#doing a 24 hour challenge to fix my sleep schedule maybe that's what's making me act like This perhaps maybe

[knotst3r1l3]

why do I keep doing this

curse these wretched organs vro what the Fuck man !!!!!!!

[athenagc94]

Gust and Piper - Beginnings Pt. 5

Whew!  So here’s another part.  I’m returning to the office at my job come Monday, so I won’t be able to post as freely as I did when I was working from home, so I wanted to get as much content as I could out in the open!  Please enjoy.

You can read the first the other parts here: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6

I’m also posting the story here on AO3!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gust shrugged off his suit coat and threw it unceremoniously over his shoulders.  His body ached and he could feel the itch of sunburn beginning across the bridge of his nose.  It had been a long day down at the harbor.  Normally, he never worked on site.  He preferred his life living behind the scenes, away from clients and the more hands on experience of construction.  That was Albert’s scene, they were behind schedule on the harbor project and Albert had come to the decision it was all hands on deck in order to make up for lost time.  As co-owner of the business, that included Gust.

The Harbor Project was big for A&G, but he was beginning to wonder if they’d bitten off more than they could chew.  Gust learned pretty early in the day that he wasn’t built to handle the stress of manual labor.  His limbs felt like jello.  If he was able to get out of bed in the morning, he’d be surprised.  In short, he was stressed.  He needed a drink.

Instead of heading home, he found himself turning towards the Round Table.  Music and laughter could be heard on the other side of the door.  The usual ruckus of a Friday night.  He paused just outside the door.  He needed a drink, but was he willing to sacrifice his peace of mind?  Yes.  He swallowed his pride and pushed through the doors.

He kept his head down as he approached the bar.  One drink, then he’d head straight home.  That was the plan.  He just had to stick to it.  He waved Django over.  The mixologist took one look at him and his disheveled appearance, and got straight to work fixing his usual, apricot juice with two shots of vodka.  Gust licked his lips.  Moisture clung to the surface of the glass as Django slid the glass into his hands.  He downed half the drink in one go, relishing in the refreshing tang of the apricot.

“Rough day buddy?”

Gust almost choked on his drink.  Piper was sitting in the stool next to him, but she looked different.  The Piper he knew was covered in grease and dirt with her hair thrown in a haphazard top knot.  Her hair was down around her shoulders in loose waves.  She even wore a little make up.  Her trademark coveralls were nowhere to be seen this evening.  She’d opted for a delicate silk button up the color of spring leaves and fitted jeans.  His eyes fell to the brooch on her collar.  The brooch he’d given her.  It was her statement piece this evening and it worked.  Light, did it work.

“Piper?” He struggled to swallow.  His throat felt like sandpaper.

She glanced down at her outfit, then back at him.  “Did you seriously not recognize me?”  She looked offended, which was fair, even if that wasn’t his intention.

“It’s not that,” he said defensively, “I’m just surprised, you aren’t in your usual get up.” He took another sip of his drink, but it did nothing for his dry throat.  The brooch paired with the blouse really brought the blue out in her eyes.  “You look so put together.”  He made a face.  That was tactless, even for him.

Piper rolled her eyes and settled back in her seat.  Gust had to stop himself from lingering on the curve of her hips.  Those coveralls hid a lot.  “I now see why Albert handles the client relations.  You suck at complimenting people.”  

Yes.  Yes, he did.  “I handle clients when the need arises,” he said firmly, “I helped you.  You got your workshop addition.  What more do you want from me?”

“Yes and you were just as prickly then as you are now.”  She chuckled and crossed her legs, which only accentuated the curve of his ass.  He tore his eyes away and stared pointedly at his glass, mentally berating himself.  No.   He wasn’t Albert.  He would not oogle, especially Piper, of all people. He had more class than that.  

“So what has you in such a foul mood besides well, ya know, everything.”  She knocked shoulders with him playfully.  “No offense, but you look like you were hit by a DeeDee Transport on your way over here.  You normally look so put together.”  She was using his words against him now, but Gust found himself smiling nonetheless.

“I spent my day transporting bricks and concrete for the Harbor project.”

Piper gasped.  “You,” she stifled a chuckle, “but those lily white hands of yours have never seen a hard day’s work in their life?  How’d you survive?”

Gust snorted into his drink.  Apricot juice dribbled down his chin and onto his rumpled shirt.  That seemed appropriate considering the circumstance. Piper looked so satisfied with herself.  Her shit eating grin was unreal.  “Well, I’m here aren’t I?” he wiped the juice away with the back of his hand.  “I survived.”

“Yeah,” she snorted, “barely.”

“What about you?  Why are you all dressed up?”

“I’ve got a date.”  

Gust swallowed thickly.  A date?  He racked his brain.  In all their recent conversations, she’d never mentioned an interest in anyone.  Not that she’d say anything anyway.  She spent most of her free time with the Civil Corps.  He’d seen her dancing with Remington at Albert’s party.  Maybe they were involved romantically.  He shook his head.  No.  That would have gotten around. The town wasn’t very large.  People talk.

“Yeah?”  His voice was hollow as he finished off the rest of his drink.

Piper hummed in response.  “Yeah, a long standing one.  Sam and I play games on Friday nights.  She likes to call it date night.  Not sure how Phyllis feels about that though.”  Gust immediately relaxed.  Sam.  Sam, who was in a happy relationship with Phyllis.  Sam, her best friend.  Of course, they’d spend their Friday nights together.  That's what friends did.

As if on cue, the doors to the Round Table swung open and Sam came barreling into the dining room.  She was followed by Remington and Arlo, who seemed less enthusiastic, but still pretty happy to be done with their day.  Gust grimaced.  He always left when the Civil Corps brats arrived.  He trained his eyes on the dregs at the bottom of his glass. Sam flung her arms around Piper’s neck which sent her back into him.  He gave no reaction, eyes still on his glass.  

A new wave of exhaustion rolled over him.  He wanted  to crawl into bed and sleep for the next 24 hours.  It was an attractive prospect.  Maybe he would.  Piper had all but forgotten him as she chatted idly with Sam.  He swirled the remnants of his drink and watched the chunks of apricot drift around.  One drink, then straight home.

“Hey.”  He looked up.  Sam was gone and Piper was standing.   “Do you want to play a game with us?”

“A game?”

“Yeah, I’ve heard they’re fun,” she said smugly, “you should try it sometime.  Fun, I mean.”  Gust massaged his temples tiredly.  People kept telling him that.  “Sorry, I think I deserve a few jabs at your expense every now and then.  But I’m serious you should join us, at least for one game.  I think you need to let off some steam.”

“What I need is some sleep.”

“You can do that too, after you play a game with us.” She glanced down at her watch.  “It won’t take that long.  I’m terrible.  I promise.  One game and you’re free to go, so what do you say?”

His mind was racing.  Piper wanted him to stick around.  He searched her eyes.  She had to be doing this out of pity.  He was sitting here and moping over an empty glass.  She just felt sorry for him.  That was the only reason she’d extend an invitation.  Her expression seemed genuine enough, maybe even a little nervous as she waited for his response.

“Fine.”  He stood up and began rolling up the sleeves of his button up.  “I’ll play one game.”

Piper tried and failed to hide the shock on her face.  She nibbled at her lower lip as they walked towards the game room at the back of the restaurant.  Gust’s own heart was racing.  He wasn’t lying when he said he was tired.  Even so, he’d accepted her invitation.  He never had an issue with turning down invitations before.  He couldn’t dwell on his poor life choices for too long before, they reached the game room.

Arlo and Remington had already claimed the coveted shooting game along the far wall.  Gust watched as Arlo shot each of the targets with a marksman’s precision.  He expected nothing less from the captain of the corps.  On the other side of the room, Sam was gathering darts from the board.  A wide smile broke out across the face as the pair entered the room.  He didn’t like the mischievous look she gave him.

“Are you joining us for a game, pretty boy?”

Gust wrinkled his nose at her.  He loathed that nickname, granted he loathed Sam in general.  She was loud, obnoxious, and the way she scarfed down food made him physically ill.  This was why he avoided interactions with her at all costs.  It was easy enough to do.  Gust didn’t gravitate in the same social circles as the Civil Corps, or any social circles really.  Yet, here he was, about to play a game with the very people he tried to avoid.

“I am.” His voice was tight.

“Well then,” her smile turned a little more sinister, “it looks like we’re playing darts this evening.”  She waved the barbs in her hand.  “Are you guys ready to get your asses handed to you?”

Gust scoffed.  Another reason he disliked Sam.  She had far too much pride. When she got competitive it was like looking in a mirror, one he wasn’t ready to look into yet.  Still, he combed his fingers through his hair and tied it back in a low ponytail.  “Are you ready to get yours handed to you?”

Sam’s eyes sparkled, and he was pretty sure the same spark was in his.  “That sounded like a challenge to me?”

Gust smirked.  “Perhaps it was.”

“Loser buys the next round.”

He could feel the electric air between them and the exhaustion in his bones seemed to melt away.  He hadn’t played darts in years, but he was fairly confident in his abilities.  He didn’t intend on folding so easily, not if he had the opportunity to beat Sam at her own game.  “I like apricot juice with vodka.”  

Sam’s expression hardened.  “Then you can buy it for yourself when I win.”

“You’re on.”

Sam was good.  Scary good, but Gust had anticipated this.  Her confidence in her abilities was warranted and if they weren’t in the middle of a competition he might have admitted it.  But they were, so he didn’t.  She’d managed to get full points her first go around, but Gust didn’t let that deter him.  He took a deep breath and rolled the dart between his fingers.

“Sometime today, pretty boy?”

Gust resisted the urge to roll his eyes.  She was one of those opponents.  He wouldn’t let her taunts get to him.  The dart board spun slowly in front of him.  He watched as it made one, two rotations, then threw the dart with a flick of his wrist.  It soared through the air with a certain finesse before planting itself firmly in the board. It only took one before the adrenaline was pumping through his veins.  One after the other, the barbs found their mark.  He smirked.  A perfect score.  He still had it.

“No way.”

“Wow Sam, I think you finally met your match.”

Gust glanced back at the girls with a smugly.  “Your turn.”  

Sam looked positively elated as she hurried over to him and clapped him hard on the back.  “Looks like I found a worthy opponent.  I was beginning to think I was the best.”  He winced and tried to mask his groan of pain with a cough.  Piper arched an eyebrow at him, unconvinced if the amused smile playing on her lips was anything to go by.  Gust huffed and settled against the slot machine, which only made her smile wider.  Damn it.

“I guess we’ll have to see who slips up first.”

↢↢↢↣↣↣

Ten rounds.  Ten rounds of perfect scores.  Gust wasn’t a mathematician by any means, but he felt like this shouldn’t have been possible.  He glanced down at his watch.  Even still, an hour had passed and neither of them had missed a shot.  Over the hour, they’d gained the attention of Remington and Arlo, who now sat with Piper at the prize counter, watching in awe.

“How are you this good,” Arlo asked, “I’ve never seen you in the game room before now.”

“They have dart boards in Atara,” Gust said as he tossed another dart.  It soared through the air, hitting its mark and Sam muffled a groan in the heel of her palm.  Gust smirked and yielded the board back to her.  “Whenever I hit a creative block, I’d throw darts.  It was a thoughtless task that helped clear my mind.”

“You could just say it was something fun to do?” Remington said.

“You’re allowed to have fun.” Piper added with a smile.

“I don’t know if you’ve realized this Pipes,” Sam said as she chucked a dart at the board, “but fun is for humans.”  Gust huffed.  He knew where this was going.  Sam gave him a shit eating grin before tossing another dart at the board.  “And I’m not entirely convinced that Gust is human.”  The boys laughed along with Sam, but he noted how Piper stayed relatively quiet from her perch on the counter.  This surprised Gust.  She loved making jabs at him.

“I’m not a machine,” Gust said once the laughter died down, “I know how to have fun.”  He crossed his arms across his chest and glared evenly at Sam.  “I just find joy in more intricate endeavors.”

“Yeah, okay, you can get off your high horse.  We know you think you’re better than us.”  Her words cut him like a knife.  Sure, he’d received petty jabs from a few people, but no one had called him out so casually before.  Gust frowned, but Sam had already turned her attention  back to the board to toss her last dart.  It landed right on target.  Another perfect score.  Sam groaned and kicked the ground.  “At this rate, I’ll never get a drink.”

“You could always buy your own drink?” Piper offered as she picked at the dirt under her nails.

“Then what’s the point of winning?”

“You could always give up,” Gust couldn’t hide the smug edge to his voice, “and admit you’ve finally met someone who’s better than you.”  He approached the board and gathered the darts as they entered the twelfth round of their game.

“Dream on,” Sam snapped, “I won’t give up that easily.”

Gust sighed.  He’d already stayed out later than he wanted to.  The initial adrenaline had worn off and now he could feel the exhaustion settling back in his bones.  He was ready to turn in, but he doubted Sam would let that happen without a definitive end to their competition.  She was unyielding, but Gust was willing to swallow his pride if it meant he could finally leave.

“Very well.”  He pushed up the sleeves of his button up and turned back to the board.  With the flick of his wrist, he let the dart soar across the room.  It embedded itself in the wall, barely missing its target.  He made sure to aim for one of the crosshairs, so the hole wasn’t too obvious.  “Oh clumsy me,” he deadpanned as he stepped away from the board, “There goes my streak, I guess you win.”

The group looked at him, entirely unconvinced.  Sam stepped forward and glared up at him.  She stood at least a head shorter, but the fierceness in her eyes made Gust sweat.  “That wasn’t a real win.  You lost on purpose.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”  Gust gave Sam a wide berth as he stepped around her and made his way back into the restaurant.  “I’ll go get those drinks.”  He slid into one of the seats beside him and out of the corner of his eye he saw someone slip into the one beside him.  He didn’t need to look to know who’d followed him.  He only spared Piper a glance before waving Django over.

“A melon mix,” his gaze flicked back to Piper, “and a red tea.”

“You don’t have to buy me a drink.”

“Loser buys a round,” he said tiredly as he slid some gols across the counter.  “I’m not having a drink, so you can have mine.”  He handed her the glass.  “It’s what you were drinking when I came in, right?”  She nodded and took the glass with a mystified expression.  

“Thanks.”  Gust only hummed as he took the other glass and made his way back towards the game room.  “That was pretty impressive.  Your dart skills, I mean.”  Piper took a tentative sip of her drink and hissed contentedly.  “I’ve never seen someone go head to head with Sam like that.  It was admirable.”

He shrugged.  “It wasn’t anything remarkable,” he said, “I still lost.”

Piper made a face at him.  “Did you though?”

His lips curved into a small smile.  “I did.”

Piper snickered into her drink.  “Of course, well better luck next time,” she said.  Gust wanted to tell her that there wouldn’t be a next time, but he wasn’t given the chance.  Sam was on him the moment he walked back into the game room.

“That wasn’t a real win and I won’t accept the outcome,” Sam said hotly, “you threw the game.  I want a rematch.”  Gust blinked down at her and she narrowed her eyes at him.  “Unless you’re scared?”  He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t unnerved by the primal glint in her eyes, but that had nothing to do with his ability to play darts, it was his survival instincts telling him it was time to go.

“I’m not scared and I won’t be playing again,” he said as he handed her the drink.  She didn’t even look at it as she passed it off to Arlo who was now hovering just over her shoulder.  He looked at it warily and he passed it off on Remington.  Gust was only mildly concerned that he looked ready to jump into action.  He didn’t really want to consider what this meant for him.  “I’m tired.  So, I’m going home.”

“Fine then,” Sam crossed her arms, “rematch next week.”

Gust cocked his head at her.  “I beg your pardon?”

“I want a rematch next week.  We always play on Friday nights.  Meet us here and I’ll kick your ass in a new game.  For real this time,” her glare was unwavering as she stared up at him, “I’ll drag you out of your home if I have to.”  He could tell that wasn’t an empty threat.

“I think what Sam is trying to say.” Piper stepped between them and gave Sam a pointed look.  “I think she’s trying to say that she’d like you to join us for another game night.  It was fun.” She turned her attention back to Gust and smiled.  “So please join us again next week.”

He should say no, right?  Though he loosely considered Piper a friend, he had no desire to forge a kinship with the members of the Civil Corps.  He glanced back at the dart board.  It continued to its slow crawl and he found himself mesmerized by it.  He did, however, miss playing darts and he almost enjoyed the company this evening, though he’d never admit it out loud.   “Ask me again on Friday.”  He blinked and Piper mirrored his expression.  He was just as surprised as they were by his response.  “We’ll see if I’m in the mood to deal with you incessant chatter, but I make no promises.”

“O-Okay,” Piper managed through her shock, “I’ll stop by A&G at the end of the day to see how you’re feeling.”  Gust nodded numbly.  “Thank you for playing with us.  I think we all enjoyed it.”  She and Sam shared a look and the blonde huffed and crossed her arms.

“Yeah, whatever, it was fun,” Sam said tight;y, “but I will win next week.”

“We’ll see.”  Gust offered the group a curt nod.  “With that, I think I’ll take my leave.”  

They offered him a ripple of waves and salutes as he spun on his heel and made his way out of the Round Table.  As he made his way home that evening, he found himself smiling.  Perhaps it was the remnants of his drink, or the high after a good game of darts, but for the first time in years, he felt good.  For once, he wasn’t thinking about leaving Portia.  In fact, he was almost looking forward to next Friday.

[mimi-love-4ever]

Dinner

SasuSaku Month 2018 - Day 12: Dinner Rating: T+ (Some language) Context: Non-massacre AU A/N: Thank you for reading and I hope you like it!  

From the minute she woke up, rushed to the bathroom once she realized she had forgotten to set her alarm the previous night and tripped over a pair of shoes, Sakura knew it was going to be one of those days. She jumped into the shower and got a face full of freezing cold water, to which she proceeded to choke on for a couple of seconds. Snatching whatever she could find, she dressed quickly and flew out the window of her bedroom and headed straight to the hospital for her shift that actually started 15 minutes ago. She prided herself on her punctuality - for she had to have an unblemished record thanks to the irritating Council members that were looking for any excuse to discredit her status as Chief Doctor at the Children’s Clinic. One mistake, one slip up, could cost her everything she had worked so hard for.

Needless to say, she was given a stern lecture from one of the old fossils and handed a mountain of folders that had to be filled and dated by the end of her shift. She scoffed and made her way to her office with a large damper on her mood. Sakura had pulled a double shift the day before and had only achieved four precious hours of sleeps, so her patience was running dangerously low. One small mercy, however, was that she had no scheduled patients to see and if there were no village threatening crisis on the horizon, she’d be able to hide in her office.

An hour into staring at tiny letters on various pieces of paper, Sakura felt the beginnings of a migraine lurking at the back of her head. She set the papers down and was about to go in search of a fresh cup of coffee when a soft knock tapped against the door.

Please, don’t let it be anyone important, Sakura prayed. “Come in.”

