#how are SEVEN of my classmates at Disney World today

[smol-blue-bird]

Every day I regret choosing to attend a Rich People university

[respecthbcus]

Fatherhood By: Jaylen Amir Brown, Respect HBCUs Student Ambassador (Winston Salem State University)

What makes a man a man? Money, provision, integrity? Is it the ability to reproduce? Is it their sexual preference?          

What is fatherhood? Is it continuing one’s bloodline? Enforcing discipline? Is it phone conversations, talks over dinner, weekend/holiday visits, or appearances during big game days?

As my twenty short years of life continue, the definition of fatherhood and manhood is one which is intriguing to me. I’ve spoke with several fathers around the world, receiving many different answers. I've come to the realization that it's not like a "cup". There is no concrete definition which every man lives by to know what is and isn't a cup. It's more so like recipes to food which are often changed here and based off personal likes and dislikes. These changes can be great and others can be rather distasteful. These changes are critical due to how powerful the influence a father can have on his child(ren).

I think we all can relate to the lack of male presence in the classroom. At least we are aware of this. Don’t forget to add Black and/or African American to the equation. Personally, I can count on one hand the number of those that fit into this category. Actually, two fingers. The opportunity of those in classrooms to give everyday guidance for a minimum of five days and seven hours a day can be worthwhile. Not to mention when the father or a positive male is missing. I found that number to increase as I transitioned to college. More surprisingly to me this was evident on campuses other than Winston-Salem State University. It was one of those things which I was aware of but first hand seeing the professor, faculty, and staff members who actually looked like me daily provided that reassurance. Although this number did increase significantly, nationally there is still only a small percentage present.

Growing up I was unaware how common it was in my area for children to not communicate with their father. Let alone know who he was. This was especially something many of my classmates had in common. For whatever reason it may have been, as I reflect back I realize the impact this caused and how problematic this is in the black community. It was an actual privilege for me to know my mother and father and an even bigger one to watch their love strengthen as I continue to spend more time living. My father taught me many things that my mother could not. His caring father perspective allowed for me to be immersed in understanding. I remember many times where I have been abled to witness my father serve as one of the positive male figure in the lives of others. He has been a true “step-father” to many while only being married once for twenty years (which continues to flourish shout out to my parents for twenty years this past Thursday June 13th).  

So, what makes a man a true exemplifier of fatherhood? The question can be left for you to define at your own discretion. However, one can conclude for one to be a fatherhood he must put his child first, always be there in times of need, be a provider, and handle his business. So, to my fathers out there, those with kids and those without, thank you.

I had a chance to interview a few HBCU fathers. Scroll below to check out some of their awesome advice, insight, memories, stories, and thoughts on fatherhood. Check them out below!

Mr. Jimmie Lewis III, is a recent 2019 Prairie View A&M University Biology graduate from Katy, Texas. He is the father of two-year old twins, Mason & Marshall Lewis and is on the journey to become a Physician.

Q: What has been your greatest moment as a father?

A: I love that fatherhood has brought me back to all those simple pleasures I had long forgotten as a kid. I can now hold my own while watching hundreds of Disney movies and sing the words to hundreds of toddler tunes. I'm also proud to say the joys of playing hide-and-seek and follow the leader have finally returned to me as a 22 year old young man. However, as a new father I am most proud of watching my sons grow and learn. Being born prematurely early two years ago at the Longview Regional Hospital to now being very curious and knowledge during the terrible two year. I love being a witness to all their new lessons and discoveries.

Q: How did fatherhood impact you as a full-time or part-time college student?

A: If I were Picasso and had to paint a mural that would be representative of who I was, who I am, and who I will become it would be a harmony of colors. This painting would be a prolongation depicting yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The imagery behind my mural shows a story which is exclusively mine as I travel down the road of life. First impressions take less than thirty seconds. However, there was a time in my life when most people made their assumptions about me in less than ten seconds. Many strangers would declare both disappointment and lack of expectation, followed by condolences instead of congratulations. This was the reaction I received from a lot of individuals at first, therefore, I hid the fact for over two years that I had two twin sons while raising them to be exceptional young kings. I was a twenty-year-old father, a sophomore in college, a new father of twin sons, a stereotype to society.

A painter usually starts with the color blue. Blue represents the color of hope and dreams that I have fostered. However, all of a sudden, I felt as if the mortal error had been committed and everything that preceded it was embarrassing. Being young and naive, I use to care about others opinions, therefore I wouldn’t tell my peers or associates that I had sons. Growing as a better man and better father, my focus changed that allowed me to see my purpose as a young father.

Being an undergraduate scholar at Prairie View A&M University presented me with new challenges as a young parent during the beginning of my junior year of college.  I wasn’t used to taking care of kids since most of my siblings and cousins are around my age. My life as a new father was marred by many obstacles that tested my strength and willingness to endure the uncertainty of what was to come. I did not think I fully grasped what it would be like, what it would mean, to be a new father for a greater part of my academic and social life. I had to study more during the week when I knew I would get my sons on the weekends and had to miss plenty of social gatherings due to my new responsibilities. In order to provide for my sons, I relied on my campus job, and financial support from my parents.

The color purple which represents self-awareness and realization on my mural also has an influence on my personal growth. It was imperative that I abandon all previous habits of yesterday because they cannot be incorporated into my sons’ futures and my goals as a young father and man as well.  Tomorrow is colored gold for promise. Tomorrow is full of promises and opportunities.  My aesthetic painting will never be finished in spite of the strong decisions of colors. I am carrying the torch that was passed to me; just like I walk in other’s footsteps, therefore my twin sons can have the possibility to pass the burning torch. This calling is who I am and what I aspire to be.

Q: I personally remember times when parents would have to bring their child with them to class and even ask their classmates to watch their child during class times. Has there ever been a time where you had to depend on your HBCU family to assist with your parenting?

A: I didn’t depend on my HBCU family a lot. I would say my immediate family on her side and my side has had the greatest influence on the boys. Without my parent’s wisdom and assistance, I wouldn’t be able to raise my sons by myself. I also applaud the mother for being an incredible mother to my sons. Her journey over the past 2 years hasn't been easy, yet she found the courage and resilience to keep moving forward. Many would have quit after transferring schools, becoming a new mommy of twins and working 3 jobs all at once. Yet, she stayed the course. And as much as I would like to take a lot of credit for my part in my sons lives, she has played the greatest role in my son’s lives since they are with her majority of the time.

Q: When it's finally time for Mason and Marshall to visit colleges and apply, how likely will you encourage them to attend an HBCU?

A: I will definitely persuade my children to attend the best HBCU in the land, Prairie View A&M University. Hopefully, they become future members of the Eta Gamma Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc as well. HBCUs have a historic sense of community and family that makes the students feel more at home, therefore I want my sons to be comfortable and experience college just how I did.

Please share any advice you would give to soon to be fathers.

For future fathers, always be there for your children even during the worst circumstances. Fathers are apart of the critical point in the lives of our young African-American children. We must individually assess how we're raising them and figure out what we can do to keep our families intact (or at least how-to co-parent effectively). Also, always give your children a hug and tell them you love them everyday.

Mr. Oscar Ball III MS, OTR/L is from Goldsboro NC and the father of a beautiful daughter, Jayla.  Oscar is a two-time graduate from Winston-Salem’s own Winston-Salem State University. In 2009, he received his B.S. in Exercise Science and in 2012 he continued on obtaining his Masters in Occupational Therapy.

Q: What has been your greatest moment as a father?

A: I don’t think I could take one single moment and define it as my greatest moment as a father. So many come to mind and I know there’s plenty more to come. I would have to say it just has to be the overall experience. My daughter gives me a reason to live and grind each and every day. Her smile lets me know everything is going to be ok. And just watching her shows me that if nothing else I know I’ve done one thing right.

Q: How did fatherhood impact you as a full-time or part-time college student?

A: I had my daughter right before I started a strenuous Master’s program at WSSU. It made me more focused and taught me the importance of balance. It made me stronger as a student because I knew I had to be for her even when I wanted to be weak. It gave me the grind to make it through and hustle to support her while in school.

Q: I personally remember times when parents would have to bring their child with them to class and even ask their classmates to watch their child during class times. Has there ever been a time where you had to depend on your HBCU family to assist with your parenting?

A: I can’t really say I needed others help to support her. When I was in grad school her mom and I did a good job of co-parenting.

Q: Do you believe there was ever an instructor or faculty/staff member who assisted with you experience as a father? This can be from advice to make adjustments for you due to father duties.

A: If anything, the advice I received from Dr. Anne Jenkins about life and the importance of making an impact for myself and my family was the biggest motivation I received as a student that had an impact on me as a student.

Q: When it's finally time for your child to visit colleges and apply, how likely will you encourage Jayla to attend an HBCU?

A: I will strongly advise my daughter to attend an HBCU but will ultimately support whatever decision she chooses. I’m a firm believer that how I live and the way I share my experiences with her even now will mold and influence a lot of the decisions she will make going into adulthood including her choice of college. As of now, she’s already planning to attend WSSU as an education major.

[department-shoe-stud]

MC & Jacob asks 1-7 :33

Gladly!!!! (You have no idea how ready I am to talk about OC’s just all the time)

1) Do you have any face claims for your MC and Jacob?

My MC (Her name’s Anna Louise, so I’ll be calling her Annie) and Jacob look eerily similar, yet still look like their opposite parent. Annie has her dad’s bronze complexion and bright amber eyes. She spends a lot of time outside during the summers taking care of her pets and camping because she’s one of those people, so she comes back to Hogwarts every year with freckles and bug bites. From ages 15-17, Annie hits a growth spurt and shoots up from around 5’ 2” to just over 6’. My FC for Annie is Gina Rodriguez (A goddess, she’s so pretty, I love her).

My Jacob (Sorry Canon Jacob, you’re just really… ugly isn’t a nice way of putting it, but man, is it an accurate way) looks more like their mom, with really curly black hair and ice-blue eyes, which stick out against his olive skin tone. They look really intense and make Jay and his mom look really scary and intimidating, but that fades away once you learn their mom embroiders in her free time and Jay still needs someone else to kill the spiders he finds in the house (The one who takes care of them is their dad, he puts them outside). I don’t have a FC for my Jacob, sorry!

2) Does your MC/Jacob’s family have any relation to canon characters/families? Are these relations impactful to MC and their story?

Honestly? Who knows if they are! Their mom was a closed adoption case so they don’t really know much about her family, only that they think she’s from Ireland.

Their dad, on the other hand, knows exactly who he’s related to and can name it up to four generations back, the first to move to America (Oh yeah, their dad is from Pennsylvania, that’s why her parents were visiting relatives in the Christmas event. They’re direct relatives). He has a plethora of siblings who went on to have plethoras of children, so who knows who’s married who and knows who?

3) What was Jacob’s friendship with Duncan and Olivia like? What was their dynamic before and during working with R?

Okay, so Jacob and Duncan actually met in their first year, after Jay kept asking potions questions with increasing idiocy. It was obvious that he was just messing with the teacher, but he said it with such a straight face that you just had to give him props for not breaking character. It was pretty funny. After class, Duncan immediately asked him to grab lunch together, ‘even if you are a half-brained Gryffindor’. Jay punched him in the arm and they ate in the courtyard. They became pretty good friends, and Jay did mention it to his family (he really did love his family, honest) but he called him by a bunch of different nicknames, which is why Annie didn’t know who ‘Duncan’ was.

Olivia met Duncan and Jay sorta on the way? It was less of a ‘bonding over shared stupidity’ type thing that Jay and Duncan had, and more of a ‘well, someone has to babysit you two, and I��guess I’ll do it’. They all got pretty close, sparking a few rumors of ‘fighting over Olivia love triangle’ among their classmates, which couldn’t be farther from the truth in Jay’s case (If ya catch my drift *wink wink nudge nudge*). When they started working for R, Olivia and Duncan expected to get caught up in it, being Ravenclaw and Slytherin, but it surprised them both to find out that Jay actually got really into it. Like, scarily obsessed. (That’s basically canon though, right? I think?)

4) Is Jacob physically and/or mentally different after he is released from the vaults? How does he change?

Whoo boi, this is a fun one. Yes, Jacob obviously looks a lot worse when he first gets out. Scraggly, deathly pale (well, as pale as he can be), and in desperate need of a shower. When they get him well fed and washed up, looking better, he needs a new prosthetic left leg, and has a few scars from the vaults’ dangers (Seriously, how has MC and their friends not gotten seriously harmed after all of this? It’s crazy!) He also has really deep bags under his eyes. When this is pointed out to him by Annie’s friends, he gets quiet and pouty, and Annie tells them he’s always had them, yes, he knows he looks like he needs a nap.

Also, anxiety up the wazoo! I mean, destroying cursed vaults, getting locked away, best friend literally dying, I’d be scared too! That’s gotta be some serious PTSD! It’s okay though (Well, sorta okay) because Annie got some anxiety along the way (Her brother went missing for how many years?? She’s had to do how much to save him?? No duh she’s messed up!) and Ben obviously has some, so at least Jay doesn’t have to suffer through it without any coping or support.

5) What career does/did Jacob want to pursue? Does it change after he was freed from the vaults?

Jacob, in case it wasn’t clear, loved finding curses and breaking them. He wouldn’t have done all this if it was begrudgingly, right? Also, I feel like he really did do it because he wanted to keep people safe from the vaults. At first, anyways, but obviously working with R messed with him. I feel like he wanted to be a curse breaker at first, with his amount of dedication and willingness to help others, but he probably was scarred after the vaults and finally getting out.

I think he had a few years to just get away from everything: the reporters, the school, the wizarding world, everything. He goes and lives with his maternal grandparents’ in Castlebar, Ireland (They’re muggles, so they keep him pretty well sheltered from everything magic). After a few years of peace and quiet, I think he would probably settle down with a much less stressful job. He always really loved creatures, magical or otherwise, so he’d probably take up a job at an adoption place, or a vets office maybe! Jay has other interests in life besides curses.

6) What’s Jacob’s opinions of prefects, especially the ones 4 years older than MC?

