#guess i could also take the T a few stops to the trader joes if im particularly lazy

[kittykatinabag]

Got talked into a bed frame that can raise and lower each half of the bed (à la those old sleep number commercials back in the day) since it was on super clearance and holy shit I may never go back, it's so cool.

[2seokfan]

Scarlet & Hazel | Ch. 1

pairings: hoseok x reader x yoongi

genre: fluff, very light angst, smut (future)

word count: 3.6k

chapters: ch.1, ch.2, ch.3, ch.4

summary: 

Just cause you’re living paycheck to paycheck in a tiny apartment even after graduating college doesn’t mean you’re not happy. So what if your best friend is working her dream job making close to six figures every year?  So what if she’s in a loving, committed relationship with her perfect boyfriend that you’re 99% sure is going to propose to her sometime next year? It doesn’t matter that your idea of a perfect relationship is a $9.99 bottle of wine on Friday nights while you binge watch Netflix specials.

Ok so maybe you’re a teensy bit miserable. Maybe you have no idea what you’re doing with your life. Maybe all you need to do is accidentally cross paths with two hybrids who will drastically change that.

Meet “Scarlet” and “Hazel”, two of the most gorgeous hybrid men you have ever laid eyes on. With their help, you learn that life is an adventure, a rollercoaster with ups and downs, and you were too preoccupied with yourself to climb out of your own predicament. And hey, you’re not much of a romantic, but with these two, you just might change your mind.

note: Hi! This is my first fic ever! I don’t even know if anyone’s gonna read this but I’ve had this idea in my head for awhile so fuck it.

You kicked off your shoes and threw your purse on the couch.

“God my back hurts!” 

Honestly with the amount of random bodily aches you experience on a daily business you could pass for being 70 years old. But this time you knew where the pain stemmed from. You just had to fall asleep awkwardly after a night on your phone. And of course today was a work day and you slept past all THREE of your alarms. But you know that feeling when you sleep for a suspiciously long amount of time and something doesn’t feel right? That’s the sixth sense that saved your ass this morning because your internal body clock was like sweetie I think you’re late. 

You only had time to slap on some makeup, hoping it looked semi decent, and throw your greasy hair into a messy, but passable bun because no one wants to see an ugly receptionist. You had to skip your morning Starbucks drive-through routine because you’re about to be LATE, late so you grab your keys and start your car, booking it to work.

You work at a private hybrid clinic which pays a little better than most but that means you also have to deal with a lot of attitude from rich “owners” (you hate that word). And you sat weirdly at work today so that did nOThing to help your back pain. Also how come everybody decided to book an appointment today?? It’s Friday for god's sake why does everyone and their mothers decide it’s time to call the clinic and book a checkup. They get so mad at you when you say this whole month is filled. You can’t change the schedule though?? The calendar’s filled lady either get over it and settle for next month or fuck off (of course you don’t say that out loud cause you’ll get fired). Also someone yelled at you today because they didn’t like the magazine choices in the waiting room.

Anyways your day sucked and you couldn’t be happier being back in your tiny apartment to binge watch netflix stand-up comedies until you collapse. Well you say it’s your apartment but you actually have a roommate. She’s nothing like you though, she’s the epitome of responsibility. You agreed to live with her even though you met her through Craigslist because once you met her in person you deemed her genuine enough, and also found out she’s hardly ever at the apartment but she still pays rent on time?! You really hit the jackpot with her honestly. Cause you can be a little bit messy sometimes but even when she is home she never complains. The only negative side of having her as a roommate is that you never really had time to bond with her cause she’s so busy and over your league that even after a year you two still aren’t anything more than friendly acquaintances.

Alright time to get out of your work clothes and into nothing but your favorite oversized t-shirt with no pants on because that is what you deem home-appropriate attire. But before you turn on netflix your tummy is making “feed me” noises so it’s time to check the fridge. Damn no leftovers. Time to crack open one of those Trader Joe’s frozen meals you have stacked in the freezer. You blindly pick a box. Guess you’re having vegan tikka masala tonight. Not gonna lie though those frozen meals are actually not half bad. Or maybe you’ve been away from good home cooking for so long you’ve become desensitized? Who cares, you’re hungry. Also it’s Friday, so no harm in cracking open a bottle of wine right?

When you’re all settled on the couch with your favorite plush blanket on your legs, a random comedian on tv, and a full tummy, your mind drifts away. It’s Saturday tomorrow and you have the weekends off. Maybe you should do something fun for yourself to make up for the crap you had to deal with today. You text your best friend Karli. You know she’s awake since it’s only 10pm.

You: Hey girl wanna go to the beach or smth tmrw?? <3

Karli: Yaaas ok I don’t work!! What time?

You: and we can walk around all the fancy stores and get coffee from that place we love.

You: hmmm how bout meet there @11??

Karli: Sounds good sweetie want me to pick you up?

You: no its ok ill meet u there i need to buy groceries after

Karli: Kk love ya see you then!!!

