#i mean you have my discO ren we can always do things there too if this doesn't take off

[untolikeiron]

girlrued

  look look hear me out: if i had a downt.on abbe.y...

allison i’m literally begging u

I HAVE NO SELF CONTROL

[regrettablewritings]

Animatic/Storyboard Music

Got bored/procrastinate-y on coloring in this ultra intricate card for my mom. So I’m just gonna make a list of songs I think make for good animatic material. Because why not/I wanna foist my musical tastes on people/ @locke-writes got me in a music binge. For the most part, it’s just gonna be me explaining the meanings or the vibe or what they generally tend to be used for, but really it’s mostly subjective so imaginate whatchu wanna.

“Trust Me” - The Devil’s Carnival Originally depicting a story about the Scorpion and the Frog, it’s the perfect song for when you want to depict the dynamic between a gullible or at the very least more grounded character and a figure whose intentions . . . may be less than pure. Or good for anyone, really.

“The Dismemberment Song” - The Blue Kid I have a playlist dedicated to songs whose content and sound are just . . . not married to one another, but got a weird flirtationship situation going on. Anyway, I’ve seen people say that they like to imagine it’s sung through the POV of a scorned housewife who’s finally Had Enough™️. And . . . They’re really not wrong for it. Really, though, it’s just the right song for when a sadist is just ready to gut a fucker but is disturbingly jolly about it.

“Love Me Dead” - Ludo Continuing with my trend of songs about people in less than ideal situations, “Love Me Dead” is straight to the point: The relationship is just awful and the guy gets nothing from it, but he can’t help but be hopelessly in a state of adoration for the woman he’s latched on to (“You’re born of a jackal! YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL!!”)

“Constellations” - The Oh Hellos There actually isn’t a plot to this song, it just feels really good (as all songs by The Oh Hellos are prone to be). However, if you feel a need to portray the concept of having to reorganize your thoughts after realizing that maybe they weren’t what you initially thought, and then coming to the conclusion that even though everything changes as a result, you’ll be alright? This is the song for you.

“A Kindling of Sorts” - The Oh Hellos An instrumental piece that is like . . . It’s related to another song of theirs about nationalism called “Torches”, so make of that what you will. (I personally have been using it to imagine storyboarding an opening for an animated The Witcher series.)

“The Other Side” - The Greatest Showman I know everyone and their mom has used this to portray situations like villains trying to get good guys to join their side. But I dun curr, it’s a fun song. That, and I like what Emilyamio did with her interpretation. It’s fun. For a basic rundown, know it’s another song about two characters’ dynamics being explored, with one coming to the other with a proposal that they join them in whatever endeavors they have in store. It’s often portrayed as something evil, but it really doesn’t have to be, as the original context was more about letting loose than anything.

“The Thief and the Moon” - Shawn James A much more mellow piece. Simple and straight to the point: A thief tells the Moon that he plans on stealing her light to shade the world in darkness. The Moon insists that the thief would only doom the world by doing so, to which the thief clarifies that he doesn’t care; if the world is shrouded in shadow, it means he will be able to steal with more ease (“My very existence is a race to attain wealth”). Disgusted, the Moon essentially curses the man with a warning that his greed can and will bring about his end -- and leave him to be forgotten by the rest of mankind, once it happens.

“Villainous Thing” - Shayfer James I’ve seen people say that this song is about singing to a cadaver but I can’t quite find anything confirming that (translation: I’m too lazy to look too into it). Regardless, it’s a fun ditty that yet again portrays someone with less than pure intentions encouraging someone to join him in some good old fashion villainy, as they’ve clearly endured their fair share of hardships and surely wanted to do evil anyway (“You’ll find no ever after here, it’s clear that isn’t what you came for“).

“Necromancin Dancin” - Bear Ghost Straight forward and fun as fuck: A necromancer apparently seems to cross classes and try his hand at barding by not only raising an army of the dead, but by also making them dance in order to make conquering the world easier. Because . . . a body doing Disco Duck isn’t scary, I guess.

"Aquaman” - Walk the Moon A song about one half of a couple wanting to become more involved in their relationship, but still having some nervousness about doing so. If you somehow haven’t heard this song yet, you gotta because it’s the cutest shit.

“Jenny’s Tale” - Ren I’ll be brutally honest, it’s about a woman named Jenny who just wants to get home after a long day of work and an unfortunate encounter with a 14 year old named Screech who gets way in over his head. As in, like, a death happens. That being said, I need. Like. An animated music video of this song. I imagine this shit in gritty charcoal or painted on glass, it just needs this. Somebody who isn’t me who knows what they’re doing, please look into this.

“The Curse of the Fold” - Shawn James As cheesy as it sounds, it basically boils down to not giving up or yielding. But what makes it so cool is the fact that Shawn James makes all his songs basically sound like a western gothic soundtrack. Which helps, because he admits that the title is also a reference to poker, in which giving up too often or too easily can often rob you of a delicious reward gained through perseverance and sacrifice.

“Thank God I’m Not You” - Himalayas I prefer to imagine this for an arrogant asshole of a character. Because that’s exactly what this song is about: They’re a liar and a thief, they’ve been called the son of Satan, and yet they consider themselves lucky -- ‘cause at least they ain’t you! If you have a character in mind who’s a delightful, punchable little shit, this is probably either their anthem or at least on the playlist you inevitably made for them.

"Passerine" - The Oh Hellos So there’s a common trend in The Oh Hellos’ discography that tends to explore the two founders’ experiences with faith and their growth in how they understand it or recognize it. With “Passerine”, the concept being explored is the experience they had when it came to taking a step back and realizing just how many of their supposed “fellow Christians” were actually doing some rather unchristian things, so to speak. When they “prune[d] their feathers”, it became clear that they had less in common with certain people proclaiming to be Christian while also spouting bigotry and greed. However, the desire to move away from such influences comes with the feeling of being torn, as moving too far away from the Bible leaves the singer feeling as though she is betraying something she holds dear. As a result, “Passerine” symbolizes not a breakage from faith, but a breakage from blind faith as they understood it, and the inevitable feeling of being torn that comes along with expanding upon how one views their beliefs and those around them. It’s therefore not uncommon to see Good Omens animatics using this song. (Something I also noticed is that throughout the song, you hear pieces of “Constellations”. TOH have a tendency to reference previous pieces, and considering “Constellations” is a song about changing perspective and the meanings we apply to them, it fits in beautifully with a song about reevaluating one’s stance.)

“Like the Dawn” - The Oh Hellos As stated before, a lot of TOH’s discography draws inspiration from their faith. In this case, it’s an outright retelling of the Garden of Eden, specifically when Adam awoke to find Eve had been created. What makes this iteration stand out to most, however, is that the singer is female, which seems to change the vibe you get. It sweetens the feeling of wonder we often forget the first man might’ve felt upon seeing somebody made for him, creating an air of beauty yet comfort with such lines as “And like the dawn, you broke the dark and my whole earth shook” or “You were the brightest shade of sun I had ever seen.” Even without the awareness or an interest in religious influences, it still manages to be a very feel-good song -- which is the mark of an overall good song in general!

“Confession” - RED Dealing with the constant battle of feeling ashamed that how you feel on the inside isn’t in sync with how you present yourself on the outside. That you should feel bad for smiling out at the world while screaming and thrashing -- like it’s a lie. But you can’t help it: It’s what you’re accustomed to. Though it does end on a hopeful note with the singer deciding that they want to reach out for help and rid themselves of this feeling of pain they have inside.

“When I Grow Up” - Matilda . . . Only if you want to cry. Seriously. When you’re a kid, everything seems difficult but you’re positive that once you grow up, everything will change: You’ll be tall enough to climb the trees you were too small to, you’ll be able to carry everything because you’re stronger, you’ll be brave enough to fight the monsters hiding in your room, you’ll finally have all the answers. . . . But life isn’t that simple. We wish it were, but it isn’t. There’s this bittersweetness about this song, about a sense of purity we unfortunately grow out of where we think things will be just the same enough for us to do what we want when we want, but things are more complicated than that. We still struggle to reach, to bear the weight, to not be afraid, to have even a fraction of the answers. But! We’re reminded that just because we’re told life isn’t fair, doesn’t mean we have to take it. After all, nothing changes when nothing happens. And even beyond that? It helps to remember that we’re never quite done growing up; there’s always more to learn, so remember to be patient with yourself.

“Hand Me My Shovel, I’m Going In!” - Will Wood and the Tapeworms This is . . . a song. The lyrics are honestly kinda all over the place and shooting rapid fire, making it a bit difficult to discern what exactly the singer is going on about. It makes for a pretty crazy song that suggests somebody’s going unhinged, which is apparently precisely the intention?? I’ve seen a lot of people interpret this as a song about a guy who is already at a low point in his life but nonetheless is going, “. . . I bet I can go deeper. Hand me my shovel.”