Beautiful, silk black hair was the first thing she noticed poking through as the door opened slowly. The second was the warm smiling face of Mikoto Uchiha. Sakura stood up quickly, patting down her clothing slightly in hopes of looking more presentable, and walked around her desk.

“Saku-chan,” Mikoto greeted her. She hugged Sakura lovingly. “I’m so glad I was able to catch you. You’re always busy.”

“Hello Mikoto,” Sakura greeted her back, smiling in return.

“Honestly, they’re working you to the bone, my dear,” frowned Mikoto. “Sasuke’s been telling me about your endless amount of shifts and side missions. Those old coots don’t even leave you time to have dinner with your boyfriend’s parents. Quite rude, if I say so myself.”

Sakura stared at her puzzled. While it was true that she’d been pulling a couple of double shifts here and there, she hadn’t had a mission in months now at the request of the Hokage. Something about needing her skills more at home than in a simple mission abroad. Her puzzlement gave way to just a tiny bit of anger. Sakura never thought she’d see the day when Sasuke would willingly lie to his mother, but did he have to get her involved?

In a split second decision, she opted from calling out his lie and went along with whatever Mikoto was saying. She stored every piece of information and started plotting ways to make Sasuke cave and explain this whole mess to her before she really became angry. She couldn’t deny that she was curious, though.

“Please do say you’ll come for dinner tonight, Saku-chan?” Mikoto asked with a tiny pout. “Fugaku and Itachi actually have a day off today, so they would love to see you too!”

When it came right down to it, Sakura couldn’t refuse Mikoto any more than she could refuse petting a puppy. This woman treated her like a daughter, more so ever since she and Sasuke had made their relationship official a year ago.

“Of course, I’ll come,” smiled Sakura. “You know I can’t refuse your cooking.”

Mikoto laughed gleefully and patted her cheek. “You’re such a sweetheart, Sakura. My son better not let you go or I’ll never speak to him again.”

Sakura blushed and let out a rather embarrassed laugh. “The things you say, Mikoto.”

“I’m just telling the truth,” she grinned. “Dinner should be ready by six, so come by around 6:30, okay? Alright, I better get going and let you go back to work.”

“I’ll be there,” Sakura assured her.

“I can’t wait.” Mikoto pecked her cheek and gave her a hug before leaving the office.  

Work completely forgotten, Sakura plopped back into her chair trying to figure out why Sasuke would say those things to his mother. She’s been having dinner with them once every month for years now, even before getting together with Sasuke, since they were part of the same genin squad. It’s been two months since she’s been at the Uchiha Compound due to her lately hectic schedule. She’d asked Sasuke to send her sincerest apologies to his family and he’d always tell her that it was okay. Thinking about it now, she wondered what else Sasuke had been lying about. That thought alone unsettled her. She’d never had doubts about him before and he was as honest as they came.

“What the hell’s going on, Sasuke-kun?” Sakura asked herself, temper flaring.

Her thoughts were put on hold, however, as a nurse came flying into her office and announced in a panicked voice that a small team of ANBU had been brought it with severe injuries. She was the only one on staff that had the clearance to work with ANBU and was therefore ushered away.

Sakura spent seven grueling hours in surgery fixing and mending each one of them. She wasn’t sure if it was luck or skill that kept any of them from dying on her surgery table, but she was grateful nonetheless as she finally stripped her bloody gloves off. Shizune had stepped in to help with the post-op and sent her with strict orders to go lay down. Sakura stumbled out of the ICU and miraculously made it back to her office without passing out. She crashed on her couch and clenched her eyes tight as an overwhelming wave of nausea rolled over her due to chakra depletion. She allowed herself a couple of minutes to try and even out her labored breathing. When she finally opened her eyes, she shot up from the couch with a curse.

6:24 pm.

She shrugged out of her lab coat and rushed towards the mirror behind her desk to check her reflection. A groan of misery slipped past her lips as she caught sight of herself and ran her fingers through her hair in an attempt to make it presentable. In the end she simply swept it up in a ponytail, threw her coat on and ran out of there. She refused to miss this dinner. Sakura arrived at the Uchiha compound almost fifteen minutes later, cursing up a storm as her chakra failed her so she ended up walking there. It also didn’t help that various Uchiha had tried stopping her on the way to make conversation with her or to greet her, making her even more late since she couldn’t just blow them off either. She knocked politely at the front door and took a couple of seconds to pat down her clothing to rid it of any wrinkles.

The door opened revealing Itachi, who frowned as soon as he saw her. His observant eyes took in her appearance and exhausted body posture. Not to mention her dangerously low chakra levels.

“I’m so sorry I’m late,” she apologized.

“There’s no need to worry, Sakura,” he assured her and welcomed her in. “Mother ran a bit late and we were just about to sit down. Come in.”

Itachi took her coat and led her towards the dining room where Fugaku sat at the head of the table flipping through a couple of files unbothered. She was about to greet him when Sasuke walked in from the kitchen carrying a plate of food, but froze as soon as he saw her.

“Sakura?” He looked at her confused.

Mikoto walked in right behind her son carrying another plate of food and smiled when she saw her. “Ah, Sakura! I was about to think you couldn’t make it, dear.”

“You invited her, kaa-san?” Sasuke asked his mother, his tone almost sounded accusing to Sakura. A flash of hurt stabbed her heart as she realized that maybe he didn’t want her there. She raced through her memories trying to find if she did something wrong, anything to warrant this kind of behavior towards her.

“Well, why ever not?” Mikoto pouted as she set the food plate down and placed her hands on her hips in a challenging manner. “You said tonight was a special dinner and Sakura-chan is important to this family.”

Sasuke set his own food plate down on the table. “I never said she wasn’t important. I only wanted a dinner with just us.”

“Sasuke, explain yourself,” Fugaku frowned at his son’s unusual behavior. He didn’t fail to see the hurt in Sakura’s eyes and frowned further.

“I-I should probably go,” Sakura spoke up sadly. She didn’t know what was going on with her boyfriend, but if he didn’t want her there then she wasn’t going to overstay her welcome. “I didn’t mean to interrupt your plans, Sasuke. I’m sorry.” She started to head towards the front door.

Mikoto turned to her youngest son, angry. “Sasuke, what’s wrong with you?”

“That is no way to treat your girlfriend, little brother,” Itachi chastised him.

Sasuke watched Sakura walk away with slumped shoulders in a defeated manner and felt angry with himself. He tried running to her, but his family was in his way and scolding him. Fed up with the situation, he sighed in irritation.

“I’m going to marry Sakura!” He shouted, effectively shutting up his family. Sakura froze on the threshold of the dining room then whirled around, staring at him in shock. “The reason why I wanted this dinner with you three was to let you know of my intention to ask Sakura to marry me.”

There was a tense silence before Mikoto broke out in a high pitched squeal and hugged Fugaku in happiness. Itachi shook his head at his brother’s mess of a situation, but couldn’t be happier. Sakura, on the other hand, was still in shock. The words marry Sakura were swirling around in her head over and over until reality set in. Her breath caught in her throat and the world around her turned black.

Sasuke felt her practically non-existent chakra flare in response a second before she passed out and flash stepped just in time to catch her. He cradled her against his chest tenderly

“Honey, we need to work on your proposal,” Mikoto said, worriedly.

“Yeah, you might actually end up killing from shock next time,” Itachi retorted with a chuckle. “Wait until Izumi and Shisui get wind of this.”

Sasuke glared at his brother and hissed. “Shut it.”

“Izumi and Shisui? You mean, wait until Tsunade hears you rendered her precious student unconscious,” Fugaku added in with the slightest hint of a teasing tone.

“I’m never having dinner with you guys again.” Sasuke picked up his girlfriend gently and headed to his room. He could have sworn he heard laughter coming from downstairs as he closed his bedroom door.

He barely lay Sakura down on his bed when she groaned softly and her eyes fluttered open. She blinked a couple of times to chase away the lightheadedness and focused on Sasuke’s worried face. Sakura was struck with how handsome he looked that she almost forgot about what just happened. Almost. Her hand closed into a fist in anger and punched him on the shoulder, hard.

“What the fuck?” Sasuke swore as he grabbed her wrist to stop her from hitting him again. His shoulder throbbed painfully.

“That’s for lying to your mother and to me, you jerk,” Sakura glared at him.

Sasuke sighed in defeat, letting go of her wrist. He reached down and stroked her cheek. “I’m sorry. I went about this the wrong way.”

“Hmph.” Sakura pouted, turning her head away and stared at the wall instead of his intense obsidian eyes that nearly had her forgetting what she was mad about.

“Sakura,” he smirked at her. “Do you know how long I’ve been planning this? I’ve been having dinner with your parents for the past two months.”

“What?” Sakura snapped her attention back to him in shock.

“Your parents are incredibly protective of their only child and it took a lot of talking to get their blessing, especially your mother,” Sasuke replied. “I meant to voice my intentions to my family tonight, so they can let the clan heads know that I’m not marrying anyone else.”

“Oh, Sasuke-kun…” Her eyes filled with tears as her heart filled with joy at his words. While most of the Uchiha clan had readily accepted her, there were some that did not approve of Fugaku’s second heir - yet heir nonetheless - having a relationship with an ‘outsider’, even one as distinguished as her.

Sasuke let out a small smile and slipped down on the bed next to her. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against him tightly, and hid his face in her hair. Her familiar scent washed over him and erased all the troubles he was carrying on his shoulders.

“I love you, Sakura,” he whispered against her neck so lowly she almost missed it. “I want you to be my wife… if you’ll have me as your husband.”

Sakura shivered, her heart racing. She turned her head until she caught sight of the eyes she loved so much. The emotions brimming in his eyes left no room for doubt. They were honest and made her feel incredibly loved. Without another thought, she reached up to grab a fistful of his hair and pulled him down until their lips met in a flurry of passion.

“My family’s waiting downstairs,” Sasuke mumbled against her soft lips.

“Then you better be quiet,” Sakura mumbled back seductively and tugged on his hair roughly just the way she knew he liked it. The groan that reverberated in his chest was all the response she needed.

[candle-jacked]

What’s your daily routine like? I check your art blog like once a week and it’s always at different times but you always seem to be “active”

My routine and general? Or my art routine? I do work two jobs so in terms of my routine when it concerns art, it’s honestly sporadic. I don’t exactly have the luxury of having a fix schedule, so that makes it even harder for me to try and dedicate myself to art. The same energy that I use to put into my art comes from the same energy that I use to deal with people on a daily basis. I’m also trying to make ends meet. But this year, I’m going to pull really big change in my life and I’m going to try and be more dedicated with my art and with my writing. I’m really close to having a full first draft of my novel completed and I would like to continue the growth with my art.

I’m honestly very humbled that you check my art blog @candlejackedart every so often. To be honest, it’s really not that active because I haven’t finished anything recently. I’m definitely active here on my main blog and you can find that I sometimes post previews to little art projects that I have going on. We all know that I have a small pile of things that I’ve been sitting on since the Pokemon December challenge, plus a number of other things as well. I’ve got a few of them cleaned up and I’ve started working on them digitally. It’s just a matter of me having enough time to be able to get to them without half-assing them.

However! My manager at my main job has worked it out where I can get my days off consecutively for the next several weeks. It will change again at the end of March, but at least it’s something. I’m on my second week with having a few days off consecutively and let me tell you, it makes a big difference! I’m able to actually be productive on my off days instead of being stressed that I’m going to have to work the next day (which results in me not getting anything done. Or that I sleep the next 24 hours away).

So who knows? Maybe I’ll get a few things going and show you what I got! Thanks for the ask.

[maxattack-powell]

Quit Playing Games

***This is an original/stand alone built to fall between TF 1-4 and 1-5 (1-4a) in my masterlist***

Masterlist - go here for other chapters and related original fics

Disclaimer: The following are fics (adaptations from actual game chapters AND original works) to Choices: The Freshman and The Sophomore stories. It is a fictional adaptation. I do not work for Pixelberry Studios, the game developer or own the rights to the characters Chris Powell, Nicole or any other IN GAME character. All of the ORIGINAL characters, storylines and events were developed for my adaptation of The Freshman story.

Comments: I enjoyed playing Choices The Freshman… and then I found this awesome group of people and their works - I’ve loved it all, very much so. Deciding that I wanted more interaction than the options allowed, I’ve gone through the first book, chapter by chapter (omg painfully slow) to follow the story (95-99% I’d say) and add to it as I felt would benefit.

Basically, I wanted to include certain things that weren’t really full fic size worthy, adding to the story. However, I did add some full size fic moments also… some are included in cannon chapters, some are their own full chapters in between. I wanted to see MC and Chris through their freshman year… with more angst, fluff, sweetness, real life and overall detail. So, if you like that pairing then you’ll be satisfied, otherwise sorry James & Kaitlyn fans lol. I even added some parts from Chris’s POV, so that we have a chance to see what he’s thinking, knowing what she experienced.

There will be ADULT and/or NSFW moments in certain chapters - this is a warning lol. I will try my best to make it obvious as it occurs…

Paring: MC x Chris

POV: ~MC~ or ~Chris~

~MC~

MC heads home from her visit with Vasquez, feeling relief for the first time in 24 hours. She sighs as she reaches for the suite door. “I need sleep… I hope the others are getting some too.”

She smiles as she enters quietly, seeing Kaitlyn crashed on the couch. There is pure silence throughout the suite. She tiptoes towards her friend and pulls the blanket from the back of the couch, covering Kaitlyn before creeping down the hallway to her room. She doesn’t even change her clothes before she collapses on the bed face first.

A few hours later she wakes up to some shuffling in the suite. She sits up and stretches as she yawns. Finally realizing she had slept in her clothes she grabs a pair of jeans, a worn band tee, a towel and other necessities before entering the hall. She sees Zack and Tyler in the living room, unaware of her entrance, focused on a video game. Kaitlyn was there too, laughing and cheering for whoever was currently winning.

MC assumes Abbie and Chris are still in their rooms and slips into the vacant bathroom for a quick shower. After getting dressed, she heads back to her room to fix her hair and makeup. When she reenters the living room she sees that everyone has emerged and looks mostly rested.

Chris looks up from his spot at the table and smiles at her. “So… you get to stay, right?”

Everyone looks at her then, thick anticipation filling the room. She lets out a huge breath of air and smiles. “Yes.”

They all cheer and show their excitement in different ways. Zack and Kaitlyn grab each other and jump around the room whooping. Abbie and Tyler look at each other and grin, then blush, then break eye contact. And Chris, he’s still looking at MC, his eyes locked to hers as his smile grows. “Good.”

MC visibly relaxes. “Thanks you guys. I can’t believe you stayed up with me all night. It was miserable and insane… and I love you for it. Let me know when you need anything. I owe you.”

Tyler looks at her immediately, very serious. “I actually need something right now.” His stomach growls so loud no one can miss it.

Chris starts laughing. “Man, I’m glad you said something, ‘cause I was about to if you didn’t.” He rubs his stomach lovingly, clearly ready for some nourishment.

Zack separates from Kaitlyn and walks to the center of the room, splitting the friends. “Yes, food. This is a great idea. We can familiarize ourselves with the campus too while we’re at it. Any objections?”

No one says a word as they quickly get up to put on shoes, grab their things and head to the door. Tyler and Zack lead the way, followed by Abbie and Kaitlyn, each pair talking about different things as they make their way towards their dinner options on campus.

Chris and MC end up walking together, bringing up the rear of their hungry pack. They remain silent for a while before Chris finally cuts in. “I’m really glad you’re going to stay.” He says quietly, just for her ears.

MC smiles but doesn’t turn to him, keeping her focus forward. “Me too.”

He clears his throat. “So, what are you going to have to do to keep Vasquez happy? Please tell me it won’t always be something like last night.” He stretches at the thought of it, clearly still tired from the exhausting effort.

She recalls the professors next request, wanting detailed information about what life is like as a college football player. “Uh, well… he’s making me research different student positions at Hartfeld. I’m not exactly sure how I’m going to pull it off yet.”

With both of his hands in his jean pockets, he lightly bumps her with his elbow, causing her to sway slightly. “You’ve got this.”

She playfully bumps him back, but unlike when he did it, she just runs into solid muscle, his form unwavering. She tries again, this time obviously shoving him, but still receives no results. Her nose scrunches up in determination as he begins to chuckle at her, clearly amused by her attempts to disrupt his stride.

“Seriously?! What are you, a wall?” She puts all of her strength into the next one, leaning into his side and pushing with all of her might. This time she actually manages to disturb his balance and cause him to take a step or two off of the path.

She huffs triumphantly as his frame shakes, his entire body full of mirth. “Hey, hey, hey… Calm down there woman.”

MC playfully sticks her tongue out at him as he winks at her, both catching up with the other as they reach the cafeteria doors.

Everyone takes their turn picking out their meal before heading to one of the larger tables near the windows. They each sit down without much thought on who sits where, eager to begin eating. They discuss their classes starting in the morning. The conversation a mixture of excitement, worry and uncertainty from each of them as they compare schedules.

MC, Zack and Tyler realize they have one class together as a group. Kaitlyn finds that she shares one each with Abbie, Zack and MC. Chris learns that he has one with Zack, and another with MC, causing them both to smile at the realization. Everyone agrees that it’s nice to have at least one class with someone they know, hoping it would be less awkward, possibly even useful for future homework and projects.

Sitting on opposite ends of the table, as they were the only seats left when they joined their friends, Chris and MC share glances but little else as everyone converses. He occasionally looks up at her from across the trays, and holds her gaze until someone interrupts one of them with their conversations.

The group stays like this for a while, enjoying each others company and learning more about one another while their food digests. After an hour or so they begin to clean up and head back outside. This time Zack and Kaitlyn take the lead, both fully reenergized from dinner. Abbie and Tyler walk together next, closer than before, making MC smile.

Chris notices her smile as he matches her speed. “What’s the smile for?”

She nods to the two in front of them with a grin.

“Ah. You and Zack are enjoying this aren’t you?” He laughs quietly.

“Maybe. They are cute.” She whispers.

“I’ve seen cuter.” He simply states, smirking as she turns to him questioningly.

“Have you now…” She begins, but is cut off as Zack yells at them.

“Guys! They have more games set up in the quad! Must be the last hoorah since classes start tomorrow.”

“I challenge you to Giant Jenga, Zack!” Tyler takes off at a sprint as Zack races to catch up.

Abbie just laughs and goes to watch them as Kaitlyn spots a water balloon dodgeball game about to start. She turns to MC and Chris, her eyes huge. “Oh. My. God. We have to do this.”

MC looks at Chris and turns back to Kaitlyn. “Against Chris?!”

He laughs, assuming he could probably take out most of the people playing. “Wait a minute, what makes you think I would do any better?”

MC turns to him and scoffs. “Oh, like you wouldn’t annihilate everyone with that arm.” She pokes his right bicep.

“Hey, water balloons are not like footballs…” He shrugs.

Kaitlyn interrupts. “Ah, who cares! Lets see what happens… we might all be on the same team anyway.”

The three of them join the forming group and are assigned teams. MC’s worst nightmare comes true. Chris was now the enemy.