Okay, so my Jacob is six years older than Annie, so Annie’s prefects would have been there when he was going there. Jay, pre-missing, was nice to everyone (canon for the house elves, at least), he got good grades, he was funny, and he was really charming overall. People looked up to him, and he kept his vault studies under the radar. He was a model citizen on the surface, so the prefects probably looked up to him, or at the very least knew about him (How big is Hogwarts? It can’t be that big, plus word travels fast there, right? Everyone always seems to know everything about MC).

Jay himself, however, didn’t really care for prefects. He just thought of them as glorified hall monitors, and he couldn’t risk them stopping him from finding the vaults. Wasn’t it enough that they yelled at him for harmless pranks?

That being said, Jay thinks that the fact that Annie, his first partner in crime, the ‘rambunctious’ O’ Reilly child, the one who was breaking just about every rule and ignoring every caution just to find him, that Annie, his Annie, is a prefect? Are you serious? Really?

It took until the coughing attacks came for him to finally stop laughing.

7) What memory or thought does MC/Jacob use when conjuring a Patronus (if they can even conjure a corporeal one at all)? What form does it take?

Jacob’s Patronus is a lion. He likes his Patronus because lions are sick as hell. He also kinda hates it because, and he knows he can never tell anyone at school this, his middle name is Leon and he has always said he hated his middle name, and he feels like this is probably some kinda cosmic justice, isn’t it?

His memory was getting the family Crup. Jay was twelve and he got to name it. He named it Furry Mercury and Furry slept in his room until he was too big to fit in the bed without pushing Jacob out.

Annie’s Patronus is corporeal but it’s pretty weak. It’s a tabby-cat if she can conjure it. The first time it was corporeal enough to actually touch, it licked her hand and she almost cried (Annie is pretty emotional and I think it’s bull that JamCity won’t let MC cry!).

The memory Annie thinks of is when her parents took her and Jay to Disney World when she was seven. They bought Mickey Mouse ears for all of them, ate a bunch of cotton candy (Papa O’Reilly’s stomach did not care for that), went on the Haunted Mansion ride no less than three times, and ate dinner at Gaston’s Tavern. None of this was the part she thinks of though. Her memory is being on her dad’s shoulders, tired from the long day and half-asleep, when the fireworks came on. She sat in awe watching them and didn’t talk for the rest of the night as they went back to their hotel. Her mom asked if she had fun and she just nodded and quietly said, ‘Today was a good day.’ (Okay yes, that’s my own happy memory, but what’s a good character if it doesn’t have a little self-projection?)

Oh man! I really went off, didn’t I? But yeah! That’s just a bit about my MC and her idiot brother! Thanks for this, I never get to talk about my OC’s (In case you couldn’t tell.) If you’re the one who started the meme, I do have a playlist on Spotify. Message me if you want it, okay?

Questions from here!

[hangonimevolving]

Attempting some gratitude, for once.

I need to post this, before the thought and the mood from which it’s sprung both dissipate into thin air.

I suck at gratitude, on the whole. Seriously, I do, and I know I need to work on that. I’ll spare everyone my sob stories, explanations, justifications, etc. for why I have had a hard time with gratitude in recent years, but suffice to say - I am aware that I suck at it, and I heard somewhere that the first step to solving a problem is admitting you have one.... so fine. I admit it. I’m ungrateful and unappreciative in my life most days.

But today, I’ve had multiple - MULTIPLE - moments of just feeling this weird, inexplicable, warm and fuzzy, happy, sigh-inducing THING just bubble up in me. And I was like WTF is this feeling?! Why is my tummy all glittery and light? Why am I sitting here on the sofa smiling for no damn reason?! OHHHHH! Wait! Is this.....gratitude?! HOLY SHIT, I think it is! So I’m gonna write it down and note it for all posterity. I, Evolver, have felt gratitude on this 7th day of September, 2018.

It all started last Saturday night, where, right in the middle of Labor Day weekend and my sister Rithers’ visit to our hike in Miami along with her hubby, Uncle K, and her kids H20 and NiNi, our 5.5-year old Vevvy fell ill. We thought that perhaps he was just overly exhausted from a long and happy day in the pool when he felt warm to the touch on Saturday night, but mid-day Sunday, during a beach excursion - Vev’s FAVORITE thing in the world, he completely fell apart, acting listless, fatigued, and not having fun at all. One look at him, standing statuesque on the beach, staring out to sea longingly while tears rolled down his cheeks, said it all: “what is going on?! I’m so confused, mommy! I’m in my favorite place in the world, and yet I feel so miserable! What is happening to me?!” A hand on his forehead revealed that he was burning up. Without a moment’s hesitation, Dr. Spouse loaded him up in the car and headed for home, while I remained at the beach with Dey to host Rithers and co. a while longer. Poor Vev needed a shower, some kiddie Tylenol, and bed rest, stat.

the ��I am siiiiick” face :(

Over the next seven - SEVEN! - days, Vev would continue to have relentless fevers or 101-103F even with continuous children’s Tylenol and Motrin. He also developed monster congestion in his sinuses and nose, headaches, body ache, and general fatigue. I was sincerely shocked and more than a little intimidated by his congestion snot (keeping it real), which was so thick and oppressive, it would choke his throat and inhibit his from breathing if he dared to rest in even a semi-reclining position. 

The poor kid had no choice but to be completely upright if he didn’t want to gag on his own phlegm, which meant that he (and by transitive property, I) could really sleep no more than 90 minutes at a stretch for four nights straight. He was miserable, and I was doing everything I could to help him, staying with him each night either on an air mattress in my bedroom, or just holding him against my shoulder/chest in my bed while he desperately tried to sleep and breathe at the same time. I felt awful for him, and mused for a moment about parents whose children have respiratory disorders like CF who live their lives this way.... good health is such a blessing that we all take for granted.

As much as I hated every minute of Vev’s suffering, there was something a bit nostalgic in holding him sleeping in my arms for several consecutive nights. Wasn’t there a time in the not-so-distant past where this was the ONLY way he’d sleep?! I bitch and moan all the time about how clingy, dependent, and non-self reliant my kids are — but it has been years since Vev needed me at night this way. My Vevvy has grown up a lot.

And to his credit, despite all this sicky misery, he was really a trooper while ill. Against his traditional character, when sick or not, he really didn’t complain much - just went quiet and kept to himself for days, forming a little nest on the sofa each day with a warm blankie, big box of Kleenex, and his iPad, not really asking for much at all except quiet and rest. He never really complained when I had to give him medication, and he did his best to heed my urges to drink clear fluids even when I could tell he really didn’t want to. And - forgive the TMI here - but you know your kid is really growing up when they begin to have some way of forewarning you and/or running to the bathroom on their own steam and hitting the preferred target of the toilet when they’ve gotta vomit. Fortunately, Vev only puked twice this week, and I suspect that too was only bc he gagged on his own copious snot — but both times, he announced “throwwww uuuup!” to me before sprinting to the loo and handling affairs with no mess and accurate aim. HALLELUJAH! This should be considered a major developmental milestone!!! (And yes - poor, poor kid! I really am glad it was only the twice, because that must have sucked a lot for him!)

Yeah, so.  He’s growing up.  Way to go, buddy!!!... and, sniff.

(supposedly this says “Mommy I love you ”...  but he always starts writing at the bottom of a page and works his way up.  He may also be of the mind that “Mommy” is spelled “mom-E.”  Yes, we’re gonna work on it)

It was only yesterday, Thursday, that we got an official pediatrician diagnosis of his illness: the flu, as in the legit flu virus, or Influenza A. The word came too late for antiviral medications to be of any great use to him, unfortunately, but I was grateful anyway that we got a halfway-decent pediatrician BRILLIANT nurse practitioner who needed my assertive request demand for a prophylactic prescription or Tamiflu for Dey. We’ve had shitty luck in South Florida with pediatricians who appear to be reactionary and unnecessarily nonsensical in their responses to my requests for help - but this time, our pedi NP was A+. She treated our family like competent, educated people and did things that made sense as far as ensuring this highly-contagious virus wouldn’t spread to another healthy child living in the same household. I wish she could be our regular PCP (but of course, I bet she can’t be, bc she’s not a doctor. Grr, fucking managed care. Oops, hold it - I’m supposed to be channeling gratitude here, not my customary bitchiness. My bad.)

Anyway, speaking of Dey, I’ve got to brag about him a bit here too. At 3.5 years old, Dey’s baseline is definitely chill, go-with-the-flow, glass-half-full, and a pleasant, happy and easygoing “whatever you want, dude!”-ness that Vev NEVER was at that age. It’s been really awesome to see. But this week, his general outlook on life, combined with impressive moments of being a team player, cooperating, helping out, and exhibiting formidable empathy really made me sooo proud.

It’s certainly understandable that he’d be potentially jealous that his older brother got to skip an entire week of school while he still had to go. It would be even more understandable since they are actual CLASSMATES at school this year (yes, our Montessori school groups ages 4-6/preschool, pre-K and kindergarten in one classroom, so they’ve been together at school and at home since the start of the academic year). So I was very impressed when Dey accepted his brother’s illness and his need to stay home from school, while he was forced to go. Without one word of complaint, he’d get up each morning, eat his breakfast, get washed up and dressed out in uniform, gather his things, then visit Vev quickly and dispense a goodbye hug and a “hope you feel better, Vev!” before loading up in the car for school drop-off. What a trooper. At afternoon pick-up, when I’d ask about his day at school, he’d say with a little frown, “oh, school was okay...but Vev wasn’t on the playground.” It was kinda weird feeling my heart simultaneously break a little, but also burst with pride at how much he loves his brother. Sweet kiddo. 

At home, each afternoon he’d run excitedly to Vev to see how he was doing, his face full of hopeful anticipation that perhaps today, Vev was feeling better and could play with him... but when he’d find Vev too miserable and tired to play, his face would momentarily fall in disappointment, but then he would muster some compassion and understanding, silently shuffle away, and find a quiet game to do in the vicinity, just so he could be nearby without disturbing Vev. Or, cuter still, he’d snuggle down on the opposite side of the couch as Vev, and tune his iPad into the same YouTube video Vev would be watching, so they could give each other silly smiles and glances during the funny parts. The boy would periodically race off in the house to find his toy doctor kit, and would affix his little plastic stethoscope to his ears so he could “give Vev a checkup” and “make him feel better.” 

(Dr. Cutie Pie is in)

It was adorable, man. His whole world spins because of his brother. It’s so touching. I don’t know how it is that I managed to have two kids who love each other so much, because karmically I’ve done NOTHING to earn this. My sister and I were rotten to each other as kids, and only really turned a corner on it in our... what, our late 30′s?!  Haha :)  But I’m so grateful for these two dudes. These two little people are the best of friends, and they can’t live without each other. The feels.

One more funny brag about Dey. Dr. Spouse and I often jokingly refer to him as Dory, i.e. the lovable blue fish, voiced by Ellen DeGeneres from the Disney movie “Finding Nemo.” Dory’s schtick is that she’s easily distracted and has short-term memory. 

Fittingly, Dory is one of Dey’s favorite cartoon characters, and he’s not shy to let the world know....

Anyway. Remember that whole prophylactic script for Tamiflu? Mind you, I was so grateful to get it. But. Ummmm, pediatric Tamiflu tastes FOUL. It is seriously the most bitter, disgusting, viscous goo I’ve ever gingerly licked to mentally prepare myself for my kid’s reaction to. I began fearing Dey’s reaction, and the ensuing tantrums to come over the five-day course of the drug. But I spoke matter-of-fairly to Dey about how this was a medicine he’d need to take to keep himself healthy, and that it would be a little bit yucky, but that I’d give him a HUGE spoonful of sugar right after to make it taste better (and THANK YOU, blessed Mary Poppins, for your genius). 

 Luckily, little Dory just took my words at face value without any further thought, opened his mouth, and downed the nasty shot of devil’s semen Tamiflu that I dispensed into his mouth. Immediately his face went every shade of red, purple, and white, with a coordinating expression like “what the hell is this shit?!” — but I swooped in there prepared, like a crack-smoking Mother of Batman, giving him a swig of water then heaping a MASSIVE spoon of white sugar directly onto his tongue. The result was nothing short of magical - the kid instantaneously closed his eyes in pleasure, turned up his cute little round cheeks to the ceiling with a huge smile on his face, and loudly cooed “Mmmm!” as if it was the best damn thing he’d ever eaten in his life. Moments later, the sugar fully dissolved, Dey matter-of-fairly reminisced with a RainMan-esque tone, “hey mommy, that medicine was kind of yucky for me. Kind of salty. Kind of spicy. But the SUGAR WAS YUUUUUUMMMMMY!” I worried that at the next dosing (and man, the kid’s gotta take it morning and night, poor little dude) he’d run screaming from the salty spicy medicine, and wouldn’t fall for the sugar trick — but amazingly, when I announced “medicine and sugar time,” the child came RUNNING to me with a huge grin on his face like he’d just won the lottery. He gulped down the medicine like a champ, swigged the water himself, then began changing “Su-gar! Su-gar! Su-gar!” till I ladled a bit into his mouth.  Naturally, my mind spun forward a bit, concerned that his ease of overcoming the Yucky Taste Barrier and downing this stuff for a cheap reward might translate into some unsavory teenage and young adult behaviors (err, tequila shot champion in the making?!  Please god, help us).  But, for now - eternally grateful for my little Dory’s easy distractability and forgiving memory!!! Vev, at that age and even now, would have NEVER gone along with this!

(is it just me, or do they even kinda sorta look alike, Dory and Dey?  No one else sees it?!  No one?!!!  Hmm...)

Anyway. In conclusion, it’s not normal for me to have something kind of bad happen, like the flu hitting one of my kids, but finding some good in the mess. But here I am, in spite of myself, awash in all the warm fuzzies.

1. I’ve got two healthy, happy kids, when many people have children with serious health issues and have to live their lives watching their kids sick and miserable all the time

2. my kids are growing up, becoming wonderfully independent, self-reliant, empathetic and helpful. But they still sometimes need me, and that’s nice too.