“No Reason” - Beetlejuice God if i had a youtube channel the segment i would spend on this song would be so juicy just ripe and thicc with thoughts and feelings i tell ya rich like a fresh fatty peach the apple that tempted Eve and gagged Adam yes ‘Nother song that explores the dynamic between two differing people and their worldviews. At its simplest, “No Reason” is about two opposite ends of a spectrum coming to a head: Idealistic and hippie-dippy Delia is convinced that everything happens for a reason, while cynical and depressed Lydia asserts that everything happens at random and it doesn’t matter anyway because we’re all going to die. And even though the delivery is ultimately a comedic one, you get more insight as to why one another feels the way that they do: Lydia, as we’ve previously learned, has recently lost her mother to an illness, which has left her depressed and feeling invisible (a theme in the show); whereas Delia’s failed marriage and desperate attempts to nonetheless be happy have left her dependent on the idea that these things had to have happened for a reason, otherwise, her pain would’ve been for nothing. What’s important is that neither side is actually appointed as the winner, with the song ultimately ending that the universe is random for a reason.

“Barbara 2.0″ - Beetlejuice Without spoiling anything (or at least too much), “Barbara 2.0″ is about growth. It’s about learning to put your foot down after a literal lifetime of being passive out of fear of what might happen and just accepting that nothing will happen if nothing happens -- but that doesn’t make whatever happens good.

“Bleed Magic” - IDHKBTFM It’s either about a killer or a vampire. No, seriously: When Dallon Weekes was asked about what the story of the song was, that was his answer. I personally prefer to think of it as a vampire or demon of some kind, given that the song came out around Halloween. Perfect for yet another example of somebody (likely supernatural) having an upper hand on an unsuspecting mortal. ...I have way too many of these on this list, I swear I don’t have a problem —

“Feel Good Drag” - Anberlin A toxic relationship of sorts. In that it shouldn’t be a relationship to begin with. Depicts the singer being approached by an ex, who seeks a one-night stand while her current boyfriend is out of town. However, the singer is aware that trying to continue anything regardless of the situation is a moot point: Even when they were together, their relationship was doomed from the start, and nothing about that is going to change -- especially now.

“Soviet Trumpeter” - Katzenjammer (It’s kinda difficult to work with this one but I’ve seen people work with less or stranger.) Based off the life of one Eddie Rosner, a Jewish Polish trumpeter whose fame within the USSR unfortunately faded due to the Soviet Union’s heavy censorship. Even if nothing is to be done with it, it still paints a melancholic picture of a talented man’s skills being largely unknown as a result of things beyond his control. All wrapped up in a song that denotes a strange deterioration in a way I can’t quite place.

“Apple Blossom” - The White Stripes On its face, it’s a very sweet song: The singer encourages his beloved to be vulnerable enough with him to tell him her troubles and to let him “sort them out for [her]”. She’s clearly saddened, and seeing so distresses him to where he insists that he will do whatever he can to make her happy. However, the tone of the song and certain lines make it easy to twist into yet another song of a character attempting to seduce somebody into a state of vulnerability . . .

“You’ve Got Possibilities” - It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Superman The one singular song people actually liked from this forgotten musical. Perfect for when somebody intends on giving somebody else a makeover. Y’know, after totally roasting them on their posture and clothing. If you want to add a lil something extra, know that the context is that a lady wants to give Clark Kent a makeover, insisting that in spite of his schlubby appearance, there’s gotta be something underneath. I repeat: She is telling this to Clark freaking Kent.

 “Still” - Anastasia In the context, the show’s antagonist (not bad guy, there’s a difference) finds himself torn between obligation and personal interest: Does he fulfill his duty and live up to expectations set upon him by his father and the society he’s been selected to help uphold? Or does he let a woman he has become fond of go? Is she truly as innocent as she claims? Or is she well aware of what she’s doing? And every time he thinks he’s reached a conclusion, he can’t help but thing, “But still . . .” Good for when you want to portray a character conflicted between obligations of politics and what their heart wants.

“Two Nobodies in New York” - [title of show] Two young men plan on entering an upcoming theatrical festival but struggle with what to even submit. This song in particular focuses on them trying to figure out what to even write, the concept of fame, and if wanting the certain things that may come with fame can mean anything from being sell-outs to getting a sitcom. It’s admittedly specific, but it’s a cute and funny interaction between two guys who are, for the most part, actually in sync with their thoughts and anxieties. For the time being.

“Into the Unknown” - Idina Menzel Look, I refuse to watch that movie. I just do. But I will take this song over That Other One any day. Mostly because I personally like to imagine that the singer in this song is about to embark on a Pixaresque journey after accidentally leaving her home during the night of The Wild Hunt, accidentally separating her spirit from her body and thus giving her a very limited time to get back to it before she remains a soul trapped in a whirlwind of ghosts forever. But first: Let’s sing about that strange howling that coaxes her so.

“You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid” - The Offspring I sure do long songs that can characterize a shithead . . . Anywho! The smoothest way to go is just to portray some cocky, manipulative shit who’s used to just lying and cheating their way to get what they want before slipping away without any consequences -- to a point. There’s the option of portraying the betrayer’s comeuppance, but there’s also the frustratingly delicious option of just letting them get away with whatever to lie another day.

“Why Should I Worry” - Billy Joel When in doubt, go to earlier Disney. Because like it or not, they had some bops. And when in the need of portraying a happy-go-lucky (probably idiotic) doofus and his more neurotic or cynical friend going about their life with the former just Mr. Magooing it while the latter suffers more realistic consequences? You go with this song. If you want. That’s just me.

“Transformation” - Brother Bear For when you want to invoke a mystical or otherworldly feeling. There’s really not much more I can say except to encourage you to listen to it and watch the scene if you can find it. You’ll get the vibe.

“No Girl’s Toy” - Raggedy Ann and Andy: A Musical Adventure It’s a big shame this movie is relatively unknown and never got a proper VHS release or anything -- mainly because the music in this cult classic is definitely stuff I could see becoming standards. I could see people performing “I Never Get Enough” for little shows, or recycling “Blue” for a different show. Thankfully, somebody was able to upload a clear enough sounding recording of “No Girl’s Toy”, so at least we have that. In context (just...follow me on this), Raggedy Ann’s brother, Raggedy Andy, has had enough of being subjected to “girly things” while in the nursery. Additionally, though, the way the song was written means it can also be interpreted as just a guy who refuses to let himself be yanked around regardless of how thick the sugar being laid on him is. . . . If you wanna poke fun as a character for trying to appear tougher than what he is, here’s the song. (That being said, Andy is a sweetheart at the end of the day. No amount of tough-fronting will hide that.)

“I Enjoy Being a Girl” - Flower Drum Song (It is by sheer coincidence that this song follows the above.) Really, it’s exactly what it says on the tin: The singer enjoys being a girl and what all it entails for her. She loves her feminine form, she loves the attention she gets, she loves dolling herself up, she loves frilly dresses, and she hopes to one day marry a guy who enjoys “having a girl like [her].” And honestly? Good on her! Love whatcha love, lovely! Seriously, though, it’s a cute song for anyone who just wants to indulge in some girliness.

“Chip on My Shoulder” - Legally Blonde Come on: It’s Legally Blonde. You know what this bop is, or at least have an idea of it. But since I love this song, I’ll indulge: Disheartened by her failure to both win back her ex and succeed in the fast-paced environment of Harvard, the normally bright-eyed Elle is ready to call it quits. That is, until junior partner Emmett gets involved. Unimpressed by her story, Emmett reveals that he got to where he was by busting his ass due to having a chip on his shoulder from his rough beginnings — and maybe a chip on the shoulder is exactly what Elle needs to survive. And as somebody driven by spite, I can appreciate that kind of message. Anywho, it all in all is a song about growth and learning how to be “driven as hell” to keep up with an opportunity that may not be easy to take, but is not one to be passed by.

“What Do I Need with Love?” - Thoroughly Modern Millie “What Do I Need with Love?” asks exactly that: He could date a different girl every night of the week if he so wanted, and never once had any desire to go steady before. He considers himself lucky to have never fallen for anyone -- until now. Which he’s not! He’s not in love. ...He totally is and, by his own admission, he’s got it bad it’s terribly adorable.

“Interlude IV” - Zach Callison The entire album is actually a narrative about a failed relationship of Callison’s and I’m sure the other songs are just as great fuel for animatics -- I’m just too caught up on listening to this one over and over. Sometimes, we just wanna listen to Steven Universe cuss and be openly furious. Seriously, though, even without the context of the rest of the story, you get the idea well enough: A spiteful Zach decides to get back at the one that broke his heart in such a painful way, whereas a well-meaning friend insists they just leave it be and move on. While this technically would be the better and healthier option, Zach is just too far gone with rage to let it go and decides to take care of things by himself.

“Evermore” - Beauty & the Beast Look, I know the remake wasn’t anything crazy. But also I don’t honestly care too terribly much. Besides, this song was nice and it really gets me after that key change. We all want a royal doofus to be enamored enough with us to let us go for our own happiness but still know that their life will forever be changed because they met us. Animate that shit. Over and over.

goddamn this list is long lemme just stop this now byyyyeeeee

[likexporcelain]

10 for 10 for 10

Rules: Answer 10 questions, come up with 10 more and tag 10 people. 

