of the Southwest." Emma reserved judgement for the moment, sweeping her flashlight's beam around the interior before stepping inside, mainly to ensure that they didn't have any critter company. When her light caught the wall that Carlos had raved about, she immediately understood why he took such pride in this. The ancient carvings covered the entire wall, telling a story that time had long forgotten but yet it still resonated with her, perhaps a reminder of her own storybook heritage.

"Wow," was the only word she could manage as she studied the glyphs, instantly recognizing the ones that adorned the dagger's handle. "Any idea what all of this is supposed to say?"

"Unfortunately, no one from any of our People really knows, and as you can see, the panel isn't complete. You can see there on the end where the cavern narrows that portions have eroded and some have even fallen away," Carlos explained as he pointed at the rubble piled at the bottom of the petroglyph wall. "And there's also been additional damage from too many overzealous visitors over the years which is why we decided to close this trail off so we could preserve this piece of history. So little remains of what my ancestors recorded that we have to try and preserve every bit that we can."

"Of course," Emma smiled, even though Carlos wouldn't be able to see her face in the dim light of the cavern. "This was their story, and it's also your story."

"Exactly. I just wish that I could read the message they left behind," he lamented, his own flashlight also focused on the glyphs, aimed directly at the swirl one they believed referenced a portal. "They were trying to tell us something about their lives, and somehow, that swirly thing you call a portal was important enough to be the center of all of this."

"Well, if they did have access to a portal that allowed them to travel periodically to another realm, maybe even multiple realms, I can understand why it would be an important part of their lives, but it doesn't explain why that knowledge was lost."

"If I had to take a guess, it was probably because my People lost their belief in magic, in gods and in everything supernatural that had once been such a huge part of our culture. We became as cynical as everyone else instead of clinging to what made us special…" He paused for a moment to contemplate the words that had just rolled off of his tongue, but Emma picked up on why he'd stopped himself.

"For a moment there, I thought I was listening to Grandmother," Emma commented on his heartfelt reply.

"Maybe you were," he chuckled. "I think I was channeling her there for a second, but honestly, maybe it just finally clicked. Maybe I finally understand what she's been trying to tell me all of these years…"

"Believing in magic is sometimes a hard thing to accept," she stated, recalling her own experience.

"So, on the subject of magic – is it here? Can you feel it here? Is it something you can see or touch?"

"There's something here," she replied, beginning to feel a familiar tingle beneath her skin. "I'll need the storm to strengthen a bit more though so I can draw from it as well, but to answer your question, yes – there's definitely magic in this land, but it isn't anything you can see or touch. It was explained to me once as an emotion, or rather an extension of emotion. You just have to feel it to know it's there."

"So, what are you going to need to open up that portal?"

"First, I need a place to fuse the pieces of the dagger back together. I need somewhere that's preferably flat and not flammable because I'm going to try to redirect some of that lightning to do it. Later, I'll have to summon a lot more power from the storm to actually open up the portal…"

"I'm guessing we're going to need to be outside in the rain to do that, huh?"

"Afraid so. Your ancestors may have told their story of their experience with the portal on this cave wall, but I don't think they actually opened it in here." Exiting back out onto the trail, Emma's eyes drifted upward, scrutinizing the darkening clouds. "Do you know of a flat rock surface anywhere close to here?"

"Yeah, there's an outcrop of boulders a little further up the trail, maybe a hundred yards from here. Come on, I'll show you…"

Sure enough, a pair of mostly flat boulders lay ahead, just off the well-trodden path. The surface would work perfectly for her needs, Emma thought as she lowered her backpack onto the ground, crouching to remove both the bubble wrapped dagger and the plastic specimen jar from the hospital that contained the severed tip. Taking care not to cut herself, she unwrapped the ornate knife and placed it atop the wet surface of the boulder. She then unscrewed the lid from the tiny jar and tipped the metal triangle onto the rock next to the dagger, aligning the broken piece to match the jagged break on the blade.

"Okay," she began, pushing herself upright and brushing her soggy blonde locks away from her face. She took a deep breath as she was suddenly reminded of when she'd unified another set of blades... "Sorry, this is bringing back some not so pleasant memories… Let me try to concentrate…"

Carlos hung back a few steps from the boulders as Emma tried to clear her thoughts and focus only on her magic. She'd long known how much her own powers were tied to her emotions and right now, they were all over the place. She ignored the raindrops crashing atop her head as she raised her right hand and positioned it directly above the blade with her fingers spread wide, now feeling the familiar warmth building. The Park Ranger who'd known her only a few days watched in amazement as Emma's palm began to glow with a brilliant gilded white light, far brighter than the beam of his flashlight and maybe as bright as the flash of lightning that illuminated the western sky. He didn't dare look away as he noticed that the tip of the dagger was now glowing as well and there were sparks flickering as the piece drew closer to the blade it had once been a part of. He jumped back a step as a bolt of light shot up from the ground, followed by a deafening clap of thunder that even had Emma leaping away to avoid being struck, but as the light faded and their eyes fell upon the boulder's surface, the dagger's blade was once again intact.

"Holy sh…!" Carlos started to exclaim, but he immediately censored himself, returning to stunned silence at what he'd just witnessed. He'd never in is life imagined seeing real magic, not those parlor tricks performed by men in dark suits pulling rabbits out of hats. What he'd just seen was nothing like that and he found himself glancing back and forth between Emma and the repaired dagger as she tentatively touched the handle to see if it was safe to retrieve. "That was so not what I expected…"

"Didn't go quite as I expected either," she admitted as she wrapped her fingers around the handle and raised the dagger to get a better look at the re-formed blade. "Now, let's get back to Killian and Grandmother and see if we can get this thing to open that portal." Swinging her pack back up onto her shoulder, Emma admired the blade with a glint of pride in her eyes. She'd been able to summon the magic necessary to re-form this blade so she sure as hell could do the same to open up that damned portal.

But that proud moment didn't last long as a distant cry echoed off of the mountain just as another thundering blast came from above.

"That was Grandmother's voice!" Carlos shouted anxiously. "Something's wrong…" Emma tucked the dagger away and drew her weapon, unsure of what sort of predator awaited them as they sprinted toward the overhanging rock where they'd separated, running as quickly as the rain-slickened earth would allow.

[davids69811]

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Do not enable any moving firms along with packers touch your factors till you have in fact an authorized agreement in your hand. If you do not have a plan in composing, the business is exempt for it. You must have created moving quotes from the movers, detailing every solution they will use, from relocating and also packing to moving and additionally storage area. You don't desire any type of type of unpleasant shocks when it's time to pay your mover, and find out that the relocating company billed added for that classic sofa Winston Salem.

