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rebellingstagnationblog · 6 years ago

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The Christmas Song - World of Color

We now continue with our regularly scheduled World of Color program!

"Holy cats," DW breathed, sitting forward and straining his seatbelt to get a better view.

Nestled in the trees sat a three story cabin. The front yard was bracketed by a modern garage on one side and a classic carriage house on the other, making the area a "U" shape. With the gently falling snow and the picturesque mountains as the background, the cabin looked like something out of a fairy tale.

"Not too shabby for a Christmas getaway." Launchpad glanced in the rear view mirror and caught sight of his passenger's gobsmacked expressions.

"Sure, but I don't know if I'd call this place a cabin," Max said.

"Well, it needs more decorations at any rate," Goofy said. "C'mon, Maxie. Help me unload the boxes." He loped out of the car and headed to the trunk, only slipping on the quickly accumulating snow twice.

DW twisted around in his seat and caught Max's eye. "Please tell me he didn't bring his own decorations."

"Only a few boxes worth." When DW shot him an appalled look, Max held up his hands in surrender. "I made him leave some stuff behind. If he'd brought everything, we would've needed another car."

"It looks fine as is!" DW said, gesturing to the cabin where the trees surrounding the property were strung with strands of twinkling white lights. A wreath was mounted on the front door and the third level balcony had garland hanging from its railing. It was simple, but still felt Christmasy. Goofy liked to have a yard covered in decorations, though, all the lights color coordinated and a Santa incorporated somewhere.

Max shrugged and got out of the car to help his father.

DW glanced to Gos in desperation.

"I'm just glad we're staying in someplace civilized and not a rickety backwoods cabin with an outhouse. This," she gestured to the area, "is camping I can get behind." With that, Gos climbed out of the car and started carrying their luggage inside.

As his last port in the storm, DW looked to Launchpad, who smiled. "Looks like you're gonna have to accept it, DW. Easier than puttin' up a fight."

"On that, LP, we disagree." He glanced out at everyone walking up to the cabin with bags thrown over their shoulders and boxes tucked under their arms. "But I suppose if I go along with it, I might be able to contain some of the chaos."

"That's the spirit!" Launchpad said, clapping DW on the shoulder, turning the car off, and stepping out into the snow.

The cabin was massive, golden light spilling out of the windows and illuminating the front yard and was painted white. It would've been a striking contrast to the green of the woods around it, but it was right at home amongst the dark skies and snowfall. The carriage house to left looked to have been converted into more living space connected to the main house, while the garage to the right seemed to be separate from the rest of the property. Launchpad could park the their rental cars in there once everything was unloaded and everyone inside.

The main pathway to the house curled up to the front door and wooden staircases stretched up from the ground to the second and third floor balconies. The roof came to a point in the middle like houses did in children's drawings.

Excited chatter filled the frigid air as the group entered their temporary holiday home. If everyone had been impressed with the exterior, it was nothing compared to what the inside held.

The front door opened to reveal an open concept living space, a huge stone fireplace the focal point with large comfortable looking sofas and chairs grouped around the room. Two doors were on the right, nestled underneath the free-standing staircase. To the left was the ideal space for a Christmas tree; DW would surely lead the charge on cutting one down. Past the would-be-Christmas-tree space lie a dining room with a giant wooden table spanning the length of the room with enough chairs for the whole group gathered along the sides. Launchpad suspected the kitchen was around the corner, which would also connect the main house to the carriage house.

Huey, Dewey, and Louie were busy running around and exploring. They called out their discoveries as they found them while the rest of the party finished bringing in their luggage and boxes of presents and decorations.

"There are two bedrooms in that small separate house," Huey said. "We call dibs on one of them." He pointed to his brothers.

"It's a carriage house, lad," said Mr. McD. "When this cabin was first constructed, it was where the carriages were stored. I suspect the garage was the stable for the horses."

"Well, there's a lounge on the upper level of the carriage house, so super dibs," said Dewey, grabbing his belongings with the other two and darting back through the kitchen towards their room.

Mr. McD chuckled. "I've a mind to take that other room to keep an eye on them."

"We can take it, Uncle Scrooge," said Donald, Daisy nodding her agreement.

"Nonsense!" said Mr. McD. "Yeh take one of the master bedrooms. S'better suited to a couple."

Donald shifted their bags, uncertain, and Daisy asked, "Are you sure?"

"Aye, lass. With all the activities we have planned, I'll gladly take a room with less stairs." He winked at her.

Daisy smiled and followed Donald upstairs.

Mr. McD turned to Gos and Max. "The second master bedroom is on the third floor, which would suit the two of you."

"Gosalyn will be bunking with me," DW said.

"No, Gosalyn will not," Gos said, turning to face him. "Our last romantic getaway was crashed by Darkwing Duck. I'd like to spend this one with my boyfriend."

DW scowled at her. "I— heard F.O.W.L. crashed your weekend, not Darkwing Duck. He saved you! … Based on what I heard."

Gos picked up her bags. "Max and I are sharing a room. You can have your own, if my math is right." She glanced at Mr. McD.

"'Tis, lass."

"There you go." She grabbed Max's hand and led him upstairs, Max lugging his suitcase behind him.

Mr. McD smiled at DW. "They deserve it," he said. "They both work hard."

DW scowled at Mr. McD. "It's not about how hard they work. Speaking of how hard Gosalyn works, don't think I've forgotten about Hawai'i in all this chaos. I will find out what happened."

"I'm sure ya will, lad. When Gosalyn decides to tell ya. Now, I'm going to settle in. There are more rooms on the second floor, feel free to take your pick." With that, Mr. McD took up his bags and went to find his room.

DW turned to Launchpad, ready to keep arguing, but Launchpad shook his head. "Max and Gos already live together, DW. It makes sense they'd share a room."

DW pointed a finger at Launchpad's chest. "Don't you bring your logic into his."

Goofy, who had piled the last of the boxes in a corner of the room, grinned. "I sure was relieved when they finally moved in together. Maxie's been meanin' to ask Gosie to move in with him since they met." He elbowed DW lightly. "Seems he likes her a lot. Still gets himself all worked up and nervous over the small stuff." Shouldering his bag, Goofy glanced up the staircase. "Yeh have any preference on yer room?"

DW, grabbing his luggage and shaking his head, trudged up the stairs. "I'm never going to win an argument ever again."

Goofy glanced back at Launchpad, an expectant look on his face.

"I'll find a room later," Launchpad said. "I wanna park the cars in the garage before the snow starts coming down too hard."

"Need any help?"

"Nah. It won't take long."

Goofy nodded and headed up behind DW.

Launchpad zipped up his coat and yanked on a pair of gloves before heading outside once more.

Parking the cars turned out to be a stroke of genius as the evening wore on. Not just because the snow started to come down in droves, but Launchpad had found the woodshed on his way back inside, and had brought in a basket full of logs to start a fire. Everyone reconvened in the great room as Goofy and Daisy cooked dinner. The roaring fire gave off enough heat to keep everyone warm as they unpacked their Christmas decorations and the boys hung sprigs of mistletoe around the house.