Tagged by @enygma0710 Thank you! These questions are awesome <3

The 10 Questions:

1. First/Earliest Fandom experience?

Went hard in the emo band fandom in middle school and early high school. Read lots of Panic! at the Disco fanfiction. And I mean LOTS.

2. If you had a super power what would it be?

Shape shift!!!! I want my physical body to be anything I want it to be at any given time. Sometimes I’d like to be a 6′4″ beefy hunk, sometimes a smol cuddly puppy, and sometimes a fuckin garden gnome spying on the chatty housewives who like to throw half-full lattes in my mom’s garbage can.

3. If you could attend one musical event past/present what would it be?

I don’t like music events I’m a lame-o.

4. Which three people would you have at your last dinner? Past present, real life and/or fiction.

David Benioff, Dan Weiss, and George RR Martin. There’s eyedrops in the water glasses and I definitely didn’t cook the chicken right.

5. What is your one deal breaker?

Just one?? Gonna go with Trump supporter then.

6. If you had unlimited funds what are the top three things you would do with it?

Buy a house. Start a family. Donate at least a billion dollars a year to charity/people in need.

7. Who is your favorite hero and favorite villain?

This is tough! I think my favorite hero is Daenerys Targaryen, Mother of Dragons and Rightful Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. As for villains, I’m reading this as what villains I loved and actually maybe rooted for them a bit lol, so Maleficent (from Maleficent) and Killmonger (from Black Panther). Also I’ve just got the hots from Kylo Ren so maybe that counts too, I can’t remember what he was actually doing in those movies tho. Something naughty lol.

8. What movie/book/tv series is your guilty pleasure?

Omg where do I start. For movies, I love the Saw movies. I binge the franchise every year at Halloween! I also love the Fast and the Furious movies! For television, I love competition shows like American Idol, Project Runway, Hell’s Kitchen, etc. And sometimes I’ll fall into an HGTV fixation and just watch Fixer Upper and Love It Or List It for a month straight. For books, I looove romance novels and am always looking for good ones on Kindle Unlimited (not an easy task) so if anyone has any suggestions lmk!!! It can be super smutty, super angsty, super romantic, whatever. As long as there’s some smut in it lol.

9. If you could time travel, what time period would you settle down and live in?

Oh I’m gay, I’ll die in any other time period and probably this one too but at least we got internet, Hulu, and smart phones.

10. What is your one regret in life and how would you change it?

Not being honest when I should have been, and not lying when I should have.

***Here are my questions for y’all:

1. What was the first tv series you really obsessed over, and what drew you into it?

2. What activity/hobby are you most passionate about and why?

3. What love story (from a film, show, book, etc) first made you believe true love could actually exist, if any?

4. What’s your go-to food item when you’ve gotta cook/make something for a pot-luck?

5. Surprise! The stork left you a set of twins on your doorstep. You don’t have to be their parent, but you do have to name them! What do you name them? (gender is your choice).

6. You need a roommate. If you could pick any fictional character to be your new roommate, who would it be?

7. Which cliche fanfic plotline do you wish you could live out in real life?

8. You get to date any celebrity. Who do you choose and why? (Don’t worry, they’re into you too!)

9. If you’re only remembered for one thing, what would you want that one thing to be?

10. You’re in the Olympics! What Winter sport are you in? What Summer sport?

Tagging: @kittyinhighheels @raspberryandsilverwitches @lady-rhaenys @urie-mazing @lovecomesinattheeyes @bi-dingtime @help-me-obiwan @animeluver812 @thescarletgarden1990 @daenerys-the-unburnt And please feel free to ignore! And if any of my followers feels like doing this, consider yourself tagged also (:

[kotofvi]

THE MEGA RP PLOTTING SHEET / MEME.

First and foremost, recall that no one is perfect, we all have witnessed some plotting once which did not went too well, be it because of us or our partner. So here have this, which may help for future plotting. It’s a lot! Yes, but perhaps give your partners some insight? Anyway BOLD what fully applies, italicize if only somewhat.

Mun Name: Leo      Age: 27       Contact: IM, Inbox, Disco

Character(s) I rp: Canon: Shiro, Sebastian, Dirk, Kyoya, Kurama, Nelliel, Maka, Dwicky. OCs: Hades, Google, Emogene, Dominic, Seirios, Iso, Felix, Reeves, Nyx, Zeru, Ren, Charlie, Dakota, Nemo, Bluejay, Koko, BD, Raven, Cora, Sammie, Lucie, Poppie, Ollie, Alphie, Bambi, Abbigail, Hiraeth, Bonnie, Rei, Rory.   Which muse(s) inspires you the most atm?(for MM): Nelliel, Shiro, Rei, Bonnie, Hiraeth.  Current Fandom(s): Bleach, V/LD, Naruto. (I’m not deeply involved in the fandoms themselves anymore.) Fandom(s) you have an AU for:  Uhhhhh.. I basically have an AU for any fandom if I know it well and am asked for it.  My language(s): English. (I’m learning other languages but I don’t RP in them unless it’s just a sentence or two.)  Themes I’m interested in for rp:   Fantasy / Science fiction / Horror / Western / Romance / Thriller / Mystery / Dystopia / Adventure / Modern / Erotic / Crime / Mythology / Classic / History / Renaissance / Medieval / Ancient / War / Family / Politics / Religion / School / Adulthood / Childhood / Apocalyptic / Gods / Sport / Music / Science / Fights / Angst / Smut / Drama / etc. Themes/Genres you have an AU for: Modern, Mythology, Medieval. 

Preferred Thread length: one-liner / 1 para / 2 para / 3+ / novella. (I legit love all lengths, tbh, it’s more so with one-liners I tend to lose interest if there’s no substance to further it.)  Asks can be send by: Mutuals / Non-Mutuals / Personals / Anons. Can Asks be continued?:   YES / NO   only by Mutuals?:  YES / NO. Preferred thread type: crack / casual nothing too deep / serious / deep as heck. Is realism / research important for you in certain themes?:   YES / NO. Are you atm open for new plots?:  YES / NO / DEPENDS.  (I’ve admittedly been v busy, so if you’re fine with me takin’ forever-- YES) Do you handle your draft / ask - count well?:  YES / NO / SOMEWHAT.  How long do you usually take to reply?:  24h / 1 week / 2 weeks / 3+ / months / years. I’m okay with interacting: original characters / a relative of my character (an oc) (It really depends here.) / duplicates / my fandom / crossovers / multi-muses / self-inserts / people with no AU verse for my fandom / canon-divergent portrayals / au-versions (as main or only verse). Do you post more ic or occ?:  IC / OOC.(I post more IC, but the gaps between IC and OOC make it seem like there’s more OOC at times???) Are you selective with following others?:  YES / NO / DEPENDS.  (This is entirely because half the fandoms some of my muses come from are absolute shit so I have to be careful.) 

Best ways to approach you for rp/plotting:  IM or Inbox-- tbh, Just kick my inbox in and screech that you wanna plot/rp with me so long as you’re a mutual. I’m honestly so laid back?? Sure, it might take me a minute but this is entirely because IRL things and not because I’m putting anyone off. 

What expectations do you hold towards your plotting partner:  Having fun? Having ideas? I guess, just, mutual interest? I mean, I’m here to write! I’m here to have fun! If you’re not interested in that much alone then?? I guess bye?? ‘Cause I’ll become very annoying to anyone who doesn’t have an interest purely because I’ll randomly ambush my partners with excitement and ideas. 

When you notice the plotting is rather one-sided, what do you do?:  Oh I’ll just straight up ask if they want to continue the thread or start a new one! I mean, I get it, you can lose interest or otherwise just not feel it anymore and that’s fine! If you’re not interested in that particular thread, then no worries, we can always start more! If you’re just being one-sided in general, however?? I’m not gonna be interested at all and I’ll likely tell you as such. 

How do you usually plot with others, do you give input or leave most work towards your partner?:  Normally it’ll just happen? I’ll do my “Hey what if they ___” thing and then a rapid bombardment of inquiries and excitement later, there is a thread. It’s usually mutual, the involvement of creating this plot, but sometimes it’s just me being excited and them being excited and then suddenly BAM THERE BE THREADS. S’all good over here! 

When a partner drops the thread, do you wish to know?:   YES / NO / DEPENDS. - And why?: I mean?? I’d like to know, yes! But I get that sometimes it’s incredibly anxiety ridden trying to tell someone that you’ve lost interest in a thread. It’s alright if you don’t tell me, but if you can muster up the courage to do so I’d appreciate it! I’m not gonna be upset at you for losing interest/muse in a thread! If I cared deeply about the story, I might poke at you and then you can tell me?? Either way it’s fine and tbh, I don’t mind. However, please let it be known that you can take forever on a reply as well so don’t worry about just hoarding a draft too! Tbh, I had someone reply to a thread literally a year later and I was still excited for it!  - What should your partner do when dropping a thread?:  Just shoot me an IM or hell, make a list of threads you’re dropping and tag me in it??? Which ever! Or don’t even tell me at all, whatever works for you sugar! 