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[memoirsofagenie]

Jersey Sails: From La Corbière to Cape Florida

Genie, 09/26/2020 

(Short-story submitted to the [24th Annual] 2020 Zoetrope: All-Story Short Fiction Competition)

Put together a bay, a barrier reef, stretches of white sand, luscious vegetation, protected species and a lighthouse, and pirate stories start to abound. Honestly, who wasn’t an indigenous pirate of sorts in the Village of Key Biscayne? The majority of “Key Rats” (as Key Biscayners informally call themselves) had always taken pride in having very heterogeneous backgrounds and on being endowed with an innate seafaring force, and Jordana’s own family history didn’t fall far from this paradigm, considering they were Italians from Rome, albeit with an Abruzzese heritage, who had lived in over four continents before settling on the Key during Jordana’s early twenties. More than a Key Rat, she was a full-fledged third-culture kid.

Being now in her mid-forties and living with her widowed father, Jordana had heard, overheard, eavesdropped on and collected so many other tales of fellow local pirates, that she sometimes pondered whether she should group them in a volume. Not only did she thrive on historical details, but writing was truly her forte, so what was holding her back? Somewhere in the recesses of her mind, she always felt the next story was going to be better… until the afternoon of August 17, 1992.

That August Monday, like all others after returning from work, Jordana picked-up her mail and engaged in another ritualistic habit of hers, that of chit-chatting with the front-door neighbor Uma, an elderly, retired politics college professor and widow from India who, with equal customary precision, would walk her rust Dobermann at 6:00pm sharp, not without first saying hello and providing the daily recap of salient gossip at the Harbor Drive waterfront condo where they both lived and from where the gorgeous Vizcaya could be admired across Biscayne Bay. Yet that afternoon, instead of watching one of Uma’s many colorful and glitzy dupattas and sarees blowing in the island breeze as was usually the case immediately after saying “see you tomorrow”, Uma invited Jordana for tea. It turns out she had walked the dog earlier, to dodge the sporadic thunderstorm of the day, a typically South Floridian late-summer meteorological phenomenon, much like the notorious London drizzle in winter.

Soon enough, as the beautiful Hindo-Islamic wood-carved door -a family heirloom which she had brought to America all the way from her native Jaipur when she got married- of Uma’s apartment closed behind them, the storm continued brewing and thunders started rolling. Jordana didn’t take much heed of the noises in the sky, because having tea at Uma’s was always a very relaxing and otherworldly experience, in particular after the fumes of incense and the aromas of her signature masala chai concoction steeping in boiling water would make shapes and shadows that sparkled across the “sheesh mahal”, or hall of mirrors… because that is exactly what Uma’s dining-room looked like, being as it was, plastered in multicolored Rajasthani marble intarsia and ornate thikri glasswork. However, the enchantment would soon break, because the retired politics professor also loved to have the TV on while sipping her tea.

               “Breaking News: We interrupt this newscast to give you a detailed update of tropical storm Andrew’s trajectory,” the reporter said. “The tropical storm has now become a Category 3 hurricane and it might make landfall in Miami later this week…”

               “This is insane. Are you hearing this, beti?” Uma exclaimed as she hastily stirred her chai, making alarming clanging sounds.

               “Yes, I’m listening... What a drag, to have to go through evacuation again! Oh well… let us keep our fingers crossed and hope it makes a last-minute eastward turn, that way we don’t have to deal with it!” Jordana was always very hopeful, because having lived on the Key longer, not only had she already been through strong hurricanes, but she was also well aware of the possibility that even when landfall was imminent, the maleficent twisters could turn around and recede into the ocean.

The two women continued sipping their tea and chatting. Suddenly, it was dinner time, so Jordana thanked her hostess and left for her apartment. She had started opening and scanning through her mail while Uma was preparing the tea a couple of hours earlier, however a quirky golden, mildly distressed envelope had caught her eye, as both the stationery and the handwriting did not look familiar at first glance. The gulab jamun and tamarind chutney golgappas that Uma had served with chai had left her full, so she simply skipped dinner, slipped quickly into her pajamas and drew the mail from her purse, picking the mysterious bulky missive from the stack.

The postmark was less than a week old, but the location itself had completely blurred from the letter, making it hard to determine its actual provenance. What is more, the envelope lacked the names of both the recipient and the sender. Given Jordana’s fondness of the art of letter-writing and her eternal quest for original stationeries, she could only surmise that this singular quality of paper was rather old and out of production; still, this realization did not help much either.

Hence, giving in to her curiosity, she opened the letter, only to find a telegraphic, ten-line message in what seemed to be an old French Patois with a Gaelic twang or a Creole dialect of yore… who knows! This fact alone unleashed a myriad theories and resolutions in her head, because among the many Key Rats and island pirates, Haitian and other French-Antilles’ descendants were not uncommon. Tracking the true intended reader of the letter would not have been so challenging after all. Nonetheless, the contents of the envelope did not stop there, for accompanying the letter were ten black-and-white pictures of maritime settings that could have been taken anywhere on America’s Northeastern or Western Coasts, if it weren’t for the tenth picture, depicting a medieval hilltop castle, perched on the sea, surrounded by houses of what could easily have been -in view of the fuzziness- French Breton, Spanish Cantabrian, Galician, or Southern English fishing-village architecture.

Might this be the “story of stories” Jordana was awaiting in order to finally consolidate her volume of local pirate tales? Jordana was too tired to brainstorm that night. She went to sleep, resolving to drop by the quiet village library the next day after work, to start delving into the population archives while hoping to unearth some clues.

She would have to wait another week, sadly! The very next morning, as she glided through the Rickenbacker Causeway on her convertible red FIAT 500, the radio announcers made it clear that Hurricane Andrew, now a Category 4, was at the doors of the Panhandle. It was gaining more strength by the hour and was expected to enter precisely through Key Biscayne. Jordana was well-prepared for the chaos that was about to ensue. She still did her best to go to work with a positive outlook, shuffling the black-and-white pictures in her head, when it suddenly dawned on her that she HAD indeed seen the medieval castle before, but where?

In the days that followed, Jordana duly prepped the house for Hurricane Andrew, which by August 23rd had become a Category 5. She and her father would normally evacuate to the North, in Palm Beach. But this year, her father had been vacationing in Rome for the last two months and was not due to return before mid-September, leaving Jordana to brave the storm at Chavela’s  -a long-term family friend who, like may in the Magic City, had exiled from Cuba- house in Coral Gables.

The wind monster ravaged South Florida the night between August 24 and 25. Despite the expected curfew after such an emergency, Jordana returned home to Key Biscayne the morning of the 25th. As also expected, the island had literally become, yet again, a boat anchorage. All of Crandon Boulevard was a massive water puddle and the boats had been lifted from the side-canals and seashore, flying and landing onto the streets. She turned right onto Harbor Drive, even more scared of what she would find. Paradoxically enough, her apartment building bordered on the Key Biscayne Yacht Club.

Once home, she opened the door leading to the shared patio of the condo, where the pool was located. To the right, she could see the heaps of boats in the Yacht Club’s marina, one on top of the other. For some miraculous reason, no boat had crossed over to the pool, as had happened two years prior. Many club members and boat owners had rushed to the club and Jordana could overhear their chatter across the surrounding turquoise wooden lattice. She got even closer as the multiple conversations started to get more dramatic.