3. They both have such fun, distinct personalities.

4. I admit that it’s pretty awesome that my second kid is so chill. Love them both to bits, but if kid #2 has been more ornery and neurotic, I think that would have sucked. Having a chill kid #2 is a godsend.

5.  They frigging LOVE EACH OTHER.  It’s a goddamn brotherly love fest up in here.  

6.  Last but not least - the flu sucks, but it isn’t forever, and life will go on.  Soon, in fact.  And we’ll be onto the next adventure together.  Look forward to seeing what it’ll be!

[weekendwarriorblog]

WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEKEND October 18, 2019  - MALEFICENT, MISTRESS OF EVIL, ZOMBIELAND: DOUBLE TAP, THE LIGHTHOUSE, JOJO RABBIT

We’ll see how far I get on this week’s column because I haven’t seen nearly as much as I want to, I don’t have nearly as much time as I’d like to, and I have a lot of stuff to write for my other gig at The Beat. I know… excuses, excuses.

Well, you can probably already guess that I haven’t seen Disney’s MALEFICENT, MISTRESS OF EVIL, starring Angelina Jolie, because I never saw the original movie, and I have only been invited to one Disney movie in three years. (I got into a few thanks to being in the Critics Choice Association and there being awards screenings, but I have zero interest in this, even less in Frozen 2, and I’ll probably just use my AMC A-List to see Star Wars.)

I did see Sony’s ZOMBIELAND DOUBLE TAP, and that I really liked a lot. You can read my full review of this over at The Beat.  I also interviewed director Ruben Fleischer and have an interview with writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick waiting in the wings. I’m pretty amazed that the three of them were able to get the whole gang back together, including Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Jesse Eisenberg and Abigail Breslin

Let’s just get to what I hope you’re reading this column for... 

LIMITED RELEASES

I’ll admit freely that I just didn’t have as much time to watch stuff the past week as I’d like to, so some of the movies below I just haven’t gotten around to watching but hopefully they’re as good as others have said.

There are a few “special event” screenings this week, including Kevin Smith’s JAY AND SILENT BOB REBOOT (Saban Films), which screened nationwide via Fathom Events last night and will get another screening on Thursday night. It’s actually not bad, at least compared to his last movie Yoga Hosers. This one is a direct sequel to Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, which I wasn’t a very big fan of despite liking a few of Smith’s other films like Chasing Amy and Dogma. Reboot harks back to some of Smith’s earlier work with nods to many of his previous films and cameos from almost every actor who has ever worked with him? I also interviewed Jason Mewes for The Beat, and I’ll have an interview with Harley Quinn Smith soon, too.

Also, on Saturday, Bruce Springsteen’s doc WESTERN STARS will get a nationwide screening via Fathom Events. I haven’t seen this one, and I’m not really that big a fan of the Boss, but hey, it’s happening if you’re interested.

The on Tuesday, October 22, you can see Neil Young’s latest movie Mountaintop in a one-night only event via Abramorama, the movie showing Young and his band Crazy Horse getting ready to record their first album in seven years. I haven’t watched it yet, but it’s interesting that Young is letting fans into the process, and I only recently saw Jim Jarmusch’s doc Year of the Dog, so I’m kind of in a Neil Young headspace. This one is directed by Young under his film direction pseudonym “Bernard Sharkey.”

Another movie worth seeking out this weekend is THE LIGHTHOUSE (A24), Robert Eggers’ follow-up to The Witch, this one starring Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe as two men who are sent to care for a lighthouse during a particularly turbulent storm season. Dafoe is a crusty and cranky seadog who really puts Pattinson through his paces, but as the two men are holed up together (and eventually trapped on the location), they each begin their own slow descent into madness. I’ll have an interview with Eggers up at The Beat later today where we talk about the intriguing way he made this film, and it rose out of his frustration with trying to get The Witch financed.

My Interview with Robert Eggers

The movie I was most excited to see this weekend was Taika Waititi’s JOJO RABBIT (Fox Searchlight), since I’ve been a fan of his work going all the way back to when Eagle vs. Shark debuted the Sundance Film Festival. I was really hoping I’d like this enough to feature it at the top of this column, but since it’s not there, you can read my review at the link below to find out why not. Based on Christine Leunens’s novel, it stars newcomer Roman Griffin Davis as Jojo, a 10-year-old German boy in the Hitler Youth who just can’t get his shit together, although he does have an imaginary friend in Adolf Hitler (played by Waititi) who urges the boy on. Injured in an accident, Jojo is homebound when he learns that his mother (Scarlet Johansson) has been hiding a young Jewish girl named Elsa (Thomas McKenzie from Leave No Trace) in the house attic, so he has to figure out whether to report them, or use her to learn more about Jews. You can read my review below to see that I can’t really recommend the movie wholeheartedly, but it will open in New York and L.A. this weekend and you can decide for yourself.

MY REVIEW OF JOJO RABBIT

French auteur Francois Ozon returns with BY THE GRACE OF GOD (Music Box Films), a very serious drama about three grown men (Melvil Poupaud, Denis Ménochet, Swann Arlaud) who team together to expose a priest who molested them as boys but is being protected by the Catholic Church. The story is based on the real French scandal surrounding Cardinal Philippe Barbarin who was convicted earlier this year for concealing the conduct of a preacher, Father Preynat. Ozon is coming off his excellent film Franz and the equally intriguing Double Lover, so he’s definitely upped his game from the sometimes-frivolous earlier fare for which he became known. This is a really tough movie to get through and maybe that made it harder for me to enjoy, but it’s another fine piece of filmmaking by Ozon. It opens at New York’s Film Forum and  the Landmark on 57 and probably in a theater in L.A. as well.

Opening at New York’s Angelika Film Center and the Landmark on 57 is Alexis Michalik’s Cyrano My Love (Roadside Attractions) set in Paris 1897 and dealing with the relationship between playwright Edmond Rostand and actor Constant Coquelin, for what becomes the play Cyrano de Bergerac. And I have absolutely zero interest in seeing this.

Another movie that I saw and absolutely loathed was Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe’s GREENER GRASS (IFC Midnight), a movie that I couldn’t begin to describe except that it takes place in a suburban neighborhood where a yoga teacher has been murdered by a seria killer and all sorts of other strange things are going on. The filmmakers play best friends and soccer moms Jill and Lisa, the latter who borrows the former’s baby, but honestly, the tone of this movie reminded me about the stuff on Adult Swim that I hate such as the Tim and Eric shows and such, where it just seems to be weird for weirdness-sake, and there’s absolutely nothing that kept me even remotely interested. It opens at the IFC Center this weekend.

I still haven’t found the time to watch all of THE CAVE (National Geographic Documentary Films), Feras Fayyad’s follow-up to his Oscar-nominated film Last Man in Aleppo, but I hope to get to it fairly soon, since I was such a fan of that movie. I just need to be right in the headspace to watch this one, if it’s anything like that one.

Apple TV+’s first movie on the streaming channel will be Mark Deeble and Victoria Stone’s THE ELEPHANT QUEEN (A24), a documentary that follows the elephant matriarch Athena, who is forced to protect her family after they leave their watering hole. Although I understand the purpose of this movie to show how climate change is affecting these majestic animals, this one feels very much like something I’ve seen before from DisneyNature and others, so it didn’t really shed any new light on elephants, and it felt very much dummed down for kids. Voiced by Chiwetel Ejiofor, it will get a limited theatrical release this weekend before debuting on the channel November 1.

There are a couple other docs out this weekend, including Barbara Miller’s #FEMALEPLEASURE (Abramorama), which follows five women fighting against their patriarchal societies; Serendipity: The Story of French Artist Prune Nourry (Cohen Media Group) directed by French artist Prune Nourry; opening at New York’s Film Forum on Wednesday is Erin Derham’s doc Stuffed (Music Box Films) about taxidermists, and then there’s Julie Simone and Vicki Vlasic’s doc Fiddlin’ (playing at the Cinema Village) covers the Fiddler’s Convention.

If you’re not quite ready for Halloween, there’s the horror filmTrick (RLJEFilms) from Patrick Lussier (My Bloody Valentine, Drive Angry) about a Halloween party in 2015 where Patrick “Trick” Wever killed a bunch of his classmate and then escaped after being shot five times by a detective (Omar Epps) so everyone thinks he’s dead. But guess what? He’s not!!  It also stars Jamie Kennedy and Tom Atkins.

There are a couple other movies, but the main ones you should know about are above.

LOCAL FESTIVALS

The big one this week, at least in New York, is the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, which starts Thursday night with Jeffrey Brown’s The Beach House and continues through the weekend with Daniel Isn’t Real, Swallow, and the World Premiere Fessenden’s Depraved: Making Frankenstein a Brooklyn Loft, a making-of doc about Larry Fessenden’s latest.

Starting Friday at New York’s Cinema Village is the Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, which I really don’t know very much about, although they seem to have an interesting selection of nature docs, both features and shorts, none of which I’ve seen.

In L.A., you can catch the Animation is Film Festival starting Friday with animated movies from across the group including I’m anticipating like Makoto Shinkai’s Weathering with You, and White Snake from China, which will be in competition with films like France’s I Lost My Body. There are special events for Disney’s Frozen 2, Netflix’s Klaus, a special screening of the Chinese hit Ne Zhan and Steven Universe the Movie before it hits Apple TV+ on November 1.

Also happenin’ in New York is the Nordic International Film Festival, which is taking place at the Roxy Hotel, in case you wonder why it’s missing from the repertory section below. That’s why.

STREAMING AND CABLE

Steven Soderbergh’s THE LAUNDROMAT will arrive on Netflix this weekend, and you can read what I thought of that in my previous column here.

Streaming on Netflix Friday is Ed Perkins’ documentary TELL ME WHO I AM about the relationship between two twin brothers, Marcus and Alex Lewis. When Alex wakes up after a motorcycle accident, he relies on Marcus to fill him on who everyone else is over the next 35 years, but Marcus may be keeping a dark family secret from his brother to protect him. (It also will open theatrically at the Quad Cinema on Friday.)

Sinister 2 director Ciaran Foy’s new film Eli will start streaming on Friday, about a boy who receiving treatment for an auto-immune disorder who finds out that his house isn’t as safe as thought. It stars Kelly Reilly, Lili Taylor, Max Martini and Charlie Shotwell in the title role.

There’s also the Spanish film Diecisiete (Seventeen) from Daniel Sánchez Arévalo about a 17-year-old named Héctor who forms a bond with a dog as part of a reintegration program at his juvenile detention center. When the dog is adopted, Héctor goes on a journey to rescue him.

One of the exciting debuts on cable this weekend is HBO’s WATCHMEN series, created by Damon Lindelof, and what I’ve heard about the show is that it’s pretty good, taking place in the modern day of the world created by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons in the comics (which took place in the ‘80s.).

Also, while I haven’t seen it yet, Iranian filmmaker Babak (Under the Shadow) Anvari’s horror thriller WOUNDS will debut on Hulu this weekend, and since I have Hulu, I’ll be able to watch it! It stars Zazie Beetz, Dakota Johnson and Armie Hammer, the latter playing a bartender who has all sorts of weird things happen to him when he picks up a phone at a bar.

REPERTORY

There are a few really awesome repertory series starting this weekend as well as the return of one of New York’s primary midtown rep houses, which has been closed for renovations for most of the summer.

METROGRAPH (NYC):

Before I get to the Metrograph’s great new series starting this weekend, I want to draw special attention to Metrograph Pictures’ new 35mm print rerelease of Edo Bertoglio’s 1981 film Downtown ’81. This is a really amazing movie that stars late NYC artist Jean Michel Basquiat, and while it does show him doing his graffiti art, the movie isn’t so much worth seeing for its amazing writing or acting but for it being an amazing time capsule of New York in 1981 with performances by Kid Creole and the Coconuts, DNA, The Plastics and other No Wave bands in the year when punk was transforming into New Wave but New York bands were still experimental and arty, doing whatever it took to avoid getting into the mainstream. Metrograph releasing this reissued restored film makes sense as they were one of the first to herald Glenn O’Brien’s cable show TV Party, so if you get a chance, get down to the Metrograph where the movie will be shown exclusively probably for a week or two.

Another exciting series at my local theater as Julie Andrews will be there in person for “Blake Edwards: A Film Selection by Julie Andrews,” celebrating the life and career of her late husband. The series will include That’s Life (1986), Wild Rovers (1971), 10 (1979), the Inspector Clouseau film A Shot in the Dark (1964), 1981’s S.O.B., 1961’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s and a Members Only screening of Victor/Victoria (1982) with a QnA with the actress.  Also, the Academy returns to the Metrograph for its monthly series, this one very Halloween-appropriate, as they’ll be showing Fulci’s Zombi 2 (aka Zombie) from 1979.

This week’s Late Nites at Metrograph is still David Lynch’s Mulholland Dr. (2001) and also, because the Metrograph will make any excuse to show Brian De Palma’s 2002 dog Femme Fatale… they’re showing Femme Fatale again. what gives Metrograph? You now taking cues from the IFC Center by showing the same movies over and over? Tsk, tsk… This weekend’s Playtime: Family Matinees is Brad Bird’s animated classic The Iron Giant from 1999.  Welcome To Metrograph: Redux seems to be taking the weekend off, probably to make room for some of the above.

FILM FORUM (NYC):

The other series I’m really excited about is the three-week “Shitamachi: Tales of Downtown Tokyo” but I get to that, I want to mention that I had a chance to see Yoji Yamada’s Tora-San, Our Lovable Tramp (1969), which plays for two more days, and it’s quite wonderful so definitely try to get to it as this became a very popular series in Japan. Okay, back to the other Japanese series, this one runs for three weeks and it’s co-presented with the Japan Foundation. This weekend, you can see Akira Kurosawa’s Drunken Angel  (1948) and Stray Dog (1949) on Friday and Saturday as well as Ozu’s Record of a Tenement Gentleman from 1947. Sunday and Monday is Kurusawa’s Ikiru (1952) and a couple others. There’s just an abundance of riches including a couple rare prints that were imported from Japan for the series. Apparently, the Film Forum thinks Milos Forman’s Hair(1979) which I just saw at the Metrograph is okay for kids, which is why it’s programmed as this week’s “Film Forum Jr.”