When Donald and Daisy were caught under the mistletoe, the boys whistled and cheered when they exchanged a quick kiss. DW was careful to avoid the plant, looking up dubiously before settling anywhere.

At one point, Huey tried to hang a sprig above Max and Gos, but she glared at him until he moved away, the plant still in hand.

Getting the whole group together for Christmas — spanning over at least three families — was bound to lead to some interesting stories. And Launchpad was looking forward to all of them, excited that both of his families and his new friends were together in a grand cabin for the holidays.

#darkwing duck #season of light #geronimo series #25 days of ficmas

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kainks · 7 years ago

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north star.

ya girl loves christmas and fantasy shit. so here, take it. enjoy it. (pls)

pairing: god!taehyung x reader

genre: soulmate!au, reincarnation!au

warnings: fluff. cute shit happens.

words: 1,783.

=> The star on your right wrist carried a fate so beautiful, so rare, you didn’t believe in its false hope. That is, until you saw him, and you knew it to be true.

It was a lonely Winter, lonely snow and lonely cold. The bark of the evergreens wilted and froze underneath bitter winds, casting lonely shadows onto the snow covered ground. Forbidden branches loomed above like messengers of death, crystal shards of ice hanging spectrally from their tips.

Christmas in your village was a boisterous spectacle, merchants traveling from far and wide to sell the sweetest treats and shiniest toys to the locals. You often wondered why, of all the small villages, they chose the most secluded one atop the Northern mountain. Where nothing ever happened, or changed. Where people were born and grew old in the same cabin, neighbored next to a tall oak that had seen many generations past.

Christmas in your village was lonely, despite the many lanterns strung about, swaying ever so gently in the nipping winds that rolled through like a harbinger. You hadn’t the fondest memories of the holiday, as it shared the same date as your very birth, and consequently, your own mothers passing. You were known as the orphaned girl among the villagers, one that lost her mother too young and was raised by an Aunt that didn’t share the same blood.

You were known as the girl with the birthmark of a star on her left wrist, the most beautiful, brightest, silver star inked onto your skin since a day old. No one knew of its magic, or how you came to be the one graced with such a peculiar mark.

Yet there were whispers around town, from the elders who always happened to look away when passing by you, from fear or wonder, you didn’t know.

There was a legend, told throughout the four villages that expanded across the range of mountains. A tale of a God that had crafted the North star himself, carved it with his hands and placed it purposely in the sky as the brightest and most alluring among its sisters. It was said that the man had placed the star as a map, in hopes of one day being reunited with his lost love.

One that wore the mark of a silver star on her skin.

You thought such tales were for children, having outgrown your innocence long ago. Only a fool would believe in such a fate. Yet it did not stop your sleepless nights, eyes trained upon the mark that had become more of a nuisance than anything else. A part of you wondered, hoped, that the tale held some truth. You wanted more than just the same four walls of your cabin, more than you were blessed with. You were not a selfish person, yet you could not help the longing in your heart for more, for a sense of something you couldn’t quite understand.

In time, you found your answer, on the eve of Christmas, miles deep into the snowy plains of the lost forest. A forest so vast and thick, rich with life and dangerously, eerily, inescapable.

No one ventured into the lost forest, and no one ever left.

You hadn’t known why you’d woken up in the midst of night, moon glowing bright through the window next to your bed. It was as if she had whispered your consciousness back into existence, yet for what, you didn’t know. All you knew, was that your chest sat tight under your thin cotton nightgown, heartbeat a deafening rhythm in your ears.

After slipping quietly out of your warm bed, as to not wake your aunt, you quickly stepped into your fur lined boots, wrapping your body in a warm flannel coat before escaping silently through the back door.

Your cabin was placed on the Northern most border of your village, its backdoor only a few full steps from the doomed forest itself. Growing up, you had stared at the entrance lined with thick oaks that towered to the stars, wondering what exactly lay hidden past the brush and snow.

It seemed that you were soon to find out, as you had long ago walked confidently, purposely, through the compacted trees. Sliding and moving your body through dangling branches and ice, you came to a clearing of sorts, one that was made into that of a circle, a perfectly placed sphere among its confined surroundings.

The hem of your nightgown did little to protect your bare knees from the harsh winds, a light dust of snow falling onto your cheeks, covering your coat in a blanket of white.

You saw him before you heard the heavy crunch of his boots on the snow, appearing from between two thick trunks, directly across from you on the edge of the oddly shaped clearing. It was almost as if you were meant to end up here, as if an invisible force beckoned you with the moon as your guide, and light, as it shone directly overhead, lighting up the area in a soft glow.

“Who are you?”

Cold lips trembled a faint blue, the question whispered yet heard by the man, as he stepped fully into the clearing, letting you bestow on his other worldly beauty. As you had never seen a man so hauntingly beautiful, never laid your eyes upon someone so surely not human.

It was then that you knew, that you believed.

His hair was a silvery white, long enough to barely reach his eyes and cover the tips of his ears. The bridge of his nose was defined, jaw sharp and skin a golden hue that you’d almost believe to be unnatural. The mountain never saw more than a month or two of sun year round.

Yet the stranger was strikingly alluring, clothed in brown cotton pants tucked into a pair of black boots, and a flowing, thin, white shirt that hung loosely around his broad frame. You wondered how a man could survive such harsh conditions, while wearing so little.

Then you saw his eyes, gazing back at you with softness, recognition.

The tightness in your chest had long passed, your erratic heart stilling to a calming beat, and an unfamiliar tingle in the tips of your fingers had you stepping forward, bringing yourself closer to the man, the God.

He matched your pace, as if afraid of frightening you off too soon. When you met him in the middle of the clearing, you realized how unnaturally beautiful he was up close, even more so. He was taller, and as you gazed up at him, his hand found your cheek.

You softly gasped at the warmness that instantly graced your skin, heat from his palm warming your reddened face.

“Is it really you?” You questioned, breath stilling in your lungs because you feared the answer, feared that it would be no, and you’d be left alone once again.

“Yes.” He breathed, eyes still trained unbelievably on your face, as if he couldn’t fathom your presence, couldn’t take in the reality of your existence before him.

“You do not know how long I waited for you, for this moment.”

Suddenly both hands were cupping your face in a gentle touch, tilting your head up to take in every feature of your face. You watched his eyes sweep over every detail, every blemish. Your own hands, slightly trembling from the cold and the reality of the situation, rose up to enclose each of his wrists. It was then that he saw the silver star lining the inside of your right wrist, carefully placed and waiting, a sign that this very moment was to come since the beginning of time.

You watched as his eyes instantly fell upon the mark, widening before he was grabbing your hand and placing a firm, delicate kiss to the skin. Your pulse raced beneath his lips, and for the first time in your life, you felt a sense of completion. The longing in your chest finally filled with the presence of your very own destiny, one that stood right before you, ever so charming.