The club manager was holding a huge roll in his hand. It was a spare red sail that had flown off one of the many crammed vessels. With the aid of two other men, he decided to unroll it. It had no tag or distinguishing marks, so perhaps unrolling it might have revealed a symbol, a drawing or pattern that could help determine whose it was.

“Hey Bob, just hold it tight on that end, please,” said the manager to one of the two other men.

“Wait a minute, it looks like there’s a drawing. Wait, it’s some kind of shield, or at least it looks like it,” said the third man.

               As the three men kept unrolling, Jordana watched and listened intently. When the sail was completely open, a gust of wind lifted it momentarily allowing her a short glimpse of the so-called shield.

               “Hey, it’s not a shield. It’s a coat of arms, or so it seems. This sail belongs to Colin Peirson!” cried Bob.

To which Paul, the manager echoed “oh, well! Let us roll it back and put it in the storage. I will have to compile a list of all the damaged boats, in any case. I will call everyone, one by one, so eventually he’ll put it back where it belongs.”

               Jordana was uncertain whether it was a coat of arms or not. However, within the central shield were depicted the contours of the same castle; yes, that castle; the castle she had seen on one of the ten black-and-white pictures of the mysterious letter. She finally recalled that at some point during her first years in Key Biscayne, she had noticed the sail, fully blowing in the wind, in a bygone summer afternoon island regatta. Even back then, the castle had taken hold of her strong photographic memory, though with the passing of time, it had become one of the many beautiful but faded remembrances. Anyhow, atop the castle, waved a flag, which surely was the logo of the British Army, with the famous lion passant on the crest of St. Edward’s crown. Having quite a few military aficionados in the family, Jordana had no doubts, not to mention that when her dear mother was alive, they had frequently attended the spring military pilgrimages in Lourdes, where aside from reaffirming one’s faith, one could admire the distinct symbols and regalia of international military corps.

               Instead of staying in the patio and cleaning up, she stuck to her pre-hurricane plans and rushed to the library. The library was not exactly what one would call well-stocked, however the population archives, its collection of various encyclopedias, particularly the Encyclopaedia Britannica, and the microfiche section had always helped her during her college studies. Without further ado, she searched “Colin Peirson” and “British Army.”

She did remain skeptical during the process and thought to be off-track, because there was still the interrogative as to why the letter was in that hitherto unknown (to her) French-like language. And boy, was she off-track! As Jordana frenetically and enthusiastically read through her selected sources, her mind finally gained some clarity as she started reading about the Battle of Jersey between the English and the French during the American Revolutionary War.

“Goodness, how obvious!” she reckoned to herself. “This is no French Patois or Creole dialect,” she mused. Sure enough, it took her a further hour of information scavenging to arrive to the conclusion that the language of the letter was Jèrriais, or Jersey French. As for “Colin Peirson”, might he be a descendant of the hero of the Battle of Jersey, Major Peirson? On a side note, Jordana was also rather proud of her observational skills, for thinking that the architecture on the pictures might’ve been French Breton or Southern English, among others, wasn’t too far-fetched deep down!

While she admired John Singleton Copley’s impacting painting of the eponymous battle in one of the diverse sources consulted, Jordana’s head spinned as various historical scenarios played out in her head. There was only one thing left to do… she had to find Colin Peirson! The population archives of Key Biscayne indicated that, except for a six-month sojourn at the Le Phare condo on 798 Crandon Boulevard, he had always lived, ever since his arrival to South Florida, in the Southwest Point of the Mashta Island enclave.

The next day, Jordana decided to pay a visit to Mr. Peirson. As soon as she reached the address, she noticed she had unknowingly passed countless times in front of Mr. Peirson’s estate, for it was a palatial setting. Mr. Peirson’s house was not just the only house in the Southwest Point of Mashta Island, but it was also the only building in high Victorian style on Key Biscayne, a detail that clashed with the trademark Mackle and Cape Cod homes that populated the island from the 1960s onwards. Needless to say, Jordana had always wondered who lived in that fairy-tale, multi-colored house, of which the main particularities -aside from the Juliette balcony and the screened porch- were the steep turret flanking the southwestern corner of the building, covered in wooden scalloped shingles, and its topmost window made of intricately etched and stained glass, further framed by a carved dormer, depicting whimsical floral motifs. Jordana’s curiosity was particularly tickled by the hypothetical view from the turret. Who knows if Mr. Peirson would greet her, let alone invite her in to discuss the letter and possibly allow her to visit the turret?

Jordana made her way through the verdant, cobbled pathway leading to the door. She could hear all kinds of strange noises, something which reminded her Key Biscayne was basically two thirds parkland. It was not infrequent to be ambushed by iguanas, cranes, possums, raccoons… and asps, on occasion. Fortunately for her, this time she was only escorted by fluttering monarch butterflies and dragonflies.

Jordana knocked three times, when at last an elderly and jovial silver-haired gentleman opened the door. Matter-of-factly, he must’ve been rather handsome back in the day, as he was reminiscent of Paul Newman.

“Good morning. I’m looking for Mr. Peirson,” Jordana said.

“You found him. May I ask who you are and to what I owe this visit?” he replied.

“I believe I have something that belongs to you. For some reason, this letter was mailed to my house. I am sorry I had to open it, but as you may notice from the envelope, there is no discernible indication that it might have been yours. After a few coincidences and investigations, I finally found you,” Jordana explained.

“I’d love hear all about it. Do come in. I have just finished my breakfast,” Mr. Peirson said.

As Mr. Peirson locked the door behind them and guided Jordana to the living room, he drew the photographs from the envelope. With another gesture, he indicated the sofa, inviting her to sit down. He hastily looked at the pictures, two, three times. Jordana could see his piercing green eyes getting teary. As she explained what an ordeal it had been to track him down, all he could do was look at the pictures and sob, until he finally pulled himself together, dried his eyes and uttered “Wait here. I’ll be right back!”

Mr. Peirson shook a little, so before heading to what seemed to be his study, he picked up his cane. Once there, Jordana could hear him toiling with books and boxes. He was taking too long, so she got up from her armchair and walked to the threshold of the study door. As she stood peeking, she asked him if he needed any help. He gladly accepted. With his cane, he indicated what was apparently an oversized wooden music-box on the parquet floor.

“Can you please pick it up and open it?” he asked.

As she picked the box up and started lifting the lid, she took a quick look around the room and noticed that along the walls hung oversized posters of the ten pictures. What is more, the box itself contained a copy of the ten pictures too!

In the two minutes that it took Mr. Peirson to go sit at his desk, Jordana, still with the open box in hand, quickly analyzed for a second time her surroundings. The study was a rather dark place, seemingly of another era, so much so that the only things that shone were an old gramophone close to the door and a giant mother-of-pearl Jacobean shell. She hadn’t noticed either entering the study, but now she was thinking that perhaps she and Mr. Peirson might have something in common to talk about. If anything, they could break the ice further talking about Santiago de Compostela, a destination she had wanted to visit forever! Despite entertaining this thought, just as she was about to ask him about St. James’s Way -and possibly, his pilgrimage to Santiago- he took an old record from the first drawer of his desk: “Here dear, would you care to put this record on?”