What could possibly lead you to drop a thread?:  Hmn, being overwhelmed-- I tend to accumulate a lot of drafts and 90% of them are long so sometimes I’ll drop a thread or two to help myself get by. Also lack of muse/interest is a factor. I won’t drop a thread purely out of being overwhelmed unless I just can’t muster up the muse to respond to it.  - Will you tell your partner?:   YES / NO / DEPENDS. Sometimes I get overwhelmed myself and I’ll drop a thread, forget to tell my partner, etc. Other times I’ll tell them before I even delete the draft! 

Is communication in the rpc important to you?   YES / NO. - And why?:  Yes and no~ Yes primarily! I get that others can take a minute to muster up the courage to talk to others and would just prefer to keep things to a few sentences at first! However, I can and will ambush you with conversation and interest nonetheless. Because communication is important. If you’ve got something you wanna say to me, say it! I’m here for it!  - Are you okay with absolute honesty, even if it may means hearing something negative about you and/or portrayal?:  Yup! If you’ve got an issue or something that might come across as criticism to say, say it! Civil discussion is absolutely wanted here and I would like to work out any issues you may have with me or my portrayal.  - Do you think you can handle such situation in a mature way?  YES / NO.

Why do you rp again, is there a goal?:  To write and have fun! To explore in depth the characters I create or take on! I mean, c’mon, lbr here-- my gremlin ass muses require some more in depth speculation and investigation into their characters! I love the creativity, the world building, the constant drive to do better and to make others feel something from words alone. The capability to rend emotion from another living being simply from reading and reacting to something I created is amazing and I want to make others cry, laugh, smile and think. I want to create. 

Wishlist, be it plots or scenarios:  Oh man, there’s an endless supply of things I’d like to do! I want to explore the depths of my muses’ histories more?? Like Shiro, I want to write out the things he must’ve seen, felt, experienced. How Nelliel was when she was alive, how Shiro fared in the Arena when he wasn’t fighting, Seb’s life torn between the various throws of data and reality-- there’s so much! And ALL THE AU’s!!!! All of them!!!  

Themes I won’t ever rp / explore: Sure, I work with a lot of darker themes like torture, gore, etc-- but I will not write Rape, sexual abuse, nor will I write child loss.  

What Type of Starters do you prefer / dislike, can’t work with?: I can work with most starters! However, if I’m randomly given a starter that I can’t work with for the muse selected, I’ll inform the person who wrote it! I appreciate the effort given but don’t expect me to be able to reply to every random starter given! Sometimes, they don’t even show up in my tag. 

What type of characters catch your interest the most?:  Okay, I’m a sucker for the underdogs, aggressive folks and the villains. I’m not even going to try and lie and say I don’t immediately look at the Aizens and Kenpachis and go ah yes, those fucking gremlins, give me ten. I also love the background characters? The side characters in a show that seem so unimportant but have a crucial role? I love characters that have such an obscure involvement that you have to stop and ask why and how their involvement was crucial. I also love the soft beans? The ones who are so hyped with positivity and gleaming interest that they just can’t be ignored?? But then turn around and whoop some poor sap’s ass with that sparkle sparkle smile. Also love the upstanding moral types that also acknowledge that some things can’t be avoided and that morality is a grey area dependent on the perceptions of the individuals themselves. 

What type of characters catch your interest the least?:  Hmn-- I guess the kind that don’t seem to have much substance to them? The ones that are just uncharacteristically too kind. Yes, I love the overwhelmingly positive types but?? Also?? The ones that are too kind and without flaw just?? Don’t strike me as interesting. Also the ones that are just cruel for some obscure reason just to give them a reason to be villains. I mean I understand but also?? Villains don’t have to have a reason?? They can be cruel just to be cruel. Idk that’s always just been a thing with me.

What are your strong aspects as rp partner?:  I guess that I’m fairly laid back? I don’t mind if you take 10 years to reply, I’m going to get excited if you message me with some random idea, I’m not going to be bothered by any ideas you suggest?? I can also sometimes give u doodles?? I don’t have time to doodle a lot but sometimes, once in a blue moon, you’ll get a random offering of doodled booty for ur blessing. Also gonna hit you up with random HCs, ideas, threads, etc?? Always?? Idk, I’m not too good at thinking about positive aspects of myself lmfao. 

What are your weak aspects as rp partner?: Hnnn, I’m too laid back at times. I take too long to reply and I’m busy af IRL. I’m often goaded into being irritated by some asshole or another so I can come off aggro af too when I don’t mean to be. Sometimes I can get overwhelmed and disappear for a week, other times I can end up overwhelming someone else by being too excited? I tend to watch how much I do and say because I feel like I might come off as smothering and am too used to being shut down and told to shut up so I just don’t?? Do anything sometimes. I’m also not very good at initiating contact sometimes so I tend to go days and weeks without speaking to others. 

Do you rp smut?:  YES / NO. Do you prefer to go into detail?:  YES / NO / DEPENDS. Are you okay with black curtain?:  YES / NO. - When do you rp smut? More out of fun or character development?:  Usually only if it’s developmental for the characters involved. Sometimes it’s just fun to do! It really depends on the characters involved + if I have any muse in general for it.  - Anything you would not want to rp there?:  ???? Kinda vague, Idk? I mean if I don’t wanna rp somethin’ I’ll say so. 

Are ships important to you?:   YES / NO. Would you say your blog is ship-focused?:   YES / NO. Do you use read more?:  YES / NO / SOMETIMES. Are you: Multi-Ship / Single-Ship / Dual-Ship  —  Multiverse / Singleverse. - What do you love to explore the most in your ships?:  The relationship, the depth of two muses who can be wildly different or even similar. The multifaceted involvement of others to that relationship, the angst, the arguments, the sad moments along with all the happy things and how hard one might try while the other is cold-- etc. I don’t just want happy dates and sunshine, that’s not how relationships work after all!   - What is your smut tag?: Kettledrums

Are you okay with pre-established relationships?: YES / NO. - And what kind of ones?: I like a lot of pre-established relationships! However, I can be a tad wary of child muses? Aka: The ones who are children of one of my muses. Reason being, sometimes even I don’t know how they’d raise a child so the muse in question would be off putting to me because it’s out of my realm. Beyond that, I’m down for just about everything! 

► SECTION ABOUT YOUR MUSE.

- What could possibly make your Muse interesting towards others, why should they rp with this particular character of yours now, what possible plots do they offer?:  Since I have so many damn muses, I’mma just go with Shiro for all of this-- I suppose what they could find interesting is his very multifaceted dynamic as a soldier, human, technical non-human (Zombae), war worn, space exploring person. He can be rainbows and sunshine but also can suddenly become incredibly aggressive and cold. He’s not one or the other, he’s all and everything that he’s learned and encompassed while still remaining fragile and human in the end. Writing with him can be inspiring and can be soul wrenching, depending on the thread. As for plots, dude your character could be in space in one thread if the otherwise couldn’t be. There’s so many ways to go about writing with him?? He’s such an amazing character and the plots he can be instilled in are almost limitless with just his main verse. 

- With what type of Muses do you usually struggle to rp with?:   Hmn-- I guess the main one I have issues injecting him into place with would be the ones who are strictly non-tech oriented?? I mean, I can still have him there but getting him to fit is just?? Really difficult. Also with people who RP villains of his fandom and expect him not to be volatile. I’m sorry, but if you’re writing a S.endak or a Z.arkon-- you’re not going to get roses and butterflies with Shiro, plain and simple. If that’s something you can’t accept then don’t approach him with those muses.  - With what type of Muses do they usually work well with?:  He works really well with most anyone! So long as one goes into it knowing he can be hostile with soldiers, Galra, etc; then he can be used no matter what. He’s one of my most capable muses that doesn’t have much of an issue when it comes to responding. 

- What interests your Muse(s) in general:  Space, mechanics, biomedical engineering, people, freedom, fighting for a cause, flowers, his mother, violin, cats, sparring, getting stronger, constellations, nebulae, engineering, literature, alien languages, cooking. - What do they desire, is their goal?:  The safety of others, the freedom of others, the ability to choose, hope-- he wants to make sure those he cares for and all others are free and safe from the Galra take over.  - What catches their interest first when meeting someone new?:  How they look at him. If they show signs of pity, of fear, he tends to walk away from any possible meeting with them. Otherwise, their appearance is what first catches his eye. How they dress, how they respond to him, how they talk and if he can make them crack a smile with an awkward joke.  - What do they value in a person?:  Hope, Strength, Loyalty, Purpose, Honesty, Patience. - What themes do they like talking about?:  Shiro’s more of a listener than a talker, but honestly he’ll talk about anything of interest and question anyone’s as well to get them to talk about it. It’s what makes conversation with him easygoing most of the time.  - Which themes bore them?:  Himself. He’ll try to avert any conversation about himself if it’s too personal or too close to something. It’s not so much that it bores him but that type of talk is reserved for those insanely close to him. Also talk of command bores the FUCK out of him. He’s never been one to really like rank. 