Similar to regular dodgeball, the center line had multiple tubs filled with water balloons. There were also some backup tubs around the back of both sides. The whistle blows and most of the students rush forward, grabbing ammo from the center tubs. Some hang back on both sides, quickly grabbing some from the other tubs, ready for the attack.

Kaitlyn rushes forward with a battle cry as MC laughs, running next to her. She looks up to focus on the tub in front of her and sees Chris heading to the same one, his eyes glued to hers as he gives her a mischievous grin.

“Oh no you don’t quarterback!” She yells at him as they both reach the tub, grabbing a balloon in each hand. They both immediately stand and wrench back their right arms, playfully glaring at each other in a stalemate.

They stand there frozen for a moment as the carnage continues next to them. Balloons are bursting everywhere, soaking people’s clothes as they yell and cheer, grabbing more balloons.

MC sees the glint in his eyes and she narrows hers. “Dont. You. Dare.”

“Don’t what?” He wings a balloon at her, causing her to jump to the side quickly.

“Chris!” She gasps.

“You dodged it. You’re fiiiiine.” He laughs.

MC glares at him then, holding his gaze.

Suddenly Kaitlyn appears in full warrior mode, catapulting a balloon at Chris. He easily dodges and throws his remaining balloon back at her, hitting her across the collarbone, soaking part of her chest instantly. Kaitlyn screeches and laughs at the same time, reaching for another balloon from the next tub over as he does from the closer one.

MC takes the opportunity to throw her second balloon at him, believing he is distracted, creating an easy target. He still manages to dodge it and grabs two more balloons from the tub, launching them both at her as he slips under her attack.

Both balloons make contact; one crushing into her hip, the other on her shoulder, soaking her across the front. She squeals at the abrupt cold as the water invades her clothes, causing Chris to fold over with laughter.

She and Kaitlyn grab at the wet spots on their clothes and shake their heads, almost in unison, as the game comes to an end.

MC realizes Chris doesn’t have a wet spot on him wrinkles her nose at him. He just grins back and walks over to the closest tub, finding a single remaining green balloon. After he picks it up he walks over to her, his hands up in surrender.

“Okay, you were right. That wasn’t fair.” He flashes her a ridiculous smile. “Here. Do with it what you will.” He hands her the balloon and takes a step back, raising his arms out to his sides, waiting for impact.

MC snorts and closes the gap between them, reaching her arms across his shoulders and around his neck. He raises his eyebrow at her, confused by her actions. She smiles sweetly at him as she closes her hands around his neck, placing them both on the balloon.

Chris smiles at her, like he did on the roof the first night, just before she digs her fingers into the balloon, rupturing it. The cold liquid explodes down his neck and back, causing him to jerk back and yell, his eyes going wide. “Whoa!“

Its MC’s turn to fall over laughing. Kaitlyn joins in, trying to hold herself up as well. Both clearly amused with his reaction.

“Ah, okay. You got me.” He joins in with their amusement as he reaches for MC’s hand, helping her back up. He holds her hand for a moment longer than needed after she stands, MC glad for the warm contact.

The three of them make their way back to the Giant Jenga game to see how their friends were doing. Abbie was chewing on her nails as she watched Tyler pull out another piece, causing the very unstable tower to shake. They continue like that for a few more rounds as the others dry off in the evening sun.

Just as the sun disappears, casting the first shadows across campus, Zack screams. “Noooo!”

The blocks become very unstable, causing the entire tower to collapse, scattering blocks everywhere.

Tyler high fives Abbie as the win becomes clear. “Yeah! I told you not to pull from that spot Zack!”

Zack hisses at him and pouts over his loss. Everyone pitches in and resets the game for the next group that wants to play before moving on to check out other activities.

They find a game of Glow In The Dark Capture The Flag and decide to join. This time they split up with Tyler, Zack and MC on the blue team and Kaitlyn, Abbie and Chris on the red team. Joining other students on each team, each player activates then puts on two glow bracelets in their team color. The ‘flags’ were 5 glow sticks of the same color tied together, making it easy to spot in the dark as the sun had finally set.

Each group takes their side and the game begins. Right away many students were captured and put in the opposing teams ‘jail’ on the sidelines. MC hears her teammates scuffling in the dark, unsure who was still out with her. She hears Tyler let out a startled yell, clearly being caught by the enemy. MC creeps around as quietly and quickly as she can, trying to hide behind bushes and trees, to make her bracelets less noticeable in the dark.

She makes her way to the enemies jail and finds Tyler, as well as Zack inside at this point. They both gesture for her to hurry and let them out, which she does after checking around for enemy players. Specifically Chris, as she had yet to run across him, and that concerned her. As her teammates flee back to their side to reset their new life, she continues towards the red flag, hiding behind more bushes as she gets closer.

MC waits for a moment, studying the flags location from her current hiding place, sensing that something wasn’t right. It was quiet. Too quiet. She continues to wait as players from both teams are fighting in the middle field.

After a few minutes in the same spot, she narrows her eyes and takes a deep breath before making a move. She launches out of her hiding spot, heading straight for the red flag. She snatches it off of the tree and takes a sharp turn towards the blue side of the field. MC feels victorious, but only momentarily, as her momentum is completely stopped a second later.

Her feet come off the ground as a pair of warm muscular arms wrap around her waist, lifting her against an equally warm muscular chest. She yelps at the breathtaking contact as her body is held firmly against his.

“You thought I was going to let you get away with my flag?” He says in a low, almost husky voice, his lips close to her ear. She shudders as his warm breath travels across her neck.

She lets out a huff of air, her body going lip in his hands, knowing she’s been defeated. He chuckles as she relaxes in his arms, moving his face closer to her neck, breathing in her smells in the dark. She gasps, relishing in the contact.

A red team player runs by them, clutching the blue flag in her hand, quickly crossing the goal line. MC doesn’t notice until Chris grins against her neck, lowering her to the ground. She turns to him, finding his eyes in the dark, the tangle of glow sticks lighting their faces just enough.

“You win. Again.” She jokingly grumbles, shoving the red ‘flag’ into his hands.

He tosses it aside and grabs her face with both hands, crushing his lips into hers. She opens her mouth to suck in a startled breath at the contact, and he takes advantage of it, slipping his tongue inside for a moment, tasting her. It doesn’t last long, but it was enough to make her toes tingle.

He pulls back and grins at her. “Spoils of war.”

She tries to glare at him but it comes out as a humorous pout, as she playfully pinches at his side, causing him to yelp and jump away from her. “Hey! That’s against the rules!”

“Show me where!” She takes off after him as he makes a break for it. She eventually cuts him off and catches up with him, jumping on his back as if she was going for a piggyback ride.

He laughs and runs his arms under her knees to hold her up, leaving her wrapped around him as they find the rest of their roommates. MC sighs as his warmth soaks into her body from his broad back.

After helping clean up and saying bye to new friends, the group heads back to their suite, now tired from the exhausting, but entertaining evening. Tyler and Zack stay up for a little while longer to finish their game from earlier as the others go to bed, having classes bright and early in the morning.

MC is the last to go to her room as she spends a few minutes checking her schedule for the morning. As she approaches her door she notices a faint red glow on the handle. It was one of the bracelets from the capture the flag game. She smiles and looks at her own wrists, both still wearing her fading blue bracelets. She tugs one off and loops it over the handle on the door across from hers, Chris’s door.

She quickly grabs the red one on before slipping inside her room and heading to the night stand. She takes off her remaining bracelet and runs it through the red, locking them together in a small chain, before hanging it on her nightstand lamp. She changes into a tank and comfy pair of shorts before crawling into bed. MC sighs and reaches to turn off the light, laying back on her pillow with a smile as she stares at the glowing chain for a few moments, before sleep finally overtakes her.

[kingofthewilderwest]

Rules: Answer these 92 statements and tag 20 people. I was tagged by @dyannehs​

LAST:

1. Drink: Water 2. Phone call: Myself. Because I lost my cell phone. Outside of that, my mom! 3. Text message: One of my awesomeful friends of awesomeness who I’ve nicknamed Hux (she’s the Hux to my Kylo!) 4. Song you listen to: A nerdy composition project I’m working on. *grins* It’s a secret ’cause I’m gonna share online when I’m done! 5. Time you cried: Actual-actual cry? Don’t remember. Tears in the eyes? Maybe like two days ago? Yay for being broke.

HAVE YOU:

6. Dated someone twice: Yes, I have dated the same person twice, and both experiences were quite wonderful indeed! And I’d probably date her a third time if life came around to it - both times we broke up came from us being too timid to do basic communication about relationship goals. We’re still really good friends rn - honestly either as friends or as dates, I’m happy either way! 7. Kissed someone and regretted it: Yes 8. Been cheated on: Not in the sex way, but my first relationship ended because my current gf was hitting blatantly on someone in front of my face, and while we were talking about maybe doing a poly thing, this hitting-on-someone-else was in the venue of putting aside and ignoring me, and that wasn’t okay.  9. Lost someone special: Yes. 10. Been depressed: Oh shit I forgot my depression meds again... *runs to take them* Umm. Yes. The answer’s yes. High-functioning depression, here I am, prime example. Yayyyy [sarcasm] 11. Gotten drunk and thrown up: I don’t drink alcohol so nope.

LIST 3 FAVORITE COLORS: 

12. Silver 13. Chocolate brown 14. Black

IN THE LAST YEAR HAVE YOU:

15. Made new friends: Aye! 16. Fallen out of love: Not really? I mean I don’t know how to explain it. 17. Laughed until you cried: Thanks to Lance and Kaltenecker, yes. 18. Found out someone was talking about you: I guess my coworkers thought I was quitting instead of just reducing my hours, so I had to fix that rumor chain straight. 20. Found out who your friends are: I think that’s always an ongoing thing in life. This year, I’d say that I’ve had reaffirmations that the people I care about care about me, so that’s really awesome. It’s wonderful to know that people are thinking of me. And I’m thinking of you, friends! 21. Kissed someone on your Facebook list: Yep!

GENERAL:

22. How many of your Facebook friends do you know in real life: About 99% of them. It’s very rare for me to add an internet friend to my FB contacts. 23. Do you have any pets: No. My apartment only allows cats and dogs, and I want guinea pigs again. ;_; 24. Do you want to change your name: I’m proud of my name and have used it as a source of inspiration (it means “pure”). That said, in the last few years, I feel increasingly distanced from my name and honestly think of myself far more as being named “Haddock.” Haddock is my name, my birth name is second. Still a good name, but I’m a Haddock. 25. What did you do for your last birthday: On the day itself: relaxed, bought myself froyo, Skyped family, chilled, was awesome. The general-ish week of my birthday: had a dinner with family, stayed up and binged all of VLD S4 the night it came out, hung out with a friend and also binged VLD. Basically, a lot of VLD. 26. What time do you wake up: The number fluctuates quite wildly day-per-day because “sleep schedule” is a myth. Today, I got up at 11 AM. 27. What were you doing at midnight last night: Answering asks on tumblr and PMing/texting a few good friends. 28. Name something you can’t wait for: Having enough money to live comfortably and not stress every time rent week comes around. 29. When was the last time you saw your mom?: A few days ago, Friday. 30. What is one thing you wish you could change in your life: Oh where do I fucking start... Well. The biggest thing is I’d do is go back in time and prevent a terrifyingly bad argument/falling out with my ex/ex best friend that happened in 2011-2012, not because I want to still be friends with this person (I don’t anymore), but because the experience was very... traumatic... to both of us and I’d love us not to live with those mental scars. I’m still getting over those scars and it sucks. 31. What are you listening to right now: The composition I’m working on. 32. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom: Yeah. Don’t know anyone well named Tom, though. One of my coworkers is a Tommy if that counts? 33. Something that is getting on your nerves: There’s one wonderful friend of mine who’s going through a really challenging time. I want to help them so badly, but they’ve been closed off and hermitting themselves to the point I think it’s harmful for them, it’s hard to contact them to help them, and they live too far away for me to check on them in person easily. I want to do anything to see them in person to help, or to talk to them, or anything... sitting in silence makes me very worried because this wonderful human soul deserves all the love and support they can get for what they’re going through. 34. Most visited website: Tumblr, Facebook, Netflix, Google. 35. Mole/s: I have two bumps on my forehead, one to either side. I jokingly call them horns, but they’re not evenly lined up, and the one on my left is much larger than the one on my right. 36. Mark/s: Bellybutton scar from a second degree burning incident, lots of scars on my hands right now from falling on concrete two months back, lots of scars on my wrists from a whole bunch of whatnot (I even have one from my sophomore year of high school when a school binder scraped me?), oh. And I have basically leopard-speckled shoulders from countless acne/pimple scars. For unnatural marks... three tats! Plans to get at least two more. 37. Childhood dream: To be a published, bestselling author or a college prof. 38. Hair color: Currently dark brown with bleached bangs and a strip on the right side. Natural hair color is what I call “dusty brown” and some people would call dirty blonde; it’s in that random in-between blonde and brown where the top is blonde-ish and the bottom is rather brown. 39. Long or short hair: I have the conundrum of enjoying my hair either really long or really short. I’m in the process of regrowing it to the long stage. It’s sort of at the bottom-of-the-shoulder-blades/boob length now. Goal is to go back to waist length. 40. Do you have a crush on someone: Does Takashi Shirogane count? 41. What do you like about yourself: Honestly, quite a lot? XD I’m very thankful to be a nerd who is apt to learn anything from sciences to arts and music and sports. I’m thankful to be a musician, a composer, a creative writer, an animation junkie, an analytical and logical mind, a complete and utter NERD beyond belief who lives in nerd culture. I love my appearance, I love my facial hair, I love my eyebrows and face shape, I love my body shape, I love that I’m left-handed, I love that I’m not conventionally pretty. I love being a Christian. I love being aroace. I mean when I’m not in a depressive, self-deprecating mode, I really am proud and thankful to be who I am all across the board; there’s very little that I dislike about myself. Mostly what I dislike is my current life situation of not being anywhere career-wise. Everything else, pretty happy. :) 42. Piercings: Two on each earlobe and one halfway up the cartilage. Dammit and I wanted like a dozen piercings by this type in my life. Get me a more stable paycheck and we’re fixing this! 43. Blood type: O+. Most common blood type, woot? 44. Nicknames?: I’ve had a terrifying slew of nicknames over the years. Currently, the most common ones are Haddock, King, (Kylo) Ren, Spock, and Toast. 45. Relationship status: Single in my chill natural habitat. 46. Zodiac: I am so bitter about my Zodiac sign I refuse to say it even though it’s not too hard to figure out what it is given other answers to this meme. 47. Pronouns: He/his/him, though honestly I really don’t care too much what people toss at me. 48. Favorite TV Show: Voltron: Legendary Defender. 50. Right or left hand: LEFT-HANDED WOOOOOOOO LEFT LEFT LEFT LEFT LEFT LEFT LEFT LEFT LEFT LEFTY PRIDE YOOOO! 51. Surgery: When I was nine I had four baby teeth and then the four adult teeth under them removed. Basically, a wisdom tooth like surgery but younger and with different teeth. 52. Hair dyed in different color: FUCK YEAH! I was getting really bored of my natural hair color but was keeping it natural for the purpose of looking professional (job searches). I’d been wanting to reinstate some purple and black again, but with my current job only allowing “natural” hair colors, I decided I couldn’t go that route. Instead I bleached the front and dyed the rest dark brown in a sort of inspiration from Takashi Shirogane. 53. Sport: I played soccer all growing up, so much fun. Love jogging. Sports are great, miss having the opportunity to do team stuff. Also really enjoy watching professional gymnastics, soccer, American football, and especially tennis. 55. Vacation: I want to see so many locations oh my fuck. My “to go to” list includes Bhutan, Nepal, China/Tibet, Mongolia, Cambodia (again... come on I miss it!), Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Japan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom (England & Scotland), Norway, Canada, Peru, Mexico, South Korea, India, Myanmar, Austria, Germany, Iceland... um. Yeah. You. Get the picture. I NEED TO TRAVEL, YO! 56. Pair of trainers: Uh they’re like really raggedy and old and stuff

MORE GENERAL: 

57. Eating: I’m snacking on M&Ms again, like always. 58. Drinking: Water, though methinks I shall make some homemade ginger tea. 59. I’m about to: Probably go shower. It’s 3 PM and I still am in my pajamas. 62. Want: To fucking write and do NaNo and yet life’s been busy and I haven’t had the time for a word but I HAVE SO MANY VLD FANFICS I WANT TO DO AND AURGHGHGHGHGHGH the goal is to somehow write and finish my universal translator mix-up one this month???? We’ll see! Translators, stay tuned, and thanks again for offering to help! 63. Get married: 97% of me doesn’t want to get married I think? 64. Career: Linguistics consultant of doom. Not sure if this can be a career but if I could, I would enjoy continuing the remote work. To explain: I currently work contract positions with various companies who hire me for short-term projects, in which I use my linguistics expertise to analyze and annotate large sums of data according to certain guidelines. 65. Hugs or kisses: Hugs. I. LOVE. HUGS. SO. MUCH. HUGGGGGMEEEEE! I always look closed off in my body language but I swear the inside of me is always going “Giff me the cuddles and don’t let go.” 66. Lips or eyes: Eyes. Eyes are the most gorgeous thing about humans seriously. 67. Shorter or taller: I prefer to be the short one in all social situations. 68. Older or younger: For friends, I’m chill with whatever age you are. Dating, also chill, though I think I tend to prefer being slightly older just ’cause that’s how most of my relationships have been? But really doesn’t matter. 70. Nice arms or nice stomach: Arms. Nice arms are unique for me. I’m pretty happy with lots of different stomach types I see - tummies just are cute! :) 71. Sensitive or loud: A combo is fun but what I look for most in any platonic or anything relationship is someone with a deep heart. I want friends with whom I can confide in anything... so has to be that sensitive side (sensitive-logical if that makes sense is what I like best). 72. Hook up or relationship: I’ve done random PG hookups? But my answer for this is relationship; hookups are only fun for short-term boosts of self-confidence and not being 100% genuine and just being like carefree “whatever” for a night (make sure you both know you’re just doing the hookup night though, please guys, no deception!). Long-term relationships though are glorious like none other for their emotional power. <3 That is pure beauty, caring for someone deeply with lasting loyalty. But of course ya’ll know me... I find nothing more beautiful to cherish than deep platonic care! 73. Troublemaker or hesitant: Combo of both!