He assumed Jordana would know how to activate the gramophone. Not that she really knew… but she did, nevertheless. She recalled some scenes of silent movies she had seen with her grandmother as a child and very nonchalantly loaded the record. The unmistakable and softly tremulous voice of Edith Piaf started resounding in the room: “quand il me prend dans ses bras, il me parle tout bas, je vois la vie en rose…” Before the Little Sparrow of France could bellow the following verses, Mr. Peirson had reached for the box containing the photographs that Jordana had left on his desk prior to loading the gramophone.

“I never thought I would tell anyone this story, let alone a stranger, but I feel I can trust you. Then again, you did go out of your way to find me, so you deserve to know. Say, dear, shall we go to the turret? We can admire the view and enjoy the breeze as we talk. Oh, and we can take the record upstairs. I have another gramophone up there. You seem to enjoy the wartime French chansonniers, don’t you? This record is a compilation of various artists. The next song is ‘La Mer’, by Charles Trenet.”

Jordana was really hoping he’d come up with the idea himself and got her wish of visiting the turret. Her inquiring mind was trying to guess where the staircase leading to the turret would be, as according to her sense of orientation and her mental planimetry of the house, she was pretty sure that the study was exactly perpendicular to the turret, so they were basically right below it.

As she tried to solve this puzzle too, she noticed yet another detail that had escaped her thus far. Behind Mr. Peirson’s desk hung a giant Flemish Gobelins tapestry depicting the ancient Greek myth of Daphne and Apollo. The coincidences, or signs, that her encounter with Mr. Peirson was meant to be increased by the second; being from Rome, her favorite statue had always been none other than the “Daphne and Apollo” by Gian Lorenzo Bernini kept at the Galleria Borghese! Anyhow, while she connected the dots and started daydreaming, Mr. Peirson had already vanished, only to pop out again after less than two minutes from behind the tapestry: “Well, dear, are you coming upstairs or not?”

“But of course!”, she exclaimed to herself. How could she have not imagined sooner that the door was behind the tapestry? Oh well!

Mr. Peirson had guessed correctly. Jordana loved the French chansonniers. In fact, she adored Charles Trenet, probably more than she did Piaf. She definitely did not want to miss the opportunity to partake of nostalgically wonderful European stories of the past while admiring the sea with great background music. Without wasting one second more, Jordana immediately grabbed the record, following him through the door and onto the coiled staircase of one-hundred-and-fifty steps. In normal circumstances, this would have been a tiresome exercise for Jordana, but the old man had made it altogether more bearable and somewhat inspirational by sharing anecdotes of how he had bought the plot of land where the house stood and how he had designed it.

“Ah… there it is, my dear! I give you the Cape Florida Lighthouse!” He exclaimed this with great pride and satisfaction as they both climbed the last step; clearly, both the turret and the view it provided were his labors of love. The beauty of Cape Florida was heightened by the radiant morning itself. One could see the white yachts, one by one, entering the water channels in procession and docking at No Name Harbor for the customary brunch at Boater’s Grill. The hurricane that had just passed had merely left some wrack along the shores; still and all, the water was so clear the yachts looked like aggregations of buoyant white manatees, the shadow of which was reflected further by the schools of glimmering swordfish swimming beneath them.

He resumed, “look again at these ten pictures. See this one? This was the view from my house back in Jersey. I grew up on a windswept clifftop, on the southwestern part of the island. We had a house, very much like this one, situated along a narrow alley crowning Le Mont du Petit Port. During the spring and well into the summer, I would climb our own steep turret and admire Beauport Beach on one side, Petit Port on the other side, and the lighthouse at La Corbière in between! Such delightful memories! As you can see, not only am I in the southwestern part of Key Biscayne, but every time I stare into the golden horizon and at the Cape Florida Lighthouse, my mind steadily flies back to those blissful days…”

“So, you took these all these pictures as a child?”, Jordana asked.

“I took these pictures, but not as a child; although, in hindsight, I was perhaps a child. In any case, it wasn’t until my seventeenth birthday that my favorite uncle, a diplomat at the American Embassy in Washington D.C., gave me a camera! It was December 1939, two years before the Attack on Pearl Harbor.”

“I see. It must’ve been excruciating, especially considering what happened over the next few years. Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t the Germans occupy the Channel Islands sometime during the summer of 1940?”, Jordana asked.

“So they did, my dear! So they did! The date was June 30, 1940!” As he said it, he couldn’t hide his malaise, briefly sighing and gasping for air. He then added, “and that is why I decided to continue our ancestral family business. For generations, we had been sailmakers. Logically, during the Occupation, the business was confiscated, so apart from sails, we also had to provide sacks or camping tents. Anyhow… whenever I had some spare time, I would dash out with my camera and immortalize beauty.”

“Did you have a choice? I mean, could you choose what to do?”, Jordana asked.

“Well, you must’ve noted I have to walk with a cane,” he replied.

“I did detect, but given the gist of our conversation, I had rather assumed that you might have been wounded in battle,” Jordana said.

“True, it could have been an option. But my shaking is a result of an injury. When I was fifteen, I had a bad fall while exploring the Minkies at low tide.”

“What are the Minkies?”, Jordana asked.

“Les Minquiers. Here they are,” he said, as he pulled out yet another photograph from the stack of ten. “We call them the Minkies. They’re a group islands off the coast of Jersey. Actually, islands and rocks. During the low tide, the rocks emerge. With two other friends, we would sneak out with a paddleboat every other Saturday during the summer of ’37. We loved exploring and walking on the rocks. One day I fell and fractured my ankle. Despite various medical therapies, I never fully recovered. That’s why I could never participate in active combat if enlisted in the army, nor could I drive properly. Therefore, I could only become a doctor, a cook, a photographer or follow into my father’s footsteps. I was no doctor and I most definitely couldn’t cook. Still can’t… “, he said, chuckling. “By the way, I realized I haven’t offered you anything. Would you like some freshly baked scones? I’ll tell Maria to bring some upstairs.”

               “Thank you, but don’t worry! I had breakfast before coming. I’d much prefer hearing more about the pictures,” Jordana replied. In the midst of this light moment, she decided it was a good time to bring up the castle. Before she could even start second-guessing herself, she boldly popped the question: “What castle is that? Having seen it on your sail at the yacht club, I imagine it must have a deeper significance than the rest of the pictures…”

               “Oh, c’est lé Vièr Châté, ma chère!” he exclaimed, mixing French and Jèrriais. “It’s Mont Orgueil, the Old Castle; Mount Pride; Haughty Mount… it’s Gorey Castle! And yes,” he paused for a moment and finished the phrase, “if you should know, it is near and dear to my heart!”

               “But just a second Mr. Peirson, I don’t see any battle or war scenes in these pictures. I don’t see any soldiers either,” Jordana pointed out, with a quizzical look.

