#douglas cavell

[grownups-are-the-real-monsters]

Growing Pains

Summary:  The Tozier-Kaspbrak household was unsettlingly quiet when Beaver decided to pull himself away from his studying. He’d been noticing some sort of funny feeling ----‘Henry might know a better word for it.’---- pinching at his guts for the last month or so. He mostly kept that ‘funny feeling’ to himself. As he crossed the hallway to the stairs, he wondered what version of himself he’d take up today. Not that his problem was that serious or anything but he’d definitely keep the identity crisis to himself, no sense in worrying his family when Richie and Eddie already had so much going on.

Fandom: IT & Dreamcatcher by Stephen King

Ships: Richie Tozier/Eddie Kaspbrak, Beaver/Jonesy

Word Count: 5,719

Sunday

Outside the house, an old tree stretches toward the window. It blocks the sun and moon from shining their beams down into the living room and sheds its leaves all over the lawn. From season to season, it endured. The boy, who was not quite a boy anymore, sat on the couch where no light shined and remembered all the summers he spent climbing through its branches. All those springs he exhausted his friends by clambering up just to see how far he could jump from. But ‘Who cares?’ he thought. Who gave a shit if he had treasured memories of his Dads playing with him under the shade of a dumbass, old tree? Why should he care that they’re cutting it down? 

The boy, not a boy, blinked his heavy eyes and tried to keep them open this time. But that call of sleep was wavering in and out like a sweet wave of water. 

“Beav?” 

He breached the water and opened those damned eyes again. “Yeah?” 

His Dad, whose only occupational hazard was a criminal load of insecurity, stood before him in what a smaller version of Beaver Tozier-Kaspbrak would’ve called his Monster the Grouch pajamas. “Didja like the joke or should I change the set-up?” He pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose and waited. 

He would’ve laughed, really, but the drowsiness was beginning to drown him and he missed the whole beginning. “Can you repeat it–?” 

He cut himself off as he heard the bedroom door to his right open and the gentle pitter-pattering of light feet on carpet. ‘Ooop’ he thought pathetically as he tried to throw a life preserver out to his slipping consciousness. 

“Richie, what are you doing keeping our son up at three in the goddamn morning?” The tone was pissy but the sound of it was actually extremely comforting to Beaver because it meant his Dad was mad but also a little bit amused. 

“Well, ya see, Eds. I woke up for a little ‘midnight’ snack and ran into Beav, who was already awake–” 

“It’s true. I woke for the unmistakable taste of Sonic-Spooners.” Which was true. That had been his original task, hadn’t it? A little bit of cereal in the middle of the night. 

“Hush, Joey.” Eddie rolled his eyes fondly and came forward to playfully run a hand through his son’s hair. “Listen, Rich, I know you’re a little bit worried about filming your special soon–” 

“A little?” Richie chuckled, hands on his hips. This did not phase Eddie.

“But you can’t keep our son awake while you practice. Besides, you need your sleep too.” 

Beaver settled into the couch and listened to them bicker back and forth until one of them, he couldn’t tell which, came to their senses and carried their teenage son to bed. 

       ______________________________________________________

The Tozier-Kaspbrak household was unsettlingly quiet when Beaver decided to pull himself away from his studying. He’d been noticing some sort of funny feeling ----‘Henry might know a better word for it.’---- pinching at his guts for the last month or so. He mostly kept that ‘funny feeling’ to himself. As he crossed the hallway to the stairs, he wondered what version of himself he’d take up today. Not that his problem was that serious or anything but he’d definitely keep the identity crisis to himself, no sense in worrying his family when Richie and Eddie already had so much going on.

He took two steps, ‘Wonder what I can have for lunch?’

Three more, ‘Who’s at home right now?’ 

One more, ‘Have I made enough of a difference to pass the History test?’

Reaching the bottom and making it to the kitchen, ‘Maybe Jonesy will wanna go to a movie or something.’

“Good morning, Beav.” Jonesy briefly looked up from his pile of books with a quick smile. His hand never lifted from her paper, Beaver wondered if his handwriting suffered from the lack of attention but he doubted it. He didn’t even wonder what he was doing here so early because the Tozier-Kaspbrak household was usually full of his friends. 

“What are you studying so hard for?” He asked, voice habitually coming off as disgusted. 

“It’s poetry.” he waved a thin book around with a look of adoration. “Something you’re not familiar with.” He playfully stuck out his tongue.  

Beaver chuckled, plucking the knife covered in peanut butter from his mouth. “Sure I am.” He ignored his unimpressed look. “Music is pretty poetic, Jonesy.” He smugly slapped his shoulder.

Jonesy raised a brow and followed his path to the fridge with his eyes. “Yeah, I’m sure Bon Jovi is fully capable of writing in a--” he strutted back to the table and flipped through one of the books. “--an intelligent yet romantic style that simultaneously undermines our society without fear.” he seemed passionate and thrilled. 

Beaver rolled his eyes from behind the fridge door. “I find it more thrilling to hear you poetically undermine me, Jonesy.” He feigned fondness, smacking his hand to his chest. Jonesy shuffled his books and laughed. He cleared a spot on the table and patted the chair next to him. 

“Come here, I’ll read some to you so that you’re ready for our test the day after tomorrow.” 

“Jesus Christ Bananas.” Beaver cried. “We have a test? I’m so gonna fail that shit.” 

From his right, in came his Dad with about a thousand papers and a coffee mug in his hands. “Always encouraging to hear your son say that.” Eddie approached the counter, pushed away the open jar of peanut butter, and finally set down his balancing act. “Please eat a real breakfast, Joey.” 

Beaver slid the knife from between his teeth and smiled. “Can we come watch Dad film his special on Tuesday?”  

Eddie briefly paused from shoving things into his briefcase. He had an hour or so before he left but still, he managed to look like he was in a clusterfuck of work. He seemed to consider the question this time, which was way more than he did last time it was asked, and looked over Beaver and Jonesy. “You need to go to school…” 

“It won’t kill me to miss one day!”  

“You know what, no.” He waved his hand by his ear, almost like he was swatting a bug. “I already decided. Now why don’t you invite the other boys over and study together?” 

Beaver heaved a sigh but nodded. “Alright. We’ll study.” 

       ______________________________________________________

Elliott: “No. Look. Now. Swear it. The most excellent promise you can make. Swear as my only brother. On our lives!”

Michael: “Don't get so heavy. I swear”

Beaver, Jonesy, Pete, Henry, and Douglas sat comfortably on the couch as the movie played through its running time. The house was sort of quiet, with the parents gone. 

“Would you keep an Alien as a pet?” Douglas quirked a brow and turned to his right but Henry was already dozing. He was in that liminal state of being half-awake and half-asleep. 

“He’s not Elliot’s pet, Duds. He is his friend.” Pete answered, not moving at all. “Don’t you pay attention?” He puffed out a drowsy laugh. 

“Wake up, Henry! You’re missing everything.” Douglas frowned and it didn't take very long for Henry to pick his head up and shake himself back into reality. 

Just as Beaver’s eyes fell back on the screen, a thought occurred to him. “You know they’re cutting down our tree…” He trailed off, hoping….

“What? They can’t do that!” 

“Noooo, not our tree!” 

He smiled to himself, knowing that Jonesy’s righteousness and Douglas’s pure love would win him the attention he wanted. He sat up straight in his seat and nodded with a frown. 

“When are they cutting it down?” Henry asked, sleep still clear in his eyes. 

“Tuesday,” Beaver answered, echoing what his Dad had told him. But as he said it, something wonderful occurred to him. “We should cut school and sit up in the branches, then they can’t cut it. I’ve seen it on TV.”  

“Yes! Let’s do it.” Douglas shuffled in his seat on the carpet, grabbing onto Pete’s leg, who nodded along. 

“I don’t mind cutting class.” Pete shrugged, looking at Henry the way he always did. The other boy looked suspicious and Beaver wondered if this would be the end of his master plan. 

“Is this worth taking such a stand over?” Henry asked, soaked in reality as always. Beaver nodded his head vigorously. “I don’t know–” 

He didn’t plan on resorting to such manipulation but the time called for it. So, Beaver pinched Pete’s thigh and ignored the death glare he got in return, instead he just gestured to Henry with his chin. ‘Come on man, do it.’ it said. 

Pete, luckily, didn’t ask questions and went right for the puppy-dog eyes. A true subtle form of manipulation that only ever seemed to work for him. And man did Henry cave like always. 

“Fine. I guess I’m in.” 

Jonesy smiled, looking at Beaver, who was surprised it hadn’t occurred to him that their test was also on Tuesday. 

         ______________________________________________________

Monday

Seven o’clock in the morning & Beaver had only slept for a good three hours. He trudged down the stairs and performed the classic rituals of trying to wake his body; Rubbing hard at his eyes, cracking his neck, yawning, stretching out his legs, and slipping his glasses on to distract from the drowsy look on his face. He’d expected that pinch-in-his-gut feeling to be gone once he’d slept that day away. And he thought that was true when he initially woke up under his sheets but as he blinked up at the ceiling…but an unnerving drop in his stomach signaled he was wrong. ‘Damn, what is that?’

‘Maybe breakfast will help.’ He rolled his lips together and hoped his resting face didn’t scream exhausted. 

His Dad was pouring orange juice into a shining glass for Pete while a jelly sandwich covered the bushel of flowers on his dish. The congealed purple goo squeezed a little from the sides of the thick white bread as Pete took his bites. Beaver couldn’t help but smile at the genuine care his parents seemed to have for his friends, who truly had no business coming over so early in the morning. 

Coming towards the table, he annoyingly stuck his fingers onto Pete’s shoulder. He squealed but the sound was muffled by his sandwich. Eddie glanced up with a grin. “Good morning, Joey.” 

“G’morning.” He stuffed a bagel into his mouth. 

Jonesy glanced up from his paperback but didn’t move his legs, which were still resting on the cushion of the other boy’s chair when he sat down. Beav shoved them near the edge but not off entirely. “Beaver?” 

He looked up, bagel still in his mouth but he’d yet to actually take a bite. Instead, he held it between his teeth in an especially youthful & endearing way. “Hmmm?” 

Jonesy, looking back down at his book (An assigned reading assignment that Beaver should also be halfway through by now) “That one has raisins in it.” 