HAVE YOU EVER:

74. Kissed a Stranger: Yeppers 75. Drank hard liquor: Nope 76. Lost glasses/contact lenses: Yes ugh I have no clue where one of my pairs of glasses are again 77. Turned someone down: Yes 78. Sex on the first date: I’ve had sex never so this is an easy answer 79. Broken someone’s heart: Yes 80. Had your heart broken: Yes 81. Been arrested: No 82. Cried when someone died: Yes 83. Fallen for a friend: Yes

DO YOU BELIEVE IN:

84: Yourself: Yes, typically 85. Miracles: Absolutely 86. Love at first sight: I mean I don’t deny it happens. It happens. But I don’t think it’s pragmatic to think that’s what’ll happen to you. 87. Santa Claus: Come on, of course North and the Guardians are kicking Pitch’s butt! 88. Kiss on the first date: Sure, why not

OTHER: 

90. Current best friend name: I don’t have one best friend right now. A few of my current closest friends are named Josh, “Hux”, Keith, JuLee, Rachel, Peter, and Meredith. 91. Eye color: Brown 92. Favorite movie: HOW DO I PICK ONE FAVORITE MOVIE FUCK YOU?? The Prince of Egypt, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the How to Train Your Dragon movies, Pacific Rim, there, I made a list.

Uhhhhh let’s so who should I tag... if you want to do it... @akkeyroomi @the-mr-eggplant @chiefrosepetal @thefuriousnightfury @insaneskye @fanwriter02 @dragonpride99 @jettara @margarethelstone @shailyesshadow @hubwalker1 @godguy0001 @theravenfliesagain @frosty-viking @jackthevulture @hiccup-is-left-handed @dragonnan @spacekeet @nightfury326 yaknowwhat I am not going to count but we’ll say that’s about 20 XD

[swimmingwolf59]

Until I Turn to Dust

(A/N) I can't believe it took me until my last fic to include Declan and Matthew smh It's been so much fun writing for pynch week this year!!!! The prompts were fun and it was cool to see what everyone else's takes on them were as well~ THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING, COMMENTING, AND PROVIDING SUCH AMAZING SUPPORT IN GENERAL I CAN'T THANK YOU ALL ENOUGH <3 You gave me the motivation I needed to actually sort of stay on schedule xD;;

I really hope you enjoy the final fic, and thank you so much again!! :')

P.S. The Script song I used for the quote and the title of this chapter is very pynch in my opinion, please check it out!!

I fell for you and I never got up

I stay here forever ‘til I turn to dust

Just take every minute make it last for life

24/7 baby 3-6-5.

-“The Energy Never Dies” by The Script

Every moment of his waking life, and often his sleeping one too, Ronan feels like he has accidentally stumbled upon happiness.

He never thought he would meet someone like Gansey, who sticks with him even through all of Ronan’s worst hours, who was and always will be the friend that Ronan has needed more than anything. He never thought he would meet someone like Blue, who challenges him every day for being an asshole by also being an asshole, something he didn’t realize he loves as much as he does until she came into his life. He never thought he would start to get along with Declan, that he would actually maybe look forward to the times when all three Lynch brothers can be together.

And most of all, he never would’ve thought in a million years that he would meet someone like Adam Parrish. Someone who is so bright and sarcastic, someone who was given the shittiest hand in the entire world and through pure grit and determination got himself to someplace better. Someone who can and dares to fight back with Ronan but then can also pick him out of the dust and remains of his worst fears and give him something to hold onto. He’s been in love with Adam for two whole years, and not once during that entire time did he think he would ever get to kiss him. That Adam would kiss him back. That Adam goddamn Parrish would say yes when he asked him out.

But he did.

It hits Ronan especially hard in the early hours of the morning, when he’s watching Adam sleep peacefully beside him, that he is so incredibly lucky to have stumbled upon this kind of pure and relentless happiness. Just earlier, Adam had let Ronan leave kisses all over his body, especially his hands, and he’d blown Ronan so hard that minutes after he could still see nothing but stars and Adam Adam Adam. Ronan learned that Adam looks gorgeous with sweat sticking his bangs to his forehead and with that tiny little smile that Adam saves just for him. Ronan also learned that Adam is extremely ticklish on his ribcage, something that he plans to take full advantage of in the future.

He feels blessed every moment that Adam Parrish has let him be this close to him, for allowing him to love him and to be loved in return. Ronan is closer to Adam than anyone else has been before, he’s pretty sure, and it blows his mind.

It’s literally the best thing that’s ever happened to him.

When he wakes up that Sunday morning, Adam is practically sprawled on top of Ronan—not an unusual occurrence, considering that Adam’s mattress is the smallest thing in the entire universe—and Ronan has never felt so content and happy. There’s drool drying on his shoulder where Adam’s head lolls and one of his knobby knees is digging uncomfortably into Ronan’s thigh, but he never wants to move again. Adam smells like his pine-scented aftershave and oil and his warmth against Ronan is perfect enough to make him think he died and went to heaven.

Because this would be his heaven – getting to lie in bed with Adam for all of eternity, drawing his fingers gently through his incredibly silky hair and admiring his beautiful hands.

There is no place he would rather be so he refuses to get up, even though he knows Declan and Matthew will be here soon for church and that he actually needs to put a suit on. Instead he entertains himself by counting the freckles on Adam’s shoulder blades. He keeps losing track and having to start over again, but he’s at ninety-three when someone knocks concisely on the door, rousing Adam.

It’s obviously Declan, so Ronan stubbornly remains in bed as he calls out, “It’s open!”

Declan walks in, scans the room for a moment, and then swears and puts a hand over his eyes. “Jesus, you didn’t warn me you were indecent!”

“I’m always indecent,” Ronan snorts as a very sleepy Adam rolls off him and nearly onto the floor in an attempt to get up. “Relax, it’s not like we’re naked.”

A blessing that only occurred because Adam had predicted last night that they would not be able to wake up and get dressed before Ronan’s brothers appeared. Ronan loves how right Adam is about these things.

“What time is it?” Adam asks between a loud yawn that gives Ronan an amazing view of his teeth and bruised lips.

For this first time in his entire life, Ronan kind of wants to skip church.

“Nine – Ronan should’ve been ready ten minutes ago,” Declan says irritably, hands on his hips.

“We’re above the church, it’ll literally take us ten seconds to get down there,” Ronan argues as he pulls himself off of Adam’s mattress and pokes around the room in search of his dress pants. He knows he brought them to Adam’s place last night, but he lost track of them in the heat of the moment.

“And yet we’re still going to be late!” Declan snaps.  

Ronan ignores him and, finally finding his pants, starts to get dressed. Matthew, ever the ball of sunshine and never one to be deterred by his older brothers’ bickering, dashes into the apartment and nearly tackles Adam to the floor in what must be a spine-crushing hug. “Adam, my man! Are you joining us today?”

“No, I have some homework to catch up on,” Adam says as he awkwardly pats Matthew’s head. The idea of church has always been a little bit uncomfortable for Adam, Ronan knows, but he’s pretty sure he’s the only one who picks up on the uncertainty in his tone. “Say hi to Ms. Bertha for me, though.”

Ronan snorts loudly. “Ms. Bertha! Everything’s always about Ms. Bertha.”

He doesn’t actually have anything against the old lady; she’s been kind to Adam, like secretly leaving food on his doorstep or bringing him clothes she convinces him no one else will take, methods that Ronan greatly approves of. It’s just that every time he talks to her now she asks him things like: “How is Adam today?” or “Are you treating Adam well, Ronan? That boy deserves the world.” And while Ronan agrees, it’s fucking annoying; he hates having to talk about his feelings for Adam, especially to other people. It’s embarrassing.

Adam, knowing all of this, just smirks at him. His bedhead and the still sleepy look in his eyes makes Ronan want to pounce him. “You jealous, Lynch?”

“No, why? Should I be? Didn’t know you were into old hags, Parrish.”

Adam throws a pillow at him, making Ronan snicker. Declan scoffs loudly and taps the expensive watch on his wrist impatiently. “As riveting as this old married couple bickering is, we’re late, Ronan!”

“Christ, calm the fuck down will you?” Ronan snaps back, irritably tugging his tie on. “I’m ready, I’m ready – it only took me like two minutes!”

“And yet you can still never bother to be on time!” Declan rolls his eyes before grabbing Matthew and pulling him out the door. “Come on then!”

Ronan’s about to follow, complaining all the way of course, when Adam suddenly grabs his shoulder. “Wait.”

“Can’t get enough of me, Parrish?” Ronan teases, leaning into Adam and wrapping his arms around his waist.

Adam rolls his eyes, but doesn’t gift Ronan with the satisfaction of an answer. Instead, he just starts fixing his tie, his long fingers making deft work of the shimmery fabric. “You’ve been going to church every week of your life and you still can’t tie your tie properly.”

“It’s a fashion statement,” Ronan retorts, deciding to be annoying by attempting to kiss Adam while he straightens his tie.

“You’re a menace,” Adam says, making Ronan cackle. But suddenly Adam is pulling him forward by his tie, leaving a firm kiss on his lips. Ronan stares at him in wonder, his knees starting to wobble at the suggestive smirk on Adam’s face. “You’re much more attractive when your tie is on straight, though.”

“…Why do you always do this when I have to leave, Parrish?” Ronan groans, reaching up to tangle his fingers in Adam’s hair as he kisses him desperately.

“You only ever dress up when you’re going to church – what else am I supposed to do?” Adam teases, but Ronan is about two seconds from deciding to wear a tie for the rest of his life.

He’s about to say this out loud, but Declan’s annoying voice hollers up the stairs, “Ronan! We’re missing the service!”

Ronan growls and kisses Adam one more time before retreating reluctantly. “My suit will still be on afterwards, Parrish,” he says as he pounds down the stairs.

When he looks back up, Adam is leaning on the handrail, grinning at him. His hair is a mess and he’s wearing nothing but one of Ronan’s tanks and his boxers and for the millionth time Ronan is almost drawn back upstairs. “I look forward to it, Lynch.”

Declan pulls him away before he can say anything more, and Adam’s words replaying over and over again in his head is the only thing that keeps him from growling at him for it. Matthew sidles up beside him as they walk into the church, quietly sitting down in a pew near the back, and whispers, “You two are cute.”

Ronan blushes, but he can’t respond to that either because the service has already begun.

The three brothers fall into silence; going to church is the only time the three of them are still and quiet around each other instead of yelling and roughhousing. Ronan tries his best to pay attention to the sermon, but more often than not he finds his mind trailing back to Adam. He wonders what he’s doing right now, if his eyebrows are furrowed in that cute little expression of concentration he has, or what his hands look like working right now…

Every time, he has to forcibly derail his thoughts before they become too graphic for the inside of a church.

When the sermon is over and the space becomes open for confession, Ronan gets in line behind Declan, like he always does. As he’s waiting in line, he thinks about how different of a place he’s in now. He’s spent most of his life hating himself for who he is, either because of his dreams or because of his sexual orientation, and now he has a boyfriend, one that he loves openly and with his entire being. Declan, Matthew, and some nice old ladies (including Ms. Bertha) that are friends of the family know about Adam and don’t shun them for it. It’s amazing to him. He’s in love with another man and no one has struck him down yet.

But he still hasn’t said it out loud. He’s introduced Adam as his boyfriend to a select few people, but he’s never said those three little words, or told anyone else in words how much he loves Adam. Though part of it is because he’s extremely bad at talking about his feelings, he wonders now if part of him had always been afraid that something terrible would happen if he said it out loud. If it would somehow ruin his happiness instead of expanding it.

He thinks of Adam’s sleepy little smile and wonders if it’s time to stop being silent.

He makes up his mind right as Declan comes out of the confession box and pats him on the shoulder. The touch could mean anything, and probably means behave yourself, but Ronan likes to think of it as encouragement.

Ronan shuffles into the confession box and sits down. He can see nothing but the grated window and it makes it easier to pretend he’s alone, even though he can hear the minister breathing on the other end. He takes a deep breath, rubs his hands over his buzzed scalp. Father Arnold is always patient with him, more patient than Ronan thinks anyone in his entire life has ever been with him, and best of all doesn’t push him to talk. They’ve had many confessions where they just sit in silence, Ronan either struggling or disinterested in saying anything. As he takes his time finding his words, he knows that Father Arnold knows it’s him. He always seems to know, even though it’s supposed to be anonymous. To be fair though, Ronan is probably the only person who has sat here for years, fighting with himself to say out loud what he hadn’t even let himself think until recently.

His second secret. The one he’s kept so locked up that for a long time he’d even kept it from himself.

Except, it’s no longer a secret: he’s told himself, and maybe even more terrifying he’s showed Adam. He showed him his deepest darkest secret, and by showing Adam he’d also shown Declan, Gansey, Blue, Matthew, Henry, and those old ladies.

And now, for the first time in a long time, Ronan has something to say.

“Father, I have sinned,” Ronan eventually murmurs, though it still takes him a while to force the words out. He takes a deep breath and clenches his fists at his sides as he continues, “But it doesn’t feel like I’ve sinned.”

Father Arnold doesn’t even sound surprised as he says, “And what is it that you did?”

This part is even harder to admit. Ronan has never uttered it aloud, not even to Adam. He doesn’t know how to form the words in his mouth. He has kept this secret for so long that it’s hard to tell, even though he wants to.

“I kissed Adam Parrish,” he finally blurts out, and he feels free, elated, terrified. Something tight in his chest throbs and releases and suddenly he’s free falling, open and unrestricted but with absolutely no idea where he’s going to land. “You know, the guy who’s renting the room upstairs? I kissed him and asked him out and he said yes. And Father, it’s the best goddamn thing that has ever happened to me.”

Realizing belatedly that he shouldn’t have used that particular curse in confession, he mumbles, “Sorry.”

Father Arnold is silent for a long time, silent for so long that the wide open space inside Ronan starts to close up again and suddenly he’s purely afraid that he fucked up. That Father Arnold will break his code and go out and tell the bigots at the church and they’ll be shunned and mocked. Adam could lose his apartment and God Ronan hasn’t thought this through at all…

“Being in love is not a sin, Ronan,” Father Arnold finally says, and the use of his name almost surprises Ronan more than the actual words. “Love is compassion, and compassion is what makes this world our Lord has created great. Compassion is what makes connections, brings you fulfillment, and improves the lives of yourself and those around you. You hold so much compassion within you Ronan that I’m sure it must be hard for you contain it, but it is never a sin. You have found someone that means the world to you, and that is okay, even if he is another boy. You will help each other and grow together, and I sincerely believe that that is a good thing. The Lord is happy as long as you are happy.”

Ronan has no idea what to say to that, his heart is pounding so hard he isn’t sure he can say anything at all, but before he can figure it out Father Arnold continues, “Are you happy, Ronan?”

“Yes, Father,” Ronan replies immediately, his fingers loosening their tight grip on his pants. “Adam makes me so happy that I don’t know how to handle it sometimes.”

“Then you are where you are meant to be, my child,” Father Arnold says, and Ronan can hear the smile in his voice.

He swallows thickly. “Thank you, Father.”

And then he practically runs out of the confession box because he needs to move, to expel the sudden elated energy that explodes inside of him. He ignores Matthew’s surprised expression as he runs out of the church, feeling wild and hyper. He wants to laugh, he wants to cry, he wants to roll on the grass and set the world on fire because he feels so alive. Everything is going his way for once and he feels like he doesn’t have to hide who he is or be afraid.

He’s never felt so light and free in his entire life.

Declan is standing outside waiting for them when Ronan crashes out of the church like a crazy person, and he jumps a little as he looks up from his phone. “Ronan, what the hell—?”

But Ronan ignores him too and pounds up the steps back to Adam’s apartment, not even bothering to knock as he barges his way in. Adam is sitting exactly where he imagined he would be, huddled over his desk, his eyebrows furrowed as his brain works out what appears to be a complicated calculus problem.

He looks up as Ronan enters, not even surprised. The soft smile on his face makes Ronan’s heart soar even higher. “Hey, you. How did it go?”

Ronan doesn’t bother to reply, he doesn’t think he can express the flurry of emotions in his chest, so he just runs over and scoops Adam up in his arms, holding him as tightly as he can and swirling him around in a circle. Adam lets out a surprised yelp, looking frazzled as he grips onto Ronan for dear life. When Ronan sets him back down on the ground, he frowns and presses the back of his hand to Ronan’s forehead, like he’s worried he has a fever. “Are you feeling alright?”

And Ronan laughs, because really, what a question.

“I’ve never felt better in my goddamn life,” Ronan says, and he leans in to kiss Adam breathlessly, pressing their foreheads together. “I love you, Adam.”

It’s the first time he’s ever said it out loud, and it feels like a giant weight is lifted from his back. He feels like he could run a marathon, swim across an entire ocean, pull at least ten things out of his dreams at once. Seeing the startled look on Adam’s face, though, he hurries to add, “I don’t expect you to say it back or anything, I just…I just needed you to know.”

For a moment Adam just blinks at him, but then he’s smiling a shy smile and Ronan can’t help but lean in and kiss him again. When they part, Adam draws a finger down Ronan’s jaw and whispers, “I think that’s the first time anyone has ever said that to me.”

This piece of knowledge makes Ronan angry and sad and everything in between, but instead of indulging these emotions he just kisses Adam’s good ear and whispers back, “Then I’ll say it as often as you need to hear it. You deserve to hear it all the goddamn time, Adam.”

“Oh God, please don’t say it that often, I don’t think I can handle that,” Adam laughs shakily, and he’s blushing as Ronan presses another kiss to his lips. That’s fine – he won’t be able to say it that often either, if he’s being realistic. He’ll just throw it in when Adam needs the reminder.

Or when he’s least expecting it. That blush is doing wonders to Ronan’s heart.

“Hey, Matthew’s done – are you two lovebirds ready to go to lunch, or—?” Declan says, walking into the room right as Ronan had parted his lips so Adam could sneak his tongue into his mouth. “Jesus Christ!!”

“Declan, please, we’re above a church,” Adam says, and Ronan drops his head down onto his shoulder as he dissolves into laughter.

Declan opens his mouth and closes it again about three or four times before throwing his arms up into the air and stalking back out of the apartment. Ronan chuckles and hugs Adam’s waist, swaying gently as he kisses his neck. “You know, we could go for lunch, or we could do something else, taking full advantage of my suit…”

“Hm, I’m actually pretty hungry though,” Adam says and to Ronan’s utter dismay steps away from him and walks to his desk, stuffing his wallet and keys into his pockets and heading out the door. Ronan’s still gaping at him when he turns around to face him again, raising an eyebrow. “You coming?”

“Never mind, Parrish, I take it back!” he shouts, but he obviously doesn’t mean it as he runs to Adam, leaving one last kiss on his lips before they walk down to Declan’s Volvo, hand in hand.

 --

A couple of weeks later they’re at the Barns, lazing around in the faint afternoon sunlight that lingers on the living room couch. Ronan is lying on his front, shirtless, and Adam is huddled next to him, absentmindedly tracing his tattoo with his calloused fingers. They’d been talking about meaningless things before and now are perfectly content to sit in silence, just appreciating the other’s warmth and presence. It’s a rare moment when Adam is fully caught up on work and school and Ronan wants to take complete advantage of it.

“Hey, you know?” Adam says quietly after a while. Ronan turns his head to the side to stare at him questioningly. But Adam just shakes his head and laughs to himself, pulling a hand through his sweaty hair. Ronan watches the action with way too much attention and interest. “Shit, that was the stupidest way to start this.”

Ronan is even more confused than before. “Just spit it out, Parrish.”