You: love ya! night bby

Karli knows that when you say “go to the beach” you really mean walk along the beach and the nearby stores because it’s early June and prime tourist season. That means the sand is packed with people and their kids and the water’s probably filled with pee so you’re not really down for that. Also the expensive shops near the beach are so cute and you love walking around window shopping, pretending like you can actually afford any of the items on display.

The wine is now getting to you cause before you know it you find your eyelids getting heavy. You muster up your last ounce of strength to turn off the tv and force yourself out of the couch cause your poor back doesn’t need another excuse to keep hurting. As much as you don’t want to wash your face and brush your teeth, you have to because you don’t want makeup on your pillowcase tonight. And when you finally crawl into bed you knock out instantly.

BEEP BEEP BEEP

“Oh fuck…”

You forgot that drunk you last night set an alarm today for 9am. Thank you drunk Y/N. 

Why 9am? Because you need to shower and get ready, plus the beach you’re going to is near the north part of the city, which is also the expensive part of the city, meaning it’s a LONG ways from where you live. But the stores are aesthetically pleasing and it contains both you and Karli’s favorite coffee shop so you’re willing to make the 25 minute drive. Karli doesn’t have to worry though because she lives a lot closer than you do. Girl has got her shit together. Honestly you’re just glad she decided to move back after graduate school cause the long distance friend thing sucks balls.

You hop in the shower and rinse yourself awake. The weather is perfect, warm but not too hot. Unlike many people who prefer to dress up for a nice outing, you’re just the opposite. You’ve been forced to dress in nice business attire with a full face of makeup all week. Hell no are you dressing up on your days off too. It’s a sweatpants and tank top kinda day so that’s exactly what you wear. Ever since college you’ve spoiled yourself into only wearing comfy clothes whenever you have the chance and it’s become a minor problem in your life. You have some perfectly nice jeans in the closet but you haven’t worn them in forever. And you’re not gonna wear them today either. And makeup? Who needs makeup? You’ll just go barefaced since you have no one to impress. Actually just kidding maybe a little concealer just to cover up a few rough spots but that’s IT. You’re still a little self conscious and you know you have to work on that but not today.

It’s now 10:15. You grab your purse from the couch, slip on your favorite pair of slides and head to your car. You’re the kind of person who absolutely needs music when you drive so you quickly start blasting your favorite playlist. Before you know it, you’re pulling up to the beach area. Parking is hard to find on the weekend but your lucky ass managed to squeeze into a street parking spot right as someone pulls out. You lock your car and make the trek to Cozy Coffeehouse, your favorite coffee shop hands down.

Karli is already here and she’s hopping up and down, waving at you. She looks super cute today in her little black dress and fishnets. She’s had the same taste since high school and you’re glad that even a Master’s degree hasn’t stopped her from dressing all punk on her days off. You jog over and give her a quick hug.

“Hey girl look at you!! You’re so cute!” You take in her makeup and you swear if she didn’t go the corporate route she definitely should have been a makeup artist. Her eyeshadow is amazing and you’ll never ever have the blending talent that she has, nor could you ever get your eyeliner to look that sharp.

“Aw thanks! You look comfy though I’m kinda jealous now maybe I should’ve dressed down.” 

“No I love your outfits! Besides, someone has to look nice in this relationship.”

You link arms and march into the cafe. It’s located near the fancy designer stores on a large hill overlooking the beach. When you step inside the whole atmosphere screams ‘cozy’, fitting its name perfectly. The interior is littered with mismatched sofas and armchairs but it somehow still looks aesthetically pleasing. Soft piano jazz is playing through speakers and when you step inside the delicious scent of freshly ground coffee beans immediately invades your nostrils.

You glance at their pastry display first. Today must be your lucky day because they have tiramisu and you absolutely love tiramisu but it’s usually sold out. No way in hell are you letting this chance slide, fuck breakfast norms you’re definitely getting a bite of that. Unfortunately you’re not a fan of sugary treats on top of sugary drinks so to balance things out you choose to order their house brew.

After you two order, you find a spot in one of the plush armchairs near the window and sit. You really are lucky today since window seats are usually taken. But not this time! You guys get to enjoy the gorgeous scenery displayed before you. The sun is bright, people are laying on the beach tanning, and kids are splashing each other with water. For the first time in awhile, you feel content with life, if only for a bit. 

Before long your orders are called out and you stand up to retrieve them. Once you’re settled, you break into conversation with Karli, eager to catch up on everything that happened since you two last spoke face-to-face. You talk about work, Karli’s boyfriend Sunny, that new pizza place that opened up near your apartment that actually has really shitty pizza.

“Like seriously how do you fuck up pizza that badly?” you exclaim in between generous bites of tiramisu.

“No I get you,” Karli responds, slurping her iced mocha frappuchino, “everybody knows what pizza is supposed to taste like, I mean it’s gotta take talent to actually fuck it up to the level you’re describing girl.”

“Exactly!!” You wave your arms in the air, wanting to physically demonstrate your frustration at the situation and your passion for good pizza.