“What is your name?”

Taking a step closer, you pressed your body further into his own, collecting warmth back into your bones once more. He didn’t question it, yet welcomed you eagerly, arms slipping naturally around your waist as if he’d done so before a thousand times.

“Taehyung.”

His voice was rich, smooth and calming to your ears as you gently held onto his shirt with a light grasp. You had never once been in the arms of a man, yet being held by Taehyung, felt like the most natural thing in the world, as if you weren’t meant to be anywhere else.

“Do you know who I am?”

“Yes, you are- you are a God, are you not?”

His lips, as pink as the roses in your garden that only bloomed in fierce winters, turned up into a smile so bright it had you in awe, that something could make your heart come to still, yet flutter to life all at once.

“That I am. I see you’ve heard the tales, of who exactly you are to me?”

You could only nod. A part of you felt burdened, knowing that you were a reincarnation of someone from his past, yet could not recall such memories. Was it always meant to be this way, throughout his existence? Finding and losing you all over again?

“I- I am another version of her, the one you first fell in love with.”

You awaited his agreement, understanding, yet you did not expect his smile to twist into one of deep confusion.

“Another version?”

You hummed, tightening your grip on his shirt ever so slightly. You were afraid of him disappearing before your very eyes, afraid that in a blink he would be gone, and you’d be waking up from a dream.

“Yes, a reincarnation of your first love.”

For the briefest of seconds he was still, arms bringing you closer to his body, securing you in a careful hold as he thought, pondered over your confusion before a sense of comprehension graced his features.

“My love,” he whispered, lips nearing close to your own, causing you to tremble slightly in his hold. “You are the first.”

You did not get the chance to fully grasp his words, or the meaning behind them, before his lips were on yours, soft and gentle, basking you in a sensation of home and new beginnings.

The tales had been true, yet perfectly untrue all at once. Your fate, Taehyung, had been intricately written in the stars, a constant presence that had been watching over you, your entire life. You just hadn’t known.

Hadn’t known that high in the sky, over the sharpest edge of the Northern mountain, a star was created just for you.

a/n: idk if there will be more christmas drabbles. probably. most likely. lmao.

#taehyung scenario #bts scenario #taehyung fluff #bts fluff #bts #fluff #xmas!!!#i'm soft after writing this lmao #reincarnation au #soulmate au #bts soulmate #bts reincarnation

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marydemers1-blog · 7 years ago

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Is It Possible to Build a Log Cabin In Winter?

The snow is beginning to fall. The kick back is within the air. Right across the corner the holidays watch for us. This is the time to take a seat inner with a cup of warm cocoa and a twinkling Christmas tree, Pallet Projects being attentive to carols. But would not that be so much extra pleasing if it had been in a log cabin, an appropriate setting for those iciness activities? Too terrible you need to wait till it's far warm once more before you could begin constructing your dream cabin.

Or do you? It is truely viable to build a log cabin in iciness. Sure, it takes a large of coaching and knowhow, but that does not imply it's far from your reach.

Preparing The Site of Your Log Cabin

Winter isn't simply a horrific time to get to work at the site of your log cabin. Groundwater is lots lower than during the warmer easy pallet projects months, which makes it an less complicated job and requires less paintings to dispose of it. Frost may be an problem in case you are deep into the season, so you need to get started as soon as feasible. You can prepare the site with up to two inches of frost. Snow is a bigger difficulty and until it's far temporary powder, once real snow fall hits it is going to be too overdue.

Preparing Yourself For Work

Are you ready to be working inside the cold? There is a awesome advantage that you have in iciness over summer and this is the lack of warmth. Anyone who has achieved guide hard work or labor intensive projects within the summer time is aware of that it is a miserable or even risky project. It may be a real relief to be running on matters in the chillier months, however diy pallet projects you want to be properly attired. Have a thick coat and layers. Have exact gloves with texture to keep some friction for containing matters. Put on thick socks (or more than one pairs) underneath solid boots which can be each warm and anti-slip. A scarf or balaclava and a hat to protect the face, neck and ears are also critical. For some additional comfort you may get pocket warmers that can help you on those chillier days. Make certain you are privy to weather conditions and plan your construct therefore.

Hiring a Company for Construction

Putting up a log cabin is tough in the first-class of conditions. In iciness it may be without a doubt hard for folks who do not know what they are doing, or who simply do not have help. You should consider hiring builders to do it for you. Many will work in the wintry weather for an extra charge, which also guarantees it'll be done faster and right the first time. Be prepared to pay a top class however you'll be glad for the work while a team of five or extra humans get your log cabin up within some weeks rather than a few months. Keep in thoughts that they may most effective get the outdoors performed at the beginning as speedy as feasible and worry about finishing and interior after, when they don't have to worry approximately being stuck outside.

Prefabricated or Custom Built?

Another aspect in how speedy you may get your log cabin constructed is whether or not or no longer it's far going to be performed from scratch. This can take a 12 months or greater to finish so you could best be pushing through the iciness to get it done a touch quicker. That is usually way too lengthy for the majority, mainly whilst there may be a quicker alternative. A prefabricated log cabin is one which has been ordered and synthetic in a manufacturing unit in huge portions then shipped to your erection web page. A group (otherwise you and a few others) can then positioned them up in sections, making it a far quicker process that can be accomplished inside weeks rather than months or years. You can also be more likely to discover a constructing group to handle the construction if they understand it's far just a prefab and so one can knock it out fast, earlier than the snow starts offevolved. Want another cause to go prefab? They are plenty less expensive (every so often by using tens of thousands of greenbacks) and can be custom designed if you undergo a enterprise that specializes in their very own designs.

Potential Risks In Winter

Now which you know that a log cabin can be built in wintry weather you ought to know the risks. It may be tough occasionally to discover a construction agency this is willing to address a constructed that past due in the 12 months. That would possibly go away you preserving the reigns and in case you do not know the way to construct a log cabin that is a honestly difficult DIY that may not be within your skills. Then there's the climate itself. When it is bloodless you're risking hypothermia and frostbite, both of that may come on tons faster and at better temperatures than you would possibly anticipate. wood pallet projects Slipping is any other very actual problem, as ice may be on the floor and completely unseen if it froze in a thin, difficult layer. The extra you pass around the site, especially wherein there was groundwater, the extra you danger slipping and injuring yourself. Finally, there is just the development itself. Let's say you get began and you miscalculated the blizzard. It starts earlier than you idea and earlier than you are carried out. You can not just depart the website, you have to cover it and wish that there's no damage to what you've got already carried out earlier than spring comes.

As you may see, wintry weather production is feasible whilst you want a log cabin. But your first-class wager is going to be hiring a construction organization that handles prefabricated dwellings in an effort to get it up and operational earlier than the snow comes. Once the outdoors is finished they are able to take extra time at the interior and very last touches.

So in case you are involved that you need to wait until spring to get your dream log cabin, don't worry. It is inside attain, you just ought to take the right precautions.