“I love you,” Adam blurts; his direct gaze on Ronan when he says it nearly shatters him. “I mean it – I’ve never been happier than I am when I’m with you, Ronan.”

“…Adam,” Ronan chokes, and for a horrifying moment he’s worried he’s going to start crying. He never could’ve guessed how intensely happy hearing Adam say that to him would make him, and he’s thus unprepared to deal with it. It hits him like a tidal wave and warms his entire body, leaving him shaking, ecstatic, and so very alive.

He tackles Adam, pressing down onto him as he hugs him as tightly as he can at this awkward angle. Adam laughs and wraps one arm around Ronan’s shoulders while using the other hand to caress the back of his head, his fingers automatically rubbing through the fuzz on top of Ronan’s head. “Ronan…!”  

“I love you too,” Ronan gasps, high from the way Adam had said his first name as he nuzzles into Adam’s neck. “God, I love you so fucking much.”

Adam laughs again, cutely embarrassed like he is every other time Ronan says it, and it just makes him love him more. “Careful, God might strike you down for saying that.”  

But Ronan knows God is chill with it, and that just seems to make today that much brighter. 

[soysaucevictim]

Last week of current challenges... except for the DGC, because I fell a bit behind schedule there. Oops.

-

Dec. 21

I woke up pretty much at noon.

Played some cards and wasted a lot of time on the usual. Only did a couple of my planned exercise for the day.

First, today’s DD. 30 infinity circles with EC. Not much to say, other than it was pretty enjoyable!

Last, Day 21 of the ‘19AC. 1′ single leg half squat. This was on the challenging side - mostly because of needing to focus on balance.

By the time I had intended to get the rest of my stuff done, bro went to bed and closed his door (so I couldn’t use his pull-up bar.)

Yeah... Didn’t do DGC stuff again, either. But I did get to bed in the yellow zone. So there’s that.

-

Dec. 22

Another day I got up at about noon, having set my alarm for that. Maybe it will press me towards fixing my sleep schedule... but today won’t be that day.

Did much of the usual, with exercise interspersed.

First, today’s DD. 40 single leg bridges with EC. This was pretty doable and a nice way to get my day moving! :D

Second, Day 22 of the ‘19AC. 4′ side leg raise hold (2′/2′, lateral decubitus.) This was pretty doable but intense. I especially wanted to make sure to hips were stacked and not leaning, for a bit more effort. At least, I think so.

Third, Day 25 of the KMC. 160 side kicks, switch halfway. Did 80/80 in one go, pretty handily.

Fourth, Day 25 of the DHC. 2x10″ dead hangs. Not much to really comment on these days. I do like them though, during low energy days.

(After distractions for far too many hours and getting upset over personal stuff...)

Last, Day 22 of the DGC. I’m grateful:

For tofu and it’s culinary flexibility.

I could try these “Devil’s Spit“ pickles grandpa mentioned some time back. They’re pretty good!

Nobuo Uematsu for making some of my favorite music, growing up.

Fuck it. It’s almost 7AM when I’m writing this entry. Thought about putting the DGC shit off. But fuck it.

-

Dec. 23

I woke up after 2PM, today. Oof.

Picked up some meds and did a bit more of the usual, before today’s exercises.

First, today’s DD. 3′ half jacks with EC, barely. Took about 3 tries, the problem was too much sugar/caffeine, not enough water, and going too fast to sustain the pace. First go was ~2'+1' = 114+100. Second go, was still too fast/inconsistent, but the third was at a more slow & deliberate pace - with a total of 109 reps. Whew! That was a fun challenge.

Second, Day 23 of the ‘19AC. 30″ push-up plank hold. Did it in one go, but it was kinda sloppy. Regardless, It was just good enough for me. :/

Third, Day 26 of the KMC. 160 turning kicks + 160 side kicks. Did it in 1 set of (80/80) + (80/80). This was made more tough after doing so many half jacks earlier. But I’m glad I was able to manage.

Fourth, Day 26 of the DHC 1′40″ dead hang. Done in 50"+25"+10"+15", with ~20" rest in between sets. That was pretty fucking brutal & required a bit of psyching myself up for it - but I still find it fun.

(After making the family dinner...)

Last, Day 23 of the DGC. I’m grateful:

For the Final Fantasy series of videogames.

For Sanders Sides, for the entertainment and inspiration.

For the patience and encouragement from clients past and present.

I did get to bed like an hour earlier than the night before, but still squately in the red zone. :I

-

Dec. 24

I got up a bit before 3PM today. Bleh.

Did much of the usual before exercising.

First, today’s DD. 40 split lunges with EC. This took a bit of willpower to get through - but I'm happy I could manage. :P

Second, Day 24 of the 2019 Advent Calendar. Last day to this challenge. 4 minute relax (child’s pose). I thought this was a wonderful way to end the Advent Calendar. And it was pretty soothing to kind sit there and just meditate a bit. And overall, I rather liked the theme that everything here were holds of some kind - felt very unified! :D

Third, Day 27 of the KMC. 100 double turning kicks. Pretty handily did it in one set of 50/50.

Fourth, Day 27 of the DHC. 2x10″ dead hangs. This was pretty simple and fun. Swung a little more in the second set than ideal. But 10″ is pretty easy, now.

(After spending some time doing planning the next few months’ exercise regimen...)

Last, Day 24 of the DGC. I’m grateful:

That my brother has been doing the dishes more, despite me not telling him to do so (I had intention to do the dishes today, but he just took it upon himself.)

That I have some good foundations to build on in terms of fitness.

For chocolate, existing. :,D

After a shower and some games, I got to bed. It was earlier than yesterday, but still in the red zone. :P

-

Dec. 25

I woke up just shy of 1PM today.

Did a bit of the usual before heading out to the grandparents’ place for the holiday.

Had a pretty good dinner, played some cards, had some tense moments. But at least Grandpa didn’t call the cops on the uncle. It’s sad to say that’s an improvement.

First, today’s DD. 2′ meditation with EC. It's always lovely to take a moment to meditate, especially after some tense moments.

Third, Day 28 of the KMC. 3x 40 turning kicks + 40 side kicks. I did it in one superset of 3x (20/20 + 20/20). Pretty simple and to the point work.

Fourth, Day 28 of the DHC. 1′50″ dead hang. I managed it in 1'+25"+20"+8". Wound up with a blood blister though. I was thinking I would stick some bandages on it for the remaining 2 days of this challenge.  but various forums be like "open, clean, and dress it." :I

Last, Day 25 of the DGC. I’m grateful:

That there were some things that were good/okay about how the day went.

That I’ve opted not to go to the facility tomorrow - so I can sleep in.

That I’ve some good ways to plan ahead when it comes to exercise.

I went to bed only a few minutes earlier than yesterday.

-

Dec. 26

I got up a bit before 2PM, I think.

After a bit of the usual, I went straight into my exercise.

First, today’s DD. 2′ leg extensions with EC (donkey kicks). I counted exactly 100 reps by the end. This was a bunch of fun! :D

Second, Day 29 of the KMC. “16 balance kicks side & turning both each leg, no putting your foot down.“ Had a few moments of wobbling and nearly losing my center - but I’m glad I could do things pretty well.

Third, Day 29 of the DHC. 2x10″ dead hangs. I decided to approach it with some bandaging on hand with the blister. It was a bit tough, but the blister didn't rupture. That leaves tomorrow with a bit of a question mark. If it's going to pop, that's when I think it'll happen. orz

(After some distractions...)

Last, Day 26 of the DGC. I’m grateful:

That the blister didn’t pop just yet.

For educational YouTubers.

For Leftist voices, in general.

...

-

Dec. 27

I woke up just a bit after noon, today. Yay.

I did a bit of the usual, before reserving some more trips and archiving the last couple months’ DDs. Then, I started on my exercise.

First, today’s DD. 2′ arm extensions with EC. I counted 147 reps by the end of it, and I'm happy about keeping it above 1/sec. I had a lot of fun with this one! :D

Third, Day 30 of the Kick Master Challenge. 200 turning kicks + 200 side kicks, done in 2 sets of 100/100. Did get mildly winding, but still manageable.

Fourth, Day 30 of the Dead Hang Challenge. 2′ dead hang. I walked into this with some trepidation, but I got through it better than I expected! It took 6 sets to do it, but I got it done (45"+25"+10"+10"+17"+13"). I bandaged my blistered hand... and it didn't tear open! Huzzah! \o/

Dead/clotted blood mass may've torn a little bit away from nearby capillaries, what with some brighter red being visible. Did rub off a bit of superficial layer for offhand and the calloused ridging is a bit tender underneath - but no surface injuries at least. I count that as a personal victory! And now - my hands will get their much needed break from the pull-up bar.  \o/

Last, Day 27 of the DGC. I’m grateful:

That my hands didn’t tear open, during the DHC. Despite it feeling a bit touch and go for a minute there!

That I only tentatively slotted in the Flex Hang Challenge after that. Because, oh man. That’d be a bad idea.

That I have plans to be excited for, in terms odf exercise... which I’ll get into, right after this sentiment.

-

Summary & Plans:

A day late, but I finished all my challenges but the Daily Gratitude Challenge (ETA in 3 days, barring further interruptions), in Dec. 27.

Altogether - I greatly enjoyed the Kick Master Challenge for expected reasons. I also liked how the structure had a few variations to go through. I was mostly able to keep the “in one workouts” to at most 2 sets, shortened the rests between all sets to a bare minimum, and didn’t fall out of the balance days even once! (I did contemplate on bounce-switching more often than I actually did, partly to mind the knees.)

I surprisingly really enjoyed going through the Dead Hang Challenge! I found it more fun than holding planks, DESPITE flirting with tearing my hands open near the end of it. Thankfully, using bandages in the last 2 days were enough to stave that disaster off.

As far as metrics for that went:

I hit a PB of 1′. Which I’m proud of

I had to break incremented days into multiple sets for 9 days (12 & 16-30), ranging from 2-6 sets, with ~15-30″ rests in between.

My plans starting tomorrow (technically today, but shhh...) are as follows.

I’m going to spend the next 6 weeks doing the Knee Conditioning Program I found a bit ago. The first week, I’ll be doing free-form warm-ups for each day. I think I’ll cycle through upperbody, ab, and (low/mid-impact) cardio workouts, as a complement.

Then, by the second week I’ll either jump in with the new DAREBEE Program(s!) Zero Hero, Baseline, or re-run Cardio Go! and use them for some supplementary cardio/rounding and warm-up. This will depend on which I feel will be more compatible with where I’m at.

[cassie-babyz]

[170415 Korepo] B.A.P - Focus on the upgraded performance from their new song “WAKE ME UP” completed with the whole group!

After successfully completing their 3-day concert “PARTY BABY! SEOUL BOOM”, we had this interview with B.A.P somewhere in Seoul. 

Amongst their busy schedules with their world tour upcoming and their leader Bang Yongguk’s return, the members welcomed us with all 6 of them as a group. They talked to us about their world tour and their new 7th Japanese single “WAKE ME UP” to be released on 4/26 and such. 

Q. Firstly, you successfully finished your concert “PARTY BABY! SEOUL BOOM” from 3/24-26, how do you feel now? DH: It was for 3 days, but since we had the new concepts, it was refreshing and interesting. It was a new challenge for us as well, I think the concert was a great success as the fan’s enjoyed it as well.  JU: For this time round, we emphasised the EDM and used the concept “PARTY BABY”, so it was very refreshing and we were able to have a lot of fun. Also, I think it was nice that we were able to show our own personalities through the solo stages. 

Q. Bang Yongguk has returned, making this a concert with a complete revival; what was the most memorable? DH: For the last album, Yongguk took a small break, and for this album, Himchan took a small break, so I don’t know, it felt like something was missing. Same as when we were on stage, we had that feeling for our usual schedules, but while we were doing this concert, that space was gone and somehow my confidence was boosted.   *Even when we challenged new concepts, it feels a little lacking when it’s only the 5 of us, but (challenging something) as 6, there’s a great synergy because we can trust and rely on each other. That’s why this concert will remain as a great one done without regrets in my memory.  YJ: Same as below* [*T/N: Although it’s not indicated, the second paragraph of Daehyun’s answer may be Youngjae’s since it was written as a separate paragraph, and the ‘same as below’ sounds more like an editorial note than an answer. It could be simply that Youngjae’s line was left there accidently or maybe it was an editing miss.]

Q. It must’ve been tough to be the temporary leader, Himchan. How do you feel now? HC: There wasn’t anything too different so it seems like I don’t have any particular feeling about it.  DH: If we were rookies, or only into our 1st or 2nd year, the hyungs’ position would definitely be very important, but since we’re into out 6th year already, I think we were able to make up [for the empty space] by each working our best. HC: The system or however you would call it was well set, so there weren’t any inconveniences, but I still worried a little about the stage performances. The fact that there was an empty place... Other than that everything was fine. 

Q. I heard that there was a “party look” dress code for the concert, how were the fans? HC: Somehow, sexy shall I say? There were many fans who wore see-through pieces. It concerned me a little but I was grateful about the concert (laughs). YJ: I thought pajamas for the home party [theme], but there were actually guests who wore pajamas. I was very thankful. They could’ve come as they were, but preparing as they did to our themes to enjoy the concert a little bit more and matching their clothes to the concert; I am very thankful. But on the other hand, I realised it might have been difficult to get to the concert [in their outfits]. 

Q. Your 7th Japanese single “WAKE ME UP” will finally be released on 4/26. Please introduce us to the concepts and highlights. JU: The song “WAKE ME UP” is a very refined and upgraded song and many praised it. Personally, I’m taken by the performance of it. Somehow, it matches well with the song and it’s even more complete and elaborate than the songs we’ve done till now, so I’d like everyone to watch the stages thoroughly. You may have already heard the Korean version, but I don’t think you’ve had many chances to see it. That’s why I want to show you the stage performance for it someday in a Japanese concert. 

Q. Which part of the performance in particular? JU: From the start to the end of it, it’s packed with great parts. Each and every bit is a highlight and I think it was created very coolly.  ZL: I participated in the choreography with Jongup-hyung since “Young, Wild & Free”, and the person we call “leader” of the dance team would always think up concepts since “Young, Wild & Free”. That’s why there’re a story-like qualities to it as well. The “leader” choreographed a cool dance for us. 

Q. I heard that Bang Yongguk and Zelo participated in the lyric composition for WAKE ME UP”. How was that? ZL: We usually work with others for our songs. There’s a chance for me to participate when Yongguk hyung is producing, but it’s rare for someone else to do it for us. Although we received this song from someone else, when I said “I want to try writing the lyrics about the title”, Yongguk hyung replied “then why don’t you try writing it?”. The song was finished belatedly and I thought of many ideas in the meantime. If there are people who think “it’s nice for the general public”, then there will also be people who think “isn’t it too packed with the things that they’re trying to tell?”. I think it was a good chance to receive those sort of precious comments. I hope there will be many more chances like this in the future. 

Q. What are the highlights for the “WAKE ME UP” music video? DH: We had a meeting whilst filming the music video, and in it, there are more parts with the extras than with me. We hadn’t decided if we were going to have Korean or foreign people at the start, but I suggested “this sort of scene would be good”, “if we’re going to have extras, then they should be foreigners since it’s for the whole world to see” and such comments the whole way through. We wanted to show a rebellious image and various things in the music video too so we tried many times. It’s difficult to express everything within 3, 4 minutes after all, right? It was a difficult theme, so. When you look at the first part and the second half, there are more painful and tiring scenes in the first part. On the other hand, the second half has more images about starting again, challenges and awakening. It’s a story about experiencing pain at the start, but slowly, like an egg shell gradually cracking, to find your true self.  ZL: The emphasis was on the story, and not the performance this time, so there weren’t any scenes of us dancing (the dance scenes were added to the later-released Japanese version) and although there were many scenes included where you watch whilst listening to our voices, we appear frequently so you can both see and hear us. We often edited on the footage that the editors put together, so it was always changing. We were in it a lot so I gained some know-how too. 

Q. Were there any episodes when filming the MV? DH: There wasn’t a lot to film so it went well. Since there weren’t any group scenes but many solo shots, there aren’t any episodes in particular to talk about. On the contrary, there are scenes where we’re paired together with different concepts. Scenes with being under the sun, lights going on and off, lying on the floor and such. These parts were changed quite a bit on the day. I think it was interesting to try all these new things. Also, it’d always been me who destroyed the car (laughs), but this time the extra did it so it was very refreshing. YJ: It was a cool BMW. JU: It was completed whilst we were still rehearsing the dance, so it helped us with the stage practise as well and was fun. 

Q. The coupling songs “BE HAPPY” and “I GUESS I NEED U” are also in Japanese; was recording in Japanese difficult? DH: We’ve released quite a few Japanese albums. So we don’t feel burdened at all when we’re recording in Japanese, but difficult-to-pronounce words are still difficult. ZL: It seems like it’s difficult to write it into Japanese if I make the raps too tight. So there are times where they cut and fix it before I record again. It was like that again this time. It was very tight again, so they cut the unneeded parts and changed it; it was a little tough. 

Q. I heard that you’ll be newly challenging a “flying kiss event” for the release events to be held in Tokyo, Kobe and Fukuoka, please tell us how you feel.  YJ: I felt that they would like this when I saw them[the fans] being very happy when we did this sort of fanservice at concerts and such. I didn’t know that this would turn into an event (laughs).  DH: Japanese fans like these sort of detailed things. 

Q. Isn’t it different doing it in front of everyone and to doing it 1 on 1? YJ: I’m very troubled.

Q. In a sense, isn’t it a challenge for the members? DH: It’s our first try.

Q. What determination do you have prepared? DH: I don’t have confidence (bitter laugh) YJ: I think I should be thankful that many of them will come. HC: I’m thinking about what we should do next time.

Q. Is there something you want to do for next time? DH: An event that we can do together where there’s a sense of closeness...  YJ: Like toasting, with water (laughs) 

Q. If there are 1000 people then you’d have to drink 1000 cups. DH: We’d have to drink 10,000 cups.

Q. Do you have any methods to release stress, or things that you think that “if I have this, then I can work hard”? DH: I simply, free myself from various thoughts. I definitely won’t think about other things. Today too, whilst going through our schedules, I thought “let’s delete all these thoughts from my mind. I will do my very best”.  YJ: Lately, I’ve been enjoying lying down on my bed. In the past, even if I worked daily for a week, two weeks, or even a month, I would recover if I rested for a day. I’d sleep for 10 hours and my body would recover and my energy would come back to me so I’d go out, but lately that’s not the case (laughs). So I’ve been starting to take vitamins and such. HC: That’s how me and Yongguk feel when we’re on stage. Previously, we’d recover in the moments between each song, but lately our recovery is slow (laughs).  ALL: Isn’t that just you Himchan hyung? HC: Didn’t I tell you before. I’m sure we talked about this together before *A panicked Himchan*

Q. Please teach us your favourite mottos or phrases that you cherish. YJ: Lately, around 2 years ago, I’ve started thinking “youth isn’t eternal so do everything at your best whilst you can”. That has helped me a lot. DH: Me too, I’d thought from the past that doing my best at anything is the best. But different to this, I’ve thought more about “having perseverance”. I have a very impatient personality, and really don’t want to do things that I dislike, so I always think to “have perseverance”. I’m learning. “Have perseverance”.  ZL: For me, it’s “doing my best”.  JU: For me, it’s “don’t worry, because I’m the coolest”. ALL: Jongup is very full of confidence (laughs). 