“Anyways…” Karli gently sets her drink down and takes on a more serious tone. “How are you though, honestly.”

“Hmm, me?” You swallow your last bite of tiramisu, “I’m doing good. Works ok, life’s ok. You know. Everything’s… ok.”

“I get that everything’s ‘ok’ but you know I want you to be more than ok. I want you to be happy”

You see the genuine concern in her eyes. Bless this girl for being so soft-hearted.

She continues, “And when was the last time you dated? Like, what, 2 years ago??”

Of course she has to mention dating. Karli has always been a romantic. You? Not so much. Your brain tended to err on the logical, practical side, which is not always a good idea since it keeps you away from many potential relationships.

“I date!” You scoff, but you’re not convincing anybody, least of all yourself.

“Oh really?” Her eyes widen in mock surprise, “Tinder one night stands don’t count babe. You know what I mean.”

“Well you didn’t specify…” You mumble, trying to come up with any excuse to defend your pride. You know she’s just being a good friend and that she’s asking because she cares about you, so you don’t let her questions irritate you.

“Sweetie I’m not trying to make you feel bad and I’m sorry if it comes across that way. It’s just… you mean a lot to me and you’re my bestie and I just want to see you be happy.” She takes your hand from across the table and looks you in the eyes. “We don’t get to see each other as much as we used to, so when I do I want to check in on how you’re doing.”

Then she averts her eyes, which you find highly suspicious. “Also I may or may not have found someone who I KNOW will be a perfect match for you.”

“AHA I KNEW you were leading up to something!”

“Wait but hear me out. He’s an accountant and at first I was like hmmm is he too boring for Y/N? But then I realized I was judging him by his job and that’s not cool so I talked to him and he’s, like, actually super cute and super sweet and I think you two will get along so well!” She’s speaking very fast at this point, trying to squeeze out as much information as possible before you can interject. Then she finishes with one of her signature Karli smiles, big and wide and all teeth and she knows you can’t say no to that face.

“Dammit. Fine.” You lost this round. “Alright if he wants to meet up I won’t say no. How bout that?”

“Gee that’s so thoughtful of you Y/N.” Her tone is sarcastic but she’s still smiling so you know she means no harm.

After another half hour of conversation, locked in a heated debate about food again (this time she’s defending her stance that pineapple belongs on pizza), Karli’s phone rings. The sound scares the poor girl half to death, and watching her jump a mile from her couch had you snorting into your coffee mid drink.

She looks at the caller ID, muttering under her breath, “It’s Saturday what do they want?” then glances up with a sad little pout, “Sorry Y/N it’s work gimme a sec…”

From what you can hear on her side of the conversation, something has come up and she has to head to the office right away. 

“Ok I’ll be there in fifteen,” she hangs up and gives an exaggerated “Ughhhhh”. She takes one large gulp, finishing the last of her ultra sweet, ultra whipped frappuccino. “It’s like they can’t do anything when I’m not there.” She looks especially apologetic when her eyes land back on you, “I’m so sorry I have to cut this short…”

“Hey it’s ok! Duty calls ya know,” you give her a reassuring grin, hoping it passes for a smile instead of a grimace. You were really hoping to hang out today.

“No it’s not ok. We didn’t even get to walk around today! And I know how much you like to do that.” She stands up, slipping her purse onto her shoulder, “so next time I’ll plan a day where I guarantee I won’t get interrupted. It’s the least I can do.”

“Mk sounds good babe,” you give her a big hug, “Go get ‘em tiger!”

After she exits the cafe you finish the last bit of your coffee and glance out the window, staring at the people on the beach. Wow it’s really crowded down there today. You zone in on two kids attempting to build a sandcastle, but it’s too close to the water so the waves flatten it in two seconds. But it seems they didn’t learn their lesson because they keep rebuilding the castle in the same spot. Just move it further up little dudes.

You find yourself lost in thought again. Just because Karli’s suddenly busy doesn’t mean you don’t still have a whole day to yourself. You can walk around on your own. Also why not treat yourself to another drink? A fun one this time from their specials menu.

Ten minutes later you find yourself wandering around the various shops, hot hazelnut latte in hand, gazing at display after display of designer clothes and bags. Look, you may not be a huge fashion person, or have any expendable cash, but a girl can still appreciate art, especially when it’s laid out so nicely in front of you. 

Speaking of art, there’s an art gallery coming up that you absolutely love. You’ve always been too afraid to go inside because you’re the type of person who feels obligated to buy something if you enter a local store and you DEFinitely can’t afford anything there. So you opt to loiter outside, like some creep, looking a little too long at the featured art through the window. This time it’s an Impressionist style painting of a ship on hazy waters with a sunset in the background. You’re no artist but you can appreciate good quality work when you see it. The piece is mesmerizing and serene, transfixing you to the spot. Before you know it, you’ve been staring for 15 whole minutes.

While admiring the artist’s use of color on the display piece, you overhear a lady raising her voice not too far away, snapping you out of your trance. It sounds like drama, so being the nosy bitch that you are, you’re definitely gonna check it out, if only to satisfy your curiosity.