- Did they ever went through something traumatic?:  So. Fucking. Much. Between being a prisoner of a war he was never involved with to being told he was a leader of a rebellion for said war, being a prisoner in the Arena and forced to fight and kill others, being held down and sedated as he tried to warn the others, DYING-- this boy has been thru too much.  - What could possibly trigger them?:  Certain noises, textures, Galra, medical equipment, certain lighting.  - What could set them off, enrage them?:  Galra, someone protecting him. - What could lead to an instant kill?:  Any bloodlust towards him or those he cares for. Most of the time, he has this under control and tries to be merciful, give them a chance; but sometimes, especially during an episode; there’s no stopping him from gunning for someone’s throat if they had any intent to harm another or himself. 

- Is there someone /-thing they hate?:  Z.arkon, S.endak, L.otor, H.aggar, Druids, himself a lot of the time. - Is there someone /-thing they love?:   The paladins, space fam in general, his mother, his friends, people in general. 

Is your Muse easy to approach?: YES / NO. - Best ways to approach them?:  Just approach him? Honestly, Shiro’s one of the easiest persons to converse with and get near. That doesn’t mean his guard is dropped, but he’s very easy going a lot of the time outside of battle. So long as you have a reason to approach him (even simpler ones like: his appearance, his arm, etc) then you’re set.  - Where are they usually to find?:  Oof, honestly? Anywhere. Space, Earth, other places-- he’s constantly on the move. If you want a set place, just say somewhere on Earth and I can work with that. 

Something you may still want to point out about your muse?:  Shiro is certainly easy to get along with, but he is not without flaw or issue. He has a plethora of issues even after the fall of the Galra Empire. He’s not without his scars, physical and otherwise. Approaching him is easy but getting close to him is not. Don’t expect him to be an open book. Just because he can talk about war, battle, fighting with a straight face doesn’t mean he wasn’t effected by it. He has suffered greatly and it will show the closer you get to him. 

CONGRATS!!! You managed it, now tag your mutuals! ♥

Tagged by: @skyvar​  [ <3 ] Tagging: IF YOU WANNA PARTAKE IN THIS INSANITY, PLEASE DO AND TAG ME IN IT SO I CAN READ IT!!! 

[adenhamcreations]

WIP Questions!

Tagged by the awesome @fatal-blow! Thanks so much! This one really got me thinking deeply about my characters.

Under the cut since it’s 20 questions and kinda long.  :) 

1: Describe the plot in one sentence

A fresh out of high school girl discovers that she has the supernatural ability to erase memories and is blackmailed into starting a shady business using them. 

2: Pick one sight, smell, sound, feel, and taste to describe the aesthetic for your WIP.

Sight: A small, familiar childhood town. Little businesses lined up in the center, with residential areas sprawling from them. 

Smell: The smell of burning paper.

Sound: The voice of an old friend echoing through your head.

Feel: A person’s skin that you know well.

Taste: Bitterness from unspoken words. 

3: Which 3+ songs would make a playlist for your novel?

Yellowcard - “Paper Walls.”  Anberlin - “Paperthin Hymn.” Panic at the Disco - “House of Memories.” 

4: What’s the time period and location in which your novel takes place?

Present day, a small town in Alabama (name pending).  

5: Are there any former titles you’ve considered but discarded?

Not at all. It’s always been Sin Eater. 

6: What’s the first line of your novel?

“The first time I knew something was wrong with me was when I was eighteen.”

7: What’s a line of dialogue you’re particularly proud of?

A little long, but I really enjoyed writing this particular chapter/conversation:

“Sorry, thanks. I guess it can be hard not to get a little lost in the memories. I know that’s probably silly,” he chuckles bashfully. “No,” I shake my head quickly. “It makes perfect sense to me.” We come to another clearing. The grass is lush and tall here, an ocean of green. It scrapes the bottom of Aiden’s Jeep as we drive over it. The spot he stops at is another lovely view: you can see for miles. The city’s lights look like tiny dots from here. They must be switching on since the sun is going down. “This is really pretty,” I say as we exit the Jeep.“Yeah, it’s a little secret spot that I found. At least I think it’s a secret, since I’ve never seen anyone up here.” “Well, I like it.”“Yeah? I thought it might be kind of lame compared to the epic sunset yesterday.”“No way. I never did this kind of stuff growing up,” I admit. “You missed out,” he says, grinning. “Amber and I always liked exploring. We called them our ‘Adventures.’”“That….is freakin’ adorable,” I grin back. “Amber came up with it. She said it felt like we found stuff that nobody else ever did.” Aiden picks up a stick and throws it over the edge. We watch it but don’t see where it lands. “That probably wasn’t true, but as a kid...it feels like the whole world is yours, you know?”“I definitely understand that.”

8: Which line from the novel most represents it as a whole?

“I will face everything that I’ve been avoiding and move on with my life, no matter how hard or painful, no matter what comes my way.”

9: Who are your character(s) face claims?

I’m not sure I quite understand this question. Does it mean what we based our characters’ looks on?  If so: Probably a mix of people I know, to be honest. For instance, I had crushes on a lot of guys with brown hair and brown eyes back in high school, so Parker being Jayde’s high school crush, that’s how he looks. I also wanted Jayde and Jenny to look a little bit opposite of each other, so I based their looks on that criteria. 

10: Sort your characters into Hogwarts houses

I actually know NOTHING about Harry Potter... XD 

11: Which character’s name do you like the most?

I loved the name Aiden and just had to use it... and after I picked it, one of my best friends named their son that (only spelled differently)! She didn’t even know about my book yet. Meant to be. 

12: Describe each character’s daily outfit

Jayde - She likes skirts and wears them frequently, even in the winter I’ve drawn her a lot in jean skirts, because I used to wear them back in high school. To top it off, maybe a V-neck shirt in some bright color, I’d say yellow.

Jenny - Jeans too long for her legs, a hoodie if it’s cold. A t-shirt if it’s hot. She isn’t into showing off her skin or body.

Parker- A nice polo with stripes, ironed jeans and super clean tennis shoes.

Aiden - Nothing too flashy - A t-shirt and jeans, usually torn or with mud, oil, or some other stain on them.

Amber - Tank top and capris.

13: Do any characters have any distinctive birthmarks/scars?

Amber has a nasty scar on her right shoulder from her father. 

14: Which character most fits a character trope?

Probably Aiden. He’s the classic guy with a dark past who hides it with sarcasm and general jerkiness. 

15: Which character is the best writer? Worst?

I haven’t thought much of it, but i’d like to imagine that Jenny is the best writer. She’s quiet, but she’s also wise. Her recovery through her lost memories made her strong, capable, and unafraid. i could see her writing an amazing book about that.  As for the worst... maybe Amber? I don’t see her enjoying sitting at a desk typing away or writing in a notebook.

16: Which character is the best liar? Worst?

Jayde is the best liar. She becomes practiced at it due to her secretive job and when she’s hiding her true feelings from Jenny and Parker throughout the book. Amber is definitely the worst liar. She’s usually too honest and unafraid to say what she’s thinking.

17: Which character swears the most? Least?

Aiden definitely swears the most. Meanwhile, Jayde’s two best friends, Jenny and Parker, rarely do (probably due to their strict upbringings). 

18: Which character has the best writing? Worst?

Jayde may by default just because she’s my main character and gets the most spotlight. Not sure about the worst. 

19: Which character is the most like you? Least like you?

I think a mix of Jayde and Aiden are most like me. Jayde in the beginning was my younger self - not a care in the world, loved attention, was loud and silly and loved to laugh. But as she ages and reality hits, she becomes more somber and shy. She isn’t as boisterous and tries to accept herself as she is now (which I’ve had issues with). As for Aiden, he hides hurt and hard times by using jokes and a sunny attitude, which I’ve done so much before. As for least like me, I’d have to go with Vivian, Jenny’s (Jayde’s best friend) mother. She’s tightly wound and is usually passive aggressive towards everyone. She also can’t accept her daughter for being bisexual, which I couldn’t ever understand feeling that way. She tends to think she’s of a higher social standing than everyone else and wants her family to “look” a certain way to everyone outside. 

20: Which character would you most like to be?

They all kind of have sad backstories, so I don’t think I’d want to BE them necessarily. But I’d most want to be more like my OC Amber. She has a lot of crap happen to her and is silently strong in many ways. She accepts what happened to her, isn’t ashamed of it, but also doesn’t pity herself. She takes kickboxing to become physically stronger so the same thing won’t happen to her in the future, and she’s still trusting and open to making new friends. 

Tagging for my babes on my Sin Eater WIP tag: @metaphors-and-melodrama @snowdropwrites @drist-n-dither @jeeanmoreau

And any others! I wanted to tag some new followers too so that they can join the fun.  :)  @artsyclusterfuck @lgbtqiauthor @the-real-rg @agent-me @ren-c-leyn @jeteveux-siempre @toboldlywrite @jessawriter

[silveredsound]

Hi. I started following you because of your pictures. They were amazing. You like fic too, do you have any favourite recs? Do you have favorite hips?