THE NEW BEVERLY (L.A.):

The Wednesday matinee is the classic What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962), while Weds. and Thurs. see double features of P.T. Anderson’s Inherent Vice (2014) with Jacques Demy’s Model Shop (1969). Friday’s matinee is Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1992), while the weekend “Kiddee Matinee” is the Disney movie Blackbeard’s Ghostfrom 1968. (I wonder if that will be on the Disney+ service.) Friday night’s midnight movie is Robert Rodriguez’s From Dusk Til Dawnand then Saturday night is an “All Night Horror Show” which is sold out, sadly. Monday’s matinee is The People Under the Stairs (1991), and Monday and Tuesday nights are double features of Tom Laughlin’s The Born Losers (1967) and Billy Jack (1971).

MOMA  (NYC):

It’s exciting news that MOMA reopens NEXT MONDAY, and their first two series are Modern Matinees: Iris Barry’s History of Filmand Vision Statement: Early Directorial Works. The first of these is an attempt to recreate some of the early film programs from the early days of the MOMA Film Library, including a screening of the 1914 film A Fool There Was on Monday, and I’ll write more about this next week. “Vision Statement” begins  with Andrzej Żuławski’s The Third Part of the Night (1971) and Satyajit Ray’s 1955 film Pather Panchali, and Andrey Zvyagintsev’s 2003 film The Return and Jane Campion’s The Piano (1993) both screen on Tuesday.

ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE BROOKLYN (NYC)

I’ll be at tonight’s “Weird Wednesday” Born of Fire (1987), which is almost sold out but has a few seats left. Monday night’s “Fist City” selection is David Fincher’s 2002 movie Panic Room, starring Jodie Foster and a VERY young Kristen Stewart, while “Video Vortex” presents the horror classic A Night to Dismember: The Original Cut. Next week’s “Terror Tuesday” is 1983’s Devil Fetus, and what do you know? Julie Andrews will be there doing a QnA right after showing Blake Edwards’ 1982 movie Victor/Victoria – I wonder where they got that idea (or maybe Ms. Andrews is just doing a tour right now). Next week’s “Weird Wednesday” is the 1993 film Fire in the Sky and RottenTomatoes is hosting a party centered around The Craft (1996), which is already sold out.

EGYPTIAN THEATRE (LA):

Recent Spanish Cinema 2019 continues this weekend so no rep stuff but a couple movies worth checking out are the doc The Silence of Others and the animated film Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles.

AERO  (LA):

A couple “Facing Off with John Woo” double features with The Killer  (1989) and Hard Boiled (1992) on Friday, and then Face/Off (1997) and Hard Target (1993) on Saturday afternoon. Saturday night is a screening of Woo’s 1990 film Bullet in the Head. Sunday is a Lina Wertmüller double feature called “Swept Away Again by Lina Wertmüller” which isThe Seduction of Mimi (1972) with Love & Anarchy (1973). Tuesday’s “Tuesdays with Lorre” will a 35mm screening of Frank Capra’s Arsenic and Old Lace  (1944).

IFC CENTER (NYC)

Wednesday night’s “Movies with MZS” (aka Matt Zoller Seitz) is John Carpenter’s Prince of Darkness (1987). It doesn’t look like the IFC Center has set its Fall repertory series yet but Friday and Saturday night at midnight you can see the very first official James Bond movieDr. No(1962) and a 4k restoration of Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead (1981).That said, “Weekend Classics: May All Your Christmases Be Noir” does begin this weekend with Nicolas Ray’s They Live by Night (1948).

MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE (NYC):

“See It Big! Ghost Stories” continues this weekend with screenings of one of my all-time faves, Tobe Hooper’s Poltergeist, on Friday, and the Japanese horror classic House (Hausu) on Saturday, as well as the 1965 Japanese horror film Kwaidan, plus James Wan’s Insidiouscloses the series on Sunday evening. The “No Joke: Absurd Comedy as Political Reality” continues with 1985’s The Coca-Cola Kid on Sunday afternoon as well as William Klein’s 1969 movie Mr. Freedom, neither of which I’m familiar with. Saturday afternoon is a special screening of Marlon Brando’s 1961 film One-Eyed Jacks with an introduction by William Mann, who wrote “The Contender: The Story of Marlon Brando.”

FILM AT LINCOLN CENTER (NYC):

Freshly recovered from the New York Film Festival, FilmLinc is screening a 25th Anniversary restoration of Béla Tarr’s 1994 film Sátántangó, which also played at the film festival.

LANDMARK THEATRES NUART  (LA):

Oh, it looks like the Landmark has been showing Francis Ford Coppola’s The Cotton Club Encore all week so you can see it through Thursday. This Friday night’s midnight movie is A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors from 1987.

QUAD CINEMA (NYC):

Still showing Serge Gainsbourg’s Je T’aime Moi Non Plus (1976) through the weekend.

Next week, it’s an odds and ends weekend including Deon Taylor’s new police drama Black and Blue, the high-tech horror/thriller Countdownand the historical drama The Current War, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Holland and Michael Shannon.

[alanakusumas]

Milestones (Slight Jake x F!MC)

Universe:  Endless Summer Word Count: 2322 (whoops) Rating: PG Prompt:  For #ChoicesCreates Week 5, hosted by @hollyashton and @cartoonfanforlife.  The prompt for this week was: “Mirror.” Summary: A picture speaks a thousand words.  But when you’re looking at not a still image, but what’s in front of you, the thoughts could be endless.  You tell your own story, through your own eyes, through your own parallels, and through your own reflection.

Side note: I posted another JakexF!MC earlier this week, and would love to receive feedback for it!  May or not be emotion-packed.  Check it out through this link:  http://ladysansaa.tumblr.com/post/159476264758/let-there-be-light-jake-x-fmc

——

-6 years old-

You stand in front of the mirror, watching the blonde pigtails that your aunt tied up bob up and down as you sway to the tempo of the pop song playing on the radio.  They were cute, but your costume isn’t.  Your puffy, cyan blue Cinderella dress seems to refuse to move with you, and because of that you groan in frustration.  It’s so itchy, and uncomfortable, you just want Halloween to be over with.  

Your aunt, Rebecca, strolls into your bedroom, tiara in hand. “What’s wrong, love? I don’t recall the part in Cinderella where she throws fits.”  She jokes, but it makes you even more upset.  

You cross your arms, trying to get the point across.  “I don’t like this costume.  It doesn’t look good on me.  I wanted to be cop.  Why can’t I be a cop?”  

“Sorry, love, I couldn’t find a police costume.  Next year, I promise.  And nonsense, you look adorable,” She tuts.  “But, if you insist, I think I might have just the solution…”  Your aunt waves the tiara ecstatically.  “I knew your dress was missing something, so I quickly drove to the store to buy you a crown, fit for royalty!”  

You stand still, arms remain folded, as she gently adjusts the tiara into your hair, careful not to poke you anywhere.  “There.  Now, you’re beautiful, princess.” 

You scoff and roll your eyes.  “I was always beautiful.” 

 -16 years old-

Orange sun rays pour into your window, signaling the commencement of yet another school day.  But, this wasn’t any typical school day.

You stand in front of the mirror, adjusting the navy blue and white tie you adorned over your white collared shirt.  The radish earrings you have dangling in your earlobes sway to the tempo of the latest Hayley Rose single.  

You’ve always loved the character Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter.  It hadn’t occurred to you until now that she would make a perfect costume.  As you face your reflection, you see yourself in Luna, as if the two of you have merged into one.  You feel like an oddball in high school, but, if Luna Lovegood can persevere through seven years of people snickering behind her back for doing what she loves, then you can do the same.  

It’s not that you don’t have friends, they’re just…acquaintances.  And you never felt at home with any of the cliques in high school.  You’re not lonely.  Just alone. A lone individual.    

“M/C! Time for breakfast!”  

“Coming Rebecca!”  You take a deep breath and admire your costume through the mirror one last time. You can’t wait for college.

-18 years old-

You stand in front of your dorm room’s mirror with the worst lighting possible, adjusting the mouse ears you fitted into your pin-straight, blonde hair.  As much as you’d like to go full-out Karen Smith, your subconscious suggests that perhaps wearing lingerie to your first college Halloween party would not be the wisest idea.  Earlier this week, you visited a thrift store, and managed to snag a flowy black dress and some pink ribbon to help create your makeshift Mean Girls-inspired costume.  You’ve been dying to finally have the freedom to be who you want to be – Not just on Halloween, but in life in general. College is your fresh start, and so far it has not disappointed.

From the corner of your eye, you notice a curly-haired boy in an oversized lab coat saunter into your room.  He gives you a once-over, amused, before he raises the question you’ve been preparing to hear the entire night.  

“What are you?”  

You exaggeratedly turn so you’re facing your new-found best friend Diego, jut your hip to your side, and point towards your mouse ears as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world.  “I’m a mouse, duh.”  

With Diego’s extensive knowledge of pop culture, you are not one bit surprised he detected your costume reference from down the hallway.  During the first week of college, you blasted a Hayley Rose classic, “Outlaw”, hoping to attract people to drop by and discuss their oh-so varying music tastes.  It turns out that your brilliant idea wasn’t so brilliant after all, but thank the heavens someone just as lame as you decided to pop in. 

Despite it only being a few weeks, you feel like Diego is the gem you’re destined to encounter, your partner-in-crime for the following years to come.  And you’re so thankful for him.  If by any circumstances you lose him in this journey through college, you honestly might lose yourself too.

-21 years old-

You literally skipped Halloween this year.  

You sit behind your group friends, all gathered in the lobby around Michelle and the birthday cake which Quinn set down on the table.  Quinn being Quinn, you have a feeling she’s going to bring out another cake when the clock strikes twelve, as your birthday follows right after Michelle’s.  

But in this moment, you could not care less about Michelle’s birthday.  You could not care less about yours.  You could not care less about yourself.  

You’ve lost a part of yourself recently; and the reality of it has been sinking into you, slowly killing your willpower, draining your energy, and made you completely numb on the inside.  

It could have been you.  

It shouldn’t have happened to Diego.  

You just want this to end.  

A wall of mirrors sit on the other side of the lobby.  In the reflection, you stare back at yourself, acknowledging the hopelessness of your current situation.  

“…Happy birthday dear Michelle, happy birthday to you!”  Your classmates sing at the top of their lungs. 

Amidst all the chaos you watch occur beyond the reflection, a striking army green jacket catches your attention.  You shift your eyes upward to catch a glimpse of Jake, only to find him already looking at you, eyebrow raised as his way of asking, “How you holdin’ up?”  

Subtly, you respond to him with a nod, and turn away.  You’re hurting, in more ways than any of your friends can imagine, but that doesn’t mean you should spoil the fun for him.  Jake deserves to be happy, even if it’s temporarily.  After all, that’s all you can promise him �� temporary, right?  

All your life, you yearned for someone like Jake, for the special connection, the euphoric sensation you feel every moment you’ve spent with him.  But, there’s absolutely no possibility that the two of you will manage to be anything but strangers off this island. 

It was all too hopeless.  

  -24 years young-

You strut towards your work station at ClickIt! and set down your coffee, catching a glimpse of yourself in your monitor’s reflection.  The long and glittery, detailed braid that you styled this morning rests on top of your navy blue blazer, not moving a single inch from where you positioned it earlier today.  You never thought you’d dress up as a Disney princess ever again, yet here you are.  It’s a subtle costume, but you hope it gets the point across.  

Dani, your best friend and desk neighbor at the office, tries to swiftly roll her chair closer , but her eye patch and floppy pirate hat blocks her vision and she ends up colliding her chair into yours.

“Oouf, sorry!  Holy smokes, you make one flaming hot ice queen, M/C.  What’s the inspo?”  

“Oh, you know, nothing much…except for the fact that everyone in this office has been begging me to dress up as Elsa ever since I joined the team.  Oh, and nice oxymoron.”  Dani appreciates that you caught her witty play on words and shoots you a wink.  

“Hmm…do you think you could sprinkle some of that glitter in your hair onto TJ’s desk?  He could use the sparkle.  Or a spark. Turn the spark into an explosion and we’re talking.”  You slyly smile at each other.  

“Oh, I’ll be sure to whip my hair here and there when I pass by his corner.”  

The two of you try to get back to your own individual work, but the limited space between you two is a usual welcome for catching each other up on the hot gossip.

“So Dani, how’s it like being the new lead of #LoveHacks?  Does your team like you?”

“Oh yeah, we were all working together beforehand; it’s just that I’m in a ‘higher’ position than them now.  But they love it.  Neil and Alex are writing up this article about ‘the perfect coffee date’, and Stef is brainstorming some steamy ideas to spice up our brand.”

“Oh really?”  You smirk at the thought.  “I’d definitely read that.  Actually, I’d read all of Stef’s work.”  

“Yeah, she’s awesome.  What about you?  Are you finally going to stay in the office for a while?  Or is Martin sending you off on another #TripTips trip?  Heh, ‘#TripTips trip,’ try saying that ten times.”

You lean back in your chair, letting out a long exhale.  “Yeah, Vancouver was not fun. It rained the entire time I was there. Martin supposedly sent me my next project this morning, so I just gotta check my e-mail and find out.”  

You glance over at Dani, a look of uncertainty washing over your face.  “Is it bad that I want to stay cooped up in an office for eight hours a day?  I’ve been flying around the globe so much, I honestly think it’d be more cost efficient for the company to just buy me a private jet and personal pilot.”

Dani lets out a hearty chuckle.  “What can I say?  We always want what we can’t have.  If I were you, I’d drop everything and do as much travelling for my job as I can.”  

You beam at her optimism.  “In that case, wanna do the honours and look at my next assignment for me?”  

“Sure!”  You roll away from your desk, letting Dani take control.  She’s clicking away at your emails, meanwhile you’re looking around the office, noticing all the Halloween costumes for the first time since you got in.