He spat it out straight away (well, more like he simply opened his mouth wider), not even blinking as it plopped onto his plate. “Ah man, gross.” He whined, wiping the back of his hand across his mouth. He wanted an exchange and turned on his chair to get as far away from that bagel as possible. 

“Joey, I thought you liked raisins?” Eddie pursed his lips and looked a bit tired. Nonetheless, he gladly handed him a plain bagel. 

‘Much appreciated.’ Beaver smiled and broke a piece off. “Maybe when I was eight.” He let a shrug roll off his shoulders. “I think it goes back to that Halloween.” He waved his finger in the air while a chill danced down his body. “The one where Mr. Chambre gave out those little cartons and I bet Pete that I could stuff 3 packs in my mouth--” 

“And you threw up all over your carpet before bed?” Richie vibrantly entered the room. His presence was made known by the sound of his exuberant steps before he’d even spoken. 

“Yeah. The puke was orange if I remember correctly.” That addition admittedly wasn’t helpful to the conversation at all but their disgusted faces made it that much sweeter than those awful raisins. 

“Can I have a raisin bagel?” Jonesy peeked out from his book and pointed down at the food with a hungry expression. 

“Sure, go crazy.” Beaver leaned back on the counter, the eating couldn’t wait until he sat down again. 

“I'm not picky.” Jonesy’s sweet energy flourished as he happily stole the food and tossed it up gently a few times before taking a large bite. Beaver was too distracted by the sight to really care that Jonesy was lying. That little sucker was picky as shit. 

‘Batter up, batter up. Here comes Jonesy with the pitch! It’s goinnnggg and…it’s outta here! What will be next? Fastball? Curveball? Pumpernickel? Sesame?!’ Beaver shared a private chuckle with himself. ‘Maybe breakfast was helping’ cause as he stood there with his new bagel, the drowsy internal weight lifted a little. 

         ______________________________________________________

Mounds of grossly warm and milky ice cream puddles splashed onto the hard plastic trays in the hot lunchroom. It was the school’s attempt at a treat but the thick & gooey creams were sizzling into chocolate and vanilla soups under the eye of unforgiving fluorescent lights. 

Due to his taste buds being sick of the disgusting Derry high food, Beav’s lunch was going to be limited to carrots (they couldn’t possibly make those any worse) and Jonesy’s extra cookie if he wanted something substantial enough to keep him full. As he tapped at his tragically thin wallet, an especially built guy cut him in line. He mindlessly just let that happen ‘More trouble than it’s worth’. The lunch lady’s ponytail bounced while she attempted to juggle the student’s demands. It brought forth an uncomfortably numb feeling in his head. He wanted very badly to escape the line. 

He nearly ran back to his table when given his chance and nearly fell off the seat next to Jonesy. 

“How’s your day going?” Jonesy laughed, aimlessly rolling a plastic fork across his lips. 

Beaver steadied himself and pulled at his jacket like nothing happened. “Oh, I’m burning that afternoon oil, Jonesy.” Sarcasm so thick that it reminded him of that raisin puke again (‘Disgusting’). “If you want the real answer--” 

“And I do.” He pushed the extra cookie over to Beaver.

“I had a small chat with Missy Tramel in the hall, I passed my history test, had to punch my locker open cause I forgot my combination again and I really have to pee cause I bet Pete that I could hold it in all day.” He blurted this all in the span of two seconds, not because he was flustered or anything. No. He merely had to pee that bad. 

“Surprisingly, I got all that.” Jonesy grinned, sort of proud of himself. “Congrats on the test, by the way, I noticed you were cramming for it.” He took a bite of the gross rectangular pizza. 

Beaver raised a brow. “You did?” 

“Sure. You had some intense notes on your desk the other day.” He shrugged casually. “Plus, I borrowed your history book, remember? I saw that doodle on the back cover--the one of your head exploding like one of those Bugs Bunny cartoons.” That slipped a giggle out of Beaver as he answered. 

A blush ran down Beaver’s neck like a sweat-inducing fever. “Oh.” He awkwardly chuckled, leg bouncing up and down incredibly fast. That pinched feeling returned to his stomach.

“Dude, go to the bathroom!” Jonesy poked him with his elbow and laughed. “Pete isn’t even in this lunch period. He’ll never know.” 

Beaver steadied his leg and shoved half the cookie into his mouth. “I can’t dishonor a bet by cheating.” He went through the motions of indifference though he felt teased by the boy a table over.  ‘Absolutely gulping the hell outta your water, Todd...or Tom? You know...you might even be Jacob?’ Beaver paused but couldn’t come up with a definitive name. ‘Whoever you are, if you don’t quit it, I’m gonna piss---’

“Beaver?” Jonesy slapped his shoulder. 

“Yeah?” He felt groped out of his moment but didn’t let that show in his physical presence. 

“Do you think you have enough time left to ask Missy Tramel to a movie before you pee your pants?” He flashed his usual smile.

Jonesy never truly seemed aware of his own charm. Everything that made up his character was warm and earnest. Beaver felt that, under this new shadow, he now paled in comparison. Beaver bit into his cheek with subconscious strength. “Of course. I always have time for her.” He smirked and exaggerated his glance towards her. “Why?” He asked this without moving his eyes from Missy, wanting to make his attraction apparent. 

“Well…” He rubbed his hand down the back of his neck because he was mostly nervous when Beaver wasn’t looking. “Sadie Carter from my 6th period asked me if I wanted to go see the double showing of the ‘Nightmare on Elm Street movies’ tonight, after our tree saving of course--” He added quickly. “And I thought we could go double cause....” He trailed off. 

Beaver tore his eyes from Missy and found Jonesy again. “She asked you out?” A miserable reply to a detail so minuscule. He was aware. But the notion that Jonesy easily booked dates because all the girls asked him out was vaguely upsetting. ‘Where’s the sweat? I gotta cheer myself on for a week before I can ask a girl out and she still says no.’ 

“Yeah-” 

‘No big deal.’ Beav’s misery deepened a little. 

“--Anyway, I thought you could double with us being that I’m a little nervous–”

“Awww, Jonesy’s nervous!” He reached out and poked at him a few times, maybe because he felt a tiny surge of happiness doing it or maybe because the shifting on his seat helped him with the pee-problem. 

Jonesy waved passively. “Would ya just ask her?” His self-conscious tone became relaxed just as quickly as it’d appeared. 

A twist of that depressingly painful anxiety twisted in Beaver’s gut. He looked back to Missy, sitting there with her girlfriends with carefree and unstrained bliss. ‘Fuck. Maybe I should just go to the bathroom instead.’ It was only normal to be nervous around girls. That’s what Pete said. 

Beaver stood from his seat and was starting to mentally cheer himself on (♫‘Beaver, Beaver. He’s our man. If he can’t do it---’♫) when Jonesy grabbed his arm and pulled him back, his touch was warm. (♫‘She’ll be glad…’♫). 

“And please go to the bathroom on your way back.” He chuckled, swinging Beaver’s arm in his hand instead of letting go. “You’re pretty much a human water balloon at this point.”  

Beaver pulled out of his grip and laughed all the way up to Missy Tramel’s table. He felt a bit more comfortable than he’d usually be when it came to girls once he remembered that she had actually laughed at his jokes in the hallway before 4th period. Since he’d become interested in dating, he couldn’t remember a time something like that happened. 

Missy was sipping her soda through a blue and white striped straw, liquid shooting past her smile, Beaver could almost feel the carbonation on his own tongue. She had gorgeous red hair which framed her face in a frighteningly perfect way. But he supposed that her attitude was what initially caught his eye. Missy was sweetly feminine but she could also run a mile in six minutes & beat some of the guys in a basketball shoot-off. 

“Missy?” He tried not to sound too nervous. 

She turned, friendly enough. “Hi, Joey.” Briefly, she hid her mouth behind her cookie (crunchy on the outside but soft in the middle) to avoid showing chocolate in her teeth. 

He shoved his hands into his jacket pockets and shuffled a bit on his feet. Perhaps it suited him better to let the discomfort show...could it possibly come off as ‘adorably shy’? Beaver almost hoped so.

“I was just wondering if you’d like to go to the movies with me, my friend, and his date?” He muttered, hoping that his point came across… ‘Please realize I’m trying to ask you to be my date?’. “There doing a double showing of the ‘Nightmare on Elm Street movies--” 

Missy set her cookie down on a greasy sheet of her math homework peeking from her folder, sending a chocolate chunk through the air & smudging an unmistakable doodle of a crocodile. Its teeth were sharp, chowing down on an unfinished equation. The animal was most definitely drawn by some boy in her class…Beaver wished to be swallowed whole by the creature. “I’d really love to, Joey.” Her smile screamed pity. “But I have plans that night.” 

“I didn’t actually say what day we were planning on yet, Missy.” He wasn’t surprised. “It is playing all week.” He shrugged, not having much energy left for the conversation. 

A blush of embarrassment bloomed across Missy’s face, her friends looked anywhere but at either of them. 

“Really, It’s fine with me, Missy.” He flashed a ‘what can you do?’ sort of grin and walked off. 

“It’s a no-go, Jonesy.” He said simply, that pinched feeling turning into a full ache. “You’ll just have to go on your own.” And the thought of that….well, that felt worse than any pain in his stomach. 

         ______________________________________________________

Eddie Kaspbrak-Tozier sat across from his husband with a slight smirk on his face, stabbing at his salad aimlessly as he watched him speak. Richie was especially animated on this day which was always a nice treat. “You’ve been through this punchline over a hundred times, Rich.” 

The other man took a sip from the glass of pop he’d been swishing around and shook his head. “I’m aware, Eds—thank you.” Richie awkwardly mumbled to the waiter who brought the chicken he’d been eagerly waiting for. He was a young guy with hair that dangled just above his shoulders, Eddie guessed the white car plastered with Grateful Dead bumper stickers in the parking lot was his ride. “If you couldn’t tell, I’m nervous.” 

A laugh. “I know and it’s a riot seeing you so…” He waved his sweaty fork around, “Uptight. Usually, that’s me.” Ignoring Richie’s pathetic attempts to smack him from across the table, Eddie swallowed a bit of strawberry. He’d requested no cashews because though he’d progressed in many ways, he was still convinced he was allergic to those damn things. “I only have a half-hour left of my break though. I’d like not to spend it hearing the same joke over and over.” 

“How would you like to spend it?” The smart mouth asked. 