Hello. Oh if you started following me come off anon, lets chat :) I am glad you liked the pictures it’s been nice having something to give back to the fandom.I do like fic :) Quite a lot. I am going to list some random rpf ones, some new some old, that will give you an idea of what I like and if you have any other questions - or want to flail about anything and all things -  please come back. Also I may have to do this again w Narry/Zarry/Zouis…

Gryles

Doodle of a Surface Life by junkshopdisco / @junkshop-discoSummary: Harry is a veterinary nurse, a part-time baker, and a terrible journalist. Nick just wants to write his autobiography and get a selfie with a famous cow, but a series of chance encounters leads to his life spiralling into control.

Liminal spaces and boys and dachshunds who interrupt the nothingness.

all of the nights and all of the days by renlyne / @daretomarvelSummary: 5 times Nick was the best friend anyone could have wished for (+ 1 time he became more than a friend)

Ren writes in a way that leaves me actually breathless - with joy or the beautiful angst - Also, I’ll Be Seeing You, which is a small masterpiece and a laugh on which I left the comment ‘f off’ as it was just that perfectly devastating.

The Morning After by Writcraft / @writsgrimmyblogSummary: It’s the morning after the wedding. Nick is hungover, Harry is persistent and somehow they end up right back where they started.

Oh this is atmospheric and has such lyricism in parts. A proper good ache; a reckless grasp at something more. Also, Writ’s brilliant long good Tomlinshaw, Kissing In the Rain and go annoy them about 50 Reasons Nick & Louis should have sex

Lourry/Larry

A Reptile Dysfunction by makesomeloveSummary: Or, Louzard.“So what’s wrong with me then?” Louis says.“Well, I’m no expert…” Liam says. “But in my opinion, I’d have to guess, well. Yer a lizard, Louis!”

This is.. It’s.. It’s just the best. 

Thought The Song Was Sung by 100percentsassy / @100percentsassySummary: Louis never auditioned for the X-Factor. Years later, Harry’s just another gay ex-boybander who lives alone with his cat… until Niall decides to take matters into his own hands and set up a profile for Harry on a dating website.

I have re-read this so often, it’s so funny. Really well done.

Tomlinshaw

Press My Face Against the Clouds by Jiksa / @jiksaxSummary: Norway has a polar bear population, Nick has a broken heart, and Louis Tomlinson is, unsurprisingly, still a complete fucking wanker.

There is something that Jiksa does always which involves me losing the function to function. She evokes characters with clarity and warmth and is so skilled she never fails to win me over to ships I would never have ever considered. Also, Gryles - Such Sweet Sorrow and Nick/Gemma Rooftops and rowboats (you’ll see what I mean)

Metal Heart by ymorton / @ihavea1dbloghelpSummary: Vegas au! This was originally based off an amazing drawing from seancodydirection and then became really long and strange. Please just suspend all disbelief about everything, especially: how blackjack works, casino policy, how Nick would make money as a blackjack dealer, the logistics of dance floor fingering, and One Direction hiring only a male stripper.

An AU that is very immersive and just somehow perfect in it’s sweat and glimmers of gold and glances to the vast emptiness.

You’re a Rabbit Louis by sunsetmog / @magicalrocketshipsSummary: “Maybe Louis turned into a rabbit,” Nick suggests. They both laugh. Louis doesn’t. Harry is an idiot and Nick is an even bigger one.Louis stomps past both of them on four tiny, furry, baby rabbit paws, and into Nick’s flat. “I hate you both,” he says. He sits on the rug by the TV. “And you can stop following me around too,” he says to Pig, who sits down next to him on the rug.

I think about this ‘verse almost every day. It’s gorgeous and comforting and I love how @magicalrocketships​ always writes with such generosity and acceptance for her characters. Also, Not Your Fault But Mine which is part of a patch on my stitched together heart.

Lirry

My Bright Blue Sky (The Sun in My Eyes) by pillarboxred / @akai-coatSummary: Harry’s daughter turns up at their door and she’s much more than she appears to be.

Magical and woven delightfully. Akai-coat has a lovely way with words, Also, brilliant Tomlinshaw as well - I adore A Shimmering Balance Act (I Think that I Laughed at That)

ot5

Never On Your Own by threeturn /@valencing Summary: “I was like, ooh parallel universe, and then I was like, oh no, we have to set things right.” One Direction, lost and found.

A character study? A fever dream? It’s pretty close to perfect either way.

🌹 🌹 Oh - and you asked about my favourite hips? Well - 

via - this post by @harryisart &  harcissistic

[havekiddoswilltravel]

Social Distancing Survival Tips from a Homeschooling Mom

Homeschool resources for families affected by the COVID-19 school closings.

Scroll down to the bottom of this post for a list of resources by subject.

Do not be afraid. Do not fear. This too shall pass.

I know that the thought of a minimum of 14 days of social isolation and no outside activities with your kids can be anxiety provoking. However this is an opportunity as parents and role models to be an example to our youth on how to be still. Children are always watching, and they take cues from our reactions and behavior. If we’re in a panic and constantly talking about Covid-19 with other adults with a doomsday mentally, you may be contributing to unnecessary anxiety and fear in your children. Please have a filter and think about how what you say impacts your children. They are watching you and your behavior will have a lasting impact on your child(ren)’s mental health. An attitude of hope and love will be as contagious as one of fear and hopelessness. Which one do you want to permeate your home? Don’t try to do school at home! What I mean by that is that your child’s entire routine has been disrupted by something unknown (Covid-19) and scary. If you try to simply replicate their school environment at home, it may completely backfire on you. Allow your child to learn organically for the next few weeks in the safety of his or her home environment. Read to them, read with them and have them read to you. You will be just fine.

Unfortunately, this is not a vacation from school. This is not the time to schedule play dates, have sleepovers or even hit the local museums. It’s time to get creative and figure out ways to be content in stillness.

Routine and schedule are critical:

Additional resource regarding the importance of a schedule: https://nesca-newton.com/making-the-most-of-covid-19-school-closures/

Homeschooling and social isolation does not mean a free for all. Kids do best with a schedule or routine. Do yourself a favor and immediately set up a routine or flow to your home. Unless you want to have to be at the grocery store daily (defeating the purpose of social distancing), make sure that you set up a general eating schedule. We use this one in our home.

- Breakfast

- Morning snack

- Lunch

- Afternoon snack

- Dinner

- Bedtime Snack (always a fruit or veggie)

Other than this schedule, the kitchen is closed unless we are cooking as part of our learning. Anxiety and stress create a tendency to overeat and constantly snack.

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A post shared by Ruth - Have Kiddos Will Travel (@havekiddoswilltravel) on Sep 5, 2019 at 2:22pm PDT

Take a virtual tour of our National Parks.

Read aloud as a family:

Social distancing is a perfect opportunity to snuggle together and read as a family. Just grab your favorite book, your kids and a blanket. You can also have older children read to your children. This is a great way for them to bond and also for you to assess their reading and comprehension.

20 Foreign Films to Watch with Kids

Interview an elder for your family’s oral history:

Have a dance party:

Yes, I said that. Music is good for the soul. Have your kids put together their favorite play list. Decorate your living room, take out the disco ball (if you have one) and dance until your sweaty. Don’t worry about looking or feeling silly. Put down your cell phone and join the kids on the dance floor. Trust me, you’ll feel so much better.

Sign up for these online teaching tools which have been made available for free for the next 30 days:

Write letters or make cards for those home bound and elderly:

The elderly and those with preexisting conditions are the most at risk during the outbreak. Take out your craft supplies and have the kids make cards to mail to elderly family members and friends. Though you many want to make some for nursing home facilities, they will NOT distribute them at this time as the virus can live on surfaces for three days.

15 Broadway Plays and Musicals You Can Watch On Stage From Home

New York’s Metropolitan Opera announced that it would be taking some of its offerings virtual, kicking things off this week with daily free streamings of its Live in HD series.

Non screen activities:

Giant list of ideas of things to do with kids at home:

Look for themes and opportunities to celebrate unique days:

March 13

- National Earmuff Day

March 14

- National Learn About Butterflies Days

- National Pi Day

- National Potato Chip Day

- National Write Down Your Story Day

March 15

- National Everything You Think is Wrong Day

March 16

- National Panda Day

March 17

- National Corned Beef and Cabbage Day

- St. Patrick’s Day

March 18

- National Sloppy Joe Day

March 19

- National Chocolate Caramel Day

- National Let’s Laugh Day

- Spring begins

March 20

- National Ravioli Day

March 21

- National French Bread Day

- National Corn Dog Day

- National Quilting Day

March 22

- National Goof Off Day

This is just a sample of the many National Days that you could have the kids celebrate at home. Check out www.nationaldaycalendar.com for a full listing.

Free Digital Classes for Homeschooling

Study poetry:

Poetry Foundation

Engage in virtual fieldtrips:

Stuck at home? Visit a virtual museum!

Smithsonian has virtual educational resources for students and teachers to use at school and at home?