               “Ah, well, you see, that’s exactly the point, my dear girl! As I said earlier, I pledged to myself to immortalize beauty. Now, Paul was a nurse apprentice at the Military Hospital. On occasion, he would accompany me and watch my back, and suggest views. Naturally, I gave him some copies as well,” he said. “Anyhow, Gorey Castle was the last picture I ever shot in Jersey. It was also the last time I saw Jersey, as Paul and I had decided to escape that very night. Except he ended up in Portugal and I ended up here, reinventing myself as a full-time professional photographer! He married a girl from Sintra and established himself as a high-school biology teacher, near the Promonotorium Magnum...”

               “Who is Paul and where is the Promontorium Magnum?” Jordana asked. “I used to be pretty good at geography, but I never heard of such place in Portugal…,” Jordana said.

               Mr. Peirson giggled, lifted his eyebrows in a mischievous way and replied: “really, and have you heard of the Rock of Lisbon? Oh, and Paul was my closest friend since childhood.”

               Again, Jordana was feeling surprised and slightly embarrassed she hadn’t heard of either place. It was not like her to be unprepared in certain matters, but Mr. Peirson giggled again and broke the silence, revealing the enigma: “I’m pulling your leg, dear. He lived near Cabo da Roca. Leonor, his lovely wife, was the daughter of the lighthouse keeper.”

               At this juncture, Jordana was undecided. Should she ask more about the letter and its contents, or should she ask how he and Paul escaped? She opted for the former. “I hate to pry, but is the letter from Paul?”

               “Sort of,” Mr. Peirson said. “We spoke and wrote regularly, but sadly he passed away a year ago. I had intended to go to his funeral, but at the last minute Leonor told me to wait, as he didn’t really want to be buried; she said there would be a second funeral, in line with his last wishes.”

               “So sorry to hear that. So his wife speaks Jèrriais? She wrote the letter?” Jordana continued. “And what is a second funeral, if I may? Is that some kind of surviving Norman tradition in Jersey?”

               “Paul wrote two letters shortly before dying. One for his family and the other one for me. Leonor knew the contents, but she misplaced it. For a long time, she could not find it. I did tell her to forget about it and that it would eventually resurface, but she was adamant in making sure that I physically received it before we could proceed. Anyhow… he wanted to be cremated on the anniversary of our escape date, and his ashes scattered in the ten places portrayed in my photographs. Undoubtedly, he wanted me to be there!”

               “What an intense story!” Jordana exclaimed. Although she had been fairly audacious up until that point, her instinctive, overarching discretion took over, suggesting it was time to end the conversation right then and there. Then again, they could pick it up some other time, upon Mr. Peirson’s return and only if he wanted. “Well, I think perhaps, it’s best for me to go, now. I’ll leave you to your thoughts. I’m sure you want to start preparing for your trip back home. I wish you a wonderful journey and safe travels! Is this the first time you’re returning to Jersey after all these years?”

               “No. I had been back in the late seventies, for my mother’s funeral. But a lot will have changed, yet again,” he said.

               “Right, I know you’re going to a funeral, but perhaps you may retrace your photographs, this time in color,” Jordana timidly uttered. “Good-bye for now. Until we meet again,” she said.

               Before she could get up from her chair, he quickly said “I think you can take those pictures with your own eyes. How about you come along as my assistant?”

[danielzetterholm]

Survival Tips - The Best Emergency Food Kit

Who Needs The Best Emergency Food Kit?

Who knows exactly what the future holds? If we knew, day today, what challenges could appear, we'd not be caught unawares. Regrettably, life just does not work like that. People that want to look forwards and create preparations to get the"just in case" scenarios are painted as fringe lunatics along with doomsday preppers. But building the ideal emergency food apparel for your loved ones members ought to really be something every responsible adult takes intently. Only a couple of those"normal" situations which may arise, even if needing emergency rations for the family members would seem sensible, comprise: lack of work, temporary lay away, elongated storm damage or power outage that disturbs your family . Or maybe you'd like to be described as considered a posture to help another family in demand, if the chance arise. Afterward you can find Armageddon type scenarios that irritate the mind of a few, with no greater way to set those fears to break than just to look ahead and prepare yourself for the worst. No matter your reasons for excited and putting up emergency rations contrary to a challenging time beforehand, we're here to assist you build the absolute ideal emergency food kit for your own family members.

Identifying Your Needs

First, lay your groundwork strategy. If you are only starting in emergency prep, you could well not need more than just a day or 2 values of food on your cupboard. If that is the situation, establishing a half day supply of food can be really just actually a fantastic place to get started. In the event that you previously possess 1 month of emergency rations set by, another step could be establishing a six month or two a year emergency food apparel. The main issue is to begin out somewhere, and also build up your supplies and soon you've constructed the ideal emergency food apparel you're able.

That Are You Feeding?

Do you've got kids at your home? Teens? Elderly or older adults? Babies will call for exclusive feeding accommodations such as formula or milk, whilst the older could possibly have some distinctive nutrient needs, too. Learn on newspaper that you are building a food source to and some unique things you want to get ready for these, or to your self. Then consider what it requires to nourish that person to get one moment.

Just how Many?

When you have written down exactly what is necessary to feed 1 man for a single day, you are going to want to multiply by the range of men and women, and also the range of days for that you are preparing.

What Do They Like To Eat?

There is absolutely no requirement to endure for a month on nothing but rice and legumes. That you never wish to stock upon three weeks worth of food your family will not touch base with a six-foot rod, simply as it was economical. It could keep you living in a pinch, however you desire to love it, even if at all possible. Thus spend the likes and think about as you intend. Do not neglect to consider food allergies, too. In a crisis situation, you'd not want to manage an allergic attack in cross contamination, thus far superior to prevent trouble foods altogether, whenever at all possible.

Types Of Emergency Rations

There are scores of methods to develop a fantastic emergency food apparel. Easy and simple, though undoubtedly not the cheapest, will be to spend money on commercially-prepared crisis rations, made available from various businesses. These kits include as individual portions, or perhaps even a month's worth of food for one individual. There are scores of alternatives to select from.

Yet another procedure, requiring just a small preparation and direction, will be to take that which you buy and use a weekly basis, and begin building a distribution that may endure. In the event that you generally utilize three cans of beans and 2 boxes of mac refrigerated cheese along with a jar of peanut butter per week, then start buying twin which, and place the excess aside for the emergency food apparel. Subsequently manage your own stock by rotating it to ensure your meal remains as fresh as you possibly can. Freshness are a substantial advantage within an longterm disaster, where you are counting upon your own emergency rations for weeks, or a long time.

When you have accumulated a couple of months supply of food, then arrange your headset and boxes with all an soonest expiration date at front and also the furthest from the trunk. Afterward, whenever you do your own food shopping, then put the fresh items at front and use out of front. This keeps your stock fresh and prepared to make use of if and when the requirement comes up.