“Do you think Joey’s struggling in school?” Eddie asked abruptly, setting down his utensil and looking at his husband with his large-ass eyes. 

Richie wiped his face with a napkin and leaned back on his chair. “The same way I did.” He said, thumping the table in a little drumbeat. “The kid’s smart when he pushes…he’s just not pushing.” 

Breathing through his nose, Eddie put his chin in his hand. “What helped you?” 

Richie paused, giving the question real thought. In the meantime, the Dead Head waiter returned with another glass of pop. From the way his eyes lingered, Eddie could tell that he recognized his husband and maybe wished to say something but didn’t dare. It was endearing, in a way. “Ben and Mike, mostly.” 

“I think he’d ask Henry or Jonesy for help only…” 

“He’s embarrassed.” Richie finished for him, sipping the new drink. “So was I.” 

The couple paused their conversation and resumed eating their meals for a few minutes. “They’re cutting down our tree tomorrow.” 

Eddie nodded, poking at his lettuce and remembering when Joey was small. “I hate that. Wish we could do something.” 

         ______________________________________________________

Tuesday

“What’s he doing?” 

“He’s getting himself ready.” 

Beaver tore his eyes from one dad and went to the other. Eddie seemed entirely used to such action and he supposed that’s what love did to a person. It got them familiarized with their husband dancing around the kitchen and singing into a spatula while eggs burned on the stove. 

‘Hey, let's go all over the world

Rock and roll girls

Rock and roll girls…’

Eddie burst through the door they’d been peeping through and made his way to said stove, snatching the spatula and picked up on scrambling the eggs like they’d been his responsibility in the first place. Richie ceased his dancing and smiled wide as Beaver finally came into the kitchen. “Hey kiddo, you in the mood for eggs?” 

Silently, Eddie held up the pan Richie had neglected for his solo. 

He pushed up his glasses. “You in the mood for burnt sludge?” 

Chuckling, Beaver took a seat at the table and waited for his friends to arrive. He hoped they remembered their plan for the day. “I’ll pass on the sludge.” Much preferring the taste of a sugary cereal anyway. Still wordlessly, Eddie handed over a box of Sonic-Spooners over to his son, something his own mother would’ve died before letting him have. “What time are you guys leaving?” 

“In about a half-hour.” Eddie answered, giving a sideways glance to his husband. “How you doing champ?” He teased. 

Richie, far from the patron saint of maturity, stuck out his tongue. “Better. Ran through a couple more of the jokes…” He trailed off, looking down at Beaver who was shoveling cereal into his mouth. “Why can’t we take the kid again?”

Beaver dropped his spoon and looked up with pleading eyes. ‘Please. Anything to get me outta the test is good’  

A roll of the eyes, a classic in the Tozier-Kaspbrak household. “Because the kid,” Eddie ruffled Beav’s hair lovingly, “needs to go to school.” 

‘Back to the backup plan.’ Beav deflated. 

         ______________________________________________________

Henry stood with his hands on his hips, backpack at his feet with that suspicious smirk on his face as if to say ‘Okay, you got me here. What’s next?’ Pete was resting on the lawn with his head on Henry’s backpack, arms crossed over his chest and looking peaceful. “Roberta’s gonna be pissed when she finds out you convinced Duds to miss school.” 

“I know that Mr. Obvious.” Beaver waved his hand dismissvely, though he had to admit he was a little worried about that. He wasn’t sure he could handle disapproval from Mrs. Cavell. 

“It was my choice.” Douglas piped up from Beaver’s porch steps. Jonesy sat next to him, looking more eager than ever. If Beav had been right about one thing, it was his friends sense of righteousness overshadowing his memory of their test. “I want to help save our tree.” 

Beaver smiled. This may be a side plot to escape the inevitable failure but it was also a mission he fully believed in. Beaver’s plans were never half-assed. “And that’s just what we’re going to do, Duds.” 

         ______________________________________________________

Sadie Carter and Missy Tramel had been best friends since Kindergarten. Everywhere one went, the other was sure to follow. This morning was no exception. Together they walked to school with the topic of conversation being Sadie’s date for Friday; Gary Jones. 

“I can’t believe you’re going to see those disgusting movies.” Missy wrinkled her nose, clutching her books to her chest and watching their feet sync up on the sidewalk. 

“You’re just jealous that you’re not going.” Sadie giggled. “What gives anyway? Beaver’s cute, why’d you say no?” She liked that kid, he told jokes in science that had her cracking up. 

“Joey’s alright, I mean. He’s funny and all that.” She shrugged, refusing to call him by that dumb nickname. “But I don’t wanna date him or anything—” their heels clacked on the pavement as she sighed. “He’s just…he’s um…he’s…oh jesus, he’s in a tree!” She rolled her eyes and pointed. 

“K-I-S-S-I-N-G who?” Sadie laughed and obeyed when Missy took her head and pushed it in the right direction. 

She was right. Beaver was hanging upside down in his front lawn’s tree. Not alone either. His regular group of buddies, Gary Jones included, were all hanging onto branches and sitting up there like it was normal. Their backpacks scattered around the trunk. “What are you boys doing?”

“Hey girls.” Pete Moore called down with a shy smile on his face. Sadie ignored this and continued her pestering, approaching and letting her own backpack fall off her shoulder next to theirs. 

“Jonesy?” She shouted. “What gives?” 

“We’re saving our tree from being cut down!” He shouted back, exuberant with pride. Sadie raised a brow. “They should be getting here any minute and when they do, they’ll find us.” 

“Will the tree be saved by tonight?” 

“Could take all day and night, we don’t know yet.” Beaver called down as he climbed back upside. He ignored the look of annoyance Jonesy shot him, that pinched feeling returning to his stomach. 

“That blows.” Sadie said flatly, picking up her bag and moving back toward the sidewalk. 

“I’m sure we’ll be done by seven, Sadie.” Jonesy quickly shouted down. He turned back to Beaver. “We just have to stay until their workday is over, Beav. That buys us another day to plan.” 

‘Plan, shman’ Beaver thought angrily. Suddenly the tree felt intensely important. Forget missing the test, the tree was important thing. “We don’t know their hours, Jonesy. You should be prepared to stay here a long time.” Fuck, his stomach hurt. 

“They work till eight.” Henry piped in. 

“See!” Beaver frowned. 

“I can’t miss my date, Beav.” Jonesy mirrored his frown. 

“I didn’t know we’d be up here that long.” Douglas added, only making Beaver’s stomach burn more. 

“You guys, this is important.” Beaver felt pathetic. He had no idea why this was suddenly the most important thing in the world but it was. Screw Jonesy’s date. 

“Well, let me know what you work out with your keeper.” Sadie said snottily and started stomping off, Missy following right behind her. 

Jonesy looked ready to shout in frustration. Instead, he hurled himself down from his branch and shot Beaver an angry look. “Save the tree without me.” 

The pain in Beaver’s stomach was completely unbearable as he watched his friend take off after some random girl. “Bitch in a buzzsaw.” He mumbled. Henry sighed, shifting branches so that he could be closer to him. 

“I think we should trash the plan, Beav.” 

“You can.” He looked up, losing some of his fire. “I’m gonna stay.”

“Come on, Beav–” 

“No.” 

Henry held up his hands in defeat. “Come on, Duds. We still got time to get to school.” 

Douglas shifted but didn’t move to get down. 

“It’s ok, Duddy.” Beaver urged him, this was his problem after all…whatever the hell it was. 

“Yeah, I’ll stay with him.” Pete rubbed the back of his neck and shrugged when Henry looked back at him. “I already planned to miss today, I don’t mind.” 

“If you’re sure.” Henry paused, just waiting to see if he’d change his mind. 

         ______________________________________________________

Pete Moore took a calculated risk. 

“You know…it’s okay if you like Jonesy.” 

Beaver looked up from his swinging legs and crossed his arms. “What do you mean? Of course I like Jonesy. I’m just mad.” 

“No, I mean. Like-like.” How pathetically juvenile, Pete thought to himself. 

This time Beaver paused, eerily silent for what felt like an hour but was really just three minutes. “I don’t….I–” 

“Before you say anything–” Pete held up his hands. “I’m not accusing you. I’m just saying it’d be ok.” He wondered if he was going about this all wrong. What an idiot he was. 

Beaver narrowed his eyes. “What are you saying, dude?” 

He shrugged. “Listen Beav, over the past few months I discovered something about myself.” Really, telling his friend this should’ve been nervewrecking but as Pete sat up in the tree with the sun on his back, he felt strangely calm. “I’m bisexual–And I’m telling you this because you’re one of my best friends and I know you’ll be ok with it, right?” 

“Of course.” Beaver nodded. “...Jesus Christ Bananas, Do you think I’m bi?” 

Pete smiled because how could you not with the Beav around. “Only you can tell me.” 

Beaver opened his mouth, that pinched feeling in his gut loosening …

“Boys! What are you doing up there?” 

“Crap.” 

         ______________________________________________________

“Rich, your husband—” 

Richie blinked, the joke he was in the middle of rehearsing fell from his lips and he turned just in time to see Eddie rushing onto the stage with his cellphone at his ear. For a moment, his stomach dropped. Something was wrong. Something was really wrong. A rush of the horror attacked him. Something happened at home, worse yet…IT’s come back…

“Richie, I gotta go home. I’ll be back in time for the show.” 

“What why?” 

“Our kid’s in a tree.” Eddie sighed like that explained everything and turned his attention back to the phone. 

“Like…stuck? Like a cat?” Richie was confused as all hell. 

         ______________________________________________________

Wednesday Morning 

Beaver was grounded for cutting school and missing his test and he had to agree, it was fair. Was he happy about it? No. But he accepted the punishment alright. 

But approaching one o’clock in the morning, a gentle knock came at Richie and Eddie’s bedroom door. Richie snored right through it but his husband got up and shuffled over. “Joey?” He rubbed his eye as his son stepped into the room, clad in his pajama pants. “What are you doing up?” 

“Can I talk to you guys about something?”

Eddie moved to and turn on the light before leaning over his husband and shaking him gently. Richie woke easy enough and put on his glasses in a blur of confusion. “Of course you can talk to us.” 

“Yeah kiddo.” Richie coughed into an awake state and sat up. 

Beaver sat on the edge of the bed, stared at them behind his large glasses and spoke with some hesitation. “How did you know that you liked each other?” 