The Quick-garden is a well known manufacturer of various wooden buildings like wood garages, cellular homes, log cabins and greater within the UK. Find out more approximately their products at their internet site of wooden lawn homes.

3 Steps in the Natural Treatment of Depression

Although we don't like to speak approximately it, melancholy is a chief hassle in America. According to information, one out each ten people will be afflicted by despair sooner or later in our lives. Sixteen million people (that's 6.9% of the population) had as a minimum one fundamental depressive episode in 2012. And each year, the variety of Miami Personal Training humans being identified with this ailment increases through 20%. With numbers like this, it's miles secure to mention that depression is a disease that impacts almost all of us in a few manner, whether or not that is in my opinion or inside our circle of circle of relatives and friends.

One of the worst things approximately despair is that the very signs of the ailment (fatigue, emotions of hopelessness, tendency for isolation) make it hard for the sufferer to are looking for assist and search for opportunity alternatives. Think of this in comparison to something like cancer, in which it is very not unusual for the newly recognized patient to seek more than one clinical evaluations and scour the net for natural remedies. There is some thing approximately most cancers and sicknesses like it that initiate a fighter's mentality. But unfortunately with the aid of its very nature, melancholy usually takes the combat completely out of the character.

The right information in all of this is that there are herbal and effective remedy options for humans suffering from depression. Although it's far given one large call, the truth is that there are numerous one of a kind reasons, presentations, and signs of melancholy. Therefore, what works to assist one person can be absolutely useless for someone else. But whilst you take some time to get the whole tale, treat the whole character, and Best Miami Personal Training paintings together to put into effect new life abilties, the consequences can be pretty superb. Below I even have mentioned the three most essential steps in the natural remedy of this developing disorder.

Rule out or treat bodily causes:

In order to have an powerful remedy, it's miles very essential to either rule out or deal with any viable bodily causes that may be contributing to a affected person's melancholy. There are MANY bodily conditions that may purpose depression, some of that are acknowledged through traditional remedy and some of which are not. I would love to talk approximately a couple of them in more element:

Nutritional deficiencies: Low levels of many distinctive vitamins and minerals as well as important fatty acids (omega three's) are related to melancholy. It is specially critical to test for low nutrition B6, B12, and folic acid in depressed sufferers. These three nutrients are normally depleted via stress as well as with the aid of the usage of oral birth control. Unfortunately, conventional labwork is not the most correct manner to check nutrition stages. This is due to the fact those labs most effective take a look at the serum level of nutrients, that is the amount of vitamins floating round in your bloodstream at the unique time of the blood draw. A extra accurate manner to test for nutritional deficiencies is to check the extent of nutrients which are certainly inner your blood cells. This kind of checking out suggests precisely how a great deal of every nutrition the frame has genuinely absorbed and is capable of use.

Additionally, due to a genetic deficiency called the MTHFR genetic defect, some human beings are unable to transform the folic acid they ingest into the lively and usable form referred to as L-methylfolate. While this disorder can lead to a number of different metabolic problems, it's far specifically essential in melancholy. This is due to the fact low folic acid prevents the body from producing adequate degrees of serotonin, epinephrine, and dopamine. Spectracell Laboratories is a wonderful laboratory that as it should be checks for nutrient deficiencies and MTHFR genetic defects through the blood. The information gleamed from these assessments permits physicians to prescribe surprisingly correct and unique dietary remedies that may have a profound effect on patients' health.

Adrenal Imbalance: Both expanded and depressed levels of adrenal hormones, particularly cortisol, can reason signs and symptoms of melancholy. If cortisol degrees are too high, this can inhibit the frame's ability to transform tryptophan to serotonin. On top of the tremendous temper changes that serotonin deficiency can cause, serotonin is a right away precursor to melatonin, a hormone this is vitally critical to sleep. Excess cortisol additionally inhibits thyroid hormone production and might lead to hypothyroidism, any other circumstance that may cause symptoms of melancholy. Low ranges of cortisol are also related to temper adjustments, melancholy, and fatigue. The most accurate way to test adrenal hormones is thru the saliva. Salivary checking out measures the biologically energetic component of these hormones, and, because it may be executed at home, it lets in for precise dimension of hormones at distinctive times of the day and/or month. This gives the physician a entire image of how plenty hormone the body is really able to utilize and how that hormone stage fluctuates based totally on physical rhythms.

Hypothyroidism: The maximum common signs of hypothyroidism-fatigue, unhappiness, brain fog, issue wondering, and inability to shed pounds-are a number of the very equal signs and symptoms of despair. For this cause, it is very crucial for each person who's experiencing these signs and symptoms should have their thyroid checked before starting any form of anti-depressant remedy. It is crucial that the physician runs a full thyroid panel (TSH, Free T3, Free T4, thyroid antibodies) and now not simply TSH, because many cases of hypothyroidism may be neglected in any other case.

There are too many metabolic reasons of depression to go into detail about every one, however here's a listing of other critical situations to rule out and/or deal with if vital in case you are tormented by melancholy:

Hyperthyroidism Pituitary, parathyroid, or sex hormone imbalance Autoimmune disease Fibromyalgia Chronic fatigue syndrome Environmental toxicities Food allergies Chronic infections Medication side-outcomes Hypoglycemia PMS Lifestyle picks: lack of workout, sunshine, and/or sleep Obesity Other illnesses: heart and lung diseases, neurological disorders, anemia, and many others.

Homeopathic Treatment

Homeopathic medicine is frequently very helpful in treating despair and tension. Homeopathy is a very safe and gentle system of drugs which could have very profound healing effects whilst used effectively. Because it really works differently than traditional medicines and supplements, it can be tough to explain exactly how the remedies work.

Dana Ullman summarized homeopathy beautifully in his Huffington Post article on the homeopathic treatment of depression. He stated that, "the basis behind homeopathy is that signs and symptoms of infection aren't just some thing "wrong" with the individual but are absolutely efforts of their bodymind to fight contamination and/or to conform to pressure. Instead of the use of large doses of pharmacological dealers to inhibit or suppress symptoms, very small and mainly organized doses of medicinal substances are in my view prescribed to a person for their specific capacity to reason an overdose within the comparable signs that the sick man or woman is having. By locating a medicine that matches the symptoms of the sick character, the medicine supports and augments the body's defenses." (1) In different words, even as many other kinds of remedy treat the disorder itself and all the signs that ailment comes with, homeopathy treats the unwell character in my opinion.

Get Connected

No matter the way you deal with despair, healing from this disease will in no way arise in isolation. One of the worst elements approximately despair is that it lies to you. It tells you which you are on my own, personal training in miami that no one understands you, and that you are unfixable. But this isn't always true. It can be an exceedingly tough and hard step to invite for help, however in case you do I promise that you may find own family members, buddies, and health specialists who will gladly step in to support you.