In front of you, Dani lets out a gasp.  “Oooooohhh, I think you’re gonna like this assignment.  Martin’s really not taking you for granted, huh?”  Dani whips her head around, and you cock your eyebrow at her in suspicion.

“Well, are you gonna tell me what it is?”  

Your best friend rolls away from your computer, revealing your newest project. “M/C, you’re going to Costa Ricaaaaaaaaaaaa!”  

-26 years young-

You stand in front of the mirror, watching the blonde pigtails you tied up bob up and down as you sway to the tempo of the Spanish song playing from the radio.  The blue and pink you chalked up near the end of your pigtails doesn’t seem vibrant enough.  You grab the hair chalk still sitting on top of your vanity and begin rubbing more colour onto your ends.  

“Well, hello gorgeous,” A husky voice comes from behind.  You’ve been so busy perfecting your costume you barely noticed the love of your life, Jacob Lucas McKenzie, stroll into your room in an incredibly dashing indigo coat over a forest green dress shirt (which you picked out, of course).  

“That’s Dr. Harleen Quinzel for you, Jared.”  

Jake glares at you.  “Joker.”

“Jared.”  

“Joker.”

“Jared.”  

A familiar smirk lifts up the corner of his mouth.  “Are we about to have this conversation again?”  

“No, I’ll save it for later tonight,” You shoot a suggestive wink at him, “Ready to head out?”

“Yeah, just one more thing –“

Jake leans in and presses his lips roughly against yours, which earns him a questioning look from you.  “Mmm...What was that for?”

“Nothing.  Just…You’re beautiful, princess.”  

A small smile forms on your lips.  “As I’ve heard before.”

You take Jake’s hand and the two of you walk out of your hotel room.

“So,” Jake starts, “Costume ideas for next Halloween?”

“Hmm, I remember, in college, Diego always hyped up this game called ‘Uncharted’. Ever heard of it?”  

“Pfft, yeah.  I think he figured you grew tired of listening to him talk about his pop culture and La Huerta comparisons, ‘cause he was blurting it to the rest of us.”  

“I don’t know…maybe he just wanted to annoy you.  I mean, you did give him the worst nickname.”  

Jake flashes you a grin, which you gladly return.  “So, you think we should dress up as those guys from the video game?”

“Oh yeah,”  You chuckle, “Diego’s not wrong, you and I could definitely give Nathan Drake and Elena Fisher a run for their money..."

Bonus:

Chop!  

Nathan faces away from the living room, focusing on the giant carrot he has to quickly chop and throw into the soup brewing on the stove.  In the background, he hears the jingle of a mobile game coming from his wife’s phone.  “What chu playing there?”  He shouts.

“It’s this app called Choices,” Elena shouts back.  “They’re like the ‘Choose-Your-Own-Adventure’ books we had as a kid, except better, apparently.  I saw my coworker play it during break, and he convinced me to download it.  Oh hold on – quick time event.”  Nathan turns around from the kitchen counter and sees a head of blonde hair hovering intently over a phone.  

“Oh, really?”  He throws the chopped up carrots into the pot.  “So, what adventure are you facing tonight?”

“Just this book called ‘Endless Summer’, it’s about a bunch of college kids stuck on an island.  They even got a character choice that kind of looks like me, so that’s kinda cool.”  

Elena keeps tapping her screen.  “I already like this book so much, it kinda reminds me of what we used to do, y’know? Well, except much, much milder. But I think my own character’s got potential.  I can tell she’s well-rounded.”

Nathan turns the tap on to wash his hands.  “Mmhmm…anybody like me?”  

“We’ll see…ooooh.  Okay, she’s talking to this pilot in the cockpit now…ahaha!  Oh my god – Nate - this could totally be us in a parallel universe.  Forget Elena and Nate, hello, Elena and Jake.”  

“Wait, what?  Hold on, lemme take a look at this kid.”

[brielikethecheeese]

Tee Wasn't Here

"Ugh! That’s why I don’t like your kind!” She stormed out of my room, and slammed the door behind her. Stunned, but knowing that twenty-four shocked faces were watching to see my reaction, I struggled to keep my composure. It was the first week of my first teaching job in my first classroom, and I’d just had my first run-in with a student. “Great, my first write-up” I thought grimly to myself. All I had asked her to do was write a word that described her. One word. I’d been met with neck rolls, “I don’t like people telling me what to do”, and “I don’t feel like it.” She had her reasons for her mistrust.

Unfortunately, her history with women had not been a pleasant one. Her mother was in and out of her life for thirteen years, leaving her behind with a grandmother to manipulate teenage-hood. She’d been labeled with Oppositional Defiant Disorder; she was angry, defensive, and defiant, for lack of a better word. She went to great lengths to annoy others, and seemed to take pride in stirring the pot. She walked into my classroom for the first two weeks, unprepared and unmotivated. She’d roll her eyes to the ceiling--- remind me of how ridiculous my class was, how writing was dumb, and that I think I’m better than her. She was quite the challenge.

Kids are brutal sometimes. They say mean things, sometimes on purpose and sometimes on accident. Their emotions are all over the place. Some days they like you, some days they don’t. Still, I worked very hard to make sure that my class was an enjoyable experience, constantly creating unique lessons and activities in order to cater to 96 ever-changing, adolescent personalities. I took pleasure in watching them walk in, “too cool for school”, and accidentally enjoy my class. I sang, I danced, I connected real-life issues to mandatory standards and concepts, and I had fun with them. In turn, they respected our classroom and their teacher. Tee was a different story, though. She did not find my faraway tales of my past life funny, my singing voice annoyed her, she didn’t care that my weekends were spent traveling on the road with my rock band, and no “Parts of Speech “Whip and Nae Nae” song and dance would change her mind about me. We were nearing fall break, and I felt that I had connected with every student except her. It hurt my feelings to think that she’d leave my class for the holidays with nothing—and it really pained me to know that in years, I’d be a distant memory—of someone she despised. It annoyed me so much that I spent my entire break contemplating a different approach.

It was our first day back, and I was ready. I was exhausted from six class periods before, but it was time to perform. I saddled up, poured on my loveliest persona, and stood by my door, ready to greet my less-than-eager students. “Hey Ms. Boyce, why’d we have to come back?” One questioned, rhetorically. I smiled. “Your hair looks different.” Another examined me up and down. “I was absent the Friday before we got out for break, did I miss anything?” “What are we doing today?” I took it all in. Oh, how I had missed the questions. In walked Tee, slowly, dragging her feet—she took one look at my newest wig and smirked. “Good afternoon, Tee!” I flashed my brightest smile. Nothing. She waited for the last moment to step one foot in the classroom. The tardy bell rang. She defiantly made eye contact with me, daring me to send her to the office to retrieve a tardy slip. “Excuse me”, I said in my most Disney-esque voice. I gently nudged past her and closed the door. She raised an eyebrow in surprise, as her eyes scanned my face for any trace of sarcasm. I didn’t break. “Welcome back, guys!” I sang enthusiastically. Open your journals and begin writing. I started the timer, and my kids eagerly began recounting their days spent away. She yelled out, “I don’t have a pencil.” I happily placed a brand new pencil on her desk. “Keep it.” I said. “I left my journal in the band hall, and it’s closed for the day.” That’s okay, I have extras—just for you!” The children giggled at her failed attempts to get out of work. It came time to share, and we laughed at some of the ridiculous stories being told. “Tee, would you like to share?” “No, all I wrote was I hate this school, and didn’t want to come back.” I jumped at the opportunity to play devil’s advocate. “Well, we’re glad you’re here, right everyone!” “Yeah!” They played along marvelously. She growled and her brows furrowed. “Well, I hate everyone.” She trailed off meekly, the first time I’d ever heard her sound timid about anything. I smiled to myself.

The next few weeks, I dedicated my time to spreading positivity among my classroom. If Tee yelled out something meant to bruise my ego, I’d divert my attention to someone behaving correctly. Even her tiniest efforts received my praise. I asked for twenty-seven lines, she’d give me seven. Still, I found something wonderful to brag about. My students began to catch on, and pretty soon the energy was contagious. For one journal entry, they had to choose a classmate to write nice compliments about. Everyone was excited to spread joy. Tee wasn’t. “I don’t like any of these kids”, she complained. “Well, we love you in here, and I’m writing a letter to you!” Cami assured her. That day, three students wrote letters to Tee. I watched as she lifted her head off her desk, glanced at the folded pieces of paper, distinctly marked with colors and stickers, and slipped them in her jacket pocket. “Bye,” she mumbled as she walked out of the door. The first time she’d ever spoken a kind word to me. I nodded, “Have a great day.”

It was an unspoken alliance turned game between her classmates and myself to use every opportunity to make Tee’s day. It seemed as if we were breaking ground, but still, she stubbornly held on to her negativity. Where she went, a dark, solemn, sarcastic cloud followed. One Friday, I had taken a day off to attend a new teacher conference, and returned to my classroom to see that the students had turned the white board into an art project, marking their territory with loopy shorthand, hearts, and Instagram handles. “Baylei wuz hur”, M.N. loves E.J., Have a nice weekend, Tee wasn’t here. I paused, and squinted. Were my eyes deceiving me? Nope, there it was– tucked away in the left-hand corner. Written precisely with no scribbles, no extras, simply “Tee wasn’t here.” Well, okay, I thought. It was definitely the pessimistic approach to tagging herself, but it was a presence. A very small one, but a presence, nonetheless. I smiled to myself. I had broken through a tiny crack in the foundation of hostility, aggression, and mistrust that she’d brick and mortared her life with--- but it was enough. Her walls were crumbling, and our girl was showing her Achilles’ heel.

Her vulnerability reared its ugly head when she thought her world was ending. I had been struggling to get them interested in topics, so I decided to turn a journal entry into a text conversation. I presented them with a scenario: “You’re on a plane that has crashed. You have seven minutes of battery life before the plane will be fully submerged. Send a text message to family and friends.” (5-8 lines) Most students looked for loopholes in order to live—naturally. However, Tee accepted her fate, and began writing furiously, her pencil scratching into her composition book—head down, foot tapping, and furrowed brows that cast three wrinkles across her forehead. “Beep!” “Beep!” The timer went off. “I have news to share,” I began somberly. Eager eyes followed as I slowly walked around the classroom, pausing to look sadly into each face as I allowed the silence to fill the room. “The plane has gone down. Your phones are now water-damaged. I hope that you guys can stay afloat.” A few kids gasped at the solemnness of my tone, “..for a few seconds because…”

“No… no… no… “ I heard a soft voice growing louder and louder. “Help is on the way!” I yelled flinging my arms triumphantly. A cheer rang out through the room as students realized they’d be saved and their last letters were null and void. “DANGIT MS. BOYCE!” Tee slammed her fist on the desk. “I exposed myself!” A hush fell over the room, and she buried her head in her hands. “Why did you have to save me?” I walked over to her desk, and would have laughed out loud, but I was afraid of embarrassing her. Before me was a masterpiece. “Woe is me.” It began, followed by the predicament that she had been unfortunately placed in. She’d neatly and matter-of-factly listed each person that she loved and admired, telling in great detail why they would be missed. I couldn’t help myself. “Tee, this is beautiful,” I wiped a fake tear from my eyes, as her curious classmates chanted, “share, share, share!” The corners of her mouth peaked upwards, and for the first time I saw her teeth. We have a study hall every evening for the last thirty minutes of the day. That evening, Tee poked her head in my classroom. “Can I stay with you today? I think I have some work that I need to do for you.” I didn’t recall giving out any work, but I agreed. This continued every day for about two weeks.

I recently assigned a poetry project, and she approached me for my help. “I think I’m moving soon and I want to write a poem for my best friend, Emily.” “You’re moving?” “Yeah, I’m glad,” she shrugged. “I hate it here.” There goes that wall again—I had learned by now to refocus the conversation. I helped her with her poem that day, and thought nothing more of it. I have at least one child a day tell me they "hate the school" and are "moving".

Two days ago, Tee walked in my room during my third period class. Her face was red, and her fists were clenched. Given her history, I figured she must have gotten into a fight and needed a safe place so I met her in the back by my desk. She handed me papers—“I-I-I,” she could hardly get her words out through shaky sobs. “What is it?” I glanced at the yellow and white pages before me. Printed in black ink read the words, “Official Withdrawal Form” She crumpled in my arms, and I did my best to console her. After what seemed like hours, she pulled away from me. “Be good.” I said, “You know where to find me if you need me, and please be nice to people.” She laughed, and shook her head up and down. After I signed my name, she gave me one more hug, went and fished her journal out of her class period bin, and left me with my other students.

The rest of the day went by slowly, as tearful children greeted me with the same news. The air was heavy, and our journal entries seemed dull without Tee’s commentary. When I thought about her throughout the day, I said a little prayer, hoping that something resonated with her during her time in my class. Like she’d foreshadowed that Friday on the white board, “Tee wasn’t here”, and we all missed her. This afternoon, I was cleaning and walked past my bulletin board; my eyes caught sight of a new sheet of paper that had been hung with a tack. I recognized the handwriting—but to be sure, I turned it over to see her name written neatly. A few days prior, I had asked them to find a quote that represented their struggle. She had announced, “I hate people.” I remember saying, “Well, you need to find a quote to remind to love people.” Written precisely with no scribbles, and no extras, simply,”Not everyone thinks the way you think, knows the things you know, believes what you believes, nor acts the way you would act. Remember this, and you will go a long way in getting along with people.” –Arthur Forman. I laugh at the irony of Tee embracing me for the first time on the same that day she withdrew. I could be wrong, but I think that she took more away from my class than she let on, as evidenced in the quote she chose to proudly display. She nailed it… to a tee.

#compassion #kindness #love #blog #blogger #teacher #teacherblogger #anonymous #funny

[steven-blanco]

1-200!!! I can't choose just a few so answer them all please (unless there's ones you don't want to answer!)