“What do you mean ‘no’?! You’ll be perfect for each other!! Where’s your owner I bet he’ll listen!” At this point the lady’s voice is sounding downright aggressive.

As you shuffle closer to the scene of the noise, you spot a middle-aged, blonde lady pointing her finger at two hybrid men, almost jabbing one of them in the chest with her sharp, ruby nails. Behind her stands a gorgeous female arctic fox hybrid who clearly belongs to her as she pats her owner’s shoulders, trying to calm her down.

“I’m sorry miss but we just aren’t interested.” The taller of the two hybrids with orange hair speaks up, gently pushing the lady’s hands away. “Please leave us alone.” He’s being surprisingly calm, even after getting yelled at in public.

“Yeah lady get out of our faces,” the other white and grey haired hybrid is definitely more agitated, crossing his arms as he huffs in annoyance. You don’t blame him since the blonde lady is being ridiculously rude.

You can’t really make out the two males’ faces, since they’re turned away from you, but they are obviously hybrids. Both having incredibly bushy, soft-looking tails and tall, pointy ears sticking out of their heads.

Even if you can’t see their expressions, you can tell they’re uncomfortable with the harassment. Since you’re still somewhat unaware of the context, you stay out of the argument but decide to keep an eye on the situation in case the lady steps out of line. You’re just slightly around the corner, able to stay a safe distance away so that no one, especially the lady, can catch you eavesdropping. Pretending to admire the Gucci purses displayed in front of the shop you’re now standing at, and almost choking at the price, you cautiously side-eye blondie as she refuses to back down from the hybrid boys.

“Listen here you rude little pets, I’m not leaving you alone until I see your owner. My Sylvia here,” she gestures to the fox hybrid behind her, “would make a perfect partner for you.” She pokes the orange haired hybrid again, “I’ve been searching so long for her to find a mate and I’m not giving you up! Now where the hell is your owner!”

What the fuck?! How dare this lady talk to them like that? And in public no less! You now know exactly why she’s yelling at them. Working at a private hybrid clinic has opened your eyes to the harsh world of hybrids, and their selfish, rich owners. It’s not uncommon for owners to negotiate with each other and breed their hybrids. If two pretty hybrids mate, their children can be sold for loads of money. It's cruel and disgusting, with many of the children sold off before they can even get to know their parents. You’re all too familiar with this tradition, often catching owners in the waiting room of your clinic discussing in whispers about buying and selling hybrid children as if they’re livestock.

“Hey what the fuck did you call us?!” The white and grey hybrid is now also raising his voice. “Listen you wrinkly bi…!” He is quickly silenced by the orange hybrid, who abruptly clamps his hand over his buddy’s mouth.

Orange hair clears his throat. “What he means is, we don’t appreciate the tone you’re using with us. Please leave us alone ma’am. We’ll be on our way. Goodbye.” They attempt to brush past her.

“Hey hold on a minute! I’m not done with you!!” This lady even has the balls to grab onto orange hair’s arm. “I demand to speak to your owner!” Then some sort of realization dawns upon her because her eyes go wide, then quickly narrow. “And where are your collars? Aren’t owned hybrids supposed to have collars on? You know I just might have to call Hybrid Services.” 

You can see the boys visibly tense at her words as she sports a satisfied smirk. Poor Sylvia is now gently tugging on her shirt. “Please calm down, miss…” she says desperately trying to remedy the situation.

Before you know it, and without any plan of action, you round the corner and march up to the boys, standing defensively in front of them.

“Um…” You gulp, then clear your throat, speaking in what you hope is a more confident tone. “Sorry I took so long guys! You wouldn’t believe the line at the coffee shop!”

Next

[deborahcastellano]

[The Rules of Exile] Rule No. 6 Nolite te Bastardes Carborundorum

My hair is currently in what could very graciously be called a Fraggle Updo currently.  My bra is already off and I am wearing a long t shirt that says "Wild at Heart", grey sweat pants, two seasons ago Victoria Secret slippers.  There is a trickle of menses between my thighs, my snout is encrusted in dry skin from the week long illness I still haven't shaken off.  My hands smell of Gardenia because I spilled some essential oil on them while trying to fix a candle.

O my sister #QueensInExile.  We are in the heart of the dark.  Truly.  This is where dreams are burned into the backs of our eyes.  This is where we make our triumphant to court, crowned in glory and holly, cloven orange pomanders jauntily swinging at our waists, champagne is an endless fountain and marchpane cascading from the table with the possibilities of the new year bright in everyone's eyes.  This year, we whisper to ourselves and each other, this year will be different.

It's also when we are at our lowest, our saddest, our most melancholy and the dark threatens to swallow us whole in our grief and our misery.  We are hollow in our hungers, in our austerities, in our exile.  Our homes are filled with the ghosts of what was and what never will be.  The chests that we have brought with us into exile are tattered.  Our money is low.  Our spirits are lower.

Yank yourself up by the goddamn hair, sisters.  We will not be ground down.  Our spirits will not be broken.  We will survive.