Besides commencing up to buddies and own family, working through the mental, emotional, and spiritual causes of melancholy with a qualified intellectual fitness career is especially treasured. Many councilors train strategies that interrupt and adjust the terrible thought patterns that often arise in the mind of depressed patients. They also serve as a non-biased, non-judgmental sounding board for thoughts that a depressed character may not be comfortable sharing with every body else. As with any persistent disorder, recuperation from melancholy is a long time and multifaceted procedure. In my experience, the those who gain the most profound and lasting restoration are those who combine physical remedies with intellectual, emotional, and non secular boom practices.

Discover How To Teach English Abroad

Have you ever thought approximately an opportunity to teach the English language overseas however are uncertain how you can get involved? If so, than this text can help. If you have ever questioned how to teach English the world over than a TESOL certification direction will be the answer for you. Throughout this newsletter we will provide an explanation for what Online Tesol Certification is, as well as what it includes, and how a TESOL route can boost your possibilities in case you are looking to educate humans from other countries how to speak English. By the cease of the following few paragraphs, you may have a much deeper know-how as to how to start your dream profession and end up one-step closer for your aim of coaching overseas.

Let's start with the aid of discussing what TESOL absolutely is and who is certified to take TESOL training guides. First off, TESOL is a brief shape that stands for 'Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages'. TESOL programs and courses are supplied each on-line and on-web page and may be taken with the aid of everybody who is over the age of 18, who enjoys operating with others, and who wants to educate English overseas. TESOL education guides are extremely useful in presenting know-how and revel in to all of us who's hoping to educate English abroad.

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Stylish Fashion Tips That Will Improve Your Look

Fashion is always changing and staying up to date with the newest trends can be hard. You could be stuck in a rut and not know the current fashion trends. Keep reading this helpful article to find tips mens long hairstyles you can use when you want to look your best.

Black is a good basic color to wear with other colors, but do not concentrate on wearing black all the time. While wearing black on the bottom half of your body can be somewhat slimming, make sure you jazz your style up by adding something colorful on your upper body.

As you start to get grayer, and your hair is almost 50 percent gray, you will want to look into a permanent dye. It does not wash out, though, which means that each month you will begin to see your roots showing through. One trick to help with this is to put in highlights near your part and your temples.

Try to stick to darker colors if you want to look skinny during the day. Dark colors help hide the excess weight you are carrying and help you look thinner. For extra comfort, try an elastic band around the waste.

A perfect fashion tip is to try to keep your hands as free as possible when it comes to your bag. Get a trendy looking strap to wear across your body to keep your hands free and also to add a bit of style to your outfit. It could make the difference between being clumsy and being in control.

Mousse is a great way to improve the volume and look of your hair. A lot of people don't seem to realize the 1980s are over, and to be honest, even then big hair was not flattering on most people.

You don't have to spend a lot of money to be fashionable. There are many department stores that carry comparable styles to famous designer fashions. Other stores offer high-fashion brands at low prices because they buy over run styles. Another option is getting a sewing machine and recreating your favorite styles.

Get the basics if you want to be fashionable. The right fitting bra can make a big difference to your body shape. Undergarments are for support and should give you a smooth look. Your choices of underwear that can provide you with this body impression are vast.

Did you know that drinking more filtered water can actually help you to prevent dry, cracked nails and cuticles? If you are not properly hydrated, your nails will probably reflect it, appearing dry and brittle. When the weather outside is cold and heaters suck the moisture from inside air, this can be critical. Keep your nails moisturized with shea butter a couple of times a day. For really deep moisturizing, apply the shea butter before bed and then slip on some cotton gloves for a night long treatment.

Staying warm and fashionable in the wintertime is difficult, but possible. You just need to find a fine balance between the two. For instance, you could wear long, sleekly-fitted coats with a pair of high-heeled boots. If you decide to go with the look, be sure the fabric touches your calf.

Be sure to follow washing instructions. To keep your clothing looking its best, treat it carefully. Be careful if you are washing or drying anything expensive in a machine. It could fade the clothing or cause it to lose its shape. When in doubt, wash it on gentle and hang the clothing to dry.

Try keeping your outfits simple. Using a minimalist approach when it comes to your ensembles can actually have a big impact on your appearance. Try keeping your clothing choices subdued and your accessories to a minimum. When you're not focusing on busy prints and patterns, bold colors, or tons of accessories, it makes for a clean and attractive look.

Knowing what the purpose of certain footwear is a good way to avoid any fashion mix ups. For example, sandals were designed to be worn by people going to the beach or for people at the pool. Therefore, you should not wear your sandals all the time as it is unfashionable.

One of the most overlooked areas of fashion is accessorizing. Great accessories make an outfit pop. Great accessories include earrings, necklaces and watches. Make sure that you have a good hairstyle that compliments what you are wearing as well. For matching outfits, read fashion magazines.

If you have a limited budget for clothes, avoid buying clothes that are trendy that will only last you for a season. Fashion fads quickly go out of style, and you will be stuck with clothes that will make you feel like yesterday's fashion queen. Stick with the classic looks that are timeless.

While the colder seasons usually mean lots of neutral, ultra light and dark clothing, try to change things up with some bright colors this coming season. This year, many are wearing bright hues like purples, pinks, bright blues, and tangerine. These fun colors can really help you add some fun and warmth to the cold weather.

When you shop with your friends, you are an unbiased opinion to help them choose looks that are right for them. Even if you have to drag your friends in the clothing store to assist them with their shopping, you will be doing them a great favor by helping them look good.

Do some online shopping to find a lot of clothing items for cheap. Online shopping is sometimes some of the cheapest shopping there is, and you can find a lot of clothing items for very cheap when you decide to shop online in order to expand the fashion wardrobe that you have.

Take pictures of yourself in the dressing room. In order to get a valid idea of how you look in a new outfit before you buy it, use your cell phone to snap a picture of yourself while you're trying it on. That can be a good way to get an idea of what others see when they look at it.

After reading this article, hopefully you now know how to approach modern fashion. Continue to keep your eyes open for the fashion changes down the road. Apply what you've learned here, and you'll be a fashionista in no time.

Even You Can Lose Weight With These Fantastic Tips

Sometimes losing weight is not easy. This can be for a variety of reasons, but one reason in particular is that you can't miami personal training figure out a system that works for you. Getting a system and rhythm in place is the best thing for your weight loss goals and here are a few tips that might help.

Don't kick yourself for straying from your diet every once in a while. You needn't be perfect. If you've slipped and eaten a little goodie, just do a little more exercise. If you are low on time, don't worry about it. Negativity will cause you to fail. Continue progressing toward your goal.

Rewarding yourself for good behavior on a diet is an essential part of a diet being successful. Try getting yourself something nice, maybe you could rent a movie too. You might decide to buy clothes that will show off your new body, which is a double reward, which will give you the positive feeling that your hard work has paid off, and you see it in the mirror.

Eat broccoli. Broccoli is extremely high in antioxidants. Steam it, eat broccoli raw, or just put it in your salad. The rewards of doing so are great.