[brightbeautifulthings]

Dreamcatcher by Stephen King

"SSDD: Sometimes it's just what you say. And sometimes you believe in nothing but the darkness. And then how do you go along?"

Year Read: 2005, 2023

Rating: 4/5

Thoughts: Against all logic, I still love this book. I read it for the first time in high school after instantly falling in love with the movie, and it was one of those books I practically memorized and internalized so hard that I don't even realize some of my thinking comes from here (until I'm rereading and going omg that's where that idea came from). It isn't just nostalgia that makes me love it though. As you probably know from my reviews, I went through a breakup, a summer depression, and a hideous book slump (the latter two from which I'm still clawing my way free). I was a little afraid to reread this, fearing it wouldn't hold up and that would only make the slump worse, but I flew through this like I was still a teenager, devouring books at a time when all of them are still new and wonderful. It might be the easiest reading I've done all year, and I was happy to sink back into King's world with my old Derry friends.

Objectively, I know this is not King's best. It's brutally gory, scatological, and full of some downright repulsive body horror. Had I not already internalized King's aliens at a young age and accepted them as perfectly fine, I might have been way more put off by his unnecessarily gross biology. (Although one need only look at the chest-bursting Xenomorphs to know this is practically standard for the genre. I don't think there's anything in here worse than that, and they're about on par for truly awful ways to die.) I'm not even typically a fan of alien novels, so this already beats the odds.

Assuming you can get past the gore, or that you're as desensitized to it as I am, it's also extremely ableist in its characterization of Douglas Cavell ("Duddits", affectionately), a character with Down's Syndrome who is also the magical key to defeating a race of aliens. King frequently falls into this unfortunate trope of giving his minority characters super special (and often stereotypical) magical powers, and Duddits has the added advantage of Incorruptible Pureness even in the face of bullying, cancer, and gut-eating aliens. There are also frequent slurs, "retard" being the most frequent, and it's used even by the main characters. It forces readers into the awkward position of being grateful to even see a disabled character portrayed positively, while recognizing that the characterization comes with its own issues.

Yet, I find myself returning to my original thesis: Despite its very real and present problems, I adore this book, and it's really the characters that make or break it. I fell in love with Duddits, Jonesy, Henry, Beaver, and Pete at first sight, and their friendship is at the heart of the novel. King does characters and childhood friendships so well, and Dreamcatcher's live and breathe off the page every bit as much as the Loser's Club from IT. I love them in the flashbacks and the present timeline, and their love and loyalty to each other effortlessly carry the story.

Despite its hefty page-count (nearly 700), the pace never lagged for me either, and I never found myself getting bogged down in the minutiae of the history or world-building the way I sometimes do with King. It's fairly well-focused on character development and moving the plot forward, and the only times my interest waned were in Kurtz's chapters. He's a fairly banal villain alongside Mr. Gray, and I would always rather spend my time with the boys and their odd, Shining-like power. I'd forgotten a lot of the differences between the book and movie lore, aside from the very obvious differences in the endings, so that was a fun comparison as well. I think it works without getting too in-depth about why the aliens work the way they do (but I've also been hugely spoiled by Mira Grant's deep dives into supernatural biology). All in all, this is still one of my favorite King novels, and I won't be hesitant to read it again when I want to visit my friends.

[dedicatedtodance]

National Dance Radio Airplay

For the week ending February 15. 2025

Cave --Dom Dolla & Tove Lo -2

Push The Tempo --Sub Focus f/Katy B -4

I Only Smoke When I Drink --NIMINO -3

Told You So --Martin Garrix & Jex -1

Hypnotized --Anyma & Ellie Goulding -10

Forever --HUGEL & Diplo f/Malou & Yuna -5

Part Of Me --Armin Van Buuren f/Louis III -7

Tantalizing --Tiesto & Soaky Siren -9

Forever Young --David Guetta, Alphaville, Ava Max -6

I'm Going Out --Steve Aoki, Sam Feldt, XANDRA -14

Like Sunshine --Lavern, Sigala -8

Visions Of You --HAYLA -12

Someone Else --GT-OFICE -11

Heaven Knows --KASKADE & PUNCTUAL f/Poppy Baskcomb -16

Never Walk Alone --BLOND:ISH & Stevie Appleton -19

Crossfire --Frank Walker, Alexander Stewart -23

Zen Cowboy --Anabel Englund -25

World Gone Wild --Robin Schulz & CYRIL f/Sam Martin -15

All For Me --Two Friends -20

Taste Of Your Tongue --Elephante -22

Into The Blue --Will Sass f/Kamille -26

***Crash --Loud Luxury -68

Be Alright --Joel Corry -24

Believe In Me --The Hotel Lobby -13

Break My Love --RUFUS DU SOL -18

Hot & Mysterious -Austin Millz & Kah-Lo -47

Lost In Loving You --ARTY X Louis III -34

Focus --John Summit f/CLOVES -39

Akon's Beautiful Day --Akon -31

Never Been Yours ---Benny Benassi & Oaks -21

Rain --PAISI f/Clementine Douglas -29

Alibi --SEVDALIZA X Tiesto (Tiesto Remix) -28

Want U Bad --MKX -37

Another World --MEDUZA f/HAYLA -30

We Are Mirage --Empire Of The Sun & Eric Prydz -32

Take Me --Morgin Madison -35

Let's Go --Jaden Bojsen f/Sami Brielle -44

Shake!The!City! --Knock2 f/Naliya -36

Next To Me --Don Diablo & Mk -38

Loving You --KIDEKO & A-TRAK -41

Tears --John Summit f/Paige Cavell -40

***I Follow Rivers --Tiesto f/Oaks -64

Surrender Your Love --TELYKAST & Sam Gray -27

Eatin' Good --Woodcamp -43

Heart First --Lucas & Steve f/Jordan Shaw -45

Adrenaline --Bingo Players X Landis f/Justinkayse -42

<>Pink Pony Club --Chappell Roan -56

***Wicked Game --INVIDA, MANETH & NINA CARR -54

Angel In The Dark --Anyma, Massano, Nathan Nicholson -48

Still Into You --CYRIL f/Maryjo -46

***new <> re-entry -49 last weeks position

[best-spotify-playlists]

Spotify DJ Dance Charts 2024

Purple Disco Machine, Chromeo - Heartbreaker HUGEL, Topic, Arash, Daecolm - I Adore You (feat. Daecolm) Noel Holler, Picco - Yeke Yeke Michael Ruland - Skies of Freedom Felix Jaehn, Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Ready For Your Love FISHER, Flowdan - Boost Up Prince Ringo - The Tribe of Love Adam Beyer, The Good Men, Chocolate Puma - Give It Up Nora En Pure, Robinson - Hyperreal (Middle of the Night) FISHER, Jennifer Lopez - Waiting For Tonight Mykel Mars - My My My Armin van Buuren, David Guetta, Aldae - In the Dark David Guetta, Girl On Couch, Billen Ted - Man In Finance (with David Guetta) Enaya, Heleen - Take My Hand - Slap House Mix WEISS, James Hype - Feel My Needs Ruli, Iva Rii - Revolution The Blessed Madonna, Kylie Minogue - Edge of Saturday Night Charli xcx, Billie Eilish - Guess featuring Billie Eilish Camisra, Armin van Buuren - Let Me Show You Tiësto, MOGUAI - Explode Junior Crew - One Touch Jax Jones, Joel Corry, Jason Derulo - Tonight (D.I.Y.A) Purple Disco Machine, Benjamin Ingrosso, Nile Rodgers, Shenseea - Honey Boy (feat. Nile Rodgers & Shenseea) Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Regard, NATTI NATASHA, Dimitri Vegas, Like Mike, Sash! - To The Beat Regard - Can't Stop Us Jaxomy, Agatino Romero, Raffaella Carrà - Pedro SUMD4ZE, Bryan Adams, LMC - Run to You - SUMD4ZE Edit Swedish House Mafia, Alicia Keys - Finally Mykel Mars - Someone Else R.I.O., HALO - Summertime Sadness twocolors, Safri Duo, Chris de Sarandy - Cynical FAST BOY, Topic - Forget You CamelPhat, Nadia Ali - Endlessly Eddy Chrome - All You Got to Do Is Move HUGEL, Totó La Momposina - La Verdolaga (feat. Totó La Momposina) Tom & Mossee, Ron van den Beuken - Machweo - Radio Edit Nico de Andrea, Vanetty, Afro Medusa - Ethnica (Pasilda) Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, Inner City - Good Life The Chemical Brothers, ARTBAT - Hey Boy Hey Girl - ARTBAT Remix Calvin Harris, Ellie Goulding - Free (with Ellie Goulding) Curtis Mayfield, Mark Knight - Move On Up (Mark Knight Remix) Paul aus Berlin - Memories That You Call David Guetta, AFROJACK - Raving Laurent Wolf, Ahoona - Calinda (2024) Armin van Buuren, Agents Of Time, ORKID - Love Is Eternity Mike Rules - At the End of the Day Oliver Heldens, David Guetta, FAST BOY - Chills (Feel My Love) MEDUZA, HEVOLVE, Beanfield, Bajka - Tides (feat. Bajka) Alok, James Hurr, Supafly - Why I Love You So Swedish House Mafia, Niki & The Dove - Lioness David Guetta, MORTEN, Prophecy - Kill The Vibe Dimitri Vegas, Vin, Zion - Don't Stop (The Music) KREAM - Wicked Game Bikini Sounds - Lost in the Rhythm Alok, Jess Glynne - Summer's Back Michael Ruland - I Feel Your Love Tiësto, Prophecy, Katy Tiz - My City (feat. Katy Tiz) Don Master - Drifting Away Duke Dumont, Clementine Douglas - Ain't Giving Up Alex Phunk - Festival Love Big City Beat - Alchemist of Sound John Summit, Paige Cavell - Tears (with Paige Cavell) Sean Paul, Odd Mob - Get Busy - Odd Mob Club Mix D4NC3FL00R - Iron Maiden Marlon Hoffstadt, FISHER - It's That Time - FISHER Remix Jerry Ropero, HUGEL, Mijangos, Jesús Fernández - CORAÇAO - 20th Anniversary Mix DJ Katch, Amira Eldine - You're Makin' Me High David Caruso - Cheap Rush Zerb, Sofiya Nzau - Mwaki Balearic Kings - Surfing Day Angel Buzz - Memory Like Elephants Bass & Roses - Tomorrows History Barry Wild - House Party All Night Ibiza Groove Squad - A Little Bit Closer Moombah Jack - Test Drive Bobby Escobar - Last Night Salon Des Amateurs - Echoes of Ibiza Veggie Beats - Friendships Barry Wild - Yacht Trip Made in 1978 - Arena Sensation Barry Wild - Brass and Groove Pearls Of Ibiza - Indian Summer Michael Ruland, Softly - Change My Mind Ravemafia, Heleen - Don't Kill Me on the Dancefloor Junior Crew - Before Kiss Audio - Warming Up