Start making tea correctly.  You see how long it tells you to steep it?  Yeah.  Do that.  Make it by the teapot and keep your insides warm.  Where there is tea there is civility.  Where there is civility there is survival.  Put the juice of a whole lemon into the pot and then add the leaves and the water.  Trader Joe's has a whole bag of Meyer lemons for $2.00.  Get it done.  Are you rolling around in the doldrums of your despair?  Gross.  Stop it.  Get some of Amy's tea that's relevant to your situation and then put your intent into the leaves and then drink it.

Go on an adventure.  Play the "Let's Get Lost Game", play Cemeteries and Cows, go someplace you've never been to and eat something there.  It doesn't have to be far and it doesn't have to be expensive.  But it can knock some of the cobwebs loose.  Need a guide?  Get Natalie's book.

Listen to some new music.  Chris and Tara always have awesome music on their show.  Looking for some Witch House-esque music that will make you cool like the youngs (or, in my case, like my much older magical auntie and uncle) and not inspire killer headaches because you are now boring?  A Place Both Wonderful and Strange has a very cool six song spell cycle called "What I Speak I Create".  If you let your life become completely predictable in everything including music, that's how your heart dies.  So don't do that.  Branch out.

Make some stock.  Everyone is always extolling the virtues of homemade stock.  I was less interested for a very long time because it never came out right.  You need to be home and you need like six or seven hours if you want it to be worth anything.  If you work from home or if you are in (in)voluntary exile, you now have time.  So, the bones you use are important.  A whole chicken carcass.  Ham hocks.  Beef marrow bones.  You could do it without the bones, of course if you are vegetarian.  Use more vegetables then.  A whole onion cut in half, skin on.  A stalk of celery.  Two carrots.  A palmful of mushrooms.  A few whole cloves of garlic.  Some booze helps - a dark beer, a chardonnay, a shiraz, cognac.  A whole bay leaf.  You will need a lot of salt.  Go easy and add it.  Don't get crazy with the pepper or it gets weird.  Smoked paprika.  A good spice blend that you like.  Put it all in a big pot.  Fill said pot with water.  Put it on the lowest setting for three hours and then the second to lowest for three more hours.  Take all the solids out and toss.  Follow a recipe for your favorite soup or stew.  If you don't know what that is, Pinterest is always there to save you.  Here's my board that I use for much of my cooking.  This winter I have learned that it is actually incredibly oppressive to make a different meal every goddamn night with our schedules.  Making two different things and having some exciting bread is sufficient.  Good stock makes you more hearty which you will need in exile.

Make sipping chocolate.  Again, Trader Joe's has it.  It's what gets me through the dark while on antibiotics, unable to drink St. Germain like a goddamn savage.  You need: a quart mason jar (or your previous TJ's Sipping Chocolate tin because you do not have time to go to TJ five towns over): 2 teaspoons good smoked salt (Auntie Arwen's and Savory are my go to spice shops - good prices, small quantities and zomg fresh),  1 teaspoon good cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla powder, 2 tablespoons good mini chocolate chips, 1/4 cup good fine sugar, 1/3 cup good unsweetened cocoa powder.  Put it all in the mason jar.  Put the lid on.  Shake it up.  3 tablespoons of the cocoa with 1/3 cup warm 2% milk.  130 calories if you need to feel justified about it.  Good chocolate fixes your brain chemicals.  You need your strength to fight.

Cultivate an attention span.  Oh lordess.  Mine is terrible.  I used to be able to read a book in like two days.  I'm checking my phone, texting, watching television while reading a book like a person who should be shamed.  Reading before bed?  A recipe for sleeps.  I am trying to recultivate an attention span.  You can work on puzzles or write or go for a walk or eat at the table and have a conversation or . . . meditate I guess?  That's not my bag, but if it's yours and it sucks right now, you should fix it.  It feels like liquid burning in your brain pan but that's how creation happens.  Start with like 30 minutes and promise yourself your garbage animal treat of choice for completing it until you can take the training wheels off.

Little rituals are critical this time of year.  You need to be sowing seeds in this womb of darkness.  Get a close relationship with your honey pot.  See what St. Martha is up to.  Ring up your ancestors.  Ask the Moirai what they've been up to.  Tell Parvati about your day at work.  Make offerings.  Do magic.  Start things, finish things.  Do fancy dances.  Yell at the moon.  Let yourself dream and then execute.  Most spells aren't one and don't, they require regular attention.  Can you do that?  It's easy on day three, less easy by day ten and much less easy by day 38.

Create wonder, pay things forward, buy your bestie a cup of Starbucks, donate to a charity you care about, make something beautiful with your own two little hands, be kind to your loved ones, breath life into your house plants, be extra attentive to your cat, make your lover a hot water bottle.  Open your heart.  Do it because it hurts.  And we are not afraid of pain, sisters.