Home canning is just another more affordable means to grow your emergency food apparel. Canning is getting to be a lost art, if you aren't knowledgeable about just how exactly to do it, then you are one of many. Canning food in glass jars necessitates just a tiny learning and attempt but can permit one to conserve yummy, homemade food for several ages. Make sure you understand that foods require pressure-cooking versus water-bathing procedures of preservation. Correctly canned goods retain most useful in cool, dark regions between 50 and 70 *F (10 - 2-1 *C) and therefore so are safe to consume years subsequent to canning.

For majority dry goods which are meant for long-term storage, wheat, legumes, rice, sugar and other dry goods might be sealed and kept at five gallon buckets with O2 absorbers to endure for thirty decades and longer. For the prepared minded, a couple pieces of corn and wheat will go a very long way toward serenity of mind.

A vacuum cleaner is a great investment for anyone serious in their emergency rations. Spicy foods in smaller amounts not just keeps them more but lets you use them only just a little at the same time, as opposed to needing to make utilize of a massive container upward fast as soon as you've opened it.

If you should be concerned about the expiry date on storebought baked products, please continue this story at heart. A steam boat called the Bertrand was hoping to hit Montana in 1865 as it sunk to the underside of this Missouri river. 100 decades after, canned goods out of this mess were regained. Back in 1974, 109 years following the collision, the food has been analyzed by chemists and found safe to consume. You ought to use decent sense when eating salty foods which have passed their expiry dates. If it appears strange, smells tastes or bad awful, do not eat it!

Signs That The Food In Your Emergency Food Kit Has Gone Bad

Evidence canned goods have become awful: the is bulging, and also so the lid has arrived unsealed. Assess for lubricant or mold bubbles from the liquid. In the event the foodstuff stands out from the jar or can whenever you start it, then there's pressure on the contents which was not there once the jar or can has been sealed. This really is an excellent sign of bacterial activity resulting in a chemical reaction. Click here Daniel Zetterholm

Comfort Foods

When you have created a fantastic base for emergency rations, then you may like to get started considering adding some relaxation foods into your store. In trying conditions, most of us turn into food to comfort, and tasty food may not be simple to find in case of a tragedy. A few matters to shop comprise:

Chocolate - roasted cocoa retains the very best, however chocolate bars more than 70 percent cocoa could keep for many months, and more if frozen. Sexy chocolate mixture includes a shelf life of several decades, and may readily be added into the turning of one's emergency food apparel. Macn' cheese - Best maintained dried by dividing the noodles and pasta, and vacuum sealing them together with O2 absorbers. If you should be focused on having the ability to cook macaroni and cheese, then it could be canned, however it's not going to have the exact identical feel as lately made. Under cooking the noodles before canning may make it be mushy. Honey - made out of natural compounds, honey could keep forever, provided that water gets close it. Store in very tidy, very dry glass jars. If it crystallizes, then you are able to return it into a liquid condition with just a tiny heat. Freeze dried fruit or dried fresh fruit may be terrific energy booster and also could keep well when kept correctly. Hard candies - store with desiccants and vacuum-sealing to supply a necessary pick up me under trying conditions. Coconut oil, notably virgin coconut oil can save for quite a long period and supply added fat for soothing recipes if butter isn't offered. Spices - should you can a location where you are needing to produce most your meal from everything you need readily available, you're going to be very thankful for several additional spices to... well... spice up things. Alcohol - Obviouslya reassuring thing, however, it also serves many purposes at a crisis scenario also it works nicely. Large alcohol content (more than 20 percent ) could continue to keep the maximum and more than 40 percent can function as a disinfectant if necessary. Tea - works nicely without lodging. To maintain it the most lightest, shop in tiny amounts by having an O2 absorber. Coffee - For people that need their cuppa to maintain up their chin, java will probably soon be an significant part the absolute most effective emergency food apparel. Roasted coffee keeps, vacuum-sealed in Mylar bags, for as many as two decades. In the event that you rotate it on your own emergency rations, then you'll have good java for a while. For prep beyond this, you could save green coffees in Mylar bags using O2 absorbersthen shake and grind them as needed. What To Choose? The way to choose what adopts the most ideal emergency food apparel? A fantastic guideline is just six weeks to a couple of food that you'll eat daily. That is readily handled through good buying and spinning. For prep beyond that time period, vacuum-sealed Mylar bags could maintain dry-goods for a long time. Many businesses and perhaps even faith-based family prep programs provide you dry-goods preserved in 10 cans which may maintain to 30 decades. Assembling an emergency food kit which may last a long period at a pinch is potential, together with preparation and forethought.

Water will likely be vital to surviving specific sorts of crisis scenarios. When planning emergency situations, 1 liter of water per man each evening is actually really just a good startingpoint. You are going to want a little extra for cooking and sanitation, too. Make certain that you have loads of water readily available, or an easy method to attain water and then sanitize it. Sanitation filtration and tablets would have been a significant component of this very ideal emergency food apparel.

Looking Ahead

For total planning, it is vital to think about of food prep throughout an urgent situation. In case the power was out for just three weeks, then how do you cook this mac'n' cheese that you took such services to put away? Even for those who own an electrical generator for crises, stoves and microwaves pull an excessive amount of power to utilize the generator for the cooking. A propane or butane camp stove with lots of fuel cells, or even perhaps a charcoal or propane grill are all fantastic alternatives to have onhand. And do not neglect to add a manual can opener on your emergency food apparel.

Where To Keep It?

Storage space might be hard, based upon your home situation. Preferably, you're going to want to set up a neatly organized chamber that is designed for storage. You'll tag your shelves, and then maintain matters well stocked and rotated. Unless you reside within this type of story book situation, you might need to find slightly bit more creative about the way you save your emergency food apparel. A whole good deal of food might also be stored, in cardboard boxes, under beds, and at the bottoms or tops of cabinets, and below the staircase. You might have to cut back unnecessary mess, to create room for unexpected emergency rations. The benefit will be well worth your time and time and effort.

Be Prepared, Not Scared

Accepting the actions required to generate the ideal emergency food apparel you can will cover off in reassurance. To be aware you have the capacity to take care for people who like, and also to be in a position to get in touch with people around you at the own time of need, will set you in a category reserved for merely a couple of. You'll sleep easy at night, knowing whatever else stays, your family is provided for.

[thecoroutfitters]

Written by Guest Contributor on The Prepper Journal.

Editors Note: Another guest contribution from Megan Nichols to The Prepper Journal.  As always, if you have information for Preppers that you would like to share and possibly receive a $25 cash award as well as be entered into the Prepper Writing Contest with a chance to win one of three Amazon Gift Cards  with the top prize being a $300 card to purchase your own prepping supplies, enter today.

Thanks to the media, prepping gets a bad reputation. Those who prep — collecting food, water and equipment to prepare for the inevitable — are portrayed as paranoid at best and crazy at worst. When it comes down to it, though, prepping isn’t such a bad idea — it’s better to have it and not need it, as the old saying goes. You don’t even need a barn or a shed to start prepping. If you’ve got a garage, you’ve got everything you need. How can you turn your garage into the ultimate prepper storage unit?

What Do You Need?

Before you start setting up your garage for storage, how much food, water and other supplies do you really need?