200: My crush’s name is: I have two crushes. His name is Franco and her name’s Montse.199: I was born in: January 30th198: I am really: Funny197: My cellphone company is: Telmex196: My eye color is: Hazel195: My shoe size is: I think in USA would be 8 or 8 ½194: My ring size is: No clue193: My height is: 5’ 11"192: I am allergic to: Dust191: My 1st car was: None190: My 1st job was: I’ve did a couple things for money but I don’t consider them as jobs.189: Last book you read: It’s actually a play. The White Devil by John Webster.188: My bed is: my husband and wife.187: My pet: are my life. 186: My best friend: I have a lot of best friends tbh.185: My favorite shampoo is: Pantene184: Xbox or ps3: PS3183: Piggy banks are: really useful 182: In my pockets: my phone181: On my calendar: Waiting for fall.180: Marriage is: kinda risky but beautiful.179: Spongebob can: just end?178: My mom: Chaotic neutral.177: The last three songs I bought were? 1. Love of the Loveless by The Eels.2. Italian Leather Sofa by Cake.3. Seven Hours With A Backseat Driver by Gotye.176: Last YouTube video watched: Smiles and Tears - Ocarina cover. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kDSKLzmHhg175: How many cousins do you have? Jeez, a lot. 174: Do you have any siblings? Yep. I’m the little one.173: Are your parents divorced? Wait. 172: Are you taller than your mom? Yes.171: Do you play an instrument? I don’t, sadly.170: What did you do yesterday? Not hoping I was dead. It was a good day.[ I Believe In ]169: Love at first sight: Yes.168: Luck: Of course.167: Fate: Sure.166: Yourself: Indeed.165: Aliens: Sí.164: Heaven: I hope. 163: Hell: I guess.162: God: Yes.161: Horoscopes: Kinda.160: Soul mates: Absolutely159: Ghosts: I live with one.158: Gay Marriage: Sure.157: War: Combo breaker! No. 156: Orbs: I have a few photos of them.  155: Magic: 100% Yes!

[ This or That ]154: Hugs or Kisses: Kisses.153: Drunk or High: High.152: Phone or Online: Phone.151: Red heads or Black haired: Red heads ��️150: Blondes or Brunettes: I don’t care.149: Hot or cold: Cold.148: Summer or winter: Winter.147: Autumn or Spring: Autumn 146: Chocolate or vanilla: I love both!145: Night or Day: Night.144: Oranges or Apples: Oranges.143: Curly or Straight hair: I love my curly hair. 142: McDonalds or Burger King: McDonalds.141: White Chocolate or Milk Chocolate: Don’t do this to me!140: Mac or PC: PC. 139: Flip flops or high heals: High heals are fun but flip flops are comfortable. I’ll take flip flops.138: Ugly and rich OR sweet and poor: Sweet and poor. 137: Coke or Pepsi: Coke.136: Hillary or Obama: Obama.135: Burried or cremated: Cremated.134: Singing or Dancing: What!? I can’t decide.133: Coach or Chanel: This is so american.132: Kat McPhee or Taylor Hicks: This is so american x2.131: Small town or Big city: Big city.130: Wal-Mart or Target: We don’t have Target in Mexico. Wal-Mart. 129: Ben Stiller or Adam Sandler: I can tolerate Ben Stiller a little bit more. 128: Manicure or Pedicure: I really need a manicure right now. 127: East Coast or West Coast: East Coast?…126: Your Birthday or Christmas: Christmas doesn’t make me feel old.125: Chocolate or Flowers: Flowers. 124: Disney or Six Flags: I’ve only been in Six Flags.123: Yankees or Red Sox: Yankees, I guess. [ Here’s What I Think About ]122: War: Without sense.121: George Bush: Did 9/11120: Gay Marriage: Still waiting for being legal in my whole country. Sadly, it’s never gonna happen.119: The presidential election: Do we still think democracy it’s real? 118: Abortion: Agree. But just as a final resource. 117: MySpace: Never had one. 116: Reality TV: Some are entertained but when people always talks about them and nothing else it really annoys me. 115: Parents: I love mine. 114: Back stabbers: Watch out.113: Ebay: Useful but watch out again.112: Facebook: It was fun when I was 14. Now I barely post something.111: Work: Do something that you love. Then it’s not work.110: My Neighbors: Someones are really hot. 109: Gas Prices: I’m going to walk all my life.108: Designer Clothes: I wish I can fit on that.107: College: Good experience until now.106: Sports: I love doing sports.105: My family: Fucked up in a humorous way.104: The future: I’m terrified tbh.[ Last time I ]103: Hugged someone: 10 minutes ago.102: Last time you ate: I just had a snack.101: Saw someone I haven’t seen in awhile: Yesterday.100: Cried in front of someone: Two months ago.99: Went to a movie theater: Four months ago.98: Took a vacation: Can’t remember.97: Swam in a pool: Two years ago.96: Changed a diaper: Never.95: Got my nails done: Like two years ago too. 94: Went to a wedding: Can’t remember. It’s been a while.93: Broke a bone: I’m not sure if I was in 1st or 2nd grade.92: Got a peircing: Never.91: Broke the law: Four months ago.90: Texted: 20 minutes ago. [ MISC ]89: Who makes you laugh the most: Rick and Morty88: Something I will really miss when I leave home is: Security.87: The last movie I saw: I re-watched Sympathy for Lady Vengeance86: The thing that I’m looking forward to the most: Being an actor.85: The thing im not looking forward to: Being rich or famous. 84: People call me: Steven, Svenson, Child face. 83: The most difficult thing to do is: Staying quiet.82: I have gotten a speeding ticket: No.81: My zodiac sign is: Aquarius.80: The first person i talked to today was: My dad.79: First time you had a crush: I was eight. 78: The one person who i can’t hide things from: Myself.77: Last time someone said something you were thinking: My acting teacher. I love him. 76: Right now I am talking to: My nephews. 75: What are you going to do when you grow up: Have a lot of fun.74: I have/will get a job: when I finish college.73: Tomorrow: I’m going to relax. My fridays are always cool. 72: Today: I’m going to suffer. I have a lot of things to do and here I’m… procrastinating. As always. 71: Next Summer: Wasting my time without guilt.70: Next Weekend: A play to do. 69: I have these pets: Dogs.68: The worst sound in the world: Alarms.67: The person that makes me cry the most is: Selma fucking Jezkova. 66: People that make you happy: Family and friends. 65: Last time I cried: Last week.64: My friends are: fun hoes.63: My computer is: dead. I’ve being using my brothers Mac. 62: My School: Is ok.61: My Car: Doesn’t exist.60: I lose all respect for people who: doesn’t respect other people.59: The movie I cried at was: Only Yesterday.58: Your hair color is: Dark brown.57: TV shows you watch: Mostly cartoons. 56: Favorite web site: Youtube.55: Your dream vacation: Anywhere with a pool.54: The worst pain I was ever in was: when I broke my left foot.53: How do you like your steak cooked: Well done.52: My room is: Always clean.51: My favorite celebrity is: Hayden Panettiere 50: Where would you like to be: 2001.49: Do you want children: Yes.48: Ever been in love: Yes.47: Who’s your best friend: I have a lot. It will be pretty unfair if I miss someone.46: More guy friends or girl friends: All my life I’ve been surrounded by women.45: One thing that makes you feel great is: working out.44: One person that you wish you could see right now: My friend Luck. 43: Do you have a 5 year plan: Kinda. 42: Have you made a list of things to do before you die: Yes. 41: Have you pre-named your children: OF COURSE. 40: Last person I got mad at: a classmate. He can be an irresponsable pain in the ass.39: I would like to move to: Canada or Japan. 38: I wish I was a professional: musician.[ My Favorites ]37: Candy: Pecositas.36: Vehicle: None. 35: President: None.34: State visited: My family visited a lot of states when I was a baby. I can’t remember anything. 33: Cellphone provider: I don’t care.32: Athlete: I don’t know any. 31: Actor: Gary Oldman.30: Actress: Susan Sarandon.29: Singer: Emilíana Torrini. 28: Band: Gorillaz.27: Clothing store: None.26: Grocery store: A market. 25: TV show: Daria. 24: Movie: The Fifth Element.23: Website: YouTube.22: Animal: Fox.21: Theme park: Only know Six Flags.20: Holiday: Halloween/Día de Muertos.19: Sport to watch: Golf.18: Sport to play: Baseball.17: Magazine: Quo.16: Book: Momo.15: Day of the week: Saturday.14: Beach: Meh.13: Concert attended: Someone take me to a concert, because I’ve never attended any. 12: Thing to cook: Any dessert. 11: Food: It’s really fun cooking japanese food. 10: Restaurant: A mexican one. 9: Radio station: Any with 80′s music.8: Yankee candle scent: What?7: Perfume: Any.6: Flower: Sunflower5: Color: Blue4: Talk show host: Stephen Colbert.3: Comedian: Wanda Sykes, Anjelah Johnson and Bo Burnham.2: Dog breed: Pug or Schnauzer.1: Did you answer all these truthfully? I think I did. 

[beanburrito1015]

Are required classes more important that Fine Arts?

A while back in my junior year English class, my teacher asked the question along the lines of, “Are Fine Arts just as important as subjects like Math, English, and Science?” Now, I come from a very conservative town, so most of my classmates had very traditional views, resulting in the majority of them answering no, Fine Arts are not as important as the other subjects. But alas, we never got the opportunity to have that debate in class, but I was ready. That question has been pestering my mind since that day. Growing up, my parents would always tell me to get good grades in Math, English, and Science, because “those were the ones that mattered”. I never thought much about it until hearing that question. Why was it that my grade in Pre-Algebra mattered more than my grade in Theatre? Why have we been taught this from such an early age? 

It boils down to the futures of the youth and the practicality of their future careers. Compare the amount of times you have heard parents or school counselors encouraging kids to become doctors or lawyers or engineers to the amount of times you have heard parents wanting their kids to be actors or artists or musicians. The difference is drastic, and understandably so. In most cases, the adults in a kid’s life want what is best for them. Being a doctor is a very practical job, usually coming with a steady income and benefits. There is a sense of stability that comes with having a practical job, something that everyone wants. But what if I told you that the jobs that adults don’t want the kids to get are just as important, if not more important as the others? What if I told you that fine arts are a defining part of every culture? 

There are considered to be seven different fine arts, those being architecture, sculpture, painting, literature, dance, music, and since the twentieth century, film/cinema. Those might vary a little bit between who you talk to and where you are from, but those are the main seven. 

Architecture

Every single building you have ever been in, of any sort, was made possible by the architect(s) who designed it. You would not have a house, a physical school, an office building, or anything in between if it weren’t for the art we call architecture. These things are necessary for everyday life, whether we realize it or not, and society as we know it would collapse without them. 

Sculpture

This one might not seem as important as the others, but think again. It could one hundred percent be argued that pottery is a form of sculpture. According to the Ancient History Encyclopedia, “pottery is one of the most common types of items found by archaeologists during excavations, and it has the potential of providing valuable information about the human past”. Had it not been for ancient peoples inventing and creating different forms of ceramics and pottery, we would know a lot less about them, and we wouldn’t have the basic eating and drinking utensils that we have today. Furthermore, think of the most iconic sculptures in history. David, by Michelangelo. The Statue of Liberty. The Great Sphinx of Giza. Although these aren’t essential parts of human history, what they symbolize are important parts of our cultures. 

Painting

Painting, along with sculpture, are huge parts of culture and history, most notably, The Renaissance. Renaissance is defined as “the revival of art and literature under the influence of classic models in the 14th-16th centuries”. Think of paintings like The Last Supper, or The Creation of Adam on the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Each of those are important to many Christian religions today, and are iconic pieces of work that basically define Christianity as a whole. I would argue that religion as a whole would be very different if it weren’t for the artwork created many years ago. Or think of the cave paintings left behind from thousands and thousands of years ago, giving us a glimpse of what life was like back then. Painting also paved the way for other forms of artwork to take place, such as animation and graphic design, things that we use/consume every day. 

Literature

If literature wasn’t taught in schools, everyone would be… you guessed it: illiterate. Literature and language go hand in hand. If it weren’t for literature, it would be extremely hard to learn how to use language. And vice-versa. If it weren’t for language, literature would cease to exist. Every single book about anything you have ever read, whether it be business, self improvement, history, textbooks, or even fiction stories would not even be possible without literature. The Bible, Quran, Torah, and any other sacred religious text, which are the texts that a lot of people base their morals off of, wouldn’t be here, resulting in nobody knowing what each religion is about, causing religion itself to crumble. Most forms of news are written down, on a newspaper or online, and without that we wouldn’t know about the world around us. Sure we have live news networks on TV, but more on that later. So yes, literature is important. 

Dance

Dance has been a way to express emotions for thousands of years. Swing dancing, slow dancing, or even mosh pits are ways to connect with other people, and have been for quite a while. Without dancing we wouldn’t have things like Homecoming and Prom, which can be big parts of the adolescent experience. Dancing is a great way to socialize with others and convey emotions without even having to say a word. Furthermore, dancing is a great cardio workout, which is great for your physical health.  

Music

What do you think about when someone mentions the 60s? The 70s? The 80s? You might think of the crazy hair styles, the politics, the hippies, and the ridiculous fashion (which is definitely making a comeback), but something that never goes without saying is the music of those decades. The rise of pop, disco, alternative rock. The Beatles, Bee Gees, Journey. Bob Dylan, Elton John, Michael Jackson. In fact, you could talk about any decade from the last century, and the music of that time will always be a defining part of that discussion. Even centuries ago, Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, Chopin were superstars! Music has always been something that humans have loved and enjoyed, and it always will be. It is something that people can identify with. People can find a community of others with similar music taste, they can feel welcome and accepted because there are others like them. People feel pride when they hear their national anthem. Musicians write songs about politics, social issues, historic events. “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel is a great example of this. After 9/11, Alan Jackson wrote a hit country song called “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” about the tragic events that happened that day, and tells us that the greatest thing we have is love. On the opposite end we have “Weird Al” Yankovic, who makes ironic parodies of existing songs. Music has always been a way for people to express themselves and their ideologies, and to have fun. I have heard so many times that “this song/band saved my life”. Music is more than just instruments and sounds, it’s real, raw emotions, that covers every topic that a person could think of, and is a huge part of world culture. Without music we couldn’t connect with others nearly as well as we can with it. 