Explore African American History and Culture or create your own lesson using @SmithsonianLab today.

https://learninglab.si.edu/org/nmaahc

This is a great article by Travel and Leisure with a load of museums offering virtual field trips.

Additional Resources:

Art

The Art Sherpa

27 Art Lessons to try at home

Science:

Ask Alexa – please play Wow in the World

Wow in the World

Education.com

Music Composition:

Noteflight

BrainPop and Brainpop Jr. Currently free during Coronavirus social distancing.

Geography:

Stack the States

Stack the Countries

National Geographic Kids

Civics

Icivics

Cooking:

Coding:

Scratch

Code.org

Foreign languages:

Duolingo

History:

History for Kids

Math:

Mangahigh

PE:

Teachers and friends dealing with school closures: We are giving parents FREE unlimited access to our Fluency & Fitness® website to use with their child at home during these next few weeks. Now they can keep their child learning and help burn off that extra energy, so parents can keep their sanity. 😉 There are over 900 videos to review 60+ literacy and math topics for K-2nd. Feel free to share this link with your classroom families, friends, and anyone who may find this helpful.

https://fluencyandfitness.com/register/school-closures/

Reading:

Learning A-Z free through June 2020.

Raz-Kids is a digital resource that provides a library of differentiated books students can use to practice reading wherever they are (Internet connection required).

Headsprout is an online K–5 reading program that adapts to the needs of the individual student. It is self-paced, which makes it ideal for at-home practice.

Life skills:

Social distancing provides a perfect opportunity to teach your children some basic life skills. Check out this article with some great ideas.

TED-ED

This document contains a list of TED-ED videos by topic.

Choose joy. Choose love. Choose hope.

Social distancing is manageable. Let’s work together to provide each other with resources and ideas to make us all be the best parents possible. This list will continue to grow, so check back often. Let’s encourage and support one another during these trying times.

Peace and love!

[evenstevensranked]

#41: Season 1, Episode 8 - “Family Picnic”

The annual Family Decathlon rolls around and Steve is extremely into it. Like, extremely. He makes the whole family participate every year. But Louis — who always feels like the outsider, (and isn't exactly athletically inclined) cheats in a competition he knows he doesn't stand a chance in.

We get an opening shot of Louis mowing some Australian dude's lawn. Then it rewinds and starts the story of how he ended up there. Something a little unique about this episode is that Louis narrates it. I’m 99.9% sure it's the only one in the series that has a storytelling voiceover from Louis or Ren throughout like this. It actually feels a little weird. I wonder why they decided on that for this one. He tells us about this "Family Decathlon" that his dad is obsessed with and makes the whole gang compete in as Team Stevens. We get one of my favorite lines when Louis is explaining just how much Steve cares about the picnic: "Does my dad take it seriously? Now, that's like asking ‘Did Shaq have a growth spurt?’” What a great analogy though, honestly.

Louis really, really does not want to go to the picnic. He'd rather see some new Jackie Chan flick where Jackie "wipes out an entire evil army with ONE NOODLE!" I've always laughed at "one noodle." Seriously, a NOODLE?! Is this a weapon I don’t know about? Like, define noodle. A pool noodle? A measly, little pasta noodle? Now, THAT’D be pretty impressive. But, he has a talk with Eileen and decides to do it because they can’t win without Louis “Crazy Legs” Stevens. This scene is adorable, though. Eileen keeps calling him Crazy Legs, and Louis just giggles like “Maaa! Don’t start with the crazy legsss.” It’s so cute. I feel like we don’t see enough of this, so I love it. He agrees to go to the picnic, but will not compete in whatever contest he got the nickname “Crazy Legs” for. “NO MEANS NO!” He says.

Just thought I’d say: I love Tawny’s outfit, omg. 

Suddenly, it does a hard cut to a shot of Louis’ butt. I’m not kidding. He is sassily shaking it from side to side as he balances an egg on a spoon. We find out that “Crazy Legs” originates from his unusual technique in the egg race. I can’t. The best part about this scene is the 70’s disco, royalty-free stock music playing that says “BOOGIEEEE!!!!” (pronounced “boogaaaayy”) It always makes me laugh. Twitty and Tawny are giving him a hard time about it, saying he’s not like the rest of his family and shouldn’t have to do the race. Louis says he can’t back down because “I’m a Stevens. We have a motto: You dream it, you scheme it, and you cream it.” and Tawny asks “…..wHAT… does that mean???” I swear to god if this is another innuendo…

Suddenly Louis takes their advice and decides to NOT do the race again. He goes to tell Steve later that night and overhears him talking to Ren about what a great kid Louis is and that he has the heart of a lion! One of my favorite lines in this episode is from Steve here: “You know Louis learned to walk at 6 months?! …..granted he didn’t speak until he was 4 1/2, BUT THE POINT IS--” lol. While listening in, Louis gets his head stuck in the banister. This always bothered me because the railings are widely spaced. He was able to poke his head through straight, no problem!! Then to get out, he tilts his head all the way to the side so it “gets stuck.” Even while he’s “stuck” you can see that his chin could easily get out. Oh my god. Much like the bus rearranging fiasco, this is one of the dumbest things I’ve ever seen on this show and has always annoyed me. It’s really not that serious, though. So don’t listen to me. It’s just a plot device so that the banister can break and Louis can fall into a box, making a very loud entrance.

Like, seriously. Is it just me, or could he easily get out of there?!?! Why tilt your head all the way to the side??? Who knows! This just always looked like a force to me, lol. 

Steve and Ren rush over to ask if he’s okay, and Louis says “I came to tell you that… I can’t. Can’t, uh… can’t… wait to win the race tomorrow!! :D” I would literally see right through that. If the blatant stuttering wasn’t enough, surely the dramatic drop in his facial expression from “can’t wait!” to “kill me” should’ve given it away:

Then we get another hard cut to the picnic. That’s something else that’s weird about this one. It it seems to jump around a lot and there are two major montages, which causes the episode to fly by and makes it feel like not much happens. The first of the two is kicked off with Louis about to compete against a bunch of tiny children. “I feel like I’m the only one in this race that knows their times tables” he says, lol.

He came prepared. Is he really wearing a back brace???

He shakes hands with last year’s champion who’s like… 6, (^ the kid on the far right) becomes intimidated, and says “you got…. quite a grip…” which is pretty funny. But then it cuts to a useless western-style faceoff thing between them. I never liked this for some reason. Just ANOTHER thing that makes it feel like nothing is actually happening here. Oh, well. The montage starts with the beginning of the egg race. 

One thing I never understood: Shouldn’t everyone’s spoon be the same size? A spoon that perfectly hugs the egg (like Louis’) will be easier to race with. One of the bigger spoons that would cause the egg to roll around, would be much more difficult. Those are the spoons everyone should use. Doesn’t seem fair, lol. ANYWAY!

......was this really necessary? 

In this montage we see Donnie playing badminton with an elderly man and falling — hurting his shoulder. Ren losing a homemade apple pie contest to a biker dude. (You break down those gender roles, Disney! lol) Eileen climbing a tree, Louis winning the egg race, and Steve cutting up a turkey with a CHAINSAW? What kind of contest is that? Do people actually do this? Are you supposed to be carving it into something? Or just… hacking it up?! What’s the point of that? Where’s the skill??? This montage is literally 2 minutes long. That doesn’t sound like a lot.. but it is. I mean, I guess I don’t really know how else they could’ve shown each individual family member without taking up too much time. But, yeah. All the footage is set to another stock song, and I’m assuming it was written just for this episode. They lyrics are “Now go go, Mr. Crazy Legs! Now no no!! Don’t you drop those eggs!” Much like “Casa de Fiesta” this gets stuck in my head all the time.

??????

We get another one of my favorite lines when the family is resting a bit before the last big event — The father/son kayak race. Donnie is icing his shoulder and says “I think I just ripped a delt.” Louis is extremely insulted and exclaims “Well, that’s pretty rude. I’M EATING.” So good. They have a run-in with their biggest competition, a super jacked father/son duo from Perth Australia, Porter and Quincy. 

Donnie was set to row in the race, but now he can’t with his bad shoulder. So Steve says very dramatically “All I can say is..… I’m glad I have two sons!” and it pans to Louis stuffing his face with a cupcake. 

Why is this so funny?! lol. 

Louis really doesn’t want to disappoint Steve, so he decides to cheat just so Team Stevens can win. He drills a hole in Quincy’s kayak. Wow, Louis. If I were in charge of this picnic, I would’ve been so suspicious as to how Louis Stevens — a small, awkward kid who lives on junk food and can’t run a decent lap without busting a lung… was able to beat teenage bodybuilder and potential crocodile hunter Quincy. Quincy was clearly sinking, like… obviously something was up with his kayak. But no one cares. LOUIS WON!

Now we get to the absolute best part of the episode. The thing that made me rank this episode higher. The second montage! Louis' conscience kicks in, and we see that he feels soooo incredibly guilty. Everywhere he goes he hears the word "Cheater" even when it's not actually being said. It’s hilarious to me. He fully melts down in school when his teacher starts talking about Cheetahs. It's amazing. It's one of those scenes I just have to embed.