[mghiggins]

Night Club Musical Act 106: It's Gonna Be Juicy

djbigdirty.com 

1.  [00:00] Intro

2. [00:37] Alex Kislove feat Leo Wood- Dream Sequence {DistroKid}

3. [05:10] Darren Tate feat Robyn Sherwell- Gone {Anjunadeep}

4. [10:13] John Summit, Paige Cavell- Tears {Experts Only}

5. [14:46] Paradoks, Jono Stephenson feat Frynn- Pulle Me to You {Purified}

6. [19:06] beSonic- Next to You {beSonic}

7. [23:58] Oliver Smith- Make Me Feel {Anjunabeats}

8. [28:01] Gorgon City, Caroline Byrne- All That You Need {A Positiva}

9. [31:24] Calvin Harris x Ellie Goulding- Miracle (Kream Remix} {White}

10. [34:24] Genix- Dance Like Nobody’s Watching {Anjunabeats}

11. [38:36] Because of Art- Transient {Last Night on Earth}

12. [42:50] KREAM- Wicked Game {Tomorrowland}

13. [46:37] Kryder- Fade Til Sunrise {White}

14. [51:07] Diplo, Julia Church, Hugel- Stay High (Skytech Remix) {White}

15. [54:51] MK- Body 2 Body (MEDUZA Remix) {Ultra}

16. [57:52] Jaytech- Limbo {Anjunabeats}

17. [01:01:17] Gorgon City, Mougleta- How Do You Love {A Positiva}

18. [01:05:18] Will Easton feat Émilie Rachel- Rainfall {SHĖN}

19. [01:10:08] Rebuke, The Blaze, Otto Knows, The Dice of Night & Alex Aris, Selace- Hooked On Your Lovin’ (Mashup) {White}

20. [01:13:26] Morgin Madison, HILYTE, Kayrae- Don’t Look Back {Enhanced}

21. [01:17:45] Hannah Wants feat Clemetine Douglas- Cure My Desire {Defected}

Check out this episode of dj bigdirty's night club musical

[reddie-ao3feed]

Growing Pains

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/hqIPndi by The_Magic_Lava_Lamp The Tozier-Kaspbrak household was unsettlingly quiet when Beaver decided to pull himself away from his studying. He’d been noticing some sort of funny feeling ----‘Henry might know a better word for it.’---- pinching at his guts for the last month or so. He mostly kept that ‘funny feeling’ to himself. As he crossed the hallway to the stairs, he wondered what version of himself he’d take up today. Not that his problem was that serious or anything but he’d definitely keep the identity crisis to himself, no sense in worrying his family when Richie and Eddie already had so much going on. Words: 5732, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Fandoms: Dreamcatcher - Stephen King, IT - Stephen King Rating: Not Rated Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: M/M Characters: Joe "Beaver" Clarendon, Gary "Jonesy" Jones, Eddie Kaspbrak, Richie Tozier, Douglas "Duddits" Cavell, Henry Devlin, Pete Moore Relationships: Joe "Beaver" Clarendon/Gary "Jonesy" Jones, Eddie Kaspbrak/Richie Tozier read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/hqIPndi

[brookston]

Holidays 10.12

Holidays

Asexuality Visibility & Education Day

Child Rambunctiousness Appreciation Day

Children’s Day (Brazil)

Columbus Day [original date]

Commonwealth Culture Day (Northern Mariana Islands)

Cookbook Launch Day

Day of the Pluricultural Nation (Mexico)

Day of the Six Billion (1999)

Destiny Day

Did de la Rasa (Day of Race; Mexico)

Fiesta Nacional de España (Spain)

The First of October! (Dr. Seuss)

Freethought Day

Geoscience Day

Global Scream Day (30-second scream at 1200 GMT)

Harry Potter Book Day

Hemp Day (French Republic)

Hispanic Day (Spain)

Indigenous Peoples Day (San Francisco)

Indigenous Resistance Day (Venezuela)

International Cassette Store Day

International Day Against DRM

International Moment of Frustration Scream Day

International TFMR Awareness Day

Lady of Aparecida Day (Brazil)

National Bandana Day (South Africa)

National Doodle Bug Day

National Education Day (Kiribati)

National Farmer’s Day

National Fungus Day (Japan)

National Hug a Bassist Day

National Loggers Day

National Martin Day

National Monogram Day

National Peyronie’s Disease Awareness Day

National Salesperson's Day

National Savings Day

National Vermont Day

Native Americans' Day

Old Farmer's Day

Piomingo Day (Chickasaw Nation)

Rice Day (Texas)

Superstar Day

Women Pharmacist Day

World Algae Day

World Arthritis Day

World Burpee Day

World Spanish Language Day UN)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Black Jewish Drinking Day

Drink Local Wine Day

Märzen Day

National Gumbo Day

National Know Your Lemons Day

National Pulled Pork Day

National Pumpkin Pie Day

2nd Thursday in October

Children’s Environmental Health Day [2nd Thursday]

Day of Children’s Hospice Work (Germany) [2nd Thursday]

International RSE Day [2nd Thursday]

National Children’s Hospice Palliative Care Day (Canada) [2nd Thursday]

National Dessert Day [2nd Thursday] (also 10.14)

National Student Day [2nd Thursday]

Ombuds Day [2nd Thursday]

World Chicken Day [2nd Thursday]

World Sight Day [2nd Thursday]

Independence Days

Asgardia (Declared; 2016) [unrecognized]

Equatorial Guinea (from Spain, 1968)

Wasteoftimeistan (Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Al Held (Artology)

Ayathrem begins (Zoroastrianism)

Carlo Acutis (Christian; Saint)

Crowleymas (a.k.a. Feast for Life of Aleister Crowley; Thelema)

Day of Fortuna Redux (Ancient Rome)

Day of Giving the Black Land to Horus and the Red Land to Set (Ancient Egypt)

Edith Cavell and Elizabeth Fry (Church of England)

Edwin of Northumbria (Christian; Saint)

Feasts of the Spirits of the Fire (Pagan)

Fiacc (Christian; Saint)

Fortuna Redux (Old Roman Goddess of Successful Journeys & Safe Returns)

Frank Sinatra Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Guido Molinari (Artology)

Herbert (Roman Catholic)

International Rastafarian Headgear Day (Pastafarian)

Louis Brisson (Christian; Blessed)

Montaigne (Positivist; Saint)

Our Lady of Aparecida (Brazil; Christian; Saint)

Our Lady of the Pillar (Fiestas del Pilar; Christian; Saint)

Prince Humpty Dumpty (Muppetism)

Radim Gaudentius (Czech Republic; Christian; Saint)

Seraphin of Montegranaro (Christian; Saint)

Wanting Wonton Day (Pastafarian)

Wilfrid of Ripon, Bishop of York (Christian; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Lucky Day (Philippines) [55 of 71]

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Premieres

Argo (Film; 2012)

Bad Times at the El Royale (Film; 2018)

The Blind Owl, by Sadegh Hedayat (Novel; 1936)

The Caves of Steel, by Isaac Asimov (Novel; 1953)

Chimp and Zee (WB MM Cartoon; 1968)

Crazy Little Thing Called Love, by Queen (Song; 1979)

The Doctor and the Soul, by Viktor E. Frankl (Philosophy Book; 1946)

Don’t Knock the Rock (Film; 1956)

Fairy Tail (Anime TV Series; 2009)

First Man (Film; 2018)

The Gay Divorcee (Film; 1934)

Got My Mind Set On You, by George Harrison (Song; 1987)

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams (Novel; 1979)

The Hot Spot (Film; 1990)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, by Dr. Seuss (Children’s Book; 1957)

If I Ran the Zoo, by Dr. Seuss (Children’s Book; 1950)

Inherit the Wind (Film; 1960)

It’s in the Bag or Rocky Gets the Sack (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S6, Ep. 309; 1964)

Jesus Christ Superstar (Broadway Rock Opera; 1971)

Kick, by INXS (Album; 1987)

Lady Sings the Blues (Film; 1972)

Look Now, by Elvis Costello (Album; 2018)

Memphis Belle (Film; 1990)

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, by Virginia Lee Burton (Children’s Book; 1939)

The Narrows, by Ann Petry (Novel; 1953)

October, by U2 (Album; 1981)

Please Try to Remember the First of October!, by Dr. Seuss (Children’s Book; 1977)

Rollin’, by The Bay City Rollers (Album; 1974)

The Saint Abroad, by Fleming Lee (Short Stories; 1969) [Saint #42]

A Short Weight for All Seats or One of Our Trunks (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S6, Ep. 310; 1964)

Sideways (Film; 2004)

Touché and Go (WB MM Cartoon; 1957)

Trout Fishing in America, by Richard Brautigan (Novel; 1967)

Tusk, by Fleetwood Mac (Album; 1979)

Today’s Name Days

Edwin, Gottfried, Horst, Maximillian (Austria)

Maksimilijan, Serafin, Velibor (Croatia)

Marcel (Czech Republic)

Maximillian (Denmark)

Aare, Aaro, Are (Estonia)

Aarre, Aarto (Finland)

Edwin, Séraphin, Wilfried (France)

David, Horst, Maximilian, (Germany)

Andromahi, Andromahos, Valantios (Greece)

Miksa (Hungary)

Serafino (Italy)

Kira, Lase, Monvids, Valfrids, Vitenis (Latvia)

Deimintė, Gantas, Salvinas (Lithuania)

Valter, Vibeke (Norway)

Cyriak, Eustachiusz, Eustachy, Grzymisław, Maksymilian, Ostap, Salwin, Serafin, Witold, Witołd, Witolda (Poland)

Andronic, Prov, Tarah (Romania)

Maximilián (Slovakia)

Pilar (Spain)

Manfred, Valfrid (Sweden)