Food — Start with at least 72 hours’ worth of shelf-stable food for each person in your household. Once you’ve got this established, you can start adding to your food storage

Water — The average adult needs a gallon of water per day, half for drinking and half for washing and other sanitation needs. Again, start with 72 hours, and then plan for long-term needs, with water filtration, sanitation and storage

Fire building — Even if you’re not storing firewood, make sure you have everything you need to start a fire

First aid — Include medicine, first aid supplies, antibiotics — where available — and iodine tablets. The latter only becomes necessary in the event of a nuclear strike

Sanitation — Toilet paper, bleach, peroxide and items for sanitation and waste disposal are necessary, especially in the event of infrastructure collapse

Other supplies — In the event of a pandemic, for example, you will need masks, respirators and other personal protection equipment

Equipment — Gather generators and fuel, air compressors for powering tools and other equipment that you might need to survive until the crisis is over and normality restored.

Now that you have a basic idea of what you need, where are you going to put it all? If you’re limited on space, storage can be tricky. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

First, Declutter

If you’re using your garage to store all the stuff you don’t have room for, your first step is decluttering. Go through your garage and separate everything into three piles: keep, sell and trash. Only keep things that are necessary, that will serve you in the future or that you can’t bear to part with. Anything you can sell, set aside for a yard sale. Anything you’re just hanging onto because you haven’t bothered to get rid of it can go in the trash.

This step has two purposes. First, it gives you more room to store your supplies. Second, you can use the money you make from your yard sale to purchase storage and supplies.

Buy and Prep Equipment

Heavy equipment can take up a lot of space, so it’s a good idea to purchase any equipment first and plan your storage around it.

Generators can help keep your equipment powered, as long as you have fuel. Look for a generator that can easily be stored when not in use but provides all your power requirements.

Air compressors can be useful as well — they can be used to power tools, refill tires and even clean, depending on the adaptors you have for them. Make sure you’ve also got everything you need to maintain the compressor — tools, oil and even repair manuals can be useful to keep your equipment running.

Use All Your Available Space

A decent supply of food, water and other items will take up quite a bit of space, so the first thing you should do is look at your garage and see what kind of available space you actually have. Don’t just look at the garage itself — look under stairwells, in attics and even in closets.

In the garage itself, you’ve got walls and even your ceiling that can be altered to use as storage — all while still allowing you to use your garage for its originally intended purpose, parking your car!

Areas that already have equipment in them can still be used for storage — put shelves and storage containers above your washer and dryer and under your sinks for your growing prepper supply without filling your house from floor to ceiling.

You can even store supplies, cash and important papers in plain sight, if you’re clever with how you store them.

Don’t Forget Your Bug-Out Bag

Having a supply of food and water at home is great, but if you’re not able to stay in your home, you might not be able to take all of it with you. Creating a bug-out kit can give you a few days of supplies if you have to pick up and bug out. It should contain everything you’ve collected in your prepping — food, water, medical supplies, communication equipment — in addition to cash, important papers and anything else you can’t bear to leave behind.

Again you should have at least 72 hours of food and water for each person in your party. If carrying that much water is restrictive due to the weight, include water sterilization tablets or filter straws to protect you from any water contaminants in the water supply or in any natural water that you might find.

Give your bug-out bag its own special storage place in your garage. That way it’s on hand if you should ever need it. All you have to do is grab it, hop in your car and go.

Hopefully, you’ll never need your prepping supplies, but in the event that you do need them, it’s better to be prepared for any and all eventualities. It doesn’t matter if we’re facing a little hiccup or a full infrastructure collapse — having enough supplies could mean the difference between life and death. Even if you don’t opt for all the extra equipment, just having enough food and water and the ability to cook it can make all the difference.

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from The Prepper Journal Don't forget to visit the store and pick up some gear at The COR Outfitters. How prepared are you for emergencies? #SurvivalFirestarter #SurvivalBugOutBackpack #PrepperSurvivalPack #SHTFGear #SHTFBag

[polcry]

aka how not to give yourself scurvy in freshers’

Utilise your freezer.

Freeze everything. You’re going to be buying - and hopefully eating - for one, so there’s potential for a lot of waste. I’d recommend buying frozen vegetables so you’re not wasting money on produce going bad. If you buy something you know you’re not going to be able to finish before it goes off, freeze it as soon as you buy it - meat, half your loaf of bread, leftovers. I’d recommend freezer bags rather than tupperware for storage, though, as they are a lot more malleable and mean you can smoosh more in - especially with leftovers. Just make sure they’ve cooled down to room temperature before you put them in the fridge or freezer.

Shop with at least some idea of what you want to eat that week.

Otherwise, you’re going to end up with a bunch of ingredients and miscellaneous snack foods that can’t really be compiled into any sort of balanced meal. If meal prepping’s your thing, do that, but you can still be financially savvy eating more than one thing for dinner that week. Always have staples in - pasta, rice, canned beans, passata or canned tomatoes, and frozen vegetables - and you’ll always be able to work something out in a pinch.

Cut down your meat intake.

Meat is expensive. Multiple portions of meat a day is not only bad for your health and the planet, but it’s unnecessarily expensive. You’re not going to die of a protein deficiency if you cut out meat a couple of times a week - chances are, you’re over-consuming protein anyway and there’s no scientific data about what that may mean for your long-term health. Learn to love - or at least tolerate - chickpeas, beans, and lentils. You’ll be grateful for the fibre.

Be considerate.

Don’t be a knobsack and leave your dirty crockery strewn over your communal kitchen. If you spill something - especially something sticky, or potentially hazardous - clean. it. up. If you do not trust you’ll be awake by the time it finishes cooking because you’re as good as black-out drunk, DO NOT PUT THINGS IN THE OVEN/TOASTER. Your entire halls will hate you if they have to stand outside in the pissing rain at 2am on a Thursday because your stupid ass forgot about the toast you’d put in and it set the fire alarm off.

Also, don’t be that person that dumps all their washing up in the sink ‘to soak’ and leaves it there for three days. You will end up with cockroaches or food poisoning.

Set ground rules.

I’m not saying there has to be a minute-by-minute schedule or cleaning rota, but sit down with your flatmates and discuss the kitchen rules. Who gets what cupboard/fridge shelf? Is borrowing utensils or food okay, and under what circumstances? Are you going to have a communal meal a week, and who’s making it? How long is it okay for washing up to sit out on the side for before it needs to be done? You are all grown adults now - sit down and talk about what you’re all okay and not okay with, and find an arrangement that suits everyone.

Make yourself eat at least a couple of portions of fruit and vegetables a day.

It’s not hard, it’s not expensive. Sure, you may not like broccoli, but I guarantee you also won’t like having rickets. A banana with breakfast, some beans on toast for lunch and a serving of peas with dinner is sufficient. Eat vegetables first to get it over and done with, so you can enjoy the culinary masterpiece that is chicken nuggets and smiley faces without the nagging side of green beans.

Avoid liquid calories as much as possible.