A great weight loss method is to buy a heart-rate monitor. You need to get your heart going to get a good round of cardio. The heart rate monitor will help you know if you are meeting your needs there.

Making sure you stay active is a good way to increase your weight loss. Make your goal to avoid sitting down as much as possible. This tip will help you burn calories all day, it will boost metabolism and you will still lose weight later on.

Mustard is a great alternative to mayonnaise for weight loss. A lot of condiments add fat and unnecessary calories. Therefore, whenever you decide to eat a sandwich, use some mustard rather than mayonnaise to save yourself some calories. All foods should be ordered with mayo.

Find ways to add some exercise to your meals. Planning on having a picnic? Walk to a local park, or if you have to drive, park far away from the picnic area. If you have time to plan meals and physical activity, you will be successful in losing weight.

Utilize leftovers as an excellent weight loss strategy. personal trainer brickell When cooking a healthy meal, prepare extra portions that you can eat it the following day for lunch. Chicken salad is easily used as a filler in a pita sandwich. This gives you a quick lunch without needing to plan.

The way to lose weight is not something that is a secret. You need to take in fewer calories than you expend every day. Calories need to be in your body because your body uses them all day and you can burn them off with some exercise. Weight loss occurs when you burn calories more than you eat.

If you are having trouble losing weight, you might want to look into "Alli". This weight-loss aid works by preventing a significant amount of fat in the food you eat from being absorbed into the body. Certain substances flush right out of the system. Cognitive therapy can be the key to losing and keeping the weight off for good.

Take these tips, and create a routine personal trainer wynwood for yourself that you can do every day. Follow these tips and more until you find a plan that fits your lifestyle. Once you are firmly committed to your weight loss plan and develop a routine, it will become increasingly easy for you to lose weight.

How To Get Fashion To Work For You

Fashion is constantly changing these days. Fashion is exactly what you make it and there are various ways to find the newset trends and fashions. Keep reading to get great tips on improving your fashion sense.

Only buy clothes that are flattering to your figure. Do not think that you must have every fashion trend that is available, even if it does not look good on you. No matter how trendy an item is, if it is not flattering to your figure, don't consider buying it.

How to apply your makeup depends on where you are going. For example, if you are going for an interview, keep your makeup looking natural and highlight your best feature. For instance, if you have beautiful eyes, wear a soft color that enhances the color of your eyes. If your best feature is your cheekbones, add a little color to the apple of your cheeks.

Be careful when using mascara, and do try getting more product on the brush by pushing it carefully into the container. That only traps air in the bottle. The trapped air increases the likelihood of bacterial growth in the mascara and that can lead to eye infections. If you hope to have your brush coated well, move it around inside the container, but not in and out.

A good fashion tip is to start experimenting with your style if you've become very bored with your wardrobe. You can do this by simply trying out a new type of clothing that you've never worn before such as a scarf or certain kind of dress. This will definitely freshen up your wardrobe.

Don't shy away from thrift stores. You may be reluctant to wear used clothing, but keep an open mind. If you don't have much money to spend on a new outfit, your local thrift store could prove perfect. Check out thrift stores regularly. You could end up finding some unique, fashionable additions to your wardrobe.

Choose your fashion shopping friends wisely. Your friends can make hunting for the newest fashions fun and exciting. But if you bring a friend with a competitive shopping streak, she may tempt you into buying clothes that either don't fit you well or are outside of your budget. Make your decisions on your own time with your needs in mind.

Think about picking up some sandals or boots with wedged heels. They help shorter women add some height to their frame and they also elongate the body, making you look like you weight less. As with any heel, practice walking in wedges before purchasing them. This ensures that you can manage the height of the heel gracefully.

Never be afraid of reinventing yourself. There is no rule that says you must always dress one certain way. In fact, if you did, it would be quite boring. Take a look at Madonna. She has changed her look numerous times over the years, which is part of her appeal. If you are thinking of going blonde, do it. If you have had long hair all your life, try out short hair. Life is about taking changes, and that definitely applies to fashion.

Always break in a new pair of shoes before a special occasion or a long awaited vacation trip. There is nothing worse than finding that a new pair of shoes pinches or rubs when you are in the middle of a wedding reception or walking on a guided tour of a fabulous new city.

A great fashion tip when it comes to blue jeans is to go for the smaller-sized pair if you are in doubt. As long as they are still comfortable, this is a good pick because jeans tend to stretch, and you do not want to have folds or a baggy appearance in unintended areas.

Hairstyles

Keep your haircut low maintenance. Everyone runs into time crunches when preparing for meetings, outings or other events, and having an easy to fix hairstyle cuts the time needed to get ready. Many fashionable hairstyles are available that will allow you to bounce quick and still maintain a great look.

Hairstyle

Fashion doesn't have to make you feel lost anymore. There are so many things you can do to be a more fashionable you in no time at all. Remember the tips you just read and start planning your new wardrobe.

How To Get The Hair You Have Always Wanted Now!

In today's world caring for your hair is a crucial part to succeeding in society. When you think about it, successful people are properly groomed, and managed. Short hairstyles This is why managing your hair is a crucial part to succeeding in society. It is a representation of who you are. Read on to learn about how to care for your hair.

It is crucial that you get a haircut every 5 to 6 weeks. This is because human hair grows about a quarter to a half an inch every month, and when hair grows, split ends tend to form. Getting a haircut this frequently will prevent split ends from occurring, while getting rid of any you may have.

Make sure your hair is thoroughly wet before you apply shampoo and begin washing it. If you start to scrub your hair and scalp without getting it wet enough first, you are much more likely to have strands of your hair break off in your hands. When the hair is wet, it is more pliable and will resist breakage better.

Make sure you are getting proper nutrition and rest. Stress, on its own, does not make your hair fall out. Normal hair loss is from 50 to 120 strands each day. Stress does, however, use up additional resources and when your body becomes deficient, hair loss can result. Resources include the B Vitamins and other important nutrients. Additionally, poor sleep over time wears down your body's adrenal system, impacting hormones, which can also trigger hair loss.

When you are drying off your hair after a shower, do take care to be quite gentle. Vigorous and enthusiastic rubbing can cause hair damage and breakage to occur, not to mention, tough to remove tangles. Instead, take the towel and gently squeeze out the excess water, while delicately blotting the roots.

Be sure to select a hair style that works with your face shape. A hair cut may look fantastic on your friend or a celebrity, but that doesn't mean it'll flatter you. Find a hair stylist you can work with, and come up with a hair cut that will make your features shine.

You can easily damage hair with constant use of curling irons and blow dryers. Special gels and serums are available to help protect against the damage caused by heat styling tools. This will ensure your hair get the protection it needs.

It is important that you use a good conditioner to make your hair stronger and get rid of tangles easily. Apply your conditioner after rinsing the shampoo out of your hair. Make sure that your hair is completely covered and wait a few minutes for the conditioner to soak your hair.