Christopher, Cristopher, Kester, Kristofer, Kristopher (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 285 of 2024; 80 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 4 of week 41 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Gort (Ivy) [Day 10 of 28]

Chinese: Month 8 (Xin-You), Day 28 (Gui-Mao)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 27 Tishri 5784

Islamic: 27 Rabi I 1445

J Cal: 15 Shù; Oneday [15 of 30]

Julian: 29 September 2023

Moon: 4%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 5 Descartes (11th Month) [Montaigne]

Runic Half Month: Wyn (Joy) [Day 1 of 15]

Season: Autumn (Day 19 of 89)

Zodiac: Libra (Day 19 of 30)

Calendar Changes

Wyn (Joy) [Half-Month 20 of 24; Runic Half-Months] (thru 10.25)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 10.12

Holidays

Asexuality Visibility & Education Day

Child Rambunctiousness Appreciation Day

Children’s Day (Brazil)

Columbus Day [original date]

Commonwealth Culture Day (Northern Mariana Islands)

Cookbook Launch Day

Day of the Pluricultural Nation (Mexico)

Day of the Six Billion (1999)

Destiny Day

Did de la Rasa (Day of Race; Mexico)

Fiesta Nacional de España (Spain)

The First of October! (Dr. Seuss)

Freethought Day

Geoscience Day

Global Scream Day (30-second scream at 1200 GMT)

Harry Potter Book Day

Hemp Day (French Republic)

Hispanic Day (Spain)

Indigenous Peoples Day (San Francisco)

Indigenous Resistance Day (Venezuela)

International Cassette Store Day

International Day Against DRM

International Moment of Frustration Scream Day

International TFMR Awareness Day

Lady of Aparecida Day (Brazil)

National Bandana Day (South Africa)

National Doodle Bug Day

National Education Day (Kiribati)

National Farmer’s Day

National Fungus Day (Japan)

National Hug a Bassist Day

National Loggers Day

National Martin Day

National Monogram Day

National Peyronie’s Disease Awareness Day

National Salesperson's Day

National Savings Day

National Vermont Day

Native Americans' Day

Old Farmer's Day

Piomingo Day (Chickasaw Nation)

Rice Day (Texas)

Superstar Day

Women Pharmacist Day

World Algae Day

World Arthritis Day

World Burpee Day

World Spanish Language Day UN)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Black Jewish Drinking Day

Drink Local Wine Day

Märzen Day

National Gumbo Day

National Know Your Lemons Day

National Pulled Pork Day

National Pumpkin Pie Day

2nd Thursday in October

Children’s Environmental Health Day [2nd Thursday]

Day of Children’s Hospice Work (Germany) [2nd Thursday]

International RSE Day [2nd Thursday]

National Children’s Hospice Palliative Care Day (Canada) [2nd Thursday]

National Dessert Day [2nd Thursday] (also 10.14)

National Student Day [2nd Thursday]

Ombuds Day [2nd Thursday]

World Chicken Day [2nd Thursday]

World Sight Day [2nd Thursday]

Independence Days

Asgardia (Declared; 2016) [unrecognized]

Equatorial Guinea (from Spain, 1968)

Wasteoftimeistan (Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Al Held (Artology)

Ayathrem begins (Zoroastrianism)

Carlo Acutis (Christian; Saint)

Crowleymas (a.k.a. Feast for Life of Aleister Crowley; Thelema)

Day of Fortuna Redux (Ancient Rome)

Day of Giving the Black Land to Horus and the Red Land to Set (Ancient Egypt)

Edith Cavell and Elizabeth Fry (Church of England)

Edwin of Northumbria (Christian; Saint)

Feasts of the Spirits of the Fire (Pagan)

Fiacc (Christian; Saint)

Fortuna Redux (Old Roman Goddess of Successful Journeys & Safe Returns)

Frank Sinatra Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Guido Molinari (Artology)

Herbert (Roman Catholic)

International Rastafarian Headgear Day (Pastafarian)

Louis Brisson (Christian; Blessed)

Montaigne (Positivist; Saint)

Our Lady of Aparecida (Brazil; Christian; Saint)

Our Lady of the Pillar (Fiestas del Pilar; Christian; Saint)

Prince Humpty Dumpty (Muppetism)

Radim Gaudentius (Czech Republic; Christian; Saint)

Seraphin of Montegranaro (Christian; Saint)

Wanting Wonton Day (Pastafarian)

Wilfrid of Ripon, Bishop of York (Christian; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Lucky Day (Philippines) [55 of 71]

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Premieres

Argo (Film; 2012)

Bad Times at the El Royale (Film; 2018)

The Blind Owl, by Sadegh Hedayat (Novel; 1936)

The Caves of Steel, by Isaac Asimov (Novel; 1953)

Chimp and Zee (WB MM Cartoon; 1968)

Crazy Little Thing Called Love, by Queen (Song; 1979)

The Doctor and the Soul, by Viktor E. Frankl (Philosophy Book; 1946)

Don’t Knock the Rock (Film; 1956)

Fairy Tail (Anime TV Series; 2009)

First Man (Film; 2018)

The Gay Divorcee (Film; 1934)

Got My Mind Set On You, by George Harrison (Song; 1987)

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams (Novel; 1979)

The Hot Spot (Film; 1990)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, by Dr. Seuss (Children’s Book; 1957)

If I Ran the Zoo, by Dr. Seuss (Children’s Book; 1950)

Inherit the Wind (Film; 1960)

It’s in the Bag or Rocky Gets the Sack (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S6, Ep. 309; 1964)

Jesus Christ Superstar (Broadway Rock Opera; 1971)

Kick, by INXS (Album; 1987)

Lady Sings the Blues (Film; 1972)

Look Now, by Elvis Costello (Album; 2018)

Memphis Belle (Film; 1990)

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, by Virginia Lee Burton (Children’s Book; 1939)

The Narrows, by Ann Petry (Novel; 1953)

October, by U2 (Album; 1981)

Please Try to Remember the First of October!, by Dr. Seuss (Children’s Book; 1977)

Rollin’, by The Bay City Rollers (Album; 1974)

The Saint Abroad, by Fleming Lee (Short Stories; 1969) [Saint #42]

A Short Weight for All Seats or One of Our Trunks (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S6, Ep. 310; 1964)

Sideways (Film; 2004)

Touché and Go (WB MM Cartoon; 1957)

Trout Fishing in America, by Richard Brautigan (Novel; 1967)

Tusk, by Fleetwood Mac (Album; 1979)

Today’s Name Days

Edwin, Gottfried, Horst, Maximillian (Austria)

Maksimilijan, Serafin, Velibor (Croatia)

Marcel (Czech Republic)

Maximillian (Denmark)

Aare, Aaro, Are (Estonia)

Aarre, Aarto (Finland)

Edwin, Séraphin, Wilfried (France)

David, Horst, Maximilian, (Germany)

Andromahi, Andromahos, Valantios (Greece)

Miksa (Hungary)

Serafino (Italy)

Kira, Lase, Monvids, Valfrids, Vitenis (Latvia)

Deimintė, Gantas, Salvinas (Lithuania)

Valter, Vibeke (Norway)

Cyriak, Eustachiusz, Eustachy, Grzymisław, Maksymilian, Ostap, Salwin, Serafin, Witold, Witołd, Witolda (Poland)

Andronic, Prov, Tarah (Romania)

Maximilián (Slovakia)

Pilar (Spain)

Manfred, Valfrid (Sweden)

Christopher, Cristopher, Kester, Kristofer, Kristopher (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 285 of 2024; 80 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 4 of week 41 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Gort (Ivy) [Day 10 of 28]

Chinese: Month 8 (Xin-You), Day 28 (Gui-Mao)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 27 Tishri 5784

Islamic: 27 Rabi I 1445

J Cal: 15 Shù; Oneday [15 of 30]

Julian: 29 September 2023

Moon: 4%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 5 Descartes (11th Month) [Montaigne]

Runic Half Month: Wyn (Joy) [Day 1 of 15]

Season: Autumn (Day 19 of 89)

Zodiac: Libra (Day 19 of 30)

Calendar Changes

Wyn (Joy) [Half-Month 20 of 24; Runic Half-Months] (thru 10.25)

[todsterdude1]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Stephen King Novel

[thotteus-beaumont]

Dreamcatcher Characters as John Mulaney Quotes

Henry Devlin: 

Pete Moore:

Jonesy: 

Beaver: 

Douglas: 

[grownups-are-the-real-monsters]

IT/Dreamcatcher crossover: Beaver is Reddie’s son

[By me & @m-o-o-n-thatspellsblog } 

Going with the ‘IT’ films timeline where the Losers are 12/13 in 1989. The Dreamcatcher gang would all be born around 1995ish. Richie & Eddie adopt Beaver when he’s around 3 years old. 

In this AU, the first Pennywise cycle in 1989 has happened but that’s all!! Pennywise never returned! 

In all honesty, none of the Losers expected Richie & Eddie to have kids, and neither did they! But as they grew in their relationship, they both realized they wanted to share their love and raise a child together. 

Richie had no idea how much he actually wanted to be a Father until the thought was out there but once they discussed it, Richie put his whole heart into it. 

Eddie really wanted to raise a child in a healthy environment and do better for his child than Sonia Kaspbrak ever did with him.

So they end up adopting little Joey Clarendon! 

Very quickly, this kid becomes their whole world. This very clumsy, loud-mouthed, short & funny little kid. 

Joey is the perfect mixture of his Fathers, who always make sure their child is supported and loved. 

He is raised on classic rock and monster movies! 

When Joey gets a little older and finds his friend group, Richie & Eddie always welcome them into their home and find it very hard not to get nostalgic. 

Richie & Eddie continue to surprise themselves by becoming the ‘classic’ suburban parents who stock up on snacks for their son & all his friends.

But both boys know how important friendship is to a young child and encourage their son. 

Richie is always concerned for Joey because he sees so much of himself in him. He motivates his son to be loud & be himself but finds it hard not to fear others criticizing or discouraging Joey the way adults did to him when he was a kid. 

Eddie, having experienced the pain of an overbearing and unsupportive parent, desperately wants Joey to feel encouraged to make connections and try new things. 

The kids are always at their house. Making a lot of noise and running around the backyard. The sound of their combined laughter makes Richie & Eddie’s hearts swell! 

Pete, Henry, Jonesy & Douglas think of Richie and Eddie as their second set of parents! 