[goodrush]

day 31

Hi friends. People have been giving me shit about my posting decline, and ugh I am sorry but I get tired at night!! I will try harder to be better :(

But I can tell you about many days today! Friday was pretty good. Liam and I got to talk about those companies he asked about. talking to my mentor was really great (and she was on time)! We went to this uber cute Italian place and I got some cheeses, and did a Barry’s class beforehand because I got out of work relatively early! So two Barry’s days in a row and they were both super intense. Even though I ate cheeses and bread that night, I woke up the next morning looking tight af!!! My tummy like was super flat and you could almost see abs. I was truly in shock.

Couldn’t really waste my time checking my self out though, bc boy did I have a wild time on the TRAIN trying to meet this BB banker. I facetimed w E beforehand, which was nice. But trains only leave my town on the weekends every like 2 hours, so I could only get on a 2:08 for a 3pm meeting, which SHOULD have been reasonable. But even though my mom said I would be taken, when I needed to leave, no one was home ??? So my dad had to race back home and get me to the station. Even though he rolled up to the house at literally 2:05, I somehow made it. Then I ran through the transfer station and made an earlier train to NYC than the scheduled transfer. But as SOON as I texted E saying “I’ve had relatively good luck with trains so far, let’s hope it lasts”, my train STOPS on the tracks for 20 minutes. I knew I was gonna be late at this point, so I emailed my guy and he seemed understanding but tbh who really knows. But that’s not ALL. I got to New York and got on the AC subway, as Google maps told me to, but when I got to west 4th, they told me they fucking wouldn’t be servicing spring, canal, or chambers, and I needed to get off and get on an E!!!! So I got off and waited for an E, which finally arrived, but it SKIPPED CHAMBERS AND WENT STRAIGHT TO THE WTC. I was actually embroiled with pure rage and sweat, and had to run back up to the agreed upon coffee shop.

I, a frizzy haired, sweaty, red faced agitated mess, greeted my networker in a daze and sat down. He asked me if I needed water, which I got, and after that the conversation seemed okay. Lasted a healthy 50 minutes, and he said he genuinely wouldn’t hold it against me for being late. So that was good I thought. After we parted ways, I simmered in a juice press with a comfort smoothie and then went to target across the street. I picked out a couple seemingly cute things, and headed downstairs to a dressing room. There were two. Two dressing rooms. And one was closed. And the other one had a line and a woman was in there for over 20 minutes!!!! After we banged on the door and security kicked her out, out she wheels “over 500$ worth of merchandise, guess you don’t want me to buy it then! And I’m so sorry you guys, there’s only one open room, what are you gonna do?” What a late stage capitalism bitch. Disgusting.

Then they found a used pad on the floor of the room, which they picked up, and then the room was ready for use! One top was cute so I bought it. Go me.

Then I walked up to have dinner with T after many reschedulings. But it was fun; she’s so adorable and so fun to talk to. I really hope we remain friends. We talked about work, boys, some crazy friends, uchicago, family, and the future. All good vibes. Our dinner was yummy Korean food, and we hung out for like over four hours! Walked around the WTC too and then she caught a train. What a doll, I honestly love her!

So then I went home, and I felt bad that I was in the city and didnt work out. I should’ve gone in earlier and taken a class at like 1 or something, but I got lazy. I wish I had more discipline :/

So Sunday though was relatively speaking way more chill. I got up at 10:30ish and went practice driving with my dad to Mont, and it was mostly fine except i missed an exit and kinda got rattled and parked badly in front of my house as a result. But I didn’t die! When I headed to Mont to meet @autonoesis for real, it went much better, and I parked great. He brought his friend Erin, which was really fun; she’s super cool. We ate at this SUPER yummy middle eastern brunch place (Joe’s idea!); I got the shakshuka, which was heavenly. After, we went shopping in the cute area, and I got some posters (one of fruits and vegetables), a few books as gifts, and a handmade facial scrub. You can imagine just how bougie this place was but i thrive on it.

Then we parted ways and I drove home, and then M surprise texted me and came over for a bit to chill. We talked about his ex, my ex, our lives, and his race he had that day which he did really well in! I would’ve done it if he’d asked lol. I may have convinced him to see John Mulaney. That shit would be worth it. And he invited me to go to the beach on Sunday… in his Jeep, which I think of as like the beachiest vehicle. I hope he takes the top off the car, or maaaaybe the half doors (?) but that still kinda freaks me out. Then it would be the MOST summery. But if I’m going to the beach, gotta work my butt off (more like my tummy off and my butt on) this week to show off a cute bod. Another motivator is E coming to see me next tuesday (and flying home Sunday)! But the biggest motivator is ME. Gotta keep myself going.

Today I went to work again, which was fine. I made some progress on the two pager, and got a new ballz high score lmao. I think I’m talking on the phone with a trader tomorrow, but he hasn’t emailed back to confirm, so we’ll see. Phone convos always freak me out a bit, so hopefully this one will go well. My lunch salad today was overdressed AGAIN! Definitely getting dressing on the side next time. Then I left at around 6ish for my 6:50 Barry’s class. It was HARD! I think it might be because I didn’t work out on sat or sun, and also the first round was just brutal (20 minutes of floor, THEN 20 minutes of treadmill with incline). But I did order a fuel bar shake. Protein powder tastes weird. And today I got another special treat: my dad came into the city for an unrelated reason and drove me home! So I got back really early.