Film

Have you ever seen someone get offended when someone else hasn’t watched Star Wars? I have seen that way too many times, mostly because I am a person who hasn’t watched Star Wars. But why does it matter so much? I am beginning to sound like a broken record, but it is because of the cultural importance of that movie. Star Wars is a universally known movie series. If you haven’t seen it, you know what it is and a basic summary of what it is about. Along with music people can find friends through having a similar interest in movies, for example, Comic-Con. Movies basically run every single marketing campaign ever. Whenever there is a new Disney Pixar movie coming out, you’ll see fruit snacks shaped as the characters, and McDonald’s happy meal toys based after the movie. You will constantly see posters and commercials advertising for the movie. Film, like music, lets the writer or director express their emotions and ideas to others. Film is just like literature, just easier to understand. It can teach and educate us, make us feel emotions, and blow our minds. Get a job in the film industry, and you are set. Another part of the film section of fine arts is TV broadcasting. TV can bring us the news, sports, and lots of other forms of entertainment, all of which are important to humans. 

Either the kids in my junior year English class didn’t know what fine arts even were, or they didn’t know what the hell they were talking about, or both. Sure, the other subjects are very important, and help us further innovate technology and the world around us. Sure, having a career in STEM will be a great career, but you could make a career out of any of the fine arts above just as easily. Remove any one of the fine arts from society, and the world would be wildly different. Saying that the fine arts aren’t as important as Math, English, and Science is an ignorant and uneducated statement, and it shows that you know nothing about the world around you. 

[nexttattoos-blog]

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Small tattoos

The tattoo is one of the oldest cultural manifestations that has been increasingly popular, in virtue of technological advances, the increase in the number of professional tattoo artists, easy access to information, the influence of the media and fashion trends and the greater willingness of the individual to invest in their own well-being. The art of adorning the body communicates to the other its peculiar codes, its style, its essence. It is also a mark of life in which it is possible to express a memorable memory, religious options, affection for a loved one and even irreparable pain. The choice of the figure to be stamped must be done thoroughly to avoid causing remorse. For those who start the ritual now, the ideal is always to opt for simplicity either in “hidden” places, soft features or in smaller formats. Complexity and innovation are the biggest obstacles, since materializing them in the exact way you imagine is a difficult and complicated task. The small tattoo, for example, is the most accurate, practical and efficient way. And do not hesitate: the result, for the most part, is always positive and surprising. There are endless forms and diverse and creative models of the brand in your skin. Check out our gallery of 180 amazing little tattoo suggestions and find here the inspiration you need to take the first step:

The sunflower is like the sun: it brings light and makes the environment happy

The flower is one of the most feminine symbols

Smile!

The shades of pink leave the moon even more feminine

An elephant bothers a lot of people!

Origami on the wrist

Freedom is a gift!

A powerful and imposing ring

For addicts of macarons

Citizen of the world

My half orange

Put on the face of your favorite classmates

Chip and dale

The rose adapts to any area of ​​the body, so, dare!

Chef on duty

The crown is the symbol of power, authority and leadership

The master key

There’s no mistaking the contour tattoo of the star

To move-te

The butterfly represents the transformation, the beauty and the transience of

Whale in black and white on the arm

Like a wave in the sea

Rosa outline of the leg

Do you prefer the most hidden flowers? This place of the body is perfect for you!

All forms of love

The heart hurt by a loving disappointment

Non-continuous features bring more lightness to tattoo

For a good traveler, nothing better than a book with a warm coffee

Soft, delicate, feminine and exciting

Dirty girl

Who does not like to travel?

A lazy cat on the leg

The horseshoe carries with it luck, protection and positive energies

For those who are passionate about the city that never sleeps

I am the owner of the world!

Pointillism

Returning the night for the delivery of the project

Lights Camera action!

Small and realistic cherry tree on the arm

Tattoo of colorful and vibrant flowers in hand

Lucky girl

Amazing and vibrant lotus flower on the arm

New school tattoo

The arrows of love

Under my umbrella, rain, rain

Smile, my good!

Guardian angel

How about stamping several figures in your hand?

anchor in shades of gray on the wrist

Charismatic kitten on the finger

The most precious stone

Figure of the deconstructed house in the hand

Manifest your joy with the arrival of the new member of the family

How about a wolf ring?

Take advantage of the stem of the rose and make more sense to tattoo

I was crush!

The world is the smart ones!

Dagger in shades of gray in the hand

Attract all the luck of the world for you!

Secure all evil!

Positive and negative

Two equally relevant elements: infinity and anchoring

Simple musical note stamped on the wrist

Mini walnut on the wrist

Traveler of the seven seas

Petals that are released in the leg

Today time flies, love

Take advantage of the format of the moon and write a word means for you!

A toast to life!

I have something to talk about!

The act of giving aromatic flowers

Blue flowers on the wrist

The door of hope

Minnie sends kisses!

Amulet of protection

Lovely and feminine piglet on the leg

Beautiful and realistic goldfish swimming by the pulse

Loving

Labyrinth

Notable black and white pine on the leg

The diamond symbolizes purity, perfection and truth

The world divided into five parts

Lucky clover, all covered in black

Sexy blue cherry on the thigh

The rose represents the heart, sensuality and beauty

You are a star! shine everywhere!

Vibrant red cord on the arm

Diamonds are women’s best friends

Pink heart tattoo on the leg

Love potion

Love is in the air!

Candle holding skull

We will be together forever, baby

Who has the key to your heart?

Colored flower tattoo on the leg

How not to love these beautiful puppies?

Do you prefer not to risk? bet on the points tie and win numerous fans

Give a comic touch to your tattoo and get rid of it!

Oh cupid, let’s see if he leaves me alone?

Geometric figures never go out of style!

disney icon

I’m looking at you!

Beautiful realistic roses on the back

A passionate flamenco

One of two significant elements for you and the result will be amazing!

Lonely flower full of love to give!

Funny ballerina in the leg

Love to cook? This tattoo falls like a glove

A test of friendship, a promise for life

Delicate, soft and feminine pink on the arm

Delicious, fun and colorful cupcakes on the fingers

Kisses on the shoulder

Funny and colorful bird on the finger

How about stamping the year of his birth on his fingers?

Delicate infinity in the neck

Funny lizard, walking on the leg

The watercolor tones bring more life and energy to the vase of flowers

The urban landscape

Whale of the color of the sea

The phase of the flower stamped on the back

To quench your thirst

Small and colorful heart that beats for you!

Remarkable and red rose on the wrist

Make a mix with several elements together and the effect will be amazing!

Tattoo of a black and white dog on the arm

How to resist so much tenderness?

Messenger of Peace

Queen sheep in watercolor tones on the arm

In homage to someone special in your life

All we need is Love!

You have the key to my heart

The texture of the dog’s hairs leave the tattoo even more realistic

May peace be with you!

Beautiful swallow flying by the pulse

The bee represents order, discipline and cooperation

Vibrant and energetic tree on the leg

Mini umbrella on the wrist

Combine two complementary elements in a single tattoo and strip!

A precious pearl

Live the realm of fantasy!

Fissured by the game of nintendo de mario? this is for you!

A funny clown in the hand

Kanji

Winner of all stages of the musical world

Small and ultra feminine loop on the leg

Flower tattoo in shades of gray on the wrist

Protection

Creative, original and fun: a decayed tooth

Several female figures in a single tattoo

The pixelated heart

Mini diamond back contour

Think always positive!

Leg bracelet with beautiful flowers

The pearl manifests the long life and immortality

How about adding a special phrase next to infinity?

I was smiling, I only have love to share!

Bouquets of leaves with minimalist style on the wrist

Rabbit and sheep with non-continuous traits

The dove of peace

Leaving footprints

With crossed fingers to give luck!

The group of dogs gathered

Grief brings luck, justice and protection

Faith moves mountains

Playboy bunny

The four-leaf clover brings good luck to those who believe!

The rain falls wet my love!

Nautical star hidden behind the ear

Flowers are synonymous with beauty, femininity and innocence

The filter of dreams brings protection and luck

Remember why you started!

Birds are messengers of the heavenly and terrestrial worlds

The arrow of passion

The love of a mother

Her full lips are born beautiful flowers

How about stamping your self-portrait on your arm?

Love Paris? put one of the most beautiful scenarios in the world on the wrist!

[beyondforks]

Book Review: Emerge by Tobie Easton

Emerge (Mer Chronicles #1) by Tobie Easton Genre: Young Adult (Fantasy Romance) Date Published: April 19, 2016 Publisher: Month9Books, LLC

Lia Nautilus may be a Mermaid but she’s never lived in the ocean. Ever since the infamous Little Mermaid unleashed a curse that stripped Mer of their immortality, war has ravaged the Seven Seas. Now Lia lives in a secret community of land-dwelling Mer hidden among Malibu’s seaside mansions and attends high school with humans. To protect everyone around her, she must limit her contact with non-Mer. No exceptions. But when the new girl sets her sights on Lia's crush, she will risk exposing her deadly secret to stop Clay from falling in love with the wrong girl. 

Emerge is the first book in the Mer Chronicles series by Tobie Easton. I'm in love with this world already. Lia is a descendant of the Little Mermaid. I'm not talking about the Disney little Mermaid either. Hans Christian Anderson got it closer to the truth according to these mermaids. Plus, the author added her own touches on the story that really brought it to life and gave it depth. For example, the story on how they got legs, the curse, and details on the "real" Little Mermaid. Their world intrigues me. Was it predictable? Yeah.. maybe at times. But, it was fun, and I really enjoyed it. The characters were lovable. There was humor, drama, suspense, and of course some romance. Speaking of romance, What about Caspian? I like Clay and all. So, I'm not throwing him to the sharks, but I felt like there was some chemistry with Caspian as well. Is it just me? I hope he gets his happily ever after. I'm pumped to get started on the second book. In fact, I'm going to read it now!

Emerge by Tobie Easton was kindly provided to me by Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours for review. The opinions are my own.

Chapter 1 I can’t swim. No matter how sparkly and tempting that water is. No matter how it glistens in the sunlight, ripples in the California breeze, or reflects the swaying palm trees. One quick dip and my legs will go poof.       Besides, I’m late for P.E. Again.       I run past the swimming pool and heave open the glass doors to the auditorium. I can’t keep relying on the twins to get me to school on time. I’ve got to learn to drive, but I need better control of my legs first. What dope thought giving a car foot controls was a good idea?       All my classmates turn to stare, already in gym clothes. We finished volleyball last week—thank the tides!—so today we’re starting a new unit. About half the class wears P.E. shorts and t-shirts and stands near the entrance to the yoga studio. The other half mill around in bathing suits. So lucky.       I scan the room for the coach. If she’s not here yet, I can pop into the locker room and be in yoga before she knows I’m tardy. I rush toward the changing rooms, salvation in sight, when out marches a woman whose long blond hair is at odds with her bulging muscles.Coach Crane. She was a professional wrestler on one of those gladiator shows in the eighties, and her biceps are bigger than my head. She stops in front of me, her massive frame towering over mine.       “So nice of you to show up.” A drop of her spittle lands on my cheek, and I scrunch my nose, unable to wipe it off without her noticing.       “I’m super sorry. My sisters—”       “Hurry up and change,” she says, stalking past me. Phew!Maybe this day won’t be a total shipwreck after all. Then she adds, “Put on your bathing suit. You’ll be in swim class today.”       I spin around.       “What? I’m signed up for y-yoga, not swimming,” I say. Stay calm.       “Yoga’s full up. You have a swimsuit, don’t you? It’s on your list of required materials.”       I have a swimsuit in my locker, but it’s for show. No matter what happens, I can’t get into that pool. Sure, I can maintain my legs all day on land, but as soon as I hit the water, my natural instincts will take over. My tail will emerge, scales and all, and I’ll expose my whole family. I’ll put the entire Community of land-dwelling Mer refugees at risk. My breath comes in quick, shallow pants.       “My mom filed a note in the office,” I say, clinging to the story my parents concocted for such an emergency. “I’m taking private swimming lessons with this coach my parents hired and I’m not supposed to have any outside instruction.”       Rather than help me, this story makes Coach Crane’s nostrils flare. “I haven’t seen any note, so today you’re swimming. Now go change. I’m not going to tell you again.”       “No.” Did I just say that? Hands cup over mouths as the room erupts in whispers. No one gets why I’m making a fuss. I wish Caspian were here. What I wouldn’t give for one other Mer who’d understand. “I’m not swimming.”       I’ve never disobeyed a teacher before. But as much as Coach Crane scares me, that water scares me more. If I swim in the pool, the next place I’ll be swimming is a government laboratory tank, being poked and prodded and then chopped into sushi-sized pieces.“Please. My parents’ll kill me. And I just got over the flu,” I lie, floundering for a good excuse.       “Listen up … ” the coach sticks one meaty finger in my face.Panic seizes me, and my legs tremble. My control over them is slipping. At this rate, I won’t even need to get in the water to reveal myself. If I lose my focus, I’ll be flat on my fins.       “Coach Crane?” One of the guys steps forward from the group of yoga students. Clay. His dark hair shines under the fluorescent lights as he shoots me a reassuring smile. “She can take my spot in yoga. I have swim trunks.”       “Clay, that’s not necessary. She needs to—”       “I’d rather go swimming.” He cuts the coach off, determination in his hazel eyes.       Twenty pairs of restless feet tap against the rubber floor. I’m holding everyone up. Then a sweet, chirpy voice pipes up from the throng by the doors. “At this rate, none of us will get to do anything.Can’t Lia and Clay just switch already?” It’s Kelsey, my closest human friend. She twists one of her corkscrew curls around her finger and stares blatantly at the clock.       Coach Crane looks from the clock ticking away on the wall to me to Clay and back to me. “Fine. Ericson,” she motions to Clay, “go get into your trunks. And you,” she pins me with a fierce glare, “go change into your gym uniform. You’d better be in that studio doing downward dog in less than five minutes.”