Be careful with the use of hair extensions. While hair extensions are a quick way to get longer hair, they can also cause serious damage to your natural hair and scalp. The heavy weight of the extensions can pull out natural hair, and the bonding solution can dry it out.

Sometimes, it is vital to use styling products to get the look that you want, but do not overuse gels or creams on your hair. Excessive use can strip your hair of its natural ingredients and cause build up which does not look attractive. Limit your use of products for optimal hair health.

During the summer months, it's crucial that you put extra effort into caring for your hair. Always take the time to wash your hair after swimming or spending time in the sun. It's also a good idea to keep your hair covered with a bandanna or a loose cap, if you plan on being out all day.

Wash your hair when it seems dirty. Some folks insist on washing their hair daily. This could cause more damage than it will help. It could cause your hair and scalp to dry out. Typically, a person's hair only needs to be washed about two or three times a week.

Hairstyles

Take care with brushing your hair if it is still wet. While hair is wet, it is weaker and more susceptible to tension and breakage. Allow most of the moisture to leave your hair before you begin brushing. Also, avoid creating too much tension on your locks from hairstyles that increase breakage over time, such as cornrows or high-tension braiding.

Hairstyle

A soft, smooth pillowcase can help you keep your hairstyle, as well as, your hair. Sleeping on a pillow covered in a textured fabric or low-thread count cotton pillowcase can actually pull your hair and cause it to fall out. Use a smooth pillow-covering, wherever you lay your head and help keep your hair where it belongs.

It is one thing to know how to care for your hair properly, but it is another to apply it. Make sure you apply all that you have learned, so that you can have great looking hair, that look representable for the world to see. You will notice a change in the way people treat you, when you have hair that is cared for greatly.

Great Fashion Advice From The Pro's Who Know!

Sometimes, fashion just means wearing clothes with matching colors. Other times, it means hours in the bathroom preparing yourself for a special occasion. There is no day in your life where you could not save a few minutes with the right fashion tips and ideas. Mehandi Designs Read on into this article for paragraphs full of them.

When choosing clothes, think about what season you are. If you look good in reds and oranges, you are a "summer" and probably will look good in any warm color (like yellow). If you look good in blues, you are likely a "winter" and look good in whites and greys as well.

If you have to wear stockings, make sure that you wear some that fit you very well and are not too large or too small. Wearing the wrong size can make you very uncomfortable and it does not look good for you if you have to adjust them in public areas.

Don't be afraid to top off your look with an awesome hat. In days gone by, it was commonplace for women and men to wear hats on a daily basis. What was once the height of fashion has, unfortunately, fallen to the wayside in modern times. Be adventurous, and finish off your look with an ultra-cool fedora or a pretty sun hat.

Don't be afraid to go up a size if it means achieving the perfect fit. It can be quite distressing when you try on your usual size only to find it doesn't fit. Don't fret! Sizes vary from designer to designer and brand to brand, so it is perfectly okay to go up a size from your usual size.

If you tend to be a bit on the heavy side, do not try to hide your shape by dressing in baggy clothing. The added volume only accentuates your size and makes you look frumpy. Look for clothing that is more fitted around your waistline, but then flows away from your lower body to create more shape.

If you are starting to go gray, try using a vegetable dye. As long as it is just a few strands that are causing anxiety, this product should do the trick. It turns the gray a shade that is a tad lighter than the rest of your hair. Using vegetable dye will make it look as though you have nice, new highlights and will then fade out over about three months.

A good fashion tip is to select your clothing for the day based on color. You don't want to step outside with your shirt and shorts clashing because they're complimentary colors. Experiment with different color combinations and see which colors you like and which color combinations you don't like so much.

Always keep your eye out for any changes in the latest styles. You can watch the fashion magazines, and their websites, to know what the latest craze is. Magazines are going to be your best friend because they probably have the information that you need.

In order to make sure that you can fit into the latest fashion trends you are going to want to make sure that you are as slim as possible. Diet and exercise so you don't feel embarrassed because you can't fit into some of the latest trends that this season's fashion has to offer you.

Do not wear your hair too dark if you have lighter skin and/or lighter eyes. While darker hair looks nice on people that have darker eyes and skin tones, it will only make you look washed out. If you must darken your hair, put some streaks in it in order to brighten them up.

Wear clothes that flatter your body type. Just because something is in style does not mean that you should wear it. Every style was created with a certain body type in mind. For example, skinny jeans were not made to make people look skinny; they were made for people that already are thin.

Before getting ready to throw out your beauty products, use every last ounce of it. For tube products, use the squeezing devices designed for toothpaste. Bottles can be turned upside down, or on their side, to help you extract the last bits of products. You can also take the the tops off when it reaches the end. You can save money by doing this.

If you wear leather, take care of it. When you buy a leather garment, ask the salesperson what kind of animal was used for it and what the tanning process was. Find out the specific care steps you need to take both right after purchase and over the lifetime of the garment.

Sometimes you want matching color clothes for an exercise class, or you might be helping a bride or groom get ready for their marriage ceremony. You spend at least a few minutes every day focused on fashion. Save some of those moments for something else with the time saving tips in this article that make fashion easier.

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meltingalphabet · 7 years ago

Text

I thought I heard you

“I thought I heard you in here.” My grandpa says to the room. Christmases have been rough since grandmother died.

As a young child, I always looked forward to Christmas at my grandparents’ house. The warm smells that floated in the air: cinnamon, pumpkin, and ginger mixing together into a shapeless cloud around me. Just a hint of mint tinging the air with a crispness that made the warmth all that much more pleasurable. The small home was cozy and comfortable, the polished wood worn with use, brown with age, cracked and creaking from the weight of our lives. My grandpa made sure to always have a fire roaring in the cast iron fireplace, the yellow glow playing across our faces, making the presents gleen under the tree, begging to be opened, the bright green and red metallic wrapping paper pleading to be ripped by our hands. The warmth of the flames ate at my skin, dancing expertly along the line of pleasant heat and burning pain.

My mother and grandmother would cook and bake together. They’d make pies and turkey, cranberry compote and pumpkin cookies, mountains of mashed potatoes sweetened with fresh butter and thick cream, homemade caramel and green beans with shallots, mushroom gravy and sweet potatoes with coconut, coffee crumb cake and mulled wine. The air would alight with the scents of their cooking and my stomach would kick and growl with anticipation. Grandmother would slip me a cookie or a candy cane, the sweet treat accompanied with a small innocent wink. I’d eat it slowly, savoring each small bite as I eyed the rest of the meal that grew, almost organically, on the counter before me, the sights and smells tickling my nostrils. Dinner time would not come soon enough, but until then, it was a sight I hungrily devoured, my eyes full, my tastebuds lacking.