Q. Do you not have a favourite motto Bang Yongguk? YG: I thought about it a lot in the past, but not much in particular lately. That’s the easiest. (laughs)

Q. Finally, a message please to the Japanese fans who await your visit to Japan.  YJ: We don’t get to meet the fan in Japan often so I want to see you soon. We’ll bring a new single to you this time, so I’d be happy if many of you come to see us. We’ll do our best for you even when we’re in Japan so please enjoy yourselves too when you come see us.  ZL: I think it’ll be the first time you see these activities, but I want to give you many dreams. I’ll do my best. I love you! HC: It’s been a while since going to Japan. It’s a shame that we can’t go often, but we’ll come and repay you with good songs and events. (in Japanese) I love you!

For the second time in 4 months, it was an interview that was completed peacefully from start to end. I felt that the members themselves were the happiest about promoting as 6. The members exchanged jokes whilst answering the questions in a joyous atmosphere. I was able to feel the trust and friendship between them from their small talk. 

From 4/5, B.A.P will tour America’s Atlanta and LA, France’s Paris, Germany’s Frankfurt, Portugal’s Warsaw, Hungary’s Budapest, Russia’s Moscow amongst others before promoting in Japan. Their new single “WAKE ME UP” is receiving attention for both its title and coupling songs, and the fact that the CD cover, for the first time will not be of their mascot figure “MATOKI”, but of B.A.P members themselves, is gaining press. 

Fans of course are looking forward to their visit, but even non-fans should be awaiting it. 

Source: Korepo Translation: cassie_babyz

Please take out with full credits

[ahnsael]

@inseamslemurs replied to your post: Just hit 24 hours awake. I haven’t done that in...

I remember when you were up all the time. at least this is infrequent now

True, it used to be a regular occurrence for me to but awake for up to two days in a stretch. Fortunately, with the job I got last summer still going strong, it’s a MUCH less frequent thing now.

I sometimes stay up too late -- maybe getting 4-6 hours of sleep before work -- but even when I hit my weekend, I’m so mentally exhausted that I just want nothing more than sleep (and during my work week, there’s that whole “responsibility” thing that sends me to bed, which I didn’t have during those years of unemployment) -- other than Monday mornings, my job isn’t physically demanding (managing a casino is more mental than physical), though Mondays involve pushing heavy carts quickly to keep with the drop schedule. But we’ve got a lot of work drama and other problem-solving that really takes it out of me, mentally speaking.

But I definitely still enjoy the job. In just over two weeks I’ll hit nine months doing what I do, and while it was all very new to me when I started (never having worked at a casino before, being hired to manage a casino meant I had a LOT to learn -- I still do have a lot more to learn), I’m at the point where I feel comfortable and confident in the things I do. I still definitely make mistakes, but I learn from them and add the “right” way to handle these random situations to my mental file of “this is how to do my job.”

I used to dread jackpots because of all the paperwork involved. Now I can’t WAIT for people to hit them, now that the paperwork involved is something I’m, (mostly) used to (I just have to look up which paperwork goes where...but where my first jackpot took me over a half an hour to process and pay, now I can have the player paid in ten minutes or less -- and I don’t think it would be possible to do it in under five, even if I still didn’t have to look up certain details). The rest of the paperwork? Easy as pie, now that I audit daily paperwork and fix it for our employees who just aren’t picking it up. I mean, it took me a few weeks of repetition...but some of them have been there for a couple months and still aren’t getting it.

Now I’m lobbying the boss to let ME (as well as my fellow graveyard shift manager) train the new people for two weeks. Because for one thing, we’re slower than the day and swing shifts, so we have more time (even with all the extra regulatory paperwork that comes with being on graveyard). We can have them count out of a drawer over and over again until they get it. We could show them how their paperwork is processed by us on our shift (we audit all the paperwork for the day), and why it’s important to put certain things in certain places and in certain orders.

Plus, I get the mental challenges of troubleshooting. Broken lock on a slot machine? Sure, I could just write it up for a slot tech to deal with, or I can figure out how to put the lock back together (seriously, in another month or so I’ll be halfway to being qualified to being a locksmith at this rate). Guest who is bothering other guests? That’s me making the call to toss them from the casino (or not toss them, depending on circumstances -- in 8½ months I’ve tossed three, but two of them were this week -- the other was a few weeks ago, and because another manager ordered it and I was the lucky person who was there when it needed to be done). Drop night and we’ve got people who look like they’re casing us for a robbery? Potential drug dealers? People trying to cash out other peoples’ money from machines? That’s when I need to decide whether I can handle the situation myself, or if I need to call the county sheriffs (who I surprisingly seem to get along with here -- the first time in my life I’ve gotten along with cops).

So yeah...especially on my first day off, I’m usually out quickly and for quite a while. But with some extra-special drama at work this week, my mind is still racing. Hopefully I won’t be up TOO much longer, though.

[ameliaswords]

26/366: Time

Time is a currency. You can buy love, sympathy, sleep, angry, lazy, everything about life experience. Thank God! All of us having the same 24 hours a day.

Poor! We are just able to buy nowadays’ life experience and/or to invest for the future. How about the past? The worst thing about time is it’s never able to come back to the past, even in its smallest scale namely second.

I have ever wondered to buy time to go back to the era when the first human creatures came to earth. One day, I just wanted to visit the 5-year-old me and saying to her that the future will be fine. I wondered to be able to change the choices of my past so that I make sure there will be no regret in my old time. But, it will never happen! Worst, isn't it?

I don’t think so.

Have you ever imagine that what will happen if time giving an undo/redo option? Most people will live for their past. People will busy to plan, but for their past reconstruction. People will not focus on their job schedule, pick up the child to school, cooking for the family, and other daily agendas. Everyone will busy to find their mistake, spending time to go back to the past, and to fix it. When they come back to the nowadays time they will find their self getting older with no/fewer achievements.  Objectively, maybe people will understand better about their self, yet they miss other important things in this life. Those are challenges and dreams!

So, if it will available, still do you want to have going-to-the-past options?

As we believe that the past is all we need to teach us to make a better life. It is our teacher. It lets us know what to do and what not to do. It limits our future options about being kind or rude, being sympathy or antipathy, staying dull or cleverer. That's all that we need, I argue.

On the other hand, we are not able to buy other fate with our time but we can share the life story of each other that “You must not experience directly all things in this life because your time is limited, so you have to learn from other people's experience”. Now, is it make sense why there are no comeback-to-the-past options?

All about the last time, let it be. Just focus for now and future agenda. So, your “now-experience” is all you need to make you very grateful in the future and never thinking about going back to the past.

“For a very fair and valuable gift from God, namely TIME, let’s put no complain, focus on now and future”

[seanmalatesta]

What I’ve Learned on the Runway

5 Ways Lighten Your Air Travel

This article is for people who have spent at least one night sleeping on an airport floor. Perhaps your flight was canceled because of fog and you scrambled to catch the last long shuttle bus home, only to miss that one, too.

If you weren’t allowed through screening because the taxi was late and crawled through traffic; if you were forced to check luggage that the airline then lost and had to buy new clothes for that presentation; if you had to take bizarre connecting flights through airports that forced you to march through TWA’s kabuki security theater a second time; if you did any or some combination of these things, or if it sounds strangely familiar, then this is the article for you.

Learning lessons

This is not simply a compendium of airport-induced woes. A lot of these are on me. I’ve been in the word business for about 20 years now—business that has involved a fair bit of domestic travel. And I’ve made many, many mistakes along the way, including going to the wrong airport. Twice!

It is said that life is a great teacher. She sure is a persistent one. Eventually, I paid attention and learned some important things about modern travel from my travels.

These lessons can be divided into personal hacks which are useful for me—what default seat to try for (aisle, zone 2), what pills to keep close at hand (Advil, Tums), what airports to avoid if at all possible (LAX), etc.—and larger strategies that may be more broadly beneficial for business and other travel.

Here are my five strategies for making your flying much less of a train wreck:

1. Cluster your stuff

One of the big problems with traveling is that you forget things—often important things—on your way out the door. There are all kinds of strategies for dealing with this. The simplest and most effective solution is to cluster all the stuff you are going to take in one place. That way you only have to remember one thing: this here cluster. And then to do the same before your return.

This is also true WHILE you travel, as I was reminded on a recent trip to Nashville and back. I stopped at an airport restaurant, put my backpack and rolling bag in different places, ordered, ate, paid the bill, then left the restaurant with only my backpack! About a football field later, I realized the problem and sprinted for it.

2. Reduce how much stuff you take

How much stuff you have in your home is your business, but in modern air travel, it pays to be a minimalist. If you pack too much stuff, you’ll have to check a bag and usually pay extra for it. Best case scenario: You’ll have to wait around for it at the other end. Worst case scenario: The airline loses it and you have to scramble to replace the stuff you really need for your trip.

It’s hard to overstate the importance of reduction on easing travel woes. On especially full flights these days, even that one roller bag that is optimized for the overhead bin may not end up flying with you. So figure out what you need and pack the minimum.

If it’s not expected, maybe you don’t need to pack that jacket. Maybe you can replace that laptop with a tablet, that tablet with a thumb drive, or that thumb drive with files that have been sent and verified in advance. Maybe for short trips, you can replace two carry-on items with one backpack, that can fit under the seat in a pinch. Or maybe you can go with just the clothes on your back and enjoy all that legroom.

Constantly be asking yourself, “Self, what can I leave out and still set myself up for success at the other end?”

3. Print out your own boarding documents in advance

There is one huge exception to the last lesson. These days it’s all the rage to go paperless. Do not attempt that at an airport.

People constantly try to replace boarding passes and the like with their phones. But phones fail. They glitch, run molasses slow, run out of batteries, reboot at inconvenient times, and even die. This leaves the new paperless traveler embarrassed at best and possibly in a whole world of hurt. Talk about the revenge of analog!

I’ve seen the woes of the paperless man many times at airports. She’s the woman who has to step to the side during screening because her phone is rebooting (as I witnessed recently coming back from Nashville); the guy who confidently swipes his barcode at the gate only to be told that it’s not working and maybe go over there and see an agent; the whole group of people shorting bathroom breaks, recharging their low-on-juice phones to try to avoid this fate.

For far better results, check in a full 24-hours in advance, print up your own boarding passes and put them in the cluster. Then have the same documents sent to your phone, as backups.

4. Value your time when scheduling your trip

My poor bank account will attest that air travel can be expensive, but choosing the wrong flight can cost you even more.

Let’s say you find a deal for a round-trip ticket that costs $100 less than another flight but tacks on an extra 2 hours each way. Should you go for it?

It all depends on how you value your time. The simplest way to approach it is to calculate your hourly wage. Do you make $30 an hour? If that is the case then congratulations, you just shorted yourself $20 and you’ll never get that time back.

It could cost much more than that as well. Imagine that you can save $250 on a flight to pitch a prospective client but that will mean that you will have to shortchange your sleep before an early morning presentation. The contract is worth $50,000 annually.

In that case, it’s probably wiser to pay the money, get there with some margin and go to bed early to fight jetlag. That way you have a better chance at being clear-headed and competitive as you make the pitch.

5. Stay home if you can

This one may sound flip, but no. Business travel is expensive, time-consuming, and sometimes unnecessary.

After all, it’s easier than ever to get face time with, well, FaceTime, Zoom, Skype, and the like. We can collaborate on documents over the cloud and communicate effectively within a dispersed organization using tools like Slack and email and this newfangled technology called the telephone.

Sometimes the things keeping us in the air are simply expectations that can and ought to be challenged, respectfully.

For instance, several months ago, I was supposed to go out to Michael Hyatt & Company headquarters for a week but faced a dilemma: There was also a pressing project that had to be done.

I didn’t see how the two were compatible, so I sent my case up the department’s chain of command: Did they still want me to come out there and try to make it work, somehow, or should I hunker down and fix the problem?

How that was resolved is not especially important to this lesson. The point is that for management to even consider canceling the trip, someone had to challenge those assumptions in that schedule. In this case, it was me. But with a few details juggled, it could just as easily have been any one of the tens of thousands of harried Americans who fly for business every day of the week.

from Michael Hyatt, Your Virtual Mentor https://ift.tt/2KbaJHZ via IFTTT

[kidsviral-blog]

51 Tips To Start Getting In Shape From People Who Have Been There

New Post has been published on https://kidsviral.info/51-tips-to-start-getting-in-shape-from-people-who-have-been-there/

51 Tips To Start Getting In Shape From People Who Have Been There

Realistic advice that works for real people, from real people. No more crash diets and get-ripped-quick schemes.

We recently asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to tell us their best tips for getting in shape. Check out what they shared — inspiring and actionable ways to get in shape and love doing it.

Push your limits.

View this image ›

Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed

1.

Be willing to try any workout class at least once, and recognize that your workout preferences may change with your fitness level. —katier4bba4c003

2.

Always be willing to push your limits. It may be scary — trust me, I know — but it is well worth it. I dreaded trying to run and do other types of workouts, but when I did I loved the results and stuck to it. Heck, it helped me lose 40 pounds so far! —natashac14

3.

I challenged myself, in pouring rain and snow, to run eight kilometers. If I did it, it would prove to me that I can do anything I set my mind to. I did it, and now I love running every day. —alvan

4.

Become comfortable with the feeling of being uncomfortable. You will be hungry, tired, sore, and sweaty. But true change doesn’t come unless you push yourself outside of your comfort zone. If you just accept the temporary discomfort for long-lasting results, it helps you get through. —jackayb

Join a gym or work with a trainer.

View this image ›

Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed

5.

Girls, if you are too intimidated to do heavy compound exercises in the gym because you feel like you have no idea what you’re doing, one option is to make an investment and enroll in CrossFit for a couple of months before returning to a cheaper gym membership. You get one-on-one training from coaches to learn the proper form and technique of weightlifting for a bigger price — but it’s totally worth it! —kyrac480bf58ad

6.

Join a gym. Not just a chain, but a local gym with real people that have group fitness classes. DO those group fitness classes! And whatever you do, don’t stop. Start with one day a week. Then when you’re ready, try two. Then three, and so on. Don’t quit. —gnarwy

7.

Get a trainer. Learn what to do then fire them. —Janet Guerra

8.

Find a gym environment you feel comfortable in and set up a schedule and plan you can stick to. The personal trainers will love to help you achieve the goals that work with your body and fitness level. Trust me, it’s the best decision I’ve ever made in regards to fitness. Also, it’s good to get your fitness level evaluated so you know your current limits. —brittanyr4de56b426

Eat more mindfully.

View this image ›

Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed

9.

Eating clean just means avoiding processed foods. Shop from the outside perimeter of the grocery store. —reneed49e0b5534

10.

Replace unhealthy foods around the house with healthier choices. Normally have a bowl of ice cream after dinner? Have frozen blueberries instead. They’re delicious and much better for you. And have lots of healthy things that you can snack on when you feel the urge to binge. Everyone does it sometimes, but you can reduce the damage by making your snacks things that are good for you. —hazell49da6b9e2

11.

Food Network Magazine‘s weeknight cooking section has an awesome variety of meals with nutritional info. That was a huge help to me on my weight-loss journey. Now I’m down 80 pounds! —katier4bba4c003

12.

Meal prepping has helped me a bunch! I plan out all my breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks for the week, buy everything, cook it all, and pack it all up at the beginning of the week. Then I’m not tempted to just go for easy, not-so-healthy options, and I don’t have to worry about not having anything to eat at all! I also make sure to throw in some indulgences throughout the week, like if I’m absolutely craving some thin mints I only have one or two to satisfy the craving without ruining my week. —Melissa Nicole Kight

13.

Don’t focus on cutting food/calories out of your daily intake, but start to focus on putting good things into your body. I try to follow the 80/20 rule: 80% of the food you eat should benefit your body; “healthy” foods. Twenty percent is the amount of empty food you should have a day. Empty foods are foods that fill you up, but provide no nutritional value to your body whatsoever. —blakes4737c6dfa

Stay hydrated.

View this image ›

Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed

14.

Quit drinking soda, coffee with sweetener, energy drinks, etc. Make water your go-to choice of beverage when you’re out to eat and at home. After I did this for two weeks, I had more energy, slept better, my skin cleared up, and I didn’t feel sluggish in the afternoons. Trust me, this is a small trick that makes a huge difference. —peijaa

15.

I bought a water bottle that has a dial so I can keep track of how many full bottles I drink per day. I keep it with me at all times and try to drink five bottles a day. —Elena Michele

16.

My biggest saving grace has been to drink at least a gallon of water every day. Not only does my skin and effortless sleep schedule thank me, but doing this helps me to feel less bloated and recover from binge-eating episodes — which happen more frequently than I’d like to admit. Everyone always says to stay hydrated, but few actually do it! —Helen Bierko

Find fitness activities that you love.

View this image ›

Jenny Chang

17.

Always change it up. If you are getting bored with your exercise routine then find a new exercise that you enjoy doing and alternate. Getting sick of that same old salad for lunch? Find a new, healthy recipe that you will look forward to eating, and then when you are bored of eating that, find another! If you’re always keep changing it up to keep yourself interested then getting in shape won’t feel like a constant uphill battle and it just becomes habit. —Rebecca Betts

18.

I am one of those people who can’t be bothered to work out unless I am enjoying the activity. Running? Haha, no. My advice is to find an activity or sport that you ACTUALLY enjoy for reasons other than fitness. I found boxing. I love it, so I am thrilled to go EVERY DAY and fitness is just a happy by-product of my fun. There are tons of classes and team sports out there. Find something you love. —Alyssa Kate Pierce

19.

Do something that you enjoy doing. I have been wanting to try freeletics but I don’t enjoy high-intensity workouts so I compromise the intensity. I still do my burpees, squats, and sit-ups followed by 20 minutes of biking. I love biking. Don’t force yourself into doing something intense (if you are not into it), instead listen to your body and challenge yourself to do something that you love, every day. —citraischu

20.

I refuse to eat anything that isn’t delicious (it better be worth the calories) and I refuse to do exercise I hate (no running). I walk a lot and dance some, too. —francesjoys

21.

Do something fun and call it a workout. I go rock climbing all the time, sometimes I’ll go on a short hike, or ride a bike. The trick is to increase the actual workout you do incrementally. Maybe do a harder route, or do it faster. —jays4ed036bcf

Stick to it and make it a lifestyle.

View this image ›

Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed

22.

Realize that what you see in the magazines, if it’s real, is the result of long, hard hours at the gym and absolutely no cheating on an incredibly specific diet. Not to mention weeks on weeks of training. Balance your daily food intake, eat clean (unprocessed) foods, and exercise to the point of feeling uncomfortable four to six times per week. The rest will happen on its own. Dedication and moderation. —briannel46a86785b

23.