Tonight at midnight I’m fting my old camp friend from the U.K., so hopefully that goes well/normally. It’s super coincidental that he reached out to me first. We maintain like a 25% friendship, which is enough for me. I’ve also been talking to @gossipmelons a lot more and she’s having a weird time, but I’m tryna support her from across the globe. Sigh just tryna live and all. I’m gonna reach out to this sorority sister and my childhood camp friend’s (a diff one) brother, who we like have a weird friendship with as a family. So hopefully that stuff works out. I’m just trying to chill tonight. Hopefully I get my workout mojo back and my academic/career power.

[weditchthemap]

A Week in Seattle and Surrounding National Parks

Our drive into Seattle was one of our longest days on the road.  The trip from Glacier National park to our Airbnb was 530 miles and took us all day.  We were tired and just wanted a quick meal so we went to a Subway to split a veggie sub.  The doors were locked but the place was clearly still open so I gave a firm couple of knocks and waited a few minutes.  After a while a greasy man unapologetically opened the door while pointing to the open sign, which apparently was not lit up.  As we entered he said, “I heard you knocking and was squeezing very hard”.  Sylvie and I looked at each other and without a word knew the other’s thoughts.  Let’s get the fuck out of here!  We found another Subway 5 minutes away, but our Chagrin the price was even higher.  Can you believe we paid $8.50 for a sub with only veggies on it?  No meat, not cheese, no tofu, just the normal fixings.  At least we weren’t overly concerned about getting E. Coli! 

2 Days in Seattle

Although we typically shy away from large tourist attractions our first day in Seattle actually took us through the top 3 attractions in Seattle—Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, and the Ballard Locks.  During our next day we walked around Pike and Pine street in the Capitol Hill Neighborhood, International District, and 5th Avenue.

Pike Place Market:

After shopping around for reasonably priced parking we settled on a garage charging $18 for 10 hours.  We made sure to get to the market early because we had read it can get packed.  We walked the multitude of layers of the market as various vendors set up for the day.  We were a bit disappointed by the market itself.  There were only a handful of produce vendors and their food was grossly overpriced.  I couldn’t help but compare it to Reading Terminal, an enormous market I visited often in Philadelphia.  I found that Pike Place Market came up short in almost every comparison.  It had far fewer food venders and the ones they did have were less unique.  It’s clear that Pike Place Market exists solely for tourists and a local would never be caught dead in that place.  Who in their right mind would pay $9.99 for a single dragon fruit?  No thank you!

The Space Needle:

We spent the day walking through several popular neighborhoods.  The Space Needle was in our path so we took a glance.  We took a few seconds craning our heads and then moved onwards.  I guess that’s another box we can check off on some arbitrary list? 

Fremont and Ballard Locks:

We walked various hilly streets in Queen Ann admiring the various houses.  I was shocked to see boarded up and condemned buildings immediately next to multi-million dollar modern homes.  After a few miles we crossed over the Fremont Bridge, where Google had a local campus, and walked into the Fremont neighborhood.  Fremont is a small hip area that consisted of a few streets filled with brew houses, ethnic food, and cafes.  We walked onwards for another couple miles until we reached the Ballard Locks.

Ballard Locks:  “Officially known as the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, the Ballard Locks is one of Seattle’s most popular tourist attractions, especially during the sunny months. The grounds also feature a fish ladder and the Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden — one of the most beautiful park settings in Seattle”. Read more about the locks here!

In a shared Uber we took back in the direction of our car we talked with another passenger and she provided us with some advice for the city along with call out to a vegan ice-cream parlor called Frankie & Jo’s.  We checked it out prior to walking back to our car and tasted the Golden Milk and the Chocolate Date flavors.  Frankie and Jo’s was generous and let us taste many of their flavors.  They tasted pretty good considering they use coconut milk, but I prefer ice-cream made with real milk. Frankie and Jo’s is located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood.

We hightailed it back to our car with 1 minute to spare before our $18 parking charge increased to $25.  For our first day in Seattle we walked over 30k steps and logged more than 10 miles.  We were left mostly unimpressed by the central downtown areas and decided to concentrate our next day in the Capitol Hill neighborhood.

Capitol Hill – Pike/Pine Streets

We started our second day in this university left-leaning neighborhood.  Gay pride flags, tattoo parlors, hip cafes, and even a Trader Joe’s make Capitol Hill a fun liberal area to pass some time.  We ventured into a large bookstore called Elliot Bay, but I thought it smelled like dirty cat litter so I didn’t stay too long.  Sylvie thinks it was just the smell of books.  Wooden electricity/phone poles were decorated 8 feet tall in flyers and pamphlets—most were monotone and slightly gothic in feeling.  I’ve noticed that many people here in Seattle wear very muted colors.  Black is definitely the most popular, but grey doesn’t fall too far behind.  Grudge is alive and well here in Seattle.  Although everyone we met was very kind I found that most people in the streets seemed very serious.  This is in stark contrast to our recent experience walking through the small towns in Wyoming and Montana.  It may just be that we haven’t been in a large city for a while but even Denver felt more ‘bubbly’ that here.