My father would read me stories, epic tales of fantasy worlds where mythical beings lived in the ground and the trees. He’d change his voice with each character and gesticulate wildly with his arms, the line of vision from his eyes to the words on the page teetering with each arching movement, each brave dwarf, each cackling witch, each billowing wizard. He’d create a magical world so believable, so engrossing, that I would become utterly entranced. The smells and sounds of the house heightening my absorption, blending my mind’s eye with what was directly in front of my face, making the fake world as tangible as the real one, the real world as intangible as the one my father was creating with his voice. My grandfather would add his own power to the Christmas cheer by playing songs on the old piano in the living room. The cabin would fill to the brim with both his fast and cheerful melodies as well as the slow and brooding songs that seemed more of a warning than a celebration. The heavy ivory keys creaking as the hammer hit the tightened string, a crystal note rising quickly to the air, only to dissipate instantly above me, showering me with sound.

And every night, as I lay awake in my grandpa’s office, the cushioned cot beneath my small frame, I’d pull my favorite of grandmother’s quilts, the red and white one that smelt of pine and lilacs, up to my chin to protect me from the drafts and groans of the old house. And every night, Nana would come visit me. She’d share secrets with me, stories of Santa and his reindeer, of the elves and their toys, the North Pole and how, even on the chilliest of days, no one there ever gets cold.

“No one shivers at the North Pole.” Her cobwebbed throat would strain with the words. Like opening the cover of an old and forgotten book, the binding cracking, the pages falling with a thud instead of a rustle, her voice would rise with a cloud of dust. “There’s magic in the air,” she’d whisper, “magic that keeps everyone warm, all the time. No one ages. There are no wars, no famines. It’s a magical winter paradise.” She’d lean close to my face, so close that only her bright eyes filled my vision. “And you can be Queen.” She’d wink at me, a slow wink, as if her eyelids were heavy, heavier than they should be.

I’d smile, “I can be Mrs. Claus?”

Nana would nod, a slow and calm nod, as her thin lips turned up into a small, tight smile.

I would fall asleep with images of the North Pole in my mind, the voice of Nana flitting about my subconscious like a lost butterfly.

“I thought I heard you in here.” My grandpa says to the room.

“Who do you think is there, dad?” Mom asks.

Grandpa turns to her, blinking his eyes as if adjusting to a great brightness, confusion etched on his lined face. “I thought… I thought I heard your mother.”

Shushing him like one would a child, my mom escorts him out of the office, one hand firmly, but gently, grasping the side of his upper arm, the other hand on his back, guiding him away from the ghost of his dead wife.

We still visit my grandpa every Christmas. Since grandma died, he’s been really lonely. My mom, dad, and I always make the trek up to his cabin. My parent’s old station wagon slowly dragging us up the mountain, tracing the snowy winding roads. Even with my thick winter coat and the dry heat from the dashboard, the cold crept through the car’s windows and bit into my skin like a snake.

The smells of Christmas are fainter now than they were when I was young, the rooms slightly cooler, the house less comfortable. Sometimes I’ll sit in my grandma’s old rocking chair and a shiver will suddenly break over my body, running from the top of my head through my neck and deep into the bottom of my spine. Whether from cold, loss, fear, or all three, I do not know.

It is now my job to stoke the fires. Grandpa is too old, too lost in the archaic crevices of his mind. He stares out the windows for too long, his eyes no longer seeing, the cold begging him to give in. Mom still cooks and bakes, but each year there is less and less food. Each year our holiday feast morphs more into a simple dinner. Instead of reading to me, dad plays Sudoku on his smartphone, the blue glow illuminating his face, scrunched in calculated concentration.

I like to think back to my younger years often. The warmth of the cabin an enveloping hug, holding me close, protecting me from the outside, from the snow. Nana sitting on the edge of my bed, whispering to me, her voice barely audible, almost too quiet to carry through the air. Each word would rise and fall with the indiscernible movements of the draft in the chilly office. Her voice was light, like a broken feather, fluttering towards me, landing lightly on my skin, tracing my features as it crawled from every direction, sliding slowly into my ears.

Images of a great man, strong and ancient, standing proudly over his workers filled my mind. His long grey beard flowing gracefully down like a waterfall, stopping in a wispy curl against the dirt ground, packed hard from years of toiling, years of heavy boots and sharp bone hooves. His mass filling the room, the space glowing red as his body reflects in the polished stone surrounding him on all sides. Stone flat and tall like walls but bigger, higher, stretching endlessly into the black cloudless sky.

“You can barely breath at the North Pole, for he encompasses all, even the molecules of air your lungs need and the blood in your veins craves.”

“But Nana, won’t I die if I can’t breath?”

Nana’s chuckle was low and each strained sound was cut short, like a cough deep in someone’s throat, muffled and painful as they try hard not to let it escape. “No, child. You won’t die at the North Pole.” She brought her dry, crusty lips closer to my face, “you’ll live forever.” Her breath, a strange mix of peppermint and mud, kissed the tip of my nose delicately, like a ballerina, weighing almost nothing, as close to air as a human could ever be

She told me stories of the different types of elves that live at the North Pole: the ones that carry long leathery whips, stained a deep rust color that flaked, the whip strong while the stains fragile, only permanent through repeated application. The elves that had dark metal spears, the points of which were so small, they dissolved into atoms.

“The tip is so fine, one poke, and you don’t even realize you’ve been pierced.” Her voice, so impossibly rough and strained.

Images danced across my mind. Pictures of elves with cutting, blood-stained knifes, elves with red hot matches. Elves with heavy chains, with chisels meant to flay skin, hooks to pierce and pull at flesh, pliers, boiling water, pins and needles and thread. Elves created to pierce, burn, tear, cut, and break the bodies of the sinners. Sinners no longer in the hands of an angry god, but instead in the claws of a loving demon, so infatuated with every inch of their skin, the softness of their lips, the moistness of their groins, that it wants to lick and suck and eat every sweet morsel. Again and again it will have them. A lover never satisfied, an executioner never done.

Reindeers with teeth that snarl at their prisoners, drool forming and flowing from between each deadly fang, their eyes gleaming a menacing red that matches the blood stains on their coarse and wiry fur. Reindeers that beat the ground with their hooves and kick at the bodies in front of them, that step on heads and hands alike, not stopping when the bodies break or pop beneath their powerful weight.

There is an awkwardness in the air as my grandpa shuffles into his office, and tells the empty, silent air, “I thought I heard you in here.”

My mom and dad ask grandpa if he needs anything, maybe a nice cup of chamomile tea to calm his aging nerves, and mom leads him out of the office, my bedroom for the week, and into the kitchen.

Only I realize that it’s not my grandmother that grandpa hears. It is the dry, dusty voice of Nana. I can see the shadows of her hands underneath the cot, her bright orange eyes reflecting in the twinkling white Christmas lights hanging around the door frame. Her long, crooked fingernail, black with age or earth, possibly both, or probably something beyond either, beckons for me to come, to join her.

Maybe this is the year I do. Maybe it’s finally time for me to follow Nana to the enchanted North Pole. To take my promised place as Queen.

#nosleep shorthorrorstory horror xmas christmasshortstory christmas

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