Stick to it. No matter what. Getting into a daily routine can drastically change your mood, attitude, and, of course, your health. —sleepl3ss

24.

Make one small change at a time. For example, if you are a very sedentary person, suddenly going to the gym and working out seven times a week is tough to motivate yourself into doing. Start by adding an after-lunch walk to your routine, or cut out the sugar in your coffee and build from there. Smaller changes are easier to incorporate in your lifestyle and you won’t lose the motivation. —thatlittlelightbulb

25.

From someone who’s lost a significant amount of weight: There is no magic pill, diet, exercise, tips, or tricks that will make you lose weight. YOU are the only thing in your way. It is not in any way fun, hassle-free, and definitely not easy. It’s a full-time commitment, a complete lifestyle and mind change. But after all the struggle and time, it does get easier. And the way you feel about yourself makes up for everything. No one ever promised it’d be easy — they promised it’d be worth it. —Caitlin Barlow

26.

Don’t set your expectations too high — you’re not miraculously going to get those abs or better muscle definition in a few days or even weeks; you need to work for it. —ravenbard

27.

Becoming healthy and fit isn’t something that happens overnight or from a gimmicky, fad six-week diet. It is a journey and a lifestyle you fall in love with when you find your “soulmate” workout and feel amazing from eating REAL food. Four years ago, I ate nothing but takeout, didn’t know a thing about nutrition, couldn’t cook, and never worked out in my life. I was miserable and obese as a result. I decided one day to start educating myself and making small changes (which snowballed) every day. Since, I’ve lost 80 pounds, and live for fitness and nutrition. I LOOK FORWARD to my workouts and CRAVE whole foods. It’s all about COMMITTING to yourself, making small changes every day, not being afraid to try new things, surrounding yourself with like-minded people, finding workouts you ENJOY that are sustainable for YOU, and THEN your new lifestyle will fall into place. There really isn’t a quick fix or easy way out. Make the decision, commit to it, and you will succeed. —ashleighj474ebc193

Consider strength training.

View this image ›

Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed

28.

Short, intense bouts of weightlifting, every second day. Basically, a less intense version of the “Body for Life” workout technique. I am, however, incredibly good at putting on muscle so results may vary. MODERATION IN ALL THINGS! That is key. —Nancy Lorenz

29.

No matter if I’m doing aerobic training or strength training, the one exercise I do almost every time I work out is the deadlift. —Samantha Fong

30.

Women: Seriously, start lifting weights. Heavy. Fucking. Weights. No more four-pound dumbbells and machine workouts. Squats, deadlifts, bench press, and all the other fun stuff in between. It is A LOT more fun than cardio, and I promise you that you won’t get bulky. —Butterkitten

31.

Compound movements like squats, deadlifts, cleans, and presses yield the quickest and most effective results. Lift heavy, lift often, and push yourself every time you step into the gym. Every increase in weight is a step forward. Five additional pounds is still five pounds, and an additional five pounds added every week for four weeks is 20 pounds more than week one. —brangieri

Set goals and track your progress.

View this image ›

Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed

32.

Tracking food, exercise, and weight with the LoseIt app was the BEST thing I ever did. It helped me to realize I was eating close to twice the amount of calories I needed. And getting to add my exercises in made me motivated to work out so I could record them. Plus, nothing felt quite as good as watching the chart with my weight go down, down, down. I find I actually enjoy eating healthily and working out. It’s about lifestyle changes, not crash diets. —nicolee407d98e0a

33.

I got an app — Argus — that tracks my steps. It’s free and I get a little rush from hitting my goal daily. I also set up a system to reward myself for every X pounds lost. The rewards are stupid things like markers or socks, but there are also some big items, like a new tattoo once I hit my goal weight. —francesjoys

34.

Write everything down. Record what you do and always try to lift more, run further, run faster next time. I wrote an app to help me do that in the gym. —Things a T-Rex does

35.

Be vocal about your goals — it makes you accountable. If you want to run a half marathon, tell people. They’ll inevitably ask about it and who wants to admit that they gave up? And the support you’ll receive will help push you towards success. —susanrebeccah

36.

Set a concrete goal of something you want to accomplish, not just the vague idea of “getting fit.” Towards the end of college, I wanted to get in shape, so I picked a hiking trail to do with a friend after graduation. Whenever I would struggle with workouts, it was really helpful to think how the work I was doing would help me on the trail. —audreyw4191fb5f5

Treat yourself.

View this image ›

Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed

37.

Good headphones for the gym make a difference for me. —Mashaya Sulser

38.

When you start working out, the music playlist can make all the difference. Sometimes, I’ll be plugging away on the elliptical, watching Scandal on my iPhone, and I feel like the minutes are going by so slow. If I flip on the music instead and some amazing, upbeat, kickass song comes on (or even something terrible that has a great beat), I just feel PUMPED. I have a few different workout playlists for different moods and I’ll tell you, they work great. —Kim Casey

39.

I’m a lazy girl that’s trying to get into fitness. What’s really gotten me into working out are the simple things like getting new, colorful workout gear to get in the mood. It’s like wearing a sexy bra under your clothes at work, but BETTER. —Daksha Córdova

40.

Remember to celebrate every little victory! Did you do five more minutes of running than the day before? Awesome! You took the stairs instead of the elevator? Great! Picked the healthier option even though you really wanted the bad-for-you one? Amazing! Celebrating all those little things really helps to stay motivated and so you aren’t always beating yourself up when you don’t see the immediate results that you wanted. —katceekay

41.

Treat yo’self to some new workout clothes. If you are anything like me, you’ll want to wear them STAT. —allisonelloyd

Fit exercise in.

View this image ›

Jenny Chang // BuzzFeed

42.

If you’re watching TV, do some core work during commercials (sit-ups, planks, Russian twists, etc). It keeps you active on your breaks and off days, and will also keep you from feeling *too* lazy! Small, simple steps along with your workout routine make a big difference! Give it 100%. —Daksha Córdova

43.

Walk everywhere. If you have to drive or take public transit, park far away or get off at the stop before/after your desired one so you can incorporate exercise into your daily routine. Educate yourself, and just try to find a rhythm that works best for you. It is important to understand that what someone else is doing might not work for you, and fad diets aren’t going to work or be healthy to upkeep in the long run. —jbradz

44.

I bought a workout mat and started doing a new YouTube exercise video every day at home. Some are short, doing a different one every day keeps it interesting, and I don’t have to go all the way to a gym. —Elena Michele

45.

Exercise any time you have available. Even if it’s five minutes — set your treadmill (or whatever) and by the time it goes by, you’ll be in the zone, and won’t want to stop. —alex ari

46.

Walk 30 minutes a day. It doesn’t have to be many miles eventually; you’ll work in a faster pace. Maybe plan a goal, like work your way to a mile and then two, whatever you want it to be. Walking will get you there! —Mannybr22

Stay positive and love yourself.

View this image ›

Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed

47.

Love yourself as you are right now — lasting change cannot happen unless you take your blinders off and make peace with where you are right now. You are lovable and deserve love and deserve self-love no matter what. —Amy Abrams

48.

The most important thing in fitness is keeping it positive — don’t start working out because you hate your body, because you’ll never be happy. If you start from “I like my body, but I feel better when I take care of myself,” you’ll feel better about every improvement you see and you won’t be as down on yourself when it takes more than one workout. —Valerie Hemminger

49.

Understand that how you look is secondary to how you feel. Where fat develops on your body is purely genetic, and if it doesn’t develop in a way that shows off your six-pack, you’ll only be able to get one through dangerous, unhealthy means. —Jason Gillis

50.

Never compare! Everyone is at different levels. Find what you love to do — that will make it 10 billion times more enjoyable and easier to stay on track! —amandamarie85

51.

Do it for you. Don’t get in shape only to impress somebody, whether it be that you’re envious of your BFF’s killer legs or a jerkface ex that ruined your self-esteem. Fitness should be an opportunity to appreciate and admire your own beauty without needing reassurance from those who’ve made you feel inferior. Sure, they can be your motivation to inflict insane jealousy, but looking and feeling good should be your own prerogative! Confidence is at the root of all fitness, and that comes from within. —gabriellev450b7c435

Thumbnail from ThinkStock.

Want to be featured in similar BuzzFeed posts? Follow the BuzzFeed Community on Facebook and Twitter!

Read more: http://www.buzzfeed.com/sallytamarkin/get-in-shape-with-tips-from-real-people

[beautifullybrokensblog-blog]

Life Imatating art. Im a warrior. Dont get it wrong i have survived, but im not a survivor IM A WARRIOR!

#evenMorriganwascrushbylove, #homewreckerthisallyou #owie

  Are you proud of Who You Are. Do you like Who You Are. I don’t know how you could! I couldn’t like somebody  who purposely hurts children and ruins their homes. I couldn’t like someone who would knowingly cause pain 4 no reason other then she had a ache in her crotch. Did it make you feel accomplished or strong, 2 get your hands on my husband. Real strength is in doing what’s right. Strong women get their own man,  not act like sneaky whoring holes that cant understand right from wrong. How do you sleep at night I ask because my children can’t they keep having nightmares about a divorce or if I leave.   You took their security way.  Shame on you curse you they dont deserve someone like you taking there home and family from them on a whim, how alful. You put them through this only because you want to see if you could, just some game to you, a challenge but its nothing, you dont even really cared about anyone. you have destroyed seven people my family is shattered your affair with my husband has stripped my home of joy so I asked you are you proud? it doesn’t seem right that you get to smile well my adult children worry about a mother that seems empty anymore they watch me fight for so long just to live now i wish i hadnt.  Why did you walk in and take what little bit of joy and hope and happiness I had. Take the pride of family and make it a joke. You took form him to my husband, he lost the respect, lost the trust of his children wife nieghbors church.  You stole from the children the sleep and carefree youth,   the younger two keep having nightmares since this happened they’re afraid if I leave or we get divorced what will happen to them,they  remember what it was like before me and they know what it’s been like   up until now the short lived happiness of family and wholeness and none of us are sure we can do that anymore and here’s a really screwed-up thing if you cared about him you would have thought about these things you would have thought about the fact that if I don’t pay the rent and I’m not here if I leave my husband he will lose this house because he cannot even afford the rent on his income  muchless add electrinity Child Care  food xcetera.   I on the other hand would be just fine my monthly annuity would go up by $450 my medical would be reinstated at full free and I have family here now. I am heartbroken I truly have lost everything I love my family but you don’t care about that you just wanted to get laid. I want you to fully understand the situation you caused the selfishness of your actions I hope someday that you feel the anguish of having to go on while  simultaneously know that the happiness  the joy and the trust, everything you believed has dissolved just suddenly gone. because some girl walked into your life ripped your family like you did mine. I hope that you have to hit your knees like I do and that you pray you wont wake up the next morning  because these nothing worth the pain you gonna feel.  and I hope you feel the crushing despair of waking up the next morning and knowing you’re still there and the situation still exist and then the other woman still exist but she’s smiling and you’ve got  no smiles only uncertainty there is no choices left really, cant leave without children lossing everything, dont want stay anymore because now there is nothing to stay for. And you cant just get over it and forgive because you nolonger have a heart to forgive with.  I hope you have to come to a decision for sake of the children because without you they won’t have a home they won’t have their care because you’re the only mother they’ve ever had and see it’s a little different than other children because these kids have already gone through being abandoned these kids have already been shipped from foster home to foster home.  and while your head spins and you can’t think straight and all you hear is your own silent screaming inside. you have to paste on a smile and you have to do day-to-day life and you have to see doctors and therapist and help your children and you have to pretend everything’s okay even though you’re dead inside. The love you felt is fire that only burns you tourtures you.  they emptiness were your faith in love and husband were  is now dark cold ugly  impossising and swallows all hope all of  you like black whole devoring your soul .And the pain spreads he looses frieds and his family, then three verry good people who called him dad nolonger can look at him with out shame and anger. we are all stuck in a Time Loop of endless imploding doom what gives you the right to be so flippent with other people lives and well being.  You devastated me in a way ( I have to give you credit because you did to me but cancer couldn’t, being raped couldn’t, losing family couldn’t) your actions brought me to my knees your actions have taken form my kids their sense of values our sense of family their belief in wedding vows loyalty and honesty. you ruined the respect for their father and you’ve left them wondering if relationships never work. If anybody is ever faithful because I mean Dad couldn’t do it,  oh but I did and there witnessed to what i got for it.   All I can do is think about the whole situation over and over and there is no going backwards no matter what I do there’s no fixing it it’s just too smashed up. One of the things I thought of since my husband wasn’t exactly faithful honest or trustworthy wasn’t exactly respectful of our marriage. Maybe he wasn’t completely honest with you either about me. So I introduce myself I am the woman the wife the mother you so casually took all hope from. the ones whose foundest memories are now only painful I am his wife we have been for 8 years you probably don’t know. But when I met him he had nowhere to live is children were in foster care and about to be adopted out his oldest son had already been adopted . He was struggling to get sober, he had court issues and fines and a record. but I fell in love so I gave him a place to live with me and my children in my home and I filed all the paperwork with the courts to get his kids back I took him to all of his DUI classes & parenting classes, anger management things that he had to do for the courts. I took him for his drug testing I got him his Sr 29 I paid for his alcohol classes and I made sure that he was able to go through with every hoop CPS through at him. and then together we went back to court with CPS and we got custody now something you should know is his little daughter Mia and Andrew had been in the foster care system being bounced around for almost 1&½ yrs at that point they were only 33mo and six when I brought them home.  It was hard those first 6 years I was the sole provider. So he could do all the things that the courts and CPS wanted him to do. Then there was his criminal history he was unable to get a job so I got all the paperwork and I wrote his dissertation for his judge and I got a lawyer to stand in court with him so he had an opportunity actually talk to the judge and I expunged his record. now he has been working for just over a year. And this last month March was the first month in 8 years that my husband’s pay any rent we split it.  he has contributed to electric bill twice in 8 years. so you see I keep the roof over our heads and his children I keep the power on I get them to school I take them to doctors to therapy I do the all the homework I clean the whole house, he doesn’t do housework at least never has I do the laundry I watch the children this is my day. I get up at 5:30 I have half hour to make coffee take a shower and come to life before I wake up the kids they get on a school bus at 6:30 then I clean the house I start whatever laundry check to see what bills need to be paid or what appointments need to be kept and then my husband rolls out of bed at 10 I drop him off at work we leave here at 11:30 I get back home at 12:30 I now have two hours to clean other people’s toilets to subsidize our income so I can put food on the table because at 2:30 somebody has to be here to get Andrew off the bus because if you don’t know Andrew is physically and mentally disabled and he requires 24/7 care it does not go to regular school he’s in a day program Mia gets home at 4:30 usually I’ve gotten Andrews homework done by then I know it’s time to Mia. Next I have to make dinner so it can be served at 6:30 cuz one of the things with Andrew is autism and he has to have a schedule thats consistent or it throws him into episode he also has ADHD and oppositional Defiance disorder which means that any day the school can call me to come pick him up because he’s not getting along. if im not here what happens to them.  I can make it with out him I do have my annuity from the cancer.  A long fought lawsuit after years ago the government put a magnesium plant at the bottom of the hill we lived on. my mother, father, three Sisters two brothers and my grandmother have all died from cancer I am sole Survivor after 12 surgerys so I get paid every month a breakup of award from the lawsuit that’s what Shawn lives off my misfortunes. I have to stay up and get him after work, and am expected to have time together while he unwinds after work im lucky if i get more than 4 hrs a sleep a day. I havent had a day with out his kids in yrs.  I was home with his kids, paying his way, loosing my medical care while him and his kid get free medical through state, because the kids are not my bio.  so i nolonger have depents and his income is held against me but i get no bennifits or bills paid from him no it gose to his games and nights out with friends, and fucking around with you. You two get drunk and go dancing at the bar, and full around in front of all my nieghbors.  He gets pulled over and gose to jail for dui and i get all your fucked off inappropriate sex text to him.  So for all my doing “the right thing” for being his rock and wife in every sense possible.  Along comes you and 1000’s of dollars in fines and court fees and impound fees. As it is he only sees his kids while they are awke for 8 hrs wk after school on Thursday and Friday. The rest of the time hes asleep when there leaving for school and they’re already asleep when he gets home.  But you two can go out on the town?  I have only been out with my husband with out his kids 3 x in 6 yrs.  How dare you how dare both of you.  That is some shady shit, you two did to this family so dirty AND YOU HAD NO RIGHT OR REASON TOO. If there is any justice in this world i hope it finds you. I hope you get a taste of my life. I hope you get cancer, i hope you get so sick and your teath fall out from it the chemo and the puking. I home the treatment robes your bones of strenght and you get degenerate disc disease and loose use of different extremities all the time with no warning,. and you get to feel the pain of neuropathy from having a stroke. Be cause your so physically over extended and exhausted from doing it all for your family.  And I hope you fall madley deeply in love with some that you would do everything for them and you get to be a mom but to kid that are his not yours and then i hope someone like you comes along and and suduces your husband and it ruins everything and you have to hold those kids why they cry and beg you make it work cause there scared to death of the life had before you, and everyone including that other woman knows, if you go thats exactly were they will be.  So you really cant do any thing but struggle to breath and cry and hurt in ways no one ever should.  And i want you know i mean really understand what a selfish awful person you are. i want you to beg for death like i do because of you.  The only difference between us then will be you will have deserved it.

Amy cannday and your little check out friend now the world knows what you are

[thebigcitynightsband]

no news

Hello and Greetings.

Nothing has changed. Everything has changed. It is the best of times, it is the worst of times. There is a rich white guy running the country below us, there is a rich guy running the country we live in. The Toronto Maple Leafs are struggling to clinch a playoff spot, while the Blue Jays are playing in the Grapefruit League, getting ready for their season down in Florida. Okay, so maybe some things have changed.

We are sitting on anywhere from 25-50 songs, some of them already recorded except for vocals, as with Better Days Are A Toenail Away and Heck ‘Em All. There are others that haven’t been recorded or even fleshed out. I wrote a new song last night that sounds like a mix between “Guy I Know” and Led Zeppelin’s “No Quarter.” I demoed it so I wouldn’t forget it.

What Are We Doing?

Nothing. Nothing at all. I haven’t seen James since last May and I haven’t seen Ryan since November, when he dropped off my mixer downtown Brampton while I was visiting a friend.

I have no idea how to fix this situation at the moment. I work most Fridays and Saturdays. I have at least two Sundays off a week, but I can’t always get to Brampton and the guys don’t always want to come down here to jam at the Rehearsal Factory.

I have been enrolled in a drug rehabilitation program for the past long while, a program that involves group meetings and individual counselling with an addictions counsellor. The type of treatment involved would likely cost its participants thousands of dollars per year, given the expertise and intensity of the doctors involved, but for me and for others, it costs considerably less than that, about a hundred dollars a month. That’s the financial cost. The social cost is a bit heavier: I have to submit a urine test every single day.