Seattle had quite a few game stores that sold board games and let people play while eating cheap pub food and brews.  Many bars and cafes had pinballs machines set up for customers to play for a small fee.  There were so many that it makes me think that Seattle’s history is somehow connected to pinball games.  Did I mention that Seattle has a pinball museum that consists of dozens of machines spanning a multitude of decades?  $15 for all you can play per person was just too steep for our budget-conscience pockets.

5th Ave & Chinatown-International District

We happened to stumble onto 5th Ave, which is a key shopping area in downtown Seattle.  We were almost trampled by commuters, a stampede only matched by those found in Manhattan.  We exited this area as quickly as we found it.

Before long we made our way to the Chinatown/International District, a Neighborhood hosting many of Seattle’s Asian communities.  We stopped into a large indoor Asian grocery called Uwajimaya and walked around for a little.  There were half a dozen food stands lining the entrance to the grocer.  Sylvie and I have been a bit spoiled when it comes to Asian markets—we’ve been to some of the largest ones in the world.  Considering Seattle’s closer proximity to Asia I had higher expectations for Chinatown—granted we didn’t spend too much time wandering around.  I was a bit shocked on how modern and Americanized many of the establishments were.  What I value a Chinatown is the authenticity of the food and overall atmosphere.  I imagine the Asian communities in Seattle have done well for themselves and it does show.  If you hoping for the grit-filled streets you would uncover in Manhattan’s Chinatown, then you’ve come to the wrong place.  We have been extremely spoiled living in Philadelphia with the enormous Chinese and Vietnamese communities so places take these comments with a grain of salt.

1 Day in Mount Rainier National Park

We enjoyed a great quick loop hike along the Skyline Trail Loop, which is located in the main south side hub park. This are is called Paradise and is the most impressive part of the park. The first part of the hike was paved but as we gained altitude the trail got a little rockier.  The hike was better than average and we enjoyed our time and our great views of Mount Rainier during autumn.

Give yourself a day to travel from the Seattle area to Olympic National Park if you plan to set up camp in the evening!

2 Days in Olympic National Park

We found a free campsite near a logging road west of Olympic National Park (about 2 hours west of Port Angeles). The campsite is located off of Swan Bay and is a primitive site with 1 fire pit. You may be able to set a couple tents on the site but probably only one vehicle. Here is the camping information.

We watched sunset at a small boat dock down the road and crossed paths with two other long-term travelers.  The young couple had been on the road for 3 months so far and still had another 2 months.  The guy had spent several months gutting and rebuilding the inside of a van for the trip.  He showed us everything he had done.  He added insulation to the new wood ceiling and floor along with a gas stove, refrigerator, and faucet with a 28-gallon reservoir.  Wooden cabinetry lined the van and a bed resided in the rear.  It was all powered by 3 solar panels affixed to the van’s roof.  Not too bad for a house that also gets 20 mpg. The next day we drove a short distance to hike a 9-mile loop known as Ozette Triangle Trail (it’s also known at the Cape Alava Loop).  The first and last 3 miles were through a thick rainforest, while the middle portion of the hike took us right up to the Pacific Ocean.  The 3 miles along the coast was definitely the most beautiful scenery I’ve seen in the United States so far.  We managed to make it to the ocean during low tide so we got to witness a craggy and kelp-ridden shore.  Upon walking down to the water’s edge I could actually hear the billions of flies consuming the kelp.  It was like a scene from a Hitchcock movie.  We met up with two older hikers, Dick and Mike.  We enjoyed a leisurely stroll for several hours as we learned more about these 70-year-old outdoorsmen.  They talked about their childhood adventures on the very same beach and how it has become a bit more touristy over the years, however still remaining largely untouched.  They pointed out how lucky we were to see the coast at low tide and that during high tide navigating over the terrain was much more challenging.  Dick picked up various sea specimens and educated us.  We talked about his travels which were quite impressive.  He worked in a small Maasai village conducting oral surgeries for a month.  He talked about his upcoming travel plans to sail the Dalmatian Islands for 3 weeks.  Mike reminisced about his time working for the parks department during his college summers.  Do yourself a favor and hike the Ozette Triangle, it may be the pretties and most unique hike an American National Park has to offer.

After the hike we drove to Cape Flattery and hike a short while to watch sunset over the ocean. There were numerous picnic tables and designated areas to sit down and we enjoyed a warm meal for our sunset.

The next day we hiked up to Hurricane Ridge but were moderately disappointed.  The view was average and the hike was relatively boring.  Many sources state, “If you only have 1 day at Olympic National Park you need to hike to Hurricane Ridge”.  I disagree, if you only have 1 day go do the Cape Alava Loop (Ozette Triangle) Trail.