You’re probably going to gain weight in university. Sure, a lot of that weight-gain will come from Domino’s after a night out or free food at the SU, but a sizeable chunk will come from alcohol and/or caffeine. I’m not saying don’t drink these things, but consider cutting your intake down or making smarter choices - black coffee or an Americano rather than a sugar-loaded flavoured latte, and using calorie-free drinks as mixers, and going steady with the beer.

Likewise, watch your squash or fruit juice intake. A glass of squash has about 90 calories, and a small glass of juice about 150. Drinking exclusively squash or juice over plain water is a surefire way to pack in extra calories without realising.

Learn a few basic recipes before you leave for uni.

There will be a night you get in and you’re exhausted, but do not want to eat fish fingers for the third night in a row. A basic pasta sauce takes fifteen minutes, a chilli can be ready to eat in half an hour, and for the love of god learn how to cook eggs. You do not want to be scrubbing burnt omelette off your frying pan while the smell of sulphur stinks out your entire flat.

Adhere to basic kitchen hygiene.

Label your meat and put everyone’s on the bottom shelf of the fridge so there’s not potential for contamination. Do not put warm or hot food straight into the fridge. If you do not have a fan oven, let it come to temperature before you start counting the recommended cooking time. Wash your hands after handling raw meat, and don’t chop anything on a cutting board used for meat that you’re intending to eat raw. Don’t eat previously cooked rice more than three days after cooking - and make sure all reheated food (especially dishes containing rice and/or meat) is piping hot all the way through. Microwave your dish sponges.

Sharing a kitchen can be a stressful experience. Not everyone has basic etiquette, or the same eating habits, and there’s always the potential for conflict. But at the end of the day, as long as you’re all being mature and considerate, it’s totally manageable to survive a communal kitchen without wanting to stab your flatmate. 

Remember also that food is fuel, and you are now in charge of what you’re consuming. Eat like shit, and you’re going to feel like shit. You’re an adult - and that means you’re going to have to eat like one or else face the consequences. 

[happynesstime]

10 suggestions to get ready for a residence roof replacement

Getting an all-new roof can be an exciting experience. Children and also pet dogs may watch amazed as they observe roofers tearing, tearing, carrying, as well as nailing-- they might also want to sneak as close as possible to the action. That, certainly, is incredibly hazardous. Once the roofing firm shows up, your residence is a job zone. Job zones, as you can envision, posture unexpected dangers.

Long Roofing focuses on making roof replacement worry-free and smooth. Nevertheless, there are significant security preventative measures and also prep work you can make so you're 100% ready.

Here are 10 tips to aid make your roof replacement go as efficiently as feasible. At the end of the day, we want you as well as your family to remain safe when the shingles start to fly.

10 ideas to plan for a residence roof substitute

1. Consider children and also pets.

Loud noises coming from the residence might enhance anxiety or disturb rest behaviors. While it might be amazing to see from a secure range, work areas are incredibly harmful to children as well as pet dogs.

Talk with your youngsters to clarify that particular locations of the residence or lawn will be out-of-bounds up until the task is complete. Given that kids and family pets might not recognize these risks, you might be much more comfortable visiting family or friends while your roof is changed.

2. Relocate your lorries.

Sorry, papa-- giving your roofing contractor your prime parking space is a must.

Professionals need quick access to their devices and also vehicles throughout the day. They need a location to load shingles and also debris. You'll want to maintain your cars a safe distance from this location up until work is completed.

You need to likewise keep your garage doors shut during building and construction to stay out dirt as well as debris.

3. Remove wall surface decorations.

The vibrations from hammers and also machinery on your roof may take a trip with some wall surfaces of your house, specifically if repairs to the existing deck are required.

Walkthrough the areas on the level below your roof. Take into consideration any type of knick-knacks, photos, or various other things that are hanging from your ceiling or wall surfaces. As a precaution, eliminate any decorations that aren't permanently safeguarded with screws.

You may also select to remove decorative lighting fixtures like light fixtures to play it safe.

4. Cover items in the attic.

Throughout a roof replacement, many installers will certainly be strolling on your roof, pounding it with hammers. Dust or small debris will certainly fall in attic room rooms throughout a brand-new roof setup.

You can maintain personal products cleaner by covering them with old sheets or drop cloths until the roofing firm is finished. Be prepared to do some light vacuuming in these areas after building and construction are full.

5. Move grills and also patio furnishings far from the work area.

A shed or garage is the most effective place to store outside items like grills, patio furniture, lawn accessories, and also potted plants while your brand-new roof is installed.

If you don't have on-site storage, you might want to place these products together in a location of the backyard that is a secure distance from the work area.

Remember that most service providers will not assist you to relocate any kind of personal products inside or outside the house.

6. Trim trees and also cut the lawn before construction begins.

Any kind of tree branches that hang low near your roof will certainly need to be cut before your contractor can begin work.

Your contractor ought to use drop cloths to shield plants as well as the yard in the immediate boundary of your home, but you need to reduce yard a day before construction starts.

Brief grass will certainly help keep dropped debris from hiding in your lawn, making clean-up quick and much more comprehensive.

7. Recognize numerous accessible power electrical outlets.

Your specialists will require access to electric outlets while they are functioning. Exterior electrical outlets are favored, yet if your house does not have any type of, a garage electrical outlet is a second-best choice.

If you do not have an electrical outlet outside or in a garage, keep in mind that expansion cords might require to run through a window or door to obtain power outside. Expansion cords can pose a tripping risk, so select an outlet in a location that does not get a lot of foot website traffic.

8. Remove antennas or satellite dishes.

If you have any antennas or dish antenna found on or close to your roof, you'll want to have them eliminated. Call your wire or satellite service provider to make plans before roof work starts.

If it is an old, non-working device, most roofing contractors will more than happy to remove and take care of it for you.

9. Talk to your neighbors.

Allow your next-door neighbors to find out about the intended work. Provide an expected timeframe throughout. They will certainly thank you! This will allow them to readjust their routines as well as situations so that they can be most comfortable while the job is going on.

10. Understand your environments throughout construction.

Building and construction at your house can develop unforeseen barriers. Expansion cords or various other buildings and construction equipment that isn't normally there offer some fine chances to hurt yourself. Stay added alert throughout this time to stop preventable injuries.

" You must safeguard exits from the within to ensure no one leaves under a ladder or scaffolding. A huge note taped to the within of the door is a terrific method to advise your family that leaves is harmful to use."

It is constantly best to interact with your roofing business throughout the roof installation procedure. Ask if they have any other pointers to make this job smoother for their team and your household.

Most significantly, keep in mind that this construction and any type of trouble it brings is short-term. Soon you will have the new roof that you've been waiting for.

Obtaining a brand name brand-new roof can be an amazing experience. When the roofing business shows up, your home is a work area. Job areas, as you can imagine, present unexpected hazards.

Do you need a new roof?

When you need a new roof on your house, call the roofers you can trust to bring you peace of mind. visit Amerus Roofing and Restoration of El Paso online to get a price, schedule a free, in-home consultation or find answers to any home roofing questions.