What this means is I have to be at Bloor and Lansdowne once a day, every day, to submit a sample or I will be kicked out of the program. There are no second chances, there are no doctor’s notes for illness. You simply cannot miss a single day. Period. The fact that I have been doing this for months now should demonstrate my devotion to the program and how seriously I’m taking it, but just in case it doesn’t, I’ll say it here: I am taking this program very very seriously. It has given me back my life.  On weekdays this requirement isn’t too onerous, seeing as the clinic is open from 8am to 5pm. Since I work in the service industry and my work day usually begins between 2 and 4 pm, it’s not too difficult for me to get up a half hour earlier than I normally would and head over to pee in a cup. It’s a small price to pay for a program that has helped me so much. On weekends, though, it’s a lot harder, because the window of time I have to be at the clinic is seriously shortened. On Saturdays I have a four hour window, from 8am-noon. Not bad. On Sundays, I have a 90-minute window. If I am not there between 10am and 11:30am, I lose my spot in the program. Which I don’t want to do given that this program has essentially given me my fucking life back. I cannot understate the extent to which this program has helped me. It literally saves peoples lives.

But if I were to go to Brampton on a Saturday evening to play music, and then stay over there, I would be completely dependent on transit to get me back to Toronto before the clinic closes at 11:30am. This would likely entail getting up at 8am in Brampton, since transit takes so goddamnn long and I’d be taking three different types: Brampton Transit, GO Transit, and TTC. Things can get a little shifty there.

Best case scenario would be to go to Brampton on a Sunday morning after hitting the clinic, since I could crash there and then take my time getting back to Toronto the next day, since the clinic doesn’t close on Mondays until 5pm. But both James and Ryan work on Mondays, and Ryan has family obligations, and James usually doesn’t like to do stuff on Sunday afternoons cuz he has to get up so early the next day, so I’m not sure we’d be able to get too much done on a Sunday afternoon, especially since the earliest I could be in Brampton is around 12:30 or 1pm, depending on when the GO bus leaves Union station.

So it would make the most logistical sense for me to go to Brampton on a Sunday when both Ryan and James have a Monday off, like on May 24 weekend, unless Ryan’s going camping that weekend, which he usually does, so…

I dunno. Hopefully I can get a Saturday off soon and we can jam at Bathurst and Richmond for a few hours and work on some new material. We’ll worry about recording whenever the hell I can get to Brampton, which depends on my work schedule.

What Am I Doing?

I’ve been working a shitload of hours lately as a server/bartender for an events company, meaning I work a lot of weddings and corporate gatherings. With wedding season just around the corner and my home venue opening the outdoor terrace midway through April, I’ll be working even more soon; six days a week from mid-April to mid-December, without a break. Finding a way to shoehorn some recording into my schedule during that time will be a challenge, but I’ll try my best. I will.

A few days before last Christmas I joined my friends Mark Hornich and Michael Schooley in Hamilton to play some music. I’d been hanging out with Mark every other week or so last summer, writing songs on acoustic guitars, for a project that we’ve been trying to put together since at least 2011.

Since that first jam in Hamilton, me, Mark and Michael have met up every other week, sometimes once a month but usually more often, at various spaces across the city, sometimes Paul’s Boutique, sometimes the Richmond-Bathurst rehearsal spaces, to play our songs, of which we now have six, complete with vocal melodies and lyrics and everything.

We’ve challenged ourselves to be show-ready by May, and we’ve hit our target early. As far as I’m concerned we could play a show next weekend without making fools of ourselves, though another two jams wouldn’t hurt either. Mark played in one of my favourite local bands of all-time, Crop Failure, and Michael played in an excellent instrumental band from Kitchener-Waterloo called New Wings, that my old band Sleep for the Nightlife played with once in Waterloo in a café next door to a movie theatre downtown. I actually taped some of that set and uploaded it to YouTube a few years ago, and I’ve played a lot of shows with Crop Failure with old bands like GIANTS and Sleep for the Nightlife, and The Big City Nights Band have played with C.F. a couple times too, so there’s a lot of overlap here in terms of the scene and shows played together. We all come from the same scene, and we’re all old enough to know that we don’t need to try to conquer the world or “make it big” or anything like that. We’ll be content with playing a few decent shows here and there, and making a good EP or LP that might catch a few people’s ears. That’s about the extent of our ambitions right now. The tentative band name for this project right now is Traffic Yeller, though none of us are sure if the name is permanent. While is does connote a certain energy and anger, none of us are totally sure if it describes us properly. So we’ll see. Either way, we’ll continue to make music together this year and will hopefully play a show sometime soon. If we get one booked, I’ll letcha all know.

In the meantime, I’m obviously going to try to finish some Big City Nights recordings this year and put out some records. As I’ve said before, we have enough material to release at least two albums, maybe even three or four. No, we don’t see each other as much as we used to, and we don’t play anywhere near as many shows as we used to, but we’ll try our best to match the output we somehow tallied in both 2010 and 2012, years that saw us release four full-length recordings, all of which I still stand behind, from records I did mostly myself like Gimme Gardens and Dancing Days, to albums we all contributed equally to like Yawns Beyond, Oscillation Drills, Popular Favourites, Might Minutes, and Under the Overpass.

I’d like to document the recording of our upcoming records, if possible, as it’s always fun to go back and watch videos like the making of Oscillation Drills or Yawns Beyond or West Bestern. So I’ll try to make sure someone has their camera phone running at all times whenever we get together next. And it’s also about time we update our default photo on the bandcamp, which was taken by Jessica Fisher in summer 2010. So I’ll try to organize a photo shoot asap, but it’s not at the forefront of my worries. The music comes first, naturally. So if a new photo should appear, rest assured that we’ve taken care of the audio aspect and have some new recordings on the way.

No shows booked at the moment but we’ll be trying to get something going soon, some shows with the Flying Museum Band to celebrate the tenth anniversaries of our respective first albums. Our tenth anniversary is actually around this time…as I recall the album coming out in either March or April 2007 and playing our goodbye show @ All Stars in Bramalea that May. So I’ll have to go back and get some exact dates. Born to Bar Band is a solid effort, even though it’s a little difficult for me to listen to now, since my vocals were so rough on that record. Our live staple, “Catch You,” for example, has been played at almost every show we’ve ever done, so that when I hear the version on B2BB I barely recognize it.

No shows, no new music. Overall, taking the last ten years into account, this is uncharacteristic of the Big City Nights Band. But I know all too well that, in the  past few years, this has become the norm. Not a whole lot of shakin’ goin’ on. I’m working hard on my problems and have been staying on top of things in the past long while So it’s about time I focused some energy on this long-neglected band, my favourite band that I’ve ever played in. I’m tired of old memories, I want to make some new ones.

And when we do finally get around to making those new ones, you’ll be the first to know.

That’s the news, or lack thereof, lose yer blues.

[stellacarrierimaginationbuilders]

Take Me On The Floor Freestyle Story by Stella Carrier

Disclaimer; I must once again emphasize that my writing of the freestyle stories and the articles I share are done with competition free intent. Rather, these activities are done to help provide a safe and creative outlet for my spirit and to help me be the most creative and imagination person I am more than capable of being. Additionally, what I write in my stories is independent from the fact that I feel blessed with my current job and my husband who stands by me through both challenging and good times. I understand that I already stated these things yesterday in longer detail, yet something in me influenced me to emphasize it at least one more time. I am truthfully unsure if he sees my googleplus, but mu intuition is guiding me to also credit one of my encouraging/supportive online friends (Holger Hildebrand) for giving me the idea to post one of the Daily Meal articles and two of the weight loss stories I found this week into today’s freestyle story.

Affirmations;

I successfully tie up loose ends and get closer than ever to an important goal.

I have powerful resources in my arsenal to transform some of what is impossible to possible.

I reach a major milestone and make the right choices.

I get immersed in endeavors that help me grow both mentally and strengthen me physically. I am in the process of rising to the top in all areas of my life.

https://www.orindaben.com/pages/rooms/affirmations_room/

The Divine Plan of my life is unfolding perfectly.

I am a lucid dreamer.

My third eye is opening.

I am open to receive all the gifts the universe has to give me.

I believe in myself and my path.

I am magnetic to my higher good and it is magnetic to me.

I love and appreciate people for who they are. I have positive thoughts of others.

My future holds joy and promise.

Songs I Used in Today’s Story

Take Me On The Floor by the Veronicas

State of My Head by Shinedown

Wicked Game by Chris Isaak

Stranger in a Strange Land by Thirty Seconds to Mars

Available on youtube, and fortunately I have this song from one of the cds I am fortunate to have titled Trance Voices-The New Chapter Vol. 1 (that I admit to have purchased from Amazon Germany on March 14, 2011)

Close Your Eyes by Novaspace

From an Amazon.com playlist I created especially because iheartradio does not always play these songs even with the iheart all access subscription I have with them (one of the reasons why I intend to keep my amazon music subscription as well), anyhow,the title of this Amazon playlist I must keep secret for now

Wildest Dreams by Taylor Swift

Ecstasy by ATB

Fix Me by Velvet

Style by Taylor Swift

My Passion by Kris McTwain

Medicine by Kim Leoni

Holy Virgin by Groove Coverage

 Take Me On The Floor Freestyle Story by Stella Carrier

Inspired by the song Take Me On The Floor by The Veronicas

                Martin Foster is a researcher at a weight loss company in Switzerland that specializes in weight loss for people who are looking to lose at least 30 pounds or more. Martin Foster’s company caters both to people who have been overweight all their life and people who were naturally skinny the first 20-30 years of their life and then gained weight and now want to regain their trimmer body despite the odds that they know they must overcome not so much for their skeptics but more for themselves.  Anyhow, one of Martin Foster’s latest clients is named Roxanne Johnston.

              Roxanne Johnston is 24 years old and is a lookalike of the female singer in the online video of Close Your Eyes by Novaspace. Roxanne Johnston lives in Zurich Switzerland and has fortunately a close relationship with both of her parents who are just 16 years older than her. Roxanne’s parents Catherine and Roland fortunately have overcome the odds stacked against them for marrying so young at just the age of 16 for her mom and 17 for her dad (a month before Roxanne was born)and with minimal support from their families. For years, both Roxanne’s parents worked as school meal supervisors and have fortunately been promoted through various grade and middle schools in Switzerland. Roxanne’s mother looks and dresses like Taylor Swift did for her music videos Style and Wildest Dreams. Meanwhile, Roxanne’s father looks like Jared Ledo from Thirty Seconds to Mars and he was even inspired to become a songwriter after hearing the Stranger in a Strange Land song by Thirty Seconds to Mars.

              Roxanne also feels compelled to lose the weight because she works around very attractive and self-confident coworkers who made her realize that she needs to try harder to get skinnier even 6 months after followed her parents to their new business (more on that later in the story). Anyhow, Roxanne fortunately is able to keep in touch with three of the coworkers. One coworker resembles the lead singer of Velvet who sang the Fix Me song, another coworker who is now a publicist for musicians looks like Kim Leoni who sang the Medicine song. The third coworker of Roxanne is a mother who has had four children but you definitely would not know it unless she told you because she resembles one of the women who seduced a rich playboy in the song Holy Virgin by Groove Coverage.

              Roxanne decides to get some sleep for the next day before her scheduled appointment with Martin Foster (who resembles the lead singer Brent Smith of Shinedown in the video for State of My Head). Roxanne has an interesting dream where she meets Madonna for a fan after concert party and gets to even meet all of her children including her newly adopted twin daughters Esther and Stella. For whatever reason, she also dreams that she goes to her bank and discovers that a long lost relative gifts her with a writing workshop in Nashville, a temporary makeup academy, and is gifted with a trip to Napa Valley in scenes that looked similar to a Robb Report magazine she was looking at while waiting for her groceries to be scanned at one of the grocery stores near where she lived.

              What Roxanne sees next gets crazier and makes her cheeks blush red upon awakening. Roxanne falls through some type of rainbow on a mountain seeing her astral double in some type of adults only club that would make even some viewers of the popular Fifty Shades of Grey series blush (things couples only do in privacy behind closed doors that are best left off this post). Roxanne blushes even further when some man who she has not yet met in her earth life tries to reach out to her as she lands on the ground at the end of the rainbow as he smiles and says you are going to see me again in the future. However, even after waking up five minutes later, Roxanne intuitively understands that she must keep the physical description of the man a secret from even the most well-meaning and kindest psychic who would ask her even with the fact that she has not yet met this person.

              After Roxanne wakes up, she realizes that she has an appointment to see Martin Foster in just 6 hours but she is scheduled to help her parents set up their Sandwich business that is just a five minute walk from the house that she lives in right next door to them (their money investments as school meal supervisors paid off to where they were able to gift her with a paid off house at the age of 23). Roxanne’s mom Catherine has been scouring various articles online for help in ensuring that the new sandwich business is a success (which it has been so far for the 6 months it has stayed open). Additionally, both Catherine and Roland (Roxanne’s parents) decide to take ideas for their sandwich business from the Good To Go sandwich place of Zurich Switzerland and from a U.S. based article via msn-The Best Sandwich of Every State. Both Catherine and Roland even have life coaches who are also psychics who have passed along some articles that have helped in their sandwich business idea while keeping their school meal supervisor jobs regarding financial habits of successful entrepreneurs from Entrepreneur magazine and an article about whether or not to work with coworkers in an Inc. article.

              An hour later, Roxanne has helped her parents Catherine and Roland with the sandwich making of their new business and is excused to go speak to a psychic named Erin Webb who is a recent transplant to Switzerland from the Washington D.C. area. During the phone session, Erin Webb helps Roxanne understand that her dreams are showing her some potential on what can take place if the does at least two goals that she has been waiting too long to do due to waiting for more ideal circumstances. Of course, Erin Webb gives the 24 year old Roxanne much more information that she has to avoid disclosing outside of her reading.  

              Roxanne realizes that she has been putting off writing her book until more ideal circumstances and a trip to the Monroe Institute in Virginia that she has been wanting to do for at least two and a half years but something always came up that allowed her to make excuses on putting off just these two goals alone not to mention other secret dreams. Towards the end of the session Erin Webb emails Roxanne some articles for weight loss encouragement such as the stories of two women who were able to transform their bodies with just walking and a more careful diet.

              Before meeting up with Martin Foster, Roxanne gets to work on at least five pages of her novels using some online article ideas that Webb gave her. Roxanne looks at two different articles from Entrepreneur magazine that give her ideas on coming up with more ideas for her book. Roxanne also looks at an msn article on airport lounges on different ideas to look into for the type of airports to zoom up on when she visits the U.S. Last, but not least, Roxanne looks at a Business Insider article on the best places in the U.S. to live not to relocate from Switzerland (especially from her fantastic parents), only to maybe look at ideas for where to visit in the United States for the summertime either before or after she visits the Monroe Institute.

              Roxanne goes later to see Martin Foster who is able to personalize a meal and supplement plan to help Roxanne reach her weight loss goals in a timely manner. Foster also gave Roxanne an article to give to her parents, which was a Daily Meal article of the Most Powerful People in Food (both for Roxanne for her story ideas and for her parents for business ideas as Foster is also friend of the family). To be on the safe side, Roxanne aimed to achieve her weight loss goals in the span of 9 months. However, Roxanne was fortunately surprised when she was able to achieve fit into her size 2 clothes less than four months after she committed to a meal and supplement plan. Additionally, she was able to get her book completed and published nine months later and she was pleasantly surprised how quickly it was selling on Amazon.com even with the fact that it was not published under her real name but a pen name to disguise her identity Last but not least, Roxanne was able to visit the Monroe institute 10 months after she made a decision on when she was going to aim to do it regardless of at first getting through the initial how. Roxanne was even able to take her parents Roland and Catherine along with her because of the large financial windfall that came after her book was successfully published.

Inspired by the song Take Me On The Floor by The Veronicas

 Resources Used for the Story

http://www.msn.com/en-us/foodanddrink/restaurantsandnews/the-best-sandwich-from-every-state/ss-AAjSgRW?ocid=sl

The best sandwich from every state

 http://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/the-airport-lounge-scene-what-you-get-and-how-to-get-in/ar-AAmEJv3

The Airport Lounge Scene: What You Get and How to Get In   I admit this story catches my attention because I am a Madonna fan and I am American born but I grew up in a trans-racial adopted family (my late adoptive mother was Caucasian with French and Cherokee Indian ancestry).

 http://people.com/babies/madonna-adopts-orphaned-twin-sisters-from-malawi/

Madonna Adopts Orphaned 4-Year-Old Twin Sisters from Malawi

As mentioned yesterday in a msn article that I shared on Madonna's recent adoption, the story catches my attention both because I am a Madonna fan and because I too grew up in a trans-racial family as my late adoptive mother was Caucasian. However, I admit that I did not know until less than 15 minutes ago, the names of the twins that Madonna adopted (their names are listed to be Stella and Esther).

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4203184/Madonna-posts-picture-twins-Stella-Esther.html

PICTURED: Madonna’s beautiful new twin daughters Stella and Esther cuddle up to Lourdes six months BEFORE star adopted them in Malawi Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4203184/Madonna-posts-picture-twins-Stella-Esther.html#ixzz4Y6SecnnR  Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

 https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/279699

7 Financial Habits of Successful Entrepreneurs

 https://www.ivey.uwo.ca/workshops/workshops/2017/03/nashville-march-27-30-2017/

http://robbreport.com/real-estate/exclusive-four-seasons-napa-valley-launches-residential-sales

EXCLUSIVE: Four Seasons Napa Valley Launches Residential Sales

 http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/9-questions-to-ask-before-you-start-a-business-with-co-workers.html

9 Questions to Ask Before You Start a Business With Co-Workers

http://www.businessinsider.com/best-worst-place-raise-family-city-states-cities-live-2017-2

Animated map shows the best and worst states to raise your family by Sam Rega  

https://www.qcmakeupacademy.com/get-a-qc-course-catalog/?gclid=CIKnmZblgNICFc-PswodS8QJwg

 http://www.today.com/health/walking-100-000-steps-week-helps-woman-lose-80-pounds-t107757

Las Vegas mom loses almost 80 pounds without surgery or joining a gym

 http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/01/coloma_woman_shares_secret_to.html

Coloma woman shares secret to weight-loss success: 'I walk every day - no excuses'

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/234238

Writing Tips: How to Come Up With 50 Topic Ideas in 30 Minutes

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/280146

11 Things To Write About When You Don't Know What to Write About  

http://writingexercises.co.uk/random-name-generator.php

http://writingexercises.co.uk/random-job-generator.php

http://www.goodtogo.ch/#delivery

Good to Go Sandwich shop based out of Zurich Switzerland

http://www.thedailymeal.com/moreslideshows/eat/america-s-50-most-powerful-people-food-2017-slideshow

You've just watched America’s 50 Most Powerful People in Food for 2017 slideshow

 Monroe Institute link in Faber Virginia

https://www.monroeinstitute.org/node/3054

  %2H��-eX