Tawny is rightfully concerned about Louis’ little panic attack and asks him if he feels guilty about something. This is another one of my favorite Louis lines: “Guilty? Right. Even if I was — WHICH I’M NOT! — I would do the healthy thing, and keep it tightly bottled up inside of me.” What a legend. Tawny tells him the story of The Tell-Tale Heart, and he gets to flustered under the pressure.. he confesses. He starts off the explanation with “Donnie ripped a delt thingy and I was eating a cupcake and everything was all screwed up” which I love so much.

At dinner that night, the family is going around the table saying all the good things each of them accomplished that day. But, when it gets to Louis he just says “I cheated in the kayak race” which opens the flood gates for everyone else to confess to cheating or not being honest, good people lol wow. Eileen says she punched a squirrel on her way up the tree. Which is just… Wow. Imagine that poor squirrel. Steve is disappointed in his family, but sort of blames himself for putting so much pressure on all of them. True.

Steve starts questioning his parenting, wondering what he’s taught the kids, and Louis says “you’ve taught us that it’s better to play fair and lose than to win by cheating” — Well, that’s very specific and relevant advice! Why didn’t you follow THAT, Louis?! In the end, Louis apologizes to Steve and they make up. It’s a nice father/son moment.

Louis still feels bad, so he challenges Quincy to a rematch — Loser has to do the other’s chores for the week. Obviously he loses and that's why he's mowing Quincy’s lawn at the beginning! “Boy, do those Aussie’s have a lot of yard work” he says, as it zooms out to reveal a totally not CGI lawn.

I like this episode. The cheater montage does it for me. Shia is brilliant! As usual. Other than that, I like that there was a lesson in there, that Louis actually had a conscience, and that he bonded with Steve a bit. I also love whenever Tawny acts as Louis’ personal therapist, lol. They’re great together. There’s also no Ren subplot (or subplot in general!) So that’s different.

We’re almost into the #30s!! What the heck!! AHHH!

Thanks for reading!

For this episode’s Redbubble design, you can now get your own “Team Stevens” shirt! Ayyyyy!

Share your thoughts via Disqus below! It’s seriously great to hear from you.

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[bebopjared]

The Story of Hip Hop and it’s Inherent Problems (and maybe how to solve them)

The story of Hip Hop is one that I find to be an immensely interesting and beautiful story. It’s a story that shows that out of struggle, the most amazing things can happen. It also shows that the problems within the culture, that created this amazing thing, will follow into that product.

The 1970′s were a hard time for Black people. Richard Nixon had won election then re-election by using coded language to tell southern Whites that the civil rights advances in the 60′s would not be continued into a Nixon presidency. The Black Panthers saw their organization attacked from all sides and the FBI began killing and arresting Panthers to attempt to destroy the organization. They would be successful with Huey P. Newton being killed during a drug deal in Oakland, Eldridge Cleaver went into exile in Algeria, Cuba and France and returned a born again Republican and endorsed Ronald Reagan for president, and Bobby Seale left the party after an unsuccessful run for mayor of Oakland. The party had become too divided for him and left. The Vietnam War also affected the black community during the 60���s and 70’s. The draft was not as kind to young black men as it was to white men, giving much less access to deferments to black men. A white man’s war that didn’t have anything to do with black people was fought in large part by young black men who had no idea what they were really fighting for. Along with police brutality continuing to kill black people in their own communities all across the country, the 70′s remain to be one of the worst times in modern African-American history. And when you look at the local level, the story only gets more depressing. 

The city where Hip-Hop came from, New York City, was not the shining example of metropolis it now claims to be. The city was going broke and the federal government cared little for it. People were leaving in droves, seeing the city as a lost cause. After the federal government finally gave the city a few loans, the city turned to its black and brown citizens to pay for the rest of rebuilding New York. Austerity measures took place as an attempt to save money by cutting funds from places the city deemed wasteful. Some of the most outrageous of these cuts was seen in the South Bronx, one of the poorest districts in the United States at the time(and still is). 

The Bronx was burning in the late 70′s. But what does that actually mean? People living in the South Bronx were some of the poorest in the nation and they struggled to pay their rents. Landlords realized that if they burned down their buildings, they could make more money from collecting the insurance by claiming the fires were either accidents or arsons(often set by gangs paid off by the landlords themselves). People were dying in these fires and those who were not in the buildings when they went up in flames, were left without a place to sleep at night, let alone call home. You would think that any government would crack down on the fraud being committed and provide relief to some of the poorest people in their city(let alone the nation). But you don’t, because you know the United States government has only been interested in helping white men who are straight, cis and rich. New York City’s government is the same and instead of helping, constantly cut firehouses specifically in the South Bronx to save money, making the job of putting out fires to try to make sure the buildings could remain stable even harder. Buildings in the South Bronx fell one by one, as landlords increased their efforts as land values dropped and the insurance money was always going to be more profitable than the rent they were getting from their tenants. Whole blocks could be seen burned down to the ground, the only thing remaining being rubble, some still burning. The South Bronx was turned into a warzone, gangs ruled the streets and the police did not give a fuck about the suffering happening, they only made it worse. 

Anyone would think this environment would break a people. But not black and brown peoples. Struggle has been our existence so burning buildings and fucked up police would not break us. Often out of struggle, beautiful things are born. Out of the burning Bronx, came Hip-Hop. Kids that were growing up there wanted to do something to get away from the struggle of their daily lives. What better to do than party? But they need music to do it. Disco was the main craze at the time but the poorer kids were not allowed into the disco halls as they did not have the attire to get in. So they need their own music. So they took the parts of modern music at the time that had the best sound and no words and mashed a bunch of these together and created the sound of Hip-Hop. They would rip out the electrical cords from lamp posts and use them to power their speakers and turntables, giving them the power to make a whole block get up and dance to some dope ass music. Soon, MC’s became as popular as the DJ’s. Groups of DJ’s, the ones would would spin the records and MC’s, the ones who would rap over the music began to form, like Afrika Bambaataa’s Zulu Nation and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. 

Hip-Hop started as party music. It was just black and brown folks trying to escape the struggle through music and having fun. Oppressed peoples have to find something to focus on besides their struggle, they need an outlet. And for a lot of black and brown folks, Hip-Hop was that outlet. Hip-Hop began coming up in the music industry during the 80′s. A lot of amazing records would be released during the 80’s and a lot of arists and groups would come up. Run-DMC, founded in 1981, would create some of the most iconic Hip-Hop tracks(one of my personal favorites in Christmas in Hollis). But, Hip-Hop would take a step forward when N.W.A. released their album Straight Outta Compton in 1988.

Straight Outta Compton changed Hip-Hop forever. N.W.A. (which stands for Niggaz Wit Attitude) was formed in 1986 by Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, MC Ren, DJ Yella and Arabian Prince. They released tracks here and there in the two years before their main album, notably Dopeman and Boyz-n-the-Hood. But their most famous songs would come when Straight Outta Compton was released in 1988. It opens with the title track, Straight Outta Compton and starts with the line, “You are about to witness the strength of street knowledge.” A line that would begin an album that would change Hip-Hop. The next track, Fuck Tha Police would be a protest song that would give a voice to millions of black and brown people from Compton to New York City. It would gain the attention of the F.B.I. and spur them into writing a letter to N.W.A., asking them to not perform the song. Famously, Detroit police officers told members of N.W.A. before a concert that they would not allow Fuck Tha Police to be played. They did it anyway and were arrested. Straight Outta Compton began what would become Gangsta Rap and was the first popular rap music that talked about life as it was in the hood. 

But, sexism and homophobia infiltrated the music, almost becoming a staple of the music. The word woman was pretty much replaced with the word bitch and the word faggot was fairly common. In Fuck Tha Police, there is a line that I cringe at every time I listen to the song, “…I don’t know if they fags or what, search a nigga down and grabin’ his nuts…” It’s an unfortunate reality that black people had been trained to be homophobic and sexist a long time ago. Slavery cemented a legacy of emasculation of black men and of making black sexuallity taboo. These, among many other factors, still affect black people today, as integration into American society after the Civil War ended did not include therapy for 300 year of generational abuse. So these unresolved mental health issues formed into modern black homophobia. That being said, the myth that black people are so much more homophobic than other groups of people has never been proven(not like you could prove that anyway) nor does it take into account the legacy of slavery as an explanation for it. 

Hip-Hop is still populated by very sexist, homophobic and transphobic lyrics and even ableism, as seen in Drake’s most recent diss against Kid Cudi. How do we solve these issues within our music and our culture? Can it ever really be fixed? 

These are all important questions. And I’m not really sure how to answer them. But I do see the music shifting in some places. J. Cole’s most recent album 4 Your Eyez Only had much less sexist and homophobic language than his album before that 2014 Forest Hills Drive and less than Born Sinner. There is progress. But that is only one rapper. I couldn’t say whether or not rap has gotten better. But I do think that Hip-Hop can be healed, if black people can get the therapy we so desperately deserve and if we can take ownership of our music back. White men have taken control, it’s time we take it back.