Joey gets to that phase where he insists his parents use his nickname & call him ‘Beaver’ too. Richie is cool with it but Eddie can’t stop calling him Joey. 

Richie teaches Beaver how to do some amazing impressions and of course, how to mess with Eddie. 

The Losers are all living apart but have all visited at different points and know Beaver. 

Beverly is convinced the two of them figured out how to have a biological child together because Beav is just like them. 

Bill overhears Beaver being a little spitfire and can’t help but think of his little friend Eddie. 

Ben built a treehouse for Beav and his friends. 

Though Beaver later fell out of the treehouse and broke his arm. Ben, taking this personally, came back just to build a rail to ensure safety.

Beaver is constantly getting accidentally injured or getting into hi-jinks at school. 

There was a particular incident where Beaver was trying to avoid running the mile at school and lied about having asthma. The school called Eddie to confirm and he nearly had a heart attack for a second. 

Beaver grows up with Maggie & Wentworth as his wonderful grandparents. Eddie, who tries hard to stay out of his Mother’s life, will not allow Sonia anywhere near their home. 

I could go on forever.....................

[valjeans]

ROUND ONE IS OVER. THE RESULTS ARE IN.

A few very close calls and some big shocks!!

Posting them in detail under the cut:

Mandy Patinkin VS Philip Quast

Patinkin = 30 (23.6%) Quast = 97 (76.4%)

Philip Quast WINS

2. Stewart Clarke VS Ken Watanabe

Clarke = 25 (30.1%) Watanabe = 58 (69.9%)

Ken Watanabe WINS

3. Brian D'Arcy James VS Danny Mac

D'Arcy James = 61 (70.1%) Mac = 26 (29.9%)

Brian D'Arcy James WINS

4. Arthur Darvill VS Terrence Mann

Darvill = 39 (43.3%) Mann = 51 (56.7%)

Terrence Mann WINS

5. Hugh Panaro VS Michael Ball

Panaro = 60 (32.6%) Ball = 29 (67.4%)

Hugh Panaro WINS

6. Gerard Carey VS Raul Esparza

Carey = 45 (38.8%) Esparza = 71 (61.2%)

Raul Esparza WINS

7. Bryce Pinkham VS Killian Donnelly

Pinkham = 41 (45.1%) Donnelly = 50 (54.9%)

Killian Donnelly WINS

8. Hadley Fraser VS Tim Morgan

Fraser = 130 (89%) Morgan = 16 (11%)

Hadley Fraser WINS

9. Giles Terera VS Tam Mutu

Terera = 15 (13.9%) Mutu = 93 (86.1%)

Tam Mutu WINS

10. David Shannon VS Norm Lewis

Shannon = 13 (13.8%) Lewis = 81 (86.2%)

Norm Lewis WINS

11. Bradley Dean VS Harry Hadden-Paton

Dean = 39 (44.8%) Hadden-Paton = 48 (55.2%)

Harry Hadden Patton WINS

12. Gavin Lee VS Matt Harrop

Lee = 31 (30.7%) Harrop = 70 (69.3%)

Matt Harrop WINS

13. Joel Grey VS Lee Mead

Grey = 18 (18.8%) Mead = 78 (81.3%)

Lee Mead WINS

14. Anthony Crivello VS Scott Davies

Crivello = 58 (71.6%) Davies = 23 (28.4%)

15. Drew Sarich VS Jeremy Secomb

Sarich = 82 (58.6%) Secomb = 58 (41.4%)

Drew Sarich WINS

16. Alexander Hanson VS Declan Bennett

Hanson = 40 (29.2%) Bennett = 97 (29.2%)

Declan Bennett WINS

17. Sasha De Capri VS Leslie Odom Jr.

De Capri = 29 (35.4%) Odom Jr. = 53 (64.6%)

Leslie Odom Jr. WINS

18. David Thaxton VS Julian Ovenden

Thaxton = 73 (56.6%) Ovenden = 56 (43.4%)

David Thaxton WINS

19. Steven Pasquale VS Christian Borle

Pasquale = 39 (47.6%) Borle = 43 (52.4%)

Christian Borle WINS

20. Michael C. Hall VS Oliver Tompsett

Hall = 24 (27.9%) Tompsett = 62 (72.1%)

Oliver Tompsett WINS

21. Patrick Page VS Roger Allam

Page = 65 (63.1%) Allam = 38 (36.9%)

Patrick Page WINS

22. Jon Robyns VS Simon Bailey

Robyns = 143 (78.3%) Bailey = 40 (21.7%)

Jon Robyns WINS

23. Brian Stokes Mitchell VS Howard McGillin

Stokes Mitchell = 46 (63%) McGillin = 27 (37%)

Brian Stokes Mitchell WINS

24. Ramin Karimloo VS Stephen Sondheim

Karimloo = 70 (57.4%) Sondheim = 52 (42.6%)

Ramin Karimloo WINS

25. Gavin Creel VS Daniel Boys

Creel = 53 (62.4%) Boys = 32 (37.6%)

Gavin Creel WINS

26. Bertie Cavel VS Earl Carpenter

Cavel = 44 (34.4%) Carpenter = 84 (65.6%)

Earl Carpenter WINS

27. Cameron Blakely VS Les Dennis

Blakely = 77 (93.9%) Dennis = 5 (6.1%)

Cameron Blakely WINS

28. Robert Lindsay VS Dean Chisnall

Lindsay = 73 (57.9%) Chisnall = 53 (42.1%)

Robert Lindsay WINS

29. Dean Read VS Douglas Sills

Read = 62 (67.4%) Sills = 30 (32.6%)

Dean Read WINS

30. Cedric Neal VS Ken Page

Neal = 76 (85.4%) Page = 13 (14.6%)

Cedric Neal WINS

31. Peter Lockyer VS Josh Groban

Lockyer = 128 (79%) Groban = 34 (21%)

Peter Lockyer WINS

32. Manoel Felciano VS Jeremy Jordan

Felciano = 40 (50%) Jordan = 40 (50%)

TIED. Both progress to next round.

33. Nadim Naaman VS John Owen-Jones

Naaman = 102 (76.7%) Owen-Jones = 31 (23.3%)

Nadim Naaman WINS

[m-o-o-n-thatspellsblog]

Fun Facts About the Characters of Dreamcatcher (from the book)

Pete 

Used to cup his hands over his face and pretend to smoke while waiting for his friends to get out of school

Pete’s greatest ambition was to become an astronaut and his childhood bedroom was decorated with pictures of spaceships and UFOs

Pete has a NASA crewneck sweatshirt that he is really proud of

Jonesy

Obsessed with horror movies and mystery novels

Loves dad jokes

He is an associate professor of history and when he is out of office for lunch, he puts a sign on his door that says “BACK AT ONE-- UNTIL THEN I’M HISTORY”

Beaver

Beaver is 5′6

Wore his brother’s old ‘Fonzie’ jacket all of the time as a child (his dad had to tie orange bandannas up and down the sleeves because Beaver insisted on wearing it even when hunting)

As a child, he had a crush on Roberta Cavell (Douglas’s mom)

Henry

Wears old-fashioned horn-rimmed glasses

When he puts on his glasses, he thinks of it as ‘putting his eyes back on’

Gave Douglas bunny slippers for his birthday

Douglas

Has curly blond hair like Art Garfunkel

Really good at mini-golf (can consistently beat everyone else except for Pete)

Pretended like he didn't know how to play cribbage solely because it made his friends laugh

[dedicatedtodance]

National Dance Radio Airplay

For the week ending February 8, 2025

Told You So --Martin Garrix & Jex -1

Cave --Dom Dolla & Tove Lo -5

I Only Smoke When I Drink --NIMINO -4

Push The Tempo --SUB FOCUS f/Katy B -7

Forever --HUGEL & Diplo f/Malou & Yuna -3

Forever Young --David Guetta, Alphaville, Ava Max -6

Part Of Me --Armin Van Buuren f/Louis III -2

Like Sunshine --Lavern, Sigala -8

Tantalizing --Tiesto & Soaky Siren -16

Hypnotized --Anyma & Ellie Goulding -20

Someone Else --GT_OFICE -14

Visions Of You --HAYLA -12

Believe In Me --The Hotel Lobby -9

I'm Going Out --Steve Aoki, Sam Feldt, XANDRA f/Nile Rodgers -21

World Gone Wild --Robin Schulz & CYRIL -10

Heaven Knows --KASKADE & PUNCTUAL f/Poppy Baskcomb -17

Finally --Swedish House Mafia & Alicia Keys -11

Break My Love --RUFUS DU SOL -15

Never Walk Alone --BLOND:ISH & Stevie Appleton -24

All For Me --Two Friends -18

Never Been Yours --Benny Benassi & Oaks -13

Taste Of Your Tongue --Elephante -23

Crossfire --Frank Walker, Alexander Stewart -25

Be Alright --Joel Corry -19

Zen Cowboy --Anabel Englund -29

Into The Blue --Will Sass f/Kamille -33

Surrender Your Love --TELYKAST & Sam Gray -22

Alibi --SEVDALIZA X Tiesto (Tiesto Remix) -26

Rain --PARISI f/Clementine Douglas -41

Another World --MEDUZA f/HAYLA -27

Akon's Beautiful Day --AKON -32

We Are Mirage -Empire Of The Sun & Eric Prydz -36

Never Going Home Tonight --David Guetta & Alesso -30 [OFF]

Lost In Loving You --ARTY X Louis III -38

Take Me --Morgin Madison -43

Shake!The!City! --Knock2 f/Naliya -37

Want U Bad --MKX -44

Next To Me --Don Diablo & MK f/Gaby Gerlis -31

Focus ---John Summit f/CLOVES -40

Tears --John Summit f/PaIge Cavell -39

***Loving You --KIDEKO & A-TRAK -78

***Adrenaline --Bingo Players X Landis f/Justin Kayse -51

***Eatin' Good --Woodcamp -76

Let's Go --Jaden Bojsen -45

<>Heart First --Lucas & Steve f/Jordan Shaw -59

Still Into You --CYRIL f/Maryjo -49

***Hot & Mysterious --Austin Millz & Kah-Lo -0

<>Angel In The Dark --Anyma, Massano, Nathan Nicholson -54

<>Taste --Sabrina Carpenter -60 [OFF]

***APT --Rose & Bruno Mars -57 [OFF]

[martyrules63]

Set near the fictional town of Derry, Maine, Dreamcatcher is the story of four lifelong friends: Gary "Jonesy" Jones, Pete Moore, Joe "Beaver" Clarendon and Henry Devlin. As young teenagers, the four saved Douglas "Duddits" Cavell, an older boy with Down syndrome, from a group of sadistic bullies. From their new friendship with Duddits, Jonesy, Beaver, Henry and Pete began to share the boy's unusual powers, including telepathy, shared dreaming, and seeing "the line", a psychic trace left by the movement of human beings.