Tobie Easton was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, where she’s grown from a little girl who dreamed about magic to a twenty-something who writes about it. A summa cum laude graduate of the University of Southern California, Tobie hosts book clubs for tweens and teens. She and her very kissable husband enjoy traveling the globe and fostering packs of rescue puppies. To learn more about Tobie Easton and her books, visit her website.You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

[dawnajaynes32]

Explore Singapore, Hub of Creativity

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in HOW Magazine’s Summer Creativity issue. Get a copy to discover amazing optical illusions, exciting design exercises and more.

by Ellen Shapiro

Explore Singapore, the Southeast Asian city-state home to an explosive tech world and a rich multicultural creative scene.

We create our own identity, our own DNA. We’re not following European or Japanese or American design styles,” says Kevin He, founder of Kong, one of the studios transforming Singapore into an industry powerhouse.

This island nation of 5.6 million people off the southern tip of Malaysia is only 277 square miles, a quarter the size of Rhode Island, but it’s Southeast Asia’s hub of commerce. And it’s a hub of creativity, which is expressed in the architecture, museums, gardens, and technological and design innovation.

The international ad agencies with offices here serve local clients, but also tailor campaigns for global brands to the tastes of a population that’s approximately 70% of Chinese descent, 13% Malay, and 9% Indian, and that officially speaks standard English. Malay, Mandarin and Tamil are official languages too, but many people communicate in Singlish, a rapid, colloquial patois of words adopted from a dozen languages overlayed with Australian and American slang.

This multicultural mix makes for a challenging but delicious stew, not only for dining options—eating out is a favorite activity—but for creative output.

A case in point is the colorful, animated multinational typeface created to brand and promote the team at Grey Group Singapore, where creatives hail from Australia, Brazil, Germany, the Philippines, South Africa and the U.S., as well as locally. Designer and typographer Luis Princep Fabra (himself from Spain, and now executive creative director at digital agency Tribal DDB Worldwide) combined elements from the flags of the agency’s 106 client countries in a dynamic set of letterforms for use on office signage, T-shirts, mugs and invitations to the welcome party.

Multinational Typeface by Luis Princep Fabra for Grey Group Singapore

“The projects we do here need to speak to an international audience,” concurs Edwin Tan, creative director at Bravo, a branding studio that’s attracting clients beyond Singapore’s borders. “The internet has made the world one entity, borders are blurring,” he says. “The projects we publish online are viewed by people all over the world, and we get inquiries from all over the world as well.”

The Bravo team in their artifact-filled office: (from left) Kaelyn Quek, Hsu Li, Shermaine Wee, Michelle Yong, Carisia Chew and founder Edwin Tan.

High-Tech Tropical Paradise

First-time visitors can get their bearings by taking a river cruise that begins in the quays of the historic district, glides past British Colonial buildings like the old Supreme Court and City Hall, which are now the National Gallery Singapore, and takes them into the central business district, or CBD. There, glass towers house offices of Google, Facebook and Twitter, as well as rising startups like ReFUEL4, which uses a global network of designers to create and update “smarter” Facebook ads for customers including Spotify and PayPal. So many buildings have roof gardens and tropical plants dripping from balconies and terraces that Singapore’s tagline is being changed from “Garden City” to “City in the Garden.”

Singapore’s climate of around 80 degrees Fahrenheit year-round makes it an ideal growing zone, so astute planners have gifted both locals and visitors with the highlight of the tour, Gardens by the Bay. This 250-acre park features glass conservatories filled with dramatic vertical plantings of ferns, orchids and flowering vines. A grove of “Supertrees,” 150-foot treelike sculptures, collect rainwater, harness solar energy and cool the conservatories. The park’s nightly music and light shows are set against an astonishing background of contemporary architecture including Moshe Safdie’s Marina Bay complex with its many-petaled ArtScience Museum and its three hotel towers joined by a surfboard-like roof garden.

Supertrees,” vertical gardens that harvest solar energy and come alive with nightly light shows, at the Gardens by the Bay. In the background, a roof garden connects the three towers of Moshe Safdie’s Marina Bay Sands.

Good Design is Celebrated and Rewarded

Singapore proudly calls itself a “City of Design: Designated UNESCO Creative City.” It has partnered with 19 other cities, including Bilbao and Seoul, locales that have pledged to “place creativity and cultural industries at the heart of their development plans.”

One example of that is the government-supported National Design Centre, a five-story hive of prototyping labs, event spaces and offices, including that of the DesignSingapore Council, which hosts an annual Design Week with citywide festivals and a conference that attracts top international speakers. The current exhibition, “Fifty Years of Singapore Design,” which will be on view through 2017, presents the best in product and industrial design, fashion, environmental design and visual communications from independence in 1965 on.

The National Design Centre, where the exhibition “Fifty Years of Singapore Design” takes visitors decade-by-decade through history.

The President’s Design Awards, which confers awards in every design discipline, is a major annual civic event. At its 2006 ceremony, Theseus Chan, “the godfather of Singapore graphic design,” whose firm WORK was founded in 1997, became the first communication designer to be named Designer of the Year. His WERK magazine, in which he experiments with materials, textures and binding techniques in collaboration with European and Japanese fashion designers and artists, first brought attention to the Singapore scene and garnered D&AD Yellow Pencils, New York Art Directors Club medals, and Tokyo TDC awards.

An issue of WERK by Theseus Chan

Home-Grown Talent

“Singapore designers are evolving from doers to thinkers,” adds Kevin He, proudly. “One of the things that led to this evolution is our education infrastructure.”

Unlike other Asian countries, notably Korea, that fill 50% of the slots at The School of Visual Arts and some other U.S. design schools, most Singaporean designers attend local schools. Although a few go on to pursue MFAs at RISD, Parsons, Yale or London’s University of the Arts, an American or European education conveys no special status here. The top local firms were founded by graduates of Singapore Polytechnic, Lasalle College of the Arts, Temasek Polytechnic, and Raffles Design Institute (which, like other Raffles institutions, was named for the British statesman who founded the city-state in 1819 as a trading post of the East India Company). And those graduates partnered with and hired their classmates and peers.

Deadline: 11:59pm EDT on Monday, Sept. 11 | Enter today

Chan offers this observation: “In the mid-’90s, graduates that grew up in the digital age started forming collectives and boutique studios offering fresh alternative solutions. This, coupled with quick-changing media and social landscape, created a dynamic scene away from traditional advertising agencies’ mindset. Design thus became the new voice in communication and marketing.”

Kevin He and his senior designer Charles Cheok, for example, are fellow graduates of Lasalle College. With deep knowledge of the local culture, their team of seven is turning out exquisite work that unites Chinese and Western iconography. Kong Studio’s own identity is an intellectually pure exercise in bilingual typography. “The logo mark is based on the Chinese character (空),” explains He. “Pronounced ‘Kong,’ the word can be translated as ‘emptiness.’ It references the negative space that is as important to graphic design as strokes and fills. The character 空 pervades the identity in various forms, and when rotated forms my initials, K.H.”

Designers Sinn Low and Stacey Zuo at Kong Studio. The logo, by firm principal Kevin He, is based on the Chinese character ‘Kong,’ which refers to all-important negative space in design and, turned sidewise, is his initials.

Other notable Kong projects are identities for educational and government institutions and retail clients, among them a bold brush-and-ink logo for Bilingual Book Store and a system based on modular cubes for B/W, a maker of modular shelving systems.

Branding and phone app for Bilingual Book Store by Kong Studio; Bilingual Book Store signage by Kong.

Live Well, Eat Well

It’s not inexpensive to live in Singapore, but for the price of a studio apartment in New York or San Francisco you can rent a three-bedroom, two-bath in a high-rise complex with central air conditioning, a bedroom for your housekeeper or nanny, also considered essential, and perhaps a pool and tennis court. Designers report they live in neighborhoods with names like Bukit Timah, characterized as “very green and chill”; Tiong Bahru, the epicenter of cool coffee-and-cupcake spots and independent bookstores; and Lavender, an area with a colonial past where Hindu temples stand side-by-side with fashion and home décor shops, bars and cafés. Singapore’s neighborhoods, including Little India and Chinatown, aren’t Disney-like re-creations, but real places where people live, work, shop and dine.

“Food is a main attraction,” says Carisia Chew, account manager at Bravo. “We have a diverse mixture of cuisines, and you can try them all in one country. Closest to our heart (and stomach) is Tiong Bahru Market and Food Centre, our go-to lunch spot since we opened a few blocks away seven years ago. Forget air-conditioned restaurants. Go street!” By that she means the hawker markets where dozens of food stalls sell unique specialties.

Interactive website for Tiong Bahru Market, designed pro bono by Bravo.

Singapore Art Museum student project by Lionel Tay.

It might not be an exaggeration to claim that every restaurateur in Singapore realizes that clever, well-designed branding is a must-have to distinguish his or her restaurant from the competition. Bravo creates some of the best, including the Tiong Bahru website, a self-initiated, nonprofit project that features an interactive directory that maps the dishes sold at every stall—from ang ku kueh (a red, tortoise-shaped pastry with sweet bean filling) to you taio, deep-fried dough sticks. “The fun bits,” adds designer Michele Yong, “are our personal recommendations—like min nan noodles with pork ribs and prawns—and the meal generator for those who can’t decide amongst the huge range of choices.” Other notable Bravo projects include casino-inspired branding for Full of Luck Club and a nostalgic variety-store vibe for Five & Dime café.

Graphics for Full of Luck Club by Bravo.

Designers cannot live by food alone, and Bravo’s clients include The Chain Reaction Project, a nonprofit that combines adventure trips with fund-raising to change the lives of people in undeveloped nations. The basis of the identity is the Chinese character ‘ren’ (人) or “people.” The three simplified lines in the logo mark are combined and repeated to symbolize a chain reaction and to represent the causes the trips support.

Urban Renewal

In a renovated historic Chinatown building, a company called The Working Capitol hosts what its founders call “a community of knowledge workers who operate at the intersection of creativity, technology and business.” The esoteric brand language was developed by Yah-Leng Yu and her team at Foreign Policy Design. “We were inspired by Euclidean’s geometric construction,” Yu explains. “The idea is that something beautiful can be created with a basic axiomatic system. Euclidean theory allows for infinite outcomes and is guided by five postulates, thus the logo permutations radiate into an intricate sphere of influence and reflect Working Capitol’s mission.”

The Foreign Policy Design Group on the terrace of Singapore’s National Gallery, for which they’ve designed the interiors and packaging for the cafeteria and the museum shop, Gallery & Co. At right front, in grey, is firm principal Yah-Leng Yu.

Foreign Policy is also keeping busy with the branding, packaging and interior graphics for Gallery & Co., the museum store and cafeteria in the newly restored National Gallery. “The brand concept harks back to Singapore’s early role as a trading port and is derived from basic circles, squares and triangles, as well as primary colors—the palette we’re introduced to when we start drawing and painting as kids,” Yu says. A graduate of Nanyang Technological University, this articulate, pioneering design firm principal earned her B.A. at the Art Institute of Boston and worked in New York City for several years before returning home. “I am a voice for Singapore,” she asserts. “Representing Singapore. Representing Design. Spreading the love to all including non-designers and appreciators of designs.”

Packaging and interior graphics for Gallery & Co. by Foreign Policy.

Too Much to Do?

Singaporians seem to never run out of things to do, from spending time at the city’s gardens and museums to cycling through its parks. “If you enjoy a long walk, you can walk along Bayfront to Esplanade to Clarke Quay,” suggests Lionel Tay, a native of the People’s Republic of China and recent Raffles graduate who’s now working at Goodfellas, an ad and marketing agency founded by two Y&R guys who wanted to do things differently—and won the Agency of the Year award in 2016. “There are many places to visit along the way, such as Fort Canning Park, my personal favorite,” he says. This historic site hosts concerts, festivals and productions like Shakespeare in the Park, Ballet Under the Stars, and Films at the Fort. These days, Tay is spending most of his time honing skills developed at school, where his senior project, a logo for “SAM,” a contemporary art museum housed in a 19th-Century mission school, has attracted nearly 550 appreciations on Behance. And then there’s shopping. Singapore has everything from upscale malls with all the Prada and Chanel you’d ever want to ogle, to sidewalk stands selling electronic goodies like refills for your SIM card and $5 reproductions of jewelry seen in paintings of Hindu goddesses, to unique venues like Mustafa, a full-block long, multistory emporium in Little India. “You can get anything and everything at this 24/7, one-stop destination, from groceries, textiles, clothing, cosmetics, electronics, sports equipment to pharmaceutical products and even travel bookings,” Chew points out.

A Base for Expats, and for Adventurers

Although the boutique studios were founded by locals who tend to hire their peers and classmates, the larger agencies spread a wider net. “Singapore’s ability to attract top professional talent from around the world is cornerstone to its continual success,” says Chan. “There are opportunities for designers and entrepreneurs of all disciplines to carve a successful career here.” Indeed, the staff at ReFUEL4 includes folks from Australia, India, the U.K. and the U.S., all putting in the hours and striving for success together.

“I moved here mainly because I’ve been always interested in Asian cultures,” explains Princep Fabra, who studied in Barcelona and Vienna and worked in Rio de Janeiro and Madrid before settling in Singapore at age 30. “I wanted to experience Asia closer than visiting as a tourist. Singapore is an active, dynamic place to work. People move in and out pretty fast, but the fact that English is one of the official national languages makes it easy for foreign talent to feel comfortable,” he notes. “But experience working in or for Asian markets is always a plus.”

He echoes nearly every other Singaporean when he concludes, “One of the things I really enjoy about living here is the location. Magical places like Ubud, Bali, are less than a three-hour flight away. From here, it’s easy to experience the rich and lively cultures of many other Asian countries—and to return inspired to do even better work.”

Ellen Shapiro is a New York–based graphic designer and writer who’s been documenting design trends, events and personalities as a contributing editor of Print since 1991.

CALL FOR ENTRIES

This year’s HOW International Design Awards deadline is Monday, Sept. 11!

See all categories here and enter your work by 11:59pm EDT on Monday.

Best of luck to you!

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