Jonesy, Beaver, Henry and Pete reunite for their annual hunting trip at the Hole-in-the-Wall, an isolated lodge in the Jefferson Tract. There, they become caught between an alien invasion and an insane US Army Colonel, Abraham Kurtz. Jonesy and Beaver, who remain at the cabin while Henry and Pete go out for supplies, encounter Richard McCarthy, a disoriented and delirious stranger wandering near the lodge during a blizzard talking about lights in the sky. The victim of an alien abduction, McCarthy grows sicker and dies while sitting on the toilet. An extraterrestrial parasite eats its way out of his anus, after gestating in his bowel, and attacks the two men, killing Beaver. Jonesy inhales the spores of the strange reddish fungus that the stranger and his parasite have spread around the cabin, and an alien entity ("Mr. Gray") takes over his mind.

On the return trip from their supply run, Henry and Pete encounter a woman from the same hunting party as the strange man at the cabin.

She is also delirious and infected with a parasite. After crashing their car, Henry leaves Pete with the woman and attempts to return to the cabin by foot.

From there, his telepathic senses let him know that Pete is in trouble, Beaver is dead, and Jonesy is no longer Jonesy. Mr. Gray, manipulating Jonesy's body, is attempting to leave the area.

The aliens have attempted to infect Earth multiple times, beginning with the Roswell crash in the 1940s, but environmental factors have always stopped them, and the US government has covered up the failed invasion attempts every time.

With the infection of Jonesy, who can contain the alien within his mind and also spread the infection, Mr. Gray has become the perfect Typhoid Mary—and he knows it.

Mr. Gray hijacks a truck transporting a spore-filled alien corpse while Jonesy, trapped inside a mental stronghold, is powerless to stop him.

[papermoonloveslucy]

Lucy, the Rain Goddess

S4;E15~ January 3, 1966

Synopsis

When Mr. Mooney escapes to a dude ranch without signing some important bank papers, Lucy follows him and is mistaken for a rain goddess by a nearby Native American tribe.

Regular Cast

Lucille Ball (Lucy Carmichael), Gale Gordon (Theodore J. Mooney)

Mary Jane Croft (Mary Jane Lewis) does not appear in this episode, although Lucy does have a phone conversation with her.

Guest Cast

Willard Waterman (Tex Critter) was a versatile voice actor who appeared on hundreds of radio shows in the 1930s and 40s. He is probably best remembered for playing 'The Great Gildersleeve' on both radio and TV. He previously played TV host Greg Gregory in “Lucy and the Plumber” (S3;E2).

Tex Critter is the Tumbleweed Inn's social director. The character's name is a pun on Tex Ritter, a country music singer and movie actor popular from the mid-1930s into the 1960s. Ritter is mentioned in “Lucy Goes to the Rodeo” (ILL S5;E8). He is the father of sitcom star John Ritter, one of Lucille Ball’s favorites. 

Douglas Fowley (Chief, above left) was first seen with Lucille Ball in the 1935 film musical Old Man Rhythm.  In 1952 he played movie director Roscoe Dexter in the film Singin' in the Rain.  

The Chief is Dick's father. 

Larry Blake (Medicine Man, above right) was a former vaudevillian who began doing movies in 1937. He will do eight episodes of “Here's Lucy.”  

The Medicine Man is Vince's father. 

Jamie Farr (Vince, above right) is probably best known as the cross-dressing Klinger on TV's “M*A*S*H” (1972-1983). This is his only appearance opposite Lucille Ball.

Vince's Indian name is ‘Wolf With Nose Like Anteater’.  

Alan Reed Jr. (Dick, above left) is the son of Alan Reed, who voiced Fred Flintstone. Although this is his only appearance on “The Lucy Show,” his father appeared in “Lucy Visits the White House” (S1;E25).  

Dick's Indian name is ‘Running Bear Who Smell Like Skunk’.

Marc Cavell (Herbie, Bank Office Boy) made his screen debut in 1949.  This is his only appearance with Lucille Ball.

Bennett Green (Ranch Guest, above right) was Desi Arnaz’s camera and lighting stand-in during “I Love Lucy.” He does occasional background work on “The Lucy Show.”

Hazel Pierce (Ranch Guest, above left) was Lucille Ball’s camera and lighting stand-in throughout “I Love Lucy.” She also made frequent appearances on the show. Of her many on-camera appearances on “The Lucy Show” only once was she given a character name and credited, in “Lucy Plays Cleopatra” (S1;E1). She was also an uncredited extra in the film Forever Darling (1956).

Renita Reachi (Ranch Guest, behind Lucy) was a costumer for “The Lucy Show” from 1966 to 1968. She was also Vivian Vance’s camera and lighting stand-in for “I Love Lucy” and “The Lucy Show.” She was a costumer and/or made crowd appearances on “Here's Lucy” and the Lucille Ball films Yours, Mine and Ours (1968) and Mame (1974).  

Joan Carey (Ranch Guest, uncredited, far right) was a frequent background player on “I Love Lucy” and “The Lucy Show,” eventually becoming Ball’s stand-in on this series.

Bobby Gilbert (Ranch Guest) was born Robert Wolf in 1898. A vaudevillian, he was one of the first performers to play the South Pacific on USO tours during WWII. He was an extra in such hit musical films as Some Like It Hot (1959), How To Succeed in Business (1967), Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967) and Bednobs and Broomsticks (1971). This is the second of his two appearances on “The Lucy Show.”

Roy Rowan is the voice of the radio announcer. He generally voices any TV or radio broadcasts that are part of the plots of “The Lucy Show,”  but has also appeared on camera. 

Other Ranch Guests and Native Americans are played by uncredited performers.  

This is the first new episode of 1966.  The script was finalized on November 3, 1965. This is the first and only episode written by Brad Radnitz and Bruce Howard.  This was Radnitz's first script for TV.  

It sounds as if Gale Gordon is having vocal problems during the episode.

Lucy jokingly calls Mr. Mooney Captain Bligh. William Bligh (1754-1817) was a British navy captain of the HMS Bounty whose crew staged a mutiny in rebellion of his tyranny.  The story is the basis four five films and a stage musical. Lucy is probably thinking of the 1962 film Mutiny on the Bounty starring Trevor Howard as Bligh and Marlon Brando as Mr. Christian.  

The office boy's transistor radio is blaring “Do the Watusi.” The music, without lyrics, was also heard in “Chris's New Year's Eve Party” (S1;E14).  

Trying to figure out where Mr. Mooney might have gone for his secret get-away, she reads newspaper ads for the Tyrol Room, the Round-Up, Spanish Hacienda, Lazy Days, and Shady Nook Nudist Colony. Lucy rejects the idea of the nudist colony because she says Mr. Mooney used to blush when he watched “Naked City.” “Naked City” (1958-63) was a TV series about the cases of New York's 65 precinct. The metaphorical title comes from the final lines of the show: “There are eight million stories in the naked city. This has been one of them.”  Lazy Days was also the name of the health farm in “Lucy and the Countess Lose Weight” (S3;E21).

The painting over Lucy’s desk is Vincent Van Gogh's “Houses in Auvers” (1890). The painting over Mr. Mooney’s desk across the room is titled "La chiesa della Salute" (1947) by Filippo de Pisis, an Italian painter known for his still life and cityscapes. Desilu props were stocked to the rafters with reproductions of masterworks.  

Mr. Mooney's secret getaway is the Tumbleweed Inn in Indian Rock (not to be confused with the Indianweed Inn in Tumblerock), two hours outside of Los Angeles, where he is known as 'Hopalong' and dresses in black cowboy duds. 

To convince the Chief and the Medicine Man she is friendly, Lucy says: “Me hate John Wayne.”  John Wayne played a cowboy in most of his films. He played himself on “I Love Lucy” in 1955 and will do so again on a season 5 episode of “The Lucy Show.”  

When asked to do a rain dance, Lucy asks the Native American drummer: “Do you know 'Stormy Weather'? How about 'April Showers'?  'Singin' in the Rain'?” "Stormy Weather" is a 1933 song written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler. Ethel Waters first sang it at The Cotton Club in Harlem. In 1965 it was covered by Bing Crosby. "April Showers" was written by Louis Silvers and B.G. De Sylva and introduced by Al Jolson in the 1921 Broadway musical Bombo. "Singin' In the Rain" is by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown published in 1929. It became the centerpiece of the 1952 musical film of the same name. Coincidentally, Douglas Fowley (the Chief) played a supporting role in the film.  

For her improvised rain dance, Lucy does pantomime and a few steps of the Charleston. She earns a round of applause from the studio audience. To the rhythmic beat of the drum, she then launches into bumps and grinds like a stripper, even miming removing gloves and tossing them away.  Instead of a cloud burst, they are showered with oil when Vince and Dick strike a nearby gusher.  

As was usual with films and TV shows of the time, the Native American characters were played by white and mixed race actors of dark complexion. The script also indulges in humor derived from stereotypical speech patterns of Native Americans, although the presence of two tribe sons (Dick and Vince) who speak and act like most modern teens, helps keep the comedy in perspective.  

Callbacks!

This is not the first time Lucy was atop a totem pole. The April 17, 1953 edition of TV Guide (the third national edition ever) had Lucy and Little Ricky atop a TV totem pole featuring Cid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Milton Berle, and Arthur Godfrey, all TV icons of the early 1950s. 

Lucy dressed like a Native American squaw in both “Lucy and the Scout Trip” (S2;E26) and “The Indian Show” (ILL S2;E24) wearing the same exact outfit. This costume is different – it is powder blue, a color that favored Lucille Ball.  

Blooper Alerts!

In the prop newspaper, an ad for the Palace Theatre uses the same font seen in a newspaper in “Ricky's Old Girlfriend” (ILL S3;E12) in 1953!  

“Lucy, the Rain Goddess” rates 3 Paper Hearts out of 5